Exed. 6. c. d. AAron, was the sonne of Amram and brother to Moses, and of the Tribe of Leui. Hys mothers name was Iochebed, sister to Caath, the father of Amram. Hée was appointed of God to be Moses interpre­ter, and also his Prophet, what tyme as God sent Moses to Pharao, to poure out hys pla­gues vpon him. He tooke Elisaba the daughter of Ami­nadab of the Tribe of Iuda, to wyfe. He was the fyrst Byshop of the Iewes. And left (with Hur) to gouerne the24. d. people in the absence of Moses, while he was in the Mount wyth God. And in the meane time the people (beyng yet32. cap. infected wyth the ydolatrie of Egipt) cryed out against Aaron to make them goddes to go before them. Then Aaron (perceyuing the people inclyned to ydolatrie, and also thinking they woulde rather forgoe the same, than to forsake their precious Iewels) sayde vnto them: Plucke of the golden earerings in the eares of your Wyues, your sonnes, and of your daughters, and bring them to mée. The people did so, & Aaron made thereof a Calfe. Which when the people sawe and behelde, they were excéeding gladde. And began now to worship and honor the Calfe as a godde, hopping and daunceyng for ioye. But the Lorde aboue, beholding theyr wickednesse, tolde it to Moses, and sent him downe post haste to refourme their wycked at­temptes. Who then comming downe from the Mount wyth the Tables of God in hys hande, and drawyng néere to the host, hée sawe the Calfe, and the people daunceyng before it. Which sight, so kindeled the wrath of Moses, & grieued hys heart so sore, that he threwe the Tables oute of his handes, tooke the Calfe and burnt it in the fyer, and [Page 2] stampte it all into powder and ashes, which he threwe in­to the water, and forced the people to drinke it. Then he demaunded of Aaron, what the people did to him, that he had brought so great a sinne vpon them. Aaron sayde: let not the wrath of my Lorde ware fierce, thou knowest the people that they are set on mischiefe. For they sayde vn­to mée, make vs goddes to go before vs, for we wote not what is become of Moses, the man that brought vs out of Egipt. Then I required to haue their golde and Iewels, which they brought vnto mée, and I did cast them into the fier, and thereof came out this Calfe. Moses then vnder­standingIdolatrie punished. the matter, commaunded the children of Leui to fall vpon the ydolaters, and slue of them about thrée thou­sandeNu. 12. cap. persons. After this, it came to passe that Aaron and Miriam his sister, did grudge against their brother Moses bicause he had taken an Ethiopian to wyfe, saying on this wyse: hath the Lorde in déede spoken onely through Mo­ses? and hath he not spoken also by vs? The Lorde notDisobedience punished. content wyth this their contemning of Moses auctoritie, was sore displeased, and stroke Miriam wyth a foule le­prosie. Which so much discomforted Aaron, to sée his sys­ter so fowlye arayed and disfigured, that he humbled him­selfe to Moses, and sayde: Alas my Lorde, I beséech thée put not the sinne vppon vs, which we haue foolishlye com­mitted & sinned. Oh, let hir not be as one deade, of whom the fleshe is halfe consumed, when he commeth out of hys mothers wombe. And so thorowe Aarons intreatie, Mo­ses prayed vnto God, and Miriam was healed. Finally,20. d. 33. c. when Aaron had lyued one hundred xxiij. yeares, hée dyed in mount Hor, as the Lorde had foretolde. And hys sonne Eleazar succéeded in his rowme. Note: ¶ Aaron, a Teacher.

Dani. 14. f. g. Abacuck, the Prophet, was of the Tribe of Simeon. He prophecied of the taking of Ierusalem by Nabuchodo­nosor. This Prophet (on a time) had prepared potage and other vittayles for the haruest folkes. And going to the [Page] [...] [Page 2] [...] [Page 3] fieldes, to bring the same to the reapers, an Aungell of God spake vnto him, and sayde: Go, and cary the meate that thou hast prepared into Babilon, and gyue it to Da­niel, which is in the Lyons denne. O Lorde (quoth he) I neuer saw Babilon, and as for the denne, I knowe it not. With that, the Angel caught vp the Prophet by the toppe of hys head, and bare him to Babilon, and set him vpon the denne. Then Abacuck cryed to Daniel, and sayde: O Daniel, thou seruant of the Lord, take here the breake­fast that God hath sent thée. Daniel hearing the voyce of Abacuck, reioyced greatly, and sayde: O Lorde, hast thouAbacuck died sixe hundred yeares before the incarnati­on of Christ. Eliote. thought vpon mée? Well, thou neuer faylest them that loue thée. And so he rose vp and did eate of such things as the Prophet had brought hym. And immediatelye, after that Daniel had eaten, the Angell set Abacuck in his place againe. Note: ¶ Abacuck, a Wrastler.

Abdy. 1. cap. Abdy, the Prophet, prophecyed destruction to the Idu­means, which came of Esau, and were vtter enimies to the Israelites, which came of Iacob: as at the siege of Ie­rusalem it did most plainely appeare, where as they ioy­ned wyth Nabuchodonosor against their brethren, whom they ought rather to haue holpen and defended against the heathen. Note: ¶ Abdy, a Seruant of the Lorde.

Ieremi. 38. b. Abedmelech, was a Morian borne, and Chamberlane wyth Zedekia King of Iuda. This man had so great a confidence in God and loue to his Prophets, that when he saw Ieremie so euill intreated, he went to the king and be­sought his grace, that Ieremie y^e Prophet might be taken out of y^e filthy dungeon wherinto he was cast, least he there should perishe and dye for hunger. And so obtayning the Kinges good will, he tooke his men and went to the prison where Ieremie lay, & threwe downe vnto him olde ragges & clowtes which he had prouided, bidding him to put them vnder his arme holes, to kéepe the cordes from hurting and fretting his armes in pulling vp. Nowe, for this his39. d. [Page 4] kindenesse shewed on Ieremie, and trust that he had in the [...]indnesse re­compensed. Lorde, he was deliuered from captiuitie, and saued from the handes of Nabuchodonosor, at the destruction of Ieru­salem, when other perished.

Gen. 4. a. b. Abel, was the sonne of Adam, borne of hys Mother Eue, next after Cain. Hée was a kéeper of Shéepe and wholy dedicated to vertue and godlynesse. In all hys ob­lations,Abel & Del­bora his sis­ter, were born both at one byrth fiftene yeares after Cain. Cooper. he euer gaue of the best things he had. Which, of the Lorde was greatly accepted. And therfore Cain (per­ceyuing his brothers offerings to be regarded and hys re­iected) e [...]yed him to death. And at the last (by a subtyle trayne) slue hym. Note: ¶ Abel, Vanitie.

3. Reg. 15. a. Abia, the sonne of Roboam began his reigne ouer Iu­da in the xviij. yeare of Ieroboam King of Israel. Hys mothers name was Maacha the daughter of Abisalom. He walked not in the steppes of Dauid, but followed the wayes of hys father before him. Yet (notwythstanding) for Dauids sake, God gaue him a light, that is to saye, a sonne to reigne ouer Iuda. Hée ouercame Ieroboam in2. Par. 13. ca. battell wyth an Armie of fower hundred thousande, not­withstanding, the other had twise so many chosen and pic­ked men. Of the which, Abia fiue fiue hundred thousande, and weakened the power of Ieroboam so sore, that he was neuer able to recouer hys strength againe, so long as Abia reigned. This King had .xiiij. Wyues, by whome he had xxij. Sonnes, and xvj. Daughters. Hée reigned but thrée yeares, and was buryed in the Citie of Dauid.

3. Reg. 14. ca. Abia, the sonne of Ieroboam being sick on a time, hys father called the Quéene his wyfe vnto him, and bade hyr disguise hir selfe y^e in no wyse she might be knowne what woman shée was. And so go thy way (quoth hée) to Sylo, and there shalt thou finde y^e Prophet of God, called Ahia, which tolde me (long before Salomon dyed) that I should [Page 5] be King of Israel. Make spéede and take a present wyth thée, and learne of him what shall become of the Childe. The Quéene did then as shée was commaunded, but all was in vaine. For God had reuealed the matter vnto the Prophet before the woman came. In so much, that as soone as the blinde olde man hearde the noyse of hir com­ming and entring in at the dore, he sayde: Come in thou wife of Ieroboam, why hast thou disguised and fayned thy selfe to be another woman. Thou art come to receyue some comfort for thy sonne which lyeth sicke, but I am commaunded to tell thée heauye and sorowfull things. It repenteth the Lorde that he hath exalted Ieroboam, and rented the kingdome from the house of Dauid, and giuen it to him, forsomuch as he hath forsaken the Lorde, and not folowed him in hys heart as Dauid did, but hath made him goddes of hys owne: therefore the Lorde hath deter­mined to bring such a plague vpon the house and posterity of Ieroboam, that hée wyll not leaue one alyue to make water against the walle: Wherefore now get thée home, and as soone as thy foote shall enter into the Citie, the child shall dye, and all Israel shall lament him and bring him to hys Sepulchre. And so shall none of the house of Ierobo­am thy husbande enioy the honour of his buryall, but only thys childe, bicause the Lorde sawe in him some goodnesse towarde. And so when the Prophet had all sayde, the wyfe of Ieroboam rose vp & returned home to hir house, and founde hir sonne deade, as the Prophet had foretolde. Note: ¶ Abia, Father of the Sea.

4. Reg. 18. a. Abia, the Daughter of Zacharia, was wyfe to Ahaz King of Iuda, and Mother to Hezekia. Which name signifieth thus. Note: ¶ Abia, The will of the Lorde.

1. Reg. 22▪ Abiathar, the sonne of Achimelech priest of Nob, se­yng the great crueltie of Saul, in putting hys Father to death for refreshing of Dauid: escaped hys handes and [Page 6] fledde to the forest of Hareth where Dauid (at that tyme) laye, declaring to him the great murder that Saul had done to Achimelech hys father, and to all the Priestes of the Lorde for his sake. Then, being comforted of Dauid, he abode wyth him, and was his Priest and Counsayler, so long as he reigned. But in the ende of Dauids reigne, he consented wyth Adoniah (who had exalted himselfe) to stablishe him in the kingdome, after the death of Dauid.3. Reg. 2. But Salomon (beyng proclaymed, and the other deposed) as soone as he was possessed, depryued Abiathar and pla­ced Sadock in hys rowme: And so was the worde of the Lorde fulfilled, which he had spoken before, concerning the house of Eli, for Abiathar was the last of that lyne. Note: ¶ Abiathar, Father of the Remnant: or excellent Father.

1. Reg. 25. ca. Abigail, the wyfe of Naball y^• Carmelite, was a wo­man not onely bewtifull, but of a singular wysedome with all. For when hir husbandes denyall to Dauids men for sustenaunce in their maisters necessitie was tolde hir: she then (considering the great displeasure that might arise of the occasion offered) hasted to lode hir Asses wyth sundrye kinde of victuals, sending them forth before hir, and folo­wing after wyth spéede: And as shée was goyng, the pro­uidence of God was so, that she mette Dauid by the way, vpon the side of an hyll comming to Carmell, determined vtterly to haue destroyed hir husbande, and all that he had by the dawning of the daye folowyng. Then she (percey­uing the furie of Dauid) lighted downe of hir Asse, falling flatte on the ground before him, and so began hir peticion, which was so pithilye framed and done, that in the ende, she pacifyed hys wrath, and stayed his handes from shed­ding of bloud that daye, for the which she was highly com­mended and praysed of Dauid, who gently receyuing hir present, did cléerely remyt the churlishe behauiour of Na­ball hir husbande for hir sake. Which being graunted, she tooke hir leaue and returned againe. But when shée [Page 7] came home, and founde Naball hir husbande so farre ouer charged with wyne that his wittes were gone, she thought it conuenient to folowe the wyse mans counsell: not to re­bukeEccle. 31. d. him in his wyne, but to let the matter rest, tyll the drinke were all out of his brayne, and his memorie freshe. And so on the next morowe, shée declared to Naball, the great and perilous daunger he was in, for hys vnkinde­nesse shewed to Dauid, which when he hearde, did smyte him so sore to the heart, that he neuer enioyed, but dyed wythin tenne dayes after. And then (in processe,) thys woman (Abigail) became Dauids wyfe, and bare hym a2. Reg. 3. a. sonne called Chileab, which in the first booke of Chroni­cles (chapter.iij.) is called Daniel. Note: ¶ Abigail, The Fa­thers Ioye.

1. Par▪ 2. b.There was another woman called Abigail, which was Sister to Dauid, and wyfe to Iether an Ismaelite, vnto whome shée bare a sonne called Amasa.

Gen. 20. cap. Abimelech, King of the Philistines, was a manne which had the feare of God before his eyes, as it may ap­peare in the storie of Abraham, by his godly entertayne­ment of his wyfe, whome he tooke to be his very sister and not hys wyfe, as they had both confessed vnto hym. And hauyng a mynde to the woman, he tooke hir from Abra­ham, intending to haue coupled wyth hir in mariage, and not for no sinfull desire. But when (by the voyce of God) he knewe she was Abrahams wyfe in déede, and he a Pro­phet, and his house sore plagued for hir sake, he was right sorye for that he had done, and also displeased with Abra­ham for so dissemblyng wyth hym in so weyghtie a cause, considering the dishonestie that myght haue happened vnto his wyfe by some of hys men, and the perill of Gods indignation on hym and on hys kingdome for the same: yet notwithstanding, when he knewe the cause of Abra­hams dissembling, he possest hym wyth cattell, seruants, and money, and deliuered Sara his wyfe vnto hym a­gayne, [Page 8] gyuing him also frée libertie, to dwell and inha­bite where he woulde, wythin the precinct of hys domi­nion. Then Abraham prayed vnto God for Abimelech, at whose peticion the Lorde remooued his plague from the house of Abimelech, so that the women conceyued and brought forth children, as before they had done. The lyke story is of Isaac. Chapter.xxvj. Note: ¶ Abimelech, The Kings Father, or a Father of Counsell, or the Chiefe King.

Iudith. 9. cap. Abimelech, the sonne of Ierobaal, (otherwyse Gede­on) was a wicked Tyrant, and a prowde ambicious co­uetous man. For when hys father was deade, hée (to be king of Israel) consulted with all his mothers kyndred to perswade the people that it was better to haue one man to reigne ouer them, than all y^• sonnes of Ierobaal (which were.lxx.persons in number.) And also to consider that he was of their fleshe and bloude, as well as the other were, which matter beyng mooued to the people, they all consen­ted to cleaue to Abimelech, and to make hym their kyng and gouernour. And that he shoulde be the better assured of their good wylles and obedient hearts, they gaue vnto him a great summe of money, wyth the whych, he hyred a sort of light brayned felowes. And first of all, went to his fathers house, and slewe all his brethren, saue Iothan the yongest, who escaped his bloudie handes and fled. But or he had reigned a two or thrée yeares, the fire of hatred be­gan so to kindle betwéene him & the Sichemites, with the house of Mello (who had preferde him before to the king­dome) that at length it burst out into so great a flame, that it coulde not be quenched, till chaunce of warre made an ende of the Tyrant: for in the ende (after diuers victories) he forced the Sichemites to take the strong tower of The­bes for their refuge, and coueting nye to the same, to haue set it on fire, a certayne woman threwe downe a péece of a Mylstone vppon his heade, and brake his Skull to the brayne: Who then (féeling himselfe sore wounded) called [Page 9] his seruant, and bade him drawe out hys sworde and ryd him out of his lyfe, that it shoulde not hereafter be repor­ted, that a woman had killed him, and so his seruant slew him.

2. Reg. 6. a. Abinadab, was a man of Gibea, out of whose house, Dauid tooke the Arke of God, and had it from thence to the house of Obed. Isai (the Father of Dauid) had also a1. Reg. 16. b. sonne called Abinadab, and King Saul another of the31. a. same name, which was slayne wyth him in battell. Note: ¶ Abinadab, A Father of a Vowe, or of a free minde, or Prince.

3. Reg. 1. a. Abisag, was a goodly fayre yonge Damosell, brought vp in the Citie of Sunem. And (for hir beautie and ma­ners) chosen to kéepe & norishe King Dauid in his extreme age: After whose death (being still a pure Mayde) She2. d. might not be suffered to marry with Adomah the Kynges brother. Note: ¶ Abisag, The Fathers Ignorance.

1. Par. 2. b. Abisai, was Dauids sisters sonne, and Brother to Io­ab. His mothers name was Zarniah. He consented not with Absalon, but stacke to Dauid hys Unkle in all hys2. Re. 16. b. [...] troubles. He was so grieued with the spytefull rebukes and raylings of Semei, which he made against his Unkle Dauid in his aduersitie, that (if Dauid had not stayed him) he woulde haue made Semei shorter by the heade than he was. By his great strength and hardinesse, he rescued21. d. Dauid out of the handes of a monstrous Gyant (the yron23▪ [...] ▪ of whose speare weyed thrée hundred Sicles) and slewe the Giant, with thrée hundred Philistines mo, for the which, he is counted as chiefe among the thrée Worthyes belon­ging to Dauid. Note: ¶ Abisai, The Fathers Rewarde.

1. Reg. 14. g. Abner, the sonne of Ner, was Captayne Generall o­uer the hoste of King Saul, by whose wisedome, man­hoode, and fidelitie, the house of Saul was chiefly helde vp [Page 10] and strengthned, not only in the time of Sauls reigne, but so long also as he serued Isboseth his sonne, whome he set2. Reg. 2. b. c. &c. vp and made king in his fathers steade, and gouerned hys hoste, as he had done his fathers before: But in the first battell he made against Ioab (Dauids Captaine) [...] went so much agaynst hym, that he was put to the woorse and faine to flie: In the which flight, Asael (brother to Io­ab) folowed Abner and ouertooke him, with whom Abner was loth to meddle, for feare of Ioabs displeasure, & ther­fore intreated him gently to go his way, & not to force him agaynst his will: But when he sawe hys wordes woulde nothing preuayle, he fell vpon Asael, and smote hym tho­rowe the short rybbes wyth hys Speare, and so depar­ted, leauing him dead on the grounde. Not long after this,2. Reg. 3. cap. it fortuned the King to fall out wyth Abner, and to taunt and checke him for that he was so familiar with Rizpa his fathers Concubine, which checke and taunt of the king, so grieued Abner, that he forsooke hym and went to Da­uid, with whome he made a secrete bonde, to stablishe him in the kingdome. And so departing secretly from Dauid againe, he came to y^• people which serued Isboseth, & spake so much vnto them in the prayse and commendatiō of Da­uid, that he wan [...]e their hearts & turned them quyte from Isboseth to Dauid. And when he had thus framed the peo­ple somewhat according to his mynde, he came eftsoones to Dauid, to counsell farther wyth him, howe the people might now be brought togithers and be sworne vnto him: which matter being determined, Abner returned from Dauid, thinking to haue bene as faythfull to hym, as e­uer he was to Saul. But Ioab (who bare grudge and malice to Abner for the death of his brother Asael) hea­ring howe Abner had bene with Dauid and let go agayne, and nothing done vnto him, sent priuily for Abner to come and speake with the king, who being come, Ioab was re­die to receyue him, and vnder pretence of friendship, had him a little aside (as though he woulde haue talked with [Page 11] [...] [Page]

[Page] [Page 11] him about the secrete affayres of the king) and sodeinly [...] smote him with his dagger and slewe him. Note: ¶ Abner, The Fathers Candell.

[...]. 11. d. Abraham, was the sonne of Terah, borne in Vr, a Towne in Chaldey. A man so endued with fayth & vertue, [...], [...] the sonne of [...]e [...]ah be [...]o [...] ten of hys se­conde [...]y [...]e, [...] because of his [...] is counted be sore [...] [...] [...]a [...], born [...] of the [...] wyfe. that when he saw the true religion and honouring of God to cease in the lande of Chalda, he departed from thence with Terah his father, Sara his wife, and L [...]t his bro­thers sonne, to go into the lande of Canaan. And1 [...]. c [...]p. being come to Haran (which is a towne in Mesopotamia) he re­mained there, vntill the death of his father Terah. Then God commaunded Abraham, saying: Get thée out of thy countrey, and from thy kindred, and from thy fathers house vnto the lande which I will shewe thée, and I wyll make of thée a great nation, and will blesse thée and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing, and I wyll blesse them that blesse thée, and curse them that curse thée, and in th [...] shall all the families of the earth be blessed. [...] nowe (hauing this promise made him of God) de­parted out of Haran, he and Sara his wife, with L [...]t his [...]ephewe, and with all their substance that they had, to go & to soiourne in the lande of Canaan. And being there, the Lorde made a promise to Abraham, that hys seede shoulde possesse that lande. Wherevpon soone after, & in the same place, where God spake thus vnto him, he made an aultar, and offered sacrifices ther [...] to the Lorde. And so remay­ning in the lande, there fell (at the last) so great a famine, that he was constrained to [...] into Egypt, where he (fea­ring the Egyptians to be vngodly and vicious men) [...]ig­nedAbraham [...]ught the Egiptians [...] & [...] Sara to be his sister, thinking and if [...] were knowne to be his wife, they woulde (for hir b [...]wt [...]) take hir from him, and put him in hazarde of his lyfe. Then was it [...]old to king Pharao, what a bewtifull woman Abraham had brought with him into Egypt. The king now [...] knowing therof, commaunded the woman to be brought vnto him, [Page 12] and with all gentle entertainement receyued hir into his house, and intreated Abraham well for hir sake. But when he sawe so many plagues fall on him and on all his house­holde, vnderstandyng that it was for withholding ano­ther mans wyfe from him, he restored the woman (with­out dishonestie) to Abraham hir husbande againe. Giuing also his men a great charge concerning the man and hys wife. Then (soone after) Abraham returned from Egypt13. cap. into the countrey of Canaan where he had bene afore. And when he had lyen some space in the lande, there fell such a stryfe betwéene the herdemen of Abrahams cattell, and the herdemen of Lottes cattell, that Abraham was fayne to deuyde the lande betwéene his Nephewe Lot and him, and so they remooued the one from the other. Abraham16. cap. had nowe bene so long without issue, that he tooke (by con­sent an aduise of Sara) one of his Maydes, named Agar, to wyfe, who conceyued and brought him forth a sonne, which was called Ismael, Abraham then being at the age of fourescore yeares and sixe. And when he was come17. cap. to the number of ninetie and nine, God gaue vnto him the couenant of Circumcision, which he receyued first in him­selfe, and then made Ismael and all the reast of hys house­holde to receyue the same. The next yeare after, when A­braham21. a. b. was iust an hundred yeare olde, Sara conceiued & brought him forth his long promised sonne, named Isaac, whome he circumcised the eight day folowing, and would (after that) haue offered him vp in sacrifice, but that God22. cap. (séeing his prompt obedience) stayed his hande. Finally, after the death of Sara, Abraham tooke him another wife25. cap. called Ketura, who bare vnto him six sonnes. Which chil­dren hée woulde not suffer to remayne and companyeAbraham dy­ed before the incarnatiō of Christ 1838. yeares. with his sonne Isaac, but (before he died) sent them away with great rewardes and giftes, and made Isaac heyre of all his goodes. He dyed at the age of an hundred seauen­tie and fiue, and was buried beside Sara his wyfe, in the double Caue, which he bought of Ephron the Hethite.

[Page 13]¶ Looke more in the histories of Lot, Sara, and Melchi­sedech. Note: ¶ Abraham, a Father of a great Multitude.

2. Reg. 3. 2. Absalom, the sonne of Dauid, whom he begat on his wyfe Maacha the daughter of Thalmai, King of Gessur, was y^• goodlyest personage in all Israel, for (as Scripture14. f. witnesseth) God had so framed the forme and ornaments of his bodie, that from the sole of the foote to the crowne of the head, was no member amisse. And yet among all, the heare of his head excelled, which so increased daylye, that the weyght therof compelled him at euery yeares ende, to [...]haue it off. This Absalom had a brother named Ammon,2. Reg. 13. ca. to whō he bare a priuie grudge for defiling his sister Tha­mar: And to be reuenged on him for the same, he invited al his brethren vnto a banket (made in y^• time of his shéepe shearing) to the which banket, Ammon came with the rest of his brethren, & in the middest of their chéere, Absalom killed Ammon, and fled to the king of Gessur his Grand­father. With whome he abode thrée yeares. In the which space, by mediation of friendes, he was (at the last) fette14. cap. home againe, and brought (by Ioab his Auntes sonne) to Ierusalem, where he remayned two yeares after. Then Absolom marueyling why Ioab had not brought him to the king his father in all that space, sent once or twyse for him to come and speake with him: And when he saw that he came not, he commaunded his men to go and burne vp the fielde of Barley which parteyned to Ioab, and laye ioyning to his grounde. Then Ioab hearing therof, went to Absalom, demaunding wherfore his men had destroyed his Corne: Marrie (quoth Absalom) I sent for thée twyse and thou wouldest not come, wherefore diddest thou bring me from Gessur: had it not bene as good for mée and bet­ter to haue continued there still, than here to lye so nye the King my father, and cannot be suffered to sée him? Then Ioab considering the matter, had him to the king, where he was ioyfully receyued. After all this, Absalom began15. cap▪ [Page 14] certaine practises, to aspire to the kingdome, wherein he prospered so farre, that (at length) hée proclaymed him­selfe king in Hebron. Causing his father for feare to flie out of hys Realme, against whome he called his counsell to deuise what waye he might best ouercome his Father. But God (by whose prouidence all things are stayde) so17. a. b. c. d. wrought with his Counsaylers, that the successe of his en­terpris [...] turned to his owne destruction: For when it came so to passe, that both the armies were ioyned in battell to­githers,18. a. b. c. d Absaloms men had the woorsse, and he himselfe a sod [...]ine mischaunce, for as he rode on his Mule thorow the woode to haue escaped, a twyste of an Oke caught hym soRebellion ne­uer escapeth gods punish­ment. fast in the heire of his head, that it tooke him quite out of hys Saddle. And so he hanged on the trée, till Ioab came with his speare and slue him, whose Carkeys after, was taken downe, and cast into a pitte, and couered wyth an heape of Stones. Note: ¶ Absalom, A Father of Peace, or the Fathers Peace, or Rewarde.

Iosua. 7. cap. Acan, was the sonne of Charmy, and of the Trybe of Iuda, who beyng at the wynning of the City of Iericho, & hearing Iosua pronounce the Citie and al things therin to be excommunicate, & accursed of the Lorde, tooke notwith­standing, certaine iewels of the same & hidde them priuily vnder the grounde in his tent. Then after, when Iosua went about the taking of Hai, and had sent thrée thousand souldiers to wynne it, the men of Hai issued out of the ci­tie and slewe thirtie and sixe of the Israelites, and chased the rest backe agayne, whereat Iosua was so discomfited that he rent his clothes, and called on God, to knowe the cause of their ouerthrowing, who made him answere that Israel coulde not stande before the men of Hai, foras­much as some of them had transgressed his commaunde­ment, and tolde him the waye and meanes how he should search it out: which thing being done, he founde that A­can had taken of the spoyle at Iericho, a Babilonish gar­ment, [Page 15] two hundred sicles of siluer, and a wedge of golde, which being tried and brought forth before the whole con­gregation, Iosua tooke Acan, his sonnes, and daughters, cattell, goodes, and all that he had, and caryed them out to the valley of Acor, where they were stoned to death, and consumed with fire. Note: ¶ Acan, Troubling.

3. Reg 16. g. Achab, the sonne of Amrie, began his reigne ouer Is­rael in the xxxviij. yeare of the reygne of Asa king of Iu­da. He tooke Iezabel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sydonites to wyfe, by whose meanes he fell into all wic­ked and straunge Idolatrie and cruell persecution, for the18 cap. which God plagued him so, that in thrée yeares space nei­ther dewe nor rayne fell downe from aboue, to moysture the earth, whereof ensued so great a Murrayne of men and beastes, that innumerable dyed thereof, and all the fault and cause of this plague, he layde on Elia the Pro­phete,21. f. and sought by all meanes howe to destroye him. This king was so wicked, that (Scripture sayeth) he had euen solde himselfe to worke wickednesse, and yet not­withstanding, God gaue him a marueylous victorie of20. cap. Benhadad king of Siria (who had in his companie .xxxij. kings) with whome he fought twyse and bette him, and at the thirde time, broughtHere God (as he many symes doth) dyd punyshe one wicked by another. him into so miserable a case, that he was fayne to humble himself to Achab with a rope about his necke, who (neuerthelesse) had pitie on that wic­ked King, and made a bonde with him, and let him go. Nowe for this mercie, which Achab had shewed to Ben­hadad (whome the Lorde had cursed, and put into Achabs handes to be slayne) God was angry with Achab, and pro­mised his vtter destruction for the same. This gréedy Cor­morant3. Reg. 21. c [...] was not content with his kingdome, and spoyle of his victories, which God had giuen him, but caused Na­both (that innocent man) to be murdered, onely to haue his vineyarde, which laye so nye his nose, whose bloud did craue such vengeance of God, that worde was brought [Page 16] him by the Prophet Elia, that in the same place where dogges had licked the bloude of Naboth, shoulde dogges lycke his also: and that he woulde doe vnto Achab and his posteritie, euen as he had done to the house of Ieroboam and Baasa, which terrible threatnings of God so feared Achab, that heHis repen­tance was not true, but pla­ine ypocrisie. repented and humbled himselfe in sacke­cloth, for the which, the Lorde deferred hys plague, and woulde not performe it in Achabs dayes, but in the tyme of his sonnes reygne. Finallye, it came in the mynde of Achab to go into Siria, to recouer the Citie of Ramoth,22. cap. which he claymed by inheritance. And trusting more to the counsell of foure hundred false Prophetes, than he did to Micheas, the true Prophet of God: he tooke his iourney towardes Ramoth, and being in battell agaynst his eni­mies the Sirians, he was shot in wyth an arrowe stan­ding in his Charet, of the which stroke, he dyed. And then when his Charet was had to the poole of Samaria to be washed, the dogges lycked vp the bloude that ran thorow the Charet, and so was the worde of the Lorde fulfilled, which he had spoken before concerning the same. He reig­ned .xxij. yeares. Note: ¶ Achab, The Fathers Brother.

1. Cor. 16. c. Achaicus, was a faythfull Christian brother, whome Saint Paule sent wyth Stephana and Fortunatus from Philippos to the Corinthians with his Epistle. Note: ¶ Achai­cus, Mourning, or sadde. Achaz, looke Ahaz.

Iudith. 5. cap. Achior, was Captaine & gouernour of all the Ammo­nites vnder Holofernes, and had the spirite of Prophecie so plentifull in him, that when Holofernes demaunded what maner of people the Iewes were, hée stepped forth before him and sayde: If it please thée (O Prince) I will tell thée of a truth what they be. They are a people which came of the generation of the Chaldeys, and bicause they woulde not serue their goddes, nor yet followe their cu­stomes, they went and dwelt first in Mesopotamia, wor­shipping [Page 17] one God that made heauen and earth, at whose commaūdement they went from thence and dwelt in the land of Chanaan, where in processe fell so great a dearth, that then from Chanaan, they went downe to Egypt, and dwelt among the Egiptians foure hundreth yeares: In the which space they grewe to a mightie number, and were sore oppressed of the king of that lande, but assoone as they cryed to their God for helpe, he sent downe such plagues vpon the king and all his lande, that he was fayne to suffer them to departe, yet when they were gone, and the plague ceased, he then pursued, to haue brought them backe agayne into bondage: But God perceyuing his people to be in a strayte, opened the Sea before them, and brought them thorowe on drye ground, and closed the sea vpon their enimies, and so drowned Pharao with all his hoste. And nowe being passed the redde Sea, they came to the wildernesse of Mount Si­nay, where the waters being bitter, he made them swéete, and fedde them forty yeares with meate from heauen. They had such power of their God, that they cast out before them the Chananites, the Pherisites, the Iebusites, and the Hethites, with many great Na­tions mo. For so long as they stoode in awe of their God and did not offende him, so long was no Nation, yet euer able to molest or hurt them. But if (anye time) they declyned from his wyll and ordinance, then were they quickly destroyed in battell, and brought to capti­uitie and bondage. Wherefore (O Prince) let inquisiti­on now be made, whether they haue offended their God or no, and if they haue, then let vs goe agaynst them, for God shall deliuer them into thy hande: But if they haue not displeased their God, he will so defende them, that we shall not surely be able to stande before them, but become a reproche vnto all the worlde. Now was Holofernes soIudit. 6. ca. madde with Achior, that he commanded his men to carie him to the Iewes, that he myght perishe with them in [Page 18] their destruction. And as they went towarde Bethulia with Achior, and saw they might not come nye the Citie, without great perill of their lyues. They went to a trée, and bound him fast to the same, and so leauing him, went their wayes: Then came the Iewes to Achior, and loo­sed his bandes, had him into the Citie, and set hym before the Senators, who demaunded the cause wherefore the Assirians had so cruelly vsed him, to whome he declared the matter in order as he had spoke it before to the prince Holofernes, which being done, the whole assemble gaue prayses and thankes to God, which had giuen to Achior (being an heathen man) such boldnesse of spirite to sette forth his power and glory. And from that time forth they comforted Achior, and had hym in great estimation, who fell from his heathenishe beliefe, and put all his trust inIudith. 14. a. the liuing God, and became a Iewe, and was circumci­sed and numbred among the people of Israel, he and all his posteritie for euer. Note: ¶ Achior, the Brothers Light.

1. Reg. 21. c. d Achis, was the sonne of Maoth king of Geth, who on a tyme when Dauid feygned himselfe to be madHere it is sayde that Dauid feined himselfe mad before Achis, and in the. 34 Psalme, be­fore Abime­lech, which twoo were both one mā: for here he is called by his proper name Achis, and in the other place, by his general name Abimelech. be­fore him, sayde vnto his seruaunts that brought him on this wyse: What meane you Sirs, to bring this madde felowe before me? haue I so great néede of madde men, that ye haue brought this man to playe the mad Bedlem in my presence? Awaye with him (I saye) out of my house. At this time Achis despised Dauid and woulde not receyue him: but the next time27. cap. he came againe with his bonde of men and their housholdes, he retayned them all, and gaue vnto Dauid the Citie of Zikleg to dwell in, and had him in such estimation, that when he himselfe shoulde go with the Phylistines to battell agaynst the Is­raelites, he then tooke Dauid with him, and made him the kéeper29. cap. of his person, for the which, the Philistines were sore offended with Achis, and woulde not suffer him to go in their company, so long as Dauid was with him, wher­fore [Page 19] Achis (for feare of the Philistines displeasure) in­treated Dauid to go home agayne, and so went Achis forth wyth the Philistines against king Saul. Note: ¶ Achis, Euen so it is.

Gene. 4. Ada, There be two women of this name in the Bi­ble. The one was Lameches wyfe, and mother to Ia­ball. The other was the daughter of Elom the Hethite,36. and wyfe to Esau, Iacobs brother. Note: ¶ Ada, a Companye, or Congregation.

Gene. 1. Adam, was the first man that God created, and had dominion of all the beastes and fowles of the earth, and to euery beast and fowle, he gaue his proper name. God set him at the first in a place of passing ioye, full of all maner of fruitefull trées, pleasaunt both to the eye and in taste, whereof he might eate at will and was not prohi­bit, saue only from the trée of knowledge of good and euil, for whensoeuer he tasted of that trée, God tolde him he shoulde surely dye. Nowe Adam being in this goodly pa­radise of pleasure, God thought it good to make him a companion to beare him company. And so casting Adam into a sounde sléepe, he tooke out a ryb of his side, whereof he made the woman, and brought hir to Adam, who by and by confessed hir to be of his bone and fleshe, and from that tyme forth they liued togythers as man and wyfe, in all purenesse and innocencie of lyfe, till that by the subtil­tie of olde Satan the Serpent, (who had deceyued the wo­man) he was entysed by his wife to eate of the forbidden trée. Which thing he had no sooner done, but both their cies were opened, to sée in what case they were. And when they sawe themselues all naked and bare, they were so ashamed that they made them garments to couer their priuities, and hid themselues that the Lorde shoulde not sée them. But Adam being founde out of God, and de­maunded wherefore he had hid him, alleaged, bicause he [Page 20] was naked. And also to excuse his transgression, he bur­dened God with his fault, bicause he had giuen him the woman, which had allured him to eate of the Trée. But neuerthelesse, for as much as Adam had obeyed the voice of his wyfe, and neglected the Lordes precept, God cursed the earth for his sake, and droue him forth of that welthy place, for to liue in sorow and care, and be subiect to death and all other calamities and miseries of the worlde, both he and all his ofspring for euer. In the Byble is mention made, both of sonnes and daughters which Adam had of Heua his wyfe, but none of their names be rehearsed, saue onely Cain, Habel, and Seth. He liued nine hun­dreth and thirtie yeares. Note: ¶ Adam, Man, Earthly.

2. Reg. 3. a. Adonia, was a goodly yong man, the sonne of Da­uid borne vnto him in Hebron of his wyfe Agith. When3. Reg. 1. cap. Adonia perceyued his father to be féeble and weake tho­rowe extreme age, he began to exalt himselfe, saying he woulde be king. And gat him both horses and Charets, and also footemen to runne before him euen lyke a king, to the which hys father sayd nothing, nor woulde not dis­please hym but let him alone, and do what he would. And so Adonia procéeded in his purpose, and by the counsell of Ioab the Captaine, and Abiathar the Priest (who tooke his part) he made a great sacrifice of shéepe and Oxen, wherevnto he called his brethren, and also the kings ser­uantes, who eating and drinking before him with great reioysing, sayde: God saue king Adonia. But assoone as Dauid had knowledge of Berseba his Mother, and Na­than the Prophet, howe all the case stoode, he commaun­ded Sadocke the Priest, and Nathan, to annoynt Sa­lomon, and to set hym vppon his owne Mule, and so to go forth and proclaime him King. Which newes was no sooner come into the new Kings Courte, but euery man shrunke away for feare, leauing Adonia all alone. Who then (for hys owne safegarde) fled to the Tabernacle of [Page 21] the Lorde, and woulde not from thence till Salomon graunted him his pardon, vpon condicion that hereafter he woulde be quiet, and a good man. And so being par­doned, he departed quietly home to his house. But af­ter this, when Dauid his father was deade, Adonia (ca­sting3. Reg. 2. d. [...]. his fauour vpon Abisag the Sunamite) went to Bethsabe Salomons mother, requesting hir to speake vnto the King, that he would gyue hym Abisag to wyfe. Then Salomon hearing his mothers request, perceyued that Adonia (being the elder brother) went about to as­pyre to the kingdome, wherefore to preuent hys purpose, he put him to death. Note: ¶ Adonia, the Lorde is the ruler.

Iudic. 1. a. b. Adonibesech, King of the Cananites, was of such might and power, that he subdued seuentie Kinges, who being all brought into his Courte, he cutte of their thumbes and great toes, and made them gather their meate vnder his Table, whych great crueltie he shew­ed vnto them, being puft vp wyth pryde and ostentation of his victory. This wicked King chaunced to reigne ouer the Cananites, when Iuda had the gouerning of the host of Israel, agaynst whome Iuda began his conquest, and slewe the Cananites, and put Adonibesech to flyght, but beyng sore pursued, the men of Iuda tooke him, and cut of both his thumbes and great toes, which thing the ty­rant confessed hymselfe by and by to be the iust iudge­ment of God, for as he had done to other, so had he wor­thilye receyued agayne. And so he was caryed to Ierusa­lem, and there dyed. Note: ¶ Adonibesech, the Lordes Thunder.

4. Reg. 19. g. Adramelech, the sonne of Senacherib king of As­syria with his brother Saresa, slewe their father in the Temple, as he was worshipping his God Nisroch, and fled into the lande of Armenia, leauing Asarhaddon their other brother, to possesse the kyngdome after their father. Note: ¶ Adramelech, the Kings Cloake, or his greatnesse, on [Page 22] power, or the greatnesse of Counsell.

3. Reg. 12. c. Aduram, was receyuer of all Roboams trybute, and being sent in Commission to pacifie the people which2. Par. 10. d. were deuided and fallen from the King, they (for hatred they bare to Roboam) tooke this man, and stoned hym to death. Note: ¶ Aduram, Their Cloake, or their power, or greatnesse.

1. Reg. 15. ca. Agag, was a very fat man, and king of the Ama­lekites, which Nation God had commaunded to be vt­terly destroyed. And bicause King Saul had reserued Agag aliue, and not killed hym with the rest, the Lorde was grieuously displeased with Saul, and woulde not suffer Agag so to escape, but sent Samuel to execute his iudgement vpon him, who calling for Agag, he came out vnto him very pleasantly, fearing nothing lesse, but that all bitternesse of death had bene past, but contrary to his expectation, Samuel sayde vnto hym: as thy sworde hath made women chyldelesse, so shall thy mother be chylde­lesse, among other women, and with that he fell vpon A­gag, and hewed hym in péeces before the Lorde in Gil­gal. Note: ¶ Agag, An House, or sollour.

Act. 11. d. 21. c Agabus, was a certaine Prophete, which came from Ierusalem to Antioch, where he prophecyed of a great dearth that shoulde be thoroweout all the worlde, which came to passe (as thys Prophete had sayde) in the Emperour Claudius dayes. Also whyle Paule laye at Cesarea in the house of Philip the Euaungelist pur­posing to kéepe his iourney to Ierusalem, this Prophete chauncing to come thither, tooke Paules girdle, and ther­withall bounde his owne hande and féete, saying: Thus sayeth the holy ghost, so shall the Iewes at Ierusalem bynde the man that oweth this gyrdle, and shall deliuer hym into the handes of the Gentyles. Note: ¶ Agabus, A Grashopper.

Gen. 16. cap. Agar, was handemayde to Sara Abrahams wyfe, which Sara (being long barren and chyldelesse) gaue A­gar hir Mayde vnto Abraham to be his wyfe, who being conceyued and féeling hir selfe with chylde, began to des­pise and set lyght by Sara hir Mistres, for the which Sa­ra complayned to Abraham hir husbande, who giuing hir power to correct the Mayde at hir pleasure, she began to deale so roughlye with Agar, that in no wyse she woulde abyde it, but ranne away into the wildernesse, and sitting there besyde a fountayne of water (not knowing whither to go) an Angell appeared vnto hir, and sayd: Agar from whence commest thou? and whither intendest thou to go? I flie (sayde Agar) from Sara my mystresse, which fa­reth so fowle wyth me, that I am euen weary of my life. Well (sayde the Aungell) returne to thy dame againe, and submit thy selfe vnder hir handes, for the Lorde will so encrease thy séede, that it shall not be numbred for multitude: Thou art with child, and shalt beare a sonne, whose name shall be Ismael. Then Agar (giuing God thankes for his consolation in trouble) returned home a­gaine to Sara hir mystres, submitting hir selfe vnto hir, and in processe of time brought forth hir sonne Ismael, as the Aungell had sayde▪ But when it pleased God to visit21. a. b. c. Sara, that she conceyued and brought forth Isaac, a new contention arose betwéene Sara and Agar for their chil­dren: for Sara perceyuing Ismael to be a mocker and a despiser of Isaac, woulde not suffer Ismael to compa­nie with hir sonne Isaac, but made hir complaynt to Abraham, causing him to put both Agar and hir sonne away: which thing although it grieued Abraham so to doe, yet being comforted of God that he woulde multi­plie Ismael, (bicause he was of his séede) he obeyed the voyce of Sara his wife, and with prouision of victuals, sent Agar awaye with hir sonne to shifte for hir selfe. Then Agar being departed from Abraham, gat hir into [Page 24] the forrest of Béerseba, where she wandred so long vppe and downe, till all hir prouision of meate was spent and gone. And when she sawe no remedie, but that both she and hir childe must néedes perish for lacke of sustenance, she layde downe the childe behinde a bushe, and went hir selfe away, bicause she woulde not sée it dye, and as she sate a farre off, mourning and wéeping for hir sonne, she was comforted againe by the Angell of God, who had so prouided for hir and hir sonne, that they were both relie­ued, and liued togithers a long time after, to hir great ioy and comfort. Note: ¶ Agar, A Straunger.

1. Esd. 5. a. Aggeus, was one of the twelue Prophetes which prophecied, in the time of Zorobabel, Kinge of the Iewes, and rebuked them for that they were slacke in the worke of the Lorde. Note: ¶ Aggeus, Solemne: festiuall, or wynding and turning himselfe.

Act. 25. d. e. f. g. Agrippa, was a certayne king, who (as Paule re­porteth) had good knowledge in the Lawe and Prophets, but vnderstoode not the true applying of the same: Which King (on a tyme) came to Cesarea to sée Festus and to welcome hym into the Countrie, who was then but newly entred into his office. And being there a good whyle with Festus, and hearing of him what a doe there was about Paule, whome the Iewes had accused vnto him, was much desirous to sée the man, and to heare him speake. Where vpon the next day following, Paule was brought into the common Hall before Agrippa, and other Magistrates of the Citie there assembled to heare his cause. And when Festus had declared for what purpose he had brought forth Paule, that after examina­tion had, he might haue somewhat of certaintie to write26. cap. to Cesar, to whome Paule had appealed, Agrippa per­mitted the prisoner to speake, and to say what he coulde for himselfe. Who then so approoued his innocencie by [Page 25] rehearsing his conuersation before the audience, that A­grippa (interrupting his tale) confessed and sayde vnto Paule: Thou hast almost perswaded me to become a Christian. And when the prisoner had ended his matter, the king arose and all the Courte, among whome was much secrete talke of Paule, and for a finall sentence, A­grippa sayde vnto Festus: I sée no worthye cause of death or of bandes in this man, but that he might haue bene loosed, if he had not appealed to Cesar. Note: ¶ Agrip­pa, is a Latine worde, and signifieth, That which hardly laboureth or trauayleth in chyldebearing, or deliuering. Also be which at his birth commeth with his feete forwarde.

4. Reg. 16. ca Ahaz, the sonne of Iotham King of Iuda, at the age of twentie yeares began his reygne, in the xvj. yeare of2. Par. 28. ca. Pekah King of Israel, and did not walke in the wayes of his godly Father, but gaue himselfe to all kynde of ydolatrie and abhominations of the heathen, consecra­ting his chyldren in fier, and offering incense on euerye hill and Mountaine. For the which (his wickednesse) the Lorde forsooke him, and deliuered him into the handes and power of Razin king of Siria, and Pekah king of Is­rael, which two Kings on the one side, with the Edomi­tes and Philistines (inuading his lande, and spoyling his Cities and townes) on the other side, brought him very lowe: And yet in all his aduersitie would he not once lyft vp his heart to call vpon God for his ayde and helpe, but (contrarye to the Prophetes admonition) sought for theEsay. 7. 2. b. succour of man, spoyling the Temple of God, and sen­ding the treasure thereof to Thiglath Pileser king of As­siria, to come and deliuer him out of trouble, by whose comming, Ahaz was nothing the more strengthned, but rather troubled and hindered. Then Ahas measuring Gods fauour by the prosperitie of hys enimies (not con­sidering howe God oftentymes doth punishe those whom be loueth, and giueth to his enimies good successe for a [Page 26] tyme) turned his heart full and whole to the Sirians Gods, who (as he thought) had plagued hym. And to thin­tent he might serue them and worship them in al things, according as the Heathen did (to haue their helpe also) he tooke the patterne of an aultar at Damascus, the which he sent toThere is no Prince so wicked, but he shall finde flatterers & false Mini­sters to serue his purpose. Vria his Priest, to make him the lyke against his comming home, who being such a minister as was content to serue the Kinges turne, made it with all spéede, on the which Aultar the King at his comming home, offered to those Idolles, abolishing all the holye lawes and ordinaunces of God, to stablyshe his owne wicked and vngodlye procéedings, which turned to hys vtter confusion. He reygned sixtene yeares, and was buryed in the Citie of Dauid, but not among the sepul­chres of Kings, leauing Hezekia his godly sonne to enioy his place. Note: ¶ Ahas, Taking, or Possessing.

3. Reg. 22. g. Ahazia, the sonne of Achab, began his reigne ouer Israel in the .xvlj. yeare of Iosaphat king of Iuda, and4. Reg. 1. cap. followed the steppes of that wicked Idolatour Achab his father in all thinges, for the which, the Lorde punished him two maner of wayes. First, the Moabites rebelled agaynst him, refusing to pay any tribute. Seconde, as he walked vpon his house (for his recreation) he fell downe at a grate of the same, which was made to gyue light be­neath. And being sore brused with the fall, and in perill of death, he sent toBaalzebub was an Idol whiche the Philistines that dwelt at Ekrom wor­shipped, and signifieth the God of flies. Thinkinge that he could preserue thē from biting of flies: or else he was so called, bi­cause flyes were ingen­dred in great abundance of the bloude of the sacrifices that were offred to that Idoll. This note I finde set out in the Byble. Belzebub the God of Ekrom, to en­quire of him, whether he shoulde recouer or no. And as the Messengers were going, Elia the Prophete (by the prouidence of God) met them and sayde: is there no God in Israel to aske counsell at, but your Maister must send to Belzebub? returne and tell him, he shall not liue. The Messengers returned and tolde the King. Who (percey­uing by all the markes and tokens of the man, that it was the Prophete Elia) sent forth a Captaine with fiftie Souldiers to bring him with violence, if otherwise he [Page 27] woulde not come. And when the Captaine came to the Prophet he sayde: Thou man of God, come away, the King hath sent for thée. If I be the man of God (quoth the Prophet) fyre come downe from heauen, and consume thée and all thy men, which wordes were no sooner gone out of his mouth, but fire fell downe from heauen and destroyed them all. The King sent againe, and they were likewyse destroyed. Then went the thirde, who fell downe before the Prophete and sayde: O thou man of God, let my life (I pray thée) and the life of these thy fistie seruants, be precious in thy sight. With this man, the Prophet went boldly to the King, and tolde him plainly be shoulde not recouer, and so he died in the seconde yeare of his reygne, and for lacke of issue, his brother Iehoram succéeded. Note: ¶ Ahazia, The apprehending, or possessing of the Lord, or the vision, or seeing of him.

Ester. 1 cap. Ahasuerus, (otherwise called Artaxarzes) King of Persia, reigned ouer an hundreth andDaniel chap. 6. Ma­keth mention but of sixe score, leauing out the num­ber that is vnpersit, as the scripture in diuers places vseth. twentie seauen Prouinces. This King, in the thirde yeare of hys reigne, made a feast royall in the Citie of Susan, to all his Prin­ces and Nobles, which continued an hundreth and foure score daies. And these days expired, he made another feast to all the people great and small, for the space of seauen dayes, and in the seauenth and last daye of the feast, the King (being mery and pleasantly disposed (sent diuers of his Chamberlaines to fetch the Quéene named Vas­thy, and to bring hir to him with the Crowne Imperiall vpon hir heade, that the people might sée hir bewtie. But for so much as she woulde not come at the Kinges com­maundement, it was decréed that the King shoulde put hir awaye, and take another at his pleasure. And accor­ding to the same decrée, the King was diuorsed from Vasthy, and tooke Ester in hir place, for whose sake he shewed great pleasure to hir nation the Iewes, promo­ting Mardocheus (which had preserued him from the dan­ger [Page 28] of Treason) and put downe Aman whome he had (aboue all) exalted. Note: ¶ Ahasuerus, a Prince, or heade.

2. Reg. 17. c. d. e. Ahimaaz, the sonne of Sadoch with Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar, stoode wayting without the Citie of Ierusalem, at the Well called Rogell, to beare such newes to Dauid, as they shoulde heare from their fa­thers, being within with Absalom. And when they were instructed of all thinges, by a certaine Mayde sent from their fathers, what they shoulde doe and saye vnto Da­uid, they departed with spéede. But being espyed by a certaine yong man, who went and tolde it to Absalom, Messengers were sent forth in post haste, which follo­wed them so sore, that they were constrayned to slip in­to a certaine mans house in Bahurim, which had a Well in his yarde, into the which they were conueyghed: and being hid in the Well, the wife of the house spred a Co­uerlet ouer the Welles mouth, and strawed corne there­on, whereby the Well was not séene. Then Absaloms men comming into the house, demaunded of the wyfe, where the two men were which came in before them. They be gone (sayde she) ouer the brooke of water. The men beleuing the woman, went after and sought, and when they coulde not finde them, returned home againe. Then Ahimaaz and Ionathas were let out of the Well, who went to Dauid and did their message, as they were18. e. f. g. commaunded. After this, when Absalom was slaine, A­himaaz desired of Ioab the Captaine, that he might beare newes to the King of Absaloms death. Nay, sayde Ioab, thou shalt be no messenger this daye, bicause the Kings sonne is deade, but Chusy shall go. Then I pray thée (quoth Ahimaaz) let me go with Chusy. And wher­fore (quoth Ioab) art thou so desirous to go, séeing for thy tydings thou shalt haue no rewarde: whatsoeuer I haue (quoth he) I pray thée let me go: Then go, sayd Io­ab. And so Ahimaaz ran a nearer way than Chusy, and [Page 29] was euer before him. And as they were comming, the watch man spied them and sayde to the King: I sée two men running hytherwarde, and me thinke the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the sonne of Sadoch: Oh sayd the King he is a good man, and brin­geth good tydings. And so Ahimaaz came to the King be­fore Chusy, and fell downe before him and sayd: Blessed be the Lorde thy God, which hath shut vp the men that lift vp their handes against my Lorde the King: is the yong man Absalom safe sayde the King: Ahimaaz aun­swered: When Ioab sent Chusy and me thy seruaunt, I sawe much a doe, but I wote not what it was: Well sayde the King stande still. Then Chusy came and sayd: Good tidings my Lorde the King, for the Lorde hath deliuered thée this day, out of the handes of all that ro [...]e against thée. Is the yong man Absalom safe (quoth the King:) The enimies of my Lorde the King (sayde he) and all that rise against thée to doe thée hurt, be as that yong man is. And so the King departed, and mourned for his sonne. Note: ¶ Ahimaaz, Brother of Counsell.

1. Reg. 21. a. b. c. Ahimelech, the sonne of Ahitob, the sonne of Phi­ [...]ehes, the sonne of Eli, was Priest of the Citie of Nob, in whose tyme it chaunced Dauid (being persecuted of king Saule) to flye vnto him for succour, at whose com­ming (with so fewe wayting on him) Ahimelech was sore astonied, and asked him wherefore he came so a­lone. Then Dauid bearing him in hande that the King had sent him of a secrete businesse which might not be knowne, desired Ahimelech to giue him of such thinges as he had in store, that he and his men might be refre­shed and go about the Kinges affaires. Then Ahimelech (beléeuing that all had bene well betwene the King and Dauid) tooke him of theThe He­brues had. 3. kyndes of breade (as Lyra wry­teth.) The first, Shewe breade, which was set be­fore the lord, vpon the pro­pitiatorye seate, and therof might no man eate, but y^e priests only. The se­conde, breade offered vpon the aultar of holocaust, which was for the Le­uites to eate. The thirde, was common breade and of that might al men eate. halowed breade, bicause he saw his necessitie great, and had no common breade vnder his hande. Then Dauid desired Ahimelech to lende him [Page 30] eyther speare or sworde, for I brought (quoth he) ney­ther weapon nor harnesse, the Kinges businesse required such haste, and by and by he fet out the sworde of Go­liah, and gaue it to him. Nowe22. b. c. d. for this great kinde­nesse which Ahimelech had shewed to Dauid, Doeg a seruant of King Saules, accused him to his Lorde, of Treason. And being brought before the King with all the Priestes of the Lorde, it was obiected agaynst him, howe he had conspired with Dauid the Kinges enimie, and asked counsell of God for him, and ayded him both with vittayle and weapon: To the which, Ahimelech aunswered and sayde: Oh King, who is so faythfull a­mong all thy seruantes as Dauid is? or had in more ho­nor in all thy house? is he not the Kings sonne in lawe, and doth whatsoeuer thou commaundest him? haue I not at other tymes as well as nowe, asked counsell of God for him? Let not my Lorde the King impute anye such wickednesse in me, or in my fathers house, for truely thy seruaunt knewe nothing of all this that thou layest to my charge, eyther lesse or more. Well (quoth the King) thou shalt surely die. And so was this innocent man put to death, with lxxxiiij. Priestes mo, and the Citie of Nob destroyed. Note: ¶ Ahimelech, a Kings Brother.

3. Reg. 11. e. f. Ahijah, was a Prophete borne in Silo, and chaun­cing to méete with Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, with­out the Citie of Ierusalem, in the playne fieldes, hauing a new cloake vpon his backe, he caught the cloake from him, and rent it in twelue péeces, deliuering ten péeces thereof to Ieroboam, saying: Thus will the Lorde rent the kingdome out of the handes of Salomon (bicause he hath forsaken the Lorde and serued straunge Gods) and gyue ten Tribes vnto thée. Therefore take héede (when thou arte King) that thou walke in the wayes of the Lorde thy God, for so long as thou kéepest his statutes and holy commaundements, so long will the Lorde pros­per [Page 31] thée in the kingdome. Reade more of this Prophete in the storie of Abia the sonne of Ieroboam. Note: ¶ Ahijah, Brother of the Lorde.

3. Reg. 15. f.The father of king Baasa, was called Ahijah, of the house of Isachar.

Ezech. 23. Aholah and Aholibah, were twoo Sisters, vnder whose names is set forth, the fornication, that is to saye, the Idolatrye of Samaria and Ierusalem. Note: The By­ble note. Aholah, signifieth a mansion, or dwelling in it selfe, meaning Samaria, which was the royall Citie of Israel, and Aholibah signifieth, my Mansion in hir, whereby is ment Ierusalem, where Gods tem­ple was.

Gene. 36. Aholibama, was the daughter of Ana, and wife to E­sau, who brought him forth children, which became great men in the worlde.

Iudic. 3. Aioth, the sonne of Gera, was the seconde Iudge of the Hebrues, a man of great strength, and valiant of cou­rage, and had equall strength and aptnesse in both hys handes. He slewe Eglon king of the Moabites on thys wise: when Eglon had long warred on the Iewes, and taken from them diuers Cities and kept them in much miserie, this Aioth came to him to Iericho, bringyng vnto him certaine presentes, which lyked him well, and desired to speake wyth him priuily, which was graun­ted, and all other being commaunded to auoyde, Aioth stroke Eglom to the heart twise. The last tyme with such puissaunce that the knyfe with the hyltes remayned in the wounde, and so leauing him deade, departed with­out suspicion, and came vnto his people, declaring what he had done, who being glad, armed them and fell vp­pon the Moabites, and slewe of them ten thousande, and braue all the residue out of their countrie. And so the Iewes being deliuered by the wisedome and vertue of [Page 32] Aioth, after made hym their Iudge and Prince. Who gouerned them .lxxx. yeares in peace, and died a very olde man in much honor. Note: ¶ Aioth. Praising, or confessing.

1. Mac. 1. a. Alexander, the sonne of Philip King of Macedo­nia, slewe Darius king of the Persians and Medes,This king at a supper in Babilō was poysoned by drinking out of a cup made of an horses hoofe, suppo­sed to be the deuise of A­ristotle some­time his mai­ster, and An­tipater lieu­tenaunt of Macedonia. and conquered the moste part of all the worlde, in lesse than twelue yeares space, whereof he became so prowde that God was displeased with him. And being visited with sickenesse so sore, that he must néedes die, he called all his Lordes and Princes before him, and departed his kingdome among them. So that they (after his death) were crowned, and reygned as Kings, euery one seuerally in his owne dominion, as was to them ap­pointed. He reigned .xij. yeares. Note: ¶ Alexander, An ayder, or a helper, manly, or very valiant.

1. Mac. 10. ca. Alexander, the sonne of Noble Antiochus, tooke the Citie of Ptolomais, and after that, mooued warre against Demetrius, who (to preuent Alexander) sent Ambassadours to Ionathas (gouernour of the Iewes) to haue his friendshippe, promising him as many fayre and large offers, as he coulde deuise. But forasmuch as Ionathas had experience of his deceytfull dealings, and howe cruell an enimie he had alwayes bene vnto the Iewes nation, he refused the offer of Demetrius, and ioyned in league with Alexander, knowing him to be a faythfull Prince, and euer his friende. And so Alexander hauing the Iewes ayde, stroke battayle with Demetri­us, in the which conflict, Alexander slewe Demetrius, and ouercame all his hoste. Nowe when Alexander had con­quered the lande, and was set in the Trone of his proge­nitours, a mariage was concluded betwéene him and Cleopatra the daughter of Ptolomie King of Egypt, which was finished at the Citie of Ptolomias, at the which triumph, Alexander made Ionathas a Duke, and [Page 33] partener of his dominion, and after that (for his worthi­nesse) gaue him the Citie of Accaron. Alexander nowe11. a. b. lying at Antioch, and hearing howe the Cilicians had re­belled against him, marched towarde them with a great power, to suppresse the rebellion. And being there occu­pied with his enimies, Ptolomie in the meane season, de­feated him of his kingdome, and toke his daughter Cleo­patra, & gaue hir to Demetrius, the sonne of Demetrius, in mariage. Alexander hearing of this, returned home with all his host, but Ptolomy being to strōg for him, cha­sed Alexander out of his Realme, who for succor, fled into Araby, where y^e king of that land (against al law of arms) smote of his heade, and sent it to Ptolomie for a present.

Act. 19. cap. Alexander, a Iewe borne, and a ruler at Ephesus what time as Demetrius the Siluersmith, mooued sediti­on in the Citie against Paul for the goddesse Diana, was (in the rage) drawne out of the Common Hall, and go­ing forwarde, beckonned with his hande to haue spoken, but till the Towne Clarke had ceased the noyse (which lasted two houres) he coulde not be hearde. And then, to pacifie the people, more by worldly wisedome, than for any respect he had to Religion, he sayde: Ye men of E­phesus, what man is he, that knoweth not howe that the Citie of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddesse Diana, and of the Image which came from Iupiter: Seing then that no man sayeth hére against, ye ought to be content, and to doe nothing rashely. For, yée haue brought hyther these men, which are neyther robbers of Churches, neyther yet despysers of your god­desse: Wherefore if Demetrius and the craftes men, which are wyth him haue any matter against any man, the lawe is open, and there are rulers, let them accuse one an other. But if ye go about any other thing, it may be determined, in a lawfull assemble. For wée are in ieoperdye to be accused of this dayes vprore, forasmuch [Page 34] as there is no cause whereby we may giue a reckoning of thys concourse of people. And when he had thus spo­ken, eche man departed.

1. Tim. 1. d. Alexander, the Coppersmyth, forsooke the fayth, and became such an enimy vnto the Gospell, that he with­stoode2. Tim. 4. c. Paules preaching, and did him much displeasure, for the which, Paul deliuered him vnto Satan, that is, ex­communicated him out of the Church, desiring the Lorde to rewarde him, as he had deserued.

1. Mac. 7. a. b. c. Alcimus, was a Iewe borne, and come of the séede of Aaron, who notwithstanding, became so wicked a man, that he forsooke the lawes of his owne Nation, to maintayne the abhominations of the heathen. And for the hatred he bare to Machabeus and the Iewes, he tooke vnto him a sorte of vnthriftes and vngodly persons, and went to Demetrius, vnto whome he made agricuous complaint vpon Iudas Machabeus, feygning that he had slaine all the Kings friends, and driuen him and his com­panie out of their owne lande, wherfore he willed Deme­trius to choose out some Noble Captayne, to go and a­uenge, the Kings quarrell on Iudas. Vppon the which complaint of Alcimus, the King sent Bachides against Iudas, and made Alcimus the hye Priest, who was such an enimie vnto the Iewes, as the lyke was not among the Heathen, for all his studie was, how he might (eyther by worde or déede) worke their vtter confusion. And fi­nally, to manifest his great malice towardes his owne Countrey men▪ and the lawes of God, he commanded the walles of the inmost Sanctuary (with the Monuments of the Prophetes) to be cast downe and destroyed. But as this wicked Apostata went about his deuilish purpose, the hand of God fell vpon him, and smote him with such an incurable Palsie, that his mouth was shut vp, and so like a miserable wretch he dyed. Note: ¶ Alcimus, Strong.

Gen. 36. b. Amalech, was the sonne of Eliphas the sonne of E­san, borne vnto him of Thymna his Concubine, of whom came the kinred of the Amalekites. This King whenExod. 17. cap. Moses had brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, and were come into the wildernesse of Raphidim, where they both lacked water, and were wearyed with their long iourney, woulde not suffer them to passe quietly tho­rowe his lande, but came forth with weapon, and waged battell against them. In the which battell, Iosua guided the hoste of Israel, while Moses went to praye. And so long as Moses helde vp his handes and prayed, so long had Israel the better, but when he let them fall, Amalech had the better. Then Aaron and Hur perceyuing Moses handes to be weary, gat them vp to Moses, and staide his handes, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side, so long tyll Iosua had discomfited Amalech with all his hoste. And for thys crueltie of Amalech, God sware vnto Moses, that he woulde vtterly put out the remem­braunce of Amalech, from vnder heauen. Which pro­mise1. Reg. 15. ca. he perfourmed in the dayes of King Saule. Note: ¶ A­malech, a Licking people.

Aman, looke Haman.

2. Reg. 17. g. Amasa, was the sonne of Iether, and Abigail, Da­uids sister, was his mother. This Amasa what time as Absalom rose against his father Dauid, was made Cap­taine ouer Absaloms hoste, and after the death of Absa­lom,19. c. Dauid receyued him to fauour, swearing he shoulde be Captaine ouer his hoste, in the rowme of Ioab, which office he did not long enioy: for when Seba the sonne of Bichri had begun a new commotion, and that Dauid had sent Amasa to gather the men of Iuda togithers, and to20. b. c. bring them to him by the thirde day, it chaunced Ioab to méete Amasa by the way (which was somewhat after the [Page 36] time the King had appointed) and saluting him with all gentlenesse, he tooke him by the Chinne with one hande to kisse him, and with the other hand he smote him vnder the short ribbes wyth his dagger, and killed him. Note: ¶ A­masa, Sparing the people.

4. Reg. 14. Amasiah, the sonne of Ioas king of Iuda, began his reigne at the age of .xxv. yeares, in whose beginning2. Par. 25. he did indifferently well obserue the lawes of God, but in the ende he became an Idolater. He prepared an hoste of thirtie thousande men to goe against the Edomites, and yet to make himselfe the stronger, he hyred an hun­dreth thousande mo, out of the ten Tribes of Israel, for an hundred Talentes of Siluer. But as hée was goyng wyth both the hostes of Iuda and Israel, hée was com­maunded by the Lordes Prophet, to sende the hoste of Is­rael home againe, (forasmuch as the Lorde was not with them) or else he shoulde not stand before his enimies, how then (sayd the King) shall I doe for the hundred Talents, which I haue giuen for them: Take no thought for that (quoth the Prophet) for the Lorde is able to giue thée as much more. And so he sent the hoste of Israell home a­gaine, who for anger they were dimised, fell vpon the Cities of Iuda as they went, and did much harme. Then Amasias with his owne men set vppon his enimies, and slewe ten thousand, and discomfited the rest. After which victorie, whereas he ought to haue giuen all prayse vnto God for the same, he fel from God, and most vilely disho­nored him in worshipping the Idols of the Edomites, de­spising theThis was Amos the Prophete, whom Ama­siah caused many times to be bet. His sonne caused a nayle to be thrust into his temples, and beeing halfe deade, was caried into his owne coūtry, where he soone after dyed. Cooper. Prophets admonition sent vnto him frō the Lorde. And so persisting in his obstinate minde & prowde heart, he wrote to Ioas King of Israel, commaunding him and his people (by a Parable of the Cedar trée and Thystle) to be vnder his subiection. But Ioas after defi­aunce gathered an armie, and went against Amasias, whose hoste being discomfited, Amasiah was taken and [Page 37] brought to Ioas, who caryed him to Ierusalem where (notwithstanding the gates being opened against him) he caused foure hundreth cubites of the walle to be beaten downe, and entred into the Citie that way, leading Ama­siah with him as a prisōner, & tooke all the treasure of the Temple, and of the Kings house, & caused it to be brought into Samaria. Afterwarde being deliuered, his owne people slewe him. He reigned .xxix. yeares, and Azaria his sonne succéeded. Note: ¶ Amasiah, the Strength of the Lorde.

2. Reg. 3. a Ammon, the eldest sonne of Dauid, had a fayre si­ster called Thamar, with whome he was so farre in14. cap. loue, that he coulde eate no meate that did him good, but pyned himselfe away marueylously for hir sake. Then Ionadab (his fathers brothers sonne) a friende and fa­miliar of his, and a worldly wise man, perceyuing Am­mon to be sore chaunged, and euery day more and more, went to him and sayde: Howe happeneth this (Ammon) that thou being the Kings sonne, consumest thy selfe so away, and doest not tell me? Oh sayde Ammon, I am in loue with Thamar, my brotherThamar was Absa­loms sister, both by fa­ther and mo­ther, and Ammons by the fathers side onely. Absaloms sister, and except I may haue hir companie, I shall surely die. Now to further this wicked purpose of Ammon, here was a counsayler ready at hande: I will tell thée (sayde Iona­dab) what thou shalt doe, lay thée downe vpon thy bedde, and feigne thy selfe sicke, and when Dauid thy father commeth to visite thée, desire him to let Thamar thy si­ster come and dresse thée such meate as thou hast a lust vnto. Ammon did so, and when Thamar was come, and had dressed him meate and brought it into his Chamber, he commaunded all to auoyde, and neuer rested vntill he had (by force) gotten his pleasure: which done, he fell in­to such an excéeding hatred of Thamar, that he coulde not suffer hir to be in his sight, but caused his seruaunt to thrust hir out of his house, and to bolt the doores after hir. For this shamefull incest of Ammon, Absalom two [Page 38] yeares after at a banket, slewe him. Note: ¶ Ammon, A People.

Gen. 19. g.Lot had a sonne called Ammon, which was borne him of his yongest daughter, & of him came the Ammonites.

4. Reg. 21. d. Amon, the sonne of Manasses, was .xxij. yeare olde when he began his reigne ouer Iuda, and walked not in2. Par. 33. d. the wayes of the Lord, but gaue himselfe more to wicked Idolatrie, and worshipping of stincking Idols, than euer his father did, and woulde neuer turne vnto God. Wher­fore (at last) certaine of his owne men conspired against him and slewe him, which conspirators the people of the lande (notwithstanding) put to death, and made Iosiah his sonne King in his steade. Note: ¶ Amon, Faythfull.

Amos. 1. 2. 3. &c. Amos, was an heardeman or shepehearde, of a poore Towne called Thieme, and one of the twelue Pro­phetes, which God raysed vp to admonishe the Israe­lites of their wickednesse and Idolatrie, and to threaten them with his plagues and punishments, if they did not repent. Reade of his death in the storie of Amasiah. Note: ¶ Amos, a Burden.

Esay. 1. a.The father of Isai, Dauids father, was called A­mos, and there the worde signifieth, Strong.

Exod. 6. c. Amram, the sonne of Caath the sonne of Leuy, tooke Iochebed his fathersThis kinde of mariage was after in the law for­bidden. Le­uit. 18. b. Sister to wife, who bare vn­toNum. 26. g. him two sonnes, Aaron and Moses, and also a daughter called Miriam. He liued an hundreth and thirtie eyght yeres. Note: ¶ Amram, a Mighty, or an high people, or a band of them.

Gen. 14. a. b. Amraphael, was King of Sinhar, and one of the foure Kings, which fought against fiue other Kinges in the valley of Syddin, where he and his partie had the victorie. Note: ¶ Amraphael, Speaking destruction: or speaking secretes.

3. Reg. 16. d. Amry, was the chiefe Captaine and gouernour of the whole armie of Ela the sonne of Baasa king of Isra­el. And lying at the siege of Gibbethon (a Citie of the Philistines) the whole hoste there (hearing of the death of Ela) constituted Amry King in his steade: But the resi­due of the Israelites, which abode at home and were not with Amry at the siege, made Thebni the sonne of Gi­neth King. So that the people were deuided and in great contention for their King, which continued for the space of thrée yeares, till Thebni chaunced to dye, and then the whole multitude receyued Amry for their King, who be­gan his reigne in the .xxxj. yeare of the reigne of Asa king of Iuda, and reigned most wickedly of all others before him .xij. yeares, and dyed, leauing his sonne Achab to suc­céede him. Note: ¶ Amry, a Bande, or handfull, a power, or a bitter and rebellious people.

Gen. 36. a. c. Anah, the sonne of Zibeon, as he fedde and kept hys fathers Asses in the wildernesse, was the first that founde out the monstrous generation of Mules, betwéene the Asse and the Mare. He had a Sister also, called Anah, whose daughter Aholibamah was wyfe to Esau the sonne of Isaac. Note: ¶ Anah, Afflicting, aunswering, or singing.

Act. 5. 2. Ananias, was a certayne man, who to be counted one of the Christian religion, solde his possession (with his Wiues cōsent) and (notwithstanding) kept away part of the price therof, and brought the rest, and layd it downe at the Apostles féete, whose dissembling hypocrisie being reuealed vnto Peter, he sayde vnto him: Ananias, howe is it that Sathan hath filled thyne heart that thou shoul­dest lye vnto the holy Ghost, and kéepe awaye part of the price of the possession: Perteyned it not vnto thée onely, and after it was solde, was it not in thine owne power? howe is it that thou hast conceyued this thing in thine [Page 40] heart: Thou hast not lyed vnto men, but vnto God. And when Ananias hearde these wordes, he fell downe and dyed. Note: ¶ Ananias, the Clowde of the Lorde.

Act. 9. b. c. d. Ananias, the Disciple of Christ, dwelling at Da­mascus, had a vision appeared vnto him, saying: Anani­as, arise and go into the stréete which is called Straight, and séeke in the house of Iudas for one Saul of Tharsus: for beholde he prayeth, and hath séene a vision, a man na­med Ananias comming vnto him, and putting his hands on him, that he might receyue his sight. Then sayd Ana­nias, Lorde▪ I haue hearde by many of this man, howe much euill he hath done to thy Saintes at Ierusalem, and here he hath aucthoritie of the hye Priestes, to binde all that call vpon thy name▪ Well (sayd he) go thy wayes, for he is a chosen vessell vnto me, to beare my name be­fore the Gentyles and Kings and the children of Israel. For I will shewe him howe great things he must suffer for my names sake. Then Ananias went to Saule, and layde his handes on him, and sayde: Brother Saule, the Lord that appeared vnto thée in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receyue thy sight, and be filled with the holy ghost. And so by the handes of Anani­as, Saule receiued his sight agayne.

Act. 23. a.There was another Ananias, who being hye Priest, commaunded Paule to be smitten on the mouth, as he was aunswering for himselfe before the Counsell.

Math. 4. c. Andrewe, a poore Fisher man▪ was called (with his brother Peter) to be an Apostle. When Christ demaun­dedIohn. 6. a. of his Disciples, where they might buye breade toAndrew suf­fered Mar­tyrdome, in the citie of Achaia. satisfie the people that followed him: Andrewe made an­swere and sayde: there is a little boye here, which hath fiue Barley loaues and two fishes, but what is that a­mong so many. Note: ¶ Andrewe, Manly.

2. Mac. 4. f. Andronicus, being a man of aucthoritie and in great fauour with Antiochus King of Siria, was left in Iew­rie, and made Lieutenaunt ouer the Iewes vntill the re­turne of the King, who was gone to pacifie a certayne commotion made by the Tharsians and Mallacians. And in the meane time, being corrupt with bribes & rewardes of that vngracious man Menelaus, to dispatch the good and godly man Onias, (whom he so hated) out of the way, he went to Onias, who for his safegarde, had taken the benefite of Sanctuarie, and with fayre wordes per­swaded him to come forth, binding himselfe with an othe, he should haue no harme: And when he sawe that Onias suspected him, he fell vpon him incontinently, and without any regard of righteousnesse slewe him. Whose innocent death so offended the people, that they made a grieuous complaint of Andronicus to the King at his comming home, who caused that wicked murderer to be stripped out of his purple clothes, and led most villanously thorow the Citie to the place where he had committed his vngra­cious acte, and to suffer most shamefull death. Note: ¶ Androni­cus, a Conquerer, or victorer.

Rom. 16. b.Andronicus, the faythfull Disciple of Christ, to whome Paule sendeth commendations on this wise: Salute Andronicus and Iunia my Cosins, and felowe prisoners with me, which are well taken among the Apostles, and were in Christ before me.

Ge. 14. b. c. d. Aner, Mamre and Eschol were thrée brethren, which (when Lot was taken Prisoner among the Sodomites, and caried away by Kadorlaomor, and other Kinges that tooke his part) ioyned themselues with Abraham, in the rescuing of Lot his brothers sonne, for the which their faithfull assistance at that present, Abraham delt liberal­lye with them, in the parting of the spoyle wonne at that voyage. Note: ¶ Aner, an Answere, or a song of the Candle, or light, or that which troubleth, or hurt [...]th the Candle.

1. Reg. 1. cap. Anna, the wyfe of Elkana was long barrayne and without childe, which barrainnesse, hir companion and Mate Phenenna did daily cast in hir téeth to hir great re­proche. Wherefore Anna was so full of heauinesse (that God had made hir such a rayling stocke) that she coulde eate no meate. And being thus tormented and troubled in hir minde, she gat hir into the Temple, making there hir hearty prayers to God, to giue hir a man chylde. And as she prayed, it fortuned Eli the Priest as he sate in the Temple, to marke hir mouth, and perceyuing hir lippes to mooue and no voyce hearde, thought she had bene drun­ken, saying: Thou woman, how long wilt thou be drun­ken? put awaye thy drunkennesse from thée: Nay my Lorde (quoth she) I am a woman troubled in spirite, and haue drunken neyther wyne nor strong drinke, but poure out my soule before the Lord, count not thine handemaide to be a daughter of Belial, for out of the abundance of my heauinesse and griefe haue I spoken hitherto, and so desi­ring Eli to praye for hir, she departed chearefully home to hir house, and shortly after conceyued by Elkana hir husbande, and bare him a sonne whose name she called Samuel. And when she had brought vp the chylde, and weaued it, she prepared a sacrifice, and went to the Tem­ple, presenting both it and hir chylde to Eli the Priest, putting him also in remembrance that she was the same woman which stoode before him (of late) and prayed vnto God for that chylde, and that now (according to hir pro­mise) she was come to dedicate him vnto the Lorde. And so (after prayse and thankes giuing) she departed, lea­uing the chylde with Eli to minister in the Temple of God. And euery yeare after woulde Anna make a little cote for Samuell hir sonne, and bring it vp, when sheOnce a yere they accusto­med to ap­peare before the lord with their familie. came with hir husbande to offer the yearely sacrifice. And thus God tooke awaye hir rebuke of barrainnesse, and blessed hir with children, so that after Samuell, she [Page 43] had thrée sonnes mo, and two daughters. Note: ¶ Anna, Gra­cious, or Mercifull.

Tobie. 2. d. Anna, the Wife of olde Tobie (hir husbande beyng blynde and in pouertie) tooke weauing worke of women, and laboured sore for hir liuing. And when (on a tyme) she sent home the worke to the owners, one sent hir a Kidde, more than hir wages which she had earned. And when Tobie hearde the Kidde bleate, he sayde to Anna: from whence came that Kydde? is it not stollen? re­store it to the owners agayne, for it is not lawfull to eate any thing of theft. Then was Anna angry with Tobie, and rebuked him, as one whose trust in God was all in vaine. After this, it fortuned olde Tobie to sende yong5. d. Tobie his sonne, to the City of Rages to receiue certaine money, which (in his prosperitie) he had lent to one Ga­belus. Then Anna being full of heauynesse for the depar­ture of hir sonne, burst out and sayd to Tobie: Oh what hast thou done? why hast thou sent our sonne away? I woulde to God that money had neuer bene required of vs, but that we had bene content with our pouertie, and kept our sonne at home: What ayled vs to sende him in­to a straunge Countrey, which was the only staffe of our age, and comfort of our life, and the hope of our genera­tion. Then sayd Tobie, leaue thy wéeping, and be not dis­comforted, for the man that went with our sonne is so10. b. c. d. faythfull, that he will bring him to vs againe safe and sounde. Yet coulde not Anna with this be perswaded, but woulde daily go out to the toppe of an hill, and sit there to spie his comming. And when (at the last) she sawe where he came a farre of, she ranne home with great reioycing and folde hir husbande. And so wayting to receyue hir sonne, she wept for ioy when she sawe him.

Luke. 2. f. Anna, the daughter of Phanuel (of the Tribe of A­ser) was a Prophetesse, and had bene maried to an hus­bande [Page 44] seuen yeares, and after continued a widow foure­score and foure yeares, seruing God in the Temple with fasting and praying day and night. And when Christ was brought into the Temple, she came forth at that present, praysing the Lorde, and prophecied of that childe, to all them that looked for the redemption of Israel.

Tob. 7. a.Anna the wife of Raguel, was Mother to Sara the wife of yong Tobie.

Iohn. 18. b. Annas, had the first examination of Christ, and sent him from him, to Caiphas his sonne in lawe, who was hye Priest for that yeare. Note: ¶ Annas, Afflicting, or bringing lowe.

1. Mac. 1. a. 6. a. 8. a. Antiochus, the great, being King of Siria, and of such puissaunce and strength, that he thought himselfe in­uincible, was at last ouercome of the Romaines, and faine to relinquishe to them all his interest in Europa and Asia, and to leaue his sonne Antiochus in hostage, and so departed, being contented with those countries that were left him, till at last of a couetous minde, he went to Per­fide2. Mac. 1. b. c. the chiefe Citie of Persia, thinking there to haue rob­bed the Temple, and to haue had great treasure therein. And as he himselfe (with a fewe mo) was in the Temple about his businesse, the Priestes at a priuie doore came in vpon him, and cut him in small péeces, and cast him out to be deuoured of the birdes and fowles of the ayre. Note: ¶ Antiochus, For a Wagon, or Chariot.

1. Mac. 1. cap. Antiochus, Epifanes, the sonne of Antiochus the great, being stablished in his kingdome, warred against Ptolomie king of Egypt, vntill he had brought hys lande in subiection. And hauing so good successe there, he went a­gainst Israel, and at last, tooke and spoyled the Citie of Ierusalem, and robbed the sanctuarie of all the precious Iewels and treasure therin: subuerted all the holy lawes [Page 45] of God, compelling the Iewes to worship Idols, and to doe as the heathen did in all things: he burned the bookes of the Lawe, and whosoeuer had a booke of the Testa­ment, or were founde to be a fauourer thereof, did suffer death. Thus this vngracious and wicked subuerter of all2. Mac. 9. cap. true religion and godlynesse, persecuted the true people of God, and so long persisted in his great tirannie, that God at last, smote him with an incurable disease in his body, which was so eaten with wormes and vermine, that they fell quicke out of his flesh, wherof ensued so great a stink, that neyther he himselfe, nor none that were about him, might abyde the smell. And so this wicked Tormentour of other, was iustly recompenced with a miserable ende.

1. Mach. 6. ca. Antiochus, Eupator, the sonne of Antiochus Epi­fanes, being but yong, and vnder the gouernance of Li­sias, went into Iewrie with a great armie to subdue the Iewes, who so manfully resisted Antiochus, that he was fayne (considering the decrease of his people, and the strength of the place besieged) to offer them peace, and to graunt them libertie to liue according to their owne lawes, whose couenants being receyued, the Iewes came out of the castle of Sion, to giue place to Antiochus, who (notwithstanding his othe) when he saw the defence ther­of, commaunded the walles round about, to be cast downe and destroyed, & from thence departed to Antioch, where he fought with Philip, which was come out of Persia, and wanne the Citie out of his handes. And lying there,1. Mac. 7. a. Demetrius the sonne of Seleuchus came to Antioch, and tooke Antiochus and Lisias, and put them both to death.

1. Mac. 11. e. Antiochus, the sonne of Alexander, being but a child, was first vnder the gouernance of Emascuel the Arabi­an, and remoued from him, to the tuition of one Triphon,1. Mac. 13. d. of whome he was most traiterously murthered.

1. Mach. 15. ca Antiochus, the sonne of Demetrius, for as much as Triphon had bene his fathers vtter enimye, made a couenaunt of friendship with Simon the hye Priest, and Prince of the Iewes, that he might the better ouercome Triphon, whome he persecuted and droue to the Citie of Dora, lying by the sea side, which Citie he besieged with an hundred and twentie thousand footemen, and viij. thou­sande horsemen. And lying there, Simon sent him two thousande chosen men, with siluer and golde, and much furniture to helpe him. Who (notwithstanding his bonde of loue, he had made with Simon before) refused nowe his friendshippe, and fell at defiaunce wyth him and all the Iewes, and was euer after that, their continuall enimie.

Antipas, was a faythfull Martyr of Christ. Note: ¶ An­tipas, Apoc. 2. d. For all, or agaynst all.

1. Mac. 12. b. 14. c. Antipator, the sonne of Iason, first by Ionathas, and after by Simon, was sent Ambassadour to Rome, to renue the olde friendshippe betwéene the Iewes and Ro­maines. Note: ¶ Antipater, For the Father, or against the Father.

3. Esd. 4. c. Apame, was Daughter to that famous King Bar­tacus, and Concubine to a certayne great King, who was of such power and might, that all landes stoode in awe of him. And where as no man durst presume to lay handes vppon this King, yet Apame sitting by his side vpon the right hande, tooke of his Crowne from his head, and set it vpon hir owne heade, and smote the King with hir left hand, who in the meane time did nothing but gape and looke vpon hir: if she laughed vpon him, he laughed, if she were angrie, then he flattered, to winne hir fauour agayne. Note: ¶ Apame, Expelling, or driuing forth.

Rom. 16. b. Apelles, was a faythfull Christen brother, and one [Page 47] (as it séemeth) that had sustayned trouble for the Gospell sake. For Saint Paule sending salutacions to the Chri­stians at Rome, sayth thus: Salute Apelles approoued in Christ. Note: ¶ Apelles, Expelling, or driuing away.

1. Mac. 3. a. Appolonius, the Gouernour of Siria, came a­gainst Iudas Machabeus, with a great hoste of the hea­then, and in thende was slayne. Whose sworde pleased Iudas so well, that he kept it for a memorie, and vsed it for his weapon all the dayes of his life, in tyme of warre. Note: ¶ Appolonius, Vndooing, or destroying.

2. Mac. 4. a. 5. d. Appolonius, the sonne of Thersa, Gouerneur of Celosiria and Phinches, (a man set all vpon tirannie) was sent to Ierusalem agaynst the Iewes (whome he ha­ted) with an armie of tw [...]ntie thousande men, and com­maunded by the King Antiochus, to kyll all that were of perfit age, and to sell the Women, Maydens, and Chil­dren, who at his first comming to the citie, made a shewe of peace, and laye still till the Sabboth daye. And then (knowing the Iewes woulde not breake their lawe to make resistance) he fell vpon them, and did his commis­sion with all extremitie.

Act. 18. d. Apollos, was an eloquent man, a Iewe borne at A­lexandria, and well instructed, and had but as yet the first principles of Christes religion, which was the Baptime or doctrine of Iohn onely. The same being somewhat en­tred in the way of the Lord, began to be feruent in the spi­ritc, and to speake boldly at Ephesus, where Aquila and Priscilla chaunced to heare him, and perceyuing he was not fully instructed in the preceptes of the Gospell, theyThis great learned and eloquent mā disdayned not to bee taught of a poore crafts man. tooke him home with them, and expounded vnto him the way of the Lorde more perfitely, which was the way to saluation. And when he was christened, in the name of Iesus, and had receyued the holy Ghost, he was desirous [Page 48] go into Achaia, where (at Corinth) he did valiantly set forth the Gospell, confounding the Iewes with plaine e­uident Testimonies of Scriptures, that Iesus was the same Messias whome the Iewes had so many hundreth yeares looked for.

Act. 18. cap. Aquila, was a certaine Iewe borne in Ponthus, lateiy come out of Italie with his wyfe Priscilla to Co­rinth, bicause the Emperour Claudius had commaun­ded all Iewes to depart from Rome. His Craft was to sowe togither skinnes to make Tentes and Pauilions withall. Paule (who was of the same occupation) when he came to Corinth, lodged in this mannes house, and wrought with him. And after a yeare and a halfe, depar­ted from Corinth, and went togithers to Ephesus, where Aquila and Priscilla made their aboade. And remayning there behynde Paule (who had taken his iourney to­wards Ierusalem) it fortuned Apollos (an Alexandrian borne) an eloquent man and well learned, to come to E­phesus, and preached Christ, so much as he had learned of him by Iohns Baptime, for more he knewe not. And when Aquila and Priscilla had hearde his preaching, and perceyuing him not to be (as yet) fullye instructed in the knowledge of Christ, tooke him home with them, and seue­rally taught him more perfitely, the mysteries of the Gos­pell. Note: ¶ Aquila, an Egle.

Gen. 11. d. Aran, was the sonne of Terah, brother to Nahor and Abraham, and father to Lot, and the first man that scrip­ture maketh mention of, that (by the course of nature) died before his father. Note: ¶ Aran, an Hill, or hilly.

Math. 2. d. Archelaus, was the sonne of Herode, king of the Iewes. In whose time IosephThis king reigned .ix. yeares ouer the Iewes, and finallye was banished into France, thorowe his insolencie with Glasira his brother Alexanders wydow, whō he had mary­ed. Lanquet. returned out of Egypt with the chylde Jesus, to go into the lande of Israell. But when he hearde that Archelaus did reigne in Iew­rie [Page 49] in his fathers steade, fearing least he had succéeded in his fathers cruelnesse, lyke as in hys kingdome, durst not go thither, but turned aside into the parties of Gali­lie, and dwelt there in a Citie called Nazareth. Note: ¶ Ar­chelaus, a Prince of the people.

Archippus, was theCol. 4. d. instructour of the Colossians, and admonished by Paule, to take diligent héede to the office which was committed vnto him, to perfourme it, whereof he shoulde yéelde an account to the Lorde at the last day. Note: ¶ Archippus, the Chiefe, or Maister of Horses.

Aresna, looke Ornan.

Gen. 14. a. b. Arioch, was King of Elasar, and one of the foure Kings that fought agaynst Bera King of Sodome, and o­ther foure mo in the vale of Siddim, and the lesser num­ber ouercame the greater, and so tooke all the spoyle of Sodome and Gomorra, and went their waies. But being pursued by Abraham and his confederates, they were all taken and stayne. Note: ¶ Arioch, Long, or talle, or fulnesse, or the drunkennesse, or the lior.

Daniel. [...]. Arioch, was Captayne of Nabuchodonosors Garde, and being sent of the King, to destroye all the wyse men and Soothsayers in Babilon, bicause they could not inter­prete his dreame. Daniel went to Arioch, and desired him a little to staye, vntill he had obteyned of the King some leysure to shewe vnto him the interpretacion of his dreame. Daniels request being graunted, and the thing reuealed vnto him by God: he (after thankes giuen vnto God for the same) went to Arioch, and sayde: destroy not the wyse men of Babilon, but bring me before the Kyng, and I shall shewe him the interpretacion of his vision. Then Arioch brought Daniel before the King in al haste, and sayde thus vnto him: I haue founde a man among [Page 50] the children of Iuda that were brought captiues, that will declare vnto the King, the interpretacion of his dreame. And so the wise men of Babilon were saued.

Act. 19. e. 20. 2. 27. a. Coll. 4. b. Aristarcus, was a Thessalonian borne, and one of Paules companions, and in great hasarde of his lyfe with him at Ephesus, thorowe the sedition of Demetri­us. But that ouercome, he accompanied Paule into A­sia, and so forth to Rome, where he was his prison fel­lowe, and neuer shrunke from him. Note: ¶ Aristarcus, The best Prince.

2. Mac. 1. b. Aristobolus, Kinge Ptolomies Schoolemayster, came of the generation of the annoynted Priestes, vnto whome the Iewes which dwelt at Ierusalem, sent an Epistle, exhorting all the Iewes which dwelt in Egypt, to giue thankes and prayses vnto God, for the death of Antiochus, which had bene so cruell vnto them.

Rom. 16. b.Aristobolous, of whome Paule maketh mention in his Epistle. Note: ¶ Aristobolus, The best Counsayler, or the best Coun­sayle.

1. Mac. 12. c. Arius, was King of Sparta, which people were come of the generation of Abraham as the Iewes were,The Spar­tians came of Abrahams seede. wherefore the Iewes called them brethren. But in all the warres the Iewes had with the heathen, they neuer sought the Spartians helpe, more than with letters of Recommendation one from another of brotherlye loue, glad of eche others prosperitie.

Iudith. 1. cap. Arphaxat, King of the Medes, was so myghtie a Prince that he subdued many people vnto his domini­on.Of Arphaxat the sonne of Sem, came the Caldeās. Lanquet. He builded a City called Ecbatane, which for strength was thought vnpossible to winne. But at last, he (putting to much confidence in his owne power) was subdued of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assirians, in the .xij. yeare of [Page 51] his reigne. Note: ¶ Arphaxat, That which healeth, or saueth.

Gen. 11. b.Arphaxat the sonne of Sem, liued foure hundred thirtie eyght yeares.

1. Esd. 7. cap. This was a common name to the Kinges of Persia, as Pharao was to the Kings of Egypt, or Cesar to the Emperours.Artaxerses, King of Persia, licenced Esdras to take his Companions the chyldren of Israell wyth him,3. Esd. 8. b. and to depart from Babilon to Ierusalem agayne, com­maunding all his Officers in all places, to ayde Esdras, not onely with the Kings treasure, but with whatsoeuer was néedefull to him, for the reedifying of the Lordes Temple. Note: ¶ Artaxerses, The light, or malediction and curse, He that causeth silence: Also that maketh haste or speede: also the earnestnesse of reioyceyng.

3. Esd. 2. b. d. Artaxerses, King of Persia, hauing a sore complaint made vnto him by Belemus, Mithridates, Tabelius, Rathumus, Beeltethmus, and Semellius the Secreta­rie, with other mo, agaynst the Iewes for building of the Temple, wrote to them agayne on this wyse: I haue red the Epistle which ye sent vnto me: therfore I commaun­ded to make diligent searche, and haue founde that thys Citie hath euer resisted Kings: that the same people are disobedient, and haue caused much warre, and that migh­tie Kings haue reygned in Ierusalem, which also haue raysed vp taxes of Celosyria and Phinice, wherefore I haue commaunded to forbidde those men, that they shall not buylde vp the Citie, and héede to be taken that there be no more done in it, and that they procéede no further in those wicked workes, for so much as it might be occa­sion of trouble vnto Princes.

Tit. 3. d. Artemas, was one of Paules Disciples, and laye with him at the Citye of Nicopole, what time as Paule sent to Crete for Titus to come vnto him, but not before he did sende Artemas or Tichicus vnto him to tary in his steade, least that Crete shoulde be destitute of an ouerféer.

3. Reg. 15. b. Asa, was the sonne of Abia, and began his reigne o­uer Iuda in the .xx. yeare of the reigne of Ieroboam. He3. Par. 13. 2. & 15. cap. honoured God: clensed his lande of whorekéepers, Idols,His mother is called Maacha, and is taken for his Grand­mother. Images, Groues, and many other Abhominations. Yea, he abhorred Idolatrie so much, that he would not suffer it vnpunished in his owne Mother, but put hir from hir e­state, bicause she had made an Idoll in the Groue, which he brent, and cast the ashes into the brooke Cedron. And for his vpright heart, the Lorde sent peace and quietnesse in all his lande, by the space of tenne yeres: In the which time of rest, he builded Cities and holdes, and made hys Realme verye strong. At last, it fortuned the king of E­thiope to come against him wyth an hoste of ten hundreth thousande, and thrée hundreth Charets, where as the o­ther had but halfe so many. Then Asa putting his hope in God, made first his prayers to him on this wise: O LordThe prayer of Asa. it is no hard thing with thée, to helpe either many or few, helpe vs therfore, O Lorde our God, for we trust to thée, and in thy name we go against this multitude, thou art the Lorde our God, and no man shall preuayle against thée. And after he had ended his prayer, he went and ioy­ned with his enimies, and the Lord ouerthrewe them, and left not one vndestroyed. After this, it chaunced Baasa2. Par. 16. ca. King of Israel to inuade him, of whome Asa was so a­fraide, that he fet out of the house of the Lorde much trea­sure, and sent it to Benhadad King of Siria, desiring him to breake his league with Baasa, that he myght de­part out of his lande. And when Baasa had broke vp hys campe, and was gone to resist Benhadad (which had got diuers of his Cities in Israel) the Prophet Hanani came to Asa, and sayde: Forasmuch as thou hast trusted in the King of Siria, and not in the Lord, therefore is the hoste of Siria escaped thée. Had not the Blacke Moores an ex­céeding great hoste? and yet bicause thou diddest put thy trust in God, they were deliuered into thy hande. For the [Page 53] [...] [Page]

[Page 53] eyes of the Lorde beholdeth all the earth, to strengthen them that are of perfite heart towardes hym: And nowe seeing thou hast done so foolishlye, thou shalt from hen [...] forth haue warre. The King hearing Here we see [...] [...]at it is not [...] [...]ough for a [...] to begin [...], and not continue to [...] ende. this, was sor [...] [...] pleased with the Prophet, and (disdayning his adm [...] on) sent him to prison. [...] was afore incarna­ [...]n. [...] 973. ye­ [...] Cooper.Wherefore the Lorde, to p [...] [...] his rebellion, smote him wyth a disease in his feete ( [...] coulde not be cured by no Phisition) whereof he dyed, after he had reigned yeares fortie one.Reg 2. d. [...]. 6. c.

[...]. 2. c. b. Asael, was the sonne of Zernia Dauids Sister. Hys brethren were Ioab and Abisai. This man Asael for hys lightnesse on foote, is compared to a Roe bucke. Reade of his death in the storie of Abner. Note: ¶Asael, God hath wrought.

Asaph, the sonne of Barachia, was one of the c [...] singers among the Leuites, appointed by Dauid in [...] house of the Lorde. Note: ¶Asaph, Gathering.

Ashur, (the father of Thekoa) was the sonne of Her­ron, the sonne of Phares, the sonne of Iuda. His mothers name was Abia, he had twoo wyues, and by them Chyl­dren.30▪ b. [...] 7. g. [...] 1. f.

Aser, was the sonne of Iacob. his mothers name was Silpha. His brother of father and mother was Gad. He had foure sonnes, and one daughter, of whome came many Noble men and Captaynes. Note: ¶ Aser, Blessedness [...] ▪ 1. 6. c. 1. b.

Asyncritus, was one of the faythfull Congregat [...] of Christ in Rome, vnto whome (among other) Pa [...] sendeth salutacions in his Episitle, saying thus, salute Asyncritus. Note: ¶ Asyncritus, Peerelesse, or without Comparison.

Assur, was the sonne of Sem. ¶ Lyra writeth vppon [Page 54] Gen .x. That Assur bicause he woulde not rebell agaynst God with Nimroth in the building of the tower of Ba­bel, fled out of the lande of Sinhar into a farre Country, where he inhabited, which Countrey, tooke his name of him, and was called Assiria, and there he builded a Citie, which afterwardes was called Niniue. Note: ¶ Assur, Bles­sed, or Traueyling.

3. Reg. 22. f. Asuba, was Mother to Iosaphat King of Iuda, and2. Par. 20. g. daughter to Silhi. Note: ¶ Asuba, For saken.

1. Par. 2. c. Asuba, Wyfe to Caleb the sonne of Hesron, bare vnto him thrée sonnes: Ieser, Sobab, and Ardon.4. Reg. 11. ca.

2. Par. 22. ca. Athalia, was the daughter of Amry, and wife to Io­ram King of Iuda. When Ioram dyed, hir sonne Ahazi­ahuAthalia in the 4. Reg. ca. 8. is called both the daughter of Achab, and the daughter of Amrye, which (sayth Lyra) is mēt thus: After the death of Amry hir na­turall father, shee was brought vp with Achab hir brother, and so in pro­cesse called his daughter, or else by im­mitating hys maners in all kind of Ido­latrie. succéeded, whome she entysed to all wickednesse, and after his death she ruled, and killed all the reast of the séede of Ioram, onely Ioas excepted, which was stolne awaye, and hyd from hir. And when she had ruled the lande (most cruelly) vj. yeare. In the vij. yeare, Ioas was brought forth by Iehoiada the Priest, and proclay­med King: She hearing that, ranne into the Temple of the Lorde with hir clothes rent, crying out treason, trea­son. But at the commaundement of Iehoiada, the Cap­taynes and souldiers tooke hir out of the Temple, and slue hir. Note: ¶ Athalia, Time for the Lorde.

Azaria, the sonne4 Re. 15. a. b of Amaziahu King of Iuda, began his reigne in the xxvij. yere of Ieroboam King of Israel, & was xvj. yere old when he was made King. And so long as he gaue eare to Zacharias the Prophete, and walked vprightly, so long did the Lorde prosper him, with great victories both of the Philistines and Arabians, and made the Ammonites also tributories vnto him. HeAzaria, is in the same chapter called also Vziah. repaired Ierusalem. He loued well husbandrye, and had great [Page 55] plenty of Cattell. At length he became so mightie, that in his strength his heart arose to his destruction. For in his pryde, he went into the Temple of the Lord to burne incense, which although he séemed to doe it of a zeale and good intent, yet forasmuch as he vsurped the Priests of­fice, he was iustlye resisted of Azariahu the Priest, and plagued of God, who smote him with such a Leprosie, that he went out of the Temple a Leper, and so remay­ned all the dayes of his lyfe. He reygned .lij. yeares, and was buried in a part of the same fielde where his Prede­cessors lay, but not in the same Sepulchres, bicause he was a Leper. Note: ¶ Azaria, Helpe of the Lorde.

B.

1. Par. 5. b. BAal, the sonne of Reaia was a Prince of the Ru­benites, andIn the dais of Pekah, king of Isra­el. 4. Re. 15. [...] caried away with other his kinred into the lande of Assiria, by Thiglath Pilneser King of the Assirians. Note: ¶ Baal, an Idoll▪ or a Ruler.

2. Reg. 4. cap Baanah, with his brother Rechab (the sonnes of Rimmon) were two Captaynes in the hoste of Isboseth King of Israel, who (when Abner their chiefe Captayne was dead) went into the house of Isboseth, séeming (saith Lyra) they had gone to fetch wheate, for the King (sayth he) had great store of wheate, which he solde to Mer­chants a farre of, wherefore these two disguysed them­selues lyke Merchants that came to buye, and so entring into the house, they founde where their Lorde and mai­ster lay vpon his bed (in the heate of the day) fast a sleepe,There is nothing so vyle and dan­gerous which the wicked will not en­terprise, in hope of lucre and fauour. and slue him, and tooke his heade, and caryed i [...] to Da­uid, thinking for the same to haue had a great rewarde: But for their most shamefull and trayterous acte, they were both put to death, and their quarters hanged ouer the poole in Hebron. Note: ¶ Baanah, In affliction.

3. Reg. 15. f. g 16. a. b. Baasa, the sonne of Ahia, conspired against [...] King of Israel, and reygned in his steade. In the thirde [Page 56] yeare of Asa King of Iuda, began Baasa to reygne ouer Israel, and walked most wickedlye in all the wayes of Ieroboam, whose house and posteritie (notwithstanding)God stirred vp one tyrant to punishe the wickednesse of another.he vtterly destroyed, and left not one aliue, for so it was3. Reg. 14. d. propheried, that God woulde stirre him vp one (which was this Baasa) for that purpose. And now for as much as Baasa (whome God had exalted euen out of the dust) woulde styll mayntaine Ieroboams ydolatrie, and cause his people to sinne, he sent him worde by the Prophete Iehu, that as he had rooted out the whole posteritie of Ie­roboam, so shoulde his be serued likewise. Great warre was betwéene▪ Baasa and Asa King of Iuda. And for to2. Par. 16. 2. stoppe the passage of Iuda, that none shoulde passe out nor in safely, Baasa went to builde a strong holde called Rama, which he was sayne (at length) to leaue vnfini­shed, and to l [...]se all his [...]ost and traueyle, to go agaynst Benhadid, which had broken couenaunt with him. He reygned .xxiiij. yeares, and was buried in Thirza, which was a place where the King remayned, leauing Ela his sonne to succéede him, in whose dayes the foresayde Pro­phecye of the rooting out his posteritie, tooke place. Note: ¶ Baa [...]a▪ in folding togither, or pressing togither, or to search ou [...] and take away.

1. Mac. 7. b. 9. cap. Bachides, was a man of great power in the domi­nion of Demetrius the sonne of Seleucus. And beyng the Kings faythfull friende, he sent him with a great host agaynst Iudas Machabeus to reuenge him of the iniurie he had done vnto his people and in the ende slue him. Af­ter whole death▪ many of the wicked Iewes turned to Bachides, whereof he made some Lordes and rulers of the lande, which (of enuy) vttered the friendes of Iudas, & brought them into great veration and trouble. When Bachides had giuen this ouerthrow to Iudas, he sought howe he might kill Ionathas also, whom the Iewes had [...] in his brothers [...]. And méeting with Io­nathas [Page 57] about the border of Iordan, there was a great battell stricken betweene them, in the which Bachides lost a thousande of his men. After which conflict, Bachi­des (by occasion of Alcimus the wicked Priests death, de­parted for that tyme, so that Ionathas laye at rest two yeares after, tyll a sort of vngodly men conspired against him, howe they might bring Bachides vppon hym vn­wares, which matter being betwéene them and him con­cluded, Bachides returned with a great power, but or he came, Ionathas had gotten knowledge of the Treason, and put certayne of the chiefest Conspirators to death. Then, when Bachides came, and had besieged the Citie of Bethbessen long, and sawe he was not able to resist the power of Ionathas, he was marueylously displeased with those wicked counsaylers, which had caused him to traueyle in vaine, and made him ready to depart againe, whereof Ionathas hauing knowledge, he sent Ambassa­dors to Bachides, to make peace with him, to the which, he gladly consented, and restored to Ionathas all his pri­soners, which he had taken in the land of Iuda, and so re­turned home, and neuer vexed Israel more. Note: ¶ Bachides, One that holdeth of Bacchus, or a drunkerde.

Num. 22. ca. Balaam, the sonne of Beor (or Bosor as S. Peter sayth) was a couetous Prophet, and (for lucre sake) went to the King of Moab, to curse the hoste of Israel, which thing God woulde not suffer him to doe, but turned hys curse into a blessing. Yea, he was so farre ouercome with couetousnesse (sayth S. Peter) that he coulde not sée hys2. Pet. 2. c. iniquitie, when the tame beast speaking in mans voyce, rebuked him, and forbade his madnesse. He caused theNum. 31. a. Israelites thorowe his counsell to commit whoredome wyth the daughters of Moab, and to worship Baal Pe­or their false God, and was slayne among the Madia­nites, whome Israel s [...]bd [...]ed. Note: ¶ Balaam, The auncient of the people.

Num. 22. &. 23. cap. Balac, the sonne of Ziphor King of Moab, was so a­frayde of the children of Israel, which were pitched in the fieldes of Moab, & all about his countrey, that he thought he coulde neuer be able to ouercome them, vnlesse they were cursed of God: wherefore he sent for Balaam the Prophete, promising to promote him to honor and digni­tie, so that he woulde come and curse his enimies. And when the Prophet was come, Balac brought him vp to the hye place of Baal, where he might sée and discerne the vttermost parts of the Israelites, that he myght be sure to curse them all. But when the Prophet went about his purpose: God woulde not suffer him to curse his people, but rather to blesse them. Then sayde Balac: did not I sende for thée to curse this people, and why hast thou bles­sed them? I tolde thée (quoth Balaam) that I coulde speake nothing, but that which the Lord woulde haue me to speake. Well, sayde Balac, I will bring thée where thou shalt sée but a portion of them, and not all, I praye thée curse that part for my sake: But notwithstanding, the Prophete blessed them agayne. Then sayde Balac, neyther curse them, nor blesse them at all. Well yet quoth Balac, I will bring thée once more to an otherThe wic­ked imagine of God, that that which he will not grāt in one place, he will doe it in another. place, peraduenture it shall please God thou mayst curse them there for my sake: But when he sawe in no place the Prophet woulde curse the people of God, he tooke an anger with him, and sayde: I sent for thée to curse myne enimies, and thou hast blessed them nowe thrée tymes, therefore get thée quickly out of my sight, for the Lorde hath kept thée backe from promotion, and so he departed. Note: ¶ Balac, Inwrapping, or destroying, or with him that licketh.

Dan. 5. cap. Balthasar, was the sonne of Nabuchodonosor, and the last King of Babilon. This Prince (on a time) made a great banket to all his Lordes and great estates, in the which he so abused the holye vessels in the Temple of the [Page 59] Lorde (which his father had brought from Ierusalem) making them common vessels for all his guests to drinke in, that God was sore displeased with him. And as he sate at his banket, praysing his goddes of Golde, Siluer, Cop­per, Iron, Stone, and Wood, he sawe the Palme of an hande, wryte vpon the wall before him, which thing so disquieted him, that all the ioyntes of his bodye shooke. And being in that great anguishe, he sent for all the char­mers and Coniurers in Babilon, to knowe the meaning thereof, but none of them all coulde reade it, neyther yet tell what it ment. Then was the King so sore afrayd, that his colour began to chaunge, and his body to be sore vex­ed, for the which, the Lordes and all the estate present, were sore opprest with heauinesse, to sée the King in that case. Then the oldeShe was Nabuchodo­nosors wife, which for hir age, was not before at the feast, but came thither whē she heard these strange newes. Quéene his Grandame (hearing of all that was happened) came vp to the feast and cheared the King, bidding him to take no thought for the matter, so long as Daniel was in his kingdome, sende for him (quoth she) and he will tell thée what the writing mea­neth. Then was Daniel sent for. And being come, he tolde the King, that forasmuch as he neyther remembred the fall of his father, who for his pryde and hie stomacke, was turned from the shape of a man to the shape of a beast for certaine yeares, neyther woulde submitte his heart, but magnifie himselfe aboue the Lorde of heauen, and had abused the vessels of the house of God, and set his loue vpon Idols (which neyther hearde, sawe, nor vnder­stoode) more than vpon God, in whose hande consisteth thy breath and all thy wayes, therfore had God sent thys hande, in token of his great displeasure towardes hym. And these be the wordes (sayd Daniel to the King) which the hande hath written: Mane: Thetel: Phares. And this is the meaning: Mane, God hath numbred thy king­dome, and brought it to an ende. Thetel, Thou art weyed in the Balaunce, and art founde to light. Phares, Thy kingdome is dealt in partes, and giuen to the Medes and [Page 60] Perses. And the same night was Balthasar slayne, and his kingdome remooued to Darius king of Medea, whose sister was Balthasars mother. Note: ¶ Balthasar, Wythout Treasure, or searcher of Treasure.

Balthemus, or Béeltethmus, looke Belemus.

2. Reg. 8. d. 20. g. Banaiah, or Bananiahu, the sonne of Iehoiada was a valiant man, and ruler ouer theThe Che­rethites and Pelethites, were as the Kings garde, & had charge of his person. Cherethites and Pe­lethites.3. Reg. 2. d. e. f He slewe two strong men in the Countrie of Moab, and slewe a Lion in the midst of a pyt, in the time of snow. He fought also with an Egyptian (whose speare was lyke a Weauers beame) and slewe him with his owne weapon. And for these Actes and such like, he gate him a name among the Worthies. He was one of Da­uids Counsaylers, and proclaymed Salomon King, at Dauids commaundement. He slewe Adoniah at Salo­mons commaundement, & also Ioab, into whose rowme he was promoted. Note: ¶ Banaiah, in the answere in afflliction, or in the song.

Act. 4. g. Barnabas, (called also Ioses) was a Leuite, borne in the Countrie of Cypers, who of a liberall minde, solde his lande in Cypers, and brought the whole pryce therof, and layde it downe at the Apostles féete, with whome he was of such credite, that when he brought Paule vntoAct. 9. c. them (after his conuersion) and declared howe boldly he had done at Damascus in the name of Iesu, they recey­ued him as a brother, of whome before they were afrayd. This man being full of the holy ghost and faith, was sent11. d. to Antioch to preach, and to stablish them in the fayth of Christ. From thence he departed to Tharsus to seeke Saule, and brought him to Antioch, where they two con­tinued togithers one yeare. And bicause of a great dearth which was prophecied to be thoroweout all the worlde, the Antiochians made a collection for the poore brethren [Page 61] in Iewrie, which they sent by the handes of Barnabas and Paule, at whose returne to Antioch agayne, they brought a Disciple with them called Iohn Marke. After13. a. this (by the mynde of the holy Ghost) they were sent to preach among the Heathen, where (by the power of God) they did woonders, and turned many to Christ. And be­ing taken (at Lystra) for Goddes, bicause (God working14. b. c. in them) they had made a lame man to go, they rent their clothes, and woulde not suffer themselues to be called by that name. Finallye, when Barnabas and Paule had15. f. g. bene long Companions togither and workers in the Lordes vineyarde, they chaunced to fall at variance, for one Iohn Marke, who had bene their Minister before: And bicause Barnabas woulde now in this iourney, (go­ing to visite their brethren agayne) haue had him with them, and Paule refused him, bicause he forsooke them at Pamphilia, the dissencion was so sharpe, that the one brake from the other. And so Barnabas tooke Marke with him, and sayled into Cypers, hys owne natyue Countrie. Note: ¶ Barnabas, the Sonne of Consolation.

Math. 27. b. Barrabas, was a notable robber, which for a cer­tayne insurrection he had made, and in the same commit­tedMar. 15. a. murther, was cast in prison. It was a custome a­mongLuke. 23. c. Iohn. 18. g. the Iewes, to haue a prisoner deliuered vnto them at the feast of Easter: wherfore when Pilate sate in iud­gement vpon Iesus, he asked of the Iewes whether they woulde haue Barrabas or Iesus: and they (by the coun­sell of the great Priestes) sayde, Barrabas. And so was the théefe and murtherer deliuered, and the innocent put to death. Note: ¶ Barrabas, the Sonne of Confusion.

Act. 1. d. Barsabas, (surnamed Iustus) was one of the twoo Disciples appoynted to be chosen in the rowme of Iudas the Apostle. And when the lottes were cast, the lot fell on Mathias hys fellowe. Note: ¶ Barsabas, the Sonne of Returning▪ [Page 62] or of Conuerting.

Math. 10. a. Barthelmew, was one of the twelue Apostles. Note: ¶ Barthelmew, the Sonne of him that suspendeth waters.Mar. 3. b. Luk. 6. b.

Mar. 10. g. *Bartimeus, the sonne of Timeus, was a certayne blinde begger, which sate begging by the hye wayes side,*The other Euangelists mention two, but Marke nameth him y^t was most knowne. of the people as they went by: And when he heard Iesus of Nazareth passe that waye, he began to crie and saye: Iesus the sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me, and the people rebuked him to holde his peace, but the more he was rebuked, the more he cryed. Then being called and comforted of the Apostles, he threwe away his cloke for ioye, and came to Iesus, who demaunded of him what he woulde haue him to doe: Mayster, sayde he, that I maye haue my sight and sée. Go thy way (sayde Iesus) thy faith hath saued thée, and by and by, this blynde Bartimeus receyued his sight and followed Iesus. Note: ¶ Bartimeus, a Blynde sonne: or the sonne of blindnesse.

Iere. 36. cap. Baruch, the sonne of Neriah, wrote in a booke (at the mouth of Ieremie the Prophete, as he did indite) all the curses agaynst Iuda and Israel, which booke he read first to the Common people, and after to the Rulers, who be­ing astonied at the wordes thereof, caused Baruch to hide* The godly amonge the Princes gaue this counsell. himselfe out of the way, till they had shewed the booke vn­to Ieohakim the King, who (when he had hearde thrée or fower leaues thereof, caused the booke to be cut in péeces, (notwithstanding the great intreatie that certaine of hys Lordes made for the preseruation of the same) and cast in the fire and brent. Then Baruch wrote another booke at the mouth of Ieremie, wherein was much more added than was before. Note: ¶ Baruch, Blessed.

Gen. 22. d. 28. a. Bathuel, was the sonne of Nahor, his mothers name was Milca, the daughter of Aran, brother to Nahor and [Page 63] Abraham. This Bathuel, was Father to Rebecca and Laban. Note: ¶ Bathuel, the Sonne begetting of God, the Measure of God.

Gen. 36. d. Bela, the sonne of Beor reigned in Edem, after whose death, Iobab the sonne of Serah succéeded him.1. Par. 1. d. Note: ¶ Bela, Swalowing downe, or destroying.

Num. 26. c▪ Bela, the sonne of Beniamin, whose sonnes were, Ard and Naaman, and in the first booke of Chronicles 7. b. These are sayde to be the sonnes of Bela: Oz­ban, Ozi, Oziel, Ierimoth and Iri. And in the. 8. chap­ter, these: Adar, Gera, Abiud.

3. Esd. 2. c. Belemus, Mithridates, Tabelius, Rathunius, Be­eltethmus, and Semellius the Secretarie, with other mo, wrote a sore complaint to Artaxerses King of Per­sia against the Iewes, which were a building of the tem­ple at Ierusalem, through the which, they were com­maunded to cease, and to builde no more. Reade Artax­erses and Rathumus.

3. Reg. 15. d. Benhadad, the sonne of Tabrimon King of Siria, made a couenant with Baasa King of Israel, which (for lucre sake) he brake at the request of Asa King of Iuda, and turned his hoste agaynst the Cities of Israel, to the great displeasure of Baasa. This Benhadad was a mightie Prince, and glorying much in his owne power, sent messengers to Achab king of Israel, commaunding him to sende his Siluer, Golde, Wyues, Children, and all that he had vnto him, and else he woulde come and de­stroye him, which thing being denyed him, he came a­gaynst Achab with .xxxij. Kings in his companie, and be­sieged him in Samaria. And whyle he trusted to much in hys great strength and multitude, and was banket­ting with the Kings that came with him in their pauili­ons, [Page 64] without any regarde of the small power of the Isra­elites, the hoste of Samaria issued sodeinly out of the Ci­tie, and came so couragiously agaynst the Sirians, that they put them all to flight, and slue a great number of them. Then the Sirians which were escaped, sayde to Benhadad: The Gods of the hilles be their Gods, and therefore haue they nowe gotten the better of vs? But let vs fight once more with them in the plaine, and thou shalt sée vs haue the better of them. Then Benhadad ga­thered hys hoste togither, so many as filled the whole Countrie, and Israel pitched before them like two little flockes of Kiddes, and so stoode the two hostes one against the other .vij. dayes, and in the seauenth day, they ioyned battell, in the which, an hundred thousand of the Sirians were slaine, and the rest fled to the Citie of Aphek, where they began to make a wall without the Citie for their de­fence, which building fell vpon them, and killed .xxvij. thousande mo, whereof the King was in such a feare, that he fledde from chamber to chamber, to finde out a se­cret place, to hyde himselfe in, to whome his seruantes went, and sayde: O King, we haue hearde say, that the Kings of Israel be mercifull Kings, let vs therefore put sackcloth about our loynes, and ropes about our neckes, and go and humble our selues before Achab, and sée if he will saue thy lyfe. Benhadad did so, and was pardoned, and neuer troubled Israel more in Achabs dayes. But afterward in another Kings dayes, he came agayne, and besieged Samaria so long, tyll an Asses heade was solde forfoure score siluer pence. And the fourth part of a cab of Dooues dung for fiue sicles, and tyll women were con­strayned to eate their owne children. Finally, Benha­dad fell sicke, and sent his seruant Hasael to Elizcus the Prophet (which was come to Damasco) to knowe whe­ther he shoulde recouer his disease or no, and hauing hys aunswere of the Prophet, he returned and slue his May­ster Benhadad, as in the storie of Hazael yée shall sée [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page]

[Page 65] howe. Note: ¶ Benhadad, the Sonne of a Sounde, or of Noyse and Crying.

Beniamin, was the yoongest sonne of Iacob,Gen. 35. c. hys mother was Rachel, who dyed in traueyle, and therforeOf the sonns of Beniamin, Reade Gene. 46. c. 1. Par. 7. b. 8. a. called his name Benoni, the sonne of sorrow: But Ia­cob his father called him Beniamin, sonne of the ryght hande. His brothers name (of father and mother) was Ioseph, who loued Beniamin, aboue all the reast of his other brethren, as in his storie appeareth. Note: ¶ Beniamin, Sonne of the right hande.

Act. 13. b. Beriesus, (which by interpretacion is as much to saye, as the sonne of Iesus) was a Iewe borne, and a great sorcerer, which name he had taken vpon him, to deceyue the people, where as his right name was Ely­mas, which worde in the Sirians language, betokeneth an Enchaunter, and a false Prophet also. This false Sor­cerer was got into the Citie of Paphos, and there beyng crept into fauour with Sergius Paulus, Ruler of the Countrie, wythstoode the doctrine of Barnabas and Paule, séeking by all meanes to turne the Rulers heart from the sayth in Christ. But Paule (being full of the holy ghost) perceyuing the deuilishe and subtile craft of this sorcerer, looked stedfastly vpon him and sayde: O full of all subtiltie and mischiefe, the chylde of the Deuil, and enimie of all righteousnesse, wylt thou not cease to peruert the streyght wayes of the Lorde: Now therfore beholde, the hande of the Lorde is vpon thée, and thou shalt be blinde, and not able to sée the Sunne for a sea­son. And when Paule had pronounced these wordes, the Enchaunter was stricken with blyndenesse, so that he (as one amazed) wandred vp and downe, séeking for some man to leade him by the hande. Note: ¶ Beriesus, an Ensorce­rer, or Coniurer.

2. Reg. 17. g. Berzelai, was a Gileadite borne, who considered the necessitie of Dauid so much, being fl [...]dde out of hys owne Realme, for feare of his owne sonne Absalon, into the wildernesse of Mahanaim, that he brought all things ne­cessarie for [...]eddes, meate, drinke, and cloth (out of Ro­glim) to refreshe him and his men, & prouided so for him, all the whyle he lay there, that he lacked nothing, and at his returne agayne, he holped also, to conuey both the King and all his men ouer Iordan. Then Dauid séeing the great kyndenesse of Berzelai, was much desirous to haue hym home with him to Ierusalem, promising that all the dayes of his life, he shoulde eate and drinke wyth him at his owne boorde, and fare no woorse than he fared, to whome Berzelai (being a verye olde man) sayde: O my Lorde, I am a man of foure score yeares of age, and cannot discerne betwéene good and euill, neyther yet taste any thing that I doe eate or drinke, wherfore if I should then go with my Lorde the King, I shoulde be but a bur­then vnto him: Therefore I beséech thée, let thy seruant turne backe agayne, that I may die in myne owne coun­trie, and be buried in the graue of my father: But here is thy seruant Chimeam my sonne, let him go with my Lorde, and doe vnto him whatsoeuer it shall please thée. And so Dauid and Berzelai kissed eche other, and depar­ted, but Chimeam went with Dauid, who did not onely recompence his fathers kyndenesse in him so long as he liued, but at the day of his death, declared to Salomon his sonne, the great fidelitie he had founde with Berze­lai in the tyme of his exyle, charging him therefore to shewe no lesse fauour to the sonnes of Berzelai (for their fathers sake) than euer he himselfe had done. Note: ¶ Berzelai, Made of yron, or as harde as yron.

2. Reg. 11. ca. Bethsabe, was the daughter of Eliam, and wyfe to Urias, which was with Ioab in the Kings warres. On a [Page 67] tyme as Bethsabe was washing hir selfe in hir priuye garden alone. It chaunced King Dauid to looke out at a window in his palace, & saw hir, whose bewty so rauished the King, that (forthwithall) he sent for the woman, and committed adulterie with hir, and so sent hir home a­gaine. Then (shortly after) she perceyuing hir selfe with chylde, sent the King worde thereof, who then, partly to hide his owne fault, and partly to saue the woman from daunger of the lawe, sent for Urias to come home. But when Dauid sawe that Urias woulde not company with his wyfe Bethsabe, he returned him backe againe to Io­ab with a letter, which caused Urias quickly to be dispat­ched out of his lyfe, after whose death, Bethsabe became Dauids wyfe, and brought forth the chylde conceyued in adulterie, which liued not long, but dyed. After that, she12. f. conceyued agayne, and brought forth Salomon. Lastly, when Dauid was fallen into extréeme age, and that she sawe Adonia the son of Agith begin to aspire to the king­dome of his father yet liuing, she went (by the counsell of Nathan the Prophet, who had taught hir hyr lesson) vnto Dauid hir husbande. And making hir humble obeysance vnto the King as he sate in his Chamber, and Abisag the Sunamite ministring vnto him, he sayde vnto hir, what is the matter? She aunswered, my Lorde, thou swarest by the Lorde thy God vnto thine handmayde, saying as­suredly Salomon thy sonne shall reigne after me, and he shall sit vpon my seate. And behold, now is Adonia King, and thou my Lord the king knowest it not. He hath offred Oxen, fat Cattell, and many shéepe, and hath called all the Kings sonnes, and Abiathar the Priest, and Ioab the Captaine of the hoste: But Salomon thy seruant hath he not bidden. And nowe my Lorde, O King, the eyes of all Israell wayte on thée, that thou shouldest tell them who ought to sit on the seate of my Lorde the King after him: for else when my Lorde the King shall sléepe wyth his fathers, I and my sonne Salomon shall be sinners. [Page 66] [...] [Page 67] [...] [Page 68] The Quéene had no sooner ended hir tale, but the Pro­phet Nathan came and confirmed hir wordes. Where­vpon the King assured Bethsabe, that Salomon hir son shoulde be that daye proclaymed to reigne in his steade. The Quéene then humbling hir selfe with thankes, desi­red of God that hir Lorde King Dauid might liue for e­uer. Looke more in the historie of Adonia. Note: ¶ Bethsabe, The seauenth daughter, or the daughter of an Othe.

Exo. 31. a. 35. d. 36. 37. and 38. cap. Bezaleel, the sonne of Uri of the Tribe of Iuda, and Ahaliab of the Tribe of Dan, were two cunning worke­men, most speciallye endued with the spirite of God, to worke all maner curious worke that was to be wrought in Golde, Siluer, Brasse, Woode, Stone, or with Néedle worke, so that by these two, the Tabernacle of wytnesse, with all things pertayning therevnto, was most artifi­cially made. Note: ¶ Bezaleel, in the shadowe of God.

Gen. 29. f. 30. a. 35. d. Bilha, was a yong Damosell, which serued Laban the father of Rachel, and when Rachel shoulde be ma­ried to Iacob, Laban gaue Bilha his mayde, to Rachel his daughter to be h [...] seruaunt. And when Rachel per­ceyued she coulde b [...]re Iacob no children, she gaue Bil­ha hir mayde vnto him to be his wyfe, who conceyued by Iacob, and brought him forth two sonnes, the one Dan, and the other Nephtaly. Note: ¶ Bilha, Olde, or fading

Gen. 14. a. b. Birsa, was one of the foure Kinges that fought a­gaynst fiue other Kings in the vale of Siddim. Note: ¶ Birsa, in Euill, or in iniquitie, or condemned, or a sonne that looketh back.

Reade Arioch.

Ruth. 2. 3. 4. Boos, the sonne of Salomon, was a great rich man, dwelling in a Citie called Bethléem, within the lande of Iuda. Who on a tyme going to the fieldes to looke vpon his Reapers, and finding there a yong Damosell a lea­sing, [Page 69] demaunded of his workemen▪ what she was: To whome answere was made, she was a straunger come with Naomie out of the Countrie of Moab. Then went Boos to the Mayde and sayde: hearest thou my daugh­ter?Here is a no­table example for all riche Farmers which bee so vnmercifull, y^• they wil not suffer their needy neygh­bour to lease in their groūd wheras Bo­os was so mercifull to this straun­ger, whose nation were enimies to gods people. go to no other fielde a leasing (I charge thée) so long as Haruest tyme endureth, but to myne: tary here by my Maydens, and gather as much as thou wilt, and spare not, for no man shall let thée, neither yet hurt thée. And when thou art hungry and a thirst, go with my Mai­dens, and eate and drinke such as they haue, for they shall not denie thée. And so departing from hir, he went to his men seruants, commaunding them to intreate hir gentlye, and to leaue some sheaues on the grounde (for the nonce) for hir to take vp without shame. Nowe after this, it chaunced Boos to haue knowledge, that this yong Damosell was his kinsewoman, and that it was his lot to marrie hir, which he was well content to doe, consi­dering hir to be a woman of good report, and of much vertue. But yet, for as much as he knewe another to be more neare of kinne to hir than he, he could not defraude him of his right: therefore to knowe what he woulde doe in this matter, he went and called his kinseman before the Congregation, and sayde: Sir, we haue here a kins­woman lately returned out of the lande of Moab, one Naomie, and she will sell a péece of lande, which was our brother Elimelechs: If thou be disposed to buie it, doe: if not, then tell me, for there is none to challenge it, saue thou, and I next vnto thée. Then sayde he to Boos, I will purchase it. Well (sayde Boos) looke what day thou buyest the lande of Naomie, thou must also takeHe woulde haue the land, but not the woman. Ruthe the Moabite to wyfe, to rayse vp the name of the deade vpon his enheritance. Then he (reuoking his worde a­gayne) sayde that he coulde not purchase it, for marring of his owne inheritance. Therefore take thou my right, and purchase it, and so drew of hisThe maner of purchasing▪ shooe, and gaue it to Boos, for that was the custome of olde in Israel, con­cerning [Page 70] purchasing and chaunging of inheritaunce, to plucke of his shooe, and giue it to his neyghbour, in wit­nesse that the thing betwéene them, was truely bought and solde. Then Boos hauing his kinsemans shooe, sayd vnto the people: ye are witnesses all this day that I haue bought all that was Elimelechs, & all that pertayned to his two sonnesChilion, perfect, or all like a Doue. Chilion and Mahlon of the hand of Na­omie, and also haue purchased Ruth the Moabite, the late wyfe of Mahlon to be my wyfe, to stirre vp the name of the deade vpon his inheritance, that his name be not put out among his brethren: And all the people witnessed the same, praying vnto the Lorde for Ruth, to make hir as fruitefull, as he did both Rachel, Lea, and Thamar. And so Boos maryed Ruth, who in processe conceyued, and bare him a Sonne called Obed. Note: ¶ Boos, in Power, or strength.

C.

Exod. 6. c. 1. Par. 6. a. CAath, was the sonne of Leuy, & had foure sonnes, whereof the eldest was Amram, the father of Mo­ses and Aaron. He liued. 133. yeares. Note: ¶ Caath, A Congregation.

Gene. 4. a. b. Cain, was the first sonne that Adam and Eue brought forth betwéene them, and of an vnhappy disposition, gi­uen to all vngraciousnesse. He was the first tyller of the grounde, and woulde alwayes offer the woorst and the vi­lest of the fruites of the earth vnto God. Wherefore the Lorde had no respect to his offering. And because God preferred his brother Abels offering before his, he was so stirred with malice and enuie agaynst him, that he fell vpon him in the fieldes and slue him. Wherfore the Lord promised to withdrawe the increase of the grounde from Cain, and so being in desperation, he wandred about like a vagabonde in euery corner, with much feare and tream­bling, least any man shoulde kill him, and at lastLyra saith, that as La­mech was hū ting in y^• fiel­des, his ser­uaunt spyed Cain where he lay hid in a bush, & (thin­king it had bene a beast) pointed hys maister vnto him, who shot of his Arow, and slue him. La­mech [Page 71] slue him. Note: ¶ Cain, A possession.

Iohn. 18. cap. Caiphas, was sonne in lawe to Annas, and the hye Bishop in the time of Christes apprehension, of whome he prophecied, that it was expedient for one man to dye, rather than all the people shoulde perishe. Which thing he spake not of himselfe, but God made him (at that time) euen as he made Balaam, to be an instrument of the ho­lye ghost. And Christ being sent from Annas to him (bounde) to be examined, was so caried from him to Pi­late, that he by the Temporall lawes might iudge hym to death. Note: ¶ Caiphas, a Searcher.

Num. 13. and 14. cap. Caleb, was the sonne of Iephun (otherwyse called Kenes) of the Tribe of Iuda, and one of those whom Mo­ses sent out to search the lande of Canaan, what maner of Countrie it was, at the which time of going out, he was about the age of .xl. yeres. And when he and his com­panie had vewed the lande, and were returned home a­gayne, certaine of the explorators made an euill report to their brethren of that good land, saying it was a countrey of strong and fierse people, and such a lande as did eate vp the inhabiters thereof, and with lyke perswasions made them both astonied and afrayde, and to murmur & grudge agaynst Moses and Aaron, saying they woulde make them a Captayne, and go into Egypt agayne. Then Caleb and Iosua, séeing their brethren so discom­fited, rent their clothes for sorrow, and sayde: Oh deare brethren, be ye not discouraged at these false surmised tales, neyther yet rebell agaynst the Lorde, for we haue séene the lande as well as they that haue discouraged you, and knowe it to be a better lande than they report, a lande that floweth with milke and hony: And as for the people therein, feare them not, for they be but breade for vs, their shielde is departed from them, and God is with vs, therefore plucke vp your hearts, and feare not. With [Page 72] these, and the like comfortable sayinges, Caleb and Io­sua withdrew the furie of the multitude (which were rea­dy to destroye them) and also ceased their murmuring, which murmuration of the people so gricued the Lorde, that he swore to Moses, that not one of them all shoulde sée that good lande, saue Caleb and Iosua, although their children shoulde sée it: But first (sayde God to Moses) they shall wander in the wyldernesse fortie yeares, and suffer for their fathersWhich is their in [...]ide­litie and diso­bedience. whoredome, vntill their fathers carkasses be wasted, a yeare for a daye, according to the number of dayes in searching the lande, which was for­tie dayes. And bicause Caleb followed the Lorde conti­nually, God swore to Moses, that Caleb and his séede shoulde inherite that lande, which came so to passe, for af­ter.xlv. yeares, Caleb (then being at the age of .lxxxv. ye­res,Iosua. 14. b. and as lusty as he was when Moses sent him first to search the lande) required of Iosua his heritage, who ap­poynted out vnto him, the Citie of Hebron with the Countries thereabout, out of the which Citie, he droue out the thrée sonnes of Enach. This Caleb had a yongerIosua. 15. c. brother called Othoniel, to whome he gaue his daughterIudic. 1. c. Acsah to wyfe, for taking of a certayne Citie called Ka­riasepher. Note: ¶ Caleb, as a Hart.

2. Tim. 4. c. Carpus, was a certayne godlye man dwelling at Croada, with whome Paule left his Cloake with cer­taine bookes, which he desired Timothie to bring with him, when he came to him agayne. Note: ¶ Carpus, Fruite, or fruitefull.

1. Mac. 15. g. [...]6. 2. Cendebius, was Captayne Generall of Antiochus hoste. And when he had done much harme in the lande of Iewrie, and builded vppe Cedron, and fortified it wyth men of warre, he was (at the last) by the sonnes of Si­mon discomfited, and put to flight. Note: ¶ Cendebius, Zeale, or the possession of sorrowe, or griefe.

2. Mac. 10. f. Cereas, was brother to Timotheus, and Captayne of a strong Castle called Gazar, into the which, Timo­theus (being ouercome of Iudas Machabeus) was fayne to flie for succor, Nowe Cereas and they that were wyth him in the Forte, trusted so much to the strength of the place, that they fell to rayling and cursing of their eni­mies without, who (notwithstanding) set so manfully vp­pon the holde, that (at last) they wanne it, and tooke the blasphemers, and burnt them quicke, & slue this Cereas and his brother Timotheus, with another famous Cap­taine called Appollophanes. Note: ¶ Cereas, Glad, or reioycing.

Cetura, looke Ketura.

Chodorlaomor, looke Kedorlaomor.

1. Reg. 9. [...]. Cis, was the sonne of Abiel, of the Tribe of Benia­min, and father to King Saule▪ Whose Asses (on a time) being strayed abroade, he sayde vnto Saule his Sonne: Take one of the Laddes with thée, and go and séeke out mine Asses that are lost. This Cis is called also, the sonne of Ner. 1. Par. 8. c. Note: ¶ Cis, Harde, or stubble, or a place where Cucumbers are.

1. Par. 8. c. 9 g Cis, the sonne of Abi Gibeon, his mother was called Maacah.

1. Par. 23. c. Cis, the sonne of Mahly, sonne to Merari. His bro­thers name was Eleazar. Whose daughters (he being deade) the sonnes of this Cis tooke to their Wyues.

2. Tim. 4. d. Claudia, was a certaine godly brother, who being with Paule at Rome, sent (as other mo did) gréetings to Timothie in Paules letter. Note: ¶ Claudia, a Proper name.

Act. 11. d. Claudius, was an Emperour, in whose tyme (the* Hee was poisoned of of hys wife Agripina, y^• Nero hir son migh [...] succede in y^• Empire. Cooper. [Page 74] fourth yeare of his reygne) was a great dearth thor [...] out all the worlde, whereof Agabus the Prophet, proph [...] ­cied aforehande. Note: ¶ Claudius, a proper name.

Cleopatra, the1. Mac. 10. f. 11. b. daughter of King Ptolomie, was ma­ried to Alexander the sonne of noble Antiochus. And a­gayne (for displeasure) taken from Alexander hir law­full husbande, and giuen to Demetrius the sonne of De­metrius. Note: ¶ Cleopatra, the Glorie of the Countrie.

Luke. 24. b. c Cleophas, was the husbande of Mary, sister to Ma­ry the mother of Christ, and one of the two Disciples, which (after the death of Christ) went to the towne of E­maus talking and reasoning togithers of all things that had happened to Iesus: and as they were reasoning the matter, Iesus ioyned himselfe personally with them, as a wayfayring man, desirous to knowe whereof they tal­ked so sadly: To whome Cleophas made aunswere, and sayde, art thou only a straunger in Ierusalem, and hast not knowne the thinges which haue chaunced there of late▪ of what things sayde Iesus▪ Of one Iesus of Na­zareth which was a Prophet mightie in déede and word, before▪ God and all the people, and howe the hye Priest, and our Rulers, deliuered him to be condemned to death, and haue crucified him, but we trusted that it had bene he that shoulde haue deliuered Israel: and as touching allThey vnder­stoode not yet, what was y^e deliueraunce that Iesus Christe pur­chased for vs. these things, to day is euen the thirde day that they were done. Then Iesus opened the Scriptures to Cleophas and the other, and being knowne of them (at the last) by breaking of breade, they returned to the Apostles at Ie­rusalem, and tolde them all what they had hearde and séene of Iesus, by the way to Emaus. Note: ¶ Cleophas, All maner of glorie.

Philip. 4. [...]. Clement, was one of Paules labour fellowes in the Gospell among the Philippians, as Paule himselfe re­porteth, [Page 75] saying: And I beséech the faythfull yokefellow, helpe the women which laboured with mée in the Gos­pell, with Clement also, and with other my labour fel­lowes, whose names are in the booke of life. Note: ¶ Cle­ment. Meeke.

2. Tim. 4. b. Crescens, what tyme as Paule sent for Timothy, was departed from Rome into Galatia for businesse he had there, whereof he certifieth Timothy, saying: Cre­scens is gone to Galatia and Titus vnto Dalmatia. Note: ¶ Crescens. a Latine worde, Encreasing.

Actes. 18. b. Crispus, the chiefe ruler of the Synagoge at Co­rinth, after he had heard Paules preaching, beléeued in the Lord, he and all his householde, and were Christe­ned in the name of Christ Iesu. Note: ¶ Crispus. a Latine worde, Curled or Crisped.

Acts. 10. cap. Cornelius, was an heathen man dwelling in Cesa­rea, and a Captaine ouer a bande of men which were in Italy. This man notwithstanding he was a Gentile borne, and in office a man of Armes, yet he was a good lyuer and feared God, as it well appeared, chiefely in two pointes, which was in liberally refreshing the poore and néedy, and his continuall praying vnto the Lord. In the which prayer as he was (on a time) occupyed aboute the ninth houre of the day (which was a little before Sup­per tyme) he saw in a vision an Angell of God comming to him, and calling him by his name, saying: Cornelius, thy prayers and thine Almes déedes are come vp into re­membraunce before God, wherefore sende to Ioppa for one Symon whose Sirname is Peter, he lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house ioyneth vpon the Sea side, and he shall tell thée what thou oughtest to doe. Then Cornelius sent for Peter, against whose comming he had called togithers all his kinsmen and speciall friends. And [Page 76] when Peter was come, Cornelius mette him and fell downe at his féete to worship hym, which thing Peter would not suffer, forasmuch as he was but a man as Cor­nelius was. And so going in with hym, he founde a great companie gathered togithers, vnto whom he sayde: Yée know how that it is an vnlawfull thing for a man that is a Iewe borne, to company or come to one that is of an o­ther nacion: But God hath shewed me, that I shoulde not make any man common or vncleane. Therfore came I vnto you without saying nay, assoone as I was sent for. I aske therefore, for what intent haue yée sent for me? Then Cornelius sayd: Foure dayes ago, and euen about this same houre I fasted, and at the ninth houre I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stoode before me in bright clothing and sayde: Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine Almes déeds are had in remembraunce in the sight of God, sende therefore to Ioppa, and call for Symon whose Sirname is Peter, he is lodged in the house of one Symon a Tanner by the Sea side, the which, assoone as he is come shall speake vnto thée. Then sent I for thée immediately, and thou hast well done for to come: Now therefore are we all here present before God, to heare all thinges that are commaunded vnto thée. Then Peter preached the worde of God vnto them, and whyle he was yet preaching, the holy Ghost fell vpon them all, so that in the ende, Cornelius with all his Company there pre­sent, were Baptized in the name of Christ Iesu. Note: ¶ Cor­nelius. a Proper name.

Num. 16. cap. Chore, was the sonne of Iezchar, the sonne of Caath, the sonne of Lénie. This Chore of a stoute and prowde heart, enuied and detested Moses the true seruant of God, and raysed vp a sedicion agaynst him and Aaron, hauing with hym Dathan, Abiran and On: Thrée great Cap­taynes, beside. 250. other noble men that tooke his parte, which insurrection by the power of man was vnsuppres­sable. [Page 77] But almighty God caused the earth to open, and swallow them vp, with theyr Wyues, Children, and all their substaunce.

This is the exposition of a certayne learned man named Ri­charde Tur­ner Bacheler of Diuinitie, and Reader in the Col­ledge of Windsore, in the dayes of king Edward the sixt.¶ Here is a question to be mooued: If all the substaunce of Chore with his wife and children were swallowed vp of the earth with them? How can that be true which is written in the tytle of the. 41. Psalme, that the children of Chore were eyther the makers, or the singers, or the setters forth of that godly Psalme. Aunswere is made Numeri. 26. where it is written, that when Chore was swallowed vp of the earth, God miraculously preserued certayne of his children, of whose ofspring there came ve­ry excellent learned and notable wyse men, and speciallye these foure. Ethan3. Reg. 4. d. the Ezrachite, to wéete, that was borne in the town called Ezrachi, Heman, Calcal & Dar­da, which foure so farre excelled all other in wisedome and learning, that the wisedome of Salomon was com­pared to be as great as theirs. These foure are called the children of Chore, not that they were the naturall chil­dren of Chore, but that they came of the ofspring of the children of Chore, which God had miraculously preser­ued from the great gulph and gaping of the earth. For it is well knowne that Chore liued in Moses time, agaynst whome he was the chiefe in stirring vp of rebellion a­gainst him. Agayne, Ethan, Heman, Calcal and Darda liued and florished in Salomons tyme, which was. 480. yeres (or therabout) after that Chore was killed. So that these men could not be the naturall children of Chore, but are called his children and his sonnes, bicause they came of his progenic and ofspring. Note: ¶ Chore, Balde, or baldenesses Yce or frost.

1. Esd. 1. d. Cirus, King of Persia (in the first yere of his reigne) deliuered the people of Israell out of captiuitie, and gaue them libertie to go and builde theCyrus be­ing insatiable in couetinge coūtries, was slayne of To­miris queene of Scitia, with. 200000 Persians, who caused his heade to be cut of, & cast into a Vessell of bloud, saying: satisfie thy selfe with bloud, which thou hast al­wayes thir­sted. Lanquet. Citie of Ierusa­lem, and the Temple of God againe (which Nabuchodo­nosor [Page 78] had destroyed) and sent with them all the vessels of golde and siluer pertayning to the house of the Lorde, which were in number. 5400. And the number of the whole congregation that returned from the captiuitie of Babilon, were .xlij. thousande, thrée hundreth, and thrée score, beside their seruantes and Maydens, which were 6337. and among them also, were 200. singing men and women. And of this Cyrus it was prophecied by the Prophet Esaye, long before Cyrus was borne, that he shoulde deliuer the children of Israel out of captiuitie. Note: ¶ Cyrus, as it were a miserable man: or as it were an heire, a belly.

Chusan Risathaim, wasIudic. 3. b. king of Mesopotamia, in­to whose hande God deliuered the Children of Israel, bi­cause they turned from him to serue straunge Gods, which King kept them in bondage eyght yeares, till at last (they crying to the Lorde for helpe) God raysed vp Othoniel, which deliuered them out of his hands. Note: ¶ Chu­san Risathaim, Seeing, or prophecying.

Iudic. 16. b. c. b. Dalila, was the wyfe of Samson, who (thorowe the perswasions of the Philistines) flattered him so long, vn­till she had got knowledge where all his strength laye: that knowne, she so dallyed with him that he laying down his heade vpon hir lappe, and there falling a sléepe, she caused the heare of hys heade to be shauen off, and so be­trayed him to the Philistines. Note: ¶ Dalila, a Bucket, or Con­sumer.

Act. 17. g. Damaris, was a certayne godly woman, dwelling at the Citie of Athens, who (among other) Paule con­uerted. Note: ¶ Damaris, a little wyfe.

Gen. 30. 2. Dan, was the sonne of Iacob, borne him of Bilha Rachels mayde. His brothers name (of father and mo­ther) [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page 79] was Nephtaly. Iacob before his death, prophecied of him, saying: Dan shall iudge his people, as one of the49. c. Tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, and an Adder by the path, byting the horse héeles, so that his Rider shall fall backewarde. O Lorde, I haue waytedNum. 1. f. for thy saluation. The generation of the Danites grewe to such a number, that the portion which Iosua gaue them, was not sufficient for all their Tribe, wherefore they went out to séeke them an inheritaunce to dwell in: And comming to the quiet Citie of Lais (which mys­trustedIosua. 19. d. nothing) they fell vpon it, killed the people, andIudic. 18. cap. brent the City. And in the place therof, they builded them­selues another Citie, and called it Dan. And set vp the Idols therein, which they had taken from Micah, and worshipped them, and so continued in their ydolatrie, till the Arke of God was taken. 1. Reg. 4. Note: ¶ Dan, Iudging, or iudgement.

Dan. 1. cap. Daniel, was an holy Prophet of the Tribe of Iu­da, who beyng a welfauoured yonge springalde, and of good erudition, was (among other of the children of Is­rael) brought to Babilon, and there founde at the Kings charges to learning, & to profite in the Chaldeys tongue, and for the better nourishing and bringing vp of these yong striplings, hée appoynted to them (for thrée yeares space) a portion of his owne meate euery day, and of hys owne Wyne which he dranke, to thintent, that by their good intreatie and learning of his religion, they might rather fauor him than the Iewes, and to be able to serue him as gouernours in their lande. But Daniel be­ing determined in his heart, that he woulde not de­file himselfe with the Kinges meate and drinke, desired his kéeper that he, and his thrée companions, to wit, Ana­nias, Misael, and Azarias, might not defyle themselues, but that he woulde gyue them nothing else but Pulse to eate, and water to drinke, which thing he was afrayde to [Page 80] doe, least when the King shoulde call them before him, they might séeme in woorser lyking than the rest of their fellowes, and so he to be in daunger of his lyfe. Well, sayde Daniel, prooue thy seruaunts for ten dayes. Then the Kéeper (whose heart God had mooued to fauour Da­niel) prooued them ten dayes, and when he saw them fat­ter in fleshe, and in better lyking than the other, he tooke away their portion of meate, and serued them daily with Pulse and water. And to these, God gaue great know­ledge and vnderstanding in all learning and wysedome: But to Daniel onely, he gaue the gyft of Prophecying, and opening of visions and dreames. Now when the time was expired, that all the children whome the King had so long nourished, shoulde be brought before him, he founde Daniel and his thrée associates in matters of wisedome and vnderstanding that he requyred of them, ten tymes better than all the learned men of his Realme, so that the King had Danyel in great estimacion. After this, Daniel expounded the Kinges dreames, and shewed him the true interpretacion and meaning thereof (which none of the Chaldeans coulde doe) for the which the King rewarded him wyth great gyftes, and made him gouer­nour ouer the whole Prouince of Babilon, wherewyth, the other Princes and Rulers were sore offended, and sought occasion against him concerning the kingdome, but Daniel was so faythfull and vpright in all the Kings matters, that they confessed, and sayde: We shall fynde no occasion against this Daniel, except it be concerning the lawe of his God: Therefore let vs perswade the king to make a decrée, that whosoeuer shall aske a peticion of any god or man for thirtie dayes, saue only of the King, the same to be cast into the denne of Lyons. And when the King had consented to this wicked decrée, and sealed the wryting, Daniel (that all men might sée, that he woulde neyther consent in heart nor déede for these fewe dayes, to anye thing that was contrarye to Gods glo­rye) [Page 81] went home to his house, and set open the wyndowe of his Chamber towarde Ierusalem, and fell downe vppon hys knées to gyue thanckes and prayse vnto God, as hys custome was thrée tymes a daye to doe. And thus making his prayers and supplication to his God, his aduersaries came vpon him and founde hym a worke wherevpon they went to the king and sayde: hast thou not sealed the decrée, that whosoeuer shall make re­quest to any God or man within thirtie daies saue to thée (O King) shalbe cast into the denne of Lions. True it is quoth the king, and it cannot be broken. Then sayd they: This Daniel one of thy prisoners of Iuda, regardeth neyther thée nor yet thy statute, but maketh his peticion thrise a day vnto his god. When the King heard this, he was sore displeased in himselfe, and sought by all meanes to haue excused Daniel, and when he sawe no intreatie woulde serue, nor no way be founde to alter the lawe, he suffred Daniel to be cast down to the Lions, which were seuen in numbre, and were kept fasting that daye from their ordinarie dyet, to the intent they shoulde haue de­uoured Daniel: But God had so stopped the mouthes and furie of the Lyons, that they dyd him no harme, and least he should perish there for hunger, God sent his Pro­phete Abacucke with meate and drinke to féede hym, and also mooued the kings heart to take such care for Daniel, that the seuenth day after, he went to the denne to sée if he were a lyue or dead, and finding hym not perished, but whole and sounde, he reioyced greatly, and caused Daniel to be taken out, & his accusers with their wyues and children cast downe among the fierce gréedy Lions▪, who tore them all in péeces before they came at the grounde. Thus being deliuered, hée afterwarde prophe­cied of the comming of Christ, and of the Empire of Ba­bilon, Medea, Persia, Grecia and the Romaines. Reade more of him in the story of Bell and Susanna. Note: ¶ Daniel. Iudgement of God.

3. Reg. 4. d. Darda, the sonne of Mahol, was one of the foure, which came of the ofspring of the children of Chore, and so farre excéeded all other in wysedome and learning, that Salomon was compared vnto them. Note: ¶ Darda. The house of knowledge: or the generation of knowledge.

Darius, in taking ofHe is called also Ahasue­rus. Ester. 1. a and was (as some thinke) the sonne of Hystaspis, called also Artaxerses. Babilon, slue King Baltha­sar1. Esd. 6. cap. Dan. 5. d. and possessed his kingdome. In the seconde yeare of his raigne, he graunted the same licence vnto the Iewes to builde againe the Citie of Ierusalem, and the house of God, that King Cyrus had graunted to them in the first yeare of his raigne. And for so much as the worke had béene much hindered from the first yeare of Cyrus vnto the seconde yeare of this King Darius, he gaue a strayte commaundement, that whosoeuer dyd (from hence­foorth) hinder or let that worke, a Beame shoulde be ta­ken from that mans house and he hanged thereon, and his house made a dunghill. And so the buylding went forwarde with spéede, and was perfectly finished in the sixte yeare of his raigne. Note: ¶ Darius. Requiring, or inqui­ring for.

Num. 16. a. Dathan, and Abiram, were the sonnes of Eliab, and two of the chiefe Captaynes with Chore in the insurrec­tion against Moses, on whom God tooke such vengeance that he caused the earth to open and swallow them vp quick. Reade the story of Chore. Note: ¶ Dathan. Statute, or law.

1. Reg. 16. c. Dauid, was the yoongest sonne of Isai, and by Gods commaundement annoynted King of Israell (Saule yet raigning) of the Prophet Samuel. Wherefore Saule, fearing that Dauid would defeate him of his kingdome, vexed hym with continuall persecution, during the which tyme, Dauid shewed notable examples both of pacience and true obedient seruice to Saule his soueraigne Lorde. [Page 83] And first, to shew his obedient and faithfull heart to his17. cap. Prince, and loue he bare to his countrey, he put himselfe in daunger, to fight with that great monster Goliah and slue him, of whome the king, and all the host of Israell stoode in great feare. And after this act also, when Saule18. b. c. (of enuie that the women in their daunce had giuen to Dauid more prayse than to him) threwe his Iauelin at Dauid (as he stoode and played on his Harpe before him) to haue nayled him fast to the wall, Dauid auoyded and armed himselfe with pacience, and neuer sought other meanes to reuenge: In so much, that when Saule (by24. [...]. the prouidence of God) came into the Caue to ease him­selfe, in the which Caue Dauid lay hid for feare of Saul, he woulde not (being prouoked) put foorth his hande to hurt his mayster: But cut of a péece of the hemme of his coate, in token that he might haue killed him. And yet after that, it sore repented him that he had done so much injury vnto his soueraigne Lorde and maister, although he was his most gréeuous enimy, and euery houre sought his death. Also, when he came into the host of Saule and26. b. c. founde the King and his men fast a sléepe, he woulde not for his owne priuate cause (though Iehu slue two Kinges at Gods commaundement) lay his hand vpon the Lords annointed, but onely (that he shoulde know that Dauid was there & might haue béene reuenged) tooke his speare and pot of water which stoode at his heade and went hys waye. Finally, when it pleased God to deliuer him of his2. Reg. b. enimie in battaile against the Philistines, one (to get thanke of Dauid) brought vnto him Saules crowne, and the Bracelet that he wore on hys arme, certifying him of the Kings death, and that he with his owne handes had killed him: whose acte dyd so much abhorre Dauid, that he thought the man not woorthy to lyue, but put him to death by and by. Read more of Dauids pacient suffering and obedient seruice, in the story of Michol, Ionathas, Ahimelech, Achis, and Absalon his sonne. Nowe when2. Reg. 2. b. [Page 84] Saule was dead, Dauid was admitted king and reigned ouer Iuda .vij. yeares, after which time expired, he reig­ned both ouer Israel and Iuda .xxxiij. yeares. And dyd that which was good in the sight of God, and put his trust & confidence in the Lord God of Israel, so that before nor after him, was not his like. He cleaued so vnto the Lord, that God of him bare witnesse, that he had founde a man according to his hearts desire. To him, God made a pro­mise that Christ shoulde come of his séede, for the which7. [...]. cause, Christ of the Prophets is called the sonne of Da­uid. To this holy Prophet, God gaue many victories and excellent giftes (which are touched in other stories) and yet among all his vertues, he suffred him to fall into the11. cap. abhominable vice of adulterie and homicide, and most gréeuously punished him for the same, who notwithstan­ding after earnest repentaunce, was receyued agayne into the fauour of God, and neuer after offended in that sinne more. Finally, after many conflictes with his eni­mies,3. Reg. 2. b. he died, after he had reigned .xl. yeares, leauing Salomon his sonne to succéede him. Note: ¶ Dauid. Beloued.

Iudic. 4. cap. Debora, the wyfe of one Lapidoth, was a Prophe­tesse, and the fourth Iudge and gouernour of the people of Israel: who, by the power and pleasure of God (and helpe of Barack the Captayne of hir armie) deliuered them from the Tyrannie of King Iabyn, and of Sisera his Captaine generall, putting the king to a great foyle, in flying of his Captain Sisera. Thorow the which vic­torie, the Israelites were restored to libertie, and their enimies the Cananites vtterly confounded. She iudged Israel .xl. yeares. Note: ¶ Debora. a Worde, or a Bee.

Collo. 4. d. Demas, was Christes Disciple a great while, andPhilem. d. a faythfull minister to Paule, and neuer shranke from2. Tim. 4. c. him nor his doctrine, so long as all things prospered well with Paule: But when he saw Paule cast in pryson, and [Page 85] in daunger of his life for the Gospels sake: He forsooke both him and his doctrine, and (imbraceing the worlde) conueighed himselfe to Thessalonica. Such there be, that so long as pleasure, profite, fauour, honour, glory or ri­ches doe followe the worde of God, so long will they fa­uour the same: But when affliction, persecution, losse of goods, riches, landes, possessions, or such like aduersi­ties doe come, then they doe as Demas dyd, forsake the Gospel and followe the worlde. Note: ¶ Demas. Fauouring the people.

1. Mac. 7. cap. Demetrius, the sonne of Sceleucus came from Rome with a small company of men to a certaine Citie of his owne, lying vpon the Sea coast, and prepared an armie to go to Antioche (the Citie of his Progenitours) where he founde Antiochus and Lisias, which both, he caused to be slayne, and being stablished in his kingdom, he began (through the wicked counsell of Alcimus, whom9. cap. he had made hye Priest) to séeke the destruction of the Iewes, sending foorth diuers armies against them, in the which, he spedde diuersly. Finally, the sonne of noble10. c. Antiochus mooued warre agaynst hym, and in battell slue him. Note: ¶ Demetrius, comming of Ceres: whom the Heathen thought the Goddesse of Corne.

1. Mac. 10. g. Demetrius, the sonne of Demetrius, being in the lande of Creta at his fathers death, made haste home­warde to take possession of his Kingdome. And being sta­blished therein, he began to waxe mightie▪ [...]y reason that Ptolomy King of Egipt had withdrawne his fauour from Alexander his sonne in law, and taken his daughter Cleopatra from him and giuen hir to Demetrius. And also for as much as Ptolomy and Alexander, lyued not long after the strife begun betwéene them, Demetrius (for a space) had great rest. The Captaine of Demetrius hoste, was Appolonius (a great enimie of the Iewes) [Page 86] whom Ionathas discomfited at the first conflict betwéene them. Upon the which, Demetrius perceyuing Iona­thas power to be strong, was content to be at peace with him, and to make all Iewry frée. Which being done, all11. [...]. f. g. the lande was in such quietnesse, that Demetrius sent a­way his hoste, all saue a fewe straungers, whereat the hoste was displeased. Then Triphon (who had béene a foretime on Alexand [...]s partie) perceyuing Demetrius hoste to murmour agaynst hym, mooued Antiochus the sonne of Alexander to warre agaynst Demetrius, who being nowe in great feare of the men of Antioche (with whom he had somewhat to doe) sent to Ionathas to haue his ayde, who sent hym thrée thousande of such picked men, that deliuered Demetrius out of daunger, and slue an hundred thousand of the Antiocheans, so that the reast were fayne to cast downe their weapons & to yéelde them to Demetrius: who (notwithstanding the great fidelitie of Ionathas, and the benefite he had done hym) after he was at rest agayne, dyd not rewarde him according, but most deceytfully dissembled, and withdrew himselfe from Ionathas, and vexed him and the Iewes very sore. After this came Tryphon with all the hoste which Demetrius had put away, and fought against Demetrius, and put hym to flight, and made hym fayne (at the last) to go in­to Medea to séeke ayde and helpe, where Arsaces King of1. Mac. 14. a. the lande tooke him, and kept him in warde as a prisoner during his life.

Act. 19. e. f. g. Demetrius: This man was a Siluersmyth by his occupasion dwelling at Ephesus, which made siluer Shrynes and Tabernacles for Diana the goddesse. And forasmuch as Paule (by the space of twoo yeares) had preached there, against Images made with mans hande, saying that they were no goddes: He (least his profite should decay) called togithers all such as had aduantage by making Images of Diana, and all craftes men of [Page 87] the same occupacion, whome he knew woulde fauour his cause, and began to saye vnto them on this wyse: Mai­sters, yée knowe that by this Craft we haue vauntage: moreouer yée sée and heare, that not onely at Ephesus, but almost thoroweut all Asia, this Paule hath perswa­ded and turned away much people, saying: That they be no goddes which are made with handes. So that not onely this our Craft commeth into perill, and to be set at naught: But also that the Temple of the great god­desse Diana should [...]e despised and hir magnificence de­stroyed, which all Asia and the world woorshippeth. With this sedicious Oracion made by Demetrius, the people were in such a furie, that they cryed out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians, and with that, rushed into the common Hall with one assent, where they (missing of Paule) caught two of his companions, in the which rage, some cryed one thing, and some another, and were so farre out of order, that the most part knowe not the cause of their concourse togithers, so that with great difficul­tie, the matter was pacyfied. Reade the storie of Alexan­der the Iewe borne in the same place.

3. Iohn. Demetrius: This was a faithfull Christen man, ha­uing for a testimonie thereof a good reporte as well of Paule himselfe as of all other to be an earnest fauourer of the Gospel of Christ.

Act. 17. g. Denis, or Dionysius, was a certayne Senatour, whome Paule conuerted at the Citie of Athens, and in­stituted him Bishop thereof.

¶ In Fascicul [...]s temporum, it is written that this De­nis was martyred in Fraunce, whereby it may euident­lye be gathered that the Gospel of Christe our Sauiour was preached in Fraunce in the Apostles time, or very nye vnto their Tyme.

Act. 19. d. Diana, was a Goddesse whom the Ephesians most supersticiouslye dyd woorship. Note: ¶ Diana, Latinum est.

Reade Demetrius the Siluersmyth, and Alexander the Iewe.

[...]. Iohn. b. Diotrephes, was so wicked a man, and so mali­cious an enimie vnto the Christian brethren, that hée coulde not say well of them, nor yet abyde to heare other giue them good report: he woulde neyther receyue them himselfe, nor suffer those that would, but thrust them out of the Church. Note: ¶ Diotrephes: Nourished of Iupiter.

Luk. 16. c. Diues, the riche and coueteous Glutton, so much delited and gloried in his great abundaunce of treasure, fine and costly apparell, sumpteous and delicious fare eche day, that his whole selicitie and pleasure, was onely in pampering vp of hymselfe, hauing no compassion (were his miserie neuer so great) on the poore and néedy, as it dyd appeare by Lazarus the Begger lying at his gates, and looking for some reléefe of the scraps that fell from his boord. But when this glutton was dead and his body (with pompe) brought to his graue, and his soule also in the torments of hell: He than lifting vp his eyes, and beholding Abraham a great way of, and the Beg­ger with him in ioye, cryed out to Abraham, requesting him that Lazarus might nowe come downe, and dip the tip of his finger in water, to slake the great heate of his tongue, for I am (sayth he) most gréeuously tormented in this Ardent flame. But to this & his other most vayne and fantasticall request he made for his brethren, to haue them admonished by one that came from the dead: Abra­ham made aunswere and sayde. That for so much as he had consumed and spent away the tyme of his life volup­teously in the pleasures and delights of the worlde (and woulde at no tyme repent) he therefore was nowe, most iustly condemned to suffer parpetuall payne in the fire of [Page 89] hell. Note: ¶ Diues: Riche.

1. Reg. 21. b. Doeg, an Edomite borne, was King Saules ser­uaunt,22. b. c. d. and the mayster of them that kept his cattell. When Dauid came to Ahimelech the Priest of Nob, and had receyued the shewe breade, with the sworde of Goliah: This Doeg wasBy Doeg (sayth Saint Austen) is signified An­tichrist, which with false sig­nes, and feyg­ned miracles shall moue all the world be­fore the com­ming of the Lorde to iud­gement. And as Doeg wrought wic­kednesse for y^e pleasing of king Saule, by whome is signified the Deuill. So shall Anti­christ mooue and stirre the worlde vnto sinne, for the pleasing of the Deuill, and aduaun­cing of hys name. there present the same day, ta­rying to worship before the Lorde, and sawe and hearde all things that was done betwéene them. And when he was returned home, and had wayted his time when he might best pleasure the King, hée vp and accused Ahime­lech, of all that he had done vnto Dauid: And when the King had iudged that good and godlye man to dye, this Doeg, at the Kings commaundement (all other resusing that wicked déede) fell vpon Ahimelech with his sworde, and slue both him, and all the Priestes of the Lorde, to the number of. 85. Note: ¶ Doeg, Carefull, or vehemently mooued.

Dorcas, wasAct. 9. f. g. a certaine godly woman, and a Disci­ple of Christ, dwelling at Ioppa, who in hir lyfe time had bene vertuously occupied, and specially in the works of mercy, relieuing the poore and néedie. And whyle Pe­ter was preaching and doing his office at Lydda (which was not farre from Ioppa) it was hir chaunce to fall sicke and die. And when hir friendes had done with was­shing the deade corps, and laid it forth in an vpper cham­ber to he annoynted, they sent for Peter to come vnto them, who being come, they had him vp to the Chamber where the deade Corse lay, where the Wydowes came about him wéeping, and laying forth the Coates and o­ther garmentes which she had prepared in hir life time for the poore, before him. Then Peter put them all forth of the Chamber: And being alone, knéeled downe and prayed, and turning him to the bodie, sayde: Tabitha, a­ [...]se, at the which worde she arose and looked vpon [...] who then gaue hir his hande, and lift hir vp, and cal­led [Page 91] the Saints and Wydowes, and restored Dorcas vn­to them aliue. Note: ¶ Dorcas, a Do.

2. Mac. 1 [...]. d. e. f. Dositheus, was a certayne Noble Captayne with Iudas Machabeus, who (by the helpe of Sosipater ano­ther Captayne) defended the Iewes manfullye agaynst Timotheus, and slue tenne thousande of his men which were left in a strong holde, and after that, tooke Timo­thie himselfe in battell, and (notwithstanding) let him go agayne, vppon his promise made vnto them, that he would restore al the Iewes home againe which he had in prison, thinking that, the best and most surest way, to saue the liues of their captiue brethren. After this, it chaun­ced Dositheus (a mightie man on horsebacke) to encoun­ter with Gorgias, another great Captayne, and enimie of the Iewes, and tooke him, entending to haue caryed him away aliue: But an horseman of Thracia fell vpon him, and smote off his arme, and so Gorgias escaped, and fled into Moresa. Note: ¶ Dositheus, giuen to God.

Act. 24. d. Drusilla, was a Iew, and wyfe to Felix, by whose counsell (sayth the Note in Geneuaes Bible) he called for Paule, and heard him of the fayth in Christ. Note: ¶ Dru­silla, Bedewed, or s [...]rinckled with bloude.

E.

[...]c. 10. d. 11. c EBer, was the sonne of Selah of the generation of Sem. He had twoo sonnes, the one Peleg (in whose dayes the earth was diuided) and the other Ioktan. This Eber liued before and after he be­gat Peleg. 464. yeares. Note: ¶ Eber, Passing, or passage.

Of Eber came the Ebrues, which were afterwarde called Israelites of Israel, which was Iacob. And Iewes of Iuda, bicause of the excellencie of that Tribe.

3. Reg. 16. b. Ela, the sonne of Baasa, began his reigne ouer Is­rael, [Page 92] in the .xxvj. yeare of Asa king of Iuda, and walked in all the wicked wayes of his father before him. In the seconde yeare of his reigne (or there about) Zimri his seruant (and Captaine of his Charets) conspired against him, and finding him drunken in the house ofDrinking (as some say) till hee was drunkē in the [...]mple of Arza the I­doll, by his house in Tirza. Arza the Kings Stewarde, he fell vpon him, and slue him. Note: ¶ E­la, an Oke.

Elam, was the sonne of Sem. Note: ¶ Elam, a yong Man,1. Par. 1. c. or he that is bidde, or the worlde.

Exod. 6. d. Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron, was constituted hye Priest, after the decease of his father, and so was the se­condeNum. 20. d. Bishop ouer the Iewes. He tooke to wyfe one ofIosua. 24. g. the daughters of Putuel, which bare him a sonne called Phinehes. Finally, he dyed, and was buryed in a hyll that pertayned to Phinehes his sonne, which hyll was giuen him in Mount Ephraim. Note: ¶ Eleazar, the helpe of God.

1. Mac. 6. [...]. Eleazar, the sonne of Saura, was a woorthy Cap­tayne with Iudas Machabeus, what tyme as Antiochus Eupater came into Iewrie with a mightie strong army, both of men and Olephants: which beastes being .xxxij. in number, were strongly fenced, and surely harnessed, and well exercised to battell. And when the hostes were ioyned togither, Eleazar beholding one of the Olephants deckt with royall harnesse, and farre excelling all the o­ther beastes, he supposed the King himselfe had bene vp­pon him, wherefore he ieoperded himselfe to delyuer hys people, and with a good courage ranne to the Olephant in the middest of the hoste, slaying all about him as he went, and at last came vnto the beast, and gat himselfe vnder his féete, and smote him in the belly, and slue the Olephant. The weight of whose deade body crushed Ele­azar in péeces, and so he dyed.

2. Mac. 6. c. d. [...]. Eleazar, was one of the principall Scribes among the Iewes, and an aged man, of a welfauoured counte­nance, who (when that cruell King Antiochus had sent his Commissioners to compell the Iewes to transgresse the lawes of their God) was constrayned to gape wyth open mouth, and to eate Swynes fleshe, but he desiring rather to dye grieuously, than to liue with hatred, offered himselfe willingly to the torment, and spit it out. Then they that had the charge of the Kings wicked acte, for the olde friendship of the man, tooke him aside priuilye, and prayed him that he woulde take such fleshe as was law­full to eate, and dissemble as though he had eaten euen of the things appointed by the King, euen the fleshe of the sacrifice, that in so dooing, he might be deliuered from death, and that for the olde friendship that was among them, he woulde receyue this fauour. But he began to consider discretely, and as became his age, and the ex­cellencie of his ancient yeares, and the honor of his gray heares, wherevnto he was come, and his moste honest conuersation from his childehoode, but chiefly the holye lawe, made and giuen by God: therefore he aunswered them consequently, and willed them streyght wayes to sende him to the graue: for it becommeth not our age (sayde he) to dissemble, whereby manye yong persons might thinke that Eleazar being. 90. yeares olde, were nowe gone to another maner of lyfe. And so thorowe mine hypocrisie (for a little time of a transitorie life) they might be deceyued by me, and I shoulde procure male­diction and reproch to mine olde age. For though I were nowe deliuered from the torments of men, yet coulde I not escape the hande of the Almightie, neyther aliue nor dead. Wherfore I will now chaunge this lyfe manfully, and will shewe my selfe such as mine age requireth. And so will leaue a notable example for such as be yong, to die willingly & couragiously, for the honorable & holy lawes: [Page 93] and when he had sayde these wordes, immediately hée went to torment. And as he was readye to giue vp the ghost, he sighed and sayde: The Lorde that hath the holy knowledge, knoweth manifestly, that whereas I might haue bene deliuered from death, I am scourged, and suf­fer these sore paynes of my bodie, but in my minde I suf­fer them gladly for his religion. Thus this man ended his lyfe, leauing his death for an example of a noble cou­rage, and a memoriall of vertue, not onely vnto yoong men, but vnto all his nation.

1. Reg. 1. b. 2. c. [...]. Eli, was the next Iudge after Sampson, that iud­ged Israel, and the hye Priest descended from Aaron. He had twoo sonnes, the one called Hophni, the other Phinehes, which were so wicked that euerye man com­plained on them. And bicause that Eli did not punishe them according to their desertes, God sent him worde by his Prophete, that for as much as he had not ministred due correction vnto his sonnes for their great offences, he woulde surely remooue the hye Priests office from his house for euer, and stirre him vp aMeaning Sador, who succeded [...]bi­athar, and was the fi­gure of christ. faithfull Priest which shoulde doe according to his hearts desire. And this shall be to thée (sayd he) a signe and token that shall come vpon thy two sonnes, euen in one day they shall both die. And so it came to passe, for when the Philistines went out to battell agaynst Israel, the twoo sonnes of Eli (which1. Reg. 4. c. d. wayted vpon the Arke of God) were both stayne, and the Arke taken and possessed of straungers. Then Eli (being at that time. 99▪ yeares of age, and also blinde) hearing of the Arke to be taken of the Philistines, was stricken into such a sodaine feare, that he fell backeward of his stoole, and brake his necke, after he had iudged forty yeares. Note: ¶ Eli, my God.

1. Reg. 16. b. Eliab, was the eldest sonne of Isai, and so goodly a man of stature and personage, that when all the sonnes [Page 94] of Isai were brought before the Prophete Samuel to choose out a King among them: Samuel thought Eliab to be the méetest for that office, but God refused him, and accepted Dauid his yongest brother, who séemed to haue more skill in kéeping of shéepe, than of warre, notwith­standing, after that, hée prooued a better Warriour than Eliab, or all the rest of his brethren, when he fought with Goliah, and slue him. And for that great enterprise of Dauid, Eliab (being with King Saule in the hoste)17. d. was sore offended, and began to rebuke Dauid, saying: wherefore art thou nowe come hither? with whom hast thou left thy shéepe in the wildernesse? I know thy pride, and the malice of thine heart well ynough, and that of an hautie stomack thou art come hither to sée the battell, and with such tauntes and checkes he reprooued his bro­ther Dauid, for taking vpon him to beate the Philistine, whome he, nor none of all his fellowes durst looke in the face. Note: ¶ Eliab, God my Father, or the God of my Father.

3. Reg. 17. ca. Eliah, was a Prophete borne in the Citie of Thes­ba, who (for the wickednesse of Achab) prophecied that itThe father of this Prophet was called Sobac. Coo­per. shoulde not rayne vpon the earth, in the space of thrée yeares and an halfe, and fled from the King (who sought his lyfe) and hid himselfe in a little brooke before Iordan, where God commaunded the Rauens to féede him wythThe Rauens fedde Eliah. breade and fleshe both Euening and Morning. And when the brooke began to waxe drie, the Lorde sent him to the Citie of Serepta in the countrey of Sydon, where he had ordeyned a certayne Widowe to sustayne him, and when he was come to the gate of the Citie, the Wydowe was there gathering of a fewe stickes for hir Ouen, to whom he called, and sayd: Woman, fet me (I pray thée) a little water to drinke: And as she was going, he cryed vntoThe widow sustayneth Eliah. hir agayne, saying: Bring me (I pray thée) a morsell of breade in thine hande also: she sayde agayne, as truly as the Lorde thy God liueth, I haue no breade ready, but e­uen [Page] [...] [Page]

[Page] [Page 95] an handefull of Meale in a Barrell, and a little oyle in a Cruse, and am now going to dresse it for me and my sonne, that we may eate and dye. Well (sayde Elia) doe as thou hast sayde and feare not: But first of all, make me a little Cake therof, and bring it to me, & afterwarde make for thée and thy sonne: for neyther shall the Meale in the Barrell, nor yet the oyle in the Cruse be wasted or minished, tyll the Lorde haue sent rayne vpon the earth. And so the Wydowe did as the Prophete bade hir, and all things came to passe as he had sayde. And during the Prophetes abode in the Wydowes house, he restored hir chylde to lyfe, which was deade.

3. Reg. 18. ca.After this, he was commaunded by God, to go & shew himselfe to Achab. And when the King sawe Eliah, he saide: Arte thou he that troubleth Israel? Nay sayde the Prophete it is not I that haue troubled Israel, but thou and thy fathers house, in that yée haue forsaken the com­maundements of God, and serued Baal: Therefore let all the people of Israel with the Prophets of Baal be brought before me to mount Carmel, and I will tell thée what the Lorde saith. And when the King had called the people togithers: The Prophete sayde vnto them, how long will yée hault betwéene two Opinions? If the Lord be God, followe hym? But if Baal be God, then go after him. And nowe to know who is the true God, sayde the Prophet, let there be two Bullocks brought, and giue the one to mée (which am but one Prophete of the Lords) and the other to Baals prophets which are. 450. let them dresse the one with woode and no fire vnder it, and I will dresse the other likewise: And call yée on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of my God, & then, the God that answereth by fyre, let hym be God. To this the Prophets of Baal agreed, and dressed there Oxen, whichEliah moc­keth the pro­phetes of Baal. being done, they crye to their God Baal, but they cried so long without aunswere againe, that Eliah mocked them, saying: Crye out alowde, for it may be that your [Page 96] God is busie in talking, or occupyed in following his eni­mies, or is in his iourney, or else fallen a sléepe and must be waked with your crye. And so they cryed on still from morning to night, cutting themselues (as their maner was) with kniues and launces, till the bloud dyd follow, and yet their god woulde not aunswere. Then Eliah tooke his Bullocke and dressed it, and layed it vpon the woode, and made a ditch rounde about the alter whereon the sacrifice was layed, and powred water vpon the Sa­crifice vntill the ditch was full: And assoone as he had called on the name of the Lorde, fyre fell downe from Heauen, and consumed the brent Sacrifice, the woode, the stones, the dust, and all the water that was in the pit. And when the people sawe that, they turned to Eliah, and fell vpon all the Prophets of Baal, and slue them at the Brooke Kyson.

3. Reg. 19. ca.¶ Nowe when Eliah had thus destroyed Baal and his prophets, he durst not abide the manacing of Iezabell, but fled to the wildernesse of Bethsabe. And hauing gone a dayes iourney therein, he sate him downe vnder a Iu­niper trée, and desired God that he woulde take his lyfe from him. And as he fell a sléepe vnder the trée. The An­gell of God touched hym and bade him aryse and eate, wherewithall he awaked: And séeing a Baken cake and a pot of water standing at his head, he refreshed himselfe therewith, and layde him downe agayne to sléepe. The Aungell touched him once more, and bade hym aryse and eate, telling him that he had yet a great iourney to go, then he arose and dyd eate agayne, and with the strengthEliah fasteth fortie dayes and fortye nightes. of that meate, he walked fourtie dayes & fourtie nights, till he came to Horeb the mount of God, and hiding him­selfe in a Caue all night, the voyce of the Lorde came to him, and asked him what he dyd there: I haue (sayde he) béene very ielous for the Lorde God of hostes: For the Children of Israel hath forsaken thy couenaunt, broken downe thine Alters, and slayne thy Prophets, with the [Page 97] sworde, and I onely am left, and they séeke my lyfe to take it away. Then the Lord commaunded hym to come out of the Caue, and sent hym to annoynt Hazael King ouer Siria: And Iehu King of Israel, and Eliseus in his rowme. Reade more of this Prophete in the stories of these thrée aforesayde, in Achab, Ahazia and Obedia, and Elizeus. Note: ¶ Eliah. God the Lorde.

Iudith. 4. cap. Eliachim, was the hye Priest among the Iewes, at what tyme Holofernes went aboute to subdue them, which sent letters all about to the Iewes, to take in the mountaynes, and to stoppe all the wayes and passages to Ierusalem, that their enimies the Assirians might haue no recourse thither. That done, he exhorted the people to earnest prayer and fasting, assuring them that the Lord woulde heare their peticions, if they continued stedfast in the same, and giue them such power to ouerthrowe the Assirians, as he gaue to Moses the seruaunt of God, which ouerthrew the Amalechites (trusting in their owne strength) not with weapon, but with holy prayer. Note: ¶ Elia­chim, The Resurrection of God, or Gods affirmacion, or the God of resurrection, or the God of strength.

Ruth. 1. a. b. Elimelech, was an Ephraite borne, dwelling in the Citie of Bethleem Iuda, in whose dayes there fell such a dearth in the lande of Iuda, that he with his wyfe and twoo sonnes (the one Mahalon, the other Chilion) went into the lande of Moab, where in processe, he and his tw [...] sonnes died. Note: ¶ Elimelech. My God the king, or the Counsell of God.

Gen. 36. [...]. Eliphas, was the sonne of Esau, and his mothers name was Ada. Note: ¶ Eliphas, the Sight of God, or his intent, or endeuour.

Iob. 2. d. Eliphas, the Themanite, was one of those that came [Page 98] to Iob in his extréeme afflictions to comforte him. And4. yet (notwithstanding) he blamed Iob for impaciencie,15. vniustice, and for the presumption of his owne righte­ousnesse.12. Also he reprooued hym, bycause he chalenged wisedome and purenesse to himselfe. Affirming also that he was punished for his sumes, and accused hym of vn­mercyfulnesse, and that he denyed Gods pr [...]dence, and therefore exhorteth hym to repentaunce. But the Lorde was angrie with Eliphas and with his other Compa­nions,42. b. bicause they had condemned Iob by the outwarde afflictions, and not comforted him with his mercy, and therefore commaunded them to take s [...]auen▪ Oxen and seauen Rammes▪ and to go and offer a burnt offering for their offence, and his seruaunt Iob shoulde praye for them. And they dyd as the Lord had commaunded them.

1. Par. 1. 2. Elisa, was the sonne of Iauan, his brethren were: Tharsis, Citim, and D [...]int. Note: ¶ Elisa, it is God, or the [...]ambe of G [...]d, or God that doth good.

[...]. Reg. 19. d. Eliseus, was the sonne of Saphan. And being at the plough with twelue yoake of Oxen before hym, Eliah comming by him cast hys mantell ouer hym, and went his wayes. Then [...] (being instinct with the holye Ghost) left his plough, and ranne after Eliah, desiring hym that he might first go home and take his leaue of his friendes, & then he woulde come and followe him, which thing being done, he returned and ministred to Eliah, and went with him to Bethel, & from thence to Iericho,4. Reg. 2. ca. where the children of the Prophetes came to Eliseus and sayde: Knowest thou not that the Lorde will take thy maister from thine heade this daye? Yes (quoth he) I knowe it well, holde yée your peace and be still. And so foorth from Iericho, they went to Iordan, where Eliah [...]he waters deuided. smote the waters with his mantell which deuided them­selues, so that they two went ouer on dry land. And when [Page 99] they were on the other side of Iordan, Eliah sayde to Eliseus: Aske what I shall doe for thée, or I be taken away from thée: I pray thée (quoth Eliseus) let thy spi­rite be double vpon mée. Thou hast asked (quoth he) an harde thing: Yet if thou sée mee when I am taken from thée, thou shalt haue it so, if not, it shall not be. And asEliah is ta­ken vp in the firie Charet. they were walking and talking togithers Eliah was ta­ken vp in a whirlewinde of fire and in a Charret of fyrie horses, which sight Eliseus sawe and cryed: My father, my father, the Charret of Israel and the horsemen there­of, and sawe hym no more▪ Then Eliseus, rent his owne Cloake in twoo peeces, and tooke vp Elias mantell, which he had let fall from him, and returned to the banke of Iordan and smote the waters, saying: Where is the Lorde God of Eliah and he himselfe, and at the seconde smiting, the waters deuided, so that he went ouer on drye lande to the other [...]yde agayne. Then the Chil­dren of the Prophets perceyuing the spirite of Eliah to be vpon Eliseus, came and fell down before him, saying: We doubt lest the spirit of the Lord hath taken thy mai­ster and cast him vpon some mountayne, therefore let vs▪ sende foorth our men to go and séeke hym. But Eliseus (knowing assuredly that he was taken vnto God) willed them not to doe so: yet they▪ not there withall satisfied, intreated hym so much tyll he was ashamed, and so let them go. And when they had sought thrée dayes and thrée nightes and coulde not finde hym, they returned to Eli­seus, who sayde vnto them: Dyd not I saye, yée should not finde hym.

The water [...] are healed.¶ Nowe, as the Prophete laye at Iericho, the men of the Citie came vnto him, saying: Sir, the scituacion of this Citie (as thou séest) is pleasaunt, but the water is so euill and the grounde so barrayne, that it killeth the in­habitaunts thereof. Then sayde Eliseus, bring me a Cruse, and put Salt therein. And when they had brought him the Cruse, he tooke it and went vnto the spring of the [Page 100] waters, and cast the Salt therein, saying: Thus sa [...]th the Lorde, I haue healed this water, death shall no more come thereof, neyther barrennesse to the grounde.

4. Reg. 3. cap.¶After he had thus healed the water at Iericho, and was departed thence to go to Bethel, there came little chyl­dren out of the Citie, who in mockery sayde vnto hym: Come vp thou balde head, come vp thou balde heade. TheThe children for mocking the Prophet, are deuoured with beares. Prophet then turned backe and behelde the children, and perceyuing their malicious hearts, he cursed them in the name of the Lord, which Curse was no sooner pronoun­ced out of the Prophets mouth, but twoo Beares came out of the forrest and ran vpon the Children, and tore in péeces. 42. of them: And so went he foorth to mount. Car­mel, and from thence to the Citie of Samaria.

¶It came to passe that when Iehoram y^• King of Israel, and Iehosaphat King of Iuda with the King of Edom, in their progresse towarde the King of Moab, lacked water, for them and their people▪ they went (by the counsell of Iehosaphat King of Iuda) to Eliseus the Prophete, be­séeching hym to make intercession for them, that they might haue water to sustayne their hoste, which else were in ieoperdie of perishing: And when the Prophete sawe the Kings, he sayde to the King of Israel: What haue I to do with thée? Get thée to the prophets of Achab thy father, and to the Prophets of Iezabel thy mother: as truely as the Lorde of hostes lyueth, in whose sight I stande, if it were not that I regarde the presence of Ie­hosaphat King of Iuda, I woulde not haue looked to­warde thée, nor séene thée: But now bring mée aThis was no such Min­strell, as vse to fil the peo­ples cares with songes of ribaudry: but one that sang songs to Gods glory, and so stirred vp the Pro­phetes heart to prophecie. min­strell, and when the mynstrell playde, the hande of the Lorde came vpon Eliseus, that he began to prophecie of water, and of the ouerthrow of the Moabites, which came to passe on the next morrowe, as the Prophete had sayde, for the Moabites being deceyued by the Sunnes shining vpon the water that fell, which made it séeme as redde as bloude, thinking, it had béene the bloude of the Kinges [Page 101] hoste that had slayne one another, but when they came, they founde the hoste of Israel ready, who fell vpon the Moabites, and destroyed & put them to flight euery one. Note: ¶ Eliseus, Gods saluation, or a God which saueth.

4. Reg. 4. a. b¶ There was a certaine woman, late wife to one of the Prophetes, which came and complained to Eliseus, that hir husbande had left hir so farre in debt, that hir credi­tors were come to fet hir twoo sonnes awaye to be their bondemen. What hast thou in thy house, sayde the Pro­phet. Nothing (quoth she) but a little Pitcher of oyle:The widowe left in debt. Well (saide he) go thy waye home, and borowe of thy neyghbours, as many emptie vessels as thou canst get, and poure out the oyle of the Pitcher into the emptie ves­sels, vntill thou hast filled them all. And when the wo­man had done all as the Prophet had commaunded hir, she came backe againe, and tolde him howe mightily hir oyle was increased. Nowe go (sayde the Prophet) and sell so much of the oyle as will pay thy Creditours, and then liue thou and thy children of the rest.

4. Reg. 4. b. c. d. e.¶ There was a certaine woman of great estimacion in the Citie of Sumen, who hearing tell that Eliseus was come to the Citie, inuited him home to hir house, and made him great cheare. And whensoeuer after that, he came into that quarters (which he haunted much) he woulde euer take that Gentlewomans house in his way. Then she séeing that, sayde vnto hir husband, I perceiue that this is an holye man, that commeth so ofte by our place, let vs make him a little chamber with all thingsEliseus ob­taineth a son for the Su­namite. necessarie for the same, that when he commeth this way, he may lodge there, and be quiet therein. And when the new Chamber was made, and finished, the Prophete at his next comming was brought into the same, there to take his rest. He then (considering the great prouision the woman had made, and howe carefull she had bene for him) sayde vnto Gehezi his man: Go and aske of hir what she will haue mée to doe for hir? whether it be to [Page 102] speake vnto the King, or to the Captaine of the hoste, or any thing else, and I will doe it. The seruaunt went andThe Suna­mites sonne restored from death to life. brought him worde agayne, that she had no chylde, and hir husbande was olde. Well, sayde the Prophete, she shall haue a sonne, which in processe she had in déede. And when the chylde was a fewe yeares grow [...]n vp, it had a desire to go and sée his Father and the Reapers in the fielde, and being there in the heate of the daye, it fell so­denly sicke, and was caried home to his mother, and dy­ed: But for the womans sake, the Prophet restored hir sonne to life agayne.

4. Reg. 4. g.¶ On a tyme Eliseus commaunded his Cooke to make a great pot of pottage for the children of the Prophetes which boorded with him, and as one went out for herbes, he gathered (vnwares) his lap full of wylde Coloquinti­das,Hee maketh the pottage sweete. and came and shred them into the pot of pottage. And when the children of the Prophets had tasted a little of the pottage, they (fearing least they had bene poyso­ned) cried out, saying: O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. Then the Prophet called for Meale, and threwe it into the pot, and all was well, and no more harme in the pot.

4. Reg. 4. g.¶ A certaine man (the dearth being great in the lande) came from Baal Salisa, and brought to Eliseus twenty Barley loaues of the first fruites of his newe Corne, the which he commaunded his man, to giue to the people to satisfie their hunger. How shall I (sayd he) set this beforeThe loaues are multi­plyed. so many, will it satisfie an hundred persons? Well, sayd Elizeus, set it before them, for thus sayth the Lord, they shall eate, and there shall remayne: And so the loaues were set before the people, and they did eate, and left o­uer, according to the worde of the Lorde.

4. Reg. 6. a.¶ Eliseus had so many of the Prophetes children wyth him at boorde and downe lying, that his house was to lit­tle for them all, wherefore they sayde to him, that they woulde go to Iordan, and buylde them a bygger house to [Page 103] dwell in, desiring him to go with them. And as a certaine man was felling downe a trée to serue for the buylding, the Axe heade slipt of the Helue, and fell into the water.Iron swim­meth. Then the man cryed to Eliseus, and sayde: Alas, May­ster, helpe me to haue it agayne, for it was lent me. Where fell it in, sayde the Prophet, and when the man had tolde him, Eliseus cut downe a péece of woode, and cast it into the water, and immediately, the yron did swymme. And then the man stretched forth his hande, and tooke it vp.

4. Reg. 8. a.¶ He prophecied vnto the Sunamite (whose sonne he had raysed from death) of a great dearth which shoulde come and continue vpon the land seauen yeares, giuing hir counsell therefore, to go and soiourne in some other plentifull countrey, till these yeares were expired, whose counsell she followed, and went with all hir housholde in­to the Philistines lande, where she remayned these sea­uen yeares of dearth, which being ended, she returned home agayne. And when she came to hir house, another hauing possession thereof, withhelde it from hir, where­fore she went to the King to make hir complaynt, at which time it happened the King to be talking with Ge­heziThe Suna­mite is resto­red to hyr house & lande agayne. the seruant of Eliseus the Prophet, who was decla­ring vnto the King what great and notable déedes hys Maister Eliseus had done, and among all, declared of a deade bodie which he had raysed vp from death to lyfe, and as he was telling of these thinges vnto the King, the woman came with hir sonne, and required hir house and lande againe: And when Gehezi sawe the woman, he sayde: O my Lorde and King, this same is the woman that I tolde your Grace of [...]uen nowe, and this is hyr sonne that was raysed from death. Then the King com­maunded hir house and lande to be restored hir againe, with all the rent and profites thereof, from the first daye she l [...]st it▪ till that present time.

4. Reg. 13. c. d¶ Finallye, when the time drewe me, that Eliseus the [Page 104] Prophet shoulde dye, Ioas King of Israel came to visite him, & as he stoode before him, and considered what a losse he should haue of that good man, which had bene so great a defence vnto his Realme, the teares ranne downe hys chéekes, and sayde: O my father, my father, the Charet of Israel, and the horsemen of the same. And when the Prophet sawe the King, he bade him take his bowe and arrowes in his hand, and make him readie to shoote. The Prophet put his hande vpon the Kings hande, and caused a windowe to be opened Eastwarde, (which was toward Siria) and bade the King shoote, and he shot: The arrow of helth of the Lorde (sayde Eliseus) and the arrowe of health against Siria. For thou shalt smyte Siria in A­phek, till thou haue made an ende of them. Nowe take thine arrowes in thine hande (sayde the Prophete) and smyte the grounde, and he smote thrice and ceassed. Then was the Prophet angry, that he had smitten the grounde no oftener, for if (sayde he) thou had smitten fiue or sixe times, thou hadst smitten Siria vntill thou hadst made an ende of them, where nowe thou shalt smite them but thryce, and so Eliseus dyed, and was buried. The same yeare came the Moabites into the lande of Israel, and as some of the Israelites were burying of a man, and had spyed the Souldiers, they cast the man into the sepul­chre where Eliseus the Prophet was buried, and when the deade man was rolled downe, and touched the bodye of Eliseus, he reuiued, and stoode vp vppon his féete as liuely as euer he was.

Luk. 1. c. d. e. f. Elizabeth, was the wife of Zacharie the Priest, and came of the daughters and posteritie of Aaron. She was long barren, but at last shée conceyued by Zacharie hir husbande (according as the Angell of God had sayde vnto him.) And being great with chylde, Marie the wife of Io­seph (which was also conceyued by the holy ghost) came to visite Elizabeth hir cosin, who had no sooner hearde [Page 105] the salutacion of Marie the Mother of God, but the Babe sprang in hir belly, wherewith she was filled with the ho­ly ghost, and cried out with a lowde voyce, saying: Bles­sed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe: And whence happeneth this to me, that the mother of my Lorde should come to me? For behold, as sone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the Babe sprang in my belly for ioye: And blessed is she that beléeued, for those things shall be perfourmed, which were tolde hir from the Lorde. And when the time was come that Elizabeth shoulde be deliuered, she brought forth a sonne, which hir neyghbours and kinsefolkes, woulde haue named Zacharie after his father, but Eli­zabeth woulde none of that, but sayde his name shoulde be Iohn. Note: ¶ Elizabeth, the Othe of God, or the fulnesse of God.

1. Reg. 1. a. b. c Elkana, the sonne of Ieroham an Ephraite borne, had two wiues, the one named Anna, and the other Phe­nenna. By his wyfe Phenenna he had children. But by Anna he had none. It was his maner euerye Feastfull daye to go vp and praye. And to offer vnto the Lorde of hostes in Silo (where the Arke of the Lorde was at that time) and in one solemne feast day (among all other) as he offered vnto the Lorde, he gaue vnto Phenenna hys wife, and to hir sonnes and daughters, portions: but vn­to Anna (whome he loued) he gaue a portion with an hea­uie cheare. And on a time when he sawe his wife Anna wéepe in the house of the Lorde for sorrowe she could haue no childe, he sayde: Anna why wéepest thou? and why is thy hart so troubled that thou canst not eate? Am not I better to thée than ten sonnes? as though he should say, is it not inough for thée, that I loue thée, no lesse than if thou hadst children. This he sayde to comfort hir. And at the last, God gaue him a Sonne by hir, named Samuel, after whose birth he went vp to offer vnto the Lorde, and to giue him thankes. But Anna would not go with him vn­till [Page 106] she had weyned hir sonne. Note: ¶ Elkana, the Zeale of God, and the possession of God.

Phil. 2. d. Epaphroditus, was a certayne godlye Brother, whome the Philippians sent to Paule (being in bondes at Rome) with their charitable reliefe. Who being there, ministred vnto him in his néede, and was so faithfull a fellow souldier with Paule in setting forth the Gospell of Christ, and put himselfe in such hazarde, that he fell sicke and was like to haue dyed. Nowe Paule, to comfort the Philippians, which were full of sorrowe and heauinesse for Epaphroditus their Apostle, bicause they hearde he was sicke, was the more desirous (after his recouerie) to sende him home againe in the company of Timotheus, with his Epistle that they might be the lesse sorrowfull, and reioyce the more at his comming, willing them to receyue him with a louing Christian affection in all ioy­fulnesse, and not to make much on him onely, but on all such as were like vnto him. Note: ¶ Epaphroditus, Pleasant.

Collo. 4. d. Epaphras, was a faithfull seruant, by whose labour and preaching the Colossians hearde the Gospell, and be­léeued it, and being in prison with Paule at Rome, pray­ed for those Colossians, that they might be perfite, and fil­led in all the will of God after true knowledge. He bare a feruent minde to them of Laodicia, and them of Hiera­polis. Note: ¶ Epaphras, Frothing.

Rom. 16. a. Epenetes, was the first that Paule brought to Chri­stes religion, among them of Achaia, vnto whom Paule had him saluted. Note: ¶ Epenetes, Worthy of prayse.

Gen. 48. c. d. Ephraim, was the yoongest sonne of Ioseph, and borne in Egypt. His mothers name was Asuath the* God pre­ferreth that (many times) which man despiseth, and despiseth that which man alloweth. daughter of Putipher Priest of On, and his eldest bro­ther was Manasses, which two being brought before [Page] [Page] [...] [Page]

[Page 107] their Grandfather Iacob to receyue his blessing, he pre­ferred Ephraim the yoonger, before Manasses the el­der, yet putting Ioseph their father in comfort that Ma­nasses shoulde be great, but Ephraim shoulde be greater. Of the Genealogie of Ephraim, reade. 1. Par. 7. d. Note: ¶ E­phraim, Fruitfull, or encreasing.

Gen. 23. cap. Ephron, the sonne of Zoar, dwelt among the He­thites, hauing a péece of lande which Abraham had a mynde to buye, to burie Sara his wyfe therein. And when the matter was broken to Ephron (by Abraham) to sell h [...]s grounde for so much money as it was woorth: Ephron willingly offered to giue it him fréely to burye his deade, and to doe withall what he woulde. But not­withstanding, Abraham forced him so much to know the price thereof, that Ephron sayde: My Lorde, the lande is woorth foure hundrethThe cōmon Sicle is a­bout the va­lew of twen­tie pence. Sicles, but what is that be­twéene thée and me, take it fréely (I beséech thée) and bu­rie thy deade at thy pleasure. And so he receyued of A­braham for his lande, the somme aforesayde. Note: ¶ Ephron, Dust, or lowe on the grounde.

Gen. 38. a. Er, the eldest sonne of Iuda the sonne of Iacob, was maried to a woman called Thamar, and for his great wickednesse, the Lord slue him. Note: ¶ Er, Watchfull, and ma­king bare, or pouring forth.

Act. 19. d. Erastus, was the Chamberlaine, or Receyuer ofRom. 16. d. the Citie of Corinth, and one of Paules ministers, whom2. Tim. 4. d. he sent from Ephesus into Macedonia, with one Timo­theus (int [...]nding him selfe to foll [...]we after) to gather mens almes for the relieuing of such as were néedye and poore at Ierusalem. Note: ¶ Erastus, Amiable.

Esay, the sonne ofAmos was the father of Esaye, was brother to A­zariah king of Iuda▪ and Esay was fa­ther in lawe to Manasses, who put him to death. Amos was an holy Prophete ofEsay. 1. a. 42. the Tribe of Iuda, in whome was such abundance of thea. b. 43. b. & 53. cap. [Page 108] spirite of Prophecie, that he prophecied so much of Christ, that he séemed rather to be an Euangelist, than a Prophet. He was of such holynesse, that in the time of King Ezechias, when a Citie was besieged, he by his prayer obtayned of God, that water sprang vp in little quantitie, so that the people did not perishe for lacke of water, and when the enimies had woon the Citie, and be­sieged Seloum, as often as the Iewes came for water, the water ranne out of the earth abundantly, and they tooke water. But the straungers when they came, could not finde it. This holy man for his libertie of speach, in rebuking of the sinne of the Princes & the people, and for the prophecying of the vengeance of God vpon that coun­trey and people, was cut in twoo péeces with a Sawe, and buried vnder an Oke, but afterwarde he was translated and buryed by the sepulchre of Kings. He was before the comming of Christ. 800. yeres. Eliote. Note: ¶ Esay, The health of the Lorde.

Gen. 25. d. Esau, was the eldest sonne of Isaac, borne with hys brother Iacob at one birth of their mother Rebecca. Ia­cobOf Esau came the E­domites. E­sau was cal­led Edom, that is red, bicause hee sold his birth right for a messe of red pottage. was smooth of body, and Esau rough and heary, who became a great hunter, wherefore his father l [...]ued hym the better, bicause (nowe and then) he did eate of his Ve­nison. On a time comming from hunting, he was so wearie and faynt for hunger, that he was almost deade: And seing his brother Iacob to hane sod a pot of pottage, he prayed him to giue him a fewe thereof to [...]ate. Sell me nowe thy birthright (quoth he) and I will. Then Esau estéeming more his belly, than the benefite of his birth­right, solde it to Iacob for a messe of pottage. And when he had filled his belly well, he went his waye and passed forth, till he came about the age of fortie yeares. And26. g. then he tooke him twoo wiues, the one Iudith the daugh­ter of Bery, and the other Basmoth the daughter of E­lon, both which women were disobedient to their father [Page 109] and mother in lawe. After this (his father being olde and27. cap. blinde for age) he went out to kill some Venison for hys father, that he might eate thereof, and blesse him before he dyed: But when he had dressed it, and brought it for his father to eate, Iacob had preuented Esau, and gotten his blessing from him, for the which, he hated Iacob, and threatened to kyll him, wherefore Iacob was sent away28. a. b. into Mesopotamia, partly to auoyde the malice of Esau, and partlye to get him a wyfe there, bicause his father would not haue him marry with the Cananites. Then E­sau perceyuing that the daughters of Canaan, displeased Isaac, he (to please his father) tooke to wyfe, the daugh­ter of Ismael, Abrahams sonne. And so these two bre­thren being thus seperated the one from the other, in pro­cesse became both very rich. And in the ende, when (by the prouidence of God) they met togithers agayne. God had so altered and chaunged the minde of Esau, that he most louingly embraced his brother Iacob, ministring to him such kindenesse, as though he had neuer borne him any displeasure at all: And so in fine, departed as louing friendes, Iacob towarde Succoth, and Esau to Mount Seir his owne possession. Note: ¶ Esau, Working.

Gen. 14. c. d. Eschol, was brother to Mamre and Aner, which thrée were Abrahams confederates, and his pertakers, in the rescuing of Lot his brother out of the handes of Kedorla­omor. Note: ¶ Eschol, a Cluster.

1. Esd. 7. a. 8. cap. Esdras, the sonne of Saraia, was a notable Scribe in the lawe of Moses, and long in captiuitie at Babilon, but at last by the licence of Artaxerses, he came from Ba­bilon to Ierusalem agayne, with the Iewes to repayre the lawe and Citie of God, and to teache the people the right waye of the Lorde. He gathered and brought in or­der all the bookes of the lawes of God, which were by the Chaldeys scattered and destroyed. This mans liuing9. and. 10. cap [Page 110] was so vpright and holy, and so estéemed among the peo­ple, that when they had offended the Lorde in contracting themselues with the Gentyles, at his godlye preaching and counsell, they repented, and put away theyr straunge Wyues, and turned to the Lorde agayne. Note: ¶ Esdras, an Helper.

Ester. 2. cap. Ester, the daughter of Abian a Iewe borne, was a goodly yong Damosell. And (after the death of hir father and mother) nourished and brought vp in the house of Mardocheus hir fathers Vncle: During which tyme, Vasthi (for hir disobedience to Ahasuerus the King) was deposed from hir Princely state: And then to haue ano­ther placed in hir roume, certaine fayre yong Damosels and Virgins (among which Ester was one) were taken vp by Commission, and brought to the Court, and there founde at the Kings charges for the space of .xij. moneths with all maner of sumptuous deckinges, to the ende the King might choose one of them (whome he fancyed best) to be his Quéene. And when the time of choosing came, he lyked Ester aboue the reast, and made hir Quéene in the roume of Vasthi. It happened after this, a mischiefe toEster. 3. cap. be deuised against the Quéenes nation the Iewes, by one in great authority about the King, called Haman: and be­ing certifyed thereof by Mardocheus hir Vncle, she was so sore astonied, that she wilt not what to doe: for no helpe in that matter was to be had, but onely in the King, to4. cap. whom she durst not go, bicause he had giuen a commaun­dement, that whosoeuer shoulde presume to come vnto him before they were called, shoulde suffer death. Wher­fore Ester not being called in thirtie dayes before, was afrayde of the daunger. Neuerthelesse, she considering with hir selfe, that eyther she must put hir lyfe in hazard, or else to suffer the whole Nation of the Iewes to perish, cast all feare aside, and went to the King: And presenting5. cap. hir selfe before him, he put forth his golden Scepter in to­ken [Page 111] of his speciall fauour towards hir, demaunding what she woulde haue: Nothing (quoth she) but that it woulde please your Maiestie, and Haman, to come to the banket which I haue prepared. To the which he went, and being there, demaunded of Ester, what thing it was she requi­red. Oh (quoth she) if it shall please your Highnesse to giue me my peticion, and to fulfill my request. Then let my7. cap▪ soueraigne Lorde and Haman come agayne to morrow, and I will certifie your Grace of all. And on the morrow when the King was come, he sayde to Ester: Now what is thy request, I pray thée saye. Then spake Ester and sayde: If I thy poore handemayde haue founde so much fauour in thy sight (O King) to haue my petici­on graunted, then I most humbly beséech thée to graunt mée my lyfe, and the lyues of all my people the Iewes, which are not onely solde to be bonde seruauntes (for I woulde to God it were so) but to bée slayne and vt­terlye destroyed all in one daye. Who is he (sayde the King) that dare presume to doe such a déede. Oh sayde Ester, and if it shall please your Maiestie to knowe the truth, our great enimie and aduersarie that hath conspi­red our deaths, is euen this wicked Haman, whom your Grace hath exalted so hye. Vpon the which complaynt of Ester, the Kinges indignation was kindled so sore a­gaynst Haman, that he was hanged, and the Iewes re­stored for Esters sake. Reade the storie of Mardocheus. Note: ¶ Ester, Hydde.

2. Tim. 4. d. Eubolus, was one of the faythfull congregation at Rome with Paule, when he sent his Epistle to Timo­thie. Note: ¶ Eubolus, Wyse, or of good Counsell.

4. Reg. 25. g. Euilmerodach, was Nabuchodonosors sonne. And being King after him, he deliuered Iehoakim King of Iuda out of prison, wherein he had lyen by the space of thirtie yeares, and exalted him aboue all the Princes in [Page 112] Babilon, assigning him a certayne portion euery daye from his owne table as long as he liued. Note: ¶ Euilmero­dach, Bruising, or beating in peeces the fooles bitternesse. A foole bitterly bruised, or contryte.

2. Tim. 1▪ a. Eunica, was the daughter of Lois, and the Mother of Timothie, which women (both the mother and the daughter) are highly commended of Paule for their sin­ceritie of fayth, which he desireth Timothie earnestly to followe. Note: ¶ Eunica, a good victorie, or Conquest.

Phil. 4. a. Euodias, was a certayne faythfull Preacher of Christ, to whome Paule sent commendations, desiring him and Sintiches to agrée in one true concorde of myn­des, in promoting the Gospell of Christ. Note: ¶ Euodias, a good sauour, or well smelling.

Act. 20. b. c. Eutichus, was a certaine yoong man, which when the Disciples were gathered togithers vpon one of the Sabbothes days (as their custome was) to breake bread, that is to say, to celebrate the Lordes supper, gat him vp into one of the windowes of an vpper Chamber (where were many lightes set, bicause it was night) to heare Paule preach, who continued his preaching so long, that the yong man wared sléepy, and at the last, sléepe came so sore vpon him, that he fell out of the wyndow downe to the grounde thrée floores high. And when the people ranne to take him vp, they founde him deade, and brought him into the house: when Paule perceyued that he was dead, he went downe to the yong man, and embraced him, and sayde to the Disciples: Be ye not troubled with thys chaunce, for there is lyfe in him. And so Paule went vp agayne, and made an ende of his Sermon. And in the morning after Paules departing, the yoong man was brought vp into the chamber alyue, to the great comfort of all them that were there. Note: ¶ Eutichus, Fortunate.

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Eze. 1. a. Ezechiel, the sonne of Buzi the Priest, was a Pro­phete of the countrie Sareta in Siria, and of the lyne of Bishops. He had many reuelations and visions. And by him God shewed many great myracles, for in the time of a great scarcitie, he by prayer obtayned of God abun­dance of fishe, whereby the people were sufficiently re­freshed.This storye is drawn out of Mayster Gliots Dic­tionary, with the storie of Esay before. Also when the people were oppressed, he stoode and made their enimies so abashed with myracles and woonderfull sightes, that they ceased of their enterprice. Being in the countrie of Chalde, he tolde the people of manye thinges done in the Temple of Ierusalem. He brought the people out of Chalde to Ierusalem, to the reproch of the Infidels. He being in Babilon iudged the Trybe of Dan and Gad, for that they had wickedly done against the Lord, in persecuting them which beléeued on the Lawe. And he shewed vnto them a terrible token, for Adders deuoured their children, and all their cattell. At the last, he was slaine at Babilon by the Duke of the peo­ple (who caused him to be drawne with wild horses, which bet out his braines) bicause he reprooued him of ydolatrie, and he was buryed in the fielde Manre, in the Mount of Sem and Arphaxad, progenitours of Abraham. He pro­phecied of the returne of the children of Israel, and also of the comming of Christ. He lyued afore the incarnation of Christ. 617. yeares. Note: ¶ Ezechiel, Strength of the Lorde.

F.

Act. 24. cap. FElix, was y^e hie President at Cesarea vnder the Emperor, to whom Lisias the hie Captaine sent Paule prisoner to be examined before him. And when he had brought Paul forth before his accu­sers, & heard his accusation made by one Tartullus an o­rator, Felix beckened to Paul, that he should answere for himselfe, & when he had heard Pauls answere, he deferred the examination of the matter vntill another time, saying [Page 114] vnto Paules aduersaries, that for as much as Lisias the hye Captaine did knowe the whole matter as it stoode, he woulde at his comming, heare them further. And so gaue commaundement vnto his vnder Captayne, that he shoulde in the meane season kéepe Paule in warde, but yet so, that he might be gently ordered, and be sometime at libertie, & that his familiers might fréely repayre vnto him, and bring vnto him such things as he lacked. It was not long after this, or that Felix (being returned to Cesa­rea againe with his wyfe Drucilla a Iewe borne) called forth Paule, being desirous to haue further knowledge of him as concerning the sect that he professed. And as Paul preached vnto him of Righteousnesse, of Temperance, and of Iudgement to come, Felix trembled for feare, and sent him away for that tyme, saying, that at a conueni­ent leysure he would sende for him agayne. This corrupt Magistrate gaped for brybes and rewards to loose Paul, and therefore called him the oftener, thinking that Paule woulde haue giuen him a péece of money to be deliuered, but when he sawe that none woulde come, and Portus Festus was sent from Nero the Emperour to succéede hym in his roome, then willing rather to shew the Iewes a pleasure, than to deliuer Paule, left hym in prison bounde. Note: ¶ Felix, Happy.

Act. 25. cap. Festus, Portius (by Nero the Emperour) was made President in the roume of Felix. Which Festus within thrée dayes he came to his Prouince, ascended from Ce­sarea to Ierusalem, where the hye Priestes and Elders of the Iewes, enformed him of Paule, desiring his fa­uour against him, and that he would sende for him to haue the matter pleaded there. Whose request if Festus had graunted, they were fully bent to haue slayne Paule in the way comming to Ierusalem: But Festus made an­swere that the prisoner shoulde remayne at Cesarea vn­til his comming, whither (sayde he) I entende shortly to [Page 115] repayre, and if there be any among you that is able to accuse him, let them go downe with me, and they shall be hearde. And so when Festus was come to Cesarea, the next day after he sate in iudgement vpon Paule. A­gainst whome the Iewes layde many sore matters to his charge, which they were not able to prooue, so long as Paule aunswered for himselfe. Then Festus (willing to doe the Iewes a pleasure) sayde vnto Paule: wylt thou go vp to Ierusalem, and there be iudged of these thinges before me. Then sayde Paule: I sée no cause wherefore I shoulde go thither, but may be iudged as well here as there. But forasmuch as the Iewes séeketh my condem­nation against all right and Iustice, I appeale to the Emperour. Well (sayde Festus) thou hast appealed to the Emperour, and to him shalt thou go. Within a fewe dayes after this, it chaunced King Agrippa with Ber­nice his wyfe, to come vnto Cesarea to salute and wel­come Festus the newe President. And during the Kings aboade there, Festus (by occasion) rehearsed Paules matter vnto him, saying: Felix my predecessor left here a certaine man in holde, whome the hye Priests and El­ders of the Iewes at Ierusalem, complained on, desiring mée for their sakes to giue sentence agaynst him. To whom I answered, that it was not the custome of the Ro­maines, to giue sentence against any man, before his ac­cusers were brought before him, that he might make an­swere for himselfe. And so when his accusers were come hither, I on the next day sate in iudgement, & commaun­ded the prisoner to be brought forth before me, against whom, his accusers brought no accusation of such things as I supposed they would haue done, but demaunded cer­tayne questions of him concerning their owne superstiti­on, and laying to his charge one Iesus which was deade, whome he affirmed to be risen from death to lyfe againe. And forasmuch as I wilt not wel what to say in this mat­ter, I asked him whether he would go to Ierusalem, and [Page 116] there to be iudged. And when he had refused that, and ap­pealed to Cesar, I commaunded him to be kept in prison, vntill I might haue occasion to sende him to Cesar. Then sayde the King to Festus: I haue hearde much of that same Iesus and his Disciples, and therefore am much desirous to heare the fellow speake my selfe, before he go to Cesar. Whervpon, Festus on the next morow brought forth Paule into the Common hall before Agrippa the King, saying on this wyse: King Agrippa, and you all that be here present, ye sée this man, whom all the Iewes haue complayned on to me, both at Ierusalem and here, crying that he ought not to liue any longer, and yet haue I made inquirie, and can finde nothing worthy of death that he hath committed: neuerthelesse, for as much as he hath appealed to the Emperour, I am determined to sende him thither, and yet bicause I haue no certayne thing to wryte vnto his Maiestie, I haue brought hym forth before you, and specially to the King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might haue somewhat to write, for me thinke it standeth with no reason, to sende a priso­ner, and not to shew withall what is layde to his charge. And when Agrippa sawe Paule stande before him, héeAct. 26. cap. sayde: fellow, thou hast pardon to speake for thy selfe, if thou hast any thing to say in thy defence, saye on. Then began Paule to speake, and made such a pithy declara­tion of his former lyfe, and of hys calling to Christ, that Festus (which was not skilfull in the Iewes religion) thought all his sayings to be but madnesse, and cryed out with a lowde voyce, saying that he was beside himselfe, and that much learning had made him madde. Then af­ter sentence giuen by King Agrippa that Paule shoulde be sent to the Emperour, Festus deliuered him and cer­tayne7. [...]. other prisoners in bandes to the Emperours vn­der Captaine named Iulius, who conueyghed them into Italie. Note: ¶ Festus, Sol [...]mne, or Holyday.

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1. Cor. 16. c. Fortunatus, was a faythfull Souldiour of Christ, whome Paule sent in the companie of Stephana and A­chaicus with his letters from Philippos to the Corin­thians. Note: ¶ Fortunatus, Luckie.

G.

Tobi. 1. [...]. GAbelus, was a certayne man of the kinrede and Tribe of Tobias, dwelling in the countrye of Medes in a Citie called Rages. And being fal­len into pouertie, Tobias lent him ten Talents of siluer vpon a byll of his hande, whereby Gabelus was9. cap. greatly holpen, and in processe payde the same agayne to Tobie when he had néede, with great thankes. Reade Tobie the yonger. Note: ¶ Gabelus, The ende, or border, or thre­sholde, and entrance.

Gen. 30. b. Gad, the sonne of Iacob and Silpha. When the Tribe of Gad had long iourneied with the reast of the Is­raelitesNum. 32. cap. their brethren, towarde the lande of Canaan: Gad and Ruben with the halfe Tribe of Manasses, desi­red of Moses to haue their possession on this side of Ior­dan Eastwarde (and not on the other side) bicause it was a lande méete for Cattell, whereof they had great store. To whome Moses aunswered, saying: Shall your bre­thren go harnessed before the Lorde, and ye sit styll and doe nothing? wherefore will ye discourage the hearts of the people? so did your fathers when I sent them from Cades Barne, to search and sée the lande, discouraging the heartes of the people, reporting so much euill of the lande, that they were ready to turne into Egypt againe, whose doings did so prouoke the Lorde to anger, that he sware that none of them all shoulde sée that good lande, saue Caleb and Iosua. Therefore (sayde he) if ye do now leaue your brethren, & will not go harnessed before them vntill the Lorde haue cast out their enimies, ye doe so [Page 118] much sinne agaynst the Lorde, that he will surely finde it out. And when they hearde Moses say so, they answe­red, saying: We doe not intende to leaue our brethren, our meaning is nothing lesse than so to doe, but rather that we might be suffered to make in this place, shéepe­foldes for our cattell, and houses for our wyues and chil­dren, to leaue them therein, which being done, we our selues will go forth before our brethren harnessed, and will not returne home to our houses, vntill we haue brought them to their places, and that euery one of them be possessed in his enheritance. Then Moses contented with this answere, graunted their request. And so they builded shéepecotes for their Cattell, and houses for their families, wherein they left them, and went forth with their brethren, vntill they had performed their promise, and then returned home agayne. And when they had re­stedIosua. 22. cap. a whyle at home, they went and buylded an Aultar fast by Iordan, and that a very great one. And when the reast of the children of Israel, hearde that the children of Ruben, Gad, and Manasses, had buylt them an Aultar inThis co [...] ­trye also was called Candan, bi­cause the A­morits dwel­lyng there, were called Cananites. Geliloth beside Iordan, euen on the same side that they were of in the lande of Canaan, they were sore of­fended, and so angry, that they gathered themselues to­gither to battell against them. And being redy prepared, they sent Phinehes the son of Eleazar the Priest, & with him ten Lordes, of euery chiefe house one, to knowe for what purpose they had made them an Aultar, and whe­ther it were to rebell agaynst the Lorde or no. And when they had done their Commission, the other aunswered, and sayde that God was their witnesse, that they had done it for no euill purpose, eyther to rebell agaynst the Lorde, or to swarue from his lawes and ordinaunces in any poynt, but rather for this consideration, to be a wit­nesse betwéene vs and you, and our generations after vs, least it shoulde chaunce another daye, your children to say vnto ours: what haue ye to doe with the Lorde [Page 119] God of Israel (yée children of Ruben and of Gad) the Lorde (ye sée) hath made Iordan a border betwéene vs and you, and therefore ye can haue no part in the Lorde with vs, and so shoulde your children make our chyl­dren cease from fearing the Lorde. And therefore to pre­uent such an inconuenience, we tooke aduisement, and made this Aultar, that if any such kynde of talke shoulde be ministred of your children to ours in time to come, that then our children might aunswere and say agayne: Beholde the facion of the Aultar of the Lorde, which our fathers made, neyther for burnt offerings nor sacrifices, but for a witnesse betweene vs and you, that our part is in the Lorde as well as yours. And when Phinehes and the other Lordes had hearde their aunswere, they were well content, and returned, and so the matter ended. They called the Aultar, our witnesse that the Lorde is God. Note: ¶ Gad, a Bande, or Garrison.

1. Reg. 22. a. Gad the Prophet, came to Dauid lying in the lande of Moab, saying: abyde not in holde, but depart and go2. Reg. 24. c. into the lande of Iuda. At another tyme when Dauid had offended the Lord in numbring his people, Gad was sent vnto him, to giue him choyse of thrée thinges, whe­ther he woulde haueThre yeres of famin were past for the Gibeonytes matter, and this was the fourth yeare, to the which shoulde haue bene added o­ther three yeres. 1. Par. 21. b. seauen yeares hunger, or thrée monthes to flie before his enimies, or but thrée dayes pe­stilence in the lande.

Gaius, a certaineAct. 19. c. 20. a. faythfull brother dwelling in Derba, was one of Paules companions, and in great ieoperdie of his lyfe at Ephesus, thorowe the sedition of Demetrius the Siluersmith, but after the businesse was ended, he accompanied Paule into Asia. To this man S. Iohn wrote his thirde Epistle. Note: ¶ Gaius, the Lorde, or Mayster of the tongue.

Act. 18. b. c. Gallio, was Proconsull of Achaia, to wyt, the Lord [Page 120] Deputie vnder Cesar the Emperour in the countrey of Achaia. In this tyme, it happened the Iewes which had made a conspiracie agaynst Paule, to bring him before the place of iudgement where Gallio sate as Iudge, ac­cusing Paule vnto him, of newe learning. But when Gallio perceyued the controucrsie betwéene the Iewes and Paule, was concerning Iewishe religion, he sought to ridde his handes of them: and preuenting Paule (which was ready to speake in his owne defence) sayde: Dye Iewes, if it were a matter of wrong, or an euill déede, reason woulde that I shoulde heare you, but if it be a question of wordes, of names, or of your lawe, looke vnto it your selfe, for I will be no Iudge in such mat­ters. And so caused them to auoyde the place. Note: ¶ Gallio, giuing Milke, or hauing Milke.

Act. 5. f. g. Gamaliel, one of the auncient Pharisies, was Paules Schoolemaister, and in high estimation among the people, both for his excellent knowledge in the lawe, and for his singuler wisedome. When the Apostles were brought and other of the Counsell for preaching in the name of Christ, whose lyues (he perceyued) the Counsell sought: he desired that for a whyle the Apostles might depart out of the Counsell house. And when they were gone, he sayde: ye men of Israel, take héede to your sel­ues what ye intende to doe as touching these men, for before these dayes rose vp one Theudas boasting him­selfe, to whome resorted a number of men, about. 400. who was slaine, and they all which beléeued him, were scattered abroade, and brought to naught. After this man, rose vp one Iudas of Galile, in the time when Tri­bute began, who drewe away much people after him, he also perished, and all that obeyed him were scattered a­broade. And nowe I say vnto you, refrayne your selues from these men, and let them alone: For if this Coun­sell, or this worke be of men, it will come to naught: but [Page 121] if it be of God, ye cannot destroye it, least ye be founde to stryue against God. Note: ¶ Gamaliel, Gods rewarde.

4. Re. 25. f. g. Gedalia, the sonne of Ahicam, was a great Cap­taine vnder Nabuchodonosor, whome he made gouer­neurIere. 40. cap. of the lande of Iuda to rule the rascall people which he had left behinde him at the destruction of Ierusalem, who intreated the people so gently and so friendly, that all the Iewes which were scattered about in the lande (hearing of his gentlenesse) resorted vnto Gedaliah, and founde great fauour at his hande, for the which they bare vnto him their heartie good willes. Insomuch that when Baal King of the Ammonites had sent one Ismael (vn­der pretence of friendship) to slea him. The CaptaynesMurdercom­mitted vnder pretence of friendship. of the Iewes (hauing knowledge thereof) were so sore a­frayde of Gedaliah, least any misfortune shoulde chaunce him, that they tolde him of Ismaels conspiracie. And one among the reast named Iohanan, offred himselfe to dispach Ismael out of the way so secretly, that the déede shoulde neuer be knowne. But Gedaliah not crediting their wordes, neyther yet mistrusting Ismael, woulde suffer nothing to be done vnto him. And so forsaking theIere. 41. a. counsell and admonition of his friendes, and trusting to much to Ismael, he was of him (in fine) most guylefully slaine within his owne house. Note: ¶ Gedalia, the Greatnesse of the Lorde, the hem, or skirt of the Lorde.

Iudic. 6. cap. Gedeon, the sonne of Ioas, was of the Tribe of Manasses. To whome the Aungell of the Lorde appea­red as he was threshing of Wheate, saying: The Lorde is with thée thou valiant man. Then sayde Gedeon, if the Lord be with vs, why is all this cuill come vpon vs? we haue heard (by our fathers) of all the miracles which the Lorde did for his people in Egypt, and nowe hath he forsaken vs, and giuen vs ouer into the handes of the Madianites. Well (sayde the Aungell) go thy waye in [Page 122] this thy might and strength which I haue giuen thée, for thou shalt deliuer Israell out of the hande of their eni­mies. Oh Lorde (quoth Gedeon) wherewith shall I saue Israel, séeing my kinred is but poore, and I the least of all my fathers house. With my helpe (sayth the Lorde) shalt thou saue Israel, for I will be with thée, and thou shalt smyte the Madianites as if they were but one man. Then I beséech thée, O Lord (quoth Gedeon) shewe me a signe that thou talkest with me, depart not hence tyll I come agayne with myne offering, which offering be­ing brought and dressed accordingly, the Angell had no sooner touched it with the ende of his rodde, but fire came out of the stone whereon the sacrifice lay, and consumed it altogither, and so the Aungell vanished out of sight. The same night following (at the Lordes commaunde­ment) Gedeon went and destroyed the Altar of Baal which his father had made, and cut downe all the Groue about it, for the which déede, the people (hauing know­ledge thereof) woulde haue stoned him to death: ThenBy this ex­ample of Io­as we ought to iustifie thē that are ze­lous of Gods cause, though all the mul­titude be a­gainst vs. Ioas (to saue Gedeon his sonne) sayde vnto them: what will ye doe, will ye pleade Baals cause, or will ye be his defenders? If Baal be a god, let him reuenge his owne cause vpon him that hath done the déede: And from that day forth, Gedeon was called Ierobaal, that is: let Baal pleade for himselfe, bicause he hath broken downe his Aultar. At this time, the Madianites and the Amalakites had pitched themselues in the valley of Iez­rael, and the spirite of the Lorde came vpon Gedeon, so that he called his people togithers to go agaynst them. And for to be the better confirmed in his vocation, hée tooke a fléece of wooll, and layde it in the threshing place, and made his request vnto God, saying: Oh Lorde, if thou wilt let the dewe (this night) fall vpon the fléece only, and be drie on all the grounde beside, then shall I be sure that thou wilt saue Israel by my handes, as thou hast sayde: And on the morrowe when Gedeon came to [Page 123] take vp the fléece, it was full of dewe, and the grounde drie all about. Then sayde Gedeon, O Lorde, be not an­gry, that I prooue thée once more: let nowe the fléece be drie only, and dewe vpon all the earth, and so in the mor­ning, the fléece was drye, and the grounde all dewy. Ge­deon nowe, being thus confirmed, pitched his hoste to fight with his enimies. But when the Lorde sawe the number of his armie, he sayd to Gedeon: the people that thou hast with thée, are to manye, therefore make a pro­clamation thorowout all thine hoste, that whosoeuer is timerous or fearefull, let him depart home agayne, and there returned .xxij. thousande, and ten thousande remay­ned. Then sayde the Lorde to Gedeon, the people are yet to many: Bring them downe to the water side, and I will appoynt them that shall go with thée. So many as doe lappe the water with their tongues as Dogges doth, shalt thou take with thée, & the reast that knéeleth downe vpon their knées to drinke shalt thou resuse, as men vn­méete for this purpose. And when it came to tryall, all knéeled downe to drinke, sauing 300. which lappedThis storie here of Ge­deon and Io­nathas▪ 1. Re. 14. b. c. and of Sennache­rib. 4. Reg. 19. g. doth manifestlye shewe, that no King (as the prophet Da­uid sayth) is preserued by the multitude of his men, or strength of hys armyes, but is stayde and holden vp, by the prouidence of God. wa­ter with their hands, & those Gedeon tooke with him, and sent the rest away. Then the Lord to strengthen Gedeon (least he shoulde faynt in so great an enterprise) bade him take Phara his seruaunt with him, and go downe that night to the hoste of the Madianites, and harcken what they did say. And when they came neare to the hoste, they hearde one man saye to another: I haue dreamed a dreame, and me thought a lofe of Barley bread tumbled into the hoste of Madian, and came vnto a Tent and smote it, that it fell and lay along on the grounde. This is nothing else (quoth his felowe) saue the sworde of Ge­deon the sonne of Ioas a man of Israel: for into his handes hath God deliuered Madian, and all the hoste. Then Gedeon (hearing this) praysed God, and returned to his men, who were so animated with his ioyfull ty­dings, that most couragiously they fell vpon the infinite [Page 124] number of the Madianites, and ouerthrew them, and put them to flight euery one, in the which flight, y^• Ephraims (on the other side of Iordan) toke Oreb & Zeb (two migh­tie Captains of the Madianites) & sent their heads to Ge­deon,Iudic. 8. cap. who was following the chase after Zebah & Zal­mana (Kings of Madian) which two (at the last) he tooke and led them back to the men of Socoth & Phanuel (who had denyed him sustenance before) and sayde vnto them: Behold, here be the men by whom ye vpbrayded me, say­ing: are the hands of Zeba & Zalmana already in thine hands, that we should giue bread vnto thy weary people, I tolde you then, that when the Lord had deliuered them into my handes, I woulde reiurne and teare your fleshe with Thornes and Briers of the wildernesse, and breake downe the tower of Phanuel: And so to performe hys promise, he fell vpon the men of Socoth and Phanuel, and put them to most paynefull torments and death, and slue Zebah and Zalmana, with his owne handes. Thus he deliuered Israel out of the handes of the Madianites which had kept them seauen yeares in subiection. And when he had iudged them fortie yeares, he dyed, leauing behinde him. 70. sonnes (for he had many Wyues) beside Abimelech, which his Concubine bare vnto him in the Citie of Sichem. But when Gedeon was deade, the Is­raelites turned from God againe, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-bereth their God, forget­ting the Lorde their God, which had deliuered them out of the hands of their enimies: neither shewed they mer­cy on the house of Ierobaal, according to all the goodnesse which he had shewed vnto them: But contrarywife (like men vnthankfull, and voyde of all faithfulnesse) consen­ted to the vtter destruction of all his posteritie. Note: ¶ Gede­on, a Breaker, or destroyer.

4. Reg. 5. cap. Gehezi, wayted vpon Eliseus the Prophet, and was his seruant. On a time, there came to his Maister out of [Page 125] the lande of Siria, a certayne Prince named Naaman, to be holpen of his leprosie. The which Prince being re­stored to health, offered to Eliseus a great reward, which he refused. And when Gehezi sawe the great man gone, and that his Maister had receyued nothing, he then (be­ing stricken with couetousnesse) folowed after Naaman. And when the Prince sawe the Prophetes seruant come running so fast after him, he (for the reuerence he bare to his Maister) descended from his Charret to méete him, and asked of him if all were well with his Maister or no. Yea (sayde Gehezi) all is well: But euen nowe there is come to my Maister from Mount Ephraim, twoo yoong men of the sonnes of the Prophets, wherefore he hath sent me, to desire thée to let him haue one Talent of Siluer, and twoo chaunge of garments. Then the Prince (of his liberalitie) gaue him twoo Talents, and made his men to carie the money and stuffe after Gehezi. And when the men had brought it nie vnto the place where as he would haue it, he tooke if of their handes, and let them depart, and conueyghed it priuily into his owne chamber. And as soone as Gehezi came in the presence of his Maister, he demaunded where he had bene. No where, quoth he. No (said Eliseus) went not my hart with thée when the man turned againe from his Charret to méete thée? Is it now a time to receiue money or garments? Well, forasmuch as thou hast offended in this, the leprosie of Naaman shal eleaue vnto thée, and to thy séede for euer. And so he went out from his Maister a Leper as whyte as snowe. Reade more of Gehezi, in the Stories of Eliseus his Mayster. Note: ¶ Gehezi, Vallie of vision.

Ex. 2. d. 1 [...]. [...]. Gerson, the sonne of Moses, had a brother called Eli­ezer. Their mothers name was called Zephora y^• daugh­ter of Raguel. But of Gerson y^e son of Leuy came y^e Ger­sonites,Exod. 6. c. who had the gouernance of the habitacion, withinNum. 3. c. d. 26. g. y^e tabernacle. Note: ¶ Gerson, his banishment, or the strangers change.

Iosua. 9. cap. Gibeonites. The Gibeonites hearing of the great destruction that Iosua had made at Iericho and Hai, were in such feare that they wyst not howe to saue their liues, but by this policie. When they perceyued Iosua to drawe nye vnto Gibeon. They chose out certaine men among them to sende as ambassadours to Iosua, and made their prouision of breade dryed vp and hored: And put their wyne into olde bottels all to rent and torne: and shodde themselues with olde clouted shooen: and put on their backes olde garments, and so sent them forth to Iosua to obtayne peace. And when Iosua looked vppon them, and behelde their simple state: he asked what they were, and from whence they came: They aunswered, from a farre countrey are thy seruauntes come for the name of the Lorde thy God: for we haue hearde of hys fame and power, and what he did in the lande of Egypt, and in all other places till nowe. And long haue we tra­uailed to come hither as ye may sée, for this our foode, the day we came forth was hote, our bottels, shooes, and garments all newe, and nowe are they olde and torne, and our breade hored and mouled, wherefore we shall desire your fauour and peace. Then Iosua (beléeuing it had bene so) swore vnto the Gibeonites, and made a co­uenaunt of peace with them, and let them go. Within thrée dayes after it fortuned the Israelites to come to the Citie of Gibeon, thinking to haue destroyed it. But when they sawe that they were the people, which (a little be­fore) had obtayned peace at their handes, woulde not slea them, bicause of their othe, but went to Iosua and tolde him. Then Iosua sent for them; and demaunded where­fore they had so deceyued him. They aunswered, it was tolde vs, that God commaunded Moses, to giue you this lande, and to slea all the inhabitants therof, and therfore were we forced to make this prouision for our liues. And nowe we be in your hands, to d [...]e with vs as shall please [Page 127] you. W [...]ll (sayde Iosua) for our othe sake ye shall haue your liues. But for as much as ye haue so craftilye de­ceyued vs, the Lorde hath determined, that ye shall be in bondage vnder Israel, all the dayes of your liues, and be hewers of woode, and water drawers for the congre­gation and house of God continually: And so the Israe­lites tooke their Cities, but saued their lyues. After this,Iosua. 10. a. b. the Kings of the Amorites (hearing how the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel) came vpon them, and be­sieged Gibeon, which was the greatest Citie in all the kingdome of the Amorites, wherevpon, the Gibeonites were constrayned to sende to Iosua for his ayde, who came from Gilgal, with a great power rescued them, and tooke the Kings of the Amorites (which were fiue in number) and hanged them on fiue seuerall trées, and de­stroyed all their people and countries. Thus the Gibeo­nites2. Reg. 21. a. b continued in bondage vnder the Israelites with their liues, vntill the time of King Saule, who then for a zeale he had to the children of Israel and Iuda, slue a great number of them, which déede God punished in the dayes of King Dauid, at what time he sent an hunger vpon the lande, which continued by the space of thrée yeares, for when Dauid enquired at the Lorde, the cause of that plague, aunswere was made him of God, that it was for Saule and the house of bloud, who had killed the Gibeonites, which Gibeonites were none of the séede of Israel, but a remnant of the Amorites, with whome the children of Israel had made a bonde of peace. Then Da­uid asking the Gibeonites what he shoulde doe for them, and wherewith he shoulde recompence them, they sayde: we will neyther haue siluer nor golde of Saule, nor of his house, nor that any man of Israel be killed for our sakes, but the man that hath consumed vs, and imagined to bring vs to naught, him will we destroy. Therefore let his seauen sonnes be deliuered vnto vs, that we maye hang them vp before the Lorde. Then Dauid caused the [Page 128] two sonnes of Rizpa (Saules Concubine) and the fiue sonnes ofHere is Michol takē for Merob, whiche was wife to Adri­el, as appea­reth. 1. Reg. 1 [...]. d. For Michol was the wyfe of Phaltiel, and hadde neuer chylde, as ap­peareth. 1. Reg. 25. g. 2. Reg. 6. d. Michol whome she bare to Adriel, to be deli­uered vnto the Gibeonites, who tooke and hanged them vp on an hill before the Lorde. And thus were the Gibeo­nites reuenged on Saule.

Giliad, was theNum. 26. d. sonne of Machir, and his chyldren were these, Hiezer, Helech, Asriel, Sechem, Semida, and Hepher. Note: ¶ Giliad, an heape of witnesse.

Godolia, looke Gedalia.

Golias, was a1. Reg. 17. mightie strong Gyant, whome the Philistines had brought with them to battell agaynst the hoste of Israel. His stature was sixe cubites and a span. His helmet vpon his heade was of brasse, and the Bootes on his legges of the same. His coate of Fence weyed 5000. sicles. The shaft of his Speare which he bare in his hande was lyke a Weauers beame. And the heade vpon the same weighed. 600. sicles of yron. This man beyng thus armed, came out from the Philistines (one bearing his shielde before him) and standing betwéene the twoo hostes in a valley, he cryed to the hoste of Israel, saying: Why are ye come to set your battell in aray? am not I a Philistine, and you the seruauntes of Saule? choose you out a man, and let him come downe to me. And if he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your seruants: and if I can ouercome him, and kill him, then shall ye be our seruants, and serue vs. Thus came he day by day defying the whole hoste of Israel, the space of fortie dayes long, wherewith the Israelites were sore afrayde and discomsited, and durst not abyde his sight. But God (who by his secret prouidence had appoynted out a man to match him) caused Isai to send his yong son Dauid to the hoste of Israel to sée his brethren howe they did. And as he stoode with them, and hearde the despyte­full [Page 129] wordes of Golias which he spake against the holye hoste of Israel: The spirit of God (euen at that instant) smote such a courage into the hart of Dauid, that he slipt away from his brethren vnto the people (whome he sawe in great feare) and sayde: What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the shame from Israel? and what is this vncircumcised heathen, that he shoulde thus reuyle the hoste of the ly­uing God. Dauid vttering this bolde maner of speach once or twyse, he was (at the last) brought before King Saule, to whome he sayde on this wyse: Oh King, let no mans heart fayle him, or be afrayde this daye, for I thy seruaunt will go and fight with yonder Philistine. Thou art not able to stande in his handes (quoth the King) for he is a man brought vp all the dayes of his lyfe in feates of warre, and thou art yet but a chylde, without experience or knowledge thereof. Then Dauid to strengthen the weake fayth of the King, sayde thus vnto him: As thy seruaunt was kéeping his fathers shéepe, there came a Lion and a Beare likewyse, and tooke a shéepe out of the flocke. Then I (not fearing the force of these twoo cruell beastes) ranne out, first after the Lion, and tooke the pray out of his mouth, and in spite of his bearde I slue him. Likewyse I serued the Beare. Wherefore I haue no doubt, but as the Lorde did ayde me then, so wyll he nowe against this bragging Phili­stine, that hath so rayled on the hoste of the liuing God. Then Saule (perceyuing the power of God to be wyth Dauid) put his armour vpon him. But Dauid (not be­ing woont to such) put it of agayne, and tooke him to his olde accustomed weapon, which was his slyng. And so, hauing that in his hande, and his shepeherdes bagge a­bout his necke, with a fewe little stones prouided therin, he gat him downe to the place where the Philistine stoode wayting for a man to encounter with him. And as he saw Dauid drawe neare, and beholding the maner of hys [Page 130] weapon that he bare in his hand, he disdained him great­ly. And cursing Dauid by all his gods, he sayd in a great furie: Am I a Dogge, that thou commest to me wyth staues, come hyther my chylde, and I will giue thy flesh to the foules of the ayre, and beastes of the fielde. Nay (quoth Dauid) thou commest to me with sworde, speare, and shielde, but I am come vnto thée, in the name of the Lorde of hostes, the God of the hoste of Israel, whome thou doest despyse and blaspheme. He shall this daye de­liuer thée into my handes, and I shall smyte thée, and take thy heade from thée, and giue the carkasses of all your hoste to the foules of the ayre, and beasts of the field to deuour and eate, that thou, and all the worlde maye knowe, that there is a God in Israel. The Philistyne nowe was in such a chafe, that he began to buskell hym to his weapon, thinking to haue dispatched Dauid wyth no great adoe. But Dauid hauing his slyng prepared re­dy in his hande, slang out the stone at his face (the Lord directing the same) and smote the Philistine so euen, and déepe in his foreheade, that he fell downe groueling vn­to the earth, and then ranne Dauid and smote of hys heade. Thus was this monstrous Gyaunt confounded, and all the hoste of the Philistines put to flight and slaine. Note: ¶ Golia, a Departing, or going awaye: or a heaping togither, a turning, or opening and detecting.

Ose. 1. a. Gomer. The Lorde appearing to Ose the Prophet, sayde: Go thy way, and take an harlot to thy wyfe, and get children by hir, for the lande hath comm [...]tted great whooredome agaynst the Lorde. So he went and tookeNot that the Prophet did this thing in effect, but he sawe this in a vision, or else was cō ­maunded by God to sette forth vnder this Parable or figure, the ydolatrie of the sinagoge, & of the peo­ple hir chil­dren. Gomor the daughter of Deblaim, who bare vnto hym two sonnes and one daughter. The first sonne was called Iesrael: the daughter Lornhamah: and the second sonne, La [...]my. Note: ¶ Gomer, a Consumer.

Gorgias, a man of great1. Mac. 3. c. 4. a. b. experience in warre, was [Page 131] Gouernour of Idumea, and one (among other noble cap­taynes) whome Lysias (the ouerséer of all the Kings bu­sinesse) sent against the Iewes to destroy them. And thin­king by his policie to haue stollen vpon Iudas Macha­beus by night, and so to haue ouercome him, he was pre­uented, so that he durst not meete Iudas in the fielde, but fledde into the lande of the heathen. And when Iosephus and Azarias tooke vppon them, in the absence of Iudas‡ 2. Mac. 8. b. (contrary to his commaundement) to go out agaynst the heathen to get them a name, Gorgias issued1. Mac. 5. f. out of the Citie of Iamnia, and slue two thousande of their men, and chased Iosephus and Azarias to the borders of Iew­rie. Finally, after manye conflictes with the Iewes, a2. Mac. 10. c. 12. f. certaine Captayne named Dositheus had almost taken him, if rescue had not bene, thorow the which he escaped, and fled into Moresa, and was neuer séene more. Reade the Storie of Dositheus. Note: ¶ Gorgias, Terrible.

H.

3. Reg. 11. c. d HAdad, being but a little boye borne in the lande of Edom, and sprong of the King of Edoms séede (what time as Dauid went about to destroye all the men children in Edom) fled wyth certayne E­domites of his fathers seruants into the lande of Egypt. Where (in processe) he gate such fauour with Pharao King of the lande, that he gaue him great possessions, and maried him to the Quéenes sister, who bare vnto hym a sonne called Genubath, which chylde was brought vp in King Pharaos h [...]use, among his children. But when tidings was brought to Hadad of the death of Dauid and Ioab, he went to the King, and besought him to let hym depart into his owne Countrie agayne, why sayde the King, what hast thou lacked here with mée, that thou wouldest now so fayne returne home agayne? Nothing sayd Hadad, but that I haue a mynde to sée my countrey, and therefore I pray thée let me go. And so he departed [Page 132] out of Egypt from Pharao, forThe Lorde had reserued this ydolater to punish and scourge hys people for their sinnes. the Lorde had stirred him vp to be an aduersarie to Salomon, who had turned his heart from the Lord his God, & serued straunge gods. And so Hadad reigned ouer Siria, and abhorred Israel sore, and vexed them so long as Salomon reygned. Note: ¶ Hadad, Ioye.

2. Reg. 8. a. b. 10. d. Hadarezer, the sonne of Reob King of Zoba, had long warre with Thoi King of Hamoth. And at the last as he went to recouer the borders by the ryuer Pherar, Dauid met with him, & tooke 1700. horsemen of his host, and. 20. thousande footemen, and cut of the hoofes of all his Charet horses, sauing an. 100▪ which he reserued to himselfe. And tooke away his shyldes of Golde & brought them to Ierusalem. And tooke out of his Cities excéeding much Brasse, whereof Salomon afterwarde made all the Brasen vessels in the Temple of the Lorde. Againe, when this Hadarezer (withall the Kings that serued him) went to rescue Hanon King of the Ammonites agaynst Dauid, he lost. 700. Charettes, and. 4000. footemen, and his Captayne generall slayne. Then the Kinges which serued Hadarezer, being so discomfited, made peace with Dauid and serued hym, and neuer woulde helpe the Am­monites more. Note: ¶ Hadarezer. Bewtifull helpe.

Gen. 9. d. Ham, was the seconde sonne of Noe. Who (on a tyme) séeing his Father lye vnséemely discouered in his Tent, laughed hym to scorne: And in derision and con­tempt of his father, brought Sem and Iapheth his two brethren to sée the vncomely sight: But they, mooued with shamefastnesse and honesty, couered theyr fathers secrets, and woulde not looke vpon them. And when Noe was awaked out of sléepe and perceyued what Ham had done: He woulde not curse hym whome the Lorde had blest, but sayde toOf this Canaan came the Canaani­tes that wic­ked Nation, who were al­so cursed of God. Canaan his sonne (which had also, as some suppose, deryded his Graundfather Noe): Cur­sed [Page 133] be Canaan, a seruaunt of seruaunts shall he be vnto his brethren. Note: ¶ Ham. Indignacion, or Heate.

Ester. 3. cap. Haman, was the sonne of Amada, and serued Aha­suerus King of Persia, who so highlye promoted hym, that euery man bowed the knée to Haman, & dyd asmuch honour vnto him (in a maner) as they dyd to the King himselfe. And being thus exalted aboue all other Princes about the King, and honoured of all men, there was not­withstanding a certayne Iewe borne, named Mar­docheus, which would neyther bowe nor bende vnto hym as other dyd, which being marked of Haman, he tooke so great indignacion agaynst Mardocheus, that he sought his vtter destruction, and purchased a licence of the King, for ten thousande talents of Siluer, to haue him and all the Iewes destroyed in one day. But whyle the writings were a making, and postes sent into all quarters for the Iewes dispatch, Mardocheus gat knowledge of all Hamans wicked intents and purposes, and founde the meanes to haue the same vttered vnto Quéene Hester. Who then (to saue Mardocheus and all the Iewes) dyd ieoperde hir selfe to go to the King, & founde the meanes to bring him and Haman to a banket, which she had pre­pared. Nowe was Haman so prowde and ioyfull of the Quéenes fauour, that hée went home to his house and called all his friendes togither, making great boast to them of his glory, riches, and aucthoritie: But chiefelye what speciall fauour Quéene Ester bare vnto him aboue all men, in so much she had inuited no man to hir banket with the King, saue onely him: And to morrow (quoth he) I must be there againe. But yet all this doth not satisfie mée, so long as I sée Mardocheus the Iewe sitting at the Kings gate. Marry (sayde Zares his wyfe) let there be a payre of galowes made of. 50. cubits hye, and speake to morrowe vnto the King, that Mardocheus maye be hanged thereon. And so Haman following his wyues [Page 134] counsell, caused the gallowes to be prepared, and on the morowe gat him to the Court, and standing there way­ting when the King woulde call for him, that he might speake to dispatche Mardocheus. The King (who the night before had looked the Chronicles and founde out the fidelitie of Mardocheus) sent for Haman, and sayde: what shalbe done to the man, whome the King woulde honour? Then Haman thinking the King had gone a­bout to honour none but hym, sayde: Let the man whom the King intendeth to bring to honour, be arayned in such Royall apparell as the King vseth to weare, and set vpon the Kinges horse with the Crowne Imperiall vpon his heade, and commaunde one of the Kings Princes to cary him about the streates of the Citie with a proclamacion before him, saying: Thus shall it be done to the man, whome the King pleaseth to bring to honour. Then sayde the King: take the rayment and the horse, and go thou to Mardocheus the Iewe which sitteth at my gate, and fayle not to doe vnto him, all that thou hast sayde. Then went Haman about the Kinges commaundement, and performed all thinges according to his minde, which be­ing done, he gat him home with an heauye heart, to his wyfe and friends, declaring vnto them what things had happened vnto him. Then sayde they? If Mardocheus be of the séede of the Iewes before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not preuayle agaynst him, but shalt surely fall before him. And while they were thus talking, a messenger came for Haman to go with the King to the banket: at the ende of which Banket, Ester opened all the wickednesse of Haman before the King, who tooke the matter so grieuously that he rose from the boorde, and went into the garden in a great anger. Then Haman (perceyuing a mischiefe towardes hym) went and fell downe at the beddes féete or coutche wheron the Quéene sate, and besought hir grace for his lyfe. And when the King came in againe, and founde him with the Quéene, [Page 135] he sayde: wyll he force the Quéene also, before mée in the house, which woorde was no sooner gone out of the Kings mouth, but HamansIt was the maner of the Persians, when one was out of the Kings fauour, to co­uer his face. face was couered, and so had out, and hanged vpon the Gallowes, which he had prepared in his owne house for Mardocheus. Reade the storye of Ester, and of Mardocheus. Note: ¶ Haman, Troubling: or ma­king hurlye burly, or preparing.

2. Par. 16. c. d. Hanani, was a Prophet sent of God to Asa King of Iuda, declaring vnto him, how greatly he had displeased the Lorde, for making a couenaunt with Benhadad King of Siria, and for his message doing was cast into prison. Reade the storie of Asa. Note: ¶ Hanani, Gracious, or Merci­full, or Giuing.

Iere. 28. cap. Hananiah, the sonne of Azur, was a false Prophete, which prophecied vnto the people of Israel, that God woulde breake the yoake of Nabuchadnezar King of Ba­bilon, from the necke of all Nacions within the space of two yeares, and in token thereof tooke the yoake from the Prophet Ieremies necke and brake it. But Ieremie the true Prophet of God, reprooued the false prophecie of Hananiah, saying: That in stéede of the yoake of woodde which he had taken from his necke, the Lord woulde put a yoake of yron vpon the necks of all these Nacions that they shoulde serue the King of Babilon, and that the false Prophet Hananiah himselfe shoulde dye the same yeare: which thinges came truely to passe, as Ieremie had spo­ken. Note: ¶ Hananiah. Grace of the Lorde.

2. Reg. 10. a. Hanon, was the sonne of Nahas King of the Amo­nites, vnto whō Dauid most gently sent to comfort hym vpon the death of his father, which gentlenesse was most vngentlye and vnthankefully taken, of the Lordes and counsaylers of the young King Hanon. Who perswaded the yong King, that Dauid had not sent to comfort hym [Page 136] vpon the death of his Father: But had rather sent a sort of spyes (vnder the colour of friendshippe (to séeke the meanes howe to destroye his Cities and whole Realme. Upon the which false and vnhonest surmise of his wicked counseylers, Hanon caused the one halfe of euery mans bearde to be shauen, & their garments to be cut of harde by the Buttockes, and so sent them home agayne to Da­uid, with much shame and vilany. Upon which occasionIngratitude punished. Dauid became his vtter enimie, & made such hote warre agaynst hym, that in conclusion Hanon was taken, and lost his Regall Crowne, which Dauid put vpon his owne heade, and wore it before Hanons face, and caried away all his treasure and Iewels, tooke his people, whereof some he sawed in two péeces: ouer other some he caused Cartes new and sharpe shodde with yron to be dryuen: some he tooke and shred their fleshe, as Cookes doe pye meate, & cast other some in whote burning ouens. Thus was Hanon rewarded, for his ingratitude. Note: ¶ Hanon, Faithfull, or true, a Schoolemaister, and the mothers sonne, or Childe.

4. Reg. [...]. c. d. Hazael, was a certayne great man, which serued Benhadad King of Siria, which Benhadad fortuning to fall sicke, sent Hazael to Eliseus the Prophet to knowe whyther he shoulde recouer of his disease or no. And when the Prophet sawe Hazael, he coulde not looke hym in the face for shame, but cast his heade a syde and wept. Then Hazael marueyling at the Prophets behauiour towards him, demaunded of Eliseus wherefore he wept: I wéepe (quoth the Prophet) to sée the great euils that thou shalt doe to the Children of Israel: Thou shalt brcake downe their strong Cities and set them on fyre, and slaye theyr yong men with the sworde, and dashe the braynes out of the sucking children, and all to rent in péeces the women with Childe. Then sayde Hazael, doest thou make thy seruaunt a dogge▪ that I shoulde lacke so much huma­nitie [Page 137] and pittie, to doe these thinges. Well (sayde the Prophet) thou shalt doe as I haue sayde, for the Lorde hath shewed me that thou shalt be King of Siria. And so Hazael departed home to the King his maister, and tolde him that he shoulde recouer, for so the Prophet had sayde vnto him. But on the next morrowe, when Hazael sawe his tyme, he tooke a thickeVnder the pretence to refreshe or ease him, he styfled him with this cloth. cloth and dipt it in water, and spread it so on the Kinges face that he dyed: After whose death Hazael raigned in his stéede. And being sta­blished4. Reg. 8. g. in his Kingdome, he made warre with Ioram2. Par. 22. b. King Achabs sonne, & was a cruell aduersarye to Israel, all the dayes of his lyfe. Note: ¶ Hazael, seeing God.

4. Reg. 22. b. Helkia, was the hye Priest in the dayes of Iosias, who in repayring the Temple of the Lorde, chaunced (by* The copye that Mosess left them, as appeareth. the prouidence of God) to finde the booke of the lawe, the which he sent to the King by Saphan the Scribe, which he readde vnto him. Note: ¶ Helkia, the Lords portion, or part, the Lords lenitie or gentlenesse.2. Par. 34. c.

2. Mac. 3. cap. Heliodorus, being in great fauour with Seleucus King of Asia, and Stewarde of his house, was sent to Ierusalem to fet awaye the treasure out of the Temple, which one Symon the gouernour thereof had betrayed vnto the King. And being come to Ierusalem, he was louingly receyued of Onias the hye Priest into the Citie. But when Heliodorus had vttered the cause of his com­ming, and that his commission was to bring the money vnto the King, there was no small feare thorowout the whole citie. For then all men from the hyest to the lowest were so oppressed with sorrowe and heauynesse, that they wyste not what to doe, but fell to prayer, lifting vp their eyes to Heauen, and calling vpon him which had made a lawe concerning stuffe giuen to kéepe, that he woulde safely preserue the same, which was there committed in custodie. And whyle the Priestes and people were thus [Page 138] lamenting and crying vpon God. And on the other side Heliodorus personally with his men of warre about the treasury: There appeared an horse with a terrible man sitting vpon hym decte in harnasse of golde, which horse smote at Heliodorus with his fore féete to beate him from the place. Also there appeared twoo fayre and bewtyfull yong men in goodly apparell, which stoode on eche syde of Heliodorus and scourged hym, so long that he fell downe to the grounde as dead, & so was caryed out of the Tem­ple, without speache or hope of lyfe, whereby the great power of God was manifest and knowne. Then certayne of Heliodorus friendes, besought Onias to call vpon God to giue him his lyfe, which was euen at that time giuing vp the ghost. Then Onias (least the King shoulde suspect the Iewes had done him some harme) called vpon God and obtayned his lyfe. And being reuiued to health a­gayne, the twoo yong men which had scourged hym be­fore, appeared and sayde: Thanke Onias the hye Priest for thy lyfe, at whose prayer the Lord hath restored thée, and nowe that God hath scourged thée for thine offences, giue him prayse and thankes, and make his might and power manifest and open to all men. And when the men had spoken these wordes and were vanished awaye, He­liodorus made his oblacion to God, and gaue heartye thankes to Onias for his lyfe, and so returned home a­gayne to the King, declaring vnto hym the great and manifest workes of God that were done vppon him. The King (after this) being yet desirous of the treasure that was in the Temple, asked of Heliodorus, whome he thought méete to sende once agayne to Ierusalem for the money: He aunswered, saying: Oh King, if thou hast any enimie or traytour vnto thy Realme, sende hym thy­ther, and thou shalt be sure to haue him well punished, and hardly to escape with his lyfe. For doubtlesse, (sayde he) In that place there is a speciall power and working of God, for he that dwel [...]eth in heauen, visiteth and defen­deth [Page 139] that place, and none escapeth vnpunished or plagued, that commeth to doe it harme. Thus dyd Heliodorus magnifie the power of God, and would no more enter in­to such daunger. Note: ¶ Heliodorus: the Gift of the Sonne.

Gen. 5. [...]. Henoch, the sonne of Iared, at the age of .65. yeres, begat Mathusal [...]h, and after that, he liued. 300. yeares, and begat both sonnes and daughters, and walked al­wayes before the Lorde in an vpright and godlye lyfe. And when he had liued. 365. yeares, the LordTo inquire where He­noch became, is meere cu­riositie. tooke him away, that he was no more séene. Note: ¶ Henoch, Taught, or dedicate.

Rom. 16. c. Herman, was a faithfull Christen man, vnto whom Paule sent commendations from Corinth to Rome. Note: ¶ Herman, A proppe, or vpholder, or an earing.

2. Tim. 1. d. Hermogenes, was a faynt hollowe hearted Gos­peller of the countrie of Asia, which forsooke Paule and gaue him ouer, whose vnfaythfulnesse Paule pronoun­ceth to Timothie. Note: ¶ Hermogenes, Begotten by Mercurie, or the generation, or increase of lucre, or the refuge.

Math. 2. cap. Herode, was an Idumean borne, and the first stran­ger that reigned ouer the Iewes. In whose time Christ the sauiour of the worlde (by the will of God) came into this worlde, of whose birth he had first knowledge of the Mages, or wise men, which came from the East to Ieru­salem, demaunding there, for him that was borne king of the Iewes, saying that they had séene his Starre, and were come to worship before him. Which newes trou­bled Herode so sore, that he sent for all the chiefe Priests and Scribes of the people, to knowe of them where Christ shoulde be borne. And being of them perfitely en­formed, that he shoulde be borne in the Citie ofFor there is an other Bethleem, in the Tribe of [...]abulon. Beth­leem in Iewrie, he sent for the wysemen, and after inqui­sition [Page 140] made what time the starre appeared vnto them, he bade them go to Bethleem, and make diligent search for the chylde, and when they had founde him, to bring him word againe, that he might go and worship him also. But when they had found the childe, and had made their offering, they were warned of God to breake their pro­mise with Herode, and to returne home another waye. Which thing beingEusebius sayeth, that Herode for this slaugh­ter done, would haue killed him­selfe, but be­ing let by his seruaunt, he dyed wythin fiue dayes, when he had reigned. 37. yeares. tolde to Herode, he fell into such a rage (for being so mocked) that in hys madnesse he sent forth ministers to Bethleem, which killed al the Infants that were in the Citie, and in the coastes thereof, of the age of two yeares, or vnder, for whose great crueltie shewed vpon those Innocentes, God payed him home soone after. Note: ¶ Herode, the glorie of the skinne: or boasting, and glorying in skinnes.

Math. 14. a. b Herode, the Tetrarch of Galile, was brother to Philip Tetrarch of Iturea, and being reprooued of IohnLuke. 3. 2. Baptist for kéeping his brother Philips wyfe, he cast Iohn in prison, where he remayned vntill Herodes birth daye was come, in the which solemne feastfull daye, it chanced the daughter of Philip and Herodias, to daunce before Herode, and pleased the King so well, that he sware vnto hir, that whatsoeuer shée woulde aske him, it shoulde be graunted, not thinking she woulde haue askedMar. 6. cap. Iohn Baptistes heade, for (as S. Marke sayth) Herode knowynge Iohn to bée a iust and an holye man, did both feare and reuerence him, and hearde his preaching, and did many things thereafter, and was very sorye the Mayde had asked none other thing. But neuerthelesse, for kéeping his Othe, which he had made before so many Noble men, he caused the innocent mans heade to be cut of, and giuen to the Wench. This Herode and Pylate (Lieutenant of Iewry) had bene long at variaunce. And for the pleasure that Pilate shewed to Herode, in sending Iesus bounde vnto him to be examined, he was at one [Page 141] with him againe. For Herode had long desired to sée Ie­sus. And hoping nowe to haue séene some myracles done by him, he demaunded many questions of Iesus, to the which he woulde make no answere at all. Then Herode, perceyuing that Iesus woulde neyther speake nor doe a­ny thing at his pleasure, he began to despyse and r [...]uyle him, and (in mockery) arayed him in a long whyte gar­ment, and sent him to Pylate agayne.

Act. 12. cap. Herode. T [...]is man was a great persecutour of the Apostles. He beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn: andThis Herode was called Agrippa the sonne of A­ristobolus: he was nephew vnto Herode the great, and brother of Herodias. séeing that déede to content and pleas [...] the Iewes well, he tooke Peter also, and cast him into prison, intending af­ter Easter (which was at hand) to haue him put to death▪ also. Finally, vpon a certaine day appointed to shewe himselfe in his pompe & glory, he made such an Oration before the assemblye, that (for the pleasauntnesse of hys speach) the common people at the ende thereof, gaue a mightie shoute, saying, it was the voyce of a God, and not of a man. And bicause he gloryed in their boasting, and tooke that honour vnto himselfe, which he ought to haue giuen to God, he was immediatly smitten with the Wormie sickenesse, whereof he most miserably dyed.

Rom. 16. b. Herodian, was Paules kinseman, vnto whome he sent commendations from Corinth on this wise: Salute Herodian my kinseman. Note: ¶ Herodian, the song of a yoong Virgin, or of a woman conquering.

Math. 14. [...]. Herodias, was wyfe to Philip, Herodes brother, to whome she brought forth aWhiche daughter (as Iosephus wryteth) was called Salo­men. daughter. This woman being more familiar with Herode than honestie requi­red, grew into such fauour with him, that he (contrarye to the lawe of Moses) married hir, his brother being a­lyue. Against which vnlawfull marriage, Iohn Baptist spake so much to Herodes reproofe, that shée fearing [Page 142] least that Iohn woulde make Herode breake of the in­cest marriage, counsayled hir daughter (which daunced before him) to aske the heade of Iohn Baptist. And so by the wicked deuyce of this vnchaste woman, Iohn lost his heade. Note: ¶ Herodias, signifieth that, that the woorde Herode before doth.

Gen. 46. b. Hesron, was the sonne of Ruben, and of hym cameNum. 46. a. the kindred of the Hesronites. Note: ¶ Hesron, the Arrowe of reioyeeing.

1. Par. 2. c. Hesron, the father of Caleb, being come to the age of thréescore yeares, tooke to wyfe the daughter of Ma­chir, who bare vnto him a sonne called Segub.

4. Reg. 18. and. 19. cap. Hezakia, the sonne of Ahaz, was .xxv. yeares of age when he began his reygne ouer Iuda. He was the godlyest Prince that euer reigned before or after among the Kings of Iuda. He clensed his Countrie from all y­dolatrie, and brake downe the brasen Serpent (which Moses had set vp) as soone as he sawe it abused. He brought in againe the true honouring of God, and renued the Passeouer. He had such a sure trust and confidence in God, that at his prayer the Angell of the Lorde slue in one night of the Assirians (which were come to destroye Ierusalem) an hundred, fourescore, and fiue thousande, and smote the rest into such a feare, that they ran away.20. cap. After this he fell sicke, and was admonished by the Pro­phete Esay, to set his house in order, for he shoulde sure­ly dye. Then he turned his face to the wall and made his peticion to God, saying: Oh Lord remember (I beséech thée) howe I haue walked before thée in truth and with a perfect heart, & haue done that which is good in thy sight, and speaking these wordes▪ héeHe wept, not so much for his owne death, as for feare that y­dolatrie shuld be restored, which he had destroyed. wept verie sore. The Lorde than mooued with his teares, returned the Pro­phete agayne, to comfort him with these newes, that he [Page 143] shoulde receyue his health, and be able the thirde day to go vp to the house of the Lorde, and that he had added to his dayes .xv. yeares mo, and to assure him of this his pro­mise, he woulde cause the Sunne to returne his course, ten degrées backewarde. At this tyme, Berodach surna­med Baladad King of Babilon, sent to Hezakia ambas­sadours, to signifie vnto him, howe glad and ioyfull he was of his recouery, which kindenesse was so greatly e­stéemed of Hazakia, that he thought he could not doe them to much pleasure, but made them priuie to all his trea­sure, siluer, and golde, and whatsoeuer he had in his house, or in any other parte of his Realme, heBicause he was mooued with ambici­on and vayne glorie, and se­med also to reioyce in the friendship of him that was Gods enimy, the Lorde was displea­sed. shewed it freely vnto them. Wherefore the Lorde (not content therewith) commaunded Esay the Prophet to go and tell Hezakia: That forasmuch as he had made the messengers of Ba­bilon priuie to all the commodities of his lande: The dayes shoulde come that all thinges which he had in his house, and whatsoeuer his Fathers had layed vp in store before him, shoulde be caryed to Babylon. Then Heza­kia knowing the Prophete to be the true messenger of God, humbled himselfe and saide: Thy worde (O Lord) is welcome vnto mée, but yet I shall desire thee, not to sende those cuils in my dayes, but rather peace and truth. He raigned .xxix. yeares and died. Note: ¶ Hezakia, the strength of the Lorde: or the Lordes holding.

1. Tim. 1. d. Hymeneus, after he had tasted of the worde of God and béene a professour of the same, he fell awaye and be­came an vtter enimie, and a spitefull rayler agaynst the doctrine of the Gospel of Christe, denying the chiefest point and foundacion of the Gospel, which is, that the re­surrection2. Tim. 2. c. is past, wherewith he destroyed the fayth of many persons. For the which errour, and other his ray­ling and ieastinges agaynst the truth of Gods woorde, Paule excommunicated him, that he thorowe correction might be ashamed of his faulte and tourne agayne to [Page 144] Christ. Note: ¶ Hymeneus: a Maryage song: or Bride song.

2. Reg. 5. b. Hyram, King of Tyre, fauoured Dauid so much, that he (hearing that Dauid went about to builde hym an house) sent hym both Tymber & Workemen to finish the same. Also, when Salomon (after the death of Da­uid3. Reg. 5. cap. 9. b. c. d. his Father) sent to this King for woodde and Timber to buylde the Lordes Temple, he praysed God that had sent Dauid so wyse a sonne, to sit in his seate, and graun­ted hym Timber of Cedar, Fyrre and other precious woodde, so much as he woulde desire. Wherefore Salo­mon to gratifie Hyram agayne, sent hym twentye thou­sande quarters of wheate, and twentye Butts of Oyle, and gaue him also twentye goodly Cities, which Cities Hyram called the lande of Cabul, forasmuch as when he sawe them, they pleased hym not. After this, Hyram gaue to Salomon, sixe score Talents of Golde, and sent him Ships and men which had knowledge of the Sea, to go with his Nauye into the countrey of Ophir, which Shippes brought vnto SalomonIn the. 2. Par. 8. d. is menciō made of. 30. talents mo, whiche seeme to haue ben employed for their charges. foure hundred and twentye Talents of golde. Note: ¶ Hyram, The hight of Lyfe.

3. Reg. 7. b. Hyram. This man was a certayne wydowes sonne dwelling in the Countrie of Tyre, and of the Tribe of Nepthaly, and dyd so excell in all maner of workeman­ship, that Hyram King of Tyre, sent him to Salomon to worke and finishe all things that pertayned to the Tem­ple of the Lorde, which Salomon went about to edifie.

Hobab, was the sonne of Raguel, whoseSome think that Raguel, Iethro, Ho­bab, and Ke­ni, were all one: Kymhi sayeth that Raguel was Iethros fa­ther: So Hobab was Moses father in lawe. companyeNum. 10. d. Moses his Father in lawe woulde so fayne haue had into the lande of Canaan, that he intreated him on this wise, saying: We are nowe going to the place which the Lord sayde that he woulde giue vs, therefore (I pray thée) go with vs and we will doe thée good, for the Lorde hath pro­mised good vnto Israel. Then Hobab made aunswere, [Page 145] saying: I will not go, but I will departe to mine owne Countrey and kindred. Nay (quoth Moses) I pray thée forsake vs not, but go with vs, and be our guide, for thou knowest our comping places, in the wildernesse, and whatsoeuer goodnesse the Lorde shall shewe vnto vs, the same will we she we vnto thée: But all this coulde not mooue Hobab, but that he woulde depart. And so retur­ned home into his owne countrey agayne. Note: ¶ Hobab, Beloued.

Iudith. 2. cap. Holofernes, was the chiefe and most terrible Cap­taine of all Nabuchodonosors hoste, sent of him to subdue all the worlde. And comming to the Citie of Bethulia14. b. (where all the Iewes lay in great feare of him and his power) he was there (by Gods prouision) slayne, by the handes of an holy woman called Iudith. Read hir storie. Note: ¶ Holofernes, A stoute and valiant Captaine.

1. Reg. 1. a. Hophni and Phinehes, the twoo sonnes of Ely were the Lordes Priestes, and became so wicked, that they abused the women that wayted at the doore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And whereas the law was, that2. c. d e. whenseeuer any man did make any offering, the Priests boye should come whyle the fleshe was a séething (and not before) with a fleshe hooke in his hande hauing thrée téeth, which he shoulde thrust into the Panne, Kettle, or whatsoeuer vessell it were, and so much as the flesh hooke brought vp, was the Priestes part, and no more: yet notwithstanding this lawe, the Priestes boye woulde come before the fleshe was sodde, and require flesh to rost for the Priest, and say vnto him that made the offering, that his Maister woulde haue no sod fleshe, but rawe. And if he woulde not giue it him, then woulde the boye take it by violence. By the which abusing of the Lawe, the Lordes offering was had in such contempt among the people, that they began to abhorre it. Wherefore the [Page 146] Lorde plagued the sonnes of Eli, permitting the Phili­stines4. c. to slea them both in one day. Note: ¶ Hophni, a Fyst, or as much as one may comprehende betweene his thumbe and two fin­gers, or couering.

4. Reg. 15. g. 17. cap. Hosea, the sonne of Ela (by treason) slue Pekah the sonne of Remaliahu King of Israel, and possessed hys place, and began his reigne in the .xij. yere of Ahas kingThis was the last King that reigned ouer Israel. of Iuda, and did euill in the sight of the Lorde, but not so euill as other Kings before him. He denyed to pay Tri­bute to the Assirians, and sent to the King of Egypt, to haue his ayde agaynst them: wherefore Salmanasar King of Assiria, came against Hosea, and besieged him in Samaria thrée yeares, and in the ende wanne the Ci­tie, destroyed his kingdome, and ledde Hosea and all his people captine into Assiria. Thus was Israel nowe deliuered into the handes of spoylers, for their wicked­nesse, which the Lorde had long suffred. Note: ¶ Hosea, a Saui­our, or health.

4. Reg. 22. d. Hulda, the wyfe of Sallum, was a Prophetesse dwelling in Ierusalem, in a place called the house of doc­trine. To whome Iosia King of Iuda sent certayne mes­sengers to inquire of the Lorde for him and hys people, concerning the booke of the Lawe which was founde in the Temple, and red before him, and when they had done their message, the Prophetesse made aunswere, saying: Go and tell the man that sent you to me: Thus sayth the Lorde, beholde, I will bring euill vpon this place, and vpon the inhabiters thereof, euen all the wordes of the booke which the King of Iuda hath readde, bicause they haue forsaken me, and haue burnt incense to other gods to anger me with all the works of their hands. My wrath also shall be kindled agaynst this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the King of Iuda who sent you to in­quire of the Lorde, so shall ye say vnto him: Thus sayth [Page 147] the Lorde God of Israel, the wordes that thou hast heard shall come to passe. But bicause that thine hart did melt, and thou hast humbled thy selfe before the Lorde, when thou heardest what I spake agaynst this place, and a­gainst the inhabiters of the same (howe they shoulde be destroyed and accursed) and hast rent thy clothes and wept before mée, I haue also hearde it, sayth the Lorde. Beholde therefore, I will gather thée vnto thy fathers, and thou shalt be put in thy graue in peace, and thine eyes shall not sée all the euill that I will bring vpon this place. And so the Messengers departed, and tolde the King. Note: ¶ Hulda, the worlde▪ or a Weesell.

Hur, came of the Tribe of Iuda, andThis is not that Hur which came of the kinrede of Caleb (al­though they came both of the Tribe of Iuda) but an other of the same name. Lyra vppon 1. Par. 2. c. This Hur was husband to miriam, sister to Mo­ses. was one of theExod. 17. d. principall fathers and Rulers vnder Moses. He and Aa­ron24. d. 31. a. stayed vp the handes of Moses, whyle the Chyldren of Israel fought with King Amalech: And was also ap­pointed with Aaron (afterwarde) to heare and determine all matters of controuersie among the people, till Moses came downe from the Mount againe, where vnto he was ascended. Note: ¶ Hur, Libertie, whytenesse, or a hole.

Husai, the Arachite, was2. Reg. 15. d. 16. c. a man of great wisedome, & one of Dauids chiefe Counsaylers & his assured friend, as it well appeared when he came vnto him (being fled from Absalom his sonne) with his clothes regt, and ashes vpon his head, declaring thereby the great sorowe and heauynesse he was in to sée his Lord and mayster in that case, of whose comming Dauid was greatly comforted. But forasmuch as he thought he shuld do him more plea­sure otherwise, than to go with him now, he said: Oh my most deare friend Husai, if thou doest go with me now at this tyme, thou shalt be but a burthen vnto me: But if thou wilt returne into Ierusalem, and say vnto Absalom, I will be thy seruant (O King) and serue thée as I haue done thy father, thou mayst for my sake destroy the coun­sell [Page 148] of Achitophell, and thereby doe me great pleasure. So Husai gat him to Absalom, saying: God saue the King: God saue the King: What (quoth Absalom) is this the kyndenesse thou she west to thy friende? Howe chaunceth it that thou wentest not with him. Nay sayde Husai, but whome the Lorde and this people, and all the men of Israel hath chosen, his will I be, and with hym will I dwell: to whome shall I doe seruice, but to hys sonne? as I serued before thy father, so will I serue thée. Then when Absalom had retayned Husai to be of his Counsell, he sayde vnto him: Achitophell hath coun­sayled thus and thus to doe, shall we doe thereafter or no. Husai answered, the Counsell that Achitophell hath giuen, is not good at this time. For (sayd he) thou know­est thy father and his men, howe they be strong, and now being chafed in their myndes, are euen as a Beare rob­bed of hir Whelpes in the fielde. And also thy father is a man practised in warre: and maketh no tarying wyth the people. Beholde he lurketh nowe in some Caue, or in some other strong place, and though some of his men be ouerthrowen at the first brunt, it will be sayde that thy people is ouerthrowen, and so shall the best men thou hast (whose hearts are as the hearts of Lyons) shrynke thereat. For all Israel knoweth thy father to be a man of great might, and his warriours stoute men. Therefore my counsell is, that all Israel be gathered togither vnto thée, from Dan to Béerseba (which are in number as the sande of the sea.) And that thou go to battell in thyne owne person. For so shall we come vpon him in one place or other, where we shall finde him, and fall vpon hym as thicke as the dewe falleth vpon the grounde, and of all the men that are with him, we shall not leaue him one. Moreouer, if he be gotten into a towne, then shall all the men of Israell bring roapes to that towne or Citie, & we will drawe it into the riuer, vntill there be not one stone founde there. This counsell of Husai pleased Absalom [Page 149] and the people, better than Achitophels: which was euen the Lordes det [...]rmination, to destroy the good counsell of Achitophel, that the Lorde might bring euill vpon Absa­lom. And so when Husai had done according to Dauids request, he caused Sadoch and Abiathar the Priestes, to sende Dauid worde of all that was done, whereby he es­caped. Note: ¶ Husai, Sense, or making haste, or holding his peace.

I.

IAbes, was so namedThis was Othoniel, Ca lebs brother, as Lyra re­porteth. of his mother, bicause she1. Par. 4. b. bare him in sorrowe. He (being more honorable than the reast of his brethren) made a condicio­nall vow vnto God, saying:Iacob made the like vowe. Reade his storie. If thou wilt blesse me in déede, and inlarge my coastes, and if thine hande be with me, and thou wylt cause me to be deliuered from cuill, that I be not hurt. Thus farre goeth his request, which was graunted. Note: ¶ Iabes, Sorowe.

Iudic. 4. a. Iabyn, was the King of Canaan, whose Captayne of warre was Sisera. Twentie yeares he troubled Is­rael very sore. But at the last he was ouercome of the Israelites, and brought to naught. There was another King called Iabyn also, whome Iosua slue, and destroyed his Citie calledWhich Ci­tie beinge brent of Io­sua, was af­terwarde buylded a­gaine of the Canaanites. Hazor, as yée shall reade in Iosua Chap. 11. Note: ¶ Iabyn, Vnderstanding.

Gen. 25. c. d. 27. cap. Iacob, was the yongest sonne of Isaac, and brother to Esau, whose byrthright he bought for a mease of pot­tage, and afterwarde (by the counsell of Rebecca hys mother) got away his blessing. And then, to auoyde his brothers displeasure, he was sent into Mesopotamia to28. cap. Laban his Mothers brother to get him a Wyfe. And chaunceing to come to a place where he was benighted, he tooke a stone and layde it vnder his heade, and fell a sléeue. And in his dreame he sawe aChrist is the Ladder whereby God▪ and man are ioyned togi­ther, and by whome the Angels my­nister vnto vs, all graces by him are giuen vnto vs, and we by him ascende into heauen. Ladder stande vp­pon the earth, reaching vp to heauen, and the Angels of [Page 150] God ascending and descending vpon it; and God himselfe standing vpon the Ladder, sayde: I am the Lorde God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the lande which thou sléepest vpon, will I giue to thée and thy seede, and thy séede shall be as the dust of the earth, thou shalt spreade abroade to the West, to the East, to the North, and to the South. And thorowe thée and in thy séede shall all the kinreds of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with thée, and will be thy kéeper in all places where thou goest, and will bring thée agayne into thys lande, neyther will I leaue thée, vntill I haue made good all that I haue promised. Then Iacob awaking out of sléepe, sayde: Surely the Lorde is in this place, and I was not aware. Oh how fearefull is this place, it is none other but the house of God, and the gate of heauen. Then Iacob gate him vp earely in the morning, and tooke the stone which he slept vpon, and set it vp as a pyller to be a remembrance of that vision, and poured oyle vpon it, and called the place Bethel, which before was called Lus. And before his departing, he vowed, saying: If God will be with me, and kéepe me in this iourney which I go, and will giue me breade to eate, and clothes to couer me, so that I come againe to my fathers house in safety, then shall the Lorde be my God, and this stone which I haue set vp an ende, shall be Gods house, and of all that29. cap. thou giuest me, will I giue the tenth vnto thée. And so Iacob going on his iourney, came into the East coun­trey, where (in beholding the lande) he sawe certayne heardemen lying with their flockes of shéepe besyde a Well (at the which they commonly vsed to water their shéepe) to whom he went & demanded whence they were. They said, of Haran. Doe ye not know (quoth he) one La­ban the sonne of Nahor? Yea, sayde they, we knowe him well. He is in health: And beholde, yonder commeth his daughter Rachel to water hir fathers shéepe: who was no sooner come, but Iacob went to the Well, and rolled [Page 151] away the stoneThe cause why Iacob was deceiued was, that in olde time the wife was co­uered with a vayle when shee was brought to hir husbande, in signe of chastitie and shamefastnes. from the Welles mouth, and watred all hir shéepe. Which done, he kissed the Damosell, and wept for ioy. And when the Mayde had knowledge what he was, she ranne to hir father, and tolde him, who beyng ioyfull thereof, went to the man, and brought him into his house. Nowe when Iacob had opened the cause of his comming to Laban, it was agréed that Iacob shoulde serue Laban seauen yeares for Rachel his daughter. But when the daye of Mariage came, Lea the elder was put in hir steade, for so much as it was not the custome, that the yonger shoulde be first married (as Laban alleaged.) Then Iacob taryed seauen dayes, and tooke Rachel vp­pon condicion that he woulde serue other seauen yeares for hir, which being fulfilled, he desired Laban that heGen. 30. e. f. g. might depart with his Wyues & Children into his owne countrie againe. Nay tarie, sayd Laban, for I perceyue that the Lorde hath blessed me for thy sake, appoynt thy wages, and I will giue it thée. Thou knowest (quoth Ia­cob) what seruice I haue done thée, and in what taking thy cattell hath bene vnder me: for the little that thou hadst before my comming, is nowe increased to a mul­titude. But when shall I traueyle, & make prouision for mine owne house also. Well, what shall I giue thée sayd Laban. Then Iacob (hauing knowledge aforehande by the Angell of the Lord what his wages should be) said: Thou shalt giue me nothing at all, if thou wilt doe this thing for me. I will go agayne and feede thy shéepe, and kéepe them, & will seperate all the shéepe of thy flocke one from another, and so many as be blacke, speckled, or of partie colour, let that be my wages, and whatsoeuer I take of the reast vnspotted, let that be counted theft with me. Content (quoth Laban.) Then went Iacob and tooke out all the males and females of the shéepe and goates that were blacke, spotted, or of partie colour, and put them in the kéeping of his sonnes, which lay thrée dayes iourney of from Iacob, and the reast, which were whyte, [Page 152] and of one colour, IacobIacob her­in vsed no de­ceyte, for so much as hee did it at gods cōmandement kept himself. And when he had made this diuision of Labans shéepe, he tooke roddes of gréene Populer, of Hasell, and of Chesnut trées, and pilled whyte strakes in them. Which roddes (in the con­ceyuing time) he layed before the shéepe, in the gutters and watring troughes when they came to drinke. And the shéepe that conceyued before the roddes, brought forth Lambes, straked, spotted, and partie coloured, so that Iacobs flocke increased excéedinglye, whereat the31. cap. sonnes of Laban grudged, and made so heynous a com­playnt to their father on Iacob, that Laban began to dis­fauour him. Then Iacob perceyuing Labans counte­nance to be chaunged, he sent for his wyues, and sayde: I sée your fathers countenance, that it is not towardes me as it was woont, and yet ye knowe that I haue ser­ued your father truely, which hath deceyued mée, and chaunged my wages ten tymes, but God suffered hym not to hurt me. For when he sayde, the spotted shoulde be my wages, then the shéepe brought foorth spotted. And when he sayde, the partie coloured should be my re­warde, then the shéepe brought foorth partie coloured: And thus hath God taken away your fathers shéepe and giuen them to me, which thing he shewed me in a dreame shoulde euen so come to passe, and hath nowe commaun­ded me to depart out of this Countrie into the land where I was borne: The women sayde, we haue not portion in our Fathers house, séeing he counteth vs but euen as straungers, and hath solde vs, and eaten vp our money: And nowe that God hath taken away our fathers riches and made it oures and our childrens, doe whatsoeuer God hath sayde vnto thée. Then Iacob, assoone as he had prepared all things for his iourney, he fled from Laban his Father in lawe towardes the lande of Canaan to I­saac his Father, and being pursued of Laban .vij. dayes, and at last ouertaken at mount Giliad, he layed manye things to Iacobs charge, whereof he discharged himselfe [Page 153] of all, and in the ende sayde: This twentye yeares haue I serued thée .xiiij. yeares for thy daughters, and sixe yeares for thy shéepe, which hath not béene barren, and yet in all that space, haue I not eaten one Ram of thy stocke, but whatsoeuer was stolen or torne of beastes, I made it good vnto thée. Thou chaunged my wages ten tymes, and w [...]ulde surely haue sent mée away with no­thing, if God (which sawe my tribulation and the labour of my handes) had not béene the better vnto mée, which rebuked thée yesterdaye. Then Laban made a bonde with Iacob and so departed. Iacob then going foorth onGen. 32. cap. his iourney, came into the lande of S [...]ir, and hearing of his brother Esaus being there, was sore afrayde of him, least he had continued still in his malice towardes hym, wherefore he sent messengers before vnto him, with thrée great droues of Cattell for a present, trusting thereby to mitigate his wrath. And as Iacob himselfe, taryed be­hinde to set his wyues and children in order to méete his brother Esau, an Angel wrastled with him all night, and at last smote him vnder the Thigh, and brake the sinewe of his legge, whereon he haulted euer after. Yet neuer­thelesse, Iacob (which had wrasteled with the Angel vn­till the breaking of the daye) woulde not let the Angell depart, before he had blessed hym, who called his name Israel: for as a Prince (sayde he to Iacob) hast thou wrasteled with God and with man, and preuailed. And so, after the brotherly méeting of Iacob and Esau, andGen. 33. cap. the great amitie shewed the one to the other, Iacob tooke his iourney into the lande of Canaan, where he remay­ned vntill he was of the age of an 130. yeares. And then went downe into Egipt withall his householde (which46. cap. were thrée score and sixe soules) to sée his sonne Ioseph,49. d. where he continued .xvij. yeares. And then dyed, being50. a. b. c. 147. yeares of age, and from thence was conueyghed to the lande of Canaan, where he was by his children sumptuouslye buried. Note: ¶ Iacob, a Supplantur.

Gen. 10. d. Iachtan, was the sonne of Heber, and this brothers name was Peleg. Note: ¶ Iacktan, a little one, or Lothsomnesse, or Contencion.

Iudic. 4. c. d. Iael, was the wife of one Haber the Kenite, which was of the Children of Hobab, Moses father in law. And when she had hearde of the great ouerthrowe of Sisera, and how he fled, she went and mette him, saying: Turne in my Lorde turne in to mée and feare not. And being come into hir house, he asked hir a little water to quench his thirst, and she brought hym a bottell full of Milke, and when he had well droncken thereof, he layed hym downe to sléepe, & as she was couering him with cloths. He prayed hir to go and stande at the dore of hir tent, and whosoeuer doth come andNow was the prophecie of Debora fulfilled, whiche shee prophecied to Barak, say­ing: this ior­ney that thou takest vppon thee now, shal not bee for thine honor, for the Lorde shall sell Si­fera into the hand of a wo­man. aske for any man, say there is no man here. And so when Sisera was fast a sléepe, Iael went sostly vnto him with an hammer in the one hande and a nayle in the other, & smote him thorowe the Tem­ples of his heade, and nayled hym fast to the grounde. Which done, she went and stoode in hir Tent dore, and séeing Baruck pursuing Sisera, she went & mette hym, saying: Come and go with mée, and I will shewe thée, the man whome thou séekest, and so he followed Iael, who brought him into hir tent where Sisera laye dead. Note: ¶ Iael, a Do, or ascending.

Iudic. 10. cap. Iair, was a Gileadite borne. He had .xxx. sonnes which were men of authoritie, for they rode vppon .xxx. Asses colts: And they had xxx. Cities lying in the lande of Gilead, which Cities were called the townes of Iair. He reigned .xxij. yeares. After whose death the Children of Israel fell to wickednesse agayne, and serued Baalim and Astharoth the gods of Siria & other straunge gods, for the which the Lord was wroth with Israel, and solde them into the hands of the Philistynes and Ammonites, [Page 159] which oppressed them so sore by the space of .xviij. yeares. That th [...]y were fayne to cry for helpe of the Lord. Who then sayde vnto them: Dyd not I (when yée cryed vnto mée) deliuer you from the Egiptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonites, the Ama­lakites and the Moabites, which nacions had oppressed you? And yet haue ye now forsaken me and serue theyr gods. Therfore crie vnto these gods whom yée haue cho­sen, and let them helpe you in your tribulacion, for I will deliuer you no more. Oh Lord (said they) we haue sinned, doe vnto vs whatsoeuer pleaseth thée. Then had the Lord so great compassion and pittie on the miserye of Israel, that he styrred vp a man one Iephtah, who (by the power of God) saued them. Note: ¶ Iair. Lightened.

Math. 4. d. Iames, the sonne of Zebede and brother to Iohn,Mar. 3 c. was a poore fisherman, and being in the ship with his fa­therHe was put to death by Agrippa, who had to name also Herode. Act. mending of his net, Iesus came by and called him: who immediately left his shippe, his father and all, and went after Iesus, and was one of his Apostles, and re­ceyued with his brother, the name of Bonarges, which is to saye: The sonnes of thunder. Note: ¶ Iames, a Tripper, or12. a. Cooper. Deceyuour. An beele, the sole of the foote, a foote steppe.

Math. 10. a. Iames, the lesse, was the sonne of Alph [...]us and Ma­rie (sister to Marie the Lords mother.) And being bishopHe suffered martyrdome in the. vi yere of Nero. of Ierusalem, he wrote to the Iewes that were scattered abroade after the persecution and death of Steuen, In­structing them with sundry precepts howe to order their lyues.

2 Tim. 3. b. Iannes, and Iambres were twoo false Sorcerers of Egypt, who in the time of Moses with their enchant­mentsExo. 7. b. went about to put those miraculous woonders out of credence that Moses by the power of God did. And e­uen as they withstoode Moses, so do the aduersaries of the [Page 156] Gospell at this day (and euer will) resist the truth, vnder a certaine false pretence of godlynesse.

Gen. 9. d. Iapheth, was the youngest of Noes thrée sonnes, who being enformed of his fathers vnséemely lying aThe nations that came of his children. Of Gomer came the I­talians. Of Magog the Scitians, & of them the Turkes Of Madai the Medes. Of Iauan, the Greekes. Of Tubal, the Spanyards. Of Mosoch, the Moscoui­tes, and of Tiras, the Thracians. Lanquet. sléepe in his Tent, tooke a garment, and bare it betwene him and Sem on their shoulders, and comming toward their father (ashamed to looke on his nakednesse) tour­ned their faces backwarde, and so couered their fathers priui [...]ies. For the which déede, Noe (hauing knowledge thereof) blessed them, saying to Iapheth on this wise. God shall enlarge Iapheth, and he shall dwell in the Tentes of Sem, and Canaan, shall be their seruant. Note: ¶ Iapheth, perswading, or entycing.

Iairus, wasMark. 5. c. d one of the Rulers of the Synagoge a­mong the Iewes, whose daughter of the age of twelue yeares, lay sicke and at the poynt of death. And hearing of the fame of Iesus, went and fell downe at his féete, be­séeching him that he would come home to his house, & lay his hande vpon his daughter, that by the touching ther­of, she might be safe, and lyue. And while there was an occasion giuen, whereby to reforme the vnperfect fayth of the Ruler, and that by the ensample of a woman dis­eased with an issue of bloude .xij. yeares, there came cer­taine* Luk. 8. f. g. messengers from the Rulers house, which sayde vnto him that his daughter was deade, wherefore it shoulde not néede to trouble the Maister anye further. Then Iesus perceyuing the Ruler to be as a man in dis­payre, sayde vnto him? Be not afrayde, for although thy daughter be deade in déede, onely beléeue, and thy daughter shall liue. And so Iesus went home to the Ru­lers house, and raised vp his daughter from death to life. Note: ¶ Iairus, Lightning, or being lightned.

Gen. 5. d. Iared, was the sonne of Mahalaleel, who liued an [Page 157] hundred sixtie and two yeares, and then begat Henoch, and liued after that eyght hundred yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. And when he had liued in all, nine hundred, sixtie and two yeares, he dyed. Note: ¶ Iared, Com­maunding, or descending.

2. Mac. b. 4. cap. Iason, was a wicked man, and so desirous of honor, that he laboured his owne brother Onias out of the hye Priestes office: promising Antiochus the King to gyue him for the same, thrée hundred and thrée score talentes of siluer, and of another rent foure score. And also if the King woulde licence him, to set vp a place for exercise, & a place for the youth, and to name them of Ierusalem Antiochians: he promised an hundred and fiftie Talents. And when these things was graunted to Iason, and that he had got the superioritie: he beganne immediately to drawe his kinsmen to the customes of the heathen, abo­lishing the lawes and priuiledges of the Iewes, he brought in newe statutes, contrary to the lawe of God. So that thorowe the exceeding wickednesse of this vn­godly man Iason, the people had a great desire to follow the maner of the Gentyles. The Priestes also, had no lust in seruing the Lorde, but in casting the stone, and such wanton sportes. Nowe after thrée yeres, when Ia­son shoulde paye the King his money, which he had pro­mised for his brothers office, he sent it by one whome he most trusted, called Menclaus, who gate the office from Iason (as appeareth more plainly in his storie.) Then Iason being thus deceyued by Menelaus, was fayne to flye into the lande of the Ammonites, remayning there till he might spye a time to be reuenged. And when hée hearde the rumor that went abrode of Antiochus death, he gat him a bonde of men to the number of a thousande or mo, and came sodenlye vppon the Citie, killing and slaying his owne Citizens without mercie, regarding neyther kinne nor friende. But neuerthelesse, when he [Page 158] coulde not spéede of his purpose, he fledde into the lande of the Ammonites againe. Where in the ende it came to this poynt, that he was accused to Areta King of the Arabians, and so abhorred of all men, and he was pur­sued from Citie to Citie, and driuen into Egypt. And go­ing from thence to the Lacedemonians, thinking by rea­son of kinred to haue had some succour of them, he was not regarded, but suffered to perishe in a straunge land, no man mourning for him, nor putting him into hys graue. Note: ¶ Iason, He that maketh whole: a Phisition.

Iecksan, looke Iocsan.

4. Reg. 23. f. Iehoahas, the sonne of Iosias, was .xxiij. yeare olde when he began to reygne ouer Iuda, and had not reyg­ned thrée moneths or that Pharao Necho, King of Egipt came and put him downe, and set vp his brother in hys steade. And put the lande to a tribute of an hundred Ta­lents of Siluer, and one of Golde, and caryed Iehoahas away into Egypt where he dyed. Note: ¶ Iehoahas, The pos­session of the Lorde.

4. Reg. 23. g. 24. a. Iehoakym, the sonne of Iosias, was .xxv. yeares of age when he began to reygne ouer Iuda, and dyd that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde. His name was chaunged from Eliakim to Iehoakym by Pharao Ne­cho, King of Egypt, which came and deposed his bro­therThis Kyng dyed in the way, as they led him pri­soner into Babilon. Reade Ie­remie, 22. e. Iehoahas, and made him King in his steade, and mersced the lande, as before is sayde in Iehoahas. For the payment of which money, Iehoakym taxed the land, and leuyed of euery man according to his habilitie, and payde the money to Pharao. After this, came Nabucho­donosor King of Babilon, and besieged Ierusalem, to whome Iehoakym yéelded, and serued Nabuchodonosor thrée yeares, and then rebelled agaynst him, into whose hande the Lorde deliuered him, so that the King of Ba­bilon [Page 159] tooke him, and bounde him in twoo chaynes, and ca­ried him and all the vessels of the Lordes house into Ba­bilon. This King reigned a .xj. yeares. Note: ¶ Iehoakym, the Rysing, or aduenging of the Lorde.

He is called also Iechoni­as. Math. 1. bIehoachin, 4. Reg. 24. b. c. d.was the sonne yof Iehoakm, who at the age of xviij. yeares, began to reigne ouer Iuda, and did euill in the sight of the Lorde as his fathers before him. He had not reygned thrée moneths or that the King of Babilon came and deposed him, making Mathania his fathers brother King in his steade, chaunging his name from Mathania to Zedekia, and caryed Iehoa­chym away into Babilon, where he remayned in pryson xxxviij. yeares after, euen vntill the comming of Euil­merodach King of Babilon, after Nabuchodonosor hys father, who had such a mynde to Iehoachym, that he de­liuered him out of prison, and exalted him aboue all the Princes in Babilon, and fedde him at his owne table all the dayes of his lyfe. Note: ¶ Iehoachin, the Resurrection of the Lorde.

4. Reg. 13. a. b. c. Iehoahas, the sonne of Iehu, began his reygne ouer Israel in the .xxiij. yeare of the reygne of Ioas the sonne of Ahaziahu King of Iuda, and walked so wickedly in the sinnes of Ieroboam (by worshipping the Calues which he had erected) that God deliuered him into the handes of Hazael, and his sonne Benhadad, Kinges of Siria, which destroyed the people of Israel, and vexed them so sore, that they made the Israelites like threshed dust: yet neuerthelesse, when Iehoahas humbled him­selfe, and besought the Lord, he hearde him, and had such pitie & compassion on the misery of Israel, that he deliue­red him out of the Sirians subiection, which had brought him so lowe, that they had left him but fiftie horsemen, ten Charets, and ten thousande footemen. He reygned xvij. yeares, and then dyed, and was buryed in Sama­ria, [Page 160] leauing behinde him his sonne Ioas to reigne in his steade. Note: ¶ Iehoahas, Apprehending, possesing, or seeyng.

4. Reg. 11. ca. Iehoiada, was the hye Byshop and Priest in the dayes of Ahaziahu King of Iuda, whose daughter he ma­ryed, named Iehosabeth. He preserued Ioas the yongest sonne of Ahaziahu his father in lawe sixe yeares in the Lordes house, and in the seauenth yeare he brought him forth, and proclaimed him King. And (being his gouer­nour and protectour) trayned him vp in all godlynesse and vertue. So that so long as Iehoiada liued, the King2. Par. 24. d. walked in all the wayes of the Lorde, from the which he swarued after the death of this good Bishop Iehoiada. Who liued. 130. yeares, and (for his faythfulnesse to­wardes God and his people) was most honorablye bu­ried in the Citie of Dauid among the Kings. Note: ¶ Iehoia­da, the Knowledge of the Lorde.

4. Reg. 11. a. Iehosabeth, was the daughter of Ahaziahu King of Iuda, and wyfe to Iehoiada the hie Bishop of the Iewes.2. Par. 22. d. And when Atthalia hir Graundmother went about to de­stroy the Kings séede, shée stole awaye Ioas hir yoongest brother from among the Kings sonnes, and hid both him and his Nurse, in hir owne Chamber (with hir husbands consent) the space of .vj. yeares, and so preserued him that he perished not, with the reast of hir brethren. Note: ¶ Iehosa­beth, the fulnesse of the Lorde.

4. Reg. 9 ca. Iehu, the sonne of Nimsi was annoynted King ouer Israel by Eliseus the Prophet, for to destroye the house of Achab his mayster: And being commaunded to go a­bout it with spéede, he began first with Ioram which lay at Iezrael to be healed of his wounds, which the Sirians had giuen him. And as Iehu was comming thitherward, the watchman espying a company comming toward the Citie, tolde the King, who then sent out an horseman to [Page 161] méete them, and to knowe whether they came peaceably or no. And when the Messenger came to Iehu, he sayde: The King woulde knowe whether it be peace or no? What hast thou to doe with peace (quoth Iehu) turne thée behinde me: and so the messenger turned behynde Iehu, and went backe no more, and likewyse the second. Then the watchman tolde the King that he thought by the dryuing of the Charret, it shoulde be Iehu that was comming, for he driueth (quoth he) as he were mad. The King hearing that, he made him readye to warre, and tooke Ahaziahu King of Iuda with him, and went toward Iehu, and met him in the furlong of Naboth, saying: isThere was a Prophete al­so called Ie­hu, the sonne of Hanani, which pro­phecied of the destruction of Baasa King of Israel and his posterity. Read. 3. Reg. 16. a. b. it peace Iehu or no? What peace should it be (quoth he) so long as the whooredomes of thy mother Iezabel, & hir witchcrafts are so great: and so in the Battell, Iehu shot Ioram to the heart with an arrow, & killed him. And fell vpon Ahaziahu and slue him also. And so procéeding forth to Iezrael, he came thither and found Iezabel looking out at a windowe. And as he demaunded of the companye a­bout hir, who was on his side, and woulde (for his sake) cast hir downe, two or thrée of hir Chamberlaines threw hir out at the windowe, and brake hir necke, notwith­standing, bicause she was a Kings daughter, he caused hir to be buryed. Then he sent his letters to Samaria,10. cap. commaūding those which had the gouernance of Achabs seauentie sonnes, to kill them all, and to bring their hea­des on the next morrowe to Iezrael. And when they (for feare) had fulfilled his commaundement, and brought their heades to him, Iehu fell vpon the murtherers, and slue them also. And in the waye to Samaria, he slue the brethren of Ahaziahu (euen fortie and two) which were going to visite Achabs sonnes. Finally, he trained all the Priests of Baal into the Temple of Baal, and there slue them euery one, & conuerted the temple to a Iakes house. And now when Iehu had left neyther Priest, Kinseman, nor any that fauoured Achab aliue, the Lord (for his well [Page 162] dooing) made him this promise, that his séede shoulde sit on the seate of Israel, vntill the fourth generation. But notwithstanding, that Iehu had thus seuerely punished the vice of Idolatrie in Achabs posteritie, yet he himselfe committed the same in worshipping the golden Calues, and caused Israel to sinne, as other before him had done. He reygned .xxviij. yeares. Note: ¶ Iehu, He himselfe, or that which is.

Iudic. 11. cap. Iephtah, was the sonne of Gilead, base borne, whose brethren (which were legittimate) thrust him out of their companie, and so hated him, that they coulde not suffer him to remayne among them: wherfore Iephtah depar­ted and fled into the lande of Tob: where vnto him resor­ted all naughtie and light persons. Nowe in the meane time that Iephtah was thus a straunger from his bre­thren, the Ammonites made sore warre agaynst the Is­raelites, so that they were in great ieoperdie and feare to be ouercome of them. Then the Elders of Gilead con­sidering Iephtah to be a strong and a valiant man, went to Tob where he laye, to intreate him to be their Cap­tayne against the Ammonites. Howe commeth thys (quoth Iephtah) that ye come to me in the time of your trouble: did ye not hate me, andOften ty­mes those things which men reiect, God chooseth to doe grea­ter enterpri­ses by. expell me out of my fa­thers house? Therefore (sayde they) are we turned to thée, that thou mayest go with vs, and be our heade and ruler. But will ye promise nowe (quoth Iephtah) that when the Lorde shall deliuer the Ammonites into my hande, ye will make me then your heade and gouernour? They sayde yea. And so he went with the Elders, who brought him to Mizpa, and being there made and confir­med their heade and Ruler, he sent his messengers to the King of Ammon, demaūding what cause he had to striue with Israel: who answered, and sayde: Bicause they tooke away my countrie, when they came from Egypt, which if they will now restore agayne, I will cease from [Page 163] warre. Then Iephtah sent him worde agayne, that Is­rael tooke not his lande from him, but comming from Egypt, and passing through the wildernesse, euen to the redde Sea, they remayned at Cades: and sent to Sehon King of the Ammorites, to suffer them quietlye to passe thorowe his Countrie: And bicause he woulde not shewe them this kyndenesse, the Lorde deliuered both him and his land into their hands, and shall they dispossesse them­selues of that which the Lord hath giuen them? Nay not so. Looke what people Chamos thy God driueth out, that land possesse thou, & whatsoeuer nation the Lord our God expelleth, that will we enioy. Art thou better than Ba­lac King of Moab? did he not stryue with Israel, and fight agaynst them all the whyle they laye in Hesbon (and there about) 300. yeares: and why didst thou not re­couer thy lande in all that space? Thou doest mée wrong to warre against me, for I haue not offended thée, and therfore the Lorde be Iudge betwéene thée and me. But when Iephtah perceyued the Ammonites not to regarde his words, he prepared his armie to set vpon them. And before his going, made this vowe vnto the Lorde: That if he did deliuer the Ammonites into his hande, the first thing that met him out of his doores at his returne home againe, shoulde be the Lordes, and he woulde offer it vp vnto him for a burnt offering. And when he had subdued the Ammonites, and was comming homewarde to hys house, the first thing that met him out at his doores, was his owne daughter, who for ioye of hir fathers victorie, came against him with Timbrels and daunces. Then Iephtah séeing his onely chylde come agaynst him with a companie of women after hir, he rent his clothes and sayde: Alas my daughter, thou hast brought me lowe, and art one of them that doe trouble mée, for I haue ope­ned my mouth vnto the Lorde, and cannot go backe. To whome she sayde: Oh my father, if thou hast promysed to the Lorde, then (forasmuch as the Lord hath auenged [Page 164] thée, and giuen thée victorie ouer thine enimies) doe with me according to thy promise. But yet, this one thing I shall desire of thée, to spare me for two monthes, that I may go downe to the Mountaynes, and there (with my my fellowes)For it was counted as a shame in Is­rael to dye without chil­dren. bewayle my Virginitie. Which done, she returned to hir father, who did with hir according as he had vowed vnto the Lorde. After this, the Ephraites fell at de [...]iance with Iephtah, bicause he had not called them to take his part against the Ammonites: and for this matter was a fielde pitched betwéene them and the Gileadites, and a great battell foughten, in the which, the Ephraites were put to flight, and séeking to haue es­caped ouer Iordan, the Gileadites had preuented them, and stopped the passage, that no Ephraite shoulde escape that way. And to knowe who was an Ephraite, and who was not, the Gileadites vsed this policie: if any preased to go euer the water, they woulde bidde him saySchibbo­leth, signifi­eth the fall of waters, or an eare of corne. Schyb­boleth, and as many as coulde not say Schibboleth, they slue him, for by that they knewe he was au Ephraite, for the Ephraites coulde not sounde nor say Schibboleth, but Sibboleth. And so were slaine of the Ephraites that daye, two and twentie thousande. Iephtah vuled Israel vj. yeares, and dyed. Note: ¶ Iephtah, Opening.

Iere. 1. 2. Ieremy, was the sonne of Helkia, whome some thinke to be he, that founde out the booke of the lawe, and gaue it to Iosia. He was borne in a citie called Anathoth,Epiphanius wryteth, that this Prophet Ieremy was slayne of hys people at a citie in Egipt called [...]aph­nis. in the Countrie of Beniamin, and (by the commaunde­ment of God) began very yong to prophecie, that is, in the .xiij. yeare of Iosias, and continued .xviij. yeares vnder the saide King, and thrée monthes vnder Iehoahas, and vnder Iehoakym .xi. yeares, and thrée monthes vnder Iehoachin, and vnder Zedekia .xi. yeares, vnto the time they were caried away into Babilon. So that the tyme amounteth to aboue fortie yeares, beside the time that he prophecied after the captiuitie. This storie is drawne [Page 165] out of Geneua, in the Argument before the booke of Ie­remie the Prophet. Note: ¶ Ieremy, the Maiestie, or highnesse of the Lorde.

Iudic. 6. f. Ierobaal, is a name which was giuen to Gedeon the sonne of Ioas, after he had broken downe the aultar of Baal, and cut downe all the Groue about it. Note: ¶ Iero­baal, That which resisteth anydoll, a destroyer of ydols.

Reade Gedeon.

Ieroboam, was the sonne ofSome saye that Nebat and Semei, whome Sa­lomon put to death, were one person: of whose death Zarnah the mother of Ieroboam, put him oft in remem­brance. Nebat, and of the3. Reg. 11. cap e. f. g. Tribe of Ephraim, who being nourished and brought vp of Zarnah his mother in hir wyddowhed, after the death of his father, became King Salomons seruant, and was made ouerséer of Salomons workes for the Tribe of Ephraim and Manasses. And on a time as he walked a­broade in the fielde alone, the Prophet Ahia came to him and sayde, that after the death of Salomon he shoulde reygne and be King ouer ten Tribes of Israel, which wordes of the Prophet did so animate Ieroboam, that he began to murmour against King Salomon his May­ster, who (therefore) sought to kill him, but Ieroboam fled into Egypt, where he remayned with Sisah King of that Countrie, vntill the death of Salomon. Then (being sent for) he returned home againe, and had so much fa­nour of the people, that they all forsooke Roboam (saue the Tribe of Iuda and Beniamin) and made Ieroboam their King. Who being surelye stablished in his king­dome, began to thinke thus in his heart: If this people go vp▪ and doe sacrifice in the house of the Lorde at Ie­rusalem, as they were woont to doe, then shall their harts turne to Roboam, and séeke to kill me. Wherefore he (by the aduise of his Counsell) made two gold [...]n Calues, and set the one vp at Dan, and the other at Bethel, per­swading the people that they were the Goddes which brought them out of Egipt, and therefore it shoulde not [Page 166] néede any more for them to go vp to Ierusalem, and wor­ship so farre of, but shoulde doe it nearer hande, and with lesse traueyle and paine. And when he perceyued the peo­ple to incline to his purpose, he made a Temple to builde hyll Aultars therein for ydolatrie, and placed a sorte of ignorant ministers (which were not of the sonnes of Le­uye) in Dan and Bethell, to trayne vp the people in worshipping of these Calues. And the more to stirre vp the peoples deuotion, he commaunded a solemne offering to be made in the honor of these Calues, the .xv. day of the eyght Moneth, and the same yearely to be obserued in remembrance of this newe kynde of ydolatrie: whych in continuaunce was so rooted in Israel, that it coulde ne­uer be cleane extinguished, till it had brought al Israel to vtter destruction. Nowe as the King was standing be­side13. cap. the Aultar at Bethell doing of sacrifice, there came a man of God, which cryed out against the Aultar, say­ing: O Aultar, Aultar, Thus sayth the Lorde: beholde, a chylde shall be borne vnto the house of Dauid (Iosia by name) and vpon thée shall he offer the Priestes of the hyll Aultars that burne incense vpon thée, and they shall burne mens bones vpon thée. And this is the token that the Lorde hath spoken it: Beholde, the Aultar shall rent, and the ashes that are vpon it, shall fall out. The King was so angry with this, that he stretched out hys hande agaynst the Prophet, commaunding to lay hands on him, and by & by the Kings hand was dried vp, so that he could not pull it to him agayne, the Aultar claue a sun­der, and the ashes fell out, as the man of God had spoken. The King séeing now Gods iudgement fallen vpon him, humbled himselfe to the Prophet, by whose intercession to God, his hande was restored agayne. Great and con­tinuall2. Par. 13. cap. warre was betwéene this King & Roboam King of Iuda, but this euer preuayled, till Abia the sonne of Roboam reygned, and then he lost as much honour and more than he wanne before. He reygned twoo and twenty [Page 167] yeares, and dyed, leauing Nadab his sonne to succéede him. Reade more of this King, in the storie of Abia, King of Iuda, and in the storye of Ahiah the Prophet, and of Baasa King of Israel.

4. Reg. 14. f. g Ieroboam, the sonne of Ioas King of Israel, began his raygne in the .xv. yeare of Amaziahu King of Iuda, and woorshipped the golden Calues which Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat had set vp, as other dyd before him. He was a great warryour and victorious. He restored the coastes of Israel from the entring of Hemath vnto the Sea of the wildernesse (according to Ionas Prophecie) And was styrred vp of the Lorde to helpe Israel (being excéedingly afflicted) out of all their trouble. He reygned xlj. yeares, and dyed, leauing Zacharias his sonne to succéede him. Note: ¶ Ieroboam, Increasing the people.

3. Reg. 16. g. 19. a. Iesabel, the daughter of Ethbaal King of the Sydo­nites, was a wicked woman. Shée entised and pricked forwarde Achab hir husbande to all kinde of Idolatry, she slue the Prophets of the Lorde, and persecuted Elia. She21. cap. caused Naboth to be stoned to death, that hir husbande might inioye his vyneyarde. Finally, as she laye at Ies­rael, and hearing of Iehu his comming, she trimmed hir4. Reg. 9. g. selfe in gorgious attire, and lay looking out at a window, and as he came in at the gate, she sayde vnto him: Had Zimri peace which slue his maister? As who should say: Can a Traytour or any that riseth agaynst his superiour haue good successe? But for asmuch as this was euen Gods▪ determinacion that she shoulde be destroyed, shée was cast out at the windowe with such violence, that she was dashed all to péeces, and so betramped and trodden with the féete of horses, that when they came to take hir vp to be buried, they founde no more of hir, saue the scull, the féete and the palmes of hir handes. And then was the Prophecie of Elia fulfilled, which sayde: In the fielde of [Page 168] Iesrael shall dogges eate the flesh of Iezabel, and the car­casse of Iezabel shall lye as dung vpon the earth, so that none shall saye, this is Iezabel. Note: ¶ Iezabel, an Ylande, or an babitacion.

Luk. 2. cap. Iesus, the sonne of God was borne of the Virgin Mary in Bethleem, a citie of Iuda, in the yeare after the Creacion of the worlde. 3962. Lanquet, whose byrth immediatly was honoured by the glorification of Angels, the Agnition of Shepheards, the veneracion of the wise­men, and the Prophecies of holy Symeon and Anna. And at the age of .xij. yeares, was had in admiracion among the Doctours in the Temple at Ierusalem, where their parents founde hym, and brought him to Narareth, but what he dyd from that time foorth tyll he came to the age of thirtie yeares, the Euaungelistes make no mention. Hée was then Baptised of Iohn in Iordane. And to wit­nesse [...]. cap. that he was the very Messias sent of God, the holy Ghost descended downe from heauen, in the likenesse of a Doue, and lighted vppon him, and also the voyce of the father was heard from heauen, saying: This is my wel­beloued sonne in whome I am well pleased, heare him. And after he had finished the legacie of his father and ope­ned the Doctrine of eternall life to the people, and confir­med the same with myracles, he was at the age of .xxxiij. yeares (or there about) betrayed of his owne disciple Iu­das,Math. 26. b. and by the Iewes his owne peculiar people, most cruellye put to death, at what tyme of his passion was a great earthquake, and at sixe a clocke of the daye, such a terrible Eclipse of the Sunne, that (for darckenesse) it séemed to be very night. The thirde day hée arose agayne28. a. from death to lyfe, In token he conquered sinne, death and Satan. And on the fourtie daye (to declare himselfeAct. 1. b. to be a mightie & a puissant Conquerour, he ascended in­to heauen, where he sitteth at the right hande of the Fa­ther. And the fiftie day (according to his promise) he sent [Page 169] downe the true comforter the holy Ghost, which shoulde leade the Apostles into all truth. At the ende and last day of the world, he shall come agayne with glorye, to Iudge the quicke and the dead. He suffered his passion the yeare after the creation of the Worlde. 3994. or there about. Note: ¶ Iesus: A Sauiour.

Eccl. 1. cap. Iesus, the sonne of Sirach, being among the Cap­tiues in Egipt, in the tyme of King Ptolomy Energets, got libertie to reade and write many good things, which Iesus his Graundfather had gathered and left them with Sirach his sonne, which thinges this Iesus tooke and put in order in a booke, which is called Ecclesiasticus, or the wisedome of Iesus the sonne of Sirach.

Coll. 4. c. Iesus, otherwise called Iustus, was a Iewe borne, and one of Paules workefellowes in preaching and set­ting foorth the Kingdome of God, whome he commended to the Collossians, desiring them, that if he or anye such dyd come vnto them, they shoulde receyue and entreate them with all gentlenesse.

Exod. 4. c. 18. cap. Iethro, the Priest of Madian had seauen daughters, of the which one was called Zephora, whome he maried to Moses. And when that Iethro had hearde of all the mightie déedes which God had done for Moses, and howe he had deliuered the children of Israel out of Egipt from the bondage of Pharao, and brought them thorow the red Sea, he mette Moses in the Wildernesse, and brought to him his wife and twoo children (which he had sent backe before) at whose comming, Moses was excéeding glad. Then as Iethro abode with Moses and sawe the great paynes he tooke in iudging the people from morning to night, he sayde vnto him: what is this that thou doest vn­to the people? Why sittest thou thy selfe alone and all the people stand about thée from morning vnto euen? When [Page 170] the people (quoth Moses) haue any matter, they come vnto mée, and I iudge betwéene one and an other, and declare vnto them the statutes and lawes of God. Thou doest not well (quoth Iethro) for thou both wearyest thy selfe, and the people that is with thée: The thing is ofThe counsell of Iethro Moses fa­ther in lawe. more weyght, than thou arte able to performe alone. Therefore heare my counsayle, & God shall prosper thée. Be thou for the people to God warde, and report the cau­ses to him: Admonish them of the ordinances and lawes, and shewe them the waye wherein they must walke, and the worke that they must doe. Moreouer, séeke out among the people men of courage, and such as feare God, true dealing men, hating couetousnesse, and appoint them to be rulers, ouer thousands, ouer hundreds, ouer fiftie, and ouer ten. And let them iudge the people at all seasons, and euery great matter let them bring it to thée. But al small causes, let them iudge themselues, and so shall it be ea­sier for thée, when they shall beare the burthen with thée: If thou shalt doe this thing (and God so commaund thée) thou shalt be able to endure, and all the people shall go quietly to their place. Note: ¶ Iethro, Excellent, or remayning, or searching foorth, or a little corde.

2. Reg. 2. cap. Ioab, was the sonne of Zerniah Dauids Sister (and the chiefe Captayne of all Dauids hoste. In the first bat­tell he made against Abner (King Saules Captayne) he was the victor, and put Abner to flight, and of malice afterwarde, by treason slue him, for [...]he which déede, Da­uid3. d. e. was fore offended, that he besought God to auenge it on Ioab, and that his house and posteritie, might al­waies be plagued with the bloudy flixe, leprosie, feblenesse of bodie, the swoorde, or famine, for the death of Abner. Ioab also, was the death of Absalom, and slue him as he18. d. hanged by the haire of his heade, vpon the twist of a trée: And when it was tolde him of the great lamentacion the King made for Absalom his sonne, he went vnto him and [Page 171] saide: Thou hast this day shamed the faces of all thy ser­uaunts,19. a. b. which this day haue saued thy lyfe, and the liues of all thy sonnes and daughters, & the lyues of thy wiues and Concubins, in that thou louest thine enimies and ha­test thy friendes: For thou hast declared this daye, that thou regardest neither thy Princes nor seruants: There­fore I doe perceyue, that if Absalom had lyued, and all we had bene slayne this day, that then it had pleased thée well. Nowe therefore vp, and come out and speake com­fortably vnto thy seruaunts, for I sweare by the Lorde, except thou come out, there will not tary one man with thée this night, and that wilbe woorse vnto thée, than all20. cap▪ the euill that fell on thée from thy youth hitherto. Also in persecuting of Seba (which had made a new insurrection against Dauid) he mette Amasa his Auntes sonne by the way andLyra sup­poseth that Ioab slue A­masa of enuy, bicause Da­uid had made an othe (in the Chapter before) that Amasa shuld be his Cap­taine in Io­abs steade. slue him, and leauing him dead on the ground, he followed Seba, and besieged him in a Citie called A­bell, where the Gouernesse of the Citie, being a wise wo­man) cried vnto Ioab, demaunding why he went about to destroy that Citie which was a Mother in Israel, and to deuour the inheritance of the Lorde, before he had offered peace: To whome he aunswered, saying: That he went about no such matter, but I come (quoth he) for Seba the sonne of Bichri, deliuer me him, and I will be gone, and as soone as the heade of Seba was throwen ouer the wall to Ioab, he departed. Finallye, after the death of Dauid (who had ordeyned Salomon to reigne in hys steade) Ioab tooke part with Adonia, Salomons brother which vsurped the kingdome, and went about with all his power to stablishe him in Dauids seate. But when he hearde Salomon proclaimed by Dauids authoritie, he fled to the Tabernacle of the Lorde, out of the which he woulde not depart, but (catching holde on theThe holy­nesse of the place ought not to saue the wilfull murther. Exo. 21. b. corners of the Aultar) sayde he woulde euen in that place dye. Then Salomon (hearing thereof) commaunded Banai­hahu to go and kill him euen there, for the bloude of Ab­ner [Page 172] and Amasa, which he had shed causelesse. And so was Ioab slayne in the Tabernacle, and caried out and buri­ed in his owne house in the wildernesse. Note: ¶ Ioab, willing▪ or voluntarie.

Luk. 8. a. 24 a Ioanna, the wyfe of Chusa Herodes Stewarde, was a godly Woman, and ministred vnto Christ of hir substance, while he liued. And after he had suffered his passion, she went with other women to séeke him at hys Sepulchre. And being tolde by the Aungels that he was not there, returned to the Apostles to bring them tydings of his resurrection, which séemed to them but feyned things, and therefore beléeued them not. Note: ¶ Ioanna, the grace of the Lorde: or the Lordes gift: or the Lordes mercy.

4. Reg. 11. and. 12. cap. Ioas, the yoongest sonne of Ahaziahu King of Iu­da, was stollen awaye from the handes of Athalia hys Grandmother, by his sister Iehosabeth wyfe to Iehoia­da the hie Priest, and hid in the Lords house, and brought vp in the Chamber where the Priestes and Leuites lay, the space of sixe yeares, and in the seauenth yeare, Ieho­iada brought him forth, and proclaymed him King, who in all things sought the Lorde, so long as Iehoiada ly­ued. He repayred the Temple. He slue Mathan the Priest of Baal, and brake downe his Aultars, with many other good thinges. But after the death of Iehoiada, he fell so2. Par. 24. c. f. farre from God, that no admonition of the Prophetes (which were dayly sent him) coulde turne him. And last of all, when Zacharia the sonne of Iehoiada came vnto him to call him againe vnto the Lorde, he (notwithstan­ding the great kyndenesse and faythfulnesse of Iehoiada his father before him) caused Zacharia to be put to death, for the which cause, the Lorde stirred vp the Siri­ans agaynst him, which slue a great number of his peo­ple, and in the ende his owne seruants conspired against him (for his ingratitude) and slue him vppon his owne [Page] [Page] [...] [Page]

[Page 173] bedde, after he had reigned fortie yeares, and buried hm in the Citie of Dauid, but not among the Kings. Note: ¶ Io­as, the Lordes fire, or the Lordes oblation.

4. Reg. 13. b. c. d. Ioas, the sonne of Iehoahas began his reygne ouer Israel in the .xxxvij. yeare of Ioas King of Iuda, and did euil in the sight of the Lord, grieuing him with the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebab. Of the great victorie2. Par. 25. c. f. g. the Lorde gaue Ioas against Amasiah King of Iuda, reade his storie: And howe he visited Elizeus the Pro­phete in his sicknesse, reade the last ende of his story also. This King reygned .xvi. yeares, and dyed, leauing Iero­boam his sonne to take his place.

Iob. 1. cap. Iob, was a perfect iust man dwelling in the lande of Hus, and one that feared God, who gaue vnto him seauen sonnes and thrée daughters, and also endued him with great riches. His substance was .7000. shéepe .3000. Camels .500. yoake of Oxen, 500. she Camels, and a very great housholde. So that he was one of the moste princi­pall men among all them of the East Countrie. He was so carefull ouer his sonnes, least in their banketting they had committed some offence, or bene vnthankfull to God in their heartes, that he dayly woulde sanctifie them, and offer for euerye one a burnt offering vnto the Lorde, he was a man also replenished with such pacience, that Sa­than with all his temptacions coulde not mooue him out of the same, for when worde was brought him how that the Sabes had taken away his Oxen, and slayne his ser­uants, and that the Lorde had consumed all his shéepe with fire, and that the Chaldeys had taken away his Ca­mels, and howe that all his Children were slaine in their eldest brothers house, which the l [...]ynde blewe downe vp­pon them, he made no more a doe but said: Naked came I cut of my mothers wombe, and naked shall I returne agayne: The Lorde gaue, and the Lorde hath taken a­way, [Page 174] euen as it hath pleased the Lorde, so is it come to2. cap. passe, blessed be the name of the Lorde. Also when Satan (by the permission of God) had plagued Iob with ex­treme sores, euen from the sole of the foote to the crowne of his heade, so that he sate vpon the grounde in dust and ashes, scraping off the filth of his sores with a potsherde: and being also inwardly afflicted with the sharpe temp­tacion of his wife, which tempted him to blaspheme God, he tooke all in good woorth, reproouing his wife, for hir foo­lishe talking: for shall we (quoth he) receyue good at the hande of God, and not receyue euill? not so, I am as well content to suffer this aduersitie sent of the Lorde, as I was to receyue the prosperitie he gaue me before: And so Iob continued in his perfitenesse, and was (at the last)Iob. 42. c. d. restored to as manye children as he had before, and to double riches. He liued an hundred and fortie yeares, and sawe his chylders chyldren to the fourth generation be­fore he dyed. Note: ¶ Iob, Sorrowfull, or hated.

Iochebed, was the daughter of Leuy, andShe was Amrams fa­thers sister, which kynde of mariage was after in the lawe for­bidden. Le­uit. 18. borne inExod. 6. c. Num. 26. g. Egipt. Hir husbandes name was Amram, to whom she bare thrée children, Aaron, Moses, and a daughter called Miriam. Note: ¶ Iochebed, Glorious.

Iocsan, was the sonneGen. 25. a. of Abraham, begotten of his wife Cetura his twoo children were called, the one Seba, and the other Dedan. Note: ¶ Iocsan, Hardnesse, or Offence.

Ioel, the sonne of Phatuel, wasIoel. 1. 2. & 3. cap. an holy Prophet, and prophecied against the Iewes, exhorting the Priests‡ 1. Par. 1. c. to prayer and fasting, for the misery that was comming at hande. And giuing them warning of the comming and crueltie of their enimies, mooued them to turne and conuert. And last of all, he setteth out the Iudgement of God against the enimies of his people. Note: ¶ Ioel, willing, or beginning.

Iere. 40. d. Iohanan, the sonne of Cariah Prophecied to Geda­liah (whom Nabuchodonosor King of Babilon had made gouernour ouer the people that he left at Ierusalem) that Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah (by the procurement of Baal King of the Ammonites) shoulde kill hym, which came so to passe in déede, as ye shall reade in the storye of Gedaliah. After whose death, Iohanan with the reast of41. ca. 42. ca. the Captaynes ouer the Iewes, persecuted Ismael, and recouered from him all the people which he had caryed a­waye, and put Ismael to flight. Then Iohanan (fearing the Chaldeys, bicause of the death of Gedaliah) consulted with the reast of the Captaynes, and agréede to conueigh themselues & all the people into Egipt, and asked counsell of Ieremie the Prophete (who had dwelt quietlye in the lande vnder Gedaliah) whither it were best so to doe or no, who made them aunswere, that if they went into Egipt they shoulde perishe, but if they taryed still in the lande, God would surely so defende them, that the Chal­deys43. a. shoulde not hurt them: yet they of a prowde minde despising the counsell of Ieremie and taking his wordes for lyes) ledde the people awaye into Egipt, to their vt­ter destruction.

Luke. 1. cap. Iohn Baptist, the sonne of Zacharye, was sanc­tified in the wombe of Elizabeth his mother, and orday­ned of God to be an abstayner, and to go before the Lord, in the spirite and power of Helias, to prepare his waye and make ready a perfect people vnto him thorowe prea­ching the amendement of life, and baptizing in the waterLuk. 3. a. b. c. d of repentaunce: And was a man of so great perfection and holinesse of life, that the people stoode in a doubt whi­ther that he were Christ or no. And being asked the que­stion, denied playnly that he was not Christ, nor Helias, neyther that Prophet whome they dreamed so much vp­pon, but onely the voyce of a cryer in the wildernesse to [Page 176] make streight the waye of the Lorde. For I doe Baptise (sayth Iohn) in water onely, but there is one nowe come among you who although he came after mée, was before mée, whose shooe latchet I am not woorthye to vnbuckle, and he it is that shall Baptise you with the holye Ghost. Iohn was a constant man and liued aunsterely. His gar­ment was course cloth made of Camels hair. His meate was locustes and wilde hony. He was a Prophet, and (as Christ reporteth) more than a Prophet. For Iohn pro­phecied7. d. c. Christ to be come, pointing him with his finger vnto the people, saying: Beholde the Lambe of God which taketh awaye the sinnes of the worlde, where as all the other Prophets dyd but prophecie of his comming long before he came. Finally, Iohn vsing his libertie inMath. 14. a. rebuking vice without any acception of persons, reproo­ued King Herode, for kéeping his brother Philips wyfe, for the which he was cast into prison, and soone after lost his heade. Reade the story of Herode the Tetrarch and of Herodias.

Math. 4. d. Iohn the Euangelist, was the sonne of Zebede, and brother to Iames, and called from his fisher boate to be an Apostle of Christ, and was of all other most en­tierlyIohn. 13. c. beloued of Iesus, who commended his mother vn­to19. c. 21. f. him at the houre of his death. ¶ He wrote his Gospel agaynst Cerinthus and other Heretikes, and chieflye a­gaynst the Ebionites, which dyd affirme, that Christe was not before Mary whereby he was constrayned to set foorth the diuine birth of Christ. In the tyme of the Em­peror Domitian, he was exiled into an Isle called Path­mos, where he wrote the Reuelation, and after the death of Domitian, in the time of Pertinax, he returned to E­phesus, remayning there till the time of Traianus, and dyd rayse vp & set in order, many Churches in Asia, and died thrée score yeares after the death of Christ, and was buried at Ephesus.

Act. 12. d. Iohn Marke: When Paule and Barnabas had béene at Ierusalem to destribute the Almes sent by the Antiochians, in their retourne, they brought this man Iohn (surnamed Marke) with them to Antioche. And when the holy Ghost had seperated Paule & Barnabas, from the other Disciples, to the intent that they shoulde go and spreade abroade the Gospel among the Gentiles, and those that were farre of, they tooke this Iohn Marke with them to be their Minister & companion, who bare them company from Antioche vntill they came to Pam­philia,Act. 13. b. c. and farther woulde he not go, but left them there, and returned to Ierusalem agayne, notwithstanding the Apostles went foorth and fulfilled their office. And when it came in their minds to go & visite these places agayne, wherein they had sowed the worde of God, Barnabas gaue counsell to take Iohn with them which had béene their minister before, to whose minde Paule woulde not consent, forasmuch as Iohn (of his owne accorde) had forsaken them at Pamphilia, before they had finished theyr worke. And so reasoning and disputing about this matter, the contencion was so sharpe betwéene these two holy men, that the one forsooke the others companie. And so Barnabas taking Iohn Marke with him, sayled into Cypres.

2. Reg. 13. a. Ionadab, was the sonne of Simeah, Dauids bro­ther, and a worldly wise man. He loued Ammon his vn­kle Dauids sonne, aboue the reast of all his brethren. Of the counsell he gaue to Ammon, concerning his Sister Thamar. Reade the story of Ammon. Note: ¶ Ionadab, Vo­luntarie, or Willing.

Ionas. 1. cap. Ionas, the sonne of Amithay was an holy Prophet, commaunded of God to go to Niniue (that great Citie)4. Reg. 14. d. to tel the people of their wickednesse, whoThe mo­ther of this prophet, was the poore wy­dowe of Sa­repta, whose Meale and Oyle Elias encreased, & restored hir sonne from death to life agayue. notwithstan­ding [Page 178] perswaded himselfe by his owne reason, that he shoulde nothing profite there, séeing he had so long Pro­phecied among his owne Countrie men (the Iewes) and done no good at all: Wherefore he (minding to flye to Tharsus) got him to Ioppa, where he found a ship ready, payed his fare and went with them. And being on the sea, a tempest rose so vehemently, that the Mariners were sore afrayde, crying euery man vnto his God, and to lighten the shippe, they cast all the wares into the Sea, which nothing auayled. Then went the maister of the ship downe vnder the hatches, and finding Ionas fast a sléepe, awoke him, saying: O thou sléeper, what meanest thou, arise and call vpon thy God, that we perishe not. And when no remedy coulde be had, they agréed to cast lottes, that thereby they might knowe for whose cause they were troubled, and so dooing, the lot fell on Ionas: They séeing that, sayde: Tell vs for whose cause we are thus troubled? And what thine occupasion is? And what thou art? And whence thou commest, & whither thou go­est? And what Country man thou art, & of what nation? I am (sayde Ionas) an Hebrue borne, and feare the Lord God of Heauen, which made both the Sea and drye land, and am fled from his presence. And when they heard that, they were more afrayde than before, & sayde: what shall we doe vnto thée, that the Sea may cease from troubling of vs? Take me (quoth Ionas) and cast me into the Sea, and ye shall haue rest, for I wote it is for my sake, that this euill is come vpon you: Neuerthelesse, the men (be­ing loth to committe such a déede) assayed with rowyng to bring the ship to lande. And when they sawe the Sea so troublous against them, that it woulde not be, they cryed vnto the Lorde and sayde: O Lord let vs not perishe for this mans death, neyther lay thou innocent bloude vnto our charge: For thou, O Lorde, hast done euen as thy pleasure was. And so they tooke Ionas and cast him into the Sea, which incontinent was calme and still. And a [Page 179] certayne great fishe (prepared of the Lord) receyued Io­nas, and swallowed him vp into his body, where he laye (in prayer) thrée dayes and thrée nights. And being then cast out agayne on drye lande. The Lorde commaunded him eftsoones to go to Niniue, and doe as he had charged him. And when he came to the citie & was entered a dayes iourney in the same, he cryed out, saying: There are yet fourtie daies, and then shall Niniue be ouerthrowne. But when his Prophecie came to none effect, by reason of the peoples great repentaunce, he was sore displeased, and in his prayer, sayde: O Lorde, was not this my saying (I praye thée when I was yet in my Countrey, and the cause of my flying to Tharsus, that thou wast a mercy­full God, full of compassion, long suffering, and of great goodnesse, and wouldest repent thée of the euill? And now O Lord, forasmuch as I am founde false in my sayings, take (I beséeche thée) my lyfe from mée, for I had rather dye than lyue. And so Ionas got him out of the Citie, and made him a booth on the East side thereof. And as he sate vnder the shadow of his booth, to sée what shoulde become of the Citie: the Lord caused a wylde Vine to spring ouer his heade, to giue him more shadowe to defende the heate of the Sunne from him, whereof Ionas was very glad. But on the next morrowe, when he perceyued the Vyne withered awaye, and that for lacke of the shadowe there­of he waxed faynt thorow the feruent heate of the Sunne which burned him so sore, he wished in himselfe that he might die. Then sayde the Lorde to Ionas, doest thou well to be angrie for the wylde Vine? Yea sayde he very well, euen vnto death. If thou than (quoth the Lord) hast had pittie vpon the wylde vine, whereon thou bestowedst no labour, nor madest it growe, which sprang vp in one night and perished in an other? Howe much more ought I to haue pittie vppon Niniue that great Citie wherein are sixe score thousande persons, that cannot discerne be­twéene their right hande and their left, beside much cat­tell. [Page 180] And thus was Ionas reprooued of God, for his dis­obedience. Note: ¶ Ionas, a Doue.

1. Reg. 13. a. Ionathas, the sonne of King Saule, was a valiant man in all his actes, who helped his father so mightily a­gaynst14. cap. the Philistynes, that at the first brunt he bette downe the strongest holde they had. And after that (the Philistynes being pitched in Michmas, into the which passage lay two sharpe rockes.) He sayde to his Armour bearer, come, and let vs go ouer toward the Philistynes garrison, peraduenture the Lorde will worke with vs, for it is no harde thing with him, to saue with many, or with fewe: we will go ouer and shewe our selues to these vncircumcised.Ionathas spake this by the spirite of Prophecie. And if they saye on this wyse vnto vs: Tarie vntill we come vnto you, then will we stande still, and not remooue: But if they say, come vp vnto vs, then will we go vp, for the Lorde hath surely deliuered them into our hands, and this shall be a signe vnto vs. So they went (without the knowledge of Saul) and shewed them­selues vnto the Philistynes, who (when they sawe them) sayde in derision: sée howe the Ebrues are crept out of the holes wherein they had hydde themselues: but the watchmen sayde vnto them, come vp vnto vs, and we will shewe you a thing. Then sayde Ionathas to his Ar­mour bearer, come vp after me, for the Lorde hath de­liuered them into the handes of Israel. And so Ionathas clammered vp the rocke vpon his handes and féete, and his Armour bearer after him. And when the Philistines sawe the face of Ionathas, they were so sodeinly smytten with feare, that they fell downe before him, so that Io­nathas and his man, slue twentie of them, and put all the reast to flight. And when the watchmen of Saul, saw the Philistynes scattered abrode, and smitten downe as they went, they tolde it to the King, who caused a search to be made, to knowe who was gone out of the hoste, and not a man was founde lacking, saue Ionathas and hys [Page 181] Armour bearer. Then Saule with all his hoste, folowed after the Philistynes, charging the people (which had long bene without sustenance) on paine of death, no man to touch any foode, vntill he were that day auenged on his enimies. And so the people being sore opprest with hun­ger, and comming into a woode where much Hony laye vpon the grounde, durst not for their liues comfort them­selues with one droppe thereof. Then Ionathas being faint (and not knowing the charge of his father) tasted a little hony with the ende of his rodde, and was greatlye comforted and refreshed therewith. And being told what daunger he had incurred, for breaking his fathers com­maundement, he sayde: My Father hath troubled the lande, in making such an extreme lawe: for séeing that I haue receyued my strength agayne, by tasting a little of this hony, howe much more shoulde the people (if they had eaten of the spoile of their enimies which they found) haue bene the stronger, and more able to haue made a greater slaughter among the Philistynes than they haue done. But neuerthelesse, for this offence of Ionathas, lottes were cast, and Ionathas iudged to suffer death, wherevpon the people cryed out to Saule, saying: Shall Ionathas dye, which hath so mightily defended Israel? God forbid, as truely as the Lorde liueth, there shall not one heaire of his heade fall vnto the grounde, for he hath wrought with God this day. And so the people deliuered Ionathas. After this, Ionathas fell into such loue and a­mitie with Dauid (whome Saule his father persecuted) that he made a bonde with him, which was neuer dissol­ued betwéene them: And at his first acquaintance with Dauid, he put off his robe, and gaue it to him, with hys other garments, euen to his sworde, Bowe, and Girdle. And whatsoeuer (from that day forth) was sayde, done, or wrought by Saule his father agaynst Dauid, that woulde Ionathas finde the meanes to staye and pacifie, whereby (many times) he saued Dauid from the cruelty [Page 182] of Saule, and so continued his faythfull friende, during his lyfe. Finally, in battell with his father against the Philistynes, he was slayne. Note: ¶ Ionathas, the gift of the Pigeon, or Doue.

1. Mac. 2. 2. Ionathas, the yoongest sonne of Mathathias, and brother to Iudas Machabeus, did so valiauntly behaue9. c. himselfe in the warres, that the Iewes (after the death of Iudas his brother) made him their chiefe gouernour, who (at length) vanquished Bachides. Whereby his10. cap. same so encreased, that both Demetrius and Alexander sought to be in league with him: But forsomuch as De­metrius had vexed Israel before, Ionathas (mistrusting Demetrius) forsooke his offer, and agréed to Alexander, who had alwayes bene his friende, and so continued, as his storie declareth. After this, he vanquished Appolo­nius, Captayne of Demetrius hoste, brent the Citie of Azotus, with the Temple of Dagon, subdued Ascalon, and with great victorie returned to Ierusalem, where (for his worthye prowesse) he receyued a coller of golde from Alexander. Finallye (after long prosperitie in12. f. g. 13. c. warres) he was betrayed by one Triphon in the Citie of Ptolomais, and afterwarde most piteously put to death. ¶ Of Ionathas, sonne of Abiathar the Priest, looke in the storie of Ahimaaz the sonne of Sadoch.

2. Reg. 21. d. Ionathas, the sonne of Simea Dauids brother, en­countred with a mightie Gyant, who had on euery hande sixe fingers, and on euery foote so many toes, and slue him.

4. Reg. 3. cap. Ioram, the sonne of Achab began his raigne ouer Is­rael (after his brother Ahazia) in the eyghteneIn the first Chapter of the fourth booke of Kings, it is sayd that this man began his reygne, in the seconde yeare of Io­ram the sonne of Iosaphat, whiche is thus to bee vnderstande. Iosaphat going to bat­tell agaynst the Sirians, made his son Ioram King in the .xvii. yeare of his reygne, and in y^e .xviii. yere, which was the seconde yeare of hys sonne, thys man began his reygne. yeare of Iosaphat King of Iuda, and wrought euill in the sight of the Lorde, but not like vnto his father, for he tooke away the Image of Baal, which his father had made, neuerthe­lesse, [Page 183] he sacrificed to the golden Calues still, which Iero­boam had made. The King of Moab was woont yerely to render to the King of Israel, an hundred thousand lambs, and so many Rammes with the wooll, & bycause he now refused to pay this tribute to Ioram, he warred agaynst him, hauing to take his parte, Iosaphat the King of Iu­da, and the King of Edom, by whose helpe, and chiefelye Eliseus, (reade the place in his storie) he ouercame the Moabites. Also the Sirians, coulde lye no where, but Io­ram had knowledge by Eliseus who tolde him of all their secrete lurking places, by which meanes Ioram euer sa­ued him selfe: Wherefore, the King of Siria sent and bèsieged the towne rounde about where the Prophet Eli­seus laye. And as his seruaunt was going foorth in the morning about his maisters businesse, and saw the towne so compassed with enimi [...]s, he ranne6. cap. in agayne, crying: Alas maister what shall we doe for the Sirians are come vpon vs. Feare not (quoth Eliseus) for they that be with vs, are me than they that be with them: And by and by the eyes of his seruaunt were so opened, that he saw the mounteynes lye full of horses and fyrie Charrettes to de­fende his maister. And now, when the Siriās were come to Eliseus, and thought themselues most surest of hym, they were (at his prayer) smitten with such blindnesse, that they coulde not knowe the Prophete when he spake vnto them, saying that that was not the towne where the man laye which they sought, but followe mée (quoth he) and I will bring you to the place where he is, and so hée ledde them foorth and brought them into the Citie of Sa­maria where Ioram laye, who séeing now his enimies to be in his daunger, sayde to Eliseus: Father shall I smite them? No sayde he: Smite those which thou takest with thine owne swoorde and bowe, but rather set bread and water before them, that they maye eate and drinke, and so departe to their maister. Then the King prepared a great refection for the Sirians, and filled their bellyes [Page 184] well, and sent them home againe, for the which gentle in­treatie of Ioram, the King of Siria neuer troubled hym more. After this when Benhadad King of Siria had be­sieged Samaria, so long till women were constrayned to rate their owne children, Ioram tooke such displeasure with Eliseus (laying the cause vpon him) that in his fu­rye, he sent to take away his heade: Which thing being reuealed to the Prophet, he sayde to his friends that were with him in his house: Sée yée not how these murtherers sonne hath sent to take awaye my heade? Take héede and be circumspect when the Messenger commeth, and kéepe him at the dore, for the sounde of his Maisters féete is be­hinde him, which was euen so, for the Kinges minde al­tered, he followed the Messenger, and came to the Pro­phet himselfe, saying: This euill is of the Lorde, and what more shall I looke for of hym? No more sayde the4. Reg. 7. a. Prophet: For to morow this tyme, shall a bushell of fine flower be solde for a sicle, and twoo bushels of Barley for another sicle in the gate of Samaria, which came so to passe the next daye, for the great hoste of the Sirians at the sounde of the féete of foure lepers, were runne away, and had left all their tentes behinde them. Finally (to ful­fill9. c. f. the worde of the Lorde concerning the destruction of Achabs posteritie) Ioram was slayne with an arrowe [...]hot of by Iehu, and his bodie cast into a platte of ground that was Nabothes the Iesraelite, after he had reygned twelue yeares.

4. Reg. 8. d. Ioram, the sonne of Iosaphat, was twoo an thirtie2. Par. 21. cap. yeare olde when he began to reygne ouer Iuda. He ma­ryed King Achabs daughter, whose wicked steppes he fol­lowed. He slue all his owne brethren, with diuers of his nobles. The Edomites which had béene subiect from Da­uids tyme hitherto, rebelled nowe agaynst Ioram. Also Libna (which was a certayne Citie in Iuda, giuen to the Leuites. Iosua▪ 21. b.) woulde no more be vnder his hande, [Page 185] bycause he had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers.The Pro­phetes letter. Finally, the Prophet Eliseus (to admonishe him of his wickednesse) wrote to Ioram on this wise: The Lorde sayth, bycause thou hast not walked in the wayes of Io­saphat thy father, nor in the wayes of Asa thy Graundfa­ther, but in the wayes of the Kinges of Israel, and hast made Iuda to go a whoring, after the house of Achab, and hast also slayne thy brethren, euen thy fathers house, who were better men than thy selfe: Therefore, with a great plague will the Lorde smite thy folke, thy children, thy wyues, and all thy goodes: And thou shalt be diseased in thy bowels, which day by daye, shall fall out of thy bo­die. And so the Lord styrred vp agaynst Ioram, the Phi­listines, the Arabians, with the blacke Moores, which wasted his Countrey, and caryed awaye his substaunce, his wyues, and al his sonnes (saue Ahaziahu the yoongest) and smote him with an incurable disease in his bowels which helde h [...]m two yeares, till all his gutts fell out, and so died, after he had reygned eyght yeares. Note: ¶ Ioram: the bighnesse of the Lorde.

3. Reg. 15. f. Iosaphath, the sonne of Asa, began his reygne ouer Iuda in the fourth yeare of Achab King of Israel, and walked in the olde wayes of his father Dauid, and in the commaundementes of God, and not in the wayes of Israel. This godly King to haue the feare of the Lorde renued among his people, in the thirde yeare of hys reigne, sent certayne of his Lordes thorowout all hys Realme, & with them godly learned & auncient Fathers of the Leuites with the booke of the law: whose Commis­sion was to sée all ydolatrie and supersticion suppressed, and the lawes of God purely and sincerely taught and followed, which was so diligently done, that the feare of the Lorde, fell so vpon all the Kingdomes rounde about him, that no man troubled him, but presented him wyth giftes: The Philistynes with Tribute money, the Ara­bians [Page 186] with Cattell, so that within a whyle, he grew into great riches and honor. And being thus endued wyth a­bundance of treasure and substance, he ioyned affinitie with Achab, taking his part against the Sirians, where (notwithstanding) the Lorde preserued him, and brought him safe home againe. But for so much as in his absence, the people were somewhat swarued from the Lorde, the Prophet Iehu came to him, and sayd: Bicause thou hast helped the vngodlye, and loued them whome the Lorde doth hate▪ the wrath of God is come vpon thée, neuerthe­lesse, good things are founde in thée, bicause thou hast ta­ken away the Groues out of the lande, and hast prepared thine heart to séeke God. Then Iosaphat fearing the Lorde, went about all his Realme, to bring the people agayne vnto the Lorde: And when he had set godly Iud­ges and Leuites in euery Citie (the one to iudge in tem­por all causes, and the other in matters of the Lorde) he gaue to eyther of them his charge, saying first to the Iudges on this wise: Take héede (ye Iudges) what ye do? for ye execute not the iudgement of man, but of God, which is with you in iudgement: wherefore nowe, let the feare of the Lorde be vppon you, and take héede and be doing the thing that pleaseth him, for there is no vn­righteousnsse with the Lorde our God that shoulde haue any respect of persons, or take rewardes. Then he tur­ned to the Leuites, and sayde: Thus shall ye doe in the feare of the Lord, faithfully, and with a pure heart, what cause soeuer come vnto you of your brethren, betwéene bloude and bloude, Lawe and Commaundement, Sta­tute and Ordinance, yée shall warne them that they tres­passe not against the Lorde, that wrath come not vppon you, and vppon your brethren, thus doe, and you shall not offende: Take courage to you, and doe manfully, and the Lorde shall be with such, as go about to mayn­taine the lawes of the Lorde. After this, the Lorde gaue Iosaphat a marueylous victorie agaynst the Moabites, [Page 187] [...] [Page 186] [...] [Page]

[Page 187] and the Ammonites, whose armies fell at such strife and variance among themselues, that one killed another, and left not one aliue vndestroyed before Iosaphat came at them. And the fourth daye after he had gathered vp the spoyle, he assembled his people in the valley of Blessing, and went to Ierusalem with great triumph, where he gaue all prayse and thankes to God for his myraculous victorie. Finally, he ioyned himselfe with Ahaziahu king of Israel, and made tenne shippes to go with his shippes into Tharsis for golde: And bicause he hadThe true Christians, ought not to toyne in soci­etie with I­dolaters. ioyned him­selfe with so wicked a man, the Lorde brake his shippes, and woulde not suffer them to go. He reygned .xxv. yea­res, and was buried with his fathers in the Citie of Da­uid, leauing Ioram his sonne to occupie his place. Note: ¶ Io­saphat, the Lordes iudgement, or the iudgement of the Lorde.

Gen. 30. d. 37. cap. Ioseph, the sonne of Iacob and Rachel, was in hys youth, of his father aboue all other beloued, in so much, that he made him a coate of many colours: But his bre­thren hated him, bicause his dreames signified vnto them, that he should be Lorde ouer them all, and they his seruantes. And being at the age of .xvij. yeares, he was sent to them with victualles, where they laye with their shéepe at Dothan, who seeing him come a farre of, began to deryde and mocke him, saying: Beholde, where the Dreamer commeth, and counsayled togithers to kyll him, but Ruben (the eldest brother) woulde not consent to that. Wherfore at his comming they stripped him out of his coate, and cast him into an emptie pit. And as cer­taine Ismaelites passed by, they solde Ioseph to them for twentie pence of siluer, and tooke his Coate, and dipt it in Goates bloude, and had it home to their father, bearing him in hande they had founde it by the waye: Then Ia­cob séeing his sonnes coate, cryed out and rent his gar­ments for sorrowe, thinking surely that wylde beastes had deuoured and torne Ioseph in péeces: But he being [Page 188] safe and sound caried into Egipt, was there solde againe39. cap. to a certayne great Lorde of King Pharaos Court na­med Putiphar: and became so lucky a man with him (by Gods prouidence) that his Mayster made him chiefe ru­ler ouer all his house. And so continued in great fauour with his Lorde, vntill his Maisters wyfe began to cast hir loue vpon him, and woulde haue had him to lye with hir: Then Ioseph to dysswade hys Mystresse from hir inordinate loue, sayde: Beholde, my Mayster kno­weth not what he hath in the house wyth mée, but hath committed all thynges hée hath into my handes. There is no man greater in this house than I, neyther hath he kept anye thing from mée, saue onely thée, bycause thou art his wife. How then can I doe this great wicked­nesse, and so sinne against God? And thus he put hir of, and shunned hir companie (from that day foorth) asmuch as he coulde possible doe. But one daye as Ioseph ente­red into the house to doe hys businesse, and finding his Mystresse there (by chaunce) alone, she caught him by the cloake to haue him sléepe with hir, which he denyed and woulde not consent to hir minde, and when he sawe hir so importune vpon him that he could not honestly part from hir, he wounde himselfe out of his garment, and so depar­ted: Then she called to hir men, declaring to them that Ioseph woulde haue rauished hir, and when I began to crie (quoth she) he left his garment behinde him for haste, and ranne awaye: which tale being tolde to Putiphar at his comming home, Ioseph was cast in prison, where (by Gods prouision) he founde such fauour with the kée­per, that he committed all thinges vnder his hande to doe whatsoeuer he woulde. Now in this prison where IosephGen. 40. cap. was, laye twoo of King Pharaos officers: The one his chiefe Baker, and the other his Butler. Which two men chaunced to dreame both in one night, and telling their dreames to Ioseph, he tolde the Butlar that within th [...]ée dayes, he shoulde be restored to his office againe, but the [Page 189] Baker should be hanged: Wherefore he desired the But­ler to thinke vpon him to the King when he was restored, who (notwithstanding) forgot Ioseph, & neuer remem­bred41. cap. him till twoo yeares after that Pharao the King chaunced to haue certayne dreames, which none could be found to tel him the meaning therof: and then the Butler calling Ioseph to remembrance, tolde the King al things of him, who being sent for, and come to the King, he ope­ned the dreames, declaring to Pharao, the seuen plenti­full yeres that were to come, and the seuen barren & hard yeares which shoulde ensue and consume the aboundance of the yeares procéeding. Then the King perceyuing Io­seph to be a man endued with wisedome and knowledge, made him Regent of his Realme, and called him the Sa­uiour of the worlde, for by his polityke prouision, Egipt was relieued in the harde and deare yeares, and the King greatly enriched. At this time was Ioseph about the age of thirtie yeares, and tooke to wyfe, Asnath the daughter of Putiphar Priest of On, and had by hir twoo sonnes, Manasses and Ephraim. Nowe when the time of dearth was come, all landes being sore oppressed with famine, sent into Egipt for Corne, among the which, Iacob sent ten of his sonnes, who (at their comming before Ioseph42. cap▪ their brother and gouernour of Egipt) fell downe flat be­fore him. Then Ioseph beholding his brethren (whome he knew very wel, but they not him) demaunded straung­lye from whencé they came. They sayde from the lande of Canaan. Then Ioseph remembring his dreames, spake roughly to them, & sayde, they were spyes. Nay my Lord (quoth they) we are all one mans sonnes and meane truely. Nay nay (quoth he) your comming is for none o­ther purpose, but to spie out the lande where it is moste weakest. Truely my Lord, quoth they, we are no Spies, we are twelue brethren, the sonnes of one man, and the yoongest this daye, remayneth with our Father, and one, no man woteth where he is. Then I will prooue you [Page 190] (quoth he) whither yée meane truely or no, let one of you go fetch your yoongest brother hither, for by the lyfe of Pharao yée shall not depart till I sée him, and so kept them in warde thrée dayes. And then (considering with himselfe) he agréed they shoulde all go home agayne with foode to their Father, saue one, which shoulde remayne bounde for the reast, tyll they had brought their other bro­ther: And at their going awaye, commaunded euerye mans sacke to be filled with Corne, & euery mans money to be put into the sack [...]s mouth, and so departed, leauing Simeon behinde them in pledge for them all. Now beingGen. 43. returned againe with Beniamin their yoongest brother, they were all had into Iosephs house, and most gently en­tertayned. And when Ioseph came in and saw all his bre­thren, he demaunded, saying: Is your Father the olde man of whome yée tolde mée, in good health and yet aliue: Yea (quoth they) thy seruaunt is in good health and mery: And is this your yongest brother, of whom yée tolde mée? God be mercifull vnto thée my sonne (quoth he) and with that his heart began so to melt, that he hasted into his Chamber and wept. And comming foorth againe with a cherefull countenaunce, he went to dinner with his bre­thren, commaunding ech one to be set downe in order ac­cording to their ages, whereat his brethren (within them­selues) marueyled. And during the time of refection, he rewarded euery one from his messe, but most of all Ben­iamin. And when he had thus feasted his brethren, so long44. cap. as pleased him, the night before their departing, he com­maunded their sackes to be filled with Corne, and euerye mans money put into his sackes mouth as before, and his siluer cup into Beniamins sacke. And in the morning, as they were departed a little out of the Citie, a messen­ger ouertooke them, saying: Wherefore haue ye rewar­ded euill for good: Is not that the cuppe, in the which my Lorde drincketh? and in the which he doth Prophecie? Yée haue done euill in so dooing. The men hearing this [Page 191] were marueylously astonyed, denying vtterlye that they neuer thought no such déede against their Lord: but when their sackes were searched, and the Cup founde. Then they rent their clothes, and yéelded themselues, and re­turned with the Messenger to the gouernours house a­gayne, and comming before him, he looked angerlye on them, saying: What an vnkinde déede is this yée haue done? Knowe yée not that such a man as I, can diuine and Prophecie? And nowe when the men had made the best excuse they coulde make, Ioseph could no longer re­frayne,Gen. 45. but with wéeping teares sayde to his brethren: I am Ioseph, doth my father yet lyue? With that they were so astonyed with his presence, that they coulde not aunswere hym one woorde: I am Ioseph your brother (quoth he) whome yée solde into Egipt, nowe therefore be not grieued with your selues that yée solde mée hither, for God dyd sende mée before you for your preseruation, for this is the seconde yeare of dearth, and fiue more are be­hinde, wherefore God sent me before you, to make pro­uision for you in this lande, and to saue your lyues by a great deliueraunce: So nowe it was not you that sent me hither but God, who hath made mée a Father vnto Pha­rao, and Lorde of all his house, and ruler thorowout all the land of Egipt. Therefore now go and tell my father, and bid him come with all his houshold to mée, and I will make prouision for him. Thus when Ioseph had receyued46. his Father into Egipt, and gouerned the lande foure50. d. score yeares, hée dyed at the age of an hundred and ten yeares, and was buried in Epigt, whose bones were af­terwarde translated into the lande of promission, as Io­seph had bounde them to doe in his death bed. Note: ¶ Ioseph. Increasing.

Math. 1. [...]. Ioseph, the sonne of Iacob the sonne of Matthan, a poore honest man and a Carpenter by his occupasion, was spoused to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ, [Page 192] and dwelled in Nazareth a little Citie in Galile, & came of the same Tribe and kinred that Mary came of, that is to say, of the Tribe of Iuda, and of the progenie & stocke of Dauid, of whose séede it was promised that Christe shoulde be borne. He had foure sonnes, Iames, Ioses, Sy­mon13. g. and Iudas, which the Iewes (of ignoraunce) called the brethren of Christ.

Math. 27. g. Ioseph, a man of honour, and of great power and substaunce, borne in the Citie of Aramathia, which was a Disciple of Iesus, but not openly knowne bicause of the Iewes, which had made a lawe, that whosoeuer dyd o­penly confesse him to be Iesus Disciple, the same person shoulde be cast out of the Synagoge. This Ioseph came to Pylate, and desired licence of him, to take downe the body of Iesus from the Crosse and to burie it, and hauing obtayned his peticion, he bought a fine péece of linnen cloth, and therin wrapped the body, and layed it in a new Sepulchre hewed out of the rocke, and rolled a great stone before the dore of the Sepulchre, & so went his way.

1. Mac. [...]. b. f. g Iosephus, the sonne of Zachary, and one Asarias, were twoo Captaynes vnder Iudas Machabeus, which twoo, Iudas left in Iewry to kéepe and gouerne the rem­nant of the hoste left there, whyle he and Ionathas with Symon their brother, went into the parties of Galile and Galaad to deliuer their brethren which were then besie­ged of their enimies: giuing them a great charge not to warre with the heathen, but to lye still, till he and his bre­thren were returned home againe. But neuerthelesse, when Iosephus and Asarias had hearde of all the great actes done by Iudas and his brethren, they sayde one to an other: Let vs go out and fight agaynst the heathen that lye rounde about vs, that we may get vs a name al­so. And being agréede, they went out, and pitched theyr hoste before the Citie of Iamnya, who had not lyen there [Page 193] long, or that Gorgias issued out of the citie with his men, and stroke battell with Iosephus, and slue of the Iewes two thousand, and chased Iosephus and all the rest of his companie to the borders of Iewrie. And thus Iosephus and Asarias, neglecting the commaundement of Iudas their Lorde and gouernour, purchased in the steade of ho­nour and fame, great dishonour and shame.

Act. 4. g. Ioses, a certayne Leuyte borne in the Countrey of Cypres, solde his lande there, and brought the whole price therof, and layed it downe at the Apostles féete, of whome he was surnamed Barnabas. Note: ¶ Ioses, going out, or thrust out.

4. Reg. 22. ca Iosias, the sonne of Amon, being at the age of eyght yeares when he began his raygne ouer Iuda, was a ver­tuous2. Par. 34. ca. and iust Prince, for he sought the Lord God of his father Dauid, euen from his Childehoode to the ende of his lyfe. He caused the booke of the lawe of Moses, which had béene long lost, & founde againe by Helkia the Priest, to be had in great reuerence, and diligently read vnto the people. He clensed his land from all witchcrafts, and sor­cerie, and from Idols, Images and Groues. He brake downe the hill altars, and brent the bones of the Priests of Baal, and left no wicked thing vndestroyed, nor mo­nument standing in the Cities of Manasses & Ephraim, or other places of his Realme, where any abhominacion had béene committed. He kept a passeouer (in the eygh­tene yeare of his raigne) the like neuer séene, and repay­red the Temple. Finally, he made warre vpon the King of Egipt, in the which he was wounded with a Darte (at a place called Magiddo) whereof he dyed. Whose death was much lamented, for like vnto hym was neuer none before nor after. Iehoahas his sonne succéeded him. Note: ¶ Io­sias, the Lordes Fire, or the Lorde burning.

4. Reg. 15. g. Iotham, the sonne of Azaria or Vzia at the age of xxv. yeares, began his reigne ouer Iuda, in the seconde2. Par. 27. ca. yeare of Pekah King of Israel, and did that which was right in the sight of the Lorde in all pointes, as did hys father Azaria, saue thatHee went not into the Temple of the Lorde to burne incense as his father did, contrary to the worde of god, which is spoken to the commen­dation of Io­tham. he came not into the temple of the Lorde, neyther caused the hyll aultars to be taken a­way, by which occasion the people ceased not to doe wic­kedly. He builded the sumpteous gate of the Temple, and many Cities, Castles, and Towers, in the Mountaynes of Iuda and other places. He subdued the Ammonites, who payed him thrée yeares togither, an hundred talents of siluer, ten thousand quarters of Wheate, and so much of Barley. He reigned .xvj. yeares, and was buried in the Citie of Dauid, leauing Ahas his son to enioy his place Note: ¶ Iotham, Persite.

Num. 27. c. d. Iosua, the sonne of Nun, was first called Osea, which name Moses chaunged, and called him Iosua, who was Moses minister, and ordeyned of God to rule andExod. 17. c. d. gouerne the people after him. He discomfited King A­malech while Moses helde vp his handes, and prayed. He was one of those Explorators which were sent by Moses,Num. 13 cap. 14. a. b. to searche the lande of Canaan, and to bring the people worde againe what maner of countrey it was: at whose returne the people were ready to stone both him and Ca­leb, for well reporting of that lande, wherefore, the Lord (being angrye with the people) sware that none of them all shoulde sée that good lande, but Iosua and Caleb. Af­terIosua. 1. cap. the death of Moses, the Lorde encouraged Iosua to inuade the lande of promise, and gaue him commaunde­ment to exercise himselfe continually in reading the booke of the Lawe called Deuteronomie. Which he dulye ob­serued, and read it to the people, that they thereby might the better learne to looue and feare God, and to obey him the Lordes minister▪ He destroyed the Citie of Iericho, onely reseruing Raab and hir housholde. He brent the [Page 195] Citie of Hai, and hanged the fiue Kings of the Amorites on fiue trées, at whose discomfiting, it rayned stones from heauen, by the which, mo were slayne than with the sworde, and the Sunne also stoode still in his place, and prolonged the day, till Iosua had vtterly discomfited his enimies. He slue in all, first and last .xxxj. Kings, and brought the children of Israel into the lande of promissi­on, and deuided the lande to the Tribes of Israel. He dy­ed at the age of an hundred and ten yeres, in whose steade Iuda was made gouernour of the Lordes armie. Note: ¶ Io­sua, the Lorde Sauiour.

Gen. 21. a. Isaac, was the sonne of Abraham by his wyfe Sa­ra, and a figure of Christ, for when his father went to22. cap. Some say that Isaac was sacrifi­ced of his fa­ther in the xiii. yeare of his age, but Iosephus af­firmeth it to be done in the xxv. yeare. offer him vp in sacrifice, and comming to the Aultar, and place where he shoulde dye, he willingly offered him­selfe to death, that his father might (in him) fulfill the Lordes will. But being preserued of God till he came to the age of fortie yeares, he then tooke to wyfe Rebecca25. c. the daughter of Bathuel his fathers brother, who being long barren, at the last (by the pleasure of God) brought forth Esau and Iacob at one birth. After this, there fell26. cap. such a dearth and famine in his countrie, that he depar­ted into the lande of the Philistines, where Abimelech was King. And as he remayned in Gerar, the Lorde ap­peared to Isaac, bidding him to remayne still in that place, and not to remooue into Egypt, and he would mul­tiply his sede as the Starres of heauen, and bring it so to passe, that all Nations of the earth shoulde be blessed therein. And so Isaac remooued not: But for so much as he doubted of the feare of God to be in that place, he durst not auouche Rebecca to be his wyfe, but sayde she was his sister. Reade the storie of Abimelech King of the Phi­listines, for the playner declaration of this matter. And now, whyle Isaac remayned in the Countrie of Gerar, God so encreased him with abundance of cattell and ry­ches, [Page 196] that the Philistynes began to enuie and hate hym, and stopped all the Welles which his father Abraham had made, that he shoulde haue no commoditie thereby: But notwithstanding, he digged vp the Welles againe, and called them by the same names, that his father had giuen them before, and became so mightie that Abime­lech made a bonde with Isaac, who feasted the King, and departed friendes. Finally, with age, he became blinde,27. a. and so was deceyued in giuing his blessing to Iacob, which he thought to haue first bestowed on Esau, but both (by the will of God) [...]eing blessed of their father I­saac, he fell sicke and dyed, at the age of an hundred and lxxx. yeres, and was buried in Hebron. Note: ¶ Isaac, Laughter.

2. Reg. 2. c. Isboseth, the sonne of King Saul, at the age of for­tie yeares, began his reygne ouer Israel. Whose onely4. cap. staye and vpholder of his Kingdome was Abner: after whose death, two of his owne Captaynes slue Isboseth by treason in his owne house, after he had reygned twoo yeares. Reade the storie of Baanah. Note: ¶ Isboseth, a man of sbame.

Gen. 16. d. Ismael, was the sonne of Abraham and Agar, and had his name giuen him of the Aungell before he was borne. For when his mother Agar fledde from Sara hirOf Ismael came the na­tion of the Ismaelytes, which after were called Sarracenes. Mystres, an Aungell founde hir, saying: returne to thy Mystresse againe, for thou arte with chylde, and shalt beare a sonne, and bicause the Lorde hath hearde thy tri­bulation, thou shalt call his name Ismael. He will be a wylde man, and his hande will be agaynst euery man, and euery mans hande against his. And so she returned and brought forth Ismael, at whose birth, Abraham his father was .lxxxvj. yeare olde. And at the age of .xiij. yea­res17. d. was Ismael circumcised, and the yeare following, both he and his mother cast out of his fathers house, and sent awaye to shyft for themselues. But neuerthelesse, [Page] [Page] [...] [Page]

[Page 197] the Lorde which had promised Abraham to blesse, en­crease, and multiply his sonne Ismael, so preserued him, that he became a great Archer, and dwelt in the wilder­nesse25. a. b. of Pharan, and tooke him a wyfe out of the lande of Egipt, and begat twelue Princes, so that the Lord made of him a great nation. He liued. 137. yeares. Note: ¶ Ismael, God hath hearde.

¶ Of Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah, which slue Geda­liah, reade the storie of Iohanan and Gedaliah both.

2. Reg. 15. d. Ithai, was a Gethite borne, and bare such loue to Dauid, that he left his owne Countrey to come and séeLyra sayeth that Ithai was the son of Achis king of Geth. him, and the fashion of his Court, and as he continued there, and sawe into what daunger Absalom had brought his father Dauid, eyther to flie his Realme, or to haue lost all, he woulde take no part with Absalom, but follo­wed Dauid, and left him not in this extremitie. And when Dauid sawe him, he sayd vnto him: why commest thou with me Ithai? returne (I pray thée) and bide with the King, for thou art a straunger, and come but yester­daye, and therefore I woulde be loth to disquiete thée. Therefore returne and cary againe thy brethren, and the Lorde shall she we thée mercie and truth. Nay sayde I­thai, as truly as God liueth, and my Lorde the King ly­ueth, in what place my Lorde the King shall be, whether in lyfe or death, euen there also will thy seruant be. And so he went forwarde with Dauid, and had rule ouer the thirde part of Dauids hoste, in the suppression of Absa­lom. Note: ¶ Ithai, Strong.

Gen. 29. d. 37. f. Iuda, was the fourth sonne of Iacob & Lea, who would not consent to the death of Ioseph his brother, but gaue counsell, to sell him, saying: What shall it auayle vs my brethren, to sley our brother, and to kéepe hys bloude secrete, let vs sell him to the Isma [...]lites, and not lay our handes vpon him, for he is our fleshe and bloude▪ [Page 198] After this, he departed from his brethren to a place cal­led38. cap. Odollam, where he remayned with a friende of hys called Hyra, and in processe fell in loue with a mannes daughter called Sua (a Canaanite borne) and marryed hir, who (in time) brought him forth thrée Sonnes. The first Er: The seconde, Onan: and the thirde Sela. The two first (one after another) he married to a certaine wo­man called Thamar, but for their horrible sinne and wickednesse, the Lorde slue them both. Then Iuda fea­ring to marrye the thirde sonne vnto hir, least he shoulde dye also, sayde to his daughter in lawe: remayne a Wy­dow at thy fathers house, till Sela my sonne be growen: she did so, during which time, the daughter of Sua dyed, and Iuda became a wydower. Nowe when the dayes of mourning were ended, he went to a place called Thym­nah (taking his friende Hyra with him) to sée his shéepe shearers. Then Thamar hearing thereof, and séeing Sela not giuen hir in marriage, layde awaye hir Wy­dowes garment, and disguising hir selfe lyke a common harlot, went and sate hir downe in an open place by the hye wayes side going to Thymnah. And as Iuda passed that way, and sawe one sit muffled like an whore, went vnto hir, and sayde: Come I pray thée, let me lye with thée. What wilt thou giue me then (quoth she.) I will (quoth he) sende thée a Kidde from the flocke. Then leaue me a pledge (quoth she) till thou sende it. What pledge shall I leaue (quoth Iuda.) Thy Signet (quoth she) vp­pon thy finger, thy Cloake, and thy staffe. He did so, and laye with hir. And comming to his flocke, he tooke a Kid, and sent it by his friende Hyra to receyue his pledges a­gaine. Who being come to the place, and founde not the woman, he asked of the men thereabout, where the whoore was which sate in the way as they came: They made him aunswere againe, there was no whoore there. Then he returned to Iuda and tolde him. Well, sayde Iuda, let hir take it to hir, least we be ashamed. Nowe [Page 199] was Thamar conceyued with chylde, and when she had gone thrée monthes, the thing was espyed, and tolde to Iuda, that his daughter in lawe had played the whoore, and was with chylde. Then bring hir forth (quoth he) that she maye suffer according to the lawe: And as she was ledde to the fire, she sent the pledges to Iuda hir fa­ther in lawe, saying: by the same man to whome these things doe pertayne, am I with chylde. Then Iuda knowing his pledges, sayde: she is more righteous than I: for she hath done this déede, bicause I gaue hir not to Sela my sonne. And so was the woman deliuered, and brought him forth two sonnes at one birth, Pharez andGen. 49. b. Zarez. Of this man Iuda, it was prophecied, that the Scepter shoulde not depart from him, nor a Lawgiuer from betwéene his féete, vntillwhich was Christ. Silo came. Note: ¶ Iuda, a Praysing, or Confession.

1. Mac. 2. a. Iudas Machabeus, the thirde sonne of Matha­thias the Iewe, was a valiaunt man in his fayth, and of an inuincible courage. In so much, that he ouercame Ap­polonius3. cap. & Seron, twoo mightie Princes of Siria, which came against him. And with thrée thousande men, he put Gorgias to flight which stole vpon him by night and van­quished4. cap. Lisias the Lieutenant of King Antiochus and his sonnes, and with them fourtie thousande footemen, and seuen thousand horsemen, and slue of them fiue thousande. Afterwarde, in Galilea, he slue of the hoste of Tymo­theus5. cap. (an other of the Kinges Captaynes) first thrée thou­sande, and afterwarde eyght thousande. After that by a7. f. g. valley called Adarsa, he with a thousand fought with Ni­canor a Captayne of King Demetrius, and nyne thou­sande with him, at the which battell Nicanor was slayne, and of the nyne thousande almost none escaped. Finallye,9. a. b. to much trusting in his prosperitie in warres, in going a­gainst Bachides (a Captayne of King Demetrius who had a great hoste) and taking with him but twoo thousand [Page 200] of which at the last remained with him but only .viij. hun­dred, he fought till it was night, and made a woonderfull slaughter of enimies. But while he forced himselfe to come to Bachidis, the which was on the right winge of the battell, he fought so nobly that he escaped that winge, sleying many about him. Finallye, being enuironed with the left winge, and striken with manye woundes was slayne with much difficultie. Note: ¶ Iudas: A praysing. &c.

1. Mac. 16. Iudas, the sonne of Symon the sonne of Matha­thias, dyd manfully assist Iohn his brother agaynst Cen­debeus,a. b. c. Captaine of Antiochus host, and was at the same tyme sore wounded, and afterwarde, most trayterously murdered with Symon his father at a Banket which Ptolomy made them at his castle called Doche.

Luk. 6. c. Iudas, the sonne of Alphe, and brother to Iames, is called in the tenth of S. Mathew, Lebbeus, and is surna­med Thaddeus. When Christ sayde vnto his Disciples,Iohn. 14. c. that he woulde shew himselfe vnto them and not vnto the worlde, Iudas asked him the cause why he woulde shewe himselfe vnto them, and not vnto the worlde. He made anIude. 1. cap. Epistle in the which he Admonisheth all Churches gene­rallyeThe last part of this histo­rie I finde in the argument before the Epistle of Iude. Ge­neua. to take héede of deceyuers, which went about to drawe the hearts of the simple people from the truth of God, whome he setteth foorth in their liuely colours, shew­ing by diuers examples of the Scriptures, that horrible vengeaunce is prepared for them. Finally, he comforteth the faythfull and exhorteth them to continue in the Doc­trine of the Apostles of Iesus Christ.

Math. 10. [...]. Iudas iscariote, the sonne of Symon of Canaan one of the Apostles (of whom it was afore hande written to be the sonne of perdicion) had a great conscience in theIohn. 12. a. precious oyntment that Mary powred vppon Christes heade, that it was not solde for thrée hundred pence and [Page 201] giuen to the poore, but to sell his maister for thirtie pence,Math. 26. b. c and to be guyde to them that tooke him, & to betraye hym with a kysse, he had no conscience at all, vntill he sawe his mayster condemned, and then he repented and had the thirtie pence agayne vnto the hye Priestes and Elders,cap. 27. 1. saying that he had sinned in betraying the innocent bloud,Act. 1. c. and so departed in great desperacion, and hanged him­selfe, whose bodye brast a sundry in the middest, so that all his bowels gushed out.

Act. 5. g. Iudas, of Galile rose vp after Theudas, what time as the whole worlde was taxed by the commaundement of Augustus Cesar, and taught the people that for as much as they were dedicated vnto God, they ought not to paye Tribute to Emperours, which were woorshippers of false goddes, whereby he drewe to his faction, a great part of the commons, who at the last were all brought to naught and Iudas himselfe slayne.

Act. 9. b. Iudas, a Citizen of Damasco, to whose house the Lorde sent Ananias to séeke Saule of Tharsus, who was hosted there.

Iudith. 8. cap. Iudith, the daughter of Merari, was a bewtifull wo­man, vnto the which, was ioyned such vertue and godli­nesse, that all men spake good of hir. Hir husbands name was Manasses, who at the daye of his death, left hir great riches. She dwelt in the Citie of Bethulia, and was a woman of great Chastitie. Nowe during the time of hir widowhead, it chaunced Holofernes, to come and besiege the Citie of Bethulia, of whome the Iewes were so a­frayde, that they wyste not what to doe, but commit themselues to God, for he had destroyed all their water condites, so that they must eyther sterue or yéelde of force. Then ranne the people to Osias the hye Priest, crying vpon him to yéelde and giue euer the citie to Holofernes, [Page 202] least they shoulde all perishe, who exhorted them to tarye fiue dayes longer for the mercie of God, and if he helped them not in that space, he woulde doe as they had sayde. Then Iudith (who all this whyle had kept hir house in prayer & fasting) hearing what promise Osias had made to the people, sent for him and all the Elders of Bethu­lia, and sayde: How happeneth this that yée haue promi­sed to deliuer the Citie to the Assirians, vnlesse within these fiue dayes, the Lorde turne to helpe you: what men are yée, that yée tempt the Lorde, your deuise obtayneth no mercy of God, but rather prouoketh him to wrath and displeasure: Will yée, set the mercy of the Lorde a time, and appoint him a daye at your will? exhorte the people to repentaunce & prayer, and put them in remembraunce of this: That with much tribulasion the friendes of God are tryed, and that all these things which we now suffer, are farre lesse than our sinnes haue deserued: And that this correction is come vpon vs (as to the seruauntes of God) for the amendement of our lyues, and not for our destruction. Nowe heare my deuise (I praye you) and be­séeche the Lorde to bring it to good ende. Yée shall stande this night in the gate of Bethulia, & I will go foorth with Abra my Mayden: Praye yée vnto the Lorde that with­in the dayes that yée haue promised to deliuer vppe the citie, he will visite Israel by my hande. But inquyre not of mée the thing I haue taken in hande, for I will not de­clare it, tyll God haue finished the acte. Then euery man went their wayes, and Iudith departed home to hir secret closet where she made hir harty prayers vnto God for the peoples deliueraunce. Which being done, she cast of hir mourning garments, & decked hir selfe most brauelye, to allure the eyes of all men that shoulde beholde hir, which she dyd not for anye voluptuousnesse or pleasure of the fleshe, but of a right discrecion and vertue: And so going foorth of hir house with Abra hir Mayde, she came to the gate of the Citie, where the Elders stoode wayting hir [Page 203] comming: And as they behelde hir woonderfull bewtie, which God at that present had giuen hir, they were mar­ueylously astonished. She then commaunding the gates to be open, tooke hir leaue of the people, who most hartily besought the Lorde to be hir defence, & well to performe the deuise of hir heart, that they might safely and ioyfully receyue hir presence agayne: And so (committing hir to God) shut the gates, and looked ouer the walles after hir, so long as they could sée hir. And as she was going downe the mountaynes, the first watch of the Assirians tooke hir, demaunding what she was, and whither she went. I am (quoth she) a daughter of the Hebrues, and am fled from them, bycause I knowe that they shall be giuen vnto you to be spoyled: Wherefore I am going to the Prince Ho­lofernes to tell him all theyr secretes, and howe he shall winne the Citie without the losse of one man. And when the men had pondered hir wordes and considered well hir bewtie, they put hir in good comfort of hir lyfe, & brought hir to Holofernes, whose Maiestie so abashed Iudith, that she fell downe as one almost dead for feare. But being re­uyued agayne, Holofernes demaunded the cause of hir comming, to whom she made aunswere on this wise, say­ing: O my Lord, if thou wilt receyue the wordes of thine handmayden, and doe thereafter, the Lorde shall bring thy matter, to a prosperous effect. For as thy seruaunt Achior gaue counsell vnto my Lord, to make search whi­ther they had sinned agaynst their God or no: It is ma­nifest and plaine that their God is so wrath with them for their sinnes, that he hath shewed by his Prophetes, that he will giue them ouer into the enimies hande. Where­fore they are sore afrayde, and suffer great hunger, and at this present (for lacke of water) are in a manner as dead menne, and in this extremitie brought, to kill theyr cattell and drincke the bloude: And also purposed to con­sume all the Wheate, Wyne and Oyle, which are reser­ued and sanctified for the Priests, and not lawfull for the [Page 204] people to touch. Wherefore I thy handmaide knowing all this, am fled from their presence, for God hath sent mée to woorke a thing wyth thée, that all the earth shall woonder, for thy seruaunt feareth the Lorde, and woor­shippeth the God of heauen day and night: And nowe let me remayne with thée my Lorde, and let thy seruaunt go out in the night to the valley, and I will praye vnto God that he may reueale vnto mée, when they shall committe their sinnes, that I may shewe them vnto thée, and than mayest thou surely go foorth with thine armie, for no man shall resist thée, & I will bring thée to Ierusalem in such safetie, that there shall not so much as one dogge barcke against thée. Nowe was Holofernes so well pleased with the wordes of this woman, and so farre in loue with hir bewtie, that he commaunded hir lodging to be made in the Tent where his treasure laye, and to prepare hir diet of the same, that he himselfe dyd eate and drincke of, but notwithstanding she tolde the King, that she might not eate of his meate, least she should offende hir God, but I can satisfie my selfe (quoth she) with such thinges as I haue brought. Then how shall we doe (quoth Holofernes) if these thinges that thou hast brought doe sayle: where shall we haue the like to giue thée. As truely as the soule of my Lorde liueth (quoth she) thine handmayde shall not spende all that I haue, tyll God haue brought to passe in my hande, the thing that I haue determined. And so be­ing licensed to go out and in euery night at hir pleasure to praye, she went thrée nightes togither into the valley of Bethulia, calling vpon God to prosper hir deuise, for the deliueraunce of his people, and at eche time returned to hir Tent againe. And vppon the fourth daye as it happe­ned Holofernes (by Gods prouidence) to make a great Banket vnto his Lordes, he sent Vago his Chamber­layne to Iudith, to counsell hir to come and kéepe Com­panye with hym that night for it were a shame for vs (quoth he) if we shoulde let such a woman alone and not [Page 205] talke with hir, we will allure hir, least she doe mocke vs. And when the messenger had done his message, & brought Iudith to Holofernes, his spirite (by and by) was mooued and rauished with hir bewtie: Sit downe now (quoth he) and drincke with vs and be mery: I will drincke nowe my Lorde (quoth she) and reioyce, bycause my state is exalted more than euer it was before. And so she eate and drancke before him, of such things as hir Mayde had pre­pared, then Holofernes reioyced so much in Iudith, that he dranke more wyne at that time, than euer he had done in one daye before. Nowe when the euening was come, and euery man departed and gone to their lodging: Vago the Kinges Chamberlayne, shut the chamber doore and went his waye to bedde, leauing none but Iudith in the chamber with Holofernes, for hir Mayde was cōmaun­ded to stande without the Chamber doore, to wayte hir Mistresse cōming foorth to pray. And as Holofernes laye stretched along vpon his bed ouercome with Wyne, Iu­dith stoode by his beddes syde and prayed on this wise: O Lorde God of all power, strengthen me, and haue respect vnto the workes of my handes in this houre, that thou mayst set vp thy citie of Ierusalem, like as thou hast pro­mised: O graunt, that by thée I may performe the thing which I haue deuised, and so tooke downe his swoorde, and holding him fast by the heaire of his head, sayde: Streng­then mée, O Lorde God of Israel, in this houre, and with that smote off his head, and rolled the deade bodye asyde, and got hir foorth to hir mayde, and put the headde in hir Wallet, & went foorth togithers, as though they had gone (as their custome was) to praye. And so passing by the hoste, and comming nyghe to the Citie of Bethulia, she called to the watchmen to open the gate, for God is with vs (quoth she) and hath shewed his power in Israel. And when the gates were set open, the people receyued hir (yoong and olde) with such ioye as neuer the lyke was séene. Then sayde Iudith: Oh prayse yée the Lorde, and [Page 206] giue thankes vnto our God, which hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enimies this night by my hande: And beholde here his head, whome the Lorde hath slayne by mée his mini­ster, and returned his handmayde without any reproche of vylanie, wherefore giue praise and thanks to our God▪ whose mercye endureth for euer. Nowe take the head, and hange it vpon the hyest place of your walles, and in the morning when the Sunne appeareth, go foorth with your weapons like valiaunt men, and make as though yée woulde set vpon your enimies, who will then prepare them to Armour: But when they shall go to rayse vp their Captayne and finde hym without a heade, there will such a fearefulnesse fall vpon them, that euery man will séeke to saue himselfe by flying, then doe yée followe them without all care, for God hath deliuered them into your handes. And so the Israelites followed the Assirians (which kept no order) and siue them downe right. And when they had slayne all their enimies, and gathered vp the spoyle, they gaue the Tent of Holofernes, and all that belonged to hym, vnto Iudith, by whome God had so mightyly wrought their deliueraunce, & had hir in great honour, all the dayes of hir lyfe, who at the age of an hundred and fiue yeares dyed, and was most honorably buryed in Bethulia beside hir husbande. Note: ¶ Iudith, he that prayseth or confesseth.

Gen. 26. g.¶ Iudith the daughter of Bery an Hethite, was wyfe to Esau the sonne of Isaac.

Act. 1. 7. a. Iulius, was an vnder Captaine of the bande of Au­gustus, to whome Paule (with other prisoners) were committed to be caryed to Rome, and of him gentlye intreated. Note: ¶ Iulius, Downe, or downie, and full of fine beares.

K.

Gen. 14 KEdorlaomor, was King of Elam. Who, with thrée Kings mo that tooke his part, fought with the King of Sodome, and the King of Gomorra,Four Kinge against fyue and other thrée on their parties (which fiue kings had ben .xij. yeres in subiection vnder him) in the valley of Siddim, & put them to flight, and spoiled the cities of So­dome and Gomorra, where they founde Lot, Abrahams brothers sonne, and caried him away with all the goodes of Sodome and Gomorra: which goodes with Lot also, were recouered againe by Abraham. Note: Kedorlaomor, the generation of seruitude: or the house of bondage.

Gen. 25. [...]. Ketura, was Abrahams wyfe, who bare vnto hym sixe sonnes. Note: ¶ Ketura, smelling sweete lyke spice, or perfu­ming, or bounde.

L.

Gen. 29. cap. LAban, the sonne of Bethuel (called also Nahor) Abrahams brother, had two daughters, the one named Lea, and the other Rachel, which two he marryed to Iacob his sisters Sonne, as in the storie of Iacob is at large set forth. Note: ¶ Laban, Whyte.

Gen. 4. c. d Lamech, the sonne of Mathuselah, came of the gene­ration of Cain, and was the first man that tooke him two Wyues, whereby the lawfull institution of mariage (which is that twoo shoulde be one fleshe) was first in him corrupted. His twoo wyues were called Ada & Zilla. By Ada he had twoo sonnes, Iubal and Tubal. By Zilla, one sonne called Tubalcain, and a daughter called Noema. He siue Cain, but not willingly, and tolde his wiues say­ing: I haue slaine a man vnto the wounding of my selfe, and a yoong man vnto mine owne punishment: If Cain shall be auenged seauen folde, truely Lamech seauentie [Page 208] times seauen folde. When Lamech had liued. 182. yeres,5. c. d. he begotte a sonne, and called his name Noe, of whome he prophecied, saying: This shall comfort vs from the workes and labours of our handes in the earth which the Lord hath cursed. He liued, 777. yeres, and dyed. Note: ¶La­mech, Poore, or smitten.

Iohn. 11. cap. Lazarus, was a certaine man dwelling in the towne of Bethania, which towne pertayned to him and his si­sters called Martha and Marie Magdalene. And being sicke on a time, his sister Marie sent vnto Iesus, saying: Oh Lorde, beholde he whome thou loouest is sicke. At whose request, Iesus (when he sawe his time) tooke his iourney into Iewrie to visite his friende Lazarus, who was deade and buried foure dayes before his comming. Then Iesus (who was not ignorant of that which was done) went to his graue wherein they had layde him, and sayde: Lazarus, come forth. And forthwithall he came out of his graue, bounde hande and foote with his graue clothes vpon him, and a napkin bounde about his face, who being vntyed, came forth of his clothes, as whole and as lustie as euer he was in all his lyfe. For the which myracle the Iewes sought not onely how they might put Iesus to death, but Lazarus also, vppon whome the my­racle was done, bicause that for his sake manye of the Iewes went awaye and beléeued on Iesus. After this (a­boutIohn. 12. a. a sixe dayes before the feast of Easter) came Iesus to Bethania againe, where they had prepared him a supper, at the which, Martha serued him, but Lazarus sate at the Table with him as other did. Note: ¶ Lazarus, the Helpe, or succour of God, or Gods Court.

Luk. 16. e. f. g. Lazarus, the poore begger, which laye at the great mans gate full of botches and sores, euen ready to die for hunger, coulde not be relieued with so much as one crum of the scrappes which fell from the rich mannes boorde, [Page 209] when he made his earnest peticion for them, where as the dogs were fed with great lumpes & cantels of good bread: yea, he found more fauour and gentlenesse with the dogs, than with the rich man. For where as the rich glutton would refresh the poore begger with nothing of all his de­licious and sumptuous fare, yet the hungry dogges came and licked his sores. But when it chaunced this begger to die, he was caried by y^e Angels intoSome doe vnderstande by Abrahās bosome, the fayth of A­braham. And some, y^e place where those do rest which dye in the fayth of A­braham. Which place is not expres­sed in Scrip­ture. Abrahams bosome. And contrarywise, the rich man then dying also, & being sumptuouslye buried, was caryed into hell: where in his torments he lifted vp his eies, & saw Abraham a farre of, & Lazarus in his bosome, vnto whom he cryed, saying: O father Abraham, haue mercy vpon me, and send Lazarus hither, that he may but dip the top of his finger in water, to coole my tongue, for I am sore tormēted in this flame. Naye sayde Abraham, forasmuch as in thy life time thou receiuedst thy pleasure, and had no pitie on the poore, now art thou punished. And contrarywise, Lazarus which re­ceyued paine, and tooke it paciently, is nowe comforted.

Gen. 29. c. ca. Lea, was the eldest daughter of Laban the sonne of Nahor Abrahams brother, & somewhat squint eyed. She preuented hir sister Rachel in marriage, being brought to Iacobs bedde in hir sisters steade, and so became Iacobs first wyfe, & bare vnto him (one after an other) these foure sonnes, Ruben, Simeon, Leuie, & Iuda, and so ceased, till it chaunced Ruben hir eldest sonne in the tyme of wheate haruest to go out into the fields & findeThe Man­drake is a kind of herbe, whose roote hath a certain likenesse of the figure of a man. Mandrakes, and30. b. c. brought them home to his mother. Then Rachel hearing thereof, went to Lea hir sister, desiring to haue hir sonnes Mandrakes: who sayde to Rachel: is it not ynough that thou hast taken awaye my husbande, but wouldest take away my sonnes Mandrakes also? Well (quoth Rachel) let hym sléepe with thée this night, for thy sonnes Man­drakes. And so Iacob comming out of the fielde at euen, Lea met him, and sayde: Come in vnto me, for I haue [Page 210] bought thée with my sonnes Mandrakes, and that nyght she conceyued with Iacob, and brought him forth the fift sonne, and called his name Isachar. After that, she con­ceyued againe, and brought him forth the sixt sonne, and called his name Zabulon. Last of all, shée conceiued and brought hym foorth a daughter, and called hyr name Dyna. Note: ¶ Lea, Paynfull, or wearyed.

Gen. 29. g. Leuy, the thirde sonne of Iacob and Lea (with his brother Simeon) slue Hemor and Sichem his sonne, for34. cap. rauishing of their sister Dyna. And therefore were they called of Iacob their father, Cruell Instruments. Leuy had thrée sonnes, Gerson, Caath, and Merari. The tribeNum. 18. c. d. of Leuy, the Lorde chose vnto hymselfe, and appoyntedDeut. 10. c. them to serue in the Tabernacle of witnesse with Aaron,Iosua. 13. d. to beare the Arke of the appoyntment of the Lord, to mi­nister and blesse in his name, and had no inheritance a­mong their brethren, but the Lorde, who was their in­heritance. He lyued. 137. yeres. Note: ¶ Leuy, Ioyned, or Coupled.Exod. 6. c.

Luke. 5. f. Leuy, otherwise called Mathewe, the sonne of Al­pheus, was a Toll gatherer, or a receyuer of Custome: who, at the voyce of Iesus when he sayde: folow me, leftMar. 2. c. his office, and all thinges behinde him, and followed theMath. 9. 2. Lorde. And became of a sinfull Publican, a true Disci­ple of Christ. He inuited Iesus to his house, and made him a great Feast, at the which were many Publicanes, beside other of his acquaintaunce, which sate at meate with Christ and his Disciples, wherewith the Phariseys were much offended.

Leuite and his wyfe. There was a certayne Le­uite dwelling on this syde of Mount Ephraim which tooke to wyfe a Concubine out of Bethleem Iuda, which woman played the whoore by him, and went away from hym to hir fathers house, where she remayned foure [Page]

[Page] [...] [Page 210] [...] [Page 211] monthes. And at last, hir husbande being desirous to haue hir agayne, went to intreate hir friendly, and to fetch hir home, and was gently entertayned of hys father in lawe, by the space of three dayes. And on the fourth daye, when hée would haue departed, his Father in lawe woulde not suffer him so to doe, but with gentle entreatance, compel­led him to tarie that daye also vntill the next morrowe. Which being come, he prepared himselfe to depart. And about the midde daye (notwithstanding the great intrea­tie of his Father, to haue him yet to tarie one daye lon­ger) he tooke his Concubine, his seruant, with twoo Asses loden, and so departed, going forth till they came as farre as Iebus, and bicause it drew toward night, his seruant counsayled him to go into the Citie, and to tarie there all night, but his Mayster woulde not, bicause it was a straunge Citie, and pertayned not to the Children of Is­rael. And so passing by, they came to Gibea a citie belon­ging to the Beniamits. And comming thither somewhat late, they went in, and sate them downe in one of the stréetes of the Citie. And as they were sitting there, a certaine olde man (which was of Mount Ephraim also, and dwelt there as a straunger) came out of the fielde from his worke. And when he had spyed the Leuite (and those with him) sitting in the stréete as wayfairing per­sons, he went vnto them, demaunding from whence they came? The Leuite aunswered how that they came from Bethleem Iuda beside Mount Ephraim, and were going to the house of the Lorde, and bicause that no man recey­ueth vs into house, we sit here, hauing all thinges neces­sary with vs, both for our selues, and Cattell. Well (quoth the olde man) abyde not here in the stréete, but go home with me, and whatsoeuer ye lacke, ye shall finde it there. And so he had them home to his house, and vsed them very friendly. And as they were making mery to­githers: The wicked men of the Citie came and besette the house rounde about, and thrusting at the doore to haue [Page 212] bene in, they called vnto the olde man, to bring forth the men out of his house, that they might knowe them. The good olde man, perceyuing the great folly of those vngra­cious persons, went out vnto them, & sayde: Oh my good brethren do not prosecute to accomplishe so wicked an act as this ye intende: yet rather than ye should so wickedly abuse these men, which are come into my house, I will bring forth my daughter (which is a mayde) & this mans Concubine. But they in no wyse, woulde hearcken vnto them. The Leuite séeing that, he put forth hys Concu­bine vnto them: who, so shamefully abused hir that night, that on the morrowe (when the Leuite hir husband came to open the doore) he founde his Concubine lying with hir handes stretched out vpon the thresholde, starcke deade. Then he tooke hir vp vpon his Asse, and caryed hir home to his house, and tooke a knife and deuided hir into twelue péeces, and sent hir into all the quarters of Israel, desi­ring them, that forsomuch as there was neuer such a déede done, nor hearde of, since the children of Israel came out of Egypt, that they woulde consider the mat­ter, and take aduisement therein. Nowe the children of Israel séeing this most euident token of the Beniamins wickednesse, and hauing the whole matter reuealed vnto them by the Leuite himselfe, they assembled togithers as it had bene one man, to the number of foure hundred thousande fighting men, and came to Gibea to fight a­gainst the Beniamites, who in the first day had the bet­ter of the Israelites, and slue of them .xxij. thousande, and in the seconde day .xviij. thousande, but the thirde day, the Israelites had the better, and slue of the Beniamites xxv. thousande, and brent and destroyed all their Cities they coulde come by, with man, woman, and chylde, on­ly sixe hundred of them fledde to the rocke of Rimmon in the wildernesse, and saued themselues there. Then Isra­el sware vnto the Lorde in Mizpa: that whosoeuer did giue his daughter to any of the Beniamites to wyfe, he [Page 213] should be accursed, and he that came not vp to the Lords offering, shoulde surely die. And when they had reared vp an Aultar in Bethel, and made their offering, it was knowne that the inhabitants of Iabes Gilead came not vp to the offering. Wherefore the Israelites sent thither xij. thousande men, commaunding them to flea all the Males, with all the women also, sauing such women as had neuer knowne man fleshly. And they saued foure hun­dred Damsels, Virgins that neuer laye with man, and them they brought to the hoste of Sylo, which is in the lande of Canaan. Then the Israelites hauing pittie on their brethren the Beniamites (bicause that God had made such a gap amōg them) went peaceably vnto them that were fledde vnto the rocke of Rimmon, and gaue them wyues which they had saued of the women of Gi­lead, but they sufficed them not. Then the children of Is­rael were very sory for the breach that the lord had made in the Tribes of Israel, & tooke great care for the Ben­iamins, how to replenishe them with wyues, forsomuch as their women were all destroyed, and that they might not giue their daughters vnto them: And at last, remem­bring the yearely custome of the daughter of Sylo, they sayde vnto the Beniamins: There is a feast of the Lord yearely kept in Sylo: Go ye thither, and lye in wayte a­mong the Vineyards, and when ye sée the Daughters of Sylo come dauncing a row, then come ye out of the vine­yardes, and catche you euery man a wyfe. And if their friendes complayne vnto vs, we will excuse the matter, and saye ye haue done it, bicause we did not reserue to eche one of you his wyfe, in the time of warre. And the children of Beniamin did euen so, and tooke them wyues of the daughters of Sylo, and went to their inheritance, and made them Cities to dwell in, and so were friends with their brethren the children of Israel agayne.

Act. 16. 6. Lidia, was a certaine woman and a seller of Purple [Page 214] in the Citie of Thiatria, and a worshipper of God, whose heart the Lorde so opened at the preaching of Paule, that she, with all hir housholde were conuerted and baptised, saying then to Paule and the other Disciples: if ye haue iudged me to be faythfull to the Lorde, come into my house, and abide there, and so she constrayned them, who founde so much faythfulnesse then in the woman, that af­terwarde (being cast in prison and deliuered againe) they returned into hir house to comfort the brethren which re­sorted thither. Note: ¶ Lydia, Natiuitie, or generation.

1. Mac. 3. c. Lysias, being a great man with Antiochus and of his bloude, was such an enimie vnto the Iewes, that the King made him. Captayne of his host, who with four­tye thousande footemen and seauen thousande horsemen, went to fight agaynst Iudas Machabeus: But Iudas ouercame hym, and slue thrée thousand of his men. Then Lysias being sore grieued at Israels prosperitie, came4. c. d. at an other tyme with thréescore thousand footemen, and fiue thousand horsemen, at which time, Iudas ouercame hym agayne, and slue fiue thousand of his men. Finally, as he laye with Antiochus the King, at the Citie of An­tioche,7. 2. Demetrius came vpon them and slue them both. Note: ¶ Lysias, Dissoluing.

Act. 22. d. Lysias, was an hye Captayne vnder the Emperour, and hauing Paule committed vnto hym as prysoner, was afrayde to punishe hym, bycause hée was a Ro­mayne. And therefore to knowe the certayntie where­fore the Iewes had accused hym, he brought hym foorth23. cap. before the Counsell, where in the ende, fell such discen­tion and debate among them, that Lysias (fearing least Paule shoulde haue bene pulde a sunder of the Iewes) tooke him and had him into the Castle. And hauing know­ledge how the Iewes had conspired Pauls death, he sent him awaye secretly by night, to Felix (being at that time [Page 215] the Emperours Lieutenaunt) to whome he wrote on this wise: Claudius Lysias vnto the most mighty ruler Felix sendeth gréetings: As this man was taken of the Iewes, and shoulde haue bene killed of them, I came vppon them with Souldiours and rescued him, perceyuing he was a Romayne. And when I woulde haue knowne the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him foorth in their counsell: There I perceyued that he was accu­sed of questions of their lawe, and had no cryme woorthy of death or of bondes, and when it was shewed mée, how that the Iewes layed wayte for the man, I sent hym straight waye vnto thée, & commaunded his accusers, if they had ought against him, to tell it vnto thée, Farewell.

Ma [...]c. 4. c. 2 f. g.Lysimachus, was made the hye Priest of the Iews, in the rowme of Menelaus his brother, by whose Coun­sell he robbed the Temple & did much mischiefe: whose wickednesse was so manifest vnto the people, that they rose vppe agaynst him, and made a great vprore in the Citie. Wherevpon Lysimachus (perceyuing where a­bout they went) got vnto him thrée thousande vnthriftes well armed for his defence: Agaynst whome the multi­tude fought so furiously with clubbe and battes, and with hurling of stones, and such weapons as they coulde get, that they wounded many, slue some, and chased the reast awaye, and at the last, kylled the wicked Churche rob­ber himselfe, beside the Tresurye. Note: ¶ Lysimachus, dissol­uing Battell.

Ose. 1. d. Loammy, was the seconde Sonne of Gomer the daughter of Deblaim. And when she brought hym foorth the Lorde sayde: Call his name Loammy. For why yée are not my people, therefore wyll not I be your God. Note: ¶ Loammy, not my People.

2. Tim. 1. 2. Loys, was a faythfull godly woman and Graund­mother [Page 216] to Tymothy, who alwayes brought vp hir Chil­dren and famylie, in the feare of God, and knowledge of Christes Doctrine. Note: ¶ Loys, Better.

Ose. 1. [...]. Lornhama, was the daughter of Gomer the daugh­ter of Deblaim. And when she brought hym foorth, the Lorde sayde: Call his name Lornhama, for I will haue no pittie vppon the house of Israel but forget them, and put them cleane out of remembraunce. Note: Lornhama, not obtayning Mercy.

Gen. 11. d. Lot, was the sonne of Aran, brother to Abraham, with whom he went out of Egipt toward the south coun­trey to come into the lande of Canaan. And when they were come to a place called Bethel, they had such aboun­daunce of shéepe & Cattell betwéene them, that (the lande not being able to receyue them both) their heirdemen be­gan to stryue togithers. Wherevpon, Abraham (to a­uoyde contencion) desired that Lot and he might breake companies. And that he woulde take and occupye what part of all the lande he would, & he to take the other. Then Lot chose the Countrey about Iordane, bycause it had plentie of water, and dwelt in Sodome, till Chedorlao­mer came and spoyled the Citie and caryed Lott awaye prisoner, who being rescued by Abraham his nephew, was brought to Sodome agayne. And as he remayned among the filthy Sodomites, the Lord sent his Angels to destroy the Citie and Countrey about, which Aungels, Lot receyued into his house. And before his guests and he were gone to rest, the men of the citie, (replenished with all kinde of wickednesse) had compassed the house rounde about, and called to Lot, saying: Where are the men which came into thée this night? bring them foorth to vs that we may know them. Then Lot went out vnto them and sayde: I pray you my brethren, doe not so wickedly, yet rather or yée shoulde so doe, I haue twoo daughters [Page] [Page] [...] [Page]

[Page 217] which neuer knew man, them will I bring out vnto you, and do with them as séemeth you good, onely to these men doe nothing, for therefore are they come vnder the sha­dowe of my roofe. And as the Sodomites threatned Lot & were preasing vpon him to burst vp the dore, the Angels within put foorth their handes, and pulled Lot into the house, and shut fast the doore: At the which instaunt the Sodomites without were so smitten with blindnesse, that they groped for the doore and coulde not finde it. Then sayde the Aungels to Lot: If thou hast anye sonnes or daughters or whatsoeuer thou hast in the Citie, bring it out with thée, for we are sent to destroye this place, by­cause their sinne is great before the Lorde. Then went Lot to his sonnes in law, which had marryed his daugh­ters and tolde them, but they (thinking their Father had mocked) taryed still. And so as Lot made haste (for the Angels coulde doe nothing tyll he were gone) with his wyfe and twoo daughters to the Citie of Zoar, which he had requested of the Lorde to flye vnto, his wife looking behinde hir (contrarie to the Angls precept) was turned into a pyller of Salt. Then Lot fearing to abyde in the citie of Zoar, (after the Cities were destroyed) got hym into the Mountaynes, where he dwelt in a Caue, wyth his twoo daughters, who (forasmuch as their father was olde, & not a man left in the countrey thereabout, where­by they might haue Children) consulted togithers and a­gréede, to make their Father druncken with Wyne, and so to lye with him, that they might rayse vppe séede vnto their father. Which matter being performed and they both with Childe, the eldest brought foorth Moab, which was the Father of the Moabits, & the yoongest BenAm­mi, which was the Father of the Ammonites, both which nations, were most vyle and wicked. Note: ¶ Lot, Wrapped, or loyned.

Collo. 4. d. Luke, was a Phisition borne in the citie of Antioche,2. Tim. 4. c. [Page 218] and became Saint Pauls Disciple and companion in allLuke liued 84. yeares, and was bu­ried at Con­stautinople. his traueyles. He wrote the volume of his Gospell, as he had learned of Paule and of the other Apostles, as he re­porteth himselfe in the beginning of the same worke, say­ing: As they haue deliuered them to vs, which from the beginning saw them with their eyes, and were ministers of the thinges that they declared. But the volume called the Actes of the Apostles, he composed as he had séene, the story whereof came euen to Paules tyme, being and tarying twoo yeares at Rome, where the woorke was finished. Note: ¶ Luke, his Resurrection.

M.

2. Reg. 3. a. MAacha, the daughter of Thalmar king of Ges­sur was King Dauids wyfe, and mother to Ab­salom.1. Par. 3. a. Maacha the daughter of Absalom was3. Reg. 1 [...]. a. c. wyfe to Roboam, and Mother to Abia, which Abia, his father Roboam ordayned to raigne after hym, for the loue that he bare to Maacha his mother, aboue all the reast of his wyues▪ Reade the storye of Asa. Note: ¶ Maa­cha, a Woman pressed, or bruised.

1. Mac. 2. 3. Machabeus, was the thirde sonne of Mathathias, and after his fathers death, he was made Ruler ouer the Iewes. Who (in the defence of the holye lawes) fought most manfully against Goddes enimies during his lyfe. Note: ¶ Machabeus, a Strike [...], a Fighter. Reade Iudas Ma­chabeus.

2. Reg. 9. 2. Machir, was the sonne of Amiel of Lodebar, and a great friende to Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas, whoAmiel was Father to Bethsabe King Da­uids wife. kept him in his house tyll King Dauid sent for hym, to his preferment. Note: ¶ Machir, Selling, or knowing.

4. Reg. 15. c. d Manahen, the Sonne of Eady, besieged Sallum King of Israel in Samaria, and slue him, whose King­dome [Page 219] he possessed, and began his raygne in the nyne and thirtie yeare of Azariahu King of Iuda. And because the Citie of Tiphsah woulde not receyue him as there, he de­stroyed the Citie, and all that was within it. And for this great wickednesse and tyrannie, God styrred vp Phul, King of Assiria agaynst him, vnto whom Manahen gaue a thousande Talents of siluer, to breake vp his warres, which money he exacted of his people, taking of euerye man of substannce fiftie Sicles. He raygned ten yeares, leauing Pekahia his sonne to succéede him. Note: ¶ Manahen, a Comforter, or Leader of them, or a preparing of heate.

Act. 13. [...]. Manahen, which was brought vp of a Childe with Herode, and his playsere, at the last forsooke him and fol­lowed Christ.

4. Reg. 21. ca. Manasses, the sonne of Hezekia, was twelue yeare olde when he began his raygne ouer Iuda, and wrought2. Par. 33. ca. much euill before the Lorde. For he buylt vp the hye pla­cesManasses put Esay the prophet (who was his fa­ther in lawe) to death. agayne which his father had destroyed. He erected vp Altars for Baal, and made Groues as Achab dyd, and woorshipped all the hoste of heauen and serued them. He offered his children in fire, as the maner of the Gentyles was, and gaue himselfe to witchcraft and Sorcerye, andReade the annotasion in the storie of Esay. fauoured Soothsayers, and such as vsed familiar spirits. He set the Image of the groue in the house, where the Lorde sayde he woulde put his name for euer. Ouer and beyonde all these euils, he shed so much innocent bloude, that all Ierusalem was replenished from corner to cor­ner, & wrought more wickednesse than dyd all the Amo­rites: Wherefore the Lorde gaue hym ouer into the handes of the King of Assiria, who tooke Manasses and bounde him with twoo cheynes and caryed him to Babi­lon. Where at the last, he so humbled him selfe to the Lorde, that he had compassion vpon hym, and restored him to his Kingdome agayne. Who after that, became a [Page 220] good man, and put downe all such abhominacions, as he before had mayntayned, and reygned fiue an fiftie yeres, leauing Amon his sonne to succéede. Note: ¶ Manasses: For­getfull, or forgetfulnesse.

Ester. 2. cap. Mardocheus, the sonne of Iair, was a Iew borne, dwelling in the Citie of Susan, and one of them which were caryed away from Ierusalem with Iechonia King of Iuda (by Nabuchodonosor) into Babilon. This man had a fayre Damosell in his house named Hester, his vn­cles daughter, whose Father and Mother being dead, he brought vp as his owne daughter, so long till at last (for hir bewtie & fayrenesse) she was taken vp by the Kinges commission (with other mo) & had to the Court, there to be brought vp at the Kings charges, in an house appoin­ted, for that purpose the King had called them for. And euery day would Mardocheus walke before the womens house, to he are and know how Hester dyd, & what should become of hir, whose lotte in processe, was to be made Quéene in the steade of Vasthi late deposed. And on a time as Mardocheus sate in the Kings gate, he heard an ynckling of certaine treason, conspired against the Kings owne person, by twoo of his pryuie Chamber, Bigthan and Theres, which treason, he caused Hester to open vn­to the King, and to certifie his grace thereof in his name. Vpon whose certification, inquirie being made & founde true, the conspiratours were put to death, and the matter Registred in Chronicle for a remembrance of their acte. After this, bycause Mardocheus would doe no reuerence to Haman, both he and the Iewes shoulde all haue béene slayne in one daye. Whereof Mardocheus hauing know­ledge, he rent his clothes, and put on mourning apparell, and so ranne thorow the Citie of Susan (where their de­struction was denised) Crying out vntill he came to the Kinges gate, where he might not be suffered to enter, in that araye. Then Hester hearing thereof, was sore asto­nished, [Page 221] and sent him other rayment to put on: But he refusing the rayment, declared vnto the messenger the whole effect of Hamans commission and working, and tooke him a Copye of the same, to giue to Ester, char­ging hir to go vnto the King, for the lyues and [...]afegarde of hir people: For who can tell (quoth he) whither God hath called hir to the Kingdome for that purpose or no, it may be that he hath: And therefore if she nowe holde hir peace, the Iewes shall haue helpe from some other place, and so shall she & hir fathers house be vtterly destroyed. And so whyle Ester went about the deliueraunce of theMarbocheus liued. 198. yeares, as Philo wit­nesseth. Iewes, Mardocheus was exalted into the Kings fauour, to the great reioysing of all the Iewes, whose wealth he sought so long as he lyued. Reade the story of Ester and Haman. Note: ¶ Mardocheus: a bitter contricion, or repentaunce.

Math. 1. c. Marie, the Virgin, and mother of God (whose pa­rentes are not expressed in Scripture, was affianced toLuke. 1. c. d. a certaine good man of hir owne stocke and Tribe (which was of Iuda) named Ioseph. And before she came to dwell with him, the Angell Gabriel being sent of God, came and saluted hir, saying: Hayle full of grace, the Lorde is with thée, blessed art thou among women. The Virgin séeing the Angel, was sore abashed at his words, and mused much in hir mynde, what salutation that shoulde be. Then sayde the Angell, feare not Mary, for thou hast founde fauour with God, for lo, thou shalt con­ceyue in thy wombe, and beare a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus. &c. Then Mary, bicause she woulde be resolued of all doubtes, to the ende she might the more surely embrace the promise of God, sayde: Howe shall this be, séeing I knowe no man? The holy ghost (quoth the Angell) shall come vpon thée, and the power of the most highest shall ouershadowe thée. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thée, shall be called the sonne of God. &c. Then sayde Mar [...]e: Beholde the hande­mayde [Page 222] of the Lord, be it vnto me according to thy word. Vpon this, she prepared hir selfe with spéede, to go and visite hir Cosin Elizabeth, with whome she remayned thrée monthes, and returned home agayne: And shortly after, went with Ioseph hir husbande from the Citie of Nazareth, to the lande of Iewrie to a Citie called Beth­leem, there to be taxed (according to the Emperour Au­gustusIn the booke called Fasci­culus tempo­rum, it is sayd that this Virgin was the daughter of Ioachim and Anna: and was a­bout the age of .xvi. yeres, when shee brought forth Christ. commaundement) bicause they were of the house and linage of Dauid. And being forced to lye in the sta­ble, for lacke of roume in the Inne, hir houre came to be deliuered, and there she brought forth Christ Iesus the Sauiour of the worlde. And when she was purified, and had bene at Ierusalem with hir chylde, and performed all things there according to the lawe, she returned with Ioseph hir husbande, home to the Citie of Nazareth a­gayne. And being accustemed yearely she and hir hus­bande to go vp at the feast of Easter to Ierusalem, shée chaunced one tyme to forget hir Sonne behinde hir, and when she had turned backe, and sought him, out, and founde him, she sayde: Sonne, why hast thou thus dealt with vs? thy father and I haue sought thée with heauye heartes. Another time as she was with hir Sonne at a mariage, in Cana, a towne in Galile, when the Wyne fayled at the feast, she tolde hir Sonne that they lacked wyne, and receyuing his an [...]ere méekely, bade the Mi­nisters to doe whatsoeuer he commaunded them. Final­ly, as shée stoode by the Crosse, whereon hir sonne shedde his bloude, as well for hir as all other Christians, sorow▪ pierced hir heart like a sworde, according to Simeons prophecie. Marie, the wyfe of Cleophe, was hir sister.

Mar. 1 [...]. d. Marie, Salome was a certayne godly woman, who (among other) ministred of hir substance to Iesus, and16. a. followed him from Galile, and after he was erucified, bought swéete odors to annoynt his body, and was a wit­nesse of his resurrection.

Act. 12. c. Marie, the mother of Iohn Marke, into whose house Peter came (after the Angell of God had deliuered him out of prison, from the handes of Herode) where manye were gathered togither in prayer.

Iohn. 12. [...]. Marie *Magdalene, dwelt in Bethania, and was a sinfull woman. And in token of hir great repen­tance,Luke. 7. f. g. she went to Iesus as he sate at meate in one of*Magdale­na signifieth▪ magnified, or exalted. the Phariseys houses, with a boxe of Oyntment in hir hande, falling downe at his féete wéeping and washing them with the teares distilling downe from hir eyes, and wyped them with the heares of hir head, and also kyssed them, and annointed them with swéete Oyntment. Then Iesus séeing the great fayth of the woman, sayde vnto hir: Mary thy fayth hath saued thée, goe in peace. Then Mary féeling hir selfe much bounde to Christ, which had forgiuen hir so many sinnes, fell in so great loue, that allLuk. 10. g. hir whole meditacion and studie was vppon him. Inso­much that when Martha hir sister was cumbred about much seruing of Christ at the Table, Marie (choosing the better part) sate at Iesus féete, to heare his preaching. And when he suffred his passion, she stoode by the CrosseIohn. 19. [...]. with Mary his mother to sée the ende. And the morrowe20. 2. b. c. d. after the Sabboth day, when she came to the sepulchre, and sawe the stone taken awaye from the Tombe, shée ranne to Peter and Iohn, and tolde them, who ranne to the graue, and tryed the matter, and returned backe a­gaine, leauing Marie standing at the Graue wéeping. And as she bowed hir selfe into the graue, she sawe twoo Aungels sitting in whyte clothing, who sayde vnto hir, woman why wéepest thou? They haue taken away my Lorde (quoth she) and I knowe not where they haue layde him. And turning hir selfe about, she sawe Iesus standing, but knewe him not, to whome he sayde: Wo­man, why wéepest thou? whome doest thou séeke? She [Page 224] (supposing it had bene the Gardiner) sayde: Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast layde him and I will fet him: Then sayde Iesus, Mary: with th [...] she turned hir selfe, and sayd, Rabbony, which is to say, Mayster, and fell downe to the ground to haue kyssed his féete. But to withdrawe hir from that, Iesus sayde: Touche me not: but go & tell my brethren that I ascende to my Father and your Father, to my God and [...] God. Then went Mary to the Disciples, and tolde [...] that she had séene the Lord, and what things he had [...] vnto hir. Reade the storie of Martha hir sister, and of La­zarus hir brother.

Marke, the Euaungelist, is thought to haue béene Peters Disciple, and to write his Gospell, according as he heard Peter preache, and shew euery thing by mouth, and to haue planted the first Church in Alexandria, where he died in the eyght yeare of the reigne of Nero, in whose place succéeded Anianus. Of this Marke, speaketh Pe­ter, in his first Epistle the fift Chapter, saying: The Congregacion of them, which at Babilon are compani­ons of your election, saluteth you, and so doth Marke my sonne. Note: ¶ Marke: Fyled, or rubbed.

Act. 12. b. Marke, otherwise called Iohn the sonne of Mary, was Minister to Paule & Barnabas, what tyme as they were sent by the holy Ghost from Antioche, to preach the14. d. Gospell vnto the heathen, which Marke at Pamphilia, departed backe from them agayne. For the which cause, Paule (the next iourney that he and Barnabas made)15. g. woulde not suffer Marke to go with them, wherefore Barnabas departed from Paule, taking Marke (who was his Sisters sonne) with him into Cypers.

Luke. 10. g. Martha, and Mary Magdalene, were twoo Sisters, dwelling in the Citie of Bethinia, which twoo had a bro­ther [Page 225] named Lazarus. This Martha (on a tyme) inuyted Iesus to dinner. And being cumbred about much seruing, and séeing hir Sister Mary sit styll at Iesus féete, sayde vnto him: doest thou not care, that my sister hath left me to minister alone? Bid hir come & helpe mée. To whome he aunswered: Martha Martha, thou carest and arte troubled about many things: verilye, one is néedefull, Mary hath chosen the best part which shall not be taken from hir. On a tyme as Iesus was comming to Bethi­niaIohn. 11. cap. to heale hir brother Lazarus, she mette him, saying: Lorde, if thou haddest béene here, my brother had not dyed. Neuerthelesse nowe I know, that whatsoeuer thou doest aske of God, he will giue it thée. Then sayde Iesus, Thy brother shall ryse agayne, Yea (quoth Martha) I know that he shall ryse agayne in the resurrection at the last daye: I am (sayde Iesus) the resurrection and the lyfe, he that beléeueth on mée, yea though he were dead, yet shall he lyue, and whosoeuer lyueth and beléeueth in mée shall not dye: Beléeuest thou this? Yea Lord (quoth Martha) I beléeue that thou art Christ the sonne of God, which shoulde come into the worlde. After this when Ie­sus came to the place where Lazarus was buryed, and had commaūded the stone of his graue to be taken away, Martha sayde: Lorde, by this tyme he stincketh, for he hath béene dead foure dayes. Sayde not I vnto thée (quoth Iesus) that if thou diddest beléeue, thou shouldest sée the glory of God. And so she saw hir brother Lazarus resto­red from death to lyfe, to the glory of God and hir great comfort. Note: ¶ Martha. Bitter, or Prouoking.

1. Mac. 2. cap. Mathathias, the sonne of Simeon the Priest, which was of the stocke & kynred of Ioaris, had fiue valyaunt men to his sonnes, & dwelt in Modyn, remayning stead­fast in the lawes of God, notwithstanding the great cala­mities that were come vpon the people of Iuda and Ie­rusalem, for the which Mathathias made pytteous [Page 226] Lamentacion, crying vpon God to strengthen him and his sonnes agaynst the heathen, that had so wasted the peo­ple, and defyled his sanctuary. And whyle he & his sonnes were thus mourning in Sackcloth, for the destruction of the holy Citie: Antiochus the King, sent certayne Com­missioners to the Citie of Modyn, to compell such Iewes as were thither fled, to forsake their owne lawes, and to serue the Idols of the heathen. Who (after they had tur­ned the heart of many) spake to Mathathias on this wise: Thou arte (sayde they) a noble man of hye reputacion, and great in this Citie, and hast many Children and bre­thren: Come thou first of all and fulfill the Kinges com­maundement, lyke as the heathen haue done, and the men of Iuda, with such as remayne at Ierusalem, and so shalt thou and thy sonnes be in fauour with the King and greatly enriched. Nay said Mathathias: Though all Nations vnder the Kinges Dominion, fall away euerye man from the law of their fathers, yet will I, my sonnes & my brethren, walke in the lawes of our Fathers. God forbid we shoulde forsake the lawes and ordinaunces of God, we will not, for no mannes pleasure, transgresse our religion, or breake the Statutes of our Lawe. And as he had spoken these woordes, a certayne Iewe came foorth, and openlye in the sight of all men, dyd sacrifice vnto the Idols vpon the Aultar in the citie of Modyn ac­cording to the Kings commaundement, which thing so grieued Mathathias, that (for very zeale he had to the lawes of God) he start him vp, and ranne vpon the Iewe, and kylled both him & the Commissioner, that compelled him so to doe, & ranne his way crying thorowe the Citie, and saying to the people, whosoeuer is seruent in the law, and will kéepe and stande by the couenaunt, let hym fol­lowe mée. So he and his sonnes fled into the mountayns, and many other godly men, with their wyues and chil­dren, and all that they had, got them into the Wilder­nesse. And being there, the heathen went agaynst them on [Page] [Page] [...] [Page 227] the Sabaoth daye, and slue man, woman and Childe, for on that day, the Iewes would make no resistance, but woulde dye in their innocencie: Then Mathathias hea­ring of this, was verie sorye, and counsayling with his friends, sayde: If we doe as our brethren hath done, and not to fight for our lyues, & our lawes, the heathen will soone roote vs all out of the earth, wherevpon they con­cluded, that whosoeuer dyd bid them battell on the Sa­baoth daye, that they woulde rather manfully fight for their lawes, than to dye as their brethren had done be­fore. Vpon the which conclusion, came the whole Syna­goge of the Iewes (with all such as were fled for persecu­tion) to Mathathias: And being gathered togithers, they were so great an hoste, that they feared not their enimies, but fell vpon them and slue a great number. And by their force and strength, they went about the coastes of Israel and destroyed the Aultars, & circumcised their children and kept their lawes in spite of all their beards. Finally, when the tyme of his death drewe nyghe, he called all his sonnes before him, exhorting them to preferre the lawes and wealth of their Countrey, before their owne lyues, and ordayned Symon his eldest sonne, to be as it were theyr Father, and Iudas Machabeus to be their Cap­tayne, and so giuing them his blessing he dyed, and was burned in his Fathers Sepulchre in the Citie of Modyn. Note: ¶ Mathathias, the gift of the Lorde.

1. Mac. 16. c. Mathathias, the sonne of Symon, was killed with his Father at a Banket, which Ptolomy his brother in lawe had prepared for them, in a Castle of hys called Doche.

1. Mac. 11. g. Mathathias, the sonne of Absalemus stacke by Io­nathas, when all his men forsooke him and fled the fielde, sane Iudas the sonne of Calphi.

Mathew, the Euangelist. Reade the Storye of [Page]

[Page 228] Leuy. Note: ¶ Mathew: Giuen.

Act. [...]. d. Mathias, was a saithful Disciple of Christ, and one that had his conuersacion alwayes among the Apostles, ruen from the beginning of Christs preaching to the last ende. And now, for as much as Iudas the Traytour was fallen from Christ: he (with an other godly man called Ioseph or Barsabas) was appointed to stande in election, which of them twoo shoulde succéede in the place of Iu­das▪ And when the Apostles had made their prayers to God, and giuen fóorth their lottes, the lotte fell on Ma­thias,Lottes. and so he was counted with the eleuen Apostles. Note: ¶ Mathias, the Lords Gift.

Gen. 5. c. Mathusalah, was the sonne of Henoch, and lyued and hundred eyghtie and seauen yeares, and begot La­mech. And after that he lyued seauen hundred an eyghtie twoo yeares, and▪ begot sonnes and daughters, and when he had lyued in all, nyne hundred and thrée score an nyne yeares, he died. Note: ¶ Mathusalah, he sent his death, or the weapons of his death.

Gen. 14. d. Melchisedech, is called King of Salem, and the hye Priest of the most high God. When Abraham hadHeb. 7. 2. rescued Lot his nephew out of the handes of the Assiri­ans, and was returned from the slaughter of the Kings, Melchisedech met him with breade and wyne, to refreshe Abraham and his souldiours, and blessed him, saying: Blessed be Abraham vnto the hye God, possessor of hea­uen and earth, and blessed be the high God which hath deliuered thine enimies vnto thy hande: And Abraham gaue him tythes of all things. The Scripture reporteth Melchisedech to be, without father, without mother, with­out kynne, and hath neyther beginning of his dayes, nei­ther yet ende of his lyfe, but is lykened vnto the sonne of God, and continueth a Priest for euer. Note: ¶ Melchisedech, [Page 229] King of Righteousnesse.

[...]. Mac. 4. c. ca Menelaus, was brother to Simon and Lysima­chus, twoo as vngracious as himselfe. This ambicious man by deceyte, got the hye Priestes office from Iason on this wyse: When that good and godlye man Onias had the superioritie, Iason his brother found the meanes to corrupt Antiochus the King with money, and so gotte the office▪ out of his brothers handes. And when the time came that Iason shoulde pay the money to Antiochus, he sent it by the hande of Menelaus, in whome he had great confidence. But when Menelaus was come to the King, he so craftily handled the matter with flatterie and fayre promises, that he both defrauded the King of his money, and Iason of his office: which, when he had obtained, re­turned with an hye stomacke, more lyke a cruell tyrant, and the wrath of a wylde brute beast, than any thing that beséemed a Priest. But when the King had knowledge of all his deceyte and falshoode, he discharged him agayne, putting Lysimachus hys brother in hys roume. Then Menelaus being thus thrust out of office, wayted hys tyme to be reuenged. And when he had spyed the King a­bout his weightie affayres (as in the suppression of cer­tayne Kebels) leauing Andronicus behinde him to be his Lieutenaunt, and supposing then to haue a conuenient tyme, he went and stole out of the Temple certayne ves­sels of golde, and gaue them to Andronicus. And after he had made him his assured friende, he ministred such wicked counsell both to Andronicus and Lysimachus his brother, that the one murdred Onias, and the other spoi­led and robbed the▪ Temple of God. Wherfore the King at his returne againe, caused Andronicus to be put to death, and the other, the people furiouslye fell vpon him and killed him. And forsomuch as Menelaus▪ was great­lye suspected to be the chiefe causer of all this murther, a Court was called, and many sore complaintes layde a­gainst [Page 230] him. Then Menelaus (perceyuing himselfe in the Kings displeasure, and daunger of his lawes) went to Ptolomie (one of the thrée Ambassadours) and with mo­ney made him his friende, who went to the King, and so laboured the matter, that he brought Menelaus into such fauour with the King againe, that he was quite▪ dischar­ged from all accusations, and his accusers condemned to death. Thus thorow couetous Magistrates, Menelaus remayned still in authoritie. Being nowe more malici­ous vnto the Iewes (his owne nation) than euer he was. As it appeared afterwarde, what time as he ayded Anti­ochus, and was his guyde to the spoyling of the Temple. But at the last, his falshoode came to a foule ende, for Ly­sias which was Lorde Steward to Antiochus, and chiefe Ruler of all his matters, so enformed the King of his vngraciousnesse, that he commaunded▪ Menelaus (who had done so much mischiefe against the Aultar of God, whose fire and ashes were holy) to be cast into a tower of fiftie cubites hye, heaped vp with ashes, and so miserably ended his lyfe. Note: ¶ Menelaus, Strength of the people.

1. Reg. 18. d. Merob, was the eldest Daughter of King Saule, who promised hir in mariage to Dauid: But or the time came that Dauid shoulde enioy hir, Saule gaue hir to an other man named Adriel, by whome she conceyued, and bare him fiue sonnes. Note: ¶ Merob, Fighting, or chyding, or2. Reg. 21. b. multiplying.

4. Reg. 3. cap. Mesa, the King of Moab was a great Lord of shéepe. And where as the Moabites had of long time payed tri­bute vnto the Kings of Israel, euery yeare one hundred thousand Lambes, with so many Rammes or Wethers in the Wooll, with their fléece vpon their backes. Thys King woulde paye none to Ioram the sonne of Achab, for the which, Ioram made warre agaynst him, and ouer­came him. Note: ¶ Mesa, Health, or the water of health, or looking [Page 231] vpon the water.

Iudic. 17. cap. Micah, was a certaine man dwelling in Mounte Ephraim, whose mother made him an Idoll of siluer, which he set vp in the house of his goddes, and made an Ephod, and consecrated one of his owne sonnes to be his Priestes, and so continued, vntill it chaunced a yong Le­uite to come from Bethleem Iuda to séeke seruice: Which Leuite Micah hyred for tenne siluerlings by the yeare, two garments, and meate and drinke. And when he had hyred the Leuite, he was glad, saying: Nowe am I sure that God will looue me, séeing I haue a Leuite to my Priest. At this time, the Tribe of Dan (forasmuch18. cap. as the portion which Iosua gaue them, was not suffici­ent for all their Tribe) went to seeke them a place to dwell in. And as they were going to the Citie of Lays, they came by the house of Micah: And being enformed by those men, whome they had sent before to spye out the lande, howe there was in the house of Micah, a grauen and a molten Image, they turned in thither, and saluted him peaceably, but at their departing they tooke hys I­dols against the Leuites will, perswading him, that it was not so good to be a Priest vnto the house of one man, as it was to be a Priest vnto a whole Tribe or kinred in Israel, and so tooke him away with them also. And being gone, Micah made a great outcrie, and followed after the children of Dan with all the power he coulde make, to rescue his goddes: but being perswaded to be content, and to get him home, least a woorse thing did happen, he then (perceyuing he was not able to make his partie good,) returned backe againe. Reade the Storie of Dan. Note: ¶ Micah, who lyke our God, or pouertie, or the lowlynesse of the Lorde, or the Lorde striking.

Michael, the sonne of Israhia. Note: ¶ Michael, who is1. Par. 7. [...]. lyke the Lorde.

Dan. 10. c. Michael, one of the chiefe Princes that was sent to comfort Daniel.

Iude. Michael, the Archaungell which stroue agaynst the Deuill, and disputed about the body of Moses.

Apoc. 12. b. Michael, and his Aungels, that fought agaynst the Dragon.

3. Reg. 22. ca. Micheas, the sonne of Imla, was a Prophete inThis was not that pro­phete that wrote the booke of pro­phecies, but another of that name. the dayes of King Achab, and▪ for bicause he woulde not flatter the King, as the foure hundred false Prophetes had done, but prophecied plainly of the Kings death, he was smitten and cast in prison. Note: ¶ Micheas, Poore, or lowe and base.

1. Reg. 18. [...]. f. g. Michol, was the seconde daughter of King Saule, whome he gaue to Dauid to be his wyfe, that she might be a snare to bring him into the hands of the▪ Philistines. But Michol loued Dauid so well▪ that he coulde not haue19. c. his purpose that waye: For when he sent men to watche his house and to sley him, Michol tolde▪ Dauid▪ saying: Except thou saue thy selfe this night, to morrowe thou wilt be slayne, wherefore to saue the lyfe of Dauid, she let him downe at a backewindowe, and layed an Image in his bedde▪ with a pillow vnder his heade, stuffed with Goates heaire, and couered it with a cloth. And when the men came into the house (in the morning) and asked for Dauid, Michol sayde he was sicke▪ The Messengers then (thinking to haue caryed hym, bedde and all to the King as he had commaunded) went into Dauids cham­ber, and when they came there and founde nothing else in the bedde but a blocke, they were ashamed, and so re­turned to Saule and tolde hym. Thon Mich [...] being de­maunded, wherefore she had so derided hym, and sent his [Page 233] enimie awaye, made hir excuse, that if she had not let hym go, he woulde haue kylled hir. After this hir father tooke hir from Dauid, and gaue hir toLoke in the hystorie of Psaltei howe he vsed Mi­chol Dauids wyfe. Psaltei the sonne of Lays to wyfe, with whome she remayned tyll the death of Saule, and then was restored agayne to Dauid by Abners meanes. Finally, when Dauid came daun­cing before the Arke of God in his shyrte▪ to the Citie of Dauid, it chaunc [...]d Michol to looke out at a window, and beholding the King how he leaped and daunced before the Arke, she began to despise hym in hir heart▪ and méeting him after all thinges were done, she sayde: O how glo­rious was the King of Israel this daye, which was vnco­uered to day in the eyes of the Maydens of his seruaunts, as a foole vncouereth himselfe. And for thus despising of Dauid the seruaunt of God, the Lorde plagued hir with Baraynesse that she neuer▪ had Childe. Note: ¶ Michol, who is perfect.

2. Reg. 4. b. Miphiboseth, the sonne of Ionathas was lame in his féete by reason his nurse (by misfortune) in his in­fancie let him fall to the grounde out of hir armes, and was brought vp and nourished (after the death of his fa­ther)9. cap. in the h [...]uie of Machir, tyll Dauid comming to his Kingdome, tooke him from thence, and restored him to all the lande of King Saule, making Ziba his seruaunt chiefe ouerséer and n [...]c [...]yu [...]r of the landes, and to sée Mi­cah his maysters sonne well brought vp and cherished, for so much as Miphiboseth shoulde remayne with hym, and eat [...] and drincke at his owne boorde▪ Now after this, when Dauid was brought into so great affliction & trou­ble, by reason of Absalom his sonn [...], Miphiboseth remay­ned still at Ierusalem and neuer▪ remooued. But Ziba2. Reg. 16. [...]. his seruaunt went after Dauid with a present, and by false report of Miphiboseth his mayster, got hys lande from hym▪ And when the King was returned and come to Ierusalem▪ agayne, then Miphiboseth (who had ney­ther19. [...]. [Page 234] washed his séete nor dressed his bearde, nor washed his clothes from the tyme the King departed, vntill he returned in peace) went out to méete him, and when the King sawe him, he sayde: Wherefore wentest thou not with mée Miphiboseth? He aunswered: My Lorde, O King, my seruaunt deceyued mée, for thy seruaunt sayde: I woulde haue myne Asse sadled to ryde thereon for to go with the King, bycause thy seruaunt is lame: There­fore Ziba hath falsely accused thy seruaunt to my Lorde the King, but my Lord the King is as an Angell of God: Doe therefore what it pleaseth thée, for all my Fathers house were but deade m [...]n before my Lord the King, and yet dydst thou set thy seruaunt, amonge them that dyd eate at thine owne table: What right haue I to cry any more vnto the King? Then sayde Dauid▪ why speakest thou yet in thine owne cause, I haue sayde: Thou and Ziba, deuide the lande betwéene you. Yea, sayde Miphi­boseth, let him take all, séeing my Lord the King is come home in peace. Note: ¶ Miphiboseth: shame or confusion from the mouth.

[...]. Reg. 21. b. Miphiboseth the sonne of Rizpa, King Sauls Con­cubine, was of the Gibeonits (with his brother Armony) hanged for their fathers offence.

Exo. 6. c. Miriam, was the daughter of Amram & Iochebed, and sister to Aaron and Moses. When hir brother Moses15. c. had brought the children of Israel thorow the redde Sea, Miriam the Prophetesse tooke a Tymbrell in hir hande with other women following in like sorte, and began ioy­fully to sing and daunce, their song was this: Sing yée vnto the Lorde, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and ryder hath he ouerthrowen in the Sea. After this she grudged agaynst Moses, because he had taken aNum. 12. cap. woman of Inde to his wyfe, wherefore the Lorde smote hir with Leprosie. Then Moses (partly for pittie, and [Page 235] partly at the intercession of Aaron his brother) besought the Lorde to heale hir, who made hym aunswere, saying: If hir father (in anger) had spitte in hir face, shoulde she not haue béene ashamed seauen dayes? Let hir be shut out of the hoste seauen dayes, which being doone, she was restored, and receyued in agayne. Finallye, when20. 2. Moses and the children of Israel were come to Cades, there she dyed and was buryed. Note: ¶ Miriam, exalted, or reaching.

Dan. [...]. b. 3. ca. Misach, first called Misael, was one of Daniels companions and one of the thrée, which was cast into the whote burning Ouen, and myraculously preserued. Note: ¶ Misach, prolonging, or drawing to him, or compassing the waters, or hedging.

3. Esd. 2. b. Mithridatus, was King Cyrus treasurer, at whose commaundement, he deliuered, all the holye vessels of golde and siluer pertayning to the house of the Lorde, to Salmanasar the Deputie in Iewrie. The number of which vessels was fiue thousand eyght hundred and thrée score. Note: ¶ Mithridatus, dissoluing the lawe.

Act. 21. d, Mnason, was a certayne godlye man, and a Cy­prian borne, who had of long tyme beléeued the Gospell, in whose house, Paul was hosted at Ierusalem. Note: ¶ Mna­son, a searcher out, or promising, or remembring.

Exod. 2. cap. Moyses, the sonne of Amram and Iochebed, was myraculously preserued at his byrth. For where as Pha­rao the King of Egipt had straightly commaunded theMoses signi­fieth, preser­ued from the water. Mydwyues, that whensoeuer they saw an Hebrue bring soorth a man chylde, they shoulde cast it into the ryuer, yet Moses being borne & a proper childe, was (notwith­standing the Kinges commaundement) kept secretlye thrée monthes. And when his parents coulde hide him no [Page 236] longer, they closed him in a basket made of réede or Bul­rushes dawbed with slyme and pitch, and layd him in the ryuer. And as the childs sister stoode looking, what should become of him, it came to passe that King PharaosHir name was Ter­muth. daughter came awalking by the ryuer syde, who sée­ing the basket [...]leting vppon the ryuer caused one of hir folkes to take it vp▪ And when she had opened the basket and sawe the Childe, she had pittie vpon it, and caused the Mayde (his sister) to fet hir a Nurse, who went and brought his owne mother. And so the childe being nursed & brought vp in Pharaos house, was instructed from his Childehoode in all maner cunning and wisedome of the Egiptians, and became mightie in wordes and déedes,Howe that Moyses im­pediment of speach came. The king (on a time) for his daughters sake, tooke the childe in hys armes, and set the crown vppon hys heade, which Moses, as it were, chyl­dishly play­ing, hurled to the grounde, and with hys foote spurned it. At the whiche, the Priest cryed out, saying that this was he, of whome it was pro­phecied, that he should de­stroy Egipt. Then Ter­muth excused the chylde, al­leaging his infancie and sacke of dis­cretion. And for proofe thereof, cau­sed burning coales to be put to hys mouth, which the child with his tongue licked, wher­by he euer af­ter had impe­diment in his tongue. Lanquet. sauing in his speache he had an impediment. And when he was full fourtie yeare olde, it came in his heart, to go and visite his brethren the children of Israel, whome Pharao vexed without all measure. And as he saw an E­giptian smyting an Hebrue, he slue the Egiptian, and hid him in the sande: The next day he went agayne, and founde twoo Israelites striuing togithers, and demaun­ded of him that had done the wrong, wherefore he smote his fellowe: who made thée a Iudge (quoth he) or a Ru­ler ouer vs? Thinkest thou to kill mée, as thou dydst the Egiptian yesterdaye? Then Moses perceyuing his fact to be knowne, for sooke to be the sonne of the daughter of Pharao, and fled into the lande of Madian, where he was receyued into the house of Iethro, who gaue to him in mariage, his daughter Ziphora, by whome (in processe) he had twoo sonnes. And when he had continued with Ie­thro his father in lawe fourtie yeres, and kept his shéepe, the Lorde appeared to him in the wyldernesse of Synay, out of a bushe, which séemed to be all on fyre, and there gaue hym authoritie to go into Egipt to deliuer his peo­ple out of the bondage of Pharao. Who at last (after dy­uers myracles doone by hym in the sight of Pharao, for the confirmation of hys Authoritie) brought them [Page 237] thorowe the redde Sea, and deliuered them quite out of bondage. Thus was Moses whome they had before re­fused, both their Deliuerer and Ruler. He was a man full of méekenesse, he lyued one hundred & twentie yeres, and was buryed by Angles in the lande of Moab, whose Sepulchre was neuer knowne. Note: ¶ Moses, drawne vp.

N.

NAaman, Captayne of the4. Reg. 5. hoste of the King of Siria, was a mightie man, and honorable in the sight of his Lorde, bicause that by him, the Lorde had deliuered the Sirians. He was also a valiant man, and expert in warres, but was a Leper. Wherefore the King of Siria being enformed that there was a Prophet in Samaria, that coulde heale his ser­uant Naaman of his leprosie, sent him to Ioram King of Israel with his letter, conteyning this tenor: Nowe when this letter is come vnto thée, vnderstande that I haue sent thée Naaman my seruaunt, that thou mayest heale him of his Leprosie. And when the King had redde the letter, he rent his clothes, saying: Am I a God, to kill and to giue lyfe, that he sendeth to me, that I shoulde heale a man of his leprosie? Consider I pray you, howe he séeketh a quarrell against me. The Prophet hearing of this, sent to the King, to sende Naaman vnto him. And when he was come to the house of Elizeus and stoode at the doore, the prophet sent him worde, and bade him go washe him scauen times in Iordan, and he shoulde be whole. Then Naaman departed in displesaure, saying: I thought with my self he will surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lorde his God, and put his hande on the place, and heale the leprosie. Are not A­bana and Pharphar, riuers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel, may I not as well washe me in them and be clensed? Then one of his seruantes sayde: [Page 238] father, if the Prophete had commaunded thée to doe a great thing, wouldest thou not haue done it? how muche rather then, when he sayth to thée, washe and be cleane. And so at his seruantes perswasion, he went to Iordan, and washed him seauen times as the Prophete had com­maunded, and being whole, he returned to the Prophet, and gaue thankes vnto God, saying: Nowe I knowe that there is no God in all the worlde, but in Israel. And so making promise, he woulde neuer offer sacrifice nor offering to any other God, saue vnto the Lorde God of Israel: he returned home into his Countrey agayne. Note: ¶ Naaman, Fayre, or beawtifull.

1. Reg. 25. a. b Nabal, was a great riche man, but of churlishe na­ture, and frowarde condicion. As he lay in Carmel in the time of his shéepe shearing, Dauid sent certaine of hys men, desiring Nabal to helpe him now in his great neces­sitie with some of his victuals whatsoeuer he woulde, and he woulde requite him, at one tyme or other. But he not regarding their message, made them this churlishe an­swere againe: who is Dauid? or who is the sonne of I­sai? There be many seruants nowe a dayes that breake away from their maisters, shall I then take awaye my breade, and my water, and my fleshe, which I haue kil­led for my shéerers, and giue it vnto men whom I know not whence they be? And so with this answere, the mes­sengers departed. Reade the storie of Abigail, for the reast of his life. Note: ¶ Nabal, a Foole.

3. Reg. 21. ca. Naboth, was a certaine rich man, and a Iesrahelite borne, whose Vineyarde lay ioyning harde by the palace of Achab King of Israel, which Vineyarde, the King woulde fayne haue bought, and giuen him as much for it as the grounde was woorth. But Naboth consideryng it was his fathers inheritaunce, and that he had no néede to sell it, woulde in no wise graunt therevnto. Where­fore [Page 239] the King being heauie and sadde, went home to hys house, and sayde him downe vpon his bed, so waywarde, that he coulde neyther eate nor drinke. Then came Ieza­bel his wyfe, and demaunded why he was so sadde, who tolde hir it was for Nabothes Vineyarde, which he had denyed him. What (quoth she) doest thou gouerne the kingdome of Israel? vp and eate thy meat, and set thine heart at rest, and I will giue thée the Vineyarde. And so she wrote a letter in Achabs name, sealed with the kings Signet, and sent it to the Elders of the Citie where Na­both dwelt, commaunding them to proclayme a fast, and ser Naboth among the chiefest of the people, and to bring two false witnesses against him, which should saye he had blasphéemed God and the King, and then to put him to death. And so all thinges were done according to the tenor of Iezabels letter, and Naboth caryed out of the Citie, and stoned. Note: ¶ Naboth, Speach, or prophecying.

Dan. 1. a. Nabuchodonosor, was King of Babilon. And by the occasion of his great and woonderfull dominion, fell into such pryde, that he woulde haue hys Image honou­red for God. But shortlye after he sawe the vision of the2. cap. falling trée, whereby he was warned of hys fall, andHe reygned [...] 4. yeares, and was cal­led the scurge of God. sodaynly (by the power of God) transformed and turned into a beastly fury, lyuing in the woodes among beastes, eating hearbes and grasse for the space of seauen yeares. Finally, God of his mercy restored hym agayne to hisHe was be­fore the in­carnation of Christ. 633. yeares. Coo­per. prestyne forme, who afterwarde lyued well, and com­maunded that the very God of heauen shoulde be honou­red of all men, and whosoeuer refused so to doe, shoulde dye. Note: ¶ Nabuchodonosor, the Mourning of the Generation.

3. Reg. 15. [...]. Nadab, the sonne of Ieroboam began to raygne ouer Israel in the seconde yeare of Asa King of Iuda, and walked in all the wicked steppes of his father. And in the seconde yeare of his raygne (as he was laying siege [Page 240] to a Citie of the Philistins called Gibbethon) Eaasa con­spired agaynst hym and slue him. Taking vpon hym to raygne in his steade. Note: ¶ Nadab, a Prince, or liberall.

1. Reg. 11. ca. Nahas, was King of the Ammonites. And as hys predecessours afore tyme, had made a claime to the landeIudic. 11. cap. of Israel, so he now purposing the same, went and besie­ged the Citie of Iabes in Gilead. And when the men of Iabes perceyued themselues in great daunger of theyr lyues, they desired the King to make a couenaunt with them, and they woulde be his seruaunts. Then sayde Na­has: If yée will suffer mée to thrust out all your right eyes, to bring Israel to shame, I shalbe content to make peace with you. Then sayde they: Giue vs respite seuen dayes, and if none doe come to helpe vs in that space, we will come out vnto thée. Then Nahas (thinking that none burst come to ayde them agaynst him) graunted their re­quest. Vpon the which they sent messengers, into all the coastes of Israel, which newes was so heauy tydinges to them, that they fell a wéeping. And as they were mour­ning and lamenting their case, it chaunced Saule (by the prouidence of God) to come out of the fielde following the Cattell. And beholding the people what a doe they made, he demaunded wherefore they mourned. And when they had tolde hym the tydinges of the men of Iabes, his heart was so mooued by the spirit of God, that he tooke out twoo of his Oxen, and hewed them in péeces, and sent them thorowe all the coasts of Israel, saying: who­soeuer commeth not foorth after Saule and Samuel, so shall his Oxen be serued. And the people were stricken in such a feare, that they came out to Saule, as they had béene but one man, to the number of thrée hundred thou­sande of Israel, beside thirtie thousand of the men of Iu­da. And then Saule sent woorde by the messengers to the men of Iabes, that the next morrowe they shoulde haue helpe. They being glad of that, sent woorde vnto Nahas, [Page 241] saying: To morow we will come foorth vnto you, and yée shall doe vnto vs, whatsoeuer pleaseth you. And so on the morow, Saule came vpon the Ammonites and slue them. Note: ¶ Nahas, a Snake, or Serpent, or gessing, or diuining.

Gen. 11. d. Nahor, when he was nyne an twentie yeares of age, begot Terah. And lyued after he had begotten him, an hundred and twentie yeares. Note: ¶ Nahor, Hoarse, or Angry.

Ruth. 1. cap. Naomy, was the wyfe of a certayne man called Eli­melech, dwelling in the lande of Iuda, in a Citie called Bethleem. And for bycause of the present dearth, which was ouer all the lande of Iuda, She went with hir hus­bande and hir twoo sonnes into the Countrey of Moab to sogeourne, Where (in processe) hir husbande died. And hir twoo sonnes (being maryed to twoo of the Moabitishe Damosels) dyed there also. So that Naomy which had dwelt in the lande of Moab ten yeares, was left desolate both of hir husbande & of hir sonnes. Then Naomy hea­ring how the Lorde had visited hir countrey agayne with plentie, retourned from Moab homewardes agayne, hir twoo daughters in lawe, bringing hir on the waye. And when she saw they had gone a good way with hir, & coue­ted not to retourne, she sayde vnto them: Go nowe my Daughters, and returne eche of you vnto your mothers house, and the Lorde deale as kindlye with you, as yée haue delt with the deadde and with mée. And the Lorde giue you, that yée maye finde rest eyther of you, in the house of hir husbande, and so kyssed them, to haue bid them farewell: But when she sawe that they would not depart from hir, she sayde vnto them agayne: Returne my Daughters I praye you, for what cause will yée go with mée? Are there any mo children within my wombe to be your husbands? Turne agayne therefore I say, for I am to olde to haue an husbande. And if I dyd take one this night, and had all ready borne children, woulde yée tary [Page 242] for them tyll they were growne, and refrayne from taking husbandes so long? Not so my daughters, it grie­ueth mée much for your sakes, that the hande of the Lord is gone out agaynst mée. Then they wept all togithers, and Orpha kyssed hir mother in lawe, and returned into hir owne lande agayne, but Ruth abode still. And so when they came to Bethleem Iuda (which was about the be­ginning of Barley harnest) the women which saw Nao­my sayde: Is not this Naomy? Nay sayde she, call me not Naomy (which is as much to say, as bewtyfull) but call me Mara (that is to saye, bitter) for the Almightie God, hath made mée verye bitter. I went out full, and the Lorde hath brought mée agayne emptie, why then call yée mée Naomy, séeing the Lorde hath humbled mée, and the Almightie hath brought mée vnto aduersitie? And so Naomy remayned in Bethleem Iuda, where (or it were long) God gaue hir a Sonne by the wombe of Ruth hir daughter in lawa, who was maryed to Boos, a kinsman of Naomyes, which Childe being borne, the women sayde vnto Naomy: Blessed be the Lorde, the which hath not left thée without a kinsman to haue a name in Israel, and that shall bring thy lyfe agayne and cherishe thyne olde age, for thy daughter in lawe which loueth thée, hath borne vnto hym, and she is better vnto thée than seuen sonnes. And Naomy tooke the Childe and layed it in hir lap, and became nurse vnto it, being glad that a sonne was borne vnto hir, in hir olde dayes. Note: ¶ Naomy: Faire, or commely: or prouoking much.

[...]. Reg. 7. 2. Nathan, the Prophet, what tyme as King Dauid was minded to buylde God an house to dwell in, was sent of the Lorde to forbid him not to meddle withall, for Salomon his sonne shoulde doe it. Agayne, what tyme as Dauid had committed adultery with Vrias wife, Na­than12. cap. came to hym and sayde: There were twoo men in one Citie, the one riche and the other poore: The riche [Page 243] man had excéeding many shéepe and Oxen, but the poore had none at all, saue one little Shéepe which hée had bought and n [...]urished vp. And it grew vp with him and with his Children also, and did eate of hys owne meate, and drancke of his owne Cuppe, and slept in his bosome. And was vnto him as his daughter. Nowe there came a straunger vnto the rich man, who refused to take of his owne shéepe and Oxen to dresse for the straunger, but tooke the poore mans shéepe, & dressed it for the man that was come to hym. Then Dauid was excéeding wroth with the man and sayde: As surely as the Lord lyueth, he that hath done this, is the Childe of death: He shall re­store the lambe foure folde, bycause he dyd it without pit­tie. Then sayde the Prophet, thou art the same man, thus sayth the Lord God of Israel: I annointed thée king ouer Israel, and deliuered thée out of the hands of Saule, and gaue thée thy Lordes house and his wyues into thy bosome, and gaue thée the house of Israel and Iuda, and woulde (if that had béene to little) haue giuen thée much more: Wherefore then hast thou despised the commaun­dement of the lord to do euil in his sight? Thou hast kilde Urias the Hethite with the swoorde, & hast taken his wife to be thy wyfe, and hast slayne hym with the swoorde of the Children of Ammon. Nowe therefore the swoorde shall neuer depart from thine house, bicause thou hast de­spised mée, and taken the wyfe of Urias the Hethite, to be thy wyfe: Wherefore thus sayth the Lord. Beholde, I will styrre vp euill against thée, euen out of thine owne house, and will take thy wyues before thyne eyes, and giue them vnto thy neighbour, and he shall lye with thy wyues in the sight of the Sunne: For thou dyddest it se­cretly, but I will doe this thing before all Israel, and in the open Sunne light. Then sayde Dauid: I haue sinned agaynst the Lorde. Well (sayde Nathan) the Lord hath also put awaye thy sinne, thou shalt not dye. Howbeit, bycause of dooing this déede, thou hast giuen the enimies [Page 244] of the Lorde a cause to blaspheme, the childe that is borne vnto thée shall surely dye: And so Nathan departed. Fi­nally, what tyme as Adonya had taken vpon him to rule the Kingdome, vnwitting to his Father Dauid, Nathan came to the King and sayde: My Lorde (O King) hast thou sayde: Adonya shall raygne after mée, and he shall sit vpon my seate? For he is gone downe this daye andDauid had a sonne called Nathan also. hath slayne many Oxen, and fat shéepe, and hath called all the Kings sonnes, and the Captayne of the hoste, and Abiathar the Priest, and beholde they eate and drincke2. Reg. 5. c. before him, and saye: God saue King Adonya. But mée thy seruaunt, & Sadocke the Priest and Banaiahu, and thy seruaunt Salomon hath he not called. Is this thing done by my Lorde the King, and thou hast not shewed it vnto thy seruaunt, who shoulde sit on the seate of my Lorde the King after him? And when the King had de­clared hys minde and will, Nathan and Sadocke the Priest, went and annoynted Salomon King. Note: ¶ Nathan, Giuen, or giuing.

Iohn. 1. c. Nathaniel, which was a man woonderfull desirous of Messias comming, was brought to Christ by Philip, who finding him vnder a figge tree, sayde: O Nathani­el, I can tell thée tydings, we haue founde him, of whom Moses in the Lawe, and the Prophetes did write: euen Iesus, the Sonne of Ioseph of Nazareth. Is that true, quoth he, can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? if thou doest not beléeue me (quoth Philip) come and sée thy selfe. And as Nathaniel was comming with Philip to Iesus, he sayth of him thus: Behold a right Israelite, in whome is no guile. Nathaniel perceyuing that Iesus knewe him, sayde: How knowest thou me? I knewe thée (sayde Iesus) before that Philip called thée, I sawe thée when thou wast vnder the figge trée. Then sayde Natha­niel: Rabbi, thou art the sonne of God, thou art the King of Israel. Note: ¶ Nathaniel, the gift of God.

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2. Esd. 1. cap. Nehemia, a Iewe borne, was Cupbearer to Artax­erses King of Persia, a man of great learning and holy­nesse, who being in great fauour with the sayde King, obtayned both licence and ayde to reedifie the Citie of Ierusalem. Note: ¶ Nehema, the comfort, or rest of the Lorde, the Lordes direction.

1. Mac. 7. c. d. Nycanor, being a great Prince vnder Demetrius, and an vtter enimie vnto the Iewes, was sent with a mightie hoste against Iudas Machabeus, who notwith­standing the hatred that he had to the Iewes, yet vnto2. Mac. 14. Iudas himselfe, he bare a secrete good will and loue ind. e. f. his heart, and counsayled him (when they met togithers to talke of peace) to take a wyfe, and to bring forth chil­dren. But for all that, his malice was so great agaynst the rest of the Iewes, and his heart so puft vp with pride, thorowe his inuincible power and strength, that he helde vp his hande against the house of God, making an othe that he woulde destroye it, and breake downe the Aultar, and consecrate the temple of God to Bacchus. And thin­king all this but a tryfle to bring to passe, sold the Iewes8. cap. before he came at them, promising to euerye one that woulde buye them, foure score and ten Iewes for one ta­lent. But this blasphemer who had brought a thousande Merchantes with him to buye the Iewes▪ was (by the helpe and power of God) for all his stoute bragges, short­ly ouerthrowen, and so discomfited, that he himselfe was faine to chaunge his apparell, and to slie alone to Anti­oche,1. Mac. 7. d. e. with great dishonour and sh [...]nne. Finally attemp­ting2. Mac. [...]5. ca. to fight agayne with Iudas vpon the Sobboth day,Nicanor, which was one of the se­uen D [...]cons, Act. 6. a. he was at last (by the mightie hande of God) slayne. Whose heade Iudas commaunded to be set vppon the Castle at Ierusalem, and his threatening hande to be hanged against the temple, and his blasphemous tongue cutte in péeces, and cast to the Birdes to be deuoured. [Page 246] Note: ¶ Nicauor, a Conquerour. Valiant.

Iohn. 3. a. b. Nichodemus, was one of the heade men amonge the secte of the Phariseys, but not the best learned, al­though his mynde were lesser corrupt than the other. This man fauoured Christ, but durst not be knowne thereof for feare of the Iewes, wherefore he came to Ie­sus by night secretlye, saying: Rabbi, we knowe that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man could doe such myracles as thou doest, except God were with him. Iesus: Verilye, verilye, I saye vnto thée, except a man be borne from aboue, he cannot sée the kingdome of God. Nichodemus: howe can a man be borne when he is olde? can he enter into his Mothers wombe, and bée borne againe? Iesus: Verilye, verily, I say vnto thée, ex­cept a man be borne of the water, and of the spirite, he cannot enter into the kingdome of God: that which is borne of the fleshe, is fleshe: and that which is borne of the spirite, is spirite: Maruell not thou that I sayde vn­to thée, ye must be borne from aboue: The wynde blow­eth where it lysteth, and thou hearest the sounde thereof, but canst not tell whence it commeth, or whither it go­eth. So is euery one that is borne of the spirite. Nichode­mus: howe can these thinges be? Iesus: Art thou a maister in Israel, and knowest not these things? Veri­ly, verily, I say vnto thée, we speake that we know, and testifie that we haue séene, and ye receyue not our wit­nesse: If I haue tolde you earthly things, and ye beléeue not, how shall ye beléeue, if I tell you of heauenly things. &c. This man afterwarde answered for Iesus, and sayde7. g. to the Phariseys, what time as they had sent Ministers to apprehende him: doth our lawe iudge any man before it heare him? Finally, at the death of Christ (to honour his buriall) he bought of Myre, and Aloes mingled to­gither,19. g. about an hundred pounde weyght, and came with Ioseph of Aramathia to take downe the body of Ie­sus, [Page 247] and wounde it in linnen clothes, with the odours (as the maner of the Iewes was to burie) and layde him in his sepulchre. Note: ¶ Nichodemus, Innocent bloude.

Act. 6. a. Nicholas, a Conuert of Antioche, was one of the sea­uen Deacons, ordeyned in the Congregation to doe ser­uiceHis heresie was this: That euery man might iefully vse e­uery woman that he lu­sted. in necessarie things of the bodye, that the Apostles might waite onely vpon the worde of God, who notwith­standing, fell into a foule heresie, which S. Iohn in hys booke of the Reuelation .ij. Chapter reprooueth. Note: ¶ Ni­cholas, the victorie of the common people.

Gen. 10. b. Nymrod, was the sonne of Chus, sonne of Cham the seconde sonne of Noe. He was the first that tooke on him to reigne ouer men, and became a cruell oppressor and tyrant. He was called a mightie hunter, for that he11. a. was a deceyuer of soules, and oppressor of men. He at­tempted to builde the great towre of Babel, intending to haue raysed it aboue the Clowdes, thinking thereby to haue escaped, if any floude shoulde eftsoones haue happe­ned. Note: ¶ Nymrod, Rebellious.

Gen. 5. d. Noe, was the sonne of Lamech, and fiue hundreth yeares of age, before he begat Sem, Cham, and Iaphet. And being a iust and perfite man, he founde such fauour in the eyes of God, that when all fleshe had so corrupt his6. cap. way vpon earth, that God threatened the destruction of the worlde, yet to saue Noe, and to declare it vnto him 120. before it came, he bade him prepare an Arke of Pine trées, which shoulde conteyne in length thrée hun­dreth cubites, in bredth fiftie cubites, and in déepenesse thirtie. Nowe when Noe had made the Arke, and was sixe hundreth yeares of age, the Lorde tolde him, that af­ter seauen dayes the deluge shoulde fall: wherefore Noe (at the Lordes commaundement) got him into the Arke,7. cap. with his wyfe and thrée sonnes with their wyues, proui­ding [Page 248] (in the meane space) all things necessary for them. And when Noe was in the Arke, sodeynly (by the power of God, and not of mans bringing) there came into the shippe two and two togither, of euery kinde of beast and soule, the male and the female. And when they were all in, the Lorde shut the doore of the Art [...], and opened the windowes of heauen, so that the raine fell continuallye fortie dayes and fortie nightes, wherevpon the waters preuayled, and rose aboue all Mountaines .xv. cubites. So that all liuing creatures dyed, except fishe, and such as might endure in the bowels of the earth. And after the waters had preuayled a hundred and fiftie dayes. They decreased againe, and in the seauenth day of the seauenth8. cap. month (which was October) the Arke stacke vpon the Mountaines of Armeny. Then Noe opened a windowe, and sent forth a Crowe, which returned agayne. After seauen dayes, he put forth a Doue, which came againe at night bringing a braunch of Oliue with gréene leaues in hir mouth. Neuerthelesse, he remayned seauen other dayes, and put forth the Doue againe, which neuer re­turned. Then Noe after he had continued one yeare in the Arke, and sawe the earth drie, he (at the commaunde­ment of God) issued out of the Arke, and incontinent builded an Aultar, wherevpon he offered a sacrifice vnto the Lorde, of euerye cleane beast, and of euerye cleane foule, which sacrifice was a swéete smell vnto the Lorde, and pleased him so well, that he made a promise to Noe, that he would neuer more destroy the world with water,Gen. 9. b. c. d. & for the confirmation thereof, gaue the Rainebowe for a sure token betwéene him and man. Noe was the first in­uenter of Wine, and therewithall was made drunke. He liued after the fludde. 350. yeares. Note: ¶ Noe, Rest.

O.

Ruth. 4. d. OBed, the sonne of Boos and Ruth, begat Isai, the father of King Dauid.

1. Par. 16. d. Obed Edom, the sonne of Ieduthun had the Arke of God remayning in his house thrée monthes, for the which2 Reg. 6. b. c. the Lorde blessed him and all his house. And when it was tolde to Dauid, that the house of Obed Edom was bles­sed, bicause of the Arke of God, he remooued it thence, and brought it into the city of Dauid with great triumph, and ordeyned Obed Edom and his brethren (which were Le­uites) to kéepe the doore of the Arke. Note: ¶ Obed Edom, the seruant of Edom, or a seruant Edomite.

3. Reg. 1 [...]. Obedia, notwithstanding hée was chiefe gouer­noura. b. c. of all King Achabs house, yet he was a man that feared God greatly, Insomuch that when Iezabel de­stroyed the Prophetes of the Lorde, he tooke an hundred Prophets, and hidde them, fiftie in one Caue, and fiftie in another, prouiding all things necessary for them. On a time as Obedia was going about the lande (at Achabs commaundement) to searche for water and grasse for their cattell, which were almost ouercome with drouth, he chaunced to méete Elia the Prophete. And when he saw him, he fell downe and sayde: Art not thou my Lord Elia? yea, quoth he, go tell thy Lorde that I am here. O (quoth Obedia) what haue I sinned, that thou wouldest deliuer thy seruant into the handes of Achab to be slaine? As truly as the Lord thy God liueth, there is no nation or kingdome, whither my Lorde hath not sent to séeke thée: And when they sayd, he is not here, he tooke an othe of the kingdome and nation, if they had not founde thée. And now thou sayest, go, tell thy Lord that Elia is here. And when I am gone from thée, the spirite of the Lorde shall cary thée into some place that I doe not knowe, and so when I come and tell Achab, and he cannot finde thée, then will he kill me: But I thy seruaunt feare the Lord, from my youth: was it not tolde my Lorde what I dyd when Iezabel slue the Prophets of the Lorde, howe I hid [Page 250] an hundred men of the Lordes Prophets, by fifties in a Caue, and fed them with breade and water. And nowe thou sayest, go and tell thy Lorde: beholde, Elia is here (that he maye sley mée). Well sayde Elia, as truely as the Lorde of hostes lyueth, before whom I stande, I will shewe my selfe vnto him this daye. Then Obedia (hea­ring him saye so) went to Achab and tolde him. Note: ¶ Obe­dia, seruaunt of the Lorde.

2. Par▪ 28. b. c Oded, when Pekah King of Israel had taken so ma­nye Captyues of the Children of Iuda, and caryed them to Samaria, the Lord sent this Prophet vnto him, say­ing: Beholde, bycause the Lorde God of your fathers is wrath with Iuda, hée hath deliuered them into your handes, and yée haue slayne them in your cruelnesse that reacheth vnto heauen, and now yée purpose to kéepe vn­der the children of Iuda and Ierusalem, as bonde men and bonde women: And doe yée not lade your selues with sinne in the sight of the Lorde your God? Now therefore heare mée, and deliuer the Captyues agayne, which yée haue taken of your brethren, or else shall the wrath of God be vpon you. Then certayne which were the heades of the children of Ephraim (being sorye for the great of­fence they had committed) tooke the prisoners, and (with the spoyle) clothed all that lacked, shodde them, and fed them with meate and drinck, annoynted the woundes of such as were hurt, and the féeble they caryed vpon asses, and brought them to Iericho (the citie of Palme trées) to their brethren: And leauing them there, returned to Samaria agayne. Note: ¶ Oded, holding vp, or erecting.

Num. 21. g. Og, the King of Basan was a mightie great Giaunt, whose bedde was made of Iron, and in length nyne Cu­bites,Deu. 3. a. 29. b that is, thirtéene foote & an halfe. And foure cubites brode, that is, sixe foote. This Og was next neighbour to Seon King of the Amorites. And hauing knowledge of [Page 251] all that Moses had done to Seon his neighbour, made out a great Armye agyanst Moses thinking to haue wonne his spurres, in reuenging his neighbours quarell. But when it came to triall, he spedde no better than his neigh­bour had done before him. Note: ¶ Og, a Cake, or breade baked vnder the ashes.

Gen. 38. a. Onan, was the seconde Sonne of Iuda, who after the death of Er his eldest brother, was maryed to Tha­mar his brothers wife to styrre vp séede vnto his brother. But when he perceyued that the séede shoulde be none of his, he practised such wickednesse that the vengeaunce of God fell vpon him and siue hym. Note: ¶ Onan, Sorow, or Ini­quitie.

Coll. 4. b. Onesimus, being in seruice with Philemon, lyke an vnfaythfull seruaunt robbed his mayster, and ranne away from him to Rome. Where, by hearing of Paule (who at that time was in bondes) he receyued the Doc­trine of the Gospell, and serued Paule in Prison: and became so faithfull a souldiour of Christ, that Paule sent him with Tichicus to the Collossians with his Epistle, commending him vnto them on this wise: And with Ti­chicus,Phile. cap. I haue sent Onesimus, a faythfull and beloued brother, which is one of you. Finallye, he sent him home to his mayster agayne, beséeching Philemon, not to re­ceyue him now as a seruaunt, but more than a seruaunt, euen as a faythfull brother, & as his owne sonne, whome he had (in his bandes) begotten to Christ, offering him­selfe suertye, to make good whatsoeuer hurt he had done him in tyme past. Note: ¶ Onesimus, Apparell, or a garment.

2. Timo. 1. d. Onesiphorus, was a faythfull godly man, & a great refresher of suche as were in bondes for the doctrine of Christ, as Saint Paule doth testifie of him, saying: The Lorde giue mercy vnto the householde of Onesiphorus, [Page 252] for he oft refreshed mée, and was not ashamed of my chayne: But when he was at Rome he sought mée out very diligently, and founde mée. The Lorde graunt vn­to him, that he may finde mercye with the Lorde at that daye, and in howe many thinges he ministered vnto mée at Ephesus, thou knowest very well O Tymothy. Note: ¶ Onesiphorus, bringing profit.

2. Mac. 3 cap. Onias, the hye Priest among the Iewes, was a man of such godlynesse and holinesse of lyfe, that he alwayes sought the honour of the lawes, and wealth of the people of God. By his prayer that wicked man Heliodorus was restored to his health, but notwithstanding all his vertue and goodnesse, yet had he enimies. For Symon (a man4. cap. voyde of all godlinesse) neuer ceased withall slaunderous and euill reportes that he coulde deuise to Seleucus the King, to bring him out of fauour, which he coulde neuer doe, so long as the King lyued. But Seleucus being dead, Onias was soone put out of office, by the false deceyt and meanes of his owne brother Iason, and brought in such feare thorow him and Menelaus with other his enimies, that he was fayne to take sanctuary. Where at the last by the counsell of Menelaus, he was (without all regarde of righteousnesse) most trayterously slayne by the hands of Andronicus, whose innocent death, was so sore lamen­ted, both of the Iewes, and also of Antiochus the King himselfe, that at his comming home, hée rewarded the malefactor according to his dédes. Note: ¶ Onias: the strength of the Lorde.

Exod. 35. a. Ooliab, the sonne of Achisamec of the Tribe of Dan, was a Craftes man, whome the Lorde had endued with great cunning, and appointed him to Moses, for one of the chiefe workemen, for the finishing of the Temple.

Iudic. 7. g. Oreb and Zeb, were two great Captaynes among [Page 253] the Madianites, whome the men of Mount Ephraim (which had stopped the waters from Bethbarath to Ior­dane) tooke, and smote of their heades and sent them to Gedeon, on the other side of Iordan. Note: ¶ Oreb, a crowe, or sweete, or a suretie, or euening tyme.

1. Par. 21. c. d. Ornan, was a certayne Iebusite, vnto whome the Lorde commaunded Dauid (after he had plagued hymIn the se­conde booke of Kinges, chap. 24. d. He is called Are [...]na. with pestilence) to go and reare vp an Aultar in his thre­shing floure. At whose comming, Ornan fell downe be­fore hym and sayde: Wherefore is my Lorde the King come to his seruaunt? I am come (quoth he) to buye thy threshing floure, and to make an Aultar vnto the Lorde, that the plague maye cease from the people. Ornan: Let my Lorde the King take and offer what séemeth him good in his eyes. And moreouer, here be Oxen for burnt sacri­fice, and sleades with other instruments for woodde, take them all to thée as thine owne. Dauid sayde: Naye, not so, but I will buye it for sufficient money, for I will not take that which is thine for the Lorde, nor offer burnt of­ferings without cost. And so Dauid gaue Ornan for that place. Sixe hundred sicles of golde by waight. Note: ¶ Ornan, Reioysing.

Ruth. 1. cap. Orpha, and Ruth, were twoo Damosels of the coun­trey of Moab, which were maryed to the twoo sonnes of Elimelech and Naomy, straungers, come out of the Lande of Iuda, there to dwell. Reade the Story of Nao­my, for the reast. Note: ¶ Orpha, a Necke.

Iudith. 6. c. d. Osias, the sonne of Micha, of the Tribe of Symeon, was one of the principall Fathers and Rulers among the Israelites, what tyme as Holofernes besieged the Citie of Bethulia. This man comforted Achior, which had so boldlye magnified & praysed the great power and strength of God, before Holofernes, and tooke him into [Page 254] his house, where he made hym a great Supper, to the which he called the Elders, who (altogithers) praysed God in him. Also when the people came wéeping and cry­ing out▪ vnto hym, to giue ouer the Citie into the handes of the Assirians, he sayde vnto them: Oh, take good hearts vnto you (deare brethren) and be of good cheare,7. c. and let vs wayte yet these fiue dayes, for mercye of the Lorde; peraduenture he shall put away his indignacion, and giue glorie vnto his name. But if he helpe vs not af­ter these fiue daies be past, we shall doe as ye haue sayde, which counsell of Osias, pleased not Iudith, bycause he had set the mercye of God a tyme, and appointed hym a daye at his pleasure. So that after this, Osias remayned in prayer, and followed the deuise of Iudith in all things. Note: ¶ Osias, the Lorde Sauiour, or the health of the Lorde.

Iudic. 1. c. Othoniel, was the sonne of Kenes, vnto whom Ca­leb his elder brother, gaue Acsah his daughter to wyfe, for winning of a certayne Citie called Kariath Sepher. This man deliuered the children of Israel from the Cap­tiuitie3. b. of Chusan Kisathaim king of Mesopotamia, which had oppressed them eyght yeares, and Iudged Israel fourtie yeares. Note: ¶ Othoniel, the tyme, or houre of God.

P.

Act. 7. g. 8. a. PAule, the Apostle of Christ was borne in India in a towne called Giscalis, and was of the trybe of Beniamin. And the towne being taken of the Romaines, he went with his parents to Thar­sus a citie of Cicilia and dwelled. But afterward he was sent by them to Ierusalem to learne the lawes, and was there taught of one Gamaliel, a great learned man. He being with other at the martyrdome of S. St [...]en, recei­ued letters of the Bishop, willing him to go to Damasco,9. cap. there to persecute them that beleued in Christ. And in the way he was by reuelasion chaūged from a cruell persecu­tor, [Page]

[Page] [...] [Page] [Page 255] to an earnest preacher of Christ, whose name he pro­fessed first at Damasco, confounding the doctrine of the Iewes, for the which they lay in waite to kill him, but be­ing let out at a window in a basket by night, he escaped & went to Ierusalem, where he disputed with the Gréekes, who sought to kill him also, but the brethren conueyghed him to Cesarea, and sent him to Tharsus. And during11. cap. d. his abode at Tharsus, Barnabas fet him from thence to Antioch, where he continued a whole yeare, and conuer­ted manye to Christes fayth. From thence he went to Cypres, and turned the Ruler of the Countrie called13. cap. Sergius Paulus, to Christ, by whome he was called Paulus, where before he was named Saulus. Then he wandred about the Countreyes, and came toThe other Antioch be­fore is in Siria. Antioch Pisidia, where he came into the Sinagoge, and (after the lecture of the Lawe and Prophets) made a long Ser­mon, which was so well accepted of the Gentyles, that they were desirous to heare him againe on the next Sa­both, at which time the vnbeléeuing Iewes raysed vp persecution against him: So that Paule departed to I-conium, [...]4. cap. and from thence to Lystra, where he was sto­ned and left for deade: but being recouered, he ceased not to exhort the people to continue in the faith of Christ. And so passing thorowe many daungerous places, he came at the last to Attalia, and there he tooke shipping, and fayled backe againe to Antioch, declaring to the congregation there gathered togither, all things which God had done by him and Barnabas in their iourney. After this, Paule eftsoones departed from Antioch. And passing tho­rowe many Countries, he came to Philippos (the chiefe16. cap. Citie in the parties of Macedonia) where he was beaten and cast into prison, where he conuerted the Iayler, and was deliuered as a Romaine. And from Philippos, he passed the Countries till he came to Tessalonica, where he preached Christ so earnestlye, that the vnbeléeuing Iewes, mooued all the Citie against him, notwithstan­ding, [Page 256] he escaped and went to Atthens, preaching to the Attinians the true and vnknowen God. From Atthens he departed to Corinthus, where he remayned a yeare and a halfe. From thence he turned againe to Siria, and came to Ephesus, where the Siluersmiths mooued sedi­cion against him, for Diana their Goddesse. And so forth passing many Countries and daungers, he came at last to Ierusalem, where he was taken of the Iewes, and had to prison, to be scourged, but he professing himselfe to be a Romaine, made the Captaine afrayde, who after he had hearde his cause, and had knowledge of the Iewes conspiracie against Paule, he sent him priuilye by night to Felix Licutenant of Cesarea, where he continued in prison twoo yeares, till Festus came into Felix roume. And being examined afore Festus, he appealed to the Emperour: wherefore Festus (after a whyle) commit­tedPaule suffe­red martyr­dome by be­heading vn­der Nero, in the .xiiii. yere of his reigne, and after the passion of Christ. 37. yeres. Eliote. him to a Centurion named Iulius, who with much daunger, brought Paule to Rome, and deliuered him to the hye Captaine, with whom Paule founde so much fa­uour, that he was suffered to dwell in an house by him­selfe, with a souldiour to kéepe him, and to receyue who­soeuer came vnto him. And so Paule continued in Rome two yeares, preaching and teaching those things which concerne the Lorde Iesus, with all boldenesse, no man forbidding him. Note: ¶ Paule, the mouth of the Trumpet, or mar­ueylous, or the least.

4. Reg. 15. e. Pekahia, the sonne of Menahen, began his reigne ouer Israel in the fiftie yeare of the reigne of Azaria king of Iuda, and departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam, but walked therein as his father did before him. He had not reygned two yeares, or that Pekak his owne Cap­taine rose against him, and slue him in Samaria, and reygned in his steade. Note: ¶ Pekahia, the Lordes opening.

4. Reg. 15. e. f Pekah, the sonne of Remaliahin began his reygne [Page 257] ouer Israel in the .lij. yeare of Azaria King of Iuda. This man slue Pekahia his owne Lorde, and so vsurped the Crowne. He kept the wayes of Ieroboam as his Prede­cessors did. He made warre against Iuda, and slue of2. Par. 28. b. c them in one day, sixe hundred thousande: and tooke twoo hundred thousande of women, sonnes and daughters pri­soners, and caried them awaye to Samaria, purposing to haue kept them in bondage and slauerye all their lyfe long. But being admonished by Oded the Prophete, he newe arayed them, and sent them home agayne. After this, God stirred vp Thiglah King of Assiria agaynst him, which came and dispossessed him of all the lande of Nephtalim, and caried away his people. Finally, Hosea the sonne of Ela conspired against Pekah and slue him, after he had reygned twentie yeares, and was King af­ter him.

Ge. 10. d. 11. [...] Peleg, was the sonne of Eber of the generation of Sem. His brothers name was Iocktan. At the age of thirtie yeares, he begot Rew, and lyued after that twoo hundred and nyne yeares. In this mans dayes was the lande deuided, by reason of the diuersitie of language which happened at the buylding of Babell. Note: ¶ Peleg, a diuision.

Rom. 16. [...]. Persis, was a man singularlye beloued of S. Paule, for his diligence in setting foorth the Gospell, as doth ap­peare by his woordes, saying: Salute the welbeloued Persis, which laboured much in the Lorde.

Math. 4. e. Peter, otherwise called Symon the sonne of Ionas, dwelt in the Citie of Bethsaida, and from a Fisher man, was called to be an Apostle, into whose house Christ vou­chedsafeLuke. 4. f. to come and heale his wiues mother of hir feuer. Peter was of that audacitie and boldnesse, that he wentMath. 14. [...]. vppon the water, which was to great an enterprise for [Page 256] [...] [Page 257] [...] [Page 258] hym to performe, without the helpe of Christ his may­ster, who séeing hym (thorowe weakenesse of fayth) in daunger of drowning, saued him. Agayne, when Christ16. c. dyd shew vnto his Disciples, how that he must go to Ie­rusalem, and suffer many things of the Elders, and of the Priestes and Scribes, and be put to death, and the thyrde daye ryse agayne (which thing he spake to plucke out of their hearts, that false opinion they had of his temporall Kingdome.) Peter tooke him asyde and began to rebuke hym, saying: Mayster, looke to thy selfe, this shall not be vnto thée, with whose rashe zeale, Christ was so offen­ded that he called him Sathan, laying to his charge that he fauoured not the thinges that were of God but of men. Also when Peter sawe Christ (being transfigured) talke17. a. with Moses & Elias, he was so rauished with that sight, that he sayde vnto him: Lorde here is good being for vs. If thou wilt, let vs make here thrée Tabernacles: One for thée, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. Further­more, when Christ sayde vnto his Disciples (the night heMath. 26. c. ca knew he shoulde be apprehended) that all they shoulde be offended bicause of him, Peter (trusting to much to his owne strength) sayde: Though all men be offended by­cause of thée, yet will not I forsake thée: Naye, I will suffer death, rather than I will denye thée. And to per­forme this promise, when Iudas came with a multitude of the hygh Priestes seruaunts with swoordes and stauesIohn. 18. b. to take Christ, Peter drewe out his swoorde, and smote off the eare of one of the hygh Priestes seruauntes: For whose foolishe hardynesse, Christ rebuked him sharplye, and bade him put vp his swoorde. Then Peter séeing his mayster ledde awaye, and all his fellowes fled and gone, woulde not séeme vtterly to forsake his mayster, but fol­lowed a farre off, & at length in the darcke as vnknowne, entered into the Court of Caiphas. And sitting among the ministers warming him by the fyre, a wenche came to him and sayde, ar [...] not thou one of this mannes Disci­pl [...]s? [Page 259] No sayde he. Yes but thou arte (quoth an other) for I dyd sée thée with him in the Garden: Peter denyed a­gayne, saying that he dyd not know him. Then certayne which stoode by knowing Peter, sayde: surely thou arte one of them, for thy speach doth bewray thée. Then began Peter to cursse and banne, swearing and denying that euer he knewe hym: And immediatelye the Cocke dyd crowe. Peter nowe remembring the wordes of Christe, which had sayde vnto him, that before the Cocke dyd crowe, he shoulde denye him thrise, was touched with in­warde repentaunce, and went out and wept bitterly. And after he had lost the presence of his mayster, he went to21. cap. his olde occupasion of fishing agayne: And as he (with other his companions) had laboured all the long night in vayne, and were comming to lande, Iesus (which stoode on the shore) asked if they had any meate: who (not know­ing what he was) sayde they had none. Then cast out your Net (quoth he) on the right side of the Ship and yée shall spéede, and so they cast out their net, and were not able to drawe it to lande agayne, for the multitude of fishes that were caught in it. And as Peter was haling vp the net, and heard Iohn say it was Iesus which stoode vpon the shore, he left the net, and sprange into the Sea to Iesus. This is that Peter, vppon whose confession, Christ (when Peter acknowledged him to be the sonneMath. 16. c. of the liuing God) [...]yd buylde his Congregacion. Fi­nally, to stablish Peter in the office of an Apostle, Christ commaunded him earnestlye thrée times, to féede his shéepe. Giuing him also forewarning of his death. Note: ¶ Pe­ter, a Stone, or Rocke.

1. Reg. 25. g. Phaltiel, the sonne of Lays, would not séeme to dis­obey the will of King Saule, when of hatered he had ta­kenLyra sayeth that Psaltiel was a lear­ned man. And knowynge his daughter Mychol from Dauid, and gaue hir to him, but thankefully receyued hir and gentlye entertay­ned Michol, so long as the King hir Father lyued, who [Page 260] being dead, then Dauid required to haue his wyfe MicholMichol to be Dauids low­full wyfe, he reserued hir as his sister: and wept for ioye that shee was without dishonesty, re­stored to Da­uid againe. agayne: And at the daye of hir deliueraunce to Abner, to be restored to Dauid, he brought hir on the waye, and came behinde hir wéeping, till they came to a place called Bahurim. And there, at Abners commaundement, he returned home agayne.

Pharao. There be diuersGen. 12. c. d Kinges of this name ex­pressed in Scripture. What time as Abraham came into Egipt with Sara his wyfe, who was reported to Pha­rao to be a woman of an excellent bewtie, hée tooke hir home to his house, and gentlye entertayned the woman without any spot of dishonestie, and also entreated Abra­ham well for hir sake. But when he perceyued that GodPharao was a generall name giuen to the Kings of Egypt. had plagued his house, for kéeping the woman from hir husbande, he called Abraham vnto him and sayde: Why haste thou done this vnto mée? Wherefore dyddest thou not tell mée, that she was thy wyfe? Why saydest thou she is my sister, that I shoulde take hir to be my wyfe? Nowe therefore, beholde thy wyfe, take hir and go thy waye, and gaue a commaundement that no man shoulde hurt them eyther in person or goodes.

41. cap.An other Pharao there was, that delyuered Ioseph47. cap. out of Prison to expounde his dreames: And for the ex­cellent wisedome and knowledge, that he sawe to be in Ioseph, he made hym Ruler and Gouernour of all the lande of Egipt, and shewed much kindnesse to his Fa­ther, and to all his kinred.

Exod. 1. cap.After this Pharao, rose there vp another which knew not Ioseph. And he without all measure vexed the Chil­dren of Israel: And thinking by his humayne wisedome to haue let their increase, he cōmaunded the Mydwyues, to destroye the men Children of the Hebrues, assoone as they were borne: Whose policie tooke no effect, for Mo­ses (notwithstanding) was preserued and brought vp, euen in his owne house fourtie yeares.

Exod. 5. cap. [Page 261]And after the death of this Pharao, there came an o­ther, whose heart God did harden, and plagued him with7. 8. 10. 14. tenne marueylous plagues, before he woulde let the Is­raelites depart out of his lande: And persisting in his ob­stinacie and frowarde heart, God at the last, drowned hym and all his hoste in the redde Sea.

3. Re. 3. a. 9. c.There was yet an other mightie Prince of this name, whose kingdome ioyned so nyghe to Salomons, that Sa­lomon (to make himselfe the stronger) made affinitie with him, and maryed his daughter. And this Pharao tooke the Citie of Gaza from the Cananites, and gaue it (with the Countrey there about) to Salomon for his daughters dowrye. Finallye, Pharao Necho, in the4. Reg. 23. f. g dayes of Iehoahas the sonne of Iosia king of Iuda, came and deposed hym, making Elyakym his brother, King in his steade: and merced the lande in a hundred Talents of Siluer, and one of golde, and caryed Iehoahas awaye with hym into Egipt. Note: ¶ Pharao, Vengeaunce.

Rom. 16. a. Phebe, was a certayne woman, which serued in the Congregacion of Cenchrea, by whome Paule sent his Epistle to the Romaynes, wherein he sayth in hir prayse and commendacion, on this wise: I commende vnto you Phebe our sister (which is a seruaunt of the Congrega­cion of Cenchrea) that yée receyue hir in the Lorde, as it becommeth saintes. And yée assist hir in whatsoeuer bu­synesse she néedeth of your ayde, for she hath succoured many, and mée also.

2. Tim. 1. d Phigelus, was one of them in Asia, which had clea­ued to Pauls doctrine, and afterwarde forsooke hym. Of whome Paule writeth to Timothy thus: This thou knowest, howe that all they which are in Asia be turned from me, of which sorte are Phigelus and Hermogenes.

Philemon, looke Onisimus.

2. Timo. 2. c. Philetus, was a certayne man in S. Paules tyme which erred from the truth, saying that the resurrection was past already: of whose errour Paule warneth Ti­mothy, saying on this wyse: Study to shew thy selfe lau­dable vnto God, a workeman that néedeth not to be asha­med, destributing the worde of trueth iustlye, as for vn­gestlye vanities of voyces, passe thou ouer them, for they will increase vnto vngodlynesse, and their wordes shall frette as doth the disease of a Canker: of whose number is Himeneus and Philetus, which (as concerning the trueth) haue erred, saying, the resurrection is past alrea­dye, and doe destroy the fayth of many.

1. Mac. 6. b. Philip. To this man, Antiochus the King (at the day of his death) cōmitted the gouernance of his yong sonnef. g. Antiochus, with the whole Realme, during his nonage. Which Philip afterward, went into Persia with a great hoste, leauing the Kinges sonne vnder the tuition of Ly­sias, who in the absence of Philip, made Antiochus King in his fathers steade, adding to his name Eupater. Then Philip hearing of this (whose intent was to be King him selfe) returned with the Kings armie out of Persia, and came to Antioch, where he got the dominion. But Lysias hearing thereof, made haste to Antioch, where he fought with Philip, and (in [...]ine) got the Citie from him.

Iohn. 1. c. Philip, a man borne in Bethsaida a Citie of Galile, was called to be an Apostle. After whose calling, he went to Nathaniel, and sayde, we haue founde him of whome Moses in the Lawe and the Prophetes did wryte: Iesus the sonne of Ioseph of Nazareth, and so brought him to Iesus. This is he whome Christ asked (to prooue him)6. a. where he might buye so much breade as woulde serue the company to eate, that came vnto him, who made aun­swere, that two hundreth penywoorth woulde not suffyce [Page 263] them, to haue but euery man a little. Also, when there12. c. were certaine Gréekes, which came to Philip, saying: they were desirous to sée Iesus, Philip went and tolde Andrew. And agayne, Andrewe and Philip tolde Iesus. Furthermore, when Iesus reasoned with his Disciples about his father, saying that they both knewe him, and had séene him: Philip sayd: Lord, shew vs the father, and14. a. it sufficeth vs. Nowe after the death of Christ, and per­secutionAct. 8. b. cap. that was about Steuen, Philip went to the Ci­tie of Samaria, where he preached Christ, and did not only conuert the whole Citie, but also Simon Magus the Sorcerer, who had of long time seduced the same Citie with his sorcerie and witchcraft. And when he had thus sowen the worde of God among the Samaritanes, the Angell of the Lord spake vnto Philip, saying: Arise, and go towarde the South, vnto the waye that goeth downe from Ierusalem vnto the Citie of Gaza, which is in the desert. And as he was going, he met in the way (by Gods prouidence) a certaine man of Ethiopia, a Chamberlaine and of great authoritie with Candace Quéene of Ethi­ope, which had bene at Ierusalem to worship. And re­turning homewarde sitting in his Chariot, he readde the booke of Esay the Prophete. Then Philip, being com­maunded by the spirite of God, to go and ioyne him­selfe vnto the Chariote, went. And when hée came neare, and hearde him reading of Esaye the Prophet, he sayde vnto the Chamberlayne: vnderstandest thou what thou readest? Howe can I (quoth he) except I had a guyde: wherefore I pray thée come vppe and sitte with me. The tenor of the Scripture which he readde, was this: He was ledde as a shéepe to be slayne, and like a Lambe dumbe before his shearer, so opened he not hys mouth. Bicause of his humblenesse, he was not estéemed: But who shall declare his generation, and his lyfe is ta­ken from the earth. When Philip had repeated thys Text vnto the Chamberlaine, he sayde vnto Philip: I [Page 264] pray thée of whome speaketh the Prophet this, of him­selfe, or of some other man. Then began Philip at the same Scripture, and preached vnto him Iesus. And as they went on their waye, they came by a certayne wa­ter. And the Chamberlayne sayde to Philip. Sée, here is water, what doth let me to be baptised? Philip sayde, if thou beléeue with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he sayde: I beléeue that Iesus Christ is the sonne of God. Then was the Chariot stayed, till they both went downe into the water, where Philip baptised him. And assoone as they were both out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, so that the Chamberlaine saw him no more, who went awaye reioyceing. But the Aungell sette Philip downe in the next Citie called Azotus, who walked thorowout the Countrie preaching in all the Ci­ties, till he came to Cesarea.

Act. 6. 2. 21. b. Philip, the Euangelist, was one of the seauen Dea­cons. He dwelt in Cesarea, and had foure daughters which did prophecie.

Num. 25. cap. Phinehes, the Sonne of Eleazar, was so gelyous ouer the lawes of God, that when the children of Israel had committed whooredome with the daughters of Moab and saw an Israelite (named Zamry) bring to his bre­thren a Madianitishe wyfe (named Cozby) euen in the sight of Moses and all the multitude of Israel that stoode before the doore of the Tabernacle, lamenting their of­fence, he tooke his weapon in his hande and followed the man into his Tent, and thrust them both thorowe the bellyes and killed them. And then the plague (wherein were dead foure an twentie thousande) ceased. For the which déede, the Lorde sayde to Moses: Phinehes the sonne of Eleazar, hath turned awaye mine anger from the children of Israel whyle he was gelious for my sake among them, that I had not consumed them all in my [Page 265] gelousie: Wherefore I giue vnto him, my couenaunt of peace, to him and to his séede after him, euen the Coue­naunt of the Priestes office for euer, because he was ge­lous for his Gods sake, and made attonement for the Children of Israel.

Math. 27. Pilate, was Liefetenaunt of Iewrye, when Annas & Caiphas were the hye Priestes, who with the ScribesMar. 14. Luke. 22. 23. and Elders of the Iewes sate in counsayle vppon IesusIohn. 18. 19. (nowe betrayed vnto them by Iudas) how and by what meanes, they might dispatch hym out of the waye. But hauing no aucthoritie to condemne or put hym to death, they brought hym bounde vnto Pylate the temporall Iudge. Saying, howe that they had founde him peruer­ting the people and forbidding trybute to Cesar, and cal­ling himselfe a King. Pilate hearing this, demaunded of him, whither he were a King or no. Iesus neyther deny­ing nor affirming that he was, made aunswere that Pi­late himselfe had sayde so. Then Pilate sayde vnto all his accusers, how that in examining of Iesus, he coulde not sée that he had offended in anye such thing, as they had charged him withall. The people than, more vehement­lye affirmed, how that he had with his teaching and prea­ching (which he first began in Galile) mooued all Iewry to follow his doctrine. When Pilate perceyued the man to be of Galile, and that his matter pertayned to Herods iurisdiction, he sent hym (foorthwith) to Herode lying at Ierusalem. Who of a long tyme had béene desirous to sée hym. But when as Herode had demaunded many things of him, and coulde haue no aunswere agayne, he dispised and mocked hym, and so returned hym backe agayne to Pilate clothed all inCommonly this was a robe of honor or excellencie, but it was giuē to christ in mockage. white. And from that daye foorth, Pilate and Herode were euermore friendes, who before were enimies. Then Pilate (for so much as Herode had sent Iesus backe agayne, and done nothing vnto hym, and that neyther he nor Herode coulde finde anyething [Page 266] in him woorthie of death) would haue chastyned Ie­sus, and so let him go. But the hyghe Priestes layed so manye thinges agaynst him, that Pilate (after he had reasoned a little with Iesus, concerning his Kingdome and other thinges) went and sate in iudgement, knowing right well in his conscience, that the Priestes of verye enuie had deliuered Iesus vnto him. And being set downe vpon the iudgement seate, his wyfe sent to hym, saying: Haue thou nothing to doe with that iust man, for I haue suffered manye thinges this daye in a dreame, by rea­son of hym. Which counsell of his wyfe, nor yet his owne knowledge, did any thing the more mooue him, to defende the innocencie of Christ, but asked of the people, which of these twoo they woulde haue quitte, Barrabas or Iesus, and they sayde Barrabas. What shall I then doe (quoth he) with Iesus which is called Christ? They all saide, let hym be Crucified. What euill or great offence hath hée done (quoth Pilate) that deserueth death? The people being much more eager than they were before, cryed out amayne to haue him Crucified. When Pilate saw this, that he coulde not preuayle agaynst them, he tooke water and washed his handes, saying: I am innocent of the bloud of this iust person, in the which saying he bare wit­nessePilate mur­thered the Galileans, as they were sa­crificing: and so their bloud was mingled with the blud of the beastes which were sacrificed. of his innocencie, before he condemned him. And so delyuering Iesus to the Souldiours, they scourged him, and arayed him in purple, with a crowne of thorne vpon his heade. In which sorte Pilate brought hym foorth a­gayne, and sayde to the people: Beholde, I bring hym foorth to you, that yée may knowe that I finde no fault in him. And when Iesus appeared before them, Pilate said: Beholde the man, which he spake in mockerye, bicause that Christ had called him selfe a King. And when the hye Priestes and Officers sawe hym, they cryed out, Cru­cifige, Crucifige. Then saide Pilate take him to you and Crucifie hym, for I can finde no cause of death in the man. They aunswered agayne and sayde: It is not law­full [Page 267] for vs to put any man to death, but we haue a lawe, & by our lawe he ought to dye, bycause he made hymselfe the Sonne of God. When Pilate hearde this, he was afrayde, and went agayne into the iudgement Hall, and demaunded of Iesus what he was, but he made hym no aunswere. Then Pilate sayde: Why speakest thou not? Doest thou not sée, that it lyeth in my handes, eyther to kyll or saue thée? To that he made aunswere and sayde: Thou couldest haue no power at all agaynst mée, except it were giuen thée from aboue, therefore he that deliue­red mée vnto thée, hath the more sinne, & from that tyme foorth Pilate sought by all meanes to deliuer hym. But the Iewes cryed vppon hym, saying: If thou let him go thou arte not Cesars friende, for whosoeuer maketh himselfe a King, speaketh agaynst Cesar. When Pilate hearde them say so, he brought Iesus foorth, and sate him downe in the Iudgement seate, saying vnto the people: Beholde your King, they cryed, awaye with him, away with him, crucifie hym. What (quoth Pilate) shall I crucifye your King? To that the hyghe Priestes made aunswere and sayde: We haue no King but Cesar. At that woorde, Pilate delyuered Iesus to be crucifyed, andThis manne Pilate (as Eusebius sayth) was at the last, depo­sed and bani­shed to Lions in Fraunce, where he slue himselfe. being brought to the place of execution, and spreade vpon the Crosse, Pilate caused this tytle to be set ouer his heade: Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes, which was written in Hebrue, Gréeke and Latine, that all Nacions might vnderstande it. With the which writing, the hyghe Priests were offended sore, and woulde haue had Pilate to correct it, and not to write him King of the Iewes, but that he sayde, I am King of the Iewes. Well (quoth Pi­late: What I haue written, that haue I written.

Priscilla, looke Aquila.

1. Mac. 10. f. g Ptolomy, King of Egipt had a fayre daughter na­med Cleopatra, the which he gaue to Alexander the sonne [Page 268] of noble Antiochus in Mariage, which was solemly and with great Royaltie finished in the Citie of Ptolomais. But notwithstanding this great bonde of Amitie nowe knit betwéene them, Ptolomy afterwarde withdrew his fauour from Alexander, and sought by all meanes, howe he might defeate him of his Kingdome. And thinking to bring his purpose nowe better to passe, whyle Alexander hymselfe laye out of his Realme, he prepared a great hoste, and tooke his iourney into Siria, where into eue­rye Citie as he came, he was honourably receyued accor­ding to Alexanders commaundement. And being his fa­ther in lawe was nothing suspected of treason. But Pto­lomy meaning nothing else, left in euery Citie wherein­to he was receyued, certayne men of warre, to fortifie and kéepe the same. And when he had gotten the Domi­nion of all the Cities vpon the Sea coast, he ioyned him­selfe in league with Demetrius, and tooke his daughter from Alexander, and gaue hir to Demetrius: Raysing vp a slaunder vppon Alexander, howe he went about to kill him. And so his malice and vnsaciable couetousnesse being openly knowne, he got him to Antioche, where he set twoo Crownes vpon his heade, the crowne of Egipt and Asia. Then Alexander (who at that tyme laye in the Countrey of Cilicia) hearing of all that his Father in lawe had done, returned home, and made warre agaynst him. But Ptolomy being the stronger, chased him into the Countrey of Arabia, where the King of that lande, smote off his heade, and sent it to Ptolomy, which plea­sure he dyd not long enioye, for within thrée dayes after, Ptolomy dyed himselfe. After whose death, his men of warre which he had left in the Cities were all slayne.

1. Mac. 16. b. Ptolomy, the Sonne of Abobus, maryed with thec. d. daughter of Symon, brother to Machabeus. And being made Captayne of the hoste at Iericho, he began (thorow his great aboundaunce of Golde and Siluer) to waxe [Page 269] prowde and hygh minded, imagining howe he might de­stroye Symon his Father in lawe and his sonnes, and so to conquere the lande. And being in this minde, it chaun­ced Symon (as he was going thorow the Cities of Iew­rye & caryng for them) to come downe to Iericho, with Mathathias and Iudas his sonnes, where this Ptolomy receyued him vnder the coloure of great friendship, into a strong Castle of his named Douch, and in the same made him a great banket, at the which, he most trayte­rouslye slue Symon his Father in lawe with both hys sonnes. This done, he wrote to Antiochus to sende hym an hoste of men, and he would deliuer the lande of Iewry into his hande. And further, he sent certayne men to Gaza to kyll Iohn the thirde sonne of Symon, and wrote to the Captaynes to come vnto hym, and he woulde re­warde them with Siluer and Golde. But Iohn, hauing knowledge of all the treason, slue the Messengers which came from Ptolomy, and so disappoynted hym of all his purpose.

[...]. Mac. 10. b. Ptolomie, surnamed Macron, being made a Ruler, purposed to doe Iustice vnto the Iewes, for the wrongs that had bene done vnto them, and went about to behaue himselfe peaceably with them, for the which he was ac­cused of his friendes to Eupator, and was called oft ty­mes Traytour, bicause he had left Cypres that Philo­metor had committed vnto him, and came to Antiochus Epifanes: Therefore séeing that he was no more in esti­mation, he was discouraged, and poysoned himselfe, and dyed.

Act. 2 [...]. b▪ Publius, was a certayne man dwelling in the Ile called Melite, and the chiefest man in all the Ile, who re­ceyued Paule with all the rest that had escaped the seas, very gently: and lodged them thrée dayes in his house, whose father which lay sicke of an Ague, and of a bloudy [Page 270] flyxe, Paule healed. Note: ¶ Publius, a Latine worde.

Gen. 39. a. Putyphar, was a great Lord in the lande of Egipt, and Stewarde of King Pharaos house. He bought Io­seph of the Ismaelites, and founde him a lucky man. And when he sawe that God did prosper all things vnder his hande, he made him Ruler and gouernour of all that he had, and God did blesse his house for Iosephs sake. But in the ende, thorowe the false accusation of his wyfe, he cast Ioseph in prison.

R.

Gen. 31. c. d. e RAchel, the yongest daughter of Laban the sonne of Nahor, was a beawtifull yoong woman, and Iacobs wife. She being long barren, at the last brought forth a sonne, and called his name Io­seph. And at hir departing from Laban hir father wyth Iacob hir husbande into the lande of Canaan, she stole a­waye hir fathersNot to worship thē, but to with­draw hir fa­ther from I­dolatrie. Images from him, for the which he made no little adooe with Iacob whome he followed and ouertooke at Mount Gilead. And when hir father had searched Iacobs tents, and could not finde his Idols, he came into Rachel his daughters tent, who had hyd them in the Camels lytter, and sate vpon them: And as hir fa­ther was rysling about the place where she sate, she sayd: O my Lorde, be not angry that I cannot ryse vp before thée, for the custome of women is come vpon me, and so the thing was not knowen. Finallye, Rachel in trauey­ling of hir seconde sonne, whome she called Ben Omy (the sonne of my sorrowe) she dyed, and was buried in the way to Ephrath which is Bethleem, where Iacob caused a stone to be set vpon hir graue, which was called Rachels graue stone. Note: ¶ Rachel, a Sheepe.

Tob. 6. c. 7. ca Raguel, was a certaine man dwelling at Rages a Citie of the Medes, whose sister was wyfe to olde Toby. [Page 271] This Raguel had a daughter called Sara, which had bene marryed to seauen men one after another, which men were all slayne the first night of their marriage, by the Deuill Asmodius. To this Sara God had appointed yong Tobie (which feared God) to be hir husbande, and made his holy Aungell Raphell, to bring him to Rages, and so to Raguels house his mothers brother, where they were ioyfully receyued. And when Raguel had looked vp­pon yong Toby, and behelde him well, he sayde vnto his wyfe: howe lyke is this yoong man to my sisters sonne? And then to knowe who they were, he sayde: whence be yée my good brethren? We be (sayde they) of the Trybe of Nephtaly, and of the captiuitie of Nimue. Knowe ye (sayde he) Tobias our kinseman? Yea, sayde they, we knowe him well, and this yong man (sayde the Aungell) is his sonne. With that Raguel bowed himselfe, and with wéeping eyes tooke him about the necke and kyssed him, and bade his wyfe prepare in all haste for dinner. Naye sayde Tobie, I will neyther eate nor drinke here this day, except thou graunt mée my peticion, and pro­mise to giue me thy daughter Sara. Then was Raguel sore astonied, and began to feare, least it shoulde happen vnto him, as it did to the other seuen. And while he stoode in doubt what aunswere to make, the Angell sayd: feare not to giue him thy daughter, for vnto this man that fea­reth God, belongeth she, and to none other. I doubt not (sayde Raguel) but God hath accepted my prayers and teares in his sight, and I trust he hath caused you to come vnto me for the same intent, that this daughter of mine, might be maryed in hir owne kinrede, according to the lawe of Moses. And nowe doubt thou not (my sonne) but I will giue hir vnto thée. And with that, he tooke the right hande of his daughter, and gaue hir into the right hande of Toby, saying: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob, be with you, ioyne you togyther, and fulfill hys blessing in you. [Page 272] And when the Mariage & all was ended, Raguel brought his daughter into hir Chamber, and sayde: Be of good chere my daughter, the Lorde of heauen giue thée ioy for the heauinesse that thou hast suffered, and so went to rest. Then in the morning about the Cocke crowing, Raguel (supposing all things to haue happened to Toby, as it did to the other seauen before) called vp his men, and went and made ready his graue, which being done, he bade his wyfe sende one of hir Maydens, to looke if Toby were dead, that he might burye him before day light. And when it was tolde him they were both sounde, and fast a sléepe, he praysed God, and caused his men to fill vp the graue a­gayne, and made a great feast to all his neighbours and friendes. And gaue to Toby, the halfe of all his goodes, and made him a sure writing for the other halfe that re­mayned, to be his also after his death. And at the daye of their departure, deliuered the goodes, & taking his leaue, sayde: The holy Angell of the Lord, be with you, in your iourney, and bring you forth safe and sounde, that ye may finde all things in good case with your Elders, and that mine eyes my sée your Children before I dye, and so kis­sed them and let them go. Note: ¶ Raguel, a Shepeherde of God.

3. Esd. 2. cap. Rathumus, with other Officers vnder Artaxerses King of Persia, writeth vnto him agaynst the Iewes on this wyse: Sir, thy seruaunts Rathumus the story wri­ter, Sabellius the Scribe, with other Iudges of the Court in Celosiria and Phinehes: Be it knowne and manifested to our Lorde the King, that the Iewes which are come vp from you to vs into the rebellious and wic­ked Citie, beginne to buylde it agayne, and the Walles about it, and to set vp the Temple a newe. Nowe if this citie and the Walles thereof be set vp agayne, they shall not onely refuse to giue Tributs and Taxes, but also re­bell vtterly agaynst the King. And for so much as they take this in hande nowe about the Temple, we thought [Page 273] it not méete to passe ouer such a thing, but to shew it vnto our Lorde the King. And to certifie him thereof: To the intent, that if it might please the King, to cause it to be sought in the bookes of old, and thou shalt finde such war­ning written, and shalt vnderstande that this Citie hath alwayes béene rebellious and disobedient, that it hath subdued Kinges and Cities, and that the Iewes which dwelt therein, hath euer béene a rebellious, obstinate, vn­faythfull, and fighting people, for the which cause this Citie is wasted. Wherefore nowe we certifye our Lorde the King, that if this Citie be buylded and occupyed a­gayne, and the Walles thereof set vp a newe, thou canst haue no passage into Celosiria and Phenices. And when Rathumus and the other had receyued the Kinges aun­swere, they got them to Ierusalem with an hoste of men, and made the Iewes cease from their buylding, which was not begun agayne vntill the seconde yeare of King Darius.

Gen. 24. cap. Rebecca, was the daughter of Bathuel and sister to Laban. As she went on a tyme, with a pitcher vpon hir heade, to the common Well without the Citie to draw water, it chaunced Abrahams seruaunt, to stande by the Well, with ten Camels lying there about. And when the Mayde had filled hir pot, and set it vpon hir head, rea­dye to go awaye, the man desired to drinke a little of hir water, who foorthwithall set downe hir pot and gaue him drincke. And when he had droncken, she powred out the reast into the water trough, and ran againe to the Well, & drew water for his Camels, vntill they had all dronc­ken their fill. Then the man (in hope the Lorde had made his iourney prosperous) tooke out a Golden earing and twoo bracelets of Golde and gaue them to the Mayde, de­maunding whose daughter she was. I am (quoth she) the daughter of Bathuel the Sonne of Milca, which she bare vnto Nahor. Then tell mée I praye thée, is there rowme [Page 274] in thy fathers house for vs to lodge in? Yea (quoth she) there is both rowme and lodging, and also litter and pro­uander ynough for your beastes? Blessed be God (quoth he) that hath delt so mercyfullye with my Mayster, and hath brought me the right way to my maysters brothers house. Then Rebecca (hearing him speake of hir fathers brother) ranne home and tolde all thinges what the man had sayde. And as Laban behelde his sister and sawe the earyngs and bracelets vpon hir handes, he ranne out to the man, & with gentle entertaynement brought him into the house, and sawe his Camels drest and prouided for, & also set meate before him to eate: But the man woulde not eate, before he had declared the cause, wherefore hys mayster had sent him, which being done, and his request graunted, he eate & made mery and taryed all night. And on the morrow as the man made haste to go his way, the Damosell was called foorth, to know whither she woulde go with the man or no: and being content to go with the man, he woulde not tarye, but tooke the Mayde and had hir to Isaac his maysters sonne, whose wyfe she became. And being twentie yeares without a Childe, at last she conceyued with twoo: and when she felt them striue with­in hir wombe, she made hir mone to God, saying: Sée­ing it is so, why am I thus with childe. God made hir an­swere, saying: There are twoo maner of people in thy wombe, & two Nacions shalbe deuided out of thy bowels: And the one Nacion shalbe mightier than the other: And the elder shalbe seruaunt to the yoonger. And so when hir tyme was come to be delyuered, she brought foorth twoo twynnes, the one named Esau, and the other Iacob. Which twoo became mightie men, but Rebecca looued Iacob better then Esau: and to preferre hym before the other she sayde: Heare mée my sonne Iacob, I haue hearde thy Father saye to thy brother, go and kyll some Venison, and make mée meate thereof, that I may eate and blesse thée, before the Lorde, afore I dye. Now there­fore [Page 275] my Sonne heare my voyce in that which I com­maunde thée: Get thée to the flocke, and bring mée thence two good kyddes, that I may make meate of them for thy father, such as he loueth, and thou shalt bring it hym to eate, that he may blesse thée before his death. Then sayde Iacob: My brother Esau is a rough man, and if my fa­ther shall happen to féele mée, I shall séeme vnto him, as I went about to deceyue him, and so shall I bring a curse vpon mée, & not a blessing. Well (sayde Rebecca) vpon mée be thy cursse my sonne, onely heare my voyce, and go and fetche me them. And when he had brought the Kyddes, and that she had drest the meate and made it readye, she fette out certayne rayment of Esaus, and put it vpon Iacob, and couered his hands and the smoothe of his necke with Goate shinnes, and put the meate in his hande to cary to his Father, by which policie of Rebec­ca, Iacob had his brothers blessing. And when she heard how his brother threatned to kyll him for stealing awaye his blessing, she tolde it Iacob, saying: Thy brother Esau threatneth to sley thée, therefore my some heare my voyce: Make thée ready, and get thée to Laban my bro­ther at Haran: and tary with him a while vntill thy bro­thers fiercenesse be swaged, and that his wrath be turned awaye from thée, and he forget the thinges which thou hast done vnto him, and then will I sende and fet thée a­waye from thence, for why shoulde I be depryued of you both in one daye: And when she had giuen hir sonne this counsell, she went to Isaac hir husbande and sayde: I am weary of my lyfe, for feare of the daughters of Heth. If Iacob take a wyfe of the daughters of Heth, such one as these are, or of the Daughters of the lande, what good shall my lyfe doe mée. And so by the counsell of Rebecca, Iacob was sent to Laban his mothers brother, where in processe he got him a wyfe, and purchased the loue of E­sau his brother agayne. Note: ¶ Rebecca, Fed.

Iere. 35. b. Rechab, was the Father of Ionadab. Which Iona­dab made a Lawe, that the Rechabytes shoulde neuer drincke Wyne, their wyues nor their children, neyther yet buylde house, nor sowe séede, nor plant Vyneyardes, but shoulde alwayes dwell in Tents. Which commaun­dement they kept and obayed truely. And this their obe­dience, Ieremy layeth before the Iewes to their great reproche, for that they were not so readye to obeye the will and commaundement of God their heauenlye Fa­ther, as the Rechabytes were to obeye their Father Io­nadab. Note: ¶ Rechab, a Ryder.

¶ Of Rechab the sonne of Rymmon. Reade the storye of Baanah his brother.

4. Reg. 16. a. b Rezin, King of Siria, went with Pekah King of Is­rael, to fight agaynst Ahaz King of Iuda, but coulde not ouercome hym. At which tyme Rezin tooke the Citie of Elath, and droue out the Iewes therein and inhabited the Citie with Sirians. But in fine, the King of Assiria came agaynst him, in the defence of Ahaz King of Iuda, and at Damasco, siue hym. Note: ¶ Rezin, will, or willing to a thing.

[...]. Reg. 11. d. Rezon, the sonne of Eliada was a great Captayne vnder Hadadezer king of Zoba, which Hadadezer Dauid had ouercome in battell. And when Rezon saw his Lord and Maister discomfited, he fled from him, and gathered a bonde of men, and went to Damasco where he reygned as King, and became a great aduersarie to Salomon, for the which purpose the Lord had stirred him vp. Note: ¶Re­zon, a Secretarie, or leaue.

[...]. Re. 21. b. c. Rizpa, the daughter of Ahia, was Saules Concu­bine, and had by him twoo sonnes, the one named Armo­ny, and the other Miphiboseth: which twoo, with the sonnes of Merob, Dauid deliuered to the Gibeonites, [Page 277] who (for the offence of Saule) hanged them vp vpon an hyll before the Lorde. Then Rizpa perceyuing their car­kasses to remayne vpon the Gybbet longer than the law required, made prouision to saue their bodies, that ney­ther Birdes shoulde fall vpon them by daye, nor beast by night. And when it was tolde to Dauid what Rizpa had done, he caused their bones, with the bones of Saule and Ionathas to be caried into the Countrie of Beniamin, and there buried in the Sepulchre of Cis, Sauls fathers.

3. Reg. 12. ca. Roboam, the sonne of Salomon, was .xlj. yere olde when he began to reigne, & his mothers name was Naa­ma. In this mans time began the Kingdome of Israel to be deuided. For when the people came to him, and sayd: Thy father layde a grieuous yoake vpon vs, nowe ther­fore remit thou somewhat of the grieuous seruice of thy father, and of his heauie yoake that he put vpon vs, and wée will serue thée. He aunswered (as his yong Counsai­lers had counsayled him) saying: My little finger shall be heauyer than all my fathers loynes. And where as my father put an heauy yoke vpon you, I will adde more vn­to it: And where as he chastyned you with whyppes, I will chasten you with Scorpions. The people hearing this, they forsooke him, all saue the Tribe of Iuda andThe trybe of Beniamin was giuen to Nathan the brother of Salomon: who neuer­thelesse, ayded the Tribe of Iuda as of­ten as they needed. Beniamin. Then Roboam séeing his kingdome deui­ded, gathered an hoste of men, out of the house of Iuda and Beniamin, to the number of nyne score thousande, to fight with Israel, and to bring the Kingdome agayne vnto himselfe. But whyle he was thus minded, the Pro­phet Semaia came to him, and bade him ceasse from his purpose, for the thing that was done, was the Lords do­ing. Wherevpon euery man departed, according to the wordes of the Lorde, which the Prophete had spoken. Then Roboam fell to building of Cities, and repayring of strong holdes, which he furnished both with men and2. Par. 11. c. d. victuals. So that his kingdome was mighty and strong­by12. d.

[Page 278] [...] [Page 278] [...] walked he and [...] when they had [...] making Hylaul­ [...] [...] [...]ome Sodomites [...] [...]en God forsooke [...] Sisack King of [...] raigne) came to [...] of the Lorde and [...] shields of Golde [...] [...]hereof, Roboam [...] [...]e, God made the [...] [...]ts to Sisack (al­ [...] [...] the intent they [...] [...]is service, and the [...] This King Ro­ [...] [...] [...]core Concubins, [...] [...]bsalom best. And [...] [...]r all his brethren, [...] and when by hys [...] [...]d his Children a­ [...] [...] cares he dyed. Note: [...] the people.

[...] [...]cob and Lea. He [...] [...]nde in the fielde to [...] [...]is brethren which [...] [...]ell to cast him into [...] [...]d him out of their [...] [...]e vnto the pit and [...] [...]s, and made great [...] [...]ter this, (when Io­ [...] [...] [...]ent into Egipt for [...] [...]opyes, and hardly [...] sayde vnto them: [Page]

[Page 279] Dyd not I warne you and say, that yée shoulde not sinne agaynst the Childe, & yée would not heare me, and nowe yée may sée howe his bloude is requyred at our handes.Gene. 49. a. All this notwithstanding, it was his chaunce to lye with Bylha his Fathers Concubine, which déede sore displea­sed his Father, wherefore before his death, he declared the vnstablenesse of Ruben, saying: That although hée1. Par. 5. a. were the eldest, yet shoulde he not be the chiefest. His birthright was taken from hym and giuen to the sonnes of Ioseph. Note: ¶ Ruben, seeing his sonne, or the sight of his sonne.

Rom. 16. c. Rufus, was a vertuous and a Religious man, whom Paul remembred in his Epistle, saying: Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lorde, and his mother and mine.

Ruth. 1. cap. Ruth, and Orpha, were twoo fayre yoong Damosels borne in the Countrey of Moab where by chaunce, they maryed with the sonnes of Elimelech and Naomy, who were straungers come out of the lande of Iuda, there to inhabite, and when both their husbandes were dead and their mother in lawe a wydowe also, they forsooke theyr owne Countrey to go home with their mother into the lande of Iuda. And when they had gone a good way togi­thers▪ Orpha (not without great intreatie of hir mother in lawe) turned home agayne, but Ruth abode still. Then sayde▪ Naomy to Ruth: Oh sée my daughter, thy sister in lawe is gone backe agayne to hir people and goodes? returne and go after hir. I praye thée (sayde Ruth) in­treate mee not to leaue thée: For whithersoeuer thou goest, I will go with thée. And where thou dwellest there will I dwell also: Thy people shalbe my people: And thy God my God: looke where thou dyest, there will I dye also, and there will I be buryed: The Lorde doe so and so vnto mée, if ought but death onely, depart thée and mée a sundre. And so went they foorth tyll they came to to Bethleem Iuda, which was in the beginning of Bar­ley [Page 280] haruest. And as Ruth went one daye out a leasing a­mongRuth. 2. cap. the haruest folkes, she happened (by the prouidenc [...] of God) vppon the fieldes pertayning to Boos, who she­wed hir such kindnesse, that she neyther lacked meate nor drincke, neyther yet corne, so long as Haruest lasted. And when all Haruest was done, Naomy sayde vnto Ruth: This man in whose fielde thou hast leysed all this whyle,3. cap. is our nyghe Kinsman, therefore doe nowe by my coun­sell. This night he wynoweth Barley in the barne, washe thy selfe therefore, and annoynt thée, and put thy ray­ment vpon thée, and get thée to the Barne, and kéepe thy selfe close, vntill he haue left eating and drincking. And when he goeth to sléepe, marke the place where he layeth him downe: And when he is a sléepe, go and lyft vp the clothes softly at his féete and lye thée downe, and he shall tell thée what thou shalt doe. So when Ruth had doone all thinges according to hir Mother in lawes teaching: Boos about midnight waked out of his sléepe, and féeling one lye at his féete was afrayde, and groping with hys hande, he asked who it was. I am Ruth (quoth she) thine handmayde, spreade therefore the winge of thy garment ouer thine handemayden, for thou arte next of my kinne. Nowe blessed arte thou (quoth Boos) for thou hast she­wed more goodnesse in the latter ende, than at the begin­ning, inasmuch as thou followedest not yoong men, were they poore or riche. And nowe my daughter feare not, I will doe vnto thée all that thou requyrest: For thou arte well knowne to be a woman of vertue. Howbeit, there is one néerer of kinne to thée than I, if he will do the kins­man part vnto hée, well, let him doe it: If he will not,4. c. d. then will I. And so in the morning, he gaue hir so much corne as she could carye home. And shortly after she be­came his wyfe, and in processe, brought him foorth a sonne called Obed, which was the father of Isai, the father of Dauid. Reade the story of Boos and Naomy. Note: ¶ Ruth, watered, or filled.

2. Reg. [...]. SAdoch, the sonne of Ahitob, was father to Sal­lum and Ahimaas, and one of the Priestes that gouerned the Arke of God, which he caryed out of Ierusalem with Dauid what time as he sled from his sonne Absalom. And when Zadock had brought15. e. f. the king ouer the brooke Kidron, he desired him to returne againe with the Arke into the citie, that from him & Abia­thar he might haue worde of all things that Absalom and Achitophell determined against hym. And so he returned with the Arke to Ierusalem, and there remained Dauids faythfull man, in all thinges that he had commaunded him. And when he had knowledge of Absaloms ouer­throwe,19. c. he then exhorted all Israel and Iuda, to remem­ber the kyndenesse of Dauid their soueraigne Lorde and King: who had so many times deliuered them out of the handes of their enimies, that now like true, faythfull and obedient subiects, they woulde f [...]t him home againe, & re­store him to his kingdome. By whose godly exhortacion, the heartes of all Iuda were bowed to Dauid, euen as the heart of one man. This Sadoch was euer a fayth­full [...]. Reg. 1. a. f. Priest, and neuer swarued from Dauid. For in the ende when Adoniah tooke vppon him to reygne as King (his father Dauid being olde and alyue) Zadock consen­ted not vnto him, but according to Dauids will and com­maundement, annoynted Salomon King, who after­warde promoted him into the roume of Abiathar which2. f. had the hye Priestes office. Note: ¶ Sadoch, or Zadok, [...]usti­fied, or iust.

4. Reg. 15. b. c▪ Sallum, the sonne of Iabes conspired against Za­charia,There is an­other of this name. The husbande of Hulde the prophetesse. and slue him, and reygned in his steade. In the xxxix. yeare of Azaria King of Iuda began Sallum hys reigne ouer Israel, and had not reygned one noneth, but Menahen rose vp against him, and slue him in Samaria,4. Reg. 2 [...]. [...]. [Page 282] and reygned in his steade. Note: ¶ Sallum, Peaceable.

4. Reg. 18. c. Salmanasar, King of Assiria, came in the seuenth yeare of Hosea King of Israel, and besieged Samaria, and in the thirde yeare (which was the ninth yere of Ho­sea) he wanne it, and tooke Hosea prisoner, and caryed him away into Assiria. Note: ¶ Salmanasar, Peace bounde.

2. Reg. 12. f. Salomon, the sonne of Bethsabe was ordeyned to reygne after his father Dauid▪ and annoynted King o­uer Israel, by Sadock the Priest, and Nathan the Pro­phet.3. Re. [...]. e. f. g. Who being stablished in his kingdome, began to minister Iustice: first vpon Adoniah his brother, which had aspired to the Kingdome. Secondlye, vppon Ioab, which had slayne Abner and Amasa, and conspired with Adoniah. Thirdly, vpon Semei, which had curssed Da­uid his father. This King was so dearelye belooued of3. cap. God, that in a dreame he appeared to him, and bade him aske whatsoeuer he woulde, and he shoulde haue it. Then Salomon considering in himselfe that he was but yong, and that (being called to the office of a King) howe harde a thing it was to gouerne the whole multitude of the peo­ple well, desired of God to giue him an vnderstanding heart, to iudge the people, and to discerne betwéene good and euill. Which thing pleased the Lorde so well, that he gaue him not onely a wyse and an vnderstanding heart, but also riches and honour, wherein he excelled all other Kings that euer were before or after him. And that he4. cap. passed all men in wisedome and vnderstanding, doth ma­nifestly appeare by the wyse sentence he gaue vppon the liuing chylde, that the two Harlots stroue for before him. And also by his thrée thousande Parables, and his thou­sande and fiftie songes, wherein were declared such wise and graue sentences, that all the worlde (hearing there­of) came to sée his presence, and to heare his wysedome, which did so farre excéede the wisedome of Ethan, He­man, [Page 283] Chalcal, and Darda (foure of the notablest men then liuing in all the worlde) that they fell a woondering, and sayde, that the great fame that was bruted of hys wisedome and royaltie before they came forth, was no­thing to be compared with that they had now both heard and séene. And as he did excéede all men in wisedome, so he did all other in riches. For he had .xij. Officers which prouided victualles for his housholde euerye moneth in a yeare. And his ordinary expences euery day was thirtye quarters of Manchet floure, and sixtie quarters of meale, ten stalled Oxen, and twentie out of the pasture, and an hundred shéepe, beside Hartes, Buckes, wylde Goates, Capons, and Fowles. He had fortie thousande horses, and .xij. thousande horsemen to kéepe them. The weight10. cap. of golde that came euery yere out of Ophir to Salomon, was sixe hundreth thrée score and sixe talents of golde, be­side that which Merchantes and other men brought him. Whereof he had so great abundance, that he made the furniture of the Lordes Temple all of cleane golde. Yea, there was not so much as a drinking pot in all his owne house, but it was of golde: And as for Siluer, he made it as plentye as stones in the streate. But notwithstan­ding11. a. all this his wisedome and riches, which God had gi­uen hym, yet at the last he fell to louing of outlandishe women (contrary to the lawe of Moses) whereof he tooke so many, that he had seauen hundreth Quéenes, and thrée hundreth Concubines, which turned his heart to strange goddes, and made him of a wyse king a starcke foole, and great Idolater, for the which his horrible offence, he lost the fauour of God. And when hée had raygned fourtie yeares he dyed, and was buryed in the Citie of Dauyd, and his sonne Roboam succéeded. Note: ¶ Salomon, peaceable.

¶ Natha the Prophet, called him Iedidia, beloued.

Iudic. 3. d. Samgar, the sonne of Anath deliuered Israel from the Philistines and slue sixe hundred of them with an Oxe [Page 284] goade. Note: ¶ Samgar, desolacion of the straunger.

Iudic. 13. d. Samson, the Sonne of Manoah of the Tribe of Dan, was borne in the Citie of Zaraah, and became a mightie strong man. On a time as he went to the Citie14. cap. of Thamnath and saw a woman of the Philistins which liked him well, he intreated his parents to haue hir to his wyfe. Who not contented therewith reprooued him, say­ing: Is there neuer a wife among the daughters of thine owne people and brethren, but thou must take a wyfe a­mong the vncircumcised Philistines? Well (sayd Sam­son) let me haue hir for shée pleaseth mée well. Then his parents (not knowing it was the Lordes dooing, that hée shoulde séeke an occasion agaynst the Philistines) went with their sonne to Thamnath to sée the woman: And by the waye going, Samson (vnknowne to his parentes) slue a Lyon which came ramping vpon him, and so went foorth with them and talked with the woman. And a fewe dayes after, as he came agayne to receyue his wyfe, he turned aside to sée the carkeys of the Lyon, and founde in the bellye thereof, a swarme of Bées and hony, where­of he tooke in his hande, and went eating to his Father and mother, & gaue them parte of the Hony. And when the feast day of his mariage was come, he sayde to thirtie yoong men of his guestes: I will put foorth a riddle vnto you, and if yée can declare it mée within the seuenth day of the Feast, I will giue you thirtie shyrtes, and thirtie chaunge of rayment, and if yee cannot, then shall you giue mée the lyke: The riddle is this: Out of the eater came meate, and out of the strong came swéetnesse. And [...]riddle. when the seuenth day was come, and the men had not yet founde out the ryddle, they perswaded Samsons wyfe to sucke it out of hir husbande and tell it them, who neuer rested flattering of Samson and wéeping before him till he had tolde hir. Then they (being taught of hir) went to Samson before the Sonne was downe, and sayde: what [Page 285] is swéeter than hony▪ And what is stronger than a Lyon. Then sayde Samson: If yée had not plowed with my Calfe, yée had not founde out my ryddle. And so he went out to the Citie of Ascalon (one of the chiefest Cities of the Philistines) and slue thirtie men. And gaue the spoyle of them to those that had expounded his riddle, and so got him home to his fathers house halfe displeased with hys wyfe. After a whyle, hée went to visite his wyfe with aIudic. 15. cap. kidde, but when he came, his Father in lawe had giuen hir to an other▪ thinking that Samson had hated hir, and bade hym take the yoonger (which was fayrer) in hir steade. Then Samson hauing good occasion giuen hym agaynst the Philistines, went out and caught thrée hun­dred Foxes, and fastened tayle by tayle, and put a fyre brande betwéene the twoo tayles, which he set on fyre (and so sent them into the Philistines Corne, and brent it vp, with their Vyneyardes Olyues and all. The Philistines (knowing that Samson had done it) went and set fyre on his Father in lawes house, and brent both hym & Sam­sons wife with all that euer they had. And sent thrée thou­sand men of Iuda (who were then vnder the Philistines) to Samson, to binde him and to bring him to them. And when (by his sufferance) they had bounde him, & brought him to the Philistines, they gaue a great shoute when they sawe him, wherewithall Samson brake a sundre his bandes, as though they had béene but flaxe. And tooke vp a rotten Iawbone of an Asse, and layde so about him, that he slue a thousande Philistines or euer he rested. And be­ing sore a thyrst, God made water come out of a tooth in the Iawbone▪ and so refreshed him. After this, he got him16. cap. to the Citie of Gaza, and lodged in a womans house that solde vittayles: And when hée perceyued the Citizens to watch and to go about to kyll hym, he got him vp about midnight, and went to the gates of the Citie, which hée rent off barres & all, and layed them vpon his shoulders, & caried them vp to the top of an hygh hill before Hebron▪ [Page 286] Finallye, thorowe his inordinate affection to Dalila his wyfe, he lost Goddes excellent gift, and so was betrayed to the Philistines, who tooke and put out his eyes and cast hym in Prison, where they made hym to grynde lyke a slaue. And when the great daye of the Philistines came, that they shoulde holde their feast to their god Dagon, they sent for Samson out of prison, to playe before them and to make them laugh. The house was full of men and women, so many that in the roufe of the same, there was about thrée thousand to beholde Samson whyle he played before the Lords & great men. And as he stoode betwéene the great pyllers which bare vp all the house, he called vpon God in his minde, saying: O Lord thinke vpon me, and strengthen me at this tyme onely, that I (according to my vocasion executing thy iudgement) may be auen­ged on the Philistines for my twoo eyes. And with that he caught the pillers in his handes, saying: Let me lose my life with the Philistines, & so shooke the pillers with all his might, and brought downe the house vpon them, and killed them all. Then his brethren hearing thereof, came and tooke vp the bodye of Samson and buryed hym with Manoah his Father, after hée had Iudged Israel twentie yeares, who had béene in subiection vnder the Philistines fourtie yeares. Note: ¶ Samson, there the seconde time, bycause the Angell appeared the seconde tyme, at the prayer of his Father.

1. Reg. 1. c. d. Samuel, the sonne of Elkana and Anna, was the next Iudge after Eli, and the last that iudged Israel. And bycause his mother had asked him of God, therefore she called his name Samuel. And when he was able to doe any ministracion in the Temple, his mother brought him to Eli, and gaue him vnto the Lord, according to hir pro­mise. And so Samuel ministered vnto the Lorde before3. cap. Eli: And one daye as he layed him downe to sléepe in the Temple, the Lorde called him: And Samuel (thinking [Page 287] it had béene his Mayster) ranne to Eli, to knowe his pleasure, who sayde he called him not. And at the thirde time when Samuel came to his mayster agayne, Eli sayde vnto him: Go and laye thée downe once more, and if he call thée agayne, then saye thou: Speake Lorde, for thy seruaunt heareth. And when the Lorde had called him the fourth time, and had opened vnto him, all that he had determined against the house of Eli (for not correcting his sonnes for their great wickednesse) Samuel went to his mayster Eli, and (at his commaundement) tolde him euery whit what the Lorde had sayde. Now Samuel (be­ing the Lords Prophet) iudged the people, and was both loued & feared of them. And when he began to waxe olde,8. cap. and was not able to beare the burden, he made his twoo sonnes (Ioel and Abia) Iudges ouer Israel, thinking that they woulde imitate his steppes: But contrarywise, they were so couetous, that (for lucre sake) they per­uerted all true iustice: wherevpon the Elders of Israel, perceyuing Samuel to be olde, and his sonnes giuen all to coueteousnesse, went to Samuel, desiring of him that they might haue a king to raygne ouer them as other na­tions had. Then Samuel (hearing them speake of a king) was sore displeased. But neuerthelesse, at the Lordes commaundement, who bade him make them a King, hée first declared to them, the office and authoritie of a King, and than annoynted Saule to be their King and gouer­nour, whome he sent to Gilgal, commaunding Saule to1. Reg. 10. b. tary him there seauen dayes, and then he woulde come13. b. c. d. and tell him what he shoulde doe. And on the seauenth day when Samuel came to Saule, and sawe he had offe­red before he came, he asked him what he had done: Mary (quoth Saule) when I sawe the people begin to scatter from mée, and that thou taryedst so long, I offered burnt offerings, least the Philistines shoulde come vpon me, be­fore I had made my supplicasion vnto the Lorde. Nowe (sayde Samuel) thou hast played the foole. For if thou [Page 288] haddest hep to the Lordes commaundement, hée woulde haue stablished thy Kingdome for euer: But now it shall not continue. For the Lorde hath sought him out a man, after his owne heart, which shall rule the people, and so Samuel departed to his house at Gibea. After this, when15. cap. Saule had broken the Lordes commaundement, in sa­uing Agag King of the Amalachites alyue, and had made a sacrifice vnto the Lorde of their best shéepe and Cattell which hée reserued: Samuel came, whereof the Kinge was verye glad, and tolde hym that he had fulfilled the Lordes commaundement: But what meaneth then (quoth Samuel) the bleting of the shéepe and noyse of Oxen that I heare? There are (quoth he) the best shéepe and Oxen that the people hath spared to sacrifice vnto the Lorde, but the reast haue we destroyed. Then sayde Samuel: Did not the Lord when thou wert little in thine olvne eyes, make thée King ouer Israel, and gaue thée a charge, vtterly to destroy those sinners the Amalachites? And wherefore hast thou obeyed the people and not the Lorde? I haue (quoth he) done all that the Lorde com­maunded mée, and saued none but Agag: Hath the Lorde (quoth Samuel) as great pleasure in burnt sacri­fices and offeringes, as when the voyce of the Lorde is obeyed? Beholde, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harcken is better than the fat of Rammes: for rebel­lion is as the sinne of Witchcraft, and stubbornesse is as the wickednesse of Idolatrie: And bicause thou hast cast away the worde of the Lorde, therefore hath the Lorde cast away thée from being King. Then sayde Saule: I haue sinned and gone further than the saying of the Lord, therefore take awaye my sinne, [...] turne againe with me, that I may worship the Lord. Nay (quoth Samuel) I will not returne with thée: for thou hast cast awaye the Lorde, and he hath cast away thée. And as Samuel was turning himselfe to haue gone away, Saule [...]aught him by the lap of his garment, and it rent: Then sayde Sa­muel: [Page 289] the Lorde hath rent the kingdome of Israel from thée this day, and giuen it to a neyghbour of thine, better than thy selfe: Neuerthelesse, thorowe great intreatie of Saule, Samuel went with him. And when they had worshipped the Lorde, Agag was brought to Samuel, who tooke and hewed him in péeces, and so departed to Rama: where he mourned so long for Saule, till the Lorde reprooued him for it, and sent him to Bethleem to annoynt Dauid. Which thing done, he went home a­gayne to Rama, where he remayned vntill he dyed. Note: ¶ Samuel, bearde of God.

2. Esd. 2. b. Sanabalat, the Heronite, when he hearde of the graunt that Nehemias had obtayned of Art [...]erses, for6. cap. the building of the Temple at Ierusalem, he was mar­ueylously grieued therewith, and sought by all meanes howe to let the Iewes of their purpose. Note: ¶ Sanabalat, A Busbe in a secret place, or in a priuie corner.

Act. 5. b. Saphira, the wyfe of Ananias, being of his Coun­sell in kéeping awaye part of the pryce of a possession which they had solde, came vnto Peter about a thrée houres after hir husbande (ignorant of that which was done) vnto whome Peter sayde: Tell me Saphira, solde yée the lande for so much? yea, (quoth she) for so much. Why haue ye (quoth Peter) agréed togither to tempt the spirite of the Lord. Beholde, the féete of them which haue buried thy husbande, are at the doore, and shall carye thée out. And with that she fell downe and gaue vp the ghost. And the Officers came and caried hir out, and buried hir beside hir husbande. Note: ¶ Saphira, telling, or numbring.

1. Reg. 9. cap. Saule, the sonne of Cis of the Trybe of Benia­min, was a goodly tall yoong man: who on a tyme as he was séeking his fathers Asses, and coulde not finde them, happened (by the prouision of God) to go and séeke [Page 290] but Samuel, to wit of him, some tydinges of hys Asses. And as he was going towarde the Citie, it was tolde him of a great offering that shoulde be there, and howe the people wayted for Samuels comming to blesse the same. And when Saule was come into the middest of the Citie, he met Samuel comming against him, going vp to the hill. And as Samuel behelde Saule, the Lorde sayd vnto him: this is the man which I tolde thée yesterdaye, I woulde sende this daye vnto thée, to be King of Israel. Then Samuel tooke him vp with him to the hyll, and set him in the chiefest seate amonge his guestes, and made him eate with them. And the feast being done, he went and annoynted Saule King, and told him what he should1. Reg. 10. ca. doe after his departure from him. And going from Sa­muel, the Lorde gaue him another maner of heart than he had before. So that he prophecied among the Pro­phetes, and was so greatly honoured of all men, that af­ter he had deliuered the Citie of Iabes out of the handes1 [...]. cap. of Nahas King of the Ammonites, the people renued his kingdome, which God woulde haue stablished for euer, if he had not disobeyed his commaundement, in taking vpon him to offer burnt sacrifice before Samuel came,15. cap. and also to saue Agag whom he was commaunded to de­stroy. And for this his disobedience, the Lorde tooke hys spirite from Saule, and gaue it to Dauid, and gaue vn­to Saule an euill spirit to vexe him withall. Then Saule16. c. séeing the spirit of the Lord departed from him, and gone to Dauid, he sought by all meanes to destroye him, but neuer coulde come to his purpose. Finally, Saule being28. cap. sore cumbred with the Philistynes, he went to an En­chaunter (notwithstanding he had expelled all of that Arte before) to rayse him vp Samuel, who being raysed vp, tolde hym, that for as much as hée had disobeyed the Lorde, and not executed his fierce wrath vppon the Amalachytes, therefore had God forsaken hym, and rent his Kingdome out of his hande, and giuen it to Da­uid. [Page 291] And moreouer (sayth he to Saule) the Lorde will deliuer the Israelites into the handes of the Philistines, and tomorrow shalt thou and thy Sonnes be with mée.31. cap. And on the next day, Saule (being ouercome of the Phi­listynes, and his thrée Sonnes slayne) for anguishe of heart, fell vpon his owne sworde, and killed himselfe, after he had reygned fortie yeares. Note: ¶ Saule, Required, or commended.

Gen. 11. d. Sara, the daughter of Aram, was Abrahams wife. And perceyuing that the Lorde had restrayned hir from bearing of children, she gaue Abraham leaue to take A­gar16. cap. hir Mayden to wife. But when she saw hir selfe despi­sed of hir mayde (which had conceyued) she began to be so sharpe and quicke with Agar (that she made hir runne a­waye. Neuerthelesse, at the humble submission of Agar, Sara receyued hir agayne. Then Sara passing foorth, till she came to the age of foure score and ten yeres, it chaun­ced she hearde the Aungel of the Lorde (as she stoode in hir Tent) say vnto Abraham, that Sara his wyfe should18. a. b. haue a childe, which wordes séemed so impossible vnto hir, that she laughed within hir selfe and sayde: Is it of a surety that I shall beare a sonne? Shall I now giue my selfe to lust being olde, and my Lord olde also? And when she had talked thus to hir selfe, the Aungell of the Lorde demaunded of Abraham, wherefore his wyfe dyd laugh, as though it were (quoth he) to harde a thing for God to performe his promise. Then she being asked the question, denyed it (for she was afrayde) saying, that she laughed not. And so Sara iudging him faythfull which had pro­mised,21. a. b. brought forth a sonne at the time apointed of God, and called his name Isaac. And when the Childe was borne she sayde: God hath made mée a laughing stocke, for all that heare, will laugh at mée: Who woulde haue sayde to Abraham, that Sara shoulde haue giuen Chil­dren sucke, for I haue borne him a sonne, in his olde age. [Page 292] After this, when Sara perceyued Ismael the sonne of A­gar (as he played with Isaac) to be a mocker, she sayde vnto Abraham put awaye this bonde mayde & hir sonne, for the sonne of this bonde woman shall not be eyer with my sonne Isaac. Finally, when Sara had lyued one hun­dred23. cap. and seuen an twentie yeres, she dyed, in Kiriat Ar­ba. Which is also called Hebron. And was buryed in the double Caue, which Abraham had bought of the sonnes of Heth.

Tob. 3. b. Sara, the daughter of Raguel had seauen husbands one after an other, which men, before they had lyen with hir, were all slayne of the Deuill Asmodius, to the great discomfort and heauinesse of the yoong woman. And yet the more to aggreuate hir sorowe, hir fathers Maydens (when she did correct them for their faults) woulde slaun­der hir on this wyse, saying: God let vs neuer sée sonne nor daughter of thée more vpon earth, thou kyller of thy husbandes, wilt thou kyll vs also as thou hast done them? Which woordes were so gricuous to Sara, that she got hir vp to an hygh chamber of hir house, where she conti­nued thrée dayes and thrée nightes in prayer, beséeching God that he woulde vouchsafe to lowse hir out of that re­buke, or else to take hir out of y^• earth. For thou knowest (O Lorde) that I neuer had desire vnto man, and that I haue kept my soule cleane, from all vncleanlye lust: I haue not kept companie, with those that passe there time in sporte, neyther haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in light behauiour: neuerthelesse, an husbande haue I consented to take, not for my pleasure, but in thy feare. Now peraduenture, eyther I haue béene vnwoorthye of them, or else were they vnméete for me: for thou happily, hast kept me for an other husbande. And thus making hir prayers to God, he hearde hir and sent yong Toby to be hir husband, who being ioyned togither in Matrimonie, lyued all their dayes an holy lyfe, in the [Page 293] feare and lawes of God.

2. Reg. 20. ca. Seba, the sonne of Bichri (assoone as Dauid was restored to his Kingdome agayne) begun a new insurrec­tion, and got all Israel to followe hym, saue onelye the men of Iuda which stacke fast by Dauid: and as he came into the Citie of Abell (to the which Ioab followed hym) the Gouernesse of the citie (being a woman of wisedome) smote off the heade of Seba, and threwe it ouer the Wall to Ioab, and so the commocion ceased. Note: Seba, vanitie, or little accompted of, or vprore.

Act. 19. c. Sceua, was a Iewe borne, and the chiefe Priest a­mong the Iewes. This man had seauen sonnes, who for lucre sake, & to purchase vnto themselues a great name thereby, attempted to cast out euill spirites by inuocation of the name of the Lorde Iesus, as Paule dyd, saying vnto the man possessed, we coniure you in the name of Iesus whome Paule preacheth, that ye depart out of the man: To whom the spirite aunswered and sayde: Iesus I knowe, and Paule I knowe, but who are yée? and as soone as he had spoken these woordes, the man in whome the euill spirite was, ranne vpon them, and got the ouer hande on them. In so much that they had much a doe to escape with their lyues, and scarce got at the last naked and wounded out of the house. And this example of the sonnes of Sceua being bruted abrode among the Iewes and Gentiles, many (which beléeued) came to Paule and confessed their offences. And besyde that, diuers other which had vsed suche curious craftes of Coniurasions, brought their bookes and burned them before all men, the price whereof were counted at fiftie thousandeA [...] er­ling was in value about a grote ster­ling, or more. Siluer­linges.

Gen. 38. b. Sela, the yoongest sonne of Iuda, being growen to perfect age, and not giuen to Thamar in mariage accor­ding [Page 294] to his Fathers promise, was the occasion of Tha­mars playing the myswoman with Iuda hir Father in lawe. Note: ¶ Sela, dissoluing.

Gen. 11. b. Sela, the sonne of Arphaxad (of the generacion of Sem) was the Father of Eber, whome he begot when he was thirtie yeares of age, and lyued after the birth of Eber foure hundred and thrée yeares. Which make in the whole foure hundred and .xxxiij. yeares.

Gen. 9. b. 11. c Sem, the eldest Sonne of Noe, receyued prayse of his Father bycause he couered his nakednesse as he layeHe is called also Melchi­sodech. And did first build the Citie of Salem, whi­che after was called Ieru­salem. vncouered in his Tent. Sem, at the age of an hundred yeares, begot Arphaxat (twoo yeares after the floud) and lyued after fiue hundred yeares.

Semei, the sonne of2. Reg. 16. b. c. Gera (of the kinred and house of Saule) dwelt in a Citie called Bahurim. And as it chaunced Dauid to flée thither for feare of his sonne Ab­salom, this man came out against him cursing and ray­ling out of measure, with such spitefull woordes as these: Come foorth, come foorth, thou bloudshedder, and man of Belial: The Lorde hath brought vppon thée nowe all the bloud of the house of Saule, in whose steade thou hast raygned. The Lorde hath delyuered the Kingdome, in to the hande of Absalom thy sonne. And beholde thou art come to thy mischiefe, bycause thou arte a murtherer. And in all this, woulde Dauid suffer no man to doe him harme. So that Semei went on still, cursing & rayling, and hurling of stones and dyrte at Dauid lyke a mad man, but when the time came that Dauid shoulde be re­stored to his Kingdome agayne, then Semei (that in his aduersitie was his most cruell enimie) was n [...]we in his prosperitie one of the first that mette hym to bring hym whome agayne: And being passed ouer Iordane, he fell downe flat before Dauid, saying: Oh let not my Lorde [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page]

[Page 295] impute wickednesse vnto mée, nor remember the thing that thy seruaunt dyd wickedly, when my Lord the King departed out of Ierusalem, that the king should take it to heart, for thy seruaunt doth know, how that I haue done amisse: And therefore, beholde, I am the first this dayeHere he saith, he was of the house of Io­seph, and be­fore he sayth, hee was of the house of Saule. Of the fathers side (sayeth Lyra) he was of the house of Ioseph, that is to say, of the tribe of Ephraim: but of y^• mothers side he was of the house of Saule. of all the house of Ioseph, that am come to go downe to méete my Lorde the King. So Dauid forgaue hym, but when y^• time of Dauids departure out of this world drue nye, among all thinges which he spake to Salomon his sonne, he remembred Semei, saying: Behold, thou hast here with thée Semei, the sonne of Gera, the sonne of Ge­mini of Bahurim, which cursed mée with an horrible cursse, in the daye when I went to Mahanaim, but hée came to mée at Iordane, and I sware vnto hym by the Lorde that he shoulde not dye. But thou shalt not count him as vnguiltie, for thou arte a man of wysedome and knowest what thou oughtest to doe vnto hym. His hore heade shalt thou bring to the graue with bloude. And so Salomon being set in his Kingdome called Semei and sayde: Buylde thée an house in Ierusalem & dwell there. And sée thou passe not from thence anye whither, for be thou sure, that the day thou goest out, and passest ouer the ryuer of Cedron, thou shalt dye, and thy bloude shall be vpon thine owne heade. Semei thanked the King, & dwelt in Ierusalem the space of thrée yeares, and then it chaun­ced twoo of his seruaunts to run from him to Achis King of Geth, wherevpon Semei sadled his Asse, and went for his seruaunts, and brought them home againe. Then Sa­lomon hearing of his dooings commaunded Banaiahu, to put him to death, for the wickednesse he had doone to his Father Dauid. Note: ¶ Semei, bearing, or obedient.

4. Reg. 18. c. Sennacherib, King of Assiria was a mightie prince, which séeing that Salmanasar his predycessour had con­quered the King of Israel and made them Tributaries, thought it good to set vpon the King of Iuda, who at that [Page 296] tyme was the godly and most noble Ezechias. And when Sennacherib had gotten into his handes, all the chiefe Cities of Iuda and Beniamin, saue onely Ierusalem, he besieged that also, with such might and power, that Ezechias was fayne to submit himselfe to the mercie of Sennacherib, offering him tribute, so much as he would demaunde. Vppon which offer, Sennacherib promised Ezechias, that if he woulde paye him thrée hundreth ta­lents of siluer, & one of golde, his lande should be safe and in quiet, which promise he kept truely till the mony were payed. But as soone as he had receiued the money, he sent backe agayne thrée of the greatest Captaynes he had, to make freshe warre against Ezechias. And when they had pitched their tentes about Ierusalem, they sent for Eze­chias, to come and speake with them, who fearing his owne lyfe, sent thrée of his Noble men vnto them to knowe the matter. And when they had hearde all the blasphemous wordes of Rabsak, they returned and tolde4. Reg. 19. ca. them to Ezechias. Who hearing those euill newes, rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth, and fell prostrate vpon his face, and prayed vnto the Lorde to helpe him, and to haue mercy vpon his people, and beside that, he sent to E­say the Prophet, desiring him to pray vnto the Lord for them: whose prayer the Lorde hearde, and bade him go tell Ezechias, that the blasphemous rayling of Rabsak shoulde turne to his great shame, for he should go home againe without victorie, and neuer a stroke stricken. And so almightie God sent his Aungell, which plagued the whole armye of the Assirians with such a pestilence, that in one night there dyed. 185. thousande. At the which sodaine death, Rabsak and all his hoste that were left, ranne away. And then, Sennacherib got him to Niniue, where at the last, being in the Temple, worshipping his God Nisroch, his owne sonnes siue him. Note: ¶ Sennache­rib, the bushe of destruction.

Nu. 21. e. f. g. Seon, was King of the Ammorites, whose lande bordered so vpon the lande of Canaan, that Moses could not passe from the desert of Cades to Canaan, but hée must néedes go thorowe it, wherfore Moses sent messen­gers to King Seon, beséeching him of licence to passe tho­row his land by the Kings hye way, and he would neither hurt his fields nor vineyards, neither yet take so much as one drop of water for him and his cattell to drinke, but he would pay for it. Which resonable request, Seon refused. And thinking to haue ouercome Moses and all his people (bycause they were straungers sore laboured and weary­ed and knewe not the coast of his Countrey, neyther the shiftes of the Realme) he made out two great Armies a­gaynst Moses: Who hearing thereof was so afrayd that he asked counsell of God what he shoulde doe: And God bade him not feare, but fight manfullye and bodely with them, for the victorie shoulde be his. And so was Seon with all his power and pollicie ouerthrowen. Note: ¶ Seon: a rooting out, or treading vnder foote.

Exod. 1. [...]. Sephora, and Phua, were twoo of the Chiefest Mydwyues in all Egipt, vnto whom King Pharao gaue a commaundement, that when so euer they dyd execute their office among the women of the Hebrues, and sawe in the byrth a man Childe, to kill it. But they, (fearing God more than man) brake his commaundement, and saued all the men children, laying for their excuse vnto the King, that the women of the Hebrues were not as the women of Egipt, but so strong and sturdy women that they were delyuered before the Mydwyues came. And for this déede, God delt mercyfully with the Wy­dowes, bycause they feared him, & made them to prosper. Note: ¶ Sephora, Fayre. ¶ Looke, Zephora.

Act. 13. b. Sergius Paulus, the Lieutenaunt or Lorde De­putie [Page 278] of Cypres, was a prudent man, who neuerthelesse had bene sore seduced by one Beriesu the great sorcerer. And now, hearing the Gospell to be sowen thoroweout all the Countrey by Paule and Barnabas, was desi­rous to heare it, wherevpon he sent for them: By whose preaching and great myracles that they dyd before him, he was at the last turned to the fayth of Christ.

Gen. 4. d. 5. a. Seth, was the thirde sonne of Adam, and gaue him­selfe all to vertue and godlinesse. His Father was at the age of an hundred and thirtie yeres before he begot Seth. Seth was an hundred and fiue yeres olde, before he begot Enos. He liued after the birth of Enos eight hundred and seauen yeares. So that all the dayes of Seth, were nyne hundred and twelue yeares. Note: ¶ Seth, set, or put.

Sesac, looke Sisach.

Gen. 34. cap. Sichem, the sonne of Hemor the Heuyte, rauished Dina the daughter of Iacob. For the which déede, Sy­meon and Leuy (the brothers of Dina) sigue both Sichem, and his father Hemor with many mo.

Dan. 3. cap. Sidrach, Misach and Abednago, were thrée of Da­niels companions, and of the Children of Iuda. Which thrée yoong men Nebuchodonosor (at Daniels interces­sion) made Rulers ouer all the Officers in the lande of Babilon. And bycause they woulde not fall downe to the Kinges golden Image which he had made and set vp to be woorshipped, they were accused to the King, as trans­gressours of his commaundement. And being brought before the King, he straighly charged them, to be ready the next daye when they hearde the noyse of Trompettes and other Instruments of Musicke, to fall downe & woor­ship his Image as other dyd, or else they shoulde be cast into the whote burning Ouen, and then let sée (quoth hée) [Page 279] what god is able to deliuer you out of my handes. They aunswered and sayde: Oh Nabuchodonosor, we ought not to consent to thée in this matter? For why: our God whome we serue is able to kéepe vs from the whote bur­ning Ouen, (O King) and can right well delyuer vs out of thy hands: And though he will not, yet shalt thou know (O King) that we will not serue thy goddes, nor doe re­uerence to that Image which thou hast set vp. The King hearing this, was so full of indignaciō, that he caused the strongest men that were in all his host, to bind them hand and foote, and cast them into the Ouen, which Ouen was made so exceding hote, that the flame of the fire destroyed those men that cast them in. And as the King looked into the Ouen after the men, he sawe fower walking at liber­tie in the middest of the Ouen, and the fourth man was lyke vnto the sonne of God to looke vpon. And being sore astonyed thereat, he went to the Ouens mouth and saide: O yée seruauntes of God, come out of the Ouen. And when they were come foorth, it coulde not be perceyued, neyther by the heaire of their heades, neyther yet by the smell of their garments, that euer any fyre had touched them. And so the King praysed the God of Sidrach, Mi­sach and Abednago, and promoted them to honour.

Act. 15. d. g. Silas, was a certayne Disciple sent with Paule and Barnabas and other chosen brethren, to Antioche to pacifie the variaunce, which was there happened about circumcision. And after the falling out of Paule & Bar­nabas about Iohn Marke: Silas became Paules com­panion,16. d. e. f. and labour fellow in the Gospell a great whyle, and was in bondes with him at Philippos, where they conuerted the Iayler and all the Prisoners, and were de­liuered as Romaynes. From thence they departed to17. a. d. Thessalonica, where the Iewes set the Citie in such a rore agaynst them that Paule was fayne to flye to At­thens, leauing Silas behind him, with a precept, to make18. a. [Page 300] spéede after him, who came to Paule at Corinth.

Gen. 30. b. Silpha, was hand mayde or seruaunt to Lea, who being giuen (by hir mystresse consent) to Iacob to wyfe, brought him foorth twoo sonnes, Gad and Aser. Note: ¶ Silpha, a Rheume or distillacion at the mouth, or vylenesse.

2 Cor. 1. d. Siluanus, was a great setter foorth of the Gospell with Paule and Timotheus, as is mencioned in the first and seconde epistle to the Thessalonians first Chapters.

Luc. 2. c. f. Simeon, was a blessed olde man dwelling in Ieru­salem, which longed sore for the comming of Messias. And where as he had prayed vnto God, to giue hym the gift, that he might but once sée him with his bodyly eyes before he departed out of this worlde, he receyued an an­swere of the holy Ghost, that he shoulde not sée death vn­till he had séene Christ with his fleshly eyes (which he had séene many aday before with the eyes of his fayth.) And when the tyme came that the Childe Iesus shoulde bée brought into the Temple by his parents, Symeon by the inspiracion of the holy Ghost, came into the Temple a little before them, and when he had séene all things done by the Priest according to the lawe, he (of a godly zeale) tooke the Babe in his armes also and sayde: Lorde, now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace, according to thy promise: For mine eyes hath séene thy saluasion which thou hath prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten the Gentils, and the glory of thy people Israel. And when he had blessed the Babe, he sayde to Mary the childes mother: Beholde this childe is set to be the fall and vprising agayne of many in Israel, and for a signe which is spoken against. And moreouer, the swoorde shall pierce thy soule, that the thoughtes of many hearts may be opened. Note: ¶ Simeon, hearing, or a perfect hearing.

1. Mac. 2. a. Symon, the seconde sonne of Mathathias, was a man of great wysedome, and the hygh Priest among the Iewes. He helped much his brother Iudas & Ionathas [...]. c. in the warres, and after the death of Iudas, he discomfi­ted Bachides, and was made Captayne ouer the Iewes9. g. after the apprehension of Ionathas, and ouercame An­tiochus.13. b. But in the ende, he was of Ptolomy his sonne16. c. in lawe most trayterously murthered.

2. Mac. 3. a. Symon, of the Tribe of Beniamin, being a Ruler of the Temple what time as Onias was the high Priest, went about to worke much mischiefe in the Citie of Ie­rusalem. And when he sawe that he coulde not ouercome Onias and the other Priestes that resisted hym, he got him to Appolonius, which then was Gouernour of Celo­siria and Phineces and tolde him that the Treasurye in Ierusalem was full of innumerable money, which dyd not belong to the prouision of the sacrifice, and that it were possible that these thinges might come to the Kings hands: But when this bewrayer of the money and of his4. [...]. owne naturall Countrye sawe the great plague that fell on Heliodorus, (which was sent for the money) and that his cursed deuise coulde take no place, then he fell to ray­ling and slaundering of Onias, reporting of hym, that he had mooued Heliodorus to that malicious enterprice, yea: so much increased his malice against the godly man Onias, that he could not speake well of him. Wherefore Onias (the malice of Symon compelling him therevnto) complayned on Symon to Seleucus the King, to haue him reformed.

Math. 27. [...]. Symon, of Ceren, the Father of Alexander and Rufus, was compelled to beare Christes Crosse when he went to his passion. It was the custome to make hym that was condempned, to carye his Crosse: And foras­much [Page 302] as Iesus was not able to do it for weakenesse, they tooke Symon as he came out of the fielde, and made hym to beare it after Iesus.

Luk. 7. g. Simon, a certaine Pharisey, inuited Iesus to hys Table. And Iesus sitting at meate with him, there came in a certayne woman with an Alabaster bore of oynt­ment, who stoode behinde him wéeping, and beganne to washe his féete with teares, and to wype them with the heares of hir heade. That done, she kissed them, and an­noynted them with hir swéete oyntment. Then Simon which had well marked all hir doings, spake within him­selfe, saying: if this man were a Prophete, he woulde surely haue knowen, who and what maner of woman this is which toucheth him, for she is a sinner: To whose thought Iesus aunswered, and sayde: Simon I haue somewhat to saye vnto thée: saye on Maister (quoth he.) There was a certayne lender which had two detters, the one ought fiue hundred pence, and the other fiftie: And when they had nothing to paye, he forgaue them both, which of them therefore, tell me, will loue him moste? Simon sayde: I suppose that he will loue him best, to whome he forgaue most: Thou hast truely sayde (quoth he.) Then Iesus turning vnto the woman, sayde to Si­mon: féest thou this woman, I entred into thyne house, and thou gauest mée no water to my féete, but she hath washed my féete with teares, and wyped them with the heare of hir heade: thou gaue me no kisse: but she since the time she came in, hath not ceassed to kisse my féete. Mine heade with oyle thou didst not annoint, but she hath annoynted mine heade with oyntment. Wherefore I say vnto thée, that many sinnes are forgiuen hir, for sheLoue cau­seth not re­mission of sinnes: but remission of sinnes cau­seth loue. lo­ued much, to whome a little is forgiuen, will loue a little.

Act. 8. c. d. Simon Magus, which had of a long time seduced the people of Samaria with his sorcery and witchcraft, [Page 303] was had in so great estimation among the multitude, euen from the hyest to the lowest, that they counted himThis Simō Magus, was of so great es­timation in Rome, that ymages were erected to him as a God. Gods felowe, and to worke all things by his power: so much were they giuen to followe the illusions of Satan, more than the truth of God. But when Simon had heard the preaching of Philip, and séene his myracles, and the number of people conuerted to the fayth of Christ, he was forced himselfe also (by the maiestie of Gods worde) to confesse the truth. And so (to couer his hypocrisie) dis­sembled to beléeue, and was baptised, and continued with Philip. But after this, when Peter and Iohn were come from Ierusalem, and had layde their handes on the peo­ple, by the which the holy Ghost was giuen: Simon (co­ueting to haue that gift as well as they) offered the Apo­stles money, to gyue him the power to doe the same: To whome Peter sayde: Thy money perishe wyth thée, bi­cause thou wéenest that the gift of God may be obtayned with money: thou hast neyther part nor followshippe in this businesse, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God: Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse, and pray God that the thoughtes of thine heart maye be forgyuen thée, for I perceyue that thou art full of bytter gall, and wrapped in iniquitie: Then sayde Simon, pray ye vnto the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye haue spoken, fall on me. And so they left him full of malice and deuilish poyson, tyed in the bondes of Satan.

¶ Of Simon the sonne of Onias, whose prayse is set out. Eccle. 50.

¶ Simon, one of Christes kinsemen. Math. 13. g.

¶ Simon the Tanner, with whom saint Peter hosted many a day. Act. 9. g. 10. a.

¶ Simon, surnamed Niger, which was one of the Prophetes and teachers, in the Congregation at Anti­oche. Act. 13. a.

¶ Simon the Cananite, surnamed Zelotes, and one of the twelue. Math. 10. a. Luke. 6. c.

Philip. 4. 2. Sintiches, was a certayne Christian brother, to whome Paule sent salutacions from Rome, exhorting him and Euodias to be of one accorde in the Lorde.

3. Esd. 6. cap. Sisennes, the vnder shirife in Siria and Pheni­ces, with other heade Rulers there, went to Zorobabel and his Companions the Iewes (which were come by Darius licence, to builde the house of the Lorde at Ieru­salem agayne) and demaunded who had giuen them such commaundement. And when they saw the Iewes would not cease, then he (with others) sent their letters of com­plaint7. 2. to Darius the King to knowe his pleasure. And when they had receyued the Kings aunswere, Sisennes with all the reast of the Rulers, obeyed the Kinges com­maundement, and helped the Iewes with all diligence to builde the sanctuaire agayne, and so the woorke went foorth and prospered.

[...]. Reg. 14. g. Sisach, King of Egypt came to Ierusalem in the fift yere of the reigne of Roboam, with twelue hundred Cha­rets, and thréescore thousande horsemen, and people in­numerable, and spoyled the Temple of the Lorde, and the Kings house, and tooke away all the treasure in both, with the shieldes of gold, which Salomon had made, and so departed. Note: ¶ Sisach, an emptie, or a voyde sacke, or bagge.

Iudic. 4. cap. Sisera, was the generall Captaine of King Iabyns hoste. And trusting in the great strength of his Chariots of yron (which were nyne hundred) and power of his men, he went against the children of Israel, thinking to haue cuerrunne them all. But God so wrought with the holye Prophetesse Debora, and wyth Barach hir Captayne, that they destroyed his Chariots with all his host. So that Sisera himselfe was fayne to flie on foote. And com­ming by the tent of Heber (for there was peace betwéene [Page 305] King Iabin and the house of Heber) he turned in. And being sore a thirst, he desired Iael the wyfe of Heber to giue him some drinke: and she brought a bottell of milke, and gaue it him to drinke, and when he had drunke, and was layde downe to take his rest, he sayde to Iael: Goe (I praye thée) & stande in the Tent doore: And when any doth come to enquire of thée, if there be any man here, say nay. And so thinking he had béene safe ynough, tooke his rest, and fell a sléepe. Then Iael with a nayle which shée droue into his heade, slue him. Note: ¶ Sisera, bee that seeth a Swallowe.

2. Reg. 17. g. Soby, the sonne of Nahas out of Rabba the Citie of the children of Ammon, and Machir the sonne of Ammi­el out of Lodebar, and Berzelai the Gileadite out of Ro­gel, what time as Dauid lay with his people in the wil­dernesse of Mahanaim, hungrye, wearye, and thirstye, brought vnto him, bedding, Wheate, Barley, with all other necessaries, to ease and refreshe Dauid and hys men, in that time of aduersitie.

Act. 18. [...]. Sostenes, of whome saint Paule maketh mention in his first Epistle to the Corinthians first Chapter, was the chiefe Ruler of the sinagoge in the Citie of Achaia, a­gaynst whome the Gréekes had such indignation, for ta­king Paules part agaynst the Iewes, that they fell vpon him; before the Iudges féete (where Gallio the Lorde Deputie sate) and smote him: And Gallio not passing thereof, let them alone, and woulde not meddle luyth the matter.

Rom. 16. b. Stachis, to whome Paule (in his letter of commen­dations, sendeth gréeting, saying: salute Vrban our helper in Christ, and Stachis my beloued.

1. Cor. 16. [...]. Stephana, was a faythfull louer of Christ and hys [Page 306] doctryne, in whose commendation, Paule to the Corin­thians wryteth thus: Brethren ye knowe the house of Stephana, and of Fortunatus and Achaicus: howe that they are the first fruites of Achaia: And that they haue appoynted themselues to mynister vnto the sayntes: I beséech you that ye be obedient vnto such, and to all that helpe & labour. I am glad of the comming of Stephana, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus: for that which was lac­king vnto me on your part, they haue supplyed. For they haue comforted my spirite and yours: Looke therefore that ye knowe them that are such.

Act. 6. cap. Steuen, a man full of fayth, and of the holy ghost, was one of the seauen Deacons chosen in the congrega­tion, to make prouision for the poore, which did greate woonders and myracles amonge the people. Against whome arose certayne of the Sinagoge, which were called Libertines, Cirenites, and of Alexandria, Cilisia, and Asia, which disputed with him. And when they could not resist his wisedome, and the spirit of God wherewith he spake, they accused him of blasphemie agaynst God and Moses, and brought him before the Counsell wyth their false witnesses ready, which sayde: we hearde this fellowe speake blasphemous wordes against this holye place and Lawe, saying that Iesus of Nazareth shoulde destroy this place, and chaunge the ordinaunces which Moses gaue vs. And all the Counsell looked stedfastly vp­pon him, and sawe his face, as it had bene the face of an Angell. Then Steuen (for as much as he was accused toV. cap. be a denyer of God) made an earnest aunswere vnto hys accusation, in the ende whereof, the Counsell waxed so angry against him, that their hearts claue a sunder, and gnashed on him with their téeth. But he (being full of the holy ghost) looked stedfastly vp with his eies into heauen, and sawe the glorye of God, and Iesus standing at the right hande of God, and sayde: Beholde, I sée heauen [Page 307] open, and the sonne of man standing on the r [...]ght hande of God, with the which, the people gaue a gr [...]at shoute, and stopped their eares, and ranne vpon him all at once, and caryed him out of the Citie to put him to death. And as they stoned him, he sayde: Lord Iesu receyue my spi­rite. And knéeling downe, cryed with a lowde voyce: Lorde lay not this sinne vnto their charge: And so fell a sléepe in the Lorde.

Dan. 13. cap. Susanna, the daughter of Helchia, was a verye fayre woman, giuen to all vertue and godlinesse. Hir hus­bandes name was Ioachim, a man of great reputacion among the Iewes. In the first yeare that Susanna was maryed, there were twoo Iudges made which resorted much to Ioachyms house, and all such as had anye thing to doe in the lawe, came thither vnto them. These twoo Iudges (being wicked men) were so wounded with the loue of Susanna, and burned so in lust with hir, that they coulde not tell what to doe: But neyther durst tell the o­ther his griefe nor yet (for shame) vtter their inordinate lust vnto hir. And so on a daye, when they had sit long in Ioachyms h [...]use about matters of the lawe, and wayted for to haue their purpose on Susanna, and coulde not, they brake vp and went home to dinner. And at their re­turne agayne togithers, the one brake to the other their whole mindes, and appointed a tyme, when they might take hir alone. And when they had spyed oute a conue­nient tyme, that Susanna went into the Garpen (as hir maner was) with twoo of hir Maydens onely, to wash hir selfe, these twoo hidde themselues in the Garden agaynst hir comming. And assoone as the Maydens had shut the Drcharde doores, and were gone for Oyle and Sope for their Mystresse, the twoo Elders came vppon Susanna and sayde: The Garden doores be nowe shut that no man can sée vs, and we burne in lust towardes thée, therefore consent, and lye with vs, if thou wilt not, we will beare [Page 308] witnesse agaynst thée that a yoong man was in the Dr­chard with thée, and therefore thou sen [...]t away thy May­dens. Then Susanna sighed and sayde: If I doe followe your minds, it will be my death: and if I consent not vn­to you I cannot escape your handes. It is better for mée to fall into your handes without the déede dooing, than to sinne in the sight of the Lorde, and with that cryed out with a lowde voyce, and the Elders cryed out agaynst hir, which clamour on both parties was so great, that it was hearde among the Seruauntes without, which ranne to the Orcharde doore and burst it open, to sée what the matter was: And when the seruaunts, had heard the Elders report of Susanna, they were greatly ashamed, for there was neuer such a reporte made of Susanna be­fore. And so on the next morowe, the twoo Elders (full of mischieuous imaginacions) declared the matter to Ioachym hir husband to bring hir to death. And when she was come with hir father and mother, hir Children and all hir kinne, to be iudged according to the law, she stoode before the twoo wicked Iudges with hir face couered, who commaunded to take the cloth from hir face, that at the least, they might be satisfied with hir bewtie, which thing being done: The Iudges stoode vp and layed their handes vpon the heade of Susanna, saying: As we were walking in the Orcharde alone, this woman came in with hir twoo Maydens, whom she sent awaye from hir, making fast the Orcharde doore after them. Then starte their vp a yoong fellowe which laye hidde in the Garden, and went vnto hir & laye with hir. Then we which stoode in a corner séeing this wickednesse, [...]anne vnto them, and saw them as they were togither, but we coulde not holde the fellowe, for he was stronger than we, and got open the doore and leaped out: And when we demaunded of hir what fellow it was, she woulde not tell vs: This is the matter, and we be witnesse of the same. Then Susanna cryed out and sayde: O euerlasting God, thou searcher [Page 309] of heartes, thou that knowest all things before they come▪ to passe▪ thou wotest that they haue borne false witnesse agaynst mée: And beholde, I muste dye, whereas I ne­uer intended anye such thing, as these men haue mali­ciously ymagined agaynst mée. And as she was ledde to­warde the place of execution, the Lorde of Heauen which hearde hir prayer, raysed vp the spirite of a little Childe called Daniel, who cryed with a lowde voyce▪ saying: I am cleane from the bloude of this woman. And when the people hearde that, they stayed to knowe of the Childe what he ment by his woordes. O yée Children of Israel (sayde he) are yée such fooles, that without examinacion and knowledge of the truth, ye haue condemned a daugh­ter of Israel, returne agayne to iudgement for they haue borne false witnesse agaynst hir. Then the people went backe agayne, and the Elders tooke Daniel, and set him among them in iudgement. Who, when he had com­maunded the twoo false witnesses to be seuered that he might examine them, he called the one before hym and sayde: O thou that arte olde in a wicked lyfe, nowe thy sin [...]es which thou hast committed afore tyme, are come to light: Tell mée vnder what Trée thou sawest this woman and the yoong fellowe togither, he sayde, vnder a Mulbery Trée. Now veryly (quoth Daniel) thou hast lyed, and arte woorthy of death, in that thou hast oppres­sed the innocent, and letten the guiltie go frée, contrarie to the woordes of the Lorde, which sayth: The innocent and righteous, sée thou slay not. Then he called the other and sayde: O thou séede of Canaan, but not of Iuda. Bewtie hath disceyued thée, and lust hath subverted thine heart: Thus haue ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they (for feare) consented vnto you, but the daugh­ters of Iuda woulde not abyde your wickednesse: Now tell mée, vnder what Trée, dyddest thou take them com­panying togither? He aunswered, vnder a Pyne Trée. Nowe verily sayde Daniel, thou hast lyed also agaynst [Page 310] thine head. The messenger of the Lord standeth wayting with the swoorde to cut thée in twoo, and so to destroye you both. And with that the whole assembly cryed with a lowde voyce, and praysed God, which so myraculously had preserued Susanna that daye. And so fell vppon the twoo wicked Iudges, and according to the law of Moses, put them both to death.

¶ Susanna, one of those godly women which followed Christ and his Apostles, relieuing them with hir sub­staunce, as much as laye in hir power.

T.

TAddeus, was one of the twelue Apostles. Note: ¶ Tad­deus, Math. 10. praysing, or Confessing.

Act. 24. a. Tartullus, was a certayne Dratour, the which A­nanias the hye Priest had brought with him, to informe Felix the ruler agaynst Paule. And when Paule was brought foorth. Tartullus began to accuse hym, saying: Séeing that we lyue in great quietnesse by the meanes of thée, and that many good thinges are done vnto this na­cion, thorowe thy prouidence, that we euer alowe and in all places most mightie Felix with all thanks. Notwith­standing that I be not tedyous vnto thée, I praye thée that thou wouldest heare vs of thy curtesie, a few words: For we haue founde this man, a Pestilent fellowe, and a moouer of debate vnto all the Iewes thoroweout the Worlde, and a maintayner of the sect of the Nazarites: And hath also inforced to pollute the Temple, whom we tooke and woulde haue iudged according to our law: But the hygh captayne Lysias came vpon vs, and with great violence, tooke him away out of our handes, commaun­ding his accusers to come vnto thée. Of whome thou mayst (if thou wilt inquyre) knowe the certaynetie of all these thinges, whereof we accuse him. Note: Tartullus: a sals [...]reporter, or a teller of tales, a lyer.

Gen. 11. d. Terah, was the sonne of Nahor, the Sonne of Se­rug. He, at the age of seuentie yeres, begot Abraham, but he had before by an other wife, Nahor and Haran. All the dayes that Terah lyued were two hundred and fiue yere. Note: ¶ Terah, Smelling. ¶ Looke in the story of Abraham.

Rom. 16. d. Tercius, was the name of him that wrote the Epi­stle of S. Paule to the Romaynes, whyle Paule endited it, saying on this wyse: I Tercius salute you, which wrote this Epistle in the Lord. Note: ¶ Tercius, a Latine worde.

2. Reg. 13. a. b. c. d. Thamar, the daughter of Dauid was so bewtiefull a yoong woman that Ammon hir brother fell sicke for hir loue. And when she had visited Ammon (at hir Fathers commaundement) and drest hym certayne meate and brought it into his Chamber, he began to force hir to lye with hym. Then she séeing that, sayde: Naye my bro­ther doe not force mée, for no such thing ought to be done in Israel, commit not this folye. For whither shall I be able to go with my shame: And thou shalt be as one of the fooles in Israel: Nowe therefore I praye thée speake vnto the King, & he will not denye mée vnto thée. Now­beit, Ammon would not hearcken vnto hir voyce, but be­ing stronger than she, forced Thamar and laye with hir. And than was his hatred so great agaynst hir, that hée thrust hir from him, and bade hir get hir out of his sight: Well (sayde Thamar) Thou hast no cause thus to in­treate mée, for this euill, that thou puttest mée awaye, is greater than that thou dyddest vnto mée. Neuerthelesse, there was no remedye, but out of his house she must go. And when his seruaunt had put hir foorth, and made fast the doores after hir, she put ashes vpon hir head, and rent hir gay kyrtle (which was of diuers colours, & the maner of apparell that Kings daughters, such as were Virgins dyd vse to weare) and so went crying home to hir brother [Page 312] Absaloms house, where she remayned desolate. Note: ¶ Tha­mar, a [...]almeir [...]e.

¶ Thamar, which was daughter in Lawe to Iuda, the sonne of Iacob. Reade hir story, in the storie of Iuda▪

¶ Thamar the daughter of Absalom. 2. Reg. 14. g.

Act. 5. g. Theudas, was an Inchaunter, and false deceyuer, who by boasting himselfe to the people, and promising of prodigious thinges, drewe vnto him a great company of men, to the number of foure hundred. Whose wicked enterprise (for as much as it procéeded of a malicious stomacke) came to an vnthriftie ende. For both he hym­selfe suffered paynes of death and his partakers, some slayne and some taken prisoners. And so the reast being scattered abrode, the sect came to naught.

4. Reg. 16. b. Thiglath, Peleser, King of Assiria, who had recey­ued of Ahaz King of Iuda a great summe of treasure to come and helpe him agaynst Rezin King of Siria, came to Damasco and tooke the Citie, and slue Rezin the King there: And caryed the people awaye to Kyr.

2. Reg. 8. c. Thoi, King of Hamath had a great enimie of Hada­rezar King of Zoba. And when he heard how Dauid had ouercome and beaten hym, he sent his sonne Ioram to Dauid, with vessels of Golde, siluer and brasse, for a pre­sent, and to salute him with peace, & to giue him thanks, for that he had fought with his auncient enimie, and so valyauntly ouercome him.

Iudic. 10. a. Thola, the sonne of Phua of the generacion of Isa­char dwelling in Samir in Mount Ephraim, succéeded his vncle Abimelech and iudged Israel thrée and twentie yeares, and was buryed in Samir. And after hym rose Iair. Note: ¶ Thola, a Worme.

Math. 10. [...]. Thomas, otherwise called Didimus (which signi­fieth in English doubtfull) was one of the twelue Apo­stles of Christ. Who (what time as the Disciples diswa­ded Iesus from going into Iewrye agayne, forasmuch as the Iewes had lately sought to stone him) sayde: LetIohn. 11. c. vs go also, that we maye dye with hym. This Thomas20. f. g. doubting of the resurrection of Christ, sayde vnto his fel­lowes which tolde him that they had séene the Lorde: Ex­cept I sée in his hands the print of the nayles and put my finger into the print (or place) of the nayles, and put my hande into his side, I will not beléeue. After eyght dayes (Thomas being with the Disciples) came Iesus agayne, and stoode in the middest, saying: peace be with you: and saide to Thomas, put thy finger here and sée my handes, and thrust foorth thy hande and put it into my side, and be not faythlesse but faythfull. Then Thomas conceyuing a full fayth that it was the Lorde, sayde: Thou arte my Lord and my God. Which confession Iesus dyd well ac­cept & imbrace, but yet withall to reprooue the hardnesse of his beliefe, he sayde vnto him: Thomas, bycause thou hast séene mée thou beléeuest: Blessed are they that haue not séene, and yet haue beléeued. Note: ¶ Thomas, A twin.

Luk. 3. a. Tiberius, was an Emperour, of whom saint Luke maketh mencion in his Gospell, saying: That in the fif­tene yeare of his raygne, the worde of God came to Iohn Baptist in the Wildernesse. Note: ¶ Tiberius, A good sight or vision.

Act. 20. a. Tichicus, was one of the Disciples, which went out of Asia, to Troas, where he abode Pauls comming, whoEphe. 6. b. sent him afterwarde to the Ephesians, and also to the Collossians with his Epistles, to informe them in whatColl. 4. b. case he stoode in, and what he dyd in all thinges. Note: ¶ Ti­chicus, casuall, or comming by chaunce.

1. Mac. 5. cap. Timothy, was a certayne Captayne of the Am­monites, which was twise ouercome and put to flight of Machabeus, and at the thirde tyme so sore discomfited8. e. (thorowe helpe of the fiue men which God made to ap­peare10. e. f. g. on horsebacke, with brydels of Golde leading the Iewes, and twoo of them hauing Machabeus betwéene them) that Timothyes hoste were so confounded with blindnesse and so sore afrayde, that they fell downe and were slayne of them, twentie thousande and fiue hundred footemen, with sixe hundred horsemen, and he himselfe fayne to take the strong holde of Gazar, to the which Ma­chabeus layed siege foure dayes, and coulde not winne it. Wherefore they within (trusting to the strength of the holde) fell to cursing and rayling on the Iewes with moste spitefull woordes, and made so great crakes and boast of their strength, that on the fift daye, the Iewes were so chafed in their mindes, that with bolde courage they scaled the Walles, and set the Portes on fire, and brent those crakers and blasphemers, and got the Castle which was twoo dayes in destroying, where (at the last) they found Timothy (which was crept into a corner) and slue him, with Cereas his brother, captayne of the Ca­stle. Reade the storie of Dositheus. Note: ¶ Timothy: the ho­nour of God, or be that honoureth God.

Act. 16. a. Timothy, was a certayne godlye Disciple, whose mother was a Iewe, and his father a Paynim. Of this man there went so good a report of his verteous lyuing among the brethren of Lystra and Iconium, that Paule was much desirous to haue him go foorth with him in his iourney, wherefore he tooke and circumcised him, bicause of the Iewes in those quarters, which knewe his Fa­ther to be a Gréeke. And so went Timothy foorth withPhil. 2. c. Paule, and (as he reporteth) euen as a sonne with the Father, bestowed he his laboure with hym vppon the Gospell. He was a man of great studye and abstinence, [Page 315] thorowe the which he fell oftentymes sicke. And there­fore Paule, to measure his abstinence, exhorteth him to1. Tim. 5. d. drincke no longer water, but to vse a little Wine.

Act. 19. b. Tyrannus, was a certayne schoolemayster in Asia, in whose schoole Paule disputed dayly by the space of two yeares. Note: ¶ Tyrannus, Commaunding, or a Prince, a Tyrant.

2. Cor. 2. c. Titus, was S. Paules disciple, whome (for the ex­cellent giftes that were in him) Paule looued as if he had7. a. 8. b. d. bene his owne naturall sonne. And made him the chiefe ouerséer (or as ye woulde say Archbishop) of the Christi­anTit. 1. a. b. congregation in the noble Ile of Crete. And in euery Citie within the Ile, Titus ordeyned an ouerséer (which we call a Bishop) for the which cause, Paule prescribed vnto him, the true forme of a Bishop or shepehearde of Christes flocke. Note: ¶ Titus, Honorable.

Tob. 1. Toby, was a godlye man of the Tribe and Citie of Nephtaly: And being brought into great captiuitie, in the dayes of Salmanasar king of Assiria, yet woulde he not forsake the way of truth, nor worship the golden Cal­ues (as other did) neyther yet defyle himselfe with the Heathens meate, but alwayes kept his heart pure vnto God. For the which, the Lorde gaue him such fauour in the sight of Salmanasar the King, that Toby had power to go where he woulde, and to doe whatsoeuer him lyst. Then Toby hauing this libertie, went about comforting all those that were in prison, both with his goodes and godly exhortacions. Such was his dayly exercise, to feede the hungrye, to cloth the naked, and to burie the deade, with such like déedes of Charitie. And when the time came that Sennacherib (which hated the children of Is­rael) reygned in his fathers steade, and in his wrath slue many of them. Toby buried their bodies, for the which the King commaunded to sley him, and to take away his [Page 316] goodes, who neuerthelesse (thorowe friendshippe) escaped and fled. And after the Kings death, being slayne of hys owne sonnes within .xlv. dayes after, Toby returned, and was restored to his goodes agayne, and called his kinred and friendes togither, and made a great feast. And sitting at the Table with his guestes, one tolde him there lay an Israelite slayne in the stréete, who then immediatly lept from the boorde, and went fasting to the deade corse, and brought him home to his house, where he hidde him pri­uily vntill the Sunne was downe, and then buryed hym. For the which déede his friendes reprooued him, bicause he had bene in daunger but a little before, euen for the lyke matter. But neuerthelesse, Tobias (fearing God more than the King) woulde take the slayne, and hyde them in his house, and bnrie them at midnight. Inso­much that one tyme he was so weary with burying the deade, that he got him home, and layde him downe be­side a wall for wearynesse, where he fell on sléepe: And so lying, there fell downe vpon his eyes, warme dung out of a swalowes nest, which tooke awaye his sight, that he coulde not sée, agaynst the which plague of blindnesse he neuer grudged, but remayned steadfast in the feare of God, giuing him thankes as well for that, as other gifts of health. And this temptacion God suffered to fall on Toby, for an example of pacience to all that should come after. Finally, of his great pacience, déede of charitie, and other godlye exhortacions, his booke is full. He lost hisTob. 14. a. sight at the age of sixe and fiftie yeares. And was resto­red at thrée score so that he remayned blind about a foure yeare. And lyued after he had receyued his sight twoo and fourtie yeares, and so he dyed at the age of an hundred and twoo yeares, and was honourably buryed in the Ci­tie of Niniue. Note: ¶ Tobiah, the Lorde is good.

Tob. 5. cap. Toby, the sonne of Toby, being brought vp in the feare of God, followed the vert uous steppes of his father [Page 317] in all thinges. He was sent to the Citie of Rages to one Gabelus for certayne money which his father had lent him. And (after many daungers by the waye) was, by6. a. Goddes prouision, whose Aungell was his guide, maryed7. a. there, to the daughter of Raguel whose name was Sara. And when he had taryed with his father and mother in lawe, about a twoo wéekes, he returned home with much8. d. substaunce, to the great consolation and comfort of olde Toby his Father, and Anna his Mother. After whose11. cap. death (when he had remayned at Niniue the space of two14. d. and fourtie yeares) he departed with his wyfe and seuen sonnes to the Citie of Rages, where he founde his Fa­their and mother in lawe, both lyuing in great age, on whom he tooke the care vntill they died, and was heyre to all there goodes. And when this Toby had lyued .xcix. yeares, he dyed and was buryed. After whose death, his posteritie continued in such an holye conuersacion of life, that they were belooued and accepted both of God and man.

2. Esd. 2. a. Toby, the Ammonite and sonne in lawe to Secha­nia, was one that conspired with Sanabalat to hinder the buylding of Ierusalem. For when Sanabalat sayde in derision of the Iewes: What doe these weake Iewes? will they fortifie themselues? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they make the stones whole agayne out of the heapes of dust, séeing they are burnt? Then Toby which stoode besyde hym sayde: Although6. d. they buylde, yet if a Fore go vp, hée shall euen breake downe their stonye Wall. This Toby wrought all the wayes he could, both by letters and false Prophets hyred for money, to feare Esoras from the worke, but coulde not preuayle.

Rom. 16. b. Triphena, and Triphosa, were certayne godly wo­men, to whom Saint Paule (for their deligent labour in [Page 318] the Gospell) sendeth gréetinges, saying: Salute Tri­phena and Triphosa, which women laboured in the Lord. Note: ¶ Triphena: a fyne, nice, or delicate woman.

1. Mac. 11. e. cap. Triphon, was a certayne great man which tooke part with King Alexander agaynst King Ptolomy. And when Alexander was dead, Triphon founde the meanes to get his yong sonne Antiochus out of the handes of E­mascuel the Arabian (who had brought him vp) to reigne in his Fathers streade. And when he had got the gouer­naunce of the yoong King, he conceyued treason agaynst hym, which he thought coulde neuer be well brought to passe, so long as Ionathas (whome the King had made hygh Priest) was his friende, wherefore he sought to kill Ionathas, that he might come the easyer by his wic­ked purpose. So Triphon went to a place called Bethsan12. c. cap. at the which place Ionathas met hym with fourtie thou­sande men. Then Triphon perceyuing the great hoste that Ionathas brought, was afrayde, and thought it not best to meddle with him at that time, but to vse some po­licie howe to betraye hym. And so commaunding all his souldieurs to be as obedient to Ionathas in all thinges, euen as they woulde be vnto himselfe, he receyued hym honorablye with great rewardes. And being mette togi­thers, Triphon sayde to Ionathas: Why hast thou cau­sed this people to take such traueyle, séeing there is no warre betwéene vs? Therefore sende them home againe, and choose certayne men to wayte vpon thée, and come thou with mée to Ptclomais for I will giue it thée, with other strong holdes, for that is the onelye cause of my comming, and so I must depart. Then Ionathas (belée­uing Triphon) sent away his hoste, all saue a thousande, and so went with Triphon to Ptolomais. And assoone as Ionathas and his men were entered the Citie, the gates were shut and Ionathas put in warde, & all his men were1. Mac. 13. a. b. c. d. slayne. After this, Triphon went into the lande of Iuda [Page 319] with a great hoste, hauing Ionathas with hym in warde. And when he had knowledge that Symon stoode vp in the steade of his brother Ionathas, and that he woulde come agaynst him, he sent worde to Symon, that where as he kept Ionathas his brother in warde, it was but for mony he ought in the Kings account, and other businesse he had in hande. Therefore if he woulde sende hym an hundred Talents of Siluer, and the twoo sonnes of Ionathas to be their fathers suretie, he would sende him home againe: But Symon knewe his dissembling heart well ynough. Yet neuerthelesse (least he should be a greater enimie to the people of Israel, and say an other daye, that bycause he sent him not the money and the children, therefore is Ionathas dead) he sent him both the money and the Chil­dren. Then Triphon, hauing the money and Children, kept Ionathas still, and shortlye after put both the Fa­ther and his children to death. Now Triphon to bring his long pretenced purpose about, on a tyme as he walked a­brode with the yoong King, he most trayterously slue him, and possessed the Realme, and crowned himselfe King of Asia, and dyd much hurte in the lande. Finally, Triphon15. b. cap. was so behated of all men, that when Antiochus the sonne of Demetrius came vpon him, the most part of his owne hoste forsooke him and went to Antiochus, who neuer left persecuting of Triphon, till he made hym flée by shippe, where he was neuer séene more. Note: ¶ Triphon, a delicate and fine man.

Act. 20. a. Trophimus, was an Ephesian borne, who went with Tichicus out of Asia to Troas to make all thinges ready agaynst Paules comming, and abode there till Paule came, from thence they went with Paule to Ieru­salem, where certaine Iewes which were of Asia, mooued the people agaynst Paule, complayning of hym, that he21. f. cap. had brought Gréekes with hym to polute the Temple, bi­cause they saw Trophimus with him in the Citie, whom [Page 320] they supposed Paule had brought into the Temple.

Gene. 4. c. d. Tubal, was the sonne of Lamech by his wyfe Ada. And was the first that inuented the science of Musicke, by the strokes and noyse of the hammers of his brother Tu­balcain which was a Smith, and the first finder out of Mettall and the woorking thereof. Iubal was his brother by father and mother, and Tubalcain onely by the Fa­ther, for Zilla was his mother. Note: ¶ Tubal, borne, or brought, or worldly. ¶ Tubalcain, Worldly possession.

V.

VAsthi, was a verye fayre woman, and wyfe to Ahasuerus (otherwise called Artaxerses) King of Persia. And bycause she woulde not come to the King when he sent for hir, a lawe was deui­sed and made by the seuen Princes of Persia and Medea: That forasmuch as it coulde not be chosen, but that this déede of Quéene Vasthi must néeds come abrode into the eares of all women, both Princes and other, & so dispise their husbandes, and saye: Thus and thus dyd Vasthi to Ahasuerus, by which occasion much dispitefulnesse and wrath shoulde aryse: The King shoulde therefore put hir awaye and take an other, to the ende that all other women (great and small) shoulde holde their husbandes in more honour. And so she was diuersed from the King, and Hester receyued in hir place. Note: ¶ Vasthi, Drincking.

Vrban, was a certayne faythfull Christian brother, to whome Paule sent gréetings, saying: Salute Vrban our helper in Christ.

2. Reg. 11. cap. Vrias, the Hethite, was a man alwayes (for the most part) occupyed in the Kings warres with Ioab the Kings Captayne generall. This Vrias had a fayre wo­man to his wyfe called Bethsabe, whome King Dauid [Page 321] (in his absence) had got with childe. And when the King had knowledge that the woman was conceyued, he sent for Vrias to come home. Who being come to the King, and had tolde him of all thinges concerning Ioab and his men of warre: The King bade him go home to his house, and repose himselfe there a whyle with his wyfe. And so Vrias being departed from the King, went not home to his wyfe, but laye without the Kinges gate, he and all his men that night. And when on the morowe, the King had knowledge thereof he sent for Vrias, & demaunded why he went not home. To whome he sayde: The Arke of Is­rael and Iuda dwell in Tentes, and my Lorde Ioab and the seruaunts of my Lorde, abide in the open fields: shall I than go into mine house to eate and drincke, & lye with my wyfe? By thy lyfe, and by the life of thy soule, I will not doe this thing. Then he was commaunded to tarye a daye or twoo more, and the King wrote a letter to Ioab, the Tenour whereof was this: That he should set Vrias in the fore front of the battell, where it was most shar­pest, to the intent he might be slayne. And so Vrias de­parted from the King, carying his owne death with him, and was soone dispatched out of his lyfe. Note: ¶ Vrias, the light of the Lorde.

4. Re. 16. c. d. Vriah, was the hye Priest in the tyme of Ahaz King of Iuda. And hauing the patterne of an Altar sent vnto hym by the King from Damasco, to make hym the lyke agaynst hys comming home, Vriah consented to the Kinges wicked minde, and made the Altar, and did what­soeuer the King woulde haue him to doe, without any re­garde of the lawes of God.

2. Reg. 6. 2. b. Vza, and Ahio, were the sonnes of Abinadab, which wayted vpon the newe Cart, whereon the Arke of God, (which was taken out of their fathers house to be caryed to the house of Obeth) was layed. And forasmuch as Vza [Page 322] (of a good intent) put foorth his hande to staye the Arke when the Oxen stumbled, the Lorde smote hym for his fault, that he dyed, euen before the Arke.

Z.

Gene. 30. c. ZAbulon, was the sixte sonne of Iacob and Lea. Of whome his father prophecied before his death, say­ing: Zabulon shall dwell by the Sea side, and hée49. c. shalbe an hauen for shippes, his border shalbe vnto Zidon. Note: ¶ Zabulon, a dwelling.

Luke. 1. cap. Zachary, was a certayne godlye Priest in the dayes of Herode King of Iewrye, which came of the course or familie of Abia. And walked so perfectly in the ordinaun­ces and lawes of the Lorde, that no man could iustly com­playne on hym. But he had no childe by his wyfe Eliza­beth, for she was barren. And when his course came to burne incense (euening & morning according to the lawe) he went into the Temple. And as he was in prayer, an Angell appeared vnto him, saying: Feare not Zachary for thy prayer is hearde: And thy wyfe Elizabeth shall beare thée a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iohn. &c. Whereby sayde Zachary, shall I knowe this, for I am olde, and my wyfe olde also. I am Gabriel (quoth the Aungell) which am sent vnto thée, to shew thée these glad tydinges: And beholde, thou shalt be dumme and not able to speake, vntill the day that these things be per­formed. And so Zachary remayned speachelesse vntill the tyme came that his wyfe brought him foorth a sonne. And when the childe shoulde be circumcised, great con­trouersie was there about his name. Some woulde haue him called Zachary, some by one name, some by an o­ther, and his mother woulde haue him called Iohn, but to that woulde none agrée, bycause there was none of the kinred so named. Then they made signes to Zachary, how he woulde haue his sonne called: And he calling (by [Page 323] signes) for writing tables, wrote therein: His name is Iohn. Whereat they all marueyled. And immediatly the mouth of Zacharye was opened, so that he spake and sayde: Praysed be the Lorde God of Israel, for he hath visited and redéemed his people. &c.

4. Reg. 15. b. Zacharia, the sonne of Ieroboam King of Israel, be­gan his raygne in the eyght and thirtie yeare of Azaria King of Iuda, and walked in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, as dyd other before hym. Hée had not raygned sixe monthes, or that Sallum conspired against him and slue him, euen in the face of the people, & raigned in his steade. This Zacharia was the fourth and the last King of the generacion of Iehu, which the Lord had pro­mised shoulde sit on his seate after hym, when he sayde: Thy children vnto the fourth generacion after thée, shall10. cap. f. sit on the seate of Israel.

Gene. 38. g. Zarah, was one of the twoo twynnes which Thamar bare vnto Iuda at one birth, who proffering to come forth before his brother, put foorth his hande, & when the Myd­wyfe had knit a redde thréede about it, he pluckt in hys hande agayne, and than his brother came out first whom they called Phares, and than he with the redde thréede a­bout his hande, whome they called Zarah.

2. Para. 24. f. Zacharia, the sonne of Iehoiada, was an holye Pro­phet. And when he sawe Ioas King of Iuda (whome hisThis Pro­phete is also called & sonne of Barachia. Math. 23. d. Bicause hys progenitours were Iddo, Barachiah & Iehoiada. father had trayned from his youth vp in the feare of god) with all his people declined from the Lorde to the woor­shipping of Idols, and woulde not heare the Lordes ad­monicion sent by his prophets to call them home againe, he stoode vp before the people & sayde: Why transgresse yée the commaundementes of the Lorde, surelye it shall not prosper: bycause yée haue forsaken the Lorde, he also hath forsaken you. For the which, the King (not regar­ding [Page 324] the kindnesse of Iehoiada his Father) commaunded the people to stone him to death, in the court of the house of the Lorde. And as he suffered his martyrdome, he de­sired the Lorde to reuenge his death, and to requyre his bloude at their handes.

Luke. 19. a. b. Zachy, was a Publican, and chiefe receyuer of the Kinges Tribute among them. He was a very lowe man of stature. And being much desirous to sée Iesus what maner a man he shoulde be, made great meanes to sée him. And when he sawe the prease so great that he coulde not, he ranne before (knowing which waye he woulde come) and clymed vp into a wilde Figge trée. And when Iesus saw him in the trée, he sayde: Zachy, come downe at once, for to day I must abyde at thy house. And Zachy came downe & receyued him ioyfully. And shew­ing foorth the true fruites of repentaunce sayde: Beholde Lorde, the halfe of my goodes, I giue to the poore, and if I haue done any man wrong, I restore him foure folde. To whome Iesus sayde agayne: This daye is saluacion come to this house, forasmuch as thou art also become the sonne of Abraham. Note: ¶ Zachy: pure, neate, or cleane.

1. Para. 2. b. Zaruia, was Dauids sister. Hir thrée Sonnes were Ioab, Abisai and Asael.

4. Reg. 24. d. cap. 25. Zedekia, the fourth sonne of Iosia was one & twentie yeare olde when Nabuchodonosor made him King of Iu­da in the steade of Ieoacin his brothers sonne. And made him take an othe of the Lorde, faythfullye and truelye to serue the Chaldeis, in token whereof hée chaunged hys name, from Mathania to Zedekia. This King suffered sinne and wickednesse so much to raygne in his lande (as well among the heade rulers and Priestes, as among the common sorte) that God was forgotten, his worde despi­sed, and his Prophets misused. Wherefore the Lord styr­redIere. 37. cap. [Page 325] vp the Chaldeis (with whom he had broke his league) which came and destroyed the Citie of Ierusalem, and the holy Temple of God with fyre (as the Prophet Ie­remie had sayde) and tooke Zedekia the King (his army being dispersed abrode) in the playne of Iericho, and brought him to the King of Babilon, who first destroyed both his sonnes before his face, and then pulled out the eyes of Zedekia, and so caryed him to Babylon bounde with twoo chaynes, where he dyed, his people remayning in bondage vntill the dayes of Cyrus, which was about thrée score and ten yeares. Note: ¶ Zedekia, the Iustice of the Lorde, or the Lordes iudgement.

3. Reg. 22. d. Zedekia, the sonne of Canaana was one of the false Prophets which deceyued Achab. And when Micheas the true Prophet of God spake agaynst them, this Zedekia, smote him on the Chéeke, saying: When went the spirit of the Lorde from mée, to speake vnto thée: Well, sayde Micheas: Thou shalt sée in that daye, when thou shalt go from Chamber to chamber to hide thée.

Num. 26. d. Zelaphead, the Sonne of Hepher, the sonne of Gi­lead, the Sonne of Machir, the Sonne of Manasses the sonne of Ioseph, had fiue daughters, who forasmuch as their father dyed in the Wildernesse without male issue, and was none of those that rebelled agaynst the Lorde in the Congregacion of Chore: They requyred of Moses to27. cap. haue a possession among their fathers brethren, least the name of their Father shoulde be vtterlye taken awaye, from among his kinred. Whose request God alowed, and bade Moses giue them a possession among their brethren, and to make a law, that whosoeuer dyed without a sonne, his inheritaunce should turne to his daughter. If he haue no daughter, to his brethren. If he haue no brethren to his Fathers brethren. If his father haue no brethren, than itTwoo of sun­dry Tribes shoulde not mary togi­thers. shoulde turne to the next of the kinne. And also to stabishe [Page 326] their inheritaunce, that it should not be remooued thorow mariage into an other Tribe, an order was taken, that no Tribe shoulde marry with an other Tribe, but euery Tribe shoulde mary with whom he lyst, among his owne Tribe and kinred. And so the daughters of Zelaphead were maryed to their Fathers brothers sonnes, which were of the kinred of Manasses the Sonne of Ioseph, by which meanes their inheritaunce remayned styll in the Tribe and kinred of their Father.

Tit. 3. d. Zenas, was first an interpreter of Moses law, and afterwarde became an earnest preacher of the Gospell of Christ. Of whome Paule writeth to Tite (Byshop of Crete) that whensoeuer Zenas departed from him, he shoulde bring him on his iourney with all diligence, and that nothing shoulde be lacking vnto him. His wordes to Tite were these: Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their iourney diligently, that nothing be lacking to them. Note: ¶ Zenas, Lyuing.

Exod. 2. d. Zephora, was the daughter of Raguel, Priest of Ma­dian and wyfe to Moses, by whom she conceyued & bare him twoo sonnes: The one Gerson and the other Elea­zer.Eleazer was not circumci­sed, & therfore GOD was angrye with Moses, sayth Lyra. And as she went with Moses hir husbande towarde the lande of Egipt, by the waye in hir Inne, she tooke a sharpe knyfe and cut awaye the foreskinne of hir sonne, and cast it at his féete, saying: Thou art in déede, a blou­dye husbande vnto mée, she sayde a bloudy husbande by­cause of the circumcision. Note: ¶ Zephora, A mourning.

2. Reg. 9. cap. Ziba, was one of King Saules olde seruauntes, after whose death he belonged to Miphiboseth the sonne of Io­nathas, and had the ouer sight of all his maisters landes, which Dauid had restored vnto hym, and the gouer­naunce also of Mica his Maysters sonne. This Ziba (in­tending16. a. to deceyue his mayster) what tyme as Dauid [Page 327] fled from Absalom his sonne, and was a little past the top of Mount Oliuete, mette him with a couple of Asses sad­led, and vpon them twoo hundred loaues, and one hundred bunches of Raysins & an hundred frayle of dryed Figges and a bottell of Wine. And when the King sawe him, he sayde: What meaneth thou with these Ziba? They be (quoth he) Asses for the Kings householde to ryde on, and breade and fruite for the yoong men to eate, and Wyne that such as be fayntie in the Wildernesse may drincke. Then sayde the King, where is thy maister Miphiboseth? Ziba sayde, beholde, he taryeth styll at Ierusalem, for he sayde: This daye shall the house of Israel restore me the Kingdome of my Father. Then sayde Dauid to Zi­ba: Beholde, all are thine that pertayned to Miphibo­seth. Then sayde Ziba: I doe homage vnto thée, I be­séeche thée I maye finde grace in thy sight my Lorde O King. Thus Ziba deceyued his mayster, & got his lande from him: But when the King was returned agayne to Ierusalem and perceyued by Miphiboseth that Ziba had wrongfully accused him, he commaunded the lande to be diuided betwéene them. Note: ¶ Ziba, Fulnesse, or an Othe.

3. Reg. 16. b. c. d. Zimri, was the seruaunt of Ela the sonne of Baasa King of Israel, and Captayne of halfe his Charrettes, who, or his Mayster had raygned full twoo yeares, con­spired agaynst him and siue hym, as he was in Tirzah drincking till he was droncken in the house of Arza Stu­warde of his house in Tirzah. And raygned in his steade in the tyme of whose raygne (which was but seuen dayes) he siue all the house of Baasa, leauing neyther kinsman nor friende of his alyue. At this tyme had Ela the King an hoste of men lying at the siege of Gibbethon a Citie of the Philistines. And when they hearde of the Treason of Zimri, and that he raygned in the steade of Ela, they (with one consent) made Amry their Captayne, King, who then went and besieged Zimri where he laye in the [Page] citie of Tirzah: And when Zimri saw that the citie must néedes be woonne, then he, (least they shoulde take him a lyue and put hym to a shamefull death) brent himselfe and the Kinges house with fyre, and so dyed. Note: ¶ Zimri, a Singing, or making melodie.

1. Esdras. 3. and 4. cap. Zorobabel, the Sonne of Salathiel, withall the Iewes which were delyuered from Babilon by Cyrus, returned to Ierusalem, where they repayred agayne the Citie and Temple of God, and renewed their lawes, though they were sometyme hindred and let, by their eni­mies about them. Note: ¶ Zorobabel, Free from confusion, or straunge.