AFter this, the Prophet sawe a visi­on, concerning the beginning, con­tinuance, and fall of th'Empire and supremacye of Rome. And this vision was she wed him in the dayes of Artaxerxes King of Persia, about 400. yeares before the firste stone of her Empire was laide. In. Caesar.

And behold, there arose from the Sea an Eagle,

And there arose among the Nations, [Page] the fierce and fearefull Kingdome and Empire of Rome, seene in vision by the Prophet Daniel, some few yeares before.

Which had 12. fethered winges.

Wherein should arise and reigne 12. Emperors, which shuld spred their power like winges ouer all the earth, in great feare sitting on it. And it seemed good vn­to the Prophet to touch by an intellection these 12. only, both for they are a Lewrye sufficient to argue the whole suite of Em­perors which did arise and raigne in her; as also because they only were natiue Ro­mans, descended of the Iulii, Seruii, Sal­uii, Flauii, &c. vnlike therein vnto the rest, which were all (or almost all) like change­able stuffe of diuers colours, so of diuers Nations, Their rising, continuance, and end, is toucht in their proper place.

And three heads.

Her three heads are three Kingdomes, fore-ordained to vpholde and maintayne [Page] the power of her pride, when al her wings and feathers should faile her. And are re­serued to execute her last will, and finishe her funerals, as shalbe here after more at full declared.

By the windes, are meant, her prospe­rous and happie successe in all her procee­dings. And of necessitie it must goe well with her, whom euery winde doth blowe to good. Witnes the limits of her terri­tories, from Ganges to Gades; and from the Scithian sea vnto the Cape of hope: as testi­fieth one of her own, which saith: that she extended her tents, to the borders of the Ocean, and the feare of her name vnto the heauens.

And the Prophet saw, that among the Princes and gouernors which ruled in her, ther arose and grew vp certain Kings, which were contrary vnto her, marking such as intended to root vp the crown and dignitie of her Empire, to plant them­selues therin, and their house for euer. But their thoughts preuailed not, for as the verse concludeth, their power waned, and they perishedlike the reste what those con­trary Kings were? their number, names, attempts and end, shalbe deliuered in their place.

But the three kingdomes fore-apoin­ted t'accomplish and finish the wickednes [Page] of this great Citie, were quiet and at rest, as not yet (during the reigne of her fe­thers) conceaued and brought forth. And the Prophet obserued that th'one of those Kings was greater in power then both his fellowes, yet rested it with them. Concer­ning these three Kings, their names, their greatnes, and al that appertaineth, shalbe spoken in due place.

And the Prophet beheld, that this proud citie flew with her Emperors and Legions ouer al her neighbors, fubiecting al the dwellers on earth vnder her, in such sort, as there was not a Nation or People [Page] to be found vnder heauen, that was not either rooted out by her, or inforced to re­ceiue their Gouernors from her.

And the Prophet obserued, that this powerful Citie, in the daies wherein (ouer­gorged with pride) she stood vpon terms ofher counsell and armes, tooke such or­der (for in euill she was very methodicall) that her Kings and Kaysers, shuld neither sleepe nor watch, that is, neither perishe nor rule all at once, but rise in a successiue course, as in the verses following is mani­fested. And she further commanded that [Page 4] the t [...]ree last Kingdoms, ordeined to con­clude the number of her sinnes, should take their ease and not awake, till their time appointed.

As hee that yndertakes a dangerous leape, doth first retire the better t'aduance his strength: so to bound fairlye ouer the darke vnderstanding of these wordes, we must of necessitie looke back and carrye before vs the true birth and perfect na­ture of this Empire: which the Prop het Daniel in his vision designeth vnder the forme of a ten-horned beast, signifying thereby, that it should be a power vpheld by a succession of many Kinges; for the hornes betoken Kings, and the number of 10. comprehends all be they neuer so ma­ny, as al numbers are contained vnder 10. or made of their reduplication be they ne­uer [Page] so infinit. And addeth further, that his teeth were of iron, his nails of brasse, in­ferring therby, th'unresistable force of his legions and Leaders. And proceding saith, that ther arose amongst his Kings, one of an exceeding strange nature, signifying by that one, a strange race and succession of Princes, far differing in shape & forme of regiment from al their predecessors, obtaining dominion not byiron teeth and brasen nails, as did th'Emperors which arose before them, but by disceit and by a mouth which spake presumptuous things against the most High, blaspheming his name, his Tabernacle, and them that dwel in heauen, who by hidden and vnknown force, should subdue the third part of the world, meaning, al Europe with her Princ­es. By which deliniation, it is euident, that the Holy-ghost accounteth the chalenged prerogatiue and supremacie of Rome, al one power, al one Empire, whether it ob­taine the spoile by force, or by fraude, that is, by power of Emperors, or craft of Popes, who should be far vnlike them, as Daniel him-selfe saith; And he shalbe Chap. 7. 24 vnlike to the first. Mening in forme of clai­ming, [Page 5] obtaining, and mainteining Iuris­diction, not in pride, purpose and deter­mination. So as we may behold such an vnlikely likenes between them, as was be­tweene the two Sisters, of whome it is said.

And thus much concerning the Pro­phet Daniels description of th'Empire of Rome; whence we note, that the same power which Daniel ther describeth by a beast with hornes, teeth & nails: our Pro­phet here doth deliniat by an Egle, with wings, fethers and heads; whose imperial wings after they were so clipt, as she could no longer fly ouer al in her proper colors, and stile of Roma triomfante; de­uised how by disceit she might vphold her throne (for to be high was al her care) and found nothing so fit as to disguise her self, and chalenge prelation vnder the maske of Roma la Santa. And this is it which this Verse teacheth, that when the sinfull Citie saw her feathers so pluckt, as the feare of her armes and forces, might no longer flye in­to [Page] all kingdomes, commanding them vn­der the pàine of Imperium Romanum: Ly­ing by meanes of this distres, verye weake and in danger of faling, her counsell and bodie politique, deuised by lyes & witch­crafte (wherein was all her pleasure from her youth) to restore the supremacye and honor of her name, vnder the colour of Ecclesia Dei.

Wherin this race of presumptuous horns excelled the sinne of all the hornes that foretime ruled in her, for they, as in whom Satan dwelt but literally, did but in open hostilitie fight against the highest, setting before him a god made of a wicked man, whose fathers bloud cryeth out for ven­geance night and daye, whose bedfellowe was & Soror & coniux, and whose wife was id quod dicere nolo. But this race of presumptuous and deceitfull Kinges, as in whome Satan dwelleth spirituallye, in a hidden treasure of blasphemy, sets vp the Highest against himselfe, and vnder the visar of the Church, and the name of God, blasphemeth his Sanctuary, and the Lord thereof. No meruaile then, tho she and Syon be at ods, for as golde can bodye it [Page 6] selfe with any mettall liquisiable, latten excepted, which notwithstanding in out­ward face and shew of all mettals is most like vnto it: so, no Church is more capi­tall enemie to the true Church, then shee, who in outward gesture, grace and coun­tenance, is likest like the chaste and virgin spouse, and is indeed a whore.

In the third verse of this Chapter, the Prophet made mention of these contrary fethers, which in their thoughts conspirde to raise their house with the ruins of Rome. And heere proceedeth more perti­cularly to declare their number, foretel­ling there should be eight of them, whom we will heere call out by name, that if oc­casion serue, wee maye the better knowe them. The first were West-gothes, vn­der 1 the leading of Alaricus. The second 2 Hunns, whose King was Attalas. The [Page] third Vandals, their head, Genserick. The 3 fourth Odoacer. The fift East-gothes, their 4 5 chiefe, Theodorick. The sixt Totilas, bred 6 in Spaine, with such followers as for those times that Country yelded. The seuenth 7 Longobards, with their guid Alboinus. The eight and last, a home conspiracie, 8 more to be fear'd (as al included diseases are most dangerous) then al the rest.

And altho many others besides these, as Radagais [...], th'Alani now called Al­mans, the Burgonians conducted by Gun­dibald, th'Vngers, Saracens, &c. were al in their time as costly enemies to th'Empire as some of these, yet none did humble the great Citie, the mother of wickednes but these eight only. And therfore the rest may not be allowed to sit at this table, but may serue to iustifie the iudgment of the Beast, which was thus wounded againe and stric­ken of al, as she had wounded and stric­kenal.

And if in reading doubt arise, how these eight fethers may be contrary to the Egle, that is, resisters of her power & dominiō, & yet be fethers of the Egle, that is, maintei­ners of the same? The answer is, that they [Page 7] were aduersaries and contrary vnto her, as she stood vpon termes of Imperium or bis­terrae: but after she had chang'd her cop­pie, and claimed supremacie vnder the cloake of Mater Ecclesia, they were for the most mainteiners of [...] pride, and be­came drunke also with her worship, as o­ther Kings and Princes of th'earth.

And thus much for their number, and names, their seuerall attempts, their pro­sperities and ende, shalbe presented in their place.

This fether here described is the first of the twelue, namely J. Caesar, who (like an ill interpreter) translated Senatum Popu­lum (que) romanum, into C [...]sarem Augustum. Whose Image, which in this verse is so liuely resembled, consis [...]th of 2. featurs▪ the first, sheweth the manner of his rising [Page] in these words.

And behold, vpon the right side there arose one feather.

Which serue in stead of art, to discouer the very true lines, and cast of his happi­nes.

For the house of Cornelii was as elo­quent as he, and Marius doubtles as good a leader as he, and Catilin as nobly borne as he, and al these arose t'inuade the com­mon-wealth, and to translate it into a Kingdome as wel as he, but none of them rose on the right side but he. And thus much for the manner of this speech; so we take this with-al, that these words (right side) in their natural and proper intent, do signifie (as through al this chap.) the surest and strongest side.

The second feature in this resemblance to be obserued, is his power, set forth in these words. And he reigned ouer all the earth.

For after he had subdued France, broken the heart of Germany, made his name knowen to England, he returned into Ita­li [...], ouerthrew the great Protector of the [Page 8] liberty S^r. Pompey and his host, in the fields of Pharsalie. And like the fire of heauen (as one of her Poets saith) with such cele­ritie drew after the reliques of that strick­en faction, both in Africa and Spaine, that in two yeres space he brought to pas, that nether citie nor creature durst opē against him: which done, he ascended into Italie, and took vpon him as Lord therof, trium­phing in the spoiles of the world, and the blood of his country.

And knowing that the name of a King (which he so much affected) was odious to the quality and nature of that People; in­uaded the gouernment vnder the maske of a perpetuel Dictator, preseruing therun­der (for he was wise aboue al the fethers) some hope of recouering their late slaine liberty, but indeed establishing a kingdom from which it could neuer redeeme it selfe againe.

But this new-borne prosperitie (as is [Page] the nature of all this worldes felicitie) la­sted but a while, for in the third yere of his Dictatorship, he was saine in the Senat, by the conspiration of 24. of whom the most both in his own (so dangerous is the name of trust) and other mens opinions, were thought his cheefest frendes, And thus was this fether blowen awaye, after it had inioyed his pleasure 56. yeres, and raigned 3. A man for letters, armes, and counsell, famous far-aboue all his succeeders, and in discreete bounty, and Princely clemencye (rare vertues in such a fortune) without controuersie, surpassing all Princes made of earth.

Next after him arose Octauius, the adopted sonne of Julius: otherwise also [Page 9] neere him in blood, as being the sonne of his neece Accia, who hauing taken re­uenge vpon the murtherers of his father, and obtained in all his warres, forreine and at home; triumphed Lord ouer all, adding to his fathers pomp (which he had bought so deer) th'honors of Parens patriae, and Augustus.

And this fether continued (as the Pro­phet saw) a long time, for it reigned Tri­umuir with Anthonie and Lepidus two yeres, & as Duumuir with Anthonie alone ten yeres, and then deuouring his fellow in a Sea-fight at Actium, reigned al alone 44. yeres.

But after it had reigned, his end also came, and (as the Prophet concludeth) he discended like the first, and appered no more. For by the treason of Liuia his wife, impatient to tarie th'inthronizing of her sonne (as is the nature of ambition the ne­rer the goal, the faster it runnes) his lin­gring soul was taken from him at Nola, in the 70. and sixth yere of his transgression, when he had reigned 20. lesse.

That we may know ther is no God like vnto the Highest, who only holdeth the measures and times of al thinges in his hand, the Prophet foresheweth, that none of the twelue should continue like to Oc­tauius, nor yet attaine vnto halfe his time: which according to the word of the Lord was accomplished; for his sonne Tiberius of al the rest reigned longest, and longer by eight yeres then any of the rest, and yet could not attaine to halfe the time of his father, which discended before him.

That God only might be honored in al his workes, and iustified when he spea­l [...].

Then stept vp Tiberius, and reigned in great abhomination, as did his fathers before him, but after a while he discen­ded also and appeered no more. No al his skil in sortilege and wisdom mathema­tical, wherunto he had sold him-self from hisyouth, could ether fore-tel or fore-warn him of Caius his nephew, by whome he was poisoned, in the 70. and 8. yere of his mortalitie, and three and twentith of his raigne.

In like so [...] (saith the [...]) [...] [Page] al the rest which of the 12. remained, suc­ [...]ely [...]se reigne and perish.

Of whome the first, in blasphemy ex­ [...]g, [...]ligula. was [...] by the Captaine of his guard, after he had sat in the chaire of the scorneful 29. yeres, and in the throne of his fathers almost 4.

The second, only wise in [...]uil, was poy­soned [...]laudins. by his incestuous wife his neece Agri [...]ina, in the 64 yere of his [...], and 14. of his reigne.

The third, a monster, deformed in life, Nero. in mariage, and end: his life scornefull to the height of his fathers, his mariage thrice more detestable, his end more vnnatural then any of th [...]rs; for after he had reigned in sinne fourteene yeres, and sinne in him eighteene more, fel by his own sword into the graue of his fathers, and in him des­ [...] the house of the Iul [...].

The fourth was of an other extraction, [...]alba. but not of a better, descended of th'anti­ent [...], rose vp la [...], but perished early; for he was 60. and 3. yeres olde before he tasted th'Empire, which he got and lost in 7. moneths.

The [...] like wise of a new house, but [...]th [...]. [Page 11] of th'old building, got possession by the bloud of his Predecessor, and by spilling his owne in three moneths and od daies, lost it againe, after he had walkte in the abhomination of his fathers, eight and thirtie yeres.

The sixt also, was new and olde, in no­thing (saue gluttony) excelling his fel­lowes, Ʋitellius. thing (saue gluttony) excelling his fel­lowes, in life and death like filthie; des­cended in the eight moneth of his tyran­nie, after he had wearied himselfe in the pleasures of Capri [...]um (wh [...] first his youth was branded) 7. and 10. yeres.

After him arose the seuenth, who Vespatian. bought the crowne with the bloud of his Mr. and ware it in base couetousnes ten yeres, but then was likewise blowen down, hauing fulfild the pleasures of 59. more.

The eight was he which executed the Titus. vengeance due to the great murtheres, th'earthly Hierusalem: who in the 40. yere of his pleasure, after he had reigned 2. yeres and so many moneths, was also blowen down, not without the suspected treason of his brother, and successor.

The ninth and last and (if it [...] pos­sible) Domitian. [Page] the worst of all, who after he had reigned in the lust of his Fathers 15. yeres, and liued therin 30. more, was mur­thered by the Gentlemen of his chamber, and beaten downe after the rest which descended before him. So that euery one of them (as this verse Prophesied) reign'd, and then appeered no more.

And the Prophet obserued and saw (after the twelue were descended) the Emperors that followed to rise, that they might rule also; and as many of them as rose on the right side, that is: in the strength and power of the twelue, did in theyr place (according to the procla­mation published in the eight verse) [Page 12] spred their winges and reigne also, [...].

• Ner [...].
• Traian.
• Adrian.
• Antoninus.
• Marcus.
• Commodus.
• Perti [...]x.
• Iulian.
• Seuerus.
• Caracalla.
• Macrinus.
• Heliogabalus.
• Alexander.
• Maximinus. and the rest, to the third Valentinian.

Inwhose daies, the power of th'Eagle was so wounded, by th'incursion and sac­cage of the two first contrary fethers, that she could neuer after recure herselfe again but lay sick & kept the chamber some ten generations, which also lasted but twice so many yeres, to the rising of Momillus, in whome descended al that was left of the Empire, name, and title for euer.

So that al the fethers which the Prophet beheld in proces of time to follow the 12. [Page] and in their strength, their sinne and cru­eltie, to defile the earth: namely from Dō ­mitian, to the third Valentinian, were 50. and 3. Kings. Al which in a while (as this verse concludeth) vanished like the 12. and appeared no more.

• As, Ʋindex.
• Piscenius Niger.
• Albinus.
• Diadume [...]s.
• Maximus.
• Balbinus.
• 30. Tirant [...].
• Firmus.
• Saturninus.
• Proculus.
• Bonosus.
• Aper.
• Eugenius.
• Quintillus.
• Rufinus.
• Constantinus non Magnus.

Heraclianus, and others, as in the de­scription of times, may more plainly ap­peare.

Vnder the 12. wings or fethers (for both betoken one) are comprehended by an intellection (as in the first verse) al, which in the strength of the 12. followed, from Domitian to the third Valentinian, who perished in the yere 455. after he had reigned 30. and liued 5. more.

And thus according to promise made in the first verse, is presented a tragical succession of al the Egles wings, from her first fether Iu, Caesar, in whom the power of her pride began, to the third Va­lentinian, with whom it ended: who after they had shewed themselues, and trodden down the earth 500. and 30. yeres, they departed for euer the stage of this world and al their pomp and glory descended, and appeered no more.

And here my pen like to th'earth which [Page] being deliuered from her oppressors, dyd thirst to be refreshed: so hating ouer­come this part of her talk, did think to find some ease, but in their hopes they are both deceiued, for after the Egles fethers decen­ded, the sorrowes of the earth increased more and more, and ther arose (as seldom comes the better) a race of Sodomitical, & vnnatural Kings, who vnder the visar of Successors to Peter, & vicars to the Lamb, so far excelled the whordoms of their fa­thers the Emperors (whose Vicars and Successors indeed they are) that they in­forced the Highest, to poure his determi­ned vengeance, vpon the children of men. Who according to the iudgement forede­nounc'd Reuel. 16. by his seruant Iohn, Poured out his wrath vpon the Sea, that it became like to the blood of the dead: that is to say, vpon the great Citie and Empres of the world, by scourg after scourg (as how often and greuous in the vew of her contrary fethers may appeere) so at the full auenging him­self, that there was not a drop of Roman blood to be founde on earth, these many hundreth yeres.

And as the defection and vn [...]annes [Page 14] was generall, so was the punishment; for (as the Apostle in the same chap, prophe­seth) The wrath of the highest, was poured Reuel. 16. out vpon the riuers and fountaines likewise, and they were turned into blood also, that is: vpon all People and Nations whatsoeuer, in such sort, as ther is not a kingdome this day on earth to be found, that hath not bin (since the rising of the beast) cut downe by sword, and yeelded her stock to strang griffs, as by the bloody Registers of euery perticular Nation doth so cleerely ap­peer, as if it were written with the beames of the Sunne.

And as the daies were euil aboue mea­sure, so they exceeded in darknes and ig­norance; that my pen hath no lesse [...]roble, to be deliuered of the rest of [...]er labor, then had the then-dwellers on earth, to indure the paines of their oppression and trauel; but to take into my way againe, the Prophet addeth.

Nor the two wings.

Figuring by the two wings, the two first contrary fethers, Alari [...]us, and [...].

The first arose in the 19. of [...], [Page] predecessor to the third Ʋalentinian: And was the first that slewe the great Citie, the murtheres of all the world, measuring her by famin, swoord, and fire; according to the square whereby shee had iudged o­thers almost 12. hundreth yeeres. Which wofull end (o [...] rather beginning of her woful end:) made a certaine antient friend of hers, bewai [...]ing the night wherein shee Hierom. was smitten, to cry, Nocte Moab capta est, nocte cecid [...] murus eius, quis cladem illius noctis, quis funera fando explicet? And when this feather had thus troden downe the pride of the Eagle, in the yeere 410. a 1157 yeeres after Romulus had raised her walles with the blood of his brother; pro­ceeded to [...]p vp her bowels, spoiling and burning her principall partes, Latium, Campania, Apulia, Lucania, Calab [...]a, wher raging in his highest thoughtes, deuising how to spred his glory ouer all, was by suddeine death blowen away, & his place appeered no more.

Th'other arose in the 27 of the thirde Valentinian, in greater feare then did the first, deuouring at his entrance al that rest of Itali [...] which Alaricus had left vneaten, [Page 15] [...], V [...]o [...]a, [...] ­ia, Concordia, with al the now [...] Venice: but by the [...] dealing of the deceitful King, whose [...] then Pope Leo, was [...] to [...] great Citie, and to depart [...] left as a wast, stinking in her [...], and so repassing the Da [...], [...] into his S [...]ythia againe: [...] the y [...] follow­ing in top of his fulnes, was in a [...] found strangled in his owne blood, [...] into he was disolued, by th' [...] vse of a wedding [...] and a [...].

And thus perished this sonne of [...] [...], the scourg of God, and [...] men (for so he caled him self) and which not only the fiers of Italie, but his very shape may wel iustifie; for he is [...] a man of litle stature, square [...] litle eyes, thin heir'd, [...] great and prominent, his color [...] and gypson-like.

And ther were no more triumphing fe­thers to be found on her, for al her glori­ [...] power was decended to two weak and feeble heads, which for they reigned not in the strength of their predecessors, the Prophet day [...] [...] calruling fethers, but resting heads.

Th'one stept in th'east at Constantino­ple, Martian. whom Gens [...]rick the third contrary fe­ther not long before had dishonorably ta­ken prisoner.

Th' [...]ther in the west at Rauenna, taken Ʋal [...]ntin. with such a Lethargy, that he nother heard [...] the massacre of Vngarie, commit­ted by Hunns; not the loud and pitiful [...] of his cheefest prouinces, Spaine and Africa, deuoured by Gothes and [...]; [...] and deep lament of Gaul and Britanie ouerflowen with Frank [...] and Angles, people fron [...] beyond the Rhone, who not only with their blood and poste­ritie, but with their name also haue stain'd both kingdoms to this day. So as the Pro­phet wel concludeth, ther was no more to be found vpon th'Egles bodie, but the [...]e two drowsie heads, which rested, and six contrary fethers, viz.

• [Page 16]Gens [...]. 1
• [...]. 2
• Th [...]do [...]k. 3
• T [...]tilas. 4
• The Longobands. 5
• And th' [...]. of which, in the verses following. 6

And the Prophet saw, that two of the six deuided thē-selues in counsel & manner of proceeding, from th'other four: for wher as the four sought to be Lords of Rome in fee, resoluing in their thoughts, t'extin­guish the name & maiestie of her Empire for euer, these 2. were of an other mind, for they agreed to remain vnder the coun­tenance & fauor of th'egles right head, co­tē [...]ed to wear a crown tho with [...]eaue of it: [Page] meaning by the right head th'east Em­pire, so called, in regard it was far stronger in power then the west: whose broad­spreading honor (as in the verse fore-go­ing) was now become a staru'ling, onlie his name and appellation continued some ten successions, viz.

• 1 Ʋalentinian,
• 2 Max [...].
• 3 Auitus.
• 5 Malorianus.
• 4 S [...]e [...]s.
• 6 Anthe [...]ius.
• 7 Olybr [...]us.
• 8 Gly [...].
• 9 Iulius Nepos.
• 10 Momillus.

Which al also vanished (as before is toucht) in 20. yeres. And th'Egles pomp which was at ful in Augustus, was enter­red with Augustulus (for so was Momyllus caled) and with him descended the name and title of Imperi [...]m Roman [...] for euer.

And the two wings thus deuided in pollicie from the foure, were Genserick and Theodorick.

Of which the first, trained into Italy by [Page 17] treason of th'Empres, entred Rom [...] 43. yeeres after she had bin humbled by the Gothes, and led into cap [...] al her [...] ­sor, and (as is the fatal reward of such of­fenders) the traitres also her-self. And af­ter 14. daies thus loaden, departed into his Africa againe; wher-ouer he reigned in peace and pleasure 51. yeres.

Th'other, hauing obtained of th'East­head the scepter of Italie, according to his patent proceeded, and got it by Conquest from Odoacer. But after he had reigned 494. ther-ouer 30 yeres, descēded also leauing his fame and kingdom to his posteritie ha­uing fulfild his pleasures two and fortie more.

But this counsel pleased not th'other 4. for as the verse concludeth, they remained in other thoughts; drifting in their place to rise and reigne, without leaue or license of any.

And as the Prophet beheld the four contrary fethers which were left, he saw how they also stroue in their hearts to esta­blish thē-selues, but like a dream their pur­pose vanished, in the next immediat verses following.

Then arose Odoacer, the first of the four; leading a people begotten in the bowels & inmost parts of the North, who hearing of the deuided and weak estate of the Em­pire, was encoraged to moue frō beyond 476. the Danub, in much fear & blood descen­ded into Italie, slew her last Lord and Em­peror Momylius Angustulus, destroyed the name of her Consuler dignitie, and blot­ted out for euer the memory of her holy Senat, the murtherer of Romulus their first King, and Iulius their first Kayser; And not daring as base begotten, to put on the presence and stile of an Emperor (which name this fether fatalie resisted) conten­ted [Page 18] him-selfe with the title of King of Italie.

But his glory indured not, for after he had reigned eighteene yeres, Theodorick (as in the 24, verse) took his kingdom from him by force, and his life by fraud; and he descended, and appeared no more.

After him arose Totilas the second fether of the four, by birth a Spaniard, by blood a West-gothe, (whose fearefull fires burne in Rome to this day) but this daies were more in troble, and (as the Prophet fore-saw) in number fewer then Odoacer; from his first rising alway in armes, and after many hopes and as many dispaires, was at last put to flight by Narses, whom the East head had made gouernor of Ita­lie, and flying was wounded so dead­lye, that assone as he gat his [...] he lost his life, after he had worne the crowne (if to fight for a crown be to weare a crown) 11. yeres.

So as of al th'eight, ther remained but th'Longobards, and th'intestine faction; which thought also in them-selues to reigne.

The first inflamed by the letters of Nar­s [...]s, and with the goodnes of Italie, left their northern denns, and like a feareful storme fel down vpon it, and in two yeres ouerthrew it, crowning their leader Al­boinus, King therof at Milan; who after he 570. had spred him-self ouer the great Citie, and ouer al her Italie three yeres and a halfe, was murthered by the treason of Rosi­mond his wife, leauing his kingdom but not his honor, to his successors, who pos­sessed it for 24. generacions.

The eight and last, and of al other the most dangerous, was a home conspiracie, plotting to raise from the dead, the anti­ent long-before buried gouernment of Rome, to reedifie her S. P. Q. R. And to [Page 19] root out the Priestly prehe [...] and Church-superiority, which had so, [...] ­ningly eaten and destroyed the seculer: Which faction after it had taken fire in the hearts of many, and secretly burned a long time, at length brake out, like the fury and violence of a risen stream, so as it might not be quencht, but with much blood and exceeding labor, as in the one and thirteth verse appeereth.

And whilst they thus thought, beholde there awaked o [...] of the three King­doms, appointed to finish & end the wic­kednes of th'Egle, figuring by this resting [...]ead, the new west-empire, which [...] of Supremacie the beast bestowed (as hath bin alwaies his practise to runne with the strongest) vpon Charles king of F [...]ance, [Page] and [...] to Pepin the traiter. This head is said to be awaked, when it was first ray­sed, which was in the yere 801. wherin it receaued his augustal robe, his crown, and stile, viz. [...] Augusto a Deo coronato, magno & [...] Imperatori Romanorum, vita & victoria. And the title of dignitie imperial, which had la [...]en dead aboue 300 yeres, was in this yere on Christmas day, thus raised vp to life againe, to the end it might defend the proceedings of the great adulteres and murderes of th'earth, as by the forme of othe exhibited at his conse­cration appeereth; In nomine Christi spon­deo, [...] po [...]eor [...]go A [...] Imperator, [...] Deo & [...] Petro apostolo, me protectorem, ac defensorem fore huius Sanct [...] rom. Eccle­siae, in omnibus vtilit [...]ibus, q [...]tinus [...] fultus fuero adiutorio, pro-ut sciero, potero (que).

In that this head is said to be in the mi­dest, is ment, that it should be chosen from among the Nations and Kingdoms of the earth, as by experience hath bin proued; first from France, then from diuers king­doms and parts of Germany, where it stil remaineth.

And that the feare and power of this [Page 20] head hath bin greater, [...] any other chri­stian king or kingdom [...], [...] not sufficiently read in the [...] regi­sters of euery Nation?

By the two heads, ar shadowed the two kingdoms of France & Spaine, whole vnhalowed leage the Proph [...] faith; they shuld be ioyned with this mid­dle-head, and like three parts in one, ac­cord and agree together, to [...] them­selues, their authority, & power before the Beast, and for their Idol-she [...] fight against the Highest, [...] the breath of his mouth they be scattered, like the dust which the winde disper [...].

And these a [...] the 3. heads mentioned in the first, fourth, and ninth verses of this chapter; and ar therefore said to finish and determin the last end and wicked­nes of the whore, because tho [...] other kingdoms hate her and make her [...] [Page] and naked, and eat her flesh, as England, and others haue done: yet these three heads shal loue her stil, and to their dying day shal burne in delight with her, but when those three and euery of them, shal also forsake her, ther shal not be found ether kingdom or creature vnder heauen, that shal fal down and worship her.

And the Prophet saw this middle head (the head of euil,) impart his felowship to al Princes and kingdoms, which desired to be in leage with it. But my taske which hasteth to an end, wil not suffer me now, and here, to sound this gulfe of Santa Liega suffiseth that for Syons sake the Prophet passing by, doth point therat.

And the Prophet beheld, that this mid­dle head did deuoure and eat vp the vnder [Page 21] wings, namely, the power of [...] [...] ­bards & the intestine faction, which [...] also to reigne.

The first by the sword of [...], sur­named (for his exceeding [...]) the great, who at the command of Babylon his god, ascended into [...], [...] her King Desiderius prisoner, and led him captiue into France, and g [...] his king­dome to an other And [...] vanished this seuenth contrarye feather, after it had humbled the whore, and sp [...]d it selfe ouer al her quarters 200 and 4. yeres, and the feare therof discended, and it appeered no more.

Th'other, first began in the [...] of Go­no th'Emperor, who hauing [...] of contrary opinion, against Gregory the se­cond (for so the beast was [...]) fo­lowed it so ho [...]ly, that he brought his ho­lines into such disgrace, [...] that [...] a desire in the hearts of many, to [...] their Prelat for a Prince, and to [...] their first & antient forme of go [...]. This desire thus begū, by time ( [...] al conspiration doth) gathered strength, & aduentured (but som-what to yong) to [Page] check the Beast, who by reason he was so 798. wel guarded by his foresaid head & cham­pion Charles, easily neckt it. Notwithstan­ding some 100. and 50. yeres after, this vl­cer now growen to a riper head, vnder the practise of one Alberique and Octauian his sonne, brake out a new, and charg'd the Beast in so sharp a māner, as without dout he had receaued the mate, had not his head in the midst auoided it once againe, whose name was now chang'd frō Charles the great, to Otho the great: who as being by oth deuoted, came to Rome, banisht her new risen Consuls, hang'd her Tribuns, and moūted her Prefectus vrbis, M^r. of misrule, naked on an Ass, crouned and attended through the citie with great derision; from thence committed to prison, & ther execu­ted with exquisite torments. And by this 967. means, the heat of this defection was so as­swag'd, that it appered not for 7. yeres af­ter: but then (vnder the leading of one Cin­cius) flam'd out anew, in so furious a sort, as 974. it had doutles fyr'd the Beast out of al his holds, had not his middle head (Otho the secōd) hasted into Italy to quēch the same: who (knowing how much it imported to [Page 22] punish exemplarly so dangerous an euil) prepared in the Vatican a sumtuous feast, inuited therto al the nobility and chiefe of the citie: when al were come, saluted and set: caused forth-with to be proclaim'd, that no man on pain of death, should ether speak or moue at any thing that should be seene or heard: presently entred armed men and compassed the place round wher the guests were; wherat whilst euery one amased, doubting what this first course ment, this middle head drew forth a paper, and whose names were therin written, cō ­manded to be drawen from the table, and in presence of al ther to be slaine. The rest were curteously entertained, and were as merrie as the feare of so cruel a feaste would giue them leaue. Ne yet for al this the feuer so lefte these patients, but that they fel some 162. yeres after into relapse 1136. againe, but Frederique the firste (for so was now this head caled) with the blood of a 1000. and the wounds and imprison­ment of as many more, so branded this Hydra, which had bin so oftē headed, as it could neuer after recouer head again, but her breath departed, and her purpose va­nished [Page] and appeered no more.

That this head and his fellowes, haue more mainteined and aduanc'd the rage and blasphemy of the Beast, then al the fe­thers that arose before them, and made more diligent and cunning inquisition af­ter the blood of Syon then they, is it not eternally cronicled in the registers of euery perticular Nation? And therfore they are caled the heads of th'egle, and who know­eth not that heads ar more able in euil thē fethers? And the Prophet beheld that this head continued longer, and held the go­uerment of the world more then al the fe­thers that had bin, for from the rising of [Page 23] the first fether Iulius Casar, to the end and expiration of Momyllus Augustulus the last, were not 560. yeres, wheras this head arose in the yere 801. and hath alreadie continued aboue 700. and 90, and yet stil continueth, and shal, til he that now is be taken away.

In that the Prophet saw this middle head sodenly vanish, as did the wings, he signifieth that it shal not be rooted out by force or sword of any, but depart quietlie, and die as it were in bed; but yet (as the truth fore-saith in the chap. folowing) not without paine: meaning, that th'Electors shal not chuse to the liking of the Beast, nor the Beast cōsecrat to the liking of thē. And in this difference this head shal die, ne shal this difference be exempted from paine.

And when the power of this great head, (which is now so litle) like a tale thats told shalbe cleane ended; yet the feare of th'o­ther two shal stil remaine, and haue do­minion ouer the earth▪ and those that dwel therin; til the fulnes of their malice and ti­ranny be accomplisht also: which may not long be vn-fulfild, for behold, in the verie next verse their distruction commeth.

By the right head is ment (as thorough al this prophesie) the strongest; so as the Prophet implyeth, that the sworde of Spaine, shal deuide the strength of France, that her pride by deuision made lesse, may at the last (as euery deuided kingdome [Page 24] doth) returne to nothing. Nether shal the prosperitie of this right-head, be long free from like retaliation, but as the truth fore-saith. He that deuideth with the sword, Esd. 4. 12. shal perish by the sword. For how may the sword for euer escape him, whom heauen hateth, and earth doth persecute? and of whom may be truly said, which was spo­ken of Ismael, Manus eorum contra omnes, & omnium contra illos.

And thus shal these heads perish, and hast the faster to their end, because the iudgment of the Beast is nigh, in the very next verses attending to come in.

The roaring of the Lyon is the breath of the Highest, which shal rebuke th'Egle for her vnrighteousnes, and cast before her a [...]her spoiles, and set her aliue in iudgmēt, and with the spirit of his mouth rise vp a­gainst her, and lay vnto her charge as in the text followeth.

And if thou plead not guilty hereunto, behold, a thousand witnesses shal rise vp against thee, and proue th'inditement true; that the iust iudgment which hath so long attended for thee, may at the length be pronounced against thee, in forme as in the text followeth.

And least in thy drunkennes thou maist think, thy sinne may ouer-shoot this iudgment to come, and in thy madnes glorifie thy self as thou hast euer done, per­swading thy selfe thou shalt euer be, be­cause thou hast bin long, and like a fool [Page 26] hast not cōsidered, the more thy yeres the nigher thy graue; beholde, thus saith the truth; In the yere which shalbe 1666. this Reuel. 13. 18. iudgemēt here pronounced shal lay hands on thee. And as al thy feareful wings, & fe­thers, be alredy decended & blowē downe; so before that day (which is so nigh at hand) the tyrannie of thy malitious heads, and cruel clawes, shalbe consumed and brought to nought. And in that day, thy vaine body shal be burnt with fire, & shal so cleane be cut of from the land of the liuing, that nether sonne nor nephew (as the Prophet saith) nor branch nor rem­nant Esay. 14. 22. Esay. 14. 24. of thy name, shal be found vpon the earth. For as it is purposed, so shal it come to pas; & as it is consulted, it shal stand. Goe to now, take counsel of thy Seers, & call thy inchanters about thee; build thy deuises as high as heauen, & lay their foundations low as hel, yet shal they not deliuer thee from the day apointed: but as Salmanazar destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battel, wherin the mother with the children was dasht in peeces; or like the milstone, which the mightie Angel did cast into the Sea, with such violence shalt thou be throwen downe, & be found no more. [Page] And al hel shalbe moued at thy comming and prepare it self, and raise vp al her dead against that day to meet thee, and al the Princes and Kings of Nations, whom thou hast slaine with the cup of thy fornication; shal rise out of their torments against thy coming, and at thy sight shal wonder, and Esay 14, 10. cry, and say vnto thee. Art thou become weak also as we? art thou become like one of vs? Is thy pomp bowed downe vnto the graue? end ar thy pleasures departed like ours? and is the worme spred vnder thee, and do the wormes couer thee also? how art thou falen from heauen O Lucifer, sonne of the mor­ning, which hast cast lots vpon the Nations? and saidst in thine heart: I wil ascend into heauen, and exalt my throne aboue, besides the starrs of God, and I wilsit vpon the mount, euen the holy mount of his Sanctuarie, and Congregation: I wil ascend aboue the height of the clouds, and wil be like the most High.

And al hel, which once did wonder, worship and kisse thy feet, beholding now thy nakednes, thy shame and iudgment, shal die for greefe of mind, and dying shal say. Is this the man that made th'earth to Esay 14. tremble? and with his word did shake the [Page 27] Kingdoms? that made the world a wildernes, and a wast of the Cities therof? Then shalt thou lying in torment, death gnawing on thee, answer them and say. We haue erred Wisd. 5. from the way of truth, and the light of righte­ousnes hath not shined vpon vs, nor hath the Soone of vnderstanding risen ouer vs. We haue wearied our selues in the waies of wic­kednes, and we haue gone through dangerous pathes, but the way of the Lord we haue not knowen. What hath pride profited vs? or what profit hath the pomp of riches brought vs? al these things are vanished like a shadow and as a post that passeth by. And casting vp thy eie to heauen, shalt see the righteous stand in great boldnes before thee, and before the face of such as tormented thē, and took away their labors, and thou shalt feare exceedinglie at the sight of them, and be amased at their wonderful deliuerance, and die for greefe of mind, and dying shalt say. These are they whome we sometime had Wisd. 5. in derision, and in a parable of reproche: we [...] fooles thought their life madnes, and their end without honor. But how ar they counted a­mong the children of God, and their portion a­mong the Saintes?

And thy death shal comfort and refresh the earth, and deliuer Syon from her great and violent oppression: but their prospe­rities may not long endure, as testifieth the Chap. 12. 12. Ezech. 39 Prophet Daniel. For may Israel dwel safe, and the Kings of th'east not know it? Nay verily, they shal arise, and come down like a storme, and like a cloud shal couer the earth, and compas round the tents of the Saintes, and the beloued Citie, til fire dis­cend from God out of heauen (as it is Reuel. 20. 9. written) and deuour them. And in those daies shall be finished the mistery of God, fore-declared to his seruants the Prophets, and witnessed by the mighty Angel which came downe from heauen, and stood vpō the Sea, and vpon th'earth, and raysed vp his hand & voice to heauen, and sware by [Page 28] him that liueth for euer and euer. Reuel. 10. Ezech. 39. [...]. Beholde it is come, and it is done saith the Lord, this is the day whereof I haue spoken.

For the hope of which day, the stones of Syon die day by day; tho litle esteeming seuen thousand deaths, in regarde of the precious assurance ingrauē in their brests, that they shal then and in that day, behold the L. that hath so mercifully gathered thē frō among the Nations; That hath so wonderfully preserued them, from the sor­cerie of Babylon, which hath destroyed all th'earth. That dayly leadeth them in and out, before the skorners, the couetous, & foolish wise of this world, so prudently, and so inuisibly, that they seeing are not seene, & lyuing are not knowen. That hath bestow'd on thē, a thousand treasors more then these, so secreatly, as no man suspect­eth but they that haue thē. That hath so surely & fully perswaded them, that tho they now goe on their way weeping, yet they shal then returne againe with ioy, & bring their sheafs with them; and all the earth shall then knowe, which now is hid, howe much the Lord their [Page] Redeemer loued them, and night and day, shal praise and magnifie the iust iudgment and mercie of him, that hath done al these things for them. Which day in due time, He that is Highest, shal manifest to al, He that is Prince and Lord aboue al, who only hath immortalitie, and dwelleth in the light, which none can attaine vnto, whom no man euer saw, nor can see, vnto whom be al honor and power euerla­sting.

Amen.