A strange prophecy, AGAINST BISHOPS PRELATES, AND ALL other Priests, which have not kept the faithful Order of Priesthood; And also against the Transgressors of righteousness in these Times.  
Together with the downfall and destruction of popery, and the ruin of Rome's monarchal and tyrannical Government.  
Prophetically declared, that in the years 1641, 1642, and 1643. The reformed Churches in these Western Islands, should (both King and People) join with a religious consent to abolish them out of the Church.  
Written by HILGARD a nun, 1558. and since preserved by an Antiquary in this kingdom, and now published for the instruction of the Church of England.  
LONDON, Printed for John Thomas. 1641.   

The Preface to the Reader.  
Whether these or such like Prophecies be of God, and proceed from the Holy Ghost or no, let the godly judge. But surely it is commonly seen, when God will show his displeasure and indignation, and intendeth to bring to pass some great act, that all creatures do Prophecy before, and give warning, although it help but little. Eve● so ●ouching the subversion of Jerusalem, his Prophets, and ●●ophecy it before but it availed not. Christ himself had breathed it unto them. The Apostles had warned them thereof. They heard voices in the Temple. They saw signs in the Element. They heard battles in the clouds. Mad men, and such as were out of their wits, did prophesy it unto them, but all these signs prevailed not, they saw it in act and yet it prevailed not. They might have remedied it, if they would have suffered the Emperor to rule over them, but all prevailed nothing, for they were destroyed because they despised God's word.  
Even so shall it happen unto the Papists also. It is prophesied unto them by Daniel in the 7. and 8. chap. It is prophesied unto them by Zachariah in the 11. chap. It is prophesied by St. John in the Revel. It is prophesied unto them by Christ himself, Matth. 24. It is prophesied unto them by St. Paul. 2 Thes. 2. and 1. Tim. 4. It is prophesied unto them by St. Pet. 2. It prevaileth not Their own Bishops, Abbots, monks and nuns prophesy unto them, but it prevaileth not. It is prophesied unto them by Astronomers. It is prophesied unto them by the common rumour with certain proverbs. It is prophesied unto them by visions and signs in the Element, but all prevaileth not, they might turn it, if they would not presume to be above God's Word and men's consciences, but would suffer God and his truth to reign over them and all men's consciences, but all prevaileth nothing, Therefore must they be destroyed, there is no remedy, & that which they will not now, they must not see to their grief at last, when all help is past.  
Wherefore let no good Christian grieve himself with them, but rather suffer and take patience, and pray to God that it would please him to revenge the blood of his Saints, and speedily to deliver us from these cruel Tyrants, & all their mischievous or rather hellish enchantments. Thereby shall a man get a greater conquest over them, then by Sword and Armour. God knoweth well where such a Titus is, as shall be the final destruction of these arrogant rabbis, or contemptuous Jews also. To whom be all honour, praise, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.   

The prophecy of HILGARD.  
ALl worldly Princes and the common people also, shall fiercely fall upon you Priests, which hitherto have abused me. They will turn you away from them, and put you to flight. They shall take away your substance and riches, because that in your time, you have not kept the order of your Priesthood well. These words will they speak by you. Let us cast these Oath-breakers, robbers, and people replenished with all kind of iniquity, forth of the holy Catholic Church: for the holy Church is contaminated and polluted by them. And therefore will God suffer also such things to come over you. Yea, the Kings of the world, shall assist them with their earthly power and might that shall withstand you. Your Priestly dignity and anointing, they will esteem as nothing worth, and to that purpose will they gather together in council, that they may drive you out of their Dominions, because you have driven away the most holy and innocent lamb from you, with your ungodly and abominable works. Then shall the heaven's rain down divers Plagues, which shall be as a revenge of God upon men. The mist shall cover the whole Earth, so that all your grass shall dry up, and your ornaments become pale. The deep shall suffer Earthquakes, and then shall appear the very anger of God, and the rage both of Heaven and Earth. God will send a righteous and straight judgement against the transgressors of righteousness. And then shall we say altogether. How long shall we forbear and suffer these ravening Wolves? they ought to have been feeders of the souls, but they be destroyers of them. They bind and unbind at their own pleasure (yet such power belongeth not unto them) and as most fearful beasts they utterly cast us away. And thus remain we still in our misery and they in their sins, insomuch that all Christendom perisheth through them. And whatsoever is right that write they not, but wrest, and only do that which is contrary to the Law of God. They devour us, as the wolf devoureth the sheep, they live continually in lust and gluttony, they be very robbers of the Church, and whatsoever they can catch or come by, they take and devour it. They make us also with their occupation poor and beggarly. They damn themselves & desire to destroy us also. Therefore will we judge them righteously, anb separate them from us, for they be rather seducers than teachers, &c. Yet care they not for it, but remain so still, seeking to make all kingdom's subject unto them. Nevertheless, for all this they must away, and leave behind them all that they have, neither shall they afterward rule any more over the people again, with Lands, Possessions, Vineyards, and other temporal goods, which worldly Princes be appointed for. A Pope should be a Pope, a Knight a Knight, a Gentleman a Gentleman, wherefore all such things as they possess unrighteously, shall be taken away from them. &c. But against the same will the spiritualty as heads of this world repine and rebel: to wit, the Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, abbots, and other Prelates. First with their curse, and with shutting up of the Heavens, but the same will not serve, neither shall men fear it any whit. After that, they will get them to their Armour and weapons, thinking therewith to defend themselves, but against the judgement of God they can do nothing, for their time is come, &c. Thus much prophesied the nun Hillgard.  
So ●o● must the bloody whore drink of her own chalice, and the beast with the false Prophets be cast down into the bottomless pit, where as is no rest night nor day, there to suffer pains eternally. And then will Christ raise up faithful shepherds to feed his flock.  
What these shall be, we find in the Scriptures plainly enough declared, as they that came from him, and how may it fail, or what defect can be in such as God sendeth? God is Righteous, and also sendeth good shepherds when he seeth his time. They do righteously, and as they teach, even so they live.  
These be the true servants which Christ speaketh of, which in due time set forth the gifts and glory or the Father of the household, and not their own traditions, whereof as yet the whole world is full. But the Lord (at his good pleasure) for his son Jesus Christ's sake, will scum away all filthiness and make his glory appear. So be it  

The Conclusion.  
DIvers other like Prophecies there are no whit necessary to be written, because I hope there will amendment follow after this, except the Readers be found to want the chief effects of their eyes and ears: for whom would not this ancient, true, and faithful declaration of the Romish and Babylonish strumpet, bring to conversion and knowledge? She is here so clearly set forth and painted with all her falsehood and colours, that it cannot be done more lively. Hath she not with her chalice made drunk, and with her subtlety and deceit overcome Emperors, Kings, Princes, Lords? and with her snares overthrown all Christendom? Let every man mark it well. When did they any other thing but Pole and shave, lie and deceive, burn, and ban, continually increasing wars and murder? until such time as they were become heads of all kingdoms. &c. The same (as above mentioned) hath endured many years, but now will take an end. For the time of the Whore is come about, and he cometh that speaketh in the Apocalips, saying: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning & the ending, the first & the last. Blessed be they that follow his commandments, to the end that they may come to the tree of life, and and enter in at those straight gates of the celestial Jerusalem, out of which shall be secluded all unbelievers, enchanters, Whores, murderers, Idolators, and all such as love and follow after lies, whose portion is in the unquenchable Lake that burneth with fire and Brimstone.  
Now hath Jesus Christ sent his angel again, to show the people that he is the very root of David, and the clear morning star, and in none other is there any salvation, but in him only, for it is written. There is no other name under heaven whereby we may be saved, but this only. &c. Now he that is faithful still, he that is holy, let him become more holy, and continue to the end. and let him not long for the time approacheth. And thus let every man be warned, for when he knocketh, happy are they that open, but to those that do not so, the danger is apparent: for unto such, both baptism and all holy Rites are ministered in vain. Wherefore let us beware of being Christians only in name, and let us pray God to bless us, and to grant us his grace, and that he would vouchsafe to guide us aright by his holy Spirit. Amen.  
FINIS.