FYrst we saye / throughe the mouthe of the ꝓphet Esdras . Babylon signifyeth a place of sin Asia is taken for the .iij. parte of the worlde stretching from the northeast / vnto egypte . Egipte signifyeth the whole worlde so that in this prophecye I do as well comprehende the turkes as xp̄ians . Wo be vnto the o Babilon and Asia / wo be vnto the o Egypte & Syria : gyrde yowre selues wyth clothes of sacke & heare / & moorne for youre chyldren / be sory ( I saye ) for youre destruccion is at hande . A swerde is sent vppon you / & who wyl torne it backe ? A fyre is kindeled agaynst you / of the fearce vengeaunce of God / and who wyl quentche it ? Beholde sayeth the prophet . They take the worde of God but for a scorne / and haue no luste ther vnto . Therfore I am ( sayth he ) so ful of thyne indignacion . Oh Lorde / that I may suffer it no longer . For from the leaste vnto the most they hange & depende all vppon couetuousnes / & from the prophet vnto the preste / they go all about with falshead & lyes . Agayne / saith Esdras / when men shal thynke to haue peace vnytie and concorde / & that all maner of vittaylles shall be habondaunt / & so good cheape vppon earth / that men shall thynke them selues to be in good case / euen then shall the great myschefe & vengeaunce of the Lorde falle vppon them / with warres / death / dearthe pestylences and great disquyetnes / whiche are but the begynnyng of moornyngis and sorrowes / In somoche that the people shall tremble for feare / Ioel. ij . sayinge nowe the Lorde commeth & is harde at hande / A darke daye a gloomynge daye / a clowdye daye / a stormy daye shall appeare . Amos. viij . The songes of the people shall be turned to sorowe / Soche a honger will I sende vppon the earthe ( sayth the Lorde ) that no man shall be able to stoppe it / in soche a maner that all men may well saye / Psal. c.xxxviij . where shall I hyde me from the wrath of God ? yea they shall saye ( syttinge by the waters of Babilon and weape ) we will hange our harpes vppon the trees that are therin / as oft as we remembre Syon . For who escape the warre / shall fele the plage of pestilence / and he that is quyte of the one / shal not escape the danger of the other . And soche small loue shall they re be / that one man shall fynde no maner of comforte at the hande of an other . Lett no man merueyll at these plages that be to come / seynge they shal be sent of God as scourges for the punisshement of synne . S. Bernardes saying . S. Bernarde ( as it were in the person of Chryst ) sayethe . O thowe man tell me the cause af thy mysfortune and chaunce whiche thowe haste in thy goodes / bodye / & soule / Thow seruest the deuell / and not me He hathe not created & made the of nought / neyther hath he saued the / when thowe wast loste / Chryst him selfe dyd not redeme the with the sonne / moone / sterres and planetes / but with his precyous bloude through deathe . Therfore saythe the prophet Ieremye / I am constrayned to make my complaynt vppon yowe / and vppon yowre chyldren . Iere. ij . Oh ye cursed synners / howe wofull a thinge will it be vnto yowe / whiche haue forsaken the trewe God / fallynge to synne / the deuell and all vanyties . What vnfaythfulnes haue yowe founde in me / saithe the Lorde / yowr owne conscience shall accuse you / and yowr own wickednes shal condempne yow . Agayne we speake vnto yow / throughe the mouthe of the ꝓphet Esaye . Esay . i. Heare oh heauen / harken O earthe / for the Lorde speaketh / I haue nourysshed and broughte vp chyldren / and thei are fallen away from me . An oxe knoweth his owner / and an asse his masters stable / but my people knowe me not . Expert they be in blasphemies / falshed / and lyes / moost lyke a frowarde generation and vnnaturall chyldren / as it apeareth euydently ynoughe / with what othes they blasphemye God / in euerye place / as at weddynges / maryages / banckettes / feastes / tauernes / markettes / & in many other pastymes / playes / games / and soche other thynges / that by soche deuyllysshnes the deuyne name of God is openly detracted / sclaundered & blasphemed . Yea in so moche that it is so derided & mocked withall / none other wyse / then as men shulde eyther putte oute their lyppes or poynt it withe their formust fynger / with soche dyshonestie and abhomynable vyces and synnes / whiche at this tyme I shame to rehearce / so that ther be at this present daye / many more people lyuynge beastelye & fylthelye / then soberly honestly or vertuously . It neadeth no probacyon of scripture / seynge the actes be to manyfest as wel to the rulers temporall as spirituall . In so moche that the confessyon of fayth / true repentaunce / and godly Sacramentes with the pure preachinge of the Gospell / is so moche neglected & dispysed / that me thynke it is greatly to be lamented that it is so longe vnpunysshed / for dyshonestie withe dysobedience is so greatly engendred to soche maner of vnshamefaste boldenes / that in a maner it is to late to be reformed . And it is to be feared that there be many sturdy vylleynes / vnder the coloure and pretence of beggynge / wyll do moche more harme / than eyther Iewes / Turkes / Agarenes or any maner of kynde of beggers / so that they wyll not onely be content / to begge in the open and commen streates of townes and Cyties / as do the lame / dome / and crepell / nor yet to stande at the churche doores & porches / but withoute any shame wyll entre boldelye into mennes houses and tauernes . And some there be of the other partie / that appere to the people lame / halt and no lesse then crepell in dede / that withoute the townes and Cyties / in the feldes will take them to their fete / layinge awaye their cruches / some tyme vppon their shulders / moch more redyer to take a purse violently / then to aske for Christus sake charytablye . Thus see yowe two maner of beggers / bothe worthely to be reprehended and amended . For whan the one kynde of them hathe before none / brought home their prouender / and fylled not onelye their bellyes full / but euen crommed them vp to the throtes / yet must they agayne at after none / seke agayne in the streates / where they maye haue their bagges full agaynst the next daye / so that they go gulpyng lyke brute beastes / neuer satisfyed . The other sorte bolle & swyll all that euer they can gett . The lorde which seeth from aboue / and knoweth that all these thynges are trewe / shall ones iudge that these be euen the shepe withoute wolle . Althoughe there is no man that taketh hede of them / yet is it not suffycyent that both theis kyndes of people lyue thus myserablye ydelly and wredchedlye / from whome commeth skante one good woorde oute of their mouthes . And it is not a lytle to be maruayled at / that these enormyties be vnpunysshed / seynge they so great and intollerable . But euen lyke as the lynke of one chayne draweth after hym an other / so dothe one myschefe and synne drawe an other after hym . For ther is no great synne that commeth alone / but draweth by certeyn occasyons many other euelles after hym / by the whyche the great indignacyon from the Lorde / is caste as a plage to come vppon the dysobedyent / of whome the Prophet Dauid speaketh . They reioyce when they do euell / hauyng delyte and pleasure in theyre euell dedes . For the wycked when he commeth into the daunger and deapthe of synne / he passeth nothyng at all for it / so that . Rom. i. S. Paull sayeth / that God hath geuen all soche people vp into theyre hartes lustes / and vnto all lewde mynde to do soch thynges whiche be not comely / beyng full of all vnryghtuous doynges / folowynge the foote paithes and steppes of Caym and Iudas / with that styfnecked & stony harted Pharo . Notwithstandynge the goodnes & great lyberalyte of God forgeueth the synner so ofte as he falleth / to the intent he shulde repent & amende . Therfore nowe ye Christen men aryse from youre synnes / and open youre eares & vnderstand with youre hartes the wordes of the Prophet / whiche sayeth . I am so full of thy indygnation . Iere. vi O Lorde / that I can suffre it no lenger . They take thy worde but for a scorne / tredinge it vnder their fete / hauyng no luste thervnto . Powre out thy wrath vppon the children that are without thy worde / that the man may be taken prysoner with the wyse / the aged with the crepell . For what with the intollerable burdens of the scrybes & pharizees / the insaciable & beastly desyres of the adulters & fornicatours / with the vnmeasurable couetuousnes / falsehead / frawde & deceyte of dyuers & straunge sortes of people / the churche is become ( I feare me ) a very denne of theues robbers & bloudy murtherers . Therfore sayth the Lord by hys Prophet / vppon all soche shall rayne solphur / fyre & brymstone with wyndes bothe troublous and tempestious and all other plages / no lesse then it was sene vppon Sodoma and Gomorra . Genes xix . Ezechi . xvi . Iere. vi Esa. xxi Ezechi . xxxviij . Psalm. xcviij . And agayn speakith the Lorde by the mouthe of his prophet Esaye . I will powre out vppon yowe ( saythe he ) my wrathe / and I will caste downe vppon yow the fyre of my vengeaunce and indignation / withe thonder / lyghteninge / hayle and darkenes . So that there shall go a fyre before the Lorde / whiche shall consume and burne vp his enymyes on euery syde . Therfore clothe yowr selfes with sacke clothe / caste asshes vppon yowre heades / faste and praye / lament and repente yowe of yowre synfull lyuynge . Ionas . iij. For the dayes of the Lorde are at hande / so that euerye thynge whiche hathe bene prophecyed shal be fulfylled . Ezechi . xij . Remembre what great pytie and mercy / the Lorde had ouer the Niniuytes / after that they withe longe lamentation / repentaunce and feruent supplicacyon / submitted them selues wholy to hym . Also not withstandinge that these .iij. men / Moyses Aaron and Samuel / offended agaynste the Lorde / yet when they repented and prayed hertelye / the Lorde hearde them / yet punisshed he their transgressions / as it appeareth by Moyses whiche synned at the water of Stryfe / by reason wherof he myghte not entre into the lande of promys . Nūe . ij . Lykewyse when Aaron made a golden calfe vnto the lordes people . Exodi . xxxij . i. Regum viij . cha And Samuel synned beynge negligent in teaching of his chyldren . Yf God haue not spared soche men / we then ought to take good hede / howe we walke in the presence of God . Therfore sayth the prophet / beware of the plage / and pestylence of darkenes / which is a syckenes that dystroyeth the lyght of the daye . And if ye will not turne and amende / then the dayes of sorrowe shall sodenly come / from whose face thowe shalt not flee . Genes vij . Psal. ij . Thowe shalte call vppon the flowdes of the waters / with the hyghenes of the mountaynes to hyde the. There shal be soche a cryinge and waylyng amongest the chrystians / that the one shall saye to the other / it were good that we neuer had bene borne . Insomoche that some shall dysdayne the wordes of this prophet / yet is there nothyng more truer / then that whiche is spoken of before . So that greate heauynes and sorowes shall chaunce / aswel vppon other staungers and alyaunt nacions as vppon the dowche lande / wherfore it behouethe me some thynge to speake therof / that men perceauynge the lytle shyppe of Peter ( throughe discorde and disobedience ) to be rent and broken in peces / agaynst the harde stony rockes / shall then the more easyer see these thinges to be true & no fables And thoughe ther be many whiche thynke the naturall inclinacions of the elementes to be but fantasticall and worthy of no credyte / yet can they not but graunt the ordenaunce of God to be vnfallable / in as moch as it procedeth from the bosome of the father . And here do I bothe earnestly and playnly admonysshe the Germanies bothe hyghe & lowe to ioyne them selues vnto the Egle / For elles there shall aryse amongest them / soche warre & discorde that it shal not easely be apeaced . For the Turke shall with great violence go about to destroye the landes of Meyssen / Duryngen & Hesse / as Merlyn dothe ꝓphecye / whiche sayth by soche meanes the Emperours maiestye myght come to some mysfortune of hys body / by reason of the coniunction of Iouis beynge in Scorpio . Also other princes & lordes of the Romayne Empyre / shal be some thynge troubled of their subiectes / notwithstandinge it shall not longe contynewe . And after that the Emperours maiestie hathe taken great payne & trouble in trauaylinge from one contrey to an other / with moche disquietnes & small reste / aswell by lande as by sea / then shall the spyrituall swerde not be so longe / The spirituall swerde shall be made shorter . so brode / nor yet so sharpe / to cut with soche violence as it hath done in tymes paste . And in thys tyme shall the sonne lose hyr lyght .iij. poyntes and a halfe great / which shal be vppon a Frydaye after . S. Bartholemews daye at one of the clocke in the after none or ther vppon / because Leo hauinge the ascendent / signifyeth to vs many fearful warres & great shedinge of bloude . Whiche as wel they of the lande of Austriche shal perceaue and feale as many other straunge nacions . Austriche ys vnder the dominion of Ferdinando kyng of Hongary For Merlyn sayeth that the Turke wythe great power purposeth to destroye the fore named landes of Meyssen / Duringen and Hesse . Therfore let not this Godly admonission and plage / whiche hangeth ouer youre heades ( good Christen men ) be forgotten / but rather let it be closed within youre hartes / seynge it is none other wyse lyke / than so to come to passe . For as truely as the Lorde lyueth / great sorowes & troubles are at hande in whiche the holy prophecies shal be fulfylled / and the true Christen churche shall sore decaye / euen lyke as it chaunced vnto the congregacyons of the Iewes / beynge in great prosperytie / felycytie & pryde / Hearynge the wounderfull thynges wroughte aboue in heauen / perceyuyng one lyke a vallyaunt Captayne / beyng in a fyery charret and syttyng in a stoole of golde / hauinge in his hande a sharpe speare / and a voice hearde in the entrynge in of the temple / which sayed within a very shorte tyme we will depart hence / which sygnifyed the mercye of God to be withdrawen from the generacyon of the Iewes / and it so came to passe / as it appered mooste manyfestlye by the distruccyon of Ierusalem / all this not withstandinge nor nothynge at all regardynge these visyons thei mocked and derided them / as thinges mooste false and vntrue . And I feare me that as many of the dowchelande / dothe esteyme and iuge these admonicyons of the prophetes as fables / euen so dothe other landes and nacions / whiche will neuer repente / vntill the tyme that those thinges happen to them / as did to the Iewes for theyr dissobedience . Apoca. xviij . Esa. xij But heare what S. Ihon sayeth in the apocalips / of them whiche ioyne them selues vnto the Babilonical strompet Babilon that great cytie is fallen / whiche hathe poysoned all nacions / causyng them to dryncke of the wyne of her stinking fornicacion . Iere. li. That myghty and great cytie Babilon ( sayeth he ) is fallen / and become the habitacyon of deuels . And why ? bycause the Kinges of the earthe haue committed fornicacion with her . Apoco . xiiij . And her marchantes are waxen ryche with the haboundaunce of her pleasures / yet in one houre ( o thou Babilon ) is thy iugement come . Esaie . xiij . Ieremy xiiij . Ezechi . xxxiiij . Thy sheaperdes haue distroyed and scatered my flocke a brode sayeth the Lorde / feadinge them selues / and not my people . Therfore ( sayeth he ) I will vpon them / and requyer my shepe oute of theyr handes / & will feade them myn owne selfe . For howe manye is there at this daye which for the inwarde zeale which thei beare vnto the heade of that cytie of Babilon / take an occasyon ( after the ensample of Herod ) to make inquisycion for fylthye lucres sake / Mat. i. for the pore innocent lambes of Chryst neuer leauing of vntill thei haue shed their bloude / thynkinge therby their lordeshippes and Kyngdomes longer to endure . And it is seine at this presente daye in some places / that althoughe the name of the heade of the Babilonicall cytie be abolished / yet were his lawes neuer more auaunced / nor his ministers and adherentes had in more hygher estimacion . I wolde there were some man that coulde make the spiritualty to vnderstande this lesson of Christe wel / where he saieth / mat . xx . that the Princes and Lordes of the heathen / haue power ouer the heathen people / but it shulde not be so amongest his disciples / Nowe then / if they wolde harken to this doctryne / and graunte them selues to be Christes disciples / then can they not loke to haue soche rule in the worlde / ouer Dukedomes / Erledomes / Cyties and townes / in soche ample wise / that worldly princes / in a maner be nothyng to be compared vnto them / or at the leaste withoute them . I speake not this in disprayse of the superyour powers / for euen the same Gospel whiche taketh worldelye promocion from the spirituall powers / dothe agayn restore the same to the Ciuyle Maiestrates / the which oughte to be obeyed as well of the spiritualtie / Roma . xiij . as of the temperaltye / seinge it is th ordenaunces of God him selfe / for the punisshemente of them that be euell / and maynteyninge of the good . So that who so euer withstandeth them / withstandeth the ordenaunce of god / seinge thei be his mynistres for oure wealthe and profyt / vnder whose subiection / God hathe instituted all creatures . For he sayeth clerely / Omnis anima / here is no man excepted / nether spiritual nor temporall . Roma . xiij . For where this order is not in the church of Christe / there muste the Lorde nedes sende downe his plages and punisshementes / accordinge to the prophecie of Hyldegardus / whiche sayeth / the time shall come / that the moone shall lose her light / that is to saye .iiij. poyntes / whiche shal be apon a monday after vincula Petri / at .xij. of the clocke at mydnighte / the ascendent beinge in Aquario .xviij. degrees in Libra / whiche vndoutedly dothe signify vnto vs / that many godly ordenaunces and statutes / which haue bene made for the setting forwarde of gods honour and the publyke wealth / shall be disanulled and broken / and other wicked and vngodlye actes shal be put in their places . For in this time shall stande vp a false prophet / whiche shall go aboute to distroye the cheifest articles of our faithe and beleif / and so throughe an vtwarde and gloryous appearaunce / he shall seduce moche people / and worke many straunge thinges . And in this time shall the Emperowrs maiestie be vexed and troubled with many of his subiectis / so that the prisons in euery place where men do vse to execute iustice / shal be fylled / with monkes / fryres / nonnes and soche other / so that thei shal lyue in an vncerteyn and vnsure estate . Item marchauntes & artifycers / shall not greatly profyt in their affayres / but that shall not longe contynewe . Item women shall haue good fortune in their trauaylle & labour / for they shall brynge forth many chyldren within shorte tyme . After this shal ther be two eclipsis / the one of the Sonne / the other of the moone . The sonne shall be darkened .vi. poyntes great from the begynnynge to the endynge / which shal be vppon a wednesdaye .viij. dayes after the .xij. day at after none . And agayne the moone shal loose hyr lyght vppon a frydaye after the conuersyon of . S. Paull in the mornynge at twoo of the clocke in the .ix. degre of Leo / whiche betokeneth great mischaunce and fortune to them that dwelle vppon the sea coastes / or where the grounde is lowe . In thys tyme men shall see a great fall and decaye of Turkes / so that the empyre shall haue great rule & domynion / conquerynge diuers landes & lordeships . Item the nobles of the empyre shall haue prosperous successyon and fortune with great fauoure of their subiectes . In the mean tyme shal the spiritualtie be at variaunce / strife / & discorde / for the promocions and goodes of the churche . And while thei are thus striuinge one agaynste an other / marchauntes and all other artyficers / shall haue more prosperous and better lucke in their trades & busines then thei had before . Notwithstanding / Italye / Norway / and Denmark shal be vexed troubled and be brought to great heauines . Aboute this tyme shall there be in Fraunce / in the lande of Luke / and in some places of the lande of Cleue / great pestilence and other straunge diseases / then shal the flowdes of the water of Ryne braste forth with great violence / and ouerflowe dyuers partes of the lande / to the greate discomoditie of the people . In this tyme shal the sonne be darkned .ix. poyntes from benethe vpwarde / vppon the seconde friday after Easter after none at .iiij. of the clocke .xij. degrees in the sygne of Pisces / so that then th ascendēt shal showe him selfe signifying vnto vs / that there shall be a great nombre of princes deposed / so that the crowne of the lande of Boheme shal stand voide / through the great disobedience of the subiectes . And because thei do reproue the rodde wherwith thei shulde be beaten / I wil therfore ( saithe the Lorde ) visite their transgression and disobedience / Amos. viij . withe a sharper rodde / that is / with the swerde of warre pestilence dearthe and deathe . Then shall the p̄lates of the churche be at strife / one agaynste an other for diuers causes / whiche I entende not moche to entreat of at this tyme / but will committe the thinges vnto god / yet will not I ouer slyppe the wordes of that princely prophet Dauid / which saithe . Psal. ij . The kinges of the earth shall stande vp / and the rulers shall counsell and come to gether agaynste the Lorde / and his anoynted . For bothe Pilate and Herode / Annas and Cayphas / scribes & pharisees / whiche seke their own profet and aduauntage / with no small dissention and discorde / sekyng the soules of them / Esaye . xiij . which ( the prophet Esay sayeth ) shal not yet dye / Thei shall right well perceaue the great plages of god / withe lamentinge and moorninge as lampes with oute oyle / & lanternes with out light / beinge both idle / blinde & vayn . Psalm. lxi . For yf thei were layd agaynste vanitie in a peire of balaunce / thei shuld flye vp vnto the skye / and be moche lighter then euen vanitye it selfe . Harken therfore ( sayeth the Lorde ) ye princes of Sodoma / & ye people of Gomorra / these my wordes . For the synne of my people / I will ( sayeth he ) suffer ypocrites to raigne ouer you . Let vs take hede of the wonderfull example where the aungell af god did destroye apon one nighte in the pauillions and tentes of the Assyrians . C.lxxxv . thousande men . iiij . Regum . xix . Esaie . xxxvij . For vndoutedly these plages that are to come / shall be for the synnes / whiche raygne at this daye in the worlde / so that there shal assemble together in one felde / many nobles of greate power / whiche willingly shal go to battell / where moche bloude shall be shedde / moste especially of the wicked / in soche wyse that the thirde parte of the worlde / shal there be slayne . iiij . Esdras . xv For I will holde my tonge no lenger ( sayeth the Lorde ) seinge the people be so wicked and vngodly / for the innocent bloude of the troubled / criethe vnto me / and the soules of the ryghtuous complayne contynually / therfore will I auenge the bloude of my people / so that the worlde shal be full of wofulnes and misery . The grounde shall lye voide / and not be tilled / the trees shall bear frute and shall not be gathered . The corne that is sowen in the feldes / shall not be broughte home into the barnes / the women shall weape and wayle / for the losse of their husbandes / that shall perisshe withe the power of the swerde . And more ouer / Aloufresant prophecyethe / that in this tyme / the trewe christians shall haue moche persecucions / troubles & sorowes / for the worde of God . And after that shall there folowe great dearthe / and deathe / as well in other places / as in douchelande . Then shal ther come in the coastes of Europe / soche rayne / wynde & tempest / that many men shall be slayne therwith And this tempeste shal come from the north / so that many shall go at nyghts merely to theyre beddes / whiche shal be founde dead in the mornynge / and thus ended hys prophecie . In this tyme also shall the papistrie and seate of Rome stande voyde / so that the Emperour shall take vppon him to ordeyne and instytute an other in the same seate / to whome the Emperoure shall adioyne hym selfe & make attonement in the churche . And the man whome he shall thus ordeyne / shal be of great worthynes & vertue / and therto be sett lyke one of power : so that after that he shall put downe / & take awaye great possessyons / rentes / promocions & dignyties / from the prelates and prebendaries / forbyddinge all outwarde vayne glorious pompe and pryde / aswell in externall lyghtnes of rayment & apparell bothe of men & women / as also the superfluytie of Golde / Syluer / pearles / precious stones / and soche lyke / so that he shall wyll euery man & woman accordynge to their vocacyon and callyng to go soberly apparelled / as it becommeth the true membres of Christ . Item he shall commaunde the Gospel of Iesus Christ to be preached / throughe oute all the worlde / rebukyng all synfull & vicious lyuinge of the people but he shall not longe contynewe . Aboute this tyme shal ther be hearde of a great fall and destruccion of the Turkes / amongest whom ther shal be a great insurreccion / by the reason wherof thei shal be troubled with moche myserie & calamitie . For the styrringe vp of Saturnus shall worke woundersly wythe them / to their great mysfortune & chaunce / so that the Turke shall haue but lytell courage and comforte to make warre agaynst the christians . The spyritualtie agayne on the other partie / shal be at no small variaunce and dyscorde amongest them selues / by the reason wherof many Kynges and prynces shall take good occasyon to reforme many enormyties / lytle to their ease and proffyt . For many of them whiche thynke to buyld vppon a foundacyon as hard as any rocke / shall fynde that it is but a very slypperishe sande . Nowe if men of power and renowne / wyll buylde vppon these foundacions so vncertayne and vnsure / yt ys no marueyll / thoughe God do plage them for their wyckednes / that so wylfully resyste and nothinge at all regarde these his godly admonissions / whiche shulde moue and sterre all christen men to repentaunce . O Lorde how shorte is the time of mercy / and howe feaw be there that require it at thy handes in tyme / which thinge obteyned / we shal euer liue / and neuer dye ? Math. xv . The woman of canane / called to Christe for mercye / and by and by her doughter was made hole . Also Iob saithe / that the earthe is not onely full of mercy / but heauen and hell / for who hathe euer called vpon Christe for mercye / whiche hath not receiued it of him / so that he haue asked it in faithe . And vnderstande that the Emperours maieste Charles the fyfte shal worke the Turke more sorow than any prince hath done these . CCCC . yeres / so that thei whiche are vnder the signe of sagittarius / shall preuayll and haue great victory / which shal be the Emperour hym selfe / or one of his bloude . And where I might here speke more of the Emperours maieste / and of diuers thinges / which shal be done by him & his nobles / let no man thinke the contrary / but his actes shal excell and passe all other princes / if he be not hindered by the perswasyons of the prelates of the Romayne empyre . The ꝓphecye of Cibilla cumana . Vnderstande by those letters / F E / A and G / the dn̄icall and the leap yeare . Math. xxiiij . And to this dothe agree Cibilla Cumana / speakinge owt of the spirite of prophecie / affirminge it to chaunche betwixt F and E / A and G. Whiche prophecie endeth at .xlviij. yeares / or sone after . Before that time there shall be great chaunge in the world / and straunge wonders shal be hearde of / that shal be trewe / althoughe thei shal apeare to many / very vncredible . And then more thingis shall chaunche in a verye shorte tyme / then hathe bene seene many yeares before . And the laste signe and token after these / there shal be so great persecution and tribulation / as hathe not bene seene nor hearde of / syns the beginning of the world . And after this persecution / shall the sonne be darkened / and the mone shall not geue her light / in so moche that I do fynde especially two fearefull Eclypses of the moone / in so moch that she shall lose her lighte verye greatlye with in one yeare / and shal be darkened from aboue to benethe / and these Eclipsis shal giue vnto all nacyons / a great admonition and warninge . For the operation of bothe these Eclypsis / shall chaunche betweene the yeare xxxvij . and .xlviij. signifying to vs / so great trouble & heauynes to chaunce vnto the spiritualtie / that I wyll lett passe to name the houre and daye / referringe it vnto the iudgement of the Lorde . And so farre as thys cirkell doth stretch / so farre shall ther great disquietnes be . Apoca. xiij . So that I wolde men shuld note these two figures folowing in the Apocalipse . The fyrst is / I sawe a beaste rysyng out of the sea / hauing .vij. heades .x. hornes and vppon his hornes .x. crownes / & vppon his heade the name of blasphemy / by which beaste I vnderstande that vsurper of Gods lawes / & wicked tyraunte Antechriste / whiche hath most beastly lyued and taught the people most wycked and beastly doctryne / whiche hath drawen vnderneth his subieccion vij . the most noblest Realmes of the whole worlde / he that hathe cares / let hym heare . And I behelde an other beaste comminge out of the earth / & he had .ij. hornes lyke a lambe / & he spake as great thingis as dyd the first / and caused the people which dwelled in the earthe to worshippe the firste beaste / whose deadly woundes was healed by him / let him that redeth vnderstande . These prophecies are bothe chaunced & fulfylled / & we truste by the helpe of God / that these thingis shal be redressed by the Emperours mayestie / Charles the .v. & his assistentes . After this shall come a good tyme / for there shall be a newe reformacion / whiche shall continewe longe / so that the name of the great Turke shal be no more hearde of . In this tyme shal other fearfull thinges be sene in the sonne / for vppon the second wensdaye after easter at .v. of the clocke in the mornynge / in the .xxvij. degree / the sygne beynge in Aries . Ther shal be soche darknes as hath not bene sene in many yeres before / which signifieth that many princes & kynges shal rule to gether in one realm . Miche . iiij . Then ( saieth the ꝓphet ) shall they make of theyr swerdes ploweshares / and sythes of their speares / & euery man shall syt vnder hys vynearde and fygge tree / so that one people shall not lyft vp his weapen agaynst an other / nether shall they from thens forthe learne to fyght . Esa. ij . After that shall the blynde Iewes knowe by the declaracyon of the prophecies of Iacob / that the true Messyas hath bene borne longe & many yeres agone / which thei vnto this daye / haue loked for his commynge . Genes lxxi . Whiche ꝓphecie sayeth thus : when messias shal be borne then shal be taken from the Iewes their scepter and crown / and thei shal be ruled of the Romysshe Empyre : which so chaunced after the death of Christ . And throughe Titus & Vespasianus they were brought vnder the subiection of the Emperour of Rome . And nowe I truste ( through the goodnes of almightie God ) that it shal be aswel declared vnto the Iewes / as it hath bene beleued of the Christians / that Messias is come alredy So that then ( after the destructyon of the Turkes ) they shal be all conuerted vnto the christen belefe / & the Gospel shal be receaued with all diligence . And this is the good will & mynde / of the most redoubted Emperour and godly prince Charles / & that not onely in worde / but also in harte & dede . For thys purpose hath the almyghtie God ordeyned so many godly and excellent contreys vnderneth his gouuernaunce / to the intent that the pure and vndefyled worde of god might be preached and syncerely taught / thorow out all his landes / to the honoure of God & saluacion of mankynde . Wherby it shal appeare ( I truste ) to all his true subiectes / to cause them to take the more courage / to the further encrease of vertue / and preseruacyon of his excellent maiestie . Blessed be that houre when this shal come to passe / and blessed be all they which shall aduaunce & set forwarde these thinges before rehearced vnto all nacyons . For the whiche let vs all praye with one harte & mynde / that this Gods honour and our saluacion maye be obteyned / peace encreased / and al consciences quyeted . For the Lorde knoweth what creatures we be / sayinge / We are but asshes / & to asshes shal we retourne agayn / and as we brought nothing into this worlde / so shall we cary nothing away with vs . Gen. iij Ezechi . xvij . Here with I make an ende / and take my leaue / neuer more entendyng after this to ꝓnosticate / but wil counsell all men in the steade of pronostications to imbreace Godes worde / which is able to saue youre sowles / according to the sayeng of the apostell . Ia●● . i. And all though in this pronosticacion / I speake moste specially of those thinges / whiche are lyke to chaunce ( by the natural inclinacions of the planetes ) in douchelande / yet were it good for all other landes & realmes / here with to be admonisshed and take good heade / for where so euer the Lorde is most dishonoured & his word resisted / ther will he first strike & plage / and yf ther be any ( as ꝑchaunce ther wyll be some ) which wil saye ( tush ) this ꝓnosticator is no wiser then mad Marlyn & soche other false and prophane fabelers / as he dothe here in alleage them for his authors / wel / admit that bothe thei and I were liars ( as in deade we are no other ) yet is the Lord rightuous and trwe / whiche wyll smyte the worlde withe his staffe and rodde / and with the breath of his mouth / he will destroy the wicked . Genes xlix But here will some men peraduenture obiect and saye / that these great threates and plages of god before rehersed and spoken of by the prophetes / were prophecyed agaynste the wicked and disobedient Iewes / agaynst Sodoma and Gomorra / agaynst their princes preistes cyties and countres / which thinges were fulfilled many honderd yeares paste / as at the destruction of Hierusalem & soche other . Well / agaynst all soch that thus arrogantly wyll reason agaynste the Lorde / will he him selfe whette his swearde / bende his bowe / and make redy his arowes / to shoote at those disobedient people / which continewe still in their synnes with moche more abhomination / than euer did these heathen or vngodly Iewes . And let no man thynke / that his swerde is any shorter at this tyme ageynste them that wyll not repente and amende / then it was in time paste . For trwly / the synnes which raygne at this daye in the world / do greatly ꝓuoke the plages & vengeaunce of god to come shortlye vpon vs . And thoughe owr gracious god be a longe sufferyng god / yet at lengthe he punissheth / and that with great violence / accordinge to the sayinge of the ꝓphet Naum / where he sayth . Naum . i. The Lorde taketh vengeaunce vpon his enemies / & reserueth displeasure for his aduersaries / there is no power nor prince / that can withstande the Lorde of hostes / for loke what he saieth / it is done / and what he commaundeth / it standeth faste . Psalm. xxxij . There is no counsell whiche shall longe preuayle / if it be agaynst the Lorde / accordinge to the sayinge of the prophet Dauid / speakinge on this wise . The Lorde bringeth the counsell of the vnfaithfull to naught / and turneth the deuices of the people / but the counsell of the Lorde endureth / and the thoughtes of his harte / from generation to generation . A kynge is not holpen ( sayeth he ) by his owne great hooste / nether is a Giaunt saued throuh the might of his owne streangth . Psalm xxxiij . Naum . i. Let vs now therfore feare the Lorde / for at the sight of his displeasure / all the worlde shall shake and tremble for feare who may abide his displeasue / or ones flee from his indignacion ? his anger taketh on like fire / so that the harde rockes ( sayeth the prophet ) at his displeasure braste in sonder . Esa. xi . Therfore all trew and faithfull christians / lament and morne / for the day of the lorde is at hande / which commeth as a distroyer from the almighty . Esaye . xiij . Then shal all handes be letten down and all mennes hertes shal melte away / carefulnes & sorow shall come vpon them / & their faces shal burne like the flame / because ( saieth the ꝓphet ) the day of the Lord shal be so terrible / that his indignacion and wrath shal be caste vpon the face of th earth / to make it waste / & to root out the synne therof . Heare what the Lorde saieth / by the mouth of his ꝓphet / Wo be to all them ( saieth he ) that make vnrightuous lawes / Esai . x. deuisinge thinges to harde to be kept / wherby the pore are oppressed on euery syde / and the innocent people ar therwith robbed of iugement / the widowes made a pray / so that the fathirles be spoyled of their goodis . Iob. xij This may almen see how the godly and innocent be entreated and laughed to scorne / and the houses of robbers be in wealth and prosperite . The Lorde euerlasting / which hath the hertes of all kinges and princes in his hande / to turne them where euer he will / preserue the Emperours most noble maieste / with all kinges and princes and stablisshe them with great honour & longe lyfe / to ꝓmote the gospel of Chryst . Amen .