Antichrist advanceth and lifteth up him self above all Kings, Princes, Rulers and Emperors, challenging unto him authority and power, both to exalt and depose Kings, Princes, and Emperors at his pleasure, which thing, as we read, he hath in times most cruelly and tyrantlike practised in diverse and many noble Princes. He advanceth himself not only to excel all power and authority, but also to be lord of both realms, heavenly and earthly, and that the Emperor is his Subject,1 as it is mentioned in his own decrees & laws: again, that if the Empire at any time be void, he is right heir to the same. And in token that he is lord and king over three realms, one more then GOD himself hath, that is to say, Heaven, Earth, and Purgatory, he weareth a triple crown upon his pilled pate. This authority,2, this Antichrist received of the devil,3 for the service that he hath done him, which Christ utterly refused, when he said unto ⟨image 10⟩him: All these things all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, will I give thee: if thou wilt fall down and worship me. This Antichrist and his adherents, that so vilely devise the higher powers,4 are spoken of in the Epistle of saint Peter, which sayeth: They walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness, and despise authority. Presumptuous are they and stubborn, which fear not to speak evil of them, which excel in worship. &c.
Antichrist aduaunceth and lyfteth vp hym self aboue all Kynges, Princes, Rulers and Emperours, chalengyng vnto hym aucthority and power, both to exalte and depose Kynges, Princes, and Emperours at his pleasure, which thyng, as we reade, he hath in tymes most cruelly and tyrantlike practised in diuerse and many noble Princes. He aduanceth hymselfe not only to excelle all power and aucthoritie, but also to be lorde of both realmes, heauenly and earthly, and that the Emperour is his Subiect,1 as it is mencioned in his owne decrees & lawes: againe, that if the Empire at any tyme be voide, he is right heyre to the same. And in token that he is lorde and kyng ouer three realmes, one more then GOD hymselfe hath, that is to saye, Heauen, Earth, and Purgatory, he weareth a triple crowne vpon his pylde pate. This authority,2, this Antichrist receaued of the diuell,3 for the seruice that he hath doone hym, whiche Christ vtterly refused, when he said vnto ⟨image 10⟩hym: All these thynges all the kingdomes of the vvorlde and the glory of them, will I giue thee: if thou wilt fall doune and worship mee. This Antichrist and his adherentes, that so vilely deuise the higher powers,4 are spoken of in the Epistle of saint Peter, whiche saieth: They walke after the fleshe, in the luste of vncleanesse, and despise authorie. Presumpteous are they and stubborne, whiche feare not to speake euill of them, which excell in worship. &c.
- 1Dist. 96. Cap. Si Imperator.
- 2The Popes triple crown, what it signifieth.
- 3Math. iiii.
- 4••. Peter. ii.
