An Abridgeme[n]t of all the Canonical books of the olde Testament ::

And when the King of Babilon,
Hierusalem had wun:
Yung men of Iewes for to be kept,
he willed to be doon.
Their fare was set they it refusde,
and eat and drank ful hard:
Yet were they fair and wisdome had
none were to them comparde.

The ii. Chapiter.

But Daniel, there was not one,
could tel the King his dream:
Who tolde it him and this therto,
the truthe what it did mean.
For whiche he was a ruler made,
the cheef and next the King:
His fellowes three did rule also,
to whiche he did them bring.

The iii. Chapiter.

Commaunded were the multitude
an Image to adore:
Sidrach, Misach, Abednago,
would not to die therfore.

Into an ouen then were they cast,
aliue with one they walkt:
The King it saw and cald them out,
and with them freendly talkt.

The iiii. Chapiter.

Dream did the King another dream,
whiche Daniel did expound:
How that the King for his great pride,
as Oxe should feed on ground.
And that seuen yeeres, the whiche he did,
and after ruled again:
Confessing God to haue the might,
and he alone to reign.

The v. Chapiter.

Euen as before a prideful Prince,
came now again in place:
Who proudly drank in holy place,
and saw before his face,
A hand did write vpon a wall,
whiche Daniel tolde ful plain:
The Medies and the Persians,
shoule rule when he was slain.

The vi. Chapiter.

Ful mightie power had Daniel tho,
the Princes did him hate:

In Lions den they got him cast,
but nought by it they gat:
He was preserued, they were deuourd,
their families and all.
King Darie gaue commaundement,
on Daniels God to call.

The vii. Chapiter.

Great beastes were seen in number fours
of Daniel in his bed:
By vision he this sight did see,
whiche troubled sore his head.
Foure Monarchies these beastes did shew
their hornes were kingdomes ten:
In latter dayes God by his sonne,
he should destroy them then.

The viii. Chapiter.

He now dooth see a mightie Ram,
whose force none could resist:
But with his hornes he ruled all,
and did euen what him list.
The Medies and the Persians,
they were the Ram so whot:
The Grecian power did them destroy
compared to a Gote.

The ix. Chapiter.

In this place Daniel dooth desire,
that that whiche Ieremy said:
Might be fulfild and then confesse
his sin he did and prayd.
The prayer is heard, the seuentie weeks
the Angel did expound:
The Cittie is built, and Christe is born,
to them that did him wound.

The x. Chapiter.

King Cirus ruling Persia,
the third yeer of his reign,
A man clothed in linnen white,
appeerd to him again,
And tolde him things that were to come,
at whiche he was abasht:
But that Gods Angel made him strong,
his countenance had dasht.

The xi. Chapiter.

Like as before so now again,
of Kings to him is tolde:
The Persian power, the might of Greece,
and eke of Egipt bolde:
Of Siria as some suppose,
and last of Romaines might.
These kingdomes all not one to faile,
against the Churche should fight.

The xii. Chapiter.

Michael then that mightie Prince,
shall stand for to defend,
The Churche of Christe the general day
the troubles quite shall end,
Wherin to blisse some shall arise,
and some to bitter pain:
Some shall their faultes amend before,
and some in sin remain.

FINIS.

Daniel now his minde hath said,
as God to him did tel:
His sight he had in things to come,
all others did excel.
The Iewes that in captiuitie,
in Caldey land did dwel:
He them reueald with ioyful speeche,
deep sorowes to expel.
Hosea he dooth followe next,
who then did prophesie:
VVhen Israel quite from their King,
Rehoboam did flie.
He tolde them of their seruice vain,
in Bethel vnto calues:
How vain it was vnto suche Gods,
to seek for helthful salues.

Three score and ten they were his yeeres
to ten tribes that he preacht:
Say what he could they mended not,
they scorned that he teacht.
The vengeance due for sinful life,
he vouched to be sure:
And mixt among Gods mercies great,
by it them to allure.
To worship God as law did wil,
set out by him aboue:
And leauing all their owne intents,
so should they haue his loue.

University of Virginia Library

The Prophecy of Daniel.

The first Chapiter.