A THEATRE
wherein be repre- sentedrepresented as wel the miseries and
ca-
lamities
calamities
that follow the vo- luptuousvoluptuous Worldlings,
As also the greate joyes and
plesures which the faith- fullfaithfull do enjoy.
An Argument both profitable and delectable, to all that sincerely
love the word of God.
Devised by S. John
van- dervan der Noodt.
Seene and allowed
according to the order appointed. ¶ Imprinted at
London by Henry Bynneman.
Anno Domini. 1569.
CUM PRIVILEGIO.
In commendationem operis ab
Nobiliss. et virtutis Studiosissimo
Do-
mino
Domino, Joanne van der Noodt Patricio Antuerpiensi æditi, Carmen. M.RABILAE. Poetę Brabant.
Hæc Babylon legat, et discat sustollere cœl
Hactenus addictum terræ caput, hic rata vitæ
Semita, quam specimen NothϾ nobile gentis
Dat legere, ille domo patria, certis
que triumphis
Contemptis, et quæ poterant spondere Curules,
Conscius haud ullo virtutem sanguine condi,
Ad majora animum tulit, et dat noscere mundo,
Hoc opere insignem luctum, tristes
que labores
Vitæ huius: legat hæc Babylon, legat, imbuat aures
Illius hoc opus, et si cui calligine cæca
Mens cooperata jacet, qui devia saxa pererrat
Rectum oblitus iter: licet illi hic nube redusta
Summum vestigare bonum: doctrina Sophorum
Ventilat, et falso verum confundit inani.
O stolidas hominum mentes! non iste Deorum
Cultus: et quando hos crudeli fune flagellans
Conscia mens corruptum animum ad meliora reducet!
Ut iaceant idola! suus, quo cuncta moventur,
Restituatur honos! aliquando benignior astris,
Deciderit fortuna tamen, nostros
que labores,
Terrarum ut fremitent furiata mente Tyranni,
Respiciet miserans summi regnat or Olympi.
At veræ quicun
que viæ dinoscere Sydus
Ardescisue ducem, doctos evolve labores,
Quos doctus tibi Nothæus vigilavit ad unguem,
E
que vaporato fumo, qui corda tenebat,
Cultor agri tristes nebulas, uti sole fugari
Aspicit, et campos risum renovare iacentes,
Lucem ita conspicies tibi diluxisse serenam.
DOCTOR GERARDUS
GOOSSENIUS
Medicus, Physicus, et Poeta Brabant. moder. in Zoilum Octastichon.
Zoile cur palles? cur vultus semper amarus?
Triste supercilium frons
que caprata tibi?
Displicet ut video luci datus iste libellus:
Sed rogo cur oculis displicet iste tuis?
An quia papicolum ritus et sacra revellit
Idolis, viduam nec Babylona dolet ?
Zoile, non curat morsus, nam sufficit illi,
Perplacuisse bonis, displicuisse malis.
Inoffensibilis Goosseni.
TO THE MOSTE
high, puissant, noble,ver- tuousvertuous, and righte Christian Princesse
Elizabeth, by the grace of God
Quene of Englande, Fraunce, and Ireland. etc.
A
FTER my departure oute of
Brabante,Brabante (myne owne naturall Countrey)Countrey),
into youre Majesties
Re-almeRealme
of Englande (moste gracious Lady) as well for that I
would not beholde the abhominations of the Romyshe Ante-christ,Antechrist,
as to escape the handes of the bloud-thirsty:bloudthirsty:
In the meane space for the avoyding
of idlenesse (the very mother and nourice of all vices) I have among other my travayles
bene occupied aboute thys little Treatyse, wherin is sette forth the
vilenesse and base-nessebasenesse
of worldely things, whiche commonly withdrawe us from heavenly and spirituall matters.matters,
Tto the ende that understanding the vanitie and basenesse of the same, and there-withalltherewithall
consideryng the miserable calamities that ensue therupon, we might be moved the
rather to forsake
them, and gyve oure selves
to the knowledge of Heavenly and eternall things, whence all true happinesse and feli-citiefelicitie
doth procede. And for as much as the matter of it selfe is very good (deservyng in dede to be handeled by men of farre better skil than I) I could not devise how any things
whatsoeuer,whatsoever of lykenesse and conveniencie
mighte more properly bee resembled one to the other, than this boke for the
aptnesse and
conveniencie of the argument might be de-dicateddedicated
to your Majestie, a most blessed and happie prince. Happy I say, not so much for that youre
grace is lineally descended by the most high, puissaunt, mightie and victorious prince Henry the eight of famous memorie, from so many myghtie
and puissant princes of this Realme, your Majesties moste noble progenitours: which have long agone, most valiantly and victoriously conquered al France,
and by dint of sword daunted their
enimies, so that youre highnesse beareth in Armes as right inheritour thereunto, the
royall scepter and Croune imperiall, most triumphantly, and the titles of Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande
joyntely in youre majesties stile. Neither for,
that your highnesse
as a rare Phœnix of your time,time are singular and peerelesse in honoure and renoune, in princely majestie, wisedome, skil, beautie, favour, mildenesse, curtesie and gentlenesse: to be short, excellent in all kind
of vertue.vertue;
Nornor in respecte of youre learning, knowledge, counsell, judgement, and elo-quence,eloquence,
as well in the Greeke, Latine, Italian, Frenche,
Dutch, as in your owne natural En-glish,English,
and other languages, wherin your grace may be resembled not onely to Tullie, and
Demosthenes, but to Mercurie, the God of e-loquence,eloquence,
as is apparant by youre Majesties
most apte and wise aunswers given in your own person to al Embassadours, and to eue-ryevery
of them in their owne naturall language with a singular dexteritie and
princely maiestiemajestie,
and with marvellous swetenesse of tong.tong;
Nornor bicause your grace is expert in song, and
in the arte of Musike, skilful in al kindes of musical instruments, and according to the ex-actexact
proportions of geometrie exquisite in the measures of the daunce: and besides al these,
embraced of Apollo, and his nine sisters, by whome your grace
is so instructed in the di-uinedivine
Arte of Poetrie, that you may woor-thilywoorthily
be called the
seconde
Sappho.Sappho;
Neither neither
for your great skil and judgement in painting and imagerie, bothe for the cunnyng of the
workmanshyp and the devise and storie.storie--
Inin
summe, perfecte in all good exercises of the wit, namely the artes and
liberall sciences. Fi-nally,Finally,
not alonly for that n Nature of hir boũ-tiebountie
and goodnesse hath shewed suche grace and speciall favour toward you, by enduing youre grace moste plentyfully with infinite graces
and vertues more abundantly than a-nyany
other Prince or Princesse in the worlde, so that it might serve me for a sufficient ar-gumentargument
to fill large volumes, only to stande in commendation of your majestie, not an-nexingannexing
therto any devise of myne owne, of fained Emblemes or Poetical fables, and that without using flatterie or glosing, as they do most comonly, that ambitiously seeking af-terafter
prefermentes and honoure, disguise ra-therrather
than describe noble and honorable per-sonages,personages,
whome they sette oute many tymes beyonde al truth, yea sometime above
mea-sure,measure,
and with as great inconveniencie as
yf
they should paynt an Asse tuning of a harp. For I do not accompt your grace
happy for
these alonely
(thoughe many and singular) giftes and graces, which your grace enjoyeth
in great plentie and abundance, consideryng they bee transitorie, and can
not make any man or woman happie (albeit they seme di-uinedivine
and supernaturall,)supernaturall), excepte they be ac-companiedaccompanied
wyth the love and feare of God, according to the saying of King Lamuell, in the thirde of the Proverbes:
Favour is decei-uable,deceivable,
and Beautie a mere vanitie, but the wo-manwoman
that feareth the Lorde, is to be beloved.
But chiefly and principally when I consider that God intendyng to
bestowe an excellent benefit peculiarly upon your Majestie more than upon any other Prince or Princesse in the worlde, hath besides al the other forena-medforenamed
his manifolde giftes and graces, lighte-nedlightened
your understanding with his holy spirit, and hath vouchesafed (by enclinyng youre graces
heart, spirite and minde to humilitie, peace, mildenesse, and all kinde of louable-nesse)lovablenesse)
to chose your majestie, especially to be his champion to defend his beloved church. And in this respect,respect (like as all faithfull and true Christian princes throughout all Europe
do esteme and repute you)you), do I also, and that
of good
rightright, call your grace a moste happie
and blessed Prince. Consider I beseche you, how God hath
blessed your majestie in thys worlde more than he hath done any of your progenitours. For never was it seene in any age or time heretofore, that this your realme of England hath flourished as it dothe at this present under your Majesties moste happie
governement. Firste in all kinde of liberall Artes and sciences. Secondarily in the abun-danceabundance
of treasure, as well golde and silver, as all sortes of riche and precious jewels and or-namentes.ornamentes.
Thirdely, in the free passage and trafike of all kinde of marchandise:
Besides this, in good and politike lawes and ordinan-ces,ordinances,
namely in the due execution of justice, according to law and equitie. The worde of God is purely preached here in
six or seven
languages. The Sacraments of Baptisme, and the holy Supper, sincerely
ministred accor-dingaccording
to Christes institution. Christian disci-plinediscipline
in due force in many places. Finally e-ueryevery
countrey and nation that will live here according to his holy worde, is received, and findeth good entertainement. O how happy and blessed is that King or
kingdome, where
these things are in forceforceforce. Contrarywise most
unhappie are those princes, that banishyng and rejecting Christ, receive that Antechrist, the sonne of the Divell, and forsakyng the truth, embrace errour: To be short, that do al things overthwartly
and clean against the
hairhair.
For it is moste certaine and sure, that sodaine ruine and destruction shall
fall upon all wic-kedwicked
and ungodly persons, as well nowe as in tyme paste, as experience hath well proved
heretofore: Namely upon
Pharao, and hys kingdome of Egypt, upon
Jeroboam, Achab,
Jezabell
and infinite other mo. Wher on the other part, the good kings and princes which feare the Lord, shal have peace and comfort bothe in this worlde, and in the worlde to come: Like as
had
Josua, Juda, Gedeon, David
and divers other in those days, and is also to be seene at this day most evidently in the re-almesrealmes
and countreyes under youre Majesties
dominion, whiche God hath blessed in suche sort, that it may truly be sayd,
that the king-domekingdome
of Saturne, and the Golden worlde is come againe,
and the Virgin Astrea is des-scendeddescended
from heaven to builde hir a seate in this your moste happie countrey of
England
.
For here is peace
and quietnesse, whereas the moste parte of foraine countreyes are full of great tumultes, and that
(more is the pitie) with the sheding of much christian bloude. And where as many
myghtie kings and po-tentatespotentates
of the earthe have banded and con-spiredconspired
together, and fight every where against God his anointed, and his holy churche, ben-dyngbendyng
their force utterly to deface hys name, his glorie, and his Churche: Almightie God of his divine
providence hath nowe also in these days (like as he hath in all ages hereto-fore)heretofore)
raised up
divers good and godly prin-cesprinces
and states, and provided certaine places, wherto the elect and faithfull have resorted
and bene preserved, during the time of persecution,
to the ende that his holy name myght there be glorified, his worde purely
and sin-cerelysincerely
preached, and his Churche dispersed, in a manner restored. As it is also
come to passe in these our most miserable days, in the whiche suche as syncerely love and esteeme more derely the honoure and glorie of God than they doe their
owne commodities, ease, and welfare,welfare (after the counsel of Christ, say-ingsaying
in this wyse:
yfIf they persecute you in one
citie, flie ye unto an other)other),
have bene content to depart their owne naturall countrey, wholly to forsake their landes,
inheritances, possessi-ons,possessions,
and dwellyng places, yea and some also, to surrender their offices, dignities, and worldly preferments. An other sort with their wives
children and parentes are departed into
Ger-manie,Germanie,
namely into the territorie and domi-niondominion
of Frederike prince Elector and countie
Palatine, the floure of all Christian Princes in these dayes (that I knowe)
in the fervent
zeale and true feare of God, a man worthy to be compared with
David
, or
Josias
. Others are fled into other places elsewhere, some to one cuntrey, some to an
other, every one ac-cordingaccording
to his abilitie, estate, condition, andfacultie. But we a numbre of us are arrived
in saftie in this your majesties realme of
En-glande,Englande,
as into a moste safe and sure harbo-rough,harborough,
where we live (God be thanked) vn-derunder
your Majesties protection and safegarde in greate libertie to serve God in eyther lan-guage,language,
the French or the Dutche, without al feare of tyrantes, or daunger of the
gapyng throates of greedie ravening
wolves. After the same maner hath God in time past pre-seruedpreserved
and
delivered his elect out of the hands
of their enimies and persecuters by the mini-sterieministerie
of dyvers
vertuous women. As is to be sene in the .4. chapt. of the boke of Judges. How God delivered his people of Israel out of the hands of
Jabin
king of Chanaan, by
De-boraDebora
the prophetesse, by selling Sizara chiefe captain of his
armie into the hand of a woman
called
Jahel
. As he also preserved
David
from
the furie of Saul, by Michol
Sauls own dau-ghter.daughter.
As he delivered the citizens of Bethulia,
from the tiranny of Holofernes, by the hand of that most vertuous Ladie
Judith
. And as the
children of Israel, were saved by the counsel of
Mardocheus, at the instance
and request of the most gratious and humble Hester,where they were lately before in peril
of death and
present
destruction by the conspiracie of wicked
Ha-man.Haman.
The like hath ben brought to passe by
divers other renoumed Ladies, whose fame shal endure for ever. And surely the graces
and mercies that God hath shewed to his affli-ctedafflicted
church in these later days by your maie-stiesmajesties
means, ar no lesse than those he hath she-wedshewed
tofore by the late rehersed ladies: so that your grace deserveth equal praise and cõmẽdatiõcommendation
with them, considering with what gẽtle-nessegentlenesse
and with how loving
and charitable affec-tionaffection
you have
received the poore scattered flock of Christ. Is not your Majestie then to be estemed infinitely more happy and blessed that are so specially elect of god to serve him for such an instrument, and in such a quarel, and
that maugre the beards of the enimies, being enraged through the malice and
obstinacy of their hearts do persecute the church of God? Yes assuredly, most happy, christian, and ver-tuousvertuous
princesse, even in the highest degree. Howe shall I be able then to expresse with tong, or
to endite with pen your praises suf-ficiently?sufficiently?
verilyVerily I am confounded and put to silence, and do confesse my self to be altoge-theraltogether
insufficient. Wherfore (moste gracious Ladie) I rest with my heartie and
continuall prayer unto God for your majestie, that he turne not his face from you, but that it wold please him to
continue and daily to encrease his grace and favor towards you, and his ho-lyholy
spirite within you, as also in and towardes those that be of your Majesties counsel, and all other Magistrates and officers whatsoe-uerwhatsoever
having authoritie under your highnesse
within your majesties realms and
dominiõs.dominions,
that walking in the fear and
love of him they may do al their endevour through the prea-chingpreaching
of his holy word to advaunce his holy name, and above al things especially to seke the safetie and weal of his church. And ther-foretherfore
for the great benefit and good that God hath don unto his church by means of your
majesty (most gracious prince) al tru faithful
whatsoever they be, as wel strangers as your natural subjects seke to do unto your maie-stiemajestie
most faithful and honorable service, ac-cordingaccording
to their power. Besides, in al their as-sẽbliesassemblies
and in every congregation they make their hartie and
feruẽt fervent prayers unto almightie God for the helth of your soule, the safegard of your most royal
person, and the prosperous estate of your realm long to continue. And I especially for mine own part, bicause I wold not be unthankful for the great benefits I en-ioyenjoy
by your grace, abiding under your maie-stiesmajesties
protection (forasmuch as ingratitude is a a most horrible and detestable vice) in con-siderationconsideration
thereof (moste gracious Lady) I present your highnesse with this smal Trea-tiseTreatise
of mine, as the best Jewel that I have in
store at this
presente, in signification of my good wil, and for declaration of my duetie in this
behalfe, beseeching youre highnesse moste humbly to accept it in good parte as
(considering your majesties natural bountie and your accustomed goodnesse) my trust is you will
vouchsafe to doe. For I am persua-dedpersuaded
(albeit the stile be rude) that the matter shall be fitte for your Majestie to reade, and that the same shall not be unpleasant
unto
you, but minister unto your grace great oc-casionoccasion
of much joy, peace, and contentation of minde and conscience. And these be the causes
and respects for the which I presume to present the same to your majestie, in most humble maner beseching your highnesse to accepte the same, and
praying to almightie God to graunt unto your Majestie a moste happie reign in this world: and after this life to reigne with him
for ever, for his only son our Lorde Jesus Christes sake.
At London your Majesties Citie and seate royal. The .25. of May . 1569.
Your Majesties most humble servant,
Jean vander Noodt.
B
eing one day at my window all alone,
So many strange things hapned me to see,
As much it grieveth me to thinke thereon.
At my right hande, a Hinde appearde to me,
So faire as mought the greatest God delite:
Two egre Dogs dyd hir pursue in chace,
Of whiche the one was black, the other white.
With deadly force so in their cruell race
They pinchte the haunches of this gentle beast,
That at the last, and in shorte time, I spied,
Under a rocke, where she (alas) opprest,
Fell to the grounde, and there untimely dide.
Cruell death vanquishing so noble beautie,
Oft makes me waile so harde a destinie.
A
fter at Sea a tall Ship dyd appere,
Made all of Heben and white Ivorie,
The sailes of Golde, of Silke the tackle were:
Milde was the winde, calme seemed the sea to be:
The Skie eche where did shew full bright and faire.
With riche treasures this gay ship fraighted was.
But sodaine storme did so turmoyle the aire,
And tombled up the sea, that she, alas,
Strake on a rocke that under water lay.
O great misfortune, O great griefe, I say,
Thus in one moment to see lost and drownde
So great riches, as lyke can not be founde.
T
hen heavenly branches did I see arise,
Out of a fresh and lusty Laurell tree
Amidde the yong grene wood. Of Paradise
Some noble plant I thought my selfe to see,
Suche store of birdes therein yshrouded were,
Chaunting in shade their sundry melodie.
My sprites were ravisht with these pleasures there.
While on this Laurell fixed was mine eye,
The Skie gan every where to overcast,
And darkned was the welkin all aboute,
When sodaine flash of heavens fire outbrast,
And rent this royall tree quite by the roote.
Which makes me much and ever to
complaine,
For no such shadow shal be had againe.
W
ithin this wood, out of the rocke did rise
A Spring of water mildely romblyng downe,
Whereto approched not in any wise
The homely Shepherde, nor the ruder cloune,
But many Muses, and the Nymphes withall,
That sweetely in accorde did tune their voice
Unto the gentle sounding of the waters fall.
The sight wherof dyd make my heart rejoyce.
But while I toke herein my chiefe delight,
I sawe (alas) the gaping earth
devoure
The Spring, the place, and all cleane out of sight.
Whiche yet agreves my heart even to this houre.
I
saw a Phœnix in the wood alone,
With purple wings and crest of golden hew,
Straunge birde he was, wherby I thought anone,
That of some heavenly wight I had the vew:
Untill he came unto the broken tree
And to the spring that late devoured was.
What say I more? Eche thing at length we see
Doth passe away: the Phœnix there, alas,
Spying the tree destroyde, the water dride,
Himselfe smote with his beake, as in disdaine,
And so forthwith in great despite he dide.
For pitie and love my heart yet burnes in paine.
A
t last so faire a Ladie did I spie,
That in thinking on hir I burne and quake,quake;
On herbes and floures she walked pensively.
Milde, but yet love she proudely did forsake.
White seemed hir robes, yet woven so they were,
As snowe and golde together had bene wrought.
Above the waste a darke cloude shrouded hir,
A stinging Serpent by the heele hir caught,
Wherewith she languisht as the gathered floure:
And well assurde she mounted up to joy.
Alas in earth so nothing doth endure
But bitter griefe that dothe our hearts anoy.
My Song thus now in thy Conclusions,
Say boldly that these same six visions
Do yelde unto thy lorde a sweete request,
Ere it be long within the earth to rest.
Sonets.
I
t was the time when rest the gift of Gods
Sweetely sliding into the eyes of men,
Doth drowne in the forgetfulnesse of slepe,
The carefull travailes of the painefull day:
Then did a ghost appeare before mine eyes
On that great rivers banke that runnes by Rome,
And calling me then by my propre name,
He bade me upwarde
unto
heaven looke.
He cride to me, and loe (quod he) beholde,
What under this great Temple is containde,
Loe all is nought but flying vanitie.
So I knowing the worldes unstedfastnesse,
Sith onely God surmountes the force of tyme,
In God alone do stay my confidence.
O
n hill, a frame an hundred cubites hie
I sawe, an hundred pillers eke about,
All of fine Diamant decking the front,
And fashiond were they all in Dorike wise.
Of bricke, ne yet of marble was the wall,
But shining Christall, which from top to base
Out of deepe vaute threw forth a thousand rayes
Upon an hundred steps of purest golde.
Golde was the parget: and the sielyng eke
Did shine all scaly with fine golden plates.
Jaspis
O worldes vainenesse. A sodein earthquake loe,
Shaking the hill even from the bottome deepe,
Threwe downe this building to the lowest stone.
T
hen did appeare to me a sharped spire
Of diamant, ten feete eche way in square,
Justly proportionde up
unto his height,
So hie as mought an Archer reache with sight.
Upon the top therof was set a pot
Made of the mettall that we honour most.
And in this golden vessell couched were
The ashes of a mightie Emperour.
Upon foure corners of the base there lay
To beare the frame, foure great Lions of golde.
A worthie tombe for such a worthie corps.
Alas, nought in this worlde but griefe endures.
A sodaine tempest from the heaven, I saw,
With flusheflashe stroke downe this noble monument.
I
saw raisde up on pillers of Ivorie,
Whereof the bases were of richest golde,
The chapters Alabaster, Christall frises,
The double front of a triumphall arke.
On eche side portraide was a victorie.victorie,
With golden wings in habite of a Nymph.Nymph,
And set on hie upon triumphing chaire,
The auncient glorie of the Romane lordes.
The worke did shewe it selfe not wrought by man
But rather made by his owne skilfull hande
That forgeth thunder dartes for Jove his sire.
Let me no more see faire thing under
heaven,
Sith I have seene so faire a thing as this,
With sodaine falling broken all to dust.
T
hen I behelde the faire Dodonian tree,
Upon
seven hilles throw forth his gladsome shadcshade,
And Conquerers bedecked with his leaves
Along the bankes of the Italian streame.
There many auncient Trophees were erect,
Many a spoile, and many goodly
signes,
To shewe the greatnesse of the stately race,
That erst descended from the Trojan bloud.
Ravisht I was to see so rare a thing,
When barbarous villaines in disordred
heape,
Outraged the honour of these noble bowes.
I hearde the tronke to grone under the wedge.
And since I saw the roote in hie disdaine
Sende forth againe a twinne of forked trees.
I
saw the birde that dares beholde the Sunne,
With feeble flight venture to mount to heaven,
By more and more she gan to trust hir wings,
Still folowing th'example of hir damme:
I saw hir rise, and with a larger flight
Surmount the toppes even of the hiest hilles,
And pierce the cloudes, and with hir wings to reache
The place where is the temple of the Gods.
There was she lost, and sodenly I saw
Where tombling through the aire in lompe of fire,
All flaming downe she fell upon the plaine.
I saw hir bodie turned all to dust,
And saw the foule that shunnes the cherefull light
Out of hir ashes as a worme arise.
T
hen all astonned with this nightly ghost,
I saw an hideous body big and strong,
Long was his beard, and side did hang his hair,
A grisly forehed and Saturnelike face.
Leaning against the belly of a pot
He shed a water, whose outgushing streame
Ran flowing all along the creekie shoare
Where once the Troyan Duke with Turnus fought.
And at his feete a bitch Wolfe did give sucke
To two yong babes. In his right hand he bare
The tree of peace, in left the conquering Palme,
His head was garnisht with the Laurel bow.
Then sodenly the Palme and Olive fell,
And faire greene Laurel witherd up and dide.
H
ard by a rivers side, a wailing Nimphe,
Folding hir armes with thousand sighs to heaven
Did tune hir plaint to falling rivers sound,
Renting hir faire visage and golden haire,
Where is (quod she) this whilome honored face?
Where is thy glory and the auncient praise,
Where all worldes hap was reposed,
When erst of Gods and man I worshipt was?
Alas, suffisde it not that civile bate
Made me the spoile and bootie of the world,
But this new Hydra mete to be assailde
Even by an hundred such as Hercules,
With seven springing heds of monstrous crimes,
So many Neroes and Caligulaes
Must still bring forth to rule this croked shore .shore?
U
pon a hill I saw a kindled flame,
Mounting like waves with triple point to heaven,
Which of incense of precious Ceder tree
With Balmelike odor did perfume the aire.
A bird all white, well fetherd on hir winges
Hereout did flie up to the throne of Gods,
And singing with most plesant melodismelodie
She climbed up to heaven in the smoke.
Of this faire fire the faire dispersed rayes
Threw forth abrode a thousand shining leames,
When sodain dropping of a golden shoure
Gan quench the glystering flame. O grevous chaunge!
That which erstwhile so pleasaunt scent did yelde,
Of Sulphure now did breathe corrupted smel.
I
saw a fresh spring rise out of a rocke,
Clere as Christall against the Sunny beames,
The bottome yellow like the shningshining
landsand,
That golden Pactol drives
upon the plaine.
It seemed that arte and nature strived to joyne
There in one place all pleasures of the eye.
There was to heare a noise alluring slepe
Of many accordes more swete than Mermaids song,
The seates and benches shone as Ivorie,
An hundred Nymphes sate side by side about,
When from nie hilles a naked rout of Faunes
With hideous cry assembled on the place,
Which with their feete uncleane the water fouled,
Threw down the seats, and
drove the Nimphs to flight.
A
t length, even at the time when Morpheus
Most truely doth appeare unto our eyes,
Wearie to see th'inconstance of the heavens:
I saw the great Typhæus sister come,
Hir head full bravely with a morian armed,
In majestie she seemde to matche the Gods.
And on the shore, harde by a violent streame,
She raisde a Trophee over all the worlde.
An hundred vanquisht kings gronde at hir feete,
Their armes in shamefull wise bounde at their backes.
While I was with so dreadfull sight afrayde,
I saw the heavens warre against hir tho,
And seing hir striken fall with clap of thunder,
With so great noyse I start in sodaine wonder.
I
saw an ugly beast come from the sea,
That seven heads, ten crounes, ten hornes did beare,
Having theron the vile blaspheming name.
The cruell Leopard she resembled much:
Feete of a beare, a Lions throte she had.
The mightie Dragon gave to hir his power.
One of hir heads yet there I did espie,
Still freshly bleeding of a grievous wounde.
One cride aloude.aloude: What one is like (quod he)
This honoured Dragon, or may him withstande?
And then came from the sea a savage beast,
With Dragons speche, and shewde his force by fire,
With wondrous signes to make all wights adore
The beast, in setting of hir image up.
I
saw a Woman sitting on a beast
Before mine eyes, of Orenge colour hew:
Horrour and dreadfull name of blasphemie
Filde hir with pride. And seven heads I saw,
Ten hornes also the stately beast did beare.
She seemde with glorie of the scarlet faire,
And with fine perle and golde puft up in heart.
The wine of hooredome in a cup she bare.
The name of Mysterie writ in hir face.
The bloud of Martyrs dere were hir delite.
Most fierce and fell this woman seemde to me.
An Angell then descending downe from
Heauen.Heaven
With thondring voice cride out aloude, and sayd,
Now for a truth great Babylon is fallen.
T
hen might I see upon a white horse set
The faithfull man with flaming countenaunce,
His head did shine with crounes set therupon.
The worde of God made him a noble name.
His precious robe I saw embrued with bloud.
Then saw I from the heaven on horses white,
A puissant armie come the selfe same way.
Then cried a shining Angell as me thought,
That birdes from aire descending downe on earth
Should warre upon the kings, and eate their flesh.
Then did I see the beast and Kings also
Joinyng their force to slea the faithfull man.
But this fierce hatefull beast and all hir traine.traine
Is pitilesse throwne downe in pit of fire.
I
saw new Earth, new Heaven, sayde Saint John.
And loe, the sea (quod he) is now no more.
The holy Citie of the Lorde, from hye
Descendeth garnisht as a loved spouse.
A voice then sayde, beholde the bright abode
Of God and men.
For he shall be their God.God
And all their teares he shall wipe cleane away.
Hir brightnesse greater was than can be founde.
Square was this Citie, and twelve gates it had.
Eche gate was of an orient perfect pearle,
The houses golde, the pavement precious stone.
A lively streame, more cleere than Christ allChristall is,
Ranne through the mid, sprong from triumphant seat.
There growes lifes fruite unto the Churches good.
Sonets.
A BRIEFE
DE-
claration
Declaration
of the Authour
upon his visions, taken out of the holy
scrip-
tures
scriptures,
and dyvers Orators, Poetes,
Philosophers, and true histories.
Tran-
slated
Translated
out of French into En-
glishe
Englishe
by Theodore Roest.
W
aying and
conside-
ring
considering
that many which are
grieved and sore vexed in their myndes, grudgyng, and leding an unquiet life, do not onely for the most part, mislike of their owne estate
and calling, but enui-ouslyenviously
(such is our frailtie) go about to en-terenter
into other mens lyvings, so that now a days the fewest numbre of men are cõ-tentedcontented
with their vocation and callyng, wherof we have dayly too too much expe-rience.experience.
As for example: Many souldiers
desire to be merchants: again many mer-chantsmerchants
love warfare, for all that they
see what inconveniences folow oftentimes. Lawyers woulde be husbandmen: agayn, men of the countrey commende the voca-tionvocation
of Judges. Many maried folks wold be vnmariedunmaried, other not maried, and sin-glesingle
persons travaile to be. Poore men
covet to be riche, the riche desireth more and more, and every man laboureth to
advaunce him selfe. A knight or a gentle-mangentleman
would gladly be some great Lorde, or Earle. An Earle loketh to be a
Duke, or prince, a Duke or prince seeketh to be-comebecome
King. A King (contentyng hymself yet least) studieth by what meanes
he may amplifie his realme, and joyne
unto
it townes, cities, and countreys, so to in-creaseincrease
his dominions daily, that at length he might attaine to the Monarchie
of all
Europe, and then to become Lorde of the whole
worlde. Briefly, the hearts of car-nallcarnall
and voluptuous men are never at rest,
have
never inough, but be driven by the meanes of concupiscence, which reigneth in them, always to be
careful, to watche,
to toyle and moyle, to wishe, to
mistrust, to sue and busily to be occupied. For an ambitious and covetous carnal person is
never contented with that he hath: for if he have bene busy but ten dayes for that he hath, he will not refuse to
woorke ten times ten other to attaine to that which he desireth and gapeth for,
although it be not profitable, either for body or soule. This time of our
pilgrimage is graunted of God to learne to knowe him, to serve
and honor him, to laude and magnifie his name, to put oure whole confidence in hym, to leade oure life accordyng to hys
blessed will, and to seeke our whole feli-citiefelicitie
and blessednesse only in hym. Final-ly,Finally,
to acknowledge (without the whiche also the condition of man is
worse than
isthat
of brute beasts) with heart and tong al goodnesse goodnesse
to proceede of him. This time (I say) for this purpose gyven
unto
us, those men
aforesayd, consume and spend in vnquiet-nesse, unquietnesse,
to the service of wicked Mammon, and other unlawfull and greedie desires of earthly and transitorie riches, losing and forgoing therby
the joy
and quietnesse
of the spirite and conscience, and
most of al, true christian libertie.Therefore (hopyng to move such as doe understand
aright how deceitfull worldly things be, to avoyde them the rather, and to covete
after the eternall and everlasting) I have
thought it good, so compendiously as pos-siblypossibly
I may, to shewe how vaine, transi-torie,transitorie,
deceitfull, unprofitable, and vncer-tainuncertain
worldly things be, and that heauen-lyheavenly
things only are everlasting, immortal, excellent, good, and most to be desired, e-ueneven
as God him self is the fountain of all goodnesse, and perfect in all
things which can be desired, yea more a greate deale than oure understandyng is able to vt-terutter
or to comprehende: to this ende and purpose, that men convertyng
unto the Lorde, in hym onely seeking their whole
salvation and perfect blysse, myght leade their life paciently with a good
conscience in all quietnesse of minde and spirite, and so to enjoy the true christian libertie and spirituall gladnesse here in thys
worlde,
that in the worlde to come they
might be inheritours (by grace) of the everlasting
joyes in eternall glorie, purchased tho-roughthorough
the bloud of oure Savioure
Jesus
Christ. But before we enter any farther to speake of the vanities of
worldly and transitorie Richesse, I will warne
thee
(gentle Reader) that when I speake of substance, riches, estates,
bodily health, of wife and children, and other like, whiche all are the good
giftes of God, I mean not in respect of the thing it selfe, nor yet the good use of the same,same (for in it is no suche default,)default), but onely I meane the great a-buseabuse
whiche commonly is seene in the vn-naturalunnatural
and unbrideled desire, wherunto
rich and worldly men ar inclined. Saint
Augustine speaking of the nature of the thing, affirmeth, that health,
strengthe, riches, grace, noblenesse, a faire andfaireand good wyfe, propre childrencleane children, friendes, power, and other like, they are things naturally indifferent,
whereof a man maye reape good or evyll. Even so saythe S. Ambrose, that then they are good
and profitable when they are wel used, otherwise hurt-full,hurtfull,
yea dampnable, when the use of them exceedeth the lymits of reason and equitie, and rules of Gods holy worde.
Neither meane I to touch those that are rich, or have great possessions: but those onely which are possessed of their
goodes, whose money is their maister, them (I say) whiche are of the propretie
and na-turenature
of one named Gallio, which as
Sene-caSeneca
reherseth, Seneca in the
treatise of the happy life. 22. Cha. was not maister of his goo-des,goodes,
but he hym selfe was subjecte
unto
them, that is to say, he was a bond slave, and did serve
unto the occasions of evyl, whyche came unto hym by hys owne goodes. Also I wil speake of the love, con-fidenceconfidence
and inordinat lust, and of the cha-syngchasyng
and puttyng away of vertue and godlynesse, and the going astray from God, dependyng upon his creatures, yea upon
vanitie it selfe. Which moste of all com-methcommeth
to passe by the meanes of worldely substaunce, and the greedie desire of the same, the very roote of all evil: For they reduce men from true libertie to thral-dome,thraldome,
and turne freedome into slaverie,
pleasures into miseries, honour,
and pro-motionpromotion
into subjection
and perpetual shame and confusion. This if we considered, it should not give
us occasion to set by them as we do, but rather to abhorre and hate
them, and be moved to follow the counsel of
David:
Psalm. 62.
When riches abound, set not thy heart
upon them.
Briefly, all and every
kinde of evyll
proceedeth of those three
wyth theyr adherentes, wherewith the whole worlde is polluted, as
witnesseth saincte John in hys Canonicall Epistles, saying: Love not the worlde, neyther the thyngs that are in the worlde: If any man love the worlde, the love of the Father is not in hym. For all that (sayeth he) whych is in the
worlde, is the luste of the eyes, and the pride of lyfe, is not of the father,
but of the worlde, and the worlde passeth away, and the lustes therof, but he
that fulfylleth the wyll of God abydeth for ever.
Touching whiche three vices I might rehearse of all sortes of people more than tenne
thousande examples. Whereof some (I speak but temporally, and not of matters
concernyng the soule) have lost theyr money, goodes, and estymation,
some their friendes, libertie,
life and goodes. But what neede I to spend my time, and to trouble my braines about it. Al bookes,
whether they speake of the Assyrians, E-giptians,Egiptians,
Persians, or Medians, Grecians, or
Jewes, Romaines, or other countreyes, are full of it. Wherof rede
Diodorus Siculus,
Josephus, Plutarch, Titus Livius
, and
divers
other historiographers, which have
writ-tenwritten
until our age and time, and we shall finde that all kinde of evill, at the least
commeth out of one of these three, and daily we find it by good experience, that al mis-chiefemischiefe
springeth out of these, yea even in such as had incorporated and joyned them
selves to the church of Christ, foreseyng persecution, crosses, and
tribulations to ensue therby, and by and by for feare of a little losse of
worldly goodes, commodi-ties,commodities,
honours, or otherwise, forsoke and turned againe like the dogge to
their vo-mite,vomite,
and like the sow, after she hath wa-shedwashed
hir self, to hir puddle and mire. And to sette the vanitie and
inconstancie of worldly and transitorie thyngs, the liue-lierlivelier
before your eyes, I have broughte in
in here twentie sightes or
vysions, and
cau-sedcaused
them to be graven, to the ende al men may see that with their eyes, whiche I go aboute to expresse by writing, to
the de-lightdelight
and plesure of the eye and eares, ac-cordingaccording
unto the saying of Horace.
Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci.
That is to say,
He that teacheth pleasantly and well,
Doth in eche poynt all othersin all poyntes all other excell.
Of which oure visions the learned Poete
M. Francisce
Petrarche Gentleman of
Flo-rence,Florence,
did invent and write in Tuscan the six firste, after
suche tyme as hee had lo-uedloved
honestly the space of .xxj..xxi. yeares a faire, gracious, and a noble Damosell, named Laurette, or (as it plesed him best)
Laura, borne of
Avinion
, who afterward hapned to die, he being in Italy,
for whose death (to shewe his great grief) he mour-nedmourned
ten yeares togyther, and amongest many of his songs and sorowfull lamen-tations,lamentations,
devised and made a Ballade or song, containyng the sayd visions, which
bicause they serve wel to our purpose, I
have out of the Brabants speache, turned
them into the Englishe
tongue.
The first then is: That he being upon
a day alone in his window, where he saw as it were in his minde by a
vysion a ve-ryvery
faire hind, and also two swift hounds, one white and the other blacke
chasing and
pursuing hir so long, that at length they caught and killed hir.
Which sight cau-sedcaused
him to burst oute into sighes and tea-resteares
for the piteous destinie thereof: That is, for the apointed time of the death of his
love
Laura, whiche he ment by the faire hinde, as by the
houndes white and black he understode the daye and nyght, mea-ningmeaning
the time passyng away, and not ta-ryingtarying
for any one.
Moreover, he saw a faire ship or vessel made of yvorie
and Hebene wood, wherun-towherunto
also he compared his love
Laura, to wete hir whyte coloured face unto
Ivorie, and hir blackishe browes muche lyke unto
the wood of Hebene. The coardes and ro-pesropes
were of Sylke, and the sayles of cloath of golde, whereby are meant
not onely all hir costely rayement or appa-rell,apparell,
but also hir noble and excellent ver-tuesvertues
wherewith she was beautified and adorned.
Againe, he sawe a newe bushe oute of a faire Laurell tree, Holly bowes bud-dyngbuddyng
forthe, under whose shadowe little small birdes didde syng, wyth a verye sweete and
melodious harmonie: Under-standyngUnderstandyng
hereby, hir loving and curte-ouscurteous
talke, hir most pleasaunt and sweete
song. And by and by he sawe the lyghte-nynglyghtenyng
and tempest to wyther and drie up
thys faire and goodly Tree . That is, that a burnyng sicknesse came, whiche tooke awaye the lyfe
of this fayre damosell his
love
Laura.
The other three
Visions followyng, are in manner all one, notyfiing hereby that there is
nothyng else in thys worlde but myseries, sorrowes, afflictions, and
calamities: And all that man doth stay hym selfe upon in thys worlde, is no-thyngnothyng
but vayne fansie, wynde, and smoake. And thus as he hadde passed
over many a yeare in greate and vn-faynedunfayned
love
towardestowarde hir (duryng hir life time) what with flatterie and what in commendyng of
hir beautie, caused him upon a sodaine chaunge after hir de-parturedeparture
(as it is sayde) so long a time to mourne and to lamente, but
considering with him self, that there was no comfort,comfort
hope or salvation in worldely love to be loked for, turned himselfe to Godwarde, lamenting and sorrowing
the rest of hys lyfe, and repented hym of his former life so ydlely and undecently spent.
The other ten visions next ensuing, ar described of one
Joachim du Bellay, Gen-tlemanGentleman
of France, the whiche also, bicause they
serve to our purpose, I have
transla-tedtranslated
them out of Dutch into English.
First of all, he speaketh of a certayne Architecture or
kinde of buildyng, gorge-ouslygorgeously
and magnificentlike made, as you may see more plainly in the seventh figure of our visions. Secondly he sawe a spire, thirdely an Arke
triumphant. And then the Dodonian
tree , spreading his shadow
upon
seven hilles, namely upon the hill of Palatine, the hill Capitolie, the mounte
Vimiall, the mount Cely, Esquilin,
Vimiel, and Quirinel. After that, the birde which
is able to beholde the Sunne, that is the Eagle imperiall: and the great
Statue, whom he saw leaning on a stone pitcher, whereout runneth a great water, wher-bywherby
he meaneth the river of Tyber, with the
shee wolfe, giving sucke to two children, which is the Armes of the Romains. The
seventh is a Nimph mournyng and wrin-gyngwringyng
of hir handes. Eightly, a three
fla-mingflaming
fire, wherout a birde flushing moũ-tedmounted
on hie. Ninthly, a faire spring, and a hundreth Nimphes rounde about it, unto
whome came the Faunes, which brake the
Fountaine, and drave them awaye. Last of all, hee telleth of Typheus daughter, whiche after hir
greate presumption and pride was vanquished and slaine. With all these he goeth
about to persuade, that all things here upon earthe, are nothing but wretched miserie, and miserable va-nitie,vanitie,
shewing also howe Rome hath bene destroyed,
which of a base and low estate was lifted up, and become very hie, and that by none other means than couetous-nessecovetousnesse
and the great desire which that peo-plepeople
and nation had to money and Ambi-tion,Ambition,
that is, to be regarded, and to have
authoritie and rule following the nature and condition of their
progenitours and Predecessoures Romulus and Remus, whiche were (as histories do tell,)tell),
nou-rishednourished
and brought up of a she wolfe, cal-ledcalled
Lupa. Oute of whose breastes they
have sucked all manner of crueltie and beastlynesse, gettyng so unto
themsel-uesthemselves
a wolvish courage, yea worse than a Wolfe, as Mithridates
Kyng of Ponte cast them in the teeth, bicause they were ne-uernever
satisfied of bloud, honour, dignities, and riches, but always indevoured them
selves to get other princes, nations, coun-treyscountreys
and Cities, goodes and dominions,
wheruppon folowed the oppression of o-therother
nations, through many great robbe-ries,robberies,
with great labour and paine, yea to the perill and losse of their
owne men and Capitains, and so amplified and augmen-tedaugmented
above mesure their empires, realms, and domynions, stuffed and furnyshed
theyr Cytie wyth abundaunce of all ma-nermaner
of riches, wherupon didde ensue all kinde of superfluitie and worldely pom-pousnesse.pompousnesse.
So that they adorned their Citie with all maner of sumptuous and
costely buyldings, wyth all kindes of curious and cunning workes, as Thea-ters,Theaters,
Triumphall Arkes, Pyramedes, Columnes, Spires, and a greate num-bernumber
of graven Images, Statues, Me-dallesMedalles
and Figures, made of divers and sundry kindes of stuffe, as Marble, Ala-blaster,Alablaster,
Golde, Sylver, Copper, Pour-phere,Pourphere,
Emplaster, Brasse and other like mettall, some graven, and other some cast. All whiche sumptuousnesse and su-perfluitiesuperfluitie
hathe oftentymes thoroughe dissention, discorde and sedition amongst
them selves, also by their enimies privie
conspiracy, hate, and particular profite, and
by childish and folish counsell, ben to their great hinderaunce and
damage. As it is to be seene in their owne Histories. And as they proceeded in all wickednesse, abhomination, superstition, and Idola-trieIdolatrie
from time to time, even so after that
CHRIST our Savioure, and King of
al Kings was crucified under
Pylate, pre-sidentpresident
of
Jerusalem, they ceassed not dayly to kill the poore Christians,
persecutyng the church of God in al places, by al kinde of crueltie and
tiranny, especially in the time of Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Aurelian, Dioclesian, Maxence,
and other like, bicause they woulde not observe and keepe theyr false and superstitious worshyppyng of God, but rather rebuked
them, and
proved
theirs to be false. And forasmuch as that auncient Rome would not amend it selfe, and renounce their enorme vices, Idola-trieIdolatrie
and superstition, and converte
unto
the Lorde Jesu Christe, to imbrace the true worshippyng of God, and the euer-lastingeverlasting
Gospel, they have bene justly
pla-gued,plagued,
receyving according to their deser-tes,desertes,
such measure as they had measured to others. Therfore are the Persians, Hui-nes,Huines,
Frenchmen, Germains or Dutchmen, Vã-dales,Vandales,
Eastgothes,
and
Westgothes rysen against them and their Empire, and
have
divided it, and at lengthe have they besieged Rome,
and have taken and subverted, burned, spoyled, and wholly rased it. So the Lord
through his juste
judgement hath reuen-gedrevenged
the innocent bloud of his children. This is shewed unto
us by these visions and sonets.They have banished and
abolished Christe and his
doctrine, every
where preferryng their owne ambition, profit, commoditie
and ease. Wherunto
and to obtain it the rather, they have brought in many superstitions and traditions of men, as Latin service (bicause the comon people should not understand their doings) bells, organs play, cymbales, incense, palmes, candles,
tapers, purgatorie, masses for al soules, diriges, obsequies, Pilgrimages,
indulgences to deliver the soules out of purgatorie, after thei have gotten money inough. Item, church holy days, Rogation
dayes, Relikes, yea coales wherwith S.
Laurence
was broyled,
Josephs
hosen, the armes of S. Cornelis, with many more tri-flestrifles
and other relikes. They proceed fur-therfurther
to the forbidding of mariage, meate, egges, butter: in lyke manner
images, and crucifixes were sette up, woorkyng thereby false miracles, alwayes forese-ingforeseing
to their Maosin, that is, great shops,
churches, temples, chapels and Altars, where they might sell their trumperie
freely , not without great gain, yea so wel that they were mounted so hie in
power,
riches, and
voluptuousnesse, as we have
seene by experience, and dayely is to be seene in places where they
are, that they rule above emperors, kings, and princes: and
all this under a shewe of pietie and holy-nesse,holynesse,
as we heretofore have sayde. Of these S. John
in his revelation doth warn
us in his sixte chapiter,
Revel. 6. where he sayeth manifestly, that when the lambe had ope-nedopened
the seventh seale, he saw a pale horse, and he whiche satte upon it, was named death: for this congregation of hipocrites, notwithstanding their copper faces, and carbuncled
noses, through their vnmea-surableunmeasurable
gluttony and dronkennesse, are yet in their soule pale, deadish,
black and blew, as vnholsomunholsom
and dead bodies: for thei
have no true life within them, nor that
blessednesse
blessednesse
that consisteth in Christ Jesu, Rom. 2.
and his holy word. Luke.
12. And he which sate on it was death. Math. 6. Their doctrine and teaching is no-thingnothing
but death and damnation. For hy-pocrisiehypocrisie
engendreth nothing but destruc-tiondestruction
of salvation, and their fruits are shame and confusion. For hell foloweth them to
destroy those that are seduced by them. Esay. 5.
Daniel and Paule they have foretold that
Antechrist shoulde be borne of
the subuer-sionsubversion
of the Empire,
Proverb. 5. and desolation of
Rome. And to
the ende we myght speake more at large of the thing, I have taken foure visions out of the revelation of S.
John, where as the holy ghost by S. John
setteth him out in his colours.
I saw a beast (sayth S. John) rising out of the sea,
Revel. 13. signifiyng the congregation of the wicked and proude
hypocrites, which ex-altexalt
and advaunce them selves as the Ce-derCeder
trees of Libanus, they are unnaturall
and beastly like unto
Elmas the inchan-ter,inchanter,
ful of fraude and guile, full of falshod and pride, they are whelpes
and genera-tionsgenerations
of the devyll, subverting the ways of the Lord. Thys beast is described here as the pale horse
in the fourth age, and the cruel Grashoppers in the fift age, and themad horsses with Lions mouths in the vj.vi.
age. Apoc. 6. Apoc.
9. This beast, meaning the odible, fals, and
damnable errors and pestiferous inspirati-onsinspirations
of the divel, which at this time reign in the beastly membres of that monstrous body of the beast, as namely in the outragiousoutragious
bishops, spiritual lawyers,
priests, hypocrites, and false Magistrates, for their heads are their
subtiltie, and their hornes signifie their tyrannous might. It had also ten crownes upon his ten hornes,
signifiyng their greate dominion and su-perioritiesuperioritie
throughout the whole worlde. The divell is their prince and Captayne most cruell, and that through the iniqui-tieiniquitie
and ingratitude of the people: but in this point differ the dragon and the beast,
from the divell and his membres, Sathan
andfrom his carnal and
beastly congregation, for he had seven crounes upon his seven
heades, and they have ten crownes upon
their ten heads, mening, that that which he onely hath stirryng up of the thyng, that have they. The signification wherof is, that Sathan is only of abilitie
and po-werpower
to blowe into their eares the thing whiche they with violence, and by
force maintayne: where as he is but able by fansies and inspiration, there are
these his meete instruments to perfourme it and
put in execution by violence, and power, by menaces and compulsion.
Wher as he
he dallieth onely by playe, there do they seriously force and violently
compell. When he hath only engendred and found
out any error or false doctrine, they with al diligence, as an
infallible truth, allow, confirme and stablishe it, and make of it a necessarie
article to beleve on, as they
have
put in practise their purgatorie, au-ricularauricular
confession, transubstantiation, worshippyng and carying about of dumb
Idols, and Images, the hearing of latin ser-uice,service,
Masse, and other abhominations. As he hath found out any lye (as he
is the fa-therfather
of all lies, and hath ben since the be-ginning)beginning)
so may they holde it for a per-fecteperfecte
written veritie, makyng it of good authoritie and might, as
experience may testifie, they have done. Hereout and such like, it is manifest, that they being hys
ghostly ministers and spirituall instru-mẽts,instruments,
may execute effectually more wic-kednessewickednesse
than he him selfe alone, as their works may wel testifie.
Sathan
was not of power to put Christ to death, if it had not
ben through
Judas
, into whom he entred, and
afterward by the bishops and Scribes who
persecuted him unto deth. The Apostles, tru ministers and other witnesses of Christ shold never
have
ben persecuted, whipped,
Math. 23. scourged, tormented and miserably slaine, neither shold they at this present, if these
popish prelates did not folow and maintain their old and accustomed maners, and fulfil
the mesure of their fathers. And upon his heads were names of Blasphemie against the Lord and his
Christ. Al this is nothing else than their shining and glorious titles, wher with they suborne and make great their
supremacie and their estimation, and as holy and blamelesse to bee regarded among men, and before the
world, whereunder
is covered
and comprehended all maner of iniquity. What ar Popes, Cardinals, pa-triarks,patriarks,
legates, chief heads, archbishops,
pronotariesprotonotaries, archdeacons, officialls, com-missaries,commissaries,
prebendaries, vicars, lorde ab-bot,abbot,
master or doctor, and suche like, what are these I say else but
names of blasphe
mie? For these offices and titles are not of the holy ghost, neither is there any men-tionmention
made of them in the holy scripture. What is it I pray you else, than
a great
abhomination and blasphemy that the Pope claimeth to him selfe to be the most holy
father, to be the Vicare of Christ, God on earth, supreame head of the Church, the only
steward of the gifts, graces, and mi-steriesmisteries
of God? What meaneth it that Priests and Bishops do arrogantly ascribe to them
selves to be Bridegromes, to stand in Gods stead, to have power to pardon sinne, and to be our Ladies clean and vn-defiledundefiled
knights? What be these else than names of blasphemie? For they are no-thingnothing
else as Zacharie termeth them(having
no care of feeding of the flock, but through meere negligence and slouth sette aside
preaching of the word, through these vain titles) than very offending Idols.
Their
Decrees , Decretals, traditions, rules, or-dinaunces,ordinaunces,
statutes, customes of the Fa-thers,Fathers,
general Counsels, Sinodes, and o-therother
of their usages, not grounded on the word of God and his wil, are nothing else but
dampnable hipocrisie, and divelish
dis-simulation,dissimulation,
blaspheming the name of the Lord. For the names of blasphemy on his
heade is nothing else but to maintaine
under an honest and vertuous shew, that which is blasphemous, to his own aduãce-ment.advancement.
This beast was like the Leopard, spot-tedspotted
and blemished, tokens of inconstancie, chaungeablenesse, and
temeritie. His feete like to a Beares feete, fearful and
horrible, il
favored of fashion, and deformed, signify-ingsignifying
crueltie, stubbornesse, stoutnesse and
vncleanesseuncleannesse. And his mouth as the mouth of a Lion,
declaring heereby the pride, theft, murther, and all kinde of wickednesse of those
Prelates. Daniel saw in a vision, a Lion, wherto that
proud kingdom of the
Assirians and Chaldees were to be compa-red.compared.
Unto the Beare which he sawe, was likened the barbarous and rude
realmes of the Medes
and
Persians. By the Leopard is meant the unstedfast kingdome of the
Grecians. The Assirians and Chaldees were for
their stealing and Pride, rebuked and curssed of the Prophets Esay, Nahum,
Nahum. 23.Nahum. 2-3.
Esay. 13. and
Abacuck. Abacuck. 1. The Medeans and Persians kept the people of God in captivitie and bon-dage.bondage.
As it is to be seene in the bookes of
Hester,
Hest. 23.Hest. 2-3.
Paralipomenon and Esay.
2. Paralip. 36 Esay. 22.
The
Gre-ciansGrecians
also were very spitefull,
2. Macha. 2.1. Macha. 2.
and full of
reproche to the people of God, in
the time of that cruell Tyrant Antiochus, as it ap-pearethappeareth
in the Booke of the Machabees.
2. Macha. 2.1. Macha. 2.
But this beast
whiche S. John
speaketh of here, dothe comprehende all these
three which Daniel saw, namely the bodye like
unto a Leopard, pawes like unto a Bear, and the mouth to the Lion. Whereby the holy Ghost teacheth us, that within thys one curssed Popedom or kyngdom of An-techrist,Antechrist,
should be as much, and more ab-homination,abhomination,
Idolatrie, fornication, mur-ther,murther,
and all kind of wickednesse, as were in all these three realmes aforesaid. As at this day it is to be seene , and we have had good experience. No where raigned at a-nyany
time more pride, idlenesse, cruelty, I-dolatry,Idolatry,
fornication, adultery, vnclean-nesse,uncleannesse,
Sodometrie, envie, dissimulation, falshoode and inconstancie, vaine glorie, iniquitie,
sorcerie, superstition and impie-tie,impietie,
than doth in this one dominion of An-techrist.Antechrist.
He alone hath more contamina-tedcontaminated
Gods holy Temple, than all the infi-delsinfidels
together that ever were: they have
most shamefullye intreated and judged
the very electe people of
God, 1. Corin. 3 which are
the vessels of his glory. Rom.
9. They have most miserably and narowly kept under, and as it were in prison, the true Ministers of God by their Decrees and traditions. The severitie and rudenesse of Pharao, Antioche, and Caiphas, is nothing in the comparison of theirs, for in
them is all kind of beastlinesse, uncleanlinesse, wan-tonnesse,wantonnesse,
concupiscence and carnall secu-ritie.securitie.
No reason or humanitie hath any place amongst them, they are more
lyke beasts than men. The rigorous Procla-mationsProclamations
against the
Jewes,
Hest. 3. 4. (at the
request of wicked Ammon and of
are nothing to speake of, to the ordinaunces and statutes of the
Antechrists, for those were only against the body, but theirs are against the
soule and conscience of man also. After this sort doth the Popedom
(which is the dominion of Antechrist) bear the Image of the Leopard, of the Bear, and
of the Lion, bicause it is not only partaker of al the wickednesses with other realmes, but it exceedeth and surmounteth al other
vij.vii. times double in all kinde of iniquitie, Psalm. 9
Rom. 3.
idolatrie, Rom. 3.
and abhominations that
ever were
committed
under
heaven. They have the mouth of a Lyon, always blasphemyng, cursing and banning: Their
feete lyke a beare, signifiyng their insatiable coue-tousnesse,covetousnesse,
runnyng headlong to every
kinde of mischiefe, Rom. 1. very ready to sheade bloud: as leopards are they polluted
and spotted with dyvers and sundry incon-stantinconstant
mindes, institutions and
observings,
never stedfast or constant, but in al thin-gesthinges
chaungeable and foolishe: 2. Thess. 2. for suche as receive not Gods truthe, are worthi-lyworthily
forsaken of God.
vertuous orig] ver- tuous Brabante orig] Brabante, Countrey), orig] Countrey) matters, orig] matters. t orig] T whatsoever orig] whatsoeuer, time orig] time, vertue; orig] vertue. nor orig] Nor tong; orig] tong. nor orig] Nor Sappho; orig] Sappho. neither orig] Neither storie-- orig] storie. in orig] In N orig] n supernaturall), orig] supernaturall,) respect orig] respect, you), orig] you) right, orig] right force. orig] force hair. orig] hair welfare orig] welfare, other), orig] other) Verily orig] verily dominions, orig] dominiõs. orig] a quake; orig] quake, flashe orig] flushe victorie, orig] victorie. Nymph, orig] Nymph. shore? orig] shore . sand orig] land aloude: orig] aloude. Heaven orig] Heauen. traine orig] traine. God orig] God. Christall orig] Christ all that orig] is same orig] same, default), orig] default,) Bod NB PN F HRH UI HEH BL_2 BL] faire and NLScot] faireand Bod NB PN F HRH UI HEH BL_2 BL] propre NLScot] cleane children orig] in Bod NB PN F HRH UI NLScot HEH BL_2] in eche poynt all others BL] in all poyntes all other.xxi. orig] .xxj. Bod NB PN F HRH UI NLScot HEH BL_2] towardes BL] towarde Bod NB] comfort, BL] comforttell), orig] tell,) vi. orig] vj. orig] from from orig] and orig] he protonotaries orig] pronotaries Nahum. 2-3. orig] Nahum. 23. Hest. 2-3. orig] Hest. 23. 1. Macha. 2. orig] 2. Macha. 2. 1. Macha. 2. orig] 2. Macha. 2. vii. orig] vij.
voluptuous sensuous,
sensual
naturall
native
Romyshe
Roman
mean
space
meantime
nourice
nurse
other
my my
other
withdrawe
distract
the
rather
instead
for
as much
insofar
resembled
likened
the
matter the substance of
the argument
puissant
powerful
stile full legal
title
Tullie Marcus Tullius
Cicero
exquisite highly
accomplished
his nine
sisters the
Muses
cunnyng
artfulness
devise
design
alonly
alone
of
hir out of her; as an
exercise of her
enduing
endowing
argument
theme
glosingspecious praise
accompt
account
for these
alonely only for
these
happiefortunate
deceivable
deceitful
peculiarly particularly,
preferentially
al . . .
his all of his other
forenamed
lovablenesse
praiseworthiness
entertainement
welcome
overthwartly . .
. hair perversely and
completely contrariwise
God of God in exercise
of
commodities sources of
sustenance and comfort
dignities
positions of elevated status
preferments positions
conferring social and financial advantage
renoumed
renowned
tofore
earlier
endite
compose
heartie
heartfelt
weal
well-being
estate
state
wold not
be desire not to
be
by your grace by means
of your liberality
in
store laid
up
in
signification as a
sign
vouchsafe be willing,
deign
the same
i.e., the
matter of the book
contentation
contentment
Hinde a female
deer
mought might,
could
Heben
ebony
sprites spirits
welkin
sky
outbrast burst
forth
cloune
peasant
anone
immediately
wight
creature
waste
waist
anoy
vex
Sith
since
stay to hold
fixed
frame
structure, building.
Of bricke, ne
yet neither of brick nor
Christall
crystal
parget
ornamental work
(usually in plaster) on walls
sielyng
ceiling
sodein
sudden
chapters capitals, the top
portion of a column
frises
friezes
arke
arch
habite
clothing
chaire
chariot
auncient
ancient
Sith
Since
gladsome
pleasant
erst
originally
since thereafter
astonned stunned,
amazed
Rentingrending
whilome erstwhile, once upon a
time
hap
chance
bate
discord
mete
deserving
leames flashes
glystering glittering
harde
by very close at hand
gronde groaned
with . . .
afrayde frightened
by
tho then,
thereupon
fell cruel
embrued soaked,
stained
puissant powerful
slea
slay
garnisht adorned
Declaration
explanation
mislike
of begrudge,
disapprove of
estate status,
situation
calling
vocation
go
aboutundertake
enter
into take
up
the fewest numbre
of very
few
for
all that despite the fact
that
yet
still
studieth exerts himself in
planning
carnall
worldly
careful
anxious
moyle
drudge
gapeth
for longs
for
graunted
of granted
by
proceede
of
derive
from
the
rather the more
easily
covete after long
for
more a greate
deale
a great deal
more
thorough through, by means
of
in it
is no suche default
in the right use
of worldly good there is no moral defect
onely I
meane
I only
mean
propre
legitimate
possessed
of
possessed
by
confidence impudence
chasyng chasing away,
expulsion
thraldome captivity
set
by esteem
rehearse
recount
crossesmisfortunes, impediments
commodities useful things,
goods
the
livelier more
vividly
to
the ende so
that
honestly honourably,
chastely
stay
hym selfe
rely
fansie
fantasy
what
with . . . what in in consequence of
. . . and in consequence of
considering with
him self reconsidering, reflecting
to
Godwarde toward
God
described of described
by
Arke
triumphant triumphal
arch
drave
drove
followingderiving from
Figures images
Pourphere porphyry
Emplaster plaster of
Paris
other
some some others
particular narrowly
self-interested
from time to
timefrom age to age
president appointed governor,
viceroy
enorme enormous
Eastgothes . . . Westgothes Ostrogoths and
Visigoths
rased razed
the
rather the more easily
brought
in introduced
as such as
diriges, obsequiesfuneral or commemorative rites
odible odious
blowe . . .
eares whisper to them concerning, secretly
propose
found
out invented
Hereout . . .
like From these and similar instances
ghostly
spiritual
wher
with by means of which
suborneadorn
estimation reputation
patriarks the titles afforded to the
highest-ranking of Catholic bishops.
protonotary
high-ranking Monsignors of the Catholic church
officialls
bishops' representatives to diocesan ecclesiastical
courts
commissaries
papal appointees with judicial or executive responsibilities
specified to particular causes
prebendaries
cathedral administrators
il favored of
fashion ugly in shape
stoutnesse stubbornness
Paralipomenon
I.e.
, Chronicles.
Sodometriesodomy
in the comparison
of I.e., compared to.
to the
ordinauncesin comparison to the
ordinaunces
After this
sort Accordingly
sheade shed
observings observances