CAP. 9. A elpelatton of the Apocalyple. ligious orders,when one family could let out fich a plentifull Army? Towhich the teftìmony of Polydore Virgil may be added, who faith, that there Was never any Ordinance devifèdby mans piety , Whichdid more inereafe in aJhort time ; For this onefamily of the' I rancìfcans alonehadfilled the Whole World , fo that the common people being iafle- nilhedat it, did even thenfiafpeEt, that many did more delight in eafe, and idleneffe, then ingodli;oefe. Invent of things, Booke 70 Chap.4 Behold the locufls even in the judgement of the common people.. There were Monks indeed of ancient times , but yet fach as lived by their own labour, and did not belong to the Ecclefiafticall order t But this new fry lowing nothing of their own, only devoure other mens harvefts,that it might be evident whole off-fpring they are.The Monk_. Were inrolled into the Tribe of the Triefhood by Boniface the faserth, and to them Was the power of preechinç, and adminifirinç the Sacrament eiven Boniface the fift added the power of binding , and abfolving. Now therefore are they made the Topes Creatures, as from whom alone they receive dignity and authority , which before they couldobtaine, no farther then the opinion of their piety could procure them. And it was not without good reafon obferved by learned men , though filch as never thought of this prophecy , as it feemeth , that in this Age there Were three great Miracles done ; the Monkles cloyflersWere built , Kings themfelves Were Jhaven Monk!, anddaily whoring Was canonized, as afit employment for thisholyflare of men ; Bale, Censer. firfl in Vitalian. 'Certainly the Monkery of this time had notable matter in it, fit to amaze the minds of men, though they little regarded this prophecy: Andpokier Was given them, like the polder of fcorpion.. Now fol- loweth in order the defcriptionof the Loca=f',and firfl by thepower that was given them, which they have like to that of the earthly Scorpions. This is a livingCreature of the kindof thofe,which the Latinescall infeEla,divided in the body, which hash five arms- forkc- toothed,of all creeping thingsthat are poyfonfull, the flingthereof is molt cruell and grievous, as Pliny fpeakcth ; It is of a very an- gry nature; whence arofe the Proverbe , Thou provok f an Sight- footed Scorpion ; and there is a Verbe in the Greeke tongue taken from a fcorpion, Ggnifying to exafperare and' to provoke' like a fcorpion. And as is fitting for her outragions fury , thee carrieth her[tinging weapon alwayes ready drawne forth, to ftrike a deadly blow wit-tall. The reft of fuch kind of creatures have their ftings hidden within their tayles , onely 9 2 the 2'93
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