The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
THE ARGVMENT.
Hauing deſcribed the eſtate of the empyre, Theſe foure firſt ages: and lately how both the Orientall and Occidental empyres, hauehave loſt a greate part of that ſpirituall light that firſt they had: Now he proceedes in this chapter to the fift and ſixt ages, wherein is deſcribed, how horriblie they are puniſhed for their defection, and how neuertheles they abide obſtinate and impenitent, till in the remanent chapters, the reformation of a great part, and ruine of the remanent enſue
Hiſtoricall application. 1 NOwe, in the fift age, beginning in the yeare of Chriſt 1051. proceeded yet one farther horrible plague; for euē the ſore ſaid Mahomet, who before had fallen from God his true Church, to earthly pride and ambition, receiued yet more power by his profeſſours after him, to open vp again the infernall pit of his deuiliſh errours.
yeares of Chriſt 1051▪ a Iu. The fift age▪ or Trumpet.
Paraphraſt. expoſition ANd the Angels of the fift age, blewe forth Gods threatninges and plagues, and I perceaued, that former a Apoſtate, who before had fallen from God his true Church, to earthly pride and ambition, receiued yet more power by his profeſſours after him, to open vp again the infernall pit of his deuiliſh errours.
The text 1 ANd the fift Angel blew the trū pet, and I ſawe that ſtar which had fallen from heuen vntounto erth & to him was giuē the key of the bottomles pit.
Hiſtoricall application. 2 And hee by his profeſſors and doctrine, opened the very way to the endles deepe of hell, and out of that his deuiliſh fornace, there aroſe ſuch darknes of errours, that darkned greatly both the light of the Evangell and temporall eſtates.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 2 And hee by his profeſſors and doctrine, opened the very way to the endles deepe of hell, and out of that his deuiliſh fornace, there aroſe ſuch darknes of errours, that darkned greatly both the light of the Evangell and temporall eſtates.
The text 2 And he opened the bottomles pit, & there aroſe the ſmoke of the pit, as the ſmoke of a gret fornace, & the ſun and the aire wer darkned by the ſmoke of the pit.
Hiſtoricall application. 3 So that nowe are ſprung vp the Turkes, and become new Mahometiſts, and oppreſſe all Chriſtian landes, riſing at laſt ſo high in conqueſts, and ſo deep in hereſie, that their ſect is ſpred ouer in all places.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 3 So that now, newly again of this deuiliſh darknes & hereſie, is ſprung vp now b ſwarmes of that ſect, waſters of all landes, hauing power in the end, with their c ſtings of hereſie, to infect a greate parte of the earth.
The text 3 And there came out of the ſmoke Locuſtes vponupon the earth, & vntounto thē was giuen power, as the ſcorpions of the earth hauehave power.
Hiſtoricall application. 4 Yet compell they as then, no mā to become Mahometiſts, but ſetts more their intent to reaue and ſpoile: thoſe that were vnderunder the Romane and Papiſtical empire.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 4 Yet did God ſo bridle them, that as yet they were not able to ouercome the cōſcience of the very tendereſt and moſte weake Chriſtians on earth, neither any that were as greene plants, or as fruitfull trees in Chriſts vineyard, but onelyonly to troble & anoy theſe, that making defection from Chriſt, profeſſed ſubjectiō to the antichriſtian empire.
The text 4 And it was commāded thē, that they ſhould not hurte the graſſe of the earth, neither any …reene thing, nether any tree: but onelyonly thoſe mē which hauehave not the ſeale of God in their for heades.
Hiſtoricall application. 5 And not being of power to deſtroy them and conquer Europe, they cōtinued ſo, ſpoiling and reuing, from the daies of Zadok their firſt Dominatour, in anno Chriſti. 1051. vntounto the time that Changius, Chan of Tartarie, ſubdued thē in anno 1201, which was the ſpace of an hundreth and fiftie yeares, beginning firſt to enter in Europe, as friends in ſupply of Baſilius Emperoure againſt the Bulgarians, his rebels, afterward, they proceded waſting and ſpoyling ouer all parts:
Paraphraſt. expoſition 5 Yea, euen towards theſe alſo were they ſo bridled, that they ſhuld not d vtterly deſtroy them, but onelie oppreſſe them for the ſpace of e 150. yeares, but this their ſmall oppreſsion beginning firſt ſoftly, as the ſting of a ſcorpion, procedeth at length to incurable wracke and exterminion.
The text 5 And vntounto them was commanded, that they ſhould not kill them, but that they ſhould bee vexed fiue moneths, and that their paine ſhould be as the paine that commeth of a ſcorpion when he hath ſtung a man.
Hiſtoricall application. 6 So that now their poore, oppreſſed and depauperate captiues woulde wiſhe to die, yet doe they reſerue them aliue for rowing in their gallies, and other ſeruitudes.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 6 And in theſe daies mē whom they hauehave thus vexed & depauperat wold wiſh to dy but they ſhal be reſerued a liue in tormēt.
The text 6 Therfore in thoſe daies, ſhall men ſeeke death, and ſhall not finde it, and ſhal deſire to dy, and death ſhall flee from them.
Hiſtoricall application. 7 And thoſe oppreſſors were as barded horſes, proceeding to battel with ſtrength, boldnes, and agilitie, and ſo triumphed in oppreſsion, that they raigned as crowned Kinges, enriched with their praies: In the firſte face they ſeemed friendly as men ſhould be.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 7 And thoſe oppreſſors were as barded horſes, proceeding to battel with ſtrength, boldnes, and agilitie, and ſo triumphed in oppreſsion, that they raigned as crowned Kinges, enriched with their praies: In the firſte face they ſeemed friendly as men ſhould be.
The text 7 And the form of the Locuſts vvas lik vntounto horſes prepared vntounto battel, & on their heads vvere as it vvere crownes, like vntounto gold, & their faces vvere like the faces of mē.
Hiſtoricall application. 8 And ſmiled alluringly, as with womens attyre, yet they deuoured and waſted all landes, as with the teeth of Lyons.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 8 And ſmiled alluringly, as with womens attyre, yet they deuoured and waſted all landes, as with the teeth of Lyons.
The text 8 And they had hair as the haire of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of Lyons.
Hiſtoricall application. 9 They were armed on the moſt ſtrongeſt maner, & their ſpeedie haſte made a noiſe as chariots of warre.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 9 They were armed on the moſt ſtrongeſt maner, & their ſpeedie haſte made a noiſe as chariots of warre.
The text 9 And they had habergions, like to habergions of yron, & the ſoūd of their winges vvas lik the ſoūd of charets when many horſes run vntounto battell.
Hiſtoricall application. 10 But their tailes end, and finall intention was to oppreſſe and ſubdewe all men, and after that ſubjection, to impoyſon thē with their ſtings of hereſie, and they had power to torment and oppreſſe men the ſaid 150 yeares.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 10 But their tailes end, and finall intention was to oppreſſe and ſubdewe all men, and after that ſubjection, to impoyſon thē with their ſtings of hereſie, and they had power to torment and oppreſſe men the ſaid 150 yeares.
The text 10 And they had tailes like vntounto ſcorpions, and there wer ſtings in their tailes, & their power was to hurt men fiue moneths.
Hiſtoricall application. 11 And they had ſpirituallie raigning ouer thē the ſaid Mahomet, whoſe name ſignifieth a meſſēger or deſtroyer, & ouer thē temporally raigned the great Turk, which likwiſe ſignifieth the ſame: for Turca is interpreted a waſter or deſtroyer.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 11 And they had ouer thē their king, euen a f meſſenger of the Devill, whoſe name (trying from lāguage to lāguage) ſhal be found to ſignifie a ff deſtroyer or waſter.
The text 11 And they hauehave a King ouer them, which is the Angell of the bottomleſſe pit, whoſe name in Hebrew, is Abaddon, and in Greek hee is named Apolly on.
Hiſtoricall application. 12 Theſe at this time wrought great woe to the Roman Empire, but afterward, theſe ſame with others wrought yet more woe,
Paraphraſt. expoſition 12 The firſt of the great wofull plagues is paſt, and beholde, the two laſte are to come ſhortlie.
The text 12 One wo is paſt, & behold, yet two woes come after this.
Hiſtoricall application. 13 For in the ſixt age (begun in the year of Chriſt, 1296) it pleaſed God in his wrath to ſtir vp
yeares of Chriſt 1296 A Iubilee. The ſixt age, or trumpet.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 13 And the Angelles of the ſixt age blew foorth God his threatninges, and a warning came at all quarters from the throne of Gods juſtice
The text 13 Then the ſixt Angell blew the trumpet, & I hearde a voice from the foure hornes of the golden altar, which is before God.
Hiſtoricall application. 14 The foure nations Mahometiſts, that dwelled beyond and about Euphrates; to wit, the Saracens, Turks, Tartarians, and Arabians, who al being confederate together in one lawe of the Mahomet, and vnderunder one greate Emperor Ottoman, began euen thē their firſt Empire.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 14 To theſe Angels of this ſixt age, to looſe the foure g great nations, which as Angels, and meſſengers of God his wrath, abode at the floud Euphrates.
The text 14 Saying to the ſixt Angell, which had the trumpet, Looſe the four Angels, which ar bound in the great riuer Euphrates.
Hiſtoricall application. 15 Theſe with huge Armies came againſt both the Empires of the Orient and Occicident, ouerthrowing, ſlaying and ſubduing all Aſia, and much of Europe, even about the thirde parte of the world,
Paraphraſt. expoſition 15 And theſe four nations (which here dwelt in readines againſt this preciſe time and houre, to ſlay the third part of mē) now raiſed their armie:
The text 15 And the four Angels wer looſed, which were prepared at an houre, at a day, at a monethmonth, and at a year, to ſlay the thirde parte of men.
Hiſtoricall application. 16 For their nūber was infinite:
Paraphraſt. expoſition 16 And the number of their horſmen were h two hundred thouſand thouſands, & I heard that number to be certaine.
The text 16 And the number of horſmen of war were twēty thouſand times ten thouſand: for I heard the number of them.
Hiſtoricall application. 17 And themſelues and their horſes armed moſte ſtronglie, like irefull proude oppreſſours, haſting to their praie; profeſsing with their mouthes, theſe three ſpeciall points of their lawe; to wit, their vnquencheable ire againſt al chriſtian profeſſours: the eſtabliſhing of the Mahometicke hereſie and doctrine vniuerſallie: and finallie, their bitter auarice, to reaue and conquere all the world to themſelues, as appertaining to thē by right, for that they are the ſonnes of Abraham.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 17 So I ſaw, in ſpirit, theſe horſes, and their horſmē armed, as mē, burning with fierie wrath, puft vp with gliſtering pride, and tending for fearfull deſtruction, riding fiercelie forward to devour their praie as Lyons, profeſsing plainlie with their mouthes, their fierie wrath, their dark and ſmokie hereſie, and their horrible and bitter avarice againſt all Chriſtians:
The text 17 And thus I ſawe the horſes in a viſion, and them that ſat on them, hauing fiery habbergiōs, & of Iacinth, & of brimſtone, & the heads of the horſes were as the heads of lyons: and out of their mouthes went out fire, and ſmoke, and brimſtone.
Hiſtoricall application. 18 And they being on theſe three reſpects puft vp, over-ran, ſlew and oppreſſed all Aſia, and much of Europe.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 18 And in their i ire hereſie and avaritious oppreſsiō, which they profeſſed, they invaded, ſlew and deſtroied the third part of all the Empire.
The text 18 Of theſe three was the thirde parte of men killed: that is, of the fire, & of the ſmoke, & of the brimſton, which came out of their mouths.
Hiſtoricall application. 19 Cōquering mightilie before them with their armie, and leauing behind thē their prieſts and falſe preachers to ſeduce.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 19 For theſe horſmen had power before them, to conquere and devoure vp all that come in their teeth and power, alſo behind them, becauſe the Deuill, that old ſerpent, followed in their tailes, by the mouthes of their falſe teachers, to ſting and ſeduce all whome they had ouercome.
The text 19 For their power is in their mouths, and in their tailes: for their tailes were like vntounto ſerpēts and had heades wherewith they hurt.
Hiſtoricall application. 20 Neuertheleſſe, the reſt of the Roman Empire reformed not themſelues, nor amended their workes, neither left they their vngodlie & deuiliſh worſhipping of alleadged Saintes, neither their filthie idolatrie, and worſhipping of ſenſeleſſe images, made of euerie mettal and materiall:
Paraphraſt. expoſition 20 Nevertheleſſe, the reſt of the people of the Empire, that were not ouercome by theſe plagues, repented not of their k vngodlie workes, nor abſtained from l deuiliſh worſhipping of m images of gold, of ſiluer, of braſſe, of ſtone and of timber, which neither can ſee, nor heare, nor moue.
The text 20 And the remnāt of men which were not killed by theſe plagues, repented not of the workes of their hands, that they ſhould not worſhip devils, and idoles of golde, and of ſiluer, & of braſſe, and of ſtone, and of wood, which neither can ſee, neither heare, nor goe:
Hiſtoricall application. 21 Neither left they off to murther al them that ſpak againſt their errours: but continued in their charmes and exorciſmes and in their vild Sodomie, and horrible whoredome, and repented not to deceiue ſimple men, in ſtealing from thē both their goods and their ſoules, for ſoul-maſſes, Diriges, Pardons, Indulgences, and ſuch other trifles.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 21 Neither repented they of their n tyrannie and martyrdoms, nether of their o conjuring charmes or witchcraft, nether of their filthy & p vnſpeakeable whordō, neither yet of their q theeuiſh taking of goods from ſimple men.
The text 21 Alſo they repented not of their murther, and of their ſorcerie, neither of their fornication, nor of their theft.
Notes, Reaſons, and Amplifications.
a Now doth the Spirite of God repeat here the fall of the Mahomet, not that he now fell (for as is ſaid, he fell in the time of the third trumpet) but meaning that his olde fal, his Alkaron and profeſſours that he left behind him, hauehave made the way patent to the Turks, now at this time, to fall alſo from the trueth, and followe him. Conferre here with our third propoſition, and note following, by the which, both theſe ſtarres appeare to be one, and to meane the Mahomet, and his locuſts to be the Turks, and for confirmation that this ſtar, is that ſame ſtarre that before had fallen, the Greeke terme of falling, expreſſed in the text is foreign in the praeterit time, which had fallē, and not foreign in the preſent time, which falleth. Meaning therby expreſlie, that Saint Iohn ſaw, that in this fift age, the Mahomet (who before had fallen from God in the third age) now by his ſucceſſours, & doctrin doth open vp the gates of hell more manifeſtlie, in ſtirring vp theſe Turks by his hereſie.
b That theſe Locuſtes be the Turkes, it is plaine: for that as Locuſts doe deſtroy and waſte eueryevery where, and are plagues appointed by God to that effect. (Exod. 10.) So are the Turkes both in name and effect, waſters and ſpoilers, as ſhall bee ſhewed in the note f following.
c That theſe, who with pleaſant flatteries profeſſe good, and yet in effect are rebels, and ſeducers from God, are compared to ſcorpions, read Ezech. 2.6. and how evill women for their faire reſemblance and wickednes in effect, are called ſcorpions, read Eccleſiaſticus 26.7. So theſe Turkes are deſcribed here with mens faces, & womens haire, and Scorpions tailes, becauſe they firſt entered in Europe humainlie, and proceeded ſince with all deſpite and oppreſsion. Alſo, for that the ſtinges of ſcorpions ſeem firſt nothing, and after become incurable, as the ſmall companie of Turkes became almoſt a Monarchie.
d In hiſtories is more mention made of the Turks oppreſsions, and ſpoiles done againſt Chriſtians in that age, than of anie conqueſt or vtter deſtruction of Chriſtians, as Iohn Baptiſta Egnatius, ſpeaking de origine Turcarum; ſaith, Ʋagid spalatique quove cuique ſors affuit latrocinantes magis quam bellig…rantes provincias vaſtârunt: Theſe going in vaging and vvandering vvhereſoeuer their chance vvas, they vvaſted countries, as theeues rather than as Warriours. And as to their dominion, how from the firſt year of their firſt Dominator Zadok, in the year of Chriſt, 1051. to the time that the Tartarians ſubdewed them, in An. 1201. are juſt 150. yeares, diuers hiſtories doe declare.
e That theſe fiue propheticall moneths are an hundred and fiftie years, read the firſt propoſition, with the ſeconde reaſon of our third propoſition.
f. ff This flitting from Abaddon in Hebrew to Apollyon in Greek, ſignifieth, that his name is neither Abaddon nor Apollyon, but that we ought to deſcend from language to language, vntil we find the name of a Gouernor, that ſignifieth the ſame that Abaddon and Apollyon doe in Hebrew and Greeke. And ſo it is, that Abaddon and Apollyon doe ſignifie a Deſtroyer or Waſter (Ierome de interpretatione nominum) And againe, on the other part Mahometes ſignifieth (ex eod.) Delens, a Deſtroyer, or Nuncius a Meſſenger, agreable with both the ſtiles that this text giues him, to wit, both a deſtroyer, and alſo, the Angell or meſſenger of the bottomleſſe pit. Moreouer, the like is to be ſaid of their temporall kings name Turca, which (ex Carionis chronico, fol. 8. lib. 1. & lib. 5. fol. 107.) ſignifieth idem quod vaſtator, a Waſter or deſtroyer.
g That all meſſengers and executers of Gods affaires, either of favour or wrath be called Angels, it is common in all the Scriptures: for Angelus ſignifieth a Meſſenger: and for proofe that theſe foure of the ſixt Trumpet be no ſpirituall Angels, the ſame in the ſixt Viall (Apoc. 16.12) are called the kinges of the Eaſt, for ſo are theſe Mahometanes indeed.
h Albeit this number of two hundred thouſand thouſand is not ſo expreſſed to ſatisfie our curioſitie, as if there were no oddes (as I wrote, Apoc. 7. and note f thereof) Yet certainlie it hath bene neere this number, for that he ſubjoyneth for the more certaintie againe, And I heard the number of them, and ſaw the horſes in a viſion, &c Agreeable hereto, it is reported that the great Turk contemptuouſlie ſent to the Emperour of Romanes, a Camel or a Dromedarie laden with wheat, with this vowe by meſſage, that he ſhoulde bring againſt him, as manie fighting men, as there were graines of wheat therein. This armie hereafter (Apoc. 20.8.) is compared to the ſea ſand in number.
i Of theſe three points of their profeſsion, read their Alkaron, & confer therewith the hiſtories, for of their yre againſt the name of Chriſtians, euen from Mahomets firſt beginning, read Iohn Baptiſt. Egnatius vponupon Heraclius Emperour, ſaying. Reſponderunt impii, (meaning Mahometiſts) non priùs Romanis pacem ſe daturos, quā Chriſtum abnegaſſet Imperator. Theſe vvicked made anſwere, that they vvould giuegive no peace to the Romanes, till firſt their Emperour renounced Chriſt. The ſecond, cōcerning their diligēce to ſpread their hereſie is certaine. The third, concerning their auaritious claiming the title of the whole world, that is contained expreſly in their law, that they being the ſons of Abraham and of Sara (as they alledge) the land as promiſed to them by God, Gen. 13.16. and thereupon, Mahomet promiſeth the kingdome of heauen to al them, that fights valiantly in that quarrell. Yet theſe alleadged Saracens, are the children of Abraham and Hagar, that is to ſay, Hagarens or Iſmaelites, and not of Abraham and Sara. But as to the Turks we find no certaintie that any waies they are the ſonnes of Abraham, yet claime they that promiſe, as if they were the true ſonnes of Abraham and Sara. And ſo in theſe three points of their hereſie and vſurping of kingdomes, do they inuey againſt Chriſtians.
k Theſe of the Romane Empire regarded not what euill and vitious works they did, ſeeing they wer perſwaded, that for litle coſt they would get indulgence, pardons, holy water, and light pennance, which would relieue and purge their ſinnes.
l Of earthly hypocrites, who diſſembled their euil life, as ſom hiſtories report, the Pope made his Saincts: And though ſome of theſe be deuills, condemned for their hypocriſie, yet hath the Pope and his Cleargie ordained all theſe, whome they canonized to be worſhipped. Moreouer, they are ſaid heare to woorſhip the Deuill, in that they woorſhip not God, as hee hath commaunded them, but after their own imaginations.
m What crucifixes and other Idoles of golde, ſiluer, and other materials, were both priuately in their oratories, and publickly in Churches adored, the whole world knoweth. If they wil ſay, they worſhipped them not, but vſed them as a remembrance: O Ananiaſſes and Zaphiraſſes, lyars againſt their owne ſoules, came they not barefooted, barelegged, bareheaded, grouflings and kneeling with their hands holden vp to theſe Images, and with their faces and eies direct to them, making ſuch prayers and ſupplications as in their very books are intituled, a prayer to the image of Chriſt, and a prayer to the croſſe of Chriſt, and ſuch others. Howe are they then able to deny, but that they prayed euen to theſe verie images, yea and for the greater deceite to ſimple ſoules, leaſt it ſhould be known, that Idolatrie any waies was ſinne, their Cleargie took away the ſecond commandement out of their treatiſes, and deuided the laſt commandement into two, to make out ten. And likewiſe, they held the whole Bible in Latine vntranſlated, leſt it ſhould be known to the people, that God in it forbad the worſhipping of Images. Repyning thereby againſt their knowledge & conſcience, without any repentance as yet, as ſaith the text.
n Amidſt the greate inuaſions that theſe Mahometans made at this time againſt the Papiſts. The Pope neuertheleſſe ſpared not, euen then to murther the poore ſancts of God, ſuch as Iohn Huſſe, Ierome of Praga, Ierome Savonarola, and many moe that opponed againſt his indulgences, and others his wicked traditions.
o What charmes eueryevery common curate had for the fellone, the farſie, the worme, for bloodſtemming, for lecherie, and for other horrible purpoſes, all their familiars, or that hath ſeene their workes and bookes, knowes. Alſo in Platina, and in other credible hiſtoriographers, ye ſhall finde the legend of 22. Popes or thereby, that wer moſt horrible Necromancers, like as there is one parte of their ſervice that is called Exorciſmus, conteining ſuperſtitious & magical enchantments and conjurations of oyl, of ſalt, of holy water, of belles, beads, Principioſis, Agnus Deis, and other ſuch like. And further, euerie high altar is erected with joints, hair, clouts, cloths, threds and worſeds of diuerſe hewes, and diuers other reliques of dead men, laide and builded behinde the ſaide altars, as they do teſtifie whoſe eies hath ſeen the ſame. And leſt they ſhuld doubt thereof who hath not ſeene it, the collects of the Maſſe do beare record of the ſame, graunting theſe reliques to be there, as in the Maſſe book ſecundū uſum Sarum, in ſervitio beatae Mariae, orationibus: Propitiare quaeſumus Domine and Praeſta queſumus omnipotens: And again, in feſto reliquiarum oratione praeſta queſumus omnipotens &c. and lectione prima, Hodie dilectiſſimi &c. ye ſhall finde theſe clauſes contained Quorum reliquiae in hac continentur Eccleſia, that is to ſay, vvhoſe reliques are here contained in this Church.
p What whordome and vile Sodomie is vſed both in Rome, and likewiſe eueryevery where, among the Popes, Cardinals & whol Clergie, not onelyonly their innumerable baſtards teſtifies, but alſo their lawes priuely permitting Prieſtes to hauehave concubines, but not wiues, (Diſtinct. 34.) though ſome late glozers (excuſing the matter) define theſe concubines to be wiues, contrary vntounto the text. Further hereof reade in Platina and others vnſuſpected hiſtoriographers, the legend of licentious popes, whereof 13. were adulterers, 3. were common brothellers, 4. were inceſtuous harlots. 11. were impoyſoned with vile Sodomie, 7. were whooremongers & erecters of brothel houſes, wherof euerie whoore payeth weekly a Iulian pēny to the Pope, which diuers years wil extend to 40000 ducats by year. And all theſe, beſide the ſhee Pope called Ioane, who was firſt called Gilberta an Engliſh woman borne in the town of Lyn, who being two yeares and an halfe Pope, at laſt dieth in deliuerie of a child openly vponupon the high ſtreet of Rome, going in publike proceſsiō by the way to the church of ſaint Iohn de Laterane, & ſo made her whordom and filthines of her ſeat, patent, In memorie whereof, all Popes euer ſince going in proceſsion, eſcheweth and goeth about that Laterane way, where their ſhe predeceſſor dyed.
q It is more nor notorious what gret abbacies and biſhopricks from ſimple princes, what landes and yearlie rentes from landed men, what money and goods from men of al eſtates, hath bin deceitfullie ſtolne for indulgences pardons, remiſsions of ſinnes, trigintalls, ſoul-maſſes, dirigés, de-profundis, & other ſuperſtitiōs, ſtealing thereby not onelyonly mens goods, but euen their ſoules, as hereafter Reuel. 18.13. and note i. thereof, and 2. Pet. 2.3. Theſe be like the Scribes and Phariſies vvho deuour vp poore vviddowes houſes vnderunder pretence of long prayers, as is ſaid in Matth. 23.14.