A THEATRE
wherein be represented as wel the miseries & calamities that follow the voluptuous Worldlings,
As also the greate joyes and
plesures which the faithfull do enjoy.

W Aying and 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 enviously (such is our frailtie) go about to enter into other mens lyuings, so that now a days the fewest numbre of men are contented with their vocation and callyng, wherof we have dayly too too much experience. As for example: Many souldiers

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desire to be merchants: again many merchantslove warfare, for all that they sée what inconveniences folow oftentimes. Lawyers woulde be husbandmen: agayn, men of the countrey commende the vocation of Judges. Many maried folks wold be vnmaried, other not maried, and single persons trauaile 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 gentleman would gladly be some great Lorde, or Earle. An Earle loketh to be a Duke, or prince, a Duke or prince séeketh to become King. A King (contentyng hymself yet least) studieth by what meanes he may amplifie his realme, and joyneunto it townes, cities, and countreys, so to increase 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 carnall & voluptuous men are never at rest, havenever 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 pvt put oure whole confidence in hym, to leade oure life accordyng to hys blessed will, and to séeke our whole felicitie and blessednesse only in hym. Finally, to acknowledge (without the whiche also the condition of man is worse than is of brute beasts) with heart & tong al goodnesse to procéede of him. This time (I say) for this purpose gyvenuntovs us, those mẽ aforesayd, consume and spend in unquietnesse, to the service of wicked Mammon, and other unlawfull and gréedie desires of earthly and transitorie riches, losing and forgoing therby the joy & quietnesse

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of the spirite and conscience, and most of al, true christian libertie. Wherfore with all righte they may be compared to the Dog, wherof Esope speketh, which going over a bridge with breade in his mouth, & spying his shadow in the water, thought to have séene some other Dogge wyth a greater piece of bread in his mouth: wherfore, enticed by gluttony and envy, he let fall that that he had, and snatchyng after his shadowe, was fowly deceyved of al. In like maner I say, hapneth to those that are so wholy gyven & addicted unto those worldly and transitorie riches, that notwithstandyng they see them to be but vaine and idle, yet doe they prefer them above the perpetuall and heavenly. I pvt put case there were an image made of clay, outwardly decked and layde over wyth gold very finely, but thinly, that it might séeme to be altogether of the fynest and purest gold that can be, so that everymam man woulde trauaile and endeuor to get it to him selfe: one comming, breaketh a little piece of it, and so by that meanes the hidden deceipte being knowne, I doubte whether any woulde be so foolishe as to make much a do about a thing so vile and unprofitable, but that he woulde bestowe his time to a farre better use. Therefore (hopyng to move moue such as doe understand a right 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 possibly I may, to shewe how vaine, transitorie, deceitfull, unprofitable, and uncertain worldly things be, and that heavenly things only are everlasting, immortal, excellent, good, and most to be desired, even 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 utter or to comprehende: to this ende and purpose, that men convertyngunto the Lorde, in hym onely séeking 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,

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that in the worlde to come they might be inheritours (by grace) of the everlastingjoyes in eternall glorie, purchased thorough the bloud of oure SavioureJesus Christ. But before we enter any farther to speake of the vanities of worldly and transitorie Richesse, I will warne thée (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, (for in it is no suche default,) but onely I meane the great abuse whiche commonly is séene in the unnatural and vnbrideled desire, whervnto rich and worldly men ar inclined. Saint Augustine speaking of the nature of the thing, affirmeth, that health, strengthe, riches, grace, noblenesse, a faire and [faireand] good wyfe, propre children [cleane 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 hurtfull, yea dampnable, when the use of them excéedeth 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 nature of one named Gallio, which as Seneca reherseth, Seneca in the treatise of the happy life. 22. Cha. was not maister of his goodes, but he hym selfe was subjecteunto them, that is to say, he was a bond slave, and did serveunto the occasions of evyl, whyche came unto hym by hys owne goodes. Also I wil speake of the love, confidence and inordinat lust, and of the chasyng and puttyng away of vertue and godlynesse, & the going astray from God, dependyng upon his creatures, yea upon vanitie it selfe. Which moste of all commeth to passe by the meanes of worldely substaunce, and the gréedie desire of the same, the very roote of all evil: For they reduce men from true libertie to thraldome, and turne fréedome into slaverie,

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pleasures into miseries, honour, and promotion into subjection & perpetual shame and confusion. This if we considered, it should not givevs us occasion to set by them as we do, but rather to abhorre and hate them, & be moved to follow the counsel of David: Psalm. 62. When riches abound set not thy heart upon them. Consideryng then the nature and condition of worldly things, whiche if they were not of them selves most miserable, yet is ther not any thing in them that justly might be called ours, unlesse it be vaine & ydle. For though riches or authoritie yll gotten and unjustly possessed, make the possessor as it were happie: yet (as Plato sayth) vain and idle thyngs can not give any felicitie or happinesse. Lib. 5. de legibus. They séeme wel to be riches, but even as povertie consisteth not either in small possessions, or lackyng of any thyng, otherwise than in the gréedie desire or vnsaciablecovetousnesse, even so riches consyst not in having of goodes or greate possessions, but in the contentation of the minde. Whervnto Seneca agréeth very wel, saying: Epist. 20. He is greate, who of riches maketh none other accompte, than if he possessed none at all. But (sayth he) he that hath none, is of a more assurance, and more frée from all daunger. For it is impossible (as the commonproverbe goth) that the mouse touching the pitche or other glew, should escape, without he be either caught, or at the least defiled with it. Homel. 21, super Marc. To this end and purpose Chrysostom aduouched, that temporall and worldly honour and dignitie convey men into divers and sundry kindes of wantonnesse and other inconveniences. It is requisite therfore, that such as are enriched and come to great estate, be endued with singular vertues & great constancie, if they wil not be overcome or defiled with them. For authoritie ingendreth arrogancie, temeritie & contempte of other, and commonly enticeth men to hastinesse and yre, yea & drowneth them in a whole masse of iniquitie, even as a great tempest overwhelmeth a litle bote. It maketh them proude, and their myndes to wander so farre, that they can not consider their way, but goe quite otherwise than they be aware of: And thynking to avoid troubles and miseries, they intangle themselves the more in it, much like unto the Hare, who being caught in the nette, the more he struggleth, the faster he maketh hym self, & procureth his owne death, & as the small birde caught on the lime twig, the more it flyttereth, the faster it maketh it selfe. They séeme to séeke in none other thing any felicitie or blessednesse than in worldly prosperitie, which consisteth in good fortune of riches, honours, and great estimations, voluptuousnesse and other like, estéemyng themselves moste happy, and as to have founde the righte waye untoSalvation. But lyke as a droncken man is not able to fynde the waye homewarde, nor yet to go uprighte, even so they wander and erre here and there, beyng overcome of many and divers kindes of lustes and desires of worldly and transitorie goods, and can not once come to the way of true riches, of everlastyng goodes and felicitie. This is that, whiche Plato speaketh of, Lib. 10. de Reipub. when he sayth: Howe can a man be riche that occupieth nothing else than vile and corruptible trashe? Or howe can he bée happie by transytorie goodes? What salvation is there in unprofitable and vayne worldely Riches? Seyng there is neyther good honoure nor estymation but in GOD onely, and withoute hym beyng neyther lyfe, felicitie or Salvation, he then that will be happie indéede, continually muste searche after that, whiche is onely everlasting and perfect, and avoyde and flée al superfluitie and aboundaunce of temporall riches. Therefore sayth Christ untoMartha: Luke. 10. Thou carest and are troubled aboute many thinges, but one thyng is necessary (to have quietnesse) Mary hathe chosen the beste parte (whiche is that one) whiche shall not be taken from hir. Héereby sheweth Christe untovs us, that it is not good to be musyng and studying uponworldely affaires, wherein is nothyng else but trouble and unquietnesse of minde, but that wée shoulde laye vp up oure treasure in Heaven, whyche is the surest waye: for true and heavenly ryches doe rejoyse and comforte the spirites withoute any

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carefulnesse or distresse: but goodes and riches of this worlde bryng with them great paines and troubles, as wel in the getting as in keepyng of thẽ, as Tulliereherseth in hys Paradoxes, saying: Riches & great estimation with great paine and trauaile gotten, are with much more and greater care maintained and kept. Therfore saith Juvenal, Saty. 14. that the kéeping of tresure and muche goodes is but miserie and wretchednesse. When the rustical mouse (as Esope reherseth) dyd understande the perils and daungers, wherin the Towne mouse was dayly, he sayd (as they [dayly, sayd (when they] wer in bankettyng) that such aboundance or superfluitie was more lyker poyson or gall than dayntinesse. So we might say of riches and great possessions, wherabout are so many and great daungers, that it is not possible for a riche and worldely man to escape any one of them. For as our Saviour Christ sayth: Math. 19. It is easier for a Camell to goe through the eye of a nedle, than for a riche man to enter into the kingdome of god. Riches and authoritie engender labour and paine, and make a man like unto a Squirell, which running to and fro in cage, turneth oftẽtimes his whéele, but howsoever he toyleth & trauaileth, it auayleth him nothyng. Also it maketh a man muche lyke unto one named Ixion, who was made faste to a whéele turning continually, because he was amorous of Juno, a goddesse (as Poets do faine) of realmes, highnesse, & powers, which Ixion, when he saw a cloude somewhat like luno, tooke it for hir, but hée being deceyved, embraced nothing else but vapour & smoke. Which fable also noteth untovs us the vanitie, unprofitablenesse and wretchednesse of the ambitious covetous men which worship the shadow in stede of the true thyng, and in the place of good and sure things choose changeable and uncertaine. The same Ixion was he, which engendred the Centaures, halfe men, halfe horsses, after him named Ixionides. Here is also to be considered, that the covetous & ambitious persons are of the same condition, which being past al reason, turne their humaine nature into mere beastlynesse, and like unbroken and wyld colts,

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strike out on every side, hurtyng and oppressing almost every body. Lib. Ethi. ca. 13. & li lj. 10. cap. 8. Aristotledescribing an happie and blessed man, would not he shoulde be riche to be suche a one. Riches are Sophistries of goodes wherewith that great Sophister the divel doth deceive the simple & silly soule. For even as a Sophister séemeth through his sciẽce to be wise, and is not in dede, even so richeshave a semblant of bountie and vertue, where in dede they are farthest from all. In his. 5. sermon of the worde of God. S. Augustine hath a goodly saying very apt to the purpose: He is wicked (saith he) whiche estéemeth riches to be good. Great rentes or revenues, dignities and good fortune, keepe men companie onely their life time, but at the houre of deth, yea and oftentymes before, they leave and forsake their possessours and lovers. Fortune is worthy to be named Plagaria, and is called so of the learned, after one named Plagarius, which brought untoservitude and thraldome, suche as were frée before. Likewise fortune and riches maketh men very slaves, misers, & cowards, full of cares and mistrustfulnesse, yea she maketh some to be lyke unto yͤ Dog that will suffer none to have part of the bone which he picketh at. Some other become thorough riches, like unto the Dragon which kept the Golden apples of the Orchard of Hesperide, wherof he himself had no commoditie, neyther suffred any other to enjoy any part of it. In his apologie. ca. 29 Tertullian sayeth, that riches resemble and are muche like unto the Apples of Sodome and Gomorre, which séemed goodly and faire to the eye, but being once touched, fell and straightway turned into dust & ashes. This worldely prosperitie and estimation abasheth not onely the simple and silly soules, but even casteth downe and subdueth many learned and wise men. Math. 13. Mark. 4. They are thornes that hynder the good seede of Gods worde to growe and fructifie. Luke. 8. Exod. 32. The chyldren of Israell forsooke GOD for Goldes sake, and fel a worshipping of the golden calfe, which being consumed by fire, was made to be a drinke, and ever since golde hath ben as it were in contempt, In his apologie. ca. 29. & very méete for the fire, as Tertullian dothe affirme. And what covetousnesse and ambition

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hath broughte to passe since the Apostles time, shall somewhat be spoken of in his place. Abac. 3. Riches (sayeth Abacuck the Prophete) are thick and filthie mire. Chrysost. It is dong wherin wormes. &c. And Crates the Phisopherunderstanding what greate enormities and inconveniences follow of covetousnesse and desire of money, sayeth: In his boke of the ornamentes of women. O thou hurtfull and damnable covetousnesse, avoide from me, I shal drowne thée least thou overwhelme me. Mart.where [Martwhere] he disputeth that no man commeth in trouble but by himselfe. Martialltestifieth, that it is not possible to be riche like Croesus, and religious like Numa. I made a good & prosperous voyage (sayd the Philosopher Zeno) when I had lost al. Riches are copwebs, smoake hurtfull to the eye, which soone alter, vanish, & come to nothing. 1. Tim 6. Proverb. 23. Math. 13. They that would be rich fall into dyvers and sundry tentations and snares of the divell, and other foolishe and noysome desires and lustes, which drown men into perdition, for covetousnesse is the roote of all evil. The Foole dispraiseth things that be, as though they were not: againe, In his Historie. other that be not in déede, he desireth, as if they were. Damascene sayeth: Things that be, are everlasting, and unchangeable: but thyngs that are not, be worldly and transitorie. Earthy & transitorie things are like unto a cloude painted on a wall, whiche séemeth to be some thing, where as it is nothyng: as a foole foloweth the shadow of a candle, thynking it to be some body, even so doth the carnall and voluptuous man folow and pursue the earthly trashe in stede of heavenly treasures. These men I say, are lyke unto the frantike man, Li Lj. 2. [Lib. 2.] epistolarũ. [epistolarum.] Epi. 2. whereof Horace maketh mention, which supposed to have séene a trim play, where he hearde goodly songs and pleasant melodies, and thought him selfe to have bene in all kinde of voluptuousnesse: and althoughe it was nothing but his fansie, yet it was pleasaunt unto hym: but this man beyng thorough the diligence of friends, delyvered of his phrenesie, & restored to his health, founde him selfe frustrate of that which he in his disease persuaded [disease, persuaded] him selfe to have had. Even so it goth with the worldely man, whome Christ aunswereth, saying: Luke. 12. Thou foole, this night thy soule shall be taken away from

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thee, then whose shal those things be, which thou haste provided?Even so it is with those that lay vp up tresure for them selves here, and be not riche in God: As if one should say with the Prophete David, Psalm. 38. The riche of this world are riche in their own conceits, but whẽ they shal perceive it (as it is in déede) after they are gone out of this world, they shal finde them selveswholly destitute and naked of all. As for great estates, dignities and authorities in common weales, Plutarke reherseth, Of the life of Demost. that the most famous Oratour Demosthenes was wont to admonish yong mẽ which resortedunto him, that they shoulde not hunte after promotion dignitie or greate office, saying unto them in this maner: If there were two wayes layd before thée, wherof the one shoulde lye unto deathe, and the other unto promotion and admynistration of a Common wealthe, and it were knowen what troubles, paines and griefes, jealousies, suspitions, envie, publyke and pryvie hate, backbytinges and Sclaunders, noyse and Dyssentions are inclosed there, men woulde rather choose the waye unto Death, than the other. Li Lj. 8. de trinita. cap. 85. Wherefore Sainct Augustine sayth: He whiche séeketh after promotion or authoritie is separated from God, not bycause of the diversitie of the degrées or estates, but of the desire which procéedeth of ambition. They take paynes to advauncethemselves temporally, but forgoe a gayne perpetuall.

The Gyauntes (as it is sayde) beyng affectioned to raigne untoheaven, layde Mountaynes one uppon an other to ascendevp up thyther, but all in vayne, fallyng at lengthe headlong downewarde themselves. They are (as Saincte Ambrose sayth) like unto those which would by the ladder of Worldly honour clymbe into Heaven. Sainct Cyprian testifieth, In his boke of Noe and the Arke. saying: That which thou thynkest to be authoritie and power, is poyson hyddenunder a faire shew, and miserie under a costly cover. Whereby S. Austine sayth, Epist. 2. lib. Episto. that the more a mam man is lifted vp up in authoritie the greater danger he is in. Upon the 106. psalme. Aristophanes yͤ Poet describeth & setteth forth yͤ god of riches (which they cal Plutus) to be

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fearful, and to trust no man, bicause that riches and promotions make men to doe so, and that bicause of the great daunger they be in continually. For to get goodes every one looketh abrode: The thief lyeth in waite to steale: the crafty merchant, the dissembling lawyer, by guile and subtiltie to deceive: Children and other that be inheritors, wish the death of their parents and friends, to possesse their goodes. Other ambitious persons do long for the death of suche as are in office, that they might enjoy their places: Promoters and other officers searche and séeke narowly to finde any occasion to make the goodes forfaite. Wherby Juvenal sayth: Saty. 10. Riches gotten by greate care and labour, choake and kill oftentimes their possessor: whervnto he alleaged many ensamples. Seneca confirmeth [confiirmeth] also: That as wilde beastes or fishes are caught by the false hope of a daintie morsell, in snares and hookes: E-uen so (sayth he) are men by the vayne trust of the gyfts of Fortune, whiche in deede ought not to be called gifts, but rather deceytfull shifts, yea snares & daungerous rocks. Consider I pray you, howe many we sée goe to wracke bothe bodily and spiritually, temporally and everlastingly. Howe many realmes and countreyshave ben subverted and cast upside downeward? What tirannie or crueltie hath not bene shewed? What robberies both upon sea and lande? what perjuries, murthers, pilling and pollyng, violence and force, inceste, and all kyndes of myschieues are not committed of the greedie and insaciable desire to attaine to riches and estimation? yea of the most puissant kyngs and mightie men, whiche Daniell called Treasurers. Daniell. 11. And what shal we say then of worldely love and carnall concupiscence? Also of the passions and unnaturall affections whiche thence ensue? Plato sayth, that Love at the beginning, giveth some swéetenesse, but in the ende engendreth one mischiefe upon an other. Love is the first whiche hath founde out, and brought forth the sundring and renting of the hart, and troubling of the spirite. And these things followyng, proceede from carnal love, to wete, care, sorrowes

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and griefes, weakenesse of the braynes, In Comœd. Mercat. curiousnesse in apparell, madnesse, dreames, thoughts and sighyng, calamities, errours, anguish, unquietnesse, trouble, foolishnesse, vncomlynesse, wantonnesse, mystrustfulnesse, jealousie, and other lyke. Men (I say) are intangled in these by love, even as Vlisses felowes, whiche thorough the melodie and swéete songs of the Syrenes woulde abide in Afrike, forgetting themselves and their native countrey. Love maketh a man oute of hys wyttes, and cleane besyde hym selfe, it casteth hym backewarde, and seduceth hym thorough swéetenesse and flatterie, it counselleth nothyng accordyngunto reason and equitie, but leadethunto al enormities, it robbeth a man of all temperancie, it is lyke to a hooke whiche plucketh all maner of things unto it, it is a soft enimie, swéete sorrowe, and sadde gladnesse. Love maketh men slaves, & divideth them from themselves. He is hurte grievously, & utterly perished which falleth in love, it is insatiable, never saying it is ynough. Terence sayeth that it seduceth and leadeth oute of the way, even those that sée, and thẽ that are learned and wyse. He is happie, that by other mens example will take warnyng, and through the spectacle of others fal, wareth wyse. Briefly, all and every kinde of evyll procéedeth of those thrée 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 thrée 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,

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some their friendes, libertie, life & goodes. But what néede I to spend my time, and to trouble my braines about it. Al bookes, whether they speake of the Assyrians, Egiptians, Persians, or Medians, Grecians, or Jewes, Romaines, or other countreyes, are full of it. Wherof rede Diodorus Siculus, Josephus, Plutarch, Titus Liuius, & divers other historiographers, which havewrittenuntil our age and time, and we shall finde that all kinde of evill, at the least commeth out of one of these thrée, and daily we find it by good experience, that al mischiefe 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, commodities, honours, or otherwise, forsoke and turned againe like the dogge to their vomite, and like the sow, after she hath washed hir self, to hir puddle and mire. And to sette the vanitie and inconstancie of worldly and transitorie thyngs, the livelier before your eyes, I have broughte in in here twentie sightes or vysions, & caused them to be graven, to the ende al men may sée that with their eyes, whiche I go aboute to expresse by writing, to the delight and plesure of the eye and eares, accordingunto 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 others [in all poyntes all other] excell. Of which oure visions the learned Poete M. Francisce Petrarche Gentleman of Florence, did invent and write in Tuscan the six firste, after suche tyme as hée had loved honestly the space of .xxj. yeares a faire, gracious, and a noble Damosell, named Laurette, or (as it plesed him best) Laura, borne of Auinion, who afterward hapned to die, he being in Italy, for whose death (to shewe his great grief) he mourned ten yeares togyther, and amongest many of his songs and sorowfull 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 very faire hind, and also two swift hounds, one white and the other blacke chasing & pursuing hir so long, that at length they caught and killed hir. Which sight caused him to burst oute into sighes and teares for the piteous destinie thereof: That is, for the apointed time of yͬyͤ death of his loveLaura, whiche he ment by the faire hinde, as by the houndes white and black he vnderstode the daye and nyght, meaning the time passyng away, and not tarying for any one.

Moreover, he saw a faire ship or vessel made of yvorie & Hebene wood, wherunto also he compared his loveLaura, to wete hir whyte coloured face untoIvorie, and hir blackishe browes muche lyke unto the wood of Hebene. The coardes and ropes were of Sylke, and the sayles of cloath of golde, whereby are meant not onely all hir costely rayement or apparell. but also hir noble and excellent vertues wherewith she was beautified and adorned.

Againe, he sawe a newe bushe oute of a faire Laurell trée, Holly bowes buddyng forthe, under whose shadowe little small birdes didde syng, wyth a verye sweete and melodious harmonie: Understandyng hereby, hir louyng and curteous talke, hir most pleasaunt and swéete song. And by and by he sawe the lyghtenyng and tempest to wyther and drie vp up thys faire and goodly Trée. That is, that a burnyng sicknesse came, whiche tooke awaye the lyfe of this fayre damosell his loveLaura.

The other thrée 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 nothyng but vayne fansie, wynde, and smoake. And thus as he hadde passed over many a yeare in greate and unfayned love towardes [towarde] hir (duryng hir life time) what with flatterie and what in commendyng of hir beavtie beautie, caused him upon a sodaine chaunge after hir departure (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 worldelylove 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 Ioachim du Bellay, Gentleman of France, the whiche also, bicause they serve to our purpose, I havetranslated them out of Dutch into English.

First of all, he speaketh of a certayne Architecture or kinde of buildyng, gorgeously and magnificentlike made, as you may sée more plainly in the seuẽth figure of our visions. Secondly he sawe a spire, thirdely an Arke triumphant. And then the Dodonian trée, spreading his shadow uponseven 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, wherby he meaneth the river of Tyber, with yͤ shee wolfe, giving sucke to two children, which is the Armes of the Romains. The seventh is a Nimph mournyng and wringyng of hir handes. Eightly, a thrée flaming fire, wherout a birde flushing mounted 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, hée 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 vanitie, shewing also howe Rome hath bene destroyed, which of a base and low estate was lifted vp up, and become very hie, and that by none other means than covetousnesse and the great desire which that people and nation had to money and 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,) nourished and brought vp up of a she wolfe, calledLupa. Oute of whose breastes they have sucked all manner of crueltie and beastlynesse, gettyng so untothemselves a wolvish courage, yea worse than a Wolfe, as Mithridates Kyng of Ponte cast them in the téeth, bicause they were never satisfied of bloud, honour, dignities, and riches, but always indeuoured them selves to get other princes, nations, countreys and Cities, goodes and dominions, whervppon folowed the oppression of other nations, through many great robberies, with great labour and paine, yea to the perill and losse of their owne men and Capitains, and so amplified and augmentedabove mesure their empires, realms, and domynions, stuffed and furnyshed theyr Cytie wyth abundaunce of all maner of riches, whervpon didde ensue all kinde of superfluitie and worldely pompousnesse. So that they adorned their Citie with all maner of sumptuous and costely buyldings, wyth all kindes of curious and cunning workes, as Theaters, Triumphall Arkes, Pyramedes, Columnes, Spires, and a greate number of graven Images, Statues, Medalles and Figures, made of divers and sundry kindes of stuffe, as Marble, Alablaster, Golde, Sylver, Copper, Pourphere, Emplaster, Brasse and other like mettall, some graven, and other some cast. All whiche sumptuousnesse and superfluitie hathe oftentymes thoroughe dissention, discorde and sedition amongst them selves, also by their enimies privie conspiracy, hate, and particular profite, & 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 procéeded in all wickednesse, abhomination, superstition, and Idolatrie from time to time, even so after that CHRIST our Savioure, and King of

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al Kings was crucified underPylate, president 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, & other like, bicause they woulde not observe and kéepe theyr false and superstitious worshyppyng of God, but rather rebuked them, & proved theirs to be false. And forasmuch as that auncient Rome would not amend it selfe, and renounce their enorme vices, Idolatrie and superstition, and converteunto the Lorde Jesu Christe, to imbrace the true worshippyng of God, and the everlasting Gospel, they have bene justlyplagued, receyving according to their desertes, such measure as they had measured to others. Therfore are the Persians, Huines, Frenchmen, Germains or Dutchmen, Vandales, Eastgothes, & Westgothes rysen against them and their Empire, & havedivided it, and at lengthe have they besieged Rome, and have taken and subverted, burned, spoyled, and wholly rased it. So the Lord through his justejudgement hath revenged the innocent bloud of his children. This is shewed untovs us by these visions and sonets. O worldly vanitie, al things muste passe, save the love of God: That which was lifted vp up into heaven, is fallen and brought even to the grounde, & most miserably perished. As also before theyr time many other realmes, as of the Chaldes, and great Carthage, and other, ar likewyse perished. So Romenever obtained the like estimation since, as it had before being in his floure, as it is to be séene yet by some auncient monuments, buildings columnes, & walles, which appere there as yet to beare witnesse of Gods vengeance which came upon them for their sin and wickednesse, to the ende that all godly and well disposed persons mighte perceive, that God can and will perfourme his promises, the which he hath thretned in his worde.

Besides all this, the Romaine Empire hath ben without an Emperour .iij. hundred & twentie yeares, namely since AugustusuntillCharlemayn. In the meane

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time the Bishop of Rome began to forget all maner of simplicitie, humblenesse and povertie, and to neglect the service and administration of a true pastoure, and to pvt put his minde upon temporall dominion and rule, beginning so (through the liberalitie of many great Princes, as King Pepin and manye other great Lordes which he inchaunted under the pretence of holinesse,) to become so great, that at length he hath set him selfe in the chaire, as soveraigneabove all the rest, that even Emperoures were at his commaundement elect and deposed. For the fervent zeale & devotion was in many Christians already cold, & many of them were addicted and given to worldly quietnesse, great estate, and all maner of intẽperancie and voluptuousnesse: so that they had more mind to securitie and idlenesse, than to labor and paine, to sleepe, than to work, to take, Sigebertus. than to give, to banquet, than to preache: Geniblacen. and had rather to take their pleasure in this wicked world, Carolus Boillus. than to enjoy the heavenly pleasures in the world to come. After this, dissention rose amongst them for the supremacy: then sought they ambitiously to rule and governeover all the whole world. They wold wel be confessors (as they termed them) but few or none woulde be Martirs, for preachyng was cast aside, and pride had occupied the roum of it: wherupon did folow of necessitie, as (Scripture speaketh: where as Gods word is not preached, ther the people perish) many and divers heresies, schismes, and sects: as Sabellians, Arrians, Emonians, Macedonians, Priscellians, Nestorians and Eutichians, which divers and sundry wayes erred in the doctrine and faith, concerning the divinitie. The Manichescontempned and made light of the olde Testament. The Donatists did holde it necessary to be rebaptised again. The Pelagians taught that men could deserveheaven by merits without grace, & other like to thẽ. Amongst the Bishops was discorde in all places. In the Romish church were many mutations about their election: Betwene Liberius & Felici⁹vs us was great discord about yͤ popeship. Likewise was it betwéen Damasi⁹vs us & Vrcisi⁹vs us, Boniface & Aulati⁹vs us, Simache

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and Laurence, Hieronym⁹vs us. Sigebertus. Geniblacenfis. Boniface and Dioscore, Constantine and Philip, Eugenius and Sisine, Fomosie and Stephẽ, Sergie and Christopher, Benedict and Leo, Vincentius. Anthonius. Plantina. Gregorie and dyversother. Amongest which, many were accused of heresies, some of incest, and some of other kyndes of evill, Abbas Vrspergensis. Jacobus Bergenfis. of whiche some were banished, some deposed, some sclandred, some had their eyes pvt put out, other some miserably slaine and murdered no practises, Hermannus Shedel. fraudes, guiles nor violence or oppression was left behind: to none other ende than to attaine unto promotion, honor dignitie and great estate, and to obtaine their malicious purpose. After this sorte did the bishops procéede in al kindes of vanitie and idlenesse, to become loytering prelates puffed vp up in pride and presumption, wherby veritie and truth was defaced, and quite abolished. The Sunne began nowe to be darkened and become blacke as a hairen cloath, and the Moone like unto bloud, the starres of heaven to fall downe: For they dayly practised to get newe and more dominions, they attempted by al means possible to increase their aucthoritie and power, all their whole study and labour was to advaunce their honour and dignitie héere upon the earth, not without scattering of the commons and innumerable murthers of the people. John Archbishop of Constantinople, debated to be Primate and soveraign of all other Patriarkes. Boniface the third of that name, Bishop of Rome, tooke upon him to raigne and rule over all, and to be the lieuetenãt of God, upon earth. Again, Mahomet comming afterward, would be adored as a great prophet, and messanger of God. So that by the meanes of covetousnesse, ambition, and carnall concupiscence, the truth is darkened, & the church of Christ moste miserably scattered and dispearsed. The Jewes by a craftie sleight, wrested the scripture to maintaine their Talmuith: the Sarazens their Alcorane: and these prelates and Bishops their Decretals, and all other errors and herisies which were under that false prophet Mahomet in Asia and Affricke, and under the Pope in Europe, with all their curssed traditions and trifles. They have banished &

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abolished Christe and his doctrine, every where preferryng their owne ambition, profit, commoditie & ease. Whervnto & to obtain it the rather, they have brought in many superstitions & traditions of men, as Latin service (bicause yͤ 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 trifles and other relikes. They proceedfurther to the forbidding of mariage, meate, egges, butter: in lyke manner images, and crucifixes were sette vp up, woorkyng thereby false miracles, alwayes foresing to their Maosin, that is, great shops, churches, temples, chapels and Altars, where they might sell their trumperie fréely, 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, & princes: & all this under a shewe of pietie and holynesse, as we heretofore have sayde. Of these S. John in his revelation doth warn vs us in his sixte chapiter, Reuel Revel. 6. where he sayeth manifestly, that whẽ the lambe had opened the seuẽth 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 unmeasurable gluttony and dronkennesse, are yet in their soule pale, deadish, black and blew, as vnholsom & dead bodies: for thei have no true life within thẽ, nor yͭ blessednesse that consisteth in Christ Jesu, Rom. 2. & his holy word. Luke. 12. And he which sate on it was death. Math. 6. Their doctrine and teaching is nothing but death and damnation. For hypocrisie engendreth nothing but destruction of salvation, & their fruits are shame and confusion. For hell foloweth them to destroy those that are seduced by them. Esay. 5.

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Daniel and Paule they have foretold that Antechrist shoulde be borne of the subversion 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, Reuel Revel. 13. signifiyng the congregation of the wicked and proude hypocrites, which exalt and advaunce them selves as the Ceder trées of Libanus, they are unnaturall and beastly like untoElmas the inchanter, ful of fraude and guile, full of falshod and pride, they are whelpes and generations of the devyll, subverting the ways of the Lord. Thys beast is described here as the pale horse in the fourth age, & the cruel Grashoppers in the fift age, and the mad horsses with Lions mouths in the vj. age. Apoc. 6. Apoc. 9. This beast, meaning the odible, fals, & damnable errors & pestiferous inspirations of the divel, which at this time reign in the beastly mẽbres of that monstrous body of the beast, as namely in the outragious 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 superioritie throughout the whole worlde. The divell is their prince and Captayne most cruell, and that through the iniquitie and ingratitude of the people: but in this point differ the dragon and the beast, from the divell and his membres, Sathan and 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 vp up of the thyng, that have they. The signification wherof is, that Sathan is only of abilitie and power 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 méete instruments to perfourme it & pvt put in execution by violence, and power, by menaces and compulsion. Wher as he

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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 havepvt put in practise their purgatorie, auricular confession, transubstantiation, worshippyng and carying about of dumb Idols, & Images, the hearing of latin service, Masse, and other abhominations. As he hath found out any lye (as he is the father of all lies, and hath ben since the beginning) so may they holde it for a perfecte 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 instrumẽts, may execute effectually more wickednesse than he him selfe alone, as their works may wel testifie. Sathan was not of power to pvt put Christ to death, if it had not bẽ through Judas, into whom he entred, & afterward by the bishops & Scribes who persecuted him unto deth. The Apostles, tru ministers & other witnesses of Christ shold neverhave bẽ persecuted, whipped, Math. 23. scourged, tormẽted and miserably slaine, neither shold they at this present, if these popish prelates did not folow & maintain their old & accustomed maners, and fulfil yͤ 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 & glorious titles, wher with they suborne and make great their supremacie & their estimation, & as holy and blamelesse to bee regarded among men, and before the world, whereunder is covered & comprehended all maner of iniquity. What ar Popes, Cardinals, patriarks, legates, chief heads, archbishops, pronotaries, archdeacons, officialls, commissaries, prebendaries, vicars, lorde abbot, master or doctor, and suche like, what are these I say else but names of blasphemie? for these offices & titles are not of the holy ghost, neither is there any mention made of them in the holy scripture. What is it I pray you else, than a great

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abhomination & 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 misteries of God? What meaneth it that Priests and Bishops do arrogantly ascribe to thẽ selves to be Bridegromes, to stand in Gods stead, to have power to pardon sinne, and to be our Ladies clean and undefiled knights? What be these else than names of blasphemie? For they are nothing else as Zacharie termeth thẽ (having no care of féeding of the flock, but through meere negligence and slouth sette a side preaching of the word, through these vain titles) than very offending Idols. Their Decrées, Decretals, traditions, rules, ordinaunces, statutes, customes of the Fathers, general Counsels, Sinodes, and other of their usages, not grounded on the word of God and his wil, are nothing else but dampnable hipocrisie, and divelishdissimulation, blaspheming the name of the Lord. For the names of blasphemy on his heade is nothing else but to maintaine under an honest and vertvovs vertuous shew, that which is blasphemous, to his own advancement. This beast was like the Leopard, spotted and blemished, tokens of inconstancie, chaungeablenesse, and temeritie. His feete like to a Beares feete, fearful and horrible, il favored of fashion, and deformed, signifying crueltie, stubbornesse, stoutnesse and vncleanesse. And his mouth as the mouth of a Lion, declaring héereby 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 compared. Unto the Beare which he sawe, was likened the barbarous and rude realmes of the Medes & 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. 25. Esay. 13. and Abacuck. Abacuck. 1. The Medeans and Persians kept the people of God in captivitie and bondage. As it is to be séene in the bookes of Hester, Hest. 23. Paralipomenon and Esay. 2. Paralip. 36 Esay. 22. The Grecians also were very spitefull, 2. Macha. 2. and full of

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reproche to the people of God, in the time of that cruell Tyrant Antiochus, as it appeareth in the Booke of the Machabees. 2. Macha. 2. But this beast whiche S. John speaketh of here, dothe comprehende all these thrée 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 vs us, that within thys one curssed Popedom or kyngdom of Antechrist, should be as much, and more abhomination, Idolatrie, fornication, murther, and all kind of wickednesse, as were in all these thrée realmes aforesaid. As at this day it is to be séene, and we have had good experience. No where raigned at any time more pride, idlenesse, cruelty, Idolatry, fornication, adultery, uncleannesse, Sodometrie, envie, dissimulation, falshoode and inconstancie, vaine glorie, iniquitie, sorcerie, superstition and impietie, than doth in this one dominion of Antechrist. He alone hath more contaminated Gods holy Temple, than all the infidels 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 Decrées 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, wantonnesse, concupiscence and carnall securitie. No reason or humanitie hath any place amongst them, they are more lyke beasts than men. The rigorous Proclamations against the Jewes, Hest. 3. 4. (at the request of wicked Ammon and of Antioche, 1. Mach. 2. 3 ) 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, & of the Lion, bicause it is not only partaker of al yͤ wickednesses with other realmes, but it excéedeth and surmounteth al other vij. times double in all kinde of iniquitie, Psalm. 9 Rom. 3.

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idolatrie, Rom. 3. & abhominations yͭ ever were committedunderheaven. They have the mouth of a Lyon, always blasphemyng, cursing and banning: Their feete lyke a beare, signifiyng their insatiable 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 inconstant mindes, institutions & observings, never stedfast or constant, but in al thinges chaungeable and foolishe: 2. Thess. 2. for suche as receive not Gods truthe, are worthily forsaken of God. Therfore God shall sende them strong delusions, that they shouldbeléeve lies, that all they might be damned which beleve not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse. The Dragon (sayth S. John) which is Sathan the Divell,gave to the beast or cursed generation of Antechrist, his beastly membres, his whole power, his seate of blasphemie, and his great authoritie. To give them his power is nothyng else, than to make them perfect and skilfull by all maner of crafte, subtiltie and dissimulation, cunnyngly to seduce the simple & silly soules: and so forth to confirme and stablysh them in al kinde of wickednesse and falshods. To gyveunto hym his seate, is to leave him here a glorious kingdome, full of vainglory, dissimulation, & other wickednesse. 2. Thess. 2. To give him his great authoritie, is to worke by false miracles, signes and wonders, and by false and erronious doctrine, to allure the people, and to draw the vnbeleuing infidels the rather to the pit of perdition and everlasting torments. 2. Thess. 2. On this maner is that greate Antechrist a king with Sathanover all the children of pride and darknesse. He occupieth and possesseth falsly with Lucifer the seat and roume of God, taking upon hym even to search and créepe into mens consciences: For he bosteth him self to stand in Gods stede to deceive them that dwell on the earth, to reigne and to beare rule over them, for so much as they (having a blind guide) are led into the ditche of all errour and false doctrine, the very way untoeverlasting perdition. Touchyng the seat even as Christe our Lorde (with his Father raigning eternally) sitteth in heavenupon the seate of his Majestie in eternall glory & felicitie, euẽ so sitteth Antechrist, the Pope of Rome, I mean, with his father the Devil, full of pride and blasphemie, in the seat of condemnation, in eternal darknesse, ignomie, and shame. Math. 28. Concerning his power, John. 17. John .1. even as Christ received his power of God his father, even so hath he received his authoritie of his father the Devil. Even as Christ is full of mercy & truthe: even so is this Antechrist ful of envie and hate, untruthes and lies, and al other mischiefs: of whose abhominations & errors, the vnbeleuing and infidel hath tasted. As the holy ghost and the sprite of Christ openeth the misteries of the truth in his elect even so on the other side hath the spirit of erroure, since the death and revelation of Christ, darkned truth and set forth the secretes of his malice in the ennimies of Christ. Concerning his aucthority, as christ being man, John. 3. received his aucthority of god, 2. Thess. 2. to doe such miracles as no man else could do: Even so doth this Antichrist, by the Devill and Gods permission amongs the infidels and vnbeleuers. So that he in all power and aucthoritie unjustlyusurped, foloweth, yea passeth his father the devil. For as he robbed the godly man Job, Job. 1. 2. 3. and spoiled him of all his substance, goods, children, servaunts, and cattel, and tormẽted him in his body with Boils and Botches, even so doth this ravenous and greadye Leuiathan Leviathan, and cruell murtherer, vexe, consume, and oppresse the poore people, by his spoiling Grashoppers, defrauding the poore of their sweat and bloud, Psal. 73. of theyr paines, Reuel Revel. 9 trauaile, necessitie, and living liuing: no not sparing the féeble and sicke, neyther widow nor fatherlesse. No kind of good (be it never so unjustly gotten) being brought to them, in shriving of some one burdened in conscience, but that they are contented to receive it, and that by the way of restitution. Yet neverthelesse do they, (which is worst of all) lead mennes mindes to dissimulation, false belief, and other divelishnesse, doubtfull, desperate, and comfortlesse.

Finally, even as in the body of Christ, dwelleth fulnesse of the whole Deitie:

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Even so in this body of Sathan dwelleth the whole masse of impietie, subtilitie, fraud and malice, with power to worke all maner of mischiefe mightely, substantially and corporally. And I saw one of his heads, as it were wounded to death, with the sword of his mouth: 2. Thessa. 2. that is, through the anouncing and preaching of the Gospell. Which thing is come to passe since the time of JohnHvs in Boheme, & after that in Germanie, and is since (God be praised) daily more and more, that the head of the Beast is wounded, in places where gods word is preached. As in England, Fraunce, Scotland, Poland, and else where, as every one may wel perceive, except he will needes be blinde. For it is evident to al men, that in most places, Buls and Pardones of the Pope are little set by, hys power and might troden under féete, hys name blotted out, his Purgatory, Masses, Pilgrimages, Idols, and other like trumperies, cried out upon. If this be not a deadly wound on the head of the beast, I think it to have none at all. If this be not a manifest token of his fall to come, there is none to be looked for. But his deadly woundes were healed. Although the Gospel hath ben preched in sundry and divers places, and the popes abhominations cast upside downe, yet remaineth (in some places) their false priesthood vows not to mary, Sodomish chastitie, auricular confession, or at the least the fashion of it, and other more superstitions. For the beast seketh al meanes to recover, yea & hath brought to passe, that the eyes of many learned ministers, and pastors waxe dimme, and as it were asléepe, so that they do not narowely searche, or diligently trie every matter by the onely touchstone of Gods holy word, but weigh them rather by deceivable custome, and take their course to the fathers, and their good intents. Although they are sure, and throughlypersuaded the Pope to be very Antechrist, & that these names are pvt put out of their bookes, yet are these ceremonies, (before of no valve value or at the least indifferent) nowe of necessitie to be observed and kepte, as godly rites, honorable and singular ornaments. Although they say, the Masse to

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be of no valve value in Latin, yet in their own language to be a sacrifice propiciatorie: other have a greate trust and confidence in saying Dimitte nobis, or any other like thing, not understanded. Some will upholde and maintaine the free wyl in man. Other some wyll not bee Papistes, but are well halfe, yea and worse than Papistes. Also the wounded head of the beast is healed and redressed in some places by force and power of worldly princes, the whiche muste fight for the Pope, and in suche tyme and place as it seemeth him good, slaying, kyllyng, and burnyng all such as he commaundeth, destroying their owne realmes, murtheryng and banishing their good and true subjects, bicause they séeke the honoure of GOD, and to serve hym arighte. These Princes bée as it were bewitched and drawne by a subtill kinde of flattery, in calling them ignominiously most christen princes, defendours of the universall and catholike fayth, meanyng the Romish decrées. And after thys sorte is healed and cured the wounde of the Beast, by the meanes of these oyntmentes and Chirurgians. And the whole worlde (sayeth S. John) did wonder at the beast. &c. The foolish people, worldly and carnall minded, not understanding the wysedome of the holy ghost, imbracyng all those glorious and ioylye sightes, as godly, meritorious, and spirituall matters, and wondryng at them, worshypped, exalted, and made muche of it, yea above the things ordeined and instituted of GOD. whose blyndenesse is growne to suche grossenesse, that they wyll not nor can forsake theyr olde and more than outragious kynde of worshippyng, whiche is rather custome than religion. For whẽ they have any hope that theyr wicked custome shal continue, they clap their handes, and crie oute for joye with Baals priestes Gaudeamus. And they worship the Dragon, who gave power to the beast, that is to say, they rejoyce in their mindes, hoping that their kingdome shall abide and stande: chiefly when they sée his head againe whole and sounde that is their gouernour, the godly prechers burned, the Instructers of the people slayne

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or banished, persecuted and pvt put to silence as it hath ben practised in our nativecountrey of low Germanie. All those that worshyp the Dragon, worship the beast also: for as those whiche honour Christ, honor hys father also, in lyke maner all those whiche adore Antechrist, that is to say, consent and holde of his traditions, masses, and ordinaunces, all those (I saye) worship the divel, of whom they havereceyved all his wickednesses. Who is like unto the beast? namely in out ward shew of holynesse, or observation of false rites and Ceremonies. Who is able to warre against him? say they, consyderyng that worldly princes are readie to defend his quarrell, and take his parte. The papists goe about by all meanes possible, be it by crafte or subtiltie, by force or violence to maintain their adulterous, fained, & disguised churche in hir diseased estate, power and holy shewe: no kinde of wickednesse, craftinesse, or policie leave they unassayed or unattempted to make them to bée regarded of the people, for holy and spiritual men of gret power, worthinesse and estimation. It foloweth in our text. And there was givenunto him a mouthe to utter great and blasphemous things. When Gods truth was reveledunto them, they thanked him not, but became vain in their imaginations, Rom. 11. and therefore God gave them over to uncleane lustes of their owne hearts, blinded with unbeliefe and perverted minds, so yͭ whẽ they thought to be very wise, becam then stark fooles. Now utter they in their counsells, consistories & sermons, blasphemies agaynst God, and his Christ. They make the people by straight lawes to cleave to them, and all their Romishe and beggerly ceremonies and vile borrowed trumperies: be it never so great a grief to them. The holy and sacred scriptures may not once be red, neither may it be had in the mother tong. For the Scripture (say they) must be expounded as pleaseth them, & according as they think good for their own advantage. And how trow ye, could thys wound of yͤ beast else wel be healed? for the infallible word of God (which be the Scriptures) hath given him this wound.

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They wyll not that Christe be our alone and sufficient Savior, without our owne merits & deservings. The Lords supper (whiche in holy Scripture, is called the Communion of the body and bloude of Jesus Christ,) must be wyth them a new crucifiyng of hys bodie: Wherin, as in a play or Comedie, one creature alone, playeth five or sixe personages or players partes, namely of Judas, Anna, Cayphas, Herode, Pylate, and the Jewes. Wedlocke is called of them uncleane, notwithstandyng it was instituted as a good and undefiled ordinaunce of God him selfe, 1. Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 4. Heb. 13. no papistical vowes of Monkes and Friers may be broken, although it be sufficientlyproved to be most wicked and divelish and hath ingendred a thousande Sodomites. Again, that without the blind mumbling and laying on of the priests hande, synnes can not be forgyven, as they say: for in déede by this one vowe their kyngdome is maintained. And more other abhominations are uttered by his mouth, & yet dayly be, of which (to make it shorter) and not to trouble the reader overmuch, I wyll leave rehearsing of them: yet muste I néedes touche by the waye, the great blasphemie whiche they commit in saying, that the entryng into the holy Church consisteth onely by the meanes of their greasing & shauyng, excluding herewithall all other of what estate or conditionsoever they be, calling them lay mẽ, and under the pretence of this false title, they take uppon them to bée saviours of mens soules, affirmyng their Masses to be sacrifices propiciatorie for the quicke and the dead, iustifiyng, helping and comfortyng, and ex opere operatosaving and redéemyng man. And over their abhomniable and stinkyng troupe of Antechristes, they create & make Emperours and kings chiefe gouerners, only to be maintained and defended by them in their malicious wickednesse. Kings & princes are ordeined of God to be heades and rulers in civile and pollitike matters: but God forbid, that a godly and vertvovs vertuous Prince (whom they disdayn, and are rebellious & disobedient unto,) should be called their head, and claymea title and supremacie

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over them, for that onely belongeth untoSathan: for the Divell is (sayeth Job) the onely chiefe head of the proude. Job. 41.

And power was givenunto them (sayth our text) for .xlij. moneths to rule, 3. Reg. 17. which are the thrée yeres and a halfe of Helias, Dan 12. and one halfe tyme of Daniel, Apoc. 21. 13. and the thousande two hundreth and thrée score dayes of S. John. He openeth his mouth to blasphemie against God and his name, and to blaspheme his holy Tabernacle and inhabiters of heaven. The tabernacle of God is Christ Jesu, in whom the fulnesse of the godhead abideth wholy and perfectly. By the inhabiters of heaven, is ment his true church, whereout the Aungels are not excluded. These inhabiters then, are those whiche leade an heavenly lyfe in a true and unfained faith, Coloss. 3. séeking the things which are above, John. 4. and not on earth, worshipping god the father in spirite and truthe, Math. 24. abidyng stedfast and immoveable to the ende. Luc. 9. Ephe. 6. Many have entred into this heaven, but are not founde faythful and constant unto the ende, whiche is lamentable.

And to this beast, (or beastly Antechrist) was given power to fight against the Sainctes. 1. Corinth. 6. They trouble and vexe continually, with force and violence Actes. 4. 6. Exod. 1. by their wicked and ungodly Decrées, lawes, Hest. 3 and ordinances, by their worldly aucthoritie and power, 1. Machab. 1. Math. 20. 12 the true witnesses, Luke. 2. and godly preachers of Christ, 1. Peter. 1 instructed and taught (even as the Apostles were) of God him self in the truth of his holy word, euẽ as the wicked Phariseis in the time of Christ, and his Apostles did. They persecute them by writs & proclamations, by banishments, fire, and sword, as the cruell tirant Pharao and Antiochus did, to shew manifestly that Christ is that stumbling stocke, and the stone of offense, whereat the world stumbled. They search and séeke héere, they hunt there, never ceassing untill they have him fast in prison, and forthcomming, wherat they are not yet satisfied, till such time as they have procéeded openly before all men, (following theyr placcate) thereby to fortifie men in theyr error against them. And so vanquished (as they boast) to condemne thẽ, although they are otherwyse before GOD.

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Then either they make him to recant, or else if he abide constant in the faythe of Christ, they pvt put him to most cruel death, either by fire or water. And power was givenunto the Beaste overevery kinred, tongue, and nation: For these wicked and abhominable Antechristes spare no man, small nor great, yong nor olde, high nor low, riche nor poore, sicke nor whole, learned nor unlearned, but that they must bow before them, and become subjecte to their most wicked commaundements, either by force or otherwise: they must have them, at the least once a yeare at shrift before them, to knowe their minde and intention, whether they be Towne dwellers or Straungers, Gouernours or common people. No excuse will serve or take any place in this behalfe, or else they must wyth Christ, raigne at the Barre among Théeues. Math. 27. And thys power they have not onely in one place, Mar. 15. but in all places, Luke. 23 tongues, and in every Towne, John. 19 yea they must have to doe amongst every familie, destroying the true and godly fayth of all men. For all that dwell upon earth, shall worship the beast. They must all consent to their great abhomination. They muste blaspheme and offend God, 2. Tim. 3. observe and kéepe their most filthy traditions, and Romishe trashe. They that dwell upon earth, are such as doe love them selves more than God, their owne affection more than Gods truthe, putting theyr confidence, comfort, and hope, in the only beggerly merites and vile deservings of these beastly and abhominable Hipocrites, and not upon the swéete promises of God in his worde, Luke. 10 Whose names are not wrytten in the booke of the Lambe. Rom. 11 They which are not confessed of Christ, Philip. 3 nor accepted by his word and promisses. 1. Corin. 6. John. 15 They which wyth the righteous as members of one spirituall body, Psalm. 16. and hidden in him, John. 14 are not marked nor Registred, (whose part and portion is not in the land of the living liuing) that are not of the number of those which the father hath givenunto Christ, to be participant of one spirit with him. They which are not ordeined, predestinated nor written in his forknowledge,

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neither of him before the foundations of the world, Rom. 9. Ephes. 1. elected, & chosen to be hys childrẽ immaculate in Christ. John. 1. Al these I say, must worship the Dragon. John. 15. The Lambe is Christ Jesu, . Tim. 2 the which only taketh away the sinnes of the world, in whom is only life, for he is the life him selfe, of them namely which beleve on him, which was slaine from the beginning, for all them which are created to salvation. So that his only death, resurrection, and ascentiõ, through the promise of God, 1. Corin. 10. is the salvation of thẽ all, for they all have tasted of one spirituall meat, & dronke of one spiritual stone. Albeit he came a long season after them in the flesh, he onely did tread downe the head of the Serpent. Also he hath bene slaine from the beginning, Genes. 3. Math. 23. in his members, as it is to be seene evidently in justAbel, Jeremy, John Baptist, & many more. Genes. 3. Math. 14. But those which are not written of the Lamb in the booke of life, be sealed in the booke of death, 2. Peter. 2. and kept (as S. Peter saith) with the Divel and his angels to eternal death, bicause of their unbeliefe. John. 1. He that hath cares to heare, let him heare, (sayeth the text.) He yͭ hath any wit, let him give place to yͤ admonition which followeth, he that will be wise, let him judge according to the demonstration of these things. After this sort doth the holy Ghost certifie hys faithfull, 1. Corinth. 2 warning them to consider that all which is written, is wrytten to our learning and edification. He that leadeth into captivitie,shall goe into captivitie. Thys warning giveth the Lord, let them take héede if they lust, for he wil that his judgments be knowne. They which doe afflict and vexe the faithfull in their bodies outwardly, shal be vexed and punished in the spirit with inward darknesse, and strickẽ with blindnesse of the minde, to abide the rather in the net of Sathan, and sinne: God wil leave them in a reprobate sense, Rom. 1 and inordinate lust, 2. Thessa. 2 and suffer them to enter into great errors and divelishnesse, to believe all manner of lies, that they might be damned. If any kil with the sword, 2. Tim. 4. the pore and innocent for their faith, 2. Peter. 2. must also be killed, Ephe. 6. judged and condemned throughe the sword of the spirite, 2. Thessa. which is the worde of God. The word which I have

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spoken (saith Christ) shall condemne them at yͤ last day, as he testified also in his Revelation in the eleventh Chapter: If any will molest or trouble them, the fire shall procéede forth of their mouth, to consume their adversaries. And I saw yet (sayth S. John) an other Beast rising out of the earth, having two hornes like the Lambe.Signifying and representing all manner of false Prophets, ungodly teachers, which are in their intents & purpose wholy and altogither beastly, idle, carnall, and corrupted. They are also abhominable in the imagitions of their malitious harts, not seking god, but their belly, not yͤ honor of christ, but their own aduancemẽt & vain glory. They rise out of the earth, enclined & given wholly to earthly & worldly wisdom. The desire and lust which they have to raign in this world, maketh thẽ to preach not for any love or zeale which they bear to truth. The desire of money & covetousnesse thrusteth them in. Thei go forward in al kind of wickednesse, & shall continue til the Lord destroy thẽ, even as the godly goeth on in vertue & godlinesse til yͤ time that they shall sée God face to face, 2. Peter. 2. in that everlastingSion. 1. Corin. 13 This beast was a murtherer from the beginning first of all in Cain, Gene. 14. Gene. 9.17.
21.57.28. and consequently in the carnal children of this world. Exod, 7. Namely in Cham the first vnshamefast sonne of Noe, 2. Timo. 3 in Ismael & Esau, in James and Iambres, Nume. 22 in Balaam and al the false prophets of Baal, Iudic. 22. 21 in Annas and Caiphas, Jeremy. 20 in Baricha and Diotrephe, Math. 27. and is now a dayes risen again in Friers, Monkes, Actes. 13 Chanons, Priests and Chanters, John. 1. as every one, 3. Reg. 16. (have he never so little a sparcle of light in him) may easily sée and perceive: especially in their cathedral church where they have their full course. Thys beast had .ij. horns like the Lamb, but coũterfaited & altogither fals. For she spake like the Dragon. The horns of Christ are hie, & great, wherout only springeth the swéete comfortes of the promises of God, given to his Church, congregation and people. Gods word is right, Psalm. 44. and the Scepter of the aucthority of Christ, and the rod of his righteous ordinaunces, that wheresoever this worde ruleth, there are none other strange scepters, institutions, or customes.

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The Lambe of God upon the Mount Sion (signifying Christ Jesus) hath seven hornes, for in him consisteth the fulnesse of al truth. Apocal. 14 This beast hath but .ij. hornes, and those counterfaited and false. They have well a shew to be Christes hornes, John. 16. but of a truth they are not. Colloss. 2. These then do signifie the corruptyng and falsifiyng the meaning both of the old and new Testament, expounded and wrested to a worldly and carnal understanding. Wherout it is too apparant and manifest, that it is but a false shew, ful of dissimulation, and altogither contrary to the Lordes meaning, not discearning the true meaning of the holy Ghost. 1. Cor. 2. This letter without the spirite of God, 2. Cor. 3. is death, and nothing agreableunto Christ, John. 14 neither hath any regarde unto him. John. 6 He is the truthe and life, this is very lies and death. 1. Cor. 13 His word is spirite and life, theirs is but sounding Brasse, or tinkling Cimbal, fantasticall, fained, Sophistical and crafty: although they séeme to have a likenesse to Christ, yet are they to none more unlike. They are onely the hornes of the beast, to maintain the kingdome of Antechrist, and not of Christe, for Christes Kyngdome is not of thys worlde. They chaunge the true usage of the good creatures of God, John. 12. making Idols of trées, Rom. 1. adornyng and deckyng stockes and stones, with golde, silver, silke, velvet, and other jewelles, turning the holy estate of Matrimonie into shamefull whoordome, Heb. 13. and to all kinde of vnchafte liuyng, to make vs us to wander from that service which God hath commaunded vs us, Math. 15. to their false & moste abhominable superstitions, so to abolishe and make of none effect Gods commaundement, and to establish their wicked traditions, to bring & leade men at length to detestable idolatrie, wherof they are ful, and to worship things forbidden. And for the maintenance of their estate, they have wyth the ayde and helpe of Sathan their chief captaine, wrested, chopped and chaunged the scriptures to prove the adoration of the departed Saintes to be necessarie, their masse meritorious, and their workes of supererogation profitable, their purgatorie to bée a fearefull and horrible thyng, and

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other innumerable. These beastly asses and belly God byshops, are not ashamed to saye, that by the Myter whyche they doe weare, is represented the olde and newe Testamente, whiche to be true, they defende wyth toothe and nayle. They confesse (as it is in deede) that they do weare but the figure of the thyng: for it is but a shadowe in déede, and an outwarde shewe, not to the glorie of God, but their owne ambition, profite, and commoditie, séeking an occasion to persecute the very truthe. Math. 7. They are, of a truthe, the false Prophetes, 2. Thess. 2. the very limmes of Sathan, 1. Tim. 3. deceyvers, Wolues Wolves, hie mynded, 1. Corin. 6. inconstant, Math. 3. shakyng wyth all manner of wyndes, 2. Corin. 11. traitours, and very folowers of Judas, Ezech. 34. dreamers, liers, idolaters, enimies, Esay. 56. and adversaries of truthe and veritie, Philip. 3. serpents, and generation of vipers, Esay. 6. Foxes destroying the vineyarde of the Lorde, Jere. 2. deceiptful workers, faintyng pastors, blynde watchmen, dumbe dogs, divels incarnated, wycked or evillroutes, insatiable beastes, whose belly is theyr god, and their end perpetuall confusion and shame. All these, and many more names, the holy Ghoste doth attributeunto them, bycause they myngle the swéetenesse of the word of God with the bitter worme wood of their Traditions, so that almost the whole worlde is defiled with the dregs of their inventions. This beast did all that the first beaste coulde do before him. This beastly generation hath the selfe same lying power to deceive the people, and under the shew of holynesse to continue and upholdethoroughout all the worlde, the same abhohominations, as that greate Antechriste hath done every where. Namely, under the Pope in Europe and in Asia, and in AffrikeunderMahomet. Fynally, there hath Sathan his chayre, where any strange worshyppyng or false servyng of God is admitted.

And he caused the earthe and them that dwell therin to worship the beast. They make not those onely to commit idolatrie that are ignorant and blinde, but force suche as have knowledge and understandyng. Oh how many are at this instant in Brabant, Flanders, and the low countrey, and else where, whiche agaynst their belefe, conscience, and the holy ghost, maintain, allowe, and permit the manifest Babylonicall abhomination, communicating the venemous dregges of the barbarous cup of these Baals priestes. They had rather to tarrie ignominiously in this beggerly trashe and filthie ceremonies, than to be deprived of this worldly friendshyp (to forsake father, mother, childrẽ, estate office and living liuing,) banished & persecuted, or adventure their lives, and if néede so require, to loose it for the truthe, so delectable and swéete these worldely pleasures are unto them. They rather with Samuels sonnes wyll perishe, transgressing the ordinances of GOD, 1. Reg. 12. and with Dathan, Chore, Abiron, be swallowed vp up, and sinke into Hel amongst the wicked, than to suffer wyth Christe any trouble, contempte, reproche, povertie, or other calamitie. Suche I say, as séeke and love the commoditie, and ease of their owne fleshe, their honour, & profite, more than the advauncement of Gods truthe, lette them not persuade them selves to bée worthy of his grace, for they must worshyp the beast, whose deadly wounde was healed, hys olde and abolyshed Relygion polyshed and vernyshed vp up a newe, and hys woren Romyshe trashe patched and newly redressed, embrace upon payne of death. To those hellishe dogges and infernallCerberus must be rendred and given for a time, more honour, reverence and worshyp than to GOD hym selfe. Their wicked and moste fylthie traditions must now be more (in our countrey) sette by, Math. 15. than the pure worde of God and the eternall veritie. And why should it not be so? Have not they erected a new sinagoge and congregation, wherein the wounded head of the beast is nowe altogether cured and made whole? They have amended, botched, and renued agayne their Idols, to some they have made a newe nose, hand, arme or legge, other some are paynted vp up or coloured, vernyshed and made a new, so that they now (more like mad men) do carrie them rounde aboute the Citie in Procession,

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honouryng the same images (which they have so newly arayed and decked wyth silke, velvet, golde, pearles and precious stones, beades, gyrdles, purses, flowers, greene bowes, and all manner of swéete herbes) with song and sundry musicall instrumentes, torches, candles, offerings, and all other kynde of service, and knéelyng before them bare headed, they worship, serve, and holde vp up theyr handes to them. They kéepe and observe nowe againe their divelyshe feastyng, Ephe. 4. solemne processions and church holy dayes. They eate, they drinke, they laugh, they quaffe, and run after whoores, they fight and pike quarels, their stewes are funished wyth whoores: ruffians, and bauds are nowe good vittaylers, and are haunted fréely: yea all manner of filthynesse, iniquitie and wickednesse, are committed with al gréedinesse. Briefly, the kingdom of Sathan is in all things newly erected fortified and established: the head of the beast wel annointed and redressed: so long as the popish church standeth, so long must they observe his comaundementes of his religion, and maintaine and upholde his customes, so long shall the true servantes of God, the good Christians, be persecuted, bannished, blamed, slaundered, mocked, and scornefully intreated, cried out upon, taken, imprisoned, killed, myserably slayne and burned, in suche sort that their corpses are cast here and there abrode, hanged on trées, gibets, and bushes, and no man will burie them. But thys divelysh generation and fleshly mynded and wycked people clappe their handes together in token of greate joy, Psal. 79. they daunce and leape, they make mery and are gladde, they make great diners, and sende presentes one to an other, being wonderful wel disposed, bicause they sée those that dyd rebuke them of their wycked conversation, and ungodlybehavioures, so irkesomly intreated, they sing and make ballettes, they compose in metre, and sette forth bookes of greate slaunders, blasphemies and lyes, against GOD, his Christe, and his Churche, whyche thyng surely dothe sufficientelyprove the wickednesse of their hearts:

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they rage and fume, they are woode lyke bloud thyrstie Tyrantes, they gnashe as fierce and cruell Lyons, and they are very sorie that any shoulde escape theyr bloudy handes. Thys may those testifie whiche have hearde the Sermons of one B. Cornelis yͤHisper at Bruges, B. Johnvanden Hagen at Gaunt, and that worthie knave that preached at S. Goule, whiche for his behaviour was banyshed oute of the Haghe in Hollande, as the rest of them were woorthie to bée. But God be thanked, that the Papistes of oure countrey can none otherwyse clense them selves, than wyth suche foule and filthie dishe cloutes, and fyght wyth such darts wherwyth they hurte them selves.

And it was permitted to hym, to gyve a spirite unto the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast shoulde speake. After thys sorte come they then, hauyng receyved power of the divell, flatteryng to the Image to maynteyne their malycious wickednesse, saying after thys manner: Your majestie is the most vertvovs vertuous, the most gratious, the most valiant, the most wisest, the most puissant, the most noble, the most blessed, and most learned of all Christian Princes and Potentates, all other are but Asses, yea nothing in comparison of your highnesse. If it please your majestie to commaund this or that, or establish & ordaine any thing in your realme and jurisdiction, who is he that dare withstand your majestie? yea if it were against the commaundementes of God twentie times, it must be observed and kept. Upholde then the old Catholike religion of our mother, the holy Church of Rome against these Heritickes, so can ye not doe amisse. God shall prosper you in all your affaires. Command therfore throughout all your dominion, and straightly charge them by law and Proclamation, sending one upon an other, so straightly as it is possible, to shew manifestly, that you are the lively Image of the Pope. It is our duetie to make the Image of the beast to speake. Therfore lift vp up your voice, speak out with a corage, commaund and charge that against the word of God our old Decrées, traditions, and Ceremonies be observed, let them be published and cried abrode in your name and authoritie in every streate, and cause every one of your subjects to kéepe your placate upon paine of death. And albeit other Realmes or Princes blame or check you, for that you governe not well, and according to equitie: make ye no account of them, neither regard their sayings, but go forward stil, and obstinately persiste and stand to that which séemeth good in your owne eyes. Give ye straight charge that all be pvt put to death that wil not worship the Image of the beast, or how their knées before it, and kéepe all his ordinaunces. Thus doing, ye shalbe our welbeloued sonne. Let no man escape your hands. Let none of them live, but slay and kill them, either by fire, water, sweard, rope, or any other torments: spare no man, neither olde nor yong, rich nor poore, great nor small, man nor wife, maried nor vnmaried, yong man nor maiden, for they al speak against vs us and oure Dragon, wherby our kingdom should fal, we should lose our best profits, and suffer great damage and losse. Cause also that all and every one, great and small, riche and pore, bond or free, be marked on their right hand, or on their forehead. And above this, that al Massemongers, Monks, Friers and Priestes be shaven, their fingers greased, and then holding vp up theyr right hand (which they are not ashamed to call it the second baptisme) promise, and swear by othe, to obey and reverence the Pope, and the Romish Church, and there to vowe chastitie. Moreover that Emperoures, Kings and Princes, Archbishops, Bishops, and Doctors, scholes, and all estates, receive also a token by oth, which they sweare to him, that they shall take nothing in hande which is agaynst the Pope and his Decrées, lawes and ordinaunces, his Seat, and priueledges: yea that all men receive this marke in the forehead. For he that is not greased with Crisome or Creame (which they cal Confirmation of the Bishop) cannot be counted (though he be baptised, and beleve in God and Christ never so faithfully) for a right christian: but for above al, they are marked & graffed in the trust & confidence

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of their owne merites and deservings. For as the right mark of an uprightchristian, is the faith working through charitie and love, (for the pledge of the childrẽ of God, is faith unfained,) even so is the true mark and seale of the Popish Antechrist, to bragge and trust in their owne workes and deservings, as Masses, Pilgrimages, shrifts, Buls, and Pardons, to be buried in a gray Friers coat, so many Pater nosters and Ave Maries, and an hundred more such dreames. And that no man might bie and sell, save he that had the marke, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.Whosoever doth not confesse or allow that which the Pope teacheth or commaundeth, but is contented and willing to observe, so much as in him lieth, al that which Christ teacheth, commaundeth and promiseth, is to have no regarde to the Pope nor his trumperies, nor his Masses of Requiem, Diriges, absolutions, and other abhominations: those may neither bie nor sel amongst them. Yea they are excommunicated, persecuted, and codnẽned to fire, sweard, gibbet or water. But they that beare his mark, are al good children, especially those that have the double marke, and Caracterem indebilem, (as they cal it) namely his greased and shaven troupe. Those I say, may traffique and occupie fréely, practising Simonie, chaunging and selling of Benefices, Prebendaries, and all other of their Romish pedlary, and peuish trash. Jesus Christ cast out of the Temple the biers and sellers, Math. 21. Mar. 12. but Antechrist bringeth them into his Temple, Luke. 19. there to upholde them. Here is wisdom. John. 26. The true and heauẽly wisdom consisteth in well understanding of things, and judging aright of the same: for when we doe not understand things, we are fooles and not wise men. Therefore the Lord dothe admonish his auditors diligently to serch of Antechrist, to yͤ entent that they might kepe them selves from him. For these which receive the marke of the beast, and worship his image, shal drink of the wine of gods wrath. But al those which (detest his Popedom from the very heart) folow and embrace Christ Jesu and his holy gospel, shall drinke altogither with him on

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his table the drink of life, and of the grace of God in his kingdom. Héereby we may conclude what great wisdom it is, through which we escape the wrath of God, and attaine to everlasting blessednesse. For the holy Ghost sayth here incontent by S. John. He that hath wit, count the number of the Beast. That is, they (which are not altogither foolish and deafe, let them count and cast over the number of the beast, let them studie and meditate continually on the thing, find fault with it, & abolish that which seemeth marvellous in the sight of the world. Count (sayth the Lord) for it is the number of a man, that is such a number as the carefull and dilygent man may easily finde out. God commaundeth héere expresly, that we must search and count. Therfore they may wel kéepe their peace (saith Aretes) which blame and slaunder our godly studie, diligent labor and great paines which we take to wryte against the Pope and his adherents, and his false detestable doctrine: saying that the time is not wel imployed, when we goe about to cast over the time, & count the number. For they may evidently sée and perceive here, that the holy Ghost doth commaund vs us to search out, to trie, and to make an accompte, to know whom to hold for the right and wicked Antechrist: him namely which (having dismissed and pvt put down thrée Kings,) is of nothing come vp up and exalted above all, and especially to the subversion and throwing downe of Christes true religion, hath begon to raigne and rule.

And his number is six hundred, three score and sixe. For so many make these letters in the Greeke tong . The name Latinos, Latinus, comprehẽdeth the number of sixe hundreth thrée score and sixe. And it is well and very credible (sayth the holy Martir Irene,) that his name should be so called, for so muche as hys dominion hath that name, and are all Latinists that rule and governe there. We sée héere of a truthe, that this godly teacher being full of the spirit of god hath not failed to foretel the true mening of the holy Ghost in this behalf. For it is evident that the Romish church, is called the Latine church,

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and the Pope soveraigne and supreame head of the same. We sée also yͭ all things in this Church, are done in Latine. And in their spirituall courtes, (as they call them) nothing but Latin is used and spoken: no man may serve in this church, except he be a Latinist. Moreover they call Hebrue to be Iudaike or Jewishe, and the Gréeke erronious or heretiquish: yea they holde the Hebrue and Greeke Bible to be suspected, and straightly charge and commaund their Latine (falsly called Jeromes translation) to be of every one imbraced and holden for the best. Which thing is so manifestly known, that it hath no néed of any further exposition. This number of 666. is signified by some Greeke wordes, (for this Prophesie was written first in the Greeke tongue) as Anthemos, that is: against the glory of god. Also it is signified by Aruine, wherby is noted a denier or forsaker of God. And Titan, that is the sonne or the name of Nemroth the tirant. These thrée names or wordes, although they sound divers, yet they do comprehẽd no more nor lesse than the just number, and all thys may be made agreable and approved by scripture and reason. For he that is not with Christe, is agaynst him. Some expositors leaving yͤ Greeke wordes, have practised, to their own advauntage a Latin woorde, namely Lux,containing the numbre aforesayd with the countyng letters, whych signifieth (as they name it them selves) the lyghte, or a spirituall companie, where in déede they resemble nothing lesse: for they are very darknesse which in no wise wyll receyve the light, but séeke to extinguish the light with al maner of crueltie and torments. We might bring in here besides these names two other names of Antechrist, namelyDiabolus incarnatus, and Filius perditionis, which signifie Devill incarnate, and childe of perdition: Where as in the one lacke but foure of the numbre, and the other six, counting [six counting] [six ,counting] [six,counting] those letters , which [,which] are commonly numbred. But amongest so many words above mẽtioned, is none fitter and better to the purpose than the word Aruine, containing a great mistery, and is asmuch to say, as I denie, or I forsake. It is manifest then, that these havereceived the mark and signe of the beast, or else are sealed with the numbre of hys name, which when they hear Gods truth reveledunto them, say: I will not heare of it, nor beleeve any parte of it, so long as it agréeth not wyth the doctrine and gaye Ceremonies of our holy father the pope, & our mother the Romish churche.

Upon the .xij. Sonet or vision.

I saw (sayth S. John) a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast. [] Reuel Revel. 17. This woman did a far off séeme to be honest & vertvovs vertuous, but in déede she was farre otherwise, as ye shal heare. Reve 12.14 2. Thess. 2. This beast is that great Antechrist (of whom we have spoken right now) or rather the bodie of the divel, containyng within him the Pope, Cardinals, patriarkes, legates, bishops, doctors, abbots, priours, chanons, Monkes, friers prebendaries, priests, indulgences, bulles, Nonnes, and the reste of all suche divelyshe sectes, beyng full of hypocrisie and dissimulation, reignyng wythin the whole Popedome. In lyke manner all Magistrates, and secular powers (that fortifie and defende, as well the Pope him selfe, as also the abhominations and detestable idolatrie which the Romishe church doth use) be he Emperoure, King, or Prince, Duke, Earle, or Lorde, Major, Judge, Chauncellor, Bailie, Constable, or whatsoever , that maintaine, defende and upholde by force and violence any thing against God and his truth. Of whose number I my selfe have bene sometime, and that (to myne owne great griefe be it spoken) thorough méere ignorance, thinkyng to do God great service. Wherof I am now ashamed and most earnestlyrepent me, and am sory for it. And I pray God that this, nor any of the rest of my sinnes, be layde unto my charge, but that he will pardon me thorough hys infinite goodnesse and mercie, in the name of his dearely beloved Sonne Jesus Christe, oure onely Savioure and redéemer. And I thanke hym from the bottome of my hearte, that it hathe pleased hym of his mercie, without my deservings, to have called me wyth the Apostle S. Paule,

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out of the shadowe of death and the companie of hys enimies, to the knowledge of his eternall wisedome in the felowship of his true spouse his churche. Of these I say, which seeke not themselves, nor any thing in this worlde, but seeke the glorie of him that bought them, and the accomplishment of his kingdom, counted in the sight of the world, as outcastes, but glorious in the sight of God. This beaste is whole of the colour of scarlet reddish, in token of greate tyrannie, sheddyng of bloud and murthers, which they commitagainst those which will not agree to their wicked & divelish institutions. She is also ful of ignominious blasphemous names: as, your holynesse, your clemencie, your lordship, your fatherhod, your mastership, your serenitie, your worthinesse, honour, reverence, magnificence, bounty, vicar of God, spiritual lord, phisition of the soule, defender of the faith, supreme head of the church, and many other, as it is séenedayly by their letters and writyngs. Moreover their too too muche knownetrumperies, and Jack an Apes plays, are no lesse blasphemous than processions, confirmations, greasyngs, purgatorie, Masses for al soules, pilgrimages, pardons, mattins Ave Maria stella, or Salve Salue regina, Placebo, Candlemasse,Palmsonday [Candlmasse, Palmsonday] . &c.

This beast had seven heades, and ten hornes, signifiyng all his subtil practises, his craftie fetches and false conspiracies, therby to impeche and withstande the graces of God, and giftes of the holy Ghost: And under a cloke of authoritie, through tryãnish violence resist the commaundements of God. And this woman was arayed in purple, and gilded with golde and precious stones and pearles. Which signifieth their coapes of gold, corporal ,stoales [corporals,stoales] , staues staves, miters &c. and other like trumperies of silk, purple, crimosin sattin, redde coloured, bordered wyth golde, pearles and precious stones, and above this,their [this their] counterfaite pietie and shewe of holinesse. This painted, pampred vp up, and so gaily decked Romish churche bragged and boasted muche of hir Gospel and hir Apostles, of golde, [golde] silver, wood or stone, decked and arayed wyth all kinde of costlynesse, whiche is

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but an outwarde appearaunce, for they looke for nothyng lesse than to imitate or follow, and to expresse them in their conversation.

She had a cup of golde in hir hande full of abhomination and filthinesse of hir fornication. This cup, is hir false and cursed Religion, 1. Tim. 4. whiche she dayly communicateth, distributed aboute the Chalice, 2. Thess. 2. whiche hir Merchauntes doe so wickedly abuse. 2. Tim. 3. It containeth all kynd of false and dyvelish doctrine, all kinde of erroures, lyes, and beastlynesse, all manner of craftie workes of hypocrites, all manner of inventions of fleshly wysedome, all mans wittiedevises, eyther by crafte, arte, or otherwiseinvented, as also all straunge kinde of worshippyng, of idolatrie, fornication, Sodometrie, and all other kynde of iniquitie. Outwardly she séemeth to be gilded, she reporteth yea & boasteth to sette forth the glorie of God, namely the magnfying of the name of Christ. Coloss. 2. They say, Heb. 10. they preache the sacred Scripture, they lyve in chastitie, Rom. 2. and all is nothyng else, but a false, a counterfaite, and deceiptfull shewe of holynesse, full of hypocrisie and dissimulation, a cover or cloke of all mischiefe and abhomination, 2. Cor. 3. it is but the bare letter, and the onely name, as the rest of all their doings are.

And in hir forhead was a name written, a mysterie, great Babylon. A name declaring what manner of woman she is. She is knowne wel inough by hir naughty fruites, of such as are skylful of godly knowledge, and have also the spirite of understandyng. So that they beyngilluminated, conducted and ledde by the spirite of GOD, maye easily perceyve, judge, and knowe, accordyng unto the Scriptures, that shée is nothyng else but an vnshamefaste and pestyferous whoore, full of all iniquitie, abhomination and wyckednesse. But thys judgement is hydden from the Infidels, the whyche are so bewitched and inchaunted by the meanes of their fayre outwarde shewe, their humble knéeling, créepyng, and gaye Ceremonies, that what soever she doth, speaketh, or commaundeth and taketh in hand, they make muche of it, worship and imbrace it, as holy, honest & perfect good: which thing God permitted for theyr unbeliefs sake.

She is called mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth, Reuel Revel. 17. muche passyng the towne of the Chaldees in all kinde of wickednesse, for she is the mother and fountaine both of spiritual and carnall whordome and abhomination. And I saw that she was the maried wyfe of the devyll. For I saw hir dronke of the bloud of Sainctes, and with the bloud of the martyrs of Jesus, which she outragiously and most severely hath persecuted and slayne.

And when I saw hir so, I marvelled with great marvell, not onely bicause I saw hir defiled and sprinkled of murther and sheding of innocent bloude, but also bicause of hir greate and abhominable blasphemies. Psalm. 85. And most of al, I was abovemeasure amazed and marvelled, John. 4. Rom. 2. that almightie God coulde or woulde suffer or permit so long hir intollerable wickednesse and detestable and horrible impietie. This woman is called of the Angell, the great whore: that great Citie which ruledover the kings of the earth, namely Rome. It is no mervaile though she be called that great whore, for no where was at any time more straunge and superstitious, worshippings, vaine institutions, cold & trifling ceremonies, bisides sectes, errors, and false Prophets, yea so many kind of uncleannesses raigned in hir, more than ever did raign in Sodome or Gomorre, or the miserable land of Egipt. This Babilonish whore or disguised Sinagoge of these shaven and greased ones, sitteth upon many waters, which is, many foolish, inconstant, and wavering people, and not upon those which are grounded upon the sure rocke of Gods word, and the true doctrine of the articles of the christian faith. With this most wicked, vile, and stinking whoore and common strumpet to all men, have the moste mighty Kyngs, Princes and Potentates, committed spiritual whoredom, in that they consent to divers and sundry kinds of their straunge, new found, and altogither superstitious

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Ceremonies, and other their most wicked decrées. Héere if I shuld make a discourse of al that might be spokẽ of in this place, time should faile me. My purpose & meaning at this present, is onely to make a shorte exposition and declaration uppon these oure visions, and that in as fewe wordes as is possible, to the consolation & edification of all godly and faithfull Christians. Séeing thẽ, what through the subtiltie & craftie fetches of Babels priestes on the one side, and what for the cruell & straight plackets of Princes on the other side: the dwellers upon earth or the worldly minded, are all dronke of the wine of hir wickednesse and abhomination, and spirituall whooredom. They are al fallen without the prescript rule of Gods holy word, to a straunge and new found kinde of serving of God. Moreover, not only these as covetous, carnall, and other wicked and sinnefull persons have folowed their abhominations, but also an infinite numbereven of the elect and chosen of god, have bene intangled, yea and havegiven credite to their false lies and erroures. They were so nusled, and busily occupied with their fonde and fained traditions, with their naughtie customes and iuentions, that they more like senselesse persons, without any discretion or understanding, yea without any respecte of Gods holy word, wandred from all godlinesse & grace. Not only have they stouped, bowed, and kneeled before stockes and stones, lighting candels before it, made Crosses, blessing it, kissing it, & held vp up their hands to it, but also havepvt put their confidence in it. Neverthelesse it shall not continue alwayes, for it foloweth. Esay. 45. The .x. horns which thou sawest upon the beast: Baruc. 6. Signifying the Kings, Princes, and their subjects, Ierem. 2. which héeretofore were favourers, servauntes, Reuel Revel. 15. and maintainers of the Romish churche, seeking to doe good to that whoore, yea to their owne damage and hinderaunce, bicause of the good will and blinde zele they bare unto hir: Even as a man which loveth a light and an unhonest woman, is through hir love and alluremẽts, so blinded, that he considereth not hir unhonestbehavior, nor cam can mislike any thing in hir,

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but frameth himself alwayes to hir pleasure, frendship or service, and so much as in him lieth, hating, contemning, and putting to death, through unlawfulllove, (wherewith she hath bewitched him) all them which (meaning his wealth) warne him of hir, and tel him of his fault how he is deceived and greatly misused: setting before his eyes hir fraude, falshoode, vnshamefastnesse, fainednesse, and unfaithfulnesse, all which he cannot judge of, until his eyes be open, and his understanding illuminated by the grace of God, so that when he perceiveth how he was beguiled and deceived, he hateth and defieth hir the more. Even so are now a dayes the eyes of many Princes and Kings, Countreis, Townes and Cities, and other wel disposed opened, and their hearts are touched by the mighty working of gods holy spirite, and by the meanes of preaching & hearing of the woord of God, so that now they defie the whoore with all hir traditions and abhominations which they were wont to maintain and defend so willingly. Yea those I say which for very blinde zeale and love which they bare unto hir, were contented to kisse hir féete, shalbe as now hir mortall and deadly ennimies. They shal not passe upon hir aucthoritie: they shall condemne hir usages: they shall take from hir the Realme and dominion which she now unjustly possesseth: they shall deny hir tribute and obeisaunce, or to doe hir any homage, and at length shall leave hir desolate and comfortlesse. This shall not Princes only do, but Kings and other temporal Magistrates, yea even the Metropolitanes [Metropalitane] , Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Prelates. Of which, many ensamples are at this instant to be found. And more followers of these ensamples, wil be héerafter. Which albeit they were the hornes of the beast to defend yͤ whoore withal, yet shal they so abolish hir, mislike hir, and forsake hir, that at length she shal be left whole naked. They shall chase, pursue, and hunt the Babilonish whoore of Rome, with the cleare trumpe of Gods holy word, that she shall become pale and colourlesse, ready to sound.

Cal to remembraunce what God hath

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wrought by his servaunts, John Wicliffe, JohnHvs, Martine Luther, Oecolampadie, Zwinglie, Melancton, Capito, Bucer, Calvin, Theodore de Beza, Viret, Peter Martyr, [Peter Martyr] Bullinger, Alasco, Brenti⁹vs us Regius, and other moe. All whiche have brought low their Reliques, Crucifixes & Idols, (which they call sainctes,) Abbayes, Purgatorie, Masses for all soules and Indulgences. And moreover God shall raise some not inferior to them, which shall make so muche a doe, and bring hir to such a fall, that she shal not be able to recover againe, so that no man shall regarde hir any more, neyther shall there be any found to set hir vp up againe. They shall strip hir naked, that so many as behold hir, may cry out upon hir, & detest hir, and finally consume hir flesh. Moreover they shal, bisides the taking away from hir al tẽporal revenues, rents, and al other worldly pleasures, confound hir perverse and carnal judgement of the scriptures, and so consequently consume and make weake the kéeping and observing of all hir whorish Ceremonies. Last of all, they shall all to burne hir with fire, and bring to nought the whole masse of their Decrées, Decretalles, Canons, Customes, and all other kinde of [kind eof] Idolatrie. When as all these abhominations shall cease, and be gone by the meanes of the preaching of the Gospel, then this whoore shall not be seene any more, bicause the harlot continueth no longer than hir [then hir] estimation lasteth. Take away their customs and Ceremonies, their jewels and costly raiment, their Images (the light of their dominion) their paternitie and estimation, kéepe back their Altares, their Masse, Bishops, Priests, Miters, Staues Staves, Crosses and Banners: of what estimation (I pray you) shalbe their holy (as they terme it) whorish Church? which standeth in nothing else than in outward false shew of many gay trifling and vaine hipocritical Ceremonies.

This kind of consuming of the flesh, or this maner of burning, is not only declared by external proves and euidẽt examples, as it is come to passe in many places in our dayes to divers Friers. Monkes or Priests, which setting themselves

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for the defẽce of the Romish church, were killed and slaine. And yet shall it be with them, even as Baals Priests with the prophetHelias about the riverRison, but are yet spiritually by a mistery of that which hath bene foretold. For the Foules, as ye shall heare, shall consume hir flesh. For god hath (saith the Angell) pvt put in their hearts to fulfill his will. God hath given by inspiration of his holy spirite in the minds of those aforsaid,and such like persons, [aforesaid,and such like persons] to accomplishe in this behalfe [accomplish in this behaalfe] his secrete will and pleasure. Namely to roote out [rout out] wholy and altogither that [altogither,that] false and hipocriticall religion, to suffer no longer the enormitie and foule abhominatiõ of that Antechrist. After all these manifold Revelations, Reuel Revel. 18. I saw an other angel (saith S.John,) signifying the true ministers and preachers sent in these our dayes. As also in the .vj. Chapter of the Revelation, Reve. .6. is made mention of the Angell which had the seale of the living liuing God. Again in the .x. chapter, Reve. 10. of the angel which was environed with the cloud, and in the .xiiij. Chapter, Reuel Revel. 14. of the Angell which published and cried out the fall of Babilon, comming from heaven downeward All which is to declare that the godly preachers are sent of God (havingreceived great power, John. 1. 3. Actes. 13. Mar. 3. Actes. 18. Rom. 12. John. 6. Esay. 11. Esay. 9. 10. fervent zeale, and stedfastnesse of the spirite of God) to declare and pronounce the wil of god valiantly, to the overthrow of that pestilent whore. For like as the father hath the life within him, even so hath his somne sonne Christ Jesu also, and in him live his servauntes, without any feare. And the earth was light of his brightnesse. Not of the Angell which was but a Messanger, was the earth lightned, but of the power which was givenunto him. Wher Gods word is once truely preached, there the whole earth is lightned of the brightnesse of the glory of God. And this Angell cried aloud, she is fallen. That great Babilon, which was so proud, hie minded, & so common a whore, that blasphemous sinagoge of the hipocrites, is turned upside downe. She is by the justjudgement of God, brought to great ignomie and shame. Hir first overthrow was, John. 16. when as the prince of this world was overcome and vanquished through yͤ death of our saviourJesus

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Christ. Consider and ponder well in your minde, the destruction of Jerusalem, after what sort the Jewishservice ceased, and tooke an end: namely when the materiall temple was throwne down, Luke. 19. and not one stone left upon an other. Now in this our time, she shal have a more sharper and severejudgement through the publishing & preaching of gods word, to the comfort of all beléeuers. Which although it be somewhat as it were deferred, yet let them be as well assured of this hir judgement to come, as we know and certainly beleeve the other to be come. Cal to remembrance, and compare this place with the haling & plucking downe of Abbays, Frieries, and other religious houses (as they cal them) in Germanie, England, and in other places, and make your accompts, that more and more sorowes shal happen, and surely fal upon hir shortly. The occasion of hir fall, and the desolation before the lord, is this: She is become a dwelling place to devils, Esay. 22. more than ever she was before hir first fall, for now enter they a great many at once, yea wel seven for one.

And she is become a keeper of uncleane sprites. For all manner of Idolatrie is mantained and kept by hir spirituall Courtiers and holy fathers (as they call them) as be their Bishops and priests. Here raigneth Simonie, Actes. 8. bying and selling of benefices, sacriledge, Galat. 5. usurie, ambition, fraude, covetousnesse, desire of money, Ephe. 3. & to shed bloud, envie, malice, lecherie, gluttonie, pride, uncleannesse, and all other wickednesse. She is become a sauegard or cage of all unclene and execrable birdes. Gene. 18.19 For in hir dwelleth the adulterous Bishops, the buggerous Cardinals, and lecherous Prelates, and a heape of Sodomitish Monks and Friers, Nunnes, and Sisters. All these comparethEsay the Prophet to wilde beastes: Esay. 34. namely to Dragons, Ostriches, Eagles, Monkeis, Owles, Mermaides, and other ravenous and greadie birdes, and monsterous and straunge beasts: for amongst them hath bene used alwayes, and is yet at this present, all manner of vaine and foolishe toyes, as mockings, scoffings and jestings, with crossing, conjuring, gasing, singing, playing, and divers other folish &

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straunge fashions to mocke God withall. Héere we might speak and reherse many things: Namely of the keeping of their stewes, and how they goe a whoring two maner of wayes: whereunto we might joyne and declare what gaine and profite the ruffian prelates get thereby. As it is to be séene, namely at Rome, what revenues and rents, that great and soveraign ruffian getteth by his whoores. And afterward of the drouning and killing of childrẽ, and secretly murthering, and casting in corners and ditches, as is usuallypractised amongst these riggish and lecherous prelates.

It is fallen. For all the kinreds and nations of the world, except a very fewe of simple and seely souls, which god through his unspeakeable goodnesse, mercy and grace hath chosen and predestinated to him selfe, Have dronken of the wyne of the wrath of hir fornication, Bicause they have not rendred thankes to almightye God, when occasion, oportunitie and time served, therefore they are fallen into that bottomlesse pit of all errour and abhomination , to the losse both of body and soul. They have very carefully and narowly searched to runne a whoring after their hurtfull and damnable witchcraftes and inchauntments, beleuing and crediting their false doctrine and teachings, and so consequently apply thẽ selves to expresse it in their conversation and living liuing.

And the Kings of the earth, Psalm. 13. not having before their eyes the love and feare of God, Ierem. 3. Eze. 16. have committed formcation with thys vile and filthie whoore. Oseas. 2. Yelding thẽ selves to many false, Reuel Revel. 18. Idolatrous, and straunge worshippings. In such sorte, that by the teachings, admonitions, and persuasions of their holy fornicatours, they havebroken the bonde of peace, Esay. 54. and have warred against the true children of God. Eze. 17. Which notwithstanding yͭ they have wrongfully molested and troubled, scornefully intreated and mocked, violently oppressed and persecuted, have yet (chasing and banishing them) confiscated their lands and goodes, turning their wives and litle children out of the doores a begging. Above all this, so murther they and slay all such

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as they can catch, and shed very much innocent bloud, as hanging, drowning, or burning them most cruelly without any cause, yea without any remorse of conscience, Luke. 16. even as if there were neither hell nor heaven, God nor devil, life nor death, and as if there were no judgement, Rom. 4. or no accoumptes to be given before God of all their doings and crueltie. Also their mitred Merchaunts, and shavenMassemongers, factors and sellers of mennes soules, are waxen very rich and welthy by selling of their Oile, Creame, Salte, Holy water, Shrift, Candels, Blessings, Crosses, Banners, Ashes, Palmes, Incense, Waxe, Beades, Bulles, and Pardons, letters of Dispensation to contract Matrimonie, licences to eat flesh, egges, butter. &c. All which not God, but they upon paine of everlasting damnation, to their owne commoditie and profite have forbidden. Of like qualitie are their Images, Ringing of Belles, their Reliques, Bones of departed Sainctes, and other like things. Whereby, and by many other of their fained holinesse, they are become (through the aboundaunce of their goods and richesse) so lusty, spiteful, proud and lofty, that they have obtained the possession and governing of Countreis and Realmes, of Cities, Fortresses and Castels, and many other pleasaunt places, Woodes, Warrennes, Parkes, Farmes, Conduits, Fountaines, Hounds, Horsses, and Mules. So that in aucthoritie and power, in riches, and substance, and in all kinde of plesant things, they are nothing inferior to Kings and Princes.

Moreover, they are not ashamed to take other mennes wives to fulfill their most filthie and unsatiable desires, yea honest mennes daughters, maidens, and servauntes, yea and yong men too, which they most abhominably and shamefully defile, marre and spoile. I leave you to consider what gaines Bishops & Prelats gather of the first fruicts of the tenths, of Buls, Pardons, and resigning of beneficies. Againe it can not well be tolde, what golde and silver they get by singing and saying of their Collects, by going and gathering of their yearely Offerings, and

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the great liuings livings, revenues and rentes, which their Cathedral Churches, Abbeis, Religious houses and Coventshave, so that in al things they passe the welthiest. There is no kind of pleasure come it never so farre off, be it never so deare and costly, but they wil have a tast of it. Notwithstanding, they cam can play so wel the hipocrites at their sermons, yͭ it séemeth they regarde nothing lesse than the vanitie of this world, and praise above measure fasting and abstinence. Math. 6. But they have their rewarde héere, and shall héereafter have their portion with the dissemblers and hipocrites, where shall be wéeping, wringing of hands, and gnashing of teeth.

And I heard another voice, an other warning of the spirite, whereby the true and faithfull ministers of God are instructed and taught, warning vs us and saying: 1. Esd. 2. Goe out of hir my people, come away with Esdras out of that wicked Babylon, Gene 19. goe forthe with Abraham out of Caldee, Esay. 52. runne and flie with Lothe out of filthye Sodome, and meddle no more wyth that whoorish Church of Rome, denie, forsake, and detest wholly hir false and fained holynesse, hir foule and filthy ceremonies, abhorre hir dissimulation and hypocrisie, curse and ban their trifles and jestings, and have no felowship more wyth these whooremongers, Nicolaites, & Balaamites. Lifte vp up, and repent from the bottom of your hearts your former follie and abhominations which you have done in times past, and come to me (sayth the Lord) all ye that travail and are heavie loden, and I shall refresh you. Get ye away from among them, without looking behinde you, that ye be not partakers of their sinnes, which is the vẽgeance and ire of Gods wrath, and indignation. At all tymes and seasons there have bene holy and godly men, and well learned fathers, whiche through their excellent and divine woorkes and writings have exhorted and cried (especially since the comming vp up of the Pope) for redresse and reformation of the churche, for the amendemente of many faultes, and to sée brotherly exhortation and christian disciplineused in the same. As by Bertrandus Herebaldus, Berẽgarius Thuronensis, Bruno

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Andegauensis, Peter Damianus, Valeriane Medeburgensis, Bernard⁹vs us Clareualẽsis, Robertus Tuitiensis, Ioachim Abbas, Cyrillus Graecus, Joannes Salisburgensis, Gilbert⁹vs usLãtcestrius, Angelus Hierosolimitan⁹vs us, Guilhelmus de sancto Aniore, Guido Bonatus, Niocolaus Gallus, Hubertinus de Casali, Pelius Casali, Petrus, Joannes, Marcilius Patauinus, Joannes Paris, Arnold⁹vs us de villa nova, Michael Caesenas, Gulielmus Occam, Nicolaus de Lu Lvca, Marcus de Florẽtia, Joannes wiclefus, JoannesHvs, Michael de Bononia, JoannesHildeshem, Dantes Aligerius, Frãciscus Petrarcha, Nicolaus Clemadis, Petrus de Aliaco, Joannes Gerson, Laurentius Valla, Lodouicus Arelatensis, Joannes Segebius, Thomas Redonẽsis Gallus, Mattheus Palmarius, David Boys, Dionysi⁹vs us Chartusian⁹vs us, JoannesMiluerto, Joannes Gorchius, Joannes de Vsalia VVormacẽsis, Joannes Ghyler, JoannesCrutser, VVessalus Groenegensis, Eneas Silvius, Redoricus Samorensis, Iulianus Brixiensis, and Hieronymus Savonarola. Beside these there be other which are of oure time, as Joannes Reuchlin, Baptista Mantuanus, Baptista Panetius, Johannes Creston⁹vs us, Erasmus, Lutherus, Zwinglius, Caluinus, and more other. All whiche, the Papistes for the moste parte have condemned for heretikes. To rehearse here their wrytings, their reasons and testimonies, it would require to much time, I muste therefore leave it behynde. I have onely rehersed some of their names to thys end and purpose, that it myght appeare to the Reader, that at all tymes God hath had one or other, that hath not ben in all poynts consenting to their blasphemies. Albeit, the light of Gods truthe was not then so perfectly reveledunto them as it is now a dayes (God be praised) untovs us. Many godly and vertvovs vertuous Emperours & Princes, have by generall Counsels, and by al other meanes possible assayed and proved to have a refourmation and amendemente made of all absurdities, and abuses, whiche were crepte into the churche, but they have alwayes met with wicked and ungodly princes which resisted them and letted them of their vertvovs vertuousenterprises, whiche also maintained those Antechrists in their impietie & wickednesse,

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defending them with toothe and nayle to the uttermoste: neverthelesse it is without any doubt, that these, as Pharao, with all his power in the red Sea, and as that proude kinde of Phariseys and priestes of the Jewes in the Citie, bicause of theyr manifeste blasphemies perished, so shall likewise at the hour and time of God appointed, all these perishe and vanishe away. For the sinnes of this whoore, or the innumerable blasphemies of this false religion, the great abhomination and filthie idolatrie, the burning, hangyng, drowning, and sheading of innocente bloude, are come vp up into Heaven, Apoc. 18. there to desire the vengeance of God, for their uncleannesse & vnshamefastnesse, hath caused & provoked Gods wrath and indignation against them. And God hath remẽbred their iniquities, The multitude & greatnesse wherof ar come vp up into heaven Therfore have they most justlydeserved the threatened plagues of the most righteous God, no lesse than Sodome and Gomorre, Gen. 19. for their transgression and wickednesses: which when it was foretolde them, made light of it, and went forwarde to al mischiefe, until God pouring out his vengeance, destroyed them with fire and brimstone.

Rewarde hir even as she hath rewarded you, Measure unto hir againe with such measure as she did measure unto you. Take ye good héede, and looke narowly, ye that have gotten the judgement seate: Crie upon hir, even as she dyd crie upon you, snare hir, as she hath snared you. Againe, as she hath heretofore wrongfully molested and troubled you, scornefully intreated, yea, and by hir Traditions judged and condemned you evenunto death, so nowe do ye likewise rebuke hir, and exhorte hir of hir wyckednesse, Math. 5.10. judge hir like a very harlot, John. 6. and condemne hir by the mightie and true worde of God to everlasting fire, 1. Corin. 4. whiche can not be quenched. And give hir double according to hir workes. And in the cup that she hath filled to you fill hir the double. That is, render unto hir double in all punishmentes, and giveunto hir even for worldly punishements whiche she hath brought upon the elect of God, hellishe torments. For corporal and bodily troubles and vexations, eternal pains and torment of the minde: for the blame and ignomynie of thys worlde, perpetuall shame and confusion: for temporall death, everlastyngdamnation both of body and soule.

And the cup. &c. That is al kinde of troubles, adversities and miseries whiche she filled to you out of hir cup, that is, caused to come upon you, shalbe doubled to hir againe: for (as it is sayd) she shall receyve for temporall evils, everlasting. The holy Ghost calleth here double, that which is withoute comparison, even as a little tyme to no time or everlastingnesse. Hir pleasure and joy shall be converted into sorowes and griefes, hir mery and pleasaunt talke, hir iestyngs and laughyngs into wéepyng, mournyng, wringyng of handes and gnashyng of téeth. Hir commaundings shal be turned into cravings, hir reverence into contempt, hir honoure into shame. &c. For she hathe pretended moste faynedly an holy kynde of priesthode, she boasteth and braggeth much of that whiche they are furthest from. She hath usurped and wrongfully taken upon hir, and proudely claimed unto hir a royallmajestie and highnesse. Whiche two kynde of dignities she hath yet worse used: lette hir therefore wayte and attende on the plagues and punishementes due unto hir pernicious temeritie and arrogancie. Take away hir pleasaunt Euphrates, wyth the spoyle and greate revenues, wherewithall she hath hytherto so unjustly maintained and kepte hir selfe, and throw hir in the déepe pit of all miseries and wretchednesse. Esay. 47. Math. 11. 28 For she sayth in hir heart, I sitte being a Queene, Math. 16. environned with joy and pleasure, I am the chiefe of the universall worlde, on me dependeth the Catholike and holy Churche, I have authoritie and power in Heaven, earth, and Hell: I have also might to binde and to loose, to save and condempne: It standeth not with me, as it doth with those that be not of this worlde, for all thyngs here are at my commaundement.

I am no widowe, I am not desolate. The hyghest powers and gouernours of thys worlde do assiste and defende mée,

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putting to death al those that lay against me. Nero, Domitian, Trajan, or Maxence, were never more addicted to the defence of my predecessours, than are now adays the Princes of our tyme readie to maintaine wyth fire and faggot my Decrées, Traditions and Ceremonies. Therefore I shall see no mournyng. I shall continue alwayes, I shall be called Madame at all tymes: Deut. 8. my kyngdome shall abyde for ever, my seate shall no man take awaye from me, I shall never fall, nor any evil can come uppon mée. After thys sorte, boaste (wyth no small presumption) our Papistes also, saying: That the lyttle vessell of Sainct Peter may wel by the reason of weather and tempeste be shaken, and with the waves of the sea troubled, but never can be overwhelmed or perishe: hereby goyng aboute to prove that theyr superstitious and Romyshe churche should abyde styll, and never be overthrowne. But they consider not of what abilitie and power the Lambe is, whiche abideth uppon the mount Syon,against whom they stick and make warre against continually: whose congregation and little flocke they persecute daily with great tyrannie, crueltie, and rigorousnesse. Therfore shal hir plagues come at one day. God shall once poure upon this wicked race & malignant church, Death, sorowes, hunger and sworde,even as he dyd sende upon the synfull Cities fire and Brymstone. They shalbe deprived for ever of the life whiche is in Christe Jesu, Gen. 19. Exod. 9. they shall remaine in sobbes and teares, Psal. 11. they shal not ceasse to mourne, to wring their handes, Collos. 3. and gnashe their téeth, Math. 24. they shall be inheritours ofeverlastyng darkenesse, Mark. 9. theyr worme shall never die, they shall hunger and never be satisfied. Math. 25. And this whoore with the whole generation of hypocrites shall be burnt with vnquencheable fyre, prepared for the devyl and his aungels. This sentence is not so severe as true, for the Lorde who shal judge them, is of power and might: Psalm. 50. he is holy and faithful in mercie, true in his worde and promise, Rom. 3. marvellous in all his workes, Dan. 5. fearefull, Levi. 10. terrible and righteous in his judgements against the wycked. Deut. 1. No man then shall

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be able in those dayes to withdrawe any part of the threatned vengeaunce of hys wrath from the evill doer. Neither oure Lady with castyng of hir beades into the ballaunces of S. Michaell, neyther S. John Baptist, with hys lambe holdyng a crosse, neyther S. Peter wyth hys Key, nor S. Paule, wyth his sworde (as they use to make them) yea and if Moyses, Samuel, and the rest of the Prophetes, with Noe, David, and Job, would make intercession yet shoulde they not be hearde. And the Kings of the earth, namely the worldly and carnall Princes whiche have committed fornication, and lyved in pleasure with hir, in all uncleannesse and filthynesse, shall bewaile hir, when they shall see hir overthrowen and so yll intreated, it shall grieve them sore, that they may or can not maintaine and defende hir with water, fyre and sworde against God and hys saincts, for they shall be nothyng well pleased with the ordinaunces and institutions of Christe, bycause they doe hate nothyng more than the workes of the spirite, that is, to frame theyr lives according to the will of God. It shall anger them to the hearte, that they are not able to burne still and slay all those that speake, write, or preache agaynst the déedes of the fleshe and do reprove them of their fornication, adulterie, and theyr mischeuous and inordinate lyfe, and rebuke them of theyr moste abhomynable idolatrie.

And lamente over hir, when they shall see the smoke of hir burnyng. Reuel Revel. 18. And shall stande a farre of, for feare of hir tormentes, crying and saying: Alas, alas, that greate citie Babylon, that myghtie Citie. Alas, our mother the holy Churche of Rome, so many holy fathers, Popes, Cardinalles, and Byshops: Alas, for our Monkes, Chanons, and Friers with their so holy, so devoute and straight lyves and rude garmentes. Alas, for so many Pardons, Indulgences, and confessions, so many principall bye Feastes, Holy dayes, and gay Coapes and Garmentes. Alas for oure holy Water, holy Candelles, holye Palmes, holye Ashes, hallowed Belles,

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organs play, and prick song, and the rest of our so gay ceremonies. With these and the lyke wordes shall they bewayle hir, trembling and quakyng for feare, & crying out on this maner: Wo, wo, to that strong & great citie Babylon, yͭ mightie citie: for in one houre is thy judgement come. 2. Thess. 2. Thou art sodainly perished with yͤ sword of his mouth, before thou canst be aware of it. Alas, who shal now pray for vs us? who shal now sing our Diriges, masses of Requiem, and do the funeralles for our soule? Whether shall we go nowe to shrifte? who shall now absolve and pardonvs us our sinnes? where shall we nowe fetche oure ashes? Who shall consecrate vs us our Candles and Palmes? who shall sing or ryng and cast holy water at oure burials, and redeme vs us out of purgatory? Suche shal be the complaints of the wicked and faithlesse persons.

And the merchants of the earth, whiche do make any trafike of the marchandise of their Temple (whiche place dothe serve them in steade of the market) as well amongest the Mahometistes, as the Papistes . But bycause we are moste troubled and molested here in Europe, of that popishe Antechriste, we shall endeuoure to speake as we have done hitherto most of hym. These merchantes then (I say) shall bewayle hir, and mourne over hir, very sore, and muche more than the Kyngs dyd. For no man buieth their ware any more. theyr pedlary is nothing set by any more The wares or merchaundises of theyr shoppes, are Masses, prayers, blessyngs, Crosses, theyr cakes, greate and small, whyche they sell (to get the more, as it is estéemed) in stéede of God theyr maker, Holy breade, holy water, Candels, relikes, Pardons, Scala coeli, Diriges, Annuaries, and dyvers other lyke, whereby they get the very sweate and bloude of the poore silly soules. All whiche they sell for good money daily, and yet they kéepe neverthelesse: For the people have but the hearyng, the eye syght, or a taste of trifles.

And every Shippe maister, and all the people that occupie shippes, and shipmen, and whosoever trauaile on the sea, shall stande afarre

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of: That is to say, all Bishops, Ordinaries, Abbots, Parsons, Vicars and Massing Priestes, and other lyke, liuyng on the sea: Of these waueryng, blinde and zealous people, al these (sayth the voyce) stode a farre of,even as the merchants did, and cried. In like maner When they saw the smoake of the burnyng, saying: What Citie was lyke unto this great Citie in ryches, power, wealth, and voluptuousnesse? No Prince or lorde is better entertained, of al thyngs better provided, and more attendancegivenupon him than these shavelings be. For their truste and confidence is onely in this Citie, this is theyr God: Herein consisteth their whole felicitie and blessednesse.

These Shipmen shall (bycause of theyr greate losse) so weepe and wayle, that men shall cast duste uppon theyr foolishe and fond wytlesse heads, that is to saye. They shall be so wrapped in darkenesse, that they shall not see in theyr understanding bycause of theyr vnbeléefe, and also their knowledge shall bée made dull, blunte, and beastly, by the meanes of jealousie, furie, and rage. All this shall they do, to shewe theyr greate griefe: as for theyr repentaunce, Gen. 4. it shall be lyke unto that of Caius, Pharao, Esau, Antiochus, Exod. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. and Judas, their predecessoures. And in theyr sorrowe, Math. 26. they shall complayne on thys manner: Alas, alas, that greate Citie, that woorthie and moste famous Rome, that swéete and pleasaunt Babylon, oure holy mother, wherein we were made so ryche, so proude, so myghtie and glorious, that al the worlde dyd dreade, honour and servevs us, and we felte no trouble, no kinde of adversitie, or miserie, is now made desolate, she is fallen. The apples that thy soule lusted after, are departed from thee,the learned, the wyse and men of understanding whiche thou for the maintenance of thy beautified whoordom desiredst (sayth the menacing voyce of the holy Ghost) are now departed from thée, and wil not (since they have séene and considered thy great abhomination) have to do with thée any more, but they shall forsake and leave thée, cursse and abolishe thée quite: and where

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as they were wonte to prayse, make muche of, and magnifye thée before the worlde, shall nowe defye thée, yea, and (by the testimonie of the holy and sacred Scripture) rebuke, condempne and confounde thée. Of the common sort also men of an honest and civile lyfe, whiche were wont to defende thée, nothyng suspecting but thynkyng that all these trumperies, and beggerly Ceremonies were profitable and necessarie to be observed (notwithstanding that thy lyfe and conuersasation was wicked and too too haynous) shal speake agaynst thée, & flie from thée as soone as theyr eyes and understanding by the vertue of the spirite of God shalbe opened, Math. 6. seyng that thou arte detestable and divelishe. Galat. 1. Briefly, no man, have he never so little a taste of Gods holy word, 1. Tim. 4. shalbe able to abide thée, 2. Tim. 4. or suffre thy manyfest whordom any longer: for thy upholders are but dissemblers, men plesers, flatterers, railing Sophistes, Scoffers, brawling Canonists, Sorbonists, Epicures, Libertines, and other ungodly and slaunderous persons, very Antechristes. Touching honest, sober, 1. Tim. 3. discrete and vertvovs vertuous persons, busie in godly works, 1. Tim. 5. fearing God, and séeking his glory from the bottome of their hartes, which also desire with all their strength, zeale, and fervencie to set forthe the same, they shall leave and renounce al thy pestiferous & dangerous wayes. These grosse and fat shippe men, and mariners shall say yet. Woe, woe, Alas, alas, that great Citie wherein we were made rich, all that had ships on the sea, by hir costlinesse, for in one houre she is made desolate. We which had Bishopriks, Abbays, Beneficies, Prebendaries, and great Revenues, amongst these foolish unstedfast, and worldly minded people, waxed by al maner of wayes welthy and riche, through the deare and costly wares which oure shippes were laden withall on every side, which ar innumerable. We (I say) are in great heavinesse, and in such a perplexitie when we remember of that so great and famous Citie, as we are not able to expresse, bycause of hir so sodaine fall, being in one houre.

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¶ The .14. vision containing the justjudgement of god over the assembly of Antechrist, and that gratious vengeaunce of the innocẽt bloud of his good and faithfulservaunts: which I have taken out of the .xix. chapter of the Revelation, where it beginneth in this maner.

I Saw the heavens open: that is to say. The misteries of God were shewed me, Reve. 19. 11. and his secretes were fully declared and expoundedunto me, I perceive that through faith and humblenesse, great knowledge of the misteries of God were obtained. Esay. 66. Wysdom. 11 For the heavens áre opened when Gods word is fréely preached, Math. 11.12. and are shut vp up when it is not preached, or not regarded, but in the stead of it, men are fedde with dreames and lies. And behold a white horse appeared unto me. Héereby are ment the true and faithfull ministers of the word of God: whose office and condition is, (as S. Paule saith) to announce throughout all the whole world this heavenly doctrine, 2. Corin. 1. and instruct, teach, & admonish both great and small. And he that sate upon him, was called faithfull and true. This is the onely and true sonne of God which is called faithfull, just, and true, Math. 16. bicause he is founde faithfull, Actes. 9. and unfallible in hys promises and woorde, Psal. 145.17 Psalm. 51. for the Lord (saith the Psalmist) is very righteous in all his wayes, true in his sayings, perfect in all his doings. He cannot but teach a right, and speake a trouth, Rom. 9. for he is the truthe him selfe. John. 14. John. 16. No more cannot those which are indued with his spirite, who leadeth and conducteth them in all truthe. He hath done according to justice and equitie in condemning that wicked and abhominable whoore, in destroying that filthie sinagoge of Sathan, in delivering and exalting his poore afflicted Churche. First of all he did fight in his owne persone, as a worthy Champion against the devill, hel, and damnation, whom he hath overcome, Psal. 23. conquered and vanquished by his owne death, and glorious passion. And now doth he overthrow the Devill, Ioh. 16. and all his adherẽts, by the meanes of his faithful servaunts, distributers of his holy woord and mysteries, 1. Cor. 15. which he nowe gracisusly sendethunder the figure of the white horsse. John. 12. For his servaunts (as Abacuck testifieth) are lustie and wel animated horsses, Aba. 3. whom the Lord conducteth, which ar (as Jeremie calleth them) whiter than snow, by the meanes of their unfained, and undefiled faith. And his eyes were like as a flame of fire, mightie and cleare. Whereby is not only understanded his godly wisdome and knowledge, whereby he knoweth and judgeth al things, but also all the heavenly and spirituall giftes of the holy Ghost. Behold sayth Zacharie, Zach. 3. 1. Cor. 1. upon the only stone (which S. Pauleexpoundeth to be Christ,) shalbe .vij. eyes, which are the .vij. spirites of god, wherwith god doth lighten the hearts of his chosen, and kindleth the fire of his love in yͤ minde of his faithful. Psal. 119. His word is a lantern to their féete, hys law and testimonies are pure, and undefiled, giving light to the eie. And upon his head were many crownes.Even as the same was séene (being a figure of Christ) upon the head of Jesus the sonne of Iosedech the high Priest, 1. Esd. 3. Eccle. 4 9. to signifje ie that Jesus Christ is the soveraigne and king above al kings, which hath power in heaven and earth for ever. He ruleth and governeth al nations with an iron rod. For he is the Lord of hostes, the everlasting king of glory. He is a mightie and puissant gouernoure, setting over the Mount Sion his holy hil. He giveth prosperitie and government to Kings, and his elect and chosen are crouned in him with grace and mercie for evermore. For he reserveth in heaven for vs us, an inheritance immortall and undefiled: 1. Peter. 1. Againe, he hath layed vp up for them that kéepe the faith, 2. Timo. 4. a crowne of righteousnesse, Reuel Revel. 2. and wil give a crowne of life to them that be faithfull unto the death. &c. James. 1. All warrefares and victories of the saincts depend upon him only. And he had a name written, to wit, almighty, marvellous and feareful, Adonai, Emanuel, a name above all names, even the holy one of Israell, the Lorde of Sabaoth, the Lord of hostes, our redemer, saviour, and righteousnesse. Math. 16. No man knewe this name but hym selfe and them whiche he hathe reveled it unto, neither fleshe nor bloude, nor

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Heathen, Turke, Jew, or false Christian is able to comprehend thys name aright: Math. 16. Albeit they have good signes and tokens, yet no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, 1. Cor. 12. without the inspiration of the spirite of God, who openeth the very truth of God. The number of Gods elect are also signified or comprehended under this name, which the world can not acknowledge nor understand. And he was clothed with a garment dipt in bloud. His mortall bodie which he tooke upon him for our redemption, was so sore beaten and greuously wounded, that from the soule of the féete to the very crowne of the head, even from top to toe, nothing was lefte whole or sound. This mighty Champion is he which came from Edom and Bosra, whose garmentes were sprinkled with bloud, his clothes were rayed, even as of those that tread the wine presse. For his manhoode suffred most shameful & painefull death. Esay. 63. Esay 53. He him selfe alone trode the wine presse of his wrath, Math. 8. and had none to helpe him. He his owne self was wounded for our sinnes, 1. Peter. 2. and our infirmities were layd upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. And his name was called the word of God. John. 1. Christ Jesu the sonne of god, Ephes. 3. is that eternall and everlasting word of God, Psalm. 33. which was from the beginning by God, Heb. 1. by whom also heaven and earth are made, Colloss. 1. and all that in them is, the verye Image of his substance in whom the father is represented, wherby also we understand and know the wil of the father, for the word of God is a true guid of the conscience. This word was made flesh: John. 1. that is, became mam man for our sakes, saving, justifying, and glorifying all those that beleeve on him. And the warriers which were in heaven, followed him upon white horses. These are the true & faithfull ministers which follow their maister and chiefcaptain Christ Jesuupon white horsses: that is in innocency of life and godly conversation which they professe. These horsses are nothing else than their mortal bodies redy to battaile. For true christians mortifie their flesh, yͤ concupiscence therof, Coloss. 3. & bring their carnal lusts undersubjection, Gala. 5. & their bodies obedient to yͤ spirit. They become

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servauntes to righteousnesse, and not to sinne, Rom. 6. they are worthy Souldiers of God, for they follow the Lord of Hostes: suche an armie saw the servaunt of the Prophet Elizeus in Doathim in a vision. They were clothed with fine linnen, white and pure,signifying the simplicitie and innocẽcie which they have in Christ Jesus their captaine, and good and perfect gifts which the Lord giveth them. As S. John him selfe expounded them a little before, where he sayeth that the fine linnen are the true justifications which they have of none other, but from theyr head Christ. These are yͤ spirituall weapons wherof S. Paulespeaketh, saying: 2. Cor. 10. Though we walke in the flesh, yet we do not war after yͤ flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through god to cast down holds: and out of his mouth wẽt a sharp sword, which is that wonderful judgment of his word. Through this sharpe sword are the faithful and beleuers saved to lifeeverlasting, and the wicked infidels judged to everlasting death and damnation. For it is unto some a savior of life unto life, and to others a savior of death, unto death. John. 15. 1. Corin. 5. With this sword shall be cut of the dead braunches which in him beare no fruicts, and the rotted members from the body. In like manner shalbe the good from the bad, Math. 24. and the Goates from the shéepe, Psal. 2. 45. with this sword devided and separated: Oh how terrible, fearefull, and sharpe shalbe the judgement of the Lord, the rod and scepter of his dominion against the wicked in those dayes, as he shall say: Mat. 25. Goe from me ye curssed into everlasting fire: Again, how comfortable & joyful a thing shall it be for the elect to sée them selves exempted of this condemnation, and to have the fruition of that souerain blessednesse in eternal glory. For he it is that treadeth the wine presse of the fiercenesse and wrath of almighty God. That is: Esay. 63. he shall poure forth his vengeaunce upon the proud and infidels, and shall punish them most greuously with his strong & mightie arme, stretched over their heads, striking them in his rage & furie, wherunder all things are set. And I saw an Angell standing in the Sunne, signifying the Apostles and al true

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ministers of the word of god which stand in the bright & cleare sunne of righteousness, Mal. 4. Reve. 20. Heb. 10. which is Christ Jesu, that amiable and shining morning starre. And these worthy witnesses stand fast in a stedfastassurance of faith in his name, against the whole multitude of Antechrist, 1. Corin. 10. without moving of their féete from yͭ well grounded stone, which is Christ Jesu, which for nothing in this world, Rom. 8. be it persecution, paine, torment, or deathe, will shrincke therefro. And he cried with a loude voyce to all the Foules that did flie by the middes of heaven. This voice cried, and shall call until the worldes end, Esay. 55. with a fervent and constant mind, Proverb. 1. unto al foules which flie underheaven, James. 1. to them which are humble of mind, Esay. 51. and become spiritual through faith and heavenly giftes. These flying foules laying aside, & quite abolishing all worldly plesures or corruptiblenesse, Philip. 3. lift themselvesvp upabove their affections on hie, and make their conversation to be in heaven, and lead héere in earth an heavenly life. These are the chosẽ soules which the father féedeth and sustaineth wythoute their own deserts. Gen. 11.12. Such a one was Abraham in Mesopotamie, Exod. 19. Moyses in Sinai, Heliasupon yͤ mount Carmelus, 3. Reg. 18. Danielamongst yͤ lions, Dan. 6. Paul in Damasco, S. John in Pathmos, and many moe even herein England, Acts. 9. and in other places, Reve. 1. and shalbe to the worlds end. Ephe. 4. The maner of their calling is: Colloss. 3. Come assemble you in unitie of faith and mind, knit your selves togither in Christ Jesu, in love which is the bond of perfectnesse, that the peace of god which passeth al understanding, Phil. 4. kéepe your hearts & mindes in Christ Jesu our Lord. Prepare ye (sayth the Angel) to come to that great and supernaturall good supper of the Lord: Which is that eternall and everlasting refreshing of the soul. Come on and tast of the most daintiest dishes, & most sumptuous fare, 1. Corin. 2. which never eye hath séene, Esay. 64. neither eare hath heard, neither came into mannes heart, which God hath prepared for them yͭlove him, Rom. 13. learne out of gods holy word what his good wil & pleasure is, Ephe. 6. folow the same in life & maners, 1. Peter. 5. flie from al worldly pleasures. Live soberly, temperately, chastly & righteously in the feare of god,

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attending and waiting upon the comming of our Lord and God. Finally, order and frame your life so, that ye may eat the flesheof kings, that ye may by exhortation and ensample, teach the worldly gouerners to convertunto the Lord, and to forsake all maner of filthie, carnall and sinnefull lustes. And that ye may eat the flesh of all captaines and mightie men, pluck down the hie minded hearts of tirãts, to bring under their crueltie and loftie stomacks, devour also the flesh of the worldly rich and proud mam man, cause him to leave of al worldly pleasures, excesse, and manifolde vanities.

And the fleshe of horsses, and of them that sit on them. And the flesh of al fre men & bondmen, and of smal and great Regard neither horsses nor them that sit on thẽ, but teare their flesh in péeces. Spare no man, neyther hie nor low, rich nor poore, bond nor frée, but checke and taunt them, that they leaving their old & wicked wayes, turne to the lord. As for the obstinate and stubborn which wil not bow but resist, break them and hew them in pieces, punish the wicked and carnall worldlings of what degree so ever they be, and these beastly Antechristes & cruel Grashoppers which sit on them: take away the pride and loftinesse from these loitering prelates, and idle bishops, and also of thẽ that imitate and follow their mischeuous hipocrisie, deliver the oppressed, and turne back the cruell persecution from the innocents, poure downe thy wrath over the wicked according to their desertes, Math. 24. and let none escape. Luke. 17. Imitate the Eagle and Kite, resort there where as the dead carkasses, (men without lively faith, and drouned in sinne) be. Teache every one to walke honestly in their vocation, let Princes understand that it behoueth them to be learned and wise in all sciẽces: Psalm. 2. but above al in the holy Bible which be the Scriptures, and that it becometh thẽ to walke in the feare of god, not to do al things unadvisedly, and according to their owne pleasure, but orderly, as reason and equitie doth require, not to oppresse the poore, innocents and fatherlesse, but to aid, succoure and helpe them, and to punishe the

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wicked and malefactors, nor useextortion in taxing overmuch their commens & subjects. The rich & welthy, that they be merciful, good stewards & distributers of yͤ gifts of God committed to their charge. To the hipocrites & Idolaters, that they leave of their vaine trust or confidence, in any creatures, & returne unto the living liuing God. 1. Cor. 7. Again the whoremonger, that he goe no more like a beast and Mule in whom is no understanding, after other mennes wives, but rather take his own wife, to flie al occasions of evil. Commaund the ruler to be faithful in his calling, Rom. 13. and the Commons lovingly to obey. The wife to be true and obedient to hir husband: 1. Pet. 2. againe, Ephe. 5.6. the husband to be friendable and loving louing to his wife, Coloss. 3.4. defend hir, cherish and nourish hir, even as Christ defended his Church, and cared for hir. Children to be obediẽt to their Parents, the Parentes not to provoke their children to wrathe. And the servaunts to obey them that be their masters. &c. Thou shalt eate the flesh of the Giantes, Ezech. 39. Psal. 67. and drinke the bloud of the Princes of the earth, of the Weathers, of Buckes and Bulles which shall be slayne at Basan. And I saw the Beast, and the Kings of the earth, and their armie. That is, these Ruffians and lecherous Bishops, Monkes, Abbots, and the rest of these shavelings of Antechrist, with the Princes of this world, cruel tyrants, catchpols and hangmen of the Beast, are assembled together, to consult and gather souldiours, and set them out to fight against him which sate uppon the white horse, to make warre against Christ and his beloved Churche, his chosen and peculiare people, his servants which without any kind of doubt or wavering, follow him. They séeke (I say) to kil and slay these pleasant birdes, bicause they did eate and consume their fleshe. They rebuked their evill corrupt maners and unrighteous dealing, their wicked and abhominable life, therefore they make warre against Christ, where so ever the worde of God was sincerely preached and taught, the glorye of God preferred, and the securitie and naughtinesse of mannes sinfull and abhominable

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life reproved, there hath alwayes insurrections, tumultes and seditions risen amongst the hipocrits of traiterous enterprises. Luke. 2. For the word of God is a signe of contradiction, and the stone of offence. These Princes and captaines with their most cruel souldiers are set on, provoked and stirred by the malice of these Idolatrous Bishops and Prelates, even as Pilate and Herode were moved of Annas and Caiphas to pvt put Christ to death. Ma. 27. John. 18. Actes. 28. And as Felix gouernour of Jurie at the request & pleasure of Ananie the hie priest, kept S. Paule in prison. The Emperor Trajan and other tyrants should neverhave persecuted the Christians until this day, if their horsses had not bene pricked so fast and so often with the spurres of wicked and leude Prelats. And what diligence & endeuour they have done to overthrow, vanquishe and roote out the truthe, may be séene by their letters, wrytten and sent to so many Kings and Princes. No small a doe had they to bring JohnWicliffe in discredite and slaunder with the people, the which (after he had ben buried fortie yeares) toke vp up his bones, and burned them with fire, and cast the ashes into the river, shewing their tiranny upon his bones, whome they coulde not be revenged of in his lyfe time, no not for all their requestes and sutes made to the kyng of Englande, Richarde by name.

Againe, Sigismunde the Emperor wold neverhave done contrary to his promise fortified by a safe conduct graunted untoJohnHvs, to goe and come safely to the Counsell at Constance, and in a manner forced hym: for if he would be the image of the beast, & an obedient child of the Romish church, he must doe all as it pleased them. It is manifest what diligence and trauaile they have assayed, what violence and force they haveused, to banishe and chase the truth of the Gospell out of Germanie, what practises, craftie policies and fetches they have sought to deface it here in Englande, and what crueltie and tyrannie they shewe in France, to the utter destruction of the countrey we have séene and sée, and yet dayly at this instant féele they. And above all, have we felte, and

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as yet féele the experiẽce of it in low Germany (our native countrey) and Flaunders, where as soone as Gods worde was sincerely preached, and the Gospell of Jesu Christ opẽly declared, O how Satanskingdome was rente & diminished? how idolatrie and superstition was brought low, & all excesse, surfetting & dronkennesse, all wickednesse and vice, all pride & naughtinesse beat down & forsaken. The whooremongers & adulterers began to be ashamed of their filthinesse: priests & Friers misliked of their estate, and durst not say Masse, go on procession & funeral, & other of their abhominatiõs: they covered their crounes, let grow their beards, hid thẽselues, yea & demed yͭ they were such. Many light women were converted, many ruffians & baudes were astonied for yͭ they saw their houses not so much haunted as before. These with yͤ rest of the spiritual baudes and ruffians, were well ashamed and wist not where to hide thẽselues, bicause of yͤ light, which did shine so bright in the worlde. On the other side, consider how the kyngdome of Christe increased, augmented and multiplied daily, how the honor of God was set foorth, the name of the Lorde was magnified and invocated, praised and blessed. Howe many people whiche hitherto havelived like ignorant doltes in al securitie & beastlynesse, were then come to knowledge and understanding, & leaving their former life, gave thẽ selves to vertue & godlinesse, & cleavyng to that whiche they heard, expressed it in their life & conversation. Last of al, it was marvel to see how charitie, humilitie, sobriety, honesty, & al other godly exercises yͤ works of the spirite wer pvt put in practise amongst this new springing churche: and contrarywise, the dedes of the flesh forsaken, & layed aside. But that great dragon the divel, that olde serpent, who from the beginning hated the truth, & mans felicitie, seing his kyngdom go to wrack, hys gay & finely disguised church decay, hys pilferyng trashe & beggerly Ceremonies nothing set by: yea and seing his beastly bodie, & al his membres by yͤ preaching of Gods word so cleane uncovered, and beaten to the grounde, did waxe madde and

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outragious. Wherefore he moved & stirredvp up kings, who entring in allegiance and alliaunce with his Antechrist, gathered a counsell against the Lorde and his churche, to scatter and pvt put asunder hys flocke, aud to kill and slay his chosen. Which thyng afterwarde they practising made them vp up, and not without treason, invaded the countreys there, not to governe accordyng to justice and equitie, but violently and tyrannously to rule and reigne, yea notwithstanding their priuileages enacted and given by acte of parliament, confirmed and established by othe of the Prince him selfe, have they yet against all reason and lawe oppressed the commons, and innocents. As for the christians, it is too well knowne howe they are used, therfore I leave of to speake any more of that matter, not mistrusting but that it shall be declared at large of some diligent writer. Psalm. 2. But what is their purpose? Acts. 2. The Lorde against whom they strive, Proverb. 1. is too strong, he knoweth all theyr enterprises and imaginations, Psal. 37. Psalm. 59. 2 & laugheth them to scorne, He séeth their fall and overthrowe , and the victorie of his chosen, and the deliverance of his people is in his hande. Let them rage never so sore, lette them murther and slay never so many, Reve. 14. blessed are they whiche die in the Lorde, they shall never be able to roote oute the truth, muche lesse to obtaine any victorie agaynste God, for the Lambe is strong, and abideth valiantly upon that unmovable & inexpugnable mounte Syon, hauyng wyth hym an hundreth and .4400000. These be as many as havereceyved hys true faith, and are the true séede of Abraham, having the seale of the holy Ghost, Psalm. 2. Math. 3. bearing the name of their father engraved on their forhead, John. 8. Rom. 4. redéemed & bought from the earth, predestinated and chosen to life everlasting, 2. Cor. 1. 2. Cor. 2. whiche are not defiled with women, Ephe. 1. Rom. 9. whose soules and faith are not spotted with false doctrine or idolatrie and superstition papistical. Reve. 14. These ar virgins which receive not the false, Ephe. 4. hipocriticall and whoorish doctrine of yͤ Antechrist. These be the virgins whereof the holy Ghost speaketh, and not them only (as they saye) whiche never maried, else

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Abraham, Moyses, David, Zacharie, Peter, Philip, and the reste of the godly whiche have bene maried, coulde have ben of the number of those virgins: for they judge mariage to be uncleane, and a deede of the fleshe. They are not ashamed to aduouch in their Decretals, that it is better and a smaller offence to kepe a hundreth hoores, than to marrie or contracte matrimonie, after they have vowed chastitie. Oh beastes that ye are, the spirite of Chastitie did never cause you to forbid holy matrimonie, but it was the spirite of uncleannesseAsmodeus, Beelsebub, and that spirit whereof the Sodomites, and them of Gomorra were driven. These foule spirites made you to do it, to accomplishe the prophecies of S. Paule, and of Daniell, whiche amongest other wordes, speaketh of Antechrist on this maner: He shal exalt him selfe above all, which is called God. 2. Thess. 2. For the God of hys predecessors he shal make no count of. Dan 11. He shal love neither God nor woman, Reuel Revel. 15. but only his Maosim, for he exalteth himself above all things. The naturall duetie and affection whiche God hath graffed in man & wyfe, to love and have company comforte and healpe one of the other, to increase and multyplie, is the onely meane whych God hath provided to prevent the decay of mankynde. It is also a greate kinde of benevolence and friendeshyp, wherein the one parte of mans nature honoreth (aswel for the likenesse, as for the creatours sake) the other in the feare of God, whome they in the state of matrimonie, not onely serve, (if it be well used) but honour and worship. Then, the duetie of a good husbande is, according to Gods worde, to labour, and with the sweate of his browes to get his bread, to care and provide for hys familie, for his wyfe and chyldren, that shée neyther thorough povertie, hunger, or other cause of wretchednesse, have no occasion to committe or do any thyng agaynst the rule of honestie and prescript commaundement of God. A good wyfe agayne, wyll be diligent and carefull for all things necessary and belonging to the

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house, she shall be sober, honest, faithfull and busie. This affection and kindenesse, wherof we speake here, procedeth out of the naturall love, gyvenuntovs us by nature, and all men in generall are bounde to observe it. This naturall kyndenesse and divinelove hath not this monstrous beast and beastly monster Antechrist, nor his sodomitishe greasy ones. They lurke onely in their dennes, and wyth daintie dyshes and delitious meates fil their bellies, and make merrie, they care for no bodie, they beare neither honest love, nor heart, or any good wil to woman, neither for propagation, nor for the ordinance of God, who is the author & instituter of it. They labour not to maintain their wife. they séeke not to defẽd any against dishonestie, ravishment or shame, they desire none for their owne, but when they lust, they take one nowe, and an other to morowe, and then sende hir packing, to have neither trouble, cost nor charges of hir, nor of the childe, but like vnkyndely Cuckoes lay theyr egges into other folkes nestes. Whether these things tende to the despysing & disgracyng of women or not, judge you. And surely the rather for that they, not passing for the ordinance of God, but rejecting it, take one or other of their acquaintaunce after theyr owne minde, forsooth to cast hir of like a broken pot, and to take an other so often as they lust. But what great evyl and incouenience dothe procéede and followe here hence, is to be séene in great Cities, where these belly gods for the most part use to haunt, as at Rome, and in other places where any Byshoprikes or canonistes or colledges be, where ye may sée an infinite numbre of queanes and painted Curtisãs, which get their living liuing by yͤletting of their flesh and body to these beastly & unnaturall kind of people, to whom they beare neither heart nor good will for abusing them selves. In that they have to do with them, they loose their honestie & fame, they marre and destroy both body and soule. I leave the murtheryng and slaying of children, whiche is no synne amongst them: beside many other unclean, unnaturall and most abhominable filthy

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déedes usuall amongst them in theyr privie chaumbres and celles. These bée the fruits of their promised sworné vnchast chastitie. For what I pray you is chastitie or virginitie more before God than marriage? Heb. 3. no more than circumcision to uncircumcision, Rom. 23. one is neither better nor worse before god than yͤ other, concerning the life of a christian man. Christ Jesurequireth & demaundeth only of vs us tru faith working thorough charitie: so thẽ al they yͭ lead their lyfe in the holy state of matrimonie, accordyng to the word of God, are reputed virgins, as S. Paule testifieth: The Lambe whyche taketh away the sinne of the world stands with them, 2. Cor. 12. which yͤ father hath given him upon that strong mounte Syon. Contrarywise, the Dragon and the beast with all theyr adherents, are set upon the slyding sandes of the sea, their kingdome, their power their myght, their lawes, statutes, and ordinaunces, theyr frée will and wycked purpose, their proude titles have no sure foundation, but are buylded only uppon the waueryng sandes of doubtefulnesse and falshode, agaynst whiche when any tempeste or winde of Gods holy worde bloweth, sodainly it is moved and overthrowen: yea and these vile shauelyngs them selves are these sandes, whereon their captain the dragon standeth, they are the chair and dwellyng place of the divel. Thoroughe them, as instrumentes, and false prophetes, he used to speake, to commaunde, and execute all hys deceiptfull and false hypocrisies and idolatries. It is then moste sure and certaine, that this beast with all theyr beastlynesse, can never abyde long. For it followeth, that the Beast was apprehended and taken, and with hir the fælsefalse Prophetes whyche did signes and wonders before them. As heretofore James and Iambres, the enchaunters of Egypt, wente aboute to counterfaite the signes, Exod. 8. whiche Moyses and Aaron dydde in the presence of Pharao: 2. Tim. 3. lykewyse doe these false inchaunters pervert the truth in these oure days, namely in that they shew greater wonders, than any heretofore hath ben heard of: That is, that they

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(as they affirme and violently holde) can turne very bread into naturall fleshe and bloud, and that so cunnyngly that it can not be once perceyved, neyther in beholdyng féelyng or tastyng of it otherwyse than breade. And more other: as to redéeme soules out of Purgatorie, by sacrifices and workes supererogations, and other shamefull braggs, wherwith he deceyved them that receyved the beastes marke and seale, and worship his image.

These both, namely the head and the bodie, the beast, and the false prophete, were alive caste into a lake of fire, burning with Brimstone: These shall surely thorough the power and ryghteous judgement of God, receyve theyr portion wyth the hypocrites and false Prophetes.

And the remnant which folow, of what state and condition so ever they be, were slayne with the sworde of him that sitteth upon the horse, which commeth out of his mouthe.

This sworde is (as is before sayd) his mightie and true word, which hath within hym spirite and life. Such then as are not afrayde of this worde, but obstinatly cleave faste to their false doctrine and ordinaunces, also those whiche beyng striken of this sworde, and beléeve not, nor repentyng them of their misdedes, frame their lyfe accordyngly, shall perishe without doubt with this sword for evermore. Rom. 8.

And all the foules are folkes whiche God of hys mercie, hathe chosen and plucked from these worldly pleasures and naughtie desires, shall be howesouer the matter goeth filled with their fleshe, whether they be saved or damned: For if they be saved these shall be gladde bycause that theyr numbre is increased. Againe, on the other syde, shall they rejoyce, when that they sée the wicked and obstinate, through thejustejudgement of God punished. The righteous (sayeth David) séeing the vengeaunce of God, Psalm. 58. shall rejoyce, and shall washe their féete in the bloud of the wicked: Even so shal the ungodly, which resist God and his holy worde, with al their vainglorie and pompe, sodainly and with a greate noyse perishe. The Lorde shall destroy them for ever. The wicked doers (sayeth David) fall, they are cast downe, Psalm. 36.

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and are not able to stande. Agayne, he sayeth: Psalm. 37. As for the ungodly, they shal perishe and come to naught: and when the enimies of the Lorde are in theyr floures they shall vanishe, Psalm. 1. yea even as the smoke shall they consume away. They shall perishe in their wickednesse like a shadow, and wither away as the thistle, and lyke the chaffe and dust, which the winde scattereth away from the grounde, so lykewise the way of the ungodly shall perish. This wyll surely come upon the wicked as it hath done in al ages, and as we have séene it with our eyes, and dayly shall sée it more and more. But they which feare God and love hym, shall obtayne hys grace and mercy, and shal enjoy his faithful promises, the inheritance of his everlasting kyngdome, as ye may heare nexte folowing.

I sawe (sayth S. John) a newe heaven, and a new earth. Reuel Revel. 21. S. Peter sayth also, 2. Peter. 2. that every thing (going before the judge) shalbe clensed and purified, .Sap. 3 Psal. 50. and not consumed, for al things must be changed and made cleane of all corruptiblenesse. He meaneth not sayeth Aretes) that the creatures shoulde consume away, and be no more, but onely yͭ they serving to a better use, shoulde be renued, so the godly and chosen shall be delivered two maner of wayes, that is to say: Here in this worlde from sin, & hereafter of death & damnation, & so shall be led & conducted unto the true libertie & joyfull inheritance of yͤ children of God. Rom. 8.

The first heaven defiled with the pryde of the angels, and the fyrst earth corrupted with the manyfolde wyckednesses of man, were passed away altogether, and shall be no more, not that the veritie of them shall vanishe, but the nature, complection, and qualitie of them shal change and turne into sinceritie and perfection. And there was no more sea, yͭ is, yͤ vaine & inconstant people were no more: for al prickings & remorse of conscience, al desperation, mistrustfulnesse & doubt, shall be taken quite from yͤ godly & chosen. All kind of anger sorow & adversity shal be turned into joye and peace of the holy Ghost, all hindrance, feare, persecution, tyrannie, violence, and adversitie whyche we endure héere in the troublous sea of thys worlde, 1. Cor. 13. shal ceasse at the day of the lord, when we shall sée hym face to face. And the sea shall be no longer subject to vanitie, than all other creatures, but shall be purified from all corruption, and shall henceforth be so cleare as any christall, although it remaineth the same substance.

And I John sawe, by revelation and permission of God, the holy Citie, new Jerusalem come downe from God out of heaven. By good reason is this holy Citie the congregation and churche of God called newe Jerusalem, come downe from God hir Creatour and maker, for she is holy, not of hir self, but of him that made hir, and chose hir to be his welbeloued spouse, prepared lyke a bride trimmed for hir husbande, for she is purified and made newe againe, Ephe. 5. as the well trimmed bride for hir husband, Reuel Revel. 12. the lambe Christ Jesus. Tit. 3. This bride shall hereafter through regeneration and renuing of the holy Ghost shew glorious & perfect holy: Math. 19. so long as she continueth here, she maketh no accompt of any thing in this worlde, but doth governe hir selfe accordyng to that rule which he hir husband hath lefte hir, namely his holy woord. But héerafter shall she (being deliveredfrom sinne, wretchednesse, and all kinde of corruptions) more perfectly follow his steppes. She is called new héere on earth, for so much as she hath laide off, and pvt put away throughe the vertue of Gods holy spirite, the olde man with all his lustes, Colloss. 1. Ephes. 5. and hath no fellowship with the vnfruitefull workes of darknesse. But heereafter shal she be new by his favoure and grace, for so muche as she shall be delivered from sinne, deathe, and all manner of corruption. She is called the new Jerusalem both héere and hereafter, bicause that all their Citizens are of one beliefe: yet shall they be heereafter of like glorie and unitie. Héere hir Citezens are among the Sainctes, Ephes. 2. and the familie of God, and there shall they be both children, and inheritors with Christ, Rom. 6. she came downe from god out of heaven: Reuel Revel. 21. Math. 16. hir Christian faith is neither of fleshe nor bloud, Gala. 4. but by the gratious Revelation of the heavenly father. Tit. 3. But Jerusalem (sayth S. Paul) which is above, is frée and mother

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overvs us all. She is that Citie which God hath builded. She is furnished with the gift of faith, and wͭ the fountaine of life, Ephe. 5. prepared and trimmed to be a faire and glorious churche, 1. Peter. 3. without any spotte or wrinckle. 1. John. 1. She is clensed from hir sinnes through his bloud, she is very costly, and wel favoredly adorned & beautified with joy, peace, long suffering, pacience, and other more vertues of the spirit: Gala. 5. Ephe. 5. even as an honest and true Bride is dressed and trimmed for hir loving louing & deare husband. The bride (sayth David) standeth on thy right hand in a vesture of fine gold. Psal. 45. But hir raiments (so long as she is on earthe) are invisible, they are spiritual jewels of the soule and minde, and not of the body. And I heard (sayth S. John) in the midst of this last vision, a mightie voice out of the heaven, the everlasting and onely throne of GOD, a voyce saying after this sort unto me. Loke vp up and beholde, for your owne (and al other beléeuers) commoditie and instruction, the holy Tabernacle of the Lord, which shall be with the chosen for ever, is also héere wyth the Militant Church upon earth. Moreover, consider that everybeléeving soule is a Temple of the holy Ghost. 1. Corin. 6. As Christ him selfe testifieth: John. 14. He that loveth me, and keepeth my word, I and my father will come to him, and dwel with him. In like manner speaketh God by the Prophet Ezechiel: Ezech. 37. saying, I wil make a bond of peace with them, which shall be unto them an everlastingcovenaunt, I will set my sanctuarie among them for evermore. My dwelling shalbe with them, yea I wil be their God, & they shal be my people. The same also he confirmeth heere in this place, saying: Reve. 21. He will dwell with them, and they shalbe his people, and God him selfe shalbe their God. Esay. 43. In suche sorte that they shall neveracknowledge any other, than him only. He shal alwayes comfort and strengthen thẽ héere by his holy spirit, and heereafter by his presẽce so mightely defend and surely kéepe them, that they shall never faile him heere, nether afterward be seperated from him. And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes, so cleane that no kinde of trouble or feare, shall make them afraid,

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neither any adversitie shrinke or make them heavie. The same also saith the lord by his Prophet: I shall make a pleasant Jerusalem, Esay. 25. and I my selfe wil be glad with hir. From that time forward shall there be heard within hir, no more sorrow nor paine, neither shall there be any death, for death shall be destroyed for evermore. The conscience of man shall not then be subjecte to any mistrustfulnesse or other infirmitie, but shall havejoy in the holy Ghost. They shall through sinne, not die any more, but shall live through faith in God. That cruel whoore shal drink dronke no more in the bloud of the Martirs, for she with al hir adherents, and wicked tirantes, shall be kept in that filthie lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for evermore: So that no kinde of trouble, persecution, slaunder, hatred, malice, anguish or pain, or any kind of adversity, crueltie, Math. 5. or wretchednesse, which coulde be devised, 2. Corin. 4. can hurt or hinder them: for sorowes, wailing, and wéeping, Esay. 25. shall be pvt put farre from them. Reuel Revel. 7. The building of the frame, Reuel Revel. 20. and the situation of this citie was four square, which signified not only untovs us the sure grounde, and stedfastnesse of the true Christian faith, which God kéepeth tenderly nourisheth and augmẽteth in his elect, but also sheweth yͤ everlasting certaintie of that mightie and inexpugnable kingdom of Christ, and that hope which is never ashamed: for who so everbeleveth and dependeth upon Christ, shall never be confounded. Psal. 125. Whatsoever is foure square, abideth firme & unmoveable, Prov. 10. and is not subject to rolling or unstablenesse, like a boule or speare, or any thing that is round. In like maner have we to consider of the four squarenesse of this new Ierusalẽ, (wherof material Jerusalem being also square was a figure) that none of what so ever kindred, language or nation he be, shall have either preferment héere in this citie, or be lesse regarded, for whether he be from the East or the West, from the South or the North, rich or poore, Grecian or Barbarian, if he be but a true beléeuer, he shall be received and accepted of God. Wherof we have a manifest ensample in the Gospell, where

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Christ teacheth by the Parable of a certaine housholder, Math. 20. which hired labourers into his vineyard, who calling them unto him in yͤevening, gave as much to them that wrought but an hour, as he did unto them that wrought the whole day. The walles of this Citie are strong and well furnished, Math. 16. wherout we may conclude and gather, Esay. 28. that the blessednesse of salvation or Gods promises are sure and strong, in so much that hell gates can not prevaile against, or withstand them. These walls are of such a height, that no enimie, be he never so craftie, subtile, or wise, by anye meanes of faire speach, dissimulation or hipocrisie, Reuel Revel. 21. is able to get over them, onely must they enter through the gate which is Christ Jesu. This holy Jerusalem is glorious, blessed, heavenly and spiritual, not made by mans hande, Heb. 12. but it is made and builded of God the heauẽly father, the father of light (of whom all good and perfect gifts onely do descend & are sent down) Therfore hath she a marvellous, James. 1. and incomprehensible light and wisdome of almightie God. The Lambe Jesus Christ is hir light, Psal. 119. and his word the lanterne to hir feete. Philip. 3. And hir shining light and spriritual wisdom was like an oriental stone, most precious: for his word is more costlier than golde, yea than the moste finest golde. Psalm. 119. This Citie hath twelve gates for to open and to shut, with sundrie names, bicause of the diversnations and languages. For from every side of the worlde, come the people to the churche of Christ, yet passe they al through one gate, which is Christ Jesu. None (saith he) commeth to the father but by me. John. 14. I am the doore to enter into the shéepe folde. Who so ever entreth through me, shall be saved. John. 10. Thys Jerusalem hath twelve gates. And on every gate was a very costlye and precious Pearle, for the doctrine of the Gospell is precious and costly without comparison, whereby so many as are ordained from all coastes of the earth, enter into the kingdom of Christ.

And at these gates were set twelve Angels. In that respecte David also did sing, Psal. 33. saying: The Angels of the Lord are about

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the tents of them that feare him, to kéepe them. He did set a garde upon the walles of Jerusalem, Esay. 62. (sayth Esayas) to announce his worthy name: So that it is wel garded & fenced round about. The Divel with all his bost have no force against it. Math. 16. No man is able to draw any one out of his hands. John. 10. And above these gates were written honorable names, namely the names of the twelve tribes of Israell, which are Iuda, Ruben, Gad, Assur, Nephthalim, Manasle, Simeon, Levi, Isachar, Zabulon, Joseph and Benjamin. These names were wrytten héere, bicause the right inheritance was promised to the séede of Abraham, and Christ Jesus was the true séede of Abraham, John. 4. and by him are we made children of the promise. Reve. 22. The walles of the Citie hath twelve foundations,groundedupon yͭ strong and mightie stone Christ Jesu, which is unmoveable: for so much that from the beginning the Church of God upon hym hath bene builded and grounded. Uppon him did Adam, Noe, Abraham, Moyses, David, Helias, with the rest of the godly fathers that ever were, build, & remaine stedfast, 1. Cor. 3. although they were never so long before him, or shall be after him, 1. Peter. 1, Gen. 11.12. for they beleued certainly on the promises which God had wrought to thẽ by Christ. Reg. 19. They all, being under the cloud, Exod. 2. did eate of one kinde of meat, 3. Reg. 17. and dronke of one spirituall stone which is Christ Jesu, Luke. 1. which afterward is come into the flesh. 1. Cor. 10. No man may lay any other foundation (sayeth S. Paule) than that which is layd alreadye, 1. Corin. 13. which is Christ Jesu. Upon this one, strong, and everlasting foundation, were laid and builded these twelvefoundations agréeable unto him. Namely the twelve Apostles of the Lambe, Math. 10. Peter, John, James, Andrewe, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Mathew, James the minor, Simon, Thade, Acts. 1. and Mathie. These were prefigured by yͤ twelve stones whiche Iosue erected in Galgala, Iosue. 4. for a memoriall & remembrance of the passing of the children of Israell on dry land through the Jordan. They were also signified by other twelve stones, whereon Elias the Prophet builded an aultare upon the mount Carmelus, 3. Reg. 18. in the name of the Lord. The sure grounde of

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these foundations, Math. 16. was, the Confession that Christ was the very sonne of the living liuing God. Upon this foundation they all builded, by the announcing, preaching, and writing of that which the Prophets and true preachers did beleeve. Namely, that he, that is, Christ, John. 1. was the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world, for they soughte the way of salvation, and laboured for the kingdom of God and his righteousnesse, Math. 6. 2. Peter. 2. shewing them selves thereby to be the lively workemen of this spirituall building.

Heere we learne then that the faythe and doctrine of the Prophets and Patriarkes, is all one with the Apostels, & are all grounded upon Christ Jesu. WhereuntoS. Paule accordeth very wel, saying: Ephe. 2. Now are ye no more straungers, but citizenswith the Saincts: and are buildedupon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. And by these twelvefoundations are not onely understanded they afore named, for then shold Paule (which him selfe did more laboure than they all) of this number be excluded: 2. Cor. 11. In like maner should be Barnabe, Sylas, Agabus, Judas the righteous, Actes. 9:11 15. 21. John which was otherwise surnamed Marke, with many other more of the like vocation and calling, and also all other faithfull and true ministers, which are of the like faith, and teach that doctrine. For ye must consider that the number of twelve in this place, is a perfecte and a common number, as the number of seven and ten in other places, containing the whole under the chiefest and principallest.

The buildings of the wall of it, was of Jasper. This signifieth, that in Christ Jesu, are the most costliest, the moste pleasantest, louingest, and surest things that can be devised. For they which beléeve in him aright, shall alwayes abide freshe, greene, lustie, well favoured and lively, and they shall be verye mightie, yea great and strong pillers of his holy and undefiled Temple. He that beléeveth on me, and kéepeth my worde, (sayth our Savioure Christ) shall never taste of death. John. 15. And the Citie was pure golde like unto cleare glasse.

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The Church of God is without any spot or wrinkle. Ephes. 5. It is pure and undefiled like the golde that is tried in yͤ fire .vij. times. Prov. 17. The light of the Citie is Jesus Christe, 1. Pet. 1. which never did any sinne, neither in word or déede. His death and sheading of his bloud, hath made this citie more costly than pure golde. And the foundations of the wall of the Citie, were garnished with all maner of pretious stones, which preciousnes notifieth untovs us the costlinesse of oure salvation.

1 The first foundation was Jasper, which being of a gréen colour, noteth untovs us that the faith of the forfathers, is not yet dead nor withered. Gen. 6. The faith of Enochappearethuntil this day, the (first which called upon the name of the Lord) and of more, which all are yet true, freshe and gréene. 2 The second foundation was of Saphire, whose colour is blew and somwhat whitishe, a stone in deede which at the firste looke séemeth to be of no great valve value, signifying untovs us the simple and séely soules, the which although they be (wyth holy Job and Thoby) of no valve value in the sight of the world, yet are they highly regarded of God throughe their faith and good life. 3 The third of a Chalcedonie, which is yet lesse set by (to our séeming) then the Saphire, but of nature very costly, strong, and vertvovs vertuous. 4. Reg. 18. Of this nature were Helias, John Baptist, Math. 3. and such like, Luke. 1. which lived in the desert painfully and very straightly, yet proved they most pretious at their appointed time, Math. 3. Mark. 1. rebuking and reproving boldly the wickednesse and sinne of the people, drawing them from the same, even as the Chalcedonie pulleth and taketh away the duste from any thing, reprehending and judging very sharply the Idolaters and hipocrites. 4 The fourth of an Emeraud, which of himselfe is not onely gréene, but maketh the aire round about him shew of yͤ same coloure. Ierem. 2.3. Of this condition was Jeremie and S. Paul, which without ceassing, Zach. 31. preached and spred abrode the doctrine of life, Ac. 9. 16.17 after they had once received and known the same. 5 The fifthe is of a Sardonix, which word

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is deducted of Sarda and Onix, and is of nature underneath blackishe, Math. 5. and red on the outside, Philip. 9.51. 130. & white within: so all those that are méeke of heart, Luke. 7. which with David and Marie Magdalene acknowledge & confesse their sinnes before God, through faith are pure and holy. Cant. 1. Althoughe I am blacke (sayth the true Church) yet am I neverthelesse fair and cleane. Albeit our outward mam man (saith S. Paule) perishe, 1. Corin. 4. therefore doe we not goe forward, or are any thing weary, for the inward man renueth and augmenteth every day. 6 The sixth of a Sardius, which is of the similitude of red earth. Even so are those which esteeme them selves as unworthy children of Adam, Luke. 16. notwithstanding that they havereceived many goodly giftes & great benifites of God, which (as Philo expoundeth it) are the red earth. Of thys nature and companie was the virgine Marie the mother of Christ, Luke. 1. which called and estéemed hir selfe to be but an handmaide. And for all the honoure, favoure, and other great benefites which were shewed unto hir, she saide that hir spirite reioysed in God hir savioure. Of this sort was Abraham also, Genes. 18. calling him selfe but duste and ashes before the Lord. 7 The seventh of a Chrisolite, a stone of al kind of colours shining like golde, and as a burning fire, casting sparkes and a great shine from it. Héere under are comprehended those which having the wisedom of the holy Ghost, kindle and lighten other men therewithall, and make them altogither hot and burning, & bring them to the ferventlove of God & their neighboures. Exod. 4. So did Moyses and Esay, Esay. 2. 34. Barnabas and Paule, Actes. 14. in whom aboundantly appeareth the graces and glory of God. 8 The eight is of Berll, which is of a sad & deadish greene: Signifying such true and faithful Christians, which through compassion & pitie, sorowfully have bewailed & lamented the fall of their brethren. Of this good and divine nature was Steven, Actes. 7. praying for them which did stone hym to death. Thus did Samuel in his time, which with great sorowes & complaints, 1. Re. 15. 16. mournedoverSaul yͤ king, what time he sawe him cast out of the favor of God.

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9 The ninth of a Topace, containing in it the colour of al other stones. And this representeth all them which are adorned with al maner of vertues, as Daniel was a man full of godly desires, and John the Evangelist whom Christ loved most of al, yͭ did write the Revelation in Pathmos. 10 The tenth of a Chrisophrasius, whose nature is to shine like gold, and yet greenish in the sight. Such are those, who havingreceived good knowledge & perfecte wisdom of God, distribute unto others according unto the talent which god hath deliveredunto thẽ. Math. 25. Therby to awake the sluggish and dreaming people, and bring to heavenly meditations. Amongst those, may Ezechiel wel be counted, which in his time did sée marvellous things, and wonderful straunge Revelations. Eze. 10.11. 11 The eleventh of a Iacinct, the colour of which stone is like unto water, hauyng stripes glistering like the bright shining beames of the Sunne. By this stone are represented, suche as doe séeme to be ignorant, and are counted noddies & fooles before the world, which notwithstandinghaveheavenly wisdom inough, Iaco. 1. although in sight very ideots, John. 3. voyde of all knowledge, yet neverthelesse are they instructed and taught of God, to reveale hidden and secrete mysteries of the numbre. Of those are Ozee, Joel, Amos, & whiche was but a poore shephierd, with the rest of the small prophets. Such were also Andrew, Peter, Philip, Thomas, and the rest of the Apostles of Christ. 12 The twelfth an Ametist, this is of a violet or purpure and rosie colour, and this signifieth them, which abide zelous, meke and stedfast in the knowne truthe of the Lorde, whiche also are ready at all times to die and shed their bloude even for the same: suche were the seven brethren of the Machabees, 2. Mach. 7. with their mother. Such were also James the greater, Actes. 12. and Antipas that faithfull witnesse, Reuel Revel. 2. with many more disciples and martirs. John. 18. No man can shew any greater love than this, when any mam man bestoweth hys lyfe for hys friendes. All these sayth our Saviour, are blessed, and the kyngdome of heaven doth belong unto them. On this maner then is notified

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by these fundations, the same which the true and faithfull ministers and pastors of the churche of Christ, according to the diversitie of gifts givenunto them, have buylded upon, some gold, silver, or precious stones: but such as have added to this buildyng, any wood, hay, or stubble, which are customes, traditions, and other dumbe Ceremonies, or else vayneglorie, worldly honoure, riches, and pleasures, Exod. 28. shall never be accompted among thys heavenly companie. These fundations have ben prefigured by the precious stones, which were in the stomacher of Aaron the high Priest, and in the costely and royall garmentes of the Kyng of Tyrus. He whiche is desirous to know more of the nature, condition and propretie of these precious stones, may reade Plinie his .xxxvij. booke of naturall Histories, or Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum: and concerning the mysterie and allegorie, reade Saint Hieromeupon the .54. Chapiter of Esaye, or Beda, Haymo, Costasius, Bacõthorp, Eleyne Tilney, and dyvers more other, whiche have written uppon the Revelation. It suffiseth vs us, to have shewed thée (according to the meanyng of Saint Austen) that these stones doe signifie the manyfolde gyftes and divers graces of the holy Ghost: for the onely spirite of the lord worketh all these thyngs dyversly. Hée measureth hys gyftes untoevery one according to hys good will and pleasure, the whiche altogether are singular, precious and moste excellente, as it shall well appeare in that great and joyous day of the chyldren of God.

And the Angell (sayeth Sainct John) whiche dydde shewe all those foresayde thyngs, moved me in spirite, to take the more héede to the gracious and mercifull purpose of the Lorde, and to bryng me to a more déeper knowledge of his misteries, shewed me a pure River of water of life, whiche is therefore called the Water of Lyfe, bycause it maketh whole, and gyvethsalvation to oure soules. Thys Ryver is nothyng else but the flowingveritie and the worde of Salvation, or the myghtie doctrine of Christe. Thys is that swéete Ryver, whyche proceedeth of

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Edom, to refresh Paradise, which dividing it selfe in foure, watereth the foure parts of the earthe. This runnyng water maketh the Citie of God very pleasant and delectable. This river is marvelouscomfortable, springyng into eternall lyfe, it is here a spirituall comfort for the childrẽ of God, and shalbe hereafter that incomprehensible glory of the Sainctes in heaven. John. 6. To whome shal we go (sayth Peter) but to thée, for thou hast the worde of eternall life. The vertue and nature of this water is to satisfie, purge and clẽse, to comfort, to make whole and healthful, for it procéedeth and floweth from the majestie of God, it commeth from that eternal and excellent schoole of the father, and thence procéedeth forwarde to the ouerfulnesse of the lambe Christ Jesu, and his divine spirite. I will poure cleane water (sayth the Lorde) upon you, and ye shall be frée from all your filth & uncleannesse, I will also gyve you a newe hearte, Ezec. 36. and plant in you a new spirite. Psalm. 51.

In the middes of the strete of it, and of either side of the river was the tree of life. This riversignifieth the two testamentes of the Lorde, wherby stode that moste pleasant trée of lyfe, John. 6. namely Christ Jesus the mediatour and pastour, Math. 21. the saviour and redéemer of the worlde. Rom. 1. Out of the roote and progenie of David, Luc. 1. Gen. 2. spryngeth thys tree (according to the fleshe) conceyved of the holye Ghost, borne of the virgin Marie. As the trée of life, in the beginnyng was planted in the middest of Paradise,even so is hée spiritually in the middest of his Churche, whiche is his moste pleasaunt garden: if that grounde or earth which maketh the trées twice fruitefull in the yeare, be called happy, so may this garden by good rereason, well be called happy and blessed, Where this trée standeth, whiche never is without frute, nor drieth vp up, or withereth, which dothe not onely beare twyce a yeare fruite, signifiyng all the unspeakable giftes of the holy Ghoste, but rendreth his frutes every month of the yere, that is, continually, bothe Sommer and winter. All they which are thys Congregation & people have continually so long as they lyve, greate Consolation in all

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theyr assaultes and trialles, and in all kinde of adversitie bothe spirituall and temporall.

And the leaues leaves of the trees served to heale the nations with. The promises and the worde of GOD are spirite and lyfe, the nature propretie and vertue of them, are blessednesse and eternal salvation. These leaues leaves can not by any meanes wyther awaye. When Gods worde is sincerely preached and taughte, then we remember the benefites of oure deliveraunce, then is oure conscience appeased and satisfied, and the minde mery and gladde, then dothe the soule of man rejoyce, and rendreth therfore to GOD the Father moste heartie thanckes, worthie prayses, syngyng and magnifiyng hym for his eternall goodnesse and mercie. So then the Nations are quite healed and made healthfull thorough beléefe, and cleaving faste unto the woorde, acknowledgyng and confessyng Christe Jesu to be their onely Saviour, righteousnesse, and true holynesse. The woorde of GOD written, or preached, is lyke unto the leafes, which beyng well and reverentlyreceyved, by the woorkyng of the holy Ghost, is of muche importaunce and wayghtie, healthfull strong and myghtie in operation, muche lyke unto the mustard seede. Above all thyngs (sayeth Zorobabell) is the Truthe moste strong, 3. Esdr. 3. and overcommeth all: For it is the wyll of the Lorde whiche never shall perishe. This worde then (I saye,) is so myghtie and victorious, that the Congregation of Christe, and true beléeuers, whatsoever trouble, persecution or violence they doe suffer, shall yet even in their extreme paine and distresse be comforted and quieted in conscience and spirite, Zach. 2. Psal. 117. beeing well assured, that God keepeth them as the very apple of his eie: for they know that they ar under his protection & governance: and that hereafter they shal inherite (how contẽptuously so ever they lyved here) eternall glory, felicitie and blessednesse in the presence of God, in that new & heavenlyJerusalem. Of whiche glorie and blessednesse to make a discourse, I shold labor in vain, and bysides that never get my purpose,

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nor finish mine enterprise: For never no eare hearde it, 1. Cor. 2 nor eye sawe it, neyther came it into any heart: And to say al, never any man was able to comprehend it, that God hath prepared for his elect that love him.

Ye have nowe (gentle Reader) sufficiently (as I hope) herd, what wickednesse, thraldome, laboure, paine, and trouble, covetousnesse, concupiscence, and ambition bringeth to them that love it, follow it, wishe for it, and séeke after it. Lykewise ye may consider here, howe and after what sort they draw man from God, from naturall reason, from all goodnesse, and mutuall and brotherly love, unto all kinde of iniquitie, crueltie and unnatural vices: and oftentimes come so farre, that they not onely bryng other men in great danger to attaine to their purpose, but they themselves also body and soule. Ye have hearde also, that the Devill, the Prince of this worlde, is a father and the author of al wickednesse, & wicked doers, and how that that mischeuous Antechrist (whiche within a few yeres hitherwards hath ben reveled) did procéede and was borne of him: as ye may see more evidently out of this Genealogie folowing.