The ruin of RomeThe ruine of Rome

Here John in a vision seeth one of the seven heads of the beast, almost wounded unto death. There be divers and differing opinions of the learned touching this wound of the Empire, both when it should be, and how, and by whom. Some understand it of the death of Julius Caesar: some of Nero: some of the oppression of the Goths and Vandals: some of the great prevailing of John Huss, and Jerome of Prague in the greatest part of Bohemia. But to let all these pass, if we do wisely consider and weigh with our selves, that by a beast in this place, is not meant any lawful administration of government: but a tyrannical ⟨p. 174⟩power in persecuting the Church, we shall find that a head of the beast was then wounded, when Constantine the Great slew Maxentius and Licinius, the two last persecuting Emperors, set up true religion, and brought peace to the Churches. For hereby the Roman Empire was greatly wounded, as touching the tyranny of it. The holy Ghost doth not set down which of the seven heads were thus wounded, but in general saith, one of them. Now it is very probable, that he meaneth the sixth head: For we do not read of any such wound in the former five which were past. Neither can it be understood of the seventh head, which was the Papacy, because it received no such wound as yet. It followeth then, that the wound was in the sixth head, that is, in the Empire. But we read of no Emperor that did so wound the beast, as did Constantine the Great. And therefore it is very probable, nay, an hundred to one, that the holy Ghost here pointeth at him.

Heere Iohn in a vision seeth one of the seuen heads of the beast, almost wounded vnto death. There bee diuers and differing opinions of the learned touching this wound of the Empire, both when it should bee, and howe, and by whom. Some vnderstand it of the death of Iulius Caesar: some of Nero: some of the oppression of the Gothes and Vandales: some of the great preuailing of Iohn Husse, and Ierome of Prage in the greatest part of Bohemia. But to let all these passe, if wee do wisely consider and weigh with our selues, that by a beast in this place, is not meant anie lawfull administration of gouernement: but a tyrannicall ⟨p. 174⟩power in persecuting the Church, wee shall find that a head of the beast was then wounded, when Constantine the Great slew Maxentius and Licinius, the two last persecuting Emperours, set vp true religion, and brought peace to the Churches. For hereby the Roman Empire was greatly wounded, as touching the tyrannie of it. The holy Ghost doth not set downe which of the seuen heads were thus wounded, but in generall saith, one of them. Nowe it is verie probable, that he meaneth the sixt head: For we doe not reade of anie such wound in the former fiue which were past. Neither can it be vnderstood of the seuenth head, which was the Papacie, because it receiued no such wounde as yet. It followeth then, that the wound was in the sixt head, that is, in the Empire. But we reade of no Emperour that did so wound the beast, as did Constantine the Great. And therefore it is verie probable, nay, an hundred to one, that the holy Ghost here pointeth at him.