A fruitfull commentarie vpon the twelue small prophets briefe, plaine, and easie, going ouer the same verse by verse, and shewing every where the method, points of doctrine, and figures of rhetoricke, to the no small profit of all godly and well disposed readers, with very necessarie fore-notes for the vnderstanding of both of these, and also all other the prophets. The text of these prophets together with that of the quotations omitted by the author, faithfully supplied by the translatour, and purged of faults in the Latine coppie almost innumerable, with a table of all the chiefe matters herein handled, and marginall notes very plentifull and profitable; so that it may in manner be counted a new booke in regard of these additions. VVritten in Latin by Lambertus Danæus, and newly turned into English by Iohn Stockwood minister and preacher at Tunbridge.

Vers. 6.

That with the blacke horse went foorth into the land of the North, and the white went out after them, and they of diuers co∣lours went forth toward the South countrie.

THe peculiar and particular interpretation of the chariots. And first of all of the three chariots,* 1.1 the blacke, the white, the some∣what red (for so doe I expound the word of diuers colours, or spotted, and specked, the which is in this verse, least that the same chariot might seeme here to haue been altogether ouerpassed). So then these three chariots are specially sent foorth by God, namely, the black first:* 1.2 afterward the white into the North countrie: the some∣what red into the South. The North countrie without all doubt, in regard of the standing of the Prophet and of the place, where this vision was shewed (this was the lande of Iewrie) I say this North countrie is Babylon,* 1.3 and Chaldea, where the people of GOD was oppressed, the Church in captiuitie, and the enemies of God him∣selfe bare sway and ruled. Into this the blacke horses are sent first. By the blacke colour of the horses are vnderstood that their effects also in those countries shall be blacke, and sad, and sorowfull. There is therefore shewed what shall fall out vnto those peoples, & them

that shall dwell among them, by the decree of God, to wit, misera∣ble destructions, and a lamentable state. For the white horses,* 1.4 the which should signifie more ioyful matters, are sent indeed into the same countries, but afterward, and not forthwith: least the Iewes, which as yet were among the Chaldeans, vpon hope of that better falling out of matters, should dwell or stay there any longer: whē as the more ioyfull estate of the Chaldeans and Babylonians was farre off, and a long while to be wayted for. And in the meane sea∣son the present and yet to come condition of that whole countrie is most lamentable, & miserable: such no doubt as it could not chuse but to be, the Empire and gouernment being taken from the Baby∣lonians by the Persians: and the matter and trueth it selfe by the change of gouernments doth teach it so to fall out vsually.* 1.5 The third chariot, to wit, that which was of diuers colours, or somewhat red, is sent into the South, that is, into Egypt, and Arabia: for in re∣spect of the standing of the Prophet, and of this vision, or place where this vision was shewed, both Egypt and Arabia are South. The condition and state of which countries is described vnto the Iewes, that they should not dreame of an happie estate for them∣selues in those countries. And therefore that they should rather stay in Iudea it selfe, and runne vnto it, to wit, those Iewes, which were not yet in it, when as they vnderstood that both on the right ••and and also on the left there was foreshewed nothing but grea∣test miserie. These horses partie or diuers coloured, and somewhat red, do betoken that the state of those countries shal be vncertaine, and also miserable and troubled: but yet such notwithstanding, as hath some little and small ioye mixed with it, and that also ob∣scure or darke, like as the red colour is mixed darkly of white and blacke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Particularlie. Berudim.
• * 1.2

  The North countrie.
• * 1.3

  The black hor∣ses sent into Chaldea.
• * 1.4

  The white hor∣ses not sent to∣gether with the blacke, but after them.
• * 1.5

  The third cha∣riot of diuers colours.