FOR as much as this famous City of Antwarp now is knowne to be one of the fairest Citties of building in all those parts of the Cuntrey : and also that for trade of Marchantdize it is now far surmounting many other townes , which in times past haue bin of great fame , and now this florishing Citty aboundeth with many rich Marchants and Cittizens , besides many other persons of great account , likewise there are in the same Citty many faire and goodly Churches and Cloysters of most rich and stately buildinges , the same being beautified , and most curiously adorned with diuers & sundry costly and rich Alters , besides many Immages and other Idoletrous and supersticious relickes , such as the like are not to be seene or found elsewhere , in all the Netherlandes , as euery one that hath bin there can truely iustifie and report of , amongst all which , the richest , and most fairest monuments that now remaine there , are in a place called Saint Michaells Cloyster , wherein most commonly are all the chiefest Princes and Potentates of those Countries lodged , during their abode there . And as of late it hath bin manifestly seene and knowne , how that the great and mighty Prince Abertus Duke of Brabant was lodged there in the same Pallace or Cloyster himselfe , besides many other great Princes and Potentates with him , which said Pallace or Cloyster is scituated not farre from the Castle of Antwarpe , wherein are a thousand and three hundred Spanyards and souldiers which doe now remaine therein : who according to an auncient custome alwaies euer heeretofore continued amongst them , doe vsually once a yeere make a great account of their most worthy Patron S. Iaques , otherwise ( according to our English tongue ) called S. Iames , vpon which day is shewed many great triumphs , sports & pastimes , throughout all the whole Citty , besides much feasting & banqueting , especially , amongst all the papistical sort of people , as well the Massing Priests : as also all the souldiers , and others there ; all which is done in honor and reuerence of S. Iames , as in manner and forme is heere expressed .

First of all , the Gunn●rs and others in the Castle , doe there discharge off all their great Ordinance , which is round about the Castle : Then all the souldiers standing in order of battaile , doe discharge and shoot off all their peeces ( both Muskets and Caliuers ) three times one after an other , in honor of S. Iames , as aforesaid , and thereby they hold a firme and steadfast opinion , and are fully perswaded amongst themselues , that they are all quite freed and deliuered from all trouble and mischiefe that might happen and insue vnto them , for all the yeere after . This is all performed in the forenoone .

Vpon the same day in the afternoone , there was a Tragedy played , wherein was shewed , the manner of the Turkes fight against the Christians . At which time , the Spaynish Embassadour that last departed England , came with a great traine into the Citty from Bruixills , and there was very honorably receiued as well by the Cittizens there , as also by all the Captaines and Souldiers , and great triumphing was at his comming in , amongst which , the Cittizens caused great store of ships to be placed before the towne . and there they planted a great number of souldiers , which with their long shooting and discharging their pieces & Ordinance they beate downe a huge great Ball of Brasse or Copper , which was richly guilded ouer , which stood vpon the top of the steeple of S. Michaells Church , and shot the same quite through in many places : the chardge of making of a new Ball , and placeing of it there againe as the other was before , will cost them an infinit some of money : moreouer at the time great store of fireworkes were showne and made vpon the waters , to the great delight of the Embassadour and all others that were there present .

The next day after , they likewise acted a Comedie in Spaynish , the effect and meaning thereof , was ( altogether ) to shew , and make the people to beleeue that they are , & so they account themselues to be , both lords and maisters ouer the whole world . But let all true Christians now marke well what afterwardes insued amongst them .

The third day after S. Iames his day and feast holden amongst them as afore rehearsed , in the afternone , how the deuill came & playd his Tragedy there in the same Church and Cloyster of Saint Michaells , who came thither with such a horrible and terrible noyse both of Thunder and lightning , that all the people that were in the towne were greatly amazed thereat .

Assoone as this Sathanicall Fiend came into the Cittie in this fierce and terrible manner , making a great noyse or roaring ouer the same , he first came & sate vpon the crosse which standeth vpon the toppe of the Steeple of S. Michaells Church where he was discerned & plainely seene of many people , hauing in one of his vgly and filthy Clawes , a huge great stone , the which stone with great and mighty force , he cast downe into the said steeple , and therewith he made such a huge and fearefull a noyse and ratling , that the Munckes that were in the Cloyster , with great feare and anguish ran all out of their lodgings , verily supposing that the deuill had bin at their heeles : from thence he went into the Steeple , ( as it seemed vnto them all ) and set the same on fire , wherewith it burnt most fearefully , and the flame thereof was so terrible and great , that many of the stones of the Steeple ( with the heate and force of the fire ) flew out and scattered so abroad , that it did exceeding much hurt , in and about the same Church and Cloyster , and likewise the leade being molten , dropt downe so extreame fast and was so scalding hot , that no man durst goe neere to quench that vnmercyfull fire , the fury of it was so great : neuertheles the Munckes be stird themselues so wel and lustely there , to quench the same fire with holy-water , that they had spent so much thereof , that they had worke inough to doe , to read their ordinary Coniuration , and to make their Autentible Charme , to consecrate more holy-water : And yet all that they could doe at that time would not serue their turne , for at that instant , if that the common sort of People ( as labouring men and such like ) had not come thither to ayde and assist them , in this their great necessitie and still called for both holyed and vnholyed water , and had more steadfaster faith and better and more perseuerance in them , then the Munckes and themselues , I veriely perswade my selfe , that their holy water would haue little auayled them at that time . But if they had not mixed other vn-holy water therewith , and by the carefulnes of the chiefe Gouernoures and Magistrates , and of the good industrie of all the Artificers , souldiers and labouring men that were then present , all of them being most carefull and painefull in this busines , and ready to doe their best indeuours in this extremitie , who ( by Gods helpe and theirs ) at last quenched the Fier by force , and yet before they could doe it , the greatest part of the leades that couered the Church was molten downe from the top thereof , & many stones flew out of the walles & did great harme , both to the lodgings in the Cloyster , and to many people inhabiting there about , besides the great hurt that was done to the Church , at that time . The like villanie wrought against Gods Church by the most wicked Feend , hath neuer , or seldome heretofore bin heard of .

But when Sathan had performed this wicked Tragedy , before spoken of : yet he began a new , to skew the Munckes what he was further able to doe , he began to play a Commedy with a great Picture that was hang'de within the Church , that had bin made by one of the rarest or excellentest workeman in the whole Countreys , whose name was ( as then called ) Peter Rubbens , a man well knowne throughout all the seuenteene Prouinces for his knowledge and skill in that Art or science , and that there is none comparable vnto him , which said Picture , the deuill rent and tore all in many pieces , he ruinated the same in such manner and sort , that the repayring thereof will cost an hundred pound ( at the least ) before it can be wrought to that perfection which it was of and so set vp againe , in the like order and forme as it was at the first there placed .

Likewise , he in his Sathanicall course , rent and spoyled the Alter whereupon this picture or Idolatrous Immage stood vpon , also spoyled & defaced the same with his wicked nayles or clawes , that he almost tore the same all quite downe to the ground , which since that time , hath bin viewed and seene by many thousandes of people , who doe greatly admire at the same , they all giuing God most harty thankes for their safe deliuerance from all the mischiefes that Sathan ( if he might haue by Gods sufferance ) bin as then permitted to haue done his owne will .

Moreouer he tooke the Immage of an other Saint which he papisticall sort of persons much honored there , and made great account thereof , for that they held the same for a great Relicke in their Church , and did much more worship and honour that Relicke then all the rest .

But what was it that grieued the Papists there , and in many other places planted most ? that was , for the distruction and spoyling of another Immage ( of what nature , quallitie or condition the same was of , none or very few can tel ) yet notwithstanding , amongst many of them , great accompt was made thereof , but to what vse , let vs leaue them to their owne conceipts and fond opinion , and now let vs returne to a third action .

Likewise he tooke an other Immage of a saint ( pictured like an old Frier in times past ) that was neere the place where the other stood , and cast both it , the stone and place whereon it was seated all vnto the ground , and withall ( not yet contented ) with this , beare it as small as powder .

All which his Sathanicall actiuitie was shewed vpon the third day after S. Iaques his day before mentioned : all which by him was performed in the Cloyster of Saint Michaells , and vpon the sudden the deuill was gon away againe none perceiued him , and then his playes and shewes were ended .

The fowrth day the Munckes and Fryers , in the morning betimes fell to prayer againe , and afterwards no vision of the serpent seene nor heard of any more , they then much praised and glorified God in all his workes , and seeing and hoping that the tempest or storme was as then past and gone , they in their owne bounty & glory , being glad that the storme was past and gone , bestowed vpon them that were poore workemen labourers Souldiers and others , for their paines and in recompence of the busines done , bestowed sixe Barrells of Beere , which amongst them was as then holden for a great matter , all which was merryly drunke vp amongst them .

By this and many other most wonderfull and fearefull examples ( you may see and most euidently marke that the Commaundements of God being wholy troden downe vnderfoote and neglected , God therefore sendeth such messages , and messengers vnto the places wherein Idolatrie , and supersticious ceremonies are dayly vsed , thereby to giue them warning to amend & leaue of all such wickednes and abhomination , and not any more to serue nor pray vnto any such Idols , that are made of nothing else , but of stocks and stones , and of other earthly substance , and to moue vs to serue him with an humble and penitent heart , for I onely am the Lord your God ( saith he ) that fargiueth the sinnes of the people vnto the third and fowerth generation , of those that loue me , and keepe my Commaundements , and punish all those that hate me , as wee see the papists dayly committ and vse inumerable kindes of blaspheamies , & superstitious idolatrie , with many vaine idle toyes and imaginations of their owne braine and fickle inuentions , which God vtterly abhoreth , and is greatly displeased therewith : therefore I wish and councell all men to loue , serue , and honor God almighty , and not to worship stockes and stones as all Idollaters doe : And thus ( with my heart ) wishing all happines , and eternall saluation through Christ Iesus vnto all true and faithfull Christians that loue the holy and blessed word of God : I take my leaue .