The ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, are they that shall hate the whore, and make her desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. Here then it doth plainly appear, who they be that shall overthrow Rome, and by whom it shall be destroyed. To wit, by the ten kings of Europe, or kingdoms of Europe, which some very learned do reckon up to be these, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweveland, Poland, Russia, and Hungary. *S. John words are plain, that these kingdoms which took part with the beast, shall take against her, & pull her down. But we know, that all the kingdoms of Europe did take part with her, therefore it followeth that all the kingdoms of Europe shall take against her. And therefore it is very probable, that in time France, Spain, and Italy, 2shall turn against the beast. We know that the rest of the kingdoms are already turned against the beast, and the beast hath lost seven of his ⟨p. 257⟩horns: the eight, which is France, beginneth to be somewhat loose, and to shake a little, which if it fall off, the rest will follow after a pace. The reason why the kingdoms, which were subject to the Roman empire, are compared to horns, is, because that as horns are the strength & defence of a beast, wherewith also he pusheth down other creatures: so the strength and defence of the Roman empire, and the papacy, was in the kingdoms which were subject unto them, and took part with them, whereby also they did mightily push at other nations and kingdoms. Moreover we are to observe, that whereas S. John saith, the same horns which did uphold and defend the whore, shall pull her down, it is not to be understood of the same men, but of their successors in the same kingdoms. For the kings of England, Scotland, Denmark, Polonia, and other countries, which gave their power and authority unto the beast, are dead and gone. If we respect the persons of the men, and those which succeed them now in these kingdoms, and pull down the whore, are other persons: but because they succeed & govern in these kingdoms, they are said to be those ten horns of the beast. Then thus it is:
The ten hornes which thou sawest vpon the beast, are they that shall hate the whore, and make her desolate, and naked, and shall eate her flesh, and burne her with fire. Heere then it doth plainely appeare, who they bee that shall ouerthrow Rome, and by whom it shall bee destroyed. To wit, by the tenne kings of Europe, or kingdomes of Europe, which some very learned doe reckon vp to bee these, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Spaine, Denmarke, Sweueland, Poland, Russia, and Hungary. *S. Iohn words are plaine, that these kingdomes which tooke part with the beast, shall take against her, & pull her downe. But we know, that all the kingdomes of Europe did take part vvith her, therefore it followeth that all the kingdomes of Europe shall take against her. And therefore it is very probable, that in time France, Spaine, and Italy, 2shall turne against the beast. Wee know that the rest of the kingdomes are already turned against the beast, and the beast hath lost seuen of his ⟨p. 257⟩hornes: the eight, which is France, beginneth to be somewhat loose, and to shake a little, which if it fall off, the rest will follow after a pace. The reson why the kingdomes, which were subiect to the Romane empire, are compared to hornes, is, because that as hornes are the strength & defence of a beast, wherewith also hee pusheth downe other creatures: so the strength and defence of the Romane empire, and the papacie, was in the kingdomes which were subiect vnto them, and tooke part with them, whereby also they did mightily push at other nations and kingdomes. Moreouer wee are to obserue, that whereas S. Iohn saith, the same hornes which did vphold and defend the whore, shall pull hir downe, it is not to be vnderstood of the same men, but of their successors in the same kingdomes. For the kings of England, Scotland, Denmarke, Polonia, and other countries, which gaue their power and authoritie vnto the beast, are dead and gone. If vvee respect the persons of the men, and those which succeed them novv in these kingdomes, and pull downe the whore, are other persons: but because they succeed & gouerne in these kingdomes, they are said to bee those ten hornes of the beast. Then thus it is:
- *If the holy ghost by the ten horns, do not mean a defi••t number, that is just ten: yet assuredly he meaneth all the kingdoms of Europe, and whatsoever else did once uphold the beast.If the holy ghost by the ten hornes, do not meane a defi••t number, that is iust ten: yet assuredly he meaneth all the kingdomes of Europe, and whatsoeuer else did once vphold the beast.
- 2It is probable that France, Spain, and Italy sh•ll forsake the whoreIt is probable that France, Spaine, and Italy sh•ll f•rsake the whore
