A very true pronostication/ with a Calendar/ gathered out of the most ancient books of right holy Astronomers/ for the year of our lord M. CCCCC.xxxvj. And for all years here after perpetual. Translated out of latin in to english by Iohn Ryckes priest. Cum privilegio Regali. printer's device of John Bydell, featuring a compartment exhibiting the seven cardinal virtues, with Bydell's mark and name below (McKerrow 85) Iohn Byddell. JUSTICIA Charitas Fides PRUDENCIA SPES Obedientia Patientia ¶ To the right noble and godly wise, of the kings noble counsel: to whom his grace hath assigned to examine english books that are to be imprinted/ and to approve those that are catholic & profitable to the christian comen wealth: and other to reprove. Abundance of grace and everlasting health. When I had red over this little book/ which was found cast in a corner among other pamflets not regarded: which book is named a prognostication/ & that (as is no doubt) most true/ and very necessary to be known: my conscience moved me (though I can but little skill to enterprise such a thing) for to translate it out of latin in to english/ for a more comen wealth Pity I had to see so good a work/ so ꝓfytabte a light (as they say Mat. 5. lu. 8. 11.) to be hidden under a bushel. Wherefore under your judgement & correction I will be glad to put it upon a candlestick/ that it may be seen to many/ & give light far abroad. which I can not do better, than to dedicate it unto your goodness/ whose godly wisdom & learning, is known to be so good & circumspect, that it would not suffer such a thing to go abroad, but if it were for a comen wealth. The comen pronostications, that yearly goeth about are but trifles in regard of this & vain (ye after my mind) deceivable & harmful, to not a few persons, that hath credence in them. How can they tell of things to come/ or what shall chance to men here after. job. 38. Act. 1. It only dependeth in the disposition & power of god/ which ordereth all things in time & place as it pleaseth him. God saith by his prophet isaiah xlj. Show you what things are for to come: & we shall know you to be gods. And in an other place, speaking to the Babylones. Esa. 47. Let your Augurers of the firmament, stand & save you, which be hold the stars & number the months for to show by them, what things are for to come. etc. Deuter. 28. God promiseth all things to succeed and to come well to pass, unto all them that believe purely in him & will observe his laws. And threateth the contrary to miscreants & evil doers. Wherefore if they hap sometime to touch the truth: it is because they see by conjecture the conditions & manners of people, by the sentence of god in holy scripture to deserve and be worthy, either peace or war, health or sickness, dearth or plenty, with such other things as they write of in their ꝓnostications/ which if they did not in avaunsing themselves, seeking praise & vain glory of the world: but referring all to the word of god/ grounded thereupon/ and not upon their vain aucrours and planets: they might well be herd, & credence be given unto them, if they spoke not so darkly. Therefore that men should not spend their time in vain/ it is better that they should leave such trifles and uncertain sayings/ & lean sadly to this sure & true prognostication, grounded only upon the word of god, most sure foundation, and of most high authority. In this a man may somewhat learn to know and fear god/ & to have in reverence the holy scripture/ wherein only is contained all things that belongeth to the health of souls/ and to the godly administration & governance of the comen wealth/ where unto god hath called you. And for a some as concerning such things in scripture there are set forth here in this calendar following, in stead of saints days, certain holy histories, whereby they may perceive the benignity & severity/ the mercy, & rigorousness of god towards mankind. And again, the faith, and incredulite/ the kindness, & unkindness of men towards god: what are most specially to be taken heed of in the scripture of god. So that we may learn also, to ascribe no thing to ourselves, but to refer all things to almighty god the father, thorough Chryst. If there be found any thing that is somewhat obscure: let them ask counsel of those that be good & well learned. And most specially pray to god entirely, that he will open the sense to us, that we may understand the scriptures. Luc. 24. Thus I beseech your benignityes, to accept my little labour, not considering the rude doing: but the zeal that I have to further the right ways of christian living, which shall be with the help of god's grace, if ye think it worthy to go abroad to his honour & glory, whose grace & consolation be ever with you. Amen. ¶ Of the year. ¶ The year hath. CCC.lxv. days/ & a quartern/ which always every fourth year maketh one day/ which is set in the xxij. day of February. ¶ Of the golden number. ¶ The golden number containeth xix thus to be counted, that each year from one to xix one number must be ascribed/ and in the xx. year, begin again at one. And in every fourth year, which is called Bisextile or leap year, the xxij day of February, shall contain also the xxiij And that which in the calendar is the xxiij day/ than must be the xxiiij wherefore also the dominical letter must needs be changed. ¶ Of the Dominical letter. ¶ The year of our lord. M.u. C. & xxxv was C. dominical letter. The year. M.u. C. and xxxuj leap year/ and B. dominical letter, until saint Mathyes day. And from thence forth A. shall be continued for dominical letter. The next year. g. Than f. After that. e. And than. d.c. leap year again. And so continuing backward every fourth year take two letters for leap year/ reckoning the first unto saint Mathyes day: and the second all the year after. And so continue xxviij years/ as in this table following. And than begin again/ and so for ever. 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 invention of Ester and other movable feestes. ¶ From the xxj day of March, unto the xviij. day of Apryll, we have subscribed golden numbers to the letters of the days into this use. Upon what day so ever the golden number of the year falleth/ always the sunday next following shall be Ester day. Which had, ye shall easily find, continuing upward or downward, lente or septuagesym. The ascension or Pentecost. ¶ How to find the change of the moan. ¶ If ye desire to find the conjunction, or the new moan/ we have ordered so the golden number (otherwise than it hath been in time passed) in the calendars: that where so ever ye find the golden number for that year: there is the change or conjunction. Which found, ye may easily find by division, the apposition & the increase or decrease of the moan. january hath xxxj days. K L nineteen A The Circuncision of Chryst. Luke. ij. 1 viii b Adam. Eua. Genesis. iij. 2 c 3 xuj d 4 v e 5 f The kings. Math. ij. 6 xiii g 7 ij A 8 b Abel. Cayn. Genesis. iiij. 9 x c 10 d The son in aquario. 11 xviij e 12 seven f 13 g 14 xv A 15 iiij b noah's flood. Genesis. seven. 16 c 17 xii d 18 x e 19 f 20 ix g 21 A Sem/ japhet/ Ham. Genesis. ix. 22 xvij b 23 uj c 24 d 25 xiv e 26 iij f 27 g 28 xj A Babylon. Heber. Genesis. xj. 29 nineteen b 30 c 31 February hath xxviii days. L K viii d 1 e The purification of our lady. Luke. ij. 2 xuj f 3 v g 4 A Abram. Genesis. xii. 5 xiii b 6 two c 7 d 8 x e 9 f 10 xviij g The son in piscibus. 11 seven A Loth. Sodom. Genes. nineteen. 12 b 13 xv c 14 iiij d 15 e 16 xii f 17 j g 18 A Isaac. Ishmael. Genesis. xxi. 19 ix b 20 c 21 xvij d The beginning of Ver. 22 uj e 23 f 24 xiv g 25 uj A Esau. jacob. Genes. xxvij. 26 b 27 xj c 28 March hath xxxj days. K L nineteen d 1 viii e 2 f 3 xuj g 4 v A joseph and his brethren. Gen. xxxvij. 5 b 6 xiii c 7 ij d 8 e 9 x f 10 g The son in Ariete. 11 xviii A Equinoctium vernum 12 seven b juda and his sons. Gen. xxxviij. 13 c 14 xv d 15 iiij e 16 f 17 xii g 18 i A Ephraim and Manass. Gen. xlviij. 19 b The golden number for to fyndde Ester day. 20 ix c xuj 21 d v 22 xvij e 23 uj f xiii 24 g ij The salutation of our lady. Luc. j 25 xiv A Resurrection of Chryst. Math. 28. 26 iij b x 27 c Pharaoh and Moses. Exod. seven. 28 xj d xviij 29 e seven 30 nineteen f 31 Apryll hath xxx days. K L viii g xv 1 xuj A iiij Aaron. Moses'/ & the enchanters. Exod. seven. viii. 2 v b 3 c xii 4 xiii d i 5 uj e 6 f two 7 i g 8 A xvij 9 xviij b uj The son in tauro. 10 seven c Aaron and Mary. Numeri. xii. 11 d xiv 12 xv e iii 13 iiii f 14 g xi 15 xii A 16 x b nineteen 17 c viii 28 ix d Caleb. joshua/ & the spies. Nu. xiii. 19 e 20 xvij f 21 uj g 22 A 23 xiv b Moses & Aaron at the stone of contradiction. Nu. xx. 14 iij c 25 d 26 two e 27 f 28 nineteen g 29 viii A Balaam and his ass. Nun. xxij. 30 may hath xxxj days. K L b 1 xuj c 2 v d 3 e The Ascension of our lord. Mar. xuj. 4 xiii f 5 ij g 6 A Raab. Hiericho. joshua. vj. 7 x b 8 c 9 xviij d 10 seven e 11 f 12 xv g The son in geminis. 13 iiij A The coming of the holy ghost. Act. ij. 14 b 15 xii c 16 j d 17 e 18 ix f 19 g 20 xvij A Gabaonytes. joshua. two. 21 uj b 22 c 23 xiv d 24 iij e The beginning of summer. 25 f 26 xj g 27 A A levity and his wife. judic. ix. 28 nineteen b 29 viii c 30 xviij d 31 june hath xxx days. K L v e 1 f 2 xiii g 3 ij A Ruth/ her sister. Ruth. j 4 b 5 x c 6 d 7 xviij e 8 seven f 9 g 10 xv A Anna/ Fevenna. j Samu. j 11 iiii b 12 c The son in cancro. Solsticium estivale. 13 xii d 14 j e 15 f 16 ix g 17 A Hely/ his sons i Samu. ij. 18 xvij b 19 uj c 20 d 21 xiv e 22 iij f 23 g 24 xi A Samuel/ his sons i Sam. viii. 25 b 26 nineteen c 27 viii d 28 e 29 xvi f 30 july hath xxxj days. K L v g 1 A Salutation of Elizabeth. Luc. j 2 xiii b 3 two c Saul. David i Sam. xvi. 4 d 5 x e 6 f 7 xviii g 8 seven A David/ Mychol. 2. Samuel. 6. 9 b 10 xv c 11 iiii d 12 e 13 xii f The son in leone. 14 i g 15 A David/ Betshabee two Sam. xi. 16 ix b 17 c 18 xvii d 19 vi e 20 f 21 xiiii g 22 iii A David/ Urias ii Sam. two. 23 b 24 xi c 25 d 26 nineteen e 27 viii f 28 xvi g 29 v A David/ Nathan two Samuel xi 30 b 31 August hath xxxj days. K L xiii c 1 xi d 2 e 3 x f 4 g 5 xviij A Ammon. Thamar. i. Samu. xiii. 6 seven b 7 c 8 xv d 9 iiij e 10 f 11 xii g 12 j A 13 b The son in virgin. 14 ix c 15 d David. Absalon. 16 xvij e 17 uj f 18 g 29 xiv A 20 iij b 21 c The beginning of Autumn. 22 xj d 23 nineteen e David. Semei. ij. Sam. xuj. 24 f 25 viii g 26 xuj A Cusy. Achitophel. ij. Sam xvii 27 b 28 v c 29 d 30 xiii e 31 September hath xxx days. K L ij f 1 g 2 x A Solomon/ Adonias. j Regum. j 3 b 4 xviii c 5 seven d 6 e 7 xv f 8 iiii g 9 A joab/ Banaias. j Regum. xi. 10 xii b 11 i c 12 d 13 ix e 14 f The son in libra. Equinoctium autunnale. 15 xvii g 16 vi A 17 b Solomon/ his wives strangers. j reg. xi. 18 xiiii c 19 iii d 20 e 21 xi f 22 nineteen g 23 A 24 viii b Roboam. Hieroboam. j Regum. xii. 25 c 26 xvi d 27 v e 28 xiii f 29 two g 30 October hath xxxj days. K L A Achab/ jehu. ij. Regum. ix. 1 x b 2 c 3 xviij d 4 seven e 5 f 6 xv g 7 iiij A Ezechias/ Senacheryb. ij. Reg. nineteen. 8 b 9 xii c 10 j d 11 e 12 ix f 13 g The son in scorpion. 14 xvij A 15 uj b Esayas/ Ezechias. ij. Regum. xx. 16 c 17 xiv d 18 xii e 19 f 20 xj g 21 nineteen A Manasses. ij. Paralypomenon. xxxiij. 22 b 23 viii c 24 d 25 xuj e 26 v f 27 g 28 xiii A Hieremias/ Sedechias. Hieremie. xxxix. 29 ij b 30 c 31 November hath xxx days. K L x d 1 e 2 xviij f 3 seven g 4 A Danyel. Babylonyes. Daniel. vj. 5 xv b 6 iiij c 7 d 8 xii e 9 j f 10 g 11 ix A The three kings. Herode. Math. ij. 12 b 13 xvij c The son in sagittario. 14 uj d 15 e 16 xiv f 17 iij g 18 A Iohn baptist. preestes. joh. i. 19 xj b 20 nineteen c 21 d The beginning of winter. 22 viii e 23 f 24 xuj g 25 v A Iohn baptist. Herode. Luc. iij. 26 b 27 xiii c 28 two d 29 x e 30 December hath xxxj days. K L f 1 xviij g 2 seven A Peter/ judas. Iohn. xiii. 3 b 4 xv c 5 iiij d 6 e 7 xii f 8 j g 9 A Barnabas/ Ananias. Act. iiij. 10 ix b 11 c The son in capricorno. 12 xvij d Solstitium hyemale. 13 uj e 14 f 15 xiv g 16 iij A Peter/ Simon magus. Act. viii. 17 b 18 xj c 19 nineteen d 20 e 21 viii f 22 g 23 xuj A 24 v b The nativity of Chryst. Math. ij. 25 c Paulus/ Elimas' magus. Act. xiii. 26 xiii d 27 ij e 28 f 29 x g 30 A 31 ¶ Otto Brunsfelsius to the christian reader desireth plenty of grace. OF this mine almanak here shall I entreat christen reder, moche after an other form, & far after an other order, than they which boast themselves to be named cunning Astronomers. For whiles they look for to flatter the affections of some unstable persons, and so to deceive them, by reason of the influence of the bodies above (as they say) which influence, they profess themselves to know (though by uncertain conjectures) they do teach to describe/ divide or discern one time from an other/ and to observe days/ months/ & years/ of this time that continually decayeth. Therefore I leaning to the most sure word of god, shall begin this mine almanac most true, & ever for to endure, after the will of him, which is most mighty maker & ruler (not only of stars) but of all things in heaven & earth. And for a general introduction in manner, I set forth first these things to be red which are written in deuteronomy xviij When thou shalt enter in to the land, which the lord thy god shall give thee, beware that thou learn not to do after the abominations of those nations. And see that there be found none among you, that sacryfyeth his son or daughter drawing them thorough the fire: either that asketh any thing of them that use witchcraft/ and observeth dreams/ or chattering of birds/ or that is a sorcerer or a charmer: neither ape counsel of them that speak with a spirit/ or a soothsayer, or that talketh with them that be deed, for to know the truth. For all that do such things, the lord doth abhor. And because of such mischievous sins, he shall drive them out at thy coming in. Be perfit & pure therefore with the lord thy god. These nations that thou shalt conquer, & possess their lands, give ear to wytches and soothsayers: but thou art otherwise taught of the lord thy god. Leuit. xx. That person which turneth unto wytches & soothsayers/ & play the hore with them, I shall put my face against him/ & destroy him from amongst his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore & be holy. Hieremye ten Be not willing to learn after the ways of the gentiles/ & be not afraid of signs or stars of the firmament which gentiles do fear: for the laws and sayings of people are vain, and nothing to be regarded. Of these sayingis it appeareth more clear than the light of the midday, that the pronostications & foresayings of all astronomers, are founded but upon flowing sand and unstable, which the words of god being of so great efficacity, easily destroyeth & bringeth them unto nought. By the which words of god, we know also for a surety (according as it is written. Exod. xx. I am the lord thy god, a strong jealous lover) that his omnipotent majesty will not admit nor suffer, any of his creatures to reign or rule with him. For he according to the perfection of his divine word, is sole the noble ruler & governor, not only of this year, but also of all times and of all things that be in heaven, in earth and in hell. witness not Ptolomey of Alexandry, Albumaser, Haly, Meszhulle, Hermes, & such other? but that noble king and prophet David in the xxiij psalm, saying. The earth is the lords, & all that is therein/ the round world, & all that dwelleth in it. A lord mighty, strong, and of great power: he is the king of glory. Also joshua two The lord is your god, he is the god in heaven above, & in earth beneath. Ecclastici i There is one most high maker of all, omnipotent & a mighty king and moche to be dread, sitting upon his throne, a god having dominion. i to the Corinth eight We know that an idol is nothing in this world/ & that there is no god but one/ to us only there is but one god, which is the father/ of whom come all things/ & we in him/ and one lord jesus christ/ by whom are all things/ and we by him. To the Ephe. iiij. There is but one lord/ one faith/ one baptism/ one god and father of all/ which is above all/ thorough all/ & in you all. The first of Timo. ij. There is one god/ and one mediator between god & man/ which is the man Chryst jesus. etc. To the hebrews xiij jesus Chryst yesterday and to day/ & the same continueth for ever. ¶ Of fruits of the earth. ¶ It beseemeth not to cloak or hide the truth/ but rather it is very expedient to show it most openly to every man. And because god himself is the very truth/ let us give ear with attent & a diligent mind unto his own words. In Deutro. xxviij. it is written thus. If thou wilt hearken diligently unto the voice of the lord thy god/ to observe & do all his commandments, which I command that this day, the lord will set the on high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come on thee, & overtake the. If thou shalt obey unto the voice of the lord thy god/ blessed shalt thou be in the town/ & blessed in the fields/ blessed shall be the fruit of thy body/ the fruit of thy ground/ & the fruit of thy cattle/ the fruit of thine oxen/ and thy flocks of sheep/ blessed shall thy bernes be & thy store: blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out, and when thou comest in. Leuit. xxuj. If ye shall walk in mine ordinances, & keep my commandments, & do them in deed/ I will send you rain in time & right season: and your land shall bring forth her increase/ & the trees of the field shall give their fruits. And corn threshing shall reach unto the wine harvest/ & the wine harvest shall reach unto sowing rhyme: & ye shall eat your bread in plenteousness: & ye shall dwell in your ground peaceably. Leuiti. xxv. I am the lord your god/ wherefore do after mine ordinances, & keep my laws, & do them, that ye may dwell in the land in safety without any fear. And the land shall bring forth her fruit, & ye shall eat your fill, and dwell there in safety. If ye shall say, what shall we eat in the seventh year in as much as we shall not sow nor gather in our increase? I will send my blessing upon you in the sixth year/ & it shall bring forth fruit for three years/ & ye shall sow the eight year/ & eat of the old fruit until the ix etc. If these things were promised unto the fore fathers: how moche more likewise unto us christians? For it is the same lord & promyser living for ever, whose son jesus Chryst our lord admonisheth us. Math. vj. saying. Be not careful/ saying, what shall we eat, or what shall we drink/ or wherewith shall we be clad. For all these things the unfaithful nations seek busily for. Surely, your father in heaven knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Therefore seek first the kingdom of heaven, & the justice of it/ and all these things shall be ministered unto you. And it is written in Deutro. viii. as Chryst saith. Man liveth not only by bread/ but in every word that precedeth from the mouth of god. Math. iiij. Also Deutro. viii. Take heed and beware that thou never forget the lord thy god, and dost not regard his commandments laws & ordinances, which I command the this day/ whiles after thou hast eaten and filled the full/ & hast bylte the goodly houses, & dwelt therein/ & hast droves of oxen, & flocks of sheep, & plenty of gold and silver, & of all things: than beware least thine heart riseth & be proud/ & forgetest the lord thy god. etc. Isaiah i If ye will hear & be ruled, ye shall have your pleasure of the best fruit of the land: but if ye will not, & provoke me to displeasure/ the sword shall devour you. Isaiah. lv. All ye that are at hur'st, come to the waters. Also you that want silver, go quickly: buy that ye mought eat, go your ways and buy wine & milk without money, & without price or exchange. Wherefore do you lay out your money for the food that feedeth not? and spend your labour about that thing that satisfieth you not. And wherefore rather listen you not unto me, that your souls mought eat of the best/ & take their fill upon the fattest delicates? give ear to me, & come to me, take heed to me, and your souls shall be refreshed. etc. In the xxij chap. Hieremy saith unto the evil king Ioacim. Thy father, did he not eat & drink (that is to say, lived in peace) & kept equity & justice, that time when he was in prosperity? He judged the cause of the poor & needy/ so that it redowned to his own goodness. And was it not therefore (saith the lord) because he knew & regarded me? but thy eyes & thy heart, is all given unto avarice, & blood shedding and that of innocentes/ & to injust vexation of other, ronning to every unhappy deed. Therefore the lord said these things unto joacim king of juda, son of josyas. Neither brother nor sister shall bewail him and say alas. Nor none shall cry to him, saying alas lord/ alas noble man. He shall be buried as an ass is buried putrefied/ & cast out of the gates of Jerusalem. Proverb. xiii. A just & a good man eateth and fulfilleth his appetite as much as he will: but the belly of an ungodly man shall never have enough. The prophet psal. liiij. Cast thy careful mind upon the lord/ & he shall nourish thee/ & shall never suffer a rightwise man to waver or fall. Psal. xxxuj. I have been young, and am come to age: & yet saw I never the rightwise forsaken/ or his seed begging their bread. ¶ Of sterilite & dearth of victuals/ corn or fruits. ¶ Contrary to these things, god doth threaten. Levi. xxuj. If ye will not hearken unto me, nor will do all these my commandments/ or if ye shall despise my laws, and contemn mine ordinances/ so that ye will not do all things as I have ordained, but shall break mine appointment: than will I likewise do this again unto you. Ye shall sow your seed in vain for your enemies shall devour & destroy it. I will make the heaven over you as hard as iron/ & your land as hard as brass: & so your labour shall be spent in vain. For your land shall not give her increase Nor the trees of the earth shall give their fruits. I will break the staff of your bread, that ten wives shall bake your bread in one oven/ & men shall deliver you your bread again by weight. Than shall you eat, and not be satisfied. Deutro. xxviij. And if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the lord thy god, to keep and to do all his commandments & ordinances, which I command that this day: than all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake the. Cursed shalt thou be in the town, & cursed in the field/ cursed shall be thy barn & thy store. Cursed shall the fruit of thy body, & the fruit of thy land be/ & the fruit of thine oxen, & the flocks of thy sheep. etc. And the heaven that is over thy heed, shall be brass/ & the land that thou treadest upon iron. And the lord shall turn the rain of the land unto powder and dust/ even from heaven they shall come upon thee, until thou be brought to nought. Thou shalt cast moche seed in to the field, & shalt gather but little in: for the locusts shall destroy it. Thou shalt plant a vineyard & dress it, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather of the grapes/ for the worms shall eat it. The prophet Agge. j cha. ye did sow moche, & carried in/ but little ye did eat, & were not satisfied/ ye drank & had not enough. And for what cause? (saith the lord) because my house is forsaken & desolate, and you have hied every one to his own house. And for this the heavens are ꝓhibite to give dew upon you. And the earth is forbidden to give her increase. And god shall call drought upon the land & mountains, upon wheat and wine/ and upon oil, and all things that the earth bringeth forth. ¶ Of sicknesses. ¶ God sendeth sicknesses unto men, some time for their sins/ & many times for to quicken their faith, & to exercise their charity & love to god & to their neighbour To the Hebre. xii. The lord chastiseth them whom he loveth, & correcteth every son that he favoureth. Leuit. xxuj. If ye will not yet be learned for all this, but shall walk contrariwise unto me: than will I also walk contrary unto you/ & will punish you seven times for your sins. And when you are fled unto your cities, I will send the pestilence among you. etc. Deutro. xxviij. If it be so that thou wilt not hear the voice of the lord thy god/ he shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee/ until he hath consumed from the land whether thou goest for to enjoy it: & the lord shall smite the with swellings/ with fevers/ cold/ hot/ burning/ & with corrupt air/ & blasting: and they shall follow the until thou perish: & the lord will strike the with the botches of Egypte/ & with the emorodes/ scale & maungynesse: so that thou shalt never be healed thereof. And the lord shall smite the with madness/ blindness/ and dazing of the mind. The lord shall smite the with mischievous botches in the knees & legs/ uncurable/ even from the sole of the foot, unto the top of thy heed. Except ye be diligent to keep & do all the words of this law, that are written in this book/ for to fear this glorious & fearful name of the lord thy god: the lord will increase thy thy plagues/ & smite both the & thy seed with wonderful great plagues/ & of long continuance/ & with very evil sicknesses/ and of long durance. More over, he will bring upon the all the afflictions of egypt/ which thou waste afraid of/ & they shall cleave unto the. Beside this all manner sicknesses/ & all manner plagues, which are not written in the book of this law/ will the lord bring upon thee/ until thou be come to nought: & all because thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the lord thy god. ¶ Of war and peace. ¶ The very true peace is only in Chryst but in the world/ all manner of mischief. Iohn. xuj. These things have I spoken (saith Chryst) unto you/ that in me ye may have peace/ but in the world ye shall have tribulation. In the world is ambition of honour & dominion, & all desire of their own profit & of richesse/ & inordynate affections of worldly & carnal pleasures/ whereof do spring all strife and battle/ which god sendeth for the transgression of his laws & commandments. Isaiah. j If ye will be stubborn, & provoke me unto displeasure: ye shall be devoured with sword. For so hath god promised with his own mouth. Deutro. xxviij. saith Moses. If thou observe the laws & commandments of the lord thy god: he shall smite thine enemies that rise against the before thy face. They come out against the one way, & flee from the seven ways. And contrariwise shall he deal with thee, if thou be disobedient. Also xxxij without forth, the sword shall destroy them/ & within the house fear: & that both young men & young women/ & the sucklings, with men of grey heads. job. nineteen. The venger of iniquities, and of ungracious living, is the sword. Levit. xxvi. If ye will not hear me/ I shall induce upon you the sword, venger of my covenant. Look diligently upon these chapters of jeremy. ix.xv.xxix.xlij xliij. xuj.l. And Ezechiel. u.uj.vij.xxxviij. Osee. seven. Amos. seven. viii. Baruc. iij. O Israel, what meaneth it that thou art in the land of thine enemies? the answer followeth. Thou hast left the well of wisdom. For if thou hadst walked in the way of god: verily thou shouldest have dwelt in peace upon thine own land. ¶ Of kings and princes. ¶ All powers are ordained by god. Rom. xiii. wherefore all princes ought highly for to study & to apply themselves, that they may live & do service according to the will of him that is king of all kings, & lord of all lords, of whom they take their power. And not only king & kingdoms/ but also princes, & them that be of the counsel, are ordained of god. Proverb. viii. If they will have their subjects obedient, loving & to be at rest/ it may not be by their own policy, strong hand or oppression: but as David saith in the psalm. Thou art he that subduest my people under me. For all things (heaven, the world, angels, Paul Cephas, Apollo, the prince, th'elements, time, satan, sin, death, hell) are subject unto us: where we be subject unto god/ having no confidence but only in him. Experience of this they may see in the books of judicum and of kings. Proverb. xxj. As the divisions of waters (which were set above the firmament & underneath, only by god's disposition) so is the heart of a king in the hand of god/ what way it please him, he shall make it to bow. Ecclastici. x. The power of the world is in the hand of god. And all the iniquity & sin of the people, is abominable: and when time is, he shall set up a profitable ruler over them. ¶ How princes ought to meek themselves unto the preaching of god's word. ¶ Many notable examples we have in holy scripture of princes & kings, how they have be mekened & fall to repentance thorough the word of god/ namely jone the third. The word came to the king of Ninive/ & he rose from his seat of estate, and kest from him his clothes/ & put on sackcloth, & sat down in the ashes. Also David, monished of Nathan, said Peccavi. ij. reg. xii. &. xxiv. Eccliastici. x. The seatꝭ of proud leders, god hath destroyed and hath made to sit in their stead, those that be mild. The roots of proud people (that is richesse) god hath made to wither away: & planted for them such as were meek, even of the same people. God hath destroyed the good report of the proud/ & reserved the fame of them that be meek or lowly in their own conceit. David in the second psalm. Now ye kings be wise and understand: ye judges and rulers of the land, be content to be monished and learned. Let them take heed what is written sapienty uj ¶ Of them that have taken the gospel of Chryst. ¶ All they which know & have taken upon them the gospel of jesus Chryst, son of the living god: shall be vexed & exercised with many tentations & tribulations of this world. joan. xuj. These things have I said unto you: that ye may have peace in me, in the world ye have affliction: but be of good cheer, for I have over come the world. In the same chapter. verily verily I say unto you, ye shall be sorrowful and weep/ but the world shall joy and be merry: ye shall be heavy, but your heaviness shall be turned unto joy. The second to Tymothe three All that will live godly in jesus Chryst/ shall suffer persecutions. ¶ Of the office of good princes. ¶ Ecclesiast. x. The dignity of a wise prince (that is of him that dreadeth god) shall be stablished. Ecclesiastes ten Happy is that land, which hath a noble king. And that also, whose princes eat their meat in convenient time: & that for to be refreshed, and not to excess voluptuously. Proverb. xxix. A rightwise king promoteth his land: a covetous man shall destroy it. A king that judgeth the poor in truth: his throne shall be stablished for ever in truth. ¶ Of the dignity of evil princes. ¶ This is true, Rom̄. xiii. that all power is of the ordinance of god/ for the safeguard of those that be good/ & for the punishment of them that be evil. Wherefore we must obey princes, also though they be evil & tyrants. The rod of Assur is nevertheless in the hand of god. job. xxxiiij. How may he be healed that loveth not equity? what way canst thou condemn him, which is righteous? which say to a king/ thou art apostata/ which calleth captains ungracious/ and maketh a false hypocrite to reign, because of the ungracious living of the people. Proverb. xxviij. For the sins of the land: there be many princes of it. And for the wisdom of a man, & knowledge of those things that are taught, the life of a captain shall be prolonged. A roaring lion & an hungry bear: an ungodly prince over the poor people. A capteyn lacking wisdom, shall oppress many by fraudulent vexation. Therefore let princes beware lest it chanceth to them, as did unto Adonibezec. judic. j to Abimelec. judic. ix. unto Pharaoh. Exod. xiv. to Hieroboan. iij. of kings. xiii. to jesabel. iiij. of kings. ix. to Agag. j of kings. xuj. to Roboam. iij. of kings. xii. xiv. to Nabugodonosor. Daniel. ix. to Antiocus. j of the Machab. seven. to Herode, of the Acts. xii. & many other. ¶ Of cities. ¶ Those Cities are accursed, that when the word of god is showed unto them, they will not receive it, ne take repentance. Math. xj. Woe be to the Chorasyn, woe be to the Betzaida: for if the miracles, which were showed in you, had be done in tire & Sydon/ they had repent long ago in sackcloth & ashes. Nevertheless I say unto you, it shall be easier for tire & Sydon at the day of judgement, than for you. And thou Capernaum, which art life up unto heaven: shalt be brought down to hell. For if the miracles which have be done in the had be showed in zodom/ they had remained unto this day. Math. twenty-three. jerusalem/ jerusalem, which killest prophets & stonest them which are sent unto thee. etc. Behold your habitation shall be left unto you desolate. jone. iij. God saw the works of the ninivites, which were converted from their evil way: & he retracted the punishment, that he had threatened to do unto them. Wherefore you senators & people of christian cities, I desire you all that I can, fear god & gladly receive his word/ & lovingly cleave thereunto/ & with that, study for the perfect of the comen wealth & brotherly charity: & all things shall succeed unto you prosperously/ not only in this world, but for ever in the world to come. And chose such officers as have the fear of god, and so forth/ as it is written Exodi. xviij. For commonly according to the judge of the people, such are his ministers And as the ruler of the City is: such are the inhabytauntes therein. ¶ Of usurers. ¶ Where so ever the comen wealth, and brotherly charity, is not regarded (which is most principally, when usury is exercised and suffered) the comen wealth can never be well ordered. The lord god prohibiteth usury in many places of scripture. And how greatly he abhorreth it, he showeth Isaiah. v. Woe be to you that join together house to house, and couple field to field. etc. Abacuc. ij. Woe be to him that gathereth & multiplieth that which is not his own. Proverb. xj. He that hideth up his corn, shall be cursed amongst the people: and the blessing of god shall come upon the heads of them that selleth. God commandeth you to lend, if ye will be his children, looking for nothing again. Luke. vj. If ye will see more where it is commanded, look Exodi. xxii. Leuit. xxv. deuteronomy. twenty-three. Ezechiel. xviij. and xxij Math. v. Psal. ix. lx. ¶ That the ungodly should look for no good fortune. ¶ Who so ever seeketh for his own perfect caring neither for right nor wrong, ne regard brotherly charity: he may well be called ungodly/ to whom it is verily assured by holy scripture, that shortly the vengeance of god shall come upon him. job. xxxvij. There shall be taken from the ungodly, their light. Psal. ix. The ungodly is trapped in the works of his own hands/ & shall be overthrown in to hell, with all them that forget god. Psal. lxxiiij. god saith. I shall break the horns of these ungracious: but the power of the rightwise shall be still exalted. Psal. ciij Let the sinners be consumed upon the earth/ & the ungodly also, until none be left alive. Psal. cxxviij. The righteous lord shall kit of the necks of the ungodly. ¶ How that the ungodly persecute the good. ¶ He is by right called ungodly, which contemneth god's word, whereby faith cometh in to us, by the which only we be justified & saved. Isaiah. lvij. The ungodly (saith the lord) hath no peace. Eccle. xxviij. An ungodly man troubleth friends. And amongst them that are in peace/ he casteth debate. christ saith joh. xv. As they have persecuted me/ so shall they persecute you. ¶ That many with their riches shall fall and be destroyed for the word of god/ namely when it is stiffly resisted by pertinacite abominable. ¶ Luc. ij. Behold, this child (Chryst) is put in to the fall & in to the raising again of many in Israel: & in to a mark which shall be gainsaid: yea & thine own soul shall be pierced with a sword/ so that the privy cogitations of many men's hearts, shall be made open. i Pet. ij. This stone which the builders kest away/ is made the heed corner stone/ & a stone of offence/ & a rock to stumble upon, to them that are not content with his word/ nor believe that, whereon they were set. Math. xxj. And he that falleth upon this stone, shall be broken: & upon who so ever the stone fall, it shall crusshe him all to pieces. ¶ Of the state of them that be called spiritual, and of the church. ¶ The state of the church/ whether it be called of spiritual men/ of religious/ or of monks: it is no princes state or dignity/ but a ministration or a service: or else their part shall be amongst the kings of the infidels. Luc. xxij. He that is greater amongst you/ must be as the younger: & he that goeth before/ must be as a server. ¶ The dominion of ungodly prelate's and pastors, shall not be stablished. ¶ Heir. twenty-three. The lord saith. Woe be to you pastors, that destroy and tear in pieces the flock of my pasture. etc. Surely, both prophet and priest are polluted And in my house (saith the lord) I have found their malice. For that cause, their way shall be, as it were slipper in darkness: they shall be threste at, & fall therein. Ezechiel. xxxiiij. The lord god saith these things. Woe be to the pastors of Israel, which fed themselves. etc. My flocks have wandered out of the way in all mountains: & there was none that would seek for them. etc. Behold therefore, I myself will require upon my pastors my flock out of their hands: & I shall make them to cease, that they shall no more feed my flock/ neither any more shall such pastors feed themselves: & I shall deliver my flock out of their mouth: & they shall have it no more to their meat. Look upon Esay. j Heir. ij. xx. Iohn. x. Math. xxj. zachari. xj. Our lord grant that the eyes of their heart may be lightened/ and they converted, and return to the lord. ¶ Of the comen sort of chrystianes. ¶ To the comen christian people, if they be of one accord, & agree in unite of faith and hope in jesus Chryst only, and his gospel/ & in fraternal charity: all things shall succeed at their desire. But if they raise up themself contrary to Chryst & his gospel/ it can be none otherwise, but the sword, hunger, pestilence, noisome beasts, tyrants, and all manner of sicknesses shall fall upon them/ & they shall be given up in to the hands of their enemies. Deutro. xxviij. Levi. xxuj. Hebr. x. How moche more suppose you, them to deserve worse tormentry, which treadeth down the son of god, & counteth the blood of the testament polluted, whereby he was sanctified/ & despiseth the sprite of grace? Let all them therefore be of good cheer, that receive the word of god. For though they be kept under in this world: nevertheless in that eternal & heavenly country, they shall have glory, with perpetual victory & triumph of their enemies: when they shall be tormented in fire of everlasting malediction. Philip i In nothing be ye afraid of your adversaries/ for that which is to them cause of perdition/ is to you cause of salvation/ and that by god. ij. Corinth. iiij. If so be our gospel be hidden: it is hidden in those that perish, in which the god of this world, hath blinded the minds of unbelievers/ least the light of the glorious gospel of Chryst, which is the image of god, should shine upon them. ij. Corinth. ij. We be a good odour of christ to god, both among them that be saved, and among them that perish. ¶ That seditious persons may look to have nothing prosperous. ¶ He is called seditious, which setteth up himself against his prince (whom he is bound to obey) though it were so that tyrants bear the room. For all power is ordained by god. Rom̄. xiii. Proverb. xxiv. Fear the lord (my son) and the king/ and meddle not with detractors: for suddenly shall their perdition rise: and who can tell the ruin of them both? Follow not evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their mind is occupied about rapine: and their lips talking frauds. Hieremy xxviij Thou hast broken treen setters/ and for them thou shalt make fetters of iron. Dathan and Abiron, and all seditious, were punished of the lord As it appeareth Numeri. xuj. and three reg. xuj. Rom̄. xiii. He that resisteth power, resisteth gods ordinance. Math. xxuj. All that take the sword/ shall perish with the sword. Gene. ix. Who so ever sheddeth man's blood/ shall have his blood shed again. ¶ That no man should presume to cast of the burden which is laid upon him/ whiles he be laden with an heavier & oppressed. ¶ Hieremy xxv Because ye have not herd my words: behold, I shall send and take unto me, all the cognation of the north (saith the lord) and Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon my servant: and I shall bring them upon this land, and upon the inhabiters of it, and upon all the nations that be about it, and I shall slay them, & put them as men that were out of their wit, in to contempt, and in to desolation for ever. Hieremy xxvij And now therefore, I have given all these lands in the hand of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon my servant. i Corin. seven. Thou art called to be a servant, care not for it. The Ire & punishment of god was fierce, because of the sins of his people. And therefore he steereth up tyrants, which doth him service against his people. Reed Hieremy. xxvij. the last end. ¶ That false prophets, which teach the liberty of the flesh are not to be herd. ¶ Heir. xxvij. Be not willing to hear your prophets, and soothsayers, dream readers, augurers, & enchanters, which say to you. Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon. For they prophecy lies unto you, that they mought make you far from your country, and cast you out, and that ye should perish. In the same chapter. Hear not the words of your false prophets. etc. ¶ Of antichrist. ¶ Every one that speaketh against christ, and cleaveth to the pleasures of this world that shortly shall perish: is antichrist. i johan two It is sure, that there be many Antechrystes. But the very high & principal antichrist, is begun to be revealed and declared in these our days, by holy scriptures/ which until he be destroyed with the sprite of the mouth of our lord jesus Chryst/ shall rule and rage cruelly in the world. Daniel xj And there shall fall of them that be well learned: so that they shall be tried by fire, and chosen out, and made white, unto the time appointed. For yet an other time shall be: and a king shall do after his own will: and shall be lift up in pride, and magnified against every god. And shall speak great things against the god of goods: and he shall prosper till the wrath of god be performed. For the definition is so set. And he shall not regard the god of his fathers: & shall be in the concupiscences of women: neither he shall care for any gods. For he shall rise against all things. And he shall honour the god Maozim in his place: and shall worship a god that his fathers never knew, with gold/ silver/ precious stone/ & other precious things. ¶ Of the state of religion and papists. ¶ Math. xv. Chryst saith. All the plantation which my heavenly father have not planted/ shall be plucked up by the rote. The more they shall enforce to defend their living before god abominable: so moche more shall their mischiefs and symulations be made open to all the world. He that hath ears for to hear/ let him hear what are written johan .v. ¶ Of the reformation of Christ'S church. ¶ Only god knoweth the Christian church: for it is spiritual, and known only by the spirit: wherefore to god only which is a spirit, it is entirely known. This church, as long as it cleaveth fast to the word of god: it can not but stand sure. if not/ soon it perisheth. How ever so much other thing is constitute and ordained in counsels of priests/ bishops/ and princes of this world. For (as we said before) every plantation that my heavenly father have not planted, shall be plucked up by the root. Reed in the Acts .v. and to the romans xiiij ¶ Of the jews. ¶ Of the jews blindness the scripture is full: blessed is he that understand it, and unto his end doth abide the grace & mercy of god. Rom̄. xj. My brethren I will not that ye forget this mystery (least you be high minded, or wise in your own conceit) For blindness chanced partly in Israel, until the fullness of gentiles shall come in/ and so the whole Israel shall be saved. For god is strong enough to graff them in again. ¶ Of signs of the last day. ¶ Many signs of the last day, whereof christ maketh mention, Math. xxiv. are seen and fulfilled all ready. Therefore lift up your heads ye christian men/ for your redemption draweth near. ¶ The conclusion. THis our prognostication gentle reader, needeth no declaration of philosophy or astrology, which is of man's invention: for it is founded upon the only everlasting word of the omnipotent god/ whose power no man may resist/ and under whom they bow and obey, that beareth up this world. job. ix. Let no man therefore contemn these things/ neither resist the truth openly known/ interpreting them any otherwise, than our lord jesus Chryst hath interpreted: whiles we be despoiled of the grace and mercy, which we have obtained by him i johan. iij. But rather let him enforce to apply him fast, from ignorance and lies unto the truth, which is god himself: to whom only be honour and glory for ever. Amen. The will of the lord be done. Act. xxj. ¶ To the christian readers. LO good readers, here may you see, what the cause is of all the punishments, plagues, & miseries that god sendeth upon us: that is because we do not observe the laws of god/ nor do not live according to his word. And not as many both do think and say, that these new laws & new learnings are the causes. Is not this new learning the very true word of god? let them come and prove the contrary. But now that light is come in to this world: they that have be brought up in darkness, love better darkness than light/ yea rather they hate the light, and will not come at it/ least their hypocrisy and their cerymonyous good works, after the inventions of men, should appear nought, and worthy to be reproved. Those sort would I exhort to come whiles they have light, and believe in it, least (remaining here in their inward darkness) they be kest in to the outward darkness, where shall be ever sorrow and misery. ¶ An other sort there is (the more pity) that seem to favour the light of god's word, and follow and favour the preachers thereof: but they seek the liberty of the flesh, and not of the spirit, living after their fleshly lusts, and after the naughty fashion of the world, in covetousness/ ambition/ pride, with infinite other evils/ only seeking for their own profits and pleasures/ though it be to their christian brothers great detriment. This cometh of inordynate love that men have to themselves: which is cause of moche other evil: and never can bring forth good fruit of faith/ thus continuing to the end of their life, led continually far out of charity, through their proper love: yet they think than to be saved by their feigned faith. Which I fear me, for lack of testimony of good works, shall be disallowed at the day of judgement, when christ shall say. I was hungry/ and ye gave me no meat, and so forth. This sort let that other sort from coming to the light. And it is to be feared, that these communycacions in this prognostication, shall fall upon us/ not because we forsake obedience to the bishop of Rome and his laws, which hath led us in to darkness, and out of the right way to godward/ nor because of this new preaching after the very word of god: but because the word is now so often, and so plainly preached unto us/ and we remain still after the old fashion/ as the cities did, where Chryst preached, Corosayn, Betzayda, and Capernaum/ whom he reproved and cursed, because they received not his words, so often showed unto them. The ground that is well tilled & sown and hath often rain in season/ and yet bring forth no good fruit (saith saint Paul) is cursed of the owner. Therefore let us so hear the true word of god/ that we may change our living/ and live according unto his word: and I doubt not, we shall obtain his merciful promises, and benedictions, that he promiseth to the keepers of his laws, and live after his word, by the grace of Chryst, by whose merits and help we may bring all things well to pass/ and have not only these temporal blessings/ but also spiritual/ true faith/ remission of sins/ preservation in grace/ and assurance of the kingdom of heaven. which I beseech him to grant us. Amen. ¶ This treatise or prognostication is seen, red, and examined by me Iohn Hylsey bishop of Rochester. ¶ Plinius in the xviij book and xxxiij chapter of his natural history. ALL things that are cut/ plucked/ slipped, or lopped/ are best to be done in the latter end of the moon. Meddle not with dung but in the wane of the moon. most specially dung your land in the last quarter. geld your pigs/ calves/ wether lambs, and kids, in the decrease of the moon. Put your eggs under the hen at the new moon. Make your dyches or holes for to plant in/ about the full of the moon at night. When it is full moon, cover the roots of your trees. In moist places sow your sede/ betwixt the new moon and the old/ or about four days before, or after. They will also that ye wenowe your corn or sedes, and lay them up about the last ending of the moon. And to sow sedes whiles the moon is over the earth: and must be pressed when the moon is under the earth. ¶ Imprinted at London in Flete street/ at the sign of the son by me Iohn Byddell. Cum privilegio Regali. printer's device of John Byddell, his mark and initials in white on a black background, within a circular border (McKerrow 78) ¶ Iohn Byddell.