A plain explanation of the whole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…A plaine explanation of the vvhole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…

Seven heads; signifying his exceeding wisdom and policy to do hurt, which should be very great, according to his authority, whereby he ruled over the whole world. His horns signify his power to do that hurt: And his Crowns signify that great effect which that great wit and power of his should take, in prevailing against men, to wit, that he should vanquish and overcome in his mischiefs: Notwithstanding there is great difference between his Crowns and the Dragons, for the Dragon had them on his heads; that is, the Devil hath this power of himself properly to do hurt, exercising it as from himself: the Beast hath them upon his horns, that is, the Emperor doth not exercise his authority and power against the Church immediately from himself, but doth borrow his power from the Dragon. Which is spoken after the custom and manner of those Kings and Princes, which having absolute authority, wear their Crowns on their bare heads, those that be Viceroys, and have an absolute authority, wear Coronets indeed but on their Caps, as it is used in foreign Countries, and as it was the practise in those days.

Seauen heads; signifying his exceeding wisedome and pollicie to doe hurt, which should be very great, according to his authority, whereby hee ruled ouer the whole world. His hornes signifie his power to doe that hurt: And his Crownes signifie that great effect which that great wit and power of his should take, in preuailing against men, to wit, that hee should vanquish and ouercome in his mischiefes: Notwithstanding there is great difference betweene his Crownes and the Dragons, for the Dragon had them on his heads; that is, the Diuell hath this power of himselfe properly to doe hurt, exercising it as from himselfe: the Beast hath them vpon his hornes, that is, the Emperour doth not exercise his authoritie and power against the Church immediately from himselfe, but doth borrow his power from the Dragon. Which is spoken after the custome and manner of those Kings and Princes, which hauing absolute authority, weare their Crownes on their bare heads, those that be Viceroyes, and haue an absolute authoritie, weare Coronets indeed but on their Caps, as it is vsed in forraine Countries, and as it was the practise in those dayes.

After, he is said to have the name of Blasphemy, declaring, that the Emperors should be such as should blaspheme God, in calling themselves Gods, and taking the worship of God unto themselves, as Caligula and others most wretchedly and blasphemously did, like to Alexander the great in the Monarchy of the Grecians, which did arrogate this title to himself, to be called God.