A very true pronosticacio[n], with a kalender, gathered out of the moost auncyent bokes of ryght holy astronomers for the yere of our lorde M. CCCCC. xxxvj. And for all yeres here after perpetuall. Translated out of latyn in to Englysshe by Iohn Ryckes preest. Cum priuilegio Regali.

A very true pronosticacio[n], with a kalender, gathered out of the moost auncyent bokes of ryght holy astronomers for the yere of our lorde M. CCCCC. xxxvj. And for all yeres here after perpetuall. Translated out of latyn in to Englysshe by Iohn Ryckes preest. Cum priuilegio Regali. Brunfels, Otto, 1488-1534. 1536 Approx. 86 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 32 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2014-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A17379 STC 421.17 ESTC S111371 99846733 99846733 11720

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Early English books online text creation partnership. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A17379) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 11720) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 96:13) A very true pronosticacio[n], with a kalender, gathered out of the moost auncyent bokes of ryght holy astronomers for the yere of our lorde M. CCCCC. xxxvj. And for all yeres here after perpetuall. Translated out of latyn in to Englysshe by Iohn Ryckes preest. Cum priuilegio Regali. Brunfels, Otto, 1488-1534. Ryckes, John. [64] p. In Fletestrete, at the sygne of the sonne by me Ioh[a]n Byddell, [Imprynted at London : [1536]] Imprint from colophon; printer's name at foot of title page [Ioh[a]n Byddell]; publication date from STC. Caption title on leaf D8r reads: Plinius in the .xviij. booke and .xxxiij. chapyter of his naturall hystory. Signatures: A-D. Formerly STC 3943. Identified as STC 3943 on reel 96. Reproduction of the original in the Emmanuel College (University of Cambridge). Library.

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A very true pronoſticaciō / with a Kalender / gathered out of the mooſt auncyent bokes of ryght holy Aſtronomers / for the yere of our lorde M.CCCCC.xxxvj. And for all yeres here after perpetuall. Tranſlated out of latyn in to Englyſſhe by Iohn̄ Ryckes preeſt.

Cum priuilegio Regali.

printer's device of John Bydell, featuring a compartment exhibiting the seven cardinal virtues, with Bydell's mark and name below (McKerrow 85) Iohn̄ Byddell.

IUSTICIA

Charitas

Fides

PRUDENCIA

SPES

Obedientia

Patientia

¶ To the ryght noble and godly wyſe, of the kynges noble coūſell: to whom his grace hath aſſigned to examyne englyſſhe bookes that are to be imprynted / and to approue thoſe that are catholyke & profytable to ye chriſtian cōmen welthe: and other to reproue. Aboundaunce of grace and euerlaſtynge helthe.

WHan I had red ouer this lytell boke / whiche was founde caſt in a corner amonge other pamflets not regarded: which boke is named a Pronoſticacion / & that (as is no doubte) mooſt true / and very neceſſary to be knowen: my conſcyence moued me (though I can but lytel ſkyl to entrepriſe ſuche a thynge) for to tranſlate it out of latin ī to englyſſhe / for a more cōmen welth Pytie I had to ſe ſo good a worke / ſo ꝓfytabte a lyght (as they ſay Mat. 5. lu. 8. 11.) to be hydden vnder a buſſhell. Wherfore vnder your iudgemēt & correction I wyl be glad to put it vpon a candelſtycke / that it may be ſeen to many / & gyue light ferre abrode. whiche I can not do better, than to dedycate it vnto your goodnes / whoſe godly wyſdom & lernynge, is knowen to be ſo good & circūſpecte, that it wolde not ſuffre ſuche a thynge to go abrode, but yf it were for a cōmen welthe. The cōmen pronoſticacions, that yerely gothe aboute are but tryfles in regarde of this & vayne (ye after my mynde) deceyuable & harmefull, to not a fewe perſones, that hath credence in them. How can they tel of thingꝭ to cōme / or what ſhall chaūce to men here after. Iob. 38. Act. 1. It onely depēdeth in the diſpoſicion & power of god / whiche ordreth all thingꝭ in tyme & place as it pleaſeth hym. God ſaith by his ꝓphete Eſaie xlj. Shewe you what thynges are for to cōme: & we ſhal knowe you to be goddes. And in an other place, ſpekyng to the Babylones. Eſa. 47. Let your Augurers of ye firmament, ſtande & ſaue you, whiche be holde the ſterres & nombre the monethes for to ſhewe by them, what thynges are for to cōme. &c. Deut er . 28. God promyſeth all thynges to ſuccede and to cōme well to paſſe, vnto all them that byleue purely in hym & wyl obſerue his lawes. And threateth the contrary to miſcreauntes & euyll doers. Wherfore yf they hap ſomtyme to touche the truthe: it is bycauſe they ſe by coniecture the cōdicions & maners of people, by the ſentēce of god in holy ſcripture to deſerue and be worthy, eyther peace or warre, helthe or ſycknes, derth or plenty, with ſuche other thynges as they wryte of in their ꝓnoſticacions / whiche yf they dyd not in auaūſyng them ſelues, ſekyng prayſe & vayne glory of the worlde: but referrynge all to the worde of god / groūded thervpon / and not vpon their vayne aucrours and planets: they myght well be herde, & credence be gyuen vnto them, yf they ſpake not ſo darkly. Therfore yt men ſholde not ſpende their tyme in vayne / it is better that they ſhold leue ſuche trifles and vncerteyn ſayenges / & leane ſadly to this ſure & true pronoſticacion, grounded onely vpon the worde of god, mooſt ſure foūdacion, and of moſt hye auctorite. In this a man may ſomwhat lerne to knowe and feare god / & to haue in reuerence the holy ſcripture / wherin onely is cōteyned all thynges that belongeth to the helth of ſoules / and to the godly adminiſtracion & gouernaunce of the cōmen welthe / wher vnto god hath called you. And for a ſōme as cōcernynge ſuche thinges in ſcripture there are ſet forth here in this kalender folowynge, in ſtede of ſayntes dayes, certayne holy hyſtoryes, wherby they may ꝑceyue the benignite & ſeuerite / the mercy, & rygorouſnes of god towardes mankynde. And agayne, the fayth, and incredulite / the kyndnes, & vnkyndnes of men towardes god: what are mooſt ſpecyally to be taken hede of in the ſcripture of god. So that we may lerne alſo, to aſcrybe no thyng to our ſelues, but to refer all thingꝭ to almighty god ye father, thorow Chryſt. Yf there be foūde any thynge that is ſomwhat obſcure: let them aſke counſell of thoſe yt be good & well lerned. And mooſt ſpecially praye to god entyerly, yt he wyll open the ſence to vs, that we may vnderſtande the ſcriptures. Luc. 24. Thus I beſeche your benignityes, to accepte my lytell labour, not conſyderynge the rude doynge: but ye zele that I haue to forther the ryght wayes of Chryſtyan lyuynge, whiche ſhall be with the helpe of goddes grace, if ye thynke it worthy to go abrode to his honour & glory, whoſe grace & conſolacion be euer with you. Amen.

¶ Of the yere.

¶ The yere hathe .CCC.lxv. dayes / & a quarterne / whiche always euery fourth yere maketh one daye / whiche is ſet in ye xxij. daye of February.

¶ Of the golden nombre.

¶ The golden nōbre cōteyneth .xix. thus to be coūted, that eche yere frō one to .xix. one nombre muſt be aſcrybed / and in the xx. yere, begyn agayne at one. And in euery fourth yere, whiche is called Biſextile or leape yere, the .xxij. daye of February, ſhall cōteyne alſo the .xxiij. And yt whiche in ye kalender is the .xxiij. day / than muſt be the .xxiiij. wherfore alſo the dominical lettre muſt nedes be chaunged.

¶ Of the Dominicall lettre.

¶ The yere of our lorde. M.v.C. & .xxxv was C. dominicall lettre. The yere .M.v.C. and .xxxvj. leape yere / and B. dominicall lettre, vntyll ſaynt Mathyes daye. And from thens forth A. ſhal be cōtynued for dn̄icall lettre. The nexte yere .g. Than f. After that .e. And than .d.c. leape yere agayne. And ſo contynuynge backwarde euery fourth yere take .ij. lettres for leape yere / rekenynge the fyrſt vnto ſaynt Mathyes daye: and the ſeconde all the yere after. And ſo contynue .xxviij. yeres / as in this table folowynge. And than begyn agayne / and ſo for euer.

b.g.f.e.d.b.a.g.f.d.c.b.a.f. a. c. e. g. e.d.c.a.g.f.e.c.b.a.g.e.d.c. b. d. f.

¶ Of the inuencion of Eſter and other mouable feeſtes.

¶ From the .xxj. day of Marche, vnto the xviij. daye of Apryll, we haue ſubſcribed golden nombres to the lettres of ye dayes into this vſe. Vpon what day ſo euer the golden nombre of the yere falleth / alway the ſonday nexte folowyng ſhall be Eſter day. Whiche had, ye ſhall eaſely fynde, cō tynuynge vpward or downward, lente or ſeptuageſym. The aſcēſion or Pentecoſt.

¶ How to fynde ye chaunge of ye mone.

¶ If ye deſyre to fynde the coniūction, or the new mone / we haue ordred ſo ye goldē nōbre (otherwiſe than it hath ben in time paſt) in ye kalēders: that where ſo euer ye fynde ye golden nōbre for yt yere: there is ye chaunge or coniūction. Whiche foūde, ye may eaſely fynde by diuiſion, ye appoſiciō & the encreaſe or decreaſe of the mone.

Ianuary hath .xxxj. dayes. K L xix A The Circūciſion of Chryſt. Luke. ij. 1 viij b Adam. Eua. Geneſis. iij. 2 c 3 xvj d 4 v e 5 f The kynges. Math. ij. 6 xiij g 7 ij A 8 b Abell. Cayn. Geneſis. iiij. 9 x c 10 d The ſonne in aquario. 11 xviij e 12 vij f 13 g 14 xv A 15 iiij b Noes flode. Geneſis. vij. 16 c 17 xij d 18 x e 19 f 20 ix g 21 A Sem / Iaphet / Ham. Geneſis. ix. 22 xvij b 23 vj c 24 d 25 xiiij e 26 iij f 27 g 28 xj A Babylon. Heber. Geneſis. xj. 29 xix b 30 c 31

February hathe .xxviii. dayes. L K viij d 1 e The purification of our lady. Luke. ij. 2 xvj f 3 v g 4 A Abram. Geneſis. xij. 5 xiij b 6 ii c 7 d 8 x e 9 f 10 xviij g The ſonne in piſcibus. 11 vij A Loth. Sodom. Geneſ. xix. 12 b 13 xv c 14 iiij d 15 e 16 xij f 17 j g 18 A Iſaac. Iſmael. Geneſis. xxi. 19 ix b 20 c 21 xvij d The begynnynge of Ver. 22 vj e 23 f 24 xiiij g 25 vj A Eſau. Iacob. Geneſ. xxvij. 26 b 27 xj c 28

Marche hath .xxxj. dayes. K L xix d 1 viij e 2 f 3 xvj g 4 v A Ioſeph and his bretherne. Gen̄. xxxvij. 5 b 6 xiij c 7 ij d 8 e 9 x f 10 g The ſonne in Ariete. 11 xviii A Equinoctium vernum 12 vij b Iuda and his ſones. Gen̄. xxxviij. 13 c 14 xv d 15 iiij e 16 f 17 xij g 18 i A Ephraim and Manaſſ. Gen̄. xlviij. 19 b The golden nombre for to fyndde Eſter daye. 20 ix c xvj 21 d v 22 xvij e 23 vj f xiij 24 g ij The ſalutacion of our lady. Luc. j. 25 xiiij A Reſurreccion of Chryſt. Math. 28. 26 iij b x 27 c Pharao and Moyſes. Exod. vij. 28 xj d xviij 29 e vii 30 xix f 31

Apryll hath .xxx. dayes. K L viij g xv 1 xvj A iiij Aaron. Moyſes / & the enchaunters. Exod. vij.viij. 2 v b 3 c xij 4 xiij d i 5 vj e 6 f ii 7 i g 8 A xvij 9 xviij b vj The ſonne in tauro. 10 vij c Aaron and Mary. Numeri. xij. 11 d xiiij 12 xv e iii 13 iiii f 14 g xi 15 xii A 16 x b xix 17 c viij 28 ix d Caleb. Ioſue / & the ſpyes. Nu. xiij. 19 e 20 xvij f 21 vj g 22 A 23 xiiij b Moyſes & Aaron at the ſtone of cōtradiction. Nu. xx. 14 iij c 25 d 26 ii e 27 f 28 xix g 29 viij A Balaam and his aſſe. Nume. xxij. 30

Maye hath .xxxj. dayes. K L b 1 xvj c 2 v d 3 e The Aſcencion of our lorde. Mar. xvj. 4 xiij f 5 ij g 6 A Raab. Hiericho. Ioſue. vj. 7 x b 8 c 9 xviij d 10 vij e 11 f 12 xv g The ſonne in geminis. 13 iiij A The cōmynge of the holy gooſt. Act. ij. 14 b 15 xij c 16 j d 17 e 18 ix f 19 g 20 xvij A Gabaonytes. Ioſue. ii. 21 vj b 22 c 23 xiiij d 24 iij e The begynnynge of ſommer. 25 f 26 xj g 27 A A leuyte and his wyfe. Iudic. ix. 28 xix b 29 viij c 30 xviij d 31

Iune hath .xxx. dayes. K L v e 1 f 2 xiij g 3 ij A Ruth / her ſyſter. Ruth. j. 4 b 5 x c 6 d 7 xviij e 8 vij f 9 g 10 xv A Anna / Feuenna. j. Samu. j. 11 iiii b 12 c The ſonne ī cancro. Solſticiū eſtiuale. 13 xij d 14 j e 15 f 16 ix g 17 A Hely / his ſonnes .j. Samu. ij. 18 xvij b 19 vj c 20 d 21 xiiij e 22 iij f 23 g 24 xi A Samuel / his ſonnes .j. Sam. viii. 25 b 26 xix c 27 viii d 28 e 29 xvi f 30

Iuly hath .xxxj. dayes. K L v g 1 A Salutacion of Elizabeth. Luc. j. 2 xiii b 3 ii c Saul. Dauid .j. Sam. xvi. 4 d 5 x e 6 f 7 xviii g 8 vii A Dauid / Mychol. 2. Samuel. 6. 9 b 10 xv c 11 iiii d 12 e 13 xii f The ſonne in leone. 14 i g 15 A Dauid / Betſhabee .ij. Sam. xi. 16 ix b 17 c 18 xvii d 19 vi e 20 f 21 xiiii g 22 iii A Dauid / Vrias .ii. Sam. ii. 23 b 24 xi c 25 d 26 xix e 27 viii f 28 xvi g 29 v A Dauid / Nathan .ij. Samuel .xi. 30 b 31

Auguſt hath .xxxj. dayes. K L xiij c 1 xi d 2 e 3 x f 4 g 5 xviij A Ammon. Thamar. i. Samu. xiij. 6 vij b 7 c 8 xv d 9 iiij e 10 f 11 xij g 12 j A 13 b The ſonne in virgine. 14 ix c 15 d Dauid. Abſolon. 16 xvij e 17 vj f 18 g 29 xiiij A 20 iij b 21 c The begynnynge of Autumne. 22 xj d 23 xix e Dauid. Semei. ij. Sam. xvj. 24 f 25 viij g 26 xvj A Cuſy. Achitophel. ij. Sam xvii 27 b 28 v c 29 d 30 xiij e 31

September hath .xxx. dayes. K L ij f 1 g 2 x A Solomon / Adonias. j. Regum. j. 3 b 4 xviii c 5 vii d 6 e 7 xv f 8 iiii g 9 A Ioab / Banaias. j. Regum. xi. 10 xii b 11 i c 12 d 13 ix e 14 f The ſonne in libra. Equinoctium autūnale. 15 xvii g 16 vi A 17 b Solomō / his wyues ſtraūgers. j. reg. xi. 18 xiiii c 19 iii d 20 e 21 xi f 22 xix g 23 A 24 viii b Roboam. Hieroboam. j. Regum. xii. 25 c 26 xvi d 27 v e 28 xiii f 29 ii g 30

October hath .xxxj. dayes. K L A Achab / Iehu. ij. Regum. ix. 1 x b 2 c 3 xviij d 4 vij e 5 f 6 xv g 7 iiij A Ezechias / Senacheryb. ij. Reg. xix. 8 b 9 xij c 10 j d 11 e 12 ix f 13 g The ſonne in ſcorpione. 14 xvij A 15 vj b Eſayas / Ezechias. ij. Regum. xx. 16 c 17 xiiij d 18 xij e 19 f 20 xj g 21 xix A Manaſſes. ij. Paralypomenon. xxxiij. 22 b 23 viij c 24 d 25 xvj e 26 v f 27 g 28 xiij A Hieremias / Sedechias. Hieremie. xxxix. 29 ij b 30 c 31

Nouember hath .xxx. dayes. K L x d 1 e 2 xviij f 3 vij g 4 A Danyel. Babylonyes. Daniel. vj. 5 xv b 6 iiij c 7 d 8 xij e 9 j f 10 g 11 ix A The thre kynges. Herode. Math. ij. 12 b 13 xvij c The ſonne in ſagittario. 14 vj d 15 e 16 xiiij f 17 iij g 18 A Iohn̄ baptyſt. preeſtes. Ioh. i. 19 xj b 20 xix c 21 d The begynnynge of wynter. 22 viij e 23 f 24 xvj g 25 v A Iohn̄ baptyſt. Herode. Luc. iij. 26 b 27 xiii c 28 ii d 29 x e 30

December hath .xxxj. dayes. K L f 1 xviij g 2 vij A Peter / Iudas. Iohn̄. xiij. 3 b 4 xv c 5 iiij d 6 e 7 xij f 8 j g 9 A Barnabas / Ananias. Act. iiij. 10 ix b 11 c The ſonne in capricorno. 12 xvij d Solſtitium hyemale. 13 vj e 14 f 15 xiiij g 16 iij A Peter / Symon magus. Act. viij. 17 b 18 xj c 19 xix d 20 e 21 viij f 22 g 23 xvj A 24 v b The Natiuite of Chryſt. Math. ij. 25 c Paulus / Elimas magus. Act. xiij. 26 xiij d 27 ij e 28 f 29 x g 30 A 31

¶ Otto Brunſfelſius to the chryſten reder deſyreth plentye of grace.

OF this myne almanak here ſhall I entreate chryſtē reder, moche after an other forme, & ferre after an other ordre, than they which booſt themſelues to be named connynge Aſtronomers. For whyles they loke for to flatter the affections of ſome vnſtable ꝑſons, and ſo to diſceyue them, by reaſon of the influence of ye bodyes aboue (as they ſay) whiche influence, they ꝓfeſſe themſelues to knowe (thoughe by vncertayne coniectures) they do teche to deſcryue / deuyde or diſcerne one tyme from an other / and to obſerue dayes / monethes / & yeres / of this tyme yt contynually decayeth. Therfore I leanynge to the mooſt ſure worde of god, ſhall begyn this myne almanacke mooſt true, & euer for to endure, after the wyll of hym, which is moſt myghty maker & ruler (not onely of ſtarres) but of all thynges in heuen & erth. And for a generall ītroduction in maner, I ſet forth firſt theſe thinges to be redde whiche are wryten in Deutronomy .xviij. Whan yu ſhalte entre in to the lande, whiche the lorde thy god ſhal gyue the, beware that yu lerne not to do after ye abominacions of thoſe nacions. And ſe yt there be foūde none amonge you, that ſacryfyeth his ſone or doughter drawynge them thorowe the fyre: eyther that aſketh any thynge of them that vſe wytchecrafte / and obſerueth dremes / or chatteryng of byrdes / or that is a ſorcerer or a charmer: neyther ape coūſell of them that ſpeke with a ſprite / or a ſothſayer, or that talketh with them that be deed, for to knowe the truthe. For all that do ſuche thynges, the lorde dothe abhorre. And bycauſe of ſuch miſcheuous ſynnes, he ſhal dryue them out at thy cōmyng in. Be perfyte & pure therfore wt the lorde thy god. Theſe nacions that thou ſhalt conquere, & poſſeſſe their landes, gyue eare to wytches and ſothſayers: but thou art otherwyſe taught of the lorde thy god. Leuit. xx. That ꝑſone whiche turneth vnto wytches & ſothſayers / & playe the hore with them, I ſhal put my face agaynſt hym / & deſtroye hym from amongeſt his people. Sāctifye your ſelues therfore & be holy. Hieremye .x. Be not wyllyng to lerne after the wayes of the gentyles / & be not afrayde of ſignes or ſterres of ye firmamēt whiche gentyles do feare: for the lawes and ſayenges of people are vayne, and nothynge to be regarded.

Of theſe ſayingꝭ it appereth more clere than the lyght of the mydday, that ye pronoſticacions & foreſayinges of all aſtronomers, are foūded but vpon flowing ſande and vnſtable, whiche the wordes of god beyng of ſo great efficacite, eaſely deſtroyeth & bringeth them vnto nought. By the which wordes of god, we knowe alſo for a ſuretye (according as it is wryten. Exod. xx. I am ye lorde thy god, a ſtronge gelous louer) that his omnipotent maieſty wyll not admyt nor ſuffre, any of his creatures to reygne or rule with hym. For he accordyng to the perfection of his diuyne worde, is ſole ye noble ruler & gouernour, not onely of this yere, but alſo of al times and of all thyngꝭ that be in heuen, in erth and in hell. Wytnes not Ptolomey of Alexādry, Albumaſer, Haly, Meſzhulle, Hermes, & ſuche other? but that noble kynge and prophete Dauid in the .xxiij. pſalme, ſayinge. The erth is the lordes, & all that is therin / the rounde worlde, & all yt dwelleth in it. A lorde myghty, ſtronge, and of great power: he is the kynge of glory.

Alſo Ioſue .ij. The lorde is your god, he is the god in heuen aboue, & in erth benethe. Ecclaſtici .j. There is one moſt hye maker of all, omnipotēt & a myghty kyng and moche to be dredde, ſyttyng vpon his trone, a god hauyng dominion. .j. to the Corinth .viij. We knowe that an ydoll is nothynge in this worlde / & that there is no god but one / to vs onely there is but one god, whiche is the father / of whome cōme all thynges / & we in hym / and one lorde Ieſus Chryſte / by whome are all thynges / and we by hym.

To ye Ephe. iiij. There is but one lorde / one fayth / one baptyſme / one god and father of all / whiche is aboue all / thorowe all / & in you all. The firſt of Timo. ij. There is one god / and one mediatour bytwene god & mā / whiche is ye man Chryſt Ieſus. &c. To the Hebrues .xiij. Ieſus Chryſt yeſterdaye and to daye / & the ſame contynueth for euer.

¶ Of frutes of the erth.

¶ It beſemeth not to cloke or hyde the truthe / but rather it is very expedyent to ſhewe it mooſt openly to euery man. And bycauſe god hymſelfe is the very truthe / let vs gyue eare with attente & a diligent mynde vnto his owne wordes. In Deutro. xxviij. it is wrytē thus. If thou wylt herken diligently vnto the voyce of ye lord thy god / to obſerue & do all his cōmaūdementes, whiche I cōmaūde yt this daye, the lorde wyll ſet the on hye aboue all nacions of the erth. And all theſe bleſſynges ſhall cōme on the, & ouertake the. If thou ſhalt obey vnto the voyce of the lorde thy god / bleſſed ſhalte thou be in the towne / & bleſſed in ye feldes / bleſſed ſhall be ye frute of thy body / the frute of thy groūde / & the frute of thy cattell / ye frute of thyne oxen / and thy flockes of ſhepe / bleſſed ſhall thy bernes be & thy ſtore: bleſſed ſhalt thou be whan yu goeſt out, and whan yu cōmeſt in. Leuit. xxvj. If ye ſhall walke ī myne ordynaūces, & kepe my cōmaūdementes, & do them ī dede / I wyll ſende you rayne in tyme & ryght ſeaſon: and your lande ſhall brynge forth her encreaſe / & the trees of ye felde ſhall gyue theyr frutes. And corne threſſhynge ſhall reche vnto ye wyne harueſt / & the wyne harueſt ſhall reche vnto ſowynge ryme: & ye ſhall eate your breade in plenteouſnes: & ye ſhall dwell in your grounde peaſably. Leuiti. xxv. I am ye lord your god / wherfore do after myne ordynaunces, & kepe my lawes, & do them, that ye may dwell in the lande in ſafetye without any feare. And the lande ſhall bringe forth her frute, & ye ſhall eate your fyll, and dwell there in ſafetye. If ye ſhall ſay, what ſhall we eate in ye ſeuenth yere in as moche as we ſhall not ſowe nor gather in our encreaſe? I wyl ſende my bleſſynge vpon you in the ſixth yere / & it ſhall bryng forth frute for thre yeres / & ye ſhall ſowe the eyght yere / & eate of ye olde frute vntyll the .ix. &c. If theſe thynges were ꝓmyſed vnto ye fore fathers: how moche more lykewyſe vnto vs chriſtyans? For it is the ſame lorde & promyſer lyuynge for euer, whoſe ſone Ieſus Chryſt our lorde admonyſſheth vs. Math. vj. ſayenge. Be not careful / ſaying, what ſhall we eate, or what ſhall we drynke / or wherwt ſhall we be clad. For all theſe thynges ye vnfaythfull nacions ſeke beſyly for. Surely, your father in heuen knoweth yt ye haue nede of all theſe thynges. Therfore ſeke firſt ye kyngdom of heuen, & the iuſtyce of it / and all theſe thynges ſhall be mynyſtred vnto you. And it is wryten in Deutro. viij. as Chryſt ſaythe. Man lyueth not onely by breade / but in euery worde that ꝓcedeth from the mouth of god. Math. iiij.

Alſo Deutro. viij. Take hede and beware that thou neuer forgete the lorde thy god, and doeſt not regarde his cōmaūdemētes lawes & ordynaūces, whiche I cōmaūde the this day / oneles after thou haſt eaten and fylled the full / & haſt bylte the goodly houſes, & dwelte therin / & haſt droues of oxen, & flockes of ſhepe, & plenty of golde and ſyluer, & of all thynges: than beware leeſt thyne herte ryſeth & be proude / & forgeteſt the lorde thy god. &c. Eſaye .j. If ye wyll heare & be ruled, ye ſhall haue your pleaſure of the beſt frute of the lande: but if ye wyll not, & ꝓuoke me to diſpleaſure / the ſworde ſhall deuoure you. Eſaye. lv. All ye that are at hurſt, cōme to ye waters. Alſo you yt wante ſyluer, go quyckly: bye that ye mought eate, go your wayes and bye wyne & mylke without money, & wt out pryce or exchaunge. Wherfore do you lay out your money for ye fode that fedeth not? and ſpende your labour aboute that thynge that ſatiſfyeth you not. And wherfore rather lyſten you not vnto me, yt your ſoules mought eate of ye beſt / & take theyr fyll vpon the fatteſt delycates? Gyue eare to me, & cōme to me, take hede to me, and your ſoules ſhall be refreſſhed. &c.

In the .xxij. chap. Hieremy ſaith vnto the euyll kynge Ioacim. Thy father, dyd he not eate & drynke (that is to ſaye, lyued in peace) & kepte equite & iuſtyce, that tyme whan he was in proſperite? He iudged ye cauſe of the poore & nedy / ſo yt it redowned to his owne goodnes. And was it not therfore (ſayth the lorde) bycauſe he knewe & regarded me? but thy eyes & thy herte, is all gyuen vnto auaryce, & blode ſhedynge and that of innocētes / & to iniuſt vexacion of other, ronnyng to euery vnhappy dede. Therfore ye lorde ſayd theſe thynges vnto Ioacim kynge of Iuda, ſone of Ioſyas. Neyther brother nor ſyſter ſhall bewayle hym and ſay alas. Nor none ſhall crye to hym, ſayenge alas lorde / alas noble man. He ſhal be buryed as an aſſe is buryed putrifyed / & caſt out of ye gates of Ieruſalē. Prouerb. xiij. A iuſt & a good man eateth and fulfylleth his appetyte as moche as he wyll: but the bely of an vngodly man ſhall neuer haue ynough. The prophete pſal. liiij. Caſt thy carefull mynde vpon the lorde / & he ſhall nouryſſhe the / & ſhall neuer ſuffre a rightwiſe man to wauer or fall. Pſal. xxxvj. I haue ben yonge, and am cōme to age: & yet ſawe I neuer the ryghtwyſe forſaken / or his ſede beggyng theyr breade.

¶ Of ſterilite & derth of vytaylles / corne or frutes.

¶ Contrary to theſe thynges, god dothe threten. Leui. xxvj. If ye wyll not herken vnto me, nor wyll do all theſe my cōmaū demētes / or yf ye ſhall deſpyſe my lawes, and contemne myne ordynaūces / ſo that ye wyll not do all thynges as I haue ordeyned, but ſhall breake myne appoyntmēt: than wyll I lykewiſe do this agayn vnto you. Ye ſhal ſowe your ſede in vayne for your ennemyes ſhall deuour & deſtroy it. I wyll make ye heuē ouer you as harde as yron / & your lande as harde as braſſe: & ſo your labour ſhall be ſpente in vayne. For your lande ſhal not gyue her encreaſe Nor the trees of the erth ſhall gyue theyr frutes. I wyll breke ye ſtaffe of your breade, that .x. wyues ſhall bake your breade in one ouen / & men ſhall delyuer you your breade agayne by weyght. Than ſhall you eate, and not be ſatiſfyed.

Deutro. xxviij. And yf yu wylt not herken vnto the voyce of ye lorde thy god, to kepe and to do all his cōmaūdementes & ordynaunces, whiche I cōmaūde yt this day: than all theſe curſes ſhall cōme vpon the, and ouertake the. Curſed ſhalt thou be in the towne, & curſed in ye felde / curſed ſhall be thy barne & thy ſtore. Curſed ſhall the frute of thy body, & the frute of thy lande be / & the frute of thyne oxen, & the flockes of thy ſhepe. &c. And the heuen yt is ouer thy heed, ſhall be braſſe / & the lande that thou treadeſt vpon yron. And ye lorde ſhall turne the rayne of the lande vnto powder and duſt / euen frō heuen they ſhall cōme vpon the, vntyll yu be brought to nought. Thou ſhalt caſt moche ſede in to ye felde, & ſhalt gather but lytell in: for the locuſtes ſhall deſtroy it. Thou ſhalt plante a vyneyarde & dreſſe it, but ſhalt neyther drynke of the wyne, nor gather of the grapes / for the wormes ſhall eate it. The ꝓphete Agge. j. cha. ye dyd ſowe moche, & caryed in / but lytell ye dyd eate, & were not ſatiſfyed / ye dranke & had not ynough. And for what cauſe? (ſaith the lorde) bycauſe my hous is forſaken & deſolate, and you haue hyed euery one to his owne hous. And for this the heuens are ꝓhibite to gyue dewe vpon you. And ye erth is forbyddē to gyue her encreaſe. And god ſhall call drought vpon ye lande & moūtaynes, vpon wheate and wyne / and vpon oyle, and all thinges that the erth bryngeth forth.

¶ Of ſyckneſſes.

¶ God ſendeth ſyckneſſes vnto men, ſom tyme for theyr ſynnes / & many tymes for to quycken theyr fayth, & to exerciſe theyr charite & loue to god & to their neyghbour To ye Hebre. xij. The lord chaſtiſeth them whome he loueth, & correcteth euery ſone that he fauoureth. Leuit. xxvj. If ye wyll not yet be lerned for al this, but ſhall walke contrarywyſe vnto me: than wyll I alſo walke cōtrary vnto you / & wyll punyſſhe you ſeuen tymes for your ſynnes. And whan you are fled vnto your cytyes, I wyll ſende ye peſtilence among you. &c. Deutro. xxviij. If it be ſo that thou wylt not heare the voyce of ye lorde thy god / he ſhall make the peſtilence cleaue vnto the / vntyll he hath conſumed from the lande whether thou goeſt for to enioye it: & the lorde ſhall ſmyte the wt ſwellynges / with feuers / colde / hote / burnyng / & wt corrupt ayre / & blaſtyng: and they ſhall folowe the vntyll thou peryſſhe: & ye lorde wyll ſtryke the with ye botches of Egypte / & with the emorodes / ſkall & maungyneſſe: ſo that yu ſhalt neuer be healed therof. And the lord ſhall ſmyte the wt madnes / blyndnes / and daſyng of ye mynde. The lorde ſhall ſmyte the with myſcheuous botches in ye knees & legges / vncurable / euen from ye ſole of ye fote, vnto ye top of thy heed. Excepte ye be diligent to kepe & do al the wordes of this lawe, that are wryten in this boke / for to feare this gloryous & fearful name of the lorde thy god: the lorde wyll encreaſe thy thy plages / & ſmyte bothe the & thy ſeade with wonderfull great plages / & of longe contynuaunce / & with very euyll ſyckneſſes / and of longe duraūce. More ouer, he wyl brynge vpon the all the afflictions of egypte / whiche yu waſt afrayde of / & they ſhall cleaue vnto the. Beſyde this all maner ſyckneſſes / & all maner plages, which are not wryten in the booke of this lawe / wyll the lorde brynge vpon ye / vntyll thou be cōme to nought: & all bycauſe yu wylte not herken vnto ye voyce of ye lord thy god.

¶ Of warre and peace.

¶ The very true peace is onely in Chryſt but in the worlde / all maner of myſchefe. Iohn̄. xvj. Theſe thinges haue I ſpoken (ſaythe Chryſt) vnto you / that in me ye may haue peace / but in ye worlde ye ſhall haue tribulacion. In the worlde is ambicion of honour & dominion, & all deſyre of theyr owne profyte & of rycheſſe / & inordynate affections of worldly & carnall pleaſures / wherof do ſprynge al ſtryfe and batayle / whiche god ſendeth for ye tranſgreſſyon of his lawes & cōmaundementes. Eſaye. j. If ye wyll be ſtubburne, & prouoke me vnto diſpleaſure: ye ſhall be deuoured with ſworde. For ſo hath god promyſed with his owne mouth. Deutro. xxviij. ſayth Moyſes. If thou obſerue ye lawes & cōmaūdementes of the lorde thy god: he ſhall ſmyte thyne ennemyes that ryſe agaynſt ye before thy face. They cōme out agaynſt the one waye, & flee from the ſeuen wayes. And contrarywyſe ſhall he deale with the, yf thou be diſobedyent. Alſo .xxxij. without forth, the ſworde ſhal deſtroy them / & within the hous feare: & that bothe yonge men & yonge women / & the ſuckelynges, wt men of grey heades.

Iob. xix. The venger of iniquities, and of vngracyous lyuynge, is the ſworde.

Leuit. xxvi. If ye wyll not heare me / I ſhall enduce vpon you the ſworde, venger of my couenaunt. Loke diligently vpon theſe chapters of Ieremy .ix.xv.xxix.xlij xliij.xvj.l. And Ezechiel .v.vj.vij.xxxviij. Oſee. vij. Amos. vij.viij.

Baruc. iij. O Iſraell, what meaneth it that yu art in ye lande of thyne ennemyes? the anſwere foloweth. Thou haſt left the well of wyſdom. For yf yu haddeſt walked in the waye of god: veryly yu ſholdeſt haue dwelte in peace vpon thyne owne lande.

¶ Of kynges and pryncys.

¶ All powers are ordeyned by god. Rom. xiij. wherfore all pryncys ought hyely for to ſtudy & to apply them ſelues, that they may lyue & do ſeruyce according to ye wyll of hym yt is kyng of all kynges, & lorde of al lordes, of whom they take their power. And not onely kyng & kyngdomes / but alſo princys, & them that be of ye coūſell, are ordeyned of god. Prouerb. viij. If they wyll haue their ſubiectes obediēt, louing & to be at reſt / it may not be by their owne polycy, ſtrong hande or oppreſſion: but as Dauid ſayth in the pſalme. Thou art he that ſubdueſt my people vnder me. For al thinges (heuen, ye worlde, aūgels, Paule Cephas, Appollo, the prynce, thelemētes, tyme, ſatan, ſynne, deth, hell) are ſubiecte vnto vs: where we be ſubiecte vnto god / hauynge no confidence but onely in hym. Experience of this they may ſe in ye bokes of Iudicum and of kynges.

Prouerb. xxj. As the diuiſions of waters (whiche were ſet aboue the firmament & vndernethe, onely by goddes diſpoſicion) ſo is the hert of a kyng in ye hande of god / what way it pleaſe hym, he ſhall make it to bowe. Ecclaſtici. x. The power of the worlde is in the hande of god. And all the iniquite & ſynne of the people, is abomynable: and whan tyme is, he ſhall ſet vp a profytable ruler ouer them.

¶ How pryncys ought to meke them ſelues vnto the preachynge of goddes worde.

¶ Many notable examples we haue in holy ſcripture of pryncys & kynges, how they haue be mekened & fal to repentaūce thorowe the worde of god / namely Ione the thyrde. The worde came to ye kyng of Niniue / & he roſe from his ſeate of eſtate, and keſt from hym his clothes / & put on ſackcloth, & ſate downe in the aſſhes. Alſo Dauid, monyſſhed of Nathan, ſayd Peccaui. ij. reg. xij. &. xxiiij. Eccliaſtici. x. The ſeatꝭ of proude leders, god hath deſtroyed and hath made to ſyt in theyr ſtede, thoſe that be mylde. The rotes of proude people (that is rycheſſe) god hathe made to wyther awaye: & planted for them ſuche as were meke, euen of the ſame people. God hath deſtroyed the good reporte of ye proude / & reſerued ye fame of them that be meke or lowly in theyr owne conceyte.

Dauid in ye ſecond pſalme. Now ye kingꝭ be wyſe and vnderſtande: ye iudges and rulers of the lande, be content to be monyſſhed and lerned. Let them take hede what is wryten Sapientie .vj.

¶ Of them that haue taken the goſpell of Chryſt.

¶ All they whiche knowe & haue taken vpon them ye goſpell of Ieſu Chryſt, ſone of the lyuynge god: ſhall be vexed & exerciſed with many tentacions & tribulacions of this worlde. Ioan. xvj. Theſe thynges haue I ſayd vnto you: that ye may haue peace in me, in the worlde ye haue affliccion: but be of good chere, for I haue ouer cōme the worlde. In the ſame chapyter. Veryly veryly I ſay vnto you, ye ſhall be ſorowfull and wepe / but the worlde ſhall ioye and be mery: ye ſhall be heuy, but your heuyneſſe ſhall be turned vnto ioye.

The ſeconde to Tymothe .iij. All that wyll lyue godly in Ieſu Chryſt / ſhall ſuffre perſecucions.

¶ Of the offyce of good pryncys.

¶ Eccleſiaſt. x. The dignytye of a wyſe prynce (that is of hym that dredeth god) ſhall be ſtablyſſhed. Eccleſiaſtes .x. Happye is that lande, whiche hath a noble kynge. And that alſo, whoſe pryncys eate theyr meate in conuenyent tyme: & that for to be refreſſhed, and not to exceſſe voluptuouſly. Prouerb. xxix. A ryghtwiſe kynge promoteth his lande: a couetous man ſhall deſtroye it. A kynge that iudgeth the poore in truth: his trone ſhall be ſtablyſſhed for euer in truthe.

¶ Of the dignite of euyll princys.

¶ This is true, Rom̄. xiij. that all power is of the ordynaūce of god / for ye ſauegard of thoſe that be good / & for ye punyſhment of them that be euyll. Wherfore we muſt obey pryncys, alſo though they be euyll & tyraūtes. The rodde of Aſſur is neuertheles in the hande of god. Iob. xxxiiij. How may he be healed that loueth not equite? what way canſt yu cōdemne hym, whiche is ryghtous? whiche ſaye to a kyng / thou art apoſtata / whiche calleth capteyns vngracyous / and maketh a falſe ypocryte to reygne, bycauſe of ye vngracyous lyuyng of ye people. Prouerb. xxviij. For ye ſynnes of the lande: there be many prynces of it. And for ye wyſdome of a man, & knowlege of thoſe thynges that are taught, the lyfe of a capteyn ſhall be prolonged. A roryng lyon & an hūgry beare: an vngodly prynce ouer the poore people. A capteyn lackyng wyſdome, ſhall oppreſſe many by fraudulent vexacion. Therfore let prīcys beware leſt it chaunceth to them, as dyd vnto Adonibezec. Iudic. j. to Abimelec. Iudic. ix. vnto Pharao. Exod. xiiij. to Hieroboā. iij. of kyngꝭ. xiij. to Ieſabell. iiij. of kyngꝭ. ix. to Agag. j. of kynges. xvj. to Roboam. iij. of kyngꝭ. xij.xiiij. to Nabugodonoſor. Daniel. ix. to Antiocus. j. of the Machab. vij. to Herode, of ye Actes. xij. & many other.

¶ Of Cytyes.

¶ Thoſe Cityes are acurſed, that whan ye worde of god is ſhewed vnto them, they wyll not receyue it, ne take repentaunce. Math. xj. Wo be to the Choraſyn, wo be to the Betzaida: for yf ye myracles, which were ſhewed ī you, had be done in Tyre & Sydon / they had repented longe ago in ſackcloth & aſſhes. Neuertheles I ſay vnto you, it ſhal be eaſyer for Tyre & Sydon at the day of iudgemēt, than for you. And thou Capernaum, which art lyft vp vnto heuen: ſhalt be brought downe to hell. For yf ye myracles whiche haue be done in the had be ſhewed in zodom / they had remayned vnto this daye. Math. xxiij. Ieruſalem / Ieruſalem, whiche kylleſt ꝓphetes & ſtoneſt them which are ſent vnto ye. &c. Beholde your habitacion ſhal be left vnto you deſolate. Ione. iij. God ſawe ye workes of the Niniuytes, whiche were cōuerred from their euyll waye: & he retracted the punyſhment, that he had thretened to do vnto them. Wherfore you ſenatours & people of chryſtyan Cytyes, I deſyre you all yt I can, feare god & gladly receyue his worde / & louyngly cleue thervnto / & with that, ſtudy for the ꝓfyte of ye cōmen welth & brotherly charite: & all thynges ſhal ſuccede vnto you proſperouſly / not onely in this worlde, but for euer in the worlde to cōme. And choſe ſuche officers as haue ye feare of god, and ſo forth / as it is wryten Exodi. xviij. For cōmenly according to the iudge of ye people, ſuche are his miniſters And as the ruler of the Citye is: ſuche are the inhabytauntes therin.

¶ Of vſurers.

¶ Where ſo euer the cōmen welthe, and brotherly charite, is not regarded (whiche is mooſt pryncipally, whan vſury is exercyſed and ſuffred) the cōmen welthe can neuer be well ordred. The lorde god prohybyteth vſury in many places of ſcripture. And how greatly he abhorreth it, he ſheweth Eſaye. v. Woo be to you that ioyne togyder houſe to houſe, and couple felde to felde. &c. Abacuc. ij. Woo be to hym that gathereth & multyplyeth that whiche is not his owne. Prouerb. xj. He that hydeth vp his corne, ſhall be curſed amongeſt the people: and the bleſſynge of god ſhall cōme vpon the heades of them that ſelleth. God commaundeth you to lende, yf ye wyll be his chylderne, lokynge for nothynge agayne. Luke. vj. If ye wyll ſe more where it is cōmaunded, loke Exodi. xxii. Leuit. xxv. Deutronomy. xxiij. Ezechiel. xviij. and .xxij. Math. v. Pſal. ix.lx.

¶ That the vngodly ſholde loke for no good fortune.

¶ Who ſo euer ſeketh for his owne ꝓfyte caryng neyther for ryght nor wronge, ne regarde brotherly charite: he may wel be called vngodly / to whom it is veryly aſſured by holy ſcripture, that ſhortly the vengeaunce of god ſhall cōme vpon hym.

Iob. xxxvij. There ſhall be takē from the vngodly, their lyght. Pſal. ix. The vngodly is trapped in the workes of his owne handes / & ſhall be ouerthrowen in to hell, with all them yt forgete god. Pſal. lxxiiij. god ſayth. I ſhal breake ye hornes of theſe vngracyous: but ye power of ye ryghtwyſe ſhall be ſtyll exalted. Pſal. ciij. Let ye ſynners be cōſumed vpon the erth / & the vngodly alſo, vntyll none be lefte alyue. Pſal. cxxviij. The ryghtuouſe lorde ſhall kytte of the neckes of the vngodly.

¶ How that the vngodly perſecute the good.

¶ He is by ryght called vngodly, whiche cōtemneth goddes worde, wherby fayth cōmeth in to vs, by the whiche onely we be iuſtifyed & ſaued. Eſaye. lvij. The vngodly (ſaythe the lorde) hathe no peace. Eccle. xxviij. An vngodly man troubleth frendes. And amongeſt them that are in peace / he caſteth debate. Chryſte ſaythe Ioh. xv. As they haue perſecuted me / ſo ſhall they perſecute you.

¶ That many with their ryches ſhall fall and be deſtroyed for the worde of god / namely whan it is ſtyfly reſyſted by pertinacite abomynable.

¶ Luc. ij. Beholde, this chylde (Chryſt) is put in to ye fall & in to ye reyſyng agayne of many in Iſrael: & in to a marke whiche ſhal be gaynſayd: yea & thyne owne ſoule ſhal be perced wt a ſworde / ſo that ye preuy cogitaciōs of many mens hertes, ſhall be made open. .j. Pet. ij. This ſtone whiche the bylders keſt awaye / is made the heed corner ſtone / & a ſtone of offence / & a rocke to ſtumble vpon, to them that are not content with his worde / nor beleue yt, wheron they were ſet. Math. xxj. And he that falleth vpon this ſtone, ſhall be broken: & vpon who ſo euer the ſtone fall, it ſhall cruſſhe hym all to peces.

¶ Of the ſtate of them that be called ſpirituall, and of the chyrche.

¶ The ſtate of the chyrche / whether it be called of ſpiritual men / of religyous / or of monkes: it is no pryncys ſtate or dignite / but a mynyſtracion or a ſeruyce: or elles theyr parte ſhall be amongeſt the kynges of the infydeles. Luc. xxij. He that is greter amongeſt you / muſt be as ye yonger: & he that gothe before / muſt be as a ſeruer.

¶ The dominyon of vngodly prelates and paſtours, ſhall not be ſtablyſſhed.

¶ Hiere. xxiij. The lorde ſayth. Wo be to you paſtours, that deſtroye and teare in peces the flocke of my paſture. &c. Surely, bothe prophete and preeſt are polluted And in my houſe (ſayth the lorde) I haue foūde theyr malyce. For that cauſe, theyr waye ſhall be, as it were ſlypper in darknes: they ſhall be threſte at, & fall therin.

Ezechiel. xxxiiij. The lorde god ſaythe theſe thynges. Wo be to the paſtours of Iſrael, which fedde them ſelues. &c. My flockes haue wandred out of the waye in all moūtaynes: & there was none yt wolde ſeke for them. &c. Beholde therfore, I my ſelfe wyll requyre vpon my paſtours my flocke out of their handes: & I ſhall make them to ceaſe, that they ſhall no more fede my flocke / neyther any more ſhall ſuche paſtours fede them ſelues: & I ſhall delyuer my flocke out of theyr mouth: & they ſhall haue it no more to their meate. Loke vpon Eſay. j. Hiere. ij. xx. Iohn̄. x. Math. xxj. zachari. xj. Our lorde graūte that the eyes of their herte may be lyghtened / and they cōuerted, and returne to the lorde.

¶ Of the cōmen ſorte of chryſtianes.

¶ To the cōmen chryſten people, yf they be of one accorde, & agre in vnite of fayth and hope in Ieſu Chryſt onely, and his goſpell / & in fraternall charite: al thinges ſhall ſuccede at theyr deſyre. But yf they reyſe vp them ſelfe contrary to Chryſt & his goſpell / it can be none otherwyſe, but the ſworde, hunger, peſtilence, noyſome beeſtes, tyrauntes, and all maner of ſyckneſſes ſhall fall vpon them / & they ſhal be gyuen vp in to the handes of theyr ennemyes. Deutro. xxviij. Leui. xxvj. Hebr. x. How moche more ſuppoſe you, them to deſerue worſe turmentry, whiche treadeth downe the ſone of god, & counteth ye blode of the teſtamēt polluted, wherby he was ſanctifyed / & deſpyſeth ye ſpryte of grace? Let all them therfore be of good chere, yt receyue ye worde of god. For though they be kepte vnder in this worlde: neuertheles in that eternal & heuenly coūtrey, they ſhall haue glory, with ꝑpetuall victory & triumphe of their ennemyes: whan they ſhall be turmented in fyre of euerlaſtyng malediction. Philip .j. In nothynge be ye afrayde of your aduerſaryes / for that which is to them cauſe of perdicion / is to you cauſe of ſaluacion / and that by god.

ij. Corinth. iiij. If ſo be our goſpell be hydden: it is hydden in thoſe that peryſh, in whiche the god of this worlde, hathe blynded the myndes of vnbeleuers / leeſt the lyght of ye gloryous goſpell of Chryſt, whiche is the ymage of god, ſholde ſhyne vpon them. ij. Corinth. ij. We be a good odoure of Chryſte to god, bothe amonge them that be ſaued, and amonge them that peryſſhe.

¶ That ſedicious perſones may loke to haue nothynge proſperous.

¶ He is called ſedicious, whiche ſetteth vp hym ſelfe agaynſt his prince (whome he is bounde to obey) thoughe it were ſo that tyrauntes beare the rowme. For all power is ordeyned by god. Rom̄. xiij.

Prouerb. xxiiij. Feare ye lorde (my ſone) and the kynge / and meddle not with detractours: for ſodeynly ſhall theyr perdicion ryſe: and who can tell the ruyne of them bothe? Folowe not euyll men, neyther deſyre to be with them. For theyr mynde is occupyed aboute rapyne: and theyr lyppes talkynge fraudes.

Hieremy .xxviij. Thou haſt brokē treen ſetters / and for them thou ſhalt make fetters of yron. Dathan and Abiron, and all ſedicious, were punyſſhed of the lorde As it appereth Numeri. xvj. and .iij. reg. xvj. Rom̄. xiij. He that reſyſteth power, reſyſteth gods ordynaūce. Math. xxvj. All that take the ſworde / ſhall peryſſhe with the ſworde. Gene. ix. Who ſo euer ſhedeth mans blode / ſhall haue his blode ſhedde agayne.

¶ That no man ſholde preſume to caſt of the burthen whiche is layde vpon hym / oneles he be laden with an heuyer & oppreſſed.

¶ Hieremy .xxv. Bycauſe ye haue not herde my wordes: beholde, I ſhall ſende and take vnto me, all the cognacion of the north (ſayth the lorde) and Nabuchodonoſor kynge of Babylon my ſeruaūt: and I ſhall brynge them vpon this lande, and vpon the inhabyters of it, and vpon all ye nacions that be aboute it, and I ſhall ſlee them, & put them as men that were out of theyr wytte, in to contempte, and in to deſolacion for euer. Hieremy .xxvij. And now therfore, I haue gyuen all theſe landes in ye hande of Nabuchodonoſor kyng of Babylon my ſeruaunt. .j. Corin. vij. Thou art called to be a ſeruaunt, care not for it. The Ire & punyſhment of god was fyerce, bycauſe of ye ſynnes of his people. And therfore he ſtereth vp tyraūtes, whiche doth hym ſeruyce agaynſt his people. Rede Hieremy. xxvij. the laſt ende.

¶ That falſe prophetes, whiche teache ye liberty of ye fleſſhe are not to be herde.

¶ Hiere. xxvij. Be not wyllynge to heare your prophetes, and ſothſayers, dreame reders, augurers, & enchaunters, which ſaye to you. Ye ſhall not ſerue the kynge of Babylon. For they prophecye lyes vnto you, that they mought make you farre from your countrey, and caſt you out, and that ye ſholde peryſſhe. In the ſame chapiter. Heare not the wordes of your falſe prophetes. &c.

¶ Of Antechryſt.

¶ Euery one yt ſpeketh agaynſt Chryſte, and cleueth to ye pleaſures of this worlde that ſhortly ſhall peryſſhe: is Antechryſt. .j. Iohan .ij. It is ſure, that there be many Antechryſtes. But the very hye & principall Antechryſt, is begon to be reueled and declared in theſe our dayes, by holy ſcriptures / whiche vntyl he be deſtroyed with the ſpryte of the mouth of our lorde Ieſus Chryſt / ſhall rule and rage cruelly in ye worlde. Daniel .xj. And there ſhall fall of them that be well lerned: ſo that they ſhall be tryed by fyre, and choſen out, and made whyte, vnto the tyme appoynted. For yet an other tyme ſhall be: and a kynge ſhall do after his owne wyll: and ſhall be lyfte vp in pryde, and magnyfyed agaynſt euery god. And ſhall ſpeke great thynges agaynſt the god of goodes: and he ſhall proſpere tyll the wrath of god be perfourmed. For the diffinicion is ſo ſet. And he ſhall not regarde the god of his fathers: & ſhall be in ye cōcupiſcences of women: neyther he ſhal care for any goddes. For he ſhall ryſe agaynſt al thynges. And he ſhall honoure the god Maozim in his place: and ſhall worſhyp a god that his fathers neuer knewe, with golde / ſyluer / precyous ſtone / & other precious thinges.

¶ Of the ſtate of religyon and papyſtes.

¶ Math. xv. Chryſt ſayth. All the plantacion which my heuenly father haue not planted / ſhall be plucked vp by the rote. The more they ſhall enforce to defende theyr lyuynge before god abomynable: ſo moche more ſhall theyr myſcheues and ſymulacions be made open to all ye worlde. He that hath eares for to heare / let hym heare what are wryten Iohan .v.

¶ Of the reformacion of Chryſtes chyrche.

¶ Onely god knoweth the chriſtyan chyrche: for it is ſpirituall, and knowen onely by the ſpiryte: wherfore to god onely whiche is a ſpiryte, it is entyerly knowen. This chyrche, as longe as it cleueth faſt to the worde of god: it can not but ſtande ſure. yf not / ſoone it peryſſheth. How euer ſo moche other thynge is conſtytute and ordeyned in counſelles of preeſtes / byſſhoppes / and pryncys of this worlde. For (as we ſaid before) euery plantacion that my heuenly father haue not planted, ſhall be plucked vp by the roote. Rede in the Actes .v. and to the Romayns .xiiij.

¶ Of the Iewes.

¶ Of the Iewes blyndnes the ſcripture is full: bleſſed is he that vnderſtande it, and vnto his ende dothe abyde the grace & mercy of god. Rom̄. xj. My bretherne I wyll not that ye forgete this myſterye (leeſt you be hye mynded, or wyſe in your owne conceyte) For blyndnes chaunced partly in Iſraell, vntyll the fulnes of gentyles ſhall cōme in / and ſo the whole Iſraell ſhall be ſaued. For god is ſtronge ynough to graffe them in agayne.

¶ Of ſygnes of the laſt daye.

¶ Many ſygnes of the laſt daye, wherof Chryſte maketh mencyon, Math. xxiiij. are ſeen and fulfylled all redy. Therfore lyfte vp your heades ye chryſten men / for your redempcion draweth nere.

¶ The concluſyon.

THis our pronoſticacyon gentyll reader, nedeth no declaracyon of phyloſophye or aſtrologye, whiche is of mannes inuencyon: for it is foūded vpon the onely euerlaſtynge worde of the omnipotent god / whoſe power no man may reſyſt / and vnder whome they bowe and obey, that beareth vp this worlde. Iob. ix.

Let no man therfore contempne theſe thynges / neyther reſyſt the trewth openly knowen / interpretyng them any otherwyſe, than our lorde Ieſus Chryſt hath interpreted: oneles we be deſpoyled of the grace and mercy, whiche we haue obteyned by hym .j. Iohan. iij. But rather let hym enforce to applye hym faſte, from ignoraunce and lyes vnto the trewthe, whiche is god hym ſelfe: to whome onely be honour and glory for euer. Amen.

The wyll of the lorde be done. Act. xxj.

¶ To the chryſten reders.

LO good reders, here may you ſe, what the cauſe is of all the punyſhmentes, plages, & myſeryes that god ſendeth vpon vs: that is bycauſe we do not obſerue the lawes of god / nor do not lyue accordynge to his worde. And not as many bothe do thinke and ſaye, that theſe newe lawes & newe lernynges are the cauſes. Is not this newe lernynge the very trewe worde of god? Elles let them cōme and proue the contrary. But now that lyght is cōme in to this worlde: they that haue be brought vp in darknes, loue better darknes than lyght / yea rather they hate the lyght, and wyll not cōme at it / leeſt theyr ypocryſye and theyr cerymonyous good workes, after the inuencions of men, ſholde appere nought, and worthy to be reproued.

Thoſe ſorte wolde I exhorte to cōme whyles they haue lyght, and beleue in it, leeſt (remaynynge here in theyr inwarde darknes) they be keſt in to the outwarde darknes, where ſhall be euer ſorowe and myſery. ¶ An other ſorte there is (the more pytye) that ſeme to fauour ye lyght of goddes worde, and folowe and fauour the preachers therof: but they ſeke the libertie of the fleſſhe, and not of the ſpirite, lyuynge after theyr fleſhly luſtes, and after the noughty faſhyon of the worlde, in couetouſnes / ambicion / pryde, with infynyte other euylles / onely ſekyng for theyr owne profytes and pleaſures / though it be to theyr chryſtyan brothers greate detriment. This cōmeth of inordynate loue that men haue to them ſelues: whiche is cauſe of moche other euyll: and neuer can bryng forth good frute of fayth / thus contynuynge to the ende of theyr lyfe, ledde contynually ferre out of charite, through theyr propre loue: yet they thynke than to be ſaued by their fayned fayth. Whiche I feare me, for lacke of teſtimony of good workes, ſhall be diſalowed at the daye of iudgement, whan Chryſte ſhall ſaye. I was hungry / and ye gaue me no meate, and ſo forthe. This ſorte lette that other ſorte from cōmynge to the lyght. And it is to be feared, that theſe cōmunycacions in this pronoſticacion, ſhall fall vpon vs / not bycauſe we forſake obedyence to the byſſhop of Rome and his lawes, whiche hathe ledde vs in to darknes, and out of the ryght way to godwarde / nor bycauſe of this newe preachynge after the very worde of god: but bycauſe the worde is now ſo often, and ſo playnly preached vnto vs / and we remayne ſtyll after the olde faſhyon / as the cityes dyd, where Chryſt preached, Coroſayn, Betzayda, and Capernaum / whome he reproued and curſed, bycauſe they receyued not his wordes, ſo often ſhewed vnto them.

The grounde that is well tylled & ſowen and hath often rayne in ſeaſon / and yet brynge forth no good frute (ſayth ſaynt Paule) is curſed of the owner. Therfore let vs ſo heare the trewe worde of god / that we may chaunge our lyuynge / and lyue accordynge vnto his worde: and I doubte not, we ſhall obtayne his mercyfull promyſes, and benedictions, that he promyſeth to the kepers of his lawes, and lyue after his worde, by the grace of Chryſt, by whoſe merytes and helpe we may bryng all thynges well to paſſe / and haue not onely theſe tēporall bleſſynges / but alſo ſpirituall / true fayth / remyſſyon of ſynnes / preſeruacion in grace / and aſſuraūce of ye kyngdome of heuen. whiche I beſeche hym to graunte vs. Amen.

¶ This treatyſe or pronoſticacion is ſeen, redde, and examyned by me Iohn̄ Hylſey byſſhop of Rocheſter.

¶ Plinius in the .xviij. booke and .xxxiij. chapyter of his naturall hyſtory.

AL thynges that are cutte / plucked / ſlypte, or lopped / are beſt to be done in the latter ende of the moone.

Meddle not with dunge but in the wane of the moone. Mooſt ſpecyally dunge your lande in the laſt quarter. Gelde your pygges / calues / wether lammes, and kyddes, in ye decreaſe of the moone. Put your egges vnder ye henne at the newe moone. Make your dyches or holes for to plante in / aboute the full of the moone at nyght. Whan it is full moone, couer the rootes of your trees.

In moyſt places ſowe your ſede / betwixt the newe moone and the olde / or aboute foure dayes before, or after. They wyll alſo that ye wenowe your corne or ſedes, and laye them vp aboute the laſt endyng of the moone. And to ſowe ſedes whyles the moone is ouer the erth: and muſt be preſſed whan the moone is vnder the erth.

¶ Imprynted at London in Flete ſtrete / at the ſygne of the ſonne by me Iohn̄ Byddell.

Cum priuilegio Regali.

printer's device of John Byddell, his mark and initials in white on a black background, within a circular border (McKerrow 78) ¶ Iohn̄ Byddell.