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

Again to God if they would turn,
he would turn vnto them:
Or els as to their forefathers,
so would he doo to them.
Hierusalem shalbe new built,
by vision it is tolde:
The careles heathen shalbe shent,
for wasting of his folde.

The ij. chapiter.

Beholde of this, the temple shall
be built again in deed:
An Angel did the same declare,
and that they should not dreed.
For God would be their ful defence,
and vnto them a wall,
And bring their foes to be their pray,
no power withstand them shall.

The iii. Chapiter.

Corrected was Sathan the Deuil,
that would the woork haue let:
And Iohosuah that was hie Preest
was specially out set.
His flithy clothes were made ful fair,
if he wil walke aright:
The multitude shall him obay,
and haue in him delight.

The iiii. Chapiter.

Declare on foorth the Angell dooth,
by vision ful plain:
Hierusalem in goodly wise,
should be set vp again.
Who should it build how foes should sin,
and freends should somewhat faint
But God his woork should fortifie
by Christe his holy saint.

The v. Chapiter.

Euil hap and curse shall fall on these,
the swearer and the theef:
A flying book shall them consume,
and theirs for their mischeef.
As Iuda had afflicted been,
in Babel for their gilt:
So Babel now like smart should haue,
and vtterly be spilt.

The vi. Chapiter.

Foure Monarchies by charets foure,
he dooth describe to come,
As sent from God to rule the world,
by whom it should be wun.
The hie preest had his golden crownes,
Iehosua by name:
And he the building should set out
and will a noble fame.

The vii. Chapiter.

God dooth their fasting disalow,
their mourning was in vaine
They eat and drank vnto them selues,
they stil did gape for gain.
When he did call they would not hear,
his statutes to obay:
They shall cry out but he shall turn,
his ear from them away.

The viii. Chapiter.

He wil restore them home again,
and stay his wrathful rage:
They shall ful long there rest in peace,
enioying stanes for age,
Deceit and wrong they must forsake,
forswearing eke deste:

The Gentiles shall their lore wel like,
and thervnto apply.

The ix. Chapiter.

In wrathful mood for all their pride,
he wil the Gentiles waste:
Bothe Tire and Zidon in their welth,
he wil them ouer cast.
But sure his churche he wil defend,
by Christe his sonne so meek:
Bee lowely sitting on an Asses back
yet shall they to him seek.

The x. chapiter.

Knowe heer you may what Idols be,
soothsayers foolishe art:
To Iuda he wil freendly be,
and fully take their part.
To Ephraim he wil fauour shew,
and giue to them suche might:
That forren power they shall not fear
but shall put them to flight.

The xi Chapiter.

Lowe will he bring them in his wrath,
bothe shepheards and their sheep,
Because they had no more respect
his statues for to keep.

The shepherds wagis it is paid,
and thirtie peeces tolde:
The potter had it giuen to him,
so was our master solde.

The xii Chapiter.

Meruaylously the Lord wil woork,
for Iuda in his power:
Hierusalem shall plagued be,
her foes shall it deuour.
Yet shall they bothe great fauour finde,
and come to happy cace:
Their foes shall faint but they shall ioy,
and finde a resting place.

The xiii. Chapiter.

No more wil God think on their sin,
their Idols shall away:
Their Prophets false they wil destroy,
their parents shall them pay:
The shepheard should so stricken be,
that scatter should the sheep.
The people then to God shall flee,
ful wel he wil them keep.

The xiiii. Chapiter.

Opprest should be Hierusalem,
and be set vp again.

Muche people shall to her resorte,
the way it shalbe plain.
The moste of them that hated her,
consumde shalbe and slain:
And those that come not to her feast,
shall want their yeerly reign.

FINIS.

Thus Zachary is finished,
novv Malachy shall speak:
The last he is that to the levves,
the minde of God did break.
He and the tvvo that spake before,
the Ievves did comfort giue:
VVhen they thought least then home to go
in peace and rest to liue.
Til Iohn did come that did Baptize,
no Prophet did appeer:
This Prophets speaks vnto the Preeste,
his vvoords novv let vs hear.

University of Virginia Library

The Prophecy of Zachariah.

The first Chapiter.