Such doubtfull riddles are no prophesies: For prophesies, in writing though obscure, Are playne in sence, the darke be very lies: What God foresheweth is euident and pure, Truth is no harold nor noe sophist sure: She noteth not men’s names, their shieldes, nor creasts, Though she compare them vnto byrds and beasts. 29. But whom she doth forshewe shall rayne by force, She tearms a wolfe, a dragon, or a beare: A wilfull prince, a raynlesse ranging[1192] horse: A bold, a lion: a cowarde much in feare, A hare or harte: a crafty, pricked eare: A leacherous, a bull, a goate, a foale: An vndermyner, a moldwarpe, or a mole. 30. By knowen beastes thus truth doth playne declare What men they be of whom shee speakes before: And who so can men’s properties compare And marke what beast they doe resemble more: Shall soone discerne who is the griesly bore: For God by beastes expresseth men’s condicions, And not theyr badges, haroldes supersticions. 31. And learned _Merlyne_, whom God gaue[1193] the sprite To know and vtter princes actes to come, Like to the Iewish prophets, did recite In shade of beastes, theyr doings all and some, Expressing plaine by maners of the dome, That kinges and lordes such propertyes should haue As haue the beastes whose name he to them gaue. 32. Which while the foolish did not well consider, And seeing princes gaue, for difference And knowledge of theyr issues mixt together, All maner beastes for badges of pretence, There tooke those badges to expresse the sence Of _Merlyne’s_ minde, and those that gaue the same, To bee the princes noted by theyr name. 33. And hereof sprang the false namde prophesies, That goe by letters, siphers, armes, or sines: Which all bee foolish, false, and crafty lyes, Deuisde by gesse, or guiles vntrue deuines: For whan they saw that many[1194] of many lynes Gaue[1195] armes alyke, they wist not which was hee Whom _Merlyne_ ment the noted beast to bee. 34. For all the broode of _Warwicke’s_ gaue the beare, The _Buckinghams_ doe likewise gieue the swan: But which beare bearer should the lyon teare They were as wise as _Goose_ the fery man: Yet in theyr skill they ceased not to scan, And to bee deemed of the people wise, Set forth theyr gloses vpon[1196] prophesies. 35.