The ſecond warre of Carthage.Who beyng vaynquiſhed, there bruſte forth another warre of the Carthagiens, foure and twenty yeares after ye peace was made, vnder P. Scipio and Titus Sempronius Longus Conſuls. Haniball was the head captaine, who aſſaulted the towne of Sagonte: & paſſing through Spayne into Fraunce, & from thence into Italy, he wanne thre battailes one after another againſt the Romains. The fyrſte at Ticinum,A Citie in lumbardy called nowe Pauia. Quintus Fabius a moſt prudēt Captaine. the other at the floode of Trebia, the thyrd at the lake Traſimenus. But Quintus Fabius beyng made dictator, and goyng to mete the enemy, he by his lingring did ſtoppe and breake his violence and inuaſyon. It is he in the praiſe of whom Ennius writeth.

Cicero doth Iudge him to be of a verye ſubtyll minde, and that he could eaſely concele, holde hys peace, diſemble, ſpye out and preuent the enterpriſes of enemyes. Since, the Romain people did receaue a great ouerthrowe in the place called Cannes: the which gaue ſuch occaſion of feare to the Citie, that diuers of the chiefeſt were mynded to forſake it and to flye awaye. But they were comforted and kepte backe by P. Cornelius Scipio, the ſonne of Publius,Archimedes excellēt in Algoriſme muſike, & Geometrie, & Aſtro nomie. a verye hardye and manfull yonge man, who was then but goynge into xxv. yeres. Foure yeares after M. Marcellus dyd winne the towne of Saragoſſe, after long ſeyge. Archimedes, an excellent Mathematicion, was killed in ye aſſaulting of the towne: who making certayne fygures in the duſt, dyd nothyng doubt of the takynge of the countrey. Marcellus was greatly wrathe at hys death, when he vnderſtode it: and commaunded to bury hym. As concerninge the towne, he dyd not onelye leaue it whole and ſounde (as Cicero ſayeth) but alſo in ſuch ſort decked, that it might haue bene a perpetuall monument of hys victorye, gentlenes and clemencie. And lykewyſe he ſayeth, that in the victorye of Marcellus there was not ſo manye men ſlayne, as there were gooddes ſpoyled at the commyng of Verres Pretor into the ſayde Cyty. But Titus Liuius ſaith yt it was a very pituous thinge to ſee the villanies that were there committed by angre, enuye, and couetouſnes. A hundred, thyrtie and ſeuen yeres after, Cicero beyng Treaſurour of Sicilia,Cicero treaſurour of Sicilia. did ſhewe Archimedes ſepulchre vnto the Senate of Saragoſſe, the whiche he knewe by a certaine diſcription, all be it, that it was altogether ruinated and ſo couered with Briers and Thornes, that euen they of the Citie knewe not where it was. The ſayde Cicero ſayeth, that the towne of Sarragoſſe is the greateſt and fayreſt of all the townes of Grecia, and is compacte and made of foure great townes: of the Ile, where the fountayne of Arethuſia is full of fiſhe: of Acradina; where is the market place, and the couered Galleries, with the Palaice or Parlement houſe: of Tyche, where the temple of Fortune is: of the newe towne, which was laſte of all buylte, and it hath a very large Theatre.

And as he ſayled into Sicilia for to gyue order as touchyng the munitions, he was called home by Iuſtinianus: through whych occaſion, Totilas renewed hys power and retourned to Rome. Afterwards,Narſes the Eunuche. the Emperour gaue the conduction of the Italian war vnto Narſes the Eunuche: who draue the Gothes out of all Italy: Which he dyd the eaſiyer, for that they had loſt Totilas theyr kyng, who dyed with a wound that he had receyued. Thys war agaynſt the Gothes laſted ten yeares. Iuſtinianus hauyng recouered Italy and Affryke, and hauyng taken Iuſtinus hys doughters ſonne to be companion of the Empyre he ſhortly after dyed. Some are of opinion that he was a man of a faynte heart, & that he was ſubiect to Theodora hys wyfe.Tribonianus collected the Pandects. Tribonianus Iuriſconſull was in hys great fauour: who hauynge abolyſhed the wrytynges & diſputations of the auncetours, dyd collect out of them certayn workes of diuers fragmentes of verſes, whiche are now called Pandects, the which only remayne vnto vs. He was helped by certain to finiſhe this worke, who are here and there named. Afterwardes he dyd the lyke vnto the letters and lawes of Prynces, which before were conteyned in three bookes, to wit in the bookes called Gregorianus Hermogenianus, and Theodoſianus: All the which he comprehended in one volume, and called it Iuſtinianus booke, beyng ayded by other mens helpe, whom the Emperour nameth in the Preface of the ſaide booke. Certayne Authours ſaye that Trebonianus was a couetous man, and that for money he eſtabliſhed lawes, and eftſones diſalowed them, as Virgill ſayth. In the aforeſaid bookes are found diuers lawes,In the 6. of Encidos, ye which do miniſhe and derogate from thoſe in times paſt. They added moreouer a perticuler booke of new ordinaunces: the which altogether beareth the name and title of Iuſtinian. The Emperour delt very cruelly with Beliſarius, vnder whoſe cōduct he had wōne ſo many glorious and notable victories.The miſery of Beliſarius in hys olde age. For he cauſed his eyes to be put out at ſuch tyme as he crouched for age. In Iuſtinians raign dyuers Sinodes were holden at Conſtantinople at the whych Mēna patriarche of the towne preceded, who is called moſt holy, moſt bleſſed & vniuerſall, as their bookes report. In the beginning of the booke there is an Epiſtle of the Emperour directed vnto Iohn Archbiſhop of Rome, wherin he nameth hym head of all Churches & aſſubiecteth all vnder him. Now albeit that the learned men do Iudge it to be coūterfaited, notwithſtandyng put the caſe it were true, yet it is certayne yt thys quarell did remayn many yeares after, vntil ſuch tyme as the Byſhops of Rome beyng waxen rych,The meanes whereby the Romiſhe churche was buylte. got the vpperhand & buylt thē a ſtrong hold in the poſſeſſion of the Church. The which beyng buylt by the hands & fauour of mē, is at this day in reputation as yf God had eſtabliſhed it. We haue before declared, how that in Auguſtins time the ſyxt Counſell of Carthage was holden:The diſc ••• of ye Popes ſurpr •• ſed. wherin the deceipt of Pope Bonifacius the fyrſt and of Celeſtinus was diſcloſed. For they affyrmed that it was ordained at Nice yt they ſhould be appeald vnto from al places.The denilyſhe ambition of Bonifactus the ſeconde. In Iuſtinianus time, Bonifacius ye ſecond was byſhop of Rome. There remaineth a certain Epiſtle of him, wherin he ſharply rebuketh & taxeth Aurelius, who at ye foreſayd counſell was biſhop of Carthage, & ſayth that by the motion & inſtigation of ye deuyll, he wyth hys fellow Byſhops, ſtraue againſt ye church of Rome. Alſo he giueth god thanks, ye Eulatius, Aurelius ſucceſſour, & then Byſhop of ye ſayd place, was reconciled with ye Church of Rome. Moreouer he reciteth a certayn writting of Eulatius, by ye which he proteſteth yt he cōdemneth aſwel his elders as his ſucceſſors, who haue gone or ſhal go about to ſubuert & deminyſhe the priueleges of the holy and apoſtolike church. Agapetus ſucceſſour of Bonifacius ye ſecond did dyſplace Authemius patriarch of Cōſtantinople, who denied two natures in Chriſt. Theodora the Emperours wyfe was ſore diſpleaſed therewyth: and by Beliſarius, warned Syluerius, Agapetus ſucceſſour, to reeſtablyſhe hym. And becauſe that the ſayd Agapetus was accuſed of certayne other matters. Beliſarius dyſplaced hym, and putte Vigilius in his towne. But becauſe that he beyng called to Conſtantinople,The Byſſhoppes of come were in the Emperours power. would not reſtore Authemius to hys offyce, he was ſerued wyth the lyke. Whereby it is euydent ynoughe that then the Byſhoppes of Rome weare in the Emperours power. In the raigne of Iuſtinus the ſecond, the Parſian warre was renued. And becauſe that it went yll and vnfortunallye on the Emperours part, Auchelaus his Lieutenant did again make peace. Narſes the other Lieutenant of the Emperour, dyd enioye Italy for .xvi. yeares ſpace: after he had driuen out the Gothes, and that Totilas was diſceaſſed. Afterwards he beyng called from thence, by the Emperour, and hauyng receyued vnpleaſaunt letters, and conceauing great ingratitude in them: he not onely not returned, but alſo to auenge hymſelf he ſent Ambaſſadours for to entyſe and draw the Lombardes into Italye, in propoundyng vnto them great profytes and commodities, and declaryng vnto them that Italy exſelled all other counttryes in beauty and fertilitie.The Lomberds enter into Italy. They had at that tyme taken their inhabytation in Hungaria. At ſuch tyme as they were thether ariued, they dyd poſſeſſe that parte of Italy which beareth theyr name, euen to thys day. The Hyſtoriographers wrytte that thys Iuſtinus, dyd inſtytute a Magyſtrate in Italye, namedThat is to ſay lorde or gouernour. Exarche, who was as the Vicemperour. He remayned for the moſt parte at Rauenna, not paſſyng for Rome, and placed in euery City and Towne a gouernour.

The Italyen wrytters ſayd that thys new inſtitution was cauſe of the ruyne of Italye and of Rome. Narſes afterwardes dyed at Rome.Tiberius Emperour. Tyberius, who had allreadye bene made compaynyon of the Empyre, ſucceaded Iuſtynus. He ouerthrewe the Parſyans in twoo battayls. He made peace with ye Lombardes: who raigned from theA coūtry in Italy called now Aprucium. Samnites euē to the Alpes, ye City of Rome excepted: the which they had ſtraightly beſeiged for a certayn tyme, but fynally were cōſtrained to raiſe their campe, through the greatnes of tēpeſts, vnſeaſonable weathers, & great raynes.

Mauritius,Mauritius. Tiberius ſonne in lawe was Emperour: and in certayn battayles vanquiſhed the Parſians by his Lieutenants, & fynally he made peace with them. Afterwards hauing called back agayn hys army, he draue ye Scythes from Miſia. He kept ye Lombards vnder by force in Italy: & diſplaced the Hūnes out of Hungaria. He grew in hatred of hys ſouldiours, becauſe of hys couetouſnes. Wherfore he was conſtrayned (for to auoyde the ſedition begōne) to fly to Chalcedon: where fynally he was ſlayne wyth hys wyfe and chyldren, and all his race, by a certayn centurion named Phocas: who afterwards was choſē Emperour by ſedi • io • .Phocas. In Mauritius raign there appeared a blayſyng ſtarre for ſyxe Monthes ſpace. And as certayn writings do mention, Mahomet was then borne, of whom we wyll ſhortly hereafter ſpeake. At that time Iohn Byſhop of Cōſtantinople dyd name himſelf ye vniuerſall Patriarch.Quarells for the ſupremacie. Gregorie the fyrſt againſt the ambitiō of the Pope. Whom the Byſhop of Rome, Pelagius ye ſecond, did ſtro • gly and ſtoutly withſtand, & pronounced his decrees to be of no vallewe. Gregorius ye fyrſt his ſucceſſor, doth ſharply reprehend that in him, and ſaith yt this title and honour was attributed to his anceſtours at ye counſell of Carthage: howbeit neuer any of them would euer vſe it. He wryting alſo vnto Mauritius the Emperour, he exhorteth him to reſtrayne and kepe him vnder, inas much as it lyeth in his aucthoritie, the whych is ſore miniſhed by the power that the other vſurpeth. It is ſayd that Bonifacius the thyrd, who folowed Gregorye dyd obtayne the ſupremacye of Phocas. Wherof he publiſhed patents & laws.The entry of ye popes. In Phocas raygne ye Perſians did greatly endomage the publike weale. For they poſſeſſed Meſopotamia and Aſſyria, & paſſed euen into Aſia the leſſer: ſo great was the negligence of the Prynce. Moreouer Germany, Fraunce, Spaine, and the moſt part of Italy dyd reuolte. The Saracenes ſpoyled and proyed Egipt. Wherof it befel that he was ſlain for his cruelty, & for neglecting the publike weale. In Heraclius tyme, hys ſucceſſour,Heraclius. the Parſians made great roades. From Egipt they marched into Affrike: the whych they ſubiected vnto them. The Scithes dyd diſmember & rent Europa in pieces diuers & ſondry wyſe. Heraclius fynally toke iourney into Aſia: and ſeyng that he could not obtain peace, no not in offering meanes finally r • doūding to the Romayns honour,Heraclius. victorie. he entred, euē almoſt by conſtraint, into plaine battaile againſt the ſayd Perſians who then ſpoyled & oppreſſed Iudea, and ouerthrew them in two battailes. From thence forthwith paſſed the floode Tiger, & ſpoiled ye whole country of Perſia, vntyll ſuch tyme as he made aliaunce wyth Sirochus the kyng of Perſyans ſonne, who hauyng killed his father, had made himſelf king. By thys meanes ye country of Affrike, Egipt, & all that the Parſians had ſubdued, was rendred: and it was agreed yt the flood Tiger ſhould ſeperate the Parſians dominiō from that of ye Romains, About yt time a great multitude of Saracenes, who were at the wags of Heraclius, did reuolt becauſe they were defrauded of their payment & robbing & proiyng in Siria vnder ye conduct of Mahomet they poſſeſſed Damaſcus, proied Egipt, ſubdued Arabia, & fought luckly agaynſt the Parſians.The beginning of Mahometes authoritie. Mahomet proceded from out of a poore towne & familie: notwithſtanding he was ſubtil & audacious, & afterwardes was enriched by his mariges: & being had in eſtimatiō for ye prōptnes & dexterity of his ſpirit,The Alchoran of Mahomete. he propoūded a new doctrine, very pleaſant to humaine reaſon, but worthy to be mocked and laughed at, and alſo wicked for ye moſt part: to the end yt therby he myght more & more allure mens minds vnto him, & fortifye his kyngdome. And albeit that at the firſt it was very eaſye to haue extinguiſhed thys fyer: notwythſtandyng becauſe it was neglected and let ſlyppe, wyth in a ſhort tyme it waxed almoſt vnquinſhable. For then the dignytye and Empyre of the Romaynes towardes the Eaſt was aueanted and buryed. In Heraclius raygne,The fourth counſell of Toletanū. the fourth Counſell of Toletanum was holden. And becauſe that in Spaine dyuers Prieſtes dyd not dayly, but on the Sondaye onely, recite the Lordes prayer, it was ordayned amongeſt other thyngs that yt ſhould be remedyed, Item that ye Apocalipſe of ſaint Iohn the Euangelyſt (as they ſay) ſhould be taught in the temples from Eaſter vnto whitſonday.

The Gothes raygned then in Spayne: and as the Spayniards beyng anoyed wyth ſtraunge domination (a thyng not vncommon) dyd ſtirre vp certayne dyſſentions and conſpiraties, ye Synode ordayned vpon great payne that no coniuration ſhould be made againſt the kyng or the nation of the Gothes: & that at ſuch tyme as ye kyng ſhuld be dead, the chiefe & heads of ye people with the prieſts ſhould electe a ſucceſſour by common aduiſe. This ſame was repeted by them in certain other aſſemblies.Why Halleluia it not ſounge in Lent. Conſtans. It was alſo forbydden that in the tyme of lent (ſo they call it) Halleluya ſhould not be ſoung in the Churches: becauſe that that is ordained to be a time of ſorow and not of Ioye. Conſtans Conſtantinus Sonne, who was the ſonne of Heraclius, ſucceaded hym: who fought vnproſperouſlye by ſea agaynſt the Saracenes. They beyng victorious tooke Rhodes, and had entred further into the countrye, yf the dyſſentyons whych aroſe amongeſt theym had not geuen Trewes for two yeares to the Romaynes. That gaue theym tyme of reſpyte: and then the Emperour marched into Italye for to defend it from the enemye, as he ſaid. Beyng ariued at Tarento, he forced and deſtroyed Luceria, and other places in theApart of Italy, Bordering on ye ſea Adriatticum. Puell, of the Lombardes domynyons.

Galeatius duke of Millan made then war vppon the Florentins: who deſiring to auenge thēſelues called the Emperour into Italy vnder great promiſes. He being arriued at Padua by the will of ye Venitians, who loued ſmally Galeatius: ſeyng yt he had nothing prepared accordyng to the large promiſes, he retourned into Germany, caſting frō him all care of Italy: the which afterwards was more ſubuerted by inward tumulis and troubles. Sigiſmundus,Sigiſmundus Emperour. brother of Wenceſlaus, Kyng of Hungarie & ſynce of Bohemia, ſucceded Robert. At that time were thre Popes, Iohn ye xxiii Gregory the xii. & Benedictus the xiii by whoſe ſtrifes and practiſes almoſt all the prouinces of ye world were deuided. For ſynce Innocent the iii (as their bokes report (about CC yeres ſpace there was no general counſell, & the eccleſiaſticall eſtate was extremly corrupted. For ſuch an vnſatiablenes of vices & diſſeaſes was diſbordered, in ſuch ſort that the euill was almoſt incurable. Bonifacius ye .viii. had bene before, who attributed vnto himſelf the Papal and imperiall dignitie. After him caine Element the v. of Bourdeaux, who at the requeſt of ye king of Fraunce,The popes court tranſferred into Fraunce. Philip the faire, forſoke Rome, & tranſferred his court into Fraūce. After his death the ſeat was vacant certayn yeres, becauſe of the variaunce that was amongſt the Cardinalls. At length pope Iohn the xxii. ofA towne in Fraunce Cahors in Querci was elected at Lions. The fyfth after hym, who was Gregory the xi. returned to Rome, after that the court of the Papacy had remained in Fraunce lxxvii. yeres. He being dead, Vrbanus ye vi. of Naples, & Clement the vi. of Sauoy, ſtraue for ye pope dome. The firſt did leane vpon the aide of the Italians, & dwelt at Rome: the ſecond reſted vpō the Frenchmen, and had his ſeat in Auignon. Theſe here being dead, ye thre aboue ſaid put thēſelues in their place, who had bene elected by diuers opinions: & ſo hereby the Papacie had iii heads.The Papacie as cerberius hath thre heads. Many learned men aſwell of Italy as of Fraunce lamented then meruelouſly the poore eſtate of ye Church and ſpake ſufficient ſharply againſt the corruptions and maners of yt time, aſmuch as they could vnderſtand in the darcknes which then raigned. Amongſt thē Petrarca, called the towne of Auignon. The horiſhe Babilon, at ſuch time as ye pope and the Cardinalls dwelt there. To the end then to pacifie this ſciſme,The coūſell of Conſtāce a generall coūſel was aſſembled at Conſtance in Germany: by the aucthoritie wherof the thre aboue ſaid were put downe, and Martin the v. elected. In this counſell Iohn Hus and Iherome of Prague were burned, albeit that they were come thether vnder the Emperours ſafe conducte. The Emperour Sigiſmundus is greatly praiſed for yt for the publike felicitie he wēt vnto diuers Chriſtian kings, & exhorted them to loke vnto the publike weale. The thyngs appeaſed in Germany he came into Italy. The Venitians & Florentins made warre then by ſea and by land vpon the duke of Millan, Philip Maria ſon of Iohn Galeatius. From thence the Emperour drew to Rome, where he was crowned by Pope Eugenius the .iiii. Which don he returned to Baſill, where there was then another counſell aſſigned. Albertus duke of Auſtrich,Albertus Emperour. king of Hungarie and of Bohemia was his ſucceſſour: who was ſo occupied in ciuill warres & againſt the Turckes, yt he had no leaſure to come into Italy. About this time learned wits did again awaken,Learning & good letters reeſtabliſſhed. who began to ſet vp & exerciſe the arts, languages & good letters. The Italians aided with the ſtudies of the Grekes began firſt, & afterwards the Germanyns, Frenchmen & other nations. And by ye meanes of the art of printing then inuēted ye which brought with it great cōmodities,Printing inuented. it is vncredible, what a proſperous & deſirable progreſſion was made. For ſince yt time vnto this day the ſtudies haue had in ſuch ſort their courſe, that this our age may compare it ſelf with the moſt learnedſt time that euer were. And in this namely is it more happy, yt god hath illuſtrated this ſcience of ſingular & profitable artes & of tounges, by the true knowledge of his holy name: where as the ancient learned men how indued ſoeuer they were with good & moſt eloquēt letters,The knowledge of god renued in this time were neuertheles plonged in moſt deepe darknes, and ſought in vaine the ſouerain goodnes, wherof they haue ſo much written. Fridericus the iii of yt name, duke of Auſtrich ſucceded Albertꝰ: who went peaſible to Rome, & was crowned by pope Nicolas the v. Which done he retired home,The king of Hungary ſlaine in battaile. without attempting any thing in Italy. The iiii. yere of his Empire Vladiſlaus ſonne of Wadiſlaus Kyng of Polonia and of Hungarye, hauing brokē the trewes at ye motion of pope Eugenius the iiii. was vanquiſhed nere vnto Varne or Dioniſiopoli, by Amurathes Emperour of the Turkes, the ii. of that name, and ſlain in the battaile the xi. of Nouember. Nyne yeres after, Mahomet ſonne of Amurathes toke Conſtantinople by aſſault,Conſtantinople taken by yt turcke. the which hys Heyres haue poſſeſſed already an .C. III. yeres, and haue there placed their court and royall ſeat. Vladiſlaus being dead Caſimirus hys brother inherited the kyngdome of Polonia: and Ladiſlaus, who was borne after the diſceaſe of the Emperour Albertus the ſecond the kingdome of Hungarie. Maximilianus ſucceded Fridericus hys father. As Fridericus laye in hys death bead, Ferdinand Kyng of Spaine hauing dryuen out the Moores, added to his dominion Betique, commonly named the kingdome of Grenate. Maximilianus amongeſt other had war agaynſt the Venitians. Charles ſon of Philip hys ſon and .v. of yt name.Charles yt v. Emperour. Folowed him, who raigneth at this dai & hath meruelous power. By the things yt we haue recited. it euidētly appereth how the romain Empire, which hath ſurmoūted all others that haue bene or ſhalbe, is almoſt altogether diſſipated & brought to noght.Diſſipation of y• romain Empyre. For in Aſia we haue not ſomuch as one foote of ground, or ye bredth of an nail, as ſaith ye prouerbe. The Turks Tartarians, & other enemies of our religion poſſeſſe al. We haue loſt al Affrike, except that which ye emperour Charles the v. ye yeres paſt cōquered, when he toke ye kingdome of Tunes frō Anobarbus lieutenant of the Turke: & hauing obtained a glorious victorie, eſtabliſhed there a king tributarie vnto him.Victories of Charles the v. in Affrike. Fiftene yeres after he toke alſo by aſſault the towne of Affrike, Portingall, Spaine, England, Denmarke, Polonia, Hungarie, Sclauonie, and all Grecia are cut of from the Empyre with the countries there abouts, and the Iles of Sicilia, Sardinia, Corſica, the Iles of Maiorque and Minorque,Demembring of the dominion of the Romain Empyre. & alſo Sauoy. For theſe prouinces haue their ſeueral lords and gouernours, who acknowledge none other ſuperiour, neyther doe aide the affaires of the Empire with aſmuch as a penny. Behold now Italy, ye which hath alwaies bene the firſt & auncient patrimony of ye Romayn Empire. And what hath it at thys day common with vs? The kinges of Spaine hold Calabria, Puel, Campania, & the kingdome of Naples as by ſucceſſion of their anceſters. The Popes occupie the Citie of Rome which was the proper ſeat and habitatiō of Emperours: & beſides thisA coūtry in Italy otherwiſe called Marca Anconitana. Picenum, Flaminia, and a part of Toſcane. In the meane while ſo far is it that they acknowledge ye Empire, that the Emperours & the gouernours of the Empire are holden bound vnto them. The ſtrongeſt Cities of the country eyther haue their lords, or ells rule within thēſelues. So it is that they hold nothing of ye Empire. What ſhall I ſay of the Venitians who hold not only faire townes and fredomes, but alſo ſinguler Prouinces? Herevpon they are the moſt freeſt of the world, & as it were ſeperated from the Romain Empire. Truth it is that Lombardie holdeth ſomewhat more of the Empire: but it is little aſſured, and no great profite doth redound which is wel certained. For after yt the Germain Emperours had there fyrſt ordained Vicountes (as hath bene already ſayd) and afterwards dukes: how hath it bene rent in pieces? What profite ſynce hath redounded vnto Germany? Warres did ariſe, which cauſed ye Germaine Emperours not to eſteme it: whiche as it were offred occaſiō vnto the houſe of Sforces to driue out the vicoūtes and to take the dukedome to himſelfe.Vnſtability of the lords of Millan. Afterwards the kings of Fraunce to wyt Ludouicus the xii. and Francis the i. did diſplace thē: of whom the laſt held ye country almoſt vi. yeres, vntill ſuch time as the Emperour Charles the v. did recouer it. Briefly, of al Italy there redoūded no profite vnto y• Empire. For they of the country are not aſſiſtaunt at the Imperiall aſſemblies, neither do contribute vnto the publike charges and neceſſities, vnles they do it of their one gentillnes, or for to gratifie the Emperour. There remaineth but Germany only, the which hauing alwaies bene aduerſarie and oftētimes rebellious vnto the Romain Empire (as it appeareth by former diſcourſes) at length was gathered together by Charlemaine: and reducted into one bodi. And ſynce that the power of electinge the Emperour was put into the hands of the vii. electors (as we haue aboue declared) Germany hath ben the ſeat and habitation of Emperours.Germanye •• e •• at of ye Empyr • It is here nedfull to conſider the difficultie that was to gather together this body of empire, how litle ſo euer it be, the which hath ben firſt cōpact in Germanye. For is it poſſible to imagin diſſencions & ciuill wars, yt hath not ben through ye countries? All then yt appertaineth to the Empire (ſo behoueth to cōclude) contained at this day vnder the name of ye empire is incloſed within ye confines of Germany out of whoſe limitts there is nothing.The Empyre is very ſtraightly encloſed, And yet wythin theſe ſo ſtraight limits we ſe how diuers do draw backe, & withdraw aſwell their owne perſons as their goods frō the ſubiection of ye empire: albeit yt I hold my peace of kinges nere hand & of others, who enforce themſelues daily aſmuch as lyeth in thē violently to plucke from & diminiſh this poore litle body ſo defeicted yt there reſteth but the very bones, & to put into their handes yt which appertaineth vnto the publike weale.The prophecie of daniel expounded. But for to make an end let vs appropriate in few words Daniell, who prophicieth of al theſe things. We haue here before ſpokē of ye image yt Nabuchodonozor ſaw in his dreame: we wil returne hither herafter. Now let vs ſe ye other places in ye vii chap. he diſcribeth ye iiii. beaſts which bi dreame he ſaw come out of the Oceā ſea: to wit ye Lion ye beare & ye Leoparde. As touching ye iiii. he ſaith yt it was dredfull & terrible to behold.The foure beaſtes. The liō ſignifieth ye kingdome of ye Aſſirians. The two wings that he attributeth vnto him, are as ye two members of thys Empire: to wit Babilon & Aſſiria. By the beare is ſignified ye kīgdome of Perſia, by ye which yt of babilō was deſtroied. The iii ribbes which he ſaith to haue ben betwen his other teth, ar ye principal kīgs of this monarchy, to wit, Cirus, Darius, & Artaxerxes, Artaxerxes, who haue excelled aboue ye others: & haue eaten much fleſh, that is to ſay, haue ioyned diuers people to their dominion. The Leopard is the Empyre of Alexander the great, or of ye Grekes. The foure wings & heads thereof are ye foure kingdoms which iſſued out of this monarchy after Alexanders death. The fourth & laſt beaſt is ye romain Empyre: the ten hornes are his members or partes: as Syria, Egipt, Aſia, Grecia, Afrike,The tenn • hornes. Spaine, Fraunce, Italy, Germany, & England. For the Romains poſſeſſed al theſe nations. Betwene theſe ten hornes ſprang vp a ly • le horne, which pluckt away three of the other ten: by the which is ment the mahometicall or turkiſhe raigne, the whiche being engendred of ſmale beginning in the romain monarchy, hath occupied thre partes therof, to wit, Egipt, Aſia, & Grecia. Moreouer, this litle horne hath eyes, & is preſūptuous againſt god. For Mahomet propounded a newe doctrine very pleaſant to his, ye which hath a certain apearance of wiſedom: theſe are the eyes, but vndoutedly this doctrine blaſphemeth god. For it altogether aboliſheth the writings of the prophets & apoſtles,the wicked doctrine of Mahomet. & doth not acknowledge any benifite of Chriſt. On the contrary it iniuriouſly ſlaundereth the whole doctrine of Chriſt. Furdermore, thys litle horne maketh battell againſt the ſaincts, & doth vehemently afflict them (as he ſaieth) vntil that the auncient, who hath neither beginning nor ending, ſhal come to make his iudgement. Whereof it plainly appeareth that ye courſe of this world ſhal take end in this empyre, & none other ſhall folow: but that all principalties of the world being aboliſhed, that perpetuall kingdome ſhall come, whereof Chriſt ſhalbe the head & conductor. In the .viii. Chap. Daniel diſcribeth the Ramme & Goate.The Rāme & the goate Which afterwards thangel interpreteth euidently, & ſayeth that the Ramme with two hornes ſignifieth the kings of the Medes & Perſes, but the Goate the Greke empyre, & that great horne in his forhead ſignifieth the firſt king of this Empyre: and yt this horne being broken foure other ſucceded it, he ſayeth that it ſignified foure kingdoms that ſhould ariſe and ſpring out of this Empyre, but that they ſhoulde not be able to compare neyther in ſtrength nor power with the aboueſaid firſt king. Let vs then ſe how properly Daniel hath paynted forth Alexander the great, CC. yeres and more before that he raigned: for he ſayth that the Goate ſhuld not touch the ground,Victories of Alexander. that is to ſay, he ſhould diſpatch his warres with great ſpeede, and that none coulde ſaue the Ramme from his hands. For Alexander raigned but .xii. yeres: and in ſo litle a tyme he ſubdued almoſt al Aſia, as we haue here aboueſayde. And albeit that the power of the Perſians & Medes was vncredible, not withſtanding Darius was vanquiſhed of him in thre battells one after another, & loſt his life & Empyre. Certain ſay that when Alexander came into Ieruſalem, the chiefe prieſt recited vnto him this place of Daniel, wherwith he greatly reioyſed. As touching that another horne ſhuld come out of theſe foure, ye which at the firſt was very litle, but afterwards became merueylous great, & which ſhuld greuouſly afflict the moſt holy places: he ſayeth that hereby is ſigni • ied the horrible perſecutions that the Iewes ſhuld ſuffer of the poſteritie of Alexander ye great, to wit, of the kings of Egipt & Syria, betwene yt which countreys Iudea is ſituated. Truely the Iewes haue experimented this horne ſprong out of the foure, to wit, Antiochus the noble, king of Syria, & moſt cruel deſtroyer. Here is alſo to be applied the .xi. chapter where he ſp • aketh againe of Alexander and of his ſucceſſours ſo effectualy, that it ſeemeth no prophecie, but ſome hiſtorie. Finally let vs come to ye image of Nabuchodonozor,The image of Nebuchodonozor. wherof we haue ſpoken in the firſt booke, becauſe that occaſion was offered. I wil not repete thinterpretatiō touching ye thre firſt empyres: foraſmuch as it is altogether manifeſt, & approued by ye courſe of times. I wil ſpeake only ſomwhat of the fourth, becauſe it toucheth vs who liue therin: & is more ſeriouſly diſcribed by Daniel. He ſayth yt it ſhuld be of irō, and yt it ſhuld beat down & ſubdue al other Empyres. It nedeth not many words to ſhew this: for ye thing it ſelf maketh the profe by the hiſtories yt I haue recited. The fete & the toes are partly of iron, & partly of clay. Euē as the fote of mās body is clouen into toes, ſo after yt the romain empire ſhalbe ſet vpō his leggs of iron & haue had his dominiō through ye hole earth, he ſhal end in toes, & this huge body ſhalbe diſſolued It is altogether manifeſt yt this is come to paſſe, and it nedeth no expoſitiō. For is there any thing more diſparſed at this day, then the body of thys great Empyre. And although it be ſo, notwithſtanding becauſe that the ſole of the fote is of iron (as he ſayth) it ſhal remain always ſtable,the romaine empyre ſhal endure vnto the end. & it can not be altogether broken. But the remnant, the name and dignitie ſhall abide vntill ſuch time as Chriſt ſhall ende all humain thynges by his comming. We can in no wyſe doute, & it is more cleare then the nooneday, that this Empyre is brought extremely thinne and lowe. That high tree is fallen down, neuertheleſſe the roote doth yet abide and perſeuer: not with ſuch iuyce yt it can ſpreade forth or encreaſe, but it is altogether drye. Howbeit there ſhalbe no humain power that can pluck vp thys roote or plant of the nature of iron: but it ſhal haue always roote in ye earth vntil ſuch time as ye workmanſhip of this world be deſtroyd. We haue experience thereof. For diuerrs haue employed their powers to roote vp this litle & ſtrayght poſſeſſion of the Empyre: amongeſt whome haue bene the popes & the Turks. And albeit that thei haue done many enterpriſes▪ & forcaſt to do more:The pope & the Turkes enemies of thempyre. notwithſtanding they ſhal neuer come to ye point to compare or make their power equall (let them do what they wyll) with the greatnes of that of the Romains: neither ſhal they ouerthrow yt litle remnāt of ye empyre, although it be dry & without iuyce.There ſhalbe no fifte monarchie. For it is not poſſible to eſtabliſhe a fifte monarchy. Trewe it is that Germany only hath the title and poſſeſſion of thempyre: but if ſhe knit together her powers & courages, it ſhalbe eaſie for her to repreſſe al outward violence: a thing proueable by diuers examples. A few yeres paſt ye Turkes paſſed ye ſtraight of Thracia, and proyed and ſpoyed all ouer Europa: and at this preſent haue ſo enlarged them ſelues that theyr dominion bordereth vpon Germanye. Wherethrough ſhe is in great daunger aſwell as Italy, for the nearenes. Howbeit if we marke Daniel more narowly, it is to be hoped that their ſtrength & power is come euen to the vppermoſt ſteppe. For Daniel attributeth vnto them but only thre hornes (as we haue ſayd) the which they now obtain,The three hornes of the Turkes firſt of al in poſſeſſing the dominion of Aſia, afterwards of Grecia & of Egipt. The whole countrey of that regiō may be comprehended vnder the name of Grecia, euen almoſte vnto Sclauonia. And albeit that in our tyme they occupie a great part of Hungary: & that they poſſiblie, may vexe and trouble Germany or the coūtreys thereabout: not withſtanding becauſe their dominion is to be encloſed within certaine limittes, & maye not be comparable with the romaine power (as we haue already ſhewed) it is very lykely that theſe Prouinces ſhall not be aſſubiected vnto thē as are thother three, Grecia, Egipt and Aſia. They ſhall make warre againſt the ſaincts, & exerciſe all maner of crueltie againſt the chriſtians: and their fury ſhal endure euen vnto the end of the world as Daniel plainly witneſſeth. This is the principall cauſe of his propheſie: to the end yt beyng aduertiſed and certified of the calamities & miſeries of the laſt time we ſhuld not be diſcouraged, but ſhuld waite for deliuerance by the cōming of Chriſt, who will come ſhortly after theſe afflictions, as he ſaith, & will carie his into a ſure & peaſible place, wyping al teares from their eies. Certain places of Daniell do properly appertaine vnto the Iewes, vnto whom ye deliuerance frō the captiuitie is promiſed, & the time that the Meſſias promiſed vnto the fathers ſhuld come, is noted & ſignified. The other prophecies touching the laſt age of the world & them yt ſhall liue at ſuch time as the litle Horne,Reuelation of antichriſt which is the poſteritie of Mahomet, ſhal make war vpō the ſaincts, & that that wicked & abominable man of ſinne, who ſytteth in the temple of god, ſhewing himſelf as if he were god, ſhalbe reueled & opened. For euē Daniel hath forſhewed his tirannie, as Paull expreſly interpreteth in his epiſtles.The fury of Sathan at the ende. Sathan, whom Chriſt himſelf calleth ye prince of this world, ſhal alwaies rage, but chiefly in the laſt age of the world, & ſhal ſlacke & louſe all bridles of fury, ſtirring vp aduerſaries vnto Chriſt, who ſhall not only be tiranous and cruel by power of armes, but alſo by falſe doctrine ſhal draw men into deceipt and error; in ſuch ſort yt ye very elect ſhall hardly eſcape their ſnares. This truly is the time yt daniel ſignifieth in ye .xii. Chap. which ſhould be ſo miſerable & deſolate, as neuer hath ben ye like, nor ſhalbe. For he promiſeth vs not any thing pleaſant: but horrible perſecutions, when he ſaith that the calamities whereof he ſpeaketh, ſhal endure vntil the diſperſiō of ye hand or aſſembly of holy people be accōpliſhed. The people of God then ſhalbe vexed through the whole earth. And the godly mē ſhalbe afflicted in diuers places, as long as ye world ſhall endure. The which teſtimony of the prophet, or rather of ye Angell, doth cut of frō vs all hope of cōiunction & recōciliatiō. For he alwaies ſpeaketh of diſperſion & diſſipation: & putteth the end when ye diſcords ſhalbe raiſed for cauſe of the religion, at whych tyme Chriſt ſhal appeare. But for to comfort lyft vp & ſuſtayne them yt ſhall then liue, he incontinently after theſe miſeries addeth ye reſurrectiō of the dead. And we ought earneſtly to pray vnto god yt we may proue and fele it ioyfull & comfortable. The meane while Chriſt himſelf autoriſeth daniel:Daniell alledged by Chriſt. Math .xxiiii. who in a certayn ſermon of his aledgeth a place of him, and putteth him in credit towards ye auditours. Seing then that theſe preſent times are very troubleſome and miſerable, this prophet ought diligently to be vnderſtanded, who preacheth vnto vs yt are horne in the end of the world. And he ought ſtudiouſly to be red and marked, to the end yt in theſe preſent euills we myght be fortified as wyth a trench, or bulwarke, and indued wyth aſſured conſolation againſt the ſtormes and tempeſtes which threaten vs.