The exposicion of Daniel the prophete gathered oute of Philip Melanchton, Iohan Ecolampadius, Chonrade Pellicane [and] out of Iohan Draconite. [et] c. By George Ioye. A prophecye diligently to be noted of al emprowrs [and] kinges in these laste dayes

This cap. is a prophecie of the monar∣chie* 1.1 of the Perses to be translated to the grekis & Macedones / Dario their kinge slayn by Alexander / which dead / anon y^e Monarchie of the grekis was diuided in to 4 cheif kingdoms that is into Mace∣done / Egipt / Asiam and Syram. And at

laste in the Syrsake kingdom there arose Antiochus epiphanes which being of all enemies the moste cruel tyrant / scourged the iewes / and was the figure of our anti∣crystes. In all these heuey and blody mu∣••acions of kingedoms and trowblose ty∣mes▪ God wold confort his peple, leste in the middis of these affliccions and offen∣dicles thei shuld despeyer. Let vs hear y^e text.

In the thirde yere of y^e raigne of kīg* 1.2 Beltsazar there was sh••wed a vision vn∣to me Daniel / aftir this former vision w^c in my visiō loking aboute me / methought I was by the floude Eule.

Nowe daniel being out of y^e kīgs court of babylon in the londe of persie in a castel called Susis / by the flowde Eule seeth a* 1.3 terrible vision. Susis was the head cyte of Persye / so called of Roses / otherwise called pers••polis / there in was king Ly∣rus his cheif palace 140. forelongs abou∣te. Of the flowde Eule hauing his head spring in Medis runing about the castel* 1.4 or t••wer of Susis, write the pliny in his 6 boke 27. chap. Daniel saw this vision by the flowd whose waters lyke as the later waues thruste forthe the former sourges / euen so shall one tribulacion and persecu∣cion succede a nother cōtinually as long

as crystes chirche dureth and the gospel be trwly and frely preched vnto crysis cō∣ming. Wherfore it is necessary the chir∣che to be counforted and taught lest amo∣ng these greuose affliccions and heuey persecucions she fainte and despayer. Al∣so it behoueth vs to be warned that we might know the causes of these plages and so to estiem them. And therfore sayth daniel here / that for the sinnes of the pe∣ple / was Antiochus sent so cruelly to pu∣nisshe* 1.5 them as saith Paul. Because men loued not the trwthe now preched to thē / therfore shall god sende them mighty il∣lusions making them to beleue lyes. The∣se heuey threatis shuld moue vs diligent∣ly to receiue and conserue the trew doctri∣ne now offred vs, lest god suffer yet a gre∣ater d••rkenes and greuoser plages to be casten vpon vs. It shalbe therfore expe∣dient to behold the horrible destuccions and cruel affliccions done vnto the iews by Antichus, that we might haue conso∣lacion / lest we fal and despeier seing the∣re be many lyke Antiochus nowe execu∣ting lyke tyrannye and cruelty ouer chir∣stis floke.

☞ And myne eyes lysted vp / lo I saw* 1.6 a ••amme hauing two hornes standing be∣fore the floude whiche hornes being very

long / yet was there one hygher and lon∣ger then the tother / and in the extremest parte it did shote forth moste prowdly. This rāme I sawe runing with his hor∣nes ayenst the weste / and ayenst the nor∣the and ayenst the sowthe so that no bea∣stes might resist him / nor be delyuered frō out of his powr: so that he did what he li∣sted and wexed great in doing great ac∣tes. And whilis I considered (lo I sawe an he gote coming fro the west vpon the face of al y^e erthe / nether lyted he vpō the erth. And this gote had a forth stretched horne to be sene standing betwixt his e∣yes▪ He came vnto the horned ram whom I sawe standind before the flowd & with a mighty violence he ranne ayenst him. And I saw him come euē to the ram / whe∣re in his hotte fury he smitte the ram / & broke bothe his hornes, for the ram had no strength to withstande him so that he smitte him downe to the grownde & trode him vnder his fete / & there was non that mighte desyuer the ram from him. Then did the gote right valeant grete actes & was mightely & highly magnified / and when he was in his moste strength and powr / his great horne was broken / in wh••∣se place there grewe forthe 4 hornes pro∣cedinge ayenst the fower partes of the

world. And out of one of them there went forth a litle horne which wexing grete did prowd and cruelactis ayēst the sowth and by easte euen in the most amene and pleasaunt londe. And then he stretched forthe himself ayenst the beutiful hoste & company of heuen / and of this celestiall company and also of the starris he threw downe some of them to the erthe and tro∣de them vnder his feet. yea and at laste / euen ayenst the self emperowr of the hoste with great arrogancye he lyfted vp him∣self with crakis and bostes so that therby the dayly perpetuall sacrifice was taken awaye / and the seat of the sanctuary of god was subuerted. And the heuēly hoste with their dayly perpetuall sacrifices we∣re geuen vp into his hand is for their syn∣ne•• / and he scourged down the trewth to the grounde and cōmitted this cruel mis∣cheif prosperously.

When the Babylony▪ kingdome was now at an ende / and daniel had sen•• the Perses to haue the empyre / this vision was shewed him / to thentent he shuld te∣che his chirche how that both vnder the Medis and Perses the conquirers of Ba∣bylon / and also vnder Ale••ander the con∣quirer of the Persies / and at last vnder Antiochus that Anticryst and s••ourge of

the Iewes / shulde be persecuted and pla∣ged. For trewely because the peple eue•• loueth more the peace & ••ase of the worl∣de then to study to lyue aftir goddis pre∣ceptis, the spring of all peace / therfore is this crosse shewed them to be suffered & caryed vnder these kingdoms then to co∣me for breking of gods commandemēts / that god according to his threateningis might be feared / and Cryst accordinge to his promises might be wayted fore / & hi•• coming prayd for to god. This vision is a prophecie of the vprysinge and fall of the kingdōs of Cyrus / Alexander / & Antio∣chus the very pesielence of the Iewes.

The Ram standing at the Persi•• ••lou∣de signifieth Cyrus the duke and leader∣forth* 1.7 of the Persies. He is called the two horned / because he ledforth the hostes of both the Medis and Persies. For his. ii. hornes signifye these two hostes. This Rammis greatest hyghe horne signifieth Cyrus y^e king of Persie / the hayer at last of all Mede / yea and made the king of all the kingdome. This Ram to runne with his hornes ayenst the west / north & sowth signifieth him comen from the ••ast out of Persie to haue faughten ayenste all men / that is to weyt ayenste the Arabies and Egypcions which lye sowthe ••ayenst the

Assyriēs / and Palestyns lyinge west from him and ayenst the Lidions and Capado∣cies lying north. No beast to might haue stande ayenst him / signifieth him beinge king of Persie to triumphe and haue the victory of all other kingdōs. To do ther∣fore what he lysted wexing so great a vi∣ctour / signifieth the kingdom of Persie so prosperously to haue had succeded / that Cyrus as it is red) gouerned. 120. prouin∣ces / whose Monarchie dured about. 200. yeres. Now whether this Ram was fygu∣re to any of oure present crysten realmes / let the diligent obseruers of tymes states and realmes loke and they can espye it: whyles we treate and talke of the Gote / that is of Alexander king of the Grekis.

Here the Gote / as afore the Leoparde signifye the same king / euen great Alex∣ander.* 1.8 The nature of these two beastes agre well with the properties of the kin∣ges of Grece. The Gote maye well cly∣me and skip. The dukis of y^e Grekis were* 1.9 valeant both in counsels and in their bu∣sines decreed swiftly to be performed. In counsell geuinge / in delibering / in de∣cerning* 1.10 thinges delybered / in thinges de∣creed spedely to be finisshed / in espyinge an apte occasion / who were more ingeni∣o••se and clearer witted then Philip and

Alexander: But as y^e Leopardes or spot∣ted pantheres / albeit they hunteoute all beastis and feare no darte nor spere (for they smyte them of with their swiftnes) yet with wyne are they made dronken / & then aftir their lustes one leapinge the other made weary, are thei taken. Euen so the kings Philip and Alexander ouerco∣ming all and nothing fearing / they were so ouercomen of wyne and lechery that the one was destroyed of voluptuosnes / and dronkenes kylled the tother. The leo∣pardes be desyerouse of wyne / and therfo∣re there hunters powerforth wyne nyghe their haunted places / and a certayn spa∣ce of / they set downe y^e hole great vessell full of myne / the sauour whereof drawth the panthers or leopards (for both be one saue the pardus is the male and the pan∣ther the female) oute of their dennes / which when they haue all dronken oute and be made dronken / thei playe their lu∣stis togyther / so that at laste they made weary, fall downe to sleap. And then come the armed honters and take them. Euen so haue ther bene many valeant / prudent princes / but in cōclusion by lustis / intem∣perance and drōkenes they perisshed de∣stroyd wretchedly. As were Philip and Alexander / and aftir them Demetriu••

and the later Philip / which thinge hath happened to many men sence / & it chaun∣ceth yet to many. Noble valeant princes fortunat in all their affayers / warres / & victories neuer shrinking nor flying bak / haue there bene / which at last haue bene cowerdly broken & casten downe of their owne lustis & haue had a miserable tra∣gi ende / their nature before clene chan∣ged / and themselues deformed and de∣stroyd in their owne fylthy dronken leche∣rose lustis.

Also let vs see the descripcion of the* 1.11 lande / for that this Gote came from the west vpon the face of all the erth and at∣teyned or lyted not vpon the erth. Which signifieth Ale vander coming forth from Grece to inuade estewarde & then sowth∣warde & at ••ast northwarde in short space subdewed all the world vnto him. To not towche nor lyte vpon the earth it is sayd / because he beginning in his .xx. yere / did in a maner flye ouer all the worlde & was made the emperour of all the worlde in the xxxii. yeare of his age / wherin he dyed not for age nor in victorye but with volu∣ptuosnes and wyne was he oppressed. Wherfore that prominent great horne of the Gote in his most s••rength broken of / signifyeth the mighty power of great A∣lexander

smyten downe in his cheif flo∣wers. Whether ther be yet any siche Go∣tis / let their fortune declare them / & the clere eyed obserue it. But whom did he so smyte with his horne•• verely euen y^e ram before the floude. For as in floudis one sourge soupeth vp & deuoureth a nother / * 1.12 euen so one of these kingdoms de••oured vp another / the later swellowd vp y^e for∣mer. And how the Persik kingdome was translated to the Grekis / and the Greke empyre of Alexander diuided into y^e Ma∣cedonyk / Syriac / Asiatik & Egypt king∣doms (which all / Daniel by all his wor∣des of the Ram and Gote will teche) it is plentuos lyer described of Diodoro / Cur∣tio / Iustino. &c. Now to the lytle horne sprongen vp out of these .iiii. hornes / that is to saye / of Antiocho Epiphane.* 1.13

The lytle horne signifieth Antiochum Epiphanem descendinge out of the stock of Seleucus holdinge Syriam aftir the death of Alexander / whiche aftir this ways came to the kingdome. Out of Se∣leuco was borne Antiochus the greate / which had these .iii. sones / Seleucū / An∣tiochum Epiphanem / and Demetrium. And when Antiochus the greate warred with the Romans and had left in hostage or pledge Antiochum Epiphanem & De∣metrium /

he dyed in Syria / •••• left his so∣ne Seleucum aftir him / no king but a foo∣le / wherfore Epiphanes knowinge of his fathers death / gote himself preuily from Rome and came into his fathers kingdo∣me / & his vnapt brother deud / he enioied the kingdom in the .137. yere aftir Alexan∣ders death / witnesse the .1. chapter. of the first of the Maccabeis. This Antiochus was of Catalinaris crafty witte. Wher∣fore daniel here prophecieth that by An∣tiochum Epiphanem the sowtheste (euen the most pleasaunt lande of the Iewes / shuld be skourged and plaged / which is called z••by in Hebrewe for hir fertilite / that is the beutye and flowr of all landis euen as the Iewes / for the trwe worship of god delyuered them by Moses and the prophetis / are called the beutyfull orna∣ments hoos••es or companies of heuen / as be the sonne mone and starres. He skour∣ged the sowth / when he inuaded Egypt makinge bataill against Ptolome the el∣der / his sisters sone being king / and com∣pelled Alexandriā to flye for socoure to Ptolome hir yonger brother. But how y^e senators of Rome desyered of his brether∣ne expelled false Antiochū out of Egypt by their ambassiadour Popilium / ye shall se it in .34. boke of Iustini / & partely here aftir

How Antiochus skourged and plaged that pleasant desyred lande / throw down the starres into the erth and destroyd the* 1.14 holy habitacle / in the first and .ii. of Mac cabeis / it is so clerrely and cruelly ex∣pressed* 1.15 / that I abhorre and tremble not onely to speke / but also to wryte any more of this blodye beast. But right heuey de∣stines abyde them that euyll deserue / which thing I maye confirme by the ex∣ample of Antiochus the very image of An∣ticryst. For when he inuaded & destroyde in the east parties (as daniel here pro∣phecieth) and not onely from the besege of Elymaid of Persie / he was with the great heuines of his mynde repelled and put bak / but also when it was tolde him his capitayn Lysiane with his host to ha∣ue 〈…〉〈…〉 fledde / he fyll into so greate a sy∣kenes and thought / that before his death* 1.16 he confessed himself therfore so greuous∣ly to be plaged and so compelled to dye / because he had so spoyled and destroyd y⁴ temple of Ierusalem and so cruelly skour∣ged the Iewes. For it was not enoughe for him thus to persecute the Iewes and subuerte all their lawes / holy rytes and godly ceremonies and sacrifices institu∣ted of God / but he wold arrogantly blas∣pheme god himself / suppresse his trewth

with all his diuyne sacred ordinances. yea and he prospered in his mischeif. This miche be sayd for the preface of the prophecye. Now heare the interpreter.

☞ And I hearde an holy one speake* 1.17 saying vnto a certayn meruelouse excel∣lent one. How longe shall this vision of the dayly perpetuall sacrifice and of the blasphemose synne which is the cause of this deuas••acion and destruccion endure / that both the holy sacred temple with all hir sacrifices and the Iewes shalbe thus troden downe? And he answered me. Af∣tir two thousand and. 300. dayes which* 1.18 containe the daye and night / shall the ho∣ly temple be restored to the iust and law∣full vse. And whylis I daniel beheld the vision desyerouse to knowe it / lo there sro∣de before me one lyke a man. And I hear∣de with in the floude eule the voyce of a man crying out sayinge: Gabriel / teache this man this vision. Then he came nye•• the place where I stode / whose coming so nyghe me / made me so afrayd / that I fyl∣downe flat one my face. And he sayd vn∣to me: Attende and perceiue thou sone of man. For this visiō shalbe fulfilled in the last tyme (or in the ende of the captiuite.) And whylis Gabriel thus spake with me I fylldowne grouelinge as one had bene

ouercomen with great sleap. And he tow∣ching me / lifted me vp ayen into my stan∣ding. And then he sayd: Beholde / I shall teache the what thinge shall come when* 1.19 this wrath is finisshed / for it shall haue an ende at the tyme prefixed.

Daniel calleth the interpretor of the vision / a meruelouse excellent one. As I•• say calleth cryst a meruelous one / a coun∣seller / &c.* 1.20 Here therfore he asketh this meruelouse one whiche was cryst appe∣ringe lyke the aungell Gabriel (so called for his meruelouse excellent strengthe) how long y^e peple of god shuld be so skour∣ged and persecuted of Antiochus / which was the figure of oure Anticrysten Antio∣ches and lytle horne crept vp in the Ro∣mane imperye / and so consequently what afflicciōs hang ouer the chirches of cryst to the worlds ende / for it is manifest that whatsoeuer the aungel tolde before of the heuey affliccions of the Iewes / the same be now verified and done vpon the chir∣che of the gentyles / which thinges sith they be past / it is no dowt / but the rest of the vision is in fulfillinge now / and shal∣be* 1.21 euery daye fulfyssed vpon vs tyll cryst become to iugement. This meruelouse one whose name is hidden / is cryst Iesus the sone of god / which euer from the be∣gining

hath bene present with the godly as he now is present and shalbe / vnto the* 1.22 worldis ende. For the kingdom of cryst is cryst himself present with his worde and spirit counfortinge vs / certifyinge vs of the casamities to come / hearinge vs cal∣ling vpon him / gouerning oure thoughts wordis and workis by aungels / so that death troden downe we mought haue ly∣fe eternall. This is my couenant with* 1.23 them (sayth the lorde) My spirit which is in the / and my wordis which I haue putte into thy mouth shall not go fro thy mouthe / nor from the mouthe of thy sead whylis the world stande. For where two or. iii. be gathered togyther in my name / I am in the middis of them. For because therfore that vnder Antioche the chirche shulde be so miserably 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and torne / and Gabriel the fauorer of the chirche asked howlonge that calamite shulde en∣dure / therfore cryst answereth. 2000. and 300. dayes / that is. 6. yeares 3. monethes and. 20. dayes / that the godly readers of daniel might haue confort in that perse∣cucion / and be assewered Antiochus that blast of the deuyll / be yend that tyme to rage no farther. For euē so came it to pas∣se as the bokis of the Maccabeis testifye For it may be shewed / y^e image of Ioui••

olympii to be set vp in y^e temple in the yere* 1.24 145 aftir the deth of asexander y^t moneth of Nouēber & then was Nicanor ouerco∣men and slayne in the yere 151 in februa∣rie* 1.25 called adar vnto the which adde de∣cember Ianuarie and februarie with the odde dayes and thou haste the iuste noū∣ber. And in that he saith / the morning & euening / he vnderstandeth the naturall daye as it was first created containinge the night and daye togither.

I shuld in the begining haue tolde ye the occasiō of the calamite: but it cometh* 1.26 not out of ceason what so euer profitteth. Wherfore as it is cleare in the 1 boke of the Maccabe God to haue had fore sene* 1.27 by. 137. yeres / Antioche to be the scourg of the iewes and the autor of thir afflicciōs for the sinnes of y^e peple: euen so is it play ••e in the 2 chap, God also to haue had se∣ne before, the ende of Antioches pestilen∣ce / to be Matathiam and the Maccabe is So that there is nothing done vpon erth but god knowth it before: nether willeth he vs any thing to know before but that ••heafore saith and telleth it vs to come Wherfore let vs namely counfort owrsel∣ues in this / that owr meruelouse one / cry∣ste here saith vnto gabriel the mā of god / bidding him to expown the visiō to dani

••••so desyrouse to know it what it mought signifie / for because it pertaineth to the laste dayes. For it signifieth cryste / vnto all men desyering to vnderstand prophe∣cies / euer to sende some that will teche hi that is so minded towerds God as was daniel affected towerds cryst & his aun∣gel when this vision shuld be declared. Nether signifieth it els / daniel to be con∣serued by his worde to be liftedvp and re∣fresshed of the aungel / then cryste by his aūgels the ministers of his word to this entent to animate the timerouse and to strengthē the weake that thei shuld with the prophetis wordes shewing cryste the sauior, refresshe and confirme the chirche pressed vnder the crosse. Wherfore let vs geue thākis to crist / for that he neuer sle∣apeth whilis his chirche is in persecuciō but is euer awake to deleuer vs in his na∣me callinge vpon our father / whiche is confirmed by the example of the Maca∣beis.* 1.28

The ram which thou sawest with two hornes is the kinges of Mede and Persie. And the roughe hearye gote is the king of the Grekis. And the great horne betwixt his eyes is the firste king, which broken / there stode vp. 4. in his place / w^c a•• the 4 kingdoms to rysevp oute of the

same nacion but non of them lyke him in strength. And in the ende of these king∣doms when synne and iniquite shall pre∣uaile / there shall standvp a king / shame∣les and subtyle. This king shalbe migh∣ty s••rong / but not by his owne powr. And he shall woundrefully wast and destroye and shall prospere mightly in his actis. He shall make away and destroye grete & mighty men / yea and the faithful good peple to. And by his crafty subtyltie he shall expede his affaiers properously tho∣rowe deceytes. He shall in his owne con∣saight take great enterpryses vpon him & be magnifyed. And himself strengthe∣ned with great riches shall destroye ma∣ny men. Also he shall resiste the most hi∣ghe* 1.29 prince of all / and thē with out manis handes shall he be alto broken.

Now is the vision declared to Daniel by the aungel / at the commandement of the sonne of god. But certeinly it is said and prophecied of owr present anticrists bothe spirituall and seculare playing an∣tioches parte euen this daye. For that an∣ticriste Antiochus ouer the iewes prefi∣gured owr anticrystes in the ende of the worlde ouer the gentils. The occasion of the destruccion of kingdome by Antioche and anticrists / ar the obominable sinnes

of the peple & of their emperowrs & prin∣ces. For as before crystes first cominge / for the sinnes of the iewes God steredvp* 1.30 Antioche to skourge thē / euen so now for the contempte of the gospel / god befor the seconde coming of cryste hathe steredvp owr antichristen Antioches as cruelly to* 1.31 persecute the crystianes as euer did An∣tiochus the iewes. For where the text sayth: when synne and wikednes is pre∣uailed and hath the ouerhand / what els folowth then the contempt of the worde and the sinnes of the peple / to be the ve∣ry causes of bothe these skourges / that is to saye bothe of the iewes Antioche and of the crysten Anticristes? Albeit by Anti∣cryst / be taken al that resiste and persecu∣te cristis worde: a•• Ioan said in his tyme to be many anticristis. But because this prophecie sowneth to be spoken of the kig∣dom of Antioche that is of anticryste, ne∣ther be there any kingdōs vnder the son∣ne* 1.32 more contrary to cryste / then Gog and Magog / that is to weit the Mahumeti h••ast and the false prophete of rome with his 10 seculare hornes: with weping tea∣res trwly (saith Doctour Ioan Draconi∣tes)* 1.33 do I tremble and quake to speke it▪ That vnder the name of anticrist / muste be taken the Turkis kingdom goten by

swerde and violence & the popis kingdō* 1.34 constituted by fraude and supersticion.

Antiochus compared with Anti∣cryste:

by Draconites.

Daniel gods painter wolde by the de∣scripcion* 2.1 of Antioche / prefigure vnto vs the maners of Anticryste. First of his vn∣shamefaced face for that he was & is the moste impudent despyser of god and the fiercest bolde beast to persecute and to be contrarye to his worde as be the two son∣nes of antioche this daye / the turke & the Rome bishop w^t his hornes / y^e most shame∣les pestelent persecutors and condemp∣ners of the gospel of god / for arrogantly dare thei do what thei liste contrarye to gods wil. Of his fraude is he described. for as that subtyll fraudelent foxe Antio∣chus* 2.2 craftely circumuented egipte & Iu∣deam / euen so be the false turke and his subtyle serpent the pope the two crafty marchants with their false fayned wor∣dis & deuillish doctryne to peruerte al mē not of their owne powr / but of other me∣nis. For Antiochus was so mighty ouer* 2.3 Iud••am / by the falshed and vnfaithful∣nes of the bisshops of the iewes and by y^e vain leuite of the peple as it is redde in the Maccabeis. And euen so these two bretherne (albeit vnlyke inprofession) the

turke and the pope / gote and constituted their kingdoms by other men is powr and might. The turke at first by the mighty fraudes of mahumete, and the pope by the powr of emperowrs bisshops cardinals kin∣ges and his owne subtyle supersticiouse hypocrysye and chosen holines.

And now therfore shall ye note that by the counsell & mischeif of the bishops Anticristis seat shalbe translated and tos∣sed from the ecclesiasti•• cheier of Rome vnto the secular emperowrs and king is trones as the storye fygured in that secu∣lar and anticriste Antiochus / which was out of the stoke of the emperowr of the gre∣kis called Seleucus and helde the king∣dom of Syre And begune to raigne in the 137. yere aftir the dethe of Alexander / as witnesseth the first boke of the Maccabe. This hathe euer ben sene in all stories. That the emperowrs and kinges will at∣temper bende and bowe all religions and beleifes vnto their owne profit and plea∣sures. As when Antiochus knewe the ie∣wes for their religion and faith not glad∣ly to suffere any heithen king to be their gouerner / he first studied howe he might destroie their faith and subuerte their re∣ligion and so to become their kinge. For he iuged all religions besydes his own to

be va••n and false / whiche beinge in this prowd temerariouse iugement cōceiuing of himself to haue auctorite to chang me∣nis faith and gods religion / fyll into ma∣ny carnall lustis, filthines, ambicion, and into allkynd of greuose crimes casten vp of god to fight boldely ayenst god himself euen to bring Iudeam into bondage and to abolisshe all the old doctrine of the pro∣phets vnto the whiche his prowd purpo∣se, the vngodly wikednes of the bisshops ministred diligently this occasion. For when the godly man Onias was bishop of the iewes / his brother Iason went to* 2.4 Antiochus in the beginning of his raig∣ne and gaue him money to destroie his brother Onias and to geue him the bys∣shoprik. And by a lyke fraude there came the third man Menelaus and ••he pluk•• the bisshoprik from Iason / which bishops brought in the greke prophane filthei opē playes into the cite of Ierusalem to do an∣tioche pleasure / thei trode vnder fo••e & contempned gods lawe and conformed themselues vnto the most filthye court∣ly prophane facions of Antiochus drow∣ned in all excesse, pryde, dilicate and soft syuing and in all the haithen maners. Af∣tir this / was menelaus slayn / whom the bisshop Alcimus succeded which was al∣so

a pestelent ennimie to the Maccabeis. These obominable crimes of the bishops were the seadis of all the miseries & cala∣lamitis of that tyme / as thei be nowe.

Nowe returne we to the comparison of an∣tiochus* 2.5 with Anticrist describing him of his incredible destruccion. Which howe he destroid the peple of god / as we cānot reade it without grete dolour writē in the Maccabeis / euen so not without weping teares do all crystē men nowe fele it how the cursed turke abolissheth the diuyne scriptures / and the Romishe bisshop (the lorde god renyed which hath bought vs) bringeth in his dampnable fectis as pe∣ter* 2.6 witnesseth. Nowe see what good suc∣cesse and fortune he had in his mischeif: which prosperite therin god gaue him to sko••r••e the peple for their sinnes. And out of the same spring and well it is clea∣re that the prosperouse successe of the tur∣ke and of the pope floweth / as Paul wit∣nesseth / affirming god to geue them effe∣ctuouse errours & stronge illusions to be∣leue lyes. He is also described of his op∣pression* 2.7 of great men and of the holymē. But wherfore permitteth god him so to do•• verely because he hateth sinne whose grauite we see not / & will mortifye vs •••• the crosse: nether was the worlde at any

tyme worthei to haue any holy man long to dwell in it. Wherfor this serpētin sea•• Antiochus must nedis / to his paine / fele y^e mighty faithful of the chirche / by their faith and prayers to be stronger then all the emperowrs popes kings deuils & dea∣thes. An example haue ye of those 7 bre∣therne with their mother. What merue•••• then is it / if these two hand is of anticrist* 2.8 the pope and the turke persecute, destroy, and kyll the mighty prechers & holy faith∣full of the chirche? Se yet the successe of* 2.9 his deceitis and fraudis and behold his pryde therin. Because Antiochus Mahu∣mete & the popese so good successe of their false lerning and fraudis wherwith thei and their bisshops doctours and false a∣postles bewitche & inflame the emperowrs kinges and their mighty magistrats of the worlde to persecute the congregaciōs of god / thei be extolled in themselues & ar become so grete contempners of god & his worde as the 10 and 73 psalmes de∣scribe them. Also he destroith many with* 2.10 his grete benefices and promocions. For many men be not onely by his prosperose successe deceiued supposing it to be diui∣ne and perpetuall / but also because thei be bowndē to him by giftes and benefits / thei be as it were fysshes takē with a swe∣te

beyght. For so did Antiochu•• craftely retraine in office these bishops Iason me∣nelaum Alcimum & siche other with his benefits & bisshopriks as longe as he lis∣ted. And do not the pope / yet a greter fren∣de to the turk then were then the bishops to Antiochus / agreter frende I say of the turke then of any faithfull precher / binde emperowrs and kings the patrons of his wiked kingdom vnto him with large gif∣tis diuine titles commodities ryches di∣gnities and plesurs reteined and kaught as fisshes with the beight? Of his blas∣phemie.* 2.11 To resist the prince of princes / is to be extolled aboue euery thing that is called god / that is to weit with his huma∣ne tradicions actis articles and swerde to oppresse the professours of the gospell. Iuge thou aftir the scripturs and thou shalt see no difference betwixt Antio∣chum / and his successors the turke & the pope / sane thei were not all in one tyme / but know one / & thou knowe••t all for thei* 2.12 be so lyke as one ••g to a nother. At laste Daniel describeth him of his departing. For the workeman is worthei his rewar∣de. As before cryst is first coming / Antio∣chus not touched with manis hand but with the hand of god / therfore dyed with alto late repentance because he so cruelly

destroid the peple of god and their tēple / * 2.13 euen so before cristis second coming / this wiked forlorn childe shalbe reueled and with the breath of the lordes mouthe de∣stroid: that is / the errours of anticrist the* 2.14 pope and his kinges and emperowrs shal∣be disclosed and reprehended by the doc∣trine of the lawe and gospell / so that all the holy faithfull shall abhorre them and fall from them, non to cleaue to them but the dampned wretches. Paul confirming the same / saing. Thei shalbe all condemp∣ned whiche beleue not the trewth but de∣light in vnright wysnes. Hitherto haue we compared Antiochum with anticryst. And nowe albeit the lorde in this owr ty∣me skourgeth vehemently the kingdoms of anticryst with the gospell / yet shall not his kingdoms altogither fall before his luste iugement / as Paul affirmeth saing. He shall destroy him with his cleare and bryght cominge. And in the Apocal. The false prophete shalbe caste into the douou∣ring botomles pitte. Whoso therfore is wyse let him auoyd out of babylon / that is let him fal from anticryste. Netherfore feare let vs not forsake the profession of the gospell / for the persecuciō of the anti∣crists. For beter is it for crists sake to dye then with anticrist to lya•• vnto the ende.

Nowe returne to the descripciō of owr anticristen Antioches in the text where be many particles hauing very heuye & terrible significacions or tokens to come ouer them / whiche euery diligent reader by himself may consider if he beholde our present dayes.

The trewth (saith Daniel) shalbe* 2.15 troden vnder fote vpon the erthe.

For now we see the bisshops and their sworne secular sort to defende ayēst their owne consciences the most manifest cri∣mes impieties and all abominacion / as be their vngodly abuses of sses / playn idolatry / worshiping of dead seiants / stoc∣kes & stones / wyuelesse vnchaste chastite whore••om and all maner prodigiouse le∣cheries. Wherfore it is plaine that thei mok and blaspheme the verite / euen cryst and his rightwismaking and trede down the trewthe vnder their sinfull fete. Of these bothe secular & spirituall anticrists thus saith the text.

There shall stondvp a bolde vn∣shamefaced kinge euen the very blasphe∣mose arrogant cotempner of god / he shal be subtyle fraudelent vnderstāding how to satiffye his couetu••se and libidinose lus••es.

This kinge shall growvp and obtaine

his wiked plesures / non sui•• viribus / not by his own powr & strengthe or lerning / but (as did Antiochus rob the temple) by the fraudis of the bisshops / and by the in∣constant leuite of the peple. And aboue al mens estemacion he shall waast and con∣sume infinite ryches of his owne & other menis. He shal abolish the trwe worship of god and bring in idolatry causing it to be spred ouer all: he shall nosel his peple with haithen rytis and ceremonies.

And he shall haue great successe & for∣tune. He shal slaye many godly men / and wyn many men with great giftis / ryche byshopriks and benefices and fayer pro∣myses / whom when he hathe taken with his beastly bely beightis / he shall reteine them in seruice to augment his profits & to satisfye his lustes and plesures in en∣creasing his riches dignities titles and his owne carnall affectis.

But atlast without handis shal be* 2.16 be destroid.

Antiochus was not sla••n of the iews / * 2.17 but ••s he prepared himself vnto a newe betail / being at home fyll down out of an high place and hurt himself vnto dethe as write some writers. And this heuye∣chaunce was because he sawe his owne peple and all other nacions fall from him

which hated him for his cruelty and des∣pised him for his beasily lyuinge. For he which shulde haue bene graue sober and sadde wolde daunce and dalye amonge mommers and maskers in open tau••rns & stewes. He wold drinke dronken among whores in euery comon howse and skater money in the s••rcates / so that of many men / he was nomore called Epiphanes noble and clere but epimanis that is to saye / mad or out of his mynde.

Now conferre me the image of Antio∣chus vnto oure seclare emperours / kinges popes and bishops / which studeing to rai gne aboue all in all welthy pleasures / cō∣tend to destroie those princes which wold receyue the gospell: and they s••inge all powrs both rulers and peple chei••ly to be holden with supersticion / luere and pro∣fits / craftely therfore they deuyse and in∣uent worshippinges and seruices which they know men will wonder at / and sone delight therin / and menis myndis miche to be moued at these their prodigiose prai∣ses and apparent deuocions with admi∣racions in their ▪sses therby to meryt almaner goodnes as victories aduanta∣ges and prosperose successe / luere & good fortune in all their affaires. And because y^e wyked soule cannot wayt for helpe from

God only / therfore it seketh many Gods and siche as thei thinke wilbe sone plea∣sed. And for this cause is the worship and inuocacion of dead saintis very desyero∣se and accepted / sone perswaded vnto ig∣norant men. Aftir this begune the chir∣ches to be thrustfull of saints images wherof there folowed y^e most fierce mad∣nes in gadding and running to committe idolatry. By this wylde wodenes was y^e doctryne of y^e rightwysemaking by faith and the trewe religion vtterly extincted and the supersticiouse tradicions of men receyued / with fylthey vowes and syn∣full sole lyuinge / difference of meatis of habits and siche lyke monstrose monkery brought into y^e chirche. And in these mad∣nesses to be inuēted they vsed serpentyne subtyltye and bolde arrogant audacite. For it is a very arrogāt act (the worde of god despysed) to institute newe worship∣pings or newe doctrynes ayenst gods cō∣mandemēt or without his expresse word. And a subtyle deceyte is it to studye by what engins menis myndis mighte be trapped & snarled / & what nettis might be bent and layed to augement their An∣ticrysten powr lucre and lustis. Wherfo∣re by lytle and lytle as the ryches of the popis kingdome encreaced euen so shall

the ryches / dominion and synfull pleasu∣res grow vp and encreace in certain secu∣lare kingdoms and in the Turkes to / suc∣cedinge y^e romish beast in lyke or in cruel∣ler impietie & persecucion / wherfore they that be yet sworne to the Romesh whore / or to any secular sone of perdicion / they be reteined partely by supersticion & par∣tely with the greate benefites and profi∣tes they possesse or be in hope to receyue of these two ryche beastis. For hytherto pertayne the wordis of Daniel saing.

His innumerable ryches with his* 2.18 apparēt prosperite shall deceiue and sley many.

That is to say. Both these Anticrysten estates shall prouok many to siewe to thē for promociō•• and dignities which being once reteined / and they once masshed / & morteused in their courtesy palaces / fete∣red with ryches / lymed with glorye and dignites / glytering in their owne concey∣ted reuerence and honor / then be they ca∣ptiued of Anticryst sworne to his misera∣ble & dampnable seruice as ye see it this days. And as the spirituall Anticrystis kingdome is not goten nor defended by their owne strengthe / but partely by the supersticion of emperours and kings / euen so be the seculare Anticrystis ho••pen by

the spirituall councels and conuocaciōs of their bisshops vnto their Anticrysten exaltacion & autorite aboue god. And all because vngodly men gladly desyer & de∣fende these their owne so greate profitis. As ye se now how fiercely y^e nobilite figh∣teth to reteyne in their handis / collegis abbeis chauntres / bisshoprykes benefi∣ces / &c. for their owne profite. And ayen / the kinges defende the pompe and pryde of their bisshops that they might the glo∣riouslier serue them in their courtes and legacies / and might haue their hawles the gorgiouslier haunted and furnesshed with siche monstrose myters and croked crosses. And therfore sayth daniel.

☞He shall growe and that not by his owne power and might.* 2.19

For the one anticrysten belybeast shall klaw the tothers bak one promouing the tother. And yet in cōclusion / the one shal∣be* 2.20 the destruccion of the tother. As did y^t bishop Menelaius bringin and prouoked Antiochus so to rob the temple settinge before him so many ryche proyes and ie∣wels and also the kingdom of the. Iewes / so cruell a slaughter of innocents made vpon the resisters of their wykednes. And Antiochus ayen made Menelaius a secular armed man with a great host ha∣uinge

auctorite ouer the Iewes / euen as now by the counsell and prouocacion of y^e Bisshops to reteyne s••y•••• their papistry shall certeyn seculare magistra••s take their pleasures ouer the chirche goodis / (the very ecclesiasti offices and trw mi∣nistraciōs of the worde neglected and de∣spysed.) Also the seculare sort consyde∣ring* 2.21 the bishops compelled kyndenes / to serue them ayen in their turne / shall geue them a company of armed men / at their desyers to excercise cruelty to persecute the gospell and to presse downe crystis re∣ligion with their seculare swerde and to mainteine the popis poisoned doctryne / yea and that ayenst their owne conscien∣ces. For albeit many princes approue not their idols and tyranny of the clergy / yet for their sakis they execute horrible cru∣eltie. And in the mean tyme they reioyse & smy••e on themselues with smothe coun∣tenances / fayning this dampnable excu∣se. That they must defende the auctorite of the chirche. Also where daniel sayth.

That deceite and fraude shall pro∣sper in their handis.* 2.22

It hath a large sence. First it signi∣fieth their falsely inuented doctrynes w^t gliteringe hypocrisye commended of the worlde / besydis this / it signifieth y^e other

crafty deceitfull bondis wherby the spi∣ritualty hath b••wnd the kinges and em∣prours to them / or haue minisshed their powrs plucking to themselues the seclare possessions and their auctorite. And ayen it signifieth the fraude of the secular prin∣ces in pluckinge the ryches & possessions of the spiritualty into their owne handis vnder some honest colour of reformacion of the chirche / abolishment of abuses he∣resies and schismes / or by promisinge to defende their false faith & false religion. And now they bothe with a woundrefull craft and wylie driftis / fayn a freshe and paintforth (I cannot tell what) certayn greate abuses and heresies / with perels to after the olde vsages / to make any in∣nouacions / or to abolisshe the aunciet de∣cent rytes and laudable ceremonies or co∣mely customs in the chirche / or sodenly to set of the wont and olde receyued holy holy diuyne seruices. And by these crafty perswasions they incense emperours & kin∣ges craftely / to persecute and sley cruelly the professors and prechers of gods wor∣de / as haue the pope and his clergy labo∣red these. 9. yeres to bringe the emprour vpon the Germās for receiuing the gos∣pell / but y^e Turkes soden incursions euer at those tymes letted him and them both.

All these thinges daniel vnderstandeth* 2.23 by this worde Dolus / which is crafty de∣ceite or subtyle gyle and fraude. At last he sayth: That both these anticrystes thus tossinge the ball betwixt them / one kla∣wing the tothers bak.

They shall be destroyd withoute* 2.24 handis.

Wherby he signifieth that before cry∣stis last cominge / the gospell shalbe pre∣ched & setforth openly / which shall with∣oute weapens and humane powr / smyte∣downe both these anticrystes false aucto∣rites and strength of both these estatis. As in the chapter folowinge he sayth: That the wyse and lerned emong the pe∣ple shall teache many men to beware and auoyd Anticryst / but these shalbe smyten downe with swerde for their good doctry∣ne. And then / sayth Paul / shall that wy∣ked* 2.25 vngodly chylde be reueled / whom y^e lorde shall destroye and slaye with the breath of his mouth / signifying to come / that Anticrystis errours and false doctry∣ne shalbe reprehended / and confuted be∣fore the generall iugement / euen as the grey morning gothe before the sone vpry∣singe. Here is it clere that this prophecie is now verefied and perteyneth to this oure tyme / wherein the gospell is now so

purely and so vniuersally by gods infalli∣ble prouidence publisshed bothe by bokis and prechers ouer all the worlde / as Da∣niel and Paul declared it. That in these last dayes shal be great bataill and stryfe / and miche contencion ayenste these anti∣cristis doctrine / themselues so cruelly de∣fending it fyghtinge ayenst god & his holy worde. Wherfore here now let bothe the parties look well vpon themselues / that is bothe spirituall and seculare / and con∣tempne not the monicion of the holy gost.

The name of the chirche holdeth back* 2.26 many men / that they be not against these bisshops and their seculare impes. But y^e holy gost in daniel and Paul / cl••rely wit∣nesseth / that kingdom (whether it be spi∣rituall or seculare / Turke or Mahumet) which defendeth idolatry and sleyeth y^e godly / not to be the chirche / but a faccion & a synfull secte reiected of god. And ther∣fore Daniel exhorteth almen to forsake this Anticrysten chirche / as cryethe the aungell in the Apocalypse sayinge. Get ye forth auoyd and flye oute of Babylon. Agene / he conforteth the godly which re∣b••ke and refute their errours certifyed themselues to haue the commandement of God for them / and in so ••ebukinge the vngodly / they ••e sewer to please god / all god

their study to be accepted of god / and that god defendeth his own chirche / as saith daniel plainly. The lerned in the peple shall teche many and thei shall fall &c. Nethelesse he promiseth the very trwe chirche to continew and abyde ferme and faste albeit many of them be slayn for the trwthe / for thus he saith.

The peple which know their god shall haue the victory &c.* 2.27

Let vs therfore not be afraid to steke to the profession of the trwe doctrin / nether let our myndis be hurt nor disquieted al∣though our aduersaris crye neuerso lowd calling vs sediciouse / heretiques / luthe∣rans / zwinglians sacramentaries &c. in∣censing and stering vp bothe emperowrs & kinges withe the turke to / to kill vs most cruelly. But yet shall not these two hole kingdoms / the seclar and spirituall anti∣crystis fall quyte awaye before the laste daye / but some parte in ether of thē shall abyde whom cryste shall destroy at his co∣ming. The same signifieth the Apocalyp∣se speking of the false prophete to be cas••e into the deuouringe botomles stinkinge pitt of hell.* 2.28

Now yese anticryst to be one and many in succcessiō / whether thei be ecclesiasti•••• or seculare / turke or Mahumete / euen si∣che

as be gone forth of vs (saith Ioan) & were neuer of our sorte / sitting (as saith paul) in the place of God blaspheminge the name of god and persecuting his chir∣che / ye may therfore compare our anticri∣stis to Antiochus in euery one of his wi∣••ed deadis and blody persecu••ion of gods peple / in robbyng and destroing the tem∣ple of God / and thei that be deceiued of him ar seduced worthely for their sinnes. For this is the most greuouse plage / euē to be castenvp of god to obay and beleue false doctrine / and therfore saithe Paul / * 2.29 shall god send or caste them vp into the most stronge illusions to beleue lyes that all shuldbe dampned which haue not be∣leued the trwthe / but haue approued and consented to vnrightwysnes. This anti∣cryst (saith Paul) shall worke his fraudes in them that be forlorn because thei recei∣ued not the loue of the trwth wherby thei might haue ben saued. There ar this day Iasons Alcimus and M••nelai••sses be∣trayers traditours simoniaks sent vs, ••uē the childern of this world / very blod thir∣sters and whore mongers whiche for the trwe worship of god bring in idolatry / ad∣••outry, despising faith and loue in which god is cheifly worshiped / out of these mō∣sters there brekein vpon vs tyrantis exe

cuting their tyranny aboue mesure with out pitie which may not heare the glorye and worde of god spoken of. These, these ar the very rank cheiftains of all hereti∣kes / bold / arrogant and vnshamefaced / these ar not ashamed to lye openly in pul∣pits / nether be thei ashamed what and how great opē crymes or mischeif so euer thei commit. These men had leifer al the worlde to be ouerthrone then thei wolde once ceasse and goba•• or recant their opē∣ly preched errours and sinfullnes.

☞ These men vnderstād problemes.* 2.30 Thei be the most wylye sophisters & sub∣tyle serpentes to stinge with their tayles whyles they flater with their tongues and if this venomose dart perse not / thē vse thei violence and powr. Thei cā a false glose & peruert the plain te yis of the clere scriptures and make them to serue their owne sinful affectis & to seme to agree with their false religion / their articles / and faithe / then borow thei the seculare swerde with violence cōpelling men to beleue & folow them cruelly damp∣ninge many a soule. Loke vpon the multi∣tude of their semely sinful ceremonies / il∣laudable Romissh rytes troublose tradi∣cions. And ayen beholde withe how fewe single pure and easye institucions cryste

orned and not onered his chirche. Godli∣nes is turned with these anticristis into lucre and al ve••tew into vice. Thei wre∣ste the worde to serue their affeccions. The sacraments thei haue made their money nettis: their prayers without min∣de / their fasting without abstinēce: their viciouse vowes without chastit•• / & their almose without all mercie & pitie. Their seruice and worship without hope faith and feare. And euē the lordis souper how far haue thei brought it from the first in∣stitucion of cryste▪ verely so farre / that e∣uen the very trw name and vse therof be clene loste, makinge therof a mis••ye mask or ••sse & a sinful solde sacrifice / whiche when men wolde restore to the firste puri∣te / then thei crye & complaine that men wold take awaye from the chirche Iuge sacrificium / that is their comon continu∣all ••••ke••. Then thei s••launder gods wor∣de and his chirche withe heresye / then ar men sacramentaries. And here, here is* 2.31 that grete destruccion wherof daniel and cryste speketh / euen the castinge down of the sonne mone & starres of heuen / that is of the worde / of the gospel / and lyght / and of the trewe prechers whiche be the starres and light of the worlde. But who may e••presse the vnshamefaced arrogāt

boldenes and serpentine fraudes of anti∣cryste? He is the moste crafty deceyuer & perrellouse ypocryte sewed and blown to gither of all lyes falshed and gyle. Thou seest ouer him simple shepes clothes / but vnder them there lurketh a wylye wolfe / y^e ryches of his chirche he calleth peters patrimonye▪ crystis possession, and spiritu tuall goodis / but nether pore peter nor na∣ked criste shalbe partakers of thē: Thou hearest them called bisshops and pastors but thei fede themselues / & poyson other men / and watche for their own aduaunta∣ge. Thei be called doctours and yet with out all godly doctrine. Thei boste their holy orders / and all is confusion amonge themselues without all good order. Thei be gostly fathers and yet ar thei merciles murtherers of their own childern. Thou hearest of their chastite / but all the worl∣de woūdereth of their prodigiouse aduou∣trye. So that no tōgue may expresse their filthei abominable lecherye and their o∣pen* 2.32 crymes with their blody bocherye. But let the sonne of perdicion perisshe / & absolue we the chapter / the aungel yet spe king with daniel / sayinge.

But the visiō of the said euening* 2.33 and morninge is the trowthe. And seal thou vp the vision for aftir a longe tyme

it shalbe fulfilled. And I Daniel was troubled & say syke certein daies but aftir that I was amēded / I rose and procured the kings buisinesse. But I mused miche of this vision / which noman coulde vn∣derstande.

The naturall daye continuinge from none to none / conteineth the eueninge & morninge so that the 2300 dayes contai∣ning 6 yere and an half / was trwthe / for so long did Antiochus persecute and pla∣ge gods peple in the ende of the thirde & macedoni▪ monarchy. The persecuciō du∣red not a ful hebdomade and the temple* 2.34 was prophaned by half an hebdoma / that is 3 yere and an half / certifying vs that the transitory and momentanye lyghtnes of our affliccion / bringeth forth aboue me∣sure the euerlasting waight of glorye vn∣to vs whyles in hope we beholde not the* 2.35 thinges sene but the things which be not yet sene. Nether shall our god suffer vs to be tempted & persecuted aboue owr we∣akenes. Wherfore the sone of god wolde by this confirmacion cōfort not onely da∣niel and his peple but also the chosen w^c* 2.36 shuld lyue thē in y^e tyme of that anticryst Antiochus / and vs also which yet lyue in our anticristes dayes. And where he bid∣deth him seal vp or close vp the vision / he

willeth therby none in the mean tyme to vnderstande and remember it but the cho∣sen of god. And aftir that it shuld be ful∣filled / thē of al men to be felt and known to some mens payns. for many men ly∣ning yet in great welth ease and securite wyll neuer be monished tyll the floude so∣denly ouerwhelme thē. Daniel was ther∣fore boden to seal it vp from siche welthy sorowl••••••e persones yet lyuing in vngod∣ly securite: but to his disciples criste said* 2.37 vnto you is it geuen to know the secretis of god / and not to ••other / to whom I will speke in derke parables. Daniel doutles vnderstode all this vision beter then any int••rpretour that yet expowneth it besy∣des the aungel. But as he pressed Paul* 2.38 so did he refrayne daniel leste by the gre∣te excellencie of so highe a reuelacion he shuld haue ben puft vp. And therfore was he made syke leste he shuld haue ben ex∣tolled by siche highe secrete visions. Af∣tir the vision and his sykenes he went a∣boute the kinges busynes / wold god al co∣uns••llers* 2.39 of kinges were first thus como∣ned with of cryste / had sene siche visions and kn••w the interpretacions and were so handled as was Daniel cre thei toke kinges and emperowrs businesses in han∣de▪ daniel mused of this vision / but nomā

coulde declare it to him. To all them ther¦fore (sayth cryst) that haue a desyer & stu∣dye to knowe Gods will / it shalbe geuen them / but to them that haue not / it shal∣be taken from them. Some expositours thinke this vision therfore to be hyden / and sealled vp for the tyme / lest the Ie∣wes hearinge therof and knowing them∣selues to suffer yet more so greuouse ca∣lamities and plages in Ierusalem / they wolde haue taryed rather styll in Baby∣lon & neuer haue made haast homewarde Oure sauiour Cryst Iesus which taught Daniel to vnderstande all theis visions he mought so teche vs daniels brethern / that we might thorow him lyue euerla∣sting with daniel in heauen with god the father and the holy gost. So be it.

Vnto daniel praying for the remission* 2.40 of his and the peples synnes and for the returne of the peple into their owne coū∣trye / it is shewed playnely them to retur∣ne home agene / to restaure their cyte and temple / which done / within. 490. yeres / Messias to be borne which shuld perfor∣me all things prophecied in the lawe and prophetis. Who by the most horrible syn∣nes of the Iewes slayne / the Romans shulde destroye vtterly all Iewry with their comon weall. A lyke mater fynde ye

not in all the scriptures. In the. 8. chap. ye haue sene how greuouse affliccions shuld come ouer the Iewes by Antiochus and their owne bishops in the thirde mo∣narchie. Now shall ye see what horrible calamities folowed in the. iiii. and last Monarchie / euen the most cruell destruc∣cion that euer was of the Iewes / & what greuouse persecucions oure Anticrystes vnder this last monarchie shall excercy∣se to the ende of the worlde. For in this last monarchie it was prophecied cryst to be borne and crucifyed / whose death and persecucion both of his owne bodye of his members and of his allmighty sauinge worde / because it is the most horrible bla∣sphemye and greuousest cryme / it requi∣reth the most heuey plage and most mer∣cilesse blodye destruccion. Now therfore awake ye persewers of cryst and his wor∣de / lyft vp youre heuye headis / & repent / be ye conuerted to god / for the axe of his wrath is nowe bent at the tree rote / the swerde is drawne and forth stretched to smyte downe the wyked persewers of his worde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The. 8. Chapt.
• * 1.2

  Text.
• * 1.3

  Susis.
• * 1.4

  At the flowde wherfor visions be sene.
• * 1.5

  2. thes. 2.
• * 1.6

  Text.
• * 1.7

  Of the ••am w^c was the Persie kinge.
• * 1.8

  The Go te is A∣lexan∣der.
• * 1.9

  The pā∣ther is y^e same.
• * 1.10

  A gote is a stin king le∣chero••∣se beast.
• * 1.11

  The de∣scripciō of Grece
• * 1.12

  An apte simili∣tude.
• * 1.13

  Of y^e lyt le horne Antio∣chus E∣pipha∣nes.
• * 1.14

  1. mach. 1 & .2.
• * 1.15

  Macc. 5.
• * 1.16

  1 mach. 6
• * 1.17

  Text.
• * 1.18

  Which is 6. ye∣res▪ 3. mo∣neth & 20 dayes
• * 1.19

  wrath is y^e captiui∣te of Ba∣bylō & of antioch{us}
• * 1.20

  I say. 9. Gabriel y^t strēgth of god.
• * 1.21

  Cryst is y^e merue∣louse one.
• * 1.22

  Mat. 28.
• * 1.23

  I say. 59.
• * 1.24

  1 maca. 7
• * 1.25

  Adar.
• * 1.26

  Chap. 1.
• * 1.27

  1 maca. 2
• * 1.28

  Text.
• * 1.29

  Antioch the figu∣re of our anticry∣stes.
• * 1.30

  2 maca 5
• * 1.31

  2 thes. 2. The sin nes of y^e world ar the cau∣ses of an∣ticrist.
• * 1.32

  Gog & Magog
• * 1.33

  The dif∣ferēce of y^e turkis & popis
• * 1.34

  kingdō.
• * 2.1

  Anti∣shame∣les face.
• * 2.2

  his frau∣des.
• * 2.3

  of other menis powr.
• * 2.4

  Onias. Iason.
• * 2.5

  anticrist descri∣bed of his va∣••••acion.
• * 2.6

  antioch{us} was for∣tunate. 2 Macca be. 5.
• * 2.7

  antioch{us} y^e oppres∣sor of gre∣te & good men.
• * 2.8

  2 maca 7
• * 2.9

  antioch{us} was de∣ceitfull & prowde.
• * 2.10

  antioch{us} destro∣eth with giftis.
• * 2.11

  antioch{us} a blas∣phemer.
• * 2.12

  The end of antio∣chus.
• * 2.13

  1 mach. 6
• * 2.14

  2. thes. 2.
• * 2.15

  the text & 12 ver∣se.
• * 2.16

  Text.
• * 2.17

  The en∣de of An tiochus.
• * 2.18

  Text.
• * 2.19

  Text.
• * 2.20

  Nota.
• * 2.21

  ☞
• * 2.22

  Text.
• * 2.23

  D••lus.
• * 2.24

  Text.
• * 2.25

  2. thes. 2.
• * 2.26

  The na∣me of the chirche.
• * 2.27

  Text.
• * 2.28

  Ioan o•• cosampa di••••. 1. Iod. 2.
• * 2.29

  2 thes. 2.
• * 2.30

  Text.
• * 2.31

  Mat. 24.
• * 2.32

  Hither∣to Ioan ecolam∣padius.
• * 2.33

  Text.
• * 2.34

  An heb∣doma. is 7. yeres.
• * 2.35

  2 Cor. 4.
• * 2.36

  1 Cor. 10.
• * 2.37

  Luk 8.
• * 2.38

  2. Cor. 12
• * 2.39

  What kīg•• coū∣••••••••••rs shuld do
• * 2.40

  The ar∣gument of the. ix chapter.