Expositio vera harum imaginum olim Nurenbergae repertarum ex fundatissimo verae magiae Vaticinio deducta

cal arts: and all his people with him. Therefore, since magic demonstrates that the geese and roosters denote the ecclesiastical state and the priests, not in the same way as their Pope, but by another peculiar way of seduction used by these sacrificers, it should not be ignored that the Roman Church, until the end of these prophecies and all these foretellings, will not be entirely subjugated nor ruled by one Emperor. Indeed, Emperors will be compelled and seduced by Roman Pontiffs, and the common people by the more ordinary sacrificers. And not only by them, but also by false Prophets and Apostles who nevertheless resist the Pope, yet meanwhile mingle with the common crowd. Therefore, it is necessary that everyone looks to himself so that he does not divert his eyes and heart from God, so that he preserves them pure and immaculate for Him. For that seductive weed has fixed its roots so firmly and burst forth so widely that it is of the utmost necessity, on this island of so many storms, to close one’s ears to the seducers, to turn oneself away from them, to keep one’s mouth pure, and to separate oneself from their conversation. By the trident staff is signified the false power which the Pope wrongly attributes to himself from the Holy Trinity. And the fact that the tips are fixed into the earth signifies that this usurped authority is destined to fall. Moreover, the monk beside the new Pope denotes the Antichrist and the false prophet, who will arise alongside the Roman Pontiff and will adhere to him, the common people