EXPLANATION

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The Christian Religion Represented as an allegorical female figure., which keeps itself before the Tree,
Displays the Bible with its pages turned open;
A Franciscan friar, who builds upon other foundations,
Tries, through the sound of his flute, to discourage its use,
And with one hand flutes away the Salutory Work The "Salutory Work" refers to the Bible itself.,
While the other points to the Book in which the Laws of the Councils
Are recorded. Thus the Authority of the Roman Church intends,
To set her arm unshakeably fast upon this ground (1).
Here rests her left hand, which has firmly grasped,
The Holy Sacrament, while the other offers as a sign
Of Peace, the branch of fresh Olive: but see how
A small snake coils around that sprout, appearing to sting
A visible Poison into her hidden innards;
Added to this is a tightly forged iron chain,
Which keeps the Enslaved Faith bound by her Church discipline.
By the triple Crown The Papal Tiara. one can measure the great Authority;
She sets her left foot upon the militant Roman Empire,
Which lies here in impotence, trampled by her power,
While Superstition has snatched away that which was Imperial,
To clothe the High Priesthood with those spoils.
In her Retinue, one sees strict Spiritual Discipline;
A Jesuit applies himself to praising to the Bishop,
The Pope's Bull (2) original: "Paussen Bulle"; specifically the bull Unigenitus.; yet this tasteless Fruit,
Bears in his pure soul a distaste of horror.
The Cardinal with all the further procession of Bishops,
Stand yet to earnestly consider the Papal Command.
Also this Ecclesiastical Rule steps with her right foot,
Upon Jewish Rabbinism, sunk down here helpless
With Moses’ Book of the Law, as if trampled into the dust.
Now the enjoyment of Statehood appears, and allows itself to be blinded:
The Greek Patriarch swears fealty to the Roman Court (3);
While Monastic Orders bind themselves no less to her.
In the appearance of Piety, the Main Banner of the
Inquisition-discipline parades here, encompassing both Peace and Punishment;
Wherein this Tribunal seeks, with a perverse flourish
Of its opportunity, to drag in the innocent.
But when one considers the foreground of the Scene,
It shall reveal to us Purgatory, as an underground place,
Upon which the Ecclesiastical Rule of Rome is built,
Where Souls for a time always reside for purification.
The Reformation, depicted here with the pruning knife in her hand,
Embraces the Tree (4), which she prunes of dead shoots,
And points to the Bible-book, wherein one finds the right understanding
Of true Piety, accurately enclosed.
Around her are placed, the Heroes Luther and Calvin,
Melanchthon and Jan Hus, as true Church Reformers;
Prince Henry (5) Henry VIII of England., Cranmer, and Martyr Peter Martyr Vermigli., Bucer, Zwingli (6),
Sincere Zealots and stormers of Church abuses.
It is Menno Simons, who keeps himself busily occupied
With incorporating an elderly maid through Baptism.
But that which one observes in the front of the Frontispiece,
Is Ali, who, to strengthen the Doctrine of Muhammad,
Explains the Quran to the Turk, Tartar, and Moor;
Also in the foreground, the Persian holds in his hands
A Tablet, upon which the Fundamental Rules of that nature
Are written. One sees their annual Offering,
Represented by the Camel (7). But if one turns one's sight,
To the distant background, the Mexicans
And Peruvians appear (8), deprived of the true light,
While they pave the way of cruelty through Temple-service.
The East Indians are depicted with their Gods,
Being no less Wretched and blinded in all their dealings,
For no glow of truth shines upon their Pagoda-worship;
But they wander in darkness through their perverse conduct.

(1) Since she desires that one submits oneself entirely in matters of Faith. (2) The Bull Unigenitus A 1713 papal bull that condemned 101 Jansenist propositions; it was highly controversial in the Netherlands.. (3) But disguised and smirking, as his behavior is not sincere.
(4) This Tree represents Religion, from which the Reformation has cut away the Abuses and Ceremonies like withered branches. (5) Henry VIII, King of England.
(6) Also found among these Reformers is Arminius depicted; as well as a Quaker in his ecstatic thoughts, likewise represented by the dead branches of the mentioned Tree, which casts a shadow over a portion of the Roman Church.
(7) That the Persians annually sacrifice a camel is testified by Chardin Jean Chardin, a famous 17th-century French jeweler and traveler whose "Travels in Persia" was a standard reference.. (8) Who also honor the Sun as a Supreme Deity.