A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 60
¶ Of the ſignes of Antichriſt, and Image of the beaſte of him reyſed. The .lx. Sermon.
ANd he did great wonders, ſo that he made fyre come downe from heauē into the yearth in the ſight of men, and deceaued them that dwelt on the earth by the meanes of thoſe ſignes whiche he had power to do in the ſight of the beaſte, ſaiyng to them that dwelte on the Earth: that they ſhould make an Image vntounto the beaſte, whiche had the wounde of a ſworde, and did liue. And he had power to geue a ſprite vntounto the image of the beaſte, and that the image of the beaſt ſhould ſpeake. And ſhould cauſe that as many as would not worſhippe the Image of the beaſt ſhould be killed.
He procedeth moſte dilligently to deſcribe Antichriſt and his kingdome, which ſo greatly impugneth ye faith of Chriſt, and afflicteth his church, to the intent he mighte be knowen and eſchewed of al men.
He ſayeth nowe he ſhall do great wonders,Of trewe miracles. by the whiche he vnderſtandeth miracles. Wherof ſome be true, and ſome falſe. I call thoſe trewe miracles, which are done in dede, and are not by any craftie iuggelyng countrefeted, and the which allure mē to the veritie, and ſet forth the veritie. Of the which ſorte out of doubte were the miracles of the Prophetes and Apoſtles, holy Martirs, and chiefly of Moſes and Chriſte. Theſe do good vntounto men, hurte not, nor emptye pore mens purſes: yea more they glorifie God, and make the treweth to be beleued, in drawyng men only vntounto God as to the fountayne of all goodnes. So Iohn teſtifieth of the lordes firſte miracle done in Cana of Galiley, and ſayeth: This is the firſte token that Ieſus did at Cana in Galiley, and ſhewed his glory, and his diſciples beleued on him. This token was trewe, and ſuſpected of no iuggelyng, it was a benefite beſtowed vpō pore folkes newely maried, by the ſame God was glorified. His diſciples moued herewith, and the ſprite of God workyng alſo inwardely, beleued on Chriſt. So do all trewe miracles teſtifie Chriſt to be helthful and beneficiall, & therefore alone to be called vponupon, and worſhipped. So doe Iohn and Peter interprete the ſignes or miracle that their thēſelues wrought in the .3. of the Actes of Apoſtles. And of ſuch miracles we hauehave greate plentie in the Euangelicall, Apoſtolicall, & Eccleſiaſticall ſtorie: nother hauehave al thoſe any other ende, thā that we muſt beleue in the ſonne of God, as which alone geueth life and al good thinges.
And falſe ſignes I calle thoſe that are done through deueliſhe crafte or inchauntement,Of falſ… ſignes or miracles. or by the craftie iuggelyng and ſubtill ſleight of wicked men: as be thoſe of witches and inchaunters: ſuch as the wiſe men of Pharao were, and Symon Magus: and thoſe wherof mention is made in the .13. of Deu… ter. Finally ſuche were the miracles of the Freres, brent at Bernes in Swiſſerlande: and greately it is to be feared leeſt ſuch hauehave ben the moſt parte of the miracles of al Mounkes and Eremites. Likewiſe thoſe are called falſe alſo, whiche although they be done in dede, yet beare they witnes to a lie agaynſte the trewth, confirmyng the Pope to be head of the church, that images are to be worſhipped, that we muſt pray vntounto Sainctes, and go a pilgrimage for religion yea rather for ſuperſtitions ſake, that we muſt worſhippe a newe God liynge hidde vnderunder fourme of Bread and Wine, that God muſte be honoured with vowes and Monkiſh conuerſatiō, and yf there be any other thing of like ſorte. With ſuche diſceauable ſignes are filled at this daye all Temples, churches and chapelles. Theſe hauehave perſwaded much euen wiſe men, and do alſo at this daye. Whiche thing the Lord prophecied ſhould come to paſſe, ſaiynge: there ſhal arriſe falſe Chriſtes, and falſe Prophetes, and ſhal ſhewe great ſignes and wonders, that euen, if it were poſſible, the elect ſhould be brought into errour. And S. Paule alſo: the comyng of Antichriſte, ſayeth he, ſhal be after the workyng of Sathan, with al power, and ſignes, and liyng wonders, and the reſte, whiche is red in the .2. to the Theſſal. 2. And we knowe that many Biſſhoppes of Rome hauehave wrought ſignes: but that ſame is not ſo excellent, but that the Biſſhoppe of Rome hath confirmed what miracles ſo euer hauehave ben wrought in al Chriſtēdome, and augemented the ſame with his bulles and indulgences. Doubtles all had a contrary ende to the miracles of Chriſt, and yet hauehave, for they do not profite men, but emptie their purſes, put men to ſondry charges, and leade them awaye from the faith of Chriſt, to the faith of Antichriſt, confirming his religion, ſuperſtitiō and doctrine. Nother doeth he place theſe his miracles emongs the laſt of his argumentes, what time the ſimplicitie of the goſpell is impugned. But if we be wiſe, we will beware of them, as of a moſt preſent peſtilence.
He maketh fire to come down &c heauē.And emonges his miracles the lord by S. Iohn reherſeth that aboue all thinges, he cauſeth fire to come downe to the Earth, and that in the preſence of mē. And he ſemeth to hauehave alluded to the ſtory of Helias, wherof we reade in the .4. boke of Kinges the .1. chapt. and whereof we mentioned in the .11. chapt. We reade that it was no ſmal miracle in the Actes of the Apoſtles, that al the laiyng on of thapoſtles handes, the holy ghoſt was geuen. Symon Magus alſo did couet the ſame grace: but he was ſore reiected of S. Peter the Apoſtle: as we reade in the .8. chapt. of the Actes of Apoſtles. And here is to be obſerued (as alſo S. Auſten hath admoniſhed in ye .15. boke de trinit. the .26. chapt.) yt thapoſtles gaue not the holy ghoſt: for it is God alone that geueth the holy ghoſt: therfore at the prayers of thapoſtles, & at the impoſition of hādes, the holy ghoſt was geuen from heauē. Wherfore S. Iohn Baptiſte ſaied how he baptiſed with water, but yt Chriſt ſhuld baptiſe with fire and with holy ghoſt. And by fire is figured ye holy ghoſt.The Pope geueth grace. But Antichriſt the Pope ſhal make his boaſte that he hauing power geuen him frō heauen, graunteth the grace of the holy ghoſt. Doubtles in the time of cōſecrating, he ſaieth, that he geueth the holy ghoſt. So likewiſe in auricular cōfeſſions, & abſolutions, they bragge yt thei geue full abſolutiō of ſinnes which in dede is a great miracle. Thei laie their hādes vponupon the ſinner that confeſſeth, and ſaye: howe they abſolue him from the payne and crime, and that by the power receyued of that moſte holy See of Rome. Primaſius expounding this place: It is no maruell, ſayeth he, though that beaſte, which fainedly vſurpeth to him ſelfe the name of the Lambe killed and yet liuyng, doe fraudulently chalenge to him ſelfe alſo this gifte of the holy ghoſt colourably by Imitatiō, and fayne a donation to his miniſters: as we remembre that Symon Magus coueted, but coulde not obteyne. Hitherto he.
There is an other fire alſo,The Pope caſteth a thōderbolt at his enemies. which Antichriſt calleth doune from heauen, and caſteth and throweth at his enemies, to be reuenged on them: to wit the darte and thonderbolte of curſing, this was terrible to kinges, princes, & people. And theſe hauehave ſo much feared the thonderbolte of excōmunication, yt they hauehave done & graunted many thinges, which otherwiſe no mā ſhuld hauehave gote of thē. The ſtory is knowē of themperour Henry the .4. For Platina in ye life of Gregory ye .7. ſheweth, that this Emperour was excōmunicated by the Pope. After he addeth theſe things of themperour: he came ſpedely to Canoſſe (where the biſhop was with Mathilda) and by and by laiyng a ſide his royal robes, went bare foted to the gates of the citie, and humbly required to be let in. His entring denied he toke in good parte, notwithſtanding that the winter was ſharpe, and al was froſen harde. Remaynyng thre daies in the ſuburbes of the Towne, and continually crauing perdon, at the length at requeſt of Mathilda and the Erle of Sauoye, & the Abbot of Clunies he is abſolued. Fridericke Barbarouſe that he mighte be reconciled to the Pope, layed his necke vnderunder his fete to be troden on, full manifeſte are the iniuries done of this beaſte, to other kinges alſo and people. I wil yet tel of one. The Venetians beſieged Farrare, which payeth tribute to the Churche of Rome, for the whiche cauſe they were excommunicated by Clement the .5. Therefore Fraunces Dandalus, which was after created Duke, wente into Fraunce, where that time the Biſſhop was, to are perdon for that offence. Lōg it was or euer he was admitted to come in the Popes ſight. At the laſt he was led with an yrō chaine aboute his necke to the Biſſhoppes table, lyke a Dogge, and there fayne to lie vnderunder the table emongs the dogges ſo lōg, til the wrath of Clement (without all clemencie) beyng ouer paſte, he put out that ignominie from his countrie. And was therefore alwayes after called dogge of his owne countriemē: for yt he had layne like a dogge at the Popes table for to gette abſolution. This is written in Sabellicus in the ende of the .9. Aeneid. the .7. boke. The Pope in excommunicatinge vſeth tapers or candelles of waxe burning, which he throweth downe to the grounde from on highe: that euen thereby we might perceyue, that it is he that calleth downe the feareful fire from Heauen vponupon men in earth. And theſe thinges doeth the beaſt in the preſence of men, to wit with great confidence & boldenes: finally to make mē affrayde, and to kepe them in awe. For after the ſame kinde of ſpeaking S. Paule commaundeth alſo, to rebuke a great man offendyng before all men, that others maye be affrayed. 1. Timoth. 5.
He diſceaueth by ſignes.Howbeit the Lord addeth the vſe and effect of Antichriſtes wonders, to thende the church might iudge rightly of them: and he deceaueth, ſayeth he, the dwellers on the Earth by reaſon of the miracles, &c. He ſhall ſeduce by theſe ſignes or miracles, to wit by that grace of the ſpirite, whiche he faineth that he geueth, and with thoſe his excommunications wherwith he would ſeme to caſte men downe into hell, that dwell vponupon Earth, that is to ſaye more geuen to earthly than to heauenly thinges. And he ſhall leade them from the fayth of Chriſt, vntounto his tromperies. Therefore muſt we iudge of the tokens and doctrine of Antichriſt, for that they ſeduce men. Leaue maruelyng therefore, howe it hath chaunced, that the Pope hath allured to his ſide ſo many menne of wiſedome and learnyng. You hauehave hearde already, by what meanes this is done. Therefore be not you alwayes fooles, learne, take hede, and beleue Chriſte and his Goſpell, and cleaue thereunto.
Agayne he ſayeth,The beaſte doeth miracles in ye ſight of the beaſte. that power is geuen to the beaſt (verely by the iuſte iudgement of God, that according to thapoſtles ſaiyng, they maye be iudged, whiche had rather beleue lies, than the veritie) that he ſhoulde worke thoſe miracles in the ſight of the beaſte. What is it to worke miracles in the ſight of the beaſte, but to do them in the preſence of all men, boldely and with out feare, euen to feare & diſceaue the very beaſt? Here therfore nowe we heare of two beaſtes. The beaſte that doeth the wonders: and that later beaſte in whoſe ſight that other fourmer beaſte doeth thoſe ſignes.In the .19. chapt. Yea it ſhall followe hereafter, that both the beaſte, and the falſe Prophet, whiche doeth theſe miracles before the beaſte, by the whiche he alſo deceaued the beaſte, ſhall be caſte bothe into fire euerlaſting. Who therfore is the former and the two horned beaſte, but the Pope? the very ſame is the falſe prophet alſo. And who is the beaſte, in whoſe ſight the Pope worketh wonders, but the Image of the beaſte, and therfore a beaſte alſo, in aſmuch as thempire is reyſed of the beaſte, and gouerned by the ſpirite of the beaſte.
For it followeth, that the beaſt ſetteth vp an Image of the beaſte,The beaſte ſetteth vp an Image of ye beaſt. and that of the ſame beaſte whiche had the wounde of a ſworde, and liueth: that is to wit, of that olde Romane Empire. Now therfore is erected a new Romane Empire, which neuertheleſſe is not called playnely a beaſte, but the Image of the beaſt: that is to ſaye, an Empire in dede, but the which cometh not ſo nere to the olde, by as farre, as an Image differeth from the true example. For the olde Romane Empire is as it were an example, whereof thempire ſet vp by the Romiſh Antichriſt, is only an Image, repreſentation, ſhaddowe and as it were a dreame, hauyng neuertheleſſe ſome ſumilitude of the ſame.
Howe the Image of the beaſte was ſet vpI tolde before, and ſhewed out of ſtories, howe the olde Romane Empire was torne and rent in pieces, & taken quite awaye. In times paſte the one Emperour gouerned in the Eaſte at Conſtantinople, the other in the Weſte at Rome or at Rauenna. But from Auguſtulus by the ſpace of thre hondreth yeres and more, there was no Emperour of the Weſte. And ſuche landes as were the Emperours, were now poſſeſſed of others, and the Empire was vtterly loſte. Therefore about the yere of our lorde eyght hondreth, what time Charles the greate, Kynge of Fraunce came to Rome, vponupon Chriſtemas daye, Leo the .3. of that name, Biſſhoppe of Rome, ſetting the Crowne vponupon Charles head made him Emperour, all the people ſaiyng with a lowde voice, to Charles the Emperour crowned of God, be long life and victory. Theſe thinges are red in all ſtories, eſpecially in the .4. booke of Auentinus his Cronicles of Bourbonois.
The beaſte ſayeth to ye inhabiters of ye Earth that they ſhuld make an Image to ye beaſt.Agayne when this Empire ſemed to wauer and to ſlide, and therefore lyke ſhortely to falle, the Biſſhoppe of Rome inſtituted ſeuen Princes Electours. Some referre this ordenaunce to Gregory the .5. whiche was Pope when Otth… was Emperour. And ſome to Gregory the .10. whiche called Rafe of Abſpurge to the Empire. Whereof ſhal be more ſayed anone. But the Lorde by S. Iohn ſayeth expreſſely, howe the beaſt ſayed to the inhabiters of the Earth, that thei ſhuld make an Image of the beaſte. For the Popes hauehave by ſpeakyng, and not by fightyng (as appereth in the ſtories of Biſſhoppes of Rome, eſpecially of Leo the .3.) erected a new Empire. For by preachyng, perſwadyng, and practyſing, they brought the Empire to Kinge Charles. Certenly Platina in the life of Leo the .3. The Biſſhop, ſayeth he, minding to gratifie by ſome meane king Charles, which had deſerued right well of the churche, in the churche of S. Peter, after ſolemne ſeruice done, by the voyces and prayers of the people of Rome, with a lowde voyce declareth Charles Emperour, and crowneth him. &c.
But nowe we muſte ſee more dilligentlie,What is properlie ye Image of the beaſte. wherefore the newelie erected empyre is called of the Pope, the Image of the oulde beaſte. And here in dede, myghte manye thynges be alledged: but I ſhall recyte of many things onelyonly a fewe. Aboue all thinges, it is called the Image, both for that it is named the Empyre it ſelfe, and wolde be taken for the oulde Empyre, where it is in dede a name wythoute the thynge, and a vayne tytle, wythoute that aunciente power, maieſtie, and glorie. For vnleſſe the Emperour hauehave the Kyngdome of his owne by inheritaunce, what Kyngdome ſhal he hauehave by the name of Emperour? ſhal he hauehave Rome? ſhal he hauehave Italie, the oulde ſeat of the Empyre? ſhal he hauehave Fraunce Spayne, Hongarie, Germanie? For although Germanie be nowe taken for the ſeate of the Empyre, yet hath ſhee her owne Princes, her owne free Cities, and the which inioye their Priuileges, although they be called Emperiall. Theodorycke of Niem, a Germayne, and a familiar friende of certen Popes, which wrote alſo the lyues of certen Byſhoppes of Rome, which were laſt before the counſell of Conſtaunce, in the thyrde booke the .xliii. chapt. of his Stories. Of what magnificēce, ſayeth he, the Romaine Empyre is, at the leeſtwyſe openlye ſene in Germanie. For you ſhal hauehave there an Archbyſhop or a Byſhop, which hath of yearely reuenewes twyſe ſo much more,The pouerty and barenes of the Romayne Empyre. as the Kyng of Romaynes receyueth in all his dominions. And agayne, a temporall Prince, that hath more landes than hath the Emperour. And ſo forth.
Moreouer in the ould Empire, ther was ſome mightie monarke, which vſed full Aucthoritie, and was honoured of all men as a God in Earth. As Caius, Domitian, Diocleſian, and others. His Image repreſenteth the Pope, Byſhoppe, and Kynge, and as it were a certeine God terriſtrial, the greateſt Monarke, with fulneſſe of power. Furthermore Rome, or the oulde beaſte, had a mooſte honorable Senate. So hath the Byſhppe of Rome alſo, a Princelyke Senate of prowde purpled Cardynalles. For they bee in maner all Princes. The booke of the Romayne gouernementes reciteth the Vicar, or Lieutenaunte of the Dioceſſe of Aſia (a Dioceſſe in Greke foreign is a diſpoſition, adminiſtration, diſpēſation, gouernemente, or iuriſdiction) the Vycar of the Dioceſſe of Thracia, and of Pontus. So was there a noble man preſident of the gouernementes in Italie. He had manye Dioceſſes vnderunder. And no fewer had the Lieutenaunt of Fraunce. And lyke as the Counte of Straſbourgh, the Captayne generall of the ſoldiours at Spires, and the General of the ſoldiours at Woormes, ded acknowledge the Duke of Mentz a Proconſull: So at this daye, the Byſhoppes of thoſe Cities are ſubiectes to the Archebyſhoppe of Mentz. The Byſhoppes therefore ſeme by the Popes ordinaunce, to ſuccede in the place of the Romayne gouernementes. Certeinelie you ſhall ſee the moſte parte of theſe Byſhops called not onelyonly moſte reuerend fathers in Chriſte, but alſo moſt Noble & myghty Dukes and Princes of the Empyre. And this is alſo manifeſte, that the Emperour of the oulde beaſte had his legions, the Romaine Egles or enſeignes, and moſte expert and puiſſaunt Captaynes of warre. But the high Biſhop and kyng of Rome hath in that Imagerie Empyre obedient children, kinges and Princes in Europe not to be diſpiſed:Tharmies and power of ye Popes ſworde. whom he may cōmaunde yf nede requyre, to ſtretch foorth the ſecular power. For ſo thundreth Boniface the .8. in the firſte boke de Maior. & Obedient: doubtles ſayeth he, whoſoeuer denieth the temporall ſworde to be in the power of Peter, he vnderſtandeth a miſſe the worde of the Lorde, ſayeng: put vp thy ſwoorde into thy ſheath (howe ſubtiilie and howe aptelie). Therefore are both ſwords in the power of the church, to wit both the ſpiritual and materiall ſword: but this muſt in dede be exerciſed for the church, the other of the church. The ſpirituall by the prieſte, the materiall by the hande of kinges and ſoldiours, but at the will and patience of the high prieſte. &c. The oulde beaſte had his lawes written, and publiſhed daylie in a maner newe.Decretals The Popes therefore after the imitation of the emperiall lawes, hauehave written decretalles, and many tymes make newe lawes. Yea, moreouer they ſaie howe the voice & precepts or cōmaundemēts of the pope are aſwel to be receiued & taken, as the words of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt the ſon of God, and Apoſtle S. Peter. They adde moreouer theſe things alſo: that we muſte ſtand to the popes determinatiō. That where the pope is, there is the generall counſell. Where the Pope is, there is our common countrie. He is compelled or reproued of no man, althoughe he be called an heretike. He hath all lawes in his breaſt, or in the ſcroll of his breaſte: he may interprete or expound all thinges. The ſame doth ratifie no ſentence: and it is in him alone, to take away one mans right, and geue it to an other. He maie take awaye priuileges, and at his wyll and pleaſure not onelyonly to chaūge biſhops, but alſo to depoſe the emperour himſelfe, and to declare no ſentence of themperour. All the world is the Popes dioceſſe: and the pope is the ordinarie of al, hauing fulnes of power aſwell in ſpiritual matters as tēporall. For he is Lord of Lordes, and hath the righte of the King of Kinges ouer all ſubiects. For he hath no pere: and is all thinges, and aboue all, and it is neceſſarie to ſaluation, to be vnderunder the byſhop of Rome. For ther is one conſiſtorie or iudgement ſeat of God and of the Pope. Theſe thynges hauehave I taken oute of their owne books, to witte of their Decretalles and gloſes. There is a boke of Antony Ruſſell of Aretine, of ye power of the Pope and the emperour, where in you may read innumerable things of the ſame ſort. But of theſe thinges which I hauehave noted hitherto, I ſuppoſe it be made playne enough, how the Pope which is here alſo called the falſe prophete, hath ſette vp the Image of the beaſte.
Hereunto Ihon addeth an other thyng:And he had power to geue a ſpirite to the Image of the beaſte. that the empyre thus eſtablyſhed, and all thynges ſette in order, the beaſte or falſe prophete doeth moue all that weighte, and putteth lyfe into the Image, ſo that it can ſpeake: to witte the ſame, that the falſe prophete hath geuen it to ſpeake. For excepte the pope do confyrme the election of the Kyng of Romaines, he ſhall not be thoughte worthie of the name of Emperour .22. queſt .5. de forma, in the gloſe thēperour ſweareth to the pope, as the Client to his Lord. The ſame maiſte thou reade in the firſte boke the .9. title. de iure iurando, in Clementinis. Moreouer who ſeeth not, how aſwell the Emperour as other Princes, are inuironed wyth a cōpanie of Byſhoppes, whych inſpyre them, what they ſhoulde ſpeake, or doe, and howe they ſhoulde behaue themſelues in all thinges. For this cauſe are ſent alſo the Legates, that are called Legati a latere. And it is not vnknowen, that in all Princes counſelles for the moſte parte the ſpirituall hauehave the chiefe rule. They be for the moſt parte, Chancelours, Secretaries, Ambaſſadours, and what not? And their Pope & King ſayeth openlie, howe he ought to iudge al men, but to be iudged of no man. Yea, and his creatures alſo vſurpe the ſame vntounto themſelues. Yf ther be any aſſemblee, there the Byſhop of Rome commonly ruleth by his ſpirite, and gouerneth the chiefeſte matters, eſpeciallye matters of religiō. For vnleſſe the decrees pleaſe the fathers, they threaten that theye wyll abrogate, ſuche thinges as the States hauehave decreed. But yf there be called a counſell generall or nationall, it is wholly ruled by the popes ſpirite. This ſpeaketh and determineth as it pleaſeth the Pope. For vnleſſe it decree after the Popes pleaſure, he wil go aboute to abolyſh all to gether. For we hearde of late, that the Synode or counſell is there, where the Pope is. And Innocentius the .9 in the .3.The Pope is aboue ye coūſell: but the coūſell of Baſil reaſoneth the contrary. queſt. The iudge, ſayeth he, ſhall be iudged nother of themperour, nother of ye whole Clergie, nother of kings, nor of the people. And the gloſe vponupon the ſame place noteth, the counſell cannot iudge the Pope, &c. Wherefore yf the whole worlde ſhulde geue ſentence in any matter againſt the Pope, it appeareth that we ought to ſtand to the Popes ſentence againſt them al. Yea the ſame gloſier in an other place: The Pope yf he wyll, ſayeth he, maye diſpence againſte the Counſell. For he is more than the Counſell. Moſte trewely therefore ſayde the Lorde at this preſent, howe the beaſt had power, to geue a ſpirite to the beaſte, and that the Image of the beaſte ſhuld ſpeake. For whoſoeuer ſhewe not themſelues obedient, and willinge inſtrumentes vntounto this beaſte in all his affayres, are accoumpted for dead and rotten membres, and therefore to be cutte of from this vitall bodye. Yea for ſooth.
Empyres at of God, the corruptiōs of empyres of euyll.Howbeit in the meane tyme, leeſt I ſhuld blame any man prayſe worthie, or ſeme ouer much to taunt them that hauehave deſerued none euyll, or ſhould be ſayde not to acknowledge the goodnes of God workyng in Empyres, but rather to fynde faulte with the ſame, and to confounde and put to gether all thinges both good and euyll, without any choyce or reſpecte, certeine thinges are here by a long, yet neceſſary digreſſion, to be admoniſhed, and better declared. I admoniſh therefore and repete, that the Lorde our God is the authour of Empires, and ordeyneth the ſame for the welth of menne: but that the Deuill ioyneth him ſelfe with the good ordinaunces of God, and accordyng to his euill nature corrupteth thoſe good ordinaunces of God, by mouyng mens affections diuerſly, and appliyng them to euil matters. Wherupon in gouernementes very many thinges arriſe whiche are to be miſlyked of the Godly: as are tiranny, alteration of the ſtate, and ſuche other like. Neuertheleſſe, albeit God hateth all wickednes nother can allowe any euill, we ſee, that he of his infinite goodnes vſeth the euill gouernementes of menne vntounto the good or profit of his. For God loueth his churche excedingly: and ſeketh to relieue and comforte al man kinde by Empires, although not altogether, or in all thinges commendable.
I wil not therfore denie,Gouernemēt not to be diſcommended, & good princes vnderunder ye Image of the beaſte. that ſins the Empire of the weſte was renewed. that is to ſaie, ſins the Image of the beaſt was ſette vp, theſe ſeuen hondreth yeres, they hauehave many times gouerned ſo, that it hath eaſely appered yt god hath wrought the helth of his people in the gouernementes. Daniel figured by beaſtes the foure Monarchies of the worlde, whiche neuertheles ſuppoſed not that al their Princes were beaſtes, nother condemned he al Princes, neither thought that there hath bene or ſhould be no good thing in them, although the moſt parte were moſte corrupted. There were founde in the olde Romane beaſte (to ſpeake nothynge in the meane time of the Princes of Aſſiria, Bavilon, Medes, Perſia, or Macedonie) whiche hauehave ſet forth profitable lawes, ſette in the bookes of Iuſtinian. There hauehave bene founde vnderunder that moſte cruell olde beaſte, whiche hauehave auaunced the trewe religion of Chriſte, and defended moſte erneſtely the churche of God, ſuche as before we ſayed was Conſtaunce, Conſtantine, Theodoſe, and diuerſe others: whiche come all vnderunder the nombre of the Empire, but not of the beaſte, but in as muche as the beaſte ſignifieth the Empire. So maye there be founde Princes vnderunder the Image of the beaſte not a fewe, whiche hauehave bothe ſet forth holeſome lawes, and hauehave imployde greate benefites vponupon mankynde: as hauehave done Charles, Lewis and Lotharie of Saxon and others. Notwithſtanding that thei themſelues in many thinges cannot be allowed of the godly. There are founde emonges the later kinges of the newe Empire, whiche in power and maieſtie were not muche vnlike the olde, in vertues not muche behinde them, but in certen thinges egall. There are founde whiche hauehave aſſayed to pourge thempire from Popiſhe corruptions, and to bryng the Popes vnderunder Corum: but with no great or good ſucceſſe. For what the Otthones, Henrickes, Lodouickes, Friderickes, briefly many Frenche Princes, Saxones, Sweuians, Bauarians, and of Auſtrich hauehave ben, many notable teſtimonies of hiſtories do reporte: which teſtifie that certen Kinges both of Fraunce and of other realmes alſo, hauehave not bowghed their knees to this Baal: or if thei hauehave done at any time, yet hauehave they repented, and hauehave ſhewed ſome token at the leeſte wiſe, wherby the wiſe might perceiue, that they ſet not much by that beaſte.
Holy men are excuſed & excepted.Here therfore are to be excuſed al holy and excellent men, which hauehave liued in the whole courſe of time, wherein the Image of the beaſte erected hath reigned. And I meane Emperours, Kinges, Princes, Biſhops, States, Cities, & people of the empire and other realmes, whiche liued, but yet were not vnderunder the vnhappie image of the beaſte: for becauſe they offered not themſelues to the ſprete of the beaſte to be therof moued and gouerned: nother hauehave ſpoken expreſſely, that thing whiche the beaſte gaue to ſpeake: but rather hauehave ſpoken againſt the beaſt, and hauehave much miſlyked his doyngs. Therfore as I hauehave not compriſed in the olde Monarchies, and namely in the olde Romane beaſte, the godly prynces and good gouernement, nother hauehave condemned them of beaſtialitie, (if I maye ſo terme it) ſo nowe nother in bayting the Image of the beaſte, do I confounde the good and godly princes and people, and their gouernement not euill with the corrupte doynges of Antichriſt. For euer I excepte moderate and profitable empires, honeſte men and godly, how ſo euer they liue vnderunder the Image of the beaſte, yet not after the inſpiration of the beaſt or falſe prophet.
A prophecie is to be expounded after ye cō ſideration of thinges & times.Hereunto I adioyne this alſo, that thempire was not ſodenly eſtabliſſhed after the will and pleaſure of the Biſſhop, but by diuerſe ſpaces of times, ſondry attēptes, and trayſons innumerable: therfore at the length it was deuolued to an extremitie of corruption, and as I may ſaye, beſtialitie. Wherby it appereth that the prophecie of S. Iohn, is to be applied to the thinges themſelues, and to the times, after the ſtate, malliciouſenes and corruption of eueryevery thing & time. That ſame is moſte certayne, and by comon conſente of all hiſtoriographers playnely teſtified, that in Charles the greate, through the meanes of Pope Leo the thirde, thempire in the weſte decayed was renewed: and that thus the image of the beaſte, that is to witte, of the Romane Empire, was erected. And albeit that at this time thempire decayed in the weſte was reſtored by the Pope: yet is it euidēt, that the Popes in the beginning of this Empire by certen donatiōs and giftes much in riched, did not as yet vſe ſo greate power, as they vſurped to themſelues afterwarde, when they had ouerthrowen and depoſed certen Emperours. For al though the donatiō ſeme to be made by king Pipine, and the pope is red than to hauehave receiued the beginning of his kingdome: yet that he was ſubiecte to Emperours and kings with the Citie of Rome alſo, this ſame emōges other thinges proueth, that in the French Cronicles of the Actes of king Charles in ye yere of our lord eight hōdreth and one, thus it is founde written: afterwarde hauyng ſet in order the matters of the citie and Biſhoppe of Rome, and of al Italie (therefore did Italy than alſo obey the Emperour) not only publicke, but alſo (marke) eccleſiaſticall and priuate (for all the winter themperour did nothing els) departing frō Rome with his ſonne Philip he came to Spolet. The ſame authour in the Actes of the yere eight hōdreth and 16. Stephen, ſayeth he, elected in the place of Leo the .3. taketh as greate iourneyes as he could to come to the Emperour, ſendyng in the meane time two Ambaſſadours which might treate with themperour (Ludouicus pius) for his conſecratiō. So likewiſe in thactes of the yere eight hondreth and .17. is ſhewed howe Paſchalis beyng choſen ſente an Ambaſſade to Lewis the Emperour. In thactes of the yere .823. the ſame Biſhop ſtode at the examination and iudgement of themperour. You maye finde in thactes of the next yere that themperour Lotharie eſtabliſſhed the matters of Italy and Rome. Yet doeth the ſame authour againe make mention of the donation of King Pipine, which gaue to S. Peter Rauenna, and Pentapolis and all the gouernemente. Yet doeth he make no mention of the donation other of Charlemaygne, or of Ludouicus pius. The .43. diſtinct. maketh mention thereof. I Lewis. &c. in the gloſe is written thus. There Lewis geueth Rome and diuerſe other thinges to S. Peter and to Paſchale the Pope. All hiſtoriographers in maner make mention of the donation of the Kinges of Fraunce. An Abridgement of all gathereth out of the librarie Dolaterane in the third boke of Geographie, in the actes of Pipine and Charles. Wherby ye maye eaſely coniecture, what maner of Canon is ſet forth in the .96. diſtinct. in theſe wordes. Conſtantine the Emperour hath geuen and graunted to the Apoſtolical See the Crowne and all the Emperiall dignitie is the Citie of Rome and in Italy, and in the weſte partes. Which by and by after he diſcourſeth with a longe expoſition out of the life of S. Siluerſter, wrytten (as they ſaye) by Gelaſius, in the chapt. followynge. But Antony Byſſhoppe of Florence denieth in his Hiſtory, that this donation doeth remayne in any olde bokes. Cuſanus and Laurence Valla hauehave impugned the ſame: nother hath Ottho Biſſhoppe of Friſyng in the .3. chapt. of the .4. booke of his ſtorie, nor Marſilius Pataninus in the defence of peace, nor Raphael Volaterane allowed the ſame, nor many mo that I coulde reherſe. Moreouer in the Cronicles of Kinges of Fraunce, ſet before the ſtory of Paulus Aemilius of the actes of Kinges of Fraunce in the yere. 755. thus you maye reade: Pipine agayne entred into Italy, and Aiſtulphus ſubdued, he gaue giftes to Maximus Biſſhop of Rome, alſo the Dukedom of Rauenna of very great lādes, leeſte any man ſhould vnthankefully & vniuſtely take awaye this larges from the French Kinges, aſcribyng to themperour Conſtantine, which Pipine gaue to the church of Rome, agaynſt the wil of the Greke Emperour affirming the ſame poſſeſſions to be the right of the Empire. From thence Pipine firſt receiued and brought into Fraunce the Eccleſiaſticall rites of the Romanes and ceremonies of ſonges.Thempire conueyed from the Frenchmē to the Germenes. &c.
Howebeit the gouernement of thempire Charles poſteritie was not very ſtable and permanent. For from the firſte yere of Charles, wherein he was created Emperour, vntounto the ſeuenth yere of Conrade, whiche was Nephewe to Lewis the .3. by his Brother, the laſte of the houſe of Charles are accompted aboute an hondreth and .19. yeres. For Charlemaigne reigned Emperour .14. yeres, Lewis .26. Lotharius .15. Lewis the ſeconde .21. Charles two yeres, Caluus ſurnamed the ſeconde Charles. .3. Craſſus. .12. Arnulphe .12. Lewis the .3.10. Conrade .7. Conrade liyng on his death bed nominateth Kinge, Henry Duke of Saron ſurnamed Falconer. And thus was the Empire tranſlated to the Germanes. This Henry called the firſte, came neuer in Italy, neuer was conſecrate or crowned of the Pope. His Sonne Ottho, the firſte of that name, ſente for in Italy, is red to hauehave gone thither with a greate Armie, beyng receyued at Rome, and ſaluted of the people Emperour and Auguſte. Ottho Friſinge in the .6. boke of Hiſtories the .17. chapt. affirmeth out of the decrees, that Pope Leo the .8. of that name did cōſecrate this Ottho the firſte King of Germanes. For his father Henry refuſed it, Albert Krantz in the .10. and .11. chapt. of the fourth booke of Saxon matters, affirmeth that Pope Leo made a ſurrender of all ſuche thinges as the Popes had receyued of the kinges of Fraunce, and the authour defendeth this ſurrender made to be trewe. Howebeit the keper of the Librarie teſtifieth, that Ottho confirmed the donatian of the kinges of Fraunce, Pipine, Charles, and his ſonnes. There remayneth morouer in the decrees a copie of the othe, the .43. diſtinct. wherby kyng Ottho bindeth him ſelf to the Pope, that he ſhall intermeddle with nothyng that cōcerneth the Pope and the Romanes: ſecondely that he ſhal reſtore al the landes of S. Peter that ſhal come into his handes. Which thing let the reader iudge what they are.
Shortely after this time, about the yere of our lord .996.Electours They ſaye how by the decree of Pope Gregory the .5. and by the conſent of Ottho the .3. Emperour, the ſeuē princes Electours were aſſigned, vntounto whō the defence of the church (as ſayeth Wimpelingius) and the Romane Empire was committed. In the whiche thing all Hiſtoriographers and wryters doe agree, and that of the Italianes Blondus, Platina, Sabellicus, Volaterane, Egn…tius and others: of Germanes, Albertus, Nauclerus, Carion, Functius, and certen others: diuerſe hauehave made no mention of this ordinaunce. Wherefore Auentinus in the .5. booke of Cronicles Folio .510.707. ſayeth that he knoweth (I can not tel how certēly) that after the death of Fridericke the .2. the Electours were inſtituted, and confirmed of Gregory the .10. But how ſo euer that matter ſtandeth, certayne it is that there hath ben many amonge the ſeuen princes electours both feruent and earneſte in true religion, and excellent in all kinde of vertues, and eſpecially the ſeculars as they tearme them, who hath muche miſliked the tiranny and impietie of the Popes of Rome, in ſo muche that they hauehave ſtoutely oftentimes withſtande them. Our age doubtles is muche bounde to this order or ſtate, that a good parte of the preachyng of the holy goſpel is reformed, the which both they with other princes of Germany moſte worthie of praiſe do (by Gods inſpiration) valiaūtly againſt the furies of Antichriſt defende and mantayne. The Lord increaſe in them, & in other godly Princes through the whole world his giftes, and mercifully kepe and preſerue thē. But to returne to the proſis and order of the Hiſtorie, certayne it is, that immediately after Gregory the .5. the Deuill inuaded the ſee of Rome. Nother could Platina diſſemble this thing, a writer of Popes liues knowen to all men,See what he ſayeth of Popes in the life of Sylueſter .3. which hath very fauourably ſpared his lordes and maiſters, and many times hath couered their abominable actes: yet writyng of the ſucceſſour of Gregory the .5. Silueſter the .2. ſayeth he, before called Gilberte, a Monke of Florey, forſakyng his monaſterie, followed the Deuil, vntounto whom he gaue him ſelf whole. And by and by he addeth: Gilbert moued with Ambition, and a deueliſh deſire to rule, through briberie gote firſte the Archbiſſhopricke of Reyns, after of Rauenna, and after with greater ſuite, the Deuill furtheryng him, he obteyned to be pope: yet vnderunder this cōdicion, that after his death he ſhould be the Deuilles wholy. &c. He that would knowe the full ſtory, and abridgement taken out of Antoninus, The See of Rome vtterly corrupted.Nauclerus and others, lette him reade the .9. boke of Funccius Cronicles, vnderunder the yere .998. Beno a Cardinall ſuppoſeth at this time to be fulfilled thoſe thouſande yeres, after the which, the Deuill breakyng lowſe, beganne agayne to rage in the worlde. Wherof ſhall followe certen thinges in the .20. chapt. of this booke. Notwithſtandyng I ſhall not refuſe to gather here certen thinges out of this Benone Cardinall, and briefly to recite them here for the declaration of our matter.
Therefore Beno in the life, and actes of Hildebrande, The mallice of the Popes vexyng the emperourscalled Gregory the .7. one Gerbertus which had infected the citie with ſorcerie, (ſayeth he) after the thouſand yeres fulfilled coming vp out of the botōleſſe pitte of Gods permiſſion, was Pope 4. yeres, and chaungyng his name, was called Silueſter the 2. And after Gilberte the yere .25. (I ſuppoſe it ſhould be red .32. And howe they reigned theſe yeres Stories teſtifie, and that very euyl Theophilactus his ſchollar atchieued the ſeate violently, called Benedict the .9. He had a dere frende and priuie to all his doynges one Gratiane, Archeprieſte of S. Iohn porte latin. VntoUnto whome Hildebrande a Monke of Cluney, forſakyng his abbeye, did familiarely cleaue, and became a familiar frende of his. But Benedict fearyng him ſelfe, ſolde his ſeate to Gratiane Maiſter of Hildebrande, receiuyng of him fiue hondred thouſande poūdes, which promoted to the office was called Gregory the .6. Neuertheleſſe they had ſhortly a thirde Pope, Sabinus, and he was called Silueſter the .3. Themperour therefore Henry the .2. a godly man, valeaunt, wiſe and ſtoute, goyng to Rome, to pourge the church (for as yet the Biſſhoppes vſed not full authoritie) compelled Benedicte or Theophilacte the Magician to flee, caſt Gregory in pryſon, and ſent a waye Silueſter to his olde Biſſhoprike: And he holdyng a Counſell, placed the Biſſhop of Bamberge, whom he called Clement, in the ſeate, of whome alſo he receyued the crowne. And he brought Gregory with his diſciple Hildebrande with him into Germany. In the meane time Benedict retournyng to Rome from flight, vexeth Clement, and with much inchauntynge infecteth the Citie: and by letters receyued from Hildebrande out of Germany, he learneth what is done in the Emperours court. Gregory dieth there in priſon, and lefte Hildebrande his heire both of his falſe packyng and of his monie. Clement dieth alſo. Whom Damaſus the .2. ſuccedeth immediately, but ſtreight wayes poiſoned: by reaſon of the tumulte that was in the citie, the Emperour ſendeth Bruno (Biſſhoppe of Tully, commen of the noble houſe of the Erles of Holſt) a worthy mā. Here Beno annexeth: in whoſe trayne through the ouer much ſufferaūce of the Emperour. Hildebrande was permitted to retourne: by this permiſſion to ſubuerte bothe the Biſſhoprycke and Empire vnderunder pretence of religion. And this Beno herein was a trewe prophet, whiche ſayeth thus alſo in the ſtorie of Hildebrande: and telling Bruno many things, by the waie crepte into his fauour: and as ſone as he came to Rome, obteyned of him, that he was made one of the kepers of S. Peters Aultar. And in a ſhorte time he filled his coffers. And he alſo recōciled his olde Lord and maiſter Benedicte, fayning repentaunce diſceiptfully to Leo the .9. (for ſo Bruno beyng made Pope was called) and through the counſell of Benedicte, otherwiſe called Theophilacte, he armed Leo agaynſt the Normannes, and betrayed him vntounto them. The Germanes therefore ſlayne by treaſon, ſcarſely the Pope all deſolate eſcaped. This ſayeth Beno. And certē it is that this Monke Hildebrande, Gregory the .7.from that time forewarde aſpired to gette the ſeate: and in the meane time whileſt it was gouerned of others, he incenſed and ruled the Popes, as Leo the .9. Victour the .2. Stephen the .9. Benedicte the .10. Nicolas the .2. and Alexander the .2. But they ſmell of Hildebrandes ſtile, that are ſet forth in the name of Leo, Nicolas and Alexander. But at the length he him ſelf clome vp into the chayre, in the whiche he ſo vſed him ſelfe, that no man vnleſſe he were ſtarke blinde but might ſee, that his deueliſh gouernement, hath requited moſt aboūdantly Henry the .4. the ſonne of Henry the thirde, his fathers cariyng of him into Germany. And he beganne openly, and impudently to take vponupon him the power of the emperour. Nother can it be tolde at fewe wordes, in what deteſtable wiſe this beaſte did afflicte bothe the Emperour and empire, al the while he was Pope, for the ſpace of .12. whole yeres. An Abridgement of that ſtory hath Iohn Functius compiled in the .10. boke, vnderunder the yere of our Lorde .1074.
Diuerſe opinions of Gregory the .7.I know that Platina, and many Italian wryters yea and ſome Germanes alſo doe highly cōmende the religion and vertues of this Gregory the .7. by the whiche thyng the Popiſhe tiranny, vnderunder the pretence of religion is wonderfully augmented and confirmed, and many blynded. Yet is it comen to paſſe agayne through the grace of God, that men of graue authoritie, religion and vertues, hauehave fayre and wel plucked of the viſure from this beaſte. Therefore hauehave Synodes and Counſelles not to be cōtemned condemned this Gregory: and firſt in dede the Coūſell of Mentz, wherein were 19. famous Byſhopes. Than was aſſembled at Brixia a Synode of .30. Biſſhoppes, and of the moſte parte of the nobles of Germany & of Italy. There was alſo a Counſell aſſembled at Wormz, where Kinge Henry beyng preſente, all the Germane Biſhoppes (excepte they of Saxonie) depoſed the Pope from his function. The Epiſtles and fragmentes of theſe Coūſelles are founde in the Cronicles of Verſpergenſ.-chiefly. He is accuſed by theſe openly of all wickednes and vngodlines, of Hypocriſie and crueltie. We hauehave reherſed a little before, what Cardinall Benno, a wryter of his time, hath committed to wrytinge. There remayne alſo teſtimonies of Sigiſbert, an olde wryter, concernynge this Pope. Who ſo will maye reade the .5. booke of Auentinus, from the .162. and ſo forth: And alſo the preface of the .6. booke. The ſame Authour in the .7. booke reportynge the wordes of Eberharde Biſſhoppe of Saliſburge, had in the Counſell of Regenſpurge. Hildebrande, ſayeth he, 170. yeres ſins vnderunder pretence of religion, layde firſte the foundation of Antitichriſtes kingedome. This wycked warre he him ſelfe firſte beganne, whiche by his ſucceſſours is continewed hitherto. Firſte they hauehave excluded the Emperour from the Popes election, and referred the ſame to the people and prieſtes of Rome. After, they alſo mocked, & thruſte out, they goe about now alſo to bring vsus in ſubiection & bondage, to thintent thei might reigne alone. And the things that follow. But ye thing it ſelf declareth, that there hauehave not liued many Popes more bolde and impudent than this, whiche hauehave auaunced more highly the maieſtie of the ſeate. He excōmunicated themperour Henry the .4. and depriued him of the dignitie imperial: moreouer he ſtired vp his ſubiectes agaynſte hym, and abſolued the rebelles and traytours from their othe of fidelitie: and he him ſelfe like a Monarke, gaue the Crowne of the Empire vntounto others at his pleaſure. The powre therefore and Treaſoure of the Empire hath be ſo worne and waſted what wyth ciuile, and what wyth foreyne warres, that theſe many yeres nowe the kinges of Almaigne hauehave neyther ben able to recouer their force, nor yet to reſiſte the moſt arrogaunt tiranny of Popes: And thus at the laſte the Pope is become a Monarch, and Emperours, Kinges and and Princes are made their Clientes and wardes.
When Gregory the .7. was dead there ſucceded .4. Mōkes of Hildebrandes ſecte and faction, of his maners & kankred nature, as it were heires and ſonnes that go nothing out of kinde, Victor the .3. Vrbane the .2. Paſchal the .2. And Gelaſius the .2.Anno. 1119 Paſchalis cauſed the ſonne Henry the .5. (oh wicked and deteſtable parricidie) to warre agaynſt the father, that miſerable Henry the .4. And ſhortely alſo, Gelaſius the .2. and Calliſtus the .2. do excōmunicate alſo Henry the .5. And ceaſe not to vexe this prince alſo, till they had wronge out of his hādes the gifte or electiō of Biſſhopperickes.The gifte of Biſhoprikes takē frō themperours. And that to the great and ineſtimable profit of the See of Rome: and to the vnrecouerable loſſe of Germany, &c. Theſe thinges are deſcribed more at large of Vrſpergenſ. in the Cronicle of the yere .1122.
In the times followyng, the audacitie, & power of Popes increaſing hourely, the Germane kinges hauehave reſiſted them ſtoutely enough, but yet with ſmall ſucceſſe. Where in the meane ſeaſon we muſt remembre the wordes of the Lord, vttered by Daniel, ſaiyng: and there ſhall arriſe a Kinge of a ſhameles face, and vnderſtanding propoſitions, & his ſtrēgth ſhall be fortfied, but not in his owne force: and it can not be beleued howe he wil diſtroye al thinges, and he ſhal proſper, and do. &c.
the tirāny of Popes againſt emperours. Anno. 1178I wil touche therfore in fewe wordes, what thinges in the times followyng Popes hauehave attempted agaynſte kinges, and boldely done for the eſtabliſſhyng of their Empire and Monarchie. Pope Alexander the .3. did excommunicate Fridericke the .1. called Barbarouſſe, & trode him vnderunder his fete. And where the good Prince ſayed, how he ſheweth this obedience to S. Peter: the beaſte exclamed, ſettyng him ſelfe alſo before Peter, and ſayed, both to me and to Peter, and ſtamped on him: Pope Innocentius the .3. coulde not abide, much leſſe allowe Philippe the ſonne of Fridericke, Anno. 1189created Emperour: but commaunded the electours, to chouſe an other, I meane Ottho Duke of Saxon, whome notwithſtandyng ſhortely after he excommunicated alſo. That proude beaſt ſayed, that he would take from Philippe the emperial crowne, or loſe his Apoſtolicke Miter. VntoUnto this Innocent are aſcribed thoſe moſt proude wordes, which are red in the decretal of Gregory the .9. de Elect. in the .6. title .34. chapt. on this wiſe: that the princes hauehave right and authoritie to chouſe a king, and afterwarde to auaūce him to be Emperour, we acknowledge, as we ought, as to whome of righte and auncient cuſtome it is knowē to appertayne: eſpecially ſins that ſuch right and authoritie came vntounto them from the Apoſtolicall Seate: which tranſlated the Romane Empire frō the Grekes to the Germanes in the perſone of greate Charles.See howe thei vſurpe all power to themſelues. Howbeit the Princes muſt know agayne, that the right and authoritie to examine the perſon choſen kyng, and to be promoted to the empire, belongeth vntounto vsus, which do annoincte, conſecrate and crowne him, &c. The ſame in the firſt boke the .33. Titl. de maior. & obedient. Wryting to the Emperour Conſtantine. So much diuerſitie, ſayeth he, as there is betwixte the ſunne and the Mone, ſo great a difference is there betwene Popes and Kinges, in Gods name.
But the Emperour Fridericke the .2.Fridericke the .2. well langaged. Nephewe to Barbarouſſe, an excellent prince, many Popes did excommunicate: Honorius the .3. Gregory the .9. and Innocentius the .4. And in dede Gregory the .9. whileſt Fridericke that excellent Prince made warre in Syria for religion with the Soldane, inuaded and kept the prouinces of Fridericke. An. 1227. 1228. 1247.There were moſt cruell warres and diſcordes betwixte the Popes and this Fridericke. The ſame Innocentius the .4. excommunicateth Conrade the .4. of that name, and Sonne of Fridericke the .2. and ſtireth vp the Prince of Thuringe agaynſt him. And when the Emperour Conrade was dead, the Pope obteyned the good willes of the Neapolitanes, to yelde themſelues to the See of Rome. Conrade had lefte a Sonne and heire Conradine, and Manfrede his baſtarde brother, whiche would be called king of Sicilie. Wherefore Pope Vrbane the fourth (ſome hauehave Clement the .4.) agaynſte Manfrede ſente for Charles, brother to kinge Lewis the Frenche kynge, Erle of Prouince and of Saunte, to come with an Armie into Italy,Anno. 1263 and called him King of both Sicilies. Who ouercome and ſlewe Manfred at Beneuent, & receiued the kingdomes of Sicilie of the Pope to do him homage. But Conradinus Duke of Swauelande, accō panied with Fridericke Duke of Auſtrich leadeth out of Germany a right wel furniſhed Armie into Italy againſt Charles for the recoueryng of his olde and fatherly kingdome. But vanquiſſhed of Charles at the lake Fucine, he was taken with duke Fridericke. Anno. 1266There were ſlaine, as it is ſaied .12. thouſand. The occaſion of ſo greate an euill were the Popes, chiefly Clement the .4. which beyng demaunded of Charles the worthie Prince, what he ſhould do with his priſoners, aunſwered ſo, that the Frenche men vnderſtode that they muſt ſuffer. Therfore he put them both to the ſworde. In whome the houſe and poſteritie of the moſte noble Dukes of Auſtriche and Swauelande is ſayde to hauehave failed. Paulus Aemilius diſcourſeth this gere more at large in the .7. booke of Frenche Actes, and Auentinus in the .7. booke. But yet might not the Ire and furie of thoſe moſte holy fathers be ſo pacified, conceiued hereof, that the moſt noble Dukes of Swauelande had for gods glory and the comon welthes ſake, moſt godly and moſt conſtantly reſiſted the Romiſh Biſſhoppes, Wolues I would hauehave ſaied.
Thempire made deſolate.But theſe Parricidies and blouddy warres diſpleaſed all good mē eueryevery where, and chiefly the wiſe and godly Princes, ſo that they vnderſtode how they muſt eſchew that Empire and flee from it as from the plage: as the which was not only but a ſhaddowe, but moreouer would vtterly conſume his yerely reuenewes and treaſour, which ſhould receiue the office. For now was it knowen through out the world, what the moſte valeaunt and excellent Princes of Germany had nowe about .119. yeres, from Henry the .4. to the Sonnes of Fridericke the .2. ſuffered of the bolde ambition, and vncredible mallice of the Popes: and that many of them had loſte both their liues with their auncient kingdomes, and their …ibertie moſt excellent of all.
And here was thempire with out any Emperour for certē yeres: which I am wont to cal a deſolation of the kingdome or Empire. For the Popes with their inuincible and intollerable pryde and tyrannie had ſo weakened the force of the Emperours, that the empire ſemed ſubuerted & deſtroyed: nother coulde there any be eaſely founde, which ded ſet by it, or thoughte it worthie to be deſyred. At the laſte at the commaundement of Gregory the .10. which helde a Counſell at Lions, was choſen Counte Rodulph of Abſpurg: which although he forſoke not the thing offered, yet being oft requeſted to come to Rome, is ſayed to hauehave aunſwered: the waywarde ſteppes of fete do feare me ſore, meaning by this dixaine, that he truſted not the Popes, which by their craftes had deſtroyed both many Prences of Germanie, and alſo innumerable people comming to Rome. And this Rafe is red to hauehave ben crowned Kyng in the yeare of our Lorde .1273. the .200. yeare after Gregory the .7. And ſo longe time laſted the fight of Popes and Emperours. A little whyle after, whyleſte Alberte the ſonne of Rafe was choſen Emperoure, and the election was referred to Boniface the .8. of that name, he ſtoutely reiected the ſame, and ſhewed by and by in word and dede, that he was both Pope and Emperour, which by right had both ſwordes. Which I expounded in the .58. ſermon, & the ſame doth Albert Krantz declare excedingly well in the .8. boke .36. ch. of Saxon matters. In the place of King Albert, was ſubſtituted Henry Prince of Lucemburge. But what authoritie ouer him & thempire chalēged Clement the .5 pope, he that liſt, may know of the Clemētines. For there is a long treatiſe therof in the .2. boke .9. tit. I could alſo rehearce many other lyke things of pope Ihon the .22. and of others, if I ded not thinke it ſuperfluouſe.
For of theſe things which I hauehave reherſed hitherto,The proprietie of kingdomes is the popes, but the vſe of Kings and Princes. it appereth ſufficiētly, that the popes thēſelues by a miſcheuouſe boldnes, hauehave takē to thēſelues thempire, do boaſt thēſelues for monarkes, do abuſe the ſeruice & miniſterie of kinges, as their wards & cliētes: yet to pretend the name of ſōnes, to the intent thei may hauehave them the more obediēt. For ſo in times paſt wrote Gregory the .7. to Geuſas king of Hongary: which place read in the .17. chap. of this boke, the ſermō .75. yet vnderſtād we in the meane time yt the greteſt part of Princes & Nobles hauehave not knowen ye ſame beaſt, but hauehave rather impugned him, & therfore not to come in ye nombre of the beaſt, but in aſmuch as they lyued vnderunder the Empire, yet eſtraunged farre from the beaſte.
By this I woulde hauehave them aunſwered, which wyll exclame and ſaie: who can take it in good parte to hauehave the holy Empire called the Image of the beaſt, and ſo many noble Kings and Princes, Cities and people praiſe worthie? But I nother oughte nor wyll chaunge the manner of ſpeakinge which the ſcripture vſeth. They be the Lordes woordes all, which Daniell in oulde tyme, and nowe Ibon, hauehave reuealed to vsus: but I maie excepte and excuſe, ſuch as are excuſed by the teſtimonie of ſcripture. The way is ready & briefe: whoſoeuer wyll be free from the beaſte, let him take hede that he be not inſpired withe the Popes ſpirite: and that he ſpeake not and doe, that the Pope commaūdeth againſt godlynes. Let him rather be ruled with the ſpirite of Chriſt: and ſo ſhal it come to paſſe, that dwelling in the middes of Babilon, he ſhal not lyue after the iniquities of Babilon, but in the Kingdome of Chriſte.
They that ſhall not worſhip ye beaſte ſhalbe ſlainIt foloweth: and the beaſt ſhal cauſe, that whoſoeuer ſhal not worſhip the Image of the beaſt, ſhall be ſlayne. And it is all one offence, to worſhip that oulde beaſte, and to worſhip the Image of the newe beaſte. Of the worſhipping of him, I hauehave ſpoken a little before. Therfore doe they worſhippe the Image of the beaſte, which admitte the decrees, and thoſe ordinaunces of the ſeate and Empire, ſpeaking the inſpiration of the beaſte: which allowe the Romiſh religion, which fall to the kyſſing of the fee…e, and ſhew themſelues in all things obedient chyldren of the ſeate, and are faithfull to the popiſh Empire. Nowe yf any wyll not be ſuche a one, and woulde be content with Chriſtianitie, would abhorre Rome the ſeat of the beaſt, and deteſt the Image of ye beaſt, he lyke a church robber and traytour, is iudged vnworthie of lyfe. There is a Canon in the .5. boke of Decret. the .7. tit of heret. Wherein withoute any circumſtaunce of wordes, Lucius the thirde of that name, determyneth playnelye, that heretykes are ſtrycken with an euerlaſtinge curſe, whoſoeuer beleue and teache otherwyſe of the Sacraments, than the church of Rome beleueth and teacheth. He commaundeth moreouer, that ſuch beynge depryued of all dignitie, ſhall be committed to the iudgement of the ſecular powers, to be puniſhed with dewe correction. But yf the temporall maieſtrate wyll not puniſh, & ſo defend the church, that than he ſhal be alſo depriued of al honour, &c. But why do I tary in rehearſyng theſe thinges? All men at this daie knowe and ſee, what thynges are done daylie. They are condemned, exiled, excomunicated, ſhut vp in priſons, vexed with ſondrie tourments, at the length alſo cruelly ſlayne, whoſoeuer ſhall refuſe to worſhippe both the beaſte and his Image. The Lorde Ieſus, the true Kyng and Byſhoppe of his church ſuccour vsus, and reſtrayne the crueltie of the vngraciouſe beaſte. Amen.