yeare in the fourth month which was the fift yeare of king Iehoiacins captiuitie To the last 14 of Iosias adde 11 for the raignes of Iehoiakim Iehoiacin 5 of his captiuitie and there are iust 30. So likewise the Iewes besieged in Bethzura in the 50 yeare of the Greeks were driuē to yeeld the towne for want of vittailes by reason of the Sabboth yeare 1. Maccab. 6.49 For the 49 yeare of the Greeks that is 3759 was a sabboth yeare whereby they intermitted the tillage of that yeare and the haruest of the 50 yeare and their olde store of the haruest of 49 which should haue serued them till they might haue new fruites of the yeare 51 was spent by them which had escaped from the Gentiles and were come into Iudaea vers 53. Againe Herods oppugning of Ierusalem was in a Sabboth yeare which caused great famine in the Citie Ioseph li. 14. ca. 28. meaning not that the Sabboth yeare continued all the time of the siege which could haue beene no great cause of famine because they ought to haue had store enough of all the former yeare for all the Sabboth yeare and the yeare after too though they had had no warres at all but because the oppugning began in the end of the Sabboth yeare wherin no supply might be made which in the winter following caused great dearth indeede The Citie was taken as Iosephus saith the 185 Olymp. Vipsanius and Gallus being Consuls the third month and it was the third yeare of that Olympiad because their consulship began at Ianuary in that third yeare and in October before the Sabboth yeare ended and a little before that the Citie was oppugned and besieged by Herod and Silo Ioseph li. 14. ca. 27. where grew a mutinie among the Romane soldiars not liking to winter there for want of prouision which want grewe by reason of omitting the haruest before in regard of the Sabboth yeare Ioseph li. 14. ca. 27. Moreouer the sonne of God was Incarnate of the virgine Marie to whom the great and glad newes was brought by an Angel from heauen the verie first yeare of the 30 Iubilie and the same Sauiour of the world hauing accomplished the worke of our redemption rested in his sepulchre not onely the sabboth day but also the Sabboth yeare For in the 10 day of the 7 month of the yeare 4053 next before the passion of Christ beganne the 215 Sabbath yeare wherein Christ Iesus by his Passion purchased for vs true manumission eternall remission perfect liberty and euerlasting rest euen Sabboth vpon Sabboth as the Prophet speaketh To which Sabboth yeare and acceptable yeare of the Lord he prepared his countreymen of Nazaret in his sermon there not long before Luke 5. Nowe that the 10 Articles of the Computation from the creation to Christ be clearely confirmed and that the Olympiades be tyed to the Aera of Nabonassar and they both be applyed to the yeares of the world which are most certainely continued in holie scripture till the Captiuitie of Babilon it shall not be amisse to doe the like with the yeares of Rome which depend of the Olympiades because that Computation is much vsed in the Romane Historiographers And for the beginning of the Computation Aera or stile of Rome which the Chronologers briefly note with these two letters V. C. that is vrbis conditae of the building of the Citie there is great difference among the ancient writers as is well obserued by Solinus and more particularly by Sigonius Of the three principall opinions the first beginneth it in the yeare 3 Olymp. 6 or 23 yeare of Iphitus the second in 4 Olymp. 6. or 24 yeare of Iphitus the third in 1 Olymp. 7. or the 25 yeare of Iphitus The reason of which differences I will endeuour briefly to shewe and to reconcile these Computations for the better light to the studious in Historie And heereto the distinction vsed by Liuie in his verie beginning will helpe vs a little where he saith Ante conditam condendamuè vrbem before the building of the Citie was finished or before the building of the Citie was begunne First therefore it is held as certaine of the Romane Historiographers that Romulus hauing reuenged the iniuries of Amulius and leauing the rule and gouernment of Alba to Numitor incontinently and with all speede began the building of a new Citie the plot whereof was drawen out with a plough the foundation laid on the day of the shepheards feast called Palilia which after was called Natalis vrbis the birth day of the Citie which was as Plinie saith li. 18. c. 16. the 11. Calendes of May that is the 21 day of April in the third yeare of the sixt Olympiad as Plutarch recordeth in his Romulus that is the yeare of the world 3270 and within 46 daies of the ende of that third yeare and beginning of the fourth Which space of 46 daies is accounted for a yeare and at that instant Plutarch beginneth where he saith that Numa Pompilius was borne when Romulus built the Citie and that he began his raigne in the 40 yeare of his age And Paterculus In the 6 Olympiad 22 yeares after the first beginning of them Romulus hauing reuenged the iniuries of his grandfather built that is began to build the Citie of Rome in the feast Palilia in the Palatine But in his Computation he vseth the common account ab vrbe condita from the time after the Citie was built as straight followeth from which time that is post vrbem conditam as he speaketh Pag. 40. to thy Consulship M. Vinicius are 781 yeares and that was done after the taking of Troy 430 yeares as the place is corrected And Liuie when he saith that Romulus had peace 40 yeares And Pomponius Atticus and M. Tullius as Solinus setteth downe their opinions Cap. 2. The Citie was in building and accomplishing a whole yeare being finished at the same feast in the 4 yeare of the 6 Olympiad that is the 21 of April 3271. where began the account V. C. that is ab vrbe condita and Romulus raigne of 37 yeares And from thence Varro taketh his Aera Computation which is followed by Eutropius Orosius and Censorinus where he saith This yeare the stile whereof is the Consulship of Vlpius and Pontianus is the yeare 1014 from the first Olympias beginning it but only from the Summer Solstice about which time the Olympique plaies and games were shewed and the 991 yeare after Rome was built beginning it at the Palilia whence the yeares of Rome are accounted Nowe Dionysius a Greeke and writing in Greeke to make the Computation of Rome agreeable and proportionable to the yeare and Computation of the Greekes did cast away those fewe daies of the last yeare of the 6 Olympiad and did begin it with the beginning of the new Olympiad and maketh from the destruction of Troy to that time 432 yeares agreeing iust with Diodorus Siculus who maketh it 408 yeares from the
and chiefest patron of my profession or of that speciall interest in that you are the Visitor and Ouerseer of Merton Colledge my tender parent but also euen of a certaine propertie which your Grace in regard of many benefites aboue other hath in me now that I am bereft of that Reuerend Father D. Bickleie late L. Bishop of Chichester Qui nobis haec otia fecit Wherefore crauing pardon for my boldnesse heerein I humblie submit this short treatise to your Graces censure and fauour and with daily prayers commit your Grace to all the blessinges of the Almightie September 1597. Your Graces most bounden THOMAS PIE. The first Article From Adam to Seth Yeares 130 Seth to Enosh Yeares 105 Enosh to Kenan Yeares 90 Kenan to Mahalaleel Yeares 70 Mahalaleel to Iered Yeares 65 Iered to Henoch Yeares 162 Henoch to Mathushelah Yeares 65 Mathushelah to Lamech Yeares 187 Lamech to Noach Yeares 182 Noach to the beginning of the Deluge Yeares 599 Beginning of the Deluge to the end Yeares 1 The Summe from the Creation to the Beginning of the Deluge 1655. yeares 1. month 16 dayes End of the Deluge 1656. yeares 1. month and 26. dayes Beginning of the Deluge to the end of it 12. months containing 354. dayes for the common yeare and one day for the Bassextil yeare and 10. dayes ouer which with the foresaid odde day make vp the Epacts so that Noach was in the Arke precisely a iust Solar yeare vnlesse the yeare 1656. had the month Veadar intercalated as Wolphius seemeth to proue and then he was a yeare and a month full The second Article From End of the Deluge to Arphaxad Yeares 2 Arphaxad to Shelah Yeares 35 Shelah to Heber Yeares 30 Heber to Peleg Yeares 34 Peleg to Rehu Yeares 30 Rehu to Serug Yeares 32 Serug to Nahor Yeares 30 Nahor to Terah Yeares 29 Terah to Abraham Yeares 130 The summe from the Deluge to Abraham Yeares 352 Creation to Abraham Yeares 2008 Abraham was borne in the yeare of the world 2009. which is accounted for his first yeare The third Article Abrahams age before the beginning of the Peregrination or Soiourning that is before hee went from Vr of the Chaldees Yeares 70 Abraham departed from Vr in the yeare 2079. which is the first of his Peregrination The fourth Article The Peregrination or soiourning of the Hebrues from Abrahams departing from Vr to the Israelites departing out of Aegypt Yeares 430 The Israelites departed out of Egypt in the yeare 2509. which is the first yeare of their departing The fift Article From the departing of the Israelites out of Aegypt to the Foundation of the Temple that is to the ende of Solomons fourth yeare in the seconde month whereof the Temple was sounded yeares 480 The Temple was founded in the second month of the yeare of the world 2988. The sixt Article From the beginning of Solomons fift yeare to the ende of Rehoboams first yeare yeares 37 The first yeare of Rehoboam and Ieroboham was the yeare of the world 3025. The seuenth Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Bearing of the burden of the iniquitie of Israel from the sinne of Ieroboam and the Apostasie of the tenne Tribes in the first yeare of Ieroboam to the end of the siege taking of Ierusalem in the eleuenth and last yeare of Zedechias yeares 390 The siege ended and Ierusalem was taken the ninth day and fourth month of the yeare 3416. in the very ende both of Zedechias 11. yeare Nabuchodonosors 18. which yeare 3416 falling some small part in Nabuchodonosors 18. but the greater part in his 19. is the first yeare of the Captiuitie The eight Article The punishment of the iniquitie viz. the Captiuitie of the people from the taking of Ierusalem by Nabuchodonosor to the taking of Babylon by Cyrus yeares 70 The Captiuitie ended in the beginning of the yeare of the world 3486. which was the first yeare of the deliuerance and likewise the first yeare of Cyrus The ninth Article From the taking of Babilon to the Edict of Artaxerxes Longimane for the Returne of the people and building of the Citie by Ezra that is to Artaxerxes 7. yeare exclusiuè Yeares 78 Artaxerxes seuenth yeare in the very beginning whereof the Edict proceeded forth was the yeare 3568. The tenth Article Daniels 70. weeks from Artaxerxes Edict to the death of Christ in the 34. yeare of his life Yeares 490 Conclusion At the death of Christ there were complete and ended 4053. yeares of the world out of which substract 34. backward to his Conception or Incarnation and there will be 4019. complete before his incarnation which was on the day of the Vernal Aequinoctiall beginning the yeare of the world 4020. and hee was borne as learned Astronomers haue calculated it agreeably to this Computation the day of the winter Solstice being friday in the yere of the world 4020. the 29. day of Cisleu of the Hebrues Olympiad 194. Y. 3. the 28. day of Anthestion of the Athenians Andyneus of the Macedonians Rome 751. the 8. Calends of Ianuarie of the Romaines 25. day of December of the Romaines Nabonassar 747. the 4. day of Tibi of the Aegyptians Augustus Empire 42. or his xiii Consulship Indichon 4. hauing the Golden number 19. Circle of the sunne 8. Dominical letter E. because of the erroneous intercaling else it should haue beene D. The next yeare was the last omitted leape yeare And so since Christ the yeare of Iulius Caesar remained vnuiolated till Gregorie xxij 1582. yeares See Page The Computation after Christ THe yeare of the world 4020. and the Incarnation of Christ began iust together But the vulgar and vsuall Computation from the Incarnation of Christ vsed in this Realme and other places doth not reach to Christs true Incarnation and the beginning of the yeare 4020. by one whole yeare but beginneth the first day of the yeare of the world 4021. Wherefore in reducing that vulgar computation to the true computation of Christs Incarnation and then consequently by it to the yeares of the world you must euer first adde one to the yeare of that vulgar computation which also must bee done to the computations of the church of Rome from the Natiuitie or 25. of December and of the Citie of Rome and Astronomers from the Circumcision or first of Ianuarie between the Incarnation or twentie fiue of March and the said daies of Natiuitie and Circumcision following But the first quarter of their said computation runneth iumpe with the last quarter of the same yeare of his true incarnation As thus Februarie second one thousand fiue hundred ninetie fiue according to the computation of Rome and the Astronomers is also Februarie second one thousand fiue hundred ninetie fiue according to the true computation of his Incarnation But the first day of Aprill one thousand fiue hundred ninetie fiue according to the computation of Rome is the first of Aprill one thousand fiue hundred ninetie sixe after the true computation of Christs Incarnation
of the worlde This Mardocempad certainely was the next king that succeeded Merodath Baladan in Babilon whose name is not recorded in the holy Scripture but he seemeth by all probabilities to be that king which caried Ezechias sonne Menasses captiue to Babilon 2. Chron. 33.11 In like sorte this second of Mardocempad was Nabonassars 28 yeare as Ptolomie saith drawe thes 28 yeares backe with the odde daies you shall finde that Nabonassar began in the ende of the yeare of the worlde 3275. that is in Achaz 13 yeare and the beginning of the first yeare of Hoseas Tributarie raigne vnder Salmaneser Now if we can finde who was then king of Babilon we may vndoubtedly say that he was Nabonassar It is generally taken by the learned Chronologers Funccius Mercator Erasmus Rainoldus Eucelcerus other that this Nabonassar was Salmaneser which caried awaye the tenne Tribes in Ezechias sixt yeare But vnder correction I take him to be Merodac Baladan as Esay calleth him who in the booke of Kinges is termed Beroodoh Baladan the first king of the Chaldaeans or Babilonians Esay 39.1 2. Reg. 20.12 and the very founder of that kingdom and house I will shew my reasons briefly and leaue the iudgement to the learned 1 This Nabonassar raigned as appeared before out of Ptolomie to the 23 yeare of Ezechias whereas Salmaneser died before the 14 yeare of Ezechias For then Senacharib was king of Assyria 2 Albeit the same yeare of the worlde 3275 being the 12. and 13. of Achaz Salmanesar was king of the Assyrians and the same yeare made a great voyage into Palestina against Hoseas king of Israel and subduing him made him his vassal Teodarie and Tributarie 2. Reg. 17.3 yet it is most certaine that before the 14. yeare of Ezechias the kinges of Assyria had lost Babilon and Chaldaea there beeing then a new king Merodac Baladan and it become another distinct kingdome from the kingdome of the Assyrians whose seat was at Niniue as the holy Scripture euidently sheweth 2. Reg. 17.12 Ierem. 50.17 2. Reg. 19.36 This Merodac is the first that in scripture hath the Title of King of Babilon and Ieremie maketh him the very author father and founder of that kingdome race and familie Ier. 50.2 As it is apparant that he raigned in Babilon when Ezechias was sicke so there can be no reason shewed to the contrarie but he began his raigne there 14 yeares before nay it is most probable and likely that Salmanassar being that yeare 3275. a farre of and occupied in his warres in Syria and Israel Merodac Baladan tooke that opportunitie to reuolt from him and erect that new kingdome By occasion whereof Ezechias king of Iuda anone after rebelled against Salmaneser too 2. Reg. 18.7 entering into league with the newe king of Babilon For it appeareth that they were combined and confederate against the king of Assyria because Merodac sendeth so friendly to Ezechias to congratulate his recouerie and because Ezechias sheweth his Embassadors so readily all his treasure and power to this ende that the other of the league might see what forces he was able to make against the common enemie the king of Assyria And about the same time Hoseas king of Israel induced by these examples reuolted from Salmaneser and entred into league with So king of Aegypt 2. Reg. 17.4 But shortly after Salmaneser subdued him again which Senacherib his sonne attempting to doe to Ezechias had that miraculous ouerthrow 2. Reg. 19.35 which Merodac hering together with Ezechias recouery sent that solemne congratulatiō Cap. 20.12 3 I see no reason why Ptolomie or the Chaldaeans should take aeram Chaldaeorum the Computatiō of the Chaldees from Salmaneser king of Assyria more thā from any other king before him as Pul or Tiglath Pileser But euery man may see reason enough why he should take it from Merodac because he was the founder of that kingdom of the Chaldaeans their first king of Babilon first raiser of that house familie as Ieremie maketh him and Daniel maketh that kingdom of Merodac his successors the race of the Nabuchodonosors the first of his foure Monarchies Dan. 1. 7. Surely new aeraes computations dates are taken from new great euents and actions as deliuerance from seruitude and restoring of libertie 1. Mac. 13.42 And such a one as that was this action of Merodac deliuering the Chaldaeans from the bondage of the Assyrians As for the difference of the name it is most vsuall that forrenners and they which are farre of hauing a diuerse language call the same king by another name than he is called at home As whome the Chaldaeans themselues cal Nabopolassar the Iewes called Nebucadnetzar whom Daniel calleth Baltassar which doubtles was his right Chaldaean name Herodotus calleth Labynetus Iosephus Naboandel Alphaeus Naboniddochus Eus praep Eu. l. 9. our Merodac himself is called Berodach 2. Reg 20.12 Esar-chaddon is called also Osnapar Ezr. 4. But to leaue this to the iudgement of the learned it is agreed certaine that Nabonassar was that king which raigned then in Babilon Wherfore to come to the ninth Article Censor l. de die natali it may be proued eyther by proceeding in Ptolomies Computation or by the account of the Olympiades For Censorinus coupleth the 986. yeare of Nabonassar with the 2. yeare of Olymp. 254. that is as he expoundeth himself the 1014. yeare from the first Olympiad and indeede the yeare of Nabonassar began then much about the beginning of the Olympical yere Substract 986. out of 1014. and there remayne 28. by how many yeares the first Olymp. began before Nabonassar beside the daies which Nabonassars aera hath lost in that space by wanting the leape yeare And therefore the Olympiades began in the yeare of the world 3247 being Vzziahs 52. yeare By this account the first yeare of Cyrus Monarchie being the 23. yeare of his Regiment or raygne is the third yeare of the 60. Olympiad which agreeth with Euschius l. 10. Praep. Euang. cap. 13. where out of Thallus Castor Diodorus Polybius and Phlegon he placeth the first yeare of Cyrus Regiment or raigne in the first yeare of the 55. Olympiad The distance of 78. yeares from Cyrus first to the beginning of Artaxerxes Longimans seuenth is proued thus Diodorus Siculus Pag. 260. placeth Xerxes death in the 4. yeare of the 78. Olympad and Artaxerxes beginning about 4 or 5 monethes before the ende of the same yeare which by resolution are 312. yeares Adde thereto 5 more to make vp Artaxerxes sixt and there will be 317. in the ende whereof Artaxerxes 6 began and ended within three or foure moneths of the ende of 318. abstract thence 238. accrewing of 59 full Olympiades and two yeares of the 60. Olympiad which were before Cyrus first and there remayne 78. and about three quarters which three quarters were passed of the yeare 3. Olymp. 60. before the beginning of Cyrus first The same may be proued by Iulius Aphricanus who
before for a yeare but cleane cast them away and reckon them not at all as Forosemproniensis sheweth pag. 2. li. 4. and as the yearely Almanackes testifie which after the Circumcision keepe euer the same yeare of the Lord that the Church of Rome doth whereas otherwise they woulde haue a yeare more Thirdly if it were so that the common and vsuall Computation of Christendome did take the yeare of the Lord secundùm Natiuitatem yet that will not helpe the matter and cause in hand because Bergomas maketh but 33 yeares betweene Christes Incarnation and Passion and then we are in as bad case as we were before For a whole yeare of the life of Christ is still lost so that the Computation will not reach to the true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Christes Incarnation by a whole yeare By this also you may see that the dreame of Paulus Forosemproniensis was nothing but a dreame He writeth that he had shewed him in a vision or reuelation that all Chroniclers and Historiographers did anticipate the yeare of the Lorde and put the Natiuitie of Christ two yeares sooner than they shoulde and this vision or dreame rather he laboureth tooth and nayle to confirme whereas indeed in the vsuall Computation the Natiuitie of Christ is set backe by one yeare If you desire to knowe to what yeare of the worlde the yeare of any other Computation is to be referred adde to your yeare of the Olympiades 3246. Rome 3270. after Dionysius 3269. after Varro Nabonassar 3275. The Chaldaeans 3710. The Greekes 3711. Dionysius 3735. Antioch 3971. The Councel 3981. Christes Incarnatiō 4019. after the Computation of Pisa 4020. after any other Computation as England Florence c. Passion 4053. Diocletian 4313. The Turkes 4640 The Persians 4650. As thus The Councel of Nice was holdē Aera 363 add therto 3986 we shal find the yeare of the world 4349. Again from 363 substract 38 and you haue the yeare of Christ 325 adde thereto 4024 and you finde that way too the same yeare of the world 4349. Yet it is hard to giue a rule to reconcile the Computation of Eusebius and the Greekes with this Computation because he maketh new oddes almost in euerie article But after Christ there is one vniforme order For he placeth the birth of Christ in the yeare of the world 5199 which is too much by 1174 and that must be subducted out of this Computation But the Computation of the Emperour and Patriark in the Councel of Basil which couple the 6944 of the world with the yeare of Christ 1435 is too much by 1484 yeares By the like respect hauing a yeare of any one Aera or Computation by this table ye may easily reduce it to any of the other But in these concurrences due regard must be had what time of the yeare euery Computation beginneth otherwise as Dionysius Halycarnassaeus complaineth of Thucidides manner of Computation it will be hard to couple them together but that there will be an oddes of one yeare And therefore it shall not be amisse to set downe the seuerall formes and beginnings of these yeares by the which the principall Computations are reckoned First the yeare of the Hebrewes consisteth of 12 monthes the odde hauing 30 daies and the euen 29 whose names be 1 Abib or Nisan 2 Iiar or Ziu 3 Siuan 4 Thamus 5 Ab 6 Elul 7 Thisri or Ethanim 8 Marchesuan or Bul 9 Cisleu 10 Tebeth 11 Schebath 12 Adar And because all this amounteth but to 354 daies in the common yeare therfore to meete and match the course of the Sunne they insert in certaine yeares a thirteenth month of 30 daies which they call Veadar according to their cicle and rule of 19 yeares wherein the 3. 6. 8. 11. 14. 17. and 19. haue the said thirteenth month And further to make vp the odde minutes in euery fourth yeare they intercalate one day as we doe in our leape yeare This yeare began as some are of opinion before the departure out of Aegypt at the Autumnal Aequinoctiall as the Arabians Persians and latter Iewes begin their yeare and as the Computation of the yeare for the Iubilies began But out of doubt it is that after the departure out of Aegypt Nisan was made the first month beginning of the yeare Exod. 12.2 This month shal be vnto you the beginning of months euen the first month of the yeare Which began at the new moone next to the vernal Aequinoctial At which Aequinoctial the old Astronomers began their yeare and the Church beginneth the yeare of the world And therfore Dionysius Exiguus to make the year of Christ proportionable to the yeare of the world began it at the Incarnatiō or Conceptiō which was on the vernal Aequinoctial But in the year of the Lord 1351 for a speciall cause before spoken of it was reduced to the Natiuitie of Christ And so there is but a weeke oddes between the Ecclesiastical or Church Computation of Rome and the ciuill or imperiall Computation For the Church of Rome begin their newe yeare at the day of Christes Natiuitie that is the 25 of December and the Empyre beginneth their new yeare the first day of Ianuarie which we in this realme and other countries too commonly call new yeares day because the late Astronomers begin their new yeare there as our yearly Almanackes doe witnesse and Paulus Forosemproniensis sheweth parte 2. l. 4. The Astronomers of our time which after the manner of the Romanes haue reduced the Computation of yeares to Ianuarie and the radices motuū to the beginning of Ianuarie in the first yeare of Christes Natiuitie begin the first yeare of his Natiuitie at the 8 day of his Natiuitie not accounting the daies betweene his Natiuitie and Ianuarie Which may euidently appeare by this for they which seeke the place of the Planets at the houre of Christes Natiuitie goe backe 7 daies from the radices of the Planets noted in the tables And this manner of Computation obserue not onelie Astronomers but also Diuines allowed in Christian Religion as Petrus de Aliaco Nicholaus Cusanus Rogerus Bachon and generally all that haue sought out the places of the planets at the houre of Christes Natiuitie The like or greater dissonancie there is betweene the beginning of the Indictions of the Empyre and the Indictions of the Pope The Indictions of the Empyre begin the 8 Calendes of October but the Pope beginneth his Indictions three monthes after the 8 Calendes of December that is at the day of Christes Natiuitie The Aegyptians are made by Herodotus li. 2. and by Diodorus Siculus li. 1. to be the inuentors and first autors of the yeare But indeede as they had it from the Hebrewes among whom Noach himselfe the first of the renewed world did ordaine the yeare and monthes as Ioseph Antiqu. Iud. li. 1. and Berosus l. 3. affirme distinguishing the yeare by the course of the Sunne and the 12 monthes by the course of the Moone so
appeare vnto vs if we consider these fewe pointes First in remouing the Aequinoctial he condemneth the councel of Nice who thought it not meete to remoue it at all but fixed it where they found it viz. at March 21. as Iulius Caesar left it at March 25 and so Petrus Cameracensis vrged in the councel of Constance and had perswaded Iohn xxiij if he had continued in the popedome and of the same opinion was Paulus Forosemproniensis in his Paulina parte 1. Secondly he taketh not the right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marke or point For if he would needes remoue it why did he not reduce it to the originall and first beginning of the Iulian yeare that is to the 25 of March which place it had at the Natiuitie of Christ a thing more memorable than the councel of Nice But they must needes shew their mindes euen in this how they more affect and preferre the actions of the Church than of Christ Iesu If the Aequinoctials must needes be fixed and kept from varying fixe them where they ought to be fixed that is where they were at their Creation or at the least where they were at Christes Passion and Resurrection For the right celebrating therof they pretend to be the cause of their alteration But rather why are they not suffered to runne their race and hold on their course which they euer haue kept since the beginning For what authoritie hath he more than all the world before him to set the heauens their boundes and prescribe lawes to the starres yea to bridle the Sunne it selfe as though he held the world in his hand Cannot he be content that the Sunne Moone and Starres shall keepe their course and the festiuall daies be solemnised in their appointed times as well as God himself was Why doth he take vpon more than God himselfe did in the Leuiticall Passouer and other solemnities which being once by him appointed continued a longer time than from the councell of Nice to Gregorie xiij without any alteration of the yeare He may assure himself that if it had beene necessarie or meete to be done or anie inconuenience had growen by the not doing of it God himselfe would haue altered it in that strickt pedagogie of his people who were so precisely tied to the obseruation of daies and times Thirdly the manner of remouing it was cause of great confusion and trouble by taking of 10 daies out of one month at one push as they did contrarie to the wisedome of Augustus Caesar who to amend the surplussage of three daies caused the three next leape yeares to be omitted And contrarie to the iudgement of his owne predicant Friar Iohannes Maria who affirmeth that that waye would be difficilis gignens perturbationem magnam Epit. de emēd Calend ca. 3. dissidium in Ecclesia Dei per orbem diffusa and of Iohannes Lucidus Samotheus who intimateth that the same waie would be troublesome and that the safest and best waie were to fixe it where they found it as the Nicene fathers had done The whole councel of Basil refused this waie of Gregorie xiij though greatlie and vehementlie vrged vnto them by Cardinall Cusan and Hermannus Zoestius Fourthly for the remedie prouided for hereafter the meanes of omitting three leape yeares in euerie 400 yeares will not keepe the Aequinoctial at the 21 of March For the variation of it from Iulius Caesar to Gregorie xiij is not agreeable to that proportion For by his reckoning in 133 yeares and one third part it goeth backe one daie Nowe from Iulius Caesars instituting of the Calendar to the yeare 1582 are 1627 yeares In which summe you haue 133⅓ but 12 times beside the remainder of ¼ almost So that by this reckoning at that yeare 1582 the Aequinoctiall is remoued from the 25 and 26 of March not full 12 daies and a quarter wheras all Astronomers hold that it is remoued 15 daies So likewise from the councell of Nice which was in the yeare of Christ 325 to that yeare 1582 there are 1257 yeares in which summe we haue 133⅓ but nine times beside the remainder of ¼ and a little more So that by this account the Aequinoctiall is remoued from the 21 daie of March not much more than nine daies and a quarter and Pope Gregorie hath stricken out of the Calendar full 10 daies Wherfore his Calendar must needs be false eyther in the place of the Aequinoctiall which is reduced to the 21 of March or in the new quantitie of the yeare and remedie prouided for the perpetuitie of it And surely this is a notable argument of mans dulnesse of wit and dimnesse of sight euen of his owlish eies as Aristotle calleth them in the great workes of God For indeed the exact course of the Sunne and the iust quantitie of the yeare is incomprehensible of mans wit Which hath bred among the best Astronomers at the least 20 diuerse opinions of the quantitie of the yeare all differing from this of Gregories as you may see in Censorine de die Natali Cap. de anno vertente and in Picus Mirandula aduers Astrologos li. 9. ca. 9. where he noteth and obserueth that Azerchel Baten Isaac Israelita and some iunior Astronomers doe holde that as the daies doe lengthen and shorten so the yeares do likewise and that in the yeare of Christ 1310 the yeare was at the shortest and within a while after would begin to lengthen againe Lastly for the terme that this Calendar will serue I take it one of the wisest actes of his Holines when as he auoucheth that his Calendar will serue and last without alteration till the yeare of Christ 5000. For vnlesse the terme be long the labour is needlesse because in a hundred yeares the variation is not sensible and therefore causeth no inconuenience at all in that as himselfe saith 133 yeares and a third part make but one daies oddes And therefore since the Creation the Aequinoctiall hath odded but 42 daies now it would be 1463 yeares before it could get out of March where now it is And whether the world shall last so long God knoweth Sure we are that it shall not last so long after Christ as it had lasted before Christ For the holie Ghost well nigh 1600 yeares agoe saith It was the endes of the world 1. Cor. 10.11 the last daies Heb. 1.1 yea the last houre 1. Ioh. 2.18 and therefore we must needes be now in the last minute of the last houre our hourglasse being almost out Wherefore let them that be wise consider whether the Pope in setting that tearme of 5000 yeares of Christ shew not himselfe and his to be of the number of those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mockers 2 Pet. 3. which Peter prophesied should come in the last daies and say where is the promise of his comming c. But let vs comparing the wordes and warninges of our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles with the tearme of times heere set downe