A hundred sermons upo[n] the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ revealed in deed by the angel…A hundred sermons vpo[n] the Apocalips of Iesu Christe reueiled in dede by thangell…

He expoundeth seven heads two ways, first by seven mountains, upon which the woman sitteth,¹ whom in the end of the chapter he calleth the great City: to wit great Rome, which all surname Septicolle, as standing upon seven mountains. Moreover the beast hath seven heads, because be had many times seven Kings. Whereof I spake also in the 13. chapt. At this present he reckoneth so the seven Kings, that there is no doubt, but that it is Rome whereof he speaketh. Which I suppose be the Lords chief intent in these matters. For he could not speak more expressly, unless he should have expressed the name of Rome also: but the name of Babylon we heard expressed before. Five, sayeth he, are fallen, to wit since the deadly wound was given, in the death of Nero, in the space of .14. pears. For immediately after Nero, began Galba to reign: who being slain, Otto reigned: which after he had killed himself, Vitellius succeedeth, which was also killed of the Flavianes. For after him, Flavius Vespasian was Emperor: after whom Titus, the best Prince of all. And these five fell with in .xiiii. years. He addeth, and one of those is, that is to wit, reigneth now, verily the sixth in order, Domitian, the son of Vespasian, and brother to Titus a most ungracious man, which persecuted the faithful, and had condemned S. John into exile. An other, sayeth S. John, is not yet come: namely Cocceius Nerva. For after he came to the Empire, and lived most virtuously, and most righteously ordered the Empire, he tarried not long. For when he had reigned one year, three months, and nine days, he died. And thus much hitherto of the seven Kings, and of the seven heads of the beast. These things so certain appertain, ⟨p. 518⟩not so much to the exposition of this place, as to the consolation of the faithful: which here may clearly perceive how Empires consist in the hand and providence of God almighty, which knoweth his, and hath a care of the godly, although they may seem, by reason of their grievous persecutions, and cruel torments, to be of God neglected.

He expoūdeth seuē heads two wayes, first by seuen mountaynes, vpon which the woman sitteth,¹ whom in the ende of the chapter he calleth the great Citie: to witte great Rome, which all surname Septicolle, as standing vpon seuen mountaynes. Moreouer the beaste hath seuen heades, because be had many times seuen Kinges. Whereof I spake also in the 13. chapt. At this present he rekeneth so the seuen Kinges, that there is no doubte, but that it is Rome whereof he speaketh. Which I suppose be the Lordes chief intent in these matters. For he coulde not speake more expresselie, vnlesse he should haue expressed the name of Rome also: but the name of Babilon we hearde expressed before. Fyue, sayeth he, are fallen, to witte syns the deadlie wounde was geuen, in the death of Nero, in the space of .14. peares. For immediatlie after Nero, beganne Galba to reygne: who beyng slayne, Otto reigned: which after he had kylled himselfe, Vitellius succedeth, which was also kylled of the Flauianes. For after him, Flauius Vespasiane was Emperour: after whome Titus, the beste Prince of all. And these fyue fell with in .xiiii. yeares. He addeth, and one of those is, that is to witte, reigneth nowe, verely the sixt in order, Domitiane, the son of Vespasiane, and brother to Titus a moste vngraciouse man, which persecuted the faithful, and had cōdemned S. Ihon into exile. An other, sayeth S. Ihon, is not yet cōmen: namelie Cocceius Nerua. For after he came to the Empire, and lyued most vertuously, and most righteouslye ordered the Empire, he taried not long. For when he had reigned one yeare, thre monethes, and nine daies, he died. And thus moch hytherto of the seuen Kynges, and of the seuen heades of the beaste. These thinges so certayne appertaine,