Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe. Bible. English. Coverdale. 1537. 1535 Approx. 5905 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 590 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A10349 STC 2063.3 ESTC S5059 38160515 ocm 38160515 29229

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A10349) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29229) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1909:1) Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe. Bible. English. Coverdale. 1537. Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568. 3 v. in 1. : ill. J. Nycolson], [Southwark?, M.D.XXXV [1535] Illustrated t.p. Place and name of publisher from STC (2nd ed.). Contains Apocrypha. Apocrypha and New Testament each have special t.p. with woodcut borders. Colophon reads: Prynted in the yeare of our Lorde M. D. XXXV and fynished the fourth daye of October. Dedicated to King Henry VIII, and preceded by a "Prologe: Myles Coverdale vnto the Christian reader." Signatures: [cross]⁸, a-p⁶, 2a-2v⁶, Aa-Ii⁶, Aaa-Rrr⁶, A-O⁶, 2A- 2T⁶. Imperfect: stained and torn, with loss of text; fols. a₁, Ff₁, TT₁ lacking. Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.

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¶Because that whan thou goest to study in holy scripture, thou shuldest do it with reuerence, therfore for thy instruction & louynge admonicion therto, the Reuerende father in god, Nicolas, Bisshoppe of Salisbury hath prescrybed the this prayer folowynge, taken out of the same.

O Lorde God almyghtye whiche longe agoo saydest by the mouthe of Iames thyn Apostle:Iacob. . If any of you lacke wysdom, let hym aske it of God whiche geueth it plenteously to all men, and casteth no man in the tethe, and it shalbe geuen hym. Heare my peticion for this thy promes sake. Let my prayer ascende luckely in to thy syght lyke incense.Psal. 140. Psal. 129. Sa . 9. Let thy eare be attent vnto my depe desyre. Geue me wysdome which is eue assistent about thy seate. And put me not out from amonge 〈…〉 , for I am thy seruaunt and ye sonne of thy handmayde 〈…〉 her (I meane thy godly wysedome) out of thyne holy heauens, and from the trone of thy maiestye, that she maye be with me, and laboure with me, yt I may knowe what is acceptable in thy syght Oh lerne me goodnes,Psal. 118. nurtoure, and knowlege, for I beleue thy commaundementes. Thou art good and gracyous, instructe me in thyne ordynaunces. Let myne hertie besechynge ascende in to thy presence. Geue me vnderstondynge accordynge to thy worde. Oh geue me vnderstō dynge, and I shall kepe thy lawe, Yee I shall kepe it with all myne herte.Psa . 24. Shewe me thy wayes o Lorde, & teache me thy patthes. Leade me in to thy trueth and lerne me, for thou art the God of my helth. And on the do I depende alway.Psal. 26. Heare now my voyce O Lorde with which I haue cryed vnto the. Haue mercy vpon me, and gracyouslye heare me for Iesus Christes sake oure Lorde, which lyueth and reygneth with the his father & the holy goost worlde without ende. Amen.

¶After the ende of any Chapter (yf thou wylt) thou mayest saye these verses folowynge.

Psal. 118.LEade me (o Lorde) in thy waye, and let me walke in thy trueth.

Oh let myne herte delyte in fearynge thy name.

Ordre my goynges after thy worde, that no wyckednes reygne in me.

Kepe my steppes within thy patthes, lest my fete turne in to any contrary waye.

Vnto the most victorious Prynce and oure most gracyous soueraigne Lorde, kynge Henry the kynge of Englonde and of Fraunce, lorde of Irlonde. &c. Defendour of the Fayth, and vnder God the chefe and suppreme heade of the Church of Englonde. ¶The ryght & iust administracyon of the lawes that God gaue vnto Moses and vnto Iosua: the testimonye of faythfulnes that God gaue of Dauid: the plenteous abundaunce of wysdome that God gaue vnto Salomon: the lucky and prosperous age with the multiplicacyon of sede whiche God gaue vnto Abraham and Sara his wyfe, be geuē vnto you most gracyous Prynce, with your dearest iust wyfe, and most vertuous Pryncesse, Quene Anne, Amen.

CAiphas beynge bysshope of that yeare, lyke a blynde prophete (not vnderstandyng what he sayd) prophecied, that it was better to put Christ vnto death, then that all the people shulde perysshe:Io. 11. c he meanyng, that Christ was an heretike, a deceauer of the people, & a destroyer of the lawe, and that it was better therfore to put Christ vnto death, thā to suffre hym for to lyue, and to deceaue the people. &c. where in very dede Christ was the true prophete, the true Messias, and the onely true Sauiour of the worlde, sent of his heauenly father to suffre the moste cruell, most shamefull, and most necessary death for our redempcyon: accordyng to ye meanynge of the prophecie truely vnderstonde.

Euen after the same maner ye blynde bysshoppe of Rome, (that blynde Baalam I saye) not vnderstondynge what he dyd, gaue vnto your grace this tytle: Defendour of the fayth, onely bycause your hyghnes suffred your bysshoppes to burne Gods worde the rote of fayth, and to persecute the louers and mynisters of ye same. where in very dede the blynde bysshoppe (though he knewe not what he dyd) prophecied, that by the ryghteous admynistracyon and contynuall diligence of youre grace, the fayth shulde so be defended, that Gods worde the mother of Fayth with the frutes therof, shulde haue his fre course thorowe out all Christendome, but specyally in your realme.

Yf your hyghnesse now of your pryncely benignite wyll pardon me to compare these two bysshoppes (I meane bysshoppe Caiphas and the bysshoppe of Rome) & theyr prophecies together, I doute not but we shal fynde them agree lyke brethren, though the one be a Iewe and the other a counterfayre Christian. Fyrst, Caiphas prophecied that it was better to put Christ vnto death, then that the people shulde perysshe. The bysshoppe of Rome also, not knowynge what he prophecied, gaue youre grace this tytle: Defendour of the fayth. The trueth of both these prophecies is of the holy goost (as was Baalams prophecie) though they that spake thē, knewe not what they sayd. The trueth of Caiphas prophecie is, that it was necessary for mans saluacyon, that Christ by his death shulde ouercome death, and redeme vs. And the trueth of oure Baalams prophecie is,Nume. 24. c. yt your grace in very dede shulde defende the Fayth, Yee euen the true fayth of Christ, no dreames, no fables, no heresie, no papisticall inuencions, but the vncorrupte fayth of Gods most holy worde, which to set forth (praysed be the goodnes of God, and increace youre gracyous purpose) your hyghnes with youre most honorable councell, applyeth all his studye and endeuoure.

These two blynde bysshopes now agree in ye vnderstādyng of theyr prophecies: for Caiphas taketh Christ for an heretike, Oure Balaā taketh the worde of Christ for heresie. Caiphas iudgeth it to be a good dede to put Christ vnto death, that he shulde not deceaue the people. Oure Balaam calleth defendynge of the fayth, the suppressyng, kepyng secrete, and burnyng of the worde of fayth: lest the lyght thereof shulde vtter his darknes: lest his owne Decretales & Decrees, his owne lawes and constitucions, his owne statutes and inuencions shulde come to none effecte: lest his intollerable exactions and vsurpacions shulde lose theyr strengthe: lest it shulde be knowen what a thefe and murtherer he is in the cause of Christ, and how haynous a traytoure to God and man in defraudynge all Christen kynges & prynces of theyr due obedience: lest we youre graces subiectes shulde haue eyes in the worde of God, at the last to spye out his crafty conueyaūce and iuglynges: and lest men shulde se, how sore he and his false Apostles haue deceaued all Christendome, specyally youre noble realme of Englonde.

Thus your grace seyth how brotherly the Iewysh bysshoppe and oure Balaam agree together, not onely in myter and outwarde appearaunce: but as the one persecuted the Lorde Iesus in his owne persone, so doth the other persecute his worde and resysteth his holy ordynaunce in the auctorite of his anoynted kynges. For so moche nowe as the worde of God is the onely trueth that dryueth awaye all lyes, and discloseth all iuglyng and disceate, therfore is oure Balaam of Rome so lothe that the scripture shulde be knowē in the mother tonge: lest yf kynges and prynces (specially aboue all other) were exercysed therin, they shulde reclame and chalenge agayne theyr due auctorite, which he falsely hath vsurped so many yeres, and so 〈◊〉 tye hym shorter: and lest the people beyng taught by the worde of God, shulde fall from ye false fayned obediēce of hym and his disguysed Apostles, vnto the true obedience commaunded by Gods owne mouthe: as namely, to obey theyr prynce, to obey father and mother. &c. and not to steppe ouer father and mothers bely to enter in to his paynted religions, as his ypocrites teache: For he knoweth well ynough, that yf the cleare Sonne of Gods worde come ones to the heate of the daye, it shal dryue awaye all the foule myst of his deuelysh doctrines. Therfore were it more to the mayntenaunce of Antichristes kyngdome, that the worlde were styll in ignoraunce and blyndnes, and that the scripture shulde neuer come to lyghte. For the scripture (both in the olde testament and in the new) declareth most aboū dauntly that the office, auctorite and power geuen of God vnto kynges / is in earth aboue all other powers: let them call thē selues Popes, Cardynalles, or what so euer they will,Ro. 13 a the worde of god declareth them (yee and commaundeth them vnder payne of dampnacion) to be obedient vnto the temporall swerde: As in the olde Testament all the Prophetes,Math. 17. d, Tit. 3. a Exod. 22. d. Psal. 81. a. Prestes and Leuites were. And in the new Testament Christ & his Apostles both were obedient them selues, and taught obedience of all men vnto theyr prynces ād temporall rulers: which here vnto vs in the worlde present the persone of God, and are called Goddes in the scripture, bycause of the excellēcy of theyr office. And though there were no mo auctorities but the same, to proue the p̄ eminence of the temporall swerde, Yet by this the scripture declareth playnly, that as there is nothyng aboue God, so is there no man aboue the kynge in his realme but that he onely vnder God is the chefe heade of all the cōgregacyon and church of the same. And in token that this is true, there hath ben of olde antiquite (and is yet vnto this daye) a louynge ceremonye vsed in your realme of Englonde, yt whā your graces subiectes reade your letters, or begynne to talke or comē of your hyghnes, they moue theyr bonettes for a signe & token of reuerence vnto your grace, as to their most soueraigne lorde & heade vnder God. which thyng no man vseth to do to eny bysshoppe. wherby (yf oure vnderstondyng were nat blynded) we myght euydently perceaue, that euen very nature teacheth vs the same, that scripture cōmaū deth vs: and that lyke as it is agaynst Gods worde that a kynge shulde not be the chefe heade of his people, euen so (I saye) is it agaynst kynde that we shulde knowe any other heade aboue hym vnder God.

And that no prest nor bysshoppe is exempte (nor can be lawfully) from the obedience of his prynce, the scripture is full both of strayte cōmaundemētes, & practises of the holyest men. Aaron was obedient vnto Moses, and called hym his lorde,Nume. 12. b Ios. 4 c 3. Reg. 1. c. 3. Reg. 18. b. Leuit. 18. b. Math. 14. a. though he was his owne brother. Eleasar and Phin as were vnder the obediēce of Iosua. Nathan the prophete fell downe to the grounde before kynge Dauid, he had his Prynce in such reuerence (He made not the kynge for to kysse his fote as the bysshoppe of Rome maketh Emperours to do) Notwithstondynge he spared not to rebuke hym, and that ryght sharply whan he fell from the worde of God to adultery and manslaughter. For he was not afrayed to reproue hym of his sinnes, nomore than Helyas the prophete stode in feare to saye vnto kynge Achab: It is thou and thy fathers house that trouble Israel, because ye haue forsaken ye commaundementes of the Lorde, and walke after Baal. And as Iohan Baptyste durst saye vnto Kynge Herode: It is not lawful for the to take thy brothers wyfe. But to my purpose I passe ouer innumerable mo ensāples both of the olde Testament and of the new, for feare lest I be to tedyous vnto your grace. Sūma, in all godly regimentes of olde tyme the kynge and tēporall iudge was obeyed of euery man, and was alwaye vnder God the chefe and suppreme heade of the whole congregacyon, and deposed euen prestes whan he sawe an vrgent cause, as Salomon dyd vnto Abiathar.3. Reg. 2. d. who coulde than stonde agaynst the godly obedience of his prynce (excepte he wolde be at defyaunce with God and all his holy ordinaunces) that were well acquaynted with the holy scripture, which so earnestly cōmendeth vnto euery one of vs the auctorite and power geuen of God vnto kynges and temporall rulers?Exod. 22. d. Ierem. 29. b. Bar. 2 c Math. 17. d, Therfore doth Moses so strately forbyde the Israelites to speake so moche as an euell worde agaynst the prynce of ye people, moche lesse than to disobeye hym, or to withstonde hym. Doth not Ieremy the prophete and Baruc also exhorte the people in captiuite, to praye for the prosperous welfare of the kynge of Babilon, and to obeye hym, though he was an infidele? In the new Testament whā oure sauioure Christ (beyng yet fre & Lorde of al kynges & prynces) shewed his obedience in payenge the trybute to oure ensample, dyd he not a miracle there in puttynge the pece of money in the fysshes mouth (that Peter myght paye the customer therwith) and all to stablysshe the obedience due vnto prynces? Dyd not Ioseph and Mary the mother of our sauiour Christ departe frō Nazareth vnto Bethleē, so farre from home, to shewe theyr obedience in payenge the taxe to the prynce?Lu. 2. a And wolde not oure Sauioure be borne in the same obedience?Ro. 13 a Doth not Paule pronounce hym to resyste God hym selfe, that resysteth the auctorite of his prynce? And (to be shorte) the Apostle Peter dothe not onely stablysshe the obedience vnto prynces and temporall rulers but affirmeth playnly the kynge (and no bysshoppe) to be the chefe heade. Innumerable places mo are there in scripture,1. Petr. 2. b. which bynde vs to the obedience of oure prynce, and declare vnto vs, that no man is nor can be lawfully excepte from the same: but that all the mynisters of Goddes worde are vnder the tēporall swerde: & Prynces onely to owe obedience vnto God & his worde.

And where as Anthichrist vnto youre graces tyme dyd thrust his heade into ye imperiall crowne of your hyghnes (as he doth yet with other noble prynces mo) that lerned he of Sathā the authour of pryde, and therin doth he both agaynst the doctryne & also agaynst ye ensample of Christe: whiche because his kyngdome was not of this worlde, medled with no temporal matters, as it is euydent both by his wordes and practyse: Luc. xii. Math. xxvi. Ioh. vi. Ioh. xviii. where he yt hath eyes to se, maye se: & he yt hath eares to heare, maye heare, yt Christes admynistracion was nothyng tēporall, but playne spiritual, as he hym selfe affirmeth & proueth in the fourth chapter of saynt Luke out of the prophete Esay: where all bysshoppes and prestes maye se, how farre theyr byndynge and lowsynge extendeth, and where in theyr office consisteth, namely in preachynge the Gospell. &c.

wherfore (most gracyous prynce) there is no tonge I thynke, that can fully expresse and declare the vntollerable iniuries, which haue bene done vnto God, to al prynces and to the comynalties of all christen realmes, sence they which shulde be onely the ministers of Gods worde, became lordes of the worlde, and thrust ye true and iust prynces out of theyr rowmes. whose herte wolde not pitie it (yee euē with lamentacyon) to remember but onely the vntollerable wronge done by that Antychrist of Rome vnto youre graces most noble predecessoure kynge Iohn̄? I passe ouer his pestilent pykynge of Peter pens out of youre realme: his stealynge awaye of youre money for pardons: benefices and bysshoprykes: his disceauyng of youre subiectes soules with his deuelyshe doctrynes and sectes of his false religions: his bloudsheddyng of so many of your graces people, for bokes of the scripture whose herte wolde not be greued (yee and that out of measure) to call to remēbraūce, how obstinate and disobedient, how presumptuous & stubburne that Antychrist made the bysshoppes of youre realme agaynst your graces noble predecessours in tymes past, as it is manyfest in ye Cronicles? I trust verely there be no suche now within youre realme Yf there be, let them remembre these wordes of scripture: Presumptuousnes goeth before destrucciō,Proue. 16 & after a proude stomacke there foloweth a fall.

what is now the cause of all these vntollerable and nomore to be suffred abhominacions? Truely euen the ignoraunce of the scripture of God. For how had it els ben possyble, that such blyndnes shulde haue come in to ye worlde, had not ye lyghte of Gods worde bene extyncte? How coulde men (I saye) haue bene so farre from the true seruyce of God, and from the due obedience of theyr prynce, had not the lawe of God bene clene shut vp, depressed, cast asyde, and put out of remembraunce? As it was afore the tyme of that noble kynge Iosias, and as it hath bene also amonge vs vnto youre graces tyme: by whose most ryghteous admynistracyon (thorowe the mercyfull goodnes of God) it is now founde agayne,4. Re. 22. b. 2. Par. 24. c. as it was in the dayes of that most vertuous kynge Iosias. And praysed be the father, the sonne, and the holy goost worlde without ende, which so excellently hath endewed youre Pryncely hert with such feruentnes to his honoure, and to the welth of youre louyng subiectes, that I maye ryghtuously (by iust occasyons in youre persone) cōpare youre hyghnes vnto that noble and gracyous kynge, yt lanterne of lyghte amonge prynces, that feruent protectour and defender of the lawes of God: which cōmaunded straytly (as youre grace doth) that the lawe of God shulde be redde and taught vnto all ye people: set the prestes to theyr office in the worde of god: destroyed Idolatry and false ydols: put downe all euell customes and abusyons: set vp the true honoure of God: applyed all his studye and endeuoure to the ryghtuous admynistracyon of the most vncorrupte lawe of God. &c. O what felicite was amonge ye people of Ierusalem in his dayes? And what prosperous health both of soule & body foloweth the lyke mynistracion in youre hyghnes, we begynne now (praysed be God) to haue experience.Ierem. 44. d Foras false doctryne is the origenall cause of all euell plages and destruccyon, so is ye true executynge of the lawe of God ād the preachyng of the same, the mother of all godly prosperite. The onely worde of god (I saye) is the cause of all felicite,Sapie. 7. b. it bryngeth all goodnes with it, it bryngeth lernynge, it gē dreth vnderstondynge, it causeth good workes, it maketh chyldren of obedience, breuely, it teacheth all estates theyr office and duety. Seynge then that the scripture of God teacheth vs euery thynge sufficiently, both what we oughte to do, and what we oughte to leaue vndone: whome we are bounde to obey, and whome we shulde not obeye: therfore (I saye) it causeth all prosperite, and setteth euery thyng in frame: and where it is taught and knowen, it lyghteneth all darkenesses, cōforteth all sory hertes, leaueth no poore man vnhelped, suffreth nothynge amysse vnamended, letteth no prynce be disobeyed, permytteth no heresie to be preached: but refourmeth all thinges, amēdeth that is amysse, and setteth euery thynge in order. And why? because it is geuen by the inspiracyon of God, therfore is it euer bryngynge profyte and frute, by teachynge, by improuynge, by amendynge and refourmyng all thē yt wyl receaue it,2. Tim. 3. b. to make them parfecte & mete vnto all good workes.

Considerynge now (most gracyous prynce) the inestimable treasure, frute & prosperite euerlastynge, that God geueth with his worde, and trustynge in his infynite goodnes that he wolde brynge my symple and rude laboure herin to good effecte, therfore as the holy goost moued other mē to do the cost herof, so was I boldened in God, to laboure in the same. Agayne, consyderynge youre Imperiall maiestye not onely to be my naturall soueraigne liege Lorde & chefe heade of ye church of Englōde, but also the true defender and maynteyner of Gods lawes, I thought it my dutye and to belonge vnto my allegiaunce, whan I had translated this Bible, not onely to dedicate this translacyon vnto youre hyghnesse, but wholy to commytte it vnto the same: to the intent that yf any thynge therin be translated amysse (for in many thynges we fayle, euen whan we thynke so be sure) it may stōde in youre graces handes, to correcte it, to amende it, to improue it, yee & cleane to reiecte it, yf youre godly wysdome shall thynke it necessary. And as I do with all humblenes submitte myne vnderstondynge and my poore translacyon vnto ye spirite of trueth in your grace, so make I this protestacyon (hauyng God to recorde in my cōscience) that I haue nether wrested nor altered so moch as one worde for the mayntenaūce of any maner of secte: but haue with a cleare conscience purely & faythfully translated this out of fyue sundry interpreters, hauyng onely the manyfest trueth of the scripture before myne eyes: Trustynge in the goodnes of God, that it shalbe vnto his worshippe: quietnes and tranquilite vnto your hyghnes: a perfecte stablyshment of all Gods ordynaunces within youre graces domynion: a generall comforte to all Christen hertes, and a continuall thankfulnesse both of olde and yonge vnto god, and to youre grace, for beynge oure Moses, and for bringynge vs out of this olde Egypte from the cruell handes of our spirituall Pharao For where were the Iewes (by ten thousande partes) so moch bounde vnto Kynge Dauid, for subduynge of greate Goliath and all theyr enemyes,1. Reg. 17. g. as we are to your grace, for delyuerynge vs out of oure olde Babylonycall captiuyte? For yt which delyueraunce and victory I beseke oure onely medyatoure Iesus Christ, to make soch meanes for vs vnto his heauenly father, yt we neuer be vnthankfull vnto him ner vnto youre grace: but that we euer increace in the feare of him, in obedience vnto your hyghnesse, in loue vnfayned vnto oure neghbours: and in all vertue that commeth of God. To whom for ye defendynge of his blessed worde (by your graces most rightfull administracyon) be honoure and thankes, glory and dominyon, worlde without ende, Amen.

Youre graces humble subiecte and daylye oratour, Myles Couerdale.
A prologe. Myles Couerdale Vnto the Christen reader.

COnsiderynge how excellent knowlege and lernynge an interpreter of scripture oughte to haue in the tongues, and ponderyng also myne owne insufficiency therin, & how weake I am to perfourme ye office of a translatoure, I was the more lothe to medle with this worke Notwithstondynge whan I cōsydered how greate pytie it was that we shulde wante it so longe, & called to my remembraunce ye aduersite of them, which were not onely of rype knowlege, but wolde also with all theyr hertes haue perfourmed yt they beganne, yf they had not had impediment: considerynge (I saye) that by reason of theyr aduersyte it coulde not so soone haue bene broughte to an ende, as oure most prosperous nacyon wolde fayne haue had it: these and other reasonable causes consydered, I was the more bolde to take it in hande. And to helpe me herin, I haue had sondrye translacions, not onely in latyn, but also of the Douche interpreters: whom (because of theyr synguler gyftes & speciall diligence in the Bible) I haue ben the more glad to folowe for the most parte, accordynge as I was requyred. But to saye the trueth before God, it was nether my laboure ner desyre, to haue this worke put in my hande: neuertheles it greued me ye other nacyōs shulde be more plenteously prouyded for with ye scripture in theyr mother tongue, then we: therfore whan I was instantly requyred, though I coulde not do so well as I wolde, I thought it yet my dewtye to do my best, and that with a good wyll.

Where as some men thynke now yt many translacyons make diuisyon in ye fayth and in the people of God, yt is not so: for it was neuer better with the congregacion of god, then whan euery church allmost had ye Byble of a sondrye trāslacion. Amonge the Grekes had not Origen a specyall translacyon? Had not Vulgarius one peculyar, & lykewyse Chrysostom? Besyde the seuentye interpreters, is there not the translacyon of Aquila, of Theodotio, of Symachus, and of sondrye other? Agayne amonge the Latyn men, thou findest yt euery one allmost vsed a specyall & sondrye translacyon: for in so moch as euery bysshoppe had the knowlege of ye tongues, he gaue his diligence to haue the Byble of his awne translacion. The doctours, as Hireneus, Cyprianus, Tertullian, S. Iherome, S. Augustine, Hylarius & S. Ambrose vpon dyuerse places of the scripture, reade not ye texte all alyke.

Therfore oughte it not to be taken as euel, yt soch men as haue vnderstondynge now in oure tyme, exercyse them selues in ye tongues, & geue their diligence to translate out of one language in to another. Yee we ought rather to geue god hye thankes therfore, which thorow his sprete stereth vp mēs myndes, so to exercise them selues therin. wolde god it had neuer bene left of after ye tyme of S. Augustine, then shulde we neuer haue come in to soch blindnes & ignoraūce, in to soch erroures & delusyons. For as soone as the Byble was cast asyde, & nomore put in exercyse, then beganne euery one of his awne heade to wryte what so euer came in to his brayne and yt semed to be good in his awne eyes: and so grewe ye darknes of mēs tradiciōs And this same is ye cause yt we haue had so many wryters, which seldome made mē cyon of ye scripture of the Byble: & though they some tyme aleged it, yet was it done so farre out of season & so wyde from ye purpose, that a mā maye well perceaue, how that they neuer sawe the oryginall.

Seynge then yt this diligent exercyse of translatynge doth so moch good & edifyeth in other languages, why shulde it do euell in oures? Doutles lyke as all nacyons in ye dyuersite of speaches maye knowe one God in the vnyte of faith, and be one in loue: euen so maye dyuerse translacyons vnderstonde one another, & that in the head articles & grounde of oure most blessed faith, though they vse sondrye wordes. wherfore me thynke we haue greate occasyon to geue thankes vnto God, that he hath opened vnto his church the gyfte of interpretacyon & of pryntyng, and that there are now at this tyme so many which with soch diligēce and faithfulnes interprete ye scripture to the honoure of god and edifyenge of his people, where as (lyke as whan many are shutynge together) euery one doth his best to be nyest the marke. And though they can not all attayne therto, yet shuteth one nyer then another, and hytteth it better then another, yee one can do it better thē another. who is now then so vnreasonable, so despytefull, or enuyous, as to abhorre him yt doth all his diligence to hytte ye prycke, and to shute nyest it, though he mysse & come not nyest the mark? Ought not soch one rather to be commēded, and to be helped forwarde, that he maye exercyse himselfe the more therin?

For the which cause (acordyng as I was desyred) I toke the more vpon me to set forth this speciall translacyon, not as a checker, not as a reprouer, or despyser of other mens translacyons (for amonge many as yet I haue founde none without occasyon of greate thankesgeuynge vnto god) but lowly & faythfully haue I folowed myne interpreters, & that vnder correccyon. And though I haue fayled eny where (as there is noman but he mysseth in some thynge) loue shall constyrre all to ye best without eny peruerse iudgment. There is noman lyuynge yt cause all thynges, nether hath god geuen eny man to knowe euery thynge. One seyth more clearly then another, one hath more vnderstondyng then another, one can vtter a thynge better then another, but noman ought to enuye, or dispyse another. He that can do better then another, shulde not set him at naught yt vnderstondeth lesse: Yee he that hath ye more vnderstondyng, ought to remembre that the same gyfte is not his but Gods, and yt God hath geuē it him to teach & enfourme the ignoraunt. Yf thou hast knowlege therfore to iudge where eny faute is made, I doute not but thou wilt helpe to amende it, yf loue be ioyned with thy knowlege. Howbeit wherin so euer I can perceaue by my selfe, or by the informacyon of other, that I haue fayled (as it is no wonder) I shall now by the helpe of God ouerloke it better & amende it.

Now wil I exhorte the (who so euer thou be ye readest scripture) yf thou fynde oughte therin yt thou vnderstondest not, or that apeareth to be repugnaunt, geue no temerarious ner haystye iudgmēt therof: but ascrybe it to thyne awne ignoraunce, not to the scrypture, thynke yt thou vnderstondest it not, or yt it hath some other meanynge, or yt it is happlye ouersene of ye interpreters, or wronge prynted. Agayne, it shall greately helpe yt to vnderstonde scripture, yf thou marke not onely what is spoken or wrytten, but of whom, & vnto whom, with what wordes, at what tyme where, to what intent, with what circumstaunce, consyderynge what goeth before, and what foloweth after. For there be some thynges which are done & wryttē, to the intente yt we shulde do lykewyse: as whan Abraham beleueth God, is obedient vnto his worde, & defendeth Loth his kynsman from violent wronge. There be some thynges also which are wryttē, to the intente yt we shulde eschue soch lyke. As whan Dauid lyeth with Vrias wyfe, & causeth him to be slayne. Therfore (I saye) whan thou readest scripture, be wyse & circumspecte: & whan thou commest to soch straunge maners of speakynge & darke sentences, to soch parables & similitudes, to soch dreames or vysions as are hyd from thy vnderstondynge, cōmytte them vnto God or to the gyfte of his holy sprete in them yt are better lerned then thou.

As for the commendacyon of Gods holy scripture, I wolde fayne magnifye it as it is worthy, but I am farre vnsufficiēt therto. & therfore I thoughte it better for me to holde my tonge, then with few wordes to prayse or commēde it: exhortynge ye (most deare reader) so to loue it, so to cleue vnto it, & so to folowe it in thy daylye conuersacyon, yt other men seynge thy good workes & the frutes of ye holy goost in the, maye prayse the father of heauen, & geue his worde a good reporte: for to lyue after the lawe of God, & to leade a vertuous conuersacyon, is the greatest prayse yt thou canst geue nto his doctryne.

But as touchynge the euell reporte and disprayse that the good worde of God hath by the corrupte and euell conuersacyon of some, yt daylye heare it and professe it outwardly with theyr mouthes, I exhorte ye (most deare reader) let not yt offende the ner withdrawe thy mynde frō the loue of ye trueth, nether moue ye to be partaker in lyke vnthankfulnes: but seynge ye lighte is come in to the worlde, loue nomore the workes of darknes, receaue not the grace of god in vayne. Call to thy remembraunce how louynge & mercifull God is vnto the, how kyndly and fatherly he helpeth the in al trouble, teacheth thyne ignoraunce, healeth the in all thy sycknesse, forgeueth the all thy synnes, fedeth ye, geueth the drynke, helpeth ye out of preson, norysheth the in straunge countrees, careth for the, & seyeth yt thou wante nothynge. Call this to mynde (I saye) & that earnestly, and consydre how thou hast receaued of god all these benefites (yee and many mo then thou canst desyre) how thou art bounde lykewise to shewe thy selfe vnto thy neghboure as farre as thou canst, to teach him yf he be ignoraunt, to helpe him in all his trouble, to heale his sycknes, to forgeue him his offences, and that hartely, to fede him, to cherish him, to care for him, and to se yt he wante nothyng· And on this behalfe I beseke the (thou yt hast ye ryches of this worlde, and louest God with thy harte) to lyfte vp thyne eyes, and se how greate a multitude of poore people renne thorow euery towne: haue pitie on thyne awne flesh, helpe them with a good harte, and do with thy councell all that euer thou canst, that this vnshamefast beggynge maye be put downe, that these ydle folkes maye be set to laboure, & that soch as are not able to get theyr lyuynge, maye be prouyded for. At the leest thou yt art of councell with soch as are in auctoryte, geue them some occasyon to cast theyr heades together, and to make prouysyon for the poore. Put the in remembraunce of those noble cityes in other countrees, that by the auctoryte of theyr prynces haue so rychely ād well prouided for theyr poore people, to the greate shame & deshonestye of vs, yf we lykewyse receauynge ye worde of God, shewe not soch lyke frutes therof. wolde God yt those men (whose office is to maynteyne ye comon welth) were as diligent in this cause as they are in other. Let vs bewarre by tymes, for after vnthankfulnes there foloweth euer a plage: the mercyful hande of God be with vs, & defende vs that we be not partakers therof.

Go to now (most deare reader) & syt the downe at the Lordes fete and reade his wordes, & (as Moses teacheth the Iewes) take them in to theyr herte, & let thy talkynge & communicacion be of them whan thou syttest in thyne house,Deute. 6. a. or goest by ye waye, whan thou lyest downe, & whan thou ryseth vp. And aboue all thynges fasshyon thy lyfe, & cōuersacion acordyng to the doctryne of the holy goost therin, that thou mayest be partaker of ye good promyses of god in the Byble, & be heyre of his blessynge in Christ. In whom yf thou put thy trust, & be an vnfayned reader or hearer of hys worde with thy hert, thou shalt fynde swetenesse theryn, & spye wōderous thynges, to thy vnderstondynge, to the auoydynge of all sedicyous sectes, to the abhorrynge of thy olde synfull lyfe, & to the stablyshynge of thy godly conuersacyon.

In the first boke of Moses (called Genesis) thou mayest lerne to knowe the almightye power of god in creatynge all of naught, his infinite wysdome in ordryng the same, his ryghteousnes in punyshynge ye vngodly, his loue & fatherly mercy in comfortynge the righteous with his promes. &c.

In the seconde boke (called Exodus) we se the myghtye arme of god, in delyuerynge his people from so greate bondage out of Egypte, and what prouysyon he maketh for them in the wildernes, how he teacheth them with his wholsome worde and how the Tabernacle was made and set vp.

In the thyrde boke (called Leuiticus) is declared what sacrifices the prestes & Leuites vsed, and what theyr office & ministracyon was.

In the fourth boke (called Numerus) is declared how the people are nombred and mustred, how the captaynes are chosen after ye trybes & kynreds, how they wē te forth to ye battayll, how they pitched theyr tentes, & how they brake vp.

The fyfth boke (called Deuteronomium) sheweth how that Moses now beynge olde, rehearseth the lawe of god vnto ye people, putteth them in remembraunce agayne of all the wonders & benefices that god had shewed for them, and exhorteth them earnestly to loue ye Lorde theyr god, to cleue vnto him, to put their trust in him and to herken vnto his voyce.

After the death of Moses doth Iosue brynge the people in to the lōde of promes where God doth wonderous thynges for his people by Iosue, which distributeth ye londe vnto them, vnto euery trybe theyr possession. But in theyr wealth they forgat the goodnes of God, so that oft tymes he gaue thē ouer in to the hande of theyr enemies. Neuertheles whan so euer they called faithfully vpon him, and conuerted, he delyuered them agayne, as the boke of Iudges declareth.

In the bokes of the kynges, is descrybed the regiment of good and euell prynces, and how the decaye of all nacions commeth by euel kynges. For in Ieroboam thou seyst what myschefe, what ydolatrye & soch like abhominacyon foloweth, whā the kynge is a maynteyner of false doctryne, ād causeth the people to synne agaynst God, which fallinge awaye from gods worde, increased so sore amonge them, that it was the cause of all theyr sorowe and misery, & the very occasion why Israel first and then Iuda, were caryed awaye in to captyuite. Agayne, in Iosaphat, in Ezechias and in Iosias thou seyst the nature of a vertuous kynge.2. Par. 17. b. He putteth downe the houses of ydolatrye, seyth that his prestes teach nothynge but ye lawe of God, cō maundeth his lordes to go with them, and to se that they teach the people. In these kynges (I saye) thou seyst the cōdicyon of a true defender of ye fayth, for he spareth nether cost ner laboure, to manteyne the lawes of God, to seke the welth & prosperite of his people, and to rote out the wicked. And where soch a prince is, thou seyst agayne, how God defendeth him and his people, though he haue neuer so many enemyes. Thus wente it with thē in the olde tyme, and euen after ye same maner goeth it now with vs: God be praysed therfore, ād graunte vs of his fatherly mercy, that we be not vnthankfull: lest where he now geueth vs a Iosaphat, an Ezechias, yee a very Iosias, he sende vs a Pharao, a Ieroboam, or an Achab.

In the two first bokes of E dras & in Hester thou seyst the delyueraunce of the people, which though they were but fewe, yet is it vnto vs all a speciall cōforte, for so moch as God is not forgetfull of his promes, but bryngeth them out of captiuite, acordynge as he had tolde them before.

In the boke of Iob we lerne comforte and pacience, in that God not onely punysheth the wicked, but proueth & tryeth the iust and righteous (howbeit there is noman innocent in his sighte) by dyuerse troubles in this lyfe, declaryng therby, yt they are not his bastardes, but his deare sonnes, and that he loueth them.

In the Psalmes we lerne how to resorte onely vnto God in all oure troubles, to seke helpe at him, to call onely vpon him, to satle oure myndes by paciēce, & how we ought in prosperite to be thankfull vnto him,

The Prouerbes and the Preacher of Salomon teach vs wysdome, to knowe God, oure owne selues, and the worlde, and how vayne all thynges are, saue onely to cleue vnto God.

As for the doctryne of the Prophetes, what is it els, but an earnest exhortacion to eschue synne, & to turne vnto God? a faythfull promes of the mercy ād pardon of God, vnto all them yt turne vnto him, and a threatenyng of his wrath to the vngodly? sauynge that here and there they prophecye also manifestly of Christ, of ye expulsion of the Iewes, and callynge of the Heythen.

Thus moch thought I to speake of ye olde Testament, wherin almyghtie God openeth vnto vs his myghtye power, his wysdome, his louynge mercy & righteousnesse: for the which cause it oughte of no man to be abhorred, despysed, or lyghtly regarded, as though it were an olde scripture yt nothyng belōged vnto vs, or yt now were to be refused. For it is Gods true scripture & testimony, which the Lorde Iesus commaundeth the Iewes to search. who so euer beleueth not the scripture,Io. 5. d beleueth not Christ, and who so refuseth it, refuseth God also.

The New Testament or Gospell, is a manyfest and cleare testymony of Christ how God perfourmeth his ooth and promes made in the olde Testament, how the New is declared and included in the Olde, and the Olde fulfylled and verifyed in the New.

Now where as the most famous interpreters of all geue sondrye iudgmentes of the texte (so farre as it is done by ye sprete of knowlege in the holy goost) me thynke noman shulde be offended there at, for they referre theyr doinges in mekenes to the sprete of trueth in the congregacyon of god: & sure I am, that there commeth more knowlege and vnderstondinge of the scripture by theyr sondrie translacyons, then by all the gloses of oure sophisticall doctours. For that one interpreteth somthynge obscurely in one place, the same trans ateth another (or els he him selfe) more manifestly by a more playne vocable of the same meanyng in another place. Be not thou offended therfore (good Reader) though one call a scrybe, that another calleth a lawyer: or elders, that another calleth father & mother: or repentaunce, that another calleth pennaunce or amendment. For yf thou be not disceaued by mens tradiciōs, thou shalt fynde nomore dyuersite betwene these termes then betwene foure pens and a grote. And this maner haue I vsed in my translacyon, callyng it in some place pennaunce, that in another place I call repentaunce, and that not onely because the interpreters haue done so before me, but that the aduersaries of the trueth maye se, how that we abhorre not this worde pēnaunce (as they vntruly reporte of vs) no more then the interpreters of latyn abhorre penitere, whan they reade resipiscere. Onely oure hertes desyre vnto God, is, that his people be not blynded in theyr vnderstondyng, lest they beleue pennaunce to be ought saue a very repētaunce, amēdment, or conuersyon vnto God, and to be an vnfayned new creature in Christ, and to lyue acordyng to his lawe. For els shall they fal in to the olde blasphemy of Christes bloude, and beleue, that they thē selues are able to make satisfaccion vnto God for theyr awne synnes, from the which erroure god of his mercy and plēteous goodnes preserue all his.

Now to conclude: for so moch as all the scripture is wrytten for thy doctryne & ensample, it shalbe necessary for the, to take holde vpon it, whyle it is offred the, yee and with ten handes thankfully to receaue it. And though it be not worthely ministred vnto the in this translacyon (by reason of my rudnes) Yet yf thou be feruēt in thy prayer, God shal not onely sende it the in a better shappe, by the mynistracyon of other that beganne it afore, but shall also moue the hertes of them, which as yet medled not withall, to take it in hande, and to bestowe the gifte of theyr vnderstondynge theron, as well in oure language as other famous interpreters do in other languages. And I praye God, that thorow my poore ministracyon here in, I maye geue them that can do better, some occasyon so to do: exhortyng the (most deare reader) in the meane whyle on Gods behalfe, yf thou be a heade, a Iudge, or ruler of ye people, that thou let not the boke of this lawe departe out of thy mouth, but exercise thyselfe therin both daye and nyghte,Ios. 1. a Deute. 17. d and be euer readyng in it as longe as thou lyuest: that thou mayest lerne to feare the Lorde thy God, & not to turne asyde from the commaundement, nether to the right hande ner to the lefte: left thou be a knower of personnes in iudgmēt, and wrest the righte of the straunger, of the fatherles or of the wedowe,Deute. 24. Roma. 12. b. 1. Pet. 4. b. Actu. 20. d 1. Petr. 5. a. 1. Tim. 4. b. Ti. 2. a and so ye curse to come vpon the. But what office so euer thou hast wayte vpon it, and execute it, to the mayntenaunce of peace, to the welth of thy people, defendynge the lawes of God, and the louers therof, and to the destruccyon of the wicked.

Yf thou be a preacher, and hast the ouersighte of the flocke of Christ, awake and fede Christes shepe with a good herte, & spare no laboure to do them good, seke not thy selfe, & bewarre of fylthy lucre / but be vnto ye flocke an ensample, in ye worde, in cōuersacyon, in loue, in feruentnes of ye sprete, and be euer readynge, exhortynge, & teachynge in Gods worde, that the people of God renne not vnto other doctrynes and lest thou thy selfe (whan thou shuldest teach other) be founde ignoraunt therin And rather then thou woldest teach the people eny other thynge then Gods worde take the boke in thyne hande, & reade the wordes euē as they stonde therin (for it is no shame so to do, it is more shame to make a lye) This I saye for soch, as are not yet experte in the scripture, for I reproue no preachyng without the boke as longe as they saye the trueth.

Yf thou be a man that hast wyfe and childrē, first loue thy wyfe,Ephe. 5, c. acordynge to the ensample of the loue, wherwith Christ loued the cōgregacion, and remembre that so doynge, thou louest euen thyselfe: yf thou hate her, thou hatest thine awne flesh: yf thou cherishe her and make moch of her, thou cherisest & makest moch of thyselfe for she is bone of thy bones, & flesh of thy flesh. And who so euer thou be that hast children, bryng them vp in the nurtour and informacion of the Lorde.Ephe. 6. a. And yf thou be ignoraunt, or art otherwyse occupied laufully that thou canst not teach them thy selfe, then be euen as diligent to seke a good master for thy childrē, as thou wast to seke a mother to beare them: for there lieth as great weight in the one as in ye other. Yee better it were for thē to be vnborne, then not to feare God, or to be euel brought vp. which thynge (I meane bryngynge vp well of children) yf it be diligently loked to, it is the vpholdinge of all comon welthes: and the negligence of the same, the very decaye of all realmes.

Fynally, who so euer thou be, take these wordes of scripture in to thy herte, and be not onely an outwarde hearer, but a doer therafter, and practyse thyselfe therin: that thou mayest fele in thine hert, the swete promyses therof for thy consolacion in all trouble, & for the sure stablyshinge of thy hope in Christ, and haue euer an eye to ye wordes of scripture, that yf thou be a teacher of other thou mayest be within the boundes of the trueth, or at the leest though thou be but an hearer or reader of another mans doynges, thou mayest yet haue knowlege to iudge all spretes, and be fre from euery erroure, to the vtter destruccion of all sedicious sectes & straunge doctrynes, that the holy scrypture maye haue fre passage, and be had in reputacion, to the worshippe of the author therof, which is euen God himselfe: to whom for his most blessed worde be glory & domynion now & euer. Amen.

The bokes of the hole Byble how they are named in Englysh and Latyn / how longe they are wrytten in the allegacions, how many chapters euery boke hath, and in what leafe euery one begynneth.
¶The bokes of the fyrst parte.

Abbreuiacion. Boke. Chapters. Leafe. Gen. Genesis, the fyrst boke of Moses. l. Fyrst. Exo. Exodus, the seconde boke of Moses. xl. xxiiii. Leui. Leuiticus, the thyrde boke of Moses. xxvii. xlii. Num. Numerus, the fourthe boke of Moses. xxxvi. lv. Deut. Deuteronomion, the fyfth boke of Moses. xxxiiii. lxxiiii.

¶The bokes of the seconde parte.

Abbreuiacion. Boke Chapters. Leafe. Ios. Iosue, the boke of Iosua. xxiiii. ii. Iud. Iudicum, the boke of the Iudges. xxi. xiii. Ruth. Ruth, the boke of Ruth. iiii. xxiiii. I. Reg. Regum, the fyrst boke of the kynges. xxxi. xxvi. II. Reg. Regum, the seconde boke of the kynges. xxiiii. xl. III. Reg. Regum, the thyrde boke of the kynges. xxii. lii. IIII. Reg. Regum, the fourth boke of the kynges. xxv. lxvi. I. Par. Paralipomenon, ye .I. boke of ye Cronicles. xxx. lxxix. II. Par. Paralipomenon, ye .II. boke of ye Cronicles. xxxvi. xci. I. Esd. Esdre, the fyrst boke of Esdras. x. cvii. II, Esd. Esdre, the seconde boke of Esdras. xiii. cxi. Hester. Hester, the boke of Hester. x. cxvii.

¶The bokes of the thyrde parte.

Abbreuiacion. boke. Chapters. Leafe. Iob. Iob, the boke of Iob. xlii. fyrst Psal. Psalterium, the Psalter. cl. xii. Pro. Prouerbia, the prouerbes of Salomon. xxxi. xxxviii. Eccle. Ecclesiastes, the preacher of Salomon. xii. xlvii. Cant. Cantica Canticorū, Salomons balettes. viii. l.

¶The Prophetes.

Abbreuiacion. Boke. Chapters. Leafe. Esa. Esaias, Esay the prophete. lxvi. ii. Iere. Ieremias, Ieremy the prophete. lii. xxiiii. Tren. Trent, the lamentacions of Ieremy. v. xlix. Bar. Baruc, Baruc the prophete. vi. li. Eze. Ezechiel, Ezechiel the prophete. xlviii. lv. Dan. Daniel, Daniel the prophete. xii. lxxvii. Ose. Oseas, Oseas the prophete. xiiii. lxxxiiii. Ioel. Ioel, Ioel the prophete. iii. lxxxvii. Amo. Amos, Amos the prophete. ix. lxxxviii Abd. Abdias, Abdy the prophete. i. xc. Ion. Ionas, Ionas the prophete. iiii. xci. Mich. Micheas, Micheas the prophete. vii. xcii. Na. Naum, Naum the prophete. iii. xciiii. Aba. Abacuc, Abacuc the prophete iii, xcv. Soph. Sophonias, Sophony the prophete. iii. xcvi. Agg. Aggeus, Aggeus the prophete. ii. xcvii. Zacha. Zacharias, Zachary the prophete. xiiii. xcvii. Mal, Malachias, Malachy the prophet. iii. ci. III. Esdre. Esdre, the thyrde boke of Esdras. ix ii. IIII. Esdre. Esdre. the fourth boke of Esdras. xvi. viii. Tob. Tobias. the boke of Tobias. xiiii. xx. Iudith. Iudith. the boke of Iudith. xvi. xxiiii. Certayne Chapiters of Hester. vi. xxx. Sap. Sapientia. the boke of wysdome. xix. xxxii. Eccli. Ecclesiasticus, Iesus Syrac. li. xxxix. Sus. Susanna, the storye of Susanna. i lvii. Bel. Bel, the storye of Bell. i. lviii. I. Mac. Machabeorum, the fyrst boke of the Mach. xvi. lix. II. Mac. Machabeorū, The secōde boke of the Mac. xv. lxxiii.

The new Testament.

Abreuiacion. Boke. Chapters. Leafe· Math. Mathew the Euangelist. xxviii. ii· Mar. Marke the Euangelst xvi. xvi· Luc. Luke the Euangelist. xxiiiii. xxv. Ioh. Ihon the Euangelist. xxi. xl. Act. The Actes of the Apostles xxviii. li. Rom. The Epistle to the Romaynes. xvi. lxvi. I. Cor. The fyrst epistle to the Corinthians. xvi. lxxii. II. Cor. The seconde epistle to the Corinthians. xiii. lxxviii. Gal. The epistle to the Galathians. vi. lxxxii. Ephe. The Epistle to the Ephesians vi. lxxxiiii. Phil. The epistle to the Philippians. iiii. lxxxvi. Col. The epistle to the Collossians iiii. lxxxvii. I. Tess. The first Epistle to the Tessalonians. v. lxxxix. II. Tess. The seconde Epistle to the Tessalonians. iii. xc. I. Timo. The fyrst Epistle vnto Timothy. vi. xci. II. Tim. The seconde Epistle vnto Timothy. iiii. xci . Tit. The epistle vnto Tytus iii. xciiii. Phile. The epistle vnto Philemon i. xciiii. I. Pet. The fyrst epistle of S. Peter v. xcv. II. Pet. The seconde epistle of S. Peter. iii. xcvi. I. Ioh. The fyrst epistle of S. Ihon. v. xcviii. II. Ioh. The seconde epistle of S. Ihon i. xcix. III. Ioh. The thirde epistle of S. Ihon i. xcix. Heb. The epistle vnto the Hebrues xiii. c. Iac. The epistle of S. Iames v. ciiii. Iud. The epistle of S. Iude. i. cvi. Apo. The Reuelacion of S. Ihon. xxii. cvi.

The first boke of Moses / called Genesis what this boke conteyneth. Chap. i. The creacion of the worlde in sixe dayes / and of man. Chap ii. The rest of the seuenth daye. The tre of knowlege of good & euell is forbyddē &c. Of the creacion of Eua. Chap. iii, The serpent deceaueth the woman: they transgresse and are dryuen out of paradyse. Chap. iiii. Abels offerynge pleaseth God: therfore doth his brother Cayn hate hym: murthureth hym: & is cursed. Of the chyldren of Cayn. Chap. v. Of the generacion, age & death of Adā: Seth and his sonnes vnto Noe. Chap. vi. The occasion of the floude: and of the preparynge of the arcke. Chap. vii. Noe with his housholde is preserued in the arcke: where as all the worlde perisheth thorowe the floude. Chap. viii. The floude abateth. Noe goeth out of arcke. &c. Chap. ix. God blesseth Noe and his sonnes: forbyddeth to eate the bloude of beestes, and to shed mās bloude: maketh a conuenaunt (and geueth the raynbowe for a token of the same) that he wyll destroye the worlde no more by water. Noe is dronken. Ham vncouereth hym, and getteth his curse. Chap. x. The increace of mās generaciō by Noes thre sonnes: which go abrode and begynne to buylde. Chap. xi. The buyldynge of the towre of Babel is hyndreth thorowe the confusyon of the tonges. The generacion of Sem vntyll Abram: whiche goeth with Loth vnto Haran. Chap. xii. Abram goeth with Loth into a straunge londe at the worde of the Lord: which appeareth vnto hym in Canaan: and promiseth to geue the same londe vnto his sede: Afterwarde goeth Abram into Egypte and fayneth Saray to be his syster. Chap. xiii. Abram and Loth departe agayne out of Egypte: and haue so many cattell that they can not dwell together. Abram receaueth the blessynge and promes. Chap. xiiii. Loth is taken presoner: Abram deliuereth hym: Melchisedech fedeth Abram at his returnynge: Abram geueth hym tythes of the spoyles: and holdeth nothinge of the kynge of Sodoms goodes. Chap. xv. God conforteth Abram and promyseth hym sede: He beleueth and is iustified. Chap. xvi. Sarai geueth Abram leue to take hyr mayde whiche beareth hym Ismaell. Chap. xvii. The cōuenaunt of circumcisyon. &c. Chap. xviii. Thre mē appeare vnto Abrahā to whom the destruction of Sodome is declared. Chap. xix. Loth receaueth the two angels the: men of Sodome go aboute to abuse them: Loth is delyuered Sodome is destroyed: Loths wyfe is turned to a pyler of salt: and his doughters beare chyldren vnto hym. Chap. xx. Abraham departeth as a straunger in to Gerar: and fayneth Sarai to be his syster: the kynge taketh her and geueth hym her agayne. Chap. xxi. The byrth of Isaac: Agar is put out with hyr sonne. Abraham and Abimelech are sworne frendes. Chap. xxii. God tryeth Abraham whiche at his word wolde offre his owne sonne. The promes is confirmed vnto hym with an ooth. Chap. xxiii. The death of Sara: for whom Abraham byeth a pece of londe to burye her in. Chap. xxiiii. Abraham wyll haue his sonne to mary in his owne kynred: the seruaunt bryngeth Rebecca: whō Isaac taketh to wyfe. Chap. xxv. Abraham begetteth mo chyldren by another wyfe: geueth his good vnto Isaac and dyeth. Isaac begynneth to growe: Esau selleth his byrth righte. Chap. xxvi Isaac goeth into Gerar: fayneth Rebecca to be his syster: increasseth in ryches: The Philistines stoppe his welles. Abimelech & he are sworne frendes. Chap. xxvii. Iacob is blessed before Esau: and Esau threateneth hym: but he flyeth into Haram to Laba his mothers brother. Chap. xxviii. Isaac s ndeth Iacob awaye to mary amonge Labans doughters, Iacob seyth a vision, God confirmeth hym the promes made vnto Abrahā: whervpon Iacob maketh a vowe. Chap. xxix. Iacob geueth Labans shepe to drynke serueth seuen yeare for Rachell: Lea is geuen hym: & yet serueth he seuen yeare mo for Rachell. Chap. xxx. Rachel geueth Iacob hyr mayden and so doeth Lea: they beare hym chyldren: his reward is appoynted with a condicion: wherby he is made ryche. Chap. xxxi. Iacob goeth home ward. Rachell stealet hyr fathers ymages. Laban ouertaketh them and fyndeth not his ymages: they sweare together: the angell meteth Iacob. Chap. xxxii. Iacob sendeth presentes vnto Esau: Putteth God in remembraunce of his promes: and wresteleth with the angell: whiche chaun eth his name and blesseth hym. Chap. xxxiii. Iacob and Esau are agreed. &c. Chap. xxxiiii. Dyna Iacobs doughter is forced by Sychem: wherof there commeth great bloud sheddynge. Chap. xxxv. Rachell dyeth at the byrth of Beniamin. Ruben lyeth with his fathers concubyne. Chap. xxxvi. Of the princes that came of Esau: and how Esau departeth from his brother. Chap. xxxvii. Ioseph is hated of his brethren: and solde in to Egypte. Chap. xxxviii. Iuda lyeth with his doughter in lawe which beareth hym two sonnes. Chap. xxxix. Ioseph is beloued: & because he wyll not consente to the inordinate desyre of his mastresse, he is put in pryson. Chap. xl. Ioseph expoūdeth the dreames of the two presoners. Chap. xli. Ioseph declareth Pharaos dreame: and is made a Lorde of Egypte. The derth begynneth. Chap. xlii. Iosephs brethren come in to Egypte to bye corne: and are troubled of hym. Chap. xliii. They come agayne for corne: brynge Ben-Iamyn with them: and are put to more trouble. Chap. xliiii. As they go home he causeth thē be brought agayne: and put to more feare. Chap. xlv. Ioseph vttereth hym selfe to his brethren: and sendeth for his father. Chap. xlvi. Iacob commeth in to Egypte with all his people: Ioseph receaueth hym. Chap. xlvii. Pharao geueth them the londe of G sen: ye derth is great in Egypte. &c. Chap. xlviii. Iacob is sycke: & blesseth Iosephs sonnes. Chap. xlix. Iacob before his death telleth his sonnes what shall happen vnto them, and dyeth. Chap. l. Ioseph burieth his father: and chargeth his brethren concernynge his bones: and dyeth in Egypte

〈2 pages missing〉 lege of good and euell, shalt thou not eate. For loke in what daye so euer thou eatest therof, thou shalt dye the death.

And the LORDE God sayde: It is not good yt mā shulde be alone. I wil make him an helpe, Some reade * 〈◊〉 be nexte by him. to beare him cōpany. And whan God the LORDE had made of the earth all maner beastes of the felde, & all maner foules vnder the heauē, he brought them vnto man, to se what he wolde call thē: For as mā called all maner of liuinge soules, so are their names. And man gaue names vnto all maner catell, & vnto the foules vnder the heauē, and vnto all maner beastes of ye felde. But vnto man there was founde no helpe, to beare him company.

Then the LORDE God caused an herde slepe to fall vpon man, and he slepte. And he toke out one of his rybbes, and (in steade therof) he fylled vp ye place with flesh. And the LORDE God made a woman, Cor. 11. a of ye rybbe that he toke out of man, and brought her vnto him. Then sayde man: This is once bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shalbe called woman, because she was takē of man. Matt. 19. a Mar 10. a phe. 5. c Cor. 6. c Gen. 3. b For this cause shal a man leaue father and mother, and cleue vnto his wife, & they two shalbe one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

The III. Chapter.

BVt the serpent was sotyller then all Eccl 25. d the beastes of the felde (which ye LORDE God had made) and sayde vnto the woman: Yee, hath God sayde indede:2. Cor. 11. a Ye shall not eate of all maner trees in the garden? Then sayde the woman vnto the serpent: We eate of the frute of the trees in the garden: But as for the frute of the tre that is in the myddes of the garden, God hath sayde: Eate not ye of it, and touch it not, lest ye dye.

Then saide the serpent vnto the woman: Iere. 14. b and 23. c Tush, ye shall not dye the death. For God doth knowe, that in what daye so euer ye eate of it, youre eyes shalbe opened, and ye shal be as God, and knowe both good and euell. And the woman sawe that ye tre was good to eate of, and lustye vnto the eyes, and a pleasaunt tre Some reade: * whyle it made wyse. to make wyse, and toke of the frute of it, and ate, and gaue vnto hir husbande also therof, and he ate. Then were the eyes of them both opened, and they perceaued that they were naked, and sowed fygge leaues together, Gene. 2. d and made them apurns.

And they herde the voyce of the LORDE God, which walked in the garden in the coole of the daye. And Adam hyd him self with his wyfe, from the presence of ye LORDE God amonge the trees of the garden. And ye LORDE God called Adam, and sayde vnto him: Where art thou? And he saide: I herde thy voyce in the garden, and was afrayed, because I am naked, and therfore I hyd myself. And he sayde: who tolde the, that thou art naked? Hast thou not eaten of the tre, wherof I commaunded the, yt thou shuldest not eate?

Then sayde Adam: The woman which thou gauest me (to beare me company) gaue me of the tre, and I ate. And the LORDE God sayde vnto the woman: wherfore hast thou done this? The woman sayde: the serpent disceaued me so, that I ate. Apo. 12. c Then sayde the LORDE God vnto the serpent: Because thou hast done this, cursed be thou aboue all catell and aboue all beastes of the felde. Vpon thy bely shalt thou go, & earth shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy life. And I wyll put enemyte betwene the and the woman, and betwene ye sede and hir sede. Matt. 4. a Col. 2. b The same shal treade downe thy heade, and thou shalt treade him on the hele.

And vnto the woman he sayde: I will increase thy sorow, whan thou art with childe: with payne shalt thou beare thy childrē, and Some reade: * Thou shalt bowe downe thy self before thy husbande. thy lust shal pertayne vnto ye huszbande, and he shal rule the.

And vnto Adam he sayde: For so moch as thou hast herkened vnto the voyce of thy wyfe, and hast eaten of the tre, wherof I commaunded the, sayenge: thou shalt not eate of it. Cursed be ye earth for thy sake. With sorowe shalt thou eate therof, all the dayes of thy life. Thornes and thistles shalt it beare vnto the, and thou shalt eate the herbes of the felde. In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate thy bred, tyll thou be turned agayne vnto earth, Eccl. 40. b Iob 34. b whēce thou art takē: for earth thou art, and vnto earth shalt thou be turned agayne.

And Adam called his wyfe Hena, because she is the mother of all lyuynge. And the LORDE God made Adam & his wyfe garmentes of skynnes, & those he put on them. And the LORDE God sayde: lo, Adam is become as it were one of vs, & knoweth good & euell. But now lest he stretch his hande, and take also of the tre of life, and eate, and lyue for euer. Then the LORDE God put him out of the garden of Eden, to tyll ye earth, whē ce he was takē. And he cast Adam out. And before the garden of Eden he set Cherubes, and a naked syrie swerde, to kepe ye waye vnto the tre of life.

The IIII. Chapter.

MOrouer Adam laye with Hena his wyfe, which cōceaued & bare Cain, and sayde, I haue opteyned ye man of the LORDE. And she proceaded forth, & bare his brother Abell. And Abell became a shepherde, but Cain became an huszbande man.

And it fortuned after certaine daies, that Cain brought of the frute of the earth, an offrynge vnto ye LORDE. And Abell brought also of the firstlinges of his shepe, and of ye fat of them. Heb. 11. a And the LORDE had respecte vnto Abell and to his offerynge: but vnto Cain and his offerynge he loked not. Then was Cain exceadinge wroth, and his countenaunce chaunged. And the LORDE sayde vnto Cain: Why art thou angrie? and why doth thy countenaunce chaunge? Is it not so? that yf thou do well, thou shalt receaue it: but and yf thou do euell, thy synne lyeth open in the dore? Some reade: * Let it be subdued vnto the, & rule thou it. Shal he then be subdued vnto the? and wilt thou rule him? And Cain talked with Abell his brother.

And it happened, that whan they were in the felde, Cain arose agaynst Abell his brother, and slew him. Then sayde the LORDE vnto Cain: Where is Abell thy brother? He sayde: I can not tell. Am I my brothers keper? Sap. 10. a 1. Ioh 3. b Heb. 12. d And he sayde: What hast thou done? The voyce of thy brothers bloude crieth vnto

me out of the earth. And now shalt thou be cursed vpon the earth, which hath opened hir mouth, and receaued thy brothers bloude of thine hande. Whan thou tyllest ye grounde, she shall henszforth not geue hir power vnto the. Pro. A vagabunde and a rennagate shalt thou be vpon ye earth. And Cain sayde vnto ye LORDE: my synne is greater, Iob then that it maye be forgeuen me. Beholde, thou castest me out this daye from out of ye londe, and from ye sight must I hyde myself, and must be a vagabunde and a rennagate vpon ye earth. And thus shal it go with me: that who so fyndeth me, shal slaye me.

But the LORDE sayde thus vnto him: Who so euer slayeth Cain, Gen. it shalbe auenged seuenfolde. And the LORDE put a marck vpon Cain, that no man which founde him, shulde kyll him. So Cain wente out from ye face of the LORDE, and dwelt in the lande Nod, vpon the east syde of Eden.

And Cain laye with his wyfe, which conceaued and bare Henoch. And he buylded a cite, and called it after the name of his sonne Henoch. And Henoch begat Irad, Irad begat Mahuiael. Mahuiael begat Mathusael. Mathusael begat Lamech.

And Lamech toke him two wyues: ye one was called Ada, & the other Zilla. And Ada bare Iabel, of whom came they that dwelt in tentes and had catell. And his brothers name was Iuball: Of him came they that occupied harpes & pypes. And Zilla she also bare Tubalcain, a worker in all connynge poyntes of metall & yron. And Tubalcains sister was called Naema.

And Lamech sayde vnto his wyues Ada and Zilla: Heare my voyce (ye wyues of Lamech) and herken vnto my wordes: for I haue slayne a man, and wounded my selfe: and (haue kylled) a yonge man, and gottē my self strypes. Cain shalbe auēged seuē tymes: but Lamech seuen and seuentie tymes.

Adam laye yet with his wyfe agayne, & she bare a sonne, and called him Seth. For God (sayde she) hath apoynted me another sede, for Abell, whom Cain slew. And Seth begat a sonne also, and called him Enos. At the same tyme beganne men to call vpon the name of the LORDE.

The V. Chapter.

THis is the boke of the generacion of man, in the tyme whan God created man, and made him after the symilitude of God. Male and female made he them, and blessed thē, & called their names Man, in the tyme whan they were created. And Adam was an hundreth and thirtie yeare olde, . Par. 1. a and begat a sonne, which was like his owne ymage, and called his name Seth: & lyued therafter eight hūdreth yeare, and begat sonnes and doughters. And his whole age was nyne hundreth and thirtie yeares, and so he dyed.

Seth was an hundreth and fyue yeare olde, and begat Enos: & lyued therafter eight hundreth and seuen yeare, and begat sonnes and doughters. And his whole age was nyene hūdreth and twolue yeares, and so he dyed.

Enos was nyentie yeare olde, and begat Kenan: and lyued therafter eight hundreth & fyftene yeare, and begat sonnes & daughters. And his whole age was nyene hūdreth and fyue yeares, and so he dyed.

Kenan was seuētie yeare olde, and begat Mahalaliel: and lyued therafter eight hundreth and fourtie yeare, and begat sonnes & doughters. And his whole age was nyene hundreth and ten yeares, and so he dyed.

Mahalaliel was thre score yeare olde & fyue, and begat Iared: and lyued therafter eight hundreth and thirtie yeare, and begat sonnes and doughters. And his whole age was eight hundreth, nyentie and fyue yeares, and so he dyed.

Iared was an hundreth and two & sixtie yeare olde, and begat Henoch: & lyued therafter eight hūdreth yeare, and begat sonnes & doughters. And his whole age was nyene hundreth and two and sixtie yeare, and so he dyed.

Eccli. 44. b lib. 11. a Henoch was fyue and thre score yeare olde, and begat Mathusalah: and led a godly conuersacion thre hundreth yeares therafter, and begat sonnes & doughters. And his whole age was thre hundreth and fyue and thre score yeares. Sap. 4. b 4. Re. 2. a And for so moch as he lyued a godly life, God toke him awaye, & he was nomore sene.

Mathusalah was an ūhdreth & seuē and foure score yeare olde, & begat Lamech: and lyued therafter seuen hundreth and two and foure score yeare, and begat sonnes & doughters. And his whole age was nyene hundreth and nyene and trescore yeares, and so he dyed.

Lamech was an hundreth and two and foure score yeare olde, and begat a sonne, & called him Noe, and sayde: This same shall cōforte vs in oure workes, and in the sorowe of oure hondes vpon the earth, Gen. 3. d which the LORDE hath cursed. After this he lyued fyue hūdreth and fyue & nyentie yeare, and begat sonnes and doughters. And his whole age was seuen hundreth seuen and seuentie yeares, and so he dyed.

Noe was fyue hundreth yeare olde, and begat Sem, Ham and Iaphet.

The VI. Chapter.

SO whan men beganne to multiplie vpon the earth, and had begot them doughters, the children of God sawe the doughters of men, that they were fayre, and toke vnto thē wyues soch as they liked. Then sayde ye LORDE: My sprete shal not allwaye stryue with man, for he is but flesh also.1. Pet. 3. c I wil yet geue him respyte an hundreth and twēty yeares. There were giauntes also in the worlde at that tyme. For whan the children of God had lyen with the daughters of men, and begotten them children, ye same (children) became mightie in the worlde, and men of renowne.

But whan the LORDE sawe yt the wickednes of man was increased vpon ye earth, and that all ye thought and imaginacion of their hert was but onely euell contynually, it repented him,1. Re. 15. c that he had made man vpon the earth, and he sorowed in his hert, and sayde: I wyll destroye man kynde which I haue made, from the earth: both man, beest, worme, and foule vnder the heauen: for it repenteth me, that I haue made them. Esa. 42. c Neuertheles Noe founde grace in the sight of the LORDE.

This is ye generacion of Noe. Noe was a righteous and parfecte mā, Eccl. 44. b and led a godly life in his tyme, and begat thre sonnes: Sem, Ham and Iaphet. Notwithstondinge ye earth was corrupte in ye sight of God, and full of myschefe. Then God loked vpon ye earth: and lo, it was corrupte (for all flesh had corrupte his waye vpon the earth.)

Then sayde God vnto Noe: Then ende of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is full of myschefe before them. And lo, I wyll destroye them with the earth. Make the an Arcke of Pyne tre, and make chambers in it, and pitch it within and without with pitch and make it after this fashion: The length shal be thre hundreth cubites, the bredth fiftie cubites, and the heyght thirtie cubites. A wyndow shalt thou make aboue of a cubyte greate: but the dore shalt thou set in the myddest in the syde of it: And the Arke shalt thou make with thre loftes one aboue another. For o, I wyll bringe a floude of water vpon the earth, to destroye all flesh (wherin the breth of life is) vnder the heauē: All that is vpon earth, shal perishe.

But with the wyll I make a couenaunt, and thou shalt go in to the Arcke with thy sonnes, with thy wyfe, and with thy sonnes wyues. And of all creatures what so euer flesh it be, thou shalt bringe in to the Arcke, euen a payre: the male and the female, that they maye lyue wt the: Of foules after their kynde, of beastes after their kynde, and of all maner wormes of the earth after their kinde. Of euery one of these shal there a payre go in vnto the, that they maye lyue. And thou shalt take vnto the all maner of meate that maye be eaten, and shalt laye it vp in stoare by the, that it maye be meate for the and them. And Noe dyd acordinge to all that God commaunded him.

The VII. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE sayde vnto Noe: Go in to the Arcke thou & thy whole house: . Pet. 2. b for the haue I sene righteous before me at this tyme. Leuit. 11. a Of all cleane beastes take vnto the seuen and seuen, the male and his female. And of vncleane beastes a payre, the male and his female. Like wyse of the foules vnder the heauen, seuen and seuen, the male and his female, that there maye besede left a lyue vpon the whole earth.

For yet after seuen dayes, I wil sende raine vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes, and wyll destroye all maner of thinges that I haue made, from of the face of the earth.

And Noe dyd all that the LORDE commaunded him. Sixe hūdreth yeare olde was he, whan the water floude came vpon earth. And he wente in to the Arcke, Matt. Luc. 1 with his sonnes, his wyfe, and his sonnes wyues, for the waters of the floude. Of cleane beastes and of vncleane, of all fethered foules, & of all that crepeth vpon earth, wente in vnto him to the Arcke by pares, a male and a female, as ye LORDE cōmaunded him. And whan the seuen dayes were past, the water floude came vpon the earth.

In the sixe hundreth yeare of Noes age, vpon the seuentene daye of the seconde moneth, that same daye were all ye fountaynes of the greate depe broken vp, and the wyndowes of heauen were opened, and there came a rayne vpon ye earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes.

Vpon the selfe same daye wēte Noe in to the Arcke, with Sem, Ham and Iaphet his sonnes, and with his wyfe, and the thre wyues of his sonnes, and all maner of beastes after their kynde, all maner of catell after their kynde, all maner of crepynge thinges (that crepe vpō the earth) after their kynde, and all maner of foules (what so euer coude flye & what so euer had fethers) after their kynde: These wente all vnto Noe in to the Arcke by cooples, of all flesh in whom was the breth of life. And these were the male & the female of all maner of flesh, and wente in, acordinge as God commaūded him. And the LORDE shut (the dore) vpon him.

Then came the water floude fourtie dayes vpon the earth, and the water increased, Eccli and bare vp the Arcke, and lift it vp ouer ye earth. Thus the water preuayled, and increased sore vpon the earth, so that the Arcke wente vpon the waters. Yee the waters preuayled and increased so sore vpon earth, that all the hye mountaynes vnder the whole heauen were couered. Fyftene cubytes hye preuayled ye waters ouer the mountaynes, which were couered.

Then all flesh that crepte vpon earth, perished, both foules, catell, beastes, and all yt moued vpon earth, and all men. What so euer had the breth of life vpon the drye londe, dyed.

Thus was destroyed all that was vpon the earth, both man and beast, Sap. •• both wormes and foules vnder ye heauē: all these were destroyed from the earth, Saue Noe onely remayned, and they that were with him in the Arcke. And the waters preuayled vpon the earth, an hundreth and fiftie dayes.

The VIII. Chapter.

THen God remembred Noe and all the beastes, and all the catell that were with him in the Arcke, and caused a wynde to come vpon the earth: and ye waters ceassed, and the fountaynes of the depe and the wyndowes of heauen were stopte, and the rayne of heauē was forbydden, and the waters ranne styll awaye from ye earth, and decreased after an hundreth and fiftye dayes.

Vpon the seuentene daye of the seuenth moneth rested the Arcke vpon the mountaynes of Ararat. And the waters wēte awaye and decreased vntyll the tenth moneth: for the first daye of the tenth moneth, the toppes of the mountaynes appeared.

After fourtie dayes Noe opened ye wyndow of the Arcke which he had made & sent forth a rauen, which flew out, and 〈…〉 came agayne, vntyll the waters were dryed vp vpō the earth.

Then sent he forth a doue from him, to wete, whether the waters were fallē vpon the earth. But when ye doue coude fynde no restynge place for hir fete, she came agayne vnto him in to the Arcke, for the waters were yet vpon the face of all the earth. And he put out his hande, and toke her to him in to the Arke.

Then he abode yet seuen dayes mo, & sent out the doue agayne out of the Arke: & she returned vnto him aboute the euen tyde: and beholde, she had broken of a leaf of an olyue tre, & bare it in hir nebb. Then Noe perceaued, that the waters were abated vpon the earth. Neuertheles he taried yet seuen other dayes, and sent forth the doue, which came nomore to him agayne.

In the sixte hundreth and one yeare of Noes age, vpon the first daye of ye first moneth, the waters were dryed vp vpon the earth. Then Noe toke of the hatches of the Arke, and sawe yt the face of the earth was drye. So vpon the seuen and twentye daye of the seconde moneth the whole earth was drye.

Then spake God vnto Noe, and sayde: Go out of the Arke, thou and thy wyfe, and thy sonnes, and thy sonnes wyues with the. As for all the beastes that are with the, what so euer flesh it be (both foule & catell and all maner of wormes that crepe vpon the earth) let them go out with the, and be ye occupied vpon the earth, growe and multiplye vpon the earth. ene. 1. d

So Noe wente out, with his sonnes, and with his wife, and with his sonnes wyues. All the beastes also and all the wormes, and all the foules, and all that crepte vpon the earth, wente out of the Arke, euery one vnto his like.

And Noe buylded an altare vnto ye LORDE, Leui. 11. and toke of all maner of cleane beastes & of all maner of cleane foules, and offred brē sacrifices vpon ye altare. And ye LORDE smelled the swete sauor, & sayde in his hert: I wyl hence forth curse the earth nomore for mās sake, for the ymaginacion of mans hert is euell, euen from the very youth of him. Therfore from hēce forth I wil nomore smyte all that lyueth, as I haue done. Nether shall sowynge tyme and haruest, colde 〈◊〉 heate Sommer and wynter, daye and 〈◊〉 ceasse so longe as the earth endure

The IX. Chapter.

ANd God blessed Noe and his sonnes, and sayde vnto them: increace & multiplye, and fyll the earth. The feare also and drede of you be vpon all beastes of the earth, vpon all foules vnder the heauen, and vpon all that crepeth on the earth, and all fyshes of the see be geuen in to youre hādes. All that moueth and hath life, be youre meate. Euen as the grene herbe, Gen. 1. d so haue I geuē you all. Leui. 7. c and 17. d Onely eate not the flesh with the bloude, wherin the soule is: For the bloude of you wherin youre soule is, wyll I requyre of the hande of all beastes: and the soule of mā wyll I requyre of mans hande, Exo. 21. c ye euery mans soule of anothers hande.

He that sheddeth mās bloude, Tren. 4. b Mat. 26. c Apo. 13. b his bloude shal be shed by man agayne, for God made man after his owne licknesse. As for you, be ye frutefull, and increase, Gen. 1. and be occupied vpon the earth, that ye maye multiplye therin.

Farthermore, God sayde vnto Noe and to his sonnes wt him: Beholde, Esa. 54. a I make my couenaunt with you, and with youre sede after you, and with euery lyuynge creature that is with you, both foule, catell, and all beastes vpon the earth with you, of all that is gone out of the Arke, what so euer beast of the earth it be: And thus I make my couenaunt with you, cclesias •• ci. 44. b that hence forth all flesh shal not be destroyed with the waters of eny floude, and from hence forth there shall come no floude to destroye the earth.

And God sayde: This is the token of my couenaunt which I haue made betwene me and you, and all lyuynge creatures amonge you for euermore: My bowe will I set in the cloudes, and it shal be the token of my couenaunt betwene me and ye earth: so that whā I brynge cloudes vpon the earth, the bowe shal appeare in the cloudes. And then wyll I thynke vpon my couenaunt betwixte me and you and all lyuynge creatures in all maner of flesh: so that from hence forth there shall nomore come eny floude of water to destroye all flesh. Therfore shall my bowe be in the cloudes, that I maye loke vpon it, and remembre the euerlastynge couenaunt, betwixte God and all liuynge creatures in all flesh that is vpon earth. God sayde also vnto Noe: This is the tokē of the couenaunt, which I haue made betwene me and all flesh vpon earth.

The sonnes of Noe which wente out of the Arke, are these: Sem, Ham and Iaphet. As for Ham, he is the father of Canaā. These are Noes thre sonnes, of whom all londes were ouerspred.

Noe beganne to take hede vnto ye tyllinge of the grounde, Esa. 5. a Matt. 21. a & planted a vyniarde. And dranke of the wyne, and was dronken, and laye vncouered in his tente. Now when Hā the father of Canaan sawe his fathers preuities, he tolde his two brethren without. Thē toke Sem and Iaphet a mantell and put it vpō both their shulders, and wente backwarde, and couered their fathers secretes: & their faces were turned asyde, yt they shulde not se their fathers preuyties.

So whan Noe awaked from his wyne, and perceaued what his yonger sonne had done vnto him, he sayde: Cursed be Canaan, and a seruaunt of seruauntes be he vnto his brethren. He sayde morouer: Praysed be the LORDE God of Sem, and Canaan be his seruaunt. God increase Iaphet, and let him dwell in the tentes of Sem, and Canaan be his seruaunt.

And Noe lyued after the floude thre hundreth & fiftie yeare, so yt his whole age was ix hūdreth and fyftie yeare, and so he dyed.

The X. Chapter.

THis is the generacion of the childrē of Noe, Sem, Ham, and Iaphet, & they begat children after the floude.

The children of Iaphet are these: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Iauan, Tubal,1. Pat Mesech and Thyras. The childrē of Gomer are these: Ascenas, Riphat and Toga ma. The children of Iauan are these: Elisa, Tharsis, Cithim and Dodanim: Of these are deuided the Iles of ye Heithen in their countrees, euery one after his speach, kynred and people.

The childrē of Ham are these: Chus, Misraim, Phut and Canaan. The children of Chus are these: Seba, Heuila Sabtha, Reyma and Sabthecha.

The children of Reyma are these: Sheba and Dedā. Chus also begat Nemrod, which beganne to be mightie in the earth, and was a mightie hunter in the sight of the LORDE. Therof commeth the prouerbe: This is a mightie hunter before the LORDE like as Nemrod. And the origenall of his kyngdome was Babel, Erech, Gene. Acad & Chalne in ye londe of Synear. Out of that lōde came Assur, and buylded Niniue, and ye stretes of ye cite, and Calah, and Ressen betwene Ninyue & Calah: This is a greate cite. Ionae •• Mizraim begat Ludim, Enamim, Leabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim & Cas uhim, from whence came the Philistynes and Capthorims. Canaā also begat Zidon his eldest sonne, & Heth, Iebusi, Emori, Girgosi, Hiui, Arki, Sini, Aruadi, Zemari & Hamati: frō whence ye kynreds of ye Cananites are dispersed abrode. And ye Coastes of ye Cananites were frō Sidō forth thorow Gerar vnto Gasa, tyll thou cōmest vnto Sodoma, Gomorra, Adama, Zeboim, & vnto Lasa. These are the children of Ham in their kynreds, tunges, londes & people. And Sem which is ye father of all the children of Eber, & the elder brother of Iaphet, begat childrē also. And these are his children: Elā, Assur, Arphachad, Lud & Aram. The childrē of Aram are these: Vz, Hul, Gether & Mas.

And Arphachsad begat Sala, and Sala begat Eber. Eber begat two sonnes: the name of the one was Peleg, because that in his tyme the worlde was deuyded, and his brothers name was Iaketan, And Iaketan begat Almodad, Saleph, Hazarmaphet, Iarah, Hadoram, Vsal, Dikela, Obal, Abimael, Seba, Ophir, Heuila & Iobab: All these are ye childrē of Iaketan. And their dwellynge was from Mesa, tyll thou come vnto Sephar a mountayne of ye east. These are ye children of Sem in their generacions, tunges, londes and people.

This is now ye generacion of ye children of Noe in their kynredes & people. Of these were ye people vpon earth spred a brode after ye floude.

The XI. Chapter.

MOrouer all the worlde had one tonge & language. Now as they wente ome ade: rō the 〈◊〉 . towarde the East, they founde a playne in ye londe of Synear, & there they dwelt, & saide one to another: Come on, let vs make bryck & burne it. And they toke bryck for stone, & slyme for morter, And sayde: Come, let vs buylde a cite & a tower, whose toppe maye reach vnto heauē, yt we maye make vs a name, afore we be scatred abrode in all londes. Then came ye LORDE downe, to se ye cite & tower, yt ye childrē of mē had buylded. And ye LORDE saide: Beholde, the people is one, & haue one maner of language amōge thē all, & this haue they begonne to do, & wil not leaue of from all yt they haue purposed to do. Come on, let vs go downe, & cōfounde their tonge euē there, yt one vnderstonde not what another saieth. Deu. 32. a Thus ye LORDE scatred thē frō thēce in all lōdes, so yt they left of to buylde the cite. Therfore is it called Babell, because the LORDE cōfounded there the language of all the worlde, and from thēce scatred them abrode in to all londes.

These are ye generacions of Sem. Sem was an hundreth yeare olde, and begat Arphachsad two yeare after the floude, and lyued therafter fyue hūdreth yeare, and begat sonnes and doughters.

Arphachsad was fiue & thirtie yeare olde, and begat Salah, and lyued therafter foure hundreth and thre yeare, and begat sonnes & doughters.

Salah was thirtie yeare olde, and begat Eber, & lyued therafter foure hūdreth & thre yeare, & begat sonnes and doughters.

Eber was foure and thirtie yeare olde, & begat Peleg, and lyued therafter foure hundreth and thirtie yeare, and begat sonnes & doughters.

Peleg was thirtie yeare olde, and begat Regu, and lyued therafter two hūdreth and nyene yeare, and begat sonnes & doughters.

Regu was two and thirtie yeare olde, and begat Serug, and lyued therafter two hundreth and seuen yeare, and begat sonnes and doughters.

Serug was thirtie yeare olde, and begat Nahor, and lyued therafter two hundreth yeare, and begat sonnes & doughters.

Nahor was nyene and twentye yeare olde, and begat Terah, and lyued herafter an hundreth and nyentene yeare, and begat sonnes and doughters.

Terah was seuentie yeare olde, and begat Abram, Nahor and Haran.

These are the generations of Terah: Te: rah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. Iosu. 24. a 1. Pa . 1. b And Haran begat Lot, but Harā dyed before Terah his father in ye londe where he was borne, at Vr in Chaldea.

Then Abram and Nahor toke them wyues. Abrams wife was called Sarai, Gen. 20. c Gen. 22. d & Nahors wyfe Milca the doughter of Haran, which was father of Milca and Iisca. But Sarai was baren, and had no childe.

Then toke Terah Abrā his sonne, Iosu. 24. a 2. Esd 9. b Iudi . 5. b & Lot his sonne Harans sonne, & Sarai his doughter in lawe, his sonne Abrams wife, & caried them wt him from Vr in Chaldea, to go in to the lande of Canaan. And they came to Haran, & dwelt there. And Terah was two hundreth & fyue yeare olde, and dyed in Haran.

The XII. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE sayde vnto Abram: Get the out of thy countre, Acto. . a and from thy kynred, and out of thy fathers house, in to a londe which I wil shew the. And I wil make of the a mightie people, and wyll blesse the, and make the a greate name, yee thou shalt be a very blessynge. Gen. 27. Gene. 1 . Gen. 22. c Acto. 3. I wil blesse them that blesse the, and curse them that curse the: and in the shal all the generacions of the earth be blessed.

Then wente Abram out, as the LORDE commaunded him, and Lot wente with him. Fyue & seuentie yeare olde was Abrā, whan he wente out of Haran. So Abram toke Sarai his wife, and Lot his brothers sonne, wt all their goodes which they had gotten, and soules which they begat in Harā, and departed to go in to ye londe of Canaan. Gen. 14. And whē they were come in to the same londe, he wente thorow, tyll he came vnto the place of Sichem, and vnto the Okegroue of More: Gen. 10. and 13. a for ye Cananites dwelt in ye lōde at ye same time.

Then the LORDE appeared vnto Abrā, & sayde: Gen. 17. a This londe wil I geue vnto ye sede. And there he buylded an aulter vnto ye LORDE, which appeared vnto him. Thē brake he vp frō thēce, vnto a mountayne yt laye on ye east syde of the cite of Bethel, & pitched his tent: so yt he had Bethel on the west side, and Ay on ye east syde: & there buylded he an altare also vnto the LORDE, & called vpon the name of the LORDE. Afterwarde departed Abram farther, & toke his iourneye southwarde. But there came a derth in the londe.

Then wente Abram downe in to Egipte to kepe himself there as a straunger, for the derth was sore in the londe. And whan he was come nye for to entre in to Egipte, he sayde vnto Sarai his wife: Beholde, I knowe yt thou art a fayre woman to loke vpon. Now whan the Egipcians se the, Gen. 20. a and 26. a they wil saye: She is his wife, and so shal they slaye me, and saue the alyue. Therfore (I pray ye) saye thou art my sister, that I maye fare the better by reason of the, and that my soule maye lyue for thy sake.

Now whan he came in to Egipte, ye Egipcians sawe ye woman, yt she was very faire: & Pharaos prynces sawe her also, & praysed her before him. Then was she brought in to Pharaos house, and Abram was well intreated for hir sake: and he had shepe, oxē, and he Asses, seruauntes, maydēs, she Asses and Camels.

But ye LORDE plaged Pharao & his house wt greate plages, Esa. 43. a because of Sarai Abrās wife. Then Pharao called Abrā vnto him, and sayde: Why hast thou dealt thus wt me? Wherfore toldest thou not me at the first, yt she was thy wife? Why saydest thou then, that she was ye sister? Wherfore I toke her to my wife. And now lo, there is ye wife, take her, and go thy waye. He gaue his officers also a charge ouer him, to conveye him out, and his wife, and all that he had.

The XIII. Chapter.

SO Abrā departed out of Egipte, wt his wife, & with all yt he had, & Lot wt him also, towarde ye south. Abram was very rich in catell, siluer & golde. And he wente on forth from the south vnto Bethel, vnto the place where his tent was at ye first, betwene Bethel and Ay: euen vnto ye place where he had made the altare before, & where he called vpon the name of the LORDE Lot also which wente with him, Gen. 12. b had shepe, greate catell & tentes: so yt the londe was not able to receaue them, that they might dwell together: for the substaunce of their riches was so greate, Gen. 36. a that they coude not dwell together. And there fell a strife betwene the hirdmen of Abrams catell, 〈…〉 and the hirdmen of Lots catell. The Cananites also and the Pheresites dwelt at that tyme in the londe.

Then sayde Abram vnto Lot: O let there be no strife betwene me and the, and betwene my hyrdmen and thine, for we are brethrē. Is not all the whole londe open before the? 〈…〉 Departe fro me, I praye the. Yf thou wilt go to the left hande, I wil take the right: Or yf thou wilt go to the right hande, I wil take the left. Then Lot lift vp his eyes, and be helde all the countre rounde aboute Iordā, that it was a plenteous countre of water. For before the LORDE destroyed Sodoma and Gomorra, it was rounde aboute Zoar, euen as the pleasaunt garden of the LORDE, and as the londe of Egipte.

Then Lot chose all the coastes of Iordā, and toke his iourney towarde ye East. And so the one brother departed from the other. Abram dwelt in the lande of Canaan, and Lot in the cities of the same coastes, and pitched his tent towarde Sodome. But ye men of Sodome were wicked, 〈…〉 and synned exceadingly agaynst the LORDE.

Now whan Lot was departed from Abram, the LORDE saide vnto Abram: Lift vp thine eyes, and loke from the place where thou dwellest, northwarde, southwarde, eastwarde, and westwarde: for all the londe that thou seist, Acts •• wyll I geue vnto the and to thy sede for euer, and wyll make thy sede as the dust of the earth: so that yf a man can nombre the dust of the earth, he shall nombre thy sede also. Arise, and go thorow the londe, in the length and bredth, for I wyl geue it vnto the.

So Abram remoued his tent, Gen. and wente and dwelt in ye Okegroue of Mamre, which is in Ebron, and buylded there an altare vnto the LORDE.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd it chaunsed in the tyme of Amraphel the kynge of Synear, Arioch the kynge of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer the kinge of Elam, & Thydeal the kynge of ye Heithen, That they made warre wt Bera ye kynge of Sodome, and wt Birsa the kynge of Gomorra, & with Sineab the kynge of Adama, & with Semeaber the kynge of Zeboim, and with the kynge of Bela, which is called Zoar. These came all together in to the brode valley, where now the salt see is: for twolue yeares were they subiectes vnto kinge Kedorlaomer, & in the thirtenth yeare they fell from him. Therfore in the fourtenth yeare came Kedorlaomer, and the kynges yt were with him, & smote the Giauntes in Astaroth Karnaim, & Susim at Ham, & Emim in the felde of Kiriathaim, and ye Horites in their owne mount Seir vnto the playne of Pharan, which bordreth vpō the wildernes. And then they turned, & came to the well of iudgment (which is Cades) & smote all the countre of the Amalechites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon Thamar.

Then wente out the kynge of Sodome, & the kynge of Gomorra, & the kynge of Adama, and the kynge of Zeboim, and the kynge of Bela (called Zoar) & prepared them selues to fight in the brode valley wt Kedorlaomer the kynge of Elam, & with Thideal ye kynge of the Heithen, & with Amraphel ye kynge of Synear, & with Arioch the kynge of Ellasar: foure kynges wt fyue. And yt brode valley had many slyme pyttes. But the kynge of Sodoma and Gomorra were put to flight, & fell there, & the residue fled vnto ye mountaynes. Then toke they all the goodes at Sodoma and Gomorra, & all their vytales, & wente their waye. They toke Lot also Abrams brothers sonne, & his good (for he dwelt at Sodome) and departed.

Then came one that had escaped, and tolde Abram the Aleaunt, Gen. 13. d which dwelt in the Okegroue of Mamre the Amoryte, which was the brother of Escol & Aner: for these were confederate with Abram.

u. 10. b Re. 30. b 〈◊〉 . 41 c Now whan Abram herde yt his brother was taken, he harnessed his bonde seruauntes borne in his owne house, thre hundreth & eightene, & folowed after them vntill Dan, & deuyded thē, & fell vpō them by night wt his seruauntes, and smote thē, and chased them awaye vnto Hoba, which lieth on ye left hande of the cite of Damascos, 〈◊〉 39. b and brought agayne all the goodes, and also his brother Lot, and his goodes, ye wemen also and the people. And as he came agayne from the slaughter of Kedorlaomer & of the kinges that were with him, the kynge of Sodome wente to mete him in to the playne felde, Num. 31. b which is called kynges dale.

But Melchisedech the kynge of Salem brought forth bred and wyne. And he beynge the prest of the most hye God, Hebr. 7. a blessed him and sayde: Blessed be thou Abram vnto the most hye God possessor of heauen and earth. And praysed be God the Hyest, which hath delyuered thine enemies in to thy handes. And Abram gaue him tythes of all.

Then sayde the kynge of Sodome vnto Abram: Geue me the soules, and take ye goodes vnto thy self. But Abram sayde vnto the kinge of Sodome: I lift vp my honde vnto the LORDE the most hye God, possessor of heauen and earth, that I wyll not take of all that is thyne, so moch as a threde or a shue lachet, lest thou shuldest saye: I haue made Abram ryche: Saue onely that which the yonge men haue spent, and the men Aner Escol and Mamre, that wente with me, let them take their parte.

The XV. Chapter.

IT happened after these actes, yt the worde of ye LORDE came vnto Abrā in a vysion, and sayde: Feare not Abram, I am thy shylde and thy exceadinge greate rewarde. But Abram sayde: LORDE LORDE, what wilt thou geue me? I go childles, and the seruaunt of my house (this Eleasar of Damascos) hath a sonne. And Abram sayde morouer: Beholde, vnto me hast thou geuen no sede: and lo, the sonne of my housholde shal be myne heyre. And beholde, the worde of the LORDE spake vnto him, and saide: He shal not be thine heyre, but one that shal come out of thine owne body, he shal be thine heyre. And he bad him go forth, and sayde: Loke vp vnto heauen, Deu. 10. d Esa. 49 d Iere. 33. d and tell ye starres: Canst thou nombre them? And he sayde vnto him: Ro. 4. d Euen so shal thy sede be.

Abram beleued the LORDE, and yt was counted vnto him for righteousnes. Psal. 105. d Rom. 4. a Gala. 3. a Iaco. 2. c And he sayde vnto him: I am ye LORDE, Gen. 11. d yt brought the from Vr out of Chaldea, to geue ye this londe to possesse it. But Abram sayde: LORDE LORDE, Wherby shall I knowe, that I shall possesse it? And he sayde vnto him: Take a cow of thre yeare olde, and a she goate of thre yeare olde, Iere. 34. d and a ramme of thre yeare olde, and a turtyll doue, and a yonge pigeon. And he toke all these, and deuyded them in the myddes, and layde the one parte ouer agaynst the other, but the foules deuyded he not. And the foules fell vpō the flesh, but Abram droue them awaye.

Now whan the Sonne beganne to go downe, there fell an heuy slepe vpō Abram. And lo, feare and greate darcknes fell vpon him. And he sayde vnto Abram: knowe this of a suertye, Act. 7. a Exod. 12. f Iudit. 5. b Gala. 3. c that thy sede shalbe a straūger, in a londe that is not theirs. And they shall make bonde men of them, and intreate them euell foure hundreth yeares. But the people whō they shal serue, wyl I iudge. Afterwarde shall they go forth with greate substaunce: Exo. 12. c and thou shalt departe vnto thy fathers in peace, Gene. 25 a and shalt be buried in a good age. And after the fourth generacion they shall come hither agayne, Deut. 20. c for the wickednes of ye Amorites is not yet full.

So whan the Sonne was downe, and it was waxed darcke: Beholde, there smoked a fornace, and a fyre brande wente betwene ye partes. The same daye made the LORDE a couenaūt with Abram, Gen. 24. a 3. Re. 4. b and sayde: Vnto thy sede wil I geue this lōde, from the water of Egipte, vnto the greate water Euphrates: the Kenytes, the Kenizites, the Kydmonites, the Hethites, the Pherezites, the Giauntes, the Amorites, the Cananites, the Gergesites, and the Iebusites.

The XVI. Chapter.

SArai Abrams wife bare him no children: but she had an handmayde an Egipcian, whose name was Agar, and sayde vnto Abram: Beholde, the LORDE hath closed me, Isa. 66. b that I can not beare. Go in (I praye the) vnto my mayde: Gen. 30. a peraduenture I shalbe multiplied by her, more then by myself. And Abram herkened vnto the voyce of Sarai. Than Sarai Abrams wife toke Agar hir mayde ye Egipcian (after they had dwelt ten yeare in the londe of Canaan) and gaue her vnto hir huszbande Abrā, to be his wife. And he wente in vnto Agar, and she conceaued. Now whan she sawe yt she had conceyued, she despysed hir mastresse.

Then sayde Sarai vnto Abram: I must suffre wronge for thy sake. I layde my mayde by the: but now because she seyth, that she hath conceaued, I must be despysed in hir sight: the LORDE be iudge betwene me and the. And Abram sayde vnto Sarai: Beholde, thy mayde is vnder thine auctorite, do with her, as it pleaseth the.

Now whan Sarai dealt hardly wt her, she fled from her. But the angell of the LORDE founde her besyde a well of water in the wildernesse (euen by the well in the waye to Sur) and sayde vnto her: Agar Sarais maide, whence commest thou? & whyther wylt thou go? She sayde: I fle fro my mastresse Sarai. And the angel of the LORDE sayde vnto her: Returne to thy mastresse agayne, and submitte thyself vnder hir hande.

And the angel of the LORDE sayde vnto her: Beholde, I wil so encreace ye sede, that it shall not be nombred for multitude. And the angel of the LORDE sayde further vnto her: Beholde, thou art with childe, 〈…〉 & shalt bringe forth a sonne, and shalt call his name Ismael, because the LORDE hath herde ye trouble. He shal be a wylde man. His hande agaynst euery man, and euery mans hande agaynst him: and he shal dwel ouer agaynst all his brethren.

And she called the name of the LORDE yt spake vnto her: Thou art the God that seist me. For she sayde: Of a suertye I haue sene the back partes of him that sawe me. Therfore called she the well: The well of the liuinge that sawe me. Which (well) is betwene Cades and Bared.

And Agar bare Abram a sonne, Gal. and Abram called his sonnes name which Agar bare him, Ismael. And Abram was foure score yeare olde and sixe, whan Agar bare him Ismael.

The XVII. Chapter.

NOw whan Abram was nyentye yeare olde and nyene, the LORDE appeared vnto him, & sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 I am the allmightie God, walke before me, & be vncorrupte. And I wyll make my couenaunt betwene me & the, and wyl multiplye the exceadyngly. Then fell Abram vpon his face.

And God talked furthur with him, and sayde: Beholde, It is I, and haue my couenaūt with the, and thou shalt be a father of many people. Therfore shalt thou nomore be called Abram, but thy name shal be Abraham: Rom. For I haue made the a father of many nacions, & I wil multiplye the exceadingly, and wil make people of ye, Ma yee and kynges also shal come out of the. Morouer I wil make my couenaūt betwene me and the, and thy sede after the thorow out their posterities, that it maye be an euerlastinge couenaunt, so that I wyll be the God of the, and of thy sede after the. And vnto the and to thy sede after the, will I geue the lande, wherin thou art a straunger: euen all the lande of Canaan for an euerlastinge possession, and will be their God.

And God sayde morouer vnto Abraham: Kepe my couenaunt then, 〈◊〉 . 7. a thou and they sede after the. This is my couenaunt which ye shal kepe betwene me and you, and thy sede after ye thorow out their posterites. Euery manchilde that is amonge you, shalbe circumcyded: and ye shall circumcyde the foreskynne of yor flesh. This same shalbe a token of the couenaunt betwene me and you. Euery manchilde whan it is eight dayes olde, 〈◊〉 . 2. c 〈◊〉 . 12. a 〈◊〉 . 2 shalbe circūcyded thorow out youre posterities: In like maner all houszholde folkes borne at home, or bought, or eny other also that is a straūger and not of thy sede. Thus shall my couenaunt be in youre flesh for an euerlastinge couenaunt. And yf there shalbe any manchilde vncircumcided in the fore skinne of his flesh, his soule shalbe roted out from his people, because he hath broken my couenaunt.

And God sayde vnto Abraham: Sarai thy wyfe shall nomore be called Sarai, but Sara shal be hir name: for I will blesse her, and geue the a sonne of her. I wil blesse her, and people shall come of her, Matt. 1. a yee and kynges of many people. Then fell Abrahā vpō his face, and laughed, and sayde in his hert: Shal a childe be borne vnto me that am an hundreth yeare olde? And shall Sara yt is nyentie yeare olde, beare? And Abrahā sayde vnto God: O that Israel might lyue in thy sight. en. 16. c 〈◊〉 13. b . R . 13. a uc. 1. c Then sayde God: Yee euen Sara thy wyfe shall beare the a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Isaac: for with him wil I make my euerlastinge couenaunt, and with his sede after him. And as concernynge Ismael also, I haue herde thy request: Beholde, I haue blessed him, and will increase him, and multiplye him exceadingly. en. 25. b Twolue prynces shal he beget, and I wyll make a greate nacion of him.

But my couenaunt wyll I make wt Isaac, whom Sara shal beare vnto the, euē this tyme twolue moneth. And he left of talkynge with him, and God wente vp from Abraham. Than toke Abraham his sonne Ismael, and all the seruauntes borne in his house, and all that were bought, (as many as were men children in his house,) and circumcyded the foreskynne of their flesh, euen the same daye, as God had sayde vnto him. And Abraham was nyentie yeare olde and nyne, whan he cut of the foreskynne of his flesh. As for Ismael, he was thirtene yeare olde, whan the foreskynne of his flesh was circumcyded. Euen vpon one daye were they all circumcyded: Abraham, and Ismael his sonne, and all the men in his house, (whether they were borne at home, bought, or eny other straunger:) they were all circumcyded with him.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANnd the LORDE apeared vnto him in the Okegroue of Mamre, Gen. 19. a as he sat in his tent dore in the heate of ye daie. And as he lift vp his eyes, and loked, beholde, there stode thre men ouer agaynst him. And whan he sawe them, he ranne to mete them from his tent dore, and bowed himself downe vpon the grounde, and sayde: LORDE, yf I haue founde fauoure in thy sight,1. Re. 28. c go not by ye seruaūt. There shalbe brought you a litle water, & ye shall wash yor fete, & rest youre selues vnder the tre. Iudi. 19. b Psal. 103. b And I wyll fet you a morsell of bred, to comforte youre hertes withall, and then shall ye go youre wayes, for therfore are ye come to youre seruaunt. They sayde: do euen so as thou hast spoken:

Abraham wente a pace in to the tent to Sara, and sayde: Make haist, Matt. 13. c Luc. 13. b & mengle thre peckes of fyne meele, knede it, and bake cakes. And he ranne to the beastes, & fet a calf that was tender and good, and gaue it vnto a yonge man, which made it ready at once. And he toke butter and mylke and of the calfe that he had prepared, and set it before thē, stode him self by them vnder the tre, Tob. 12. b Iud. 13 c & they ate. Then saide they vnto him: where is Sara thy wyfe? He answered: within in ye tent. Then sayde he: aboute this tyme twolue moneth, Some reade: As soo e as the rute 〈◊〉 . (yf I lyue) I will come to the agayne, and Sara thy wyfe shal haue a sonne. And Sara herde that out of the tent dore, which was behynde his backe. And Abraham and Sara were both olde, & well stryken in age: so that it wente nomore with Sara after ye maner of wemen: therfore laughed she with in hir self, and sayde: Now that I am olde & my 1. Pet. 3. a cc i. 25. a lorde olde also, shal I yet geue my self to lust?

Then sayde ye LORDE vnto Abraham: Wherfore doth Sara laugh, and saye: Is this true in dede, that I shal beare, and yet am olde? Shulde eny soch thinge be to harde for the LORDE? . Re. 4. b Ro. 9. a Aboute this tyme (yf I lyue) I wil come to the agayne, & Sara shal haue a sonne. Then Sara denyed it, and sayde: I laughed not, for she was afrayed. But he sayde: It is not so, thou dyddest laughe. Then the men stode vp from thence, and turned them towarde Sodeme: and Abraham wente with them, to brynge them on their waye.

Then sayde the LORDE: How can I hyde f om Abraham, ye thinge that I wil do? seynge he shal be a greate and mightie people, and all ye people vpō earth shalbe blessed in him? For I knowe him that he wil cō maunde his children and his housholde after him, to kepe the waye of ye LORDE, and to do after right and conscience, that the LORDE maye bringe vpō Abraham what he hath promised him. And the LORDE sayde: There is a crie at Sodome and Gomorra, Eze. 16. which is greate, & their synnes are exceadinge greuous: therfore will I go downe & se, whether they haue done all together, acordinge to that crye, on. 1. a which is come before me, or not, that I maye knowe. And the men turned their face, and wēte towarde Sodome. But Abraham stode still before ye LORDE, and stepte vnto him, and sayde:

Wilt thou then destroye the righteous with the vngodly? Peraduēture there maye be fiftie righteous within ye cite: wilt thou destroye those, and not spare the place, for fiftie righteous sake that are therin? That be farre frō the, yt thou shuldest do this, and to slaye the righteous with the vngodly, and that the righteous shulde be as the vngodly. That be farre from the. Shulde not the iudge of all the worlde do acordinge to right? And the LORDE sayde: Yf I fynde fiftie righteous at Sodome in the cite, I wil spare all the place for their sakes.

Abraham answered, and sayde: O se, I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto the LORDE, Gen. 2 b howbeit I am but dust and aszshes. Peraduenture there maye be fyue lesse then fiftie righteous therin: Wilt thou then des troye the whole cite because of those fyue? He sayde: yf I fynde fyue and fourtie therin, I will not destroye them?

And he proceded further to speake vnto him, and sayde: Peraduenture there might be fourtie founde therin. And he sayde: I wil do nothinge vnto them for those fourtyes sake. Abraham sayde: Oh let not my LORDE be angrie, that I speake yet more. Peraduēture there might be thirtie founde therin. And he sayde: Yf I fynde thirtie therin, I will do nothinge vnto them. And he sayde: O se, I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto my LORDE.

Peraduēture there might be twētie founde therin. He answered: I wyll not destroye them for those twentyes sake. And sayde: O let not my LORDE be angrie, that I speake yet once more. Peraduenture there might be ten founde therin. He saide: I wil not destroye them for those ten sake.

And the LORDE wente his waye, whan he had left talkynge with Abraham. And Abraham returned vnto his place.

The XIX. Chapter.

IN the euenynge came the two angels vnto Sodome. And Lot sat vnder the gate of the cite. And whē he sawe them, he rose vp for to mete them, and bowed him self downe to the grounde vpon his face, & sayde: Se lordes, turne in (I praye you) in to youre seruauntes house, and tarye all night: let youre fete be waszshen, so maye ye ryse tomorow by tymes, and go youre waye. Neuertheles they sayde: Nay, but we wyll byde in the stretes all night. 〈…〉 Then compelled he them sore: and they turned in vnto him, and came in to his house. And he made them a feast, and baked swete cakes, and 〈1 paragraph〉 they ate.

But before they wente to rest, the men of the cite of Sodome came and compased the house rounde aboute, yonge and olde, all the people from all quarters, and called Lot, and sayde vnto him: Where are the mē that came vnto the to night? Bringe them out here vnto vs, 〈1 paragraph〉 that we maye knowe them.

And Lot wente out at the dore vnto thē, and shut the dore after him, and sayde: 〈…〉 O brethren, do not so wickedly. Beholde, I haue two doughters, which yet haue knowne no man: them will I brynge out vnto you, do with them as it liketh you. Onely do nothinge vnto these men of God, for therfore are they come vnder the shadowe of my rofe. But they sayde: Come thou hither. Then sayde they: Camest not thou onely herin as a straunger, •• o. . b and wilt thou now be a iudge? Wel, we will deale worse with the thē with them.

And they pressed sore vpon ye man Lot. And whan they ranne to, Pet. 2. b and wolde haue broken vp the dore, the men put out their hondes, and pulled Lot vnto them in to the house, Re 6. d p. 19. d and shut to the dore. And the m n at ye dore of the house were smyttē with blyndnesse both small and greate, so that they coude not fynde the dore.

And ye men saide vnto Lot: Hast thou yet here eny sonne in lawe, or sonnes or doughters? Who so euer belongeth vnto the in the cite, brynge him out of this place: for we must destroye this place, because the crye of them is greate before the LORDE, which hath sent vs to destroye them. Then wente Lot forth, and spake to his sonnes in lawe, which shulde haue maried his doughters, and sayde: O stonde vp, and get you out of this place, for the LORDE wyll destroye this cite. Neuertheles they toke it but for a sporte.

Now whan the mornynge arose, the angels caused Lot to spede him, and sayde: Stonde vp, Cap. 10. b take thy wife & thy two doughters which are at hande, that thou also per she not in the synne of this cite. But whyle he prolonged the tyme, the men caught him and his wife, and his two doughters by the hande (because the LORDE was mercifull vnto him,) and brought him forth, & set him without the cite.

And whē they had brought him out, they sayde: Saue thy soule, and loke not behynde the, nether stonde thou in all this countre: Saue thy self vpon the mountayne, that thou perish not. Then sayde Lot vnto thē: Oh no my LORDE, beholde, in as moch s thy seruaūt hath founde grace in thy sight, now make ye mercy greate, which thou hast shewed vnto me, in that thou sauest my soule alyue. I can not saue my self vpon the mountayne. There might some mysfortune fall vpon me, that I shulde dye. Beholde, here is a cite by, that I maye flye vnto, and it is a litle one: let me saue myself there in. Is it not a litle one, that my soule maye lyue?

Then sayde he vnto him: Beholde, I haue loked vpon the in this poynte also, that I will not ouerthrowe the cite, wherof thou hast spoken. Haist the, and saue thy self there: for I can do nothinge tyll thou be come thither. Therfore is the cite called Zoar. And the Sonne was vp vpon the earth, whan Lot came in to Zoar.

Then the LORDE caused brymstone and fyre to rayne downe from the LORDE out of heauen vpon Sodoma and Gomorra, and ouerthrew those cities, Esa. 13. d Iere. 50. g Ose. 11. b Amos 4. the whole region, and all that dwelt in the cities, and that that grew vpon the earth. Lu. 17. d Sap. 10. b And his wife loked behynde her, and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Abraham rose vp early in the mornynge, and gat him vnto the place, Gen. 18. where he had stonde before the LORDE, and turned his face towarde Sodoma and Gomorra, and all ye londe of that countre, and loked. And beholde, there rose vp a smoke from ye countre, as it had bene ye smoke of a fornace. For whan God destroyed ye cities of the region, he thought vpon Abraham, and conueyed Lot out of the cities which he ouerthrew, wherin Lot dwelt.

And Lot departed out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountaynes with both his daughters (for he was afrayed to tary at Zoar) and so remayned he in a caue wt both his daughters.

Then sayde ye elder vnto the yonger: Oure father is olde, and there is not a man more vpon earth, that can come in vnto vs after the maner of all the worlde. Come therfore, let vs geue oure father wyne to drynke, and lye with him, that we maye saue sede of oure father. So they gaue their father wyne to drynke that same night. And the elder doughter wente in, Leui. 18. a and laye with hir father: and he perceaued it not, nether when she laye downe, ner when she rose vp.

On the morow the elder sayde vnto the yonger: Beholde, yesternight laye I with my father: let vs geue him wyne to drynke this night also: that thou mayest go in and lye with him, that we maye saue sede of oure father. So they gaue their father wyne to drynke that night also: And the yonger arose like wyse, and laye with him: & he perceaued it not, nether when she laye downe, ner when she rose vp.

Thus were both the doughters of Lot with childe by their father. And the elder bare a sonne, and called him Moab, of whom come ye Moabytes vnto this daye. And ye yonger bare a sonne also, and called him the sonne Ammi, of whom come the children of Ammon vnto this daye.

The XX. Chapter.

AS for Abraham, he departed thence, in to the south countre, and dwelt betwixte Cades and Sur, and was a straunger at Gerar, and sayde of Sara his wife: Gen. 12. c nd. 26. a She is my sister. Then Abimelech the kinge of Gerar sent for her, and caused her be fett awaye.

But God came to Abimelech by night in a dreame, & sayde vnto him: Beholde, thou art but a deed man, for the womans sake which thou hast taken, for she is a mans wife. Neuertheles Abimelech had not yet touched her, and sayde: LORDE, wilt thou sley a righteous people? Sayde not he vnto me: she is my sister? Yee and sayde not she her self also: he is my brother? With a pure hert & with innocent handes haue I done this.

And God sayde vnto him in a dreame: I knowe that thou dyddest it wt a pure hert, and therfore I kepte the, that thou shuldest not synne agaynst me, nether haue I suffred the to touch her. Now therfore delyuer the man his wife ageyne, for he is a prophet: and let him pray for ye, and thou shalt lyue. But and yf thou delyuer her not ageyne, be sure, that thou shalt dye the death, and all that is thine.

Then Abimelech rose vp by tymes in the mornynge, and called all his seruauntes, and tolde all these thinges in their eares, and the men were sore afrayed, and Abimelech called Abraham, and sayde vnto him: Wherfore hast thou done this vnto vs? And what haue I offended ye, that thou shuldest brynge on me and on my kyngdome so greate a synne? Thou hast not dealt with vs, as a man shulde deale. And Abimelech saide morouer vnto Abraham: What sawest thou, yt thou hast done this thinge?

Abraham sayde: I thought: Peraduenture there is no feare of God in this place, & they shall sleye me for my wifes sake, And of a trueth she is my sister, for she is my fathers doughter, but not my mothers doughter, and is become my wife. So whan God charged me to wādre out of my fathers house, I sayde vnto her: Shew this kyndnes vpon me, that, where so euer we come, Gen. 1 thou saye of me, that I am thy brother.

Then toke Abimelech shepe and oxen, seruauntes and maydens, and gaue them vnto Abraham, and delyuered him Sara his wife agayne, and sayde: Beholde, my londe stondeth open before the, dwell where it liketh the. And vnto Sara he sayde: Beholde, I haue geuen thy brother a thousande syluer pens: lo, he shalbe vnto the a couerynge of the eyes, for all that are with the, and euery where, and a sure excuse.

As for Abraham, he prayed vnto God: Then God healed Abimelech, and his wyfe, and his maydens, so that they bare childrē. For afore the LORDE had closed all the matrices of Abimelechs house, because of Sara Abrahams wife.

The XXI. Chapter.

THe LORDE also vysited Sara, acordinge Gen as he had promysed: & dealt with her, euen as he had sayde. Heb. And Sara was with childe, and bare Abraham a sonne in his olde age, euen in the tyme appoynted, like as God had spoken vnto him afore. And Abraham called his sonne which was borne vnto him (whō Sara bare him) Isaac, and circumcided him the eight daye, Gen like as God commaunded him. Matt Iosu. An hundreth yeare olde was Abrahā, whan his sonne Isaac was borne vnto him.

And Sara sayde: God hath prepared a ioye for me, for who so euer heareth of it, wyll reioyse with me. She sayde morouer: Who wolde haue saide vnto Abraham, that Sara shulde geue children sucke, and beare him a sonne in his olde age? And the childe grew, and was weened. And Abraham made a greate feast, in ye daye whan Isaac was weened.

And Sara sawe the sonne of Agar the Egipcian (whom she had borne vnto Abraham) that he was a mocker, and sayde vnto Abraham: Iudi . Galat. Cast out this bonde mayden and hir sonne, for this bonde maydēs sonne shall not be heyre wt my sonne Isaac. This worde displeased Abraham sore, because of his sonne.

Neuertheles God sayde vnto him: let it not displease the because of the childe and the hand mayde: What so euer Sara hath sayde vnto the, folowe it, Rom. for in Isaac shall the sede be called vnto the. As for the honde maydens sonne, en. 17. c I wyll make a people of him also, because he is of thy sede.

Then Abraham rose vp early in the mornynge, and toke bred and a botell with water, and put it vpon Agars shulders, and gaue her the childe, and sent her awaye. Then departed she, and wandred out of the waye in ye wyldernes beside Berseba. Now whan the water in the botell was out, she layed the childe vnder a bush, and wente, and sat hir downe ouer on ye other syde, a bowe shote of. For she sayde: I can not se the childe dye. And she sat hir downe ouer on ye other syde, and lifte vp hir voyce, and wepte.

Then God herde the voyce of the childe, and the angell of God called vnto Agar out of heauen, and sayde vnto her: What ayleth the, Agar? Feare not, for God hath herde ye voyce of the childe, where he lyeth. Aryse and take the childe, and holde him by the hande, 〈◊〉 . 17. c for I wyll make a greate people of him. 〈◊〉 . 1. c And God opened hir eyes, that she sawe a well of water.

Then wente she and fylled ye botell with water, and gaue ye childe drynke. And God was with the childe, which grew vp, and dwelt in ye wildernes, and became a connynge archer, and dwelt in ye wildernes of Pharan, and his mother toke him a wyfe out of the londe of Egipte.

Gen. 2 . d At the same tyme talked Abimelech and Phicol his chefe captayne with Abraham, and sayde: God is with the in all that thou doest. Therfore sweare now vnto me by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, ner my children, ner my childers children: but that thou shalt shewe vnto me (and to the londe wherin thou art a straunger) the same kyndnesse that I haue done vnto the. Gen. 20. d

Then sayde Abraham: I wyll sweare. And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for the well of water, Gen. 26. b which Abimelechs seruauntes had taken awaye by violence. Then answered Abimelech: I knewe not who dyd it, nether dyddest thou tell me, and I haue not herde of it but this daye.

Thē toke Abraham shepe and oxen, and gaue them vnto Abimelech, and they both made a bonde together. And Abraham set seuen lambes by them selues. Then sayde Abimelech vnto Abrahā: What meane those seuen lambes, which thou hast set by them selues? He answered: seuē lambes shalt thou take of my hande, that they maye be wytnes vnto me, that I haue dygged this well. Therfore is the place called Berseba, because they sware there both together. And so they made the bonde at Berseba.

Then rose Abimelech and Phicol his chefe captayne, and departed agayne in to the londe of ye Philistynes. And Abraham planted trees at Berseba, and called vpon the name of the LORDE ye euerlastinge God, and was a straunger in ye londe of the Philistynes a longe season.

The XXII. Chapter.

AFter these actes God tempted Abraham, and sayde vnto him: Abraham. Iudit. 8. Eccl. 44. Heb. 11. d And he answered: I am here. And he sayde: Take ye sonne, this onely sonne of thine, euē Isaac whom thou louest, and go thy waye in to the londe of Moria, & offre him there for a burnt offerynge, vpon a mountayne that I shal shew the. Then Abraham stode vp by tymes in the mornynge, and sad led his Asse, and toke with him two yonge men, and his sonne Isaac, and cloue wodd for the brent offerynge, gat him vp, and wente on vnto the place, wherof the LORDE had sayde vnto him.

Vpon the thirde daye Abraham lift vp his eyes, and sawe the place a farre of, and sayde vnto his yonge mē: Tary ye here with the Asse: as for me and the childe, we wyl go yonder: and whan we haue worshipped, we wyll come to you againe. And Abrahā toke the wodd to the brent offerynge, and layed it vpon Isaac his sonne. As for him self, he toke the fyre and a knyfe in his hande, and wente on both together.

Then sayde Isaac vnto his father Abraham: My father. Abraham answered: here I am, my sonne. And he sayde: lo, here is fyre and wodd, but where is the shepe for the brent offerynge? Abraham answered: My sonne, God shall prouyde him a shepe for the brent offerynge. And they wente both together.

And whan they came to the place which God shewed him, Abraham buylded there an altare, and layed the wodd vpon it, and bande his sonne Isaac, layed him on the altare, aboue vpō the wood, and stretched out his hande, and toke the knyfe, to haue slayne his sonne.

Then the angell of the LORDE called from heauen vnto him, and sayde: Abraham Abraham. He answered: here am I. He sayde: Laye not thy handes vpon the childe, & do nothinge vnto him: for now I knowe that thou fearest God, and hast not Mac. 2 f Ro. 8. d spared thine onely sonne for my sake. Then Abraham lift vp his eyes, and sawe behynde him a ramme, holdē fast by the hornes in the breres, and wente, and toke the ramme, and offred him for a brent sacrifice, in steade of his sonne. And Abraham called the place. The LORDE shall prouyde. Therfore it is a comon sayenge yet this daye: Vpon the mountayne shal the LORDE prouyde.

And the angell of the LORDE cryed vnto Abraham from heauen the seconde tymy, eb. 6. b cclesias •• 44. c and sayde: I haue sworen by myne owne self (sayeth the LORDE) that for so moch as thou hast done this, and hast not spared thine onely sonne, I wyll prospere and multiplye thy sede as the starres of heauen, and as the sonde vpon the see shore. en. 24. g And thy sede shall possesse the gates of his enemies: and Gen. 12. a alat. 3. b ct. 3. d in thy sede shal all the nacions of the earth be blessed, because thou hast herkened vnto my voyce.

So Abraham turned ageyne to the yonge men, and they gat vp, and wente together vnto Berseba, and dwelt there.

After these actes it fortuned, that it was tolde Abraham: Beholde, Milca hath borne children also vnto thy brother Nahor: namely, Iob 1. Hus ye eldest, and Iob 32. a Bus his brother, and Kemnel, of whom came the Syrians: and Cesed, and Haso, and Pildas, and Iedlaph and Bethuel. And Bethuel begat Rebecca. These eight dyd Milca beare vnto Nahor Abrahams brother. And his concubyne called Rehuma, bare also: namely, Theba, Sahan, Thahas, and Maacha.

The XXIII. Chapter.

SAra was an hundreth and senē and twentye yeare olde: so longe lyued she, and dyed in the head cite which is called Hebron, in the lande of Canaan. Then wente Abraham, Act. 8. a to mourne and wepe for her. Afterwarde he stode vp from his coarse, and talked with the Hethites, & sayde: I am a straūger and an indweller amonge you, geue me a possession to bury in with you, that I maye bury Some reade * my c •• arse 〈◊〉 lyeth b •• fore 〈◊〉 my coarse by me.

Then the Hethites answered Abraham, and sayde vnto him: O heare lorde, thou art a prynce of God amonge vs: bury thy dead in the best of oure sepulcres, there shall none of vs forbyd ye, that thou shuldest not bury thy deed in his sepulcre. Then Abraham stode vp, and thanked the people of ye londe: namely the Hethites.

And he talked with them, and sayde: Yf it be youre wyll that I burye my coarse by me, heare me thē, & speake for me to Ephron the sonne of Zoar, that he maye geue me the dubble caue, which he hath in ye ende of his felde. For a reasonable money let him geue it me, for a possession to burye in amōge you. For Ephron dwelt amonge the Hethites.

Then answered Ephron the Hethire vnto Abraham, that the Hethites might heare, before all that wente out and in at the gates of his cite, and sayde: No my lorde, but heare me: As for the felde, and the caue also that is therin, I geue it the: and in the sight of my people I geue it the, to burye thy de ••• n.

•• en Abraham thanked the people of the londe, and talked with Ephron, that the people of the londe might heare, and sayde: Heare me then, Receaue of me the money that I geue the for the felde, and so wyll I burye my deed there.

Ephron answered Abraham, and sayde vnto him: Heare me my lorde: The felde is worth foure hundreth Sycles of syluer: but what is that betwixte me and the? Burye thy deed. Abraham herkened vnto Ephron, and weyed him the money which he had sayde, that the Hethites might heare: namely foure hundreth syluer sycles of currant money amonge marchauntes.

Thus Ephrons felde (where in the dubble caue is) which lyeth ouer before Mamre, euen the felde and the caue, was made sure for Abrahams owne good, with all the trees of the felde also rounde aboute, in the sight of the Hethites, and of all that go out and in at the gates of his cite. Then Abraham buried Sara his wife in the dubble caue of the felde, that lyeth ouer before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the londe of Canaan. So the felde and the caue therin was made sure of the Hethites vnto Abraham, for a possession to bury in.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

ABraham was olde and well stricken in age, and the LORDE had blessed him in all thinges. And he sayde vnto his eldest seruaunt of his house, which had the rule of all his goodes: 〈◊〉 . 47. g Laye thine hāde vnder my thye, that I maye make the sweare by ye LORDE the God of heauen and earth, that thou take no wife vnto my sonne amonge ye doughters of ye Cananites, 〈◊〉 . 2 . a 〈◊〉 . 7. a (amonge whom I dwell) but that thou go in to my countre? and Gen. 11. d to myne owne kynred, and brynge my sonne Isaac a wife.

The seruaunt sayde: What and the woman wyl not folowe me in to this countre? shal I then cary thy sonne agayne in to yonder londe, where thou camest out of? Abraham sayde vnto him: Beware of that, that thou brynge not my sonne thither agayne. The LORDE, the God of heauen, which toke me fro my fathers house and from the londe of my kynred, and that talked with me, and sware also vnto me, Gen. 15. d and sayde: Vnto ye sede wyll I geue this londe: Euen he shall sende his angell before the, that thou maiest brynge my sonne a wife from thence. But yf the woman wyll not folowe the, thou art discharged of this ooth: onely brynge not my sonne thither agayne. Then ye seruaunt layed his hāde vnder his master Abrahams thye, and sware the same vnto him.

So the seruaunt toke ten Camels of the Camels of his master and departed, and had wt him of all maner of goodes of his master, and gat him vp, and departed vnto Mesopotamia, to the cite of Nahor. Then let he the Camels lye downe without before the cite besyde a well of water in the euenynge, aboute the tyme that the wemen vsed to go forth, and to drawe water. And he sayde:

O LORDE, thou God of my master Abraham, mete me to daye, and shew mercy vnto my master Abraham. Lo, I stonde here besyde the well of water, & the mens doughters of this cite wyll come forth to drawe water: Now yf there come a damsell, to whom I saye: bowe downe thy pytcher, & let me drynke, and yf she saye: drynke, and I wyll geue ye Camels drynke also: That ye same be she, whom thou hast prouyded for thy seruaunt Isaac: & that I maye knowe by ye same that thou hast shewed mercy vpon my master.

And or euer he had left of speakynge, beholde, Rebecca the doughter of Bethuel (which was the sonne of Milca, that was the wyfe of Nahor Abrahams brother) came forth, and bare a pytcher vpon hir shulder, and she was a very fayre damsell of face, and yet a virgin, and vnknowne of eny man: She wente downe to the well, and fylled hir pitcher, and came vp agayne. Then ranne the seruaunt to mete her, and sayde: Let me drynke a litle water out of ye pitcher. And she sayde: drynke syr.

And haistely let she downe the pitcher in hir hande, and gaue him drynke. And whan she had geuen him drynke, she sayde: I wyll drawe for thy Camels also, tyll they haue dronke ynough. And she made haist, and poured out hir pitcher in to the trough, and ranne agayne to the well to drawe, and drew for all his Camels. The mā marueyled at her, and helde his tonge, tyll he knewe whether the LORDE had prospered his iourney or not.

Now whan the Camels had all dronken, he toke a goldē earynge of half a Sycle weight, and two bracelettes for hir handes, weynge ten Sycles of golde, and sayde: Doughter, whose art thou? tell me. Is there rowme for vs in thy fathers house to lodge in? She sayde vnto him: I am the doughter of Bethuel, the sonne of Mylca, whom she bare vnto Nahor. Gen. 22. d And sayde morouer vnto him: We haue plentye of litter and prouender, and rowme ynough to lodge in.

Then the man bowed himself, and thanked the LORDE, and sayde: Praysed be the LORDE the God of my master Abraham, which hath not withdrawen his mercy and his trueth fro my master, for the LORDE hath brought me the waye to my masters brothers house. And the damsell ranne and tolde all this in hir mothers house. And Rebecca had a brother called Laban.

And Laban ranne to the man without by the well syde: and that came by the reason that he sawe the earynges, and the bracelettes vpon his sisters handes, and herde the wordes of Rebecca his syster, that she sayde: thus spake the man vnto me.

And whan he came to the man, beholde, he stode by the Camels at the well syde. And he sayde: Come in Some reade * thou be loued. thou blessed of the LORDE, wherfore stondest thou without? I haue dressed the house, and made rowme for ye Camels. So he brought the man in to ye house, and vnbridled the Camels, and gaue them litter and prouender, and water to wash his fete, and the mens that were with him, and set meate before him.

Neuertheles he sayde: I wil not eate, tyll I haue fyrst tolde myne earāde.1. Re. 16. They answered: Tell on. He sayde: I am Abrahams seruaunt, and the LORDE hath prospered my master richely, so yt he is become greate: and he hath geuen him shepe and oxē, syluer and golde, seruauntes and maidens, Camels and Asses: yee and Sara my masters wife hath borne my master a sonne in hir olde age: en. 21. a vnto him hath he geuen all that he hath.

And my master hath taken an ooth of me and saide: Thou shalt not take a wife for my sonne amonge the doughters of the Cananites, in whose lande I dwell, but go ye waye to my fathers house and to myne owne kynred, and there take a wyfe for my sonne. But I sayde vnto my master: What and the woman wyl not folowe me? Then sayde he vnto me: The LORDE (before whom I walke) shall sende his angell with the, and prospere thy iourney, that thou mayest take a wife for my sonne of myne owne kynred, and of my fathers house. And so whan thou commest to my kynred, yf they geue her not vnto ye, thou shalt be discharged of myne oothe.

So I came this daye vnto the well of water, and sayde: O LORDE thou God of my master Abraham, Yf thou hast prospered my iourney that I go: Beholde, I stonde here by the well of water: Now yf there come forth a virgin to draw water, and I saye vnto her: g ue me a litle water to drinke out of thy pitcher, and she saye vnto me: Drynke thou, and I wyll drawe water for thy Camels also: that the same be the womā, which the LORDE hath prouyded for my masters sonne. Now or euer I had spoken out these wordes in my hert, beholde, Rebecca commeth forth with a pitcher vpon hir shulder, and goeth downe to the well, and draweth.

Then sayde I: geue me a drynke. And immediatly she toke downe the pitcher frō hir shulder, and sayde: drynke, and I wyll geue thy Camels drynke also. So I dranke, and she gaue the Camels also to drynke. And I axed her, and sayde: Doughter, whose art thou? She answered: I am ye doughter of Bethuel the sonne of Nahor, whom Milca bare vnto him. Then layed I the earinge vpon hir face, and the bracelettes vpon hir handes, and bowed myself, and thanked the LORDE, and praysed the God of my master Abraham, which had brought me ye right waye, to take my masters brothers doughters vnto his sonne.

Yf ye be they then that shew mercy and faithfulnes vnto my master, tell me: Yf not, yet tell me, that I maye turne me to ye right hande or to the left.

Then answered Laban and Bethuel, and sayde: This is come of the LORDE, therfore can we saye nothinge agaynst the, nether euell ner good. There is Rebecca before the, take her, and go thy waye, that she maye be thy masters sonnes wife, as the LORDE hath sayde. When Abrahams seruaunt herde these wordes, he bowed him self vnto the LORDE flat vpon the earth, and toke forth Iewels of syluer and golde, and rayment, and gaue them vnto Rebecca. But vnto hir brethren and the mother, he gaue spyces. Then he ate and dronke, and the men also that were with him, and taried there all night.

But in the mornynge he arose, and sayde: Let me departe vnto my master. Neuerthelesse hir brother and hir mother sayde: Let the damsell tary with vs at the leest ten dayes, and then shall she go. Then sayde he vnto them: holde me not, for the LORDE hath prospered my iourney: let me go, that I maye departe vnto my master. Then sayde they: let vs call the damsell, and axe her, what she sayeth therto. And they called Rebecca, and sayde vnto her: Wilt thou go with this man?

And she answered: Yee I wyll go with him. So they let Rebecca their syster go with hir norse and Abrahams seruaunt, and his men. And they blessed Rebecca, and sayde vnto her: Thou art oure syster, growe in to many thousande tymes thousandes, Gen and thy sede possesse the gates of his enemies.

So Rebecca gat hir vp wt hir damsels, and satt them vpon the Camels, and wente their waye after the man. And the seruaunt toke Rebecca, and departed.

As for Isaac, he was commynge from 〈1 paragraph〉 the well of ye liuynge & seynge, for he dwelt in the south countre, and was gone forth to his meditacions in the felde aboute the euen tyde. And he lift vp his eyes, and sawe, that there were Camels commynge. And Rebecca lift vp hir eyes, and sawe Isaac. Then lighted she of the Camell, and sayde vnto ye seruaunt: What man is this, that commeth agaynst vs in the felde? The seruaūt sayde: The same is my master.

Then toke she hir cloke, and put it aboute her. And the seruaunt tolde Isaac all the earande that he had done. Then Isaac brought her in to his mother Saras tent, and toke Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loued her. So Isaac was comforted ouer his mother.

The XXV. Chapter.

ABraham toke another wife called Ketura, 〈…〉 which bare him Simram & Iaksan, Medan & Midian, Ieszbak and Suah. Iaksan begat Seba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were Assurim, Latusim, and Leumim. The children of Midian were Epha, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaa. All these are the children of Ketura. And Abraham gaue all his goodes vnto Isaac: As for the children that he had of the concubynes, he gaue them giftes, and (whyle he yet lyued) he sent thē awaye from his sonne Isaac, eastwarde in to the east countre.

This is the age of Abraham which he lyued: euen an hundreth and fyue and seuentye yeare, and fell sicke and dyed in a good age, 〈◊〉 . 15. c whan he was olde, & had lyued ynough and was gathered vnto his people. And his sonnes Isaac and Ismael buried him in the dubble caue in the felde of Ephron the sonne of Zoar the Hethite, which lyeth ouer before Mamre, 〈◊〉 . 32. c in the felde that Abraham bought of the Hethites. There was Abraham buried with Sara his wife. And after the death of Abraham God blessed his sonne Isaac. And he dwelt by the well of the lyuynge and seynge.

This is the generacion of Ismael Abrahams sonne, whom Agar Saras mayde the Egipcian bare vnto him. And these are the names of Ismaels children, of whom their kynredes are named. The eldest sonne of Ismael, Nebaioth, Cedar, Abdeel, Mibsan, Misma, Duma, Masa, Hadar, Thema, Iethur, Naphis and Kedma. These are the childrē of Ismael with their names in their courtes and cities 〈◊〉 . 17. c twolue londeprynces. And this is the age of Ismael, euen an hundreth and seuen and thirtie yeare, and he fell sicke and dyed, and was gathered vnto his people. He dwelt from Heuila vnto Sur towarde Egipte, as men go to the Assirians And he dyed in the presence of all his brethren.

This is the generacion of Isaac the sonne of Abrahā. Abraham begat Isaac. Isaac was fourtye yeare olde, whan he toke to wyfe Rebecca the doughter of Bethuel ye Syrian of Mesopotamia, & Sister of Laban the Syrian.

Isaac besought the LORDE for his wyfe (because she was baren) and the LORDE was intreated, and Rebecca his wyfe conceaued. And the children stroue totogether in her wombe. Then sayde she: Yf it shulde go so with me, why am I then wt childe? And she wente for to axe the LORDE. And the LORDE sayde vnto her: Two maner of folke are in thy wombe, and two maner of people shall be deuyded out of thy body, and the one nacion shall ouercome the other,2. Re 8. c Rom. 9. b and the greater shall serue the lesse.

Now whan the tyme came that she shulde be delyuered, beholde, Iosu. 24. a there were two twyns in hir wombe. The first that came forth, was reed, all rough as an hyde, and they called him Esau. Anone therafter came his brother forth, which helde the hele of Esau with his hāde, Ose. 12. a and they called him Iacob. Thre score yeare olde was Isaac, whan they were borne. And whan the boies were growne vp, Esau became an hunter, & an huszbande man. As for Iacob, he was a symple man, and dwelt in the tentes. And Isaac loued Esau, because he ate of his venison. But Rebecca loued Iacob.

And Iacob dight a meace of meate. Thē came Esau from the felde, and was weery, and sayde vnto Iacob: Let me proue of yt reed meace of meate, for I am fayntie (therfore is he called Edom.) But Iacob sayde: Sell me this daye thy byrthright. Esau answered: Lo, I must dye neuerthelesse, what good then shall my byrthright do me? Iacob sayde: Then sweare vnto me euen this same daye. And he sware vnto him, and so he solde his byrthright vnto Iacob. Then Iacob gaue him bred and that meace of ryse. And he ate and dronke, and stode vp, Heb. 12. c and wente his waye. And so Esau regarded not his byrthright.

The XXVI. Chapter.

THere came a derth in the londe, passynge the other that was in Abrahams tyme. Gen. 12. c And Isaac wente to Gerar, vnto Abimelech the kynge of ye Philistynes. Then the LORDE appeared vnto him, and sayde: Go not downe in to Egipte, but tary in the lande that I shall saye vnto the. Be thou a straūger in this lande, Ecclesiastici 44. d and I wil be with the and blesse the. For vnto the and thy sede wyll I geue all this londe, and wyll perfourme myne ooth that I sware to thy father Abraham. And I wyll multiplye thy sede as the starres of heauen, Gen. 15. c and 22. c and vnto thy sede wyll I geue all this londe, and thorow thy sede shall all nacions be blessed, because Abraham was obedient vnto my voyce, and kepte myne ordinaunces, my cō maundementes, my statutes, and my lawes.

So Isaac dwelt at Gerar. And whan the men of the same place axed him of his wife, Gen. 12. c and 20. a he sayde: she is my sister. For he was afrayed to saye: she is my wife, (thinkinge thus:) they might slaye me for Rebeccas sake, for she was beutifull to loke vnto. Now whan he had bene there a longe season, Abimelech the kynge of the Phylistynes loked out at a wyndow, and sawe Isaac sportinge with Rebecca his wife.

Then Abimelech called Isaac, and sayde: Beholde, she is thy wyfe, why saydest thou then: She is my sister? Isaac answered him: I thought, I might peraduenture ha-he died because of her. Abimelech saide: Why hast thou then done this vnto vs? It coude lightly haue come to passe, that some of the people might haue lyen with thy wyfe, and so haddest thou brought synne vpō vs. Thē Abimelech commaunded all the people, and sayde: Who so toucheth this man or his wyfe, shal dye the death.

And Isaac sowed in that londe, and foū de the same yeare an hundreth buszshels, for the LORDE blessed him. And he became a greate man, wente forth, and grew, tyll he was exceadinge greate, so that he had moch good in shepe and greate catell, and a greate housholde. Therfore had the Philistynes envye at him, Gen. 21. c and stopped all the welles, that his fathers seruauntes had dygged in the tyme of Abraham his father, and fylled them with earth, In so moch that Abimelech also himself sayde vnto him: Departe from vs, for thou art farre mightier then we.

Then departed Isaac from thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And whan he was satled, he caused to dygge vp the welles agayne, that they had dygged vp in his father Abrahās tyme, which the Philistynes had stopte after the death of Abraham, and he called thē after ye same names that his father had named them withall.

Isaacs seruauntes also dygged in the valley, and there they founde a well of lyuinge water. But the hyrdmen of Gerar stroue with Isaacs hyrdmen, Gen. 1 . a and saide: The water is oures. Then called he the well Eseck, because they had done him wronge.

Then dygged they another well, and stroue for that also: therfore called he it Sytena. So he gatt him from thence, and dygged another well, for the which they stroue not: th rfore he called it Rehoboth, and sayde Now hath the LORDE made vs rowme, and letten vs growe in the londe. Afterwarde he departed thence vnto Berseba.

And the LORDE appeared vnto him the same night, and sayde: I am the God of thy father Abraham, feare thou not, for I am with the, and wyll blesse the, and multiplye thy sede for my seruaunt Abrahams sake. Then buylded he an altare there, and called vpon the name of the LORDE, and pitched his tent there, and there his seruauntes dygged a well. 〈…〉

And Abimelech wente vnto him from Gerar, and Ahusath his frende, and Phicolhis chefe captayne. 〈…〉 But Isaac sayde vnto them: Wherfore come ye to me? seynge ye hate me, and haue put me awaye from you? They sayde: We se with open eyes, that the LORDE is with the, therfore we deuysed that there shulde be an ooth betwixte vs and the, and that we wolde make a bonde with the, that thou do vs no harme, like as we haue not hurte the, and as we haue done nothinge vnto the, but all good, and let the departe in peace.

As for the, thou art ye blessed of the LORDE. Then Isaac made them a feast, and they ate and dronke. And on the morow they arose, and sware one to the other. And Isaac let them go, and they departed from him in peace.

The same daye came Isaacs seruauntes, and tolde him of the well that they had digged, and sayde vnto him: We haue founde water. And he called it Saba. Therfore is ye cite called Bersaba vnto this daye.

The XXVII. Chapter.

WHan Esau was fourtye yeare olde, he toke wyues: Iudith the doughter of Beri the Hethite, and Basmath the doughter of Elon the Hethite both these were dishobedient vnto the sprete of Isaac and Rebecca.

And it came to passe when Isaac was olde, his eyes waxed dymme of sight, and he called Esau his greater sonne, and sayde vnto him: My sonne. He answered him: Here am I. And he sayde: Beholde, I am olde, and knowe not whan I shal dye. Now therfore take thy geer, thy quyuer and thy bowe, and get the forth to the felde, and take me some venyson, and make me meate (soch as I loue) and brynge it me herein, that I may eate, yt my soule maye blesse the, before I dye.

But Rebecca herde these wordes, that Isaac sayde vnto his sonne. And Esau wente his waye in to the felde, to hunte venyson, and to brynge it home. Then sayde Rebecca vnto Iacob hir sonne: beholde, I haue herde thy father talkinge with Esau thy brother, and sayenge: Brynge me venyson, and make me meate, that I maye eate, and blesse the before ye LORDE, yer I dye, Now therfore my sonne, heare my voyce, what I commaunde the: Go thy waye to the flocke, and fetch me two good kyddes, that I maye make meate of them for thy father, soch as he loueth: this shalt thou brynge in vnto thy father, that he maye eate, that he maye blesse the before his death.

Neuertheles Iacob sayde vnto Rebecca his mother: Beholde, my brother Esau is rough, and I am smooth: then might my father peraduenture fele me, and I shulde seme vnto him as though I begyled him, and so brynge a curse vpon me and not a blessynge. Then sayde his mother vnto him: That curse be vpon me my sonne, folowe thou my voyce: go thy waye and fetch it me. So he wente his waye, and fetched it, and brought it vnto his mother.

Then his mother made meate, acordinge as his father loued, and toke Esaus hir elder sonnes costly rayment (which she had with her in ye house) and put them vpon Iacob hir yonger sonne. But the kyddes skynnes put she aboute his handes, and where he was smooth aboute the neck: and so she put the meate with bred (as she had made it) in hir sonne Iacobs hande.

And he brought it in vnto his father, and sayde: My father. He answered: here am I, who art thou my sonne? Iacob sayde: I am Esau thy firstborne sonne, I haue done as thou saydest vnto me: aryse, syt vp, and eate of my venyson, that thy soule maye blesse me. But Isaac sayde vnto his sonne? My sonne, how hast thou founde it so soone? He answered: The LORDE ye God brought it to my hande.

Thē sayde Isaac vnto Iacob: Come neare my sonne, that I maye fele the, whether thou be my sonne Esau or not. So Iacob wē te vnto Isaac his father. And whan he had felt him, he sayde: The voyce is Iacobs voyce, but the handes are the handes of Esau. And he knew him not, for his handes were rough like as ye handes of his brother Esau. And he blessed him.

And he sayde vnto him: art thou my sonsonne Esau? He answered: Yee I am. Then sayde he: Bringe me here then to eate of thy venyson my sonne, that my hert maye wysh the good. that my soule maye blesse the. Then he brought it him, and he ate: and he brought him wyne also, and he dranke. And Isaac his father sayde vnto him: Come nye, and kysse me my sonne. So he came nye, and he kyssed him.

Then smelled he the sauoure of his clothes, and blessed him, and sayde: Beholde, the smell of my sonne is as ye smell of the felde, which ye LORDE hath blessed. Heb. 11. d Eccli. 3. b God geue the of the dew of heauen, and of the fatnesse of the earth, and plenteousnes of corne and wyne. Nacions be thy seruauntes, and people fall downe at ye fote. Be thou lorde ouer thy brethren, and thy mothers children fall downe at thy fote. Cursed be he, Gen 12. a that curseth the: and blessed be he, that blesseth the.

Now whan Isaac had made an ende of blessynge, and Iacob was scace gone out from his father Isaac, his brother Esau came from his huntinge, and made meate also, and brought it vnto his father, and sayde vnto him: Aryse my father, and eate of ye sonnes venyson, that thy soule maye blesse me. Then answered him Isaac his father: Who art thou? He sayde: I am Esau thy firstborne sonne. Then was Isaac exceadingly amased aboue measure, and saide: Who? Where is then the hunter that brought me, and I haue eaten of all afore thou camest, and haue blessed him? And he shall be blessed still.

Whan Esau herde these wordes of his father, he cried loude, and was exceadynge sory, and sayde vnto his father: O blesse me also my father. But he sayde: Thy brother came with sotyltie, and hath taken thy blessinge awaye. Then sayde he: He maye well be called Iacob, for he hath vndermined me now two tymes. My byrth right hath he awaye, and beholde, now taketh he awaye my blessynge also.

And he sayde: Hast thou not kepte one blessynge for me? Isaac answered, and sayde vnto him: I haue made him lorde ouer ye, and all his brethren haue I made his seruaūtes. With corne & wine haue I prouyded him. What shal I do vnto the now my sonne? Esau sayde vnto his father? Hast thou not one blessynge more my father? O blesse me also my father.

And he lift vp his voyce, & wepte. Heb. 12. c Then Isaac his father answered and sayde vnto him: Beholde, thou shalt haue a fat dwellinge vpon earth, Heb. 11. d & of ye dew of heauen from aboue: with thy swerde shalt thou get thy lyuynge, and shalt serue thy brother. And it shall come to passe, yt thou shalt put of his yock, 4. Re. 8. c and plucke it from thy neck.

And Esau bare euell wyll vnto Iacob, because of the blessynge that his father had blessed him withall, Abd. 1. a and sayde in his herte: The tyme wyll come shortly, that my father shal mourne, for I wil slaye my brother Iacob. Thē was it tolde Rebecca of these wordes of hir elder sonne, and she sent, and bad call for Iacob hir yonger sonne, and saide vnto him: Beholde, thy brother Esau threateneth the, that he wil slaye the. And now my sonne heare my voyce: Get the vp, and flye vnto my brother Laban in Haran, and tary there with him a whyle, Gen. 33. a tyll the furiousnes of thy brother be swaged, and till his wrath agaynst yt be turned from the, and he forget what thou hast done vnto him. So wyll I then sende for the, and cause the be fetched from thēce. Why shulde I be robbed of you both in one daye?

And Rebecca sayde vnto Isaac: I am weery of my life, because of the doughters of Heth: Yf Iacob take a wife of the doughters of Heth, Gen. 10. c which are as the doughters of this londe, what shall this life then profit me?

The XXVIII. Chapter.

THen called Isaac his sonne Iacob and Some rede: * talked louī gly with him. blessed him, and charged him, & sayde vnto him: Take not a wife of the doughters of Canaan, but get the vp, and go in to Mesopotamia vnto the house of Bethuel thy mothers father, and take yt there a wife of ye doughters of Laban ye mothers brother. And the Allmightie God blesse the, and make the frutefull, and multiplye the, (that thou mayest be a multitude of people) and geue the the blessynge of Abraham vnto ye & thy sede with the, that thou mayest possesse the lande, wherin thou art a straunger, Gen. 15. d and 24. a which God gaue vnto Abraham. So Isaac let Iacob departe, that he might go in to Mesopotamia vnto Laban the sonne of Bethuel of Siria, ye brother of Rebecca, his and Esaus mother.

Now when Esau sawe that Isaac had blessed Iacob, and let him departe in to Mesopotamia, that he might take a wife there: and yt, as he blessed him, he charged him, & sayde: Thou shalt not take a wife of the doughters of Canaan, and that Iacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone vnto Mesopotamia: seynge also that Isaac his father loked not gladly vpon the doughters of Canaan, he wente his waye vnto Ismael, and besyde the wyues that he had afore, 〈…〉 he toke Mahaloth the doughter of Ismael (Abrahās sonne) the sister of Nebaioth, to wife.

As for Iacob, he departed from Bersaba, and wente vnto Haran and came to a place, where he taried all night: for the Sonne was downe. And he toke a stone of ye place, & put it vnder his heade, and layed him downe in ye same place to slepe. And he dreamed, and beholde, there stode vpon ye earth, a ladder, whose toppe reached vnto the heauen. And beholde, 〈…〉 the angels of God wente vp and downe vpon it, and the LORDE stode vpon it, and sayde:

I am the LORDE God of thy father Abraham, and the God of Isaac: 〈…〉 The londe yt thou lyest vpon, wyl I geue vnto the, 〈…〉 and to thy sede: and thy sede shal be as ye dust of ye earth. And thou shalt sprede forth towarde the west, east, north, and south: 〈…〉 and thorow the and thy sede shall all the kynreds vpon earth be blessed. And beholde, I am with ye, and wyll kepe the where so euer thou goest, & wyl brynge the hither agayne in to this lande: for I wil not leaue the, tyll I haue made good, all that I haue promysed the.

Now whan Iacob awaked from his slepe, he saide: Surely the LORDE is in this place, and I knew not. And he was afraied, and sayde: How fearfull is this place? here is nothinge els but an house of God, & a gate vnto heauē. And Iacob arose early in the mornynge, and toke the stone that he had layed vnder his heade, and set it vp, 〈…〉 and poured oyle vpon it. And he called the place Bethel, but afore the cite was called Lus. And Iacob made a vowe, and sayde: Yf God wyll be with me, 〈…〉 and kepe me in this iourney yt I go & geue me bred to eate, and clothinge to put on, and brynge me peaceably home agayne vnto my father: Thē shall the LORDE be my God, and this stone that I haue set vp, shal be an house of God: and all that thou geuest me, I wyl geue the the tenth therof.

The XXIX. Chapter.

THen Iacob gat him vp vpon his fete; and wente in to the east countre, & loked aboute him, and beholde, there was a well in the felde, and ye flockes of shepe therby, for the flockes dranke of the well. And there laye a greate stone at the welles mouth, and thyther they vsed to brynge the flockes, and to roule the stone from ye mouth of the well, and to geue the shepe drynke, & so they put the stone agayne vpon the welles mouth in to his place.

And Iacob sayde vnto them: Brethren, whēce be ye? They answered: we are of Haran. He sayde vnto them: Knowe ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? They answered: We knowe him well. 〈◊〉 . 4 . c He sayde: Is he in good health? They answered: he is in good health. And lo, there commeth his doughter Rachel with the shepe. He sayde: It is yet hye daye, & is not yet tyme to dryue in the catell: geue the shepe to drynke, & go youre waye, & fede them. They answered: We can not, tyll all the flockes be brought together, and tyll we roule the stone from the welles mouth, & so geue the shepe drynke.

Whyle he yet talked with them, Rachel came with hir fathers shepe, for she kepte ye shepe. Whan Iacob sawe Rachel ye doughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the shepe of Laban his mothers brother, he wē te, & rouled the stone from the welles mouth, and gaue his mothers brother shepe to drynke, and kyssed Rachel, lift vp his voyce, and wepte, and tolde her, yt he was hir fathers brother, and ye sonne of Rebecca. Then ranne she, and tolde her father.

Whā Laban herde of Iacob his sisters sonne, he ranne to mete him, and enbraced him, and kyssed him, and brought him in to his house. And so he tolde him all this matter. Thē sayde Laban vnto him: Wel, thou art my bone and my flesh. Abyde with me a moneth longe. But after that saide he vnto Iacob: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou therfore serue me for nought? Tell me, what shall thy wages be. Laban had two doughters, the eldest was called Lea, & the yongest Rachel. And Lea was tender eyed, but Rachel was beutyfull & well fauoured of face, and Iacob loued her well, and sayde: I will serue the seuen yeare, for Rachel thy yongest doughter. Laban answered: It is better that I geue her the, then vnto another: tary thou with me.

So Iacob serued seuen yeare for Rachel, and they semed vnto him but few dayes, he loued her so well. And Iacob saide vnto Laban: geue me my wyfe, for the tyme is come that I shulde lye with her. Thē Laban bad all the people of that place, and made a mariage. But at euē he toke his doughter Lea, and brought her in vnto him, and he laye wt her. And Laban gaue Zilpa his mayde vnto his doughter Lea to be hir mayde.

But on the morow, beholde, it was Lea. And he sayde vnto Laban: Why hast thou done this vnto me? Haue not I serued ye for Rachel? Why hast thou then begyled me? Laban answered: It is not the maner in oure countre, to mary the yongest before the eldest. Holde out this weke, & I will geue the this also, for the seruyce yt thou shalt do me yet seuen yeares more. Iacob dyd so, & helde out yt weke. Then gaue he him Rachel his doughter to wyfe. And Laban gaue Bilha his mayden vnto Rachel his doughter to be hir mayden. So he laye with Rachel also, & loued Rachel more thē Lea, and serued him yet seuen yeares more.

But when the LORDE sawe, that Lea was nothinge regarded, he made her frutefull, and Rachel baren. And Lea cōceaued, and bare a sonne, whom she called Ruben,1. Par. 2. a and sayde: The LORDE hath loked vpon my aduersite. Now wyll my huszbande loue me. And she conceaued agayne, and bare a sonne, and sayde: The LORDE hath herde that I am despysed, and hath geuē me this also, and she called him Symeon. She cōceaued yet agayne, and bare a sonne, and sayde: Now wyll my huszbande kepe me company agayne, for I haue borne him thre sonnes, therfore called she his name Leui. She conceaued ye fourth tyme, and bare a sonne, and sayde: Now wyll I geue thankes vnto the LORDE, therfore called she him Iuda, and left bearynge.

The XXX. Chapter.

WHen Rachel sawe that she bare no children vnto Iacob, she had enuye at hir sister, & saide vnto Iacob: Geue me childrē also, or els I am but deed. But Iacob was very wroth at Rachel, & sayde: Am I then in Gods steade, which kepeth ye frute of ye wombe from ye? Neuertheles she sayde: Beholde, there is Bilha my mayden, lye wt her, yt she maye beare vpon my lappe, & that I maye be increased by her. And so she gaue him Bilha hir mayden to wyfe.

And Iacob laye with her. So Bilha conceaued, and bare Iacob a sonne. Then sayde Rachel: God hath geuen sentence on my syde, and herde my voyce, and geuē me a sonne, therfore called she him Dan. Bilha Rachels mayde cōceaued agayne, and bare another sonne vnto Iacob. Then sayde Rachel: God hath turned it with me, and my sister, and I haue gottē the vpperhande. And she called him Nephthali.

Now whan Lea sawe that she had left bearynge, she toke Silpa hir mayde, and gaue her vnto Iacob to wyfe. So Silpa Leas mayde bare Iacob a sonne. Then saide Lea: This is good lucke, & she called him Gad. After this Silpa Leas mayde bare Iacob another sonne. Then sayde Lea: Well is me, for the doughters will call me blessed, and she called him Asser.

Ruben wente out in the tyme of ye wheate haruest, and founde Mandragoras in the felde, and brought them home vnto his mother Lea. Then sayde Rachel vnto Lea: Geue me some of ye sonnes Mādragoras. She answered: Hast thou not ynough that thou hast taken awaye my huszbande, but wilt take awaye my sonnes Mandragoras also? Rachel saide: Wel, let him lye with the this night for thy sonnes Mandragoras. Now whan Iacob came home at euen from the felde, Lea wente forth to mete him, and sayde: Thou shalt lye wt me, for I haue bought the for my sonnes Mandragoras.

And he slepte with her that night. And God herde Lea, and she conceaued, and bare Iacob the fifth sonne, & sayde: God hath rewarded me, because I gaue my mayden vnto my huszbande, and she called him Isachar. Lea conceaued yet agayne, and bare Iacob the sixte sonne, and sayde: God hath endewed me with a good dowry. Now wyll my huszbande dwell with me agayne, for I haue borne him sixe sonnes, & she called him Zabulon. After that she bare a doughter, whom she called Ge. 34. a Dina.

Neuertheles God thought vpō Rachel, and herde her, and made her frutefull. Then she conceaued, and bare a sonne, and sayde: God hath taken awaye my rebuke, and she called him Ioseph,1. Par. 2. a and sayde: God geue me yet another sonne.

Now whan Rachel had borne Ioseph, Iacob sayde vnto Laban: . Re. 11. d Let me go, & departe in to my place and vnto myne owne lande: geue me my wyues and my children, (for the which I haue serued the) yt I maye go: for thou knowest, what seruyce I haue done the. Laban sayde vnto him: Can I not fynde fauoure in thy sight? I perceaue, that God hath blessed me for thy sake. Gen. Appoynte thou the rewarde, yt I shal geue the. But he saide vnto him: Thou knowest how I haue serued the, and what maner of catell thou hast vnder me. Thou haddest but litle afore I came hither, but now is it growne into a multitude, and the LORDE hath blessed yt for my sake. And now whan shall I loke to myne owne house also? He saide: What shal I then geue the?

Iacob sayde: Thou shalt geue me nothinge at all, but yf thou wilt do this for me yt I saye, then wyll I fede and kepe thy shepe agayne. I wyll go thorow all thy flockes to daye, and separate thou from amonge them all the shepe that be spotted and partye coloured, and all blacke shepe amonge the lambes. Now loke what shalbe partie coloured and spotted amōge the kyddes, the same shal be my rewarde: so shal my righteousnes testifie with me to daye or tomorow, whan it cōmeth vnto my rewarde before the, so that, what so euer is not spotted and partye coloured amonge the kyddes, and blacke amō ge the lambes, let that be theft with me.

Then sayde Laban: Beholde, let it be so as thou hast sayde. And that same daye he sundered out the speckled and partye coloured goates, and all the spotted and partye coloured kyddes (where there was eny whyte vpon them) and all that was black amonge the lambes, and put them vnder the hande of his children, and made rowme of thre dayes iourney wyde betwixte him and Iacob. So Iacob kepte the residue of Labans flocke.

But Iacob toke staues of grene wyllies, hasell and of chestnottrees, and pylled whyte strekes in them, and layed the staues that he had pylled, in the drynkinge troughes before the flocke, which came there to drynke, that they shulde conceaue, whan they came to drynke. So the flockes conceaued ouer ye staues, and brought forth speckelde, spotted and partye coloured.

Then Iacob parted ye lambes, and put them to the flocke vnto the spotted: and all that was blacke in Labans flocke, that put he vnto the spotted. And he made him a flocke of his owne, which he put not vnto Labans flocke. Neuertheles in the first buckynge tyme of the flockes, he layed the staues in the drynkinge troughes before the eyes of the flockes, that they shulde conceaue ouer the staues. But in the latter buckynge tyme he layed them not in. So the later were Labans, but the firstlinges were Iacobs. Thus the man became exceadinge riche, so that he had many shepe, maydens & seruauntes, Camels and Asses.

The XXXI. Chapter.

HE herde also of ye wordes of Labans children, that they sayde: Iacob hath brought all or fathers good vnto him self, & of oure fathers good hath he gotten these riches. And Iacob behelde Labans countenaunce, & beholde, it was not towarde him as yesterdaye and yeryesterdaye.

And the LORDE sayde vnto him: Gen. 2. b Departe agayne to thy fatherlāde, and to thy kynred, I wyll be with the. Then sent Iacob and bad call Rachel and Lea in to the felde to his flockes, and sayde vnto them: I se youre fathers countenaunce, that it is not towarde me like as yesterdaye and yeryesterdaye: but the God of my father hath bene with me. And ye knowe, that I haue serued youre father with all my power.

And he hath disceaued me, and chaunged my wages now ten tymes. But God hath not suffred him, to do me harme. Yf he sayde: The partye coloured shalbe thy rewarde, then the whole flocke bare partye coloured. Yf he sayde: The speckelde shalbe thy rewarde, thē the whole flocke bare speckelde. Thus hath God with drawen youre fathers goodes from him, and geuen them vnto me. For whan the buckynge tyme came, I lift vp myne eyes and sawe in a dreame, and beholde, the rammes leapte vpon the flocke that was speckelde, spotted, & partye coloured.

And the angel of God sayde vnto me in a dreame: Iacob. And I answered: here am I. He sayde: lift vp thine eyes, and beholde, the rammes leape vpon the speckelde, spotted, and partie coloured flocke: for I haue sene all yt Laban doth vnto the. I am ye God at Bethel, Gen. 8. d where thou dyddest anoynte the stone, & maydest a vowe there vnto me. Get the vp now, & departe out of this londe, & go agayne in to the londe of thy kynred.

Then answered Rachel and Lea, and sayde vnto him: As for vs, we haue no porcionner inheritaūce more in oure fathers house, & he hath coūted vs as straūgers, for he hath solde vs, & spent vp or wages. Therfore hath God withdrawē or fathers riches from him vnto vs & oure children. What so euer now God hath sayde vnto the, that do.

So Iacob gat vp, and set his children and wyues vpon Camels, and caried awaye all his catell and all his substaunce, that he had gotten at Mesopotamia, yt he might come vnto Isaac his father in the lande of Canaan. Gen. 38. 2. Re. 13. Labā was gone to clyppe his flocke, and Rachel stale hir fathers Gen. 35. ymages. Thus dyd Iacob steale awaie ye hert of Laban ye Syrian, in yt he tolde him not that he fled. So he fled, & all that was his, gat vp, and passed ouer the water, & wente straight towarde the mount Gilead.

Vpon the thirde daye it was tolde Laban, that Iacob fled. And he toke his brethrē vnto him, and folowed after him seuen dayes iourney, and ouertoke him vpon the mount Gilead. But God came vnto Laban the Syrian in a dreame by night, & sayde vnto him: Bewarre, that thou speake nothinge to Iacob but good. And Labā drew nye vnto Iacob. As for Iacob, he had pytched his tente vpon the mount. And Laban with his brethrē pytched his tent also vpon the same mount Gilead.

Then sayde Laban vnto Iacob: What hast thou done, that thou hast stollen awaie my hert, and caried awaye my doughters, as though they had bene taken captyue wt ye swerde? Wherfore keptest thou that secrete, that thou woldest flye, and hast stollen awaye fro me, and toldest me not, that I might haue brought the on the waye with myrth, with synginge, with tabrettes and harpes? and hast not suffred me to kysse my children and doughters? Thou hast done foolishly, and so moch might I haue made, that I coude haue done you euell: but youre fathers God saide yesterdaye vnto me: Bewarre, that thou speake nothinge vnto Iacob but good. And for so moch then as thou woldest nedes departe, and longedest sore after ye fathers house, why hast thou stollen away my goddes?

Iacob answered and sayde vnto Laban: I was afrayed, that thou shuldest haue taken away thy doughters fro me: but loke by whom thou fyndest thy goddes, let the same dye here before oure brethren. Seke that thine is by me, and take it awaye. (But he knew not, that Rachel had stollen them.) Then wente Laban in to Iacobs tent and in to Leas tent, and in to both the maydens tētes, and founde nothinge: and out of Leas tente he wente in to Rachels tent. Then toke Rachel the ymages, and layed them vnder the Camels strawe, and sat downe vpon them. But Laban searched the whole tent, and founde nothinge. Then sayde she vnto hir father: Be not angrie my lorde, that I can not ryse vp vnto the: for it goeth wt me after the maner of wemen. So he sought, and founde not the ymages.

And Iacob was wroth, and chode with Laban, answered & sayde vnto him: What haue I trespased or offended, yt thou art so whote vpon me? Thou hast searched all my housholde stuff, & what hast thou founde of thy housholde stuff? Laye it here before my brethren & thyne, yt they maye iudge betwene vs both. Twentye yeare haue I bene wt the: thy shepe & goates haue not bene vnfrutefull, the rammes of thy flocke haue I not eaten: Loke what was Ex. 22. b torne of beastes, I brought it not vnto yt, I was fayne to paie it my self: thou requyredest it of my hand , whether it were stollen fro me by daye or by night. On the daye tyme the heate cōsumed me, and the frost on the night, and my slepe departed fro myne eyes.

Thus haue I serued twentye yeare in thy house, fourtene yeares for thy doughters, & sixe for thy flocke, and ten tymes hast thou chaunged my rewarde: & yf the God of my father the God of Abraham, and the feare of Isaac had not bene on my syde, thou haddest latten me go awaye emptye. But God hath loked vpon myne aduersite and laboure, and rebuked the yesterdaye.

Laban answered and sayde: The doughters are my doughters, & the children are my childrē, and the flockes are my flockes, & all that thou seist is myne. What can I do this daye vnto these my doughters, or to their children whom they haue borne? Now therfore come on, let vs make a couenaunt (I & thou) which maye be a wytnesse betwene me and the. Then toke Iacob a stone, & set it vp (for a piler or markstone) and sayde vnto his brethren: Gather stones. And they toke the stones, and made an heape, & ate vpon the same heape. And Labā called it Iegar Sahadutha, but Iacob called it Gilead: (either of them after the properte of his language.)

Then sayde Laban: Hosu. 22. f 24. f This heape be wytnesse betwene me and the this daye (therfore is it called Gilead) and a testimony, for he sayde: The LORDE loke betwene me and ye, whan we are departed ye one from ye other: yf thou vexe my doughters, or take other wyues vnto them. There is no mā with vs, but lo, God is the wytnesse betwene me and the. And Laban sayde morouer vnto Iacob: Beholde, this is the heape, and this is the marckstone that I haue set vp betwixte me and the: the same heape be wytnesse, and the same marckstone also be wytnesse, yf I passe ouer vnto the, or yf thou passe ouer this heape & marckstone vnto me, to do eny harme. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, and the God of their fathers, be iudge betwene vs.

And Iacob sware vnto him by the feare of his father Isaac. And Iacob offred an offerynge vpon the mount, and called his brethrē to eate bred. And whan they had eaten, they taried vpon the mount all night. But vpon the morow Laban rose vp early, kyssed his childrē & doughters, & blessed thē, & departed, and came agayne vnto his place. As for Iacob, he wente on his iourney, & the angels of God met him. And whan he sawe them, he sayde: It is Gods hoost, & called the same place Mahanaim.

The XXXII. Chapter.

IAcob sent messaungers before him to his brother Esau Ios in to the lande of Seir, of the felde of Edom, & commaunded thē, & sayde: Saye thus vnto my lorde Esau: Thy seruaunt Iacob sendeth ye this worde: I haue bene out wt Laban, & haue bene hither to amonge straungers, & haue oxen & Asses, shepe, seruauntes & maydēs, & haue sent forth to shewe it the my lorde, yt I might fynde fauoure in thy sight.

The messaungers came agayne vnto Iacob, and sayde: We came vnto thy brother Esau, & he commeth forth also agaynst the with foure hundreth men. Then was Iacob sore afrayed, and wyst not what waye to turne himself, & deuyded the people that was with him, and the shepe, and the oxen, & the Camels in to two droues, & sayde: Yf Esau come vpon the one droue, and smyte it, the other shal escape.

Iacob sayde morouer: O God of my father Abrahā, God of my father Isaac, LORDE thou that saydest vnto me: Ge Departe agayne to thine owne londe and to thy kynred, and I wyl do the good: I am to litle for all the mercies and all the trueth that thou hast shewed vnto thy seruaunt (for I had no more but this staff whan I wente ouer this Iordan, and now am I become two droues) delyuer me from ye hande of my brother, frō the hāde of Esau, for I am afrayed of him, lest he come and smyte me the mother with the children. Thou saydest: I wyll do the good, and wyll make thy sede as the sonde of ye see, which can not be nombred for multitude.

And there he taried that night, and toke of soch as came to hande, a present vnto his brother Esau, two hūdreth she goates,1. Re. twentye he goates, two hundreth shepe, twentye rammes and thirtie mylck camels wt their foales, fourtye kyne, ten bullockes, twentye she Asses with ten foales, and put them in the handes of his seruauntes, euery flock by them selues, & sayde vnto them: Go ye forth before me, & put a space betwixte one flocke after the other, and commaunded the first and sayde:

When my brother Esau meteth the, and axeth the: Whose art thou? & whyther goest thou? and whose are these that thou dryuest before the? Thou shalt saye: They be thy seruaunt Iacobs, which sendeth a present vnto his lorde Esau, and commeth behynde vs him self.

Thus commaunded he the seconde also, and the thirde, and all them that folowed the flockes, and sayde: Like as I haue tolde you, so speake ye vnto Esau, whan ye mete him, and saye vnto him also: Beholde, yt seruaūt Iacob is behynde vs. For he thought: I wyll reconcyle him with the present that goeth before me, after warde wyll I se him my self, peraduenture he shall receaue me to grace.

So the present wente before him, but he taried in the tente the same night, and rose vp in ye night, and toke his two wyues and the two maydens and his eleuen sonnes, and wente vnto the foorde of Iacob, toke them and caried them ouer the water, so that all that he had came ouer, and taried him self alone on this syde.

Ose. 12. a Then wrestled there a man with him vntyll the breake of ye daye. And whan he sawe yt he might not ouercome him, he touched the senowe of his thye, and ye senowe of his thye shrancke in wrestlinge with him. And he sayde: Let me go, for ye daye breaketh on. But he answered: I will not let yt go, excepte thou blesse me. He sayde: What is thy name? Gen. 35. b . Re. 18. d He answered: Iacob. He sayde: Thou shalt nomore be called Iacob, but Israel, for thou hast stryuen with God and with men, and hast preuayled. And Iacob axed him, & sayde: Tell me, what is ye name? But he sayde: Iudi . 13. c Why axest thou what my name is? And he blessed him there. And Iacob called the place Peniel, for I haue sene God face to face, & my soule is recouered. And as he came ouer frō Peniel, ye Sonne rose vpō him, & he halted vpon his thye. Therfore eate the children of Israel no vane vpon the senow of ye thye vnto this daye, because ye vane vpon the senow of Iacobs thye was touched.

The XXXIII. Chapter.

IAcob lift vp his eyes, & sawe his brother Esau cōmynge with foure hundreth men: and he deuyded his children vnto Lea vnto Rachel, and to both the maydēs, and set the maydens with their children before, and Lea with hir childrē after, and Rachel with Ioseph hynder most. And he wente before them, and bowed him self to the grounde seuen tymes, tyll he came to his brother. Ge. 27. g But Esau ranne to mete him, and enbraced him, and fell aboute his neck, & kyssed him, and wepte, and lift vp his eyes, and sawe the wyues with the children, and sayde: What are these with the? He answered: They are the children, which God hath geuen vnto thy seruaunt. And the maydens came forth with their children, and dyd their obeysaunce vnto him.

Lea came forth also with hir childrē, and kneled vnto him. Afterwarde came Ioseph and Rachel forth, and kneled vnto him like wyse. And he sayde: What meanest thou wt all the droue that I met? He answered: that I might fynde grace in the sight of my lorde, Esau sayde: I haue ynough my brother, kepe that thou hast. Iacob answered: Oh nay, but yf I haue founde grace in ye sight, receaue my present of my hande (for I sawe thy face,2. Re. 19. c Hest. 15. b as though I had sene the face of God) and be at one with me. Take this present in good worth, that I haue brought ye, for God hath geuen it me, & I haue ynough of all thinges. So he compelled him to take it.

And he sayde: Let vs go on and take oure iourney, I wyll go in thy company. But he sayde vnto him: My lorde, thou knowest that I haue tender children by me, and small and greate catell also, which are yet but yonge: yf they shulde be dryuē ouer in one daye, the whole flocke wolde dye. Let my lorde go on before his seruaūt. I wyll dryue after fayre and softly, (there after as the catell & the children can go,) tyll I come to my lorde in Seir. Esau sayde: Yet wil I leaue some of my people with the. He answered: What nede is it? Let me but onely fynde grace in the sight of my lorde.

So Esau departed againe the same daye towarde Seir, and Iacob toke his iourney towarde Sucoth, and buylded him an house, and made tētes for his catell. Therfore is the place called Sucoth.

Afterwarde came Iacob peaceably vnto the cite of Sichem, which lyeth in ye lande of Canaan, Gen. 28. after that he was come agayne out of Mesopotamia, and pitched before the cite, Iosu. 24. and bought a pece of londe of the children of Hemor ye father of Sichem for Some reade: * an hū dreth lā bes. an hundreth pens. There pitched he his tent, and there he set vp an altare, and called vpon the name of the mightie God of Israel.

The XXXIIII. Chapter.

DIna ye doughter of Lea, which she bare vnto Iacob, wente out to beholde the doughters of the londe. Whan Sichem the sonne of Hemor the Henite (which was lorde of the lōde) sawe her, he toke her, and laye with her, and forced her, and his hert hanged vpon her, and he loued ye damsell, and talked louyngly with her, and spake to his father Hemor: Get me this mayden to wife.

And Iacob vnderstode, that Dina his doughter was defyled, and his sonnes were with the catell in the felde, and Iacob helde his tonge tyll they came. Then Hemor the father of Sichem wente forth vnto Iacob to comen with him. In the meane season came Iacobs sonnes from ye felde. And whan they herde it, it greued the men, and they were very wroth, that he had wrought foly in Israel, and lyen with Iacobs doughter: for so was not the vse to do.

Then comened Hemor with thē, and sayde: My sonne Sichems hert longeth for youre doughter, O ge e hir him to wife: make frendshipe with vs, geue vs youre doughters, and take ye oure doughters, and dwell with vs, the londe shall be open vnto you, dwell and occupie, and haue youre possessions therin. And Sichem sayde vnto hir father and brethren: Let me fynde grace with you: loke what ye appoynte me, I will geue it: requyre the dowrye and gift of me hardely, I wyll geue it acordinge as ye wyll axe, onely geue me the damsell to wife.

Then Iacobs sonnes answered Sichem and Hemor his father (and spake disceatfully, because their sister Dina was defyled) & sayde vnto them: That can we not do, to geue oure sister to an vncircumcided man: for that were a shame vnto vs.

Neuertheles we wyll consente vnto you, yf ye wylbe like vnto vs, and be circumcided as many as are males amonge you: then will we geue you oure doughters, and take youre doughters vnto vs, and dwell with you, and be one people. But yf ye wyll not herken vnto vs, to be circumcided, then wyl we take oure doughter, and go oure waye.

These wordes pleased Hemor and his sonne wel, and the yonge man defe de not to do the same, for he had lust to Iacobs doughter: and he was holden in honoure aboue all in his fathers house. Then came Hemor and Sichem his sonne vnder ye gate of cite, and comened with the citisens of the cite, and saide: These men are peaceable with vs, and will dwell in the lande and occupye: now is the londe brode of both the sydes, we wyl take their doughters vnto vs, and geue them oure doughters.

But then wyll they consent vnto vs, to dwell by vs, and to be one people with vs, yf we circumcyse all the men children amonge vs, like as they are circumcysed: their catell and goodes, and all that they haue, shal be ours, yf we consent vnto them, that they maye dwel with vs.

And they herkened vnto Hemor and Sichem his sonne, as many as wente out and in at ye gate of his cite, and circumcided all the males, that wente out and in at his cite. And vpon the thirde daye (whan it was panefull to them) the two sonnes of Iacob Simeon and Leui Dinas brethren, Iud toke euery man his swerde, and wente boldly in to the cite, Ge and slew all the males, and slew Hemor also and Sichem his sonne with the edge of the swerde, and toke their sister Dina out of Sichems house, and wente their waye.

Then came Iacobs sonnes ouer the slayne, and spoyled the cite (because they had defyled their sister) and toke their shepe, oxen, Asses, and what so euer was in the cite and in the londe, and all maner of goodes: All their children and wyues toke they captyue, and spoyled all yt was in the houses.

And Iacob sayde vnto Symeon and Leui: Ye haue brought it so to passe, yt I stynke before the inhabiters of this lande, ye Cananites and Pheresites, & I am but a small nombre: Yf they gather them selues now together against me, they shal slaye me, so shal I be destroyed with my house. But they answered: Shulde they thē deale with oure sister as with an whoore?

The XXXV. Chapter.

ANd God sayde vnto Iacob: Get the vp, and go vnto Bethel, & dwell there, and make there an altare vnto the God, that appared vnto the, Ge. whan thou fleddest from thy brother Esau. Then sayde Iacob vnto his housholde and to all yt were with him: Put awaye from you ye straunge Ge goddes, that are amonge you, and clense youre selues, and chaunge youre clothes, and let vs get vp, and go vnto Bethel, that I maye there make an altare vnto the God, which herde me in the tyme of my trouble, 〈◊〉 28. and hath bene with me in the waye that I haue gone.

Then gaue they him all the straunge goddes that were vnder their handes, and their earynges, and he buried them vnder an Oke that stode besyde Sichem, & departed. And there came a feare of God vpon the cities that laye roūde aboute, so that they folowed not after ye sonnes of Iacob. So came Iacob vnto Lus in ye lande of Canaan (which is called Bethel) and all the people that were with him, and there he buylded an altare, and called ye place Bethel, because the LORDE appeared vnto him there, whan he fled from his brother. Then dyed 〈◊〉 24. g Debora Rebeccas norse, and was buried beneth Bethel vnder the Oke, and it was called the Oke of lamentacion.

〈◊〉 12. a And God appeared agayne vnto Iacob, after that he was come out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him, & saide vnto him: Thou art called Iacob, 〈◊〉 . 12. e c. 18. d neuertheles thou shalt no more be called Iacob, but Israel shal be ye name. And so was he called Israel.

And God sayde vnto him: Ge. 17. a I am the Allmightie God, be frutefull and multiplye: people and a multitude of people shal come of the, and Mat. 1. a kynges shall come out of thy loynes: and the lande that I gaue vnto Abraham and Isaac, wyll I geue vnto the, & wyl geue it vnto thy sede after the. So God departed from him, from ye place where he talked wt him. And Iacob set vp a piler of stone, in the place where he talked with him, & poured drynk offerynges theron, and poured oyle vpon it. And Iacob called ye place where God talked with him, Bethel.

And he departed from Bethel: and whan he was yet a felde brode from Ephrath, Rachel traueyled, & the byrth came harde vpon hir. But whan she had soch payne in trauelynge, . Re. 4. d ye myd wife sayde vnto her: feare not, for thou shalt haue this sonne also. But as hir soule was departynge, yt she must dye, she called him Ben Oni: neuertheles his father called hī Bē Iamin. Gen. 4 . b So Rachel died, & was buried in the waye towarde Ephrath, which now is called Bethlehē. And Iacob set vp a piller vpon hir graue, there is Rachels grauestone vnto this daye. And Israel departed, and pitched his tent beyonde the tower of ich. 4. b Eder.

And it chaunsed that when Israel dwelt in that londe, Ruben wente Ge. 49. a and laye with Bilha his fathers concubyne, and that came to Israels eares.

And Iacob had twolue sonnes. The sonnes of Lea were these: Ruben Iacobs first borne sonne, Simeon, Leui, Iuda, Isachar, & Zabulō. The sonnes of Rachel, were Ioseph and Ben Iamin. The sonnes of Bilha Raches mayde: Dan, and Nepthali. The sonnes of Silpa Leas mayde: Gad and Aser. These are ye sonnes of Iacob, which were borne vnto him in Mesopotamia. And he came to his father Isaac to Mamre in to the head cite which is called Hebron, where in Abrahā & Isaac were straūgers. And Isaac was an hundreth & foure score yeare olde, & fell sicke, and dyed, & was gathered vnto his people, whan he was olde, & had lyued ynough: and his sonnes Esau & Iacob buried him.

The XXXVI. Chapter.

THis is the generaciō of Esau, which is called Edom. Esau toke wyues of the doughters of Canaan. Ge. 27. a Ada the doughter of Elō the Hethite: & Ahalibama the doughter of Ana, the childes childe of Zibeon the Heuyte: And Basmath Ge. 28. b Ismaels doughter, the sister of Nebaioth. And Adabare Eliphas vnto Esau. Basmath bare Reguel. Ahalibama bare Ie s, Iaelam, & Korah. These are the childrē of Esau, yt were borne vnto him in the lande of Canaan.

And Esau toke his wiues sonnes & doughters, and all the soules of his house, his substaunce, and all the catell with all the goodes that he had gotten in the lande of Canaan, and wente in to a countre awaye frō his brother Iacob: for their substaunce was so greate, that they coude not dwell together: and the londe wherin they were straungers, might not holde them because of their goodes. So Esau dwelt vpon mount Seir. And Esau is Edom.

This is ye generaciō of Esau, of whō are come ye Edomites vpon ye mount Seir. And these are ye names of the childrē of Esau: Eliphas ye sonne of Ada Esaus wife: Reguel ye sonne of Basmath Esaus wife: The sonnes of Eliphas were these: Theman, Omar, Zepho, Gaetham & Kenas. And Ge. 36. d Thimna was a concubyne of Elyphas ye sonne of Esau, and bare him Amaleck. These are ye children of Ada Esaus wyfe.

The children of Reguel are these: Nahath Serah, Samma, Misa. These are the children of Basmath Esaus wife.

The children of Ahalibama Esaus wife, the doughter of Ana, that was the childes childe of Zibeon (which she bare vnto Esau) are these: Ieus, Iaelam and Korah.

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These are the prynces amōge the childrē of Esau. The children of Eliphas the first sonne of Esau, were these: The prynce Theman, ye prynce Omar, the prynce Zepho, the prynce Kenas, the prynce Korah, the prynce Gaethan, the prynce Amaleck. These are the prynces of Eliphas in the lāde of Edō, and are the children of Ada.

And these are the children of Roguel Esaus sonne: ye prynce Nahath, ye prynce Serah, ye prynce Sāma, ye prynce Misa. These are ye prynces of Reguel in ye londe of ye Edomites, & they are ye children of Basmath Esaus wife. These are the children of Ahalibama Esaus wife: The prynce Icus, ye prince Iaelam, the prynce Korah. These are the prynces of Ahalibama, ye doughter of Ana Esaus wife. These are ye childrē of Esau and their princes. He is Edom. The children of Seir ye Horite yt dwelt in the londe, are these: Lothan, Sobal, Zibeon, Ana, Dison, Ezer & Disan. These are the prynces of the Horites, all children of Seir in the londe of Idumea. But ye childrē of Lothan were these: Hori, & Hemā, & Lothās sister was called Ge. 36. b Thimna.

The children of Sobal were these: Aluā, Manahat, Ebal, Sepho & Onā. The childrē of Zibeō were: Aia & Ana. This is the same Ana yt foūde Leu. 19. c Mules in ye wyldernes, whā he kepte his fathers Zibeons Asses. The children of Ana were: Dison: & Ahalibama, yt is ye doughter of Ana. The childrē of Dison were: Hemdan, Eszban, Iethrā & Charan. The children of Ezer were: Bilhan, Seauā, & Ackan. The children of Disan were: Vz & Aran.

These are ye prīces of ye Horites: The prince Lothan, ye prynce Sobal, ye prynce Zibeō, ye prynce Ana, ye prynce Dison, ye prince Ezer, ye prynce Disan. These are the prynces of the Horites, which ruled in ye londe of Seir.

The kynges that reigned in the londe of Edumea (before the childrē of Israel had eny kynge) are these:1. Pa . 1. d Bela ye sonne of Beor was kynge in Edumea, & ye name of his cite was Dinhaba. And whā Bela died, Iobab ye sonne of Serah of Bosra was kinge in his steade. When Iobab dyed, Husam out of ye lōde of the Themanites was kynge in his steade. Whan Husam dyed, Hadad ye sonne of Bedad) which slewe ye Madianites in ye Moabites felde) was kinge in his steade, & the name of his cite was Auith. Whan Hadad dyed, Samla of Masreck was kinge in his steade. Whā Samla died, Saul of Rehoboth by ye water syde, was kinge in his steade. Whan Saul dyed, Baal Hanā the sonne of Achbor was kynge in his steade. Whā Baal Hanā the sonne of Achbor dyed, Hadad was kinge in his steade, & the name of his cite was Pagu, & his wifes name was Meher Abeel, the doughter of Matred, the doughter of Mesahab. Thus are the princes of Esau called in their kynreds, places & names: The prynce Thymna, ye prynce Alua, ye prynce Ietheth, the prynce Ahalibama, the prynce Ela, the prynce Pynon, the prynce Kenas, ye prynce Theman, ye prince Mibzar, the prince Magdiel, ye prynce Irā. These are the prynces in Edumea, like as they dwelt in ye lāde of their possessions. And Esau is ye father of ye Edomites.

The XXXVII. Chapter.

IAcob dwelt in ye lande, wherin his father was a straunger, namely in the lāde of Canaā. And these are ye generaciōs of Iacob. Ioseph was seuētene yeare olde, whā he became a keper of the catell wt his brethren, & the lad was wt the children of Bilha & Silpa his fathers wyues, and tolde their father of ye euell reporte yt was of thē. Israel loued Ioseph more thē all his childrē because he had begottē him in his olde age, and he made him a cote of many coloures.

Now whā his brethrē sawe, yt his father loued him more thē all his brethrē, they had euell wyll at him, & coude not speake a frēdl worde vnto hī. * Ioseph also had once a dre me, and tolde his brethrē therof. Thē hate they him ye more, for he sayde: Heare I praye you what I dreamed. Me thought we were byndinge sheeues vpō ye felde, & my shefe arose, and stode vp, and youre sheeues rounde aboute made obeysaunce vnto my shefe.

Then sayde his brethrē vnto him: Shalt thou be or kinge, and haue domyniō ouer vs? And they hated him yet ye more, because of his dreame, & his wordes. And he had yet another dreame, which he tolde his brethrē, & saide: Beholde, I had yet another dreame: Me thought ye Sonne & ye Moone & eleuen starres made obeisaūce to me. And whā this was tolde his father and his brethrē, his father reproued him, & sayde vnto him: What maner of dreame is this, yt thou hast dreamed? Shall I & thy mother, & thy brethren come & fall before ye vpon the groūde? And his brethrē had envie at him. But his father marcked this sayenge.

Now whā his brethren were gone forth to kepe their fathers catell in Sichē, Israel sayde vnto Ioseph: Do not ye brethren kepe the catell in Sichem? Come, I wil sende the vnto thē. He answered: 〈1 paragraph〉 Here am I. And he sayde: Go thy waye, and loke whether it be well wt thy brethren and with ye catell, and brynge me worde agayne how it is. And he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, to go vnto Sichem.

Then a certayne man founde him, wandringe out of his waye in the felde, which axed him, and sayde: Whom sekest thou? He answered: I seke my brethren: tell me I pray the where they kepe. The man sayde: They are gone from hence, for I herde them saye: let vs go vnto Dothan. Then folowed Ioseph after his brethren, and founde them at Dothan.

Now whan they sawe him a farre of, afore he came at thē, they deuysed to sleye him, and sayde one to another: Lo, there cōmeth the dreamer, 〈…〉 come on, and let vs sley him, & cast him in a pytt, and saye: a wicked beast hath deuoured him: thē shal it be sene, what his dreames are.

When Ruben herde that, he wolde haue delyuered him out of their handes, & sayde: 〈◊〉 42. c O let vs not sley a soule. Ruben sayde morouer vn to him: Shed no bloude, but cast him into this pytt yt is in the wyldernes, & laye ye no hādes vpon him. (He wolde haue delyuered him out of their hādes, yt he might haue brought him agayne vnto his father.)

Whan Ioseph now came to his brethrē, they stryped him out of his cote, that partye coloured cote which he had vpon him, & toke him and cast him in to a pytt. But the same pytt was emptye, and no water in it, & they sat them downe to eate. In the meane season they lift vp their eyes, and sawe a cō pany of Ismaelites cōmynge from Gilead, with their camels, which barespyces, balme, and myrre, and were goinge downe into Egipte.

Then saide Iuda vnto his brethrē: what helpeth it vs, that we sleye oure brother, and hyde his bloude? Come, let vs sell him vnto the Ismaelites, that oure handes be not defyled vpon him, for he is oure brother, oure flesh and bloude. And they herkened vnto him.

And as the Madianites marchaunt men wente by, they drew Ioseph out of the pytt, and solde him vnto the Ismaelites (for twē tye syluer pens) which brought him in to Egipte. Act. 7. b

Now whan Ruben came agayne vnto the pytt, & founde not Ioseph therin, he rent his clothes, and came agayne to his brethrē and sayde: The lad is not yonder, whyther shal I go? Then toke they Iosephs cote & slewe a goate, and dypped the cote in ye blonde, and sent awaye that partie coloured cote, and caused it be brought vnto their father and sayde: This haue we founde, loke, whether it be thy sonnes coate, or no.

But he knewe it, and sayde: It is my sonnes coate, Ge. 44 d a wicked beast hath deuoured him, a rauyshinge beast hath rauyshed Ioseph. And Iacob rēte his clothes, and put a sackcloth aboute his loynes, & mourned for his sonne a longe season. And all his sonnes & doughters came vnto him to cōforte him. But he wolde not be cōforted, & saide: With sorowe wil I go downe in to the graue vnto my sonne. And his father wepte for him. But the Madianites solde him in Egipte vnto Potiphar Pharaos chefe Marshall. Psa. 104. c

The XXXVIII. Chapter.

IT fortuned at the same time, yt Iuda wente downe frō his brethren, & gat him to a man called Hyra at Odollam. And there Iuda sawe a mā of Canaās doughter called Sua, and toke her. And whē he had lyen with her, she conceaued and bare a sonne, whom she called Er.

And she conceaued agayne, & bare a son- whō she called Onā. She proceaded yet further, & bare a sonne, whō she called Sela. And whā she had borne him, she left of bearinge.

And Iuda gaue his first sonne Er a wife, whose name was Thamar. But he was wicked before the LORDE, therfore the LORDE slew him. Then sayde Iuda vnto his sonne Onan: Go lie with thy brothers wife, and marye thyself with her, that thou mayest rayse vp sede vnto thy brother. But when Onan knewe that the sede shulde not be his owne, whan he laye with his brothers wife, Deut. 25. he let it fall vpon the earth and destroyed it, yt he shulde not geue sede vnto his brother. This thinge that he dyd displeased the LORDE sore, and he slewe him also.

Then sayde Iudas vnto Thamar his sonnes wyfe. Remayne a wyddow in thy fathers house, tyll my sonne Sela be growne: for he thought: peraduenture he might dye also like as his brethren. So Thamar wente hir waye, and remained in hir fathers house. Now whā many dayes were past, ye doughter of Sua Iudas wife dyed. And whan Iuda had left mournynge, he wente vp vnto Thimnath Ge. 31. c 2. Re. 1 . c to clyppe his shepe with his shepherde Hyra of Odollam.

Then was it tolde Thamar: beholde, thy father in lawe goeth vp vnto Thimnath, to clyppe his shepe. Then put she of ye wyddowes garmentes that she had vpon her, couered and dysgysed hir self, & sat hir downe without the porte by the waye syde towarde Thymnath. For she sawe that Sela was growne, and she was not geuen vnto him to wife.

Now whan Iuda sawe her, he thought it had bene an whoore, for she had couered hir face: and he gat him to her in the waye, and saide: I praye the let me lye with the, for he knewe not that it was his doughter in lawe. She answered: What wilt thou geue me, that thou mayest lie with me? He sayde: I wil sende the a kydd from the flocke. She answered: Geue me a pledge then, tyll thou sende it me. He sayde: What pledge wilt thou that I geue the?

She answered: Thy signet, and thy bracelet, and thy staff that thou hast in thy hā de. Then he gaue it her, and laye with her, and she was with childe of him. And she gat hir vp, and wente hir waye, and layed of hir cloke, and put on hir wyddowes garmē tes agayne.

Iuda sent the kydd by his shepherde of Odolla, to fetch the pledge agayne from the woman, and he founde her not. Then axed he the men of the same place, & sayde: Where is the whoore yt sat without in the waye? They answered: There hath no whoore bene here. And he came agayne vnto Iuda, and saide: I haue not founde her, morouer ye men of the same place saide: that there hath no whoore bene there. Iuda sayde: Let her take it vnto her, lest we happly be shamed, for I haue sent the kydd, and thou hast not founde her.

After thre monethes it was tolde Iuda: Thamar thy doughter in lawe hath plaied the whoore: and beholde, by whordome is she gotten with childe. Iuda sayde: brynge her forth, that she maye be brent. And whan she was brought forth, she sent vnto hir father in lawe, and sayde: By the man yt oweth these, am I wt childe. And she sayde: Knowest thou whose is this signet, this bracelet & this staff? Iuda knewe thē, & sayde: She is more righteous thē I, for I gaue hir not my sonne Sela: But he laye nomore with her.

Whan the tyme came that she shulde be delyuered, there were two twyns founde in hir wombe. And as she was now in trauelynge, the one put out his hande. Then the mydwife toke and boūde a reed threde aboute it, and saide: This shal come out first. But whan he pluckte in his hande agayne, his brother came forth. And she sayde: Wherfore is there a rent mayde for thy sake? And he was called 〈1 paragraph〉 Phares. Afterwarde came his brother forth, which had ye reed threde aboute his hande, and he was called Zarah.

The XXXIX. Chapter.

IOseph was brought downe in to Egipte, 〈…〉 & Potiphar an Egipciā Pharaos chefe marshall bought him of ye Ismaelites, yt brought him downe. And ye LORDE was wt Ioseph, in so moch yt he became a luckye mā, & was in his master ye Egipcians house. And his master sawe yt the LORDE was wt him: for what so euer he dyd, the LORDE made it to prospere in his hāde: so yt he founde fauor in his masters sight, & was his seruaunt. He made him ruler of his house, and put all that he had, vnder his hande. And from the tyme forth that he had made him ruler of his house and all his goodes, ye LORDE blessed the Egipcians house for Iosephs sake: and there was nothynge but the very blessynge of the LORDE in all yt he had in ye house & in the felde, therfore left he all yt he had, in Iosephs hande. And medled with nothinge himself, saue onely the bred that he ate. And Ioseph was fayre of bewtye, and well fauoured offace.

And it fortuned after these actes, that his masters wife cast hir eyes vpon Ioseph, and sayde: Slepe with me. But he denyed, and saide vnto her: Beholde, my master knoweth not what is in ye house, and all that he hath, that hath he put vnder my hande. And there is no man so greate in the house as I, and he hath kepte nothinge fro me, excepte the: for thou art his wife. How shulde I then do so greate euell, and synne agaynst God? But she spake soch wordes vnto Ioseph daylie. Neuertheles he herkened not vnto her, to slepe by her, or to be in her company.

It fortuned vpon a tyme, that Ioseph wente in to the house to do his busynesse, and there was none of ye folkes of the house thereby. And she caught him by his garment, & sayde: Slepe with me. But he left the garment in hir hande, and fled, and gat him out of the house.

Now whā she sawe that he had left his garmēt in hir hande, and fled out, she called the folkes in the house, and sayde vnto thē: Lo, he hath brought vs in the Hebrue, to do vs shame. He came in here vnto me, to slepe by me: but I cried with loude voyce. And whan he herde that I made a noyse & cried, he left his garmēt here by me, and fled, and ranne out.

And she layed vp his garmēt by her, tyll his master came home, and tolde him euen the same wordes, and sayde: The Hebrue seruaunt whom thou broughtest here vnto vs, came in here to me, for to do me shame. But whan I made a noyse and cried, he left his garment here by me, and fled out. Whan his master herde the wordes of his wyfe which she tolde him, and sayde: Thus hath the Hebrue seruaunt done vnto me, he was very wroth.

Then his master toke him, and put him in the preson, 〈◊〉 4. c wherin the kinges presoners laie. And there he laye in preson. But the LORDE was with him, and had mercy vpon him, & caused him to fynde fauor in the sight of the officer of ye preson, so that he committed all the presoners of the preson vnto his hādes: that what so euer were done, might be done by him. For the officer of the preson sawe, yt the LORDE was with him in all yt was vnder his handes, and that what so euer he dyd, the LORDE made it to come prosperously to passe.

The XL. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned after this, that ye kynge of Egiptes chefe butlar and ye chefe baker offended their lorde the kynge of Egipte. And Pharao was angrie wt them, & caused them be put in preson in ye chefe marshals house, where Ioseph laye presoner. And the chefe marshall put Ioseph vnto them, yt he might serue them. And so they were in preson for a season.

And they dreamed, both the butlar & the baker in one night, euery mā his owne dreame, and euery dreame had his interpretaciō. Now in the mornynge whan Ioseph came in vnto them, and sawe that they loked sadly, he axed them and sayde: Why loke ye so sadly to daye? They answered: We haue dreamed, and haue no man to declare it vnto vs. Ioseph sayde: Interpretinge belongeth vnto God, but tell it me yet.

Then the chefe butlar tolde Ioseph his dreame, and saide vnto him: I dreamed that there was a vyne before me, which had thre braunches, and it budded, grewe and bare blossoms, and the grapes therof were rype. And I had Pharaos cuppe in my hande, & toke (the grapes) and wronge thē in to ye cuppe, and gaue Pharao the cuppe in his hāde.

Ioseph sayde: This is the interpretaciō: The thre braunches are thre dayes, and ouer thre dayes shall Pharao take the, and putt the in thine office agayne, that thou mayest geue him the cuppe in his hande after the olde maner, whā thou wast his butlar. But whan thou art in thy prosperite, thynke vpon me, and shewe me kyndnesse, that thou mayest certifie Pharao of me, yt he maie bringe me out of this house: for I was preuely caried out of the lande of the Hebrues, and here also haue I done nothinge, that they shulde haue put me in this dongeon.

Whan the chefe baker sawe, that the interpretacion was good, he sayde vnto Ioseph: I dreamed, that I bare thre wyker baskettes vpon my heade, and in ye vppermost baszket all maner of bakē meates vnto Pharao, and the foules ate out of the baszket vpon my heade.

Ioseph answered, and sayde: This is the interpretacion: The thre baszkettes are thre dayes, and after thre dayes shall Pharao take the, and hange the vpon the galowe, and the foules shal eate thy flesh from of ye.

And vpon the thirde daye it came to passe, that Pharao helde his Mat. 14 a byrth daye, and made a feast vnto all his seruauntes, and toke the chefe butlar and the chefe baker before all his seruauntes, and restored the chefe butlar to his butlarshipe agayne, so that he reached the cuppe in to Pharaos hande. As for the chefe baker, he caused him be hanged like as Ioseph had interpretated vnto him. Neuerthelesse the chefe butlar thought not on Ioseph, but forgat him.

The XLI. Chapter.

ANd after two yeares Pharao had a dreame, how that he stode by a water syde: and beholde, out of the water there came seuen goodly kyne, and fatfleshed, and wente fedinge in the medowe. After these he sawe other seuen kyne come out of the water, which were euell fauoured and leane fleshed, and wente by the kyne vpon ye water syde: and the euell fauoured leene kyne ate vp the seuen goodly and fatt kyne. Then Pharao awaked.

And he slepte agayne, and dreamed the seconde tyme. And he sawe that seuen eares of corne grewe vpon one stalke, full and good. Afterwarde he sawe seuē thynne and 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 blasted eares come vp, and the seuen thynne eares deuoured the seuen greate and full eares. Then Pharao awaked, and sawe that it was a dreame. And whan it was daye, his sprete was troubled, and he sente out, & caused to call all the soythsayers in Egipte & all the wyse men, and tolde them his dreame. But there was none, that coude tell Pharao the interpretacion of it.

Then spake the chefe butlar vnto Pharao, and saide: This daye do I remembre my fawte. Whan Pharao was angrie with his seruauntes, and put me in preson with ye chefe baker in ye chefe marshals house, we dreamed both in one night euery mā his dreame, hauinge his owne interpretacion. Then was there with vs a yonge man an Hebrue, the chefe marshals seruaunt, vnto whom we tolde it, and he declared oure dreames vnto vs, vnto euery mā acordinge to his dreame. And as he declared it vnto vs, so came it to passe. For I was restored vnto myne office, and he was hanged.

Then Pharao sent and called for Ioseph and they let him out of the dongeon. And he let himself be shauen, and chaunged his clothes, and came in vnto Pharao. Then saide Pharao vnto him: I haue dreamed a dreame, and there is no man that can interprete it: but I haue herde tell of the, that whā thou hearest a dreame, thou declarest it. Ioseph answered Pharao, and sayde: God shall geue Pharao a prosperous answere, yee well without me.

Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: I dreamed that I stode by a water syde, and beholde, out of the water there came seuen kyne, fat-fleshed and goodly, and wente fedinge in ye medowe. And after them I sawe other seuē kyne come out, thynne, euell fauoured, and leenfleshed. So euell fauoured sawe I neuer in all the lande of Egipte. And the seuen leene and euell fauoured kyne, ate vp the seuen first fat kyne. And whan they had eatē them vp, a man conde not perceaue that they had eaten them, & were as euell fauoured as they were afore. Then I awaked.

And I sawe agayne in my dreame seuen eares of corne, growinge vpō one stalke, full and good. Afterwarde there spronge vp seuen wythred eares, thynne and blasted, and the seuen thynne eares deuoured the seuen good eares. And I haue shewed it vnto my soithsayers, but they can tell me nothinge therof.

Ioseph answered Pharao: Both Pharaos dreames are one. God sheweth Pharao what he wil do. The seuen good kyne are seuen yeares, and the seuen good eares are seuen yeares also. It is one dreame. The seuen leene and euell fauoured kyne, that came vp after them, are seuen yeares. And the seuen thynne and blasted eares, shalbe seuen yeares of derth. This is now the thinge which I tolde Pharao, that God sheweth Pharao, what he wyll do.

Beholde, there shal come seuen yeares wt greate plenteousnes in ye whole lande of Egipte, and after the same there shall come seuen yeares of derth, so that all this plenteousnes shalbe forgotten in ye lande of Egipte: and the derth shall consume the lande, so that the plenteousnes shal not be perceaued in the lande, because of the derth that commeth therafter, for it shall be very greate. Where as Pharao dreamed the seconde tyme, it signifieth that this thinge is surely prepared of God, and that God wil shortly brynge the same to passe.

Let Pharao now prouyde for a man of vnderstondinge & wyszdome, whom he maye set ouer the lande of Egipte, and se that he ordene officers in the londe, and take ye fifth (parte) of the lande of Egipte in the seuen plenteous yeares, and gather all ye foode yt shal come of the plenteous yeares, that they maye laye vp corne vnder Pharaos power for sustenaunce in the cities, and kepe it, yt there maye be foode founde prepared for the lande in the seuen deare yeares, which shall come vpon the lande of Egipte, that the lande be not destroyed of honger. The sayenge pleased Pharao well and all his seruaūtes. And Pharao sayde vnto his seruauntes? How might we fynde soch a man, in whom is the sprete of God? And sayde vnto Iosep: For so moch as God hath shewed ye all this, there is none of soch vnderstondinge & wyszdome as thou.

Thou shalt be ouer my house, and acordinge vnto thy worde shall all my people obeye: 〈…〉 onely in the kynges seate wyll I be more then thou. And he sayde: Beholde, I haue set the ouer the whole lande of Egipte. And he toke of his ringe from his hāde, and gaue it Ioseph in his hāde, and clothed him with whyte sylke, and honge a cheyne of golge aboute his neck, and made him ryde vpō the seconde charet: and caused it be proclamed before him, that men shulde bowe their knees vnto him, as to him whō Pharao had set ouer the whole lande of Egipte.

And Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: I am Pharao: without thy wyll shall no man moue his hande or his fote in all the lāde Egipte. And he called him 〈◊〉 Zaph ••• h Pae •• that is •• aye: 〈◊〉 expoū •• of se •• te thin 〈◊〉 , or a 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 secre hīges 〈◊〉 ope •• . Zaphnath Paena, & gaue him a wife, euen Asnath the doughter of Potiphar the prest of On. So Ioseph wente out, for to vyset the lande of Egipte. (And he was thirtie yeare olde, whan he stode before Pharao.) And he departed from Pharao, and wente thorow all the lande of Egipte.

And the londe dyd so those seuen plenteous yeares, and they gathered all the foode of the seuen yeares that were in the lande of Egipte, & layed it in the cities. Loke what foode grewe in the felde rounde aboute euery cite, they put it therin. So Ioseph layed vp the corne in stoare, and that moch aboue measure, as the sonde of the see: in so moch yt he left of nombrynge of it, for it coude not be nombred.

And vnto Ioseph there were borne two sonnes (before ye derth came) whom Asnath the doughter of Potiphar prest of On bare vnto him. en. 46. c And the first called he Manasses: for God (sayde he) hath caused me to forget all my laboure, and all my fathers house. The seconde called he Ephraim: for God (sayde he) hath caused me to growe in ye lande of my trouble.

Now whan ye seuen plenteous yeares were ended in Egipte, then beganne the seuen deare yeares to come, Act. 7. b wherof Ioseph had sayde. And there was derth in all landes, but in all the lāde of Egipte there was foode. Now whan the lande of Egipte beganne to suffre honger also, the people cryed vnto Pharao for bred. But Pharao sayde vnto all ye Egipcians: Go vnto Ioseph, what he sayeth vnto you, yt doo. So whan there was derth in all ye lāde, Ioseph opened all yt was by him, & solde vnto the Egipcians. Thus ye derth preuayled in the lande, & all countrees came to Egipte to bye at Ioseph: for the derth was mightie in all landes.

The XLII. Chapter.

WHan Iacob sawe that there was moch corne in Egipte, he sayde vnto his sonnes: Why gape ye? Beholde, I heare that there is moch come in Egipte, go downe & bye vs corne, yt we maie lyue, & not dye. So Iosephs ten brethrē wente downe to bye corne in Egipte. As for Ben Iamyn Iosephs brother, Iacob wolde not let him go wt his brethrē, for he sayde: Some mysfortune might happen vnto him. So ye childrē of Israel came to bye corne, amonge other yt came wt them: for there was derth also in ye lande of Canaan. But Ioseph was gouernoure in the lande, and solde corne vnto all the people in the lande.

Now whā his brethrē came to him, they fell downe to the grounde before him vpon their faces. And he sawe them, & knewe thē, and helde himself straunge towarde them, and talked roughly with them, and saide vnto them: Whence come ye? They sayde: Out of the lande of Canaan to bye vytayle. Neuertheles though he knewe them, yet knewe they not him. And Ioseph thought vpon ye dreames that he had dreamed of them, Gen. 37. a and sayde vnto them: Ye are spyes, and are come to se where the lande is open.

They answered him: No my lorde, thy seruauntes are come to bye vytayle: we are all one mans sonnes, we are vnfayned, and thy seruauntes were neuer spyes. He sayde vnto thē: No, but ye are come to se where the lande is open. They answered him: We thy seruauntes are twolue brethren, the sonnes of one man in the lāde of Canaan, and the yongest is with oure father: as for one, he is awaye.

Ioseph sayde vnto them: This is it that I sayde vnto you: spyes are ye. Here by wyll I proue you: By the life of Pharao ye shall not yet hence, excepte youre yongest brother come hither. Sende awaye one of you to fetch youre brother, but ye shalbe in preson. Thus wyll I trye out yor wordes, whether ye go aboute wt trueth or not: for els, by the life of Pharao ye are spyes. And he put thē together in warde thre dayes longe.

Vpon the thirde daye he sayde vnto thē: Yf ye wil lyue, thē do thus, for I feare God: Yf ye be vnfayned, let one of youre brethren lye bounde in youre preson: but go ye youre waye, and cary home the necessary foode, & brynge me youre yongest brother, so wyll I beleue youre wordes, that ye shall not dye. And so they dyd.

And they sayde one to another: This haue we deserued against oure brother, in that we sawe the anguysh of his soule, whan he besought vs, and we wolde not heare him: therfore cōmeth now this trouble vpon vs. Ruben answered them, and saide: Tolde not I you ye same, whan I sayde: Ge. 37. d O synne not agaynst ye lad, but ye wolde not heare. Now is his bloude requyred. But they knew not that Ioseph vnderstode it, for he spake vnto thē by an interpreter. And he turned him from them, and wepte. Now whan he had turned him to them agayne, and talked wt them, he toke Symon from amonge them, & bounde him before their eyes, and commaunded to fyll their sackes wt corne, and to put euery mans money in his sack, and to geue euery one his expenses by the waye. And so was it done vnto them.

And they laded their corne vpon their Asses, and departed thence. But whan one opened his sacke to geue his Asse prouender in the Inne, he spyed his money in his sack mouth, and sayde vnto his brethren: My money is restored me agayne: lo, it is in my sack. Then their hertes fayled them, and they were afrayed amonge them selues, and sayde: Wherfore hath God done this vnto vs?

Now whan they came home to Iacob their father in the lāde of Canaan, they tolde him all that had happened vnto them, & sayde: The man that is lorde of the londe, spake roughly to vs, and toke vs for spyes of the countre. And whan we answered: we are vnfayned, & were neuer spyes, but are twolue brethren the sonnes of oure father: one is awaye, and the yongest is yet this daye wt oure father in the lande of Canaan, He sayde: Hereby wyl I marke, that ye are vnfayned: Leaue one of youre brethren with me, & take foode necessary for youre houses, & go youre waye, and brynge youre yongest brother vnto me: so shal I knowe that ye are no spyes, but vnfayned: thē shal I delyuer you youre brother also, and ye maye occupie in the lande.

And whan they opened their sackes, euery man founde his boundell of money in his sacke. And whā they and their father sawe, that it was the bundels of their money, they were afrayed.

Then sayde Iacob their father: Ye haue robbed me of my children. Ioseph is awaye, Simeon is awaye, and ye will take Ben Iamin awaye: It goeth all ouer me. Ruben answered his father & sayde: Yf I brynge him not to the againe, then slaye my two sonnes: delyuer him but in to my hande, I wyl brynge him agayne vnto the. He sayde: my sonne shal not go downe with you: for his brother is deed, and he is left alone. Yf eny mysfortune shulde happen vnto him by the waye yt ye go, ye shulde bringe my graye hayre with sorowe downe vnto the graue.

The XLIII. Chapter.

BVt the derth oppressed ye lande. And whan all the vytales that they had brought out of Egipte were spent, Iacob their father sayde vnto them: Go agayne, and bye vs a litle foode.

Thē Iuda answered him, and sayde: The man sware vnto vs, and sayde: ye shal not se my face, excepte youre brother be with you. Yf so be now that thou wilt sende oure brother with vs, we wil go downe, and bye the foode. But yf thou wilt not sende him, we wyl not go downe. For the man sayde vnto vs: Ye shal not se my face, excepte youre brother be with you.

Israel sayde: Wherfore haue ye done this euell vnto me, to tell ye man, that ye had yet a brother? They answered: The man enquered so strately of vs and of oure kynrede, & sayde: Is youre father yet a lyue? Haue ye yet a brother? Then tolde we him, as he axed vs. How coulde we knowe, that he wolde saye: brynge youre brother downe wt you? Then sayde Iuda vnto Israel his father: Let the lad go with me, that we maye get vs vp and take oure iourney, and lyue, and not dye, both we and thou, and oure childrē. 〈1 paragraph〉 I wyll be suertye for him, of my handes shalt thou requyre him. Yf I brynge him not vnto the agayne, & set him before thine eyes, I wil beare ye blame my life longe. For yf we had not made this tarienge, we had now bene come agayne twyse.

Then sayde Israel their father vnto thē: Yf it must nedes be so, then do this: take of the best frutes of the lande in youre sackes, and brynge the man a present: a curtesy balme, and hony, and spyces, and myrre, and dates, and almondes. Take other money with you also, and the money that was brought agayne in youre sacke mouthes, cary it agayne with you: peraduenture it was an ouersight. And take youre brother, get you vp, & go agayne vnto the man. The Allmightie God geue you mercy in the sight of ye man, that he maye let you haue youre other brother, and Ben Iamin. As forme, I must be as one, that is robbed of his children.

Then they toke the present, and other money with them, and Ben Iamin, gat thē vp, and wente in to Egipte, and stode before Ioseph. Then Ioseph behelde them with Ben Iamin, and sayde vnto the ruler of his house: Bringe these men in, and sley, & make ready, for they shal dyne with me at no one. And the man dyd as Ioseph bad him, & brought the men in to Iosephs house.

Whan they were brought in to Iosephs house, they were afrayed, and sayde: We are brought hither because of the money, that came agayne in oure sackes at the first, to pyke a quarell with vs, and to laye somethinge to oure charge, and to take vs for bonde seruauntes with oure Asses.

Therfore came they to ye man, that was ruler of Iosephs house, and talked wt him at the doore, and sayde: Syr, en. 4 . c we came downe at the first to bye foode, and whan we came in the Inne, and opened oure sackes, beholde, euery mans money was in his sack mouth with full weight: therfore haue we brought it with vs agayne, & haue brought other money with vs also, to bye foode: but we can not tell, who put oure money in oure sackes.

He sayde: Be content, feare you not, youre God euen ye God of youre fathers hath geuē you yt treasure in youre sackes, I had youre money. And he brought forth Simeon vnto them, and led them in to Iosephs house, and gaue them water to wash their fete, & gaue their Asses prouender.

And they made readye ye present, ageynst Ioseph came at no one: for they herde, yt they shulde dyne there. Now whan Ioseph wente in to the house, they brought him home ye present that they had, and fell downe to the grounde before him. But he welcomed them curteously, and sayde: Is youre father, (that olde man which ye tolde me of) in good health? Is he yet alyue? They answered: Thy seruaunt oure father is in good health, and is yet alyue. And they bowed them selues, and fell downe before him.

And he lift vp his eyes, and sawe his brother Ben Iamin his mothers sonne, and saide: Gen. 42. b Is this youre yongest brother, that ye tolde me of? And he sayde morouer: God be mercifull vnto the my sonne. And Ioseph made haist (for the grounde of his hert was kyndled towarde his brother) and sought how he might wepe, . Re. 3. d & wente in to his chamber, and wepte there.

And whan he had washed his face, he wente out, and refrayned him self, and sayde: set bred (on the table.) And they brought vnto him by him self, and vnto them by thē selues, and to the Egipcians also that ate wt them, by them selues. (For the Egipcians darre not eate bred with the Ebrues, that is an abhominacion vnto them.) And they were set ouer agaynst him, the first borne acordinge to his first byrth, and the yongest after his youth. They marueled at it amonge them selues, and there were brought them sundrye meates from his table. But Ben Iamins parte was fyue tymes more then the other. And they dronke, and were mery with him.

The XLIIII. Chapter.

ANd Ioseph commaunded the ruler of his house, and sayde: Fyll the mens sackes with foode, as moch as they maye carye, and put euery mans money in his sacke mouth, & put my syluer cuppe in the sack mouth of the yongest with the money for ye vytayles. He dyd as Ioseph had sayde. And on the morow whan it was daye, they let ye men go with their Asses.

But whan they were out of the cite, and not come farre, Ioseph sayde to the ruler of his house: Vp, and folowe after the mē, and whan thou ouertakest them, saie vnto them: Wherfore haue ye rewarded euell for good? Is not that it, that my lorde drynketh out of? and that he prophecieth withall? It is euell done of you, that ye haue done.

And whan he had ouertaken them, he sayde the same wordes vnto them. They answered him: Wherfore saieth my lorde soch wordes God forbyd, that thy seruauntes shulde do eny soch thinge? Beholde, the money that we foūde in oure sackes mouthes, that brought we vnto the agayne, out of the lande of Canaan: how shulde we then haue stollen either syluer or golde out of thy lordes house? Loke by whom it shall be founde amonge thy seruauntes, let him dye: yee and we also wyll be my lordes bondmen. He sayde: let it so be, as ye haue spoken. Loke by whom it shall be founde, let him be my seruaunt, but ye shalbe harmlesse.

And they made haist, and toke downe euery man his sack to the grounde, and euery man opened his sack: And he searched & beganne at the greatest vnto the yongest, and the cuppe was founde in Ben Iamins sacke. Then rente they their clothes, and euery man lade the burthen vpon his Asse, & wente agayne vnto the cite. And Iuda wente with his brethren vnto Iosephs house (for he was there yet) and they fell before him on the groūde. Ioseph sayde vnto them: What maner of dede is this, that ye haue done? Knewe ye not, that soch a man as I am, can prophecy?

Iuda sayde: What shall we saye vnto my lorde? or how shal we speake? and what excuse shal we make? God hath founde out ye wickednesse of thy seruauntes. Beholde, we and he, by whom the cuppe is founde, are my lordes seruauntes. But he sayde: God forbyd that I shulde do so. The man by whom the cuppe is founde, shall by my seruaunt, but go ye vp in peace vnto youre father.

Thē stepte Iuda vnto him, and sayde: My lorde, let thy seruaunt speake one worde in thine eares my lorde, be not displesed at y seruaunt also, for thou art euē as Pharao. My lorde axed his seruauntes, and sayde: Haue ye yet a father or brother? Then answered we; We haue a father, which is olde, and a yonge lad begotten in his age, and his brother is deed, & he is left alone of his mother, and his father loueth him.

Then saydest thou: Brynge him downe vnto me, and I wil se him. But we answered my lorde: The lad can not come from his father, yf he shulde come from him, he were but a deed man. Then saydest thou vnto thy seruauntes: Gen. 43. a Yf youre yongest brother come not hither with you, ye shall se my face no more. Then wente we vp vnto thy seruaunt my father, and tolde him my lordes wordes. Then sayde oure father: Go youre waye agayne, and bye vs a litle foode. But we sayde: We can not go downe, excepte oure yongest brother be with vs, then wyll we go downe: for we darre not loke the man in the face, yf oure yongest brother be not with vs. Then sayde thy seruaunt my father vnto vs: Ye knowe that my wife bare me two sonnes, one wente out fro me, and I sayde: he is torne in peces. Gen. 7. f Yf ye take this fro me also, and eny mysfortune happē him, then shal ye brynge my gray heer with sorowe downe vnto the graue. Gen. 42. e

Yf I now come home vnto my father, & the lad be not with me (seynge his soule hangeth by the soule of this) then shall it come to passe, that yf he se not the lad there, he shal dye. So shal we thy seruauntes brynge the gray heer of thy seruaunt oure father with sorowe downe to the graue. For I thy seruaunt became suertye for the lad vnto my father, Gen. 43. b and sayde: yf I brynge him not agayne, I will beare the blame all my lyfe longe. Therfore let thy seruaunt byde here in steade of ye lad, to be my lordes bonde man, and let the lad go vp with his brethren. For how can I go vp vnto my father, yf the lad be not with me? Then shulde I se the mysery that shulde happen vnto my father.

The XLV. Chapter.

THen coude not Ioseph refrayne him self before all them that stode aboute him: and he cōmaunded euery man to go out from him, and there stode no man by him, whan Ioseph vttred him self vnto his brethren. And he wepte loude, so that ye Egipcians and Pharaos housholde herde it. Act. 7. b And he sayde vnto his brethren: I am Ioseph, is my father yet alyue? And his brethren coulde not answere him, they were so abashed before his face. But he sayde: Come nye vnto me. And they came nye. And he sayde: I am Ioseph youre brother. Ge . whom ye solde in to Egipte. And now vexe not youre selues, & thinke not yt there is eny wrath, because ye solde me hither. Ge . For God sent me hither before you, for yor lyues sake. For these are now two yeares, that ye derth hath bene in the lande, and there are yet fyue yeares behynde, wherin there shalbe no plowinge ner haruest.

But God sent me hither before you, yt he might let you remayne vpon earth, and to saue youre lyues by a greate delyueraunce. And now, it was not ye then that sent me hither, but God which hath made me a father vnto Pharao, & lorde ouer all his house, and a prynce in the whole lande of Egipte. Haist you therfore, and go vp vnto my father, and saye vnto him: Thy sonne Ioseph sendeth the this worde: God hath made me lorde in all Egipte, come downe vnto me, tarye not, thou shalt dwel in the lande of Gosen, and be with me: thou and thy children, and thy childers childrē, thy small and greate catell, and all that thou hast. There wyll I make prouysion for the (for there are yet fyne yeares of derth) that thou perishe not wt thine house, and all that is thyne. Beholde, youre eyes and the eyes of my brother Ben Iamin se, that I myne owne self speake vnto you by mouth. Shewe my father all my worshipe in Egipte, and all that ye haue sene: haist you, and come downe hither with my father.

And he fell aboute his brother Ben Iamyns neck, and wepte, and Ben Iamin wepte vpon his neck also. And he kyssed all his brethren, and wepte vpon them. And afterwarde talked his brethren wt him. And this tydinges came in to Pharaos house: Iosephs brethren are come, which pleased Pharao well, and all his seruauntes.

And Pharao spake vnto Ioseph: Saye vnto thy brethren: Do thus, lade youre beastes, go youre waye, and whan ye come in to the lande of Canaan, take youre father and youre housholdes, and come vnto me, I wyl geue you of the goodes in the lāde of Egipte, so that ye shall eate the fatt in the lande. And he commaunded them, Do thus, Take you charettes out of ye lande of Egipte for youre children and wyues, and brynge youre father, and come, and regarde not youre housholde stuff: for the goodes of all the lā de of Egipte shalbe yours.

The children of Israel dyd so, and Ioseph gaue thē charettes acordynge to Pharaos commaundement, and expenses by the waye, and gaue them all, vnto euery one a chaunge of rayment: but vnto Ben Iamin he gaue thre hundreth syluer pens, and fyue chaunge of rayment. As for his father, he sent him ten Asses laden with goodes out of Egipte, and ten Asses with corne and bred, and vytayles for his father by ye waye. So he sent awaye his brethren, and sayde vnto them: Stryue not by the waye.

Thus they departed out of Egipte, and came to the lande of Canaan vnto Iacob their father, and tolde him, and sayde: Thy sonne Ioseph is yet alyue, and is a lorde in all the lande of Egipte. But his hert wauered, for he beleued them not. Thē tolde they him all the wordes of Ioseph, which he had sayde vnto them. And whan he sawe ye charettes that Ioseph had sent to fetch him, his sprete reuyued, & he sayde: I haue ynough, that my sonne Ioseph is yet a liue I wil go, and se him, before I dye.

The XLVI. Chapter.

ISrael toke his iourney with all that he had. Iosu. 24. a Act. 7. b And whan he came to Berseba, he offred offerynges vnto ye God of his father Isaac. And God spake vnto him in a vision by night: Iacob Iacob. He sayde: here am I. And he saide: I am ye mightie God of thy father, be not afrayed to go in to Egipte, for there wyl I make a greate people of the. I wyll go downe with the, & wil brynge the vp also. And Ioseph shal laye his hande vpon thine eyes.

Then Iacob gat him vp from Berseba, and ye children of Israel caried Iacob their father with their children and wyues vpon the charettes that Pharao had sent to cary him. And they toke their catell & substaunce which they had gotten in the lande of Canaan, and so came in to Egipte: Esa. 52. a Iacob & all his sede with him, his children & his childers children with him, his doughters, and the doughters of his children, & all his sede.

These are ye names of the children of Israel, which came in to Egipte, Iacob & his sonnes. Nu. 26. a The first borne sonne of Iacob: Ruben. The children of Ruben: Hanoch, Pallu, . Pat. . a Hezron and Charmi. The children of Simeon: Iemuel, Iamin, Ohad, Iachim, Zohar and Saul the sonne of the Cananitish woman. The childrē of Leui: Gerson, Cahath & Merari. The childrē of Iuda: Er, Onan, Sela, Phares & Serah. But Er and Onan dyed in the lande of Canaan. The childrē of Phares: Hesron and Hamul. The children of Isachar:1. Pat. 8. a Thola, Phua, Iob & Semron. The children of Zabulon: Sered, Elon and Iahleel. These are the childrē of Lea, which she bare vnto Iacob in Mesopotamia with his doughter Dina. These all together with sonnes & doughters make thre & thirtie soules.

The childrē of Gad: Zipheon, Haggi, Suni, E bon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. The children of Asser: Iemna, Iesua, Iesui, Bria & Sera their sister. The children of Bria: Heber and Malchiel. These are the children of Silpa, Ge. 29. d whom Laban gaue vnto Lea his doughter, and she bare vnto Iacob these sixtene soules.

The childrē of Rachel Iacobs wife: Ioseph and Ben Iamin. And vnto Ioseph in ye lande of Egipte Ge. 41. g were borne Manasses and Ephraim, whom Asnath the doughter of Potiphar prest of On bare vnto him. The children of Ben Iamin: Bela, Becher, Asber, Gera, Naamā, Ehi, Ros, Mupim, Hupim and Ard. These are the children of Rachel, which were borne vnto Iacob, fourtene soules alltogether.

The children of Dan: Husim. The childrē of Nephtali: Iahzeel, Guni, Iezer, Sillem. These are the children of Bilha, whom Laban gaue vnto his doughter Rachel, & she bare Iacob these seuen soules. All the soules yt came wt Iacob in to Egipte, Deut. 10. which proceaded out of his loynes (besyde the wyues of his childrē) are alltogether sixe & sixtie soules. And Iosephs childrē which were borne vnto him in Egipte, were two soules: so that all the soules of the house of Iacob which came into Egipte, were seuentye.

And he sent Iuda before him vnto Ioseph, to shew him the waye to Gosen, & they came in to the lande of Gosen. Then Ioseph bended his charett fast, and wente vp to mete Israel his father vnto Gosen. And whan he sawe him, he fell aboute his neck, & wepte sore vpon his neck. Then sayde Israel vnto Ioseph: Now am I content to dye, for so moch as I haue sene thy face, that thou art yet alyue.

Ioseph sayde vnto his brethren, & to his fathers house: I will go vp, & tell Pharao, & saye vnto him: My brethrē and my fathers house are come vnto me out of the lande of Canaan, and are kepers of catell (for they are men that deale with catell:) their small & greate catell, and all that they haue, haue they brought with them. Now yf Pharao call you, and saye: what is youre occupaciō? then ye shal saye: Thy seruauntes are men yt haue dealt wt catell from oure youth vp hytherto, both we & oure fathers, that ye maye dwell in the lande of Gosen: for the Egipcians abhorre all kepers of catell.

The XLVII. Chapter.

THen came Ioseph, and tolde Pharao & sayde: My father and my brethren, their small & greate catell, & all yt they haue, are come out of ye lande of Canaan: & beholde, they are in the lande of Gosen. And he toke fyue of his brethren, & presented them vnto Pharao. Then sayde Pharao vnto his brethren: What is youre occupacion? They answered: Thy seruauntes are kepers of catell, we and oure fathers also. And they sayde morouer vnto Pharao: We are come to dwell with you in the lande, for ye seruaūtes haue no pasture for their catell, so sore doth the derth oppresse the lande of Canaan. Now therfore let ye seruauntes dwell in the lande of Gosen.

Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: Thy father and thy brethren are come vnto the: the lande of Egipte is open before the, let them dwell in the best place of the lande, & se yt they dwell euen in the lande of Gosen. And yf thou knowest that there be men of actiuyte amōge thē, make thē rulers of my catell.

Ioseph brought in Iacob his father also, & set him before Pharao. And Iacob thanked Pharao. But Pharao axed Iacob: How olde art thou? Iacob sayde: The tyme of my Iob 14. c Psal. 118. c pylgremage is an hūdreth and thirtie yeares: litle and euell is the tyme of my pilgremage, and attayneth not vnto the tyme of my fathers in their pylgremages. And Iacob thanked Pharao, and wēte out from him.

So Ioseph prepared dwellinges for his father and his brethren, & gaue them a possession in the lande of Egipte, euen in the best place of the lande, namely, in the lande of Raemses, as Pharao cōmaunded. And he made prouysion for his father and his brethren, and all his fathers house with bred, euen as yonge children.

There was no bred in all the londe, for the derth was very sore: so yt the lande of Egipte & the lande of Canaan were fameshed by ye reason of the derth. And Ioseph brough together all the money that was founde in Egipte and Canaan, for ye corne that they bought. And he layed vp all the money in Pharaos house.

Now whan money fayled in the lande of Egipte and Canaan, all the Egipcians came vnto Ioseph, & saide: Geue vs bred. Why suffrest thou vs to dye before yt, because weare without money? Ioseph saide: Brynge hither youre catell, so wil I geue you for youre catell, seynge ye are without money. Then brought they their catell vnto Ioseph. And he gaue thē bred for their horses, shepe, oxen and Asses. So he fed them with bred yt yeare, for all their catell.

Whan yt yeare was ended, they came vnto him the next yeare, & sayde vnto him: We wil not hyde it from or lorde, yt not onely the money, but all the catell also is spent vnto or lorde: & there is nothinge left more for or lorde, but onely or body & oure lande. Wherfore suffrest thou both vs to dye, and oure londe? Take vs and oure lāde for bred, that we and oure lande maye be bonde vnto Pharao: geue vs sede, that we maye lyue and not dye, & yt the lande become not a wildernesse.

So Ioseph toke all the lande of Egipte in for Pharao: for the Egipcians solde euery man his lande, because ye derth was so mightie vpon them: and so the lōde became Pharaos, with the people that went out and in at his cities, from one syde of Egipte vnto the other, excepte the prestes londe, that toke he not in: For it was ordened of Pharao for the prestes, that they shulde eate that which was appoynted them, which he gaue them, therfore they neded not to sell their londes.

Then sayde Ioseph vnto the people: Beholde, I haue taken possession of you and youre lande this daye for Pharao, Beholde, there haue ye sede, sowe the londe, and of the corne ye shall geue the fifth parte vnto Pharao: foure partes shalbe youres, to sowe the londe for youre sustenaunce, and for youre houses and children.

They sayde: Let vs but lyue, & fynde grace before the oure lorde, we wyl gladly be Pharaos seruauntes: So Ioseph made thē a lawe vnto this daye ouer the Egipcians londe, to geue Pharao the fifth parte, excepte the prestes londe, which was not bonde vnto Pharao.

So Israel dwelt in Egipte in the londe of Gosen, and had it in possession, and grew and multiplied exceadingly. And Iacob lyued seuentene yeare in the lande of Egipte, so that his whole age was an hūdreth and seuen and fourtye yeares.

Now whan the tyme came that Israel shulde dye, he called Ioseph his sonne, and sayde vnto him: Yf I haue founde grace in thy sight, e. 24. a then laye thine honde vnder my hye, yt thou shalt shewe mercy and faithfulnes vpon me, and not burye me in Egipte, but I will lye by my fathers, and thou shalt carye me out of Egipte, & burye me in their buryall. He sayde: I wil do as thou hast sayde. But he sayde: e. 25. d Then sweare vnto me. And he sware vnto him. Thē Israel bowed himself towarde the bed heade.

The XLVIII. Chapter.

AFter this it was tolde Ioseph Beholde, yi father is sicke. And he toke with him his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim. Then was it tolde Iacob: beholde, yi sonne Ioseph cōmeth vnto ye. And Israel toke a corage vnto him, & sat vp vpō ye bed, & sayde vnto Ioseph: The Allmightye God appeared vnto me Ge. 28. c at Lus in ye lāde of Canaan, & blessed me, & saide vnto me: Beholde, I wil cause ye to growe & increase & wyll make a multitude of people of ye, & wil geue this lāde vnto ye sede after ye for an euerlastinge possession. Therfore shal now thy two sonnes Manasses & Ephraim (which were borne vnto the in Egipte, Gen. 41. g before I came hither vnto the) be myne, like as Ruben & Simeon. As for those that thou begettest after thē, they shal be thine owne. But these shalbe named with the names of their brethren in their inheritaunce.

And whā I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel dyed by me in the lande of Canaan, Gen. 25. d by the waye, whan there was yet but a feldes brede vnto Eprath: and I buryed her in the waye towarde Ephrath, which now is called Bethleem.

And Israel loked vpon Iosephs sonnes, & sayde: What are these? Ioseph answered: They are my sonnes, which God hath geuen me here. He sayde: Brynge thē hither to me, yt I maye blesse thē. (For Israels eyes were heuy for age, & he coude not well se.) And he brought thē vnto him. So he kyssed them, & enbraced thē, & saide vnto Ioseph: Beholde, I haue sene ye face, which I thought not: & lo, God hath caused me to se ye sede also. And Ioseph toke them from his lappe, and they fell downe to the grounde vpon their face.

Then Ioseph toke them both, Ephraim in his right hande towarde Israels left hā de, and Manasses in his left hande towarde Israels right hāde, & brought thē vnto him. But Israel stretched out his right hande, & layed it vpō ye heade of Ephraim ye yōgest & his left hande vpō Manasses heade, & did so wyttingly wt his handes, Iosu. 1 . a for Manasses was ye firstborne. And Heb. 11. d he blessed Ioseph, & saide: The God before whō my fathers Abrahā & Isaac haue walked: ye God yt hath fed me my lyfe longe vnto this daye: the angell which hath delyuered me frō all euell, blesse these laddes, yt they maye be called after my name, & after ye name of my fathers Abrahā & Isaac, yt they maye growe & multiplye vpon earth. But whā Ioseph sawe yt his father layed ye right hāde vpō Ephraims heade, it displeased him, & he lif vp his fathers hande, to remoue it frō Ephraims heade vnto ye heade of Manasses, & sayde vnto him: Not so my father, this is ye firstborne, laye ye right hāde vpō his heade. Neuertheles his father wolde not, & saide: I knowe it well my sonne, I knowe it well, this shall be a people also, & shalbe greate: but his yonger brother shal be greater thē he, & his sede shal be full of people. So he blessed them the same daye & saide: In y shal Israel blesse, so yt it shal be sayde: God set the as Ephraim & Manasses. And so he set Ephraim aboue Manasses. Iere. 1. b

And Israel saide vnto Ioseph: Beholde, I dye, & God shall be wt you, & brynge you agayne in to ye lande of youre fathers Ioh. 4. a I haue geuen the a pece of londe, without ye brethren, which I gat with my swerde and my bowe out of the hande of the Amorites.

The XLIX. Chapter.

ANd Iacob called his sonnes, & sayde: Gather you, yt I maie tell you, what shal happen vnto you in ye last times: Come together, and heare ye childrē of Iacob: Herken vnto Israel youre father.

Rubē my first sonne, Gen. 29. f thou art my power and the begynnynge of my strength, chefe Deu. 21. c in gouernaunce, & chefe in auctorite. Thou passest forth swiftly as ye water. Thou shalt not be the chefest: For Gen. 35. c 1. Par. 6. c thou hast clymmed vp vpon thy fathers bed, euen than defyledest thou my couch with goynge vp.

Symeon and Leui brethren, their deedly weapens are perlous instrumentes. In to their secretes come not my soule, and my worshipe be not ioyned with their congregacion: Gen. 4. d for in their wrath they slew a man, and in their selfwyll they houghed an oxe. Cursed be their wrath, because it is so fearce: and their indignacion, because it is so rigorous. I wil deuyde them in Iacob, and s ater them in Israel

1. Pa. 6. a Iuda, thou art he. Thy brethren shall prayse the: for thy hāde shal be in thine enemies neck: thy fathers children shall stoupe vnto the. Mich. 5 b Iuda is a yonge lyon, thou art come vp hye my sonne, frō the spoyle. Nu. 23. d He kneled downe and couched himself as a lyon & as a lionesse: who wil rayse him vp? The cepter shal not be remoued frō Iuda, ner a master frō his fete, tyll the Worthye come, and vnto him shal the people fall. He shall bynde his foale vnto the vyne, and his Asses colte to ye noble braunch. He shal wash his garment in wyne, and his mantell in the bloude of grapes. His eyes are roudier then wyne, and his teth whyter then mylck.

Zabulon shal dwell in the hauen of the see, and in the porte of shippes, os. 19. and shal border vpon Sydon.

Isachar shal be a stronge Asse, & laye him downe betwixte ye borders. And he saw rest, that it was good, and the lande, that it was pleasaunt. And bowed downe his shulder to beare, and became a seruaūt vnto trybute.

ud. 13.14. 5.16.17.18Dan shal be iudge in his people, as well as a trybe in Israel. Dan shalbe a serpent in the waye, and an edder in the path, and byte the horse in the heles, that his ryder maye fall backwarde. LORDE I loke for thy saluacion.

As for Gad, a wapened hoost of men shal fall violently vpon him, but he shall hurte them in the hele.

Of Asser cōmeth his fat bred, and he shal geue delicates vnto kynges.

〈◊〉 . 4.5Nepthali is a swift hynde, and geueth goodly wordes.

The fruteful sonne Ioseph, that florishinge sonne to loke vpon, the doughters go vpō the wall. And though the shoters angered him, stro e with him, and hated him, yet his bowe bode fast, and the armes of his hādes were made strōge by the handes of ye Mightie in Iacob. Of him are come herdmen & stones in Israel. Of ye fathers God art thou helped, & of the Allmightie art thou blessed, wt blessynges of heauen from aboue, with blessinges of ye depe yt lyeth vnder, with blessynges of brestes & wombes. The bless nges promised vnto thy father and my fore elders go mightely, after the desyre of the hyest in the worlde: these shal light on Iosephs heade, and on the toppe of his heade, that was separate from his brethren.

Ben Iamin, a rauyshinge wolfe. In the mornynge shal he deuoure the praye, but in the euenynge he shal deuyde the spoyle.

All these are the twolue trybes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake vnto them, whan he blessed them, euery one with a sundrye blessynge.

And he commaunded them, and sayde vnto them: I shal be gathered vnto my people, 〈1 paragraph〉 burye me with my fathers in ye caue which is in the felde of Ephron the Hethite, in the dubble caue that lyeth ouer against Mamre in ye lande of Canaā, which Abrahā bought with the felde, of Ephron the Hethite for a possession to burye in. 〈…〉 There buryed they Abrahā & Sara his wife, there buried they Isaac also & Rebecca his wife: & their buried I Lea, in the good of the felde & of the caue therin, which was bought of the Hethites.

And whan Iacob had ended this commaundement vnto his children, Act he pluckte his fete together vpon the bed, and died, and was gathered vnto his people. Thē fell Ioseph vpon his fathers face, and wepte, and kyssed him.

The L. Chapter.

ANd Ioseph cōmaūded his seruaūtes ye Phisiciās, to embawme his father. And the Phisicians embawmed Israel, tyll fourtye dayes were ended (for so longe endured the dayes of embawminge) & the Egipcians bewayled him seuentye dayes.

Now whan the mournynge dayes were ended, Ioseph spake vnto Pharaos housholde, & sayde: Yf I haue founde fauor in youre sight, thē speake vnto Pharao and saie: My father hath taken an ooth of me, & sayde: Beholde, I dye, burye me in myne owne graue, Gen which I dygged for myself in the lāde of Canaan. Therfore wyl I now go vp, and burye my father, and come agayne. Pharao saide: Go thy waye vp, and burye thy father, acordinge as thou hast sworne vnto him.

So Ioseph wēte vp, to burye his father. And there wēte wt him all Pharaos seruaū tes yt were the elders of his courte, and all ye elders of the lande of Egipte, & all Iosephs housholde, and his brethren, and his fathers housholde. Onely their children, shepe & oxen left they in ye lāde of Gosen, & toke their iourney vp with him, vpō charettes and horses, and the company was exceadinge greate.

Now whan these came to the playne of Atad yt lyeth beyonde Iordane, they made there a very greate and bytter lamentacion, & Eccl he mourned for his father seuē dayes. And whā the people in the lande (the Cananites) sawe the mournynge in the playne of Atad, they sayde: The Egipciās make there greate lamētacion. Therfore is the place called: The lamentacion of the Egipcians, which lyeth beyonde Iordane.

〈…〉 And his children dyd as he had cōmaunded them, and caried him to ye lande of Canaan, and buried him in ye dubble caue, that Abraham bought with the felde for a possession to bury in, 〈◊〉 23. c of Ephron ye Hethite ouer ageynst Mamre. So Ioseph toke his iourney agayne in to Egipte with his brethren, and with all those that wente vp with him to burye his father, whan they had buried him.

But Iosephs brethrē were afrayed, whā their father was deed, and sayde: Ioseph might happly haue indignacion at vs, and recompense vs all the euell that we dyd vnto him, 〈◊〉 37. d therfore let they saye vnto him: Thy father commaunded before his death, and sayde: Thus shal ye saye vnto Ioseph: O for geue thy brethren the offence and their synne, that they dyd so euell vnto the. O forgeue now this trespace of vs the seruauntes of thy fathers God. But Ioseph wepte, whan they spake so vnto him.

And his brethren wente, and fell downe before him, and sayde: Beholde, here are we thy seruauntes. Ioseph sayde vnto thē: Feare ye not, for I am vnder God. Ye thought euell ouer me, but God hath turned it vnto good, to do as it is come to passe this daye, for the sauynge of moch people. Therfore be not ye now afrayed, I wyl care for you and youre children. And he comforted them, and spake louyngly vnto them.

Thus dwelt Ioseph in Egipte with his fathers house, and lyued an hūdreth and ten yeare, and sawe Ephrayms children, Tob. 14. a Iob 42. c Psal. 127. a vnto ye thirde generacion: In like maner the children of Machir the sonne of Manasses, begat children also vpon Iosephs lappe.

And Ioseph sayde vnto his brethren: Hebr. 11. d I dye, and God wyl vyset you, and brynge you out of this lande, to the lande that he sware vnto Abraham, Isaac and Iacob. Therfore toke he an ooth of the childrē of Israel, and sayde: Whan God shal vyset you, Exo. 13. d Iosu. 24. f thē cary my bones frō hence. So Ioseph dyed, whā he was an hūdreth and ten yeare olde, and they embawmed him, & layed him in a chest in Egipte.

The ende of the first boke of Moses, called Genesis.
The seconde boke of Moses, called, Exodus. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. The childrē of Israel increase in Egipte. The kynge commaundeth to slaye thē, and to drowne them. Chap. II. The byrth of Moses, which is layed vpō the water. Pharaos doughter taketh him and bringeth him vp. He slayeth one of the Egipcians, and flyeth his waye in to Madian, where he marieth. The children of Israel crye vnto the LORDE. Chap. III. God appeareth vnto Moses in the bush, and sendeth him vnto the kynge and the people. Chap. IIII. Moses is loth to go, & excuseth himself. But the LORDE enfourmeth him, maketh him stronge, and comforteth him. Moses taketh leue of his father in lawe, to go vnto his people. Chap. V. Moses and Aaron go vnto the kynge, which oppresseth the people the more. Chap. VI. God geueth Moses more instrucciō and sendeth him vnto the people. The trybes are nombred. Chap. VII. Moses and Aaron go vnto the kynge, and shewe tokens before him: but the kynge waxeth hard harted. Chap. VIII. After many tokens Pharao graunteth to let the people go: but assone as the plage ceaseth, he is as vngodly as afore. Chap. IX. There commeth a death amōge all the catell: thē commeth the sores, blaynes, and the hayle. Chap. X. The greshoppers and darcknes in Egipte. Pharao forbyddeth Moses to come eny more in his sight. Chap. XI. The LORDE promiseth to brynge yet another plage vpon Egipte, and cōmaundeth the Israelites to borowe Iewels of syluer and golde of the Egipcians. Chap. XII. The vse of the Easterlambe. God slayeth all the firstborne. Pharao dryueth all the people out of the lande. Chap. XIII. God commaundeth to sanctifie all the firstborne vnto him, and carieth them towarde the lande of promyse, not the next waye but thorow the wyldernes, by a cloude in the daye tyme, and a pyler of fyre in the night. Chap. XIIII. Pharao foloweth vpō the people of God, which delyuereth his owne, carieth them thorow the reed see, & drowneth the enemies therin. Chap. XV. Moses and the people synge a songe of thankesgeuynge vnto the LORDE, and come to Marath, where the bytter water is made swete. Chap. XVI. The LORDE sendeth quayles and the Manna to the vnpacient people. Chap. XVII. Water cōmeth out of the stonye rocke. They fight agaynst Amaleck. Chap. XVIII. Iethro bryngeth Moses his wife and children, and geueth him a good councell. Chap. XIX. The LORDE appeareth vnto Moses vpon mount Sinai Moses sheweth the people. Chap. XX. The LORDE geueth Moses the two tables of the commaundementes vnto the people. Chap. XXI. Lawes and statutes concernynge bodely thinges. Of murthur, theft and other mo. Chap. XXII. Of theft. Of hurte that is done with wyll or vnawarres. Of thinges geuē to kepe. Of borowynge and pledges. Chap. XXIII. Many dyuerse lawes & statutes. Chap. XXIIII. Of the boke and bloude of the couenaunt. Chap. XXV.XXVI. The LORDE cōmaundeth Moses to make the Sanctuary, and the thinges belonginge therto. Chap. XXVII. Of the altare and the apparell therof. Of the courte of the habitaciō. Of the oyle and lampes. Chap. XXVIII. How the prestes were arayed and consecrated. Chap. XXIX. The consecratinge of Aaron, of his sonnes, and of the altare. Chap. XXX. Of the altare of incense, and the brasen lauer, the anoyntinge oyle and incense. Chap. XXXI. The workmen are called. The kepynge of the Sabbath. The two tables of wytnes are geuen Moses. Chap. XXXII. They make the golden calf, Moses in his displeasure breaketh the tables, and punysheth the transgressours. Chap. XXXIII. The people mourne. Moses pitcheth the tabernacle, and the LORDE talketh with him. Chap. XXXIIII. Moses receaueth other tables of the LORDE with certaine lawes. The people are afrayed at the brightnes of his face. Chap. XXXV. Certaine statutes cōcerninge th Tabernacle. The workemen are appoynted. Chap. XXXVI. What the thinges be that they made. Chap. XXXVII. The tabernacle of witnesse with the staues, Cherubins, the table, candelsticke. Chap. XXXVIII. The altare of brēt offerīges with the thinges belonginge therto. Chap. XXXIX. Of the prestes garmentes. Chap. XL. The LORDE commaundeth Moses to set vp the tabernacle, & to order the apparell therof.
The first Chapter.

THese are ye names of the childrē of Israel, that came with Iacob in to Egipte: 〈…〉 euery one came in wt his house, Ruben, Simeon, Leui, Iuda, Isachar, Zabulō, Ben Iamin, Dan, Nephtali, Gad and Aser. And of all the soules that came out of the loynes of Iacob, there were seuentie.

As for Ioseph, he was in Egipte all ready. Now whā Ioseph was deed, and all his brethren, and all they that lyued at that tyme, 〈…〉 the children of Israel grewe, and increased, and multiplied, and became exceadinge mightie, so yt the lande was full of them.

Thē came there a new kynge ouer Egipte, which knewe nothinge of Ioseph, and sayde vnto his people: Beholde, the people of the children of Israel are many, & mightier then we: Vp, let vs deale wysely with them, yt there be not so many of them. For yf there shulde ryse vp eny warre agaynst vs, they might ioyne them selues also vnto oure enemies, and ouercome vs, & so get them out of the lande.

And he set worke masters ouer them, to kepe them vnder with burthens. (For they buylded the cities Phiton and Raemses, for treasuries vnto Pharao.) But the more they vexed them, the more they multiplied and grew.

Therfore had they indignaciō at the children of Israel, and the Egipcians compelled the children of Israel without mercy to do seruyce, and made their lyues bytter vnto them with greuous laboure in claye and brycke, and with all maner of bondage in ye felde, and with all maner of laboure, which they layed vpon them without mercy.

And the kynge of Egipte sayde vnto the mydwyues of the Hebrueswemen. (Of the which one was called Siphra, and the other Pua:) Whan ye helpe the wemen of the Hebrues, and se vpon the stole, that it is a sonne, then slaye him: but yf it be a doughter, let her lyue. Neuertheles the mydwyues feared God, & dyd not as the kinge of Egipte commaunded them, but let the children lyue.

Then the kynge of Egipte called the mydwyues, and sayde vnto them: Wherfore do ye this, that ye let the children lyue? The mydwyues answered Pharao: The wemen of the Hebrues are not as the wemen of Egipte, for they are sturdy wemen: or euer the mydwyues come at them, they are delyuered.

Therfore God dealt well with the mydwyues. And the people multiplied, and became exceadinge mightie. And for so moch as the mydwyues feared God, Psalmo 126. a he made them houses. Then Pharao commaūded all his people and sayde: All the sonnes that are borne, cast in to the water, but let all the doughters lyue.

The II. Chapter.

ANd there wente forth a man of the house of Leui, Exod. 6. c and toke a doughter of Leui. Act. 7. c Heb. 11. d And the wife conceaued and bare a sonne. And whan she sawe yt it was a proper childe, she hyd him thre monethes. And whan she coude hyde him no longer, she toke an Arke of redes, and dawbed it ouer with slyme and pitch, and layed the childe therin, and set it amonge the redes by the waters brynke. But his sister stode a farre of, to wete what wolde come of him.

And Pharaos doughter came downe, to wash herself in the water: And hir maydens walked by the water syde: and whan she sawe the Arke amonge the redes, she sent one of hir maydens, and caused it to be fett. And whan she opened it, she sawe ye childe: and beholde the babe wepte. Then had she pytie vpon it, and sayde: It is one of the Hebrues children.

Then sayde his syster vnto Pharaos doughter: Shal I go, and call the a nurse of the Hebrues wemen, to nurse ye the childe? Pharaos doughter sayde vnto her: Go thy waye. The mayde wente, and called the childes mother. Then sayde Pharaos doughter vnto her: Take this childe, and nurse it for me, I wyll geue ye thy rewarde. The woman toke the childe, and nursed it.

And whan the childe was growne, she brought it vnto Pharaos doughter, and it became hir sonne, and she called him Moses. For she sayde: I toke him out of the water.

Vpon a tyme whan Moses was greate, he wente forth vnto his brethren, and loked vpon their burthens, and sawe, that an Egipciā smote one of his brethren ye Hebrues. And he loked rounde aboute him: and whan he sawe that there was no man, he slew the Egipcian, and buried him in the sonde.

The next daye he wente forth also, and sawe two men of the Hebrues stryuynge together, and sayde to the vngodly: Wherfore smytest thou thy neghboure? But he sayde: Ge. 19. b Mat. 21. c Act. 7. c Who made the a ruler or iudge ouer vs? Wilt thou slaye me also, as thou slewest the Egipcian? Thē was Moses afrayed, and sayde: How is this knowne? And Pharao herde of it, and sought for Moses, to slaye him. But Moses fled from Pharao, and kepte him in the lande of Madian, and sat him downe by a wells syde.

The prest Madian had seuen doughters, which came to drawe water, and fylled the troughes, to geue their fathers shepe to drinke. Then came the shepherdes, and droue thē awaye. But Moses gat him vp, and helped them, and gaue their shepe to drynke. And whan they came to Reguel their father, he saide: How came ye so soone to daie? They sayde: A man of Egipte delyuered vs from ye shepherdes, and drew vnto vs, and gaue the shepe to drynke. He sayde vnto his doughters. Where is he? Wherfore let ye the man go, that ye called him not to eate with vs?

And Moses was content to dwell with the man. Nu. 12. a And he gaue Moses his doughter Zipora, which bare him a sonne, and he Exo 18. a called him Gerson, for he sayde: I am become a straunger in a straunge lande. And she bare him yet a sonne, whom he called Elieser, and sayde: The God of my father is my helper, and hath delyuered me from Pharaos hāde.

But after this in processe of tyme, the kynge of Egipte dyed. And the childrē of Israel sighed ouer their laboure, and cried. And their crye ouer their labor, came before God. And God herde their cōplaynte, & remēbred his couenaunt Iudic. 2. c Gen. 15. c with Abraham Isaac and Iacob. And God loked vpon the childrē of Israel, and God knew it.

The III. Chapter.

MOses kepte the shepe of Iethro his father in lawe prest of Madian, & droue the shepe on the backsyde of the wyldernes, and came to the mountayne of God,4. Es. 14. a Act. 7. d Horeb. And the angell of ye LORDE appeared vnto him in a flāme of fyre out of the bush. And he sawe that ye bush brent wt fyre, and yet was not consumed, and saide: I wil go hence, and se this greate sight, why ye bush is not brent.

Whan the LORDE sawe, that he wente his waye to se, God called vnto him out of the bush, and sayde: Moses, Moses. He answered: Here am I. He sayde: Come not hither, put thy shues of thy fete, for the place where vpon thou stondest, Iosu. 5. d is an wholy groū de. And he sayde morouer: 〈…〉 I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, ye God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob. And Moses couered his face, for he was afrayed to loke vpon God.

And the LORDE sayde: I haue sene the trouble of my people in Egipte 〈…〉 & haue herde their crye ouer those that oppresse them. I knowe their sorowe, and am come downe to delyuer them from the power of the Egipcians, and to carye them out of that lō de, in to a good and wyde londe, euen in to a londe that floweth with mylke and hony: namely, vnto the place of the Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Pheresites, Heuytes & Iebusites. For so moch now as the complaynte of the children of Israel is come before me, & I haue sene their oppression wherwith the Egipcians oppresse them: Go now ye waye therfore, I wil sende the vnto Pharao, 〈…〉 that thou mayest brynge my people the children of Israel out of Egipte. Moses sayde vnto God: Who am I, 〈…〉 yt I shulde go vnto Pharao, and brynge the children of Israel out of Egipte?

He sayde: I wyll be with the: & this shall be the token, yt I haue sent the. Whan thou hast brought my people out of Egipte, ye shal serue God vpon this mountayne. Moses sayde vnto God: Beholde, whan I come to the childrē of Israel, and saye vnto them: The God of youre fathers hath sent me vnto you, & they saye vnto me: What is his name? what shal I saye vnto them? God saide vnto Moses: I wyl be what I wyll be. And he sayde: Thus shalt thou saye vnto ye children of Israel: 〈1 paragraph〉 I wyl be hath sent me vnto you. And God sayde morouer vnto Moses: Thus shalt thou saye vnto the children of Israel: The LORDE God of youre fathers, 〈…〉 the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, ye God of Iacob hath sent me vnto you, this is my name for euer, and my memoriall from childe to childes childe. Go thy waye therfore, and gather the elders of Israel tother, and saye vnto them: The LORDE God of youre fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Iacob hath appeared vnto me, and sayde: I haue vysited you, and sene what is done vnto you in Egipte, and haue sayde: I wil brynge you out of the trouble of Egipte, in to ye lande of ye Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Pheresites, Heuites & Iebusites: in to a lōde yt floweth with mylke and hony. And yf they heare ye voyce, then shalt thou and the elders of Israel go in to the kynge of Egipte, and saye vnto him: 〈…〉 The LORDE God of ye Hebrues hath called vs. Let vs go now therfore thre dayes iourney in the wyldernes, yt we maye do sacrifice vnto the LORDE oure God.

But I knowe, that the kynge of Egipte wil not let you go, but thorow a mightie hā de. For I will stretch out myne hande, & smyte Egipte wt all maner of wonders which I will do therin: after yt shal he let you go. And I wil geue this people fauoure in the sight of the Egipcians: 〈…〉 so that whan ye go forth, ye shal not go forth emptie: but euery wife shall borowe of hir neghbouresse & of her that so geourneth in hir house, Iewels of syluer and golde and rayment: those shal ye put vpon youre sonnes and doughters, and spoyle the Egipcians.

The IIII. Chapter.

MOses answered, & sayde: Beholde, they shall not beleue me, ner heare my voyce, but shal saye: The LORDE hath not appeared vnto the. The LORDE sayde vnto him: What is yt, that thou hast in thine hande? He saide a staff. He sayde: Cast it from the vpon the grounde. And he cast it frō him: then was it turned to a serpent. And Moses fled frō it. But ye LORDE saide vnto him: Stretch forth thine hande, & take it by the tayle. Then stretched he forth his hande, and toke it, and it became a staff agayne in his hande. Therfore shal they beleue that ye LORDE God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac ye God of Iacob hath appeared vnto the.

And the LORDE sayde furthermore vnto him: Thrust thine hāde in to ye bosome. And he thrust it in to his bosome, & toke it out: beholde, thē was it leper like snowe. And he saide: Put it in to ye bosome agayne. And he put it agayne in to his bosome, & toke it out: beholde, thē was it turned againe as his flesh. Yf they wil not beleue the, ner heare ye voyce of the first token, yet shal they beleue the voyce of the seconde token. But yf they wil not beleue these two tokens ner heare thy voyce, then take of the water of the ryuer, and poure it vpon the drye londe: so shall the same water yt thou hast takē out of ye ryuer, be turned vnto bloude vpō ye drye londe.

But Moses sayde vnto the LORDE: Oh my LORDE, •• re. 1. a •• to. 8. b I am a man yt is not eloquēt, from yesterdaye & yeryesterdaye, & sence the tyme yt thou hast spo •• vnto thy seruaunt: for I haue a slowe speach, & a slowe tunge. The LORDE sayde vnto him: Who hath made the mouth of man? Or who hath made the domme, or the deaf, or the seynge or ye blynde? Haue not I the LORDE done it? Go now thy waye therfore, I wil be wt thy mouth, & teach the what thou shalt saye.

But Moses sayde My LORDE, sende whom thou wilt sende. Then was the LORDE very angrie at Moses, and saide: Do not I knowe then, yt thy brother Aaron the Leuite is well spoken? And beholde, he shal go forth to mete ye: & whan he seyth the, Exod. 4. c he shal reioyse from his hert. Thou shalt speake vnto him, & put the wordes in his mouth: & I wil be with thy mouth & his, and teach you what ye shall doo: & he shall speake vnto the people for the He shal be thy mouth, & thou shalt be his God. And take in thine hande this staff, wherwith thou shalt do tokens.

Moses wēte, and came agayne vnto Iethro his father in lawe, and sayde vnto him: Let me go (I praye the) that I maye turne agayne vnto my brethrē, which are in Egipte, and se whether they be yet alyue. Iethro sayde vnto him: Go thy waye in peace. The LORDE sayde also vnto him in Madian: Go yi waye, turne againe in to Egipte, for ye mē are deed, that sought after thy life. So Moses toke his wife, and his sonnes, and caried them vpon an Asse, & wente againe in to the lande of Egipte, & toke the staff of God in his hande. And the LORDE saide vnto Moses: When thou cōmest agayne in to Egipte, se yt thou do all the wonders (before Pharao) which I haue put in ye hāde. Exod. 7. a But I wil hardē his hert, yt he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt saie vnto Pharao: Thus sayeth ye LORDE: Israel is my firstborne sonne, & I saye vnto the: Let my sonne go, yt he maye serue me: Yf thou wilt not let him go, then wil I slaye thy firstborne sonne. Exod. 12. c

And as he was by the waye in the Inne, the LORDE met him, and wolde haue slayne him. Then toke Zipora Iosu. 5. a a stone, and circumcyded the foreskynne of hir sonne, and touched his fete, and sayde: A bloudy brydegrome art thou vnto me. Thē let he him go. But she sayde: A bloudy brydegrome, because of the circumcision.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Aaron: Go mete Moses in the wildernes. And he wēte, & met him on the mount of God, and kyssed him. And Moses tolde Aaron all the wordes of the LORDE, which had sent him: & all the tokens yt he had charged him withall. And they wēte, & gathered all the elders of the childrē of Israel. And Aaron tolde all ye wordes, yt the LORDE had spokē vnto Moses: & dyd the tokens before the people, & the people beleued. And whan they herde yt the LORDE vysited the children of Israel, and loked vpon their trouble, they bowed them selues, and worshipped.

The V. Chapter.

AFterwarde wente Moses & Aaron, & spake vnto Pharao: Thus sayeth the LORDE the God of Israel: let my people go, yt they maye kepe holy daye vnto me in the wildernes. Pharao answered: Iob 2 . b What felowe is the LORDE, that I must heare his voyce, and let Israel go? I knowe not the LORDE, nether wil I let Israel go.

They sayde: The God of the Hebrues hath called vs. Let vs go now therfore thre dayes iourney in the wildernes, & do sacrifice vnto the LORDE or God, yt there happen not vnto vs pestilēce or swerde. Thē sayde ye kynge of Egipte vnto thē: Why make ye ye people (thou Moses & Aaron) to leaue their worke? Get you hēce to yor laboure. Pharao saide morouer: Beholde, ye people are to many in ye lande, and yet wil ye byd them ceasse from their laboure.

The same daye therfore dyd Pharao cō maunde the workmasters of the people, and their officers, and sayde: Ye shal not gather and geue the people eny more strawe, to burne bryck, as yesterdaye and yeryesterdaye. Let them go, and gather them strawe them selues. And the nombre of the brycke which they made yesterdaye & yeryesterdaye, shall ye laye vpon them neuertheles, and mynish nothinge therof: for they are ydle. Therfore crye they and saye: We wil go, and do sacrifice vnto oure God. Let the men be kepte downe wt laboure, yt they maye haue to do, & not to turne them selues to false wordes.

Then wente the workmasters of the people & their officers out, & spake vnto the people: Thus sayeth Pharao: There shall no strawe be geuen you, go youre waye youre selues, and get you strawe, where ye can fynde it. But of youre labor there shall nothinge be mynished. Then were the people scatred in all ye lande of Egipte, to gather stubble, that they might haue strawe.

And the workmasters haistied them forwarde, & sayde: Fulfill yor daye worke, like as whan ye had strawe. And the officers of ye children of Israel, whom Pharaos worckmasters had set ouer them, were beaten, & it was saide vnto them: Wherfore haue ye not fulfilled yor appoynted daye worke to daye and yesterdaye, like as in tymes past?

Than wente the officers of the children of Israel, & cōplayned vnto Pharao: Wherfore wilt thou deale thus wt thy seruauntes? Thy seruauntes haue no strawe geuen thē, & yet must we make the brycke that are appoynted vs. And beholde, thy seruauntes are beaten, & thy people are euell intreated. Pharao sayde: Ye are ydle, ydle are ye, therfore saye ye: we will go, and do sacrifice vnto the LORDE. Go now yor waye therfore, & worke: there shall no strawe be geuen you, but the nombre of brycke shal ye delyuer.

Then sawe the officers of the children of Israel, yt it was not amended, for it was sayde: ye shal mynish nothinge of the daye worke of the brycke. And whan Moses & Aaron wente from Pharao, they came forth to mete them, & sayde vnto them: The LORDE loke vpon you, & iudge it, for ye haue made the sauoure of vs to stynke before Pharao and his seruauntes, and haue geuen them a swerde in their handes, to slaye vs.

But Moses came agayne vnto the LORDE, and sayde: LORDE, wherfore dealest thou so euell wt this people? Wherfore hast thou sent me? For sence the tyme that I wente in vnto Pharao, to speake vnto him in thy name, he hath dealt euell with this people, and thou hast not delyuered ye people. The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Now shalt thou se, what I will do vnto Pharao, for thorow a mightie hande must he let them go, thorow a mightie hande must he dryue them from him out of his londe. 〈…〉

The VI. Chapter.

ANd God spake vnto Moses, & sayde vnto him: I am ye LORDE, & I appeared vnto Abraham, Isaac & Iacob, an Allmightie God: but 〈1 paragraph〉 my name, LORDE, haue I not shewed vnto them: My couenaunt also haue I made with them, 〈…〉 that I wil geue them the londe of Canaan, the londe of their pilgremage, wherin they haue bene straungers. Morouer I haue herde the complaynte of the children of Israel, whom ye Egipcians oppresse with laboure, and haue remembred my couenaunt.

Therfore saye vnto the childrē of Israel: I am the LORDE, & wil brynge you out from yor burthens in Egipte, & wil rydd you from youre laboure, and wil delyuer you thorow a stretched out arme & greate iudgmētes, and will receaue you for my people, & will be yor God: so that ye shal knowe, that I the LORDE am yor God, which brynge you out from the burthen of Egipte, and will brynge you in to the lande, ouer the which I haue lift vp my hande, to geue it vnto Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, ye same wil I geue vnto you for a possession. I the LORDE.

Moses tolde this vnto the childrē of Israel. But they herkened not vnto him, for very anguysh of sprete, & for sore laboure. Thē spake the LORDE vnto Moses, & sayde: Go thy waye, & speake vnto Pharao the kynge of Egypte, yt he let the childrē of Israel go out of his lande. But Moses spake before ye LORDE, & saide: Beholde, ye childrē of Israel herkē not vnto me, how shulde Pharao thē heare me? 〈◊〉 . 4. c And I am also of vncircumcised lyppes.

So the LORDE spake vnto Moses & Aaron, & gaue thē a commaundemēt vnto the childrē of Israel, & vnto Pharao the kynge of Egipte, yt they shulde brynge the childrē of Israel out of Egipte.

〈◊〉 . 6. b 〈◊〉 26. a 〈◊〉 . 6. a These are ye heades of the house of their fathers. The children of Ruben the first sonne of Israel, are these: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Charmi: These are the generacions of Ruben.

The children of Simeon are these: Iemuel, Iamin, Ohad, Iachin, Zophar, and Saul the sonne of the Cananitish woman: These are the generacions of Symeon.

These are the names of the childrē of Leui in their generaciōs: um. 3. c Gerson, Kahath and Merari: Leui was an hundreth and seuen & thirtie yeare olde. The children of Gerson are these: Libni and Semei in their generacions. The childrē of Kahath are these: Amram, ar. 24. b Iezear, Hebron, Vsiel. Kahath was an hundreth & thre & thirtie yeare olde. The children of Merari are these: Maheli and Musi. These are ye generacions of Leui in their kynreds.

And Amram toke his vncles doughter 〈◊〉 . 2. a 〈◊〉 . 26. g Iochebed to wife, which bare him Aaron & Moses. Amram was an C. & vij. & thirtie yeare olde. The childrē of Iezear are these: Korah, Nepheg, Sichri. The children of Vsiel are these: Misael, Elzaphan, Sithri.

Aaron toke Elizaba ye doughter of Aminadab Nahassons sisters to wife, which bare him Nadab, Abihu, Eleasar, Ithamar.

The childrē of Korah are these: Assir, Elkana, & Abiassaph. These are ye generaciōs of ye Korahites. Eleasar Aarons sonne toke one of the doughters of Putiel to wife, which bare him Phineas. These are the heades amonge the fathers of the generacions of the Leuites.

This is yt Aaron & Moses, vnto whom ye LORDE sayde: Bringe ye childrē of Israel out of the lande of Egipte wt their armies. It is they (namely Moses & Aaron) yt spake vnto Pharao the kynge of Egipte, yt they might brynge the children of Israel out of Egipte. The same daie spake ye LORDE vnto Moses in ye lande of Egipte, & sayde: I am ye LORDE, speake thou vnto Pharao ye kynge of Egipte, all yt I saye vnto ye. And he answered before ye LORDE: Beholde, I am of vncircumcised lippes, Exod. 6. b how shall Pharao thē heare me?

The VII. Chapter.

THe LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Beholde, I haue made the a God ouer Pharao, & Aarō ye brother shal be ye prophet. Thou shalt speake all yt I cōmaū de ye: but Aaron ye brother shal speake vnto Pharao, yt he maye let the childrē of Israel go out of his lande. Exo. 4. d Neuertheles I wil harden Pharaos hert, yt I maye multiplye my tokens & wonders in the londe of Egipte. And Pharao shal not heare you, yt I maye shewe my hande in Egipte, & brynge myne armyes, euen my people the childrē of Israel out of ye lande of Egipte, by greate iudgmē tes. And ye Egipcians shal knowe, yt I am the LORDE, whan I shal stretch out my hande vpon Egipte, and brynge the children of of Israel out from amonge them.

Moses and Aaron dyd as the LORDE cō maūded them. And Moses was fourescore yeare olde, & Aaron thre & foure score yeare olde, whan they spake vnto Pharao. And ye LORDE sayde vnto Moses & Aaron: Whan Pharao sayeth vnto you: Shew youre wonders, then shalt thou saye vnto Aaron: Take thy staff, and cast it before Pharao, & it shal turne to a serpent.

Then wēte Moses & Aaron in vnto Pharao, & dyd as the LORDE cōmaunded them. And Aaron cast his staff before Pharao & before his seruauntes, & it turned to a serpēt. Then Pharao called for ye wyse men & Sorcerers. And the Sorcerers of Egipte also dyd like wyse with their Sorceries, and euery one cast his staff before him, & they turned vnto serpentes. But Aarons staff deuoured their staues. So Pharaos hert was hardened, and he herkened not vnto them, euen as the LORDE had sayde.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: The hert of Pharao is hardened, he refuseth to let ye people go. Get ye vnto Pharao in the mornynge, he holde, he shal come vnto ye water, mete thou him vpō the waters brynke, & take ye staff which turned to a serpēt, in thine hande, & saye vnto him: The LORDE God of the Hebrues hath sent me vnto the, & sendeth ye worde: Let my people go, Exod. . that they maye serue me in the wyldernesse: but hither to thou woldest not heare.

Therfore thus sayeth the LORDE: Hereby shalt thou knowe, yt I am ye LORDE. Beholde, wt the staff yt I haue in my hande, wil I smyte the water which is in ye ryuer, & it shal be turned in to bloude: so that the fishes in the ryuer shall dye, & the ryuer shall stynke: & it shall greue the Egipcians to drynke of ye water of the ryuer.

And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses: Saye vnto Aaron: Take ye staff, & stretchout thine hāde ouer ye waters of Egipte, ouer their ryuers & brokes & pondes, & ouer all water poles, yt they maye be turned to bloude, & that there maye be bloude in all ye lande of Egipte, both in vessels of wodd and stone.

Psal. 77. c Moses & Aaron dyd as ye LORDE cōmaunded them, & lift vp the staff, & smote the water yt was in the ryuer, before Pharao & his seruauntes, & all the water in the ryuer was turned in to bloude, & the fysh in the ryuer dyed, & the ryuer stanke, so yt the Egipcians coulde not drynke of the water of ye ryuer, & there was bloude in all the lande of Egipte. And the Sorcerers also of Egipte, dyd likewyse with their Sorceries. But Pharaos hert was hardened, & he herkened not vnto thē, * like as the LORDE had sayde. And Pharao turned himself, & wente home, & set not his hert there on. All the Egipciās dygged roūde aboute ye ryuer, for water to drinke: for they coude not drynke of ye water out of the ryuer. And this endured seuen dayes longe, that the LORDE smote the ryuer.

The VIII. Chapter.

THe LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Go ye waye to Pharao, & speake vnto him: Thus saieth the LORDE: Let my people go, yt they maye serue me: Yf thou wilt not let thē go, beholde, I wil smyte all ye borders of ye lōde wt frogges, so yt the ryuer shal scraule wt frogges: these shal clymme vp, & come in to thine house, in to yi chamber, where thou slepest, vpon thy bed, and in to the houses of thy seruauntes, amonge thy people, in to thine ouens, and vpon thy dowe: and the frogges shall come vp vpon the, and vpon thy people, and vpon all thy seruauntes.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses: Saie vnto Aaron: Psal. 77. c and 104. d Stretch forth thine hande wt thy staff ouer the streames, & ryuers, & pondes, and let frogges come vpon the londe of Egipte. And Aaron stretched his hāde ouer the waters in Egipte, & there came vp frogges, so yt the onde of Egipte was couered.

The Sorcerers also dyd likewyse, wt their Sorcerirs, & caused frogges to come vpō ye lōde of Egipte. Thē called Pharao for Moses & Aaron, & sayde: 〈1 paragraph〉 Praye the LORDE for me, yt he maye take awaye the frogges fro me & fro my people, & I will let ye people go, yt they maye do sacrifice vnto the LORDE.

Moses sayde: Haue thou the honor before me, & appoynte me, whā I shal praye for ye, for ye seruauntes and for thy people: yt the frogges maye be dryuen awaye frō the & frō thy house, & remayne onely in the ryuer. He sayde: Tomorow. He sayde: Euen as thou hast sayde, yt thou mayest knowe, yt there is none like vnto the LORDE or God: And the frogges shal be takē from the, & from yi house, from thy seruauntes, & from thy people, & remayne onely in the ryuer.

So Moses & Aaron wēte from Pharao, & Moses cried vnto the LORDE for the appoyntment ouer the frogges, which he had promysed vnto Pharao. And ye LORDE dyd as Moses sayde. And the frogges dyed in ye houses, in ye courtes, & vpon ye felde: & they gathered thē together, here an heape, & there an heape, & the lande stanke of them. But whan Pharao sawe yt he had gotten breth, his hert was hardened, and he herkened not vnto thē, euen as the LORDE had sayde.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses: Saie vnto Aaron: Stretch out thy staff, & smyte the dust vpon the earth; yt there maye be lyfe in the whole lōde of Egipte. They dyd so. And Aaron stretched out his hande wt his staff, & smote the dust vpon the earth, & there were lyse vpon men and vpon catell: All the dust of the lande was turned vnto lyse in all the lande of Egipte.

The Sorcerers also assayde likewyse wt their Sorcerirs yt they might brynge forth lyse, but they coude not. And ye lyse were vpon men & catell. Then sayde ye Sorcerers vnto Pharao: It is the fynger of God. But Pharaos hert was hardened, & he herkened not vnto thē, euen as the LORDE had sayde.

And ye LORDE saide vnto Moses: Get ye vp tomorow by tymes, & stonde before Pharao: beholde, he wil go vnto the water, & speake thou vnto him: Thus saieth ye LORDE: let my people go, yt they maye serue me: yf not, beholde, I wil cause cruell wormes (or flyes) to come vpon the, thy seruauntes, ye people, & thy house, so yt all the Egipcians houses, & the felde, and what theron is shall be full of cruell wormes: & the same daye wil I separate the londe of 〈1 paragraph〉 Gosen, wherin my people are, so yt no cruell worme shalbe there, that thou mayest knowe, that I am ye LORDE in the myddest of the earth. And I wil set a delyueraunce betwene my people and thyne. Tomorow shal this token come to passe.

And the LORDE dyd so. And there came perlous cruell wormes in to Pharaos house, in to his seruauntes houses, & vpon all the londe of Egipte: and the londe was marred with noysome wormes.

Thē called Pharao for Moses & Aaron, & sayde: Go yor waye, & do sacrifice vnto yor God in ye londe. Moses sayde: It is not mete, yt we shulde so do, so shulde we offer ye abhominacion of ye Egipcians vnto the LORDE or God. Beholde, yf we shulde offer the abhominacion of ye Egipcians before their eyes, shulde they not stone vs? Thre dayes iourney will we go in the wyldernes, and do sacrifice vnto the LORDE oure God xod. 3. c like as he hath sayde vnto vs.

Pharao sayde: I wil let you go, yt ye maie do sacrifice vnto the LORDE yor God in the wyldernes (onely yt ye go no farther) & praye for me. Moses sayde: Beholde, whan I am come forth from ye, I wil praye vnto ye LORDE, yt the cruell wormes maye be taken from Pharao, & from his seruaūtes, & frō his people, euen tomorow: onely disceaue me nomore, that thou woldest not let the people go to do sacrifice vnto the LORDE.

And Moses wēte out from Pharao, and prayed vnto the LORDE. And the LORDE dyd as Moses sayde, & toke awaye the cruell wormes from Pharao, from his seruauntes, and from his people, so yt there remayned not one. But Pharao hardened his hert euē then also, and let not ye people go.

The IX. Chapter.

THe LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Go in to Pharao, and speake vnto him: Thus sayeth the LORDE God of ye Hebrues: let my people go, yt they maye serue me. Yf thou wilt not, but holde them longer, beholde, the hande of the LORDE shal be vpon thy catell in the felde, vpon horses, vpon Asses, vpon Camels, vpon oxen, vpon shepe with a very sore pestilence. And ye LORDE shall make a diuysion betwene the catell of the Israelites & the Egipcians, so yt there shal nothinge dye of all that the children of Israel haue. And ye LORDE appoynted a tyme, and sayde: Tomorow shal the LORDE do this vpon earth.

And the LORDE dyd the same on the morow. And there dyed of all maner of catell of the Egipcians: but of ye catell of ye childrē of Israel there dyed not one. And Pharao sent thither, & beholde, there was not one of the catell of Israel deed. But Pharaos hert was hardened, so yt he let not ye people go. Then sayde ye LORDE vnto Moses & Aaron: Take youre handes full of aszshes out of the fornace, & let Moses sprenkle it towarde heauen before Pharao, that it maye be dust in all the lande of Egipte, & that there maye be sores & blaynes vpon men & vpon catell in all the lande of Egipte.

And they toke aszshes out of ye fornace, & stode before Pharao, & Moses sprenkled it towarde heauē. Then were there sores and blaynes vpon men & vpon catell, so that the Sorcerers might not stōde before Moses by reason of the sores. For there were sores vpō the Sorcerers as well as vpon all the Egipcians. But the LORDE hardened Pharaos hert, so that he herkened not vnto them, euē as the LORDE had sayde vnto Moses.

Then sayde the LORDE vnto Moses: Get the vp tomorow by tymes, & stonde before Pharao, & speake vnto him: Thus sayeth ye LORDE God of the Hebrues: let my people go, yt they maye serue me, els wyll I at this tyme sende all my plages in to thine hert, & vpon thy seruaūtes & vpon thy people: that thou mayest knowe, yt there is none like me in all londes. For I will now stretch out my hande, & smyte the & thy people wt pestilence, so yt thou shalt be roted out from the earth. Yet haue I Some reade: * I haue holden the vp. stered ye vp for this cause, euen to shew my power vpon ye, and that my name might be declared in all londes.

Thou holdest my people yet, & wilt not let them go, beholde, tomorow aboute this tyme wyll I cause a mightie greate hayle to rayne, soch as hath not bene in the londe of Egipte, sence the tyme that it was groūded, hither to. And now sende thou, & saue thy catell, & all yt thou hast in the felde: for all men & catell that shalbe founde in the felde, & not brought in to the houses, yf the hayle fall vpon them, they shall dye. Now who so feared the worde of the LORDE amonge Pharaos seruauntes, caused his seruauntes & catell to flye in to the houses: but loke whose hertes regarded not the worde of ye LORDE, left their seruauntes and catell in the felde.

Then sayde the LORDE vnto Moses: Strech out thy hande towarde heauē, that it maye hayle vpon all the lande of Egipte, vpon men, vpon catell, & vpon all herbes of the felde in the lande of Egipte. So Moses stretched out his staff towarde heauen, Psal. 77. c & 104. d and the LORDE caused it to thonder & hayle, so yt the fyre ranne alonge vpon the earth. Thus the LORDE hayled & rayned vpon the londe of Egipte, so that the hayle & fyre wente so horrybly together, as neuer was in all the lā de of Egipte, sens the tyme that there were people therin. And the hayle smote the whole lande of Egipte, all that was vpon ye felde, both men & catell, & smote all the herbes vpon the felde, & brake all the trees vpon ye felde, saue onely in the lande of Gosen, where the childrē of Israel were, there it hayled not. Then sent Pharao & called for Moses & Aaron, & sayde vnto them: Now haue I synned, ye LORDE is righteous, but I & my people are vngodly. Yet praye ye vnto the LORDE, that the thonder & hayle of God maye ceasse, then wyl I let you go, that ye shal tary here no longer. Moses sayde vnto him: Whan I am come out of the cite, I wyll stretch out myne handes vnto the LORDE, so shal the thonder ceasse, & there shal be nomore hayle: that thou mayest knowe, that the earth is the LORDES. But I knowe, yt both thou & thy seruauntes feare not yet the LORDE God. Thus the flax and the barlye were smytten: for the barlye was shot vp, & ye flax was boulled: but the wheate and ye r e were not smytten, for they were late sowen.

So Moses wente from Pharao out of ye cite, & stretched out his hādes vnto ye LORDE. And ye thōder & the hayle ceassed, & the rayne dropped not vpō the earth. But whā Pharao sawe yt the rayne & thonder & hayle ceassed, he synned agayne, and herdened his hert, he & his seruauntes. So Pharaos hert was hardened, yt he let not the childrē of Israel go, euē as the LORDE had sayde by Moses.

The X. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE saide vnto Moses: Go in vnto Pharao, for I haue hardened his hert & the hertes of his seruaūtes, yt I might do these my tokēs amonge thē, & that thou mightest shewe it in the eares of thy children & of thy childers children, what I haue done in Egipte, and how I haue shewed my tokens amōge thē, that ye maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

So Moses & Aaron wente in vnto Pharao, & spake vnto him: Thus sayeth ye LORDE God of the Hebrues: How longe refusest thou to submyt thy self vnto me, to let my people go, yt they maye serue me? Yf thou wilt not let my people go, beholde, tomorow wil I cause greshoppers to come vpon all places, yt they maye couer the lande, so yt the lande can not be sene, & they shal eate vp yt is left you & was delyuered frō the hayle: & shal eate vp all yor grene trees vpon the felde, & shal fyll thy house, all ye seruaūtes houses, & all the Egipcians houses: soch as ye fathers & ye fathers fathers haue not sene, sens the tyme yt they were vpon earth vnto this daye. And he turned him, & wente out from Pharao. Then saide Pharaos seruauntes vnto him: How longe shall we be snared after this maner? Let the men go, that they may serue ye LORDE their God. Knowest thou not yet, yt Egipte is destroyed? Moses & Aaron were brought agayne to Pharao, which saide vnto them: Go yor waye, & serue ye LORDE yor God. But who are they yt shall go? Moses sayde: We wil go wt yonge & olde, wt sonnes and doughters, with shepe and oxē for we haue a feast of the LORDE. He sayde vnto thē: Let it be so, the LORDE be with you: Shulde I let you go & yor childrē also? loke that ye haue not some myschefe in hāde. Not so, but go ye that are men, and serue the LORDE, for that was youre desyre. And they thrust them out from Pharao.

Thē saide ye LORDE vnto Moses: Stretch out thine hande ouer ye londe of Egipte, for the Psa Sap. •• Ioel •• Apo greshoppers, yt they maye come vpō ye londe of Egipte, & eate vp all the herbes in the londe, wt all yt escaped the hayle. Moses stretched out his staff ouer ye lande of Egipte, & the LORDE brought an east wynde in to the londe all yt daye & all yt night, & in the mornynge, the east wynde brought the greshoppers. And they came ouer the whole lande of Egipte, and lighted in all places of Egipte, so exceadinge many, that before tyme there were neuer soch, nether shalbe here after: for they couered the londe, and made it darcke. And they ate vp all the herbes in ye londe, & all the frutes vpon the trees which remayned from ye hayle, & left no grene thinge behinde in the trees & herbes vpon the felde in all the lande of Egipte.

Then Pharao called for Moses & Aaron in all ye haist, & saide: I haue synned against the LORDE yor God, & agaynst you: forgeue me my synne this once also, & pray the LORDE yor God, yt he maye take awaye fro me this death onely. And he wēte out from Pharao, & prayed vnto the LORDE. Thē the LORDE turned a maruelous strōge west wynde, and toke vp the greshoppers, & ca •• them in to the reed see, so that there was not one left in all the quarters of Egipte. But the LORDE hardened Pharaos hert, that he let not the childrē of Israel go. The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Stretch out thine hāde towarde heauen, that it be so darck in the londe of Egipte, yt it maye be felt. And Moses stretched out his hāde towarde heauen, thē was there a thicke darcknesse in all the londe of Egipte thre dayes, Sap. so yt in thre dayes no mā sawe another, nor rose vp from ye place where he was. But wt the childrē of Israel there was light in their dwellinges. Then Pharao called for Moses, & sayde: Go yor waye & serue the LORDE: onely leaue yor shepe & yor oxen here: let yor childrē go wt you also. Moses sayde: Thou must geue vs offringes and brent offerynges, that we maye do sacrifice vnto the LORDE or God. Oure catell shal go wt vs, and there shal not one hooffe be left behynde: for we must take therof for the seruyce of the LORDE or God. Morouer we knowe not wherwithall we shal serue ye LORDE, tyll we come thither. But the LORDE hardened Pharaos hert, yt he wolde not let them go. And Pharao sayde vnto him: Get the hence fro me, & bewarre, that thou come nomore in my sight: For loke what daie so euer thou cō mest in my sight, thou shalt dye. Moses answered: Euē as thou hast sayde, I wil come nomore in thy sight.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: I wil yet brynge a plage vpon Pharao and Egipte: after yt shal he let you go from hence, & shal not onely let all go, but also dryue you hence. Therfore saye now vnto the people, yt euery man borowe of his neghboure, & euery woman of his neghbouresse, Iewels of syluer & golde: o. 3. ud 12. for the LORDE shal geue the people fauor in the sight of ye Egipciās. ccli. 45. a And Moses was a very greate man in the lande of Egipte, in ye sight of Pharaos seruauntes, & in the sight of the people.

And Moses sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: At mydnight wil I go out in the lande of Egipte, & all ye first borne in the lande of Egipte shall dye: from Pharaos first sonne (yt sytteth vpon his seate) vnto the first sonne of the mayde seruaunte which is behynde ye myll: & all the first borne amonge the catell: & there shalbe a greate crie in all the lande of Egipte, soch as neuer was, ner shalbe. But amonge all the childrē of Israel there shall not a dogg quatch wt his tonge, fro men vnto catell, yt ye maye knowe, how yt the LORDE hath put a differēce betwixte Egipte & Israel. Thē shal all these thy seruauntes come downe vnto me, & fal at my fote, & saye: Get the out, thou & all the people that are vnder the. After that wyl I departe. And he wēte frō Pharao wt a wroth full displeasure. The LORDE saide vnto Moses: Pharao herkeneth not vnto you, yt many wōders maye be done in ye lāde of Egipte. And Moses & Aaron dyd all these wōders before Pharao: but ye LORDE hardened his hert, yt he wolde not let ye childrē of Israel go out of his londe.

The XII. Chapter.

THe LORDE sayde vnto Moses & Aaron in the londe of Egipte: This moneth shal be with you ye first moneth & at it ye shall begynne the monethes of the yeare. Speake ye vnto all the congregacion of Israel, & saye: Vpon ye tenth daye of this moneth let euery one take a Ioh. 1. d lābe (or a kydd) where a housholder is, to euery house a lābe. But yf the housholde be to few for a lambe, thē let him & his neghbor yt is next vnto his house, take it acordinge to the nombre of ye soules, and counte to the lambe, what euery man maye eate. But it shal be a lambe with out blemish, a male, & of a yeare olde. From amonge the lambes & goates shal ye take it.

And ye shal kepe it vnto ye fourtene daye of the moneth. And euery man of the congregacion of Israel shal slaye it aboute the eueninge. And they shal take of his bloude, Eze. 9. a and stryke it on both the syde postes of the dore, and on the vpperdore post of the house, that they eate it in. And so shal they eate flesh ye same night, rosted at the fyre, & vnleuended bred, and shal eate it with sowre sawse. Ye shal not eate it rawe, ner sodden with water, but onely rosted at the fyre, his heade wt his fete and pertenaunce. And ye shal leaue nothynge of it ouer vntyll the mornynge: but yf eny thinge be left ouer vntyll the mornynge, ye shal burne it with fyre.

Of this maner shal ye eate it: Ye shal be gyrded aboute youre loynes, and haue youre shues vpon youre fete, and staues in yor handes, and ye shal eate it with haist: for it is ye LORDES Passeouer. Psa. 135. a For in the same night wil I go thorow the londe of Egipte, & smyte all the firstborne in the lande of Egipte, from men vnto catell, & vpon all the goddes of Egipte wyll I do execucion. Euen I the LORDE. And the bloude shal be youre token, vpon the houses wherin ye are: Heb. 11. yt whan I se the bloude, I maye passe ouer, and that the plage happen not vnto you, to destroye you, whan I smyte the londe of Egipte.

And this daye shall ye haue for a remembraunce, and ye shall kepe it holy for a feast vnto the LORDE, ye & all youre posterities, for a perpetuall custome. Exo. 23. b and 34. c Seuen dayes shall ye eate vnleuended bred: namely, vpon the first daie shal ye leaue of with leuended bred in youre houses. Who so euer eateth leuended bred from the first daye vnto ye seuenth that soule shall be roted out from Israel. The first daye shall be called holy amonge you, and the seuenth also. No maner of worke shall ye do therin, saue what belongeth to the meate for all maner of soules, that onely maye ye do for you. And kepe you to leuended bred.

For euen vpon that same daye wil I brynge youre armies out of the londe of Egipte, therfore shall ye and all youre posterities kepe this daye for a perpetuall custome. Vpon the fourtene daye of the first moneth, Leui. 23. a Nu. 28. c at euen, shall ye eate vnleuended bred, vnto the one and twentye daye of the moneth, at euen: so that there be no leuended bred founde in youre houses seuen dayes. For who so euer eateth leuended bred, that soule shall be roted out from the congregacion of Israel, whether it be a straunger or borne in the londe. Therfore eate no leuended bred, but onely vnleuended bred in all youre dwellynges.

And Moses called all the Elders of Israel, and sayde vnto them: Chose out, and take to euery housholde a shepe, and kyll Passeouer vnto the LORDE: and take a bunch of ysope, and dyppe it in the bloude in the basen, and stryke it vpon the vpperposte and vpon the two syde postes, and none of you go out at the dore of his house vntyll ye mornynge, for the LORDE wyll go aboute and plage the Egipcians. And whan he seyth the bloude vpō the vpperposte, and vpon the two syde postes, he wyl passe ouer by the dore, and not suffre the destroyer to come in to youre houses to plage. Therfore kepe this custome for the and thy children for euer.

And whan ye be come in to ye londe that the LORDE shal geue you, (as he hath sayde) then kepe this seruyce. Ios. 4. d And whan youre children saye vnto you: What seruyce is this, that ye haue? Ye shal saye: It is the sacrifice of the LORDES Passeouer, which passed ouer by the children of Israel in Egipte, whan he plaged the Egipcians, and saued oure houses. Then the people bowed them selues, and worshipped. And the children of Israel wente and dyd, as the LORDE had commaunded Moses and Aaron.

And at mydnight the LORDE smote all the firstborne in the lande of Egipte: 〈…〉 from Pharaos first sonne (which sat vpon his seate) vntyll the first sonne of the presoner that was in the preson, and all the firstborne of the catell. Then Pharao arose ye same night, and all his seruauntes, and all the Egipcians, & there was a greate crye in Egipte: for there was no house wherin there was not one deed.

And he called for Moses and Aaron in ye night, and sayde: Get you vp, 〈…〉 and departe out fro my people, ye and the children of Israel: go youre waye, and serue the LORDE, as ye haue sayde: and take youre shepe and youre oxen with you, 〈1 paragraph〉 as ye haue sayde, and departe, and blesse me also. And the Egipcians were fearce vpon the people, to dryue them haistely out of the londe, for they saide: we are all but deed.

And the people toke the rawe dowe, before it was leuended (for their foode) bounde in their clothes vpon their shulders. And the children of Israel had done 〈1 paragraph〉 as Moses sayde, and borowed Iewels of syluer and golde, and clothes of the Egipcians: the LORDE also had geuen the people fauoure in the sight of the Egipcians, that they lent them, and so they spoyled the Egipcians.

Thus ye children of Israel toke their iourney from Raemses to Suchoth, 〈…〉 〈1 paragraph〉 sixe hundreth thousande men of fote, besyde childrē. There wente with them also moch comō people, and shepe, and oxen, and exceadinge many catell.

And of the rawe dowe that they brought out of Egipte, they baked vnleuēded cakes: for it was not leuended, in so moch as they were thrust out of Egipte, and coude not tary: nether had they prepared them eny other meate.

The tyme yt the children of Israel dwelt in Egipte, is foure hondreth and thirtie yeares. Whan the same were ended, the whole hoost of the LORDE wente out of the londe of Egipte in one daye. Therfore shall this night be kepte vnto the LORDE, because he brought them out of the londe of Egipte: And the children of Israel shall kepe it vnto the LORDE, they and their posterities.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses and Aaron: This is the maner of the kepynge of Passeouer: There shal no straūger eate of it. But who so is a bought seruaunt let him be circumcysed, & then eate therof. A straunger and an hyred seruaūt shal not eate of it. In one house shal it be eatē. Ye shal cary none of his flesh out of the house, and 〈◊〉 . 9. b 〈◊〉 9. d ye shal not breake a bone of him. The whole congregacion of Israel shal do it.

But yf there dwel a straunger with the, & wil holde Passeouer vnto the LORDE, let him circumcyse euery one that is male, and then let him first come, and do it, and be as one that is borne in the londe: for there shal no vncircumcysed eate therof. One maner of lawe be vnto him yt is borne in the londe, & vnto the straūger yt dwelleth amōge you. And all the childrē of Israel dyd as the LORDE commaunded Moses & Aaron. So vpō one daye the LORDE brought the childrē of Israel out of the lōde of Egipte with their armyes.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & saide: 〈◊〉 . 22. d 〈◊〉 4. c 〈◊〉 . . c 〈◊〉 . 1. d 〈◊〉 . . d Sanctifie vnto me euery firstborne, yt breaketh all maner of Matrices amonge the childrē of Israel, both of men & catell: for they are myne. Then saide Moses vnto ye people: Thinke vpō this daye, in the which ye are gone out of Egipte from the house of bōdage, how yt ye LORDE brought you out frō thence wt a mightie hāde. Therfore shall ye eate no sowre dowe. This daye are ye gone out, euē in ye moneth of Abib.

xo. 2 c 〈◊〉 . 33. a Now whā ye LORDE hath brought ye in to ye lande of ye Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Heuites & Iebusites, which 〈◊〉 . 15. d •• od. 3. d he sware vnto yi fathers to geue ye (euen a londe that floweth wt mylke & hony) then shalt thou kepe this seruyce in this moneth. Seuē dayes shalt thou eate vnleuended bred, & vpon the seuenth daye is the LORDES feast: therfore shalt thou eate vnleuended bred seuē dayes, that there be no sowre dowe, ner sowred bred sene in all thy quarters.

And thou shalt tell thy sonne at the same tyme, & saye: Because of that, which ye LORDE dyd for me, whan I departed out of Egipte. Therfore shalt it be a signe vnto ye in thine hande, and a token of remembraunce before thine eyes, that the lawe of ye LORDE maye be in thy mouth, how that ye LORDE brought the out of Egipte with a mightie hande: Therfore kepe this maner yearly in his tyme.

Whan the LORDE now hath brought ye in to ye lande of the Cananites (as he hath sworne vnto the and thy fathers) and hath geuen it the, en. 15. d then shalt thou sunder out vnto the LORDE all that breaketh the Matrice, and firstborne amonge thy catell, soch as is male. The firstborne of the Asse shalt thou bye out with a shepe: but yf thou redeme it not, then breake his neck. All the firstborne of men amonge thy children shalt thou redeme.

And whan thy childe axeth the to daie or tomorow: What is this? Thou shalt saye vnto him: The LORDE brought vs out of Egipte from the house of bondage wt a mightie hande: for whan Pharao was loth to let vs go, the LORDE slew all the firstborne in the lande of Egipte, from the firstborne of men vnto ye firstborne of the catell: therfore offer I vnto the LORDE all that breaketh ye Matrice, beynge a male, and ye firstborne of my children I redeme. And this shal be a signe vnto the in thine hande, and a token to thinke vpon before thine eyes, how that the LORDE brought vs out of Egipte with a mightie hande.

Now whan Pharao had let ye people go, God led them not the waye thorow the lōde of the Philistynes, which was ye nexte: for he thoughte: The people might repēt, whā they se warre, and so turne in agayne in to Egipte. Therfore led he the people aboute, euen the waye thorow the wyldernes by ye reed see. And the childrē of Israel wente harnessed out of the londe of Egipte. And Moses toke Iosephs bones with him, Ge. 50. d Iosu. 24. f for he toke an ooth of the children of Israel, and sayde: God wyll surely vyset you, therfore cary awaye my bones with you from hence.

So they toke their iourney frō Suchoth, & pitched their tētes in Ethā in ye edge of the wildernes. Nu. 14. b Neem. 9. 1. Cor. 10. a Esaiae 4. b And ye LORDE wēte before thē by daye in a piler of a cloude, to lede thē ye right waye: and by night in a piler of fyre, that he might shewe thē light to walke both by daie and night. The piler of the cloude departed neuer from the people by daye, and the pyler of fyre departed not from thē by night.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel, and byd them that they turne aboute, Num. •• . b & pitch their tentes before the valley of Hyroth, betwixte Migdol & the see towarde Baal Zephō, and there pitch ye tentes right ouer by the see. For Pharao shall saye of the children of Israel: They can not tell how to get out of the londe, the wyldernesse hath shut them in. And I wyll harden his hert, yt he shal folowe after them, & I wil get me honoure vpon Pharao, and vpon all his power. And ye Egipciās shal knowe, yt I am the LORDE. And they dyd so.

And whan it was tolde ye kinge of Egipte, yt ye people fled, his hert & his seruauntes were turned agaynst ye people, & saide: Why haue we done this, that we haue let Israel go, yt they shulde not serue vs? And he bounde his charettes fast, and toke his people wt him, and toke sixe hūdreth chosen charettes, and the other charettes besyde that were in Egipte, and the captaynes ouer all his: for the LORDE hardened ye hert of Pharao kynge of Egipte, that he folowed after the children of Israel. And the children of Israel wente out with an hye hande.

And the Egipcians folowed after thē, & ouertoke them (where they had pitched by ye see) with horses and charettes, and horsmē, and with his power, in the valley of Hyrath towarde Baal Zephon. And whan Pharao came nye them, •• su. 24. b the children of Israel lift vp their eyes, and beholde, ye Egipcians wente behinde thē, and they were sore afrayed, and cried vnto the LORDE.

And sayde vnto Moses: Were there no graues in Egipte, yt thou hast brought vs awaye to dye in the wyldernes? sal. 103. a Wherfore hast thou done this vnto vs, that thou hast caried vs out of Egipte? Is not this it, that we sayde vnto the in Egipte? Leaue of, & let vs serue the Egipcians: for it were better for vs to serue the Egipcians, then to dye in the wyldernes? Moses sayde vnto the people: . Pa. 20. c sa. 30. c Feare you not, stonde styll, and beholde, what a saluacion the LORDE shall shewe vpon you this daye: Deu. 2 g for these Egipcians whom ye se this daye, shall ye neuer se more for euer: the LORDE shal fight for you, onely quyete youre selues.

The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Wherfofore criest thou vnto me? Speake vnto ye children of Israel, yt they go forwarde. But lift thou vp yi staff, & stretch out thine hāde ouer ye see, ap. 14. a & parte it asunder, yt the children of Israel maye go in thorow ye middest of it vpon the drye grounde. Beholde, I wyll harden ye hert of the Egipcians, yt they shall folowe after you. Thus wyl I get me honoure vpon Pharao, & vpon all his power, vpō his charettes and horsmen: and the Egipcians shal knowe, that I am ye LORDE, whan I haue gotten me honor vpon Pharao, vpon his charettes, and vpon his horsmen.

Then the angell of God yt wente before the armies of Israel, Psal. 104. c remoued, and gat him behynde them: and the cloudy piler remoued also from before them, and stode behinde thē and came betwixte the armies of the Egipcians and the armies of Israel. It was a darcke cloude, and gaue light that night, so that all the night longe these and they coude not come together.

Whā Moses now stretched forth his hā de ouer ye see, 〈…〉 the LORDE caused it to passe awaye thorow a mightie eastwynde all that night, and made the see drye, Ios 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Iud •• 〈◊〉 Psal and ye water deuyded it self asunder. And the children of Israel wente in thorow the middest of ye see vpon the drye grounde: and ye water was vn to them as a wall, vpon their right hande & vpō their lefte. And ye Egipciās folowed, & wente in after thē, all Pharaos horses, & charettes, & horsmē, euē in to ye middest of ye see.

Now whan the mornynge watch came, the LORDE loked vpō the armies of the Egipcians out the piler of fire and ye cloude, 〈…〉 & troubled their armies, and smote the wheles from their charettes, & ouerthrew them wt a storme. Then sayde the Egipcians: 〈1 paragraph〉 Let vs flye from Israel, the LORDE fighteth for thē agaynst the Egipcians.

But ye LORDE saide vnto Moses: Stretch out thyne hande ouer the see, that ye water maye come agayne vpon the Egipcians, vpon their charettes, and horsmen. Then Moses stretched out his hande ouer the see, and the see came agayne before daye in his course and strength, and the Egipcians fled agaynst it. Thus the LORDE ouerthrew them in the myddest of the see, 〈…〉 so that the water came agayne, and couered ye charettes and horsmen, and all Pharaos power which folowed after them in to the see, so that there remayned not one of them. But the children of Israel wente drye thorow ye myddest of the see, Esa. and the water was vnto them as a wall vpon their right hande and vpon their lefte.

Thus the LORDE delyuered Israel in yt daye from the hande of the Egipcians. 〈…〉 And they sawe the Egipcians deed vpon ye see syde, and the greate hande yt the LORDE had shewed vpon the Egipcians. And ye people feared ye LORDE, and beleued him, and his seruaunt Moses.

The XV. Chapter.

THen sange Moses and the childrē of Israel this songe vnto the LORDE, and sayde:

〈◊〉 . 15. c I will synge vnto ye LORDE, for he hath done gloriously, horse & charet hath he ouer throwne in the see.

〈◊〉 . 117. b 〈◊〉 . 12. a The LORDE is my strength, and my songe, and is become my saluacion.

This is my God, I wil magnifie him: He is my fathers God, I wil exalte him.

The LORDE is the right man of warre, LORDE is his name. The charettes of Pharao & his power, hath he cast in to the see.

His chosen captaynes are drowned in the reed see, ye depe hath couered them: they fell to the grounde as a stone.

Thy right hande (O LORDE) is glorious in power: thy right hāde (O LORDE) hath smytten the enemies.

And with thy greate glory thou hast destroyed thine aduersaries: thou sentestout ye wrath, & it cōsumed them, euen as stobble.

In the breth of thy wrath the waters fell together, the floudes wente vpon a heape: The depes plomped together in ye myddest of the see.

The enemie thought: I will folowe vpon them, and ouertake them, and deuyde ye spoyle, and coole my mynde vpon them.

I wil drawe out my swerde, and my hande shal destroye them.

Thou blewest with thy wynde, the see couered them, and they sancke downe as leed in the mightie waters.

LORDE, who is like vnto the amonge ye goddes? Who is so glorious in holynes, fear full, laudable, and doinge wonders?

Whan thou stretchedest out ye right hande, the earth swalowed them vp.

Thou of ye very mercy hast led this people, whom thou hast delyuered, and with ye strength thou hast brought them vnto the dwellynge of thy Sanctuary.

Whan ye nacions herde this, they raged, sorowe came vpon the Philistynes.

Then were ye prynces of Edom afrayed, tremblynge came vpō ye mightie of Moab, all the indwellers of Canaan waxed faynte harted.

Let feare and drede fall vpon them thorow thy greate arme, that they maye be as styll as a stone, tyll thy people (O LORDE) be gone thorow, tyll yi people whom thou hast gotten, be gone thorow.

Brynge them in, and plante them vpon the mountayne of thy enheritaunce, vnto ye place that thou hast made for thyne owne dwellynge: euen to ye tēple (O LORDE) which thy handes haue prepared.

The LORDE shal be kynge for euer & euer. For Pharao wente in to the see with horses, and charettes, and horsmen, and the LORDE made the see fall agayne vpon them.

But the children of Israel wēte drye thorow the myddest of the see.

And Miriam the prophetisse, Aarons sister, toke a tymbrell in hir hande, and all the women folowed out after her with timbrels in a daunse. And Miriam sange before thē: O let vs synge vnto the LORDE, for he hath done gloriously, Exo. 1 . man and horse hath he ouer throwne in the see.

Moses caused the children of Israel to departe out from the reed see, Num. •• . b vnto the wyldernes of Sur, & they wente thre dayes in ye wildernes, yt they founde no water. Then came they to Marath, but they coude not drinke ye water for bytternes, for it was very bytter. Therfore was it called Marah, (yt is bytternes.) Then ye people murmured against Moses, & sayde: What shal we drynke? Iudith. 5. d Ecclī. 3 . 4. R . 4. f And Moses cried vnto ye LORDE, which shewed him a tre: this he put in ye water, thē was it swete.

There he made thē a statute, and a lawe, and tempted them, and sayde: Yf thou wyl herken vnto the voyce of ye LORDE ye God, & do that which is right in his sighte, and geue eare vnto his commaundementes, Deut. 2 . & kepe all his statutes, then wyl I laye vpon ye none of the sicknesses, that I layed vpon Egipte, for I am the LORDE thy surgione.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd they came vnto Elim, where there were twolue welles of water, and seuentie palme trees, and there they pitched by ye water syde. From Elim they toke their iourney, and the whole congregacion of the children of Israel came in to the wyldernesse of Sin (which lyeth betwene Elim and Sinai) vpon the fyftene daye of the seconde moneth, after that they were departed out of the londe of Egipte. And ye whole multitude of the children of Israel Nu. 11. a murmured agaynst Moses and Aaron in ye wildernes, and saide vnto them: Wolde God we had dyed in the londe of Egipte by the hande of the LORDE, whan we sat by ye flesh pottes, and had bred ynough to eate: for ye haue brought vs out in to this wyldernes, to cause this whole multitude dye of honger.

Thē sayde ye LORDE vnto Moses: beholde I wyl rayne you bred from heauen, and let the people go out, and gather daylie, what they nede, that I maye proue whether they walke in my lawe or not. But vpon the sixte daye they shal prepare thē selues, that they maye brynge in twyse as moch as they gather daylie.

Moses and Aaron saide vnto all the children of Israel: At euen ye shall knowe, that the LORDE hath brought you out of the lō de of Egipte, and in the mornynge shall ye se the glory of the LORDE: for he hath herde youre grudginges agaynst the LORDE. For what are we, that ye grudge agaynst vs?

Num. 11. d Moses sayde morouer: At euen shall the LORDE geue you flesh to eate, and in the mornynge bred ynough: because ye LORDE hath herde youre grudginges, that ye haue grudged agaynst him. For what are we? Youre murmuringe is not agaynst vs, but against the LORDE. And Moses sayde vnto Aaron: Speake vnto the whole multitude of ye children of Israel: Come forth before the LORDE, for he hath herde youre murmuringes.

And whyle Aaron spake thus vnto the whole congegacion of the childrē of Israel, they turned them towarde the wyldernes: and beholde, the glory of the LORDE appeared in a cloude, and the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: I haue herde the murmuringe of ye children of Israel. Tell them: At euen shall ye haue flesh to eate, and in the mornynge shal ye be fylled with bred, & ye shall knowe, that I am the LORDE youre God.

And at euen the quayles came vp, and couered the tentes: and in the mornynge the dewe laye rounde aboute the tentes. And whan the dew was fallē, beholde, there laye a thinge in the wildernes, thynne and small, as the horefrost vpon the grounde.

And whan the children of Israel sawe it, they saide one to another:Some reade: * What is this? This is Mā. For they wyst not what it was. But Moses sayde vnto them: It is the bred that ye LORDE hath geuē you to eate. This is it that ye LORDE hath commaūded: Euery one gather for himself as moch as he eateth, and take a Gomor for euery heade, acordinge to the nombre of the soules in his tente.

And the children of Israel dyd so, and gathered some more, some lesse. But whan it was measured out with ye Gomor, he that gathered moch, had not the more: 〈…〉 and he yt gathered litle, wanted nothinge, but euery one gathered for himself, as moch as he ate. And Moses sayde vnto them: Let no mā leaue ought therof vntyll the mornynge. But they harkened not vnto Moses. And some left of it vntill the morninge. Then waxed it full of wormes and stanke. And Moses was angrie at them.

And euery mornynge they gathered for them selues, as moch as euery one ate: but as soone as it was whote of the Sonne, it melted awaye. And vpon the sixte daye they gathered twyse as moch of bred, two Gomors for one. And all the rulers of the congregaciō came in, and tolde Moses. And he sayde vnto them: This is it, that the LORDE hath sayde: Tomorow is the Sabbath of the holy rest of the LORDE: loke what ye wil bake, that bake: and what ye wyll seeth, that seeth and that remayneth ouer, let it remayne, yt it maye be kepte vntyll the mornynge. And they let it remayne tyll the morow, as Moses commaunded. Then stanke it not, nether was there eny worme therin. Thē sayde Moses: Eate that to daye, for to daye is ye Sabbath of the LORDE, to daye shal ye fynde none in the felde. Sixe dayes shall ye gather it, but the seuenth daye is the Sabbath, wherin there shal be none.

But vpon the seuenth daye there wente out some of the people to gather, and founde nothinge. Then sayde ye LORDE vnto Moses: 〈…〉 How longe refuse ye to kepe my commaundementes and lawes? Beholde, ye LORDE hath geuen you the Sabbath, therfore vpon the sixte daye he geueth you bred for two dayes: therfore let euery man now byde at home, and no man go forth of his place vpon the seuenth daye.

So the people rested vpō ye seuenth daye. And the house of Israel called it Man, and it was like Coriander sede, and whyte, 〈…〉 & had a taist like symnels with hony.

And Moses sayde: This is it that ye LORDE hath commaunded: Fill a Gomor therof to be kepte for youre posterities, yt they maye se the bred, wherwith I fed you, whan I brought you out of ye lande of Egipte. And Moses sayde vnto Aaron: Take a cruse, and put a Gomor full of Man therin, 〈…〉 and laye it vp before the LORDE, to be kepte for youre posterities, as the LORDE commaunded Moses. So Aaron layed it vp there for a testimony to be kepte.

〈◊〉 . 5. d 〈◊〉 . 9. d 〈…〉 . c And the children of Israel ate man fourtye yeares, tyll they came vnto a lande, where people dwelt: euen vntyll they came to ye borders of the lande of Canaan ate they Man. A Gomor is the tenth parte of an Epha.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd the whole multitude of the children of Israel wēte on their iourneys out of the wyldernes of Sin (as the LORDE cōmaunded thē) & pitched in Raphidim. 〈…〉 Then had the people no water to drynke. And they chode wt Moses, & sayde: Geue vs water, yt we maye drynke. Moses sayde vnto thē: Why chyde ye wt me? Wherfore tēpte ye ye LORDE? But whan the people thyrsted there for water, they murmured agaynst Moses, 〈◊〉 0. a 〈◊〉 . 7. d & sayde: Wherfore hast thou caused vs to come out of Egipte? to let vs, oure children, and oure catell dye of honger?

Moses cried vnto the LORDE, and sayde: What shal I do wt this people? They are all most ready to stone me. The LORDE saide vn to him: Go before the people, & take some of the elders of Israel with ye, and take in thine hande thy staff, wherwith thou smotest the water, and go thy waye: Beholde, I wyl stonde there before the vpon a rock in Horeb, 〈◊〉 . 77. b 〈◊〉 . 10. a there shalt thou smyte the rocke, so shall there water runne out, that the people maye drynke. Moses dyd so before the elders of Israel. 〈◊〉 20. b 〈◊〉 . 9. d Then was that place called Massa Meriba, because of the chydinge of the children of Israel, and because they tempted ye LORDE, and sayde: Is the LORDE amonge vs, or not?

Then came Ameleck, & fought agaynst Israel in Raphidim. And Moses sayde vnto Iosua: Chose vs out men, go out, & fight against Amaleck, tomorow wil I stōde vpō the toppe of the hyll, & haue ye staff of God in my hande. And Iosua dyd as Moses bade him, & fought agaynst Amalek. Moses & Aaron & Hur wente vp to ye toppe of the hyll. And whā Moses helde vp his hāde, Israel had the victory: Iudit. 4. c but whan he let downe his hande, Amalek had the victory.

But Moses hādes were heuy, therfore toke they a stone, & layed it vnder him, that he might syt vpon it. And Aaron & Hur stayed vp his hādes, the one vpon the one syde, and the other vpon ye other syde. So his handes were stedfast vnto ye Sonne wente downe. And Iosua discomfited Amalek, & his people thorow the edge of the swerde.

And ye LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Wryte this for a remēbraunce in a boke, & cōmytte it vnto ye eares of Iosua: Nu 4. d 1. Re. 15. a for I wyll rote out Amalek from vnder heauen, so that he shall nomore be remembred. And Moses buylded an altare vnto the LORDE, and called it: that is: The LORDE is he that lifteth me vp. The LORDE Nissi, for he sayde: The battayll of the LORDE shalbe agaynst Amalek thorow an hande vnder the defence of God from childe to childes childe.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANd whan Iethro ye prest in Madian Moses father in lawe herde of all yt God had done wt Moses & his people of Israel, how yt the LORDE had brought Israel out of Egipte, he toke Zipora Moses wife, whom he had sent backe, with her two sonnes. The one was called Gerson, for he saide: Exod. 2. d I am become a straunger in a straunge londe. And the other was called Eliaser, for he sayde: The God of my fathers hath bene my helpe, and hath delyuered me from Pharaos swerde.

Now whā Iethro Moses father in lawe, and his sonnes and his wife came vnto him in the wyldernes by the mount of God, where he had pitched his tent, he sent worde vnto Moses: I Iethro thy father in lawe am come vnto the, and yi wife and both hir children with her. Then wente Moses forth to mete him, and dyd obeysaūce vnto him, and kyssed him. And whan they had saluted ech other, they wente in to the tente.

Then Moses tolde his father in lawe all that the LORDE had done vnto Pharao and the Egipcians for Israels sake, and all the trauayle that had happened them by ye waye, and how the LORDE had delyuered them. Iethro reioysed ouer all ye good that the LORDE had done for Israel, yt he had delyuered them from the hāde of the Egipcians. And Iethro sayde: Praysed be the LORDE, which hath delyuered you from the hande of the Egipcians and of Pharao, (and) that knoweth how to delyuer his people from the Egipcians hande. Now I knowe, that the LORDE is greater thē all goddes, because they dealt proudly wt them. And Iethro toke brent offerynges, and offered vnto God. Then came Aaron and all ye elders of Israel to eate bred with Moses father in lawe before God.

On the next morow sat Moses to iudge the people, and the people stode roūde aboute Moses from the momynge vntyll ye euen. But whan his father in lawe sawe all that he dyd with the people, he sayde: What is this, that thou doest with the people? Wherfore syttest thou alone, and all ye people stonde rounde aboute from the morninge vntyll the euen? Moses answered him: The people come to me, & axe councell at God: for whan they haue eny thinge to do, they come vnto me, that I maye iudge betwixte euery one & his neghboure, and shewe them the statutes of God, and his lawes.

His father in lawe sayde vnto him: It is not well that thou doest. Thou weeriest thy self, and the people that is with the. This busynesse is to sore for the, thou canst not perfourme it alone. But herken vnto my voyce, I will geue the councell, and God shall be with the. Be thou vnto the people to God warde, and brynge the causes before God, and prouide them with statutes and lawes, that thou mayest shewe thē the waie wherin they shulde walke, and the workes that they shulde do.

But loke out amonge all the people, for honest men, that feare God, soch as are true, & hate couetousnes: make these rulers ouer them, some ouer thousandes, ouer hundredes, ouer fiftie, and ouer ten, that they maye allwaye iudge the people. But where there is eny greate matter, Deut. 1. c that they brynge the same vnto the, and iudge the small causes them selues: so shall it be lighter for the, yf they beare the burthen with the. Yf thou shalt do this, then mayest thou endure the thinge that God chargeth the withall, and all this people maie go peaceably vnto their place.

Num. 11. d Moses herkened vnto the voyce of his father in lawe, and dyd all that he sayde. And he chose honest men out of all Israel, and made them heades ouer the people, some ouer thousandes, ouer hundredes, ouer fiftie, and ouer ten, that they might allwaye iudge the people. As for soch causes as were herde, they brought them vnto Moses, and iudged the small matters them selues. So Moses let his father in lawe departe in to his owne londe.

The XIX. Chapter.

IN the thirde moneth after that the children of Israel were gone out of the londe of Egipte, they came the same daye in to the wyldernes of Sinai (for they were departed from Raphidim, and wolde in to the wyldernes of Sinai) and there they pitched in the wyldernes ouer against the mounte. 〈…〉 And Moses wente vp vnto God.

And the LORDE called vnto him out of the mount, and sayde: 〈…〉 Thus shalt thou saye vnto the house of Iacob, and tell the children of Israel: Ye haue sene what I haue done vnto the Egipcians, and how I haue borne you vpon Aegles wynges, & brought you vnto my self. 〈…〉 Yf ye wyll harken now vnto my voyce, and kepe my couenaunt, ye shal be myne owne before all people: for the whole earth is myne: and ye shall be vnto me 〈1 paragraph〉 a presterly kingdome, and an holy people. These are the wordes that thou shalt saye vnto the children of Israel.

Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and layed before them all these wordes, that the LORDE had commaunded. And all the people answered together, and sayde: 〈1 paragraph〉 All that the LORDE hath sayde, wyll we do.

And Moses tolde the wordes of the people vnto the LORDE agayne. And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Beholde, I wyll come vnto the in a thicke cloude, that the people maye heare my wordes, which I speake vnto the, and beleue the for euer. And Moses shewed the wordes of the people vnto the LORDE.

The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Go vnto the people, and sanctifie thē to daye and tomorow, yt they maye wash their clothes, and be ready agaynst the thirde daye: for vpon the thirde daye shall the LORDE come downe vpon mount Sinai before all the people. And set markes rounde aboute the people, and saye vnto them: Bewarre, that ye go not vp in to ye mount, ner touch ye border of it. 〈1 paragraph〉 For who so euer toucheth ye moūt, shal dye ye death. There shal no hāde touch it, but he shall either be stoned, or shot thorow: whether it be beest or man, it shal not lyue. Whan the horne bloweth, then shal they come vp vnto the mounte.

Moses wente downe from the mount vnto the people, and sanctified them. And they waszshed their clothes. And he sayde vnto them: Be ready agaynst the thirde daye, and no man come at his wife.

Now whan the thirde daye came (and it was early) it beganne to thonder and lighten, and there was a thicke cloude vpon the mount, and a noyse of a trompet exceadinge mightie. And the people that were in the tentes, 〈◊〉 . 4. b were afrayde. And Moses brought the people out of the tentes to mete wt God, and they stode vnder the mount.

But all mount Sinai smoked, because ye LORDE came downe vpō it with fyre. And the smoke therof wente vp as the smoke of a fornace, so that the whole mount was exceadinge terrible. And the noyse of the trompet wēte out, and was mightie. Moses spake, & God answered him loude. Now whan the LORDE was come downe vpon mount Sinai, euen vpon the toppe of it, he called Moses vp vnto ye toppe of the mount. And Moses wente vp.

Then sayde the LORDE vnto him: Go downe, and charge the people, yt they preasse not vnto the LORDE to se him, and so many of them perishe. The rulers also that come nye vnto ye LORDE, shal sanctifie themselues, lest the LORDE smyte thē. But Moses sayde vnto the LORDE: The people can not come vp vpon mount Sinai, for thou hast charged vs, & sayde: Set markes aboute the mount, and sanctifie it.

The LORDE sayde vnto him: Go thy waye, get ye downe. Thou and Aaron with the shalt come vp: but the rulers and ye people shal not preasse to come vp vnto ye LORDE, lest he smyte thē. And Moses wente downe to the people, and tolde them.

The XX. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake all these wordes, eut. 5. a and sayde: I am the LORDE thy God, which Exo. 14. c haue brought the out of the londe of Egipte from ye house of bondage.

Thou shalt haue none other Goddes in my sight. Deu. 4. c and 27. b Thou shalt make the no grauen ymage ner eny symilitude, nether of it that is aboue in heauen, ner of it that is beneth vpon earth, ner of it that is in the water vnder the earth. Worshipe them not, and serue them not: for I the LORDE thy God am a Naū. 1. a Exo. 34. a Deu. 7. b gelouse God, vysitinge ye synne of the fathers vpon the children, vnto ye thirde and fourth generacion, of them that hate me: And do mercye vpō many thousandes, that loue me, and kepe my commaundementes.

Thou shalt not take the name of ye LORDE thy God in vayne. Leui. 19. c Ecclī. 23. b Le. 24. b For the LORDE shal not holde him ngiltie, that taketh his name in vayne.

Remembre the Sabbath daie, that thou sanctifie it. Exo. 23. b 34. c. 35. a Eze. 20. b Sixe dayes shalt thou laboure and do all thy worke: But vpon the seuenth daye is the Sabbath of the LORDE thy God: thou shalt do no maner worke in it, nether thou, ner thy sonne, ner thy doughter, ner thy seruaunt, ner thy mayde, ner thy catell, ner thy straunger that is within thy gates. Gene. 2. a For in sixe dayes the LORDE made heauen and earth, and the see, and all that therin is, and rested vpon the seuenth daye: therfore the LORDE blessed the seuenth daye, & halowed it.

Honoure thy father and thy mother, Matt. 1 . a Ephe. 6. a that thou mayest lyue longe in the londe, which the LORDE thy God shal geue the.

Thou shalt not kyll.

Thou shalt not breake wedlocke.

Thou shalt not steale.

Thou shalt beare no false wytnesse agaynst thy neghboure.

Thou shalt not Ro. 7. b and. 3. b lust after ye neghbours house.

Thou shalt not lust after thy neghbours wife, ner his seruaūt, ner his mayde, ner his oxe, ner his Asse, ner all that thy neghboure hath

And all the people sawe the thonder and the lightenynge, and the noyse of the trompet, and how that the mountayne smoked, and were afrayed, and stackerd, & stode a farre of, and sayde vnto Moses: Deu. 1 . c Heb. 12. c Talke thou with vs, we wil heare: and let not God talke with vs, we might els dye. And Moses sayde vnto the people: Be not afrayed, for God is come to proue you, and that his feare maye be before youre eyes, yt ye synne not.

And the people stode afarre of. But Moses gat him in to the darcke cloude, where in God was. And the LORDE spake vnto him: Thus shalt thou saye vnto the children of Israel: Ye haue sene, that I haue talked wt you from heauen: therfore shal ye make nothinge with me: goddes of syluer and golde shal ye not make you.

Make me an altare of earth, wher vpon thou mayest offer y burnt offerynges, & peace offerynges, thy shepe and thine oxen. For loke in what place so euer I make ye remembraunce of my name, there wil I come vnto the, and blesse the.

Deu 27. a Iosu. g 1. Mac. 4. f And yf thou wilt make me an altare of stone, thou shalt not make it of hewen stone: For yf thou lift vp thy tole vpon it, thou shalt vnhalowe it. Morouer thou shalt not go vp vpon steppes vnto myne altare, that thy shame be not discouered before it.

The XXI. Chapter.

THese are the lawes, that thou shalt laye before them. Leuit. 25. f Deu. 5 b Iere. 34. b Yf thou bye a seruaunt that is an Hebrue, he shal serue the sixe yeares, in the seuenth yeare shall he go out fre and lowse. Yf he came alone, then shal he go out alone also: but yf he came maried, then shall his wife go out with him. Yf his master haue geuē him a wife, & she haue borne him sonnes or doughters, thē shal the wife and ye children be the masters, but he shall go out alone. Neuertheles Deu. 15. c yf the seruaunt saye: I loue my master, and my wife and children, I wil not go out fre: then let his master brynge him before the Goddes, and holde him to the dore or post, and bore him thorow the eare with a botkin, and let him be his seruaunt for euer.

Yf a man sell his doughter to be an hand mayde, then shal she not go out as the men seruauntes. But yf she please not hir master, and he haue not maried her, then shal he let her go fre: but to sell her vnto a straūge people he hath no auctorite, for so moch as he hath despysed her. Yf he promyse her vnto his sonne, then shal he do vnto her after the lawe of doughters. But yf he geue him another wife, then shall he mynishe nothinge of hir foode, rayment, and dewtye of mariage. Yf he do not these thre, then shal she go out fre, and paye nothinge.

He that smyteth a man that he dye, shall dye the death. Leu. 14. d Matth. 5. c Nu. 35. b Deut. 19. a Yf he haue not layed wayte for him, but God let him fall in his hande vnawares, then wil I appoynte the a place, where he shal flye vnto. But yf a man presume vpon his neghboure, and slaye him with disceate, . Re. 1. g then shalt thou take the same fro myne altare, that he maye be slayne Who so smyteth his father or mother, shall dye the death.

He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, 〈…〉 so that he be founde by him, the same shall dye the death.

〈1 paragraph〉 Who so curseth father and mother, shal dye the death. Yf men stryue together and one smyte another with a stone, or with his fist, so that he dye not, but lyeth in bedd: Yf he ryse, and go forth vpon his staff, thē shall he that smote him, be vngiltie: saue that he shal paye the losse of his tyme, and geue ye money for healynge him.

He that smyteth his seruaunt or mayde with a staff, that he dye vnder his handes, the same shall suffre vengeaunce therfore. But yf he endure a daye or two, then shall he suffre no vēgeaunce therfore, for it is his money.

Yf men stryue, and hytt a woman with childe, so that ye frute departe from her, and no harme happen vnto her, then shall he be punyshed for money, as moch as the womans huszbande layeth to his charge, and he shall geue it, acordinge to the appoyntement of the dayes men. But yf there come harme vnto her there thorow, 〈1 paragraph〉 then shal he paye soule for soule, eye for eye, toth for toth, hande for hande, fote for fote, burnynge for burnynge, wounde for wounde, strype for strype.

Yf a man smyte his seruaunt or his mayde in the eye, and destroye it, he shal let them go fre and lowse for the eye sake. In like maner yf he smyte out a tothe of his seruaunt or mayde, he shall let them go fre and lowse for the tothes sake.

〈1 paragraph〉 Yf an oxe gorre a man or a woman, that he dye, then shall that oxe be stoned, and his flesh not eaten: so is the master of the oxe vngiltie. But yf the oxe haue bene vsed to push in tymes past, & it hath bene tolde his master, and he hath not kepte him, and besydes that slayeth a man or a woman, then shal ye oxe be stoned, and his master shal dye. But yf there be money set vpon him, then, loke what is put vpon him, that shall he geue, to delyuer his soule. Likewyse shall he be dealte withall, yf he gorre a sonne or a doughter. But yf he gorre a seruaunt or a mayde, then shall he geue their master thirtie syluer Sycles: and the oxe shalbe stoned.

Yf a man open a well, or dygge a pytt, and couer it not, and there fall an oxe or Asse therin, then shall the owner of the pytt make it good with money, and restore it vnto his master: but the deed carcase shalbe his owne.

Yf one mans oxe gorre another, that he dye, then shall they sell the lyuynge oxe, and deuyde the money, and the deed carcase shal they deuyde also. But yf it be knowne, that the oxe haue bene vsed to gorre afore, then shal he paye his oxe for the other, & the deed carcase shal be his owne.

The XXII. Chapter.

YF a man steale an oxe or shepe, and slaye it, or sell it, he shall restore fyue oxen for an oxe, and 〈…〉 foure shepe for a shepe.

Yf a thefe be taken breakinge in, & vpon that be smytten that he dye, then shall not he that smote him, be giltie of his bloude. But yf the sonne be gone vp vpō him, then hath he committed manslaughter, and he shal dye.

A thefe shall make restitucion. Yf he haue nothīge, thē let him be solde for his theft. But yf ye theft be founde by him alyue (from the oxe vnto the Asse or shepe) then shall he restore dubble.

Yf a man hurte a felde or vynyarde, so yt he let his catell do harme in another mans felde, the same shall make restitucion euen of the best of his owne felde and vynyarde.

〈◊〉 . 14. c Yf a fyre come out, and take holde of ye thornes, so that the sheeues be consumed, or the corne that stondeth yet vpon the felde, he that kyndled the fyre shall make restitucion.

Mac. 3. c Yf a man delyuer his neghboure money or vessels to kepe, and it be stollen from him out of his house: yf the thefe be founde, he shal restore dubble. But yf the thefe be not founde, then shal the good man of the house be brought before the sal. 81. a 〈◊〉 . 10. d Goddes (and shal sweare) that he hath not put his hande vnto his neghbours good.

Yf one accuse another in eny maner of trespace, whether it be for oxe, or Asse, or shepe, or rayment, what so euer it be that is lost: then shall both their causes come before the Goddes: Loke whom the Goddes condempne, the same shal restore dubble vibe to his neghboure.

Yf a man delyuer vnto his neghboure an Asse, or oxe or shepe, or eny maner of catell to kepe, and it dye, or be hurte, or dryuen awaye that no man se it, then shall there an oth of the LORDE go betwene them, that he hath not put his hande vnto his neghbours good: and the owner of ye good shal accepte it, so that the other shall not make it good. Yf a thefe steale it from him, then shal he make restituciō vnto the owner therof. But yf it be rauyshed (of beastes) then shal he brynge recorde therof, and not make it good.

Yf a man bo owe ought of his neghboure, and it be hurte, or dye, so that the owner therof be not by, then shall he make it good. But yf the owner therof be by, then shal he not make it good, yf he hyred it for his money.

Yf a man begile a mayde, Gen. 34. a Deu. 22. d that is not yet spoused, and lye with her, the same shal geue her hir dowry, and take her to his wife. But yf hir father refuse to geue her vnto him, thē shall he we ye there the money, acordinge to the dowry of virgins.

Thou shalt not suffre a witch to lyue.1. Re. 28. a Deu. 27. Who so lyeth wt a beest, shal dye the death. Who so offreth to eny goddes, saue vnto the LORDE onely, let him dye without redempcion.

Thou shalt not vexe ner oppresse a straunger, Leui. 19 g Zach. 7. b for ye youre selues were straungers also in the londe of Egipte.

Ye shall truble no wyddowe ner fatherlesse childe. Yf thou shalt trouble them, Iob 24. a they shall crie vnto me, and I shall heare their crye: then shal my wrath waxe whote, so yt I shal sley you with the swerde, and youre wyues shalbe wedowes, and youre children fatherlesse,

Leu. 2 . Deut. 23. Eze. 23. b Yf thou lende money vnto my people that is poore by the, thou shalt not behaue thy self as an vsurer vnto him, nether shalt thou oppresse him with vsury.

Yf thou take a garment of thy neghboure to pledge, thou shalt geue it him agayne before the Sonne go downe: Deu. 24 b for his raymēt is his onely couerynge of his skynne: wherin he slepeth. But yf he shall crie vnto me, I wyll heare him: for I am mercifull.

Thou shalt not speake euell of the Goddes,2. Re. 1 . b Act. 23. and the ruler of thy people shall thou not blaspheme.

Thy drie and moist frutes shalt thou not kepe backe. Thy first sonne shalt thou geue vnto me. So shalt thou do also with thine oxen and shepe. Seuen dayes let it be with the dame: Vpon the eight daye shalt thou geue it vnto me. Ye shalbe holy people before me. Therfore shal ye eate no flesh, that is torne of beestes in the felde, Leui. 22. a Ez . 44. d but cast it vnto the dogges.

The XXIII. Chapter.

THou shalt not accepte a vayne tale, that thou woldest manteyne the vngodly, and be a false wytnesse.

Thou shalt not folowe the multitude vnto euell, ner answere at the lawe that thou woldest (to folowe the multitude) turne a syde from the right.

Thou shalt not paynte a poore mās cause. Deu. 22. a Yf thou mete thine enemies oxe or Asse, goinge astraye, thou shalt brynge the same vnto him agayne.

Deu. 22. a Luc. 14. a Yf thou se the Asse of him that hateth the, lye vnder his burthen, thou shalt not let him lye, but shalt helpe him vp.

Thou shalt not wraist the righte of thy poore in his cause. Kepe the farre from false matters. Susan. g The innocent and righteous shalt thou not sley, for Iiustifie not ye vngodly.

Deu. 17. a Eccl. 20. d Thou shalt not take giftes: for giftes blinde euen them yt are sharpe of sight, & wraist the righteous causes.

Ye shall not oppresse a straunger, for ye knowe the hert of straungers, Ge. 46. a for so moch as ye youre selues also haue bene straungers in the londe of Egipte.

Sixe yeares shalt thou sowe thy londe, and gather in the frute therof: Leui. 25. a In the seuenth yeare shalt thou let it rest and lye still, that the poore amonge thy people maye eate therof: and loke what remayneth ouer, let ye beestes of the felde eate it. Thus shalt thou do also with thy vynyarde and olyue trees.

Exo. 20. b 4. c 35. a Deut. 5. b Sixe dayes shalt thou do thy worke, but vpon the seuenth daye thou shalt kepe holy daye, that thine oxe and Asse maye rest, and that the sonne of thy handmayden and the straunger maye refresh them selues.

All that I haue sayde vnto you, that kepe. And as for the names of other goddes, ye shall not remembre them, and out of youre mouthes shal they not be herde.

Thre tymes in the yeare shalt thou kepe feast vnto me: namely the feast of vnleuended bred shalt thou kepe, that thou eate vnleuended bred seuen dayes ( Exo. 12. a like as I commaunded ye) in the tyme of ye moneth Abib, for in the same wentest thou out of Egipte. But appeare not emptye before me.) And ye feast whan thou first reapest thy labours, Deu. 16. b yt thou hast sowen vpon the felde. And the feast of ingatherynge in the ende of ye yeare, whan thou hast gathered in thy laboures out of the felde. Deu. 16. c Thre tymes in the yeare shal euery male that thou hast, appeare before the LORDE the Gouernoure.

Thou shalt not offre the bloude of my sacrifice with sowre dowe, and the fat of my feast shal not remayne till the mornynge.

The first of the first frutes of thy felde shalt thou brynge in to the house of the LORDE thy God. 〈…〉 And shalt not seeth a kydd, whyle it is in his mothers mylke.

Beholde, I sende an angell before the, 〈…〉 to kepe the in the waye, and to brynge the vnto the place, that I haue prepared. Therfore be warre of his face, and herken vnto his voyce, and anger him not, for he shall not spare youre myszdedes, & my name is in him. But yf thou shalt herken vnto his voyce, 〈…〉 and do all that I shal tell the, then wyl I be enemie vnto thy enemyes, and aduersary vnto thy aduersaries.

Now whā myne angell goeth before the, & bryngeth the vnto ye Amorites, Hethites, Pheresites, Cananites, Heuites & Iebusites, & I shall haue destroyed them: then 〈1 paragraph〉 shalt thou not worshipe their goddes, ner serue them, nether shalt thou do as they do, but shalt ouerthrowe their goddes, & breake thē downe. 〈…〉 But ye LORDE yor God shal ye serue, so shal he blesse thy bred & thy water, and I wyl remoue all sicknesse from the.

There shalbe nothinge baren ner vnfrutefull in thy londe, and I wil fulfill the nombre of thy dayes. I wil sende my feare before the, and sley all the people where thou cō mest, & will make all thine enemies to turne their backes vpō the. 〈…〉 I wyll sende hornettes before ye, and dryue out the Heuytes, Cananites and Hethytes before the

In one yeare wyl I not cast thē out before the, yt the londe become not waist, & wylde beastes multiply agaynst yt: By litle & litle wyll I dryue them out before the, tyll thou growe, & haue the londe in possession. 〈…〉 And I wil set the borders of thy londe, euen from the reed see vnto ye see of the Philistynes, & from the wyldernes vnto the 〈1 paragraph〉 water. For I wil delyuer the indwellers of the londe in to thine hande, yt thou shalt dryue them out before the. 〈…〉 Thou shalt make no couenaunt wt them ner with their goddes, but let thē not dwell in thy lande, that they make the not synne ageynst me. 〈1 paragraph〉 For yf thou serue their goddes, it wil surely be thy decaye.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

ANd he sayde vnto Moses: Come vp vnto the LORDE thou & Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seuētie elders of Israel, & worshipe afarre of. But let Moses onely come nye vnto the LORDE, and let not them come nye, and let not the people also come vp with him.

Moses came and tolde the people all the wordes of the LORDE, & all the lawes. Then answered all the people with one voyce, and sayde: 〈◊〉 19. b All ye wordes that the LORDE hath sayde, wyl we do.

Then wrote Moses all the wordes of ye LORDE, & gat him vp bytymes in the mornynge, * & buylded an altare vnder ye mount with twolue pilers, acordinge to the twolue trybes of Israel: & sent twolue yonge mē of the children of Israel, to offre burnt offerynges, and peace offerynges theron of bullockes vnto the LORDE.

And Moses toke the half parte of the bloude, and put it in a basen, the other half sprenkled he vpon the altare: & toke the boke of ye couenaunt, & cried in the eares of the people. And whan they had sayde: All yt the LORDE hath sayde, wil we do, & herken vnto him: Pet. 1. a 〈◊〉 . 9. c 〈◊〉 10. c Moses toke the bloude, & sprenkled it vpon the people, & sayde: Beholde, this is ye bloude of the couenaunt that the LORDE maketh wt you vpon all these wordes.

Then wente Moses & Aaron, Nadab & Abihu, 〈◊〉 . 19. d & the seuentye elders of Israel vp, & sawe ye God of Israel. Vnder his fete it was like a stone worke of Saphyre, & as the fashion of heauē, whā it is cleare, & he put not his hāde vpō the pryncipall of Israel. And whan they had sene God, they ate & dronke.

Exo. 31. d 〈◊〉 32. d And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Come vp vnto me vpon the mount, & remayne there, yt I maye geue the tables of stone, & ye lawe & commaundemētes yt I haue wrytten which thou shalt teach thē. Then Moses gat him vp & his mynister Iosua, & wente vp in to the mount of God, & sayde vnto the elders: Tary ye here, tyll we come to you agayne: beholde, Aaron and Hur are with you, yf eny mā haue a matter to do, let him brynge it vnto them.

Now whā Moses came vp in to ye moūt, a cloude couered ye mount: & the glory of ye LORDE abode vpon mount Sinai, & couered it wt the cloude sixe dayes, & vpon the seuēth daye he called Moses out of ye cloude. And ye fashion of ye glory of ye LORDE was like a cōsumynge fyre vpon the toppe of ye mount in the sight of the children of Israel. And Moses wente in to the myddest of the cloude, and ascēded vp in to the mount, and abode vpon the mount fourtye dayes & fourtye nightes. xo. 34. d

The XXV. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE talked wt Moses & ayde: xo. 35. a Speake vnto ye childrē of Israel, yt they geue me an Heue offerynge, & take the some of euery man, that hath a frewyllynge hert therto. And this is the Heue-offerynge that ye shal take of them: Golde, syluer, brasse, yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple, whyte twyned sylke, goates hayre, reed skynnes of rammes, doo skynnes, Fyrre tre, oyle for lampes, spyces for the anoyntynge oyle, and for swete incense. Onix stones and set stones for the ouerbody cote and for the brestlappe.

And they shall make me a Sanctuary, that I maie dwell amonge them. Like as I shal shewe ye a patrone of the Habitacion, and of all the ornamentes therof, so shall ye make it.

Make an Arke of Fyrre tre two cubytes & a half longe, a cubyte & a half brode, Exo. 37. and a cubyte & an half hye: this shalt thou ouerleye with pure golde within and without, & make an hye vpō it a crowne of golde rounde aboute, and cast foure rynges of golde, & put them in the foure corners of it, so that two rynges be vpon the one syde, and two vpon the other syde. And make staues of Fyrre tre, and ouerlaye them with golde, and put them in the rynges alonge by the sydes of the Arke, to beare it withall: and they shal abyde styll in the rynges, & not be takē out. And in ye Arke thou shalt laye the wytnesse, that I wyl geue the. Thou shalt make a Mercyseate also of pure golde, two cubytes and a half longe, and a cubyte & a half brode.

And thou shalt make two Cherubyns of beaten golde vpō both ye endes of the Mercyseate, yt the one Cherub maye be vpon the one ende, & the other vpon the other ende, & so to be two Cherubyns vpon the endes of the Mercyseate. And the Cherubyns shall sprede out their wynges ouer an hye, yt they maye couer ye Mercyseate wt their wynges: & yt either of their faces maye be right ouer one agaynst another, and their faces shal loke vnto the Mercyseate.

And thou shalt set ye Mercyseate aboue vpon the Arke. And in the Arke thou shalt laye the wytnesse, yt I shal geue the. Num. 7. l From yt place wyll I testifie vnto ye, and talke with the, namely, from ye Ro. 3. c Heb. 5. a Mercyseate (betwixte the two Cherubyns) which is vpon the Arke of wytnesse, of all that I wyl cōmaunde ye vnto the children of Israel.

Thou shalt make a table also of Fyrre tre, two cubites longe, and one cubyte brode, Exo. 37. b and a cubyte and a half hye, and ouerlaye it with pure golde, and make a crowne of golde rounde aboute it, and an whope of an hā de brede hye, and a crowne of golde vnto ye whope rounde aboute.

And vnto it thou shalt make foure rynges of golde, on the foure comers in the foure fete of it: harde vnder the whope shall ye rynges be, to put in staues and to beare the table wt all: and thou shalt make the staues of Fyrre tre, & ouerlaye them with golde, yt the table maye be borne therwith.

Thou shalt make also his diszshes, spones, pottes, and flat peces of pure golde, to poure out and in. Leu. 24. b And vpon the table thou shalt allwaye set shewbred before me.

Morouer thou shalt make a candelsticke of fyne beaten golde, Exo. 37. c Num. 8. a where vpon shall be the shaft with braunches, cuppes, knoppes, and floures. Sixe braunches shall proceade out of the sydes of the candelsticke, out of euery syde thre braunches. Euery braunch shal haue thre cuppes, (like allmondes) thre knoppes, and thre floures. These shalbe the sixe braunches of the candilsticke. But the shaft of the candilsticke it self shal haue foure cuppes, knoppes and floures, and allwaie a knoppe vnder two braunches, of the sixe that proceade out of the candilsticke. For both the knoppes and braunches shall proceade out of the shaft, all one pece of fyne beaten golde.

And thou shalt make seuen lampes aboue there on, that they maye geue light one ouer agaynst another, and snoffers and out quenchers of pure golde. Out of an hundreth pounde weight of pure golde shalt thou make it, with all this apparell. Heb. 8 a Acto. 7. f And se that thou make it after the patrone that thou hast sene in the mount.

The XXVI. Chapter.

THe habitacion shalt thou make of ten curteynes, of whyte twyned sylke, of yalowe sylke, of scarlet and purple. Cherubyms shalt thou make theron of broderd worke. The lenght of one curteyne shalbe eight and twentye cubytes ye bredth foure cubytes: and all the ten shalbe like, and shalbe coupled fyue and fyue together, one vnto the other. And thou shalt make loupes of yalowe sylke by the edge of euery curtayne, where they shalbe coupled together, that there maye be euer two and two fastened together vpon their edges: fiftie loupes vpon euery curteyne, that one maye fasten the other together. And thou shalt make fiftie buttons of golde, wherwith the curteynes maye be coupled together, one to the other, that it maye be one couerynge.

Thou shalt make a coueringe also of goates heyer for a tente ouer the habitacion, Exo. 36. c of eleuen curteynes. The length of one curteyne shalbe thirtie cubytes, the bredth foure cubytes. And all the eleuen shalbe alike greate: fyue shalt thou couple together by thē selues, & sixe also by them selues, yt thou mayest dubble the sixte curteyne in the fore front of the Tabernacle. And vpon euery curteyne thou shalt make fiftie loupes vpō the edges of them, that they maie be coupled together by the edges. And fiftie buttons of brasse shalt thou make, and put the buttons in to the loupes, that the tent maye be coupled together, and be one couerynge.

As for the remnaunt of the curteynes of the tente, thou shalt let the halfe parte hange ouer behynde ye tēte, vpon both the sydes a cubyte longe, yt the resydue maye be vpon the sydes of the Tabernacle, & couer it vpon both the sydes.

Besydes this couerynge thou shalt make a couerynge of reed skynnes of rammes. And aboue this a coueringe of doo skinnes.

Thou shalt make bordes also for the habitacion, of Fyrre tre, which shall stonde: one borde shalbe ten cubytes longe, & a cubyte & a half brode. Two fete shal one borde haue, that one maye be set by the other.

Thus shalt thou make all the bordes for ye Tabernacle: Twentye of them shal stōde towarde the south, which shal haue fourtye sokettes of syluer vnder them, two sokettes vnder euery borde for his two fete.

Likewyse vpon the other syde towarde the north there shall stonde twentye bordes also, and fourtye sokettes of syluer, two sokettes vnder euery borde.

But behynde the habitacion towarde ye west thou shalt make sixe bordes, and two bordes mo for the two corners of the habitacion, that euery one of them both maye be coupled from vnder vp with his corner borde, and aboue vpon the heade to come eauen together with a clāpe: so that there be eight bordes with their syluer sokettes, wherof there shalbe sixtene, two vnder euery borde.

And thou shalt make barres of fyrre tre, fyue for the bordes vpon the one syde of the Tabernacle, and fyue for the bordes vpon the other syde of the Tabernacle, and fyue for the bordes behinde ye Tabernacle towarde the west. And the barres shalt thou shute thorow ye myddest of the bordes, and fastē alltogether from ye one corner to ye other. And thou shalt ouerlaye the bordes wt golde, and make their rynges of golde, that the barres maye be put therin. And the bar ••• shalt thou ouerlaye with golde, and so shalt thou set vp the Tabernacle, acordinge to ye fashion a thou hast sene vpon ye mount.

And thou shalt make a vayle of yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, whyte twyned sylke. And Cherubyns shalt thou make theron of broderd worke, and shalt hange it vpon foure pilers of Fyrre tre which are ouerlayed with golde, hauynge knoppes of golde, and foure sokettes of syluer. And the vayle shalt thou festen with buttons, and set the Arke of wytnesse within the vayle, that it maye be vnto you a difference betwixte the holy and the Most holy.

And thou shalt set the Mercy seate vpon the Arke of wytnesse in the Most holy. But set the table without the vayle, and the candilsticke ouer agaynst ye table vpon ye south syde of the Tabernacle, that the table maie stonde on the north syde.

And in the dore of the Tabernacle thou shalt make an hanginge, of yalow sylke, purple, scarlet and whyte twyned sylke. And for the same hanginge thou shalt make fyue pilers of Fyrre tre, ouerlayed with golde, with knoppes of golde. And shalt cast fyue sokettes of brasse for them.

The XXVII. Chapter.

ANd thou shalt make an altare of Firre tre, 〈◊〉 . 38. a 〈◊〉 . 43. d fyue cubytes longe & brode, yt it maye be foure square, & thre cubytes hye: thou shalt make hornes vpon the foure corners of it, & shalt ouer laye it with brasse. Make ashpānes, shouels, basens, fleshokes, cole pānes. All ye apparell therof shalt thou make of brasse. Thou shalt make a gredyron also like a nett, of brase, & foure brasen rynges vpon the foure corners of it: from vnder vp aboute the altare shalt thou make it, so that the gredyron reach vnto ye myddest of the altare. Thou shalt make staues also for the altare, of Fyrre tre, ouer layed with golde, and shalt put the staues in the rynges, that the staues maye be on both the sydes of ye altare, to beare it withall. And holowe with bordes shalt thou make it, like as it is shewed the in the mount.

And to ye habitacion thou shalt make a courte, an hangynge of whyte twyned sylke: vpō ye one syde an C. cubytes lōge towarde the south, & xx. pilers vpon xx. brasen sokettes, & the knoppes wt their whopes of syluer. Likewyse vpon ye north syde there shal be an hanginge of an C. cubytes lōge, twenty pilers vpon twenty brasen sokettes, and their knoppes wt their whopes of syluer.

But vpon the west syde the bredth of ye courte shal haue an hanginge of fiftie cubites longe, & ten pilers vpon ten sokettes. Vpō the east syde also shal the bredth of the courte haue fiftie cubytes, so that the hangynge haue vpon one syde fyftene cubites, and thre pilers vpō thre sokettes: And vpon ye other syde fiftene cubytes also, and thre pilers vpō thre sokettes.

And in the courte gate there shalbe an hangynge twenty cubytes brode, of yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple, and whyte twyned sylke, wrought with nedle worke, and foure pilers vpon their foure sokettes. All the pilers rounde aboute the courte shall haue syluer whopes, & syluer knoppes, & sokettes of brasse. And the length of ye courte shal be an hū dreth cubytes, the bredth fiftie cubytes, the heygth fyue cubytes, of whyte twyned sylke and ye sokettes therof shalbe of brasse. All ye vessels also of the habitacion to all maner seruyce, and all the nales of it, and all the nales of the courte shalbe of brasse.

Commaunde ye children of Israel, Leu. 24. a yt they bringe vnto ye the most cleare & pure oyle oliue beaten, to geue lighte, yt it maye allwaye be put in the lāpes in the Tabernacle of wytnes without the vayle, that hangeth before the wytnesse. And Aarō and his sonnes shal dresse it from the euenynge vntyll ye mornynge before the LORDE. This shalbe vnto you a perpetuall custome for youre posterities amonge the children of Israel.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

ANd thou shalt take vnto the Aaron thy brother and his sonnes frō amonge the childrē of Israel, that he maye be my prest: namely Aaron & his sonnes Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar: & thou shalt make holy clothes for Aarō yi brother, honorable and glorious, & shalt speake vnto all them that are wise of hert, whom I haue fylled with the sprete of wiszdome, that they make garmentes to Aaron for his consecracion, that he maye be my prest.

These are ye garmentes which they shal make: a brestlappe, an ouerbody cote, a tunycle, an albe, a myter and a girdell. Thus shal they make holy garmentes for ye brother Aarō and his sonnes, that he maye be my prest. They shal take therto golde, yalow silke, scarlet, purple, and whyte sylke.

The ouerbody cote shal they make of golde, yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, & whyte twyned sylke of b oderd worke, that it maye be festened together vpon both the sydes by ye edges therof. And his gyrdell vpō it shall be of ye same wo māshippe & stuff, euen of golde yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple, & whyte twyned sylke. And thou shalt take two Onix stones, and graue in them the names of the children of Israel. Syxe names vpon the one stone, and the sixe other names vpon the other stone acordinge to the order of their age. This shalt thou do by the stonegrauers that graue signettes, so that ye stones with the names of the children of Israel to be set rounde aboute with golde: and thou shalt put them vpon the two shulders of the ouer body cote, that that they maye be stones of remembraunce for the children of Israel, that Aaron maye beare their names vpon both his shulders before the LORDE for a remembraunce.

Thou shalt make hokes of golde also, and two wrethē cheynes of pure golde, and shalt fasten them vnto the hokes.

The brestlappe of iudgment shalt thou make of broderd worke, euen after the worke of the ouerbody cote: of golde, yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, and whyte twyned sylke. Foure square shall it be and dubble, an hande bredth longe, and an handebredth brode. And thou shalt fill it with foure rowes full of stones. Let the first rowe be a Sardis, a Topas, and a Smaragde. The seconde: a Ruby, a Saphyre, and a Dyamonde. The thirde: a Ligurios, an Achatt, and an Ametyst. The fourth: a Turcas, an Onix, and a Iaspis. In golde shall they be sett in all the rowes, and shal stonde acordinge to ye twolue names of the children of Israel, grauen of the stonegrauers, euery one with his name acordinge to the twolue trybes.

And vpon the brestlappe thou shalt make wrethen cheynes by ye corners of pure golde, and two golde rynges, so, that thou fastē the same two rynges vnto two edges of the brestlappe, and put the two wrethē cheynes of golde in the same two rynges, that are in two edges of the brestlappe. But the two endes of ye two wrethen cheynes shalt thou fasten in the two hokes vpon the ouerbody cote one ouer agaynst another.

And thou shalt make two other rynges of golde, and fasten them vnto ye other two edges of ye brestlappe, namely to ye borders therof, wherwith it maye hange on the ynsyde vpon the ouerbody cote. And yet shalt thou make two rynges of golde, and fasten them vpon the two edges beneth to the ouerbody cote, vpon the outsyde one ouer agaynst anothe, where the ouerbody cote ioyneth together. And the brestlappe shall be fastened by his rynges vnto the rynges of the ouerbody cote with a yalow lace, that is maye lye close vpon the ouerbody cote, and that the brestlappe be not lowsed from the ouerbody cote.

Thus shall Aaron beare the names of the children of Israel in ye brestlappe of iudgment vpon his hert, whan he goeth into the Sanctuary, for a remembraunce before the LORDE allwaye. And in the brestlappe of iudgment thou shalt put 〈1 paragraph〉 light and perfectnesse, that they be vpon Aarōs hert, whan he goeth in before the LORDE, and that he maye beare the iudgment of the children of Israel vpon his hert before the LORDE allwaye.

Thou shalt make the tunykle also to the ouerbody cote all of yalow sylke, and aboue in the myddest there shal be an hole, and a bonde folden together rounde aboute the hole, that it rente not. And beneth vpon the hemme thou shalt make pomgranates of yalow sylke, scarlet, purple rounde aboute, and belles of golde betwixte the same rounde aboute: that there be euer a golden bell and a pomgranate, a golden bell and a pomgranate rounde aboute the hemme of the same tunycle. 〈…〉 And Aaron shall haue it vpon him whā he mynistreth, that the soūde ther of maye be herde, whan he goeth out and in at the Sanctuary before the LORDE, that he dye not.

Thou shalt make a foreheade plate also of pure golde, and graue therin (after the workmanshipe of the stone grauer): the holynes of the LORDE, & with a yalow lace shalt thou fasten it vnto the fore front of the myter vpon Aarons foreheade, yt Aaron maie so beare ye synne of the holy thinges, which the childrē of Israel halowe in all their giftes and Sanctuary. And it shall be allwaye vpon his fore heade, that he maye reconcyle them before the LORDE.

Thou shalt make an albe also of whyte sylke, and a myter of whyte sylke, and a gyrdle of nedle worke.

And for Aarons sonnes thou shalt make cotes, gyrdles and bonetes, honorable and glorious, and shalt put them vpon thy brother Aaron and his sonnes, and shalt anoynte them, and fyll their handes, and consecrate them, that they maye be my prestes. And thou shalt make them lynnen breches, to couer the flesh of their preuities, from the loynes vnto the thyes. And Aaron and his sonnes shall haue them on, whan they go in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse, or go vnto the altare to mynister in the Holy, that they beare not their synne, and dye. This shalbe a perpetual custome for him, and his sede after him.

The XXIX. Chapter.

THis is it also, that thou shalt do vnto them, that they maye be consecrated prestes vnto me. Take a yonge bullocke, 〈…〉 and two rammes without blemish, vnleuended bred, & vnleuended cakes myxte wt oyle, and wafers of swete bred tempered wt oyle: Of wheate floure shalt thou make them all, and put them in a maunde, & brynge them in the maunde, with the bullocke & two rammes.

And thou shalt brynge Aaron & his sonnes vnto the dore of the Tabernacle of witnesse, & wash th m wt water, & take the garmentes, and put vpon Aaron the albe and the tunycle, & the ouer body cote, & the brestlappe to ye ouer body cote, & shalt gyrde him on the out syde vpon the ouer body cote, and set the myter vpon his heade, and the holy crowne vpon the myter: and shalt take the anoyntinge oyle, and poure it vpon his heade, and anoynte him.

Thou shalt brynge forth his sonnes also, & put the albes vpon them, and gyrde both Aaron & them with gyrdles, & set the bonettes vpon their heades, that they maye haue the presthode for a perpetuall custome.

And thou shalt fyll the hādes of Aaron and his sonnes, and brynge forth the bullocke before the Tabernacle of wytnesse. Leuit. . a And Aaron and his sonnes shall laye their hādes vpon the heade of the bullocke, and thou shalt sley the bullocke before the LORDE, at the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and shalt take of his bloude, and put it vpon the hornes of the altare with thy fynger, and poure all the other bloude vpon the botome of the altare.

•• uit. . a And thou shalt take all the fat that couereth the bowels and the nett vpon the leuer, and the two kydneys with the fat that is aboute them, and burne them vpon the altare. But the bullockes flesh, skynne and donge, shalt thou burne with fyre without the hoost: for it is a synne offerynge.

The one ramme shalt thou take also, and Aaron with his sonnes shall laye their handes vpon his heade. Then shalt thou sleye him, and take of his bloude, and sprenkle it vpon the altare rounde aboute. But the ramme shalt thou deuyde in peces, and wash his bowels and his legges, and laye them vpon the peces and the heade, and burne the whole ramme vpon the altare: for it is a burnt offerynge, and a swete sauoure of the sacrifice vnto the LORDE.

As for the other ramme, Leuiti. . thou shalt take him, and Aaron with his sonnes shall laye their handes vpon his heade, and thou shalt slaye him, and take of his bloude, and put it vpon the typpe of the right eare of Aaron and his sonnes, and vpon ye thombe of their right handes, and vpon the greate too of their right fete, and thou shalt sprenkle the bloude vpon the altare rounde aboute, and shalt take of the bloude vpon the altare and the anoyntinge oyle, and sprenckle it vpon Aaron and his vestymentes, vpon his sonnes and their vestymentes. So shall he and his clothes, his sonnes and their clothes be consecrated.

Then shalt thou take the fat of the ramme, the rompe, Leu. 8. e and the fatt that couereth ye bowels, the net vpon the leuer, and the two kydneys with the fatt that is aboute them, and the right shulder (for it is a ramme of cō secracion) and a symnel of bred, and an oyled cake, and a wafer out of the maunde of the vnleuended bred Exo. 25. c that stondeth before ye LORDE, and put all in to the handes of Aaron and of his sonnes, and waue it vnto the LORDE. Thē take it out of their handes, and burne it vpon the altare for a burnt offeringe, to be a swete sauoure vnto ye LORDE. For it is the LORDES sacrifice.

And thou shalt take the brest of the ramme of Aarōs consecraciō, Leui. f & shalt waue it before ye LORDE, yt shal be his parte. And thus shalt thou halowe ye Wauebrest & ye Heueshulder (yt are waued & heaued) of ye ramme of the consecracion of Aaron & his sonnes: And it shalbe a perpetuall custome for Aarō and his sonnes of ye children of Israel: for it is an Heue offrynge, and the Heue offrynge shalbe the LORDES dewtye of the children of Israel, in their Some call thē peace offeringes deade offrynges and Heue offrynges which they do vnto the LORDE.

And the holy garmentes of Aaron shall his sonnes haue after him, that they maie be anoynted therin, & yt their handes maye be fylled. Nu. 20. d Loke which of his sonnes shalbe prest in his steade, the same shal put them on seuē dayes, that he maye go in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse, to mynister in the Sanctuary.

But the ramme of consecracion shalt thou take, Leui. and seeth his flesh in an holy place. And Aaron with his sonnes shal eate the flesh of the s me ramme with the bred in the maunde, at the do •• of the Tabernacle of wytnesse: for there is an attonement made therwith, to fyll their handes, that they maye be consecrated. A straūger 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 shal not eate therof, for it is holy.

But yf eny of the flesh of the consecracion, and of the bred remaine vntyll the mornynge, thou shalt burne it with fyre, and not let it be eaten, for it is holy. And thus shalt thou do with Aaron and his sonnes all that I haue commaunded ye. Seuen dayes shalt thou fyll their handes, and offer a bullocke daylie for a synne offeringe, because of them yt shalbe reconciled. And thou shalt halowe the altare, whan thou reconcylest it: & shalt anoynte it, that it maye be consecrated. Seuen dayes shalt thou reconcyle the altare, & consecrate it, that it maye be an altare of the Most holy. Who so wyll touch the altare, must be consecrated.

And this shalt thou do with the altare: Two lambes of one yeare olde shalt thou offer euery daye vpon it: Nu 28. a 1. Par. 17. e the one lambe in the mornynge, and the other at euen. And to one lambe a tenth deale of wheate floure, mē gled with ye fourth parte of an Hin of beaten oyle, and ye fourth parte of an Hin of wine for a drynk offerynge With the other lambe at euen shalt thou do like as with ye meate offerynge and drynk offerynge in the mornynge, for a swete sauoure of sacrifice vnto ye LORDE. This is the daylie burnt offerynge amonge youre posterities, at the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse before the LORDE, Leui. 1. a Num. 12. a where I will proteste vnto you, and talke with the. There wil I proteste vnto the children of Israel, and be sanctified in my glory, and wyl halowe the Tabernacle of wytnes and the altare, and consecrate Aarō and his sonnes, Leu 26. b 2. Cor. 6. b to be my prestes. And I wyl dwell amonge the children of Israel, & wyll be their God: so yt they shal knowe, how that I am the LORDE their God, which brought them out of the londe of Egipte, that I might dwell amonge them, euen I the LORDE their God.

The XXX. Chapter.

THou shalt make also an incense altare to burne incense, of Fyrre tre, a cubyte longe & brode, eauen foure squared, and two cubytes hye with his hornes, & shalt ouerlaye it with pure golde, the rofe & the walles of it rounde aboute, and the hornes therof, & a crowne of golde shalt thou make rounde aboute it, and two golde rynges on ether syde vnder the crowne, that there maie be staues put therin, to beare it with all.

The staues shalt thou make of Fyrre tre also, and ouerlaye thē with golde: and shalt set it before the vayle, that hangeth before the Arke of wytnesse, and before the Mercy seate yt is vpon the wytnesse, from whence I wyl proteste vnto the. And Aaron shal burne swete incense theron euery morninge, whā he dresseth the lampes. In like maner whan he lighteth the lampes at euen, he shall burne soch incense also. This shal be the daylie incense before the LORDE amonge youre posterities.

Ye shall put no straunge incense therin, & offer no burnt offerynge, ner meat offerynge, 〈…〉 nether drynk offerynge theron. And 〈1 paragraph〉 vpon ye hornes of it shall Aaron reconcyle once in a yeare, with ye bloude of the synne offerynge, which they shall offer that are reconcyled. This shal be done amonge youre posterities for this is the most holy vnto the LORDE.

And the LORDE Espake vnto Moses, 〈…〉 and sayde: Whan thou nombrest the heades of the children of Israel, then shal euery one geue vnto the LORDE the reconcylinge of his soule, yt there happē not a plage vnto them, whan they are nombred. Euery one that is tolde in the nombre, shall geue half a Sycle, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary: 〈1 paragraph〉 one Sycle is worth twentye Geras. This half Sycle shal be ye LORDES Heue offerynge. Who so is in the nombre from twenty yeare and aboue, shal geue this Heue offerynge vnto ye LORDE. The riche shal not geue more, and the poore shal not geue lesse in the half Sycle, which is geuen vnto the LORDE to be an Heue offerynge for the reconcylinge of their soules.

And this money of recōcilinge shalt thou take of the children of Israel, & put it to the Gods seruyce of the Tabernacle of wytnes, that it maye be a remembraunce vnto the children of Israel before the LORDE, that he maye let himself be reconcyled ouer their soules.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: 〈…〉 Thou shalt make a brasen lauer also with a fote of brasse to wash, and shalt set it betwixte the Tabernacle of witnesse and ye altare, and put water therin, that Aarō and his sonnes maye wash their handes and fete therout, whan they go in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse, or to the altare, to mynistre vnto the LORDE with offerynge incense, yt they dye not. This shalbe a perpetuall custome for him and his sede amonge their posterities.

And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Take vnto the spyces of the best, 〈…〉 fyue hundreth Sycles of Myrre, and of Cynamō half so moch, euen two hundreth and fyftie, and of Kalmus two hundreth and fiftye, and of Cassia fyue hundreth (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) & an Hin of oyle olyue, and make an holy anoyntinge oyle, after the craft of the Apotecary.

And there wt shalt thou anoynte the Tabernacle of wytnesse, 〈◊〉 . 8. b & the Arke of wytnes, the table with all his apparell, ye candilsticke with his apparell, the altare of incense, the altare of burnt offerynges with all his apparell, & the lauer with his fote: and thus shalt thou consecrate them, that they maye be most holy: for who so wil touch thē, must be consecrated. Thou shalt anoynte Aaron also, and his sonnes, and consecrate them to be my prestes.

And thou shalt speake vnto the childrē of Israel, and saye: This oyle shalbe an holy oyntment vnto me amonge yor posterities: It shal not be poured vpon mans body, nether shalt thou make eny soch like it, for it is holy: therfore shal it be holy vnto you. Who so maketh eny soch like, or geueth a straūger therof, the same shalbe roted out from amonge his people.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Take vnto the spyces: Balme, Stacte, Galban, and pure franckencense, of one as moch as of another, and make incense therof (after the craft of the Apotecary) myngled together, that it maye be pure & holy. And thou shalt beate it to poulder, and shalt put of the same before the wytnesse in the Tabernacle of wytnesse, from when e I wyll proteste vnto the, but it shalbe holy vnto the for the LORDE. Who so maketh soch to cense therwith, shalbe roted out from amōge his people.

The XXXI. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & saide: 〈◊〉 35. d 〈◊〉 . 2. b I haue called by name Bezaleel the sonne of Vri ye sonne of Hur, of ye trybe of Iuda, Re. 7. b and haue fylled him with ye sprete of God, with wyszdome and vnderstō dynge and knowlege, and to worke with all maner of connynge worke, in golde, syluer, brasse, to graue stones connyngly, and to set them, to carue well in tymbre, and to make all maner worke. And beholde, I haue geuen him Ahaliab the sonne of Ahisamach of the trybe of Dan, to be his companyon, and haue geuen wyszdome in to the hertes of all that are wyse, that they shall make all that I haue commaunded the: the Tabernacle of wytnesse, 〈◊〉 25.26. •• .30. the Arke of wytnesse, the Mercyseate theron, and all the ornamentes of ye Tabernacle: the table and his apparell, the candilsticke and all his apparell, the altare of incense, the altare of burnt offerynges wt all his apparell, the lauer with his fote, the mynistrynge vestimentes of Aaron ye prest, and the garmentes of his sonnes to serue like prestes, the anoyntinge oyle, and the incē se of spyces for ye Sāctuary. All that I haue commaunded the, shal they make.

And the LORDE talked vnto Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel, and saye: Kepe my Sabbath, Exo. 20. for it is a token betwene me and you, and youre posterities, that ye maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE which haloweth you: therfore kepe my Sabbath, for it shalbe holy vnto you. Nu. 1 . Who so vnhaloweth it, shall dye the death: For who so doth eny worke therin, shalbe roted out from amonge his people.

Sixe dayes shall men worke, but vpon the seuenth daye is the Sabbath Gene. . a the holy rest of the LORDE. Who so doth eny worke vpon the Sabbath daye, shall dye the death.

Therfore shal the children of Israel kepe the Sabbath, that they maye kepe it also amonge their posterities for an euerlastynge couenaunt. An euerlastynge token is it betwixte me and the children of Israel. For in sixe dayes made the LORDE heauē & earth, but vpon ye seuenth daye he rested, and was refreshed.

And whan the LORDE had made an ende of talkinge with Moses vpon the mount Sinai, he gaue him two tables of witnesse, Exo. 24. c and 32. d Deut. 5. c and 9. b which were of stone, and wrytten with the fynger of God.

The XXXII. Chapter.

BVt whan the people sawe that Moses made lōge taryenge to come downe frō the mount, they gathered thē together agaynst Aaron, & sayde vnto him: Vp, and make vs goddes, to go before vs, Acto. 7. c for we can not tell what is become of this man Moses, that brought vs out of Egipte. Aaron sayde vnto them: Iudic. 8. c Plucke of the golden earynges from the eares of youre wynes, of yor sonnes, & of yor doughters, & brynge them vnto me. Then all the people pluckte of their golden earynges from their eares, & brought them vnto Aaron. And he toke them of their handes, & fashioned it wt a grauer. •• al. 105. c And they made a molten calfe, and sayde: These are thy goddes (O Israel) that brought the out of the londe of Egipte.

Whan Aaron sawe that, he buylded an altare before him, and caused it be proclamed, and sayde: Tomorow is the LORDES feast. And they arose vp early in the mornynge, and offred burnt offerynges, and brought dead offerynges also: cor. 10. a Then the people sat them downe to eate and drynke, & rose vp to playe.

eut. 9. c But the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Go get the downe, for thy people whom thou broughtest out of the londe of Egipte, haue marred all: they are soone gone out of the waie, which I commaunded them. They haue made them a molten calfe, and haue worshipped it, & offred vnto it, & sayde: . Reg. . e These are thy goddes (O Israel) that brought the out of the lande of Egipte.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: I se, xo. 33. a Iu. 14. b that it is a styffnecked people, and now suffre me, that my wrath maye waxe whote ouer them, & that I maye consume them, so wil I make a greate people of the.

But Moses be sought the LORDE his God, & sayde: Oh LORDE, wherfore wil thy wrath waxe whote ouer thy people, whom thou hast brought out of the lōde of Egipte wt greate power & a mightie hāde? Wherfore shulde the Egipcians speake, & saye: He hath brought thē for their myschefe, to slaye them in the mountaynes, and to destroye thē vtterly from the earth? O turne the from the fearcenesse of ye wrath, & be gracious ouer the wickednesse of thy people. Remembre thy seruaūtes Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, vnto whō Ge. 2. c thou swarest by thyne owne self, and saydest: I wil multiplye youre sede as the starres of heauen, and all the londe that I haue promysed you, wil I geue vnto youre sede, & they shall inheret it for euer. Thus the LORDE repented of the euell, which he sayde he wolde do vnto his people.

Moses turned him, & wente downe from the mount, and in his hande he had the two tables of wytnesse, which were wryttē vpon both the sydes, and were Gods worke, & the wrytinge was the wrytinge of God therin. Now whan Iosua herde the noyse of ye people, as they shouted, he sayde vnto Moses: This is a noyse of warre in the hoost. He answered: It is not a noyse of them that haue the victory, and of them that haue the worse, but I heare a noyse of synginge at a daunse.

Whan he came nye vnto the hoost, and sawe the calfe, and the daunsynge, 〈…〉 he was moued with wrath, and cast the ables out of his hande, and brake them beneth the mount. 〈…〉 And he toke the calfe that they had made, and brent it with fyre, and stamped it vnto poulder, and strowed it in the water, & gaue it vnto the children of Israel to drynke, & sayde vnto Aaron: What dyd this people vnto the, that thou hast brought so greate a synne vpon them?

Aaron sayde: Let not the wrath of my lorde waxe fearce: thou knowest, that this is a wicked people. They sayde vnto me: Make vs goddes to go before vs, for we can not tell what is become of this man Moses, yt brought vs out of the londe of Egipte. I sayde vnto them: Who so hath golde, let him plucke it of, and geue it me: and I cast it in the fyre, therof came this calfe.

Now whan Moses sawe, that the people were naked (for Aaron, whan he set them vp, made them naked to their shame) he wē te in to the gate of the hoost, and sayde: who so belongeth vnto the LORDE, let him come hither vnto me. Then all the children of Leui gathered them selues vnto him, and he sayde vnto them: Thus sayeth the LORDE the God of Israel: Euery man put his swerde by his syde, and go thorow in and out from one gate to another in the hoost, and slaye euery man his brother, frende, & neghboure.

The children of Leui dyd, as Moses sayde vnto them. And there fell of the people the same daye thre thousande men. Thē sayde Moses: Cōsecrate youre handes this daie vnto the LORDE, euery man vpon his sonne and brother, that the prayse maye be geuen ouer you this daye.

On the morow Moses sayde vnto the people: Ye haue done a greate synnne. Now I wil go vp vnto the LORDE, yf peraduenture I maye make an attonement for youre synnes.

Now whā Moses came agayne vnto ye LORDE, he saide: Oh this people haue done a greate synne, & haue made them goddes of golde. 〈1 paragraph〉 Now for geue them their synne: yf not, thē wype me out of ye boke, that thou hast wrytten. The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: What? Him that synneth against me, wil I wype out of my 〈1 paragraph〉 boke. Go thou ye waye therfore, and brynge ye people thither as I haue sayde vnto the, 〈◊〉 . 13. a 〈◊〉 3. c Beholde, myne angell shall go before the. But in the daye of my visitacion I wyll vyset their synnes vpon them. So the LORDE plaged the people, because they made ye calfe which Aaron made.

The XXXIII. Chapter.

THe LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Go, departe hence, thou and the people, whom thou hast brought out of the lande of Egipte, vnto ye londe that I sware vnto Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, and sayde: vnto ye sede wil I geue it, 〈◊〉 punc; 22. c 〈◊〉 punc; 23. d 〈◊〉 . 7. d 〈◊〉 punc; 24. c and I wyl sende an angell before the (and cast out the Cananites, Amorites, Hethites, Pheresites, Heuites and Iebusites) in to the londe that floweth with mylke and hony, for I wyll not go vp with the: 〈◊〉 . 32. c for thou art an hardnecked people, I might consume the by the waye. Whan the people herde this euell tydinges, they sorowed, and no man put on his best rayment.

And ye LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Speake vnto the children of Israel: Ye are a styfnecked people, I must once come sodenly vpon the, and make an ende of the. And now put of thy goodly araye from the, yt I maie knowe what to do vnto the. So the children of Israel laied their goodly araye from thē, euen before the mount Horeb.

Moses toke the Tabernacle, & pitched it without afarre of from ye hoost, and called it the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And who so euer wolde axe eny question at the LORDE, wente out vnto the Tabernacle of wytnesse before the hoost. And whan Moses wente out vnto the Tabernacle, all the people rose vp, and stode euery one in his tent dore, and loked after Moses, tyll he was gone in to the Tabernacle. 〈◊〉 . 31 d And whan Moses entred in to the Tabernacle, the cloudy pyler came downe, and stode in the dore of the Tabernacle, and he talked with Moses. And all the people sawe the cloudy piler stonde in the dore of the Tabernacle, and rose vp, and worshiped, euery one in his tent dore.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses face to face, 〈◊〉 . 1 . a as a man speaketh vnto his frende. And whan he turned agayne to the hoost, ye yonge mā Iosua ye sonne of Nun his minister, Pa . . c departed not out of ye Tabernacle. And Moses sayde vnto the LORDE: Beholde, thou saydest vnto me: Brynge ye people vp, and lettest me not knowe, whom thou wilt sende wt me, & yet hast thou sayde: I knowe the by name, and thou hast founde grace in my sight. Let me knowe thy waye therfore, wherby I maye be certified, yt I fynde grace in thy sight: And consydre yet, that this people is thy people.

He sayde: My presence shal go before the, there with wyll I lede the. But he sayde vnto him: Yf thy presence go not, then cary vs not vp from hence: for wherby shal it be knowne, yt I and thy people haue founde fauoure in thy sight, but in yt thou goest with vs? that I & thy people maye haue some preemynence before all people that are vpon the face of the earth. The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: I wyll do this also that thou hast sayde, for thou hast foūde grace in my sight, and I knowe the by name.

He sayde: Oh let me thē se thy glory. And he sayde: I wyl cause all my good go ouer before thy face, and wyl let the name of ye LORDE be called vpon before the. Ro. 9. b And I shewe mercy, to whom I shewe mercy: and haue compassion, on whom I haue compassion. And he sayde morouer: Thou mayest not se my face, Deu. 4. b Iudic. 6. c and 13. d Ioh. 1. b for there shall no mā lyue, yt seyth me. And ye LORDE sayde farthermore: beholde, there is a place by me, there shalt thou stōde vpon the rocke. Now whan my glory goeth forth, I wil put ye in a clyfte of ye rocke, & my hande shal holde styll vpō the, tyll I be passed by. And whan I take awaye myne hande from the, thou shalt se my back partes, but my face shal not be sene.

The XXXIIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Hew the two tables of stone, Deu. 10. like as ye first were, that I maye wryte in them the wordes, yt were in the first tables, which thou brakest and be ready in the mornynge, that thou mayest come vp early vnto moūt Sinai, and stonde me vpon the toppe of the mount. And let no man come vp with the, that there be no man sene thorow out all ye mount: and let nether shepe ner oxen fede before the mount.

And Moses hewed two tables of stone, like as the first were, & arose early in the mornynge, & wente vp vnto mount Sinai, as ye LORDE cōmaunded him, & toke ye two tables of stone in his hāde. Thē came the LORDE downe in a cloude. And there he stepte vnto him, & called vpō ye name of ye LORDE. And whan ye LORDE passed by before his face, he cryed: LORDE LORDE, God, mercifull & gracious, & longe sufferinge, Psal. 8 . c and 02. a Deut. 5. b I re. 32. c and 30. b Nau 1. a and of greate mercy and trueth, thou that kepest mercy in stoare for thousandes, and forgeuest wickednes, trespace and synne (before whom there is no man innocent) xo 20. a •• ut. 7. b thou that visitest the wickednesse of the fathers vpon ye children and childers children, vnto the thirde and fourth generacion.

And Moses bowed him self downe vnto the earth, and worshiped him, and saide: LORDE, yf I haue founde grace in thy sight, thē let the LORDE go with vs (for it is an hard necked people) that thou mayest haue mercy vpon oure wickednesses and synnes, and let vs be thyne inheritaunce.

And he sayde: Beholde, I make a couenaunt before all yi people, & wil do wonders, soch as haue not bene done in all londes, and amonge all people. And all ye people amōge whom thou art, shal se ye worke of ye LORDE, for a terryble thinge shal it be, yt I wyl do wt the. Kepe that I commaunde ye this daye. Beholde, I wyl cast out before the: ye Amorites, Cananites, Hethites, Pheresites, Heuytes and Iebusites. Exo. 23. d eut. 7. a Re. 11. a Bewarre, that thou make no couenaunt with the indwellers of the lande yt thou commest in to, lest they be cause of yi ruyne in the myddest of the: but their alters shalt thou ouerthrowe, & breake downe their goddes, and rote out their groaues: for thou shalt worshipe no other god. For ye LORDE is called gelous, because he is a gelous God: lest (yf thou make any agrement with the indwellers of the londe, and whan they go a whoringe after their goddes, and do sacrifice vnto their goddes) they Nu. 25. a call ye, and thou eate of their sacrifice, and lest thou take of their doughters vnto thy sonnes to wyues, and the same go a whoringe after their goddes, & make thy sonnes go a whoringe after their goddes also.

Thou shalt make ye no goddes of metall. Exo. 12. c nd 23. b The feast of swete bred shalt thou kepe. Seuen daies shalt thou eate vnleuēded bred, like as I cōmaunded the in the tyme of the moneth Abib: for in the moneth Abib thou wentest out of Egipte.* All yt first breaketh the Matrix, is myne, soch as shalbe male amōge ye catell, yt breaketh the Matrix, whether it be oxe or shepe. But the first of thyne Asse shalt thou bye out wt a shepe: yf thou redeme it not, then breake his necke. All the first borne of thy children shalt thou redeme.

ccli. 35. a And se that no man appeare before me mp ye.

Ex. 20. 3. b. 35. a Sixe dayes shalt thou labor, vpon ye se ēth daye shalt thou rest both from plowinge and reapynge. The feast of wekes shalt thou kepe with the firstlinges of the wheate haruest: and the feast of yngaderynge at ye yeares ende. Thryse in a yeare shal all yor men children appeare before the Souernoure, euen the LORDE and God of Israel.

Whan I shal cast out the Heithen before the, & enlarge y borders, there shal no man desyre thy lōde: for so moch as thou goest vp thre tymes in the yeare, to appeare before ye LORDE thy God. Thou shalt not offer the bloude of my sacrifice wt leuēded bred. And the offerynge of the Easter feast shal not remayne ouer night vntill the mornynge. The firstlinges of ye first frutes of thy lōde shalt thou brynge in to the house of the LORDE thy God. 〈1 paragraph〉 Thou shalt not seith a kydd, 〈…〉 whyle it is yet in his mothers mylke.

And the LORDE saide vnto Moses: wryte these wordes, for because of these wordes haue I made a couenaunt with the & with Israel. 〈…〉 And he was there with the LORDE fourtye dayes and fourtye nightes, and ate no bred, and dranke no water. And 〈1 paragraph〉 he wrote in the tables the wordes of the couenaūt, euen ten verses.

Now whā Moses came downe fro moūt Sinai, he had the two tables of wytnesse in his hande, & wyst not yt the skynne of his face shyned, because he had talked with him. And whā Aaron & all the childrē of Israel sawe yt the skynne of his face shyned, they were afrayed to come nye him. Thē Moses called them. And they returned vnto him, both Aaron & all the chefest of the cōgregacion. And he talked wt them. Afterwarde came all the children of Israel vnto him. And he cōmaunded thē, all yt the LORDE had sayde vnto him vpon the mount Sinai. Now whan he had made an ende of talkynge wt thē, 〈1 paragraph〉 he put a couerynge vpō his face. And whan he wēte in before ye LORDE to talke wt him, he toke ye couerynge of, till he wēte out agayne. And whan he came forth & spake wt the childrē of Israel what was cōmaunded him, thē the childrē of Israel sawe his face, how yt the skynne of his face shyned: so he put the couerynge vpō his face agayne, tyll he wente in agayne to talke with him.

The XXXV. Chapter.

ANd Moses gathered all the cōgregacion of ye childrē of Israel together, and sayde vnto them: This is it, yt the LORDE hath commaunded you to do: 〈…〉 Sixe dayes shall ye worke, but the seuenth daye shall ye kepe holy: a Sabbath of the LORLES rest. Who so euer doeth eny worke therin, shall dye. Ye shal kyndle no fyre vpon the Sabbath daye in all youre dwellynges.

And Moses sayde vnto ye whole congregacion of the children of Israel: This is it, that the LORDE hath commaunded: Geue from amonge you Heue offerynges vnto ye LORDE, 〈◊〉 . 25. a so that euery one brynge the LORDES Heue offerynge with a fre hert: golde, syluer, brasse, yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple, whyte sylke, and goates hayre, reed skynnes of rammes, doo skynnes, and Fyrre tre, oyle for the lampes, and spyces for the anoyntinge oyle and for swete incense. Onix stones, and stones to be set in ye ouerbody cote, and for the brestlappe.

And who so is wyse of hert amonge you, let him come, & make what the LORDE hath commaunded: namely, the Habitacion with the tent & couerynge therof, the rynges, bordes, barres, pilers & sokettes: The Arke wt the staues therof, the Mercy seate & the vayle: the table with his staues & all his apparell: & the shewbred: The cādilsticke of light and his apparell, and his lampes, & the oyle for the lightes: The altare of incense with his staues: The anoyntynge oyle and spyces for incense: The hangynge before ye Tabernacle dore: The alter of burnt offerynges with his brasen gredyron, staues and all his apparell: The lauer with his fote: The hanginges of the courte, with the pilers and sokettes therof, & the hangynge of the courte dore: The nales of the habitacion and of ye courte with their coardes: The mynistringe garmentes for the seruyce in the Holy, ye holy vestimentes of Aaron the prest wt the vestimentes of his sonnes for ye prestes office.

Then wente all the congregacion of the childrē of Israel out fro Moses, & euery one brought the gift of his hert: & all that they wolde of fre will, the same brought they for an Heue offerynge vnto the LORDE for ye worke of the Tabernacle of witnesse, & for all the seruyce therof, & for the holy vestimē tes. Both men & wemen that were of a wyllynge hert, brought bracelettes, earynges, rynges & gyrdels, and all maner Iewels of golde: Euery man also brought golde for Waue offerynges vnto the LORDE.

And who so euer foūde by him yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, whyte sylke, goates hayre, reed skynnes of rāmes, and Doo skynnes, brought it. And who so euer houe vp syluer & brasse, brought it for ye Heue offerynge vnto the LORDE. And who so euer founde Fyrre tre by him, brought it for all maner of worke of the Gods seruyce. And soch wemen as were wyse herted, spanne with their hādes, and brought their sponne worke of yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, and whyte sylke. And soch wemen as had hye vnderstondinge in wyszdome, spanne goates hayre.

As for ye prynces, they brought Onix stones, and set stones, for ye ouerbody coate, and for the brestlappe, and spyces, and oyle for ye lightes, and for the anoyntinge oyle, and for swete incense. Thus the children of Israel brought fre wyllynge offerynges, both man and wemē, for all maner of worke, that the LORDE had commaunded by Moses, to be made.

And Moses saide vnto the childrē of Israel: Beholde, Exo. 31. a ye LORDE hath called by name Bezaleel ye sonne of Vri, ye sonne of Hur of the trybe of Iuda, & hath fylled him wt the sprete of God, that he maye haue wyszdome, vnderstondinge, & knowlege for all maner of worke, to worke connyngly in golde, syluer & brasse, to graue precious stones & to set them, to carue in wodd, to make all maner of connynge workes, and hath geuē instruccion in his hert, both him and Ahaliab the sonne of Ahisamach of ye trybe of Dan. These hath he fylled wt wyszdome of hert, to make all maner of worke, to carue, to broder, to worke with nedle worke, with yalow sylke, scarlet, purple and whyte sylke, and with wee ynge to make all maner of worke, and to deuyse connynge workes.

The XXXVI. Chapter.

THen wrought Bezaleel & Ahaliab & all the wyse herted men, vnto whom the LORDE had geuen wyszdome & vnderstondinge to knowe, how they shulde make all maner worke for the seruyce of the Sanctuary, acordinge vnto all yt the LORDE commaunded. And Moses called for Bezaleel & Ahaliab, & all the wyse herted men, vnto whom the LORDE had geuen wyszdome in their hertes, namely, all soch as wyllingly offred them selues there, & came to laboure in the worke. And they receaued of Moses all the Heue offerynges, that the children of Israel had brought for the worke of the seruyce of the Sanctuary, that it might be made: & euery morninge brought they their willinge offerynges vnto him.

Then came all the wyse men yt wrought in the worke of the Sanctuary, euery one frō his worke that he made, & sayde vnto Moses: The people bryngeth to moch, more thē nede is for the worke of this seruice, which the LORDE hath cōmaunded to make. Thē commaunded Moses, that it shulde be proclamed thorow out the hoost: No man brynge more to the Heue offerynge of the Sanctuary. Then were the people forbydden to brynge: for there was stuff ynough for all maner of worke, that was to be made, and to moch.

So all ye wyse herted men amonge thē yt wrought in ye worke of the Habitacion, Exo. 26. a made ten curtaynes of whyte twyned sylke, yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, with Cherubyns of broderd worke. The lēgth of one curtayne was eight and twentye cubites, and the bredth foure cubites, & were all of one measure: & he coupled the curtaynes fyue & fyue together one to the other.

And made yalow loupes a longe by ye edge of euery curtayne, where they shulde be coupled together: fiftie loupes vpō euery curtayne, wherby one might be coupled to another. And made fiftie buttons of golde, and with the buttons he coupled the curtaynes together one to the other, that it might be one couerynge.

Exo. 26. b And he made xj. curtaynes of goates hayre (for the tent ouer the habitacion) of thirtie cubytes longe, & foure cubytes brode, all of one measure, & coupled fyue together by them selues, and sixe by them selues, & made fiftie loupes a longe by ye edge of euery curtayne, wherby they might be coupled together, & made fiftie buttons of brasse, to couple ye tent together withall. And made ouer ye tent a couerynge of reed skynnes of rammes, and ouer that a couerynge of Doo skynnes.

And made stondinge bordes for the Habitacion, Exo. 26. c of Fyrre tre, euery one ten cubytes longe, and a cubyte and a half brode, & two fete vnto euery one, wherby one might be ioyned to another: that on the south syde there stode twentye of the same bordes: and made fourtye syluer sokettes there vnder, vnder euery borde two sokettes for his two fete. In like maner for the other syde of the Habitacion towarde the north, he made twentye bordes also with fourtye syluer sokettes, vnder euery borde two sokettes: But behynde the Habitacion vpon the west syde, he made sixe bordes, and two other for the corners of the Habitacion behynde, that either of them both might be ioyned with his corner borde from vnder vp, and aboue vpon the heade to come together with a clampe: so that there were eight bordes, and sixtene sokettes of syluer, vnder euery one two sokettes.

And he made barres of Fyrre tre, fyue for the bordes vpon the one syde of the Habitacion, and fyue vpon the other syde, and fyue behynde towarde the west: and made the barres to shute thorow the bordes, from the one ende to the other, and euerlayde the bordes with golde. But their rynges made he of golde for the barres, and ouerlayde ye barres with golde.

And made Cherubyns vpon the hangynge with broderd worke, of yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, & whyte twyned sylke. And made for the same, foure pilers of Fyrre tre and ouerlayed them with golde, and their knoppes of golde, and cast foure sokettes of syluer for them.

And made an hanginge in the Tabernacle dore, of yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, and whyte twyned sylke, of nedle worke, and fyue pilers therto with their knoppes (& ouerlayed their knoppes and whopes with golde) and fyue sokettes of brasse thereto.

The XXXVII. Chapter.

ANd Bezaleel made the Arke of Fyrre tre, two cubites and a half lōge, 〈…〉 a cubyte and a half brode, and a cubyte & a half hye, and ouerlayed it with fyne golde within and without, and made a crowne of golde vnto it rounde aboute, and cast for it foure rynges of golde to the foure corners of it, vpon euery syde two. And made staues of Fyrre tre, and ouerlayed thē with golde, and put them in the rynges a longe by ye sydes of the Arke, to beare it withall.

And he made ye Mercyseate of pure golde two cubytes and a half longe, and a cubite and a half brode, & made two Cherubyns of fyne beaten golde vpon the two endes of the Mercyseate: One Cherub vpon the one ende, and the other Cherub vpon the other ende: and the Cherubyns spredde out their wynges aboue an hye, and couered ye Mercyseate therwith: and their faces stode one ouer agaynst the other, and loked vnto the Mercyseate.

And he made ye table, of Fyrre tre, two cubytes longe, a cubyte brode, 〈…〉 and a cubyte & a half hye, and ouerlayed it with fyne golde, and made therto a crowne of golde rounde aboute, and made vnto it an whoope of an hande bredth hye, and made a crowne of golde rounde aboute the whoope. And for it he cast foure golde rynges, & put them in the foure corners by the fete harde by the whoope, that the staues might be therin, to beare the table withall: & made the staues of Fyrre tre, and ouerlayed thē with golde, to beare the staues withall. And the vessels vpon the table made he also of fyne golde: the disshes, spones, flat peces and pottes, to poure in and out withall.

And he made the candilsticke of fyne beaten golde, 〈◊〉 . 25. a where vpon was the shaft wt braū ches, cuppes, knoppes, & floures. Sixe braunches proceaded out of ye sydes therof, vpon either syde thre braūches: vpō euery braūch were thre cuppes like allmōdes, wt knoppes and floures. Vpon the candilsticke self were foure cuppes with knoppes and floures, vnder euery two braūches a knoppe. The knoppes & braunches therof proceaded out of it, and were all one pece of fyne beaten golde. And he made the seuen lampes with their snoffers & outquenchers of pure golde. Of an hūdreth weight of golde made he it, and all the apparell therof.

He made also the altare of incense, of Fyrre tre, a cubyte longe and brode, auen foure squared, and two cubytes hye with the hornes of it, and ouerlayed it with fyne golde, the toppe and the sydes of it rounde aboute, and the hornes therof, and made a crowne vnto it rounde aboute of pure golde, & two golde rynges vnder the crowne on both the sydes, to put the staues therin, and to beare it withall: but the staues made he of Fyrre tre, and ouerlayed them with golde.

And he made the holy anoyntinge oyle, & the incense of pure spyces, after ye craft of the Apotecary.

The XXXVIII. Chapter.

ANd the altare of burnt offrynges made he of Fyrre tre, xo. 27. a . Pat. 1. a fyue cubytes lōge & brode, eauen foure squared, & thre cubites hye. And made foure hornes, which proceaded out of the foure corners therof, and ouerlaied it with brasse. And he made all maner of vessels for the altare, cauldrons, shouels, basens, fleshokes, and colepannes all of brasse. And vnto the altare he made a brasen gredyron of net worke rounde aboute, from vnder vp vnto the myddest of the altare, & cast foure rynges in the foure corners of the brasen gredyron, for the staues: which he made of Fyrre tre, and ouerlayed them wt brasse, and put them in the rynges by the sydes of the altare, to beare it withall, and made it holowe with bordes.

And he made the Lauer of brasse, & his fote also of brasse vpon the place of ye hoost, that laye before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse.

And he made the courte on ye south syde: hangynges an hundreth cubytes longe, of whyte twyned sylke, with the twētye pilers therof, and twentye sokettes of brasse: but the knoppes and whopes of syluer. In like maner vpon the north syde an hundreth cubytes with twentye pilers, and twentye sokettes of brasse, but their knoppes & whoopes of syluer. Vpon the west syde fiftie cubytes with ten pilers and tē sokettes, but their knoppes and whoopes of syluer. Vpon the East syde fiftie cubytes. Fiftene cubytes vpon either syde of the courte dore, wt thre pilers and thre sokettes: So that all the hanginges of the courte were of whyte twyned sylke, and the sokettes of the pilers were of brasse, & their knoppes and whoopes of syluer: their heades were ouerlayed wt syluer, & all the pilers of the courte were whooped aboute with syluer.

And the hangynge in ye courte gate made he wt nedle worke, of yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple, & whyte twyned sylke, twentye cubytes longe, & fyue cubytes hye, after the measure of the hanginges of the courte: foure pilers also therto, & foure sokettes of brasse, and their knoppes of syluer, and their heades ouerlayed, and their whoopes of syluer. And all the nales of the Habitacion and of the courte rounde aboute, were of brasse.

This is now the summe of the Habitacion of wytnesse (which was counted at the cōmaundemēt of Moses to ye Gods seruice of the Leuites vnder the hāde of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the prest) which Bezaleel the sonne of Vri, the sonne of Hur of the trybe of Iuda made, all as the LORDE commaunded Moses. And wt him Ahaliab ye sonne of Ahisamach of the trybe of Dan, a connynge grauer, to worke nedle worke, wt yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, & whyte sylke.

All the golde yt was wrought in all this worke of the Sanctuary (which was geuen to the Waue offerynge) is nyne & twenty hū dreth weight, seuen hundreth & thirtie Sycles, after ye Sycle of ye Sanctuary. Exo. •• . b The syluer yt came of the congregacion, was fyue score hundreth weight, a thousande, seuen hundreth, fyue and seuentye Sycles, after ye Sycle of the Sanctuary: so many heades so many half Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary, of all that were nombred from twentye yeare olde and aboue, euen sixe hundreth thousande, thre thousande, fyue hundreth and fiftye.

Of the fyue score hundreth weight of syluer, were cast the sokettes of the Sanctuary, and the sokettes of the vayle, an hūdreth sokettes of the fyue score hundreth weight, an hundreth weight to euery sokett. Of the thousande, seuen hundreth and fyue and seuentye Sycles were made the knoppes of the pilers (and their heades ouerlayed) and their whoopes.

As for the Waue offerynge of brasse, it was seuentye hundreth weight, two thousande and foure hundreth Sycles: Wherof were made the sokettes in the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and the brasen altare, and the brasen gredyron therto, and all the vessels of the altare, and the sokettes of ye courte rounde aboute, and the sokettes of ye courte gate, all ye nales of the Habitacion, & all ye nales of ye courte rounde aboute.

The XXXIX. Chapter.

OF the yalowe sylke, scarlet, & purple, they made Aarons mynistringe vestimentes, Exo 28 a to do seruyce in the Sanctuary, as ye LORDE cōmaunded Moses.

And he made the ouer body cote, of golde, yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple, & whyte twyned sylke, and bett the golde in to thinne plates, and cut it in to wyres, that it might be wrought amonge the yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple and whyte sylke, & made it so, that ye ouerbody cote came together by the edges on both the sydes. And his gyrdel was after the same craft & worke: euē of golde, yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple and whyte twyned sylke, as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

And they wrought two Onix stones, set rounde aboute with golde, grauen by the stone grauer with the names of the childrē of Israel: and fastened them vpō the shulders of the ouerbody cote, that they might be stones of remēbraunce vnto the children of Israel, as the LORDE cōmaunded Moses.

And they made the brestlappe after the craft & worke of the ouerbody cote: of golde, yalowe sylke, scarlet, purple, & whyte twyned sylke, so that it was foure square & dubble, an hande bredth longe and brode, and fylled it with foure rowes of stones. The first rowe was: a Sardis, a Topas, and a Smaragde. The secōde: a Ruby, a Saphyre, 〈◊〉 a Dyamonde. The thirde: a Ligurios, 〈◊〉 Achat, and an Amatist. The fourth: a Turcas, an Onix & a Iaspis: closed rounde aboute with golde in all the rowes. And the stones stode after the twolue names of the children of Israel, grauen by the stone grauer, euery one with his name, acordinge to the twolue trybes.

And vpon the brestlappe they made wrythen cheynes of pure golde, and two hokes of golde, & two golde rynges, and fastened the two rynges vpon the two edges of the brestlappe: and ye two wrythen cheynes put they in the two rynges vpon the corners of the brestlappe. But the wo endes of ye wrethen cheynes put they to the two hokes, & fastened them vpon the corners of the ouer body cote, one ouer agaynst another.

And they made two other rynges of golde, & fastened them to the other two corners of the brestlappe by the edge of it, that it might hange vpon the out syde of the ouerbody cote. And they made yet two other golde rynges, which they put beneth vpon the two corners of the ouerbody cote, one ouer agaynst another, where the ouerbody cote ioyneth together, that the brestlappe might be festened by his rynges vnto ye rynges of the ouerbody cote with a yalowe lace, that it might lye close vpon ye ouerbody cote, and not be lowsed from ye ouerbody cote, as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

And he made the tunycle vnto the ouerbody cote, wrought all of yalow sylke, & the hole therof aboue in the myddest, & a bonde foldē together rounde aboute the hole, that it shulde not rente. And beneth vpon ye hemme of it, they made pomgranates of yalow sylke, scarlet, purple, & whyte twyned sylke: & they made belles of pure golde, which they put betwixte ye pomgranates rounde aboute vpon the hemme of the tunycle, a bell & a pomgranate, a bell & a pomgranate rounde aboute, to do seruyce in, as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

And they made albes also wrought of whyte sylke for Aaron & his sonnes, & ye myter of whyte sylke, and the goodly bonettes of whyte sylke, and breches of twyned whyte lynnen, and the girdle of nedle worke euen of whyte twyned sylke, yalow sylke, scarlet, and purple, as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

They made the fore heade plate also to ye holy crowne, of pure golde, and wrote therin with grauen worke: the holynes of the LORDE, and festened a yalowe lace theron, to tye 〈◊〉 vnto the myter aboue, as the LORDE cō maunded Moses.

Thus the whole worke of ye Habitacion of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, was fynished. And the childrē of Israel dyd all that the LORDE cōmaunded Moses, & brought the Habitacion vnto Moses: the Tabernacle & all the apparell therof, the buttons, bordes, barres, pilers, sokettes, ye couerynge of reed slrynnes of rammes, the couerynge of doo slrynnes, & the vayle, ye Arke of wytnesse wt the staues therof, the Mercyseate, the table & all his apparell, & the shewbred, the candilsticke, wt the lampes prepared, and all his apparell, & oyle for the lightes, the golden altare, the anoyntinge oyle & incense, the hanginge in the Tabernacle dore, the brasen altare, & his brasen gredyron wt his staues & all his apparell, ye lauer wt his foote, the hangynges of ye courte wt the pilers & sokettes therof, ye hanginge in the courte gate wt his pilers & nales, & all the ordynaunce fo the seruyce of the Habitacion of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, ye mynistringe vestimētes of Aarō ye prest, to do seruyce in ye Sanctuary, & the garmētes of his sonnes, yt they might execute ye prestes office. Acordinge to all that ye LORDE cōmaunded Moses, euē so dyd the childrē of Israel in all this seruyce. And Moses sawe all ye worke, yt they dyd it euē as ye LORDE had commaunded, and he blessed them.

The XL. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: In the fyrst daye of the first moneth shalt thou set vp ye Habitaciō of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, and shal put the Arke of wytnes therin, and hange the vayle before ye Arke. And thou shalt bringe in the table, and garnish it, and brynge in the cā dilsticke, and put the lampes theron. And ye goldē altare of incense shalt thou set before ye Arke of wytnesse, & hange vp the hanginge in the dore of the Habitaciō. But the altare of burnt offeringes shalt thou set before the dore of the Habitacion of the Tabernacle of wytnesse: & the lauer betwixte the Tabernacle of wytnesse and the altare, and put water therin, & set the courte rounde aboute, and hange vp the hanginge in the courte gate.

And thou shalt take the anoyntynge oyle, and anoynte the Habitacion and all that is there in, Exo 0. c and shalt consecrate it, and all ye apparell therof, that it maye be holy. And thou shalt anoynte the altare of burnt offerynges and all his vessels, and consecrate it, that it maye be most holy. The lauer also & his fote shalt thou anoynte & consecrate.

Exo. 29. a And thou shalt brynge Aaron & his sonnes vnto the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and wash them with water, & put the holy vestimentes vpon Aaron, and anoynte him, and consecrate him, that he maye be my prest. And thou shalt brynge his sonnes also, and put the albes vpon them, and anoynte them, as thou hast anoynted their father, yt they maye be my prestes. And this anoyntinge shall they haue for an euerlastinge presthode amonge their posterities. Nu. 7. a And Moses dyd all as the LORDE cōmaunded him.

Thus was the Tabernacle set vp in the seconde yeare vpon the first daye of the first moneth. Num. 9. c And whan Moses reared it vp, he fastened ye sokettes and the bordes, and barres, and set vp the pilers, and spred out the tent ouer the Habitacion, and put the couerynge of the tent aboue an hye, as the LORDE commaunded him. And he toke the wytnesse, and layed it in the Arke, and put ye staues in the Arke, and set the Mercyseate aboue vpon the Arke, and brought the Arke in to the Habitacion, and hanged the vayle before the Arke of wytnesse, as the LORDE commaunded him.

And he set the table in the Tabernacle of wytnesse, in the corner of the Habitacion vpon the north syde without the vayle, and prepared bred theron before ye LORDE Exo. 2 . c as the LORDE commaunded him.

And he set in the candilsticke also, euen ouer agaynst the table, in the corner of the Habitacion vpon the south syde, and put the lampes theron before ye LORDE, as the LORDE commaunded him. And the golden altare set he in also before the vayle, and brent swete incense theron, as the LORDE commaunded him. And hanged vp the hangynge in the Tabernacle dore. As for the altare of burnt offerynges, he set it before the dore of the Habitacion of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, and offred burnt offerynges and meate offerynges theron, as the LORDE commaunded him.

And the Lauer set he betwixte the Tabernacle of wytnesse and ye altare, 〈…〉 and put water therin to wash withall. And Moses, Aaron and his sonnes washed their hādes and fete ther at: for they ought to wash thē, whan they wente in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse, or whan they wente vnto the altare, as the LORDE commaunded him.

And he set vp the courte rounde aboute the Habitacion and the altare, and hanged vp ye hanginge in ye courte gate. Thus Moses fynished the whole worke.

Then a cloude couered ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, and the glory of the LORDE fylled the Habitacion. And Moses coulde not go in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse, whyle the cloude abode theron, and the glory of ye LORDE fylled the Habitacion.

And whan the cloude remoued from the Habitacion, then wente the children of Israel forth, as oft as they toke their iourney. But yf the cloude remoued not, then toke not they their iourney, tyll the daie that it remoued: for in the daye tyme was the cloude of the LORDE vpon the Habitacion, & in the night season was fyre therin, in ye sight of all ye house of Israel, in all their iourneis.

The ende of the seconde boke of Moses, called Exodus.
The thirde boke of Moses, called Leuiticus. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. The ordre and vse of burnt offerynges, whether it be of small or greate catell, or of foules. Chap. II. Of meat offerynges with fyne floure, &c. Chap. III. Of deed offerynges, otherwyse called health offrynges, peace offrynges, or thāk-offerynges, and of the fatt. Chap. IIII. The offringe for the sinne of a prest, of the whole congregacion, of the ruler, or of eny other meane man. Chap. V. The offerynge for swearinge, for an erroure or ignoraunce. Chap. VI. Of daylie burnt offerynges & other oblacions: The offerynge of the prest in the daye of his anoyntinge. Chap. VII. Of thank offerynges. Of the fat & bloude, and of the anoyntinge of the prestes. Chap. VIII. Of the anoyntinge and consecratynge of Aaron and of his sonnes. Chap. IX. How Aaron and his sonnes offred for synne, & how the fyre of God consumed the burnt offerynge. Chap. X. The death of Nadab & Abihu. The prestes were forbydden to drynke wyne, and their porcion of the offerynges appoynted them. Chap. XI. Of cleane and vncleane beastes & foules. Chap. XII. Of the vnclennesse of a woman in childe bedd, of hir clensynge or purificacion & of hir offerynge. Chap. XIII. Of Leprosy or Mezell. Chap. XIIII. The clēsynge of lepers, and of their offerynge. Chap. XV. Of all maner of vncleane fluxes or yssues, both of men and wemen. Chap. XVI. Aarō might not allwaie go in to the Sanctuary. Of the two goates. Of fastinge in the seuenth moneth. Chap. XVII. All offrynges were first brought to the Tabernacle dore. No bloude ner deed caryon was to be eaten. Chap. XVIII. The degrees of consanguynite and affynite: And what wemen men ought not to marye. Chap. XIX. Dyuerse and many commaundemē tes and statutes. Chap. XX. To geue sede vnto Moloch, & other vnlaufull thinges are forbydden. Chap. XXI. How cleane and vndefyled the prestes ought to lyue. Chap. XXII. How the prestes and their housholdes ought to be: & how the offerynges ought to be vsed. Chap. XXIII. Of the holy dayes and hye feastes: namely, the Sabbath, Easter, Whyt sondaye (otherwise called the feast of wekes) the feast of Tabernacles, &c. Chap. XXIIII. Of the oyle for the lampes and lightes Of the shewbred. Punyshment for cursynge and blasphemy. Chap. XXV. Of the rest of the seuenth yeare, & libertye of the Fiftieth yeare, otherwyse called the yeare of Iubylie, the yeare of hornes blowinge, or the trompet yeare. Chap. XXVI. Swete & louynge promyses of God for all soch as wyl kep his commaundemētes: Agayne, Maruelous sore plages are threatened vnto them, that wyll not harken to his worde. Chap. XXVII. Of vowes, and of the fre yeare. Of redemynge or lowsynge out agayne of catell or londe, that a man promyseth, voweth or dedicateth vnto the LORDE.
The first Chapter.

ANd the LORDE called Moses, Exo. 29. g and spake vnto him out of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, and sayde: Speake vnto ye childrē of Israel, & saie vnto them: Who so euer amōge you wyl brynge an offerynge vnto the LORDE, let him brynge it of ye catell, euen of the oxen, & of the shepe.

Yf he wyl brynge a burnt offerynge of ye oxen (or greate catell) thē let him offre a male without blemysh, before ye dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, to reconcyle him self before the LORDE, Exo. 29. b Leui. 3. a let him laye his hande vpon the heade of the burnt offerynge, then shal he be reconcyled, so yt God shalbe mercifull vnto him.

And he shall kyll the yonge oxe before ye LORDE: and ye prestes Aarons sonnes shal brynge the bloude, and sprenkle it rounde aboute vpon the altare, that is before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And the slrynne shalbe flayne from of the burnt offerynge, and it shalbe hewen in peces. And the sonnes of Aaron the prest shal make a fyre vpon the altare, and laye wod aboue ther on: and ye peces, the heade, and the fatt shal they laye vpon the wodd that lyeth vpon ye fyre on the altare. But ye bowels & legges shal be waszshen with water, and the prest shal burne alltogether vpon the altare for a burntsacrifice: this is an offerynge of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE.

Yf he wyl offre a burntsacrifice of the small catell, that is, of the lambes or goates, then let him offre a male without a blemysh. And he shall kyll it before the LORDE, euen at the corner of the altare on the north syde before ye LORDE. And (the prestes) Aarons sonnes shal sprenkle his bloude rounde aboute vpon ye altare, and it shal be hewen in peces. And the prest shall laye them with the heade and the fatt, vpon the wodd that lyeth vpon the fyre on the altare. But the bowels and ye legges shal be waszshen with water. And ye prest shal offre it alltogether, and burne it vpon ye altare for a burntsacrifice. This is an offerynge of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE.

But yf he wil offre a burntsacrifice of ye foules vnto the LORDE, then let him offre it of the turtill doues or of ye yonge pigeons. And the prest shal brynge it vnto the altare, and wrynge the neck of it a sunder, that it maye be burnt vpon the altare, and let the bloude of it runne out vpon the sydes of the altare, and the croppe of it with the fethers shalbe cast vpon the heape of aszshes besyde the altare towarde the east, and he shall deuyde the wynges of it, but not breake thē cleane of. And thus shall the prest burne it vpon the altare, euen vpon the wodd that lyeth vpō the fyre, for a burntsacrifice. This is an offerynge of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE.

The II. Chapter.

WHan a soule wyll offre a meat offerynge vnto the LORDE, Leui. 6. b and 9. c Nu. 15. a then shal it be of fyne floure, and he shal poure oyle vpon it, and put frankencense theron, & so brynge it vnto Aarons sonnes the prestes. Then shal one of them take his handefull of the same floure, and oyle with all the frankēcense, and burne it for a remembraunce vpon the altare. This is an offeringe of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE. Leui. 10. d As for ye remnaunt of the meat offerynge, it shalbe Aarons and his sonnes. This shalbe ye most holy of the offerynges of the LORDE.

But yf he wyll brynge a meat offerynge of that which is baken in the ouen, then let him take swete cakes of wheate, mixte with oyle, and vnleuended wafers anoynted with oyle. Neuertheles yf thy meat offerynge be enythinge of that which is fryed in the panne, then shal it be of fyne swete floure myxte with oyle: And thou shalt cut it in peces, & poure oyle theron: so is it a meat offerynge. But yf thy meat offeringe be ought broyled on the gredyron, then shalt thou make it of fyne floure with oyle. And the meat offerynge that thou wilt make of soch thinges for the LORDE, shalt thou brynge vnto ye prest, which shal brynge it vnto the altare, & shal Heue vp the same meat offerynge for a remē braunce, and burne it vpon the altare. This is an offerynge of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE. As for the remnaunt, it shal be Aarons and his sonnes. This shall be the most holy of the offerynges of the LORDE.

All the meat offerynges that ye wil offre vnto the LORDE, shal ye make without leuē. For there shal no leuē nor hony be burnt for an offerynge vnto the LORDE. But for the offerynge of the firstlinges shal ye offer thē vnto the LORDE. Neuertheles they shal come vpon no altare for a swete sauoure.

All thy meat offerynges shalt thou 〈…〉 salt. And thy meat offerynge shal neuer be with out ye salt of the couenaunt of thy God: for in all thy offerynges shalt thou offre salt.

But yf thou wilt offre a meat offerynge of the first frutes vnto ye LORDE, then shalt thou drye that which is grene, by the fyre, & beate it small, and so offre the meat offerynge of thy first frutes. And thou shalt put oyle vpon it, and laye frankēcense theron, so is it a meat offerynge. And then shall the prest beate it, and burne of the oyle with all the frankēcense for a remembraunce. This is an offerynge vnto the LORDE.

The III. Chapter.

BVt yf his offerynge be a deed offeringe of greate catell (whether it be oxe or cowe) then shal he offre soch as is without blemysh before the LORDE, & shal laie his hande vpon the heade of it, and kyll it before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And the prestes Aarons sonnes, shall sprenkle the bloude rounde aboute vpon the altare, and shal offre of ye dead offerynge vnto the LORDE: namely, all the fat that is within, and the two kydneyes with the fat that is theron vpon the loynes, and the nett on the leuer vpō the kydneyes also. And Aarons sonnes shal burne it vpon the altare for a burnt offerynge, euen vpon the wod that lyeth on the fyre. This is an offerynge of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE.

Yf his dead offerynge be of small catell, whether it be male or female, it shal be with out blemish: Yf it be a lambe, then shall he brynge it before the LORDE, & shal laye his hande vpon the heade of it, and sleye it before the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And Aarons sonnes shal sprenkle his bloude rounde aboute vpon the altare, and so offre of the dead-offerynge vnto the LORDE: namely, the fa of it, all the rompe with the backe, and the fat that couereth the bowels, with all ye fat that is within, and the two kydneys with the fat that is theron vpon the loynes, & the nett on the leuer vpon the kydneys also. And the prest shal burne it vpon the altare, for ye meate of the offerynge vnto ye LORDE.

But yf his offeringe be a goate, and bringeth it before the LORDE, he shal laye his hande vpon the heade of it, and kyll it before the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And Aarons sonnes shal sprēkle the bloude rounde aboute vpō the altare, & shal offer therof a sacrifice vnto the LORDE: namely, the fat yt couereth the bowels, and all the fat yt is within, the two kydneys with the fat that is theron vpon the loynes, & the net on the leuer vpon the kydneys. And the prest shal burne it vpō the altare, for the meate of the sacrifice to a swete sauoure.

•• it. 7. c All the fatt is the LORDES. Let this be a perpetuall lawe amonge yor posterities in all youre dwellynges, that ye eate no fatt, 〈◊〉 . 9. a 〈◊〉 . 17. d 〈◊〉 19. f ner bloude.

The IIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Speake vnto the childrē of Israel, and saye: Whan a soule synneth thorow ignoraunce in any commaundemēt of the LORDE, which he ought not to do: As namely, yf a prest which is anoynted, synne, that he make the people do amysse, he shall brynge for ye synne that he hath done, a yonge bullocke without blemysh vnto the LORDE for a syn offerynge. euit. 9. b And the bullocke shal he brynge to the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse before the LORDE, & laie his hāde vpō his heade, & kyll him before ye LORDE. And ye prest yt is anoynted, Leui. 16. c shal take of his bloude, & brynge it in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And he shall dyppe his fynger in to the bloude, & sprenkle therwith seuē tymes before the LORDE, towarde the vayle of ye Holy. And he shal put of the same bloude vpon the hornes of the altare of incense, yt stondeth before ye LORDE in the Tabernacle of wytnesse: & all the bloude of the bullocke shal he poure vpon the botome of the altare of burnt offeringes, yt stondeth at the entringe in of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse. And all the fat of the syn offerynge shal he Heue vp: namely, the fat yt couereth the bowels, & all the fat yt is within, ye two kydneys with the fatt that is theron vpon the loynes, and the net on the leuer vpon the kydneys also (like as he Heueth it from the oxe in the dead offerynge) and shall burne it vpon the altare of burnt offerynges. But the skynne of the bullocke, xo. 29. b Nu. 19. a and all the flesh, with the heade & legges, & the bowels and the donge, shal he cary alltogether out of the hoost, in to a cleane place, where ye aszshes are poured out, & shal burne it vpon wodd with fyre.

Whan the whole cōgregacion of Israel synneth thorow ignoraūce, & the dede be hyd from their eyes, so yt they do ought agaynst eny of the cōmaundementes of the LORDE, which they shulde not do, & come afterwarde to the knowlege of the synne that they haue done, they shal bringe yonge bullocke for a syn offerynge, and set him before ye dore of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse. And the Elders of the congregacion shall laye their handes vpon his heade before the LORDE, & kyll ye bullocke before the LORDE. And ye prest yt is anoynted shal brynge of ye bullockes bloude in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse, & dyppe ther in with his fynger, and sprenkle ther with seuen tymes before the LORDE, euē before the vayle of the Holy. And shall put of the bloude vpon the hornes of the altare, yt stondeth before the LORDE in the Tabernacle of wytnesse: & all ye other bloude shal he poure vpō the botome of ye altare of burnt-offerynges, yt stondeth before the dore of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse. But all his fatt shal he Heue vp, & burne it vpō the altare: & shal do with this bullocke, as he dyd with ye bullocke of the syn offeringe: Thus the prest shal make an attonement for them, & it shall be forgeuen them. And the bullocke shall he brynge without the hoost, and burne him, as he brent ye first bullocke. This shalbe ye synofferynge of the congregacion.

Whan a prynce synneth, & doth agaynst the cōmaundement of the LORDE his God, yt he ought not to do, & offendeth ignorauntly, & commeth to the knowlege of his synne yt he hath done, he shal bringe for his offeringe an he goate without blemysh, & laye his hande vpō the goates heade, & slaye him in ye place where ye burnt offeringes are slayne before ye LORDE. Thē shal ye prest take of ye bloude of ye syn offeringe wt his fynger, and put it vpon the altare of burnt offerynges, & poure the other bloude vpon the botome of the altare of burnt offerynges. But all the fat of it shal he burne vpō the altare, like as the fat of the health offerynge. And so the prest shal make an attonement for his synne, and it shal be forgeuen him.

Whā a soule of ye comon people synneth ignorauntly, doinge eny thinge agaynst the cōmaundement of the LORDE, yt he ought not to do, & so offendeth, & cōmeth to ye knowlege of the synne yt he hath done, he shal bringe for his offerynge a she goate without blemysh, for the synne yt he hath done, and shal laye his hande vpon the heade of the synofferynge, & slaye it in the place of the burnt-offerynges. And the prest shall take of the bloude wt his fynger, & put it vpon the hornes of ye altare of burnt offerynges, & poure all the bloude vpon the botome of the altare. But all the fat of it shal he take awaye, like as he taketh awaye the fat of the dead-offerynge, and shal burne it vpon the altare for a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE. And so shal the prest make an attonemēt for him, and it shal be forgeuen him.

But yf he brynge a lambe for a syn offerynge, then let him brynge a female without blemysh, and laye his hande vpon the heade of the syn offerynge, & kyll it for a syn offerynge, in the place where the burnt offerynges are slayne. And the prest shal take of ye bloude wt his fynger, & put it vpon the hornes of the altare of burnt offerynges, & poure all the bloude vpon the botome of the altare. But all ye fatt therof shall he take frō it, like as he dyd the fat of the lambe of the health offerynge, & shal burne it vpon ye altare for the LORDES sacrifice. And so ye prest shal make an attonement for the synne that he hath done, and it shalbe forgeuen him.

The V. Chapter.

WHan a soule synneth, yt he heare a oursynge, eui 24. c and is wytnesse therof, or hath sene it, Agg. b or knowne it, & telleth it not, he is giltie of a trespace. Or whan a soule 2. cor. 6. c toucheth eny vncleane thīge, whether it be ye carion of an vncleane beast, or catell, or worme, & was not awarre of it, he is vncleane, and hath offended. Or whan he toucheth an vncleane man (what vnclennesse so euer a man is defyled withall) & was not awarre of it, & afterwarde cōmeth to ye knowlege therof, ye same hath offended. Or whan a soule sweareth, so yt he pronounceth wt his mouth to do euell or good (what so euer it be that a man pronounceth wt an ooth) & was not awarre of it, & afterwarde cōmeth to the knowlege therof, he hath offended in one of these.

Now whan it so is, yt he hath offended in one of these, & is enfourmed therof, what he hath synned, he shal bringe vnto ye LORDE for his trespace of this his synne yt he hath done, a female from the flocke, either a yewe or a she goate for a syn offerynge: so shal the prest make an attonement for him concernynge his synne. Leui. 12. d But yf he be not able to brynge a shepe, then let him brynge vnto ye LORDE for his offence that he hath done, two turtill doues or two yonge pigeons: one for a syn offerynge, the other for a burnt offerynge, and brynge them to the prest: Which shall make the first a syn offerynge, and fyrst wringe the neck of it, so that he plucke it not cleane of, and sprenkle with the bloude vpō the sydes of the altare, and let the resydue of the bloude blede out vpon the botome of the altare: This is the syn offerynge. As for the other, he shal make it a burnt offerynge, after the maner therof. And thus shall the prest make an attonement for him concernynge the synne that he hath done, & it shalbe forgeuen him. But yf he be not able to brynge two turtill doues or two yonge pigeons, then let him brynge his offerynge for his synne, a tenth deale of an Epha of fyne floure for a syn offerynge. But he shall put no oyle theron, ner laye frankēcense vpon it, for it is a syn offerynge. And he shal brynge it vnto the prest, & ye prest shal take his hād full of it for a remembraunce, and burne it vpon the altare for an offerynge vnto the LORDE. This is a syn offeringe. And so shal the prest make an attoment for him, concernynge his synne that he hath done, & it shalbe forgeuen him. And the remnaunt shall be the prestes, like a meat offerynge.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Yf a soule trespace, so yt thorow ignoraū ce he offendeth in any thinge yt is halowed vnto the LORDE, he shal brynge his trespace offeringe vnto the LORDE, euen a ramme from ye flocke without blemysh, worth two Sycles of syluer, 〈…〉 after the Sycle of the Sanctuary, for a trespace offerynge: and loke what he hath offended in the halowed thinge, he shall make restitucion, & geue the fifth parte more therto. And he shal delyuer it vnto ye prest, which shall make an attonement for him wt the ramme of the trespace offeringe, & it shalbe forgeuen him.

Whan a soule synneth, and doth ought agaynst eny cōmaundement of the LORDE, yt he shulde not do, & is infourmed therof, he hath trespased, & is giltie of the synne. And he shall brynge from the flocke a ramme wt out blemysh (that is worth a trespace offeringe) vnto the prest, which shal make an attonement for him concernynge his ignoraunce which he dyd, and was not awarre, and it shalbe forgeuen him. This is the trespace-offerynge, because he trespaced agaynst the LORDE.

And ye LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Whan a soule synneth, & trespaceth agaynst the LORDE, so that he denyeth vnto his neghboure that which he gaue him to kepe, or that was put vnder his hande, or that he hath violently taken awaye, or gotten vnrighteously, or founde that was lost, and denyeth it with a false oth, what so euer it be, wherin a man synneth agaynst his neghboure. Now whan it commeth so to passe, 〈◊〉 . 5. a that he synneth after this maner, & trespaceth, he shal restore agayne that he toke violently awaye, or gat wrongeously, or that was geuen him to kepe, or that he hath founde, or what so euer it be aboute ye which he hath sworne falsely, he shal restore it againe whole alltogether, and geue the fifth parte more therto, euen to him that it belonged vnto, the same daye that he geueth his trespace offerynge. But for his trespace he shall brynge for the LORDE (euen vnto the prest) a ramme from the flocke without blemysh, that is worth a trespace offerynge. Then shall the prest make an attonement for him before the LORDE, and all that he hath synned in, shalbe forgeuen him.

The VI. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Commaunde Aaron and his sonnes, and saye: This is the lawe of the burnt offerynge. The burnt offerynge shall burne vpon the altare all night vntyll the mornynge. But the fyre of the altare onely shal burne theron. 〈◊〉 . 28. g And ye prest shal put on his lynen albe, and his lyuen breches vpon his flesh, and shal take vp the aszshes, that the fyre of the burnt offerynge vpon the altare hath made, and shall poure them besyde the altare. Then shall he put of his rayment, and put on other rayment, and cary out the aszshes without the hoost, into a cleane place.

The fyre vpon the altare shal burne, and neuer go out. The prest shal kyndle wod theron euery mornynge, and dresse the burnt offerynge vpon it, and burne the fat of the deed offerynges theron. The fyre shall euer burne vpon the altare, and neuer go out.

And this is the lawe of the meat offerynge, um. 15. a eui. 2. a which Aarons sonnes shall offre before the LORDE vpon the altare. One of them shall Heue his handfull of fyne floure of ye meat offerynge, and of the oyle, and all the frankencense that lyeth vpon the meat offerynge, and shall burne it vpon the altare for a swete sauoure a remembraunce vnto the LORDE. As for the remnaunt, Aaron and his sonnes shal eate it, and vnleuended shal they eate it in the holy place, namely, in the courte of the Tabernacle of witnesse. With leuē shal they not bake their porcion, which I haue geuen them of my offerynges. It shalbe vnto them most holy, as the syn offerynge and trespace offerynge. All the males amonge the children of Aaron shall eate of it. Let this be a perpetuall lawe for youre posterities in the sacrifices of the LORDE. No man shall touch it, excepte he be consecrated.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: This shalbe the offerynge of Aaron and of his sonnes, which they shall offre vnto the LORDE in the daie of their anoyntinge. The tenth parte of an Epha of fyne floure for a meat offerynge daylie, the one half parte in the mornynge, the other half parte at euen. In the panne with oyle shall thou make it, and brynge it fryed, and in peces shalt thou offer it for the swete sauoure of the LORDE. And the prest which amonge his sonnes shalbe anoynted in his steade, shall do this. This is a perpetuall dewtye vnto the LORDE. It shal be burnt alltogether: for all the meat offerynges of the prest shalbe consumed with the fyre, and not be eaten.

And ye LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto Aaron and his sonnes, and saye: This is the lawe of the syn offerynge: In the place where thou slayest ye bunrt offerynge, shalt thou slaye the syn offerynge also before the LORDE. This is most holy. Ose 4. b The prest that offereth the syn offerynge, shal eate it in the holy place, in the courte of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse. No man shal touch ye flesh therof, excepte he be halowed. And yf eny garment be sprenkled with the bloude of it, it shalbe washē in the holy place. And Leui. 11. e and 15. b the earthē pot that it is sodden in, shalbe broken. But yf it be a brasen pot, it shalbe scoured, and rēsed with water. All ye males amonge the prestes shall eate therof, for it is most holy. Notwithstondinge all ye syn offerynge whose bloude is brought in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse to make an attonement, shall not be eaten, but burnt with fyre.

The VII. Chapter.

ANd this is the lawe of the trespace-offerynge, and it shal be most holy. In the place where the burnt offerynge is slayne, shall the trespace offerynge be slayne also, & there shall of his bloude be sprenkled rounde aboute vpon the altare. And all his fat shalbe offered: the rompe and the fat yt couereth the bowels, the two kydneys with the fat yt is theron vpon the loynes, and the net on the leuer vpon the kydneys also. And the prest shal burne it vpon the altare for an offerynge vnto the LORDE. This is a trespace offerynge.

All the males amonge the prestes shal eate it in the holy place, for it is most holy: euen as the syn offerynge, so shall the trespace offerynge be also, they shall both haue one lawe: and it shal be the prestes, that reconcyleth ther wt. Loke which prest offereth eny mans burnt offorynge, the skynne of the same burnt offrynge that he hath offered, shal be his. And euery meat offerynge that is baken in the ouen, rosted vpon the gredyron, or fryed in the panne, shal be the prestes yt offereth it. And euery meat offerynge yt is myngled with oyle, or drye, shal belonge vnto all Aaron sonnes, vnto one as well as another.

And this is ye lawe of the health offeringe, that is offered vnto the LORDE, Psal. 115. a Yf they wyll offre a sacrifice of thankesgeuynge, then shal they offre vnleuēded cakes mē gled with oyle, and swete wafers straked ouer with oyle, and fryed cakes of fyne floure mengled with oyle. This offerynge also shall they brynge vpon a cake of leuended bred, to the thank offerynge of his health-offerynge: and of them all he shall offre one for an Heue offerynge vnto the LORDE. And it shalbe the prestes, that sprenkleth the bloude of the health offerynge. And the flesh of the thank offerynge in his healthofferynges, shalbe eaten the same daye that it is offred, and there shall nothinge be left ouer vntyll the mornynge.

Leui. 19. b And whether it be a vowe or a fre wyl-offerynge, it shalbe eaten the same daye that it is offred: yf ought be left ouer vntyll the mornynge, yet maye it be eaten. But loke what remayneth vnto ye thirde daye of the flesh that is offred, it shalbe brent with the fyre. And yf eny man vpon the thirde daie eate of ye offred flesh of his health offerynge, he shall not be accepted that offred it. Nether shall it be rekened vnto him, but it shalbe refused. And loke which soule eateth therof, the same is giltie of a mysdede.

And the flesh that toucheth eny vncleane thinge, shal not be eaten, but burnt with the fyre. But who so euer is cleane of body, shal eate of the flesh: and the soule that eateth of ye flesh of ye health offerynge which belongeth vnto the LORDE, his vnclennes be vpon him, and he shalbe roted out from amonge his people.

And whan a soule toucheth eny vncleane thinge, whether it be an vncleane man, catell, or eny other abhominacion that is, and eateth of the flesh of the burnt offerynge, that belongeth vnto the LORDE, the same shalbe roted out from amonge his people.

And the LORDE talketh with Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel, & saye: Ye shall eate no fat of oxen, 〈…〉 lambes, and goates: neuerthelesse the fat of it that dyeth alone, and of soch as is torne of wylde beastes, that maye ye occupye to all maner of vses, but ye shall not eate it.

For who so euer eateth the fat of ye beest that is geuen vnto the LORDE for an offerynge, the same soule shalbe roted out from his people. Morouer, 〈…〉 ye shall eate no bloude, nether of catell, ner of foules, where so euer ye dwell. What soule eateth eny bloude, the same shall be roted out from his people.

And the LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel, and saye: Who so wyll offre his health-offerynge vnto the LORDE, the same shall also brynge with all, that belongeth vnto ye health offerynge for the LORDE. But he shall brynge it with his hande for the offerynge of the LORDE: namely the fat vpon the brest shall he brynge, with the brest, to be a Waue offerynge before the LORDE. And the prest shall burne the fat vpon the altare, and the brest shalbe Aarons and his sonnes.

And the right shulder shal they geue vnto the prest for a gift of their health offerynges. And loke which of Aarons sonnes offreth the bloude of the health offerynges, and the fat, the same shall haue the right shulder for his parte. 〈…〉 For the Wauebrest and the Heueshulder haue I taken of the children of Israel, and of their health offerynges, and haue geuen them vnto Aaron the prest and vnto his sonnes for a perpetuall dewtye.

This is the anoyntinge of Aaron and of his sonnes, of the offerynges of the LORDE, in the daye whā Moses presented them to be prestes vnto the LORDE, what tyme as the LORDE commaunded (in the daye whan he anoynted them) to be geuen them of the children of Israel for a perpetuall dewtye, and vnto all their posterities. And this is the lawe of the burnt offerynge, of the meat offerynge, of the syn offerynge, of the trespace offerynge, of the offerynge of consecracion, and of the health offerynges, which the LORDE commaunded Moses vpon mount Sinai, in the daye whan he gaue him in commaudement vnto the children of Israel, to offre their offerynges vnto ye LORDE in the wyldernesse of Sinai.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Take Aaron and his sonnes wt him, & their vestimentes, & the anoyntinge oyle, •• o. 29. a and a bullocke for a syn offerynge, two rammes, and a maunde with vnleuended bred, and call the whole congregacion together, before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse. Moses dyd as the LORDE commaunded him, and gathered the congregacion together vnto the dore of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, and sayde vnto them: This is it, that the LORDE hath commaunded to do.

And he toke Aaron and his sonnes, and waszshed them with water, and put the albe vpō him, and girde him with the girdell, and put vpon him the yalowe tunycle, and put the ouerbody cote vpon him, and girde him vpon the ouerbody cote, & put the brest lappetheron, and in ye brestlappe light and perfectnesse: And set the myter vpon his heade. And vpon the myter euen aboue his fore heade, put he a plate of golde on the holy crowne: as ye LORDE cōmaunded Moses.

And Moses toke the xo. 30. d anoyntinge oyle, & anoynted the Habitacion, and all that was therin, and consecrated it, and sprenkled ther with seuē tymes vpon the altare, and anoynted the altare with all his vessels, the lauer with his fote, that it might be consecrated: 〈◊〉 . 132. a and poured the anoyntinge oyle vpon Aarons heade, and anoynted him, yt he might be consecrated.

And he brought Aarons sonnes, and put albes vpon them, and girde them with the girdle, and put bonettes vpon their heades, as the LORDE commaunded him.

And he caused bringe a bullocke for a syn offrynge. And Aaron with his sonnes layed their handes vpon his heade, and then was he slayne. And Moses toke of the bloude, & put it vpon the hornes of the altare rounde aboute with his fynger, and purified the altare, and poured the bloude vpon the botome of the altare, and consecrated it, that he might reconcyle it. And toke all the fat vpō the bowels, the nett vpon the leuer, and the two kydneys with the fat theron, and burned it vpon the altare. But the bullocke wt his skynne, flesh, & donge, burned he with fyre without the hoost, Exo. 29. as the LORDE commaunded him.

And he brought a ramme for a burnt offerynge. And Aaron wt his sonnes layed their handes vpon his heade, & then was he slayne. And Moses sprenkled of ye bloude vpon the altare rounde aboute, hewed the ramme in peces, and burnt the heade, the peces, and the fatt. And waszshed the bowels and the legges with water, and so burnt ye whole ramme vpō the altare. This was a brunt offerynge for a swete sauoure, euen a sacrifice vnto the LORDE, Exo. 29. as the LORDE commaunded him.

He brought also the other ramme of the offerynge of the consecracion. And Aaron with his sonnes layed their hādes vpon his heade, and then was it slayne. And Moses toke of his bloude, and put it vpon the typpe of Aarons right eare, and vpon the thombe of his right hande, and vpon the greate too of his right fote.

And he brought Aarons sonnes, and put of the bloude vpon the typpe of the right eare of them, and vpon ye thombes of their righte handes, and vpon the greate toes of their righte fete, and poured the resydue of the bloude vpon the altare rounde aboute. And he toke the fat and the rompe, Exo. 29. and all the fat vpon the bowels, and the nett vpon the leuer, the two kydneys with the fat theron, and the righte shulder. And out of the maunde of vnleuended bred before the LORDE, he toke an vnleuēded cake, and a cake of oyled bred, and a wafer, and layed them vpō the fat, and vpon the right shulder, and put alltogether vpon the handes of Aaron and of his sonnes, and waued it for a Waue offerynge before the LORDE.

And afterwarde toke he all agayne from their hondes, and burned them on the altare, euen vpon the burnt offeringe: for it is an offerynge of consecracion for a swete sauoure, euen a sacrifice vnto ye LORDE. And Moses toke the brest, Exo. 9. and waued it a Waue offerynge before the LORDE, of the ramme of the offerynge of consecracion: the same was Moses parte, as the LORDE commaunded Moses. And Moses toke of ye anoyntinge oyle, & of the bloude vpon the altare, & sprenkled it vpon Aaron & his vestimentes, vpon his sonnes & vpon their vestimentes, and so cōsecrated Aaron & his vestimentes, his sonnes and their vestimentes with him.

And he sayde vnto Aaron & his sonnes: Seeth ye flesh before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, & there eate it, & the bred in ye maunde of the cōsecracion offeringes, as it is cōmaunded me, & sayde: Aaron & his sonnes shall eate it. As for yt which remayneth of the flesh & bred, ye shal burne it with fyre. And in seuē dayes shall ye not departe from ye dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, vntyll the daye, yt the dayes of yor consecracion offerynges be at an ende: for seuē dayes must yor handes be consecrated, as it is come to passe this daye: The LORDE hath cō maunded to do it, that ye might be reconcyled. And ye shal tary before the Tabernacle of wytnesse daye and night seuen dayes longe, & shal kepe ye watch of ye LORDE, that ye dye not, for thus am I cōmaunded. And Aaron with his sonnes dyd all, that ye LORDE commaunded by Moses.

The IX. Chapter.

ANd vpon the eight daye Moses called Aaron and his sonnes, and the Elders in Israel, and sayde vnto Aaron: Take vnto the a yonge calfe for a syn offeringe, and a ramme for a burnt offerynge, both without blemysh, and brynge them before the LORDE, and speake vnto the children of Israel, and saye: Take an he goate for a syn-offerynge: and a calf, and a shepe, both of a yeare olde, and without blemysh for a burnt offerynge: and an oxe and a ramme for an health offerynge, that we maye offre before the LORDE: and a meat offerynge myngled with oyle. For to daye shal the LORDE appeare vnto you.

And they toke what Moses commaunded before ye dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and the whole cōgregacion came nye, and stode before the LORDE. Then sayde Moses: This is it, which the LORDE commaunded that ye shulde do, and then shall the glory of ye LORDE appeare vnto you. And Moses sayde vnto Aaron: Go vnto ye altare, and Heb. 5. b and 7. d offre thy syn offerynge and thy burnt offerynge, and make an attonemēt for the and for the people. Then offre the peoples offerynge, and reconcyle them also, as the LORDE hath commaunded.

Leui. 4. a And Aaron wente vnto the altare, and slewe ye calfe for his syn offerynge, & his sonnes brought the bloude vnto him. And he dypte his fynger in the bloude, and put it vpon the hornes of the altare, and poured ye bloude vpon ye botome of the altare. As for the fat and the kydneys & the net vpon the leuer of the syn offerynge, he burnt thē vpon the altare, as the LORDE cōmaunded Moses. The flesh also and the hyde burnt he wt fyre without the hoost.

Afterwarde he slewe the burnt offeringe, and Aarons sonnes brought the bloude vnto him, & he sprenkled it rounde aboute vpon the altare. And they brought him the burnt offerynge in peces, & the heade: & he burnt it vpon the altare. And he washed the bowels and the legges, and burnt them aboue vpon the burnt offerynge on the altare.

Then brought he the offerynge of the people, and toke the goate, 〈…〉 that syn offerynge of the people, and slewe it, and made a syn offerynge therof, as of the fyrst. And brought the burnt offerynge, and dyd as the lawe is: and brought the meat offerynge, and toke his handfull, 〈…〉 and burnt it vpon the altare, besyde the burnt offeringe of the mornynge.

Afterwarde slewe he the oxe and the ramme for the health offerynge of the people. And his sonnes brought him the bloude, which he sprenkled vpon the altare rounde aboute. But the fat of the oxe & of the ramme, the rompe, and the fat that couereth the bowels, & the kydneyes, & the net vpon the leuer, all soch fat laied they vpon the brest, and burnt the fat vpon the altare. But the brest and the right shulder waued Aaron for a Waue offerynge before the LORDE, 〈…〉 as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

And Aaron lift vp his hāde ouer the people, and blessed them, and came downe from the worke of the syn offerynge, burnt offerynge, and health offerynge. And Moses and Aaron wente in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And whan they came out agayne, they blessed the people. Then appeared the glory of the LORDE vnto all the people. For there came 〈…〉 a fyre from the LORDE, and vpon the altare it consumed the burnt-offerynge and the fat. Whan all the people sawe that, they reioysed, and fell vpon their faces.

The X. Chapter.

ANd ye sonnes of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, toke ether of thē his censoure, 〈…〉 & put fyre therin, & layed incense vpon it, and brought straunge fyre before the LORDE, 〈…〉 which he commaūded them not. Then

wente there out a fyre from ye LORDE, and consumed them, so that they dyed before the LORDE. Then sayde Moses vnto Aaron: This is it, that the LORDE sayde: I wil be sanctified vpō them that come nye me, and before all the people wil I be glorified. And Aaron helde his peace.

Moses called Misael and Elzaphan the sonnes of Vsiel Aarons vncle, and sayde vnto them: Go to, and cary youre brethren out of the Sanctuary, without the hoost. And they wente, and caried them forth in their albes without the hoost, as Moses sayde.

Then sayde Moses vnto Aaron & to his sonnes Eleasar and Ithamar: 〈◊〉 14. 〈◊〉 6. a Ye shall not vncouer youre heades, ner rente yor clothes, that ye dye not, and the wrath come vpon the whole congregacion: Let youre brethrē of the whole house of Israel bewepe this burnynge, which the LORDE hath done. As for you, ye shall not go out from the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, lest ye dye: for the anoyntinge oyle of the LORDE is vpon you. And they dyd as Moses sayde.

The LORDE spake vnto Aaron, & sayde: Thou & thy sonnes wt the shal drynke no wyne ner stronge drynke, 〈◊〉 44. d 〈◊〉 1. b whan ye go in to the Tabernacle of wytnesse: that ye dye not. Let this be a perpetuall lawe vnto all yor posterities: yt ye maye haue knowlege to discerne, what is holy and vnholy, what is cleane & vncleane: & that ye maye teach the children of Israel all the lawes, which the LORDE hath spoken vnto you by Moses.

And Moses sayde vnto Aaron, and vnto Eleasar and Ithamar his sonnes that were left: 〈…〉 Take the remnaunt of the meat offerynge in the sacrifices of ye LORDE, and eate it without leuen besyde the altare, for it is most holy, euen in the holy place shal ye eate it. For it is thy dutye and thy sonnes dutye in the sacrifices of the LORDE: for thus am I commaunded. But the Wauebrest and the Heueshulder shalt thou eate, and thy sonnes and thy doughters with the in a cleane place. For this dutye is geuen vnto the and thy children in the dead offerynges of the children of Israel. For the Heueshulder and the Wauebrest to the offerynges of the fat, shalbe brought in, that they maye be waued for a Waue offeringe before the LORDE. Therfore is it thine and thy childrens for a perpetuall dutye, as the LORDE commaunded.

And Moses sought for the goate of the syn offerynge, and founde it burnt. And he was angrie at Eleasar and Ithamar ye sonnes of Aaron, which were left alyue, and sayde: Wherfore haue ye not eaten the syn offerynge in the holy place? for it is most holy, & he hath geuen it you, that ye might beare ye synne of the cōgregacion, to make agremēt for them before the LORDE. Beholde, the bloude of it came not in to the Sanctuary: Ye shulde haue eaten it in the Sanctuary, as I was commaunded.

Aaron sayde vnto Moses: Beholde, this daye haue they offred their syn offerynge & their burnt offerynge before ye LORDE. And it is chaunsed me after this maner. And shulde I eate of the syn offerynge to daye, & be mery before the LORDE? Whan Moses herde that, he was content.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE talked wt Moses & Aaron & sayde: Speake vnto ye childrē of Israel, and saye: Deu. 14. a Act. 10 b These are the beestes which ye shal eate amōge all ye beestes vpō earth: What so euer hath hoffe, & deuydeth it in to two clawes, & cheweth cud amonge the beestes, that shal ye eate. But loke what cheweth cud & hath hoffe, & deuydeth it not, as the Camell, the same is vncleane vnto you, & ye shal not eate it. The Conyes chewe cud, but they deuyde not the hoffe in to two clawes, therfore are they vncleane vnto you. The Hare cheweth cud also, but deuydeth not ye hoffe in to two clawes, therfore is he vncleane vnto you. And the Swyne deuydeth ye hoffe in to two clawes, but cheweth not the cud, therfore is it vncleane vnto you. Of the flesh of these shall ye not eate, ner touch their carcases, for they are vncleane vnto you.

These shall ye eate of all that are in the waters: What so euer hath fynnes and scales in the waters, sees & ryuers, that shal ye eate. But what so euer hath not fynnes and scales in the sees and ryuers, amonge all yt moue in the waters, & of all that lyue in the waters, it shalbe an abhominacion vnto you, so that ye eate not of their flesh, and that ye abhorre their carcases. For all that haue not fynnes & scales in the waters, shall ye abhorre.

And these shal ye abhorre amonge ye foules, so that ye eate them not: The Aegle, the Goshauke, the Cormoraunte, the Vultur, ye Ryte, and all his kynde, and all Rauens wt their kynde: the Estrich, ye Nightcrow, the Cocow, the Sparow hauke with his kynde, the litle Oule, the Storke, the greate Oule, ye Backe, the Pellycane, the Swanne, the Pye, the Heron, ye Iaye with his kynde, the Lap wynge, and ye Swalowe. And whatso euer crepeth amonge the foules, and goeth vpon foure fete, shalbe an abhominaciō vnto you. Yet these shal ye eate of the foules that crepe and go vpon foure fete: euen those that haue no knyes aboue vpon ye legges, to hoppe withall vpon earth. Of these maye ye eate, as there is the Arbe with his kynde, and the Selaam with his kynde, & the Hargol with his kynde, & the Hagab wt his kynde. But what so euer els hath foure fete amonge the foules, it shalbe an abhominacion vnto you, Leui. 5. a Agg 2. b and ye shal take it for vncleane. Who so euer toucheth the carcase of soch, shall be vncleane vntill ye euen: and who so euer beareth the carcase of eny of these, shall wash his clothes, and shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen.

Therfore euery beest that hath hoffe, and deuydeth it not in to two clawes, & cheweth not cud, shalbe vncleane vnto you. Who so euer toucheth soch, shalbe vncleane. And what so euer goeth vpon handes amonge ye beestes that go vpon foure fete, shalbe vncleane vnto you. Who so euer toucheth the carcases of thē, shalbe vncleane vntyll euen. And he yt beareth their carcase, shall wash his clothes, and be vncleane vntyll the euē: For soch are vncleane vnto you.

These shalbe vncleane vnto you also, amonge the beestes that crepe vpon earth: ye Wesell, the Mouse, the Tode, euery one with his kynde, the Hedgehogge, the Stellio, the Lacerte, the Snale, and the Moule, these are vncleane vnto you amonge all that crepe. Who so euer toucheth the deed carcase of thē, shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen. And what so euer eny soch deed carcase falleth vpon, it shalbe vncleane, what so euer vessell of wodd it be, or rayment, or skynne, or bagge. And euery vessell that eny thinge is occupyed withall, shalbe put in the water, and is vncleane vntyll the euen, and then shal it be cleane. Leui. 6. d and 15. b All maner of earthen vessell that eny soch carcase falleth in to, shal all be vncleane that therin is, & ye shal breake it. All meate which is eatē, that eny soch water commeth in to, is vncleane: & all maner of drynke that is dronkē in all maner of soch vessell, is vncleane. And what so euer eny soch carcase falleth vpō, it shalbe vncleane, whether it be ouen or kettell, so shal it be brokē, for it is vncleane, and shalbe vncleane vnto you: Neuertheles the fountaynes, welles, & poundes of water are cleane. But who so euer toucheth their carcases, is vncleane.

And though the deed carcase of eny soch fell vpon the sede that is sowne, yet is it cleane. But whan there is water poured vpon the sede, and afterwarde eny soch deed carcase falleth theron, then shall it be vncleane vnto you.

Whan a beest dyeth that ye maye eate, he that toucheth the deed carcase therof, is vncleane vntyll euen. Who so eateth of eny soch carcase, shall wash his clothes, and be vncleane vntyll the euen. Likewyse he that beareth eny soch carcase, shal wash his clothes, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.

What so euer crepeth vpon earth, shall be an abhominacion vnto you, and shall not be eaten. And what so euer crepeth vpon ye bely, or all that goeth vpon foure or mo fete, amōge all that crepeth vpon earth, shall ye not eate, for it shalbe an abhominacion vnto you. Make not youre soules abhominable, and defyle you not in them, to stayne youre selues: for I am the LORDE youre God. Therfore shal ye sanctifie youre selues, that ye maye be holy, for I am holy. 〈…〉 And ye shal not defyle youre selues on eny maner of crepynge beest, that crepeth vpon earth: for I am the LORDE, which brought you out of the londe of Egipte, that I might be youre God: therfore shal ye be holy, for I am holy.

This is the lawe ouer ye beestes and foules, & all maner of soules of crepynge beestes in the waters, and all maner of soules yt crepe vpon earth: that ye maie knowe to discerne what is vncleane & cleane, and what maner of beestes are to be eaten, and which are not to be eaten.

The XII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel, and saye: Whan a woman hath conceaued, and beareth a manchilde, she shalbe vncleane seuen dayes, so longe as she suffreth hir disease, 〈…〉 and in ye eight daye shal ye flesh of his foreskynne be cut awaie. And she shal byde at home thre and thirtie dayes in ye bloude of hir purifienger she shal touch no holy thinge, ner come in to ye Sāctuary, tyll the daies of hir purifienge be out. But yf she heare a mayde childe, thē shal she be vncleane two wekes, so longe as she suffreth hir disease, and sixe and thre score daies shall she byde at home in the bloude of hir purifienge.

〈…〉 And whan the dayes of hir purifienge are out, for the sonne or for the doughter, she shal brynge a lambe of one yeare olde for a burnt offerynge, and a yonge pigeon or a turtill done for a syn offerynge to the dore of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse vnto ye prest, which shal offre it before the LORDE, and make an attonemēt for her, and so shal she be clensed from hir bloudyssue. This is the lawe for her that beareth a manchilde or mayde childe.

uit. 5. b But yf she be not able to bringe a shepe, then let hir take two turtill doues, or two yonge pigeons, the one for a burnt offerynge, the other for a syn offerynge, then shall the prest make an attonement for her, so that she shal be cleane.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE spake vnto Moses & Aaron, & sayde: Whan there ryseth vp eny thinge in the skynne of a mans flesh, whether it be a scabbe or a glistrynge whyte (as though there wolde be a leprosy in ye szkynne of his flesh) he shal be brought vnto Aaron the prest, or to one of his sonnes amonge ye prestes. And whan the prest seyth the plage vpon the szkynne of the flesh, that the hayres are turned to whyte, and it seme deper in that place then the other szkynne of his flesh, then is it surely a leprosy, therfore shal the prest loke vpon him, and iudge him vncleane.

But whan there is eny whyte plecke in the szkynne of his flesh, and yet seme no deper then the other szkynne of the flesh, and the hayres be not turned to whyte, thē shal the prest shut him vp seuen dayes, and on ye seuenth daye loke vpon him: yf the plage seme vnto him as afore, & hath frett no deper in the szkynne, then shall the prest shut him vp yet seuen dayes mo. And whan he loketh on him agayne vpon the seuenth daye, and fyndeth, that the plage be darkish, and hath frett no deper in the szkynne, thē shal he iudge him cleane, for it is but a szkyrfe, and he shal wash his clothes, & then is he cleane.

But whan the scabbe fretteth farther in the szkynne (after that he is sene of the prest, and iudged cleane) and he be now sene of the prest agayne: whan the prest seyth thē, yt the scabbe hath frett farther in the szkynne, he shal iudge him vncleane, for it is surely a leprosy.

Whan a plage of leprosy is vpō a man, he shalbe brought vnto the prest. Whan he seyth and fyndeth, that there is whyte rysen vp in the szkynne, and the hayre turned vnto whyte, and there be rawe flesh in the sore, thē is it surely an olde leprosy in ye szkynne of his flesh, therfore shal the prest iudge him vncleane, and not shut him vp, for he is vn cleane allready.

But whan the leprosy breaketh out in the szkynne, and couereth the whole szkynne, from the heade vnto the fote, all that the prest can se, So whan the prest loketh vpon it, and fyndeth, that ye leprosy hath couered all the flesh, he shal iudge him cleane, for so moch as it is turned all in to whyte vpon him, for he is cleane.

Notwithstōdinge yf there be rawe flesh there, in the daye whan he is loked vpon, thē is he vncleane. And whan the prest seyth ye rawe flesh, he shall iudge him vncleane, for he is vncleane, & it is surely a leprosye. But yf the rawe flesh chaunge agayne, and be turned in to whyte, then shall he come vnto the prest. And whan the prest loketh vpon him, and fyndeth, that the plage is turned to whyte, he shall iudge him cleane, for he is cleane.

Whan there is a byle in the szkynne of eny mans flesh, and healeth agayne, and afterwarde in the same place there aryse vp eny whyte thinge, or a glisterynge whyte som what reedish, he shal be sene of the prest. So whan the prest, seyeth, that it appeareth to be lower then the other szkynne, and the hayre turned to whyte, then shall he iudge him vncleane, for it is surely a plage of leprosye broken out of the byle. But yf the prest se and fynde, that the hayres are not whyte, and it not lower then the other szkynne, and is darkysh, he shal shut him vp seuen dayes. Yf it hath frett farther in the szkynne, then shal he iudge him vncleane, for it is surely a plage of leprosye. But yf the glysterynge whyte abyde styll, and freate no farther, thē is it but a prynte of the byle, and the prest shal iudge him cleane.

Whan the szkynne of eny mans flesh is hurt with fyre, and the prynte of the burninge be reedysh or whyte, and the prest loketh vpon him, and fyndeth the hayre turned to whyte vpon the mark of the burnynge, & it apeare deper then the other szkynne, thē is there surely a leprosy brokē out of ye prynte of ye burnynge: therfore shal ye prest iudge hī vncleane, for it is a plage of leprosye. But yf the prest se and fynde, that ye hayre vpon the prynte of the burninge is not turned vnto whyte, & is no lower then the other skynne, and is darkish also, he shall shut him vp seuen dayes.

And vpon the seuenth daye he shall loke vpon him: yf it hath frett farther in ye skynne, then shal he iudge him vncleane, for it is a leprosy. But yf it stōde styll vpō the mark of the burnynge, and frett no farther in the skynne, and is darkysh, then is it a sore in ye mark of the burnynge, & the prest shal iudge him cleane, for it is but the prynte of the burnynge.

Whan a man or woman is skyruye vpon the heade or beerd, and the prest seyth the mark, and fyndeth that it appeareth deper then the other skynne, and the hayre be there goldē and thynne, then shal he iudge him vncleane: for it is a skyrfe of leprosy of the heade or of the beerde. But yf the prest se that ye skyrfe apeare no deper thē the skynne, and that the hayre is not of a pale coloure, he shall shut him vp seuē dayes. And vpō the seuenth daye whan he loketh, and fyndeth, that the skyrfe hath frett no farther, and there be no golden hayre there, and that the skyrfe appeare no deper then the other skynne, then let him be shauen: but so that he shaue not of the scabbe, and the prest shall shut him vp yet seuen dayes moo. And vpon the seuēth daye whā he loketh, and fyndeth that the skyrfe hath frett no farther in the skynne, and that it apeareth no deper then the other skynne, then shall the prest iudge him cleane. And he shall wash his clothes, for he is cleane. But yf the scabbe freate farther in the skynne (after yt he is iudged cleane) and the prest loketh, and fyndeth, that ye scabbe hath frett farther in the skynne, then shal he seke nom re for golden hayres, for he is vncleane. Neuerthelesse yf he se that the scabbe stondeth styll, & that pale hayres are there rysen vp, then is ye scabbe hole, and he is cleane, therfore shall ye prest iudge him to be cleane.

Whā there is eny glisteringe whyte vpō ye skynne of the flesh of a man or woman, and the prest seyth there that the glisterynge whyte vanysheth: then is it but a whyte scabbe rysen vp in ye skynne, & he is cleane.

Whan the hayres fall out of the heade of a man or a woman, so that he is balde, the same is cleane. Yf they fall out of his fore heade, then is he fore heade balde & cleane. But yf there be a whyte reedish sore in the balde heade, or balde fore heade, then is there a leprosy rysen vp in the balde heade or balde foreheade: therfore shal ye prest loke vpon him. And whan he fyndeth the whyte reedysh sore rysen vp in his balde heade or balde foreheade, then shal ye skynne of the flesh be as leporous, therfore is he a leporous man and vncleane. And the prest shall iudge him vncleane, because of ye same sore vpō his heade.

Who so now is leporous, his clothes shal be rent, and the heade bare, & the lippes moffled, and shall in eny wyse be called vncleane. And as longe as the sore is vpon him, 〈…〉 he shal be vncleane, dwell alone, and haue his dwellinge without the hoost.

Whan the plage of leprosy is in a cloth, whether it be wollen or lynnen, in the warpe or weft, whether it be lynnen or wollen, or in a skynne, or in eny maner thynge that is made of skynne. And whan ye plage is pale or reedish in the cloth or skynne, either in the warpe or weft, or in eny maner thinge that is made of skynne, the same is surely the plage of leprosy, therfore shall the prest loke vpon it. And whan he seyth the plage, he shal shut it vp seuen dayes. And vpon the seuēth daye whan he seyth that ye plage hath frett farther in the cloth, in the warpe or weft, in a skynne or in eny maner thinge that is made of skynne, then is it a fretinge plage of leprosye, and is vn cleane. And the cloth shal be burnt, either warpe or weft, whether it be wollen or lynnē, or eny thynge made of skynne, wherin is eny soch plage. For it is a plage of leprosy, and shal be burnt wt fyre.

But yf the prest se that the plage hath frete no farther in ye cloth, either in the warpe or weft, or eny thinge made of skynne, then shal he commaunde to wash the thinge that the plage is in, and shall shut it vp other seuen dayes. And whan the prest seyth (after that the plage is waszshen) yt the plage is not chaūged before his eyes, and hath frett no farther also, yet is it vn cleane, & shal be burnt wt fyre: for it is depe fretē inwarde, and hath made skyrfes. Neuertheles whan the prest seyth that the prynte is vanyshed after the washinge of it, then shall he rente it out of the clothe, and of the skynne, out of the warpe or weft. But yf it appeare eny more in the clothe (either in the warpe, or in the weft) or eny maner thinge made of skynne, then is it a waxinge plage: and with fyre shal it be burnt that eny soch plage is in. As for the cloth, either warpe or weft, or eny maner thynge made of skynne that is waszshē, and the plage be departed from it, it shalbe waszshen once agayne, & then is it cleane.

This is the lawe ouer the plage of leprosy in clothes, whether they be wollen or lynnē (ether in the warpe or in the weft) and in eny maner of thinge made of sknne, to iudge them cleane or vncleane.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE sp t vnto Moses, and sayde: This is the •• we ouer ye leper, whan he shalbe clensed. 〈…〉 He shall come vnto ye prest, and the prest shal go out of the hoost, and loke how the plage of leprosye is healed vpon the leper. And he shal commaunde him that is to be clensed, to take two lyuinge by des, which are cleane, and Ceder wodd, and purple woll, and ysope: and shall commaunde the one byrde to be kylled in an earthen vessell ouer sprynginge water. And he shall take the lyuynge byrde with the Ceder wodd, the purple woll, and ysope, and dyppe them in the bloude of the slaine byrde vpon the springynge water, and sprenkle it seuen tymes vpon him that must be clensed from ye leprosy. And so clense him, and let the lyuynge byrde flye at libertye in to the felde.

But he that is clensed, shal wash his clothes, and shaue of all his hayre, and bathe him self with water, so is he cleane. Afterwarde let him go in to the hoost, yet shall he tarye without his tent seuen dayes. And vpon the seuenth daye shal he shaue of all ye hayre vpon his heade, vpō his beerde, vpon his browes, so that all the hayre be shauen of, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, then is he cleane.

And vpō the eight daye shal he take two lambes without blemysh, and a shepe of a yeare olde without blemysh, and thre tenth deales of fyne floure for a meat offerynge, myngled with oyle, & a Logg of oyle. Thē shall the prest presente him that is clensed and these thinges before the LORDE, before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and shal take ye one lambe, and offre it for trespace offerynge, with the Logg of oyle, & shall waue them, before ye LORDE, and afterwarde slaye the lambe, where the syn offerynge and burnt offerynge are slayne, namely, in the holy place. For as the syn offerynge, so is the trespace offerynge the prestes also, for it is most holy.

And the prest shall take of the bloude of the trespace offerynge, and put it vpon the typpe of ye right eare of him that is clēsed, and vpon the thombe of his right hande, and vpon the greate too of his right fote, Afterwarde shall he take of the oyle out of the Logg, and poure it in to his awne left hande, and dyppe his right fynger in the oyle that is in his left hande, and sprenkle the oyle with his fynger seuen tymes before the LORDE. As for the remnaunt of the oyle in his hande, he shall put it vpon the typpe of the right eare of him that is clensed, and vpon the thombe of his right hande, & vpon the greate too of his right fote, euen aboue vpon the bloude of the trespace offerynge. But the remnaunt of the oyle in his hande, shall he poure vpon the heade of him that is clensed, and make an attonement for him before the LORDE. And he shall make the syn offerynge, and reconcyle him that is clē sed, because of his vnclennesse. And afterwarde shall he sleye the burnt offerynge, and shal offre it vpon the altare with the meatofferynge, and make an attonement for him, & than is he cleane.

But yf he be poore, and getteth not so moch with his hande, then let him take one lambe for a trespace offerynge to waue it, to make an attonement for him, and a tenth deale of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge, and a Logg of oyle, & two turtyll doues, or two yonge pigeons which he is able to get with his hande, let the one be a syn offerynge, the other a burnt offerynge: and let him brynge them vpon the eight daye of his clensynge vnto the prest before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse before the LORDE.

Then shall the prest take the lambe for the syn offerynge, and the Logg of oyle, and shall waue them all before the LORDE, and sley the lambe of the trespace offerynge: and take of ye bloude of the same trespace offerynge, and put it vpon the typpe of the righte eare of him that is clensed, and vpon the thombe of his right hande, and vpon the greate too of his righte fote, and poure of the oyle in to his awne lefte hande, and with his right fynger sprenkle the oyle that is in his left hande, seuen tymes before the LORDE.

As for the remnaunt of the oyle in his hande, he shal put it vpon the typpe of the right eare of him that is clensed, and vpon the thombe of his right hande, & vpon the greate too of his right fote, euen aboue vpō ye bloude of ye trespace offerynge. The other oyle in his hāde shal he poure vpō ye heade of him yt is clensed, to make an attonement for him before the LORDE. And afterwarde of the one of the turtill doues or yonge pigeons (acordinge as his handes are able to get) he shal make a syn offerynge, of ye other a burnt offerynge, with the meat offerynge: and so shal the prest make an attonemēt for him that is clensed before the LORDE.

Let this be the lawe for the leper, which is not able with his hande to get, that belongeth vnto his clensynge.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses and Aaron, and sayde: Whan ye are come in to the lande of Canaan, which I geue you to possesse: and yf there happen a plage of leprosy in any house of youre possession, then shal he that oweth the house, come and tell the prest, and saye: Me thynke there is as it were a plage of leprosy in my house. Then shal the prest commaunde to rydde all thynge out of the house or euer the prest go in to se ye plage, lest all that is in the house be made vncleane. Afterwarde shall ye prest go in, to se the plage.

Now whan he loketh, and fyndeth, yt there be holowe strakes yalowe or reedish in the walles of the house, & they seme to be lower then the wall besyde, then shall he go out at the dore of the house, and shut vp the house for seuen dayes. And vpon the seuenth daye whan he commeth, and seyth that the plage hath fretten farther in the walles of the house, thē shall he commaunde to breake out the stones wherin the plage is, & to cast thē in a foule place without the cite, & the house to be scraped within rounde aboute, and the dust yt is scraped of, to be poured without ye cite in an vncleane place, & to take other stones, and put them in the place of the other, and to take other playster, and playster the house.

Whan the plage then commeth agayne, and breaketh forth in the house, after yt the stones are brokē out, the playster scraped of, and the house playsterd of the new, thē shal the prest go in: and whan he seyth that the plage hath fretten farther in the house, then is there surely a fretinge leprosy in the house, and it is vncleane: therfore shal the house be broken downe, both the stones, and ye tymber and all the dust of the house, and shal be caried out of the cite in to an vncleane place. And who so goeth in to the house, whyle it is shut vp, is vncleane vntyll ye euen. And he yt lyeth therin, or eateth therin, shal wash his clothes.

But yf the prest se (whā he goeth in) that this plage hath frett no farther in the house, after that the house is new playsterd, thē shal he iudge it to be cleane, for the plage is healed. And to a syn offeringe for the house, he shal take two byrdes, Ceder wodd, & purple woll, and ysope, and slaye the one byrde in an erthen vessell vpon sprynginge water, and shall take the Ceder wodd, the purple woll, the ysope, and the lyuinge byrde, & dyppe them in the bloude of the slayne byrde vpon the sprynginge water, and sprenkle the house with all seuē tymes: and so shal he purifie the house with the bloude of the byrde, with the springinge water, with the lyuinge byrde, with the Ceder wodd, with the ysope, and with the purple woll. And the lyuynge byrde shall he let flye at libertye out of the towne in to the felde, & make an attonement for the house, and then is it cleane.

This is the lawe ouer all maner plage of leprosye & skyrfe, ouer ye leprosye of clothes and of houses, ouer sores, scabbes, and gliste rynge whyte, that it maye be knowne, whan eny thinge is vncleane or cleane. This is ye lawe of leprosy.

The XV. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses and Aaron, and sayde: Speake to the children of Israel, and saie vnto him: Whan a man hath a runnynge yssue from out of his flesh, ye same is vncleane: but thē is he vncleane by the reason of this yssue, whan his flesh is fretten of ye yssue or wounde. Euery bed where on he lyeth, & what so euer he sytteth vpon, shalbe vncleane.

And he that toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.

And he yt sytteth where he sat, shal wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euē. Who so toucheth his flesh, shall wash his clothes, & bathe him self with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen. Whan he spytteth vpon him that is cleane, ye same shal wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, & be vncleane vntyll the euen.

And the saddell and what so euer he rydeth vpō, shalbe vncleane. And who so euer toucheth eny thinge that hath bene vnder him, shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen. And who so beareth eny soch, shall wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen. And whom so euer he toucheth, and washeth not his handes first, the same shal wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen. 〈…〉 Whan he toucheth an erthen vessell, it shal be broken: but the treen vessell shal be rensed wt water. And whā he is cleane of his yssue, he shal nombre vij. dayes, after yt he is made cleane, & wash his clothes, & bathe him self wt sprynginge water, thē is he cleane. And vpon the eight daye shal he take two turtill doues or two yonge pigeōs, and brynge them before the LORDE before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and geue them vnto the prest. And the prest shal make of the one a syn offeringe, of the other a burnt offerynge, and make an attonement for him before the LORDE, as concernynge his yssue.

Whan a mans sede departeth from him in slepe, the same shal bathe all his flesh wt water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen. And all clothes, and euery skynne that is stained with soch sede, shall he wash with water, & be vncleane vntyll the euen. A woman, by whom soch one lyeth, shall bathe hir self wt water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.

Whan a woman hath the bloude yssue of hir flesh, she shalbe put a parte vij. daies in to a sundrie place. Who so euer toucheth her, shal be vncleane vntyll the euē. And all that she lyeth vpon (as longe as she is put aparte) shalbe vncleane. And that she sytteth vpō, shalbe vncleane. And who so euer toucheth hir bed, shal wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen. And who so euer toucheth eny maner thinge that she hath sytten vpō, shal wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euē.

And yf a man lye with her (whyle she is put a parte) he shalbe vncleane seuen dayes, Leui. 18. c and the bed that he laye vpon, shalbe vncleane.

Matt. 9. c But whan a woman hath hir bloude yssue a longe season, not onely at the tyme of hir naturall course, but also out of the tyme of hir naturall course, then shall she be vncleane so longe as she hath the yssue: euē as she is at the tyme whan she is put aparte, so shall she be vncleane here also. What so euer she lyeth vpon all the tyme of hir yssue, shalbe as hir bed, whan she is put aparte. And all that she sytteth vpon, shalbe vncleane, as is hir vnclennesse, whan she is put aparte. Who so euer toucheth eny of them, shal be vncleane, and shal wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, & be vncleane vntyll the euen.

But yf she be cleane of hir yssue, thē shal she nombre seuen dayes, afterwarde shall she be cleane: and vpon the eight daye shall she take two turtill doues, or two yonge pigeons, and brynge them vnto the prest before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And the prest shall make of the one a synofferynge, of the other a burnt offerynge, and make an attonement for her before the LORDE, as concernynge the yssue of hir vnclennesse.

Thus shal ye se that the childrē of Israel kepe them selues from their vnclēnesse, that they dye not in their vnclennesse, whan they defyle my habitacion, which is amōge you.

This is the lawe ouer him that hath a runnynge sore, & him whose sede departeth from him in slepe, so that he is vncleane ther of. And ouer her that hath hir bloude yssue, and who so euer hath a runnynge sore, whether it be man or woman, and whan a man lyeth with her that is vncleane.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses (after that Aarons two sonnes were deed, Leu. 10. whan they offered before the LORDE) & sayde: Speake vnto Aaron thy brother, yt he go not at all tymes in to ye ynnermer Sanctuary, within the vale before the Mercyseate, which is vpon the Arke, yt he dye not: Exo. 40. 3. Re. 8. b for I wyll appeare in a cloude vpon ye Mercyseate. But herewithall shal he go in, euen with a yonge bullocke for a syn offerynge, and with a ramme for a burntofferynge, and shal put on the holy lynnen albe, and haue lynnen breches vpon his flesh, and gyrde him with a lynnē girdell, and haue the lynnen myter vpon his heade.

For these are ye holy garmentes: & he shal bathe his flesh with water, & put them on: & of the cōgregacion of the childrē of Israel he shal take two he goates for a syn offerynge, and a ramme for a burnt offerynge.

And Aaron shal brynge the bullocke his owne syn offerynge, Heb. 9. b and make an attonemēt for himself and his house: and afterwarde shall he take the two goates, and present them before the LORDE, euen before the dore of the Tabernacle of witnesse, and shall cast lottes ouer the two goates: the lot of the one goate for the LORDE, and the other for the fre goate. And the goate that ye LORDES lot fell vpon, shal he offre for a syn offerynge. But the goate, that the fre goates lot fell vpon, shal he present alyue before ye LORDE, to make an attonement for him, and to let the fre goate go into ye wyldernes. And so shal he brynge the bullocke of his syn offerynge, and make an attonement for him and his housholde, and shal kyll him.

And he shall take a censor full of coales from the altare that stondeth before the LORDE, and his handfull of beaten incense, and brynge them in within ye vayle, and put the incense vpon the fyre before ye LORDE, that the cloude of the incense maye couer the Mercyseate, which is vpon the witnesse, eui. 4. a that he dye not. And he shall take of the bloude of the bullocke, and sprenkle it with his fynger towarde the Mercyseate on the foresyde. Seuen tymes shall he sprenkle of the bloude thus with his fynger before the Mercyseate. Thē shal he kyll the goate which is the peoples syn offerynge, & brynge in of his bloude within the vayle, & shall do with his bloude, as he dyd with the bloude of the bullocke, and sprenkle therwith also on the foresyde towarde the Mercyseate, and so shal he reconcyle the Sāctuary from the vnclennesse of the childrē of Israel, and frō their trespaces in all their synnes. Thus shal he do vnto the Tabernacle of wytnesse, which is the habitacion with them amō ge their vnclennesses.

No man shalbe in the Tabernacle of witnesse, whan he goeth in to make an attonement in the Sāctuary, vntyll he go out: and so shall he make an attonement for him self and his house, and for the whole congregacion of Israel. And whā he goeth forth vnto the altare that stondeth before the LORDE, he shal reconcyle it, and shal take of ye bullockes bloude, and of the goates bloude, & put it vpon the hornes of the altare rounde aboute. And with his fynger shal he sprē kle of the bloude theron seuen tymes, and halowe it, and consecrate it from the vnclennesse of the children of Israel.

And whan he hath made an ende of reconcylinge the Sanctuary, and the Tabernacle of witnesse, and the altare, he shal bringe the lyuynge goate.

Thē shal Aaron laie both his hādes vpō ye heade of him, & confesse ouer him all the myszdedes of ye childrē of Israel, & all their trespaces in their synnes, & shal laye thē vpō ye heade of the goate, & by some man yt is at hande, shal he let him runne in to the wildernes: yt the goate maye so beare all their mysdedes vpon him in to ye wyldernesse, and he shal leaue him in the wyldernesse.

And Aaron shal go in to the Tabernacle of witnesse, and put of the lynnen clothes, which he put on whā he wente in to ye Sāctuary, and shal leaue them there, and bathe his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his awne rayment.

And he shal go forth, and make his burnt offeringe, and the burnt offeringe of the people, and make an attonement both for himself and for the people, and burne the fat of the syn offerynge vpon the altare. But he ye caried out the fre goate, shal wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, & then come in to the hoost.

The bullocke of the syn offerynge, and ye goate of the syn offerynge (whose bloude was brought in to the Sanctuary to make an attonemēt) shalbe caried out of ye hoost, & brent with fyre, both their skynnes, flesh, and donge. And he that burneth them, shal wash his clothes, and bathe him self with water, and then come in to the hoost.

And this shalbe a perpetuall lawe vnto you: Leu Vpon the tenth daye of the seuenth moneth shal ye humble youre soules, and do no worke, whether it be one of youre selues, or a straunger amonge you. For in this daye is youre attonemēt made, that ye maye be clensed from all youre synnes before the LORDE: therfore shall it be a fre Sabbath vnto you, and ye shal humble youre soules. Let this b a perpetuall lawe.

But the prest that is anoynted, and whose hande was fylled to be prest in his fathers steade, shal make this attonement, and shal put on the lynnen clothes, namely the holy vestimētes, so shal he recōcyle the holy Sāctuary, and the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and the altare, and ye prestes, and all the people of the congregacion. 〈…〉 This shal be a perpetuall lawe vnto you, that ye reconcyle ye children of Israel from all their synnes once a yeare. And Moses dyd, as the LORDE commaunded him.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE talked with Moses, & sayde: Speake vnto Aaron & his sonnes, & to all ye childrē of Israel, & saye vnto them: This is it that ye LORDE hath commaunded: What so euer he be of ye house of Israel, yt kylleth an oxe, or lābe, or goate in the hoost, or out of the hoost, and bryngeth it not before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, that it maye be brought vnto the LORDE for an offerynge before the Habitacion of ye LORDE, the same shal be giltie of bloude, as though he had shed bloude, and soch a man shalbe roted out from amonge his people.

Therfore shall the children of Israel brynge their offerynges (that they wyll off e vpon the wyde felde) before the LORDE, euen before the dore of the Tabernacle of witnesse, vnto the prest, & there offre their health offerynges vnto the LORDE. And the prest shal sprenkle the bloude vpon the altare of the LORDE before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and burne the fat for a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE: and they shall offre their offerynges nomore vnto deuels, with whom they go a whorynge. This shal be a perpetuall lawe vnto them amonge their posterities.

Therfore shalt thou saie vnto thē: What man so euer he be of the house of Israel, or a straunger also that is amonge you, which offereth a burnt offerynge or eny other offerynge, and bringeth it not before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse to offre it vnto the LORDE, he shal be roted out from amō ge his people.

•• ui. 7. c And what man so euer it be (either of the house of Israel, or a straunger amonge you) that eateth eny maner of bloude, agaynst him wyll I set my face, and wil rote him out from amonge his people: for the soule of ye body is in the bloude, and I haue geuen it you for the altare, that youre soules maye be reconcyled ther with: For the bloude that is in the soule maketh attonement. Therfore haue I sayde vnto the children of Israel: No soule amonge you shall eate bloude, no ner eny straunger that dwelleth amonge you.

And what man so euer it be amonge you (whether he be of the house of Israel, or a straunger amōge you) that at the huntynge taketh a beest or foule which maye be eaten, he shall poure out the bloude of the same, & couer it with earth: for all flesh lyueth in the bloude.

And I haue sayde vnto the children of Israel: eu. 9. a •• ui. 3. c 〈◊〉 . 19. f Ye shall eate the bloude of no body: for the life of all flesh is in his bloude. Who so euer eateth it, shalbe roted out. And what so euer soule eateth that which dyed alone, or yt was torne of wylde beestes (whether he be one of youre selues or a straunger) the same shal wash his clothes, and bathe himself with water, and he vncleane vntyll the euen, and then is he cleane. But yf he wash not his clothes, nor bathe him self, then shal he beare his synne.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked wt Moses, & saide: Speake vnto the childrē of Israel, & saye vnto them: I am the LORDE youre God, Ye shall not do after ye workes of the lande of Egipte, wherin ye dwelt: nether after the doynges of the lande of Canaan, in to the which I will brynge you. Ye shal not walke after their customes, but after my lawes shall ye do, & my statutes shall ye kepe, that ye maye walke therin: for I am the LORDE youre God. Therfore shal ye kepe my statutes and my lawes. Ro. 10. a For the man that doth the same, shal liue therin, for I am the LORDE.

No mā shal come at his nexte kinszwomā, to vncouer hir preuytie: for I am ye LORDE.

Thou shalt not vncouer ye preuytie of ye father & of ye mother. It is thy mother, Gen. 14. Eze. 22. therfore shalt thou not vncouer hir preuytie.

Thou shalt not vncouer ye preuytie of ye fathers wife, for it is ye fathers preuytie. Deu. 22. and. 27. 1. Cor. 5.

Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy sister, which is the doughter of ye father or of ye mother, whether she be borne at home or without.

Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy sonnes doughter, Deu. 27. 2. Re. 1 . or of thy doughters doughter, for it is thine awne preuytie.

Thou shalt not vncouer ye preuytie of ye fathers wiues doughter, which is borne vnto him, and is thy sister.

Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy fathers sister, for it is thy fathers nexte kynszwoman.

Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy mothers sister, Leui. 0. for it is ye mothers nexte kynszwoman.

Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy fathers brother, to take his wife, for she is thine awnte.

Thou shalt not vncouer ye preuytie of ye doughter in lawe, for she is ye sonnes wife, Gen. 38. Deu. 27. therfore shalt thou not vncouer hir preuitie.

Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy brothers wife, Leui. 20. Mat. 14. for it is thy brothers preuytie.

Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy wife and of hir doughter also, nether shalt thou take hir sonnes doughter or hir doughters doughter, to vncouer their preuyties, for they are hir nexte kynszwomen. And it is wickednesse.

Thou shalt not take a wife and hir sister also, to vncouer hir preuytie, Gen. 29. whyle she is yet alyue.

Thou shalt not go vnto a woman to vncouer hir preuytie, Leu. 15. d Eze. 22. b so longe as she hath hir disease in hir vnclennesse.

Thou shalt not lye with thy neghbours wife to medle with her,2. Re. 11. for to defyle thy self withall.

Thou shalt not geue of thy sede also, to be burnt vnto Moloch, Leu. 20. lest thou vnhalowe the name of thy God, for I am the LORDE.

om. 1. d eu. 20. b Thou shalt not lye with mankynde as with womankynde, for yt is abhominacion.

eu. 27. c Thou shalt lye with no maner of beest, to defyle ye self therwith. And no woman shal haue to do wt a beest, for it is abhominacion.

Ye shal defyle youre selues in none of these thinges. For ye Heithen (whom I wil cast out before you) haue stayned them selues in all these, and the londe is defyled there thorow. And their wickednesse wyl I vyset vpō them, so that the londe shal spue out the indwellers therof. Therfore kepe ye my statutes and lawes, and do not one of these abhominacions, nether one of youre awne selues ner the straunger amonge you (for all soch abhominacions haue ye people of this lōde done which were before you, & haue defyled the lande) that the lande spue not you out also, whan ye haue defyled it, as it spewed out the Heythē, that were there before you. For who so euer commytte these abhominaciōs, the same soules shalbe roted out from amonge their people. Therfore kepe ye my statutes, that ye do not after ye abhominable customes, which were before you, that ye be not defyled therwith: For I am the LORDE youre God.

The XIX. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake to the whole congregacion of the children of Israel, and saye vnto them: Leui. 11. g and 20. c 1. Pet. 1. c Ye shall be holy, for I am holy, euen the LORDE youre God. Euery one feare his father and his mother. Repe my holy dayes: for I am the LORDE youre God. Ye shal not turne youre selues vnto Idols, & ye shal make you no goddes of metall: for I am the LORDE youre God.

And whan ye wyll offre health offerynges vnto the LORDE, then shal ye offre thē, that he maye be mercifull vnto you, Leuit. 7. b and ye shal eate them the same daye that ye offre them, and on the morow: what so euer is left on the thirde daye, shalbe burnt with fyre. But yf eny man eate therof vpon the thirde daye, then is he vnholy, and shall not be accepted, and the same eater shal beare his synne, because he hath vnhalowed the Sanctuary of the LORDE: and soch a soule shalbe roted out from amonge his people.

Whan thou reapest thy londe, thou shalt not reape downe the vttemost borders of it rounde aboute, Leui. 33. d Deu. 4. d ner gather it all cleane vp. Euen so likewyse thou shalt not plucke thy vynyarde cleane also, ner gather vp the grapes that are fallen downe, but shalt leaue them for ye poore and straungers: for I am the LORDE youre God.

Ye shal not steale, nether lye, ner deale falsely one with another.

Ye shal not sweare falsely by my name, Exo. Ma & so to vnhalowe the name of thy God: for I am the LORDE.

Thou shalt do ye neghboure no wronge, ner robbe him. Deut. Tob The workmās laboure shal not byde with the vntyll the mornynge.

Thou shalt not curse the deaf. 〈…〉 Thou shalt put no stomblynge blocke before ye blinde, but shalt feare thy God: for I am the LORDE.

Ye shall not deale wrongeously in iudgment, nether shal ye accepte the personne of the poore, ner honoure the parsonne of the greate, but thou shalt iudge thy neghboure righteously.

Thou shalt let no preuy accuser go amōge ye people. Nether shalt thou stonde agaynst ye neghbours bloude: for I am ye LORDE.

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine hert, Mat. Ecc but shalt tell ye neghboure his faute, that thou beare not synne for his sake.

Thou shalt not auenge thy self, ner beare euell will agaynst the childrē of thy people.

〈…〉 Ro Gen. Thou shalt loue thy neghboure, as thy self: for I am the LORDE.

My statutes shal ye kepe, that thou 〈…〉 Ro Gen. let not ye catell gendre with beestes of another kynde: nether sowe thy felde with myngled sede. And let no garment come vpon the, yt is mixte with wollen and lynnen.

Whan a man lyeth with a woman, and hath to do with her, which is a bonde woman, and hath bene medled withall of another man, but not lowsed out, ner hath optayned fredome, it shalbe punyshed, but they shal not suffre death, because she was not fre. But he shal brynge for his trespace vnto ye LORDE (euen before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse) a ramme for a trespace of ferynge and the prest shal make an attonement for him with the trespace offerynge before the LORDE, concernynge the synne that he hath done: He so shall God be mercifull vnto him, as concernynge his synne which he hath done.

What tyme as ye are come into the londe, and plante all maner trees wherof men eate, ye shall circumcise the foreskynne of the same with their frutes: thre yeares shall ye holde them for vncircumcysed, so that ye eate them not: but in the fourth yeare shall all their frutes be holy and praysed vnto ye LORDE. In the fifth yeare shall ye eate the frutes, and gather them in: for I am ye LORDE youre God.

eui. 3. c eu. 8. b Ye shal eate nothinge wt bloude. Ye shall not regarde ye foules cryenge, ner chose out dayes.

eui. 21 a 〈◊〉 . 44. c Ye shal shaue no crownes vpō youre heade, nether shalt thou clyppe thy beerde cleane off.

Ye shal rente out no markes in youre body (for eny that is deed) ner make lettres vpō you: for I am the LORDE.

Thou shalt not holde thy doughter to whordome, that the londe fall not to whordome, and waxe full of wickednesse.

Kepe my holy dayes, and stonde in awe of my Sanctuary: for I am the LORDE.

eg 28. b Ye shal not turne yor selues to ye Soyth sayers, and axe nothinge at the expounders of tokēs, that ye be not defyled by them: for I am the LORDE youre God.

ccli. 8. a Tim. 5. a Thou shalt ryse vp before a graye heade, and shalt geue reuerence vnto the aged. For thou shalt feare God: for I am ye LORDE.

word. 22. c Whan there dwelleth a straunger amonge you in youre londe, ye shall not vexe him. He shal dwell with you, euen as one that is at home amonge you, & thou shalt loue him as ye self: for ye youre selues also were straungers in the lande of Egipte. I am the LORDE youre God.

Ye shal not deale wrōgeously in iudgmēt, with meteyarde, with weight, with measure: A true balaunce, a true weight, a true Epha, a true Hin shalbe amōge you. For I am the LORDE youre God, which brought you out of the londe of Egipte, that ye shulde kepe & do all my statutes and lawes: for I am the LORDE.

The XX. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, and saide: Tell the children of Israel: Leui. 18. c Deut. 27. a Who so euer he be amonge the children of Israel, (or eny straunger that dwelleth in Israel) which geueth of his sede vnto Moloch, the same shall dye the death: the people of the lande shal stone him, & I wyll set my face agaynst that man, and wyll rote him out from amōge his people, because he hath geuen of his sede vnto Moloch, and defyled my Sanctuary, & vnhalowed my holy name. And though the people of the londe loke thorow the fyngers vpon that man, which hath geuen of his sede vnto Moloch, so that they put him not to death, yet wyl I set my face agaynst the same man, & agaynst his generacion: And him, and all that go a whorynge with him after Moloch, wyll I rote out from amonge their people.

Yf eny soule turne him to ye soythsayers and expounders of tokens, so that he goeth a whorynge after them, I wyl set my face agaynst the same soule, and wyl rote him out from amonge his people. Leui. 1 Nu. 11. Iosu. 3. Sanctifie youre selues therfore, & be holy: for I am holy euen youre God. And kepe ye my statutes, and do them: for I am ye LORDE that sanctifieth you.

Who so euer curseth his father or his mother, shall dye the death: Exo. 21. Pro. 20 Matt. •• his bloude be vpon him, because he hath cursed his father or mother.

He that breaketh wedlocke with eny mās wife, Deu. 22 shal dye the death (both the aduouterer and ye aduouteresse) because he hath broken wedlocke with his neghbours wife.

Yf eny man lye with his fathers wife, Leuit. 18 Deu. 27 so yt he vncouer his fathers preuyte, they shal both dye the death: their bloude be vpō thē.

Yf eny man lye wt his doughter in lawe, Leui. 1 . they shall dye both of them, for they haue wrought abhominacion: their bloude be vpon them.

Yf eny man lye with the mankynde, Leui. 18. Rom. 1. as with womankynde, they haue wrought abhominacion, & shal both dye the death: their bloude be vpon them.

Yf eny man take a wyfe, Leui. 18. and hir mother therto, the same hath wrought wickednes: he shalbe burnt with fyre, and so shal they also, that there be no wickednes amōge you.

Yf eny man lye with a beest, Leui. 18. Deu. 27. he shall dye the death, and the beest shal be slayne.

Yf a woman medle with a beest, so yt she haue to do wt it, thou shalt put her to death, and the beest also, they shall dye the death: their bloude be vpon them.

Yf eny man take his sister, his fathers doughter, or his mothers doughter, and se hir preuyte, and she agayne se his secretes, it is a wicked thinge. They shalbe roted out in the sight of their people. For he hath vncouered his sisters preuyte, he shal beare his synne.

Yf a man lye with a woman in the tyme of hir sicknesse, and vncouer hir secretes, Leui. 15. and 18. c & open vp hir founteyne, and she vncouer the fountayne of hir bloude, they shall both be roted out from amonge their people.

Thou shalt not vncouer the preuytie of thy mothers sister, and of thy fathers sister: Leui. 18. b for soch one hath vncouered his nexte kynswoman, and they shal beare their synne.

Yf eny man lye with his vncles wyfe, the same hath vncouered the preuytie of his vncle: they shal beare their synne, without children shal they dye.

〈◊〉 . 18. b 〈◊〉 . 14. a Yf eny man take his brothers wyfe, yt is an vncleane thinge: they shalbe without children, because he hath vncouered his brothers secretes.

So kepe now all my statutes & my lawes, & do them, yt the lōde whither I brynge you to dwell therin, spewe you not out. And walke not ye in ye statutes of the Heithen, which I shal cast out before you. eut. 9. a For all soch thinges haue they done, & I haue abhorred thē.

But I saye vnto you: Ye shall possesse their londe. For I wyll geue you to enheritaunce a lōde, that floweth with mylke and hony. I am the LORDE youre God, which haue separated you from the nacions, that ye also shulde separate the cleane beestes frō the vncleane, and the vncleane foules from the cleane: & not to defyle youre soules vpon beestes, vpon foules & vpon all that crepeth on the grounde: eui. 11. a eut. 14 a which I haue separated vnto you, that they shulde be vncleane. Therfore shall ye be holy vnto me: for I the LORDE am holy, which haue separated you frō the nacions, that ye shulde be myne.

eu. 1 . b Re. 28. b Yf a man or woman be a soythsayer or an expounder of tokens, the same shall dye the death: they shalbe stoned, their bloude be vpon them.

The XXI. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Speake to ye prestes ye sonnes of Aaron, & saye vnto thē: 〈◊〉 . 44. d A prest shal defyle him self vpō no soule of his people, but vpon his nexte kynne yt belongeth vnto him: as vpon his mother, vpō his father, vpō his sonne, vpō his doughter, vpon his brother, & vpon his sister, which is yet a virgin, & hath bene no mans wife (which belongeth vnto him) vpon her maie he defyle himself. Morouer he shal not defyle him self vpō eny ruler in his people, to vnhalowe him self.

Leui. 19 f Eze. 44 c He shall make no crowne also vpon his heade, ner shaue of his beerd, nether shall they cut out eny markes ī their fleshe. They shalbe holy vnto their God, and not vnhalowe ye name of their God: for they offre the sacrifice of the LORDE, the bred of their God, therfore shal they be holy.

They shal take no whore, ner one that is defyled,1. Tim. 2. a or yt is put awaye from hir huszbande, for he is holy vnto his God: therfore shal he sanctifie him self, for he offreth the bred of thy God. He shal be holy vnto the, for I am holy, euen the LORDE that sanctifieth you.

Yf a prestes doughter fall to whoringe, she shalbe burnt with fyre, for she hath shamed hir father. He that is hye prest amonge his brethren, vpō whose heade the anoyntinge oyle is poured, and his hande fylled (yt he might be arayed with the vestimentes) shal not vncouer his heade, ner cut his clothes, & shal come at no deed, Luc. & shal defyle him self nether vpon father ner mother. He shall not go out of the Sanctuary, that he vnhalowe not the Sanctuary of his God. For ye crowne of the anoyntinge oyle of his God is vpon him, for I am the LORDE.

A virgin shal he take to wife, but no wedowe, ner deuorsed, ner defyled, ner whore, Eze. Ma . but a virgin of his awne people shal he take to wife, yt he vnhalowe not his sede amonge his people. For I am ye LORDE, which sanctifie him.

And ye LORDE talked wt Moses, & sayde: Speake vnto Aaron, & saie: Yf there be a blemysh vpō eny of ye sede in yor generacions, the same shal not preasse to offre the bred of his God: 〈…〉 For who so euer hath a blemysh vpon him, shal not come nere, whether he be blynde, lame, with an euell fauoured nose, wt eny myszshappen membre, or yt hath a broken fote or hande, or is croke backed, or hath eny blemysh in the eye, or is gleyd, or is skyrvye or scaulde, or hath his stones broken.

Who so euer now of the sede of Aaron ye prest hath eny blemysh vpō him, shal not come nye to offre ye sacrifice of the LORDE. For he hath a deformyte. Therfore shall he not preasse vnto the bred of his God, to offre it. Notwithstondinge he shal eate of the bred of his God, both of the holy, & of ye most holy: but he shal not go in to ye vayle, ner come nye the altare (for so moch as he hath a blemysh vpō him) yt he vnhalowe not my Sāctuary. For I am ye LORDE yt sanctifieth thē. And Moses spake this vnto Aaron & to his sonnes, and to all the children of Israel.

The XXII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, & sayde: Speake vnto Aaron, & his sonnes, yt they absteyne from ye halowed thinges of the childrē of Israel, which they haue halowed vnto me, & yt they vnhalowe not my holy name: for I am ye LORDE. Saie now vnto them & their posterities: Who so euer he be of yor sede, yt commeth nye vnto the holy thinges, which the childrē of Israel halowe vnto the LORDE, & so defyleth him self vpon the same, his soule shal perishe before my face: for I am the LORDE.

Who so euer of the sede of Aaron is a leper, or hath a runnynge yssue, shall not eate of the holy thinges, tyll he be clensed. Who so toucheth eny vncleane thinge, or whose sede departeth from him by night, or who so toucheth eny worme that is vncleane vnto him, or a mā yt is vncleane vnto him, & what so euer defyleth hī, loke what soule toucheth eny soch, is vncleane vntyll the euen, & shall not eate of the holy thinges, but shall first bath his flesh with water. And whā ye Sonne is gone downe, and he cleane, then maye he eate therof, for it is his foode. Loke what dyeth alone, or is rent of wylde beestes, shall he not eate, yt he be not vncleane theron: for I am ye LORDE. Therfore shal they kepe my lawe, yt they lade not synne vpon them, & dye therin, whan they vnhalowe them selues in it. For I am ye LORDE, yt halowe them.

A straunger shal not eate of the holy thinges, ner an housholde gest of the prestes, ner an hyred seruaūt. But yf ye prest bye a soule for his money, ye same maye eate therof. And loke who is borne in his house, maye eate of his bred also. Neuertheles yf the prestes doughter be a straungers wife, she shal not eate of the Heue offeringes of holynes. But yf she be a wedowe, or deuorced, or haue no sede, & commeth agayne to hir fathers house as afore (whan she was yet a mayden in hir fathers house) then shall she eate of hir fathers bred. But no straūger shal eate therof.

Who so els eateth of the halowed thynges, vnwyttingly, shal put ye fifth parte there vnto, and geue it vnto the prest with the halowed thinge, that they vnhalowe not ye halowed thinges of the children of Israel, which they Heue vp vnto the LORDE, lest they lade them selues with myszdoinge and trespace, whā they eate their halowed thynges, for I am ye LORDE which halowe thē.

And ye LORDE talked wt Moses, & saide: Speake vnto Aaron & his sonnes, & to all ye childrē of Israel: Deut. 15. c and 17. a What so euer Israelite or straunger in Israel wyll do his offerynge, whether it be their vowe, or of fre wyl, that they wyll offre a burnt offerynge vnto the LORDE, to reconcyle them selues, it shal be a male, and without blemysh, of the oxen, or lambes or goates. al. 1. b What so euer hath eny blemish, shal they not offre, for they shal fynde no fauoure therwith.

And who so wyl offre an health offeringe vnto the LORDE to separate out a vowe, or of fre wyl, oxen or shepe, it shalbe without blemysh, yt it maye be accepted. It shal haue no deformite. Yf it be blynde, or brokē, or wounded, or haue a wen, or skyrvye, or scabbed, they shal offre none soch vnto the LORDE, ner put an offerynge of eny soch vpō the altare of the LORDE.

An oxe or shepe yt hath myszshappē membres, or no rompe, mayest thou off •• of a fre wyll: but to a vowe it maye not be accepted. Thou shalt offre also vnto the LORDE nothinge yt is brused, or broken, or rent, or cutt out, & ye shal do no soch in youre londe. Morouer ye shall offre no bred vnto youre God of a straungers hande: for it is marred of him, and he hath a deformite, therfore shal it not be accepted for you.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Whā an oxe, or lābe, or goate is brought forth, it shal be seuen dayes with the dame, and vpon the eight daye & therafter it maie be offered vnto the LORDE, thē is it accepted. Whether it be oxe or lambe, it shall not be slayne with his yonge in one daye.

But whā ye wil offre a thāk offringe vnto the LORDE yt it maye be accepted, ye shal eate it the same daye, & kepe nothinge ouer vntyll the mornynge: for I am the LORDE. Therfore kepe now my commaundementes, and do them: for I am the LORDE, yt ye vnhalowe not my holy name, & that I maye be halowed amonge the children of Israel. For I am he that halowe you, euē ye LORDE, which brought you out of ye lōde of Egipte, yt I might be yor God: Euen I ye LORDE.

The XXIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, & sayde: Speake vnto ye children of Israel, and saye vnto them: These are ye feastes of the LORDE, which ye shal call holy dayes. Sixe dayes shalt thou worke, Exo. 2 . Deu. 5. b but the seuenth daie is the rest of the Sabbath, and shalbe called holy. Ye shal do no worke therin, for it is the Sabbath of the LORDE, where so euer ye dwell.

These are the feastes of the LORDE, yt are called holy, which ye shal call youre feastes: Exo. 12. Nu. 28. c Eze. 45. Apon ye fourtene daye of ye first moneth at euen, is the LORDES Easter. And vpon ye fiftene daye of the same moneth is the feast of vnleuēded bred of the LORDE. Then shall ye eate vnleuended bred seuen dayes.

The first daie shalbe called holy amonge you, ye shal do no worke of bōdage therin, Nu. 2 . & seuē daies shal ye offre vnto ye LORDE. The seuēth daie shalbe called holy likewise, wherin ye shal do no worke of bondage also.

And ye LORDE talked wt Moses, & sayde: Speake to the childrē of Israel, & saye vnto them:* Whan ye come in to the lande yt I shall geue you, and reape downe youre haruest, ye shal brynge a shefe of the first frutes of youre haruest vnto the prest, thē shall the shefe be waued before the LORDE, that ye maye be accepted: but this shal the prest do the nexte daye after the Sabbath. And ye same daie that yor shefe is waued, shal ye offre a burnt offeringe vnto the LORDE, of a lambe which is without blemysh and of one yeare olde, wt the meat offerynge, two tenth deales of fyne floure mengled with oyle, for an offerynge of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE: & the drynk offerynge also, euē the fourth parte of an Hin of wyne.

And ye shall eate nether bred, nor cakes, ner furmentye (of new corne) tyll the same daye that ye brynge an offerynge vnto youre God. osu. . c This shalbe a lawe vnto youre posterities, where so euer ye dwell.

Deu. 16. b Then shal ye nombre (from the nexte daye after the Sabbath, whan ye brought ye Waueshefe) seuen whole wekes, vntyll the nexte daie after ye seuēth weke, namely, fiftie daies, shal ye nombre, and offre new meat offerynges vnto the LORDE. And out of all youre dwellinges shal ye offre, namely, two Waue loaues of two tenth deales of fyne floure leuēded, and baken for the first frutes vnto ye LORDE. u. 28. d And with youre bred ye shal brynge seuen lambes of one yeare olde without blemysh, and a yonge bullocke, and two rammes: this shalbe the LORDES burnt offerynge, meat offerynge, and drynk offrynge. This is a sacrifice of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE.

Morouer ye shal offre an he goate for a syn offerynge, and two lambes of a yeare olde for an health offerynge. And ye prest shal waue it vpon the bred of the first frutes before the LORDE with the two lambes. And they shalbe holy vnto the LORDE, and shal be the prestes. And this daye shal ye proclame, for it shalbe called holy amonge you: no seruyle worke shal ye do therin. A perpetuall lawe shall it be amonge yor posterities, where so euer ye dwell.

Leu. 19. c eu. 24. d Whan ye reape downe ye haruest of youre londe, ye shal not cut it cleane downe vpō the felde, ner gather vp all, but shal leaue it for the poore and straungers. I am the LORDE youre God.

And ye LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel, & saye: u. 39. a Vpon the first daye of the seuenth moneth shal ye haue the holy rest of the remembraunce of blowinge, wherin ye shal do no seruyle worke, and ye shal offre sacrifice vnto the LORDE.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Leu Nu. Vpon the tenth daye in this seuenth moneth is the daye of reconcylinge, which shalbe an holy conuocacion wt you. Ye shal humble youre soules therin, and offre vnto the LORDE, and shal do no seruyle worke in this daye: for it is the daye of attonement, that ye maye be reconcyled before the LORDE youre God. For what soule so euer humbleth not him self vpon this daye, the same shalbe roted out from amonge his people. And what soule so euer doth eny worke this daye, the same wil I destroye from amonge his people: therfore shall ye do no worke. This shalbe a perpetuall lawe vnto youre posterities, where so euer ye dwell. It is the rest of youre Sabbath, that ye maye humble youre soules. Vpon the nyenth daye of ye moneth at euen, shal ye kepe this holy daye from the euen forth vntyll the euē agayne.

And the LORDE talked with Moses, & sayde: 〈…〉 Vpon the fiftene daye of the seuenth moneth, is the feast of Tabernacles seuen dayes vnto the LORDE. The first daye shal be an holy cōuocacion: no seruyle worke shal ye do therin. Seuen dayes shal ye offre vnto the LORDE. The eight daye shalbe an holy conuocacion vnto you also, and ye shal offre vnto the LORDE: for it is the daye of gatheringe together: No seruyle worke shall ye do therin.

These are the holy daies of the LORDE, which ye shall proclame and holde for holy conuocacions, that ye maye offre vnto the LORDE burnt offerynges, meat offerynges, drynk offerynges and other offerynges, euery one acordinge to his daye, besyde ye Sabbathes of ye LORDE, and youre giftes, and vowes, and frewyl offerynges, that ye offre vnto the LORDE.

So vpon the fiftene daye of the seuenth moneth, whan ye haue brought in the increase of the londe, ye shall kepe the LORDES feast seuen dayes longe. The first daye shalbe kepte holy daye, and the eight daye shalbe kepte holy daye also. And vpon the first daie ye shal take of ye goodly frutefull trees, braunches of palme trees, & bowes of thicke trees, and Wyllies of the broke, and seuē dayes shal ye be mery before ye LORDE youre God: and thus shal ye kepe the feast vnto the LORDE seuen dayes in the yeare. This shalbe a perpetuall lawe amonge youre posterities, that they kepe holy daye thus in ye seuenth moneth. Seuen dayes shal ye dwell in bothes. Who so euer is an Israelite borne, shal dwell in bothes, that they which come after you, maye knowe, how that I made ye children of Israel to dwell in bothes, whan I brought them out of the lōde of Egipte. I am the LORDE youre God. And Moses tolde the children of Israel these holy daies of the LORDE.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: 〈◊〉 7. d Cōmaunde the children of Israel, that they brynge pure oyle olyue beaten for lightes, that it maye be allwaye put in the lampes, without before the vayle of wytnesse in the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And Aaron shall dresse it allwaye at euen & in ye mornynge before the LORDE. Let this be a perpetuall lawe vnto youre posterities. The lāpes shal he dresse vpon the pure candilsticke before the LORDE perpetually.

And thou shalt take fyne floure, and bake twolue cakes therof: 〈◊〉 . 25. c two tēth deales shal euery cake haue, & thou shalt laye them sixe on a rowe vpō the pure table before the LORDE. And vpon the same shalt thou laye pure frankencense, that it maye be bred of remembraunce for an offerynge vnto ye LORDE. Euery Sabbath shal he prepare thē before the LORDE allwaye, and receaue them of the children of Israel for an euerlastinge couenaunt. 〈◊〉 . 21. a And they shalbe Aarons & and his sonnes, which shal eate them in the holy place. For this is his most holy of the offerynges of the LORDE for a perpetuall dewtye.

And there wente out an Israelitish womans sonne, which was the childe of a man of Egipte (amonge the children of Israel) and stroue in ye hoost with a man of Israel, 〈◊〉 . 10. b & named the name of God blasphemously, & cursed. Then brought they him vnto Moses. His mothers name was Selomith, the doughter of Dibri, of the trybe of Dan. 〈◊〉 1 . d And they put him in preson, tyll they were infourmed by the mouth of the LORDE.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Brynge him that cursed, out of the hoost, and let all thē that herde it, laye their handes vpon his heade, and let the whole congregacion stone him. And saye vnto the childrē of Israel. Mat. 26. g Ioh. 19. a Who so euer blasphemeth his God, shall beare his synne: and he that blasphemeth the name of the LORDE, shal dye the death. The whole congregaciō shal stone him. As the straunger, so shal he of the housholde be also. Yf he blaspheme the name, he shal dye.

He that slayeth a man, shall dye ye death. but he that slayeth a beest, shall paye for it. Exo. 21. b Deut 19. a Iudic. 1 b Math.c Soule for soule. And he that maymeth his neghboure, it shall be done vnto him, euen as he hath done: broke for broke, Math. 5. c eye for eye, tothe for tothe: euen as he hath maymed a a man, so shal it be done vnto him agayne, so that, who so slayeth a beest, shall paye for it: But he that slayeth a man, shal dye. There shal be one maner of lawe amonge you, to ye straunger as to one of youre selues: for I am the LORDE youre God.

Moses tolde the children of Israel. And they brought him that had cursed, out of ye hoost, and stoned him. Thus dyd the childrē of Israel as the LORDE cōmaunded Moses.

The XXV. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses vpon mount Sinai, and sayde: Speake to the children of Israel, and saye vnto them: Whan ye come into the londe, Exo. 23. b yt I shal geue you, the londe shal rest vnto the LORDE, so that thou sowe thy felde sixe yeares, and sixe yeares cut ye vynes, and gather in the frutes. But in the seuenth yeare the lō de shal haue his Sabbath of rest for a Sabbath vnto the LORDE, wherin thou shalt not sowe thy felde ner cut thy vynes.

Loke what groweth of it self after thy haruest, thou shalt not reape it. And the grapes that growe without thy laboure, shalt thou not gather, for so moch as it is the yeare of the londes rest: Deut. 15. But the rest of the londe shalt thou kepe for this intent, that thou mayest eate therof, thy seruaunte, thy mayde, thy hyrelinge, thy gest, thy straūger with the, thy catell, and the beestes in thy londe. All the increase shal be meate.

And thou shalt nombre seuen of these yeare Sabbathes, that seuen yeares maye be tolde seuen tymes, and so the tyme of the seuen yeare Sabbathes make nyne and fourtye yeares. Then shalt thou let the blast of the horne go thorow all youre londe, vpon the tenth daye of the seuenth moneth, euen in ye daye of attonement. And ye shal halowe the fiftieth yeare, and shall call it a fre yeare in ye londe, for all them that dwell therin: for it is the yeare of Iubilye. Eze. 46. c Then shall euery one amonge you come agayne to his possession and to his kynred: for the fiftieth yeare is ye yeare of Iubilye. Ye shal not sowe ner reape it that groweth of itself, ner gather the grapes, that growe without laboure. For the yeare of Iubilye shall be holy amonge you. But loke what the felde beareth, that shall ye eate. This is the yeare of Iubilye, wherin ye shal come againe euery man to his owne.

Now whan thou sellest ought vnto thy neghboure, or byest eny thinge of him, there shal none of you oppresse his brother: but acordinge to the nombre of the yeare of Iubilye shalt thou bye it of him: and acordinge to the nombre of the yeares of increase shall he sell it vnto the. Acordinge to the multitude of the yeares shalt thou rayse the pryce, & and acordynge to the fewnesse of the yeares shalt thou mynish the pryce: for he shall sell it vnto the acordinge to the nombre of the increase. Therfore let no man defraude his neghboure, but feare ye God. For I am the LORDE youre God. Wherfore do after my statutes, and kepe my lawes, so yt ye do them that ye maye dwell safe in the londe. For the londe shal geue you hir frute, so that ye shal haue ynough to eate, and dwell safe therin.

And yf ye wolde saye: What shall we eate in the seuenth yeare, in as moch as we shal not sowe, ner gather in oure increase? I wyll sende my blessynge vpon you in the sixte yeare, that it shal brynge forth frute for thre yeare: so that ye shal sowe in ye eight yeare, and eate of the olde frute vntyll the nyenth yeare, that ye maye eate of the olde tyll new frutes come agayne. Therfore shall ye not sell the londe for euer, Psal. 23. a for the lōde is myne. And ye are straungers and indwellers before me. And in all youre lande shall ye geue the londe to lowse.

Nu. 36. c ere. 32 a Ruth. 4. a Whan thy brother waxeth poore, and selleth ye his possession, and his nexte kynszmā commeth to him, yt he maye redeme it: then shall he redeme that his brother solde. But whan a man hath none to redeme it, and cā get so moch with his hande as to redeme one parte, then shall it be rekened how many yeares it hath bene solde, and the remnaunt shal be restored vnto him to whom he solde it, yt he maie come agayne to his possession. But yf his hande can not get so moch, as to haue one parte agayne, thē shal it yt he solde be styll in the hande of the byer vntyll ye yeare of Iubilye: In ye same shal it go out, and returne to his owner agayne.

He that selleth a dwellinge house within the walles of the cite, hath an whole yeare respyte to lowse it out agayne: that shall be the tyme, wherin he maye redeme it. But yf he redeme it not a fore the whole yeare be out then shal he that bought it, and his successours kepe it for euer, and it shall not go out lowse in the yeare of Iubylie. Neuertheles yf it be an house in a vyllage that hath no wall aboute it, it shall be counted like vnto the felde of the coūtre, and maye be redemed and shal go out fre in the yeare of Iubilye.

The cities of the Leuites, and the houses in the cities that their possession is in, maye all waye be redemed. Who so purchaceth ought of the Leuites, shal leaue it in the yeare of Iubilye, whether it be house or cite that he hath had in possession. For the houses in the cities of the Leuites are their possession amonge the children of Israel. But the felde before their cities shal not be solde, for it is their awne for euer.

Whan thy brother waxeth poore, and falleth in decaye besyde the, thou shalt receaue him as a straunger, or gest, that he maye lyue by the: and thou shalt take no 〈…〉 vsury of him, ner more then thou hast geuē, but shalt feare thy God, that thy brother maye lyue besydes the. For thou shalt not lende him ye money vpon vsury, ner delyuer him thy meate vpon vauntage. For I am the LORDE yor God, which haue brought you out of the lō de of Egipte, to geue you the lande of Canaan, and to be youre God.

Whan thy brother waxeth poore besyde the, and selleth himself vnto the, 〈…〉 thou shalt not holde him as a bōde mā: but as an hyred seruaunte and as a soiourner shall he be wt the, and serue the vntyll ye yeare of Iubilye. Then shal he departe lowse from the, & his childrē with him, & shal returne to his awne kinred, and to his fathers possession: for they are my seruauntes, whom I brought out of the londe of Egipte. Therfore shal they not be solde like bondmen. And thou shalt not raigne ouer them with crueltie, but shalt feare thy God. But yf thou wylt haue bōde seruauntes and maydens, thou shalt bye them of the Heithen, that are rounde aboute you: of the children of the soiourners and straungers amonge you, and of their generacions with you, and that are borne in youre londe, the same shal ye haue for bonde seruaūtes, & shal possesse them, & youre children after you for an euerlastinge possession, these shalbe yor bondmen. 〈…〉 But ouer youre brethren the children of Israel, there shall none of you raigne ouer another with crueltie.

Whan a straunger or soiourner waxeth ryche by the, and thy brother waxeth poore besyde him, & selleth him self vnto ye straunger or soiourner by the, or to eny of his kynne, then shall he haue right (after that he is solde) to be redemed agayne. And eny of his brethren maye lowse him out: or his vncle or his vncles sonne, or eny other kynszman of his kynred: Or yf his awne hande getteth so moch, he shal lowse him self out, and shal reken with him that bought him, from ye yeare that he solde him self, vntyll the yeare of Iubilye. And ye money shal be counted acordinge to the nombre of the yeares that he was solde, and his wages of the whole tyme shalbe rekened withall.

Yf there be yet many yeares vnto ye yeare of Iubilye, then shal he (acordinge to the same) geue the more for his delyueraunce, therafter as he is solde. Yf there remayne but few yeares vnto the yeare of Iubilye, then shall he geue agayne therafter for his redempcion. And his wages from yeare to yeare shall he reken withall, and thou shalt not let the other raigne cruelly ouer him in ye sight. But yf he bye not him self out after this maner, then shal he go out fre in the yeare of Iubilye, and his childrē with him: for the childrē of Israel are my seruauntes, which I haue brought out of the londe of Egipte. I am the LORDE youre God.

〈◊〉 . 3. a Ye shall make you no Idols ner ymage, and ye shal reare you vp no piler, ner set vp eny markstone in youre londe, to bowe youre selues therto. For I am the LORDE youre God. Kepe my Sabbathes, and stonde in awe of my Sanctuary. I am the LORDE.

The XXVI. Chapter.

YF ye wyll walke now in my statutes, and kepe my commaundementes and do them, 〈◊〉 . 28. a thē wyl I geue you rayne in due season, and ye londe shal geue hir increase, and the trees of ye felde shal brynge forth their frute. And the threszshinge tyme shall reache vnto the wyne haruest, and the wyne haruest shal reache vnto the sowynge tyme. And ye shall eate yor bred in plenteousnes, and shal dwell safe in youre londe. I wil geue peace in youre londe, so that ye shall slepe, and no man shall make you afrayed. I wyl ryd euell beestes out of youre londe, and there shall no swerde go thorow youre londe.

Ye shal chace youre enemies, & they shal fall into ye swerde before you. 〈◊〉 . 23. c 〈◊〉 . 30. c Fyue of you shal chace an hundreth: and an hundreth of you shal chace ten thousande. For youre enemies shall fall in to the swerde before you. And I wyl turne me vnto you, and wyl cause you to growe and increase, and wyl set vp my couenaunt with you. And ye shal eate of the olde stoare, and shall let go the olde for plenteousnesse of the new. Exo. 29. g 2. Cor. 6. c I will haue my dwellynge amonge you, and my soule shall not refuse you. And I wyll walke amonge you, and wyl be youre God, and ye shalbe my people. For I am the LORDE youre God, which brought you out of the londe of Egipte, that ye shulde not be their bondmen. And I haue brokē the cepter of youre yocke, and caused you to go vp right.

But yf ye wil not harken vnto me, Deut. 28. b Mala. 2. a ner do all these commaundementes, and wyl despyse my statutes, and yf youre soules refuse my lawes, yt ye wyll not do all my commaundementes, & shal let my couenaunt stonde, then wyll I do this agayne vnto you. I wyl vyset you shortly with swellynges and feuers, which shal destroye ye eyes, & consume awaie ye hert. Ye shal sowe youre sede in vayne, and youre enemies shal eate it vp.

And I wyl set my face agaynst you, and ye shal be slayne before youre enemies. And they that hate you, shal haue dominion ouer Pro. 28. a And ye shall flye, whā no man chaseth you.

But yf ye wyll not herken vnto me for all this, then wyl I make it yet seuen tymes more, to punysh you for youre synnes, that I maye breake ye pryde of youre strength, and wyl make youre heauen lyke yron, and youre earth as brasse: and youre trauaile and labor shal be but lost, so that youre londe shall not geue hir increase, and the trees in the londe shal not brynge forth their frute.

Yf ye walke yet agaynst me, and wyll not harken vnto me, then wyl I make it yet seuen tymes more, to punysh you because of youre synnes: & wyl sende wylde beestes amō mōge you, which shal robbe you, and destroie youre catell, and make you fewer, and youre hye waye shal become waist.

But yf ye wyl not yet be refourmed here withall, and wyll walke contrary vnto me, then wyl I walke contrary vnto you also, & wyll punysh you yet seuen tymes for youre synnes. And I wyl brynge vpon you a swerde of vengeaunce, which shall auenge my Testament. And though ye gather you together in to youre cities, yet wyll I sende the pestilence amonge you, and wyll delyuer you in to the handes of youre enemies. For I wil destroye youre prouysion of bred, so yt ten wemen shall bake youre bred in one ouen, and youre bred shal be delyuered out by weight. Osc. 4. b Mich. 6. c And whan ye eate, ye shall not haue ynough.

Yf ye wyl not yet for all this harken vnto me, & wyl walke contrary vnto me, then wyll I also walke cōtrary vnto you in wrath full displeasure, and wyll punysh you seuen folde because of youre synnes, 4. Re. 6. f so that ye shal eate the flesh of youre sonnes and doughters. And I wyl destroye youre hye altares, and rote out youre ymages, and wyll cast youre bodies vpon the bodies of youre Idols, and my soule shall abhorre you. And youre cities wyll I make waist, and brynge youre churches to naught, and wyll not smell youre swete odoures.

Thus wyll I make the londe desolate, so that youre enemies shall dwell therin, and make it waist: but you will I scater amonge the Heythen, and drawe out the swerde after you, so that youre londe shal be waist, & youre cities desolate.

Then shall the londe reioyse in hir Sabbathes, as longe as it lyeth wayst, and ye be in the enemies londe. Yee then shal the londe kepe holy daye, and reioyse in hir rest, as longe as it lieth wayst, because it coude not rest in youre Sabbathes, whan ye dwelt therin.

And as for them that remayne of you, I wyll make them faynte harted in the londe of their enemies, so that a shakynge leaf shall chace them. And they shall flye from it, as though a swerde persecuted them, and shal fall noman folowynge vpon them. And they shall fall one vpon another (as it were before the swerde) and noman yet chacynge them. And ye shall not be so bolde, as to withstonde youre enemies, and shal perishe amonge the Heithen, and the londe of youre enemies shal eate you vp.

And they that are l ft of you, shall pyne awaye in their myszdede, euen in the enemies londe, and in the myszdedes of their fathers shall they consume awaye. Then shall they knowlege their myszdedes, and the myszdedes of their fathers in the trespace, wherwith they haue trespaced agaynst me, and walked contrary vnto me. Therfore wyll I also walke contrary vnto thē, and wyll brynge them in to the enemies londe.

Then shal their vncircumcysed herte be tamed. And then shall they ende their myszdedes. Deut. 4. c And I shal thinke vpō my couenaūt with Iacob, and vpon my couenaunt with Isaac, and vpon my couenaunt with Abraham, and wyl thynke vpon the lōde. As for the londe whan it shalbe left of them, it shal reioyse in hir Sabbathes, euen then, whan it lyeth waist, and they tylle it not. And they shall make attonement for their myszdedes, because they despysed my lawes, & their soules refused my statutes. Morouer I haue not so refused them, that they shulde be in the enemies londe: nether haue I so vtterly abhorred them, that I wolde brynge them to naught, and breake my couenaunt wt them: for I am ye LORDE their God. And for their sake I wyl remēbre 〈…〉 my first couenaūt, whā I brought them out of ye londe of Egipte in the sight of the Heythen, yt I might be their God. Euen I the LORDE.

These are the ordinaunces, statutes and lawes, which ye LORDE made betwixte him and the children of Israel vpon mount Sinai, by the hande of Moses.

The XXVII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, & sayde: Speake to ye children of Israel, & saye vnto them: Yf eny man make a speciall vowe vnto ye LORDE, so yt he pryse a soule, then shal this be the valuacion: A mā of twentye yeare olde vnto the thre score yeare, shalt thou set at fiftie syluer Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary: but a woman at thirtie Sycles. Yf it be fyue yeare olde vnto twentye yeare, thou shalt set it at twentye Sycles, whan it is a man childe: 〈…〉 but a woman at ten Sycles. Yf it be a moneth olde vnto fiue yeare, thou shalt set it at fyue Sycles of syluer, whan it is a māchilde: but a woman at thre Syluer Sycles. Yf he be thre score yeare olde and aboue, thē shalt thou set him at fiftene Sicles whā it is a mā a womā at tē Sicles. Yf he be to poore so to be set, thē let him present himself to ye prest, & ye prest shal value him. Neuertheles he shal value him, acordinge as ye hāde of him that vowed, is able to get. But yf it be a beest yt maye be offred vnto ye LORDE, all yt is offred vnto ye LORDE of soch, is holy: it shal not be altered ner chaunged, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good. Yf eny man chaunge it, one beest for another, then shal they both be holy vnto ye LORDE. But yf ye beest be vn cleane which maye not be offred vnto ye LORDE, thē shal it be set, before ye prest, and ye prest shal value it, whether it be good or bad, & it shal stonde at the prestes valuynge. But yf eny man wil bye it out, he shal geue the fifth parte more, to that it was set at.

Whan eny mā sanctifieth his house vnto the LORDE for ye Sanctuary, the prest shall value it, whether it be good or bad. And as the prest valueth it, so shal it stonde. But yf he yt sanctified it, wyl redeme it, he shal geue ye fifth parte of syluer therto, aboue that it was set at: So shal it be his.

Yf eny man halowe a pece of lōde of his heretage vnto the LORDE, it shalbe set acordinge to yt it beareth. Yf it beare an Homer of barlye, it shalbe valued at fiftye Sycles of syluer. But yf he halowe his londe immediatly from the yeare of Iubilye forth, then shal it be set acordinge to ye value therof. Yf he haue halowed it after the yeare of Iubilye, then shal the prest rekē it, acordinge to ye yeares yt remayne vnto ye yeare of Iubilye, & therafter shal he set it the lower.

But yf he yt sanctified the londe, wil redeme it agayne, then shal he geue the fifth parte of syluer therto, aboue that it was set at: So shal it be his. Yf he wil not lowse it out, but selleth it vnto another, then shal he redeme it nomore: but the same londe whan it goeth out fre in ye yeare of Iubilye, shal be holy vnto the LORDE, as a dedicated felde, and shalbe the prestes inheritaunce.

Yf eny man halowe vnto the LORDE a felde, which he hath bought, and is not his inheritaunce, then shal ye prest reken it, what it is worth vnto the yeare of Iubilye, & the same daye shall he geue the pryce that it is set at, vnto the LORDE for the Sanctuary. But in ye yeare of Iubilye it shal returne vnto him that bought it, yt it maye be his inheritaunce in the londe. All maner of prysinge shalbe made acordinge to the Sycle of the Sāctuary. One Sycle maketh xx. Geras.

〈◊〉 30. b •• . g 〈◊〉 . 45. b 〈◊〉 . 15. c The first borne amonge ye catell (which belongeth vnto the LORDE) shall no man Sanctifie vnto the LORDE, whether it be oxe or shepe, for it is the LORDES all ready. But yf there be eny vn cleane thinge vpon the beest, thē shal it be lowsed out therafter as it is worth, and the fifth parte shalbe geuen more therro. Yf he wil not redeme it, thē let it be solde, as it is worth.

There shall no dedicated thinge be solde ner bought out, yt eny man dedicateth vnto ye LORDE, of all yt is his good, whether it be mē, catell or lōde. For euery dedicated thī ge, is most holy vnto ye LORDE. There shal no dedicated thīge of mā be bought out, but shal dye the death. All the tythes in the londe, both of the sede of the londe, & of ye frutes of the trees, are the LORDES, & shal be holy vnto the LORDE. But yf eny man wil redeme his tithes, he shall geue the fifth parte more therto. And all the tithes of oxen & shepe, & that goeth vnder the rod, the same is an holy tythe vnto the LORDE. It shall not be axed whether it be good or bad, nether shall it be chaunged. But yf eny man chaunge it, then both it & that it was chaunged withall, shal be holy, & not redemed.

These are the cōmaundementes, which ye LORDE gaue Moses in charge vnto childrē of Israel vpon mount Sinai.

The ende of the thirde boke of Moses, called Leuiticus.
The fourth boke of Moses, called Numerus. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. The children of Israel are nombred and musterd out, as many as are mete for the batayll: The captaynes are ordeyned, and Leui appoynted to the seruyce of the Tabernacle. Chap. II. The ordre and maner how the tētes were pitched, and how the children of Israel laye aboute the Tabernacle of wytnes. Chap. III. The office of Leui, & of the sonnes of Aaron. Chap. IIII. The office of the sonnes of Kahath, Gerson and Merari. Chap. V. What maner of people were dryuen out of the hoost. The lawe of Gelousy of the man towarde the wife. Chap. VI. The lawe and ordinaunce concerninge the Nazarees or absteyners. The blessynge of the Israelites. Chap. VII. The offerynges of the captaynes at the dedicaciō of the altare, after that the Tabernacle was set vp. Chap. VIII. Of the candilsticke, offerynges, purifienge, and altare of the Leuites. Chap. IX. Of the feast of Easter, & how the vncleane shulde kepe it. Of the cloude vpon the Tabernacle. Chap. X. The vse of the syluer trompettes, & how the children of Israel brake vp, and toke their iourney with Hobab Moses brother in lawe. Chap. XI. The people are weery and vnpaciēt by the waye, murmur agaynst Moses, desyre flesh, and abhorre the Manna The LORDE geueth them after their lust, but punisheth them sore. Chap. XII. Miriam and Aaron grudge agaynst Moses, & Miriam is smytten with Leprosy. Chap. XIII. The spyes that were sent in to the lande of Canaan come agayne, and put the people in feare. Chap. XIIII. The people are vnpacient, wepe, and murmur agaynst Moses, Iosue & Caleb geue the londe a good worde, & cōforte them. The LORDE is angrie, & punysheth the people. Chap. XV. Of dyuerse offerynges, and how he was punyshed, that gathered stickes vpon the Sabbath. The people are commaūded to make gardes of remembraunce vpon their garmentes, to thinke vpon the commaundementes of the LORDE. Chap. XVI. Of the vproure and insurreccion of Corah, Dathan and Abyram, & their punyshment. The people murmur Fourtene thousande and seuen hundreth dye in the plage. Chap. XVII By the florishinge staff of Aaron, 〈◊〉 is declared, that the trybe of Leui and the presthode of Aaron is chosen of God. Chap. XVIII. The office & mynistracion of Aaron of the prestes & Leuites, & their dewtye. Chap. XIX. Of the reed cowe that was brent, and how the sprynklinge water was made of the aszshes of her. Chap. XX. Miriam dyeth at Cades. The people chyde with Moses and Aaron for faute of water, the LORDE geueth it them out of the hard stonye rocke. Moses desyreth the kynge of Edom, to let them go thorow his londe. Aaron dyeth vpon mount Hor. Chap. XXI. The battaill betwene Israel and Arad the kynge of the Cananites. The people murmur, and are plaged with the serpentes. They wynne the victory of Og and Sihon. Chap. XXII. Of Balac the kynge of the Moabites, and of Balaam the Soythsayer. Chap. XXIII. Balaam is brought to curse the people of God. Chap. XXIIII. The LORDE turneth Balaams curse in to a blessynge and prayse. Chap. XXV. The people fall to whordome and Idolatrye with the wemen of Moab, and ioyne themselues to the seruice of Ball Peor. Foure and twentye thousande are destroyed Phineas in his feruent zele slayeth a man and woman in their synne. Chap. XXVI. The people are nombred agayne and musterd. Chap. XXVII. What inheritaūce the doughters haue, where there is no sonne. Iosua is made captayne of the people in Moses steade. Chap. XXVIII. Offeringes apoynted for euery tyme. Chap. XXIX. The feast of the seuenth moneth and the offerynges therof. Chap. XXX. Of vowes made by mē or women. Chap. XXXI. Israel wynneth the victory of the Madianites, and deuydeth the spoyle. Chap. XXXII. Ruben, Gad, and the half trybe of Manasse haue their inheritaūce apoynted them on this syde of Iordan. Chap. XXXIII. The iourneys of the children of Israel are nombred. The people are commaunded (whan they come in to the londe of Canaan) to destroye all vtterly. Chap. XXXIIII. The deuydinge of the londe of Canaan with the borders therof, and what they be that deuyde it. Chap. XXXV. The porcion of the Leuites. Fredome for soch as commytte slaughter vnawares. Dyuerse slaughters Chap. XXXVI. The inheritaūce of the tribe maie not be mixte nor chaunged.
The first Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses in ye wyldernesse of Sinai, in the Tabernacle of witnesse, the first daye of the secōde moneth in the seconde yeare, whā they were gone out of the lāde of Egipte, and sayde: Exo. 0. b 〈◊〉 . 26. a Take ye summe of the whole congregacion of the children of Israel, after their kynredes & their fathers houses, with the nombre of the names, all that are males, heade by heade, frō twentye yeare and aboue, as many as are able to go forth into ye warre in Israel. And ye shal nombre them acordinge to their armyes thou and Aaron, and of euery trybe ye shal take vnto you one captayne ouer his fathers house.

These are the names of the captaynes that shal stonde with you. Of Ruben, Elizur the sonne of Sedeur. Of Simeon, Selumiel the sonne of Zuri Sadai. Of Iuda, Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab. Of Isachar, Nathaneel the sonne of Zuar. Of Zabulon, Eliab the sonne of Helon. Amonge the children of Ioseph: Of Ephraim, Elisama ye sonne of Amihud. Of Manasse, Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur. Of Ben Iamin, Abidam ye sonne of Gedeoni. Of Dan, Ahieser the sonne of Ammi Sadai. Of Asser, Pagiel the sonne of Ochram. Of Gad, Eliasaph ye sonne of Deguel. Of Nephthali, Ahira the sonne of Enan.

These are the awncient men of the congregacion, the captaynes amonge the trybes of their fathers, which were heades and prynces in Israel.

And Moses & Aaron toke them (like as they are there named by name) and gathered the whole cōgregacion together also, ye first daye of the secōde moneth, and rekened thē after their byrth, acordinge to their kynreds and fathers houses by their names, frō twētye yeare and aboue, heade by heade, as the LORDE commaunded Moses, and nombred them in the wyldernes of Sinai.

The children of Ruben Israels first sonne, their kynreds & generacions after their fathers houses, in ye nombre of their names heade by heade, all yt were males, from twentye yeare & aboue, and were able to go forth to the warre, were nombred to the trybe of Ruben, sixe and fourtye thousande, and fyue hundreth.

The children of Simeon their kynreds & generacions after their fathers houses in the nombre of the names heade by heade, all that were males from twētye yeare and aboue, and were able to go forth to the warre, were nombred to the trybe of Symeon, nyne and fiftye thousande and thre hundreth.

The children of Gad their kynreds and generacions after their fathers houses in ye nombre of the names, from twentye yeare and aboue, all that were able to go forth to the warre, were nombre to the trybe of Gad, fyue and fourtye thousande, sixe hundreth and fiftie.

The children of Iuda their kynreds and generacions after their fathers houses in ye nombre of the names, from twentye yeare and aboue, all that were able to go forth to the warre, were nombred to the trybe of Iuda, foure and seuentye thousande, & sixe hundreth.

The children of Isachar their kynreds & generacions, after their fathers houses in ye nombre of the names from twentye yeare & aboue, all that were able to go forth to the warre, were nombred to ye trybe of Isachar, foure and fiftye thousande and foure hundreth.

The children of Zabulon their kynreds and generacions after their fathers houses in the nombre of the names from twentye yeare & aboue, all that were able to go forth to the warre, were nombred to the trybe of Zabulon, seuen and fiftye thousande and foure hundreth.

Iosephs children of Ephraim, their kynreds & generacions after their fathers houses in ye nombre of the names, from twētye yeare & aboue, all yt were able to go forth to ye warre, were nōbred to the trybe of Ephraim, fourtye thousande & fyue hundreth.

The children of Manasse their kynreds & generacions, after their fathers houses in ye nombre of the names from twentye yeare & aboue, all yt were able to go forth to the warre, were nombred to the trybe of Manasse, two & thirtie thousande & two hundreth.

The childrē of Ben Iamin their kynreds and generacions, after their fathers houses, in the nombre of the names from twentye yeare & aboue, all that were able to go forth to the warre, were nombred to the trybe of Ben Iamin, fyue and thirtie thousande and foure hundreth.

The children of Dan their kynreds and generacions after their fathers houses, in the nombre of the names, from twentye yeares and aboue, all that were able to go forth to the warre, were nombred to the trybe of Dan, two and thre score thousande, and seuen hundreth.

The children of Asser their kynreds & generacions, after their fathers houses in the nombre of the names, from twentye yeare & aboue, all yt were able to go forth to ye warre, were nombred to the trybe of Asser, one & fourtye thousande and fyue hundreth.

The childrē of Nephthali, their kynreds and generacions after their fathers houses in the nombre of the names, from twentye yeare & aboue, all that were able to go forth vnto the warre, were nombred to the trybe of Nephthali, thre and fiftie thousande and foure hundreth.

These are they whom Moses and Aaron nombred with ye twolue prynces of Israel, wherof euery one was ouer ye house of their fathers. Exo. 12. f Num. 11. And the summe of the children of Israel after their fathers houses, from twentye yeare and aboue (what so euer was able to go forth to the warre in Israel) was sixe C. thousande, thre thousande, fyue C. & fift e. But the Leuites after the trybe of their fathers, were not nombred amonge them.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and saide: The trybe of Leui shalt thou not nombre, ner take the summe of them amonge ye children of Israel: but shalt appoynte them to the Habitacion of wytnesse, and to all ye apparell therof, and to all that belongeth therto. 1. Par. 14. And they shall beare the Tabernacle & all the ordinaunce therof, and shal wayte vpon it, and shal pitch their tentes rounde aboute it. And whan men shal go on their iourney, the Leuites shal take downe ye Tabernacle. And whan the hoost pitch their tē tes, they shal set vp the Tabernacle. And yf a straunger preasse nye vnto it, he shall dye. The children of Israel shal pitch their tentes, euery one in his awne armye, and by the baner of his awne companye. But the Leuites shall pitch rounde aboute the Tabernacle of wytnesse, that there come no wrath vpon ye congregacion of the children of Israel: therfore shal the Leuites wayte vpon the Habitacion of wytnesse. And the children of Israel dyd all, as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

The II. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE spake vnto Moses and Aaron, & sayde: The childrē of Israel shal pitch rounde aboute ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, euery one vnder his banner & tokens, after their fathers houses.

On the East syde shall Iuda pitch with his banner & hoost, their captayne Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab. And his armie in the summe, foure & seuentie thousande and sixe hundreth. Nexte vnto him shal the trybe of Isachar pitch, their captayne Nathaneel the sonne of Zuar: and his armye in the summe, foure and fiftye thousande and foure hundreth. The trybe of Zabulon also, their captayne Eliab the sonne of Helon: his armye in the summe, seuen and fiftie thousande and foure hundreth.

So yt all

they which belōge to ye hoost of Iuda, be in the summe an C. sixe and foure score thousande, & foure hundreth be longinge to their armye, & they shall go before.

On the South side shall lye the pauylions & baner of Ruben wt their hoost, their captaine Elizur ye sonne of Sedeur: & his armie in the summe, sixe & fourtie thousande, & fyue C. Nexte vnto him shal the trybe of Simeon pitch, their captayne Selumiel ye sonne of Zuri Sadai: & his armie in ye summe, nyne and fiftie thousande, and thre hundreth. The trybe of Gad also, their captayne Eliasaph ye sonne of Deguel: & his armye in the summe, fyue & fourtye thousande, sixe hundreth & fiftie. So that all they which belonge to the hoost of Ruben, be in the summe, an hundreth, one & fiftie thousande, foure hūdreth and fiftye, belonginge to their armye. And they shall be the seconde in the iourney.

After that shall the Tabernacle of wytnesse go wt the hoost of the Leuites euē in ye myddes amōge the hoostes: & as they lye in their tentes, so shal they go forth also, euery one in his place vnder his baner.

On the West syde shall lye ye pauylions & baner of Ephraim wt their hoost: their captayne shalbe Elisama sonne of Amihud, and his armye in the summe, fourtye thousande and fyue hundreth. Nexte vnto him shal ye trybe of Manasse pitch, their captayne Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur: his armye in the summe, two and thirtie thousande & two hūdreth. The trybe of Ben Iamin also, their captayne Abidan the sonne of Gedeoni: his armye in the summe, fyue and thirtie thousande & foure hundreth. So yt all they which belonge to the hoost of Ephraim, be in the summe, an hundreth thousande, eight thousande, & an hūdreth, belonginge to his armie. And they shal be the thirde in the iourney.

On the North syde shal lye ye pauylions & baner of Dan with their hoost: their captayne Ahieser ye sonne of Ammi Sadai, his armye in the summe, two and sixtye thousande and seuē hundreth. Nexte vnto him shal the trybe of Asser pitche: their captayne Pagiel ye sonne of Ochran, his army in the summe, one and fourtie thousande, and fyue hundreth. The trybe of Nephthali also, their captayne Ahira the sonne of Enan: his armye in the summe, thre & fiftye thousande & foure hūdreth. So yt all they which belonge to the hoost of Dan, be in the summe, an hū dreth thousande, seuen & fiftie thousande, & sixe hundreth. And they shalbe the last in the iourney with their baners.

This is the summe of the children of Israel, after their fathers houses and armyes with their hoostes: euen sixe hundreth thousande, & thre thousande, fyue hūdreth & fiftie. But ye Leuites were not nombred in ye summe amonge the childrē of Israel, 〈◊〉 . . g as ye LORDE cōmaunded Moses. And ye childrē of Israel dyd all as the LORDE cōmaunded Moses. And so they pitched vnder their baners, & toke their iourney, euery one in his kynred, acordinge to the house of their fathers.

The III. Chapter.

THese are the generacions of Aaron & Moses, whan ye LORDE spake vnto Moses at ye same tyme vpon mount Sinai. And these are ye names of the sonnes of Aron. 〈◊〉 . 10. a 〈◊〉 . 26. g The firstborne, Nadab: then Abihu, Eleasar & Ithamar. These are ye names of the sonnes of Aaron, eui. 8. a which were anoynted to be prestes, & their handes fylled for ye presthode. •• ui. 10. a But Nadab & Abihu dyed before ye LORDE, whā they offred straūge fyre before ye LORDE, in ye wildernesse of Sinai, & had no sonnes. But Eleasar and Ithamar executed ye prestes office wt their father Aaron.

〈◊〉 . 1 . b 〈◊〉 18. a Pa . 10. b And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Bringe hither the trybe of Leui, and set them before Aaron the prest, yt they maye serue wt him, & wayte vpon him & vpō the whole congregacion before ye Tabernacle of witnesse, and execute the seruyce of the habitacion, and kepe all the apparell of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and wayte vpon the children of Israel, to mynistre in the seruyce of the habitacion.

And thou shalt geue ye Leuites vnto Aaron and his sonnes for a gift, vnto euery one his awne, from amonge the children of Israel. As for Aaron & his sonnes, thou shalt appoynte them to wayte on their prestes office. 〈◊〉 . 3. f 〈◊〉 16. a Num. . f and . b Yf another preasse therto, he shal dye.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and saide: Beholde, I haue takē the Leuites frō amonge the childrē of Israel, for all the first borne that open the Matrix amonge the children of Israel so that the Leuites shalbe myne. Exod. 13. For the firstborne are myne, sence ye tyme that I smo e all the first borne in ye lande of Egipte, whā I sanctified vnto me all the firstborne in Israel, from mē vnto catell, that they shulde be myne. I the LORDE.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses in the wyldernesse of Sinai, and sayde: Nombre the children of Leui after their fathers houses and kynreds, all that are males of a moneth olde and aboue.

So Moses nombred them acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, as he had commaunded. And these were the children of Leui with their names: Gerson, Kahath, Exod. 6. Merari. The names of the children of Gerson in their kynreds, were: Libni and Semei.

The childrē of Kahath in their kynreds were, Amram, Iezehar, Hebron and Vsiel.

The children of Merari in their kynreds, were Maheli and Musi. These are the kynreds of Leui after their fathers houses.

These are ye kynreds of Gerson: The Libnites and Seme tes, the summe was founde in nombre, seuen thousande and fyue hundreth, of all that were males of a moneth olde and aboue. And the same kynreds of the Gersonites shal pitche behinde the Habitacion on the west syde: Let Eliasaph the sonne of Lael be their ruler. And they shal waite vpon the Tabernacle of wytnesse, of the habitacion, and of the tent, and couerynges therof, and the hangynge in the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, the hangynge aboute the courte, & the hangynge in ye courtedore, which (courte) goeth aboute the habitacion and the altare, and the cordes of it, & all that belongeth to the seruyce therof.

These are the kynreds of Kahath: The Amramites, the Iezeharites, the Hebronites, and Vsielites, all that were males of a moneth olde & aboue, in nombre eight thousande and sixe hundreth, waytinge vpon the Tabernacle of the Sanctuary, & shal pitch on the south syde of ye Habitacion: Let Elisaphan the sonne of Vsiel be their ruler. And they shal kepe the Arke, the table, the candil sticke, the altare and all the vessels of the Sanctuary, to do seruyce in, and the vayle, and all that belongeth to the seruice therof. But the chefe of all the rulers of the Leuites, shalbe Eleasar the sonne of Aron the prest, ouer them that are apoynted to kepe the watch of the Sanctuary.

These are ye kynreds of Merari: The Mahelites and Musites, which were in nombre sixe thousande and two hūdreth, all that were males of a moneth olde and aboue: Let Zuriel ye sonne of Abihail be their ruler, and they shall pitche vpon the north syde of the Habitacion. And their office shalbe to kepe the bordes, and barres, and pilers, and sokettes of the Habitacion, and all the apparell therof and that serueth therto: ye pilers also aboute ye courte, with the sokettes, and nales, and cordes.

But before the Habitacion and before ye Tabernacle on the East syde shal Moses & Aaron & his sonnes pytche, that they maye wayte vpon the Sanctuary, & the children of Israel. Num. 3 b nd. 16. a Yf eny other preasse therto, he shal dye.

All the Leuites in the summe, whom Moses and Aaron nombred after their kynreds, Nu. 26. g acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, all that were males, of a moneth olde and aboue, were two and twentye thousande.

And ye LORDE saide vnto Moses: Nombre all the first borne, that are males amonge the children of Israel, of a moneth olde and aboue, and take the nombre of their names. Num. 3. b nd 8. b And ye Leuites shalt thou take out vnto me the LORDE, for all ye first borne of ye childrē of Israel, & the catell of the Leuites for all the first borne amonge the catell of ye children of Israel. And Moses nombred all the first borne amōge the childrē of Israel, as the LORDE commaunded him. And in the nombre of the names of all the first borne, that were males of a moneth olde & aboue, in their summe, there were foūde two and twentye thousande, two hundreth, and thre and seuentye.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Take the Leuites for all ye first borne amonge the childrē of Israel, & the catell of ye Leuites for their catell, yt the Leuites maye be myne the LORDES. Leui. 27. a But the redempcion money of the two hundreth thre & seuentye yt remayne of the first borne of the children of Israel, aboue the nombre of the Leuites, shalt thou take, euen fyue Sycles of euery heade, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary 〈◊〉 . 50. b 〈◊〉 . 26. d 〈◊〉 45. b (one Sycle is worth twentye Geras) & the money yt remayneth ouer their nōbre, shalt thou geue vnto Aaron and his sonnes.

Then toke Moses ye redempcion money (that remayned ouer aboue the nombre of the Leuites) from ye first borne of the childrē of Israel, euen a thousande, thre hundreth, and fyue and thre score Sycles, after ye Sycle of the Sanctuary, & gaue it vnto Aaron and his sonnes, acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

The IIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses & Aaron, & sayde: Take ye summe of the childrē of Kahath from amonge the childrē of Leui, after their kynreds & fathers houses 〈…〉 from thirtie yeare and aboue vntill fiftye yeare, all that are mete for the warre, that they maye do the worke in the Tabernacle of witnesse. This shal be the office of the children of Kahath in the Tabernacle of wytnesse, which is most holy.

Whan the hoost breaketh vp, Aaron and his sonnes shall go in, and take downe the vayle, and couer the Arke of wytnesse therwith, and laye the couerynge of doo skynnes vpon it, and sprede a whole yalowe clothe aboue theron, and put his staues therin. And vpon the shewe table they shal sprede a yalowe clothe also, and set theron the disshes, spones, flatpeces and pottes to poure out and in, and the daylie bred shal lye vpon it, and they shall sprede a purple clothe ther ouer, and couer it with a couerynge of doo skynnes, and put the staues of it therin.

And they shal take a yalowe clothe, and couer the cādilsticke of light therwith, and his lampes, with his snoffers and outquenchers, and all the oyle vessels that belonge to the seruyce, and aboute all this shal they put a couerynge of doo skynnes, and put it vpon staues.

So shal they sprede a yalowe clothe ouer the golden altare also, and couer the same with a couerynge of doo skynnes, and put it vpon staues. All the vessels that they occupye in the Sanctuary, shal they take, and put a yalowe clothe ther ouer, & couer them with a couerynge of doo skynnes, and put them vpon staues. They shal swepe the asshes also from the altare, and sprede a clothe of scarlet ouer it, and set all his vessels theron, that they occupye vpon it: colepames, fleshokes, shouels, basens, with all the apparell of the altare, and they shal sprede a couerynge of doo skynnes theron, and put his staues therto.

Now whan Aaron and his sonnes haue done this, and haue couered the Sanctuary & all the ornamētes therof, whan the hoost breaketh vp, 〈…〉 then shal the children of Kahath go in, that they maye beare it, and the Sanctuary shall they not touche, 〈…〉 lest they dye. This is the charge of the childrē of Kahath in the Tabernacle of wytnesse.

And Eleasar the sonne of Aaron ye prest, shal haue the office, to prepare the oyle for the light, and the spyces for the incense, and the daylie meat offerynge, and the anoyntinge oyle, to order the whole habitacion, & all that therin is, in the Sanctuary and the ornamentes therof.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses and Aaron, & sayde: Ye shal not destroye the trybe of the kynred of the Kahathites amōge the Leuites, but this shal ye do with them, yt they maye lyue & not dye, yf they touche the most holy. Aaron and his sonnes shal go in, and appoynte euery one vnto his office & charge. But they shal not go in, presumptuously to loke vpō ye Sanctuary, lest they die. And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses and Aaron & sayde: Take the summe of the children of Gerson also, after their fathers house & kynred, 〈◊〉 . 8. d from thirtye yeare & aboue, vntyll fiftye yeare, & appoynte them all yt are mete for the warre, to haue an office in the Tabernacle of wytnesse.

This shalbe the office of the kynred of the Gersonites, euē to serue & to beare. They shal beare the curtaynes of the habitacion and of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and his couerynge and the coueringe of doo skynnes, that is aboue theron, and the hanginge in the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and the hanginge aboute the courte, which goeth aboute the habitacion and the altare, and their cordes, and all the instrumentes yt serue for thē, and all that belongeth to their occupienge. Acordinge vnto the worde of Aaron and of his sonnes, shal all the office of the children of Gerson be done, what so euer they shall beare and occupye. And ye shal se, that they wayte vpon all their charge. This shal be ye office of ye kinred of ye childrē of ye Gersonites in ye Tabernacle of witnes. And their waytinge shal be vnder ye hā de of Ithamar, the sonne of Aarō the prest.

The children of Merari after their kynred and fathers house, shalt thou appoynte also, from thirtie yeare and aboue, vnto fiftie yeare, all that are mete for the warre, yt they maye haue an office in the Tabernacle of wytnesse. But vpon this charge shall they wayte acordinge to all their office in ye Tabernacle of witnesse, that they beare the bordes of the Habitacion, and the barres, and pilers, and sokettes: the pilers of the courte also rounde aboute, and the sokettes and nales and cordes, with all their apparell acordynge to all their seruyce. And vnto euery one shall ye appoynte his porcion of charge to waite vpon the apparell. Le this be the office of the kynred of the children of Merari, all that they shall do in the Tabernacle of wytnesse vnder the hande of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the prest.

And Moses and Aaron with the captaynes of the congregacion, nombred the children of ye Kahathites, acordinge to their kynreds and houses of their fathers, from thirtie yeare and aboue, vntyll fyftye, all that were mete for the warre, to haue offyce in the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And the summe was, two thousande, seuen hundreth and fyftie. This is the summe of the kynred of the Kahathite (which all had seruyce in the Tabernacle of witnesse) whom Moses and Aaron nombred, acordynge to the worde of the LORDE by Moses.

The children of Gerson were nombred also in their kynreds and fathers houses from thirtie yeare and aboue vntyll fyftie, all that were mete for the warre, to haue office in ye Tabernacle of witnesse, and the summe was two thousande, syxe hundreth and thirtie. This is ye summe of the kinred of the childrē of Gerson, which all had to do in the Tabernacle of wytnesse, whom Moses and Aaron nombred, acordinge to ye worde of ye LORDE.

The children of Merari were nombred also acordinge to their kynreds and fathers houses, from thirtie yeare and aboue vntyll fyftye, all that were mete for the warre, to haue office in the Tabernacle of witnesse, & the summe was thre thousande, and two hundreth. This is the summe of the kynred of the childrē of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron nombred, acordinge to the worde of the LORDE by Moses.

The summe of all the Leuites, whom Moses and Aaron with the captaynes of Israel tolde, after their kinreds and fathers houses, from thyrtie yeare and aboue vntyll fyftye, all that wente in to do euery one his office, and to beare the burthen in ye Tabernacle of wytnesse, was eight thousande fyue hundreth and foure score, which were nombred acordinge to the worde of the LORDE by Moses, euery one to his office & charge as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

The V. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Commaunde the children of Israel, yt they put out of the hoost Leu. 13. all ye lepers, and all that haue yssues, and that are defyled vpon the deed, both men and womē shall they putt out of the hoost, that they defyle not their tentes, wherin I dwell amonge them. And ye children of Israel dyd so, and put them out of the hoost, as ye LORDE had sayde vnto Moses.

And the LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel & saye vnto them: Whan a man or woman doth a synne to eny body, and offendeth ther with agaynst the LORDE, then hath that soule a trespace vpon it. eui. 5. c And they shall knowlege their synne, that they haue done, and shall make amendes for their trespace, euen with the whole summe, and put ye fifth parte more therto, and geue it vnto him, agaynst whom they haue trespaced. But yf there be noman to make the amendes vnto for the offence yt he hath trespaced agaynst him, then shal the reconcylynge be made vnto the LORDE for the prest, besydes the ramme of the attonemēt, wherwith he shal be reconcyled.

Likewyse all the Heue offerynges of all that the children of Israel halowe vnto the LORDE, and offre vnto the prest, shall be his. And who so haloweth enythinge, it shal be his. And who so geueth the prest eny thinge, it shal be his also.

And the LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake to the children of Israel; and saye vnto them: Whan eny mans wife goth asyde, and trespaceth agaynst him, & eny mā lye with her fleshlye, and the thinge be yet hyd from his eyes, and is not come to light that she is defiled, and he can brynge no witnesse agaynst her (for she was not takē therin) and the sprete of gelousye kyndleth him, so that he is gelous ouer his wife: whether she be vncleane or not vncleane, then shal he brynge her vnto the prest, and brynge an offerynge for her, euen the tenth parte of an Epha of barlye meele, and shal poure no oyle theron, ner put frankensence vpon it: for it is an offerynge of gelousy, and an offeringe of remembraunce, that remembreth synne.

Then shall the prest beynge her, and sett her before the LORDE, and take of the Num. 19 b holy water in an earthen vessell, and put of ye dust that is on the floore of the habitacion, in to the water. And he shal set the wife before ye LORDE, and vncouer hir heade, and the offeringe of remembraunce which is an offeringe of gelousy, shall he laye vpon hir handes. And the prest shal haue in his hande bytter cursinge water, and shal coniure the wife, & saye vnto her: Yf no man haue lyē with the, and thou hast not gone asyde from thy huszbande, to defyle thy self, then shall not these bytter cursinge waters hurte the. But yf thou hast gone asyde from thy huszbande, so that thou art defyled, and some other man hath lyen with the besyde thy huszbande, then shall the prest coniure the wife with this curse, and shal saye vnto her: The LORDE sett the to a curse and a coniuracion amonge thy people, so that the LORDE make thy thye rotte, and thy wombe to berst. So go this cursed water in to thy body, that ye wombe berst, and thy thye rotte. And the wife shal saye: Amen Amen.

So the prest shall wryte this curse in a byll, and wash it out with the water, and shall geue the wife of the bytter cursinge waters to drynke. And whā the cursinge water is gone in her, so yt it is bytter vnto her then shal the prest take the gelousy offerynge out of the wyues hande, and waue it for a meat offerynge before the LORDE, and offre it vpon the altare: namely, he shall take an handfull of the meat offerynge for hir remēbraunce, & burne it vpō the altare, & then geue the wife the water to drinke. And whā she hath dronken the water, yf she be defyled and haue trespaced agaynst hir huszbande, then shal the cursinge water go in to her, and be so bytter, that hir wombe shal berst, and hir thye shall rotte, and the wife shal be a curse amonge hir people. But yf the same wife be not defyled, but is cleane, then shall it do her no harme, so that she maye be with childe.

This is the lawe of gelousy, whan a wyfe goeth asyde from hir huszbande, and is defyled: Or whan ye sprete of gelousy kyndleth a man, so that he is gelous ouer his wyfe, yt he brynge her before the LORDE, and that ye prest do all wt her acordinge vnto this lawe. And ye man shalbe giltlesse of the synne, but the wife shall beare hir myszdede.

The VI. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel, and saye vnto them: Whan a man or woman separateth them selues, to vowe a vowe of abstinence vnto the LORDE, he shal absteyne from wyne and strōge drynke. 〈…〉 Vyneger of wyne & of stronge drynke shal he not drynke, ner that is pressed out of grapes: he shall nether eate fresh ner drye grapes, so longe as his abstinence endureth. Morouer he shall eate nothinge that is made of the vyne tre, from the wyne cornels vnto the hulle.

As longe as the vowe of his abstynence endureth, there shall no rasoure come vpon his heade, tyll the tyme be out which he absteyneth vnto the LORDE, for he is holy.

And he shall let the heer of his heade growe, and stonde bare openly. All the tyme ouer yt he absteyneth vnto the LORDE, shal he go to no deed. Nether shal he defyle himself at ye death of his father, of his mother, of his brother, or of his sister. For the abstinence of his God is vpon his heade, and ye whole tyme of his abstinence shall he be holy vnto the LORDE.

And yf it chaunce eny man to dye sodenly before him, then shal ye heade of his abstynence be defyled. Therfore shal he * shaue his heade in the daye of his clensynge, that is vpon the seuenth daye: and vpon ye eight daye shall he brynge troo turtill doues, or two yonge pigeons, vnto the prest before ye dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And the prest shall make the one a syn offerynge, and the other a burnt offerynge, and make an attonement for him, because he defyled himself vpon ye deed, and so shal he halowe his heade the same daye, that he maye holde out the tyme of his abstinence vnto the LORDE, and he shall brynge a lambe of a a yeare olde for a trespace offerynge. But ye daies afore shal be but lost, because his abstinence was defyled.

This is the lawe of the absteyner. Whan the tyme of his abstinence is out, he shal be brought before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse. And he shal brynge his offeringe vnto the LORDE, euen an he lambe of a yeare olde without blemysh for a burnt offeringe, & a she lambe of a yeare olde without blemysh for a syn offerynge, and a ramme wt out blemish for an health offerynge, & a maū de wt vnleuended cakes of fyne floure myngled with oyle, and swete wafers anoynted with oyle, & their meat offeringes & drynkofferynges.

And the prest shall brynge it before the LORDE, and shal make his syn offerynge and his burnt offerynge, and ye ramme shal he make an health offerynge vnto the LORDE, with ye maunde of the vnleuended bred. His meat offerynge and drink offeringe shal he make also. And he shall shaue the heade of the absteyners abstinence before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and shall take the heade heer of his abstinence, and cast it vpon the fyre that is vnder ye health-offerynge.

And the sodden shulder of the ramme shall he take, and an vnleuended cake out of the maunde, and a swete wafer, and laye them vpon the handes of the absteyner: (after that he hath shauen of his abstinence.) And he shal Waue them before the LORDE. This is holy for the prest with the Waue brest, and Heueshulder. After that, maye the absteyner drynke wyne. This is the lawe of the absteyner, which voweth his offeringe vnto the LORDE for his abstynence, besydes that, which his hande can get. As he hath vowed, so shall he do acordinge to the lawe of his abstinence.

And the LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto Aaron and his sonnes, and saye: Thus shal ye saye vnto the childrē of Israel, whan ye blesse them.

Eccli. 3 . b The LORDE blesse the, and kepe the.

The LORDE make his face to shyne vpō the, and be mercifull vnto the.

The LORDE lift vp his countenaunce vpon the, and geue the peace.

For they shal put my name vpō the childr •• of Israel, that I maye blesse them.

The VII. Chapter.

ANd whan Moses had set vp the Habitacion and anoynted it, Exo. 40 b and sanctifyed it with all the apparell therof: and had anoynted and halowed the altare also with all his vessels, Then offred the captaynes of Israel, which were the rulers in their fathers houses.

For they were the captaynes amonge ye kynreds, and stode ouer thē that were nombred. And they brought their offerynges before the LORDE, sixe couered charettes, and twolue oxen, for euery two captaynes a charett, and an oxe for euery one, and brought them before the habitacion.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Take it of them, that it maye serue for the mynistracion of the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and geue it vnto the Leuites, vnto euery one acordinge to his office. Then toke Moses the charettes and oxen, and gaue them vnto the Leuites.

Two charettes and foure oxen gaue he vnto ye children of Gerson acordinge to their office: and foure charettes and eight oxen gaue he vnto the children of Merari acordinge to their office, vnder the hande of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the prest.

But vnto the children of Kahath he gaue nothynge, because Num. 4. b 2. Re. 6. b they had an holy office vpon them, and must beare vpō their shulders. And the captaines offred to the dedicacion of the altare, in the daye whan it was anoynted, and offred their giftes before the altare.

And ye LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Let euery captayne brynge his offerynge vpon his daye to the dedicacion of the altare.

On the first daye, Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab, of the trybe of Iuda, offred his g fte. And his gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thyrtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fyne loure myngled with oyle for a meat offeringe: And a golden spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incense: A bullocke from amonge the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offerynge, an he goate for a syn offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxen, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, and fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab.

On the seconde daye offred Nathaneel the sonne of Zuar, the captayne of Isachar His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oile for a meat offeringe: And a golden spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incense: A bullocke from amonge the greate catell, a rāme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offerynge, an he goate for a syn-offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxen, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, and fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Nathaneel the sonne of Zuar.

On the thirde daye, the captayne of the children of Zabulon, Eliab the sonne of Helon. His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge: And a golden spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incense: A bullocke from amonge the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offerynge, an he goate for a syn offerynge: And for an health offeringe two oxen, fyue rammes, fiue he goates, and fiue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Eliab the sonne of Helon.

On the fourth daye, the captayne of the children of Ruben, Elizur the sonne of Sedeur. His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge: And a goldē spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incense: A bullocke from amonge the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offeringe, an he goate for a syn offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxen, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, & fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Elizur the sonne of Sedeur.

On the fifth daye, the captayne of ye children of Simeon, Selumiel the sonne of Zuri Sadai. His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A siluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offeringe: And a goldē spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incēse: A bullocke from amōge the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offeringe, & an he goate for a syn offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxē, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, and fiue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Selumiel the sonne of Zuri Sadai.

On the sixte daye, the captayne of ye children of Gad, Eliasaph the sonne of Deguel. His gifte was a siluer charger, worth an hū dreth & thirtie Sicles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of ye Sanctuary) both full of fine floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge: And a golden spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incense: A bullocke from amonge ye greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offeringe, an he goate for a synn offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxen, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, and fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Eliasaph the sonne of Deguel.

On the seuenth daye the captayne of the children of Ephraim, Elisama, the sonne of Amihud. His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after ye Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge: And a goldē spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incense: A bullocke from amonge the greate catell, a rāme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offerynge, an he goate for a syn offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxē, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, and fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is ye gifte of Elisama the sonne of Amihud.

On the eight daye, the caytayne of the children of Manasse, Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur. His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of ye Sanctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled wt oyle for a meat offerynge: And a goldē spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incēse. A bullocke from amōge the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offerynge, an he goate for a syn offerynge. And for an health offerynge two oxen, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, & fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur.

On the nyenth daye, the captayne of the children of Ben Iamin, Abidan the sonne of Gedeoni. His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge: And a golden spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incēse: A bullocke from amonge the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxen, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, and fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Abidan the sonne of Gedeoni.

On the tenth daye, the captayne of the children of Dan, Ahieser the sonne of Ammi Sadai. His gifte was a siluer charger, worth an hundreth & thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentie Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sāctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge: And a golden spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incense: A bullocke from amonge the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offerynge, an he goate for a syn offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxen, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, & fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Ahieser the sonne of Ammi Sadai.

On the eleuenth daye, the captayne of ye childrē of Asser, Pagiel the sonne of Ochrā: His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentie Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sāctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge: And a golden spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incēse: A bullocke from the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offerynge, an he goate for a syn offerynge: And for an health offerynge two oxē, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, and fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Pagiel the sonne of Ochran.

On the twolfte daye, the captayne of the children of Nephtali, Ahira the sonne of Enan. His gifte was a syluer charger, worth an hundreth and thirtie Sycles: A syluer boule, worth seuentye Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fyne floure myngled with oyle for a meat offerynge: And a golden spone, worth ten Sycles of golde, full of incense: A bullocke from amonge the greate catell, a ramme, a lambe of a yeare olde for a burnt offeringe, an he goate for a synn offeringe: And for an health offeringe two oxen, fyue rammes, fyue he goates, and fyue lambes of a yeare olde. This is the gifte of Ahira the sonne of Enan.

This is ye dedicacion of the altare, what tyme as it was anoynted, vnto the which ye captaynes of Israel offered these twolue syluer chargers, twolue syluer boules, twolue spones of golde: euery charger conteynynge an hūdreth and thirtie Sycles of syluer, and euery boule seuentye Sycles. So that ye summe of all the syluer in the vessels, was two thousande and foure hundreth Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary). And the twolue spones of golde full of incense, conteyned euery one ten Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary: So that the summe of the golde in the spones, was an hundreth and twentye Sycles.

The summe of the catell for the burntofferinges, was twolue bullockes, twolue rammes, twolue lābes of a yeare olde with their meat offeringes: And twolue he goates for synn offeringes. And the summe of the catell for the health offeringes, was foure and twē tye oxen, thre score rammes, and thre score he goates, thre score lābes of a yeare olde. This is the dedicacion of the altare, after that it was anoynted.

And whan Moses wente in to the Tabernacle of wytnes, Exo. •• . c yt he might be commoned withall, he herde the voyce speakynge vnto him frō of the Mercy seate, which was vpō the Arke of witnes betwixte the two Cherubins, from thence was he cōmoned withall.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, & sayde: Speake to Aaron, & saye vnto him: Exo 25. d Whan thou settest vp ye lāpes, thou shalt set thē so, that they maye all seuē geue light aboue vpō ye candilsticke. And Aaron dyd so, & set ye lampes vpō ye candilsticke, as ye LORDE cōmaunded Moses. The worke of ye cādilsticke was of beatē golde, both ye shaft & floures therof: Acordynge to ye visiō that the LORDE had shewed Moses, euen so made he the candelsticke.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Take the Leuites frō amonge the children of Israel, & clense them. But thus shalt thou do with them, that thou mayest clense them. Thou shalt sprenkle purifienge water vpon them, and lett a rasure go ouer their whole body, and washe their clothes, and then are they cleane. Then shall they take a yonge bullocke, and his meat offerynge of fyne floure myngled with oyle. And another yonge bullocke shalt thou take for a synofferinge.

And thou shalt brynge the Leuites before the Tabernacle of wytnesse, and gather together the whole congregacion of ye children of Israel, and brynge the Leuytes before the LORDE. And the children of Israel shall laye their handes vpon the Leuites. And Aaron shal waue ye Leuites before the LORDE for the children of Israel, that they maye mynistre in the seruyce of the LORDE.

And the Leuites shall laye their handes vpon the heedes of the bullockes, and the one shalbe made a synn offerynge, the other a burnt offeringe vnto the LORDE, to make an attonement for the Leuites. And thou shalt set the Leuites before Aaron and his sonnes, and waue them before the LORDE, and so shalt thou separate them from ye children of Israel, that they maye be myne. Thē shall they go in, that they maye do seruyce in the Tabernacle of witnesse. Thus shalt thou clense thē, & waue them: for they are my gifte of the children of Israel, Num. 3. b and I haue taken them vnto me for all that openeth the Matrix, namely for the first borne of all the children of Israel.

For euery first borne amonge the children of Israel is myne, Exo. 13. a Luc. 2. d both of men and of catell, sens the tyme that I smote all the first borne in the lande of Egipte, and sanctified them vnto myself, and toke the Leuites for all the first borne amonge the childrē of Israel, and gaue them for a gifte vnto Aarō and his sonnes from amonge the children of Israel, yt they shulde do the seruyce of the children of Israel in the Tabernacle of witnesse, to make attonemēt for the children of Israel, that there be not a plage amonge the children of Israel, yf they wyll come nye ye Sanctuary.

And Moses with Aaron and the whole congregaciō of the childrē of Israel, dyd wt the Leuites all as the LORDE had commaū ded Moses. And they purified the Leuites, and waszshed their clothes. And Aaron waued them before the LORDE, and made attoment for them, that they might be cleane.

After that wente they in, to do their office in the Tabernacle of witnesse before Aaron and his sonnes: as the LORDE commaū ded Moses concernynge the Leuites, euen so dyd they with them.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses & sayde: This is it that belongeth vnto the Leuites: 〈…〉 From fyue and twentye yeare and aboue, shal they go in to the office of the Tabernacle of witnesse. But frō fyftie yeare forth, they shal ceasse from the waitinge of the seruyce therof, and shall mynister nomore, but shal appoynte their brethren to waite and to serue in the Tabernacle of wytnesse: but the office shal not they execute. Thus shalt thou do with the Leuites in their seruyces, that euery one maye wayte vpon his awne charge.

The IX. Chapter.

ANnd the LORDE spake vnto Moses in the wildernesse of Sinai, in ye first moneth of the seconde yeare that they were departed out of the lande of Egipte & sayde: 〈…〉 Let the children of Israel kepe Easter in his season, euen vpon the fourtene daye of this moneth at euen, in his season shall they kepe it, acordynge to all the statutes & lawes therof. And Moses spake to ye childrē of Israel, yt they shulde kepe Easter. And they kep Easter vpō the fourtene daye of the first moneth at euen in the wildernes of Sinai. Acordinge to all that the LORDE cōmaunded Moses, euen so dyd the children of Israel.

Then were there certayne men defyled of a deed man, so that they coulde not kepe Easter vpon that daye: these came before Moses and Aaron the same daye, and sayde vnto him: We are defiled of a deed mā: wherfore shulde we be despysed, that we must not bringe oure giftes in his season amonge the children of Israel? Moses sayde vnto them: Stonde styll, I wil heare what the LORDE commaundeth you.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Speake vnto the children of Israel, & saie: Whā eny man is defyled of a deed coarse, or is gone farre from you ouer the felde, 〈…〉 or is amonge youre kynszfolkes, yet shall he kepe Easter, but in the seconde moneth vpō ye fourtene daye at euen, and they shal eate it with vnleuended bred and sowre sawse, and shall leaue none of it vntyll the mornynge, 〈…〉 ner breake eny bone therof, and shal kepe it acordinge to all ye maner of ye Easter.

But he that is cleane, and not gone in a iourney, and is negligent to kepe the Easter, the same soule shal be roted out from amōge his people: because he brought not his gifte to the LORDE in his season, he shal beare his synne. And whan there dwelleth a straunger amonge you, he shal kepe Easter also vnto the LORDE, & shal holde it acordinge to ye ordinaunce and lawe of ye Easter. This statute shal be vnto you alike, to the straunger as to him that is borne in the londe.

And ye same daye yt the Habitacion was set vp, •• o. c. . 8. b 9. a a cloude couered it vpō the Tabernacle of witnesse, & at euen there was a symilitude of fyre vpon the Habitacion vntill the mornynge. So came it to passe allwaye, yt the cloude couered it by daye, & the symilitude of fyre by night. And whan the cloude was takē vp from the Habitacion, then the children of Israel wente on their iourney. And loke in what place the cloude abode, there the childrē of Israel pitched their tentes. Acordinge to the worde of the LORDE toke the children of Israel their iourney, and acordinge to his worde pitched they their tentes. So longe as the cloude abode vpon the Habitacion, they laye styll. And whan the cloude taried many dayes vpon the Habitacion, the childrē of Israel wayted vpon the LORDE, & wente not on their iourney.

And whan it chaunced that the cloude abode vpō ye Habitacion eny space of dayes, then pitched they acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, & after the worde of the LORDE wente they on their iourney. Whan the cloude was there from the euenynge vntyll the mornynge, and so was taken vp, then wē te they on their iourney: and whether it was takē vp by daye or by night, they iourneyed. But whan it taried vpon the habitacion two dayes, or a moneth, or a longe season, then laye the children of Israel, and iourneyed not: and so whan it was taken vp, they wente on their iourney. For acordinge to the mouth of the LORDE they laye, and after the mouth of the LORDE they iourneyed, so yt they kepte the LORDES watch, acordinge to the worde of the LORDE by Moses.

The X. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Make the two trompettes of beaten syluer, that thou mayest vse them, to call the cōgregacion together, and whan the hoost shal breake vp. Whan they blowe with both, then shall the whole congregacion gather them selues together vnto the before the dore of the Tabernacle of witnesse. Whan they blowe but with one, then the captaynes, the rulers ouer the thousandes in Israel shal gather them selues together vnto the. Whan ye trompe, then shal the hoostes that lye on the East syde, breake vp. And whan ye trompe the seconde tyme, the hoostes that lye on the South syde, shal breake vp. For ye shall trompe, whan they shal take their iourneys. Iudic. . d But whan ye congregacion is to be gathered together, ye shal blowe, and not trompe. This blowinge wt the trompettes shal the sonnes of Aaron the prest do. And it shall be yor lawe for euer amonge youre posterities.

Whan ye go to a battayll in youre londe agaynst youre enemies yt vexe you, ye shall trompe with the trompettes, that ye maye be remembred before the LORDE yor God, and delyuered from youre enemies.

Like wyse whan ye are mery, and in youre feast dayes, & in youre new Monethes, ye shal blowe with the trompettes ouer youre burntsacrifices & health offeringes, yt it maie be a remembraunce vnto you before youre God. I am the LORDE youre God.

Vpon the twentye daye in the seconde moneth of the seconde yeare, arose the cloude from the habitacion of witnesse. And the childrē of Israel wente on their iourney out of the wyldernesse of Sinai, Num. 33. c Deut. 1. a and the cloude abode in the wyldernesse of Paran, First brake vp (acordinge to the worde of the LORDE by Moses.) Namely, the baner of the hoost of Iuda wente forth first with their armies, Num. 1 a and ouer their hoost was Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab. And ouer the hoost of the trybe of the children of Isachar was Nathaneel the sonne of Zuar. And ouer the hoost of the trybe of the children of Zabulon was Eliab the sonne of Elon. And the habitacion was taken downe, Num. 4. a and the children of Gerson and Merari bare the habitacion.

After that wente the baner of the hoost of Ruben with their armies, and ouer their hoost was Elizur the sonne of Sedeur. And ouer the hoost of the trybe of the children of Simeon was Selumiel the sonne of Zuri Sadai. And Eliasaph the sonne of Deguel ouer the hoost of the trybe of the children of Gad. Then wente the Kahathites forwarde also, and bare the Sanctuary, and caused ye habitacion be set vp agaynst they came.

After that wente the baner of the hoost of the children of Ephraim with their armies, and ouer their hoost was Elisama the sonne of Amihud. And Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur ouer the hoost of the trybe of the children of Manasse. And Abidan the sonne of Gedeoni ouer the hoost of the trybe of the children of Ben Iamin.

After that wente the baner of the hoost of the children of Dan with their Armyes, (and so were all the hoostes vp) and Ahieser the sonne of Ammi Sadai was ouer their hoost. And Pagiel ye sonne of Ochran, ouer the hoost of the trybe of the children of Asser. And Ahira the sonne of Enan ouer the hoost of the trybe of the children of Nephthali. Thus the childrē of Israel wēte forth with their armyes.

And Moses spake vnto his brother in lawe, Hobab the sonne of Raguel of Madian: We go vnto the place, of the which ye LORDE sayde: I wil geue it you: Come now with vs therfore, and we wil do ye best with the, for the LORDE hath promysed good vnto Israel. But he answered: I wil not go wt you, but wil go in to myne awne londe vnto my kynred. He sayde: Oh nay, leaue vs not: for thou knowest where is best for vs to pytche in the wyldernesse, and thou shalt be oure eye. And yf thou goest with vs, loke what good the LORDE doth vnto vs, the same wil we do vnto the. So they departed from the mount of the LORDE thre dayes iourney, & the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt wente before them those thre dayes iourney, to shewe thē where they shulde rest. And ye cloude of the LORDE was ouer them in the daye tyme, whan they wēte out of ye tētes.

And whan the Arke wente forth, Moses sayde: Psal. 67. a Aryse LORDE, let thine enemies be scatered, and let them that hate the, flye before the. And whan it rested, he sayde: Come agayne O LORDE vnto the multitude of the thousandes of Israel.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd whan ye people waxed vnpaciēt, it displeased sore ye eares of ye LORDE. Exo 16. a Deut. 9. d And whan the LORDE herde it, his wrath waxed whote, & the fyre of ye LORDE burnt amōge them, so yt it cōsumed the vttemost of ye hoost. Thē cryed the people vnto Moses. And Moses prayed vnto the LORDE. So ye fyre quenched. And the place was called Tabera, because the fyre of the LORDE burnt amonge them.

Then the comon sorte of people yt was amōge them, fell a lustinge, and sat & wepte wt the children of Israel, and sayde: Who wyll geue vs flesh to eate? We remembre the fish, the we ate in Egipte for naught, & Cucumbers, Melouns, lekes, onyons, & garleke: But now is oure soule dryed awaye, oure eyes se nothinge then the Manna.

The Manna was like Coriāder sede, and to loke vpon, like Bedellion. 〈…〉 And the people ranne here and there, & gathered it, & grounde it in Milles, and beate it in morters, and baked it in pānes, and made cakes of it, and it had a taist like an oyle cake. And whan ye dew fell vpon the tētes in the night, ye Manna fell therwith.

Now whan Moses herde the people wepe amōge their kynreds, euery one in his tēt dore, then the wrath of the LORDE waxed exceadinge whote. And it greued Moses also. And Moses sayde vnto the LORDE: Why vexest thou thy seruaunte? And why fynde not I fauoure in ye sight, yt thou layest ye burthen of all this people vpō me? Haue I thē cōceaued all this people, or begotten them, that thou shuldest saye vnto me: Cary them in thine armes (as a nurse beareth a childe) vnto the londe, that thou hast sworne vnto their fathers? Where shal I get flesh, to geue all this people? They wepe before me, and saye: Geue vs flesh, that we maye e te. I am not able to beare all this people alone, for it is to heuy for me. And yf thou wylt deale thus wt me: O kyll me then, yf I haue founde fauoure in thy sight, that I se not my wrechednesse.

And the LORDE saide vnto Moses: Gather vnto me 〈…〉 seuentye men amonge the Elders of Israel, whom thou knowest yt they are the Elders in ye people and officers ouer them, and brynge them before the Tabernacle of witnesse, and set them there with the: then wil I come downe, and talke with the euen there, & take of thy sprete that is vpon the, and putt it vpon them, that they maye beare the burthen of the people with the, yt thou beare not all alone.

And vnto ye people thou shalt saye: Sāctifye yor selues agaynst tomorow, 〈…〉 yt ye maye eate flesh: for youre wepynge is come into the eares of the LORDE, ye that saye: Who shal geue vs flesh to eate? for we were well at ease in Egipte. 〈…〉 Therfore shal the LORDE geue you flesh to eate, not one daye, not two, not fyue, not ten, not twentye dayes longe, but a moneth longe, tyll it go out at youre noses, and tyll ye lothe it: euen because ye haue refused the LORDE, which is amonge you, and haue wepte before him, 〈…〉 & sayde: Wherfore wente we out of Egipte?

And Moses sayde: Sixe hundreth thousande fote men are there of the people amō ge whom I am, 〈…〉 and thou sayest: I wyll geue you flesh to eate a moneth lōge. Shal the shepe and oxen be slayne to be ynough for them? Or shal all the fishes of the see be gathered together, to be sufficient for them? The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: 〈…〉 Is the LORDES hande shortened then? But now shalt thou se, whether my wordes shall be fulfilled in dede, or no?

And Moses wēte out, and tolde the people ye worde of the LORDE, and gathered the seuentye men amonge the Eldest of the people, & set them rounde aboute the Tabernacle. Then came the LORDE downe in a cloude, & spake vnto him, & toke of the sprete yt was vpon him, & put it vpon the seuentie Elders. And whan the sprete rested vpon them, they prophecied, and ceassed not.

But in the hoost there remayned yet two men, of whom the one was called Eldad, ye other Medad, & the sprete rested vpō them. For they were wrytten vp also, & yet were they not gone out vnto the Tabernacle, and they prophecied in the hoost. Then ran there a lad, & tolde Moses, & sayde: Eldad and Medad prophecie in the hoost. Then answered Iosua ye sonne of Nun Moses seruaunte (whom he had chosen) and sayde: My lorde Moses, for bydde them. But Moses sayde vnto him: Art thou gelous for my sake? 〈◊〉 . 2. f 〈◊〉 . 14. a wolde God, yt all the people of ye LORDE coulde prophecie, and that ye LORDE wolde geue them his sprete. So Moses and the Elders of Israel gat them to the hoost.

Then wente out the wynde from ye LORDE, 〈◊〉 . 16. c & caused quayles to come from the see, & scatred thē ouer the hoost here a dayes iourney, there a dayes iourney rounde aboute ye hoost, two cubytes hye aboue ye earth. Then the people stode vp all that daye and all yt night, and all the nexte daye, and gathered quayles: and he that gathered the leest, gathered ten Homers, & they kylled them rounde aboute the hoost.

〈◊〉 . 77. c But whyle ye flesh was yet betwene their tethe, & or euer it was vp, the wrath of the LORDE waxed whote amonge the people, 〈…〉 and slewe them with an exceadinge greate slaughter. Therfore is the same place called the graues of lust, because the voluptuous people were buried there. From the lustgraues toke the people their iourney vnto Hazeroth, and abode at Hazeroth. Num. •• .

The XII. Chapter.

ANd Miriam & Aaron spake agaynst Moses because of his wife the Morian Exo. 2. which he had taken, Deu. 24. b because he had takē a Morian to wife, and they sayde: Doth the LORDE speake onely thorow Moses? Speaketh he not also by vs? And the LORDE herde it. Eccli. 45. a But Moses was a very meke man, aboue all men vpon earth. And haistely spake the LORDE vnto Moses, and to Aaron, and to Miriam: Go out ye thre vnto ye Tabernacle of wytnesse. And they wente out all thre.

Then came the LORDE downe in the cloudy piler, Psal. 98. b & stode in the dore of the Tabernacle, & called Aaron & Miriam, & they both wēte out. And he sayde: Heare my wordes: Yf eny man be a prophet of the LORDE, vnto him wil I shewe my self in a vision, or wil speake vnto him in a dreame. But not so wt my seruaunt Moses, Heb. 3. a which is faithfull in all my house. Exo. 33. Mouth to mouth speake I vnto him, & he seyth the LORDE in his fashion, not thorow darke wordes or licknesses: Wherfore were ye not afrayed then to speake agaynst my seruaunt Moses?

And ye wrath of the LORDE waxed whote ouer them, & he turned him awaye, and ye cloude also departed from the Tabernacle. And beholde,2. Pa. 6. d then was Miriam become leporus, as it were snowe. And Aaron turned him vnto Miriam, and sawe that she was leporous, and sayde vnto Moses: Oh my lorde, put not the synne vpon vs, which we haue foolishly committed and synned, that she be not as one that commeth deed out of his mothers wombe: It hath eaten vp half hir flesh allready.

But Moses cried vnto the LORDE, & sayde: Oh God, heale her. The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Yf hir father had spytte in hir face, shulde she not be ashamed seuen dayes? Leu. 1 .1 Let her be shut out of ye hoost seuē dayes, after yt let her be receaued agayne. So Miriam was shut out of the hoost seuē dayes, & the people wente no farther, tyll Miriam was receaued againe. Afterwarde departed the people from Hazeroth, Num. 3 . c and pitched in ye wildernesse of Paran.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Deut. 1. d Sende forth men to spye out ye 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 lande of Canaan (which I wil geue vnto ye children of Israel) of euery trybe of their fathers a man, and let them all be soch as are captaynes amonge them. Moses sent thē out of the wildernes of Paran, acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, soch as were all heades amonge the children of Israel, and these are their names:

Samma the sonne of Zacur, of the trybe of Ruben. Saphat the sonne of Hori, of the trybe of Simeon. Caleb ye sonne of Iephune, of the trybe of Iuda. Igeal the sonne of Ioseph, of the trybe of Isachar. Hosea the sonne of Nun, of ye trybe of Ephraim. Palti the sonne of Raphu, of the trybe of Ben Iamin. Gadiel the sonne of Sodi, of ye trybe of Zabulon. Gaddi the sonne of Susi, of the trybe of Ioseph of Manasse. Ammiel the sonne of Gemalli, of the trybe of Dan. Sethur ye sonne of Michael, of the trybe of Asser. Nahebi the sonne of Vaphsi, of the trybe of Nephtali. Guel the sonne of Machi, of the trybe of Gad. These are the names of the men, whom Moses sent forth to spye out the lande. As for Hosea the sonne of Nun, Moses called him Iosua.

Now whan Moses sent thē forth to spye out the lande of Canaan, he sayde vnto thē: Go vp southwarde, and get you vp to the mountaynes, and loke vpon the londe how it is: and the people that dwell therin, whether they be stronge or weake, fewe or many: and what maner of lande it is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad: & what maner of cities they be that they dwell in, whether they be fenced with walles, or not: and what maner of lande it is, whether it be fatt or leane, and whether there be trees therin, or not. Be of a good corage, and bringe of the frutes of the londe. It was euen aboute the tyme, that grapes are first rype.

They wente vp, & spyed the lande, from ye wildernes of Zin, vntyll Rehob, as mē go vnto Hemath. They wente vp also towarde the south, and came vnto Hebron, where Ahiman was, and Sesai and Thalmai, the children of Enack (Hebron was buylded seuen yeare before Zoan in Egipte.)

And they came to the ryuer of Escol, and there they cut downe a cluster of grapes, Deut. 1. and caused two to beare it vpon a staffe, pomgranates also and fygges. The place is called the ryuer of Escol, because of the cluster of grapes, which the children of Israel cut downe there.

And whan they had spyed out the lande, they turned bake againe after fourtye daies,

and wente, and came to Moses and Aaron, & to the whole congregacion of ye children of Israel in to ye wyldernesse of Paran, euē vnto Cades, and brought them worde agayne, and to the whole congregacion, how it stode, and let them se the frute of the lande, and tolde them, and sayde: We came into ye lande, whither ye sent vs, where it floweth with mylke and hony, and this is the frute therof: sauynge that stronge people dwell therin, and the cities are exceadinge stronge and greate. And we sawe the children of Enack there also. The Amalechites dwell in the south countre, the Hethites, and Iebusites and Amorites dwell vpon the mountaynes, but the Cananites dwell by the see, and aboute Iordane.

Howbeit Caleb stylled ye people that was agaynst Moses, and sayde vnto them: Let vs go vp, and conquere the lande, for we are able to ouercome it. But the men that wente vp with him, sayde: 〈…〉 We are not able to go vp agaynst that people, for they are to stronge for vs. And of the lande that they had searched, they brought vp an euell reporte amonge the childrē of Israel, and saide: The lāde that we haue gone thorow to spye out, eateth vp the indwellers therof: and all the people that we sawe therin, are men of greate stature. We sawe giauntes there also, yee giauntes as the children of Enack. and we semed in oure sighte as ye greshoppers, and so dyd we in their sighte.

The XIIII. Chapter.

THen the whole cōgregacion toke on, and cryed, De •• 〈…〉 Psal. 〈…〉 and the people wepte yt night. And all the childrē of Israel murmured agaynst Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregacion sayde vnto them: Oh that we had dyed in the lande of Egipte, or that we might dye yet in this wyldernesse. Wherfore bryngeth the LORDE vs in to this lande, that oure wyues shulde fall thorow the swerde, and ouer children be a praye? Is it not better, that we go agayne in to Egipte? And they sayde one to another: Let vs make a captayne, and go in to Egipte agayne.

But Moses & Aaron fell vpō their faces before ye whole cōgregacion of the multitude of the childrē of Israel. 〈◊〉 . 46. b •• ch. 2. f And Iosua ye sonne of Nun, & Caleb ye sonne of Iephune (which also had spyed out the lande) rente their clothes, & spake to the whole cōgregacion of the children of Israel: The londe yt we haue walked thorow to spye it out, is a very good lande. Yf the LORDE haue lust vnto vs, he shal brynge vs in to the same londe, & geue it vs, which is a lāde that floweth with mylke & hony. But in anye wyse rebell not ye agaynst the LORDE, & eut. 10. a feare not ye people of this lande, for we wil eate thē vp as bred. Their defence is departed frō them, om. . d but the LORDE is wt vs, be not ye afrayed of them.

And all the people, bad stone them wt stones. Then appeared the glory of the LORDE in the Tabernacle of witnesse vnto all the children of Israel, & the LORDE sayde vnMoses: How longe shal this people blaspheme me? And how longe wil it be, or they beleue me, for all the tokēs that I haue shewed amonge them? I wil smyte them with pestilence & destroye thē, xo. 32. c & wil make of the a greater & mightier people then this is.

eu. 9. d But Moses sayde vnto ye LORDE: Then shal ye Egipcians heare it (for wt thy power hast thou brought this people from amōge thē) so shal it be tolde the inhabiters of this lande also, which haue herde, yt thou O LORDE art amonge this people, yt thou art sene from face to face, & that thy cloude stondeth ouer them, xo. 13. d and that thou goest before them in the cloudy piler on the daye tyme, and in the fyrie piler on the night season. Yf thou shuldest now slaye this people as one man, then the Heythen that haue herde so good reporte of the, xo. 32. c shulde saye: The LORDE was not able to brynge the people in to the londe, that he sware vnto them, therfore hath he slayne them in the wyldernes.

So let the power of the LORDE now be greate, acordinge as thou hast spoken and sayde: The LORDE is of longe sufferaunce and of greate mercy, and forgeueth synne and trespace, and leaueth no man innocent, & vysiteth the myszdede of the fathers vpon the children in to the thirde and fourth generacion. O be gracious now vnto the synne of this people acordinge to thy greate mercy, like as thou hast forborne this people also, euer from Egipte vnto this place. And the LORDE sayde: I haue forgeuē it, as thou hast saide. But as truly as I lyue, all ye worlde shal be full of my glory. Nu. 26. Deut. 1. and 2. c For of all ye men that haue sene my glory & my tokens, which I dyd in Egipte and in the wildernesse, and tempted me now ten tymes, & haue not herkened vnto my voyce, there shall not one se the londe that I sware vnto their fathers: nether shal eny of them that haue blasphemed me, se it. Iosu. 14 But my seruaūt Caleb, because there is another maner sprete with him, & because he hath folowed me, him wil I brynge in to the lande, which he hath gone thorow, & his sede shal conquere it, and ye Amalechites also and the Cananites, that dwell in the lowe countrees. Tomorow turne you, and get you to the wyldernesse, in the waye towarde the reed see.

And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses & Aaron, & sayde: How lōge shal this euell multitude murmur agaynst me? For I haue herde the murmuringe of the childrē of Israel, yt they haue murmured agaynst me. Tell them therfore: Nu. 32. b As trulye as I lyue (sayeth ye LORDE) I wil do vnto you, euen as ye haue spoken in myne eares: Youre carcases shal lye in this wildernesse. And all ye that Num. 1. were nombred from twentye yeare and aboue, which haue murmured agaynst me, shall not come in to the lande (cōcernynge the which I lift vp my hāde, yt I wolde let you dwell therin) saue Caleb ye sonne of Iephune, and Iosua the sonne of Nun.

Youre children, of whom ye sayde: Deut. 1. f They shalbe a spoyle, them wyll I brynge in, so yt they shal knowe the lande, which ye haue refused. But ye with youre carcases shall lye in this wildernesse, and yor children shal wander in this wildernesse fourtye yeares, & beare yor whordome, tyll yor carcases be waisted in the wildernesse, acordinge to the nombre of ye fourtye dayes, wherin ye spyed out the londe. Exe. 4. a A daye for a yeare, so yt fourtye yeares ye shall beare youre myszdede, that ye maye knowe what it is, whan I with drawe my hande. Euen I the LORDE haue sayde it, & wil do it in dede vnto all this euell congregacion, that haue lift vp themselues agaynst me: In this wildernesse shal they be consumed, and there shal they dye.

So there dyed and were plaged before the LORDE all the mē,1. cor. 10. whom Moses sent to spye out the lāde, & came agayne, and made the whole cōgregacion to murmur agaynst it, because they brought vp a myszreporte of the lande, that it was euell. But Iosua the sonne of Nun, and Caleb ye sonne of Iephune were left alyue, of the men that wente to spye out the lande. And Moses spake these wordes vnto all the children of Israel. Thē toke the people greate sorowe.

And they arose early in ye mornynge, and wente vp to the toppe of ye mountayne, and sayde: •• ut. 1. Lo, here are we, and will go vp to the place, wherof the LORDE hath sayde: for we haue synned. But Moses sayde: wherfore go ye on this maner beyonde ye worde of the LORDE? It shall not prospere with you: go not vp (for ye LORDE is not amōge you) yt ye be not slayne before yor enemies. For the Amalechites and Cananites are there before you, & ye shal fall thorow ye swerde, because ye haue turned yor selues from the LORDE, and the LORDE shal not be with you.

But they were blynded to go vp to the toppe of the mountaine: neuertheles the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt & Moses came not out of the hooste. Then came downe ye Amalechites & Cananites which dwelt vpon that mountayne, and smote them and hewed them, euen vnto Horma.

The XV. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE talked with Moses, and sayde: Speake to the childrē of Israel, & saye vnto them: Whan ye come in to the lande of youre dwellinge, which I shal geue you, and wil do sacrifice vnto the LORDE, whether it be a burnt offerynge, or an offrynge for a speciall vowe, or a frewyll offerynge, or youre feast offerynges, that ye maye make a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE, of oxen or of shepe.

euit. 2. a 〈◊〉 . b He yt wil offre now his gifte vnto ye LORDE, shal brynge for the meat offeringe a tēth deale of fyne floure myngled with oyle of the fourth parte of an Hin, and wyne for ye drynk offerynge the fourth parte of an Hin also: to the burnt offeringe, or eny other offeringe, whan a lambe is offred. But whā there is a ramme offred, thou shalt make the meat offerynge two tēth deales of fyne floure myngled with oyle, of the thirde parte of an Hin, and ye thirde parte of an Hin of wyne also for a drynk offeringe: this shalt thou offre for a swete sauor vnto the LORDE.

But yf thou wilt offre an oxe for a burnt offerynge, or for a speciall vowe offerynge, or for an health offeringe vnto the LORDE, thou shalt brynge to the oxe, the meat offrynge, euen thre tenth deales of fyne floure mingled with half an Hin of oyle, & half an Hin of wyne for a drynk offrynge. This is an offerynge of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE. Thus shalt thou do with an oxe, with a ramme, with a lambe, and with a goate. Acordinge as the nombre of the offerynges is, therafter shall the nombre of the meat offerynges and drynk offerynges be also.

He that is one of youre selues, shall do this, that he maye offre a sacrifice of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE. And yf there dwell a straunger with you, or is amōge youre kynszfolkes, and wil do an offerynge vnto the LORDE for a swete sauoure, the same shal do as ye do. Let there be one statute for the whole cōgregacion, both vnto you and to the straungers. A perpetuall statute shal it be vnto youre posterities, that the straunger be euē as ye before ye LORDE. One lawe, and one ordinaunce shalbe vnto you and to the straunger that dwelleth with you.

And the LORDE talked with Moses, & sayde: Speake to the children of Israel, and saye vnto them: Whan ye come in to the lande, in to yt which I shal brynge you, 〈…〉 so that ye eate the bred of the londe, ye shal heue vp an Heue offerynge vnto the LORDE, namely, a cake of the firstlinges of youre dowe shall ye geue for an Heue offerynge: 〈…〉 as the Heue offerynge of the barne, euen so shal ye geue the firstlinges of youre dowe also vnto the LORDE, for an Heue offerynge amonge youre posterities.

And whan ye thorow ignoraunce ouer se eny of these commaundementes, 〈…〉 which the LORDE hath spoken by Moses, and all yt the LORDE hath commaunded you by Moses (from the daye that the LORDE beganne to commaunde for youre posterities) and the cōgregacion do ought ignorauntly, thē shal the whole congregacion offre a yonge bullocke from amonge the greate catell to a burnt offerynge, for a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE, with his meat offerynge and drynk offerynge as the maner is, and an he goate for a syn offerynge. And so shal the prest make an attonement for the whole congregacion of the children of Israel, and it shalbe forgeuen them: for it is an ignoraunce. And they shal brynge these their giftes for an offerynge vnto the LORDE, and their syn offerynge before the LORDE for their ignoraunce, and it shalbe forgeuen the whole congregacion of the childrē of Israel, & the straunger also yt dwelleth amonge you, for so moch as all the people is in soch ignoraunce.

Yf one soule synne thorow ignoraunce, 〈…〉 the same shal brynge a she goate of a yeare olde for a syn offerynge. And the prest shall make an attonement for soch an ignoraunt soule with the syn offeringe for the ignoraunce before the LORDE, that he maye reconcyle him, and it shal be forgeuen him. And it shal be one lawe, (that ye shal do for ye ignoraunce) both vnto him that is borne amonge the children of Israel, and to the straunger that dwelleth amonge you.

〈…〉 But yf a soule do ought presumptuously, whether he be one of youre selues or a straunger, he hath despysed the LORDE: ye same soule shalbe roted out from amōge his people: because he hath despysed the worde of the LORDE, and hath left his commaundement vndone: that soule shall vtterly perishe, his synne shalbe vpon him.

Now whyle the children of Israel were in the wyldernesse, they founde a man gatherynge stickes vpon the Sabbath daye. And they that founde him gatherynge stickes, brought him vnto Moses and Aaron, and before the whole congregacion. 〈◊〉 . 4. c And they put him in preson, for it was not declared what shulde be done vnto him. The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: The man shall dye the death, the whole congregacion shal stone him without the hoost. Then the whole cōgregacion brought him out of ye hoost, and stoned him that he dyed, as ye LORDE commaunded Moses.

And ye LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Speake to the childrē of Israel, 〈◊〉 22 b & saye vnto thē, yt they make them gardes vpon ye quarters of their garmentes amonge all yor posterities, and put yalowe rybandes vpon the gardes in ye quarters. And ye gardes shal serue you, yt ye maye loke vpon thē, and remembre all the cōmaundementes of the LORDE, & do them: that ye order not youre selues after ye meanynge of youre awne hert, ner go awhorynge after youre awne eyes. Therfore shal ye remembre and do all my commaundementes, and be holy vnto youre God. I am the LORDE youre God, which brought you out of the lande of Egipte, to be yor God. Euen I the LORDE youre God.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd Corah the sonne of Iezehar the sonne of Kahath, the sonne of Leui, Eccli. 4 . with Dathan and Abiram the sonne of Eliab, and On the sonne of Peleth, ye sonnes of Rubē, stode vp agaynst Moses, with certayne men amonge the childrē of Israel, two hundreth & fyftie captaynes of the congregacion, councelers, & famous men. And they gathered them selues agaynst Moses & Aarō & sayde vnto them: Ye make to moch a doo, Exo. 19. for all the congregacion is holy euery one, and the LORDE is amonge them: Why lifte ye youre selues vp then aboue the congregacion of the LORDE?

Whan Moses herde yt, he fell vpō his face, & saide vnto Corah, & to all his company: Tomorow shal ye LORDE shewe who is his, & who is holy to come vnto him. Whō so euer he choseth, ye same shal come vnto him. This do: Take ye censors, thou Corah & all ye cōpanye, & do fyre therin, & put incense theron tomorow before the LORDE: then whom so euer the LORDE choseth, the same shal be holy. Ye make to moch a doo, ye children of Leui.

And Moses sayde vnto Corah: Heare ye childrē of Leui, Is it not ynough vnto you, Num. . yt ye God of Israel hath separated you frō ye multitude of Israel, yt ye shulde come nye him, to do the seruyce of the dwellynge place of the LORDE, and stonde before the people to mynister vnto them? He hath caused the and all thy brethren the childrē of Leui with the, to come nye vnto him: and now ye seke the presthode also. Thou and all thy cō pany conspyre agaynst the LORDE. What is Aaron, that ye shulde murmur against him?

And Moses sent to call Dathā & Abirā ye sonnes of Eliab. But they saide: We wil not come vp. Is it to litle yt thou hast brought vs out of ye lande of Egipte (yt floweth wt mylke & hony) to kyll vs in ye wildernesse: but thou must raigne ouer vs also? How goodly well hast thou brought vs in to a londe, that floweth wt milke and hony, & geuē vs feldes and vyniardes in possession? Wilt thou put out these mens eyes? We will not come vp.

Then was Moses very wroth, & saide vnto ye LORDE: Turne ye not vnto their meatofferinges. I haue not takē so moch as an Asse frō thē, nether haue I hurte eny of thē. And Moses sayde vnto Corah: Tomorow be thou & all ye companye before ye LORDE, thou, and they, & Aaron. And take euery one his censer, and put incense therin, and come before the LORDE, euery one with his censer (that is two hundreth and fiftye censers) and both thou and Aaron take either his censer.

And euery one toke his censer, and put fyre therin, and layed incense theron, and came before the dore of the Tabernacle of witnes, and Moses and Aaron also. And Corah gathered ye whole congregaciō agaynst thē before the dore of the Tabernacle of witnes.

But ye glory of the LORDE appeared before ye whole congregacion. And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses & Aaron, & sayde: Separate youre selues frō this congregaciō, yt I maye shortly consume them. And they fell vpon their faces, & sayde: O God, thou God of the spretes of all flesh, yf one man haue synned, wilt thou therfore be wroth ouer the whole congregacion? And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & saide: Speake to the congregaciō, and saye: Come vp from ye dwellynge of Corah, and Dathan, and Abiram.

And Moses stode vp, & wente vnto Dathan & Abiram, & the Elders of Israel folowed him, & he spake to ye cōgregaciō, & saide: Departe frō ye tentes of these vngodly mē & touche nothinge yt is theirs, yt ye perishe not in eny of their sinnes. And they gat them vp from the dwellynge of Corah, Dathan, & Abiram. But Dathan and Abirā came out, and stode in the dore of their tentes, with their wyues, and sonnes and children.

And Moses sayde: Hereby shal ye knowe that the LORDE hath sent me, to do all these workes, and that I haue not done them of myne awne hert. Yf these men dye the comon death of all men, or be vysited as all men are vysited, then hath not the LORDE sent me. But yf the LORDE make a new thinge, and the earth open hir mouth, and swalowe them with all that they haue, so yt they go downe quycke in to hell, thē shal ye knowe, that the se men haue blasphemed the LORDE.

And whā he had spokē out all these wordes, Deu. 11. a Nu 26. b Psal. 10 . b ye groūde cloue asunder vnder thē, & the earth opened hir wouth, & swalowed thē, wt their houses, & all the mē yt were wt Corah, & all their substaūce, and they wente downe quycke in to the hell, with all that they had.

And the earth closed vpō them, & so they perished from amonge ye congregaciō. And all Israel yt were aboute thē, fled at ye crye of thē, for they sayde: That ye earth swalowe not vs also. Morouer the fyre came out frō the LORDE, and consumed the two hundreth and fyftye men, that offred the incense.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Speake to Eleasar ye sonne of Aaron ye prest, yt he take vp ye censers out of ye burninge, & scater ye fyre here & there (For the censers of these synners are halowed thorow their soules) yt they maye be beatē in to thinne plates, & fastened vpon ye altare. For they are offred before ye LORDE, & halowed: and they shalbe a token vnto ye childrē of Israel.

And Eleasar the prest toke ye brasen censers which they yt were burnt, had offred, & bet thē to plates, to fasten thē vpon ye altare for a remēbraunce vnto ye children of Israel yt no straunger (and he that is not of ye sede of Aaron) come nye to offre incense before the LORDE, yt it happē not vnto him as vnto Corah and his companye, acordynge as the LORDE sayde vnto him by Moses.

On the nexte morow murmured ye whole congregacion of ye childrē of Israel against Moses & Aarō, & saide: Ye haue slayne ye people of ye LORDE. And whan the cōgregaciō was gathered agaynst Moses & Aarō, they turned thē towarde ye Tabernacle of witnes And beholde, thē ye cloude couered ye Tabernacle, & ye glory of ye LORDE appeared. And Moses & Aarō wēte in before ye Tabernacle of witnes. And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses & sayde: Get you out of this cōgregacion, I wil shortly consume thē. And they fell vpon their faces. And Moses sayde vnto Aaron: Take the cēser & put fyre therin frō of the altare, & laye incēse theron, & go soone to the cō gregacion, & make an attonement for them. For the wrath is gone out from the LORDE, and the plage is begōne amonge the people.

And Aaron dyd as Moses sayde, & ranne in the myddest amonge ye congregaciō. And beholde, ye plage was begōne. And he burnt incēse & made an attonemēt for the people, 〈…〉 & stode betwene the deed & the lyuynge, and the plage ceassed. But there were fourtene thousande, and seuē hundreth deed in the plage, besydes them that dyed aboute the busynesse of Corah. And Aaron came agayne vnto Moses before the dore of the Tabernacle of witnesse. And the plage ceassed.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Speake to the children of Israel, & take of thē twolue staues, of euery captayne of his fathers house one, and wryte euery mans name vpon his staffe. But Aarons name shalt thou wryte vpon the staffe of Leui. For euery heade of their fathers house shal haue a staffe. And laye thē in the Tabernacle of witnesse, before the witnesse where I testifie vnto you. And loke whom I shall chose, his staffe shal florishe, yt I maye stylle the grudginges of the children of Israel, which they grudge agaynst you.

And Moses spake vnto the childrē of Israel, & all their captaynes gaue him twolue staues, euery captayne a staffe, after ye house of their fathers. And Aarons staffe was amonge their staues also. And Moses layed the staues before the LORDE in the Tabernacle of witnesse.

On the morow whā Moses wēte in to ye Tabernacle of witnesse, he foūde yt 〈◊〉 45. c 〈◊〉 . a Aarōs rodde of the house of Leui florished, and brought forth blossoms, & bare allmondes. And Moses brought forth all ye staues frō ye LORDE before all ye childrē of Israel, that they might se it. And they toke euery mā his staffe.

The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Bringe Aarōs staffe againe before the wytnesse, yt it maye be kepte for a tokē to the children of rebellion, that their murmuringes maye ceasse frome, lest they dye.

Moses dyd as ye LORDE cōmaunded him. And ye childrē of Israel sayde vnto Moses: Beholde, we cōsume awaie, we are destroied, & perishe. Who so cōmeth nye ye dwellynge place of ye LORDE, he dyeth. Shal we thē vtterly cōsume awaie?

The XVIII. Chap.

ANd the LORDE sayde vnto Aaron: Thou & thy sonnes, & thy fathers house wt the shal beare the myszdede of ye Sāctuary: & thou & thy sonnes wt the, shall beare the myszdede of yor presthode. 〈…〉 But thy brethren of the trybe of Leui ye father, shal come nye the, & be ioyned vnto the, that they maye mynistre vnto ye. But thou & thy sonnes wt the, shal mynistre before ye Tabernacle of witnesse. And they shal wayte vpō ye seruyce & vpon ye seruyce of the whole Tabernacle. But nye vnto the vessels of ye Sāctuary & to the altare, shall they not come, yt both they & ye dye not: howbeit they shal be ioyned vnto the, to wayte vpō the mynistracion in the Tabernacle of witnesse, in all the seruice of the Tabernacle. And there shal no straunger come nye vnto you.

Therfore wayte now vpon the seruyce of the Sanctuary, and vpon the seruyce of the altare, that there come no more wrath vpon the children of Israel. For lo, I haue takē yor brethrē the Leuites frō amonge the children of Israel, to be youre gifte, for a presente vnto ye LORDE, to do ye seruyce in ye Tabernacle of witnes. As for ye, and yi sonnes with the, ye shal waite vpon youre prestes office, that ye maye ministre in all maner busynes of the altare, and within the vayle: for yor prestes office geue I vnto you for a gifte to do seruyce. Yf a straunger come nye, he shall dye.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Aaron: beholde, I haue geuen the my Heue offerynges: And all that the children of Israel halowe, haue I geuen vnto the, and to thy sonnes for a perpetuall dewtye. This shalt thou haue of the most holy thinges that they offer. All their giftes with all their meat offeringes, and with all their syn offerynges, and wt all their trespace offerynges, that they geue me, the same shal be most holy vnto the and ye sonnes. In the most holy place shalt thou eate it. All that are males shall eate therof: For it shal be holy vnto the.

The Heue offerynge of their giftes in all the Waue offerynges of the children of Israel, haue I geuen vnto the also, Leu. 7. d and to thy sonnes, and to thy doughters for a perpetuall dewtye. Who so is cleane in thy house, shal eate therof. All the fat of the oyle, and a ye fat of the wyne and corne of their firstlinges, that they geue vnto the LORDE, haue I geuen vnto ye. The first frutes of all that is in their londe, which they bringe vnto the LORDE, shal be thine. Who so euer is cleane in thine house, shal eate therof.

All dedicate thinges in Israel shal be thine. All that breaketh the Matrix amonge all flesh, which they brynge vnto the LORDE, whether it be man or beest, shalbe thine. But so, that thou cause the firstborne of mā to be redemed, and that thou cause the first borne of vncleane beestes to be redemed also (They shal redeme it whan it is a moneth olde, and shall geue it lowse for money, euen for fyue Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary, Exo. 0. b Leu. 27. d Eze. 45. which Sycle is worth twentye Geras.)

But the first frutes of an oxe, or lambe, or goate shalt thou not cause to be redemed for they are holy. Their bloude shalt thou sprenkle vpon the altare, and their fat shalt thou burne for an offerynge of a swete sauoure vnto ye LORDE. Their flesh shalbe thine, like as ye Wauebrest and ye right shulder is thine also. All the Heue offeringes that ye childrē of Israel halowe vnto ye LORDE, haue I geuen vnto the, & to thy sonnes, & to thy doughters with the for a perpetuall dewtie. This shalbe a salted couenaūt for euer before ye LORDE, vnto the and thy sede with the.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Aarō: Thou shalt inheret nothinge in their londe, Deut. 18. a ze. 44. d ner haue eny porciō amonge them: for I am ye porcion, and thine enheritaunce amōge the children of Israel. Vnto the children of Leui haue I geuen all the tithes in Israel to inheritaunce, for ye seruyce which they do vnto me in the Tabernacle of witnesse, that from hē ce forth the children of Israel come not nye the Tabernacle of witnes, to lade them selues with synne, and to dye: But the Leuites shal do the seruyce in the Tabernacle of witnes, & shal beare their synne, for a perpetuall lawe amonge youre posterities. Ios. 13. b And they shall inheret none inheritaunce amonge the children of Israel. For ye tithes of the childrē of Israel, which they Heue vnto ye LORDE, haue I geuen vnto the Leuites for an heretage. Therfore haue I sayde vnto them, that they shall inheret no inheritaunce amonge the children of Israel.

And ye LORDE talked wt Moses, & saide: Speake to the Leuites, & saye vnto them: Whā ye take of ye childrē of Israel ye tithes, yt I haue geuen you of thē for yor inheritaū ce, ye shal take an Heue offeringe of the same vnto the LORDE, euen the tenth of the tithe. And the same yor Heue offerynge shall ye reken, as though ye gaue corne out of the barne, and fullnesse out of the wynepresse.

Thus shal ye geue an Heue offerynge vnto the LORDE of all yor tithes, which ye take of the children of Israel, yt ye maie geue the same Heue offerynge of ye LORDE, vnto Aarō ye prest. And all yt ye geue of ye tythes, & halowe vnto ye LORDE for a gifte, ye same shall be his of the best. And saye thou vnto them: Whan ye thus Heue vp ye fat therof, it shal be rekened vnto the Leuites as the increace of the barne, and as the increace of the wine presse. And ye maye eate it in all places, ye & yor children: for it is youre rewarde for youre seruyce in the Tabernacle of witnesse: and ye shal not lade synne vpon you in the same, whan ye Heue the fat therof, and vnhalowe not the halowed thinges of the children of Israel, and ye shal not dye.

The XIX. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses & Aarō & sayde: This custome shall be a lawe, which the LORDE hath cōmaunded, & sayde: Speake vnto ye children of Israel, yt they brynge vnto ye a reed cow with out spot, wherin is no blemysh, & vpon whō there came neuer yock: and ye shal geue her vnto Eleasar the prest, 〈…〉 which shall brynge her without the hooste, and cause her to be slayne there before him.

And Eleasar ye prest shal take of hir bloude with his fynger, and sprenckle it seuenty-met straight towarde the dore of the Tabernacle of witnesse, 〈…〉 and cause the cow to be burnt before him, both hir szkynne and hir flesh, and hir bloude also with hir donge. And the prest shal take Ceder wodd and ysope, and purple woll, and cast it vpō the cow as she burneth, & he shal washe his clothes, and bathe his body with water, and thē go in to the hoost, and be vncleane vntyll ye euē.

And he that burnt her, shal wash his clothes also with water, and bathe his body in water, & be vncleane vntyll ye euen. And one yt is cleane, shal gather vp the 〈…〉 aszshes of ye cow, and poure them without the hoost in a cleane place, that they maye be kepte there, for sprenklinge water to the congregacion of the childrē of Israel, for it is a syn offeringe. And he that gathered vp the aszshes of the cow, shall wash his clothes, and be vncleane vntyll the euen. This shalbe a perpetuall lawe vnto ye children of Israel, and to the straungers that dwell amonge you.

Who so now toucheth a deed mā, 〈…〉 shal be vncleane seuen dayes: the same shall purifie himself here with, on the thirde daye and on the seuenth daie, and then shall he be cleane. And yf he puryfye not himself on the thirde daye, & on the seuenth daye, thē shall he not be cleane. But whā eny mā toucheth a deed personne, and wil not purifie himself, he defyleth the dwellynge of the LORDE, and the same soule shal be roted out of Israel, because the sprenklinge water is not sprenkled vpon him: and he is vncleane, as longe as he letteth not himself be pourged therof.

This is the lawe. Whan a mā dyeth in ye tente, who so euer goeth in to the tente, and all yt is in the tente, shal be vncleane seuē daies. And euery open vessel that hath no lydd nor couerynge, is vncleane. And who so euer toucheth one yt is slayne wt the swerde vpon ye felde, or eny other deed, or a deed mans bone, or a graue, ye same is vncleane seuē dayes.

So now for the vncleane personne, they shal take of ye aszshes of this burnt syn offeringe, & put springinge water theron in to a vessell, and a cleane man shall take 〈…〉 ysope, & dyppe it in the water, and sprenkle it vpon the tente, and vpon all the vessels, and all the soules that are therin. Likewyse also vpon him, yt hath touched a deed mans bone, or a slayne personne, or a deed body, or a graue.

And he that is cleane, shal sprenkle vpon the vncleane, ye thirde daye, & the seuēth daie, & purifye him on ye seuēth daye. And he shal washe his clothes, & bathe him self wt water, and so at euen he shalbe cleane.

But he yt is vncleane, and wil not purifye him self, ye same soule shal be roted out of ye cōgregacion. For he hath defyled the Sanctuary of the LORDE, & is not sprēkled wt sprē klinge water, therfore is he vncleane. And this shalbe a perpetuall lawe vnto thē. And he yt sprenkled wt the sprēklinge water, shall wash his clothes also. And who so euer toucheth the sprēklinge water, shal be vncleane vntill the euen. 〈◊〉 17. d And what so euer he toucheth, shalbe vncleane: & loke what soule he toucheth, shalbe vncleane vntill the euen.

The XX. Chapter.

ANd the childrē of Israel came wt the whole cōgregacion into the wildernesse of Zin in the first moneth, 〈◊〉 3. d 〈◊〉 . 1 f & the people abode at Cades. And there dyed Miriam, & was buried there. And the congregacion had no water, & they gathered them selues together agaynst Moses & Aaron, & the people chode with Moses, & sayde: Wolde God yt we had perished, 〈…〉 whan oure brethrē perished before the LORDE. Wherfore haue ye brought the congregacion of the LORDE in to this wildernesse, yt we shulde dye here with oure catell? And wherfore haue ye brought vs out of Egipte in to this place, where men can not sowe, where are nether fygges, ner vynes, ner pomgranates, & where there is no water to drynke?

And Moses & Aaron wēte frō the congregacion vnto ye dore of ye Tabernacle of witnesse, & fell vpon their faces. And the glory of the LORDE appeared vnto them. And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, 〈◊〉 . 17. b 〈◊〉 . 10. a and sayde: Take the staffe, & gather the cōgregacion together, thou & thy brother Aaron, & speake vnto the rocke before their eyes, & it shall geue his water. And thus shalt thou prouyde thē water out of the rocke, & geue the congregacion drynke, and their catell also.

Thē toke Moses the staffe before ye LORDE, as he commaunded him, & Moses & Aaron gathered the congregacion together before the rocke, & sayde vnto thē: Heare ye rebellions: Shal we prouyde you water out of this rocke? And Moses lift vp his hande, & smote ye rocke wt the staffe two tymes. 〈◊〉 . 77. b Then came ye water out abūdantly, so yt the cōgregacion dranke, and their catell also.

But the LORDE sayde vnto Moses & Aaron: eut. 1. f 〈◊〉 3 . a Because ye beleued me not, to sanctifye mē before ye childrē of Israel, ye shal not bringe this congregacion in to the londe that I shal geue thē. This is ye water of strife, where the children of Israel stroue wt the LORDE and he was sanctified vpon them.

And Moses sent messaungers frō Cades vnto ye kynge of ye Edomites: Iudic. 11. c. This worde sendeth the ye Gen. 25. c brother Israel: Thou knowest all ye trauayle that happened vnto vs, how that oure fathers wente downe in to Egipte, & how we haue dwelt in Egipte a longe tyme, & how the Egipcians dealte euell with vs & or fathers. And we cryed vnto ye LORDE which herde oure voyce, and sent his angell, & hath brought vs out of Egipte: And beholde, we are at Cades in ye cite without the borders of ye londe. Num. 21 c 1. Mac. 5. c O let vs go thorow thy londe, we wyl not go thorow ye feldes ner vynyardes, ner drynke the water out of the foū taynes. We wyl go the hye strete, and turne nether to ye right hande ner to ye lefte, tyll we be come past ye borders of thy countre.

But the Edomite answered him: Thou shal not go by me, Eze. 5. a Abd. 1. b or I wyl come agaynst ye with ye swerde. The children of Israel saide vnto him: We wil go ye comō hye waye, & yf we or oure catell drynke of thy water, Deut. 2. a we wil paye for it: we wil do nothinge, but passe thorow on fote onely. But he sayde: Thou shalt not go thorow, And the Edomites came out against them with a mightie people & a strō ge hande. Thus ye Edomites denied to graū te Israel passage thorow the borders of the lande. And Israel turned awaye from them.

And the children of Israel brake vp frō Cades, Num. 33 d and came with the whole congregacion vnto mount Hor. And the LORDE spake vnto Moses & Aaron at mount Hor harde vpon the coastes of ye lande of ye Edomites, & sayde: Let Aarō be gathered vnto his people: for he shal not come in to ye lande yt I haue geuen vnto ye children of Israel, because ye were dishobedient vnto my mouth at the water of strife. Take Aaron and Eleasar and his sonne, and brynge them vp vnto mount Hor, and strype Aaron out of his vestimentes, and put thē vpon Eleasar his sonne and there shall Aaron be gathered (vnto his people) and dye.

Then dyd Moses as the LORDE cōmaunded him, and they wente vp vnto Mount Hor in ye sight of the whole congregacion. And Moses toke Aarons clothes, & put thē vpon Eleasar his sonne. Deut. 10. b and 33. g And Aaron dyed there, euen aboue vpon the mount. And Moses & Eleasar came downe from the mount. And whan the whole congregacion sawe that Aaron was awaye, they mourned for him thirtie daies thorow out the whole house of Israel.

The XXI. Chapter.

ANd whan Arad the kynge of the Cananites (which dwelt towarde the south) herde, Nu. 33. d that Israel came in by ye waie yt the spyes had founde out, he fought agaynst Israel, and toke some of them presoners. Then vowed Israel a vowe vnto ye LORDE, and sayde: Yf thou wylt geue this people vnder my hande, I wyll vtterly destroye their cities. And the LORDE herde ye voyce of Israel, and delyuered them the Cananites, and they vtterly destroyed them wt their cities also. Iudic 1. d And he called the place Horma.

Deut. 2. a Then departed they fro mount Hor on ye waye towarde the reed see, that they might go aboute the lande of the Edomites. And the soules of the people faynted by the waie and they spake agaynst God and agaynst Moses: Num 11. d Wherfore hast thou brought vs out of the lande of Egipte, to slaye vs in the wildernesse? For here is nether bred ner water, and oure soule lotheth this lighte meate.

Than sent the LORDE fyrie serpentes amonge the people, which bote the peple, so that there dyed moch people in Israel. Thē came they vnto Moses, and sayde: We haue synned, because we haue spoken agaynst the LORDE and agaynst the. Exod. 8. b 3. Re. 13. b Act. 8. c Praye thou vnto the LORDE, that he take awaye the serpentes from vs. And Moses prayed for the people.

Then sayde the LORDE vnto Moses: Make the a brasen serpente, and set it vp for a token. Who so euer is bytten, and loketh vpon it, shal lyue. Then made Moses a serpent of brasse, Ioh. 3. b 4. Re. 1 . a and set it vp for a token: and whan a serpent had bytten eny man, he behelde the brasen serpente, and recouered.

And the children of Israel departed, and pitched in Oboth. Num. 33. e And from Oboth they wente on, and pitched in Igim by Abarim in the wyldernesse ouer agaynst Moab, on the Eastsyde. From thence departed they, & pitched by the ryuer of Sared. From th •• ce depa ted they, and pitched on this syde Arnon, which is in the wyldernesse, and commeth out of the coastes of the Amorites. For Arnon is the border betwixte Moab and ye Amorites. Wherfore it is spoken in the boke of the warres of the LORDE: And go with violence both on the ryuer of Arnon, & on the founteyne of the riuer, which boweth downewarde to dwell at Ar, & leaneth theron, to be the border of Moab.

And from thence they came to the well. This is the well, wherof the LORDE spake vnto Moses: gather the people together, I wil geue them water. Then sange Israel this songe, and they sange one after another ouer the well: This is the well, that the prynces dygged: the nobles amonge the people haue digged it thorow ye teacher and their staues.

And from this wildernes they wente vn to Mathana, & from Mathana vnto Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and frō Bamoth vnto the valley that lieth in ye felde of Moab at the toppe of Pisga, and turneth towarde the wyldernesse.

And Israel sent messaungers vnto Sihō the kynge of the Amorrites, & caused to saye vnto him: Let me go thorow ye lande, we wyl not turne in to ye feldes ner in to the vynyardes: nether will we drynke the water of the welles, ye hye strete wil we go, till we be past the borders of thy countre.

Howbeit Sihon wolde not geue the children of Israel licence to go thorow the coastes of his londe, but gathered all his people together, and wente out agaynst Israel in the wyldernesse. And whan he came to Iaheza, he fought agaynst Israel. Neuerthelesse Israel smote him with the edge of the swerde, and conquered his lande from Arnon vnto Iabock, and vnto the children of Ammon. For the borders of the children of Ammon were strōge. So Israel toke all these cities, and dwelt in all the cities of ye Amorites, namely at Heszbon, and in the townes belonginge therto. For Heszbon the cite was Sihons the kynge of the Amorites, and he had foughten before with the kynge of the Moabites, and conquered all his londe from him vntyll Arnon.

Wherfore it is sayde in the prouerbe: Come vnto Heszbon, let vs buylde and prepare ye cite of Sihon. For there is a fyre gone out of Heszbon, and a flamme from the cite of Sihon, which hath consumed Ar of ye Mo bites, and the citisens of ye toppe of Arnon. Wo vnto the Moab, thou people of Camos art vndone. His sonnes are put to flighte, & his doughters brought captyue vnto Sihon the kynge of the Amorites. Their glory is come to naught from Heszbon vnto Dibon: waisted are they vnto Nopha, which reacheth vnto Mediba. Thus dwelt Israel in the lande of the Amorites.

And Moses sent out spyes vnto Iahesar, & they toke the townes belongynge therto, & cōquered the Amorites yt were therin. And they turned, 〈◊〉 . 3. a & wente vp the waye towarde Basan. Then Og the kynge of Basan wēte out agaynst them wt all his people, to fight in Edrei. And ye LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Feare him not, for I haue geuen him wt his lande & people in to thy hande, & thou shalt do with him, as thou dyddest with Sihon the kynge of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heszbon. And they smote him, & his sonnes, & all his people (so yt there remayned none) & cōquered the londe. Afterwarde wēte ye children of Israel, & pitched in ye felde of Moab beyonde Iordane by Iericho.

The XXII. Chapter.

ANd whan Balac ye sonne of Ziphor sawe all that Israel had done vnto the Amorites, and that the Moabites were sore afrayed of the people (yt was so greate) and that the Moabites stode in feare of the children of Israel, he sayde vnto ye Elders of the Madianites: Now shal this heapelicke vp all that is aboute vs, euē as an oxe licketh vp the grasse in the felde. (And Balac ye sonne of Ziphor was kynge of the Moabites at that tyme.)

And he sent out messaungers vnto 〈◊〉 . 23. b 〈◊〉 . 3. a Balaam the sonne of Beor, which was an interpreter. (The same dwelt by the water of the lande of ye children of his people) that they shulde call him, and he caused to saye vnto him: Beholde, there is come out of Egipte, a people, which couereth ye face of ye earth, and lyeth ouer agaynst me. Come now therfore, and curse me this people, for they are to mightie for me, yf peraduenture I might be able to smyte them, and to dryue them out of the lande. For I wote, that whom thou blessest, he is blessed: and whom thou cursest, he is cursed.

And the Elders of the Moabites wente on with ye Elders of the Madianites, and had the rewarde of ye soyth sayenge in their handes, and they came vnto Balaam, & tolde him the wordes of Balaac. And he saide vnto thē: Tary here all night, & I will bringe you worde agayne, euen as the LORDE shal saye vnto me. So ye prynces of ye Moabites abode with Balaam.

And God came vnto Balaam, & sayde: What men are these, which are with ye? Balaam sayde vnto God: Balac ye sonne of Ziphor the kynge of the Moabites hath sent vnto me: Beholde, there is a people come out of Egipte, and couereth the face of the earth, come now therfore, & curse me thē, yf peraduēture I maye be able to fighte with them, & to dryue thē out. But God sayde vnto Balaam: Go not with them, & curse not that people, for they are blessed.

Then rose Balaam vp in the mornynge, & sayde vnto the prynces of Balac: Get you vnto youre londe, for the LORDE wyll no suffer me to go with you.

And the prynces of ye Moabites gat thē vp, came to Balac, & saide: Balaam refuseth to come wt vs. Then sent Balac yet a greater cōpany of prynces, & more honorable thē they. Whan they came to Balaam, they tolde him: Balac ye sonne of Ziphor sendeth ye this worde: Oh refuse not to come vnto me, for I wyll promote the vnto hye honoure, & wil do what so euer thou sayest vnto me. Come I praye the, curse me this people.

Balaam answered, & sayde vnto ye seruaū tes of Balac: Nu. 24. c Yf Balac wolde geue me his house full of syluer & golde, yet coulde I not go beyonde ye worde of the LORDE my God, to do litle or greate. Neuertheles tary ye here this night, yt I maye wete, what the LORDE wil saye more vnto me. Then came God to Balaam by night, & saide vnto him: Yf the men are come to call the, get the vp then, and go with thē: but what I shal saye vnto the, that shalt thou do.

Then rose Balaam vp in the mornynge, & sadled his Asse, & wente wt the prynces of ye Moabites. But the wrath of God waxed whote, because he wēte. And the angell of ye LORDE stode in the waye, to withstōde him. But he rode vpō his Asse, & two seruauntes wt him. And ye Asse sawe ye angell of ye LORDE stōdinge in ye waye, & his swerde drawen in his hāde. And ye Asse turned a syde out of ye waye, & wēte in to the felde. But Balaam smote her, yt she shulde go in the waye.

Then stode the angell of the LORDE in ye pathe by the vynyardes, where there were walles on both the sydes. And whan ye Asse sawe the angell of the LORDE, she wrenshed vnto the wall, & thrust Balaams fote vnto the wall. And he smote her agayne. Thē wē te the angell of the LORDE farther, & stode in a narow place, where there was no waye to turne, nether to the righte hāde ner to ye lefte. And whan the Asse sawe the angell of the LORDE, she fell downe vnder Balaam. Then was Balaams wrath furious, & smote the Asse with a staffe.

Then opened the LORDE the mouth of ye Asse, and she sayde vnto Balaam: What haue I done vnto the, that thou hast smytten me now thre tymes? Balaam sayde vnto ye Asse: Because thou hast mocked me. Oh yt I had a swerde now in my hande, I wolde kyll the. The Asse sayde vnto Balaam: Am not I thine Asse, which thou hast rydden vpon in ye tyme vnto this daye? Was I euer wonte to do so vnto the? He sayde: No.

Then opened the LORDE the eyes of Balaam, yt he sawe ye angell of the LORDE stondinge in ye waye, & a drawē swerde in his hā de. And he enclyned him selfe, & bowed downe wt his face. And the angell of the LORDE sayde vnto him: Wherfore hast thou smyttē thine Asse now thre tymes? Beholde, I am come out to resiste ye, for yt waye is frowarde, & cōtrary vnto me. And ye Asse sawe me, & auoyded fro me thre tymes: or els yf she had not turned asyde fro me, I had slayne the, & saued the Asse alyue.

Then sayde Balaam vnto ye angell of ye LORDE: I haue synned, for I wyst not, that thou stodest in the waye agaynst me. And now yf it displease ye, I wil turne agayne. The angell of ye LORDE saide vnto him: Go with the mē: but thou shalt speake nothinge els, then yt I shal saye vnto ye. So Balaam wente forth wt the princes of Balac. Whan Balac herde yt Balaam came, he wente out to mete him (in the cite of the Moabit s yt lieth on the coaste of Arnon, which is on ye vttemost border) & sayde vnto him: Dyd not I sende for yt to call the? Wherfore camest thou not then vnto me? Thinkest thou yt I am not able to promote ye vnto honor? Balaam answered him: Lo, I am come vnto ye Num. 23. c But how can I saye eny thinge els, thē yt God putteth in my mouth? yt I must speake

So Balaam wente with Balac, and they came vnto the cite on the vttemost border of his lande. And Balac slewe oxen and shepe, and sent for Balaam, and for the p ••• ces that were with him.

The XXIII. Chapter.

ANd in the mornynge, Balac toke Balaam, and they wēte vp to the hye place of Baal, that from thēce he might se vnto the vttemost parte of ye people. And Balaam sayde vnto Balac: Buylde me here seuen altares, and prouyde me here seuen bullockes, and seuē rammes. Balac dyd as Balaam sayde. And both Balac and Balaam offred, on euery altare a bullocke & a ramme. And Balaam sayde vnto Balac: Stonde thou by yt burnt offerynge, I wil go, yf happly the LORDE wil mete me, & call me, yt I maye tell the, what so euer he sheweth me. And he wente his waye, as he sayde.

And ye LORDE mett Balaam. And Balaam saide vnto him: Seuen altares haue I prepared, and offred on euery altare a bullocke and a ramme. The LORDE put ye worde in Balaams mouth, and sayde: Go agayne vnto Balac, and saye on this wise. And whan he came agayne vnto him, beholde, he stode by his burnt offerynge, with all ye prynces of the Moabites.

Then toke he vp his parable, & sayde: Balac the kynge of the Moabites hath caused to et me out of Syria from the moūtaynes towarde the East, (& sayde:) Come, curse me Iacob: come, defye me Israel. How shall I curse, whom God curseth not? How shal I defye, whom ye LORDE defyeth not? For frō ye toppe of ye stonye rockes I se him, & from the hilles I beholde him. Beholde, ye people shal dwell by thēselues, & shal not be rekened amōge the Heithē. Who can tell the dust of Iacob, & the nombre of the fourth parte of Israel? My soule die ye death of ye righteous, and my ende be as the ende of these.

Thē saide Balac vnto Balaam: What doest thou vnto me? I caused to fet ye for to curse myne enemies, & beholde, thou blessest thē. He answered & saide: 〈…〉 Must I not kepe & speake yt, which the LORDE putteth in to me mouth? Balac saide vnto him: Come wt me yet vnto another place, frō whence thou mayest se ye vttemost parte of them, & not se them all, and curse me them there.

And he toke him vp to a fre place, euē vnto the toppe of Pisga, & buylded seuen altares, and offered on euery altare a bullocke & a ramme. And he sayde vnto Balac: Stonde so by thy burnt offrynge, whyle I go yonder. And th LORDE mett Balaam, & put the worde in his mouth, & sayde: Go agayne vnto Bala & saye on this wyse. And whan he came to him agayne, beholde, he stode by his burnt off rynge with the prynces of the Moabites. And Balac sayde vnto him. What hath the LORDE sayde?

And he toke vp his parable, & sayde: Ryse vp Balac & heare, marke my testimony wt thine eares thou sonne of Ziphor. or. 1. a 〈◊〉 10. b God is not a man yt he shulde lye, ner a mans childe yt eny thinge shulde repente him. Shulde he saye and not do? Shulde he speake & not make it good? Beholde, I am brought hither to blesse, I blesse, & can not go backe there fro. There is no weerynesse sene in Iacob, nether eny laboure in Israel. The LORDE his God is wt him, & the kynges trompet is amō ge thē. 〈◊〉 . 24. b God hath brought thē out of Egipte, his strēgth is as of an Vnicorne. For there is no Sorcerye in Iacob, & no Soyth sayer in Israel. Whan the tyme cōmeth, it shal be saide vnto Iacob, & to Israel, what God doth. Beholde, the people shall ryse vp as a Lyonesse, & heue vp him self as a Lyon. He shal not lye downe, tyll he eate of the pray, and drynke the bloude of the slayne.

Then sayde Balac vnto Balaam: Thou shalt nether curse him ner blesse him. Balaam answered, & sayde vnto Balac: Haue I not tolde the: All yt the LORDE speaketh, yt must I do? Balac saide vnto him: Oh come, I wil brynge yt to another place, yf it maye happly please God, yt thou mayest curse thē there. And he brought him vp to the toppe of mount Peor, yt boweth towarde the wyldernesse. And Balaam sayde vnto Balac: Buylde me here seuen altares, and prouyde me seuen bullockes and seuen rammes. Balac dyd as Balaam sayde, and offered on euery altare a bullocke vnd a ramme.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

NOw whan Balaam sawe yt it pleased the LORDE, that he shulde blesse Israel, he wente not (as he dyd before) to seke witches, but set his face straight towarde the wyldernesse, lifte vp his eyes, and sawe Israel, Num. 2. how they laye acordinge to their trybes, and the sprete of God came vpon him, and he toke vp his parable, and sayde: Nu. 4. c Thus sayeth Balaam the sonne of Beor: Thus sayeth the man whose eyes are opened: Thus sayeth he which heareth the wordes of God, which sawe the vision of ye Allmightie: which fell downe, and his eyes were opened.

How goodly are thy tētes O Iacob, and thy habitacions O Israel? Euen as the brode valleys, as the gardens by the waters syde, as ye tentes which the LORDE hath plā ted, & as the Ceder trees vpon ye water. The water shal flowe out of his boket, and his sede shalbe a greate water. His kynge shalbe hyer then Agag, & his kyngdome shalbe exalted. Nu. 23. d God hath broughte hī out of Egipte, his strength is as of an vnicorne. He shal eate vp the Heithen his enemies, and grynde their bones to poulder, and shute thorow them with his arowes. Ge. 49. He hath layed him downe as a Lyon and as a Lyonesse. Who wyll rayse him vp? Blessed be he, yt blesseth the: and cursed, that curseth the.

Thē was Balac furious ī wrath against Balaam, & smote his hādes together, & sayde vnto him: I haue called the, yt thou shuldest curse myne enemies, and beholde, thou hast blessed thē now thre tymes: & now get the hēce to ye place. I thoughte yt I wolde promote the vnto honoure, but the LORDE hath kepte the backe from that worshipe.

Balaam answered him: Tolde not I thy messaungers (whom thou sendedst vnto me) & sayde: Nu. 22. c Yf Balac wolde geue me his house full of syluer and golde, yet coulde I not go beyonde the worde of the LORDE, to do either euell or good after myne awne hert: but what ye LORDE speaketh, that must I speake also. And now beholde, for so moch as I go to my people, come therfore, I wyll shewe the what this people shal do vnto ye people after this tyme.

And he toke vp his parable, and sayde: Thus sayeth Balaam the sonne of Beor: Nu. 4. Thus sayeth ye man, whose eyes are opened: Thus sayeth he which heareth the wordes of God, & yt hath the knowlege of ye hyest, euē he yt sawe ye visiō of ye Allmightie, & fell downe, & his eyes were opened: I shal se him, but not now: I shal beholde him, but not nie at hāde. Matt. 2. There shal a starre come out of Iacob, & a cepter shall come vp out of Israel, 2. Re. . and shal smyte ye rulers of the Moabites, and ouercome all the children of Seth.

2. Re. .Edom shalbe his possession, and Seir shalbe his enemies possessiō, but Israel shal do manfully. Out of Iacob shal come he yt hath dominion, and shall destroye the remnaunt of the cities.

And whā he sawe ye Amalechites, he toke vp his parable, & sayde: Exo. 17 Amalec the first amōge the Heithē,1. Re. 15. but at ye last thou shalt perishe vtterly. And whan he sawe the Kenites, he toke vp his parable, & sayde: Strō ge 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 is ye dwellinge, and on a rocke hast thou put thy nest, neuertheles thou shalt be a burninge vnto Rain, tyll Assur take ye presoner.

And he toke vp his parable agayne, & sayde: Alas, who shal lyue, whā God doth this? And shippes out of Citim shall subdue Assur and Eber. He him self also shal perishe vtterly. And Balaam gat him vp, and departed, and came againe vnto his place, and Balac wente his waye also.

The XXV. Chapter.

ANd Israel dwelt in Sittim, and the people beganne to commytte whordome with the doughters of the Moabites, um. 33. which called the people vnto the sacrifice of their goddes. And the people ate and worshipped their goddes, sal. 10 . d os. 22. d and Israel submytted him self vnto Baal Peor. Then the wrath of the LORDE waxed whote vpon Israel, and he sayde vnto Moses: Take all the rulers of the people, and hange them vp vnto the LORDE agaynst ye Sonne, that the terryble wrath of the LORDE maye be turned awaye from Israel. And Moses sayde vnto the iudges of Israel: Euery man slaye his captayne, that haue submytted them selues vnto Baal Peor.

And beholde, one of the childrē of Israel wēte in against his brethrē, •• ut. 23. c & ioyned him self to a Madianitish womā, in ye sighte of Moses & of the whole cōgregacion of ye childrē of Israel, which weped before the dore of ye Tabernacle of wytnesse. Whan Phineas ye sonne of Eleasar the sonne of Aaron ye prest sawe yt, Mac. . c he rose vp out of the congregacion, & toke a swerde in his hande, & wente after the man of Israel in to the whore house, & thrust thē thorow, both the man of Israel and the woman, euē thorow the bely of her. Then ceassed the plage from the children of Israel, Cor. 10. a and there were slayne in the plage foure and twentye thousande.

And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses, & saide: Phineas the sonne of Eleasar the sonne of Aaron ye prest, cli. 45. c ac. . f hath turned my wrath awaie from the childrē of Israel thorow his gelousy for my sake amonge them, yt I shulde not cōsume the childrē of Israel in my gelousy. Wherfore saye beholde, I geue him my 〈…〉 couenaunt of peace, and he shal haue it, & his sede after him, euē the couenaunt of an euer lastinge presthode, because he was gelous for his Gods sake, and made an attonement for the children of Israel.

The man of Israel that was slayne with the Madianit sh woman, was called Simri the sonne of Salu, a captayne of the house of the father of the Simeonites. The Madianitish woman also that was slayne, was called Coszbi, ye doughter of Zur, which was a ruler of the people of a kynred amonge the Madianites.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Vexe the Madianites, & smyte them, 〈…〉 for they haue vexed you with their wyles, wherby they haue bigyled you thorow Peor, and thorow their sister Coszbi the doughter of a captayne of ye Madianites, which was slayne in the daye of the plage, for Peors sake, and the plage came after.

The XXVI. Chapter.

ANd whan the giltye bloude was shed, the LORDE sayde vnto Moses & vnto Eleasar ye sonne of Aaron ye prest: Take the summe of the whole cōgregacion of the childrē of Israel from twentye yeare & aboue, after their fathers houses, 〈…〉 all yt are able to go forth to the warre in Israel. And Moses & Eleasar the prest spake vnto them (in the felde of the Moabites besyde Iordane ouer against Iericho) namely vnto all thē that were twentye yeare olde & aboue, as the LORDE cōmaunded Moses. And these are ye childrē of Israel, that came out of Egipte.

Ruben ye first borne sonne of Israel. 〈…〉 The childreē of Ruben were, Hanoch: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of the Hanochites. Pallu of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Palluites. Hesron: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Hesronites. Carmi: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of the Carmites. These are the kynreds of the Rubenites. And the nombre of thē was, thre & fourtye thousande, seuen hundreth & thirtye. But the childrē of Pallu were, Eliab. And the children of Eliab were Nemuel, and Dathan and Abiram.

This is yt Dathan & Abirā, those famous men in the congregacion, 〈…〉 which stode vp agaynst Moses and Aaron in the cōpany of Corah, whan they rose vp agaynst the LORDE, & the earth opened hir mouth, and swalowed thē wt Corah, whā the cōpany dyed, what tyme as the fyre consumed two hundreth & fiftye men, & they became a tokē. But the children of Corah dyed not.

The childrē of Simeon in their kynreds were, Nemuel: 〈…〉 of whō cōmeth the kynred of ye Nemuelites. Iamin: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Iaminites. Iachin: of whō cō meth the kynred of the Iachinites. Sera: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of the Sarahites. Saul: of whom commeth the kynred of the Saulites. These are the kynreds of the Simeonites, two & xx.M. & two hundreth.

The childrē of Gad in their kynreds were Zephon: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Zephonites. Haggi: of whom cōmeth the kynred of ye Haggites. Suni: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Sunites. Aseni: of whom commeth ye kynred of the Asenites. Eri: of whō cōmeth the kynred of the Erinites. Arod: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Arodites. Ariel: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Arielites. These are the children of Gad, in their nombre fourtye thousande and fyue C.

The children of Iuda, Er & Onan, which both dyed in the lāde of Canaan. 〈…〉 But ye children of Iuda in their kynreds, were, Sela: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Selanites. Phares: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Pharesites. Serah: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Serahites. The childrē of Phares, were Hesron: of whom commeth the kynred of the Hesronites. Hamul: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Hamulites. These are the kynreds of Iuda, in their nombre, sixe and seuentye thousande and fyue hundreth.

The children of Isachar in their kynreds were, Thola: of whom commeth the kynred of the Tholaites. Phuua: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of the Phuuaites. Iasub: of whō commeth the kynred of the Iasubites. Simron: of whom cōmeth the kynred of ye Simronites. These are the kynreds of Isachar, in nombre, foure and thre score thousande, & thre hundreth.

The children of Zabulon in their kynreds were, Sered, of whom cōmeth the kynred of ye Seredites. Elon: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Elonites. Iahelel: of whom cō meth the kynred of the Iahelelites. These are ye kynreds of Zabulon, in their nōbre, thre score thousande, and fyue hundreth.

The children of Ioseph in their kynreds were, Manasses & Ephraim. The childrē of Manasse were, 〈◊〉 . 17. a Machir: of whom commeth the kynred of the Machirites. And Machir begat Gilead: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Gileadites. And these are ye childrē of Gilead, Hieser: of whom cōmeth the kynred of ye Hieserites. Helech: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of the Helechites. Asriel: of whom commeth the kynred of the Asrielites. Sichē: of whom cōmeth the kynred of ye Sichemites. Simida: of whō cōmeth ye kynred of ye Simidites. Hepher: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Hepherites. 〈◊〉 . 7. a ar. 8. b And Zelaphead was ye sonne of Hepher, & had no sonnes, but doughters, whose names were: Mahela, Noa, Hagla, Milca and Thyrza. These are the kynreds of Manasse, in their nombre, two and fiftye thousande and seuen hundreth.

The childrē of Ephraim in their kynreds were, Suthelah: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of the Suthelahites. Becher: of whom cō meth ye kynred of the Becherites. Thahan: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Thahanites. The childrē of Suthelah were, Eran: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Eranites. These are ye kynreds of the childrē of Ephraim, in their nombre, two and thirtie thousande and fyue hundreth. These are the childrē of Ioseph in their kynreds.

The childrē of Ben Iamin in their kynreds were, Bela: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of the Belaites. Aszbel: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of the Aszbelites. Ahiram: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Ahiramites. Supham: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Suphamites. Hupham: of whom commeth the kynred of the Huphamites. And the childrē of Bela were, Ard & Naeman: of whom commeth the kynred of the Ardites & Naemanites. These are the children of Ben Iamin in their kynreds, in nombre, fyue & fourtye thousande and sixe hundreth.

The childrē of Dan in their kynreds were, Suham: of whom cōmeth the childrē of ye Suhamites. These are ye kynreds of Dan in their generacions, & they were all together in nombre, foure and threscore thousande & foure hundreth.

The childrē of Asser in their kynreds were, Iemna: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Iemnites. Iesui: of whom commeth the kynred of the Iesuites. Bria: of whom cō meth the kynred of the Bryites. And ye childrē of Bria, were Heber: of whom commeth the kynred of the Hebrites. Melchiel: of whō commeth the kynred of the Melchielites. And the doughter of Asser was called Sarah. These are the kynreds of the children of Asser, in their nombre, thre and fiftye thousande and foure hundreth.

The childrē of Nephtali in their kynreds were, Iaheziel: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Iahezielites Guni: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Gunites. Iezer: of whom cō meth ye kynred of the Iezerites. Sillem: of whō cōmeth ye kynred of ye Sillemites. These are ye kynreds of the childrē of Nephtali in their generacions, in their nombre, fyue & fourtye thousande and foure hundreth.

This is the summe of the children of Israel: sixe hundreth thousande, Eccli. 16. a thousande seuen hundreth and thirtye.

And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Vnto these shalt thou deuyde the lōde to enheritaunce, acordinge to the nombre of ye names. um. 32. f o u. 11. d To many shalt thou geue the more enheritaunce, and to few the lesse, vnto euery one shall be geuē acordinge to their nombre: yet shall the londe be deuyded by lott. Acordinge to ye names of the trybes of their fathers shal they enheret it: for after the lot shalt thou deuyde their enheritaunce, both betwixte many and fewe.

And this is the summe of the Leuites in their kynreds. Gerson: of whom cōmeth the kynred of the Gersonites. Kahath: of whō cōmeth the kynred of the Kahathites. Merari: of whom cōmeth ye kynred of ye Merarites. These are ye kynreds of Leui, the kynred of ye Libnites, ye kynred of ye Hebronites, ye kynred of the Mahelites, ye kynred of the Musites, the kynred of the Corahites.

Kahath begat Amram. And Amrams wife was called Iochebed a doughter of Leui, Exod. 6. c which was borne him in Egipte: And vnto Amram she bare Aaron & Moses, & Miriam their sister. And vnto Aaron were borne Nadab, Leui. 10. a Num . 3 a Abihu. Eleasar & Ithamar. As for Nadab & Abihu, they dyed, whan they offred straunge fyre before ye LORDE. And the summe of thē was thre & twentye thousande, Num. 3. f all males frō fyue monethes & aboue. For they were not nombred amōge the childrē of Israel, for there was no enheritaunce geuen thē amonge the children of Israel.

This is ye summe of ye childrē of Israel, whō Moses & Eleasar the prest nombred in the felde of the Moabites besyde Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho: Amonge whom there was not one of the summe of those children of Israel, Num. 1. f whom Moses & Aaron the prest nombred in the wildernesse of Sinai. For ye LORDE sayde vnto thē, Nu. 14. c yt they shulde dye in the wildernesse. And there was not one of them lefte, saue Caleb the sonne of Iephune and Iosua the sonne of Nun.

The XXVII. Chapter.

ANd the doughters of Nu. 26 d Nu. 36. a osu. 17. a Zelaphead ye sonne of Hepher ye sonne of Gilead, the sonne of Machir, the sonne of Manasse, amonge the kynreds of Manasse the sonne Ioseph (whose names were, Mahela, Noa, Hagla, Milca, & Thirza) came & stode before Moses & Eleasar the prest, & before the rulers & the whole congregacion, euen before the dore of ye Tabernacle of witnesse, & sayde: Oure father is deed in the wildernesse, & was not in the company of them yt rose vp agaynst ye LORDE in the cōgregacion of Corah: Nu. 16. a but dyed in his awne synne, and had no sonnes. Wherfore shulde or fathers name perishe then amonge his kynred, though he h ue no sonne? Geue vs a possession also am •• ge oure fathers brethren.

Moses broughte their cause before ye LORDE. And the LORDE sayde vnto him: The doughters of Zelaphead haue spokē righte. Thou shalt geue thē a possession to inhere amonge their fathers brethren, & shalt turne their fathers enheritaunce vnto them. And saye vnto the childrē of Israel: Whan a mā dyeth & hath no sonne, ye shall turne his enheritaunce vnto his doughter. Yf he haue no doughter, ye shal geue it vnto his brethrē. Yf he haue no brethren, ye shal geue it vnto his fathers brethren. Yf he haue no fathers brethrē, ye shal geue it vnto his nexte kynszfolke which belōge vnto him in his kynred, yt they maye possesse it. This shalbe an ordynaunce and a perpetuall lawe vnto the children of Israel, as the LORDE cōmaunded Moses.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: 〈…〉 Get the vp in to this mount Abarim, & beholde the lōde, which I shal geue vnto the childrē of Israel. And whan thou hast sene it, thou shalt be gathered vnto ye people 〈…〉 as Aaron ye brother was gathered: for ye were dishobedient vnto my worde in the wyldernesse of Zin, in ye strife of the cōgregacion, whan ye shulde haue sanctified me, thorow the water before them. 〈…〉 This is the water of stryfe at Cades in the wyldernesse of Zin.

And Moses spake vnto the LORDE & sayde: O let the LORDE God of the spretes of all flesh set a mā ouer the congregacion, which maye go in & out before them, & to leade thē out & in, yt the congregacion of the LORDE be not as the shepe without a shepherde.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: 〈…〉 Take vnto the Iosua the sonne of Nun, which is a man in whom is the sprete, and put thine handes vpon him, & set him before Eleasar the prest, and before the whole congregacion, and geue him a charge in their sighte, & beutyfye him with thy bewty, that the whole congregacion of the children of Israel maye be obediēt vnto him. And he shal stonde before Eleasar the prest, which shall a e councell for him after the maner of the 〈…〉 lighte, before the LORDE. At the mouth of him shall both he and all the children of Israel with him, and the whole congregacion go in and out.

Moses dyd as the LORDE cōmaunded him, & toke Iosua, and set him before Eleasar the prest, and before all the congregacion, and 〈…〉 layed his handes vpon him, and gaue him a charge, as the LORDE sayde vnto Moses.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: Cōmaunde ye childrē of Israel, & saye vnto thē: The offerynge of my bred which is my offerynge of the swete sauoure, shal ye kepe in his due season, that ye maie offre vnto me. 〈…〉 And saye vnto thē: These are the offerynges that ye shal offre vnto the LORDE: Lambes of a yeare olde which are without blemysh, euery daye two for a daylie burnt offerynge: the one lambe in the mornynge, the other at euen. And therto a tenth deale of an Epha of fyne floure for a meat offerynge, 〈…〉 myngled with beatē oyle of the fourth parte of an Hin, this is a daylie burnt offerynge, which ye offred vpon moūt Sinai, for a swete sauoure of a sacrifice vnto the LORDE: And the drynk offeringe of the same, ye fourth parte of an Hin to a lambe, and this shalbe poured in the Sanctuary for a gifte vnto the LORDE. The other lambe shalt thou prepare at euē (like as the meat offerynge in the mornynge) & the drynk offeringe therof, for a sacrifice of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE.

On the Sabbath daye, two lambes of a yeare olde without blemysh, & two tēth deales of fyne floure myngled with oyle, & the drynk offerynge therof. This is the burntofferynge of euery Sabbath, besyde the daylie burnt offerynge, wt his drynk offeringe.

And on the first daye of youre monethes ye shal offre a burnt offerynge vnto ye LORDE: two yonge bullockes, a ramme, seuē lambes of a yeare olde without blemysh, and allwaye thre tenth deales of fyne floure for a meat offerynge myngled with oyle vnto euery bullocke: two tenth deales of fyne floure for a meat offerynge myngled with oyle vnto the ramme: and a tenth deale of fyne floure for a meat offerynge myngled with oyle vnto euery lambe. This is the burnt offerynge of a swete sauoure, a sacrifice vnto ye LORDE.

And their drynk offerynges shalbe, half an Hin of wyne vnto euery bullocke, the thirde parte of an Hin to the ramme, ye fourth parte of an Hin to euery lambe. This is the burnt offerynge of euery moneth in the yeare. There shalbe offered an he goate also for a syn offerynge vnto the LORDE, to the daylie burnt offerynge with his drynk-offerynge.

xo. 12. c eui. 23. a eut. 16. a And on the fourtene daye of the first moneth is the Easter vnto the LORDE, and on the fyftene daye of the same moneth is the feast. Seuē dayes shal vnleuended bred be eaten. The first daye shalbe an holy conuocacion: No seruile worke shal ye do therin, and ye shal offre a burnt offerynge vnto the LORDE: two yonge bullockes, one ramme, Leu . •• . seuen lā bes of a yeare olde without blemysh, with their meat offerynge: thre tenth deales of fyne floure myngled with oile to either bullocke, and two tenth deales to the ramme, and one tenth deale to euery lambe amonge the seuen lambes. And an he goate for a syn offeringe, to make an attonement for you. And these shal ye offre in the mornynge, besydes the burnt offerynge, which is a daylie burnt offerynge. After this maner shal ye offre ye bred euery daye seuen dayes longe for an offeringe of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE, to the daylie burnt offerynge, and drynk offerynge also. And the seuenth daye shal be called an holy conuocacion with you: no seruyle worke shal ye do therin.

And the daye of the fyrst frutes (whā ye offre the meat offerynge of the moneth vnto ye LORDE in youre wekes) shal be an holy cō uocacion also: No worke of bondage shal ye do therin. And ye shal offre a burnt offerynge for a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE: two yonge bullockes, a ramme, Leui. 23 seuen lambes of a yeare olde, with their meat offerynges: thre tenth deales of fyne floure myngled with oyle to euery bullocke, two tenth deales to the ramme, and one tent deale to euery lambe of the seuen lambes. And an he goate to make an attonement for you. This shal ye do, besydes ye daylie burnt offerynge with his meat offerynge and his drynk offeringe. Without blemysh shal they be all.

The XXIX. Chapter.

ANd the fyrst daye of the seuenth moneth shal be with you an holy cōuocacion. Leui. 23 No seruyle worke shal ye do therin, for it is the daye of youre trompet blowinge. And ye shal offre a burnt offeringe for a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE: a yonge bullocke, a ramme, seuen lambes of a yeare olde without blemish. And their meat offeringes: thre tenth deales of fyne floure myngled wt oyle to the bullocke, two tenth deales to ye rā me, and one tenth deale vnto euery lambe of ye seuen lābes. An he goate also for a syn offeringe, to make an attonement for you, beside ye burnt offeringe of ye moneth & his meat offeringe, & besyde ye daylie burnt offerynge wt his meat offerynge & with their drink offeringes, acordinge to the maner of thē for a swete sauor. This is a sacrifice vnto the LORDE.

〈◊〉 . 16. g The tenth daye of this seuenth moneth shalbe an holy conuocacion wt you also, and ye shal humble youre soules, and do no seruyle worke therin, but offre a burnt offerynge vnto the LORDE for a swete sauoure: a yonge bullocke, a ramme, seuen lambes of a yeare olde without blemish, wt their meat offeringes: thre tenth deales of fine floure myngled with oyle to the bullocke, two tenth deales to the rāme, & one tenth deale to euery one of the seuen lambes. And an he goate for a syn offeringe, besyde the syn offeringe of the attonemēt, and ye daylie burnt offerīge wt his meat offeringe, and wt his drynk offeringe.

〈◊〉 . 2 . f The fiftenth daye of the seuenth moneth shal be an holy cōuocacion wt you, no seruyle worke shal ye do therin, and seuē dayes shal ye kepe a feast vnto the LORDE. And ye shal offre the LORDE a burnt offeringe for a sacrifice of a swete sauoure vnto the LORDE: thirtene yonge bullockes, two rāmes, fourtene lābes of a yeare olde without blemish, wt their meat offerynges: thre tenth deales of fyne floure myngled with oyle to euery one of the thirtene bullockes, two tenth deales to ether of the two rammes, & one tenth deale to euery one of the fourtene lambes: & an he goate for a syn offerynge, besyde ye day lye burnt offerynge with his meat offerynge and his drynk offerynge.

On the seconde daye, twolue yonge bullockes, two rammes, fourtene lambes of a yeare olde without blemysh wt their meat offeges and drink offerynges to the bullockes, to the rammes and to the lambes in ye nombre of them acordinge to the maner. And an he goate for a syn offeringe, besyde the daylie burnt offeringe with his meat offeringe, and with his drynk offerynge.

On the thirde daye, eleuen bullockes, two rammes, fourtene lambes of a yeare olde wt out blemish, with their meat offeringes, and drynk offeringes to the bullockes, to the rammes and to the lambes in their nombre acordinge to the maner. And an he goate for a syn offerynge, besyde the daylye burnt offeringe with his meat offerynge and his drynk-offerynge.

On the fourth daye, ten bullockes, two rāmes, fourtene lambes of a yeare olde with out blemysh, with their meat offerynges and drynk offerynges, to the bullockes, to the rā mes, and to the lambes in their nombre acordynge to the maner. And an he goate for a syn offerynge, besyde the daylie burnt offeringe wt his meat offeringe, & his drynk offeringe. On the fifth daye, nyne bullockes, two rā mes, fourtene lambes of a yeare olde without blemysh, with their meat offerynges & drink offerynges to the bullockes, to ye rammes & to the lambes in their nombre acordynge to the maner. And an he goate for a syn offeringe, besyde ye daylie burnt offerynge with his meat offerynge and his drynk offerynge.

On the sixte daye, eight bullockes, two rā mes, fourtene lābes of a yeare olde without blemysh, with their meat offerynges & drynk offeringes to the bullockes, to the rammes, & to the lambes in their nombre acordinge to the maner. And an he goate for a syn offeringe, beside the daylie burnt offeringe with his meat offerynge and his drynk offerynge.

On the seuenth daye, seuen bullockes, two rammes, fourtene lambes of a yeare olde wt out blemysh, with their meat offeringes and drynk offeringes to the bullockes, to the rammes, and to the lambes in their nombre acordynge to the maner. And an he goate for a syn offerynge, besyde the daylie burnt offeringe with his meat offerynge and his drynk-offerynge.

On the eight daye shal ye gather the people together, No seruyle worke shall ye do therin. And ye shall offre a burnt offerynge for a sacrifice of a swete sauoure vnto ye LORDE. A bullocke, a ramme, seuē lambes of a yeare olde without blemysh, with their meatofferynges and drynk offerynges to ye bullocke to the ramme, and to the lambes in their nō bre •• ord nge to the maner. And an he goate for s n offeringe, besyde the daylie burntofferynge with his meat offerynge & his drink offerynge.

These thinges shal ye do vnto ye LORDE in youre feastes, besyde that ye vowe and geue of a frewyll for burnt offeringes, meatofferynges, drynk offerynges and health offeringes. And Moses tolde the children of Israel all that the LORDE commaunded him.

The XXX. Chapter.

ANd Moses spake vnto the rulers of the trybes of the children of Israel, and saide: This is it that the LORDE hath commaūded: 〈…〉 Yf eny man make a vowe vnto the LORDE, or sweare an ooth, so that he binde his soule, he shal not breake his worde, but do all that is proceaded out of his mouth.

Yf a damsell make a vowe vnto ye LORDE, and bynde hirself, whyle she is in hir fathers house, and vnmaried, and hir vowe or bonde that she maketh ouer hir soule, commeth to hir fathers eares, & he holde his peace therto, thē all hir vowes & bondes yt she hath boūde hir self withall ouer hir soule, shal stōde in effecte. But yf hir father forbyd her ye same daye that he heareth it, thē shal no vowe ner bonde that she hath bounde hir self withall ouer hir soule, be of vayle. And the LORDE shalbe mercifull vnto her, for so moch as hir father forbad her.

Yf she haue an huszbande, & hath a vowe vpon her, or yf she haue letten go out of hir lippes a bōde ouer hir soule, & hir huszbande heare it, & holdeth his peace therat, the same daye that he heareth it, then hir vowe & bonde wherwith she hath boūde hir self ouer hir soule, shal stonde in effecte. But yf hir huszbande forbyd her the same daye that he heareth it, thē is the vowe lowse yt she hath vpō hir, & the bonde also that she hath letten go out of hir lippes ouer hir soule, and the LORDE shalbe gracious vnto her.

The vowe of a wyddowe, & of her yt is deuorced, all yt she byndeth hir self withall ouer hir soule, shal stonde in effecte vpō her.

Yf she vowe in hir huszbādes house, or binde hir self wt an ooth ouer hir soule, & hir husbande heare it, & holde his peace therto, and forbyddeth it not, thē shal all ye same vowe, & all yt she hath boūde hir self wt all ouer hir soule, stōde ī effecte. But yf hir huszbāde disanulle it, ye same daye yt he heareth it, thē is it of no value yt is proceaded out of hir lippes, which she hath vowed or boūde ouer hir soule: for hir huszbāde hath made it lowse, & the LORDE shalbe gracious vnto her. And all vowes & oothes yt bynde to humble ye soule, maie hir huszbāde stablish or breake, thus: Yf he holde his peace therto frō one daie to another, then stablisheth he all hir vowes & bondes, yt she hath vpon her, because he helde his peace, the same daye yt he herde thē. But yf he disanulle thē after yt he hath herde thē, then shal he take awaie hir miszdede.

These are the statutes yt the LORDE cō maunded Moses betwene a man & his wife, & betwene the father & his doughter, whyle she is yet a damsell in hir fathers house.

The XXXI. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, & sayde: 〈…〉 Auenge the childrē of Israel of the Madianites, yt thou mayest afterwarde be gathered vnto ye people. Thē spake Moses vnto the people, & sayde: Harnesse some men amonge you to the warre agaynst the Madianites (yt they maye auenge ye LORDE vpon the Madianites) out of euery trybe a thousande, yt out of euery trybe of Israel ye maye sende some to the battayll. And from amonge the thousandes of Israel they tok one thousande out of euery tribe, euen twolue thousande prepared vnto the battayll. And Moses sent them with Phineas the sonn of Eleasar the prest in to the battayll, and the holy vessels and ye trompettes to blowe in his hande.

And they fought agaynst ye Madianites as ye LORDE cōmaunded Moses, & slew all ye males, & the kynge of the Madianites slew they also amonge the other that were slaine namely, Eui, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba, the fyue kynges of the Madianites. And they slew 2. Pet. 2. Balaam the sonne of Beor wt the swerde. And ye children of Israel toke the wemen of the Madianites presoners, & their childrē: all their catell, all their substaunce, and all their goodes spoiled they, and all their cities of their dwellynges & castels burnt they wt fyre. And they toke all ye spoyles, & all yt they coulde catche men & catell, and brought thē vnto Moses & to Eleasar the prest, and to ye congregacion of the children of Israel (namely ye presoners, and the catell yt were takē, and the good that was spoyled) in to th hoost in the felde of the Moabites, which lyeth besyde Iordane ouer against Iericho.

And Moses and Eleasar the prest and all the captaines of ye congregacion, Gen. 14 wēte out of the hoost to mete thē. And Moses was angrie at the officers of the hoost, which were captaynes ouer thousandes and hūdreds, yt came from the battayll, and sayde vnto thē: Haue ye saued all ye wemen alyue? Beholde, Num. 25 Apo. . c haue not they (thorow Balaams busynes) turned awaye ye childrē of Israel to synne agaynst the LORDE vpō Peor, & their came a plage ouer the whole cōgregacion of ye LORDE? Iud. 1. b Now therfore slaie all the males amōge ye childrē, & kyll all ye wemen yt haue knowne men & lyen wt them. But all the wemen children yt haue knowne no mē ner lien wt them, kepe those alyue for youre selues. And lodge ye without the hoost, Nu. 19. b all yt haue slayne any man, or touched the slayne, that on the thirde and seuenth daie ye maie purifie yor selues and those whom ye haue taken presoners. And all the clothes, and all stuffe that is made of szkynnes, and all maner furres, and all vessels of wod shal ye purifie.

And Eleasar the prest sayde vnto ye captaynes of the hoost, yt wente out to the battayll: This is the statute of the lawe, which the LORDE cōmaunded Moses: Golde, siluer brasse, yron, tynne and leed, and all that suffreth the fyre, shall ye cause to go thorow the fyre, and clense it, that it maye be purified with ye sprencklynge water. As for all soch as suffreth not the fyre, ye shal cause it to go thorow ye water, and shal washe yor clothes vpon the seuenth daye. and thē shall ye be cleane. After that shall ye come in to the hooste.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Deu 20. b and 22. b Ios. 8. f 2. Mac. 8. c Take the summe of the spoyle of those that are taken, both of wemen and of catell, thou and Eleasar the prest, and the chefe fathers of the congregacion, and geue ye halfe vnto those that toke the warre vpon them, and wente out to the battayll, and ye other halfe to the congregacion. And of the men of warre that wente out to ye battayll, thou shalt heue vnto the LORDE one soule of fyue hundreth, both of the wemen, oxen, Asses and shepe: Of their halfe parte shalt thou take it, and geue it vnto Eleasar the prest for an Heue offerynge vnto the LORDE. But of the children of Israels halfe parte, thou shalt take one heade of fyftie, both of the wemen, oxen, Asses and shepe, and of all the catell, and shalt geue them vnto the Leuites, that wayte vpon the habitaciō of the LORDE.

And Moses and Eleasar the prest dyd as the LORDE commaunded Moses. And the spoyle and praye which ye men of warre had spoyled, was sixe hundreth thousande and fyue and seuentye thousande shepe, two and seuentye thousande oxen, one & thre score thousande Asses: and the wemen yt had knowne no men ner lyen wt them, were two and thirtie thousande soules.

And the halfe parte which belonged vnto them that wente to the warre, was in nō bre thre hundreth thousande, and seuen and thirtie thousande, and fyue hundreth shepe: of the which the LORDE had sixe hundreth, & fyue and seuentye shepe. Item sixe and thirtie thousande oxen: wherof the LORDE had two & seuentye. Item thirtie thousande & fyue hundreth Asses: wherof the LORDE had one & thre score. Item sixtene thousande soules of wemen: wherof the LORDE had two & thirtie. And Moses gaue this heue offerynge of the LORDE vnto Eleasar the prest, as the LORDE commaunded him.

As for the other halfe which Moses deuyded vnto the children of Israel frō ye men of warre (namely ye halfe that fell to the congregacion) it was also thre hundreth thousande, and seuen and thyrtie thousande, & fyue hundreth shepe, sixe and thirtie thousande oxen, thyrtie thousande & fyue hundreth Asses, and sixtene thousande wemen soules. And of this halfe of the childrē of Israel toke Moses one of euery fyftie, both of the catell & of the wemen, and gaue them vnto ye Leuites, that waited vpon the habitaciō of the LORDE, as ye LORDE cōmaūded Moses.

And the captaynes ouer ye thousandes of the hoost, namely they that were ouer thousandes and ouer hundreds, came forth vnto Moses, and sayde vnto him: Thy seruauntes haue taken ye summe of ye men of warre, that were vnder oure hande, and there lacked not one: therfore brynge we a present vnto the LORDE, what euery one hath foūde of Iewels of golde, cheynes, bracelettes, rynges, earinges, and taches, that oure soules maye be reconcyled before the LORDE.

And Moses and Eleasar ye prest toke of them ye golde of all maner ornamentes. And all the golde of the Heue offerynge that they Heued vnto the LORDE, was sixtene thousande and seuen hundreth and fyftye Sycles, of the captaynes ouer thousandes and hundreds. For loke what euery one had spoyled, that was his awne. And Moses wt Eleasar the prest toke the golde of the captaynes ouer thousandes and hundreds, and broughte it in to the Tabernacle of witnesse for a remembraunce of the children of Israel before the LORDE.

The XXXII. Chapter.

THe children of Ruben and the children of Gad had an exceadinge greate multitude of catell, and sawe the londe of Iaeser and Gilead yt it was a mete place for catell, and came & spake vnto Moses and to Eleasar the prest, and to the captaynes of the congregacion: The londe of Atroth, Dibon, Iaesar, Nimra, Hesz ō, Eleale, Seban, Nebo, & Beon, which the LORDE smote before ye congregacion of Israel, is a mete londe for catell, and thy seruauntes haue many catell. And they sayde morouer: Yf we haue founde fauoure before the, thē geue thy seruauntes this londe in possession, and we wyl not go ouer Iordane.

Moses sayde vnto them: Youre brethren shall go to the warre, and wyll ye tary here? Wherfore turne ye ye hertes of the children of Israel, that they shulde not go ouer in to the londe that the LORDE shall geue them 〈…〉 Thus dyd youre fathers also, whan I sent them out from Cades Bernea, to spye out ye londe. And whan they were come vp to ye ryuer of Escol, and sawe ye londe, they turned the hertes of the children of Israel, so yt they wolde not into the londe which ye LORDE wolde haue geuen them.

And the LORDE was wroth at the same tyme, 〈…〉 & sware, & sayde: These men yt are come out of Egipte, from twētye yeare olde & aboue, shall not se the lande which I sware vnto Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, because they haue not wholy folowed me: saue Caleb ye sonne of Iephune ye Renisite, & Iosua ye sonne of Nun: for they haue wholy folowed ye LORDE. So the LORDE was wroth wt Israel, & let thē wander in the wildernesse fourtye yeares, tyll all ye generacion yt had done euell before the LORDE, was consumed.

And beholde, ye are rysen vp in youre fathers steade, to increase the nombre of synfull men, & to augmente yet the wrath & indignacion of the LORDE agaynst Israel. For yf ye turne you backe from folowinge him, he shal yet leaue them more in the wildernes, & so shal ye destroye all this people.

Then stepte they to him, & sayde: we wyll but buylde shepefoldes here for oure shepe & ca ell, & cities for or children: As for oure selues, we will go ready armed before the children of Israel, tyll we haue broughte them vnto their place: Oure childrē shal remayne in the fenced cities, because of ye indwellers of the londe. We will not turne home agayne, tyll the children of Israel haue taken euery one his inheritaunce in possession: for we wyll not inheret with them beyonde Iordane: for or inheritaunce shal fall vnto vs vpon this syde Iordane Eastwarde.

Moses sayde vnto them: 〈…〉 Yf ye wil do this that ye wil harnesse youre selues to the warre before the LORDE, then go ouer Iordane before the LORDE, who so euer is harnessed amonge you, tyll he haue dryuen out his enemies before his face, and vntyll the londe be subdued before the LORDE, then shal ye returne, & be vngiltye before the LORDE, and before Israel, & so shal ye haue this londe in possession before the LORDE. But yf ye will not do so, beholde, ye shal offende agaynst the LORDE, and be sure, that youre synne shal fynde you out. Buylde cities now therfore for youre children, and shepefoldes and stalles for youre shepe and catell, and do as ye haue spoken.

The childrē of Gad, & the childrē of Ruben sayde vnto Moses: Thy seruauntes shal do as my lorde hath cōmaunded. Oure children, wyues, substaunce, & all or catell, shal be in ye cities of Gilead. But we ye seruauntes will go all harnessed for the warre vnto battaill before ye LORDE, as my lorde hath saide.

Thē Moses cōmaunded Eleasar ye prest & Iosua the sonne of Nun, & the chefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, and saide vnto them: Yf the children of Gad & the children of Ruben go ouer Iordane wt you, all prepared to fight before the LORDE, Ios. 4. c & whan the londe is subdued vnto ye , thē geue them the londe of Gilead 〈◊〉 possessiō. But yf they go not ouer with 〈…〉 harnes, then shal they inheret wt you in ye l de of Canaā.

The children of Gad and the children of Rubē answered, & sayde: As ye LORDE hath spoken vnto ye seruauntes, so wyll we do: we wil go harnessed before the LORDE in to ye lā de of Canaan, and possesse oure enheritaunce on this syde Iordane.

So Moses gaue vnto ye children of Gad and to the children of Ruben, Deut. . b Ios. 22. . d and to the halfe trybe of Manasse the sonne of Ioseph, ye kyngdome of Sihon kynge of the Amorites and the kyngdome of Og the kynge of Basan, the londe with the cities therof in all ye coastes of ye countre rounde aboute. Thē ye children of Gad buylded Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth, Sophan, Iaeser, & Iegabeha, Bethnimra, & Betharan, stronge fenced cities, & shepe foldes. The children of Ruben buylded Heszbō, Eleale, Kiriathaim, Nebo, Baal Meon, & turned ye names, & Sibamas & gaue names vnto ye cities which they buylded. And ye children of Machir the sonne of Manasse wente in to Gilead, & conquered it, and droue out the Amorites yt were therin. Then Moses gaue Gilead vnto Machir ye sonne of Manasse, & he dwelt therin. Iair ye sonne of Manasse wente and conquered the vyllagies therof, and called them Hauoth Iair. Nobah wente, and cōquered Kena h, with the townes belonginge therto, and called it Nobah, after his awne name.

The XXXIII. Chapter.

THese are ye iourneys of the childrē of Israel, which wēte out of ye lande of Egipte acordinge to their armies, 〈◊〉 Moses & Aarō. And Moses wrote their 〈◊〉 out as they iourneyed, after ye cōmaund ment of ye LORDE. And these (namely) are the yourneyes of their outgoinge. Exod. 12. f They departed frō Raemses vpon ye fiftene daye of the first moneth (euen the morow after the Easter) thorow an hye hande, so that all the Egipcians sawe, and buried then their first borne, whom the LORDE had slayne amonge them: for the LORDE executed iudgment also vpon their goddes. When they were departed from Raemses, they pitched in Sucoth. And frō Sucoth they departed, & pitched their tentes in Ethā, which lyeth in ye edge of ye wildernes. Exod. 1 . d Frō Etham they departed, and abode in the valley of Hiroth (which lyeth towarde Baal Zephon) & pitched ouer agaynst Migdol. Exo. 14. a From Hyroth they departed, Exo. 14. e & wente in thorow ye middes of the see in to ye wyldernes, and wente thre dayes yourney in the wildernes of Etham, & pit hed in Marah. Exo. 15. d From Marah they departed, and came vnto Elim, wh re there were twolue welles of water, and seuentye palme trees, & and there they pitched Exo. 16. a From Elim they departed, and pitched by the reed see. From ye reed see they departed, and pitched in the wildernesse of Sin. From the wildernes of Sin they departed, and pitched in Daphka. Frō Daphka they departed, and pitched in Alus. From Alus they departed, and pitched in Raphidim, Exo. 17. a where the people had no water to drynke. From Raphidim they departed and pitched in the wildernes of Sinai.

Exo. 19. a From Sinai they departed, and pitched at the Lustgraues. Num. 10 b Num. 11. g Frō the Lustgraues they departed, and pitched in Hazeroth. Nu. 12. b From Hazeroth they departed, & pitched in Rithma. From Rithma they departed, and pitched in Rimon Parez. From Rimon Parez they departed, and pitched in Libna. From Libna they departed, and pitched in Rissa. Frō Rissa they departed, & pitched in Kehelatha. Frō Kehelatha they departed, & pitched in moūt Sapher. From moūt Sapher they departed, & pitched in Harada. Frō Harada they departed, pitched in Makeheloth. From Makeheloth they departed, & pitched in Tahath. From Tahath they departed, and pitched in Tharah. From Tharah they departed, and pitched in Mitka. From Mitka they departed, and pitched in Hasmona. From Hasmona they departed, and pitched in Mosseroth.

Deut. 10. b From Mosseroth they departed, and pitched in Bne Iaekon. From Bne Iaekon they departed, and pitched in Horgadgad. From Horgadgad they departed, & pitched in Iathbatha. From Iathbatha they departed, and pitched in Abrona. From Abrona they departed, and pitched in Ezeon gaber. From Ezeon gaber they departed, and pitched in ye wildernes of Zin, which is Cades.

Nu. 20. a From Cades they departed, and pitched at mount Hor, Nu. 20. d Deu. 10. b on the border of the londe of Edom. Then Aaron the prest wente vp vnto mount Hor (acordynge to the commaundement of the LORDE) and died there in the fourtyeth yeare, after yt the children of Israel departed out of the londe of Egipte, in the first daie of the fifte moneth, whā he was an hundreth and thre and twentye yeare olde. And Arad the kynge of the Cananites, which dwelt in the south countre of Canaā herde yt the children of Israel came.

And from mount Hor they departed, and pitched in Zalmona. From Zalmona they departed, and pitched in Phimon. From Phimon they departed, 〈…〉 and pitched in Oboth. From Oboth they departed, and pitched in Igim by Abarim vpon the border of the lō de of ye Moabites. From Igim they departed, and pitched in Dib •• Gad. From Dibō Gad they departed, and pitched in Almon Diblathama. Frō Almon Diblathama they departed and pitched in the mountaynes of Abarim ouer agaynst Nebo. From the moū taynes of Abarim they departed, and pitched in ye felde of the Moabites besyde Io dane ouer agaynst Iericho. Frō Beth haiesmoth vnto the playne of Sitim laye they in the felde of the Moabites. 〈…〉

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses in the felde of the Moabites, by Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho, and sayde: Speake to the children of Israel, and saie vnto them: Whā ye are come ouer Iordane in the lande of Canaan, 〈…〉 ye shal dryue out all the inhabiters before youre face, and plucke downe all their pilers, and all their ymages of metall, and destroye all their 〈…〉 hye places: that ye maye so take the londe in possession and dwell therin For I haue geuē you the londe to enioye it.

And the londe shall ye deuyde out by lott amonge youre kynreds. Vnto those that are many, shall ye deuyde the more: And vnto them that are fewe, shall ye deuyde the lesse. Euen as the lott falleth there vnto euery one, so shal he haue it, acordinge to the trybes of their fathers.

But yf ye wyll not dryue out the inhabiters of ye lande before yor face, 〈…〉 then they whō ye suffre to remayne, shall become thornes in youre eyes, and dartes in youre sydes, & shall vexe you in the londe where ye dwell. Then wil it come to passe, that I shal do vnto you euen as I thought to do vnto them.

The XXXIIII. Chapter.

ANnd the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: Commaunde the childrē of Israel, and saye vnto them: Whan ye come into the londe of Canaan, the londe yt falleth to youre inheritaunce, shall haue hir borders in the londe of Canaan. The South quarter shall begynne at the wyldernesse of Zin by Edom, so that youre South quarter be from the edge of the Salt see, which lyeth towarde the South: and that ye same quarter fet a compasse from the South vp to Acrabim, & go thorow Zimma: & that his out goinge be from the South vnto Cades Barnea, & reache vnto Hazor Adar, and go thorow Azmona, and stretch out from Azmona vnto the ryuer of Egipte, and that the ende therof be at the greate see.

But the West quarter shal be this: namely the greate see, let yt be youre border towarde the West.

The North quarter shalbe this: Ye shall compasse from the greate see vnto mount Hor. And fro mount Hor ye shall compasse tyll a man come vnto Hemath, that the out goynge therof be the coast of Zedada, and that the border of the same go out vnto Siphron, and that the goynge out of it be at Hazor Enan. Let this be youre North quarter.

And youre East quarter shall ye cōpasse from Hazor Enan vnto Sephan, & let the coaste go downe from Sephan and Ribla on the East syde of Ain. Thē let it go downe, & reache vnto the syde of the see of Chinereth East warde, and come downe by Iordane, so yt the goynge out of it be the Salt see. Let this be youre londe with the borders therof rounde aboute.

And Moses commaunded the children of Israel, and sayde: This is youre londe that ye shal deuyde out amonge you by lott, which the LORDE hath commaunded to geue vnto the nyne trybes, and to the halfe trybe. 〈◊〉 . 32. f For the trybe of the children of Ruben after their fathers house, and the trybe of the children of Gad acordinge to their fathers house, and the half trybe of Manasse haue receaued their porcion. Thus the two trybes and the halfe trybe haue their enheritaunce allready, on this syde Iordane, ouer agaynst Iericho, Eastwarde.

And the LORDE spake vnto Moses, and sayde: 〈◊〉 . 3. 〈…〉 4. a These are ye names of the men, which shal deuyde the londe amonge you. Eleasar the prest, and Iosua the sonne of Nun. And the captayne of euery trybe shal ye take, to deuyde the londe.

And these are the names of the men: Caleb the sonne of Iephune of the trybe of Iuda. Semuel the sonne of Ammihud of the trybe of Simeon. Elidad ye sonne of Cislon of the trybe of Ben Iamin Buki the sonne of Iagli of the trybe of the childrē of Dan. Hamuel the sonne of Ephod, of the trybe of the children of Manasse amonge the children of Ioseph. Kemuel the sonne of Siphthan, of the trybe of the children of Ephraim. Elizaphan the sonne of Parnach, of the trybe of the childrē of Zabulon. Palthiel the sonne of Asan, of the trybe of the childrē of Isachar. Abihud the sonne of Selomi, of ye trybe of the children of Asser. Pedahel the sonne of Ammihud, of the trybe of the children of Nephtali. These are they whom ye LORDE commaunded, that they shulde deuyde the inheritaunce vnto the children of Israel in the londe of Canaan.

The XXXV. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Moses in the felde of the Moabites by Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho, & sayde: Commaunde the childrē of Israel, Iosu. 1. a that they geue vnto ye Leuites of the inheritaūce of their possession, cities to dwell in. The suburbes also aboute the cities shal ye geue vnto the Leuites, that they maye dwell in the cities, and in the suburbes to haue their catell, and substaunce, and all their beestes.

The suburbes which ye geue vnto ye Leuites, shal reache frō the wall of ye cite outwarde, a M. cubites rounde aboute. Thus ye shal measure without the cite on ye East syde, two thousande cubites: & on ye South syde, two thousande cubites: & on ye West syde, two thousande cubites: & on ye North syde, two thousande cubites, so yt the cite be in the myddes. This shal be their suburbes.

Iosu. 20. a And amōge the cities which ye shal geue vnto the Leuites, ye shall geue thē sixe fre cities, that he which cōmitteth a slaughter, maie flye thither. Besydes the same ye shal geue thē yet two & fourtie cities: so yt all ye cities which ye geue vnto ye Leuites, be eight & fourtye wt their suburbes. And of ye same ye shal geue the more, from thē yt haue moch in possession amonge the children of Israel: & the lesse from them, that haue litle in possession. Euery one (acordinge to his enheritaunce that is deuyded vnto him) shall geue of his cities vnto the Leuites.

And the LORDE talked wt Moses & saide: Speake to the childrē of Israel, & saye vnto thē: Exo. 21. b Deut. 19. a Whan ye come ouer Iordane in to ye londe of Canaan, ye shall chose out cities to be fre cities, yt who so cōmytteth slaughter vnawarres, maye flye thither. And soch fre cities shalbe amonge you because of the auenger of bloude, that he which hath commytted slaughter, dye not, tyll he stonde in iudgment before the congregacion. And of these cities which ye shall geue, there shalbe sixe fre cities. Thre shal ye geue on this side Iordane, and thre in the londe of Canaan.

These are the sixe fre cities, both for ye childrē of Israel & for the straungers, & for soch as dwell amōge you, yt who so euer hath slaine eny soule vnawarres, maye flye thither.

Exo. 21. b He yt smyteth eny man wt an yron weapō, yt he dye, the same is a murthurer, & shal dye the death. Yf he cast at him wt a stone (wherwith eny man maye be slayne) yt he dye therof, then is he a murthurer, and shal dye the death. Yf he smyte him wt an handweapon of wodd (wherwith eny man maie be slayne) that he dye, then is he a murthurer, and shal dye the death. The auenger of bloude shal bringe ye murthurer to death. Whan he fyndeth him, he shal slaye him. Yf he thrust at him of hate, or cast ought at him with laienge of wayte, or smyte him of envye wt his hande, that he dye, then shal he that hath slayne him, dye the death: for he is a murthurer. The auenger of bloude shal brynge him to death, as soone as he fyndeth him.

But yf he thrust him by chaunce, & not of envye, Deu. 19. a or hurle ought at him without eny layenge of wayte, or cast at him with a stone (wherof a man maye dye, & sawe it not) so yt he dye, & is not his enemie, nether thought him eny euell, thē shal the cōgregacion iudge betwene him yt hath cōmytted ye slaughter, and the auenger of bloude, in soch cases. And the cōgregacion shal delyuer the deed slayer from the hande of ye auenger of bloude, & shal let him come agayne to the fre cite, whither he was fled: & there shall he abyde vnto ye death of the hye prest, which was anoynted with ye holy oyle. But yf the deed sleyer go out of the borders of his fre cite, that he was fled vnto, and the auenger of bloude fynde him without ye borders of his fre cite, and kyll him, he shal not be gyltye of bloude. For he shulde haue bydden in his fre cite vntyll ye death of the hye prest, & after ye hye prestes death to come agayne vnto the londe of his enheritaunce. This shalbe a statute of the lawe vnto you amōge youre posterities in all youre dwellinges.

The deed slayer shal be slayne at ye mouth of witnesses. Deu. 17. b and 19. c One witnesse shal not answere ouer a soule to death. And ye shal receaue none attonement ouer the soule of the deedslayer (for he is giltye of death) but he shal dye the death. And ye shal receaue none attonement of him, which is fled to the fre cite, yt he shulde come agayne to dwell in the londe, tyll the hye prest dye. And defyle not ye ye londe wherin ye dwell. For who so is giltye of bloude, defyleth the londe: and the londe can not be reconcyled from the bloude that is shed therin, but onely thorow the bloude of him that shed it. Defyle not ye the londe that ye dwell in, wherin I dwell also. For I am the LORDE, which dwell amōge ye children of Israel.

The XXXVI. Chapter.

ANd ye chefe fathers of the kynred of the childrē of Gilead ye sonne of Machir (which was the sonne of Manasse of the kynred of the children of Ioseph) came forth, and spake before Moses, and before the captaynes amonge the chefe fathers of the children of Israel, and saide: Syr, the LORDE hath 〈…〉 commaunded, that ye shulde geue the londe by lott vnto the childrē of Israel to inheret. And thou my lorde hast commaunded thorow the LORDE, 〈…〉 that the enheritaunce of or brother Zelaphead shulde be geuē vnto his doughters. Now yf eny men out of the trybes of Israel take them to wyues, then shal oure fathers enheritaunce be lesse: and as moch as they haue, shal come to ye enheritaunce of the trybe that they come vnto. Thus shal the lott of oure inheritaunce be mynished. So whan the year of Iubilye commeth vnto the childrē of Israel, then shal their enheritaunce come to ye enheritaunce of the trybe, where they are. Thus shal oure fathers enheritaunce be mynished, as moch as they haue.

Moses charged the childrē of Israel (acordinge to the commaundement of the LORDE) and sayde: The trybe of the children of Ioseph hath sayde righte. This is it that ye LORDE commaundeth the doughters of Zelaphead, and sayeth: 〈…〉 Let them mary as they like best, onely that they mary in ye kynred of the trybe of their father, that the enheritaunce of the children of Israel fall not frō one trybe to another. For euery one amonge the children of Israel shall cleue to the enheritaunce of the trybe of his father: & euery doughter that possesseth eny enheritaunce amonge the trybes of the children of Israel, shal be maryed vnto one of the kynred of the trybe of hir father: 〈…〉 yt euery one amonge the children of Israel maye enioye his fathers enheritaunce, and that the enheritaunce fall not from one trybe to another: but that euery one maye cleue to his awne enheritaunce amonge the trybes of the children of Israel.

As the LORDE cōmaunded Moses, euē so dyd ye doughters of ye Zelaphead, Mahela, Thirza, Hagla, Milca & Noa & were maried vnto their fathers brothers sonnes, of ye kynred of the children of Manasse the sonne of Ioseph. So their enheritaūce remayned in the trybe of the kynred of their father.

These are the commaundemētes & lawes, which ye LORDE commaunded by Moses vnto the childrē of Israel, in the felde of the Moabites by Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho.

The ende of the fourth boke of Moses, called Numerus.
The fyfth boke of Moses, called Deuteronomion. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Moses putteth the childrē of Israel in remembraunce of the greate benefites that they haue receaued of God, and rebuketh them for their vnthankfulnesse and myszbeleue. Chap. II. They are commaunded not to fighte agaynst Seir, the Moabites and Ammonites. But Sihon the kynge of the Amorrites is delyuered vnto them. Chap. III. Og the kynge of Basan is slayne, the londe taken in, and destroyed Ruben, Gad, and the halfe trybe of Manasse haue their enheritaunce on this syde Iordane. Iosua is ordeyned in Moses steade. Chap. IIII. After he hath rehearsed vnto them the benefites of God, he exorteth them to kepe his commaundementes, that they forget them not. Fredome for soch as committe slaughter vnawarres. Chap. V. He rehearseth the commaundementes of God vnto them agayne, & exorteth them earnestly to kepe them. Chap. VI. He telleth them of the statutes & ordinaūces of God, exortinge them to kepe them, and to teache their children the same. Cahp. VII. They are commaunded (whan they come in the lōde of Canaan) to make no frendshipe ner to kepe company with the people therof, but vtterly to rote them out, and not to be afrayed of them. Chap. VIII. He exorteth them, not to forget the commaundementes of God, but to remembre what singuler kindnes God hath shewed them, & from what troubles he hath delyuered them. And geueth the londe that they are to go vnto, a good reporte. Chap. IX. He warneth them that they ascrybe not the goodnes that God hath done for them, to their awne power: for yf he had serued them after their awne deseruinge, he had destroyed them euerychone. Chap. X. He proceadeth forth in tellinge them their wickednes, & how they departed from Be Chap. XI. Consyderinge the multitude (roth. of the benefites of God that they had receaued and the pleasaunt londe that they were to receaue, he exorteth them againe to kepe Gods commaundementes. Chap. XII. He descrybeth vnto them againe the statutes & ordinaunces of the LORDE. Chap. XIII. How men shal knowe false prophetes and how they ought to be punyshed. Chap. XIIII. For so moch as they are a cleane people of God, they are commaunded to avoyde the customes of the Heythen, as in shauynge their heades, in eatinge certayne mea es, &c. Chap. XV. Of the seuenth yeare (wherof thou readest also in the XXV. chapter of the thirde boke of Moses) & how the poore folkes and bonde men oughte to be intreated. Chap. XVI. The feaste of Easter, Whytsondaye, and of tabernacles. Chap. XVII. Certayne statutes. The office of kynges and iudges. Chap. XVIII. The porcion of the Leuites. Of the prophete that is promised vnto the people, and how the false prophetes maye be knowne. Chap. XIX. Of the fre cities for the deedslayers. How many witnesses are to be accepted in a matter, and how the false oughte to be punished. Chap. XX. A godly ordinaunce concernynge warre and strykinge of battayll. Chap. XXI. What ought to be done with one that is founde slaine in the felde, and with a woman which is taken presoner. Children that wil not obeye father and mother, are to be stoned to death. The deed bodies maye not hange styll vpon the tre. Chap. XXII. Of loue towarde a mans nehgboure, with dyuerse other commaundemētes. How a man shal ordre himself with his wife, whom he founde no mayden. Chap. XXIII. What they are, that maye not come in to the congregacion of the LORDE, and other commaundementes. Chap. XXIIII. Of deuorcement, of the fredome of him that is new maried, with other commaundementes concernynge loue towarde a mans neghboure. Chap. XXV. How the iudge ought to punyshe, & how one brother shulde rayse vp sede to another Of true weightes and measures, and destroyenge of Amaleck. Chap. XXVI. Of the first frutes and tythes, how they are to be broughte with prayse and thankesuynge vnto God. Chap. XXVII. Of the stones to be set vp beyonde Iordane, and the commaundementes of God to be wrytten theron. Of the blessinge and cursinge vpon the two mountaynes. Chap. XXVIII. Swete and gracious promyses for all soch as loue the commaundementes of God to do them. Agayne, Maruelous sore and fearfull plages, threatened vnto all thē that regarde not Gods worde. Chap. XXIX. The couenaunt is renewed in the londe of Moab. Moses putteth them in mynde of the louynge benefites of God, that they maie be stedfast in the LORDE. Chap. XXX. Of the merciful kyndnesse of God, yf men wil herken vnto his voyce, and conuerte frō their awne euell wayes. Of his sore punyshment f they wil not obeye. Chap. XXXI. Iosua is geuē vnto the people, to be their captayne in Moses steade. A prophecie that they wyl forsake the waye of God, & be punyshed therfore. Chap. XXXII. The songe of Moses, which goeth vp to the mount, & seyth the londe of promesse, but commeth not in to it. Chap. XXXIII. A swete blessinge, wherwith Moses blesseth the people before his death. Chap. XXXIIII. Moses goeth vp to the mount, where he dyeth. The children of Israel make lamentacion for him.
The first Chapter.

THese are the wordes that Moses spake vnto all Israel on the other syde Iordane in the wildernesse, in the playne felde towarde the reed see, betwene Paran, Thophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Disahab, eleuen daies iourney from Horeb, by the waye of mount Seir vnto Cades Bernea. And it fortuned the first daye of the eleuenth moneth in the fortieth yeare, that Moses spake vnto ye children of Israel acordinge vnto all as ye LORDE commaunded him, Num. 3 . d after he had smytten Sihon ye kynge of the Amorites which dwelt at Heszbon: and Og the kynge of Basan, that dwelt at Astaroth, and at Edrei.

On the other syde Iordane in ye lande of the Moabites, beganne Moses to declare this lawe, and sayde: The LORDE or God spake vnto vs vpon mount Horeb, & sayde: Ye haue bene lōge ynough vpon this mountayne, turne you, & departed hence, that ye maye come to the mountaynes of the Amorites, and to all their neghbours in ye feldes, vpon mountaynes, and in the valleys towarde the South and towarde the see syde, of the lande of Canaan: and to mount Libanus, euen vnto the greate water Euphrates. Beholde, I haue delyuered you the londe, go in, and take it in possession, which the LORDE sware vnto yor fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, ene. 15. d nd 17. b that he wolde geue it vnto thē, and their sede after them.

Then saide I vnto you at the same tyme: I am not able to beare you my self alone, Exod. 18. c for the LORDE youre God hath increased you, so that this daye ye are as ye starres of heauen in multitude. (The LORDE God of yor fathers make you yet many thousande tymes mo, & blesse you, as he hath promysed you.) How can I alone beare soche cōbraunce, & charge, & stryfe amōge you? Prouyde here men of wyszdome & vnderstondinge, soch as are knowne amonge youre trybes, thē wil I set to be heades vnto you.

Then answered ye me, and sayde: It is a good thinge, that thou sayest thou wilt do Then toke I ye heades of youre trybes, wyse and famous mē, and set them ouer you to be heades, ouer thousandes, ouer hundreds, ouer fiftye and ouer ten: and officers amonge youre trybes.

And I charged youre iudges at ye same tyme, & sayde: Heare youre brethrē, & 〈…〉 iudge righteously betwene euery man and his brother, and the straunger. Ye shall knowe no personne in iudgment, but shall heare the small as well as the greate, and be afrayed of no man: for the Iudgment is Gods. But yf eny cause be to harde for you, 〈…〉 let it be broughte vnto me, yt I maye heare it. Thus commaunded I you at the same tyme, all yt ye shulde doo.

Then departed we from Horeb, and walked thorow the whole wyldernesse (which is greate and terryble as ye haue sene) by the waye to ye mountaynes of the Amorites, as the LORDE oure God commauded vs, and came vnto Cades Bernea. Then sayde I vnto you: Ye are come to ye mountaynes of ye Amorites, which the LORDE or God shal geue vs. Beholde, there the londe before the, which the LORDE thy God hath geuē vnto the: Go vp, & conquere it, as ye LORDE God of thy fathers hath sayde vnto the: 〈…〉 feare not, and be not discoraged.

Then came ye all vnto me, and sayde: Let vs sende men before vs, 〈…〉 to spye vs out the londe, and to brynge vs worde agayne, by what waye we shal go vp, and to what cities we shal come. That pleased me well, and I toke twolue men from amonge you, of euery trybe one. Which whan they were departed, and wente vp to hye countre, and came to the ryuer Escol, they spyed it out, and toke of the frute of ye londe with thē, 〈…〉 and broughte it downe vnto vs, and broughte vs worde agayne, and sayde: It is a good londe, that the LORDE oure God hath geuen vs.

But ye wolde not go vp, and were dishobedient vnto the mouth of the LORDE youre God, and murmured in youre tentes, and sayde: Because the LORDE hateth vs, therfore hath be broughte vs out of the londe of Egipte, to delyuer vs in to the handes of the Amorites, to destroye vs. Whither shal we go vp? Oure brethren haue discoraged oure hertes, 〈…〉 & saide: The people is greater & of hyer stature thē we, ye cities are greate, & walled euen vp to heauen. Morouer we haue sene there the children of Enakim.

But I sayde vnto you: Feare not, and be not afrayed of them: for the LORDE youre God goeth before you, and shall fighte for you, like as he dealte with you in Egipte before youre eyes, and in the wyldernesse: where thou sawest, that the LORDE thy God bare the (euen as a man beareth his sonne) thorow out all the waye that ye haue walked, tyll ye came to this place. And yet for all this ye haue not beleued on the LORDE youre God, which wente before you, to searche you out a place, where ye shulde pitch youre tentes: 〈◊〉 . 9. c od. 3. d by night in the fyre (to shewe you the waye, wherin ye shulde go) & on the daye tyme in the cloude.

Whan the LORDE herde ye voyce of yor wordes, 〈◊〉 94. b 〈◊〉 . 14. c 〈◊〉 6. g he was wroth, and swore, and saide: There shall none of this euell generacion se that good londe, which I sware to geue vnto youre fathers, excepte Caleb the sonne of Iephune, 〈◊〉 . 14. b he shal se it. And vnto him wyl I geue the londe that he hath troddē vpon, & to his children, because he hath perfectly folowed the LORDE.

The LORDE was angrye wt me also for youre sakes, 〈◊〉 . 20. b 〈◊〉 . c. 34. a and sayde: Thou also shalt not go in thither. But Iosua ye sonne of Nun, which stondeth before the, he shal go in thither: Corage him, for he shal deuyde the enheritaunce out vnto Israel. And youre childrē, 〈◊〉 . 14. d of whō ye sayde they shulde be a praye, and youre sonnes which this daie vnderstonde nether good ner bad, they shal go in thither, vnto them wil I geue it, and they shall enioye it. But as for you, turne you, and take youre iourney to the wyldernesse, euen the waye to the reed see.

〈◊〉 . 14. f Then answered ye, & sayde vnto me: We haue synned agaynst ye LORDE, we wil go vp, and fighte, acordinge to all that the LORDE hath commaunded vs. Now whan ye had prepared yor selues, euery one in his harnesse, & were at the poynte to go vp to the mountaynes, ye LORDE sayde vnto me: Speake vnto them, yt they go not vp, & that they fighte not (for I am not amōge you) that ye be not smytten before youre enemies. Whan I tolde you this, ye wolde not heare, & were dishobedient vnto the worde of the LORDE, and were presumptuous, and wente vp to ye mountaines. Then the Amorites that dwelt vpon the moūtaynes, came out against you, and chaced you, as Bees do, and smote you at Seir, euen vnto Horma. Now whan ye came againe, and wepte before the LORDE, he wolde not heare youre voyce, and enclyned not his eares vnto you. Nu. 20. So ye abode in Cades a longe season.

The II. Chapter.

THen turned we vs, and toke oure iourney to the wildernesse, Nu. 21. a euen the waye to the reed see (as the LORDE sayde vnto me) and compassed mount Seir a longe season. And ye LORDE saide vnto me: Ye haue cōpassed this mountayne now lōge ynough, turne you Northwarde, and commaūde the people, and saye: Ye shal go thorow ye coastes of youre brethren the children of Esau, which dwell at Seir: & they shal be afrayed of you. But take diligente hede to youre selues, that ye prouoke them not: for I wyl not geue you one fote bredth of their londe. Gen. 36. Mal. 1. a For mount Seir haue I geuen to the children of Esau to possesse. Ye shal bye meate of them for moneye, that ye maye eate. And water shal ye bye of them for money, that ye maye drynke. For the LORDE thy God hath blessed the in all the workes of thy hondes. He hath considered thy iourneyes thorow this greate wyldernesse: and this fortye yeares hath the LORDE thy God bene with the, so that thou hast wanted nothinge.

Now whan we were departed from or brethren the children of Esau, that dwelt vpon mount Seir, by the waye of the felde from Elath & Ezeon gaber, we turned vs, & wente by the waye of the wyldernesse of ye Moabites. Then sayde the LORDE vnto me: Iudic. 3. Thou shalt not vexe the Moabites, ner prouoke thē vnto battayll, for I wil not geue the of their londe to possesse. For Ar haue I geuen vnto the children of Lot in possession. Gen. 14. The Emims dwelt there before tyme, which were a greate stronge people, & hye of stature, as the Enakims: and were taken for giauntes, like as ye Enakims. And ye Moabites called them Emims. Gen. 36. The Horites also dwelt in Seir afore tyme, & ye children of Esau droue them out, and destroyed them before them, & dwelt in their steade: like as Israel dyd in ye lōde of his possession, that the LORDE gaue them.

Get you vp now, & go ouer the ryuer Sared. And we wente ouer. The tyme that we were goinge frō Cades Barnea, tyll we came ouer the ryuer Sared, was eight & thirtye yeares: tyll all the men of warre were waysted out of the hoost, Nu. 14. c and 26. as the LORDE sware vnto them. The hande of the LORDE also was agaynst them, to destroye thē out of the hoost, tyll they were consumed.

And whan all the men of warre were cō sumed, so yt they were deed amonge the people, the LORDE spake vnto me, and sayde: This daie shalt thou go thorow the coast of ye Moabites by Ar, & shalt come nye vnto ye children of Ammon, dic. 11. f whom thou shalt not vexe ner prouoke. For I wyll not geue the of the lōde of the childrē of Ammon to possesse, for I haue geuē it vnto the childrē of Lot in possession. It was takē for a lōde of giauntes also, & giauntes dwelt therin afore tyme. And ye Ammonites calle thē Samsumims, which was a people that was greate, many, and of hye stature, as the Enakims.

And these ye LORDE destroyed before thē, and let them possesse the same, so that they dwelt in their steade. en. 36. d Like as he dyd with the childrē of Esau, which dwell vpō mount Seir, whan he destroyed the Horites before them: and let them possesse the same, so that they haue dwelt in their steade vnto this daye. And the Caphthorims came out of Caphther, and destroyed ye Auims (yt dwelt at Hazarim euen vnto Gaza) & there dwelt they in their steade.

Get you vp now, and departe, and go ouer the ryuer Arnon. Beholde, I haue geuē Sihon ye kynge of the Amorites at Heszbon in to thy hande: go to and conquere, and prouoke him vnto battayll. This daye wyll I begynne, so that all naciōs vnder all the heauen, shal feare & drede ye: In so moch yt whā they heare of the, they shal tremble and quake for thy commynge.

Then sent I messaungers from ye wyldernesse of the East vnto Sihon the kynge at Heszbon eu. 20. b wt peaceble wordes, um. 21. c and caused to saye vnto him: I wil go but thorow ye lōde, I wil go a longe by the hye waye, I wil nether turne to the righte hāde ner to ye lefte. Thou shalt sell me meate for money, that I maye eate: & water shalt thou sell me for money, that I maye drinke. Onely let me go thorow by fote, 〈◊〉 . 20. c as the children of Esau (which dwell at Seir) dyd vnto me: and the Moabites that dwell at Ar: vntyll I be come ouer Iordane, in to the londe which the LORDE oure God shal geue vnto vs.

But Sihon the kynge at Heszbon wolde not let vs go by him: for the LORDE yi God herdened his mynde, & made his hert tough that he mighte delyuer him in to thy hādes, as it is come to passe this daye.

And ye LORDE sayde vnto me: Beholde, I haue begonne to delyuer Sihon with his londe before the: go to and cōquere, and possesse his lōde. 〈…〉 And Sihō came out wt all his people to fight agaynst vs at Iahza. But the LORDE oure God delyuered him in to oure handes, so that we smote him with his children and all his people.

Then toke we all his cities at the same tyme, and destroyed vtterly all the cities, men, wemen, and children, and let none remayne: saue the catell, which we caught to oure selues, & the spoyle of the cities that we wanne from Aroer, which lyeth vpon the ryuer syde of Arnon, and from the cite on the ryuer vnto Gilead. There was no cite that coulde defende it selfe from vs: the LORDE oure God delyuered vs all before vs. 〈…〉 But vnto the londe of the children of Ammon thou camest not, ner to all that was on the ryuer Iabok, ner to ye cities vpō ye mountaines, ner vnto what so euer the LORDE oure God forbad vs.

The III. Chapter.

ANd we turned vs, & wente vp ye waie vnto Basan. 〈…〉 And Og ye kynge of Basan, came out wt all his people to fight agaynst vs at Edrei. But the LORDE sayde vnto me: Be not afrayed of him, for I haue delyuered him & all his people wt his londe in to thy hande: & thou shalt do wt him, as thou dyddest wt Sihon kynge of ye Amorites, which dwelt at Heszbon. 〈…〉 Thus ye LORDE oure God delyuered Og ye kynge of Basan in to oure handes also with all his people: so that we smote him, tyll there was nothinge left ouer vnto him.

Then wanne we at the same tyme all his cities, & there was not one cite that we toke not from him, euen thre score cities, the whole region of Argob in the kyngdome of Og at Basan. All these cities were strōge, with hye walles, gates, and barres, besyde many other vnwalled townes.

And we vtterly destroyed them, as we dyd with Sihon the kynge at Heszbon. Deu. 〈…〉 All the cities destroyed we vtterly, and the men, wemen, and children. But all the catell and spoyle of the cities caughte we for oure selues.

Thus toke we at the same tyme the londe out of the honde of the two kynges of the Amorites beyonde Iordane, from the ryuer of Arnon vnto mount Hermon (which the Sidons call Sirion, but the Amorites call it Senir) all the cities vpon the playne, and all Gilead, and all Basan vnto Salcha and Edrei, the cities of the kyngdome of Og at Basan. For onely Og the kynge of Basan remayned ouer of the giauntes. Beholde, his yron bed is here at Rabath amonge the children of Ammon, nyne cubites longe, and foure cubites brode, after the cubite of a man.

This londe conquered we at the same tyme, from Aroer that lyeth on ye ryuer of Arnon. 〈◊〉 . 32 f 〈◊〉 29. b 〈◊〉 1 a And vnto the Rubenites and Gaddites I gaue halfe mount Gilead with the cities therof: but ye remnaunt of Gilead, & all Basan the kyngdome of Og, gaue I vnto the halfe trybe of Manasse. The whole region of Argob with all Basan was called the giauntes londe.

Iair the sonne of Manasse toke all the region of Argob vnto the coastes of Gessuri and Maachati, and Basan called he Hauoth Iair after his awne name, vnto this daye: But vnto Machir I gaue Gilead. And vnto the Rubenites and Gaddites I gaue one parte of Gilead vnto the ryuer of Arnon (at the myddes of the ryuer is ye border) and vnto the ryuer Iabok, which is the border of the children of Ammon: the felde also, and Iordane (which is the coaste) from Cinereth vnto the see in the felde, namely, ye Salt see vnder mount Pisga, Eastwarde.

〈…〉 And I commaunded you at the same tyme, and sayde: The LORDE youre God hath geuen you this londe to take possession of it, Go youre waye forth therfore harnessed before youre brethren the children of Israel, all ye that be mete for the warre. As for youre wyues, and children and catell (for I knowe that ye haue moch catell) let them remayne in youre cities, which I haue geuen you, vntyl the LORDE youre God haue broughte yor brethren to rest also as well as you, that they also maye take possession of the londe, which ye LORDE youre God shal geue thē beyonde Iordane: and then shal ye turne agayne to youre awne possession, which I haue geuen you.

〈…〉 And I warned Iosua at the same tyme, and sayde: Thine eyes haue sene all that the LORDE youre God hath done vnto these two kynges: euē so shal the LORDE do also vnto all ye kyngdomes whither thou goest. Feare them not, for the LORDE youre God shal fighte for you.

And I besoughte the LORDE at the same tyme, & sayde: O LORDE LORDE, thou hast begonne to shewe ye seruaunte thy greatnesse and thy mightie hāde. For where is there a God in heauen & earth, that can do after ye workes and after thy power? O let me go & se yt good londe beyonde Iordane, yt goodly hye countre, and Libanus.

But the LORDE was angrie with me for youre sakes, and wolde not heare me, Deu. 1. f and 4. c but sayde vnto me: Be content, speake nomore to me of this matter. Nu. 27. c Get the vp to the toppe of mount Pisga, and lifte vp thine eyes towarde the west, and towarde the north, and towarde the south, and towarde ye east: and beholde it with thine eies, for thou shalt not go ouer this Iordane. And geue Iosua his charge, and corage him, and bolde him, for he shal go ouer Iordane before the people, Nu 4. c Iosu. 14. a and shal deuyde vnto them the londe, that thou shalt se. Nu. 25. a And so we abode in the valley ouer agaynst the house of Peor.

The IIII. Chapter.

ANd now herken Israel vnto the ordinaūces and lawes, which I teach you that ye do them, yt ye maye lyue, and come in, & take possession of the londe, which the LORDE God of yor fathers geueth vnto you. Deut. 12· d Iosu. 23. b Pro 30. a Ye shal put nothinge vnto the worde which I commaunde you, nether do oughte there from, that ye maye kepe the commaundementes of the LORDE youre God, which I commaunde you. Youre eyes haue sene what the LORDE hath done wt Baal Peor: all them that walked after Baal Peor, Num. 25. a and 31. c Exo. 3 . f hath the LORDE thy God destroied from amonge you. But ye that cleue vnto the LORDE yor God, are all aliue this daye. Beholde I haue taughte you ordinaūces and lawes, soc as the LORDE my God commaunded me, that ye shulde do euē so in the londe, in to ye which ye shal come, to possesse it.

Kepe them now therfore and do them: Psal. 1 . b for that is youre wyszdome and vnderstondinge in the sight of all nacions, which whā they haue herde all these ordinaunces, shall saye: O what a wyse and vnderstondinge folke is this? and how excellent a people? For where is there so excellent a nacion, that hath goddes so nye him, as the LORDE oure God is nye vnto vs, Psa. 144. as oft as we call vpon him? And where is there so excellent a nacion, that hath so righteous ordinaunces and lawes, as all this lawe which I laye before you this daye.

Take hede to thy selfe now, and kepe well thy soule, that thou forget not the thinges which thine eyes haue sene, and that they departe not out of thy hert all the dayes of thy life. Deut. 6. d And thou shalt teach them thy children and thy childers children, the daye whā thou stodest before the LORDE thy God by mount Horeb, whan the LORDE sayde vnto me: Gather me the people together, that I maye make them heare my wordes, which they shal lerne, that they maye feare me all the dayes of their life vpon earth, Ephe 6. a & that they also maye teach their children.

And ye came nye, & stode vnder ye mount. But the mount burnt euen vnto the myddes of heauen, and there was darknesse, cloudes, and myst. And ye LORDE spake vnto you out of the myddes of the fyre. The voyce of his wordes ye herde, neuerthelesse ye sawe no ymage,1. Ioh. 4. b but herde the voyce onely. Exo. 20. a And he declared vnto you his couenaunt, which he cō maunded you to do, namely, the ten verses, and wrote them vpon two tables of stone. And the LORDE commmaūded me at the same time, to teach you ordinaunces & lawes that ye might do therafter in the londe, in to the which ye go to possesse it.

Kepe well youre soules therfore, for ye sawe no maner of ymage, in the daye whā the LORDE spake vnto you out of the fyre vpon mount Horeb, Deut. 3. a that ye destroye not youre selues, and make you eny ymage, that is like a man, or woman, or beest vpon earth, or fethered foule vnder the heauen, or worme vpon the grounde, or fyszshe in the water vnder ye earth: Deut. 17. b Sap. 13. a Iob. 31. c yt thou lifte not vp thine eyes towarde heauen, and se the Sonne and the Moone & the starres, and the whole hoost of heauē, and be disceaued, and worshippe, and serue them: Gen. 1. b 4. Esd. 6. e Mat. 5. e which the LORDE yi God hath made to serue all naciōs vnder ye whole heauē.

But you hath the LORDE taken, and broughte you out of the yron fornace, Deut. 6 c and. 2. b namely, out of Egipte, that ye shulde be the people of his enheritaunce, as it is come to passe this daye. And the LORDE was angrie with me for youre sakes, Nu. 27. c Deut. 1. f and 3. e so that he sware, yt I shulde not go ouer Iordane, ner come in to that good londe, which the LORDE thy God shall geue the to enheritaunce. As for me, Deu. 34. a I must dye in this londe, and shal not go ouer Iordane: But ye shal go ouer, and shall haue that good lōde in possession.

Take hede therfore vnto youre selues, that ye forget not the conuenaunt of the LORDE youre God, and that ye make no ymages of eny maner of faszhion Exe. 20. a as the LORDE thy God hath commaunded. For the LORDE thy God is a consumynge fyre and a gelous God. Heb. 12. d

Yf whan ye haue begotten children, and childers children, and haue dwelt in the londe, ye marre youre selues, Deut. . d ere. 16. b & make you ymages of eny maner of faszhion, and do euell in the sighte of ye LORDE youre God, to prouoke him: Deut· 30. d nd 3 . g I call heauen and earth to recorde ouer you this daie, that ye shall shortly p rishe frō the londe, in to ye which ye go ouer Iordane to possesse it. Ye shal not dwell longe therin, but shal vtterly be destroyed. And ye LORDE shal scater you amonge ye nacions and ye shall be left a small people amōge ye Heythen, 〈…〉 whyther the LORDE shall brynge you. There shal ye serue goddes, which are ye workes of mens handes, euen wodd & stone, which nether se ner heare, ner eate ner smell.

But yf thou seke the LORDE ye God there thou shalt finde him, 〈…〉 yee yf thou seke him wt thy whole hert and with all ye soule. Whan thou shalt be strately troubled, & whā all these thinges shal come vpō the in ye latter dayes, then shalt thou turne agayne to ye LORDE thy God, and be obedient vnto his voice. For ye LORDE ye God is a mercifull God, he shal not forsake the, ner destroye the: nether shall he forget the couenaunt with thy fathers, 〈…〉 which he sware vnto them.

For axe after the tymes past, which haue bene before the, sens the daie yt God created man vpon earth, from one ende of the heauē vnto the other, whether there was euer eny soch greate thinge done, or eny soch like herde, that a people hath herde ye voyce of God speake out of the fyre (as thou hast herde) & yet liued. Or whether God assaied to go & take vnto him a people out of ye myddes of a nacion, thorow tentacions, thorow tokens, thorow wonders, thorow warre, & thorow a mightie hande, & thorow a stretched out arme, and thorow greate visiōs, acordinge vnto all as the LORDE youre God hath done with you in Egipte before thine eyes.

Thou hast sene it, yt thou mightest knowe that the LORDE is God, 〈…〉 and that there is none other but he onely. 〈1 paragraph〉 Out of heauen made he the to heare his voyce, that he might nurtoure the: and vpon earth he shewed the his greate feare, & out of ye fyre thou herdest his wordes: 〈…〉 because he loued ye fathers, & chose their sede after thē. And he brought yt out wt his presence thorow his mightie power out of Egipte, to dryue out (before the) nacions greater and mighter then thou, and to bringe ye in, yt he might geue the their lōde to enheritaunce, as it is come to passe this daye.

Therfore shalt thou knowe this daye, & turne it into thine herte, 〈…〉 that the LORDE is God aboue in heauen, and beneth vpon earth, and that there is no mo. Kepe his ornaunces therfore and commaundementes, which I commaunde the this daie, thē shal it go well wt the and thy children after the, so that thy life shal longe endure in ye londe, which the LORDE the God geueth the thy life longe.

Then separated Moses thre cities beyonde Iordane, 〈…〉 towarde the Sonne rysinge, yt he might flye thither, which had slayne his neghboure vnawarres, & hated him not a fore tyme, yt he might flye in to one of these cities, & lyue. Bezer in ye wildernes in the playne countre amonge the Rubenites, & Ramoth in Gilead amōge ye Gaddites, & Golan in Basan amonge the Manassites.

This is the lawe which Moses layed before the children of Israel: these are the testimonies, ordinaunces, & lawes, yt Moses spake vnto the children of Israel (after they were departed out of Egipte) beyonde Iordane in the valley ouer agaynst the house of Peor, in ye londe of Sion kynge of ye Amorites which dwelt at Heszbon, 〈…〉 whom Moses & the childrē of Israel smote after they were departed out of Egipte, & conquered his lā de, & the londe of Og kynge of Basan, two kynges of the Amorites which were beyonde Iordane towarde the Sonne rysinge frō Aroer (which lyeth vpon ye ryuer syde of Arnon) vnto mount Sion, which is Hermon: & all ye playne felde beyonde Iordane eastwarde vnto the see in ye plaine felde vnder mount Pisga.

The V. Chapter.

ANd Moses called all Israel, & sayde vnto thē: Heare Israel the ordinaunces & lawes which I speake in yor eares this daye: lerne them, & kepe thē so, that ye do therafter. 〈◊〉 . 19. a The LORDE oure God made a couenaunt with vs at Horeb: he made not this couenaunt with oure fathers, but with vs, that are here this daie, and lyue euery one. He talked with vs face to face out of the fyre vpō the mount. I stode at the same tyme betwixte the LORDE and you, that I mighte shewe you the worde of the LORDE. For ye were afrayed of the fyre, & wente not vp to the mount, and he sayde:

〈…〉 . a I am the LORDE thy God, which haue brought the out of the londe of Egipte, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt haue none other goddes in my sighte. 〈◊〉 . 4. c Thou shalt make the no grauen ymage of eny maner of licknesse of the thinges yt are aboue in heauen, & beneth vpon earth, & in the water vnder the earth. Thou shalt not honor them, ner serue thē. 〈◊〉 . 34. a 〈◊〉 1. a For I ye LORDE ye God am a gelous God, vysitinge the synne of the fathers vpō the children, vnto the thirde and fourth generacion, of thē yt hate me: & shewe mercye vpon many thousandes yt loue me, and kepe my commaundementes.

Thou shalt not take ye name of ye LORDE ye God in vayne: Leu. 24. for ye LORDE shal not holde him vngiltie, yt taketh his name in vaine.

Kepe ye Sabbath daye, Exo. •• . b that thou sanctifye it, as the LORDE thy God hath commaū ded the. Sixe daies shalt thou laboure, and do all thy worke, but vpon the seuenth daye it is the Sabbath of the LORDE thy God: No maner worke shalt thou do in it, thou, and thy sonne, and thy doughter, and thy seruaunt, and thy mayde, and thine oxe, and thine Asse, and all thy catell, and the straunger which is within thy gates, that thy seruaunt and thy mayde maye rest as well as thou. For thou shalt remēbre, that thou thyself also wast a seruaunte in the londe of Egipte, and how that the LORDE thy God brought the out from thence with a mightye hande, and a stretched out arme. Therfore hath the LORDE ye God commaunded yt to kepe the Sabbath daye.

Honoure thy father and thy mother, Exo. 21. b Mat. 5. a Ephe. 6. a as the LORDE thy God hath commaunded the that thou mayest lyue longe vpō earth, and that it maye go well with the in the londe, which the LORDE thy God shall geue the.

Math. 5. c Rom. 13. b Thou shalt not kyll.

Thou shalt not breake wedlocke.

Thou shalt not steale.

Thou shalt beare no false witnes against thy neghboure.

Thou shalt not Rom. 7. b and 13 b lust after ye neghbours wyfe.

Thou shalt not lust after thy neghbours house, londe, seruaunt, mayde, oxe, Asse, or what so euer he hath.

These are the wordes that the LORDE spake to all youre congregacion, vpon the mount out of the fyre of the cloude and darknesse with a greate voyce, and added nothinge therto. Exo. 1. And he wrote them vpon two tables of stone, and delyuered thē vnto me.

But whan ye herde the voyce out of the darknes, and sawe the mount burne wt fyre, ye came vnto me all ye rulers amonge youre trybes, and youre Elders and sayde: Beholde, the LORDE oure God hath shewed vs his glory & his greatnes, and we haue herde his voyce out of ye fyre. This daye haue we sene, that God maie talke with a man, and he yet lyue. And now wherfore shulde we dye, that this fire shulde cōsume vs. Yf we shulde heare the voyce of the LORDE oure God eny more, we shulde dye. For what is all fleshe, that it shulde be able to heare ye voyce of the lyuynge God speakynge out of ye fyre, as we haue done, and yet lyue? Go thou and heare all yt the LORDE oure God sayeth, and tell us. xo. 19. b All yt the LORDE sayeth vnto the, that will we heare and do. Whan the LORDE herde the voyce of yor wordes which ye spake vnto me, he sayde vnto me: I haue herde ye voyce of the wordes of this people, which they haue spoken vnto ye. It is all good that they haue spoken. er. 24. b and 31. f But who shal geue them soch an herte, yt they maye feare me, & kepe all my cōmaundementes as longe as they lyue, yt it maye go well with them, and with their childrē for euer? Go & saye vnto them: Get you in to yor tentes agayne. But thou shalt stonde here before me, that I maye tell the all the commaundementes, and ordinaū ces and lawes which thou shalt teach them yt they maye do therafter in the lōde, which I shal geue thē to possesse. Take hede now therfore that ye do, as the LORDE yor God hath commaunded you, Deut. 17. c and turne not asyde nether to ye right hande ner to the lef e: but walke in all ye wayes which the LORDE youre God hath commaunded you, that ye maie lyue, and that it maie go well with you, and yt ye maye lyue longe in ye londe which ye shall haue in possession.

The VI. Chapter.

THese are the commaundementes, ordinaunces & lawes which ye LORDE yor God hath cōmaunded, yt ye shulde lerne them, & do them, in the londe whyther ye go to possesse it, Deut. 10. c that thou mayest feare the LORDE ye God, & kepe all his ordinaūces & commaundementes, which I commaunde the, thou and ye children, and ye childers children all ye dayes of youre life, that ye maye lyue lōge. Thou shalt heare (O Israel) & take hede, yt thou do therafter, yt it maye go well with ye, & that thou mayest multiplye greatly, as ye LORDE God of ye fathers hath promysed the a londe yt floweth wt mylke & hony. Heare O Israel, the LORDE oure God is one LORDE onely. And thou shalt loue the LORDE thy God wt all thy hart, Mat. 22. d Mat. 12 c Luc. 10. c with all ye soule, & with all thy mighte. Deut. 11. c And these wordes, which I commaūde the this daie, shalt thou take to hert, & shalt whet them vpon ye children, and shalt talke of them, whā thou syttest in thyne house, & whan thou walkest by the waie: whan thou lyest downe, & whā thou rysest vp. And thou shalt bynde them for a signe vpon thine hande, and they shall be a token of remēbraunce before thine eyes, and thou shalt wryte them vpon the postes of thine house, and vpon thy gates.

Now whan ye LORDE ye God shal bringe the in to ye londe wherof he sware vnto ye fathers Abraham, Isaac, & Iacob, and shal geue the greate & goodly cities, which thou hast not buylded: and houses full of all goodes, which thou hast not filled: & digged welles which thou hast not digged: and vynyardes and olyue trees, which thou hast not plā ted, so yt thou eatest and art full: then bewarre that thou forget not the LORDE, which brought the out of the londe of Egipte, frō the house of bondage: 〈…〉 but thou shalt feare the LORDE thy God, and him onely shalt thou serue, and sweare by his name. 〈…〉 And ye shal not folowe the other goddes of the nacions which are aboute you (for the LORDE thy God is a gelous God in the myddest of the) that the wrath of the LORDE thy God waxe not whote ouer the, 〈…〉 and destroye the from the earth.

Ye shal not tempte ye LORDE youre God, 〈…〉 〈1 paragraph〉 as ye tempted him at Massa: but kepe the commaundementes of the LORDE yor God, and his witnesses, & his ordinaunces, which he hath commaunded the, that thou mayest do that which is right & good in ye sighte of the LORDE, yt thou mayest prospere, and yt thou mayest go in & conquere that good londe, which the LORDE sware vnto ye fathers, that he maye chace out all thine enemies before the, as the LORDE hath sayde.

Now whan thy sonne axeth the todaye or tomorow, and sayeth: 〈…〉 What meane these witnesses, ordinaunces and lawes, that the LORDE oure God hath comaunded you? Then shalt thou saye vnto thy sonne: We were Pharaos bondmen in Egipte, and the LORDE brought vs out of Egipte with a mightie hande, and the LORDE did greate & euell tokens & wonders in Egipte vpō Pharao and all his house before oure eyes, and brought vs from thence, to bringe vs in and to geue vs ye londe, that he sware vnto oure fathers. And therfore hath the LORDE commaunded vs to do acordinge vnto all these ordinaunces, that we might feare the LORDE oure God, that we might prospere all the dayes of oure life, as it is come to passe this daye. And it shall be righteousnes vnto vs before the LORDE oure God, yf we kepe and do all these commaundementes, as he hath commaunded vs.

The VII. Chapter.

WHan ye LORDE ye God bringeth the in to ye londe where in to thou shalt come to possesse it, & roteth out manacions before the: the Hethites, Girgo ites Amorites, Cananites, Pheresites, He ites, and Iebusites, seuē nacions which are greater and mightier then thou: 〈…〉 and whan the LORDE thy God delyuereth thē before ye, that thou mayest smyte them, thou shalt vtterly destroye them, so that thou make no couenaunt with them, nor shewe them fauoure, and shalt make no mariages with them: Ye shall not geue youre doughters vnto their sonnes, ner take their doughters vnto youre sonnes. 〈…〉 For they will make youre sonnes departe fro me, to serue straunge goddes: then shall the wrath of the LORDE waxe whote vpon you, and destroye you shortly.

〈◊〉 4. b 〈◊〉 33. f But thus shal ye do with them: Ye shal ouerthrowe their altares, breake downe their pilers, cut downe their groues, & burne their ymages with fyre. For thou art an holy people vnto the LORDE thy God. 〈…〉 The hath the LORDE thy God chosen, that thou shuldest be his awne peculier people, from amonge all nacions that are vpon the earth.

It was not because of the multitude of you aboue all nacions that ye LORDE had lust vnto you and chose you. (For ye were the leest amonge all nacions) but because he loued you, and that he mighte kepe the ooth, 〈…〉 which he sware vnto youre fathers, he broughte you out with a mightie hāde, and delyuered you frō the house of bondage, out of the hande of Pharao kynge of Egipte.

Thou shalt vnderstonde now therfore, that the LORDE thy God is a mightie and true God, which kepeth couenaunt and mercy vnto them that loue him, 〈◊〉 20. a 〈◊〉 4. a and kepe his cō maundementes, euen thorow out a thousande generacions: And rewardeth them that hate him, before his face, that he maye destroye them: and wyll not be longe in tarienge to rewarde them (before his face) that hate him. Kepe now therfore the commaundementes, and ordinaunces and lawes, which I commaunde the this daye, that thou do therafter.

And yf ye shall heare these lawes and kepe them, 〈◊〉 . 23. c 〈◊〉 . 26. a 〈◊〉 . 2 . a and do therafter, then shal the LORDE thy God also kepe the couenaunt and mercy with the, which he sware vnto thy fathers: and shal loue the, blesse the, and multiplye the: he shal blesse the frute of ye wombe, and the frute of thy londe, thy corne, wyne and oyle, the frute of thy kyne, and the frute of thy shepe, in the londe that he sware vnto ye fathers to geue the. Blessed shalt thou be aboue all nacions, there shal no vnfrutefull personne be in the, ner amonge thy catell. The LORDE shall put from the all maner of dysease, and shal brynge vpon the none of ye euell sicknesses of Egipte, Exo. . which thou hast sene, but shall put them vpon all those that hate the.

Thou shalt brynge to naught all the nacions, which the LORDE thy God shal delyuer the. Thine eye shall not spare them, and their goddes shalt thou not serue, for that shalbe thy decaye. Yf thou shalt saye in thyne hert: These naciōs are mo then I, how cā I dryue them out? Feare them not. Deu. •• . a Iosu. . a Remembre what the LORDE thy God did vnto Pharao and to all the Egipcians, thorow greate tentacions (which thou hast sene with thine eyes) thorow tokens and wōders, thorow a mightie hande and a stretched out arme, wherwith the LORDE thy God brought the out. Euen so shall the LORDE thy God do vnto all ye nacions of whō thou art afrayed.

The LORDE ye God also shal sende hornettes amonge them, Exo. 23. d and 33. a Ios. 24 c vntyll they that remayne and hyde them selues from the, be destroyed. Be not thou afrayed of them: for the LORDE thy God is in the myddes of the, euen the mightie and fearfull God. He (euen the LORDE thy God) shall rote out the nacions before the by litle and litle. Thou canst no consume them at one time, Exo. 23. d yt the beestes of the felde increase not vpon the. The LORDE thy God shall delyuer them before the, and shall smite them with a greate slaughter, tyll they be destroyed. And he shal delyuer their kynges in to thine hāde, Ios. 10.11.12 and thou shalt destroie their names from vnder heauen. There shal no man make the resistaunce before the, vntyll thou haue destroyed them.

The ymages of their goddes shalt thou burne with fyre, Deut. 13 c & shalt not desyre the syluer or golde that is on them Ios. 7. a . Ma. 12. f or to take it vnto the, that thou snare not thy self therin: for it is abhominacion vnto the LORDE ye God. Therfore shalt thou not brynge the abhominacion in to thine house, yt thou be not damned as it is, but shalt vtterly defye it, and abhorre it, for it is damned.

The VIII. Chapter.

ALl the commaundementes which I commaunde ye this daye, shal ye kepe, so yt ye do therafter, that ye maye lyue and multiplye, and come in, and take possession of the lande, which ye LORDE sware vnto youre fathers: and thynke vpon all ye waie thorow the which the LORDE thy God hath led the this fortye yeares in the wyldernesse, Deut. 13. a Iud. 2. d and 3. a that he mighte chasten the, and proue the, to wete whath were in thyne herte, whether thou woldest kepe his comaundemētes or no. He chastened the, and let the hunger, and fed the with Manna (which thou and thy fathers knewe not) to make the knowe, Exo. 16. d Num. 11. b that Mat. 4. a Luc. 4. a man lyueth not by bred onely, but by all that proceadeth out of the mouth of the LORDE. Thy clothes are not waxed olde vpon the, Deut. 29. a and thy fete are not swollē this fortye yeare.

Vnderstonde therfore in thine hert, that as a man nurtoureth his sonne, euen so hath the LORDE thy God nurtured the. Kepe therfore the commaundementes of the LORDE thy God, that thou walke in his wayes, and feare him. For the LORDE thy God bryngeth the in to a good londe: A londe where in are ryuers of water, Deut. 11. b fountaynes and sprynges, which flowe by the hilles and valleys: A londe wherin is wheate, barlye, vines, fygge trees, and pomgranates: A londe wherin growe Olyue trees and honye: A londe where thou shalt not eate bred in scarcenes, and where thou shalt lacke nothinge: A lōde where ye stones are yron, Iob 28. a where thou shalt dygge brasse out of hilles: Nu. 13 b 1. Co. 10. a 1. Tim. 4. a That whā thou hast eaten and art fylled, thou mayest praise the LORDE thy God, for that good londe, which he hath geuen the.

Bewarre now therfore, that thou forget not the LORDE thy God, that thou woldest not kepe his commaundementes, and his ordinaunces, and lawes, which I commaunde the this daye: that (whan thou hast eaten & art fylled, and hast buylded goodly houses, & dwellest therin, and whan thy beestes and shepe, and syluer, and golde, and all yt thou hast, increaseth) thine hert ryse not then, and thou forget the LORDE thy God (which brought the out of the londe of Egipte, Deut. 31. c Prou. 30. a frō ye house of bondage, and led ye thorow this greate & terrible wyldernes, where were serpentes that spouted fyre, Num. 21. a and Scorpions, & drouth, and where there was no water, and brought the water out of the hard flynte, and fed the in the wyldernesse with Manna wherof ye fathers knewe not, that he might chasten the, and proue the) to do the good afterwarde) and lest thou saye in thine hert: . Reg. 2. b My power and the mighte of myne awne hande hath done me all this good: But that thou thynke vpon the LORDE thy God. For it is HE, Eze. 36. c Phil. 2. b which geueth the power to exercyse strength, that he maye perfourme the couenaunt, which he sware vnto thy fathers, as it is come to passe this daye.

But yf thou shalt forget the LORDE thy God, Deut. 4. d and folowe other goddes, and serue them, and worshipe thē, I testifye ouer you this daye, that ye shal vtterly perishe. Euen as the Heythen whom ye LORDE destroyeth before youre face, so shall ye perishe also, because ye are not obedient vnto the voyce of the LORDE youre God.

The IX. Chapter.

HEare O Israel, This daie shalt thou go ouer Iordane, that thou maiest come in to conquere the nacions, which are greater and mightier then thou, 〈…〉 greate cities, walled vp vnto heauen, a greate people and of an hye stature, namely the childrē of Enakim, whom thou hast knowne, and of whom thou hast herde saye: Who is able to stonde agaynst the children of Enakim? Therfore shalt thou knowe this daye, that the LORDE ye God goeth before the, a cō sumynge fyre. He shal destroye thē, and shal subdue them before the, and shal driue them out, & shortly shall he brynge thē to naught, as the LORDE hath promysed the.

Now whan the LORDE thy God hath expelled them out before the, saye not thou thē in thine hert: The LORDE hath brought me in to take possession of this lande for myne awne righteousnes sake, where as ye LORDE yet dryueth out the Heithen before the, because of their vngodlynes. 〈…〉

For thou commest not in to take their londe in possession, for thine awne righteousnes sake, and because of thy right hert: but the LORDE dryueth out these Heythen, for their awne vngodlynesse sake, and that he maye perfourme the worde, which the LORDE hath sworne vnto ye fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob.

Vnderstonde now therfore, that the LORDE ye God geueth not the this londe to possesse it, for thine awne righteousnes sake. For thou art a styffnecked people.

Remembre and forget not, how thou displeasedest the LORDE thy God in the wildernesse. Sence ye daye that thou departedst out of the londe of Egipte, tyll ye came vnto this place, haue ye bene dishobedient vnto the LORDE.

For in Horeb ye angred the LORDE, 〈…〉 so that of wrath he wolde haue destroyed you, whan I was gone vp to ye mount, to receaue the tables of stone, namely the tables of the couenaunt 〈…〉 which the LORDE made wt you, and I abode fortye dayes & fortye nightes vpon the mount, and ate no bred, & dranke no water: and the LORDE gaue me ye two tables of stone, wrytten with the fynger of God, and in them was acordinge to all the wordes, 〈…〉 which the LORDE sayde vnto you vpon the mount out of the fyre, in the daye of the gatheringe together.

And after the fortye dayes and fortye nightes, 〈◊〉 . 1. d ye LORDE gaue me ye two tables of stone, namely ye tables of the couenaunt, and sayde vnto me: 〈◊〉 2. b vp, & get ye downe quyckly from hence, for thy people whom thou broughtest out of Egipte, haue marred thē selues, they are soone gone out of the waye, which I commaunded them, and haue made them a molten ymage.

And the LORDE saide vnto me: I se this people, that it is a styffnecked people: let me alone, that I maye destroye them, and put out their name from vnder heauē. I wyl make of the a people mightier and greater thē this is.

〈…〉 And as I turned me, & wente downe frō the mount which brent wt fyre, & had ye two tables of the couenaunt in both my hādes, I loked, & beholde, ye had synned agaynst ye LORDE yor God, so yt ye had made you a molten calfe, & were soone turned out of ye waie which the LORDE had commaunded you. Then toke I the two tables, & cast them out of both my handes, & brake thē before youre eyes, & I fell before the LORDE 〈◊〉 34. d 〈◊〉 4. d (euen as at the first tyme) fortye dayes & fortye nightes, & nether ate bred, ner drāke water, because of all youre synnes which ye had synned, whan ye dyd soch euell in the sighte of the LORDE, to prouoke him vnto wrath. For I was afrayed of the wrath and indignacion, wherwith the LORDE was angrie wt you, euen to haue destroyed you. And the LORDE herde me at that tyme also. 〈◊〉 . 1 . b

Morouer the LORDE was very angrie wt Aaron, so that he wolde haue destroyed him, but I made intercession for Aaron also at ye same tyme. As for youre synne (namely, the calfe that ye had made) I toke it, 〈…〉 and burnt it with the fyre, and smote it a sunder, & grynde it in peces, euen vnto dust, and cast the dust in to the broke that descended from the mount.

Ye displeased the LORDE also, 〈◊〉 . 11. a at Tabera, 〈◊〉 . 17. b and at Massa, 〈◊〉 11. g and at the lustgraues, 〈◊〉 . 13. d and whā he sent you from Cades Barnea, and sayde: Go vp, and conquere the londe which I haue geuen you. And ye were disobedient vnto the mouth of the LORDE youre God, and beleued not on him, and herkened not vnto his voyce: 〈◊〉 . 7. f for ye haue bene disobediēt vnto the LORDE, as longe as I haue knowne you.

Thē fell I before ye LORDE fortye daies and fortye nightes, which I laye there. For ye LORDE sayde, he wolde destroye you. But I made intercession vnto the LORDE, and sayde: O LORDE LORDE, Exo. 4. a Nu. 4. b Iosu. 7. b destroye not ye people and thine enheritaunce, which thou thorow thy greate power hast delyuered, and broughte out of Egipte with a mightie hā de. Remembre thy seruauntes Abraham, Isaac and Iacob. Loke not vpon the stubburnesse, and vngodlynesse and synne of this people (that the londe wherout thou hast broughte vs, saye not: The LORDE was not able to bringe them in to the lande, that he promysed them, and because he hated them, therfore hath he broughte them out, to destroye thē in the wyldernesse:) For they are thy people & thine enheritaunce, which thou hast broughte out wt thy greate power, and with thy stretched out arme.

The X. Chapter.

AT the same tyme sayde the LORDE vnto me: Exo. 34. a Hew ye two tables of stone like vnto the first, and come vp vnto me in to the mount, and make yt an Arke of wod, and in the tables I wyll wryte the wordes, that were in the first, Exo. 32. Deut. 9 which thou brakest, and thou shalt laye them in the Arke. So I made an Arke of Fyrre tre, and hewed two tables of stone (like as the first were) & wente vp into the mount, and ye two tables were in my hande.

Then wrote he in ye tables (acordinge as the first wrytinge was) the ten verses, Exo. 4. d and 24. c which the LORDE spake vnto you out of the fyre vpon the mountayne, at the tyme of the gatheringe together. And the LORDE gaue thē vnto me. And I turned me, & wente downe from the mount, and layed the tables in the Arke which I had made, Deu. 31. f that they mighte be there, as the LORDE commaunded me.

And the childrē of Israel departed from Beroth & Bne Ia kan vnto Mosera (there Nu. 20. d dyed Aaron, & there was he buried: Nu. 33. d & Eleasar his sonne became prest in his steade.) Frō thence they departed from Gadgad. From Gadgad to Iathbath, a londe of ryuers of water. Nu. .4.1 At the same season the LORDE separated out the trybe of Leui, to beare the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt, and to stonde before the LORDE, to mynister vnto him, and to prayse his name vnto this daye. Nu. 18. a Iosu. 13. d Therfore shal the Leuites haue no porcion ner enheritaunce with their brethren: for the LORDE is their enheritaunce, as the LORDE thy God hath promysed them.

But I taried vpō the mount (like as afore) euen fortye dayes and fortye nightes, Deut. 9. d and the LORDE herde me at that tyme also, and wolde not destroye the. But he sayde vnto me: Vp, & get the forth, yt thou mayest go before the people, yt they maye come in, and cō quere the lōde, which I sware vnto their fathers to geue them.

Now Israel, what requyreth the LORDE thy God of the, Deut. . a Iosu. 22. a but yt thou feare the LORDE thy God, and that thou walke in all his wayes, & loue him, & serue the LORDE ye God with all thy hert, & with all thy soule: and yt thou kepe the cōmaundementes of ye LORDE, & his ordinaunces, which I cōmaunde the this daye, yt thou mayest prospere? Beholde, Psal. 25. a Iere. 27. a the heauen & the heauen of all heauēs and the earth, and all yt is therin, is ye LORDES ye God. Deu. 4. f Yeth hath he had a pleasure vnto ye fathers, to loue thē: and hath chosen their sede after thē, namely you, aboue all nacions, as it is come to passe this daye.

Circumcyse therfore ye foreszkynne of yor hert, Deu. 0. b & be nomore styffnecked. For the LORDE yor God is God of all goddes, & LORDE ouer all lordes, a greate God, mightie & terryble, which regardeth no personne, & taketh no giftes, and doeth righte vnto the fatherlesse and wedowe, and loueth the straunger, to geue him fode & rayment. Exod. 22. c Therfore shal ye loue a straūger, for ye youre selues also were straungers in the londe of Egipte.

Thou shalt feare the LORDE thy God, him onely shalt thou serue, Deut. 6. c vnto him shalt thou cleue Matth. . d & sweare by his name. He is thy prayse & ye God, which hath done for ye these greate & terryble thinges, yt thine eyes haue sene. Gen. 46. d Thy fathers wēte downe in to Egipte wt seuentye soules, but now hath ye LORDE thy God made the Gene. 15. a Deut. •• g as ye starres of heauen in multitude.

The XI. Chapter.

THerfore shalt thou loue the LORDE ye God, & kepe his cōmaundemētes, his ordinaunces, his lawes, & his preceptes all ye life lōge. And vnderstōde this daye, that which youre childrē knowe not: Which haue not sene the nurtoure of the LORDE yor God, & his greatnesse, & his mightie hande, & his stretched out arme, & his tokens and actes which he dyd amonge the Egipciās, vnto Pharao the kynge of Egipte, & to all his londe, & what he dyd to the power of ye Egipcians, & vnto their horses & charettes, whan he broughte the waters of the reed see vpō them, Exo. 14 f as they folowed after you, & how ye LORDE hath broughte them to naught vnto this daye: & what he dyd vnto you in the wildernesse, vntyll ye came vnto this place: Num. 16. c and 26. b what he dyd vnto Dathan and Abiram the children of Eliab the sonne of Ruben, how the earth opened hir mouth and swalowed them with their housholdes & tētes all their good that they had in the myddes amonge all Israel.

For youre eyes haue sene the greate workes of ye LORDE, which he hath done. Therfore shal ye kepe all the commaundementes which I commaunde you this daye, that ye maye be stronge to come in, and to conquere the londe, whither ye go to possesse it, & that ye maye lyue longe in the londe, 〈…〉 which the LORDE sware vnto youre fathers, to geue vnto them and to their sede, euē a londe that floweth with mylke and hony: For the londe whither thou commest in, to possesse it, is not as the londe of Egipte, whence ye came out, where thou sowedest thy sede, and waterdest it at thy fote as a garden of herbes: but it hath hilles and valleys, 〈…〉 which drynke water of the rayne of heauen, a londe that the LORDE thy God careth for. And the eyes of the LORDE thy God are allwaye therin from the begynnynge of the yeare vnto the ende,

Yf ye shal herken therfore vnto my commaundementes, which I commaunde you this daye, yt ye loue the LORDE youre God, and serue him, with all youre hert and with all youre soule 〈…〉 then wyl I geue rayne vnto youre lōde in due season, early and late, that thou mayest gather in thy corne, thy wyne and thine oyle: and I wyll geue grasse vpon thy felde for thy catell, that ye maye eate & be fylled.

But bewarre, yt youre hert be not disceaued, that ye go asyde, & serue other goddes, & worshipe them, and then the wrath of the LORDE waxe whote vpō you, 〈…〉 and he shut vp the heauē, that there come no rayne, and the earth geue not hir increase, & ye perishe shortly from the good lōde, which the LORDE hath geuen you.

Put vp therfore these my wordes in youre hertes and in youre soules, 〈…〉 and bynde thē for a signe vpon youre handes, yt they maye be a token of remembraunce before yor eyes: and teach them youre children, so that thou talke therof, whan thou syttest in thine house, or walkest by the waye: whan thou lyest downe, and whan thou rysest vp: and wryte them vpon the postes of thine house, and vpon thy gates, that thou and thy children maye lyue longe in the londe, which the LORDE sware vnto thy fathers to geue them, as longe as the dayes of heauen endure vpon earth.

For yf ye shal kepe all these commaundementes which I commaunde you, so that ye do therafter, that ye loue the LORDE youre God, and walke in all his wayes, and cleue vnto him, then shall the LORDE dryue out all these nacions before you, so that ye shall cōquere greater and mightier nacions then ye youre selues are.

All the places that the soles of youre fete treade vpon, shalbe yours, from the wyldernes, and fro mount Libanus, and from the water Euphrates vnto ye vttemost see shal youre coastes be. Noman shal be able to wt stonde you. The LORDE youre God shal let the feare and drede of you come vpon all ye londes wherin ye go, like as he hath promysed you.

〈◊〉 0. c Beholde, I laye before you this daye the blessynge and the curse. 〈…〉 The blessynge, yf ye be obedient vnto the commaundementes of the LORDE youre God, which I commaunde you this daye. The curse, yf ye wyl not be obedient to the commaundementes of the LORDE youre God, but turne out of the waye, which I cōmaunde you this daye, so that ye walke after other goddes, whom ye knowe not.

Whan ye LORDE ye God hath broughte the in to the londe, whither thou commest in to possesse it, 〈◊〉 27. b then shalt thou geue the blessynge vpon mount Grisim, and the curse vpon mount Ebal, which are beyonde Iordane the waye towarde the goinge downe of the Sonne, in the lōde of the Cananites, which dwell in ye playne felde ouer agaynst Gilgal, besyde the Oke groue of More. For ye shal go ouer Iordane, that ye maye come in to take possession of the londe, which the LORDE youre God hath geuen you, to conquere it, and to dwell therin. Take hede now therfore, that ye do acordinge vnto all the ordinaunces and lawes, which I laye before you this daye.

The XII. Chapter.

THese are the ordinaunces and lawes which ye shal kepe, that ye do therafter in the londe, which the LORDE God of thy fathers hath geuen the to possesse, as longe as ye lyue vpon earth. 〈◊〉 . 7. a Destroye all the places, wherin ye Heithen (whō ye shal conquere) haue serued their goddes, whether it be vpō hye mountaynes, vpō hilles, or amonge grene trees. And ouerthrowe their altares, and breake downe their pilers, and burne their groues with fyre, and hewe downe the ymages of their goddes, & brynge the names of them to naught out of the same place. Ye shal not do so vnto the LORDE youre God: but the place . Reg. . Par. 〈…〉 which ye LORDE youre God shal chose out of all yor trybes (that he maye let his name dwell there) shal ye seke, and come thither, Deu. 14. •• . c. 16. a and thither shal ye brynge youre burntsacrifices, & youre other offerynges, and youre tithes and the Heue offerynges of youre handes, and youre vowes, and youre fre wyll offerynges, and the firstborne of youre oxen and shepe: and there shall ye eate before the LORDE youre God,1. Reg. 1. and 16. a and reioyse ouer all that ye and youre houses haue geuē with youre handes, because the LORDE thy God hath blessed the. Deu. 29. Ye shall do none of the thinges, yt we do here this daye, euery man what semeth him good in his awne eyes. For ye are not yet come to rest, ner to ye enheritaūce which the LORDE thy God shal geue the.

But ye shal go ouer Iordane, and dwell in the londe yt the LORDE youre God shall deuyde out vnto you, & he shal geue you rest from all youre enemies rounde aboute, and ye shal dwell safe. Now whan the LORDE thy God hath chosen a place, to make his name dwell there, ye shall brynge thither all yt I haue commaunded you, namely, yor burne sacrifices, youre other offerynges, youre tythes, the Heue offerynges of youre handes, & all youre fre vowes, which ye shall vowe vnto ye LORDE: and there shal ye eate, and reioyse before the LORDE youre God, ye and youre sonnes, and youre doughters, and youre seruauntes, and youre maydes, and the Leuites that are within youre gates, Deut. 10. for they haue no porcion ner inheritaū ce with you.

Take hede vnto thy selfe, that thou offer not thy burnt offerynges in what so euer place thou seyst: but in the place which ye LORDE shall haue chosen in one of thy trybes, there shalt thou offer thy burnt offerynges, and do all that I commaunde the. Notwt stondinge thou mayest kyll and eate flesh within all thy gates, after all the desyre of thy soule, acordynge to the blessynge of the LORDE thy God, which he hath geuē the: Deut. 35. both the cleane and vncleane maye eate it, as of the Roo and herte, onely the bloude shalt thou not eate, but poure it out as water vpon the earth.

But within thy gates mayest thou not eate of the tythes of thy corne, of thy wyne, Deut. 14. & of thy oyle, ner of ye first borne of thine oxen and of thy shepe, or of eny of thy vowes which thou hast vowed, or of thy frewylofferinges, or Heue offeringes of thy handes: but before the LORDE thy God shalt thou eate them, in the place which the LORDE thy God choseth, thou & thy sonne, and thy doughter, thy seruaunt, thy mayde, and the Leuite that is within ye gates, & thou shalt reioyse before ye LORDE thy God, ouer all yt thou puttest thine hande vnto. ccl. . d And bewarre, that thou forsake not the Leuite, as longe as thou lyuest vpon the earth.

But whan the LORDE thy God shal enlarge thy bordes of thy londe (as he hath promysed the) and thou saye: I wil eate flesh (for so moch as thy soule longeth to eate flesh) then eate flesh acordinge to all the desyre of thy soule. But yf the place that the LORDE thy God hath chosen (to let his name be there) be farre from the, then kyll of ye oxen and of thy shepe, which the LORDE hath geuen the, as he hath commaunded the, and eate it within thy gates acordinge to all ye desyre of thy soule. Deut. 15. c Euen as a Roo or Hert is eaten, maiest thou eate it: both the cleane and vncleane maie eate it indifferently. Re. 14. c Onely bewarre, that thou eate not the bloude: for the bloude is the life. Therfore shalt thou not eate the life wt the flesh, but shalt poure it out like water vpon the earth, yt thou mayest prospere, and ye children after the, whan thou hast done that which is righte in the sighte of the LORDE.

But whan thou halowest oughte that is thine, Deu. 14. b •• d 1 . c or makest a vowe, thou shalt take it, and brynge it vnto the place, that the LORDE hath chosen, and do thy burnt offerynges with the flesh and bloude vpon the altare of the LORDE thy God. The bloude of thine offrynge shalt thou poure vpon the altare of the LORDE thy God, and eate the flesh. Take hede, and heare all these wordes, which I commaunde the, yt it maye go well with the, and thy children after yt for euer, whan thou hast done yt which is righte and acceptable in the sighte of the LORDE thy God.

Deu. 18. b osu. 2 . c Whan the LORDE yi God hath roted out the Heithen before the, whither thou commest in to conquere them, & whan thou hast cōquered them, & dwelt in their londe, bewarre then, yt thou fall not in the snare after thē, whan they are destroyed before the: & that thou axe not after their goddes, & saye: Euē as these nacions haue serued their goddes, so wil I do also. eut. 1 . b err. 19. a sa. 65. a Thou shalt not do so vnto the LORDE thy God. For all that is abhominacion vnto the LORDE, & that he hateth, ye same haue they done vnto their goddes. For they haue burnt euen their sonnes and their doughters with fyre vnto their goddes.

All that I commaunde you, shal ye kepe, that ye do therafter. 〈…〉 Ye shal put nothinge therto, ner take ought there from.

The XIII. Chapter.

YF there ryse vp a 〈…〉 prophet or dreamer amonge you, and geue the a token or a wonder, and that token or wonder which he spake of, come to passe, and then saye: Let vs go after other goddes (whom thou knowest not) and let vs serue thē: Thou shalt not herken vnto the wordes of soch a prophet or dreamer.

For ye LORDE youre God proueth you, 〈…〉 to wete whether ye loue him with all youre hert, & with all youre soule. For ye shall walke after the LORDE youre God, and feare him, and kepe his commaundementes, & herken vnto his voyce, and serue him, and cleue vnto him. 〈…〉 As for that prophet or dreamer, he shal dye: because he hath spoken to turne you awaye from the LORDE youre God (which broughte you out of the londe of Egipte, and delyuered you from the house of bondage) to thrust the out of the waye, which the LORDE thy God commaunded the to walke in, and so shalt thou put awaie the euell from the.

Yf thy brother, the sonne of thy mother, or thine awne sonne, or thy doughter,Za 〈…〉 M 〈…〉 L 〈…〉 or the wyfe in thy bosome, or thy frende which is vnto the as thine owne soule, entyse the secretly, and saye: Let vs go and serue other goddes (whom thou knowest not, ner yet thy father) which are amonge the nacions rounde aboute you, whether they be nye vnto the or farre from the, from the one ende of the earth vnto the other: consente not vnto him, and herkē not vnto him.Deut 〈…〉 Thine eye also shal not pytie him, and thou shalt haue no compassion vpon him, ner kepe him secrete, but shalt cause him to be slayne: thine hāde shal be first vpon him, to cause him to be slayne, and then the handes of all the people. He shalbe stoned to death, because he wente aboute to thrust the awaye from the LORDE thy God, which broughte the out of the londe of Egipte from the house of bōdage:Deut 〈…〉 yt all Israel maye heare, and feare him, and do nomore soch euell amonge you.

Yf thou hearest in eny cite which ye LORDE thy God hath geuē the to dwell in, that it is sayde: There are certayne men, the children of Belial, gone out from amonge you, and haue disceaued the inhabiters of their cite, and sayde: let vs go, and serue other goddes, whom ye knowe not.Deut 〈…〉 Then shalt thou seke, make search, and enquere diligently.

And yf it be founde of a trueth, that it is so in dede, yt soch abhominacion is wroughte amonge you, then shalt thou smyte the indwellers of the same cite and their catell, with the edge of the swerde, and damne the cite with all that is therin: and all the spoyle therof shalt thou gather together in the myddes of the stretes of it, and burne with fyre, both the cite and all the spoyle therof together vnto the LORDE ye God, that it maye lye vpon a heape for euer, and neuer be buylded eny more. 〈◊〉 . 7. c 〈◊〉 . 7. a 〈◊〉 . 1 . c And let nothinge of the damned thinge cleue vnto thy hande, that the LORDE maye be turned from the indignacion of his wrath, and graunte the mercy, and haue compassion on the, and multiplye the (as he hath sworne vnto thy fathers) because thou haß herkened vnto ye voyce of the LORDE thy God, to kepe all his commaundementes, which I commaunde the this daye, so that thou doest the thinge which is righte in the sighte of the LORDE thy God.

The XIIII. Chapter.

YE are the children of the LORDE youre God, 〈◊〉 . 10. b Cut not youre selues therfore, & make you no baldnesse betwene youre eyes ouer eny deed. For thou art an holy people vnto the LORDE thy God. eut. 7 a 〈◊〉 26. d 〈◊〉 . 19 a And the LORDE hath chosen the to be his awne peculier people, from amōge all the nacions that are vpon the earth.

Leui. 11. a Thou shalt eate no abhominacion. These are the beestes which ye shal eate: Oxen, shepe, Goates, Hert, Roo, Bugle, wylde goate, Vnicorne, Origen, and Camelion. And euery beest that deuydeth his clawe, & cheweth cudd, shal ye eate. Neuertheles these shal ye not eate of them that chewe cudd, and deuyde not the hoffe in to two clawes: The Camell, the hayre, & the conye, for though they chewe cudd, yet deuyde they not the hoffe, therfore shal they be vncleane vnto you. The swyne, though he deuyde the hoffe, yet cheweth he not cudd, he shall be vncleane vnto you: ye shall not eate of the flesh of thē, and their deed carcases shal ye not touche.

Leui. 11. b This is it that ye shall eate of all that is in the waters: All that hath fynnes and scales, shall ye eate. But what so euer hath no fynnes ner scales, that shal ye not eate, for it is vncleane vnto you.

Eate of all cleane foules. But these are they, wherof ye shal not eate: The Aegle, ye Goshanke, the Cormoraunte, the Ixion, the Vultur, the Ryte with his kynde, & all Rauens in their kynde, the Estriche, the Night crowe, the Cocow, the Sparow hauke with his kynde, the litle Oule, the greate Oule, ye Backe, the Bytture, the Swanne, the Pellicane, the Pye, the Storke, the Heron, the Iaye wt his kynde, the Lapwynge, ye Swalowe: And all foules yt crepe, shal be vncleane vnto you, and ye shal not eate them.

Ye shall eate of nothinge yt dyeth alone thou mayest geue it vnto ye straunger with in ye gate, that he eate it, or sell it to a straunger. For thou art an holy people vnto ye LORDE thy God. Exod. 23. and 34. c Thou shalt not seeth a kydd, whyle it yet sucketh his mother.

Thou shalt separate out the tythe all the increase of thy sede, Exo. 34. yt cōmeth out of ye felde euery yeare: & shalt eate it before ye LORDE ye God ( Esa. 65. c in ye place which He choseth, yt his name maye dwell there) namely of ye tythes of thy corne, of thy wyne, of thy oyle, & the first borne of thine oxen, and of thy shepe, yt thou mayest lerne to feare the LORDE thy God, all thy life longe.

Deut. 12. Baruc. 1. But yf the waye be to moch for ye, and the place, which ye LORDE thy God hath chosen to set his name there, be to farre from the: & thou canst not cary it that ye LORDE thy God hath blessed the withall, Then geue it for money, & take ye money in thyne hande, and go vnto the place which the LORDE thy God hath chosen, and geue the money for all that thy soule desyreth, whether it be oxē, shepe, wyne, stronge drynke, or for what so euer thy soule desyreth, and eate there before the LORDE thy God, and be mery, thou and thine housholde, and ye Leuite that is within thy gates. Thou shalt not forsake him, Leui. 1 . for he hath no porcion nor inheritaunce with the.

In the thirde yeare shalt thou brynge forth all the tithes of thine increase of the same yeare, Deu. 26. c and shalt laye it within thy gates. Thē shal the Leuite (which hath no porcion ner enheritaunce with the) and ye straunger, and the fatherlesse, and the wedowe, which are within thy gates, come and eate, and fyll them selues, that the LORDE thy God maye blesse the in all the workes of ye handes which thou doest.

The XV. Chapter.

IN the seuēth yeare shalt thou make a Fre yeare. Leui. 25. a This is ye maner of the Fre yeare. Exo. 22. c Esa. •• . b Who so euer lēdeth oughte with his hande vnto his neghboure, shal not requyre it of his neghboure or his brother: for it is called the Fre yeare vnto the LORDE. Of a straūger mayest thou requyre it: but vnto him that is thy brother, shalt thou remytte it. ccli. 4. a There shall be to begge amōge you: for the LORDE shal blesse ye in the lōde which the LORDE yi God shal geue ye to inheritaunce to take it in possession, onely yt thou herkē vnto the voyce of the LORDE ye God, & kepe all these cōmaundemētes which I cōmaunde the this daye, that thou maiest do therafter. For the LORDE ye God shal blesse the, as he hath promysed the. Thē shalt thou lende vnto many nacions, & shalt borowe of noman. xo. 28. b Thou shalt raigne ouer many nacions, & noman shal reigne ouer ye.

Ioh. 3. Whan one of thy brethrē is waxed poore in eny cite within thy londe, which 〈◊〉 LORDE ye God shal geue ye, thou shalt not harden thine hert, ner withdrawe thine hande from thy poore brother: but shalt open thine hande vnto him, and lende him, acordinge as he hath nede.

Bewarre, that there be not a poynte of Belial in thine hert, that thou woldest saye: The seuenth yeare, the yeare of Fredome is at honde. For yf thou lokest not frēdly vpō thy poore brother, and geuest him nothinge then shall he crye ouer the vnto the LORDE, and it shall be synne vnto the: o. 1 . b But thou shalt geue him, and let it not greue thine hert that thou geuest him. For because of it, shall the LORDE thy God blesse the in all thy workes, and in all that thou puttest thine hande vnto. Mat. 26. a The londe shal neuer be with out poore, therfore commaunde I the and saye, that thou open thine hande vnto thy brother, which is neady and poore in thy londe.

Exo. 21. a Leui. 25. f e . 34. b. c Yf thy brother an Hebrue or Hebruesse be solde vnto the, he shal serue the sixe yeare, in the seuenth yeare shalt thou let him go Fre. And whā thou deliuerest him fre, thou shalt not let him go from the emptye, but shalt geue him of thy shepe, of thy corne, and of ye wyne, so that thou geue him of that, which the LORDE thy God hath blessed the with all. And remembre that thou also wast a seruaunte in the lōde of Egipte, and how that the LORDE thy God delyuered the, therfore commaunde I the this thinge to daye.

But yf he saye vnto the: I wyll not go out awaye from the, Exo. 1. a for I loue ye and thine house (in so moch as he is well at ease with the) then take a bo kyn, and bore him thorow his eare to the dore, and let him be thy seruaunt for euer. And with thy mayde shalt thou do likewyse. And let it not seme greuous vnto the, to let him go fre from the (for he hath serued the sixe yeares as a dubble hyred seruaunt) then shall the LORDE thy God blesse the in all that thou doest.

All the first borne that come of thine oxen and shepe, yt are males, Exo Leu. Nu shalt thou halowe vnto the LORDE thy God. Thou shalt not plowe with the firstborne of thine oxē, and shalt not clyppe the firstborne of thy shepe: Before the LORDE thy God shalt thou eate thē euery yeare, 〈…〉 in the place that the LORDE choseth, thou and thine housholde.

〈1 paragraph〉 But yf it haue a deformyte, so that it is lame or blynde, or hath eny other euell blemysh, thou shalt not offre it vnto ye LORDE thy God, but shalt eate it within thine awne gates) 〈…〉 whether thou be vncleane or cleane) euen as the Roo and Hert. Onely se that thou eate not of the bloude therof, but poure it out as water vpon the grounde.

The XVI. Chapter.

OBserue the moneth Abib, yt thou offre Easter vnto the LORDE ye God: 〈…〉 for in the moneth Abib the LORDE thy God broughte yt out of Egipte by nighte. And for the Easter vnto ye LORDE thy God, thou shalt offre oxen & shepe, in ye * place which ye LORDE shal chose, yt his name maye dwell there. Thou shalt eate no leuended bred in yt feast. Seuen dayes shalt thou eate the vnleuended bred of thy tribulacion: For with soroufull haist camest thou out of the londe of Egipte, that thou mayest remē bre the daye of thy departinge out of ye londe of Egipte, all yi life longe. In seuē dayes shal there no leuēded bred be se e within all thy coastes: & of the flesh that is offred ye first daye at euen, there shal nothinge be lefte ouer night vntyll the mornynge.

Thou mayest not offre Easter wt in eny of thy gates, which the LORDE thy God hath geuen the: but 〈…〉 in the place which the LORDE thy God hath chosen, that his name maye dwell there, there shalt thou offre this Easter, at euen whan the Sonne is gone downe, euen in the same season that thou camest out of Egipte: and thou shalt dighte it, and eate it in the place that the LORDE thy God hath chosen, and then turne the on the morowe, & go home in to thy tente. Sixe dayes shalt thou eate vnleuended bred, and on the seuenth daye is the gatheringe together of the LORDE thy God. Thou shalt do no worke therin.

Seuen wekes shalt thou nombre vnto ye, 〈…〉 and begynne to nombre whan the syccle begynneth in the corne, and thou shalt kepe the Act Feast of wekes vnto the LORDE thy God, that thou geue a frewyll offerynge of thine hande, acordinge as the LORDE thy God hath blessed the, and shalt reioyse before the LORDE thy God, thou and thy sonne, thy doughter, thy seruaunt, thy mayde, and the Leuite that is within thy gates, ye straunger, the fatherlesse, and the wedowe, that are amonge you, in the place which ye LORDE thy God hath chosen, that his name maye dwell there. And remembre, yt thou wast a seruaunte in Egipte, so that thou kepe and do these ordynaunces.

The feast of Tabernacles shalt thou kepe seuen dayes, whan thou hast gathered in the frutes of thy barne & of thy wyne presse, and thou shalt reioyse in thy feast, thou and thy sonne, thy doughter, thy seruaunte, thy mayde, the Leuite, the straunger, the fatherlesse, and the wedowe that are within ye gates. 〈…〉 Seuen dayes shalt thou kepe ye feast vnto the LORDE thy God, in the place that he hath chosen. For the LORDE thy God shal blesse the in all thy frutes and in all the workes of thine hādes. Therfore shalt thou be glad.

〈◊〉 . 5. b Thre tymes in the yeare shal all thy males appeare before the LORDE thy God (in the place that he shall chose) namely, in the feast of vnleuended bred, in the feast of wekes, and in the feast of Tabernacles. He shal not appeare emptie before the LORDE, but euery one after the gifte of his hande, acordinge to the blessinge that the LORDE thy God hath geuen the.

The XVII. Chapter.

IVdges & officers shalt thou ordeyne within all ye gates, which ye LORDE thy God geueth the amōge thy trybes, yt they maye iudge the people with righteous iudgment. Thou shalt not wrest the lawe. Thou shalt knowe no personne also, ner take giftes. For 〈◊〉 . 4. c Re. 8. a Exo. 23. a cli. 20. d giftes blynde the eyes of ye wyse, & peruerte ye righteous causes. Loke what righte is, yt shalt thou folowe, that thou mayest lyue & possesse the londe, which the LORDE thy God shal geue the.

Thou shalt plante no groue (of what so euer trees it be) nye vnto the altare of the LORDE thy God, which thou makest the. Thou shalt set the vp no piler, which ye LORDE ye God hateth. Reg. 13. c Re. 18. d Leu. 22. c eu. 1 . c Thou shalt offre vnto the LORDE thy God no oxe or shepe, that hath a blemish or eny euell fauourednesse on it: for that is abhominacion vnto the LORDE thy God.

Yf there be founde amonge you (within eny of thy gates which the LORDE ye God shal geue ye) a man or woman, xo. 32. f Re. 18. e Re. 10. d that worketh wickednesse in ye sighte of the LORDE thy God, so that he transgresseth his couenaūte and goeth, and serueth other goddes, & worshippeth them, Deut. 4. whether it be Sōne or Mone, or eny of the hooste of heauen, which I haue not commaunded, and it is tolde the, & thou hearest of it, Deut. 13. and 19. d Iosu. 7. d Then shalt thou make diligent search therfore. And yf thou fyndest that it is so of a trueth, that soch abhominacion is wroughte in Israel, then shalt thou brynge forth the same man or ye same womā (which haue done soch euell) vnto thy gates and shalt stone them to death. Num. 35. Deut. 19. At the mouth of two or thre witnesses shal he dye, that is worthy of death. At the mouth of one witnes shal he not dye. The handes of the witnesses shal be the first to kyll him, and thē ye handes of all the people, that thou mayest put awaye the euell from the.

Yf a matter be to harde for the in iudgmēt betwixte bloude and bloude, betwixte plee and plee, betwixte stroke and stroke, and yf there be matters of stryfe within thy gates Deut. 〈…〉 Eccli. 45. then shalt thou ryse, and go vp vnto ye place that ye LORDE thy God hath chosen: and shalt come to the prestes the Leuites, & to the iudge which shalbe at that tyme, and shalt axe. They shal shewe the how to iudge, Eze. 44. and thou shalt do therafter, as they saye vnto the, in ye place which the LORDE hath chosen: and thou shalt take hede that thou do acordinge vnto all yt they teach the. Acordinge to the lawe yt they teach the, & after the iudgment that they tell ye, shalt thou do Deut. . d so that thou turne not asyde from ye same, nether to the righte hande ner to the lefts.

And yf eny man deale presumptuously, so that he herkeneth not vnto the prest (which stondeth to do seruyce vnto the LORDE thy God) or to the Iudge, the same shal dye: and thou shalt put awaye the euell from Israel, that all ye people maye heare, and feare, and be nomore presumptuous.

Whan thou art come in to ye londe which the LORDE thy God shal geue the, & takest it in possession, and dwellest therin, and shalt saie: 1. Reg. 8. I wil set a kinge ouer me, as all the nacions haue aboute me, thē shalt thou set him to be kynge ouer the, whom the LORDE thy God shal chose.

One of thy brethren shalt thou sett to be kynge ouer the. Thou mayest not set a straū ger ouer the, which is not thy brother. Onely let him not haue many horses, yt he brynge not ye people againe in to Egipte thorow ye multitude of horses, Reg. 4. c . Par. 〈…〉 for as moch as ye LORDE hath sayde vnto you, that from hence forth ye shulde come nomore this waye agayne.

He shall not haue many wynes also, that his hert be not turned awaye. 〈◊〉 . 11. a 〈◊〉 Re· 10. c 〈…〉 . b Nether shal he gather him syluer and golde to moch.

And whan he is set vpon the seate of his kingdome, he shal take of the prestes the Leuites this seconde lawe, and cause it be wrytten in a boke, and that shall he haue by him, •• su. 1. and he shall rede therin all the dayes of his life, that he maye lerne to feare ye LORDE his God, to kepe all the wordes of this lawe, all these ordinaūces, so that he do therafter. He shall not lifte vp his herte aboue his brethren, and shall not turne asyde from the commaundement, nether to the right hā de ner to the lefte, that he maye prolōge his dayes in his kyngdome, he and his children in Israel.

The XVIII. Chapter.

THe prestes, the Leuites, all the trybe of Leui shal haue no parte ner enheritaunce wt Israel. Num. 18. c Deu. 10. b 2. b. 14. c zc. 44. d The offerynges of ye LORDE & his enheritaunce shal they eate. Therfore shal they haue no inheritaunce amonge their brethren, because the LORDE is their enheritaūce, as he hath saide vnto thē This shalbe ye prestes dutye of the people, & of thē that offre, whether it be oxe or shepe, so that they geue vnto the prest the shulder and both the chekes, and the brest. And the first frutes of thy corne, of thy wyne and of thy oyle, and the first of thy shepe sheringe. Num. . b nd 1 . a For the LORDE thy God hath chosen him out of all thy trybes, to stonde and mynyster in the name of the LORDE, he and his sonnes all the dayes of their life.

Yf a Leuite come out of eny of thy gates or out of eny place of all Israel, where he is a gest, and cōmeth with all the desyre of his soule (vnto the place which the LORDE hath chosen) to mynister in the name of the LORDE his God, like as all his brethren ye Leuites, which stonde there before the LORDE, thē shal he haue like porcion of meate with the other: besydes that which he hath of the solde good of his fathers.

Whan thou commest in to ye londe which the LORDE thy God shal geue ye, Leu. 1 . a and 20. d Deut. 12. d and 17. b 4. Re. 21. a Iere. 7. a and 19. a thou shalt not lerne to do ye abhominacions of these nacions, that there be not founde amonge you, yt maketh his sonne or doughter go thorow the fyre, or a prophecier, or a choser out of dayes, or that regardeth the foules cryenge, or a witch, or a coniurer, or soythsayer, or an expounder of tokens, or yt axeth eny thinge of the deed.

For who so euer doth soch, is abhominacion vnto the LORDE: and because of soch abhominacions doth the LORDE ye God dryue thē out before the. But thou shalt be perfecte with the LORDE ye God. For these naciōs whom thou shalt conquere, whom the LORDE thy God hath geuen the, herken to the chosers out of dayes, and to the soythsayers: but so shalt not thou do vnto the LORDE thy God.

A prophet, like vnto me, shall the LORDE thy God raise the vp euen out of the, 〈…〉 & from amonge thy brethren, 〈1 paragraph〉 vnto him shal ye herkē, acordinge as thou desyredest before the LORDE thy God in Horeb, (in the daye of ye gatheringe together) & saydest: 〈…〉 Let me heare the voyce of the LORDE my God nomore, and se nomore this greate fyre, that I dye not. And ye LORDE saide vnto me: They haue well spoken. I wil rayse them vp a prophet from amonge their brethren like vnto the, and wyl put my wordes in his mouth, & he shal speake vnto them all that I shal cō maunde him. 〈…〉 And who so euer wyl not herken vnto my wordes, which he shal speake in my name, of him wil I requyre it.

But yf a prophete presume to speake ought in my name, 〈…〉 which I haue not cōmaū ded him to speake: and he that speaketh in ye name of other goddes, ye same prophete shal dye. But yf thou saye in thine hert: How can I knowe what worde the LORDE hath not spoken? Euen whan the prophete speaketh in the name of ye LORDE, and the thinge foloweth not, and commeth not to passe, ye same is the worde, yt the LORDE hath not spokē. The prophet hath spokē it presumtuously, therfore be not afrayed of him.

The XIX. Chapter.

WHan ye LORDE thy God shall haue roted out ye naciōs, whose londe ye LORDE thy God shal geue the, so yt thou hast conquered them, and dwellest in their cities and houses, 〈…〉 thou shalt appoynte the out thre cities in the myddes of the lō de, yt the LORDE thy God shal geue ye to possesse. Thou shalt prepare the waye, and parte the coastes of ye londe (which ye LORDE thy God shal deuyde out vnto the) in to thre partes, that whosoeuer hath commytted a slaughter, maye flie thither. And this shalbe the cause, 〈…〉 that whosoeuer hath committed a slaughter, maye flye thyther, and lyue.

Yf eny man smyte his neghboure vnawarres, 〈…〉 and hath not hated him in tyme passed (as whan a man goeth vnto the wod with his neghboure to hew downe tymber, and he turneth his hande wt the axe to hewe downe the wod, and the yron slyppeth from the helue, and hytteth his neghboure, that he dyeth) the same shal flye in to one of these cities, that he maye lyue, lest the auenger of bloude folowe after the deedsleyer, whyle his hert is whote, and ouertake him, whyle the waye is so farre, and slaye him, where as yet no cause of death is in hī, for so moch as he hated him not in tyme passed. Therfore commaunde I the, that thou appoynte out thre cities.

And whan the LORDE ye God enlargeth thy borders, as he hath sworne vnto thy fathers, & geueth the all the lōde which he promysed thy fathers to geue (so that thou kepe all these cōmaundementes, and do yt I commaunde the this daye, yt thou loue the LORDE thy God, and walke in his wayes all ye life longe) thē shalt thou adde yet thre cities vnto these thre, that innocent bloude be not shed in thy londe (which the LORDE ye God geueth the to enheritaunce) and so bloude come vpon the.

〈◊〉 . 14. a But yf eny man beare hate agaynst his neghboure, and layeth waite for him, and ryseth agaynst him, and smyteth him that he dye, and flyeth in to one of these cities, then shall the Elders of the same cite sende thither, and cause him to be fetched from thence, and delyuer him in to the handes of the auenger of bloude, that he maye dye: thine eye shal not pitie him, and the giltye bloude shalt thou put awaye frō Israel, that thou mayest prospere.

〈◊〉 . 27. c 〈◊〉 24. Thou shalt not remoue thy neghbours marck, which they of olde tyme haue set in thine enheritaunce, that thou enheretest in the londe, which the LORDE thy God hath geuen the to possesse it.

〈…〉 d 〈◊〉 . 18. b 〈◊〉 . 8. b 〈…〉 a One witnesse shal not stonde vp alone agaynst a man, ouer eny trespace or synne, what maner of synne so euer it be, yt a man can do, but in the mouth of two or thre witnesses shal euery matter be stablished.

〈…〉 But yf an vnrighteous wytnesse stonde vp agaynst eny man, to testifye eny trespace vpon him, then shall both the men that stryue together, stonde before the LORDE, before the prestes and Iudges, which shall be at the same tyme. •• ut. 13. b And the iudges shall make diligent inquisicion: & yf the witnesse be founde false, and hath geuē false witnesse agaynst his brother, then shall ye do vnto him, euen as he thoughte to do vnto his brother: that thou mayest put awaye the euell from the 〈…〉 that other maye heare and feare, and take nomore vpon them to do soch wicked poyntes amonge you. Thine eye shall not pitie him. Exod. 21. c Leui. 24. d Math. 5. c Soule for soule, eye for eye, to the for to the, hande for hande, fote for fote.

The XX. Chapter.

WHan thou goest out to battayll agaynst thine enemies, Deut. 7. d and seyst horses and charettes of the people more then thou, be not afrayed of them: for the LORDE thy God which brought ye out of the londe of Egipte, is with the. Now whā ye are come nye vnto the battayll, the prest shal steppe forth, & speake to the people, and saye vnto thē: Heare Israel: Ye go this daye in to the battayll agaynst youre enemies, let not yor hert faynte. Feare not, Deut. 1 c Num. 14 a . Mac. 4 a be not afrayed, ner a drede of them. Deu. 28. a For the LORDE youre God goeth with you, to fyghte for you agaynst youre enemies, yt he maye saue you.

And the captaynes shal speake to ye people, and saye: Who so hath buylded a new house, and hath not dedicate it, let him go, and byde in his house, that he dye not in ye battayll, and another dedicate it. 1. Mac. 3. g Who so hath planted a vynyarde, and hath not yet made it comen, lett him go, and byde at home, that he dye not in the battayll, and another make it comen. Deu. 24. a Who so hath spoused a wyfe, and hath not yet brought her home, let him go, and byde at home, yt he die not in the battayll, & another brynge her home.

And the captaines shal speake further vnto the people, and saye: Iudi . 7. a He that feareth and hath a faynte hert, lett him go, and byde at home, that he make not his brethrens hert fainte also, like as his hert is. And whan the captaynes haue made an ende of speakinge vnto the people, they shall set the rulers of the hoost before the people in the forefronte.

Whan thou commest nye vnto a cite to fight against it, Num. 21. c Deut. 2. c thou shalt offre them peace Yf they answere the peaceably, and open vnto the, then shal all ye people yt is founde therin, be tributaries vnto the, and serue ye. But yf they wyl not deale peaceably wt the, and wyll warre with the, then besege it: and whan the LORDE thy God delyuereth it in to thy hande, thou shalt smyte all the males that are therin, with the edge of the swerde: saue the wemen and the children. Iosu. 8. a and 11. c As for the catell, and all that is in the cite, and all the spoyle, thou shalt take them vnto thy selfe, and eate the spoyle of thine enemies, which the LORDE thy God hath geuen the. Thus shalt thou do vnto all the cities, that are very farre from the, and are not of the cities of these nacions.

But in the cities of these nacions, which the LORDE thy God shall geue the to enheritaūce, thou shalt leaue nothinge alyue that hath breth, but shalt vtterly destroye thē, namely eut. 31. a •• su. 6. c 〈◊〉 . 10. c 〈◊〉 . 1. b Deut. 7. a the Hethites, Amorites, Cananites, Pheresites, Heuites, & Iebusites, as the LORDE thy God hath commaunded the, yt they teache you not to do all ye abhominacions, which they do vnto their goddes, & so ye to synne agaynst the LORDE youre God.

Whan thou must lye a longe season before a cite, against the which thou makest warre to take it, thou shalt not destroye ye trees therof that thou woldest hew them downe wt the axe, for thou mayest eate therof: and therfore shalt thou not hew them downe. For it is but wodd vpon the felde, and no man, and can not come & be bullworkes agaynst the. But the trees which thou knowest yt mē eate not of, those shalt thou destroye, and rote out, and make bullworkes therof, agaynst the cite that warreth with the, tyll thou haue ouercome it.

The XXI. Chapter.

WHan there is one slayne founde in ye londe which ye LORDE ye God shall geue ye to possesse it, & lyeth in ye felde, & it is not knowne who hath slaine him, then shal thy Elders & iudges go forth, and meet from the slayne vnto the cities that lye rounde aboute. Loke which cite is the nexte, ye Elders of the same shal take a yōge cowe, which hath not bene laboured, ner hath drawē in the yocke, & they shal brynge her in to a valley, where as is nether earinge nor sowinge, and strike of hir heade there in the valley.

Then shal the prestes ye children of Leuicome forth. ( Deut. 17. b Eccli. 45. d For the LORDE thy God hath chosen them, to serue him, and to prayse his name: and at their mouth shal all plees and strypes be tryed.) And all the Elders of the same cite shall come forth vnto the slayne, & wash their handes ouer ye yonge cowe, whose heade is stricken of in the valley, and shal answere and saie: Oure hādes haue not shed this bloude, nether haue oure eyes sene it. Be mercifull (O LORDE) vnto thy people of Israel, whō thou hast delyuered, Ionae. 1. c laye no innocent bloude vnto thy people of Israels charge: then shall they be reconcyled from the bloude. Thus shalt thou put awaye the innocent bloude from the, in that thou doest the thinge whis is righte in the sighte of ye LORDE.

Whā thou goest forth to warre against thine enemies, & the LORDE thy God delyuereth them in to thine handes, so that thou cariest awaye their presoners, and seist amō ge the captyues a bewtyfull woman, & hast a desyre vnto her to take her to thy wife, thē brynge her home to thine house, and let her shaue hir heade, and pare hir nayles, and put of hir clothes that she was taken presoner in, and let her sit in thine house, and mourne for hir father and mother a moneth longe after that lye with her, and mary her, and let her be thy wife. But yf thou haue no fauoure vnto her, then shalt thou let her go whither she wyll, and not to sell her, ner to make cheuesaunce of her, because thou hast dishonoured her.

Yf a man haue two wyues, 〈…〉 one that he loueth, and one that he hateth, and they beare him children, both the beloued and the hated, so that the firstborne be hirs that is hated, and the tyme commeth that he dealeth out the inheritaunce vnto his children, then can he not make the sonne of ye beloued first borne before the firstborne sonne of the hated, but he shall knowe the sonne of the hated for ye first sonne, so that he geue him dubble of all that is at hande: 〈…〉 for the same is ye begynnynge of his strength, & the firstbyrth righte is his.

〈…〉 Yf eny man haue a stubborne and dishobedient sonne, which herkeneth not vnto the voyce of his father, and mother, and whan they teach him nurtoure, wyll not folowe them, then shall his father and mother take him, and brynge him to ye Elders of their cite, and to the gate of the same place, and saye vnto the Elders of the cite: This oure sonne is stobburne and dishobediēt, and herkeneth not vnto oure voyce, and is a ryoter and a dronkarde. Then shal all the men of ye same cite stone him to death: and thus shalt thou put awaye the euell frō the, that all Israel maye heare and feare.

Yf a man haue commytted a synne yt is worthy of death, and is put to death, 〈…〉 so that he is hanged on tre, then shal not his body remayne all night on tre, but thou shalt burye him the same daye ( 〈…〉 For cursed is he of God that is hanged) that thou defyle not thy londe, which the LORDE thy God geueth the to enheritaunce.

The XXII. Chapter.

YF thou se thy brothers oxe or shepe, go astraie, 〈…〉 thou shalt not withdrawe thy selfe from them, but shalt brynge thē againe vnto ye brother. But yf ye brother be not nye vnto the, & thou knowest him not, then shalt thou take thē in to thine house, yt they maye be wt the, tyll ye brother axe after them, & then delyuer him thē agayne. In like maner shalt thou do with his Asse, wt his rayment, & with euery lost thinge of ye brother, which he hath lost, & thou hast founde it: thou mayest not withdrawe thy selfe.

〈…〉 Yf thou se thy brothers oxe or Asse fallen downe by the waye, thou shalt not wtdrawe thy selfe from him, but shalt helpe him vp.

〈…〉 A woman shall not weere yt which pertayneth to a man, nether shal a man put on womans raymēt. For who so euer doth soch, is abhominacion vnto ye LORDE ye God.

Yf thou chaunce vpon a byrdes nest by ye waye in a tre, or on the grounde, with yonge or with egges, and the dame syttinge vpon the yonge or vpon the egges, thou shalt not take the dame with the yonge, but shalt let the dame flye, and take the yonge, that thou mayest prospere and lyue longe.

Whan thou buyldest a new house, make a battelment aboute thy rofe, that thou lade not bloude vpon thine house, yf eny man fall therof.

〈…〉 Thou shalt not sowe thy vynyarde with dyuerse sedes, that thou halowe not (to the full offerynge) the sede which thou hast sowne, with the increase of the vynyarde.

Thou shalt not plowe with an oxe and an Asse together at one tyme.

〈…〉 Thou shalt not weere a garmēt, yt is mixte with wollen and lynnen together.

〈…〉 Thou shalt make gardes vpon the foure quarters of thy garment, wherwith thou couerest thy selfe.

Yf a man take a wife, and hate her whan he hath lyen with her, and layeth eny shamefull thinge vnto hir charge, and bryngeth vp an euell name vpon her, and sayeth: I toke this wife, & whan I came to her. I founde her not a mayde. Then shall the father and mother of the damsell take her, and brynge forth the tokens of the damsels virginite before the Elders of the cite, euen vnto the gate. And ye damsels father shal saie vnto ye Elders: I gaue this man my doughter to wyfe. Now hateth he her, and layeth a shamefull thinge to hir charge, and sayeth: I founde not thy doughter a mayde. And lo, these are the tokens of my doughters virginite. And they shal sprede out the clothe before the Elders of the cite. So shal the Elders of the cite take that man, and chastice him, and put a pennaunce vpon him of an hundreth Sycles of syluer, and geue the same vnto the father of the damsell, because he hath brougte vp an euell name of a mayde in Israel, and he shall haue her to wyfe, so yt he maye not forsake her all his life longe. But yf it be of a trueth, that the damsell is not founde a virgin, thē shal she be brought forth vnto the dore of hir fathers house, and the mē of the cite shal stone her to death, Deu. 3. c be cause she hath wrought foly in Israel, and played the whore in hir fathers house. And so shalt thou put awaye the euell from the.

Yf a man be founde lienge with a womā that hath a maried huszbande, Leui. 20. b they shal dye both the man, & the womā that he hath lien withall. And so shalt thou put awaye euell from Israel.

Yf a mayde be handfested to eny man, & another man getteth her in the cite, & lyeth with her, ye shal brynge them both out vnto the gate of the cite, and stone them both, yt they dye. The damsell, because she cryed not, beynge in the cite. The man, because he hath brought his neghbours wife to shame. And thou shalt put awaye the euell from the.

But yf a man get an handfested damsell vpon the felde, and take her, and lye wt her, then the man that laye with her, shal dye alone, and vnto the damsell thou shalt do nothinge: for she hath done no synne worthy of death. It is like as yf a man rose against his neghboure, and slewe him, euen so is this also. For he founde her in the felde, and the handfested damsell cryed, and there was no man to helpe her.

Yf a man fynde a mayde that is not hād fested, and take her, and lye with her, Exo. 22. c and be founde, then shal he that laye with her, geue hir father fyf ie Sycles of syluer, and shall haue her to wyfe, because he hath shamed her: he maye not forsake her all his life lōge.

Nomā shal take his fathers wife, Leu. 18. a Deu. 26. c ner vncouer his fathers couerynge.

The XXIII. Chapter.

THere shal none that hath his stones broken or yt is gelded, Esa. 56. a come in to the cōgregacion of the LORDE. There shal no whores childe also come in to the cō gregacion of ye LORDE, no not after ye tenth generaciō, but shal neuer come in to ye cōgregaciō of ye LORDE. . Esd. 1 . a The Ammonites & Moabites shal not come in to ye cōgregaciō of ye LORDE, no not after ye tenth generacion, but shall neuer come in, because they met you not wt bred & water in ye waye, whā ye came out of Egipte. Num. 22. a Iosu. 24. b And besides yt, they hi ed agaynst you Balaā ye sonne of Beor, ye interpreter out of Mesopotamia, to curse ye. But ye LORDE ye God wolde not heare Balaam, and turned the curse to a blessynge vnto the: because the LORDE ye God loued the. Thou shalt wysh him nether prosperite ner health all thy life longe for euer. Thou shalt not abhorre an Edomite: Gen. 2 . c for he is thy brother.

An Egipcian shalt thou not abhorre, for thou wast a straunger in his londe. The children whom they beget in the thirde generacion, shal come in to the congregacion of ye LORDE.

2. Co. 10. a Ephe. 6. b Whā thou goest out to fighte agaynst thine enemies, kepe the from all wickednesse.

Yf there be eny man amonge you which is vncleane, so that eny thinge is chaunced to him by nighte, the same shal go out of ye hoost vntyll he haue bathed himselfe with water before euen: and whan the Sonne is gone downe, he shall come in to the hoost agayne.

And without the hoost thou shalt haue place to resorte vnto for necessyte, & thou shalt haue a shouell vnder the gyrdle: and whan thou wilt set ye downe without, thou shalt dygge therwith: and whan thou hast done thine easement, thou shalt couer that which is departed from the. For the LORDE thy God walketh in thine hooste, to delyuer the, and to geue thine enemies before the. Therfore shall thy hooste be holy, that he se no vncleane thinge in the, and so turne himselfe from the.

Thou shalt not delyuer vnto his master the seruaunt, which is escaped frō him vnto the. He shall dwell with the in the place that he choseth within eny of thy gates, for his wealth, and thou shalt not vexe him.

Num. 5. b Deut· 22. c There shal be no whore amonge ye doughters of Israel, nether whorekeper amonge the sonnes of Israel. Mich. 1. b Thou shalt not bringe ye hyre of an whoore ner the price of a dogg in to the house of the LORDE ye God for eny maner of vowe: for they both are abhominacion vnto the LORDE thy God.

Exo. 22. c Leuit. 2 . f . Esd. 5. a Thou shalt occupye no vsury vnto ye brother, nether with money, ner with fode, ner with eny maner thinge that vsury maye be vsed withall. (Vnto a straūger thou maiest lende vpō vsury, but not vnto thy brother) yt the LORDE thy God maye blesse the in all yt thou takest in hāde, in the lōde whither thou commest in to possesse it.

Whan thou makest a vowe vnto ye LORDE ye God, Num. 30. a Eccl . 5. a Baruc. 6. c Act. 5. a to shalt not be slacke to perfourme it: for the LORDE thy God shal requyre it of the, and it shal be synne vnto the. Yf thou leaue vowinge, then is it no synne vnto the. But that which is proceaded out of ye lyppes shalt thou kepe, and do therafter, acordinge as thou hast vowed vnto the LORDE of a frewyll, which thou hast spoken wt thy mouth.

Whan thou goest in to thy neghtours vyniarde, thou mayest eate of the grapes acordinge to thy desyre, tyll thou haue ynough. But thou shalt put none in to thy vessell.

〈…〉 Whan thou goest in thy neghbours cornefelde, thou mayest plucke the eares with thine hande, but with a syccle mayest thou not reape therin.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

WHan a man taketh a wife, and marieth her, 〈…〉 and she findeth no fauoure in his eyes because of eny vnclennesse, thē shal he wryte a byll of deuorcemēt, and geue it her in hir hāde, and sende her out of his house. Yf whan she is gone out of his house, she go, and be another mans wyfe, and the same seconde man hate her also, & wryte a byll of deuorcement, and geue it her in hir hande, and sende her out of his house: Or yf the same seconde man dye, which toke her to wife, then hir first huszbande that put hir awaie, maie not take hir againe to be his wife, in so moch as she is defyled, for that is abhominacion before the LORDE: that thou make not the londe to synne, which the LORDE thy God hath geuen the to enheritaūce. 〈…〉

Whan a man hath newly taken a wyfe, he shall not go awarre fare, nether shall he be charged withall. He shal be fre in his house one yeare longe, that he maye be mery wt his wife which he hath taken.

Thou shalt no take ye nethermost and vp permost my stone to pledge, for he hat set ye his lyuynge to pledge.

Yf eny man be founde that stealeth one of his brethren, from amonge the childrē of Israel, and setteth him to pledge, or selleth him soch a the e shal dye, that thou maiest put a waye the euell from the.

Kepe the from the plage of leprosie, that thou 〈…〉 obserue diligently and do acordynge vnto all that the prestes the Leuites teach the, as I haue commaunded them, yt shal ye obserue and do therafter. Remembre what the LORDE thy God dyd vnto Miriam 〈…〉 by the waye, whan ye were come out of Egipte.

Yf thou lendest ye brother eny dett, thou shalt not go into his house, and take a pledge, but shalt stonde without: and he, to whō thou lendest, shal brynge out his pledge vnto the. But yf it be a poore body, thou shalt not lye downe to slepe, with his pledge, but shalt delyuer him his pledge agayne, whan the Sonne goeth downe, that he maye slepe in his awne rayment, and blesse the, so shall the same be rekened vnto the for righteousnes before the LORDE thy God.

〈◊〉 . 19. c ccli. 7. c ob. 4. c Thou shalt not withdrawe the hyre of ye nedye and poore amonge thy brethren, or straunger that is in thy londe, or within thy gates, but shalt geue him his hyre the same daye, that the Sonne go not downe theron, for so moch as he is nedye, and his life susteyned therwith: that he call not vpon the LORDE agaynst the, and it be synne vnto the.

The fathers shal not dye for the children, ner the childrē for the fathers, but euery one shal dye for his awne synne.

〈◊〉 . 11. d 〈◊〉 . 14. a 〈◊〉 . 25. a 〈◊〉 . 18 c eut 17. a 〈◊〉 2 c Thou shalt not wrest the righte of the straunger and of the fatherlesse. And ye wedowes rayment shalt thou not take to pledge: For thou shalt remembre, that thou wast a seruaunte in Egipte, and how that ye LORDE thy God delyuered the from thence, therfore commaunde I the to do this. •• uit. 19. c

Whan thou hast reaped downe thine haruest in the felde, and hast forgotten a shefe in the felde, thou shalt not turne agayne to fetch it, but it shal be for the straunger, ye fatherlesse and the wedowe, that the LORDE thy God maye blesse the in all the workes of thy handes.

Whan thou hast plucked thine Olyue trees, thou shalt not plucke them vp cleane afterwarde: it shal be for the straunger, the fatherlesse and the wedowe. Whan thou hast gathered thy vynyarde, thou shalt not gather it vp cleane afterwarde: it shalbe for the straunger, the fatherlesse and the wedowe. And thou shalt remembre, that thou wast a seruaunt in the londe of Egipte: therfore cō maunde I the to do this.

The XXV. Chapter.

WHan there is a stryfe betwene men, they shalbe brought before ye lawe and iudged: and the iudges shall iustifye the righteous, and condemne the vngodly. And yf the vngodly haue deserued strypes, the iudge shall commaunde to take him downe, and they shall beate him before him, acordynge to the measure and nombre of his trespace. Cor. 11. a Whan they haue geuē him fortye strypes, they shall beate him nomore, lest (yf there be mo strypes geuen him) he be beaten to moch, and thy brother be horrible before thine eyes.

Cor. 9 b Timo. 5. c Thou shalt not mosell the mouth of the oxe, that treadeth out the corne.

Whan brethren dwell together, R •• . 4. and one of them dye without children, then shall not ye wife of the deed take a straunge man with out, but hir kynsman shal go in vnto her, Mat. 22 Luc. 20 and take her to wyfe: and the first sonne that she beareth, shal he set vp after the name of his brother which is deed, that his name be not put out of Israel.

But yf the man wyl not take his kynswoman, then shal his kinszwoman go vp vnder the gate to the Elders, and saye: My kynsman refuseth to st re vp a name vnto his brother in Israel, and wyl not marye me. Then shal the Elders of the cite call him, and comen with him. Yf he stonde then and saye: I wyl not take her, then shal his kynszwoman steppe forth vnto him before the Elders, and lowse a shue frō his fote, and spyt in his face, and shal answere, and saye: Thus shal it be done vnto euery man, that wyl not builde his brothers house. And his name shalbe called in Israel, thevnshodd house.

Yf two men stryue together, and the wyfe of one renne to, to delyuer hir huszbande from the hande of him that smyteth him, & put forth hir hande, and take him by the secretes, then shalt thou cut of hir hande, and thine eye shal not pitie her.

Thou shalt not haue in ye bagg two maner of weightes, a greate and a small. Nether shalt thou haue in thyne house dyuerse measures, a greate and a small. Leui. 19. Mich. . Thou shalt haue a perfecte and iust weighte, and a perfecte and iust measure, that thy life maye be longe in the londe, which the LORDE ye God shal geue the. For who so euer doth soch (yee all they that do euell) are abhominacion vnto the LORDE thy God. Exo. 1 . c Remēbre what the Amalechites did vnto the by the waye, whā ye were departed out of Egipte, how they buckled with the by the waye, and smote thy hynmost, euen all that were feble, which came after the whan thou wast weerye and fainte, and they feared not God. Now whā the LORDE thy God bryngeth the, to rest frō all thine enemies rounde aboute in the londe which the LORDE thy God geueth the for inheritaunce to possesse, then shalt thou put out the remembraunce of the Amalechites from vnder heauen. Forget not this.

The XXVI. Chapter.

WHan thou commest in to the londe that the LORDE thy God shal geue the to inheritaunce, and enioyest it, and dwellest therin, thou shalt take of all maner 〈◊〉 . 23. c 〈◊〉 34. c 〈◊〉 . . b first frutes of the londe, that come out of thy grounde, which the LORDE thy God geueth the, & shalt put them in a maunde, and go vnto the place which the LORDE thy God shal chose (yt his name maye dwell there) and thou shalt come vnto the prest which shalbe at that tyme, and saye vnto him: I knowlege this daye vnto the LORDE thy God, that I am come in to the londe, which ye LORDE sware vnto oure fathers to geue vs. And the prest shal take the maunde out of thine hande, and set it downe before the altare of the LORDE thy God.

Then shalt thou answere and saye before the LORDE thy God: The Syrians wolde haue destroyed my father, en. 46. a which wēte downe in to Egipte, and was a straūger there with a small folke, and became there a naciō greate, mightie & full of people. xod. 1. b But the Egipciās intreated vs euell, and troubled vs, and layed an harde bondage vpō vs. Then cried we vnto ye LORDE, the God of oure fathers. And the LORDE herde oure cryenge, xod. 3. b and loked on oure aduersite, laboure, and oppressiō, xo. 14. & brought vs out of Egipte with a mightie hande, and a stretched out arme, and with greate terryblenesse thorow tokens and wō ders, and hath broughte vs vnto this place and hath geuen vs this londe, that floweth with mylke and hony. Therfore brynge I now the first frutes of the londe, which the LORDE hath geuen vs. And thou shalt leaue them before the LORDE thy God, and geue thankes before the LORDE thy God, and reioyse ouer all the good, that the LORDE ye God hath geuen the, and thyne house: thou and the Leuite, and the straunger that is with the.

Whan thou hast brought together all ye tythes of thine increase in the thirde yeare, which is a yeare of tithes, Deu. 14. c thou shalt geue it vnto the Leuite, to the straunger, to the fatherlesse and to the wedowe, that they maie eate within ye gates, and be filled. And thou shalt saye before the LORDE thy God: Luc. 1 . b I haue broughte that halowed is, out of my house, and haue geuen it vnto the Leuyte, the straunger, the fatherlesse, and the wedowe, acordinge to all thy commaundement which thou hast cōmaunded me. I haue not transgressed thy commaundementes, ner forgotten them. I haue not eaten therof in my heuynesse, ner taken awaye therof in vnclennesse. I haue not geuē therof vnto the deed. I haue bene obedient vnto the voyce of the LORDE my God, and haue done all as he hath commaunded me. 〈…〉 Loke downe from thy holy habitacion, from heauen, and blesse thy people of Israel, and ye londe that thou hast geuen vs, as thou swarest vnto oure fathers, a londe that floweth with mylke and hony.

In the daye whan the LORDE thy God commaunded the, to do acordynge vnto all these ordinaūces and lawes, that thou shuldest kepe them and do therafter with all thy hert and with all thy soule. Exo 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 De . 〈…〉 The same daye maydest thou a promysse vnto the LORDE, that he shulde be thy God, and yt thou woldest walke in all his wayes, and kepe his ordynaunces, his commaundementes, and his lawes, and to herken vnto his voyce. Exo. 〈…〉 Deu 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 And the LORDE promysed the vpō the same daye, that thou shuldest be his awne peculier people, like as he hath sayde vnto the (so yt thou kepe all his commaundementes) and that he wolde make the hye in prayse name and honoure aboue all nacions which he hath made 〈…〉 yt thou mayest be an holy people vnto ye LORDE thy God, as he hath sayde vnto the.

The XXVII. Chapter.

ANd Moses with ye Elders of Israel, commaunded the people, & sayde: Kepe all the commaundementes which I commaunde you this daye. Io . 〈…〉 And what time as ye go ouer Iordane, in to the londe yt ye LORDE thy God shal geue the, thou shalt set vp greate stones, and playster them with playster, and wryte vpon them all the wordes of this lawe: (whan thou art come ouer) yt thou mayest come in to the londe, which the LORDE thy God shall geue the, a londe yt floweth with milke and hony, as ye LORDE God of thy fathers hath promysed the.

Now whan ye go ouer Iordane, ye shall set vp these stones (wherof I cōmaunde you this daye) vpon mount Eball, and playster them with playster: 〈…〉 and there shalt thou buylde vnto the LORDE thy God an altare of stone, whervpon thou shalt lifte no yron. Exo. 〈…〉 Of whole stones shalt thou builde this altare vnto the LORDE thy God, and offre burnt offeringes theron vnto the LORDE thy God: and thou shalt offre health offeringes, and eate there, and reioyse before the LORDE thy God: and vpon the stones thou shalt wryte all the wordes of this lawe manyfestly and well.

And Moses with the prestes and Leuites spake vnto all Israel, and sayde: Take hede and heare O Israel: This daye art thou become the people of the LORDE thy God, that thou mayest be obedient vnto the voyce of the LORDE thy God, and do acordinge vnto all his commaundementes and ordinaunces, which I cōmaunde the this daye.

〈◊〉 . 11. d 〈◊〉 8. g And Moses charged the people the same daye, and sayde: These shal stonde vpon mount Grisim to blesse the people, whan ye are gone ouer Iordane: Simeon, Leui, Iuda, Isachar, Ioseph, and Ben Iamin. And these shal stonde vpon mount Eball to curse: Ruben, Gad, Asser, Zabulon, Dan & Nephtali. And the Leuites shal begynne, and saye vnto euery man of Israel, wt a loude voyce:

〈◊〉 . 10. a 〈◊〉 . 7. a Cursed be he, that maketh eny carued Idoll or molten ymage (an abhominacion of the LORDE, a worke of the handes of ye craftesman) and putteth it in a secrete place. And all the people shal answere and saye, Amen.

xo. 21. b Cursed be he, that curseth his father and mother. And all the people shall saye, Amen.

〈◊〉 . 1 . c Cursed be he, yt remoueth his neghbours mark. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

〈◊〉 . 19. d Cursed be he, that maketh a blynde man go out of his waye. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

〈◊〉 . 4. c Cursed be he, that wresteth ye righte of ye straunger, of the fatherlesse, & wedowe. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

〈◊〉 . 18. a 〈◊〉 0. b 〈◊〉 . 22. d Cursed be he, that lyeth with his fathers wife, to vncouer his fathers couerynge. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

〈◊〉 . 22. c eui. 20. b Cursed be he, yt lyeth wt eny maner beest. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

Leui. 18. a •• Re. 13. d Cursed be he, yt lyeth wt his sister, which is the doughter of his father or of his mother. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

Leui. 18. c Cursed be he, yt lyeth with his mother in lawe. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

Cursed be he that slayeth his neghboure secretly. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

xo. 1. b eui. 2 d 〈◊〉 . 19. a 〈◊〉 . 22. b ich. 3. c Cursed be he, that receaueth giftes to slaye the soule of innocent bloude. And all the people shal saye, Amen.

〈…〉 Cursed be he, that contynueth not in all ye wordes of this lawe, to do them. And all ye people shal saye, Amen.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

ANd yf thou shalt herken vnto ye voyce of the LORDE thy God, Leu. 6. a to obserue and do all his commaundementes which I cōmaunde yt this daye, then shall the LORDE thy God set ye an hye aboue all nacions vpō earth, and all these blessynges shal come vpon the, and ouertake the, because thou hast bene obedient vnto the voyce of the LORDE thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the towne, and blessed in the felde. Blessed shalbe the frute of thy body, the frute of thy grounde, and the frute of thy catell, and the frute of thine oxen, and the frute of thy shepe. Blessed shal be ye baszkett, & thy stoare. Blessed shalt thou be whā thou goest in, and blessed whan thou goest out. Deu. 20. And thine enemies that ryse vp agaynst the, shal ye LORDE cause to be smytten before thy face. They shal come out agaynst the one waye, & flye before the seuen wayes.

The LORDE shal commaunde the blessynge to be with ye in thy cellers, and in all that thou takest in hande, and shal blesse the in ye londe that the LORDE thy God hath geuē the. The LORDE shal set the vp to be an holy people vnto himselfe (as he hath sworne vnto the) yf thou kepe the commaundementes of the LORDE thy God: so that all nacions vpon earth shal se, that thou art called after the name of the LORDE: & they shal be afrayed of you. And ye LORDE shal make ye plenteous in goodes, in the frute of ye wombe, in the frute of thy catell, & in the frute of thy grounde, in the londe that the LORDE sware vnto thy fathers, to geue the.

Deut. 11. And the LORDE shal open vnto ye his good treasure, euen the heauen, to geue rayne vnto thy londe in due season, and to prospere all the workes of thine handes. Deu. 15. a And thou shalt lēde vnto many naciōs, but thou shalt borowe of no man. And ye LORDE shal set the before, and not behynde: & thou shalt be aboue onely, and not benethe, yf thou be obedient vnto the commaundementes of ye LORDE thy God, which I commaunde the this daye to kepe and to do them: & yf thou Deu. 4. a and 17. c bowe not asyde from eny of these wordes, which I commaunde ye this daye, either to the righte hande or to the lefte, yt thou woldest walke after other goddes to serue them.

But yf thou wylt not herken vnto the voyce of the LORDE thy God, Leu. 26. b to kepe and to do all his commaundementes and ordinaunces, which I commaunde yt this daie, Bar. 1. b Dan. 9. b then shall all these curses come vpon the, and ouertake the. Cursed shalt thou be in the towne, and cursed in ye felde: cursed shal thy baszket be, and thy stoare. Cursed shall be the frute of thy body, the frute of thy londe, the frute of thine oxen, and the frute of thy shepe. Cursed shalt thou be whan thou goest in, and cursed whā thou goest out. The LORDE shal sende in to the, consuminge, and complayninge, and cursynge, in all that thou takest in hande to do, tyll he haue destroyed the & shortly broughte to the naughte, because of thy wicked inuencions, in that thou hast forsaken me.

The LORDE shall make the pestylence to byde longe with the, tyll he haue consumed the out of the londe, in to the which thou commest to possesse it. The LORDE shall smyte the with swellynge, feuers, heate, burnynge, venome, drouth, and palenesse, & shall persecute the, tyll he haue destroyed the. eut. 10. c Thy heauen, that is ouer thy heade, shalbe of brasse, and the earth vnder the, of yron. The LORDE shall geue thy londe dust for rayne, and aszshes from heauen vpon the, vntyll thou be broughte to naught. The LORDE shall cause the be smytten before thine enemyes. Thou shalt come out one waye agaynst them, and seuen wayes shalt thou flye before them, and shalt be scatered amō ge all the kyngdomes vpon earth. Thy carcase shalbe meate vnto all maner foules of the ayre, and to all the beestes vpon earth, and there shalbe no man to fraye them awaye.

The LORDE shal smyte the with ye botches of Egipte, with the Emorodes, with scalle, and maungynesse, that thou shalt not be healed therof. Mich. 3. b Rom. 1. c The LORDE shall smyte the with madnesse, blyndnesse and dasynge of hert. And thou shalt grope at the noone daye, as ye blynde gropeth in darknesse, and shalt not prospere in thy waye. And thou shalt suffre vyolence and wronge all thy lifelonge, & no man shal helpe ye.1. Re. 12. c Thou shalt spouse a wife, but another shal lye with her. Deu. 20. a Thou shalt buylde an house, but another shall dwell therin. Thou shalt plante a vynyarde, but shalt not make it comen.

Thine oxe shalbe slayne before thine eyes, but thou shalt not eate therof. Thine asse shalbe violently taken awaye (euen before ye face) and shal not be restored yt againe. Thy shepe shalbe geuen vnto thine enemies, and no man shal helpe the. Thy sonnes and thy doughters shalbe geuen vnto another nacion, and thine eyes shal se it, and dase vpon them all the daye longe, and thy hande shal not be able to delyuer them. The frute of ye londe and all ye laboure, shall a nacion eate, which thou knowest not: and thou shalt but onely be he that shalbe oppressed and suffre wronge, all the dayes of thy life. And thou shalt be cleane besyde thy selfe for the sighte, which thine eyes shal se.

The LORDE shal smyte the with a myscheuous botch in ye knees & legges, so that thou canst not be healed, euen from the sole of thy fote vnto the crowne of thy heade

The LORDE shal brynge the and thy kynge (which thou hast set ouer the) vnto a nacion, 〈…〉 whom thou knowest not, nether thy fathers: and there shalt thou serue other geddes, euen wodd and stone: and thou shalt go to waist, and become a byworde, & a laughinge stocke amōge all nacions, whither ye LORDE hath caryed the.

Thou shalt cary out moch sede in to ye felde, and shalt gather but litle in: 〈…〉 for the greshoppers shal destroye it. Thou shalt plante vynyardes and dresse thē, but thou shalt nether drynke of the wyne, ner gather of ye grapes: for ye wormes shal consume it. Thou shalt haue Olyue trees in all ye coastes, but shalt not be anoynted with the oyle: for thyne Oliue trees shalbe roted out. Thou shalt get sonnes and doughters, and yet not haue them: for they shal be caried awaye captiue. All thy trees and frutes of thy londe shall be marred with blastinge.

The straunger that is with ye, shal clymme vp ouer the, and be allwaye aboue the: but thou shalt come downe alowe, and lye euer beneth. He shal lende vnto the, but thou shalt not lende him. He shalbe before, but thou shalt be behynde.

And all these curses shall come vpon the, and folowe the, and ouertake yt, tyll thou be destroyed, because thou herkenest not vnto ye voyce of the LORDE yt God, to kepe his commaundemētes and ordinaunces, which he hath commaunded the. Therfore shal there betokens and wonders vpon the, & vpon thy sede for euer, because thou hast not serued ye LORDE thy God with a ioyfull and good hert, whan thou haddest abundaunce of all thinges. And therfore shalt thou serue thine enemye, which the LORDE shal sende vpon the, in hunger and thyrst, in nakednesse, and neade of all thinge: & he shal put a yocke of yron vpon thy necke, vntyll he haue broughte the to naughte.

The LORDE shal brynge a nacion vpon the from farre, 〈…〉 euen from the ende of ye worlde, as a flyenge Aegle: a people, whose speache thou canst not vnderstonde, an harde fauoured people, which regarde not the personne of the olde, ner haue compassion on the yonge. And they shal eate vp ye frute of thy catell, & the frute of thy londe, tyll they haue destroyed the, and shall leaue the nothinge in corne, wyne, oyle, in the frute of ye oxen and shepe, vntyll they haue broughte the to naughte: and shal laye sege vnto the wt in all thy gates, tyll they cast downe thy hye and stronge walles, wherin thou trustest thorow out all thy londe. And thou shalt be beseged within all thy portes, thorow out all thy londe which the LORDE thy God hath geuen the.

Re. 6. f en. 4. b 〈◊〉 . . a Thou shalt eate the frute of thine awne body, the flesh of thy sonnes and of thy doughters, which the LORDE yt God hath geuē the, in that straytnesse and sege, wherwith thine enemye shall besege the: so that it shal greue the man yt afore hath lyued tenderly and in voluptuousnes amonge you, to loke vpon his brother and vpon his wife yt lyeth in his bosome, and on the sonne that is left ouer of his sonnes, lest he shulde geue eny of them of the flesh of his children that he eateth, in as moch as there is nothinge left him in that straytnesse and sege, wherwith thine enemye shal besege yt within all thy gates. And the woman that afore hath lyued so tenderly and voluptuously amonge you, that she durste not set the sole of hir fote vpon the grounde for tendernes and voluptuousnes, shal be greued to loke vpon hir huszbande that lieth in hir bosome, and on hir sonne, and on hir doughter: euen because of hir doughters which she hath norished betwixte hir legges in hir lappe, and because of hir sonnes that she hath borne: For she shall eate them secretly for very scarcenesse of all thinges, in the straytnesse and sege, wherwith thine enemye shal besege yt with in thy gates.

Yf thou wilt not be diligent to do all the wordes of this lawe which are wrytten in this boke, that thou mayest feare this glorious and fearfull name, euen the LORDE thy God, then shal the LORDE entreate ye wonderously, with plages vpon ye and thy sede, yee with greate and continuall plages, with euell and contynuall sicknesses, and shal brynge vpō ye all ye sicknesses of Egipte (wherof thou wast afrayed) and they shal cleue vnto the. Therto all maner sicknesses and all maner plages, which are not wrytten in the boke of this lawe, shal the LORDE thy God cause to come vpon the, vntyll he haue destroyed the. And there shal be left but a fewe people of you, Deut. 10. d which afore were as the starres of heauen in multitude: because thou hast not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE thy God.

And as ye LORDE reioysed ouer you afore, to do you good, and to multiplye you, Iere. 31. euē so shall he reioyse ouer you, to destroye you, and to brynge you to naughte, and ye shalbe waysted from of the londe, whither thou goest now to possesse it. For the LORDE shal scater the amonge all nacions, from the one ende of the worlde vnto another, and there shalt thou serue other goddes, whom thou knowest not, ner yet thy fathers, euen wodd and stone.

And amonge those same nacions shalt thou haue no quyetnesse, nether shal the sole of ye fote haue eny rest: for the LORDE shal geue the there a fearfull hert, and dasynge of eyes, and a troubled soule, so that thy life shal hāge before the: Night and daye shalt thou feare, and shalt haue no trust in thy life. In the mornynge thou shalt saye: Who shall geue me the euenynge? And at euen shalt thou saye: Who shal geue me the mornynge? For the very greate feare of thine hert, which shal make the afrayed: and for the fighte of thine eyes which thou shalt se.

And the LORDE shal brynge the agayne in to Egipte by shippe fulles, euen thorow the waye wherof I sayde vnto the: Exo. 14. Thou shalt se it nomore: and there shal ye be solde vnto youre enemies for bonde seruauntes and bondemaidens, and there shal be no man to bye you.

The XXIX. Chapter.

THese are ye wordes of the couenaunt, which the LORDE cōmaunded Moses to make wt the children of Israel in the londe of the Moabites, Nu. 21. c Exo. 19. besyde ye couenaunt which he made with them in Horeb. And Moses called all Israel, and sayde vnto them: Ye haue sene all that the LORDE dyd before youre eyes in the londe of Egipte, vnto Pharao with all his seruaūtes, and all his londe, the greate tentacions which thine eyes haue sene, that they were greate tokēs and wonders. Deu. 10. b Iere. 31. d And yet vnto this daye hath not the LORDE geuen you an hert that vnderstondeth, eyes that se, & eares that heare.

He hath caused you to walke fortye yeares in the wyldernesse. Deu. . a Youre clothes are not waxed olde vpon you, nether is thy shue waxed olde on thy fote. Ye haue eaten no bred, and dronken no wyne, ner stronge drynke, that ye mighte knowe, that he is ye LORDE youre God.

And whan ye came vnto this place, Sihon the kynge of Heszbon, Nu. 81. d.c and Og ye kynge of Basan, e . 2. f •• d . a came out agaynst vs vnto battayll, and we smote them, and toke their londe, and gaue it to enheritaunce vnto ye Rubenites and Gaddites, and to the halfe trybe of the Manassites. Deu. 4. a Kepe now therfore the wordes of this couenaunt, and do therafter, that ye maye haue vnderstondinge in all that ye do.

Ye stonde this daye all before the LORDE youre God, the chefe rulers of youre trybes, youre Elders, youre officers, euery man in Israel, youre children, youre wyues, ye straungers that are in thine hoost, 〈◊〉 . 9. d from the hewer of ye wodd vnto ye drawer of yt water: that thou shuldest enter in to the couenaunt of the LORDE thy God, and in to the ooth which the LORDE thy God maketh with the this daye, that he mighte set the vp this daye to be a people vnto himself, and that he mighte be thy God, as he hath sayde vnto the, en. 17. a and as he sware vnto ye fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Iacob.

For I make not this couenaunt and this ooth with you onely, but both with you yt are here this daye, and stonde with vs before the LORDE oure God, and also with them that are not here with vs this daye. For ye knowe how we haue dwelt in the londe of Egipte, and how we came thorow the myddes of the Heythen, whom ye passed by, and sawe their abhominacions and their Idols, wodd and stone, syluer and golde, which were with them: Lest there be amōge you man or woman, or an housholde, or a trybe, which turneth awaye his hert this daye from the LORDE oure God, to go and to serue ye goddes of these nacions: and lest there be amonge you some rote, that beareth gall & worm wodd: so that though he heare the wordes of this curse, he blesse him selfe yet in his hert, and saye: ere. 5. b oph. 1. c Deu. 12. a Tush, it shal not be so euell. I wil walke after the ere. 5. b oph. 1. c Deu. 12. a meanynge of myne awne hert, that the dronken maye perishe with the thyrstie.

Then shall not the LORDE be mercifull vnto him, but his wrath and gelousy shall smoke ouer soch a man, and all the curses that are wrytten in this boke, shall lighte vpon him: and the LORDE shal put out his name from vnder heauen, and shall separate him vnto euell out of all the trybes of Israel, acordinge vnto all the curses of the couenaunt, that is wrytten in the boke of this lawe.

So the posterities of youre childrē which shal ryse vp after you, and the straungers that come out of farre countrees, shall saye (whan they se the plages of this londe, and the diseases wherwith the LORDE hath smytten it) that he hath brent vp all their londe with brymstone and salt, so yt it cannot be sowne, ner is frutefull, nether groweth there eny grasse therin, 〈…〉 Like as Sodom, Gomor, Adama and Zeboim are ouer throwne, which the LORDE ouerthrewe in his wrath and anger.

Then shall all nacions saye: Ie 3. 〈◊〉 Wherfore hath the LORDE done thus vnto this londe? What greate wrothfull displeasure is this? Then shalt it be sayde: Euen because they haue forsaken the couenaunt of ye LORDE God of their fathers (which he made with them whan he broughte them out of the londe of Egipte) and they wēte, and serued other goddes, and worshipped thē, euen soch goddes as they knewe not, and whom he had not deuyded vnto them. Therfore the wrath of the LORDE waxed whote ouer this londe, to brynge vpon it all the curses that are wrytten in this boke. And the LORDE thrust them out of their londe wt greate wrath, indignacion & displeasoure & hath cast them into another londe, as it is come to passe this daye.

These are the 〈…〉 secretes of the LORDE oure God, which are opened vnto vs and oure children for euer, yt we shulde do all the wordes of this lawe.

The XXX. Chapter.

NOw whan all this commeth vpon the, whether it be the blessinge or ye curse which I haue layed before the; 〈…〉 and thou goest in to thine hert, beynge amō ge the Heithen, whither the LORDE thy God hath thrust the, and thou turnest vnto the LORDE ye God, so that thou herkenest vnto his voyce, thou and thy children with all ye hert and with all thy soule, in all that I commaunde the this daye, 〈…〉 then shal the LORDE thy God turne thy captiuyte, and haue compassion vpon the, and shal gather thy congregacion agayne from amonge all the nacions, whither the LORDE thy God hath scatered the.

And though thou werest thrust out vnto the vttemost partes of the heauen, yet shall the LORDE thy God gather the from thence, and from thēce shal he fetch the, and shal brynge the in to the londe, which thy fathers haue possessed, and thou shalt enioye it, and he shal do the good, and multiplye the aboue thy fathers.

〈◊〉 10. d And the LORDE thy God shall circumcyse thine hert, and the hert of thy sede, that thou mayest loue the LORDE yt God with all thy hert and with all ye soule, that thou mayest lyue. But all these curses shall the LORDE thy God laye vpon thine enemyes, and vpon them that hate the and persecute the. But thou shalt turne, and herken vnto the voyce of the LORDE, to do all his commaundementes, which I commaunde the this daye. And the LORDE thy God shal make the plenteous in all the workes of thine hādes, in the frute of thy body, in the frute of thy catell, in the frute of thy londe to good.

〈…〉 For the LORDE shall turne, to reioyse ouer the to good, as he reioysed ouer thy fathers, so that thou herken vnto the voyce of the LORDE thy God (to kepe his commaundementes and ordinaunces, which are wrytten in the boke of this lawe) and turne vnto the LORDE thy God with all thy hert and with all thy soule.

〈◊〉 . 10. a For the commaundement which I commaunde ye this daye, is not to wonderfull for the, ner to farre, ner yet in heauen, that thou neadest to saye: Who wil go vp for vs in to heauen, and brynge it vnto vs, that we maie heare it and do it? Nether is it beyonde the see, that thou neadest to saye: Who wyll go ouer the see for vs, and fetch it vs, that we maye heare it, and do it? For the worde is very nye vnto the, euē in thy mouth and in thine hert, that thou do it.

〈◊〉 . 11. d 〈◊〉 . 21. b Beholde, I haue layed before you this daye, life and good, death and euell. For I cō maunde the this daye, to loue the LORDE thy God, and to walke in his wayes, and to kepe his commaundementes, ordinaunces, and lawes, that thou mayest lyue and multiplye, and that the LORDE thy God maye blesse the in the londe, whither thou goest to possesse it.

But yf thou turnest awaye thine hert, so that thou wilt not heare, but fall a waye, to worshipe other goddes and to serue them, I certifye you this daye, that ye shal perishe, & not lyue longe in the londe, whither thou goest ouer Iordane to possesse it.

eu. 4. d •• d 31. g I take heauen and earth this daye to recorde ouer you: I haue layed before you life and death, blessinge and cursinge, that thou mayest chose life, and that thou and thy sede maye lyue, yt ye maye loue the LORDE youre God, and herken vnto his voyce, and cleue vnto him: (For he is thy life and thy lōge age) that thou mayest dwell in the londe, which the LORDE sware vnto thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, to geue them.

The XXXI. Chapter.

ANd Moses wente, & spake these wordes to all Israel, and saide vnto them: I am this daye an hundreth and twē tye yeare olde, I can nomore go out and in: the LORDE also hath sayde vnto me: Nu. 20. b Thou shalt not go ouer this Iordane. The LORDE thy God himselfe shall go before the ouer Iordane: and HE himselfe shal destroye these nacions before the, that thou mayest conquere them: and Iosua he shall go ouer before the. Nu. 27. d as the LORDE hath sayde. And the LORDE shal do vnto them, as he dyd vnto Sihon and Og the kynges of the Amorites and vnto their lōde, which he destroyed. Num. 21. d

Deu. 7. a and 0. c Now whan the LORDE shal deliuer thē before you, ye shal do vnto them acordynge vnto all the commaundementes which I haue commaunded you. Be manly and strō ge, feare not, and be not afrayed of them. For the LORDE thy God himselfe shal go with the, Iosu. 1. a Heb. 13. a and shal not fayle the, ner forsake the.

And Moses called Iosua, and sayde vnto him before all Israel: Be stronge and bolde, Iosu. 1. b . Reg. 2. a for thou shalt brynge this people in to the londe, which the LORDE hath sworne vnto their fathers to geue them, and thou shalt parte it amonge them by lott. But the LORDE himselfe that goeth before you, euen HE shal be with the, and shal not fayle the, ner forsake the: Feare not, and be not afrayed.

And Moses wrote this lawe, and delyuered it vnto the prestes the children of Leui ( Num. 3. which bare the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE) and vnto all the Elders of Israel.

And he commaunded them, and sayde: 2. Esdr. . At the ende of seuen yeares, in the tyme of the Fre yeare, in the feast of Tabernacles whan all Israel come to appeare before the LORDE thy God, in the place that he shall chose, thou shalt cause this lawe to be proclamed before all Israel in their eares, namely, before the congregacion of the people, both of men, wemen, children, and thy straungers which are within thy gates: that they maye heare and lerne to feare the LORDE their God, and be diligent to do all the wordes of this lawe: and that their children also which knowe nothinge, maye heare and lerne to feare the LORDE yor God, all youre lyue dayes which ye lyue in the londe, whither ye go ouer Iordane to possesse it.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Beholde, thy tyme is come that thou must die, call Iosua, and stonde in the Tabernacle of witnesse, that I maye geue him a charge. Moses wente with Iosua, and stode in the Tabernacle of witnesse. And the LORDE appeared in the Tabernacle in a cloudy pyler Exo. 3 . b and the same cloudy pyler stode in the dore of the Tabernacle.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Beholde, thou shalt slepe with ye fathers, and this people wyll ryse vp, and go a whoringe after straunge goddes of the londe in to the which they come, Reg b and wyll forsake me, and breake the couenaunt which I haue made wt them. And then shall my wrath waxe whote agaynst them, at the same tyme, & I shal forsake thē, and hyde my face frō them, that they maye be consumed. 〈◊〉 . 2. d And so whan moch aduersite & trouble commeth vpō thē, they shal saye: Is not all this euell come vpō me, because God is not with me? But I shal hyde my face at the same tyme because of all the euell that they haue done, in that they haue turned vnto other goddes.

Wryte now therfore this songe, & teach it the children of Israel, and put it in their mouth, that this eut. 32. a songe maye be a witnesse vnto me amonge the children of Israel. For I wil brynge them in to the londe which I sware vnto their fathers, that floweth with mylke and hony. eut. 8. c And whan they eate, and are full and fatt, they shal turne vnto other goddes, and serue them, and blaspheme me, and breake my couenaunt.

And so whan moch myschefe and tribulacion is come vpon them, this songe shall answere before them for a witnesse. It shall not be forgotten out of the mouth of their sede: for I knowe their ymaginacion, that they go aboute euen now, before I brynge them in to the londe, which I sware vnto them.

So Moses wrote this songe at the same tyme, and taughte it the children of Israel. And the LORDE gaue Iosua the sonne of Nun a charge, and sayde: •• su. 1. b 〈◊〉 23. c Reg. . a Be stronge and bolde, for thou shalt brynge the children of Israel in to the londe, which I sware vnto them, and I wil be with the.

Now whan Moses had wrytten out all the wordes of this lawe in a boke, he commaunded the Leuites (which bare the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt) and sayde: Take the boke of this lawe, and laye it by the syde of the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE youre God, that it maye be there a wytnesse agaynst the: for I knowe thy stubburnesse and thy harde neck. Beholde, 〈…〉 whyle I am yet alyue wt you this daye, ye haue bene disobedient vnto the LORDE: how moch more after my death?

Gather now vnto me all the Elders of youre trybes, and youre officers, yt I maye speake these wordes in their eares, 〈…〉 and take heauen and earth to recorde agaynst them. For I am sure that after my death ye shall marre youre selues, and turne asyde out of the waye, which I haue commaunded you: and so shall mysfortune happen vnto you her after, because ye haue done euell in the sighte of the LORDE, in prouokynge him thorow the workes of youre handes.

So Moses spake out the wordes of this songe euen to the ende, in the eares of all the congregacion of Israel.

The XXXII. Chapter.

HErken (O ye heauens) I wyll speake: and let the earth heare the wordes of my mouth. 〈…〉

〈…〉 My doctryne droppe as doth the raine, and my speach flowe as doth the dew.

Euen as the rayne vpon the grasse, and as the droppes vpon the herbe.

For I wyl call vpon the name of the LORDE, geue ye the glory vnto oure God.

〈…〉 Perfecte are the workes of the Stone, for all his wayes are righteous.

God is true, and no wickednes is there in him, righteous and iust is he.

The frowarde and ouerthwarte generacion hath marred them selues to himwarde and are not his children, because of their deformyte.

Thankest thou the LORDE yi God so, thou foolish and vnwyse people?

Is not he thy father and thy LORDE? Hath he not made the, and prepared the?

Remembre the dayes that are past, 〈…〉 considre the yeares of the generacions afore tyme.

Axe thy father, he shall shewethe: thine elders, they shal tell the.

〈…〉 Whan the most Hyghest deuyded ye nacions and scatred the children of men.

Then set he the borders of the nacions acordinge to the nombre of the children of Israel.

〈…〉 For the LORDES parte is his folke, Iacob is the meetlyne of his enheritaunce.

He founde him in the wyldernesse, euen in the drye deserte where he roared.

He led him aboute, and gaue him vnderstondinge: He kepte him as the aple of his eye.

As an Aegle stereth vp hir nest, and flotereth ouer hir yonge: Euen so stretched he out his fethers, and toke him 〈◊〉 9. a and bare him on his wynges.

The LORDE onely was his gyde, & there was no straunge God with him.

He caried him ouer ye heigth of the earth, and fed him with the increase of the felde.

〈…〉 He caused him sucke hony out of the rocke, and oyle out of the harde stone.

Butter of the kyne, and mylke of the shepe, with the fat of the lambes, and rammes of the sonnes of Basan, and he goates with the fat of the kydneys, and wheate: And gaue him drynke of the very bloude of grapes.

〈…〉 And whan he was fat and had ynough, he waxed wanton.

He is fat, and thicke, and smothe, & hath letten God go, that made him, and despysed the rocke of his saluacion.

He hath prouoked him to indignacion, thorow straunge goddes, and thorow abhominacion hath he angred him.

〈…〉 They offred vnto felde deuels, & not vnto their God.

Vnto goddes whom they knewe not, euē vnto new goddes, yt came newly vp, whom their fathers honoured not.

Thy rocke that begat ye, hast thou despysed: and hast forgotten God that made the.

And whan the LORDE sawe it, he was moued vnto wrath ouer his sonnes and his doughters.

And he sayde: I wyll hyde my face from them, I wyll se what their ende shal be: for it is a frowarde generacion, they are childrē in whom is no fayth.

They haue prouoked me in it that is not God: wt their vanites haue they angred me.

〈◊〉 . 10. c 〈…〉 . c And I agayne wil prouoke them, by those that are no people: by a foolish nacion wil I anger them.

For the fyre is kyndled in my wrath, and shal burne vnto ye nethermost hell, and shal consume the londe with the increase therof, and set the foundacions of ye mountaynes on fyre.

I wil heape myscheues vpō them, I wil spende all myne arowes at them.

They shal pyne awaye thorow honger, & be consumed of the feuers, and of bytter sicknesses.

I wil sende amonge them ye tethe of beestes, and furious serpentes. Iere. 5. b Ioel. a

Without shall the swearde robbe them, & feare in the chambers, both the yonge man and yonge woman, the suckynge children wt the gray headed man.

I wyll saye: Where are they? I shall make their remembraunce to ceasse from amonge men.

Yf the wrath of the enemies were not gathered, lest their enemies shulde be proude, & might saie: Oure hande is hye, and: The LORDE hath not done all this.

For it is a people, wherin is no councell, and there is no vnderstondinge in them.

O that they were wyse & vnderstode this, that they wolde cōsidre what shulde happē vnto them herafter.

How cōmeth it, yt one shall chace a thousande of them, and yt two shal put ten thousande to flyghte?

Is it not so, euen because their rocke hath solde them, and because the LORDE hath geuen them ouer?

For oure rocke is not as their rocke, Exo. 14. c 1. Reg. . b of this are oure enemies iudges themselues.

Their vyne is of the vyne of Sodom, and of the feldes of Gomorra: their grapes are the grapes of gall, they haue bytter clusters.

Their wyne is the poyson of Dragons, & the furious gall of Adders.

Is not this hid with me, and sealed vp in my treasures?

Vengeaunce is myne, Rom. •• . c Heb. 10. d and I wyll rewarde in due season. Their fote shall slyde, for the tyme of their destrucciō is at honde, and the thinge that is to come vpon them, maketh haiste.

For the LORDE shall iudge his people, . Ma. 7. b and shal haue compassion on his seruauntes. For he shal considre that their power is awaie, and that it is gone with them, which were shut vp and remayned ouer.

And he shal saye: Iere. 1. d Where are their goddes, their rocke wherin they trusted?

Of whose sacrifices they ate ye fatt, and dranke the wyne of their drynk offeringes? Let them ryse vp and helpe you, and be youre proteccion.

Se now that I I am, and that there is none other God but I. Deut. 4. f 1. Reg. 2. b

I can kyll and make alyue: what I haue smytten, that can I heale: Iob 10. a and there is noman able to delyuer out of my hande.

For I wil lifte vp my hande to heauen, & wyl saye: I lyue euer.

Yf I whet ye edge of my swerde, and my hande take holde of iudgment, then wyll I auenge me on myne enemies, and rewarde them that hate me.

I wil make myne arowes dronken with bloude, and my swerde shal eate flesh ouer ye bloude of the slayne, and ouer the captyuite, and in that the enemies heade shall be discouered.

Rom. 15. a Reioyse ye Heythen with his people: for he wil auenge the bloude of his seruauntes, and wyl auenge him on his enemies, & wil be mercifull vnto the londe of his people.

And Moses came and spake all the wordes of this songe in the eares of the people, he and Iosua the sonne of Nun. Now whā Moses had made an ende of speakinge all these wordes vnto all Israel, he sayde vnto thē: Deut. 6. b and 11. c Take to hert all ye wordes, which I testifye vnto you this daye, that ye commaunde youre children, to obserue and do all the wordes of this lawe. For it is no vaine worde vnto you, but it is yor life: & this worde shal prolonge youre life in ye londe, whither ye go uer Iordane to conquere it.

And ye LORDE spake vnto Moses ye same daie, & sayde: Get the vp to this mount Abarim, vpon mount Nebo, which lyeth in ye londe of the Moabites ouer agaynst Iericho, & beholde the londe of Canaan, which I shall geue vnto the children of Israel in possessiō. And dye thou vpon the mount, whan thou art come vp, and be gathered vnto thy people, Nu. 0. d like as Aaron thy brother dyed vpon mount Hor, and was gathered vnto his people Because ye trespaced agaynst me amonge the children of Israel by the Nu. 20. a water of stryfe at Cades in the wildernesse of Zin, and sanctified me not amonge the children of Israel. For thou shalt se the londe ouer against the, which I geue vnto ye children of Israel but thou shalt not come in to it.

The XXXIII. Chapter.

THis is the blessynge, wherwith Moses the man of God blessed ye childrē of Israel before his death, and saide: The LORDE came from Sinai, Exo. 3. a Exo. 19. a and rose vp vnto thē from Seir. He appeared fro mount Paran, and came wt many thousande sayntes. At his righte hande is there a lawe of fyre for them: O how loued he the people? All his sayntes are in his hande, 〈…〉 they shall set them selues downe at thy fete, and receaue of thy wordes. Moses commaunded vs the lawe, which is the enheritaunce of the congregacion of Iacob. And he was in the fulnesse of the kynge, & helde ye rulers of ye people together, with the trybes of Israel.

Let Ruben lyue, and not dye, and his people be fewe in nombre.

This is the blessynge of Iuda. And he sayde: LORDE heare the voyce of Iuda, and brynge him vnto his people: Let his hā des multiplye him, and let him be helped frō his enemies.

And vnto Leui he sayde: Thy perfectnes and ye lighte be acordinge vnto the man of thy mercy, 〈…〉 whō thou hast tempted at Massa, whan ye stroue by the water of stryfe. 〈…〉 He that sayeth vnto his father and to his mother: I se him not: and to his brother, I knowe him not: and to his sonne, I wote not of him, those haue obserued thy wordes, and kepte ye couenaunt: they shal teach Iacob thy iudgmentes, and Israel thy lawe: they shal laie incense before thy nose, & burnt offeringes vpon thine altare. LORDE, blesse thou his power & accepte the workes of his handes: smyte the loynes of them yt ryse vp agaynst him, & of them that hate him, that they lifte not vp them selues.

And to Ben Iamin he saide: The beloued of the LORDE shal dwell in hope on him: All the daye longe shal he wayte vpon him, and shal dwell betwene his shulders.

And to Ioseph he sayde: 〈…〉 His londelieth in the blessynge of the LORDE, there are noble frutes of heauen, of the dew, and of the depe that lyeth beneth: There are noble frutes of the increase of the Sonne, and noble rype frutes of ye monethes: And of ye toppes of the mountaynes of olde, and of the hilles allwaye, and of the noble frutes of ye earth, and of 〈◊〉 fulnesse therof. The good will of him 〈…〉 that dwelleth in the buszshe, come vpon the heade of Ioseph, and 〈…〉 vpon ye toppe of his heade that was separated frō amonge his brethren.

His bewtye is as a firstborne oxe, and his hornes are as ye hornes of an Vnicorne: with the same shal he puszshe the nacions together, euen vnto the endes of the worlde. These are the thousandes of Ephraim, and the thousandes of Manasse.

And vnto Zabulon he sayde: Reioyse Zabulon of thy outgoynge: but reioyse thou Isachar of thy tentes. They shall call the people vnto ye hyll, and there shal they offre ye offeringes of righteousnes. For they shal sucke the abundaunce of the see, and the treasures hyd in the sonde.

And to Gad he sayde: Blessynge haue Gad, which maketh rowme. He dwelleth as a lyon, and spoyleth the arme and the toppe of the heade. And he sawe his begynnynge, that ye heape of the teachers laye hydd there, and came with the rulers of the people, and executed the righteousnesse of the LORDE, and his iudgment on Israel.

And to Dan he sayde: Dan a yonge lyon, he shal flowe from Basan.

And to Nephtali he saide: Nephtali shal haue abundaunce of pleasure, & shalbe full of the blessynge of the LORDE: his possession shalbe towarde the west and south. And to Asser he sayde: Asser be blessed wt sonnes, accepted be he with his brethren, and dyppe his fote in oyle. Yron and brasse be on thy shues. Thyne age be as thy youth.

There is no God as the God of the iust. He that sytteth vpon heauen, be thy helpe. And his glory is in the cloudes, that is the dwellynge of God from the beginnynge, and vnder the armes of the worlde. And he shal dryue out thyne enemye before the, and saye: Be destroyed. 〈◊〉 . 3. b And Israel shall dwell safe alone. The eye of Iacob shalbe vpon ye londe where corne and wine is, heauen also shal droppe with dewe. Happye art thou Israel, who is lyke vnto the? O thou people yt art saued by the LORDE, which is thy helpe, shylde, and the swerde of thy glorye. Thyne enemies shal pyne awaye, and thou shalt treade vpon the height of them.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

ANd Moses wente from the felde of ye Moabites vp vnto mount Nebo, 〈◊〉 . 17. c 〈◊〉 . 7. a vpō ye toppe of moūt Pisga ouer agaynst Iericho. And the LORDE shewed him all the londe of Gilead vnto Dan, and all Nephtali, and the londe of Ephraim and Manasse, and all the londe of Iuda, vnto ye vttemost see, and towarde the south, and the region of the playne of Iericho the cite of the palme trees euen vnto Zoar. And the LORDE sayde vnto him: This is the londe that I sware vnto Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, and sayde: I wyll geue it vnto thy sede. Thou hast sene it with thine eyes, Nu. 10. b but thou shalt not go ouer thither.

So Moses ye seruaunt of the LORDE died there in the londe of the Moabites, acordinge vnto the worde of ye LORDE. And he buried him in a valley, in the londe of the Moabites ouer agaynst the house of Peor. And noman knewe of his graue vnto this daye. And Moses was an hundreth and twentye yeare olde whan he dyed: his eyes were not dymme, and his chekes were not fallen. And the children of Israel weped for Moses in ye felde of the Moabites thirtie daies, and the dayes of the wepynge and mournynge for Moses were fulfilled.

And Iosua the sonne of Nun was filled with ye sprete of wyszdome ( Nu. 27. d for Moses had layed his hande vpon him) and the children of Israel herkened vnto him, and dyd as the LORDE commaunded Moses. And there arose no prophet more in Israel, like vnto Moses, whom the LORDE knewe face to face in all tokens and wonders (which the LORDE sent him to do in ye londe of Egipte, vnto Pharao, and to all his seruaū tes, and his londe) and in all this mightie hande and greate visions which Moses dyd in the sighte of all Israel.

The ende of the fifte boke of Moses, called Deuteronomion.

The seconde parte of the olde Testament.

The boke of Iosua. The boke of the Iudges. The boke of Ruth. The first boke of the Kynges. The seconde boke of the Kynges. The thirde boke of the Kynges. The fourth boke of the kynges. The first boke of the Cronicles. The seconde boke of the Cronicles. The first boke of Eszdras. The seconde boke of Eszdras. The boke of Hester.

The boke of Iosua. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. After the death of Moses, God cō maūdeth Iosua to get him vp, and to go with the people ouer Iordane in to the londe of promes. Chap. II. Two spyes are sent vnto Iericho, and Rahab lodgeth them. Chap. III. Iosua goeth forth with the people vnto Iordane: The Leuites are ordeyned to go beforewith the Arke. The one parte of Iordane stondeth styll, the other renneth downe, and the people go thorow it drye shodd. Chap. IIII. Twolue stones doth Iosua cause to be taken out of Iordane, and setteth them vp at Gilgall for a remembraunce. Chap V. The kynges beyonde Iordane are afrayed. The people in Gilgall are circumcysed. They eate the Passeouer and vnleuended bred. Chap. VI. How Iericho is wonne and taken. Chap. VII. The Israelites are put to flight before their enemies, because one of thē had stollen of it that shulde haue bene damned and vtterly destroyed. The trespacer is stoned vnto death. Chap VIII. The cite of Hai is wonne, the people slayne, the kynge taken alyue and hanged, the cite brent. Iosua buyldeth an altare vnto the LORDE. The blessynges and curses are red. Chap. IX. The Heythen kynges prepare thē selues agaynst Israel. The Gabaonites saue their lyues by crafte and suttyltie Chap. X. The Heythen laye sege to Gabaon, but Iosua helpeth them, and wynneth a greate felde, commaundeth the Sonne to sto de styll, hangeth vp fyue kynges, and taketh the cities. Chap. XI. The Heythē kynges gather thē selues together agaynst Israel: but they are discomfited, and their cities wonne. Chap. XII. The names of the kynges whom Iosua and the Israelites slewe, are here rehearsed, euen one and thirtye. Chap XIII. The remnaunt of the londe on this syde Iordane. Chap. XIIII. The dealinge out of the londe. Chap. XV. The londe that fell vnto Iuda by lott. Chap. XVI. The lot of Ephraim. Chap. XVII. The lot and porcion of Manasse. Chap. XVIII. Men are sent out of the seuen trybes, to consyder the londe, and to deale it out. The porcion of Ben Iamin. Chap. XIX. The porcion of Simeon, Zabulon, Isachar, Aser, Nephtali and Dan. Chap. XX. The partinge out of the fre cities. Chap. XXI. Of the cities and suburbes of the Leuites. Chap. XXII. The two tribes and a halfe are sen home agayne, with a charge to be diligent in kepynge Gods commaundement. Of the altare of witnesse Chap. XXIII. Iosua calleth the people together before his death, & exorteth them to cleue fast to the commaundementes of the LORDE. Chap. XXIIII. He calleth the people together i Sichem, and rehearceth the benefites of God vnto thē. The couenaūt with God is renewed. Iosua dyeth, and so doth Eleasar.

The first Chapter.

AFter the death of Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE, spake the LORDE vnto Iosua ye sonne of Nun Moses mynister: My seruaunt Moses is deed, vp now, and go ouer this Iordane, thou and all this people in to the londe that I haue geuen the children of Israel. •• ut. 11. d All the places that the soles of youre fete shal treade vpon, haue I geuen vnto you, as I sayde vnto Moses: From the wyldernesse and this Libanus vnto the greate water Euphrates: all the londe of the Hethites vnto the greate see towarde the west, shal be youre border. There shall noman be able to withstonde yt all thy life longe. 〈◊〉 . 3. d And like as I was with Moses, so wil I be with the also. eut. 1. b •• b. 13. a I will not fayle the nether forsake the. Be stronge and bolde: for vnto this people shalt thou deuyde ye londe, which I sware vnto their fathers, to geue it them.

Deu. 31. b Be strōge therfore and very bolde, that thou mayest kepe and do euery thynge acordinge to the lawe, that Moses my seruaunt commaunded the. Turne not asyde from it, nether to the righte hande ner to the lefte, Deut. . d yt thou mayest deale wysely whither so euer thou goest. Deut. 17. d And let not the boke of this lawe departe out of thy mouth, but exercyse thy selfe therin daie and nighte, that thou mayest kepe and do euery thinge acordinge to it that is wryttē therin: Then shalt thou prospere in thy waies, and deale wysely. Lo, I haue commaunded the to be stronge and bolde. Feare not, and be not afrayed: for the LORDE thy God is with ye, whither so euer thou goest.

Then commaunded Iosua the officers of the people, and sayde: Go thorow the hoost, and charge ye people, and saye: Prepare you vytayles, for ouer thre dayes shal ye go ouer this Iordane, that ye maye come in and take possession of the londe, which the LORDE youre God shal geue you.

And to the Rubenites, Gaddites, and to the halfe trybe of Manasse, sayde Iosua: Thynke vpon the worde, Nu. 32. d that Moses the seruaunt of ye LORDE spake vnto you, and sayde: The LORDE yor God hath brought you to rest, and geuen you this londe. Let youre wyues and children and catell remayne in ye londe, that Moses gaue you on this syde Iordane: But ye youre selues (as many as be fightinge men) shal go forth before youre brethren in harnesse, and helpe them, tyll the LORDE haue broughte youre brethren to rest also as well as you: that they also maye take possession of the londe, which the LORDE yor God shal geue them: Then shal ye turne agayne in to the londe of youre possession, that ye maye enioye it, which Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE hath geuen you on this syde Iordane towarde ye Easte. And they answered Iosua and sayde: Deu. 5. 1. Mac 2 Iere. 42All that thou hast commaunded vs, wyll we do: and whither so euer thou sendest vs, we wyl go thither. Like as we haue obeyed Moses, so wyl we be obedient also vnto the: Onely that the LORDE thy God be with ye, like as he was with Moses. Who so euer disobeyeth thy mouth, and herkeneth not vnto thy wordes in all that thou hast commaunded vs, shal dye: Onely be thou stronge and bolde.

The II. Chapter.

IOsua the sonne of Nun sent out two spyes preuely from Setim, and sayde vnto them: Go youre waye, loke vpon the londe and Iericho. They wente forth, Heb. 11. Iac. 2. and came in to ye house of an harlot, called Rahab, and laye there. Then was it tolde the kynge of Iericho: Lo, there are men come in this nighte from the childrē of Israel, to spye the londe. Then sent the kynge of Iericho vnto Rahab, saynge: Delyuer the men forth that are come vnto the in to thy house, for they are come to spye out the whole londe. Now as for the two men, the woman had hyd them, and sayde: There came men in vnto me in dede, but I knewe not whence they were. And at the shuttinge in of the gate whan it was darcke, they wente out, so yt I can not tell whither they be gone: folowe soone after them, for ye shal ouertake them. But she had caused them to clymme vp vnto the house toppe, and hyd them vnder the stalkes of flaxe, that she had prepared her vpō the toppe of the house. Howbeit the men folowed after them in ye waye towarde Iordane, euen vnto the ferye: and whan they that folowed vpon them were gone forth, the gate was shut.

And or euer the men layed them downe to slepe, she wente vp to them vnto the house toppe, and sayde vnto thē: I knowe that the LORDE shal delyuer you the londe, Deu. 2 . a osu. 5. a for the feare of you is fallen vpon vs, and all the inhabiters of the londe are discoraged at youre commynge. For we haue herde, how the LORDE dryed vp the water in the reed see before you, Exo. 14. e whā ye departed out of Egipte: Nu. 21. d and what ye dyd vnto the two kynges of the Amorites, Sihon and Og beyonde Iordane, how ye roted them out, and destroyed them. And sence we herde therof, oure hert hath failed vs, nether is there a good stomacke more in eny man, by the reason of youre commynge. For the LORDE yor God is both the God aboue in heauē and beneth vpon earth.

Sweare now then vnto me eu. 10. d euen by the LORDE (for so moch as I haue dealte mercifully with you) that ye wyl also shewe mercy vpon my fathers house: and geue me a true token, that ye wyl let my father lyue, and my mother, my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they haue, and delyuer oure soules from death. The men sayde vnto her: su. . d Yf we shewe not mercy and faithfulnesse vpon the, whan the LORDE geueth vs the londe, then let oure soule dye for you, so farre as thou betrayest not oure deuyce. Then let she them downe thorow the wyndowe by a coarde: for hir house wa in the wall of the cite, and in the wall was hir dwellynge. And she sayde vnto them: Go youre waye vp to the mountaynes, lest they mete you that folowe vpon you: and hyde youre selues there thre dayes, tyll they be come againe yt folowe after you: and then get you youre waye.

But the men sayde vnto her: As for this ooth that thou hast taken of vs, we wyll be discharged of it whan we come in to ye londe, excepte thou knyttest in the wyndowe ye lyne of this rosecoloured rope (yt thou hast lettē vs downe with all) & gatherest vnto ye in to the house, thy father, thy mother, yi brethren & all thy fathers house. And loke who so euer goeth out at the dore of thy house, his bloude be vpon his owne heade, and we giltlesse. But of all those yt are in ye house, yf a hande be layed vpon thē, their bloude shalbe vpō or heade. And yf thou bewrayest eny of this deuyce of ours, thē wil we be discharged of the ooth yt thou hast takē of vs. She sayde: Let it be so as ye saye, and she let thē go. And they wente their waye. And she knyt the rose coloured lyne in the wyndowe.

They wente on their waye, and came to the mountaynes, and remayned there thre dayes, tyll they that folowed vpon them were come agayne: for they soughte them thorow euery strete, & yet they founde them not. So the two men turned agayne, and departed from the mountaynes, and passed ouer (Iordane) and came to Iosua the sonne of Nun, and tolde him euery thinge, as they had founde it, & they sayde vnto Iosua: The LORDE hath geuē vs all the londe in to oure handes, and all they that dwell in the londe, are sore afrayed of vs.

The III. Chapter.

ANd Iosua rose vp early, and they departed from Setim, & came vnto Iordane, he and all the children of Israel, and remayned there all night, afore they wē te ouer. But after thre dayes wente the officers thorow ye hoost, and commaunded the people, and sayde: Whan ye se the Arke of ye couenaunt of the LORDE youre God, and the prestes from amōge the Leuites bearinge it, departe ye then out of youre place, and folowe after (but so, that there be rowme betwene you and it by two thousande cubites, & that ye come not nye it) yt ye maye knowe what waye ye shulde go: for ye neuer wente that waye afore.

And Iosua sayde vnto the people: Halowe youre selues, 〈…〉 for tomorow shal ye LORDE bringe wonderous thinges to passe amō ge you. And vnto the prestes he sayde: Beare ye the Arke of ye couenaūt, and go before the people. Then 〈…〉 bare they the Arke, and wente before the people. And the LORDE sayde vnto Iosua: This daye wyl I begynne to make the greate in the sighte of all Israel, that they maie knowe, how that like as I was with Moses, so am I with the also. And commaunde thou the prestes that beare the Arke, and saye: Whan ye come before in the water of Iordane, stonde styll.

And Iosua sayde vnto the children of Israel: Come hither, & heare the worde of the LORDE youre God. He sayde morouer: By this shal ye perceaue, that the lyuynge God is amonge you, and that he shall dryue out before you ye Cananites, Hethites, Heuites, Pheresites, Girgosites, Amorites and Iebusites. Beholde, the Arke of the couenaunt of him yt hath domynion ouer all londes, shall go before you in Iordane. Take now therfore twolue men out of ye trybes of Israel, out of euery trybe one. And whan the soles of the fete of the prestes that beare ye Arke of the LORDE the gouernoure of all londes, are set in the water of Iordane, then shal ye water of Iordane withdrawe it selfe from the water that floweth from aboue, that it maye stonde on a heape.

Now whan the people departed out of their tentes, to go ouer Iordane, & the prestes bare the Arke of the couenaunt before the people, and came in to Iordane, & dypte their fete before in the water (as for Iordane on all his banckes it was full of all maner waters 〈…〉 of the londe) then the water that came downe frō aboue, stode straight vp vpon one heape, very farre from the cite of Adom, that lyeth on the syde of Zarthan: But the water that ranne downe to the see (euen to the salt see) fell awaye, and decreased.

〈◊〉 . 65. a So ye people wente thorow ouer agaynst Iericho. And the prestes that bare the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt, stode drye in ye myddes of Iordane, readye prepared: & all Israel wēte thorow drye shod, vntyll ye whole people were all come ouer Iordane.

The IIII. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE sayde vnto Iosua: Take you twolue men, out of euery trybe one, & cōmaunde them, & saye: 〈◊〉 . 7. a Take vp twolue stones out of Iordane, from the place where the fete of the prestes stode in their araye: & cary them with you, yt ye maie leaue them in ye lodginge, where ye shal lodge this night. Thē Iosua called twolue mē which were prepared of the children of Israel, out of euery trybe one, & sayde vnto thē: Go youre waye ouer before the Arke of the LORDE youre God in the myddes of Iordane, & take euery man a stone vpon his shulder, after the nombre of the trybes of ye children of Israel, yt they maye be a token amonge you. And whan youre children axe their fathers here after, and saye: What do these stones there? That ye maye then saye vnto them, how that the water of Iordane claue in sunder before the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt, whan it wente thorow Iordane, & that these stones are set for a perpetuall remembraunce vnto the children of Israel.

Then dyd the children of Israel as Iosua commaunded them, and bare twolue stones out of the myddes of Iordane (as the LORDE had sayde vnto Iosua) 1. Re. •• . acordinge to the nombre of the trybes of the children of Israel, and broughte the same with them in to the lodginge, and lefte them there. And Iosua set vp twolue stones in ye myddes of Iordane, where ye fete of the prestes stode, that bare ye Arke of the couenaunt: and there they be yet vnto this daye. As for ye prestes that bare ye Arke, they stode in the myddes of Iordane, vntyll all was perfourmed that the LORDE charged Iosua to saye vnto ye people Deu. 27. acordinge as Moses gaue Iosua in commaundemēt. The people also made haist, and wente ouer. Now whan all the people was gone ouer, the Arke of the LORDE wente ouer also, and the prestes wente before the people.

Num 32. Iosu. . c And the Rubenites, & Gaddites, and ye halfe trybe of Manasse wente harnessed before the childrē of Israel, like as Moses had sayde vnto thē: Aboute a fortye thousande men ready harnessed to the warre, wente before the LORDE to the battayll, vpon ye felde of Iericho. Iosu. 3. c In that daye the LORDE made Iosua greate in the sighte of all Israel: and like as they feared Moses, so stode they in awe of him, all his life longe.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Iosua: Commaunde the prestes which beare the Arke of witnesse, that they come vp out of Iordane. So Iosua cōmaunded the prestes, & sayde: Come vp out of Iordane. And whan the prestes yt bare the Arke of the couenaūt of ye LORDE were come out of Iordane, and trode with the soles of their fete vpon the drye londe, ye water of Iordane came agayne in to his place, and flowed (like as afore tyme) vpon all his banckes.

It was ye tenth daye of the first moneth, whan the people came vp out of Iordane: & they pitched their tentes in Gilgall vpon ye East syde of ye cite of Iericho. And ye twolue stones which they had taken out of Iordane, dyd Iosua set vp at Gilgall, & saide vnto the children of Israel: Exo. 1 . Whan youre children axe their fathers herafter, & saie: What meane these stones: Ye shall tell thē, & saye: Israel wēte drye thorow Iordane, what tyme as ye LORDE yor God dryed vp ye water of Iordane before you, vntyll ye were ouer: like as the LORDE yor God dyd in the reed see, xo. 14. c which he dryed vp before vs, yt we mighte go thorow: that all the people vpon earth mighte knowe the hāde of the LORDE, how mightie it is, to the intent that ye shulde allwaye feare the LORDE youre God.

The V. Chapter.

NOw whan all the kynges of ye Amorites that dwelt beyonde Iordane westwarde, and all the kynges of ye Cananites by the see syde herde, how ye LORDE had dryed vp the water of Iordane before the children of Israel, tyll they were come ouer osu. 2. b their hert fayled them, nether was there eny more corage in them at the presence of the children of Israel.

At the same tyme sayde ye LORDE vnto Iosua: Make the knyues xod. 4. c of stone, & circumcyse the children of Israel agayne the seconde tyme. Then Iosua made him knyues of stone, and circumcysed the childrē of Israel vpon the toppe of the foreszkynnes. And the cause why Iosua circumcysed all the males of the people yt were come out of Egipte, is this: for all the men of warre dyed in ye wildernesse by the waye, after they were departed out of Egipte: for all the people that came forth, were circumcysed.

But all the people that were borne in ye wyldernesse by the waye (after they departed out of Egipte) were not circumcysed: for the children of Israel walked fortye yeares in the wyldernesse, vntyll all the people of the men of warre that came out of Egipte, were consumed, because they herkened not vnto the voyce of the LORDE, like as the LORDE sware vnto them, 〈◊〉 . 14. d that they shulde not se the londe, which the LORDE sware vnto their fathers to geue vnto vs, euen a londe that floweth with mylke & honye: their children which were come vp in their steade, dyd Iosua circumcyse: for they had the foreszkynne, and were not circumcysed by the waye.

And whan all the people were circumcysed, they abode in their place, euē in ye tētes, tyll they were whole. And ye LORDE saide vnto Iosua: To daie haue I turned ye shame of Egipte awaye from you, & the same place was called Gilgall vnto this daye. And whyle the children of Israel laye thus at Gilgall, they kepte Easter Exod. 1 . a the fourtenth daye of the moneth at euē in the felde of Iericho. And they ate of the corne of the lōde the seconde daye of the Easter: namely, vnleuended bred, & fyrmentye of yt yeare, euē the same daye. And vpon the morow, the xod. •• . f Manna fayled, whan they ate of the corne of ye londe, so that the children of Israel had nomore Manna, but ate of the corne of the londe of Canaan the same yeare.

And it fortuned that whā Iosua was by Iericho, he lifte vp his eyes, & was awarre, that there stode a mā agaynst him, and had a naked swerde in his hande. And Iosua wē te to him, & sayde vnto him: Art thou one of vs, or of oure enemies? He sayde: No, but I am 〈…〉 the prynce of the LORDES hoost, and now am I come. Then fell Iosua downe to the earth vpon his face, & worshipped him and sayde vnto him: What sayeth my LORDE vnto his seruaunt? And the prynce ouer the LORDES hoost sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 Put ye shues of ye fete, for the place whervpō thou stondest, is holy. And Iosua dyd so.

The VI. Chapter.

AS for Iericho, it was shut & kepte because of the childrē of Israel, so that no man mighte go out ner in. But the LORDE sayde vnto Iosua: Beholde, I haue geuen Iericho with ye kynge and men of warre therof, in to ye hande. Let all the men of warre go once rounde aboute ye cite, and do so sixe dayes. But vpon the seuenth daye let the prestes take the seuen trompettes of the yeare of Iubilye before the Arke, and go the same seuenth daye seuen tymes abou •• the cite, and let the prestes blowe the trompettes. And whan the horne of the yeare of Iubilye bloweth and maketh a sounde, so that ye heare the trompettes, all the people shal make a greate shoute, then shal the walles of the cite fall downe, and ye people shal fall in, euery one straight before him.

Then Iosua the sonne of Nun called ye prestes, and sayde vnto them: Beare ye th Arke of the couenaunt, and let seuen prestes take the seuen trompettes of the yeare of Iubilye before the Arke of the LORDE. But vnto the people he sayde: Get you hence, and go roūde aboute the cite: and let him that is harnessed, go before the Arke of the LORDE. Whan Iosua had spoken this vnto the people, the seuen prestes bare the seuen trompettes of the yeare Iubilye before the Arke of the LORDE, and wente & blew the trompettes, and the Arke of the LORDES couenaūt folowed after them: and who so was harnessed, wente before the prestes that blewe the trompettes, and the multitude folowed the Arke. And all was full of ye noyse of the trompettes. But Iosua commaunded the people, and sayde: Ye shall make no shoute, ner let youre voyce be herde, nother shall ye geue one worde out of youre mouth, vntyll the daye yt I saye vnto you: Make a shoute, then make a shoute.

So the Arke of the LORDE wente once rounde aboute the cite, and came agyne in to ye hooste, & remayned therin: for Iosua vsed to ryse vp early in the mornynge. And the prestes bare the Arke of the LORDE: so dyd the seuen prestes beare the seuen trompettes of the yeare of Iubilye before ye Arke of the LORDE, and wente and blewe the trompettes: and who so was harnessed, wente before thē, but ye multitude folowed ye Arke of the LORDE. And all was full of the noyse of the trompettes.

The seconde daye wente they once aboute the cite also, and came agayne into the hoost. Thus dyd they sixe dayes. But vpon the seuēth daye whan the mornynge sprynge arose, they gat them vp early, and wente after the same maner seuen tymes aboute ye cite, so that vpon the same one seuenth daye they wente seuen tymes aboute the cite.

And at the seuēth tyme whan the prestes blewe the trompettes, Iosua sayde vnto the people: Make a shoute, for ye LORDE hath delyuered you the cite: Howbeit this cite, & all that is therin, shalbe damned vnto the LORDE: 〈◊〉 . . c onely the harlot Rahab shal lyue, & all that are with her in ye house, for she hyd the messaungers, whom we sent forth. 〈◊〉 . . a Onely bewarre of it that is damned, lest ye damne youre selues (yf ye take ought of it which is damned) and make the hoost of Israel to be damned, and brynge it in to mysfortune. But all the syluer and golde, with the ornamētes of brasse & yron, shalbe sanctified vnto the LORDE, that it maye come to the LORDES treasure.

Then made the people a greate shoute, and the prestes blewe the trompettes (for whan the people herde the noyse of the trompettes, they made a greate shoute) 〈…〉 and the walles fell, and ehe people clymmed vp in to the cite, euery one straight before him. Thus they wanne ye cite, and Deut. •• . destroyed all that was in the cite with the edge of the swerde, both man and woman, yonge and olde, oxe, shepe, and Asse.

But Iosua sayde vnto ye two men which had spyed out the londe: Go in to the house of the harlot, and bringe out the woman frō thence with all that she hath, acordynge as ye haue sworne vnto her. Then ye yonge men (the spyes) wente in, and brought forth Rahab with hir father and mother, & brethren, and all that she had, and all hir kynred, and caused her to dwell without the hoost of Israel. As for the cite, they brent it with fyre, & all that was therin: onely the syluer and golde, and the ornamentes of brasse and yrō put they vnto the treasure in the house of ye LORDE: but Iosua let Heb. 11. Iacob. . the harlot Rahab lyue, with hir fathers house, and all that she had: & she dwelt in Israel vnto this daie, because she had hyd the messaungers whō Iosua sent vnto Iericho to spye.

At the same tyme sware Iosua, and sayde: . Re. 1 . Cursed be that man before the LORDE, which setteth vp this cite of Iericho & buyldeth it: Whan he laieth ye foundaciō therof, let it cost him his first sonne: And whā he setteth vp the gates of it, let it cost him his yō gest sonne. Thus the LORDE was with Iosua, so that he was spoken of in all londes.

The VII. Chapter.

BVt the children of Israel had cōmytted a sinne in the thinge yt was damned: Deut. 7. Iosu. 6. d . Ma. 1 . for Achan the sonne of Charmi the sonne of Sabdi the sonne of Serah, of ye trybe of Iuda, toke some of it yt was dāned. Then was the wrath of the LORDE fearce ouer the children of Israel.

Now whan Iosua sent out men from Iericho vnto Hai, which lyeth besyde Bethanē on ye east syde of Bethel, he sayde vnto thē: Go vp, and spye the londe. And whan they had gone vp, and spyed out Hai, they came agayne to Iosua, and sayde vnto him: Let not all the people go vp, but vpon a two or thre thousande, that they maye go vp and smyte Hai, lest all the people weerye themselues there, for they are but fewe.

So there wente vp, of the people vpon a thre thousande men, and they fled before the men of Hai, and they of Hai smote vpon a syxe and thyrtie men of them, and chaced them from the porte vnto Sebar m, and smote them downe the waye. Then was the hert of the people discoraged, * and became like water. Psa. 1. b As for Iosua he rente his clothes, and fell vpon his face vnto the earth before the Arke of the LORDE, vntill the eueninge, with the Elders of Israel, and cast dust vpon their heades.

And Iosua sayde: Oh LORDE LORDE, wherfore hast thou broughte this people ouer Iordane, to delyuer vs in to the handes of the Amorites to destroye vs? O that we had taried beionde Iordane, as we begāne. Oh my LORDE, what shal I saye, whyle Israel turneth his backe vpon his enemies? Whā the Cananites heare of this, they shal compasse vs rounde aboute, yee and rote out oure names from of the earth. What wylt thou do then vnto thy greate name?

Then sayde the LORDE vnto Iosua: Stō de vp, why lyest thou so vpon thy face? Israel hath offended, and trāsgressed ouer my couenaunt, which I commaunded thē. They haue taken also of the thinge that was damned, and haue stollen, and dyssembled, and layed it amonge their ornamentes. The children of Israel are not able to stonde before their aduersaries, but must turne their backes vpon their enemies: for they are acursed. I wyll no more be with you from hēce forth yf ye put not out the damned from amonge you.

Stonde vp, and sanctifie the people, and saye: Re. 16. a Sanctifie yor selues agaynst tomorow for thus sayeth the LORDE God of Israel: eut. 13. c nd 17. b There is a damned thinge in the O Israel, therfore canst thou not stonde before thine enemies, tyll ye put awaye the damned from amonge you. And ye shall ryse vp early, one trybe after another: and loke which trybe so euer the LORDE taketh, the same shall come forth, one kynred after another: and loke which kynred the LORDE taketh, the same shall come forth, one house after another. And loke what house the LORDE taketh, the same shal come forth, one housholder after another. And who so euer is founde in ye curse, the same shalbe burnt in the fyre with all that he hath: because he hath gone beyonde the couenaunt of the LORDE, and committed folye in Israel.

Then Iosua gat him vp by tymes in the mornynge, and brought forth Israel, one trybe after another, and ye trybe of Iuda was taken. And whan he had brought forth the kynreds in Iuda, ye kinred of the Serahites was taken. And whan he had brought forth the kynred of the Serahites, one housholde after another, Sabdi was taken. And whā he had brought forth his house, one housholder after another, Achan the sonne of Charmi ye sonne of Sabdi the sonne of Serah of the trybe of Iuda, was taken.

And Iosua sayde vnto Achan: My sonne, geue the glory vnto the LORDE the God of Israel, and geue him the prayse, and tell me, what thou hast done, and hide nothinge fro me.

Then answered Achan vnto Iosua, and sayde: Verely I haue synned agaynst ye LORDE God of Israel, thus & thus haue I done: I sawe amōge ye spoiles a costly Babilonish garment, and two hūdreth Sycles of syluer and a tunge of golde, worth fiftye Sycles in weight, vnto the which I had a lust, and toke it: and beholde, it is hyd in the grounde in my tente, and the syluer vnder it.

Then Iosua sent messaungers thither, which ranne to the tente, and beholde, it was hyd in his tente, and the siluer vnder it. And they toke it out of the tente, and broughte it vnto Iosua, and to all the children of Israel and poured it before the LORDE. Then Iosua and all Israel with him, toke Achan the sonne of Serah with the siluer, the garment and goldē tunge, his sonnes and doughters, his oxen and asses, and shepe, and all that he had broughte they in to ye valley of Achor.

And Iosua sayde: For so moch as thou hast troubled vs, the LORDE trouble the this daye. And all Israel stoned him, and burned him with fyre with all that he had. And whan they had stoned him, they made ouer him a greate heape of stones, which remayneth vnto this daye. (So the LORDE turned from the rigorousnes of his wrath.) Therfore is the same place called ye valley of Achor vnto this daye.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE saide vnto Iosua: Feare not, and be not afrayed. 〈…〉 Take all the men of warre with the, and ryse, and get the vp vnto Hai. Beholde, I haue geuen in to thy hande, the kynge of Hai with his people in his cite & countre. And thou shalt do with Hai and the kynge of it, 〈…〉 as thou dyddest with Iericho and the kynge therof, sauynge that ye shal deale amōge you their spoyle & catell: but set thou a 〈…〉 preuy watch behynde the cite.

Then Iosua arose, and all ye men of warre, to go vp vnto Hai: and Iosua chose thirtie thousande fightinge men, and sent them out by night, and commaunded them, and sayde: Take hede, ye shal be ye preuye watch behynde the cite, but go not to farre from the cite, and se that ye be redye alltogether. As for me and all the people that is with me, we wyll make vs to the cite. And whan they come forth agaynst vs ( 〈…〉 as afore) we wyll flye before them, that they maye folowe out after vs, tyll we haue prouoked them forth of the cite: for they shal thinke that we flye before them, like as at ye first. And whyle we flye before them, ye shal get you vp out of the preuy watch, and wynne the cite. For ye LORDE youre God shal delyuer it in to youre handes. But whan ye haue wonne the cite, set fyre vpon it, doinge 〈◊〉 . 0. c acordinge vnto the worde of the LORDE· Beholde, I haue commaunded you.

So Iosua sent them awaye, & they wente vnto the place of the preuy watch, and laye betwixte Bethel and Hai, on the west syde of Hai. But Iosua abode that night amōge the people. And in the mornynge he arose early, and set the people in order, and wente vp with the Elders of Israel before the people towarde Hai: and all the men of warre that were with him, wente vp, & gat them forth, and came ouer agaynst the cite, and pitched their tentes on the north syde of Hai, so yt there was but a valley betwene him and Hai.

He had taken aboute a fyue thousande men, and set them in the hynder watch betwene Bethel and Hai, on the west syde of the cite, and they ordred the people of the whole hoost that was on the north syde of the cite, so that the vttemost of the people reached vnto the west ende of the cite. So Iosua wente the same nighte in to the myddes of the valley.

But whan the kynge of Hai sawe that, he made haist, and gat him vp early, and the men out of the cite, to mete Israel to ye battayll, with all his people, euen righte before the felde: for he wyst not that there was a preuy watch behynde him on the backe syde of the cite. But Iosua and all Israel were feble before them, and fled by the waye to ye wyldernesse. Then cried all the people in the ci •• •• at they shulde folowe vpon them, an •• ey folowed after Iosua and ruszshed out of 〈◊〉 cite, so that there remayned not one man in Hai and Bethel, which wente not out to folowe vpon Israel, and they lefte the cite stondinge open, that they mighte persecute Israel.

Thē sayde ye LORDE vnto Iosua: Reach out the speare that thou hast in thine hande, towarde Hai: for I wyll delyuer it in to thy hande. And whan Iosua reached out the speare that was in his hande, towarde ye cite, ye hinder watch brake vp out of their place, and ranne (whan he had stretched out his hande) and came in to the cite, and wanne it, and made haist, & set fyre vpon it. And the men of Hai turned them, and loked behynde them, and the smoke of the cite wente vp towarde heauen, and they had no place to flie vnto, nether hither ner thither: and the people that fled towarde the wyldernes turned aboute, to folowe vpon them.

And whan Iosua and all Israel sawe, yt the hynder watch had wonne the cite (for ye smoke of the cite ascended) they turned againe, and smote the men of Hai. And they in the cite came forth also agaynst them, so yt they came in the myddes amonge Israel on both the sydes, and they slewe them, so that there was not one man of them left ouer or escaped: and they toke the kynge of Hai alyue, and broughte him vnto Iosua. And whā Israel had slayne all the inhabiters of Hai, which had folowed vpon them in the felde and in the wildernesse: and whan they were all fallen thorow the edge of the swerde, tyll they were destroied, thē turned all Israel vnto Hai, and smote it with the edge of ye swerde. And of all them which fell that daye fro man vnto womā, there were twolue thousande, all men of Hai.

But Iosua withdrue not his hande (wherwith he reached out the speare) tyll all the inhabiters of Hai were vtterly destroyed, Num. •• . d Deut. 20. Iosu. 8. a and 22. b sauynge the catell and the spoyle of ye cite, dyd Israel parte amonge themselues, acordinge vnto the worde of the LORDE, which he cō maunded Iosua. And Iosua burned vp Hai and made an heape therof for euer, which is there yet vnto this daye. And the kynge of Hai caused he to be hanged on a tre vntyll the euen.

But whā the Sonne was gone downe, Deut. 20. Iosu. 10. c he commaunded to take his body from the tre, and to cast it vnder the gate of the cite, and made vpon him a greate heape of stones, which is there yet vnto this daye.

Then buylded Iosua an altare vnto the LORDE God of Israel vpon mount Ebal acordinge as Moses the seruaunt of ye LORDE commaunded the children of Israel, Deu. 27. a xo. 20. d as it is wrytten in the boke of the lawe of Moses euen an altare of whole stone, whervpon there was no yron lifted: and he offred burnt-offeringes and health offeringes, and there vpon the stones he wrote the seconde lawe of Moses, which he wrote before the childrē of Israel.

And all Israel with their Elders and officers and iudges, stode on both the sydes of the Arke, right ouer agaynst the prestes yt bare the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE, the straunger as well as one of them selues, the one halfe besyde mount Grysim, and the other halfe beside mount Ebal, Deu. 27. b as Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE commaunded afore, to blesse the people of Israel. Afterwarde caused he to proclame all the wordes of the lawe of the blessynge and cursynge, as it is wrytten in the boke of the lawe. There was not one worde that Moses commaunded, but Iosua caused it to be proclamed before all the congregacion of Israel, and before the wemē, and children, and straū gers which walked amonge them.

The IX. Chapter.

NOw whan all the kynges that were beyonde Iordane vpon the mountaynes, and in the lowe countrees, & in all the hauens of the greate see, and besyde mount Libanus, herde this (namely, ye Hethites, Amorites, Cananites, Pheresites, Heuites and Iebusytes) they gathered thē selues together with one acorde, to fighte agaynst Iosua, and agaynst Israel.

But whan the inhabiters of Gibeon herde, what Iosua had done with Iericho and Hai, they dealte craftely, wēte on their waie, and made a message, and toke olde sackes vpon their asses, and olde rente wyne botels, and olde mended shues vpon their fete, and put on olde and peced garmentes, and all ye bred of their vytayles was harde and moulde, and they wente vnto Iosua into ye hoost at Gilgall, and sayde vnto him, and to euery man in Israel: We are come out of a farre countre, therfore make now a couenaunt wt vs. Then sayde euery man in Israel vnto ye Heuyte: Peraduenture thou dwellest amonge vs, how can I then make a couenaunt with the?

They saide vnto Iosua: We are ye seruaū tes. Iosua sayde vnto them: What are ye, & whence come ye? They sayde: Thy seruauntes are come out of a very farre countre, because of the name of the LORDE thy God: for we haue herde the reporte of him, and all that he dyd in Egipte, and all that he dyd vnto the two kynges of the Amorites beyō de Iordane, Sihon the kynge at Heszbō, and Og the kynge of Basan, which dwelt at Astaroth. Therfore sayde oure Elders and all the inhabiters of oure countre: Take fode with you for youre iourney, and go mete them, and saye vnto them: We are youre seruaūtes, therfore make now a bonde with vs: This oure bred that we toke out of oure houses for oure foode, was new whan we toke or iourney towarde you: but now lo, it is harde & moulde. And these bottels fylled we new, and lo, they are rēte. And these oure clothes and shues are waxed olde, by ye reason of the sore longe iourney.

Then the captaynes toke their vytayles, and axed not the mouth of the LORDE 〈…〉 And Iosua made peace with them, and set vp a couenaunt with them, that they shulde be saued alyue, and the rulers of the congregacion sware vnto them. But thre dayes after that they had made a couenaunt with them, they herde, that they were their neghbours, and dwelt amonge them: For as the children of Israel wente forth on their iourney, they came on the thirde daye vnto their cities, which are called Gibeon, Caphira, Beeroth, and Cirath Iearim, and smote thē not, because that the rulers of the congregacisn had sworne vnto them by the name of the LORDE the God of Israel.

But whan all the congregacion murmured agaynst the rulers, all the rulers sayde vnto the whole congregacion: We haue sworne vnto them by the LORDE the God of Israel, therfore maye we not touch them. But this wil we do vnto them: Let them lyue, that there come no wrath vpon vs, because of the ooth that we haue made vnto them.

And the rulers sayde vnto them: Let them lyue, that they maye be 〈…〉 hewers of wodd and bearers of water for the whole congregacion, as the rulers haue sayde vnto them. Then Iosua called them, and commened with them, and sayde: Wherfore haue ye disceaued vs, and sayde, that ye were farre from vs, where as ye dwell amonge vs? Therfore shall ye be cursed, so that of you there shall not ceasse seruauntes to hew wodd and to beare water for the house of my God.

They answered Iosua, & sayde: It was tolde thy seruauntes, that the LORDE thy God commaunded Moses his seruaunt, that he shulde geue you the whole lōde, and that he wolde destroye all the inhabiters of the londe before you: therfore were we sore afrayed of oure lyues before you, and thus haue we done. But now lo, we are in thy handes: loke what thou thinkest good and righte to do vnto vs, that do.

And he dyd euen so vnto them, and delyuered them from the children of Israels hā de, that they shulde not slaye them. So vpō the same daye Iosua made them hewers of wodd and water bearers for the congregacion, and for the altare of the LORDE vnto this daye, in the place that he shall chose.

The X. Chapter.

WHan Adonisedech the kynge of Ierusalem herde, that Iosua had wonne Hai, and damned it, and done vnto Hai and ye kynge of it, like as he dyd vnto Iericho and to the kynge therof, 〈…〉 and that they of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were come vnder them, they were sore afrayed. For Gibeon was a greate cite, like as one of the kynges cities, and greater then Hai, and all the citesyns therof were men of armes. Therfore sent he vnto Hoham the kynge of Hebron, and to Pirea the kynge of Iarmuth, and to Iaphia the kynge of Lachis, and to Debir the kynge of Eglon, and caused to saie vnto them: Come vp vnto me, and helpe me, that we maie smyte Gibeon, for they haue made peace with Iosua and the children of Israel. Then came the fyue kynges of the Amorites together, and wente vp, the kynge of Ierusalem, the kynge of Hebron, ye kynge of Iarmuth, the kynge of Lachis, the kynge of Eglon, with all their armies, & layed sege vnto Gibeon, and foughte agaynst it.

Howbeit they of Gibeon sent vnto Iosua to Gilgall, and caused to saye vnto him: Withdrawe not thine hande from thy seruauntes, come vp soone vnto vs: delyuer and helpe vs, for all the kynges of the Amorites that dwell vpon the mountaynes, are gathered together agaynst vs. Iosua wente vp from Gilgall, and all the warryers and all the men armes with him. And the LORDE sayde vnto Iosua: 〈◊〉 . 1. a Feare them not, for I haue geuē them in to thy hande. There shall not one of them be able to stonde before the. So Iosua came sodenly vpon them, for all that night wente he vp from Gilgall. Esa. 28. d And the LORDE discomfyted thē before Israel, and smote them with a greate slaughter at Gibeon: & they chaced them the waie downe to Beth Horon, and smote them vnto Aseka and Makeda.

And whan they fled before Israel, the waye downe to Bethoron, the LORDE caused a greate hayle from heauen to fall vpon them, vnto Aseka, so that they dyed: & many mo of them dyed of the hayle, then the children of Israel slewe with the swerde.

Then spake Iosua vnto the LORDE (the same daye that the LORDE gaue ouer the Amorites before the children of Israel) and sayde in the presence of Israel: Eccli. 46. a Sonne, holde styll at Gibeon, and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon.

Then the Sonne helde styll, and ye Moone stode, vntyll the people had auenged thē selues on their enemies. Is not this wrytten in the boke of the righteous? Thus the Sonne stode styll in the myddes of heauen, and dyfferred to go downe for the space of a whole daye after. And there was no daye like vnto this (nether before ner after) whan the LORDE herkened vnto the voyce of one man: for the LORDE fought for Israel. And Iosua wente agayne to Gilgall in to the tē tes, and all Israel with him. As for the fyue kynges, they were fled, and had hyd thē selues in the caue at Makeda.

Then was it tolde Iosua: We haue foū de the fyue kynges hyd in the caue at Makeda. Iosua sayde: Rolle greate stones then before the hole of the caue, and set men there to kepe them.

As for you, stonde not ye styll, but folowe after youre enemies, and smyte them behynde, and let them not come in their cities, for the LORDE youre God hath delyuered thē in to youre hande. And whan Iosua and ye children of Israel had ended the sore greate slaughter vpō them, so yt they were brought to naught, the remnaunt of them came in to the stronge cities.

So all the people came agayne to the hoost vnto Iosua to Makeda in peace, and no man durst moue his tunge agaynst the children of Israel. Iosua sayde: Open the mouth of the caue, and brynge the fyue kynge forth vnto me. They dyd so, and broughte the kynges vnto him out of the caue: the kinge of Ierusalem, the kynge of Hebrō, the kynge of Iarmuth, the kynge of Lachis, the kinge of Eglon.

Whan these fyue kynges were broughte forth vnto him, Iosua called euery man of Israel, and sayde vnto the rulers of the men of warre that wente with him: Come forth and treade vpon the neckes of these kynges with youre fete. And they came forth, and trode vpon their neckes with their fete. And Iosua saide vnto them: Be not afrayed, and feare not: be stronge and bolde, for thus shal the LORDE do vnto all yor enemies, agaynst whom ye fighte.

And Iosua smote them afterwarde, and put them to death, and hanged them vpon fyue trees. And they hanged styll vpon the trees vntyll the euenynge. Deut. •• . d But whan the Sonne was gone downe, he commaunded to take them of from the trees: and they cast them in the caue, wherin they had hyd them selues, & before the hole of the caue they layed greate stones, which are there yet vnto this daye. The same daye wanne Iosua Makeda also, and smote it with the edge of the swerde, and the kynge therof, and Deut. 20. c damned it, and all the soules that were therin, and let none remayne escaped: and dyd vnto the kynge of Makeda Iosu. 6. c as he dyd vnto the kynge of Iericho.

Then Iosua and all Israel with him departed fro Makeda vnto Lybna, & foughte agaynst it. (And the LORDE gaue it with ye kynge therof into the hande of Israel) and smote it and all the soules that were therin, with the edge of the swerde, and let not one remayne in it: and dyd vnto the kinge therof as he had done vnto the kynge of Iericho.

Afterwarde wente Iosua and all Israel with him from Lybna vnto Lachis, and layed sege vnto it, and fought agaynst it. And the LORDE delyuered Lachis also in to the hande of Israel, so that they wanne it vpon the seconde daye, and smote it with ye edge of the swerde, and all the soules that were therin, acordinge to all as he had done vnto Lybna. At the same tyme Horam ye kynge of Gazer wente vp, to helpe Lachis. But Iosua smote him with all his people, tyll there remayned not one.

And Iosua wente with all Israel from Lachis, vnto Eglon, and layed sege vnto it, and fought agaynst it, and wanne it the same daye, and smote it with the edge of the swerde, and damned all the soules that were therin the same daye, acordynge vnto all as he had done vnto Lachis.

After that wente Iosua with all Israel from Eglon vnto Hebron, and foughte agaynst it, and wanne it, and smote it with ye edge of the swerde, and the kynge of it, 〈◊〉 all the cities therof, and all the soules 〈◊〉 were therin, and let not one remayne, aco •• dynge vnto all as he had done vnto Eg ••• and damned it, and all the soules that 〈◊〉 therin.

Then turned Iosua agayne with all I •• rael towarde Debir, and fought agaynst 〈◊〉 , and wanne it, with the kinge of it, and all ye cities therof, and smote them with the edg of the swerde, and damned all ye soules that were therin, and let not one remayne ouer Euen as he had done vnto Hebrō and L ••• na with their kynges, so dyd he also vnto D •• bir, and the kynge therof.

Thus Iosua smote all the londe vpon the mountaynes, and towarde the south, and in the lowe countrees, and by the ryuers, with all their kynges, and let not one remaine ouer and damned all that had breth, * as the LORDE God of Israel had commaunded. And Iosua smote them from Cades Bernea vnto Gaza, and all the londe of Gosen vnto Gibeon, and toke all these kynges with their lō de at one tyme: for the LORDE God of Israel foughte for Israel. And Iosua wente agayne withall Israel to the tentes vnto Gilgal.

The XI. Chapter.

WHan Iabin the kynge of Asor herde this, he sent vnto Iabob the kynge of Madon and to the kynge of Samron, and to the kynge of Achsaph, and to the kynges that dwelt towarde the north vpon the mountaynes, and in the playne on the southsyde of Cineroth, and in the lo •• countrees, and in the lordshippes of Dor by the see syde: and to the Cananites towarde ye east and west, to ye Amorites, Hethites, Pheresites, and Iebusites, vpon the mountaynes and to the Heuites, vnder mount Hermon in the londe of Mispa. These wēte out with all their armies, a greate people, as many as ye sonde of the see, and exceadinge many horses and charettes. All these kinges gathered thē selues, and came, and pitched together by ye water of Meram, to fighte with Israel.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Iosua: Feare them not, for tomorow aboute this tyme wil I delyuer them all slayne, before the children of Israel: thou shalt lame their horses, and burne their charettes with fire. 〈…〉 And Ios •• came sodenly vpon them, and all the men of warre with him by the water of Mero •• , & fell vpon them. And the LORDE delyuered them into ye handes of Israel, and they smote them, and chaced them vnto greate Sidō and to the warme water, and to the playne of Mispa towarde ye east: and smote them, vntyll there remayned not one.

Then dealte Iosua with them as ye LORDE had saide vnto him, & lamed theis horses, & brent their charettes. And he turned backe at the same tyme, & wanne Hasor, & smote ye kynge of it wt the swerde (for Hasor was afore tyme ye head cite of all these kyngdomes) and smote all the soules that were therin wt the edge of the swerde, and damned it, & let nothinge remayne that had breth, & damned Hasor with fyre. All the cities of these kyngdomes wāne Iosua also, and smote thē with the edge of the swerde, and damned them, 〈◊〉 . 20. c acordinge as Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE commaunded.

Howbeit the cities that stode vpon the hilles, dyd not the children of Israel burne with fyre: but Hasor onely dyd Iosua burne. 〈◊〉 . 31. d And all the spoyles of these cities and the catell, dyd the children of Israel deale amonge them, but smote all the men with the edge of the swerde, tyll they had destroyed them, and let nothinge remayne that had breth. As the LORDE commaunded his seruaunt Moses, and as Moses commaunded Iosua, euen so dyd Iosua, so that there was nothinge vndone of all that the LORDE cō maunded Moses.

So Iosua toke all this lōde vpon ye moū taynes, & all yt lyeth towarde the south, & all the londe of Gosen, and the lowe countre, & the playne felde, and the mountayne of Israel with the valley therof, from the mountayne that parteth the londe vp towarde Seir, vnto Baalgad, in the playne of moūt Libanus beneth mount Hermon. All their kynges toke he, and smote them, and put thē to death. 〈◊〉 . 23. d Howbeit he warred a longe season with these kynges.

Yet was there not one cite, that yelded it selfe peaceably vnto the children of Israel 〈◊〉 . 9. a (excepte the Heuites, which dwelt at Gibeon) but they wanne them all with battayll. And this was done so of the LORDE that their hert was so hardened, to come against the children of Israel with battayll, yt they mighte be dāned, & no fauoure to be shewed vnto them, but to be destroyed, eu. 20. c as the LORDE commaunded Moses.

At the same tyme came Iosua, and roted out the Enakims from ye mountayne, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from euery mountayne of Iuda, and from euery mountayne of Israel, and damned thē with their cities, and let none of the Enakims remayne in the londe of the children of Israel, saue at Gasa, 1. Re. 1 at Ga th, at Asod, there remayned of them.

Thus Iosua conquered all the londe acordinge vnto all as the LORDE sayde vnto Moses, & gaue it vnto Israel to enheritaunce, Nu. 26. vnto euery trybe his porcion, and ye londe rested from warre.

The XII. Chapter.

THese are ye kynges of the londe, whō the childrē of Israel smote, & conquered their lōde, beyonde Iordane, eastwarde, frō the water of Arnon, vnto mount Hermon, and vnto all ye playne felde towarde the east: Nu. 21. c Deut. 2. Sihon the kynge of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heszbon, and had dominion from Aroer that lieth by the water syde of Arnon, and vnto the myddes of ye water: and ouer halfe Gilead, vnto the water of Iabok, which is the border of the childrē of Ammon: and ouer the playne felde, vnto the see of Cynneroth eastwarde, and vnto the see of the playne felde, namely the Salt see towarde the east, the waye vnto Beth Iesimoth: and from the south beneth by the ryuers of mount Pisga.

And the border of Og the kynge of Basan, which remayned yet of Raphaim, Nu. 21. c Deut 3. and dwelt at Astaroth and Edrei, and had the dominion ouer moūt Hermon, ouer Salcha, and ouer all Basan vnto the border of Gessuri & Maachati, & of halfe Gilead, which was the border of Sihon the kynge at Hesbon. Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE and the childrē of Israel smote them. Nu. 32. d and 34. Deut. 3. Iosu. 13. And Moses the seruaunt of ye LORDE gaue it vnto the Rubenites, Gaddites and to the halfe trybe of Manasse in possession.

These are the kynges of the lōde, whom Iosua & the children of Israel smote on this syde Iordane westwarde, frō Baalgad vpō the playne of mount Libanus, vnto ye moūt that parteth the londe vp towarde Seir, & that Iosua gaue vnto the trybes of Israel in possession, vnto euery one his parte, what so euer was in ye moūtaynes, valleyes, playne feldes, by the ryuers, in ye wyldernesses & towarde the south, the Hethites, Amorites, Cananites, Pheresites, Heuites, and Iebusites.

The kynge of Iericho, the kynge of Hai, which lyeth besyde Bethel, •• su. . a 〈◊〉 8 a osu. 10. a the kynge of Ierusalem, the kynge of Hebron, the kynge of Iarmoth, the kynge of Lachis, the kynge of Eglon, the kynge of Geser, the kynge of Debir, the kynge of Geder, the kynge of Horma, the kynge of Arad, ye kynge of Libna, the kynge of Adulla, the kynge of Makeda, the kynge of Bethel, the kynge of Tapnah, the kynge of Hepher, the kynge of Aphek, the kynge of Lasaron, the kynge of Madan, the kynge of Hasor, the kynge of Simron Meron, the kynge of Achsaph, the kynge of Tahenah, the kynge of Megido, the kynge of Cades, the kynge of Iakneam by Carmel, the kynge in the lordshippes of Dor, the kynge of the Heithen at Gilgall, the kynge of Thirza. These are one and thirtie kynges.

The XIII. Chapter.

NOw whan Iosua was olde and wel stricken in age, the LORDE sayde vnto him: Thou art olde & well aged, and there remayneth yet moch of the londe to conquere, namely all Galile of the Philistynes, and all Gessuri, from Sihor which floweth before Egipte, vnto the border of Ekron, northwarde, which is rekened vnto the Cananites: fyue lordes of the Philistynes, namely, the Gasites, the Aszdodites, the Ascalonites, the Gethites, the Ekronites & the Hauites. But from the north it is all ye londe of the Cananites, and Maara of the Sidonians vnto Aphek, euen vnto the border of the Amorites. Morouer the londe of the Giblites eastwarde, from Baalgad vnder mount Hermon, tyll a mā come vnto Hamath. All they that dwell vpon the mount, from Libanus vnto the warme waters, and all the Sidonians. I wyl dryue them out before the children of Israel: Onely let them be dealte out amonge Israel, as I haue commaunded the.

Deuyde thou this lōde now to enheritaū ce amonge the nyne trybes and ye halfe trybe of Manasse. •• su. 12. b For the Rubenites & Gaddites with ye halfe trybe of Manasse, haue receaued their enheritaūce, which Moses gaue thē beyonde Iordane Eastwarde, Nu. 32. d acordinge as Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE gaue them the same, from Ar er which lieth vp by the water syde of Arnon, and the cite in the myddes of the water, & all the coaste of Medba vnto Dibon, and all the cities of Sihon the kynge of the Amorites, which, dwelt at Heszbon, 〈…〉 vnto the border of the children of Ammon: and Gilead and ye border of Gessuri and Maachati, and all moūt Hermon, and all Basan vnto Salcha: all ye kyngdome of Og at Basan, which dwelt at Astaroth and Edrei, that remained yet ouer of Raphaim. But Moses smote them and droue them out.

The children of Israel droue not out the Gessurites & Maachathites, but both Gessur and Maachat dwelt amonge the childrē of Israel vnto this daye. 〈…〉 But vnto ye trybe of the Leuites he gaue no enheritaunce: for the offeringe of the LORDE God of Israel is their enheritaunce, acordinge as he hath promysed them.

So Moses gaue vnto the trybe of ye children of Ruben after their kynreds, 〈…〉 so that their border was Aroer, which lyeth vpon the water syde of Arnon, and the cite in the myddes of the same water, with all the playne felde vnto Medba: Heszbon, and all the cities therof which lye in the playne felde: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, & Beth Baal Meon, Iahza, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibama, Zeretha Sahar, vpon mount Emek, Beth Peor: the ryuers by Pisga, and Beth Iesimoth, and all the cities vpon the playne, and all the realme of Sihon kynge of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heszbon, 〈…〉 whom Moses smote with the prynces of Madian, Eui, Rekem, Zur, Hur, & Reba, the mightie men of kynge Sihon, which were inhabiters of the londe. And Balaam the sonne of Beor the prophecier, dyd the children of Israel kyll with the swerde amonge the other that were slayne: and the border of ye childrē of Ruben was Iordane. This is the enheritaunce of the children of Ruben amonge their kynreds, cities and vyllages.

Vnto the trybe of the children of Gad amonge their kynreds gaue Moses, so that their border was, Iahesar and all the cities in Gilead, and the halfe londe of the children of Ammon, vnto Aroer, which lyeth before Rabbath: and from Heszbon vnto Ramath Mispe & Betomim: and fro Mahanaim vnto the border of Debir. But in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimra, Suchoth and Zaphon (which remayned yet of the realme of Sihon kynge of Heszbon) and was by Iordane, vnto the edge of the see of Cyneroth, on this syde Iordane eastwarde. This is the inheritaunce of the children of Gad in their kynreds, cities & vyllagyes.

〈◊〉 . 17. a 〈◊〉 . 6. d Vnto the halfe trybe of the children of Manasse after their kynreds, gaue Moses, so that their border was fro Mahanaim, all Basan, all the kyngdome of Og kynge of Basan, and all the townes of Iair which lye in Basan, namely thre score cities. And halfe Gilead, Astaroth, Edrei, the cities of the kyngdome of Og at Basan, vnto the children of Machir the sonne of Manasse. This is the halfe porcion of the children of Machir after their kynreds.

This is it that Moses dealte out vpon the felde of Moab beyonde Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho eastwarde. 〈◊〉 . 1 . b 〈◊〉 8. a But vnto ye trybe of Leui gaue Moses no enheritaunce: for the LORDE God of Israel is their enheritaunce, as he hath promysed them.

The XIIII. Chapter.

THis is it that the children of Israel haue enhereted in the londe of Canaan, 〈◊〉 . 34. c which Eleasar the prest, and Iosua the sonne of Nun, and the chefe of the fathers amonge the trybes of the children of Israel parted out amonge them. 〈◊〉 . 26. f 〈◊〉 3. f But by lot dyd they deuyde it out amōge them, acordinge as the LORDE cōmaunded Moses to geue vnto the nyne trybes and ye halfe: for vnto the two trybes and the halfe dyd Moses geue enheritaunce beyonde Iordane. 〈◊〉 . 13. b But vnto the Leuites he gaue no enheritaunce amonge them. 〈◊〉 . 48 c For of the childrē of Ioseph there were two trybes, Manasses and Ephraim. Therfore gaue they the Leuites no porcion in the londe, but cities, to dwell therin, and suburbes for their catell and goodes. 〈◊〉 35. a Euen as the LORDE cōmaunded Moses, so dyd the childrē of Israel, and deuyded the londe.

Then came forth the children of Iuda to Iosua at Gilgall: and Caleb ye sonne of Iephunne the Kenisite sayde vnto him: Thou knowest what ye LORDE 〈◊〉 . 14. c sayde vnto Moses the man of God, concerninge me and the in Cades Bernea. I was fortye yeare olde, whan Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE 〈◊〉 . 1 . a sent me out from Cades Bernea, to spye out the londe, and I broughte him worde agayne, euen as I had it in my hert. Howbeit my brethren that wente vp with me, discoraged the hert of the people: but I folowed ye LORDE my God vnto the vttemost.

Then sware Moses vnto me the same daye, and sayde: The londe whervpon thou hast troden with thy fote, shalbe thine enheritaunce and thy childrens for euer, because thou hast folowed the LORDE my God vnto the vttemost. And now hath the LORDE letten me lyue, Nu. 14. c acordinge as he sayde. It is now fyue and fortie yeare sence ye LORDE spake this vnto Moses, whā Israel walked in the wildernesse. And now lo, this daie am I fyue and foure score yeare olde Eccl. 4 . and am yet as stronge to daye, as I was in that daye whan Moses sent me out: euen as my strength was then, so is it now also to fighte, and to go out and in.

Geue me now therfore this mountayne, wherof the LORDE spake in that daye, and thou herdest it the same daye: for now the Enakims dwell theron, and it hath greate and stronge cities: yf happly the LORDE wyl be with me, that I maye dryue thē out, as he hath sayde. Then Iosua blessed him, 1. Pa . 7. Iosu. 21. b and so gaue Hebron vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephune. Therfore was Hebron the enheritaunce of Caleb the sonne of Iephune the kenisite, vnto this daye, because he folowed the LORDE God of Israel vnto the vttemost. Iosu. 15. c But afore tyme was Hebron called Kiriatharba, & greate people were there amonge the Enakims. And the lōde ceassed from warre.

The XV. Chapter.

THe lot of the trybe of the children of Iuda amonge their kynreds, was ye coaste of Edom by the wyldernesse of Zin, which borderth southwarde on the edge of the south coūtrees. Their south borders were from the vttemost syde of the salt see, that is, from the coast that goeth southwarde, and commeth out from thēce towarde ye eastsyde of Acrabbim, and goeth forth thorow Zinna, and yet goeth vp from the south towarde Cades Bernea, and goeth thorow Hesron, and goeth vp to Adara, & fetcheth a compase aboute Carcaa, & goeth thorow Asmona, and commeth forth to the ryuer of Egipte, so that the see is the ende of ye border. Let this be youre border southwarde.

But the east border is from the salt see to the vttemost parte of Iordane.

The border northwarde, is from the see coast which is on ye edge of Iordane, and goeth vp vnto Beth Hagla, and stretcheth out from the north vnto Betharaba, and commeth vp vnto the stone of Bohen the sonne of Ruben, and goeth vp vnto Debir from ye valley of Achor, and from the north coaste that is towarde Gilgall, which lyeth ouer agaynst Adumim vpwarde, which is on the north syde of the water. Then goeth it vnto ye water of Ensemes, and commeth out vnto the eg. 1. b well of Rogell. Then goeth it vp to the valley of the sonne of Hinnam, a longe besyde the Iebusite that dwelleth from ye southwarde, that is Ierusalem: and commeth vp vnto the toppe of the mount which lyeth before the valley of Hinnam from the westwarde, that borderth on the edge of the valley of Raphaim towarde the north.

Then commeth it from the toppe of the same mount vnto the water well of Nephtoah, and commeth out vnto the cities of mount Ephron, and boweth towarde Baala, that is Kiriath Iarim, and fetcheth a cō passe aboute from Baala westwarde vnto mount Seir, and goeth by the northsyde of the mount Iarim, that is Chessalon: and cō meth downe to Bethsemes, and goeth thorow Thimna, and breaketh out on the north syde of Acron, and stretcheth forth towarde Sicron, and goeth ouer mount Baala, and commeth out vnto Iabueel: so that their vttemost border is the see.

The weste border is the greate see. This is the border of the children of Iuda rounde aboute in their kynreds. Caleb the sonne of Iephune had his porcion geuē him amō ge the children of Iuda (as the LORDE cō maunded Iosua) namely •• su. 14. d Kiriatharba of the father of Enak, that is Hebron.

dic. 1. b And Caleb droue from thence the thre sonnes of Enak, Sesai, Ahiman, and Thalmas begotten of Enak. And from thēce he wente vp to the inhabiters of Debir. (As for Debir, it was called Kiriath Sepher aforetyme.) And Caleb sayde: 〈◊〉 . 1 c e. 17. c ar. 12. a Who so smyteth Kiriath Sepher and wynneth it, I wyll geue him my doughter Achsa to wyfe. Then Athniel the sonne of Kenas the brother of Caleb wanne it: and he gaue him his doughter Achsa to wife.

And it fortuned whan they wente in, that she was counceled of hir houszbande, to axe a pece of londe of hir father. And she fell downe from the asse. Then sayde Caleb vnto her: What ayleth the? She sayde: Geue me a blessynge, for thou hast geuē me a south (and drye) londe: geue me welles of water also. Then gaue he her welles aboue and beneth.

This is the enheritaunce of the trybe of Iuda amonge their kynreds. And the cities of the trybe of the children of Iuda, from one to another by the coastes of the Edomites towarde the south, were these: Cabzeel, Eder, Iagur, Kina, Dimona, Adada, Kedes, Hazor, Iethnam, Siph, Telem, Bealot, Hazor Hadatha, Kirioth Hezron that is Hasor: Amā, Sema, Molada, Hazor Gadda, Hesmon, Beth palet, Hazer Sual, Beer Seba, Bisziothia, Baala, Iim, Azem, Elth lad, Chesil, Harma, Zi lag, Madmanna, San Sāna, Lebaoth, Silhim, Ain, Rimō. 〈…〉 These are nyne and twentye cities & their vyllages.

But in the lowe countrees was Esthaol, Zaren, Asna, Saroah, Engannim, Thapna, Enam, Iarmoth, Adullam, Socho, Aseka, Saaraim, Adithaim, Gedera, Giderothim. These are fourtene cities & their vyllages.

Zenā Hadasa, Migdal Gad, Dilean, Mispa, Iakthiel, Lachis, Bazekath, Eglō, Ch bon, Lachmā, Chithlis, Ged roth, Beth Dagon, Naama, Makeda. These are sixtene cities and their vyllages.

Libna, Ether, Asen, Iephthah, Asua, Nezib, Keila, Achsib, Maresa. These are nyne cities and their vyllages. * Ekron with hir doughters and vyllages. From Ekron vnto the see, all that reacheth vnto Asdod and the vyllages therof. Asdod with the doughters and vyllages therof. Gasa with hir doughters and vyllages vnto the water of Egipte. And the greate see is his border.

But vpon the mount was Samir, Iatir, Socho, Danna, Kiriath Sanna, that is Debir: Anab, Esthemo, Annim, Gosen, Holen, Gilo. These are eleuen cities and their vyllagies. Maon, Carmel, Siph, Iuta, Iesrael, Iakdeā, Sanoah, Kain, Gibea, Thimna. These are ten cities and their vyllages. Halhul, Bethzur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth Anoth, Elthekon. These are sixe cities and their vyllages. Kiriath Baal (that is Kiriath Iearim) Harabba, two cities & their vyllages. And in the wyldernesse was Betharaba, Middin, Sechacha, Nibsan, and the Salt cite, and Engaddi. These are si e cities and their vyllagies. 〈…〉 But the Iebusites dwelt at Ierusalem, and the children of Iuda coude not dryue them awaye. So the Iebusites remayne with the children of Iuda at Ierusalem vnto this daye.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd the lot fell vnto the children of Ephraim frō Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho, vnto the water on the east syde of Iericho, and the wyldernesse, yt goeth vp from Iericho thorow the mountayne of Bethel, and commeth out from Bethel vnto Lus, and goeth thorow the coast of Arciataroth, and stretcheth downe westwarde vnto ye coaste of Iaphleti to ye border of the lower Bethoron, and vnto Gaser: and the ende therof is by the greate see. This the children of Ioseph (Manasses & Ephraim) receaued to enheritaunce.

The Border of the children of Ephraim amonge their kynreds of their enheritaunce from the east, was Ataroth Adar vnto the vpper Bethoron, & goeth out westwarde by Michmethath that lyeth towarde the north, there fetcheth it a compasse towarde the east syde of the cite Thaenath Silo, and goeth there thorow from the east vnto Ianoha, and commeth downe from Ianoha vnto. Ataroth and Naaratha, and bordreth on Iericho, and goeth out at Iordane. From Thapuah goeth it westwarde vnto Naalkama, and the out goinge of it is at the see.

This is the enheritaunce of the trybe of the children of Ephraim amonge their kynreds. And all the borders, cities with their vyllages of the childrē of Ephraim laye scatred amonge the enheritaunce of the children of Manasse. And they droue not out ye Cananites, which dwelt at Gaser. So ye Cananites remayned amōge Ephraim vnto this daye, and became tributaries.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd the lot fell vpō the trybe of Manasse (for 〈◊〉 . 48. c he is Iosephs first sonne) and it fell vpon Machir the first sonne of Manasse ye father of Gilead: for he was a mā of armes, therfore had he Gilead and Basan. It fell also vnto the other children of Manasse, namely vnto ye childrē of Abieser, the children of Helek, the children of Asriel, the children of Sechem, the children of Hepher, and the children of Semida: These are the childrē of Manasse the sonne of Ioseph, males, amonge their kynreds.

〈◊〉 . 17. a 〈◊〉 6. d But Zelaphead the sonne of Hepher the sonne of Gilead, the sonne of Machir, the sonne of Manasse, had no sonnes, but doughters, and their names are these: Mahala, Noa, Hagla, Milca, Tirza, and they came before Eleasar the prest, and before Iosua the sonne of Nun, and before the rulers, and sayde: The LORDE commaunded Moses, to geue vs enheritaunce amonge oure brethren. And so they had enheritaunce geuen them amonge their fathers brethren, acordinge to the commaundement of the LORDE.

There fell vpon Manasse ten meetlynes without the londe of Gilead and Basan, which lyeth beyōde Iordane. For ye doughters of Manasse receaued enheritaunce amonge his sonnes: but the other children of Manasse had the londe of Gilead. And the border of Manasse was frō Asser forth vnto Michmethath, that lyeth before Sichem, and reacheth vnto the righte syde of them of En Tapuah: for the londe of Tapuah fell vnto Manasse, and the border of Manasse is vnto the childrē of Ephraim. Then commeth it downe to Nahelkana towarde the south syde of the ryuer cities, which are Ephraims amonge the cities of Manasse. But from the north is the border of Manasse by the ryuer, and goeth forth by the see syde, south warde vnto Ephraim, and to Manasse northwarde, and the see is his coaste. And it shal border on Aser from the north, and on Isachar from the easte.

So (amōge Isachar and Asser) Manasses had Beth Sean and the townes therof, and Ieblaam and the townes therof, and them of Dor and their townes, and them of En Dor and their townes, & them of Taanach and their townes, and them of Mageddo and their townes, and the thirde parte of (the cite) Nophet. And the children of Manasse coude not dryue awaye the inhabiters of these cities, but the Cananites beganne to dwell in the same londe. Howbeit whan the children of Israel were able, they made the Cananites tributaries, and droue them not out.

Then spake the children of Ioseph vnto Iosua, and sayde: Wherfore hast thou geuē me but one porcion and one meetlyne of enheritaunce, and I am yet a greate people, as the LORDE hath blessed me so largely? Then sayde Iosua vnto them: For so moch as thou art a greate people, go vp therfore in to ye wodd, and make thy selfe rowme there in the londe of the Pheresites and Raphaim, seynge moūt Ephraim is to narowe for the.

Then sayde the children of Ioseph: We shal not be able to attayne vnto the mountaynes, for there are yron charettes amonge all the Cananites, that dwell in the londe of Emek, by whom lyeth Beth Sean and the vyllages therof, and Iesrael in Emek. Iosua sayde vnto the house of Ioseph, euen to Ephraim and Manasses: Thou art a greate people, & for so moch as thou art so greate, thou must not haue one lot, but the mountayne where ye wod is, shal be thine: rote yt out for ye, so shall it be the outgoinge of thy porcion, whan thou dryuest out the Cananites, which haue yrō charettes, & are mightie.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANd all the multitude of the children of Israel gathered them selues together vnto Silo, and they set vp ye Tabernacle of witnesse, and the londe was subdued vnto them. But there were yet seuen trybes of the childrē of Israel, vnto whom they had not deuyded their enheritaunce. And Iosua sayde vnto the children of Israel: Howlonge are ye so slowe, to go and cō quere the londe, which the LORDE God of youre fathers hath geuen you? Chose you thre men out of euery trybe, yt I maye sende them, and that they maye get them vp and go thorow the londe, and descrybe it acordinge to the enheritaunces therof, and come vnto me.

Deuyde the londe in seuen partes. Iudas shal remayne vpon his borders of the south syde, and the house of Ioseph shal remayne vpon his borders of the north parte: but descrybe ye the londe in seuen partes, and brynge them vnto me, then shal I cast ye lot for you before the LORDE oure God. •• su. 13. d 〈◊〉 14. a For the Leuites haue no porcion amonge you, but the presthode of the LORDE is their enheritaunce. •• su 12. b As for Gad & Ruben and ye halfe trybe of Manasse, they haue receaued their enheritaunce beyonde Iordane eastwarde, which Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE gaue them.

Then the men gat vp, to go their waye. And whan they were aboute to go for to descrybe the londe, Iosua commaunded them, and sayde: Go youre waye, and walke thorow the londe, and descrybe it, and come agayne vnto me, that I maye cast ye lot for you before the LORDE at Silo. So the men departed, and wente thorow the londe, and descrybed it in seuen partes vpon a letter acordinge to the cities, and came to Iosua in to the hoost at Silo. Then Iosua cast the lot ouer them at Silo before the LORDE, and there distributed the londe amonge the children of Israel, vnto euery one his parte.

And the lot of the trybe of the children of Ben Iamin fell acordinge to their kynreds, and the border of their lot wente out betwene the children of Iuda & the children of Ioseph. And their border was on ye north quarter of Iordane, and goeth vp from the north syde of Iericho, and commeth vp to the mountayne westwarde, and goeth out by the wyldernesse of Bethauen, and goeth from thēce towarde Lus, euen by the south syde of Lus (that is Bethel) and commeth downe vnto Ataroth Adar by the mountayne which lyeth on ye south syde of the lowe Bethoron. Then howeth it downe, and fetcheth a compasse vnto the south west quarter from the mount that lyeth ouer agaynst Bethoron towarde the south, and goeth out vnto Kiriath Baal, yt is Kiriath Iearim, a cite of the children of Iuda. This is the west border.

But the south border is from Kiriath-Iearim forth, and goeth out towarde the west, and commeth forth vnto ye water well of Nepthoah: and goeth downe by the edge of the mount, that lyeth before the valley of the sonne of Hinnam: and goeth downe thorow the valley of Hinnam on ye south syde of the Iebusites, and commeth downe to the well of Rogell, and stretcheth from the northwarde, and commeth out vnto E Semes, and commeth forth to the heapes that lye vp towarde Adumim, and cōmeth downe vnto the stone of Bohen the sonne of Ruben, and goeth a longe besyde ye playne felde which lyeth north warde, and commeth downe vnto ye playne felde, and goeth besyde Beth Hagla that lyeth towarde the north, and his ende is at the north border of the Salt see, vnto ye edge of Iordane south warde. This is the south border.

But Iordane shal be the ende of the east quarter. This is the enheritaunce of ye children of Ben Iamin in their borders rounde aboute, amonge their kynreds.

The cities of the trybe of the children of Ben Iamin amōge their kynreds are these: Iericho, Beth Hagla, Emek Kezi z, Betharaba, Zemaraim, Bethel, Auim, Haphar, Aphra, Caphar Amonai, Aphni, Gaba: these are twolue cities and their vyllages.

Gibeon, Rama, Beeroth, Mispa, Caphira, Moza, Rekem, Ieerpeel, Thareala, Zela, Eleph, and the Iebusites, that is Ierusalem, Gibeath, Kiriath: these are fourtene cities and their vyllages. This is the enheritaunce of the children of Ben Iamin in their kynreds.

The XIX. Chapter.

THen fell the seconde lot of the trybe of the children of Simeon acordinge to their kynreds, and their enheritaunce was amonge the enheritaunce of ye children of Iuda. 〈…〉 And to their enheritaunce they had Beer Seba, Molada, Hazar Sual, Baala, Azem, El Tholad, Beth l, Harma, Ziklag, Betha Markaboth, Hazar Sussa, Beth Lebaoth, and Saruhen: these are thirtene cities & their vyllages. Ain, Rimon, Ether, Asan: these are foure cities and their vyllages. And all ye vyllages that lye aboute the cities vnto Balath Beer Ramath towarde the south. This is the enheritaunce of the trybe of the children of Simeon in their kynreds: for the enheritaunce of the children of Simeon is vnder the porcion of the children of Iuda. For so moch as the enheritaunce of the children of Iuda was to greate for them, therfore inhereted the children of Simeon amonge their enheritaunce.

The thirde lot fell vpon the childrē of Zabulon after their kynreds. And the border of their enheritaūce was vnto Sarid, & goeth vp westwarde to Mareala, & bordreth vpon Dabaseth, and reacheth vnto the ryuer that floweth ouer agaynst Iakneam: & turneth from Sarid eastwarde vnto the border of Cisloth Thabor, and cōmeth out vnto Dabrath, and reacheth vp to Iapia, and from thēce goeth it westwarde thorow Githa Hepher, and Itha Kazim, and commeth out towarde Rimon, Hamthoar Hanea, & fetcheth a compasse aboute from the north vnto Nathon, & the goynge out of it is in ye valley Iephtha El, Katath, Nahalal, Simron, Iedeala, & Bethlehem: These are twolue cities and their vyllages. This is the enheritaūce of the childrē of Zabulon in their kynreds: these are their cities and vyllages.

The fourth lot fell vpō the childrē of Isachar after their kynreds, & their border was Iesraela, Chessulloth, Sunem, Hapharaim, Sion, Anaharath, Raabith, Kision, Abez, Kemeth, En Gānim, Enhada, Beth Pazez, & bordreth vpon Thabor, Sahazima, Beth Semes, and ye outgoinge of it was at Iordane. These are sixtene cities and their vyllages. This is the enheritaunce of the trybe of the children of Isachar in their kynreds, cities and vyllages.

The fifth lot fell vpon the trybe of the children of Asser, after their kynreds. And their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achsaph, Alamelech, Amead, Miseal, and borderth on Carmel vnto the see, and on Sihor, and Libnath, and turneth towarde the east vnto Beth Dagon, and bordreth on Zabulon, and on the valley of Iephtael, and towarde the north syde of Beth Emek and Negiel: & commeth out vnto Cabul on the lefte syde of Ebron, Rehob, Hamon and Cana, vnto greate Sidon. And turneth towarde Rama, vnto the stronge cite of Zor, and turneth towarde Hossa, and goeth out vnto the see, after ye 〈◊〉 towarde Achsib, Vma, Aphek, Rehob.

These are two and twentye cities and their vyllages. This is the enheritaunce of the trybe of the children of Asser in their kinreds cities and vyllages.

The syxte lot fell vpon the children of Nephtali in their kynreds. And their border was frō Heleph Elon thorow Zaanaim, Adai Nekeb, Iabne El vnto Lakum, and goeth out vnto Iordane, and turneth westwarde to Asnoth Thabor, and cōmeth ou from thence vnto Hukok, and bordreth on Zabulon towarde the south, and on Asser towarde the west, and on Iuda by Iordane towarde the east: and hath stronge cities, Zidimzer, Hamath Rakath, Chinnaret, Adama, Rama, Hazor, Kedes, Edrei, En Hazor, Iereon, Migdal Elharē, Beth Anath, Beth Sames. These are nyentene cities and their vyllages. This is the enheritaunce of ye trybe of the children of Nephtali in their kynreds, cities, and vyllages.

The seuenth lot fell vpon the trybe of the children of Dan after their kynreds. And the border of their enheritaunce was Zarea, Esthaol, Irsames, Saalabin, Aialon, Iethla, Elon, Thimnata, Ekron, Eltheke, Gibethō Baalath, Iehud, B erbarak, Gat Rimon, Me Iarkon, Rakon with the border by Iapho, and on the same goeth the border of the children of Dan out. And the children of Dā wente vp, and foughte agaynst Lesem, and wanne it, and smote it with the edge of the swerde, and toke it in possession, & dwelt therin, and Iud. 1 . called it Dan, after ye name of their father. This is the enheritaunce of the trybe of the children of Dan in their kynreds, cities, and vyllages.

And whā ye lōde was all parted out with the borders therof, the children of Israel gaue Iosua the sonne of Nun, an enheritaunce amonge them, and (acordynge to the commaundement of the LORDE) they gaue him ye cite that he requyred, namely, Io •• 24. Thimnath Serah, vpon moūt Ephraim: there buylded he the cite, and dwelt therin.

These are the enheritaunces which Eleasar the prest and Iosua ye sonne of Nun, and the chefest of the fathers amonge ye tribes, deuided out by lot vnto the childrē of Israel at Silo before the LORDE, euen before the dore of the Tabernacle of wytnes, and so they ended the deuydinge out of the londe.

The XX. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE spake vnto Iosua, and sayde: Speake to the children of Israel: Geue amonge you fre cities, xo. 21. b Deut. 19. c wherof I spake vnto you by Moses, that a deedsleyer which sleyeth a soule vnawarres and vnwittingly, maye flye thither, yt they maye be fre amōge you from the avenger of bloude. And he that flyeth to one of those cities, shal stonde without before the porte of the cite, and shewe his cause before the Elders of the cite, then shall they take him to them in to the cite, and geue him place to dwell with them.

And yf the auenger of bloude folowe vpon him, they shall not delyuer the deedslayer in to his handes, for so moch as he hath slayne his neghboure vnawarres, and was not his enemye afore: but he shall dwell in ye cite, tyll he stonde before the congregacion in iudgment, vntyll the hye prest dye, which shall be at that tyme. Then shall the deedsleyer returne, and go vnto his awne cite, and vnto his house to the cite, from whence he was fled.

Then appoynted they Kedes in Galile vpon mount Nepthali, and Sechem vpon mount Ephraim, and Kiriatharba, that is Hebron vpon moūt Iuda. And beyōde Iordane on the east syde of Iericho, they gaue Beser in the wildernes vpon the playne out of the trybe of Ruben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the trybe of Gad, and Golan in Basan out of the trybe of Manasse.

These were the cities appoynted for all ye children of Israel, and for the straungers which dwelt amonge them, that whosoeuer had slayne a soule vnawarres, might flye thither, that he shulde not be put to death by the auenger of bloude, tyll he had stonde before the congregacion.

The XXI. Chapters.

THen the chefe fathers amonge the Leuites came forth vnto Eleasar the prest and to Iosua the sonne of Nun, and to ye awncient fathers amōge the trybes of the children of Israel, and spake vnto them at Silo in the londe of Canaan, and sayde: Num. 35. a The LORDE commaunded by Moses, that we shulde haue cities geuen vs to dwell in, and the suburbes of the same for oure catell. Then the children of Israel gaue of their enheritaunce these cities and the suburbes therof, vnto the Leuites, acordynge to the commaundement of the LORDE.

And the lot fell vpon the kynred of the Kahathites, and the children of Aaron the prest amonge the Leuites, had by the lott thyrtene cities of the trybe of Iuda, of the trybe of Simeon, and of the trybe of Ben Iamin. The other childrē of Kahath of the same kynred, had by the lot ten cities, of the trybe of Ephraim, of the trybe of Dan, and of the halfe trybe of Manasse.

But the children of Gerson of the same kynred had by the lot thyrtene cities, of the trybe of Isachar, of the trybe of Asser, of ye trybe of Nepthali, and of the halfe trybe of Manasse at Basan.

The children of Merari of their kynred had twolue cities, of the trybe of Ruben, of the trybe of Gad, and of the trybe of Zabulon. So the children of Israel gaue these cities and their suburbes vnto the Leuites by lott, as the LORDE commaunded by Moses.

Of the trybe of the children of Iuda, and of the trybe of the children of Simeon, they gaue these cities (which they named by name) vnto the children of Aaron of the kynred of the Kahathites amonge the children of Leui: for the first lot was theyrs.

So they gaue them Kiriatharba, which was the fathers of Enak, that is Hebren vpon the mount Iuda, and the suburbes therof rounde aboute. 〈…〉 But the felde of the cite and the vyllages therof, gaue they vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephune for his possession.

Thus gaue they vnto the children of Aaron the prest, the fre cite of the deed sleyers, Hebron and the suburbes therof, Libna and the suburbes therof, Iathir and the suburbes therof, Esthuma and the suburbes therof, Holon and the suburbes therof, Debir and the suburbes therof, Ain and the suburbes therof, Iuta and the suburbes therof, Beth Semes and the suburbes therof, euen nyne cities of these two trybes.

But of the trybe of Ben Iamin they gaue foure cities, Gibeon and ye suburbes therof, Gaba, and the suburbes therof, Anathot and the suburbes therof, Almon and the suburbes therof: so that all the cities of the children of Aaron the prest were thirtene with their suburbes.

The kynreds of the other children of Kahath the Leuites, had by their lott foure cities, of the trybe of Ephraim, and they gaue thē the fre cite of the deedsleiers, Sechē and the suburbes therof vpon mount Ephraim Gaser and the suburbes therof, Kibzaim and the suburbes therof, Bethron and the suburbes therof.

Of the trybe of Dan foure cities, Eltheke and ye suburbes therof, Gibthon and the suburbes therof, Aialon and the suburbes therof, Gath Rimon and the suburbes therof. Of the halfe trybe of Manasses two cities, Thaenach and the suburbes therof, Gath Rimon and the suburbes therof: so that all the cities of the other children of ye kynred of Kahath, were ten with their suburbes.

But vnto the children of Gerson amonge the kynreds of the Leuites were geuen, Of the halfe trybe of Manasse two cities, the fre cite for the deedslayer, Gola in Basan and the suburbes therof, Beasthra, and the suburbes therof. Of the trybe of Isachar foure cities, Kision and the suburbes therof, Dabrach and the suburbes therof, Iarmuth and the suburbes therof, Engannim and the suburbes therof. Of the trybe of Asser foure cities, Miseal, Abdon, Helkath and Rehob with the suburbes therof. Of the trybe of Nephtali thre cities, the fre cite Kedes (for the deedsleyer) in Galile, Hamoth, Dor, and Karthan with the suburbes therof: so that all the cities of the kynred of the Gersonites were thirtene wt their suburbes.

Vnto the kynreds of Merari the other Leuites were geuen, Of the trybe of Zabulon foure cities, Iakneam, Kartha, Dimna and Nahalal wt ye suburbes therof. Of the trybe of Ruben foure cities, Bezer, Iahza, Kedemoth and Mephaat with their suburbes. Of the trybe of Gad foure cities, the fre cite for the deedsleyer, Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heszbon and Iaeser with their suburbes: so that all the cities of the children of Merari amonge their kynreds of ye other Leuites, were twolue. Thus all the cities of the Leuites amonge ye possession of the children of Israel, were eight and fortye with their suburbes. And these cities were so dealte out, that euery one had their suburbes rounde aboute, the one as the other.

Thus the LORDE gaue the children of Israel all the londe, which he had sworne vnto their fathers to geue: & they toke possession of it, and dwelt therin. And the LORDE gaue thē rest before all those yt were aboute them en. 17. a like as he sware vnto their fathers, & none of their enemies stode agaynst thē, but all their enmies delyuered he in to their hande. And their myssed nothinge of all the good that the LORDE had promysed vnto the house of Israel, it came euery whyt.

The XXII. Chapter.

THen Iosua called ye Rubenites and Gaddites, and ye halfe trybe of Manasse, and sayde vnto them: Ye haue kepte all, Num. 2. Deut. 3. b Iosu. 1 . a that Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE commaunded you, and haue herkened vnto my voyce in all yt I haue commaū ded you. Ye haue not forsaken youre brethrē a longe season, vnto this daye, and haue wayted vpon the commaundement of the LORDE youre God. For so moch now as the LORDE youre God hath broughte youre brethrē to rest, as he promysed them, turne you now, and go youre waye to youre tentes in to the londe of youre possession, which Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE gaue you beyō de Iordane.

But take diligent hede now, that ye do acordinge to the commaundement and lawe which Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE hath commaunded: Deut. 10. c That ye loue the LORDE youre God, and walke in all his wayes, and kepe his commaundementes, and cleue vnto him, and serue him with all youre hert and with all youre soule. So Iosua blessed them, and let them go. And they wente vnto their tentes.

Vnto the halfe trybe of Manasse had Moses geuen possession at Basan: vnto the other halfe gaue Iosua amonge their brethren on this syde Iordane westwarde. And whan he let them go to their tentes and blessed them, he sayde vnto them: Ye come home agayne with greate good vnto youre tētes, with exceadynge moch catell, syluer, golde, brasse, yron and rayment, Deut. 0. b Num. 31. d Iosu. 8. f 1. Re. 30. e distribute therfore the spoyle of youre enemyes amonge youre brethren.

So the Rubenites, Gaddites, and the halfe trybe of Manasse returned, and wente from the children of Israel out of Silo (which lyeth in the londe of Canaan) to go in to the countre of Gilead to the londe of their possession, that they mighte possesse it, acordynge to the commaundement of the LORDE by Moses.

And whan they came vnto the heapes by Iordane, which lye in the londe of Canaan, the same Rubenites, Gaddites, and the halfe trybe of Manasses buylded there besyde Iordane, a fayre greate altare. But whan the children of Israel herde saye: Beholde, the children of Ruben, the children of Gad, and the halfe trybe of Manasse haue buylded an altare ouer agaynst the londe of Canaan vpon the heapes by Iordane on this syde the children of Israel, they gathered them selues together with the whole congregacion at Silo, to go vp agaynst thē with an armye. And (in the meane season) they sent to them in to the londe of Gilead, Phineas the sonne of Eleasar the prest, and with him ten chefe prynces amonge the houses of their fathers, out of euery tribe in Israel one. And they came to the children of Ruben, to the children of Gad, and to the halfe trybe of Manasse in the londe of Gilead, and sayde:

Thus sayeth the whole congregacion of the LORDE vnto you: Iudi. 20. b What trespace is this, yt ye haue trespaced agaynst the God of Israel, that ye shulde turne backe from ye LORDE this daye, to builde you an altare, for to fall awaye from the LORDE?

Num. 25. a Haue we not ynough of the wickednesse of Peor? from the which we are not yet clensed this daye, and there came a plage amonge the congregacion of the LORDE: and ye turne you backe this daye from the LORDE, and this daye are ye fallen awaye from the LORDE, that he maye be wroth to daye or tomorow at the whole congregacion of the LORDE.

Yf the londe of youre possession be vncleane, then come ouer in to the londe that the LORDE possesseth, where the dwellynge of the LORDE is, and take possessions amonge vs, and fall not awaye from the LORDE and from vs, to builde you an altare with out the altare of the LORDE oure God. Iosu. 7. a Did not Achan the sonne of Serah trespace in the thinge that was damned, and the wrath came ouer ye whole congregacion of Israel and he wente not downe alone for his myszdede?

Then answered the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the halfe trybe of Manasse, and sayde vnto the heades and prynces of Israel: The mightie God ye LORDE, the mightie God the LORDE knoweth, and Israel knoweth also, yf this be a trangressynge or trespacynge agaynst the LORDE, then let it not helpe vs this daye: Yf we haue buylded the altare, because we wolde turne awaye backe from the LORDE, to offre burnt offerynges or meat offeringes theron, or to make eny deed offerynges vpon it, then let the LORDE requyre it: And yf we haue not done it rather for very feare of this thinge, and sayde: To daye or tomorow mighte youre children saye vnto oure children:

What haue ye to do with the LORDE the God of Israel? The LORDE hath set Iordane for a border betwene vs and you ye children of Ruben and Gad, ye haue no porcion in the LORDE: By this shulde your children make oure children to turne awaye from the feare of the LORDE.

Therfore sayde we: Let vs make oure children an altare, not for sacrifice, ner for burnt offeringe, 〈…〉 but that it maye be a takē betwene vs and you, and oure posterities, that we maye serue the LORDE in his sighte with oure burnt offeringes, deed offeringes, and other offeringes: and yt youre children to daye or tomorow neade not to saye vnto oure children: Ye haue no parte in the LORDE.

And we sayde: But yf they shulde speake so vnto vs, or to oure posterities to daye or tomorow, then maye we saye: Beholde the symilitude of ye altare of the LORDE, which oure fathers made, not for sacrifyce, ner for burnt offerynge, but for a wytnesse betwene vs and you.

God forbydde, that we shulde fall awaye from the LORDE, to turne backe from him this daye, and to buylde an altare for sacrifice, for burnt offeringe and for eny presente, without ye altare of the LORDE oure God, that stondeth before his Habitacion.

But whan Phineas the prest, and the chefe of the congregacion, the prynces of Israel which were with him, herde these wordes, that the children of Ruben, Gad, and Manasse had spoken, they pleased them well. And Phineas the sonne of Eleasar the prest sayde vnto the children of Rubē, Gad and Manasse: This daye we knowe, that ye LORDE is amonge vs, in that ye haue not trespaced agaynst the LORDE in this dede. Now haue ye delyuered the children of Israel out of the hande of the LORDE.

Then Phineas the sonne of Eleasar the prest, and the rulers returned out of the londe of Gilead, from the children of Ruben and Gad, vnto ye londe of Canaā to the children of Israel, and brought them worde agayne of the matter.

Then were the children of Israel well cō tente with the thinge. And they praysed the God of Israel, and sayde nomore that they wolde go vp agaynst them with an armye, to destroye the londe that the childrē of Ruben and Gad dwelt in. And ye childrē of Ruben and Gad called the name of the altare: This altare be witnesse betwene vs, that the LORDE is God.

The XXIII. Chapter.

ANd after a longe season, whan the LORDE had broughte Israel to rest from all their enemies rounde aboute: and Iosua was now olde and well stricken in age, he called all Israel and their Elders, heades, iudges, and officers, and sayde vnto them: I am olde and well aged, and ye haue sene all that the LORDE youre God hath done vnto all these nacions in youre sighte. For the LORDE youre God himself hath foughte for you. Beholde, I haue parted amonge you ye rēnaunt of the nacions by lot, vnto euery trybe his enheritaunce from Iordane forth, and all the nacions whom I haue roted out vnto the greate see westwarde.

And the LORDE youre God shal thrust them out before you, and dryue them awaye from you, that ye maye haue their londe in possession, as the LORDE youre God hath promysed you. Be strōge now therfore, that ye maye obserue and do all that is wrytten in the boke of the lawe of Moses: 〈…〉 so that ye turne not asyde from it, nether to the righte hande ner to the lefte: that ye come not amonge ye remnaunt of these naciōs, which are with you: And se that ye make no mencion ner 〈…〉 sweare by the names of their goddes, nether serue them, ner bowe youre selues vnto them: But cleue vnto the LORDE youre God, as ye haue done vnto this daye: thē shal the LORDE dryue awaye greate and mightie nacions before you, like as there hath no man bene able to stonde before you vnto this daye. 〈…〉 One of you shall chace a thousande: for the LORDE youre God fighteth for you, acordinge as he promysed you. Take diligent hede therfore vnto youre soules, that ye loue the LORDE youre God.

〈…〉 But yf ye turne backe, and cleue vnto these other nacions, and make mariages with them, so that ye come amōge them, and they amonge you, be ye sure then, that the LORDE youre God shall nomore dryue out all these nacions before you, 〈…〉 but they shall be vnto you a snare and net, and prickes in youre sydes, and thornes in youre eyes, vntyll he haue destroyed you from the good lōde, which the LORDE youre God hath geuen you.

Beholde, 〈…〉 this daye do I go the waye of all the worlde, and ye shal knowe euen from all youre hert and from all youre soule, that there hath not fayled one worde of all the good that the LORDE youre God promysed you. Now like as all the good is come that the LORDE youre God promised you: Deut. 2 . b euen so shal the LORDE cause all euell to come vpon you, tyll he haue destroied you from this good londe, which the LORDE youre God hath geuen you: yf ye transgresse ye couenaunt of the LORDE youre God, which he hath commaunded you. And yf ye go yor waye and serue other goddes, and worshipe thē, then shall the wrath of the LORDE waxe whote ouer you, & shall shortly destroye you out of the good londe, yt he hath geuen you.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

IOsua gathered all the trybes of Israel together vnto Sichem, and called the Elders of Israel, the heades, iudges and officers. And whā they were come before God, he sayde vnto all the people: Thus sayeth the LORDE the God of Israel: Gen. 11. d Yor fathers dwelt afore time beyōde ye water, Abrahā & Nahor wt Tarah their father & serued other goddes. Gen. 12. a Then toke I yor father Abraham beyonde the water, & caused him to walke in the londe of Canaan, & multiplied his sede, and gaue him Isaac, Gen. 21. a Gen. 25. c Gen. 32. a and vnto Isaac I gaue Iacob and Esau, and gaue Esau moūt Seir to possesse G . 46. a As for Iacob, & his childrē, they wente downe in to Egipte.

Then sent I Moses and Aaron, and plaged Egipte as I haue done amonge thē. Exod. 7.8 9 10 11. After yt Exod 14. brought I you and youre fathers out of Egipte. And whan ye came to ye see, and the Egipcians folowed vpon youre fathers with charettes and horse men vnto the reed see, then cryed they vnto the LORDE, which put a darcknesse betwene you and the Egipcians, and broughte the see vpon them, and ouerwhelmed them. And youre eyes haue sene what I dyd to ye Egipcians, & ye dwelt in ye wildernes a lōge season Num. 21. d And I broughte you in to ye londe of the Amorites, which dwelt beionde Iordane: & whā they fought agaynst you, I delyuered them in to yor hande, that ye mighte haue their countre in possession, and I destroyed them before you. Num. 22. a Deut. 23. a Then Balac the sonne of Ziphor the kynge of the Moabites gat him vp, and foughte agaynst Israel: and he sente and bad call Balaam the sonne of Beor, to curse you, neuertheles I wolde not heare him, but I blessed you, and delyuered you out of his hande.

And whan ye wente ouer Iordane, and came vnto Iericho, the citesyns of Iericho foughte agaynst you, the Amorites, Pheresites, Cananites, Hethites, Girgosites, Henites, & Iebusites: howbeit I delyuered thē in to youre hande. Exo. 33. a Deu. 7. d And I sent hornettes before you, which droue them out before you, namely the two kynges of ye Amorites: not thorow thy swerde, ner thorow thy bowe. And I haue geuen you a londe whervpon ye bestowed no laboure, Deut. 6. b and cities which ye haue not buylded, that ye might dwell therin, and that ye might eate of the vynyardes and olyue trees which ye haue not planted. Feare the LORDE now therfore, and serue him perfectly and in the trueth,1 Reg 7 a Tob. 14. c and let go the goddes, whom youre fathers serued beyonde the water and in Egipte, and serue ye ye LORDE.

But yf ye like not to serue the LORDE, thē chose you this daye whom ye wyll serue: the God whom youre fathers serued beionde ye water, or ye goddes of the Amorites, in whose lōde ye dwell. As for me and my house, we wyll serue the LORDE. Then answered the people, and saide: God forbidde, that we shulde forsake the LORDE, & serue other goddes. For the LORDE oure God brought vs and oure fathers out of the londe of Egipte frō the house of bondage, and did soch greate tokens before oure eyes, and preserued vs all ye waye that we wente, and amonge all the nacions, whom we trauayled by. And the LORDE thrust out before vs all the people of the Amorites that dwelt in the londe. Therfore wyll we also serue the LORDE, for he is oure God.

Iosua sayde vnto the people: Ye can not serue the LORDE: for he is an holy God, mightie, and gelous, which spareth not youre trangressions and synnes. But yf ye forsake the LORDE, and serue a straunge god, then shall the LORDE turne him, Iosu. 23. d and do you euell, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. The people sayde vnto Iosua: Not so, but we will serue the LORDE. Then sayde Iosua vnto the people: Ye are witnesses ouer youre selues, that ye haue chosen you the LORDE, to serue him. And they sayde: Yee. Then put awaye from you (sayde he) the straunge goddes yt are amonge you, and enclyne youre hert vnto the LORDE the God of Israel. And the people sayde vnto Iosua: We wyll serue the LORDE oure God, and be obedient vnto his voyce.4. Re. 23. a So Iosua made a couenaunt with the people ye same daye, and laied statutes & lawes before them at Sichem.

And Iosua wrote this acte in the boke of the lawe of God,1. Reg. 7. c and toke a greate stone, & set it vp there vnder an oke, which was in ye Sanctuary of ye LORDE, and sayde vnto all the people: Beholde, this stone shall be witnesse ouer you: For it hath herde all the wordes of the LORDE, which he hath spoken vnto vs, and shall be a witnesse ouer yo , that ye denye not youre God. So Iosua 〈◊〉 the people go euery one to his enheritaūce.

And it fortuned after these actes, yt Iosua the sonne of Nun ye seruaūt of the LORDE dyed, whan he was an hundreth and 〈◊〉 yeare olde, and was buried in the border 〈…〉 of his enheritaūce at Thimnath Serah, which lyeth on the mount Ephraim, on the northside of mount Gaas. And the children of Israel serued the LORDE as longe as Iosu lyued, and the Elders (that lyued longe after Iosua) which knewe all the workes of ye LORDE, that he had done vnto Israel. 〈…〉 The bones of Ioseph, which the children of Israel had broughte out of Egipte, buried they at Sichem, in the pece of the londe, 〈…〉 yt Iacob boughte of the children of Hemor ye father of Sichem for an hundreth pens, and was the enheritaunce of the children of Ioseph. Eleasar the sonne of Aaron died also, and they buried him at Gibeath, which was Phineas his sonnes, that was geuen him vpon mount Ephraim.

The ende of the boke of Iosua.
The boke of the Iudges called, Iudicum. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Iudas is made captayne of the p •• ple subdueth, the Cananytes, and wynneth I rusalem. Israel roteth not out the Cananites as God commaunded them. Chap. II. The angell of God punysheth the •• , because they cōsente to their enemies The childrē of Israel serue Baal, for the which cause God geueth them ouer in to captiuyte. Chap. III. God punysheth Israel, and yet delyuereth them wonderously. Chap. IIII. Debbora the prophetisse with B rach ouercōmeth Sissara, and delyuereth the people of the LORDE. Chap. V. The songe of prayse which Debbo •• and Barach songe because of the victory. Chap. VI. For their synnes God geueth them ouer in to the handes of the Madianites, from the which Gedeon delyuereth them. Chap. VII. How Gedeon parteth his hoost, & discomfiteth the Madianites. Chap. VIII. Gedeon punysheth thē at Suchoth, dyeth, and is buried. Chap IX. Abimelech seketh the superiorite, slayeth his seuentye brethren, wynneth Sichē and Thebes. Chap. X. Thola & Iai rule the people. The Israelites synne, and are punyshed Chap. XI. Iepthe is made ruler of the people, and ouercōmeth Ammon in Maspha. Chap XII. The Ephraites rise vp against Iepthe, and there are slayne of them two and fortye thousande. Chap. XIII. The byrth of Samson is shewed vnto his father and mother by an angell. Chap. XIIII. Samson taketh a wife ī Timnath, renteth a yonge Lyon in peces, and putteth forth a dark sentence vnto his companyons. Chap. XV. How Samson hurteth the Philistynes with the foxes. He slayeth a thousande mē with the cheke bone of an asse. Chap XVI. Samson taketh both the portes of the gate of the cite vpon his backe, & beareth them vp to the mount Dalila the harlot bryngeth him in dotage, so that he telleth her his secretes, and is blynded of his enemies. Chap. XVII. Of Micha and his ymage &c. Chap. XVIII. Dan sendeth out men to spye the lō de, which take Michas ymage, & carie awaye the prest. Chap. XIX. How shamefully the Gabeonites deale with the Leuites wife. Chap XX. How the same synne is punyshed. Chap. XXI. The Ben Iamites optayne wyues in Israel, whō the Israelites had sworne not to geue them.
The first Chapter.

AFter the death of Iosua the children of Israel axed the LORDE, and sayde: Who shall go vp & be or captayne of warre against ye Cananites? The LORDE sayde: Iuda shall go vp. 〈◊〉 13. a Beholde, I haue delyuered the londe in to his hande. Then sayde Iuda vnto his brother Simeon: Go vp wt me in to my lot, and let vs fighte against the Cananites, then wyl I go agayne with the in to ye lot: So Simeon wente with him.

Now whan Iuda wente vp the LORDE delyuered the Cananites and Pheresites in to their hādes, & they slewe tē thousande mē at Besek: & they foūde Adoni Besek at Besek, & foughte agaynst him, and slewe the Cananites and Pheresites. But Adoni Besek fled, and they folowed after him: and whan they had ouertaken him, they cut of the thō bes of his handes and fete.

Then sayde Adoni Besek: Thre score and ten kynges wt the thombes of their hādes & fete cut of, gathered vp the meate yt was lefte vnder my table. Leu. 24. d Iudic. 15. Now as I haue done, so hath God rewarded me agayne. And he was broughte vnto Ierusalē, where he dyed.

But ye childrē of Iuda foughte agaynst Ierusalem, and wāne it, Deu. 20. and smote it with the edge of the swerde, and set fyre vpon the cite. Then wente the children of Israel downe, to fighte agaynst ye Cananites, yt dwelt vpon the mount, and towarde the south, and in the vall •• 〈…〉 Iuda wente agaynst the Cananites, which dwelt at Hebron. Iosu. 15. d (As for Hebron, it was called Kiriatharba afore tyme) and they smote Sesai, & Achiman, and Thalmai.

And from thence he wente agaynst ye inhabiters of Debir (but Debir was called Kiriath Sepher aforetyme.) And Caleb sayde: Iosu. 15. d 2. Par. 12. a 1. Re. 17. c He yt smyteth Kiriath Sepher, & wynneth it, I wyl geue him my doughter Achsa to wife. Then Athniel the sonne of Kenas, Calebs yongest brother wāne it. And he gaue him his doughter Achsa to wife. And it fortuned yt whan they wēte in she was counceled of hir houszbande, to axe a pece of londe of hir father. And she fell from the asse. Thē sayde Caleb vnto her: What ayleth ye? She sayde: Geue me a blessynge, for thou hast geuen me a south & drye londe, geue me also a watery londe. Then gaue he her a londe that was watery aboue and beneth.

And the childrē of ye Kenyte Moses brother in lawe, wente vp out of the Deu. 34. a palme cite, with the children of Iuda in to the wyldernesse of Iuda, that lyeth on ye south syde of the cite Arad: Nu. 10. d 1. Re. 15. d and wente their waye, & dwelt amonge the people. And Iuda wente with his brother Simeon, & they smote the Cananites at Zephath, & damned them, & called the name of the cite Horma. Num. 21. a Iosu. 15. a Iuda also wanne Gasa with the borders therof, & Ascalon with hir borders, & Accaron with the coastes therof. And the LORDE was wt Iuda, so that he conquered the mountaynes: but them that dwelt in the valley coulde he not conquere, because they had yron charettes. And acordinge as Moses had sayde, they gaue Hebron vnto Caleb, which droue out the thre sonnes of Enak. Iosu. 14. d Howbeit ye children of Ben Iamin droue not out ye Iebusites which dwelt at Ierusalem, Iosu. 15. g but ye Iebusites dwelt amonge the children of Ben Iamin at Ierusalem vnto this daye.

Likewyse the children of Ioseph wēte vp also vnto Bethel, & the LORDE was wt thē. Iosu. 16. a And the house of Ioseph spyed out Bethel (which afore tyme was called Lus) and the watch men sawe a man goinge out of the cite, and saide vnto him: Shewe vs where we maye come in to the cite, Iosu. 2. c & we wyll shewe mercy vpon the. And whan he had shewed them where they mighte come in to the cite, they smote ye cite wt the edge of the swerde: but they let the man go & all his frendes.

Then wēte the same man vp in to ye countre of the Hethites, & buylded a cite, and called it Lus, & so is the name of it yet vnto this daye. And Manasses Nu. 33 g Iosu. 17. c 〈◊〉 not out Beth Sean wt the vyllages therof, ner Thaenah with the vyllages therof, n r the inhabiters of Dor with the vyllages therof: ner the inbiters of Iebleam wt the vyllages therof, ner the inhabiters of Mageddo wt the vyllages therof, and ye Cananites beganne to dwell in the same londe. But whan Israel was mightie, he made the Cananites tributaries, and droue them not out.

Iosu. 16. b In like maner Ephraim droue not out ye Cananites that dwelt at Gaser, but the Cananites dwelt amonge them at Gaser.

Zabulon also droue not out the inhabiters of Kitron and Nahalol, but ye Cananites dwelt amonge them, & were tributaries.

Asser droue not out ye inhabiters of Aco, & ye inhabiters of Sidon, of Ahelab, of Achsib, of Helba, of Aphik & of Rehob, but ye Asserites dwelt amōge the Cananites that dwelt in the lōde, for they droue thē not out.

Nephtali droue not out ye inhabiters of Beth Semes, ner of Beth Anath, but dwelt amonge the Cananites which dwelt in the londe: howbeit they of Beth Semes and of Beth Anath were tributaries.

And the Amorites subdued the childrē of Dan vpon the mountaine, and suffred them not to come downe in to the valley. And the Amorites beganne to dwell vpō mount Heres at Aiolon and at Saalbim. Howbeit ye hande of ye house of Ioseph was to sore for them, and they became tributaries. And the border of the Amorites was, as a mā goeth vp towarde Acrabim, and from the rocke, & from the toppe.

The II. Chapter.

BVt there came vp a messaūger of ye LORDE from Gilgall vnto Bochim, and sayde: I haue caried you vp hither out of Egipte, and broughte you in to the londe that I sware vnto youre fathers, & saide: Deut 〈…〉 I wyl neuer breake my couenaunt wt you, that ye shulde make no couenaunt with the •• dwellers of this londe, but breake downe their altares: Neuertheles ye haue not herk •• ed vnto my voyce. Wherfore haue ye done this? Then saide I morouer: I wil no dryue them out before you, that they may be a fall vnto you, and their goddes a 〈◊〉 . And whan ye messaunger of the LORDE had spoken these wordes vnto all the children of Israel, the people lefte vp their voyce, & wepte, and called ye name of the place Bochim, and offred there vnto the LORDE.

For whan Iosua had sente awaye ye people, and the childrē of Israel were gone, euery one to his enheritaūce, for to take possession of the londe, 〈…〉 the people serued the LORDE as longe as Iosua lyued and ye Elders, which lyued longe after Iosua, and yt sawe all the greate workes of the LORDE, which he dyd for Israel.

Now whan Iosua the sonne of Nun, the seruaunt of the LORDE, 〈…〉 was deed (whan he was an hūdreth and ten yeare olde) they buried him in ye border of his inheritaunce at Timnath Heres vpon mount Ephraim on the north syde of mount Gaas. And whan all the same generacion was gathered vnto their fathers, there came vp after them another generacion, which knew not the LORDE, ner the workes that he had done for Israel.

Then wroughte the children of Israel euell before the LORDE, 〈…〉 and serued Baal m, and forsoke ye LORDE the God of their fathers (which broughte them out of the londe of Egipte) and folowed other goddes & the goddes of the nacions that dwelt rounde aboute them, & worshipped them, & displeased the LORDE: for they forsoke ye LORDE euer more and more, and serued Baal and Astaroth.

Then ye wrath of the LORDE waxed whote vpō Israel, & he delyuered thē in to ye handes of those yt spoyled thē, that they mighte spoyle them, & solde thē in to the handes of their enemies roūde aboute, & they were not able to withstonde their enemies eny more, but what waye so euer they wolde out, ye hā de of the LORDE was agaynst thē to their hurte (euen as the LORDE sayde and sware vnto them) and they were sore oppressed. 〈…〉

Now whan the LORDE raysed them vp iudges, which helped them out of the hande of soch as spoyled thē, they folowed not the iudges nether, but wente a whoringe after other goddes, & worshipped them, and were soone gone out of ye waye yt their fathers walked in, to heare the cōmaundementes of the LORDE, & dyd not as they dyd.

But whan ye LORDE raysed vp iudges vnto them, the LORDE was with ye iudge, and helped them out of the hande of their enemies, as longe as the iudge lyued. •• od. 2. d For the LORDE had pitie of their complaynte, which they made ouer those yt subdued thē and oppressed them.

Neuertheles whan the iudge dyed, they turned backe, 〈…〉 and marred all more thē their fathers, so that they folowed other goddes to serue them and to bowe them selues vnto them: they wolde not fall from their purposes, ner from their obstinate waye.

Therfore waxed the wrath of the LORDE allwaie so whote ouer Israel, that he sayde: For so moch as the people haue transgressed my couenaunt, which I commaunded their fathers, & folowe not my voyce, I wil from hence forth dryue out none of the Heythen, whō Iosua lefte behynde him, whā he dyed, 〈◊〉 . 8. a 〈◊〉 13. a that by them I maye proue Israel, whether they wil kepe the waye of the LORDE, to walke therin, as their fathers dyd, or not. Thus the LORDE suffred all these nacions, so that in a shorte tyme he droue them not out, whom he had not geuen ouer in to Iosuas hande.

The III. Chapter.

THese are the nacions, whom the LORDE suffred to remayne, yt by them he mighte proue Israel, which had no vnderstondinge in the warres of Canaan: onely because yt the trybes of the childrē of Israel might knowe & lerne to warre, which afore had no knowlege therof, namely: The fyue lordes of ye Philistynes, & all the Cananites, & Sidonians, & the Hethites yt dwelt vpon mount Libanus, fro mount Baal Hermon, vntyll a man come vnto Hemath. The same remayned, that Israel mighte be proued by them, that it mighte be knowne whether they wolde herken to the commaundementes of the LORDE, which he commaunded their fathers by Moses.

Now whan the children of Israel dwelt thus amōge the Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Pheresites, Heuites & Iebusites, eut. 7. a 〈◊〉 12. a they toke their doughters to wyues, & gaue their doughters vnto their sonnes, & serued their goddes, and wroughte wickednes before the LORDE, & forgat the LORDE their God, & serued Baalim & Astaroth. Then ye wrath of ye LORDE waxed whote ouer Israel, & he solde thē vnder the hāde of Cusan Risathaim kynge of Mesopotamia, & so ye childrē of Israel serued Cusan Risathaim viij. yeare.

Thē cried the childrē of Israel vnto the LORDE, & the LORDE raysed thē vp a sauior which delyuered thē, namely 〈◊〉 . 1. c Athniel ye sonne of Kenas, Calebs yongest brother. And the sprete of the LORDE came vpon him, & he was iudge in Israel, & wente out a warre fare. And ye LORDE delyuered Cusan Risathaim the kynge of Syria in to his hāde, so yt his hande was to strōge for him. . Par. 1 Then was the londe in rest fortye yeares. And Athniel the sonne of Kenas dyed.

But the children of Israel dyd yet more euell before the LORDE. Then the LORDE strengthed Eglon the kynge of ye Moabites agaynst ye childrē of Israel, because they wrought wickednesse before ye LORDE. And he gathered vnto him ye childrē of Ammon, & the Amalechites, & wēte and smote Israel, and conquered the Deut. 0 cite of the palme trees. And the children of Israel serued Eglon ye kynge of ye Moabites eightene yeare. Thē cried they vnto the LORDE. And the LORDE raysed thē vp a sauioure, namely Ehud the sonne of Gera ye sonne of Iemini, which was a man that mighte do nothinge with his righte hande.

And whā the childrē of Israel sent a present by him vnto Eglon the kynge of the Moabites, Ehud made him a two edged dagger of a spanne longe, & gyrded it vnder his garmēt vpō his righte thye, & broughte ye present vnto Eglon the kynge of ye Moabites. As for Eglon, he was a very fat man.

And whan he had delyuered the presente, he let the people go that had caried the present, and he himselfe turned backe from the Idols at Gilgall, & caused to saye thus (vnto the kynge:) I haue a secrete thinge to tell the O kynge. And he commaunded to kepe sylence, & all they that stode aboute him, wente out from him.

And Ehud came in vnto him. He sat in a syled Sommer perler, which was for him selfe alone. And Ehud saide: I haue somwhat to saye vnto the of God. Thē rose he vp frō his seate. But Ehud put forth his lefte hande, & toke the dagger from his righte thye, & thrust it in to his bely, so yt the hefte wente in also after the blade, & the fatt closed the hefte: for he drue not ye dagger out of his bely, & ye fylthines departed frō him. But Ehud gat him out at the backe dore, & put to ye dore after him, and lockte it.

Now whan he was gone, his seruauntes came in, and sawe that the dore of the Sommer perler was lockte, and they sayde: peraduenture he is gone to the preuye in the syled Sommer perler.

But whan they had wayted so lōge tyll they were ashamed (for no man opened the perler dore) they toke the keye, and opened it. 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Beholde, then laye their lorde deed vpō the earth. As for Ehud, he was gotten awaye, whyle they made so longe tariēge, & he wente ouer by the Idols, and ranne his waye vnto Seirath.

And whan he came in 〈◊〉 10. a he blewe ye trompet vpō mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel wente with him from the mount, and he before them, and he saide vnto them: Folowe me, for the LORDE hath delyuered the Moabites youre enemies in to yor hande. And they folowed him, & wanne ye ferye of Iordane, yt goeth towarde Moab, & suffred no man to go ouer, and at ye same tyme they smote of the Moabites vpō a ten thousande men, all nobles and men of armes, so that there escaped not one. Thus were the Moabites broughte vnder the hande of the children of Israel at that tyme, and the londe w s in rest foure score yeares.

Afterwarde was ud. 5. a Samgar ye sonne of Anath, which slewe sixe hundreth Philistynes with an oxes gadd, and delyuered Israel also.

The IIII. Chapter.

BVt the children of Israel dyd yet more euell before ye LORDE, whan Ehud was deed. And the LORDE solde thē in to the hande of Iabin the kynge of the Cananites, which dwelt at Hazor, & the chefe captayne of his hooste was Sissera, and he dwelt at Haroseth of the Heythen. And the childrē of Israel cried vnto the LORDE: for he had nyne hūdreth yron charettes, and subdued the children of Israel by violence twentye yeare.

At ye same tyme was Iudgesse in Israel the prophetisse Debbora, the wyfe of Lapidoth, and she dwelt vnder ye palme of Debbora betwene Rama & Bethel, vpon mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came vp vnto her to the lawe. She sent forth, 〈◊〉 . 5. b & called for Barak the sonne of Abi Noam of Kedes Nephtali, and sayde vnto him: Hath not ye LORDE the God of Israel cō maunded the: Go thy waye, and get the vp vnto mount Thabor, & take wt the ten thousande men of the children of Nephtali & Zabulon? For I wil make Sissera the chefe captayne of Iabins hoost to come to the vnto ye Psal. 2. a water of Cyson, with his charettes and with his multitude, and I wyll delyuer him in to thy hande. Barak sayde vnto her: Yf thou wilt come wt me, I wil go: but yf thou wilt not come with me, I wil not go.

She sayde: I wyll go with the: neuerthelesse the prayse shal not be thine in this iourney that thou goest, but ye LORDE shal delyuer Sissera in to a womās hande. So Debbora gat hir vp, and wente with Barak vnto Kedes. Then Barak called Zabulon and Nephtali vnto Kedes, and wēte on fote wt ten thousande men. And Debbora wente wt him also. As for Heber the Kenyte he was departed from the Kenytes from the children of 〈…〉 Hobab Moses brother in lawe, and had pitched his tent by ye Oke of Zaanaim besyde Kedes.

Then was it tolde Sissera, yt Barak the sonne of Abi Noā, was gone vp vnto moūt Thabor: & he gathered all his charettes together, nyne C. yron charettes, & all the people yt was with him from Haroseth of the Heythē, vnto the water Cyson. Debbora sayde vnto Barak: Vp, this is the daie wherin the LORDE hath delyuered Sissera in to ye hande: for ye LORDE shal go forth before ye. So Barak wente fro mount Thabor, and ye ten thousande men after him.

But the LORDE discomfited Sissera wt all his charettes & hoost, & made thē afrayed of the edge of the swerde before Barak, so yt Sissera leapte of his charet, & fled on fote. Neuerthelesse Barak folowed vpon the charettes & the hoost vnto Haroseth of the Heythen, & all Sisseras hoost fell thorow ye edge of the swerde, so yt not one escaped. As for Sissera, he fled on fote vnto the tente of Iael, ye wife of Heber ye Kenite. For there was peace betwene kynge Iabin at Hasor, & the house of Heber the Kenite.

Iael wēte forth to mete Sissera, & sayde vnto him: Turne in my lorde, turne in to me, & be not afrayed. And he turned in vnto her in to the tente, & she couered him with a garmēt. He sayde vnto her: I praye ye geue me a litle water to drynke, for I am a thyrst. 〈…〉 Thē opened she a mylke pot, & gaue him to drynke, and couered him. And he sayde vnto her: Stōde in the tente dore, & yf one come & axe, is there eny man here? saye Noman.

Then Iael the wife of Heber toke a nale of the tente, and an hammer in hir hande, & wente in preuely vnto him, & smote the nale in thorow the temples of his heade, so yt he sancke to ye earth. As for him, he was fallen on a slomber, and weery, and so he dyed.

But whā Barak folowed after Sissera, Iael wente for to mete him, and sayde vnto him: Come hither, I wil shewethe the man, whom thou sekest. And whan he came in vnto her, he sawe Sissera deed, & the nale stickinge in his temples. Thus God broughte downe Iabin the kynge of the Cananites before the children of Israel at that tyme, & the hande of the children of Israel wente & subdued Iabin ye kynge of the Cananites, tyll they had roted him out. Then Debbora and Barac the sonne of Abi Noam, sange at the same tyme, and sayde:

The V. Chapter.

NOw that ye are come to rest, ye quyete men in Israel, prayse ye LORDE, amonge soch of the people as be frewyllinge.

Heare ye kynges, & herken to ye prynces: I wyl, I wyl synge to the LORDE, euen vnto the LORDE ye God of Israel wil I playe.

〈◊〉 . 19. c •• ut. 4. b LORDE, whan thou wentest out from Seir, & camest in from the felde of Edom, ye earth quaked, the heauen dropped, and the cloudes dropped with water.

〈◊〉 . 96. a The hilles melted before the LORDE, Sinai before the LORDE the God of Israel.

In the tyme of 〈◊〉 3. d Sanger the sonne of Anath: In the tyme of 〈◊〉 . 4. c Iael the wayes fayled: and they that shulde haue gone in pathes, walked thorow croked wayes.

There was scarcenesse, there was scarcenesse of houszbande men in Israel, vntyll I Debbora came vp, vntyll I came vp a mother in Israel.

God hath chosen a new thinge. He hath ouercome ye portes in battayll: and yet was there sene nether shylde ner speare amonge fortye thousande in Israel.

My hert loueth ye teachers of Israel: ye yt are frewyllinge amonge the people, prayse the LORDE.

Ye that ryde vpō fayre Asses, ye that syt in iudgment and geue sentence, ye that go by the waye, prayse the LORDE.

Whā ye archers cried betwene ye drawers of water, then was it spokē of ye righteousnes of the LORDE, of the righteousnes of his huszbande men in Israel: then ruled the people of the LORDE vnder the gates.

Vp Debbora vp, get the vp, get the vp, & rehearse a songe. 〈◊〉 . 4. a Arise Barak, & catch him yt catched the, thou sonne of Abinoam.

Then had the desolate the rule with the mightie of the people. The LORDE had ye dominion thorow the giauntes.

〈◊〉 . 3. d Out of Ephraim was their rote against Amalek, and after him Ben Iamin in thy people.

Out of Machir haue teachers ruled, and out of Zabulō are there become gouernours thorow the wrytinge penne.

And out of Isachar there were prynces with Debbora, and Isachar was as Barak in ye valley, sent with his people on fote: A for Ruben, he stode hye in his awne consayte, and separated him selfe from vs.

Why abodest thou betwixte the borders, whan thou herdest the noyse of the flockes? because Ruben stode hye in his awne cōsayte, and separated him selfe from vs.

Gilead abode beyonde Iordane, and why dwelt Dan amonge the shippes? Asser sat in the hauen of the see, and taried in his porcions.

But Zabulons people ioperde their life vnto death: Nephtali also in the toppe of ye felde of Merom.

The kynges came & foughte, then foughte ye kynges of the Cananites at Thaanah by the water of Megiddo, but spoyle of money broughte they not there from.

From heauē were they foughtē agaynst, the starres in their courses foughte with Sissera.

The broke Cyson ouerwhelmed them, the broke Kedumim, yee the broke Cyson. My soule treade thou vpon the mightie.

Then made the horse fete a ruszshinge together, for the greate violence of their mightie horse men.

Curse the cite of Meros (sayde ye angell of the LORDE) curse the citesyns therof, be cause they come not to helpe ye LORDE, to helpe the LORDE to the giauntes.

Blessynge amonge wemen haue Iael the wife of Heber the Kenite: blessinge haue she in the tente amonge the wemen.

Iud. 4. c Whan he axed water, she gaue him mylke, & broughte forth butter in a lordlyd szshe.

She toke holde of the nale wt hir hande, & the smyth hammer with hir righte hande, and smote Sissera, cut of his heade & pearsed and bored thorow his temples.

He bowed him selfe downe at hir fete, he fell downe, and laye there. He sanke downe, and fell at hir fete: whan he had soncke downe, he laye there destroyed.

His mother loked out at the wyndowe, & cried piteously thorow the tr llace: Why tarieth his charet out so lōge, that he cōmeth not? Wherfore do the wheles of his charet make so longe tarienge?

The wysest amōge his ladies answered, & sayde vnto her: Shulde they not finde & deuide the spoyle, vnto euery man a fayre mayde or two for a pray, & partye coloured garmē tes of nedle worke to Sissera for a spoyle, partye coloured garmentes of nedle worke aboute the necke for a pray?

Thus all thine enemies must perishe O LORDE: but they that loue the, shal be euen as the Sonne rysinge vp in his mighte.

And the londe had peace fortye yeares.

The VI. Chapter.

ANd whan the children of Israel dyd euell in the sighte of the LORDE, the LORDE delyuered them vnder the hande of the Madianites vij. yeares. And whā the hande of the Madianites was to mightie ouer the children of Israel, the children of Israel made them clyffes in ye mountaynes, and caues and holdes, to defende them selues from ye Madianites. And whan Israel sowed eny thinge, ye Madianites and Amalechites, and the children towarde the south came vp vpon them, and pitched their tētes agaynst them, and destroyed the increase of the londe downe vnto Gasa, & let nothinge remayne ouer of the beestes in Israel, nether shepe, ner oxen, ner asses. For they came vp with their catell and tentes, as it had bene a greate multitude of greshoppers (so that nether they ner their camels mighte be nombred) and fell in to the londe, that they mighte destroye it. Thus was Israel exceadinge small before the Madianites. Then cried the children of Israel vnto the LORDE.

But whan they cried vnto the LORDE be cause of ye Madianites, ye LORDE sent thē a prophet, which sayde vnto thē: Thus saieth the LORDE the God of Israel: I caried you out of Egipte, & broughte you out of ye house of bondage, & delyuered you from the hande of the Egipcians, & from the hāde of all them that oppressed you, and I haue thrust them out before you, & geuen you their lōde and sayde vnto you: I am the LORDE youre God. ge. 17. g •• e. 10. a Feare not ye the goddes of the Amorites, in whose londe ye dwell: neuertheles ye haue not herkened vnto my voyce.

And there came an angell of the LORDE, & sat him downe vnder an Oke at Aphra, which belonged vnto Ioas the father of ye Esrites, and his sonne Gedeon was throsshinge wheate in the barne, that he mighte flye awaye before the Madianites.

Then appeared vnto him the angell of ye LORDE, and sayde vnto him: The LORDE with ye thou mightie giaunte. But Gedeon sayde vnto him: Syr, yf the LORDE be wt vs, wherfore is all this then happened vnto vs? And where are all the wonders, which oure fathers tolde vs, & sayde: The LORDE brought vs out of Egipte? But now hath the LORDE forsaken vs, and delyuered vs in to the hande of the Madianites.

The LORDE turned him vnto him, & sayde: Go thy waye in this thy strength, thou shalt delyuer Israel out of the hande of ye Madianites. I haue sent the. But he sayde: My LORDE, wherwithall shal I delyuer Israel? Beholde, my kynred is the smallest in Manasse, & I am the leest in my fathers house? The LORDE sayde vnto him: I will be wt the, so yt thou shalt smyte the Madianites, euen as though they were but one man.

He sayde vnto him: Yf I haue foūde grace in thy sighte, then make me a token, that it is thou, which speakest with me: go not awaye, tyll I come to ye, and brynge a meat-offerynge, to set before the. He sayde: I wyll tary, tyll thou cōmest agayne. And Gedeon wēte, and made ready a kydd, and an Epha of vnleuended floure, and layed the flesh in a maunde, and put the broth in a pot, and broughte it forth vnto him vnder the Oke, and came nye. But the angell of God sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 Take the flesh and the vnleuended bred, & set it vpon the stonye rocke that is here, and poure the broth theron. And he dyd so. Then the angell of the LORDE stretched out the staffe that he had in his hande, and with the ende of it he touched the flesh and the vnleuended floure: 〈…〉 and the fyre came out of the rocke, and consumed the flesh and the vnleuended floure. And the angell of the LORDE vanyshed out of his sighte.

Now whā Gedeon sawe that it was an angell of ye LORDE, he sayde: 〈…〉 O LORDE LORDE, haue I thus sene an angell of ye LORDE face to face? The LORDE sayde vnto him: Peace be with the, feare not, thou shalt not dye. Thē Gedeon buylded an altare there vnto ye LORDE, & called it: The LORDE of peace. The same stondeth yet vnto this daye at Apra, yt belōgeth vnto the father of ye Esrites.

And in ye same night sayde ye LORDE vnto him: Take a fedd bullocke frō amō ge thy fathers oxen, & another bullocke of seuen yeare olde, and breake downe the altare of Baall which is thy fathers, and cut downe the groue that stondeth by it, and buylde thou an altare vnto the LORDE ye God aboue vpon the toppe of this rocke, and make it ready, and take the other bullocke, and offre a burnt offerynge with the wodd of the groue that thou hast hewen downe. Then toke Gedeon ten men of his seruauntes, and dyd as ye LORDE sayde vnto him: but he was afrayed to do this by daye tyme, for his fathers house and the people in ye cite, and so he dyd it by nighte.

Now whan the people in the cite rose vp early in the mornynge, beholde, Baals altare was broken, and the groue hewen downe by it, and the other bullocke a burnt offerynge vpon the altare that was buylded, & one sayde vnto another: Who hath done this? And whan they soughte & made searche, it was sayde: Gedeon the sonne of Ioas hath done it. Thē sayde the people of ye cite vnto Ioas: Brynge forth ye sonne, He must dye, because he hath broken Baals altare, and hewen downe the groue therby. But Ioas sayde vnto all them that stode by him: Wyl ye stryue for Baal? Wil ye delyuer him? He yt stryueth for him, shal dye this mornynge. Yf he be God, let him auēge him selfe, because his altare is broken downe. From yt daye forth was he called Ierubaal, because it was sayde: Let Baal auenge him selfe, that his altare is broken downe.

Whan ye Madianites now & ye Amalechites, & the childrē towarde the south had gathered thēselues together, & were passed thorow (Iordane) & had pitched their tentes in the valley of Iesrael, the sprete of the LORDE endued Gedeon, & he caused the trompet to be blowne, & called (the house of) 〈…〉 Abieser, that they shulde folowe him: & he sent messaungers vnto all Manasse, & called them, yt they shulde folowe him also: and he sent messaungers likewyse vnto Asser & Zabulon & Nephtali, which came vp to mete him.

And Gedeon sayde vnto God: Yf thou wilt delyuer Israel thorow my hande, as thou hast saide, thē wil I laye a flese of woll in the courte: yf ye dew be onely vpon ye flese, & drye vpon all the grounde, then wyll I perceaue, that thou shalt delyuer Israel thorow my hande, as thou hast sayde. And it came so to passe. And whan he rose vp early on the morow, he wrāge ye dew out of the flese, and fylled a dyszshe full of water. And Gedeon sayde vnto God 〈◊〉 . 18. d Be not wroth at me, that I speake yet this one tyme. I wyl proue yet but once with the flese, let it be drye onely vpon the flese, and dew vpon all the grounde. And God dyd so the same nighte: so that it was drye onely vpon the flese, and dew vpon all the grounde.

The VII. Chapter.

THen Ierubaal (that is Gedeon) gat him vp early, Iud. 6. and all the people that was with him, and pitched their tentes besyde the well of Harod, so that he had the hoost of the Madianites on the north side behynde the hyll of More in the valley. But the LORDE sayde vnto Gedeon: The people that be with yt are to many for me to delyuer Madian in to their hande, lest Israel boost them selues agaynst me, and saye: My hande hath delyuered me. Cause a proclamacion now to be made in the eares of the people, and saye: Deu. 20. b 1. Mac. 3. g He that feareth, and is afrayed, let him turne backe, and get him soone fro mount Gilead. Then returned there of the people aboute a two and twenty thousande so that there was left but ten thousande.

And the LORDE sayde vnto Gedeon. The people are yet to many: brynge them downe to the water, there wyl I proue them for ye: and of whom I saye that he shal go wt the, the same shal go with the: but of whō I saie that he shal not go with the, the same shall not go. And he broughte the people vnto ye water. And the LORDE sayde vnto Gedeon: Whosoeuer licketh of the water with his tū ge, as a dogg licketh, make him stonde asyde and lykewyse who soeuer falleth downe vpō his knees to drynke. Then was the nombre of them that had licked out of the hande to the mouth, thre hundreth men. And the LORDE sayde vnto Gedeon: Thorow the thre hū dreth which haue licked, wyl I delyuer you, and geue ouer the Madianites in to thy hā de: As for the other people, let them go euery one vnto his place.

And they toke vytayles with them for ye people, and their trompettes: but the other Israelites let he go, euery one vnto his tente. And he strengthed himselfe with the thre hundreth men, and the Madianites hoost laye before him beneth in the valley. And the same night sayde the LORDE vnto him: Vp, and go downe in to the hoost, for I haue geuen them ouer in to thy hande. But yf thou be afrayed to go downe, then let ye seruaunt Pura go downe with the vnto the hoost, yt thou maiest heare what they saie: after that shalt thou be bolde, and thy honde stronge, that thou mayest go downe in to the hoost.

Than wente Gedeon downe with his seruaunt vnto ye vttemost parte of ye watchmē of armes yt were in ye hoost. And ye Madianites and Amalechites, and all the children of the south, had layed them selues beneth in the valley, as a multitude of greshoppers, and their Camels were not to be nombred for multitude, euē as the sonde on ye see shore. Now whan Gedeon came, beholde, one tolde another his dreame, & sayde: Beholde, I haue dreamed a dreame: Me thoughte a bakē barlye lofe came rollinge downe to ye hoost of ye Madianites: and whan it came to the tente, it smote it, and ouerthrew it, and turned it vpsyde downe, so that the tente fell. Then answered the other: That is nothinge els then ye swerde of Gedeon the sonne of Ioas ye Israelite: God hath geuē ouer the Madianites with all the hoost in to his hande.

Whan Gedeon herde this dreame tolde, & the interpretacion of it, he worshipped, and came agayne in to the hoost of Israel, and sayde: Vp, for the LORDE hath delyuered ye hoost of the Madianites in to youre hāde. And he deuyded the thre hundreth men in to thre partes, and gaue euery one a trompet in his hande, and emptye pytchers, and lampes therin, and sayde vnto them: Loke vnto me, ud. 9. g and do ye euē so, and beholde, whā I come to the vttemost parte of the hoost, euen as I do, so do ye also. Whan I blowe ye trompet, and all that are wt me, then shal ye blowe ye trōpettes also rounde aboute all the hoost, and saye: Here the LORDE & Gedeon. Thus came Gedeon and the thre hundreth men with him vnto the vttemost parte of ye hoost (aboute the tyme whan the mydwatch begynneth) and waked vp the watchmē, and blewe with the trompettes, and smote asunder the pitchers in their handes.

So all the thre companies blewe with ye trompettes, and brake the pitchers. But the lampes helde they in their lefte hande, and the trompettes in their righte hāde, so that they blewe, and cried: Here the swerde of the LORDE and Gedeon. And euery one stode in his place aboute the hoost. Then ranne all the hoost, and cried and fled. And whyle the thre hundreth men blewe the trompettes, ye LORDE broughte it so to passe, that . Re. 14. c . Pa. 20. d euery mans swerde in all ye hoost was agaynst another, and the hoost fled vnto Bethsitha Zereratha, and vnto the border of the playne of Mehohab besyde Tabath. And ye men of Israel of Nephtali, of Asser, & of Manasse cried, and folowed vpon the Madianites.

And Gedeon sent messaungers vp vnto all mount Ephraim, sayenge: Come downe against the Madianites, and stoppe the water from them vnto Beth Bara and Iordane. And then cryed all they that were of Ephraim, and stopped the water from them vnto Bethbara and Iordane, and toke two prynces of the Madianites Oreb and Zeb, and slewe Oreb vpon the rocke of Oreb, and Zeb in the wyne presse of Zeb, and folowed vpon the Madianites, and broughte the heades of Oreb and Zeb, vnto Gideon ouer Iordane.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd the men of Ephraim sayde vnto him: Wherfore hast thou done this vnto vs, that thou hast not called vs, whā thou wentest forth to fight agaynst ye Madianites? and they chode sore with him. But he sayde vnto them: What haue I done now that is like youre acte? Is not the after gadderynge of Ephraim better then the whole haruest of Abieser? 〈…〉 God hath delyuered ye prynces of the Madianites Oreb and Zeb in to youre hande, how coulde I do that ye haue done? Whā he had sayde this, their blast was swaged from him.

Now whan Gedeon came vnto Iordane, he wente ouer with the thre hundreth mē that were with him, and they were weery, and folowed vpon their chace. And he sayde vnto the men of Sucoth: I praye you geue the people that are with me, some loaues of bred (for they are weery) that I maye folowe vpon Zebea and Salmana the kinges of the Madianites.

But the rulers of Sucoth sayde: Are the handes of Zebea and Salmana in thy handes allready, that we must geue bred vnto thy men of warre? Gedeon sayde: Well, whan the LORDE delyuereth Zebea and Salmana in to my hāde, I wyll thres she youre flesh with thornes of the wyldernesse and with breares. And from thence he wente vp vnto Penuel, and spake euen so vnto them. And the mē of Penuel gaue him like answere as they of Sucoth. And he sayde also vnto the men of Penuel: Yf I come peaceably agayne, I wil breake downe this tower.

As for Zebea and Salmana, they were at Karkar, and their hoost with them vpon a fyftene thousande, which were all that were lefte of the whole hoost of the children of the Easte: for there were fallen an hundreth and twentye thousande, that coulde drawe the swerde.

And Gedeon wente vp by the waye, where they dwell in the tentes on the east side of Nobah and Iakbeha, & smote the hoost, for the hoost was carelesse, and mystrusted nothinge. And Zebea and Salmana fled, but he folowed after them, and toke ye two kynges of the Madianites Zebea and Salmana, and put all the hoost in feare

Now whan Gedeon ye sonne of Ioas came agayne frō the battayll out of ye east, he toke a lad of the men of Sucoth, & examyned him, which wrote him vp the names of the rulers of Sucoth, and their Elders, euē thre score and seuentene men.

And he came to the men of Sucoth, & sayde: Beholde, here is Zebea & Salmana, cōcernynge whō ye laughed me to scorne, & sayde: Are the handes of Zebea and Salmana in thy hādes all ready, that we must geue bred vnto thy men which are weery? And he toke the Elders of the cite, and thornes out of the wildernes, and breres, and caused ye men of Sucoth to be torne therwith. 〈…〉 And the tower of Penuel brake he downe, and slewe the men of the cite.

And he saide vnto Zebea and Salmana: What maner of mē were they whō ye slewe at Thabor? They sayde: They were euen like the, & goodly men, as yf they had bene a kynges childrē. He sayde: They were my brethren, euen my mother sonnes: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, yf ye had lettē them lyue, I wolde not slaye you.

And he saide vnto his first borne sonne Iether: Stonde vp, & slaye them. Howbeit the lad drue not out his swerde, for he was afrayed, for so moch as he was yet but a lad. Zebea & Salmana sayde: Stonde thou vp, & slaye vs, for as the man is, soch is also his strēgth. So Gedeon arose, and slewe Zebea and Salmana, and toke the ornamentes that were aboute their Camels neckes.

Then sayde certayne in Israel vnto Gedeon: Be thou lorde ouer vs, thou and thy sonne, and thy sonnes sonne, for so moch as thou hast delyuered vs from ye hande of ye Madianites. Neuertheles Gedeon saide vnto them: I wil not be lorde ouer you, nether shal my sonne be lorde ouer you, but the LORDE shalbe lorde ouer you.

Gedeon sayde vnto them: One thinge I desyre of you, Euery man geue me the earinge that he hath spoyled. (For in so moch as ye men were Ismaelites, they had earinges.) They sayde: Them wyll we geue the. And they spred out a cloth, and euery man cast the earinge theron that he had spoyled. And the golden earynges which he requyred, had in weight, a thousande and seuen hundreth Sycles of golde, besyde the spanges and cheynes, and scarlet rayment which the kynges of the Madianites dyd weere, and besyde the neckbandes of their Camels. And Gideon made a cote armoure therof, and set it in his cite at Aphra. And all Israel wente there a whoringe after it, and it turned to an occasion of fallinge vnto Gedeon and his house.

Thus were ye Madianites brought downe before the children of Israel, and lifte vp their heade nomore: and the londe was in rest fortye yeares, as lōge as Gedeon lyued.

And Ierubaal the sonne of Ioas wēte & dwelt in his house.4. Re. 10 And Gedeon Had thre score & ten sonnes, which were come out of his thye: for he had many wyues. And his concubyne which he had at Sichē, bare him a sonne also, whom he called Abimelech. And Gideon the sonne of Ioas dyed in a good age, & was buried at Aphra in ye sepulcre of his father Ioas the father of the Esrites.

But whan Gedeon was deed, the childrē of Israel turned backe, and wente awhoringe after Baalim, and made a couenaunt wt Baal Berith, yt he shulde be their God. And ye childrē of Israel thoughte not on ye LORDE their God, which had delyuered them frō the hande of their enemies rounde aboute: and they shewed not mercy vnto the house of Ierubaal Gedeon, acordinge to all the good that he had done vnto Israel.

The IX. Chapter.

ABimelech the sonne of Ierubaal, wente vnto Sichē to his mothers brethren, & spake vnto them, & to all the kynred of his mothers fathers house, and sayde: I praye you speake in the eares of all the men at Sichem: What is better for you, that threscore and ten men all children of Ierubaal shulde be lordes ouer you, or that one man shulde be lorde ouer you? Remembre also that I am youre bone and youre flesh.

Then spake his mothers brethrē all these wordes for him, in ye eares of all ye men at Sichem. And their hert enclyned to Abimelech, for they thoughte: He is oure brother: and gaue him thre score and ten syluerlinges out of ye house of Baal Berith. And wt them Abimelech hyred men that were vagabundes and of light condicions, which folowed him. And he came to his fathers house vnto Aphra, and slew his brethren the children of Ierubaal,2. Pa . 21. euen thre score men and tē vpon one stone. But Iotham the yongest sonne of Ierubaal remayned ouer, for he was hydd. And all the men of Sichem, and all the house of Millo gathered them selues together, and wente and made Abimelech kynge by the Oke that stondeth at Sichem.

Whan this was tolde Iotham, he wente, and stode vpon the toppe of mount Grisim, and lifte vp his voyce, cried, and sayde: Heare me ye men of Sichem, that God maye heare you also 2. Par. 25. c 4. Esd. 4. b The trees wente to anointe a kinde ouer them, and sayde vnto the Olyue tre: Be thou oure kynge. But the Olyue tre answered them: Shall I go and leaue my fatnesse (which both God and men commende in me) and go to be puft vp aboue the trees? Then sayde the trees vnto the fygge tre: Come thou and be kynge ouer vs. But the fygge tre sayde vnto thē: Shal I leaue my swetnes and my good frute, and go to be puft vp aboue the trees? Then sayde the trees vnto the vyne: Come thou and be oure kinge. But the vyne sayde vnto them: Shal I leaue my swete wyne, which reioyseth God and men, and go to be puft vp aboue the trees? Thē sayde all the trees vnto the thorne buszshe: Come thou, and be kynge ouer vs. And the thorne buszshe sayde vnto the trees: Yf it be true, yt ye anoynte me to be kynge ouer you, thē come, and put youre trust vnder my shadowe. Yf no, then go fyre out of the thorne buszshe, & cōsume ye Ceder trees of Libanō.

Yf ye haue done right now and iustly, yt ye haue made Abimelech to be kynge: and yf ye haue done well vnto Ierubaal and to his house, and haue done vnto him as he deserued vnto you. Which (euen my father) foughte for youre sakes, and ioperde his lyfe, to delyuer out of the Madianites hāde, euē you, which are rysen vp this daye agaynst my fathers house, & haue slaine his childrē, thre score personnes & ten vpon one stone, and haue made you a kynge (euen Abimelech the sonne of his handmaide) ouer the men at Sichem, for so moch as he is youre brother.

Yf ye haue done right now and iustly vnto Ierubaal and his house this daye, then reioyse ouer Abimelech, and let him reioyse ouer you. Yf no, then go fyre out from Abimelech, and cōsume the men of Sichem and the house of Millo: And fyre go out also frō the men of Sichem, and from the house of Millo, and consume Abimelech. And Iothā (whan he had spoken this out) fled, and gat him out of the waye, and wente vnto Ber, and dwelt there because of his brother Abimelech.

Now whan Abimelech had reigned thre yeare ouer Israel, Esa. 45. a God sent an euell mynde betwene Abimelech and the men of Sichen (for the men of Sichem despysed Abimelech, and rehearsed the wr nge done to the sonnes of Ierubaal, and their bloude, and layed it vpon Abimelech their brother which slewe them, and vpon the men of Sichem that strengthed his hande therto, that he mighte slaye his brethren.

And the men of Sichem set an hynd •• watch vpon the toppes of the mountaynes, and spoyled all them that walked nye them by the waye, and it was tolde Abimelech. But there came Gaal the sonne of Ebed and his brethren, and entred in to Sichem, and the men of Sichem put their trust in him, and wēte out in to the felde, and gathered their vynyardes, and pressed them, and made a daunse, and wente in to their gods house, and ate and dranke, and cursed Abimelech.

And Gaal ye sonne of Ebed sayde: Who is Abimelech? and what is Sichem, that we shulde serue him? Is he not the sonne of Ierubaal, and hath set Sebul his seruaūt ouer the men of 〈…〉 Hemor the father of Sichem Wherfore shulde we serue him? Wolde God the people were vnder my hāde, yt I mighte put downe Abimelech.

And it was tolde Abimelech: Increace thine hooste, and departe. For Sebul the chefe ruler of the cite, whan he herde the wordes of Gaal ye sonne of Ebed, he was wroth fully displeased, and sente message secretly to Abimelech, and caused to saye vnto him: Beholde, Gaal the sonne of Ebed and his brethren are come to Sichem, and make the cite to be agaynst the.

Arise therfore by nyght, thou and thy people that is with the, and laye wayte for thē in the felde: and tomorow whan the Sonne aryseth, get the vp soone, and fall vpon the cite: and yf he and the people that is with him come out vnto the, thē deale with him, as thyne hande fyndeth.

Abimelech stode vp by night, and all the people that was with him, and layed wayte for Sichem with foure companies of men of warre. And Gaal the sonne of Ebed wē out and stode at the dore of the gate of the cite. But Abimelech gat him vp out of the hinder watch, and the people that was with him. Now whan Gaal sawe the people, he sayde vnto Sebul: Beholde, there commeth a people downe from the toppe of ye mount. Sebul saide vnto him: Thou seist ye shadowe of the mountaines as though they were ē. Gaal spake yet more and sayde: Beholde, there commeth a people downe from ye myddes of the londe, & one bonde of men cōmeth by the waye to ye witch Oke. Thē sayde Sebul: Where is now ye mouth yt sayde: Who is Abimelech that we shulde serue him? Is not this ye people, whom thou hast refused? Go forth now, and fighte with him.

Gaal wente forth before the citesyns of Sichem, and foughte with Abimelech. But Abimelech chaced him, so that he fled, and there fell many slayne euen vnto the gate of the cite. And Abimelech abode at Aruma. But Sebul droue awaye Gaal and his brethren, so that they must not remayne at Sichem. Vpon the morowe wente the people forth in to ye felde. Whā this was tolde Abimelech, he toke the people, and parted them in to thre bōdes of men, and wayted for thē in the felde. Now whan he sawe yt the people wēte out of the cite, he rose agaynst thē, and smote them.

Abimelech and ye company of men that was with him, fell vpon them, and stepte vnto the dore of the porte: but the other two companies fell vpon all them that were in the felde, and slewe them. Thē foughte Abimelech agaynst the cite all ye same daye, and wanne it, and slewe the people that was there in, and brake downe ye cite, and sowed salt theron.

Whan all the men of the tower of Sichem herde this, they wente in to a stronge holde of ye house of their God Berith. But whan Abimelech herde, that all the men of the tower of Sichem had gathered thē selues together, he wente vp vnto mount Zelmon, and all the people that was with him, and toke an axe in his hāde, and hewed downe a braunch of a tre, and toke it vp, & layed it vpon his shulder, and sayde vnto all the people that was with him: 〈…〉 As ye haue sene me do, make ye haist, and do euen so as I. Then all the people hewed downe euery one a braūch, and folowed Abimelech: and they layed them to the holde, and set fyre vpon them agaynst them and the holde: and all the men of the tower of Sichem dyed thorow the smoke and fyre, vpon a thousande men and wemen.

As for Abimelech, he wēte vnto Thebetz, and layed sege vnto it, and wanne it. But in the myddes of the cite, there was a stronge tower, vnto the which all the men and wemen, and all the citesyns of the cite fled, and shutt it after them, and clymmed vp to the toppe of the tower. Then came Abimelech vnto the tower, and foughte agaynst it, and came nye vnto the dore of the tower, that he might burne it with fyre. 2. Re. 11. c But a woman cast a pece of a mylstone vpon Abimelechs heade, and brake his brane panne. Then Abimelech in all the haist, called the seruaunt that bare his wapen, and sayde vnto him: Drawe out thy swerde, and kyll me,1. Reg. 11. a 1. Par. 11. a that it be not sayde of me: A woman hath slayne him. Then his seruaunt thrust him thorow, and he dyed. Whan the Israelites which were with him, sawe, yt Abimelech was deed, they gatt them awaye euery one vnto his awne place.

Thus God recompenced Abimelech the euell that he had done vnto his father, whā he slewe his thre score and ten brethren: like wyse all the euell of the men of Sichem, dyd God rewarde them vpon their heade: and so the Iud. 9. c curse of Iotham ye sonne of Ierubaal came vpon them.

The X. Chapter.

AFter Abimelech there rose vp another sauioure in Israel, Thola a man of Isachar, and the sonne of Pua, the sonne of Dodo. And he dwelt at Samir vpō the mount Ephraim, and iudged Israel thre and twentye yeare, and died, and was buried at Samir.

After him stode vp one Iair a Gileadite, and iudged Israel two and twentye yeare, and hath thirtie sonnes, Iud. 1 . c rydinge vpon thirtie asses foales: and had thirtie cities, whose names are Hauoth Iair (that is, the cities of Iair) vnto this daye, and lye in Gilead. And Iair dyed and was buried at Camon.

But the children of Israel wrought wickednes in the sighte of the LORDE, and serued Baalim and Astaroth, and the goddes of Siria, and the goddes of Sidon, and the goddes of Moab, and the goddes of ye children of Ammon, and the goddes of the Philistines, and forsoke ye LORDE, and serued him not. Then was ye wrath of ye LORDE fearce vpon Israel, and he gaue thē ouer vnder the hāde of the Philistynes, and of the children of Ammō. And they vexed and oppressed ye children of Israel eightene yeare longe, all the children of Israel that were beyonde Iordane in the londe of the Moabites, which lyeth in Gilead. The children of Ammon also wente ouer Iordane, and fought agaynst Iuda, Ben Iamin, and agaynst the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was very sore troubled.

Then cryed the children of Israel vnto the LORDE, and sayde: We haue synned agaynst the, for we haue forsaken oure God, & serued Baalim. But the LORDE sayde vnto the childrē of Israel: Did not the Egipciās, the Amorites, the children of Ammon, ye Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalechites and Maonites oppresse you, and I helped you out of their hande, whan ye cryed vnto me? Yet haue ye forsaken me, and serued other goddes? Therfore wyll I helpe you nomore Deut. 32. c Iere. 2. d Go youre waye, and crye vpon the goddes whom ye haue chosen, let them helpe you in the tyme of youre trouble.

But the childrē of Israel sayde vnto the LORDE: We haue synned, do thou vnto vs what pleaseth the, onely delyuer vs at this tyme. And they put the straunge goddes frō them, and serued the LORDE, And his soule had pytie on the mysery of Israel.

And the children of Ammon called them selues together, and pitched in Gilead: But the children of Israel gathered them selues together also, and pitched at Mispa. And ye people of the chefest of Gilead sayde amōge them selues: Who so euer begynneth to fight agaynst the children of Ammon, shalbe heade ouer all them that dwell in Gilead.

The XI. Chapter.

IEphthae a Gileadite was a valeaūt man of armes, but an harlottes childe. Gilead begat Iephthae. But whan the wyfe had borne children vnto Gilead, and the same wyues childrē were waxē greate, they thrust out Iephtae, and sayde vnto him: Thou shalt not be heire in oure fathers house, for thou art another womās sonne. Thē fled he from his brethrē, and dwelt in the londe of Tob. And there resorted vnto him vagabūdes, and wēte out with him. And after a certayne tyme foughte the children of Ammon with Israel.

Now whā the childrē of Ammon foughte thus with Israel, the Elders wente from Gilead to fetch Iephthae out of the londe of Tob, and sayde vnto him: Come, and be oure captayne, and fight agaynst the children of Ammon. But Iephthae sayde vnto the Eldes of Gilead: Are not ye they that hate me and haue thrust me out of my fathers house, and now come ye to me whan ye are in trouble?

The Elders of Gilead sayde: Therfore come we now againe vnto the, that thou mayest go with vs, and fighte agaynst the ch ldren of Ammon, and be oure captayne ouer all that dwell in Gilead. Iephthae sayde vnto the Elders of Gilead: Yf ye fetch me agayne to fighte agaynst the childrē of Ammon, and the LORDE delyuer them before me shal I then be youre heade? The Elders of Gilead saide vnto Iephthae: The LORDE be hearer betwene vs, yf we do not as thou hast sayde. So Iephthae wēte with the Elders of Gilead. And the people made him heade and duke ouer them. And Iephthae spake all this before the LORDE at Mispa.

Then sente Iephthae messaungers to the kynge of the children of Ammon, and caused to saye vnto him: What hast thou to do with me, that thou cōmest vnto me to fight agaynst my londe? The kynge of the childrē of Ammō answered Iephthaes messaungers Because that Israel toke awaye my londe (whan they departed out of Egipte) from Arnon vnto Iabock, and vnto Iordane: geue it me agayne now therfore peaceably.

But Iephthae sent yet mo messaungers to ye kynge of the children of Ammon, which sayde vnto him: Thus sayeth Iephthae: 〈…〉 Israel hath taken no londe, nether from the Moabites ner from the children of Ammon: for when they departed out of Egipte, Israel walked thorow the wyldernes vnto the reed see, and came to Cades, and 〈…〉 sent messaungers to the kynge of the Edomites, and sayde: Let me go thorow thy londe. But the kynge of ye Edomites wolde not heare thē. They sent lykewyse vnto the kynge of the Moabites, which wolde not also. Thus Israel abode in Cades, and compased the lōde of the Edomites and Moabites, and came on the eastsyde of the londe of the Moabites and pitched beyonde Arnon, and came no within the coaste of the Moabites. 〈…〉 For Arnon is the border of the Moabites.

And Israel sent messaungers vnto Si hon the kynge of the Amorites at Heszbon, 〈…〉 and caused to saye vnto him: Let me go thorow thy londe vnto my place. Neuertheles Sihon wolde not trust Israel to go thorow the border of his londe, but gathered all his people, and pitched at Iahza, and foughte with Israel. Howbeit the LORDE God of Israel gaue Sihon with all his people in to Israels hāde, so that they slewe them. Thus Israel conquered all the londe of the Amorites that dwelt in ye same countre. And they toke possessiō of all the borders of the Amorites, from Arnon vnto Iabok, & from ye wyldernesse vnto Iordane. So ye LORDE God of Israel droue awaye the Amorites before his people of Israel, and wilt thou cōquere them? Is it not so, yf thy God Camos gaue the oughte to possesse, woldest thou not possesse it? What so euer the LORDE oure God hath geuē vs before vs to possesse, that shal we conquere and take in possession.

Hast thou better right (thinkest thou) thē 〈◊〉 . 22. a 〈◊〉 . 23. a Balac the sonne of Ziphor, the kynge of ye Moabites? Dyd he euer go to lawe or fighte agaynst Israel? Though Israel haue dwelt now vpō a thre hūdreth yeare in Hesbon, and in the vyllages therof, in Aroer and in the vyllages therof, and in all the cities that lye by Arnon. Why dyd not ye rescue it at the same tyme? I haue not offended the, & thou doest me euell to fighte agaynst me? The LORDE geue sentence this daie betwene Israel and the children of Ammon.

Neuertheles the kynge of the children of Ammon wolde not heare ye wordes of Iephthae, which he sent vnto him. Then came ye sprete of the LORDE vpon Iephthae, and he wente thorow Gilea nd Manasse, and thorow Mispa which lieth in Gilead, and fro Mispa that lieth in Gilead, vnto ye children of Ammon.

And Iephthae vowed a vowe vnto the LORDE, and sayde: 〈…〉 Yf thou wilt delyuer the childrē of Ammon in to my hande, what so euer commeth (first) out at the dore of my house in my waye, whan I returne agayne peaceably from the childrē of Ammon, that same shalbe the LORDES, and I wyl offre it for a burtn offerynge.

So Iephthae wente vpon the children of Ammon, to fighte against them. And ye LORDE gaue them in to his hande, and he smote thē from Ar er tyll thou comest vnto Minnith, euen twentye cities, and vnto the playne of ye vynyardes a very greate slaughter, and thus were the children of Ammon subdued before the children of Israel.

Now whan Iephthae came to Mispa vnto his house, beholde, his doughter wente out to mete him with tabrettes and daunces: and she was his onely childe, & he had els nether sonne ner doughter. And whan he sawe her, he rente his clothes, & sayde: Alas my doughter, thou makest my hert soroufull, and discomfortest me: for I haue opened my mouth vnto the LORDE, and can not call it agayne.

She sayde: My father, yf thou hast opened thy mouth vnto the LORDE, then do vnto me as it is proceaded out of ye mouth, acordinge as the LORDE hath auēged the of thyne enemies the children of Ammon. And she sayde vnto hir father: Do this for me, geue me leue to go downe vpō the mountaynes two monethes, that I maye bewep my virginite with my playfeeres. He sayde: Go thy waye. And he let her go two monethes. Then wente she with her playefeeres, and bewayled hir mayden heade vpon the mountaynes. And after two monethes she came agayne vnto hir father. And he dyd vnto her acordinge as he had vowed. And she had neuer bene in daunger of eny man. And it was a custome in Israel, that the doughters of Israel shulde go euery yeare, and mourne for the doughter of Iephthae the Gileadite, foure dayes in the yeare.

The XII. Chapter.

ANd they of Ephraim made insurreccion, & wente northwarde, & sayde vnto Iephthae: Iud. 8. Wherfore wētest thou to the battayll agaynst the children of Ammon, & hast not called vs, that we mighte go with the? We wil burne thy house and the with fyre. Iephthae sayde vnto thē: I and my people had a greate matter with ye children of Ammon, and I cried vpon you, but ye helped me not out of their handes. Now whan I sawe yt there was no helper, I put Psal. 118. my soule in my honde, and wente agaynst the children of Ammon, and the LORDE delyuered them in to my hande. Wherfore come ye vp to me, to fighte agaynst me?

And Iephthae gathered all the men in Gilead, & foughte agaynst Ephraim. And the men in Gilead smote Ephraim, because they sayde: Ye Gileadites are as they yt fle awaye before Ephraim, (and dwell) amōge Ephraim & Manasse. And the Gileadites toke ye ferye of Iordane from Ephraim. Now whā one of ye fugityue Ephraites dyd saye: Let me go ouer, ye men of Gilead sayde: Art thou an Ephraite? yf he answered: No, they bad him saye: Schiboleth, & he sayde: Siboleth, & coulde not speake it righte: then they toke him, & slew him at ye ferye of Iordane, so yt the same tyme there fell of Epraim two & fortye M. Iephthae iudged Israel sixe yeares. And Iephthae ye Gileadite dyed, & was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

After him iudged Israel one Ebzan of Bethleem, which had thirtie sonnes and as many doughters: and his thirtie doughters gaue he forth to mariage, and thirtie doughters toke he from without for his sonnes, and iudged Israel seuen yeare, and died, and 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈2 pages missing〉 shulders & loynes: and wēte downe, & dwelt in the stone clyffe at Etam. Then wente the Philistynes vp, and layed sege vnto Iuda, & pitched at Lechi. But they of Iuda sayde: Wherfore are ye come vp against vs? They answered: we are come vp to bynde Samson, yt we maye do vnto him, as he hath done vnto vs.

Then wēte there thre M. men of Iuda downe to the stone clyffe of Etam, & sayde vnto Samson: Knowest thou not that the Philistynes raigne ouer vs? Wherfore hast thou done this then vnto vs? He sayde: As they dyd vnto me, so haue I done vnto thē agayne. They sayde vnto him: We are come downe to bynde the, & to delyuer yt into the hāde of the Philistynes. Samson sayde vnto thē: Then sweare & promyse me, yt ye wyll not slaye me. They answered him: We wyll not kyll the, we wil but bynde the, & delyuer the in to their hande, & wyl not slaye ye. And they bounde him with two new coardes & caried him from the stone. And whan he came vnto Lechi, the Philistynes shouted, and rāne vnto him. But ye sprete of ye LORDE came vpon him, & the coardes aboute his armes were like thredes burnt in the fyre, so yt the bondes were lowsed from his hondes.

And he founde the cheke bone of a deed asse: then put he forth his hande, and toke it, & slewe a thousande men therwith: And Samson sayde: With an olde asses cheke bone, yee euē with the cheke bone of an asse haue I slayne a thousande men. And whan he had sayde yt, he cast ye cheke bone out of his hande, & called the place Ramath Lechi. But whā he was sore a thyrst, he called vpō the LORDE, & saide: Soch greate health hast thou geuē by the hāde of thy seruaunt, but now must I dye a thyrst, & fall in to ye hande of ye vncircūcised. Thē God opened a gome tothe in ye cheke bone, so yt water wēte out: & whan he dranke, his sprete came agayne, & he was refreszshed. Therfore vnto this daye it is yet called ye well of ye cheke bone of him yt made intercession. And he iudged Israel in the tyme of the Philistynes twētye yeare.

The XVI. Chapter.

SAmson wente vnto Gasa, & there he sawe an harlot, & laye with her. Thē was it saide vnto the Gasites: Samson is come hither. And they compased him aboute, & caused to laye wayte for him preuely, & watched all the nighte in the gate of ye cite, & all that nighte they helde them styll, & sayde: Abyde, tomorow whan it is lighte, we wyll slaye him. But Samson laye vnto mydnighte, then rose he at mydnighte, & toke holde on both ye syde portes of ye gate of the cite, wt both the postes, & lifte them out with the barres, & layed them vpon his shulders, & bare them vp to ye toppe of ye mount ouer agaynst Hebron.

After this he fell in to the loue of a woman by ye broke of Sorek, whose name was Dalila, vnto whom the prynces of the Philistynes came vp, and sayde vnto her: Persuade him, and loke wherin he hath soch greate strēgth, & how we maye ouercome him, yt we mighte bynde him & subdue him, so wyll we geuethe euery man a M. and an C. syluerlinges. And Dalila sayde vnto Samson: I praye the tell me, wherin thy greate strēgth is, & how thou mightest be bounde to be subdued. Samson sayde vnto her: Yf I were bounde with seuē roapes of fresh senowes, which are not yet dryed vp, I shulde be weake, and as another man. Thē the prynces of the Philistynes broughte vp vnto her seuen new roapes, which were not yet dryed vp. And she bounde him therwith. (But there was wayte layed for him besyde her in the chamber) and she sayde vnto him: The Pilistynes vpon the Samson. Neuertheles he brake the roapes in sunder, euē as a twyned threde breaketh, whan it hath catched the heate of the fyre. And it was not knowne wherin his strength was.

Then sayde Dalila vnto Samson: beholde, thou hast begyled me & dyssembled with me: tell me yet, wherwithall mayest thou be bounde? He answered her: Yf they bounde me with new coardes, wherwith no labor hath bene done, I shulde be feble, & as another man. Then toke Dalila new coardes, & bounde him withall, and sayde: The Philistynes vpō the Samson (but there was wayte layed for him in the chamber.) And he brake them from his armes, euen as it had bene a threde.

Dalila sayde vnto him: Yet hast thou begyled me & dessembled wt me: O tell me yet, wherwithall mightest thou be bounde? He answered her: Yf thou playtest seuē hayri lockes of my heade together in a fyllet, and fastenest them in with a nayle (I shulde be weake.) And she saide vnto him: The Philistynes vpō the Samson. But he awaked out of his slepe, & drue out ye playted hayrie lockes with the nale and the fyllet.

Thē sayde she vnto him: How cāst thou saye yt thou louest me, where as thine hert is not yet with me? Thre tymes hast thou disceaued me, and not tolde me wherin thy greate strength is. So whan she was euery daye importune vpon him wt her wordes, & wolde not let him haue rest, his soule was faynte euen vnto the death, & he shewed her his whole hert, & sayde vnto her: 〈◊〉 . 6. a 〈◊〉 . 1 . a There came neuer rasoure vpon my heade, for I am a Nazaree of God fro my mothers wombe. Yf I were shauen, my strength shulde departe fro me, so that I shulde be weake, and as all other men. Now whan Dalila sawe that he had opened all his hert vnto her she sent & called for the prynces of the Philistynes, & sayde: Come yet once vp, for he hath opened his whole hert vnto me.

Thē came the prynces of the Philistynes vp vnto her, & broughte the money wt them in their handes. And she made him to slepe vpon hir lappe, & called one which shoue of the seuē hayrie lockes of his heade. And she beganne to vexe him. Thē was his strength departed frō him. And she sayde vnto him: The Philistynes vpon the Samson. Now whā he awoke out of his slepe, he thoughte: I wil go forth as I haue done afore tyme, & ease my selfe, & knewe not yt the LORDE was departed from him. But the Philistynes toke him, & put out his eyes, and broughte him downe to Gasa, & bounde him wt fetters, and made him to grynde in the preson. But the heer of his heade beganne to growe agayne, where it was shauen of.

Whan ye prynces of the Philistynes were gathered together, to make a greate sacrifice vnto Dagon their god, and to be ioyfull, they sayde: Oure god hath delyuered Samson or enemye in to or hande. Like wyse whan ye people sawe him, they praysed their god, & sayde: Oure god hath delyuered in to oure handes oure enemye, yt destroyed oure londe, & slewe many of vs. Now whan their hert was ioyfull, they sayde: Let vs fetch Samson, that he maye make some pastyme before vs. Then fetched they Samson out of the preson, & he made pastyme before them. And they set him betwene two pilers. But Samson sayde vnto the lad yt led him by the hande: Let me touche the pilers wher vpon the house stondeth, yt I maye leane ther vnto. As for ye house, it was full of men & wemen. All the prynces of the Philistynes were there also, and vpon the rofe were aboute a thre thousande men and wemen, which behelde what pastyme Samson made.

But Samson called vpon the LORDE, & sayde: O LORDE LORDE, thynke vpon me, & strength me but this once O God I beseke the, yt for both myne eyes I maye auēge me

on the Philistynes. And he toke holde of ye two mydpilers, that the house stode vpon & was holden by, the one in his righte hāde, & ye other in his lefte, & saide: My soule dye wt the Philistynes, & he bowed him selfe mightely. Then fell the house vpon the prynces & vpon all the people that were therin, so that there were mo of ye slayne which dyed in his death, thē he slewe whyle he lyued. Then came his brethren downe and all his fathers house, and toke him, and caried him vp, and buried him in the graue of his father Manoah betwene Zarga and Esthaol. He iudged Israel twentye yeare.

The XVII. Chapter.

THere was a man vpō mount Ephraim, named Micha, which sayde vnto his mother: The thousande and hundreth syluerlinges which thou hast taken vnto the, & sworne, and spoken of before myne eares: beholde, ye same money is by me, I haue taken it vnto me. Then sayde his mother: The blessinge of the LORDE haue thou my sonne. So he gaue his mother the thousande & hundreth syluerlinges agayne. And his mother saide: That money haue I sanctified vnto the LORDE wt my hande for my sonne, to make a molten ymage: therfore I geue it the agayne. Neuertheles he delyuered ye money agayne vnto his mother.

Then toke his mother two hundreth syluerlinges, & put them forth to ye goldsmyth, which made a molten ymage, yt was afterwarde in Michas house. And thus the man Micha had a gods house, & made an ouerbody cote, & Idols, and fylled ye handes of one of his sonnes, yt he mighte be his prest. Iud. 18. and 1. d At yt tyme was there no kynge in Israel, & euery man dyd the thinge yt was righte in his awne eyes. There was a yōge man of Bethleem Iuda, amōge the kynreds of Iuda, and he was a Leuite, and was a straunger there. The same wente out of the cite of Bethleem Iuda, to walke whither he coulde.

And whā he came vp to mount Ephraim vnto the house of Micha, to go on his iourney, Micha axed him: Whence cōmest thou? He answered him: I am a Leuite of Bethleem Iuda, and am walkynge where I can. Micha sayde vnto him: Tary with me, thou shalt be my father and my prest, I will geue the euery yeare ten syluerlinges and thy appoynted raymēt, and meate and drynke: and the Leuite wēte on. And the Leuite agreed to abyde with the man: and he helde the yonge mā, as one of his owne sonnes. And Micha fylled the Leuites hande, that he mighte be his prest, and so he was in Michas house. And Micha sayde: I am sure the LORDE wyll do me good now, that I haue a Leuite to my prest.

The XVIII. Chapter.

AT that tyme was there no kynge in Israel. And ye trybe of ye Danites soughte them an enheritaunce to dwell in, •• su. 19. d for vnto that daie there was no enheritaunce fallen vnto them amonge the trybes of Israel. And the childrē of Dan sent out of their kynreds fyue captaynes (which were men of armes) from Zarga and Esthaol, to spye and search out the londe. And they sayde vnto them: Go youre waie, and search out the londe. And they came vp to mount Ephraim in to ye house of Micha, and taried there all nighte. And whyle they were there wt Michas huszsholde, they knewe ye voyce of the yonge man the Leuite, and sayde vnto him: Who broughte ye hither? What makest thou here? and why woldest thou come hither?

He answered thē: Thus & thus hath Micha done vnto me, & hath hyred me to be his prest. They sayde vnto him: O axe at God, yt we maye perceaue, whether oure iourney which we go, shal prospere well or not. The prest answered them: Go youre waye in peace, youre iourney yt ye go, is before the LORDE. Then the fyue men wente their waye, & came vnto Lais, and sawe that the people which was therin, dwelt sure, euen as ye Sidonians, at rest, and carelesse, and that there was no lorde in the londe to vexe them, and were farre from the Sidoniās, and had nothinge to do with eny man.

And they came to their brethrē to Zarga and Esthaol. And their brethren saide vnto them: How is it wt you? They sayde: Arise, let vs go vp vnto them, for we haue sene the londe, yt it is a very good londe: make haist therfore, & be not slacke to go, that ye maye come to take possession of the londe. Whan ye come, ye shall come to a carelesse people, and the londe is wyde: for God hath delyuered this place in to yor hande, where nothinge wanteth of all yt is vpon earth.

Then wente there thence out of the kynreds of Dan from Zarga and Esthaol, sixe hundreth men ready wapened to ye battayll, and wente vp, and pitched at Kiriath Iearim in Iuda: therfore called they the sam place, ye hoost of Dan, vnto this daye, which is behinde Kiriath Iearim.

And frō thence they wēte vp vnto moūt Ephraim, and came to the house of Micha. Then answered the fyue men that wēte out to spye the londe of Lais, & sayde vnto their brethren: Knowe ye not that in these houses there is an ouerbody cote, Idols, & molten ymages? Now maye ye loke what ye haue to do. They departed thence, and came to the house of the yonge man the Leuite in Michas house, and saluted him frēdly. But the sixe hundreth men, which were of ye children of Dan, stode ready harnessed before ye gate. And the fyue men that were gone one to spye ye londe, wēte vp, and came thither, and toke the ymage, the ouerbody cote, & the molten Idols. In the meane whyle stode ye prest at the gate, with the sixe hundreth readye harnessed.

Now whā these were come in to Michas house, and toke the ymage, the ouerbody cote, and the molten Idols, the prest sayde vnto them: What do ye? They answered him: Holde thy peace, and laye thine hande vpon thy mouth, and go with vs, yt thou mayest be oure father & prest. Is it better for the to be prest in one mans house, then amonge a whole trybe & kynred in Israel? This pleased the prest well, & he toke both the ouerbody cote, and the Idols, and the ymage, and came in amonge the people. And whan they turned them and wente thence, they sent their children, and catell, and soch precious thynges as they had, before them.

Whan they were come farre now from the house of Micha, the men yt were in Michas houses gathered thē together by Michas house, & folowed ye childrē of Dan, and cried vpon the childrē of Dan. They turned their faces aboute, and sayde vnto Micha: What ayleth the, yt thou makest soch a crienge? He answered: Ye haue taken awaye my goddes, and the prest, & are goinge yor waie, and what haue I behynde? What is here? And yet ye saye vnto me: What ayleth the? But the childrē of Dan saide vnto him: Let not thy voyce be herde amōge vs, that some wrothfull mē thrust not at the, and so ye soule and the soule of ye house be destroyed. So the childrē of Dan wēte on their waye. And Micha, whan he sawe yt they were to stronge for him, turned backe, and came agayne to his house.

But they toke that Micha had made, & the prest whom he had, & came vnto Lais, to a quyete carelesse people, and slewe them with the edge of the swerde, and burnt the cite with fyre, and there was no man to delyuer them: for they laye farre frō Sidon, and had to do with no man. And they laye in the valley, which is besyde Beth Rehob. Then buylded they the cite, & dwelt therin, 〈◊〉 . 19. d & called it Dan, after name of their father Dan, whom Israel begat. And ye cite was called Lais afore tyme.

And the children of Dan set vp the ymage for them, and Ionathan ye sonne of Gerson the sonne of Manasse, & his sonnes were prestes amōge the trybe of ye Danites, 〈◊〉 . 17. a vnto the tyme yt they were led awaye captyue out of the londe. And thus they set amonge thē the ymage of Micha, which he had made, as lōge as ye house of God was at Silo.

The XIX. Chapter.

AT the same tyme was there no kynge in Israel, and there was a man of Leui, which was a straūger besyde moūt Ephraim, and had taken him a cōcubine of Bethleem Iuda to wife: And whā she had played the harlot besyde him, she ranne frō him to hir fathers house vnto Bethleem Iuda, & was there foure monethes longe. And hir huszbāde gat him vp, & wente after her, to speake frēdly wt her, & to fetch her againe, & had a seruaunt & a couple of asses wt him. And she led him in to hir fathers house. But whan the damsels father sawe him, he was glad, & receaued him: & his father in lawe, yt the damsels father kepte him, so yt he taried thre dayes wt him: thus they ate and drōke, and remayned there all nighte.

But on ye fourth daye he gat him vp early, & wolde go his waye. Then sayde ye damsels father vnto his sonne in lawe: en. 18. a •• al. 105. b Refresh thine hert first wt a morsell of bred, and then shal ye go. And they sat them downe, & ate and dronke both together: Then sayde the damsels father vnto the man: Oh tarye all nighte, yt we waie refresh thine hert. But ye mā arose, & wolde nedes go. And his father in lawe constrayned him to tarye all nighte. On the fifth daye in the mornynge he gat him vp, and wolde be gone. Then sayde the damsels father: I praye the comforte thine hert, & let vs tary tyll ye daye be farther past, and so they ate both together.

And the man gat him vp, and wolde go with his concubyne and with his seruaunt. But his father in lawe the damsels father, saide vnto him agayne: Lo, the daye is spente, & it begynneth to be euen, tary all night: beholde, here is lodginge yet this daye, abyde here this night, it shal refresh thine hert: tomorow by times get you vp, and go youre waye vnto thy tent. Neuerttheles the man wolde not tar , but gat him vp, and wēte his waye and came ouer agaynst Iebus (that is Ierusalem) and his couple of asses ladē, and his concubyne with him.

Now whan they were come nye vnto Iebus, the daye •• ll fast awaye. And ye seruaūt saide vnto his master: I praie you go on, and let vs turne in to this cite of the Iebusites, and tarye therin allnight. Not withstondinge his master sayde vnto him: I wil not turne in to ye cite of the aleauntes, that are not of the children of Israel, but I wyl go ouer vnto Gibea. And he sayde vnto his seruaūt: Go thou before, that we maye come to some place, and tarye at Gibea or at Ramah allnight. And they wente on and walked, and the Sonne wente downe vpon thē harde by Gibea, which lyeth in the trybe of Ben Iamin: and they turned in there, yt they mighte come in, and tarye at Gibea all nighte. But whan he came in, he sat him downe in ye strete of the cite: for there was noman that wolde lodge them in his house that night.

And beholde, then came there an olde mā from his worke out of the felde in the eueninge: and he was also of mount Ephraim, and a straūger at Gibea: but ye mē of that place were ye childrē of Iemini. And whan he lifte vp his eies, & sawe the straunger in the strete he sayde vnto him: Whither wilt thou go? & whence cōmest thou? He answered him: We are goinge on oure iourney from Betleē Iuda, vntyll we come besyde mount Ephraim, whēce I am, and wente vnto Bethleem Iuda, and now I go vnto ye house of ye LORDE & no mā wil harbarow me. We haue strawe and prouēder for oure asses, and bred and wyne for me and thy handmayden, and for the yonge man which is with thy seruaunt, so yt we wante nothinge.

The olde man sayde: Peace be with the: what soeuer thou wantest, thou findest it wt me, onely tarye not in the strete all nighte. And he broughte him in to his house, and gaue the asses prouender: and they washed their fete, and ate & dronke. And whā their hert was now ioyfull, the men of the cyte, the children of Belial, came, and compased the house rounde aboute, and ruszshed at ye dore, and sayde vnto ye olde man, which was the good man of ye house: Bringe out the mā which is come in to thy house, that we maye knowe him.

Gen. 19. b But the good man of the house wente forth to them, and sayde vnto them: Oh no my brethren, do not so wickedly, consideringe this man is come in to my house: Oh do not soch folye. Beholde, I haue a doughter yet a virgin, and this man hath a cōcubine, those wil I brynge forth vnto you, that ye maye humble them, and do with them as ye lyke: but do not soch foly vnto this man. Neuertheles the men wolde not herken vnto him. Then toke ye man his concubine and broughte her forth vnto them: and they knewe her, and dealte shamefully with her all yt night vntill the mornynge. And whan the mornynge brake on, they let her go.

Then came the woman early in the mornynge, and fell downe at the dore of the mās house that her lorde was in, and laye there tyll it was light. Now whan hir lorde rose vp in the mornynge, and opened the dore of the house, and wente forth to go on his iourney, beholde, his concubyne laye at the dore of the house, and hir handes vpon the thresholde. He saide vnto her: stonde vp, let vs go, Neuertheles she gaue him no answere. Thē toke he her vp vpon his asse, gat him vp, and wente vnto his place.

Now whan he came home, he toke a swerde, and helde his concubyne, and cut her wt the bones and all in to twolue peces, and sent them in to all the coastes of Israel. Who so euer sawe it, sayde: Soch a thinge hath not bene done ner sene, sence the tyme that ye children of Israel departed out of the londe of Egipte, vnto this daye. Now as concernynge this, take youre advysement, and geue yor councell, and shew it forth.

The XX. Chapter.

THen wente the children of Israel out and gathered a congregacion together as one man, frō Dan vntill Bersaba, and from the londe of Gilead vnto the LORDE to Mispa: and there came together of all the quarters of the people, and of all the trybes of Israel in to the congregacion of the people of God, foure hundreth thousande fote men that drue out ye swerde. But the children of Ben Iamin herde, how that ye children of Israel were gone vp vnto Mispa. And the children of Israel sayde: Tell vs, how happened this euell?

Then answered the Leuite the huszbande of the woman that was slayne, and sayde: I came to Gibea in Ben Iamin with my concubyne, to tary there allnight, then the cyt sins of Gibea gat them vp agaynst me, and compased me aboute in the house by night, and thoughte to slaye me, and defyled my cō cubyne, so that she dyed: then toke I my cō cubyne, and cut her in peces, and sent the peces in to euery countre of the inheritaunce of Israel: for they haue done an abhominacion and folye in Israel. Beholde, here are ye children of Israel: aduyse you well, and take this matter in hande.

So all the people gat them vp as one mā, and sayde: Nomā shal go in to his tente, ner departe to his house, but this wil we do now agaynst Gibea: Let vs cast lot, and take ten men of an hundreth, and an hundreth of a thousande, and a thousande of ten thousande, out of all ye trybes of Israel, yt they maie take fode for ye people, to come & do with Gibea Ben Iamin, acordynge to their folye which they haue done in Israel. Thus all the men of Israel beynge confederate, gathered them selues together as one man vnto the cite: and the trybes of Israel sent men vnto all the kinreds of Ben Iamin, and caused to saye vnto them: What maner of wickydnes is this, that is done amonge you? Delyuer here therfore the men the children of Belial at Gibea, that we maye put them to death, and do awaye the euell out of Israel. Neuertheles the children of Ben Iamin wolde not folowe the voyce of their brethren the children of Israel, but gathered them selues out of ye cities vnto Gibea, to go forth in battayll agaynst the children of Israel.

And the same daye were there nombred of the children of Ben Iamin out of the cities, sixe and twentye thousande men, that drue the swerde, beside the citesyns of Gibea of whom there were tolde seuē hundreth chosen men. And amōge all this people there were chosen out seuen hundreth men, which vsed not the right hande but the lefte, and yet wt the slynge coulde they touch an heer, and not mysse. But the men of Israel, beside them of Bē Iamin, were nōbred foure hūdreth thousande, which drue the swerde, & were all men of armes. And the children of Israel arose, and wente vp to the house of God (in Silo) and axed at God, and sayde: Who shall go vp for vs to beginne the battayll with ye children of Ben Iamin? The LORDE saide: Iuda shall begynne.

So the children of Israel gat thē vp in ye mornīge, & pitched ouer agaīst Gibea, & euery man of Israel wēte out to fighte with Ben Iamin, and set them selues in araye to fighte agaynst Gibea. Then fell the children of Ben Iamin out of Gibea, and slewe the same daye amonge Israel two & twentye thousande to the grounde.

But the people of the men of Israel comforted them selues, and made them ready to fighte yet more in the same place, after they had prepared them selues the daye afore. And the children of Israel wente vp, and wepte before the LORDE vntyll the euenynge, and axed at the LORDE, & sayde: Shall we go enymore to fighte with oure brethren the children of Ben Iamin? The LORDE sayde: Go vp vnto them. And whan the children of Israel gat them vp to the childrē of Ben Iamin on ye next daye, the Ben Iamites fell out of Gibea agaynst them the same daye, and slewe yet eightene thousande of ye children of Israel to the grounde, which all drue the swerde.

Then wente all the children of Israel vp, and all the people, and came to the house of God, and wepte, and taried there before the LORDE, & fasted that daye vntyll the euen, and offred burnt offerynges and deed offeringes before the LORDE. And the children of Israel axed at the LORDE (the Arke of the couenaunt of God was there at that tyme, and Phineas the sonne of Eleasar the sonne of Aaron stode before him at the same tyme) & they sayde: Shal we go forth eny more to fighte with oure brethren the childrē of Ben Iamin, or shal we leaue of? The LORDE sayde: Go vp, tomorow wyll I delyuer them in to youre handes.

And the children of Israel set a preuy watch agaynst Gibea rounde aboute, and so the children of Israel wente vp to the children of Ben Iamin on the thirde daye, and set them selues in araye agaynst Gibea like as the other two tymes afore. Thē came the children of Ben Iamin out agaynst the people, & brake out of the cite, & beganne to slaye certayne wounded of the people (like as the other two times afore) in the felde vpon two stretes: wherof one goeth towarde Bethel, the other vnto Gilead vpon a thirtye men in Israel. Then thought the childrē of Ben Iamin: They are smytten before vs like as afore. But the childrē of Israel sayde: Let vs flye, that we maie prouoke them out of the cite in to the hye stretes.

Then all the men of Israel gat them vp from their place, and prepared them selues vnto Baal Thamar. And the hinder watch of Israel brake out of their place, from ye caue of Gaba, and came vnto Gibea, twentye thousande chosen men out of all Israel, so that it was a sore battayll: but they knewe not that the euell shulde happen vnto them. Thus the LORDE smote Ben Iamin before the children of Israel, so that the same daye the children of Israel destroyed fyue & twentye thousande and an hundreth men in Ben Iamin, which all drue the swerde.

For whan the childrē of Ben Iamin sawe that they were smitten, the men of Israel gaue them rowme (to flye). For they trusted to the watch, which they had sett by Gibea. And the watch made haist also, & brake forth vnto Gibea, and wente vpon it, and smote all the cite with the edge of ye swerde. They were appoynted betwene them selues the men of Israel and the hynder watch, to f ll vpon them with the swerde, whan the smoke of the cite arose. Now whan the men of Israel turned them in the battayll, and Ben Iamin beganne to smyte the wounded in Israel vpon a thirtie men, and thoughte, they are smytten before vs, like as in the battayll afore, then beganne there a piler of smoke to arise vp from the cite. And Ben Iamin loked behinde them: and beholde, the flamme of ye cite wente vp vnto heauen. And the men of Israel turned them, and were fearce vpon ye men of Ben Iamin: for they sawe that the euell wolde happen vnto them.

And they turned them before the men of Israel in the waye to the wyldernesse, but the battayll folowed vpon them. And them of the cite destroyed they amōge them. And they compased Ben Iamin rounde aboute, and folowed vpon them vnto Menuah, and trode them downe tyll afore Gibea eastwarde. And there fell of Ben Iamin eightene thousande men, which were all men of armes.

Whan the remnaunt of Ben Iamin sawe that, they turned them and fled towarde the wildernesse vnto the stonye rocke of Rimon. But in the same strete they slewe fyue thousande men, and folowed vpon them vnto Gideom, and slewe two thousande of thē: and so there fell the same daye of Ben Iamin fyue and twenty thousande men which drue ye swerde, and were all mē of armes. Onely sixe hundreth men turned backe, and fled towarde the wyldernesse vnto the stonye rocke of Rimon, and abode in the rocke of Rimon foure monethes. And the men of Israel came agayne to the children of Ben Iamin, and smote them that were in the cite with ye edge of the swerde, both mē and catell and all that was founde: and what soeuer was foū de in the cite, they cast it in to the fyre.

The XXI. Chapter.

THe men of Israel had sworē at Mispa, and sayde: Noman shal geue his doughter to the Ben Iamites to wife. And the people came to the house of God (in Silo) & abode there before God vntill the euenynge, and lifte vp their voyce, and wepte sore, and sayde: O LORDE God of Israel, wherfore is this come to passe in Israel this daye? But on the morow the people gat thē vp early, and builded there an altare, and offred burnt offeringes and deed offerynges.

And the children of Israel sayde: Where is there eny mā of the trybes of Israel, that is not come vp with the congregacion vnto the LORDE? For there was a greate ooth made, that who so came not vp to Mispa vnto the LORDE, shulde dye the deeth. And the children of Israel were sory for Ben Iamin their brother, and sayde: This daye is there one trybe lesse in Israel. How wyll we do that the remnaunt maye haue wyues? For we haue sworne by the LORDE, that we wyl not geue thē wyues of oure doughters. And they saide: Where is there eny mā of the trybes of Israel, that is not come vp to the LORDE vnto Mispa? And beholde, there was not one man of the citesyns of Iabes in Gilead.

Then sent the congregacion twolue thousande men of armes thither, and commaunded them, and sayde: Go youre waye, and smite the citesyns of Iabes in Gilead with the swerde, the wemen also and the children, but so that ye do after this maner: Num. 31. c Se that ye damne all them that are males, and all the wemen that haue lyen with men. And amonge the citesins of Iabes in Gilead they foū de foure hundreth damsels, which were virgins, and had lyen with noman: those they broughte in to the hoost vnto Silo, which lyeth in the londe of Canaan.

Then sent the whole congregacion, and caused to talke with the children of Ben Iamin, 〈…〉 which were in the stonie rocke of Rimō and called vnto them frendly. 〈…〉 So the children of Ben Iamin came agayne at the same tyme, and thy gaue them wemen which they had of the wemen of Iabes in Gilead, and founde no mo after that maner. Then were the people sory for Ben Iamin, that ye LORDE had made a gappe in the trybes of Israel. And the Elders of the congregaciō sayde: What wil we do, that the remnaunt maye haue wyues also? for the wemē in Ben Iamin are destroied, and they sayde: The enheritaunce of them of Ben Iamin that are escaped, must nedes remayne, that there be not a trybe destroyed out of Israel: & we can not geue them oure doughters to wiues. For the children of Israel haue sworne and sayde: Cursed be he that geueth a wyfe to the Ben Iamites.

And they sayde: Beholde there is a yearly feast of the LORDE at Silo, which lieth on the northsyde of the Gods house, and on the eastside of the strete as a mā goeth from Bethel vnto Sichem, and lieth on the south side of Libo a. And they commaunded the children of Ben Iamin, & sayde: Go youre waye, and wayte in the vynyardes. And whan ye se that the doughters of Silo go forth by cō panyes to daunse, get you out of the vynyardes, and euery man take him a wyfe of the doughters of Silo, and go youre waye in to the lōde of Ben Iamin. As for their fathers and brethren, whan they come to lawe with vs, we wyll saye vnto them: Be fauourable to them, for they haue not taken thē in battaill: but ye gaue thē not vnto them by time, and it is youre faute.

The children of Ben Iamin did so, and acordinge to their nombre toke them wyues from the daunse, whom they caught by violence, and wente their waye, & dwelt in their awne inheritaunce, and buylded cities and dwelt therin. The children of Israel also gat them vp from thence at the same time, euery one to his trybe and to his kinred, and departed thēce, euery man to his awne inheritaunce. 〈…〉 At yt time was there no kynge in Israel, and euery man dyd ye thinge yt was right in his awne eies.

The ende of the boke of the Iudges, called Iudicum.
The boke of Ruth. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Elimelech departeth from Bethleem with his wife and two sonnes in to the londe of the Moabites, where the father dyeth and both the sonnes. Ruth the wife of the one sonne goeth home with hir mother in lawe. Chap. II. Ruth gathereth vp eares of corne in the felde of Boos hir houszbandes kynsmā. Chap. III. Ruth lyeth her downe in the barne at Boos fete, and he geueth her good wordes, and ladeth her with sixe measures of barlye. Chap. IIII. Boos marieth Ruth, which beareth him Obed Dauids graundfather.
The first Chapter.

IN ye tyme whan the Iudges ruled, there was a derth in the londe. And there wente a mā from Bethleē Iuda to take his iourney in to the londe of the Moabites wt his wife and two sonnes, which man was called Eli Melech, and his wife Naemi, & his two sonnes, the one Mahelon, and the other Chilion: these were Ephrates of Bethleem Iuda. And whan they came in to the londe of ye Moabites, they dwelt there. And Eli Melech Naemis huszbande dyed, & she was left behinde wt hir two sonnes, which toke Moabitish wyues: the one was called Arpa, the other Ruth. And whan they had dwelt there ten yeare, they dyed both, Mahelon and Chilion, so that the woman remayned desolate of both hir sonnes and hir huszbande.

Then gat she her vp wt both hir sonnes wyues, & wente agayne out of the lōde of ye Moabites (for she had herde in the londe of the Moabites, yt the LORDE had visited his people & geuen them bred) & so she departed from ye place where she was, & both hir sonnes wyues wt her. And as they wēte by the waye to come agayne in to the londe of Iuda, she sayde vnto both hir sonnes wyues: Go yor waye, & turne backe ether of you to hir mothers house: the LORDE shewe mercy vpon you, as ye haue done on thē yt are deed & on me. The LORDE graunte you, yt ye maie fynde rest ether of you in hir huszbādes house (whom ye shal get) and she kyssed them.

Then lift they vp their voyce, and wepte, & sayde vnto her: We wil go with the vnto ye people. But Naemi sayde: Turne agayne my doughters, why wolde ye go with me? How can I haue children eny more in my body, to be youre huszbandes? Turne agayne my doughters, and go youre waye, for I am now to olde to take an huszbande.

And though I shulde saye: I hope this night to take an huszbande & to brynge forth children, yet coulde ye not tary tlll they were growne vp: for ye shulde be to olde, so that ye coulde haue no huszbandes. No my doughters, therfore am I sory for you, for ye hāde of the LORDE is gone forth ouer me.

Then lifte they vp their voyce, and wepte yet more, and Arpa kyssed hir mother in lawe (and turned backe againe) but Ruth abode styll by her. Neuertheles she sayde: Beholde, thy syster in lawe is turned backe vnto hir people and to hir god, turne thou againe also after thy sister in lawe. Ruth answered: Speake not to me therof, that I shulde forsake the, and turne backe from the: whither so euer thou goest, thither wil I go also: and loke where thou abydest, there wil I abide also: Thy people is my people, & thy God is my God. Loke where thou diest, there wil dye, and euen there wil I also be buried. The LORDE do this and that vnto me, death onely shal departe vs.

Now whan she sawe, that she was stedfastly mynded to go with her, she spake nomore to her therof. So they wente on both together, till they came vnto Bethleem. And whan they were come in to Bethleem, the whole cite was moued ouer them, and sayde Is not this Naemi? Neuerthelesse she sayde vnto them: call me not Naemi, but Mara: for the Allmightie hath made me very sory. I departed full, but the LORDE hath brought me home agayne emptye. Why call ye me then Naemi? whā the LORDE hath broughte me lowe, and the Allmightie hath made me sory?

It was aboute the tyme of the begynninge of the barlye haruest, whan Naemi and his sonnes wife Ruth ye Moabitysse, came agayne from the londe of the Moabites vnto Bethleem. There was a kinsman also of ye kynred of Eli Melech Naemis huszbande, whose name was Boos, which was an honest man.

The II. Chapter.

ANd Ruth the Moabitisse saide vnto Naemi: Let me go in to ye felde, & gather eares of corne, after him, in whose sight I shal finde fau . She sayde vnto her: Go yt waie my doughter. She wēte on, & came & gathered after ye reapers in ye feld. And it fortuned that the same felde was the enheritaunce of Boos, which was of the kynred of Elimelech, and beholde, Boos came from Bethleem, and sayde vnto the reapers: The LORDE be with you. They answered: The LORDE blesse the. And Boos sayde vnto his yongman which had the ouersight of ye reapers. Whose damsell is this? The yonge man that was set ouer ye reapers, answered and sayde: It is the damsell the Moabitisse, which came agayne with Naemi from the londe of the Moabites. And she sayde: Let me plucke vp and gather (I praie the) betwene the sheues after the reapers: and thus is she come, and hath stonde here euer sence the mornynge, and within a litle whyle she wolde haue bene gone home agayne.

Then sayde Boos vnto Ruth: Hearest thou my doughter? Thou shalt not come vpon another mans londe to gather, and go not awaye from hence, but tary with my dā sels, and loke where they reape in ye felde, go thou after them: for I haue cōmaunded my seruauntes that no man touch the. And yf thou be a thyrst, go thy waye to the vessell & drynke, where my seruauntes drawe. Then fell she downe vpon hir face, and bowed hir self downe to the earth, and sayde vnto him: How haue I founde this fauoure in ye sighte, that thou woldest knowe me, which am yet a straunger?

Boos answered and sayde vnto her: It is tolde me alltogether, what thou hast done vnto thy mother in lawe after thy huszbā des death, how that thou hast left ye father and thy mother, and thy natiue countre, and art come to a people, whom thou hast not knowne afore. The LORDE recompence the thy doinge, and thy rewarde be parfecte wt the LORDE God of Israel, vnto whom thou art come to put thy trust vnder his wynges. She sayde: let me fynde fauoure (syr) before thyne eyes, for thou hast comforted me, and spoken frendly vnto thy handmaydē, where as I am not yet like one of ye handmaydēs.

Boos sayde vnto her: Whan it is eatinge tyme, come hither, and eate of the bred, and dyppe thy morsell in the vyneger. And she sat hir downe besyde the reapers. And he set parched come before her, and she ate, & was satisfyed, and lefte ouer. And whā she rose to gather, Boos commaunded his seruauntes, and sayde: Let her gather betwene the sheues also, and do her no dishonestye: and cast of the sheues vnto her, and let it lye that she maye gather it vp, and se that noman reproue her for it.

So she gathered in the felde vntyll euen and she shaked out what she had gathered, and it was allmost an Epha of barlye: and she toke it vp, and came in to the cite, and shewed hir mother in lawe what she had gathered. She toke forth also, and gaue her of that which was left, wherof she was satysfyed. Thē sayde hir mother in lawe vnto her Blessinge haue the man that hath knowne the, where thou hast gathered and laboured this daye.

She tolde hir mother in lawe by whom she had laboured, and sayde: The mans name, by whom I haue wroughte to daye, is Boos. Naemi sayde vnto hir doughter in lawe: The blessynge of the LORDE haue he, for he hath not lefte of to be mercifull vnto the lyuynge 〈…〉 and to the deed. And Naemi sayde vnto her: The same man belongeth 〈◊〉 to vs, and is oure nye kynsman. Ruth the Moabitisse saide: He saide morouer vnto me: Thou shalt resorte vn to my seruauntes, tyll they haue made an ende of all my haruest. Naemi sayde vnto Ruth hir doughter in lawe: It is better my doughter, that thou go forth with his damsels, lest eny man withstō de the in another felde. Thus she kepte herselfe with Boos damsels, so that she gathered vntill the barlye haruest and the wheate haruest was out, and came againe to hir mother in lawe.

The III. Chapter.

ANd Naemi hir mother in lawe sayde vnto her: My doughter, I wyll prouyde rest for the, that thou maiest prospere. Boos oure kynsman, by whose damsels thou hast bene, casteth vp barlye now this night in his barne. Bathe thyselfe therfore, and 〈…〉 moffell the, and put on thy clothes, and go downe vnto the barne, so yt nomā knowe the, tyll they haue all eaten and dronken.

Whan he layeth him downe then to slepe, mark ye place where he lyeth downe, and come thou, and take vp the couerynge at his fete, and laye the downe, so shall he tell the what thou shalt do. She sayde vnto her whatso euer thou saiest vnto me, I wil do it.

She wente downe to the barne, & dyd all as hir mother in lawe had cōmaunded her. And whā Boos had eatē & dronkē, his hert was mery, & he came and layed him downe behynde a heape of sheues. And she came secretly, and toke vp the coueringe at his fete, and layed hir downe. Now whā it was midnight, the man was afrayed, and groped aboute him, and beholde, a woman laye at his fete. And he sayde: Who art thou? She answered: I am Ruth thy handmayden, sprede ye wynges ouer thy hādmayden: for thou art the nexte kynsman.

He sayde: The LORDES blessinge haue thou my doughter. Thou hast done a better mercy here after then before, yt thou art not gone after yonge men, nether riche ner poore. Feare not now my doughter: All yt thou hast sayde, will I do for the: for all the cite of my people knoweth, yt thou art a vertuous womā. Trueth it is now, yt I am a nye kynsmā, but there is one nyer then I. Tarye thou allnighte. Tomorow yf he take the, well: yf he like not to take ye, then wil I take yt my selfe, as truly as ye LORDE lyueth. Slepe thou tyll ye mornynge. And she slepte at his fete vntyll ye morow. And she rose vp or euer one coulde knowe another. And he thoughte thus: That no mā knowe now yt there hath come a woman in to the barne, and he sayde: Reach me the cloke yt thou hast on the, & holde it forth. And she helde it forth. And he meet her sixe measures of barlye, and layed it vpon her, & she wente in to the cite, & came to hir mother in lawe, which sayde: How is it wt the my doughter? And she tolde her all yt the mā had done vnto her, & sayde: These sixe measures of barlye gaue he me, for he sayde: Thou shalt not come emptye vnto ye mother in lawe. She sayde: Abyde my doughter, tyll thou se what ye matter wil growe to: for the man wilt not ceasse, tyll he brynge it to an ende this daye.

The IIII. Chapter.

BOos wente vp to ye gate, and sat him downe there: & beholde, whan ye nye kynsman wente by, Boos spake vnto him, & sayde: Come & syt the downe here (and called him by his name.) And he came & sat him downe, & he toke ten men of the Elders of ye cite, & sayde: Syt you downe here. And they sat thē downe. Thē sayde he to the nye kynszman: Naemi which is come againe frō the lōde of the Moabites 〈◊〉 2 d 〈◊〉 . 32. b offreth to sell ye pece of londe, yt was oure brothers Eli Melech, therfore thoughte I to shewe it before thine eares, & to tell the: Yf thou wilt redeme it, then bye it before the citesyns & before the Elders of my people: but yf thou wylt not redeme it, then tell me, yt I maie knowe: for there is no nye kynsmā excepte thou, and I nexte after the.

He sayde: I wil redeme it. Boos saide: In the daye yt thou byest the lōde out of ye hande of Naemi, thou must take Ruth also the Moabitisse the wife of the deed, that thou mayest rayse vp a name to ye deed in his inheritaunce. Thē sayde he: I can not redeme it, lest I happlye destroye myne awne enheritaunce. Redeme thou yt I shulde redeme, for I can not redeme it. But this was an olde custome in Israel concernynge the redemynge & chaūginge, yt all matters mighte be stable, the one put of his shue, & gaue it vnto ye other: yt was the testimony in Israel.

And the nye kynsman sayde vnto Boos: Bye thou it, & he put of his shue. And Boos sayde vnto the Elders and to all the people: Ye are witnesses this daie, yt I haue boughte out of the hande of Naemi, all that belonged to Eli Melech, and all that was Chilions and Mahelons: And Ruth the Moabitisse Mahelons wife, take I to wife, Deut. 25. that I maye rayse vp a name vnto ye deed in his inheritaunce, and that his name be not roted out from amonge his brethren, and out of the gate of his place: Of this are ye witnesses. And all the people that was in the gate with the Elders, saide: We are witnesses. The LORDE make the woman that commeth in to thy house, as Rachel and Lea ( Ge. 29.3 which both haue buylded vp the house of Israel) that she maye be an ensample of vertue in Ephrata, and haue an honorable name in Bethleem. And thy house be as ye house of Phares ( Gen. 3 . whō Thamar bare vnto Iuda) thorow the sede, that the LORDE shall geue the of this damsell.

So Boos toke Ruth, and she became his wife. And whan he laye with her, the LORDE graunted her yt she conceaued, and bare a sonne. Thē sayde the wemen vnto Naemi: Praysed be the LORDE, which hath not suffred a kynsman to ceasse from the at this tyme, that his name maye contynue in Israel: he shal restore thy life agayne, and prouyde for thine age. For yi sonnes wife which hath loued the, hath borne him that is better vnto the, then seuen sonnes.

And Naemi toke the childe, and layde it vpon hir lappe, and became the norse of it, and hir neghbours gaue him a name & sayde: There is a childe borne vnto Naemi, and they called his name Obed. The same is the father of Isai, which is ye father of Dauid.

This is ye generacion of Phares. 1. Par. 2. a Matth. 1. a Phares begat Hesrom. Hesrom begat Aram. Aram begat Aminadab. Aminadab begatt Naasson. Naasson begat Salmon. Salmō begat Boos. Boos begat Obed. Obed begat Isai. Isai begat Dauid.

The ende of the boke of Ruth.
The first boke of the kynges, otherwyse called the first boke of Samuel. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Of Elcana and his two wyues. Vnto Anna geueth God Samuel, which is appropriated vnto the LORDE. Chap. II. The thankfull songe of Anna. The sonnes of Eli do wickedly, their father refourmeth them not, therfore is the presthode takē from him and his sonnes. Chap. III. The reuelacion shewed vnto Samuel, and vnto Eli. Chap. IIII. Israel fighteth agaynst the Philistynes, loseth the victory, and is smytten the seconde tyme. The Philistynes wynne the Arke of the LORDE: The two sonnes of Eli perishe, the father falleth downe and breaketh his necke. Chap. V. The Philistynes bringe the Arke of the LORDE in to the temple of Dagon, which falleth downe before it. Chap. VI. The Philistynes sende the Arke agayne vnto the people of God, with certayne giftes and offerynges. Chap. VII. The Arke is broughte in to Aminadabs house. Samuel exhorteth the people to amendment. Chap. VIII. Samuels sonnes rule not well. The people desyre to haue a kynge. Chap. IX.X. Saul seketh his fathers asses, and cōmeth vnto Samuel, which (at the cōmaundement of the LORDE) anoynteth him kinge, and sheweth him vnto the people. Chap. XI. Saul defendeth Iabes from Nahas the Ammonite. Chap. XII. Samuel sheweth his innocency vnto the people, and geueth them a godly exho tacion. Chap. XIII. The Philistynes gather them selues agaynst Israel. Saul is disobedient vnto to the LORDE. Samuel reproueth him. Chap. XIIII. Ionathas discōfiteth the enemies by sotyltie, Saul helpeth him: the father wolde slaye the sonne, the people delyuer him. Chap. XV. Samuel cōmaundeth Saul to 〈◊〉 Amalek and vtterly to destroye him Saul is dishobedient, & therfore is he deposed from the kyngdome. Chap. XVI. Dauid is anoynted kynge. The euell sprete vexeth Saul, Dauid easeth him with playenge at the harpe. Chap. XVII. Dauid destroyeth Goliath the 〈◊〉 The Philistynes fle. Chap. XVIII. Ionathas and Dauid are sworne louers. Dauid behaueth himselfe wysely in all thinges. The people loue him. Saul geueth him his doughter of purpose, that the Philistynes mighte destroye him. Chap. XIX. Saul commaūdeth to kyll Dauid. Ionathas geueth him warnynge. Dauid flyeth his waye. His wife delyuereth him. Chap. XX. Dauid auoydeth from the kynges displeasure. Ionathas warneth him. Chap. XXI. Dauid flieth vnto Noba to the prest Ahimelech, and eateth of the shewbred. Chap. XXII. Dauids frēdes helpe him. Do g the Edomite slayeth Ahimelech & the other prestes of the LORDE. Chap. XXIII. Saul layeth wayte for Dauid ••• getteth him out of the waye, and the LORDE defendeth him. Chap. XXIIII. Saul commeth into Dauids hande, which wil not slaye him, but cutteth of a pece of his garment, &c. Chap. XXV. Samuel dyeth. Nabal displeaseth Dauid. Abigail pacifieth him. Chap. XXVI. Dauid fyndeth Saul slepynge, and where as Abisai wolde slaye him, he wil not suffre him, but taketh awaye his speare and the cuppe of water. Chap. XXVII. Dauid flyeth vnto Achis the kynge at Geth. Chap. XXVIII. Dauid is made Achis captayne. Saul axeth councell at the Sothsayer. Samuel appeareth vnto him and rebuketh him. Chap. XXIX. The Philistynes are not contente, that Dauid shulde be their captayne. The kynge sendeth him home agayne. Chap. XXX. The Amalechites fall vpō Sice ek. Dauid foloweth vpon them, and recouereth the spoyle agayne. Chap. XXXI. The Philistynes fihgte agaynst Israel. Sauls sonnes are slayne, & he wounded, and slayeth him selfe.

The first Chapter.

THere was a man of Ramathaim Sophim of mount Ephraim, 〈◊〉 . 7. b whose name was Elcana ye sonne of Ieroham, ye sonne of Elihu, ye sonne of Tohu, ye sonne of Zuph, yt was an Ephrate. And he had two wyues, ye one was called Anna, ye other Peninna. As for Peninna, she had children, but Anna had no childrē. And ye same man wēte vp frō his cite 〈◊〉 . 2 . b 〈◊〉 . 1 . a at his tyme, to worshippe and to offer vnto the LORDE Zebaoth at Silo. There were the prestes of the LORDE Ophni and Phineas, the two sonnes of Eli. Now whan it came vpon a daye that Elcana offred, he gaue partes vnto his wife Peninna, and to all his sonnes and doughters. But vnto Anna he gaue one deale heuely, for he loued Anna. Neuertheles 〈◊〉 . 2 . d 〈…〉 . a the LORDE had closed hir wombe, & hir aduersary cast her in the tethe with hir vnfrutefulnes, because the LORDE had closed hir wombe: thus dyd she euery yeare, whan they wente vp to the house of the LORDE, and thus she prouoked her. So she wepte, and ate nothinge. But Elcana hir huszbande sayde vnto her: Wherfore wepest thou? and why eatest thou not? And wherfore is thine hert so greued? Am not I better vnto the then ten sonnes?

Then stode Anna vp, whan she had eaten and dronken at Silo. But Eli the prest sat vpon a stole by the poste of the temple of the LORDE. And she was full of heuyn ••• in hir herte, and prayed vnto the LORDE, and wepte, and vowed a vowe, and sayde: O LORDE Zebaoth, yf thou wilt loke vpon the aduersite of thy handmayden, and thynke vpon me, and not forget thy handmayden, and wilt geue thy handmayden a sonne, I wil geue him vnto the LORDE all his life longe, Iud. 13. a Num. and there shal no rasou e come vpon his heade.

And whā she had prayed longe before ye LORDE, Eli toke hede to hir mouth, for Anna spake in hir hert, hir lippes onely moued, but hir voyce was not herde. Then thoughte Eli she had bene dronken, and sayde vnto her: How longe wilt thou be dronken? Let come from the the wyne that thou hast by the. Neuertheles Anna answered and sayde: No my lorde, I am a soroufull woman, wyne and stronge drynke haue I not dronken Psal. 4 . but haue poured out my hert before ye LORDE. Counte not thy handmayden a doughter of Belial: for out of my heuy thoughte and sorow haue I spoken hitherto.

Eli answered her, and sayde: Go yi waye in peace, the God of Israel shal graunte ye thy peticion that thou hast desyred of him. She sayde: Let thy handmayden fynde fauoure in thy sighte. So the woman wente hir waye and ate, and loked nomore so soroufully: and on ye morow they gat them vp by tymes. And whan they had worshipped before ye LORDE, they returned, and came home vnto Ramatha.

And Elcana laye with Anna his wife, and the LORDE remembred her. And after certayne dayes, she cōceaued and bare a sonne, and called his name Samuel, for I haue desyred him (sayde she) of the LORDE. And whan the man Elcana wente vp with all his houszholde to offre sacrifice and his vowe vnto the LORDE at soch tyme as ye custome was, Anna wente not vp, but sayde vnto hir huszbande: (I wil not go vp) tyll ye childe be weened: then will I brynge him, that he maye appeare before the LORDE, and cō tynue there Num. . for euer.

Elcana hir huszbande sayde vnto her: Thē do as thou thynkest best, tary tyll thou haue weened him: but the LORDE perfourme that he hath spoken. So the woman abode, and gaue hir sonne sucke, tyll she weened him. And whan she had weened him, she broughte him vp with her, with thre bullockes, with an Ephi of fyne floure, and a bottell of wyne, and broughte him in to ye house of the LORDE at Silo.

Neuertheles the childe was yet but yonge. And they slewe a bullocke, and broughte the childe vnto Eli. And she sayde: O my lorde, as truly as thy soule lyueth my lorde, I am the woman that stode here by ye, and made intercession vnto the LORDE, whan I prayed for this childe. Now hath ye LORDE graunted me my peticion, which I desyred of him, therfore haue I geuen him ouer vnto the LORDE, as longe as he is lent vnto the LORDE. And they worshipped ye LORDE there.

The II. Chapter.

ANd Anna prayed, and sayde:

My hert reioyseth in the LORDE, & my horne is exalted in the LORDE.

My mouth is opened wyde vpō myne enemies, for I am glad of thy saluacion.

There is no man holy as the LORDE, for without the is nothinge, and there is no cō forte like vnto oure God.

Let go yor greate boostinge of hye thynges, let go out of youre mouth that olde byworde: for the LORDE is a God yt knoweth all thinges, & he hath set all workes in order.

The bowe of the mightie is broken, and the weake are gyrded aboute with strength.

They that were fylled afore, are solde for bred: and they that were hongrie, are satisfied: vntyll the baren bare seuen, and tyll she that had many childrē, was become weake.

eut. 2. f 〈◊〉 . 1 . c ob 13. a The LORDE slayeth, and geueth life: he ledeth vnto hell, and bryngeth out agayne.

The LORDE maketh poore and maketh riche: He bryngeth lowe and exalteth.

•• al. 112. a He taketh vp the neady out of the dust, and lifteth vp ye poore out of the myre, that he maye set them amonge the prynces, and to let them inheret the seate of honoure: for the foundacions and corners of the worlde are the LORDES, and he hath set the compase of the earth theron.

He shall preserue the fete of his sayntes, but ye vngodly shal be put to sylēce in darcnesse. eut . d For there is no mā that can do oughte of his owne power.

The LORDES enemies shal be put in feare before him, he shal thōder vpō thē in heauē.

The LORDE shall iudge the endes of the worlde, & shal geue strēgth vnto his kynge, & shall exalte the horne of his anoynted.

Elcana wente his waye to Ramath vnto his house. And the childe became the LORDES mynister before Eli the prest. But Elis sonnes were the childrē of Belial, and knewe not the LORDE, ner the dutye of the prestes vnto the people: but whan eny man wolde offre oughte, the prestes boye came, whyle the flesh was seethinge, and had a thre forked fleshoke in his hande, and thrust it in to the cauldron, or ketell, or panne, or pot: and loke what he drue forth with the fleshoke, that toke the prest therof. Thus dyd they vnto all Israel which came thither vnto Silo.

Like wyse, or euer they burned the fatt, the prestes lad came, and sayde vnto him that broughte the offerynge: Geue me the flesh, that I maye roste it for the prest, for he wyl receaue no sodden flesh of ye, but rawe. Yf eny man sayde then vnto him: Let the fat burne as it oughte to do this daye, and afterwarde take what thine hert desyreth, then sayde he vnto him: Thou shalt geue it me euen now: yf no, I wyll take it from the by violēce. Therfore was the synne of ye childrē very greate before the LORDE, for ye people spake euell of ye meat offerynge of ye LORDE. But Samuel was a mynister before the LORDE, and the childe was gyrded with an ouer body cote of lynnen. His mother also made him a litle cote of sylke, and broughte it vp vnto him at cōuenient tymes, whā she wente vp with hir huszbande to offer ye offerynge in due season.

And Eli blessed Elcana & his wife, and sayde: The LORDE geue the sede of this woman, for this good that thou hast lent vnto the LORDE. And they wēte vnto their place. And the LORDE vysited Anna, so that she cōceaued and bare thre sonnes and two doughters: but the childe Samuel grewe vp with the LORDE.

As for Eli, he was very olde, and herde of all that his sonnes dyd vnto all Israel, and how they laye with the w men that serued God before the dore of the tabernacle of witnesse, and he sayde vnto them: wherfore do ye this? For I heare of youre euell conuersacion of all this people. Not so my childrē, this is no good reporte that I heare, ye cause the people of the LORDE to offende. 〈…〉 Yf eny mā synne agaynst a man, the iudge cā redresse it. But yf eny mā synne agaynst ye LORDE, who can redresse it? Neuertheles they herkened not vnto the voyce of their father, for the LORDES wyll was to slaye them. But the childe Samuel wente and grewe vp, & was accepted of the LORDE & of mē.

There came a man of God to Eli, and sayde vnto him: Thus sayeth the LORDE: I shewed my selfe vnto thy fathers house, whan they were yet in Egipte vnder ye house of Pharao, and chose him there vnto my selfe before all the trybes of Israel, for the presthode, that he shulde offer vpon myne altare, and burne incense, and weere the ouerbody cote before me, 〈…〉 and vnto thy fathers house I gaue all the offeringes of the children of Israel. Why layest thou thy selfe then agaynst my sacrifices and meat offeringes, which I commaunded (to offer) in the habitacion: and thou honourest thy sonnes more then me, that ye mighte fede youre selues with the firstlinges of all the meat offerynges of my people of Israel?

Therfore sayeth the LORDE God of Israel: I haue spoken, that thy house and thy fathers house shulde walke before me for euer. But now sayeth the LORDE: That be farre fro me. But who so euer honoureth me, him wil I honor also: as for those yt despyse me, they shal not be regarded. Beholde, 〈◊〉 . 2. d the tyme shal come, that I wyll breake thyne arme in two, and the arme of thy fathers house, so that there shal no oldeman be in thy house. And thou shalt se thine aduersaries in the habitacion, in all the good of Israel, and there shal neuer be olde man in thy fathers house. Yet wyll I not rote out euery man of the fro myne altare, but yt thyne eyes maye be consumed, & that ye soule maye be sory: 〈◊〉 . 22. d & a greate multitude of thy house shal dye, whan they are come to be men.

And this shalbe a token vnto the, that shal come vpon thy two sonnes Ophni and Phineas: They shall both dye in one daye. 〈◊〉 . 4. c 〈◊〉 . 3. c But vnto my selfe I wyll rayse vp a faithfull prest, which shal do acordinge as it is in my hert & in my soule: vnto him wyll I buylde a sure house, that he maye allwaye walke before myne anoynted. And who so euer remayneth of thy house, shall come and worshipe him for a syluer peny and for a pece of bred, and shall saye: I praye the leaue me to one prestes parte, that I maye eate a morsell of bred.

The III. Chapter.

ANd whan the childe Samuel mynistred vnto the LORDE vnder Eli, the worde of ye LORDE was deare at the same tyme, nether was there eny sure & manifest vision. And it fortuned at the same tyme, that Eli laye in his place, 〈◊〉 . 4. c and his eyes beganne to be dymme, so that he coulde not se. And Samuel had layed him downe in ye temple of the LORDE (where the Arke of God was) before ye lampe of God was put out. And the LORDE called Samuel. He answered: Beholde, here am I. And he ranne vnto Eli, & sayde: Beholde, here am I, thou hast called me. But he saide: I haue not called the, go thy waye agayne, and laye the downe to slepe. And he wente his waye, and layed him downe to slepe.

The LORDE called againe: Samuel. And Samuel arose, & wente vnto Eli, & sayde: Beholde, here am I, thou hast called me. Neuertheles he sayde: My sonne, I haue not called the. So thy waye agayne, and laye the downe to slepe. As for Samuel, he knewe not the LORDE as yet, & the worde of ye LORDE was not yet shewed vnto him. And ye LORDE called Samuel ye thirde tyme. And he arose, & wente vnto Eli, & sayde: Beholde, here am I, thou hast called me. Then perceaued Eli yt the LORDE called ye childe, & he sayde vnto him: Go thy waye agayne, & laye the downe to slepe: and yf the LORDE call the eny more, then saye: Speake LORDE, for ye seruaunt heareth. Samuel wēte his waye, and layed him downe in his place. Thē came ye LORDE, & stode, and called like as afore: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel sayde: Speake (LORDE) for thy seruaunt heareth. And the LORDE saide vnto Samuel: Beholde, I do a thinge in Israel, yt who so euer shall heare it, both his eares shal glowe. In yt daie will I rayse vp vpon Eli 1. Re. 2. g all yt I haue spokē cō cernynge his house. I will take it in hande, & perfourme it: for I haue tolde him, yt I wilbe Iudge ouer his house for euer, because of the wickednes, yt he knewe how shamefully his childrē behaued thēselues, and hath not once loked sowerly therto. Therfore haue I sworne vnto ye house of Eli, yt this wickednes of ye house of Eli shall not be recōcyled nether wt sacrifice ner wt meat offringe for euer. And Samuel laye vnto ye morow, & opened the dores of the house of the LORDE.

But Samuel was afrayed to tell the vysion vnto Eli. Then Eli called him & sayde: Samuel my sonne. He answered: Beholde, here am I. He sayde: What is ye worde yt the LORDE hath spokē vnto the? hyde it not fro me. God do this & that vnto ye, yf thou hyde oughte fro me, of all that he hath talked wt the. Then Samuel tolde him alltogether, & hyd nothinge from him. He sayde: It is the LORDE, let him do what pleaseth him.

Samuel grewe vp, & the LORDE was wt him, & there fell none of all his wordes vpō the earth. And all Israel frō Dan vnto Bersaba, knewe yt Samuel was faithfull to be a prophet of the LORDE. And the LORDE appeared agayne at Silo: for the LORDE shewed him selfe vnto Samuel at Silo, thorow the worde of the LORDE.

The IIII. Chapter.

ANd all Israel spake of Samuel. And Israel wente forth to the battayll against the Philistynes, & pitched besyde the. 1. Reg. . Helpe stone: As for the Philistynes, they pitched at Aphek, and prepared them selues agaynst Israel. And whan the battayll beganne, the hoost was deuyded, so that Israel was smyttē before the enemies, & in the edge in the felde they slewe aboute a foure thousande men. And whan the people came in to the hoost, the Elders of Israel sayde: Wherfore hath the LORDE caused vs to be smytten this daie before the Philistynes? Let vs take vnto vs the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt from Silo, & let it come amōge vs, that it maye helpe vs from the hande of oure enemies. And the people sent vnto Silo, & caused to set thēce the Arke of ye couenaunt of the LORDE Zebaoth, that sytteth vpon the Cherubins. And with the Arke of the couenaunt of God there were the two sonnes of Eli, Ophni and Phineas.

And whan the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE came in to the hoost, all Israel shouted wt a greate shoute, so that the earth sounded withall. But whan the Philistynes herde ye noyse of ye shoute, they sayde: what noyse is this of soch greate shoutinge in the tentes of the Hebrues? And whan they perceaued yt the Arke of the LORDE was come in to the hoost, they were afrayed & sayde: God is come in to the hoost. And they sayde morouer: Wo vnto vs, for it hath not bene thus afore tyme. Wo vnto vs. Who wil delyuer vs frō the hande of these hye goddes? These are the goddes that smote Egipte wt all maner of plages in the wyldernesse. Be stronge now and manly ye Philistynes, that ye serue not the Hebrues ud. 13. a as they haue serued you. Be manly and fighte.

Then foughte the Philistynes, & Israel was smytten, & euery one fled vnto his tēte, & there was a very greate slaughter, so that there fell of Israel thirtye thousande fote mē, & the Arke of God was takē, . Re. 2. g & the two sonnes of Eli, Ophni and Phineas dyed.

Then rāne there one of Ben Iamin out of the fore fronte of the battayl, & came vnto Silo the same daye, & had his clothes rente, and had earth vpō his heade. And whan he came in, Heli sat vpon the seate, that he mighte loke towarde the waye: for his herte was fearfull aboute ye Arke of God. And whan the man came in to the cite, he tolde it forth: and all the cite cried. And whan Eli herde ye noyse of the cryēge, he axed: What noyse of busynes is this? The man came haistely, and tolde Eli. (As for Eli, he was fourescore and eightene yeare olde, Reg. . a and his eyes were dymme, so that he could not se.) The man sayde vnto Eli: I come and am fled this daye out of the hoost. He sayde: How is it my sonne?

Then answered the tydinge bringer, & sayde: Israel is fled before the Philistynes, and a greate slaughter hath there bene amonge the people, & thy two sonnes Ophni & Phineas are deed, yee & the Arke of God is takē awaye. Whan he had made mencion of the Arke of God, he fell downe bacwarde from the seate by the gate, and brake his neck, and dyed: for he was olde, & an heuy man. He iudged Israel fortie yeares. The wife of his sonne Phineas was wt childe, & shulde shortly be delyuered, whan she herde the tydinges yt the Arke of God was taken, and yt hir brother in lawe and hir huszbāde were deed, she bowed hir selfe and trauayled: for hir payne came vpon her. And whan she was now at the poynte of death, the wemen that stode by her, sayde: Feare not, thou hast a yōge sonne. But she gaue no answere, nether regarded it, and she called the childe Icabod, and sayde: The glory is gone from Israel, because the Arke of God was taken awaye, and hir brother in lawe and hir huszbande. And she sayde morouer: The glory is gone from Israel, for the Arke of God is takē awaye.

The V. Chapter.

AS for the Arke of God, the Philistynes toke it and broughte it from the stone of helpe vnto Aszdod in to the house of Dagon, and set it besyde Dagon. And whan they of Aszdod rose vp early on the morowe, they founde Dagon lyenge on his face vpon the earth, before the Arke of the LORDE. But they toke vp Dagon, and set him agayne in his place. Neuertheles whan they rose vp early on the nexte morowe, they founde Dagon lyenge on his face agayne vpon the earth before the Arke of the LORDE: but his heade and both his hā des hewen of vpon the threszholde, so that the block laie there onely. Therfore the prestes of Dagon, and all they that go in to his house, treade not vpō the threszsholde of Dagon at Aszdod vnto this daye.

But the hande of the LORDE was heuy vpon them of Aszdod, and destroyed them, and smote Aszdod and all the borders therof in secrete places. Whan the men of Aszdod sawe that they were so plaged, they sayde: 〈…〉 Let not the Arke of the God of Israel tary with vs, for his hande is to harde vpō vs & vpon or god Dagon. And they sent forth and gathered all the prynces of the Philistynes vnto them, and sayde: What shal we do with the Arke of the God of Israel? Then answered they of Geth: Let the Arke of the God of Israel be borne aboute. And they caried the Arke of the God of Israel rounde aboute.

But whā they bare it aboute, there was a very greate rumoure in the cite thorow the hande of the LORDE, and smote the people of the cite, from the smallest vnto the greatest, and destroyed them in the secrete places. Then sent they the Arke of the LORDE vnto Ekron. But whā the Arke of the LORDE came vnto Ekron, they of Ekron cried: They haue caried the Arke of God aboute vnto me, to slaye me and my people.

Then sente they forth, and gathered all ye prynces of the Philistynes together, and sayde: Sende awaye the Arke of the God of Israel agayne vnto hir place, that it slaye not me & my people: for there is a very greate rumoure with the deed in all the cite, and the hande of God is there. And the people that dyed not, were smytten in secrete places, so that the noyse of the cite wēte vp vnto heauen.

The VI. Chapter.

THus was the Arke of the LORDE in the londe of the Philistynes seuen monethes. And the Philistynes called their prestes and soythsayers, and sayde: What shal we do with the Arke of the LORDE? Shewe vs, wher with shal we sende it vnto hir place? They sayde: Yf ye wyll sende awaye the Arke of the God of Israel, sende it not awaye emptye, but geue a trespace offerynge: so shal ye be made whole, and ye shal knowe, why his hande departeth not from you.

They sayde: What is the trespace offeringe that we shall geue him? They answered: Fyue hynder partes of golde, and fyue golden myce, acordinge to the nombre of the fyue prynces of ye Philistynes. For there hath bene one maner of plage vpon you all, and vpon youre prynces. Therfore must ye make youre hynder partes of one faszshion and youre myce, which haue destroyed youre londe, that ye maye geue the God of Israel the honoure: peraduenture his hāde shal be the lighter vpon you and vpon youre God, and vpon youre londe. Why harden ye youre hert, as the Egipcians and Pharao hardened their hert? Whan he shewed him selfe vpon them 〈◊〉 . 12. c dyd not they let them departe to go their waye?

Go to now therfore, and make a new cart, and take two mylke kyne, vpon ye which there neuer came yock, and yocke them to ye cart, and let their calues tary behynde them at home: and take ye the Arke of the LORDE and laye it vpon the cart: and the Iewels of golde that ye geue him for a trespace offeringe put in a coffer beside it, & sende it awaye and let it go. And loke well: yf it go the waie of hir awne coaste Beth Semes, thē hath he done vs all this greate euell: Yf no, then shal ye knowe that his hande hath not touched vs, but yt it is happened vnto vs by chaūce.

The men dyd so, and toke two yonge mylke kyne, and yocked them to a cart, and helde their calues at home, and layed the Arke of the LORDE vpon the cart, and the coffer with the golden myce, and with the ymages of their disease. And the kyne wente straight waye vnto Beth Semes vpon one hye strete, and wente on blearynge, and turned nether to the righte hande ner to the lefte. And the prynces of the Philistynes wente after them vnto ye coast of Beth Semes.

The Beth Samites were euen reapynge downe their wheate haruest in the valley, and lyfte vp their eyes, and sawe the Arke, and reioysed to se it. The cart came in to the felde of Iosua the Beth Semite, and there it stode styll. And there was a greate stone, and they claue the tymber of the cart, and offred the kyne vnto the LORDE for a burnt-offerynge.

But the Leuites toke downe the Arke of the LORDE, and the coffer that was by it, wherin the Iewels of golde were, and set thē vpon the greate stone. The men of Beth Semes offred burnt offerynges, and other offerynges also vnto the LORDE the same daye. And whan the fyue prynces of the Philistynes had sene it, they departed agayne the same daye towarde Ekron.

These are the golden diseases, that the Philistynes offred for a trespace offerynge vnto the LORDE: Aszdod one, Gasa one: Ascalon one, Gath one, and Ekron one: and golden myce, acordynge to the nombre of all the cities of the Philistynes amonge the fyue prynces, from the walled cite vnto the vyllage, and vnto the greate playne felde, whervpon they set the Arke of the LORDE (which was) vnto this daye vpon the felde of Iosua the Beth Semite.

And certaine of Beth Sames were slaine because they had sene ye Arke of the LORDE, and he slewe fyftye thousande and seuentye men of the people. Then mourned the people, because the LORDE had done so greate a slaughter in the people. And the men at Beth Semes sayde: Who maye stōde before the LORDE so holy a God? And to whō shal he go frō vs? And they sent messaungers to ye inhabiters of Kiriath Iearim, saiēge: The Philistynes haue brought the Arke of God agayne, come downe, & fetch it vp vnto you.

The VII. Chapter.

SO the men of Kiriath Iearim came downe, & fetched vp ye Arke of ye LORDE, & brought it in to ye house of Re. 6. a Abinadab at Gibea, & they consecrated Eleasar his sonne, yt he might kepe ye Arke. And frō yt daye that the Arke of ye LORDE abode at Kiriath Iearim, ye tyme extended forth so longe tyll it came to twentye yeares: and all the house of Israel wepte after the LORDE.

But Samuel sayde vnto all the house of Israel: 〈◊〉 . 24 c ob. 14 c Yf ye turne you withall youre hert vnto the LORDE, then put awaye from you the straunge goddes and Astaroth, and directe youre hert vnto the LORDE and •• ut. . c at. 4. b serue him onely, so shall be delyuer you out of the hande of the Philistynes. Then the childrē of Israel put awaye Baalim and Astaroth from them, and serued the LORDE onely.

Samuel saide: Gather all Israel together vnto Mispa, that I maye praye for you vnto the LORDE. And they came together vnto Mispa, and drue water, & poured it out before the LORDE, and fasted the same daye, and there they sayde: We haue synned vnto the LORDE. So Samuel iudged the children of Israel at Mispa.

But whan the Philistynes herde that ye children of Israel were come together vnto Mispa, the prynces of the Philistynes wēte vp against Israel. Whan ye childrē of Israel herde that, they were afrayed of ye Philistynes, & sayde vnto Samuel: Ceasse not to crye vnto the LORDE oure God for vs, yt he maie helpe vs out of the hande of ye Philistynes. ccl . 46 c Samuel toke a fat lambe, & offred an whole burnt offerynge vnto the LORDE, & cried vnto the LORDE for Israel, and the LORDE herde him. And whyle Samuel was offerynge ye burnt sacrifice, ye Philistines came to fight agaynst Israel. But the LORDE thondred a thonder vpon the Philistynes the same daye & discōfyted thē, so yt they were smyttē before Israel. Thē wente ye men of Israel forth, & chaced ye Philistynes, & smote them till vnder Beth Car. Then toke Samuel a stone, & set it vp betwene Mispa & Sen, & called it ye Help stone, & sayde: Hither to hath the LORDE helped vs. Re. 4. a Thus were the Philistynes brought downe, & came nomore within the border of Israel. And ye hāde of ye LORDE was against the Philistynes, as longe as Samuel lyued.

S Israel gat the cities agayne, that the Philistynes had conquered, frō Ekron vnto Gath, with the borders therof, those did Israel rescue out of the hande of the Philistynes: & Israel had peace wt the Amorites. Samuel iudged Israel as lōge as he liued, & wē te aboute euery yeare vnto Bethel & Gilgal & Mispa: & whā he had iudged Israel in all these places, he came agayne vnto Ramath for there was his house, & there he iudged Israel, & builded an altare there vnto ye LORDE.

The VIII. Chapter.

BVt whan Samuel waxed olde, he set his sonnes to be iudges ouer Israel. His firstborne sonne was called Ioel & the secōde Abia, & they were iudges at Bersaba. Neuertheles his sonnes walked not in his wayes, but enclyned vnto couetousnes, & 〈…〉 toke giftes, & wraysted the lawe. Then all ye Elders in Israel gathered thē selues together, & came to Ramath vnto Samuel, & saide vnto him: Beholde, thou art waxen olde, & thy sonnes walke not in yt wayes, 〈…〉 set a kynge now ouer vs therfore, to iudge vs, as all ye Heithē haue. Thē was Samuel displeased whā they sayde: Geue vs a kynge, to iudge as. And Samuel prayed before the LORDE.

The LORDE saide vnto Samuel: Herken vnto the voice of the people in all yt they haue sayde vnto the. 〈…〉 For they haue not refused the, but me, yt I shulde not be kinge ouer them. They do vnto the as they haue done euer, sence the daie yt I brought them out of the londe of Egipte vnto this daye, and ha ue forsaken me, and serued other goddes. Herkē now therfore vnto their voyce. Yet testifye vnto them, and shewe them 〈…〉 the lawe of the kynge that shall raigne ouer them.

And Samuel tolde all the wordes of the LORDE vnto ye people, that requyred a kinge of him. This shal be the lawe of the kynge yt shal raigne ouer you: 〈…〉 Yor sonnes shall he take for his charettes, and for horsmen to runne before his charettes, and to be rulers & captaynes, to be plowemen to tyll his londe and to be reapers in his haruest, and to make his harnesse, and soch thinges as belonge to his charettes. As for yor doughters, he shall take thē, to be Apotecaries, cokes and bakers Youre best londe and vynyardes, 〈…〉 and oyle-gardens shall he take, and geue vnto his seruauntes: Of youre sedes also and viniardes shal he take the Tithes, & geue vnto his chā berlaynes and seruauntes. And youre seruaū tes and youre maydes, and youre best yonge men, and youre asses shal he take, and do his busynes withall. Of youre flockes shal he take the Tithes, and ye shal be his seruaūtes. Whan ye shal crye then at the same tyme ouer youre kynge, whom ye haue chosen you, the LORDE shall not heare you at the same tyme. Neuerthelesse the people refused to heare the voyce of Samuel, and sayde: Not so, but there shall be a kynge ouer vs, yt we maye be as all other Heithē, yt or kynge maie iudge vs, & go forth before vs, and gouerne oure warres. Thē herkened Samuel vnto all yt ye people sayde, & tolde it before ye eares of the LORDE. The LORDE sayde vnto thē: Herken thou vnto their voyce, and make them a kynge. And Samuel sayde vnto the men of Israel: Go youre waye euery one vnto his cite.

The IX. Chapter.

THere was a man of Ben Iamin named 〈◊〉 . 9. a Cis, the sonne of Abiel, the sonne of Zeor, the sonne of Bethorah, ye sonne of Apiah, the sonne of a man of Iemini, a valeaunt man, which had a sonne named Saul, which was so goodly a yonge man, that there was not a goodlier amonge the children of Israel, higher by the heade then all the people. Cis the father of Saul had lost his asses, and he sayde vnto Saul his sonne: Take one of the children with the, get the vp, go thy waye, and seke the asses. And he wente his waye thorow mount Ephraim, and thorow the lōde of Solisa, and founde them not. They wente thorow the lōde of Saalim, & there they were not. They passed thorow ye lōde of Iemini, & foūde thē not. But whā they came in to the londe of Zuph, Saul sayde vnto the childe that was with him: Come, let vs go home agayne, lest my father let go the asses, and take care for vs. He sayde: Beholde, here is an honorable man of God in this cite, all that he sayeth, commeth to passe. Let vs go thither now, perauenture he maye shewe vs oure waye which we go. But Saul saide vnto his childe: Though we shulde go, what brynge we the man? For the bred is gone out of or walet, and els haue we no gifte to brynge the man of God, what haue we? The childe answered agayne, and sayde: Beholde, I haue the fourth parte of a syluer Sycle by me, ye same wyll we geue the man of God, that he maye shewe vs oure waye.

(Afore tyme in Israel, whan a man wente to axe councell at the LORDE, he sayde: Come, let vs go to the Seer: for they that now are called prophetes, were called Seers afore tyme). Saul sayde vnto his childe: Thou hast well spoken, come let vs go. And whan they wente vnto the cite where the man of God was, and came vp to the cite, they founde damsels which were gone forth to drawe water, vnto them they sayde: Is the Seer here They answered them and sayde: Yee. Beholde, he is there, make haist, for he came in to the cite this daye, because the people haue a sacrifice to do to daye in the hye place. Whan ye come in the cite, ye shal fynde him, afore he go vp to the hye place for to eate: for the people wyll not eate tyll he come. For he shall blesse the offerynge, then shal they eate that are called. Therfore go yor waie vp, for euē now shal ye finde him

And whan they came vp to the cite, and were euen in the myddes of the cite, beholde, Samuel came forth in their waye, and wolde go vp to the hye place. (1. Reg. 5 But the LORDE had opened Samuels eare the daye afore, or euer Saul came, and sayde: Tomorow aboute this tyme wyll I sende a man vnto the out of the lōde of Ben Iamin, him shalt thou anoynte to be prynce ouer my people of Israel, that he maye delyuer my people from the hande of the Philistynes: for I haue loked vpon my people, and their crye is come before me.) Now whan Samuel behelde Saul, the LORDE answered him: lo, yt is the man of whom I tolde the, that he shulde raigne ouer my people.

Then came Saul vnto Samuel vnder ye gate, and sayde: Tell me (I praye the) where is the Seers house? Samuel answered Saul, and sayde: I am the Seer. Go vp before me vnto the hye place: for ye shall eate with me to daye, tomorow wyll I lett the go, and all that is in thyne hert, wyll I tell the: and as for the Asses which were lost thre dayes agoo, care not thou for them, for they are founde. And to whom shall belonge all that is pleasaunt in Israel? Shall it not belonge vnto the and to all thy fathers house? Saul answered: Am not I a sonne of Iemini, Iudi. 20. c 1. Re. 15. d and of the smallest trybe, and my kynred the leest amonge all the kynreds of ye trybe of Ben Iamin? Why speakest thou so thē vnto me? Samuel toke Saul & his childe & brought them in to the perler where they shulde eate, and satt them aboue those that were called, of whom there were aboute a thirtie men. And Samuel sayde vnto the coke: Geue me the porcion that I gaue the, and bad the kepe it by the. Then the coke toke vp a shulder, and bare it forth, and set it before Saul. And (Samuel) sayde: Beholde, this is left, laye it before the, and eate: for it was kepte for the agaynst this tyme, whan I called the people. Thus Saul ate with Samuel the same daye.

And whan they were gone downe from the hye place vnto the cite, he talked with Saul in the chamber. And they rose vp early on the morow. And whan the mornynge sprynge arose, Samuel called Saul in the chamber, and sayde: Vp, yt I maye sende the thy waye. And Saul gat him vp: & they both wēte forth together, he and Samuel. And whan they came downe to the ende of the cite, Samuel sayde vnto Saul: Speake vnto ye childe, that he go on forth before vs, but stōde thou styll now, that I maie shew the what God hath sayde:

The X. Chapter.

THen toke Samuel a glasse of oyle, and poured it vpō his heade, and kissed him, and sayde: Seist thou that the LORDE hath anoynted the, to be the prince ouer Deut. 9. c his enheritaūce? Whan thou goest now fro me, thou shalt fynde two men besyde Gen. 35. d Rachels graue in the coast of Ben Iamin at Zelzah, which shal saie vnto the: The asses are founde, whom thou wentest to seke: and beholde, thy father hath put the asses out of his mynde, and taketh thoughte for the, and sayeth: What shall I do for my sonne?

And whan thou goest on forth from thence, thou shalt come to the Oke of Thabor, there shall thre men fynde the, which go vp vnto God towarde Bethel: one beareth thre kiddes, another thre loaues of bred the thyrde a bottel with wyne: and they shall salute the, and geue the two loaues, which thou shalt take of their hande. After that shalt thou come to the hyll of God, 1. Reg. •• . a where the Philistynes watch is: and whā thou comest there in to the cite, there shall mete the a company of prophetes commynge downe from the hye place, and before them a Psaltery, and tabret, a pype and a harpe, and they them selues prophecienge. And the sprete of the LORDE shall come vpon the, and thou shalt prophecye with them, and shalt be chaunged in to another man.

Whan these tokens now come vnto the, . Re. . a . Par. 8. a then do what so euer commeth vnder thyne hande: for God is with the. Thou shalt go downe before me vnto Gilgall: Beholde, thither wyl I come downe vnto the, that thou mayest offre burnt offerynges and deed offerynges. 〈…〉 Seuen dayes shalt thou tarye till I come to the, and shewe the what thou shuldest do. And whan he turned his shulder to go from Samuel, God chaunged him another hert, and all these tokēs came the same daye.

And whan they came vnto the hill, beholde, there met him a company of prophetes 〈…〉 and the sprete of God came vpon him, so that he prophecyed amonge them. But whā they which knewe him before, sawe him that he prophecied with the prophetes, they sayde all amonge them selues: What is happened vnto the sonne of Cis? Is Saul also amonge the prophetes? And one yt was there, answered and sayde: Who is their father? 〈…〉 Hereof came the prouerbe: Is Saul also amonge the prophetes? And whā he had left of prophecienge, he came vp to the hyll.

Sauls vncle sayde vnto him and to his childe: Whither wente ye? They answered: To seke the asses. And whan we sawe that they were awaye, we came vnto Samuel. Then sayde Sauls vncle: Tell me, what sayde Samuel vnto you? Saul answered his vncle: He tolde vs, yt the asses were foūde. But of ye kyngdome he tolde him nothinge what Samuel had sayde.

Samuel called the people together vnto the LORDE to Mispa, and spake vnto the children of Israel: Thus saieth ye LORDE the God of Israel: I broughte Israel out of Egipte, and delyuered you from the hande of ye Egipcians, and from the hande of all the kyngdomes that oppressed you. 〈…〉 But now haue ye refused yor God, which hath helped you out of all youre sorowes and troubles, & ye haue saide vnto him: Set a kinge ouer v . Well, stonde ye now before ye LORDE acordinge to youre trybes and kynreds.

Now whan Samuel had brought forth all the trybes of Israel, the trybe of Ben Iamin was taken. And whan he had broughte forth the trybe of Ben Iamin with his kynreds, the kynred of Matri was takē, & Saul the sonne of Cis was takē. And they sought him, but they founde him not.

Then axed they further at the LORDE, whether he was for to come thither. The LORDE answered: Beholde, he hath hyd him selfe amonge ye vessels. Then ranne they thither, and fetched him. And whan he stode amonge the people, he was hygher by the heade then all the people. And Samuel sayde vnto all the people: There se ye him whom the LORDE hath chosen, for in all the people there is none like him. Then gaue all the people a shoute, and sayde: 〈…〉 God saue the new kynge.

Samuel tolde the people all the 〈◊〉 7. d lawe of the kyngdome, and wrote it in a boke, and layed it before the LORDE. And Samuel let all the people go, euery one to his awne house. And Saul wente home also vnto Gibea, and there wente with him one parte of the hoost, whose hertes God had touched. But the childrē of Belial sayde: What shal this felowe helpe vs, 〈…〉 and despysed him, & broughte him no presente. But he made him as though he herde it no .

The XI. Chapter.

NAhas ye Ammonite wēte vp & layed sege vnto Iabes in Gilead. And all the men of Iabes sayde vnto Nahas: Be at one with vs, & we wyll serue the. But Nahas ye Ammonite answered them: I wil make a couenaunt with you, of this condicion, that I maye thrust out all youre right eyes, and put you to shame amonge all Israel. Then sayde all the Elders of Iabes vnto him: Geue vs seuen dayes respyte, that we maye sende messaungers into all ye coastes of Israel: Yf there be then no sauioure, we wyl go forth vnto the.

So the messaungers came vnto Gibea of Saul, and spake this before the eares of the people. Then all ye people lifte vp their voyce, and wepte. And beholde, Saul came after the oxen out of the felde, and sayde: What ayleth the people that they wepe? So they tolde him the earande of the men of Iabes. 〈…〉 Then came the sprete of God vpon him, whan he had herde these wordes, and his wrath was sore moued, and he toke a couple of oxen, and hewed them in sunder, and sent them in to all the coastes of Israel by the messaungers, sayenge: Who so euer goeth not forth after Saul and Samuel, his oxen shalbe thus dealte withall.

Then fell the feare of the LORDE vpon the people, so that they wente forth like as one man, 〈…〉 and they were tolde at Basek, and of the childrē of Israel there were thre hundreth thousande men, and thirtie thousande of the children of Iuda. And they spake vnto the messaungers that were come: Saye thus to the men of Iabes in Gilead: Tomorow shal ye haue helpe, whan ye Sonne is at the whotest. Whan ye messaungers came and tolde this to the men of Iabes, they were glad. And the men of Iabes sayde: Tomorow wyll we come forth vnto you, that ye maye do vnto vs, what so euer it pleaseth you. And on ye nexte morow Saul set the people in thre partes, and came into the hoost aboute the mornynge watch, and smote the Ammonites tyll the daye was at the whotest. As for those yt remayned, they were so scatred, that two of them abode not together.

Then sayde the people vnto Samuel: Where are they that sayde: 1. Re. 〈…〉 Shulde Saul raigne ouer vs? Delyuer vs here the men, that we maye put them to death. But Saul sayde: There shal noman dye this daye, for to daye hath the LORDE geuen health in Israel. Samuel sayde vnto the people: Come, let vs go vnto Gilgall, and renue the kyngdome there. Then wente all the people vnto Gilgall, and there they made Saul kinge before the LORDE at Gilgal, and offred deed offeringes before the LORDE. And Saul with all the men of Israel reioysed there greatly.

The XII. Chapter.

SAmuel sayde vnto all Israel: Beholde, I haue herkened vnto youre voyce in all that ye sayde vnto me, and haue made a kynge ouer you. And now lo, there goeth youre kynge before you. As for me, I am waxen olde and graye heered, and my sonnes are with you: and I haue gone before you fro my youth vp vnto this daye. Beholde, here am I answere ye agaynst me before the RORDE and his anoynted, Eccli. 4 d Act. 20. d yf I haue taken eny mans oxe or asse, yf I haue done eny man violence or wronge, If I haue oppressed eny mā, yf I haue receaued a gifte of eny mans hande, and kepte it secretly, I wil restore it you agayne.

They saide Thou hast done vs nether violence ner wronge, nether oppressed, ner taken ought of eny mans hande. He sayde: The LORDE be witnesse agaynst you, and so be his anoynted this daye, that ye haue founde nothinge in my hāde. They saide: Yee they shalbe witnesses. And Samuel sayde vnto the people: The LORDE which made Moses and Aaron, and broughte youre fathers out of the londe of Egipte (is here present.) Stōde forth now therfore, that I maye iudge you before the LORDE ouer the righteousnes of the LORDE, which he hath done for you and youre fathers.

Gen. 46. a Exod. 2. d Whan Iacob was come in to Egipte, youre fathers cryed vnto the LORDE. Exo. 3. b And he sent Moses and Aaron to brynge youre fathers out of Egipte, and to cause them for to dwell in this place.

〈◊〉 . 4. a But whan they forgat the LORDE their God, he solde them vnder the power of Sissera, the captayne at Hazor 〈◊〉 . 13. a and vnder the power of the Philistynes 〈◊〉 . 3. b and vnder the power of the kinge of the Moabites, which foughte agaynst them. But they cried vnto the LORDE, and sayde: We haue synned, in that we haue forsaken the LORDE, and serued Baalim and Astaroth. But now deliuer vs from the hande of oure enemies, and we wyl serue the. 〈◊〉 . 6. c Then the LORDE sent Ierubaal, 〈◊〉 . 13. d Bedan, 〈◊〉 . 11. a Iephthae, . Reg. 7. a and Samuel, & delyuered you from youre enemies rounde aboute, and caused you to dwell safe.

But whan ye sawe that Nahas the kynge of the children of Ammon came agaynst you . Reg. 8 a ye sayde vnto me: Not thou, but a kynge shal raigne ouer vs, where as notwithstō dinge youre God was youre kynge. Now, there haue ye youre kynge, whō ye haue chosen and desyred: for lo, the LORDE hath set a kinge ouer you. Yf ye shal feare the LORDE now, and serue him, and herken vnto his voice, and not be dishobedient vnto the mouth of the LORDE, then shall both ye and youre kynge that raigneth ouer you, folowe ye LORDE youre God. But yf ye herken not vnto ye voyce of the LORDE, but be dishobedient vnto his mouth, then shal the hande of the LORDE be agaynst you, and agaynst youre fathers.

Stonde forth now also, and beholde this greate thinge, that the LORDE shal do before youre eyes. Is not now the wheate haruest? Yet wyll I call vpō the LORDE, so that he shal cause it thonder and rayne, that ye shall knowe and se the greate euell, which ye haue done in the sight of the LORDE, in that ye haue desyred to haue a kynge.

And whan Samuel called vpon the LORDE, the LORDE caused it to thōder and raine the same daye.

Then all the people feared the LORDE greatly and Samuel, and they sayde all vnto Samuel: Praie thou vnto the LORDE thy God for thy seruauntes, that we dye not: for beside oure sinnes we haue done this euell also, that we haue desyred vnto vs a kinge. Samuel sayde vnto the people: Feare not, ye haue done all this euell in dede. Neuertheles departe not backe from the LORDE, but serue the LORDE with all youre hert, and go not asyde after vanite, for it profyteth you nothinge, and can not delyuer you, in so moch as it is but a vayne thinge. Exo 34. b Deut. 9. Iosu. 7. b For the LORDE shall not forsake his people because of his greate names sake: for the LORDE hath begonne to make you a people vnto him selfe. But God forbyd that I shulde synne so vnto the LORDE, to ceasse from prayenge for you, and from teachinge you the good & righteous waye. Feare ye the LORDE therfore, and serue him faithfully with all yor hert: for ye haue sene, how greate thinges he doth vnto you. But yf ye do wickedly, both ye & youre kynge shal perishe.

The XIII. Chapter.

SAul had bene kynge one yeare, and whā he had raigned ouer Israel two yeares, he chose him thre thousande mē out of Israel: two thousande were with Saul at Michmas vpon the mount of Bethel, and one thousande with Ionathas at Gibea of Ben Iamin. As for the other people, he let them go euery one vnto his tente. But Ionathas smote ye Philistynes in their awne 〈…〉 watch, which was at Gibea. That came to ye Philistynes eares. And Saul caused to blowe the trompes in all the londe, & to saye: Let the Hebrues heare. And all Israel herde saye: Saul hath smytten the Philistynes watch, for Israel stanke before the Philistynes. And all the people cried after Saul vnto Gilgal.

Then the Philistynes gathered them selues together to fighte wt Israel, thirtie thousande charettes, sixe thousande horsmen, and other people besyde, in nombre as the sonde by the See shore, and wente vp, and pitched at Michmas on the eastsyde of Bethauen. Whan the men of Israel sawe that mysfortune laye vpon the neckes of thē (for the people was come therto) they crope in to caues and dennes, in to rockes, and holes and welles. But the Hebrues wente ouer Iordane in to ye lande of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul he was yet at Gilgal, and all the people were fayntharted after him. 〈…〉 Then taried he seuen dayes acordinge to the tyme apoynted of Samuel. And whan Samuel came not vnto Gilgal, the people were scatered abrode from him. Then sayde Saul: Brynge me hither a burnt offeringe and deed offeringes. And he offred a burnt offerynge. But whan he had made an ende of the burnt offerynge beholde, Samuel came. Then wente Saul forth to mete him, that he might salute him.

But Samuel sayde: What hast thou done? Saul answered: I sawe that the people was scatered abrode fro me, and thou camest not in due season: and the Philistynes were gathered together at Michmas. Then sayde I. Now shall the Philistynes come downe to me vnto Gilgal, and I haue not besoughte the face of the LORDE: & so I boldened myselfe, & offred a burnt offerynge.

Samuel sayde vnto Saul: Thou hast done foolishly, and not kepte the commaundement of the LORDE thy God, which he commaunded the. For (yf thou haddest not done this) he had prospered thy kyngdome vpō Israel for euer: but now shall not thy kyngdome contynue. 〈◊〉 . 6. c The LORDE hath soughte him out a man after his owne hert: him hath the LORDE commaunded to be prynce ouer his people, for thou hast not kepte yt the LORDE commaunded ye. And Samuel arose, and wente vp from Gilgal vnto Gibea Ben Iamin.

And Saul nombred the people that was founde with him, vpon a sixe hundreth men. Saul & his sonne Ionathas, and ye people that was with them, taried at Gibea Ben Iamin: but ye Philistynes had pitched their tentes at Michmas. And out of the hoost of the Philistynes there wente thre bondes of men to destroye: one turned the waye towarde Ephra in to the londe of Sual: another turned towarde the waye of Bethoron: the thirde turned towarde the waye, that reacheth to the valley of Zeboim vnto the wyldernes.

But there was not a smyth founde in all the lōde of Israel: for ye Philistynes thoughte: The Hebrues mighte happly make swerdes and speares. And all Israel were fayne to go downe to the Philistynes, whan eny man had a plowshare, a mattock, an axe, or a sythe to sharpe: and the edges of the plowshares, and mattockes, & forckes, and axes, were laboured, and the poyntes blont. Now whan the daye of the battayll came, there was nether swerde ner speare founde in the hande of all the people, that was with Saul and Ionathas: but for Saul and Ionathas his sonne there was som what founde. And ye Philistynes watch wēte out ouer by Michmas.

The XIIII. Chapter.

IT fortuned at ye same tyme, yt Ionathas sayde vnto his lad which was his wapen bearer: Come, let vs go ouer to the Philistynes watch yt lyeth aboue, & he tolde not his father. Saul dwelt at ye ende of Gibea vnder a Pomgranate tre, which was in the suburbe. Re. 13. d And the people yt were by him, were vpon a sixe hundreth men. And Ahia the sonne of Achitob the brother of Icabod, the sonne of Phineas ye sonne of Eli ye prest of the LORDE at Silo, wayre the ouerbody cote. But the people knewe not that Ionathas was gone.

Betwene the passages where Ionathas soughte to go ouer vnto the Phylistynes watch, there were two hye rockes, the one on the one syde, the other on the other: the one was called Bozez, the other Senne. And ye one laye on the north syde towarde Michmas, and the other on the south syde towarde Gaba. And Ionathas sayde vnto his wapen bearer: Come, let vs go euer to ye watch of these vncircumcised, peraduenture the LORDE shall worke with vs, 2. Par. 14 For it is no harde matter for the LORDE to helpe by many or by fewe. Then answered him his wapen bearer: Do all that is in thine hert, go on thy w rie, beholde, I am with the, euen as thine hert wyll.

Ionathas sayde: Well than, Whan we are gone ouer to the men, and come within the sighte of them, yf they saye: stonde styll, tyll we come to you, then wyll we stonde styll in oure place, and not go vp to them. But yf they saye: Come vp to vs, we wyll go vp to them, thē hath the LORDE delyuered them in to oure hande, and this shalbe a token for vs. Now whan they came both in the sighte of the Philistynes watch, the Philistynes sayde: Se, Iudi . 14 ye Hebrues are gone out of their holes, that they were crepte in to. And the men in the watch answered Ionathas and his wapē bearer, and sayde: Come vp to vs, and we wyll teach you what the matter is. Then sayde Ionathas to his weapen bearer. . Mac. 4 Come vp after me, the LORDE hath delyuered them into Israels hande. And Ionathas clamme vp with handes and fete, and his wapen bearer after him. And Ionathas smote them downe before him, and his wapē bearer slewe behynde him, so that the first slaughter that Ionathas and his wapen bearer dyd, was vpō a twentye men, with in the length of halue an aker of londe, which a pare of oxen maye tyll in one daye.

Iudi 14 And there came a fearfulnes and flight in the hoost vpon the felde, and amonge all the people of the watch: and vpon the 1. Re. 13. destroyers there came a fearfulnes also and flight, so that the londe was in a rumoure, and Iosu. 10. Iud. 4. c there came a flight thorow God. And Sauls watchmē at Gibea Bē Iamin sawe, that ye multitude gat them awaye, and ranne to and fro.

Saul sayde vnto the people that was with him: Tell and se which of vs is gone awaye. And whan they nombred, beholde, Ionathas & his wapen bearer was not there. Then saide Saul vnto Ahia: Brynge hither the Arke of God (for at that tyme was the Arke of God with the children of Israel.) And whyle Saul was yet speakynge to the prest, the multitude in the Philistynes hoost gat vp, ranne, and was greate. And Saul sayde vnto the prest: Withdrawe thine hande. And Saul cried, and all the people that was with him, and came to the battayll. And beholde, 〈◊〉 . 7. f Pa. 20. d euery mans swerde was agaynst another, and there was a very greate rumoure.

The Hebrues also that were with ye Philistynes afore, and had gone vp with them in the hoost on euery syde, ioyned them selues vnto Israel which were with Saul and Ionathas. And all the men of Israel which Re. 1 . b had hyd thē selues vpon mount Ephraim, whan they herde that the Philistynes fled, folowed after them in the battayll. Thus ye LORDE helped Israel at that tyme, and ye battayll lasted vnto Bethauen.

And whan the men of Israel came forth, Saul charged all the people the same daye, and sayde: Cursed be euery man, which eateth bred vntyll euen, that I maye auenge me on myne enemies. Then all the people taisted no bred. And all the people of the londe came in to the wodd. But there laye hony vpon the felde: and whan the people came in to the wodd, heholde, the hony flowed, but no man put of it to his mouth with his hāde: for the people were afraied because of the ooth. As for Ionathas he had not herde, that his father had charged the people, and he put forth his staff that he had in his hande, and dypped the ende of it in ye hony c mbe, and turned his hande to his mouth, and his eyes were lighted.

Then answered one of the people, and sayde: Thy father hath charged the people, and sayde: Cursed be euery mā that eateth oughte this daye. Neuertheles the people were faynte. Then sayde Ionathas: My father hath troubled the londe: Se how lighte myne eyes are become, because I haue taisted a litle of this hony. Yf the people this daie had eatē of the spoyle of their enemies that they founde, the slaughter shulde haue bene greater agaynst the Philistynes. Yet smote they the Philistynes the same daye fro Michmas vnto Aialon, and the people were very weery.

And ye people turned to the spoyles, and toke shepe and oxen, and calues, and slewe them vpon the earth, eui. . c ud 1 f and ate them with the bloude. Then was it tolde Saul: Beholde, the people synne agaynst the LORDE, in that they eate bloude. He ayde: Ye haue done euell: roll vnto me now a greate stone. And Saul sayde morouer: Go abrode amō ge the people, and saye vnto them, that euery one brynge me his oxe and his shepe, and slaye them here, that ye maye eate, and not to synne agaynst the LORDE with eatynge of bloude. Then broughte all the people euery one his oxe with his hāde the same nighte, and slewe them there. And Saul buylded an altare vnto ye LORDE. This is the first altare that he buylded vnto the LORDE.

And Saul sayde: Let vs go downe after the Philistynes, by nighte, and spoyle them tyll it be cleare mornynge, that we let none escape. They answered: Do what so euer pleaseth the. But the prest sayde: Let vs go nye here vnto God. And Saul axed at God. Shal I go downe here after ye Philistines? & wilt thou delyuer thē in to Israels hande? Neuertheles he answered him not at that tyme.

Then sayde Saul: Let all the armyes of the people come hither, and make search and se, in whom is this synne at this tyme. For as truly as God the Sauioure of Israel lyueth, & though it be in my sonne Ionathas, he shal dye. And no man answered him of all the people. And he sayde vnto all Israel: Be ye on the one syde, I & my sonne Ionathas wyl be on this syde. The people sayde vnto Saul: Do as it pleaseth the. And Saul sayde vnto the LORDE the God of Israel: Do thou that right is. Thē was Ionathas and Saul taken: but the people wente forth fre. Saul sayde: Cast the lot ouer me and my sonne Ionathas. So Ionathas was takē. And Saul sayde vnto Ionathas: Tell me, what hast thou done? Ionathas tolde him, & sayde: I taisted a litle hony with the staff that I had in my hande, and beholde, must I dye therfore? Thē sayde Saul: God do this and that vnto me, Ionathas thou must dye the death.

But the people sayde vnto Saul: Shulde Ionathas dye, that hath done so greate health in Israel this night? God forbyd. 〈…〉 As truly as the LORDE lyueth, there shal not one heer of his heade fall vpon ye earth: for with God hath he wroughte at this tyme. So the people delyuered Ionathas, that he dyed not. Then wente Saul vp from the Philistynes: and the Philistynes wente vnto their place.

But whan Saul had cōqu red the kyngdome ouer Israel, he foughte against all his enemyes rounde aboute, against the Moabites, agaynst the childrē of Ammon, agaynst the Edomites, agaynst the kynge of Zoba, agaynst ye Philistynes: and whither so euer he turned him, he gat ye victory. And he made an hoost, and smote ye 〈◊〉 . 2 . c Amalechites, and delyuered Israel from the hande of all those that spoyled them.

Saul had these sonnes: Ionathas, Isui, and Malchisua. And these were ye names of his two doughters: the firstborne Merob, & ye yōgest Michol. And Sauls wife was called Ahinoam, the doughter of Ahimaas. And his chefe captaynes name was Abner, the sonne of Ner, Sauls vncle. 〈…〉 . a 〈◊〉 . 9. a Cis was ye father of Saul. But Ner ye father of Abner was the sonne of Abiel.

There was a mightie sore warre against the Philistynes, as lōge as Saul lyued. And where Saul sawe a man that was stronge and mete for ye warre, he toke him to him.

The XV. Chapter.

SAmuel sayde vnto Saul: 〈◊〉 . 9. c The LORDE sent me to anoynte the for to be kynge ouer his people of Israel: heare now therfore the voyce of the wordes of the LORDE. Thus sayeth ye LORDE Zebaoth: I haue remembred what Amaleck dyd vnto Israel, 〈◊〉 . 17. c 〈◊〉 24. d 〈◊〉 25. c & how he layed wayte for him in ye waye, whan he wente out of Egipte: Go ye waye now therfore, and smyte the Amalechites, & damne them with all that they haue, & spare him not: but slaye both man and woman, children & sucklynges, oxen & shepe, Camels and asses. Saul commaunded the people the same, and nombred them at Talaim, two hūdreth thousande fote men, & ten thousande men of Iuda.

And whan Saul came to the cite of the Amalechites, he set an hynder watch by the ryuer, and sayde vnto ye Kenites: Get you hence, departe, and go downe from ye Amalechites, yt I smyte you not with them, 〈◊〉 . 10. d 〈◊〉 . 1. d for ye shewed mercy vnto all the children of Israel, whā they departed out of Egipte. So the Kenites gat them awaye from amonge the Amalechites.

Then smote Saul the Amalechites from Heuila vnto Sur (which lyeth ouer against Egipte) & toke Agag the kynge of ye Amalechites alyue, & damned all ye people wt the edge of the swerde. Neuertheles Saul and the people spared Agag, and the shepe and oxen yt were good and fat, and the lambes, and all that was good, and wolde not damne thē: but loke what was foule and nothinge worth, that they damned.

Then came the worde of the LORDE vnto Samuel, and sayde: It repenteth me that I made Saul kynge, for he hath turned him selfe backe fro me, and not cōfirmed my wordes. Therfore was Samuel angrye, & cried vnto the LORDE all that nighte. And Samuel gat him vp early, that he might mete Saul in ye mornynge. And it was tolde him, that Saul was come vnto Carmel, Deu. 1 . & had set him vp a piler, and was gone aboute, and come downe to Gilgall.

Now whā Samuel came to Saul, Saul sayde vnto him: Blessed be thou vnto ye LORDE, I haue perfourmed the worde of ye LORDE. Samuel answered: What crye is this then of shepe in myne eares, and the crye of oxen which I heare?

Saul sayde: They haue broughte them from the Amalechites: for the people spared the best shepe & oxen for the offerynge of ye LORDE thy God, the other haue we damned. Neuertheles Samuel answered Saul: Let me tell the what ye LORDE hath sayde vnto me this nighte. He sayde: Saye on. Samuel sayde: 1. Re. 9. c and 10. Whan thou wast but small in thine awne eyes, wast thou not ye heade amō ge the trybes of Israel? & the LORDE anoynted the to be kynge ouer Israel? and ye LORDE sent yt in to the waye, & sayde: Go ye waie & damne the synners the Amalechites, and fighte agaynst them, tyll thou haue vtterly destroyed thē? Wherfore hast thou not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE, but hast turned thy selfe to the spoyle, and done euell in the sighte of the LORDE?

Saul answered Samuel: Yee I haue herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE, & haue gone the waye that ye LORDE sent me, and broughte Agag the kynge of the Amalechites, & damned the Amalechites: but ye people haue takē of the spoyle, shepe & oxen, and ye best amōge the damned, to offer vnto ye LORDE thy God in Gilgall. Samuel saide: Hath the LORDE pleasure in sacrifices and burnt offerynges, as in obeynge the voyce of the LORDE? Beholde, Eccl . 4 obedience is better then offerynge, and to herken is better then the fat of rammes. For disobedience is as ye synne of Exo. 22. Deut. 1 witchcrafte, and rebellion is as the blasphemy of Idolatrye. In so moch now as thou hast refused the worde of the LORDE, he hath refused the also, that thou shuldest not be kynge.

Then sayde Saul vnto Samuel: I haue synned, yt I haue transgressed the commaundement of the LORDE and thy worde: for I was afrayed of the people, and herkened vnto their voyce. And now forgeue me my synne, & returne with me, that I maye worshippe ye LORDE. Samuel saide vnto Saul: I wil not turne backe with ye, for thou hast refused the worde of the LORDE, and the LORDE hath refused the also, yt thou shuldest not be kynge in Israel. And whan Samuel turned him backe to go his waye, he gat him by ye edge of his garment, & rēte it. Then sayde Samuel vnto him: The LORDE hath rente the kyngdome of Israel from ye this daye, & geuen it vnto ye neghbor, which is better then thou. The ouer wynner in Israel also shal not lye, nether shal he repente: for he is no man, that he shulde repente.

He sayde: I haue synned, yet honoure me now before the Elders of my people and before Israel, and turne backe with me, that I maye worshippe the LORDE thy God. So Samuel turned agayne after Saul, that Saul mighte worshippe the LORDE. But Samuel sayde: Bringe me hither Agag the kynge of the Amalechites. And Agag wente vnto him tēderly. And Agag saide: Thus departeth the bytternesse of death. Samuel sayde: 〈◊〉 17. c 〈◊〉 . 14 g Like as thy swerde hath made wemen childlesse, so shal ye mother also be with out children amonge wemen. So Samuel hewed Agag in peces before ye LORDE in Gilgall.

Re. 17. d And Samuel departed vnto Ramath. But Saul wente vp to his house at Gibea Saul. And Samuel sawe Saul nomore vnto the daye of his death. Neuertheles Samuel mourned for Saul, because it repented the LORDE, that he had made Saul kynge ouer Israel.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd ye LORDE sayde vnto Samuel: How longe mournest thou for Saul, whom I haue refused, that he shulde not be kynge ouer Israel? Fyll thine horne with oyle, go thy waye, I wyll sende the to Isai the Bethleemite: for amonge his sonnes haue I prouyded me a kynge. But Samuel sayde: How shal I go? Saul shal perceaue it, and shal slaye me. The LORDE sayde: Take the a calfe from the droue, & saye: I am come to do sacrifice vnto ye LORDE. And thou shalt call Isai to ye sacrifice, so shall I tell the what thou shalt do, that thou mayest anoynte me him, whom I shall shewe the. Samuel dyd as the LORDE sayde, and came to Bethleem. Then were the Elders of the cite astonnyed, and wente forth to mete him, and sayde: Re. 2. b Is thy commynge peaceable? He sayde: Yee. I am come to do sacrifice vnto the LORDE. Sanctifye youre selues, & come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Isai and his sonnes, and called them to the sacrifice.

Now whā they came in, he behelde Eliab, & thoughte, whether he shulde be his anoynted before the LORDE. But ye LORDE sayde vnto Samuel: loke not vpon his countenaunce, ner vpon the tallnesse of his person, For I iudge not after the sighte of man. A man hath respecte vnto the thinge that is before his eyes, but the LORDE loketh vpon the hert. Then Isai called Abinadab, & broughte him before Samuel. And he sayde: This hath not the LORDE chosen. Then Isai broughte Samma. But he sayde: This also hath not the LORDE chosen. Then broughte Isai his seuen sonnes before Samuel. Neuertheles Samuel saide vnto Isai: The LORDE hath chosen none of these.

And Samuel sayde vnto Isai: Are here all the childrē? He sayde: There is yet one yt leest of all, and beholde, he kepeth the shepe. Thē sayde Samuel vnto Isai: Sende & cause him to be fetched, for we will not syt downe at the table, vntyll he come. Then sent he, & caused him be broughte. And he was well coloured wt fayre eyes & of a beutyfull countenaunce. And the LORDE saide: Aryse, and anoynte him, that is he.

Thē toke Samuel his oyle ho e, & anoynted him amonge his brethrē. And the sprete of the LORDE came vpō Dauid frō ye daye forth. As for Samuel, he gat him vp, & wente vnto Ramath.

But the sprete of the LORDE departed from Saul, and an euell sprete from ye LORDE vexed him. Then sayde Sauls seruauntes vnto him: Beholde, an euell sprete from God vexeth the. Let oure lorde saie vnto his seruauntes which stonde before him, yt they seke a man which can playe vpon the harpe, and instrumente, that whan the euell sprete of God cōmeth vpon the, he maye playe wt his hande, to ease the withall. Then sayde Saul vnto his seruaūtes: Prouyde me a mā, that can playe well vpon the instrumente, & brynge him vnto me.

Then answered one of the children, & sayde: Beholde, I sawe a sonne of Isai ye Bethleemite, which can playe vpon the instrumē te, an honest & valeaūt man, and one yt hath vnderstōdinge in matters, & is welfauoured. Thē Saul sent messaungers vnto Isai, sayē ge: Sende me Dauid ye sonne, which is with the shepe. Then toke Isai an asse wt bred, & a bottell wt wyne, and a kyd, and sent it vnto Saul by Dauid his sonne. So Dauid came to Saul, & stode before him, & he loued him well, and he became his wapen bearer. And Saul sente vnto Isai, sayēge: Let Dauid remayne before me, for he hath founde fauor in my sighte. Now whan the sprete of God came vpō Saul, Dauid toke ye harpe, & played wt his hande: so was Saul refreszshed, & eased, & the euell sprete departed from him.

The XVII. Chapter.

THe Philistynes gathered their hoost to ye battayl, and came together to Socho in Iuda, & pitched their tentes betwene Socho & Aseka, at the ende of Damin. But Saul & the mē of Israel came together, & pitched in the Oke valley, & prepared them selues to the battayll agaynst the Philistynes. And the Philistynes stode vpon a hyll on the one syde, and the Israelites vpon a hyll on the other syde, so that there was a valley betwene them.

Then stepte there forth from amōge the Philistynes a stoute bolde man, named Goliath of 〈…〉 Gath, sixe cubites and an hande breth hye, and had an helmet of stele on his heade, and a fast habergion vpon him, and the weight of his habergion was fyue thousande Sicles of stele, and harnesse of stele had he vpon his legges, and a shylde of stele vpon his shulders: and the shaft of his speare was like a weuers lome, and the yron of his speare had sixe hundreth Sicles of yron, and his wapen bearer wente before him.

And he stode and called vnto the hoost of Israel, and sayde vnto them: Wherfore are ye come forth to prepare youre selues to the battayll? Am not I a Philistyne, and ye the seruauntes of Saul? Chose one amonge you to come downe vnto me: yf he can fighte agaynst me and slaye me, then wil we be youre seruauntes: but yf I can ouercome him and slaye him, then shal ye be oure seruauntes, to do vs seruyce. And the Philistyne sayde: I haue spokē diszdanedly vnto the hoost of Israel this daye. Geue me one, and let v fighte together. Whan Saul and all Israel herde these wordes of ye Philistyne, they were astonnyed, and sore afrayed.

But Dauid was the sonne of a man of Ephrata of Bethleem Iuda, whose name was Isai, which had eight sonnes, and was an olde man in Sauls tyme, and was well strycken in age amonge men. And the thre eldest sonnes of Isai were gone with Saul to the battayll. And there names were these: Eliab the first borne, Abinadab the seconde, and Samma the thirde. But Dauid was the yongest of all. So whan the thre eldest were gone with Saul to the battayll, Dauid wente agayne from Saul, to kepe his fathers shepe at Bethleem. But the Philistyne stepte for h early in the mornynge and at euen, and stode there fortye dayes.

Isai sayde vnto Dauid his sonne: Take this Epha of firmentye for thy brethren, and these ten loaues of bred (and runne to the hoost vnto thy brethren) & these ten new cheses, and brynge them to ye captayne, and loke how thy brethren do, whether it go well with them or no, and take what they byd the. But Saul and they, and all the men of Israel were in the Oke valley, and foughte agaynst the Philistynes.

Then Dauid gat him vp early in the mornynge, and commytted the shepe to ye keper, and toke his burthen, wente his waye, as Isai commaunded him, and came to the tēt. And the hoost was gone forth, and had prepared them selues, and cried in the battayl: For Israel had set them selues in araye, and the Philistynes were agaynst their hoost in their araye also.

Then lefte Dauid the vessell that he bare, with the keper of the stuffe, and ranne to the hoost, and wente in, and saluted his brethren. And whyle he was yet talkynge with them, beholde, then came vp the stoute bolde man, whose name was Goliath, the Philistine of Gath, out of the Philistynes hoost, and spake like as afore, and Dauid herde it. But euery man of Israel, whan he sawe the man, fled from him, and was sore afrayed of him.

And euery man in Israel sayde: Haue ye sene the man commynge vp hither? For he is come vp hither, to speake diszdanedly vnto Israel. And who so euer smyteth him, him wyll the kynge make ryche, and geue him his doughter, and make his fathers house fre in Israel.

Then sayde Dauid vnto the men that stode by him: What shalbe done to the man, that smyteth this Philistyne, and turneth this shame awaye from Israel? For what is he this Philistyne this vncircūcysed, that defyeth the hoost of ye lyuynge God? Then the people tolde him as afore. Thus shall it be done vnto ye 〈◊〉 that smyteth him. And Eliab his greater brother herde him talke with the men, and was very wroth agaynst Dauid, and sayde: Wherfore art thou come downe? and why hast thou left a fewe shepe in the wyldernesse? I knowe thy presumptuousnesse well ynough, and the wickednesse of thine hert: for thou art come downe to se the battayll. Dauid answered: What haue I downe now? Is there not an occasion? And he turned him selfe from him vnto another, and spake acordinge as he had sayde before. Then the people answered him like as afore.

And whan they herde the wordes which Dauid sayde, they tolde them in the presence of Saul, and he caused him be fetched. And Dauid sayde vnto Saul: Let no mans hert be discoraged because of him. Thy seruaunt shall go, and fighte with the Philistyne. Neuertheles Saul sayde vnto Dauid: Thou art not able to go agaynst this Phylistyne to fighte with him, for thou art but a childe: but this is a man of warre from his youth vp.

Dauid sayde vnto Saul: Thy seruaunt kepte his fathers shepe, and there came a lyon and a Bere, and caried awaye a shepe from the flocke, then wente I forth after him, and smote him, and delyuered it out of his mouth. 〈◊〉 . 14. b 〈◊〉 . 11. f And whan he wolde haue bene vpon me, I toke him by his beerde, and smote him, and slewe him. So thy seruaunt smote both the Lyon and ye Bere. Therfore shall this Philistyne this vncircumcysed be euen as one of them: for he hath defyed the hoost of the lyuynge God. And Dauid sayde: The LORDE that delyuered me from ye Lyon and Beer, shall delyuer me also from this Philistyne.

And Saul sayde vnto Dauid: Go thy waye, the LORDE be with the. And Saul clothed Dauid with his clothes, and set an helmet of stele vpon his heade, and put an habergion vpō him. And Dauid girded his swerde aboue his clothes, and beganne to go, for he had neuer bene vsed to it afore. Then sayde Dauid vnto Saul: I can not go thus, for I haue not bene vsed to it, and so he laied it from him, and toke his staff in his hande, and chose fyue slighte stones out of the ryuer, and put them in the shepardes bagge which he had by him, and toke a slynge in his hande, and made him to the Philistyne. And the Philistyne wente forth, and made him to Dauid, and his wapen bea e before him.

Now whan the Philistyne loked & sawe Dauid, he thoughte scorne of him: for he was but a childe, well coloured, and beutyfull to loke vpon. And the Philistyne sayde vnto Dauid: Am I a dogg then, that thou commest vnto me with a staffe? And he cursed Dauid by his God, and sayde vnto Dauid: Come hither to me, I wil geue thy flesh to the foules vnder the heauen, and to the beastes in the felde. Neuertheles Dauid sayde vnto the Philistyne: Thou commest vnto me with swerde, speare and shylde. But I come vnto the in the name of the LORDE Zebaoth the God of the hoost of Israel, whom thou hast despysed. This daye shall the LORDE delyuer the in to my hāde, that I maye smyte the, and take thy heade from the, and geue the bodies of the hoost of the Philistynes this daye vnto the foules vnder the heauen, and to the wylde beestes vpon the earth, that all the londe maye knowe yt Israel hath a God. And all this congregacion shal knowe, that the LORDE saueth nether thorow swerde ner speare: for the battayll is the LORDES, & he shal delyuer you in to oure handes.

Now whan the Philistyne gat him vp, and wente forth and drue nye vnto Dauid, Dauid made haiste, and ranne from ye hoost vnto the Philistyne. And Dauid put his hā de in his bagg, and toke out a stone, & thrue it with the slynge, 〈…〉 and hytt the Philisty •• euen in the fore heade, so that the stone st cke in his fore heade, and he fell downe to the grounde vpon his face.

So Dauid ouercame ye Philistyne with the slynge and with ye stone, and smote him, and slewe him. And for so moch as Dauid had no swerde in his hande, he ranne and stode ouer ye Philistyne, 〈…〉 and toke his sw rde, and drue it out of the sheeth, and slewe him, and smote of his heade withall. Whan the Philistynes sawe that the strongest of them was deed, 〈◊〉 . 7. f they fled. And the men of Israel and Iuda gat thē vp, and cryed and folowed vpon the Philistynes, tyll they came vnto the valley, and to the Portes of Ekron. And the Philistynes fell downe slayne vnto Gath and to Ekron. And the children of Israel turned agayne from chasynge of the Philistynes, and spoyled their tentes. But Dauid toke the heade of the Phil styne, and broughte it vnto Ierusalem, as for is armoure, he layed it in his tente.

Whan Saul sawe Dauid go forth agaynst the Philistyne, he saide vnto 〈◊〉 . 14. g Abner his chefe captayne: Abner, whose sonne is this childe? Abner sayde: As truly as thy soule lyueth O kynge, I wote not. The kynge sayde: Axe thē whose sonne the yonge mā is. Now whan Dauid came agayne from the slaughter of the Philistyne, Abner toke him, and broughte him before Saul, and he had the Philistynes heade in his hande. And Saul sayde vnto him: Whose sonne art thou, thou yonge man? Dauid sayde: I am a sonne of thy seruaunt Isai the Bethleemite.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANd whan he had made an ende of talkynge with Saul, the soule of Ionathas was bounde with the soule of Dauid, and Ionathas loued him as his owne soule. And Saul toke him the same daye, and let him not go agayne to his fathers house. And Ionathas and Dauid made a couenaunt together, for he loued him as his owne soule. And Ionathas put of his owne cote that he had vpon him, and gaue it vnto Dauid: yee and his cloke, his swerde, his bowe, and his girdell. And Dauid wente forth whither so euer Saul sent him, and behaued himselfe wysely. And Saul set him ouer the men of warre, and he pleased all the people well, and all the seruauntes of Saul.

It fortuned, that whan Dauid was come agayne from the slaughter of the Philistyne, the wemen wente out of all the cities of Israel with songes & daunses, to mete kynge Saul, with tymbrels, with myrth, and with fyddels. And the wemen sange one to another, and played & sayde: . Re. 21. d 〈◊〉 9. b Saul hath smytten his thousande: but Dauid his ten thousande.

Then was Saul very wroth, and ye worde displeased him sore, and he sayde: They haue ascrybed ten thousande vnto Dauid, and but one thousande vnto me: what shal he haue more but the kyngdome? And from that daye forth, Saul loked sowerly vpō Dauid.

The nexte daye after came the euell sprete of God vpon Saul, and prophecyed in ye myddes of the house. But Dauid played on the instrumente with his hande, as he was wonte daylie. And Saul had a iauelynge in his hande, and cast it, and thoughte: I wyll stycke Dauid fast to the wall. Neuerthelesse Dauid turned himselfe twyse awaye from him. And Saul was afrayed of Dauid: for the LORDE was with him, and was departed from Saul. Then Saul put him from him, and set him to be prynce ouer a thousande men, and he went out and in before the people. And Dauid behaued himselfe wysely in all his doynges, and the LORDE was with him.

Now whan Saul sawe that he was so exceadynge wyse, he stode in feare of him. But all Israel and Iuda loued Dauid, for he wente out and in before them. And Saul sayde vnto Dauid: Beholde, my greatest doughter Merob 1. Re. 17. c wyl I geue the to wyfe: be stronge now, & gouerne the warres of the LORDE. For Saul thought: my hāde shal not be vpon him, but the hande of ye Pilistynes Neuertheles Dauid answered Saul: Who am I? & what is my life & the kynred of my father in Israel, that I shulde mary the kinges doughter?

But whan the tyme came, that Merob ye doughter of Saul shulde haue bene geuē vnto Dauid, she was geuen vnto Adriel ye Meholathite to wyfe. Neuerthelesse M chol Sauls doughter loued Dauid. Whan this was tolde Saul, ye matter pleased him well, & he sayde: I wyl geue him her, yt she maye be a snare vnto him, & that the handes of ye Philistynes maye come vpon him. And he sayde vnto Dauid: This daye shalt thou be my doughters huszbāde ye secōde time. And Saul spake vnto his seruaūtes: Talke wt Dauid secretly & saye: Beholde, the kinge hath pleasure in the, and all his seruauntes loue the, mary thou therfore the kynges doughter.

And Sauls seruauntes spake these wordes in the eares of Dauid. But Dauid saide: Thynke ye it: but a small matter, to mary the kynges doughter? As for me, I am but a poore symple man. And Sauls seruauntes tolde him agayne, and sayde: Soch wordes hath Dauid spoken. Saul sayde: Then saye ye vnto Dauid: The kynge desyreth no dowry, but onely an hundreth foreszkynnes of the Philistynes, that vengeaunce maye be taken of the kinges enemies. Howbeit Saul thought to cause Dauid be slayne by the hā des of the Philistynes. Then his seruauntes tolde Dauid these wordes, and Dauid was contente with the matter, to mary the kynges doughter.

And after a fewe dayes Dauid gatt him vp, and wente with his men, and smote two hundreth men amonge the Philistynes. And Dauid broughte their foreszkynnes, and made their nombre sufficient vnto the kynge, yt he mighte mary the kynges doughter. Thē Saul gaue him his doughter Michol to wyfe. And Saul sawe and perceaued, that the LORDE was wt Dauid. And Michol Sauls doughter loued him. Then was Saul the more afrayed, and became his enemye as lō ge as he lyued. And whan the prynces of the Philistynes wēte forth, Dauid behaued him selfe more wysely then all the seruauntes of Saul in their outgoynge: so that his name was in greate reputacion.

The XIX. Chapter.

SAul spake to Ionathas his sonne, and to all his seruauntes, that they shulde kyll Dauid. Re. 1 . a Neuerthelesse Ionathas the sonne of Saul loued Dauid exceadingly, and tolde him, and sayde: Saul my father goeth aboute to slaye the. Kepe the therfore (I praye the) in the mornynge and abyde in secrete, and hyde the. But I wyll go forth, and stonde besyde my father in the felde where thou art, and wyll speake of the vnto my father: and what soeuer I se I shal brynge the worde.

And Ionathas reported ye best of Dauid vnto Saul his father, and sayde vnto him: Oh let not the kynge synne agaynst his seruaunt, for he hath not synned agaynst the, and his doynge is very necessary for the, 〈◊〉 . 12. a sal. 118. o he put his lyfe in his hande also, and smote the Philistyne, & the LORDE dyd a greate health vnto all Israel: this hast thou sene, and reioysed therof. Wherfore wylt thou then offende agaynst innocent bloude, that thou woldest kyll Dauid without a cause? Then herkened Saul vnto the voice of Ionathas and sware: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, he shal not dye. Then Ionathas called Dauid, and tolde him all these wordes, and brought him to Saul, so that he was in presence like as afore tyme.

But there arose a battayll agayne, and Dauid wente forth, and fought agaynst the Philistynes, and smote a greate slaughter, so that they fled before him. Neuertheles ye euell sprete of the LORDE came vpon Saul, and he sat in his house, and had a iauelynge in his hande. But Dauid plaied vpon the instrument with his hāde. And Saul though with the iauelinge to sticke Dauid fast to the wall. Howbeit, he wente asyde frō Saul and the iauelynge smote in the wall. And Dauid fled, and escaped that night.

Notwithstondinge Saul sent his messaungers to Dauids house, that they shulde laye wayte for him, and kyll him in the mornynge. Michol Dauids wyfe tolde him this, and sayde: Yf thou saue not thy soule this night, thou shalt dye tomorow. 〈…〉 Then Michol let him downe thorow the wyndow, so that he wente his waye, fled, and escaped. And Mickol toke an ymage, and layed it in the bed, and laied a goates szkinne at the heade of it, and couered it with clothes. Then Saul sent messaūgers, to fetch Dauid. But she sayde: He is sicke. Neuerthelesse Saul sent messaungers to se Dauid, & sayde: Bringe him vp to me with the bed, that he maye be slayne.

Now whan the messaungers came, beholde, the ymage laye in the bed, and a goates szkynne at the heade of it. The sayde Saul vnto Michol: Why hast thou begyled me, and let myne enemye go, that he mighte escape? Michol sayde vnto Saul: He sayde vnto me: Let me go, or I wyl kyll the. A for Dauid, he fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel vnto Ramath, and tolde him all yt Saul had done vnto him. And he wente wt Samuel, and they abode at Naioth.

And it was tolde Saul: Beholde, Dauid is at Naioth in Ramath. Then Saul sente messaungers to fetch Dauid. And they sawe a company of prophetes prophecienge, and Samuel had the ouersight of them. Then came the sprete of God vpon the messaungers of Saul, so that they prophecyed also.

Whan this was tolde Saul, he sent other messaungers, which prophecied likewyse. Then sente he messaungers the thyrde tyme, and they in like maner prophecyed. Then wente he himselfe also vnto Ramath, and whan he came to the greate well which is at Secho, he axed and sayde: Where is Samuel and Dauid? Then was it tolde him: beholde, at Naioth in Ramath. And he wente thither, euen vnto Naioth in Ramath. And ye sprete of God came vpon him also, and he wēte & prophecied till he came vnto Naioth in Ramath. And he put of his clothes, & prophecied likewise before Samuel, & fell downe naked all that daye and all that nighte. e. 10. c Here of came the prouerbe: Is Saul also amonge the prophetes?

The XX. Chapter.

DAuid fled frō Naioth in Ramath, and came, & spake before Ionathas: What haue I done? What trespace haue I made? What haue I synned in ye sighte of thy father, yt he seketh to kyll me? He sayde vnto him: God forbyd, thou shalt not dye. Beholde, my father doth nothinge, nether greate ner small, but he sheweth it before myne eares. Wherfore shulde my father thē hyde this fro me? It shal not be so. Thē sware Dauid agayne, and sayde: Thy father knoweth well, yt I haue founde fauoure in ye sighte, therfore shal he thynke: Ionathas shal not knowe of this, lest it greue him. Verely, as truly as the LORDE lyueth, and as truly as ye soule lyueth, there is but one steppe betwene me & death. Ionathas sayde vnto Dauid: I wil do for the what so euer thy hert desyreth. Dauid sayde vnto him: Beholde, tomorow is the new Mone, that I shulde syt at the table with the kynge. Let me hyde my selfe therfore in the felde vnto the thirde daye at euen. Yf thy father then axe after me, saye: Dauid prayed me, yt he mighte runne to Bethleem vnto his cite, for all his kynred haue there a yearly sacrifice. Yf he saye then: It is good, thē stondeth it well with ye seruaunt. But yf he be wroth, thou shalt perceaue that he intendeth euell. Do mercy therfore vpon thy seruaunt: 〈…〉 . a 〈◊〉 3. d for with me ye seruaunt hast thou made a couenaunt in the LORDE. But yf there be eny trespace in me, then slaye me thy selfe, for why woldest thou brynge me vnto thy father?

Ionathas sayde: That be farre from the, that I shulde perceaue my father to intende eny euell agaynst the, and shulde not tell the. Dauid sayde: Who shal brynge me worde, yf thy father geue the an harde answere? Ionathas sayde vnto Dauid: Come, let vs go forth in to the felde. And they wente out both in to ye felde. And Ionathas sayde vnto Dauid:

LORDE God of Israel, yf I perceaue by my father tomorow or on the thirde daye, that it goeth well with Dauid, & sende not vnto the, and shewe the before thine eares, then let the LORDE do this and that vnto Ionathas. But yf my father delyte in euell agaynst the, I wil shewe it before thine eares also, and let yt go, that thou mayest departe in peace.

And the LORDE be with the, as he hath bene with my father. Yf I do it not, then do thou no mercy of the LORDE on me, while I lyue, no not whan I dye, and plucke thy mercy fro my house for euer. And whan the LORDE roteth out ye enemies of Dauid, euery one out of the londe, then let Dauid rote out Ionathas also with his house, and the LORDE requyre it of the hande of Dauids enemies.

And Ionathas proceaded further, and sware vnto Dauid (he loued him so well: for he loued him euen es his owne soule) and Ionathas sayde vnto him: Tomorow is ye new Mone, and thou shalt be axed after: for thou shalt be wanted where thou wast wonte to sit. But on the thirde daye come downe soone, & go in to ye place where thou hydest the on the worckdaye, & set the downe by the stone of Asel: then wyl I shute thre arowes on yt side, as though I wolde shute at a marck: and beholde, I wil sende the boye, and saye vnto him, Go seke ye arowes. Yf I saye now vnto the lad: Lo, the arowes lye hitherwarde behynde ye, fetch them, then come thou, for it is peace, and there is no parell, as truly as the LORDE lyueth. But yf I saye vnto the lad: beholde, the arowes lye yonderwarde before the, then go thou thy waye, for the LORDE hath let the go. 1. Re. 20. As for that which thou and I haue spokē together, the LORDE is betwene me and the for euer.

Dauid hid himself in the felde. And whā the new Mone came, the kynge sat him downe at the table to eate. Whan the kynge had set him downe in his place as he was wonte by the wall, Ionathas stode vp, but Abner sat him downe besyde Saul. And Dauid was myssed in his place. And Saul spake nothinge that daye, for he thoughte: There is somwhat happend vnto him, that he is not cleane. On the seconde daye of the new Mone, whan Dauid was myssed in his place, Saul saide vnto Ionathas his sonne: Wherfore is not the sonne of Isai come to the table nether yesterdaye ner to daye?

Ionathas answered Saul: He prayed me that he mighte go vnto Bethleem, and sayde: Let me go, for oure kynred hath a sacrifyce to do in the cyte, and my brother hath sent for me himselfe: yf I haue founde fauoure now in thy syghte, I wyll go, and se my brethren: therfore is he not come to the kynges table. Then was the kynge wroth at Ionathas, and sayde vnto him: Thou wicked and vnthrifte, I knowe how that thou hast chosen the sonne of Isai, to the shame of thy selfe and of ye shamefull mother. For as longe as ye sonne of Isai lyueth vpō earth nether thou ner thy kingdome shal prospere. Sende now therfore, and cause him to be fetched vnto me, . Re. 86. c for he is a childe of death.

Ionathas answered his father Saul and sayde vnto him: Wherfore shal he dye? what hath he done? Then shot Saul the iauelynge at him, that he might smite him. Thē perceaued Ionathas, that his father was vtterly determed to kyll Dauid, and he rose vp from ye table in a wrothfull displeasure, and ate no bred yt same seconde daye of the new Mone: for he was vexed because of Dauid, that his father had done him soch dishonor.

On the morow wente Ionathas forth in to the felde, at the tyme appoynted of Dauid, and a litle boy with him, and sayde vnto ye boy: Runne and seke me the arowes which I shute. Whan the boy ranne, he shot an arowe ouer him. And whan the boy came to the place whither Ionathas had shot ye arowe, Ionathas cryed after him, and sayde: The arowe lyeth yonder warde before the. And he cryed after him agayne: haist the, and stonde not styll. Then the boy gathered vp Ion thas arowes, and brought them to his lorde. And the boy knewe nothinge, onely Ionathas and Dauid knewe of ye matter.

Then Ionathas gaue his boy his wapēs and sayde vnto him: Go thy ways, and cary them in to the cite. And whan the boy was gone, Dauid arose from the place towarde the south, and fell vpon his face to the groū de, and worshipped thre tymes, and they kissed one another, and wepte together. But Dauid most specially. And Ionathas saide vnto Dauid: Go thy waye in peace: 1. Re. 20. d What soeuer we both haue sworne & spokē together in the name of the LORDE, the LORDE be witnesse betwene me and the, betwene my sede and ye sede for euer. And Ionathas gat him vp, and came in to the cite.

The XXI. Chapter.

DAuid came to Nobe to ye prest Ahimelech. And Ahimelech was astonnyed, whan he sawe Dauid comminge, and sayde vnto him: Why commest thou alone, and no man is with the? Dauid sayde vnto 1. Re. 14. a Ahimelech the prest: The kinge hath cōmytted a matter vnto me, and sayde: Let nomā knowe wherfore I haue sent the, and what I haue commaunded the: for I haue appoynted my seruaūtes to mete me here & there.1. Re. 2 . b ud. 8. b Yf thou haue now ought vnder thy hande, a loafe of bred or fyue, geue me the same in my hande, or what so euer thou findest.

The prest answered Dauid, and sayde: I haue no comen bred vnder my hande, but the holy bred, yf the yonge men haue onely refrained them selues from wemen. Dauid answered the prest, and sayde vnto him: The wemen were kepte thre dayes from vs whan we departed forth, and the yonge mens vessels were holy. But this waye is vnholy, neuerthelesse it shalbe santifyed to daye in the instrumentes. 〈…〉 Then the prest gaue him of ye holy, in so moch as there was none other bred but the shewbredes, which were taken vp before the LORDE, that there might be other fresh bredes set therin the daye whā he toke them awaye.

But the same daye was there a man sp •• red in before the LORDE, one of Sauls seruauntes, named Doeg an Edomite, ye mightiest amonge Sauls hyrdmen. And Dauid sayde vnto Ahimelech: Is there not a speare or a swerde here vnder thine hande? I haue not taken my swerde and weapens with me: for the kynges matter requyred haist. The prest sayde: The swerde of Goliath the Philistyne 〈…〉 whom thou smotest in the Oke valley, is here wrapped in a cloth behynde the ouerbody cote. Yf thou wylt haue it, take it, for here is els none but it. Dauid sayde: There is not soch another, geue me it.

And Dauid gat him vp, and fled from Saul, and came to Achis ye kynge of Gath. But Achis seruauntes sayde vnto him: This is Dauid the kynge of the londe, of whom they sunge in the daunse, and sayde: 〈…〉 Saul hath smytten his thousande, but Dauid his ten thousande. And Dauid toke these wordes to hert, and was sore afrayed of Achis the kynge of Gath, and altered his countenaunce before them, and shewed himselfe s he had bene madd in their handes, and stackered towarde the dores of the gate, and his slauerynges ranne downe his beerd. Then sayde Achis vnto his seruauntes: Beholde, ye se that the man is out of his wyt, why haue ye brought him vnto me? Haue I to fewe madd men, that ye haue brought this hither to be madd before me? Shulde he come in to my house?

The XXII. Chapter.

DAuid wente frō thence, & fled vnto the caue of Adullam. Whan his brethren and all his fathers house herde that, they came downe thither vnto him. And there gathered vnto him all men that were in trouble and det, and sory of hert, and he became their heade, so that there 〈◊〉 with him vpon a foure hundreth men.

And Dauid wente from thence towarde Mispa in the londe of the Moabites, and sayde vnto the kynge of the Moabites: Let my father and my mother go out and in amonge you, tyll I se what God wil do with me. And he lefte them before the kynge of ye Moabites, so that they remayned by him, as longe as Dauid was in the castell. Neuertheles the prophet Gad sayde vnto Dauid: Abyde not in the castell, but go yt waye, and come in to the londe of Iuda. Then departed Dauid, and came into the wodd of Hareth. And Saul herde that Dauid and the men which were with him, were come forth.

Now whyle Saul dwelt at Gibea vnder a groue in Rama, he had a Iauelinge in his hande, and all his seruauntes stode by him. Then sayde Saul vnto his seruauntes that stode by him: Heare ye children of Ieminir Shal the sonne of Isai geue lōdes and vynyardes vnto you all, & make you all captaynes ouer thousandes and ouer hūdreds, that ye haue all conspyred agaynst me, and there is no mā that sheweth it before myne eares, 〈…〉 for so moch as my sonne also hath made a couenaunt with the sonne of Isai? There is no man amonge you that letteth it for my sake, or yt openeth it vnto myne eares: for my sonne hath stered vp my seruauntes against me, that he maye laye wayte for me, as it is manifest.

Then answered Doeg ye Edomite which stode besyde Sauls seruauntes, and sayde: 〈…〉 I sawe the sonne of Isai, that he came vnto Nobe, to Ahimelech ye sonne of Achitob, which axed councell at the LORDE for him, and gaue him fode, & the swerde of Goliath the Philistyne.

Then sent the kynge, and caused to call Ahimelech the prest the sonne of Achitob, and all his fathers house, the prestes that were at Nobe, and they came all to the kynge. And Saul sayde: Heare thou sonne of Achitob. He saide: Here am I my lorde. And Saul sayde vnto him: Wherfore haue ye cō spyred agaynst me, thou & the sonne of Isai, that thou hast geuen him bred and a swerde, and axed councell at God for him, to stere him vp, that he mighte laye awayte for me, as it is manifest?

Ahimelech answered the kynge and saide: And who is amonge all thy seruauntes like Dauid, which is faithfull, and hath maried the kynges doughter, and goeth in thine obedience, & is honorably taken in thine house? Haue I begonne then first this daye to axe councell at God for him? That be farre fro me. Let not the kinge laie soch to his seruaū tes charge in all my fathers house: for thy seruaunt knewe not of all these thinges nether small ner greate. Neuertheles the kynge saide: Ahimelech thou must dye ye death, thou and all thy fathers house. And the kynge sayde to his fote men that stode by him: Turne you, and slaye the prestes of the LORDE, for their hande is with Dauid also.

Not withstondinge the kynges seruauntes wolde not not laye their handes vpon ye prestes of the LORDE, to slaye them. Then saide ye kynge vnto Doeg: Turne the, and slaye the prestes.1. Reg. 2. g 2. Re. 21. a Doeg the Edomite turned him, and slewe the prestes, so that the same daye there dyed fyue and foure score men, which wayre ouerbody cotes of lynnen. And Nob the cite of the prestes smote he with the edge of the swerde, both men and wemen, children and sucklynges, oxen and asses, and shepe.

Neuerthelesse there escaped a sonne of Ahimelech (the sonne of Achitob) whose name was Abiathar, and fled after Dauid, and tolde him, that Saul had slayne ye prestes of the LORDE. Dauid sayde vnto Abiathar: I knewe well the same daye that Doeg the Edomite was there, that he wolde tell Saul. I am giltye of the soules of thy fathers house. Abyde thou with me, and feare not. He that layeth wayte for my lyfe, shall laye wayte for thyne also, and thou shalt be preserued with me.

The XXIII. Chapter.

ANd it was tolde Dauid: Beholde, the Philistynes fight against Cegila, and spoyle the barnes. Then Dauid axed at the LORDE, and sayde: Shal I go, & smyte these Philistynes? And the LORDE sayde vnto Dauid: Go thy waye, thou shalt smyte the Philistynes, and delyuer Cegila. But ye men that were with Dauid, sayde vnto him: Beholde, we are here in feare in Iewry, and shall we go to Cegila vnto the hoost of the Philistynes? Thē Dauid axed at the LORDE agayne. And the LORDE answered him, and sayde: Vp, get the downe to Cegila, for I wil delyuer the Philistynes in to thy hande.

So Dauid wente with his men vnto Cegila, and foughte agaynst the Philistynes, & droue awaye their catell, and smote them wt a greate slaughter. Thus Dauid delyuered them of Cegila. For whan Abiathar the sonne of Ahimelech fled vnto Dauid at Cegila, he ba e downe the ouerbody cote with him.

Thē was it tolde Saul, that Dauid was come to Cegila, and he sayde: God hath deliuered him in to my hāde, for he is shut fast in, now that he is come in to a cite which is kepte wt gates and barres. And Saul caused for to call all the people downe to ye battaill vnto Cegila, yt they might besege Dauid and his men. But whan Dauid perceaued yt Saul intēded euell against him, he saide vnto Abiathar ye prest: * Brynge me hither the ouerbody cote. And Dauid sayde: O LORDE God of Israel, thy seruaunt hath herde, that Saul goeth aboute to come for to destroye the cite of Cegila for my sake. Shal the citysens of Cegila delyuer me ouer in to his handes? And shal Saul come downe, as thy seruaunt hath herde? Tell thy seruaunt this, O LORDE God of Israel. And the LORDE saide: He shal come downe.

Dauid sayde: Shall the citysens of Cegila delyuer me and my men in to Sauls handes? The LORDE sayde: Yee. Thē Dauid gat him vp with his mē, of whom there were vpon a sixe hundreth, & walked whither they coulde. Now whan it was tolde Saul that Dauid was escaped from Cegila, he let his iourney stonde. As for Dauid, he remayned in the wildernes in the castell, and abode vpon the mount in the wildernes of Siph. But Saul soughte him as longe as he lyued. Neuertheles God gaue him not in to his handes. And Dauid sawe, that Saul was gone forth to seke after his life. But Dauid was in the wildernes of Siph, in the wodd.

Then Ionathas the sonne of Saul gat him vp, and wēte vnto Dauid in to the wod, and strengthed his hande in God, and sayde vnto him: Feare not, my father Sauls hande shal not finde ye: and thou shalt be kynge ouer Israel, so will I be the nexte vnto the. And yt my father knoweth right well. 1. Re. 18. a and 20. b And they made a couenaunt both together before the LORDE. And Dauid remayned in the wodd. As for Ionathas, he wente home agayne.

But the Par. 2. c Siphites wente vp to Saul vnto Gibeath, and sayde: Is not Dauid hyd with vs in the castell in ye wodd, vpon moūt Hachila, which lyeth on the righte hande of the wildernesse? Let the kynge come downe now therfore acordinge to all the desyre of his hert, and we wyll delyuer him in to the kynges hande. Then sayde Saul: Blessed be ye of the LORDE, that ye haue had pytie vpon me: Go youre waye now therfore, and be sure, that ye maye knowe and se in what place his fete haue bene, and who hath sene him there: for it is tolde me, that he is full of sotiltye. Loke well and spye out all the places, where he hydeth him, and come agayne to me, whan ye are sure, and I will go with you. Yf he be in the londe, I wyl enquere after him amonge all the thousandes in Iud .

Then gat they them vp, and wente their waye vnto Siph before Saul. But Dauid and his men were in the wyldernes of Maō, euen in the felde on the righte hande of the wildernes. Now whan Saul wente thither with his men to seke him, it was tolde Dauid and he gat him downe to the rocke, and abode in the wildernesse of Mahon. Whan Saul herde that, he folowed after Dauid in the wildernesse of Mahon. And Saul with his men wente on the one syde of the hyll: Dauid wt his men on ye other syde of ye hill. But whan Dauid made haist to escape from Saul, Saul with his men compased aboute Dauid and his men, that he might take thē. 〈…〉 Neuertheles there came a messaūger vnto Saul, and sayde: Make haist and come, for the Philistynes are fallē in to the londe. Thē Saul turned him from chacynge of Dauid, and wente agaynst the Philstynes. Therfore is ye place called 〈…〉 Sela Mahelkoth. And Dauid wente vp from thence, and abode in the castell at En Gaddi.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

NOw whan Saul came agayne from the Philistines, it was tolde him: Beholde, Dauid is in the wyldernes of Engaddi. And Saul toke thre thousande chosen men out of all Israel, and wente to seke Dauid with his men vpon the stony rockes of the wylde goates. And whan he came to the shepe foldes by ye waye, there was a caue, and Saul wente in to 〈…〉 couer his fete. But Dauid and his men sat behinde within the caue.

Then sayde Dauids men vnto him: Lo, this is the daye, wherof the LORDE thy God hath sayde vnto the: Beholde, I wyll delyuer thyne enemye in to thy hande, that thou mayest do wt him what it pleaseth the. And Dauid stode vp, & cut of the typpe of Sauls garment quyetly. Neuertheles it smote him afterwarde in his hert, because he had cut of the typpe of Sauls garment, and sayde vnto his men: The LORDE let that be farre fro me, that I shulde do it, & laye my hande vpō my lorde the LORDES anoyntd: for he is ye anoynted of the LORDE. And Dauid withelde his seruaūtes with wordes, & suffred thē not to ryse vp agaynst Saul.

But whan Saul gat him vp out of the caue, and was goinge his waye, Dauid rose vp also after him, and wente out of the caue, and cried behynde Saul, & sayde: My lorde the kynge. And Saul loked behynde him. And Dauid bowed downe his face to the earth, and worshipped, and sayde vnto Saul: Why herkenest thou vnto the wordes of men, that saye: Dauid seketh thy mysfortune? Beholde, thine eyes se this daye that the LORDE gaue the in to my hande in the caue, and I was counceled to slaye the: Neuertheles thou wast fauoured, for I sayde: I wil not laye my hande vpon my lorde, for he is the LORDES anoynted. Beholde, my father the typpe of thy garment in my hande, that I wolde not slaye the, whan I cut of the typpe of thy garment. Knowe and se, yt there is no euell ner trespace in my hande: nether haue I offended the, and thou folowest after my soule, to take it awaye. The LORDE shal be iudge betwene me and the, and auenge me on the, but my hāde shal not be vpon the, acordinge as it is sayde after the olde prouerbe: Vngodlynes commeth of the vngodly: but my hande shal not be vpon the. Whom persecutest thou O kynge of Israel, whom persecutest thou? a deed dogg? a flee? The LORDE be iudge, and geue sentence betwene me and the, and cōsidre it, and defende my cause, and delyuer me from thy hande.

Now whan Dauid had spoken out these wordes vnto Saul, Saul saide: 〈◊〉 26. c Is not this thy voyce my sonne Dauid? And Saul lifte vp his voyce, and wepte, and saide vnto Dauid: Thou art more righteous then I: for thou hast recompēsed me good, but I haue rewarded the euell. And this daye hast thou shewed me how thou hast done me good, for so moch as ye LORDE hath delyuered me in to thy hande, and thou neuertheles hast not slaine me. What is he, which yf he fynde his enemye, wyllet him go in a good waye? The LORDE rewarde the good for yt thou hast done vnto me this daye? Beholde now, I knowe that thou shalt be kynge, & the kyngdome of Israel stondeth in thy hande: sweare now therfore vnto me by the LORDE, yt thou shalt not rote out my sede after me, nether destroie my name out of my fathers house. And Dauid sware vnto Saul. Then wente Saul home, but Dauid gat him vp with his men vnto the castell.

The XXV. Chapter.

ANd Samuel dyed, and all Israel gathered them selues together, mourned for him, & buried him in his house at Ramath. As for Dauid, he rose, and wente downe in to the wyldernesse of Paran. And there was a man at Maon, and his possession at Carmel, and the man was of greate power, and had thre thousande shepe, and a thousande goates. And it fortuned that he clypped his shepe at Carmel, and his name was Nabal, but his wyues name was Abigail, and she was a woman of good vnderstondinge, & bewtyfull of face. But the man was harde, and wicked in his doynges, and was one of Caleb.

Now whan Dauid herde in the wyldernes yt Nabal clypped his shepe, he sent out ten yonge men, & saide vnto them: Go vp vnto Carmel, & whan ye come to Nabal, salute him frendly on my behalfe, & saye: Good lucke, peace be wt the & thine house, & with all yt thou hast. I haue herde saye that thou hast shepe clyppers. Now ye shepherdes whom thou hast, haue bene with vs, we haue done them no dishonoure, and they wāted nothinge of their nombre, as longe as they were at Carmel: Axe thy yonge men, they shal tell the, and let thy yonge men fynde fauoure in ye sighte: for we are come in a good daye, geue thy seruauntes & thy sonne Dauid what thy hande fyndeth.

And whā Dauids yonge men came, and spake all these wordes on Dauids behalfe vnto Nabal, they lefte of. But Nabal answered Dauids seruauntes, & sayde: What is he yt Dauid? & who is the sonne of Isai? There are many seruauntes now yt runne awaye from their masters. Shulde I take my bred, water and flesh, that I haue slayne for my clyppers, & geue it vnto mē whom I knowe not whence they are?

Thē Dauids yonge mē turned their waye agayne. And whan they came agayne vnto him, they tolde him all these wordes. Thē sayde Dauid vnto his men: Euery man gyrde his swerde aboute him. And euery one gyrde his swerde aboute him. And Dauid gyrde his swerde aboute him also, and there wē te vp after him vpon a foure hundreth men, but two hundreth remayned wt the stuffe.

Neuertheles Abigail Nabals wife tolde one of hir yonge men, and sayde: Beholde, Dauid sent messaungers out of the wyldernes to blesse oure lorde, Notwithstondinge he was fearce vpō them, and yet haue they bene very profitable men vnto vs, and haue done vs no dishonoure, and we wanted none of the nombre as lōge as we walked with them, whan we were in the felde: but they haue bene oure wall daye and nighte, as longe as we kepte the shepe by them. Take hede now therfore, and loke well what thou doest, for there is surely a mysfortune at hande agaynst oure lorde, & agaynst all his house. And he is a man of Belial, to whom no man darre saye eny thinge. Then Abigail made haist, and toke two hundred loaues of bred, and two botels of wyne, and fyue shepe ready dighte, and fyue measures of firmentye, and an hundreth frayles of rasens, and two hundreth frayles of fygges, & layed them vpō asses, and sayde to hir yonge men: Go ye youre waye before me, beholde, I wyl come after. And she tolde Nabal hir housbāde nothinge therof. And as she rode vpō the asse, and wente downe in the shadowe of ye hill, beholde, Dauid & his mē met hir downe, so that she came vpon them.

But Dauid sayde: Wel, all that this man had in ye wyldernes, haue I kepte for naughte, so that there wanted nothinge of all that he had, and he rewardeth me euell for good. God do this and yet more vnto the enemies of Dauid, yf vntyll tomorow in the mornynge I leaue this man (of all that he hath) so moch as one that maketh water agaynst ye wall. Now whan Abigail sawe Dauid, she lighte downe from the asse in all the haist, and fell vpō hir face before Dauid, and worshiped him to the grounde, and fell at his fete, and sayde: Oh my lorde, let this trespace be myne, and let thy handmayde speake before thine eares, and heare the wordes of thy handmayden: Let not my lorde set his hert agaynst this Nabal the man of Belial, for he is a foole, acordinge as his name is called: his name is foole, and foolishnes is with him. As for me thy handmayde, I sawe not my lordes yonge men, whom thou dyddest sende.

But now my lorde, as truly as the LORDE lyueth, and as truly as thy soule lyueth, the LORDE hath kepte the backe, yt thou shuldest not come agaynst bloude, and he hath delyuered thine hande.

Thine enemyes be now as Nabal, and so be they that wolde my lorde euell. Here is ye blessynge, yt thy handmayde hath brought my lorde, take it, and geue it vnto the yonge men, that walke vnder my lorde. For a sure house shal ye LORDE make my lorde, which fighteth the fighte of the LORDE, and no euell shall be founde in the all thy life longe. And yf eny man ryse vp to persecute yt, and to laye wayte for thy soule, then shal the soule of my lorde be bounde in the bundell of ye lyuynge, euen with the LORDE thy God. But ye soule of thine enemies shalbe turned backe wt the slynge. Whan the LORDE therfore doth all this good for my lorde (which he hath promysed the) and commaundeth yt to be his Duke ouer Israel, then shal it be no stomblinge blocke ner occasiion of fallynge vnto my lordes hert, that thou hast not shed bloude without a cause, and auenged thy selfe, then shal ye LORDE do good vnto my lorde, and thou shalt thynke vpon thy hand mayden.

Then saide Dauid vnto Abigail: Blessed be the LORDE God of Israel, which hath sent the to mete me this daye: and blessed be thy speach, and blessed be thou, which hast kepte me backe this daye, that I am not come agaynst bloude, to auenge me with myne awne hande. Verely (as truly as the LORDE the God of Israel lyueth, which hath hyndred me that I shulde do the no euell.) Yf thou haddest not met me in all the haist, Nabal shulde not haue had lefte him vntyll ye lighte mornynge, so moch as one that maketh water agaynst the wall. So Dauid toke of hir hāde what she had broughte him, and sayde vnto her: Go vp in peace vnto ye house: beholde, I haue herkened vnto ye voyce, and accepted thy personne.

But whan Abigail came to Nabal, beholde, he had prepared a feast in his house like a kynges feast, and his hert was mery, for he was very dronken. And she tolde him nothinge, nether small ner greate vntyll ye cleare mornynge. But whan it was daye, & the wyne was come from Nabal, his wife tolde him these thinges.

Then was his hert deed in his body, so that he became euen as a stone: and ouer ten dayes the LORDE smote him, so yt he dyed. Whan Dauid herde that Nabal was deed, he sayde: Blessed be ye LORDE which hath auenged my rebuke on Nabal, and preserued his seruaunt from euell. And the LORDE hath rewarded Nabal that euell vpon his heade.

And Dauid sent, and caused to talke with Abigail, yt he mighte take her to wife. And whan Dauids seruauntes came to Abigail vnto Carmel, they spake vnto her, and saide: Dauid hath sent vs vnto the, that he maye take ye to wife. She rose vp, and worshipped vpon hir face vnto the earth, and sayde: beholde, here is thy handmayde, that she maie do seruyce vnto the seruauntes of my lorde, and to waszshe their fete. And Abigail made haist, and gat her vp, and rode vpō an asse, and fyue maydens that were vnder her, and wente after Dauids messaungers, and became his wife. Dauid toke Ahinoam of Iesrael also, and they both became his wyues. But Saul gaue Michol his doughter the wife of Dauid vnto Phalti ye sonne of Lais of Gallim.

The XXVI. Chapter.

THey of Siph came to Saul vnto Gibeath, & sayde: 〈◊〉 5. d Is not Dauid hyd vpō the hill of Hachila, which lyeth ouer agaynst the wyldernesse? Then Saul gat him vp, and wente downe to the wildernes of Siph, and thre thousande chosen men of Israel with him, to seke Dauid in the wildernes of Siph, and pitched vpon the hill of Hachila, which lyeth by the waye before the wildernes. But Dauid remayned in the wyldernes, and whan he sawe that Saul came after him in to the wildernes, he sent out spyes, and knewe of a suertie, that he was come in dede.

And Dauid gat him vp, and came to the place where Saul had pitched his tēt, and sawe the place where Saul laye with his chefe captayne 〈◊〉 . 14. g Abner ye sonne of Ner: for Saul laye in the tent, and the hoost aboute him. Then answered Dauid, and sayde vnto Ahimelech the Hethite, and to Abisai the sonne of Ieru Ia ye brother of Ioab: Who wil go downe wt me to Saul in to the hoost? Abisai sayde: I wil go downe with the.

So Dauid and Abisai came to the people in the night season, & beholde, Saul laye and slepte in the tent, and his speare stacke in ye grounde at his heade. But Abner and the people laye rounde aboute him. Thē sayde Abisai vnto Dauid: God hath closed thine enemye in thyne hande this daye. Therfore will I now thrust him thorow once with the speare euen in to the grounde, yt he shall haue ynough of it. Neuertheles Dauid sayde vnto Abisai: Destroye him not, for who wil laye hande vpon the anoynted of ye LORDE, & remayne vngiltye? Dauid sayde morouer: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, yf ye LORDE him selfe smyte him not, or excepte his tyme come that he dye, or that he go in to the battayll and perishe, the LORDE let it be farre fro me, that I shulde laye my hande on the LORDES anoynted. Take ye speare now therfore at his heade, & the cuppe of water, & let vs go. So Dauid toke ye speare & the cuppe of water at Sauls heade, & they wente their waye. And there was no man yt sawe it, ner perceaued it, nether awaked, but they slepte euery one, for there was a depe slepe fallen vpon them from the LORDE.

Now whan Dauid was come ouer on ye other syde, he stode vpon the toppe of the mount a farre of (so that there was a wyde space betwene them) and cried vpon ye people, and vpō Abner the sonne of Ner, & sayde: Hearest thou not Abner? And Abner answered and sayde: Who art thou that cryest so, and diseasest the kynge? And Dauid sayde vnto Abner: Art thou not a man? And where is there soch one as thou in Israel? Why hast thou not then kepte thy lorde ye kynge? for there is one of ye people come in to destroye thy lorde ye kynge. It is not well that thou hast done. As truly as the LORDE lyueth 1. Re. 0. ye are the children of death, because ye haue not kepte youre lorde the LORDES anoynted. Beholde now, where is ye kynges speare, and the cuppe of water that was at his heade.

Then knewe Saul the voyce of Dauid, and saide: 1.2 c. 24. Is not that thy voyce my sonne Dauid? Dauid sayde: It is my voyce my lorde the kynge. And he sayde morouer: Why doth my lorde so persecute his seruaunt? What haue I done? and what euell is there in my hande? Yet let my lorde the kynge heare but the wordes of his seruaunt? Yf ye LORDE prouoke the against me, let there be smelled a meat offerynge: but yf the childrē of men do it, cursed be they before the LORDE, because they haue thrust me out this daye (that I shulde not dwell in the LORDES inheritaunce) and saye: Go yt waye, and serue other goddes. So fall not now my bloude vpon the earth from the face of the LORDE. For the kynge of Israel is gone forth to seke a flee, as a partriche is folowed on vpō the mountaynes.

And Saul sayde: I haue synned: Come agayne Dauid my sonne, I wil do the nomore hurte, because my soule hath bene deare in ye sighte this daye. Beholde, I haue done foolishly and very vnwysely. Dauid answered and sayde: Beholde, here is the kynges speare, let one of the yonge men come ouer here and fetch it. But the LORDE shal rewarde euery one acordinge to his righteousnes and faith, for ye LORDE delyuered yt this daye into my hande: neuertheles I wolde not laie my hande vpō the LORDES anoynted. And as ye soule hath bene greatly reputed in my sighte this daye, so let ye LORDE repute my soule in his sighte, & delyuer me from all trouble. Saul saide vnto Dauid: Blessed be thou Dauid my sonne, thou shalt do it, & be able. But Dauid wente his waye, and Saul turned agayne vnto his place.

The XXVII. Chapter.

DAuid thoughte in his hert: One of these dayes shal I fall in to the handes of Saul: It is better that I get me my waye in to ye londe of ye Philistynes, that Saul maye leaue of from sekynge me in all the coastes of Israel, so shall I escape his handes. And he gat him vp, and wente ouer (with the sixe hundreth men that were with him) vnto Achis the sonne of Maoch kynge of Gath. So Dauid remayned by Achis at Gath, with his mē, euery one with his housholde, and Dauid with his two wyues, Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse, and Abigail Nabals wife of Carmel. And whan worde came to Saul that Dauid was fled vnto Gath, he soughte him nomore.

And Dauid sayde vnto Achis: Yf I haue founde grace in thy sighte, then let there be geuen me a place in one of the cities of the londe, that I maye dwell therin. Wherfore shulde thy seruaunt dwell in the kynges cite with the? Then Achis gaue him Siclag the same daye. Therfore belongeth. Siclag to the kynges of Iuda vnto this daye. The tyme that Dauid dwelt in the londe of the Philistynes, is foure monethes.

Dauid wente vp with his men, and fell in to the londe of the Gessurites and Girsites, and Re. 15. b Amalechites: for these were the inhabiters of this londe of olde, as thou commest to Sur vnto the lōde of Egipte. But whā Dauid smote ye londe, eu. 20. c he let nether man ner woman lyue, and toke the shepe, oxen, asses, Camels and rayment, and returned and came to Achis. So whan Achis spake: Whither fell ye in to daye? Dauid sayde: Towarde the south parte of Iuda, towarde ye south parte of the Ierahmielites, & towarde the south parte of the Kenites. But Dauid let nether man ner woman come lyuynge vnto Geth, and thoughte: They mighte peraduē ture speake & reporte agaynst vs: thus dyd Dauid, and this was his maner as longe as he dwelt in ye londe of the Philistynes. Therfore Achis gaue credence vnto Dauid, and thoughte: he hath made him selfe stynke before his people of Israel, therfore shal he be my seruaunt for euer.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

IT fortuned at ye same tyme, that the Philistynes gathered their hoost together to the battayll, to go agaynst Israel. And Achis sayde vnto Dauid: Thou shalt knowe, that thou and thy men shal go forth with me in the hoost. Dauid sayde vnto Achis: Well, thou shalt se what thy seruaūt shal do. Achis saide vnto Dauid: Therfore wyll I ordene the to be the keper of my heade as longe as I lyue. 〈…〉 As for Samuel, he was deed, and all ye people had mourned for him, & buried him in his cite Ramath. 〈…〉 So Saul had dryuen the soythsayers and expounders of tokens out of ye londe. Now whan the Philistynes gathered them selues together, and came and pitched their tentes at Sunem, Saul gathered all the people together, & they pitched at Gilboa. But whan Saul sawe the hoost of the Philistynes, he was afrayed, and his hert was discoraged, and he axed councell at the LORDE. But ye LORDE gaue him no answere, nether by dreames, ner by the 〈…〉 lighte, ner by prophetes.

Thē sayde Saul vnto his seruauntes: Seke me a womā which hath a sprete of soythsayēge, that I maye go vnto her, and axe at her. His seruauntes sayde vnto him: Beholde, at Endor is there a woman, which hath a sprete of soythsayenge. And Saul chaunged his clothes, and put on other, and wente his waye and two men with him, and came by nighte vnto the woman, and sayde: Prophecye vnto me (I pray the) thorow the sprete of soythsayenge, and brynge me him vp whom I shal name vnto the. The womā saide vnto him: Beholde, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath roted out the soythsayers & witches from the londe, wherfore wilt thou brynge my soule then in to ye nett, that I maye be slayne? But Saul sware vnto her by ye LORDE, and sayde: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, there shall no harme happen vnto the for this. Then sayde ye woman: Whom shal I brynge vp vnto the He sayde: Brynge me vp Samuel.

Now whan ye woman sawe Samuel, she cryed loude, and sayde vnto Saul: Wherfore hast thou begyled me? Thou art Saul. And the kynge sayde vnto her: Feare not, what seist thou? The woman sayde vnto Saul: I se goddes cōmynge vp out of ye earth? He sayde: How is he shapened? She sayde: There commeth vp an olde man, and is clothed with a longe garment. Then perceaued Saul that it was Samuel, & bowed him selfe downe wt his face to the grounde, and worshiped him.

Samuel saide vnto Saul: Why hast thou disquyeted me, to cause me be broughte vp Saul sayde: I am sore troubled, the Philistynes fighte against me, & God is departed fro me, & geueth me no answere, nether by prophetes ner by dreames: therfore haue I called the, yt thou mightest shewe me, what I shal do. Samuel sayde: What wilt thou axe at me, seynge the LORDE is departed from the, and is become thine enemye? The LORDE shal do vnto the euen as he spake by me, 〈◊〉 5. f and shall plucke the kyngdome out of thy hande, and geue it vnto Dauid thy neghboure, because thou hast not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE, ner perfourmed the displeasure of his wrath agaynst Amalek. Therfore hath the LORDE done this now vnto the. Morouer the LORDE shal delyuer Israel with the also in to the handes of the Philistynes: 〈◊〉 . 1. a tomorow shalt thou and thy sonnes be with me. And the hoost of Israel shal the LORDE delyuer in to the handes of the Philistynes. Then fell Saul immediatly vnto the earth, for he coulde not stonde, and was sore afrayed at these wordes of Samuel, so that there was nomore strength in him: for he had eaten no bred all that daye and all that night.

And the woman wente in to Saul, & sawe that he was sore vexed, and sayde vnto him: Beholde, thy handmayde hath herkened vnto thy voyce, and I haue put my soule in my hande, so that I haue herkened vnto ye wordes which thou spakest vnto me. Therfore folowe thou also the voyce of thy handmayde. I wil set a morsell of bred before the to eate, that thou mayest come to thy strength, & go ye waye. But he refused, and sayde, I wil not eate. Then his seruauntes & the woman cōpelled him, so that he herkened vnto their voyce.

And he rose vp from ye grounde, and sat vpon the bed. The woman had a fat calfe at home, so she made haist, and kylled it, and toke meell and dyd kneet it, and baked swete cakes, & broughte them forth before Saul, & before his seruauntes. And whan they had eaten, they stode vp, and wēte their waye yt nighte.

The XXIX. Chapter.

THe Philistynes gathered all their armies together at Aphek. But Israel pitched at Ain in Iesrael. And the prynces of the Philistynes wēte forth with hundreds and with thousandes, but Dauid and his men wēte behynde with Achis. Thē sayde the prynces of the Philistynes: What shal these Hebrues do? Achis saide vnto thē: Is not this Dauid ye seruaunt of Saul kynge of Israel, which hath bene with me now yeares and dayes, & I haue founde no euell in him sence the tyme that he fell to me vnto this daye? 〈◊〉 . 13. c Neuertheles the prynces of ye Philistynes were wroth at him, & sayde vnto him: Let the man turne backe agayne, & abyde in his place, 1. Re. 27 which thou hast appoynted him, that he go not downe with vs to ye batayll, and become oure aduersary in ye felde. For wherin coulde he better do his lorde a pleasure, thē in the heades of these men? Is not this Dauid, of whom they sunge in the daunce: 1. Re. 18. and 21. d Saul hath smyttē his thousande, but Dauid his ten thousande? Then Achis called Dauid, and sayde vnto him: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, I take the for an honest man, and thy out goynge and ingoynge with me in ye hoost pleaseth me well, and no euell haue I marked in the, sence ye tyme that thou camest to me vnto this daye. But thou pleasest not the prynces. Returne now therfore, and go ye waye in peace, that thou do no euell in the sighte of the prynces of ye Philistynes.

Dauid sayde: What haue I done, & what hast thou marked in thy seruaunt, sence ye tyme that I haue bene in ye presence vnto this daye, that I shulde not come and fighte agaynst the enemies of my lorde the kynge? Achis answered and sayde vnto Dauid: I knowe well that thou pleasest myne eyes euē as an angell of God. But the prynces of ye Philistynes haue sayde: Let him not go vp with vs vnto the batayll. Get the vp therfore tomorow by tymes, and ye lordes seruauntes which are come with the. And whan ye haue gotten you vp early in the mornynge, whan it is lighte, go yor waye. So Dauid & his men gat them vp early, to go their waye in the mornynge, and to come agayne in to the londe of the Philistynes. But the Philistynes wente vp towarde Iesrael.

The XXX. Chapter.

NOw whan Dauid came to Siclag on the thirde daie with his men, the Amalechites had fallē in on ye south parte and at Siclag, and had smytten Siclag, and burned it with fyre, and had caried awaye the wemē out of it, both small & greate. Neuertheles they had slayne no man, but dryuen thē thence, and were goynge on their waye. Now whan Dauid with his men came to the cite, and sawe that it was brent wt fyre, and that their wyues, sonnes & doughters were led awaye captyue, Dauid and the people that was with him lefte vp their voyce, and wepte so longe tyll they coulde wepe nomore. For Dauids two wyues also were caried awaye captyue, Ahinoam ye Iesraelitisse, and Abigail Nabals wife of Carmel. And Dauid was very soroufull, for the people wolde haue stoned him: for ye soule of all the people was in greate heuynes, euery one ouer his sonnes and doughters.

Neuertheles Dauid strengthed him selfe in the LORDE his God, & sayde vnto Abiathar ye prest the sonne of Ahimelech: . Re. 23. b Bringe me hither the ouerbody cote. And whan Abiathar had broughte the ouerbody cote vnto Dauid, Dauid axed at the LORDE, and sayde: Shal I folowe vpon the men of warre, and shal I ouertake them? He sayde: Yee, folowe vpō them, thou shalt ouertake them, and shalt rescue the pray. Then wente Dauid his waye, and the sixe hūdreth men that were with him. And whan they came to the ryuer of Besor, some stode styll. But Dauid and the foure hundreth men folowed after: As for the two hūdreth men that stode styll, they had bene slowe to go ouer the ryuer of Besor.

And they founde a man of Egipte vpon the felde, him they broughte vnto Dauid, •• ou. 25. d & gaue him bred to eate, and water to drynke, and gaue him a quantite of fygges, & two quantities of rasyns. And whan he had eaten, his sprete came to him againe: for in thre dayes and thre nightes he had eatē no bred, and dronke no water.

Dauid sayde vnto him: Whose art thou? & whence art thou? He sayde: I am a childe of Egipte, an Amalechites seruaunt, & my master hath forsaken me, because I was sicke thre dayes a goo. We fell her in towarde ye south syde of Chrethus, and vpon Iuda, and towarde ye south parte of Caleb, & haue burned Siclag with fyre.

Dauid sayde vnto him: Wilt thou bringe me downe to these men of warre? He sayde Sweare vnto me by God, yt thou shalt not slaye me, ner delyuer me in to my masters hā de, and I wil brynge the downe to these mē of warre. And he broughte thē downe, and beholde, they were scatred vpon all ye grounde, eatinge and drynkynge, and kepynge holy daye, and were makinge mery chere, because of all the greate spoyles that they had taken out of the londe of the Philistynes and of Iuda.

And Dauid smote them from ye morow tyll the euen, agaynst the nexte daye, so that there escaped none, excepte foure hundreth yonge men, which rode vpon camels, & fled. So Dauid rescued all that the Amalechites had taken, and his two wyues, & there myssed nothinge, nether small ner greate, nether sonnes ner doughters, ner spoyles: and what so euer they had taken, Dauid broughte all agayne. And Dauid toke the shepe and oxē, and droue ye catell before him. And they sayde: This is Dauids spoyle.

And whan Dauid came to the two hundreth men, which had bene slowe to folowe after Dauid, and abode at the ryuer of Besor, they wente forth to mete Dauid, and the people yt was with him. And Dauid came to the people, and saluted them frendly.

Then answered soch men as were euell & Belials men (amonge them that had gone with Dauid) and sayde: Seynge they wente not wt vs, they shal haue none of the spoyles that we haue rescued: but let euery mā toke his wife & his children and be goynge.

Then sayde Dauid: Ye shall not do so (my brethren) with that which ye LORDE hath geuen vs, and hath preserued vs, and delyuered these men of warre (which were come agaynst vs) in to oure hādes. Who shulde cō sente vnto you herin? like as the porcion is of them that wente downe to the battayll, so shal ye porcion be of them also that a bode wt the stuffe, & shalbe deuyded a lyke.

From that tyme forth hath this bene an ordinaunce & lawe in Israel vnto this daye. And whan Dauid came to Siclag, he sent of the spoyle vnto the Elders in Iuda his neghbours, and sayde: Beholde, there haue ye the blessynge out of the spoyle of the enemies of the LORDE, namely vnto them of Bethel, vnto them at Ramath in the south, vnto them at Iathir, vnto them at Aroer, vnto them at Siphamoth, vnto them at Eschemoa, vnto them at Rachal, vnto them in the cities of the Ierahmielites, vnto them in the cities of the Kenites, vnto them at Horma, vnto thē at Borasan, vnto thē at Atach, vnto them at Hebron, and vnto all the places where Dauid had walked wt his men.

The XXXI. Chapter.

BVt ye 〈…〉 Philistynes foughte against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistynes, and fell downe smytten vpon the mount Gilboa. And the Philistynes preassed vpon Saul and his sonnes, and slewe Ionathas, & Abinadab and Malchisua the sonnes of Saul. And the battayll was sore agaynst Saul, & the archers fell vpon him with bowes, and he was sore wounded of the archers.

Then sayde Saul vnto his wapēbearer Drawe out thy swerde, and thrust it thorow me, that these vncircumcised come not and slaie me, and make a laughinge stocke of me, Neuertheles his wapenbearer wolde not, for he was sore afrayed. Then toke Saul ye swerde, and fell therin. Now whan his wapenbearer sawe that Saul was deed, he fell also vpon his swerde, and dyed with him. Thus dyed Saul and his thre sonnes, & his wapenbearer, and all his men together the same daye.

Whan ye men of Israel which were beyonde the valley, and beyonde Iordane, sawe, yt the men of Israel were fled, and that Saul and his sonnes were deed, they lefte ye cities, and fled also. Then came the Philistynes, & dwelt therin.

〈◊〉 . 11. b On the nexte daye came the Philistynes to spoyle ye slayne, and founde Saul and his thre sonnes lyenge vpon mount Gilboa, and smote of his heade, and toke of his harnesse, and sent it in to the lande of the Philistynes rounde aboute, to shewe it in the house of their Idols, and amonge the people, & layed his harnesse in ye house of Astaroth: but his body hanged they vp vpō the wall of Bethsan.

Whan they of Iabes in Gilead herde, what the Philistynes had done vnto Saul, they gat them vp, as many as were men of armes, and wente all the nighte, and toke ye body of Saul, and the bodies of his sonnes from ye wall of Bethsan, broughte thē to Iabes, 〈…〉 and brent them there, and toke their bones, and buried them vnder ye tre at Iabes, & fasted seuē dayes.

The ende of the first boke of the kynges, otherwyse called the first boke of Samuel.
The seconde boke of the kynges, otherwyse, called the seconde boke of Samuel. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. The death of Saul is shewed vnto Dauid, which mourneth for him. Chap. II. Dauid is anoynted kynge of the men of Iuda. Abner goeth aboute to make Iszboseth Sauls sonne kynge of Israel. Chap. III Discorde betwixte the house of Dauid and Saul. Abner lyeth with Sauls concubyne, is reproued therfore, and falleth vnto Dauid Ioab stycketh Abner. Chap. IIII. Iszboseth is stick e of traitour whom Dauid putteth to death. Chap. V Dauid taketh in all the kyngdome, and ouercommeth the Philistynes on eu ry syde. Chap. VI. Dauid causeth the Arke of the LORDE to be caried out of Abinadabs house in to the house of Obed Edō. Vs is punyshed for touchinge it. Dauid carieth it in to his cite. Chap. VII. Dauid is forbyddē to buylde an house vnto the LORDE, vnto whom he geueth thankes. Chap. VIII. Dauid subdueth the Philistynes and other 〈◊〉 aboute him. Chap. IX. Dauid sheweth fauoure to Sauls kinred, and doth thē good for Ionathas sake. Chap. X. Dauid sendeth messaungers to the kynge of the Ammonites, which putteth thē to shame: wherfore Dauid goeth agaynst them, and wynneth the victory of them two tymes. Chap. XI. Dauid cōmitteth aduoutry with Bethseba, and causeth hir huszbāde be slayne. Chap. XII. The prophet Nathan rebuketh Dauid, which knowlegeth his synne, and requyreth mercy. His sonne dyeth. Chap. XIII. Ammon defyleth Thamar, therfore Absalom slayeth him. Chap. XIIII. Ioab reconcyleth Absalom vnto his father with suttyltie. Absalom sendeth for Ioab, and because he cōmeth not to him, he burneth vp his corne. Chap. XV. Absalō seketh his fathers kyngdome. Dauid flyeth with his men. Chap. XVI Dauid geueth Siba all the good of Mephiboseth: Semei curseth and blasphemeth Dauid. Absalom lyeth with his fathers concubynes. Chap. XVII. The LORDE turneth the councell of Achitophel. The councell of Chusa goeth forth. Chap. XVIII. Dauids hoost wynneth the victory. Absalom is slayne Dauid his father is soroufull. Chap. XIX. Ioab rebuketh the kinge for his mournynge. Israel flyeth in to their tētes. Iuda cleueth vnto Dauid. Semei and Mephiboseth optayne fauoure. Barsillai sheweth the kynge greate fendshippe. Chap. XX. Seba maketh an vproure, and deuydeth Israel from Dauid. Ioab stycketh Amasa. Ioab foloweth vpon Seba, and laieth sege vnto him in Abela. Chap. XXI. A greate honger. Sauls childrē are geuē vnto the Gibeonites. Dauid fighteth agaynst the Philistynes. Chap. XXII. Dauid prayseth the LORDE with a songe of thankesgeuynge, because he delyuered him out of the hande of Saul and other enemies. Chap. XXIII. The last wordes of Dauid. The names of the Worthies are rehearsed. Chap. XXIIII. Dauid nōbreth the people, and displeaseth the LORDE, which plageth his londe with the pestilence.
The first Chapter.

AFter ye death of Saul whan Dauid was come agayne from the slaughter of ye Amalechites, Re. 30. d and had remayned two dayes at Siclag, beholde, on the thirde daye there came a man out of Sauls hoost, with his clothes rente, and earth vpon his heade. And whan he came vnto Dauid, he fell downe to the grounde, and worshipped. Dauid sayde vnto him: Whence commest thou? He sayde vnto him: Out of the hoost of Israel am I fled. Dauid sayde vnto him: Tell me, what is the matter? He sayde: the people is fled from the battayll, and many of the people are fallen: Yee and Saul also is deed and his sonne Ionathas. Dauid sayde vnto the yonge mā that brought him this worde: How knowest thou that Saul and Ionathas his sonne are deed? The yonge man yt tolde him this, sayde: I came by chaunce vnto mount Gelboa, and beholde, Saul leaned vpon his speare, & the charettes and horsmē folowed harde after him: and he turned him aboute, and sawe me, and called me. And I sayde: Here, am I. And he sayde vnto me: What art thou? I sayde vnto him: I am an Amalechite. And he saide vnto me: Come to me, and kyll me, for anguysh hath gotten holde of me: for my life is yet whole within me. Then stepte I to him, and slewe him, for I knowe well that he coulde not lyue after his fall. And I toke the crowne from his heade, and the armelet frō his arme, and haue broughte it here vnto ye my lorde. Then toke Dauid holde of his clothes,1. Reg. 3. f nd. 13. f and rente them, and so dyd all the mē that were with him, & mourned, and wepte, and fasted vntyll the euen, ouer Saul & Ionathas his sonne, and ouer the people of the LORDE, and ouer the house of Israel, because they were fallen thorow the swerde.

And Dauid sayde to the yonge man that broughte him worde: What art thou? He sayde: I am ye sonne of a straunger an Amalechite. Dauid sayde: How happeneth it that thou wast not afrayed to laye thine hā de vpon the LORDES anointed to destroye him? And Dauid sayde vnto one of his yonge men: Come hither, and slaye him. And he smote him that he dyed. Then sayde Dauid vnto him: Thy bloude be vpon thyne owne heade. Mat. 1 . d Luc. 19. b For thy mouth hath spoken against thyselfe and sayde: I haue slayne the anoynted of the LORDE. And Dauid mourned this lamentacion ouer Saul and Ionathas his sonne, and commaunded to teach the childrē of Iuda the bowe. Beholde, it is wrytten in the boke of the righteous.

The Eldest in Israel are slayne vpon the heigth of the. How are the Worthies fallē?

〈…〉 Tell it not at Gath: speake not of it in ye stretes at Ascalon: lest the doughters of ye Philistynes reioyse, lest the doughters of ye vncircumcysed tryumphe.

Ye mountaynes of Gelboa, nether dew ner rayne come vpō you, nether lōde be wherof commeth Heue offerynges: for there is ye shylde of the Worthies smytten downe, the shylde of Saul, as though he had not bene anoynted with oyle.

〈…〉 The bowe of Ionathas fayled not, and 〈…〉 the swerde of Saul came not agayne voyde from the bloude of the slayne, and frō the fat of the giauntes.

Saul and Ionathas louely and pleasaūt in their lyfe, and in their deeth were not parted asunder: lighter then Aegles, and stronger then lyons.

Ye doughters of Israel wepe ouer Saul which clothed yow with purple in pleasures, and decked you with Iewels of golde on youre garmentes.

How are the Worthies fallen so in the battayll? Ionathas is slayne vpon ye heigth of the.

I am sory for the my brother Ionathas: thou hast bene very louely vnto me: Thy loue hath bene more speciall vnto me, then the loue of wemen.

How are the Worthies falle , and ye weapens destroyed?

The II. Chapter.

AFter these actes Dauid 〈…〉 axed at the LORDE, and sayde: Shall I go vp in to one of the cities of Iuda? And the LORDE sayde vnto him: Go vp. Dauid sayde: Whither? He sayde: Vnto Hebron. So Dauid wente thither with his two wyues, Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse, and Abigail Nabals wyfe of Carmel. And Dauid broughte vp the men that were him also, euery one with his housholde, and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And ye men of Iuda came, and there they anointed him kynge ouer the house of Iuda.

And whā it was tolde Dauid, 〈…〉 that they of Iabes in Gilead had buried Saul, he sent messaungers vnto them, sayenge: Blessed be ye of the LORDE, that ye haue done soch mercy vpon youre lorde Saul, and haue buried him. The LORDE therfore shewe mercy now and faithfulnes vpon you. And because ye haue done this, I also wyll do you good. Let youre hāde now therfore be comforted, and be ye stronge: for though Saul youre lorde be deed, yet hath the house of Iuda chosen me to be kynge ouer them.

But Abner the sonne of Ner, which was Sauls chefe captayne, toke Iszboseth the sonne of Saul, and broughte him thorow the hoost, and made him kynge ouer Gilead, Assuri, Iesrael, Ephraim, Ben Iamin and ouer all Israel. And Iszboseth the sonne of Saul was fourtye yeare olde, whan he was made kynge of Israel, & he raigned two yeares. But the house of Iuda helde with Dauid: 〈…〉 The tyme yt Dauid was kynge at Hebron ouer the house of Iuda, was seuen yeare and sixe monethes longe.

And Abner the sonne of Ner wēte forth with the seruauntes of Iszboseth the sonne of Saul, out of ye hoost vnto Gibeon. And Ioab the sonne of Zeru Ia wēte forth with Dauids seruauntes, and they met together by the pole at Gibeon, and these laye on the one syde of the pole, the other on the other syde. And Abner sayde vnto Ioab: Let the yonge mē get them vp, and playe before vs. Ioab sayde: Let them aryse. Then gat they them vp, & wente in nombre twolue of Ben Iamin on Iszboseth Sauls sonnes syde, and twolue of Dauids seruauntes. And euery one gat another by the heade, and thrust his swerde in his syde, and fell together: therfore is the place called Helkath hazurim (that is, the felde of the Worthies) which is at Gibeon.

And there arose a sore harde battayll the same daye. But Abner and the men of Israel were put to flighte of Dauids seruauntes. Thre sonnes of Zeru Ia were there, Ioab, Abisai & Asahel. As for Asahel, he was lighte of fete as a Roo in ye felde, & folowed after Abner, and turned not asyde nether to the righte hande ner to ye lefte from Abner. Then Abner turned him aboute, and sayde: Art thou Asahel? He sayde: Yee. Abner sayde vnto him: Go thy waye ether to the righte hande or to the lefte, and get the one of ye yonge men, and take his harnesse from him. Neuertheles he wolde not leaue of frō him. Then sayde Abner agayne to Asahel: Get the awaye fro me, why wilt thou that I smyte the to the grounde? and how darre I lifte vp my face before ye brother Ioab? Howbeit he wolde not go his waye.

Then Abner thrust him in with a speare in to his bely, so that the speare wēte out behynde him. And there he fell and dyed before him: and who so came to the place where Asahel laye deed, stode styll there. But Ioab and Abisai folowed vpon Abner, till the sonne wente downe. And whan they came to ye hyll of Amma, which lieth before Giah, by ye waye to the wildernes of Gibeon, the children of Ben Iamin gathered them selues together behynde Abner, and grewe to a multitude, and stode vpon the toppe of an hyll.

And Abner called vnto Ioab, and sayde: Shal the swerde thē deuoure without ende? Knowest thou not, that it wyll be bytter at the last? How longe wil it be or thou saie vnto the people, that they leaue of from their brethrē: Ioab sayde: As truly as God lyueth yf thou haddest sayde thus daye in the morninge, the people had ceassed euery one from his brother. And Ioab blewe the trompet, & all the people stode still, and folowed nomore vpon Israel, nether foughte they eny more.

Abner and his men wente all that same night ouer the playne felde, and passed ouer Iordane, & walked thorow all Bithron, and came to the tentes. Ioab turned him from Abner, and gathered all ye people together. And of Dauids seruauntes there myssed nynetene men, and Asahel. But Dauids seruaū tes had smytten so amonge Ben Iamin and the men of Abner, that thre hundreth and threscore men were deed. And they toke vp Asahel, and buried him in his fathers graue at Bethleem. And Ioab with his men wēte all that nighte: and at the breake of the daie they came vnto Hebron.

The III. Chapter.

ANd there was a longe battayll betwene the house of Saul and the house of Dauid. But Dauid wente and increased, and the house of Saul wente and mynished. And vnto Dauid were children borne at Hebron. His firstborne sonne Ammon of Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse: the seconde Chileab of Abigail the wyfe of Nabal of Carmel: the thirde Absalon the sonne of Maacha the doughter of Thalmai kynge of Gessur: the fourth Adonia the sonne of Hagith: the fyfth Saphatia the sonne of Abital: ye sixte Iethream of Egla Dauids wife. These were borne vnto Dauid at Hebron.

Now whan it was warre betwene the house of Saul & the house of Dauid, Abner strengthed Sauls house. And Saul had had a concubyne, whose name was Rispa the doughter of Aia. And Iszboseth sayde vnto Abner: Wherfore liest thou with my fathers concubyne?

Then was Abner very wroth at these wordes of Iszboseth, and sayde: Am I a dogges heade then, that I agaynst Iuda do mercy vnto the house of Saul thy father, and vnto his brethren and kynsfolkes? and haue not delyuered the into ye hande of Dauid, and thou layest a trespace to my charge this daye for a womans sake? God do Abner this and that, yf I do not . Reg. •• . f nd 16. c as the LORDE hath sworne vnto Dauid, that the kyngdome maye be taken frō the house of Saul, and ye seate of Dauid set vp ouer Israel and Iuda, from Dan vnto Berseba. Then coulde he not answere him one worde agayne, he feared him so.

And Abner sent messaungers vnto Dauid, sayenge: Whose is the londe? And sayde: Make thy couenaunt with me. Beholde, my hande shall be with the, to turne all Israel vnto the.

He sayde: Wel, I wyll make a couenaunt with the, but one thynge I desyre of the, that thou se not my face, excepte thou brynge me first Michol Sauls doughter, whan thou commest to se my face. Dauid sent messaungers also vnto Iszboseth the sonne of Saul, sayenge: . Re. 1 . g Geue me my wyfe Michol, whom I maried with an hundreth foreszkinnes of the Philistynes. Iszboseth sent, and caused for to take her from the man 1. Re. 25. g Palthiel the sonne of Lais. And hir huszbande wente with her, and wepte behynde her vnto Bahurim. Then sayde Abner vnto him: Turne backe agayne, and go thy waye. And he turned backe agayne.

And Abner talked with the Elders in Israel, and sayde: Youre myndes haue bene set afore tyme and longe a goo vpon Dauid, that he mighte be kynge ouer you, do it now therfore, for ye LORDE hath sayde of Dauid: I wil delyuer my people of Israel by the hā de of Dauid my seruaunt, from the hande of the Philistynes, and from the hande of all their enemies.

Abner spake also before the eares of Ben Iamin, and wente to speake before the eares of Dauid at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Ben Iamin was contente withall. Now whan Abner came to Hebron vnto Dauid, and twēty men with him, Dauid made them a feast. And Abner sayde vnto Dauid: I wyll get me vp, and go gather all Israel together to my lorde the kynge, and that they maye make a couenaunt with the, that thou mayest be kynge, at thy soules desyre.

So Dauid let Abner go from him in peace. And beholde, Dauid seruaūtes and 〈◊〉 came from the men of warre, and brought a greate spoyle with them. And Abner wa not now with Dauid at Hebron, for he had sent him from him, so that he was gone his waye in peace.

But whan Ioab and all the hoost with him was come, it was tolde him that Abner the sonne of Ner came to the kynge, and how he had sent him frō him, so that he was gone his waye in peace. Then wente Ioab in to the kynge, and sayde: What hast thou done? Beholde, Abner came to the, why hast thou sent him from the, that he is gone his waye? Knowest thou not Abner the sonne of Ner? For he came to the to disceaue th , that he mighte knowe thy outgoynge, and ingoynge, and to spie out all that thou doest. And whan Ioab wente out from Dauid, he sent messaūgers after Abner, to fetch him agayne from Boharsira, and Dauid knew not therof. Now whan Abner came agayne vnto Hebron, Ioab brought him in to ye middes vnder ye gate, to talke wt him secretly, and thrust him there in to ye bely that he dyed, because of his brother Asahels bloude.

Whan Dauid knewe of it therafter, he sayde: I am vngiltye, and so is my kyngdodome for euer before the LORDE concernynge the bloude of Abner ye sonne of Ner: but vpon the heade of Ioab fall it, and vpon all his fathers house, and in the house of Ioab there ceasse not one to haue a renninge yssue and a leprosy, and to go vpon a staffe, and fall thorow the swerde, and to haue scarnesse of bred. Thus Ioab and his brother Abi a slewe Abner, 〈…〉 because he had slayne their brother Asahel in the battaill at Gibeon.

Dauid sayde vnto Ioab and to all ye people yt was with him: Rente youre clothes, and gyrde sack cloth aboute you, and make lamentacion for Abner. And the kynge wente after the Bere. And whan they buryed Abner at Hebron, the kynge lifte vp his voyce, and wepte besyde Abners graue, and all the people wepte also.

And the kynge mourned for Abner, and sayde: Abner is not deed as a foole dyeth. Thy handes were not bounde, thy fete were not vexed with fetters, thou art fallen as a man falleth before wicked vnthriftes. The all the people bewayled him yet more.

Now whan all the people came in to eate with Dauid, whyle it was yet hye daye, Dauid sware, and sayde: God do this and that vnto me, yf I taist ether bred or oughte els afore the Sōne go downe. And all ye people knewe it, and it pleased them well all that ye kynge dyd in the sighte of all the people. And all the people and all Israel perceaued the same daye, that it came not of the kynge, that Abner the sonne of Ner was slayne. And the kynge sayde vnto his seruauntes: Knowe ye not that this daye a prynce and a greate man is fallen in Israel? As for me, I am yet but tender and anoynted kynge. But the men the children of Zeru Ia are to harde for me. The LORDE recompence him that doth euell, acordinge to his wickednes.

The IIII. Chapter.

WHan Sauls sonne herde yt Abner was deed at Hebron, his hādes were feble, & all Israell was sory. But there were two men captaynes ouer the soudyers vnder the sonne of Saul, the one was called Baena, the other Rehob, sonnes of Rimon ye Berothite, of the childrē of Ben Iamin: for Beroth was coūted also in Ben Iamin. And the Berothites were fled vnto Gethaim, & were straūgers there vnto this daye. Ionathas also the sonne of Saul had a sonne which was lame on his fete, & was fyue yeare olde whan the rumoure of Saul and Ionathas came from Iesrael. And his norse toke him, and fled. And whyle she made haist and fled, he fell, and was lame: And his name was Mephiboseth.

Then wente the sonnes of Rimon ye Berothite, Rehob & Baena, & came to the house of Iszboseth, in the heate of the daye, & he laye vpō his bed at the noone daie. And they came in to the house to fetch wheate, & thrust him in the bely, & gat them awaye. For whā they came in to ye house, he laye vpō his bed in his chamber, & they stickte him to death, & smote of his heade, and toke his heade, and departed by the waye of the playne felde all that nighte, and broughte the heade of Isboseth to Dauid vnto Hebron, and sayde vnto the kynge: Beholde, there is the heade of Iszboseth the sonne of Saul thine enemye, which layed wayte for thy soule. This daye hath the LORDE auenged my lorde the kynge of Saul and his sede.

Then answered Dauid vnto Rehob and Baena his brother, ye sonnes of Rimon ye Berothite, & sayde: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, which hath deliuered my soule out of all trouble, 〈◊〉 . 1. c I toke him yt brought me worde and sayde: Saul is deed, and he thoughte he had bene a good messaunger, and at Siclag I put him to death, vnto whom I shulde haue geuen a rewarde for his message. And these vngodly personnes haue slayne a righteous man in his owne house vpon his bed. Yee shulde not I requyre his bloude of youre handes, and take you awaye from ye earth? And Dauid commaunded his yonge men, which slewe them, and smote of their handes and fete, and hanged them vp by ye pole at Hebron. But the heade of Iszboseth toke they, and buried it . Reg. . f in Abners graue at Hebron.

The V. Chapter.

ANd all the trybes of Israel came to Dauid vnto Hebron, and sayde: 1. Par. 1 . Beholde, we are thy bone and thy flesh. And afore tyme whā Saul was kynge ouer vs, thou leddest Israel out and in. So the LORDE hath sayde: Thou shalt kepe my people of Israel, and shalt be the duke ouer Israel. And all the Elders in Israel came to ye kynge vnto Hebron. And kynge Dauid made a couenaunt with them at Hebron before ye LORDE. And they anoynted Dauid to be kynge ouer Israel. Thyrtie yeare olde was Dauid whan he was made kynge, and reigned fortye yeares. . Re. . At Hebron raigned he seuē yeares and sixe monethes ouer Iuda: but at Ierusalem he reigned thre and thirtie yeares ouer all Israel and Iuda.

And the kynge wente with his men to Ierusalem, agaynst the Iebusites, which dwelt in the londe. Neuertheles they sayde vnto Dauid: Thou shalt not come hither but the blynde and lame shal dryue yt awaie. (They thoughte planely, that Dauid shulde not come in.) Howbeit Dauid wanne the castell of Sion, which is the cite of Dauid. Then sayde Dauid the same daye:1. Pa. •• . Who so euer smyteth the Iebusites, and optayneth the perquellies, the lame & the blynde, which (Iebusites) Dauids soule hateth. Herof cō meth the prouerbe: Leui. 1. Let no blynde ne ame come in to the house. So Dauid dwelt in ye castell, and called it the cite of Dauid. And Dauid builded roūde aboute fro Millo and within. And Dauid grewe, & the LORDE the God Zebaoth was with him.

And Hiram the kynge of Tyre sent messaungers vn to Dauid,1. Pa . 15. and Ceder trees for walles, and Carpenters, and Masons, to builde Dauid an house. And Dauid knewe, that the LORDE had confyrmed him kynge ouer Israel, and exalted his kingdome for his people of Israels sake. And Dauid toke yet mo wyues and concubynes at Ierusalem, after he was come from Hebron, and there were yet mo sonnes & doughters borne vnto him. 1. Par. . And these are the names of them that were borne vnto him at Ierusalem: Samma Sobab, Nathan, Salomon, Iebehar, Elisua, Nepheg, Iaphia, Elisama, Eliada, Eliphalet.

And whan the Philistines herde that Dauid was anoynted kinge ouer Israel, they wē te vp all to seke Dauid. Whan Dauid perceaued that, he wēte downe in to a castell. But the Philistynas came and scatered them selues beneth in the valley of Rephaim. . Re 23. a Re 2 a and. 5. d And Dauid axed at the LORDE, and sayde: Shal I go vp agaynst the Philistynes? and wylt thou delyuer them in to my hande? The LORDE sayde vnto Dauid: Go vp, I wyll delyuer the Philistynes in to thy hande.

And Dauid came vnto Baal Prazim, and smote thē there, and sayde: The LORDE hath deuyded myne enemies, euen as the waters parte asunder: therfore is the same place called Baal Prazim. And they lefte their ymages there, but Dauid and his men caried thē awaye.

Neuerthelesse the Philistynes wente vp agayne, and scatered them selues beneth in the valley of Rephaim. And Dauid axed at the LORDE. The LORDE sayde: Thou shalt go vp, but compase them behinde, that thou mayest be vpon them ouer agaynst the Peertrees: and whan thou hearest vpon the toppe of the Peertrees, the sounde of the goinge be bolde, for then is the LORDE gone forth before the, to smyte the hoost of the Philistines Dauid dyd as the LORDE commaunded him and smote the Philistynes from Geba, tyll thou commest vnto Gaser.

The VI. Chapter.

ANd Dauid gathered agayne all the yonge chosen men in Israel, euen thre thousande,1. Par. 14. a and gat him vp, and wente with all the people that was with him of the 〈◊〉 of Iuda, to fetch vp the Arke of God from thence: whose name is: The name of the LORDE Zebaoth dwelleth theron betwene the Cherubins. 1. Reg. 6. c And they caused the arke of God to be caried vpō a new cart, 1. Reg. 7. a and fetched it out of ye house of Abinadab, which dwelt at Gibea. Vsa and Ahio the sonnes of Abinadab droue ye new cart. And whan they broughte it with the Arke from the house of Abinadab which dwelt at Gibea, Ahio wente before the Arke: and Dauid and all the house of Israel played before the LORDE, with all maner of instrumentes of Pine tre, with harpes, and Psalteries, and tabrettes, and belles, and Cymbals.

1. Pa. 14. b And whan they came to the barne floore of Nahon, Vsa stretched out his hande, 〈…〉 and helde the Arke of God, for the oxen wē te out asyde. Then waxed the wrath of the LORDE fearce agaynst Vsa, and God smote him there because of his presumpciō, so th •• he dyed there besyde the Arke of God. Th •• was Dauid sory, because the LORDE had made soch a rente vpon Vsa, and he called the same place Perez Vsa vnto this daye. And Dauid feared the LORDE the same daie, and sayde: How shall the Arke of the LORDE come vnto me? And he wolde not let it be broughte to him in to the cite of Dauid, but caused it be brought in to ye house of Obed Edom the Gathite. And whan the Arke of the LORDE had contynued thre monethes in the house of Obed Edom the Gathite, the LORDE blessed him and all his house.

And it was tolde kynge Dauid, that the LORDE had blessed the house of Obed Edō and all that he had because of the Arke of God. 〈…〉 Then wente he, and fetched vp the Arke of God out of ye house of Obed Edom in to the cite of Dauid with ioye. And whā they were gone sixe steppes in with the Arke of the LORDE, they offered an oxe and a fat shepe. And Dauid daunsed wt all his mighte before the LORDE, and was girded with an ouerbody cote of lynnē. And Dauid with all Israel brought vp ye Arke of the LORDE with tabrettes and trompettes.

And whan the Arke of the LORDE came in to the cite of Dauid, Michol the doughte of Saul loked out at a window, and sawe kynge Dauid leapynge, sprynginge and daū synge before the LORDE, and despysed him in hir hert. But whan they brought in ye Arke of the LORDE, they set it in hir place in the myddes of the Tabernacle, which Dauid had pitched for it. And Dauid offred burnt offerynges and deed offeryges before ye LORDE. And whan Dauid had made an ende of offerynge the burnt offerynges and deed offerynges, he blessed the people in the name of the LORDE Zebaoth, and dealte out vnto all the people, and to the multitude of Israel, both to man & womā, vnto euery one a cake of bred, and a pece of flesh, and a meece of potage. Then wente all the people their waye, euery one vnto his house.

Whan Dauid came agayne to blesse his house, Michol the doughter of Saul wente forth to mete him, and sayde: How glorious hath the kynge of Israel bene to daye, which hath vncouered himselfe before the maydēs of his seruauntes, like as the rascall people discouer them selues. But Dauid saide vnto Michol: I wil playe before ye LORDE, which hath chosen me afore ye father, and afore all his house, because he hath commaunded me to be the prynce ouer the people of the LORDE, euen ouer Israel, and yet wyl I be vyler then so, and wyll be lowe in myne owne sighte: and with the maydens wherof thou hast spoken, wyll I be honoured. As for Michol the doughter of Saul, she had no childe vnto the daye of hir death.

The VII. Chapter.

NOw whan the kynge sat in his house, 〈◊〉 . 18. a and the LORDE had geuen him rest from all his enemies on euery syde, he sayde vnto the prophet Nathan: Beholde, I dwell in a house of Cedre, and the Arke of God dwelleth amonge the curtaynes. Nathan sayde vnto the kynge: Go thy waye, what so euer thou hast in thine hert, yt do: for the LORDE is wt the. But the same nighte came ye worde of the LORDE vnto Nathan, & sayde: Go & speake to my seruaūt Dauid: Thus sayeth ye LORDE: Shalt thou buylde me an house to dwell in? I haue dwelt in no house sence the daye that I broughte the children of Israel vnto this daye, but haue walked in the Tabernacle and Habitacion, whither so euer I wente with the children of Israel. Dyd I euer speake to eny of the trybes of Israel (whom I commaunded to kepe my people of Israel) & sayde: Wherfore do ye not buylde me an house of Ceder wodd?

So shalt thou speake now vnto my seruaunt Dauid: Thus sayeth the LORDE Zebaoth: 〈◊〉 . 16. c I toke the from the pasture whan thou wentest behynde the shepe, yt thou shuldest be ye prynce ouer my people of Israel, & haue bene wt the whither so euer thou wentest, & haue roted out all thine enemies before the, & haue made the a greate name, acordinge to the name of the greate men vpon earth. And for my people of Israel I wyll appoynte a place, and wyll plante them, that they maye remayne there, nomore to be remoued, and yt the childrē of wickednes oppresse them nomore, like as afore, and sence the tyme that I ordeyned Iudges ouer my people of Israel. And I wyll geue the rest from all thine enemies. And the LORDE sheweth the, that the LORDE wyl make the a house.

〈◊〉 . 5. a 〈◊〉 . 8 c 〈◊〉 1 1. b Now whan ye tyme is fulfylled yt thou shalt slepe wt thy fathers, I wil after ye rayse vp thy syde, which shal come of thy body: his kyngdome wyl I stablishe, he shal buylde an house for my name, 〈◊〉 . 33. c and I wyll stablyshe ye seate of his kyngdome for euer. 〈…〉 I wyll be his father, and he shall be my sonne. 3. Re. 11 Psal. 88. Whan he doth a trespace, I wyll reproue him with the rodd of men and with the plages of ye childrē of men: But my mercy shal not be withdrawen frō him, as I haue with drawē it frō Saul, whō I haue takē awaye before the. As for ye house & thy kyngdome, it shal be stablished for euer before the, & thy seate shal endure fast for euermore.

Whan Nathan had tolde all these wordes & all this vision vnto Dauid, kynge Dauid came and sat him downe before the LORDE, and sayde: O LORDE God, who am I? and what is my house, yt thou hast broughte me thus farre? This O LORDE God hast thou thoughte to litle also, but hast spoken of the house of thy seruaunt yet lōge for to come. O LORDE God, is that the lawe of men?

And what shall Dauid speake vnto the? thou knowest thy seruaunt O LORDE God, for thy wordes sake and acordinge to ye hert hast thou done all these greate thinges, yt thou mightest shewe thē vnto thy seruaunt. Therfore art thou greatly magnified O LORDE God: Deu. 32. for there is none like the, & there is no God but thou, acordinge vnto all that we haue herde with or eares. Deu. 4. a For where is there a people vpon earth as thy people of Israel? For whose sake God wente to delyuer him a people, and to make him selfe a name, and to do them soch greate and terrible thinges in thy lōde before ye people, Exo. 14. whom thou hast delyuered vnto thy selfe frō Egipte, from the people, and from their goddes. And thy people of Israel hast thou prepared the to be a people vnto thyne owne selfe for euer, and thou O LORDE art become their God.

Stablish now ye worde therfore for euer (O LORDE God) which thou hast spokē ouer thy seruaunt & ouer his house, & do acordinge as thou hast sayde. So shall thy name be greate for euer, so that it shal be sayde: The LORDE Zebaoth is the God ouer Israel, & the house of thy seruaunt Dauid shal be made sure before the. For thou LORDE Zebaoth, thou God of Israel hast opened the eare of thy seruaunt, and sayde: I wil buylde the an house. Therfore hath ye seruaunt founde his hert, to praye this prayer vnto the. Deu. 32. f Now LORDE God thou thy selfe art God, & thy wordes shal be the trueth. Thou hast spoken soch good ouer thy seruaunt. Begynne now therfore, and blesse ye seruauntes house, that it maye be before the for euer, for thou LORDE God thine awne selfe hast spoken it: and with thy blessynge shal thy seruauntes house be blessed for euer.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned after this, yt Dauid smote ye Philistynes, Par. 19. d and discomfited them, and toke the brydell of bondage out of the Philistynes hande. Nu. 24. d He smote the Moabites also to the grounde, so that he broughte two partes of them to death, and let one parte lyue. Thus the Moabites were subdued vnto Dauid, so yt they broughte him giftes.

Dauid smote Hadad Eser also the sonne of Rehob kynge of Zoba, whan he wēte to fetch his power agayne at ye water Euphrates. And of them toke Dauid a thousande & seuen hundreth horsmen, and twenty thousande fote men, and lamed all the charettes, saue an hundreth which he kepte behynde. But the Siryans came from Damascon to helpe Hadad Eser kynge of Zoba. And Dauid smote two and twentye thousande men of the Syrians, and layed people vnto Damascus in Syria.

Thus was Syria subdued vnto Dauid, so that they broughte him giftes: for ye LORDE helped Dauid whither so euer he wente. And Dauid toke ye shyldes of golde, which Hadad Esers seruauntes had, and broughte them to Ierusalem. But from Bethah & Berothai ye cities of Hadad Eser toke Dauid very moch brasse.

. Par. 19. b Whan Thoi the kynge of Hemath herde, that Dauid had smytten all the power of Hadad Eser, he sent his sonne Ioram vnto Dauid to salute him frendly, & to blesse him, because he had foughten with Adad Eser and smytten him (for Thoi had warre with Hadad Eser) and had Iewels with him of syluer, of golde, and of brasse: which kynge Dauid halowed also vnto ye LORDE, with the syluer and golde which he sanctified vnto the LORDE from all the Heythē, whom he subdued, from Siria, fro Moab, from the childrē of Ammon, from the Philistynes, frō Amalek, from the spoyle of Hadad Eser ye sonne of Rehob kynge of Zoba.

Dauid gat him selfe a name also whan he came, . Par. 19. c and smote eightene thousande of ye Sirians in ye Salt valley. And he layed people in all Edomea, Gen. 25. c Nu. 24. d and all Edem was subdued vnto Dauid: for the LORDE helped Dauid, whither so euer he wente. Thus was Dauid kynge ouer all Israel. And he executed iudgmente and righteousnes vnto all ye people. . Re. 20. d Ioab ye sonne of Zeru Ia was captayne ouer the hoost. Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was Chaunceler. Zadok the sonne of Achitob, & Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar were prestes. Seraia was Scrybe. Benaia the sonne of Ioiada was ouer ye Chr thians & Plethians. And the sonnes of Dauid were 〈…〉 prestes.

The IX. Chapter.

ANd Dauid sayde: Remayneth there yet eny man of Sauls house, that I maye do mercy vpon him for Ionathas sake? There was a seruaunt of Sauls house, named 〈…〉 Siba, whom they called vnto Dauid, & the kynge sayde vnto him: Art thou Siba? He sayde: Yee thy seruaunt. The kynge sayde: Is there yet eny man of Sauls house, yt I maye do the mercy of God vpon him? Siba sayde vnto the kynge: 〈…〉 There is yet a sonne of Ionathas, lame on his fete. The kynge sayde vnto him: Where is he? Siba sayde vnto ye kynge: Beholde, he is at L dober in ye house of 〈…〉 Machir ye sonne of Ammuel. Thē sent kynge Dauid thither, & caused for to fetch him from Lodaber out of ye house of Machir the sonne of Ammuel.

Now whan Mephiboseth the sonne of Ionathas the sonne of Saul came vnto Dauid, he fell vpon his face, & worshiped him Dauid sayde: Mephiboseth. He sayde: Here am I thy seruaunt. Dauid sayde vnto him: Feare not, for I wyll do mercy vpon the for thy father Ionathas sake, and wil restore vnto the all the londe of thy father Saul: but thou shalt eate bred daylie at my table. He worshiped and sayde: Who am I thy seruaunt, that thou turnest the to a deed dogg as I am?

Then the kynge called Siba ye seruaunt of Saul, and sayde vnto him: All yt hath belonged vnto Saul & to all his house, haue I geuen to thy lordes sonne. Tyll his londe for him therfore, thou & thy children & seruauntes, & brynge it in, yt it maye be bred for ye lordes sonne, and yt he maye enioye it: but Mephiboseth ye lordes sonne shal eate bred daylie at my table. Siba had fyftene sonnes & twentye seruauntes. And Siba sayde vnto ye kynge: Acordinge vnto all as my lorde the kynge hath commaunded his seruaunt, so shal his seruaunt do. And let Mephiboseth (sayde Dauid) eate at my table, as one of the kynges owne children. And Mephiboseth had a yōge sonne, whose name was Micha. But all yt dwelt in the house of Siba, serued Mephiboseth. As for Mephiboseth him selfe, he dwelt at Ierusalem: for he ate daylie at the kynges table 〈…〉 and was lame on both his fete.

The X. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned after this, that ye kynge of the children of Ammon dyed, 〈◊〉 20. a & his sonne Hanun was kynge in his steade. Then sayde Dauid: I wyll do mercy vpon Hanun the sonne of Nahas, as his father dyd mercy vpon me. And so he sent, and comforted him by his seruaūtes ouer his fathers death. Now whan Dauids seruaūtes came in to the londe of the children of Ammon, the mightie men of the children of Ammon sayde vnto Hanun their lorde: Thynkest thou it is for the honor of ye father in ye sighte, yt Dauid hath sent comforters vnto the? Hath he not sent his seruauntes vnto ye (thynkest thou) to spye and search out the cite and to ouerthrowe it?

Then toke Hanun the seruauntes of Dauid, and shoue of the one halue of their beerdes, and cut of the halfe of their garmētes euen by the girdell, and so let them go. Whā this was tolde Dauid, he sent to mete them: for the men were put to greate shame. And the kynge caused to saye vnto them: Abyde at Iericho, tyll youre beerdes be growne, & then come agayne.

Whan the childrē of Ammon sawe that they stynked in the sighte of Dauid, they sent and hyred the Sirians of the house of Rehob, and the Sirians at Zoba euen twentye thousande fote men, and from the kynge of Maecha a thousande men, and from Istob twolue thousande men. Whan Dauid herde that, he sent Ioab with all the hoost of ye men of warre. And the children of Ammon wente forth, and prepared them selues to ye battayll before the intraunce of the gate. But the Siryans of Soba, of Rehob, of Istob and of Maecha were alone in the felde.

Now whan Ioab sawe that the battayll was set vpō him before and behynde, he chose of all the best yonge men in Israel, & prepared him selfe agaynst the Syrians. And the resydue of the people put he vnder the hande of his brother Abisai, that he mighte prepare him agaynst the childrē of Ammon. And sayde: Yf ye Syrians be to mightie for me, helpe thou me: but yf the children of Ammon be to mightie for the, I shal helpe the. Take a good corage vnto the, and let vs be stronge for oure people, and for ye cite of oure God: neuertheles the LORDE do what pleaseth him.

And Ioab made him forth with the people that was with him, to fighte agaynst the Syrians: and they fled before him. And whan the children of Ammon sawe that the Syrians fled, they fled also before Abisai, & wente in to the cite. So Ioab turned agayne from the children of Ammon, & came to Ierusalem. And whan the Syrians sawe yt they were smytten before Israel, they came together.

And Hadad Eser sent & broughte out ye Syrians beyonde the water, and conueyed their power in, & Sobath the chefe captayne of Hadad Eser wente before thē. Whan this was tolde Dauid, he gathered all Israel together, & wente ouer Iordane, and came to Helam, & the Syrians prepared them selues against Dauid to fighte with him, howbeit the Syrians fled before Israel. And Dauid slewe of the Syrians seuē hundreth charettes, & fortye thousande horsmē, & Sobath the chefe captayne smote he also, so that he dyed there. Whan the kynges which were vnder Adad Eser, sawe, that they were smytten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and were subdued vnto them. And the Syrians were afrayed to helpe the children of Ammon eny more.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd whan ye yeare came aboute what tyme as ye kynges vse to go forth,1. Par. 21. Dauid sent Ioab and his seruaūtes with him, and all Israel, to destroye the children of Ammon, and to laye sege vnto Rabba: but Dauid abode at Ierusalem.

And aboute the euētyde it fortuned that Dauid arose from his restinge place, & wente vp to ye toppe of the kynges palace, and from ye toppe he sawe a woman Exo. 2. a Susan. c waszshinge hir selfe, and the woman was of a very fayre bewtye. And Dauid sent, and caused to axe what woman it was, and sayde: Is not that Bethseba the doughter of Eliam the wife of V ias the Hethite? And Dauid sent messaūgers, and caused for to fetch her. And whā she was come in vnto him, he laye with her. Neuertheles she halowed hir selfe from hir vnclennes, and turned a gayne vnto 〈◊〉 house. And the womā was with childe, and sent, and caused to tell Dauid and to saye: I am with childe. Dauid sent vnto Ioab (sayē ge:) Sende me Vrias ye Hethite. And Ioab sent Vrias vnto Dauid. And whan Vrias came to him, Dauid axed him yf it stode well with Ioab, and with the people and with the battayll.

And Dauid sayde to Vrias: Go downe in to thy house, and wash thy fete. And whan Vrias wente out of the kynges palace, the kynges gifte folowed him. And Vrias layed him downe to slepe before the kynges palace gate, where all his lordes seruauntes laye, & wente not downe in to his house. Whan worde came to Dauid: Vrias is not gone downe in to his house, Dauid sayde vnto him: Camest thou not ouer the felde? Why wentest thou not downe in to thy house? Vrias sayde vnto Dauid: The Arke and Israel & Iuda abyde in the tentes: And Ioab my lorde and my lordes seruauntes lye in ye felde, and shal I go in to my house to eate and drynke, and to lye with my wife? As truly as thou lyuest, and as truly as thy soule lyueth, I wyll not do this thinge. Dauid sayde vnto Vria: Abyde here then to daye, tomorow wil I let the go. So Vrias abode at Ierusalem the same daye, and the nexte also. And Dauid called him to eate & drynke before him, & made him dronken. And at euen he wente to lye him downe for to slepe vpon his couche with his lordes seruauntes, and wente not downe in to his house.

On the morow wrote Dauid a letter vnto Ioab, & sent it by Vrias. After this maner wrote he in the letter: Set Vrias in ye sorest parte of ye batayll, & turne you behynde him, yt he maye be slayne. Now whā Ioab layed sege to the cite, he set Vrias in ye place, where he knewe yt the mightiest men of A mes were. And whan the men of the cite fell out and foughte agaynst Ioab, there fell certayne of ye people of Dauids seruauntes. And Vrias the Hethite dyed also.

Then sent Ioab, and caused to tell ye kynge all the matter concernynge the battayll, and cōmaunded the messaunger, and sayde: Whan thou hast tolde ye kynge all the matter concernynge the batayll, and seist that he is wroth, and yf the kynge saye vnto the: Wherfore came ye so nye the cite with the batayll? Knowe ye not how they vse to shute from the wall? Iud. 9. h Who smote Abimelech the sonne of Ierubaall? Dyd not a womā cast a pece of a mylstone vpō him from the wall, so that he dyed at Thebez? Why came ye so nye the wall? Then shalt thou say : Thy seruaunt Vrias the Hethite is deed also.

The messaunger wente his waye, and came and tolde Dauid all together, wherfore Ioab had sent him. And the messaunger sayde vnto Dauid: The men preuayled against vs, and fell out vnto vs in to ye felde: and we were vpon them harde at the dore of ye porte. And the archers shot from the wall vpon thy seruauntes, and slewe certayne of the kynges seruauntes: and thy seruaunt Vrias the Hethite is deed also.

Dauid sayde vnto the messaunger: Thus shalt thou saye vnto Ioab: Let not yt vexe the, for the swerde consumeth now one now another. Go forth with the battayll against the cite, that thou mayest destroye it, and cō forte the men. And whan Vrias wife herde that Vrias was deed, she mourned for hir huszbande. But whā she had made an ende of mournynge, Dauid sent, and caused her be fetched vnto his palace, and she became his wyfe, and bare him a sonne. Neuertheles this dede yt Dauid dyd, displeased the LORDE.

The XII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE sent Nathan vnto Dauid. Whan he came to him, he tolde him: There were two men in one cite, the one riche, the other poore. The riche man had very many shepe and oxen: but the poore man had nothinge saue one litle shepe, which he had boughte, and norished it, so that it grewe vp with him and his children together. It ate of his bred, and dranke of his cuppe, and slepte in his lappe, and he helde it as a doughter. But whan there came a straunger vnto the riche man, he spared to take of his awne shepe & oxen (to prepare oughte for the straunger that was come vnto him) and toke the poore mans shepe, and prepared it for the man that was come vnto him.

Thē was Dauid wroth with greate displeasure agaynst that man, and sayde vnto Nathan: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, the man that hath done this, is the childe of death. 〈…〉 The shepe also shal he make good foure folde, because he hath done soch a thinge, and not spared it.

Then sayde Nathan vnto Dauid: Thou art euen the man. Thus sayeth the LORDE the God of Israel: 〈…〉 I haue anoynted the to be kynge ouer Israel, and delyuered the out of the hande of Saul, and haue geven the yi lordes house, and his wyues in to thy lappe, and the house of Israel and Iuda haue I geuen the: and yf that be to litle, I wyl yet do this and that for the also. Wherfore hast thou then despysed the worde of the LORDE, to do soch euell in his sighte? Vrias the Hethite hast thou slayne with the swerde: His wife hast thou taken to be thy wyfe, but him hast thou slayne with ye swerde of the children of Ammon.

Now therfore shal not ye swerde departe from thy house for ouer, because thou hast despysed me, and taken the wife of Vrias the Hithite, to be thy wife. Thus sayeth the LORDE: Beholde, 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉 . 16. d I wyll rayse vp euell of thyne awne house, and wyll take thy wyues before thyne eyes, and wyl geue them vnto thy neghboure, so that he shall lye with thy wyues by Sonne lighte. For thou hast done it secretly, but I wyl do this in the sighte of all Israel, and by Sonne lighte.

Then sayde Dauid vnto Nathan 〈◊〉 47. c 0, a I haue synned vnto the LORDE. Nathan sayde vnto Dauid: So hath the LORDE also taken awaye thy synne, thou shalt not dye. But for so moch as thou thorow this dede hast caused the enemies of the LORDE to blaspheme, ye sonne that is borne vnto the, shall dye the death. And Nathan wente home. As for the childe which Vrias wife bare vnto Dauid, the LORDE smote it, so that it was deedsicke.

And Dauid besoughte God for the childe, and fasted, and wente in, and laie all nighte vpon the earth. Then rose the Elders of his house, and wolde haue taken him vp frō the grounde: neuertheles he wolde not, nether ate he wt them. Vpon the seuenth daye ye childe dyed. And Dauids seruauntes durst not tell him that the childe was deed. For they thoughte: Beholde, whan the childe was yet alyue, we spake vnto him, and he herkened not vnto oure voyce, How moch more shall it greue him, yf we saye: The childe is deed? And Dauid sawe that his seruauntes made a whisperinge together, and perceaued that the childe was deed, and sayde vnto his seruauntes: Is the childe deed? They sayde: Yee. Then rose Dauid vp from the earth, and waszshed him selfe, and anoynted him, and put on other garmentes, & wente in to the house of the LORDE, and worshipped.

And whan he came agayne, he commaunded to set bred before him, and ate. Then sayde his seruauntes vnto him: What maner of thinge is this that thou doest? Whan the childe was alyue, thou fastedst and weptest: but now that it is deed, thou stōdest vp and eatest? He sayde: I fasted and wepte for the childe whan it was yet a lyue, for I thoughte: Who knoweth, peraduenture the LORDE maye be gracious vnto me, that the childe maye lyue. Eccli. 38. But now that it is deed, wherfore shulde I fast? Can I fetch it agayne? I shal go vnto it, but it shall not come agayne vnto me. And whan Dauid had comforted Bethseba his wife, he wente in vnto her, and laye with her. 1. Par. 3. a Matt 1. a And she bare a sonne, whom he called Salomon. And the LORDE loued him. And he put him vnder the hāde of Nathan ye prophet, which called him Iedidia because of the LORDE.

So Ioab foughte agaynst Rabba of ye children of Ammon, and wanne the kynges cite, & sent messaūgers vnto Dauid, & caused to saye vnto him: 1. Par. 21. 2 I haue foughte against Rabba, and haue wonne the water cite also. Gather thou therfore the residue of the people together, and laye sege to ye cite, and wynne it, that I wynne it not, and haue the name therof. So Dauid gathered all ye people together, and wente, & foughte agaynst Rabba, and wanne it, and toke their kynges crowne frō his heade (which in weight had a talente of golde, and precious stones) and was set vpon Dauids heade, and very moch spoyle caried he out of the cite. As for the people that was therin, he broughte thē forth, and layed them vnder yron sawes and hokes and wedges of yron, and burned thē in tyle ouens. Thus dyd he vnto all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then returned Dauid and all the people vnto Ierusalem agayne.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd it: fortuned after this, that Absalom ye sonne of Dauid had a fayre sister, whose name was Thamar, & Ammon the sonne of Dauid loued her. And Ammon was in greate combraunce, in so moch that he was euen sicke, because of Thamar his sister. For she was a virgin, and Ammon thoughte it shulde be harde for him to do eny thinge vnto her. But Ammon had a frēde, whose name was Ionadab the sonne of Simea Dauids brother, And the same Ionadab was a very wyse man, which sayde vnto him: Why art thou so leane (thou kynges sonne) from daye to daye? Mayest thou not tell me? Then sayde Ammon vnto him: I loue Thamar my brother Absaloms sister exceadingly.

Ionadab sayde vnto him: laye the downe vpon thy bedd, and make the sicke. And whan thy father commeth to loke how thou doest, saye vnto him: Oh let my sister Thamar come, that she maye fede me, and make a meece of meate before me, that I maye se it, & eate it of hir hande. So Ammon layed him downe, and made him sicke. Now whā the kynge came in to loke how he dyd, Ammon sayde vnto the kynge: Oh let my sister Thamar come, and make me a syppynge or two, and that I maye eate it of hir hand . Then sent Dauid for Thamar in to the house, and sayde vnto her: Go thy waye to thy brother Ammons house, & make him a meece of meate. Thamar wente vnto hir brother Amons house, but he laye in his bed. And she toke floure, and mixte it, and dighte it before his eyes, and made him a syppynge. And she toke the meece of meate, and poured it out before him: but he wolde not eate.

And Ammon saide: Put forth euery man fro me. And euery man wēte forth from him. Then sayde Ammon vnto Thamar: Brynge me that meece of meate in to the chamber, that I maye eate it of thy hande. Then toke Thamar ye syppynge that she had made, and broughte it vnto Ammon hir brother in to the chamber.

And whan she broughte it vnto him yt he mighte eate, he toke holde of her, & sayde vnto her: Come my sister, lye with me. Neuertheles she saide: Oh no my brother, force me not: for so do they not in Israel, do not thou soch foly. Whither shal I go with my shame? And thou shalt be as one of the vnwyse in Israel. But speake vnto the kynge, he shal not withholde me from the.

Howbeit he wolde not herken vnto her, and ouercame her, Gen. 34. a Leui. 18. a and forced her, and laye with her. And Ammon hated her exceadingly, so that the hate was greater then the loue was before. And Ammon sayde vnto her: Vp, and get the hence.

She saide vnto him: This euell that thou thrustest me out, is greater then the other, that thou hast done vnto me. Neuertheles he herkened not vnto her, but called his boye that serued him, and sayde: Put awaye this woman fro me, and locke the dore after her. And she had a partye garment on: for soch garmentes wayre ye kynges doughters whyle they were virgins.

And whā his seruaunt had put hir forth, & lockte the dore after her, Thamar strowed aszshes vpon hir heade, and rente the partye garment which she had vpon her, and layed hir hande vpon hir heade, and wente on, and cryed. And hir brother Absalom sayde vnto her: Hath thy brother Ammon bene with the? Now holde thy peace my sister, it is thy brother, and take not the matter so to hert.

So Thamar remayned a wyddowe in brother Absaloms house. And whan kynge Dauid herde of all this, he was very sory. As for Absalom, he spake nether euell ner good to Ammon: but Absalom hated Ammon, because he had forced his sister Thamar.

After two yeares had Absalom shepe clyppers at Baal Hazor, which lyeth by Ephraim. And Absalom called all the kynges children, and came to the kynge, and sayde: Beholde, thy seruaunt hath shepe clyppers, let it please ye kynge with his seruauntes to go with his seruaunte. But the kynge sayde vnto Absalom: No my sonne, let vs not all go, lest we be to chargeable vnto the.

And he wolde nedes haue had him to go, howbeit he wolde not, but blessed him. Absalom sayde: Shall my brother Ammon go with vs then? The kynge sayde vnto him Wherfore shall he go with the? Then was Absalom so importune vpon him, that he let Ammon and all the kynges childrē go with him.

But Absalom commaunded his yonge men, and sayde: Take hede whan Ammon is mery with wyne (and I saye vnto you: Smyte Ammon, and slaye him) that ye be not afrayed: for I haue commaunded you, be stronge, and playe the men. So Absaloms yonge men dyd vnto Ammon, as Absalom had commaunded them. Then stode all the kynges children vp, and euery one gat him vp vpō his Mule, and fled. And whyle they were yet on their waye, the rumoure came to kynge Dauid, that Absalom had slayne all the kynges children, so that not one of them was lefte.

Then stode the kynge vp, and rente his clothes, & layed him downe vpon the earth, and all his seruaūtes that stode aboute him, rente their clothes. Then answered Ionadab ye sonne of Simea Dauids brother, and sayde: Let not my lorde thynke that all the yonge men the kynges children are deed, but yt Ammon is deed onely: for Absalom hath kepte it in him selfe sence the daie that he forced his sister Thamar. Therfore let not my lorde the kynge take it so to hert, that all the kynges children shulde be deed, but that Ammon is deed onely.

As for Absalom, he fled. And the yonge man that kepte the watch, lifte vp his eyes, and loked, and beholde, A greate people came in the waye one after another by the hill syde. Then sayde Ionadab vnto the kynge: Beholde, the kynges children come. Euen as thy seruaunt sayde, so is it happened. And whan he had ended his talkynge, the kynges children came, and lifte vp their voyce, and wepte.

The kynge and all his seruauntes wepte also very sore. But Absalom fled, and wente vnto Thalmai the sonne of Ammihud kynge of Gesur. As for Dauid, he mourned for his sonne euery daye. Whan Absalom was fled and gone vnto Gesur, he was there thre yeare. And kynge Dauid ceassed from goinge out agaynst Absalom, for he had comforted him selfe ouer Ammon that he was deed.

The XIIII. Chapter.

IOab the sonne of Ieru Ia perceaued yt the kynges hert was agaynst Absalom, and sent vnto Thecoa, and caused to fetch from thence a prudent woman and saide vnto her: Make lamētacion, and weere mournynge garmentes, & anoynte the not with oyle: but fayne thy selfe as a woman which hath mourned longe ouer a deed, and thou shalt go in to the kynge, and speake so & so vnto him. And Ioab tolde her what she shulde saye.

And whan the woman of Thecoa wolde speake with the kynge, she fell vpon hir face to the grounde, and worshipped, and sayde: Helpe me O kynge. The kynge sayde vnto her: What ayleth the? She sayde: I am a wedowe, a woman that mourneth, and my huszbāde is deed. And thy handmayde had two sonnes, which stroue together in the felde: and whyle there was noman to parte thē a sunder, the one smote the other, and slewe him.

And beholde, all the whole kynred ryseth vp agaynst thy handmayden, and saye: 〈◊〉 19. c Delyuer him which hath smytten his brother, that we maye kyll him, for the soule of his brother whom he hath slayne, and that we maye destroye the heyre also. And thus are they mynded to put out my sparke, which yet is lefte, that there shulde no name ner eny thinge els remayne ouer vnto my huszbā de vpon earth.

The kynge sayde vnto the woman: Go ye waye home, I wil geue a cōmaundemēt for ye. And the woman of Thecoa saide vnto ye kynge: The trespace be vpon me (my lorde ye kynge) and vpon my fathers house: but the kynge and his seate be vngiltye. The kynge sayde: He that speaketh agaynst the, brynge him vnto me, so shall he touch the nomore. She sayde: Let the kynge thynke vpon the LORDE his God, that there be not to many auengers of bloude to destroye, and that they brynge not my sonne to naught. He sayde: 1. Re. 14. g As truly as the LORDE lyueth, there shall not one heer of thy sonne fall vpon the earth. And the woman sayde: Let thy handmayde speake somwhat to my lorde the kynge. He sayde: speake on. The woman sayde: Wherfore hast thou deuised soch a thinge agaynst the people of God? And how happeneth it that the kynge speaketh soch, to make himselfe giltie, and causeth not his outlawe to be broughte agayne? For we all dye the death, and as the water that sinketh in to the earth, which is not taken vp. ze. 18. And God will not take awaye the lyfe, but vnbethynketh himselfe, yt euen the very outlawe be not cleane thrust out from him.

Thus am I come also to speake this to my lorde the kynge in the presence of the people, for thy handmayden thoughte: I wyll speake to the kynge, peraduenture he shall do that his handmayden sayeth, for he shall heare his handmayden, to delyuer me from the hande of all them, that wolde destroye me with my sonne from the enheritaunce of God. And thy handmayden thoughte, ye worde of my lorde the kynge shall be as a meat offerynge,2. Re. 19. for my lorde the kinge is as an angell of God, so that he can heare good and euell, therfore shall the LORDE thy God be with the.

The kynge answered and sayde vnto the woman: Kepe nothynge fro me that I axe the. The woman sayde: Let my lorde the kinge speake on. The kynge sayde: Is not the hande of Ioab with the in all this? The woman answered and sayde: As truly as thy soule lyueth (my lorde O kynge,) there is els noman nether at the righte hande ner at ye lefte, but euen as my LORDE the kynge hath sayde, for thy seruaunt Ioab hath commaunded me, and he himselfe hath taughte thy handmayden all these wordes, that I shulde turne this matter of this faszshiō, this hath Ioab thy seruaunt done. But my lorde is wyse, as the wyszdome of an angell of God, so that he knoweth all thynges vpon earth.

Then sayde the kynge vnto Ioab: Beholde, I haue done this: go thy waye therfore and brynge the childe Absalom agayne.

Then fell Ioab vpon his face vnto the grounde, and worshipped, and thanked the kynge, and sayde: This daye doth thy seruaunt perceaue, that I haue founde grace in thy syghte my lorde the kynge, in that the kynge doth as his seruaunt hath sayde. So Ioab gat him vp, and wente vnto Gesur, and broughte Absalom to Ierusalem. But the kinge sayde: Let him go againe in to his house, and not se my face. Thus Absalom came agayne to his house, and sawe not ye kynges face.

But in all Israel there was not so fayre, and so maruelous goodly a man, as Absalom. From the sole of his fote vnto the toppe of his heade there was not one blemysh in him. And whan his heade was rounded (that was comonly euery yeare, for it was to heuy for him, so that it must nedes haue bene rounded) the heer of his heade weyed two hūdreth Sicles after ye kynges weight. And vnto Absalom there were borne thre sonnes and one doughter, whose name was Thamar, and she was a woman of a fayre bewtye: So Absalom abode two yeare at Ierusalem, and sawe not the kynges face.

And Absalom sent for Ioab, that he mighte sende him to the kynge. And he wolde not come to him. But he sent the seconde tyme, yet wolde he not come. Then sayde he vnto his seruauntes: Ye knowe Ioabs pece of londe that lyeth by myne, and he hath barlye theron: go youre waye therfore and set fyre vpon it. So Absaloms seruauntes sett fyre vpon Ioabs pece of londe.

Then Ioab gat him vp, and came to Absalom in to the house, and sayde vnto him: Wherfore haue thy seruauntes set fire vpon my pece of londe? Absalō sayde vnto Ioab: Beholde, I sent for the, and caused to saye vnto the: Come hither, that I maye sende the to the kynge, and to saye: Wherfore came I from Gesur? It were better for me that I were there yet. Let me therfore se the kynges face. But yf there be eny trespace in me, then put me to death. And Ioab wente in to the kynge, and tolde him. And he called Absalom, to come in to the kynge, and he worshipped vpon his face to the grounge before the kynge. And the kynge kyssed Absalom.

The XV. Chapter.

ANd after this it fortuned that Absalom caused to prepare himselfe chearettes and horses, and fyftye men, which were his fote mē. And Absalō gat him vp allwaye early in the mornynge, and st de in the waye by the porte: and whan eny man had a matter which shulde come to the kynge for iudgment, Absalom called vnto him and sayde Of what cite art thou? Yf he sayde the •• thy seruaunt is of one of the trybes of Israel, then sayde Absalom vnto him: Beholde, thy matter is righte and plaine: but there is noman appoynted yt of the kynge to heare the.

And Absalom sayde: O who setteth me to be iudge in ye londe, that euery man which hath a plee or matter to do in ye lawe, might come to me, that I might helpe him to right And whan eny man came to him to do worshippe & to do him obeisaunce, he put forth his hāde, and helde him & kyssed him. After this maner dyd Absalom vnto all Israel whan they came to the lawe vnto the kynge, and so dyd he steale awaye the hert of ye men of Israel.

After fortye yeares sayde Absalom vnto the kynge: I wil go and perfourme my vowe at Hebron, which I made vnto the LORDE. For thy seruaunt made a vowe, 〈…〉 whan I dwelt at Gesur in Siria, and saide: Whan ye LORDE bryngeth me agayne to Ierusalem, I shal do a Gods seruyce vnto the LORDE. The kynge sayde vnto him: Go thy waye in peace. And he gat him vp, and wente vnto Hebron.

But Absalom had sent out spyes in all the trybes of Israel, sayenge: Whan ye heare the noyse of the trompe, saye: Absalom is made kynge at Hebron. There wente with Absalom two hundreth men called from Ierusalem, but they wente on symply, and knewe not of the matter. Absalom sent also for Achitophel (the Gilonyte) Dauids counceler, out of his cite Gilo. Now whan he did the sacrifice, the conspiracion was mightie and the people ranne together, and multyplied with Absalom.

Then came one which tolde Dauid, and sayde, that the hert of euery man in Israel folowed Absalom. Dauid sayde vnto all his seruauntes that were with him at Ierusasem: Vp, let vs fle, for here shall be no escapynge for vs before Absalom.

Make haist that we maye be goynge, lest he ouertake vs and catch vs, and dryue some mysfortune vpon vs, and smyte the cyte with the edge of the swerde. Then sayde the kynges seruauntes vnto him: Loke what my LORDE ye kinge choseth, beholde, here are thy seruauntes. And the kynge wente forth on fote wt all his housholde. 〈…〉 But ten concubynes lefte he to kepe the house.

And whan the kynge and all the people came forth on fote, they wēte farre from home, and all his seruauntes wente by him, and all the Chrethians and Plethians, and all the Gethites (euen sixe hundreth men) which were come on fote from Gath, wente before the kynge.

And the kynge sayde vnto 〈…〉 Ithai ye Gethite: Why goest thou also with vs? Turne backe, and byde with the kynge, for thou art a straunger: get the hence agayne vnto thy place. Thou camest yesterdaye, and to daye thou iuperdest to go with vs: As for me, I wyl go whither I can: turne thou backe agayne, and mercy and faithfulnes happen vnto thy brethren with the Ithai answered, and sayde: 〈◊〉 1. c As truly as the LORDE lyueth, and as truly as my lorde the kynge lyueth, loke in what place my lorde the kynge shalbe, (whether it chaunce to life or death) there shal thy seruaunt be also.

Dauid sayde vnto Ithai: Then come, and go with vs. So wente Ithai the Gethite and all his men, and the whole multitude of the children that were with him. And all the lande wepte with loude voyce, and all the people with them. And the kynge wē te ouer the broke Cedron, and all the people wente ouer by the waye that goeth to the wyldernes.

And beholde, Sadoc was there also, and all the Leuites that were with them, & they bare ye Arke of the couenūat of God, and set it there. And Abiathar wente vp, tyll all the people came out of the cite. But the kynge sayde vnto Sadoc: Brynge the Arke of God in to the cite agayne. Yf I shal fynde grace before the LORDE, he shall fetch me agayne, and shall let me se it, and the house of it. But yf he saye thus: I haue no pleasure to ye, beholde, here am I, let him do with me as it pleaseth him.

And the kynge saide vnto Sadoc ye prest: O thou 〈…〉 Seer, turne agayne to ye cite with peace, and Ahimaas thy sonne with the and Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar: beholde, I wyl tary in the playne of the wyldernes, tyll the message come from you, and tell me. So Sadoc and Abiathar broughte the Arke of God agayne to Ierusalem, and remayned there.

But Dauid wente vp to mount Olyuete and wepte, & his heade was couered. And all the people that was with him, had euery man his heade couered and wente on and wepte. And whan it was tolde Dauid, that Achitophel was in the cōfederacy with Absalom, he sayde: LORDE turne thou Achitophels councell to foolishnes.

And whan Dauid came vp to the toppe of the mount, where the vse was to worshippe God, Chusai the Arachite met him with his cote rent, and earth vpon his heade. And Dauid sayde vnto him: Yf thou go with me, thou shalt be chargeable vnto me: but yf thou goest agayne in to the cite, and sayest vnto Absalom: I am thy seruaunt O kynge euen as I was thy fathers seruaunt, so wyll I now be thy seruaunt, 2. Re. 17. a and b. c Then shalt thou brynge Achitophels councell to naughte. So is Sadoc and Abiathar ye prestes with the, and all that thou hearest out of the kynges house, tell it vnto Sadoc and Abiathar the prestes. Beholde, their two sonnes are with thē: Ah maas the sonne of Sadoc, and Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar, by them mayest thou sende me worde what thou hearest. So Chusai Dauids frende came in to the cite. And Absalom came to Ierusalem.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd whan Dauid was gone a lytle by from the toppe of the mount, beholde, Siba the seruaūt of Mephiboseth met him with a couple of asses sadled, wheron were two hundreth loaues of bred, and an hundreth quantities of rasyns and an hū dreth quantities of fygges, and a bottell of wyne. Then sayde the kynge vnto Siba: What wilt thou do herewith? Siba sayde: The asses shalbe for the kynges housholde to ryde vpon, and the loaues and fygges for the yonge men to eate, and the wyne shallbe for them to drynke whan they are weery in the wyldernes. The kynge sayde: Where is thy lordes sonne? Siba sayde vnto the kynge: Beholde, he abyde that Ierusalē, for he saide: To daye shal ye house of Israel restore my fathers kīgdome vnto me. The kynge saide vnto Siba: Beholde, . Re. . b all that Mephiboseth hath, shalbe thine. Siba sayde with reuerence, Let me finde grace in thy sight my lorde O kynge.

But whan kynge Dauid came to Bahurim, beholde, there wente out a man of the kynred of the house of Saul, 〈…〉 whose name was Semei the sonne of Gera, which wente forth and Exo. 22. d cursed, and caststones at Dauid, and at all kynge Dauids seruauntes and all the people and all the mightie men men were at his righte hande and at his lefte. Thus sayde Semei whan he cursed: Get the forth, get the forth thou bloudy hounde, thou man of Belial. The LORDE hath rewarded the for all the bloude of the house of Saul, yt thou becamest kynge in his steade. Now hath the LORDE geuen the kyngdome in to ye hande of Absalom thy sonne, and beholde, now stickest thou in thine owne myschefe, for thou art a bloudy hounde.

But Abisai the sonne of Zeru Ia sayde vnto the kynge: Shall this deed dogg curse my lorde the kynge? I wyl go and take the heade awaye from him. The kynge saide: Ye children of Zeru Ia, what haue I to do wt you? Let him curse on, for the LORDE hath commaunded him: Curse Dauid. Who can saye now: Why doest thou so?

And Dauid sayde vnto Abisai and to all his seruauntes: Beholde, my sonne which came of my body, seketh after my lyfe, how moch more now the sonne of Iemini? Let him curse on, for the LORDE hath commaunded him: 3. Re. 2. g peraduenture the LORDE shall consydre my aduersyte, and recompence me good for his cursynge this daye. So Dauid wente on his waye with his men. But Semei wente on by the mount besyde him, and cursed, and caststones at him, & threwe clottes of earth.

And the kynge came in and all the people that was with him, weery, and refreshed him selfe there. But Absalom and all the people of the men of Israel came to Ierusalem and Achitophel with him. Whan Chusai the Arachite Dauids frende came in to Absalom, he sayde vnto Absalom: God saue the kynge God saue the kynge.

Absalom sayde vnto Chusai: Is this thy mercy vnto thy frende? Why art thou not gone with thy frende? Chusai sayde vnto Absalom: Not so, but loke whom the LORDE choseth, and this people, and all the men in Israel, his wyl I be, and byde with him. Secondly, whom shulde I serue? Shulde I not do seruyce before his sonne? Like as I haue serued in the presence of thy father, so wyll I do seruyce before the also.

And Absalom sayde vnto Achitophel: Geue vs youre councell what we shal do? Achitophel sayde vnto Absalom: 2. Re. 12. c and 15. c Go lye with thy fathers concubynes, whom he hath lefte to kepe the house, so shall all Israel heare that thou hast made thy father to stynke, and the hande of all them that are with ye, shal be the bolder. Then made they a tente vnto Absalom The houses vpon the house toppe. And Absalom laye with his fathers concub ••• in the sighte of all Israel.

At that tyme whan Achitophel 〈◊〉 councell, that was euen as yf a man 〈◊〉 councell at God: So were all the councels of Achitophel both with Dauid and 〈◊〉 Absalom.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd Achitophel sayde vnto Absalom I wil chose out twolue thousande 〈◊〉 , and wyl get me vp, and persue 〈◊〉 by nighte, and fall vpō him whan he is feble and weery: When I vexe him thē, so that all the people which is by him, flieth, I wil 〈◊〉 the kynge onely, and brynge all the people vnto the agayne. So whan euery man is brought vnto the as thou desyrest, then shal all the people be in peace. Absalom though that good, and so dyd all the Elders in Is rael. But Absalom sayde: I praye you call Chusai the Arachite also, and let vs hea •• what he sayeth therto. And whā Chusai came in to Absalom, Absalom saide vnto him: Thus hath Achitophel spoken, Saye thou now, shal we do it or not?

Then sayde Chusai vnto Absalom: It is no good councell yt Achitophel hath geuen at this tyme. And Chusai sayde morouer: Thou knowest thy father well and his men, that they are stronge and of a wrothfull stomack, euen 〈…〉 as a Beer that is robbed of hir yonge ones in the felde, Thy father also is a man of warre, and wyl not be necligēt with the people. Beholde, he hath now peraduenture hyd hymselfe in some caue or in some place. Yf it came to passe then that it chaunced euell at the first, & there shulde come a rumor and saye: There is a slaughter done in the people that folowed Absalō: thē shulde euery man be discoraged, which els is valeaunt, & hath a hert like a lyō: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is stronge, and that all they which be with him, are mightie men.

But this is my coūcell, that thou gather together all Israel from Dan vnto Berseba in nombre as the sonde of the See, and go thou thine owne person amonge them, then wil we fall vpon him in what place we finde him, and wyll ouerwhelme him euen as the dew falleth vpon the earth, so that we shal not leaue one of him and of all his men. But yf he resorte in to a cite, then shal all Israel cast roapes aboute the same cite, and drawe it in to the riuer, so that there shal not one stone of it be founde

Then sayde Absalom and euery man in Israel: The councell of Chusai the Arachite is better then Achitophels councell.

〈…〉 But the LORDE broughte it so to passe, that ye good councell of Achitophel was hyndred, that the LORDE mighte brynge euell vpon Absalom.

〈…〉 And Chusai sayde vnto Sadoc & Abiathar the prestes: Thus and thus hath Achitophel counceled Absalom and the Elders in Israel: but so and so haue I counceled. Sende now therfore in all the haist, and tell Dauid, and saye: Abyde not all nighte in the playne felde of the wyldernes, but get the ouer, that the kynge be not swalowed vp, and all the people that is with him. As for Ionathas and Ahimaaz, they stode by the well of Rogel, and a damsell wente thither and tolde them. They wente on their waye, and tolde kynge Dauid, for they durst not be sene to come in to the cite.

But a lad sawe them, and tolde Absalom. Neuertheles they wente on their waye, and came to a mans house at Bahurim, which had a well in his courte, and they wēte downe in to it. And the woman toke and spred a couerynge ouer the welles mouth, & strowed firmentye corne theron, that it was not perceaued. Now whan Absaloms seruauntes came to the woman in to the house, they sayde: where is Ahimaaz and Ionathas? The womā sayde vnto them: They are gone ouer the litle water.

And whā they soughte and founde them not, they wente agayne to Ierusalem. And whan they were gone, they clymmed vp out of the well, and wente their waye, and tolde Dauid ye kynge, and sayde vnto Dauid: Get you vp, and go soone ouer ye water, for thus and thus hath Achitophel geuen councell agaynst you.

Then Dauid gat him vp, and all the people that was with him, and passed ouer Iordane tyll it was cleare mornynge. And there was not one, but he wente ouer Iordane.

Whan Achitophel sawe that his coūcell wente not forth, he sadled his asse, gat him vp, and wēte home in to his cite and put his house to poynte, and hanged him selfe, and dyed, and was buried in his fathers graue.

And Dauid came to Mahanaim, and Absalom wente ouer Iordane, & all the men of Israel wt him. And Absalom had set Amasa ouer the hoost in Ioabs steade. Amasa was the sonne of a man, whose name was Iethra a Iesraelite, which laye with Abigail the doughter of Nahas the sister of Zeru Ia Ioabs mother. But Israel and Absalom pitched in Gilead.

Whan Dauid was come to Mahanaim, 1. Re. 11. a Nahas of Rabbath of the childrē of Ammon, and 2. Reg. . a Machir the sonne of Ammiel of Lodebar, and 2. Re. 19 f 3. Reg. 2. b Barsillai a Gileadite of Roglim broughte bedstuffe, tapestrie worke, basens, earthen vessell, where, barly, meel, parched corne, beenes, otemeell, ryse, hony, butter, shepe and fat oxen vnto Dauid, and to ye people that was with him, for to eate: for they thought, The people shall be hongrie, weerye and thirstye in the wyldernes.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANd Dauid mustred the people yt was with him, and set captaynes ouer thē, ouer thousandes and ouer hundreds. And sent out of the people one thirde parte vnder Abisai the sonne of Zeru Ia Ioabs brother, and one thirde parte vnder Re. 2. b Ithai the Gethite. And the kynge sayde vnto the people: I wyll go forth with you also. Neuertheles the people sayde: Thou shalt not go forth, for though we fle, or die halfe of vs they shal not regarde vs. For thou art as ten thousande of vs. Therfore is this better that thou mayest helpe vs out of the cite. The kynge sayde: Loke what ye are content withall, that wyl I do. And the kynge stode in the gate, and all the people wente forth by hundreds and by thousandes. And ye kinge cōmaunded Ioab and Abisai, and Ithai, and sayde: Intreate me the yonge man Absalom gently. And all the people herde it, whā the kynge cōmaunded all the captaynes concernynge Absalom. And whan the people were come forth in to the felde agaynst Israel, the battayll beganne in the wod of Ephraim. And the people of Israel were smitten there before Dauids seruauntes, so that there was a greate slaughter the same daye, of twentye thousande men. And the battaill was scatred abrode there in the londe. And the wod consumed moch more people the same daye, then the swerde consumed.

And Absalom met Dauids seruauntes, and rode vpon a Mule. And whan the Mule came vnder a greate thicke Oke tre, his heade toke holde on the Oke, and so hanged he betwene heauen and earth, but the Mule ranne awaye from vnder him. Whan a certayne man sawe that, he tolde Ioab, and saide: Beholde, I sawe Absalom hange vpō an Oke tre. And Ioab saide vnto the mā yt tolde it him: Beholde, sawest thou that, why smotest thou him not there to the groūde? so wolde I haue geuen the of myne awne behalfe ten syluerlynges and a gyrdell.

The man sayde vnto Ioab: Yf thou haddest weyed me a thousande syluerlynges in my handes, yet wolde I not haue layed my handes on the kynges sonne. For the kynge commaunded the and Abisai and Ithai before oure eares, and sayde: Kepe me the yonge man Absalom. Or yf I had dyssembled vpon the ioperdy of myne owne soule (for so moch as nothinge shulde be hyd from ye kinge) thou thy selfe shuldest haue stōde against me. Ioab sayde: Not so, I wil vpon him before thy face.

Then toke Ioab thre speares in his hande, and thrust Absalom thorow ye hert, while he was yet alyue vpon the Oke. And ten yō ge men Ioabs weapenbearers, came aboute him, and smote him to death. Then blewe Ioab the trompe, and broughte the people agayne, that they shulde folowe nomore vpon Israel. For Ioab wolde fauoure the people. And they toke Absalom, and cast him in the wod in to a greate pytt, and layed a greate heape of stones vpon him. And all Israel fled, euery one vnto his tente.

Absalom had set him vp a piler whyle he was yet alyue, which stode in the kynges valley, for he sayde: I haue no sonne, therfore shall this be a remembraunce of my name: and he called the piler after his owne name. And vnto this daie it is yet called Absaloms place.

Ahimaas the sonne of Sadoc sayde: Let me runne now, and brynge the kynge worde, that the LORDE hath gotten him righte frō the hande of his enemies. But Ioab sayde: Thou shalt bringe no good tidinges to daie another daye shalt thou brynge him worde, and not to daye, for the kynges sonne is deed But vnto Chusi sayde Ioab: Go thou thy waye, and tell the kynge what thou hast sene. And Chusi did his obeysaūce vnto Ioab, and ranne. Ahimaas the sonne of Sadoc saide agayne vnto Ioab: What and I ranne also? Ioab sayde: What wilt thou runne my sonne? Come hither, thou shalt brynge no good tydinges. (He answered:) What and I ranne yet. He saide vnto him: Renne on ye waye then. So Ahimaas ranne the straight waye, and came before Chusi.

As for Dauid, he sat betwene the two gates. And the watchman wente vp to ye toppe of the porte vpon the wall, and lifte vp his eyes, and sawe a man renninge alone, and cryed, and tolde the kinge. The kynge sayde: Yf he be alone, then is there good tydinges in his mouth. And as the same wente and came forth, the watchman sawe another man rennynge, and cryed in the porte and sayde: Beholde, there renneth a man alone. The kinge sayde: The same is a good messaunger also. The watchman sayde: I se the rennynge of the first as it were the rennynge of Ahimaas the sonne of Sadoc. And the kynge sayde: He is a good man, and bryngeth good tidinges. Ahimaas cryed, and sayde vnto ye kinge: Peace, and worshipped before the kynge vpon his face to the grounde, and sayde: Praised be the LORDE thy God, which hath geuen ouer ye men that lifte vp their handes agaynst my LORDE the kynge.

The kynge sayde: Goeth it well with the yonge man Absalom? Ahimaas sayde: I sawe a greate vproure, whan Ioab the kynges seruaunt sent me thy seruaunt, and I wote not what it was. The kynge sayde: Go aboute, and stonde here. And he wente aboute and stode there. Beholde, then came Chusi and sayde: I brynge good tydinges my lorde the kynge: The LORDE hath executed righte for the this daye, from the hande of all them that rose vp agaynst the. But the kynge sayde vnto Chusi: Goeth it well with the yonge man Absalom? Chusi sayde: Euen so go it wt all the enemyes of my lorde the kynge, and with all them that ryse vp agaynst the to do euell, as it goeth with the yonge man. Then was the kynge soroufull, and wente vp in to the perler vpon the gate, and wepte, and as he wente, he sayde thus: O my sonne Absalō, my sonne, my sonne Absalom, wolde God yt I shulde dye for the. O Absalom my sonne, my sonne.

The XIX. Chapter.

ANd it was tolde Ioab: beholde, ye kinge wepeth & mourneth for Absalom. And so out of ye victory of yt daye there came a mourninge amonge all the people. For the people had herde the same daye, yt the kynge toke on heuely because of his sonne. And ye people stale awaye the same daye, so that they came not in to the cite: as a people that is put to shame, pycketh them selues awaye, whan they are fled in a battayll. As for the kynge, he had couered his face, and cryed loude, and sayde: Oh my sonne Absalom, Absalom my sonne, my sonne.

But Ioab came to the kynge in to the house, and sayde: This daye hast thou shamed all thy seruauntes (which haue delyuered thy soule this daye, and the soules of thy sonnes, of thy doughters, of thy wyues, and of thy cōcubynes) in that thou louest them that hate the, and hatest those that loue ye. For to daye thou shewest thyselfe, that thou carest not for the captaynes and seruauntes: For I perceaue this daye, that yf Absalom onely were alyue, and we all deed this daye, thou woldest thynke it were well.

Get the vp now therfore, and go forth, and speake louyngly vnto thy seruauntes. For I sweare vnto the by ye LORDE, yf thou go not forth, there shall not be lefte the one man this nighte: this shalbe worse vnto yt, then all the euell that happened the sence ye youth vp hither to. Thē the kynge gat him vp, and sat in the gate. And it was sayde vnto the people: beholde, the kynge sytteth in the gate. Then came all the people before ye kynge. But Israel was fled euery one vnto his tent.

And all the people stroue in all the trybes of Israel, and sayde: The kynge ryd vs from the hande of oure enemies, and delyuered vs from the hande of the Philistynes, and was fayne to fle out of the lōde for Absalom. So Absalom whom we had anoynted ouer vs, is deed in the battayll. Why are ye so styll now, that ye fetch not the kynge agayne?

The kynge sent vnto Sadoc & Abiathar the prestes, & caused to saye vnto thē: Speake to the Elders of Iuda, & saye: Why wyl ye be the last to fetch the kynge agayne vnto his house? (for ye sayenge of all Israel was come before the kynge in to his house) ye are my brethren, my bone, and my flesh. Wherfore wyl ye then be the last to brynge the kynge agayne? And saye vnto Amasa: Art not thou my bone and my flesh? God do this & that vnto me, yf thou shalt not be the chefe captayne before me in Ioabs steade, as longe as thou lyuest.

And he bowed the hert of all the men of Iud as of one man. And they sent vnto ye kynge: Come agayne, thou and all thy seruauntes: So the kynge came agayne. And whan he came vnto Iordane, ye men of Iuda were come to Gilgal, for to go downe to mete the kynge, that they mighte brynge ye kynge ouer Iordane. And Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini, which dwelt at Bahurim, made haist, and wente downe with ye men of Iuda to mete kynge Dauid, and there were with him a thousande mē of Ben Iamin. 2. Re. 16. Siba also the seruaunt of the house of Saul with his fyftene sonnes and twenty seruauntes, & gat them thorow Iordane and passed ouer ye fery, that they mighte brynge ouer the kynges housholde, and to do him pleasure.

But Semei the sonne of Gera fell downe before the kynge, whan he passed ouer Iordane, and sayde vnto the kynge: O my lorde, laye not the trespace vnto my charge, & thynke not vpon it that thy seruaunt vexed the, 2. Re. 16. in the daye whan my lorde the kynge wente out of Ierusalem: and let not ye kynge take it to hert, for thy seruaunt knoweth that he hath synned. And beholde, this daye am I come the first amonge all the house of Ioseph, for to go downe to mete my lorde the kynge.

Neuertheles Abisai the sonne of Zeru Ia answered and sayde: And shulde not Semei dye therfore, seynge he hath cursed ye anoynted of ye LORDE? But Dauid sayde:2. Re. 16. b Mat. 16. c What haue I to do with you ye children of Zeru? Ia, that ye wyll become Sathan vnto me this daye? Shulde eny man dye this daye in Israel? Thynkest thou that I knowe not, yt I am become kynge ouer Israel this daye? And ye kynge sayde vnto Simei: Thou shalt not dye? And the kynge sware vnto him.

Mephiboseth the sonne of Saul came downe also to mete the kynge. And he had not made cleane his fete ner combde his beerde, nether had he waszshed his clothes from the daye that the kynge was gone awaye, vntyll the daye that he came agayne in peace. Now whā he came to Ierusalem for to mete the kynge, the kynge sayde vnto him: Mephiboseth, wherfore wentest thou not with me? And he sayde: My lorde O kynge, my seruaūt hath dealte vnrighteously with me: for thy seruaunt thoughte: I wil saddell an asse and ryde theron, and go vnto the kynge: for thy seruaunt is lame, and he hath accused thy seruaunt before my lorde ye kynge. Gen. 33. b 2. Re. 14. a Hest. 15. b But my lorde ye kynge is an angell of God, and thou mayest do what pleaseth the. For all my fathers house was nothinge, but people of death before my lorde ye kynge. 2. Re. 9. b And yet hast thou set thy seruaunt amonge them that eate at ye table. What other righteousnes haue I, that I shulde crye eny more vnto the kynge? The kynge sayde vnto him: What speakest thou yet more of thy matter: I haue sayde: Thou and Siba parte the londe betwene you. Mephiboseth sayde vnto the kynge: Let him take it all, in as moch as my lorde ye kynge is come home in peace.

And Barsillai the Gileadite came downe from Roglim, and broughte the kynge ouer Iordane, that he mighte cōueye him in Iordane. And Barsillai was very olde, so good as foure score yeare olde, . Re. 17. c the same had prouyded ye kynge of fode whyle he was at Mahanaim, for he was a very noble man. And the kynge sayde vnto Barsillai: Thou shalt go ouer with me, I wyll take care for the wt myne awne selfe at Ierusalem. But Barsillai sayde vnto the kynge: What haue I yet to lyue, that I shulde go vp to Ierusalem wt the kynge? This daye am I foure score yeare olde. How shulde I knowe what is good or euell, or taist what I eate or drynke, or heare what the Musicians do synge? Why shulde thy seruaunt be chargeable first vnto my lorde the kynge? thy seruaunt shall go a litle with the kynge ouer Iordane. Why wil the kynge recompence me after this maner? Let thy seruaunt turne backe agayne, that I maye dye in my cite besyde my father and my mothers graue. Beholde, there is thy seruaunt Chimeam, let him go ouer with my lorde the kynge, and do vnto him what pleaseth the.

The kynge sayde: Chimeam shal go ouer with me, and I wyll do for him what liketh the: and what so euer thou desyrest of me, that wyll I do for the also. And whan all ye people was gone ouer Iordane and the kynge likewyse, the kynge kyssed Barsillai and blessed him, and he turned vnto his place. And ye kynge passed ouer vnto Gilgal, and Chimeam wente with him. And all the people of Iuda broughte the kynge ouer, howbeit there was but halfe of the people of Israel there.

And beholde, thē came all the men of Israel vnto the kynge, & sayde vnto him: Why haue oure hrethren the men of Iuda stollen the awaye, and haue conueyed ye kynge and his housholde ouer Iordane, and all Dauids men with him? Then answered they of Iuda vnto them of Israel: The kynge is of oure nye kynred, why are ye angrie therfore? Thynke ye that we haue receaued eny fode or giftes of the kynge? Then answered they of Israel vnto them of Iuda, & sayde: We haue ten tymes more with the kynge and with Dauid, thē thou, why hast thou regarded me then so lightly, that oures were not the first to fetch oure kynge agayne? But they of Iuda spake harder then they of Israel.

The XX. Chapter.

THere was a famous man of Belial there, whose name was Seba ye sonne of Bichri, a mā of Iemini, which blewe the trompe, and sayde: 〈…〉 We haue no porcion in Dauid, ner inheritaunce in ye sonne of Isai: let euery get him to his tent, O Israel. Then fell euery man in Israel from Dauid, and folowed Seba the sonne of Bichri. But the men of Iuda cleued vnto their kynge from Iordane vnto Ierusalē. Whan Dauid came home to Ierusalem, he toke the ten concubynes ( 〈…〉 wh m he had lefte to kep the house) and put them in a holde to be kepte, and made prouysion for them: but he laye not with them, and so were they shut vp vnto their death, and lyued wedowes.

And ye kynge sayde vnto Amasa: Call 〈◊〉 all the men of Iuda together agaynst the thirde daye, & be thou here present also. And Amasa wēte to call Iuda together. And he was slacke to come at ye tyme which he had appoynted him. And Dauid sayde vnto Abisai: Now shall Seba the sonne of Bichri do vs more harme then Absalom. Take thou ye lordes seruauntes, and folowe vpon him, yt he fynde not some strōge cities for him, and so escape out of oure sighte. Then wente Ioabs mē forth after him, and the Chrethian and Plethians, and all the mightie mē: and they wēte out of Ierusalem to folowe vpon Seba the sonne of Bichri.

But whan they were by the greate stone at Gibeon, Amasa came before them. As for Ioab, he was gyrded aboue his garment which he had on, and vpon it he had a swerde gyrded, which hanged by his thye in the sheeth, and wente easely out and in, and fell frō him. And Ioab sayde vnto Amasa: Peace be with the my brother. And Ioab toke Amasa by the beerde with his righte hāde, to kysse him. And Amasa toke no hede vnto ye swerde in Ioabs hande, and he thrust him therwith in to the bely, yt his bowels ranne out vpon the earth, and he thrust at him no more. And so he dyed.

Ioab & his brother Abisai folowed vpon Seba ye sonne of Bichri. And one of Ioabs seruauntes stode by him, and sayde: What is he this yt wolde be agaynst Ioab to please Dauid, and to be with Dauid in Ioabs steade? As for Amasa, he laye rolled in the bloude in ye myddes of the strete. But 〈◊〉 one sawe that all the people stode there still, he remoued Amasa from the strete vnto the felde, and cast a clothe vpon him, for so moch as he sawe, that who so euer came by him, stode styll. Now whan he was put out of the waye, euery man wēte after Ioab, to folowe vpon Seba the sonne of Bichri.

And he wente thorow all ye trybes of Israel vnto Abel Beth Maacha, and all the best chosen men gathered them selues together, & folowed after him, and came and beseged him at Abel Beth Maacha, and made a banke aboute to cite harde on ye wall. And all the people that was with Ioab, layed to their ordynaunce, and wolde haue cast downe the wall.

Then cried there a wyse womā out of ye cite: Heare, heare, saye vnto Ioab that he come hither, I wyl speake with him. And whā he came to her, the woman sayde: Art thou Ioab? He sayde: Yee. She sayde vnto him: Heare the wordes of thy handmayden. He sayde: I heare. She sayde: The comonsayenge was somtyme: Who so wyll axe, let him axe at Abel, and so came it to a good ende. This is ye noble and faithfull cite in Israel, and wilt thou destroye the cite and the mother in Israel? Why wilt thou swalowe vp the enheritaunce of the LORDE?

Ioab answered and sayde: That be farre, that be farre fro me, that I shulde swalowe vp and destroye. The matter is not so, but a certayne man of mount Ephraim named Seba the sonne of Bichri, hath lifte vp him selfe agaynst kynge Dauid, delyuer him onely, and I wyl departe from the cite. The woman sayde vnto Ioab: Beholde, his heade shal be cast vnto the ouer the wall. And the woman came in to all the people with hir wyszdome. And they smote of the heade of Seba the sonne of Bichri, and cast it vnto Ioab. Then blewe he the trompe, and they departed from the cite, euery one vnto his tent. But Ioab came agayne to Ierusalem vnto the kynge.

〈…〉 Ioab was captayne ouer all the hoost of Israel: Benaia ye sonne of Ioiada was ouer the Chrethians and Plethians: Adoram was rent gatherer: Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was Chaunceler: Seia was the scrybe: Sadoc and Abiathar were the prestes: Ira also ye Iairite was Dauids prest.

The XXI. Chapter.

THere was a derth also in Dauids tyme thre yeares together. And Dauid soughte the face of ye LORDE. And the LORDE sayde: Because of Saul and be cause of that bloudy housholde 〈◊〉 . 22. d yt he slewe the Gibeonites. Then the kynge caused for to call the Gibeonites, and spake vnto them. (As for the Gibeonites, they were not of ye children of Israel, but a remnaunt of the Amorites: howbeit osu. 9. c the children of Israel had sworne vnto thē, and Saul soughte for to smyte them in his gelousy, for the childrē of Israel and Iuda.) Then sayde Dauid to the Gibeonites: What shal I do vnto you? And where withall shal I make the attonement, that ye maye blesse ye enheritaunce of ye LORDE? The Gibeonites sayde vnto him: It is not for golde and syluer that we haue to do wt Saul and his house, nether haue we oughte to do for to slaye eny mā in Israel.

He sayde: What saye ye then, that I shal do vnto you? They sayde vnto ye kynge: The man that hath destroyed vs and broughte vs to naughte, shulde we destroye, that nothinge be lefte him in all the coastes of Israel. Let there be geuen vs seuen men of his sonnes, that we maye hange them vp vnto the LORDE at Gibea of Saul the chosen of the LORDE. The kynge sayde: I wyll geue them. Howbeit the kynge spared Mephiboseth ye sonne of Ionathas ye sonne of Saul, because of the ooth of the LORDE yt was betwene them: 1. Re. 18. a 20. b. 23. c namely, betwene Dauid & Ionathas the sonne of Saul. But the two sonnes of Rispa ye doughter of Aia, whom she had borne vnto Saul, Armoni & Mephiboseth, And the fyue sonnes of Michol the doughter of Saul, whom she bare vnto Adriel the sonne of Barsillai the Mahalothite, dyd the kynge take, and gaue them in to the handes of ye Gibeonites, which hanged thē vp vpō the mount before the LORDE.

So these seuen fell at one tyme, and dyed in the tyme of the first haruest, whan ye barly haruest begynneth. Then toke Rispa the doughter of Aia a sackcloth, & spred it vpon the rock in the begynnynge of the haruest, tyll the water from the heauen dropped vpō them, and suffred not the foules of the heauen to rest on them on the daye tyme, nether the wylde beestes of the felde on the nighte season. And it was tolde Dauid what Rispa the doughter of Aia Sauls concubyne had done.

And Dauid wente and toke the bones of Saul and the bones of Ionathas his sonne from ye citesens at Iabes in Gilead (which they 1. Re. 1. c had stollen from ye strete at Bethsan, where ye Philistynes had hanged thē, what tyme as the Philistynes had smytten Saul vpon mount Gilboa) and broughte them vp from thence, and gathered them together wt the bones of them that were hanged. And 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 the bones of Saul and of his sonne Ionathas buried they in ye londe of Ben Iamin, besyde ye graue of his father Cis. So after this was God at one with the londe.

But there arose warre agayne of ye Philistynes agaynst Israel. And Dauid wente downe & his seruauntes with him, & foughte agaynst the Philistynes. And Dauid was weery, & Ieszbi of Nob (which was one of the children of Rapha, and the weight of his speare was thre C. weight of brasse, and had a new harnesse vpon him) thoughte to smyte Dauid. Neuertheles Abisai the sonne of Zeru Ia helped him, & smote the Philistyne to death. Then sware Dauids men vnto him, & sayde: . Re. 18. a Thou shalt nomore go forth with vs vnto the warre, that the lanterne in Israel be not put out.

Par. 1. a Afterwarde there arose yet warre at Nob with the Philistynes. Then Sibechai the Husathite smote Saph, which also was one of the childrē of Rapha.

And there arose yet warre at Gob with the Philistynes. Then Elhanan the sonne of Iaere Orgim a Bethleemite smote Goliath the Gethite, which had a speare, whose shaft was like a weeuers lome.

And there arose yet warre at Gath, where there was a cōtencious man, which had sixe fyngers on his handes, and sixe toes on his fete, that is foure and twēty in the nombre, and he was borne also of Rapha. And whan he spake despitefully vnto Israel, Ionathas ye sonne of Simea Dauids brother smote him. These foure were borne vnto Rapha at Gath, and fell thorow the hande of Dauid and of his seruauntes.

The XXII. Chapter.

ANd Dauid spake the wordes of this songe before the LORDE, what tyme as the LORDE had delyuered him frō the hande of all his enemies, and from the hande of Saul, and he sayde.

The LORDE is my stony rock, & my castell, and my delyuerer.

God is my strength, in him wyl I put my trust: my shylde & the horne of my saluacion, my defence & my refuge, my Sauioure, thou shalt helpe me from violent wronge.

Psal. 17. a I wil call vpon the LORDE with prayse, so shal I be delyuered fro myne enemies.

For the sorowes of death cōpased me, and the brokes of Belial made me afrayed.

The paynes of hell came aboute me, and the snares of death had ouertaken me.

Whā I was in trouble, I called vpō the LORDE, yee euen my God called I vpon, & so he herde my voyce frō his holy temple, & my cōplaynte (came) in to his eares.

The earth trembled and quaked, the foundacions of the heauen shoke and moued, be cause he was wroth.

Smoke wente vp from his nose, and consumynge fyre out of his mouth, coles were kyndled therof.

He bowed the heauens and came downe, and it was darke vnder his fete.

He sat vpon Cherub and dyd flye, and appeared vpon the fethers of the wynde.

He made darknes his pauylion rounde aboute him, thicke water in the cloudes of ye ayre.

At the brightnesse of him were the fyre coles kyndled.

The LORDE thondered from heauē, and the Hyest put forth his voyce.

He shot his arowes, and scatered them: he lightened, and discomfited them.

The pourynges out of the See were sene, and the foundacions of the earth were discouered at the chydinge of the LORDE, & at the breth of the sprete of his wrath.

He sent downe from aboue, and receaued me, and drue me out of many waters.

He delyuered me fro my stronge enemye, from them that hated me, for they were to mightie for me.

They ouertoke me in the tyme of my trouble, but the LORDE was my succoure.

He broughte me forth in to liberty: he delyuered me, because he had a fauoure vnto me.

The LORDE shal rewarde me after my righteousnes, and acordinge to the clennes of my handes shal he recompence me.

For I haue kepte ye waye of the LORDE, & haue not bene vngodly agaynst my God.

For I haue an eye vnto all his lawes, and haue not put his ordinaunces fro me.

Therfore wil I be perfecte vnto him, and wyl eshue myne awne wickednes.

So shal ye LORDE rewarde me after my righteousnes, acordinge to the clēnes of my handes in his eye sighte.

With the holy shalt thou be holy, and wt the perfecte thou shalt be perfecte.

With the cleane thou shalt be cleane, and with the frowarde thou shalt be frowarde.

For thou shalt saue the poore oppressed people, and shalt set thine eyes agaynst the proude to brynge them downe.

For thou O LORDE art my lanterne. The LORDE shal lighte my darknesse.

For in ye I shal discōfite an hoost of men, & in my God I shal leape ouer the wall.

The waye of God is perfecte: ye wordes of the LORDE are tryed in the fyre: he is a shylde for all thē that put their trust in him.

For where is there a God, excepte ye LORDE? Or who hath eny strength without oure God?

God hath strēgthed me with power, and made playne a perfecte waye for me.

He hath made my fete like hartes fete, & hath set me vp an hye.

He teacheth my handes to fighte, and bendeth the stele bowe with myne armes.

And thou hast geuen me the shylde of ye health, and with ye louynge correccion shalt thou multiplye me.

Thou hast enlarged my goinge vnder me, and myne ankles haue not slyded.

I wyl folowe vpon myne enemies, and destroye thē: and wyl not turne backe agayne, tyll I haue broughte them to naught.

I wil cōsume them and thrust them thorow, that they come not vp: they shal fall vnder my fete.

Thou hast girded me with strength to ye battayll, and hast subdued them vnder me yt rose vp agaynst me.

Thou hast made myne enemies to turne their backes vpō me, that I might destroye them that hate me.

They shal crye, but there shalbe no Sauioure: yee euen vnto the LORDE, but he answereth them not.

I wil beate them as small as the dust of the earth: euen as ye claye of the stretes wil I make them thynne, and sprede them out abrode.

But me shalt thou delyuer from the stryuynges of the people, and shalt kepe me to be ye heade of the Heythen: A people whom I haue not knowne shal serue me.

The straunge children haue denyed me: at the hearynge of the eare shal they herkē vnto me.

The straunge children are waxen olde, & are shut vp in their presons.

The LORDE lyueth, and blessed be my God, and magnified be the strength of my health.

God seyth that I be auenged, and subdueth the people vnto me.

He bryngeth me out fro myne enemies: & from them yt ryse vp agaynst me, shalt thou exalte me, and from ye cruell man shalt thou delyuer me.

〈◊〉 . 15. a For this cause wyl I geue thankes vnto the amonge the Heythen, and synge prayses vnto thy name.

Which doth greate health for his kynge, & sheweth mercy vnto Dauid his anoynted, and to his sede for euermore.

The XXIII. Chapter.

THese are the last wordes of Dauid: Dauid the sonne of Isai sayde. The man, that was set vp to be ye anoynted of the God of Iacob, & a pleasaunt dyter of songes of Israel, sayde: The sprete of the LORDE hath spoken by me, and the vtteraunce therof is done thorow my tunge. He sayde: The God of Israel hath spokē vnto me, the strength of Israel, the gouernoure amonge men, the righteous gouernoure in the feare of God. As the lighte is in ye mornynge whan the Sonne aryseth, so that for the brightnesse therof no cloude remayneth: and as the grasse loketh vpon the earth thorow the rayne, euen so shal my house be with God. 2. Re. 7. c For he hath made an euerlastinge couenaunt with me, well appoynted on euery syde and sure. For this is all my health & pleasure, that it shal growe. But the Belial shal be vtterly & cleane roted out as the thornes, which mē take not in their hādes. And they yt touch them, shal destroye them wt yrons & speares: & in the fyre shal they be brent, that they maye be broughte to naught.

These are the names of Dauids Worthies: Iasabeam ye sonne of Hachmoni,1. Par. 12. the chefest amonge thre, which lifte vp his speare, & slewe eight hundreth at one tyme.

After him was Eleasar the sonne of Dodi the sonne of Ahohi amonge the thre Worthies with Dauid, whan they spake despytefully to the Philistynes, and were gathered together to the battayll, and the men of Israel wente vp. Then stode he vp and smote the Philistynes, tyll his hande was so weery that it cromp ed with the swerde. And the LORDE gaue a greate victory at the same tyme, so that the people turned after him to spoyle. After him was Samma the sonne of Age ye Hararite. Whā the Philistynes had gathered themselues in a company, and in the same place there was a pece of lōde full of small corne, and the people fled before the Philistynes, thē stode he in the myddes of ye pece of londe & delyuered it, & smote ye Philistynes. And God gaue a greate victory.

And these thre pryncipall amonge thirtie, came downe in the haruest vnto Dauid,1. Par. 12. c in to the caue of Adullam, & the hoost of ye Philistynes laye in ye valley of Rephaim. But Dauid was at the same tyme in the castell, and ye Philistynes people laye at Bethleem. And Dauid was desyrous, and sayde: Wolde God yt some man wolde fetch me a drynke of water out of the well at Bethleem vnder the gate. Thē brake the thre Worthies in to the hoost of the Philistynes, and drue of the water out of the well at Bethleem vnder ye gate, & caried it & broughte it vnto Dauid: neuertheles he wolde not drynke it, but offred it vnto the LORDE, & sayde: The LORDE let this be farre fro me, that I shulde do it. Is it not the bloude of the men that ioperded their lyues, and wente thither? And he wolde not drynke it. This dyd the thre Worthies.

. Par. 12. c . Re. 21. d Abisai ye brother of Ioab the sonne of Zeru Ia was one also chefe amōge thre. He lifte vp his speare & smote thre hundreth, & was an awncient man amōge thre, & the noblest amonge thre, & was their ruler. But he came not vnto the thre. . Par. 12. And Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, the sonne of Ishail (a man of greate actes of Cabzeell) smote two mightie giaūtes of ye Moabites, & wēte downe, & slewe a lyon at a well in the snowe tyme. He smote also a fayre goodly man of Egipte, which had a speare in his hande. But he wē te downe to him with a staffe, and toke the speare out of the Egipcians hande by violence, and slewe him with his owne speare. This dyd Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, and was a famous man amōge thre Worthies, and more honorable then the thirtie, but he came not vnto the thre. And Dauid made him of his secrete coūcell.

Asahel the brother of Ioab is amonge ye thirtie: Elham his vncles sonne at Bethleem. Samma the Haradite, Elika the Haradite, Helez the Paltite, Ira the sonne of Tekoite, Abiser the Anthothite, Mebunai the Husathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maherai the Netophatite, Ithai the sonne of Ribai of Gibea of the childrē of Ben Iamin, Benaia the Pirgathonite, Hidai of the broke of Gaas, Abialbon the Arbathite, Asmaueth the Bahumite, Eliaheba the Baalbonite. The children of Iasen and Ionathas: Samma the Hararite, Eliphelet the sonne of Ahaszbai ye sonne of Maechathi, Eliam the sonne of Achitophel ye Gilonite, Hesrai of Carmel, Paerai the Arbite, Iegael the sonne of Nathan of Soba Bani the Gadite, Zeleg the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the weapen bearer of Ioab the sonne of Zeru Ia, Ira the Iethrite, Gareb the Iethrite, Vri s the Hethite. These are alltogether seuen and thirtie.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

ANd the LORDE was wrothfully displeased of ye new agaynst Israel, 〈…〉 and moued Dauid amonge them, because he saide: Go, nombre Israel and Iuda. And the kynge sayde vnto Ioab ye chefe captayne of his hoost: Go aboute in all the trybes of Israel, from Dan vnto Berseba, and nombre the people, that I maye knowe how many they be. Ioab sayde vnto the kynge: The LORDE thy God adde vnto this people an hundreth tymes as moch as it is now, that my lorde the kynge maye se his eyes lust theron. But why hath my lorde the kynge a desyre to this thinge? Neuertheles the kynges worde preuayled agaynst Ioab and the captaynes of the hoost.

So Ioab and ye captaynes of the hoost wente forth from the kynge, to nombre the people of Israel, and passed ouer Iordane, and pitched at Aroer, at the righte hande of the cite which lyeth in ye ryuer of Gad, and at Iaseer, & came to Gilead, and in the lowe countre of Hadsi, and came vnto Dan Iaan, and aboute Sidon, and came to the stronge cite of Tyrus, and all the cities of the Heuites and Cananites, and came forth to the south parte of Iuda vnto Berseba, and wē te rounde aboute that countre, and after nyne monethes and twenty daies they came to Ierusalem. And Ioab delyuered vnto ye kynge the summe of the people that was nombred. And in Israel there were eight C. thousande stronge men, that drue out the swerde: and in Iuda fyue hundreth thousande men. And after that the people was nombred, Dauids hert smote him selfe. And Dauid sayde vnto ye LORDE: I haue synned sore, that I haue done this. And now LORDE take awaie the trespace of thy seruaunt. For I haue done very vnwysely.

And whan Dauid rose vp in the mornynge, the worde of the LORDE came vnto the prophet Gad, Dauids Seer, & sayde: Go & speake vnto Dauid. Thus sayeth the LORDE I brynge the thre thinges, chose the one of them, that I maye do it vnto the. Gad came vnto Dauid, and tolde him, and sayde vnto him: Wilt thou that seuen yeare derth shall come in to thy londe? Or that thou be fayne to flye before thine aduersaries thre monethes, and they to persecute the? Or that there be pestilence thre dayes in the londe? Take aduysement therfore and se, what answere I shal bringe agayne vnto him yt sent me.

Dauid sayde vnto Gad: I am in extreme trouble. 〈…〉 Neuertheles (yf it maye be) let me rather fall in to ye handes of the LORDE (for his mercy is greate) I wyll not fall in to the handes of men.

So the LORDE sent pestilēce in to Israel from the morow vnto the tyme appoynted, so that there dyed of the people from Dan vnto Berseba, thre score and ten thousande men. And whan the angel stretched his hande ouer Ierusalem to destroye it, the LORDE repented ouer the euell, and sayde vnto the angell: It is ynough, holde now thy hande. The angell of the LORDE was besyde the barne of Arafna the Iebusite. But whan Dauid sawe the angell that smote the people, he sayde vnto the LORDE: beholde, It is I that haue synned, I haue done the trespace: As for these shepe, what haue they done? Oh let thy hāde be agaynst me and agaynst my fathers house.

And Gad came to Dauid at the same tyme, and saide vnto him: Go vp, and set vp an altare vnto the LORDE in ye barne of Arafna the Iebusite. So Dauid wēte vp as Gad sayde, and as the LORDE had commaunded. And whā Arafna loked aboute him, he sawe the kynge with his seruauntes goinge vnto him, and he worshipped vpon his face to the grounde, and sayde: Wherfore commeth my lorde ye kynge vnto his seruaunt? Dauid sayde: To bye the barne of the, and to buylde an altare vnto the LORDE, that the plage maye ceasse from the people.

But Arafna sayde vnto Dauid: Let my lorde the kynge take it, and offre what pleaseth him. Beholde, there is an oxe for a burnt offerynge, and sleddes, and vessels of oxen to the wodd. All this gaue Arafna vnto the kynge. And Arafna sayde vnto ye kynge: The LORDE thy God make the accepted vnto him. Neuertheles ye kynge sayde vnto Arafna: Not so, but I wyll bye it of the for as moch as it is worth. For I wyl not offre burnt offerynges vnto ye LORDE, of yt which I haue for naughte. So Dauid boughte the barne and the oxe for fiftye Sicles of syluer, and buylded an altare there vnto the LORDE, and offred burnt offerynges & deed offerynges. And the LORDE was mercifull vnto ye londe, and ye plage ceassed from the people of Israel.

The ende of the seconde boke of the kynges, otherwyse called the seconde boke of Samuel.
The thyrde boke of the kynges. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I Adonias seketh his fathers kyngdome, Salomon is ordeyned kynge. Chap. II. Dauid before his death exhorteth Salomō to godlynes. Adonias, Ioab and Semei are put to death. Abiathar is deposed from the presthode. Chap. III. Salomō optayneth wyszdome of God. The wise sentence of Salomon betwene the two wemen that stroue for the childe. Chap. IIII. The descripcion of Salomons kyngdome, and of his wyszdome. Chap. V. Hiram the kinge of Tyre sendeth Salomon connynge craftesmen to buylde the Temple. Chap. VI. The descripcion of the time whā Salomon beganne to buylde the Temple, and how it was buylded. Chap. VII. Salomon buyldeth himselfe an house of the tymber of mount Libanus. Chap. VIII. The Arke of the LORDE is brought in to Salomons temple. The thankesgeuynge and prayer of Salomon. Chap. IX. The LORDE appeareth vnto Salomon, which geueth Hiram twenty cities &c. Chap. X. Quene Saba hearynge of Salomons wyszdome, commeth to Ierusalem. Chap. XI. Salomon displeaseth God with the loue of Heythenysh wemen. God deuydeth his kyngdome, he dyeth. Chap. XII. Roboam foloweth yonge councell, and maketh the people to cleue to Ieroboam, which setteth vp Idolatry with the two golden calues. Chap. XIII. Ieroboam despiseth the prophet of the LORDE, is punyshed, & receaued to grace agayne. A Lyon slayeth the dishobedient prophet. Chap. XIIII. Ieroboam dyeth, his sonne Nadab is kynge. Of Roboams dominion. Chap. XV. Abia reigneth in Iuda, after hī reigneth Asa, which hath warre with Baasa the kynge of Israel, After him reigneth Iosaphath: and Baesa dyeth. Chap. XVI. Ella reigneth in steade of his father Baesa. Simri slayeth him, and taketh the kyngdome. The people are deuided. Achab is kynge. Chap. XVII. A greate drouth & derth in Elias tyme. The LORDE fedeth him thorow the Rauens, and by the wedowe at Sarepta. Chap. XVIII. Elias commeth agayne vnto Achab. All Baals prestes are slayne. Chap. XIX. Iesebel threateneth Elias, he flieth, and is fed and strengthed by the angell. The LORDE talketh with him vpon mount Horeb Eliseus is called. Chap. XX. Benadab the kynge of Siria fighteth agaynst Samaria and Israel, is ouercome and discomfited. Chap. XXI. Achab oppresseth Naboth for his vynyarde. Elias rebuketh him. Chap. XXII. Iosaphat ande Achab helpe one another to fighte. The prophet Micheas warueth them.
The first Chapter.

ANd whā kinge Dauid was olde & well stryckē in age, he coulde not be warme, though he was couered with clothes. Then sayde his seruauntes vnto him: Let vs seke a yonge damsell a virgin for oure lorde the kynge, to stonde before the kynge, and to norish him, & to slepe in his armes, and to warme oure lorde the kynge. And they sought a fayre dā sell in all the coastes of Israel, and founde Abisag of Sunem, and brought her vnto ye kynge. And she was a very fayre damsell, and noryshed ye kynge, and serued him. Howbeit the kynge knewe her not.

Adonias ye sonne of Hagith lifte vp him selfe, and sayde: I wyl be kynge. And he prepared him charettes and horsmen, and fyftie men to be renners on fote before him. And his father reproued hī not therfore, so moch as to saye: Wherfore doest thou so? And he was a man of a very fayre bewtye Reg. 3. a and he had begotten him nexte after Absalō. And his matter stode by Ioab ye sonne of Zeru Ia and by Abiathar the prest, which helped Adonias. But Sadoc the prest, and Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, and Nathan the prest and Semei and Rei, and Dauids Worthies were not with Adonias.

And whā Adonias offred shepe and oxē, and fat catell besyde the stone of Soheleth, which lyeth by the su. 15. b 〈◊〉 1 . c well of Rogel, he called all his brethrē the kynges sonnes, and all the men of Iuda the kynges seruaūtes. But the prophet Nathan and Benaia, and the Worthies, and his brother Salomon called he not. Then sayde Nathan vnto Bethseba Salomons mother: Hast thou not herde yt Adonias is kynge, and oure lorde Dauid knoweth not therof? Come now therfore, I wyll geue the councell, that thou mayest delyuer thy soule and the soule of thy sonne Salomon. Come now and go in to kinge Dauid and saye vnto him: Hast not thou my lorde the kynge sworne and sayde vnto thy handmayden: Salomon thy sonne shall be kynge after me, and he shall sytt vpon my seate? Why is then Adonias made kynge? Beholde, while thou art yet there, and talkest with the kynge, I wyll come in after the, and tell forth thy tayle. And Bethseba wente in to the kynge to ye chamber. And the kynge was very olde. And Abisag of Sunem serued the kynge. And Bethseba bowed hirselfe, and worshipped the kynge.

The kynge sayde: What wilt thou? She sayde vnto him: My lorde, Thou hast sworne vnto thy handmayde by the LORDE thy God: Thy sonne Salomon shall be kynge after me and syt vpon my seate. But now lo, Adonias is kynge, and my lorde the kynge knoweth it not. He hath offred oxen and fat catell, and many shepe, and hath called all the kynges sonnes, and Abiathar the prest, and Ioab the chefe captayne. But thy seruaunt Salomon hath he not bydden. Neuertheles thou my lorde art kynge, the eyes of all Israel loke vnto the., that thou shuldest shewe them who shall syt vpon the seate of my lorde the kynge after the. And whā my lorde the kynge slepeth with his fathers then shal I and my sonne Salomon be fayne to be synners.

But whyle she yet spake to the kynge, the prophet Nathan came, and she tolde ye kinge: beholde, there is the prophet Nathan. And whan he came in before the kynge, he worshipped the kynge vpon his face to the grounde, and sayde My lorde O kynge, hast thou saide: Adonias shal be kinge after me, & syt vpō my seate? For he is gone downe this daye, and hath offred oxen, and fat catell, & hath called all the kynges sonnes, and the captaynes, and the prest Abiathar. And beholde, they eate and drynke before him, and saye: God saue the kynge Adonias. But me thy seruaunt, and Sadoc the prest, and Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, and thy seruaunt Salomon hath he not called. Hath my lorde the kynge commaunded this, and not certifyed his seruauntes who shall sytt vpon the seate of my lorde the kynge after him?

The kinge answered and saide: Call Bethseba vnto me. And she came in before the kinge. And whan she stode before the kynge, the kynge sware and sayde: As truly as the LORDE lyueth (which hath delyuered my soule out of trouble,) I wyl do vnto the this daye, euen as I sware vnto the by the LORDE the God of Israel, so that Salomon thy sonne shalbe kynge after me, and he shal sit pon my seate in my steade-

Then Bethseba bowed hir selfe with hir face to the grounde, and thanked the kynge and sayde: God saue my lorde kynge Dauid for euermore. And the kynge sayde: Call me the prest Sadoc & the prophet Nathan, and Benaia the sonne of Ioiada.

And whan they came in before the kynge, the kynge sayde vnto them: Take youre lordes seruauntes with you, and set my sonne Salomon vpon my Mule, and cary him downe to Gihon: and let Sadoc ye prest and the prophet Nathan, anoynte him there to be kynge ouer Israel, and blowe the trompe, and saye: God saue kynge Salomon, and go ye vp after him: and whan he commeth, he shal syt vpō my seate, and be kynge in my steade: for I haue ordeyned him to be prynce ouer Israel and Iuda. Then answered Benaia the sonne of Ioiada vnto the kynge, & sayde: Amen. The LORDE God of my lorde the kynge saye thus also. As the LORDE hath bene with my lorde the kynge, so be he with Salomon also, that his seate maye be greater then the seate of my lorde kynge Dauid.

Then wente they downe, the prest Sadoc and the prophet Nathan, and Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, and the Chrethians, & Plethians, & set Salomon vpon kynge Dauids Mule, & broughte him to Gihon. And Sadoc the prest toke the oyle horne out of the Tabernacle, and anoynted Salomon. And they blewe the trompe: And all ye people sayde: God saue kynge Salomon.

And all the people wente vp after him, and the people pyped with pypes, and was very ioyfull, so that the earth range at the noyse of them. And Adonias herde it, and all they whom he had called, which were wt him, and they had new eaten. And whan Ioab herde the noyse of the trompe, he sayde: What meaneth this noyse of the cite and this busynes? But whyle he yet spake, beholde, Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar ye prest came.

And Adonias sayde: Come in, for thou art a valeaunt man, and bryngest good tydinges. Ionathas answered and sayde vnto Adonias: Alas, or lorde kynge Dauid hath made Salomon kynge, and hath sent with him Sadoc the prest, and the propheth Nathan, and Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, and the Chrethians and Plethians, and they haue set him vpon the kynges Mule: and Sadoc ye prest with the prophet Nathan hath anoynted him kynge at Gihon, and from thē ce are they gone vp with ioye, that the cite range with all: that is the noyse that ye haue herde.

Salomon also sytteth vpō the kynges seate, and the kynges seruauntes are gone in to wysh good lucke vnto ouer lorde kynge Dauid, and haue sayde: Thy God make Salomon a better name then thy name is, and make his seate greater then thy seate. And they haue wyszshed the kynge good lucke vpon the bed. Morouer ye kynge hath sayde thus: Praysed be ye LORDE God of Israel, which this daye hath made one to syt vpon my seate, that myne eyes haue sene it.

Then were they afrayed, and gatt them vp all that were called by Adonias, and so they departed euery man his waye. But Adonias was afrayed of Salomon, and gat him vp, and wēte his waye, & toke holde of ye hornes of ye altare. And it was tolde Salomon: beholde, Adonias feareth kynge Salomō, & beholde, he taketh holde of the hornes of ye altare, & sayeth: Let kīge Salomō sweare vnto me this daye, that he shall not slaye his seruaunt with the swerde. Salomon sayde: Yf he wil be an honest man, there shall not one heer fall from him vpon the earth: but yf there be euell founde in him, he shall dye. And kinge Salomō sent, and caused him to be fetched Exo. 21. b from the altare. And whan he came, he fell downe before kynge Salomon. But Salomon sayde vnto him: Go ye waye in to thy house.

The II. Chapter.

NOw whan the tyme came that Dauid shulde dye, he commaunded Salomon his sonne, and sayde: Iosu. 2 . d I go the waye of all the worlde, Be thou strōge therfore, and shewe thyselfe a man, and kepe the watch of the LORDE thy God, that thou walke in his wayes, and holde his ordinaunces, his commaundementes, his lawes, and his testimonies, Deut. 7. d as it is written in the lawe of Moses, that thou mayest be wyse in all that thou doest, and whither so euer thou turnest the: that the LORDE maye rayse vp his worde, which he hath spokē ouer me, and saide: Yf thy children kepe their waye and walke before me faithfully and truly and with all their hert and withall their soule, thē shal there neuer fayle the a man vpon the seate of Israel.

Thou knowest well also what Ioab the sonne of Zeru Ia hath done vnto me, what he dyd vnto the two chefe captaynes of Israel, 2. Re. 3. e Abner the sonne of Ner, and 2. Re. 20. Amasa the sonne of Iether, whom he slewe and shed the bloude of warre whā it was peace, & put the bloude of warre vpon his girdel yt was aboute his loynes, and in his shues that were vpon his fete: Do thou acordynge to thy wyszdome, that thou brynge not his graye heer downe to the graue in peace.

And to the children of Barsyllai the Gileadite, thou shalt shewe mercy, that they maye eate at thy table. For so ioined they thē selues vnto me, whan I fled before thy brother Absalom. And beholde, thou hast with the 2. Re. 16. b Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini of Bahurim, which cursed me with very bytter and shamefull cursynges, what tyme as I wente to Mahanaim. Yet2 Re 19. d came he downe to mete me at Iordan, where I sware vnto him by the LORDE, and sayde: I wyll not slaye the with the swerde. But suffre not thou him to be vngiltye, for thou art a wyse man, and shalt wel knowe what thou oughtest to do vnto him, that thou mayest brynge his graye heer downe to the graue with bloude.

Act. 2. c and 13. d So Dauid slepte with his fathers, and was buried in the cite of Dauid. The tyme that Dauid was kynge ouer Israel, is fortie yeare.2. Reg. 5. a Seuen yeares was he kynge at Hebrō and thre and thirtie yeare at Ierusalem. And Salomon sat vpon the seate of Dauid his father,1. Pa. 30. e and his kyngdome was made very sure.

But Adonias the sonne of Hagith came in to Bethseba Salomons mother. And she sayde: Is thy commynge peaceable? He spake: Yee, and sayde: I haue somwhat to aye to the. She sayde: Saye on. He sayde: Thou knowest that the kyngdome was myne, and that all Israel had sett them selues vpon me, that I shulde be kynge, but now is the kyngdome turned, and become my brothers: for he hath it of the LORDE.

Now desyre I one peticion of the, Make not my face ashamed. She sayde vnto him: Saye on. He sayde: Speake vnto kynge Salomon (for that is: He shall not denye the thy pe icion. he shall not shame thy face) that he maye geue me Abisag to wyfe. Bethseba sayde: Wel, I wil speake to the kynge for the.

And Bethseba came in to kynge Salomon to speake with him. And the kynge stode vp, and wente to mete her, and worshipped her, and sat him downe vpon his seate. And there was a chayre set for the kynges mother, so that she sat at his righte hande. And she sayde: One peticion desyre I of the make not my face ashamed. The kynge saydt: Axe O my mother, I wyl not shame thy face. She saide: Let Abisag of Sunem be geuen thy brother Adonias to wyfe.

Then answered kynge Salomon, and saide vnto his mother: Why desyrest thou Abisag of Sunem for Adonias? Axe the kyngdome or him also, for he is my greater brother, 〈…〉 and hath Abiathar the prest, and Ioab the sonne of Zeru Ia. And the kynge sware by the LORDE, and sayde: God do this and that vnto me, Adonias shall haue spoken this agaynst his lyfe. And now as truly as the LORDE lyueth which hath ordeyned me, and made me to syt vpon the seate of my father Dauid, and hath made me a house ( 〈…〉 acordynge as he sayde) this daye shal Adonias dye.

And kynge Salomon sent thither by Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, which smote him that he dyed. And to the prest Abiathar sayde ye kynge: Go thy waye vnto Anathoe to thy londe, for thou art a man of deeth. Neuerthelesse I wyl not slaye the this daye for thou hast borne the Arke of the LORDE God before my father Dauid, and hast suffred also where my father suffred.

Thus Salomō put forth Abiathar, that he must nomore be the prest of the LORDE, that the worde of the LORDE mighte be fulfilled, 〈…〉 which he spake ouer the house of Eli at Silo.

And this rumoure came before Ioab: for Ioab cleued vnto Adonias, and not vnto Salomon. Then fled Ioab in to the Tabernacle of the LORDE, and toke holde of the hornes of the altare. And it was tolde kynge Salomon, that Ioab was fled in to the Tabernacle of the LORDE, and beholde, he stondeth at the altare.

Then sent Salomon Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, and sayde: Go slaye him. And whan Benaia came to the Tabernacle of the LORDE, he sayde vnto him: Thus sayeth the kynge: Come forth. He sayde: No, I wyl dye here. And Benaia tolde this vnto the kynge agayne. and sayde: Thus hath Ioab spoken, and thus hath he answered me.

The kinge saide vnto him: Do as he hath spoken, and slaye him, and bury him, that thou mayest put fro me and my fathers house the bloude which Ioab hath shed with out a cause, and that the LORDE maye recompence him his bloude vpon his heade, because he smote two men, which were more righteous and better then he, and slewe them with ye swerde that my father Dauid knewe not of: namely, 〈…〉 Abner ye sonne of Ner the chefe captaine ouer Israel, & Amasa the sonne of Iether ye chefe captaine ouer Iuda yt their bloude maye be recompensed vpō ye heade of Ioab and of his sede for euer: 〈…〉 but Dauid and his sede, his house and his seate haue peace for euermore of the LORDE.

And Benaia the sonne of Ioiada wente vp, and smote him, and slewe him: & he was buried in his house in the wyldernes. And ye kynge set Benaia ye sonne of Ioiada in his steade ouer the hoost. And 〈…〉 Sadoc ye prest dyd the kynge set in the steade of Abiathar.

And the kynge sent, and caused for to call Semei, and sayde vnto him: Buylde the an house at Ierusalem, and dwell there, and departe not from thence, nether hither ner thither. In what daye so euer thou departest forth, and goest ouer ye broke Cedron, be thou sure, that thou shalt dye the deeth: thy bloude be vpon thy heade. Semei sayde vnto the kynge: This is a good meanynge, as my lorde the kynge hath sayde, so shal thy seruaunt do. So Semei dwelt at Ierusalem a longe season. But after thre yeare it fortuned that two seruauntes ranne awaye from Semei vnto Achis the sonne of Maecha kynge of Gath.

And it was tolde Semei: beholde, thy seruauntes are at Gath. Then Semei gat him vp, and sadled his asse, and wēte vnto Gath to Achis, for to seke his seruaūtes. And whā he came thither, he broughte his seruauntes from Gath.

And it was tolde Salomon, that Semei wente from Ierusalem vnto Gath, and was come agayne. Then sent the kynge, and caused for to call Semei, and sayde vnto him: Sware not I to the by the LORDE, and assured the, and sayde: Loke what daye so euer thou departest out and goest hither or thither, be sure that thou shalt dye the death? And thou saydest vnto me: I haue herde a good meanynge. Why hast thou not kepte the then acordinge to the ooth of the LORDE, and commaundement that I commaunded the?

And the kynge sayde vnto Semei: Thou remembrest all ye wickednes, which thy hert knoweth 〈…〉 that thou dyddest vnto my father Dauid. The LORDE hath recompenced ye thy wickednes vpon thy heade. And kynge Salomon is blessed, and the seate of Dauid shalbe stablished before ye LORDE for euer. And the kynge commaunded Benaia ye sonne of Ioiada, which wente forth, and smote him that he dyed. And the kyngdome was stablished by Salomons hande.

The III. Chapter.

ANd Salomon made mariage wt Pharao the kynge of Egipte, & toke Pharaos doughter, and broughte her in to the cite of Dauid, tyll he had buylded his house, and the LORDES house, and the walles rounde aboute Ierusalem. But the people offred yet vpon the hye places: for as yet there was no house buylded vnto the name of the LORDE vnto that tyme. But Salomon loued the LORDE, and walked after the ordinaunces of Dauid his father: excepte onely that he offred and brent incense vpon the hye places.

2. Par. 1. a And the kynge wente vnto Gibeon, to do sacrifice there: for that was a goodly hye place. And Salomon offred a thousande burnt offerynges vpon the same altare. 3. Reg. 9. a And the LORDE appeared vnto Salomon at Gibeon in a dreame of the nighte, and God sayde: Axe what I shal geue ye. Salomō saide: Thou hast done greate mercy vnto my father Dauid thy seruaunt. Like as he walked before the in faithfulnes and righteousnes, and in a true hert with the, & this greate mercy hast thou layed vp for him, and geuen him a sonne to syt vpon his seate, as it is now come to passe.

Sap. 9. a Now LORDE my God, thou hast made thy seruaunt kynge in my father Dauids steade: As for me, I am but a small yonge man, knowynge nether my outgoynge ner ingoynge. And thy seruaunt is amonge the people whom thou hast chosen: which is so greate, that no man can nombre them ner descrybe them for multitude. Geue thy seruaunt therfore an obedient hert, that he maye iudge thy people, & vnderstonde what is good & bad: for who is able to iudge this thy mightie people?

This pleased the LORDE well, that Salomon axed soch a peticion. And God sayde vnto him: For so moch as thou axest this, and desyrest not longe lyfe, nether riches, nether ye soules of thine enemies, but vnderstō dinge to heare iudgment, beholde, therfore haue I done acordynge to thy wordes. Eccle. 1. c Beholde, I haue geuen the an hert of wyszdome and vnderstondynge, so that soch one as thou hath not bene before the, nether shall ryse vp after the.

Yee and that thou hast not prayed for, haue I geuen the also, namely, ryches, and honoure, so that amonge the kynges in ye tyme there is not soch one as thou. And yf thou wilt walke in my wayes, so that thou kepe myne ordinaunces and lawes, . Re. 15. a as Dauid thy father hath walked, then wyll I geue the a longe lyfe.

And whan Salomon awaked, beholde, it was a dreame, 2. Par. 1. b and he came to Ierusalē, and stode before the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt, and offred burnt offerynges, and health offeringes, and made a greate feast vnto his seruauntes.

At the same tyme came there two harlottes vnto ye kynge, and stode before him. And the one woman sayde: Oh my lorde, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delyuered of a childe in the house with her: & on the thirde daye after that I was delyuered, she was delyuered of a childe also. And we were together, so yt there was no straunger in ye house, but we two: & this womans sonne died in the nighte (for she smoored him in the slepe) and she rose vp in the nighte, and toke my sonne fro my syde (where thy handmayde slepte,) and layed it in hir arme, and hir deed sonne layed she in myne arme. And whan I rose vp in the mornynge to geue my sonne sucke, beholde, he was deed. But in the mornynge I loked well, and beholde, it was not my sonne, whom I had borne.

The other woman sayde: Not so, my sonne lyueth, and thy sonne is deed. But she sayde: Not so, thy sonne is deed, and my sonne liueth. And thus spake they before the kynge. And the kynge sayde: This womā saieth: my sonne lyueth and thy sonne is deed: Yonder woman sayeth: Not so, thy sonne is deed, & my sonne lyueth. And the kynge saide: Fetch me a swerde. And whan the swerde was brought before the kynge, the kynge sayde: Parte the lyuynge childe in two partes, and geue this woman the one halfe, and yonder woman the other halfe.

Then sayde the woman whose sonne lyued, vnto ye kinge: (for hir motherly hert was kyndled with pite ouer hir sonne) Oh my lorde, geue hir the childe alyue, and kyll it not. But the other sayde: Let it nether be myne ner thine, but let it be parted. Then answered the kynge, and sayde: Geue this woman the lyuynge childe, and slaye it not, for she is his mother. And all Israel herde of this iudgment that the kynge had geuen: and they feared the kynge, for they sawe that ye wysdome of God was in him to kepe iudgmēt.

The IIII. Chapter.

THus was Salomon kynge ouer all Israel. And these were his prynces: Asaria the sonne of Sadoc the prest: Elihoreph, and Ahi Ia the sonnes of Sisa, were prestes: Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was chaunceler: Benaia ye sonne of Ioiada was the chefe captayne: Sadoc and Abiathar were prestes: Asaria the sonne of Nathan was ouer the officers: Sabud the sonne of Nathan the prest was the kynges frende: Ahisar was stewarde: Adoniram the sonne of Abda was rent gatherer.

And Salomon had twolue offycers ouer all Israel, which made prouysion of fode for the kynge and his house: One had a moneth longe in ye yeare to make prouysion: The sonne of Hur vpon mount Ephraim. The sonne of Deber at Macaz and at Saalbaim, & at Bethsames, and at Elon, and Beth Hanā. The sonne of Hased at Aruboth, and had therto Socho and all the londe of Hepher. The sonne of Abinadab all ye lordshippe at Dor: & had Taphat Salomōs doughter to wife. Baena ye sonne of Ahilud at Thaenach & at Magiddo, & ouer all Beth Sean, which lyeth besyde Zarthana vnder Iesrael from Beth Sean vnto the playne of Mehelo, tyll the other syde of Iakmeam. The sonne of Geber at Ramoth in Gilead: he had the townes of Iair the sonne of Manasse in Gilead, and had ye coastes of Argob which lyeth in Basan, euen thre score greate walled cities, and with brasen barres. Ahinadab ye sonne of Iddo at Mahanaim. Ahimaas in Nephtali: and he also toke Basmath Salomons doughter to wife. Baena the sonne of Husai in Asser and at Aloth. Iosaphat the sonne of Paruha in Isachar. Semei the sonne of Ela in Ben Iamin. Geber the sonne of Vri in the londe of Gilead, in the londe of Sihon kynge of the Amorites, and of Og the kynge in Basan. One officer was in the same londe. As for Iuda and Israel, they were in nombre as the sonde of the see, and ate and dronke, and were mery. 〈…〉 Thus was Salomō lorde ouer all the kyngdomes (from the water of the londe of the Philistynes, vnto the border of Egipte) which broughte him giftes, and serued him as longe as he lyued.

And Salomon had daylie to his vytayles thirtye quarters of fyne meel, thre score quarters of other meel, ten fat oxen, and twē ty small catell, and an hundreth shepe, beside hartes and Roes, and wilde goates, and fat capons, and foules. For he had the lordshippe of all the londe on this syde the water, frō Tiphsa vnto Gasa, and ouer all ye kynges on this syde ye water: & had peace of all his subiectes rounde aboute, so that Iuda and Israel dwelt safe, euery one vnder his vyne, and vnder his figge tre, from Dan vnto Berseba, as longe as Salomon lyued.

And Salomō had fortye thousande cart horses, and twolue thousande horsmen. And the officers prouyded the kynge Salomon with vytayles: and whatsoeuer belonged to the kynges table, that brought euery man in his moneth, and myssed not: Barlye also & strawe for the horses and coursers, & broughte them vnto the place where ye kynge was, euery one after his charge.

〈◊〉 . 1. c And God gaue Salomon maruelous greate wyszdome and vnderstondinge, and a large hert, as the sonde that lyeth vpon ye See shore: so that the wyszdome of Salomon was greater then the wyszdome of all the children towarde the south and of all ye Egipcians. And he was wyser then all men, yee wyser then Ethan the Esrahite, Heman, Chalcal, and Darda, the sonnes of Mahol: and had a greate name amonge all the Heythē on euery syde. And he spake thre thousande 〈…〉 prouerbes, & his 〈…〉 songes were a thousande & fyue. And he spake of trees, from ye Ceder of Libanus vnto the Isope yt groweth out of ye wall: he talked also of catell, of foules, of wormes, of fiszshes. And there came of all nacions to heare ye wyszdome of Salomon, and there came of all the kynges of ye earth, which had herde of his wyszdome.

The V. Chapter.

ANd Hiram ye kynge of Tyre sent his seruauntes vnto Salomon, for he had herde, yt they had anoynted him kynge in his fathers steade: For Hiram 〈◊〉 . 3. c 〈◊〉 . 2. a 〈◊〉 23. b 〈…〉 loued Dauid as lōge as he lyued. 〈◊〉 . 3. c 〈◊〉 . 2. a 〈◊〉 23. b 〈…〉 And Salomon sent vnto Hiram, sayenge: 〈◊〉 . 3. c 〈◊〉 . 2. a 〈◊〉 23. b 〈…〉 Thou knowest that my father might not buylde an house vnto the name of the LORDE his God, because of the warre that was aboute him, vntyll the LORDE delyuered them vnder the soles of his fete: But now hath the LORDE my God geuen me rest on euery syde, so that there is no aduersary ner euell hynderaunce: Beholde, I am therfore aduysed to buylde an house vnto the name of the LORDE my God, acordinge as the LORDE spake vnto Dauid my father, and sayde: 〈◊〉 7. c Thy sonne, whom I shal set vpon thy seate in thy steade, shal buylde an house vnto my name. Commaunde therfore that they hewe me downe Ceders out of Libanus, and that thy seruauntes be with my seruauntes, & the rewarde of thy seruauntes wyll I geue the, what so euer thou shalt axe: for thou knowest, yt with vs there is no mā which can hewe tymber as the Sidonians.

Whan Hiram herde the wordes of Salomon, he was very glad, and sayde: Praysed be the LORDE this daye, which hath geuen Dauid a wyse sonne ouer this greate people. And Hiram sent vnto Salomon, sayenge: I haue herde what thou hast sent vnto me: I wyl do acordinge vnto all thy desyre with Ceders and Pyne trees. My seruaūtes shall brynge them downe from Libanus vnto ye See, and I wyl make them to flote vpō the See, vnto the place which thou shalt shewe me, and there wyl I cause them to aryue, & thou shalt make thē to be fetched. But thou shalt fulfyll my desyre also, and geue fode vnto my housholde folkes. So Hirā gaue Salomon Ceders and Pyne trees acordinge to all his desyre. But Salomon gaue Hiram twentye thousande quarters of wheate to eate for his housholde, and twētye quarters of beaten oyle. This gaue Salomon yearly vnto Hiram.

And the LORDE gaue Salomon wyszdome, acordynge as he had sayde vnto him, & there was peace betwene Hiram and Salomon, and they made a couenaunt both together. And Salomon made an outchosynge (of workmen) thorow out all Israel. And ye outchosynge was thirtie thousande mē, and he sent thē to mount Libanus euery two monethes ten thousande, so that they were one moneth vpon Libanus, and two monethes at home. And 3. Re. 4 a and 12. c Adoniram was ouer the outchosynge.

And Salomon had thre score thousande & ten that bare burthens, & foure score thousande that hewed tymber vpon the mount, besyde Salomons chefe officers, which were ordeyned ouer the worke: namely thre thousande and thre hundreth, which ruled ye people that laboured there in the worke. And ye kynge commaunded, that they shulde breake out greate and costly stones, namely frestone, for the foundacion of the house. And Salomons masons, and Hirams, and they that were in those coastes, hewed out & prepared tymbre and stones to the buyldinge of the house.

The VI. Chapter.

IN the foure hundreth and foure score yeare after the departinge of the children of Israel out of the londe of Egipte,2. Par. 3. a Act. 7. f in the fourth yeare of the raigne of Salomon ouer Israel, in the moneth Sif (yt is the seconde moneth) was the house buylded vnto the LORDE. This house that kynge Salomon buylded vnto ye LORDE, was thre score cubytes lōge, twenty cubytes brode, & thirtie cubites hye. And he buylded a Ioh. 10. c Act. 3. b and 5. b Porche before the temple of twentye cubytes longe after the bredth of the house, & ten cubites brode before the house. And in ye house he made wyndowes, which might be opened and shut with lyddes.

And rounde aboute by the wall of ye house he buylded a compase, so yt it wente both aboute the temple and the quere, and made his outwarde wall roūde aboute. The nether most stacion was fyue cubytes wyde, and ye myddest sixe cubites wyde, and the thirde seuen cubites wyde. For he layed balkes rounde aboute the house, that they touched not ye wall of the house.

And whan ye house was buylded, it was buylded of whole and outbroken stones, so yt there was herde nether hammer ner axe, ner eny other instrument of yron, whan the house was a buyldinge.

But on the righte syde of the myddes of the house there was a dore, so yt they might go vp to the myddest stacion by a turne grese, & from the myddest stacion vnto ye thirde. Thus buylded he the house, & fynished it, & syled ye house both aboue & by the walles wt Ceder wodd. He buylded a galery also aboue vpon the whole house fyue cubytes hye, and couered the house with Ceder tymber.

And the worde of the LORDE came vnto Salomon, & sayde: Let this be the house yt thou buyldest. Yf thou shalt walke in myne ordinaunces, & do acordinge to my lawes, & kepe all my cōmaundementes, to walke therin, then wyl I stablyszshe my worde with ye, ( . Re. 7. b as I sayde vnto Dauid thy father) & wyll dwell amonge the childrē of Israel, and wil not forsake my people of Israel.

Thus Salomon buylded the house, & fynished it, & buylded the walles on the insyde with Ceder tymber, from the grounde of ye house vnto the rofe, and syled it with tymbre on the ynsyde, and ouerlayed the floore of ye house with bordes of Pyne tre.

And behynde in the house he buylded a wall of Ceder tymber twentye cubytes longe, from the floore vnto the rofe. And there on the ynsyde buylded he the quere for the most holy. But the house of the temple before the quere was fortye cubites longe: on the ynsyde was the whole house of Ceder with throwne knoppes and floures, so that there was no stone sene. As for the quere, he prepared it on the ynsyde of the house, that the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE might be set therin. And before the quere (which was twentye cubites longe, twentye cubytes brode, and twentye cubytes hye, and ouerlayed with pure golde) he syled the altare with Ceder.

And Salomon ouerlayed the house on ye ynsyde wt pure golde, & shot barres of golde before the quere, which he had ouerlayed wt golde, so that ye whole house was layed ouer with golde. And all the altare also before ye quere ouerlayed he with golde.

〈…〉 He made also in the quere two Cherubins ten cubites hye of Olyue tre. One wynge of ether of the Cherubs had fyue cubytes, so that from the edge of his one wynge to the edge of his other wynge there were ten cubytes. Euen so had the other Cherub ten cubites also, and both the Cherubs were of one measure and of one quantitie so yt ether Cherub was ten cubites hye. And he put the Cherubins within in the house. And the Cherubins spred forth their wynges, so that the wynge of the one touched the one wall, and the other Cherubs wynge touched the other wall. But in the myddes of ye house the one wynge •• uched another. And he ouerlayed the Cherubins with golde.

And on all the walles of the house rounde aboute, he caused to make carued worke, with carued Cherubins, palme trees, and floures. And the pauement of the house ouerlayed he also with goldē plates. And at the intraunce of the quere he made two dores of olyue thre with fyue squared postes, and caused carued worke to be made therof with Cherubins, palme trees and floures, & ouerlayed them with plates of golde. So made he also at the intraunce of the temple, foure squared postes of Olyue tre, and two dores of Pyne tre (so that ether dore had two syde dores one hāginge to another) and made carued worke therof, palme trees and floures, right as it was appoynted.

And he buylded a courte also within wt thre rowes of fre stone, and with one rowe of playne Ceder tymber.

In the fourth yeare in the moneth Sif, was the foundacion of the LORDES house layed: and in the eleuenth yeare in the moneth Bul (that is the eight moneth) was the house fynished as it shulde be, so that they were seuen yeare a buyldinge of it.

The VII. Chapter.

BVt Salomon was a buyldinge his awne house thirtene yeare, & fynished it, namely, he buylded an house of the wodd of Libanus, an hundreth cubites longe, fiftye cubites wyde, & thirtie cubites hye, fouresquared with rowes of pilers, and wt carued Ceders. And the rofe aboue syled he also with Cederwodd vpon the fyue & fortie pilers, for one rowe had fyftene pilers, so yt there stode euer thre pilers one right ouer agaynst another: so that euery space betwixte the pilers was one ouer agaynst another fouresquared with the pilers.

And he made a porche with pilers which was fiftye cubites longe, and thirtie cubites brode, & yet a porche before it with pilers & wt a greate poste. He made a porche also vnto ye kynges seate (wherin ye iudgment was kepte) and made it to be the porche of iudgment, and syled it with Ceder from the pauement vnto the pauement agayne, and his owne house wherin he dwelt, in ye back courte made betwene ye house and the porche like the other. And like vnto the porche made he a house for Pharaos doughter, 〈◊〉 . 3. a whom Salomon had taken to wife.

All these were costly stone hewen after ye measure, cut with sawes on euery syde, from the grounde vnto the rofe: and without the greate courte also. As for the foundacions, they were costly and greate stones, ten and eighte cubites greate: and costly fre stones theron acordinge to ye measure, and Ceders. But the greate courte rounde aboute had thre rowes of fre stone, & one rowe of playne Ceders: Euen so also the courte by ye houof the LORDE within, and the porch by the house.

And kynge Salomon sent to fetch one 〈◊〉 . 2. c Hiram of Tyre a wedowes sonne, of the trybe of Nephtali, and his father had bene a man of Tyre, 〈…〉 which was a connynge mā in metall, full of wyszdome, vnderstondinge and knowlege to worke all maner of metall worke. Whan he came to kynge Salomon, he made all his worke, 〈…〉 and made two brasen pilers, ether of them eightene cubites hye: and a threde of xij. cubites was the measure aboute both ye pilers: and he made two knoppes of brasse molten, to set aboue vpon the pilers: and euery knoppe was fyue cubytes hye: and on euery knoppe aboue vpon ye pilers seuē wrythen ropes like cheynes. And vpon euery knoppe he made two rowes of pomgranates rounde aboute on one rope, wherwith ye knoppe was couered. And the knoppes were like roses before ye porche foure cubites greate. And the pomgranates in the rowes rounde aboute were two hūdreth aboue and beneth vpon the rope, which wē te rounde aboute the thicknes of the knoppe, on euery knoppe vpon both the pilers. And set vp the pilers before the porche of the temple. And that which he set on the right hande, called he Iachin: and that which he set on the lefte hande, called he Boos. And so stode it aboue vpon the pilers euen like roses. Thus was the worke of ye pilers fynished.

And he made a molten lauer ten cubytes wyde from the one syde to the other rounde aboute, and fyue cubites hye, and a threde of thirtie cubites lōge was ye measure rounde aboute: and aboute the same lauer that was then cubites wyde, there wente knoppes on the edge therof rounde aboute the lauer. Two rowes were there of the knoppes molten with the lauer.

And it stode vpon twolue bullockes, wherof thre were turned towarde the north, thre towarde the west, thre towarde the south, and thre towarde the east, and the lauer aboue theron, so that all their hynder partes were within vnder the lauer: wherof the thicknesse was an handbreth: and the edge of it was like the edge of a cuppe, and as a floured rose, and it conteyned two thousande A Bat ••• was a certayn measur of liqu •• re. Battes.

And he made ten brasen seates, euery one foure cubites longe and brode, and thre cubites hye. The seate was made so, that it had sydes betwene the ledges. And on the sydes betwene the ledges there were lyons, bullockes and Cherubins. And on ye ledges which were aboue and beneth the lyons and bullockes, were the sydes made so, that they were set downwardes. And euery stole had foure brasen wheles with brasen axeltrees. And vpon the foure corners there were proppes molten, euery one ouer agaynst another, vnderset vnto the kettell.

And the soket vpon the stole was a cubyte hye and rounde, a cubyte and an halfe wyde: and on the soket there were knoppes in foldes, which were foure squared & not rounde. The foure wheles stode beneth by the sydes, & the axeltrees of the wheles were harde on ye seate. Euery whele was a cubite and a halfe hye, and they were wheles like cart wheles. And their axeltrees, spokes, nales, & shaftes were all molten. And the foure proppes vpō the foure corners of euery seate were harde on the seate.

And on the soket aboue vpon the seate a cubyte and an halfe rounde aboute, there were ledges and sydes harde on the seate. And on the plat of the same sydes and ledges, he caused to carue Cherubins, lyons and palme trees, one by another rounde aboute theron. After this maner made heten moltē seates, one maner of measure & widenes was in all.

And he made ten copper kettels, so that one kettell cōteyned fortye Battes, and was foure cubites greate, and vpon euery seate was a kettell. And fyue seates set he on the righte syde of the house, and the other fyue on the lefte syde. But the lauer set he before on the righte hande towarde the south.

And Hiram made pottes also and shouels and basens, & so fynished he all the worke, that kynge Salomon caused to be made in the house of the LORDE: namely ye two pilers, and the rounde knoppes aboue vpon the two pilers, and the two wrythen ropes to couer the two rounde knoppes vpon the pilers. And the foure hūdreth pomgranates on the two wrythen ropes, euer two rowes of pomgranates vnto euery rope, to couer the two rounde knoppes vpon the pilers. And the ten seates, and ten kettels theron, and the lauer, and twolue bullockes vnder ye lauer. And the pottes, shouels and basens. And all the ornamentes which Hiram made vnto kynge Salomon for the house of the LORDE, were of pure metall. In the countre by Iordane, caused the kynge them to be molten in thicke earth, betwene Sucoth and Zarthan. And Salomon let all the apparell be vnweyed, because the metall was so moch.

Morouer Salomon made all the apperell that belonged vnto the house of the LORDE: namely a golden altare, a golden table that the shewbred laye on, fyue candelstickes on the righte hande, and fyue candelstickes on the lefte (before the quere) of pure golde, wt floures, lampes and snoffers of golde, therto flat peces, charges, basens, spones and censours of pure golde. And the hokes of ye dores on the insyde of the house in the most holy, and in the dores of the house of the tēple of the LORDE were of golde.

Thus all the worke that kynge Salomon made in ye house of the LORDE, was fynisshed. . Par. 5. a And Salomon brought in that his father Dauid had sanctified, of syluer and golde and ornamentes, and layed it amonge the treasures of the house of the LORDE.

The VIII. Chapter.

THen gathered kynge Salomon all ye Elders in Israel together, all the rulers of the trybes and prynces of the fathers amonge the children of Israel, vnto Ierusalem, to brynge vp the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE, . Re. . d out of the cite of Dauid, that is Sion. And there resorted vnto kynge Salomon all the men in Israel, at the feast in the moneth Ethanim, that is ye seuenth moneth. And whan all ye Elders of Israel came, the prestes toke the Arke of the LORDE, and broughte it vp, and the Tabernacle of witnesse, and all the ornamentes of the Sanctuary that were in the Tabernacle. This dyd the prestes and the Leuites. And kynge Salomon and all the congregacion of Israel yt were gathered vnto him, wente with him before the Arke, and offred shepe and bullockes, so many, that they coulde not be nombred ner tolde.

So the prestes broughte the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt vnto hir place, euen in to ye Quere of the house in the most holy vnder ye wynges of the Cherubins. For ye Cherubins spred out their wynges in the place where the Arke stode, and couered the Arke and the staues therof from aboue. And the staues were so lōge, that ye knoppes of them were sene from the Sanctuary before ye quere, but on the outsyde were they not sene, and they were there vnto this daye.

And in the Arke there was nothinge, but onely the two tables of stone, 〈…〉 which Moses had layed therin at Horeb, whan ye LORDE made a couenaunt with the children of Israel, what tyme as they were departed out of the londe of Egipte.

But whan the prestes wente out of the Sanctuary, a cloude fylled the house of the LORDE, so yt the prestes coulde not stonde & execute the office for the cloude: for the glory of the LORDE fylled the LORDES house. Then sayde Salomon: 〈…〉 The LORDE sayde, that he wolde dwell in a darke cloude. I haue buylded an ouse, to be an habitacion vnto the: a seate, yt thou mayest dwell there for euer. And ye kynge turned his face, & blessed all the congregacion of Israel. And all the cōgregacion of Israel stode, & he sayde:

Praysed be the LORDE God of Israel, which promised by his mouth vnto my father Dauid, and by his hāde hath fulfylled it, and sayde: 〈…〉 Sence the daye yt I broughte my people of Israel out of Egipte, haue I chosen no cite amōge all the trybes of Israel, to buylde me an house, that my name might be there. 〈…〉 But Dauid haue I chosen, to be ouer my people of Israel.

And in dede my father Dauid was mynded to buylde an house vn to the name of the LORDE God of Israel: neuertheles the LORDE sayde vnto my father Dauid: Where as thou wast mynded to buylde an house vnto my name, thou hast done well, that thou art so aduysed. Howbeit thou shalt not buylde the house, but thy sonne which shal come out of thy loynes, he shal buylde an house vn to my name. And the LORDE hath perfourmed his worde that he spake: For I am come vp in my father Dauids steade, and syt vpon the seate of Israel, as the LORDE sayde: and haue buylded an house vnto the name of the LORDE God of Israel: and there haue I ordeyned a place for the Arke, wherin is the LORDES couenaunt, which he made with oure fathers, whan he broughte them out of ye londe of Egipte.

And Salomon stode before the altare of the LORDE in the presence of the whole congregacion of Israel, and helde out his handes towarde heauen, and sayde: 〈…〉 O LORDE God of Israel, there is no god like the, nether aboue in heauen, ner beneth vpō earth, thou that kepest couenaūt and mercy for all thy seruauntes that walke before ye with all their hert, thou that hast kepte promes with my father Dauid thy seruaunt: With thy mouth thou saydest it, and with thy hande hast thou fulfylled it, as it is come to passe this daye. Now LORDE God of Israel make good vnto my father Dauid ye seruaunt, that which thou hast promysed him, and sayde: 〈…〉 Thou shalt not wante a man before me to syt vpon the seate of Israel, yf thy childrē kepe their waye, so yt they walke before me like as thou hast walked before me. Now thou God of Israel, let ye worde be verified, which thou hast promysed vnto my father Dauid thy seruaunt.

For thynkest thou yt God dwelleth vpon earth? 〈…〉 Beholde, the heauens and the heauens of all heauens maye not contayne the: how shulde then this house do it, that I haue buylded? But turne the vnto the prayer of thy seruaunt, and to his supplicacion (O LORDE my God) that thou mayest heare the thankesgeuynge and prayer, which thy seruaunt maketh before the this daye, so that thine eyes be open ouer this house night and daye, euen ouer this place (wherof thou saydest: 〈…〉 My name shall dwell there.) That thou mayest heare the prayer which thy seruaūt maketh in this place, & heare the intercession of ye seruaunt & of thy people of Israel, which they shall make here in this place of thy habitacion in heauen: and whan thou hearest it, be gracious.

Whan eny mā synneth agaynst his neghboure, 〈…〉 . d 〈◊〉 . 22. b and taketh vpon him an ooth wherwith he byndeth himselfe, and ye ooth commeth before thine altare in this house, then heare thou in heauē, and se that thy seruauntes haue right, to condemne the vngodly, and to brynge his waye vpon his owne heade, and to iustifie the righteous, to geue him acordinge to his righteousnes.

eu. 0. a Whan thy people of Israel is smytten before their enemies (whyle they haue synned agaynst the) and yf they turne vnto the and knowlege thy name, & make their prayer and intercession vnto the in this house, thē heare thou them in heauen, and be mercifull vnto the synne of thy people of Israel, and brynge them agayne into the londe, yt thou hast geuen vnto their fathers.

. Re. 1 Whan the heauen is shut vp, so yt it rayneth not (for so moch, as they haue synned agaynst the) and yf they make their prayer in this place, and knowlege thy name, and turne from their synnes whā thou troublest them, heare thou them then in heauen, and be mercifull vnto the synnes of thy seruauntes, and of thy people of Israel, that thou mayest shewe them the good waye, wherin they shulde walke, and let it rayne vpon the londe that thou hast geuen thy people to inheritaunce.

Whan a derth, or pestilence, or drouth, or burnynge, or greshopper or catirpiller, is in their londe, or whan his enemye layeth lege to his portes in the londe, or whan eny other plage or disease happeneth, who so euer then maketh his prayer and peticion, Esa. 36. b whether it be eny other men or thy people of Israel (which thē are aware of their plage) euery one in his hert, and spredeth out his handes vnto this house: Heare thou then in heauen in the seate where thou dwellest, and be mercifull, & se that thou geue euery one acordinge as he hath walked, like as thou knowest his hert (for thou onely knowest the hert of all the children of men) that they maye allwaye feare the, as longe as they lyue in the lande, which thou hast geuen vnto oure fathers.

Ioh. 12. e Acto. . c And whan eny straunger, that is not of thy people of Israel, commeth out of a farre countre for thy names sake (for they shall heare of thy greate name, and of thy mightie hāde, and of thy outstretched arme) and commeth to make his prayer in this house, heare thou him then in heauen, euen in the seate of thy dwellynge, and do all for the which that straunger calleth vpon the, that all the nacions vpon earth maye knowe thy name, and that they maye feare the, as thy people of Israel do: and that they maye knowe, how that this house which I haue buylded, is named after thy name.

Whan thy people go forth to the battayll agaynst their enemyes, the waye that thou shalt sende them Dan. 6. b and shall praye vnto the LORDE towarde the waye of the cite which thou hast chosen, and towarde the house that I haue buylded vnto thy name, heare thou then their prayer and peticion in heauen, and execute iudgment for them.

Whan they synne agaynst the (for cle. 7. c oh. 1. b there is no mā that synneth not) & thou be wroth, and delyuer thē vnto their enemyes, so that they cary them awaye captyue in to the enemyes londe farre or nye, and yf they remembre them selues in the londe where they are captyue, and turne, and make their intercession vnto the in the londe of their captyuite, and saye: We haue synned, & done amysse, and haue bene vngodly, and so turne vnto ye with all their hert, and with all their soule in the lōde of their enemies (which led them awaye captyue) and make their prayer vnto the towarde the waye of their londe, that thou hast geuen vnto their fathers, euen towarde the cite which thou hast chosen, and towarde the house that I haue buylded vnto thy name: then heare thou their prayer and supplicacion in heauen, •• os 9. b from the seate of thy dwellynge, and execute iudgment for them, and be mercifull vnto thy people that haue synned agaynst the, and vnto all their trespaces, wherwith they haue transgressed agaynst the, sd. 1. a and graunte thē mercy in the sighte of them which led them awaye presonners, that their enemyes maye be mercyfull vnto them: for they are thy people, and thyne enheritaunce, whom thou broughtest out of Egipte, from the yron fornace: that thine eyes maye be open vnto the peticion of thy seruaunt, and of thy people of Israel, that thou maiest heare them in all thinges for the which they shall call vpon the 〈◊〉 19. a (for thou O LORDE LORDE) hast sundered them out to be an inheritaunce vnto thy selfe, from amōge all the nacions vpon earth, acordinge as thou saydest by Moses thy seruaunt, whan thou broughtest oure fathers out of Egipte.

Par. 7. a And whā Salomon had ended all this prayer and peticion before the LORDE, he rose vp from the altare of the LORDE, and lefte of from knelynge and holdynge out of handes towarde heauen, and stode and blessed all the congregacion of Israel with loude voyce, and sayde: Praysed be the LORDE which hath geuen rest vnto his people, acordinge as he sayde. There hath not one fayled of all his good wordes, which he spake by his seruaunt Moses. The LORDE oure God be with vs, as he hath bene with oure fathers, and forsake vs not, nether withdrawe his hande from vs, but bowe oure hertes vnto him, that we maye walke in all his wayes, and kepe his commaundementes, ordinaunces and lawes, which he commaunded oure fathers. And these wordes wherwith I haue made my peticion before the LORDE, come nye vnto the LORDE oure God daye and nighte, that he maye execute iudgment for his seruaunt and for his people of Israel, euery one at his tyme: that all nacions vpon earth maye knowe, that the LORDE is God, & that there is none other. And let youre hert be perfecte with the LORDE oure God, to walke in his statutes, and to kepe his commaundementes, as it is this daye.

And the kynge with all Israel his people offred sacrifice before the LORDE. And Salomon offred deed offerynges (which he offred vnto the LORDE) two and twenty thousande oxen, and an hundreth & twenty thousande shepe. So the kynge and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORDE. The same daye dyd the kynge dedicate the myddelmost courte, which was before the house of the LORDE: that he mighte there perfourme the burnt offerynges, meat-offerynges, and the fat of the deed offerynges: for the brasen altare that stode before ye LORDE, was to litle for the burnt offerynges, meat offerynges, and for the fat of the deed offerynges.

And at the same tyme made Salomon a solempne feast, and all Israel a greate congregacion with him, from the border of Hemath vnto the ryuer of Egipte, before the LORDE oure God, seuendayes, and yet seuen dayes, that were fourtene daies. And on the eight daye he let the people go. And they blessed the kynge, and wente vnto their tentes reioysinge and with a mery hert, because of all the good that the LORDE had done vnto Dauid his seruaunt, & to his people of Israel.

The IX. Chapter.

ANd whan Salomon had fynished ye buyldinge of the house of the LORDE, and the kynges house, 〈…〉 and all that his desyre and pleasure was to make, ye LORDE appeared vnto him the seconde tyme, 〈…〉 euen as he appeared vnto him at Gibeon. And the LORDE sayde vnto him: I haue herde thy prayer and peticion, that thou hast made before me, and haue sanctified this house which thou hast buylded, that I maye set my name there for euer: and myne eyes and my hert shalbe there allwaye. And yf thou walke before me (as thy father Dauid walked) with a perfecte and a true hert, so that thou do all that I haue commaunded the, and kepe myne ordinaunces and lawes, then wyll I stablish the eate of thy kyngdome ouer Israel for euer, acordinge as I promysed thy father Dauid, and sayde: 〈…〉 Thou shalt not wante a man from the seate of Israel.

But yf ye turne back fro me, ye and youre childrē, and kepe not my commaundementes and ordinaunces which I haue layed before you, but go and serue other goddes, and worshipe them, then wyll I rote Israel out of the londe that I haue geuen them. 〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 7. a And the house that I haue halowed vnto my name, wyll I put awaye fro my face. And Israel shall be come a byworde and fabell amō ge all nacions, and so shal this hye house: so that euery one yt goeth by, shall be astonyed, and make an hyssynge, and saye: 〈◊〉 . 29. d 〈◊〉 22. b Wherfore hath the LORDE done thus vnto this londe and to this house? Then shal it be answered: Because they forsoke ye LORDE their God, (which brought their fathers out of the londe of Egipte) and haue receaued other goddes, and worshipped them, and serued them. Therfore hath ye LORDE brought all this euell vpon them.

Now whan the twentye yeares were ended, 〈…〉 wherin Salomon buylded the two houses, the LORDES house and the kynges house, 〈…〉 where vnto Hiram the kynge of Tyre brought Salomō Ceder trees & Pyne trees, and golde after all his desyre, then gaue kynge Salomon vnto Hiram twentye cities in the countre of Galile. And Hiram departed from Tyre to vyset the cities which Salomon had geuen him, & they pleased him not, and he sayde: What maner of cities are these (my brother) that thou hast geuē me? And he called them the londe of Cabul vnto this daye. And Hiram sent vnto the kynge, sixe score hundreth weight of Golde. And the same is the summe of the taxe, that kynge Salomon raysed to the buyldinge of the house of the LORDE, and his awne house, & Millo, and the walles of Ierusalem, and Hasor, and Megiddo, and Gaser.

For Pharao ye kynge of Egipte came vp, and wāne Gaser, & brent it with fyre, & slewe the Cananites yt dwelt in the cite, & gaue it for a gifte vnto his doughter Salomōs wife. So Salomon buylded Gaser, & the lower Bethoron, and Baelath and Thamar, in ye wyldernes, in the londe, & all the cities of the corne houses that Salomon had, and all the cities of the charettes, & all the cities of the horsmen, and what it pleased him to buylde at Ierusalem, in Libanus, & in euery countre of his domynion.

And all the remnaunt of the people of the Amorytes, Hethites, Pheresites, Henites and Ie usites, which were not of the children of Israel, their children which they lefte behynde them in the londe (whom the children of Israel coulde not vtterly destroye) those dyd Salomon make tributaries vnto this daye.

Leui. 25 But of the children of Israel he made no bondmen, but let them be men of warre, and his seruauntes, and prynces, and knightes, and ouer his charettes and horsmē. And the officers which were ouer Salomons busynesse, were fyue hundreth and fyftye, which ruled the people, and perfourmed the worke.

And Pharaos doughter wente vp from the cite of Dauid, in to hir house 1. Re. 9. which he had buylded for her. 2. Reg. 5. Then buylded he Millo likewyse. And thre tymes in the yeare dyd Salomon offre burnt offerynges and deed offerynges vpon the altare 7. Par. 4. that he had buylded vnto the LORDE, and burnt incense vpon it before the LORDE, and so was the house ended and fynished.

1. Re. 22 2. Par. 8.And Salomon made shippes also at Ezeon Geber, which lyeth by Eloth besyde the Reed See shor in ye londe of the Edomites. And Hiram sent his seruauntes by shippe, which were shipmen, and had experience of the See, with Salomons seruauntes, and they came vnto Iere. 10. Ophir, and fetched from thence one & twenty score hundreth weight of golde, and b ought it vnto Salomon.

The X. Chapter.

ANd whan kynge Salomons fame of the name of the LORDE came to the eares of the Quene of riche Arabia,2. Par. 9. Mat. 1 . d she came to proue him with darke sentences. And she came to Ierusalem with a maruelous greate trayne, with camels which bare spyces, and moch golde, and precious stones And whan she came in to kynge Salomon, she spake vnto him all that was in hir hert. And Salomon tolde her euery thinge, and the kynge had nothinge in secrete, but he tolde it her. But whan the Quene of riche Arabia sawe all the wyszdome of Salomon, and the house that he had buylded, and the meates of his table, and the dwellinges of his seruauntes, & the offyces of his ministers, and their garmentes, and his butlers and the burnt offerynges which he offred in the house of the LORDE, she wondred exceadingly, and coulde no longer refrayne, but sayde vnto the kynge: It is true that I haue herde in my londe of thy behauoure and of thy wyszdome. And I wolde not beleue it, tyll I came and sawe it with myne eyes: and beholde, the halfe hath not bene tolde me.

Thou hast more wyszdome and good, thē the fame is that I haue herde. Happye are thy people and thy seruauntes, that allwaie stonde before the, and heare thy wyszdome. Praysed be the LORDE thy God, which had soch a pleasure vnto the, that he set the vpon the seate of Israel: because he hath allwaye loued Israel, and hath set the to be kynge, that thou shuldest mantayne iustyce and equyte.

And she gaue the kynge syxe score hundreth weighte of golde, and very moch spyce, and precious stones. There came neuer so moch spyce thyther, as the Quene of riche Arabia gaue vnto kynge Salomon. And Hirams shippes, . Re. 9. which caried golde out of Ophir, broughte maruelous moch costly tymber and precious stones from Ophir. And of that costly tymber the kynge caused to make pilers in the house of the LORDE, and in ye kinges house, and harpes and Psalteries for the Musicians. There came nomore soch costly tymber, nether was it sene vnto this daye. And kynge Salomon gaue the quene of riche Arabia, all that she desyred and axed, besydes that which he gaue her of a frye hande. And she returned, and departed in to hir lande with hir seruauntes.

The golde that came to Salomon in one yeare, was nyne and thyrtie score hundreth weighte, besydes that which came of chapmen, marchauntes and Apotecaries, and of the nexte kynges, and of the mightie men in the londe. And kynge Salomon caused to make two hundreth speares of beaten golde, sixe hundreth peces of golde put he to euery speare: and thre hundreth shyldes of ye best golde, euen thre pounde of golde vpon euery shylde. And the kynge put them in the 1. Re. 7. a house of the wod of Libanus.

And the kynge made a greate seate of Yuery, and ouerlayed it with ye most precious golde. And the seate had sixe steppes, and ye heade of the seate was roūde behynde. And there were two postes to leane vpō on both the sydes of the seate, and two lyons stode vpon the leanynge postes, and twolue lyons stode vpon the sixe steppes on both the sydes. Soch one hath not bene made in eny kyngdome. All kynge Salomōs drynkynge vessels were of golde, and all the vessels in the house of ye wod of Libanus were of pure golde also: for syluer was not regarded in Salomons tyme. For the kynges Seeshippe yt sayled vpon the See with ye shippe of Hiram, came once in thre yeare, and broughte golde, syluer, Yuery, Apes, and Pecockes.

〈…〉 Thus was kynge Salomon greater in riches and wyszdome, then all the kynges vpō earth: And all the worlde desyred to se Salomon, that they mighte heare the wyszdome which God gaue him in his hert. And they broughte him yearly euery man his present, vessels of syluer and golde, rayment and harnesse, spyces, horses and Mules. And Salomon broughte charettes and horsmen together, so that he had a thousande and foure hundreth charettes, and twolue thousande horsmen: and those he put in ye charet cities, and with the kynge at Ierusalem.

And the kynge broughte it to passe, that there was as moch syluer at Ierusalē as stones: and as many Ceders as there were wylde figge trees in the valleys. And Salomōs horses were broughte out of Egipte, and frō Kena: for the kynges marchauntes fetched them from Kena for money. And a charet came vp out of Egipte for sixe hūdreth Sycles of Syluer, and an horse for an hūdreth and fyftye. Thus were they brought also vnto all the kynges of the Hethites and to the kynges of Siria by their handes.

The XI. Chapter.

BVt kynge Salomon loued many out landish wemen, 〈…〉 Pharaos doughter, and wemen of Moab, of Ammō, of Edom, of Sidon, and of Heth, euen of those nacions, that the LORDE spake of vnto the children of Israel: Go not ye vnto them, 〈…〉 and let not them come vnto you: they shal surely bowe youre hertes after their goddes: Vnto these dyd Salomon enclyne with affeccion. And he had seuen hundreth wemen to wyues, and thre hundreth concubynes, and his wyues turned his hert asyde. And whan he was now olde, his wyues bowed his hert after straunge goddes, so that his hert was not whole with the LORDE his God, as was the hert of Dauid his father.

So Salomon walked after Asta oth the god of the Sidonians, and after Malcom the abhominacion of the Ammonites. And Salomon dyd yt which displeased the LORDE, and folowed not ye LORDE to ye vttemost as dyd his father Dauid. Thē buylded Salomō an hie place vnto Chamos the abhominaciō of ye Moabites (vpon the mount that lyeth before Ierusalē) and vnto Moloch the abhominacion of the Ammunites.

Thus dyd Salomon for all his outlādish wyues, which brent incense, and offred vnto their goddes. But the LORDE was wroth at Salomon, because his hert was turned asyde from ye LORDE God of Israel, 〈…〉 which had two tymes appeared vnto him, and cō maunded him, that he shulde not walke after other goddes: and yet kepte he not that the LORDE commaunded him. Therfore sayde the LORDE vnto Salomon: For so moch as this is done with the, and hast not kepte my couenaunt and myne ordinaunces, which I commaunded the, therfore wyll I also plucke thy kyngdome from the, and geue it vnto thy seruaunt: Neruertheles in ye tyme will I not do it, for thy father Dauids sake, but from the hande of thy sonne wyl I plucke it. Howbeit I wyl not plucke ye kyngdome cleane awaye. One trybe wyll I geue vnto thy sonne, for Dauid my seruauntes sake, and for Ierusalems sake which I haue chosen.

And the LORDE raysed vp an aduersary vnto Salomon, euen Hadad the Edomite of the kynges sede, which was in Edom. For whan Dauid was in Edom, and Ioab the chefe captayne wente vp to bury the slayne, he smote all the males in Edom. (For Ioab remayned there sixe monethes and all Israel, tyl he had roted out all ye males that were in Edom.) Then fled Hadad, and certayne men of ye Moabites with him, of his fathers seruauntes. As for Hadad, he was a yonge man.

And they gat them vp fro Madian, and came vnto Paran, and toke men with them out of Paran, and came in to Egipte vnto Pharao the kynge of Egipte: which gaue him an house and certayne vytales appoynted, & gaue him a countre. And Adad founde greate fauoure in the sighte of Pharao, so that he gaue him to wife euen the sister of his owne wife Thaphenes the Quene. And Thaphenes sister bare him Genubath his sonne, and Thaphenes norished him vp in Pharaos house, in so moch that Genubath was in Pharaos house amonge Pharaos children.

Now whā Hadad herde in Egipte, that Dauid was fallē on slepte with his fathers, and yt Ioab the chefe captayne was deed, he sayde vnto Pharao: Let me go in to my countre. Pharao sayde vnto him: What lackest thou with me, that thou wilt go in to thy countre? He sayde: Nothynge, but yet let me go.

God raysed him vp another aduersary also, one Reson the sonne of El Iada, which fled from his lorde Hadad Eser kynge of Zeba, and gathered men agaynst him, and was a captayne of the men of warre whan Dauid slewe them: and they wente vnto Damascus and dwelt there, and reigned at Damascus, and he was Israels aduersary as lō ge as Salomon lyued. This is the harme yt Hadad suffred: therfore had he euell will at Israel, and was kynge ouer Israel.

Morouer Ieroboam the sonne of Nebatan Ephraite Salomons seruaunt (and his mothers name was Zeruga, a wedowe) lifte vp his hande also agaynst the kynge. And this is the cause wherfore he lifte vp his hande agaynst the kynge: Whan Salomon buylded Millo, he shut vp a gappe in the cite of Dauid his father. And Ieroboam was a mā of armes. And whan Salomon sawe that it was a mete yonge man, he set him ouer all the burthens of the house of Ioseph.

But at the same tyme it fortuned, that Ieroboam wente out from Ierusalem, and the prophet Ahias of Silo founde h m by the waye, and he had a new cloke vpon him, and they two were alone in the felde. And Ahia toke holde of the new cloke yt he had on, and rente the same in to twolue peces, and sayde vnto Ieroboam: Take thou ten peces vnto the.

For thus sayeth the LORDE God of Israel: Beholde, euen thus wyll I rente the kyngdome from the hande of Salomō, and wyll geue the ten trybes. One trybe shall he haue for my seruaunt Dauids sake, and because of the cyte of Ierusalem, 2. Par. 7. which I haue chosen out of all the trybes of Israel: for they haue forsaken me, and worshipped Astaroth the god of the Sidonians, Chamos the god of the Moabites, and Malcō the god of the children of Ammon, and haue not walked in my wayes, to fulfill my pleasure, myne ordinaunces, and lawes, as dyd Dauid his father.

Notwithstondynge I wyll not take the whole kyngdome from out of his hande, but wil make him a prynce as longe as helyueth for my seruaunt Dauids sake, whom I dyd chose, which kepte my commaundementes & ordinaunces.3. Re. 12. c From out of the hande of his sonne wyl I take the kyngdome, and wyl geue ten trybes vnto the, and one vnto his sonne, 3. Re. 15. a Psal. 131. b that Dauid my seruaunt maye allwaye haue a lanterne before me in the cite of Ierusalem, which I haue chosen, that I maye set my name there. Therfore wyl I take the now, to raygne ouer all that thine hert desyreth, and thou shalt be kynge ouer Israel. Yf thou folowe now all that I shall commaunde the, and walke in my wayes, and fulfill my pleasure to kepe myne ordinaunces and commaundementes, as dyd my seruaūt Dauid, then wyll I be with the, and buylde the a sure house, as I buylded vnto Dauid, and wyl geue Israel vnto the and therwith wyll I subdue the sede of Dauid, but not for euermore. But Salomon soughte to kyll Ieroboam. Then Ieroboam gat him vp, and fled in to Egipte to Sisak the kynge of Egipte, and remayned in Egipte, tyll Salomon dyed.

What more there is to saye of Salomon, and all that he dyd, and his wyszdome, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of Salomon. The tyme that Salomon was kynge at Ierusalem ouer all Israel, is fortye yeare. And Salomon fell on slepe with his fathers, and was buryed in the cite of Dauid his father, and Roboam his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XII. Chapter.

ANd Roboam wēte vnto Sichem, for all Israel was come to Sichem to make him kynge.2. Pa. 10. a And whan Ieroboam ye sonne of Nebat herde that, while he was yet in Egipte 3. Re. 11 g (whither he was fled for Salomon) he came agayne out of Egipte. And they sent for him, and called him. And Ieroboam with all the congregacion of Israel came and spake to Roboam, and sayde: Thy father made oure yock to harde: therfore make thou now the harde bondage and the sore yock lighter, and we wyll submytte oure selues vnto the. He sayde vnto them: Go youre waye vnto the thirde daye, and then come to me agayne. And the people wē te their waye.

And Roboam the kynge helde a councell with the Elders that stode before Salomō his father whyle he lyued, & he sayde: What is youre councell, that we maye geue this people an answere? They sayde vnto him: Yf thou do this people a pleasure to daye, and folowe their mynde, and heare them, and geue them good wordes, then shal they be obedient vnto the as longe as thou liuest. Neuertheles he forsoke the councell that ye Elders had geuen him, and axed councell at the yonge men which were growne vp with him, and stode before him.

And he sayde vnto them: What is youre councell that we maye answere this people which haue sayde vnto me: Make the yock lighter, that thy father hath layed vpō vs. And the yonge men that were growne vp with him, sayde vnto him: Where as the people haue sayde vnto the: Thy father hath made oure yock to sore, make thou it easyer for vs, Thus shalt thou saye vnto them My litle fynger shall be thicker then my fathers loynes. Now, my father layed a sore yock vpon you, but I wyl yet laye more theron: My father correcte you with scourges, but I wyl nourtoure you with scorpions.

So vpon the thyrde daye came Ieroboam with all the people vnto Roboam, as ye kynge had appoynted and saide, come to me agayne on the thyrde daye. And the kynge gaue the people an harde rough answere, and forsoke the coūcell that the Elders had geuen him, and talked with them after the councell of the yonge men, and sayde: My father made youre yock sore, but I wyll make it yet sorer vpon you. My father correcte you with scourges, but I wil nourtoure you with scorpiōs. Thus the kynge folowed not the peoples mynde, for he was turned so frō the LORDE, that he mighte stablish his worde 〈…〉 which he spake by Ahias of Silo vnto Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat.

But whan all Israel sawe that the kynge wolde not heare them, the people gaue ye kynge an answere and sayde: 〈…〉 What porcion haue we then in Dauid or inheritaunce in the sonne of Isai? Get the to thy tentes O Israel. Loke thou now to thy house thou Dauid. So Israel wente vnto their tentes. As for Roboam, he raigned but ouer ye children of Israel, which dwelt in the cities of Iuda. And whan kynge Roboam sent thither Adoram the rentgatherer, all Israel stoned him to death. But kynge Roboam strengthed himselfe, and gat him vp into a charet, to fle vnto Ierusalem. Thus departed Israel from the house of Dauid vnto this daye.

Now whan all Israel herde, that Ieroboam was come againe, they sent for to call him to the whole congregacion, and made him kynge ouer all Israel. And no man folowed the house of Dauid, saue onely the tribe of Iuda. 〈…〉 And whan Roboam came to Ierusalem, all the house of Iuda and the trybe of Ben Iamin (euen an hundreth and foure score thousande chosen men of armes) gathered themselues together to fight against ye house of Israel, & to brynge the kyngdome agayne vnto Roboam ye sonne of Salomō.

But the worde of God came to Semeia the man of God, and sayde: Speake thou to Roboam the sonne of Salomon kynge of Iuda, and to all ye house of Iuda and Ben Iamin, and to the other people, and saye: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Ye shall not go vp and fighte agaynst youre brethren the children of Israel. Let euery man go home agayne, for this is my dede. And they herkened vnto the worde of the LORDE, and turned back, to go their waye, as the LORDE sayde. But Roboam buylded Sichem vpon mount Ephraim, and dwelt therin, and departed thence, and buylded 〈…〉 Penuel.

Ieroboā thoughte in his hert: The kingdome shall fall agayne now vnto the house of Dauid, yf this people go vp to offre in the LORDES house at Ierusalem, and so shall the hert of this people turne to their lorde Roboam kynge of Iuda, and thē shal they slaye me, and fall agayne to Roboam kynge of Iuda. And the kynge helde a councell 〈…〉 and made two golden calues, and sayde vn o them: It is to moch for you to go to Ierusalē: beholde, 〈◊〉 32. b there is thy God (O Israel) which broughte ye out of Egipte. And the one set he at Bethel, & the other in Dan. And this dede turned to synne, for the people wente before the one vnto Dan.

He made an house also in the hye places, 〈◊〉 3. a 〈◊〉 7. g and made prestes of the smallest in the people, which were not of the childrē of Leui. And vpon the fiftene daye of the eighte moneth he made an holy daye, like as the solempne feast in Iuda, and offered vpon the altare. Thus dyd he at Bethel, in doynge sacrifice vnto the calues which he had made, and at Bethel he ordeyned the prestes of the hye places that he had made: and offred vpon the altar (which he had made) at Bethel, the fiftene daye of the eight moneth, which he inuented of his owne hert. And he made the children of Israel an holy daye, & wente vp to the altare to burne incense.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd beholde, there came a mā of God from Iuda (thorow the worde of the LORDE) vnto Bethel, and Ieroboam stode by the altar to burne incense. And he cried agaynst the altare thorow the worde of the LORDE, and sayde: O altar, altar, thus sayeth the LORDE: Beholde, there shal be borne vnto ye house of Dauid a sonne, Iosias by name Re. 3. which on the shal offer the prestes of the hye places, that burne incense vpon the, and mens bones shal he burne on the. And he gaue a wonder token the same daye, and sayde: This is the token, that the LORDE hath spoken it, beholde, the altar shall ryue, and the aszshes, that are theron, shall be poured out.

But whan the kynge herde the worde of the man of God, that cried agaynst the altare at Bethel, he stretched out his hande by ye altare, and sayde: Laye hondes on him. And his hande that he stretched out, wythered, and he coulde not drawe it vnto him agayne. And ye altare roue, and the aszshes were poured out from the altare, acordinge to the wonder token that the man of God had geuen by the worde of the LORDE.

And the kynge answered, and sayde vnto the man of God: Exod . b 9. f. 10. c Num. 21 b Act. 8. c O praye the face of the LORDE thy God, and make intercession for me, that my hande maie be restored vnto me agayne. Then prayed the man of God vnto the face of the LORDE. And the kynges hande was restored him agayne, and became as it was afore. And the kynge sayde vnto the man of God: Come home with me, and dyne, and I wil geue the a rewarde.

But the man of God sayde vnto the kynge: Yf thou geuest me halfe thy house, I wil not come with the: for in this place wyll I nether eate bred, ner drynke water. For thus am I commaunded, and thus is it sayde vnto me by the worde of the LORDE: Thou shalt eate no bred, and drynke no water, nether returne the waye that thou wentest.

And he departed another waye, and returned not agayne the waye that he came to Bethel. But at Bethel there dwelt an olde prophet vnto whō his sonnes came, & tolde him all the workes yt the mā of God had done that daye at Bethel, & the wordes that he had spoken vnto the kynge. And their father sayde vnto them: Which waye is he gone? And his sonnes shewed him the waye that the man of God was gone: which came from Iuda. He sayde vnto his sonnes: Saddell me the asse. And whā they had sad led him the asse, he rode theron, and wente after the man of God, and founde him syttinge vnder an Oke tre, and sayde vnto him: Art thou the man of God that came from Iuda? He sayde: Yee.

He sayde vnto him: Come home with me, and eate bred. He sayde: I maye not turne backe with the, and come with the. Nether wyll I eate bred, ner drynke water with the in this place: for it is spoken vnto me by the worde of the LORDE: Thou shalt nether eate bred there, ner yet drynke water, nether shalt thou go agayne by the waye which thou wentest. He sayde vnto him: I myselfe am a prophet as well as thou, and an angell hath spoken with me by ye worde of the LORDE, and saide: Bringe him againe with the, that he maye eate bred, and drynke water. But he lyed vnto him, and broughte him agayne, so that he ate bred, and dranke water in his house.

And whan they sat at the table, the worde of the LORDE came to the prophet that had broughte him agayne, and cryed vnto the man which was come frō Iuda, and sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Because thou hast bene dishobedient vnto the mouth of ye LORDE, and hast not kepte the commaundement that the LORDE thy God commaunded the, but hast turned backe, and hast eaten bred, and dronke water in ye place, wherof he saide vnto the: Thou shalt nether eate bred ner drynke water, therfore shall not thy body come in to thy fathers graue.

And whan he had eaten bred and dronkē the asse was sadled vnto the prophet whom he had brought agayne.3. Re 20. f And whā he was gone, a lyon founde him by the waye, & slewe him, and his body was cast in ye waye. And the asse stode by him, and the lyon stode by the body. And whā men wente by, they sawe the body cast in the waye, and the lyon stondynge besyde the body, and came and tolde it in the cite, where the olde prophet dwelt.

Whan the prophet which had broughte him agayne, herde that, he sayde: It is the man of God, that hath bene dishobediēt vn the mouth of the LORDE, therfore hath ye LORDE delyuered him vnto the Lyon, which hath rente him, and slayne him, acordynge to the worde that the LORDE spake vnto him. And he sayde vnto his sonnes: Saddell me the asse. And whan they had sadled it, he wente, and founde his body cast in the waie and the asse and the lyon stondynge beside ye body. The lyon had eatē nothinge of the body, nether had he torne the asse. Then toke the prophet the deed coarse of the man of God, and layed it vpō the asse, and broughte it agayne in to the cite of the olde prophet, to mourne, and to burye him.

And he layed the coarse in his awne graue, and they mourned for him: Alas my brother. And whan they had buryed him, he saide vnto his sonnes: Whan I dye, burye me in the graue where the mā of God is buried, and laye my bones besyde his bones. 4. Re. 24 d For it shal come to passe, that he cried (thorow the worde of the LORDE) against Bethel, and agaynst all ye houses of the hye places, which are in the cities of Samaria.

Howbeit after this acte dyd not Ieroboā turne from his euell waye, but was peruerted, and made prestes of the hye places, euē of the smallest of the people: Loke whom it pleased him, his handes he fylled, & he was prest of the hye places. And this turned to synne vnto the house of Ieroboā, to destroye him and to brynge him to naughte.

The XIIII. Chapter.

AT the same tyme was Abia the sonne of Ieroboam sicke, and Ieroboam saide vnto his wyfe: Get the vp, and disguise the, so that no man perceaue that thou art Ieroboams wyfe, and go vnto Silo: beholde, there is the prophet Ahias, 〈…〉 which promysed me yt I shulde be kynge ouer this people: and take with the ten loaues of bred and cakes, and a cuppe with hony, & go to him, that he maye tell the how it shal go wt the childe. And Ieroboams wyfe did so, and gat hir vp, and wente vnto Silo, and came in to the house of Ahias. But Ahias coulde not se, for his eyes were dymme for age. Neuerthelesse the LORDE sayde vnto Ahias: Beholde, Ieroboams wyfe commeth, to axe a matter at the for hir sonne, for he is sycke. Speake thou therfore vnto her thus & thus Now whan she came in, she shewed hirselfe straunge. But whan Ahias herde the noyse of hir fete goynge in at the dore, he saide: Come in thou wyfe of Ieroboā. Why shewest thou thy selfe so straunge? I am sent vnto ye an harde messaunger.

Go thy waye and tell Ieroboam: Thus sayeth ye LORDE God of Israel: 〈…〉 I haue exalted the from amonge the people, and set the to be prynce ouer my people of Israel, and haue rente the kyngdome from the house of Dauid, and geuen it the. But thou hast not bene as my seruaunt Dauid, which kepte my commaundemētes, and walked after me with all his hert, so that he did onely ye thinge that was righte in my sighte: and thou hast done worse then all they that haue bene before the: thou hast gone thy waye and made the other goddes, and molten ymages, to prouoke me vnto wrath, and hast cast me behynde thy backe.

Beholde therfore, I wil brynge mysfortune vpon the house of Ieroboam, and wyl rote out from Ieroboam euē him that maketh water agaynst the wall, the presoner and forsaken in Israel: and the posterite of ye house of Ieroboam wyll I swepe out, as donge is swepte out, tyll he be cleane broughte to naught. 〈…〉 He that dieth (of Ieroboam) in the cite, the dogges shal eate him vp. But him yt dyeth in the felde, shall the foules of the aire eat vp, for the LORDE hath spoken it.

Get the vp therfore, and go home, & whan thy fete enter in to ye cite, the childe shal dye. And all Israel shal bewayle him, and burye him. For he onely of Ieroboam shal come to the graue, because there is some good founde in him before the LORDE God of Israel, in Ieroboams house. 〈◊〉 . 15. c But the LORDE shall rayse him vp a kynge, which shal rote out ye house of Ieroboam in that daie. And what is it, yt is now in hande all ready? And the LORDE shal smyte Israel, like as a rede is moued in the water: & shal rote out Israel from this good londe, that he gaue vnto their fathers, & shal scater them beyonde the water, because they haue made their groues to prouoke the LORDE vnto wrath. And Israel shall be geuen ouer because of the synne of Ieroboam, which hath synned him selfe, & made Israel to synne.

And Ieroboams wife gat her vp, wente hir waye, & came vnto Thirza. And whan she came vpō the thresholde of the house, ye childe dyed, & they buried him, & all Israel made lamentacion for him, 〈◊〉 . 14. c acordinge to ye worde of the LORDE, which he spake by his seruaunt Ahia ye prophet. 〈…〉 What more there is to saye of Ieroboam, how he foughte & raigned, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. The tyme that Ieroboam raigned, was two & twentye yeare. And he slepte with his fathers. And Nadab his sonne was kynge in his steade.

Roboam ye sonne of Salomon was kynge in Iuda. 〈◊〉 . 12. c One and fortye yeare olde was Roboam whā he was made kynge, & seuentene yeare raigned he at Ierusalem, in the cite yt the LORDE had chosen out of all ye trybes of Israel, to set his name there. His mothers name was Naemaan Ammonitisse. And Iuda dyd yt which displeased the LORDE, & prouoked him to indignacion more thē all yt their fathers had done wt their synnes which they dyd: for they likewyse buylded them hye places, pilers, and groues vpō euery hye hill, and amonge all grene trees. There were whoremōgers also, & they dyd all ye abhominaciōs of ye Heythē, whom ye LORDE droue out before the children of Israel.

〈◊〉 . 12. a But in ye fifth yeare of kynge Roboam wēte Sisack ye kynge of Egipte vp agaynst Ierusalem, & toke the treasure out of ye house of the LORDE, & out of the kynges house, & all that mighte be gotten, & toke all the shyldes of golde, 〈◊〉 . 1 . c 〈◊〉 . 9. b which Salomon caused to be made. In steade wherof ye kynge Roboam caused for to make shyldes of stele, & commytted them vnder the handes of the chefe fotemen, which kepte the dore of the kynges house. And as oft as the kynge wente in to ye house of the LORDE, the fote men bare them, and brought them agayne in to the fote mens chamber.

What more there is to saye of Roboam, and all that he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. But betwene Roboam & Ieroboam there was warre as longe as they lyued. And 2. Par. 12. Robobam slepte with his fathers, & was buried wt his fathers in the cite of Dauid. And his mothers name was Naema an Ammonitisse. And his sonne Abia was kynge in his steade.

The XV. Chapter.

IN the eightenth yeare of kynge Ieroboā the sonne of Nebat,2. Par. 13. was Abia kynge in Iuda, and reigned thre yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was. 2. Par. 11.Maecha, the doughter of Abisalom, and he walked in all the synnes of his father, which he had done before him, and his hert was not perfecte with the LORDE his God, as was the hert of Dauid his father. 3. Reg. 11. For because of Dauids sake dyd the LORDE his God geue him a lanterne at Ierusalem, so yt he raysed his sonne after him, & manteyned him at Ierusalem, because Dauid dyd the thinge yt was righte in ye sighte of the LORDE, and departed not from all that he commaunded him as longe as he lyued (sauynge in the matter with 2. Re. 11. a Vrias ye Hethite). But there was warre betwene Roboam and Ieroboam, as longe as he lyued.

What more there is to saye of Abia, and all that he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. There was warre also betwene Abia and Ieroboam. And Abia slepte with his fathers, and they buried him in the cite of Dauid. And Asa his sonne was kynge in his steade.2. Par. 14. a In ye twentyeth yeare of kynge Ieroboam ouer Israel, was Asa kynge in Iuda, and reigned one & fortye yeare at Ierusalem. His graund mothers name was Maecha the doughter of Abisalom. And Asa dyd that which was righte in the sighte of the LORDE, as dyd his father Dauid. And he remoued ye 3. Re. 22. g who remongers out of the londe, and put downe all the Idols that his fathers had made. 2. Par. 15. d He put his mother from the mynistracion, that she had made vnto Miplezeth in ye groue. And Asa roted out hir Miplezeth, and brent it in the broke Cedron: but the hye places put he not downe. Yet was the hert of Asa perfecte with the LORDE as longe as he lyued. And the syluer and golde, and vessels that his father had halowed, & soch as was sanctified vnto ye house of the LORDE, that broughte he in. And there was warre betwene Asa & Baesa the kynge of Israel, as longe as they lyued.

Baesa the kynge of Israel wente vp agaynst Iuda, . Par. 16. a and buylded Rama, that no man shulde go out and in of Asas syde the kynge of Iuda. Then toke Asa all the syluer and golde that was lefte in the treasure of the house of the LORDE, and in the treasure of the kynges house, and delyuered it in to his seruauntes handes, & sent it vnto Re 10 a Benadab the sonne of Tabrimon the sonne of Hesion kynge of Siria, which dwelt at Damascon, and let saye vnto him: There is a couenaunt betwene me and the, and betwene my father and thy father: therfore sende I the a present of syluer and golde, that thou shuldest breake the couenaunt which thou hast with Baesa the kynge of Israel, that he maye departe fro me.

Benadab agreed vnto kynge Asa, and sent his captaynes agaynst the cities of Israel, and smote Iion and Dan, & Abel Beth Maecha, and all Cineroth with the whole londe of Nephtali. Whā Baesa herde that, he left of from buyldinge Rama, and wente agayne vnto Thirza.

Kynge Asa caused it be proclamed in all Iuda: Here be no man excepte. And they toke awaye the stones and tymber from Rama, wherwith Baesa had buylded. And kynge Asa buylded Geba Ben Iamin & Mispa therwith.

What more there is to saye of Asa, and of all his power, and all that he dyd, and of ye cities which he buylded, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda: sauynge that in his olde age he was diseased in his fete. And Asa slepte with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the cite of Dauid his father. 2. Par. 17. a And Iosaphat his sonne was kynge in his steade.

But Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam was kynge ouer Israel in the secōde yeare of Asa kynge of Iuda, & raigned ouer Israel two yeare, and dyd euell in the sighte of the LORDE, and walked in the waye of his father, and in his synnes, wherwith he made Israel to synne. Howbeit Baesa the sonne of Ahia of the house of Isachar conspired agaynst him, & smote him at Gibbethon, which was the Philistynes: for Nadab and all Israel layed sege to Gibbethon. So Baesa slewe him in the thirde yeare of Asa kynge of Iuda, & was kynge in his steade. 〈…〉 Now whan he was kynge, he smote all the house of Ieroboam, and let nothinge of Ieroboam remayne that had breth, tyll he had destroyed it, acordynge to ye worde of the LORDE, which he spake by his seruaunt Ahia of Silo, because of Ieroboams synnes which he dyd, & made Israel synne withall: euen with ye prouokynge wherwith he displeased the LORDE God of Israel.

What more there is to saye of Nadab, & all that he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel, and there was warre betwene Asa & Baesa the kynge of Israel, as longe as they lyued.

In the thirde yeare of Asa kynge of Iuda was Baesa ye sonne of Ahia kynge ouer all Israel at Thirza foure and twentye yeare, and dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE, and walked in the waye of Ieroboam, and in his synnes, wherwith he made Israel to synne.

Neuertheles the worde of the LORDE came vnto Iehu the sonne of Hanani agaynst Baesa, and sayde: For so moch as I lifted the out of the dust, and made the prynce ouer my people of Israel, and thou walkest in the waye of Ieroboam, and makest my people ouer Israel for to synne, to prouoke me vnto wrath thorow their synnes, beholde, therfore wyll I take awaye the posterite of Beasa, and the posterite of his house, and wyll set thine house euen as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat. 〈…〉 He that of Baesa dyeth in the cite, the dogges shal deuoure him: and who so beynge of him dyeth in the felde, the foules of the ayre shall eate him vp.

What more there is to saye of Baesa, & what he dyd, & of his power, beholde, it is wrytten in ye Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. And Baesa slepte with his fathers, & was buried at Thirza: & his sonne Ella was kynge in his steade. And the worde of ye LORDE came by the prophet Iehu the sonne of Hanani, ouer Baesa, and ouer his house, and agaynst all the euell that he dyd in the sighte of ye LORDE, to prouoke him vnto wrath thorow the workes of his handes: so that he became as the house of Ieroboam, and because he slewe 〈…〉 this man.

The XVI. Chapter.

IN the sixe & twentieth yeare of Asa kynge of Iuda, was Ella the sonne of Baesa kynge ouer Israel at Thirza two yeare. Neuertheles his seruaunt Simri, ye principall man ouer the halfe of ye charettes cōspyred against him. As for Ella, he was at Thirza, dranke & was dronkē in ye house of Arza the ruler of Thirza. And Simri came in, and slewe him in the seuen & twentieth yeare of Asa kynge of Iuda, and was kynge in his steade. 〈…〉 And whan he was kynge, and sat vpon his seate, he smote all the house of Baesa, & lefte not so moch as one to make water agaynst ye wall: his bloud auengers also & his frendes. 〈…〉 Thus dyd Simri destroye all the house of Baesa, acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, which he spake ouer Baesa by the prophet Iehu, because of all the synnes of Baesa and of Ella his sonne, which they dyd, and made Israel for to synne, to prouoke the LORDE God of Israel vnto wrath thorow their vanities. What more there is to saye of Ella, and all that he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel.

In the seuen and twentieth yeare of Asa kynge of Iuda, was Simri kynge vij. dayes at Thirza, and the people laye before Gibbethon of the Philistynes. But whan the people in the hoost herde saye yt Simri had conspired and slayne the kynge, then all Israel the same daye made Amri the chefe captayne kynge ouer all in the hoost. And Amri wente vp and all Israel with him from Gibbethon, and layed sege vnto Thirza. Re. 9. f But whan Simri sawe yt the cite shulde be wonne; he wente in to the palace in the kynges house, & brent it with ye kynges house, & dyed because of his synnes which he had committed, in that he dyd euell in the sighte of the LORDE, and walked in the waye of Ieroboam, and in his synnes which he dyd, wherwith he made Israel to synne.

What more there is to saye of Simri, and how he conspired, beholde, it is wrytten in ye Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. At the same tyme were ye people deuyded in two partes: the one parte helde with Thibni the sonne of Ginath, that they might make him kynge: the other halfe helde with Amri. But the people that helde with Amri, were mightier then the people which helde with Thibni ye sonne of Ginath. And Thibni dyed, and Amri was kynge.

In ye one and thirtieth yeare of Asa kynge of Iuda, was Amri kynge ouer Israel twolue yeares, & raigned at Thirza sixe yeares. He boughte the mount of Samaria of Semer for two hundreth weight of syluer, & buylded vpon the mount, and called the cite which he buylded, after ye name of Semer ye owner of ye mount of Samaria. And Amri dyd that which was euell in ye sighte of the LORDE, and was worse then all they that were before him, and walked in all ye wayes of Ieroboam ye sonne of Nebat, and in his synnes, wherwith he made Israel to synne, so that they prouoked the LORDE God of Israel vnto wrath in their vanities. What more there is to saye of Amri, & all that he dyd, and his power that he exercysed, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. And Amri slepte with his fathers, & was buried in Samaria, and Achab his sonne was kynge in his steade.

In the eight & thirtieth yeare of Asa kynge of Iuda, was Achab the sonne of Amri kynge ouer Israel, & raigned ouer Israel at Samaria two & twentie yeare, & dyd euell in the sighte of the LORDE, more thē all they yt were before him. And he thoughte it but a small matter to walke in the synnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat: Deut. 7. a and toke Iesabel the doughter of Eth Baal kynge of Sidon to wife, and wente and serued Baal, and worshiped him. And vnto Baal he set vp an altare in Baals house, which he buylded him in Samaria, and made a groue: so that Achab dyd more to prouoke the God of Israel vnto wrath, then all the kynges yt were before him in Israel.

At ye same tyme dyd Hiel of Bethel buylde Iericho: Iosu. 6. e It cost him his first sonne Abiram, yt he layed ye foundacion: & his yongest sonne Segub, yt he set vp the portes: Acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, which he spake by Iosua the sonne of Nun.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd Elias ye Theszbite one of the inhabiters of Gilead, saide vnto Achab: 3. Re. 18 f 4. Re. 3. c Iacob. 5. c Luc. 4. c As truly as the LORDE God of Israel lyueth, whose seruaunt I am, there shal nether rayne ner dew come this yeare, excepte I speake it.

And the worde of the LORDE came vnto him, and sayde: Get the hence, and turne the towarde the east, and hyde the bythe ryuer Crith, which is ouer agaynst Iordane, and thou shalt drynke of the ryuer: and I haue commaunded the rauens, that they shal fede the there. He departed, and dyd acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, and wente his waye, and sat him downe by the ryuer Crith, which is ouer agaynst Iordane. And the rauēs broughte him bred and flesh in the mornynge and in the euenynge, and he dranke of the ryuer.

And it fortuned after cerayne dayes, that the riuer was dryed: vp for there was no rayne in the lōde. Then came ye worde of ye LORDE vnto him, and sayde: 〈◊〉 . 4. c Get ye vp, and go vnto Sarepta, which lieth by Sidō: for there haue I commaunded a wedowe to make prouysion for the.

And he gat him vp, and wente vnto Sarepta. And whan he came to the gate of ye cite, beholde, the wedowe was there, and gathered stickes. And he called her, and sayde: Fetch me a litle water in a vessell, yt I maye drinke. And as she was goinge to fetch it, he cried vnto her, & sayde: Brynge me a morsell of bred also in thine hande. She sayde: As truly as the LORDE ye God lyueth, I haue no bred, but an handfull of floure in a pitcher, & a curtesy oyle in a cruse: and beholde, I haue gathered vp one or two stickes, & wyll go and prepare it for me and my sonne, that we maye eate and dye.

Elias sayde vnto her: Feare not, go thy waye, & do as thou hast sayde: yet make me first a morsell of bred therof, & brynge it me forth: & afterwarde shalt thou make it for ye & thy sonne. For thus sayeth ye LORDE God of Israel: The meell in the pitcher shall not be spent, & the oyle in ye cruse shall not fayll, vnto the daye yt the LORDE shal cause it for to rayne vpō earth. She wente & dyd as Elias sayde. And he ate, & she also, and hir house a certayne season. The meel in the pitcher was not mynished, and the oyle in the cruse fayled not, acordinge to the worde of ye LORDE which he spake by Elias.

And after these actes the sonne of the wife of ye house was sicke: and his sicknes was so exceadinge sore, that there remayned no breth in him. And she sayde vnto Elias: What haue I to do with the, thou man of God? Art thou come in vnto me, yt my synne shulde be kepte in remembraunce, & that my sonne shulde be slayne? He sayde vnto her: Geue me thy sonne. And he toke him frō hir lappe, & caried him vp in to ye chamber where he himselfe dwelt, and layed him vpō his bed, & called vpon the LORDE, and sayde: O LORDE my God, hast thou dealt so euell wt the wedow with whom I dwell, yt thou woldest slaye hir sonne? And Eccli. 48. a he stretched out him selfe ouer the childe thre tymes, & called vpon the LORDE, and saide: O LORDE my God, let the soule of this childe come agayne in to him. And the LORDE herde the voyce of Elias. And the soule of the childe came agayne vnto him, & he reuyued. And Elias toke the childe, and broughte him downe from the chamber in to the house and delyuered him vnto his mother, and sayde: Beholde, thy sonne lyueth. And the woman sayde vnto Elias: Now knowe I, that thou are a man of God, & that the worde of the LORDE is in thy mouth of a trueth.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANd after a longe season came ye worde of the LORDE vnto Elias in the thirde yeare, & sayde: 〈…〉 Go thy waye, & shewe ye selfe vnto Achab, yt I maye cause it for to rayne vpon earth. And Elias wente to shewe him selfe vnto Achab. But there was a greate derth ī Samaria. And Achab called Abdia his chefe officer: (As for Abdia, he feared ye LORDE greatly: for whā Iesabel roted out ye prophetes of ye LORDE, Abdia toke an C. prophetes, and hyd them in caues, here fiftye, & there fiftye, & prouyded for them wt bred and water.) Achab now sayde vnto Abdia: Go thorow the londe vnto all the welles of water & ryuers, yf happlye we maye finde hay, & to saue ye horses & mules, yt all the catell perishe not. And they parted thē selues in to the londe, to go thorow it. Achab departed the one waye alone, and Abdia ye other waye alone.

Now whan Abdia was on ye waye, Elias met him. And whan he knewe him, he fell downe vpon his face, & sayde: Art not thou my lorde Elias? He sayde: yee, go thy waye, and tell ye lorde: beholde, Elias is here. But he sayde: What haue I offended, that thou wilt delyuer thy seruaunt in to the handes of Achab, that he maye slaye me? As truly as the LORDE thy God lyueth, there is no people ner kingdome, but my lorde hath sent thither to seke the. And whan they sayde: He is not here, he toke an ooth of the same kyngdome and nacion, that they had not founde the. And now thou sayest: Go tell ye LORDE: beholde, Elias is here. Now whan I were gone from the, the sprete of the LORDE shulde take ye awaye, I can not tell whither: and yf I then came and tolde Achab, and founde the not, he shulde slaye me: But thy seruaunt feareth the LORDE from his youth vp. Hath it not bene tolde my lorde what I dyd, whan Iesabel slewe the prophetes of the LORDE, how that I hyd an hundreth of the LORDES prophetes, here fiftye, and there fiftye in the caues, and prouyded for them with bred and water? And thou sayest now: Go thy waye, tell thy lorde: Elias is here, that he maye slaye me. Elias saide: As truly as ye LORDE Zebaoth lyueth, before whom I stōde, I wil shewe my selfe vnto him this daye. Then wēte Abdia to mete Achab, & tolde him. And Achab wēte for to mete Elias.

And whan Achab sawe Elias, Achab sayde vnto him: Art thou he that troublest Israel? He sayde: I trouble not Israel, 〈◊〉 . 4. c but it is thou and thy fathers house, because ye haue forsaken the commaundementes of the LORDE, and walke after Baal. Go to, sende forth now, and gather me all Israel together vnto mount Carmell, and the foure hundreth and fiftye prophetes of Baal, and the foure hundreth prophetes of ye groue, which eate of Iesabels table. So Achab sent vnto all the children of Israel, & gathered the prophetes together vnto mount Carmell.

Then stepte Elias vnto all the people, & sayde: How longe halte ye on both ye sydes? Yf the LORDE be God, thē walke after him: but yf Baal be he, thē folowe him. And the people gaue him no answere. Thē sayde Elias vnto the people: I onely am lefte a prophet of ye LORDE: but Baals prophetes are foure C. and fiftie mē. Geue vs now two bullockes, & let them chose one bullocke, & hewe him in peces, & laye him vpō the wod, & put no fyre theron: so wil I take ye other bullock, & laye him vpō the wod, & put no fyre theron also: call ye then vpō the name of yor god, & I wil call vpō the name of the LORDE: loke which God now answereth with fyre, let the same be God. And all the people answered & sayde: That is righte. And Elias sayde vnto Baals prophetes: Chose ye one bullock, and do ye it first (for ye are many) and call ye vpon the name of youre god, & laye no fyre theron.

And they toke the bullock which he gaue them, & prepared it, & called vpon the name of Baal from the mornynge vntyll the noone daye, and sayde: O Baal heare vs. But there was nether voyce ner answere. And they hopped aboute the altare, as their vse was to do. Now whan it was noone daye, Elias mocked them, and sayde: Crye loude. For he is a god, peraduēture he is musynge, or hath somwhat to do, or is gone some iourneye, or happlye he slepeth, so that he wolde be waked vp. And they cried loude, and prouoked thē selues with knyues & botkens, (as their maner was) tyll ye bloude folowed. But whan ye noone daye was past, they prophecied vntyll the tyme that the meat offerynge shulde be offered, & there was nether voyce ner answere, ner one to regarde them.

Then sayde Elias vnto all the people: Come hither all ye people vnto me. And whan all ye people came to him, he repayred ye Re. 14. c altare of the LORDE yt was broken, Iosu. 4 b & toke twolue stones acordinge to the nombre of ye trybes of the childrē of Iacob (vnto whom the worde of the LORDE spake, and sayde: Gen. 3 and 35. Thy name shal be Israel) and of ye stones he buylded an altare in the name of the LORDE, & made a pytt rounde aboute the altare, like two forowes in the corne londe, & prepared the wod, & hewed ye bullock in peces, and layed him vpon the wod, & sayde: Fetch foure pitchers full of water, and poured it vpō the burnt offerynge, and vpon the wod. And he sayde: Do it yet once. And they dyd it once agayne. And he sayde: Do it ye thirde tyme. And they dyd it the thirde tyme. And ye water ranne aboute the altare, and ye pytt was full of water also.

And whan the tyme was to offer ye meat offerynge, Elias stepte forth, and sayde: O LORDE God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Israel, let it be knowne this daye, that thou art God in Israel, and I thy seruaunt, and that I haue done all this acordinge vnto ye worde. Heare me O LORDE, O heare me, yt this people maye knowe, how that thou art the LORDE God, that thou mayest afterwarde turne their hertes. Iud. 6. d Eccli 4 2. Mac. 1. Then fell downe the fyre of the LORDE, and consumed the burnt offeringe, the wodd, the stones and the earth, and licked vp the water that was in the pytt. Whan all the people sawe that, they fell vpon their faces, and sayde: The LORDE is God, ye LORDE is God. Elias sayde vnto them: Deut. 12. and 17. b Laye handes vpon Baals prophetes, yt none of them escape. And they toke them. And Elias broughte them downe vnto ye broke Cyson, & slewe thē there.

And Elias sayde vnto Achab: Go vp, eate & drynke, for it soundeth as though it wolde rayne sore. And whan Achab wēte vp to eate & drinke. Elias ascēded vp to the toppe of Carmel, & bowed him selfe downe to the earth, & put his heade betwene his knees, & sayde vnto his lad: Go vp, and loke towarde the See. He wente vp & loked, & sayde: There is nothinge. He sayde: Go agayne seuen tymes. And at the seuēth tyme he sayde: Beholde, there goeth vp a litle cloude out of the see, like a mans hande. He sayde: Go vp, and saie vnto Achab: Bynde ye charet, & go downe, yt the rayne ouertake the not. And or a mā coulde turne him, the heauen was blacke wt cloudes & wynde, & there came a greate rayne. But Achab rode his waie, & departed vnto Iesrael. And the hāde of ye LORDE came vpō Elias, and he gyrde his loynes, & ranne before Achab, tyll he came vnto Iesrael.

The XIX. Chapter.

ANd Achab tolde Iesabel all yt Elias had done, & how he had slayne all Baals prophetes wt the swerde. Thē sent Iesabel a messaunger vnto Elias, sayenge: The goddes do this & that vnto me, yf I tomorow aboute this tyme, make not thy soule as one of these. Then was he afrayed, & gat him vp, & wente where he wolde, & came vnto Berseba in Iuda, and lefte his lad there. But he him selfe wente a daies iourney in to ye wyldernes, & came in, & sat him downe vnder a Iuniper tre, & wyszshed vnto his soule yt he mighte dye, & sayde: It is now ynough LORDE, take my soule, for I am no better then my fathers. And he layed him downe & slepte vnder the Iuniper tre.

And beholde, ye angell touched him, & sayde vnto him: Stonde vp, and eate. And he loked aboute him, & beholde, at his heade there was a bred baken on the coles, & a cruse wt water. And whan he had eaten and dronkē, he layed him downe agayne to slepe.

And ye angell of the LORDE, came agayne the seconde tyme, & touched him, & sayde: Stonde vp, and eate, for thou hast a greate waye to go. And he arose, and ate and drāke, and wente on thorow the strength of that meate xo. 34. d att. 4. a fortye dayes and fortye nightes, euē vnto Horeb ye mount of God: and there he came to a caue, and abode there all nighte. And beholde the worde of the LORDE came to him, and sayde vnto him: What doest thou here Elias? He sayde: I haue bene zelous for the LORDE God Zebaoth: for the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenaunt, and broken downe thine altares, and slayne thy prophetes with the swerde, and I am lefte onely, & they seke to take awaye my life. He sayde: Go forth, and stonde vpon the mount before the LORDE. And beholde, the LORDE wēte ouer: and a greate mightie wynde, which roue the mountaynes, and brake the harde stones, came before the LORDE, but the LORDE was not in the wynde. After the wynde came there an earthquake, but the LORDE was not in the earthquake.

And after the earth quake there came a fyre, but the LORDE was not in the fyre. And after the fyre came there a styll softe hyssinge. Whan Elias herde that, he couered his face with his cloke, and wente forth, and stode in the dore of the caue. And beholde, there came a voyce vnto him, and sayde: What hast thou here to do Elias?

He sayde: I haue bene zelous for the LORDE God Zebaoth: 〈…〉 for the children of Israel haue forsakē thy couenaunt, broken downe thine altares, slayne ye prophetes wt theswerde, & I onely am lefte, and they seke to take awaye my life. But the LORDE sayde vnto him: Go ye waye agayne thorow the wyldernes vnto Damascon, & go in, 〈…〉 & anoynte Hasael kynge ouer Siria, 〈…〉 & Iehu the sonne of Nimsi kynge ouer Israel, & Eliseus ye sonne of Saphat of Abel Mehola to be prophet in ye steade. And it shal come to passe, yt, who so escapeth the swerde of Hasael, Iehu shall slaye him, & who so escapeth ye swerde of Iehu, Eliseus shal slaye him. 〈…〉 And I wil reserue vnto me vij.M. men in Israel: namely, all ye knees which haue not bowed thē selues vnto Baal, and euery mouth yt hath not kyssed him.

And he departed thence, & founde Elizeus ye sonne of Saphat, plowinge wt twolue yocke of oxen before him, & he himselfe was amōge the twolue. And Elias wēte vnto him, & cast his cloke vpon him. And he lefte the oxen, & ranne after Elias, & sayde: 〈…〉 Let me kysse my father & my mother, and so wil I folowe the. And he sayde vnto him: Go thy waye, & come agayne, for I haue some what to do with the. And he ranne agayne from him, and toke a yock of oxen, and offred it, and sod ye flesh with the wod of the oxen plowes, and gaue it vnto the people to eate, and gat him vp, & folowed Elias, and mynistred vnto him.

The XX. Chapter.

ANd 〈…〉 Benadab ye kynge of Siria gathered all his power, & there were two & thirtie kynges wt him, & horses & charettes, and he wente vp, and layed sege vnto Samaria, & foughte agaynst it. And he sent messaungers vnto Achab ye kynge of Israel in to ye cite, & caused to saye vnto him: Thus sayeth Benadab: Thy syluer & thy golde is myne, and thy wyues & thy best children are myne also. The kynge of Israel answered, & sayde: My lorde O kynge, euen as thou hast sayde, I am thine, and all that I haue.

And the messaungers came agayne, & sayde: Thus sayeth Benadab: For so moch as I haue sent vnto the, sayenge: Thy syluer & thy golde, thy wyues & thy childrē shalt thou geue me, tomorow aboute this tyme wil I sende my seruaūtes vnto the, yt they maye serch thyne house and the houses of thy subiectes: & loke what pleasaunt thinge thou hast, yt shal they take in their handes, and cary it awaye. So the kynge of Israel called all ye Elders of the lōde, & sayde: Mark well & se, what myschefe this mā seketh: He sent vnto me for my wyues & children, for syluer & golde, & I haue not sayde him naye. Then sayde all the Elders and all the people vnto him: Thou shalt not cōsente ner agree vnto him. And he spake vnto Benadabs messaūgers, Saye vnto my lorde ye kynge: All ye thynges wherfore thou dyddest sende vnto me ye seruaunt at ye first, wil I do, but this can I not do. And ye messaungers wēte, and tolde this againe. Thē sent Benadab vnto him sayēge: The goddes do this and yt vnto me, yf the dust of Samaria shalbe ynough, for euery one of my people to brynge me an handfull therof. But ye kynge of Israel answered, & sayde: Tell him, Let not him yt putteth on ye harnes, make his boast like him yt hath put it of. Whā Benadab herde yt (euē as he was drynkinge wt the kynges in ye pauylion) he sayde vnto his seruaūtes: Set yor selues in araye. And they set thē selues in araie against ye cite.

And beholde, there came a prophet vnto Achab ye kynge of Israel, & saide: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Hast thou sene all this greate multitude? Beholde, this daie wil I delyuer thē in to ye hande, so yt thou shalt knowe, how yt I am ye LORDE. Achab sayde: By whom? He sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Euen by the yonge men of the rulers of the londe. He sayde: Who shal order the battayl? He sayde: Thou. Then mustered he the yonge men of the rulers of the londe, & there were two hūdreth and two and thirtie of them: & after thē mustured he of the whole people of all the childrē of Israel, seuē thousande men, and they wente out in the noone daye. As for Benadab, he dranke and was dronken in the pauylion with the two & thirtie kynges which were come to helpe him. And the yonge men of the rulers of the londe wente forth first.

Benadab sent forth, & they brought him worde, & sayde: There come men out of Samaria. He sayde: Take them alyue, whether they be come forth for peace, or for warre. But whan the londe rulers yonge men were gone forth, and the hoost behynde them, euery one smote him yt came in his waye. And the Sirians fled, and Israel folowed after them. And Benadab the kynge of Syria escaped with horses and horsmē. And the kynge of Israel wente forth, and smote horses and charettes, and dyd a greate slaughter on the Syrians.

Then came there a prophet vnto the kynge of Israel, and sayde vnto him: Go thy waye and strength the, and take hede, and loke well what thou doest: for whan the yeare is aboute, the kynge of Syria shall come agaynst the of the new. For the kynge of ye Syrians seruauntes sayde vnto him: Their goddes are goddes of the mountaynes, therfore haue they gotten the victory.

But let vs fyghte with them on the playne, and thou shalt se that we shal ouercome them. Do thus, put awaye the kynges euery one from his place, and set dukes in their steades, and appoynte the an hoost as was that which thou hast lost, & horses & charettes as the other were, and led vs fight agaynst thē in the plaine, and thou shalt se that we shal haue the victory. He cōsented vnto their voyce, and dyd so.

Now whan the yeare was gone aboute, Benadab appoynted the Sirians, and wente vp towarde Aphek, to fighte agaynst Israel, and the childrē of Israel mustured, and prouyded them selues with vytailes, and wē te to mete them, and pitched their tētes ouer against them, like two litle flockes of goates but the londe was full of the Syrians.

And there came a man of God, and sayde vnto the kynge of Israel: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Because the Syrians haue sayde, that the LORDE is a God of the moūtaynes and not a God of the valleys, therfore haue I geuen all this greate heape in to thy handes, that ye maye knowe how that I am ye LORDE. And they pitched their tentes right ouer agaynst them seuen dayes. But vpon ye seuenth daye they wente together in to the battayll: and the children of Israel smote of the Sirians an hundreth thousande fote men in one daye, and the remnaunt fled to Aphek in to the cite, and the wall fell vpon the other seuen and twenty thousande men. And Benadab fled also vnto the cite in to a litle chamber.

Then sayde his seruauntes vnto him: Beholde, we haue herde that the kynges of the house of Israel are mercifull kinges, Let vs therfore put sack cloth aboute oure loynes, and halters aboute oure neckes, & go forth to the kynge of Israel, peraduenture he shal let ye soule lyue.

And they put sack cloth aboute their loynes, and halters aboute their neckes, and came to the kynge of Israel, and sayde: Benadab thy seruaunt sayeth vnto the: O let my soule lyue. He sayde: yf he be yet alyue, he is my brother. And the men toke him shortly at his worde, and expounded it for them selues and sayde: Yee Benadab is thy brother. He sayde: Come and brynge him. Thē wente Benadab forth vnto him, and he caused him to syt vpon the charet, and sayde vnto him: The cities that my father toke from thy father, wyl I geue the agayne. And make thou stretes for thyselfe at Damascō, as my father did at Samaria, so wyl I let the go with a bonde of peace. And he made a couenaunt with him, and let him go.

Then spake there a man amonge the children of the prophetes vnto his neghboure by the worde of the LORDE: I praye the smite me. But he refused to smite him. Then saide he vnto him, because thou hast not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE, beholde, therfore shall there a lyon smyte the, whan thou goest fro me· . Re 13. c And whan he wente frō him, a lyon founde him, and slewe him.

And he founde another man, and sayde: I praye the smyte me. And the man smote him, and wounded him, Then wente the prophet, and stepte vnto the kynge by the waye syde, and altered his face with aszshes. And whan the kynge wente by, he cried vpon ye kynge, and sayde: Thy seruaunt wente forth in to the battayll, and beholde, there wente one asyde, and broughte a man vnto me, and sayde: Kepe this mā: yf he be myssed, thy soule shall be in steade of his soule, or els thou shalt weye downe an hundreth weighte of syluer. And whyle thy seruaunt had here & there to do, he was awaye. The kynge of Israel sayde vnto him: It is thine owne iudgment, thou hast geuen it thyselfe.

Then put he the aszshes from his face in all the haist. And the kynge of Israel knewe him, that he was one of the prophetes. And he sayde vnto him: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Because thou hast let the damned man go, therfore shall thy soule be for his soule, and thy people for his people. And the kynge of Israel departed vnto his house, beinge troubled in his mynde and full indignacion, and came to Samaria.

The XXI. Chapter.

AFter these actes it fortuned, that Naboth the Iesraelite had a vyniarde at Iefreel besyde the palace of Achab kynge of Samaria. And Achab spake to Naboth, and sayde: Geue me thy vynyarde, I wyll make me an herbgarden therof, because it is so nye my house: I wyl geue the a better vynyarde for it: or yf it please the, I wyll geue the syluer for it, as moch as it is worth. But Naboth sayde vnto Achab: The LORDE let that be farre fro me, 〈…〉 that I shulde geue ye my fathers heretage. Then came Achab home, beinge moued and full of indignacion, because of the worde that Naboth the Iesraelite had spoken vnto him, & sayde: I wyl not geue the my fathers inheritaunce. And he laied him downe vpon his bed, and turned his face asyde, and ate no bred. Then Iesabel his wyfe came in to him and sayde vnto him: What is ye matter, that thy sprete is so cōbred, and that thou eatest no bred? He sayde vnto her: I haue spokē vnto Naboth the Iesraelite, and sayde: Geue me thy vynyarde for money: or yf it please yt, I wyl geue the another for it. But he sayde: I wyll not geue the my vynyarde.

Then sayde Iesabel his wyfe vnto him: What kingdome were in Israel, yf thou diddest it? Stonde vp, and eate bred, I wyl get the the vynyarde of Naboth the Iesraelite. And she wrote a letter vnder Achabs name, and sealed it with his signet, and sent it vnto ye Elders and rulers in his cite, which dwelt aboute Naboth, and wrote thus in ye letter: Proclame a fast, and set Naboth aboue in the people, and set two men of Belial before him, to testifye and saye: Thou hast blasphemed God and the kynge. And brynge him forth, and stone him to death.

And the Elders and rulers of his cyte, which dwelt in his cite, dyd as Iesabel had commaunded them, acordynge as she had wrytten in the letter that she sent vnto them and they proclamed a fast, and caused Naboth to syt aboue amonge the people. Then came the two men of Belial, and stode before him, and testyfyed agaynst Naboth in ye presence of the people, and sayde: Naboth hath blasphemed God and the kynge.

Then broughte they him out of the cite, and stoned him to death. And they sent Iesabel worde, sayenge: Naboth is stoned & put to death. Whā Iesabel herde that Naboth was stoned and deed, she sayde vnto Achab: Vp, and take possession of the vynyarde of Naboth the Iesraelite, which he denyed to geue the for money: for Naboth lyueth no more but is deed. And whan Achab herde ye Naboth was deed, he rose to go downe vnthe vyniarde of Naboth the Iesraelite, and to take possession of it.

But the worde of the LORDE came to Elias the Theszbite, and sayde: Get the vp, and go downe to mete Achab the kynge of Israel, which is at Samaria: beholde, he is in Naboths vynyarde, in to the which he is gone downe to take possession of it, and talke thou with him, and speake: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Thou hast slayne, and taken in possession. And thou shalt talke morouer vnto him, and saye: Thus sayeth the LORDE: 〈◊〉 . 22. f Euen in the place where the dogges licked vp Naboths bloude, shall the dogges licke thy bloude also. And Achab sayde vnto Elias: Hast thou euer founde me thine enemye? He saide: Yee, I haue founde the, because thou art euen solde to do euell in the sighte of the LORDE. Beholde, Re. . b 〈◊〉 1. I wyll brynge mysfortune vpon the, and take awaye thy posterite, and wil rote out from Achab, euen him that maketh water agaynst the wall, and him that is shut vp and lefte behynde in Israel: and thy house wyll I make as the house of Ieroboam ye sonne of Nebat, and as the house of Baesa the sonne of Ahia, because of ye prouocacion wherwhith thou hast prouoked me vnto wrath, and made Israel to synne.

And ouer Iesabel spake the LORDE also and sayde: Re. 9. b The dogges shal deuoure Iesabel in ye felde of Iesrael. Re. 14. b 〈…〉 . 16. a Who so of Achab dyeth in ye cite, him shal the dogges eate vp: and who so dyeth in the felde, the foules vnder the heauen shall eate him vp. So cleane 〈◊〉 . 1. b solde to do myschefe in ye sighte of the LORDE hath no man bene, as Achab: for his Iesabel hath so disceaued him, and he maketh him selfe a greate abhominacion, that he goeth after Idols, acordīge vnto all as dyd the Amorites, 〈…〉 whom the LORDE expelled before the children of Israel.

But whan Achab herde these wordes, he rēte his clothes, & put a sack cloth on his body, & fasted, and slepte in sack cloth, and wente aboute hanginge downe his heade. And the worde of the LORDE came to Elias the Theszbite, & sayde: Hast thou not sene how Achab humbleth him selfe before me? For so moch now as he hūbleth him selfe in my sighte, I wil not brynge that plage whyle he lyueth: but by his sonnes life wil I brynge mysfortune vpon his house.

The XXII. Chapter.

ANd there passed ouer thre yeares, that there was no warre betwene the Sirians & Israel. . Par. •• . a But in the thirde yeare wente Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda downe to the kynge of Israel. And the kynge of Israel sayde vnto his seruauntes: Knowe ye not yt Ramoth in Gilead is oures? and we syt styll, and take it not out of the hande of the kynge of Syria. And he sayde vnto Iosaphat: Wilt thou go with me to the battaill vnto Ramoth in Gilead? Iosaphat sayde vnto the kynge of Israel: I wyll be as thou my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. And Iosaphat sayde vnto ye kynge of Israel: . Re. 23. 2. Re. 2. a and 2 . a 3. Re. 1 . Axe this daye at the worde of the LORDE. Then the kynge of Israel gathered the prophetes aboute a foure hundreth men, and sayde vnto them: Shal I go vnto Ramoth in Gilead to fighte, or shal I let it alone? They sayde: Go vp, ye LORDE shal delyuer it in to ye kinges hande. But Iosaphat sayde: Is there not one prophet here more of ye LORDE, that we maye axe at him?

The kinge of Israel saide vnto Iosaphat Here is yet a man, one Micheas the sonne of Iemla, at whom we maye axe of the LORDE: but I hate him, for he prophecieth me no good, but euell. Iosaphat sayde: Let not the kynge saye so. Then called the kynge of Israel a chamberlayne, and sayde: Brynge hither soone Micheas the sonne of Iemla. As for the kynge of Israel and Iosaphat ye kinge of Iuda, they sat ether of them vpon his seate, arayed in their garmentes in the place at ye dore of the porte of Samaria, and all ye prophetes prophecied before thē. And Sedechias the sonne of Cnaena had made him hornes of yron, and sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: With these shalt thou puszshe at ye Syrians, tyll thou brynge them to naughte And all the prophetes prophecied likewyse, and sayde: Go vp vnto Ramoth in Gilead, thou shalt prospere right well, & the LORDE shal delyuer it in to the kynges hande. And the messaunger that wente to call Micheas sayde vnto him: Beholde, The wordes of ye prophetes are with one acorde good before the kynge, let thy worde therfore be as their worde, and speake thou good also.

Micheas sayde: As truly as the LORDE liueth, loke what the LORDE sayeth vnto me, yt wyl I speake. And whan he came to the kynge, the kynge sayde vnto him: Micheas, shal we go vnto Ramoth in Gilead to fight or shall we let it alone? He sayde vnto him: Yee, go vp, thou shalt prospere righte well, the LORDE shall geue it in to the kynges hande. But the kynge sayde vnto him agayne: I charge yt that thou saye no other thinge vnto me but the trueth, in the name of ye LORDE. He sayde: I sawe all Israel scatred abrode vpon the mountaynes, as the shepe that haue no shepherde. And the LORDE saide: Haue these no lorde? Let euery one turne home agayne in peace. Then sayde ye kinge of Israel vnto Iosaphat: Tolde not I ye that he wolde prophecye me no good, but euell?

He sayde: Heare now therfore the worde of the LORDE: . Pa. 18. c I sawe the LORDE syt vpon his seate, and all the hoost of heauen stōdinge by him at his righte hande & at his lefte. And the LORDE saide: Who wil disceaue Achab to go vp, & fall at Ramoth in Gilead. And one sayde this, another that. Then wē te there forth a sprete, & stode before the LORDE, and sayde: I wyl disceaue him. The LORDE sayde vnto him: Wherwith? He sayde vnto him: I wyll go forth, and be a false sprete in the mouth of all his prophetes. He saide: Thou shalt disceaue him, and shalt be able: go forth and do so. Beholde now, ze. 14. b the LORDE hath geuē a false sprete in ye mouth of all these ye prophetes, and the LORDE hath spoken euell ouer the. Then stepte forth Sedechias the sonne of Cnaena, and smote Micheas vpon the cheke, and sayde: What, is the sprete of the LORDE departed fro me, to speake with the? Micheas sayde: Beholde, thou shalt se it in yt daye, whan thou shalt go frō one chamber to another to hyde the.

The kynge of Israel sayde: Take Micheas, and let him remayne with Amon the ruler of the cite, and with Ioas the kynges sonne, and saye: Thus sayeth the kynge: Put this man in preson, and fede him with bred and water of trouble, tyll I come agayne in peace. Micheas sayde: Yf thou commest agayne in peace, then hath not the LORDE spoken thorow me. And he sayde: herken to all ye people.

So the kynge of Israel and Iosaphat ye kynge of Iuda wente vp vnto Ramoth in Gilead. And the kynge of Israel sayde vnto Iosaphat: Chaunge thy clothes, and come in to ye battayll in thine araie. The kinge of Israel chaunged his clothes also, and wē te in to the battayll. But the kynge of Siria commaunded the rulers of his charettes (of whom there were two and thirtie) and saide: Ye shal fight nether agaynst small ner greate, but onely agaynst the kynge of Israel. And whan the rulers of the charettes sawe Iosaphat, they thought it had bene the kynge of Israel, and fell vpon him with fightinge. But Iosaphat cried. So whan the rulers of the charettes sawe that it was not ye kinge of Israel, they turned back frō him.

A certayne man bended his bowe harde, and shott the kynge of Israel betwene the mawe and ye longes. And he sayde vnto his charetman: Turne thine hāde, and cary me out of the hoost, for I am wounded. And ye battayll was sore the same daie. And the kinge stode vpō his charet, agaynst the Syriās and dyed in the eueninge, and the bloude ranne from the wounde in to the myddes of the charet. And whan the Sonne wente downe there was a proclamacion made in the hoost, and sayde: Euery one gett him in to his cite, and to his countre. Thus the kynge dyed, and was broughte vnto Samaria, and they buryed him in Samaria. And whan they waszshed the charett in the pole of Samaria, 〈…〉 ye dogges licked his bloude (but the harlottes waszshed him) acordinge to the worde of ye LORDE which he spake.

What more there is to saye of Achab, & all yt he dyd, and of the Yuery house which he buylded, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. So Achab slepte with his fathers, and his sonne Ahasia was kynge in his steade.

〈…〉 And Iosaphat the sonne of Asa was kynge ouer Iuda in the fourth yeare of Achab kynge of Israel, and was fyue and thirtie yeare olde whan he was made kynge and raigned fyue and twentye yeare at Ierusalē. His mothers name was Asuba ye doughter of Silhi, and he walked in all the waye of his father Asa, & departed not there from And he dyd that which was right in ye sighte of the LORDE, yet put he not awaye ye hie places, and ye people offred and brent in cēse yet vpon the hye places, and he had peace with the kynge of Israel.

What more there is to saye of Iosaphat and the mighte that he exercised, and how he fought, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. 〈…〉 He put out of the londe also the whoremongers that yet were lefte, which remayned ouer in the tyme of his father Asa. And at that tyme there were no kynges in Edom. And Iosaphat had caused to make shippes vpon the See, which shulde go to fetch golde in Ophir, but they wente not: for they were broken at Ezeon Gaber. At that tyme sayde Ahasia the sonne of Achab vnto Iosaphat: Let my seruauntes passe with thy seruauntes in the shippes. But Iosaphat wolde not. And Iosaphat slepte with his fathers, and was buried in ye cite of Dauid. And Ioram his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The ende of the thirde boke of the kynges.
The fourth boke of the kynges. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Of the reigne of Ochosias (otherwyse called Ahasia) and of Ioram his brother and how the fyre cōsumed the two captaynes with their men. Chap. II. Elias is taken vp in a fyrie charet. Eliseus receaueth the sprete of Elias, maketh the bytter water swete, and curseth the mysnurtoured children. Chap. III. Of Ioram and Iosaphat, and of their warre, & what Eliseus saide vnto them Chap. IIII. Eliseus helpeth the womā that was in dett, and for another woman which had no children, he optayneth one of God: which childe beynge deed he rayseth vp agayne. Chap. V. Naaman the chefe captayne of Siria is clensed from his leprosy, and Gehasi Eliseus seruaunt is made leporous. Chap. VI. The yron swymmeth in the water. The kynge of Siria fighteth agaynst Israel. His seruauntes which go aboute to take Eliseus, are smytten with blyndnes. A greate honger in Samaria. Chap. VII. Of the foure lepers which came in to the tentes of the Syrians, and how vytayles beganne to be good chepe. Chap. VIII. Of the seuen yeare derth. Benadab is sick, and areth coūcell at Eliseus. Of Ochosias the sonne of Ioram. Chap. IX. Of Iehu, how he was anoynted kinge ouer Israel, and how he roted out the houof Achab and of Iesabel. Chap. X. The heades of Achabs seuentie sonnes are broughte vnto Iehu. Of Ochosias brethren Iehu slayeth Baal prestes. Chap. XI. Atalia destroyeth all the kynges sede, saue Ioas which escapeth, and is made kynge by Ioiada the prest. Chap. XII. Ioas ruleth well whyle Ioiada is alyue, but euell after his death. Chap. XIII. Of the kynges Ioachias, Ioas & Ieroboam, and how the deed that was layed in Eliseus graue, reuyued. Chap. XIIII. Of Ioas, Amasias, Ieroboam and Azarias. Chap. XV. Of Azarias the Leper, and of his sonne Ionathas. Of Zacharias the kynge of Israel. Of Sellum, Manahem, Pacea, Romelia. And how Teglatphalasser cōquererh the cities of Iuda Chap. XVI. Of Achas, Resin, and Ezechias. Chap. XVII. Of Osea, how Salmanasar came vpon him, and conquered, and caried the people awaye captyue. And how God punyshed those that came in their steade. Chap. XVIII. Of the good kynge Ezechias, & how Sennacherib troubleth him. Chap. XIX. Ezechias sendeth vnto Esay, which comforreth him. God defendeth Ezechias, & delyuereth him. Chap. XX. Ezechias is deed sick, but Esay at the commaundement of the LORDE, promyseth him to lyue yet fyftene yeare. Chap. XXI. Of the reigne of the vngodly kynge Manasses, how he lyued and how he dyed Of his sonne Amon. Chap. XXII. Of the reigne of that noble & vertuous kynge Iosias, and of his goodly actes. Chap. XXIII How Iosias caused the boke of the couenaūt to be red vnto all the people, and setteth vp the true honoure of God againe Of Ioachas his sonne. Chap. XXIII. How Nabuchodonosor cōmeth vpon kynge Ioachim, and carieth awaye Ioachim his sonne vnto Babilon. Chap. XXV. Nabuchodonosor layeth sege to Ierusalē, wynneth it, setteth fyre on it, and caryeth awaye the kynge and the people presoners vnto Babilon.
The fyrst Chapter.

AHasia the sonne off Achab was kynge ouer Israel at Samaria in ye seuententh yeare of Iosaphat kīge of Iuda, & reigned ouer Israel two yeares, & dyd yt which was euell in ye sight of the LORDE, and walked in the waye of his father and of his mother, & in the waie of Ieroboam ye sonne of Nebat, which made Israel for to synne. And serued Baal, and worshipped him, and displeased the LORDE God of Israel, euē as his father dyd. The Moabites also fell awaye from Israel, whan Achab was deed.

And Ochosias fell thorow ye grate in his chāber at Samaria, and was deed sicke, and sent messaungers, and sayde vnto them: Go youre waye, and axe councell at Beelzebub the god of Ekron, whether I shall recouer from this sicknesse. But the angell of ye LORDE sayde vnto Elias the Theszbite: Vp, & go mete the messaungers of the kynge of Samaria, and saie vnto them: Is there no God in Israel, that ye go to axe councell at ye god of Ekron? Therfore thus sayeth the LORDE: Thou shalt not come from the bed wheron thou lyest, but shalt dye the death.

And Elias wente his waye. And whā ye messaunges came to Ochosias agayne, he sayde vnto thē: Why come ye agayne? They sayde vnto him: There came vp a man in oure waye, and sayde vnto vs: Go againe to the kinge that hath sent you, and saye vnto him: Thus saieth the LORDE: Is there no God in Israel, yt thou sendest to axe coūcel at Beelzebub ye god of Ekrō? Therfore shalt thou not come from ye bed wheron thou lyest, but shalt dye the death. He sayde vnto them: What maner of man was it that mett you, and sayde this vnto you? They sayde vnto him: He had a rough heer vpon him, and a letheren gyrdell aboute his loynes. He sayde: It is Elias the Theszbite.

And he sent vnto him a captaine ouer fiftye, with the same fyftye. And whan he came vnto him, beholde, he sat aboue vpon the moūt. He sayde vnto him: Thou mā of God, the kynge sayeth: Thou shalt come downe Elias answered the captayne ouer fyftye, and sayde vnto him: Yf I be a man of God, the fyre fall downe then from heauen, and cō sume the and thy fyftie. uc. 9. f Then fell there fire from heauen, and consumed him and his fyftye. And agayne he sent another captayne ouer fyftye vnto him, with his fyftye, which answered, and sayde vnto him: Thou man of God, thus sayeth the kynge: Come downe in all the haist. Elias answered, and saide: Yf I be a mā of God, ye fire fall downe from heauen, and consume the and thy fyftye. Then fell the fyre of God from heauen, & consumed him, and his fyftye. Agayne, he sent vnto him the thirde captayne ouer fyftye, with his fyftie.

Now whan he came to him, he kneled to Elias, and besoughte him, and sayde vnto him: Thou man of God, let my soule and ye soules of thy seruauntes these fyftye, be somwhat worth in thy syghte. Beholde, the fyre fell downe from heauen, and hath consumed the fyrst two captaynes ouer fyftye wt their fyftyes. But now let my soule be somwhat worth in thy sighte. Then saide the angel of the LORDE vnto Elias: Go downe with him, and feare him not. And he gatt him vp, and wente downe with him vnto ye kynge.

And he sayde vnto him: Thus saieth the LORDE: Because thou hast sent forth messaū gers, and caused to axe councell at Beelzebub the god of Ekron, as though there were no God in Israel to axe coūcell at his worde, therfore shalt thou not come from the bed wheron thou hast layed the, but shalt dye ye death. So he dyed, acordynge to the worde of the LORDE which Elias sayde. And Ioram (his brother) was kynge in his steade in the seconde yeare of Ioram the sonne of Iosaphat kynge of Iuda: for he had no sonne.

What more there is to saye of Ochosias, what he dyd, beholde, it is wryttē in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel.

The II. Chapter.

WHan the LORDE was mynded to take vp Elias in the tempest, Elias and Eliseus wente from Gilgall. And Elias sayde to Eliseus: Tary thou here I praye the, for the LORDE hath sent me vnto Bethel. But Eliseus sayde: As truly as the LORDE liueth, and as truly as thy soule lyueth, I wyll not forsake the. And whan they came downe vnto Bethel, the prophetes children that were at Bethel, wēte forth to Eliseus, and sayde vnto him: Knowest thou not, that the LORDE wyl take thy lorde awaye from thy heade this daye? He saide: I knowe it well, holde ye youre peace.

And Elias sayde vnto him: Eliseus, tary thou here I praye the, for the LORDE hath sent me vnto Iericho. Neuerthelesse he sayde: as truly as the LORDE lyueth, and as truly as thy soule lyueth, I wyl not forsake the

And whan they came vnto Iericho, the prophetes children which were at Iericho, stepte forth to Eliseus and sayde vnto him: Knowest thou not that the LORDE wyll take ye lorde awaye from thy heade this daie? He sayde: I knowe it well, holde ye yor peace. And Elias sayde vnto him: I praie the tary here, for ye LORDE hath sent me vnto Iordane. But he sayde: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, and as truly as thy soule lyueth, I wil not forsake the. And they wente both together. But fyftye men of ye prophetes children wēte forth, and stode ouer agaynst thē a farre of: but they both stode by Iordane. Then toke Elias his cloke, and wrapped it together, and smote the water, which deuyded it selfe on both the sydes, so that they wē te dry shod thorow it. And whan they were come ouer, Elias sayde vnto Eliseus: Axe what I shall do for the, afore I be taken awaye from the. Eliseus saide: That thy sprete maye be vpō me to speake twyse as moch.

He sayde: Thou hast desyred an harde thinge: neuertheles yf thou shalt se me whā I am taken awaye from the, it shal be so: Yf no, thē shal it not be. And as they were goinge together, and he talked, there came a fyrie charet with horses of fyre, and parted thē both asunder. 〈…〉 And so wente Elias vp to heauen in the storme. But Eliseus sawe it, & cryed: My father, my father, the charetman of Israel and his horsmē. And he sawe him nomore.

And he toke holde of his clothes, and rente them in two peces, and toke vp Elias cloke that was fallen from him, and turned backe, and stode by the shore of Iordane, and toke the same cloke of Elias which was fallen from him, and smote it in the water, and saide: Where is now the LORDE God of Elias? And he smote it in to the water, and then parted it asunder on both the sydes, and Eliseus wente thorow.

And whan the prophetes children which were at Iericho ouer agynst him, sawe him, they sayde: The sprete of Elias resteth vpō Eliseus, and so they wēte forth to mete him, and worshipped him to the groūde, and sayde vnto him: Beholde, there are fiftye valeaunt mē amonge thy seruauntes, let them go and seke thy lorde, peraduenture the sprete of the LORDE hath taken him, and cast him vpon some mountaine or in some valley. But he saide: Sende them not. Neuertheles they constrayned him, tyll he was ashamed, and sayde: Let them go. And they sent fiftye men, which soughte him thre dayes: but they founde him not, and came agayne vnto him. And he abode at Iericho, and sayde vnto them: Tolde not I you, that ye shulde not go? And the men of the cite sayde vnto Eliseus: Beholde, there is good dwellynge in this cite, as my lorde seyth, but the water is euell, and the londe vnfrutefull.

He sayde: Bringe me hither a new vessell, & put salt in it. And they broughte it him. Then wēte he forth vnto the well of water, and cast the salt therin, & sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: I haue healed this water: from hence forth shal there no deed ner vnfrutefulnes come of it. So the water was healed vnto this daye, acordinge to the worde of Eliseus which he spake.

And he wēte vp towarde Bethel. And as he was goynge vp by the waye, there came litle boyes out of the cite, and mocked him, & sayde: Come vp here thou balde heade, come vp here thou balde heade. And he turned him aboute. And whā he sawe them, he cursed them in the name of the LORDE. Then came there two Beeres out of the wod, and tente two and fortye of the children. From thence wēte he vp vnto mount Carmel, and from it turned he backe to Samaria.

The III. Chapter.

IOram the sonne of Achab was kynge ouer Israel at Samaria in ye eightenth yeare of Iosaphat kynge of Iuda, & raigned xij. yeares, & dyd yt which was euell in ye sighte of ye LORDE, but not as his father & his mother: for he put awaye ye pilers of Baal, which his father caused to make. Neuertheles he cleued vnto ye synnes of Ieroboā ye sonne of Nebat, which made Israel for to synne, & departed not there frō.

Mesa ye kynge of the Moabites had many shepe, & payed tribute vnto the kynge of Israel wt the woll of an hundreth thousande lābes, & of an hūdreth thousande rāmes. 4. Re. 1. a But whan Achab was deed, the kynge of ye Moabites fell awaye frō the kynge of Israel. At ye same tyme wēte kynge Ioram frō Samaria, & mustered all Israel, & sent vnto Iosaphat kynge of Iuda, sayenge: The kynge of the Moabites is fallen awaye fro me, come thou wt me to fighte agaynst ye Moabites. He sayde: I wil come vp, 3. Re. 22. a I am euen as thou, and my people as ye people, and my horses as thy horses. And sayde morouer: Which waye wil we go vp? He sayde: by the waye in the wyldernesse of Edom.

So the kynge of Israel, the kynge of Iuda, & the kynge of Edom wente forth. And whan they had gone aboute seuē dayes iourney, ye hoost & the catell yt were amonge thē had no water. Then sayde the kynge of Israel: Alas, the LORDE hath called these thre kynges, to delyuer thē into the hande of the Moabites. But: Iosaphat sayde: 3. Re. 22. a Is here no prophet of ye LORDE, yt we maye axe coū cell at ye LORDE by him? Then answered one of ye kynge of Israels seruauntes, & saide: Here is Eliseus ye sonne of Saphat, which poured water vpon Elias handes. Iosaphat sayde: The worde of ye LORDE is with him. So the kynge of Israel & Iosaphat, and ye kynge of Edom wente downe vnto him.

But Eliseus sayde vnto the kynge of Israel: What hast thou to do wt me? go to the prophetes of thy father & to ye mothers prophetes. The kinge of Israel saide vnto him: No, for ye LORDE hath called these thre kynges, to delyuer them in to the handes of the Moabites. Eliseus sayde: As truly as the LORDE Zebaoth lyueth, before whom I stō de, yf I regarded not Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda, I wolde not regarde the, ner set oughte by ye. So bringe me now a mynstrell. And whan the mynstrell played vpō the instrument, the hande of the LORDE came vpō him. And he sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Make pittes by this broke. For thus sayeth the LORDE: Ye shal se nether wynde ner rayne, yet shall the broke be full of water, that ye and youre housholdes & youre catell maie drynke. Yee and that is but a small thinge in the sighte of the LORDE. And the Moabites shal he delyuer in to youre handes, so yt ye shal smyte all the stronge cities, and all ye chosen cities Deu. 20. c & shal fell downe all the good trees, and stoppe all the welles of water and all the good feldes shall ye make waist with stones.

On the morow, whan the meat offerynge is offered, beholde, there came water ye waye from Edom, and fylled ye londe with water. But whan the Moabites herde, yt the kynges came vp to fighte agaynst thē, they called all ye harnessed men, & their rulers, & stode on ye border. And whan they rose early in ye mornynge, & the Sonne wēte vp vpon ye water, the Moabites thoughte the water ouer agaynst thēto be euē as reed as bloude, & they sayde: It is bloude, ye kynges haue destroyed them selues wt the swerde, & one hath smytten another. Now Moab get the vp to the spoyles. But whan they came to the tentes of Israel, the Israelites gat vp, & smote the Moabites, & they fled before them.

Neuertheles they came in, & smote Moab, & brake downe the cities, & euery one cast his stone vpon all the good feldes, and made them full, and stopped all ye welles of water, and felled downe all the good trees, tyll there remayned but the stones in the brickwall, and they compased them aboute with slynges, and smote them.

But whā the kynge of ye Moabites sawe yt the battayll was to strōge for him, he toke to him seuen C. men, which drue ye swerde, to fall vpon the kynge of Edom: neuertheles they were not able. Then toke he his first sonne, which shulde haue bene kynge in his steade, and offred him for a burnt offerynge vpon the wall. Then came there a greate wrath ouer Israel, that they departed from him, and turned agayne in to their londe.

The IIII. Chapter.

ANd there cried a woman amōge the wyues of the prophetes children vnto Eliseus, and sayde: Thy seruaunt my huszbāde is deed, and thou knowest that thy seruaunt feared the LORDE. Now commeth the man that he was detter vnto, and wyll take awaye both my children to be bonde seruauntes. Eliseus sayde vnto her: What shal I do forthe? Tell me, what hast thou in the house? She sayde: Thy handmayden hath nothinge in the house but a pitcher wt oyle. He sayde: Go yt waye, borowe without of all thy neghboures emptye vessels, & that not a fewe, and go in, and shut ye dore behynde the with thy sonnes, and poure of it in to all ye vessels: & whan thou hast fylled them, delyuer them forth.

She wente, and shut the dore vnto her with hir sonnes, which broughte her the vessels, and so she poured in. And whan the vessels were full, she sayde vnto hir sonne: Brynge me yet one vessell. He sayde vnto her: There is not one vessell more here. Then stode ye oyle styll. And she sent, and tolde the man of God. He sayde: Go thy waye, sell the oyle, and paye the creditour: but lyue thou and ye sonnes of the resydue.

And it fortuned at ye same tyme, that Eliseus wente vnto Sunem. And there was a riche woman, which helde him to eate with her: & as he passed oft thorow yt waye, he wē te in vnto her: & ate wt her. And she sayde vnto hir huszbande: Beholde, I perceaue that this is an holy man of God which goeth euer thorow this waye, let vs make hī a litle chamber of boordes, & set a bed, a table, a stole & a candelsticke therin, that whan he commeth vnto vs, he maye resorte thither.

And it fortuned vpon a tyme, that he came in, & layed him downe in the chamber, & slepte therin. And he saide vnto Gehasi his childe: Call this womā of Sunem. And whā he had called her, she stode before him. He sayde vnto him: Speake thou vnto her, beholde, thou hast mynistred vnto vs in all these thinges, what shal I do for the? Hast thou eny matter to be spoken for to the kynge, or to the chefe captayne of the hoost? She sayde: Idwell amonge my people. He sayde: What hast thou then to do? Gehasi sayde: Alas, she hath no sonne, and hir huszbāde is olde. He sayde: Call her. And whā he had called her, she stode at the dore. And he sayde: 〈…〉 Aboute this tyme yf ye frute can lyue, thou shalt enbrace a sonne. She sayde: Alas, no my lorde, thou man of God, lye not vnto thy handmayden. And the woman conceaued, and bare a sonne aboute the same tyme, whā the frute coulde lyue, acordynge as Eliseus had sayde vnto her.

But whan ye childe was growne, it fortuned, yt he wente forth to his father vnto the reapers, & sayde vnto his father: Oh my heade, my heade. He saide vnto his seruaūt: Bringe him to his mother. And he toke him, and broughte him to his mother: and she set him vpon hir lappe vntyll ye noone daye, & thē he dyed. And she wente vp, and layed him vpō the bed of the man of God, & shut the dore, and wēte forth, & called hir huszbande, & sayde vnto him: Sende me one of the seruaūtes, and an Asse, I wyl go quyckly vnto the man of God, and come agayne. He sayde: Why wilt thou go vnto him? To daye is it nether new moone ner Sabbath. She sayde: Well. And she sadled the asse, & sayde to the yongman: dryue forth, and kepe me not bak with rydinge, and do as I byd the.

So she wente, and came to the man of God vnto mount Carmell. Whā the man of God sawe her ouer agaynst him, he sayde vnto his childe Gehasi: Beholde, the Sunamitisse is there, runne now & mete her, and axe her yf it go well with her, and hir huszbande & hir sonne. She sayde: Well. But whan she came to the man of God vpon ye mount, she helde him by his fete. And Gehasi stepte to her, to put her awaye. But ye man of God sayde: Let her alone, for hir soule is in heuynes, and the LORDE hath hyd it fro me, and not shewed it me. She sayde: Whan desyred I a sonne of my lorde? Sayde I not, yt thou shuldest not mocke me?

He sayde vnto Gehasi: Girde vp thy loynes, and take my staffe in thy hande, and go thy waye. 〈…〉 Yf eny man mete the, salute him not: and yf eny man salute the, thanke him not, and laye thou my staffe vpon ye childes face. But the childes mother sayde: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, and as truly as ye soule lyueth, I wyll not leaue the. Then gat he vp, and wente after her. As for Gehasi, he wente before them, and layed the staffe vpon the childes face, but there was nether voyce ner felynge. And he wente agayne to mete him, and shewed him, and sayde: The childe is not rysen vp.

And whan Eliseus came in to the house, beholde, ye childe laye deed vpō his bed. And he wēte in, & shut the dore on thē both, & made his prayer vnto the LORDE, & wente vp, & layed him selfe vpon the childe, & layed his mouth vpon the childes mouth, and his eyes vpon his eyes, and his handes vpon his handes, & so stretched him selfe forth vpon him, so yt the childes body was warme. And he rose vp, & wente in to the house once hither and thither, & wente vp, & layed him selfe a longe vpon him. Then nesed the childe seuē tymes, and afterwarde the childe opened his eyes. And he cried vpon Gehasi, and sayde: Call the Sunamitisse. And whan he had called her, she came in vnto him. He sayde: Take there thy sonne. Then came she, and fell at his fete, and worshipped vnto the grounde, and toke hir sonne, and wente forth.

But whā Eliseus came againe vnto Gilgal, there was a derth in the londe, & the prophetes children dwelt before him, & he sayde vnto his seruaunt: Set on a greate pot, and make potage for the children of the prophetes. Then wente there one in to the felde, to gather herbes, and founde a Cucumbers stalke, & gathered wylde Cucumbers therof his cotefull. And whan he came, he chopped it small for potage to the pott, for they knewe it not. And whā they poured it forth for the mē to eate, & they ate of ye potage, they cried and sayde: O thou man of God, death is in the pot: for they mighte not eate it. Neuertheles he sayde: Brynge meel hither. And he put it in the pot, & sayde: Poure it out for the people, that they maye eate. And then was it not bytter in the pot.

There came a man from Baal Salisa, & broughte the man of God bred of the first frutes, namely twentye barlye loaues, & new corne in his garment. But he sayde: Geue it vnto ye people, that they maye eate. His mynister sayde: Ioh. 6. How shall I geue an hūdreth men of this? He sayde: Geue it vnto the people, that they maye eate. For thus sayeth the LORDE: They shal eate, and there shall be lefte ouer. And he set it before them, so that they ate, and there lefte ouer, acordinge to ye worde of the LORDE.

The V. Chapter.

NAaman the chefe captayne of the kynge of Syria, was an excellēt mā in the sighte of his lorde, and moch set by (for thorow him the LORDE gaue health vnto Syria) and he was a mightie man, but a leper. And there had men of warre fallen out of Syria, and caried awaye a litle damsel out of the londe of Israel: the same was in seruyce with Naamās wife, and sayde vnto hir mastresse: O that my master were with the prophet at Samaria, he wolde heale him from his leprosy.

Then wente he in to his lorde, and tolde him, and sayde: Thus and thus hath the damsel of the londe of Israel spoken. The kynge of Syria sayde: Go thy waye then, & I wyl wrytte a letter vnto the kynge of Israel.

And he wente, and toke with him ten hundreth weighte of syluer, and sixe thousande guldens, & ten chaunge of rayment, & broughte the letter vnto the kynge of Israel, with these wordes:

Whan this letter commeth vnto the, beholde, thou shalt vnderstonde yt I haue sent my seruaunt Naaman vnto the, that thou mayest heale him of his leprosy.

And whan the kynge of Israel red the letter, he rente his clothes, & sayde: Am I God then, that I can kyll and quyckē agayne, yt he sendeth vnto me, to heale the man frō his leprosy? Considre and se, how he seketh an occasion vnto me.

Whan Eliseus the man of God herde, yt the kynge of Israel had rente his clothes, he sent vnto him, sayenge: Why hast thou rente thy clothes? Let him come to me, that he maye knowe, yt there is a prophet in Israel.

So Naaman came with horses and charettes, and helde still at the dore of Eliseus house. Then sent Eliseus a messaunger vnto him, sayenge: Go thy waye, and waszshe the seuen tymes in Iordane, so shal thy flesh be restored the agayne, & be clensed. Then was Naaman wroth, & wente his waye, & sayde: I thoughte he shulde haue come forth vnto me, & to haue stōde here & to haue called vpō the name of the LORDE his God, & to haue touched the place with his hande, & so to haue put awaye the leprosy. Are not ye waters of Amana and Pharphar at Damascon better then all the waters in Israel, yt I might waszshe me therin & be clēsed? and he turned him, and wēte his waye in displeasure. Then his seruauntes gat thē to him, and sayde: Father, yf the prophet had cōmaunded the eny greate thinge, shuldest thou not haue done it? moch more thē yf he saye vnto the: Wasshe the, & thou shalt be cleane. Then wēte he downe, & waszshed him selfe in Iordane seuē tymes (as the man of God sayde) & his flesh was restored him agayne, euen as the flesh of a yonge childe Luc. 4 c and he was clensed.

And he turned agayne to ye man of God with all his armye. And whan he came in, he stode before him, and sayde: Beholde, I knowe that in all londes there is no God, but in Israel. Take now therfore this blessynge I praye the of thy seruaunt. Neuertheles he sayde: 1. Re. 13 b Dan. 5. As truly as the LORDE lyueth, before whom I stonde, I wil not take it. And he wolde nedes haue him to take it, but he wolde not. Then sayde Naaman: Mighte there not a burthē of this earth be geuē vnto ye seruaunt, as moch as two Mules maye beare? For thy seruaunt wyll nomore do sacrifice and offer burnt offerynges vn to other goddes, but vnto the LORDE, That the LORDE maye be gracious vnto thy seruaunt, yf I worshippe in the house of Rimmon, whā my lorde goeth there in to ye house to worshippe, & leaneth vpon my hande. He sayde vnto him: Go thy waye in peace.

And as he was gone fr m him a felde bredth in the londe, Gehasi the seruaunt of Eliseus ye man of God thoughte: beholde, my lorde hath spared Naamā this Syrian, so that he hath not taken from him yt which he broughte: As truly as ye LORDE lyueth, I wil rūne after him, & take somthinge of him.

So Gehasi folowed Naaman. And whā Naaman sawe yt he ranne after him, he lighte downe from the charet to mete him, & sayde: Are all thinges well? He sayde: Yee. But my lorde hath sent me, & caused to saye vnto the: Beholde, there are now come to me fro mount Ephraim two yonge men of the prophetes childrē, geue them a talēte of siluer (I praye the) & two chaunge of rayment. Naamā saide: Go to, take two talētes. And he cō pelled him, & bande two talentes in two bagges, and two chaunge of rayment, and delyuered it vnto two of his seruauntes, which bare it before him. And whan he came in ye darcke, he toke it from their handes, & layed it a syde in the house, & let the men go.

And whan they were gone their waye, he stode before his lorde. And Eliseus sayde vn to him: Whence commest thou Gehasi? He sayde: Thy seruaunt wente nether hither ner thither. But he sayde vnto him: Wente not my hert wt the, whan the man turned backe from his charet to mete the Now thou hast takē the syluer & the rayment, olyue trees, vynyardes, shepe, oxen, seruauntes & maydens. But the leprosy of Naaman shal cleue vnto the & to thy sede for euer. 〈…〉 Then wēte he forth from him leporous as snowe.

The VI. Chapter.

THe children of ye prophetes s yde vn to Eliseus: Beholde, the place where we dwell before ye, is to narow for vs, let vs go vnto Iordane, & euery one fetch tymbre there, yt we maye there buylde vs a place to dwell in. He saide: Go yor waye. And one sayde: Go to then, & come wt thy seruauntes. He sayde: I wil go with you. And he wē te with them. And whan they came to Iordane, they hewed downe tymber. And as one was fellynge downe a tre, the yron fell in to the water, and he cried and sayde: Alas my lorde, & it is burowed. But the man of God sayde: Where fell it in? And whan he had shewed him the place, he cut downe a sticke, and thrust it in there. Then swāme the yron. And he sayde: Take it vp. So he put forth his hande, and toke it.

And the kynge of Syria warred agaynst Israel, and toke councell at his seruauntes, and sayde: There & there will we lye. But the man of God sent to ye kynge of Israel, sayenge: Bewarre yt thou go not vnto that place, for the Syrians rest there. So the kynge of Israel sent vnto ye place wherof ye man of God tolde him, & kepte it, & helde watch there, & dyd that not once or twyse onely.

Thē was ye kynge of Syrias herte vexed therfore, and called his seruauntes, and sayde vnto them: Wyll ye not tell me, which of oure men is fled vnto the kynge of Israel? Then sayde one of his seruauntes: Not so my lorde O kynge, but Eliseus the prophet in Israel telleth the kynge of Israel all that thou speakest in thy chamber where thou lyest. He sayde: Go youre waye thē and loke where he is, that I maye sende, and cause him be fetched. And they shewed him and sayde: Beholde, he is at Dothan. Thē sent he thither horses & charetes, & a greate power. And whā they came thither by nighte, they compased the cite aboute. And the mynister of the mā of God arose early to get him vp. And as he wēte forth, beholde, there laye an hoost of men aboute ye cite with horses and charettes.

Then saide his childe vnto him: Alas syr, how wyll we now do? He sayde: 〈…〉 Feare not, for there are mo of them yt are with vs, then of those that are with them. And Eliseus prayed & sayde: LORDE open his eyes, yt he maye se. Then the LORDE opened ye childes eyes, yt he sawe, & beholde, ye mount was full of fyrie horses & charettes roūde aboute Eliseus. And whā they came downe vnto him, Eliseus made his prayer, & sayde: LORDE smyte this people wt blyndnes. 〈◊〉 . 1 . c And he smote thē with blyndnes acordinge to the worde of Eliseus. And Eliseus saide vnto them: This is not ye waye nor the cite, folowe me, I wil brynge you to the man whom ye seke. And he broughte them vnto Samaria.

And whan they came to Samaria, Eliseus sayde: LORDE open these mens eyes, yt they maye se. And the LORDE opened their eyes, yt they sawe, & beholde, they were in the myddes of Samaria. And whan the kynge of Israel sawe them, he saide vnto Eliseus: My father, shal I smyte thē? He saide: Thou shalt not smyte thē: loke whom thou takest with thy swerde and bowe, smyte those. Set bred and water before them, that they maye eate and drynke, and let them departe vnto their lorde. Thē was there a greate dyner prepared. And whan they had eaten and dronken, he let them go to departe vnto their lorde. From that tyme forth came the men of warre of the Syrians nomore in to the londe of Israel.

After this is fortuned, that Benadab the kynge of Syria gathered all his hoost, and wēte vp, & layed sege vnto Samaria: & there was a greate derth at Samaria. But they layed sege to the cite so longe, tyll an Asses heade was worth foure score syluer pēs, and the fourth parte of a 〈…〉 Cab of doues donge worth fyue syluer pens. And whan the kynge of Israel wente vnto the wall, a woman cried vnto him and sayde: Helpe me my lorde O kynge. He sayde: Yf the LORDE helpe the not, wherwith shal I helpe the? with ye barne or with the wyne presse? And the kynge sayde vnto her: What ayleth ye? She sayde: This woman sayde vnto me: Geue vs ye sonne, that we maye eate him, tomorow wyll we eate my sonne. So we sod my sonne, & haue eaten him, and I sayde vnto her on ye thirde daye: Geue vs thy sonne and let vs eate him, but she hath hyd him awaye.

Whan the kynge herde the womans wordes, he rente his clothes, whyle he was goynge to the wall. Thē sawe all the people, that he had a sackcloth vnder vpon his body. And he sayde: 3. Re. 19. and 20. b God do this and that vnto me, yf the heade of Eliseus the sonne of Saphat shal this daye stonde vpon him. As for Eliseus, he sat in his house, & the Elders sat by him. And he sent a man before him, but or euer the messaunge came to him, he sayde vn to ye Elders: Haue ye not sene how this childe of murthure hath sent hither, to take awaye my heade? Take hede, whan the messaunger cōmeth, yt ye holde him at the dore. Beholde, ye noyse of his lordes fete foloweth him. Whyle he was thus talkynge wt them, beholde, ye messaunger came to him, & sayde: Beholde, this euell cōmeth of ye LORDE, and what more shal I loke for of the LORDE?

The VII. Chapter.

ELiseus sayde: Heare the worde of the LORDE. Thus sayeth the LORDE: 4. Re. 7. Tomorow aboute this tyme shal a buszshel of fyne meel be solde for one Sycle, and two buszshels of barly for one Sycle vnder the porte of Samaria. Then a knyghte (vpon whose hande the kynge leaned) answered the mā of God, and sayde: And though the LORDE made wyndowes in heauē, how coulde soch a thinge come to passe? He saide: Beholde, thou shalt se it with thine eyes, & shalt not eate therof.

And there were foure leporous men at ye dore before the porte, and one sayde vnto another: Why tary we here whyle we dye? Though we thoughte to come in to the cite, yet is there derth in ye cite, and there shulde we be fayne to dye. And yf we tary here, we must dye also. Let vs go now, and flye vnto the hoost of the Syrians. Yf they let vs lyue, we shall lyue: yf they slaye vs, then are we deed. And so they gat them vp early, to come vnto the hoost of the Syrians. And whan they came to the vttemost ende of ye tentes, beholde, there was no body.

2. Mac. 5. a sa. 1 . a For the LORDE had made the Syrians to heare a noyse of horses, charettes, and of a mightie greate hoost, so that they sayde one to another amonge thēselues: Beholde, the kynge of Israel hath hyred the kynge of the Hethites, and the kynge of the Egipcians agaynst vs, to come vpō vs. And they gat them vp, and fled early in the twylight, and lefte their bothes, and horses and Asses in the tentes as they stode, & fled euery man where he mighte saue his life.

Now whan the lepers came to the place of the tentes, they wente in to the tentes, ate and dronke, and toke syluer, golde and rayment, and wente and hyd it: & came agayne & entred in to another tent, and toke therout, and wente and hyd it. But one of them saide vnto another: Let vs not do thus, this daye is a daye of good tidynges. Yf we kepe this secrete and byde tyll the lighte mornynge, oure trespace wyl be founde out. Let vs go now therfore, that we maye come, & tell the kynges house.

And whan they came, they cried at the porte of the cite, and tolde them, and sayde: We came to the tentes of the Sirians, and beholde, there is no mā there, nether yet eny mans voyce, but horses and asses bounde, and the bothes as they stonde. Then cried ye porters and tolde it within in ye kynges house. And the kynge arose in the nighte, & sayde vnto his seruauntes: I will tell you how ye Syrians deale with vs: they knowe yt we suffer honger, and are gone out of the tētes, to hyde them selues in the felde, and thynke thus: whan they go out of the cite, we wyll take them alyue, & come in to the cite. Then answered one of his seruauntes, and sayde: Let vs take the fyue horses that remayne, which yet are lefte in the cite (beholde, these are left therin for all ye multitude in Israel, which is destroyed) let vs sende these and se. Thē toke they two charettes with ye horses. And the kynge sent them vnto the tentes of the Syrians, and sayde: Go youre waye and se.

And whan they wente after thē vnto Iordane, beholde, the waye laye full of garmentes and vessels, which the Syrians had cast from thē, whyle they made haist. And whan the messaungers came agayne, and tolde the kynge, the people wente forth, and spoyled the tentes of the Syrians. And a buszshel of fyne meell was solde for a Sycle, and two buszshels of barlye for a Sycle also, 4. Re. 7 a acordinge to the worde of the LORDE. But the kynge appoynted the knyghte (vpon whose hande he leened) to be at the gate, & the people trode vpon him, so that he dyed, euen as the man of God sayde, whan the kynge came downe vnto him. And it came to passe euen as ye man of God tolde the kynge, whā he sayde: Tomorow aboute this tyme shall two buszshels of barlye be solde for one Sycle, and a buszshel of fyne meel for one Sycle vnder the gate at Samaria. And the knyghte answered the man of God, and sayde: Beholde, though ye LORDE made wyndowes in heauen, how coulde soch a thinge come to passe? Neuertheles he sayde: Beholde, with thine eyes shalt thou se it, and shalt not •• te therof. And euen so fortuned it vnto him, for the people trode vpon him in the gate, yt he dyed.

The VIII. Chapter.

ELiseus spake vnto the womā, 〈…〉 whose sonne he had restored vnto life againe, and sayde: Get the vp, & go with thine housholde, and be a straunger where thou canst: for the LORDE shall call for a derth, which shal come in to the londe seuen yeare lōge. The woman gat her vp, and dyd as the man of God sayde, & wente with hi housholde, and was a straunger in the londe of the Philistynes seuen yeare. But whan the seuen yeares were ended, the woman came agayne out of the Philistynes lōde, and wente forth to crye vpon the kynge for hir house and londe. The kynge spake vnto Gehasi the seruaunt of the man of God, & sayde: Tell me all the greate actes that Eliseus hath done. And whyle he was tellynge the kynge how he had made one that was deed, to lyue agayne, beholde, the woman whose sonne he had caused to reuyue, came euen in the meane season, and cried vnto the kynge for hir house and londe. Then sayde Gehasi: My lorde O kynge, this same is the womā, and this is hir sonne, whom Eliseus restored vnto life agayne. And the kynge axed ye woman, and she tolde him. Then the kynge delyuered her a chamberlayne, & saide: Restore her agayne all that is hirs, and all the increase of the londe, sence the tyme that she lefte the londe vntyll now.

〈…〉 And Eliseus came to Damascon, & Benadab the kynge of Syria laye sicke. And it was tolde him, and sayde: The man of God is come hither. Then sayde the kynge vnto Hasael: Take giftes with the, & go mete the man of God, and axe councell at ye LORDE by him, and saye: Maye I recouer from this sicknesse? Hasael wente for to mete him, and toke rewardes with him, and of all the goodes at Damascō, as moch as fortye Camels mighte beare. And whan he came, he stode before him, and sayde: Thy sonne Benadab the kynge of Syria hath sent me vnto the, sayenge: Maye I recouer from this sicknes?

Eliseus sayde vnto him: Go yi waye and tell him: Thou shalt recouer. But the LORDE hath shewed me, yt he shal dye ye death. And the man of God loked earnestly, & made a troublous countenaunce, & wepte. Thē sayde Hasael: Wherfore wepeth my lorde? He sayde: I knowe what euell thou shalt do vn to the children of Israel. Thou shalt burne their stronge cities with fyre, and slaye their yonge men with the swerde, and kyll their yonge children, and ryppe vp their wemen with childe.

Hasael sayde: How so, is thy seruaunt a dogg, that he shulde do soch a greate thynge? Eliseus saide: 〈…〉 The LORDE hath shewed me, yt thou shalt be kynge of Syria. And he wēte his waye from Eliseus, & came to his lorde, which saide vnto him: What saieth Eliseus vnto the? He sayde: He tolde me, Thou shalt recouer. But on the nexte daye he toke ye bed couerynge, and dypte it in water, and spred it ouer him, and he dyed, & Hasael was kynge in his steade.

In the fyfth yeare of Ioram the sonne of Achab kynge of Israel, was Ioram ye sonne of Iosaphat kynge of Iuda. 〈◊〉 . 2 . a Two & thirtie yeare olde was he whā he was made kynge, & reigned eighte yeare at Ierusalem, & walked in the waye of the kynges of Israel, as the house of Achab dyd (for Achabs doughter was his wife) & he dyd yt which was euell in ye sighte of the LORDE. Neuertheles the LORDE wolde not destroye Iuda for his seruaunt Dauids sake, Re. 7. c as he promysed him, to geue him euer a lanterne amōge his childrē.

* At ye same tyme fell ye Edomites awaye from Iuda, & made a kynge ouer them selues: ye cause was this, Ioram had gone thorow Seira, and all the charettes with him, & had gotten him vp by nighte, and smytten the Edomites that were aboute him, and ye rulers ouer the charettes, so that the people fled vnto their tentes: therfore fell the Edomites awaye from Iuda vnto this daye. At the same tyme fell Libna awaye also.

What more there is to saye of Ioram, & all yt he dyd, heholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. And Ioram fell on slepe with his fathers, & was buried wt his fathers in ye cite of Dauid, Par. 22. a & Ochosias his sonne was kynge in his steade.

In the twolueth yeare of Ioram the sonne of Achab kynge of Israel, was Ochosias ye sonne of Ioram kynge in Iuda. Two and twentye yeare olde was Ochosias whan he was made kynge, and reigned one yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Atalia the doughter of Amri kynge of Israel, & he walked in the waye of the house of Achab, & dyd that which was euell in the syght of ye LORDE, euen as dyd the house of Achab: for he was sonne in lawe in the house of Achab. And he wente with Ioram the sonne of Achab in to the battayll agaynst Hasael ye kinge of Syria vnto Ramoth in Gilead, but ye Syrians smote Ioram.4. Re. 9. Then Ioram the kinge turned backe, to be healed at Iesreel of ye woundes, wherwith the Syrians had wounded him at Ramoth, whā he foughte with Hasael kinge of Syria. And Ochosyas ye sonne of Iorā kinge of Iuda, came downe to viset Ioram the sonne of Achab at Iesreel, for he laye sicke.

The IX. Chapter.

ELiseus the prophet called one of the prophetes childrē, & sayde vnto him: Girde vp ye loynes,4. Re. 4. and take this cruse of oyle with the, and go vnto Ramoth in Gilead: and whā thou cōmest thither, thou shalt se there one Iehu, ye sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Nimsi, and go in, and byd him stonde vp amonge his brethren, and brynge him in to the ynmost chamber, Re. 19. & take thou ye cruse of oyle, and poure it vpon his heade, & saye: Thus sayeth the LORDE: I haue anointed the to be kynge ouer Israel: & thou shalt open the dore, and flye, and not tary. And the prophetes yonge man, the childe wente his waye vnto Ramoth in Gilead. And whan he came in, beholde, the captaynes of the hoost sat there, and he sayde: I haue somwhat to saye vnto the O captayne. Iehu saide: Vnto whom amonge vs all? He sayde: Euen vnto the o captayne.

Then stode he vp, and wente in. So he poured the oyle vpon his heade, and sayde vnto him· Thus sayeth the LORDE God of Israel: I haue anoynted yt to be kynge ouer the LORDES people of Israel, and thou shalt smyte thy lorde Achabs house, . Re. 21. that I maye auenge the bloude of my seruauntes the prophetes, and the bloude of all the LORDES seruauntes, from the hande of Iesabel, that all the house of Achab maye periszshe. And I wyl rote out from Achab,1. Re. 25. 3. Re. 14. euen him that maketh water agaynst the wall, and the closed vp and the desolate in Israel: and the house of Achab wyll I make euen as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, and as the house of Baesa the sonne of Ahia, and ye dogges shall eate vp Iesabel vpon the felde at Iesrael, and noman shall burye her.3. Re. 21. And he opened the dore, and fled.

And whā Iehu came forth to his lordes seruauntes, they saide vnto him: Are all thinges well? Wherfore came this madd felowe vnto the? He saide vnto them: Ye knowe the man well, & what he hath spoken. They sayde That is not true, but tell thou vs. He sayde: Thus and thus hath he spoken vnto me, and sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: I haue anoynted the to be kynge ouer Israel. Then made they haist, and euery one toke his garment and laied them vnder him in maner of a iudges seate, and blewe the trompet, and sayde: Iehu is made kinge. So Iehu the sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Nimsi, made a confederacion agaynst Ioram. As for Iorā he laye before Ramoth in Gilead with all Israel agaynst Hasael the kynge of Syria. . Re. 8. d But Ioram the kynge was turned backe, yt he might be healed of the woundes wherwith the Syrians had wounded him, whā he foughte with Hasael the kynge of the Syrians.

And Iehu sayde: Yf it be youre mynde, there shall noman escape out of the cite, to go and tell it at Iesreel. And he rode, and departed vnto Iesrael: for Ioram laye there, and Ochosias the kinge of Iuda was come downe to vyset Ioram. But the watchman that stode vpon the tower at Iesrael, sawe the company of Iehu commynge, and sayde: I se a company. Then sayde Ioram: Take a charet, and sende to mete thē, and saye: Is it peace? And the charetman rode to mete them, and sayde: Thus sayeth the kynge: Is it peace? Iehu sayde: What hast thou to do with peace? Turne the behynde me. The watchman tolde it, and sayde: The messaunger is come vnto them, and cōmeth not agayne. Then sent he another charetman, which whan he came to them, saide: Thus sayeth the kynge: Is it peace? Iehu sayde: What hast thou to do with peace? Turne ye behynde me.

And the watchman tolde it, and sayde: He is come to them: and commeth not agayne, and the goynge is as it were the goynge of Iehu the sonne of Nimsi: for he dryueth on as he were mad. Then sayde Ioram: Binde the charet fast. And they bounde the charet, and so they wente forth, Ioram the kynge of Israel, and Ochosias the kynge of Iuda, euery one vpon his charet, to mete Iehu. And they founde him vpon the felde of Naboth the Iesraelite. And whan Ioram sawe Iehu, he sayde: Iehu, is it peace? But he sayde: What peace? The whordome and witchcraft of thy mother Iesabel is not yet come to an ende.

Then turned Ioram his hande and fled, and sayde vnto Ochosias: There is treason Ochosias. But Iehu toke his bowe, & sho Ioram betwene the armes, that the arowe wente thorow his hert, and he fell downe in his charet. And Iehu sayde vnto Bidekar the knyghte: Take and cast him in the pece of londe of Naboth the Iesraelite: for I remembre sence thou rodest with me in a charet after Achab his father, that the LORDE wolde laye this heuy burthen vpon him. I holde (sayde the LORDE) I wyl recompence the yt bloude of Naboth and of his childrē, euen in this pece of londe. Take him now and cast him in to that pece of londe, 〈…〉 acordynge to the worde of the LORDE.

Whan Ochosias the kinge of Iuda sawe this, he fled by the waie vnto ye garden house. But Iehu folowed after him, and commaunded to smyte him also vpon his charet in the goynge vp towarde Gur, which lieth by Ieblaam: and he fled vnto Megiddo, and dyed there. And his seruauntes caused him to be caried vnto Ierusalem, and there they buryed him in his awne graue with his fathers in the cite of Dauid. Ochosias reigned ouer Iuda in ye eleuenth yeare of Iorā ye sonne of Achab. And whan Iehu came to Iesrael, and Iesabel herde therof, she coloured hir face, and decked hir heade, and loked out at the wyndowe. And whan Iehu came vnder the gate, she sayde: 〈…〉 Prospered Symri well that slewe his lorde?

And he lifte vp his face to the wyndow, and sayde: Who is with me? Then resorted there two or thre chamberlaynes vnto him. He sayde: Cast her downe headlinges. And they cast her downe headlynges, so that ye wall and the horses were sprenkled with hir bloude, and she was troddē vnder fete. And whan he came in, and had eaten and dronken, he sayde: Loke vpon yonder cursed woman, & burye her, 〈…〉 for she is a kynges oughter. Neuertheles whan they wente in to burye her, they founde nothinge of her, but the szkull and the fete, and the palmes of her handes. And they came agayne and broughte him worde. He saide: This is euen it that the LORDE spake by his seruaunt Elias the Theszbite, and sayde: 〈…〉 In the felde of Iesrael shal the dogges eate Iesabels flesh. So the deed carcase of Iesabel became euen as donge in the felde of Iesrael, so yt a man coulde not saye: This is Iesabel.

The X. Chapter.

AChab had thre score and ten sonnes at Samaria. 〈…〉 And Iehu wrote a letter, and sent it to Samaria, vnto the rulers of the cite Iesrael, euen vnto the Elders, & to Achabs tuters, sayenge these wordes: Whan this letter commeth vnto you wt whom are youre lordes sonnes, charetes, horses, stronge cities, & ordynaunce, loke which is the best and most righteous amonge youre lordes sonnes, & set him vpon his fathers seate, and fighte for youre lordes house.

Neuertheles they were sore afrayed, and sayde: Beholde, two kynges were not able to stonde before him, how wyl we then endure? And they that were ouer the house and ouer the cite, and the Elders and tuters sent vnto Iehu, sayēge: We are thy seruauntes, we wyll do all that thou sayest vnto vs: We wil make no man kynge, do thou what pleaseth the. Then wrote he the seconde letter vnto them with these wordes: Yf ye be myne, and herken vnto my voyce, then take the heades of the men youre lordes sonnes, and brynge me them tomorow by this tyme vnto Iesrael.

The kynges sonnes were thre score men and ten, and ye chefe men of the cite broughte thē vp. Now whan this letter came they toke the kynges sonnes, and slewe them euen thre score men and ten, and layed their heades in baszkettes, and sent them to him vnto Iesrael. And whan the messaunger came, & tolde him, and sayde: They haue broughte the heades of the kynges children, he sayde: Laye them vpon two heapes at the dore of the porte tyll tomorow.

And on the morow whan he wente forth, he stode, and sayde vnto all the people: Are ye righteous? Beholde, I haue made an appoyntmēt against my lorde, and slayne him, who hath slayne all these then? Vnderstonde ye now therfore, that there is not fallen vpon the earth one worde of the LORDE, which he spake agaynst the house of Achab: and the LORDE hath done, euen Re. 21. c as he sayde by his seruaunt Elias. So Iehu smote all the remnaunt of the house of Achab at Iesrael, all his greate men, his kynsfolkes, and his prestes, tyll there was not one lefte ouer. And he gat him vp, wente his waye, and came to Samaria.

By the waye there was a shepherdes house, where Iehu founde the brethren of Ochosias kynge of Iuda, and sayde: Whence are ye? They sayde: We are Ochosias brethren, and are goynge downe to salute the kynges children, and the quenes children. He sayde: Take them alyue. And they toke them alyue, and slewe them by the welles syde at the shepherdes house, euen two and fortye men, and let not one of them remayne.

And whan he wente from thence, he foū de Ionadab ye sonne of Ier. 2 . a Rechab, which met him, & saluted him. And he sayde vnto him: Is thyne hert righte, as myne hert is with thyne hert? Ionadab sayde: Yee. Yf it be so (sayde he) then geue me thy hande. And he gaue him his hande. And so he caused him to syt besyde him in the charet, and saide: Come with me, and se my zele for the LORDE. And they caryed him with him vpon his charet. And whan he came to Samaria, he smote all that remayned of Achab at Samaria, tyll he had destroyed him, acordynge to the worde of the LORDE, 3. Re. 21. c which he spake vnto Elias.

And Iehu gathered all the people together, and saide vnto them: 3. Re. 16. Achab did Baal but litle seruyce, Iehu wyll serue him better. Call vnto me now therfore all Baals prophetes, all his seruaūtes and all his prestes, that there be none wantynge, for I haue a greate sacrifyce to do vnto Baal. Who so euer is myssed, shal not lyue. But Iehu dyd it craftely, that he mighte destroye all the mynisters of Baal. And Iehu sayde: Sanctifie ye feast vnto Baal, and proclame it. And Iehu sent in to all Israel, and caused all Baals ministers to come, so that there was nomā lefte behynde, which came not. And they came in to Baals house, so that the house of Baal was full from one corner to another.

Then sayde he vnto him that had the rule of the vestrye. Brynge forth rayment for all Baals mynisters. And he broughte forth the rayment. And Iehu wente in to Baals house with Ionadab the sonne of Rechab, and sayde vnto Baals mynisters: Search and se that there be not here amōge you eny mynyster of the LORDE, but onely Baals mynisters.

And whan they came in to offer sacrifyces and burnt offerynges, Iehu appoynted him foure score men without, & sayde: Yf eny of these men escape whom I delyuer vnder youre handes, then shal the same mans soule be for his soule. Now whā he had made an ende of the burnt offerynge, Iehu sayde vnto the fotemen and knyghtes: Go in, & smyte euery man, let noman go forth. And they smote thē with the edge of the swerde. And the fote men and knightes threw thē awaie and wēte vnto the cite of Baals house, and brought forth the piler in ye house of Baal, and brent it, and brake downe Baals pyler with the house of Baal, and made a preuy house therof vnto this daie. hus Iehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. But Iehu lefte not of from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat (which caused Israel to synne) namely, from the golden calues at Bethel and at Dan. And the LORDE sayde vnto Iehu: Because thou hast bene wyllinge to do that which was righte in my sighte, & hast done vnto Achabs house all that was in my hert, . Re. 15. b therfore shall thy children syt vpon ye seate of Israel vnto the fourth generacion.

Neuerthelesse Iehu was not diligent to walke in the lawe of the LORDE God of Israel with all his hert: for he lefte not of frō the synnes of Ieroboam which made Israel to synne. At the same time beganne the LORDE to be greued at Israel. . Re. a For Hasael smote them in all the borders of Israel from Iordane Eastwarde, and all the londe Gilead of the Gaddites, Rubenites and Manassytes, from Aroer that lyeth on the ryuer by Arnon, and Gilead and Basan.

What more there is to saye of Iehu, and all that he dyd, and all his power, beholde, it is wryten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. And Iehu fell on slepe with his fathers, & they buryed him in Samaria. And Ioahas his sonne was kynge in his steade. The tyme that Iehu reigned ouer Israel, is eight and twentye yeares at Samaria.

The XI. Chapter.

AThalia the mother of Ochosias, whā she sawe that hir sonne was deed, . Pa. 22. d gat her vp, and destroyed all the kynges sede. But Ioseba kynge Iorams doughter the syster of Ochosias, toke Ioas the sonne of Ochosias and stale him awaye with his norse in the chamber from amonge the kynges children which were slayne, and she hyd him from Athalia, so that he was not slayne. And he was hyd with her in the house of the LORDE sixe yeares. But Athalia was quene in the londe.

Pa. 24. a Neuertheles in the seuenth yeare sent Ioiada, and toke the rulers ouer hūdreds with the captaynes and fote men, and caused thē to come to him in to the house of the LORDE and made a couenaunt with them, and toke an ooth of them in the house of the LORDE, and shewed them the kynges sonne, and cō maunded them, and sayde: This is it that ye shall do: One thirde parte of you which enter on the Sabbath, shall kepe the watch in the kynges house, and one thyrde parte shal be at the porte of Sur, and one thirde parte shal be at ye porte which is behynde the fote men, and ye shal kepe the watch at the house of Massa. But two partes of you all that go of on the Sabbath, shal kepe the watch in the house of the LORDE aboute the kinge and ye shall get you rounde aboute ye kynge and euery one with his weapen in his hande: and who so euer cōmeth within ye wall, let him die, so that ye be with the kinge, whā he goeth out and in.

And the rulers ouer the hundreds dyd all as Ioiada the prest had commaūded them, 〈…〉 and toke vnto them their men which entred vpon the Sabbath, with those that wente of on the Sabbath, and came to Ioiada ye prest. And the prest gaue the captaynes speares and shyldes which had bene kynge Dauids, and were in the house of the LORDE. And the fote men stode aboute the kynge, euery one with his weapen in his hande, frō the corner on the righte syde of the house vnto the corner of the lefte syde, euen vnto the altare and to the house. And he broughte forth the kynges sonne, and set a crowne vpon his heade, and toke the 〈…〉 witnes, and made him kynge, and they were glad, and clapped their handes together, and sayde: God saue the kynge.

〈…〉 And whan Athalia herde the noyse of the people that ranne rogether, she came to the people in to the house of the LORDE, and loked, and beholde, the kynge stode by the piler, as the vse was, and the syngers and trō pettes by the kynge: and all the people of ye lōde were glad, and blewe with trompettes. But Athalia rente hir clothes, & sayde: Vproure, vproure. Neuertheles Ioiada ye prest commaunded ye rulers ouer hundreds, which were appointed ouer the hoost, and saide vnto them: Brynge her without the wall, and whosoeuer foloweth hir, let him dye of the swerde (for the prest had sayde, that she shulde not dye in the house of the LORDE.) And they layde handes vpō her, and she wente in by the waye where the horses go in to ye kynges house, and there was she slayne.

Then made Ioiada a couenaunt betwene the LORDE and the kynge, 〈…〉 and the people, yt they shulde be the people of the LORDE. Likewyse also betwixte the kynge and ye people. Then wente all the people of the londe in to the house of Baal, and brake downe his altares, and destroyed his ymages right well. And Mathan the prest of Baal slewe they before the altare: And the prest appoynted the officers in the house of the LORDE, and toke the rulers ouer hundreds, and the captaynes, and the fote men, and all ye people of the londe, & broughte the kynge downe from the house of the LORDE, and came the waye from the porte of the fote men vnto the kynges house, and he sat vpon the kynges seate. And all the people of the lōde were glad, and the cite was at rest. As for Athalia, they slewe her with the swerde in ye kynges house. And Ioas was seuen yeare olde, whan he was made kynge.

The XII. Chapter.

IN the seuēth yeare of Iehu, was Ioas made kynge, 〈◊〉 . 4. a and reigned fortye yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Zibea of Bersaba. And Ioas dyd that which was righte in the sighte of the LORDE, as longe as Ioiada ye prest taught him. But they put not downe ye hye places: for the people offred & brent incense yet vpon the hye places.

And Ioas sayde vnto the prestes: All the money that is sanctified to be bestowed vpō ye house of the LORDE, namely the money yt euery man geueth vnto the treasury, and ye money that euery man geueth for his soule, and all the money that euery man geueth of a fre hert, to be bestowed on the house of the LORDE, let the prestes take it vnto them, euery one his porcion: with that shall they repayre the decaye in the house of the LORDE, where they fynde that there is eny decaye.

But whan ye prestes repayred not the decaye in the house vnto the thre and twētieth yeare of kynge Ioas, Ioas the kynge called Ioiada the prest with the other prestes, and sayde vnto them: Wherfore do ye not repayre the decaye in the house?

Therfore shall ye not take the money vnto you now euery one his porcion, but shall geue it to the decaye of the house. And the prestes agreed to take no money of the people, and to repayre the decaye of the house.

Then Ioiada the prest toke a chest, and bored an hole aboue therin, and set it on the righte hande besyde the altare, at the entrynge in to the house of the LORDE. And the prestes that kepte the thresholde, put all the money therin that was broughte vnto the house of the LORDE. Whan they sawe then that there was moch money in the chest, 4. Re. 22. a ye kynges scrybe came vp with the hye prest, and bounde the money together, and tolde it as moch as was founde in the house of the LORDE. And so the ready money was geuen vnto them that wrought and were appoynted to the house of the LORDE, and they gaue it forth to the carpenters and to thē that buylded and wroughte in the house of the LORDE, namely, to the dawbers and masons, and to them that boughte tymber and frestone, to repayre the decaye in the house of the LORDE and all that they founde to haue nede of repayringe in the house.

Howbeit there were no syluer chargers, flat peces, basens, trompettes, ner eny other vessell of golde and syluer made on the house of the LORDE, of the money that was brought vnto the LORDES house: but it was geuen vnto the workmen to repayre the decaye in the house of the LORDE therwith. The men also that the money was delyuered vnto, for to geue the workmen, neded not to make eny acomptes, but did their busynes vpon credence. But the money of trespace offerynges and synne offerynges was not broughte vnto the house of the LORDE: for it was the prestes.

At the same tyme wente Hasael the kynof Syria vp, and foughte agaynst Gath, and wanne it. And whan Hasael set his face to go vp to Ierusalem, kynge Ioas toke all that was sanctifyed, which his fathers Iosaphat, Ioram and Ochosias the kynges of Iuda had halowed, and what he himselfe had sanctifyed, and all the golde that was founde in the treasures of the house of the LORDE, and in the kynges house, and sent it vnto Hasael the kynge of Syria. And so he departed from Ierusalem.

What more there is to saye of Ioas, and all that he dyd, it is written in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. And his seruauntes made insurreccion and conspyred, and smote him in the house of Millo, at the goynge downe vnto Silla. For Iosebar the sonne of Simeath, and Iosabad the sonne of Somer his seruauntes smote him to death: and he was buried with his fathers in the cite of Dauid. And Amasias his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XIII. Chapter.

IN ye XXIII. yeare of Ioas the sonne of Ochosias kynge of Iuda, was Ioahas the sonne of Iehu kynge ouer Israel at Samaria, seuentene yeare: & dyd yt which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE, and walked after the sinnes of Ieroboam ye sonne of Nebat (which caused Israel to synne) and lefte not of from them. And ye wrath of the LORDE waxed whote vpon Israel, & he delyuered them ouer vnder the hande of Hasael kynge of Syria, and vnder the hande of Benadad the sonne of Hasael, as longe as they lyued.

And Ioahas besoughte the face of the LORDE. And the LORDE herde him, for he consydered the myserie of Israel, how the kynge of Syria oppressed them. And ye LORDE gaue Israel a sauioure, which broughte them out of the power of the Syrians, so yt the children of Israel dwelt in their tentes, like as afore tyme.

Yet lefte they not from the synnes of the house of Ieroboam, which caused Israel to synne, but walked in them. The groue at Samaria stode styll also. For of the people of Ioahas there were no mo lefte, but fyftye horsmen, ten charettes, and ten thousande fote men: 4. Re. 8. b for the kynge of Syria had destroyed them, and made them as the dust in the barne.

What more there is to saye of Ioahas, and all that he dyd, and his power, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. And Ioahas fell on slepe with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, & Ioas his sonne was kinge in his steade.

In the seuen and thirtieth yeare of Ioas kynge of Iuda, was Ioas the sonne of Ioahas kynge ouer Israel at Samaria sixtene yeare. And he dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE, and departed not from all the synnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel for to synne, but walked in them. What more there is to saye of Ioas, and what he dyd, & his power, how he foughte with Amasias kynge of Iuda, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. And Ioas fell on slepe with his fathers, and Ieroboam sat vpō his seate. And Ioas was buried in Samaria wt the kynges of Israel.

As for Eliseus, he fell in to a sicknes, wherof he dyed. And Ioas the kynge of Israel came downe vnto him, and wepte for him, and saide: 4. Re 2. c My father, my father, the charet man of Israel, and his horsmen. Eliseus sayde vnto him: Take the bowe and the arowes And whan he had taken the bowe and the arowes, he sayde vnto the kynge of Israel: Bende the bowe with thine hande. And he bent it with his hāde. And Eliseus layed his hande vpon the kynges hande, and sayde Open that wyndowe towarde the Eas . And he opened it. And Eliseus saide: Sh ••• And he shot. He sayde: one arowe of the saluacion of the LORDE, one arowe of saluaciō agaynst the Syrians: and thou shalt smy •• the Syrians at Aphek, tyll they be brought to naughte.

And he sayde: Take ye arowes. And wh •• he had taken them, he sayde vnto the kynge of Israel: Smyte the earth. And he smote thre tymes and stode still. Then was them of God wroth at him, and sayde: Yf thou haddest smytten fyue or sixe times, thou shuldest haue smytten ye Syrians, tyll thou had dest vtterly brought them to naughte. But now shalt thou smyte them thre tymes.

Whan Eliseus was deed and buried, the men of warre of the Moabites fell in to the londe the same yeare. And it fortuned yt they buryed a certaine man. But whā they sawe the men of warre, they cast the man in to Eliseus graue. 〈…〉 And whan he was therin, and touched Eliseus bones, he reuyued, and stode vpon his fete.

So Hasael the kynge of Syria oppressed Israel, as longe as Ioahas lyued. But the LORDE was gracious vnto them, and had mercy vpon them, and turned him to them for his couenauntes sake, with Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, and wolde not destroye thē 〈…〉 nether dyd he cast them out from his presence vnto this houre.

And Hasael the kinge of Syria dyed, and Benadad his sonne was kynge in his steade. But Ioas turned backe, and toke out of the hande of Benadad the sonne of Hasael the cyties which he had takē in battaill out of the hande of his father Ioahas: Thre tymes dyd Ioas smyte him, and broughte the cities of Israel agayne.

The XIIII. Chapter.

IN the seconde yeare of Ioas ye sonne of Ioahas kynge of Israel, was Amasias the sonne of Ioas kynge of Iuda made kynge: 〈…〉 fyue and twenty yeare olde was he, whan he was made kynge, & reigned nyne and twentye yeare at Ierusalē. His mothers name was Ioadan of Ierusalem. And he dyd that which was righte in the sighte of the LORDE: yet not as his father Dauid, but euen as his father Ioas did so dyd he also: for ye hye places were not put downe, but the people offred and brent incē se yet vpon the hye places. Now whan he had gotten the power of the kyngdome, he smote his seruauntes Re. 12. d which had smyttē the kynge his father: but the children of ye deed slayers slewe he not, acordinge to yt which is wryttē in the boke of the lawe of Moses, where the LORDE hath cōmaunded & sayde: 〈◊〉 . 24. c 〈◊〉 . 31. d 〈◊〉 . 18. c The fathers shal not dye for the children, & the children shal not dye for the fathers: but euery one shal dye for his awne synne.

Ten thousande of the Edomites smote he also in the Salt valley, and wanne Sela in battayll, and called it Iatheel vnto this daye. 〈◊〉 . 25. c Then sent Amasias messaungers vnto Ioas the sonne of Ioahas the sonne of Iehu kynge of Israel, sayenge: Come hither, let vs se one another. But Ioas ye kynge of Israel sent vnto Amasias the kynge of Iuda, sayenge: The hawthorne that is in Libanus, sent to the Ceder tre in Libanus, sayenge: Geue thy doughter vnto my sonne to wife. But a wylde beest of the felde ranne ouer ye hawthorne, and trode it downe. Thou hast smyttē the Edomites, therfore is thine hert waxen proude: Take the prayse, and byde at home: why stryuest thou for mysfortune, yt thou mayest fall, and Iuda with the? Howbeit Amasias consented not.

Then wēte Ioas the kynge of Israel vp, and they sawe one another, he and Amasias the kynge of Iuda at Beth Semes which lyeth in Iuda. But Iuda was smytten before Israel, so that euery one fled in to his tente. And Ioas the kynge of Israel toke Amasias the kynge of Iuda, the sonne of Ioas the sonne of Ochosias at Beth Semes, and came to Ierusalem, and brake downe ye wall of Ierusalem from ye porte of Ephraim vnto the corner porte, euen foure hundreth cubites lōge: and toke all the golde and syluer, and ornamentes that were founde in the house of the LORDE, and in ye treasures of the kynges house, & the children also to pledge, & departed agayne to Samaria.

What more there is to saie of Ioas, what he dyd, and of his power, & how he foughte with Amasias the kynge of Iuda, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. And Ioas fell on slepe with his fathers, and was buried at Samaria amonge ye kynges of Israel. And Ieroboam his sonne was kynge in his steade.

But Amasias the sonne of Ioas kynge of Iuda, lyued after the death of Ioas the sonne of Ioahas kynge of Israel, fiftene yeare. What more there is to saye of Amasias, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. And they conspyred agaynst him at Ierusalem, but he fled vnto Lachis. And they sent after him vnto Lachis, and slewe him there. And they broughte him vpon horses, & he was buried at Ierusalem with his fathers in ye cite of Dauid.2. Par. And all the people of Iuda toke Asarias in his sixtenth yeare, and made him kynge in steade of Amasias his father. He buylded 4. Re. Eloth, and broughte it agayne vnto Iuda, after that the kynge was fallen on slepe with his fathers.

In the fyftenth yeare of Amasias the sonne of Ioas kynge of Iuda, was Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas kynge ouer Israel at Samaria, one and fortye yeare. And he dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE, and departed not from all the synnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which caused Israel for to synne.

But the borders of Israel broughte he agayne from Hemath vnto ye see that lyeth in the playne felde, acordinge to the worde of the LORDE God of Israel, which he spake by his seruaunt Ion. 1. a Ionas ye sonne of Amithai the prophete, which was of Iosu. 19 Gath Epher. For the LORDE considered the myserable affliccion of Israel, how that euen they which were shut vp and desolate, were awaye, and that there was no helper in Israel. 4. Re. 1 Osc. 1. a And the LORDE sayde not that he wolde destroye the name of Israel from vnder heauē. And he helped thē by Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas.

What more there is to saye of Ieroboam, and all that he dyd, and of his power, how he foughte, and how broughte Damascon and Hemath agayne vnto Iuda in Israel, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. And Ieroboam fell on slepe with his fathers, with the kynges of Israel. And Zacharias his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XV. Chapter.

IN the seuen & twentieth yeare of Ieroboam kynge of Israel, reigned Asarias the sonne of Amasias kynge of Iuda: and 2. Par. 2 was sixtene yeare olde whan he was made kynge, and reigned two and fyftye yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Iechalia of Ierusalē. And he dyd righte in the sighte of the LORDE, acordinge to all as dyd Amasias his father, sauynge that they put not downe the hye places. For the people dyd sacryfice and brent incense yet vpon the hye places. Howbeit the LORDE smote the kynge, so that he was leper vnto his death, Leui. 1 . and dwelt in a frye house. But Iotham the kynges sonne ruled the house, and iudged the people in the londe.

What more there is to saye of Asarias, & all yt he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. And Asarias fell on slepe with his fathers, & was buried with his fathers in the cite of Dauid, & Iotham his sonne was kynge in his steade.

In the eight and thirtieth yeare of Asarias kynge of Iuda, was Zacharias the sonne of Ieroboam kynge ouer Israel at Samaria sixe monethes. And he dyd yt which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE, euen as his fathers dyd. He departed not from ye synnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which caused Israel for to synne. And Sellum the sonne of Iabes conspyred agaynst him, and smote him in the presence of ye people, and slewe him, & was kynge in his steade. What more there is to saie of Zacharias, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. Re. 10. e And this is it, yt the LORDE sayde vnto Iehu: Thy children shall syt vpō the seate of Israel vntyll the fourth generacion. And euen so came it to passe.

Sellum the sonne of Iabes reigned in ye nyne & thirtieth yeare of Some reade: * Vsia. Asarias kynge of Iuda, & reigned one moneth at Samaria. For Menahem the sonne of Gadi wēte vp from Thirza, & came to Samaria, and smote Sellum the sonne of Iabes at Samaria, & slewe him, and was kynge in his steade.

What more there is to saye of Sellum, & of his sedicion which he stered vp, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. At the same tyme dyd Manahem smyte Tiphsa, & all yt were therin, & the coastes therof from Thirza, because they wolde not let him in, and smote all their wemen wt childe, and rypte them vp.

In the nyne & thirtieth yeare of Asarias kynge of Iuda, beganne Manahem the sonne of Gad to reigne ouer Israel ten yeares at Samaria, and dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE. As longe as he lyued, departed he not from ye synnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which caused Israel for to synne. And Phul the kynge of Assiria came in to the lōde. And Manahem gaue vnto Phul a thousande talentes of syluer to holde with him, and to cōfirme him in the kyngdome. And Manahem raysed vp a taxe in Israel vpon the richest, fiftye Sycles of syluer vpon eueryman, to geue vnto ye kynge of Assiria. So the kynge of Assiria wēte home agayne, and taried not in the londe.

What more there is to saye of Manahem, & all yt he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel. And Manahem fell on slepe wt his fathers. And Pecahia his sonne was kynge in his steade.

In the fiftieth yeare of Asarias kynge of Iuda, beganne Pecahia the sonne of Manahem to reigne ouer Israel at Samaria two yeare, and dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE: for he departed not frō the synnes of Ieroboam ye sonne of Nebat, which caused Israel for to synne. And Pecah the sonne of Romelia his knyghte conspyred agaynst him, & smote him at Samaria in ye palace of the kynges house wt Argob and Ariah, and fiftye men wt him of ye childrē of Gilead, & slewe him, & was kynge in his steade. What more there is to saye of Pecahia, & all that he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel.

In the two and fiftieth yeare of Asarias kynge of Iuda, beganne Pecah the sonne of Romelia to reigne ouer Israel at Samaria, twentye yeare, & dyd that which was euell in the sighte of ye LORDE: for he departed not from the synnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which caused Israel for to synne.

In the tyme of Pecah the kynge of Israel, came Teglatphalasser the kynge of Assiria, & toke Eion, Abel Beth Maecha, Ianoha, Kedes, Hasor, Gilead, Galile, and all the londe of Nephtali, & caried thē awaye in to Assiria.

And Osea the sonne of Ela conspyred agaynst Pecah the sonne of Romelia, & slue him, and was kynge in his steade in the twē tieth yeare of Iotham the sonne of 〈1 paragraph〉 Osias. What more there is to saye of Pecah, & all that he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Israel.

In the seconde yeare of Pecah the sonne of Romelia kynge of Israel, was Iotham the sonne of Osias kynge of Iuda, & was fyue and twentye yeare olde whan he was made kynge, and reigned sixtene yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Ierusa the doughter of Sadok. And he dyd yt which was righte in ye sighte of the LORDE, acordinge vnto all as dyd Osias his father sauynge that he put not downe the hye places: for the people offred & brent incense yet vpon the hye places. He buylded the hye poete of the house of the LORDE. What more there is to saye of Iotham, and all that he dyd, beholde, it is wryttē in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda.

At ye same tyme beganne ye LORDE to sende Rezin ye kynge of Syria, & Pecah ye sonne of Romelia in to Iuda. And Iotham fell on slepe with his fathers, and was buried wt his fathers in the cite of Dauid his father. And Achas his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XVI. Chapter.

IN the seuententh yeare of Pecah ye sonne of Romelia, 〈◊〉 . 8. a was Achas the sonne of Iotham kynge of Iuda. Twētye yeare olde was Achas whā he was made kynge, & reigned sixtene yeare at Ierusalem, & dyd not yt which was righte in the sighte of ye LORDE his God, as dyd Dauid his father: for he walked in the waye of the kynges of Israel, 〈◊〉 . 1 . b Re. •• . Yee and caused his sonne to go thorow the fyre, after the maner of the abhominacions of the Heythen, whom the LORDE droue awaye before the childrē of Israel. And he dyd sacrifice, and brent incense vpon the hye places, & vpon all hilles, and amonge all grene trees. 〈◊〉 . 7. a Then wente Rezin the kynge of Syria, and Pecah the sonne of Romelia kynge of Israel vp to Ierusalem to fighte agaynst it, and layed sege to Achas: but they coulde not wynne it. At the same tyme dyd Rezin the kynge of Syria, brynge 〈◊〉 . 14 d Eloth agayne vnto Syria, and thrust ye Iewes out of Eloth. But the Syrians came & dwelt therin vnto this daye.

Neuertheles Achas sent messaungers vnto Teglatpha asser ye kynge of Assiria, sayē ge: I am thy seruaunt & thy sonne, come vp & helpe me out of ye hande of the kynge of Syria, & of the kynge of Israel, which are rysen vp agaynst me. And Achas toke the syluer & golde yt was founde in ye house of ye LORDE, & in the treasures of ye kynges house, & sent a present to ye kynge of Assiria. 〈◊〉 8. a And ye kinge of Assiria cōsented vnto him, & wente vp to Damascon, & wanne it, & caried them awaye vnto Cira, & slewe Rezin. And kynge Achas wēte to Damascon for to mete Teglatphalasser ye kynge of Assiria. And whā he sawe an altare yt was at Damascon, kynge Achas sent a patrone & symilitude of ye same altare vnto the prest Vrias, euen as it was made. And Vrias the prest buylded an altare, and made it acordinge as kynge Achas had sent vnto him from Damascon, tyll Achas ye kynge came from Damascon.

And whan ye kynge came from Damascon, and sawe the altare, he offred theron, & kyndled his burnt offerynges and meat offerynges vpon it, and poured his drynk offeringes theron, & caused the bloude of ye deedofferynges which he offred, to be sprenkled vpon the altare. But the brasen altare that stode before the LORDE, put he awaye, so that it stode not betwene the altare and the house of the LORDE, but set it in the corner on the north syde of the altare.

And Achas the kynge cōmaunded Vrias ye prest, & sayde: Vpō the greate altare shalt thou kyndle ye burnt offrynge in the mornynge, & the meat offrynge in the euenynge, & the kynges burnt offrynge & his meat offrynge, & the burnt offrynge of all the people in the londe, wt their meat offrynge & drynk offrynge. And all the bloude of the burnt offerynges, & all the bloude of the other offrynges shalt thou sprenkle theron: but with the brasen altare wyll I deuyse what I can. Vrias the prest dyd all acordinge as Achas the kynge commaunded him.

And kynge Achas brake downe the seates, and put awaye the 3. Re 7. c ketell from aboue, and toke the lauer from the brasen bullockes that were there vnder, and set it vpon ye pauement of stone. And the pulpit for the Sabbath which they had buylded in the house, and ye entrye of the kynges house turned he vnto the house of the LORDE, for the kynge of Assirias sake.

What more there is to saye of Achas, what he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in ye Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. And Achas fell on slepe with his fathers, & was buried wt his fathers in the cite of Dauid. And Ezechias his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XVII. Chapter.

IN the twolueth yeare of Achas the kynge of Iuda, begāne Oseas ye sonne of Ela to reigne ouer Israel at Samaria nyne yeare, and dyd yt which was euell in ye sighte of the LORDE, but not as ye kynges of Israel yt were before him. Agaynst him dyd Salmanasar ye kynge of Assiria come vp. And Oseas was subiecte vnto him, & gaue him trybutes. But whā the ye kynge of Ass ria perceaued yt Oseas had conspyred & sent messaungers to Sua ye kynge of Egipte, & payed not trybute yearly to ye kynge of ye Assirians, he beseged him & put him in preson. 4. Re. 18. b And the kynge of Assiria wente vp in to all the londe and to Samaria, and layed sege vnto it thre yeare. Esa. 8. a And in the nyenth yeare of Oseas dyd ye kynge of Assiria wynne Samaria, 4. Es. 1 . c and caried Israel awaye in to Assiria, and set them at Halah and at Habor by the water Gosan, and in the cities of the Meedes.

For whan the childrē of Israel synned agaynst ye LORDE their God (yt broughte thē out of ye londe of Egipte, from the hāde of Pharao kynge of Egipte) and serued other goddes: and walked after the customes of the Heythē, whom the LORDE had dryuen out before the children of Israel, and dyd as the kynges of Israel, and prouoked ye LORDE their God, and dyd secretly the thinges that were not righte in the sighte of ye LORDE their God: namely in that they buylded them hye places in all cities, both in castels and stronge cities, and set vp pilers and groues, vpon all hye hilles, and amonge all grene trees, and brent incense there in all ye hye places, euen as dyd the Heythen, whom the LORDE had cast out before them, & wroughte wicked thinges, wherwith they prouoked the LORDE vnto wrath, & serued the Idols, wherof the LORDE sayde vnto them: eut. 4 e Ye shal not do soch a thynge.

And whan the LORDE testified in Israel and Iuda by all the prophetes and Seers, sayenge: •• re. 25 a O turne agayne from youre euell wayes, and kepe my commaundemētes and ordynaunces, acordinge to all ye lawe which I gaue vnto youre fathers, and that I sent vnto you by my seruauntes the prophetes: they wolde not herken, Deut. 1. f Mal 3. b but herdened their neckes, acordinge to the hardneck of their fathers, which beleued not on the LORDE their God. Yee they despysed his ordinaunces and his couenaunt which he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he witnessed amonge them, and walked in their awne vanities, and became vayne folowinge the Heythen, which dwelt rounde aboute them, concernynge whom the LORDE had commaunded them, that they shulde not do as they dyd. Neuertheles they forsoke all the commaundementes of the LORDE their God . Re. 12. d and made them two molten calues and groues, and worshipped all the hoost of heauen, & serued Baal, and Deu. 18. b caused their sonnes and doughters to go thorow the fyre, and medled wt soythsayers and witches, and gaue them selues ouer to do that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE, to prouoke him vnto wrath.

Then was the LORDE very wroth at Israel, and put them awaye frō his presence, so yt there remayned nomo . Re. 12. c but onely ye trybe of Iuda. Nether dyd Iuda kepe the commaundemētes of the LORDE their God, but walked after the customes of Israel, which they dyd. Therfore dyd ye LORDE cast awaye all ye sede of Israel, and troubled them, and delyuered them in to the handes of the spoylers, tyll he had cast them out of his presence: for Israel was deuyded from the house of Dauid. And they made thē a kynge, one Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which turned Israel back from ye LORDE, & caused thē to synne so sore. Thus walked the childrē of Israel in all ye synnes of Ieroboam, which he had done, & departed not frō them, vntyll ye LORDE put Israel out of his presence, acordinge as he had spokē by all his seruauntes ye prophetes. 〈…〉 So Israel was caried awaye out of their awne londe to Assiria vnto this daye.

The kynge of Assiria caused men to come frō Babilon, from Cutha, frō Aua, from Hemath & Sepharuaim, & caused thē to inhabite ye cities in Samaria in steade of the children of Israel. And they toke possession of Samaria, & dwelt in ye same cities. But whā they begāne to dwell there, & feared not ye LORDE, the LORDE sent lyons amō ge thē, which slewe them. And they caused it be sayde vnto ye kynge of Assiria: The Heythē whom thou hast broughte hither, & caused them to inhabite the cities of Samaria, knowe not the lawe of ye God of the londe. Therfore hath he sent lyons amōge them, & beholde, they slaye thē, because they knowe not the ordinaunce of the God of the londe.

The kinge of Assiria cōmaunded & saide: Bringe thither one of ye prestes yt were caried awaye frō thence & let him go thither, & dwell there, & teach thē the ordinaū e of the God of ye londe. Then came one of prestes which were caried awaye from Samaria, & dwelt at Bethel, & taughte them how they shulde feare ye LORDE. But euery people made thē goddes, & put thē in the houses vpon ye hye places, which the Samaritanes had made, euery people ī their cities wherin they dwelt. They of Babilō made Sochoth Benoth. They of Chut made Nergel. They of Hemath made Asima. They of Aua made Nibehas & Tharthak. They of Sepharuaim burnt their sonnes vnto Adramelech and Anamelech ye goddes of thē of Sepharuaim.

And whyle they feared ye LORDE, they made prestes in ye hye places of ye lowest amonge them, & put them in ye houses of ye hye places: thus they feared ye LORDE, & serued ye goddes also, acordinge to ye custome of euery nacion, from whence they were broughte. And vnto this daye do they after ye olde fashion, so yt they nether feare ye LORDE, ner yet kepe their awne ordinaunces and lawes, after the lawe and commaundement that the LORDE cōmaunded the childrē of Iacob, 〈…〉 vnto whom he gaue ye name of Israel, and made a couenaunt with them, and commaunded them, and sayde: 〈…〉 Feare none other goddes, and worshipe them not, and serue them not, and offer not vnto them but the LORDE which broughte you out of the lōde of Egipte, with greate power and outstretched arme, Him feare, him worshippe, & vnto him do sacrifice: and the statutes, ordinaunces, lawe & cōmaundement which he hath caused to be wrytten vnto you, those se that ye kepe, that ye allwaye do therafter, and feare none other goddes. And forget not the couenaunt which he hath made with you, lest ye feare other goddes. But feare ye LORDE youre God, he shall delyuer you from all youre enemies. Neuertheles they wolde not herken, but dyd after their olde custome.

Thus these Heythen feared the LORDE, and serued their Idols also, and so dyd their children and childers childrē likewyse. Euē as their fathers haue done before them, so do they vnto this daye.

The XVIII. Chapter.

IN the thirde yeare of Oseas ye sonne of Ela kynge of Israel, 〈◊〉 . 29. a reigned Ezechias ye sonne of Achas kynge of Iuda. And he was fyue and twentie yeare olde whan he was made kynge, & reigned nyne & twentye yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Abi the doughter of Zachary. And he dyd that which was righte in the sighte of the LORDE, acordinge vnto all as dyd Dauid his father. 〈◊〉 . 7. a 〈◊〉 . 25. a He put awaye the hye places, and brake downe the pilers, & roted out the groues, and brake the brasen serpente 〈◊〉 . 21. a which Moses had made. For vnto that tyme had the children of Israel brent incēse vnto it. And it was called Nehusthan. He put his trust in the LORDE God of Israel, so that after him there was not his like amō ge all the kynges of Iuda nether had bene before him. He cleued vnto the LORDE, and departed not backe from him, and kepte his commaundementes, which the LORDE had cōmaunded Moses. And the LORDE was wt him. And whither so euer he wēte forth, he behaued him selfe wysely. He resisted the kyn of Assiria, and was not subdued vnto him. 〈…〉 He smote the Philistynes also vnto Gasa, and their borders, from the castels vnto the stronge cities.

In the fourth yeare of Ezechias kynge of Iuda (yt was the seuenth yeare of Oseas the sonne of Ela kynge of Israel) came Salmanasar the kynge of Assiria vp agaynst Samaria, Re. 17. a and layed sege vnto it, and wanne it after thre yeares in the sixte yeare of Ezechias, that is in the nyenth yeare of Oseas kynge of Israel, thē was Samaria wonne. And the kynge of Assiria caried Israel awaye vnto Assiria, and set them at Halah and Habor by the water Gosan, and in the cities of the Meedes. And all because they herkened not vnto the voyce of the LORDE their God, and had transgressed his couenaunt: And as for all that Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE had commaunded thē, they had nether herkened vnto eny of those, ner done them.

In the fourtēth yeare of kynge Ezechias dyd Sennacherib ye kynge of Assiria come vp agaynst all the stronge cities of Iuda,2. Par. 32. Eccli. 48. sa. 36. a & cōquered thē. Then sent Ezechias the kynge of Iuda to ye kynge of Assiria vnto Lachis, sayenge: I haue offended, turne back fro me: loke what thou layest vnto me, I wil beare it. Thē the kynge of Assiria layed vnto Ezechias the kynge of Iuda, thre hundreth talentes of syluer, & thirtie talentes of golde. 4. Re. 1 So Ezechias gaue all ye syluer yt was foū de in ye house of the LORDE, & in the treasures of ye kynges house. At ye same tyme brake Ezechias the kynge of Iuda the dores of the tēple of ye LORDE, & the plates of golde which he him selfe had caused to laye ouer thē, & gaue thē vnto the kynge of Assiria.

And the kynge of Assiria sent Thartan,2. Par. 32 and the chefe chamberlayne, & the chefe butler from Lachis to kynge Ezechias with a greate power vnto Ierusalem. And they wē te vp: and whan they came there, they stode styll at the condyte by the ouer pole, which lyeth in the waye vpō the fullers londe, and called vnto the kynge. Thē came there forth vnto them Eliachim the sonne of Helchias the stewarde, and Sobna the scrybe, & Ioah the sonne of Assaph the Secretary.

And the chefe butler sayde vnto thē: Tell kynge Ezechias: Thus sayeth ye greate kynge, euē the kynge of Assiria: What presumpcion is this yt thou trustest vnto? Thinkest thou, yt thou hast yet councell and power to fighte? Where vnto trustest thou then, that thou art fallen of fro me? Beholde, puttest thou thy trust in this broken staffe of rede, in Egipte? which who leaneth vpon, it shall go in to his hande, & pearse it thorow. Euen so is Pharao the kynge of Egipte vnto all them that put their trust in him. But yf ye wolde saye vnto me: We put oure trust in ye LORDE oure God. Is not that he, whose hye places and altares Ezechias hath takē downe, and sayde vnto Iuda and Ierusalē: Before this altare which is at Ierusalē, shal ye worshippe?

Make a multitude now therfore vnto my lorde the kynge of Assiria, and I wil geue ye two thousande horses, let se yf thou be able to man them: how wilt thou then endure before the smallest prynce of my lordes subiectes? And trustest thou vnto Egipte because of the charettes and horsmen? But thinkest thou that I came vp hither without ye LORDE to destroye these cities? The LORDE hath commaunded me: Go vp in to that londe and destroye it.

Then sayde Eliachim the sonne of Helchia & Sobna and Ioah vnto the chefe butler: Speake to thy seruauntes in the Syriās language, for we vnderstonde it, and speake not vnto vs in the Iewes speche before the eares of the people that are vpon the wall. Neuertheles ye chefe butler sayde vnto thē: Hath my lorde then sent me vnto thy lorde, or to the, to speake these wordes? Yee euen vnto the men, which syt vpon the wall, that they maye eate their owne donge and drynke their owne stale wt you. So the chefe butler stode and cried with loude voyce in the Iewes language, and spake and sayde: Heare the worde of the greate kynge the kynge of Assiria. Thus sayeth the kynge: Let not Ezechias disceaue you, for he is not able to delyuer you fro my hāde: & let not Ezechias make you to trust in the LORDE, sayenge: The LORDE shall delyuer vs, and this cite shal not be geuen in to the handes of ye kynge of Assiria. Folowe not ye Ezechias, for thus sayeth the kynge of Assiria:

Do me this blessynge, and come forth vnto me, so shal euery man eate of his vyne and of his fygge tre, and drynke of his well, tyll I come my selfe and fetch you in to a londe, which is like youre awne lōde, wherin is corne, wyne, bred, vynyardes, oyle trees, oyle and hony, so shal ye lyue, and not dye. Folowe not ye Ezechias, for he disceaueth you, when he sayeth: The LORDE shal delyuer vs. sa. 10. b Haue the goddes of the Heythen delyuered euery one his londe from the hande of the kynge of Assiria? Where are the goddes of Hemath and Arphad? Where are the goddes of Sepharuaim Hena and Iua? Haue they delyuered Samaria fro my hande? Where is there one god amonge the goddes of all londes, which hath delyuered his londe fro my hande? that the LORDE shulde delyuer Ierusalem fro my hande.

As for the people, they helde their peace, and gaue him no answere: for the kynge had commaunded and sayde: Answere him nothinge. Then came Eliachim the sonne of Helchia ye stewarde, and Sobna the scrybe, and Ioah the sonne of Assaph the Secretatary vnto Ezechias with rente clothes, and tolde him the wordes of the chefe butler.

The XIX. Chapter.

WHan Ezechias ye kynge herde this, he rente his clothes, 〈…〉 & put on a sackcloth, & wente in to ye house of the LORDE, & sent Eliachim the stewarde & Sobna the Scrybe with the Eldest prestes, clothed in sackcloth, vnto the prophet Esay ye sonne of Amos, & they saide vnto him: Thus sayeth Ezechias: This is a daye of trouble, & of defiaunce & blasphemy. The childrē are come to the byrth, & there is no strength to be delyuered of them. Yf happly the LORDE thy God wil heare all the wordes of ye chefe butler, whom his lorde the kynge of Assiria hath sent, to blasphemie ye lyuynge God, & to defye him with soch wordes as the LORDE thy God hath herde, therfore lifte thou vp thy prayer for the remnaunt, which are yet lefte behynde.

And whā kynge Ezechias seruauntes came to Esay, Esay sayde vnto them: Speake thus vnto youre lorde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Feare not thou the wordes yt thou hast herde, wherwith the kynge of Assirias seruauntes haue blasphemed me. Beholde, I wil put him in another mynde, so yt he shall heare tydinges, & go agayne in to his awne countre, 〈…〉 and in his awne londe wil I cause him to fall thorow the swerde.

And whan ye chefe butlar came agayne, he founde the kynge of Assiria fightinge agaynst Libna: for he had herde that he was departed from Lachis. And he herde of Taracha the kynge of the Morians: Beholde, he is gone forth to fighte with the. Then turned he back, & sent messaungers to Ezechias, & caused to saye vnto him: Let not thy God disceaue the, on whom thou trustest & sayest: Ierusalem shal not be geuē in to the hāde of the kynge of Assiria. Beholde, thou hast herde what the kynges of Assiria haue done vnto all londes, & how they dāned them, & shalt thou be delyuered? Haue ye goddes of ye Heithen delyuered thē, whom my father destroyed, as Gosan, Haran, Reseph, & the childrē of Eden which were at Thalassar? Where is ye kynge of Hemath, ye kynge of Arphad, & ye kinge of ye cite Sepharuaim, Hena & Iua?

And whan Ezechias had receaued the letters of the messaungers and had red them, he wente vp vnto the house of the LORDE, and layed them abrode before the LORDE, & made his prayer before the LORDE, and sayde: O LORDE God of Israel, thou that syttest vpō the Cherubins, thou onely art God amonge all ye kyngdomes of the earth, thou hast made heauen and earth. Enclyne thine eare O LORDE, and heare: open thine eyes, and beholde, and heare the wordes of Sennacherib, which hath sent hither to blaspheme the lyuynge God. It is true (O LORDE) that the kynges of Assiria haue destroyed the Heythen and their londe with the swerde, and haue cast their goddes in the fyre: for they were not Goddes, but ye worke of mēs hondes, wodd and stone, therfore haue they destroyed them. But now O LORDE helpe thou vs out of his hande, that all the kyngdomes vpon earth maye knowe, that thou LORDE art God alone.

Then sent Esay the sonne of Amos vnto Ezechias, sayenge: Thus sayeth the LORDE God of Israel: Where as thou hast made thy prayer vnto me concernynge Sennacherib ye kynge of Assiria, I haue herde it. This is it that the LORDE hath spoken agaynst him: He hath despysed ye and mocked the O virgin thou doughter Sion: he hath shakē his heade at the O doughter Ierusalem. 〈◊〉 . 1. b 〈◊〉 5. d 〈◊〉 9. a Whom hast thou despysed & blasphemed? Ouer whom hast thou lifte vp thy voyce? Euē agaynst ye holy one in Israel hast thou lifte vp thine eyes: thou hast blasphemed ye LORDE by thy messaungers, and sayde: Thorow the multitude of my charettes haue I gone vp to the toppes of the mountaynes, vpon the sydes of Libanus. I haue hewen downe his hye Ceders and his chosen Pyne trees, and am come to the vttemost habitacion of the wod of Carmel that belongeth vnto it. I haue dygged and dronke vp the straunge waters, and with ye soles of my fete haue I dryed vp the See.

But hast thou not herde how that I haue done this longe agoo, and haue prepared it from the begynnynge? Now haue I caused it for to come, that contencious stronge cities mighte fall in to a waist heape of stones, & they that dwell therin, shal be faynte, and fearfull and a shamed, 〈◊〉 . 6. a and shal be as the grasse vpon the felde, and as ye grene herbe and hay vpon the house toppes, that wythereth afore it be growne vp. I knowe thy habitacion, thy out and ingoynge, and that thou ragest agaynst me. For so moch then as thou ragest agaynst me, and seynge thy presumpcion is come vp to myne eares, therfore wyll I put a rynge in thy nose, and a brydle bytt in thy lippes, and wyll brynge the agayne, euen the same waye thou camest.

And let this be a token vnto the O Ezechias. In this yeare eate yt which is fallen in the seconde yeare soch as groweth of it selfe: In ye thirde yeare sowe and reape, and plante vynyardes, and eate the frute therof. And the doughter Iuda which is escaped & remayneth, shall from hence forth take rote beneth, and beare frute aboue. For the remnaunt shal go forth from Ierusalem, & they yt are escaped, shall go out fro mount Sion. The gelousy of the LORDE Zebaoth shall brynge this to passe.

Therfore thus sayeth the LORDE concernynge ye kynge of the Assyrians: He shall not come in to this cite, and shall shute no arowe therin, nether shal there come eny shylde before it, nether shall he dygge eny backe aboute it, but shal go agayne the waye that he came, and shall not come in to this cite, sayeth the LORDE: and I wyll defende this cite, to helpe it for myne awne sake, and for my seruaunt Dauids sake.

And in the same nighte wente the angell of the LORDE, and smote in the hoost of the Assyrians, an hundreth and fyue and foure score thousande men. And whan they gatt them vp in the mornynge, beholde, all laye full of deed coarses. Tobi. 1. d So Sennacherib the kinge of Assyria brake vp, and departed, and returned, and abode at Niniue. And as he worshipped in ye house of Nesrach his god, his awne sonnes Adramalech and Sarazer smote him with the swerde, and fled in to ye londe of Ararat. And Asarhadon his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XX. Chapter.

AT that tyme was Ezechias deedsicke. And the prophet Esay ye sonne of Amos, came to him, & sayde vnto him:2. Par. 32. Esa. 38. a Thus sayeth ye LORDE: Set thine house in ordre for thou shalt dye & not lyue. And he turned, his face to the wall, and prayed vnto ye LORDE, and sayde: Remembre (O LORDE) that I haue walked faithfully before the, & with a perfecte hert, and haue done yt which is good in thy syghte. And Ezechias wepte sore. But whan Esay was not gone out of halfe the cite, ye worde of ye LORDE came to him, & sayde: Turne back, & tell Ezechias ye prynce of my people: Thus sayeth ye LORDE God of thy father Dauid: I haue herde thy praier, & considered ye teares. Beholde, I wil heale ye: on the thirde daye shalt thou go in to ye house of the LORDE, & fiftene yeares wil I adde vnto ye life, & wyll delyuer the & this cite from the kynge of Assyria, & this cite wil I defende for myne awne sake, and for my seruaūt Dauids sake. And Esay sayde: Bringe hither a quantite of fygges. And whan they broughte them, they layed them vpon the sore, and it was healed.

Ezechias sayde vn to Esay: Which is ye token, that the LORDE wyll heale me, and that I shal go vp in to the house of ye LORDE on the thirde daye? Esay sayde: This token shalt thou haue of the LORDE, that the LORDE shal do acordynge as he hath sayde. Shall the shadowe go ten degrees forwarde, or shal it turne ten degrees backwarde? Ezechias sayde: It is an easy thinge for the shadowe to go ten degrees downewarde, yt is not my mynde: but that it go ten degrees backwarde. Then cryed the prophet Esay vnto the LORDE, Eccli. 48 e and the shadowe wente backe ten degrees in Achas Dyall, which he was descended afore.

At the same tyme Merodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan kynge of Babilon, Esa 39 a sent letters and presentes vnto Ezechias, for he had herde that Ezechias had bene sicke. And Ezechias reioysed with them, & shewed them all the house of rotes, the syluer, golde, spyces, and the best oyle, and the house of ordinaunce, and all that was founde in his treasures. There was nothinge in his house and in all his domynion, but Ezechias shewed it them.

Then came Esay the prophet vnto kynge Ezechias, and sayde vnto him: What haue these men sayde? and whence came they vnto the? Ezechias sayde: They came to me out of a farre countre, euen from Babilon. He sayde: What haue they sene in thyne house? Ezechias sayde: They haue sene all that is in my house, and there is nothynge in my 〈◊〉 but I haue shewed it them. Then sayde Esay vnto Ezechias: Heare the worde of the LORDE: Beholde, 4 Re. 24. c and 2 . b Iere. 32. c the tyme commeth, that it shall all be caryed awaye vnto Babilon, and whatsoeuer thy fathers haue layed vp vnto this daye, and there shall nothinge be lefte, sayeth the LORDE. Dan. 1. a Yee and the children which come of the, whom thou shalt beget, shalbe taken awaye, to be chamberlaynes in the kynge of Babilons palace. Ezechias sayde vnto Esay: It is good that the LORDE hath spoken. And he sayde morouer: Let there be peace yet and faithfulnesse in my tyme.

What more there is to saye of Ezechias, and all his power, and what he dyd, and of the pole and water condyte, wher by he conueyed water in to the cite, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. 2. Par. 32. f And Ezechias fell on slepe with his fathers, and Manasses his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XXI. Chapter.

MAnasses was twolue yeare olde, whan he was made kinge, 〈…〉 and reigned fyue and fyftye yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Hephziba. And he dyd that which was euell in ye sight of the LORDE (euen after the abhominaciōs of the Heithen, whom the LORDE expelled before the children of Israel) and waxed fro warde, 〈…〉 and builded vp the hye places which his father Ezechias had destroyed, and sett vp Baals altares, and made groues (as Achab the kynge of Israel dyd) and worshipped all the hoost of heauen, and serued them. And buylded altares in the LORDES house, wherof the LORDE sayde: I wyll set my name at Ierusalem. And in both the courtes of the house of the LORDE buylded he altares vnto all the hoost of heauē. And 〈…〉 caused his sonne to go thorow the fyre, and regarded byrdes cryenge and tokens, and maynteyned soythsayers, and expounders of tokens, and so moch dyd he of this which was euell in the sight of the LORDE, that he prouoked him vnto wrath.

A groue Idol also which he had made, set he in the house, wherof the LORDE sayde vnto Dauid and to Salomon his sonne: In this house, and at Ierusalem ( 〈…〉 which I haue chosen out of all the trybes of Israel) wil I set my name foreuer, and wyl not cause ye fote of Israel to be remoued eny more from the londe, which I gaue vnto their fathers, yee so that they obserue and do acordynge vnto all that I haue charged them, and after all the lawe that my seruaunt Moses cō maunded them. Neuertheles they wolde not herken, but Manasses disceaued them, so yt they dyd worse then the Heithen, whom the LORDE expelled before ye children of Israel.

Then spake the LORDE by his seruauntes the prophetes, and saide: Because that Manasse the kynge of Iuda hath gone these abhominacions, which are worse then all ye abhominacions that the Amorites haue done which were before them, and hath caused Iuda also to synne agaynst their God, therfore thus sayeth the LORDE God of Israel: 〈…〉 Beholde, I wyll brynge soch a plage vpon Ierusalem and Iuda, that who so euer heareth it, both his eares shal glowe, and ouer Ierusalem wyll I stretch forth the lyne of Samaria, and the weighte of the house of Achab, and wyll wype out Ierusalem, euen as one wypeth a platter, and I wyl ouerthrowe it. And ye remnaunt of myne inheritaunce wil I cast out, & seater them abrode, & wil delyuer them in to the hādes of their enemies, to be spoyled and rent of all their enemies: because they haue done yt which is euell in my sighte, & haue prouoked me vnto wrath, sence the daye that I broughte their fathers out of Egipte, vnto this daye. Manasses also shed exceadinge moch innocēt bloude, so longe tyll Ierusalē was full on euery syde, with out the synnes wherwith he caused Iuda for to synne, so yt they dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE.

What more there is to saie of Manasses, and all that he dyd, and his synnes which he commytted, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. And Manasses fell on slepe with his fathers, and was buried in the garden besyde his house, namely, in the garden of Vsa, and Amon his sonne was kynge in his steade.

〈◊〉 . 33. d Two and twentye yeare olde was Amon whan he was made kynge, & he reigned two yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Mesumeleth, ye doughter of Harus of Iatba, and he dyd euell in the sighte of the LORDE, as Manasses his father had done, and walked in all the waye which his father walked, and serued the Idols which his father had serued, and worshipped them, and forsoke the LORDE the God of his father, and walked not in the waye of the LORDE.

And his seruauntes conspyred agaynst Amon, & slewe the kynge in his house. But the people of the londe slewe all them yt had cōspyred agaynst kynge Amon. And the people of the londe made Iosias his sonne kynge in his steade. As for other thinges that Amon dyd, beholde, they are wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. And he was buried in his graue in Vsas gardē. And Iosias his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XXII. Chapter.

IOsias was eight yeare olde whā he was made kynge, 〈◊〉 . 34 a & reigned one and thirtie yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Iedida the doughter of Adaia of Bascath, and he dyd that which was righte in ye sighte of the LORDE, and walked in all ye waye of Dauid his father, & turned not asyde, nether to the righte hande ner to the lefte.

. Par. 34.And in the eightenth yeare of kynge Iosias, the kynge sent Saphan ye sonne of Asalia the sonne of Mesulam the scrybe, in to ye house of the LORDE, and sayde: . Re. 12. b Go vp to Helchias the hye prest, that the money that is brought vnto ye house of ye LORDE (which the tresholde kepers haue gathered of ye people) maye be delyuered vnto them, that they maye geue it to the workmen which are appoynted in the house of the LORDE, & to geue it vnto the labourers in the house (yt they maye repayre the decaye of the house) namely, vnto the carpenters, and buylders, & masons, and to them yt bie timber & fre stone for the repairinge of the house: but so yt there be no accomptes taken of them concernynge the money, that is vnder their hande, but yt they deale withall vpon credence.

And Helchias ye prest sayde vnto Saphā the scrybe: 2. Pa. 34. I haue founde the boke of the lawe in the house of the LORDE. And Helchias gaue the boke vnto Saphan, that he might reade it. And Saphan the scrybe bare it vnto the kynge, and brought him worde agayne, & sayde: Thy seruauntes haue gathered together ye money yt was founde in the house, & haue delyuered it vnto the workmē, which are appoynted in ye house of the LORDE. And Saphan the scrybe tolde the kynge and sayde: Helchias the prest hath delyuered me a boke, and Saphan red it before the kynge.

But whan the kinge herde the wordes of the boke of lawe, he rente his clothes. And the kynge cōmaunded Helchias the prest, & Ahicam the sonne of Saphan, & Achbor the sonne of Michaia, and Saphan the scribe, & Asaia ye kynges seruaunt, and sayde: Go yor waye and axe councell at the LORDE for me, Iere. 21. for the people, and for all Iuda, concernynge the wordes of this boke that is founde: for greate is the wrath of the LORDE that is kyndled ouer vs, because or fathers haue not herkened vnto the wordes of this boke, to do all that is wrytten vnto vs therin.

Then wente Helchias the prest, and Ahicam, Achbor, Saphan & Asaia vnto Hulda the prophetisse ye wife of Sellū the sonne of Thecua the sonne of Harham the keper of ye clothes, and she dwelt at Ierusalem in the seconde porte, and they spake vnto her. And she sayde vnto them: Thus sayeth ye LORDE God of Israel: Tell the man that sent you vnto me, Thus sayeth the LORDE: Beholde, I wil brynge euell vpon this place, and the inhabiters therof, euen all the wordes of ye lawe which the kynge hath caused to be red, because they haue forsaken me, and brent incense vnto other goddes, to prouoke me vnto wrath with all the workes of their handes. Therfore is my wrath kindled agaynst this cite, and shall not be quenched.

But tell this vnto the kynge of Iuda, which hath sent you to axe councell at the LORDE: Thus sayeth the LORDE God of Israel: Because thine hert is not departed frō the wordes which thou hast herde, and hast humbled thyselfe before the LORDE, to heare what I haue spoken agaynst this place and the inhabiters therof (how that they shall become a very desolacion and curse) & hast rente thy clothes, and wepte before me, I haue herde it, sayeth the LORDE:4. Re. 23. f therfore wyll I gather the vnto thy fathers, so yt thou shalt be put in to thy graue in peace, and thine eyes shall not se all the euell that I wyll brynge vpon this place. And they brought the kynge worde agayne.

The XXIII. Chapter.

ANd the kynge sent fotth, and all the Elders in Iuda and Ierusalem resorted vnto him, . Par 34. f and the kynge wente vp in to the house of the LORDE, and all the men of Iuda, and all the inhabiters of Ierusalem with him, the prestes and prophetes and all the people both small and greate, . Esd 8. a and all the wordes of the boke of the couenaunt that was founde in the house of the LORDE, were red in their eares. And the kinge stode vpon a piler, and made a couenaūt before the LORDE, su. 24. that they shulde walke after the LORDE, and to kepe his commaundementes, witnesses, and ordinaunces with all their hert and with all their soule, yt they shulde set vp the wordes of this couenaunt, which are wrytten in this boke. And all the people entred in to the couenaunt.

And the 〈◊〉 cōmaunded Helchias the hye prest, and he prestes of the secōde course, and the kepers of the thresholde, yt they shulde put out of the temple all the vessels which were made for Baal, and for the groue, and for all the hoost of heauen, & he brent them without Ierusalem in the valley of Cedron, and the dust of them was caryed vnto Bethel.

And he put downe the ph 1. a Kemurims, whō the kynges of Iuda had founded, to burne incense vpon the hye places, in the cities of Iuda, and aboute Ierusalem. He put downe also them that brent incense vnto Baal, to the Sonne, and the Mone, and the twolue tokens, and to all ye hoost of heauen. And the groue caused he to be caryed from the house of the LORDE out of Ierusalem in to ye valley of Cedron, and brent it in the valley of Cedron, and made it to dust, and cast the dust vpon the graues of ye comen people. And he brake downe the whorekepers houses which were by the house of the LORDE, wherin the wemen made mansions for the groue.

And he caused all the prestes for to come out of the cities of Iuda, and suspended ye hye places, where the prestes brent incense, from Geba vnto Berseba. And brake downe the hye places in the portes, that were at ye dore of the gate of Iosua ye shreue of the cite, at the lefte hande as one goeth to the cite porte. Yet had not the prestes of the hye places offred vpon the altare of the LORDE at Ierusalem, but ate vnleuended bred amonge their brethren.

He suspended 〈…〉 Tophet also in the valley of the children of Ennon, that noman shulde cause his sonne or his doughter to go thorow ye fyre vnto Moloch. And he put downe the horses, which ye kynges of Iuda had set vnto the Sonne, at the intringe in to the house of the LORDE, besyde the chest of Netham Melech the chamberlayne which was at Paruarim, and the charettes of the Sonne brent he with fyre, and the altares vpon the rofe of Achabs perler, which the kynges of Iuda had made. And the altares 〈…〉 which Manasses had made in the two courtes of the house of the LORDE, dyd the kynge breake downe. And rannefrom thence, and cast the dust of them in to the broke Cedron.

And the hye places that were before Ierusalem on the righte hande of Mount Mashith 〈…〉 which Salomon the kynge of Israel had buylded vnto Astaroth the abhomynacion of Sidon, and to Camos the abhominacion of Moab, and to Malcom the abhominacion of the children of Ammon, those did the kynge suspende, and brake the pilers, and roted out the groues, and fylled their places with mens bones.

And 〈…〉 the altare at Bethel, and the hye place that Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat made, which caused Israel to synne, the same altare brake he downe, and the hye place, & brent the hye place, and made it to dust, and brent vp the groue. And Iosias turned him aboute, and sawe the graues that were vpō the mount, and caused the bones to the fetched out of the graues, and brent them vpō the altare, and suspended it, acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, 〈…〉 which the man of God cryed out, that tolde this before.

And he sayde: What titell is this, that I se here? And the men of the cite sayde vnto him: It is the graue of the man of God, which came from Iuda, and cried out this that thou hast done agaynst ye altare of Bethel. And he sayde: Let him lye, no man touche his bones. Thus were his bones delyuered with the bones of the prophet that came from Samaria.

He put awaye also all the houses of the hye places in the cities of Samaria (which the kynges of Israel had made to prouoke ye LORDE vnto wrath) and dyd with them acordinge to all as he had done at Bethel. And all ye prestes of the hye places that were there, offred he vp vpon the altares, and 〈…〉 so brent he mens bones theron, and came agayne to Ierusalem.

〈…〉 And the kynge commaūded the people, and sayde: Kepe Easter vnto the LORDE youre God, 〈…〉 as it is wrytten in the boke of this couenaunt. For there was no Easter so kepte as this, sence the tyme of the Iudges which iudged Israel, and in all the tymes of the kynges of Israel, and of the kynges of Iuda: but in the eightenth yeare of kynge Iosias, was this Easter kepte vnto the LORDE at Ierusalem.

And Iosias expelled all soythsayers, expounders of tokēs, ymages and Idols, and all the abhominacions which were sene in the londe of Iuda and at Ierusalem, that he mighte set vp the wordes of the lawe, which were wrytten in the boke, that Helchias ye prest foūde in the house of ye LORDE.

His like was no kynge before him, which so cōuerted vnto ye LORDE wt all his hert, wt all his soule, & with all his strength, acordinge to all the lawe of Moses. And after him came there not vp soch another. Yet turned not the LORDE from the indignacion of his greate wrath, wherwith he was displeased ouer Iuda, because of all the prouocacion wherwith Manasses had prouoked him. And ye LORDE sayde: 〈◊〉 4. a I wil put Iuda out of my presence also, euen as I haue put awaye Israel: and this cite which I haue chosen, wyl I cast out, namely, Ierusalem, & the house wherof I sayde: My name shalbe there. What more there is to saye of Iosias, and all that he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda.

In his tyme wēte Pharao Necho ye kynge of Egipte vp agaynst the kynge of Assyria by the water Euphrates. . Par. 35. a But kynge Iosias wente agaynst him, and dyed at Megiddo, whā he had sene him. And his seruauntes caried him deed frō Megiddo, & brought him to Ierusalē, & buryed him in his graue. And the people of the londe toke That is * Iechonias. Ioahas the sonne of Iosias, and anoynted him, and made him kynge in his fathers steade.

Thre & twentye yeare olde was Ioahas whā he was made kynge, & reigned thre monethes at Ierusalē. His mothers name was Hamutal ye doughter of Ieremia of Libna. And he dyd yt which was euell in ye sight of ye LORDE, euen as his fathers had done. But Pharao Necho toke him presoner of Reblatha in the londe of Hemath, yt he shulde not reigne at Ierusalem: & raysed a taxe vpō the londe, an hundreth talētes of siluer, & one talente of golde. And Pharao Necho made Eliachim ye sonne of Iosias kynge in his father Iosias steade, & turned his name Ioachim. Iere. 22. b But Ioahas toke he, & brought him in to Egipte where he dyed. And Ioachim gaue the siluer & golde vnto Pharao, yet taxed he the londe, yt he might geue ye syluer acordynge to Pharaos cōmaundement. Euery one amonge the people in ye londe taxed he after his abilite in siluer & golde, to geue it vnto Pharao. Fyue & twentye yeare olde was Ioachim whan he was made kynge, & reigned eleuen yeares at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Sebida ye doughter of Pedaia of Ruma, & he dyd euell in the sight of the LORDE, euen as his fathers had done.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

IN his tyme came vp Nabuchodonosor ye kynge of Babilon, & Ioachim was in subieccion vn to him iij. yeare. And he turned back, & rebelled agaynst him. And ye LORDE sent men of warre vpon him out of Chaldea, out of Syria, out of Moab, & frō amonge the childrē of Ammon, & caused thē for to come in to Iuda, to destroie it acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, which he spake by his seruauntes the prophetes. It fortuned euē so vnto Iuda, 4. Re. 23. acordynge to ye worde of the LORDE, that he wolde put them awaye from his presence, because of ye sinnes of Manasses which he dyd, & because of the innocent bloude that he shed. And he fylled Ierusalem with innocent, bloude, therfore wolde not the LORDE be reconcyled.

What more there is to saye of Ioachim, and all that he dyd, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Iuda. And Ioachim fell on slepe with his fathers. And Iere. 36. d Ioachim his sonne was kynge in his steade. And the kynge of Egipte came nomore out of his londe: for the kynge of Babilon had conquered all that was the kynge of Egiptes, from the ryuer of Egipte vnto ye water Euphrates. Eightene yeare olde was Ioachim whan he was made kynge, and reigned thre monethes at Ierusalē. His mothers name was Nebustha the doughter of Elnathan of Ierusalem. And he dyd euell in the sighte of the LORDE, euen as his father had done.

At the same tyme wente the seruauntes of Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon vp to Ierusalem, and came vpon the cyte with ordinaunce of warre. And whan Nabuchodonosor and his seruauntes came to the cite they layed sege vnto it. But Ioachim ye kynge of Iuda wente forth to the kynge of Babilon with his mother, with his seruauntes, with his rulers and chamberlaynes. And the kynge of Babilon receaued him in the eight yeare of his reigne.

4. Re. 20 c Esa. 29. b And he toke forth frō thence all the treasure in the house of the LORDE, and in ye kynges house, and brake all the golden vessell yt Salomon the kynge of Israel had made in the house of the LORDE (acordynge as the LORDE had sayde) and caryed awaye all Ierusalem, all the rulers, all the mightie men, euen ten thousande presoners, and all the carpenters, and all the smithes, and lefte none behynde but the poore people of the londe.

Deu. 28. d Ier. 24. a And he caryed Ioachim awaye vnto Babilon, and the kynges mother, the kinges wyues, and his chamberlaynes: and ye mightie men of the londe led he awaye presoners also from Ierusalem vnto Babilon, and seuen thousande of the best men, and a thousande carpenters and smythes, and all the stronge men of warre. Ier. 37. a And the kynge of Babilon made Matania his vncle kynge in his steade, and turned his name Sedechias.

Ier. 52. a One and twentye yeare olde was Sedechias, whan he was made kynge, and reigned eleuen yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Amithal the doughter of Ieremia of Libna. And he dyd euell in the sight of the LORDE, euē as Ioachim dyd: for thus fortuned it vnto Ierusalē thorow the wrath of the LORDE, tyll he had cast them out frō his presence. And Sedechias fell awaye frō the kynge of Babilon.

The XXV. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned, that in ye nyenth yeare of his reigne, vpon the tenth daye of the tenth moneth, 〈…〉 Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon came with all his power agaynst Ierusalem. And they laied sege vnto it, and buylded stronge holdes rounde aboute it. Thus was the cite beseged vnto the eleuenth yeare of kynge Sedechias. But on ye nyenth daye of the fourth moneth was the honger so stronge in the cite, 〈…〉 that the people of the londe had nothinge to eate. And the cite was broken vp, & all the men of warre fled in the night by the waye of the porte betwene the two walles, which goeth to the kynges gardē. But the Caldees laye aboute the cite. And he fled by the waye to the playne felde. Neuertheles the power of the Caldees folowed after the kynge, and toke him in the plaine felde of Iericho: and all the men of warre that were with him, were scatered abrode from him. And they toke the kynge, and led him vp to the kynge of Babilon vnto Reblatha. 〈…〉 And he gaue iudgmēt vpon him. And they slewe Ezechias children before his eyes, and put out Sedechias eies, and bounde him with cheynes, and caryed him vnto Babilon.

Vpon the seuenth daye of the fyfth monet, that is the ninetenth yeare of Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon, came Nabusaradan the chefe captayne the kynge of Babilons seruaunt, vnto Ierusalem, and brent ye house of the LORDE, and the kynges house, & all the houses at Ierusalem, and all the greate houses brent he with fyre. And all the power of the Caldees which was with the chefe captayne, brake downe the walles rounde aboute Ierusalem. As for the other people that yet were lefte in the cite, and were fallē vnto the kinge of Babilon, and the other comen people, Nabusaradan the chefe captayne caryed them awaye. And of the poorest people dyd the chefe captaine leaue in ye londe to be wynegardeners and plowmen.

But the brasen pilers in the house of the LORDE, and the seates, and the brasen lauer that was in the house of the LORDE, dyd ye Caldees breake downe, and caried the metall vnto Babilon. And the pottes, shouels, fleshokes, spones, & all ye brasen vessell that was occupied in the seruyce, caried they awaye. And ye chefe captayne toke awaye ye censors and basens yt were of golde and syluer, two pilers, one lauer, and the seates yt Salomon had made for ye house of the LORDE. The metall of all these ornamentes coulde not be weyed. 〈◊〉 7. b Eightene cubytes hye was one piler, and ye knoppe theron was of brasse also, & thre cubytes hye: & the rope and the pomgranates vpon the knoppe rounde aboute, were all of brasse. After the same maner was the other piler also with the rope.

And the chefe captayne toke Seraia the prest of the first course, & Sophony the prest of the seconde course, and thre dorekepers, and one chamberlayne out of the cite, which was appoynted ouer ye men of warre: and fyue men that were euer before the kynge, which were founde in the cite: and Sophar the captayne, which taught the people of ye londe to fighte: and thre score men of ye people of the londe, that were founde in the cite: these dyd Nabusaradan ye chefe captayne take, and broughte them to the kynge of Babilon vnto Reblatha. And the kynge of Babilon slewe them at Reblatha in ye londe of Hemath. Thus was Iuda caried awaye out of his awne londe. 〈◊〉 2. b But ouer the remnaunt of the people in the londe of Iuda, whom Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon lefte behynde, he set Godolias ye sonne of Ahicam ye sonne of Saphan. Now whā all the captaynes of the soudyers, & the men herde, that the kynge of Babilon had made Godolias gouernoure, they came to Godolias vnto 〈…〉 Mispa, namely, Ismael ye sonne of Nathanias, & Iohanna ye sonne Carea, & Seraia ye sonne of Tanhometh the Netophatite, & Iesanias ye sonne of Maechati wt their men. And Godolias sware vnto them & to their men, & sayde vnto them: 〈◊〉 4 . c Feare not ye ye officers of the Caldees, tary in the londe, & submytte youre selues vnto the kynge of Babilon, & ye shal prospere. 〈◊〉 . 41. a But in the seuēth moneth came Ismael the sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Elisama (of the kynges kynred) and ten men with him, and slewe Godolias, and the Iewes and Caldees that were with him at Mispa. Then all the people gat them vp, both small and greate, and the captaynes of the hoost, and came in to Egipte, for they were afrayed of ye Caldees.

Howbeit in the seuen and thirtieth yeare after that Ioachim the kynge of Iuda was caried awaye on the seuen and twenty daye of the twolueth moneth, Euilmerodach the kynge of Babilon in the first yeare of his reigne, lifte vp the heade of Ioachim ye kynge of Iuda out of preson, and spake louyngly vnto him, and set his trone aboue ye trones of ye kynges that were with him at Babilon, and chaunged the clothes of his captiuyte. And he ate allwaye before him as longe as he lyued. And he appoynted him his porcion, which was euer geuē him daylie of the kynge, as longe as he lyued.

The ende of the fourth boke of the kynges.
The first boke of the Cronicles, called Paralipomenon. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I.II. A rehearsynge of the generacions. Chap. III. Of Dauid and his sonnes. Chap. IIII. A register of the children of Iuda. Chap. V. A register of the childrē of Simeō. Chap. VI. A register of the Rubenites. Chap. VII. A register of the children of Leui. Chap. VIII. Of the children of Isachar & Ben Iamin. Chap. IX. Of the trybe of Ben Iamin. Chap. X. The nombre of the Israelites, that were caried awaye vnto Babilon. Chap. XI. The battayll of the Philistynes agaynst Saul and his sonnes. Chap. XII. How Dauid was anoynted kynge, and of his kyngdome. Chap. XIII. Of Dauids worthy men of warre, which came vnto him out of all the trybes. Chap. XIIII. How the other trybes were called, and how they fetched awaye the Arke. Chap. XV. Hiram sendeth tymber vnto Dauid. Of Dauids wyues. He ouercommeth the Philistynes. Chap. XVI. Dauid appoynteth the Leuites to beare the Arke. Chap. XVII. The Arke is set in the Tabernacle, with sacrifice and thankesgeuynge. Chap. XVIII. God forbyddeth Dauid to buylde the temple. Chap. XIX. Dauid subdueth the enemies on euery syde. Chap. XX. Hanun the kynge of Amon dealeth shamefully with Dauid seruaūtes, that come to comforte him. Chap. XXI. Of certaine batels which Dauid winneth with worshipe. Chap. XXII. Dauid nombreth the people, and displeaseth the LORDE, which punysheth the people for his sake. Chap. XXIII. Dauid prepareth tymber and stone, golde & syluer for the buyldinge of the tēple. Chap. XXIIII.XXV. Dauid in his age before his death, appoynteth the offices in the house of God. Chap. XXVI. The office of the children of Asaph, Heman, and Iedithun. Chap. XXVII The office of the porters. Chap. XXVIII. The office of the captaynes amonge the trybes. Chap. XXIX. The wordes of Dauid to the captaynes, to the people and to Salomon. Chap. XXX. How Dauid talketh of buyldīge the temple, and what the prynces geue ther to.
The first Chapter.

ADam, Seth, Enos, Kenan, Gene 5. a Mahalaleel, Iared, Henoch, Mathusalah, Lamech, Noe, Sem, Ham & Iaphet.

Gen 10. a The childrē of Iaphet are these: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Iauan, Tubal, Mesech and Thiras. The children of Gomer are these: Ascenas, Riphat Togarma. The children of Iauan are these: Elisa, Tharsisa, Chitim and Dodanim.

The childrē of Ham are these: Chus, Misraim, Phut & Canaan. The children of Chus are these: Seba, Heuila, Sabtha, Reyma & Sabthecha. The childrē of Reyma are these: Sheba & Dedan. Chus, begat Nemr •• , yt beganne to be mighty vpon earthe. Misraim begat Ludim, Enanim, Lehabim, Napthuhim, Pathrusim, and Casluhim: of whom came the Philistynes and Caphthorims. Canaan begat Sidon his first sonne: Heth, Iebusi, Amori, Girgosi, Heui, Arki, Sim, Aruadi, Zemari and Hemathi.

The childrē of Sem are these: Elam, Assur, Arphachsad, Lud, Aram, Vz, Hul, Gether & Masech. Arphachsad begat Salah. Salah begat Eber. Vnto Eber there were borne two sonnes: the name of the one was Peleg, because that in his tyme the worlde was deuyded, and his brothers name was Iaketan. And Iaketā begat Almodad, Saleph, Hazarmaphet, Iarah, Hadorā, Vsal, Dikela, Ebal, Abimael, Seba, Ophir, Heuila and Iobab. These all are the children of Iakethan.

Gene 11. b Sem, Arphachsad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Regu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abram, that is Abraham. The children of Abraham are these: Isaac and Ismael. This is their generacion: Gen. 25. b The first sonne of Ismael: Nebaioth, Cedar, Abdeel, Mibsam, Misma, Duma, Masa, Hadad, Thema, Iethur, Naphis & Kedma. These are the children of Ismael.

The children which Ketura Abrahams cōcubyne bare, are these: Simram, Iaks •• Medan, Midian, Ieszbak and Suah. The children of Iaksan are these: Seba and Dedan. And the childrē of Midian are: Eph Epher, Henoch, Abida and Eldaa. All thee are the childrē of Ketura. Abraham beg •• Isaac. The children of Isaac are: Esau 〈◊〉 Israel. * The children of Esau are: Eliph Reguel, Ieus, Iaelam, Korah. The chi dren of Eliphas are, Theman, Omar, Zep •• Gaethan, Kenas, Thimna & Amalek. The children of Reguel are: Nahath, Serah, Samma and Misa.

〈…〉 The children of Seir are: Lothan, Sobal, Zibeon, Ana, Dison, Ezer, Disan. The children of Lothan are: Hori and Hom •• and Thimna was the sister of Lothan. The children of Sobalare: Aluan, Manahath Ebal, Sephi, Onam. The children of Zibeon are: Aia and Ana. The childrē of Ana, Dison. The children of Dison are: Hamran, Eszban, Iethran and Charan. The children of Ezer are: Bilhan, Se uan & Acan. The children of Disan are: Vz and Aran.

These are the kynges which reigned is the lōde of Edom, or euer there reigned eny kynge amonge the children of Israel: Bel the sonne of Beor, and the name of his cite was Dinhaba. And whan Bela dyed, Iobab the sonne of Serah of Bosra was kynge in his steade. And whan Iobab dyed, H sam out of ye londe of the Themanites was kynge in his steade.

Whan Husam dyed, Hadad the sonne of Bedad (which smote the Madianites in the felde of ye Moabites) was kynge in his steade, & the name of his cite was Auith. Whan Hadad dyed, Samla of Masrek was kynge in his steade. Whan Samla dyed, Saul of Rehobeth by the water syde, was kynge in his steade. Whan Saul dyed, Baal Hauan the sonne of Achbor was kynge in his steade. Whan Baal Hauan dyed, Hadad was kynge in his steade, and the name of his cite was Pagi, & his wyues name was Mehetabeel the doughter of Matred, & doughter of Mesahab.

But whan Hadad dyed, there were prynces at Edom: Prynce Thimnah, prynce Alua, prynce Ietheth, prynce Ahalibama, prynce Ela, prynce Pinon, prynce Kenas prynce Theman, prynce Mibzar, prynce Magdiel, prynce Iram. These are the prynces of Edom.

The II. Chapter.

THese are the children of Israel: Ruben, Simeon, Leui, Iuda, Isachar, Zabulon, Dan, Ioseph, Bē Iamin, Nephtali, Gad & Aser. 〈…〉 The childrē of Iuda: Er, Onan & Sela: these thre were borne vnto him of ye doughter Sua ye Cananitisse. Howbeit ye first sonne of Iuda was wicked before ye LORDE, & therfore he slewe him. But 〈…〉 Thamar his sonnes wife bare him Phares & Zarah, so yt all ye childrē of Iuda were fyue.

〈◊〉 4. d The childrē of Phares are, Hesrom and Hamuel. The childrē of Zarah are, Simri, Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, Dara, which all are fyue in nombre. The childrē of Charmi are, 〈…〉 Achan, which troubled Israel, whā he synned in the thinge that was damned. The children of Ethan: Asaria.

The children which were borne vnto Hesrom, are: Raia, Thalubai. 〈…〉 Ram begat Aminadab. Aminadab begat Naasson the prynce of the children of Iuda. Naasson begat Salmon. Salmon begat Boos. Boos begat Obed. Obed begat Isai. 〈…〉 Isai begat Eliab his first sonne, Abinadab the seconde, Samma the thirde, Nathanael the fourth, Raddai ye fifth, Ozem ye sixte, Dauid ye vij. And their sisters were Zeruia & Abigail.

The childrē of Zeruia are these thre: Abisai, Ioab & Asahel. Abigail begat Amasa. 〈…〉 The father of Amasa was Iether an Ismaelite.

Caleb the sonne of Hesrom begat Asuba ye woman, & Ierigoth. And these are the same womans childrē: Ieser, Sobab, and Ardon. But whā Asuba dyed, Caleb toke Ephrat, which bare him Hur. 〈…〉 Hur begat Vri. Vri begat Bezaleel.

Afterwarde laye Hesrom with ye doughter of Machir the father of Gilead, & he toke her whā he was thre score yeare olde, and she bare him Segub. Segub begat Iair, which had thre & twentye cities in the londe of Gilead. And he toke out of the same Iesur and Aram the townes of Iair, and Kenath with the vyllages therof, thre score cities. All these are the children of Machir ye father of Gilead. After ye death of Hesrom in Caleb Ephrata, lefte Hesrom his wife vnto Abia: which (wife) bare him 〈…〉 Ashur ye father of Thecoa.

Ierahmeel the first sonne of Hesrom had children: the first Ram, Buna, Oren and Ozem and Ahia. And Ierahmeel had yet another wife, whose name was Athara, she is ye mother of Onam. The childrē of Ram the first sonne of Ierahmeel are, Maaz, Iamin and Eker.

Onam had children: Samai and Iada. The children of Samai are, Nadab & Abisur. Abisurs wife was called Abihail, which bare him Ahban and Molid. The childrē of Nadab are, Seled and Appaim. And Seled dyed without children. The children of Appaim: Iesei. The children of Iesei: Sesan. The childrē of Sesan: Ahelai. The childrē of Iada ye brother of Samai are, Iether & Ionathan. But Iether dyed without childrē. The children of Ionathan are, Peleth and Sasa: These are the children of Ierahmeel. As for Sesan, he had no sones, but a doughter. And Sesan had a seruaūt an Egipcian, whose name was Iatha. And Sesan gaue his doughter vnto Iatha his seruaūt to wife, which bare him Athai. Athai begat Nathan. Nathan begat Sabad. Sabad begat Ephal. Ephal begat Obed. Obed begat Iehu. Iehu begat Asaria. Asaria begat Halez. Halez begat Elleasa. Elleasa begat Sissemai. Sissemai begat Sallum. Sallum begat Iekamia. Iekamia begat Elisama.

The children of Caleb the brother of Ierahmeel are, Mesa his first sonne, which is the father of 1. Re. 23. Siph, and of the children of Maresa the father of Hebron.

The children of Hebron are, Corah, Thapuah, Rekem, & Sama. Sama begat Raham ye father of Iarkaam. Rekem begat Samai. The sonne of Samai was called Maon, & Maon was ye father of Bethzur.

Epha Calebs concubyne bare Haram, Mosa & Gases. Haram begat Gases. The childrē of Iahdai are, Rekem, Iotham, Gesan, Pelet, Epha and Saaph. Maecha Calebs concubyne bare Seber and Thirhena. And she bare Saaph also ye father of Madmanna, and Scheua the father of Machbena, and the father of Gibea. But Iosu. 15. d Iud. 1. c Achsa was Calebs doughter.

These were the children of Caleb: Hur ye first sonne of Ephrata, Sobal the father of Kiriath Iearim, Salma ye father of Bethleem, Hareph ye father of Beth Sader. And Sobal the father of Kiriath Iearim had sonnes, namely the halfe kynred of Manuhoth.

The kynreds at Kiriath Iearim were ye Iethites, Puthites, Sumathites & Misraites. From these came forth the Zaregathites & Esthaolites. The children of Salma are Bethleem & the Netophathites the crowne of the house of Ioab, and the halfe of the Manahites of the Zareite. And ye kynreds of the scrybes which dwelt at Iabes, are ye Thireathites, Simeathites, Suchothites, Iud. 1. d. these are the Kenites, yt came of Hamath the father of Beth Rechab.

The III. Chapter.

THese are the childrē of Dauid, which were borne vnto him in Hebron. Reg . a The first sonne, Amnon of Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse: the seconde, Daniel of Abigail the Carmelitisse: the thirde, Absalom ye sonne of Maecha ye doughter of Thalmai kynge of Gesur: the fourth, Adonias the sonne of Hagith: the fifth, Saphathia of Abital: the sixte, Iethream of his wife Egla. These sixe were borne vnto him at Hebron, for he reigned there vij. yeare & sixe monethes. But at Ierusalē reigned he thre & thirtie yeare.

Reg. . c And these were borne vnto him at Ierusalem: Simea, Sobab, Nathan, Re. 12. c Salomō: these foure of Bethseba ye doughter of Ammiel. And Iebear, Elisama, Eliphalet, Noga, Nepheg, Iapia, Elisama, Eliada, Eliphelet, these nyne. These all are ye children of Dauid, besyde those yt were the childrē of ye cōcubynes. Re. 13. a And Thamar was their sister.

Salomons sonne was Roboam, whose sonne was Abia, Iat. 1. a whose sonne was Asa, who sonne was Iosaphat, whose sonne was Ioram, whose sonne was Ahasia, whose sonne was Ioas, whose sonne was Amasias, whose sonne was Asaria, whose sonne was Iotham, whose sonne was Achas, whose sonne was Ezechias, whose sonne was Manasses, whose sonne was Amon, whose sonne was Iosias. The sonnes of Iosias were: ye first, Iohanna: the seconde, Ioachim: the thirde, Sedechias: the fourth, Sallum. The childrē of Ioachim were, Iechonias, whose sonne was Sedechias.

The childrē of Iechonias which were takē presoners, were att. 1. b Selathiel, Malchiram, Phadaia, Semeazar, Iekamia, Hosanna, Nedabia. The childrē of Phadaia were: Zorobabel & Simei. The childrē of Zorobabel were: Mesullam & Hanania, & their sister Selomith, and Hasuba, Ohel, Barachias, Hasadia, Iusab Hases, these fyue. The children of Hanania were: Platia & Iesaia, whose sonne was Rephaia, whose sonne was Arnan, whose sonne was Obedia, whose sonne was Sachania. The children of Sachania were: Semaia. The children of Semaia were: Hatus, Iegeal, Bariah, Nearia, Saphat & Sesa, these sixe. The children of Nearia were: Elioenai, Ezechias & Asrikā, these thre. The childrē of Elioenai were: Hodaia, Eliasib, Platia, Akub, Iohanna, Delaia and Anani, these seuen.

The IIII. Chapter.

THe children of Iuda were: Phares, Hesrom, Gen. 8. a Charmi, Hur & Sobal. Rehoia the sonne of Sobal begat Iahath. Iahath begat Ahumai and Lahad. These are the kynreds of the Zaregathites, Elle ye father of Ethā, Iesreel, Iesma, Iedbas and their sister was called Hazelelponi: and Penuel the father of Gedor, & Eser the father of Husa. These are the children of Hur the first sonne of Ephrata ye father of Bethleem.

〈…〉 Ashur ye father of Thecoa had two wyues, Hellea & Naera: and Naera bare Ahusam, Hepher, Thennu, & Ahastari: these are the childrē of Naera. The childrē of Hellea were: Zereth, Iezohar and Ethnan. Chos begat Anub and Hazobeba, and the kynred of Aharhel the sonne of Harum. Iaebes was more honorable then his brethrē, and his mother called him Iaebes, for she sayde: I haue borne him with trouble.

And Iaebes called vpon the God of Israel, & sayde: 〈…〉 Yf thou wilt blesse me, and increase the borders of my londe, & yf thy hande be with me, & thou delyuer me from euell, yt it trouble me not. And God caused it for to come that he axed.

Chalub the bro her of Suah begat Mehir: he is the father of Esthon. Esthon begat Bethrapha, Passeah, and Thehinna ye father of the cite of Nahas: these are the men of Recha. The children of Kenas were: Athniel and Saraia. The childrē of Athniel were, Hathath.

And Meonothai begat Aphra. And Saraia begat Ioab the father of Geharasim: for they were carpenters. The childrē of Caleb the sonne of Iephune were: Iru, Ela & Naam. The children of Ela were: Kenas. The children of Iehaleleel were: Siph, Sipha, Thiria, & Asarieel. The childrē of Esra were: Iether, Mered, Epher & Ialon, & Thahar with Miriam, Samai, Ieszbah the father of Esthemoa, & his wife Iudi Ia bare Iered the father of Geder, Heber the father of Socho, Iekuthiel ye father of Sanoah: these are the children of Bithia the doughter of Pharao, which Mar d toke.

The childrē of the wife Hodia the sister of Naham ye father of Regila, were, Hagarmi & Esthomoa the Maechathite.

The children of Simon were: Amnon, Rimna & Benhanan, Thiflon. The children of Iesei were: Soheth, and Ben Soheth.

The childrē of Sela ye sonne of Iuda were: Er, ye father of Lecha. Laeda the father of Maresa, & the kynred of ye lynnen weuers in ye house of Aszbea: & Iokim, & the men of Cosebo, Ioas & Seraph, which were housholders in Moab, and dwelt at Lahem and Hadebarim Athikim. These were potmakers, and dwelt amōge plantes and hedges, besyde the kynge in his busynes, and came & dwelt there.

The V. Chapter,

THe children of Simeon were Nemuel, 〈…〉 Iamin, Iarib, Serah, Saul: whose sonne was Sallum, whose sonne was Mipsam, whose sōne was Misma. The childrē of Misma were, Hamuel, whose sonne was Sachur, whose sonne was Simei. Simei had sixtene sonnes and sixe doughters, and his brethren had not many childrē. And all their kynred multiplied not as the children of Iuda. But 〈◊〉 . 19. a they dwelt at Berseba, Molada, Hazar Sual, Bilha, Ezem, Tholad, Bethuel, Harma, Ziclag, Beth Marchaboth, Hazarsussim, Beth Birei, and Saraim: these were their cities vntyll ye tyme of kynge Dauid. And their townes, Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, Asan, these fyue cities, & all the vyllages that were aboute these cities, vntyll Baal, this is their habitacion and their kynred amonge them.

And Mesobab, Iamlech, Iosa the sonne of Amasia, Ioel, Iehu the sonne of Ieschibia, the sonne of Seraia, the sonne of Asiel, Elioenai, Iaecoba, Iesohaia, Asaia, Adiel, Ismael and Benaia. Sisa the sonne of Siphei, ye sonne of Alon, the sonne of Iedaia, the sonne of Simri, the sonne of Semaia. These were famous prynces in their kynreds of the house of their fathers, and multiplied in nombre.

And they wente forth, that they might come vnto Gedor to the east syde of the valley, to seke pasture for their shepe. And founde fat and good pasture, and a londe large on both the sydes, quyete and riche: for they of Ham dwelt there afore tyme.

And these that are now descrybed by name, came in the tyme of Ezechias the kynge of Iuda, and smote the tentes and dwellinges of those that were founde there, and damned them vnto this daye, and dwelt in their steade, for there had they pasture for their shepe.

There wente of them also (of the children of Simeon) fyue hundreth men vnto mount Seir, with their rulers: Platia, Nearia, Rephaia and Vsiel, the children of Iesei, and smote the remnaunt of the Amalechites (which were escaped) and dwelt there vnto this daye.

The VI. Chapter.

THe children of Ruben the first sonne of Israel: for he was the first sonne, but Gen. 49. Exo. 6. b Nu. 26. a because he defyled his fathers bed, therfore was his first byrthrighte geuen vnto the children of Ioseph the sonne of Israel, & he was not rekened to ye first byrthrighte: for vnto Iuda which was mightie amonge his brethren, was geuen the pryncipalite before him, and the first byrthrighte vnto Ioseph. The children now of Ruben the first sonne of Israel are these: Hanoch, Pallu, Hesron and Charmi.

The childrē of Iohel were, Semaia, whose sonne was Gog, whose sonne was Semei, whose sonne was Micha, whose sonne was Reaia, whose sonne was Baal, whose sonne was Beera, 4. Re. 15 whom Teglatphalasser the kynge of Assiria caried awaye presoner. He was a prynce amonge the Rubenites. But his brethren amonge his kynreds (whā they were rekened amonge their generacion) had Ieiel and Sacharia to their heades.

And Bela the sonne of Asan the sonne of Sema, the sonne of Ioel, Iosu. 13. c dwelt at Aroer, and vntyll Nebo & Baal Meon. And dwelt towarde ye East, as one cōmeth to the wyldernes by ye water Euphrates: Nu. 32. a for their catell were many in the londe of Gilead.

And in ye tyme of Saul they foughte agaynst ye Agarites, which fell thorow their hande, and they dwelt in their tentes towarde all the East parte of Gilead.

But the children of Gad dwelt ouer agaynst them in ye countre of Basan, vntyll Salcha. Ioel the chefest, and Sapham the secōde, Iaenai and Saphat at Basan. And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, Mesullam, Seba, Iorai, Iaecan, Sia and Eber, these seuen.

These are the children of Abihail the sonne of Huri, the sonne of Iaroah, the sonne of Gilead, the sonne of Michael, the sonne of Iesisai, ye sonne of Iahdo, the sonne of Bus. Ahi the sonne of Abdiel, the sonne of Guni was a ruler in ye house of their fathers, and they dwelt at Gilead in Basan, and in ye vyllages therof, and in all the suburbes of Saron, vnto the vttemost partes therof. All these were rekened in the tyme of Iotham the kynge of Iuda, and of Ieroboam the kynge of Israel.

The children of Ruben, the Gaddites & the halfe trybe of Manasses (of soch as were fightinge men, which wayre shylde & swerde, and coulde bende the bowe, and were men of armes) were foure and fortye thousande and seuen hundreth and thre score, that wente forth to ye warre. And whan they foughte agaynst ye Agarites, Ietur, Naphes and Nodab helped them, and delyuered ye Agarites in to their handes, and all that was wt them: for they cried vnto God in ye batayll. And he herde them, because they put their trust in him. And they caried awaie their catell, fyue thousande Camels, two hundreth & fyftie thousande shepe, two thousande Asses, and an hūdreth thousande soules of men. For there were many wounded, for why? the battayll was of God. And they dwelt in their steade, vntyll the tyme that they were caried awaye presoners.

The childrē of the halfe trybe of Manasses dwelt in ye londe Iosu. 1 . d from Basan forth vntyll Baal Hermon & Seuir, and mount Hermon: for they were many. And these were ye heades of the house of their fathers, Epher, Iesei, Eliel, Asriel, Ieremia, Hodaneia, Iahdiel, mightie valeaunt men, & awncient heades in the house of their fathers.

. Re. 1 . d And whā they synned agaynst ye God of their fathers, and wente awhorynge after the goddes of the people of the londe, (whom God had destroyed before them) the God of Israel stered vp the sprete of Phul the kynge of Assiria, and the sprete of Teglatphalassar the kynge of Assiria, and led awaye the Rubenites, Gaddites, and ye halfe trybe of Manasses, and broughte thē vn Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the water of Gosan vnto this daye.

The VII. Chapter.

THe children of Leui were, Gerson, Kahath and Merari. en. 46. b The childrē of Kahath were, Amram, Iezeher, Hebron and Vsiel. The children of Amram were, Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The children of Aarō were, Nadab, Abihu, Eleasar and Ithamar. Eleasar begat Phineas. Phineas begat Abisua. Abisua begat Buki. Buki begat Vsi. Vsi begat Serahia. Serahia begat Meraioth. Meraioth begat Amaria. Amaria begat Achitob. Achitob begat Sadoc. Sadoc begat Ahimaas. Ahimaas begat Asaria. Asaria begat Iohanan. Iohanā begat . Par. 26. c Asaria: for he was prest in the house yt Salomon buylded at Ierusalem. Asaria begat Amaria. Amaria begat Achitob. Achitob begat Zadock. Zadock begat Sallum. Sallum begat . Re. 22. b Helchias. Helchias begat Asaria. Asaria begat . Re. 25. c Seraia. Seraia begat Iosedec. But Iosedec was caried awaie whā the LORDE caused Iuda & Ierusalē to be led awaye captyue by Nabuchodonosor.

The children of Leui are these: Gerson, Kahath and Merari. These are the names of the children of Gerson: Libni and Semei. The names of the childrē of Kahat are these: Amram, Iezohar, Hebron and Vsiel. The names of the children of Merari are: Maheli and Musi. These are the kynreds of the Leuites amonge their housholdes.

Gersons sonne was Libni, whose sonne was Iahath, whose sonne was Sima, whose sonne was Ioah, whose sonne was Iddo, whose sonne was Serah, whose sonne was Ieathrai. Kahats sonne was Aminadab, whose sonne was Corah, whose sonne was Assir, whose sonne was Elcana, whose sonne was Abiasaph, whose sonne was Assir, whose sonne was Thahath, whose sonne was Vriel, whose sonne was Vsia, whose sonne was

The childrē of Elkana were, Ama (Saul. sai & Ahimoth, whose sonne was Elkana, whose sonne was Elkana of Zuph, whose sonne was Nahath, whose sonne was Eliab, whose sonne was Ieroham, whose sonne was Elkana, whose sonne was Samuel. Whose first borne sonnes were Seni and Abija.

Meraris sonne was Maheli, whose sonne was Libni, whose sonne was Simei, whose sonne was Vsa, whose sōne was Simea, whose sōne was Haggia, whose sōne was Asaia.

These are they whom Dauid appoynted to synge in the house of the LORDE, where the Arke rested, & they mynistred before the habitacion of the Tabernacle of witnes wt synginge, vntyll Salomon had buylded the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem, and they stode after their maner in their office. And these are they yt stode & their children. Of ye children of Kahath was Heman ye synger, the sonne of Ioel, the sonne of Samuel, the sonne of Elkana, the sonne of Ieroham, ye sonne of Eliel, the sonne of Thoah, the sonne of Zuph, the sonne of Elkana, the sonne of Mahath, the sonne of Amasai, the sonne of Elkana, the sonne of Iohel, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne of Sophonias, the sonne of Thahath, the sonne of Assir, the sonne of Abijasaph, the sonne of Corah, the sonne of Iezehar, the sonne of Kahath, the sonne of Leui, the sonne of Israel.

And his brother Assaph stode at his righte hande, and Assaph was the sonne of Barachia, the sonne of Simea, the sonne of Michael, ye sonne of Maeseia, the sonne of Malchija, the sonne of Athin, ye sonne of Serah, the sonne of Adaia, the sonne of Ethan, the sonne of Sima, the sonne of Simei, the sonne of Iahath, the sonne of Gerson, the sonne of Leui.

Their brethren the childrē of Merari, stode on the lefte hande, namely, Ethan the sonne of Kusi, the sonne of Abdi, the sonne of Malluch, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Amazia, the sonne of Helchia, ye sonne of Amzi, the sonne of Bani, the sonne of Samer, the sonne of Maheli, the sonne of Musi, the sonne of Merari, the sonne of Leui.

As for their brethrē the Leuites, they were geuen to all the offices in the habitacion of the house of the LORDE: but the office of Aaron and his sonnes was to kyndle the fyre vpon the altare of burnt offerynges, and vpon the altare of incense, and to all the busynes in the most holy, and to make attonement for the people, acordinge as Moses ye seruaunt of God commaunded.

These are the children of Aaron: Eleasar his sonne, whose sonne was Phineas, whose sonne was Abisua, whose sonne was Buki, whose sonne was Vsi, whose sonne was Serahia, whose sonne was Meraioth, whose sonne was Amaria, whose sonne was Achitob, whose sonne was Sadoc, whose sonne was Ahimaas.

And this is their habitacion and rowme in their borders, namely of Aarons children of the kynred of ye Kahathites: for this lot fell vnto them. 〈◊〉 . 14. d 〈◊〉 1. b And they gaue thē Hebron in the londe of Iuda, & the suburbes of the same rounde aboute. But the felde of ye cite & the vyllages therof, gaue they vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephune. Thus gaue they vnto the children of Aaron these fre cities, Hebron & Libna with their suburbes, Iather, & Esthemoa, Hilen, Debir, Asan and Bethsemes, with their suburbes. And out of the trybe of Ben Iamin, Geba, Alemeth and Anathot wt their suburbes, so yt all the cities in their kinred were thirtene. The other childrē of Kahath of their kynred, had out of ye halfe trybe of Manasses, ten cities by lot. The children of Gerson of their kynred, had out of ye trybe of Isachar, & out of the trybe of Asser, & out of the trybe of Nephtali, & out of the trybe of Manasses in Basan, thirtene cities. The childrē of Merari of their kynred, had by lot out of the trybe of Ruben, & out of the trybe of Gad, and out of the trybe of Zabulon, twolue cities.

And vnto ye Leuites gaue the childrē of Israel cities with their suburbes, namely by lot, out the trybe of the children of Iuda, & out of the trybe of the childrē of Simeon, & out of the trybe of the children of Ben Iamin, euen those cities, which they appoynted by name. 〈◊〉 . 1. c But the kynreds of the children of Kahath had the cities of their borders out of the trybe of Ephraim.

So gaue they now vnto thē (namely vnto the kynred of the children of Kahath) ye fre cities, Sichem vpon mount Ephraim, Geser, Iakmeam, Bethoron, Aialon, and Gath Rimon with their suburbes. And out of ye halfe trybe of Manasses, Aner and Bileam with their suburbes. But vnto the children of Gerson they gaue out of the kynred of the halfe trybe of Manasses, Golā in Basan and Astharoth with their suburbes. Out of the trybe of Isachar, Kedes, Dabrath Ramoth, and Anem with their suburbes. Out of the trybe of Asser, Masal, Abdō, Hikoh and Sehob, with their suburbes. Out of the trybe of Nephtali, Kedes in Galile, Hā mon and Kiriathaim with their suburbes. Vnto the other children of Merari gaue they out of the trybe of Zabulon, Rimano and Thabor with their suburbes. And beyō de Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho eastwarde besyde Iordane out of the trybe of Ruben, Bezer in the wildernes, Iahza, Kedemoth and Mepaath with their suburbes. Out of the trybe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heszbon and Iaeser with their suburbes.

The VIII. Chapter.

THe children of Isachar were, Thola, Pua, Iasub and Simrom, these foure. The children of Thola were, Vsi, Rephaia, Ieriel, Iahemai and Iebsam and Samuel, heades in the house of their fathers of Thola, & mightie men in their kynred, 2. Re. •• . in nombre in the tyme of Dauid, two and twentye thousande and sixe hundreth. The children of Vsi were, Iesrahia. The children of Iesrahia were, Michael, and Obedia, Ioel and Iesia: all these fyue were heades. And with them amonge their kynred in the house of their fathers there were ready harnessed men of warre to the battayll, sixe and thirtie thousande: for they had many wiues and children. And the mightie men of their brethren in all the kynreds of Isachar, were seuē and foure score thousande, and were all nombred.

The children of Ben Iamin, were, Bela, Becher, and Iedieel, these thre. The children of Bela, were, Ezbon, Vsi, Vsiel, Ieremoth & Iri, these fyue, heades in ye house of their fathers, mightie men: and were nombred two & twentie thousande and foure and thyrtie.

The childrē of Becher were, Semira, Ioas Elieser, Elioenai, Amri, Ieremoth, Abia, Anathot & Alameh, all these were the children of Becher, and were rekened in their kinreds after the heades in the house of their fathers, valeaunt men, twentie thousande, and two hundreth. The children of Iedieel were Bilhan. The childrē of Bilhan were, Ieus, Ben Iamin, Ehud, Cnaena, Sethan, Tharsis and Ahisahar, all these were the children of Iedieel, heades of the fathers, valeaunt men, euen seuentene thousande, which wente forth to the warre for to fighte. And Supim and Hupim were the childrē of Ir. But Husim were the children of Aher.

The children of Nephtali were: Iahziel, Guni, Iezer and Sallum, Gen. 30. b the children of Bilha.

The children of Manasses are these: Esriel, whom his concubyne Aramiel dyd beare. osu. 17. a But (first) begat he Machir the father of Gilead. And Machir gaue wyues vnto Hupim & Supim, & their sisters name was Maecha. His secōde sonnes name was Zelaphehad. Num. 26 d 7. a. 36. a And Zelaphehad had doughters. And Maecha ye wife of Machir bare a sonne whose name was Phares, & his brothers name was Sares, and his sonnes were Vlam and Rakem. Vlams sonne was Bedam. These are the children of Gilead ye sonne of Machir the sonne of Manasses. And his sister Molecheth bare Ishud, Abieser and Mahela. And Semida had these children: Ahean, Sichem, Likhi and Aniam.

The children of Ephraim were these: Suthelah, whose sonne was Bered, whose sonne was Thahath, whose sonne was Eleada, whose sonne was Thahath, whose sonne was Sabad, whose sonne was Suthelah, whose sonne was Eser and Elead. And the men of Gath, that dwelt in the londe, slewe them, because they were gone downe to take their catell. And their father Ephraim mourned for them a longe season, and his brethren came to comforte him.

And he wente in to his wife, which conceaued, and bare a sonne, whom he called Bria, because of the aduersite that was in his house. His doughter was Seera, which builded the lower and vpper Bethoron, & Vsen Serea. Whose sonne was Rephad & Reseph, whose sonne was Thelah, whose sonne was Thahan, whose sonne was Laedan, whose sonne was Ammihud, whose sonne was Elisama, whose sonne was Nun, whose sonne was Iosua.

And their substaunce & dwellynge was, Bethel and the vyllages therof, and towarde the East syde of Naeran, and towarde the westparte of Geser and ye vyllages therof. Sechem and hir vyllages vnto Aia and hir vyllages. And by the children of Manasses, Bethsean and ye vyllages therof, That nach and the vyllages therof, Dor and the vyllages therof. In these dwelt the children of Ioseph the sonne of Israel.

The children of Asser were these: Iemna, Iesua, Iesui, Bria and Serah their sister. The children of Bria were, Heber and Malchiel, this is ye father of Birsauith. Heber begat Iaphet, Somor, Hothan, and Sua their sister. The childrē of Iaphlet were, Passach, Bimehal and Asuath, these were the childrē of Iaphlet. The childrē of Somer were Ahi, Rahag, Iehuba, and Aram. And the children of his brother Helē were, Zophah, Iemna, Seles and Amal. The children of Zophah were, Suah, Harnepher, Sual, Beri, Iemra, Bezer, Hod, Sama, Silsa, Iethran and Beera. The children of Iether were, Iephune, Phispa and Ara. The children of Vlla were Arah, Haniel and Rizia.

All these were the children of Asser, heades in the house of their fathers, chosen out, valeaunt men, and heades amonge the prynces, and were mustered to the warre for to fight, in their nombre, sixe and twentye thousande men.

The IX. Chapter.

BEn Iamin begat Bela his fyrst sonne, Aszbal the secōde, Ahrah ye thirde, Noah the fourth, Rapha the fyfth. And Bela had children: Gera, Abihud, Abisua, Neman, Ahoah, Gera, Sphuphan and Huram.

These are Ehuds children, which were heades of the fathers amonge the citesyns at Geba, and wēte awaye vnto Manahath, namely Naeman, Ahia and Gera, the same caryed them awaye, and begat Vsa and Ahihud. And Seharaim (whan he had sent thē awaye) begat children in the londe of Moab of Husim and Baera his wyues. And of Hodes his wyfe begat he Iobab, Zibea, Mesa, Malcham, Ieus, Sachia, and Mirma, these are his children, heades of the fathers.

Of Husim begat he Ahitob and Elpaal. The childrē of Elpaal were: Eber, Miseam and Samed. The same buylded Ono & Lod and the vyllages therof. And Bria and Sama were heades of the fathers amonge the citesyns at Aialon. These chaced awaye thē of Gath. His brethrē Sasak, Ieremoth, Sebadia, Arad, Ader, Michael, Iespa and Ioha, these are the children of Bria. Sebadia Mesullam, Ezechi, Heber, Iesmerai, Ieslia, Ioab, these are ye childrē of Elpaal. Iakim Sichri, Sabdi, Eloenai, Zilthai, Eliel, Adaia, Braia and Simrath, these are the childrē of Semei. Iespan, Eber, Eliel, Abdon, Sichri, Hanan, Hanania, Elan, Enthothia, Iephdeia and Penuel, these are the children of Sasak. Samserai, Seharia, Athalia, Iaeresia, Elia and Sichri, these are, the children of Ieroham. These are the heades of the fathers of their kynreds, which dwelt at Ierusalem.

〈…〉 But at Gibeon dwelt, the father of Gibeon, & his wyues name was Maecha, and his first sonne was Abdon, Zur, Cis, Baal, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio and Secher. Mikloth begat Simea. And they dwelt ouer agaynst their brethrē at Ierusalem with theirs. Ner begat Cis. 〈…〉 Cis begat Saul. Saul begat Ionathas, Melchisua, Abinadab and Esbaal. The sonne of Ionathas was Meribaal. Meribaal begat Micha. The children of Micha were: Pithon, Melech, Thaerea and Ahas. Ahas begat Ioadda. Ioadda begat Alemeth, Asmaneth and Simri. Simri begat Moza. Moza begat Binea, whose sonne was Rapha, whose sonne was Eleasa, whose sonne was Azel. Azel had sixe sonnes, whose names were: Esricam, Bochru, Iesmael, Searia, Abadia, Hanan, all these were the sonnes of Azel.

The children of Esek his brother were: Vlam his first sonne, Ieus the seconde, Elipelet the thirde. The children of Vlam were valeaunt men, and coulde handell bowes, and had many sonnes, and sonnes sonnes an hundreth and fiftye. All these are of the children of Ben Iamin.

The X. Chapter.

ANd all Israel were nombred: and beholde, they are wrytten in the boke of the kynges of Israel and Iuda, and now are they caried awaie vnto Babilō for their synne, euen they yt afore dwelt in their possessions and cities, namely Israel, ye prestes, Leuites and Nethinim. But at Ierusalem dwelt certayne of the children of Iuda, some of the children of Ben Iamin, some of the children of Ephraim and of Manasses. 〈…〉 Namely of the children of Phares of the sonne of Iuda, was Vthai the sonne of Ammihud the sonne of Amri, the sonne of Imri, the sonne of Bani. Of Soloni, Asaia ye first sonne, and his other sonnes. Of the children of Serah, Ieguel and his brethren, sixe hundreth, foure score and ten.

〈◊〉 . 11. b Of the children of Ben Iamin, Sallu ye sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Hodauia, ye sonne of Hasnua. And Iebneia the sonne of Ieroham. And Ela the sonne of Vsi the sonne of Michri. And Mesullam the sonne of Sephatia the sonne of Reguel the sonne of Iebneia. And their brethren in their kinreds nyne hundreth and syxe and fyftye. All these were heades of the fathers in the house of their fathers.

Of the prestes: Iedaia, Ioiarib, Iachim, And Asaria the sonne of Helchia, the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Sadoc,2. Esd. 11. c the sonne of Meraioth, the sonne of Achitob, prynce in the house of God. And Adaia the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Pashur, the sonne of Malchia. And Maesai the sonne of Adiel the sonne of Iachsera, the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Messylemeth, the sonne of Immer. And their brethren heades in the house of their fathers a thousande, seuen hundreth and thre score valeaunt men in executynge the offyce in the house of God.

Of the Leuites of the children of Merari, Semaia the sonne of Hasub,2. Esd. 11. c the sonne of Asrikam, the sonne of Hasabia. And Bakbakar the carpenter and Galal. And Mathania ye sonne of Micha ye sonne of Sichri, the sonne of Assaph. And Obadia the sonne of Semaia, the sonne of Galal, ye sonne of Elkana, which dwelt in the vyllages of the Netophatites.

The porters were: Sallum, Acub, Talmon, Ahiman, with their brethren, and Sallum the chefest:2. Esd. 11. c for hither to had the children of Leui kepte the watch at the eastsyde of the kinges gate by armies. And Sallum the sonne of Core, the sonne of Abiassaph, the sonne of Corah, and his brethren of his fathers house.

The Corahytes were in the worke of the seruyce, to kepe the thresholdes of the Tabernacle: and their fathers in the hoost of the LORDE, to kepe the intraunce. Phineas the sonne of Eleasar was the prynce ouer them, because the LORDE had bene with him before. Sacharia the sonne of Meselemia was keper at the dore of the Tabernacle of witnesse.

All these were chosen out to be kepers of the thresholdes euen two hundreth and twolue. These were nombred in their vyllages. And Dauid and Samuel the Seer foū ded them thorow their faith, that they and their children shulde kepe the house of the LORDE, namely to kepe the watch of ye house of the Tabernacle.

These dorekepers were appointed towarde the foure wyndes, towarde the East, towarde the West, towarde the North, Num. 3. towarde ye South. But their brethrē were in their vyllages, that they might come allwaye on the seuenth daye to be with them: for vnto these foure maner of chefe dorrkepers were the Leuites committed. And they had the ouersight of the chestes and treasures in ye house of God.

In the nighte season also remayned they aboute the house of God: for their dewtye was to geue attendaunce to open euery mornynge. And some of them had the ouersight of the mynistrynge vessell: for they bare the vessell out and in. And some of thē were appoynted ouer the vessell, and ouer all the holy vessell, ouer the fine wheate floure, ouer ye wyne, ouer the oile, ouer the frankencense, ouer the swete odoures: but some of ye prestes children made the, Exo. 30. d incense.

Vnto Mathithia one of the Leuites the fyrst sonne of Sallum the Corahite, were ye pannes cōmytted. And certayne of the Kahathites their brethren were appointed ouer the shewbred, to prepare it euery Sabbath daye.

These are the heades of the singers amō ge the fathers of the Leuites chosen out ouer the chestes: for daye and night were they in worke withall. These are the heades of ye fathers amonge ye Leuites in their kinreds. These dwelt at Ierusalem.

1. Par. 9. d At Gibeon dwelt Ieiel the father of Gibeon, his wiues name was Maecha, and his fyrst sonne Abdon, Zur, Cis, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahaio, Sacharia, Mikloth. Mikloth begat Simeam. And they dwelt also aboute their brethren at Ierusalem amonge theirs. Ner begat Cis, Cis begat Saul, Saul begat Ionathas, Malchisua, Abinadab, Esbaal. The sonne of Ionathas was Meribaal. Meribaal begat Micha. The children of Micha were, Pithon, Melech and Thaherea. Ahas begat Iaera, Iaera begat Alemeth, Asmaueth and Simri. Simri begat Moza. Moza begat Binea, whose sonne was Raphaia, whose sonne was Eleasa, whose sonne was Azel. Azel had sixe sonnes, whose names were: Asrikam, Bochru, Iesmael, Searia, Obadia, Hanan. These are the children of Azel.

The XI. Chapter.

THe Philistynes foughte agaynst Israel.1. Re. 31. a And they of Israel fled before the Philistynes, and ye wounded fell vpon mount Gilboa. And the Philistynes folowed vpon Saul and his sonnes, and smote Ionathas, Abinadab and Malchisua ye sonnes of Saul. And the battayll was sore agaynst Saul. And the archers came vpon him, so that he was wounded of the archers Then sayde Saul vnto his weapenbearer: Drawe out thy swerde, and thrust it thorow me, that these vncircumcysed come not, and deale shamefully with me. Neuertheles his weapenbearer wolde not, for he was sore afrayed. Then toke Saul his swerde, and fell therin. Whan his weapenbearer sawe that Saul was deed, he fell vpon his swerde also, and dyed.

Thus died Saul and his thre sonnes, and all his housholde together. And whan the men of Israel which were in ye valley, sawe, that Saul and his sonnes were deed, they lefte their cities and fled: and the Philistynes came and dwelt therin.

On the morowe came the Philistynes to spoyle the slayne, and founde Saul, 〈…〉 and his sonnes lyenge vpon mount Gelboa, and stryped him out, and toke his heade, and his harnesse, and sent it aboute in to ye londe of the Philistynes, and caused it to be shewed before their Idoles and the people. And his weapens layed they in the house of their god, and styckte vp his heade vpon the house of Dagon.

But whan all they of Iabes in Gilead herde of euery thinge, that the Philistynes had done vnto Saul, they gat them vp (as many as were men of armes) and toke the body of Saul and of his sonnes, and broughte them vnto Iabes, and buryed their bones vnder the Oke at Iabes, and fasted seuen dayes.

Thus dyed Saul in his trespace which he commytted agaynst the LORDE, because 〈…〉 he kepte not the worde of the LORDE: 〈…〉 & because he axed councell at the soythsayer, and axed not at the LORDE, therfore slewe he him, & turned the kyngdome vnto Dauid.

The XII. Chapter.

ANd all Israel resorted to Dauid vnto Hebron, and sayde: Beholde, 〈…〉 we are ye bone and thy flesh. And afore tyme whan Saul reigned, thou leddest Israel out and in. So the LORDE thy God hath sayde vnto the: Thou shalt kepe my people of Israel, and thou shalt be the prynce ouer my people of Israel. And all the Elders of Israel came to the kynge vnto Hebron. And Dauid made a couenaunt with them at Hebron before the LORDE. And they anoynted Dauid to be kynge ouer Israel 〈…〉 acordynge to the worde of the LORDE by Samuel.

And Dauid and all Israel wēte vnto Ierusalem, that is Iebus: for the Iebusites dwelt in the lōde. And the citesyns of Iebus saide vnto Dauid: Thou shalt not come in hither. Howbeit Dauid wāne ye castell of Siō. which is ye cite of Dauid. And Dauid sayde: 〈…〉 who so euer smyteth ye Iebusites first, shal be a prynce & captayne. Thē Ioab ye sonne of Zer ia clymmed vp first, & was made captayne. So Dauid dwelt in ye castell, therfore was it called ye cite of Dauid. And he buylded ye cite roūde aboute, fro Millo forth on euery syde. As for ye remnaunt of ye cite, Ioab buylded it, & repayred it. And Dauid wēte forth & grewe, & the LORDE Zebaoth was wt him.

These are ye chefe amōge ye mightie mē of Dauid, which dealt valeauntly wt him in his kyngdome wt all Israel, to make him kynge, acordinge to the worde of ye LORDE ouer Israel. And this is ye nombre of Dauids mightie men: Iesabeam the sonne of Hachmoni the chefest amōge thirtie. He lifte vp his speare, & smote thre C. at one tyme.

After him was Eleasar the sonne of Dodo the Ahohite, and he was amōge the thre mightie. This man was wt Dauid whā they blasphemed, & the Philistynes gathered thē selues there to ye batayll. And euē ther was there a pece of londe full of barly, & the people fled before the Philistynes. And they stode in the myddes of the londe, and rescued it, and smote the Philistynes. And the LORDE gaue a greate health.

And thre of the chefest thirtie wēte downe to the rocke vnto Dauid in to the caue of Adullam. 〈◊〉 . 23. c But the Philistynes hoost laye in the valley of Rephain. As for Dauid, he was in the castell. And the Philistynes people were then at Bethleem. And Dauid was desyrous, and sayde: O that some wolde geue me to drynke of the water out of the well at Bethleem vnder the gate. Thē brake those thre in to the Philistynes hoost, and drue of the water out of the well at Bethleem vnder the gate, and caried it, and broughte it vnto Dauid. Neuertheles he wolde not drynke it, but poured it vnto the LORDE, and sayde: God let this be farre fro me, yt I shulde do it, and drynke the bloude of these men in ye parell of their life: for with the parell of their life haue they broughte it: therfore wolde he not drynke it. This dyd the thre Worthies.

Abisai the brother of Ioab, he was the chefest amonge thre. And he lifte vp his speare, and smote thre hundreth. And he was famous amonge thre, and before the thirde, more honorable then the two, yet came he not vnto the thre.

Benaia the sonne of Ioiada the sonne of Ishail of Cabzeel,2 Re. 23 was a man of greate actes. He smote two lyons of the Moabites. And he wente downe, and smote a lyon in the myddes of a well in the tyme of snowe. He smote a man of Egipte also, which was fyue cubites greate of stature, and had in his hande a speare like a weuers lome. Yet wente he downe to him with a staffe, and toke the speare out of his hande, and slewe him with his awne speare, This dyd Benaia the sonne of Ioiada, and was a famous man amonge thre Worthies, and most awncient amonge thirtie. But vnto the thre came he not. Howbeit Dauid made him of his secrete councell.

The valeaunt Worthies are these: Asahel the brother of Ioab, Elhanam his Vncles sonne of Bethleem, Samoth the Harodite, Helez the Pelonite, Ira the sonne of Ekes the Thecoite, Abraser the Anathothite, Sibechai the Husathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Matheraithe Netophatite, Heled ye sonne of Baena ye Netophatite, Ithai ye sonne of Ribai of Gibeath of the childrē of Ben Ianim, Benaia the Pirgathonite, Hura of the broke of Gaas. Abiel the arbathite, Asmaneth the Baherunite, Eliahba the Saalbonite. The children of Hasem ye Gisonite, Ionathas the sonne of Sage the Hararite, Ahiam the sonne of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the sonne of Vr, Hepher the Macherathite, Ahia the Pelointe, Hezro of Carmel, Naerai the sonne of Aszbai, Ioel the brother of Nathan, Mibehar the sonne of Hagri, Zeleg the Ammonite, Naherai the Berothithe the wapenbearer of Ioab the sonne of Zernia, Ira the Iethrite, Gareb the Iethrite, Vrias the Hethite, Sabad the sonne of Ahalai, Adina the sonne of Sisa the Rubenite, a captayne of the Rubenites, and there were thirtie vnder him: Hanam ye sonne of Maecha, Iosaphat the Mathonite, Vsia ye Astharathite, Sama and Iaiel, the sonnes of Hotham the Aroerite, Iediael the sonne of Simri, Ioha his brother the Thirzite, Eliel the Mahenite, Ieribai and Iosua the sonnes of Elnaan, Iethma the Moabite, Eliel, Obed, Iaesiel of Mizobaia.

Tha XIII. Chapter.

THese also came to Dauid vnto Siclag whan he was yet kepte asyde be cause of Saul the sonne of Cis 1. Re. 27. a 〈◊〉 they were like wyse amonge the worthies ye helped in the battayll, and coulde handle bowes with both their handes, & coulde cast 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 stones, and shute arowes with the bowe.

Of Sauls brethren which were of Ben Iamin: The chefest Ahieser and Ioas ye children of Samaa the Gibeathite. Iesiel and Pelet the children of Asmaueth. Baracha & and Iehu the Anthothite. Iesmaia the Gibeonite, valeaunt amonge thirtie and ouer thirtie. Ieremia, Iahasiel, Iohanan, Iosabad the Gederathite. Eleusai, Ierimoth, Bealia, Samaria, Saphatia the Harophite, Elkana, Iesiia, Asareel, Iasabeam ye Korahyte, Ioela and Sabadia the children of Ieroham of Gedor.

Of the Gaddites resorted there vnto Dauid to the castell in the wyldernesse, mightie Worthies and men of armes, which hādled speares and swerdes, and had faces like liōs, & were as swifte as the Roes vpon ye mountaynes. The fyrst Eser, the seconde Obadia, the thyrde Eliab, the fourth Masmanna, ye fyfth Ieremia, the sixte Athai, the seuēth Eliel, the eight Iohanna, the nyenth Elsabad the tenth Ieremia, ye eleuenth Machbanai. These were of the children of Gad, heades in the hoost, the leest ouer an hundreth, and ye greatest ouer a thousande. These are they which in the fyrst moneth wente ouer Iordane, whan it was full on both the shores, so that all the valleys were eauen both towarde the East and towarde the West.

There came of the children of Ben Iamin also and of Iuda vnto the castell of Dauid. But Dauid wente forth vnto them, and answered and sayde vnto them: Yf ye come to me in peace, and to helpe me, my hert shal be with you. But yf ye come vpō disceate, and to be mine aduersaries (where as there is yet no vnrighte in me) the God of oure fathers loke vpon it, and rebuke it. Neuertheles the sprete endued Amasai the captayne amonge thirtie, and he sayde: We are thine O Dauid, and holde with the thou sonne of Isai. Peace, peace be with the, peace be with thy helpers, for thy God helpeth the. Then Dauid receaued them, and made them captaynes ouer the men of warre.

And of Manasses there fell certaine vnto Dauid, whan he came to the battayll with the Philistynes agaynst Saul, and helped them not, . Re. 29. a for the prynces of ye Philistynes counceled to let him go from them, and sayde: Yf he fell vnto his lorde Saul, it mighte cost vs oure neckes. Now whā he departed vnto Siclag, there fell vnto him of Manasses, Adna, Iosabad, Iediael, Michael, Iosabad, Elihu, Zilthai, heades ouer thousandes in Manasses. And they helped Dauid against the men of warre: for they were all valeaunt Worthies, and were captaynes ouer the hoost. And euery daye came there some to Dauid, to helpe him, till there was a greate hoost as an hoost of God.

And this is the nombre of the heades harnessed vnto the warre, which came to Dauid vnto Hebron, for to turne the kyngdome of Saul vnto him, acordynge to the worde of the LORDE.

The childrē of Iuda, which handled speares and swerdes, were sixe thousande, & eight hundreth ready harnessed vnto ye warre. Of the children of Simeon noble men of armes for the battayll, seuen thousande and an hū dreth. Of the children of Leui foure thousande and sixe hundreth. And Ioiada the prynce amonge them of Aaron with thre thousande and seuen hundreth. Sadoc the yonge valeaunt man of armes with his fathers house, two and twentye rulers. Of the children of Ben Iamin Sauls brother, thre thousande: for vnto that time helde many of thē yet with the house of Saul.

Of ye children of Ephraim, twentie thousande and eighte hundreth valeaunt men of armes, and famous in the house of their fathers. Of the halfe trybe of Manasses, eightene thousande, named by name, to come and make Dauid kynge. Of the children of Isachar (which were men of vnderstondynge, whan nede requyred to knowe what Israel shulde do) two hundreth captaynes, and all their brethren folowed their worde. Of Sabulon, soch as wente forth in the hoost to ye warre, ready with all maner of weapens for the battayll, fyftye thousande, beynge of one mynde to kepe them selues in ordre.

Of Nephtali, a thousande captaynes, & with them soch as handled shylde and speare, seuen and thyrtie thousande. Of Dan, ready harnessed to the battayll, eight and twentye thousande, and sixe hundreth. Of Asser, soch as wente forth in ye hoost, ready harnessed to the battayll, fortye thousande. From beyonde Iordane, of the Rubenites, Gaddites and the halfe trybe of Manasses, with all maner of weapens to the battayll, an hū dreth and twentye thousande.

All these men of warre, ready harnessed to the battayll, came with a whole hert vnto Hebron, to make Dauid kynge ouer all Israel. And all Israel besyde were of one hert, that Dauid shulde be made kynge. And there were they with Dauid thre dayes, eatynge and drynkynge: for their brethren had prepared for them. And soch neghbour as were aboute them vntyll Isachar, Zabulon and Nephtali, brought bred vpon Asses, Camels, Mules and oxen to eate: meel, fyges, rasens, wyne, oyle, oxen, shepe, very many: for there was ioye in Israel.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd Dauid helde a councell with the captaynes ouer thousandes and ouer hundreds, 〈◊〉 . 6. a and with all the prynces, and sayde vnto all the congregacion of Israel: Yf it lyke you, and yf it be of the LORDE oure God, let vs sende forth on euery syde to oure other brethren in all the countrees of Israel, and to the prestes and Leuites in the cities where they haue suburbes, yt they maye be gathered together vnto vs, and let vs fetch the Arke of oure God agayne vnto vs: for by Sauls tyme we axed after it. Thē sayde the whole cōgregacion, that the same shulde be done, for it pleased all the people well.

So Dauid gathered all Israel together from Sihor of Egipte, tyll a man come vnto Hemath, to fetch the Arke of God from Kiriath Iearim. And Dauid wente vp wt all Israel to Kiriath Iearim, which lieth in Iuda, to brynge from thence the Arke of God the LORDE, that sytteth vpō the Cherubins, where the name is named: and they caused the Arke of God to be caried vpō a new cart from the house of Abinadab.

Vsa and his brethren droue the cart. As for Dauid and all Israel, they played with all their strength before God, with songes, with harpes, with psalteries, with tabrettes, with Cymbales and trompes.

But whan they came to the barne floore of Chidon, Vsa stretched out his hande to holde the Arke: for the oxen wente out asyde. Then waxed the wrath of the LORDE fearce ouer Vsa, & smote him, because he stretched out his hāde to the Arke, so yt he dyed there before God. Thē was Dauid sory, because ye LORDE had made soch a rente vpō Vsa, and called the place Perez Vsa, vnto this daye. And Dauid stode in feare of God the same daye, & sayde: How shal I brynge ye Arke of God vnto me? Therfore wolde he not let ye Arke of God be broughte vnto him in to ye cite of Dauid, but caried it in to ye house of Obed Edom the Gathite. So the Arke of God abode with Obed Edom in his house thre monethes. And ye LORDE blessed Obed Edoms house and all that he had.

The XV. Chapter.

ANd Hiram ye kynge of Tyre sent messaungers Reg. 5. c vnto Dauid and Cedre tymber, and masons and carpenters, to buylde him an house. And Dauid perceaued, that the LORDE had confirmed him kynge ouer Israel: for his kyngdome increased for his people of Israels sake. And Dauid toke yet mo wyues at Ierusalem, & begat yet mo sonnes & doughters. And the names of them yt were borne vnto him at Ierusalem, are these: Sammua, Sobab, Nathan, Salomon, Iebehar, Elisua, Elipalet, Noga, Nepheg, Iaphia, Elisamma, Baal Iada, Eliphalet.

And whan the Philistynes herde that Dauid was anoynted kynge ouer all Israel, they wente vp all to seke Dauid. Whan Dauid herde that, he wente forth agaynst them. And the Philistynes came, and scatered thē selues beneth in ye valley of Rephaim. And Dauid axed councell at God, & sayde: Shal I go vp agaynst the Philistynes? and wilt thou delyuer them in to my hande? The LORDE sayde vnto him: Go vp, and I wil delyuer them into thy hande. And whan they were gone vp to Baal Prasim, Dauid smote them there. And Dauid sayde: God hath deuyded myne enemies thorow my hande, euen as the water parteth asunder: therfore called they the place Baal Prasim. And there lefte they their goddes. Then Deut. 7 commaunded Dauid to burne them with fyre.

But the Philistynes gat them thither agayne, 2. Reg. 5. and scatered them selues beneth in ye valley. And Dauid axed councell at God agayne. And God sayde vnto him: Thou shalt not go vp behynde them, but turne the from them, that thou mayest come vpon thē ouer agaynst the Peertrees. So whan thou hearest aboue vpon the Peertrees the noyse of the goynge, go thou forth then to the batayll: for God is gone forth then before the to smyte the hoost of the Philistynes. And Dauid dyd as God commaunded him. And they smote the hoost of the Philistynes from Gibeon forth vnto Gaser. And Dauids name was noysed out in all londes. And the LORDE caused ye feare of him to come vpō all the Heythen.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd he buylded him houses in the cite of Dauid, & made ready a place for ye Arke of God, & pitched a Tabernacle for it. At that tyme sayde Dauid: The Arke of God is not to be borne, but onely of ye Leuites: Num. 4. for them hath the LORDE chosen to beare the Arke of the LORDE, and to mynister vnto him for euer. Therfore gathered Dauid all Israel together vnto Ierusalem, to brynge vp the Arke of the LORDE vnto the place which he had prepared for it.

And Dauid broughte the children of Aaron & the Leuites together. Of the children of Kahath: Vriel the chefe wt his brethren, an C. and twentye. Of the children of Merari: Asaia the chefe wt his brethrē, two C. and twentye. Of the childrē of Gerson: Ioel the chefe wt his brethren, an C. and thirtie. Of ye childrē of Elizaphan: Semaia the chefe wt his brethren, two hundreth. Of the childrē of Hebron: Eliel the chefe, with his brethrē, foure score. Of the children of Vsiel: Amminadab the chefe, with his brethren, an hūdreth and twolue.

And Dauid called Sadoc and Abiathar the prestes, and the Leuites, namely Vriel, Asaia, Ioeli, Semaia, Eliel, Aminadab, and sayde vnto them: Ye are the heades of ye fathers amonge the Leuites: sanctifye yor selues therfore & youre brethrē, yt ye maye brynge vp the Arke of the LORDE God of Israel, to the place yt I haue prepared for it. Pa . 4. b For afore whan ye were not there, the LORDE oure God made a rent amonge vs, because we soughte him not, as we shulde haue done. So ye prestes & the Leuites halowed thē selues, yt they mighte brynge vp the Arke of the LORDE God of Israel. And the children of Leui bare the Arke of God the LORDE vpon their shulders with the staues theron, xo 25 b as Moses cōmaunded acordinge to ye worde of the LORDE.

And Dauid sp ke vnto ye rulers of ye Leuites, that they shulde ordeyne some of their brethren to be syngers with psalteries, harpes and loude instrumentes, and Cimbales, to synge loude with ioye.

Then the Leuites appoynted Heman ye sonne of Ioel: and of his brethren Assaph the sonne of Barachias: and of the children of Merari their brethren, Ethan the sonne of Cusaia: and with them their brethren of the seconde course, namely Zacharias, Iaesiel, Semiramoth, Iehiel, Vnni, Eliab, Benaia, Maeseia, Mathithia, Elipheleia, Mikneia, Obed Edom, Ieiel, the dore kepers. For Heman, Assaph and Ethan were syngers, with brasen belles makynge a loude noyse: but Zacharias, Iaesiel, Semiramoth, Iehiel, Vnni, Eliab, Maeseia & Benaia with Phalteries to Alamoth: Mathithia, Elipheleia, Mikneia, Obed Edom, Ieiel & Asasia with harpes to synge aboue them on hye. Chenania the ruler of the Leuites was the master of Musick to teach them for to synge, for he was a man of vnderstondinge.

And Barachias and Elcana were the dorekepers of the Arke. But Sachamia, Iosaphat, Nathaneel, Amasai, Zacharias, Benaia, Elieser the prestes, blewe the trompettes before ye Arke of God. And Obed Edom and Iehia were dorekepers of the Arke.

So Dauid and the Elders of Israel, and the captaynes ouer thousandes wente vp to fetch the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE out of the house of Obed Edom wt ioye. And whan God had helped the Leuites yt bare the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt, there were offred seuen bullockes & seuen rāmes, And Dauid had a lynnē garment vpō him, and so had all the Leuites yt bare the Arke, and ye syngers, and Chenania the master of Musick wt the syngers. Dauid had an ouerbody cote of lynnen vpon him also.

Thus all Israel brought vp the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE with myrth, with trompettes, tabrettes, & loude Cymbales, with psalteries and harpes. Now whan the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE came in to the cite of Dauid, Michol ye doughter of Saul loked out at awyndowe: & whā she sawe kynge Dauid daunsynge & playenge, she despysed him in hir hert.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd whā they brought in the Arke of God, they set it in ye Tabernacle, 〈…〉 that Dauid had pitched for it, and offred burnt offerynges & thank offerynges before God. And whā Dauid had ended the burnt offerynges and thank offerynges, he blessed the people in the name of the LORDE, & distributed vnto euery man in Israel (both vnto man and woman) a cake of bred, and a pece of flesh and a meece of potage.

And he appoynted before the Arke of ye LORDE certayne Leuites to mynister, that they shulde geue prayse, thankes and loauinges vnto the LORDE God of Israel: namely Assaph the first, Zacharias the seconde, Ie el, Semiramoth, Iehiel, Mathithia, Eliab, Benaia, Obed Edom and Iehiel, with psalteries and harpes. But Assaph with loude Cymbales. Benaia and Iehasiel the prestes with tabrettes, allwaye before the Arke of ye couenaunt of God.

At the same tyme ordeyned Dauid first of all to geue thākes vnto the LORDE by Assaph and his brethren.

O geue thankes vnto the LORDE, 〈…〉 call vpon his name, tell the people what thinges he hath done.

O let youre songes be of him: prayse him, and let youre talkynge be of all his wonderous workes.

Geue his holy name a good reporte: let ye hert of them reioyce, that seke the LORDE.

O seke the LORDE and his strength, seke his face euermore.

Remēbre his maruelous workes that he hath done, his wonders, and the iudgmētes of his mouth.

Ye sede of Israel his seruaunt, ye children of Iacob his chosen.

He is the LORDE oure God, his iudgmē tes are in all londes.

Be myndefull euer of his couenaūt what he hath commaunded in to a thousande generacions.

〈…〉 Which he made with Abraham, & 〈…〉 his ooth vnto Isaac.

And he 〈…〉 comfirmed the same vnto Iacob for a perpetuall lawe, and to Israel for an euerlastinge couenaunt.

And sayde: Vnto the wyl I geue ye londe of Canaan, ye metelyne of yor inheritaunce.

Whā they were yet but small & fewe in nō bre, and straungers in the same londe.

And they wente from one nacion to another, & from one realme to another people.

He suffred no man to hurte them, and reproued euen kynges for their sakes.

〈…〉 Touch not myne anoynted, & do my prophetes no harme.

〈◊〉 95. a O synge vnto ye LORDE, let all ye earth be tellynge of his saluacion from daye to daye.

Declare his holynes amōge the Heythē, & his wonderous workes amonge ye people.

For the LORDE is greate, and can not worthely be praysed, and more to he had in awe then all goddes.

As for all the goddes of the Heythē, they are but Idols: 〈…〉 but it is the LORDE that made the heauens.

Thankesgeuynge and worshipe are before him, strength and ioye is in his place.

Ascrybe vnto the LORDE ye kynreds of nacions: ascrybe vnto the LORDE worshipe and strength.

Ascrybe vnto the LORDE the honoure of his name: brynge presentes, and come before him, and worshipe ye LORDE in ye bewtye of holynes.

Let the whole earth stōde in awe of him: he hath made the compase of the worlde so fast, that it can not be moued.

Let the heauens reioyse, and let the earth be glad: and let it be tolde amonge the Heythen, that the LORDE reigneth.

Let the See make a noyse, and the fulnesse therof: let the felde be ioyfull, and all that therin is.

Let all the trees in the wod leape for ioye before the LORDE, for he commeth to iudge the earth.

O geue thankes vnto the LORDE, for he is gracious: and his mercy endureth for euer.

And saye: Helpe vs O God oure Sauioure, and gather vs together, and delyuer vs from the Heythen, that we maye geue thankes vnto ye holy name, and synge prayses vnto the in thy Psalmes.

Praysed be the LORDE God of Israel from euerlastinge to euerlastinge: and let all people saye, Amen, And: Prayse be vnto the LORDE.

So he lefte Assaph and his brethren there before the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE, to mynister allwaye before the Arke, euery daye his daye worke. But Obed Edom and their brethren, eight and threscore, and Obed Edom the sonne of Iedithun, and Hossa, to be dore kepers. And Sadoc ye prest, & his brethrē the prestes, lefte he before the habitacion of the LORDE vpon the hye place at Gibeō, to offre burntsacrifices daylie vnto the LORDE vpon the altare of burnt offerynges in the mornynge & in the euenynge, as it is wrytten in the Exo. 29. Nu. 28. a lawe of the LORDE, which he cōmaunded vnto Israel. And with them Heman & Iedithun, and ye other chosen, which were named by name to geue thankes vnto the LORDE, because his mercy endureth for euer. And with them Heman & Iedithun to stryke vpon the tabrettes and Cymbales, and the musicall instrumentes of God. As for the childrē of Iedithun, he made them dorekepers. So all the people departed, euery one to his house: and Dauid returned also to blesse his house.

The XVIII. Chapter.

IT fortuned whā Dauid dwelt in his house,2. Re. 7. a he sayde vnto ye prophet Nathan: Beholde, I dwell in a house of Ceder, and the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE is amonge the curtaynes.

Nathan saide vnto Dauid: Whatsoeuer is in thine hert, that do: for God is with ye. But the same night came ye worde of God vnto Nathan, and sayde: Go and speake to Dauid my seruaunt: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Thou shalt not buylde me an house to be an habitaciō: for I haue dwelt in no house sence the daye that I broughte forth the children of Israel, vnto this daye: But where the Tabernacle and habitacion hath bene, there haue I bene where so euer I haue walked in all Israel. Spake I euer to eny of the Iudges in Israel (whom I commaunded to kepe my people) and sayde: Wherfore do ye not buylde me an house of Cedre tymber?

So shalt thou speake now vnto my seruaunt Dauid: Thus sayeth the LORDE Zebaoth: I toke the from the pasture behynde the shepe, that thou shuldest be the prynce ouer my people, and haue bene with the whither so euer thou wētest, and haue roted out all thine enemies before the, and haue made the a name, acordinge to the name of the greate men that are vpō earth. And for my people of Israel, I wyll appoynte them a place, and wyl plante them, that they maye dwell there, and nomore to be remoued. And the childrē of wickednes shal oppresse them nomore, like as afore tyme, whan I cōmaunded the Iudges ouer my people of Israel. And I wyl subdue all thine enemies, and do declare vnto the, that the LORDE wyl buylde the an house.

Re. 7. c Psal. 111. b But whan thy dayes are fulfilled, that thou departest hence with ye fathers, I wyl after the rayse vp ye sede, which shall be euē one of thy sonnes: his kyngdome wyl I stabliszshe, he shal buylde me an house, & I wyl make his seate sure for euer. I wyl be his father, and he shal be my sonne. And I wyl not withdrawe my mercy from him, as I haue withdrawen it frō him that was before the: But I wyll set him in my house and in my kyngdome for euer, so that his seate shalbe sure for euermore.

And whā Nathan had spoken vnto Dauid acordinge to all these wordes & all this vision, kynge Dauid came and sat him downe before the LORDE, and sayde: O LORDE God, who am I? and what is my house, yt thou hast broughte me thus farre? And this (O God) hast thou thoughte yet to litle, but hast spoken of thy seruauntes house yet longe for to come. And thou LORDE God hast loked downe vpon me from aboue, euen as one man loketh vpon another. What more shal Dauid saye vnto the, yt thou bryngest ye seruaunt to soch honoure? Thou knowest thy seruaunt O LORDE, for thy seruauntes sake and acordinge to thy hert hast thou done all these greate thinges, that thou mightest shewe all greate thinges vnto thy seruaunt. LORDE, Deut. 32. f there is none lykel the, and there is no God but thou, of whom we haue herde with oure eares. And Deut. 4. a where is there a people vpon earth as thy people of Israel, where God wente to delyuer him a people, and to make him selfe a name thorow greate & terrible thinges, to cast out the Heythen before thy people, whom thou hast delyuered out of Egipte? and ye people of Israel hast thou made ye people for euer, and thou LORDE art become their God.

Now LORDE, let the worde be verified for euer, that thou hast spoken ouer thy seruaunt and ouer his house, & do as thou hast spoken: and let thy name endure and be magnified for euer, that it maye sayde: The LORDE Zebaoth, the God of Israel is the God in Israel, and that the house of thy seruaunt Dauid maye be stablyszshed before the: for thou LORDE hast opened the eare of ye seruaunt, that thou wilt buylde him an house. Therfore hath thy seruaunt founde (confydence) to make his prayer before the. Now LORDE, thou art God, and hast promysed soch good vnto thy seruaunt. Begynne now to blesse the house of thy seruaunt, that it maye be euermore before the: for loke what thou blessest (O LORDE) the same is blessed for euer.

The XIX. Chapter.

AFter this smote Dauid the Philistynes, and subdued them, 〈…〉 and toke Gath & the vyllages therof out of the hande of the Philistynes. He smote the Moabites likewyse, so that the Moabites were subdued vnto Dauid, and gaue him trybute. He smote Hadad Eser also ye kynge of Zoba in Hemath, whan he wente to set vp his power by the water Euphrates.

And Dauid toke from him a thousande charettes, seuen thousande horsmen, and twē tye thousande fote men. And Dauid lamed all the charettes, and kepte an hundreth charettes ouer. And the Syriās came from Damascon, to helpe Hadad Eser the kynge of Zoba. Howbeit Dauid smote two & twentie thousande of the same Syrians, and layed men of warre at Damascon in Syria, so that the Syrians were subdued vnto Dauid, and broughte him trybute. For the LORDE helped Dauid, whither so euer he wente.

And Dauid toke the shyldes of golde, yt Hadad Esers seruaūtes had, & broughte thē to Ierusalē. And out of Tibehath & Chun the cities of Hadad Eser, toke Dauid very moch brasse, 〈…〉 wherof Salomon made the brasen lauer, and pilers, and brasen vessels.

And whā Thogu the kynge of Hemath herde, 〈…〉 yt Dauid had smytten all ye power of Hadad Eser, he sent his sonne Hadorā vnto kynge Dauid, to salute him & to blesse him, because he had foughtē wt Hadad Eser, & smyttē hī (for Thogu had warre wt Hadad Eser) and all the same vessels of golde, syluer and of brasse, dyd kynge Dauid consecrate vnto the LORDE, with the syluer and golde that he had taken from the Heythē, namely, from the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Philistynes, and Amalechites.

And Abisai the sonne of Zeru Ia smote eightene thousande of the Edomites in the Salt valley, 〈◊〉 . 8. c and layed mē of warre in Edomea, so that all the Edomites were subdued vnto Dauid: for ye LORDE helped Dauid, whither so euer he wente.

Thus Dauid reigned ouer all Israel, and executed iudgment and righteousnes vnto all the people. Ioab the sonne of Zeru Ia was captayne ouer the hoost. Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was Chaunceler. Sadoc the sonne of Achitob, and Ahimelech ye sonne of Abiathar, were prestes. Sauesa was Scrybe. Benaia the sonne of Ioiada was ouer the Chrethians & Plethians. 〈◊〉 . 8. c And Dauids sonnes were chefe at ye kynges hande.

The XX. Chapter.

ANd after this dyed Nahas ye kynge of the childrē of Ammon, 〈◊〉 . 10. a and his sonne was kynge in his steade. Then sayde Dauid: I wil do mercy vpon Hanun the sonne of Nahas, for his father dyd mercy vpon me: and so he sent messaungers to comforte him ouer his father. And whā Dauids seruauntes came in to the londe of the children of Ammon vnto Hanun to comforte him, the prynces of the children of Ammon sayde vnto Hanun: Thinkest thou that Dauid honoureth thy father in thy sighte, that he hath sent cōforters vnto the? Yee his seruauntes are come vnto the, to search and to ouerthrowe, and to spye out the londe. Then toke Hanun the seruauntes of Dauid, and shoue them, & cut the halfe of their garmentes of, euē by the loynes, & so let thē go. And they wente their waye, & sent men to tell Dauid. Neuertheles he sent to mete them (for ye men were put to greate shame) and the kynge sayde: Abyde at Iericho, tyll youre beerdes be growne, and then come agayne.

Whan the childrē of Ammon sawe, that they stynked in ye sighte of Dauid, both Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousande talētes of syluer, to hyre charettes and horsmen out of Mesopotamia, out of Maecha and out of Zoba: and hyred two and thirtie thousande charettes, & ye kynge of Maecha with his people, which came & pitched their tentes before Medba. And the children of Ammon gathered them selues together out of their cities, and came to the battayll. Whan Dauid herde that, he sent Ioab thither with all the hoost of the men of armes. And the childrē of Ammon were gone forth, and prepared them selues to the battayll before the gate of the cite. But the kynges yt were come, kepte them asyde in the felde.

Now whā Ioab sawe that the battayll was agaynst him both before and behynde, he chose of all the best yonge men in Israel, and prepared him selfe agaynst ye Syrians. As for ye residue of the people, he put them vnder the hande of Abisai his brother, that they shulde prepare them selues agaynst the children of Ammon, and he sayde: Yf ye Syriās be to mightie for me, helpe thou me: but yf the childrē of Ammon be to strōge for ye, I shall helpe the: take a good corage vnto the, and let vs quyte oure selues manly for oure people and for the cities of oure God: neuertheles the LORDE do what pleaseth him. And Ioab made him forth with ye people that was with him, to fighte agaynst ye Syrians: & they fled before him. And whan the children of Ammon sawe yt the Syrians fled, they fled also before Abisai his brother, and wente in to the cite. And Ioab came to Ierusalem.

But whan the Syrians sawe that they were smyttē before Israel, they sent messaungers, and broughte forth ye Syrians which were beyonde the water. And Sophach the chefe captayne of Hadad Eser wente before them. Whā this was tolde Dauid, he gathered all Israel together, and wente ouer Iordane. And whan he came at them, he set ye battayll in araye agaynst them. And Dauid prepared him selfe to ye battayll agaynst ye Syrians, & they foughte with him: but ye Syriās fled before Israel. And Dauid slewe of the Syrians seuen thousande charettes, & fortye thousande fote men. And Sophach the chefe captayne slewe he also. And whan Hadad Esers seruauntes sawe that they were smyttē before Israel, they made peace wt Dauid & his seruauntes. And the Syrians wolde helpe the childrē of Ammon nomore.

The XXI. Chapter.

ANd whan ye yeare came aboute, what tyme as ye kynges vse to go forth,2. Re. 11 Ioab broughte the power of the hoost, & destroyed the londe of the children of Ammon, and came and layed sege vnto Rabba. But Dauid abode at Ierusalem. 2. Re. 1 And Ioab smote Rabba, and brake it downe. And Dauid toke their kynges crowne from his heade, and founde the weighte of a talent of golde theron, & precious stones. And it was set vpō Dauids heade. And very moch spoyle caried he out of the cite. As for the people that were therin, he broughte thē forth, & parted them in sunder wt sawes, & hokes & betels of yron. Thus dyd Dauid vnto all ye cities of the childrē of Ammon. And Dauid departed againe, with the people vnto Ierusalem.

Afterwarde arose there warre at Gasar with the Philistynes. Then Sibechai ye Husathire smote Sibai, which was one of the children of Rephaim, and he subdued him. And there arose warre agayne wt the Philistynes. Thē Elhamah ye sonne of Iair smote Lahemi ye brother of Goliath ye Gathite, whose speares staff was life a weeuers l me. Afterwarde was there a battayll at Gath, where there was a man of a greate stature, yt had sixe fyngers and sixe toes, which make foure and twentye. And he was borne also of Rapha, and spake despytefully vnto Israel. But Ionathas the sonne of Simea Dauids brother smote him. These were the childrē of Rapha at Gath, & fell thorow ye hande of Dauid, and of his seruauntes.

The XXII. Chapter.

ANd Sathan stode agaynst Israel, & entysed Dauid to nombre Israel. 〈◊〉 . 24. a And Dauid sayde vnto Ioab & to ye rulers of the people: Go yor waye, nombre Israel from Berseba vnto Dan, and brynge me the nombre of thē, that I maye knowe it. Ioab sayde: The LORDE make his people an hundreth tymes mo then they are now. But my lorde O kynge, are they not all my lordes seruauntes? Why doth my lorde then axe therafter? Wherfore shal there a trespace come vpon Israel?

Neuertheles the kynges worde preuayled agaynst Ioab. And Ioab wente forth, and walked thorow all Israel, and came to Ierusalem, and delyuered vnto Dauid ye nombre of the people that was tolde. And of all Israel there were a thousande tymes a thousande, and an hundreth thousande men, that drue out the swerde: and of Iuda foure hundreth thousande and seuētye thousande men, which drue out the swerde. As for Leui and Ben Iamin, he nombred them not amonge these: for the kynges worde was abhominable vnto Ioab.

But this displeased God righte sore: for he smote Israel. And Dauid sayde vnto God: I haue synned greuously, that I haue done this. But now take awaye the trespace of thy seruaunt: for I haue done very vnwysely. And the LORDE spake vnto Gad Dauids Seer, & sayde: Go speake to Dauid, & saye: Thus saieth the LORDE: Thre thinges laye I before the, chose ye one of them, yt I maye do it vnto the. And whā Gad came to Dauid, he spake vnto him: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Chose ye ether thre yeare derth, or thre monethes to flye before thine aduersaries, & before the swerde of thine enemies, yt it maye ouertake the: or thre dayes ye swerde of the LORDE, & pestilēce in the londe, yt the angell of the LORDE maye destroye in all ye coastes of Israel. Loke now what answere I shal geue vnto him yt sent me. Dauid sayde vnto Gad: I am in greate trouble: yet wyl I rather fall in to ye hande of the LORDE, for his mercy is exceadynge greate, & I wil not fall in to the handes of men.

Then dyd the LORDE cause pestilence to come in to Israel, so that there fell of Israel thre score & ten thousande mē. And God sent the angell to Ierusalē for to destroye it. And euen in the destruccion the LORDE considered, and he repēted of the euell, and sayde vn to the angell ye destroyer: It is ynough, holde now thy hande.

The angell of the LORDE stode besyde ye barne of Arnan ye Iebusite. And Dauid lifte vp his eyes, and sawe the angell of ye LORDE stondinge betwene heauē and earth, and a naked swerde in his hande stretched out ouer Ierusalem. Then Dauid and ye Elders beynge clothed with sack cloth, fell vpō their faces. And Dauid sayde vnto God: Am not I he that caused the people to be nombred? I am he that hath synned and done euell: as for these shepe, what haue they done LORDE my God, let thine hande be agaynst me and agaynst my fathers house, and not agaynst thy people to plage them.

And the angell sayde vnto Gad, that he shulde speake vnto Dauid, that Dauid shulde shulde go vp, & set vp an altare in the barne of Arnan the Iebusite. So Dauid wente vp acordinge to ye worde of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORDE. But whā Arnan turned him, and sawe the angell (and his foure sonnes with him) they hyd thēselues: for Arnan throszshed wheate.

Now whan Dauid came to Arnan, Arnan loked, and was aware of Dauid, and wēte forth out of the barne, and worshipped Dauid with his face to the grounde. And Dauid sayde vnto Arnan: Geue me rowme in the barne, to buylde an altare vnto the LORDE therin: for ye full money shalt thou geue it me, that the plage maye ceasse from the people.

But Arnan sayde vnto Dauid: Take it vnto the, and let my lorde the kynge do as pleaseth him. Beholde, that oxe geue I for a burnt offerynge, and those vessels to the oxe, and wheate for the meat offerynge, I geue it all. Neuertheles the kynge sayde vnto Arnan: Not so, but for ye full money wyl I bye it: for that which is thine wyl not I take for the LORDE, and offre a burnt offerynge for naughte.

So Dauid gaue Arnan for ye rowme, sixe hundreth Sycles of golde in weight. And there buylded Dauid an altare vnto ye LORDE, & offred burnt offerynges & slayn offerynges. And whan he called vpō the LORDE, he herde him thorow the fyre from heauē vpon ye altare of the burnt offerynge. And ye LORDE sayde vnto the angell, that he shulde put his swerde in to his sheeth.

At the same tyme whā Dauid sawe, that the LORDE had herde him vpon the corne floore of Arnan ye Iebusite, he dyd sacrifice there. For ye habitacion of ye LORDE which Moses had made in the wyldernes, and the altare of burnt offerynges, was at that tyme in the hye place at Gibeon. But Dauid coulde not go thitherto seke God before it, for he feared the swerde of the LORDES angell. And Dauid sayde: 〈◊〉 . 3. a Here shal be ye house of God ye LORDE, and this the altare of burnt offerynges fo Israel.

The XXIII. Chapter.

ANd Dauid cōmaunded to gather together the straungers that were in ye londe of Israel, and appoynted masons to hewe stone for the buyldinge of the house of God. And Dauid prepared moch yron for nales in the dores of the portes, and for soch thinges as were to be naled together, and so moch brasse, that is was not to be weyed: and Cedre trees innumerable: for they of Zidon & Tyre brought Dauid moch Cedre tymbre: for Dauid thoughte, Salomō my sonne is but a childe and tender: But the house that shal be buylded vnto the LORDE, shal be greate, that his name & prayse maye be exalted in all londes, therfore wyl I prouyde for him. So Dauid made greate prouysion before his death.

And he called Salomon his sonne, & commaunded him to buylde the house of LORDE God of Israel, and sayde vnto him: My sonne, 〈◊〉 . 7. a I was minded to buylde an house vnto the name of the LORDE my God, but the worde of ye LORDE came vnto me, and sayde: Thou hast shed moch bloude, and strycken many battayls, therfore shalt thou not buylde an house vnto my name, for as moch as thou hast shed so moch bloude vpon the earth before me. Beholde, the sonne which shal be borne vnto the, shal be a quyete man: and I wyl cause him to be in rest from al his enemies on euery syde, for his name shalbe Salomon: for I wyll geue peace and rest vpon Israel as longe as he lyueth. He shal buylde an house vnto my name. He shal be my sonne, and I wyll be his father. And I wyl stablyshe ye seate of his kyngdome vpō Israel for euer.

Now my sonne, the LORDE shal be wyth the, and thou shalt prospere, that thou mayest buylde an house vnto the LORDE thy God, acordynge as he hath spoken of the. The LORDE also shal geue the wyszdome & vnderstondynge, and shal commytte Israel vnto the, that thou mayest kepe the lawe of the LORDE thy God. But then shal thou prospere, yf thou take hede to do after the ordynaunces and lawes which the LORDE commaunded Moses vnto Israel. Be stronge, and take a good corage vnto the, feare not, and be not faynt harted. Beholde, I haue in my pouerte prouyded for the house of the LORDE, an hundreth thousande talentes of golde, and a thousande tymes a thousande talentes of syluer, and brasse and yron without nombre: for there is so moch of it.

And tymbre and stone haue I prepared, thou mayest get more therof. Thou hast many workmen also, mesons and carpenters in stone and tymber, and all maner of men that haue vnderstondinge in all worke off golde, syluer, brasse, and yron without nombre. Yet get the vp, and be doynge, and the LORDE shal be with the.

And Dauid commaunded all the rulers of Israel, to helpe Salomon his sonne, and sayde: Is not the LORDE youre God with you, and hath geuen you rest on euery syde? for he hath delyuered the inhabiters of the londe in to youre handes, and the londe is subdued before the LORDE and before his people. Geue ouer youre hert now therfore and youre soule, to seke the LORDE youre God, and get you vp, and buylde a Sanctuary vnto the LORDE God, that the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE and the holy vessels of God, maye be brought in to the house, which shalbe buylded vnto the name of the LORDE. So Dauid made Salomon his sonne kynge ouer Israel, whan he himselfe was olde, and had lyued ynough.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

ANd Dauid gathered all the rulers in Israel together, and the prestes & Leuites, to nombre ye Leuites from thirtie yeare olde & aboue. And ye nombre of thē (which were strōge men) frō heade to heade, was eight and thirtie thousande: of whom there were foure & twentie thousande, which dyd their diligence in the worke ouer ye house of the LORDE, and sixe thousande officers and Iudges, and foure thousande porters, & foure thousande that songe prayses vnto ye LORDE with instrumentes, which he had made to synge prayse with all.

And Dauid made the ordinaunce amonge the children of Leui, namely amōge Gerson, Kahath & Merari. The Gersonites were: Laedan and Simei. The children of Laedan: the first, Iehiel, Sethan, and Ioel, these thre.

The children of Simei were: Salomith, Hasiel and Haran, these thre. These were the chefe amonge the fathers of Laedan. These also were the children of Simei: Iahath, Sina, Ieus and Bria, these foure were Simeis children also. Iahath was the first, Sina the seconde. As for Ieus and Bria, they had not many childrē, therfore were they coū ted but for one fathers house.

xod. 6. c . Pa . 7. The childrē of Kahath were: Amram, Iezehar, Hebron and Vsiel, these foure. The childrē of Amram were: Aaron and Moses. xo. 29. a As for Aaron, he was separated, to be sanctified for the Most holy, he & his sonnes for euer, to burne incense before the LORDE, & to mynister and blesse in ye name of the LORDE for euermore. And the children of Moses the man of God were named amonge ye trybe of the Leuites. Exod. 2. d The childrē of Moses were Gerson and Elieser.

The children of Gerson, the fyrst was Sebuel. The children of Elieser, the fyrst was Rehabia & Elieser had none other children. But ye childrē of Rehabia were many ther ouer. The children of Iezehar were: Salomith the fyrst. The children of Hebron were: Ieria the fyrst, Amaria the seconde, Iahasiel the thirde and Iakmeam ye fourth. The children of Vsiel were: Micha the fyrst and Iesia the seconde.

The children of Merari were: Maheli & Musi. The children of Maheli were: Eleasar and Cis. And Eleasar dyed, and had no sonnes but doughters. And the children of Cis their brethren toke them. The children of Musi were: Maheli, Eder and Ieremoth, these thre. These are the children of Leui amonge their fathers houses, and the chefest of the fathers, which were counted after the nombre of ye names heade by heade: which executed the worke of the offices in the house of the LORDE 〈…〉 from thirtie yeare olde & aboue. For Dauid sayde: The LORDE God of Israel hath geuen his people rest, & shall dwell at Ierusalem for euer.

Amonge ye Leuites also were the childrē of Leui nombred from thirtie yeare olde and aboue, 〈…〉 that they neded not to beare ye Habitacion with all the vessels of their office, but acordinge to ye last wordes of Dauid, yt they shulde stonde vnder the hande of the children of Aaron, to mynister in the house of the LORDE in the courte, and to the chestes, and for purifyenge, and to all maner of sanctifyenge, and to euery worke of the office in the house of God. And for ye shewbred, for the fyne floure, for the meat offrynge, for the vnleuended wafers, for the pannes, for ye fryenge, and for all maner of weight and measure. And in the mornynge to stonde for to geue thankes and to prayse the LORDE, and in the euenynge likewyse. And vpon all Sabbathes, Newmones and feastes to offre all the burnt offerynges vnto the LOROE, acordinge to the nombre and ordre, allwaye before the LORDE: to wayte vpon the Tabernacle of witnesse and of the Sāctuary, and vpon their brethrē the children of Aaron, to mynister in the house of the LORDE.

The XXV. Chapter.

THis was ye ordinaunce of the childrē of Aaron. 〈…〉 The children of Aaron were, Nadab, Abihu, Eleasar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu dyed before their fathers, and had no children. And Eleasar and Ithamar were prestes. And Dauid ordred them after his maner: Sadoc out of the children of Eleasar, and Ahimelech out of the children of Ithamar, acordinge to their nombre and office. And there were mo chefe stronge men founde amonge the children of Eleasar, then the children of Ithamar. And he ordeyned them after this maner: namely, sixtene out of ye childrē of Eleasar to be rulers thorow out their fathers house: & eight of the children of Ithamar thorow out their fathers house. Neuertheles he ordeyned them by lot, because that both the pryncipall of the children of Eleasar and of Ithamar were in ye Sanctuary, and chefe before God. And the Scrybe Semeia the sonne of Nethaneel one of the Leuites, wrote them vp before ye kynge and before the rulers, and before Sadoc the prest, & before Ahimelech he sonne of Abiathar, & before the chefe of the fathers amonge the prestes & Leuites: namely one fathers house for Eleasar, and the other for Ithamar.

And the first lot fell vpon Ioiarib, the seconde vpon Iedana, the thirde vpō Harim, the fourth vpon Seorim, the fifth vpō Malchia, the sixte vpon Meiamin, the seuenth vpon Hakoz, the eight vpon 〈…〉 Abia, the nyenth vpon Iesua, the tenth vpon Sechania, the eleuenth vpon Eliasib, the twolueth vpon Iakim, the thirtenth vpon Hupa, the fourtenth vpon Iesebeab, the fiftenth vpon Bilga, the sixtenth vpon Immer, the seuententh vpon Hesir, the eightenth vpon Hapizez, the nyententh vpon Pethahia, the twentieth vpon Ieheszkel, the one and twentieth vpon Iachin, the two & twentieth vpon Samul, the thre & twentieth vpō Dalaia, ye foure and twentieth vpō Maasia. This is their course after their office, to go in to the house of the LORDE, acordinge to their maner vnder their father Aaron, as the LORDE God of Israel commaunded him.

Of the children of Leui amonge the children of Amram, was Subael. Amonge the children of Subael, was Iohdea. Amonge the children of Rehabia, was ye first Iesia. Amonge the Iezeharites was Selomoth. Amonge the children of Selomoth was Iahath. The children of Hebron were: Ieria ye first, Amaria the seconde, Iehasiel the thirde, Iakneam the fourth.

The children of Vsiel were: Micha. Amō ge the children of Micha was Samir. The brother of Micha was Iesia. Amonge the children of Iesia was Zacharias. The children of Merari were: Maheli & Musi, whose sonne was Iaesia. The childrē of Merari of his sonne Iaesia were: Soham, Sacur & Ibri. Maheli had Eleasar: for he had no sonnes. Of Cis, the children of Cis were: Ierahmeel and Musi. The children of Musi were, Maheli, Eder and Ieremoth. These are the childrē of ye Leuites thorow out ye house of their fathers. And the lot was cast for them also besyde their brethren the children of Aaron, in the presence of kynge Dauid and Sadoc and Ahimelech, and before the chefe fathers amonge the prestes & Leuites, as well for the leest brother as for the chefest amonge the fathers.

The XXVI. Chapter.

ANd Dauid with the chefe captaynes sundered to the offices amonge ye childrē of Assaph, Heman & Iedithun ye prophetes with harpes, psalteries & Cymbales, and they were nombred vnto the worke acordynge to their offyce. Amonge the childrē of Assaph was Sakur, Ioseph, Nethania, Asarela, childrē of Assaph vnder Assaph which prophecyed besyde ye kynge. Of Iedithun: The children of Iedithun were, Gedalia, Zori, Iesaia, Hasabia, Mathithia (Simei) these sixe vnder their father Iedithun wt harpes, whose prophecienge was to geue thankes and to praise the LORDE. Of Heman: The children of Heman were Bukia, Mathania, Vsiel, Sebuel, Ierimoth, Hanania, Hanani, Eliatha, Gilthi, Remamthieser, Iaszbaksa, Mallothi, Hothir and Mehesioth. All these were the children of Hemā the kynges Seer in the wordes of God to lyfte vp the horne: for God gaue Heman fourtene sonnes & thre daughters.

All these were vnder their fathers Assaph Iedithun and Heman, to synge in the house of the LORDE with Cymbales, Psalteries & harpes, acordynge to the office in the house of God besyde the kynge. And their nombre with their brethren, which were taughte in the songe of the LORDE (euery one hauynge vnderstondinge) was two hundreth & eight and foure score. And they cast the Pro. 16. d lottes ouer their offyce, for the leest as for the greatest, for the master as for the scolar.

And the first Lot fell vpō Ioseph which was of Assaph: the seconde vpō Gedolia wt his brethrē and sonnes, of whom there were twolue. The thirde vpō Sacur with his sonnes & brethrē, of whō there were twolue. The fourth vpon Iezri with his sonnes and brethren, of whom there were twolue. The fyfth vpō Nethania with his sonnes and brethrē, of whom there were twolue. The syxte vpon Bukia with his sonnes and brethren, of whom there were twolue. The seuenth vpon Iesreela with his sonnes and brethrē, of whom there were twolue. The eighte vpon Iesaia with his sonnes and brethren, of whom there were twolue. The nyenth vpon Mathania with his sonnes and brethrē, of whom there were twolue. The tenth vpon Simei with his sonnes and brethren, of whom there were twolue. The eleuenth vpon Asraeel with his sonnes and brethren, of whom there were twolue. The twolueth vpon Hasabia with his sonnes and brethrē, of whom there were twolue. The thirtenth vpon Subael with his sonnes and brethren, of whom there were twolue. The fourtenth vpon Mathithia with his sonnes & brethrē, of whom there were twolue. The fyftenth vpō Ieremoth with his sonnes and brethrē, of whom there were twolue. The syxtenth vpon Anania with his sonnes and brethren of whom there were twolue. The seuentēth vpon Iaszbekasa with his sonnes & brethren of whom there were twolue. The eightenth vpon Hanani with his sonnes and brethrē, of whom there were twolue. The nyententh vpon Mallothi with his sonnes & brethren, of whom there were twolue. The twentieth vpon Eliatha with his sonnes and brethrē, of whom there were twolue. The one & twē tieth vpon Hothir with his sonnes & brethrē of whom there were twolue. The two and twentieth vpon Gidalthi with his sonnes & brethren, of whom there were twolue. The thre and twentieth vpon Mehesioth with his sonnes and brethren of whom there were twolue. The foure and twētyeth vpon Romamthieser with his sonnes and brethren, of whom there were twolue.

The XXVII. Chapter.

OF the ordinaūces of the dorekepers Amonge the Korahytes was Meselemia of the children of Assaph. The children of Meselemia were these: the fyrstborne Zacharias, the seconde Iediael, ye thirde Sebadia, the fourth Iathniel, ye fifth Elam, the sixte Iohanan, the seuenth Elidenai. The children of Obed Edom were these: the firstborne Semaia, the seconde Iosabad the thirde Ioah, the fourth Sachur, ye fyfth Nethaneel, the sixte Ammiel, the seuenth Isachar, the eight Pegulthai: for God had blessed him. And vnto Semaia his sonne there were sonnes borne also, which bare rule in the house of their fathers: for they were mightie valeaunt men. The children of Semaia were, Athni, Rephael, Obed and Elsabad, whose brethren were valeaunt men, Elihu and Semachia: all these were of the children of Obed Edom Meselemia had children and brethren which were stronge men, euen eightene.

Hossa of the children of Merari had children, Simri the chefest: for ye fyrstborne was not there, therfore dyd his father appoynte him to be chefest, the secōde Helchias, ye thirde Tebalia, ye fourth Zacharias. All the children and brethren of Hossa were thirtene.

This is the ordinaunce of the dorekepers amonge the heades of the valeaunt men in the offyce besyde their brethren, to mynister in the house of the LORDE. And the lot was cast for the small as for ye greate thorow out the house of their fathers at euery dore. The lot towarde the East fell vpon Meselemia. And the lot was cast for Zacharias his sonne, which was a man of prudent councell, & vnto him it fell towarde the North: But vnto Obed Edom towarde the South, and to his sonnes besyde the house of Esupim. And vnto Supim and Hossa towarde the West by the gate of Salechet in the strete of the burnt offeringes, where the tabernacles stonde together.

Towarde the East were there sixe of the Leuites. Towarde the north foure on ye daie tyme. Towarde the south foure on the daye season likewyse. Besyde Esupim two & two. By Parbar westwarde were there foure in in the strete, and two besyde Parbar. These are the ordinaunces of the dorekepers amonge the children of the Korahites, and the children of Merari. Of the Leuites, was Ahia ouer the treasures of the house of God, and ouer the treasures that were sanctifyed.

Of the children of Laedan, the childrē of the Gersonites. Of Laedan were these the heades of the fathers, namely ye Iehielites. The children of the Iehielites were, Sethā and his brother Ioel ouer the treasures of the house of the LORDE. Amonge the A •• amites, Iezeharites, Hebronites and Vsielites, was Sebuel the sonne of Gerson the sonne of Moses, prynce ouer the treasures. His brother Elieser had a sonne Rehabia, whose sonne was Iesaia, whose sonne was Iorā, whose sonne was Sichri, whose sonne was Selomith: the same Selomith and his brethren were ouer all the treasures of the thinges that were halowed, which kinge Dauid halowed, and the pryncipall of the fathers amonge the rulers ouer thousandes & ouer hundreds, and rulers in the hoost (of warres and spoyles had they halowed it, to repayre the house of the LORDE) and ouer all yt Samuel the Seer, and Saul the sonne of Cis, & Abner the sonne of Ner, and Ioab the sonne of Zer Ia had halowed: whatsoeuer was sanctifyed, it was vnder the hande of Se •• mith and his brethren. Amonge the Iezeharites was Chenaia with his sonnes for the worke without ouer Israel, offycers & Iudges. Amonge the Hebronites was Hasabia & his brethren, valeaunt men, a thousande and seuen hundreth, ouer the offyces of Israel on this syde Iordane westwarde for all maner worke of the LORDE, and to serue the kinge.

But amonge the Hebronites was Ieria the chefest amonge the Hebronites of his kinred amōge the fathers. And search was made amonge them, and in the fortieth yeare of kynge Dauid there were founde valeaūt men at Iaeser in Gilead, and their brethren mightie men, two thousande and seuen hundreth pryncipall fathers, and Dauid set thē ouer the Rubenites, Gaddites, and ouer the halfe trybe of Manasses, for all soch busynes as belonged vnto God and the kynge.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

THe children of Israel acordinge to their nombre, were heades of the fathers, and ouer thousandes and ouer hundreds, & officers waytinge vpon the kynge, to go of & on after their course euery moneth one, in all ye monethes of ye yeare. Euery course had foure & twentye thousande.

Ouer the first course of the first moneth, was Iasebeam ye sonne of Sabdiel, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande. Of the children of Phares was the pryncipall amonge all the chefe captaynes in the first moneth.

Ouer the course of the seconde moneth was Dodaithe Ahohite, and Mikloth was the prynce ouer his course. And vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande.

The thirde pryncipall captayne of the thirde moneth, was Benaia the sonne of Ioiada ye prest, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande. 〈…〉 This is yt Benaia the Worthie amonge thirtie and aboue thirtie, And his course was vnder his sonne Ammi Sabad.

The fourth in ye fourth moneth was Asahel the brother of Ioab, and Sabadia his sonne after him, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande.

The fifth in the fifth moneth was Samehuth the Iesrahite, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande.

The sixte in the sixte moneth, was Ira ye sonne of Ickes the Thec ite, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande.

The seuenth in the seuenth moneth, was Helez the Pelonite of the children of Ephraim, and vnder his course were foure and twē tye thousande.

The eight in the eight moneth, was Sibechai the Husathite of ye Sarehites, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande.

The nyenth in the nyenth moneth, was Abieser the Anthothite of the childrē of Iemini, & vnder his course were foure and twē tye thousande.

The tenth in the tenth moneth, was Maherai the Netophatite of the Serahites, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande.

The eleuenth in the eleuēth moneth, was Benaia the Pirgathonite of the children of Ephraim, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande.

The twolueth in the twolueth moneth was Heldai ye Netophatite of Athniel, and vnder his course were foure and twentye thousande.

Ouer the trybes of Israel were these: Amonge the Rubenites was Prynce Elieser the sonne of Sichri. Amonge the Simeoninites was Sephatia the sonne of Maecha. Amonge the Leuites was Hasabia the sonne of Kemuel. Amonge the Aaronites was Sadoc. Amōge Iuda was Elihu one of Dauids brethren. Amonge Isachar was Amri the sonne of Michael. Amonge Zabulō was Iesmaia the sonne of Obadia. Amonge Nephtali was Ieremoth the sonne of Asriel. Amonge the children of Ephraim was Hosea the sonne of Asasia. Amonge the halfe trybe of Manasses was Ioel the sonne of Pedaia. Amonge the halfe trybe of Manasses in Gilead was Ieddo the sonne of Zacharias. Amonge Ben Iamin was Iaesiel the sonne of Abner. Amonge Dan was Asareel the sonne of Ieroham. These are the princes of the trybes of Israel.

But Dauid toke not the nombre of them that were twentye yeare olde and there vnder: for the LORDE had promysed to multiplye Israel as the starres of the szkie. 1. Par. 22. a Howbeit Ioab the sonne of Zeruia had begonne to nombre them, and perfourmed it not: for there came wrath vpon Israel for the same cause, therfore came not the nombre in to ye Cronicles of kynge Dauid.

Ouer the kynges treasures was Asmaueth the sonne of Adiel. And ouer the treasures in the lōde, in the cities, vyllages and castels was Ionathan the sonne of Vsia. Ouer the huszbandmen to tyll the londe was Esri the sonne of Chelub. Ouer the vynyardes was Simei the Ramathite. Ouer the wyne Cellers and treasures of wyne was Sabdi the Siphimite. Ouer the oyle gardens and Molberytrees in the lowe feldes, was Baal Hanan the Gaderite. Ouer the treasure of the oyle was Ioas. Ouer ye oxen of the pasture at Saron was Sitari the Saronite. Ouer the oxen in the valleys was Saphath the sonne of Adlai.

Ouer the Camels was Obil the Ismaelite. Ouer the asses was Iehethia the Meronothite. Ouer the shepe was Iasis the Hagarite. All these were rulers ouer kynge Dauids goodes. Ionathan Dauids vncle was of the councell a wyse man and a scrybe. And Iehiel the sonne of Hachmoni was with the kynges children.1. Re. 6. d Achitophel also was of the kynges councell. Husai the Arachite was the kinges frende. After Achitophel was Ioiada ye sonne of Benaia and Abiathar. As for Ioab, he was the kynges chefe captayne of warre.

The XXIX. Chapter.

ANd Dauid gathered vnto Ierusalem all the rulers of Israel, namely ye prynces of the trybes, the rulers ouer the courses, which wayted vpon the kynge, the captaynes ouer thousandes and ouer hundreds, the rulers ouer the goodes and catell of the kynge and of his sonnes, with the chā berlaines, warryers and valeaunt men. And Dauid the kynge stode vp vpon his fete, and saide: Heare me my brethren and my people: Re. 7. a I was mynded to buylde an house, where the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE shulde rest, and a fote stole for the fete of oure God, and prepared my selfe for to buylde,1. Par. 23. b But God sayde vnto me: Thou shalt not buylde an house vnto my name, for thou art a man of warre, and hast shed bloude.

1. Re. 16. a Now hath the LORDE God of Israel chosen me out of all my fathers house, yt I shulde be kynge ouer Israel: for Ge. 49. b 1. Pa . 6. a Iuda hath he chosen to be the Prynce, and in the house of Iuda amonge my fathers children hath he had pleasure vnto me, to make me kynge ouer all Israel: and amōge all my sonnes (for the LORDE hath geuen me many sonnes) he hath chosen Salomon my sonne, to syt vpon the seate of the kyngdome of the LORDE ouer Israel, and hath sayde vnto me:1 Par. 18. b 2. Par. 6. b Salomon thy sonne shall buylde me an house and my courtes: for I haue chosen him to be my sonne, & I wil be his father, & wyll stablishe his kyngdome for euer, yf he be constant to do after my commaundementes and lawes, as it is this daye. Now in the sight of all Israel the congregacion of the LORDE, and in the eares of oure God, se that ye obserue and seke all the commaundemētes of the LORDE yo God, that ye maye possesse this good londe and that ye and youre children maie haue ye inheritaunce therof for euer.

And thou my sonne Salomō, knowe thou the God of thy father, and serue him with all thy hert, and with the desyre of thy soule: for the LORDE searcheth all hertes, and vnderstondeth all thoughtes & ymaginacions Yf thou seke him, thou shalt fynde him: but yf thou forsake him, he shall refuse the for euer. Take hede now, for the LORDE hath chosen the, to buylde an house to be the Sāctuary: be stronge, and make it.

And Dauid gaue Salomon his sonne patrone of the Porche, and of his house, and of the celles and perlers and ynnermer chā bers, and of the house of the Mercyseate, & of all that he had in his mynde, namely of the courte of the LORDES house, and of all the oratories rounde aboute the treasures in ye house of God, and of the treasures of soch thinges as were halowed, of the ordinaunces of the prestes, and Leuites, and of all ye busynesse of the offyces in the house of the LORDE.

Golde (gaue he him) after ye golde weigh for all maner of vessels of euery offyce, and all siluer ornamentes after the weight for all maner of vessell of euery offyce: and weigh for the golden candilstickes and golden lampes, for euery candilstycke and his lampes his weight: likewyse for the siluer candilstickes gaue he the weight to the candilsticke & his lampes, acordynge as was requyred for euery candilstycke. He gaue golde also for ye tables of the shewbred, for euery table his weight and syluer lykewise for the syluer tables. And pure golde for the fleshokes, b sens and censors: and for the golden cuppes, vnto euery cuppe his weight: and for the s uer cuppes, vnto euery cuppe his weighte and for the altare of incense his weighte, of the most pure golde.

And a patrone of the charett of the golden Cherubins, that they mighte sprede out them selues, and couer the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE. All this is geuen me in wrytinge of the hande of the LORDE, to make me vnderstonde all the workes of the patrone.

And Dauid sayde vnto Salomō his sonne: Be thou manly and stronge, and make it, feare not, and be not fayntharted, the LORDE God my God shal be with the, and shall not withdrawe his hande, ner fayle the, tyll thou haue fynished euery worke for the seruyce in the house of the LORDE. Beholde, the courses of the prestes and Leuites to all the offyces in the house of God are with the in euery worke, and are willinge, and haue wisdome to all the offyces: and so haue the prynces and all the people for euery thinge that thou hast to do.

The XXX. Chapter.

ANd kynge Dauid sayde vnto all the congregacion: God hath chosen Salomon one of my sonnes, which yet is yonge and tender. But the worke is greate: for it is not a mans palace, but the LORDE Gods. Yet haue I after all my abilite prep red vnto the house of God, golde for the vessels of golde, syluer for them of syluer, brasse for them of brasse, yron for thē of yron, wod for them of wod, Onix stones, set Rubyes, & stones of dyuerse coloures, & all precious stones, & Marble stones in multitude. Besydes this, for the good wyl yt I haue to the house of God, I haue of myne awne proper good thre M. talētes of golde of Ophir, & seuen M. talētes of pure syluer, which I geue vnto the holy house of God, besyde all yt I haue prepared, to ouerlaye ye walles of the house, yt the same which ought to be of golde, maye be of golde: & that it which ought to be of syluer, maye be of syluer: and for all maner of worke by the hande of the craftesmen. And who is now fre wyllinge, to fyll his hande this daye vnto the LORDE?

Then were the prynces of the fathers, ye prynces of the trybes of Israel, the captaynes ouer thousandes & ouer hundreds, the rulers ouer the kynges busynes, fre wyllinge, & gaue to ye mynistracion in the house of God fyue M. talentes of golde, and ten M. guldens, and ten M. talentes of syluer, eightene M. talētes of brasse, and an hundred M. talētes of yron. And by whom so euer were foū de stones, they gaue them to the treasure of the house of the LORDE, vnder the hāde of Iehiel the Gersonite.

And ye people were glad that they were fre wyllinge: for they gaue it wt a good wyll (euen with all their hert) vnto the LORDE. And Dauid also ye kynge reioysed greatly, and praysed God, and sayde before the whole congregacion: Praysed be thou O LORDE God of Israel oure father, vnto the belongeth worshippe and power, glory, victory & thankes: for all that is in heauen and earth, is thine: thine is ye kyngdome, and thou art exalted aboue all prynces. Thine are riches and honoure before ye, thou reignest ouer all, in thy hande consisteth power and might, in thy hāde is it to make euery man greate and stronge.

Now thāke we the oure God, and prayse ye name of thy glory: For who am I? What is my people? that we shulde be able with a fre wyll to offre, as this is done? For of the commeth all, and of thy hande haue we geuen it the: 〈◊〉 . 47. b 〈◊〉 . 11. c For we are but pilgrems & straū gers before the, as were all oure fathers. Oure life vpon earth is as a shadowe, and here is no abydinge. O LORDE oure God, all this abundaunce that we haue prepared to buylde the an house vnto thy name, came of thy hande, and is thine alltogether. I knowe my God, that thou tryest the hert, and that vnfaynednes is acceptable vnto the: therfore haue I geuē all this with an vnfayned hert, euē with a good wyll, and now haue I had ioye to se thy people (which here are present) offre with a fre wyll vnto the. O LORDE God of oure fathers Abraham, Isaac, & Israel, kepe thou euermore soch purposes and thoughtes in ye hertes of thy people, & prepare thou their hertes vnto the. And graunte my sonne Salomon a perfecte hert, that he maye kepe thy cōmaundementes, thy testimonies, & thy statutes, that he maye do all, & buylde this palace, which I haue prepared.

And Dauid sayde vnto the whole cōgregacion: O prayse the LORDE yor God. And all the cōgregacion praysed ye LORDE God of their fathers, & bowed them selues, & worshipped the LORDE & then the kynge, and offred sacrifices vnto the LORDE. And on ye nexte morow offred they burnt offerynges, a M. bullockes, a M. rāmes, a M. lābes wt their drynk offerynges, & plenteously offred they amonge all Israel. And they ate and dranke the same daie before the LORDE with greate ioye, and made Salomon the sonne of Dauid kynge ye seconde tyme, and anoynted him to be ye prynce for the LORDE, . Reg. & Sadoc to be the prest.

3. Re. 2. Thus sat Salomon vpon the seate of ye LORDE, kynge in his fathers steade, & prospered. And all Israel obeyed him, & all ye rulers & mightie men, & all kynge Dauids children submytted themselues vnto kynge Salomon. And ye LORDE made Salomon excellent & greate in ye sighte of all Israel, 3. Re. 4 and gaue him soch a glorious kyngdome, as none had before him ouer Israel.

So had Dauid now bene kynge ouer all Israel. And ye tyme that he was kynge ouer Israel, is fortye yeares: At Hebron reigned he seuen yeare, and at Ierusalem thre & thirtie yeare, & dyed in a good age, full of dayes, riches and honoure. And Salomon his sonne was kynge in his steade.

These actes of kynge Dauid (both ye first and last) beholde, they are wrytten amonge the actes of Samuel the Seer, and amonge the actes of the prophet Nathan, and amō ge the actes of Gad the Seer, with all his kyngdome, power and tymes which passed vnder him, both vpon Israel & vpon all the kyngdomes of the earth.

The ende of the first boke of the Cronicles.
The seconde boke of the Cronicles, called Paralipomenon. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Of the kyngdome of Salomon, to whom the LORDE appeareth, and Salomon maketh his prayer vnto him. Chap. II. How Salomon deuyseth to buylde the temple of the LORDE. Chap. III. How he begynneth to buylde, and after what faszshion. Chap. IIII. Of the ornamentes of the temple. Chap. V. The Arke is broughte in to the temple, &c. Chap. VI. Salomon speaketh vnto the people prayseth God, and beseketh him to heare soch as make their prayer in the temple. Chap. VII. The fyre commeth from heauen, & consumeth the sacrifice. The kynge & the people offre. The LORDE appeareth vnto Salomon, and promyseth to heare him. Chap. VIII. Salomon buyldeth cities, and subdueth the Heythen. Of his captaynes and of his wife. Chap. IX. The Quene of Saba bringeth presentes vnto Salomon, & receaueth giftes of him. Salomon dyeth. Chap. X. Roboam oppressynge the people, maketh them to fall awaye from him. Chap. XI. The LORDE wil not suffre Roboam kynge of Iuda & Bē Iamin to fighte agaynst Israel. He buyldeth cities. Chap. XII. Roboam forsaketh the lawe of the LORDE. The kynge of Egipte commeth vpon him. The LORDE delyuereth him. Chap. XIII. Of Abia & Ieroboam & their warres. Chap. XIIII. XV. Of kynge Asa. Chap. XVI. Baesa cōmeth vp against Asa, which agreeth with him, therfore is he rebuked. Chap. XVII. Of the reigne of Iosaphat. Chap. XVIII. Iosaphat maketh frendshippe with Achab, and helpeth him to fight. Chap. XIX. Iehu rebuketh Iosaphat for helpynge the vngodly. Iosaphat amendeth, and lyueth well. Chap. XX. The Moabites & Ammonites with the Syrians and Edomites go forth agaynst Iosaphat, which prayeth vnto God, and he helpeth him. Chap. XXI. Iosaphat dyeth. Ioram his sonne is made kynge, slayeth his brethren, and forsaketh the LORDE. Edom falleth awaye from Iuda. God punysheth Ioram. Chap. XXII. Ochosias is made kinge, and taketh parte with Achabs sonne. Chap. XXIII. Ioiada maketh Ioas kynge, & commaundeth to slaye Athalia. Chap. XXIIII. Whyle Ioiada lyueth, kynge Ioas doth well, but after his death he forsaketh the LORDE: And because Zacharias reproueth him, he cōmaundeth to stone him to death. His awne seruauntes kyll him vpon his bed. Chap. XXV. Of kynge Amasias, which smyteth the Edomites. He worshippeth their Idols, therfore the prophet reproueth him. He wyll nedes fight with the kynge of Israel, which ouercommeth him and taketh him. Chap. XXVI. Of kynge Osias other wyse called Vsia or Azarias: of his buyldinges, & how he became leper for his presumpcion. Chap. XXVII. Of Iothams reigne, of his buyldinges, and of his warres. Chap. XXVIII. Of the wicked kynge Achas. Chap. XXIX.XXX.XXXI. Of the verteous kynge Ezechias, and of his noble actes. Chap. XXXII. Sennacherib layeth sege to Ierusalem, Ezechias comforteth the people. Sennacherib threateneth, but the LORDE delyuereth Iuda. Ezechias is sicke and recouereth. Chap. XXXIII. Of the reigne of Manasses, and of his amendment from his wickednes. Of kynge Ammon his sonne. Chap. XXXIIII.XXXV. Of the reigne and most vertuous actes of kynge Iosias, and of his death. Chap. XXXVI. Thre monethes reigneth Ioachas, after whom reigneth Eliachim other wyse called Ioachim, whom Nabuchodonosor carieth vnto Babilon, and in his steade reigneth Ioachim his sonne, which also is led awaye captayne vnto Babilon. Sedechias is made kynge, and at the last caried awaye presoner with all the people, and Ierusalem destroyed.
The first Chapter.

ANd Salomon the sonne of Dauid was stablyshed in his kyngdome, 〈…〉 and the LORDE his God was with him, & made him exceadinge greate. And Salomon spake vnto all Israel, to the captaynes ouer thousandes and ouer hundreds, to the Iudges, and to all ye prynces in Israel, and to the chefest fathers, so that they wente (Salomon and the whole congregacion with him) vnto the hye place which was at Gibea: 〈…〉 for there was ye Tabernacle of ye witnesse of God, 〈…〉 which Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE had made in ye wyldernesse. 〈…〉 For Dauid had brought vp the Arke of God from Kiriath Iarim, whan he had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Ierusalem. As for ye brasen altare 〈…〉 which Bezaleel the sonne of V •• the sonne of Hur had made, it was there before the habitacion of the LORDE: and Salomon and the congregacion soughte God. And Salomon offred a thousande burntofferynges vpō the brasen altare that stode before the Tabernacle of witnesse.

In the same nighte appeared God vnto Salomon, and sayde vnto him: Axe, what shal I geue the? And Salomon sayde vnto God: Thou hast done greate mercy vnto my father Dauid, nd hast made me kynge in his steade. Now LORDE God, let ye worde that thou hast p omysed vnto my father Dauid, be verified, 〈…〉 for thou hast made me kynge ouer a people, which is as many in nō bre as the dust vpon the earth. Graunte me wyszdome therfore and knowlege, yt I maye go out and in before this people: for who is able to iudge this greate people of thine?

Then sayde God vnto Salomon: For so moch as thou art so mynded, and hast not desyred riches ner good, ner honor, ner the soules of thine enemies, ner longe life, but hast requyred wyszdome and knowlege, to iudge my people, ouer whom I haue made the kynge, wyszdome therfore and knowlege be geuen the. Morouer, riches & good and honoure wyll I geue the, so that soch one as thou hath not bene before the amōge the kynges, nether shal be after the.

So came Salomon from the hye place (which was at Gibeon) vnto Ierusalē from ye Tabernacle of witnesse, 〈…〉 and reigned ouer Israel. And Salomon gathered him charettes and horsmen, so that he had a thousande and foure hundreth charettes, & twolue thousande horsmen: and those appoynted he to be in the charet cities, and with the kynge at Ierusalem. And the kynge broughte it so to passe, that there was as moch syluer & golde at Ierusalē as stones: and as many Ceders, as the Molberyes trees, that are in the valleys. And there were horses broughte vnto Salomon out of Egipte, & the kynges marchauntes fetched them from Kena for moneye. And they came vp, and broughte out of Egipte a charet for sixe hūdreth syluer pēs, and an horse for an hundreth and fiftye. Thus broughte they also vnto all the kynges of the Hethites, and to the kynges of ye Syrians.

The II. Chapter.

ANd Salomon thoughte to buylde an house vnto the name of the LORDE, & an house for his kyngdome: and tolde out thre score and ten thousande men to beare burthens, and foure score thousande that hewed tymber vpō the mount, and thre thousande and sixe hundreth officers ouer them. 〈◊〉 . 5. a And Salomon sent vnto Hiram the kynge of Tyre, sayenge: As 〈…〉 thou dyddest with my father, & sendedst him Ceder trees, to builde an house for to dwell in (euen so do thou wt me also.) Beholde, I wyl buylde an house vnto the name of the LORDE my God, to sanctifie it, for to burne good incense before him, and allwaye to prepare ye shewbred, and burnt offerynges in the mornynge and in the euenynge, on the Sabbathes & New mones, and solempne feastes of ye LORDE oure God euermore for Israel.

And the house that I wyl buylde, shal be greate: for oure God is greater then all goddes. But who is able to buylde him an house? For heauen & the heauens of all heauens maye not cōprehende him. Who am I then, that I shulde buylde him an house? But onely for this intent to burne incense before him?

Sēde me now therfore a wyse mā to worke with golde, syluer, brasse, yron, scarlet, purple, yalow sylke and soch one as can graue carued worke with the wyse men that are with me in Iewry and Ierusalem, whom my father Dauid ordeyned. And sende me tymber of Ceder, pyne tre and costly wodd from Libanus: for I knowe that ye seruauntes can hewe tymber vpon Libanus. And beholde, my seruauntes shalbe with ye seruauntes, to prepare me moch tymber: for the house that I wyl buylde, shalbe greate & maruelous goodly.

And beholde, I wyl geue vnto the carpenters thy seruauntes which hewe the tymber, twētye thousande quarters, of beaten wheate, and twentye thousande quarters of barlye, and twentye thousande Batthes of wyne, and twentye thousande Batthes of oyle.

Then sayde Hiram the kynge of Tyre by wrytinge, and sent it vnto Salomon: Because the LORDE loueth his people, therfore hath he made ye to be kynge ouer them. And Hiram sayde morouer: Praysed be ye LORDE God of Israel, which made heauen earth, that he hath geuē kynge Dauid a wyse and prudent sonne, and soch one as hath vnderstondinge to buylde an house vnto the LORDE, & an house for his realme. Therfore sende I now a wyse man that hath vnderstondynge, 3. Re. . b euen Hiram Abi (which is the sonne of a woman of the doughters of Dan, and his father was of Tyre) which can worke in golde, syluer, brasse, yron, stone, tymber, scarlet, yalowe sylke, lynnen, purple and to carue all maner of thinges, and to make what cō nynge thinge so euer is geuen him, with thy wyse men, and with the wyse men of my lorde kynge Dauid ye father. And now let my lorde sende the wheate, barlye, oyle and wyne vnto his seruaūtes, acordinge as he hath sayde, and so wyll we hewe ye tymber vpon Libanus, as moch as thou nedest, and wyll brynge it by flotes in the See vnto Iapho, from whence thou mayest brynge it vp to Ierusalem.

And Salomon nombred all the straungers in the londe of Israel, acordinge to the nombre whan Dauid his father nombred them: and there were founde an hundreth & fiftye thousande, thre thousande and sixe hū dreth. And of the same he made thre score and ten thousande beares of burthens, and foure score thousande hewers vpō ye mount, and thre thousande and sixe hundreth ouerseers, which helde ye people at their worke.

The III. Chapter.

ANd Salomon beganne to buylde the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem vpon the mount Moria, . Par. 2. d that was shewed vnto Dauid his father, which Dauid had prepared for the rowme, vpon the corne floore of Arnan the Iebusite. In the seconde daye of the seconde moneth in the fourth yeare of his reigne begāne he to buylde. And so layed Salomon the foundacion to buylde the house of God: first the length thre score cubytes, the bredth twentye cubites: and the Porche before the wydenes of the house, was twentye cubites longe, but the height was an hundreth and twentye, and he ouerlayed it on the ynsyde with pure golde.

But the greate house syled he with Pyne tre, and ouerlayed it with the best golde, and made palme trees and throwne worke theron, and ouerlayed the house with precious stones to beutifye it. As for the golde, it was golde of Paruaim. And the balkes and postes aboue, and the walles, and the dores of it ouerlayed he with golde, and caused Cherubins to be carued on the walles.

He made also the house of the Most holy, whose length was twentye cubites acordinge to the wydenesse of the house: and the bredth of it was twentye cubites likewyse, and he ouerlayed it with the best golde by sixe hundreth talentes. And for nales he gaue fiftye Sicles of golde in weight, and ouer layed the chambers with golde. He made also in the house of the most holy, two Cherubins of carued worke, and ouerlayed them with golde: and the length on the wynges of the Cherubins, so that one wynge had fyue cubytes, and touched the wall of the house: and the other wynge had fyue cubytes also, and touched the wynge of the other Cherub.

Euen so had one wynge of the other Cherub fyue cubites likewyse, and touched the wall of the house: and his other wynge had fyue cubites also, and touched the wynge of the other Cherub: so that these wynges of the Cherubins were spred out twentye cubites wyde. And they stode vpō their fete, and their face was turned to the house warde.

He made a vayle also of yalow sylke, scarlet, purple and lynworke, and made Cherubins theron. And before the house he made two pilers fyue and thirtie cubites longe, and the knoppes aboue theron, fyue cubytes. And he made throwne worke for the quere, and put it aboue vpon the pilers: and made an hundreth pomgranates, and put them on the wrythren worke. And he set vp the pilers before the temple, the one on the righte honde, and the other on the lefte: and that on the righte honde called the Iachin, and it on the lefte honde called he Boos.

The IIII. Chapter.

HE made a brasen altare also, twentye cubytes longe, and twentye cubytes brode, and ten cubites hye. 〈…〉 And he made a molten lauer ten cubites wyde frō the one syde to the other rounde aboute, and fyue cubytes hye. And a metelyne of thirtie cubites mighte comprehende it aboute. And ymages of Bullockes were vnder it. And aboute the lauer (which was ten cubites wyde) there were two rowes of knoppes, yt were molten withall.

It stode so vpon the bullockes, that thre were turned towarde the north, thre towarde the west, thre towarde the south, and thre towarde the east, and the lauer aboue vpon them, and all their hynder partes were on the ynsyde. The thicknesse of it was an hand bredth, and the edge of it was like the edge of a cuppe, and as a floured rose. And it conteyned thre thousande Batthes.

And he made ten kettels, wherof he set fyue on the righte hande and fyue on the lefte, to waszshe in them soch thinges as belonged to the burnt offerynge, that they mighte thrust them therin: but ye lauer (made he) for for the prestes to wash in.

Ten golden candelstickes made he also as they ought to be, and set them in the temple: fyue on the righte hande, and fyue on the lefte. And made ten tables, and set them in the temple: fyue on the righte hande, and fyue on the lefte. And made an hundreth basens of golde. He made a courte likewyse for the prestes, and a greate courte, and dores in the courte, and ouerlayed ye dores with brasse. And the lauer set he on the righte syde towarde the south east. And Hiram made cauldrous, shouels and basens.

So Hiram fynished the worke which he made for kynge Salomon in the house of God: namely the two pilers with the roundels and knoppes aboue vpon both the pilers, and both the wrythen ropes to couer both the roundels of ye knoppes aboue vpō the pilers, and the foure hundreth pomgranates on both the wrythē ropes, two rowes of pomgranates on euery rope, to couer the roundels of the knoppes that were aboue vpon the pilers.

He made the stoles also and ye kettels vpon the stoles, and a lauer, and twolue bullockes there vnder. And pottes, shouels, fleshokes, and all their vessels made Hiram Abif of pure metall for kynge Salomon vnto the house of the LORDE. In the coaste of Iordane dyd the kynge cause them to be molten in thicke earth betwene Suchoth and Zaredatha.

And Salomon made all these vessels which were so many, that the weight of ye metall was not to be soughte out. And Salomen made all the ornamentes for the house of God: namely, the golden altare, the tables and the shewbreds theron, the candelstickes with their lampes of pure golde, to burne before the Quere acordinge to the maner: and the floures and the lampes and the snoffers were of golde, all these were of pure golde.

And the knyues, basens, spones and pottes, were of pure golde. And the intraunce and his dores within vnto the Most holy, and the dores of the house of the temple were of golde. Thus was all ye worke fynished, which Salomon made in the house of the LORDE.

The V. Chapter.

ANd Salomon broughte in all yt his father Dauid had sanctified, 〈…〉 namely, syluer and golde, and all maner of ornamentes, and layed them in the treasures of the house of God. 〈…〉 Thē gathered Salomon all the Elders in Israel together, all ye heades of the trybes, prynces of the fathers amōge the childrē of Israel vnto Ierusalē, to brynge vp the Arke of the couenaunt of the LORDE out of the cite of Dauid, that is Sion. And there resorted vnto the kynge all the men in Israel at the feast, that is in the seuenth moneth, and all ye Elders in Israel came.

And ye Leuites toke the Arke, & broughte it vp with the Tabernacle of witnesse, 〈…〉 and all the holy vessels that were in the Tabernacle: and ye prestes and Leuites broughte them vp. As for kynge Salomon and all the cōgregacion of Israel that was gathered vnto him before the Arke, they offred shepe and oxen, so many, that no man coulde nombre ner reken them.

Thus the prestes broughte the Arke of ye couenaunt of the LORDE vnto hir place in to the quere of the house, euen in to ye Most holy vnder the wynges of the Cherubins, so that the Cherubins spred out their wynges ouer the place of the Arke: and the Cherubins couered the Arke and the staues therof from aboue. And the staues were so longe, yt the knoppes of them were sene from the Arke before the quere, but on the outsyde were they not sene. And it was there vnto this daye. And there was nothinge in the Arke, saue the two tables, which Moses put therin at Horeb, whan the LORDE made a couenaunt with the childrē of Israel, what tyme as they were departed out of Egipte.

And whan the prestes wente out of the Sanctuary (for all ye prestes that were founde, sanctified them selues, because the courses were not kepte) the Leuites with all those that were vnder Asaph, Heman, Iedithun and their children and brethren, beynge clothed in lynnen, songe with Cymbales, psalteries and harpes, and stode towarde the east parte of the altare, and an hundreth & twentye prestes with them, which blewe wt trompettes. And it was, as yf one dyd trompet and synge, as though a voyce had bene herde of praysinge and geuynge thankes vnto the LORDE.

And whan the voyce arose from ye trompettes, cymbales and other instrumentes of musick, and from praysinge the LORDE (because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth for euer) the house of the LORDE was fylled on the ynsyde with a cloude, so yt the prestes coulde not stonde to mynister for the cloude: for the glory of the LORDE fylled the house of God.

The VI. Chapter.

THen sayde Salomon: The LORDE sayde,3. Reg. . that he wolde dwell in a darck cloude: I haue buylded an house to be an habitacion vnto the: & a seate, yt thou mayest dwell there for euer. And the kynge turned his face, and blessed all the congregacion of Israel: for the whole cōgregacion of Israel stode, & he sayde: Praysed be the LORDE God of Israel, which promysed by his mouth vnto my father Dauid, and with his hande hath fulfylled it, whā he sayde: 2. Re. 7. 〈◊〉 . Re. 8. c Sē ce the tyme that I broughte my people out of the londe of Egipte, I haue chosen no cite in all ye trybes of Israel, to buylde an house for my name to be there, nether haue I chosen eny man to be prynce ouer my people of Israel. . Par. 7. c But Ierusalem haue I chosen, for my name to be there: & Dauid haue I electe, to be prynce ouer my people of Israel.

And whan my father Dauid was mynded to buylde an house vnto the name of the LORDE God of Israel, the LORDE sayde vnto Dauid my father: Where as thou wast mynded to buylde an house vnto my name, thou hast done well: howbeit thou shalt not buylde the house, but thy sonne which shall come out of thy loynes, shal buylde the house vnto my name.

Thus hath ye LORDE now perfourmed his worde, that he spake: for I am come vp in my father Dauids steade, and syt vpon the seate of Israel, euen as the LORDE sayde, & haue buylded an house vnto the name of ye LORDE God of Israel, & in it haue I put ye Arke, wherin is the couenaunt of ye LORDE, which he made with the childrē of Israel.

And he stode before the altare of the LORDE in the presence of the whole congregacion of Israel, and spred out his handes: for Salomon had made a brasen pulpit, and set it in the myddes of the courte, fyue cubites longe, and fyue cubites brode, and thre cubites hye: vpon the same stode he, and fell downe vpon his knees in the presence of the whole cōgregacion of Israel, and helde out his handes towarde heauē and sayde: . Reg. 8. c O LORDE God of Israel, there is no god like the, nether in heauen ner vpon earth, thou that kepest couenaunt and mercy for thy seruauntes, that walke before the with all their hert. Thou hast kepte promes wt my father Dauid thy seruaunt: With thy mouth thou saydest it, and with thy hande hast thou fulfylled it, as it is come to passe this daye. Now LORDE God of Israel, make good vnto my father Dauid yi seruaunt, that which thou hast promysed him, & sayde: Thou shalt not want a man before me, to syt vpon the seate of Israel: yf thy children kepe their waye, so yt they walke in my lawe, like as thou hast walked before me: Now LORDE God of Israel, let yi worde be verified, which thou hast promysed vnto Dauid thy seruaunt.

For thinkest thou that God in very dede dwelleth amonge men vpon earth? sa. 66. a re. 23. d cto. 7. e Beholholde, the heauen and ye heauens of all heauens maye not cōteyne the: how shulde then this house do it, which I haue buylded? But turne the vnto the prayer of thy seruaunt, and to his supplicaciō (O LORDE my God) that thou mayest heare the thankesgeuynge and prayer, which thy seruaunt maketh before the, so that thine eyes be open ouer this house daye and night, euen ouer this place (wherin thou saydest thou woldest set thy name) that thou mayest heare the prayer, which thy seruaunt shall make in this place. Heare now therfore the intercession of thy seruaunt and of thy people of Israel, what so euer they shall desyre in this place: heare thou it from the place of thy habitacion, euē from heauen: and whan thou hearest it, be mercifull.

Whan eny mā synneth agaynst his neghboure, and an ooth be put vpon him which he ought to sweare, and the ooth commeth before thine altare in this house, then heare thou from heauen, and se yt thy seruaunt haue righte, so that thou rewarde the vngod y, and recōpence him his waye vpon his awne heade, and to iustifye the righteous, and to geue him acordinge to his righteousnes.

Whan thy people of Israel is smyttē before their enemies (whyle they haue synned agaynst the) and yf they turne vnto the, and knowlege thy name, and make their prayer and intercession before the in this house, the heare thou them from heauen, and be mercifull vnto the synne of thy people of Israel, & brynge them agayne in to the londe, yt thou hast geuen them and their fathers.

〈…〉 Whan the heauen is shut vp, so that it rayne not (for so moch as they haue synned agaynst the) and yf they make their prayer in this place, and knowlege thy name, and turne from their synnes (whan thou hast brought them lowe) heare thou them then in heauen, and be mercifull vnto the synne of thy seruauntes, and of thy people of Israel, that thou mayest teach them the good waye wherin they shulde walke, and let it rayne vpon thy londe which thou hast geuen thy people to possesse.

Whan a derth, or pestilence, or drouth, ••• blastinge, or greshopper or catirpiller, is in the londe: Or whan their enemye layeth sege to their portes in the lōde, or whan eny other plage or disease happeneth, who so euer thē maketh his prayer or peticion amonge eny maner of men, or amonge all thy people of Israel, yf eny man fele his plage and disease, and spredeth out his handes vnto this house, heare thou then from heauen, euen from ye 〈…〉 seate of thy habitacion, and be mercifull: and geue euery man acordinge to all his wayes, in so moch as thou knowest his hert (for thou onely knowest the hert of the children of men) that they maye feare the, and all waye walke in thy wayes, as longe as they lyue in the londe, which thou hast geuen vnto oure fathers.

And whan eny straunger which is not of thy people of Israel, commeth out of a farre countre because of thy greate name, and mightie hande, and out stretched arme, and commeth to make his prayer in this house, heare thou him then from heauē, euen from the seate of thy habitacion: and do all for ye which that straunger calleth vpō the, that all the nacions vpon earth maye knowe thy name, and feare the, as thy people of Israel do: and that they maye knowe, how yt this house which I haue buylded, is named after thy name.

Whan thy people go forth to ye battayll agaynst their enemies, the waye that thou shalt sende them, and shall praye vnto the 〈◊〉 6. b towarde the waye of this cite which thou hast chosen, and towarde the house that I haue buylded vnto thy name, heare thou thē their prayer and peticion from heauen, and helpe them to their righte.

Whan they synne agaynst the ( 〈◊〉 . 1. b for there is no man that synneth not) and thou be wroth at them, and geue them ouer before their enemyes, so that they cary them awaye captyue in to a countre farre or nye, and yf they turne within their hertes in the londe where they are presoners, and so conuerte, and make their intercession vnto the in the londe of their captiuyte, and saye: We haue synned, and done amysse, and haue bene vngodly: and so turne them selues vnto ye with all their hert and with all their soule in the londe of their captiuyte, wherin they are presoners: and make their prayer towarde the waye of their owne londe, which thou gauest vnto their fathers, and towarde the ci e which thou hast chosen, and towarde the house that I haue buylded vnto thy name: then heare thou their prayer and supplicacion from heauen, euen from the seate of thy dwellynge, and helpe them to their righte, and be mercifull vnto thy people that haue synned agaynst the. My God, let thine eyes now be opē, and let thine eares geue hede vnto prayer in this place. 〈◊〉 31. a Aryse now O LORDE God vnto thy restinge place, thou and the Arke of thy strength. Let thy prestes O LORDE God be clothed with health, and let thy sayentes reioyse ouer this good. LORDE God, turne not awaye the face of thine anoynted: thinke vpon the mercies of thy seruaunt Dauid.

The VII. Chapter.

ANd whā Salomō had ended his praier, there fell a fyre from heauen, and cō sumed the burnt offerynge and the other offeringes. And the glory of the LORDE fylled the house, so that ye prestes coulde not go in to the house of the LORDE, while ye glory of the LORDE filled ye LORDES house. And all the children of Israel sawe the fyre fall downe, and the glory of the LORDE ouer the house: and they fell on their knees wt their faces to the grounde vpon the pauement, and worshipped, and gaue thankes vnto the LORDE, because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth for euer. As for the kynge and all the people, they offred before the LORDE.

For kynge Salomon offred two and twē tye thousande bullockes, and an hundreth thousande and twentye thousande shepe, & so both the kynge and all the people dedicated the house of God.

But the prestes stode in their watches, & the Leuites with the musicall instrumentes of the LORDE, which kynge Dauid had caused to make for to geue thankes vnto the LORDE, (because his mercy endureth for euer) wt psalmes of Dauid thorow their hande. And the prestes blewe trompettes ouer agaynst them, and all Israel stode.

And Salomon halowed the myddelmost courte, which was before the house of the LORDE, for there prepared he the burnt offerynges and the fat of the slayne offeringes: for the brasen altare that Salomon made, might not conteyne all the burnt offeringes, meat offerynges, and the fat.

1. Mac. 4.And at the same tyme helde Salomon a feast seuen daies longe, and all Israel with him a very greate congregacion, from Hemath vnto the ryuer of Egipte, and on the eight daye helde he a conuocacion. For the dedicacion of the altare helde they seuen daies, and the feast seuen dayes also.

But on the thre and twentyeth daye of the seuenth moneth he let the people go vnto their tentes ioyfull and with mery hertes because of all the good, that the LORDE had done vnto Dauid, vnto Salomō, and to his people of Israel.

*Thus fynished Salomō the house of ye LORDE, and the kinges house, and all yt came in his hert to make in the house of the LORDE, and in his awne house, prosperously. And the LORDE appeared vnto Salomon in the nighte season, and sayde vnto him: I haue herde thy prayer . Par. . and chosen this place vnto my selfe for an house of sacrifyce.

Beholde, whan I shut the heauē so yt it raine not, or commaunde the greshopper to cō sume the londe, or cause a pestilence to come amonge my people, to humble my people, which is named after my name: and yf they praye, and seke my face, and turne from their euell wayes, thē wyl I heare them from heauen, and wyll forgeue their sinne, and heale their londe. So shal myne eyes now be open, and myne eares shal be attente vnto prayer in this place. Thus haue I now chosen this house, and sanctifyed it, that my name maye be there for euer: and myne eyes and my hert shal allwaye be there.

And yf thou walke before me, as thy father Dauid walked, so that thou do all that I commaunde the, and kepe myne ordinaū ces and lawes, then wyll I stablishe the seate of thy kyngdome, acordynge as I promysed thy father Dauid, and sayde: Thou shalt not wante a man to be lorde ouer Israel. But yf ye turne backe, and forsake myne ordynaunces and commaundemētes which I haue layed before you, and so go youre waye, and serue other goddes, and worshippe them, thē wyll I rote ome 〈◊〉 hem. you out of my londe that I haue geuen you: and this house which I haue sanctifyed vnto my name, wil I cast awaye out of my presence, and geue it ouer to be a byworde and fabell amōge all nacions. And euery one that goeth by, shall be astonnyed at this hye house, and shall hysse at it, and saye: eu. 2 . d 〈◊〉 . 22. a Wherfore hath the LORDE dealte thus with this londe and with this house? Then shall it be sayde: Euen because they haue forsaken the LORDE God of their fathers (which brought them out of the londe of Egipte) & haue cleued vnto other goddes, & worshipped them, and serued thē: therfore hath he brought all this euell vpon thē.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd after twentye yeares (wherin Salomon buylded the house of the LORDE and his awne house) he buylded the cyties also which Hiram gaue vnto Salomon, and caused the children of Israel to dwell therin. And Salomon wente vnto Hemath Zoba, and made it stronge, and buylded Thadmor in the wyldernes, and all the cornecyties which he buylded in Hemath. He buylded the vpper and lower Bethoron likewyse, so that they were stronge cities wt walles, portes and barres. And Baelath, and all the cornecites which Salomon had, and all the cities of the charettes and of the horse men, and all that Salomon had lust to buylde, both at Ierusalem and vpon Libanus, and in all the londe of his domynion.

All the remnaunt of the people of the Hethites, Amorites, Pheresites, Heuites and Iebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, and their children which they had lefte behynde them in the londe, (whom the children of Israel had not vtterly destroied) those dyd Salomon make trybutaries vnto this daye. As for the children of Israel, Salomon made no bondmen of them vnto his worke, but they were men of warre, and chefe captaynes, and ouer his charettes & horsmen. And the chefe of kynge Salomons officers were two hundreth and fyftie, which ruled the people.

And Salomon caused Pharaos doughter to be fetched vp out of the cite of Dauid, in to the house that he had buylded for her: for he sayde: My wyfe shall not dwell in the house of Dauid the kynge of Israel, for it is sanctifyed, in as moch as ye Arke of the LORDE is come in to it.

Then offred Salomon burnt offerynges vnto the LORDE vpon the LORDES altare, which he had buylded before the porche, euery one vpon his daye to offre after the cō maundement of Moses, on the Sabbathes, Newmones & at the appoynted seasons of the yeare, euen thre tymes, namely in ye feast of vnleuended bred, in the feast of wekes, & in the feast of Tabernacles.

And he set the prestes in ordre to their ministracion 〈…〉 acordynge as Dauid his father had appoynted, and the Leuites in their offyces, to geue thankes and to mynister in the presence of the prestes, euery one vpon his daye. And the dorekepers in their courses, euery one at his dore, for so had Dauid the mā of God commaunded.

And they departed not from the kynges commaundement ouer the prestes and Leuites in euery matter and in the treasures. Thus was all Salomons busynesse made ready, from the daye that the foundacion of the LORDES house was layed, tyll it was fynished, so that the house of the LORDE was all prepared.

Then wente Salomon vnto Ezeon Geber, 〈…〉 and vnto Eloth by the See syde in the londe of Edomea. And Hiram sent him shippes by his seruauntes which had knowlege of the See, and they wente with Salomōs seruauntes vnto Ophir, and fetched from thence foure hundreth and fyftye talentes of golde, and broughte it vnto kynge Salomon.

The IX. Chapter.

ANd whan the quene of rich Arabia herde the fame of Salomon, 〈…〉 she came with a very greate tryne to Ierusalem (with Camels that bare spyces and golde, and precious stones) to proue Salomon with darke sentences. And whan she came vnto Salomon, she spake vnto him all that she had deuysed in hir mynde. And the kynge tolde her all hir matters, & Salomon had nothinge in secrete, but he tolde it her.

And whan the Quene of riche Arabia sawe the wyszdome of Salomon, and ye house that he had buylded, the meates of his table, the dwellinges of his seruauntes, ye offices of his mynisters and their garmentes, & his butlers and their apparell, and his parler where he wente vp in to the house of the LORDE, she coulde no longer refrayne. And she sayde vnto the kynge: It is true that I haue herde in my londe of thy behaue oure and of thy wyszdome: howbeit I wolde not beleue their wordes, tyll I came my selfe, & sawe it with myne eyes: and beholde, the halfe of thy greate wyszdome hath not bene tolde me: there is more in ye then the fame that I haue herde. Happye are thy men, and happie are these thy seruauntes, yt allwaye stonde before the, and heare thy wyszdome. Praysed be the LORDE thy God, which had soch pleasure vnto the, that he hath set the vpon his seate to be kynge vnto the LORDE thy God. Because thy God loueth Israel, to set them vp for euer, therfore hath he ordeyned yt to be kynge ouer them, that thou shuldest mayntayne iustice and equyte.

And she gaue ye kynge an hundreth and twentye talentes of golde, & very moch spyce & precious stones. There were no mo soch spyces as these that the Quene of riche Arabia gaue vnto kynge Salomō. And Hirams seruauntes and the seruauntes of Salomon, which broughte golde from Ophir, broughte costly tymber also & precious stones.

And of the same costly tymber dyd Salomon cause to make stares in the house of the LORDE, and the kynges house, and harpes and psalteries for the Musicians. There was no soch tymber sene before in the londe of Iuda. But kynge Salomon gaue the Quene of riche Arabia all that she desyred and axed, & moch more then she had broughte vnto the kynge. And she returned, and departed in to hir londe with hir seruauntes.

The golde that was broughte vnto Salomon in one yeare, was sixe hundreth and sixe and thre score talentes, besydes that ye chap men and marchauntes broughte. And all the kynges of the Arabians, and the lordes in ye londe broughte golde and syluer vnto Salomon. Of the which kynge Salomon made two hundreth speares of beaten golde, so yt sixe hundreth peces of beaten golde came vpō one speare: & thre hundreth shildes of beaten golde, so that thre hundreth peces of beaten golde came to one shylde: and the kynge put thē in the house of the wod of Libanus.

And the kynge made a greate seate of Yuery, and ouerlaied it with pure golde: and the seate had sixe steppes, and a fotestole of golde festened vnto the seate, and it had two leanynge postes vpon both the sydes of the seate, and two lyons stode beside the leanynge postes, and there stode twolue Lions vpō the syxe steppes on both the sides. In all realmes hath not soch one bene made.

And all kynge Salomons drynkynge vessels were of golde, and all the vessels of the house of the wod of Libanus, were of pure golde: for syluer was rekened nothinge in Salomons tyme. For the kynges shippes wente vpon the See with the seruauntes of Hirā, & came once in thre yeare, and brought golde, syluer, Yuery, Apes and Pecockes.

Thus was kynge Salomon greater then all the kynges vpon earth, in riches and wisdome. And all the kynges of ye earth desired (to se) Salomons face, and to heare his wysdome, which God had geuen him in his hert. And they brought him yearly euery mā his present: Iewels of siluer and golde, raymēt, harnesse, spyces, horses and Mules.

And Salomon had foure thousande charethorses, and twolue thousande horsmen, . Re. 4. and put them in the charetcities, and with the kynge at Ierusalem. And he was lorde ouer all the kynges from the water vnto the londe of the Philistynes, and to the coaste of Egipte. And the kynge brought it so to passe, that there was as moch syluer at Ierusalem as stones: and as many Ceders, as there were Molbery trees in the valleys. And there were horses broughte vnto him out of Egipte, and out of all countres.

What more there is to saye of Salomon, both of his first and of his last, beholde, it is writtē in the Cronicles of the prophet Nathan, and in the prophecies of Ahia of Silo, & in ye actes of Ieddithe Seer against Ioroboā ye sonne of Nebat. And Salomō reigned at Ierusalē ouer all Israel fortie yeares. And Salomon fell on slepe wt his fathers, & was buried in the cyte of Dauid his father. And Roboā his sonne was kīge ī his steade.

The X. Chapter.

EOboam wente vnto Sichem: for all Israel was come vnto Sichem: . Re. 12. a to make him kinge. And whan Ieroboā the sonne of Nebat herde that, which was in Egipte ( . Re. •• . g whither he was fled for kynge Salomon) he came agayne out of Egipte. And they sent for him and called him. And Ieroboam came with all Israel, and spake to Roboam, and sayde: Thy father made or yocke greuous: make thou lighter now ye harde bondage of thy father, and ye heuy yocke that he layed vpon vs, and we wyll submytte oure selues vnto the. He sayde vnto them: Come to me agayne ouer thre dayes. And ye people wente their waye.

And Roboam the kynge axed coūcell at the Elders, which had stonde before Salomon his father whyle he lyued, and he sayde: What is youre councell, that I maye geue this people an answere? They spake vnto him, and sayde: Yf thou be louynge vnto this people, and deale gently with them, and geue them good wordes, then shal they allwaye be obedient vnto the. Neuerthelesse he forsoke the councell of the Elders that they had geuen him, and toke councell at yt yonge men which were growne vp wt him, and stode before him. And he sayde vnto thē: What is youre councell, that we maye answere this people, which haue spoken vnto me, and saide: Make oure yock lighter, yt thy father layed vpon vs? The yongemen yt were growne vp with him, spake vnto him, and sayde: Thus shalt thou saye vnto the people, that haue talked with the & spoken: Thy father made oure yock to heuy, make thou or yock lighter, Thus shalt thou saye vnto them: My litle finger shalbe thicker then my fathers loynes. Yf my father hath layed an heuy yock vpon you, I wyl make youre yock the more. My father chastened you wt scourges, but I wyl beate you with scorpions.

Now whan Ieroboam and all the people came to Roboam on the thirde daye (acordynge as ye kinge sayde: Come to me againe on the thirde daie) the kynge gaue thē an harde answere. And Roboā the kynge forsoke ye councell of the Elders, & spake vnto thē after ye yonge mens councell, & sayde: Yf my father haue made yor yock to heuy, I wil make it yet heuyer. My father chastened you wt scourges, but I wyl beate you wt scorpiōs. Thus the kynge folowed not ye peoples minde: for so was it determyned of God, yt ye LORDE might stablishe his worde, . Re. 11. e which he spake by Ahia of Silo, vnto Ieroboā ye sonne of Nebat. But whan all Israel sawe that the kynge wolde not consente vnto them ye people answered the kynge, and sayde: What porcion haue we then in Dauid, or inheritaū ce in the sonne of Isai? Let euery man of Israel get him to his tent. Loke thou now to thy house Dauid. And all Israel wente vnto their tentes, so that Roboam reigned but ouer the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Iuda. And Roboam sent forth Adoram the rent gatherer, but the children of Israel stoned him to death. And kynge Roboā strengthed himselfe vpon his charet, to flye vnto Ierusalem. Thus fell Israel awaie frō the house of Dauid vnto this daye.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd whan Roboam came to Ierusasalem, he gathered together the house of Iuda and Ben Iamin (euen an hū dreth and foure score thousande chosen men of armes) to fyghte agaynst Israel, that they mighte brynge the kyngdome agayne vnto Roboam. But ye worde of the LORDE came to Semaia the man of God, and sayde: Speake to Roboam the sonne of Salomon kynge of Iuda, and to all Israel yt are in Iuda and Ben Iamin, and saye: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Ye shal not go vp, ner fyght agaynst youre brethren: let euery man go home agayne, for this is my dede. They herkened vnto the wordes of ye LORDE, and wēte not forth agaynst Ieroboā. As for Roboā, he dwelt at Ierusalem, and buylded vp the stronge cities in Iuda, namely Bethleē, Etan, Tekoa, Bethzur, Socho, Adullā, Gath, Maresa, Siph, Adoraim, Laches, Aseka, Z rega, Aialon, and Hebron (which were the fensed cities in Iuda and Ben Iamin) & he made them stronge, and set prynces therin, & prouyded them of vytayles, oyle and wyne, and in all cities prepared he shildes and speares, and made them very stronge. And Iuda and Ben Iamin were vnder him.

The Prestes and Leuites also came vnto him out of Israel and from all the borders therof, And lefte their suburbes & possession, and camt to Iuda vnto Ierusalem: for Ieroboam and his sonnes expelled them, that they shulde not execute the offyce of ye presthode vnto ye LORDE. But for himselfe he foū ded prestes to ye hye places, & to felde deuels & calues, which he caused to make. And after them came there men out of all the trybes of Israel, which gaue ouer their hertes to seke ye LORDE God of Israel, & came to Ierusalē for to offre vnto the LORDE God of their fathers. And so strengthed they ye kingdome of Iuda, and mātayned Roboam the sonne of Salomon thre yeare longe: for they walked in ye waye of Dauid & Salomon thre yeares.

And Roboam toke Mahelath ye doughter of Ieremoth ye sonne of Dauid to wife, & Abihail the doughter of Eliab ye sonne of Isai, which bare him these sonnes: Ieus, Semaria & Saham. After her toke he Maecha the doughter of Absalom, which bare him Abia, Athai Sisa and Selomith. But Roboam loued Maecha the doughter of Absalom better then all his wyues & concubynes: for he had eightene wyues and thre score cō cubynes, and begat eight & twentye sonnes, and thre score doughters. And Roboam set Abia the sonne of Maecha to be heade and prynce amonge his brethren: for he thoughte to make him kynge: for he was wyse, & more mightie then all his sonnes in all the countrees of Iuda & Ben Iamin, and in all the stronge cities. And he gaue them plenteousnes of fode, and desyred many wyues.

The XII. Chapter.

BVt whā the kyngdome of Roboam was confirmed and stablyshed, he forsoke the lawe of the LORDE & all Israel with him. And in the fyfth yeare of Roboam wēte Sisack the kynge of Egipte vp agaynst Ierusalem (for they had transgressed agaynst the LORDE) with a thousande and two hundreth charettes, and with thre score thousande horsmen, and the people were innumerable that came with him out of Egipte, Libya, S chim & out of Ethiopia, and he wanne the strōge cities that were in Iuda, and came to Ierusalem.

Then came Semaia ye prophet vnto Roboam and to ye rulers of Iuda (which were gathered together at Ierusalem for Sisack) & sayde vnto them: Thus sayeth ye LORDE: Ye haue lefte me, therfore haue I lefte you also in Sisacks hande. Thē the rulers in Israel with the kynge submytted them selues, and sayde: The LORDE is righteous.

But whā the LORDE sawe yt they hūbled themselues, ye worde of the LORDE came to Semaia, & sayde: They haue humbled them selues, therfore wyl I not destroye them, but I wyl geue them a litle delyueraunce, that my indignacion fall not vpon Ierusalem by Sisack: for they shalbe subdued vnto him, yt they maye knowe what it is to serue me, & to serue the kyngdomes of the worlde.

Thus wēte Sisack the kynge of Egipte vp to Ierusalem, & toke the treasures in the house of the LORDE, & the treasures in the kynges house, and caried all awaye, and toke the shyldes of golde 3. Par. 9. b that Salomon caused to make: in steade wherof kynge Roboā made shyldes of stele, and commytted thē vnto the chefe fotemen, which kepte the dore of the kynges house. And as oft as the kynge wente in to the house of the LORDE, ye fote men came & bare them, & brough hem againe in to ye fote mens chāber. And for so moch as he submytted himselfe, ye wrath of ye LORDE turned frō him, so that all was not destroied: for there was yet some good in Iuda.

Thus was Roboam the kinge stablished in Ierusalem, and reigned. One and fortye yeare olde was Roboam whā he was made kynge, and reigned seuentene yeare at Ierusalem in the cite, 2. Par. 7. b which the LORDE had chosen out of all the trybes of Israel, to set his name there. His mothers name was Naemaan Ammonitisse: and he did euell, and prepared not his hert to seke the LORDE.

These actes of Roboam, both fyrst and last, are wrytten in the actes of Semaia the prophet, & of Iddo the Seer, and are noted, & so are the warres that Roboam and Ieroboam had together as longe as they lyued. And Roboam fell on slepe with his fathers and was buryed in the cite of Dauid, & Abia his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XIII. Chapter.

IN the eightenth yeare of kynge Ieroboam, was Abia kynge in Iuda, & reigned thre yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Michaia the doughter of Veiel of Gibea. And there was warre betwene Abia and Ieroboam. And Abia prepared himselfe to the battayll with foure hū dreth thousande stronge chosen men of warre. But Ieroboam made himselfe ready to fight agaynst him wt eight hundreth thousande chosen men of strength.

And Abia gatt him vp vpon the hyll Zemaraim, which lyeth vpon mount Ephraim and sayde: Herken vnto me thou Ieroboam and all Israel: Knowe ye not that the LORDE God of Israel hath geuen Dauid ye kyngdome of Israel for euer, vnto him and his sonnes with a Salt couenaunt? But Ieroboā the sonne of Nebat, the seruaunt of Salomon Dauids sonne, gat him vp & fell awaye from his lorde. And there resorted vnto him vagaboundes and children of Belial, and haue strengthed them selues against Roboā the sonne of Salomō: for Roboam was but yonge and of a fearfull hert, and coulde not resiste them.

Now thinke ye to set youre selues against the kyngdome of the LORDE amonge the sonnes of Dauid, for so moch as there is so greate a multitude of you, and haue ye golden calues . Re. 12. d yt Ieroboam made you for goddes. . Pa. 11 d Haue ye not expelled the prestes of the LORDE the children of Aaron and the Leuites? and haue made you prestes of youre awne, euen as the people of the londes? Who so euer commeth to fyll his hande with a yonge bullocke and seuen rammes, shal be preste vnto them that are not goddes.

But with vs is ye LORDE oure God, whō we forsake not: and the prestes that minister vnto the LORDE, the children of Aaron and the Leuites in their busines, and euery mornynge and euery euenynge kyndle they the burnt offerynges vnto the LORDE, and the swete incense, and prepare the shewbred vpō the pure table, and the golden candilsticke with his lampes, to be kyndled euery euenynge: for we wayte vpō the LORDE oure God.

As for you, ye haue forsaken him. Beholde, God is the captayne of oure hoost, and with vs are his prestes, and the Num. 10. a blowynge trompettes, to trompe agaynst you. Ye children of Israel, fight not agaynst the LORDE God of yor fathers: for ye shal not prospere.

Neuertheles Ieroboam made a preuy watch on euery syde, to come vpon them behynde, so that they were before Iuda, and ye preuy watch behynde. Now whā Iuda turned them, beholde, there was battayll before thē & behynde. Then cryed they vnto ye LORDE, & the prestes tromped with the trompettes, & whā euery man in Iuda gaue a shoute, God plaged Ieroboam and Israel before Abia and Iuda. And the children of Israel fled before Iuda, and God gaue them in to their handes, so that Abia & his people dyd a greate slaughter vpon them, and there fell wounded of Israel fyue hundreth thousande chosen men.

Thus were the children of Israel subdued at that tyme, but the children of Iuda were comforted, for they put their trust in ye LORDE God of their fathers. And Abia folowed vpon Ieroboam, and wanne cities frō him, Bethel with the vyllages therof, Iesana wt hir vyllages, and Ephron with the villages therof, so that Ieroboam came nomore to strength, as longe as Abia lyued. And the LORDE smote him that he dyed.

Now whan Abia was strengthed, he toke fourtene wyues, and begat two and twentye sonnes and sixtene daughters. What more there is to saye of Abia, and of his wayes and his doynges, it is wrytten in the storye of the prophet Iddo. And Abia fell on slepe with his fathers, and they buryed him in 〈◊〉 cite of Dauid: and Asa his sonne was 〈◊〉 in his steade. In his tyme was the londe 〈◊〉 rest ten yeares.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd Asa dyd that which was good right in the sighte of the LORDE his God, and put awaye the straunge •• tares, and the hye places, and brake the p lers, and hewed downe the groues, and sayde vnto Iuda, that they shulde seke the LORDE God of their fathers, and to do after ye lawe and commaundementes. And the hye places and ymages put he awaye out of 〈◊〉 the cities of Iuda: and the kyngdome ha rest before him. And he builded strōge cities in Iuda, whyle the londe was in quietnes, & whyle there was no warre agaynst him 〈◊〉 the same yeares: for ye LORDE gaue him rest.

And he sayde vnto Iuda: Let vs buylde vp these cities, and fense them rounde abo te with walles, and towres, with portes and barres, while the londe is yet with vs: for we haue soughte t e LORDE oure God, and he hath geuen vs rest on euery syde. So they buylded, and it wente prosperously with thē And Asa had an hoost of mē which bare s •• des & speares, out of Iuda thre C. thousande, and out of Ben Iamin two hūdreth and fo re score thousande, that bare shyldes & coulde shute wt bowes, and all these were mightie stronge men.

But Serah the Moryan came out against thē wt an hoost of a thousande times a thousande, and with thre hundreth charettes, and came vnto Maresa. And Asa wente forth agaynst him. And they prepared them selues to the battayll in the valley Zephat beside Maresa. And Asa called vpon ye LORDE his God and sayde: 〈…〉 LORDE, it is no differēce wt ye, to helpe by fewe or by many. Helpe vs O LORDE oure God: for oure trust is in the, & in thy name are we come forth against this multitude. LORDE oure God, let no man preuayle agaynst the.

And the LORDE smote the Moriās before Asa and before Iuda, so that they fled. And Asa with ye people that was by him, folowed vpon them vnto Gerar. And the Moriās fell, so that none of them remained alyue, but were smytten before the LORDE and before his hoost. And they caried exceadinge moch spoyle from thence. And he smote all the cyties aboute Gerar, for a fearfulnesse of the LORDE came vpon them. And they spoyled all the cities, for there was moch spoyle in them. They smote the tentes of the catell also, and toke many shepe and Camels, and came agayne to Ierusalem.

The XV. Chapter.

ANd the sprete of God came vpō Asarias the sonne of Obed, which wente forth to Asa, and sayde vnto him: Heare me Asa and all Iuda & Ben Iamin: The LORDE is with you, whyle ye are with him: and yf ye seke him, he wylbe founde of you. But yf ye forsake him, he shal forsake you also. Neuertheles there shal be many dayes in Israel, that 〈…〉 there shalbe no true God, no prest to teach, & no lawe. And whan they turne in their trouble vnto the LORDE God of Israel, and seke him, he shalbe founde. At that tyme shall it not be well with him that goeth out and in: for there shal be greate vproures vpon all them yt dwell on the earth. For one people shall all to smyte another, & one cite another: for God shal vexe them wt all maner of trouble. But be ye stronge, and let not youre handes be feble: for youre worke hath his rewarde.

Whan Asa herde these wordes, and the propheciēge (of Asarias the sonne) of Obed the prophet, he toke a corage vnto him, and put awaye the abhominacions out of all ye londe of Iuda and Ben Iamin, and out of the cities that he had wonne vpon mount Ephraim: and renued the LORDES altare, which stode before the porche of the LORDE. And all Iuda and Ben Iamin gathered them selues together, and the straungers with them out of Ephraim, Manasses and Simeon: for there fell many vnto him out of Israel, whan they sawe that the LORDE his God was with him. And they resorted vnto Ierusalem in the thirde moneth of the fyftenth yeare of the reigne of Asa, and the same daye offred they vnto the LORDE of the spoyle that they had broughte, seuen hū dreth oxen, and seuen thousande shepe.

And they entred in to ye couenaunt, that they wolde seke the LORDE God of their fathers, with all their hert and with all their soule. And who so euer wolde not seke ye LORDE God of Israel, shulde dye, both small & greate, both man and woman: and they sware vnto the LORDE with loude voyce, with shoutinge, with trompettes and with shawmes. And all Iuda were glad ouer the ooth: for they had sworne with all their hert, and they soughte him with a whole wyll: and he was founde of them, and the LORDE gaue them rest on euery syde.

And Asa ye kynge put downe his mother from the mynistracion, that she had founded in the groue vnto Miplezeth. And Asa roted out hir Miplezeth, and beate it in sunder, and brent it by the broke Cedron. But the hye places were not put downe out of Israel. Yet was the hert of Asa perfecte as longe as he lyued. And loke what his father had halowed, and that he him selfe had halowed, he broughte it into ye house of God, syluer, golde and ornamētes. And there was no warre vnto the fyue and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of Asa.

The XVI. Chapter.

IN the sixe and thirtieth yeare of ye reigne of Asa,3. Re. 15. c wente Baesa the kynge of Israel vp agaynst Iuda, and buylded Rama, to let Asa the kynge of Iuda, yt he shulde not go out and in: But Asa toke forth the treasure in the house of the LORDE, and the syluer and golde in the kynges house, and sent it vnto Benadad ye kynge of Syria, which dwelt at Damascon, and caused to saye vnto him: There is a couenaunt betwene me and the, betwene my father and thy father, therfore haue I sent ye syluer and golde, that thou mayest breake ye couenaunt with Baesa the kynge of Israel, that he maye departe fro me,

Benadad herkened vnto kynge Asa, and sent his hoost agaynst the cities of Israel, which smote Eio , Dan and Abel Maim, and all the corne cities of Nephtali. Whan Baesa herde that, he lefte of from buyldinge Rama, and ceassed from his worke. But kynge Asa toke all Iuda vnto him, and caried awaye ye stones and tymber (wherwith Baesa buylded) and he buylded Geba & Mizpa withall.

At the same tyme came Hanani the Seer vnto Asa the kynge of Iuda, and sayde vnto him: Because thou hast trusted vnto the kynge of Syria, and not put thy trust in the LORDE thy God, therfore is the power of the kynge of Syria escaped thy hāde. 2. Par. 14. c Were not the Moryans and Lybians a greate multitude with exceadinge many charettes and horsmen? Yet gaue the LORDE them in to thy hande, whan thou dyddest put thy trust in him: for the eyes of the LORDE loke rounde aboute all londes, to strength them yt are in him with all their hert. Thou hast done vnwysely, therfore shalt thou haue warre from hēce forth. But Asa was wroth at ye Seer, and put him in preson: for he murmured with him ouer this thinge. And Asa oppressed certayne of the people at ye same tyme.

These actes of Asa both first and last, be holde, they are wrytten in the boke of ye kynges of Iuda & Israel. And Asa was diseased in his fete in the nyne and thirtieth yeare of his reigne, and endured ther ouer. Eccli. 3 . b Nether soughte he the LORDE in his sicknesse, but trusted vnto Phisicians. Thus fell Asa on slepe with his fathers, & dyed in the one and fortieth yeare of his reigne, & was buried in his awne sepulcre which he had caused to be grauen for him selfe in the cite of Dauid. And they layed him vpon his bed, which was fylled with swete odoures & all maner of spyces (made after ye Apotecaries craft) and made a very greate burnynge.

The XVII. Capter.

ANd Iosaphat his sonne was kynge in his steade, & waxed mightie against Israel. And he put men of warre in all the stronge cities of Iuda, and set officers in the londe of Iuda, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had wonne. And the LORDE was wt Iosaphat: for he walked in the olde wayes of his father Dauid, & soughte not Baalim, but the God of his father, & walked in his commaundementes, not after the workes of Israel: therfore dyd the LORDE stablyshe the kyngdome in his hāde. And all Iuda gaue presentes vnto Iosaphat, & he had greate riches & worshippe. And whan his hert was coraged in the wayes of the LORDE, he put downe styll the hye places and groues out of Iuda.

In the thirde yeare of his reigne sent he his prynces, Benhail, Obadia, Zacharias, Nethaneel & Michaia, to teach in the cities of Iuda: & with them the Leuites: Semaia, Nethania, Sebadia, Asahel, Semiramoth, Ionathan, Adonia, Tobia & Tob Adonia, & with them ye prestes Elisama & Ioram. And they taughte in Iuda, & had the boke of the lawe of ye LORDE wt them, & wente aboute in all ye cities of Iuda, & taughte the people.

And the feare of the LORDE came vpon all ye kyngdomes in the countrees that laye aboute Iuda, so yt they foughte not agaynst Iosaphat. And the Philistynes broughte presentes and trybute of syluer vnto Iosaphat. And the Arabians broughte him seuen thousande and seuen hundreth rammes, and seuen thousande and seuen hundreth he goates. Thus increased Iosaphat, & grewe euer greater. And he buylded castels and corne cities in Iuda. And dyd moch in the cities of Iuda, and had valeaunt and mightie men at Ierusalem.

And this was ye ordinaunce thorow out the house of their fathers, which were rulers ouer the thousandes in Iuda. 〈…〉 captayne, & wt him were thre hūdreth th ••• sande mightie men. Nexte vnto him was ••• hanan ye chefe, and with him were two h ••• dreth and foure score thousande. Nexte 〈◊〉 was Amasia the sonne of Sichri the fre ••• linge of ye LORDE, and with him were two hundreth thousande valeaunt men. Of the children of Ben Iamin was Eliada a mightie man, and with him were two hundreth thousande ready with bowes and shyldes. Nexte vnto him was Iosabad, and with him were an hundreth and foure score thousande harnessed men of warre. All these ••• ted vpon the kynge, besydes those that the kynge had layed in the strōge cities thor •• out all Iuda.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANd Iosaphat had greate riches and worshippe, and made frendshippe 〈◊〉 Achab. 〈…〉 And after two yeares wente he downe to Achab vnto Samaria. And Achab caused many shepe and oxē to be slayne for him and for ye people that were with him. And he counceled him to go vp vnto Ramoth in Gilead. And Achab the kynge of Israel sayde vnto Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda: Go with me vnto Ramoth in Gilead. He sayde vnto him: I am as thou, and my people as thy people, we wyll go with the vnto the battayll.

But Iosaphat sayde vnto the kynge of Israel: Axe councell (I praye the) this daye at the worde of the LORDE. And the kynge of Israel gathered the prophetes together, euen foure hundreth men, & saide vnto them Shal we go to the battayll vnto Ramoth in Gilead, or shal I let it alone? They sayde: Go vp, God shal delyuer it into the kynges hāde. But Iosaphat sayde: Is there not ye one prophet of the LORDE here, yt we maye axe at him? The kynge of Israel sayde vnto Iosaphat: There is yet one man, at whom we maye axe of ye LORDE: but I hate him, for he prophecieth me no good, but allwaye euell, namely Micheas the sonne of Iemla. Iosaphat sayde: Let not the kynge saye so. And the kynge of Israel called one of his chamberlaynes, & sayde: Brynge hither soone Micheas the sonne of Iemla.

And the kynge of Israel, and Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda, sat either of them vpon his seate, arayed in their garmentes. Euen in the place at the dore of the porte of Samaria sat they, and all ye prophetes prophecied before them. And Sedechias the sonne of Cnaena had made him hornes of yron, and sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: With these shalt thou puszshe at the Syrians, tyll thou brynge them to naughte. And all the prophetes prophecied likewyse, & sayde: Go vp vnto Ramoth in Gilead, and thou shalt prospere, and ye LORDE shal delyuer it in to the kynges hande.

And the messaunger that wente to call Micheas, spake vnto him, and sayde: Beholde, ye wordes of the prophetes are with one acorde good before the kynge: let thy worde (I praye the) be as one of theirs, and speake thou good also. But Micheas sayde: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, loke what my God sayeth vnto me, yt wyl I speake. And whan he came to the kynge, the kynge sayde vnto him: Micheas, shulde we go vnto Ramoth in Gilead to the battayll, or shulde we let it alone? He saide: Go vp, and ye shal prospere. It shal be geuē you in youre handes. But ye kynge sayde vnto him: I charge ye yet agayne, that thou tell me nothinge but ye trueth in the name of the LORDE.

Then saide he: I sawe all Israel scatered abrode vpō the mountaynes, as the shepe yt haue no shepherde. And the LORDE sayde: Haue these no lorde? Let euery one turne home agayne in peace. Thē sayde the kynge of Israel vnto Iosaphat: Dyd not I tell the, yt he wolde prophecie me no good, but euell?

And he sayde: Therfore heare ye the worde of the LORDE: 〈…〉 I sawe the LORDE syt vpon his seate, and all the hoost of heauen stondinge at his righte hande & at his lefte. And the LORDE sayde: Wo wyll disceaue Achab the kynge of Israel, that he maye go vp & fall at Ramoth in Gilead? And whan one sayde thus, another so, there came forth a sprete, and stode before ye LORDE, and sayde: I wyl disceaue him. The LORDE sayde vnto him: Wherwith? He sayde: I wyll go forth, and be a false sprete in the mouth of all his prophetes. And he sayde: Thou shalt disceaue him, and shalt be able: go thy waye, and do so. Beholde now, 〈◊〉 . 4. b the LORDE hath geuen a false sprete in the mouth of all these thy prophetes, and the LORDE hath spokē euell agaynst the.

Then stepte forth Sedechias the sonne of Cnaena, and smote Micheas vpon the cheke, and sayde: Which waye is the sprete of ye LORDE departed fro me, to speake thorow the? Micheas sayde: Beholde, thou shalt se it, whan thou commest in to ye ynmost chamber to hyde the. But the kynge of Israel sayde: Take Micheas, and let him remayne wt Amon the ruler of the cite, and with Ioas the sonne of Melech, and saye: Thus sayeth the kynge: Put this man in preson, and fede him wt bred and water of trouble, tyll I come agayne in peace. Micheas saide: Yf thou commest agayne in peace, then hath not the LORDE spoken thorow me. And he sayde: Herken to all ye people.

So the kynge of Israel, and Iosaphat ye kynge of Iuda wente vp vnto Ramoth in Gilead. And ye kynge of Israel sayde vnto Iosaphat: Chaunge thy clothes, and come to the battayll in thine araye. And ye kynge of Israel chaunged his rayment, & came in to the battayll. But the kynge of Syria had commaunded the rulers of his charettes: Ye shal fighte nether agaynst small ner greate, but onely agaynst the kynge of Israel.

Now whan the rulers of the charrettes sawe Iosaphat, they thoughte: It is ye kynge of Israel, and they wēte aboute to fighte agaynst him. But Iosaphat cryed, and the LORDE helped him. And God turned them from him: for whan the rulers of the charettes sawe that it was not ye kynge of Israel, they turned back from him. But a certayne man bended his bowe harde, & shot the kynge of Israel betwene the mawe and the longes. Thē sayde he vnto his charet man: Turne thine hāde, and cary me out of the hoost, for I am wounded. And the battayll was sore the same daye. And the kynge of Israel stode vpon his charet agaynst the Syrians vntyll the euenynge, and dyed whā the Sonne wente downe.

The XIX. Chapter.

BVt Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda came home agayne in peace vnto Ierusalem. And Iehu ye sonne of Hanani the Seer wēte forth to mete him, & sayde vnto kynge Iosaphat: Shuldest thou so helpe the vngodly, and loue them that hate the LORDE? And for this cause is ye wrath vpō the from the LORDE: neuertheles there is some good founde in the, that thou hast put the groues out of the londe, and hast prepared thine hert to seke God. So Iosaphat abode at Ierusalem.

And he wente agayne amonge the people, from Berseba vnto moūt Ephraim, and broughte them agayne to the LORDE God of their fathers. And he set Iudges thorow out the londe, in all the stronge cities of Iuda, and a certayne in euery cite. And sayde vnto the Iudges: Take hede what ye do: for ye execute not the iudgment of man, but of the LORDE, and he is with you in iudgmēt: therfore let the feare of the LORDE be with you, and bewarre, and do it: for with the LORDE oure God there is no vnrighteousnes, ner respecte of personnes, ner acceptinge of giftes.

And at Ierusalem dyd Iosaphat ordeyne certayne of the Leuites and prestes, and of the awnciēt fathers of Israel for ye iudgment of the LORDE, and ouer the matter of the lawe, and caused them to dwell at Ierusalem, and commaunded them, and sayde: Se that ye do thus in the feare of the LORDE, in faithfulnes & in a perfect hert. In all causes that come vnto you from youre brethren (which dwell in their cities) betwene bloude and bloude, betwene lawe and commaundement, betwene statutes and ordinaunces ye shal enforme them, yt they synne not against the LORDE, and so the wrath to come vpon you and youre brethren. Do thus, and ye shal not offende.

Beholde, Amaria the prest is chefe ouer you in all causes of ye LORDE: so is Sabadia the sonne of Ismael prynce in the house of Iuda in all the kynges matters: Ye haue officers likewyse the Leuites before you. Take a good corage vnto you, and be doynge, and the LORDE shalbe with the good.

The XX. Chapter.

AFter this came the childrē of Moab, the children of Ammon, and certayne of Amanim wt them, to fighte against Iosaphat. And they came and tolde Iosaphat, and sayde: There cōmeth a greate multitude agaynst the from beyonde the See of Syria, & beholde, they are at Hazezon Thamar, that is Engaddi.

And Iosaphat was afrayed, & set his face to seke ye LORDE, & caused a fast to be proclamed in all Iuda. And Iuda came together to seke the LORDE. And out of all ye cities of Iuda came they to seke the LORDE. And Iosaphat stode amōge ye cōgregacion of Iuda & Ierusalem in the house of ye LORDE before the new courte, and sayde:

O LORDE God of oure fathers, art not thou God in heauen, and hast domynion in all the kyngdomes of the Heythen? And in thy hande is strength and power, and there is no man that can withstōde the. Hast not thou or God expelled the inhabiters of this londe before thy people of Israel? and hast geuē it vnto the sede of Abraham thy louer for euer? so that they haue dwelt in it, & haue buylded the a Sanctuary vnto ye name therin, and sayde: Yf there come eny plage, swerde, iudgmēt, pestilence, or derth vpon vs, we wyll stonde before this house euen before the (for thy name is in this house) and wyll crye vnto the in oure trouble, and thou shalt he re, and shalt saue vs. Beholde now, the children of Ammon, of Moab, & they of mount Seir, vpon whom 〈…〉 thou woldest not suffre the children of Israel to go, whan they wente out of the londe of Egipte, but they were fayne to departe from thē, and not to destroye them: and beholde, they deale contrarely with vs, and come to thrust vs out of the inheritaunce, that thou hast geuen vs in possession. O oure God, wylt thou not iudge them? For in vs is no strength to withstonde this greate multitude that commeth agaynst vs. We knowe not what we shulde do, but oure eyes loke vnto the. And all Iuda stode before the LORDE, with their children, wyues and sonnes.

But vpon Iehasiel the sonne of Zacharias, the sonne of Benaia, the sonne of Iehiel, the sonne of Mathania the Leuite of ye children of Assaph, came the sprete of the LORDE in the myddes of the congregacion, and sayde: Geue hede all thou Iuda, and ye inhabiters of Ierusalem, and thou kynge Iosaphat: Thus sayeth the LORDE vnto you: Be not ye afrayed, nether feare ye this greate multitude: for it is not ye that fighte, but God. Tomorow shal ye go downe vnto thē. And beholde, they go vp by Sis, and ye shal fynde them at the reed see by the broke before the wyldernes of Ieruel: for ye shall not fighte in this cause. Do ye but steppe forth, and stonde, and se the health of the LORDE that is with you. Feare not O Iuda and Ierusalem, and be not afrayed, tomorow go ye forth agaynst them, and the LORDE shal be with you.

Thē Iosaphat bowed him selfe wt his face to the earth, & all Iuda, & the inhabiters of Ierusalem fell before the LORDE, & worshipped the LORDE. And the Leuites of ye childrē of the Kahathites & of the children of the Corahites arose to prayse the LORDE God of Israel wt loude voyce on hye. And they gat them vp early in ye mornynge, and wēte forth by the wyldernesse of Thekoa.

And whan they were goynge out, Iosaphat stode, & sayde: Herkē vnto me O Iuda, & ye indwellers of Ierusalē: Put youre trust in the LORDE yor God, & ye shal be safe: and geue credence vnto his prophetes, & ye shall prospere. And he gaue councell vnto ye people, and appoynted the syngers vnto ye LORDE, and them that gaue prayse in the bewtye of holynes, to go before the harnessed mē, & to saye: O geue thankes vnto the LORDE, for his mercy endureth for euer. And whan they beganne to geue thankes and prayse, 〈◊〉 . 7. f 〈◊〉 . 14. c the LORDE caused the hynder watch that was come agaynst Iuda, to come vpon the childrē of Ammon, Moab & them of mount Seir, and they smote them. Then stode the children of Ammon & Moab agaynst them of mount Seir, to damne them, and to destroye them. And whan they had destroyed them of mount Seir, one helped another to destroye them selues also. And whan Iuda came to Mispa vnto the wyldernes, they turned them towarde the multitude, and beholde, the deed bodies laye vpō the earth, so that none was escaped.

And Iosaphat came with his people to deuyde the spoyles of them. And they founde amonge them so moch goodes and rayment and precious Iewels (which they toke from them) that they coulde not beare them. And thre dayes were they deuydinge the spoyle, for it was so moch. On the fourth daye came they together in to the valley of blessynge: for there blessed they the LORDE. Therfore is the place called the valley of blessinge vnto this daye.

So euery man of Iuda & Ierusalem turned back agayne, & Iosaphat before them, to go to Ierusalē with ioye: for ye LORDE had geuen them gladnesse on their enemies. And they entred in to Ierusalem with psalteries, harpes & trompettes vnto the house of the LORDE. And there came a feare of God ouer all the kyngdomes in the londes, whan they herde that the LORDE had foughte agaynst ye enemies of Israel. Thus was ye kyngdome of Iosaphat in quyetnes, & God gaue him rest on euery syde.

And Iosaphat reigned ouer Iuda, & was fyue & thirtie yeare olde whan he was made kynge, & reigned fyue & twentye yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Asuba the doughter of Silhi. And he walked in the waye of his father Asa, & departed not asyde from doynge yt which was righte in the sighte of the LORDE: sauynge that ye hye places were not put downe, for the people had not yet prepared their hert to the God of their fathers. What more there is to saye of Iosaphat, both the first & the last, beholde, it is wrytten in the actes of Iehu ye sonne of Hanani, which he noted vp in the boke of the kynges of Israel.

Re. •• . g Afterwarde dyd Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda agree wt Ahasia the kynge of Israel, which was vngodly in his doynges. And he agreed with him to make shippes, for to go vpon the see. And they made the shippes at Ezeon Gaber. But Elieser the sonne of Dodana of Maresa prophecied agaynst Iosaphat, and sayde: Because thou hast agreed with Ahasia, therfore hath the LORDE broken thy workes. And so ye shippes were broken, & mighte not go vpon the See.

The XXI. Chapter.

ANd Iosaphat fell on slepe wt his fathers, 3. Re. 2 & was buried wt his fathers in the cite of Dauid, & Ioram his sonne was kynge in his steade. And he had brethrē the sonnes of Iosaphat: Asaria, Iehiel, Zacharias, Asaria, Michael & Sephatia. All these were the children of Iosaphat kynge of Iuda. And their father gaue them many giftes of syluer, golde & Iewels, wt stronge cities in Iuda. But the kyngdome gaue he vnto Ioram: for he was the first borne.

But whan Ioram came vp ouer his fathers kyngdome, & had gotten the power of it, he slewe all his brethrē with the swerde, & certayne rulers also in Israel. 4. Re. •• Two & thirtie yeare olde was Ioram whan he was made kynge, & reigned eight yeare at Ierusalē, & walked in the waye of ye kynges of Israel, euen as the house of Achab dyd (for Achabs doughter was his wife) & he dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE.

Neuertheles ye LORDE wolde not destroie the house of Dauid, for the couenauntes sake, 2. Re. •• which he made wt Dauid, and acordinge as he had sayde, yt he wolde geue him and his children a lanterne for euermore.

At ye same tyme fell ye Edomites awaye from Iuda, and made a kynge ouer them selues: for Ioram had gone ouer with his captaynes and all the charettes with him, & had gotten him vp in the night season, and slayne the Edomites on euery syde, and the rulers of the charettes: therfore fell ye Edomites awaye from Iuda vnto this daye. At ye same tyme fell Lybna awaye from him also: because he forsoke the LORDE God of his fathers. He made hye places also on the mountaynes in Iuda, & caused them of Ierusalē to go awhorynge, and disceaued Iuda.

But there came a wrytinge vnto him frō the prophet Elias, sayenge: Thus sayeth the LORDE God of thy father Dauid: Because thou hast not walked in the wayes of thy father Iosaphat, nether in ye wayes of Asa the kynge of Iuda, but walkest in the waye of the kynges of Israel, and makest Iuda and them of Ierusalem to go awhorynge after the whordome of the house of Achab, and hast slayne thy brethren also of thy fathers house, which were better thē thou. Beholde, the LORDE shal smyte the wt a greate plage on thy people, on thy children & thy wyues, and on all thy substaunce. But thou thy selfe shalt haue moch sicknesse in thy bowels, tyll thy bowels go forth from daye to daye for very disease.

So ye LORDE raysed vp agaynst Ioram, the sprete of the Philistynes, & Arabians, which lye besyde the Morians, and they wente vp in to Iuda, and waysted it, and caried awaye all the substaunce that was founde in the kynges house, & his sonnes, and his wyues, so yt there was not one sonne lefte him, saue Ioahas his yōgest sonne. And after all this dyd ye LORDE smyte him in his bowels, with soch a sicknesse as coulde not be healed. And whyle that endured from daye to daye, whan the tyme of two yeares was expyred, his bowels wente from him wt his sicknesse, and he dyed in euell diseases.

And they made not a burninge ouer him, as they dyd vnto his fathers. Two and thirtie yeare olde was he whā he was made kynge, and reigned eight yeare at Ierusalē, and walked not well. And they buried him in the cite of Dauid, but not amōge the sepulcres of the kynges.

The XXII. Chapter.

ANd they of Ierusalem made Ochosias his yōgest sonne kynge in his steade: 〈◊〉 . 8 d for the men of warre that came wt the hoost of the Arabians, had slayne all ye first, therfore reigned Ochosias the sonne of Ioram kynge of Iuda. Two and fortye yeare olde was Ochosias whan he was made kynge, and reigned one yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Athalia the doughter of Amri. And he walked also in ye wayes of the house of Achab: for his mother entysed him so yt he was vngodly. Therfore dyd he euell in ye sighte of the LORDE, euen as ye house of Achab: for they were his councell geuers after his fathers death, to destroye him, and he walked after their councell.

And he wente with Ioram the sonne of Achab kynge of Israel, to the battayll vnto Ramoth in Gilead, agaynst Hasael the kynge of Syria. But the Syriās smote Ioram, so yt he turned back to be healed at Iesreel: for he had woundes that were geuen him at Rama, whan he foughte with Hasael the kynge of Syria. And 〈…〉 Asarias the sonne of Ioram kynge of Iuda wēte downe to vyset Ioram ye sonne of Achab at Iesreel, which laye sicke: For it was ordeyned of God vnto Ochosias, that he shulde come to Ioram, & so to go forth with Ioram agaynst Iehu ye sonne of Nimsi, 〈…〉 whom the LORDE had anoynted to rote out the house of Achab.

Now whan Iehu wolde be auēged of ye house of Achab, he founde certayne rulers of Iuda, and ye childrē of Ochosias brethren which serued Ochosias, and he slewe them. 〈…〉 And he soughte Ochosias, and they ouertoke him, whā he had hyd him at Samaria: & he was broughte vnto Iehu, which slewe him, and they buried him, for they sayde: He his the sonne of Iosaphat, which soughte ye LORDE with all his hert. And there was no man more of the house of Ochosias that mighte be kynge.

Whan Athalia the mother of Ochosias sawe yt hir sonne was deed, she gat hir vp, 〈…〉 & destroyed all the kynges sede in the house of Iuda. But Iosabeath ye kynges sister toke Ioas ye sonne of Ochosias, and stale him awaye frō amonge the kynges childrē yt were slayne, & put him with his norse in a chamber. Thus Iosabeath kynge Iorams douhgter, the wyfe of Ioiada the prest, hyd him from Athalia, so yt he was not slayne: for she was Ochosias sister. And he was hyd with them in the house of God sixe yeares, for so moch as Athalia was quene in the londe.

The XXIII. Chapter.

BVt in the seuenth yeare was Ioiada bolde, 〈…〉 and toke the rulers ouer hundreds: namely Asaria ye sonne of Ieraham, Ismael ye sonne of Iohanan, Asaria ye sonne of Obed, Maeseia ye sonne of Adaia, and Elisaphat ye sonne of Sichri with him, in to the couenaunt: and they wente aboute in Iuda, and broughte ye Leuites together out of all the cities of Iuda, and the chefe fathers of Israel, to come vnto Ierusalem. And all the cōgregacion made a couenaunt with the kynge in the house of God, and he sayde vnto them: Beholde, the kynges sonne shal be kynge, 〈…〉 euē as the LORDE spake cō cernynge the children of Dauid.

This is it therfore yt ye shal do: The thirde parte of you that entre on the Sabbath, shalbe amonge the prestes & Leuites, which are dorekepers at the thresholdes: & one thirde parte in the kynges house, and one thirde parte at the grounde porte. But all the people shalbe in the courtes of the house of the LORDE, and that no man go in to the house of the LORDE, excepte the prestes and Leuites that mynister there, they shal go in: for they are halowed. And let all ye people wayte vpon the LORDE. And the Leuites shal get them rounde aboute ye kynge, euery one with his weapen in his hande. And who so els goeth in to ye house, let him dye. And they shall be wt the kynge whā he goeth out & in.

And the Leuites & all Iuda dyd as Ioiada ye prest had commaunded, and euery one toke his men that entred on the Sabbath, wt those yt wente of on the Sabbath: for Ioiada ye prest suffred not those two companies to parte asunder. And Ioiada ye prest gaue the captaynes ouer hundreds speares & shyldes, and kynge Dauids weapens, which were in the house of God, and set all the people euery one wt his weapen in his hande, from the righte corner of the house, vnto the lefte corner of the altare, and to the house warde aboute the kynge. And they broughte forth the kynges sonne, & set the crowne vpon his heade, and gaue them the 〈◊〉 . 17. d wytnesse, & made him kynge. And Ioiada wt his sonnes anoynted him, & sayde: God saue the kynge.

But whan Athalia herde the noyse of ye people yt ranne together and praysed ye kynge, she wente forth to the people in to ye house of the LORDE, and loked: and beholde, ye kynge stode in his place at ye intraunce, and the rulers and trompettes aboute ye kynge: and all the people of the londe were glad, & blewe the trompes, and there were syngers yt coulde playe wt all maner of musicall instrumentes. But she rēte hir clothes, & sayde: Sedicion, sedicion. Neuertheles Ioiada ye prest gat him forth with the captaynes ouer hundreds and rulers of the hoost, and sayde vnto them: Brynge her forth betwene ye walles, & who so euer foloweth her, shal be slayne with ye swerde: for the prest had cōmaunded, that she shulde not be slayne in ye house of the LORDE. And they layed handes on her. And whan she came at the intraunce of the horsgate of the kynges house, they put her to death there.

And Ioiada made a couenaunt betwene him and all the people, and the kynge, yt they shulde be the people of the LORDE. The wē te all the people in to the house of Baal and destroyed it, & brake downe his altares & ymages, & slewe Mathan the prest of Baal before the altare. And Ioiada appoynted ye officers in the house of the LORDE amōge the prestes & Leuites 〈…〉 whom Dauid had ordeyned for ye house of the LORDE, to offre burnt sacrifices vnto ye LORDE, as it is wrytten in the 〈…〉 lawe of Moses: wt ioye & songes made by Dauid. And ye porters set he at ye gates of ye house of ye LORDE, yt none shulde entre, which were defiled wt eny maner of thinge.

And he toke the captaynes ouer hūdreds and the mightie men and lordes of ye people, and all the people of the londe, and brought the kinge downe from the house of the LORDE, and broughte him thorow the hye porte of the kynges house, and caused the kinge sit vpon the seate royall. And all the people of the lōde were glad, and the cite was at rest. But Athalia was slayne with the swerde.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

IOas was seuen yeare olde whan he was made kynge,4. Re. 12. and reigned fortie yeare at Ierusalē. His mothers name was Zibea of Berseba. And Ioas dyd that which was right in the sight of the LORDE, as longe as Ioiada the prest lyued. And Ioiada gaue him two wiues, & he begat sonnes & doughters. Afterwarde deuysed Ioas to renue the house of the LORDE, & gathered together the prestes and Leuites, & sayde vnto thē: Go forth vn to all the cities of Iuda, & gather the money of all Israel, to repayre ye house of God yearly, and do it righte soone: but the Leuites made no haist.

Then the kynge called Ioiada the pryncipall, and sayde vnto him: Why lokest thou not vnto the Leuites, yt they bringe in from Iuda and Ierusalem, Ex. 50. b. the colleccion which Moses the seruaunt of the LORDE appoynted to be gathered amōge Israel for the Tabernacle of witnes? For yt vngodly Athalia & hir sonnes haue waisted the house of God: and all that was halowed for the house of the LORDE, haue they bestowed on Baalim.

Then commaunded the kynge to make a chest, and to set it without at the intraunce of the house of the LORDE: & caused it to be proclamed in Iuda and Ierusalē, that they shulde bringe in to the LORDE, the collecciō, which Moses the seruaūt of God appointed vnto Israel in ye wildernes. Thē were all ye rulers glad, & so were all ye people, & brought it, and cast it in to the chest, tyll it was full.

And whan the tyme was yt the Leuites shulde brynge the Arke at ye kinges cōmaundement (whan they sawe yt there was moch money therin) then came the kinges scrybe, & he yt was appoynted of the chefe prest, and emptyed the chest, and caried it againe in to his place. Thus dyd they euery daye, so that they gathered moch money together. And ye kinge & Ioiada gaue it vnto ye workmasters of ye house of the LORDE, and they hired masons & carpenters to repayre the house of ye LORDE, and men that coulde worke in yron and brasse, to repayre the house of ye LORDE.

And the labourers wrought, so that ye repairinge in ye worke wente forwarde thorow their hande, and they set the house of God in his bewtye, and made it stronge. And whan they had perfourmed this, they brought the resydue of the money before the kynge and Ioiada, wherof there were made vessels for the house of the LORDE, vessels for the ministracion and burnt offeringe, spones and ornamentes of golde and siluer. And they offred burnt offerynges allwaye in the house of the LORDE, as longe as Ioiada lyued.

And Ioiada waxed olde, and had lyued longe ynough, and dyed, & was an hundreth and thirtie yeare olde whan he dyed: and they buried him in the cite of Dauid, amonge the kynges, because he had done good vnto Israel, and towarde God & his house. And after the death of Ioiada, came the rulers in Iuda, and worshipped the kynge.

Then consented the kynge vnto thē. And they forsoke the house of the LORDE God of their fathers, and serued ye groues and ymages. Then came ye wrath of the LORDE vpō Iuda and Ierusalem because of this trespace of theirs. Yet sent he prophetes, vnto thē, yt they shulde turne vnto the LORDE, & they testified vnto thē: but they wolde not heare.

And the sprete of God came vpon at. 23 c Zachary the sonne of Ioiada the prest, which stode ouer ye people, & sayde vnto thē: Thus sayeth God: Wherfore do ye transgresse the cōmaundementes of the LORDE, which shall not be to yor prosperite: for ye haue forsaken ye LORDE, therfore shal he forsake you. Neuertheles they conspyred agaynst him, & stoned him at ye kynges cōmaundement in ye courte of the house o the LORDE. And Ioas ye kinge thought not on the mercy yt Ioiada his father had done for him, but slewe his sonne. Notwithstondinge whā he dyed, he sayde: The LORDE shal loke vpon it, and requyre it.

And whan the yeare was gone aboute, ye power of the Syrians wente vp, & came to Iuda & Ierusalem, and destroyed the rulers in the people, and sent all the spoiles of them vnto Damascon. For the power of the Syrians came but with a fewe men, yet gaue ye LORDE a very greate power in to their hande: because they had forsaken ye LORDE God of their fathers. They executed iudgment also vpon Ioas. And whan they departed frō him, they lefte him in greate sicknesses.

Neuertheles his seruauntes conspyred against him (because of the bloude of the childrē of Ioiada the prest) & slewe him vpō his bed, & he dyed, and they buryed him in the cite of Dauid, but not amonge the sepulcres of the kynges. They that conspyred against him, were these: Sabad ye sonne of Simeath the Ammonitisse, and Iosabad the sonne of Simrith the Moabitisse. As for his sonnes, and the summe that was gathered vnder him, and the buyldinge of the house of God beholde, they are wrytten in the storye in the boke of the kynges. And Amasias his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XXV. Chapter.

FYue and twentye yeare olde was Amasias whan he was made kynge, and reigned nyne and twentye yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Ioadan of Ierusalem. And he dyd yt which was right in the sighte of the LORDE, but not wt a whole her. Now whan his kingdome was in strēgth, he slewe his seruaūtes which had slayne the kinge his father. But their childrē slewe he not, for so is it wrytten in the boke of the lawe of Moses, 〈…〉 where the LORDE cō maundeth, and sayeth: The fathers shal not dye for the children, nether shal the children dye for the fathers: but euery one shal die for his awne synne.

And Amasias broughte Iuda together, and set them after the fathers houses, after the rulers ouer thousandes & ouer hundreds amonge all Iuda and Ben Iamin, and nombred them from twentye yeare olde & aboue, and founde of thē thre hundreth thousande chosen men, which were able to go forth to the warre, and caryed speares and shyldes. And out of Israel appoynted he an hundreth thousande stronge men of warre for an hundreth talentes of siluer.

But there came a man of God vnto him, and sayde: O kynge, Let not the hoost of Israel come wt the: for the LORDE is not with Israel, nether with all the childrē of Ephraim. For yf thou commest to shewe ye boldnes in the battaill, God shal make the fall before thine enemies. For God hath power to helpe, and to cause for to fall. Amasias sayde vnto the man of God: What shal be done then with ye hundreth talentes yt I haue geuē ye soudyers of Israel? The mā of God sayde: The LORDE hath yet more thē this to geue the. So Amasias separated out the men of warre which were come to him out of Ephraim, yt they shulde departed vnto their place. Then waxed their wrath very whote agaynst Iuda, and they wente agayne vnto their place in wrothfull displeasure. And Amasias strēgthed himselfe, and caried out his people, and wente forth in to the Salt valley, and smote ten thousande of the children of Seir.

And the childrē of Iuda toke ten thousande of thē alyue, whom they broughte vp to the toppe of a mountayne, and cast thē downe headlinges from the toppe of the mount, so that they all to barst in sunder. But ye childrē of the men of warre whom Amasias had sent awaye agayne (that they shulde not go to the battayll with his people) fell in to the cities of Iuda, from Samaria vnto Beth Horon, and smote thre thousande of mē, and toke moch spoyle.

And whan Amasias came agayne from the slaughter of the Edomites, he broughte the goddes of the children of Seir, and made them his goddes, and worshipped before them, & brent incense vnto them. Then was the LORDE very wroth at Amasias, & sent vnto him a prophet, which sayde vnto him: Why sekest thou the goddes of the people, which coulde not delyuer their folke from ye hande? And whan he talked with him, the kynge sayde vnto him: Haue they made ye of the kynges councell? Ceasse, why wilt thou be smytten? Then the prophet ceassed, & sayde: I perceaue, that the LORDE is mynded to destroye ye, because thou hast done this, and herkenest not vnto my councell.

〈◊〉 . 14. b And Amasias ye kynge of Iuda toke coū cell, & sent vnto Ioas the sonne of Ioahas ye sonne of Iehu, kynge of Israel, sayēge: Come, let vs se one another. But Ioas the kynge of Israel sent vnto Amasias ye kynge of Iuda, sayenge: The hawthorne in Libanus sent vnto ye Cedre tre in Libanus, sayēge: Geue thy doughter vnto my sonne to wife. But a wylde beest in Libanus ranne ouer ye haw thorne, & trode it downe. Thou thinkest: Beholde, I haue smytten the Edomites, therfore is thine hert proude to boaste. Now byde at home: why stryuest thou after mysfortune, that thou mayest fall & Iuda wt the?

Neuertheles Amasias consented not: for so was it broughte to passe of God, yt they mighte be geuen in to the handes of the enemies, because they soughte the goddes of ye Edomites. Then wente Ioas the kynge of Israel vp, & they sawe one another, he and Amasias the kynge of Iuda, at Beth Semes which lyeth in Iuda. But Iuda was smyttē before Israel, and they fled euery one vnto his tent.

And Ioas the kynge of Israel toke Amasias ye kynge of Iuda, the sonne of Ioas ye sonne of Ioahas, at Beth Semes, & broughte him to Ierusalem, & brake downe the wall of Ierusalē, from ye porte of Ephraim vnto the corner porte, euē foure hundreth cubites longe: and toke with him all the golde, and siluer, and all the ornamentes that were foū de in ye house of God with Obed Edom, and in the treasures in the kynges house, and the childrē to pledge vnto Samaria. And Amasias the sonne of Ioas kynge of Iuda, liued after the death of Ioas the sonne of Ioahas kynge of Israel fiftene yeare.

What more there is to saye of Amasias (both the first and last) beholde, it is written in ye boke of the kynges of Iuda & Israel. And frō the tyme forth that Amasias departed from the LORDE, they conspyred against him at Ierusalem. But he fled vnto Lachis. Thē sent they after him vnto Lachis, & slewe him there. And they brought him vpō horses & buried him beside his fathers in the cite of Iuda.

The XXVI. Chapter.

THen all the people of Iuda toke Osias, which was syxtene yeare olde,4. Re. 15. and made him kynge in steade of his father Amasias. He builded Eloth, & broughte it agayne vnto Iuda, after that the kynge was fallen on slepe with his fathers. Sixtene yeare olde was Osias whan he was made kinge, and reigned two and fiftie yeare at Ierusalē. His mothers name was Iechalia of Ierusalem. And he did right in the syght of the LORDE, as his father Amasias had done, and soughte God as longe as Zacharias lyued, which taughte in the visyons of God: and as longe as he sought the LORDE, God made him to prospere.

For he wente forth, and foughte agaynst the Philistynes, and brake downe ye walles of Gath, and the walles of Iabne, and the walles of Aszdod, and buylded cities aboute Aszdod, & amonge the Philistynes. For God helped him agaynst the Philistines, against the Arabians, agaynst them of Gur Baal, & agaynst the Meunites. And ye Ammonites gaue Osias presentes, & his name came in to Egipte: for he was exceadinge stronge. And Osias buylded towres at Ierusalem vpon the cornerporte, and on the valley gate, and on other corners, and made them stronge. He buylded castels also in the wyldernesse, and dygged many welles: for he had many catell, both in the medewes and in the playnes, huszbandmen also and wynegardeners on the mountaynes and on Carmel: for he delyted in huszbandaye.

And Osias had an hoost of men of warre goynge forth to the battaill, which were nō bred vnder the hande of Ieiel the scrybe & of Maesa the offycer, vnder the hāde of Hanania of the kynges rulers. And the nombre of the chefe fathers amonge the stronge mē of warre, was two thousande and syxe hundreth. And vnder the hande of the hoost thre hundreth thousande, and seuen thousande and fyue hundreth mete for the battayll, in the strength of an armye to helpe the kinge agaynst the enemies. And Osias prepared for all the hoost, shyldes, speares, helmettes, brestplates, bowes and slyngstones. And at Ierusalē he made ordinaunce cōningly, to be vpon the towres and in the pynnacles, to shute arowes and greate stones. And the fame of him came farre abrode, because he was specially helped, tyll he became mightie.

And whan his power was greate, his hert arose to his awne destruccion: for he trespaced agaynst the LORDE his God, and wente in to the temple of the LORDE, to burne incense vpon the altare of incense. But Asarias the prest wente after him, and foure score prestes with him, valeaunt men, and withstode kynge Osias, and saide vnto him: 〈◊〉 . 18. a It belongeth not vnto thy offyce (Osias) to burne incense vnto the LORDE, but vnto the prestes belongeth it, euen vnto the children of Aaron, which are halowed to burne incense. Go forth out of the Sanctuary: for thou offendest, and it shall be no worshippe vnto the before God the LORDE.

And Osias was wroth, and had a censoure in his hande. 〈◊〉 4 . b And whyle he murmured with the prestes, the leprosy spronge out of his foreheade in the presence of the prestes in the house of the LORDE before the altare of incense. And Asarias the chefe prest turned his heade towarde him, and so dyd all the prestes, and beholde, he was leper in his foreheade. And they put him out from thence. Yee he made haist himselfe to go forth, for his plage came of the LORDE. Thus became Osias ye kynge a leper vnto his death, and dwelt full of leprosye in a fre house: for he was put out of the house of the LORDE. But Ioram his sonne had the ouersight of the kynges house, and iudged the people in the l nde.

What more there is to saie of Osias (both first and last) Esay the sonne of Amos hath wrytten it. And Osias fell on slepe wt his fathers, and they buryed him with his fathers in the pece of grounde beside ye kynges sepulcres: for they sayde: He is leporous. And Iotham his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XXVII. Chapter.

IOtham was fyue and twentye yeare olde whan he was made kynge, Re. 15. f and reigned sixtene yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Ierusa the daughter of Sadoc: & he dyd righte in the sighte of the LORDE as did Osias his father: sauynge yt he wente not in to the temple of the LORDE, and the people yet marred them selues. He buylded the hye porte of the house of ye LORDE, and on the wall of Ophel buylded he moch, and buylded the cities vpon the mountaynes of Iuda, and in the woddes buylded he castels and towres.

And he fought with the kinge of the children of Ammon, and ouer came them, so that the childrē of Ammon gaue him ye same yeare an hundreth talentes of siluer, ten thousande quarters of wheate, and ten thousande of barlye. So moch dyd the children of Ammon geue him also in ye seconde & thirde yeare. Thus became Iotham mightye, for he gyded his wayes before the LORDE his God.

What more there is to saye of Iotham, & all his warres, vnd his waies, beholde, it is wrytten in ye boke of the kinges of Israel & Iuda. Fyue and twentye yeare olde was he whan he was made kynge, & reigned sixtene yeare at Ierusalē. And Iothā fell on slepe wt his fathers, & they buryed him in the cite of Dauid, and Achas his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

AChas was twentye yeare olde whan he was made kynge, 〈…〉 and reigned sixtene yeare at Ierusalem, and dyd not that which was righte in the sighte of the LORDE, as did Dauid his father, but walked in the wayes of the kinges of Israel, and made molten ymages vnto Baalim, and brent incense in the valley of the children of Hennon, and brēt his awne sonnes in ye fire, 〈…〉 after the abhominacions of the Heithen, whō the LORDE expelled before the childrē of Israel. And he dyd sacrifice and brent incense vpon the hye places and vpon the hilles, and amō ge all grene trees.

Therfore dyd the LORDE his God delyuer him in to the hande of the kynge of Syria, so that they smote him, and caryed awaye a greate multitude of his men presoners, and broughte them to Damascon. He was geuen also vnder the hande of the kynge of Israel, so yt he dyd a greate slaughter vpon him. For Pecah the sonne of Romelia smote in Iuda an hundreth & twentye thousande in one daye (which all were valeaunt men) euē because they had forsaken ye LORDE God of their fathers. And Sichri a mightie mā of Ephraim slewe Maeseia ye kinges sonne, & Asri am the prynce of the house, & El ana the nexte vnto the kynge. And the children of Israel caried of their brethren presoners two hundreth thousande, wemen, sonnes and doughters, and toke a greate spoyle from them, and broughte the spoyle vnto Samaria.

But euē there was there a prophet of ye LORDE, whose name was Obed, which wē te out to mete ye hoost that came to Samaria, and sayde vnto them: Beholde, because the LORDE God of youre fathers is wroth at Iuda, therfore hath he geuen them ouer in to youre handes: but ye haue slayne them so abhominably, that it is come vnto heauē. Now thinke ye to subdue the children of Iuda and Ierusalem, to be bondmen and bond maydens vnto you. Is not this a trespace then wt you agaynst the LORDE yor God? Herken now vnto me, and sende ye presoners hence agayne, whom ye haue caried awaye from youre brethren: for the wrath of ye LORDE is fearce ouer you.

Then gat vp certayne of the chefe of the children of Ephraim, Asarias the sonne of Iohanan, Barachias the sonne of Mesillemoth, Ezechias the sonne of Sallum, & Amasa ye sonne of Hadlai, agaynst them yt came from ye battayll, & sayde vnto them: Ye shal not brynge the presoners in hither, for youre mynde is but to make vs trespace before the LORDE, to make oure synnes and offences the greater: for the trespace is to moch allready, & the wrath is fearce ouer Israel. So the hoost lefte the presoners & the spoyle before ye rulers and before the whole cōgregacion.

Then stode vp the men (which now were rehearced by name) and toke the presoners, and as many as were naked amonge them, clothed they with ye spoyles, & deckte them, and put shues vpon their fete, and gaue thē to eate and drynke, and anoynted them, and caried them vpon asses (as many as were feble) and broughte them to Iericho to ye Palme cite vnto their brethren, and came agayne to Samaria. 〈…〉 At the same tyme sent kynge Achas vnto the kynges of Assur, yt they shulde helpe him. And the Edomites came agayne, and smote Iuda, and caried some awaye captyue. The Philistynes also fell in to the cities in the playne, & towarde ye south parte of Iuda, & wanne Beth Semes, A alon, Gederoth, and Socho with the vyllages therof, Timna wt the vyllages therof, & Gimso with the vyllages therof, and dwelt therin. For ye LORDE subdued Iuda for Achas sake ye kynge of Iuda, because he made Iuda naked, and rebelled agaynst the LORDE. And Teglatpilnesser the kynge of Assur came agaynst him, and beseged him, & he was not mightie ynough for him.

For Achas spoyled the house of the LORDE, and the kynges house, and of the rulers, to geue vnto ye kynge of Assur, but it helped him not. Morouer kinge Achas trespaced yet more against the LORDE euen in his trouble, and dyd sacrifyce vnto the goddes of them of Damascon, which had smitten him, & sayde: The goddes of the kynges of Syria helpe them, therfore wil I offre vnto them, that they maye helpe me also, where as the same yet were a fall vnto him and to all Israel.

And Achas gathered the vessels of ye house of God together, and brake the vessels in ye house of God, & . Pa. •• . shut the dores of the house of ye LORDE, and made him altares in all corners at Ierusalem, and euery where in the cyties of Iuda made he hye places to burne incense vnto other goddes, and prouoked ye LORDE God of his fathers vnto wrath.

What more there is to saye of him and of all his wayes (both first and last) beholde, it is wrytten in the boke of the kynges of Iuda and Israel. And Achas fell on slepe with his fathers, and they buried him in ye cite of Ierusalem: for they brought him not amonge the sepulcres of the kynges of Israel. And Ezechias his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XXIX. Chapter.

EZechias was fyue & twentye yeare olde whan he was made kynge, & reigned nyne & twentye yeares at Ierusalem.4. Re. 1 . His mothers name was Abia ye doughter of Zachary. And he dyd that which was right in the sight of the LORDE, as did his father Dauid. Pa. •• . He opened the dores of ye house of the LORDE in the first moneth of ye first yeare of his raigne, & made them stronge, & brought in the prestes and Leuites, and gathered them together vnto the East streate and sayde vnto them: Herken vnto me ye Leuites, sanctifye youre selues now, yt ye maye halowe the house of the LORDE God of yor fathers, and put fylthines out of the Sanctuary: for oure fathers haue trespaced, and done yt which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE oure God, and haue forsaken him. For they turned their faces from the habitaciō of ye LORDE oure God, & turned their backes on it, and shut the dores of the Porche, and put out the lampes, and brent no incense, & offred no burntsacrifyces in the Sanctuary vnto the God of Israel.

Therfore is the wrath of the LORDE come ouer Iuda and Ierusalem, and he hath geuen them ouer to be scatred abrode, desolate and to be hyssed at, as ye se with yor eies· For beholde, euen for the same cause fell oure fathers thorow the swerde, oure sonnes doughters and wyues were caryed awaye captyue. Now am I mynded to make a couenaunt with the LORDE God of Israel, yt he maye turne awaie from vs his wrath & indignacion. Now my sonnes, be not ye negligent: um. 18. a for the LORDE hath chosen you to stō de before him, and to be his mynisters and to burne incense vnto him.

Then rose the Leuites: Mahath the sonne of Amasai, and Ioel the sonne of Asaria of the children of the Rahathites. Of the children of Merari: Cis the sonne of Abdi, & Asaria the sonne of Iehaleleel. Of the children of the Gersonites: Ioah the sonne of Simma, and Eden the sonne of Ioah. And of the childrē of Elizaphan: Simri & Ieiel. And of the childrē of Assaph: Sachary and Mathania. And of the chidren of Heman: Iehiel and Simei. And of the children of Iedithun: Semaia and Vsiel.

And they gathered their brethren together, and were sanctified, and wente in acordinge to the kynges commaundement at the worde of the LORDE, to clense the house of ye LORDE. And the prestes entred within in the house of the LORDE to purifye, and put out all the vnclennes that was founde in the tē ple of the LORDE, in the courte of the LORDES house: and the prestes toke it vp, and caryed it out in to the broke Cedron. The fyrst daye of the fyrst moneth beganne they to sanctifye them selues, and on the eight daye of the moneth wente they in to the porche of the LORDE, and halowed the house of ye LORDE eight dayes, and fynished it on the sixtenth daye of the fyrst moneth.

And they wēte in to the kynge Ezechias, and sayde: We haue clensed all the house of the LORDE, the altare of burnt offerynges, and all his vessels, the table of the shewbred and all the apparell therof: and all the ornamentes that kynge Achas cast awaye whā he was kynge, what tyme as he transgressed, those haue we prepared and halowed. Beholde, they are before the altare of the LORDE.

Thē the kynge Ezechias gat him vp early, and gathered together the Elders of the cite, and wēte vp vnto the house of the LORDE, and they broughte seuen bullockes, seuen rammes, seuen lambes, and seuen he goates to be the syn offerynge, for the Sanctuary, & for Iuda. And he spake vnto the prestes the children of Aaron, that they shulde offre vpon the altare of the LORDE.

So they slewe the bullockes, and the prestes toke the bloude, and sprenkled it vpon ye altare: and slewe the rammes, and sprenkled the bloude vpon the altare: and slewe the lā bes, and sprenkled the bloude vpon the altare. And ye goates to ye syn offerynge brought they before the kynge and the congregaciō, and layed their handes vpon them: and the prestes slewe them, and sprenkled their bloude vpon the altare to make attonemēt for all Israel: for the kynge commaunded to offre burntsacrifyces and sin offeringes for all Israel.

And he set the Leuites in the house of the LORDE with Cymbales, Psalteries and harpes, 〈…〉 as Dauid had commaunded, and Gad the kynges Seer, and the prophet Nathan for it was the commaundement of the LORDE by his prophetes. And the Leuites stode with the musicall instrumentes of Dauid, & the prestes with the trompettes. And Ezechias commaunded them to offre burntsacrifyces vpon the altare. And aboute the tyme that the burntsacrifyce begāne to be offred the songe of the LORDE beganne also, and ye trompettes, and dyuerse instrumentes of Dauid the kynge of Israel and all the congregacion gaue praise & thankes: and the songe of the Musicians, and ye blowynge of the trompetters, endured all tyll the burnt offerynge was fynished.

Now whan the burnt offerynge was perfourmed, the kynge and all they that were with him, bowed them selues, and gaue praise and thankes. And Ezechias the kynge wt the rulers commaunded the Leuites to prayse the LORDE with the songes of Dauid and Assaph the Seer. And they gaue prayse tyll they were ioyfull, and they bowed them selues, and worshipped.

And Ezechias answered and saide: Now haue ye fylled youre hādes vnto the LORDE steppe forth, and brynge hither ye sacrifyces and thank offerynges vnto the house of the LORDE. And the congregacion broughte sacrifyces and thank offerynges, and euery mā of a fre wyllinge hert brought burnt offerynges. And the nombre of the burnt offerynges that the congregacion broughte, was thre score bullockes and ten, an hundreth rā mes, and two hundreth lambes, and all these for the burnt offerynge vnto the LORDE, and they sanctifyed sixe hundreth bullockes, and thre thousande shepe.

But the prestes were to fewe, and coulde not pluck of the skynnes of all the burnt offerynges, therfore toke they their brethren the Leuites, tyll the worke was fyniszhed, and tyll the prestes were halowed (for the Leuites are easier to be halowed then the prestes) and many of the burnt offerynges were with the fat of the thank offerynges and drynk offerynges to the burntsacrifices. Thus was the ministracion of the house of the LORDE prepared. And Ezechias reioysed with all the people, that they were prepared with God: for it was done righte haistely.

The XXX. Chapter.

ANd Ezechias sent in to all Israel and Iuda, and wrote letters vnto Ephraim and Manasses, that they shulde come to the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem, to kepe easter vnto the LORDE God of Israel. And the kynge helde a councell with his rulers, and all the cōgregacion at Ierusalem, 〈◊〉 . 9. b to kepe Passeouer in the seconde moneth: for at that tyme they coulde not kepe it, because the prestes were not sanctified ynough, and the people were not yet come together vnto Ierusalem. And it pleased the kynge well and all the cōgregacion. And they appointed it to be proclamed thorow out all Israel from Berseba vnto Dan, that they shulde come to kepe Passeouer vnto the LORDE God of Israel: for they were not many to kepe it as it is wrytten.

And the postes wente with the letters from the hande of the kynge and of his rulers thorow out all Israell and Iuda, at ye kynges commaundement, and sayde: Ye children of Israel, turne you vnto the LORDE God of Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, and he shal turne to ye escaped, which are lefte ouer amonge you from the hande of the kynge of Assur: and be not ye as youre fathers and brethren, which rebelled agaynst the LORDE God of their fathers, and he gaue thē ouer in to desolacion as ye se youre selues. Be not ye hardnecked now as were youre fathers, but offre youre hāde vnto the LORDE, and come to his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for euer, and serue the LORDE youre God, & so shal the indignacion of his wrath turne awaye from you. For yf ye turne vnto the LORDE, then shal youre brethren and children haue mercy in the sighte of them which holde them in captiuyte, that they maye come agayne in to this londe: 〈◊〉 . 34. c for the LORDE youre God is gracious and mercifull, and shal not turne awaye his face from you, yf ye conuerte vnto him.

And the postes wente from one cite to another in the londe of Ephraim and Manasses, and vnto Zabulon. But they mocked them and laughed them to scorne. Yet were there some of Asser and Manasses, and of Zabulon, that submytted them selues, and came to Ierusalem. And the hande of God came in to Iuda, so that he gaue thē one hert to do after the commaundement of the kynge and the rulers at the worde of the LORDE. And there came together vnto Ierusalē a greate people, to kepe the feast of vnleuended bred in the seconde moneth, a very greate congregacion.

And they gat them vp, and put downe ye 2. Pa. 27. d altares that were at Ierusalem, and all the incense put they awaye, and cast it in to the broke Cedron, and slewe the Passeouer on the fourtenth daye of the secōde moneth. And ye prestes and Leuites were ashamed, and halowed them selues, and broughte the burnt offerynges to the house of the LORDE, and stode in their ordinaunce, as it was acordinge, after the lawe off Moses the man of God. And the prestes sprenkled the bloude from the hande of the Leuites: for there were many in the cōgregacion which were not sanctified, therfore dyd the Leuites kyll Passeouer for them which were not clensed, that they mighte be sanctified vnto the LORDE.

There were many people also of Ephraim, Manasses, Isachar and Zabulon, which were not cleane, but ate the Easter lambe not as it is wrytten: for Ezechias prayed for them, and sayde: The LORDE, which is gracious, shalbe mercifull vnto all them that prepare their hertes vnto God, to seke the LORDE God of their fathers, though they be not clensed after the holy purificacion. And the LORDE herde Ezechias, and healed the people. Thus the children of Israel that were founde at Ierusalē, helde ye feast of vnleuended bred seuen dayes with greate ioye. And the Leuites and prestes praysed the LORDE euery daye with the loude instrumentes of the LORDE. And Ezechias spake hertely vnto all ye Leuites, which had good vnderstondinge in the LORDE, and they ate the feast seuen dayes, and offred thāk offerynges, and gaue thankes vnto ye LORDE God of their fathers.

And all the congregacion deuysed to kepe the feast yet other seuē dayes, and so they helde it those seuen dayes also with ioye: for Ezechias the kinge of Iuda gaue an Heue-offerynge for the cōgregacion, euen a thousande bullockes, and seuen thousande shepe. But the rulers gaue an Heue offeringe for ye congregacion, euen a thousande bullockes, and ten thousande shepe. And many of the prestes sanctified them selues.

And the whole congregacion of Iuda reioysed, the prestes and Leuites, and all the congregacion that came out of Israel, and the straungers that were come out of the londe of Israel, and they that dwelt in Iuda, and greate ioye was there at Ierusalem: for sence the tyme of Salomon the sonne of Dauid the kynge of Israel, was there no soch (ioye) at Ierusalē. And the prestes and Leuites stode vp and blessed the people, and their voyce was herde, and their prayer came in to his holy habitacion in heauen.

The XXXI. Chapter.

ANd whan all this was fynished, all the Israelites that were founde in ye cities of Iuda, wente out, and brake the pilers, and hewed downe the groues, and brake downe the hye places and altares out of all Iuda, Ben Iamin, Ephraim and Manasses, tyll they had destroyed thē. And all the children of Israel wente agayne euery one to his possession vnto their cities.

But Ezechias set the prestes and Leuites in their ordinaunces, euery one after his office, both the prestes and Leuites, for the burntsacrifices and thank offerynges, to mynister, to geue thankes and prayse in the gates of the hoost of the LORDE. And the kynge gaue his porcion of his substaūce for the burnt offerynges in the mornynge and euenynge, and for the burnt offerynges of the Sabbath, and of the newmone and of the feastes, as it is wrytten in the lawe of the LORDE.

And he spake vnto ye people which dwelt at Ierusalem, that they shulde geue porciōs vnto the prestes and Leuites, yt they mighte the more stedfastly endure in the lawe of the LORDE. And whā ye worde came forth, the childrē of Israel gaue many fyrst frutes of corne, wyne, oyle, hony, and allmaner increace of the felde, and broughte in moch of all maner tithes. And the children of Israel and Iuda which dwelt in the cities of Iuda, broughte the tithes also of oxen and shepe, and the tithes of soch thinges as were sanctifyed, which they had halowed vnto the LORDE their God, and made here an heape, and there an heape. In the thirde moneth begāne they to laye vpon heapes, and in the seuenth moneth dyd they fynishe it.

And whā Ezechias with the rulers wente in, and sawe the heapes, they praysed the LORDE, and his people of Israel. And Ezechi s axed the prestes and Leuites concernynge the heapes. And Asaria the prest the chefe in the house of Sadoc, sayde vnto him: Sence the tyme that they beganne to brynge the Heue offerynges in to ye house of the LORDE, we haue eaten, and are satisfied, and yet is there lefte ouer: for the LORDE hath blessed his people, therfore is this heape lefte ouer. Then commaunded the kynge, that they shulde prepare chestes in the house of the LORDE. And they prepared them and put in the Heue offerynges, and tithes and that which was halowed, faithfully.

And the ouersighte of the same had Chanania the Leuite, and Simei his brother the seconde, and Iehiel, Asasia, Naglath, Asahel, Ierimoth, Iosabad, Eliel, Iesmachia, Mahath and Benaia, ordeyned of the hande off Chanania and Simei his brother, acordinge to the commaundement of kynge Ezechias. But Asaria was prynce in the house of God. And Core ye sonne of Iemna the Leuite the power of the Eastgate was ouer the frewyllinge giftes of God (which were geuen for Heue offerynges vnto the LORDE) and ouer the Most holy. And vnder his hande were, Eden, Miniamin, Iesua, Semaia, Amaria, and Sachania in the cities of the prestes vpon credence, that they shulde geue vnto their brethrē acordinge to their courses, to the leest as to the greatest.

And vnto them that were counted for men childrē from thre yeare olde and aboue, amonge all thē that wēte in to the house of the LORDE, euery one vpō his daye to their office in their attendaunces after their courses. And they that were rekened for prestes in the house of their fathers, and the Leuites from twentye yeare and aboue, in their attendaunces after their courses. And they that were rekened amonge their children, wyues, sonnes and doughters amōge the whole congregacion: for that which was halowed, sanctifyed they vpon credence. There were men also named by name amonge Aarons children the prestes vpon the feldes of the suburbes in all ye cities, that they shulde geue porcions vnto all the men children amōge the prestes, and to all them that were nombred amonge the Leuites.

Thus dyd Ezechias in all Iuda, and dyd that which was good, righte and true in the sighte of the LORDE his God. And in all the busynes that he toke in hāde concernynge the seruyce of the house of God, acordinge to the lawe and commaundement, to seke his God, that dyd he with all his hert, and therfore prospered he well.

The XXXII. Chapter.

AFter these actes and faithfulnes came Sennacharib the kynge of Assur, 〈◊〉 . 18. c and wente in to Iuda, and pitched before the strōge cities, and thoughte to plucke them vnto him. And whan Ezechias sawe that Sennacherib came, and that his face stode to fighte agaynst Ierusalem, he deuysed with his rulers and mightie men, to couer the waters of the welles that were without the cite, and they helped him: and there gathered together a greate people, and couered all ye welles and water brokes in the myddes of the londe, and sayde: Lest the kynges of Assur fynde moch water whā they come. And he toke a corage vnto him, and buylded all the walles where they were in decaye, and made towres theron, and buylded yet another wall without, and strengthed Millo in the cite of Dauid. And made moch ordinaunce and shyldes, and set captaynes of warre ouer the people.

And gathered them vnto him vpon the brode strete by the gate of the cite, and spake hertely vnto them, and sayde: Be stronge and bolde, feare not, and be not afrayed for the kynge of Assur, ner all ye multitude that is with him: for there is one greater with vs then with him. With him is a 〈…〉 fleshly arme, but with vs is the LORDE oure God, to helpe vs and to fighte for vs. And ye people trusted vnto the wordes of Ezechias kynge of Iuda.

〈…〉 Afterwarde sent Sennacherib the kynge of Assur his seruauntes vnto Ierusalem (for he laye before Lachis, & all his hoost wt him) to Ezechias ye kinge of Iuda, & to all Iuda that was at Ierusalē, sayenge: Thus sayeth Sennacherib ye kynge of Assur: Wherin put ye youre trust ye that dwell in the beseged Ierusalem? Ezechias disceaueth you, that he maye delyuer you vnto death, hōger and thyrst, and sayeth: The LORDE oure God shal delyuer vs from the hande of the kynge of Assur. Is it not Ezechias, that hath put awaye his hye places and altares, and sayde vnto Iuda and Ierusalem: Before one altare shal ye worshippe, and burne incense theron?

Knowe ye not what I and my fathers haue done to all ye people in the londes? Haue the goddes of the Heythen in the londes bene able to delyuer their countrees fro my hande? What is he amonge all the goddes of these Heythen (whom my father damned) that was able to delyuer his people fro my hande? yt youre God shulde be able to delyuer fro my hande. Therfore let not Ezechias now disceaue you, and let him not persuade you eny soch thinge, and beleue him not. For yf no god of all the Heythē and kyngdomes might delyuer his people fro my hande and from the hande of my progenitours, then shal not youre goddes be able to delyuer you fro my hande.

His seruaūtes also spake yet more against the LORDE God, and agaynst his seruaunt Ezechias. And he wrote a letter to blaspheme the LORDE God of Israel, and spake of him, and sayde: Like as the goddes of the Heythen in their londes haue not bene able to delyuer their people from my hande, euen so shal not the God of Ezechias delyuer his people fro my hande.

And the cryed with loude voyce in the Iewish langage vnto the people of Ierusalem that were vpon the wall, to make them fearfull and to be fayntharted, that they might wynne the cite. And they spake agaynst the God off Ierusalem, euen as agaynst the goddes off the nacions vpon earth, which were but the workes of mens hondes.

But contrary wyse the kynge Ezechias and the prophet Esay the sonne of Amos prayed, and cryed vnto heauē. And the LORDE sent an angell, which destroyed all the mightie men of the hoost, and the prynces and rulers in ye tentes of the kynge of Assur, so that he departed agayne with shame in to his owne londe. 4. Re. 19. b And whan he wente in to his gods house, they yt came of his owne body, slewe him there with the swerde. Thus the LORDE, helped Ezechias and them at Ierusalem, out of the hāde of Sennacherib ye kynge of Assur, and of all other, and mayntayned thē frō all on euery syde, so yt many broughte presentes vnto the LORDE to Ierusalem, and Iewels vnto Ezechias the kynge of Iuda. And afterwarde was he exalted in the sighte of all Heythen.

At ye same tyme was Ezechias deedsicke, and he prayed vnto the LORDE, which made him promes,4. Re. 20. a Esa. 28. a and gaue him a wondertoken. But Ezechias recōpensed not acordinde as was geuen vnto him, for his hert was lifted vp: therfore came the wrath vpon him, and vpon Iuda and Ierusalem. Neuertheles Ezechias humbled him selfe because his hert had bene exalted, with them at Ierusalem: therfore came not the wrath of the LORDE vpon them, whyle Ezechias lyued.

And Ezechias had very greate riches and worshippe, and made him treasures of syluer, golde, precious stones, spyces, shyldes, and all maner costly vessell, and corne houses for the increace of corne, wyne and oyle, and stalles for all maner catell, and foldes for the shepe, and buylded him cities, and had many catell of shepe and oxen: for God gaue him very moch good.

It is the same Ezechias that couered the hye water condyte in Gihon, and conveyed it vnder on the west syde of ye cite of Dauid: for Ezechias prospered in all his workes. But whan the interpreters the chefe of Babilon were sent vnto him, to axe question at him (concernynge the wondertokē that had happened in the londe) God lefte him Deut. . a to be tempted, that it mighte be knowne what soeuer was in his hert.

What more there is to saye of Ezechias, and of his mercifulnes, beholde, it is wryttē in the vision of the prophet Esay the sonne of Amos, and in the boke of the kynges of Iuda and Israel. And Ezechias fell on slepe with his fathers, and they buried him ouer the sepulcres of the children of Dauid, and all Iuda and they of Ierusalē dyd him worshippe in his death: and Manasses his sonne was kynge in his steade.

The XXXIII. Chapter.

MAnasses was twolue yeare olde whā he was made kynge,4. Re. 21. a and reigned fyue and fiftye yeare at Ierusalem, and dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE (euen after the abominacions of the Heythen, whom the LORDE expelled before the children of Israel) and turned backe, and buylded the hye places, (4. Re. 18. a which his father Ezechies had broken downe) and set vp altares vnto Baalim, and made groues, and worshipped all the hoost of heauen, and serued them. He buylded altares also in ye LORDES house, wherof the LORDE had sayde: 2. Par. 7. c At Ierusalem shal my name be for euer. And vnto all the hoost of heauen buylded he altares in both the courtes of ye house of the LORDE. And in the valley of the sonne of Hennon caused he his awne sonnes to go thorow the fyre, and chosed dayes, & regarded byrdescryenge, and witches, and founded soythsayers and expounders of tokens, and dyd moch that was euell in the sighte of the LORDE to prouoke him vnto wrath.

Carued ymages also and Idols (which he caused to make) set he vp in Gods house, wherof the LORDE saide vnto Dauid and to Salomon his sonne: In this house at Ierusalem which I haue chosen out of all the trybes of Israel, wyl I set my name for euer and wyl nomore let the fote of Israel remoue frō the londe that I appoynted for their fathers, so farre as they obserue to do all yt I haue commaunded them, in all the lawe, statutes and ordinaunces by Moses. But Manasses disceaued Iuda and them of Ierusalē, so that they dyd worse then the Heythen, whom the LORDE destroyed before the children of Israel. And the LORDE spake vnto Manasses and his people, and they regarded it not.

Therfore dyd the LORDE cause the rulers of the hoost of the kynge of Assur to come vpō thē, which toke Manasses presoner with bōdes, and bounde him with cheynes, & broughte him vnto Babilon. 〈…〉 And whan he was in trouble, he made intercession before the LORDE his God, and humbled him selfe greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed and besoughte him. Then herde he his prayer, and broughte him agayne to Ierusalem to his kyngdome. And Manasses knewe that the LORDE is God.

Afterwarde buylded he ye vttemost wall of the cite of Dauid, on the west syde of Gihon by the broke, and at the intraunce of the Fyshgate, and rounde aboute 〈…〉 Ophel, and made it very hye. And layed captaynes in ye strōge cities of Iuda, & put awaye ye straunge goddes & Idols out of ye house of ye LORDE, and all the altares which he had buylded vpō the mount of the house of the LORDE, and in Ierusalem, and cast them out of the cite, and buylded the altare of the LORDE, and offred slayn offerynges and thank-offerynges theron, and commaunded Iuda, that they shulde serue the LORDE God of Israel. Neuertheles though the people offred vnto the LORDE their God, yet offred they vpon the hye places.

What more there is to saye of Manasses and of his prayer to his God, and the wordes of the Seers that spake vnto him in the name of the LORDE God of Israel, beholde, they are amonge the actes of the kynges of Israel. And his prayer and intercession, and all his synne and offence, & the rowmes wherin he buylded the hye places & groues and founded ydols, afore he hūbled himselfe, beholde, they are wrytten amonge the actes of the Seers. And Manasses fell on slepe with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his sonne was kynge in his steade.

Two and twētye yeare olde was Amon whā he was made kynge, and reigned two yeare at Ierusalē, and dyd euell in the sighte of the LORDE, as Manasses his father had done. And Amon offred vnto all the Idols that his father Manasses had made and serued thē. Yet dyd not he humble himselfe before the LORDE, as Manasse his father had submitted himselfe: but Amon trespaced euer more and more. And his seruauntes cōspyred agaynst him, and slewe him in his house. Then smote the people in the londe all them that had conspyred agaynst kynge Amon. And the people in the londe made Iosias his sonne kynge in his steade.

The XXXIIII. Chapter.

IOsias was eight yeare olde whan he was made kynge, 〈◊〉 . 22. a and reigned one and thirtye yeare at Ierusalem, and dyd that which was righte in the sighte of the LORDE, and walked in the wayes of Dauid his father, and turned not asyde, nether to the righte hande ner to the lefte. For in the eight yeare of his reigne whā he was yet but a childe, he beganne to seke the God of his father Dauid: and in the twolueth yeare begāne he to clense Iuda and Ierusalē from the hye places and groues, and carued Idols, and molten ymages: and caused the altares of Baalim to be broken downe before him, and the ymages that were theron, hewed he downe. And ye groues and carued Idols and moltē ymages brake he in peces, and made them to dust, and scatred it vpon the graues of them that had offred vnto them. And the bones of the prestes brent he vpō the altares, and so clēsed he Iuda & Ierusalē, & in ye cities of Manasses, Ephraim, Simeon, and vnto Nephtali in their wyldernesses on euerysyde. And whā he had broken downe the altares and groues, and smytten the Idols in peces, and hewed downe all the ymages in all the londe of Israel, he came agayne to Ierusalem.

In the eightēth yeare of his reigne whā he had clensed the londe and the house, 〈◊〉 . 2. a he sent Saphan the sonne of Asalia and Maeseia the Shreue of the cite, and Ioath the sonne of Ioahas the Chaunceler, to repayre the house of the LORDE his God. And they came to Hechias ye hye prest, and there was delyuered vnto them the money that was broughte vnto the house of God, which the Leuites (that kepte the threshouldes) had gathered, of Manasses, Epraim, and of all the residue in Israel, and of all Iuda & Ben Iamin, and of them that dwelt at Ierusalē, and they delyuered it vnto the hādes of the worke men in the house of the LORDE, and gaue it vnto those that wrought in the house of the LORDE, where it was in decaye, yt they shulde repayre it. And the same gaue it forth vnto the carpenters and buylders, to bye fre stone and hewen tymber for the balkes in the houses, which the kynges had destroyed. And the men laboured faithfully in the worke.

And ouer them were ordeyned, Iahath and Obadia the Leuites of the children of Merari: Zachary and Mesullam of the children of the Kahathites, to further the worke, and they were all Leuites that coulde playe vpon instrumentes. But ouer them that bare burthens and furthured all maner of worke in all the offices, there were scrybes, officers and dore kepers of the Leuites. And whā they toke out the money that was broughte vnto ye house of the LORDE, Helchias the prest founde the boke of the lawe of the LORDE geuen by Moses. And Helchias answered, and saide vnto Saphan the Scrybe:4. Re. 22. b I haue founde the boke of the lawe in ye house of ye LORDE. And Helchias delyuered the boke vnto Saphan. And Saphan bare it vnto the kynge, and broughte ye kynge worde agayne, and sayde: All that was geuen vnder the handes of thy seruauntes, that make they: and ye money that was founde in ye house of the LORDE, haue they gathered together, and delyuered it vnto ye officers, and to the workmen. And Saphan the Scrybe tolde the kynge, and sayde: Helchias the prest hath delyuered me a boke.

And Saphan red therin before the kynge. And whan the kynge herde the wordes of the lawe, he rente his clothes. And the kynge commaunded Helchias and Ahicam the sonne of Saphan, and Abdon the sonne of Micha, and Saphan the Scrybe, and Asaia the kynges seruaunt, and sayde: Go youre waye, axe councell at the LORDE for me and for the remnaunt in Israel, and for Iuda, concernynge these wordes of the boke that is founde. For greate is the indignacion of the LORDE that is gone forth ouer vs, because oure fathers haue no kepte the worde of the LORDE, to do acordinge as it is wrytten in this boke. Then wēte Helchias (with the other that were sent from the kynge) vnto the prophetisse Hulda the wife of Sallum the Sonne of Thecoath the sonne of Hafra the keper of the clothes, which dwelt at Ierusalem in the secōde parte, and they spake this vnto her.

And she sayde vnto them: Thus sayeth the LORDE God of Israel: Tell the man yt sent you vnto me: Thus sayeth ye LORDE: Beholde, I wil brynge plages vpō this place and the inhabiters therof, euē all the curses which are wrytten in the boke, that was red before the kynge of Iuda: because they haue forsakē me, and brēt incēse vnto other goddes, to prouoke me with all the workes of their handes. And my indignacion shal go forth vpon this cite, and shal not be quenched.

And after this maner shal ye saye vnto the kynge of Iuda, that sent you to axe councell at the LORDE: Thus sayeth ye LORDE God of Israel concernynge the wordes that thou hast herde: Because thine hert is moued, and because thou hast humbled thy selfe in the sighte of God, whan thou herdest his wordes agaynst this place and the inhabiters therof, and hast submytted thy selfe before me, and rent thy clothes, and wepte before me, therfore haue I herde the, sayeth ye LORDE. Beholde, I wil gather the vnto thy fathers, and thou shalt be layed in thy graue with peace, so yt thine eyes shal not se all the euell that I wyl brynge ouer this place, and the indwellers therof. And they broughte the kynge worde agayne.

Then sent ye kynge, and caused all the Elders in Iuda and Ierusalem to come together.4. Re. 23. a And the kynge wente vp in to the house of the LORDE, and all the men of Iuda and inhabiters of Ierusalē, the prestes, the Leuites, and all the people both small and greate: and all the wordes in the boke of the couenaunt that was founde in the house of the LORDE, were red in their eares. And ye kynge stode in his place, and made a couenaunt before the LORDE, that they shulde walke after the LORDE, to kepe his cōmaundementes, his testimonies, and his statutes with all their hert and with all their soule, to do acordinge vnto all the wordes of the couenaunt that are wrytten in this boke.

And there stode all they that were founde at Ierusalem and in Ben Iamin. And ye inhabiters of Ierusalem dyd acordinge to the couenaunt of God the God of their fathers. And Iosias put awaye all abhominacions out of all the londes that were the children of Israels, and caused all them that were founde in Israel, to serue the LORDE their God. 〈…〉 As longe as Iosias lyued, departed they not from the LORDE the God of their fathers.

The XXXV. Chapter.

ANd Iosias kepte Passeouer vnto the LORDE at Ierusalem, and slewe the Passeouer on the fourtenth daye off the first moneth, 〈…〉 and set the prestes in their offices, and strengthed them to their mynistracion in the house of the LORDE, and sayde vnto the Leuites that taughte in all Israel, and were sanctified vnto ye LORDE: Put the holy Arke in the house that Salomon ye sonne of Dauid kynge of Israel dyd buylde. 〈…〉 Ye shal beare it nomore vpon youre shulders. Se that ye serue now the LORDE youre God, and his people of Israel, and prepare the house of youre fathers in youre courses, as it was appoynted by Dauid the kynge of Israel, and by Salomō his sonne: and stonde in the Sanctuary after ye course of the fathers houses amonge youre brethren the children of the people, And after the course of the fathers houses amonge the Leuites, and kyll Passeouer, sanctifye and prepare youre brethren, that they maye do acordinge to the worde of the LORDE by Moses.

And Iosias gaue lambes and yonge kyddes which were males, to the Heue offerynge for the comontye (all to the Passeouer for euery one that was founde) in the nombre thirtye thousande, and thre thousande oxen, all of the kynges good. And his prynces of their awne good wyll gaue to the Heue offerynge for the people, & for the prestes and Leuites (namely, Helchias, Zachary and Iehiel the prynces in ye house of God amō ge the prestes) for the Passeouer, two thousande and sixe hundreth, And thre hūdreth oxen. But Chanania, Semaia, Nathaneel and his brethren, Gasabia, Ieiel and Iosabad the chefe of the Leuites gaue the Leuites to the Heue offerynge for the Passeouer, fyue thousande shepe, & fyue hundreth oxen.

Thus was the Gods seruyce prepared, and the prestes stode in their place, and the Leuites in their courses acordinge to the kynges commaundement. And they kylled the Passeouer, and the prestes toke it off their handes, and sprenkled it: and the Leuites toke the skynnes off them, and remoued the burnt offerynge there from, to geue it amonge the porcions of the fathers houses in the multitudes of their congregacion to offre vnto the LORDE, 〈◊〉 . 1. a as it is wrytten in ye boke of Moses, Euen so dyd they with the oxen also. And they dighte the Passeouer at the fyre 〈◊〉 . 1 . b acordinge to the lawe. And that which was halowed, dighte they in pottes, kettels, and pannes, and made haist for the comon people. Afterwarde prepared they for them selues also and for ye prestes: for the prestes the children of Aaron were occupied in the burnt offerynges and fat vntyll the nighte. Therfore must the Leuites prepare for them selues and for the prestes the children of Aaron.

And the syngers the children of Asaph stode in their place (acordinge to 〈◊〉 6. 7 Dauids commaundement) and Asaph and Heman, and Iedithim the kynges Seer, and the porters at all the gates. And they departed not from their office. For the Leuites their brethren prepared for them. Thus was all the Gods seruyce prepared the same daye, that the Passeouer mighte be kepte, and the burntsacrifices offred vpon the altare off the LORDE acordinge to the commaundement of kynge Iosias.

So the children of Israel that were at hande, helde Passeouer at that tyme, and the feast of vnleuended bred, seuen dayes. Senc ye tyme of Samuel the prophet, was no Passeouer kepte in Israel like this: and no kynge of Israel had holdē soch a Passeouer as Iosias dyd, and the prestes, Leuites, all Iuda, and soch as were founde of Israel, and the inhabiters of Ierusalem. In the eightēth yeare of the reigne of Iosias was this Passeouer kepte.

After this, whan Iosias had prepared the house, Necho the kynge of Egipte wente vp to fighte agaynst Carcamis besyde Euphrates. And Iosias wēte forth agaynst him. But he sent messaungers vnto him, sayenge: What haue I to do with the O kynge off Iuda? I am not come now agaynst the, but I fighte agaynst another house: and God hath sayde, that I shal make haist. Ceasse from God which is with me, that he destroye the not. Neuertheles Iosias turned not his face from him, but prepared himselfe to fighte with him, and herkened not vnto the wordes of Necho out of the mouth of God, & came to fighte wt him vpon the playne besyde Mageddo. But the Archers shot at kynge Iosias. And the kynge sayde vnto his seruauntes: Cary me awaye, for I am sore wounded. And his seruaūtes toke him from the charet, and caried him vpon his seconde charet, and broughte him to Ierusalem. And he dyed, and was buried amonge the sepulcres off his fathers.

And All Iuda and Ierusalem mourned for Iosias, and Ieremy bewayled Iosias, and all the synginge men and wemen, spake their lamētacions ouer Iosias vnto this daye, and made a custome therof vnto this daye. Beholde, it is wrytten also amonge the Lamentacions. What more there is to saye of Iosias, and his mercy acordinge to the scripture in the lawe of the LORDE, and of his actes (both first and last) beholde, it is wrytten in the boke of the kynges of Israel and Iuda.

The XXXVI. Chapter.

ANd the people of the londe toke Ioahas the sonne of Iosias,4. Re. 23. . Esd. 1. d and made him kynge in his fathers steade at Ierusalem. Thre and twentye yeare olde was Ioahas whan he was made kynge, and reigned thre monethes at Ierusalem. For the kynge of Egipte deposed him at Ierusalem, and condemned the londe in an hundreth talentes of syluer, and one talent off golde. And the kynge of Egipte made Eliachim his brother kynge ouer Iuda and Ierusalē, and turned his name Ioachim. But Necho toke his brother Ioahas, and caried him in to Egipte.

Fyue and twentye yeare olde was Ioachim whā he was made kynge, and reigned eleuē yeare at Ierusalē, and dyd that which was euell in the siighte of the LORDE his God. 4. Re. 4 And Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon wente vp agaynst him, and bounde him with cheynes, to cary him vnto Babilon. And Nabuchodonosor broughte certayne vessels of ye house of the LORDE vnto Babilon, and put them in his temple at Babilon. What more there is to saye of Ioachim, and off his abhominacions which he dyd, and that were founde in him, beholde, they are wrytten in the boke of the kynges of Israel and Iuda. And Ioachim his sonne was kynge in his steade.

Eight yeare olde was Ioachim whan he was made kynge, and reigned thre monethes and ten dayes at Ierusalē, and dyd yt which was euell in the sighte of ye LORDE. But whā the yeare came aboute, Nabuchodonosor sent thither, and caused him be fetched vnto Babilon with the costly vessels and Iewels of the house of the LORDE, and made Sedechias his brother kynge ouer Iuda and Ierusalem.

Iere. 52. a 4. Re. 24 d One and twentye yeare olde was Sedechias whan he was made kynge, & reigned eleuen yeare at Ierusalem, and dyd that which was euell in the sighte of the LORDE his God, and submytted not himselfe before the face of the prophet Ieremy, which spake out of the mouth of the LORDE. He fell awaye also from Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon (which had taken an ooth of him by God) and was styfnecked, and hardened his hert, that he shulde not conuerte vnto the LORDE God of Israel. And all ye chefe amonge the prestes, and the people, multiplyed their synnes, acordinge to all the abhominacions of the Heythen, and dyfyled the house of the LORDE, which he had sanctified at Ierusalem.

ere. 25. a And the LORDE God of their fathers sent vnto them early by his messaungers (for he spared his people and his habitacion) but they laughed the messaungers of God to scorne, and despysed his wordes, and had his prophetes in derision, so lōge tyll the indignacion of the LORDE increased ouer his people, and there was no remedye of healinge. 4. Re. 5. a For he broughte the kynge of the Caldees vpon them, and caused for to slaye all their yonge men with the swerde in the house of their Sanctuary, and spared nether yonge māner virgin, nether aged ner graūd father, but gaue them all in to his hande. And all the vessels in the house of God, greate and small, the treasures in the house of ye LORDE, and the treasures of the kynge and of his prynces, all this caused he to be caried vnto Babilon. And they brent the house of God, and brake downe the wall of Ierusalē, and all the palaces therof brent they with fyre, so that all the costly ornamentes of it were destroyed.

And loke who escaped ye swerde, hī caried he awaye vnto Babilon, & they became his seruaūtes, & the seruauntes of his sonnes, tyll the Persians had the empyre: ere. 25. b that ye worde of the LORDE by the mouth of Ieremy mighte be perfourmed, euen vntyll the londe had ynough of hir Sabbathes: for all the tyme of the desolacion was it Sabbath, vntyll the seuentye yeares were fulfylled.

1. Esd. 1. a 3. Esd. 2. a But in the first yeare of Cyrus the kynge of Persia (that the worde of the LORDE spoken by the mouth of Ieremy mighte be fulfylled) the LODDE raysed vp the sprete of Cyrus the kynge of Persia, that he caused it be proclamed thorow out all his empyre, yee and by wrytinge also, sayenge: Thus sayeth Cyrus the kynge of Persia: The LORDE God of heauen hath geuen me all the kyngdomes in the londe, and hath commaunded me to buylde him an house at Ierusalem in Iuda. Who soeuer now amonge you is of his people, the LORDE his God be with him, and let him go vp.

The ende of the seconde boke of the Cronicles.
The first boke of Esdras. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Cyrus (otherwyse called Cores) the kynge of Persia, geueth the Iewes lycōce to go agayne to Ierusalem, and to buylde it. Chap. II. The nombre of them that wente vp from Babilon vnto Ierusalem. Chap. III. The people resorte to Ierusalem, the prestes buylde the altare, kepe the feastes and sacrifices, and prepare to buylde the temple. Chap. IIII. The Heythen wolde buylde with them: and because they are not suffred, therfore laboure they (with their councell and letters) to hynder the buyldinge of the temple. Chap. V. In this tyme prophecied Aggeus and Zachary. The officers of the Heythen forbyd the buyldinge, and hynder it. Chap. VI. Darius renueth the commaundement of Cyrus, and geueth the Iewes lycēce to buylde the temple. Chap. VII. Artaxerses sendeth Eszdras vnto Ierusalem with a charge vnto the officers beyonde the water. Chap. VIII. The nombre of them that wente vp with Eszdras vnto Ierusalem. Chap IX. Eszdras is sory that the people haue myxte them selues with the Heythenish wemen. Chap. X. They make a couenaunt to put awaye their Heythenish wyues.

The first Chapter.

IN the first yeare of Cyrus kynge off Persia (that the worde of the LORDE spoken 〈…〉 by the mouth of Ieremy might be fulfilled) the LORDE stered vp the sprete of Cyrus kynge of Persia, yt he caused it be proclamed thorow out all his empyre, yee and by wrytinge also, sayenge: Thus sayeth Cyrus the kynge of Persia: The LORDE God of heauē hath geuen me all the kyngdomes in the londe 〈◊〉 . 4 . a and hath commaunded me to buylde him an house at Ierusalem in Iuda. Who soeuer now amonge you is of his people, the LORDE his God be with him, and let him go vp to Ierusalem in Iuda, and buylde the house of the LORDE God of Israel. He is ye God that is at Ierusalē. And who so euer remayneth yet in eny maner of place (where he is a straunger) let the mē of his place helpe him with syluer and golde, with good and catell of a good frewill, for the house of God at Ierusalem.

Then gat vp the pryncipall fathers of Iuda and Ben Iamin, and the prestes and Leuites, and all they whose sprete God had raysed to go vp, and to buylde the house of the LORDE at Ierusalē. And all they that were aboute them, strengthed their hande with vessels of syluer and golde, with good and catell, and Iewels, besydes that which they gaue of their awne frewill. And kynge Cyrus brought forth the vessels of the LORDES house, Pa. 6. c 〈…〉 . 1. a which Nabuchodonosor had takē out of Ierusalem, and put in his gods house. But Cyrus ye kynge of Persia brought thē forth by Mithredath the treasurer, and nombred thē vnto Seszbazar the prynce of Iuda. And this is the nombre of them: thirtye basens of golde, and a thousande basens of syluer, and nyne and twentye knyues, thirtye cuppes of golde, and of other syluer cuppes foure hundreth and ten, and of other vessels a thousande. So that all the vessels both of golde and syluer, were fyue thousande and foure hundreth. Seszbazar broughte them all vp, with them that came vp out of the captiuyte off Babilon vnto Ierusalem.

The II. Chapter.

THese are the childrē of the londe that wente vp out of the captiuyte (whō Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon had caried awaye vnto Babilon) and came agayne to Ierusalem and in to Iuda, euery one vnto his cite, and came with Zorobabel, Iesua, Nehemias, Seraia, Reeleia, Mardachai, Bilsan, Mispar, Begeuai, Rehum and Baena. This is now the nombre of the men of the people of Israel: The children of Phares, two thousande, an hūdreth, and two and seuentye: the children of Sephatia, thre hundreth and two and seuentye: the children of Arath, seuen hundreth and fyue and seuentye: the children of Pahath Moab amonge the children of Iesua Ioab, two thousande, eight hundreth and twolue: the children of Elam, a thousande, two hundreth and foure and fiftye: the children of Sathu, nyne hundreth and fyue and fortye: the children of Sacai, seuē hundreth and thre score: the children of Bani, sixe hundreth and two and fortye: the children of Bebai, sixe hundreth and thre and twentyethe children of Asgad, a thousande two hundreth and two and twentye: the children of Adonicam, sixe hūdreth and sixe and sixtye: the children of Bigeuai, two thousande and sixe and fiftye: the children of Adin, foure hundreth and foure and fiftye: the children of Ater of Ezechias, eight and nynetye: the children of Bezai, thre hundreth and thre and twentye: the children of Iorath, an hundreth and twolue: the children of Hasum, two hundreth and thre and twentye: the children of Gibbar, fyue and nynetye: the children off Bethleem, an hundreth and thre and twentye: the men off Netopha sixe and fiftye: the men off Anathot, an hundreth and eight and twentye: the children off Asmaueth, two and fortye: the children off Kiriath Arim, Caphira and Beeroth, seuen hundreth and thre and fortye: the children off Rama and Gaba, sixe hundreth and one and twētye: the men off Michmas an hundreth and two and twentye: the men of Bethel and Ai, two hundreth and thre and twentye: the childrē of Nebo, two and fyftye: the children of Magbis, an hūdreth and sixe and fiftye: the childrē of the other Elam a thousande, two hundreth and foure and fiftye: the children of Harim, thre hundreth and twentye: the childrē of Lodhadid and Ono, seuē hūdreth and fyue and twētye: the childrē of Iericho, thre hundreth and fyue and fortye: the children of Senaa, thre thousande, sixe, hundreth and thirtye.

The prestes. The children of Iedaia of the house of Iesua, nyne hundreth and thre and seuentye: the childrē of Iemmer, a thousande and two and fiftye: the children of Pashur, a thousande and two hūdreth, and seuen and fortye: the childrē of Harim, a thousande and seuentene.

The Leuites. The children of Iesua and Cadmiel of the children of Hodauia, foure and seuentye. The syngers, the children of Asaph, an hundreth and eight and twentye. The children of the dorekepers. The children of Sallum, the children of Ater, the childrē off Talmon, the children off Acub, the children off Hatita, and the children off Sobai: alltogether an hundreth and nyne and thirtye.

The Nethinims. the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabaoth, the children of Ceros, the children of Sieha, the children of Padon, the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Acub, the childrē of Hagab, the children of Samlai, the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the childrē of Reaia, the children of Rezin, the children of Necuba, the children of Gasan, the children of Vsa, the children of Passeah, the children of Bessai, the children of Asna, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephussim, the children of Bacbuc, the childrē of Hacupha, the children of Harhur, ye childrē of Hazeluth, ye childrē of Mehira, the children of Harsa, the children of Barcom, the children of Sissera, the children of Thamah, the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

The children of Salomons seruauntes. The children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Pruda, the children of Iaela, the childrē of Darcon, the childrē of Giddell, the childrē of Sephatia, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. All the Nethinims and the children off Salomons seruauntes were alltogether, thre hundreth and two and nyentye.

And these wēte vp also, Mithel, Melath, Thel, Harso, Cherub, Addon and Immer. But they coulde not shewe their fathers house ner their sede, whether they were of Israel. The children of Delaia, the children of Tobias, the children of Necoda, sixe hundreth and two and fiftye.

And of the children of the prestes. The children of Habaia, the children of Hacom, the children of Barsillai, which toke one of the daughters of Barsillai the Gileadite to wife, and was counted amonge the same names: these soughte the register of their byrth, and founde none, therfore were they put from the presthode. And Hathirsatha sayde vnto them, that they shulde not eate of the most holy, tyll there rose vp a prest with the 〈…〉 lighte and perfectnesse.

The whole congregacion as one man, was two and fortye thousande, thre hundreth and thre score: besyde their seruauntes and maydēs, of whom there were seuē thousande, thre hundreth and seuen and thirtye. And they had two hundreth singinge men and wemen, seuē hundreth and sixe and thirtye horses, two hundreth and fyue and fortye Mules, foure hūdreth and fyue and thirtye Camels, and sixe thousande, seuen hundreth and twentye Asses.

And certayne of the chefe fathers, whan they came to the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem, they were well mynded vnto the house of God, that it shulde be set in his place, and gaue after their abilyte vnto the treasure of the worke, one and thre score thousande guldens, and fyue thousande pounde of syluer, and an hundreth prestes garmentes. So the prestes and the Leuites, and certayne of ye people, and the syngers, and the po ters, and ye Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

The III. Chapter.

ANd whan the seuenth moneth came, and the children of Israel were now in their cities, 〈…〉 the people came together euen as one man, vnto Ierusalem. And there stode vp Iesua the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren the prestes, and Zorobabel the sonne of Saalthiel and his brethren, and buylded the altare of the God of Israel, to offre burnt offerynges theron, as it is wrytten in the lawe of Moses the man of God, and the altare set they vpon his sokettes (for there was a fearfulnes amonge them because of the nacions and lōdes) and offred burnt offeringes theron vnto ye LORDE 〈…〉 in the mornynge and at euen. And helde the feast of Tabernacles 〈…〉 as it is wrytten, and offred burntsacrifices daylie after the nombre as acordinge was, euery daye his sacrifice. Afterwarde the daylie burntofferynges also, and of the new Mones and of all the feast dayes of the LORDE that were halowed, and allmaner of fre wyllinge offeringes, which they did of their awne fre wyl vnto the LORDE.

〈◊〉 5. Vpon the first daye of the seuenth moneth beganne they to offre burnt sacrifices vnto the LORDE. But the foundacion of the tēple of the LORDE was not yet layed. Neuertheles they gaue money vnto ye masons and carpenters, and meate and drynke and oyle vnto them of Zidon and of Tyre, to brynge thē Cedre tymbre from Libanus by See vnto 〈…〉 Ioppa, acordinge to the cō maundement of Cyrus the kynge of Persia.

In the seconde yeare of their commynge vnto the house of God at Ierusalem in the seconde moneth, beganne Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and the remnaunt of their brethren the prestes and Leuites, and all they that were come out of the captiuyte vnto Ierusalem, and appoynted the Leuites frō twentye yeare olde and aboue, to se that the worke of the house of the LORDE wēte forwarde. And Iesua stode with his sonnes and brethren, and Cadmiel with his sonnes, and the children of Iuda, to furthur the workmen of the house of God, namely the childrē of Henadad with their children and their brethren the Leuites.

And whan the buylders layed the foundacion of the temple of the LORDE, the prestes stode in their araye, with trompettes. And the Leuites the children of Asaph with Cimbales, to prayse ye LORDE 〈◊〉 17 b with the Dytie of Dauid kynge of Israel. And they sunge together, geuynge prayse & thankes vnto ye LORDE, because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth for euer vpon Israell. And all the people shouted londe in praysinge the LORDE, because the foundacion of ye house of the LORDE was layed. Neuertheles many of the olde prestes and Leuites and awncient fathers, which had sene the house afore in his foundacion, and this was now before their eyes, wepte loude. But many shouted with ioye, so that the noyse gaue a greate sounde, in so moch that the people coulde not knowe ye ioyfull sounde for the noyse of the wepinge in the people: for the people shouted loude, so that the noyse was herde farre of.

The IIII. Chapter.

BVt whan the aduersaries of Iuda and Ben Iamin herde, that the children of the captiuyte buylded the tē ple vnto the LORDE God of Israel, they came to Zorobabel & to the pryncipall fathers, and sayde vnto them: We wyl buylde with you: for we seke the LORDE youre God like as ye do. And we haue done sacrifice vnto him,4. Re. 17. c sence the tyme that Assar Hadon the kynge of Assur broughte vs vp hither. But Zorobabel and Iesua and the other awnciēt fathers of Israel, answered them: It is not mete for vs and you to buylde the house of oure God, but we wyl buylde alone vnto the LORDE God of Israel, 1. Esd. 1. a as Cyrus the kynge of Persia hath commaunded vs.

Then the folke of the londe hyndered the people of Iuda, and made them afrayed to buylde, and hyred councelers aganst them and hyndered their deuyce, as longe as Cyrus the kynge of Persia lyued, vntyll the reigne off Darius kynge off Persia. But whan Ahasuerus was kynge, in the begynnynge off his reigne wrote they vnto him a complaynte agaynst them of Iuda and Ierusalem.

And in the tyme of Artaxerses, wrote Bisellam, Mithridath, Tabeel and the other of their councell vnto Artaxerses the kynge of Persia. But the scripture of ye letter was wrytten in the Syrians speach, and was interpretated in the langage of the Syrians. Rehum ye chaunceler, and Simsai the scrybe, wrote this letter agaynst Ierusalem to Artaxerses the kynge.

We Rehum the chaunceler, and Simsai the scribe, and other of the councell of Dina, off Arphasath, off Tarplat, off Persia, off Arach, of Babilon, of Susan, of Deha, and of Elam, and other of the people 4. Re. 17. c whom the greate and noble Asnaphar broughte ouer, and set in the cities of Samaria, and other on this syde the water, and in Canaan. And this is ye summe of the letter that they sent vnto kynge Artaxerses:

Thy seruauntes the men on this syde the water and in Canaan. Be it knowne vnto ye kynge, that the Iewes which are come vp from the to vs vnto Ierusalē in to that sedicious & wicked cite, buylde the same, and make vp ye walles of it, & brynge it out of ye foundacion. Be it knowne now therfore vnto ye kynge, yt yf this cite be buylded & the walies made vp agayne, thē shal not they geue tribute, toll, and yearly custome, and their deuyce shal do ye kynge harme. But now that we all are therby which destroyed the temple, we wolde no longer se the kynges dishonoure. Therfore sent we out, and caused the kynge to be certified therof: That it maye be soughte in ye Cronicles of thy progenitours, and so shalt thou fynde in the same Cronicles, and perceaue, that this cite is sedicious and noysome vnto kynges and londes, and that they cause other also to rebell of olde, and for the same cause was this cite destroyed. Therfore do we certifie the kynge, that yf this cite be buylded, and the walles therof made vp, thou shalt kepe nothinge on this syde the water by the reason of it.

Then sent ye kynge an answere vnto Rehum the chaunceler, and Simsai the Scrybe, and to the other of their councell that dwelt in Samaria, and vnto the other beyonde ye water. Peace and salutacion. The letter which ye sent vnto vs, hath bene opē ly red before me, and I haue commaunded to make search: and it is founde, that this cite of olde hath made insurreccion agaynst, kynges, & how yt vpror and rebellion hath bene commytted therin. There haue bene mightie kynges also at Ierusalē, which haue reigned ouer all that is beyonde the water, and toll, tribute and yearly custome was geuen vnto them. Do ye now after this commaundemēt, forbyd the same men, that the cite be not builded, tyll I haue geuē cōmaundemēt. Take hede now that ye be not necligent here in, lest the kynge haue harme there thorow.

Now whā kynge Artaxerses letter was red before Rehum the chaunceler and Simsai the Scrybe and their councell, they wente vp in all the haist to Ierusalem vnto the Iewes, and forbad them with the arme and auctorite. Then ceassed the worke of the house of God at Ierusalem, and continued so vnto the seconde yeare of Darius kynge of Persia.

The V. Chapter.

THe prophetes, Aggeus and Zachary ye sonne of Iddo, prophecied vnto ye Iewes that were in Iuda and Ierusalē, in the name of the God of Israel. Then gat vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, Agg. 1 c and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and beganne to buylde the house of God at Ierusalem, and with them the prophetes of God which strengthed thē. At the same tyme came to thē Thathnai the debite on this syde the water, and Sethar of Bosen, and their councelers, and sayde thus vnto them: Who hath commaunded you to buylde this house, and to make vp the walles therof? Then tolde we them the names of the men, that made this buyldinge. But the eye of their God came vpon the Elders of the Iewes, that they were not inhibyte, tyll the matter was brought before Darius, and tyll there came a wrytinge therof agayne.

This is the summe of the letter yt Thathnaithe Debyte on this syde the water, and Sethar of Bosen, and their councellers of Apharsach (which were on this syde the water) sent vnto kynge Darius. And these are the wordes that they sent vnto him: Vnto Darius the kynge, all peace. Be it knowne vnto the kynge, that we came in to Iewry to the house of ye greate God, which is buylded with all maner of stone, and balckes are layed in the walles, and ye worke goeth fast forth, and prospereth in their handes. Neuertheles we axed the Elders and sayde vnto them: Who hath cōmaunded you to buylde this house, and to make vp the walles therof? We axed their names also, that we might certifye the, and haue wrytten the names of the men that were their rulers.

But they answered vs wt these wordes, and sayde: We are the seruaūtes of the God of heauen and earth, and buylde the house yt was buylded many yeares agoo, 〈…〉 which a greate kynge of Israel buylded and set vp. Howbeit whan oure fathers prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath, 〈…〉 he gaue them ouer in the hande of Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon the Caldee, which brake downe this house, & caried ye people awaye vnto Babilon.

〈…〉 Neuertheles in the first yeare of Cyrus the kynge of Babilon, ye same kynge Cyrus commaunded to buylde this house of God: for the vessels of golde and siluer in the house of God, which Nabuchodonosor toke out of the temple at Ierusalē, and broughte thē in to ye temple at Babilon, those dyd Cyrus the kynge take out of ye temple at Babilon, 〈…〉 and delyuered them vnto Seszbazer by name, whom he made Debyte, and sayde vnto him: Take these vessels, go thy waye and brynge them vnto the temple at Ierusalem, and let the house of God be buylded in his place. Then came the same Seszbazar, and layed ye foundacion of the house of God at Ierusalem. Sence that tyme hath it bene in buyldinge, and yet is it not fynished. Yf it please ye kynge now, let there be search made in ye kynges treasure house which is at Babilon, whether it haue bene kynge Cyrus commaundement, that the house of God at Ierusalem shulde be buylded: & sende vs ye kynges mynde concernynge the same.

The VI. Chapter.

THen cōmaunded kinge Darius, that search shulde be made in ye library of ye kynges treasure house, which laye at Babilon. So at Egbathanis in a castell that lyeth in the londe of the Meedes, there was founde a boke, & in it was there an acte wrytten after this maner: In the first yeare of kynge Cyrus, cōmaunded the same kynge Cyrus to buylde ye house of God at Ierusalem, in the place where the sacrifice is made, & to laye the foundacion to beare thre score cubites heyght, & thre score cubites bredth, & thre walles of all maner of stones, and one wall of tymber, & the expences shalbe geuen of the kynges house. And the goldē and syluer vessell of ye house of God (which Nabuchodonosor toke out of the temple at Ierusalem, and broughte vnto Babilon) shalbe restored agayne, yt they maye be broughte vnto the temple at Ierusalē to their place in to the house of God.

Get you farre from them therfore, thou Thathnai Debyte beyonde the water, and Sethar of Bosen, & youre councelers which are beyonde the water. Let them worke in ye house of God, that the Debyte of ye Iewes and their Elders maye buylde the house of God in his place. I haue commaunded also, what shalbe done to ye Elders of Iuda for the buyldinge of the house of God, that there shal diligently be takē of the kynges goodes, euen of the rentes beyonde the water, & geuen vnto the men, and that they be not hyndered.

And yf they haue nede of calues, lambes, or goates for the burnt offrynge vnto ye God of heauen, wheate, salt, wyne and oyle, after the custome of the prestes at Ierusalem, there shalbe geuen them daylie as is acordinge: and se that this be not done necligētly, that they maye offre swete sauoures vnto ye God of heauen, and praye for the kynges lyfe, and for his children. This commaundement haue I geuē. And what man so euer he be that altereth these wordes, there shal a balke be taken from his house, and set vp, and he shal be hanged theron, and his house shalbe prysed for the dede.

But the God that dwelleth in heauen, destroye all kynges and people, that put to their hāde to alter and to breake downe the house of God at Ierusalem. I Darius haue commaunded, that this be diligently done.

Then Thathnai ye Debyte beyonde ye water, and Sethar of Bosen with their councelers (to whom kynge Darius had sent) dyd their diligence. And ye Elders of the Iewes buylded, and they prospered thorow the prophecienge of Aggeus the prophet and Zachary the sonne of Iddo: and they buylded, and set vp the worke, acordinge to the commaundement of the God of Israel, and after the commaundement of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerses kynges of Persia. And they perfourmed the house vnto the thirde daye of the moneth Adar, that was the sixte yeare of the reigne of kynge Darius.

2. Par. 7.And the children of Israel, the prestes, the Leuites, and the other children of ye captyuite helde the dedicacion of the house of God with ioye, and offred at the dedicacion of the house of God, an hundreth calues, two hundreth lambes, foure hundreth goates: and for the syn offerynge for all Israel, twolue he goates, acordinge to the nombre of the trybes of Israel, and set the prestes in their courses, and ye Leuites in their offices, to mynister vnto God which is at Ierusalē, as it is wrytten in the boke of Moses.

And the children of the captyuite helde Passeouer vpon the fourtenth daye of the first moneth: for ye prestes and Leuites had purified them selues, so yt they were all cleane as one man, and kylled Passeouer for all the children of the captyuite, and for their brethrē the prestes, and for them selues. And the childrē of Israel which were come agayne out of captiuyte, and all soch as had separated them selues vnto them from the fylthinesse of the Heythen in the londe, to seke the LORDE God of Israel, ate & helde the feast of vnleuēded bred seuen dayes with ioye: for the LORDE had made them glad, and turned the hert of the kynge of Assur vnto thē, so that their handes were strengthed in the worke of the house of God, which is ye God of Israel.

The VII. Chapter.

AFter these actes in the reigne of Artaxerses kynge of Persia, . Esd. . a there wente vp from Babilon, Eszdras the sonne of Seraia, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne of Helchias, the sonne of Sallum, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Amaria, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne Meraioth, the sonne of Serahia, ye sonne of Vsi, the sonne of Buki, the sonne of Abisua, the sonne of Phineas, the sonne of Eleasar, the sonne of Aaron the chefe prest, which was a quycke scrybe in the lawe of Moses, 〈◊〉 20. a which the LORDE God of Israel dyd geue. And ye kynge gaue him all that he requyred, acordinge to the hande of the LORDE his God vpon him.

And there wente vp certayne of the children of Israel, and of the prestes, and of the Leuites, of the syngers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims vnto Ierusalem, in the seuenth yeare of kynge Artaxerses. And they came to Ierusalem in the fifth moneth, that is the seuenth yeare of the kynge. For vpon the first daye of the first moneth, deuysed he to go vp from Babilon: and on ye first daye of the fifth moneth came he to Ierusalem, acordinge to the good hande of God vpon him: For Eszdras prepared his hert to seke the lawe of the LORDE, and to do it, and to teach the precepte & iudgment in Israel.

And this is the summe of the letter, that kynge Artaxerses gaue vnto Eszdras the prest, the scrybe, which was a teacher in the wordes of the LORDE and of his statutes ouer Israel. Vnto Eszdras the prest and scrybe in the lawe of the God of heauen, peace and salutacion. I haue commaunded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the prestes and Leuites in my realme, which are mynded of their awne good wyll to go vp to Ierusalem, that they go with the, beynge sent of the kynge and of the seuen lordes of the councell, to vyset Iuda and Ierusalem, acordinge to the lawe of God, which is in thy hāde: And that thou shuldest take with the, syluer and golde, which the kynge and the lordes of his councell geue of their awne good wyll vnto the God of Israel (whose habitacion is at Ierusalem) and all the syluer and golde that thou canst fynde in all ye countre of Babilon: with it that the people and prestes geue of their awne good wil vnto the house of God at Ierusalem.

Take thou the same, and bye diligently with the same money, calues, lambes, goates, and meat offerynges and drynk offerynges, to be offred vpon the altare of the house of youre God at Ierusalem. And loke what it lyketh the and thy brethren to do with the remnaunt of the money, that do after the wyll of youre God. And the vessels that are geuen the for the mynistracion in the house of thy God, those delyuer thou before God at Ierusalem.

And what so euer thinge more shal be nedefull for the house of thy God, which is necessary for the to spende, let the same be geuē out of the kynges chamber. I kynge Artaxerses haue commaunded all the treasurers beyonde the water, yt loke what so euer Eszdras the prest and scrybe in the lawe of the God of heauē, requyreth of you, that ye fulfyll the same diligently, vntyll an hundreth talētes of syluer, and tyll an hundreth quarters of wheate, and tyll an hūdreth Batthes of wyne, and tyll an hundreth Batthes of oyle, and salt without measure. Whatsoeuer belongeth to the lawe of the God of hea uen, let the same be done with diligence for the house of the God of heauē, that there come no wrath vpon the kynges realme & his children.

And knowne be it vnto you, that ye shall haue no auctorite to requyre taxinge & custome, and yearly rentes vpon eny of the prestes, Leuites, syngers, porters, Nethinims and mynisters in ye house of this God. But thou Eszdras (after the wyszdome of ye God that is in thy hande) set thou iudges and arbiters, to iudge all the people that is beyonde Iordane, euen all soch as knowe the lawe of thy God: and them that knowe it not, those se that ye teache. And who so euer wyl not diligently fulfyll the lawe of thy God, and the kynges lawe, shall haue his iudgmēt for the dede, whether it be vnto death, or to be banyshed, or to be condemned in good, or to be put in preson.

Praysed be the LORDE God of oure fathers, which so hath inspyred ye kynges her to garnysh the house of God at Ierusalem: and hath enclyned his mercy vnto me in the presence of the kynge, and his councelers, and before all the kynges hye estates. And I was comforted (acordinge to the hāde of the LORDE my God ouer me) and so gathered I the heades of Israel together, yt they mighte go vp with me.

The VIII. Chapter.

THese are the heades of their fathers that were named, which wente vp wt me from Babilon, what tyme as kynge Artaxerses reigned. Of the childrē of Phineas, Gersom: of the children of Ithamar, Daniel: of the children of Dauid, Hattus: of the childrē of Pareos, Zachary, and the men childrē nombred with him, an hundreth and fiftye. Of the children of Pahath Moab, Eleoenai the sonne of Serahia, and wt him two hundreth males.

Of the children of Sechania, the sonne of Iehasiel, and with him thre hundreth males. Of the children of Adin Ebed, the sonne of Ionathan, and with him fiftie males. Of the children of Elam, Iesaia the sonne of Athalia, and with him seuentie males. Of the children of Sephatia, Sebadia the sonne of Michael, and wt him foure score males.

Op the children of Ioab, Obadia the sonne of Iehiel, and with him two hundreth & eightene men children. Of the children of Selomith, the sonne of Iosiphia, and with him an hundreth and thre score males.

Of the children of Bebai, Zachary the sonne of Bebai, and with him eight and twentye males. Of the children of Asgad, Iohanan the yongest sonne, and with him an hundreth and ten males. Of the last children of Adonicam, and these were their names: Eliphelet, Ieiel and Semaia, and with them thre score males. Of the children of Bigenai, Vthai and Sabud, and with them seuē males. And I gathered them together by the water that renneth towarde Ahena, & there abode we thre dayes.

And whan I loked amonge the people & the prestes, I founde no Leuites there. Thē sent I Elieser, Ariel, Semaia, Elnathan, Iarib, Elnathan, Natha, Zachary and Mesullam the rulers, and Ioiarib and Elnathan the teachers, and those sent I vnto Iddo ye chefest at Casiphia, that they shulde fetch us mynysters for the house of oure God, and I tolde them what they shulde saye vnto Iddo and to his brethren the Nethinims at Casiphia.

And (acordinge to the good hande of oure God vpon us) they broughte us a wyse man from amonge the children of Maheli the sonne of Leuithe sonne of Israel, euen Serebia with his sonnes and brethren, eightene. And Hasabia, and with him Iesaia of the children of Merari, with his brethren & their sonnes, twentye. And of the Ne hinims, whom Dauid and the princes gaue to mynister vnto the Leuites, two hundreth & twentye, all named by name.

And euen there at the water besyde Ahena, caused I a fastinge to be proclamed, yt we mighte humble oure selues before oure God, to seke of him a righte waye for us, & oure children and all oure substaunce. For I was ashamed to require of the kynge, soudyers & horsmen, to helpe us agaynst the enemye in the waye. For we had sayde vnto the kynge: The hande of oure God is for the best vpon all them that seke him, and his violence and wrath vpon all them that forsake him. So we fasted, and soughte this at oure God, and he herde us.

And I toke out twolue of the chefe prestes, Serebia and Hasabia, and ten of their brethren with them, and weyed them there the syluer and golde and vessels for the Heue offeringe vnto the house of oure God, which the kynge, and the lordes of his councell and prynces, and all Israel that were at hande, had geuen to the Heue offerynge: and there weyed I them vnder their hande sixe hundreth and fiftye talentes of syluer, and in syluer vessell an hundreth talentes, and in golde an hundreth talentes, twentye cuppes of golde of a thousande guldens, and two costly ornamentes of good brasse, as cleare as golde, and sayde vnto them: Ye are holy vnto the LORDE, therfore are the vessels holy also, and so is the syluer and golde that is geuen of a good wyll vnto the LORDE God of youre fathers: Watch ye therfore and kepe it, tyll ye weye it downe before the chefe prestes and Leuites, and awncient fathers of Israel at Ierusalem in the chestes of the house of the LORDE. Then toke the prestes and Leuites that weyed syluer and golde & vessell, to brynge it to Ierusalem vnto ye house of oure God.

So we brake vp, from the water of Ahena on the twolueth daye of the first moneth, to go vnto Ierusalem: and the hande of oure God was vpon us, and delyuered us frō the hande of the enemies and preuy waytinges by the waye. And we came to Ierusalem, and abode there thre dayes. But on ye fourth daye was the syluer and golde, and vessell weyed in the house of oure God vnder the hande of Meremoth the sonne of Vrias the prest, and with him Eleasar the sonne of Phineas, and with them Iosabad the sonne of Iesua, and Noadia ye sonne of Benui the Leuites, acordinge to the nombre & weight of euery one. And the weight was all wrytten vp at the same tyme.

And the children of the captiuyte, which were come out of preson, offred burnt offeringes vnto ye God of Israel: twolue bullockes for all Israel, sixe and nynetye rammes, seuen and seuentye lambes, and twolue goates for a syn offerynge, all to the burnt offeringe of the LORDE. And they delyuered the kynges commyssion vnto the kynges officers, & to the Debytes on this syde the water. And they promoted the people and the house of God.

The IX. Chapter.

WHan all this was perfourmed, the rulers came to me, and sayde: The people of Israel, and the prestes, & Leuites are not separated from the nacions in the londes as touchinge their abhominacions, namely of the Cananites, Hethites, Pheresites, Iebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egipcians, and Amorites. Deut. 7. a nd 12. d osu. 23. c udic. 3. a For they haue taken the doughters of the same, & their sonnes, and haue myxte the holy sede with ye nacions in the londes: and the hande of the rulers and lordes of councell hath bene principall in this trespace.

Whan I herde this, I rente my clothes and my rayment, and plucte out the heer of my heade and of my beerd, and sat mournynge. And there resorted vnto me all soch as feared the worde of the LORDE God of Israel because of the greate transgression. And I sat mournynge vntyll the euenynge sacrifyce. And aboute the euenynge sacrifice I rose vp fro my heuynes, and rente my clothes and my raiment, and fell vpon my knees, and spred out my handes vnto the LORDE my God, and sayde:

My God, I am ashamed, and darre not lifte vp mine eies vnto the my God: for oure wickednesses are growne ouer oure heade, & oure trespaces are waxen greate vnto ye heauē. Sence the tyme of oure fathers haue we bene in greate trespace vnto this daie, Deu. 28. d and because of oure wickednesses haue we and or kynges bene delyuered in to the hande of ye kynges of the nacions, in to the swerde, in to captiuyte, in to spoyle, and in to confusion of face, as it is come to passe this daye.

But now is there a litle and sodane graciousnes come from the LORDE oure God, so that some of vs are escaped, that he maie geue vs a nayle in his holy place, that oure God maye lighte oure eyes, and geue vs a litle lyfe in oure bondage. For we are bondmen, and or God hath not forsakē vs though we be bondmen, and hath enclyned mercy vnto vs in the sighte of the kynges of Persia, that they shulde geue vs lyfe, and promote the house of oure God, and to sett vp the desolacion therof, and to geue vs an hedge in Iuda and Ierusalem.

O oure God, what shall we saye now after this? that we haue forsaken thy commaundementes, which thou hast commaunded by thy seruauntes the prophetes, and saide: The londe wherin ye shal come to possesse it, is an vncleane londe thorow the fylthines of the people of the londes, in their abhominacions wherwith they haue made it full of vnclennes on euery syde. * Therfore shal ye not geue youre doughters vnto their sonnes, and their doughters shall ye not take vnto youre sonnes, and seke not their peace and welth for euer, that ye maye be stronge, and enioye the good in the londe, and yt ye and youre children maye haue the inheritaunce of it for euermore.

And after all this that is come vpon vs (because of oure euell dedes and greate trespace) thou oure God hast spared oure wickednesses, and hast geuen vs a delyueraunce as it is come to passe.

As for vs, we haue turned backe, & haue let go thy commaundementes, to make contracte with the people of these abhominacions. Wilt thou then be wroth at vs, tyll we be vtterly consumed, so that nothynge remayne, and tyll there be no delyueraunce? O LORDE God of Israel, thou art righteous, for we remaine yet escaped, as it is this daie. Beholde, in thy presence are we in oure trespace, for because of it is there no stondinge before the.

The X. Chapter.

ANd whan Eszdras prayed after this maner and knowleged, wepte, and laie before the house of God, there resorted vnto him out of Israel a very greate congregacion of men and wemen, and children: for the people wepte very sore. And Sachania the sonne of Iehiel one of the children of Elam, answered, and sayde vnto Eszdras: We haue trespaced agaynst the LORDE oure God, in that we haue taken straunge wyues of all the people of the londe. Now there is hope yet in Israel cōcerninge this, therfore let vs make a couenaūt now with oure God, that we shal put awaye all the wyues (and soch as are borne of them) acordynge to the councell of ye LORDE, and of them that feare the commaundement of oure God, yt we maye do acordynge to the lawe. Get the vp therfore, for the matter belongeth vnto the. We wyll be with the, be of good comforte, and do it.

Then rose Eszdras, and toke an ooth of the rulers, prestes and Leuites, and of all Israel, that they shulde do acordynge to this worde: and they swore. And Eszdras stode vp before the house of God, and wente in to the chamber of Iohanan the sonne of Eliasab. And whan he came thither, he ate no bred, and dranke no water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had bene in captiuyte.

And they caused a proclamacion be made thorow out Iuda and Ierusalem, vnto all the children which had bene in captiuite, yt they shulde gather them selues together vnto Ierusalē: And that who soeuer came not within thre dayes acordinge to the deuyce of the rulers and Elders, all his substaunce shulde be forfett, and he put out from the cō gregacion of the captiue.

Then all the men of Iuda and Ben Iamin gathered them selues together vnto Ierusalem in thre dayes, yt is on the twentieth daye of the nyenth moneth: and all the people sat in the strete before the house of God, and trembled because of the matter, and for the rayne. And Eszdras ye prest stode vp, and sayde vnto them: 〈◊〉 . 7. a 〈◊〉 . 3. a Ye haue transgressed, yt ye haue taken straunge wyues, to make the trespace of Israel yet more: confesse now therfore vnto ye LORDE God of youre fathers, & do his pleasure, and separate youre selues from the people of the londe, & from ye straunge wyues. Thē answered all the cō gregacion, & sayde with loude voyce: Let it be done as thou hast sayde. But the people are many, & it is a raynye wether, & they cā not stōde here without, nether is this a worke of one daye or two, for we are many yt haue offended in this transgression. Let vs appoynte oure rulers therfore in all the congregacion, yt all they which haue taken straunge wyues in oure cities, maye come at the tyme appoynted, and the Elders of euery cite and their Iudges with them, tyll the wrath of oure God because of this matter be turned awaye from vs.

Then were appoynted Ionathan the sonne of Asahel & Iehasia the sonne of Thecua ouer this matter. And Mesullam and Sabthai the Leuites helped them. And the children of the captiuyte dyd euen so. And Eszdras the prest, and ye awncient fathers thorow the house of their fathers, and all that were now rehearsed by name, separated thē selues, and sat them downe on the first daye of the tenth moneth, to examē this matter. And on ye first daye of ye first moneth broughte they the matter to a conclusion, concernynge all the men yt had takē straunge wyues.

And amōge the childrē of the prestes there were men founde yt had takē straunge wyues, namely amōge the children of Iesua the sonne of Iosedec & of his brethrē, Maeseia, Elieser, Iarib and Godolia. And they gaue their hādes there vpon, that they wolde put awaye their wyues: & for their trespace offerynge to geue a rāme for their trespace. Amō ge the children of Immer, Hanani & Sabadia. Amonge the childrē of Harim, Maeseia, Elia, Semaia, Iehiel, and Vsia. Amonge ye children of Pashur, Elioenai, Maeseia, Ismael, Nethaneel, Iosabad & Eleasa. Amonge the Leuites, Iosabad, Simei and Celaia, He is that Celita, Pethahia, Iuda & Eleasar. Amonge the syngers, Elyasib. Amonge the porters, Sallum, Telem and Vri.

Of Israel. Amonge the children of Pareos, Ramia, Iesia, Malchia, Meiamin, Eleasar, Malchia & Benaia. Amonge ye children of Elam, Mathania, Zachary, Iehiel, Abdy, Ieremoth & Elia. Amonge the children of Sathu, Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathania, Ieremoth, Sabad & Asisa. Amonge the children of Bebai, Iohanan, Hanania, Sabai & Athlai. Amonge the children of Bani, Mesullam, Malluch, Adaia, Iasub, Seal and Ieremoth. Amonge the children of Pahath Moab, Adna, Chelal, Benaia, Maesea, Mathania, Bezaleel, Benui and Manasse. Amonge the children of Harim, Elieser, Iesia, Malchia, Semaia, Simeon, Bē Iamin, Malluch & Samaria. Amonge the childrē of Hasum, Mathnai, Mathatha, Sabad, Eliphelet, Ieremai, Manasse & Simei. Amōge the childrē of Bani, Maedai, Amram, Huel, Benaia, Bedia, Chelui, Naia, Meremoth, Eliasib, Mathania, Mathnai, Iaesau, Bani, Benui, Simei, Selemia, Nathan, Adaia, Machnadbai, Sasai, Sarai, Afareel, Selemia, Samaria, Sallum, Amaria, & Ioseph. Amonge the childrē of Nebo, Ieiel, Mathithia, Sabad, Sebina, Iaddai, Ioel, and Benaia. All these had taken straunge wyues. And amonge the same wyues there were some, that had borne children.

The ende of the first boke of Eszdras.
The seconde boke of Esdras, otherwyse called the boke of Nehemias. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Nehemias mourneth for the captiuyte of the people. Chap. II. Nehemias optayneth licence of the kynge Artaxerses (otherwyse called Arthasastha) to go vnto Ierusalem. Chap. III. Of buyldinge the cite. Chap. IIII. The officers go aboute to hynder the buyldinge. The Iewes watch, & prepayre thē selues to buylde and to fighte. Chap. V. Nehemias reproueth vsury. Chap. VI. The officers go aboute to kyll Nehemias. Chap. VII. The nombre of them that departe from Babilon. Chap. VIII. In the feast of the Tabernacles readeth Eszdras the boke of the lawe. Chap. IX. The lawe is red before the people, which are exhorted vnto godlynesse. Chap. X. They renue the couenaunt with the LORDE, and seale it. Chap. XI. How the people are sundered out, some to dwell at Ierusalem, and some in the cities without. Chap. XII. The names of the prestes and Leuites that wente vp with Zorobabel. Of the dedicacion of the wall at Ierusalem. Chap. XIII. They separate the straungers from amonge the people of God. The porcion of the Leuites is appoynted, and the Sabbath renued.
The first Chapter.

THese are the actes of Nehemias the sonne of Hachalia. It fortuned in ye moneth Chisleu in ye twētieth yeare, that I was in the castell at Susan: and Hanani one of my brethren came with certayne mē of Iuda, and I axed them how the Iewes dyd that were delyuered and escaped from the captiuyte, & how it wente at Ierusalē. And they sayde vnto me: The remnaunt of the captiuyte are there in the londe in greate mysfortune & rebuke. . Re. 25. b The walles of Ierusalem are broken downe, and the portes therof are brent with fyre.

Whā I herde these wordes, I sat me downe & wepte, & mourned two dayes, & fasted & prayed before the God of heauen, & sayde: O LORDE God of heauen, thou greate & terrible God, xo. 20. a nd 34. a eut. 7. b thou yt kepest couenaunt & mercy for them yt loue the & obserue thy cōmaundementes: let ye eares marke, & let thine eies be open, yt thou mayest heare the prayer of ye seruaunt which I praye now before ye daye and nighte for the children of Israel thy seruauntes, & knowlege the synnes of the children of Israel, which we haue commytted agaynst the.

And I & my fathers house haue synned also. We haue bene corrupte vnto the, in yt we haue not kepte the cōmaundementes, statutes & lawes, which thou cōmaundedst ye seruaunt Moses. Yet call to remembraunce ye worde that thou cōmaundedst thy seruaunt Moses, and saydest: eut. 30 a Yf ye trāsgresse, then wil I scater you abrode amonge the naciōs. But yf ye turne vnto me, and kepe my commaundementes & do them: though ye were cast out vnto the vttemost parte of heauen yet wyl I gather you from thence, and wyll brynge you from thence, euē vnto the place, that I haue chosen for my name to dwell there. They are thy seruauntes, and thy people, whom thou hast delyuered thorow thy greate power & mightie hande. O LORDE, let thine eares marke the prayer of thy seruaunt, & the prayer of thy seruauntes, whose desyre is to feare thy name, & let thy seruaunt prospere this daye, & graunte him mercy in the sight of this man: for I was the kynges b t ar.

The II. Chapter.

IN the moneth Nisan of the twentieth yeare of kynge Artaxerses, whā the wyne stode before him, I toke vp the wyne, and gaue it vnto ye kynge, and I was heuy in his presence. Then sayde ye kynge vnto me: Why lokest thou so sadly? Thou art not sicke, that is not ye matter, but thou art heuy harted. Neuertheles I was sore afrayed, & sayde vnto the kynge: God saue the kynges life for euer, shulde I not loke sadly? the cite of my fathers buryall lyeth wayest, & the portes therof are consumed wt the fyre. Then sayde the kynge vnto me: What is thē thy request? Then made I my prayer to the God of heauē, and sayde vnto the kynge: yf it please the kynge, and yf thy seruaunt be fauoured in thy sighte, I beseke the sende me in to Iuda vnto ye cite of my fathers buryall, that I maye buylde it.

And ye kynge sayde vnto me, & so dyd the quene yt sat by him: How lōge shal thy iourney cōtynue, and whā wilt thou come agayne? And it pleased ye kynge to sende me, and I set him a tyme, & sayde vnto the kynge: Yf it please the kynge, let him geue me letters to the Debites beyonde ye water, yt they maye conueye me ouer, tyll I come in to Iuda: & letters vnto Assaph the lorde of the kynges wod, yt he maye geue me wodd for balkes to the gates of the palace, which are harde on the house & harde on the walles of the cite, & for the house that I shal entre in to. And ye kynge gaue me acordinge to the good hande of God vpō me. And whan I came to ye Debites beyonde the water, I gaue them ye kynges letters. And the kynge sent captaynes and horsmen with me.

But whan Saneballath the Horonite, & Tobias the seruaunt of the Ammonites herde yt, it greued them sore, yt there was come a man which soughte the welth of the children of Israel. And whan I came to Ierusalem, & had bene there thre daies, I gat m vp in ye night season, & a fewe men with me: for I tolde no man what God had geuē m in my hert to do at Ierusalem: & there was not one beest wt me, saue it yt I rode vpon. And I rode by nighte vnto the valley po •• before the Dragon well, & to the Dongporte, & considered ye walles of Ierusalem that were broken downe, & the portes therof consumed wt the fyre. And I wente ouer vnto ye Well porte, & to the kynges condyte, & there was no rowme for my beest, yt it coulde go vnder me. Then wēte I on in the nighte by the broke syde, & cōsidered ye wall, & turned back, & came home agayne to ye valley porte.

And ye rulers knewe not whither I wēte, or what I dyd: for hither to had I not tolde the Iewes & the prestes, the councelers & the rulers, & the other yt laboured in the worke, & I saide vnto thē: Ye se the myserye yt we are in, how Ierusalē lyeth wayst, & how ye gates therof are brent wt fyre, come, let vs buylde vp ye walles of Ierusalē, yt we be nomore a rebuke. And I tolde thē of the good hāde of my God which was vpō me: And ye kynges wordes yt he had spokē vnto me. And they saide: Then let vs get vp. And we buylded, and their handes were strengthed to good.

But whan Saneballat ye Horonite, and Tobias the seruaunt of ye Ammonites, & Gosem the Arabian herde it, they laughed vs to scorne, and despised vs, & sayde: What is this that ye do? Wyll ye fall awaye agayne from the kynge? Then answered I them, and sayde: The God of heauen shal cause vs to prospere: for we his seruauntes are gotten vp, & are buyldinge. As for you, ye haue no porciō ner right, ner remembraunce in Ierusalē.

The III. Chapter.

ANd Eliasib the hye prest gat him vp with his brethren the prestes, and buylded the Shepegate. They halowed it, and set vp the dores of it: euen vnto the tower Mea halowed they it, namely vnto the 〈…〉 tower of Hananeel. Nexte vnto him buylded ye men of Iericho. And besyde him buylded Sachur the sonne of Imri. But the Fyshporte dyd the children of Senaa buylde, they couered it, and set on the dores, lockes and barres of it. Nexte vnto him buylded Meremoth the sonne of Vria the sonne of Hacoz. Nexte vnto him buylded Mesullam ye sonne of Barachias ye sonne of Mesesabeel. Nexte vnto him buylded Sadoc ye sonne of Baena. Nexte vnto him buylded they of Thecoa. But their greate mē put not their neckes to ye seruyce of their lorde.

The Oldgate buylded Ioiada ye sonne of Passeah, & Mesullam the sonne of Besodia: they couered it, and set on the dores, lockes & barres of it. Nexte vnto them buylded Melacia of Gibeon, and Iadon of Morono, mē of Gibeon and of Mispa, for the seate of the Debyte on this syde the water. Nexte vnto him buylded Vsiel the sonne of Harhaia the goldsmyth. Nexte vnto him buylded Hanania ye Apotecarys sonne, & they repayred Ierusalē vnto the brode wall. Nexte vnto him buylded Reph ia the sonne of Hur, the ruler of the halfe quarter of Ierusalem. Nexte vnto him buylded Iedaia the sonne of Harumaph, ouer agaynst his house. Nexte vnto him buylded Hattus the sonne of Hasabenia. But Malchia the sonne of Harim, and Hasub the sonne of Pahath Moab buylded ye other pece, and the tower beside the fornace. Nexte vnto him buylded Sallum the sonne of Halohes the ruler of the halfe quarter of Ierusalem, and his daughters.

The valley gate buylded Hanum, and the citesins of Sanoah. They buylded it, and set on the dores, lockes and barres therof, and a thousande cubytes on the wall, vnto the Dō geporte. But the Dongeporte buylded Malechia the sonne of Rechab, the ruler of the fourth parte of the vynyardes: He buylded it, & set on the dores, lockes & barres therof. But the Wellgate builded Sallum ye sonne of Chal Hose, the ruler of the fourth parte of Mispa: He builded it, & couered it, & set on ye dores, lockes, & barres therof, & the wall vnto the pole of Sybah by the kynges garden, vnto the steppes that go downe from the cite of Dauid. After him builded Nehemia the sonne of Aszbulr, the ruler of the halfe quarter of Bethzur, vntyll the other side ouer agaynst the sepulcres of Dauid, and to the pole Asuia, & vnto the house of the mightie.

After him buylded the Leuites, Rehum the sonne of Bani. Nexte vnto him buylded Hasabia ye ruler of the halfe quarter at Regila in his quarter. After him buylded their brethrē, Banai the sonne of Henadab, the ruler of the halfe quarter of Segila. After him buylded Eser the sonne of Iesua ye ruler of Mispa, the other pece hard ouer against the Harnesse corner. After him buylded Baruc the sonne of Sabai the other pece worshipfully & costly, frō the corner vnto ye dore of ye house of Eliasib ye hye prest. After him builded Meremoth the sonne of Vria the sonne of Hacos the other pece, frō ye dore of Eliasibs house, vnto the ende of the house of Eliasib. After him buylded the prestes, the mē of the countre. After him buylded Ben Iamin and Hasub ouer against their house. After thē buylded Asaria the sonne of Maeseia the sonne of Anania nexte vnto his house. After him buylded Benui ye sonne of Henadad the other pece from the house of Asaria vnto the turnynge, and vnto the corner.

After him buylded Palal the sonne of Vsai, ouer agaynst the corner & the hye tower, which lieth out ouer frō the kynges house, besyde the courte of the preson. After him Pedaia the sonne of Pareos (As for ye Nethinims they dwelt in Ophel, vnto ye Watergate, towarde the east where ye tower lieth out) After him buylded they of Thecoa ye other pece ouer against ye greate tower, yt lieth outwarde, and vnto the wall of . Pa. 33. c Ophel.

But from the Horsgate forth buylded ye prestes, euery one ouer agaynst his house. After them buylded Sadoc ye sonne of Immer ouer against his house. After him buylded Semaia the sonne of Sachania ye keper of the eastgate. After him buylded Hanania the sonne of Selemia, & Hanum the sonne of Zalaph ye sixte, ye other peace. After him builded Mesullam the sonne of Berechia ouer against his chest. After him builded Malchia the goldsmythes sonne, vntyll ye house of the Nethinims and of the marchauntes ouer agaynst the councell gate, and to the perler in the corner. And betwene the perler of the corner vnto the Shepegate builded the gold smythes and the marchauntes.

The IIII. Chapter.

BVt whan Saneballat herde that we builded ye wall, he was wroth, & toke greate indignaciō & mocked ye Iewes & saide before his brethrē & the mightie men of Samaria: What do the impotēt Iewes? shall they be thus suffred? shall they offre? shal they perfourme it in one daie? shal they make ye stones whole againe, yt are brought to dust, & brent? And Tobias the Ammonite beside him saide: Let thē builde on, yf a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stonye wall. Heare O thou oure God, how we are despysed, turne their shame vpon their awne heade, yt thou mayest geue them ouer in to despisinge in the londe of their captiuite. Couer not their wickednesse, & put not out their sinne frō ye presence: for they haue prouoked the buylders. Yet buylded we the wall, & ioyned it whole together, vnto ye halfe heigth. And the people were well mynded to labor.

But whan Saneballat, & Tobias, and ye Arabiās, & Ammonites, & Aszdodites herde, yt the walles of Ierusalem were made vp, and that they had begonne to stoppe vp ye gappes, they were very wroth, and cōspyred all together, to come and fight against Ierusalem, & to make an hinderaunce therin. Neuertheles we made or praier vnto oure God, & set watchmē vpō the wall daye & night ouer against them. And Iuda saide: The strēgth of the bearers is to feble, & there is to moch dust, we are not able to builde on the wall. And or aduersaries thought: They shall not knowe nether se, tyll we come in the myddes amonge thē, and slaye them, & hynder ye worke. But whan the Iewes that dwelt besyde them, came out of all the places where they dwelt aboute vs, and tolde vs as good as tē tymes, then set I the people after their kynreds with their swerdes, speares & bowes beneth in the lowe places behynde the wall, & loked, and gat me vp, and sayde vnto the chefe men and rulers, & to the other people: Be not ye afrayed of them, thynke vpon ye greate LORDE which ought to be feared, & fighte for yor brethren, sonnes, daughters, wyues, & houses. Neuertheles whan or enemies herde yt we had gotten worde of it, God broughte their councell to naughte, and we turned all againe to the wall, euery one vnto his labor. And from that time forth it came to passe, yt the halfe parte of the yonge men dyd the laboure, & the other halfe parte helde the speares, shyldes, bowes, and brestplates, and the rulers stode behynde all the house of Iuda, which buylded on the wall, & bare burthēs, from those that laded thē. With one hande dyd they ye worke, and with the other helde they the weapen. And euery one yt buylded, had his swerde girde by his side, & so builded they. And the trompetters stode beside me.

And I sayde vnto the pryncipall men, & rulers, and to ye other people: The worke is greate & large, & we are separated vpon the wall one farre from another. Loke in what place now ye heare the noise of ye trompe, resorte ye thiter vnto vs. 〈…〉 Oure God shal fight for vs, & we wil be labourīge in ye worke. And the halfe parte of thē helde ye speares frō ye morninge springe, till ye starres came forth. And at ye same tyme sayde I vnto ye people: Euery one abyde with his seruaunt at Ierusalem, yt in the night season we maye geue attendaunce to ye watch, and to laboure on the daye tyme. As for me and my brethren, & my seruauntes, and ye men of the watch behynde me, we put neuer of oure clothes, so so moch as to washe oure selues.

The V. Chapter.

ANd there arose a greate complaynte of ye people, & of their wyues against their brethren the Iewes. And there were some yt sayde: oure sonnes and doughters are to many, let vs take corne for thē, & eate, that we maye lyue. Some saide: Let vs set or londes, vynyardes & houses to pledge, & take vp corne in the derth. But some saide: Let vs borowe money of the kinge vpō vsury for oure londes and vynyardes. Now are oure brethrens bodies as oure awne bodies, and their children as oure children: els shulde we subdue oure sonnes and doughters vnto bondage, and some of oure doughters are subdued allready, and no strength is there in oure handes, and other men shal haue oure londes and vynyardes.

But whan I herde their complaynte and soch wordes, it displeased me sore, and I aduysed so in my mynde, yt I rebuked the councelers, and the rulers, and sayde vnto them: 〈…〉 Wyl ye requyre vsury one of another? And I broughte a greate congregacion agaynst them, and sayde vnto them: We (after oure abilyte) haue boughte oure brethren the Iewes, which were solde vnto the Heythen. And wyl ye sell youre brethren, whom we haue boughte vnto vs? Then helde they their peace, & coulde fynde nothinge to answere.

And I sayde: It is not good that ye do. Oughte ye not to walke in the feare of God, because of the rebuke of the Heythen oure enemies? I and my brethrē, and my seruauntes haue lent them money and corne: but as for vsury, let vs leaue it. Therfore this same daye se that ye restore thē their londes agayne, their vynyardes, oyle gardens and houses, and the hundreth parte of the money of the corne, wyne and oyle that ye haue wonne of them. Then sayde they: We wyl restore them agayne, and wyl requyre nothinge of them, and wyl do as thou hast spoken. And I called the prestes, and toke an ooth of thē, that they shulde do so. And I shoke my lappe, and sayde: God shake out euery man after the same maner frō his house and laboure, that maynteyneth not this worde: euen thus be he shaken out, and voyde. And all ye congregacion sayde: Amen, and praysed the LORDE. And the people dyd so.

〈…〉 And from the tyme forth that it was commytted vnto me to be a Debyte in the londe of Iuda, namely from the twentieth yeare vnto the two and thirtieth yeare off kynge Artaxerses (that is twolue yeare) I and my brethrē lyued not of soch sustenaunbe as was geuen to a Debyte: For the olde Debytes that were before me, had bene chargeable vnto the people, and had takē of thē bred and wyne, and fortye Sycles of syluer: Yee and their seruauntes had oppressed the people. But so dyd not I, and that because of the feare of God. I laboured also in the worke vpon the wall, and boughte no lōde. And all my seruaūtes came thither together vnto ye worke. Morouer there were at my table an hundreth and fiftie of the Iewes and rulers, which came vnto me, from amonge the Heythen, that are aboute vs. And there was prepared me daylie an oxe, and sixe chosen shepe, and byrdes, and euer once in ten dayes a greate summe of wyne. Yet requyred not I the lyuynge of a Debyte for ye bondage was greuous vnto ye people. Thynke vpō me my God vnto ye best, acordī ge to all that I haue done for this people.2. Esd. 1.3.

The VI. Chapter.

ANd whan Saneballat, Tobias and Gosem the Arabian, and the other of oure enemyes herde, that I had buylded the wall, and that there were no mo gappes ther in (howbeit at the same tyme had I not hanged the dores vpon the gates) Saneballat and Gosem sent vnto me, sayenge: Come and let us mete together in the vyllages vpon the playne of the cite On . Neuertheles they thoughte to do me euell. Notwithstondynge I sent messaungers vnto them, sayenge: I haue a greate busynes to do, I can not come downe. The worke shulde stonde still, yf I were necligent, and came downe to you. Howbeit they sent vnto me as good as foure tymes after the same maner. And I gaue the same answere.

Then sent Saneballat his seruaunt vnto me the fifth tyme, with an open letter in his hande, wherin was wrytten: It is tolde the Heythen, & Gosem hath sayde it, that thou and the Iewes thynke to rebell: for ye which cause thou buyldest the wall, and wylt be their kynge in these matters, and hast ordeyned the prophetes to preach of the at Ierusalem, and to saye: He is kynge of Iuda.

Now shal this come to the kynges eares: come now therfore, and let us take oure councell together. Neuertheles I sent vnto him, sayenge: There is no soch thinge done as thou sayest: thou hast fayned it out of thine owne hert. For they were all mynded to make us afrayed, and thoughte: They shal withdrawe their handes from the worke, yt they shal not laboure. Howbeit I strēgthed my hande the more.

And I came vnto ye house of Semaia ye sonne of Delaia the sonne of Mechetabeel, & he had shut him selfe within, & sayde: Let us come together in to ye house of God, euē vnto ye myddes of ye tēple, & sparre ye dores of ye tēple: for they wyl come to slaye ye, yee euē in the night wyl they come to put the to death. But I sayde: Shulde soch a mā flye? Shulde soch a mā as I am, go in to ye tēple, to saue his life? I wyl not go in.

For I perceaued, that God had not sent him: Yet spake he prophecye vpon me, neuerthelesse Tobias and Saneballat had hired him for money. Therfore toke he the money, that I shulde be afrayed, and so to do and synne, that they might haue an euell reporte of me, to blaspheme me. My God thynke thou vpon Tobias and Saneballat, acordynge vnto these their workes, and of ye prophet Noadia, and of the other prophetes, yt wolde haue put me in feare

And the wall was fynished on the fyue & twentyeth daye of the moneth Elul, in two and fyftye dayes. And whan all or enemies herde therof, all the Heithen yt were aboute vs, were afraied, and their corage failed thē: for they perceaued, that this worke came of God. And at ye same tyme were there many of ye chefe of Iuda, whose letters wēte vnto Tobias, & from Tobias vnto them (for there were many in Iuda that were sworne vnto him: for he was the sonne in lawe of Sachania the sonne of Arah, and his sonne Iohanan had the doughter of Mesullam the sonne of Barachia, and they spake good of him before me, and tolde him my wordes) And Tobias sent letters, to put me in feare.

The VII. Chapter.

NOw whan we had buylded the wall I hanged on the dores, and the porters, syngers and Leuites were appoynted. And I cōmaunded my brother Hanani, and Hanania the ruler of the palace at Ierusalem: for he was a faithfull man, and feared God more then dyd many other) and I sayde vnto them: Let not the gates of Ierusalē be opened vntyll the Sonne be whote. And whyle they are yet stondinge in the watch, the dores shall be shut and barred. And there were certayne citesyns of Ierusalem appoynted to be watchmen, euery one in his watch, and aboute his house. As for ye cite, it was large of rowme, and greate, but ye people were fewe therin, and the houses were not buylded.

And my God gaue me in my hert, that I gatherd together the pryncipall men and ye people, to nombre them, and I founde a register of their nombre, Esd. 2. a which came vp afore out of the captiuyte (whom Nabuchodonosor ye kynge of Babilō had caryed awaie) and dwelt at Ierusalem and in Iuda, euery one vnto his cite, and were come with Zorobabel, Iesua, Nehemias, Asaria, Raamia, Naheman, Mardachai, Bilsan, Mispereth, Bigeuai, Nehum and Baena.

This is the nombre of the men of the people of Israel. The children of Pareos were two thousande, an hundreth and two and seuentye: The children of Sephatia, thre hundreth & two and seuentye: the children of Arah, sixe hundreth and two and fiftye: ye children of Pahath Moab amonge the childrē of Iesua and Ioab, two thousande, eight hū dreth, and eightene: the childron of Elam, a thousande, two hundreth, and foure and fyftye: the children of Sathu, eight hundreth & fyue and fortye, the children of Sacai, seuen hundreth and thre score: the children of Benni, sixe hundreth, and eight and fortye: ye children of Bebai, sixe hundreth and eight and twentye: the children of Asgad, two thousande, thre hundreth and two and twentye: the children of Adonicam, syxe hundreth & thre score: the children of Bigeuai, two thousande, and seuen and thre score: the childrē of Adin, sixe hūdreth & fiue and fiftye: the childrē of Atter of Ezechias, eight and nyentye.

The children of Hasum, thre hundreth & eighte and twentye: the children of Bezai, thre hundreth and foure and twentye: the children of Hariph, an hundreth and twolue: the children of Gibeon, fyue and nyentye the men of Bethleem and Netopha, an hū dreth and eight and foure score: the men of Anathot, an hundreth and eight and twentye: the men of Beth Asmaueth, two and fortye: the men of Ririath Iearim, Caphira and Beeroth, seuen hundreth and thre and fortye: the men of Rama and Gaba, sixe hū dreth and one and twentye: the men of Michmas, an hundreth and two and twentye: the men of Bethel and Ai, an hundreth and thre and twentye: the men of Nebo, an hundreth and two and fiftye: the children of the other Elam, a thousande, two hundreth and foure and fyftye: the children of Haram, thre thre hundreth and twentye: the children of Iericho: thre hundreth and fyue and fortye the children of Lodhadid & Ono, seuen hundreth and one and twentye: the children of Senaa, thre thousande, nyne hundreth and thirtye.

The prestes. The children of Iedaia of the house of Iesua, nyne hundreth and thre and seuentye: the children of Immer, a thousande and two and fyftye: the children of Pashur, a thousande, two hundreth and seuē and fortye: the children of Harim, a thousande and seuentene.

The Leuites. The children of Iesua of Cadmiel amonge the children of Hodua, foure & seuentye. The syngers. The children of Assaph, an hundreth and eight and fortye. The porters were: The children of Sallum, the children of Ater, the childrē of Talmon, the children of Acub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai, alltogether an hundreth and eight and thirtye.

The Nethinims. The children of Ziha, ye childrē of Hasupha, the childrē of Tabaoth, the children of Ceros, the children of Sia, ye children of Padon, the children of Libana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaia, the children of Rezin, the children of Necoda, the childrē of Gasam, the childrē of Vsa, the children of Passeah, the children of Bessai, the children of Megunim, the children of Nephusim, the children of Bachuc, the children of Hacupha, the childrē of Harhur, the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsa, the children of Barcos, the children of Sissera, the children of Thamah, the children of Neziah, ye children of Hatipha.

The childrē of Salomons seruauntes were: The children of Sotai, the childrē of Sophereth, the children of Prida, the childrē of Iaela, the children of Darcon, the childrē of Giddel, the childrē of Sephatia, the childrē of Hatil, ye childrē of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. All the Nethinims & the childrē of Salomons seruauntes, were thre hundreth and two and nynetye.

And these wente vp also: Michel, Mela, Thel, Harsa, Cherub, Addō, Immer: but they coulde not shewe their fathers house ner their sede, whether they were of Israel. The childrē of Delaia, ye children of Tobia, & the childrē of Necoda, were sixe hūdreth & two & fortye. And of the prestes were, the children of Habaia, the childrē of Hacoz, the children of Barsillai, which toke one of ye doughters of Barsillai the Gileadite to wyfe, and was named afther their name. These soughte the register of their generacion, and whan they foūde it not, they were put from ye presthode. And Hathirsatha sayde vnto them, yt they shulde not eate of ye most holy, tyll there came vp a prest wt ye light and perfectnesse.

The whole congregaciō as one mā, was two and fortye thousande there hundreth, and thre score: besyde their seruauntes and maydes, of whom there were seuen thousande, thre hundreth and seuē and thirtye. And they had two hundreth and seuen and fortie synginge men and wemen, seuen hundreth and sixe and thirtie horses, two hūdreth and fyue and fortie Mules, foure hundreth and fyue and thirtie Camels: sixe thousande, seuē hundreth and twentye Asses.

And certayne of the awnciēt fathers gaue vnto the worke. Hathirsatha gaue to the treasure a thousande guldens, fiftie basens, fyue hundreth and thyrtie prestes garmentes. And some of the chefe fathers gaue vnto ye treasure of the worke, twētye thousande guldens, two thousande and two hundreth poū de of siluer. And the other people gaue twē tye thousande guldens, and two thousande pounde of siluer, and seuē and threscore prestes garmentes. And the prestes and Leuites, the Porters, the syngers, and the other of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities.

The VIII. Chapter.

NOw whan the seuenth moneth drue nye, and ye children of Israel were in their cities, all the people gathered them selues together as one man vpon the strete before the Watergate, and sayde vnto Eszdras the scrybe, that he shulde fetch the boke of the lawe of Moses, which the LORDE commaunded Israel. Deu. 31. c 4. Re. 2 . And Eszdras the prest brought ye lawe before the congregaciō both of men and wemen, and of all that coulde vnderstonde it, vpon the first daye of the seuenth moneth, and red therin in the strete that is before the Watergate, from ye light mornynge vntyll the noone daye before men and wemen and soch as coulde vnderstonde it: and the eares of all the people were inclyned vnto the boke of the lawe. And Eszdras the scrybe stode vpon an hye pulpit of wod, which they had made for the preachynge, & beside him stode Mathithia, Sema, Anania Vria, Ezechias, and Maescia on his righte hand: And on his lefte honde stode Pedaia, Misael, Malchia, Hasum, Haszbadana, Zachary and Mesullam.

And Eszdras opened ye boke before all ye people, for he stode aboue all ye people. And whan he opened it, all the people stode vp. And Eszdras praysed the LORDE the greate God. And all the people answered Amen, Amen, with their handes vp, and bowed thē selues, and worshipped ye LORDE with their faces to the grounde. And Iesua, Bani, Serebia, Iamin, Acub, Sabthai, Hodaia, Maescia, Celita, Asaria, Iosabad, Hanam, Plaia, and the Leuites, caused ye people to geue hede vnto the lawe, & the people stode in their place. And they red in the boke of the lawe of God distinctly and planely, so that men vnderstode the thinge that was red. And Nehemias (which is Hathirsatha) and Esdras the prest and scrybe, and the Leuites yt caused the people to take hede, sayde vnto all the people: This daye is holy vnto the LORDE youre God: be not ye sory therfore, & wepe not. For all ye people wepte, whā they herde the wordes of the lawe.

Therfore sayde he vnto them: * Go youre waye, and eate the fat, and drynke the swete, and sende parte vnto them also that haue not prepared themselues: for this daye is holy vnto oure LORDE, be not ye sory therfore: for the ioye of the LORDE is youre strength. And the Leuites stylled all the people, and sayde: Holde youre peace, for the daye is holy, vexe not ye youre selues. And all the people wente their waye to eate and drinke, and to sende pa te vnto other, and to make greate myrth, for they had vnderstonde the wordes that were declared vnto them.

And on the nexte daye were gathered together the chefe fathers amonge all the people, and the prestes and Leuites, vnto Esdras the scrybe, that he shulde teach them ye wordes of the lawe. And they founde written in the lawe, Leui. 23. f how that the LORDE had commaunded by Moses, that the childrē of Israel shulde dwell in bothes in the feast of the seuenth moneth. And so they caused it be declared and proclamed in all their cities, & at Ierusalem, sayenge: Go vp vnto ye moūt and fetch Olyue braunches, Pynebraunches, Myrtbraunches, Palmebraunches, & braunches of thicketrees, to make bothes as it is wrytten.

And ye people wente vp, and fetched thē, and made them bothes, euery one vpon the rofe of his house, and in their courtes, and in the courtes of the house of God, and in the strete by the Watergate, and in the strete by Ephraims porte. And all the congregacion of them that were come agayne out of the captyuite, made bothes, and dwelt therin: for sence the tyme of Iosua the sonne of Nū vnto this daye, had not the children of Israel done so, and there was very greate gladnesse. And euery daye from the first daie vnto the last, red he in the boke of the lawe of God. And seuen dayes helde they the feast, & on the eight daye the gatherynge together, acordynge vnto the maner.

The IX. Chapter.

IN the foure and twentieth daye of this moneth came the children of Israel together with fastinge and sack clothes, and earth vpon them, and separated the sede of Israel from all the straunge children, and stode and knowleged their synnes, and the wyckednesses of their fathers, and stode vp in their place, and red in the boke of the lawe of the LORDE their God foure tymes on the daye, and they knowleged, and worshipped the LORDE their God foure tymes on the daye. And the Leuites stode on hye, namely Iesua, Bani, Cadmiel, Sebania, Buni, Serebia, Bani, and Chenani, and cryed loude vnto the LORDE their God. And the Leuites, Iesua, Cadmiel, Bani, Hasabenia, Serebia, Hodia, Sebania, Pethahia, sayde: Stonde vp, prayse the LORDE oure God for euer: and let thankes be geuē vnto the name of thy glorye, which excelleth all thankesgeuynge and prayse. LORDE, thou art alone, thou hast made heauen, and the heauen of all heauens, with all their hoost, the earth and all that therin is, the See and all that is therin: thou geuest life vnto all, and ye hoost of heauen bowe themselues vnto the. Thou art the LORDE God, that hast chosen Abrā, and broughte him out of Vr in Chaldea, 〈…〉 & called him Abraham, and founde his hert faithfull before the, 〈…〉 and madest a couenaūt with him, to geue vnto his sede the londe of the Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Pheresites, Iebusites, and Girgosites, and hast made good thy wordes: for thou art righteous 〈…〉 And hast considered the mysery of oure fathers in Egipte, and herde their complainte by the reed See, and shewed tokēs and wonders vpō Pharao, and on all his seruaūtes, and on all his people of his londe: for thou knewest yt they were presumptuous & cruell against them, & so madest thou 〈…〉 the a name as it is this daie. And the reed See partedst thou in sunder before them, so that they wēte thorow the myddes of the See drye shod: & their persecuters threwest thou in to the depe as a stone, in the mightie waters, and leddest them on the daye tyme in a cloudy pyler, and on the nighte season in a piler of fyre, to shewe them lighte in the waye yt they wente.

Thou camest downe also vpō mount Sinai, and spakest vnto them from heauen, 〈…〉 and gauest them righte iudgmentes, true lawes, good commaundementes and statutes, and declared vnto them thy holy Sabbath, and commaunded them preceptes, ordinaunces, and lawes, by Moses thy seruaunt: and 〈…〉 gauest them bred from heauen whan they were hongrye, and 〈…〉 broughte forth water for them out of the rock whan they were thyrstye: and promysed them, 〈…〉 that they shulde go in, and take possession of the londe, where ouer thou haddest lyfte vp thine hande for to geue them.

Neuertheles oure fathers were proude and hardnecked, so that they folowed not ye cōmaundementes, and refused to heare, and were not myndefull of the wonders yt thou dyddest for them: but became obstynate and heady, in so moch that they turned back to their bondage in their dishobedience. But thou my God forgauest, and wast gracious, mercifull, pacient, and of greate goodnesse, and forsokest them not. 〈◊〉 2. b And though they made a molten calfe (and sayde: This is thy God, that broughte the out of the londe of Egipte) and dyd greate blasphemies, yet for sokest thou them not in the wyldernes, acordinge to thy greate mercy. 〈…〉 And ye cloudy piler departed not from them on ye daye tyme to lede them the waye, nether the piler of fyre in the night season, to shewe them lighte in the waye that they wente.

And thou gauest them thy good sprete to enfourme them, 〈…〉 and withheldest not thy Manna from their mouth, 〈…〉 and gauest thē water whā they were thirstie. Fortye yeares longe madest thou prouysion for them in the wyldernesse, so that they wanted nothinge: 〈…〉 their clothes waxed not olde, and their fete swelled not. And thou gauest thē kīgdomes & nacions, & partedst thē acordinge to their porcions, so that they possessed 〈…〉 the londe of Sihon kynge of Heszbon, & the londe of Og ye kynge of Basan. 〈…〉 And their childrē multiplyedst thou as the starres of heauen, and broughtest thē in to the londe wherof thou haddest spoken vnto their fathers, that they shulde go in to it, and haue it in possession.

And ye children wente in, and possessed the londe, 〈◊〉 3.4 and thou subdudest before thē the inhabiters of the londe, euen the Cananites, & gauest them in to their hande, and their kynges and ye people of the londe, yt they might do with them what they wolde. And they wanne their stronge cities, & a fat londe, and toke possession of houses yt were full of all maner goodes, welles dygged out, vynyardes, oylgardens, & many frutefull trees: and they ate & were fylled, & became fat, & lyued in welth thorow thy greate goodnes. Neuertheles they were disobedient, and rebelled agaynst the, and cast thy lawe behynde their backes, 〈◊〉 . 1 . b and slewe thy prophetes (which exhorted them so earnestly, that they shulde cō uerte vnto the) and dyd greate blasphemies. Therfore gauest thou them ouer in to the hā de of their enemies that vexed them.

And in ye tyme of their trouble they cried vnto the, and thou hardest them from heauen: and thorow thy greate mercy thou gauest them sauiours, which helped thē out of the hande of their enemies. But whan they came to rest, they turned back agayne to do euell before the: therfore leftest thou them in the hande of their enemies, so yt they had ye dominion ouer them. So they cōuerted, and cryed vnto the, and thou herdest them from heauen, and many a tyme hast thou delyuered them acordinge to ye greate mercy, and testified vnto them, that they shulde turne agayne vnto thy lawe.

Notwithstōdinge they were proude, and herkened not vnto thy cōmaundementes, but synned in thy lawes (which a man shulde do, & lyue in them) & turned their shulder awaye, & were styffnecked, & wolde not heare. And many yeares dyddest thou forbeare them, & testified vnto them thorow ye sprete, euen by the office of ye prophetes, & yet wolde they not heare. Therfore gauest thou thē in to ye hāde of ye nacions in the londes. But for thy greate mercies sake thou hast not vtterly cō sumed them, nether forsaken them: for thou art a gracious and mercifull God.

Now oure God, thou greate God, mightie and terrible, thou that kepest couenaunt and mercy, regarde not a litle all the trauayle yt hath happened vnto vs, & oure kynges, prynces, prestes, prophetes, fathers & all thy people, sence the tyme of the kynges of Assur vnto this daie. Thou art righteous in all yt thou hast broughte vpō vs: for thou hast done righte. As for vs, we haue bene vngodly, and or kynges, prynces, prestes & fathers haue not done after ye lawe, ner regarded ye cōmaundementes, & thy earnest exhortaciōs wherwith thou hast exhorted them, & haue not serued ye in their kyngdome, and in thy greate goodes yt thou gauest them, and in the large and plenteous lōde which thou gauest them to good, and haue not conuerted from their wicked workes. Beholde, therfore are we in bondage this daye: Yee euen in the lōde that thou gauest vnto oure fathers, to enioye the frutes and goodes therof, beholde, there are we bondmen. And greate is the increase of it vnto the kynges, whom thou hast set ouer vs because of oure synnes, and they haue dominion ouer oure bodies and catell, and we are in greate trouble.

And in all this made we a sure couenaunt, & wrote it, & let or prynces, Leuites & prestes seale it.

The X. Chapter.

THe sealers were: Nehemias (that is) Hathirsatha the sonne of Hachalia and Sedechias, Seraia, Asaria, Ieremy, Pashur, Amaria, Malchia, Hattus, Sebania, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadia, Daniel, Sinthun, Baruch, Mesullam, Abia, Meiamin, Maasga, Bilgai and Semaia: these were prestes.

The Leuites were: Iesua ye sonne of Asania, Binui amonge the childrē of Henadad, Cadmiel. And their brethren: Sechania, Hodia, Celita, Plaia, Hauan, Micha, Rehob, Hasabia, Sachur, Serebia, Sebania, Hodia, Bani and Beninu. The heades of the people were: Pareos, Pahath Moab, Elam, Sathu, Bani, Buni, Asgad, Sebai, Adonia, Bigenai, Adiu, Ater, Hezechias, Asur, Hodia, Hasum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathot, Neubai, Magpias, Mesullam, Hesir, Mesesabeel, Sadoc, Iaddua, Platia, Hanan, Anaia, Hoseia, Hanania, Hasub, Halohes, Pilha, Sobek, Rehum, Hasabna, Maeseia, Ahia, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim and Baena.

And the other people, the prestes, Leuites, Porters, syngers. Nethinims, & all they that had separated them selues from ye people in the lōdes vnto the lawe of God, with their wyues, sonnes and daughters, as many as coulde vnderstonde it, and their lordes that had rule of them, receaued it for their brethren.

osu. 24 e . Par. 15. c And they came to sweare, and to bynde them selues with an ooth to walke in Gods lawe, which was geuen by Moses the seruaunt of God, that they wolde obserue and do acordinge vnto all the commaundementes, iudgmentes and statutes of the LORDE oure God: Deut. 7. a and that we wolde not geue oure doughters vnto the people in the lōde, nether to take their doughters for oure sonnes. . Esd. 13. c And yf ye people of the lōde broughte ware on the Sabbath, and all maner of vytayles to sell, that we wolde not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy dayes. Leui. 25. a Deut. 15. a And that we wolde let the seuēth yeare be fre concernynge all maner of charge.

And we layed a statute vpon oure selues, to geue yearly ye thirde parte of a Sycle to the mynistracion in the house of oure God, namely to the shewbred, to the daylie meat-offerynge, to the daylie burnt offerynge of ye Sabbathes, of the new mones and feast dayes, and to the thinges that were sanctified, and to the syn offerynges, to reconcyle Israel with all, and to all the busynes in ye house of oure God.

And we cast the lot amonge the prestes, Leuites and the people, for offerynge of ye wod, to be brought vnto ye house of or God from yeare to yeare, after the houses of oure fathers, that it might be brent at tymes appoynted, vpon the altare of the LORDE oure God, as it is wrytten in the lawe: and yearly to brynge the firstlinges of or londe, & the firstlinges of oure frutes of all trees, yeare by yeare, vnto ye house of the LORDE: and the firstlinges of oure sonnes, and of oure catell, as it is wrytten in the lawe: and the firstlinges of oure oxen and of oure shepe, that we shulde brynge all this to the house of oure God vnto the prestes that mynister in the house of oure God: and that we shulde brynge the firstlinges of oure dowe, and of oure Heue offeringes, and the frutes of all maner trees, of wyne also and of oyle, vnto the prestes to the chestes of the house of oure God. And the tithes of o lōde vnto the Leuites, yt the Leuites might haue the tithes in all the cities of oure mynistracion.

And the prest the sonne of Aaron shal wt the Leuites haue also of the tithes of ye Leuites, so that the Leuites shal brynge vp the tithes of their tithes vnto the house of oure God to the chest in ye treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Leui shall brynge vp the Heue offerynges of the corne, wyne and oyle vnto the chestes, there are the vessels of the Sanctuary, & the prestes yt mynister, and the porters & syngers, yt we forsake not the house of oure God.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd the rulers of the people dwelt at Ierusalem. But the other people cast lottes therfore, so that amōge ten one parte wente to Ierusalem in to the holy cite to dwell, and nyne partes in the cities. And ye people thanked all the men that were willinge to dwell at Ierusalem.

These are the heades of the londe that dwelt at Ierusalem. In the cities dwelt Iuda euery one in his possession yt was in their cities, namely Israel, the prestes, Leuites, ye Nethinims, and the children of Salomons seruauntes. And at Ierusalē dwelt certayne of the children of Iuda & of Ben Iamin.

Of the children of Iuda: 〈…〉 Athaia the sonne of Vsia ye sonne of Zachary, the sonne of Amaria, the sonne of Sephatia, the sonne of Mahelaleel, of the children of Phares. And Maeseia the sonne of Baruch, the sonne of Chal Hose, the sonne of Hasaia, the sonne of Adaia, the sonne of Ioiarib, the sonne of Zachary, the sonne of Siloni. All the childrē of Phares that dwelt at Ierusalem, were foure C. and eight & thre score valeaunt men.

These are the childrē of Ben Iamin: Sallu the sonne of Mesullam, ye sonne of Ioed, 〈…〉 the sonne of Pedaia, the sonne of Colaia, ye sonne of Maeseia, the sonne of Ithiel, ye sonne of Iesaia. And after him Sabai, Sallai: nyne hundreth and eight and twentye. And Ioel the sonne of Sichri had the ouersight of them: and Iuda ye sonne of Hasnua ouer the seconde parte of the cite.

〈…〉 Of the prestes there dwelt: Iedaia ye sonne of Ioiarib, Iachin. Seraia the sonne of Helchias ye sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Meraioth, the sonne of Achitob, was prynce in the house of God: & his brethrē that perfourmed the worke in ye house: of whom there were viij.C. and xxij. And Adaia the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Plalia, the sonne of Amzi, the sonne of Zachary, the sonne of Pashur & his brethrē, chefe amōge the fathers: of whom there were two hundreth and two and fortye. And Amassai the sonne of Asariel the sonne of Ahusai, the sonne of Mesillemoth, the sonne of Immer: and his brethren were valeaunt men, of whom there were an hundreth and eight and twentye. And their ouerseer was Sabdaiel the sonne of Gedolim.

Of the Leuites: Semaia the sonne of Hasub, 〈◊〉 . 1 . b the sonne of Asrikam, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Bunni: And Sabthai and Iosabad of the chefe of the Leuites, in the outwarde busynes of ye house of God. And Mathania the sonne of Micha, the sonne of Sabdi, the sonne of Assaph, which was the pryncipall to begynne the thankesgeuynge vnto prayer. And bacbuchia ye seconde amō ge his brethren, and Abda the sonne of Sammua, the sonne of Galal, the sonne of Iedithun. All the Leuites in the holy cite were two hundreth and foure & foure score. 〈◊〉 1 . c And ye porters Acub and Talman, and their brethren yt kepte the portes, were an hundreth and two and seuentye. As for the residue of Israel, the prestes and Leuites, they were in all the cities of Iuda, euery one in his inheritaunce.

And the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Zipha and Gispa belonged vnto the Nethinims. The ouerseer of the Leuites at Ierusalem, was Vsi the sonne of Bani, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Mathania, the sonne of Micha.

Of the children of Assaph there were syngers aboute ye busynes in the house of God: for it was the kynges commaundement cō cernynge them, that ye syngers shulde deale faithfully, euery daye as acordinge was.

And Pethaia the sonne of Mesesabeel of the childrē of Serah the sonne of Iuda nexte the kynge in all matters concernynge the people. And the children of Iuda that were without in the townes of their londe, dwelt some at Kiriath Arba, and in the vyllages therof, & at Dibon, and in the vyllages therof: and at Cabzeel, and in ye vyllages therof: and at Iesua, Molada, Bethphalet, Hazarsual, Berseba and in their vyllages: & at Siclag and Mochona, and in their vyllages: And at Enrimmon, Zarega, Ieremuth, Sanoah, Adullam and in their vyllages: At Lachis, and in the feldes therof: At Aseka, and in the vyllages therof: and dwelt from Berseba vnto the valley of Hinnom.

The children of Ben Iamin of Gaba, dwelt at Michmas, Aia, Bethel and in their vyllages. And at Anathoth, Nob, Anania, Hazor, Rama, Githaim, Hadid, Ziboim, Neballat, Lod, Ono & in the Carpēters valley. And certayne of the Leuites yt had porcions in Iuda, dwelt in Ben Iamin.

The XII. Chapter.

THese are ye prestes and Leuites that wente vp with Zorobabel ye sonne of Saalthiel and with Iesua: Seraia, Ieremy, Esdras, Amaria, Malluch, Hattus, Sechania, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginthoi, Abia, Meiamin, Maadia, Bilga, Semaia, Ioiarib, Iedaia, Sallu, Amok, Helchias & Iedaia. These were the heades amō ge the prestes and their brethren in the tyme of Iesua. The Leuites were these: Iesua, Bē nui, Cadmiel, Serebia, Iuda and Mathania, ouer the office of thankesgeuynge, they & their brethrē: Bacbuchia & Vnni and their brethrē, were aboute them in the watches.

Iesua begat Ioachim. Ioachim begat Eliasib. Eliasib begat Ioiada. Ioiada begat Ionathan. Ionathan begat Iaddua. And in the tyme of Ioachim were these the chefe fathers amonge the prestes: namely of Seraia was Meraia, of Ieremy was Hanania, of Eszdras was Mesullam, of Amaria was Iohanan, of Malluch was Ionathan, of Sebania was Ioseph, of Harim was Adna, of Meraioth was Helcai, of Iddo was Zachary, of Ginthon was Mesullā, of Abia was Sichri, of Miniamin Moadia was Piltai, of Bilga was Sammua, of Semaia was Ionathan, of Ioiarib was Mathnai, of Iedaia was Vsi, of Sallai was Callai, of Amok was Eber, of Helchias was Hasabia, of Gedaia, was Nethaneel.

And in the tyme of Eliasib. Ioiada, Iohanan and Iaddua, were the chefe fathers amonge the Leuites, and the prestes wryttē vnder the reigne of Darius ye Persian. The children of Leui the pryncipall fathers were wrytten in the Cronicles, vntyll the tyme of Iohanan the sonne of Eliasib. And these were the chefe amōge the Leuites, Hasabia, Serebia and Iesua the sonne of Cadmiel, & their brethren ouer agaynst them, to geue prayse and thankes, acordinge as Dauid ye mā of God had ordeyned it, one watch ouer agaynst another. Mathania, Bacbuchia, Obadia, Mesullam, Talmon and Acub were porters in the watch at the thresholdes of the gates. These were in the tyme of Ioiachim the sonne of Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and in the tyme of Nehemias the Debyte, and of the prest Eszdras the scrybe.

And in the dedicacion of the wall at Ierusalem, were the Leuites soughte out of all their places, that they mighte be broughte to Ierusalem, to kepe ye dedicacion in gladnesse, with thankesgeuynges, with synginge, with Cymbales, Psalteries and harpes. And the children of the syngers gathered thē selues together from the playne countre aboute Ierusalem, and from the vyllages of Nethophathi, and from the house of Gilgal, & out of the feldes of Gibea & Asmaueth: for ye syngers had buylded them vyllages aboute Ierusalem. And ye prestes and Leuites purified them selues, and clensed the people, the gates and the wall.

And I caused the prynces to go vp vpon the wall, and appoynted two greate queres of thankesgeuynge, which wēte on the righte hande of the wall towarde the Donggate, and after them wēte Hosaia, and halfe of the prynces of Iuda, & Asaria, Eszdras, Mesullam, Iuda, Ben Iamin, Semaia and Ieremy: and certayne of the prestes childrē wt trompettes, namely Zachary ye sonne of Ionathan, the sonne of Semaia, the sonne of Mathania, the sonne of Michaia, the sonne of Sachur, the sonne of Assaph, and his brethren, Semaia, Asareel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nathaneel and Iuda and Hanani, with the musicall instrumentes of Dauid ye man of God.

And Eszdras ye scrybe before thē towarde the Wellgate, and they wente vp ouer agaynst them vpon the steppes of the cite of Dauid at the goynge vp of the wall to the house of Dauid, vnto the Watergate Eastwarde.

The other quere of thankesgeuynge wente ouer against them, and I after them, and the halfe parte of the people vpon ye wall, towarde ye Fornacegate vpwarde, vntyll ye brode wall, and to ye porte of Ephraim, and to the Oldgate, and to ye Fyshgate, and to the tower of Hananeel, and to the tower of Meah, vntyll the Shepegate. And in ye presongate stode they styll, and so stode the two queres of thankesgeuynge of the house of God, and I and the halfe of the rulers with me, and the prestes, namely Eliachim, Maeseia, Miniamin, Michaia, Elioenai, Zachary, Hanania, with trōpettes, and Maeseia, Semaia, Eleasar, Vsi, Iohanan, Malchia, Elam and Aser. And the syngers songe loude, and Iesrahia was the ouerseer.

And the same daye were there greate sacrifices offred, & they reioysed: for God had geuē them greate gladnesse, so that both the wyues and children were ioyfull, & the myrth of Ierusalem was herde farre of.

At the same tyme were there men appoynted ouer the treasure chestes (wherin were ye Heue offerynges, the firstlinges and the tithes) that they shulde gather them out of ye feldes aboute the cities, to destribute thē vnto the prestes and Leuites acordinge to the lawe: for Iuda was glad of the prestes, and Leuites, that they stode and wayted vpon the office of their God, and the office of the purificacion. And the syngers & porters stode after the commaundemēt of Dauid & of Salomon his sonne: 〈…〉 for in the tyme of Dauid and Assaph, were the chefe syngers founded, and the songes of prayse and thankesgeuynge vnto God. In the tyme of Zorobabel and Nehemias, dyd all Israel geue porciōs vnto the syngers and porters, euery daye his porcion, and they gaue thinges halowed vnto the Leuites, and the Leuites gaue thinges that were sanctified, vnto the childrē of Aaron.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd what tyme as the boke of Moses was red in ye eares of the people, there was founde wrytten therin, 〈…〉 yt the Ammonites and Moabites shulde neuer come in to the congregacion of God, because they mett not the children of Israel wt bred and water, 〈…〉 and hyred Balaam against thē, that he shulde curse them: neuertheles oure God turned ye curse in to a blessynge. Now whan they herde the lawe, they separated from Israel euery one that had myxte him selfe therin. And before this had the prest Eliasib delyuered the chest of ye house of oure God vnto his kynsman Tobia: for he had made him a greate chest, and there had they aforetyme layed the meat offerynges, frankencense, vessell, and the tithes of corne, wyne and oyle (acordinge to the commaundement geuen to the Leuites, syngers and porters) and the Heue offerynges of the prestes.

But in all this was not I at Ierusalem: for in ye two and thirtieth yeare of Artaxerses kynge of Babilon, came I vnto the kynge, and after certayne dayes optayned I lycence of the kynge to come to Ierusalē. And I gat knowlege of ye euell that Eliasib dyd vnto Tobia, in that he had made him a chest in the courte of the house of God, and it greued me sore, and I cast forth all the vessels of Tobias house out of the chest, and commaū ded them to clense the chest. And thither broughte I agayne the vessels of the house of God, the meat offerynge and the incense.

And I perceaued, that the porcions of ye Leuites were not geuen them, for the which cause the Leuites and syngers were fled, euery one to his londe for to worke. Then reproued I the rulers, and sayde: Why forsake we the house of God? But I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Iuda the tithes of corne, wyne and oyle vnto the treasure. And I made treasurers ouer ye treasure, euen Selemia ye prest, and Sadoc the scrybe, & of the Leuites Pedaia, and vnder their hande Hanan the sonne of Sachur the sonne of Mathania: for they were counted faithfull, and their office was, to destribute vnto their brethren. 〈…〉 Thynke vpon me O my God here in, & wype not out my mercy, that I haue shewed on ye house of my God, & on the offices therof.

At the same tyme sawe I some tredinge wyne presses on the Sabbath, and brynginge in clusters, and asses laden wyth wyne, grapes, fygges, and brynginge all maner of burthens vnto Ierusalem, vpon the Sabbath daye. And I rebuked them earnestly ye same daye that they solde ye vytayles. There dwelt mē of Tyre also therin, which broughte fysh and all maner of ware, and solde on the Sabbath vnto the childrē of Iuda and Ierusalem. Then reproued I the rulers in Iuda, and saide vnto them: What euell thinge is this that ye do, and breake the Sabbath daye? Dyd not oure fathers euen thus, and oure God broughte all this plage vpon vs & vpon this cite? And ye make the wrath more yet vpon Israel, in that ye breake the Sabbath.

And whan the portes of Ierusalem were •• awen vp before the Sabbath, I commaū ded to shutt the gates, and charged that they shulde not be opened tyll after the Sabbath: and some of my seruauntes set I at the gates, yt there shulde no burthē be broughte in on the Sabbath daye. Then remayned the chapmen and marchauntes once or twyce ouer nighte without Ierusalem with all maner of wares. Then reproued I them sore, & sayde vnto them: Why tary ye all night aboute the wall? Yf ye do it once agayne, I wil laye handes vpon you. From that tyme forth came they nomore on the Sabbath. And I sayde vnto the Leuites which were cleane, that they shulde come and kepe the gates, to halowe the Sabbath daye. Thynke vpō me (O my God) cōcernynge this also, & spare me acordynge to thy greate mercy.

And at the same tyme sawe I Iewes, that maried wyues of Asdod, Ammon and of Moab, and their children spake halfe in the speache of Asdod, and coulde not speake in ye Iewish language, but by ye tonge mighte a mā perceaue euery people. And I reproued them, and cursed them, & smote certayne men of thē, and plucte them vp, and toke an ooth of them by God: Deut. 7. Ye shal not geue youre daughters vnto their sonnes, nether shal ye take their daughters vnto youre sonnes, or for youre selues.3. Re. 11. Dyd not Salomon ye kynge of Israel synne ther in & yet amonge many Heythen was there no kynge like him, & he was deare vnto his God, and God made him kynge ouer all Israel, and the outlandish wemen.

And one of the children of Ioiada the sonne of Eliasib ye hye prest, had made a cō tracte wyth Saneballath the Horonite: but I chaced him fro me. O my God, thynke thou vpon them that are quyte of the presthode, and haue desyled the couenaunt of the presthode and of the Leuites. Thus clensed I them from all soch as were outlandish, and appoynted the courses of the prestes and Leuites, euery one to his office, and to offre the wod at tymes appoynted, and the first frutes. Thynke thou vpon me (O my God) for the best.

The ende of the seconde boke of Eszdras, otherwyse called the boke of Nehemias.
The boke of Hester. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Ahasuerus maketh a greate feast to his lordes and prynces, calleth for Vasthi the quene, she commeth not, therfore is she deposed from the kyngdome. Chap. II. Amonge the daughters, Hester pleaseth the kynge. Mardocheus geueth the kynge warnynge of his harme. Chap. III. Amā is greate with the kynge, hateth Mardocheus that wil not worshippe him, and cōmaundeth to slaye all the Iewes. Chap. IIII. Greate heuynes amonge the Iewes. Chap. V. Hester cōmeth before the kynge, and byddeth him and Aman to a feast. Aman maketh a galowe for Mardocheus. Chap. VI. Mardocheus is recompensed for his frendshippe shewed vnto the kynge. Chap. VII. Hester prayeth for hir people, Aman is hanged on the galowe that he had prepared for Mardocheus. Chap. VIII. The kynge geueth Amās house vnto the quene, and at hir request he causeth Amās wrytinges to be called agayne. Chap. IX. Amans sonnes are hanged also, and many enemyes slayne. The Iewes kepe a ioyfull feast. Chap. X. Of the auctorite of Mardocheus vnder the kynge.
The first Chapter.

IN the tyme of Ahasuerus, which reigned from India vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundreth and seuen and twentye londes, what tyme as he sat on his seate roiall in the castell of Susan in the thirde yeare of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his prynces and seruauntes, namely vnto the mihgtie men of Persia and Media, to the Debities and rulers of his countrees, that he mighte shewe the noble riches of his kingdome, and the glorious worshippe of his greatnesse, many dayes longe, euen an hundreth and foure score dayes.

And whan these dayes were expyred, the kynge made a feast vnto all the people that were in the castell of Susan, both vnto greate and small, seuen dayes longe in the courte of the garden by the kynges palace: where there hanged whyte, reed & yalow clothes, fastened with coardes of lynnen and scarlet in siluer rynges, vpon pylers of Marble stone.

The benches were of golde and siluer made vpon a pauement of grene, white, yalow and black Marble. And ye drinke was caried in vessels of golde, and there was euer chaunge of vessell. And the kinges wine was moch acordynge to the power of the kynge. And no man was appoynted what he shulde drinke: for the kynge had commaunded all the officers of his house, that euery one shulde do as it lyked him. And the quene Vasthi made a feast also for the wemen in the palace of Ahasuerus. And on the seuenth daye whan the kynge was mery of the wine, he cōmaunded Mehuman, Bistha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Sethar and Charcas, the seuen chamberlaynes (that dyd seruyce in the presence of kynge Ahasuerus) to fetch the quene Vasthi with the crowne regall, that he might shewe ye people and prynces hir fairnesse: for she was bewtifull. But the quene Vasthi wolde not come at the kynges worde by his chamberlaynes. Then was the kynge very wroth, and his indignaciō kyndled in him.

And the kynge spake to ye wyse men that had vnderstondinge in the ordinaunces of the londe (for the kinges matters must be hā dled before all soch as haue knowlege of the lawe and iudgment: And the nexte vnto him were, Charsena, Sethar, Admatha, Tharsis, Meres, Marsena and Memuchan, the seuen prynces of the Persiās, and Meedes, which sawe the kynges face, and satt aboue in the kyngdome) What lawe shulde be execute vpon the quene Vasthi, because she dyd not acordynge to the worde of the kynge by his chamberlaines. Thē saide Memuchā before the kynge & the prynces: The quene Vasthi hath not onely done euell agaynst the kinge but also agaynst all the prynces and all the people in all the londes of kynge Ahasuerus for this dede of the quene shall come abrode vnto all wemen, so that they shall despyse their huszbandes before their eyes, and shall saye: The kynge Ahasuers cōmaunded Vasthi ye quene to come before him, but she wolde not. And so shall the pryncesses in Persia and Media saye lykewyse vnto all the kynges prynces, whan they heare of this dede of the quene, thus shall there aryse despytefulnes and wrath ynough. Yf it please the kynge, let there go a kyngly commaundemēt from him, and let it be wrytten acordynge to the lawe of the Persians and Median (and not to be transgressed) that Vasthi come nomore before kynge Ahasuerus, and let the kynge geue the kyngdome vnto another that is better then she.

And yt this wrytinge of the kynge which shalbe made, be published thorow out all his empyre (which is greate) that all wyues maye holde their huszbandes in honoure, both amonge greate and smal.

This pleased the kynge and the prynces, and the kynge dyd acordynge to the worde of Memuchan. Then were there letters sent forth in to all the kynges londes, in to euery londe acordinge to the wrytinge ther of, and to euery people after their lāguage, yt euery man shulde be lorde in his awne house. And this caused he be spoken after the language of his people.

The II Chapter.

AFter these actes whan the displeasure of kynge Ahasuerus was layed, he thoughte vpon Vasthi, what she had done, and what was concluded concernynge her. Then sayde the kynges seruauntes: Let there be fayre yonge virgins soughte for the kynge, and let the kynge appoynte ouerseers in all ye londes of his empyre, that they maye brynge together all fayre yonge virgins vnto the castel of Susan to the Wemens buyldinge, vnder the hande of Hegai the kynges clamberlayne, that kepeth the wemen, and let him geue them their apparell. And loke which damsell pleaseth the kynge, let her be quene in Vasthis steade. This pleased the kynge, and he dyd so.

In the castell of Susan there was a Iewe, whose name was Mardocheus, the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Simei, the sonne of Cis, the sonne of Iemini, which was caried awaye from Ierusalem, 〈…〉 whan Iechonias the kynge of Iuda was led awaye, (whom Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon caried awaye) and he norished Hadassa (that is Hester) his vncles daughter: for she had nether father ner mother, and she was a fayre and beutyfull damsell. And whan hir father and mother dyed, Mardocheus receaued her as his awne daughter.

Now whan ye kynges cōmaundemēt and cōmyssion was published, & many dāsels were broughte together vnto the castell of Susan vnder ye hande of Hegai, Hester, was takē also vnto ye kynges house vnder ye hande of Hegai ye keper of ye wemē, & the damsell pleased him, & she founde grace in his sighte. And he put her wt hir maydēs in ye best place of ye Womēs buildīge. And Hester shewed it not vnto hir people & hir kynred: for Mardocheus had charged her, yt she shulde not tell it. And Mardocheus walked euery daye before ye courte of ye Womēs buyldinge, yt he might knowe how Hester dyd, and what shulde be come of her.

And whan the appoynted tyme of euery damsell came that she shulde come to ye kynge Ahasuerus, after that she had bene twolue monethes in the deckynge of the wemen (for their deckynge must haue so moch tyme, namely sixe monethes with Balme & Myrre, & sixe monethes wt good spyces, so were the wemē beutifyed) then wente there one damsell vnto ye kynge, and what so euer she requyred, yt must be geuē her to go wt her out of the Womens buyldinge vnto ye kynges palace. And whan one came in the euenynge, ye same wēte frō him on ye morow in to ye seconde house of wemen, vnder the hande of Saasgas the kynges chamberlayne, which kepte ye concubines. And she must come vnto the kynge nomore, excepte it pleased the kynge, and that he caused her to be called by name.

Now whan the tyme came of Hester the daughter of Abihail Mardocheus vncle (whom he had receaued as his awne daughter) yt she shulde come to the kynge, she desyred nothinge but what Hegai the kynges chamberlayne the keper of the wemen sayde.

And Hester founde fauoure in the sighte of all them that loked vpon her. And Hester was taken vnto kynge Ahasuerus in to the house royall, in the tenth moneth which is called Tebeth, in the seuenthe yeare of his reigne.

And the kynge loued Hester aboue all the wemen, and she founde grace and mercy in his sighte before all the virgins: and he set the quenes croune vpon hir heade, and made her quene in steade of Vasthi. And the kynke made a 〈◊〉 feast vnto all his prynces and seruauntes ( h ch feast was because of Hester) and let the londes be in quyetnes, & gaue royall giftes.

And whan the virgins were gathered together the seconde tyme, Mardocheus sat in the kynges gate. And as yet had not Hester shewed hir kynred and hir people, acordinge as Mardocheus had bydden her: for Hester dyd after the worde of Mardocheus, like as whan he was hir tutoure. At the same tyme whyle Mardocheus sat in the kynges gate, two of the kinges chamberlaynes Bigthan and Theres which kepte the dore, were wroth, and sought to laye their handes on the kynge Ahasuerus: Wherof Mardocheus gat knowlege, and tolde it vnto quene Hester, and Hester certified the kynge therof in Mardocheus name. And whan inquisicion was made, it was founde so. And they were both hanged on tre: and it was wryttē in the Cronicles before the kynge.

The III. Chapter.

AFter these actes dyd the kynge promote Aman the sonne of Amadathi the Agagite, vnd set him hye, & set his seate aboue all ye prynces that were with him. And all the kynges seruauntes that were in the gate, bowed their knees, and dyd reuerence vnto Aman: for the kinge had so cōmaunded. But Mardocheus bowed not the knee, and worshipped him not. Then the kynges seruauntes which were in the kynges gate, sayde vnto Mardocheus: Why transgressest thou the kynges commaundement? And whan they spake this daylie vnto him, and he folowed them not, they tolde Aman, that they mighte se whether Mardocheus matters wolde endure: for he had tolde them, yt he was a Iewe. And whā Aman sawe, that Mardocheus bowed not the knee vnto him, ner worshipped him, he was full of indignacion & despyte, that he shulde laye hondes onely on Mardocheus: for they had shewed him ye people of Mardocheus, but he sought to destroye the people of Mardocheus, and all the people that were in the whole empyre of Ahasuerus.

In the first moneth that is the moneth Nissan, in ye twolueth yeare of kinge Ahasuerus, was there occasion and oportunyte sought by Aman, from one daye to another, and from the same moneth vnto the twolueth moneth, that is the moneth Adar. And Amā sayde vnto kinge Ahasuerus: There is a people scatered abrode and dispersed amonge all people in all the londes of thine empire, and their lawe is cōtrary vnto all people, and they do not after the kynges lawes, nether is it the kinges profit to suffre thē after this maner. Yf it please the kynge, let him wryte, that they maye be destroyed, & so wil I weye downe ten thousande talentes of siluer, vnder the handes of the workmen, to be brought in to the kynges chamber. Then toke the kynge his rynge from his hande, and gaue it vnto Aman the sonne of Amadathi the Agagite the Iewes enemie. And the kinge sayde vnto Aman: Let the siluer be geuen the, and that people also, to do withall what pleaseth the.

Then were the kynges scrybes called on ye thirtenth daye of the first moneth, & there was wrytten (acordynge as Aman commaū ded) vnto the kynges prynces, and to the Debites euery where in the londes, and to the captaynes of euery people in the countrees on euery syde, acordynge to the wrytinge of euery nacion, and after their language in the name of kynge Ahasuerus, and sealed with the kynges rynge. And the wrytynges were sent by postes in to all the kynges lōdes, to rote out, to kyll, and to destroye all Iewes, both yonge and olde, childrē and wemen in one daye (namely vpon the thirtenth daye of the twolueth moneth, which is the moneth Adar) and to spoyle their goodes.

This was the summe of the wrytinge, yt there shulde be a commaundement geuen in all londes, to be published vnto all people, yt they shulde be ready agaynst the same daye. And the postes wente in all the haist acordynge to the kynges commaundement. And in the castell of Susan was the cōmaundement deuysed. And the kynge & Aman sat & dranke. But ye cite of Susan was disquieted.

The IIII. Chapter.

WHan Mardocheus perceaued all that was done, he rēte his clothes, and put on a sack cloth, & aszshes, & wente out in to the myddes of the cite, and cried loude and lamentably, and came before the kynges gate: for there might no man entre within the kynges gate, that had a sack cloth on. And in all lōdes & places, as farre as the kynges worde and commaundement extended, there was greate lamentacion amonge the Iewes, and many fasted, wepte, mourned, & laye in sack clothes & in aszshes. So Hesters dāsels, and hir chamberlaines, came and tolde it her. Then was the quene exceadingly astonnyed. And she sent rayment, that Mardocheus shulde put them on, and laye the sacklothe from him. But Mardocheus wolde not take them. Thē called Hester Hathac one of the kinges chamberlaines (which stode before her) and gaue him a cō maundement vnto Mardocheus, that he might knowe what it were, and wherfore he dyd so. So Hathac wente forth to Mardocheus vnto the strete of the cite, which was before the kynges gate.

And Mardocheus tolde him of all yt had happened vnto him, and of the summe of siluer that Amā had promysed to weie downe in the kynges chamber because of ye Iewes for to destroye them, and he gaue him the copye of the commaundement, that was deuysed at Susan to destroye them, that he mighte shewe it vnto Hester, and to speake to her and charge her, yt she shulde go in to the kynge, and make her prayer and supplicacion vnto him for hir people.

And whā Hathat came in, and tolde Hester the wordes of Mardocheus, Hester spake vnto Hathat, and cōmaunded him to saye vnto Mardocheus: All the kynges seruauntes, and the people in the londes of the kynge knowe, that who so euer commeth within the courte vnto ye kynge, whether it be man or woman, which is not called, the cōmaundement is that the same shal dye immediatly, excepte the kynge holde out the goldē cepter vnto him, that he maye lyue. As for me, I haue not bene called to come in to the kynge now this thirtie dayes.

And whā Mardocheus was certified of Hesters wordes, Mardocheus bad saie againe vnto Hester: Thynke not to saue thine awne life, whyle thou art in ye kynges house before all Iewes: for yf thou holdest thy peace at this tyme, then shal the Iewes haue helpe and delyueraunce out of another place, & thou & thy fathers house shalbe destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kyngdome, for this tymes sake? Hester had geue Mardocheus this answere: Go thou yt waye then, & gather together all ye Iewes yt are founde at Susan, & fast ye for me, yt ye eate not & drynke not in thre dayes, nether daye ner nighte. I & my damsels wil fast likewyse, & so wyl I go in to the kynge cō trary to the cōmaundement: yf I perishe, I perishe. So Mardocheus wente his waye, & dyd all yt Hester had cōmaunded him.

The V. Chapter.

ANd on the thirde daye put Hester on hir royall apparell, and stode in the courte of ye kinges palace within ouer agaynst the kynges house. And ye kynge sat vpō his royall seate in ye kynges palace ouer agaynst ye dore of the house. And whan the kynge sawe Hester the quene stōdinge in the courte, she founde grace in his sighte. And ye kynge helde out the goldē cepter in his hāde towarde Hester. So Hester stepte forth, and touched the toppe of ye cepter. Then sayde ye kynge vnto her: What wilt thou quene Hester & what requyrest thou? axe euē the halfe of ye empyre, & it shal be geuē the. Hester sayde: Yf it please ye kynge, let ye kynge & Aman come this daye vnto ye banket yt I haue prepared. The kynge sayde: Cause Aman to make haist, yt he maye do as Hester hath saide.

Now whā the kynge & Aman came to ye banket yt Hester had prepared, the kynge sayde vnto Hester whan he had dronken wyne: Hester, what is thy peticion? it shal be geuē the. And what requyrest thou? euen the halfe of the empyre, it shal be done.

Then answered Hester and sayde: My peticion and desire is, yf I haue founde grace in ye sight of the kynge, & yf it please the kinge to geue me my peticion, and to fulfill my request, then let the kynge & Aman come to the bancket yt I shal prepare for thē, and so wil I do tomorow as the kynge hath sayde.

Then wente Aman forth the same daye ioyfull and mery in his mynde. And whan he sawe Mardocheus in the kynges gate, yt he stode not vp and kneled before him, he was full of indignacion at Mardocheus. Neuertheles he refrained himselfe: and whā he came home, he sent, and called for his frē des, and Seres his wyfe, and tolde them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, all together how the kynge had promoted him so greatly, and how that he was taken aboue the prynces and seruauntes of the kynge. Aman sayde morouer: Ye and Hester the quene let no man come with the kynge vnto the bancket that she had prepared, excepte me, and tomorow am I bidden vnto her also with the kynge. But in all this am I not satisfied as longe as I se Mardocheus the Iewe syttinge in ye kynges gate Then sayde Seres his wife and all his frendes vnto him: Let thē make a galowe of fiftye cubites hie, & tomorow speake thou vnto the kynge, that Mardocheus maye be hanged theron, yf thou cōmest merely with the kynge vnto the bancket. Aman was well content withall, and caused a galowe to be prepared.

The VI. Chapter.

THe same night coulde not the kynge slepe, and he commaunded to brynge ye Cronicles and storyes: which whā they were red before ye kinge, they happened on the place where it was wryttē, how Mardocheus had tolde, that the kynges two chā berlaynes (which kepte ye tresholdes) sought to laie hondes on kinge Ahasuerus. And the kynge saide: What worshippe and good haue we done to Mardocheus therfore? Then sayde the kynges seruauntes that mynistred vnto him. There is nothinge done for him. And the kynge sayde: Who is in ye courte? (for Aman was gone in to ye courte without before ye kinges house, yt he might speake vnto ye kinge to hange Mardocheus on ye tre, yt he had prepared for him.) And the kinges seruauntes saide vnto him: Beholde, Amā stō deth in the courte. The kynge saide: Let him come in. And whā Amā came in, ye kinge saide vnto him: What shal be done vnto ye mā, whom the kynge wolde fayne brynge vnto worshippe? But Hamā thought in his hert: Whom shulde the kynge els be glad to brynge vnto worshippe, but me? And Aman sayde vnto the kynge: Let the man vnto whom the kynge wolde be glad to do worshippe, be broughte hither, that he maye be araied with the royall garmentes which the kynge vseth to weere: and the horse that the kynge rydeth vpon, and that the crowne royall maye be set vpon his heade. And let this rayment and horse be delyuered vnder the hande of one of the kynges prynces, that he maye araye the man withall (whom the kynge wolde fayne honoure) and cary him vpon the horse thorow the strete of the cite, and cause it to be proclamed before him: Thus shal it be done to euery man, whom the kynge wolde fayne honoure.

The kynge sayde: Make haist, and take (as thou hast sayde) the raymēt and the horse, and do euen so with Mardocheus ye Iewe that sitteth before the kynges gate, and let nothinge fayle of all that thou hast spoken. Then toke Aman the rayment and the horse, and arayed him, and broughte him on horszbacke thorow the strete of the cite, and proclamed before him: Euen thus shall it be done vnto euery man whom the kynge is disposed to honoure. And Mardocheus came agayne to the kynges gate, but Aman gat him home in all the haist, mournynge with bare heade, and tolde Seres his wyfe and all his frendes, euery thynge that had happened him. Then sayde his wise men and Seres his wyfe vnto him: Yf it be Mardocheus of the sede of the Iewes, before whō thou hast begonne to fall, thou canst do nothynge vnto him, but shalt fall before him. Whyle they were yet talkynge with him, came the kynges chamberlaynes, and caused Aman to make haist to come vnto the bancket that Hester had prepared.

The VII. Chapter.

ANd whan the kynge and Aman came to the bancket that quene Hester had prepared, the kynge sayde vnto Hester on the seconde daye whan he had drō ken wyne: What is thy peticion quene Hester, that it maye be geuen the? And what requyrest thou? Yee axe euen halfe of the empyre, and it shal 〈◊〉 done. Hester ye quene answered and sayde: Yf I haue founde grace in thy sighte (O kynge) and yf it please the kynge, then graunte me my lyfe at my desyre and my people for my peticions sake: for we are solde to be destroyed, to be slayne, and to perishe. And wolde God we were solde to be bondmen and bondwemen, then wolde I holde my tonge, so shulde not the enemye be so hye to the kynges harme. The kynge Ahasuerus spake & saide vnto quene Hester: What is he that? Or where is he yt darre presume in his mynde to do soch a thinge after that maner? Hester sayde: The enemye and aduersary is this wicked Aman.

As for Amā, he was exceadingly afraied before ye kynge & ye quene. And the kynge arose frō the bancket & frō ye wyne in his displeasure, and wente in to the palace garden. And Aman stode vp, and besoughte quene Hester for his life: for he sawe yt there was a mischaūce prepared for him of the kynge allready.

And whan the kynge came agayne out of the palace garden in to ye parler where they had eaten, Aman had layed him vpon the bed that Hester sat vpon. Then saide the kinge: wyl he force the quene also besyde me in the house? As soone as that worde wente out of the kynges mouth, they couered Amans face. And Harbona one of the chamberlaynes that stode before the kynge, sayde Beholde, there stondeth a galowe in Amās house fiftie cubytes hye, which he had made for Mardocheus, that spake good for ye kinge. The kynge sayde: Hange him theron. So they hanged Aman on the galowe that he had made for Mardocheus. Then was the kynges wrath stylled.

The VIII. Chapter.

THe same daye dyd kynge Ahasuerus geue the house of Aman the Iewes enemye, vnto quene Hester. And Mardocheus came before ye kinge: for Hester tolde how that he belōged vnto her. And the kynge put of his fynger rynge, which he had taken from Aman, & gaue it vnto Mardocheus. And Hester set Mardocheus ouer the house of Aman. And Hester spake yet more before the kynge, and fell downe at his fete, & besought him, that he wolde put awaye the wyckednes of Aman the Agagite, and his deuice that he had ymagined against ye Iewes. And the kynge helde out the golde cepter vnto Hester. Then rose Hester, and stode before the kynge, and sayde: Yf it please the kynge, and yf I haue foūde grace in his sight, & yf it be cōuenyent for the kinge, and yf it be accepted in his sighte, then let it be wryttē, yt the letters of the deuyce of Amā the sonne of Amadathai the Agagite, maie be called agayne: which letters he wrote, to destroie ye Iewes in all ye kynges lōdes. For how can I se the euell that shal happē vnto my people? and how can I loke vpon the destruc ion of my kynred?

Then sayde ye kynge Ahasuerus vnto quene Hester, and to Mardocheus the Iewe: Beholde, I haue geuen Hester the house of Aman, & him haue they hanged vpon a tre, because he layed hāde vpon ye Iewes. Wryte ye now therfore for the Iewes, as it liketh you in the kynges name, and seale it with ye kynges rynge (for the wrytinges that were wrytten in ye kynges name, and sealed with the kynges rynge, durst no man dysanulle.) Then were the kynges scrybes called at the same tyme in the thirde moneth, that is the moneth Si an, on the thre & twentieth daie.

And it was wrytten (as Mardocheus cō maunded) vnto the Iewes and to the prynces, to the Debities and captaynes in the londes from India vntyll Ethiopia, namely, an hundreth and seuen and twentye londes, vnto euery one acordinge to the wrytinge therof, vnto euery people after their speche, and to the Iewes acordinge to their wrytinge and language.

And it was written in the kynge Ahasuerus name, and sealed with the kynges rynge. And by postes that rode vpon swyfte yonge Mules, sent he the wrytinges, wher in the kynge graunted the Iewes (in what cities so euer they were) to gather them selues together, and to stonde for their lyfe, and for to rote out, to slaye, and to destroye all the power of the people and londe that wolde trouble them, with children and wemen, and to spoyle their good vpon one daye in all the londes of kynge Ahasuerus, namely vpon the thirtenth daye of the twolueth moneth, which is the moneth Adar.

The summe of the wrytinge was, how there was a cōmaundement geuen in all londes to be publisled vnto all the people, that ye Iewes shulde be ready agaynst that daye to auenge them selues on their enemies. And the postes that rode vpon the Mules, made haist with all spede, acordinge to the kynges worde: and the commaundement was deuysed in the castel of Susan.

As for Mardocheus, he wente out from the kynge in royall apparell of yalow and whyte, and wyth a greate crowne of golde, beynge arayed with a garment of linnen and purple, and ye cite of Susan reioysed & was glad: but vnto the Iewes there was come light and gladnesse, & ioye & worshippe. And in all londes and cities, in to what places so euer the kynges worde and commaundemēt reached, there was ioye & myrth, prosperite and good dayes amonge the Iewes: in so moch that many of the people in the londe became of the Iewes beleue, for the feare of the Iewes came vpon them.

The IX. Chapter.

IN the twolueth moneth, that is the moneth Adar, vpon the thyrtenth daye, which the kinges worde and cō maundement had appoynted, that it shulde be done, euē vpon ye same daie yt the enemies shulde haue destroyed the Iewes to haue oppressed them, it turned contrary wise, euen yt the Iewes shulde subdue their enemies. Then gathered the Iewes together in their cities within all ye londes of kynge Ahasuerus, to laye honde on soch as wolde do thē euell, & no man coulde withstonde them: for ye feare of thē was come ouer all people. And all the rulers in the londes, and prynces and Debities, and officers of the kinge promoted the Iewes: for the feare of Mardocheus came vpō thē. For Mardocheus was greate in the kynges house, & the reporte of him was noised in all lōdes, how he increased & grewe.

Thus the Iewes smote all their enemies with a sore slaughter, and slewe and destroyed, & dyd after their wyll vnto soch as were their aduersaries. And at ye castell of Susan slewe the Iewes and destroied fyue hūdreth men: & slewe Parsandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmastha Arissai, Aridai, Vaiesatha, the ten sonnes of Aman ye sonne of Amadathi ye enemie of the Iewes: but on his goodes they layed no handes. At the same tyme was the kynge certified of the nombre of those that were slaine at the castell of Susan. And the kynge sayde vnto quene Hester: The Iewes haue slayne and destroyed fyue hūdreth men at ye castell of Susan, and the ten sonnes of Amā: What shal they do in the other londes of ye kynge? What is thy peticion, that it maye be geuen the? & what requirest thou more to be done? Hester sayde: Yf it please the kynge, let him suffre the Iewes tomorow also to do acordinge vnto this dayes commaundement, that they maye hange Amans ten sonnes vpō ye tre. And the kynge charged to do so, and the commaundement was deuysed at Susan, & Amans ten sonnes were hanged. And the Iewes gathered thē selues together at Susan, vpon the fourtenth daye of the moneth Adar, and slewe thre hundreth men at Susan, but on their goodes they laied no hādes.

As for the other Iewes in the kynges lō des, they came together, & stode for their lyues, & gatt rest frō their enemies: and slewe of their enemies fyue and seuentye thousande, howbeit they layed no hondes on their goodes. This was done on the thirtēth daie of the moneth Adar, and on the fourtenth daye of the same moneth rested they, which (daye) they ordeyned to be a daye of feastinge and gladnesse. But the Iewes at Susan were come together both on the thyrtenth daye and on the fourtenth, and on the fyftenth daye they rested, and the same daye ordeyned they to be a daye of feastinge & gladnes. Therfore the Iewes that dwelt in the vyllages and vnwalled townes, ordeyned ye fourtenth daye of the moneth Adar, to be a daye of feastinge and gladnes, and one sent giftes vnto another.

And Mardocheus wrote these actes, and sent the writinges vnto all the Iewes yt were in all ye londes of kynge Ahasuerus, both nye and farre, that they shulde yearly receaue and holde the fourtenth and fiftenth daie of the moneth Adar, as the daies wherin ye Iewes came to rest from their enemies, & as a moneth wherin their payne was turned to ioye, and their sorowe in to prosperite: that they shulde obserue the same as dayes of wealth and gladnes, and one to sende giftes vnto another, & to distribute vnto the poore

And the Iewes receaued it that they had begonne to do, and that Mardocheus wrote vnto them: how that Aman the sonne of Amadathai all ye Iewes enemye, had deuysed to destroye all the Iewes, and caused the lot to be cast for to put them in feare, and to brynge them to naughte: and how Hester wente and spake to the kynge, that thorow letters his wicked deuyce (which he ymagyned agaynst the Iewes) might be turned vpon his awne heade, and how he and his sonnes were hanged on the tre. For the which cause they called this daye Purim after the name of the lot, acordynge to all ye wordes of this wrytinge: and what they thē selues had sene, and what ha happened vnto them.

And the Iewes set it vp, and toke it vpon them and their sede, and vpon all soch as ioyned themselues vnto them, that they wolde not mysse to obserue these two dayes yearly, acordynge as they were wryttē and appoynted, how yt these dayes are not to be forgotten, but to be kepte of childers children amō ge all kynreds in all londes and cities. They are the dayes of Purim, which are not to be ouerslipte amonge the Iewes, and the memoriall of them oughte not to perishe from their sede.

And quene Hester the daughter of Abihail and Mardocheus the Iewe, wrote with all auctorite, to confirme this seconde wrytinge of Purim, and sent the letters vnto all the Iewes in the hundreth and seuen and twentye londes of ye empyre of Ahasuerus, with frendly and faithfull wordes, to confirme these dayes of Purim, in their tyme appoynted, acordynges as Mardocheus the Iewe and Hester the quene had ordeined cō cernynge them: lyke as they vpon their soule and vpon their sede had cōfirmed the actes of the 〈…〉 fastinges and of hir cōplainte. And Hester cōmaunded to stablish these actes of this Purim, and to wryte them in a boke.

The X. Chapter.

ANd the kynge Ahasuerus layed tribute vpon the londe, and vpon the Iles of the See. As for all ye worke of his power and auctoryte, and ye greate worshippe of Mardocheus, which the kynge gaue him, beholde, it is wrytten in the Cronicles of the kynges of Media & Persia, For Mardocheus the Iewe was the seconde nexte vnto kynge Ahasuerus, and greate amonge ye Iewes, and accepted amonge the multitude of his brethren, as one yt seketh the welth of his people, and speaketh the best for all his sede.

The ende of the seconde parte of the Olde Testament.
The boke of Iob. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I.II. The prosperite of Iob, and how God geueth Satan power ouer his body ād goodes, which he is content withall Chap. III. The flesh can not suffre: and here is described the vnpacient man, that grudgeth agaynst the iudgment of God. Chap. IIII. Iobs frendes comforte him, and geue his synnes the blame of his punyshmēt. Chap. V. That no man is without synne. A prayse off the allmightynesse and louynge kyndnesse of God. Chap. VI. Iob excuseth his owne vnpacience, layeth ypocrysie to his frēdes charge, ād sayeth they are but dyssemblers. Chap. VII. A frendly contencion that Iob maketh with God, shewinge the myserable life and trauayle of man. Chap. VIII. Baldad reproueth Iob. The nature of ypocrytes. Chap. IX. All men are synners in the fight of God, and rightuousnesse commeth only of him. He punysheth also whom he will. Chap. X. No man is without synne, nether maye eny man escape the honde of God Chap. XI. Sophar reproueth Iob of synne: and for so moch as no man maye withstonde God, he byddeth him be paciēt. Chap. XII. All thinges come off the mightie ordinaunce of God. The wicked haue better dayes then the godly. Chap. XIII. Iob speaketh as he thinketh, reproueth the ypocrysy of his frendes, and cō mendeth the wisdome of God. Chap. XIIII. The miserable life off man. Chap. XV.XVI. No man is innocēt before God. The conuersacion of the vngodly. Chap. XVII. Iob declareth his mysery. Chap. XVIII. Baldad reproueth Iob as vngodly, and sheweth the punyshment off the wicked. Chap. XIX. Iob sheweth his miserable estate, and reproueth his frendes, in that they increace his payne. Chap. XX. Punysment off the proude, vngodly and ypocrytes. Chap. XXI. Wicked men haue prosperite in this worlde. God punysheth acordinge to his owne will. Chap. XXII. They tell Iob, that is punyshment commeth for his synnes. Chap. XXIII.XXIIII. Iob defendeth his innocēcy Chap. XXV. No mā is innocēt before God. Chap. XXVI. Iob mocketh his frēdes, because they go aboute to proue the thynge, that he denieth not. The power of God. Chap. XXVII. God punysheth vs not acordinge to oure merites, but is mercifull and spareth euen the vngodly Agayne, he chasteneth the most righteous (as Iob was) with aduersite. Chap. XXVIII. The wisdome ād foreknowlege of God. Chap. XXIX. The prosperite that Iob was in a fore. His innocency and good dedes. Chap. XXX. He complayneth of his mysery: how the ignoraunt and symple people laugh him to scorne. Chap. XXXI. He rehearseth his innocēt life. Chap. XXXII. Iobs frendes are angrie, and forsake him. Chap. XXXIII. God punysheth for synne, yet heareth he a meke prayer. Chap. XXXIIII. Iob withstōdeth the wordes of them, which saye, that the wicked only are punyshed. Chap. XXXV. Iob is reproued, for holdinge himself rightuous. Chap. XXXVI. An argument, that God punisheth no man, excepte he haue deserued it. Chap. XXXVII. The power of God is here descrybed. Iob is reproued. Chap. XXXVIII.XXXIX.XL.XLI. The foreknowlege and wisdome of God. Chap XLII. Iobs frendes are reproued, and he himself is restored to his prosperite agayne.

The first Chapter.

IN the lōde of Hus there was a man called Iob: an innocent and vertuous man, Gen. 22. d soch one as feared God, and eschued euell. This man had vij. sonnes, and iij. doughters. Iob. 42. c His substaunce was vij.M. shepe, iij.M. camels, v.C. yock of oxen, v.C. she asses, and a very greate housholde: so yt he was one of the most principall men amō ge all them of the east countre. His sonnes now wente on euery man, and made banckettes: one daye in one house, another daye in another, and ent for their iij. sisters, to eate & drinke with them. So when they had passed ouer the tyme of their banckettinge rounde aboute, Iob sent: for them, and clensed them agayne, stode vp early, and offred for euery one a brēt offeringe. For Iob thought thus: peraduenture my sonnes haue done some offence, and haue bene vnthankfull to God in their hertes. And thus dyd Iob euery daye.

Now vpon a tyme, when the seruauntes of God came and stode before the LORDE, Iob. 2. a Sathan came also amonge them. And the LORDE sayde vnto Sathan: From whence commest thou? Sathan answered the LORDE, and sayde: I haue gone aboute the lōde, and walked thorow it.1. Pe. 5. b

Then sayde the LORDE vnto Sathā: hast thou not considered my seruaunt Iob, how that he is an innocēt and vertuous mā: soch one as feareth God, and eschueth euell, and that there is none like him in the londe? Sathan answered, and sayde vnto the LORDE: Doth Iob feare God for naught? hast thou not preserued him, his house, and all his substaunce on euery syde? hast thou not blessed the workes of his hondes? Is not his possession encreaced in the londe? But laye thyne honde vpō him a litle, touch once all that he hath, and (I holde) he shall curse the to thy face. And the LORDE sayde vnto Sathan: lo all that he hath, be in thy power: only vpon him self se that thou laye not thine honde. Then wente Sathan forth from the LORDE.

Now vpon a certayne daye when his sonnes and doughters were eatinge, and drynkinge wyne in their eldest brothers house, there came a messaunger vnto Iob, and sayde: Whyle the oxen were a plowinge, and the Asses goinge in the pasture besyde them: the Sabees came in violētly, and toke them all awaye: yee they haue slayne the seruauntes with the swearde, and I only ranne my waye, to tell the.

And whyle he was yet speakynge, there came another, and sayde: The fyre of God is fallen from heauen, it hath consumed & brēt vp all the shepe and seruauntes: and I only ranne my waye, to tell the. In the meane season whyle he was yet speakinge, there came another, and sayde: The Caldees made thre armies, and fell in vpon the camels, which they haue caried awaye, yee and slayne the seruauntes with the swearde: and I only am gottē awaye, to tell the. Whyle he was speakinge, there came yet another, ād sayde: Thy sonnes and doughters were eatinge ād drynkinge wyne in their eldest brothers house, ād sodenly there came a mightie greate wynde out off the South, and smote the iiij. corners of the house: which fell vpon thy children, so that they are deed: and I am gotten awaye alone, to tell the.

Then Iob stode vp, and rente his clothes shaued his heade, fell downe vpon the groū de, worshipped, and sayde: Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, cls. 5. c Tim. 6. b and naked shall I turne thither agayne. The LORDE gaue, 〈…〉 and the LORDE hath taken awaye (the LORDE hath done his pleasure) now blessed be ye name off the LORDE. 〈…〉 In all these thinges dyd Iob not offende, ner murmured foolishly agaynst God.

The II. Chapter.

IT happened also apon a tyme, that when the seruauntes of God came & stode before the LORDE, 〈…〉 Sathan came also amonge them, and stode before him. And the LORDE sayde vnto Sathan: From whence commest thou? Sathan answered and sayde: 〈…〉 I haue gone aboute the lō de, and walked thorow it.

Then sayde the LORDE vnto Sathan: Hast thou not considered my seruaunt Iob, how that he is an innocent & vertuous man soch one as feareth God, and eschueth euell, and that there is none like him in the londe? But thou mouedest me agaynst him, to punysh him: yet is it in vayne, for he contynueth still in his godlynesse.

Sathan answered the LORDE, and sayde: Skynne for skynne? yee a man will geue all yt euer he hath, for his life. But laye thine honde vpon him, touch him once vpon the bone and flesh, and (I holde) he shall curse the to thy face. Then sayde the LORDE vnto Sathā: lo, there hast thou him in thy power, but spare his life.

So wente Sathan forth from the LORDE, and smote Iob with maruelous sore byles, from the sole off the fote vnto his crowne: so that he sat vpon the grounde in the asshes, and scraped of the etter off his sores with a potsherde.

Then sayde his wife vnto him: Dost tho yet cōtynue in thy perfectnesse? curse God, 〈…〉 & dye. But Iob sayde vnto her: Thou speakest like a foolish womā. Seinge we haue receaued prosperite at the honde of God, wherfore shulde we not be content with aduersite also? In all these thinges, 〈…〉 dyd not Iob synne with his lippes.

Now when Iobs frendes herde of all ye trouble, that happened vnto him, there came thre off them, euery one from his owne place: namely, Eliphas the Themanite, Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite.

For they were agreed together to come, to shewe their compassion vpon him, and to comforte him. So when they lifte vp their eyes a farre off, they knewe him not.

Then they cried, and wepte: then euery one off them rente his clothes, and sprynckled dust vpon their heades in the ayre. They sat them downe by him also vpon the grounde, vij. dayes and vij. nightes. Nether was there eny of them that spake one worde vnto him, for they sawe that his payne was very greate.

The III. Chapter.

AFter this opened Iob his mouth, and cursed his daye, 〈…〉 and sayde: lost be that daye, wherin I was borne: and the night, in the which it was sayde: there is a manchilde conceaued. The same daye be turned to darcknesse, and not regarded of God from aboue, nether be shyned vpō wt light: but be couered with darcknesse, and the shadowe of death. Let the dymme cloude fall vpon it, and let it be lapped in with sorowe. Let the darckstorme ouercome ye night, let it not be reckened amonge the dayes off the yeare, ner counted in the monethes. Despysed be that night, and discommended: let them that curse the daye, geue it their curse also, euen those that be ready to rayse vp Leuiathan. Let the starres be dymme thorow darcknesse of it. Let it loke for light, but let it se none, nether the rysynge vp of the fayre mornynge: because it shut not vp the wombe that bare me, ner hyd these sorowes fro myne eyes.

Alas, why dyed I not in ye byrth? Why dyd not I perysh, 〈…〉 as soone as I came out of my mothers wōbe? Why set they me vpō ye irknees? Why gaue they me suck with their brestes? Then shulde I now haue lyen still, I shulde haue slepte, and bene at rest: like as the kynges ād lordes of ye earth, which buylde them selues speciall places: As the prynces that haue greate substaunce of golde, & their houses full of syluer. O that I vtterly had no beynge, or were as a thīge borne out of tyme (that is put asyde) ether as yonge children, which neuer sawe the light. There must the wicked ceasse from their tyranny, there soch as are ouerlaboured, be at rest: there are those letten out fre, which haue bene in preson, so that they heare nomore the voyce of the oppressoure: There are small and greate: the bonde man, and he that is fre frō his master.

Wherfore is the light geuen, to him that is in mysery? and life vnto them, that haue heuy hertes? (Which longe for death, and it commeth not: for yf they might fynde the 〈◊〉 graue, they wolde be maruelous glad, as those that dygge vp treasure) To the man whose waye is hyd, which God kepeth backe from him.

This is the cause, that I syghe before I eate, and my roaringes fall out like a water floude. For the thynge that I feared, is come vpon me: and the thynge that I was afrayed of, is happened vnto me. Was I not happy? Had I not quyetnesse? Was I not in rest? And now commeth soch mysery vpon me.

The IIII. Chapter.

THen answered Eliphas of Theman and sayde vnto him: Yf we begynne to comon with the, peraduēture thou wilt be myscontent, but who can witholde himself from speakynge? Beholde, thou hast bene a teacher of many, and hast comforted the weery hondes.

Thy wordes haue set vp those that were fallen, thou hast refresshed the weake knees. But now that the plage is come vpon the, thou shrēckest awaye: now that it hath touched thyself, thou art faint harted. Tob. 2. d Where is now thy feare of God, thy stedfastnesse, thy pacience, and the perfectnesse of thy life? Considre (I praye the) who euer peryshed, beynge an innocent? Or, when were the godly destroyed? As for those that plowe wickednesse (as I haue sene myself) and sowe myschefe, they reape ye same. Gala. 〈…〉 For whē God bloweth vpon them, they perysh, and are destroyed thorow the blast of his wrath. The roaringe of the lyon, the cryenge off the lyonesse, & ye teth off ye lyōs whelpes are brokē. The greate lyon perysheth, because he cā get no pray and the lyons whelpes are scatred abrode.

There is spoken vnto me a thynge in councell, which hath geuen a terrible sounde in myne eare, with a vision in the night, Dan. 10. when men are fallen a slepe. Soch feare and drede came vpō me, that all my bones shoke. And when the wynde passed ouer by me, the hayres of my flesh stode vp.

Then stode there one before me, whose face I knewe not: an ymage there was, and the wether was still, so that I herde this voyce Maye a man be iustified before God? Maye there eny man be iudged to be clene, Iob. 5. Psal. 1. . Rom. 3. Iob. 15. b 2. Pe. . d by reason of his owne workes? Beholde, he hath founde vnfaythfulnesse amonge his owne seruauntes, and proude disobedience amonge his angels.

How moch more thē shal they (that dwell in houses of claye, whose foundacion is but earth) be moth eaten? They shalbe destroyed from the mornynge vnto the euenynge: yee they shall perish, or euer they be awarre: and be taken awaye so clene, that none of thē shall remayne, but be deed, or euer they be awarre off it.

The V. Chapter.

NAme me one els, yf thou canst fynde eny: yee loke aboute the, vpon eny of the holy men. As for the foolish man displeasure kylleth him, and anger slayeth ye ignoraunt. I haue sene my self, when the foolish was deperoted, Psal. 36. d that his bewty was sodē ly destroyed: that his children were without prosperite or health: that they were slayne in the dore, and no mā to delyuer them: that his haruest was eaten vp off the hungrie: eu. 2 . d that the weapened man had spoyled it, and that the thurstie had droncke vp his riches. It is not the earth that bryngeth forth trauayle, nether commeth sorow out of ye groū de: but it is man, that is borne vnto mysery, like as the byrde for to fle.

But now will I speake off the LORDE, and talke of God: which doth thinges, that are vnsearcheable, and marueles without nō bre: eu. 28. b ccli. 10. c uc. 1. d 〈◊〉 . 144. b 6. a Re. 2. b Which geueth rayne vpō the earth, and poureth water vpon all thinges: which setteth vp them of lowe degre, and sendeth prosperite, to those that are in heuynesse: Which destroyeth the deuyces of the sotyll, so that they are not able to perfourme the thynges that they take in hōde: a 8. c Cor 3. c al. 32. b which compaseth ye wyse in their owne craf ynesse, and ouertroweth the councell of the wicked: In so moch that they runne in to darcknesse by fayre daye, eu. 28. c and grope aboute them at the noone daye, like as in the night.

And so he delyuereth the poore from the swearde, 〈…〉 from their mouth, and from the hō de of the cruell: that the poore maye haue hope, & that the mouth of the oppressoure maye be stopped.

Beholde, happie is the man, whom God punysheth: 〈◊〉 . 3. b et. 4. c •• b. 2. a ec. . a therfore, despyse not thou ye chastenynge of the Allmighty. For though he make a wounde, he geueth a medicyne agayne: though he smyte, his honde maketh whole agayne.

He delyuereth the out of sixe troubles, so that in the seuenth there can no harme touch the. In the myddest of honger he saueth ye from death: and when it is warre, from the power of the swearde.

He shall kepe the from the persons tonge so that when trouble commeth, thou shalt not nede to feare. In destruccion and derth thou shalt be mery, 〈…〉 and shalt not be afrayed for the beastes of the earth: But the castels in the londe shal be confederate with the, & the beastes of the felde shall geue the peace:

Yee thou shalt se, that thy dwellynge place shalbe in rest: thou shalt beholde thy substaunce, and be nomore punyshed for synne. Thou shalt se also, that thy sede shall encreace, and that thy posterite shalbe as the grasse vpon the earth. Thou shalt come to thy graue in a fayre age, like as ye corne sheeues are brought in to the barne in due season. Lo, this is the matter, as we oure selues haue proued by experience. Therfore now that thou hearest it, take better hede to thy selff.

The VI. Chapter.

IOb answered, and sayde: O that my misery weere weyed, and my punyshment layed in the balaunces: for then shulde it be heuyer, then the sonde of the see. This is the cause, that my wordes are so soroufull.

For the allmighty hath shott at me with his arowes, whose indignacion hath droncke vp my sprete, and ye terrible feares of God fight agaynst me. Doth the wilde asse roare when he hath grasse? Or crieth the oxe, 〈…〉 whē he hath fodder ynough? Maye a thynge be eaten vnseasoned, or without salt? What taist hath ye whyte within the yoke an egg? The thinges that sometyme I might not a waye withall, are now my meate for very sorow. O that I might haue my desyre: O ye God wolde graunte me the thynge, that I longe for: That he wolde begynne and smyte me: that he wolde let his honde go, & hew me downe. Thē shulde I haue some cōforte: yee I wolde desyre him in my payne, that he shulde not spare, for I will not be agaynst ye wordes of the holy one.

What power haue I to endure? Or what is myne ende, that my soule might be paciēt? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or, is my flesh made of brasse? Am I able to helpe my self Is not my strength gone fro me, like as yf one withdrewe a good dede from his frende, and forsoke the feare of God: Myne owne brethren passe ouer by me as the waterbroke, that hastely runneth thorow ye valleys. But they that feare the horefrost, 〈…〉 the snowe shal fall vpon them.

When their tyme cōmeth, they shalbe destroyed and perishe: and when they be set on fyre, they shalbe remoued out of their place. for the pathes yt they go in, are croked: they haist after vayne thinges, and shal perish. Considre the pathes off Theman, & the wayes off Saba, wherin they haue put their trust. Confounded are they, that put eny cō fidence in them: For whē they came to opteyne the thynges that they loked for, they were brought to confucion.

Euē so are ye also come vnto me: but now that ye se my mysery, ye are afrayed. Dyd I desyre you, to come hyther? Or, to geue me eny off youre substaunce? To delyuer me me from the enemies honde, or to saue me from the power off the mightie? Teach me and I will holde my tonge: and yf I do erre, shewe me wherin.

Wherfore blame ye then the wordes, that are well and truly spoken? which of you can reproue them? Sauynge only that ye are sotyll to check mens sayenges, and can speake many wordes in the wynde. Ye fall vpon the fatherlesse, ād go aboute to ouerthrowe youre owne frende. Wherfore loke not only vpon me, but vpon youre selues: whether I lye, or no. Turne in to youre owne selues (I praye you) be indifferent iudges, and considre myne vngyltinesse: whether there be eny vnrightuousnesse in my tonge, or vayne wordes in my mouth.

The VII. Chapter.

IS not the life off mā vpon earth a very batayll? Are not his dayes, like the dayes of an hyred seruaunte? For like as a bonde seruaunt desyreth the shadowe, and as an hyrelinge wolde fayne haue an ende of his worke: Euen so haue I laboured whole monethes longe (but in vayne) and many a carefull night haue I tolde. When I layed me downe to slepe, 〈…〉 I sayde: O when shal I ryse? Agayne, I longed sore for the night. Thus am I full off sorowe, till it be darcke. My flesh is clothed with wormes, fylthinesse and dust: my skynne is wythered, and crompled together: Iob. 9. c 14. a my dayes passe ouer more spedely, thē a weeuer can weeue out his webbe, and are gone, or I am awarre. O remembre, that my life is but a wynde, ād that myne eye shal nomore se the pleasures therof yee and that none other mans eye shall se me eny more. For yf thou fasten thine eyes vpon me, I come to naught like as a cloude is cō sumed and vanyshed awaye, euen so he that goeth downe to hell, commeth nomore vp, ner turneth agayne in to his house, nether shall his place knowe him eny more.

Therfore I will not spare my mouth, but will speake in the trouble of my sprete, in ye bytternesse of my mynde will I talke. Am I a see or a whalfysh, that thou kepest me so in preson? When I thynke: my bedd shall comforte me, I shall haue some refresshinge by talkynge with myself vpon my couche: Thē troublest thou me with dreames, Dan. . a ād makest me so afrayed thorow visions, that my soule wyssheth rather to be hanged, and my bones to be deed.

I can se no remedy, I shall lyue nomore: O spare me then, for my dayes are but vayne What is man, Matt. c Deu. 8. a Gen. 22 a that thou hast him in soch reputacion, and settest so moch by him? Thou takest diligent care for him, and sodēly doest thou trye him.

Why goest thou not fro me, ner lettest me alone, so longe till I swalow downe my spetle? I haue offended, what shal I do vnto ye, O thou preseruer off men? Why hast thou made me to stonde in thy waye, and am so heuy a burden vnto myself? Why doest thou not forgeue me my synne? Wherfore takest thou not awaye my wickednesse? Beholde, now must I slepe in the dust: and yff thou sekest me tomorow in the mornynge, I shalbe gone.

The VIII. Chapter.

THen answered Baldad the Suhit and sayde: How longe wilt thou talke of soch thinges? how longe shal ye mouth speake so proude wordes? Doth God peruerte the thinge that is laufull? Or, doth the Allmightie destroye the thynge that is right? Whē thy sonnes synned agaynst him, Iob. 1. c dyd not he punysh thē for their wickednesse? Yff thou woldest now resorte vnto God by tymes, Deu. 30. and make thine humble prayer to ye Allmightie: yf thou woldest lyue a pure and a godly life: shulde he not wake vp vnto the immediatly, & geue the the bewtie of rightuousnesse agayne? In so moch, that where ī so euer thou haddest litle afore, thou shuldest now haue greate abundaunce. Enquere of them that haue bene before the, search diligently amonge thy forefathers: Namely, yt we are but of yesterdaye, and considre not, that oure dayes vpon earth are buth a very shadow. They shall shewe the, Psal. 14 they shall tell the, yee they will gladly confesse the same.

Maye a resshe be grene without moystnesse? maye the grasse growe without water? No: but (or euer it be shot forth, and or euer it be gathered) it wythereth, before eny other herbe. Euen so goeth it with all them, that forget God: and euen thus also shal the ypocrytes hope come to naught. His confidence shalbe destroyed, for he trusteth in a spyders webbe.

He leeneth him vpō his house, but he shal not stonde: he holdeth him fast by it, yet shal he not endure. Oft tymes a thinge doth florish, and men thynke that it maye abyde the Sonneshyne: it shuteth forth the braunches in his garden, it taketh many rotes, in so moch that it is like an house off stones. But yf it be taken out off his place, euery man denyeth it, sayenge: I knowe the not. Lo, thus is it wt him, that reioyseth in his owne doinges: and as for other, they growe out of the earth.

Beholde, God will not cast awaye a vertuous man, nether wil he helpe the vngodly. Thy mouth shall he fyll with laughynge, ād thy lyppes with gladnesse. They that hate the, shalbe confounded, & ye dwellinges of ye vngodly shal come to naught.

The IX. Chapter.

IOb answered, and sayde: As for yt I knowe it is so of a treuth, Psal. 142. a 〈◊〉 Ro. 3. b 〈◊〉 Iob. 4. b 〈…〉 . b. 25. a yt a man compared vnto God, can not be iustified. Yf he wil argue with him, he shall not be able to answere him vnto one amonge a thousande. He is wyse of hert, and mightie in strength. Who euer prospered, that toke parte agaynst him? He translateth the moūtaynes, or euer they be awarre, & ouerthroweth them in his wrath. He remoueth the earth out of hir place, that hir pilers shake withall. He commaundeth the Sōne, & it ryseth not: he closeth vp the starres, as it were vnder a signet. He himself alone spredeth out ye heauens, and goeth vpon the wawes of the see. He maketh the waynes of heauen, the Orions, Amos. 5 a the Some all the e seuen tarres, •• he clock soenne ith hir hekens. vij. starres and the secrete places of the south. He doth greate thinges, soch as are vnsearcheable, yee and wonders without nombre.

Yf he came by me, I might not loke vpō him: yf he wente his waye, I shulde not perceaue it. Yf he be haisty to take eny thinge awaye, who wil make him restore it agayne? Who wil saye vnto him: what doest thou? He is God, Eccls. 8. g Iere. 10. a whose wrath no man maye with stōde: but the proudest of all must stoupe vnder him. How shulde I then answere him? or, what wordes shulde I fynde out agaynst him? Yee though I be rightuous, yet will I not geue him one worde agayne, but mekely submytte my self to my iudge. All be it that I call vpon him, and he heare me, yet am I not sure, yt he hath herde my voyce: he troubleth me so with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause. He will not let my sprete be in rest, but fylleth me wt bytternesse.

Yf men will speake of strength, he is the stōgest of all: yf mē will speake of rightousnes, who darre be my recorde? yf I will iustifie my self, myne owne mouth shall cōdemne me: yf I will put forth my self for a perfecte man, he shal proue me a wicked doer: For that I shulde be an innocent, my cōscience knoweth it not, yee I my self am weery off my life.

This one thīge wil I saye: 〈…〉 He destroyeth both the rightuous & vngodly. And though he slaye sodenly wt the scourge, yet laugheth he at the punyshment of the innocent. As for the worlde, he geueth it ouer in to the power of the wicked, soch as the rulers be, wherof all londes are full. Is it not so? where is there eny, but he is soch one?

My dayes haue bene more swifte, 〈…〉 then a runner: they are gone sodenly, and haue sene no good thinge. They are passed awaye, as the shippes that be good vnder sale, and as the Aegle that haisteth to the pray. When I am purposed to forget my complayninges to chaunge my countenaunce, and to cōforte my self: then am I afrayed of all my workes, for I knowe, thou fauourest not an uell doer. Yf I be then a wicked one, why haue I laboured in vayne? Though I wasshed my self with snowe water, and made myne hondes neuer so clene, yet shuldest thou dyppe me in ye myre, & myne owne clothes shulde d fyle me. For he yt I must geue answere vnto, and with whom I go to lawe, is not a man as I am Nether is there eny dayes man to reproue both the partes, or to laye his hōde betwixte vs. Let him take his rod awaye fro me, yee let him make me nomore afrayed of him, and then shal I answere him without eny feare. For as longe as I am in soch fearfulnesse, I can make no answere: And why? it greueth my soule to lyue.

The X. Chapter.

NEuerthelesse, now will I put forth my wordes: I wil speake out of the very heuynesse off my soule, and will saye vnto God: O do not condemne me, but shewe me the cause, wherfore thou iudgest me on this maner. Thinkest thou it well done, to oppresse me, to cast me of (beinge a worke of thy hondes) and to manteyne the councell of the vngodly? Hast thou fleszshy eyes then, or doest thou loke as man loketh? Are thy dayes as the dayes of man, and thy yeares as mans yeares? that thou makest soch inquisicion for my wickednesse, and searchest out my synne? where as (notwithstondinge) thou knowest that I am no wicked person, & that there is no man able to delyuer me out of thine honde. 〈…〉 Thy hondes haue made me, & fashioned me alltogether rounde aboute, wilt thou then destroye me sodēly? O remembre (I beseke the) how that thou madest me of the moulde of the earth, and shalt brynge me to earth agayne.

Hast thou not milked me as it were mylck: and turned me to cruddes like chese? Thou hast couered me with skynne and flesh, and ioyned me together with bones & synowes. Thou hast graunted me life, and done me good: and the diligent hede that thou tokest vpon me, hath preserued my sprete.

Though thou hydest these thinges in thine hert, yet am I sure, that thou remembrest thē all. Wherfore didest thou kepe me, when I synned, and hast not clensed me fro myne offence? Yf I do wickedly, wo is me therfore: Yf I be rightuous, yet darre I not lift vp my heade: so full am I of confucion, and se myne owne misery.

Thou huntest me out (beynge in heuynesse) as it were a Lyon, and troublest me out of measure. Thou bringest fresh witnesses agaynst me, thy wrath increasest thou vpon me, very many are the plages that I am in. Wherfore hast thou brought me out of my mothers wombe? 〈…〉 O that I had perished, & that no eye had sene me. Yf they had caried me to my graue, as soone as I was borne, then shulde I be now, as though I had neuer bene.

Shall not my short life come soone to an ende? O holde the fro me, let me alone, that I maye ease my self a litle: afore I go thyther, from whence I shal not turne agayne: Namely, to that londe of darcknesse & shadowe of death: yee in to that darck clowdy londe & deadly shadowe, where as is no ordre, but terrible feare as in the darcknesse.

The XI. Chapter.

THen answered Sophar the Naamathite, and sayde: Shulde not he that maketh many wordes, be answered? Shulde he that bableth moch, be commended therin? Shulde men geue eare vnto the only? Thou wilt laugh other men to scorne, & shal no body mocke the agayne? Wilt thou saye vnto God: The thinge that I take in honde, is perfecte, & I am clene in thy sight? O that God wolde speake, and open his lippes agaynst the, that he might shewe the (out of his secrete wyszdome) how many folde his lawe is: then shuldest thou knowe, that God had forgotten the, because of thy synnes.

Wilt thou fynde out God with thy sekynge? wilt thou attayne to the perfectnesse of the Allmightie? He is hyer thē heauē, what wilt thou do? Deper thē hell, how wilt thou then knowe him? His length exceadeth the length of the earth, and his bredth ye bredth of the see. Though he turne all thinges vp syde downe, close them in, or thrust thē together, who darre check him therfore?

For it is he, that knoweth the vanite of men: he seyth their wickednesse also,1. Re. 16 Iere. 17. d shulde he not then considre it? A vayne body exalteth him self, and the sonne of man is like a wylde asses foale. Yf thou haddest now a right herte, & liftest vp thine hondes towarde him: yf thou woldest put awaye the wickednesse, which thou hast in honde, so that no vngodlynesse dwelt in thy house: Then mightest thou lift vp thy face without shame, thē shuldest thou be sure, and haue no nede to feare.

Then shuldest thou forget thy misery, and thynke nomore vpon it, then vpon the waters that runne by. Then shulde thy life be as cleare as the noone daye, and sprynge forth as the mornynge. Then mightest thou haue comforth, in the hope that thou hast: & slepe quyetly, when thou art buried. Then shuldest thou take thy rest, and no mā to make the afrayed, yee many one shulde set moch by the. As for the eyes of the vngodly, they shal be consumed, and not escape: their hope shalbe misery and sorow of mynde.

The XII. Chapter.

SO Iob answered, and sayde: Then (no doute) ye are the men alone, and wyszdome shal perish with you. But I haue vnderstōdinge as well as ye, and am no lesse then ye. Yee who knoweth not these thinges? Thus he that calleth vpō God, and whom God heareth, is mocked of his neghboure: the godly & innocent man is laughed to scorne. Godlynesse is a light despysed in ye hertes of the rich, & is set for them to stomble vpon.

The houses of robbers are in wealth and prosperite, & they that maliciously medle agaynst God, dwel without care: yee God geueth all thinges richely with his honde.

Axe the catell, & they shal enfourme the: the foules of the ayre, and they shall tell ye: Speake to the earth, and it shall shewethe: Or to the fyshes of the see, and they shal certifie the. What is he, but he knoweth, that ye hōde of the LORDE made all these? In whose honde is the soule of euery lyuynge thinge, ap 3. a ob 34. a and the breth of all men. Haue not the eares pleasure in hearinge, and the mouth in tastinge the thinge that it eateth? 〈◊〉 . 32. d Amonge olde personnes there is wyszdome, and amonge the aged is vnderstōdinge. Yee with God is wyszdome and strength, it is he that hath councell & foreknowlege. Yf he breake downe a thinge, who can set it vp agayne? Yf he shutt a thinge, sa 22. d po. 3. b sa. 50. a who wil open it? Beholde, yf he witholde the waters, they drye vp: Yf he let thē go, they destroye the earth. With him is strength and wyszdome: he knoweth both the disceauer, and him that is disceaued.

He carieth awaye the wyse men, as it were a spoyle, and bryngeth the iudges out of their wyttes. He lowseth the gyrdle of kynges, and gyrdeth their loynes with a bonde. he ledeth awaye the prestes in to captiuyte, and turneth the mightie vp syde downe. He taketh the verite from out of the mouth, . Par. 18. c Eze. 14. b & disapoynteth ye aged of their wyszdome. He poureth out confucion vpon prynces, and cō forteth them that haue bene oppressed. Luc. 12. a Loke what lyeth hyd in darcknesse, he declareth it opēly: and the very shadowe of death bringeth he to light. He both increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: He maketh them to multiplie, and dryueth them awaye. He chaungeth the herte of the prynces and kynges of the earth, and disapoynteth them: so that they go wādringe out of the waye, and grope in the darcke without light, stackeringe to and fro like droncken men.

The XIII. Chapter.

LO, all this haue I sene with myne eye, herde with myne eare, & vnderstonde it. Loke what ye knowe, that same do I knowe also, nether am I inferior vnto you. Neuerthelesse I am purposed to talke with the Allmightie, and my desyre is to comon with God. As for you, ye are work masters of lyes: and vnprofitable Phisicians alltogether. Wolde God ye kepte youre tonge, that ye might be taken for wyse men. Therfore heare my wordes, Pro. 17. d and pondre the sentence of my lippes. Will ye make answere for God with lyes, and māteyne him with disceate? Wil ye accepte ye personne of God, and intreate for him? Shal that helpe you, when he calleth you to rekenynge? Thynke ye to begyle him, as a man is begyled? Punysh you shall he and reproue you, yf ye do secretly accepte eny personne. Shall he not make you afrayed, when he sheweth himself? Shal not his terrible feare fall vpō you? youre remembraunce shalbe like the dust, & youre pryde shalbe turned to claye.

Holde youre tonges now, and let me speake, for there is some thinge come in to my mynde. Wherfore do I beare my flesh in myteth, and my soule in myne hondes? Lo, there is nether cōforte ner hope for me, yf he wil slaye me. 〈…〉 But yf I shewe and reproue myne owne wayes in his sight, he is euen the same, that maketh me whole: and why? there maye no Ypocrite come before him, Heare my wordes, and pondre my sayenges with youre eares. Beholde, though sentence were geuen vpon me, I am sure to be knowne for vngilty. What is he, that will go to lawe with me? For yf I holde my tonge, I shal dye. Neuerthelesse graunte me ij. thinges, and then will I not hyde my self from the.

Withdrawe thine honde fro me, & let not the fearfull drede of the make me afrayed. And then sende for me to the lawe, yt I maye answere for my self: or els, let me speake, and geue thou the answere. How greate are my myszdedes & synnes? Let me knowe my trāsgressions & offences. Wherfore hydest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemye? Wilt thou be so cruell & extreme vnto a flyenge leaf, and folowe vpon drye stubble? that thou layest so sharply to my charge, and wilt vtterly vndoo me, for ye synnes of my yougth? Thou hast put my fote in the stockes: para thou lokest narowly vnto all my pathes, & marckest the steppes of my fete: where as I (notwithstondinge) must consume like as a foule carion, and as a cloth that is moth eaten.

The XIIII. Chapter.

MAn that is borne of a woman, hath but a shorte tyme to lyue, and is full of dyuerse miseries. He cōmeth vp, and falleth awaye like a floure. He flyeth as it were a shadowe, and neuer continueth in one state. Thinkest thou it now well done, to open thine eyes vpon soch one, and to brynge me before the in iudgment? Who can make it cleane, that commeth of an vncleane thinge? No body. The dayes of man are shorte, ye nombre of his monethes are knowne only vnto the. Thou hast apoynted him his boundes, he can not go beyonde them. Go from him, that he maye rest a litle: vntill his daye come, which he loketh for, like as an hyrelinge doth.

Yf a tre be cutt downe, there is some hope yet, that it will sproute and shute forth the braunches againe: For though a rote be waxen olde and deed in the grounde, yet whē the stocke getteth the sent of water, it will budde, and brynge forth bowes, like as when it was first planted. But as for man, when he is deed, perished and consumed awaye, what becommeth of him? 〈…〉 The floudes when they be dryed vp, & the ryuers when they be emptie, are fylled agayne thorow the flowinge waters of the see: 〈…〉 but when man slepeth, he ryseth not agayne, vntill the heauen perish: he shal not wake vp ner ryse out of his slepe. O that thou woldest kepe me, and hyde me in the hell, vntill thy wrath were stilled: & to appoynte me a tyme, wherin thou mightest remembre me. Maye a deed man lyue agayne? All the dayes of this my pilgremage am I lokynge, 〈…〉 when my chaunginge shal come. Yf thou woldest but call me, I shulde obeie the: only despyse not the worke of thine owne hondes. 〈…〉

For thou hast nombred all my goynges, yet be not thou to extreme vpon my synnes. Thou hast sealed vp myne offences, as it were in a bagg: but be mercifull vnto my wickednesse. The mountaynes fall awaye at the last, the rockes are remoued out of their place, the waters pearse thorow the very stones by litle and litle, the floudes waszshe awaye the grauell & earth: Euen so destroyest thou the hope of man in like maner. Thou preuaylest agaynst him, so that he passeth awaye: thou chaungest his estate, and puttest him from the. Whether his children come to worshipe or no, he can not tell: And yf they be men of lowe degre, he knoweth not. Whyle he lyueth, his flesh must haue trauayle: and whyle the soule is in him, he must be in sorowe.

The XV. Chapter.

THen answered Eliphas the Themanite, and sayde: Shulde a wyse man geue soch an answere (as it were one that spake in the wynde) and fyll his stomacke with anger? Thou reprouest wt wordes, that are nothinge wroth: and speakest the thinges, which can do no good. As for shame, thou hast set it asyde, els woldest thou not make so many wordes before God: but thy wickednesse teacheth thy mouth, and so thou hast chosen the a craftie tonge. Thine owne mouth condemneth the, and not I: yee thine owne lippes shappe the an answere. Art thou the first man, that euer was borne? Or, wast thou made before the hylles? hast thou herde the secrete councell of God, that all wyszdome is to litle for ye? What knowest thou, yt we knowe not? What vnderstondest thou, but we can the same? With vs are olde and aged men, yee soch as haue lyued longer then thy forefathers.

Dost thou nomore regarde the comforte of God? but thy wicked wordes wil not suffre the. Why doth thine herte make the so proude? Why stondest thou so greatly in thine owne conceate? Where vnto loke thine eyes, yt thy mynde is so puft vp agaynst God & lettest soch wordes go out of thy mouth? What is man, that he shulde be vncleane? what hath he (which is borne of a woman) wherby he might: be knowne to be rightuous? Beholde, he hath founde vnfaithfulnesse amōge his owne sanctes: Iob 4. b 2. Pet. 2. d yee the very heauens are vnclene in his sight. How moch more then an abhominable and vyle mā, which dryncketh wickednesse like water? I will tell the, heare me: I wil shewethe a thinge, that I knowe: which wyse men haue tolde, & hath not bene hyd from their fathers: vnto whom only the londe was geuen that no straunger shulde come amonge them.

The vngodly despayreth all the dayes of his life, Gen. 4. b & the nombre of a tyrauntes yeares is vnknowne. A fearfull sounde is euer in his eares, & when it is peace, yet feareth he destruccion: He beleueth neuer to be delyuered out of darcknesse, the swearde is allwaye before his eyes. When he goeth forth to get his lyuinge, he thinketh planely, that the daye of darcknesse is at honde. Sorow and carefulnesse make him afrayed, & cōpasse him rounde aboute, like as it were a kinge with his hoost redy to the battayll. For he hath stretched out his honde agaynst God, & armed himself agaynst ye Allmightie. He runneth proudly vpon him, & with a stiff necke fighteth he agaynst him: where as he couereth his face with fatnesse, and maketh his body well lykynge. Therfore shall his dwellynge be in desolate cities, & in houses which nomā inhabiteth, but are become heapes of stones.

He shall not be rich, nether shall his substaunce continue, ner encrease vpon earth. He shal neuer come out of darcknesse, the flame shal drye vp his braunches, with ye blast of the mouth of God shal he be takē awaie. He wil nether applye himself to faithfulnes ner treuth, so sore is he disceaued wt vanite.

He shall perish, afore his tyme be worne out, and his honde shal not be grene. He shal be pluckte of as an vntymely grape from ye vyne, and shal let his floure fall, as the olyue doth. For the congregacion of Ypocrites is vnfrutefull, & the fyre shal consume the houses of soch, Psal. 7. b Esa. 59. a as are gredy to receaue giftes. He conceaueth trauayle, he beareth myschefe, & his body bryngeth forth disceate.

The XVI. Chapter.

IOb answered, and sayde: I haue oft tymes herde soch thinges. Miserable geuers of comforte are ye, all the sorte of you. Shall not thy vayne wordes come yet to an ende? Or, hast thou yet enymore to saye? I coude speake, as ye do also. But wolde God, that youre soule were in my soules steade: then shulde I heape vp wordes agaynst you, and shake my heade at you. I shulde comforte you with my mouth, and release youre payne with ye talkinge of my lyppes. But what shall I do? For all my wordes, my sorow wil not ceasse: and though I holde my tōge, yet wil it not departe fro me. And now that I am full of payne, and all that I haue destroied (wherof my wryncles beare wytnesse) there stōdeth vp a dyssembler to make me answere with lyes to my face. He is angrie at me, he hateth me, and gnassheth vpon me with his teth. Myne enemy skouleth vpon me with his eyes.

They haue opened their mouthes wyde vpon me,3. Re. 22 d Mar. 14. g and smytten me vpon the cheke despitefully, they haue eased thē selues thorow myne aduersite. God hath geuen me ouer to the vngodly, and delyuered me in to the hondes of ye wicked. I was somtyme in wealth, but sodenly hath he brought me to naught. He hath taken me by the neck, he hath rente me, and set me, as it were a marck for him to shute at. He hath compased me rounde aboute with his dartes, he hath wounded my loynes, & not spared. My bowels hath he poured vpon the grounde. He hath geuē me one wounde vpon another, and is fallē vpon me like a giaunte. I haue sowed a sack cloth vpon my skynne, and lye with my strength in the dust.

My face is swollē with wepinge, & myne eyes are waxen dymne. Howbeit there is no wickednesse in my hondes, and my prayer is cle e. O earth, couer not my bloude, and let my crienge fynde no rowme. For lo, my witnesse is in heauen, and he that knoweth me, is aboue in the heyth. My frendes laugh me to scorne, but myne eye poureth out teares vnto God. Though a body might pleate wt God, as one man doth with another, yet the nombre of my yeares are come, & I must go the waye, from whence I shal not turne agayne.

The XVII. Chapter.

MY breth fayleth, my dayes are shortened, I am harde at deathes dore. I haue disceaued no man, yet must myne eye cōtinue in heuynesse. O delyuer me, and set me by the, who shall then be able to thrust my hondes together? Thou hast with holdē their hertes from vnderstōdinge, therfore shall they not be set vp an hye. He promiseth his frēdes parte of his good, but his owne childrē spende it. He hath made me as it were a byworde of the comon people, I am his gestinge stocke amōge thē. My countenaunce is heuy for very anger, & the membres of my body are become like a shadowe. Vertuous mē therfore shall wel cōsidre this, and the innocent shal take parte agaynst the Ypocrite.

The rightuous wil kepe his waye, and he yt hath cleane handes, wil euer be stronger & stronger. As for you, turne you, & get you hence, for I can not se one wyse mā amonge you. My dayes are past, my thoughtes are vanished awaye, which haue vexed myne herte, chaunginge the night in to daye, & ye light in to darcknes. Though I tary neuer so moch, yet the graue is my house, and I must make my bed in the darcke. I call corrupcion my father, and the wormes call I my mother and my sister. What helpeth then my longe tarienge? Or, who wil fulfill the thinge, that I loke for? All that I haue, shall go downe in to the pytt, & lye with me in the dust.

The XVIII. Chapter.

THen answered Baldad the Suhite, and sayde: when wil ye make an ende of youre wordes? Marcke well, and considre, we wil speake also. Wherfore are we counted as beestes, & reputed so vyle in youre sight? Why destroyest thou thy self with anger? Shal ye earth be forsaken, or the stones remoued out of their place because of yt? Shal not the light of the vngodly be put out? yee the flame of his fyre shal not burne. The light shalbe darcke in his dwellinge, & his candle shalbe put out with him. His presumptuous goinges shal be kepte in, and his owne councell shal cast him downe. For his fete shalbe taken in the nett, and he shal walke in the snare. His fote shalbe holden in the gilder, and the thurstie shal catch him. The snare is layed for him in the grounde, and a pytfall in the waye.

Fearfulnesse shal make him afrayed on euery syde, that he shall not knowe, where to get out. Honger shalbe his substaunce, and myszfortune shall hange vpon him. He shall eate his owne skynne, yee his owne armes shall he deuoure, beynge a firstborne of death. All his comforte and hope shalbe roted out of his dwellynge, very fearfulnesse shall brynge him to the kynge. Other men shall dwel in his house (which now is none of his) and brymstone shalbe scatered vpon his habitacion. His rotes shalbe dryed vp beneth, & aboue shall his haruest be cut downe. His remembraunce shall perish from the earth, & his name shall not be praysed in the stretes: he shalbe dryuen from the light in to darcknesse, and be cast clene out of the worlde. He shall nether haue children ner kynßfolkes amonge his people, no ner eny posterite in his countre: yonge & olde shalbe astonyshed at his death. Soch are now the dwellynges of the wicked, and this is ye place of him that knoweth not God.

The XIX. Chap.

IOb answered, & sayde: How lōge wil ye vexe my mynde, & trouble me with wordes? Lo, tentymes haue ye reproued me: are ye not ashamed, for to laugh me so to scorne? yf I go wronge, I go wronge to my self. But yf ye wil enhaunce yor selues agaynst me, & accuse me to be a wicked personne because of the shame that is come vpon me: knowe this then, yt it is God, which hath handled me so violētly, & hath compased me aboute with his scourges. Beholde, though I crie, 〈…〉 yet violēce is done vnto me, I can not be herde: Though I complane, there is none to geue sentēce with me. He hath hedged vp my path, I cā not get awaye, he hath set darcknesse in my gate.

He hath spoyled me of myne honoure, & taken the crowne awaye fro my heade. He hath destroyed me on euery syde, and I am vndone: My hope hath he taken awaye fro me, as it were a tre plucte vp by the rote. His wrath is kyndled agaynst me, he taketh me, as though I were his enemy.

His men of warre came together, which made their waye ouer me, and beseged my dwellinge rounde aboute. 〈…〉 He hath put my brethren farre awaye fro me, and soch as were of myne acquauntaunce, are become straū gers vnto me. Myne owne kynszfolkes haue forsaken me, and my frendes haue put me out of remembraunce. The seruauntes and maydens of myne owne house take me for a straū ger, and I am become as an aleaunt in their sight.

When I call vpon my seruaūt, he geueth me no answere: no though I praie him with my mouth. Myne owne wyfe maye not abyde my breth, I am fayne to speake fayre vnto the children of myne owne body. Yee the very deserte fooles despyse me, and when I am gone from them, they speake euell vpon me. All soch as were my most familiers, abhorre me: and they whom I loued best, are turne agaynst me. My bone hangeth to my skynne, and the flesh is awaye, only there is left me the skynne aboute my teth. Haue pite vpon me, haue pite vpon me (o ye my frendes) for the hande of the LORDE hath touched me. Seynge God persecuteth me, wil ye vexe me also? Haue ye not yet ynough of the trouble of my flesh?

O that my wordes were written, O that they were put in a boke: wolde God they were grauē wt an yron pēne in leade or in stone. For I am sure, that my redemer lyueth, and that I shall ryse out of the earth in the latter daye: that I shal be clothed againe with this skynne, and se God in my flesh. Yee I my self shal beholde him, not with other but with these same eyes. My reynes are cons med within me, when yee saye: Why do not we persecute him? we haue founde an occasion agaynst him. But bewarre of the swearde, for the swearde wylbe avenged of wickednesse, and be sure, that there is a iudgment.

The XX. Chapter.

THen answered Sophar the Naamathite, and sayde: For the same cause do my thoughtes compell me to answere. And why? my mynde is tossed here and there. I haue sufficiently herde the checkynge & reprofe, therfore am I purposed to make answere after my vnderstōdinge. Knowest thou not this, namely: that from the begynninge (euer sence the creacion of man vpon earth) the prayse of the vngodly hath bene shorte, and that the ioye of Ypocrytes continued but ye twincklinge of an eye? Though he be magnified vp to the heauē, so that his heade reacheth vnto the cloudes: yet he perisheth at the last like donge: In so moch ye they which haue sene him, saye: Where is he? He vanysheth as a dreame, so that he can no more be founde, & passeth awaye as a vision in ye night. So that the eye which sawe him before, getteth now no sight of him, & his place knoweth him nomore. His childrē go a begginge, their handes bringe thē to sorow and heuynesse.

From his youth his bones are ful of vyce, which shal lie downe wt him in ye earth. Whē wickednesse is swete in his mouth, he hydeth it vnder his tonge. That he fauoureth, that wyll he not forsake, but kepeth it close in his throte. The meate that he eateth, shalbe turned to the poyson of serpētes within his body. The riches yt he deuoureth, shall he perbreake agayne, for God shal drawe them out of his bely. The serpentes heade shall sucke him, and the adders tonge shall slaye him: so that he shal nomore se the ryuers and brokes of hony and butter: But laboure shal he, & yet haue nothinge to eate. Greate trauayle shal he make for riches, but he shal not enioye them. And why? he hath oppressed the poore, and not helped them: houses hath he spoyled, and not buylded them. His bely coude neuer be fylled, therfore shall he perish in his couetousnesse. He deuoured so gredely, yt he left nothinge behynde, therfore his goodes shal not prospere. Eccls. 5. b Though he had plenteousnesse of euerythinge, yet was he poore, & therfore he is but a wretch on euery syde.

For though ye wicked haue neuer so moch to fyll his bely, yet God shal sende his wrath vpon him and cause his battayll to rayne ouer him: so that yf he fle the yron weapens, he shall be shott with the stele bowe. The arowe shal be taken forth, & go out at his backe, and a glisteringe swearde thorow ye gall of him, feare shal come vpō him. There shal no darcknes be able to hyde him. An vnkyndled fyre shal consume him, and loke what remayneth in his house, it shall be destroyed. The heauen shall declare his wickednesse, & the earth shal take parte agaynst him. The substaunce that he hath in his house, shalbe taken awaye and perish, in the daye of the LORDES wrath. This is the porcion that ye wicked shal haue of God, Iob 27. b and the heretage that he maye loke for of the LORDE.

The XXI. Chapter.

IOb answered, and sayde: O heare my wordes, and amende yor selues. Suffre me a litle, that I maye speake also, and thē laugh my wordes to scorne, yf ye will. Is it with a man, that I make this disputaciō? Which yf it were so, shulde not my sprete be thē in sore trouble? Marck me well, be abaszshed, and laye youre hāde vpon youre mouth. For whē I pondre & considre this, I am afrayed, and my flesh is smytten with feare. Psal. 72. a Iere. 12. a Wherfore do wicked mē lyue in health and prosperite, come to their olde age, & increase in riches? Their childers children lyue in their sight, & their generacion before their eyes. Pro. 3. b Heb. 12. a Their houses are safe from all feare, for the rodd of God doth not smyte thē. Their bullocke gendreth, and that not out of tyme: their cow calueth, and is not vnfrutefull.

They sende forth their children by flockes, and their sonnes lede the daunce. 〈…〉 They beare with them tabrettes and harpes, and haue instrumentes of musick at their pleasure. They spende their dayes in welthynesse: but sodenly they go downe to hell. They saye vnto God: go from vs, we desyre not the knowlege of thy wayes. 〈…〉 What maner of felowe is the Allmightie, that we shulde serue him? What profit shulde we haue, to submitte oure selues vnto him? Lo, there is vtterly no goodnesse in them, therfore will not I haue to do with the councell of the vngodly. How oft shal the candle of ye wicked be put out 〈…〉 how oft commeth their destruccion vpon them? O what sorowe shall God geue them for their parte in his wrath? Yee they shal be euen as chaffe before the wynde, 〈…〉 and as dust that the storme carieth awaye.

And though God saue their childrē from soch sorowe, yet wil he so rewarde thēselues, that they shal knowe it. Their owne destruccion and misery shal they se with their eyes, and drynke of the fearfull wrath of the Allmighty. For whath car th he, what become of his housholde after his death? whose monethes passe awaye swifter then an arowe. In as moch thē as God hath ye hyest power of all, who can teach him eny knowlege? One dyeth now when he is mightie & at his best, rich and in prosperite: euen when his bowels are at the fattest, and his bones full of mary. Another dyeth in sorowe and heuynesse, and neuer had good daies. Now slepe they both a like in the earth, & the wormes couer them. But I knowe what ye thinke, yee and what ye ymagin agaynst me vnrightuously. 〈…〉 For ye saye: where is the prynces palace? where is the dwellynge of the vngodly: Axe eny man that goeth by the waye, and (yf ye will not regarde their tokens & dedes) he shal tell you, 〈…〉 that the wicked is kepte vnto the daye of destruccion, and that the vngodly shalbe brought forth in the daye of wrath. Who darre reproue him for his wayes to his face who rewardeth him for the vngraciousnesse that he doth? Yet shal he be brought to his graue, and watch amonge the heape of the deed. Thē shal he be fayne to be buried amō ge the stones by the brokesyde. All men must folowe him, & there are innumerable gone before him. O how vayne is the comforte ye ye geue me? Are not youre answeres cleane contrary to right and treuth?

The XXII. Chapter.

SO Eliphas the Themanite gaue answere, & sayde: Maye a man be cōpared vnto God in wyszdome, though he seme to himself, for to be like him? What pleasure hath God in yt thou art rightuous? Or what doth it profite him, yt thy waies are perfecte? Is he afrayed to reproue the, & to steppe forth wt the in to iudgment? 〈…〉 Cōmeth not this for ye greate wickednesse, 〈…〉 & for thine vngracious dedes which are innumerable? Thou hast takē the pledge from thy brethrē for naught, & robbed the naked of their clothinge: 〈…〉 To soch as were weery, hast thou geuē no water to drynke, thou hast withdrawē bred frō the hungrie: Shulde soch one thē as vseth violēce, wrōge & oppression (doinge all thinges of parcialyte, & hauynge respecte of personnes) dwell in the lōde? Thou hast sent wyddowes awaye emptie and oppressed the poore fatherlesse.

Therfore art thou compased aboute with snares on euery syde, & sodēly vexed wt feare. Shuldest thou thē se no darcknesse? Shulde not the water floude runne ouer the? Now because yt God is hyer thē the heauens, & because thou seist yt the starres are so hye, wilt thou therfore saye: 〈…〉 Tush, how shulde God knowe? Doth his dominion reach beyonde the cloudes? Tush, the cloudes couer him, yt he maye not se, for he dwelleth in heauen. Well, thou wilt kepe the olde waye, yt all wicked mē haue gone: both olde & yonge, whose foundacion is a runnynge water, which saye vnto God: go from vs, and after this maner: Tush, 〈…〉 what wil the Allmightie do vnto vs? where as he (not with stōdinge) fylleth their houses wt all good. Which meanynge of the vngodly be farre fro me. 〈…〉 For wt ioy shal the godly, and with gladnesse shal the innocent se, that their increase shal be hewen downe, & their posterite consumed with the fyre.

Therfore recōcile the vnto God, & be content, so shal all thinges prospere wt the right well. 〈…〉 Receaue the lawe at his mouth, & laye vp his wordes in thine herte. For yf thou wilt turne to the Allmightie, 〈…〉 thou shalt stonde fast, & all vnrightuousnesse shall be farre from thy dwellinge: He shal geue the an haruest, which in plenty & abundaunce shall exceade the dust of the earth, and the golde of Ophir like ryuer stones. Yee the Allmightie his owne self shalbe thine haruest, & the heape of thy money. Then shalt thou haue thy delyte in the Allmightie, & lift vp thy face vnto God. Thē shalt thou make thy prayer vnto him, & he shal heare the, & thou shalt kepe thy promyses. Thē, loke what thou takest in honde, he shal make it to prospere with the, and the light shall shyne in thy wayes. For who so humbleth himself, him shal he set vp: and who so loketh mekely, shalbe healed. Yf thou be innocēt, he shal saue the: and thorow the vngiltynesse of thyne handes shalt thou be delyuered.

The XXIII. Chapter.

IOb answered, and sayd: My sayenge is yet this daye in bytternes, and my hande heuy amonge my groninges. O that I might se him & fynde him: O that I might come before his seate, to pleate my cause before him, and to fyll my mouth with argumentes: That I might knowe, what answere he wolde geue me: & that I might vnderstonde, what he wolde saye vnto me. Wil he pleate agaynst me with his greate power & strength, or wyll he leane him self vtterly vpon me? Oh no, let him not do so with me. But let hym geue me like power to go to lawe, then am I sure to wynne my matter. For though I go before, I fynde him not: yf I come behynde, I cā get no knowlege of him: Yf I go on the left syde to pondre his workes, I can not atteyne vnto them: Agayne, yf I go on the right syde, he hydeth himself, yt I can not se him. But as for my waye, Sap. 3. a 1. Pet. 1. he knoweth it: & trieth me as ye golde in ye fyre.

Neuertheles my fete kepe his path, his hye strete haue I holden, and not gone out of it. I haue not forsaken the cōmaundemēt of his lippes, but loke what he charged me with his mouth, that haue I shutt vp in my herte. It is he himself alone, who will turne him back? He doth as him listeth, and bryngeth to passe what he wil. He rewardeth me in to my bosome, & many other thinges mo doth he, as he maye by his power. This is ye cause, that I shrenke at his presence, so that when I considre him, I am afrayed of him. For in so moch as he is God, he maketh my herte soft: and seynge that he is Allmightie, he putteth me in feare. Thus can not I get out of darcknesse, the cloude hath so couered my face.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

COnsideringe then that there is no tyme hyd from the Allmightie, how happeneth it, that they which knowe him, wil not regarde his dayes? For some mē there be, that remoue other mēs londe markes: Deu. 19. c 27. c Exo. 22. c that robbe them of their catell, and kepe the same for their owne: that dryue awaye the asse of the fatherlesse: that take ye wyddowes oxe for a pledge: that thrust the poore out of the waye, Exo. 23. a & oppresse the symple of the worlde together. Beholde, the wilde asses in ye deserte go by tymes (as their maner is) to spoyle: Yee the very wildernesse ministreth foode for their children. They reape the corne felde that is not their owne: and gather the grapes out of his vynyarde, whom they haue oppressed by violence. They are the cause yt so many men are naked and bare, hauynge no clothes to couer them and kepe them from colde: So that when the showers in the mountaynes haue rayned vpon them, & they be all wett, they haue none other sucoure, but to kepe them amonge the rockes.

They spoyle the suckinge fatherlesse children, and put the poore in preson: In so moch that they let them go naked without clothinge, and yet the 〈◊〉 beare the sheeues. The poore are 〈◊〉 to laboure in their oyle mylles, yee 〈…〉 treade in their wyne presses, and yet 〈…〉 thyrst. The whole cite crieth vnto t e LORDE with sighinge, oc. 6. b Es. 15. b the soules of the layne make their complaynte: But God destroyeth them not for all this, where as they (not wt stōdinge) are rebellious and disobedient enemies: which seke not his light and waye, ner turne agayne in to his path. 〈◊〉 . 22. d Tymely in the mornynge do they aryse, to murthur the symple and poore, & in the night they go a stealinge.

The eye of the vngodly is like the aduouterer, that wayteth for the darcknesse, and sayeth thus in him self: Tush, there shal no mā se me, & so he disgyseth his face. In the night season they search the houses, and hyde them selues in the daye tyme, but wil not knowe ye light. For as soone as the daye breaketh, the shadowe of death commeth vpō them, and they go in horrible darcknesse. The vngodly is very swyft: O yt his porciō also vpō earth were swyfter then ye runnynge water, which suffreth not ye shipmā to beholde the fayre & pleasaūt vyniardes. O yt they (for the wickednesse which they haue done) were drawen to the hell, sooner thē snowe melteth at the heate. O yt all cōpassion vpon thē were forgottē: yt their daynties were wormes: that they were clene put out of remembraunce, & vtterly hewē downe like an vnfrutefull tre. For they manteyne the baren, & make them yt they can not beare, & vnto wyddowes they do no good. They plucke downe the mightie wt their power, & when they them selues are gotten vp, they are neuer without feare, as longe as they liue. And though they might be safe, yet they wil not receaue it, for their eyes loke vpon their owne wayes. They are exalted for a litle, but shortly are they gone, brought to extreme pouerte, & takē out of the waye: ye & vtterly plucte of as the eares of corne. Is it not so? Who wil thē reproue me as a lyar, & saye yt my wordes are nothinge worth?

The XXV. Chapter.

THen answered Baldad the Suhite, & sayde: Power & feare is with him aboue, that maketh peace (sittinge) in his hynesse, whose men of warre are innumerable, and whose light aryseth ouer all. 〈…〉 But how maye a man cōpared vnto God, be iustified? Or, how can he be clene, that is borne of a woman? Beholde, the Moone shyneth nothinge in comparison to him, & the starres are vnclene in his sight. How moch more thē, mā, that is but corrupcion: and the sonne of man, which is but a worme?

The XXVI. Chapter.

IOb answered, and sayde: O how helpest thou the weake? what comforte geuest thou vnto him that hath no strēgth? Where is ye coūcell yt thou shuldest geue him, which hath no wyszdome? Wilt thou so shewe thine excellent rightuousnes? Before whom hast thou spoken those wordes? Who made the breth to come out of ye mouth? The giauntes & worthies yt are slayne, & lye vnder ye worlde wt their cōpanions: yee & all they which dwell beneth in the hell are not hyd frō him, & the very destruccion it self cā not be kepte out of his sight.. He stretcheth out ye north ouer the emptie, & hāgeth ye earth vpō nothinge. He byndeth ye water in his cloudes, that they fall not downe together. He holdeth back his stole, that it cānot be sene, and spredeth his cloudes before it.

He hath cōpased the waters wt certayne boundes, 〈…〉 vntill the daye & night come to an ende. The very pilers of heauē trēble & quake at his reprofe. 〈…〉 He stilleth the see with his power, & thorow his wyszdome hath he set forth ye worlde. With his sprete hath he garnished the heauēs, & with his hande hath he wounded the rebellious serpēt. This is now a shorte summe of his doynges. But who is able sufficiently to rehearce his workes? Who can perceaue and vnderstonde ye thondre of his power?

The XXVII. Chapter.

IOb also proceaded and wēte forth in his communicacion, sayēge: As truly as God lyueth (which hath taken awaye my power fro me) & the Allmightie, that hath vexed my mynde: My lippes shall talke of no vanite, and my tonge shal speake no disceate, whyle my breth is in me, and as longe as the wynde (that God hath geuen me) is in my nostrels.

God forbydde, that I shulde graunte youre cause to be right. As for me, vntill myne ende come wil I neuer go fro myne innocency. My rightuous dealynge wil I kepe fast, & not forsake it: For my conscience reproueth me not in all my conuersacion. Therfore myne enemy shalbe founde as the vngodly, & he yt taketh parte agaynst me, as the vnrightuous. What hope hath ye Ypocrite, though he haue greate good, and though God geue him riches after his hertes desyre? Doth God heare him the sooner, whē he crieth vnto him in his necessite? Hath he soch pleasure & delyte in the Allmightie, that he darre allwaye call vpon God? I wil teach you in the name of God, & the thinge that I haue of ye Allmightie, wil I not kepe from you. Beholde, ye stonde in yor owne conceate, as though ye knew all thinges. Wherfore then do ye go aboute wt soch vayne wordes, sayēge: This is the porcion that the wicked shall haue of God, & the heretage that Tyrauntes shal receaue of ye Allmightie. Yf he get many childrē, they shal perish wt the swearde, & his posterite shall haue scarcenesse of bred. Loke whom he leaueth behinde him, they shal dye & be buried, & no man shall haue pite of his wyddowes. Though he haue as moch money as the dust of the earth, & raymēt as ready as the claye, he maye well prepare it: but the godly shal put it vpon him, and the innocēt shal deale out the money. His house shal endure as the moth, & as a bothe that the watch man maketh. When the rich man dyeth, he carieth nothinge with him: he is gone in ye twincklynge of an eye. Destruccion taketh holde vpō him as a water floude, & ye tēpest stealeth him awaye in the night season. A vehement wynde carieth him hence, & departeth: a storme plucketh him out of his place. It ruszsheth in vpon him, and spareth him not, he maye not escape from the power therof. Than clappe mē their hōdes at him, yee and ieast of him, whē they loke vpon his place.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

THere are places where syluer is moltē, 〈◊〉 . b & where golde is tryed: where yron is dygged out of the grounde, & stones resolued to metall. The darcknes shal once come to an ende, he can seke out the grounde of all thinges: the stones, the darcke, & the horrible shadowe. wt the ryuer of water parteth he a sunder the straunge people, yt knoweth no good neghbourheade: soch as are rude, vnmanerly & boysteous. He bryngeth foode out of the earth, & yt which is vnder, consumeth he with fyre. There is founde a place, whose stones are clene Saphirs, and where ye clottes of the earth are golde. There is a waye also that the byrdes knowe not, that no vulturs eye hath sene: wherin ye proude & hye mynded walke not, & where no lyon commeth. There putteth he his honde vpon the stony rockes, & ouerthroweth the mountaynes. Ryuers flowe out of the rockes, & loke what is pleasaunt, his eye seyth it. Out of droppes bryngeth he greate floudes together, & the thinge that is hyd bryngeth he o light. How commeth a man then by wyszdome? Eccli. 1. a 7. c Iacob. 1. a . Reg. 3. b 4. c Pro. . a Sap. 7. b Where is the place that men fynde vnderstondinge? Verely no man can tell how worthy a thinge she is, nether is she foūde in the lōde of the lyuynge. The depe sayeth: she is not in me. The see sayeth: she is not with me. She can not be gotten for the most fyne golde, nether maye the pryce of her be bought with eny moneye. No wedges of golde of Ophir, no precious Onix stones, no Saphirs maye be compared vnto her. No, nether golde ner Christall, nether swete odours ner golden plate. There is nothinge so worthy, or so excellēt, as once to be named vnto her: for parfecte wyszdome goeth farre beyonde thē all. The Topas that cōmeth out of Inde, maye in no wyse be lickened vnto her: yee no maner of apparell how pleasaunt and fayre so euer it be.

From whēce then commeth wyszdome? & where is the place of vnderstondinge? She is hyd from the eyes of all men, yee & frō the foules of the ayre. Destruccion & death saie: we haue herde tell of her wt oure eares. But God seyth hir waie, & knoweth hir place. For he beholdeth the endes of the worlde, and loketh vpon all that is vnder the heauē. When he weyed the wyndes, & measured ye waters: when he set the rayne in ordre, and gaue the mightie floudes a lawe: Then dyd he se her, thē declared he her, prepared her and knewe her. And vnto man he sayde: Beholde, Psal. 110. b Pro. 1. a 9 b Eccli. 1. e to feare the LORDE, is wyszdome: & to forsake euell, is vnderstondinge.

The XXIX. Chap.

SO Iob proceaded and wēte forth in his communicacion, sayenge: O yt I were as I was in the monethes by past, & in the dayes whē God preserued me: when his light shyned vpon my heade: whē I wente after the same light & shyne euē thorow the darcknesse. As it stode wt me, whē I was welthy & had ynough: whē God prospered my house: when the allmightie was with me: when my housholde folkes stode aboute me: whē my wayes ranne ouer wt butter, & when the stony rockes gaue me ryuers 〈2 pages missing〉 of oyle: when I wente thorow the cite vnto the gate, & whē they set me a chayre in ye strete: whē the yonge mē (as soone as they sawe me) hyd thē selues, & when the aged arose, & stode vp vnto me: whē the princes left of their talkinge, & laied their hāde to their mouth: whē the mightie kepte still their voyce, and whē their tonges cleued to the rofe of their mouthes. When all they yt herde me, called me happie: & when all they yt sawe me, wysshed me good. For I delyuered ye poore whē he cried, & the fatherlesse yt wanted helpe. He yt shulde haue bene lost, gaue me a good worde, & ye widdowes hert praised me. And why? I put vpon me rightuousnes, which couered me as a garmēt, & equite was my crowne. I was an eye vnto the blynde, & a fote to the lame. I was a father vnto the poore, & whē I knew not their cause, I sought it out diligētly. I brake the chaftes of ye vnrightuous, & plucte the spoyle out of their teth. Gen. 14. c

Therfore, I thought verely, yt I shulde haue dyed in my nest: & yt my dayes shulde haue bene as many as the sondes of the see. For my rote was spred out by the waters syde, & the dew laye vpō my corne. My honor encreased more & more, and my bowe was euer the stronger in my hande. Vnto me men gaue eare, me they regarded, & wt sylence they taried for my coūcell. Yf I had spoken, they wolde haue it none other wayes, my wordes were so well taken amonge thē. They wayted for me, as the earth doth for the rayne: & gaped vpon me, as the groūde doth to receaue the latter shower. When I laughed, they knew well it was not earnest: & this testimony of my coūtenaunce pleased thē nothinge at all. When I agreed vnto their waye, I was the chefe, & sat as a kynge amonge his seruauntes: Or as one that comforteth soch as be in heuynesse.

The XXX. Chapter.

BVt now they that are my inferiours & yonger then I, haue me in derision: yee euē they, whose fathers I wolde haue thought scorne to haue set wt the dogges of my catell. The power & strēgth of their hādes might do me no good, & as for their age, it is spēt & past awaye without eny profit. For very misery & honger, they wente aboute in the wildernesse like wretches & beggers, pluckynge vp herbes from amonge the buszshes, & the Iumpers rote was their meate. And when they were dryuen forth, men cried after them, as it had bene after a thefe. Their dwellinge was beside foule brokes, yee in the caues & dennes of the earth. Vpō the drye heeth wēte they aboute crienge, & in the brome hilles they gathered them together. They were the children of fooles & vylanes, which are deed awaye frō the worlde. 〈…〉 Now am I their songe, & am become their iestinge stocke. they abhorre me, they fle farre fro me & stayne my face wt spetle. For ye LORDE hath opened his quyuer, he hath hytt me, & put a brydle in my mouth. Vpon my right hā de they rose together agaynst me, they haue hurte my fete, made awaye to destroye me, & my path haue they clene marred. It was so easy for them to do me harme, that they neded no man to helpe thē. They fell vpon me, as it had bene ye breakynge in of waters, & came in by heapes to destroye me. Fearfulnesse is turned agaynst me. Myne honoure van sheth awaye more swiftly then wynde, & my prosperite departeth hēce like as it were a cloude. Therfore is my mynde poured full of heuynesse, & ye dayes of trouble haue takē holde vpon me. My bones are pearsed thorow in ye night season, & my synewes take no rest. With all their power haue they chaunged my garmēt, & gyrded me therwith, as it were wt a coate. I am euē as it were claye, & am become like aszshes & dust. Whē I crie vnto the, thou doest not heare me: & though I stonde before the, yet thou regardest me not. Thou art become myne enemye, & wt yi violēt hāde thou takest parte agay st me. In tymes past thou didest set me vp an hye, as it were aboue ye winde, but now hast thou geuē me a very sore fall. Sure I am, yt thou wilt delyuer me vnto death: where as a lodgyng is prepared for all mē lyuinge. Now vse not mē to do violēce vnto thē, yt are destroyed all ready: but here hurte is done, there vse the to helpe. Dyd not I wepe in ye tyme of trouble? Had not my soule cōpassion vpō ye poore? Yet neuerthelesse where as I loked for good, euell happened vnto me: and where as I waited for light, there came darcknesse. My bowels seeth wt in me & take no rest, for ye dayes of my trouble are come vpō me. Mekely & lowly came I in, yee & without eny displeasure: I stode vp in ye cōgregacion, & commoned with thē But now. I am a cōpanyon of dragons, & a felowe of Estriches. My s •• ynne vpō me is turned to black, & my b nes are brēt wt heate: my harpe is turned to sorow, & my pipe to wepinge.

The XXXI. Chap.

I Made a couenaunt wt myne eyes, yt I wolde not loke vpō a dāsell. 〈…〉 For how greate a porciō shal I haue of God frō aboue? & what enheritaūce frō ye Almightie on hie? As for the vngodly & he yt ioyneth himself to ye cōpani of wicked doers shal not

Farre be it from God, that he shulde medle with wickednesse: and farre be it from the Allmightie, yt he shulde medle with vnrightuous dealynge: but he rewardeth the workes of man, 〈…〉 and causeth euery man to fynde acordinge to his wayes. For sure it is, that God cōdemneth no man wrongeously, and the iudgmēt of the Allmightie is not vnrightuous. Who ruleth the earth in his steade? Or, whom hath he set to gouerne the whole worlde? To whom hath he geuen his herte, for to drawe his sprete and breth vnto him? All flesh shal come together vnto naught, 〈…〉 & all mē shal turne agayne vnto earth. Yf thou now haue vnderstōdinge, heare what I saye and herken to the voyce of my wordes.

Maye he be made whole, that loueth no right? Yf thou were a very innocent man, shuldest thou then be punyshed? For he is euen the same, yt knoweth the rebellious kynges, & sayeth to princes: Vngodly men are ye He hath no respecte vnto the personnes of ye lordly, & regardeth not the rich more thē poore. For they be all the worke of his hondes. In the twincklinge off an eye shall they be slayne: and at mydnight, when the people & the tyrauntes rage, then shal they perish, ād be taken awaye with out hondes. And why his eyes loke vpon the wayes of man, 〈…〉 and he seyth all his goinges. There is no darcknes ner thicke shadowe, yt can hyde the wicked doers from him. For no mā shalbe suffred to go into iudgment with God.

〈…〉 Many one, yee innumerable doth he punyshe and setteth other in their steades. For he knoweth their euell & darcke workes, therfore shal they be destroyed. They that were in ye steade of Seers, dealt like vngodly mē. Therfore turned they back traytorously and vnfaithfully frō hī, & wolde not receaue his wayes. In so moch that they haue caused ye voyce of the poore to come vnto him, & now he heareth the cōplaynte of soch as are in necessite. Yf he delyuer & graunte pardō, who will iudge or condemne? But yf he hyde awaye his countenaunce, who wil turne it aboute agayne, whether it be to the people or to eny man? For the wickednesse & synne of ye people, he maketh an ypocrite to reigne ouer thē. For so moch then as I haue begonne to talke of God, I wil not hyndre the. Yf I haue gone amysse, enfourme me: yf I haue done wronge, I wil leaue of. Wilt thou not geue a reasonable answere? Art thou afrayed of eny thinge, eynge thou begānest first to speake, & not I? For els the men of vnderstō dinge & wisdome that haue herde me, might saye: What cāst thou speake? As for Iob he hath nether spoken to the purpose ner wysely. O father, let Iob be well tryed, because he he hath turned himself to ye wicked: yee aboue his synnes he hath blasphemed, which offence he hath done euen before vs, in yt he stryueth agaynst God with his wordes.

The XXXV Chapter.

ELiu spake morouer, and sayde: Thinkest thou it right that thou sayest: I am rightuous before God? Seinge thou sayest so, how doest thou knowe it? What thinge hast thou more excellēt, thē I yt am a synner? Therfore will I geue answere vnto the & thy frendes: loke vnto the heauē, & beholde it: cōsidre ye cloudes, how they are hyer then thou. Yf thou synnest, what dost thou vnto him? Yf thine offences be many, how gettest thou his fauoure? Yf thou be rightuous, what geuest thou him? Or, what receaueth he of thy handes? Psal. 9. b Heb. 10. a Psal. 49. Of soch an vngodly personne as thou, & of ye sonne of man that is rightuous as thou pretendest to be: there is a greate crie & cōplaynte made by thē that are oppressed with violence, yee euery man complayneth vpon the cruell arme of tyrauntes. For soch one neuer sayeth: Where is God that made me? ād yt shyneth vpon vs, that we might prayse him in the night? Which geueth vs more vnderstōdinge then he doth the beastes of the earth, and teacheth vs more then the foules off heauē.

Yf eny soch complayne, no mā geu •• h answere, and yt because of the wickednesse off proude tyrauntes. But yf a man call vpon God, doth not he heare him? Doth not the Almightie accepte his crie? Whā thou speakest then, shulde not he pardon the, yff thou open thy self before him, and put thy trust in him? Then vseth he no violence in his wrath nether hath he pleasure in curious and depe inquisicions. Therfore hath Iob opened his mouth but in vayne, ād folishly hath he made so many wordes.

The XXXVI. Chapter.

ELiu proceaded forth in his talkinge, & sayde: holde the still a litle, and I shal shewe the, what I haue yet to speake on Gods behalfe. I wil open vnto ye yet more of myne vnderstondinge, and proue my maker rightuous. True are my wordes, & no lye: and the knowlege wherwithall I argue agaynst the, is perfecte. Beholde, God casteth not awaye ye mightie, for he himselff is mightie in power and wisdome.

As for the vngodly, he preserueth thē not but helpeth the poore to their right. sal. 31. b Re. 7. c . Re. 10. c Par. 33. c He turneth not his eyes awaye from the rightuous he setteth vp kynges in their Trone, and cō firmeth them, so that they allwaye syt therin. But yf they be layed in preson and cheynes, or bounde with the bondes of pouerte: then sheweth he them their workes ād dedes and the synnes wherwt they haue vsed cruell violence.

He with punyshinge and nurturinge off them, rowneth them in the eares, warneth them to leaue of from their wickednesse, and to amende. Yf they now will take hede and be obedient, they shall weere out their dayes in prosperite, Esa. 1. c and their yeares in pleasure ād ioye. But yff they will not obeye, they shall go thorow the swearde, & perish or euer they be awarre. As for soch as be fayned, dyssemblers and ypocrytes, they heape vp wrath for them selues: for they call not vpon him, though they be his presoners. Thus their soule perisheth in foolishnesse, and their lyfe wt ye condēned. The poore delyuereth he out of his straytnesse, and comforteth soch as be in necessite and trouble. Euen so shall he kepe the (yf thou wilt be content) from the bottomlesse pytte that is beneth: & yf thou wilt holde the quyete, he shal fyll thy table with plenteousnesse.

Neuerthelesse, thou hast condemned the iudgment of the vngodly, yee euen soch a iudgment and sentence shalt thou suffre. For then shal not thy cause be stilled with crueltie, ner pacified with many giftes. Hath God ordened then, that the glorious life off the & all soch mightie men shulde not be put downe? Prolonge not thou the tyme, till there come a night for the, to set other people in thy steade. But bewarre that thou turne not asyde to wickednesse and synne, which hyther to thou hast chosen more then mekenesse. Beholde, God is of a mightie hye power: Where is there soch a gyde and lawegeuer as he? Who wil reproue him of his waye? who wil saye vnto him: thou hast done wronge?

O considre how greate and excellent his workes be, whom all men loaue and prayse: yee wondre at him, and yet they se him but afarre of. Beholde, so greate is God, that he passeth oure knowlege, nether are we able to come to ye experiēce of his yeares. He turneth ye water to smal droppes, he dryueth his cloudes together for to rayne, so that they poure downe and droppe vpon men. Deu. 11. c 28. d He can sprede out the cloudes (a couerynge off his tabernacle) and cause his light to shyne vpō them, and to couer the botome of the see. By these thinges gouerneth he his people, and geueth thē abundaunce of meate. In ye turnynge of a hande he hydeth the light, & at his commaundement it commeth agayne. The rysinge vp therof sheweth he to his frendes and to the catell.

The XXXVII. Chapter.

AT this my hert is astonnied, and moued out of his place. Heare then the sounde of his voyce, and the noyse yt goeth out of his mouth. He gouerneth euery thinge vnder the heauen, and his light reacheth vnto the ende of the worlde. A roaringe voyce foloweth him: for his glorious magesty geueth soch a thondre clappe, that (though a man heare it) yet maye he not perceaue it afterwarde. It geueth an horrible sownde, when God sendeth out his voyce: greate thinges doth he, which we can not cō prehende. When he commaundeth the snowe, it falleth vpon the earth: 〈…〉 As soone as he geueth the rayne a charge, Immediatly the showers haue their strength and fall downe He sendeth feare vpon euery man, that they might knowe their owne workes. The beestes crepe in to their dennes, & take their rest. Out of the south commeth the tempest, and colde out of the north.

At the breth of God, the frost commeth, & the waters are shed abrode. The cloudes do their laboure in geuynge moystnesse, the cloudes poure downe their rayne. He distributeth also on euery syde, acordinge as it pleaseth him to deale out his workes, that they maye do, what so euer he, commaundeth thē thorow the whole worlde: whether it be to punysh eny londe, or to do good vnto them, that seke him.

Herken vnto this (o Iob) stonde still, and considre the wonderous workes of God. Art thou of coūcel with God, when he doth these thinges? When he causeth the light to come forth of his cloudes? Art thou of his coū cell, when he spredeth out the cloudes? Hast thou the perfecte knowlege of his wonders? and how thy clothes are warme, whē the lō de is still thorow the south wynde? hast thou helped him to spred out the heauen, which is to loke vpō, as it were cast of cleare metall? Teach vs what we shal saye vnto hī, for we are vnmete because of darcknes. Shal it be tolde him, what I saye? Shulde a man speake, or shulde he kepe it backe? For euery mā seith not the light, yt he kepeth cleare in the cloudes, which he clenseth whan he maketh the wynde to blowe. Golde is brought out of the north, but the prayse and honoure off Gods feare commeth frō God himself. It is not we that can fynde out the allmightie: for in power, equite and rigtuousnesse he is hyer then can be expressed. Seinge then that euery body feareth him, why shulde not all wyse men also stōde in feare of hī?

Chap. XXXVIII.

THen spake the LORDE vnto Iob out of the storme, 〈…〉 and sayde: what is he, that hydeth his mynde with foolysh wordes? Gyrde vp thy loynes like a mā, for I will question the se thou geue me a dyrecte answere. Where wast thou, when I layed ye foundacions of the earth? Tell planely yff thou hast vnderstondinge. Who hath measured it, knowest thou? Or, who hath spred ye lyne vpon it? Where vpon stōde the pilers of it? 〈…〉 Or, who layed ye corner stone? where wast thou when the mornynge starres gaue me prayse, ād when all the angels of God reioysed? 〈…〉 Who shutt the see with dores, when it brake forth as a childe out off his mothers wombe? When I made the cloudes to be a coueringe for it, and swedled it with ye darcke? 〈…〉 when I gaue it my cōmaundement, makynge dores & barres for it, sayenge: Hither to shalt thou come, but no further, and here shalt thou laye downe thy proude and hye wawes. Hast thou geuē the mornynge his charge (as soone as thou wast borne) and shewed the dayespringe his place, yt it might take holde of the corners of the earth, & yt the vngodly might be shakē out? Their tokēs & weapēs hast thou turned like claye, & set thē vp agayne as the chaunginge of a garment. Yee thou hast spoyled the vngodly off their light, & brokē the arme of the proude. Camest thou euer in to the groūde of the see, Or, hast thou walked in ye lowe corners of ye depe? Haue the gates of death bene opened vnto the or hast thou sene the dore of euerlastīge treasure? Hast thou also perceaued, how brode ye earth is? Now yf thou hast knowlege of all, thē shewe me where light dwelleth, and where darcknes is: yt thou mayest bringe vs vnto their quarters, yf thou cāst tell the waye to their houses. Knewest thou (when thou wast borne) how olde thou shuldest be?

Wentest thou euer in to the treasuries off the snowe, 〈…〉 or hast thou sene ye secrete places of the hale: which I haue prepared agaynst the tyme of trouble, agaynst the tyme of batell & warre? By what waye is the light parted, & the heate dealt out vpon earth? Who deuydeth the abundaūce of waters in to ryuers, or who maketh a waye for the stormy wether, yt it watereth & moystureth ye drye & baren grounde: to make the grasse growe in places where no body dwelleth, & in the wildernes where no mā remayneth? Who is the father of rayne? Or, who hath begotten the droppes of dew? Out of whose wōbe came the yse? who hath gendred the coldnes of ye ayre? yt the waters are as harde as stones, & lye congeeled aboue the depe. Hast thou brought ye vij. starres together? Or, art thou able to breake the Circle of heauē? Cāst thou bringe forth the mornynge starre or the euenynge starre at cōuenient tyme, & cōueye thē home agayne? Knowest thou the course off heauē, yt thou mayest set vp the ordinaunce therof vpō earth? Morouer, cāst thou lift vp thy voyce to ye cloudes, yt they maye poure downe a greate rayne vpō the? Canst thou thōdre also yt they maye go their waye, & be obediēt vnto the, sayēge: lo, here are we? Who geueth sure wisdome, or stedfast vnderstōdinge? who nombreth the cloudes in wisdome? who stilleth ye vehement waters of the heauē? who turneth the clottes to dust, & thē to be clottes agayne? Huntest thou the praye frō the Lyon, or fedest thou his whelpes lyē ge in their dēnes & lurkinge in their couches? who prouydeth meate for the rauen, Psa. 14 . whē his yonge ones crie vnto God, ād fle aboute for want of meate?

Chap. XXXIX.

KNowest thou the tyme when the wilde gotes brīge forth their yōge amō ge the stony rockes? Or layest thou wayte when the hindes vse to fawne? Rekenest thou the moneth as after they ingendre, yt thou knowest the tyme of their bearinge? Or when they lye downe, when they cast their yonge ones, & when they are delyuered off their trauayle & payne? How their yōge ones growe vp & waxe greate thorow good fedinge? who letteth the wilde asse go fre, or who lowseth the bōdes of the Moole? Vnto whō I haue geuen the wyldernes to be their house, & the vntilled londe to be their dwellinge place. That they maye geue no force for the multitude off people in the cities, nether to regarde the crienge of the dryuer: but to seke their pasture aboute the moūtaynes, & to folowe vpon the grene grasse. Wyll the vnicorne be so tame as to do ye seruyce, or to abyde still by thy cri be? Cāst thou bynde ye yock aboute him in thy forowes, to make him plowe after the in ye valleis? Mayest thou trust hī (because he is strōge) or cōmitte thy labor vnto hī? Mayest thou beleue hī, yt he wil brī ge home ye corne, or to cary eny thinge vnto ye barne? The Estrich (whose fethers are fayrer thē ye wynges of the sparow hauke) whē he hath layed his egges vpon the grounde, he bredeth them in the dust, and forgetteth them: so that they might be troden with fete, or broken with somme wilde beast.

So harde is he vnto his yong ones, as though they were not his, and laboureth in vayne without eny feare. And that because God hath taken wisdome from him, & hath not geuen him vnderstondinge. When his tyme is, he flyeth vp an hye, and careth nether for horse ner man.

Hast thou geuen the horse is strength, or lerned him to bowe downe his neck with feare: that he letteth him self be dryuen forth like a greshopper, where as the stoute neyenge that he maketh, is fearfull? he breaketh ye grounde with the hoffes of his fete chearfully in his strength, and runneth to mete the harnest men. He layeth asyde all feare, his stomack is not abated, nether starteth he a back for eny swerde. Though the quyuers rattle vpon him, though the speare and shilde glistre: yet russheth he in fearsly, and beateth vpon the grounde. He feareth not the noyse of the trompettes, but as soone as he heareth the shawmes blowe, tush (sayeth he) for he smelleth the batell afarre of, ye noyse, the captaynes and the shoutinge.

Commeth it thorow thy wysdome, that the goshauke flyeth towarde the south? Doth the Aegle mounte vp & make his nest on hye at thy commaundement? He abydeth in the stony rockes, ād vpon the hye toppes of harde mountaynes, where no man can come. From thence maye he beholde his praye, and loke farre aboute with his eyes. His yonge ones are fed with bloude, Mat. 24. c and where eny deed body lyeth, there is he immediatly.

Morouer, God spake vnto Iob and sayde: Can he that stryueth with the Allmightie, be at rest? Shulde not he which disputeth with God, geue him an answere? Iob answered the LORDE, sayenge: Beholde, I am to vyle a personne, to answere the, therfore will I laye my hande vpon my mouth. Once or twyse haue I spoken, but I will saye nomore.

The XL. Chapter.

THen spake the LORDE vnto Iob out of the storme, and sayde: gyrde vp ye loynes like a man, Iob. 38, a and tell me the thī ge that I will axe the. Wilt thou disanulle my iudgment? Or, wilt thou condemne me, yt thou thy self mayest be made rightuous? Is thine arme then like the arme of God? Maketh thy voyce soch a soūde as his doth? Then arme thy self with thine owne power, vp, decke the in thy ioly araye, poure out the indignacion of thy wrath: se that thou cast downe all ye proude, loke well, that thou makest all soch as be stubburne, to obeye: treade all the vngodly vnder thy fete, cast thē downe in to the myre, and couer their faces with darcknesse: Then will I confesse also, that thyne owne right honde hath saued the.

Beholde, the cruell beaste (whom I made wt the) which eateth haye as an oxe: lo, how stronge he is in his loynes, and what power he hath in the nauell of his body. He spredeth out his tale like a Cedre tre, all his vaynes are stiff. His shynnes are like pipes off brasse, his rygge bones are like staues of yrō First when God made him, he ordened the wyldernesse for him, yt the mountaynes shulde geue him grasse, where all the beastes off the felde take their pastyme. He lyeth amōge the redes in the Mosses, the fennes hyde him with their shadowe, and the wylowes of the broke couer him rounde aboute. Lo, without eny laboure might he drynke out the whole floude, and suppe off Iordane without eny trauayle. Who darre laye honde vpon him openly, and vndertake to catch him? Or, who darre put an hoke thorow his nose, ād laye a snare for him?

Darrest thou drawe out Leuiathan with an angle, or bynde his tonge with a snare? 〈…〉 Canst thou put a rynge in the nose of him, or bore his chaftes thorow with a naule? Wyll he make many fayre wordes with the (thynkest thou) or flatre the? Wyll he make a couenaunt with the? Or, art thou able for to compell him to do the contynuall seruyce? Wilt thou take thy pastyne wt him as with a byrde, or geue him vnto thy maydens, that thy companyons maye hew him in peces, to be parted amonge the marchaunt men? Canst thou fyll the nett wt his skynne, or ye fysh pā nyer with his heade? Darrest thou laye honde vpon him? It is better for the to considre what harme might happē the there thorow and not to touch him. For when thou thynkest to haue holde vpon him, he shall begyle the: Euery man also that seyth him, shall go backe. And why? there darre none be so bolde, as to rayse him vp.

The XLI. Chapter.

WHo is able to stonde before me? Or, who hath geuen me eny thynge afore hande, 〈…〉 that I am bounde to rewarde him agayne? All thinges vnder heauen are myne. I feare him not, whether he threaten or speake fayre. Who lifteth him vp and stripeth him out of his clothes, or who taketh him by the bytt of his brydle? Who openeth the dore of his face? for he hath horrible tethe rounde aboute. His body is couered with scales as it were with shyldes, lockte in, kepte, and well cōpacte together. One is so ioyned to another, that no ayre can come in: Yee one hangeth so vpon another, and sticke so together, that they can not be sundered. His nesinge is like a glisteringe fyre, and his eyes like the mornynge shyne. Out of his mouth go torches and fyre brandes, out off his nostrels there goeth a smoke, like as out ff an hote seetinge pott. His breth maketh the coales burne, the flame goeth out of his mouth. In his necke remayneth strength, and before his face sorowe is turned to gladnesse. The membres of his body are ioyned so strayte one to another, and cleue so fast together, that he can not be moued.

His hert is as harde as a stone, ād as fast as the styth ye that the hammer man smyteth vpon. When he goeth: the mightiest off all are afrayed, and the wawes heuy. Yff he drawe out the swearde, there maye nether speare ner brest plate abyde him. He setteth as moch by a strawe as by yrō, and as moch by a rotten stocke as by metall. He starteth ot awaye for him that bendeth the bowe, & s for slynge stones, he careth as moch for stubble as for them. He counteth the hammer no better then a strawe, he laugheth him to scorne that shaketh the speare. He treadeth the golde in the myre like ye sharpe potsherdes. He maketh the depe to seeth and boyle like a pott, and stereth the see together like an oyntment. The waye is light after him, the depe is his walkynge place. Vpon earth is there no power like vnto his, for he is so made, that he feareth not. Yff a man will cō sidre all hye thinges, this same is a kynge ouer all the children off pryde.

The XLII. Chapter.

THē Iob answered the LORDE, and sayde: I knowe that thou hast power of all thinges, 〈…〉 and that there is no thought hyd vnto the. For who can kepe his owne councell so secrete, but it shall be knowne? Therfore haue I spoken vnwysely, seynge these thinges are so hye, and passe myne vnderstondinge. O herken thou vnto me also, and let me speake: answere me vnto the thinge that I will axe the. I haue geuen diligent eare vnto the, and now I se ye with myne eyes. Wherfore I geue myne owne self ye blame, and take repentaunce in the dust and asshes.

Now whē the LORDE had spoken these wordes vnto Iob, he sayde vnto Eliphas ye Themanite: I am displeased with the & thy two frendes, for ye haue not spoken the thinge yt is right before me, like as my serua ••• Iob hath done. Therfore take vij. oxen 〈…〉 seuen rammes, and go to my seruaunt 〈…〉 offre vp also for youre selues a brent offe ••••• ge, and lat my seruaunt Iob praye for 〈…〉 Him will I accepte, and not deale with 〈…〉 after youre foolishnesse: in that ye hau 〈…〉 spokē ye thinge which is right, like as my 〈…〉 Iob hath done.

So Eliphas the Themanite, Bald 〈…〉 Suhite and Sophar the Naamathite 〈…〉 their waye, and did acordynge as the 〈…〉 commaunded them. The LORDE also 〈…〉 the personne off Iob, and the LOR •• 〈…〉 turned him vnto Iob, whē he prayed for 〈…〉 frendes: Yee the LORDE gaue Iob twyse 〈◊〉 moch as he had afore.

And thē came there vnto him all his 〈…〉 thren, all his sisters with all them that 〈…〉 bene off his acquātaūce afore, and ate 〈…〉 with him in his house, wondringe at him, ād 〈◊〉 comfortinge him ouer all the trouble, 〈…〉 the LORDE had brought vpon him. 〈…〉 mā gaue him a shepe and a Iewell of 〈…〉

And the LORDE made Iob richer the 〈…〉 was before: for he had xiiij.M. shepe, vi. 〈…〉 camels, a M. yock oxē, and a M. asses. 〈…〉 had children also: vij. sonnes and iij. dough ters. The first he called Daye, the seconde 〈◊〉 pouerte: the thirde, All plenteousnes. In the londe were none founde so fayre, as 〈…〉 doughters of Iob, & their father gaue 〈…〉 enheritaunce amonge their brethren. After this lyued Iob xl. yeares, so that he sawe his children, & his childers children vnto the fourth generacion. And so he dyed, beinge olde & of a perfecte age.

The ende of the boke of Io 〈◊〉
The Psalter
The first psalme.

O Blessed is ye man, yt goeth 〈…〉 in the councell of ye vngod •• 〈…〉 yt abydeth not in the waye 〈…〉 synners, & sytteth not in ye 〈…〉 of the scornefull. But 〈…〉 lyteth in the lawe of ye LORDE, & exercyse 〈◊〉 himself in his lawe both aye and night. 〈…〉 Soch a mā is like a tre plated 〈◊〉 ye water, syd de, yt brīgeth forth his frute in due season.

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His leeues shal not fall off, ād loke what 〈◊〉 he doth, it shal prospere. As for the 〈◊〉 , it is not so with them: but they are 〈◊〉 dust, which ye wynde scatereth 〈…〉 of the grounde. Therfore the vngod 〈◊〉 all not be able to stonde in the iudgmēt, 〈◊〉 the synners in the congregacion off ightuous. For the LORDE aloweth ye 〈◊〉 ofthe rightuous, but the waye of the 〈◊〉 shal perishe.

The II. A psalme of Dauid.

THy do the Heithē grudge? why do the people ymagyn vayne thinges? The kynges of the earth stōde vp, 〈◊〉 rulers are come together, agaynst 〈◊〉 LORDE ād agaynst his anoynted. Let 〈◊〉 breake their bondes a sunder, and cast 〈…〉 their yocke from vs. Neuerthelesse, 〈◊〉 that dwelleth in heauen, shall laugh thē 〈◊〉 scorne: yee euen the LORDE himselff shall haue them in derision. Then shal he 〈…〉 vnto them in his wrath, and vexe them in 〈…〉 dispeasure. Yet haue I set my 〈◊〉 vpon my holy hill of Sion. As for me 〈…〉 preach the lawe, wherof the LORDE 〈…〉 sayde vnto me: Thou art my sonne, 〈◊〉 daye haue I begotten the. Desyre off 〈◊〉 , and I shall geue the the Heithen for 〈◊〉 enheritaunce, Yee the vttemost partes of 〈…〉 worlde for thy possession. Thou shalt 〈…〉 with a rodde of yron, and breake thē 〈…〉 like an erthen vessell. Be wyse now 〈◊〉 (o ye kynges) be warned, ye that are 〈◊〉 of the earth. Serue the LORDE ith feare, and reioyse before him with reue •• nce. Kysse the sonne, lest the LORDE be 〈◊〉 , and so ye perish from the right waye. or his wrath shalbe kindled shortly: blessed 〈…〉 they that put their trust in him.

The III. A psalme of Dauid.

Hy are they so many (o LORDE) yt 〈…〉 trouble me? a greate multitude are 〈…〉 they, that ryse agaynst me. Yee 〈◊〉 one there be that saye off my soule: 〈◊〉 is no helpe for him in God. Sela 〈…〉 (o LORDE) art my defender, my 〈◊〉 , ād the lifter vp of my heade. I call 〈◊〉 the LORDE with my voyce, and he 〈…〉 me out of his holy hill. Sela I layed 〈◊〉 downe and slepte, but I rose vp agayne, 〈◊〉 the LORDE susteyned me. I am not 〈◊〉 for thousandes of the people, that 〈…〉 rounde aboute. Vp LORDE, and helpe 〈◊〉 my God: for thou smytest all myne 〈◊〉 vpon the chek bones, and breakest the 〈◊〉 of the v godly. Helpe belongeth 〈◊〉 the LORDE, therfore let thy blessynge be vpon thy people.

The IIII. A psalme of Dauid.

HEare me whē I cal, o God of my rightuousnes, thou that comfortest me in my trouble: haue mercy vpon me, and herken vnto my prayer. O ye sonnes off men: how longe will ye blaspheme myne honoure? why haue ye soch pleasure in vanyte, & seke after lyes? Sela Knowe this, that the LORDE dealeth maruelously with his saynte: and when I call vpon the LORDE, he heareth me. Be angrie, but synne n t: 〈…〉 comō wt youre owne hertes vpō yor beddes, & remēbre yor selues. Sel . Offre ye sacrifice of rightuousnes, & put yor trust in ye LORDE. There be many yt saye: who wil do vs eny good? where as thou (o LORDE) hast shewed vs the light of ye countenaūce. Thou reioysest myne herte, though their encreace be greate both in corne & wyne. Therfore wil I laye me downe in peace, & take my rest: for thou LORDE only settest me in a sure dwellynge.

The V. A psalme of Dauid.

HEare my wordes (o LORDE) considre my callynge. O marke the voyce of my peticion, my kynge & my God: for vnto the wil I make my prayer. Heare my voyce by tymes (o LORDE) for early in the morninge wil I gett me vnto the, 〈…〉 yee & yt wt diligēce. For thou art not the God yt hath pleasure in wickednesse, there maye no vngodly personne dwel with the. Soch as be cruell maye not stonde in thy sight, thou art an enemie vnto all wicked doers.

Thou destroyest the lyers: the LORDE abhorreth the bloude thurstie and disceatfull. But as for me, I wil come into thy house, 〈…〉 euen vpon the multitude of thy mercy: ād in thy feare wyll I worshipe towarde thy holy tēple. Lede me (o LORDE) in thy rightuousnesse, because of myne enemyes, ād make thy waye playne before me. For there is no faithfulnesse in their mouthes: they dyssemble in their hertes: their throte is an open sepulchre: with their tonges they disceaue. Punysh them (o God) that they maye perish in their owne ymaginacions: cast them out because of the multitude of their vngodlinesse, for they rebell agaynst the. Agayne, let all them that put their trust in the, reioyse: yee let them euer be geuynge of thankes, because thou defendest them: that they which loue thy name, maye be ioyfull in the. For thou LORDE geuest thy blessinge vnto the rightuous: and with thy fauorable kyndnes thou defendest him, as with a shylde.

The VI. A psalme of Dauid.

OH LORDE, rebuke me not in thine anger: Oh chastē me not in thy heuy displeasure. 〈…〉 Haue mercy vpon me (o LORDE) for I am weake: o LORDE heale me, for all my bones are vexed. My soule also is in greate trouble, but LORDE how longe? Turne the (o LORDE) & delyuer my soule: Oh saue me, for thy mercies sake. For in death no man remēbreth the: Oh who wil geue the thankes in the hell? I am weery of gronynge: Euery night wasshe I my bedde, & water my couche with my teares. My coūtenaūce is chaunged for very inwarde grefe, I cōsume awaye, 〈…〉 I haue so many enemies. Awaye fro me all ye wicked doers, for the LORDE hath herde the voyce off my wepinge. The LORDE hath herde myne humble peticiē, the LORDE hath receaued my prayer. All myne enemies shalbe cōfounded & sore vexed: yee they shalbe turned backe and put to shame, and that right soone.

The VII. A psalme of Dauid.

O LORDE my God, in ye do I trust: saue me frō all thē yt persecute me, 〈…〉 & delyuer me. Lest he hantch vp my soule like a lyon, & teare it in peces, whyle there is none to helpe. O LORDE my God, yff I haue done eny soch thinge: yf there be eny vnrightuousnes in my hādes: Yff I haue rewarded euell vnto thē yt dealt frendly wt me or hurte thē yt wt out eny cause are myne enemies: Then let myne enemie persecute my soule, & take me: yee let hī treade my life downe in the earth, & laye myne honor in the dust. Sela. Stōde vp (o LORDE) in yi wrath, lift vp thyself ouer the furious indignaciō of myne enemies: aryse vp (for me) in the vengeaunce that thou hast promysed. 〈…〉 That the congregacion of the people maye come aboute the, for their sakes therfore lift vp thyselff agayne, The LORDE is iudge ouer the people: Auenge me then (o LORDE) acordinge to my rightuousnes & innocency. Oh let the wickednes of the vngodly come to an ende: but manteyne the iust, thou rightuous God, yt triest the very hertes & the reynes. My helpe cōmeth of God, which preserueth them yt are true of herte. 〈…〉 God is a rightuous iudge, & God is euer threateninge. Yf men wil not turne, he hath whet his swearde: he hath bent his bowe & made it ready. He hath prepayred him the weapens of death, & ordened his arowes to destroye. Beholde, he trauayleth with myschefe, 〈…〉 he hath cōceaued vnhappynesse, and brought forth a lye. He hath grauen and dygged vp a pytte, 〈…〉 but he shal fall himself into ye pytte yt he hath made. For his vnhappynes shall come vpon his owne heade, Psal. •• 9. b & his wickednes shall fall vpon his owne pate. As for me, I will geue thankes vnto the LORDE for his rightuousnes sake, and wil prayse the name of the LORDE the most hyest.

The VIII. A psalme of Dauid.

O LORDE oure gouernoure: how onderfull is thy name in all the worlde? how excellent is thy glory aboue the heauens? Matt. 1. b Out of the mouth of the very babes & sucklinges thou hast ordened prayse, because of thine enemies, yt thou mightest destroye the enemie and the auenger. For I considre thy heauens, euen the worke off thy fyngers: the Moone and the starres which thou hast made. Oh what is man, yt thou art so myndfull of him? ether the sonne of mā that thou visitest him? Psal. 143. a Heb 2. b After thou haddest for a season made him lower thē the angels, thou crownedest him with honor & glory. Thou hast set him aboue the workes off thy hondes: 〈…〉 thou hast put all thinges in subieccion vnder his fete. All shepe and oxen, yee and the beastes of the felde. The foules of the ayre: the fysh of the see, and what o walketh thorow the wayes of the see. O LORDE oure gouernoure, how wonderfull is thy name in all the worlde?

The IX. A psalme of Dauid.

I Wil geue thākes vnto the (o LORDE) with my whole herte, I wil speake of all thy maruelous workes. Psal 110. a and. 137. a I wil be glad & reioyse in the, yee my songes wil I make of thy name, o thou most hyest. Because thou hast dryuē myne enemies abacke, they were discōfited, & perished at thy presence. For thou hast manteyned my right and my cause: thou syttest in the Trone that art the true iudge. Thou rebukest the Heithen, and destroyest the vngodly, thou puttest out their name for euer and euer. The enemies swerdes are come to an ende, thou hast ouerthrowen their cities, their memoriall is perished with thē. But ye LORDE endureth for euer, he hath prepared his seate vnto iudgmēt. He gouerneth ye worlde with rightuousnes & ministreth true iudgmēt vnto the people. The LORDE is a defence for the poore, a defence in the tyme of trouble. Therfore they yt knowe thy name, put their trust in ye: for thou (LORDE) neuer faylest thē, that seke the. O prayse the LORDE, Deu. 4. c Psal. 75. a which dwelleth in Sion shewe ye people of his doinges. And why? he maketh inquysicion for their bloude, and remembreth them: Psal. 21. c he forgetteth not the complaynte of the poore. Haue mercy vpō me (o LORDE) considre the trouble that I am in amōge myne enemies, thou that liftest me vp from ye gates of death. That I maye she we all thy prayses within the portes off the doughter Sion, and reioyse in thy sauynge heal h. As for the Heithen, the are sunckē do ne in the pytte that they made: in the same nette, which they spred out priuely, is their owne fote takē. Thus ye LORDE is knowne to execute true iudgment, whē the vngodly is trapped in the workes of his owne handes Sela. The wicked must be turned vnto hell, and all the Heithen yt forget God. But the poore shal not allwaye be out of remembraunce, the paciēt abydinge of soch as be in trouble shall not perish for euer. Vp LORDE, let not man haue the vpper hāde, let the Heithē be cōdemned before the. O LORDE, set a scolemaster ouer thē, that the Heithē maye knowe them selues to be but mē. Sela.

Here the Hebrues begynne the x. psalme.

WHy art thou gone so farre of, o LORDE? wilt thou hyde thyselff in tyme of trouble? Whyle ye vngodly hath the ouer hande, the poore must suffre persecucion: O that they were taken in the ymaginacions which they go aboute. For the vn godly maketh boost of his owne hertes desyre, the cuvetous blesseth him self, and blasphemeth the LORDE. The vngodly is so proude and full of indignaciō, that he careth not: nether is God before his eyes. His wayes are allwaye filthie, thy iudgmentes are farre out of his sight, he defyeth all his enemies. For he sayeth in his herte: Tush, I shal neuer be cast downe, there shal no harme happē vnto me. His mouth is full of cursynge, fraude and disceate: vnder his tōge is trauayle & sorow. He sytteth lurkynge in the gardens, that he maye pryuely murthur the innocent, his eyes are set vpō the poore. He lyeth way inge secretly, as it were a lyon in his denne. He lurketh that he maye rauysh the poore, yee to rauish the poore, when he hath gotten him in to his nett. Then smyteth he, then oppresseth he & casteth downe the poore with his auctorite. For he sayeth in his herte: Tush, God hath forgotten, he hath turned a waye his face, so yt he will neuer se it. Aryse o LORDE God, lift vp thine honde, and forget not the poore. Wherfore shulde the wicked blaspheme God, and saye in his herte: Tush, he careth not for it? This thou seist, for thou considrest the mysery and sorowe: The poore geueth himselff ouer in to thy hande, and committeth him vnto the, for thou art the helper of the frendlesse. Breake thou ye arme off the vngodly and malycious, search out the wickednesse which he hath done, that he maye perish. The LORDE is kynge for euer, ye Heithen shal perish out off his londe. LORDE, thou hearest the desyrous longinge off the poore: their herte is sure, that thine eare herkeneth therto. Helpe the fatherlesse and poore vnto their right, that the vngodly be nomore exalted vpon earth.

The X. A psalme of Dauid.

IN the LORDE put I my trust: how will ye then saye to my soule: that she shulde fle as a byrde vpon youre hill? For o, the vngodly haue bēt their bowe, and made redy their arowes in the quyuer: that they maye priuely shute at them, 〈…〉 which are true of herte. The very foundacion haue they cast downe, what cā the rightuous thē do withall? But the LORDE is in his holy temple, the LORDES seate is in heauen: 〈…〉 He cōsidereth it with his eyes, his eye lyddes beholde the children of men. 〈…〉 The LORDE seith both the rightuous and vngodly, but who so deliteth in wickednes, him his soule abhorreth. Vpon the vngodly he shal rayne snares, fyre, brymstone, storme and tempest: this rewarde shal they haue to drynke. For the LORDE is rightuous, ād he loueth rightuousnes, his countenaunce beholdeth the thīge yt is iust.

The XI. A psalme of Dauid.

HElpe LORDE, for there is not one saynte more: very fewe faithfull are there amonge the children off men. Euery man telleth lyes to his neghbor, they do but flater with their lippes and dissemble in their herte. O that the LORDE wolde rote out all disceatfull lippes, ād the tonge that speaketh proude thinges. Which saye: Oure tō ge shulde preuayle: we are they that ought to speake, who is lorde ouer vs? Now for the troubles sake off the oppressed, & because of the complaynte of the poore, I wil vp (sayeth the LORDE) I wil helpe thē, and set thē at rest. The wordes of the LORDE are pure wordes: euē as ye syluer, 〈…〉 which from earth is tried and purified vij. tymes in the fyre. Kepe thē therfore (o LORDE) and preserue vs frō this generacion for euer. And why? when vanite and ydylnes getteth the ouer hande amonge the children of men, all are full of ye vngodly.

The XII. A psalme of Dauid.

HOw longe wilt thou forget me, o LORDE? for euer? how longe wilt thou hyde thy face fro me? Oh how lōge shall I seke councell in my soule? how longe shall I be so vexed in my herte? how longe shal myne enemie triumphe ouer me? Considre, ād heare me, o LORDE my God: lighten myne eyes, that I slepe not in death. Lest myne enemie saye: I haue preuayled agaynst hī for yf I be cast downe, they that trouble me will reioyse at it.

But my trust is in thy mercy, and my hert is ioyfull in thy sauynge health. I wil synge of the LORDE, that dealeth so louyngly with me. (Yee I wil prayse the name of the LORDE the most hyest)

The XIII. A psalme of Dauid.

THe foolish bodyes saye in their hertes: 〈…〉 Tush, there is no God. They are corrupte, ād become abhominable in their doynges, there is not one doth good. The LORDE loked downe frō heauē vpō the children of men, 〈…〉 to se yf there were eny, that wolde vnderstonde & seke after God. But they are all gone out of the waye, they are alltogether become vnprofitable: there is none that doth good, no not one. 〈…〉 Their throte is an open sepulcre, with their tonges they haue disceaued, the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lippes. 〈…〉 Their mouth is full of cursinge and bytternes, their fete are swift to shed bloude. 〈…〉 Destruccion & wretchednes are in their wayes, ād the waye of peace haue they not knowne: there is no feare off God before their eyes. How can they haue vnderstondinge, yt worke myschefe, eatinge vp my people, as it were bred, & call not vpō ye LORDE?

Therfore shal they be brought in greate feare, for God stondeth by the generacion of the rightuous. As for you, ye haue made a mocke at the coūcell of the poore, because he putteth his trust in the LORDE. Oh yt the sauynge health were geuen vnto Israel out off Sion. 〈…〉 Oh that the LORDE wolde delyuer his people out of captiuyte. Thē shulde Iacob reioyse, and Israel shulde be right glad.

The XIIII. A psalme of Dauid.

LORDE, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? 〈…〉 who shal rest vpō yi holy hill? Euen he yt ledeth an vncorrupte life: that doth the thinge which is right, ād that speaketh the treuth from his herte. He yt vseth no disceat in his tonge: he that doth no euell to his neghboure, & slaundreth not his neghbours. He yt setteth not by the vngodly but maketh moch of thē that feare the LORDE: he yt sweareth vnto his neghboure & dispoynteth him not. He that geueth not his money vpon vsury, Eze. 18. a and taketh no rewarde agaynst the innocēt. Who so doth these thī ges, shal neuer be remoued.

The XV. A psalme of Dauid.

PReserue me (o God) for in the do I trust. I haue sayde vnto ye LORDE: thou art my God, my goodes are nothinge vnto the. All my delyte is vpon the sanctes that are in the earth, and vpon soch like. But they yt runne after another shall haue greate trouble. Their drynk offerynges of bloude wil not I offre, nether make mencion of their name in my mouth. The LORDE himself is my good and my 〈◊〉 thou manteynest my enheritaūce. 〈…〉 is fallen vnto me in a fayre ground 〈…〉 a goodly heretage. I wil thanke 〈…〉 for geuynge me warnynge my 〈…〉 so haue chastened me in the night 〈…〉 Afore honde sawe I God allwayes 〈…〉 me, for he is on my right honde, that I shulde not be moued.

Therfore dyd my hert reioyce, & my tunge was glad, my flesh also shall rest in hope. For why? thou shalt not leaue my sou e in hell, nether shalt thou suffre thy saynte to se corrupcion. Thou hast shewed me the wayes off life: thou shalt make me full of ioye wt thy countenaunce. At thy right hande there is pleasure and ioye for euermore.

The XVI. A psalme of Dauid.

HEare ye right (O LORDE) cōsidre my cō playnte: herken vnto my prayer, tha goeth not out of a fayned mouth. Le my sentence come forth frō thy presence, and loke vpon the thinge that is equall. Tho hast proued & visited myne herte in the nigh season: thou hast tried me in the fyre, & has founde no wickednes in me: for I vtterly pu •• posed, that my mouth shulde not offende. Because of the wordes of thy lippes, I haue kepte me frō the workes of men, in ye way off the murthurer. Oh ordre thou my goyn ges in thy pathes, that my fote steppes slippe not. For vnto the I crie, heare me o God enclyne thine eares to me, and herkē vnto my wordes. Shewe yi maruelous louinge kindnesse, thou that sauest them which put their trust in the, from soch as resist thy right honde. Kepe me as the apple of an eye, defende me vnder the shadowe of thy wynges. zac. 2. b Matt 23. From the vngodly that trouble me, fro myne enemies which compasse my soule rounde aboute.

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Which manteyne their owne welthynesse with oppression, & their mouth speaketh proude thinges. They lye waytinge in or waye on euery syde, turnynge their eyes downe to the grounde. Like as a lyon that is gredy of his pray, & as it were a lyons whelpe lurckynge in his denne. Vp LORDE, dispoynte him & cast him downe: delyuer my soule with thy swerde from the vngodly. Ephe. . b Frō the men of thy honde (o LORDE) from the men off the worlde, which haue their porcion in this life: whose belies thou fyllest with thy treasure.

They haue children at their desyre, and leaue the reste of their substaūce for their babes

But as forme, I will beholde thy presence in rightuousnes: and when thy glory appea •• shal be satisfied.

〈◊〉 XVII. A psalme of Dauid when he is delyuered from the honde off Saul.

〈…〉 loue the (o LORDE) my strēgth. 〈…〉 The LORDE is my sucor, my refuge, 〈◊〉 my Sauior: my god, my helper ī whō 〈…〉 : my buckler, ye horne of my health, & my protecciō. I wil prayse ye LORDE & call vpon him, 〈…〉 a so shal I be safe fro myne enemies. The sorowes of death cōpassed me, & the brokes of vngodlynes made me afrayed. 〈…〉 a The paynes of hell came aboute me, the snares of death toke holde vpō me. Yet in my trouble I called vpō the LORDE, & cōplayned vnto my God. So he herde my voyce out off his holy tēple, & my cōplaynte came before hī, yee euē in to his eares. Thē the earth trembled & quaked, att. 7. f the very foūdaciōs of the hilles shoke & were remoued, because he was wrothe. There wēte a smoke out of his nostrels, ād a cōsumynge fyre out of his mouth, so ye coales were kyndled at it. He bowed the heauēs & came downe, & it was darcke vnder his fete. He rode vpō the Cherubins & dyd fle: he came flyenge with the wynges of the wynde. He made darcknesse his pauylion rounde aboute hī, with darcke water & thicke cloudes to couer him. At the brightnes off his presence the cloudes remoued, with hale stones & coales of fyre. The LORDE also thondred out of ye heauē, & the heyth gaue his thondre wt hale stones & coales of fyre. He sent out his arowes & scatred thē, he cast sore lighteninges, & destroyed thē. The springes of waters were sene, & the foundaciōs of the roūde worlde were discouered at yi chiding (o LORDE) at the blastinge & breth of thy displeasure. He sent downe frō the heyth to fetch me, & toke me out of greate waters. He delyuered me fro my stronge enemies, and fro my foes which were to mightie forme. They preuented me in the tyme of my trouble, but ye LORDE was my defence. He brought me forth also into lyberte: & delyuered me, because he had a fauor vnto me. The LORDE shall rewarde me after my rightuous dealynge, & acordinge to the clēnesse of my hōdes shal he recōpense me. For I haue kepte the wayes of the LORDE, & haue not behaued myself wickedly agaynst my God. I haue an eye vnto all his lawes, & cast not out his commaundemētes fro me. Vncorrupte will I be before hī, & wil eschue myne owne wickednes. Therfore shal ye LORDE rewarde me after my rightuous dealinge, & acordinge vnto ye clēnesse of my hōdes in his eye sight. With the holy thou shalt be holy, & wt ye innocēt thou shalt be innocēt. With the clene thou shalt be clene & with the frowarde thou shalt be frowarde. 〈…〉 For thou shalt saue the poore oppressed, & brī ge downe the hye lokes of the proude. 〈…〉 Thou lightest my cādle, o LORDE my God: thou makest my darcknesse to be light. For in the I can discōfit an hoost of mē: yee in my God I cā leape ouer the wall.

The waye of God is a perfecte waye: 〈…〉 the wordes of the LORDE are tried in the fyre: he is a shylde of defence, for all them that trust in him. For who is God, but the LORDE? 〈…〉 Or, who hath eny strength, but oure God? 〈…〉 It is God that hath gyrded me with strēgth and made my waye vncorrupte. He hath made my fete like hartes fete, and set me vp an hye. He teacheth myne hondes to fight, 〈…〉 and maketh myne armes to breake euen a bowe off stele. Thou hast geuē me the defence of thy health, thy right hande vpholdeth me, and thy louynge correccion maketh me greate. Thou hast made rowme ynough vnder me for to go, that my fote steppes shulde not slyde. I will folowe vpon myne enemies, and take them: I will not turne till they be discomfited. I will smyte them, they shall not be able to stonde, but fall vnder my fete. Thou hast gyrded me with strength vnto ye batell, thou hast throwē them all downe vnder me, that rose vp agaynst me. Thou hast made myne enemies to turne their backes vpon me, thou hast destroyed thē yt hated me. They cried, but there was none to helpe thē: yee euen vnto the LORDE, 〈…〉 but he herde thē not. I will beate them as small as the dust before the wynde, I will cast them out as ye claye in the stretes. Thou shalt delyuer me from the stryuinges of the people, thou shalt make me the heade of the Heithē. A people whom I haue not knowne, shall serue me.

As soone as they heare of me, they shall obeye me, but the straunge childrē dyssemble with me. The straunge children are waxē olde, and go haltinge out of their pathes. The LORDE lyueth: ād blessed be my helper, praysed be the God of my health. Euē ye God which seyth that I be auenged, and subdueth the people vnto me. It is he that delyuereth me fro my cruell enemies: thou shalt lift me vp from them that ryse agaynst me, thou shalt ryd me from the wicked man.

〈…〉 For this cause I wil geue thankes vnto ye (o LORDE) amonge the Gentiles, and synge prayses vnto thy name. Greate prosperite geueth he vnto his kynge, 〈…〉 and sheweth louinge kyndnesse vnto Dauid his anoynted, yee & vnto his sede for euermore.

The XVIII. A psalme of Dauid.

THe very heauēs declare the glory off God, 〈…〉 ād the very firmamēt sheweth his hādye worke. One daye telleth another, and one night certifieth another. There is nether speach ner lāguage, but their voyces are herde amōge thē. Their soū de is gone out in to all londes, and their wordes in to the endes of the worlde. 〈…〉

In thē hath he sett a tabernacle for ye Sō ne, which cōmeth forth as a brydegrome out of his chambre, & reioyseth as a giaunte to rū ne his course. It goeth forth frō the one ende of the heauen, and runneth aboute vnto the same ende agayne, & there maye no mā hyde himself frō the heate therof. The lawe of the LORDE is a perfecte lawe, it quickeneth the soule. 〈…〉 The testimony of ye LORDE is true, & geueth wisdome euen vnto babes. The statutes of the LORDE are right, & reioyse the herte: ye cōmaundemēt of ye LORDE is pure, and geueth light vnto the eyes.

The feare of the LORDE is cleane, & endureth for euer: the iudgmentes of the LORDE are true and rigtuous alltogether. More pleasunt are they then golde, 〈…〉 yee then moch fyne golde: sweter then hony & the hony combe. These thy seruaunt kepeth, & for kepinge of them there is greate rewarde. 〈…〉 Who can tell, how oft he offendeth? Oh clēse thou me fro my secrete fautes. Kepe thy seruaū te also from presumptuous synnes, lest they get the dominion ouer me: so shal I be vndefyled & innocēt frō the greate offence. Yee the wordes of my mouth & the meditaciō of my herte shalbe acceptable vnto the, o LORDE, my helper and my redemer.

The XIX. A psalme of Dauid.

THe LORDE heare the in the tyme off trouble, the name of the God of Iacob defende the. Sende the helpe frō the Sanctuary, & strength ye out of Sion Remembre all thy offerynges, and accepte thy brent sacrifice Sela. Graunte the thy hertes desyre, & fulfill all thy mynde. We will reioyse in thy health, & triūphe in ye name of the LORDE oure God: the LORDE perfourme all thy peticiōs. Now knowe I, that the LORDE helpeth his anoynted, and will heare him frō his holy heauen: mightie is the helpe of his right hōde. Some put their trust in charettes, & some in horses: but we wil remē bre ye name of the LORDE oure God. They are brought downe and fallen, but we are rysen and stonde vp right. Saue (LORDE) & helpe vs (o kynge) when we call vpon the.

The XX. A psalme of Dauid.

LORDE, how ioyfull is the kynge in ye strength? O how exceadinge glad is he of thy sauynge health? Thou hast geuen him his hertes desyre, & hast not put him frō the request of his lippes Sela. For thou hast preuēted him wt liberall blessinges, & set a crowne of golde vpon his heade. He asked life of the, & thou gauest him a longe life, euē foreuer & euer. His honoure is greate in thy sauynge health, glory and greate worshipe shalt thou laye vpon him. For thou shalt geue him euerlastīge felicite, & make him glad wt the ioye of ye coūtenaūce. And why because the kinge putteth his trust in the LORDE, & in the mercy of the most hiest he shal not myscary. Let all thine enemies fele thy honde, let thy right honde fynde out all thē yt hate the. Thou shalt make thē lite a fyre ouen in tyme of thy wrath: the LORDE shal destroye thē in his displeasure, & the fyre shall consume them. Their frute shalt thou rote out of the earth, & their sede frō amōge the childrē of men. For they intēded myschefe agaynst the, & ymagined soch deuyces, as they were not able to perfourme. Therfore shalt thou put thē to flight, & with thy stringes thou shalt make ready thine arowes agaynst the faces off them. Be thou exalted (LORDE) in thine owne strength, so wil we synge and prayse thy power.

The XXI. A psalme of Dauid.

MY God, my God: why hast thou forsaken me? Matt. 7. Mar. 15. d ye wordes of my cōplaynte are farre fro my health. O my God, I crie in the daye tyme, but thou hearest not: and in the night season also I take no rest. Yet dwellest thou in the Sanctuary, o thou worshipe of Israel. Oure fathers hoped in the, they trusted in the ād thou dyddest delyuer them. They called vpon the, and were helped: they put their trust in the, and were not cōfounded. But as for me, I am a worme and no man: a very scorne of mē and the outcast of the people. All they yt se me, Psal. 108. d laugh me to scorne: they shute out their lippes, and shake their heades. He trusted in God, Matt. 27. c let him delyuer him: let him helpe hī, yf he wil haue him. But thou art he that toke me out of my mothers wōbe: Psal. 7 . a thou wast •• y hope, when I hanged yet vpon my mothers brestes. I haue bene left vnto the euer sence I was borne, thou art my God, euē fro my mothers wombe. O go not fro me thē, for trouble is harde at honde, and here is none to helpe me. Greate bulles are come aboute me, fatt oxen close me in on euery syde. They gape vpon me with their mouthes, as it were a rampinge and roaringe lyon.

uc. 7. a Re. 14. b I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of ioynt: my hert in the myddest off my body is euen like meltinge waxe. My strength is dried vp like a potsherde, my tunge cleueth to my goomes, and thou hast brought me in to the dust of death. For dogges are come aboute me, the coūcell of ye wicked hath layed sege agaynst me. They pearsed my hondes and my fete, I might haue tolde all my bones: as for them, they stode staringe and lokinge vpon me. They haue parted my garmentes amonge them, ād cast lottes vpon my vesture. 〈…〉

But be not thou farre fro me, o LORDE: thou are my sucoure, haist the to helpe me. Delyuer my soule from the swearde, my dearlinge from the power of the dogge. Saue me from the lyons mouth, and heare me frō amonge the hornes off the vnicornes. sal. 4. b So will I declare thy name vnto my brethren, Heb. 2. c in the myddest off the congregacion will I prayse the. O prayse the LORDE ye that feare him: Magnifie him all ye sede of Iacob. & let all ye sede of Israel feare hī. sal. 9. b For he hath not despysed ner abhorred the myserable estate of the poore: he hath not hyd his face frome, but whē I called vnto him, he herde me. I wil prayse the in the greate congregacion, and perfourme my vowes in the sight off all thē that feare the. The poore shal eate ād be satisfied: sal. 1 1. b they ye seke after ye LORDE shal prayse him: youre herte shal lyue for euer.

All the endes of the worlde shal remembre them selues, & be turned vnto the LORDE: and all the generacions of the Heithen shal worshipe before him. For the kyngdome is the LORDES, and he shal be the gouernoure of ye Heithen. All soch as be fat vpō earth, shal eate also and worshipe: All they that lye in the dust, and lyue so hardly, shall fall downe before him. The sede shall serue him, and preach of the LORDE for euer. They shal come, & declare his rightuousnes: vnto a people that shal be borne, 〈…〉 whō the LORDE hath made.

The XXII. A psalme of Dauid.

THe LORDE is my shepherde, I can wante nothinge. 〈…〉 He fedeth me in a grene pasture, ād ledeth me to a fresh water. He quickeneth my soule, & bringeth me forth in the waye of rightuousnes for his names sake. 〈…〉 Though I shulde walke now in the valley of the shadowe of death, yet I feare no euell, for thou art with me: thy staffe & thy shepehoke cōforte me. Thou preparest a •• ble before me agaynst mine enemies: thou anoyntest my heade with oyle, & fyllest my cuppe full. Oh let thy louynge kyndnes & mercy folowe me all the dayes off my life, that I maye dwell in the house off the LORDE for euer.

The XXIII. A psalme of Dauid.

THe earth is the LORDES, 〈…〉 & all that therin is: the cōpase of the worlde, ād all yt dwell therin. For he hath foū ded it vpō the sees, & buylded it vpon the floudes. Who shal go vp in to the hill off the LORDE? Or, who shal remayne in his holy place? Euē he yt hath innocēt hōdes & a clene herte: which lifteth not vp his mynde vnto vanite, & sweareth not to disceaue. 〈…〉 He shal receaue the blessinge frō the LORDE, ād mercy frō God his sauioure. This is ye generaciō of thē yt seke him, of thē yt seke yi face, o Iacob. Sela. Open yor gates (o ye prī ces) let the euerlastinge dores be opened, yt ye kynge of glory maye come in. Who is this kynge of glory It is the LORDE strōge and mightie, euen the LORDE mightie in batell.

Open youre gates (o ye prynces) let the euerlastinge dores be opened, yt the kynge off glory maye come in. Who is this kynge off glory? It is the LORDE of hoostes, he is the kynge of glory. Sela.

The XXIIII. A psalme of Dauid.

UNto the (o LORDE) I lift vp my soule. My God, I trust in ye: 〈…〉 Oh let me not be confounded, lest myne enemies triūphe ouer me. For all they yt hope in ye shal not be ashamed: but soch as be scornefull despysers wt out a cause they shall be put to cōfuciō. Shewe me thy wayes (o LORDE) & teach me thy pathes. Lede me in ye trueth and lerne me, for thou art the God off my health, and in the is my hope all the daye longe.

Call to remembraunce, O LORDE, thy tender mercyes & thy louinge kyndnesses, which haue bene euer of olde. Oh remēbre not ye synnes & offences of my youth, but acordinge vnto thy mercy thynke vpon me (O LORDE) for thy goodnesse. O how frēdly & rightuous is the LORDE, therfore wil he teach synners in the waye. He ledeth the symple a right, and soch as be meke thē lerneth he his wayes. All the wayes of the LORDE are very mercy & faith fulnesse, vnto soch as kepe his testament and couenaunt. For thy names sake, O LORDE, be mercifull vnto my synne, for it is greate. What so euer he be that feareth the LORDE, he shal shewe him the waye that he hath chosen.

His soule shall dwell at ease, and his sede shall possesse the londe. The secrete of the LORDE is amonge them that feare him, and he sheweth them his couenaunt. Myne eyes are euer lokynge vnto the LORDE, for he shal plucke my fete out of ye nett. Turnethe vnto me and haue mercy vpon me, for I am desolate and in misery. The sorowes of my herte are greate, O brynge me out of my troubles.

Loke vpon my aduersite and misery, and forgeue me all my synnes. Considre how myne enemies are many, and beare a malicious hate agaynst me. O kepe my soule, and delyuer me: let me not be confounded, for I haue put my trust in the. Let innocency and righteuous dealinge wayte vpon me, for my hope is in the. Delyuer Israel (O God) out of all his trouble.

The XXV: A psalme of Dauid.

BE thou my iudge (O LORDE) for I walke innocently: my trust is in the LORDE, therfore shall I not fall. Examen me O LORDE, and proue me: trie out my reynes and my hert. For thy louynge kyndnesse is before myne eyes, and I walke in thy trueth. I syt not amōge vayne personnes, and haue no fellishipe with the disceatfull. I hate the congregacion of the wicked, and I will not syt amonge the vngodly.

I waszshe my hondes with innocency O LORDE, and so go I to thine aulter. That I maye shewe the voyce of thy prayse, and tell of all thy wonderous workes. LORDE, I loue the habitacion of thy house, and ye place where thy honoure dwelleth. O destroye not my soule with the synners, ner my life with the bloud thurstie. In whose hondes is wickednesse, and their right honde is full of giftes. But as for me I will walke innocently: O delyuer me, Deu. 17. and be mercifull vnto me. My fote stondeth right: I wil prayse the (O LORDE) in the congregacions.

The XXVI. A psalme of Dauid.

THe LORDE is my light and my health: Psal 111. whom then shulde I feare the LORDE is the strength of my life, for whom thē shulde I be afrayed? Therfore when the wicked (euen myne enemies & my foes) came vpon me, to eate vp my flesh, they stombled and fell. Though an hoost of men were layed agaynst me, yet shal not my hert be afrayed: and though there rose vp warre against me, yet wil I put my trust in him. Luce 10. One thinge haue I desyred of the LORDE, which I wil requyre: namely, that I maye dwell in the house of the LORDE all the dayes of my life,2. Re. 7. to beholde the fayre beutie of the LORDE, and to vyset his temple.

For in the tyme of trouble he hath hyde me in his tabernacle,1. Re. 21. yee in the secrete place of his dwellinge hath he kepte and set me vp vpon a rocke of stone. And now hath he lift vp my heade aboue myne enemies, that cōpassed me rounde aboute. Therfore wil I offre in his dwellinge, the oblacion of thā kesgeuynge: I wil both synge & speake prayses vnto the LORDE. Herkē vnto my voyce (O LORDE) when I crie vnto the: haue mercy vpon me & heare me. My hert speaketh vnto the, my face seketh the, yee LORDE, thy face wil I seke. O hyde not thou thy face fro me, cast not thy seruaunt of in displeasure. Thou art my succoure, leaue me not, nether forsake me, O God my Sauioure. For my father and my mother haue forsaken me, but the LORDE hath taken me vp. Shewe me thy waye O LORDE, and lede me in the right path, because of myne enemies. Delyuer me not in to the wylles of myne aduersaries, for there are false wytnesses rysen vp against me, and they ymagyn myschefe. Neuerthelesse, I beleue verely to se the goodnesse of the LORDE in the londe of the lyuynge. Psal. 0. d O tary thou ye LORDES leysure, be stronge, let thine hert be of good comforte, and wayte thou still for the LORDE.

The XXVII. A psalme of Dauid.

UNto the wil I crie, o my stronge defence: thinke no scorne of me, lest (yf thou make the as though thou herdest not) I become like them, that go downe in to ye pytte. Heare the voyce of my humble peticion, when I crie vnto the, and holde vp my hondes towarde thy holy temple.

O plucke me not awaye amonge the vngodly and wicked doers, 〈◊〉 . 9. a which speake frendly to their neghboure, but ymagin myschefe in their hertes. Rewarde them acordinge to their dedes and wickednesse of their owne inuencions. Recompense them after ye workes of thei •• des, paye them that they haue deserued. For they regarde not the workes of the LORDE, ner the operacion of his hādes: therfore shal he breake them downe, and not buylde them vp. Praysed be ye LORDE, for he hath herde the voyce of my humble peticiō. eut. . d The LORDE is my strēgth and my shylde: my herte hoped in him, & I am helped: therfore my hert daūseth for ioye, and I will synge prayses vnto him. The LORDE is the strength of his people, he is the defender and Sauioure of his anoynted.

O helpe thy people, geue thy blessynge vnto thy enheritaunce: eut. 32. a fede them, and set them vp for euer.

The XXVIII. A psalme of Dauid.

AScrybe vnto the LORDE (o ye mightie) ascribe vnto the LORDE worshipe and strength. Geue the LORDE the honoure of his name, bowe youre selues to the holy magesty of the LORDE It is the LORDE that commaundeth the waters: It is the glorious God that maketh ye thonder: it is the LORDE yt ruleth the see. The voyce of the LORDE is mightie in operacion, the voyce of the LORDE is a glorious voyce. ze. 17. d The voyce of the LORDE breaketh the Cedr trees: yee the LORDE breaketh the Ceders of Libanus. He maketh them to skippe like a calfe: Deut. 3. b Libanus and Sirion like a yonge vnycorne. Num. 1 . c The voyce of the LORDE deuideth the flames of fyre: the voyce of the LORDE shaketh the wildernesse, yee the LORDE shaketh the wildernesse of Cades.

The voyce of the LORDE moueth ye hyndes & discouereth the thicke buszshes: in his temple shal euery man speake of his honoure. The LORDE stilleth the water floude, & ye LORDE remayneth a kynge for euer. The LORDE shall geue power vnto his people, the LORDE shal geue his people the blessynge of peace.

The XXIX. A psalme of Dauid.

I Wil magnifie ye (O LORDE) for thou hast set me vp, & not suffred my foes to triūphe ouer me. O LORDE my God, I cried vnto the, and thou hast healed me.1. Reg. 2. b Psal. 5. b Thou LORDE hast brought my soule out of hell: thou hast kepte my life, where as they go downe to the pytte. Synge prayses vnto the LORDE (o ye sayntes of his) geue thankes vnto him for a remembraunce of his holynesse. 〈…〉 For his wrath endureth but the twincklinge of an eye, and his pleasure is in life: heuynesse maye well endure for a night, but ioye commeth in the mornynge.

As forme, whē I was in prosperite, I sayde: Tush, I shal neuer fall more. (And why? thou LORDE of thy goodnesse haddest made my hill so stronge.) But as soone as thou turnedest thy face fro me, I was brought in feare. Thē cried I vnto ye (O LORDE) yee vnto ye LORDE made I my prayer. What profit is there in my bloude, 〈…〉 yf I go downe to corrupcion? Maye the dust geue thankes vnto ye? Or shal it declare thy faithfulnesse? Heare (O LORDE) and haue mercy vpon me: LORDE be thou my helper. And so thou hast turned my heuynesse in to ioye: thou hast put of my sack cloth, & gyrded me wt gladnesse. That my honor might synge prayses vnto the wt out ceassynge: O LORDE my God, I wil geue thankes vnto the for euer.

The XXX: A psalme of Dauid.

IN the, O LORDE, is my trust: let me neuer be put to cōfucion, 〈…〉 but delyuer me in thy rightuousnesse. Bowe downe thine eare to me, make haist to delyuer me: be thou my stronge rocke and a house of defence, that thou mayest saue me. For thou art my stronge holde & my castell: O be thou my gyde, & lede me for thy names sake. Drawe me out of the nett yt they haue layed priuely for me, for thou art my strēgth. 〈…〉

Into thy hondes I commende my sprete: thou hast •• lyuered me O LORDE thou God of treuth. I hate them that holde of vanities, and my trust is in the LORDE. I will be glad and reioyse in thy mercy: for thou hast considred my trouble, thou hast knowne my soule in aduersite. Thou hast not delyuered me ouer in to the hōdes of the enemie, but hast set my fete in a large rowme. Haue mercy vpon me, O LORDE, for I am in trouble, myne eye is consumed for very heuynesse, yee my soule and my body. My life is waxen olde with heuynesse, and my yeares wt mournynge. My strēgth fayleth me because of my aduersite, and my bones are corrupte. I am become a very reprofe amonge all myne enemies, my neghbours & they of myne owne acquauntaunce are afrayed of me: they yt seme in the strete, cōveye them selues fro me. I am clene forgotten and out of mynde, as a deed man: I am become like a broken vessell.

For I haue herde the blasphemy of the multitude: euery man abhorreth me: they haue gathered a councel together agaynst me, and are purposed to take awaye my life.

But my hope is in ye O LORDE, & I saye: thou art my God. My tyme is in thy honde: delyuer me from the honde of myne enemies, & from them yt persecute me. Shewe thy seruaunt the light of thy countenaunce, helpe me for thy mercies sake. Let me not be confounded (o LORDE) for I call vpon the: let the vngodly rather be put to confucion, and brought vnto the hell. Let the lyenge lippes be put to sylence, which cruelly, diszdanedly & despitefully speake agaynst the rightuous. O how greate and manifolde is thy good, which thou haist hyd for them that feare ye? O what thinges bringest thou to passe for them, that put their trust in the, euen before the sonnes of men?

Thou hydest them priuely by thine owne presence from the proude men, thou kepest them secretly in thy tabernacle, from the strife of tonges. Thankes be to the LORDE, for he hath shewed me maruelous greate kyndnesse in a stronge cite. For when the sodane feare came vpon me, I sayde: I am cast out of thy sight. Neuertheles, thou herdest myne humble prayer, when I cried vnto the. O loue the LORDE (all ye his sayntes) for the LORDE preserueth the faith full, and plenteously rewardeth he the proude doer. 〈…〉 Be strōge therfore & take a good herte vnto you, all ye that put youre trust in the LORDE.

The XXXI. A psalme of Dauid.

BLessed are they, whose vnrightuousnesse is forgeuen, 〈…〉 and whose synnes are couered. Blessed is the man, vnto whom the LORDE imputeth no synne, in whose sprete there is no gyle. For whyle I helde my tonge, my bones consumed awaye thorow my daylie complaynynges. And because thy hande was so heuy vpon me both daye and night, my moysture was like the drouth in Sommer. Sela.

Therfore I confessed my synne vnto the, and hyd not myne vnrightuousnesse. 〈…〉 I saide: I will knowlege myne offence, and accuse my self vnto the LORDE, and so thou forgauest me the wickednesse of my synne.

〈…〉 Sela. For this shal euery saynte make his prayer vnto the in due season, therfore shall not the greate water floudes come nye him. Thou art my defence in the trouble that is come aboute me, O cōpasse thou me aboute also with the ioye of delyueraunce.

〈…〉 Sela. I wil enforme the, and shewe the the waye wherin thou shalt go: I wil fasten myne eyes vpon the. Tob. 6. d Pro. 26. a Be not ye now like horses & mooles, which haue no vnderstondinge. Whose mouthes thou must holde with bytt & brydle, yf they wil not obeie the.

Greate plages shall ye vngodly haue, but who so putteth his trust in the LORDE, mercy shall compasse him on euery syde. Be glad (o ye rightuous) and reioyse in the LORDE, be ioyfull all ye that are true of herte.

The XXXII. A psalme of Dauid.

EEioyse in ye LORDE (o ye rightuous) for it becommeth well the iust to be thankfull. Psal. 96. b Prayse the LORDE with harpe: Colo. 3. b Ephe •• . b synge psalmes vnto him with the lute and instrument of ten strynges. Singe him a new songe, yee synge lustely vnto him & with a good corage. For the worde of ye LORDE is true, and all his workes are faithfull. He loueth mercy & iudgment, ye earth is full of the goodnesse of the LORDE By the worde of the LORDE were the heauens made, Gen. 1. a Colos. 1. b & all the hoostes of them by ye breth of his mouth. He gathereth ye waters together as it were in a bottell, & laieth vp the depe in secrete. Let all the earth feare the LORDE, and let all them that dwell in the worlde, stōde in awe of him. For loke what he sayeth, it is done: and loke what he cōmaū deth, it stondeth fast. The LORDE bryngeth the councell of the Heithen to naught, and turneth the deuyces of the people.

But the coūcell of the LORDE endureth, and the thoughtes of his hert from generacion to generacion. Psal. 143. c Blessed are the people that holde the LORDE for their God, & blessed are the folke whom he hath chosen to be his heretage. Psal. 101. c The LORDE loketh downe from heauen, & beholdeth all the children of men: from his stronge seate he considreth all them yt dwell in the worlde. Pro. 16. a 21. a He only hath fashioned all the hertes of them, & knoweth all their workes. A kynge is not helped by his owne greate hoost, nether is a giaunte saued thorow the might of his owne strēgth.

A horse is but a vayne thynge to saue a man, Pro. 21. d it is not the power of his strēgth that can delyuer him. Beholde, Eccli. 15. e the eye of the LORDE loketh vnto them that feare him, 〈◊〉 put their trust in his mercy. That he maye delyuer their soules from death, and to fede them in the deare tyme. Let oure soule paciently abyde the LORDE, for he is oure helpe and shilde. So shal oure herte reioyse in him, because we haue hoped in his holy name. Let thy mercifull kyndnesse (o LORDE) be vpon vs, like as we put oure trust in the.

The XXXIII. A psalme of Dauid.

I Wil allwaye geue thankes vnto the LORDE, his prayse shal euer be in my mouth. My soule shall make hir boast in the LORDE: the poore oppressed shal heare therof, and be glad. O prayse ye LORDE with me, and let vs magnifie his name together. . Re. •• . d I sought the LORDE, and he herde me, yee he delyuered me out of all my feare. They that haue an eye vnto him, shalbe lightened, & their faces shall not be ashamed. This poore man cried vnto the LORDE, and he herde him, yee and delyuered him out of all his troubles. Re. 6.19 os e 5. d The angell of the LORDE pitcheth his tente rounde aboute them that feare him, and delyuereth them.

sal. 2. b O taist and se how frendly the LORDE is, blessed is the man yt trusteth in him. O feare the LORDE, Psal. 127. a Matt. 6 c ye yt be his sayntes: for they that feare him, lacke nothinge. The rich shal want and suffre hunger, but they which seke the LORDE, shal wāt no maner of thinge, that is good. Come hither (o ye children) herken vnto me, I wil teach you the feare of the LORDE. 〈◊〉 3 b Who so listeth to lyue, & wolde fayne se good dayes. Let him refrayne his tonge from euell, and his lippes that they speake no gyle. Let him eschue euell, and do good: Let him seke peace & ensue it. For the eyes of the LORDE are ouer the rightuous, and his eares are open vnto their prayers. But the face of the LORDE beholdeth them that do euel, to destroye the remembraunce of them out of the earth.

When the rightuous crie, the LORDE heareth them, and delyuereth thē out of all their troubles. The LORDE is nye vnto them yt are contrite in hert, & wil helpe soch as be of an hūble sprete. Pro. 24. c . Tim. 3 b Greate are ye troubles of the rightuous, but the LORDE delyuereth them out of all. He kepeth all their bones, so yt not one of them is broken. But miszfortune shal slaye the vngodly, and they that hate ye rightuous shal be giltie. The LORDE delyuereth the soules of his seruaū tes, and all they that put their trust in him, shal not offende.

The XXXIIII. A psalme of Dauid.

STryue thou with them (o LORDE) that stryue wt me, fight thou agaynst them that fight agaynst me. Laye honde vpon the shylde and speare, and stonde vp to helpe me. Drawe out thy swearde, and stoppe the waye agaynst them that persecute me, saye vnto my soule: I am yi helpe. Let them be cōfounded and put to shame, that seke after my soule: let thē be turned back and brought to confucion, that ymagin myschefe for me. 〈…〉 Let thē be as ye dust before the wynde, and the angell of the LORDE scaterynge thē. Let their waye be darcke and slippery, and the angell of the LORDE to persecute them. For they haue pryuely laied their nett to destroye me without a cause, yee and made a pitte for my soule, which I neuer deserued. Let a sodane destrucciō come vpon him vnawarres, 〈…〉 and ye nett that he hath layed priuely, catch him self, that he maye fall in to his owne myschefe. But let my soule be ioyfull in the LORDE, and reioyse in his helpe. All my bones shal saie: LORDE, who is like vnto the? which delyuerest ye poore from those that are to stronge for him, yee the poore and the nedy from his robbers.

False witnesses are rysen vp, & laye to my charge thinges that I knowe not. 〈…〉 They rewarde me euell for good, to the greate discomforth of my soule. Neuertheles, when they were sick, I put on a sack cloth: I humbled my soule with fastinge, and my prayer turned in to myne owne bosome. I behaued myself as though it had bene my frende or my brother, I wēte heuely, as one ye mourneth for his mother. 〈…〉 But in my aduersite they reioyse, and gather them together: yee ye very lame come together agaynst me vnawarres, makynge mowes at me, & ceasse not.

With ye gredy & scornefull ypocrites, they gnaszshed vpon me with theirteth. LORDE, whan wilt thou loke vpō this? O restore my soule from ye wicked rumoure of thē, my dearlinge from the lyons. 〈…〉 So wil I geue ye thankes in the greate congregacion, & prayse the amonge moch people. O let thē not triūphe ouer me, that are myne enemies for naught: O let them not wyncke wt their eyes, that hate me without a cause. 〈…〉 And why? their comonynge is not for peace, but they ymagin false wordes agaynst ye outcastes of the londe. They gape vpon me wt their mouthes, sayenge: there there: we se it with oure eyes. This thou seist, o LORDE: holde not thy tonge thē: go not farre fro me, o LORDE. Awake (LORDE) and stonde vp: auenge thou my cause, my God, and my LORDE. Iudge me (o LORDE my God) acordinge to thy rightuousnesse, yt they triū phe not ouer me. O let thē not saye in their hertes: there there, so wolde we haue it. O let them not saye: we haue ouercome him.

Let them be put to confucion and shame, that reioyse at my trouble: let thē be clothed with rebuke and dishonoure, that boost thē selues agaynst me. Let them also be glad and reioyse, that fauoure my rightuous dealinge: yee let them saye allwaye: blessed be ye LORDE, which hath pleasure in the prosperite of his seruaunt. And as for my tonge, it shall be talkynge of thy rightuousnes and of thy prayse, all the daye longe.

The XXXV. A psalme of Dauid.

MY hert sheweth me the wickednesse of the vngodly, that there is no feare of God before his eyes. For he dyssembleth before his face, so longe till his abhominable synne be founde out. The wordes of his mouth are vnrightuousnesse and disceate, 〈…〉 he wil not be lerned to do good.

He ymagineth myschefe vpon his bedde, he will come in no good waye, ner refuse the thinge that is euell. 〈…〉 Thy mercy (O LORDE) reacheth vnto the heauen, and thy faith fulnesse vnto the cloudes. Thy rightuousnesse stondeth like the stronge mountaynes, & thy iudgment like the greate depe. Thou LORDE preseruest both mē & the beestes. 〈…〉 How precious is thy mercy (O God) that the children of men maye put their trust vnder ye shadowe of thy wynges? They shalbe satisfied with the plēteousnesse of thy house, and thou shalt geue them drynke of the ryuer of thy pleasures. 〈…〉 For by the is ye well of life, & in thy light, shall we se light. O sprede forth thy louynge kyndnesse vnto them that knowe the, & thy rightuousnes vnto thē that are true of hert. O let not the fote of pryde ouertake me, O let not the hande of ye vngodly cast me downe. As for wicked doers, they fall, they are cast downe, & are not able to stōde.

The XXXVI. A psalme of Dauid.

FRett not thy self at the vngodly, be not thou envious agaynst the euell doers. For they shall soone be cut downe like ye grasse, 〈…〉 & be wythered euen as ye grene herbe. Put thou thy trust in ye LORDE, 〈…〉 & be doinge good: so shalt thou dwell in the londe, & verely it shal fede the. Delyte thou in the LORDE, & he shal geue the thy hertes desyre. 〈…〉 Cōmitte thy waye vnto ye LORDE, set thy hope in him, and he shal brynge it to passe. Yee he shall make thy rightuousnesse as cleare as the light, & thy iust dealinge as the noone daye. Holde the still in ye LORDE, and abyde paciētly vpon him: but greue not thy self at one that hath prosperite, and lyueth in abhominacion. Leaue of from wrath, let go displeasure, let not thy gelousy moue the also to do euell. For w •• ed doers shal be roted out, but they that paciētly abyde the LORDE, shal enheret the londe.

Suffre yet a litle whyle, & ye vngodly shal be clene gone: thou shalt loke after his place, & he shal be awaye. Matt. 5. a But the meke spreted shal possesse the earth, & haue pleasure in moch rest. The vngodly layeth wayte for the iust, & gnaszsheth vpon him wt his tethe.

But ye LORDE laugheth him to scorne, Psal. . a for he seith yt his daye is cōminge. The vngodly drawe out the swerde & bende their bowe, to cast downe ye symple & poore, and to slaye soch as go ye rightwaye. Neuertheles, their swerde shal go thorow their owne hert, and their bowe shalbe brokē. Pro. 15. b Eccli. 29. 1. Tim. 6. b A small thinge yt the rightuous hath, is better then greate riches of the vngodly. For the armes of ye vngodly shalbe broken, but the LORDE vpholdeth the rightuous. The LORDE knoweth the dayes of the godly, & their enheritaūce shal endure for euer. They shal not be cōfounded in ye perlous tyme, & in ye dayes of derth they shall haue ynough. As for ye vngodly, they shall perishe: & whē ye enemies of ye LORDE are in their floures, they shal cōsume, yee euen as the smoke shal they cōsume awaye. The vngodly * boroweth and paieth not agayne, but the rightuous is mercifull & liberall. Soch as be blessed of him, shal possesse the londe: & they whom he curseth, shalbe roted out. The LORDE ordreth a good mans goinge, & hath pleasure in his waye. Though he fall, he shal not be hurte, for the LORDE vpholdeth him wt his hāde. I haue bene yonge, & now am olde: yet sawe I neuer the rightuous forsakē, ner his sede to seke their bred. The rightuous is euer mercifull, & lēdeth gētly, therfore shal his sede be blessed. Fle frō euell, & do ye thinge that is good, so shalt thou dwell for euer.

For ye LORDE loueth ye thinge yt is right, he forsaketh not his sayntes, but they shal be preserued for euermore: as for the sede of the vn godly, it shalbe roted out. Yee the rightuous shal possesse ye lōde, & dwell therin for euer. Pro. 10. The mouth of the rightuous is exercised in wyszdome, & his tōge talketh of iudgment. The lawe of his God is in his hert, therfore shal not his fotesteppes slyde. The vn godly seyth the rightuous, & goeth aboute to slaye him. But the LORDE wil not leaue him in his hōdes, ner cōdemn him when he is iudged. Hope thou in the LORDE, & kepe his waye: & he shal so pr mote the, that thou shalt haue the lōde by enheritaūce, & se when the vngodly shall perishe. I myself haue sene the vn godly in greate power, & florishinge like a grene baye tre: but when I wente by, lo, he was gone: I sought him, but he coude no where be founde.

Kepe innocency, and take hede vnto the thinge that is right, for that shall brynge a man peace at the last. As for the trāsgressours, they shal perishe together, and the vn godly shal be roted out at ye last. The helpe of the rightuous commeth of the LORDE, he is their strength in the tyme of trouble. The LORDE shal stōde by them, and saue them: he shal delyuer them from the vn godly, and helpe thē, because they put their trust in him.

The XXXVII. A psalme of Dauid.

PVt e not to rebuke (Oh LORDE) in thine anger: ere. 10. d Psal. 6. a Oh chastē me not in thy heuy displeasure. For thy arowes stick fast in me, and thy honde presseth me sore. There is no whole parte in my body, be cause of thy displeasure: there is no rest in my bones, by reason of my synnes. For my wickednesses are gone ouer my heade, and are like a sore burthen, to heuy forme to beare.

My woundes styncke & are corrupte, thorow my folishnesse. I am brought in to so greate trouble and misery, that I go mournynge all the daye longe. For my loynes are clene dried vp, and there is no whole parte in my body. I am feble and sore smyttē, I roare for the very disquietnes of my hert.

LORDE, thou knowest all my desyre, & my gronynge is not hyd from the. My hert paunteth, my strength hath fayled me, & the light of myne eyes is gone fro me. My louers & frendes stonde lokynge vpon my trouble, ob 19. b Psal. 4 b and my kynsmen are gone a farre of.

They that sought after my life, and to do me euell, spake of lyes and ymagined disceate all the daye longe. As for me, I was like a deaf mā, and herde not: and as one that were domme, not openynge his mouth. I am become as a man that heareth not, and that can make no resistaunce wt his mouth.

For in the (O LORDE) is my trust, thou shalt heare me, O LORDE my God. My desyre is, yt myne enemies triumphe not ouer me: for yf my fote slippe, they reioyse greatly against me. I am redy to suffre trouble, and my heuynesse is euer in my sight. For I cō fesse my wickednesse, & my synne greueth me.

But myne enemies lyue, and are mightie: and they that hate me without a cause, are many in nombre. They that rewarde me euell for good, speake euell of me, because I folowe the thinge that good is. Forsake me not (O LORDE my God) O go not farre fro me. Haist the to helpe me, O LORDE my succoure.

The XXXVIII. A psalme of Dauid.

I Sayde: I wil kepe my waies, that I offended not in my tonge. And so I shut my mouth, whyle the vngodly layed wayte for me. I helde my tonge, I was domme, I kepte sylence, yee euē from good wordes, but it was payne and grefe to me. My hert was hote within me, & whyle I was thus musynge, the fyre kyndled: so that I spake with my tonge. LORDE, 〈…〉 let me knowe myne ende, and the nombre of my dayes: that I maye be certified what I wante. Beholde, 〈…〉 thou hast made my dayes a spanne longe, and my life is as it were nothinge before the. O how vayne are all men lyuynge? Sela. Yee euery man walketh as it were a shadowe, and disquieteth him self in vayne: he heapeth vp riches, 〈…〉 and can not tell to whom he gathereth them. And now LORDE, wherin shall I comforte me? my hope is in the. Delyuer me from all myne offences, and make me not a scorne vnto the foolish. I kepe sylēce, and open not my mouth, for thou hast done it. Turne thy plages awaye fro me, for I am cōsumed thorow the feare of thy hāde. When thou punyshest man for synne, thou chastenest him: so that his beutie consumeth awaye, like as it were a mothe. O how vayne are all men?

Sela. Heare my prayer o LORDE, and considre my callinge: shewe not thy self as though thou sawest not my teares. For I am a straunger and pilgrymme with the, 〈…〉 as all my forefathers were. Oh spare me a litle, that I maye refresh myself, before I go hence, and be no more sene.

The XXXIX. A psalme of Dauid.

I Wayted paciently for the LORDE, which enclyned himself vnto me, and herde my callinge. He brought me out of the horrible pitte, out of the myre and claye: he set my fete vpō the rocke, and ordred my goinges. He hath put a new songe in my mouth, euen a thankesgeuynge vnto oure God. Many men seynge this, shal feare the LORDE, & put their trust in him. 〈…〉 Blessed is the man that setteth his hope in the LORDE, and turneth not vnto the proude, & to soch as go aboute with lies. O LORDE my God, greate are ye wonderous workes which thou hast done: & in thy thoughtes towarde vs there maye none be lickened vnto the.

I wolde declare them, and speake of thē but they are so many, that they can not be tolde. Sacrifice and offeringe thou woldest not haue 〈…〉 but a body hast thou ordeined me burnt offerynges and sacrifice for synne thou hast not alowed. Then sayde I: Lo, I come. In the begynnynge of the boke it is written of me, 〈…〉 that I shulde fulfill thy wil O my God, & that am I contēt to do: yee thy lawe is within my hert. I wil preach of ye rightuousnesse in the greate congregacion: Lo, I wil not refrayne my lippes, o LORDE, & that thou knowest. I do not hyde ye rightuousnes in my hert, my talkynge is of thy treuth and sauynge health: I kepe not thy louynge mercy and faithfulnesse backe from the greate congregacion. Turne not thou thy mercy fro me o LORDE, but let thy louynge kyndnesse and treuth al waye preserue me. For innumerable troubles are come aboute me: my synnes haue taken soch holde vpon me, that I am not able to loke vp: yee they are mo in nombre then the hayres of my heade, and my hert hath fayled me. O LORDE, let it be thy pleasure to deliuer me, make haist (o LORDE) to helpe me. Let them be ashamed and cōfounded, 〈…〉 that seke after my soule, to destroie it: let them fall backwarde and be put to confucion, that wysh me euell.

Let thē soone be brought to shame, that crie ouer me: there there. But let all those that seke the, be ioyfull and glad in the: and let all soch as delyte in thy sauynge health, saye allwaye: the LORDE be praysed. As for me, I am poore & in mysery, but the LORDE careth for me. Thou art my helper & redemer, make no longe tariēge, o my God.

The XL. A psalme of Dauid.

BLessed is he, yt considreth ye poore: ye LORDE shal delyuer him in the tyme of trouble. 〈…〉 The LORDE shal preserue him, and kepe him alyue: he shal make him to prospere vpon earth, and shal not delyuer him in to ye wil of his enemies. The LORDE shal ref esh him, when he lyeth sick vpon his bedd, yee thou makest his bed in all his sicknesse. I sayde: LORDE be mercifull vnto me, heale my soule, for I haue synned agaynst the. Myne enemies speake euell vpō me: whan shal he dye, and his name perishe? Though he came in to se, yet meaned he falsede in his hert, heapinge myschefe vpon himself. All they that hate me, runne together agaynst me, and ymagin euell agaynst me. They haue geuen a wicked sentence vpon me: when he lyeth, he shal ryse vp nomore. 〈…〉 Yee euen myne owne familier frende, whom I trusted, which dyd eate my bred, hath lift vp his hele agaynst me. But be thou mercifull vnto me (o LORDE) rayse thou me vp, and I shal rewarde them. By this I knowe thou fauourest me, that my enemie shal not triumphe ouer me. Thou hast vp holden me because of my innocency, and set me before thy face for euer. O blessed be ye LORDE God of Israel, from hēce forth and for euermore. Amen, Amen.

The XLI. A psalme of ye childrē of Corah.

LIke as the hert desyreth the water brokes, so longeth my soule after the, o God. My soule is a thurste for God, yee euē for the lyuynge God: whā shal I come, & beholde the face of God? Psal. 9 My teares are my meate daye and night, whyle it is daylie sayde vnto me: where is now thy God? Now when I thinke there vpō, I poure out my hert by my self:1. Reg. 1 for I wolde fayne go hence with the multitude, & passe ouer with them vnto the house of God, in ye voyce of prayse & thankesgeuynge, amonge soch as kepe holy daye. Psal. 4 Why art thou so full of heuynes (o my soule) & why art thou so vnquiete within me? O put thy trust in God, for I wil yet geue him thankes, for the helpe of his countenaūce. My God, my soule is vexed within me: therfore I remēbre the londe of Iordane, & the litle hill of Hermon m.

One depe calleth another wt the voyce of thy whystles, all thy wawes & water floudes are gone ouer me. The LORDE hath promised his louynge kyndnesse daylie, ther fore wil I prayse him in the night season, and make my prayer vnto ye God of my life. I wil saye vnto God my stony rock: why has thou forgotten me? why go I thus heuely whyle the enemie oppresseth me? Whyle my bones are broken, & whyle myne enemies cast me in the tethe, daylie sayenge vnto me where is now thy God? Why art thou 〈◊〉 h uy (o my soule) & why art thou so disquiete •• within me? O put thy trust in God, for wil yet thanke him for the helpe of his coun tenaunce, and because he is my God.

The XLII. psalme.

BEne sentence vpon me (o God) & de fende my cause agaynst the vnhol people: Oh delyuer me from the di ceatfull & wicked man. For thou (o God art my strēgth: why hast thou shot me fro the? Why go I then so heuely, whyle the e •• mie oppresseth me? Oh sende out ye ligh & thy trueth, yt they maye lede me & bryng me vnto thy holy hill and to thy dwelling

That I maye go in to the aulter of Go euen vnto the God which is my ioye & plea ••• re, & vpon the harpe to geue thākes vnto 〈◊〉 o God, my God. Why art thou so heuy my soule) & why art thou so disquieted with •• me? O put thy trust in God, for I wil yet g •• ue him thākes for ye helpe of his countena •• ce, and because he is my God.

The XLIII. A psalme of ye childrē of Corah.

WE haue herde with or eare 〈◊〉 God) or fathers haue tolde vs, •• ut. 6. b what thou hast done in their tyme, of olde.

How thou hast dryuē out the Heithen wt thy honde, & plāted thē in: how thou hast destroyed the nacions & cast thē out. For they gat not the londe in possession thorow their owne swerde, •• ut. 9. a nether was it their owne arme that helped them. But thy right hāde, thyne arme & the light of thy countenaunce, because thou haddest a fauoure vnto them.

•• al. 97. a Thou art ye kinge & my God, thou sendest helpe vnto Iacob. Thorow ye, wil we ouer throwe oure enemies: & in thy name will we treade them vnder, that ryse vp agaynst vs.

For I will not trust in my bowe, it is not my swerde yt shal helpe me. But it is thou that sauest vs frō oure enemies, and puttest them to confucion that hate vs. We will allwaye make oure boast of God, and prayse thy name for euer. Sela. But now thou forsakest vs, & puttest vs to confucion, and goest not forth with oure hoostes. 〈◊〉 9. b Thou makest vs to turne oure backes vpon oure enemies, so that they which hate vs, spoile oure goodes. 〈…〉 Thou lettest vs be eaten vp like shepe, & scatrest vs amonge the Heithen.

Thou sellest thy people for naught, & takest no moneye for them. Thou makest vs to be rebuked of or neghbours, to be laughed to scorne aud had in derision, of them that are rounde aboute vs. sal. •• . a Thou hast made vs a very by worde amonge the Heithen, & that the people shake their heades at vs. My cōfucion is daylie before me, & the shame of my face couereth me. For the voyce of the slaunderer & blasphemer, for the enemie and auenger. All this is come vpon vs, & yet haue we not forgotten the, ner behaued oure selues vnfaithfully in thy couenaunt. Oure hert is not turned backe, nether oure steppes gone out of thy waye. That thou smytes vs so in the place of the serpēt, & couerest vs with ye shadowe of death. Yf we had forgotten the name of oure God, & holdē vp oure hondes to eny straunge God: Shulde ot God fynde it out? for he knoweth the very secretes of the hert. But for thy sake we are kylled all the daie longe, and are counted as shepe apoynted to be slayne. Vp LORDE, why slepest thou Awake, and cast vs not of for euer. Wherfore hydest thou thy face? wilt thou clene forget oure misery and oppressiō? For oure soule is brought lowe euen vnto the dust, and oure bely cleueth vnto the grounde. Arise o LORDE, helpe vs, and delyuer vs for thy mercie sake.

The XLIIII. A psalme of the children of Corah.

MY hert is dytinge of a good matter, I speake of that, which I haue made of the kynge: My tonge is ye penne of a ready wryter. Thou art the fayrest amonge the children of mē, full of grace are thy lippes, therfore God blesseth the for euer.

Gyrde the with thy swerde vpon thy thee (o thou mightie) with worshipe and renowne. Good lucke haue thou with thine honoure, ryde on with the treuth, mekenesse & rightuousnes: & thy right hōde shal teach ye wōderfull thinges. Thy arowes are sharpe, the people shalbe subdued vnto the, euen in the myddest amonge the kynges enemies.

Thy seate (o God) endureth for euer: the cepter of thy kyngdome is a right cepter. 〈…〉

Thou hast loued rightuousnesse, & hated iniquite: wherfore God (which is thy God) hath anoynted the with the oyle of gladnes aboue thy f lowes. All thy garmentes are like myrre, Aloes & Cassia, when thou cō mest out of thine yuerie palaces in thy beutifull glory. Kynges doughters go in thy goodly araye, & vpon thy right honde stondeth the quene in a vesture of the most fyne golde. Herken (o doughter) considre, & enclyne thine eare: forget thine owne people, & thy fathers house. So shal the kynge haue pleasure in thy beutie, for he is thy LORDE, & thou shalt worshipe him. The doughters of Tyre shal be there with giftes, 〈…〉 the riche amonge the people shal make their supplicacion before the. The kynges doughter is all glorious within, hir clothinge is of wrought golde She shalbe brought vnto the kynge in rayment of nedle worke, and maydens after her: soch as be next her shalbe brought vnto the. With ioye and gladnesse shal they be brought, and go into the kynges palace. In steade of thy fathere thou hast gotten children, whom thou shalt make prynces in all londes. I wil remembre thy name from one generaciō to another: therfore shal the people geue thankes vnto the, worlde without ende.

The XLV. A psalme of the children of Corah.

IN oure troubles and aduersite, we haue founde, that God is oure refuge, oure strength and helpe. Therfore wil we not feare, though the earth fell, and though the hilles were caried in to the myddest of the see.

〈…〉 Though the waters of the see raged & were neuer so troublous, & though the mountaynes shoke at the tēpest of the same. Sela.

For there is a floude, which wt his ryuers reioyseth ye cite of God, the holy dwellynge of the most hyest. God is in ye myddest of her, therfore shall she not be remoued: for God helpeth her, & ye right early. The Heithen are madd, the kyngdomes make moch a doo: but whē he sheweth his voyce, ye earth melteth awaye. The LORDE of hoostes is wt vs, the God of Iacob is oure defence.

Sela. O come hither, & beholde ye workes of the LORDE, what destrucciōs he hath brought vpō ye earth. 〈…〉 He hath made warres to ceasse in all the worlde: he hath broken the bowe, he hath knapped the speare in sonder, & brēt the charettes in the fyre. Be still thē & confesse yt I am God: I wil be exalted amonge the Heithē, & I wil be exalted vpon earth. The LORDE of hoostes is wt vs, the God of Iacob is oure defence. Sela.

The XLVI. A psalme of the children of Corah.

O Clappe youre hōdes together (all ye people) O synge vnto God with the voyce of thākesgeuynge. For the LORDE the most hyest is to be feared, & he is the greate kynge vpō all ye earth. He shal subdue the people vnder vs, & the Heithē vnder oure fete. He choseth vs for an heretage, the beutie of Iacob whom he loued. Sela. God is gone vp wt a mery noyse, & the LORDE wt the sownde of the trōpet. O synge prayses, synge prayses vnto God: O synge prayses, synge prayses vnto oure kynge.

For God is kynge of all the earth, O synge prayses vnto him with vnderstondinge.

God is kinge ouer the Heithē, God sitteth in his holy seate. The prynces of the people are gathered together vnto the God of Abraham: for God is farre farre hyer exalted, then the mightie lordes of the earth.

The XLVII. A psalme of the children of Corah.

GReate is ye LORDE & hyelie to be praysed, in ye cite of or God, euē vpō his holy hill. The hill of Sion is like a fayre plā te, wherof all the londe reioyseth: vpon the north syde lyeth the cite of the greate kinge.

God is well knowne in hir palaces, yt he is the defence of the same. 〈…〉 For lo, kynges are gathered, and gone by together. They marveled, to se soch thinges: they were aston ied, & sodēly cast downe. Feare came there vpon thē, & sorowe as vpō a woman in hir trauayle. Thou shalt breake ye shippes of the see, thorow the east wynde. Like as we haue herde, so se we in the cite of the LORDE of hoostes, in the cite of or God: God vpholdeth the same for euer. Sela. We wayte for thy louynge kyndnesse (o God) in the myddest of thy temple. O God, acordinge vnto thy name, so is ye prayse vnto the worldes ende: thy right hōde is full of rightuousnes.

Oh let the moūt Sion reioyse, Psal. 96. & ye doughters of Iuda be glad because of thy iudgmē tes. Walke aboute Sion, go rounde aboute her, and tell hir towres. Marke well hir walles, set v hir houses: that it maye be tolde them yt come after. For this God is or God for euer & euer, and he shal allwaie be or gyde.

The XLVIII. A psalme of the children of Corah.

O Heare this, all ye people: pondre it well, all ye that dwell vpō the earth. Hye & lowe, riche & poore, one wt another

My mouth shal speake of wyszdome, and my hert shal muse of vnderstondinge. I wil encline myne eare to the parable, & shewe my darcke speach vpon the harpe. Wherfore shulde I feare the euell dayes, whē the wickednesse of my heles cōpaseth me rounde aboute? They that put their trust in their good, & boost them selues in the multitude of their riches. No man maye deliuer his brother, ner make agrement for him vnto God.

For it costeth more to redeme their soules, so that he must let that alone for euer. Yee though he lyue lōge, & se not ye graue. For it shal be sene, yt soch wyse mē shal dye & perishe together, as well as the ignoraunt and foolish, & leaue their goodes for other. Loke what is in their houses, it cōtinueth still: their dwellinge places endure from one generacion to another, & are called after their owne names vpon the earth, Neuerthelesse mā abydeth not in soch honor, but is cōpared vnto ye brute beastes, & becōmeth like vnto thē.

This waie of theirs is very foolishnesse, & yet their posterite prayse it wt their mouth.

Sela. They lye in the hell like shepe, death shal gnawe vpon them, & the rightuous shal haue dominacion of them in the mo •• nynge by tymes: their strēgth shal consum & hell shalbe their dwellinge. But God shal deliuer my soule from the power of hell when he receaueth me. Sela. O be not thou afrayed, whan one is made riche, & th glory of his hense increased. For he 〈◊〉 cary nothing awaye wt him when he dye nether shal his pompe folowe him. 〈◊〉 he lyueth, he is counted an happie 〈◊〉 so lōge as he is in prosperite, mē speake good of him. But whē he foloweth his fathers generacion, he shal neuer se light eny more.

When a man is in honoure and hath no vnderstōdinge, he is compared vnto the brute beastes, and becommeth like vnto them.

The XLIX. A psalme of Asaph.

THe LORDE euen the mightie God hath spokē, & called the worlde from the rysinge vp of the sonne vnto the goinge downe of the same. saie 2. a Out of Sion peareth the glorious beutie of God. Oure God shal come, and not kepe sylence: there goeth befo •• him a consumynge fyre, and a mightie tempest rounde aboute him. He shal call the heauens from aboue, and the earth, that he maye iudge his people. Gather my sayntes together vnto me, those yt set more by the couenaunt then by eny offeringe. And the heauens shal declare his rightuousnesse, for God is iudge himself.

Sela. Heare, o my people: let me speake, let me testifie amonge you, o Israel: I am God, euen thy God. I reproue the not because of thy sacrifice, ye burnt offeringes are allwaye before me. I wil take no bullockes out of thy house, ner gotes out of thy foldes. For all the beestes of the felde are my e, and thousandes of catell vpon the hilles.

I knowe all the foules vpon the mountaynes, and the wilde beastes of the felde are in y sight. Yf I be hongrie, I wil not tell he: for ye whole worlde is myne, and all that herin is. Thynkest thou, that I wil eate he flesh of oxen, or drynke the bloude of goa es? Offre vnto God prayse and thankesgeuynge, and paye thy vowes vnto the most yest. And call vpō me in the tyme of trou le, so wil I heare the, that thou shalt than e me. But vnto the vngodly sayeth God: Why doest thou preach my lawes, and ta est my couenaunt in thy mouth? Where s thou hatest to be refourmed, and castest y wordes behynde the? Yf thou seist a hefe, thou runnest with him, and art parta er with the aduouterers. Thou lettest ye outh speake wickednesse, & thy tonge payneth disceate. Thou syttest and speakest a aynst thy brother, yee and slaundrest thine wne mothers sonne. This thou doest, why e I holde my tonge: and thinkest me to be e ē soch one as thy self but I wil reproue the, set my self agaynst the. O considre this, 〈◊〉 that forget God: lest I plucke you awaie, 〈◊〉 there be none to delyuer you. Who so •• reth me thākes and prayse, he honoureth me: & this is the waye, wherby I wil shewe him the sauynge health of God.

The L. A psalme of Dauid.

HAue mercy vpon me (o God) after thy goodnes, & acordinge vnto thy greate mercies, do awaye myne offences.

Wash me well fro my wickednesse, & clense me fro my synne. For I knowlege my fautes, and my synne is euer before me.

Agaynst the only, agaynst the haue I synned, and done euell in thy sight: that thou mightest be iustified in thy saynges, and shuldest ouer come when thou art iudged.

Beholde, I was borne in wickednesse, and in synne hath my mother conceaued me.

But lo, thou hast a pleasure in the treuth and hast shewed me secrete wyszdome. O reconcile me with Isope, and I shal be clene: wash thou me, and I shalbe whyter then snowe. Oh let me heare of ioye and gladnesse, that the bones which thou hast broken, maye reioyse. Turne thy face fro my synnes, and put out all my myszdedes. Make me a clene hert (o God) and renue a right sprete within me. Cast me not awaie from thy presence, and take not thy holy sprete fro me. O geue me the comforte of thy helpe agayne, and stablish me with thy fre sprete. Then shal I teach thy wayes vnto the wicked, that synners maye be conuerted vnto the. Delyuer me from bloudegyltynesse o God, thou that art the God of my health, that my tonge maye prayse thy rightuousnesse. Open my lippes (O LORDE) that my mouth maye shewe thy prayse.

For yf thou haddest pleasure in sacrifice, I wolde geue it the: but thou delytest not in burnt offerynges. The sacrifice of God is a troubled sprete, a broken and a cōtrite here (o God) shalt thou not despise. O be fauorable and gracious vnto Sion, that the walles of Ierusalem maye be buylded. For then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of rightuousnesse, with the burnt offerynges and oblacions: then shal they laye bullockes vpon thine aulter.

The LI. A psalme of Dauid.

WHy boastest thou thy self (thou Tyraunt) that thou canst do myschefe? Where as the goodnesse of God endureth yet daylie. Thy tonge ymagineth wickednesse, and with lyes it cutteth like a sharpe rasoure. Thou louest vngraciousnesse more thē good, to talke of lyes more then rightuousnesse. Sela.

Thou louest to speake all wordes yt maye do hurte, O thou false tōge. Therfore shal God cleane destroye the, smyte the in peces, plucke the out of thy dwellinge, and rote the out of the londe of the lyuinge. Sela.

The rightuous shal se this, & feare, and laugh him to scorne. 〈…〉 Lo, this is the mā, yt toke not God for his strēgth, but trusted vnto the multitude of his riches, & was mightie in his wickednesse. As for me, I am like a grene olyue tre in ye house of God: my trust is in the tender mercy of God for euer & euer.

I wil allwaye geue thankes vnto the, for that thou hast done: and wil hope in thy name, for thy sayntes like it well.

The LII. A psalme of Dauid.

THe foolish bodies saye in their hertes Tush, 〈…〉 there is no God. Corrupte are they, and become abhominable in their wickednesses: there is not one, that doth good. God loked downe from heauen vpō the children of men, to se yf there were eny that wolde vnderstonde, or seke after God. 〈◊〉 . 3. b But they are all gone out of ye waye, they are all become vnprofitable: there is none yt doth good, no not one. How cā they haue vnderstondinge, that are the workers of wickednes, eatinge vp my people as it were bred, & call not vpon God? They are afrayed, where no feare is: for God breaketh the bones of them that besege the: thou puttest them to confucion, for God despiseth them. Oh yt the sauynge health were geuen vnto Israel out of Sion: Oh that the LORDE wolde delyuer his people out of captiuyte. Then shulde Iacob reioyse, & Israel shulde be right glad.

The LIII. A psalme of Dauid.

HElpe me (o God) for thy names sake, and delyuer me in thy strēgth. Heare my prayer (o God) considre the wordes of my mouth. For straungers are rysen vp agaynst me, and the mightie (which haue not God before their eyes) seke after my soule. Sela. But lo, God is my helper: it is he that vpholdeth my soule. He shall rewarde euell vnto myne enemies, 〈◊〉 2. e and in thy treuth shalt thou destroye them. A frewil offeringe wil I geue the, and prayse thy name o LORDE, because it is so comfortable.

For thou hast delyuered me out of all my trouble, so that myne eye seyth his desyre vpō myne enemies.

The LIIII. A psalme of Dauid.

HEare my prayer (o God) and hyde not thy self fro my peticion. Take hede vnto me and heare me, how piteously I mourne & cōplayne. The enemie crieth so, & the vngodly commeth on so fast: for they are mynded to do me some myschefe, so maliciously are they set agaynst me. My herte is heuy within me, and the feare of death is fallen vpon me. Fearfullnesse and tremblinge are come vpon me, and an horrible drede hath ouerwhelmed me. And I sayde: O that I had wynges like a doue, that I might fle somwhere, and be at rest. Lo, then wolde I get me awaye farre of, and remayne in the wildernesse. Sela.

I wolde make haist to escape, from the stormy wynde and tempest. Destroie their tonges (o LORDE) and deuyde them, Gen. 11 for I se vnrightuousnes & strife in ye cite. This goeth daye and night aboute the walles, myschefe and vyce are in the myddest of it.

Wickednesse is therin, disceate and gyle go not out of hir stretes. Yf it were myne enemie that reuyled me, I coude beare it: or yf one that ought me euell will dyd threaten me, I wolde hyde myself from him. But it is thou my companyon, my gyde and myne owne familier frēde. We had swete 〈◊〉 secrete communicacion together, and louyngly walked we together in ye house of God.

Let death come hastely vpon them, and let them go downe quick in to hell, for wickednes is amonge them in their dwellinges.

As for me, I will call vnto God, and the LORDE shall helpe me. In the eueninge, mornynge and at noone daye wil I mourne and complayne: and he shal heare my voyce.

It is he that delyuereth my soule in peace, from them that laye waite for me: for they are many agaynst me. Yee euen God that endureth for euer, shal heare me, and brynge them downe. Sela.

For they wil not turne: and why? they feare not God. Yee they laye hondes vpon soch as be at peace with him, and so thei breake his couenaunt. Their mouthes are softer then butter, & yet haue they batell in their mynde: their wordes are smoother then oyle, and yet be they very swerdes. Matt. 6. c Luc. 12. d 1. Pet. 5. a O cast thy burthen (or care) vpon the LORDE, he shal norish the, and not leaue the rightuous in vnquietnesse. But as for them, thou (o God) shalt cast them downe in to the pitte of destruccion. The bloudthurstie and disceatfull shal not lyue out half their daies. Neuerthelesse my trust is in the.

The LV. A psalme of Dauid.

BE mercifull vnto me (o God) for 〈…〉 wil treade me downe: they are 〈…〉 fightinge & troublinge me. 〈…〉 enemies treade me daylie vnder their fete, for they be many, yt proudly fight agaynst me.

Neuerthelesse, whē I am afrayed, I put my trust in the. I wil comforte my self in Gods worde, yee I wil hope in God, and not feare: What can flesh then do vnto me?

They vexe me daylie in my wordes: all yt they ymagin, is to do me euell. They hold lltogether, & kepe them selues close: they marck my steppes, how they maye catch my soule. But in vayne, for it shal escape thē: and why? thou (o God) in thy displeasure shalt cast downe soch people. Thou tellest my flittinges, thou puttest my teares in thy botell, and nombrest them. When so euer I call vpon the, myne enemies are put to flight: wherby I knowe, that thou art my God. In Gods worde wil I reioyse, in the LORDES worde wil I comforte me. Yee in God do I rust, & am not afraied: what cā man thē do vnto me? Vnto the (o God) wil I paye my vowes, vnto ye wil I geue thākes & prayse. For thou hast delyuered my soule frō death, & my fete frō fallinge, yt I maye walke before God in ye light of ye lyuynge.

The LVI. A psalme of Dauid.

BE mercifull vnto me (o God) be mercifull vnto me, for my soule trusteth in ye & vnder the shadowe of thy wynges shal be my refuge, vntill wickednesse be euer past.

I call vnto God ye most hyest, euē ye God yt shal helpe me vp agayne. e shal sende frō heauen, & saue me frō the reprofe of him that wolde swalowe me vp. Sela.

This shal God sende, for his mercy and faithfulnesse sake. I lye with my soule amonge the cruell lyons: euen amonge the children of men, whose tethe are speares and arowes, and their tonge a sharpe swerde.

Set vp thy self (o God) aboue the heauēs, and thy glory aboue all the earth. They haue layed a nett for my fete, & pressed downe my soule: they haue dygged a pyt before me, and are fallen in to it them selues.

〈…〉 Sela. My hert is ready (o God) my hert is ready, to synge and geue prayse. Awake (o my glory) awake lute and harpe, I my self wil awake right early. I wil geue thākes vnto the (o LORDE) amonge the people, I wil synge prayses vnto the amonge the Heithē. For ye greatnes of thy mercy reacheth •• to the heauens, and thy faithfulnesse vnto 〈◊〉 cloudes. Set vp thy self (o God) 〈…〉 heauēs, & thy glory aboue all ye earth.

The LVII. A psalme of Dauid.

F youre myndes be vpon rightuous esse in dede, then iudge the thinge that is right, o ye sonnes of men. But ye ymagin myschefe in youre hertes, and youre hondes deale with wickednesse. The vngodly are frowarde, euē from their mothers wombe: as soone as they be borne, they go astraie & speake lyes. They are as furious as the serpent, 〈…〉 euen like the deaf Adder that stoppeth hir eares. That she shulde not heare the voyce of the charmer, charme he neuer so wysely. Breake their teth (o God) in their mouthes, smyte the chaft bones of the lyons whelpes in sonder, o LORDE.

That they maye fall awaye, like water ye runneth a pace: and that when they shote their arowes, they maye be brokē. Let thē cōsume awaye like a snale, & like the vntymely frute of a woman, and let them not se the Sonne. Or euer youre thornes be sharpe, the wrath shal take them awaye quycke, like a stormy wynde. 〈…〉 The rightuous shal reioyse when he seyth the vengeaunce, and shal wash his fete in the bloude of the vngodly. So that me shal saye: verely, there is a rewarde for ye rightuous: doutles, there is a God that iudgeth the earth.

The LVIII. A psalme of Dauid.

DElyuer me fro myne enemies (o my God) & defende me frō thē yt ryse vp agaynst me. O delyuer me frō the wicked doers, & saue me frō the bloudthurstie mē. For lo, they lye waytinge for my soule: ye mightie mē are gathered together against me, wt out eny offence or faute of me, o LORDE. They rūne & prepare thē selues, wt out my faute: Arise, come thou helpe me, & beholde. Stōde vp o LORDE God of hoostes, thou God of Israel, to vyset all Heithen: be not mercifull vnto thē yt offende of malicious wickednesse. Sela. 〈…〉 Let thē go to & fro, & runne aboute the cite youlinge like dogges. Beholde, they speake (agaynst me) wt their mouth, swerdes are vnder their lippes, for who reproueth thē? 〈…〉 But thou (o LORDE) shalt haue them in derision, thou shalt laugh all Heithē to scorne. My strēgth do I ascrybe vnto the, for thou (o God) art my defender. God sheweth me his goodnesse plenteously, God letteth me se my desyre vpō myne enemies. Slayethē not, lest my people forget it: but scatre thē abrode with thy power & put thē downe, o LORDE oure defence. For ye synne of their mouth, for the wordes of their lippes, & because of their pryde, let thē be taken: & why? their preachinge is of cursynge & lyes. Cōsume them in yi wrath, cōsume thē yt they maye perish, & knowe yt it is God, which ruleth in Iacob and in all the worlde. Sela. Let thē go to & fro, & rūne aboute the cite, youlinge like dogges. Let thē runne here & there for meate, and grudge when they haue not ynough. As for me, I wil synge of thy power, ād prayse thy mercy betymes in the mornynge: for thou art my defence and refuge in the tyme of my trouble.

Vnto the (o my strength) wil I synge, for thou (o God) art my defence, and my merciful God.

The LIX. A psalme of Dauid.

O God, thou yt hast cast vs out and scatred vs abrode, thou yt hast bene so sore displeased at vs, cōforte vs agayne. Thou yt hast remoued the lōde & deuyded it, heale the sores therof, for it shaketh. Thou hast shewed thy people heuy thinges, 〈…〉 thou hast geuen vs a drynke off wyne, yt we slōbre withall. Yet hast thou geuē a tokē for soch as feare the, yt they maye cast it vp in ye treuth. Sela. That thy beloued might be delyuered, helpe them with thy right hande, and heare me. God hath spokē in his Sāctuary (which thinge reioyseth me) I wil deuyde Sichē, 〈…〉 & mete out the valley 〈◊〉 Suchoth Galaad is myne, Manasses is myne, Ephraim is the strength of my heade, Iuda is my captayne. Moab is my washpotte, ouer Edom wil I stretch out my shue, Philistea shal be glad of me. Who will lede me in to the stronge cite? Who will bringe me in to Edom? Shalt not thou do it, o God, thou yt hast cast vs out: thou God, yt wentest not out wt or hoostes? 〈…〉 O be thou oure helpe in trouble, for vayne is the helpe of man. Thorow God we shal do greate actes, for it is he that shal treade downe oure enemies.

The LX. A psalme of Dauid.

HEare my crienge (o God) geue hede vnto my prayer. From the endes of ye earth wil I call vnto the, whē my herte is in trouble: Oh set me vp vpō an hye rocke. For thou art my hope, a stronge tower for me agaynst the enemie. I will dwell in thy tabernacle for euer, that I maye be safe vnder the couerynge of thy wynges. Sela. For thou (o LORDE) hast herde my desyres, thou hast geuen an heretage vnto those that feare thy name. Thou shalt graunte the kynge a lōge life, that his yeares maye endure thorow out all generacions. That he maye dwell before God for euer: Oh let thy louynge mercy & faithfulnes preserue him. So wil I allwaye synge prayses vnto thy name, yt I maye daylie perfourme my vowes.

The LXI. A psalme of Dauid.

MY soule wayteth only vpon God, for of him commeth my helpe. He only is my strēgth, my saluacion, my defence, so yt I shal not greatly fall. How longe wil ye ymagin myschefe agaynst euery man? ye shal be slayne all ye sorte of you: yee as a tottringe wall shal ye be, & like a broken hedge. Their deuyce is only how to put him out, their delyte is ī lyes: they geue good wordes wt their mouth but curse wt their herte. Sela. Neuertheles, my soule abydeth only vpon God, for he is my God. He only is my strēgth, my saluacion, my defence: so yt I shal not fall. In God is my health, my glory, my might, & in God is my trust. O put yor trust in him allwaye (ye people) poure out yor hertes before him, for God is oure hope. Sela. As for men, they are but vayne, mē are disceatfull: vpō the weightes they are al together lighter then vainte itself. O trust not in wronge & robbery, geue not yor selues vnto vanite: yf riches increase, set not yor herte vpon them. God spake once a worde, twyse haue I herde the same: that power belongeth vnto God. That thou LORDE art mercifull, & that thou rewardest euery man acordinge to his workes.

The LXII. A psalme of Dauid.

O God, thou art my God: early wil I seke the. My soule thursteth for the, my flesh longeth after the in a barē & drie lōde, where no water is. Thus do I loke for the in thy Sāctuary, that I might beholde ye power & glory. For thy louynge kyndnesse is better then life, my lyppes shal prayse the. As lōge as I liue wil I magnifie the, & lift vp my hondes in thy name. My soule is satisfied euē as it were with marry & fatnesse, when my mouth prayseth the with ioyfull lippes. In my bedde wil I remembre ye, & whē I wake, my talkynge shalbe of the.

For thou hast bene my helper, & vnder the shadowe of ye wynges wil I reioyse. My soule hangeth vpon the, thy right honde vp holdeth me. They seke after my soule, but in vayne, for they shal go vnder the earth. They shal fall into the swerde, & be a porciō for foxes. But ye kynge shal reioyse in God: all they that sweare by hym, shal be commē ded, for the mouth of lyers shalbe stopped. Deut. 6.

The LXIII. A psalme of Dauid.

HEare my voyce (o God) in my cōplaynte, preserue my life frō feare of ye enemie Hyde me from the gatheringe together of ye frowarde, frō ye heape of wicked doere. Which whette their tūges like a swerde, & shute wt their venimous wordes like as wt arowes. That they maye preuely hurte ye innocēt, & sodēly to hit him wt out eny feare.

They haue deuysed myschefe, and commoned amonge them selues, how they maye laye snares: Re. 1 . d tush (saye they) who shall se them?

They ymagin wickednesse, and kepe it secrete amonge them selues, euery man in ye depe of his herte. But God shall sodenly shute with an arowe, yt they shall be wounded. Yee their wne tunges shall make them fall, In so moch that who so seyth thē, shal laugh thē to scorne. And all men that se it, shal saye: this hath God done for they shal perceaue, yt it is his worke. The rightuous shal reioyse in the LORDE, and put his trust in him: and all they yt are true off herte, shalbe glad therof.

The LXIIII. A psalme of Dauid.

THou (o God) art praysed in Sion, and vnto the is the vowe perfourmed. Thou hearest the prayer, therfore cō meth all flesh vnto the. Oure myszdedes preuayle agaynst vs, oh be thou mercyfull vnto ure synnes. Blessed is the man whō thou chosest and receauest vnto the, that he maye dwell in thy courte: he shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, euen off thy holy temple. Heare vs acordinge vnto thy wō derfull rightuousnesse, o God oure saluaciō: thou that art the hope of all the endes of ye earth, and off the brode see. Which in his strength setteth fast the moūtaynes, & is gyrded aboute with power. Which stilleth ye ragīge of the see, the roaringe off his wawes, and the woodnes of the people. They that dwell in ye vttemost partes are afrayed at thy tokens, thou makest both the mornynge and euenynge starres to prayse ye. Thou visetest the earth, thou watrest it, and makest it very plenteous. The ryuer of God is full of waters, thou preparest man his corne, ād thus thou prouydest for the earth. Thou watrest hir forowes, thou breakest the harde clottes therof, thou makest it soft with ye droppes of rayne, and blessest the increase of it. Thou crownest the yeare with thy good, and thy fotesteppes droppe fatnesse. The dwellinges of the wildernes are fatt also, yt they droppe withall, & the litle hilles are pleasaunt on euery syde. The foldes are full of shepe, the valleys stonde so thicke with corne yt they laugh and synge.

The LXV. A psalme off Dauid.

Psal. 99. a O Be ioyfull in God (all ye lōdes) synge prayses vnto the honor of his name make his prayse to be glorious. Saye vnto God: O how wonderfull are thy workes? thorow the greatnesse of thy power shal thine enemies be confoūded. O yt all the worlde wolde worshipe the, synge of the and prayse thy name. Sela. O come hither and beholde the workes of God, which is so wonderfull in his doinges amonge the children of men. He turned the see in to drye lō de, so that they wente thorow the water on fote: therfore wil we reioyse in him. He ruleth with his power for euer, his eyes beholde the people: the rennagates shal not be able to exalte them selues. Sela. O magnifie or God (ye people) make ye voyce off his prayse to be herde. Which holdeth or soule in life, and suffreth not oure fete to slippe. For thou (o God) hast proued vs, thou hast tried vs li •• as syluer is tried. Thou hast brought vs in to captiuyte, and layed trouble vpon or lo nes. Thou hast suffred men to ryde ouer or heades, we wēte thorow fyre and water, 〈◊〉 thou hast brought vs out, and refreshed 〈◊〉 .

Therfore will I go in to thy house wt 〈◊〉 offeringes, to paye the my vowes, which I promised wt my lippes, and spake with my mouth, when I was in trouble. I wil offre vnto the fatte brentsacrifices with the smo e of rāmes, I will offre bullockes and goate . Sela. O come hither and herkē (all ye that feare God) I wil tell you, what he hath done for my soule. I called vnto hī wt my mouth and gaue him prayses with my tūge. (Yff I enclyne vnto wickednes with my herte, ye LORDE wil not heare me.) Therfore God hath herde me, ād considred the voyce off my prayer. Praysed be God, which hath not cast out my prayer, ner turned his mercy fro me.

The LXVI. psalme.

GOd be mercifull vnto vs, blesse vs, & shewe the light off his countenaūce apon vs. Sela. That we maye knowe ye waye vpō earth, ye sauynge health amonge all Heithen. Let the people prayse the (o God) yee let all people prayse the. O let the people reioyse and be glad, that thou iudgest the folke rightuously, and gouernest the nacions vpō earth. Let the people prayse the (o God) let all people prayse the. God (euen oure owne God) geue vs his blessinge, that the earth maye bringe forth hir increase God blesse vs, and let all the endes of ye worlde feare him.

The LXVII. A psalme of Dauid.

LEt God aryse, so shal his enemies be scatered, and they that hate him, 〈…〉 shal fle before him. Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou dryue them awaye: and like as waxe melteth at the fyre, so shall the vngodly perish at the presence off God.

But the rightuous shal be glad & reioyse before God, they shalbe mery & ioyful. Oh synge vnto God, synge prayses vnto his name: magnifie him ye rydeth aboue the heauēs (whose name is ye LORDE) & reioyse before hī.

He is a father of ye fatherlesse, he is a defender of widdowes: euē God in his holy habitaciō. He is the God yt maketh mē to be of one mynde in a house, & bryngeth ye presoners out of captiuite in due season, but letteth ye rennagates cōtinue in scarcenesse. O God, when thou wētest forth before ye people, whē thou wētest thorow ye wildernes. Sela. The earth shoke, & ye heauens dropped at the presence of God in Sinai, at ye presence of God which is ye God of Israel. Thou o God sendest a gracious rayne vpon thyne enheritaūce, & refreshest it, when it is drye. That thy beastes maye dwell therin, which thou of thy goodnes hast prepared for the poore. The LORDE shal geue the worde, wt greate hoostes of Euāgelistes. Ringes wt their armies shal fle, & they of ye housholde shal deuyde ye spoyle. Yf so be yt ye lye amōge the pales, the doues fethers shalbe couered with syluer, & hir winges of the color of golde. When the All mightie setteth kynges vpō the earth, it shal be cleare euen in the darcknesse. The hill of Basan is Gods hill, the hill of Basan is a plē teous hill. Why hoppe ye so, ye greate hilles? It pleaseth God to dwell vpō this hill, ye the LORDE wil abyde in it for euer. The charettes of God are many M. tymes a thousande, the LORDE is amōge them in the holy Sinai. Thou art gone vp an hye, thou hast led captyuite captyue, & receaued giftes for mē: Yee euen for thy enemies, that they might dwell with the LORDE God. Praysed be the LORDE daylie, euē ye God which helpeth vs, & poureth his benefites vpō vs. Sela. The God yt is or Sauior, euē God the LORDE by whō we escape death. The God that smyteth his enemies vpō the heades & vpon the hayrie scalpes: soch as go on still in their wikednes. The LORDE hath sayde: some wil I bringe agayne from Basan, some wil I bringe agayne frō the depe of the see. That thy fote maye be dipped in the bloude of thine enemies, & that thy dogges maye licke it vp.

It is well se e (o God how thou goest, how thou my God and kynge goest in the Sanctuary. The syngers go before, and then the mynstrells amonge the maydens with the tymbrels. O geue thankes vnto God the LORDE in the congregacion, for the welles of Israel. There litle Beniamin, the prynces of Iuda, the prynces of Zabulō, and the prynces of Nephthali beare rule amōge them. Thy God hath cōmitted strēgth vn to the, stablish the thinge (o God) that thou hast wrought in vs. For thy tēples sake at Ierusalem shal kynges brynge presentes vnto the. Reproue the beestes amonge the redes, the heape of bulles with the calues: those that dryue for money. Oh sca re the people that delyte in batayle. The prynces shal come out of Egipte, the Morians lōde shal stretch out hir hondes vnto God. Synge vnto God, o ye kyngdomes of the earth: o synge prayses vnto the LORDE. Sela.

Which sytteth in the heauens ouer all frō the begynnge: Lo, he shal sende out his voyce, yee and that a mightie voyce. Ascrybe ye the power vnto God, his glory is in Israel, and his might in the cloudes. God is wonderfull in his Sanctuary, he is the God of Israel, he will geue strength and power vnto his people. Blessed be God.

The LXVIII. A psalme of Dauid.

HElpe me (o God) for the waters are come in euē vnto my soule. I sticke fast in the depe myre, where no grounde is: I am come in to depe waters, and the floudes wil drowne me. I am weery of crienge, my throte is drye, my sight fayleth me, for waytinge so longe vpon my God. They yt hate me without a cause, are mo then the hayres of my heade they that are myne enemies & wolde destroye me giltlesse, are mightie: I am fayne to paye the thinges yt I neuer toke. God, thou knowest my symplenesse, and my fautes are not hyd from the. Let not them that trust in the (o LORDE God of hoostes) be ashamed for my cause: let not those yt seke the, be confounded thorow me, o God o Israel. And why? for thy sake do I suffre reprofe, shame couereth my face. I am become a straunger vnto my brethren, and an aleaunt vnto my mothers children. For the zele of thine house hath euen eaten me, and the rebukes of them that rebuked the, is fallen vpon me. I wepte and chastened my self wt fastinge, and that was turned to my reprofe. I put on a sacke cloth, and therfore they iested vpon me. They that satt in the gate, spake agaynst me, and the dronckardes made songes vpon me. But LORDE, I made my prayer vnto the in an acceptable tyme: Heare me (o God) with thy greate mercy & sure helpe. Take me out of the myre, yt I syncke not: Oh let me be delyuered frō thē yt hate me, & out of ye depe waters. 〈…〉 floude drowne me, that the 〈…〉 not vp, & yt the pitte shut not hir mouth vpon me. Heare me (o LORDE) for thy louynge kyndnesse is confortable: turne the vnto me acordinge vnto ye greate mercy. Hyde not thy face from thy seruaūt, for I am in trouble: O haist ye to helpe me. Drawe nye vnto my so le, and saue it: Oh delyuer me because of 〈◊〉 enemies. Thou knowest my reprofe, my shame & my dishonor: my aduersaries are all in thy sight. The rebuke breaketh my hert, & maketh me heuy: I loke for some to haue pitie vpon me, but there is no man: & for some to cōforte me, but I fynde none. at. 27. d Ioh. 18. c They gaue me gall to eate, & whē I was thurstie, they gaue me vyneger to drynke. Let their table be made a snare to take them selues withall, Ro. 11. b an occasion to fall & a rewarde vnto them. Let their eyes be blynded, that they se not: & euer bowe downe their backes.

Poure out thy indignacion vpon them, & let thy wrothfull displeasure take holde of them. Let their habitacion be voyde, & no man to dwell in their tentes. 〈…〉 For they persecute him whom thou hast smytten, & besyde thy woundes they haue geuen him moo. Let them fall frō one wickednesse to another, & not come into thy rightuousnesse. Let thē be wyped out of ye boke of the lyuinge, & not be written amonge the rightuous. 〈◊〉 2. g As for me, I am poore & in heuynesse, let thy helpe defende me, o God. That I maye prayse ye name of God with a songe, & magnifie it with thankesgeuynge. This shal please the LORDE better then a bullocke, that hath hornes & hoffes. O considre this & be glad (ye that be in aduersite) seke after God, & yor soule shal lyue.

For the LORDE heareth the poore, & despy •• not his presoners. Let heauen & earth praise him, the see & all that moueth therin. For God wil saue Sion, & buylde the cities of Iuda, that men maye dwell there, & haue thē in possession. The sede of his seruauntes shal īheret it, & they that loue his name, shal dwell therin.

The LXIX. A psalme of Dauid.

HAist the (o God) to delyuer me, & to helpe me, o LORDE. Let thē be shamed & confounded that seke after my soule: let them be turned backwarde & put to confuciō, that wysh me euell. Let them soone be brought to shame, 〈…〉 yt crie ouer me: there there.

But let all those that seke the, be ioyfull & glad in the: and let all soch as delyte in thy sauynge health, saye alwaye: ye LORDE be pray 〈…〉 As for me, I am poore & in misery, 〈…〉 to helpe me. Thou art my helpe, my redemer & my God: oh make no 〈◊〉 tarienge.

The LXX psalme.

IN the, o LORDE, is my trust, let me neuer be put to cōfuciō, 〈…〉 but rydde me & delyuer me thorow thy rightuousnesse encline thine eare vnto me, & helpe me. Be thou my stronge holde (where vnto I maye allwaye fle) thou that hast promised to helpe me: for thou art my house of defence & my castell. Delyuer me (o my God) out of ye hā de of the vngodly, out of the hande of the rightuous & cruell man. For thou (o LORDE God) art the thinge that I lōge for, 〈…〉 thou art my hope euen fro my youth. I haue eaned vpō ye euer sens I was borne, thou art he that toke me out of my mothers wombe, therfore is my prayse allwaye of the. I am become a wonder vnto the multitude, but my sure trust is in the. Oh let my mouth be fylled with thy prayse & honoure all the daye lō ge. Cast me not awaye in myne olde age, forsake me not when my strength fayleth me. For myne enemies speake agaynst me, & they that laye wayte for my soule, take their co •• cell together, sayenge: God hath forsakē him, p̄ersecute him, take him, for there is none to helpe him. Go not farre fro me, o God: my God, haist the to helpe me. Let them be cō founded & perish, that are agaynst my soule: let thē be couered with shame & dishonoure, that seke to do me euell. As for me, I wil paciētly abyde allwaye, & wil euer encrease thy prayse. My mouth shal speake of thy rightuousnesse & sauynge health all the daye lōge, for I knowe no ende therof. Let me go in (o LORDE God) & I wil make mencion of thy power and rightuousnesse only. Thou (o God) hast lerned me fro my youth vp vntill now, therfore wil I tell of ye wonderous workes. Forsake me not (o God) in myne olde age, when I am gray headed: vntill I haue shewed thyne arme vnto childers children, 〈…〉 & thy power to all them that are yet for to come. Thy rightuousnes (o God) is very hie, thou that doest greate thinges: o God, who is like vnto the? O what greate troubles & aduersite hast thou shewed me? & yet didest thou turne & refresh me, yee & broughtest me from the depe of the earth agayne. Thou hast brought me to greate honoure, & comforted me on euery syde. Therfore wil I prayse the & thy faith fulnesse (o God) playē ge vpon the lute, vnto the wil I synge vpon the harpe. o thou holy one of Israel. My lippes wolde fayne synge prayses vnto the: & so wolde my soule, whom thou hast delyuered.

My tonge talketh of thy rightuousnesse all the daye longe, for they are confounded & brought vnto shame, yt sought to do me euel.

The LXXI. A psalme of Salomon.

GEue the kinge thy iudgmēt (o God) and thy rightuousnesse vnto the kynges sonne. That he maye gouerne thy people acordinge vnto right, and defende thy poore. That the mountaynes maye brynge peace, and the litle hilles rightuousnes vnto the people. He shal kepe the symple folke by their right, defende the childrē of the poore, and punysh the wrongeous doer.

Thou shalt be feared as longe as ye Sonne and the Moone endureth, from one generacion to another. He shal come downe like the rayne in to a flese of woll, and like the droppes that water ye earth. In his tyme shal rightuousnesse florish, yee and abundaū ce of peace, so longe as the Moone endureth.

His dominion shalbe from the one see to the other, and from the floude vnto the worldes ende. They that dwell in the wildernes, shal knele before him, & his enemies shal licke the dust. The kynges of the see and of the Iles shal brynge presentes, ye kinges of Araby & Saba shall offre giftes. All kynges shal worshipe him, & all Heithē shal do him seruyce. For he shal deliuer the poore whē he crieth, & the nedy yt hath no helpe. He shall be fauorable to the symple & poore, he shal preserue the soules of soch as be in aduersite. He shal deliuer their soules from extorcion & wronge, & deare shal their bloude be in his sight. He shal lyue, & vnto him shalbe geuē of ye golde of Arabia: Prayer shal be made euer vnto him, & daylie shal he be praysed. There shalbe an heape of corne in the earth hye vpon the hilles, his frute shal shake like Libanus, & shal be grene in the cite, like grasse vpō the earth. His name shal endure for euer, his name shal remayne vnder the sonne amonge the posterites, which shal be blessed thorow him, & all the Heithen shal prayse him. Blessed be the LORDE God, euen the God of Israel, which only doth wō derous thinges. And blessed be the name of his maiesty for euer, and all londes be fulfilled with his glory. Amen, Amen.

Here ende the prayers of Dauid the sonne of Iesse.
The LXXII. A psalme of Asaph,

O How louynge is God vnto Israel, to soch as are of a clene hert? Ne erthelesse my fete were allmost gone, my treadinges had wel nye slipte. And why? I was greued at ye wicked, Aba. 1. c Iere. 12. a Iob. •• . a to se the vngodly in soch prosperite. For they are in no parell of death, but stonde fast like a palace. They come in no misfortune like other folke, nether are they plaged like other men. And this is the cause that they be so puft vp in pryde, & ouerwhelmed with cruelte and vnrigthuousnesse. Their eyes swell for fatnesse, they do euen what they lyst. Corrupte are they, and speake blasphemies maliciously, proude and presumptuous are their wordes. They stretch forth their mouth vnto the heauen, & their tonge goeth thorow the worlde. Therfore fall the people vnto them, and there out sucke they no small auauntage. Psal. 93 Tush (saye they) how shulde God perceaue it? is there knowlege in the most hyest? Lo, these are the vngodly, these prospere in the worlde, these haue riches in possession. Shulde I then clense my hert in vayne (thought I) & wash my hondes in innocency? Wherfore shulde I be then punyshed daylie, & be chastened euery mornynge Yee I had allmost also sayde euen as they: but lo, then shulde I haue condemned the generacion of thy children. Then thought I to vnderstonde this, but it was to harde for me. Vntill I wēte in to ye Sanctuary of God, & considered the ende of these men. Namely, how thou hast set thē in a slippery place, that thou maiest cast thē downe headlynges & destroye thē. O how sodenly do they consume, perish, & come to a fearfull ende? Yee euen like as a dreame when one awaketh, so makest thou their ymage to vanish out of the cite. Thus my hert was greued, & it wente euen thorow my reynes.

So foolish was I and ignoraunt, and as it were a beest before the. Neuerthelesse, I am allwaye by the, thou hold est me by my right hande. Thou ledest me with thy coū cel, and afterwarde receauest me vnto glory. O what is there prepared for me in heauen? there is nothinge vpō earth, that I desyre in comparison of the. My flesh and my herte fayleth, but God is the strength of my hert, and my porcion for euer. For lo, Num. 18. c Psal. 118. h Tren. 3. c they that forsake the, shal perishe, thou destroyest all them that committe fornicacion agaynst the. But it is good for me, to holde me fast by God, to put my trust in the LORDE God, and to speake of all thy workes.

The LXXIII. A psalme of Asaph.

O God, wherfore doest thou cast vs so cleane awaye? why is ye wrath so hote agaynst ye shepe of ye pasture? O 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 thynke vpon thy congregacion, whom thou hast purchased frō the begynnynge: the staff of thine inheritaunce, whom thou hast redemed, euen this hill of Sion wherin thou dwellest. Treade vpon them with thy fete, & cast them downe to the grounde, for the enemie hath destroyed alltogether in the Sāctuary. Thy aduersaries roare in thy houses, & set vp their banners for tokens. Men maye se the axes glister aboue, like as those that hewe in the wod. They cutt downe all the sylinge worke of ye Sāctuary wt bylles & axes.4. Re. 25. b 2. Pa. 36. c Eze. 16. d They haue set fyre vpon ye Sāctuary they haue defiled ye dwellynge place of ye name, euē vnto the groūde. Yee they saye in their hertes: Let vs spoyle thē all together, thus haue they brent vp all the houses of God in the londe. We se oure tokens nomore, there is not one prophet more, no not one that vnderstondeth enymore. Oh God, how lōge shal the aduersary do this dishonoure? how lōge shal the enemie blaspheme thy name? foreuer? Why withdrawest thou thine honde? why pluckest thou not thy right hōde out of thy bosome, to consume thine enemies? But God is my kynge of olde, the helpe that is done vpon earth he doth it himself. Thou deuydest ye see thorow thy power, thou breakest the heades of the dragōs in the waters. 〈…〉 14. c

〈◊〉 . 27. a 〈…〉 40. c Thou smytest the heades of Leuiathan in peces, & geuest him to be meate for the people in the wildernesse. Thou dyggest vp welles & brokes, thou dryest vp mightie waters. The daye is thyne, & the night is thine: thou hast prepared the lightes & the Sonne. Thou hast set all ye borders of the earth thou hast made both Sommer & wynter. Remembre this (o LORDE) how the enemie rebuketh, & how the foolish people blaspheme thy name. O delyuer not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the beestes, & forget not the congregacon of the poore for euer. Loke vpon the couenaunt, for the darcke houses of the earth are full of wickednesse. O let not the symple go awaye ashamed, for the poore & nedy geue prayses vnto thy name. Aryse (o God) & manteyne thine owne cause, remembre how the foolishmā blasphemeth the daylie. Forget not the voyce of thine enemies, for the presumpcion of them that hate the, increaseth euer more & more.

The LXXIIII. A psalme of Asaph.

UNto the (o God) will we geue thākes, yee vnto the wyll we geue thankes, & seynge thy name is sonye, we will tell of thy wonderous workes. When I maye get a conuenient tyme, I shal iudge acordinge vnto right. The earth is weake & all that is therin, but I beare vp hir pilers. Sela.

I sayde vnto the madde people: deale not so madly, & to the vngodly: set not vp youre hornes. Set not vp youre hornes an hye, & speake not with a stiff necke. For promociō commeth nether from the east ner from the west, ner yet frō the wyldernesse. And why? God is the iudge: he putteth downe one & setteth vp another. For in the honde of the LORDE there is a cuppe full of stronge wyne, & he poureth out of the same: As for the dregge therof, all ye vngodly of the earth shal drynke them, & sucke them out. But I wil talke of the God of Iacob, & prayse him for euer. All the hornes of the vngodly will I breake, & ye hornes of the rightuous shalbe exalted.

The LXXV. A psalme of Asaph.

IN Iuda is God knowne, his name is greate in Israel. At Salem is his tabernacle, & his dwellinge in Sion. There breaketh he the arowes of the bowe ye shylde, the swerde & the whole batta ll.

Sela. Thou art of more honoure & might thē the hilles of robbers. The proude shalbe robbed & slepe their slepe, & ye mightie shalbe able to do nothinge with their hōdes. Whē thou rebukest them (o God of Iacob) both the charettes & horsmen shal fall on slepe. Thou art feareful, for who maye abyde in ye sight, when thou art angrie? When thou lattest thy iudgment be herde from heauen, the erth trembleth & is still. Yee when God aryseth to geue iudgment, & to helpe all them that be in aduersite vpon earth. Sela.

When thou punyshest one man, he must knowlege, that thou art redy to punysh other mo. Loke what ye promyse vnto the LORDE youre God, se that kepe it, all ye that be roūde aboute him: brynge presentes vnto him yt ought to be feared. Which taketh awaye the breth of prynces, & is wonderfull amōge the kynges of the earth.

The LXXVI. A psalme of Asaph.

I Cried vnto God with my voyce, yet euen vnto God cried I with my voyce, & he herde me. In the tyme of my trouble I sought the LORDE, I helde vp my hondes vnto him in the night season, for my soule refused all other comforte. When I was in heuynesse, I thought vpō God: whē my hert was vexed, then dyd I speake.

Sela. Thou heldest myne eyes wa ••• ge, I was so feble, that I coude not speake, Then remembred I the tymes of olde, & the yeares that were past. I called to remembraunce my songe in the night, I commoned with myne owne herte, and sought out my sp ete. Wil the LORDE cast out for euer?

Wil he be nomore intreated? Is his mercy cleane gone? Is his promyse come vtterly to an ende for euermore? Hath the LORDE forgotten to be gracious? Or, hath he shut vp his louynge kyndnesse in displeasure? Sela. At the last I came to this poynte, that I thought: O why art thou so foolish? the right honde of the most hyest can chaunge all.

Therfore wil I remembre the workes of the LORDE, and call to mynde thy wonders of olde tyme. I wil speake of all thy workes, and my talkynge shalbe of thy doinges.

Thy waye (o God) is holy, who is so greate & mightie as God? Thou art the God, that doth wonders, thou hast declared thy power amonge the people. Thou with thine arme hast delyuered thy people, euen the sonnes of Iacob and Ioseph. Sela. The waters sawe ye (o God) ye waters sawe ye, & were afrayed: ye depthes were moued. The thicke cloudes poured out water, ye cloudes thōdered, and thy arowes wente abrode. Thy thonder was herde rounde aboute, the lighteninges shone vpon the grounde, the earth was moued and shoke withall. Thy waye was in the see, and thy pathes in the greate waters, yet coude no man knowe thy fotesteppes. Thou leddest thy people like a flocke of shepe, by the honde of Moses and Aaron.

The LXXVII. A psalme of Asaph.

HEare my lawe (o my people) encline yor eares vnto ye wordes of my mouth. I wil open my mouth in parables, 〈…〉 and speake of thinges of olde. Which we haue herde and knowne, and soch as oure fathers haue tolde vs. That we shulde not hyde them from the children of the generacions to come: but to shewe the honoure of the LORDE, his might and wonderfull workes that he hath done. He made a couenaunt with Iacob, and gaue Israel a lawe, which he cō maunded oure forefathers to teach their children. 〈…〉 That their posterite might knowe it, and the children which were yet vnborne.

To the intent yt when they came vp, they might shewe their children the same. That they also might put their trust in God, & not to forget what he had done, but to kepe his cōmaundementes. 〈…〉 And not to be as their forefathers, a frowarde and ouerthwarte generacion, a generacion that set not their herte a right, and whose sprete was not true towarde God. Like as the children of Ephraim, which beynge harnessed and carienge bowes, turned them selues backe in the tyme of battayll. They kepte not the couenaūt of God, & wolde not walke in his lawe.

They forgat what he had done, and the wonderfull workes that he had shewed for them. Maruelous thinges dyd he in the sight of their fathers in the londe of Egipte, euen in the felde of Zoan. Exo. 14. e He deuyded the see and let them go thorow it, and made the waters to stonde like a wall. In the daye tyme he led them with a cloude, Exo. 13. d Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. b 1. Co. 10. a and all the n ght thorow with a light of fyre. He cloaue the hard rockes in the wildernesse, and gaue them drynke therof, as it had bene out of the greate d •• pth. He brought waters out of the 〈◊〉 rocke, so that they gushed out like 〈…〉 . Yet for all this they synned agaynst him, and prouoked the most hyest in the wildernesse. They tempted God in their hertes, and requyred meate for their lust, For they spake agaynst God and sayde: Yee yee, God shal prepare a table in the wyldernesse, shall he? Lo, he smote the stony rocke, that the watery streames gushed out, and the streames flowed withall: but how can he geue bred and prouyde flesh for his people? When the LORDE herde this, he was wroth: so the fyre was kyndled in Iacob, and heuy displeasure agaynst Israel.

Because the beleued not in God, and put not their trust in his helpe. So he commaū ded the cloudes aboue, and opened the dores of heauen. Exo. 16. c Deut. 8. a Sap 16. d Ioh. 6. d He rayned downe Manna vpō them for to eate, and gaue them bred from heauen. Then ate they angels fode, for he sent them meate ynough. He caused the east wynde to blowe vnder the heauen, and thorow his power he brought in the south wynde. Exo. 16. c Num. 11. g He made flesh to rayne vpon them as thicke as dust, and fethered foules like the sonde of ye see. He let it fall amōge their tētes roūde aboute their habitaciōs. So they ate & were fylled; for he gaue them their owne desyre. They were not dispoynted of their lust. Num. 11. g

But whyle ye meate was yet in theyr mouthes: The heuy wrath of God came vpō thē, slewe ye welthiest of thē, & smote downe ye chosen men of Israel. But for all this they synned yet more, Num 4. a and beleued not his wōderous workes. Therfore their dayes were consumed in vanite, and sodenly their yeares were gone. When he slewe them, they sought him, and turned them arly vnto God.

They thought then that God was their socoure, and that the hye God was their redemer. Neuerthelesse, they dyd but flater him in their mouthes, and dissembled with him in their tonges. For their herte was not whole with him, nether continued they in his couenaunt. But he was so mercifull, that he forgaue their mysdedes, and destroyed them not: Yee many a tyme turned he his wrath awaye, and wolde not suffre his whole displeasure to aryse. Psal. 102. b For he considered yt they were but flesh: euen a wynde that passeth awaye, and commeth not agayne. O how oft haue they greued him in the wildernesse? How many a tyme haue they prouoked him in the deserte? They turned backe & tempted God, and moued the holy one in Israel. They thought not of his hāde, in ye daye when he delyuered them from the hande of ye enemie. How he had wrought his miracles in Egipte, and his wō ders in the londe of Zoan. How he turned their waters in to bloude, so that they might not drynke of the ryuers. Exo. 7. d 〈◊〉 . 8. e •• o. 8. b How he sent lyse amonge them, to eate them vp, and frogges to destroye them. How he gaue their frutes vnto the catirpiller, and their laboure vnto the greshopper. 〈◊〉 . 10. d 〈…〉 How he bett downe their vynyardes with hayle stones, and their Molbery trees with the frost. How he smote their catell with haylestones, and their flockes with hote thōder boltes. How he sent vpon them ye furiousnesse of his wrath, anger & displeasure: with trouble and fallinge in of euel angels. Exo. 9. a When he made a waye to his fearfull indignaciō, and spared not their soules from death, yee and gaue their catell ouer to the pestilence. When he smote all the firstborne in Egipte, Exo 12 Psal. 1 4. b the most principall and mightiest in ye dwellinges of Ham.

But as for his owne people, he led them forth like shepe, and caried them in the wyldernesse like a flocke. He brought them out safely, that they shulde not feare, and ouerwhelmed their enemies with the see. He caried them vnto the borders of his Sanctuary: euen in to this hill, which he purchased with his right hande. Deut. . a Iosu. 6. a He dyd cast out the Heithen before them, caused their londe to be deuyded amonge them for an heretage, and made ye tribes of Israel to dwell in their tē tes. For all this they tempted and displeased the most hye God, and kepte not his couenaunt. But turned their backes and fell awaye like their forefathers, startinge asyde like a broken bowe. And so they greued him with their hie places, & prouoked him with their ymages. When God herde this, he was wroth, and toke sore displeasure at Israel. Iere. 7. a So that he forsoke the tabernacle in Silo, euen his habitacion wherin he dwelt amonge men. 〈…〉 He delyuered their power in to captiuyte, and their glory in to the enemies hōde. He gaue his people uer in to the swerde, for he was wroth with his heretage.

The fyre consumed their yonge men, and their maydēs were not geuen to mariage.

Their prestes were slayne with the swerde, and there were no wyddowes to make lamentacion. So the LORDE awaked as one out of slepe, and like a giaunte refreshed with wyne. 〈…〉 He smote his enemies in ye hynder partes, and put them to a perpetuall shame. He refused the tabernacle of Ioseph, and chose not the trybe of Ephraim. Neuerthelesse, he chose ye trybe of Iuda, euē the hill of Sion which he loued. 〈…〉 And there he buylded his temple on hye, and layed ye foundacion of it like ye grounde, that it might perpetually endure. 〈…〉 He chose Dauid also his seruaūt, and toke him awaye from the shepe foldes. As he was folowinge the yowes greate with yonge, he toke him, that he might fede Iacob his people, and Israel his enheritaunce. So he fed them with a faithfull and true hert, and ruled them with all ye diligence of his power.

The LXXVIII. A psalme of Asaph.

O God, ye Heithen are fallen in to thine heretage: 〈…〉 thy holy temple haue they defyled, and made Ierusalem an heape of stones. The deed bodies of thy seruauntes haue they geuen vnto ye foules of the ayre to be deuoured, 〈…〉 and the flesh of thy sayntes vnto ye beestes of the londe. Their bloude haue they shed like water on euery syde of Ierusalem, and there was no mā to burie them. We are become an open shame vnto oure enemies, 〈…〉 a very scorne and derision vnto them that are rounde aboute vs.

LORDE, how longe wilt thou be angrie? shal thy gelousy burne like fyre for euer? Poure out thy indignacion vpon the Heithen that knowe the not, 〈…〉 and vpon the kyngdomes that call not vpon thy name.

For they haue deuoured Iacob, and layed waiste his dwellinge place. 〈…〉 O remēbre not oure olde synnes, but haue mercy vpon vs (& that soone) for we are come to greate mysery.

Helpe vs (O God or Sauyor) for ye glory of ye name: o delyuer vs, & forgeue vs or synnes for ye names sake. Wherfore shall ye Heithē saye: where is now their God? 〈…〉 O let the vengeaunce of thy seruauntes bloude that is shed, be openly shewed vpon the Heithē in oure sight. O let the soroufull sighinge of the presoners come before the, and acordinge vnto ye power of thine arme, preserue those yt are appoynted to dye. And for the blasphemy wher wt or neghbours haue blasphemed ye, rewarde thē (o LORDE) seuē folde in to their bosome. So we yt be ye people & shepe of thy pasture, shal geue the thankes for euer, & wil allwaye be shewinge forth thy prayse more & more.

The LXXIX. A psalme of Asaph.

HEare o thou shepherde of Israel, thou yt ledest Iacob like a flocke of shepe: shewe yi self, thou yt syttest vpō ye Cherubins. 〈◊〉 2. c Before Ephraim, Bē Iamin & Manasses: stere vp thy power & come helpe vs. Turne vs agayne (o God) shewe the light of thy countenaūce & we shalbe whole. O LORDE God of hoostes, how lōge wilt thou be angrie ouer the prayer of thy people? Thou hast fed thē with the bred of teares, 〈◊〉 41 a yee thou hast geuen thē plēteousnes of teares to drynke. Thou hast made vs a very strife vnto or neghbours, & or enemies laugh vs to scorne.

Turne vs agayne (thou God of hoostes) shewe the light of thy coūtenaūce, & we shal be whole. 〈◊〉 . 5. a 〈◊〉 . 1 . b 〈◊〉 . 2 . d Thou hast brought a vyny rde out of Egipte, thou didest cast out ye Heithē, & plāte it. Thou maydest rowme for it, & caused it to take rote, so yt it fylled the lōde. The hilles were couered with the shadowe of it, & so were the stronge Cedretrees wt the bowes therof. She stretched out hir braūches vnto the see, 〈…〉 & hir bowes vnto the water: Why hast thou then broken downe hir hedge, that all they which go by, plucke of hir grapes?

The wilde bore out of the wod hath wrutt it vp, & the beestes of the felde haue deuoured it. Turne ye agayne (thou God of hoostes) loke downe from heauen, beholde & viset this vynyarde. Manteyne it, that thy right hō de hath plāted, & the sonne whom thou maydest so moch of for thy self. 〈…〉 For why? it is brēt with fyre, & lyeth waist: o let thē perishe at there buke of thy wrath.

Let thy honde be vpon the man of thy right honde, & vpon the man whō thou maydest so moch off for thine owne self. And so wil not we go backe from the: oh let vs lyue, & we shal call vpon thy name. Turne vs agayne o LORDE God of hoostes, shewe the light of thy coūtenaūce, & we shal be whole.

The LXXX. A psalme of Asaph.

SYnge merely vnto God which is or strēgth make a chearful noyse vnto ye God of Iacob. Take ye psalme, brynge hither the tabret, the mery harpe & lute. Blowe vp the trōpettes in the new Moone, vpon or solēpne feast daye. 〈…〉 For this is the vse in Israel, & a lawe of the God of Iacob.

This he ordened in Ioseph for a testimony, when he came out of Egipte, & had herde a straūge lāguage. When he eased his shulder from the burthē, & when his hondes were delyuered frō the pottes. Exo. 3. b Exo. 19. c Exo. 17. a Whē thou calldest vpon me in trouble, I helped the & herde the, what tyme as the storme fell vpō the, I proued the also at the water of strife. Sela.

Heare o my people, for I assure the o Israel, yf thou wilt herken vnto me: There shal no straunge God be in the, nether shalt thou worshipe eny other God. Exo. 20 I am the LORDE thy God, which brought the out of the lōde of Egipte: opē thy mouth wyde, & I shal fyll it. Pro. 1. c But my people wolde not heare my voyce, & Israel wolde not obeye me. So I gaue thē vp vnto their owne hertes lust, Rom 1. & let thē folowe their owne ymaginacions. O yt my people wolde obeye me, for yf Israel wolde walke in my wayes. I shulde soone put downe their enemies, & turne myne hōde agaynst their aduersaries. The haters of ye LORDE shulde mysse Israel, but their tyme shulde endure for euer. He shulde fede them with the fynest wheate floure, & satisfie them with hony out of the stony rocke.

The LXXXI. A psalme of Asaph.

GOd stondeth in the congregacion of the goddes, & is a iudge amonge the iudges. How longe wil ye geue wrō ge iudgment, & accepte the personnes of the vngodly? Sela. Defende the poore & father lesse, se that soch as be in nede & necessite haue right. Delyuer the outcaste & poore, Pro. 24. b & saue hym from the hande of the vngodly. Neuertheles, they wil not be lerned & vnderstonde, but walke on still in darcknesse: Esa. 3. a Exo. 22. b Ioh. 10. d therfore must all the foundacions of the londe be moued. I haue sayde: ye are goddes, ye all are the childrē of ye most hyest. But ye shal dye like men, & fall like one of the tyrauntes. Aryse (o God) & iudge thou the earth, Psal. 2. b for all Heithen are thine by enheritaunce.

The LXXXII. A psalme of Asaph.

HOlde not thy tonge (o God) kepe not still sylēce,, refrayne not yi self, o God.

For lo, Psal. 2. a thy enemies make a murmuringe, & they yt hate the, lift vp their heade They ymagin craftely agaynst thy people, & take councell agaynst thy secrete ones. Come (saye they) let vs rote them out from amonge the people, that the name of Israel maye be put out of remēbraunce. For they haue cast their heades together with one consent, & are cōfederate agaynst the. The tabernacles of the Edomites & Ismaelites, the Moabites & Hagarenes. Gebal, Ammo and Amalech: the Philistynes with them that dwell at Tyre. Assur also is ioyned vnto thē & helpe the children of Loth. Sela.

But do thou to them as vnto the Madianites, vnto Sisera and vnto Iabin by ye broke of Cyson. Iud. 7. c Iud. 4. c Which perished at Endor, & became as the dōge of ye earth. Make their prynces like Oreb and Zeeb: Iud. 7. g Iud. 8. b Yee make all their prynces like as Zebea and Salmana.

Which saye: we wil haue the houses of God in possession? O my God, make them like vnto a whele, Psal. 1. b and 34. a and as the stuble before the wynde. Like as a fyre that burneth vp the wodd, & as the flame that consumeth the mountaynes. Persecute them euen so with thy tempest, & make them afrayed with thy storme. Make their faces ashamed (o LORDE) yt they maye seke thy name. Let thē be cōfounded & vexed euer more & more: Let thē be put to shame & perish. That they maye knowe, that thou art alone, that thy name is the LORDE, and that thou only art the most hyest ouer all the earth.

The LXXXIII. A psalme of the children of Corah.

O How amiable are yt dwellīges, thou LORDE of hoostes? My soule hath a desyre & lōginge for ye courte of ye LORDE, my hert & my flesh reioyse in ye lyuynge God. For the sparow hath founde hir an house, & the swalowe a nest, where she maye laye hir yōge: euē ye aulters O LORDE of hoostes, my kynge & my God. O how blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they are allwaye praysinge ye. Blessed are ye men whose strēgth is in ye, in whose herte are yt wayes.

Which goinge thorow the vale of mysery, vse it for a well, and the poles are fylled with water. They go from strength to strength and so the God of Gods apeareth vnto thē in Sion. O LORDE God of hoostes, heare my prayer: herken o God of Iacob.

Beholde o God oure defence, loke vpon the face of thyne anoynted. For one daye in thy courte is better then a thousande: I had rather be a dore keper in the house of my God, then to dwell in the tentes of the vngodly. For the LORDE God is a light and defence, the LORDE wil geue grace & worshipe, and no good thinge shal he witholde from them, that lyue a godly life. O LORDE God of hoostes, blessed is the man, yt putteth his trust in the.

The LXXXIIII. A psalme of the children of Corah.

LORDE, thou barest a loue vnto thy londe, thou didest bringe agayne the captiuyte of Iacob. Thou diddest forgeue the offence of thy people, 〈…〉 and couerdest all their synnes. Sela.

Thou tokest awaye all thy displeasure, & turnedest thy self from thy wrothful indignacion. Turne vs then (o God or Sauioure) & let thine anger ceasse from vs. Wilt thou be displeased at vs for euer? wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generacion to another? Wilt thou not turne agayne, & quycken vs, that thy people maye reioyse in the?

I wil herken what the LORDE God wil saie, for he shal speake peace vnto his people and to his sayntes, that they turne not them selues vnto foolishnes. For his saluacion is nye them that feare him, so that glory shal dwell in oure londe. Mercy and trueth are met together, rightuousnesse and peace kysse ech other. Trueth shal ryse out of ye earth, and rightuousnesse shal loke downe from heauen. And why? the LORDE shal shewe louinge kyndnesse, and oure londe shal geue hir encrease. Rightuousnesse shal go before him, and prepare the waye for his commynge.

The LXXXV. psalme A prayer of Dauid.

BOwe downe thine eare (o LORDE) and heare me, for I am cōfortles and poore. O kepe my soule, for I am holy: my God, helpe thy seruaunt that putteth his trust in the. Be mercifull vnto me (o LORDE) for I call daylie vpon the. Cō forte the soule of thy seruaunt, for vnto the (o LORDE) do I lift vp my soule. 〈…〉 For thou LORDE art good and gracious, & of greate mercy vnto all them that call vpon the.

Geue eare LORDE vnto my prayer, and pondre my humble desyre. In the tyme of my trouble I call vpon the, for thou hearest me. Amonge the goddes there is none like the o LORDE, there is not one that cā do as thou doest. All nacions whom thou hast made, shall come and worshipe before the o LORDE, and shal glorifie thy name. For thou art greate, thou doest wonderous thinges, thou art God alone. Lede me in thy waye (o LORDE) that I maye walke in thy trueth: O let my hert delyte in fearynge thy name. I thanke the o LORDE my God, & wil prayse thy name for euer. For greate is thy mercy towarde me, 〈…〉 thou hast delyuered my soule from ye nethermost hell. O God, the proude are rysen agaynst me, and the cō gregacion of ye mightie seketh after my soule, & set not ye before their eyes. 〈…〉 But thou (o LORDE God) art full of compassion and mercy, longe suffrynge, greate in goodnesse & trueth. O turne the then vnto me, haue mercy vpō me: geue thy strength vnto thy seruaunt, & helpe the sonne of thy handmaydē.

Shewe some tokē vpon me for good, that they which hate me, maye se it and be ashamed: because thou LORDE hast helped me, & comforted me.

The LXXXVI. A psalme of the children of Corah.

HIr foundacions are vpō the holy hilles: 〈…〉 the LORDE loueth the gates of Sion more, thē all ye dwellīges of Iacob.

Very excellēt thīges are spokē of ye, thou cite of God Sela. I wil thinke vpō Rahab & abilō, so that they shal knowe me: Yee the Philistynes also & they of Tyre with the Morians. Lo, there was he borne. And of Sion it shalbe reported, that he was borne in her, euen the most hyest which hath buylded her. The LORDE shal cause it be preached & written amonge the people, that he was borne there. Sela.

Therfore the dwellinge of all syngers & daunsers is in the.

The LXXXVII. A psalme of the children of Corah.

O LORDE God my Sauyor, I crie daye & night before the: Oh let my prayer entre in to thy presence, encline thine eare vnto my callynge. For my soule is full of trouble, & my life draweth nye vnto hell. I am coūted as one of thē that go downe vnto the pytte, I am euē as a mā that hath no strēgth. Fre amōge the deed, like vnto thē yt lye in the graue, which be out of remembraū ce, and are cutt awaye from thy honde. Thou hast layed me in the lowest pytte, in ye darcknesse and in the depe. Thy indignacion lieth hard vpon me, and thou vexest me with all thy floudes. Sela. Thou hast put awaye myne acquātaunce farre fro me, & made me to be abhorred of them: I am so fast in preson, that I can not get forth.

My sight fayleth for very trouble: LORDE, I call daylie vpō the, and stretch out my hondes vnto the. 〈…〉 Doest thou shewe wonders amonge the deed? Can the physiciās rayse them vp agayne, that they maye prayse the? 〈…〉 Maye thy louynge kyndnes be shewed in the graue, or thy faithfulnesse in destruccion? Maye thy wonderous workes be knowne in the darcke, or thy righteousnes in the londe where all thinges are forgottē?

Vnto the I crie (o LORDE) and early cō meth my prayer before the. LORDE, why puttest thou awaye my soule? Wherfore hydest thou thy face fro me? My strength is gone for very sorow and misery, with fearfulnesse do I beare thy burthens. Thy wrothfull displeasure goeth ouer me, the feare of the oppresseth me. They come rounde aboute me daylie like water, and compase me together on euery syde. My louers and frē des hast thou put awaye fro me, and turned awaye myne acquantaunce.

The LXXXVIII. A psalme of Ethan the Esrahite.

MY songe shal be allwaye of the louynge kyndnesse of the LORDE, Psal. 100 wt my mouth wil I euer be shewinge thy faithfulnesse frō one generacion to another. For I haue sayde: mercy shal be set vp for euer, thy faithfulnesse shalt thou stablish in the heauens. I haue made a couenaun with my chosen, I haue sworne vnto Daui my seruaunt. Thy sede wil I stablish for e uer, and set vp thy Trone from one generacion to another. Sela.

O LORDE, the very heauēs shal prayse th wonderous workes, yee & thy faithfulnes in ye congregacion of the sayntes. For who is he amonge the cloudes; that maye be cōpared vnto the LORDE? Yee what is he amonge the goddes, that is like vnto the LORDE? God is greatly to be feared in the councell of the sayntes, & to be had in reuerence of all thē that are aboute him. O LORDE God of hoostes, who is like vnto the in power? thy trueth is rounde aboute the. Thou rulest the pryde of the see, thou stillest the wawes therof, whē they arise. Thou breakest the proude, like one that is wounded thou scatrest thine enemies abrode with thy mightie arme. The heauēs are thine, the earth is thine: thou hast layed the foundaciō of the roū de worlde and all that therin is. Thou hast made the north and the south, Tabor and Hermon shal reioyse in thy name. Thou hast a mightie arme, stronge is thy hande, and hye is thy right hande. Rightuousnes and equite is the habitacion of thy seate, mercy and trueth go before thy face. Blessed is the people (o LORDE) that can reioyse in the, and walketh in the light of thy countenaunce. Their delite is in thy name all the daye longe, and thorow thy rightuousnesse they shalbe exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength, & thorow thy fauoure shalt thou lift vp oure hornes. Esa. 1. a Abac. 1. c The LORDE is oure defence, and the holy one of Israel is oure kynge. Thou spakest somtyme in visiōs vnto thy sayntes, and saydest: I haue layed helpe vpon one that is mightie, I haue exalted one chosen out of the people.1. Re. 16. a 2. Reg. 5. a I haue founde Dauid my seruaūt, with my holy oyle haue I anoynted him. My honde shal holde him fast, and my arme shal strength him. The enemie shal not ouercome him, and the sonne of wickednesse shal not hurte him. I shal smyte downe his foes before his face, and plage them that hate him.

My trueth also & my mercy shalbe with him, and in my name shal his horne be exalted. I wil set his honde in the see, and his right honde in the floudes. . Reg. He shal call me: thou art my father, my God, and the strength of my saluacion. And I wil make him my firstborne, yer then the kinges of the earth.

My mercy wil I kepe for him for euermore, and my couenaunt shall stonde fast with him His sede wil I make to endure for euer, yee and his Trone as the dayes of heauen. But yf his childrē forsake my lawe, and walke not in my iudgmentes. Yf they breake myne ordinaunces, and kepe not my commaundementes. I wil vyset their offences with the rodde, and their synnes with scourges. Neuerthelesse, my louynge kyndnesse wil I not vtterly take from him, ner suffre my trueth to fayle. My couenaunt wil I not breake, ner disanulle the thinge yt is gone out of my lippes. I haue sworne once by my holynesse, that I wil not fayle Dauid. His sede shal endure for euer, and his seate also like as the Sonne before me. •• al. 71. a He shal stonde fast for euermore as the Moone, and as the faithfull witnesse in heauen.

Sela. But now thou forsakest and abhorrest thyne anoynted, and art displeased at him. Thou hast turned backe the couenaunt of thy seruaunt, and cast his crowne to the grounde. Psal. 79. b Thou hast ouer throwne all his hedges, and brokē downe his stronge holdes. Al they that go by, spoyle him, he is become a rebuke vnto his neghbours. Thou settest vp the right hā de of his enemies, and makest all his aduersaryes to reioyse. Thou hast taken awaye the strength of his swerde, and geuest him not victory in the battayll. Thou hast put out his glory, and cast his Trone downe to the grounde. The dayes of his youth hast thou shortened, and couered him with dishonoure. Sela.

LORDE, how longe wilt thou hyde thy self? For euer? shal thy wrath burne like fyre? O remembre how shorte my tyme is, hast thou made all men for naught? Gen. 2. c Heb. 9. d What man is he that lyueth, and shal not se death?

Maye a mā delyuer his owne soule from the honde of hell? Sela.

LORDE, where are thy olde louynge kyndnesses, which thou sworest vnto Dauid in thy trueth? Remēbre LORDE the rebuke that ye multitude of the people do vnto thy seruauntes, & how I haue borne it in my bosome. Wher wt thine enemies blaspheme the, 〈…〉 & slaū der ye fotesteppes of ye anoynted. Thankes be to the LORDE for euermore: Amen, Amen.

The LXXXIX psalme. A prayer of Moses the man of God.

LORDE, thou art oure refuge from one generacion to another. Before the mountaynes were brought forth, or euer the earth & the worlde were made, thou art God from euerlastinge and worlde with out ende. Thou turnest man to destruccion, Agayne, thou sayest: come agayne ye children of men. For a thousande yeares in thy sight are but as yesterdaye that is past, and like as it were a night watch.

As soone as thou scatrest them, they are euen as a slepe, and fade awaye sodenly like the grasse. 〈…〉 In the mornynge it is grene and groweth vp, but in the euenynge it is cutt downe and wythered. For we consume awaye in thy displeasure, and are afrayed at thy wrothfull indignacion. Thou ettest oure miszdedes before the, and oure secrete synnes in the light of thy countenaunce. For when thou art angrie, all or dayes are gone, we brynge or yeares to an ende as it were a tayle that is tolde. The daye of oure age are iij. score yeares & ten: & though men be so stronge that they come to iiij. score yeares, yet is their strength then but laboure and sorowe: so soone passeth it awaye, & we are gone. But who regardeth the power of thy wrath, thy fearfull & terrible displeasure? O teach vs to nombre oure dayes, that we maye applie oure hertes vnto wyszdome. 〈…〉

Turne the agayne (o LORDE) at the last, and be gracious vnto thy seruauntes. O satisfie vs with thy mercy, and that soone: so shal we reioyse and be glad all the dayes of oure life. Comforte vs agayne, now after the tyme that thou hast plaged vs, and for the yeares wherin we haue suffred aduersite.

Shewe thy seruauntes thy worke, & their children thy glory. And the glorious maiesty of the LORDE oure God be vpon vs: O prospere thou the worke of oure hondes vpon vs, o prospere thou oure hondy worke.

The XC. psalme.

WHo so dwelleth vnder ye defence of the most hyest, & abydeth vnder ye shadowe of ye allmightie: He shal saye vnto ye LORDE: o my hope, & my stronge holde, my God, in whō I wil trust. For he shal deliuer the frō the snare of the hunter, & frō the noysome pestilence. He shal couer the vnder his wynges, that thou mayest be safe vnder his fethers: his faithfulnesse and trueth shal be thy shylde and buckler. So yt thou shalt not nede to be afrayed for eny bugges by night, ner for arowe that flyeth by daye.

For the pestilēce that crepeth in ye darcknesse, ner for the sicknesse yt destroyeth in the noone daye. A thousande shal fall besyde the, and ten thousande at thy right honde, but it shal not come nye the. Yee with thyne eyes shalt thou beholde, and se the rewarde of the vngodly. For thou LORDE art my hope, thou hast set thy house of defence very hye. There shal no euell happen vnto the, nether shal eny plage come nye thy dwellinge. 〈…〉 For he shall geue his angels charge ouer the, to kepe the in all thy wayes.

They shal beare the in their hondes, that thou hurte not thy fote agaynst a stone.

Thou shalt go vpō the Lyon and Adder, the yonge Lyon and the Dragon shalt thou treade vnder thy fete. Because he hath set his loue vpon me, I shal delyuer him: I shal defende him, for he hath knowne my name.

〈…〉 When he calleth vpon me, I shall heare him: yee I am with him in his trouble, wher out I wil delyuer him, and brynge him to honoure. With lōge life wil I satisfie him, & shewe him my saluacion.

The XCI. psalme.

IT is a good thinge to geue thankes vnto the LORDE, 〈…〉 and to synge prayses vnto ye name, o most hyest. To tell of thy louynge kyndnesse early in the mornynge, and of thy trueth in the night season.

Vpon an instrumēt of ten strynges, vpon the lu e and with a songe vpon the harpe.

〈…〉 For thou LORDE hast made me glad thorow thy workes and I wil reioyse ouer the operacion of thy hondes. O LORDE, how glorious are thy workes, thy thoughtes are very depe. An vnwyse man wil not knowe this, 〈…〉 & a foole wil not vnderstōde it. That the vngodly are grene as the grasse, and that all the workes of wickednes do florish, to be destroyed for euer. But thou LORDE o most hyest, abydest worlde without ende.

For lo, thy enemies (o LORDE) lo, thy enemies shal perishe, and all the workers of wickednes shalbe scatred abrode. But my horne shalbe exalted like the horne of an Vnicorne, 〈…〉 & shal be anoynted with fresh oyle. Myne eye also shal se his lust of myne enemies, & myne eare shall heare his desyre of the wicked yt ryse vp agaynst me. The rightuous shal florish like a palme tre, and growe like a Cedre of Libanus. Soch as be planted in the house of the LORDE, be frutefull, plenteous & grene. That they maye shewe, how true the LORDE my strēgth is, and that there is no vnrightuousnesse in him.

The XCII. psalme.

THe LORDE is kynge, and hath put on glorious apparell, the LORDE hath put on his apparell, & gyrded himself with strēgth: Psal. •• a he hath made the rounde worlde so sure, that it can not be moued. From that tyme forth hath ye seate bene prepared, thou art from euerlastinge. The floudes aryse (o LORDE) the floudes lift vp their noyse, ye floudes lift vp their wawes. The wawes of the see are mightie, & rage horribly: but yet the LORDE that dwelleth on hye, is mightier. Thy testimonies (o LORDE) are very sure, holynesse becommeth thyne house for euer.

The XCIII. psalme.

O LORDE God, to whom vengeaunce belōgeth: thou God to whom vengeaunce belongeth, shewe thy self.

Arise thou iudge of the worlde, & rewarde the proude after their deseruynge. LORDE, how longe shal the vngodly, how longe shal the vngodly tryumphe? How longe shal all wicked doers speake so diszdaynedly, and make soch proude boastynge? They smyte downe thy people (o LORDE) and trouble thine heretage. They murthur the widdowe and the straunger, and put the fatherlesse to death. And yet they saie: Tush, Esa. 29. c Eze. b 9. b Iob 22. b Ecclī 2.3. the LORDE seyth not, the God of Iacob regardeth it not. Take hede, ye vnwise amonge the people: o ye fooles, when wil ye vnderstonde? He that planted the eare, shal he not heare? he that made the eye, shal not he se? He that nurtureth the Heithen, and teacheth a man knowlege, Gen. 7. d and 19 Exo. 14. 1. Cor. 3. c Baruc. 4. shal not he punysh? The LORDE knoweth the thoughtes of men, that they are but vayne. Blessed is the mā, whom thou lernest (o LORDE) and teachest him in thy lawe. That thou mayest geue him pacience in tyme of aduersite, vntill the pytte be dygged vp for the vngodly. For the LORDE wil not fayle his people, nether wil he forsake his inheritaunce. And why? iudgment shalbe turned agayne vnto rightuousnesse, and all soch as be true of hert shal folowe it. Who ryseth vp with me agaynst the wicked? who taketh my parte agaynst the euell doers? Yf the LORDE had not helped me, my soule had allmost bene put to sylence.

ob 13. b . Ioh. 1. b Psal. 31. a . Cor. 1. a When I sayde: my fote hath slipped, thy mercy (o LORDE) helde me vp. In ye multitude of the sorowes that I had in my herte, thy comfortes haue refreshed my soule.

Wilt thou haue eny thinge to do with the stole of wickednesse, which ymagineth myschefe in the lawe? They gather them together agaynst the soule of the rightuous, & condemne the innocent bloude. But the LORDE is my refuge, my God is the strēgth of my confidēce. He shal recompence thē their wickednesse, and destroye them in their owne malice: yee the LORDE oure God shal destroye them.

The XCIIII. psalme.

O Come, let vs prayse the LORDE, let vs hertely reioyse in the strength of oure saluacion. phe. 5. b Let vs come before his presence with thākesgeuynge, & shewe oure self glad in him wt psalmes. For the LORDE is a greate God, and a greate kynge aboue all goddes. In his honde are all ye corners of the earth, and the strength of the hilles is his also. The see is his, for he made it, and his hondes prepared the drie lōde.

O come, let vs worshipe and bowe downe oure selues: Let vs knele before the LORDE oure maker. For he is oure God: as for vs, sal. 22. a 〈◊〉 . a eb. 3. a. b 〈◊〉 . b we are the people of his pasture, and the shepe of his hōdes. To daye yf ye wil heare his voyce, hardē not youre hertes, as whē ye prouoked in tyme of temptacion in the wildernes. Where yor fathers tēpted me, proued me, and sawe my workes. XL. yeares longe was I greued with that generacion, & sayde: they euer erre in their hertes, they verely haue not knowne my wayes. 〈◊〉 . 14 c eb. 4. a Therfore I sware vnto thē in my wrath, that they shulde not enter in to my rest.

The XCV. psalme.

O Synge vnto the LORDE a new songe, Par. 17. a synge vnto the LORDE all the whole earth. Synge vnto ye LORDE, & prayse his name, be tellynge of his saluacion from daye to daye. Declare his honoure amonge the Heithē, and his wonders amonge all people. sal. 46. a cclī. 4 d For ye LORDE is greate, and can not worthely be praysed: he is more to be feared then all goddes. As for all ye goddes of the Heithē, they be but Idols, but it is the LORDE that made the heauēs.

Thankesgeuynge and worshipe are before him, power and honoure are in his Sanctuary. sal. 28. a Ascrybe vnto the LORDE (o ye kinredes of the Heithen) ascrybe vnto the LORDE worshipe and strength. Ascrybe vnto the LORDE the honoure of his name, brynge presentes, and come in to his courte. O worshipe the LORDE in the beutye of holynesse, let the whole earth stonde in awe of him. Tell it out amonge the Heithē, that the LORDE is kynge: and that it is he which hath made the rounde worlde so fast, that it can not be moued, and how that he shal iudge the people rightuously. Let the heauēs reioyse, and let the earth be glad: let the see make a noyse, yee & all that therin is. Let the felde be ioyfull and all that is in it, let all the trees of the wodd leape for ioye. Before the LORDE, for he commeth: for he cōmeth to iudge the earth: yee with rightuousnesse shal he iudge the worlde, and ye people with his trueth.

The XCVI. psalme.

THe LORDE is kynge, the earth maye be glad therof: 〈…〉 yee the multitude of the Iles maie be glad therof. Cloudes and darcknesse are rounde aboute him, rightuousnesse and iudgment are the habitacion of his seate. There goeth a fyre before him, to burne vp his enemies on euery syde. His lightenynges geue shyne vnto the worlde, the earth seyth it & is afraied. 〈…〉 The hilles melt like wax at the presence of ye LORDE, at the presence of the LORDE of the whole earth. 〈…〉 The very heauens declare his rightuousnes, & all people se his glory. Cō founded be all they that worshipe ymages, and delite in their Idols: worshipe him all ye goddes. Sion heareh of it and reioyseth: yee all ye doughters of Iuda are glad because of thy iudgmentes, o LORDE. 〈…〉 For thou LORDE art the most hyest ouer all the earth, thou art exalted farre aboue all goddes. 〈…〉 O ye that loue the LORDE, se that ye hate the thinge which is euell: the LORDE preserueth the soules of his sayntes, he shal delyuer thē from the honde of the vngodly. There is spronge vp a light for the rightuous, and a ioyfull gladnesse for soch as be true herted.

Reioyse therfore in the LORDE, 〈…〉 ye rightuous: and geue thankes for a remembraunce of his holynesse.

The XCVII. psalme.

O Synge vnto the LORDE a new songe, 〈…〉 for he hath one maruelous thinges. With his owne right honde and with his holy arme hath he gotten the victory. The LORDE hath declared his sauynge health, and his rightuousnes hath he openly shewed in the sight of the Heithē.

He hath remembred his mercy and trueth towarde the house of Israel: 〈…〉 Esa. so that all the endes of the worlde se the sauynge health of oure God. Shewe youre self ioyfull vnto the LORDE all ye londes, synge, reioyse and geue thankes. 〈…〉 Prayse the LORDE vpon the harpe, synge to the harpe with a psalme of thankesgeuynge. With trompettes also & shawmes: O shewe youre selues ioyfull before the LORDE the kynge. Let the see make a noyse and all yt therin is, yee the whole worlde & all that dwell therin. 〈…〉 Let the floudes clappe their hondes, and let all the hilles be ioyfull together. Before the LORDE, for he is come to iudge the earth. Yee with rightuousnes shall he iudge the worlde, and the people with equite.

The XCVIII. psalme.

THe LORDE is kynge, be the people neuer so vnpacient: he sytteth vpon the Cherubins, be the earth neuer so vnquiete. The LORDE is greate in Sion, & hye aboue all people. O let men geue thā kes vnto thy greate & wonderful name, for it is holy. The kynges power loueth iudgment, thou preparest equite, thou executest iudgmēt & rightuousnes in I cob. O magnifie the LORDE or God, 〈…〉 f ll downe before his fote stole, for he his holy. Moses & Aaron amonge his prestes, Samuel amonge soch as call vpō his name: these called vpon the LORDE, 〈…〉 & he herde thē. He spake vnto thē out of the cloudy piler, for they kepte his testimonies, & the lawe that he gaue them.

Thou herdest thē (o LORDE or God) thou forgauest thē o God, & punyshedst their owne invencions. O magnifie the LORDE oure God, and worshipe him vpō his holy hill, for the LORDE oure God is holy.

The XCIX. psalme.

O Be ioyfull in God (all ye lōdes) serue the LORDE wt gladnes, 〈…〉 come before his presence wt ioye. Be ye sure, yt the LORDE he is God: It is he yt hath made vs, & not we oure selues: we are but his people, & the shepe of his pasture. O go youre waye in to his gates thē with thankesgeuynge, & in to his courtes wt prayse: be thākfull vnto him, & speake good of his name. For the LORDE is gracious, 〈…〉 his mercy is euerlastinge, and his treuth endureth from generacion to generacion.

The C. psalme A thākesgeuynge of Dauid.

MY songe shalbe of mercy and iudgment, 〈…〉 yee vnto the (o LORDE) wil I synge. O let me haue vnderstondinge in the waye of godlynesse, vntill the tyme that thou come vnto me: & so shal I walke in my house wt an innocent herte. I wil take no wicked thinge in honde, I hate the synne of vnfaithfulnesse, it shal not cleue vnto me. A frowarde herte shal departe fro me, I wil not knowe a wicked personne.

Who so preuely slaundreth his neghboure, him wil I destroye: Who so hath a proude loke & an hye stomacke, I maye not awaye with him. Myne eyes shal loke for soch as be faithfull in the londe, yt they maye dwell with me: and who so ledeth a godly life, shal be my seruaunt. There shall no disceatfull personne dwell in my house, he that telleth lyes shal not tary in my sight. I shal soone destroye all the vngodly of the londe, that all wicked doers maye be roted out of the cite of the LORDE.

The CI. psalme.

HEare my prayer (o LORDE) and let my criēge come vnto the. Psal. 142. a Hyde not thy face fro me in the tyme of my trouble: enclyne thine eares vnto me when I call, O heare me, and that right soone. For my dayes are consumed awaye like smoke, & my bones are brent vp as it were a fyre brande.

My hert is smyttē downe and wythered like grasse, so that I forget to eate my bred.

For the voyce of my gronynge, my bone wil scarse cleue to my flesh. I am become like a Pellicane in the wildernes, and like an Oule in a broken wall. I wake, and am euen as it were a sparow sittinge alone vpon the house toppe. Myne enemies reuyle me all the daye longe, they laugh me to scorne, and are sworne together against me. I eate ashes with my bred, and mengle my drynke with wepynge And that because of ye indignacion and wrath, for thou hast taken me vp, and cast me awaye. My dayes are gone like a shadowe, and I am wythered like grasse. But thou (o LORDE) endurest for euer, and thy remembraunce thorow out all generacions. Arise therfore and haue mercy vpon Sion, for it is tyme to haue mercy vpon her, yee the tyme is come. And why?2. Pa. 36. Iere. 25. b 29. b 1. Esd. 1 a 6.7 thy seruauntes haue a loue to hir stones, & it pitieth them to se her in the dust. The Heithen shal feare thy name (o LORDE) and all the kynges of the earth thy maiesty. For the LORDE shal buylde vp Sion, and shal apeare in his glory. He turneth him vnto the prayer of the poore destitute, and despyseth not their desyre. This shalbe written for those yt come after, Psal. 21. d that the people which shalbe borne, maye prayse the LORDE.

For He loketh downe from his Sanctuary, Psal. 3 . b out of the heauen doth the LORDE beholde the earth.

That he maye heare the mournynges of soch as be in captinyte, and delyuer the children of death. That they maie preach the name of the LORDE in Sion, and his worshipe at Ierusalem. When the people are gathered together, and the kyngdomes also to serue ye LORDE. He hath brought downe my strength in my iourney, and shortened my dayes. Yet wil I saye: O my God, take me not awaye in ye myddest of myne age: as for thy yeares, they endure thorow out all generacions. ebre. 1. b Thou LORDE in the begynnynge hast layed ye foundacion of the earth, and the heauens are the workes of thy hondes. sa. 40. a . Pet. 3. b They shal perishe, but thou shalt endure: they all shall wexe olde as doth a garment, & as a vesture shalt thou chaunge thē, and they shalbe chaunged. But thou art the same, and thy yeares shal not fayle.

The children of thy seruauntes shall contynue, & their sede shal prospere in ye sight.

The CII. A psalme of Dauid.

PRayse the LORDE (o my soule) & all that is within me prayse his holy name. Prayse the LORDE o my soule, & forget not all his benefites. Which forgeueth all thy synnes, and healeth all thy infirmities. sal. 31. a Which saueth thy life from destruccion, and crowneth the with mercy & louynge kyndnesse. Which satisfieth thy desyre with good thinges, makynge the yonge and lusty as an Aegle. The LORDE executeth rightuousnesse and iudgment, for all them yt suffre wronge. He shewed his wayes vnto Moses, and his workes vnto the children of Israel. xo. 34. a sal. 85. c 〈◊〉 . 4. a The LORDE is full of compassion and mercy, longe sufferinge, and of greate goodnesse. He wil not allwaye be chydinge, nether wil he kepe his anger for euer.

He hath not dealt with vs after oure synnes, ner rewarded vs acordinge to oure wickednesses. sal. •• . b 7. a For loke how hye the heauē is in comparison of the earth, so greate is his mercy also towarde them that feare him.

Loke how wyde the east is from the west, so farre hath he set oure synnes from vs.

Yee like as a father pitieth his owne children, euen so is the LORDE mercifull vnto thē that feare him. For he knoweth wherof we be made, sal. 77. d he remembreth that we are but dust. That a man in his tyme is but as is grasse, & florisheth as a floure of the felde.

For as soone as the wynde goeth ouer it, it gone, and the place therof knoweth it nomore. But the mercifull goodnesse of ye LORDE endureth for euer and euer, sal. 101. d vpon them yt feare him, and his rightuousnesse vpon their childers children. Soch as kepe his couenaunt, and thinke vpon his commaundementes to do them. The LORDE hath prepared his seate in heauē, and his kyngdome ruleth ouer all. O prayse the LORDE ye angels of his, ye that be mightie instrēgth, fulfillinge his commaundement, that mē maye heare the voyce of his wordes. O prayse the LORDE all ye his hoostes, ye seruauntes of his, that do his pleasure. O speake good of the LORDE all ye workes of his, in euery place of his dominion: prayse thou the LORDE, o my soule.

The CIII. psalme.

PRayse the LORDE o my soule: O LORDE my God, 〈…〉 thou art become exceadinge glorious, thou art clothed with maiesty and honoure. Thou deckest thy self with light, as it were wt a garment, thou spredest out the heauen like a curtayne.

Thou voltest it aboue with waters, thou makest the cloudes thy charet, and goest vpon the wynges of the wynde. Thou makest thine angels spretes, 〈…〉 and thy ministers flammes of fyre. Thou hast layed ye earth vpon hir foundacion, that it neuer moueth at eny tyme. Thou couerest it with the depe like as with a garmēt, 〈…〉 so that the waters stonde aboue the hilles. But at thy rebuke they fle, at the voyce of thy thonder they are afrayed. (Then are the hilles sene alofte, & the valleys beneth in their place which thou hast appoynted for thē. 〈…〉 ) Thou hast set them their boundes, which they maie not passe, that they turne not agayne to couer ye earth. Thou causest the welles to sprynge vp amonge the valleys, and the waters runne amonge ye hilles. That all the beastes of the felde maye haue drynke, & that the wylde asses maye quench their thyrste.

Aboue vpon the hilles haue the foules of the ayre their habitacion, and synge amonge the braunches. Thou watrest the hylles from aboue, the erth is fylled with ye frutes of thy workes. Thou bryngest forth grasse for the catell, and grene herbe for the seruyce of men. 〈…〉 Thou bryngest fode out of the earth: wyne to make glad ye herte of mā, oyle to make him a chearfull countenaunce, & bred to strength mans herte. The trees of the LORDE are full of sappe, euen the trees of Libanus which he hath planted. There make the byrdes their nestes, and the fyrre trees are a dwellinge for the storcke. The hilles are a refuge for the wylde goates, and so are the stony rockes for ye conyes. Thou hast appoynted the Moone for certayne seasons, the Sonne knoweth his goinge downe. Thou makest darcknesse, that it maye be night, wherin all the beastes of the forest do moue. Yee and the yonge lyons which roare after the praye, and seke their meate at God. But when the Sonne ariseth, they get them awaye together, and lye them downe in their dennes. Then goeth man forth to his worke, and to till his londe vntill the euenynge. O LORDE, how manifolde are thy workes, right wysely hast thou made thē all: yee the earth is full of thy riches. So is this greate and wyde see also, wherin are thinges crepinge innumerable, both small and greate beastes. There go the shippes uer, and there is that Leuiathan, whom thou hast made, to take his pastyme therin.

They wayte all vpō the, that thou mayest geue them meate in due season. Whē thou geuest it them, they gather it: whē thou openest thine honde, they are fylled with good.

But when thou hydest thy face, they are soroufull: yf thou takest awaye their breth, they dye, & are turned agayne to their dust.

Agayne, when thou lattest thy breth go forth, they are made, and so thou renuest the face of the earth. The glorious magesty of the LORDE endureth for euer, and the LORDE reioyseth in his workes. 〈…〉 The earth trē bleth at the loke of him, he doth but touch ye hilles and they smoke. I will synge vnto the LORDE as longe as I lyue, I wil prayse my God whyle I haue my beinge. O that my wordes might please him, for my oye is in the LORDE. As for synners, they shal be cōsumed out of the earth, and the vngodly shal come to an ende: but prayse thou the LORDE, o my soule. Halleluya.

The CIIII. psalme.

O Geue thankes vnto the LORDE, and call vpon his name: tell the people what thinges he hath done. O let youre songes be of him: prayse him, and let youre talkynge be of all his wonderous workes. Geue his holy name a good reporte, let their hertes reioyse that seke the LORDE.

Seke the LORDE, and his strength, seke his face euermore. Remembre the maruelous workes that he hath done, his wonders and the iudgmentes of his mouth. O ye sede of Abraham his seruaunt, ye children of Iacob his chosen. He is the LORDE oure God, whose punyshmentes are thorow out all the worlde. He is allwaye myndfull of his couenaunt, and promyse that he made to a thousande generacions.

Yee the couenaunt that he made wt Abraham, Gen. 17. a Gen. 26. a Gen. 28. a and the ooth that he swore vnto Isaac. And apoynted the same vnto Iacob for a lawe, and to Israel for an euerlastinge testament. Sayenge: vnto the wil I geue the londe of Canaan, the lott of youre heretage. When there was yet but a fewe of them, and they straungers therin. What tyme as they wente from one nacion to another, from one kyngdome to another. He suffred no man to hurte them, Gen. 12. d and 20. a but reproued euen kynges for their sakes. Touch not myne anoynted, do my prophetes no harme.

Morouer he called for a derth vpon the lō de, and destroyed all the prouysion of bred.

But he had sent a man before them, Gen. 45. a 37. f. 39. a euen Ioseph which was solde to be a bonde seruaunt. They hurte his fete in the stockes, the yron pearsed his herte. Luc. 2 Vntill the tyme that his worde came, and till the worde of ye LORDE had tried him. Gen. Then sent the kinge and caused him be delyuered, the prynce of the people bad let him go. He made him lorde of his house, & ruler of all his substaunce. That he might enfourme his prynces after his wil, and teach his Senatours wysdome. Israel also came in to Egipte, Gen. 4 and Iacob was a straunger in the lōde of Ham.

But he increased his people exceadingly, Exo. 1 Acto. and made them stronger then their enemies.

Whose hert turned, so that they hated his people, and dealt vntruly with his seruauntes. Then sent he Moses his seruaunt, Exo. 3 Acto. and Aaron whom he had chosen. These dyd his tokens amōge them, and wonders in the londe of Ham. Exo 10. e He sent darcknesse and it was darcke, for they were not obedient vnto his worde. Exo. 7. d He turned their waters in to bloude, and slewe their fishe. Their londe brought forth frogges, Exo. 8. b Exo. 8. d Psal. 77. c yee euen in their kynges chambers. He spake the worde, & their came all maner of flies & lise in all their quarters. He gaue them hale stones for rayne, and flammes of fyre in their lōde. He smote their vynyardes & fige trees, and destroyed the trees that were in their coastes. He spake ye worde, Exo. 10. d and their came greshoppers & catirpillers innumerable. These ate vp all the grasse in their lōde, and deuoured the frutes of their groūde. He smote all ye first borne in their lōde, Exo. 11. a 12. c euen the chefe of all their substaunce. He brought them forth wt syluer & golde, there was not one feble personne amōge their try es. Egipte was glad of their departinge, for they were afraied of thē

He spred out a cloude to be a couerynge, and fyre to geue light in the night season. Exo

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Exo. 16. a At their desyre, there came quales, and he fylled them with the bred of heauē. Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. b Exo. 17. a He opened the rocke of stone, & the waters flowed out: so that ryuers ranne in the wildernesse.

For why, he remembred his holy promyse which he had made vnto Abraham his seruaunt. Thus he brought forth his people with ioye, and his chosen with gladnesse.

And gaue them the lōdes of the Heithē, where they toke the labours of the people in possession. That they might kepe his statutes, and obserue his lawes. Halleluya.

The CV. psalme. Halleluya.

O Geue thankes vnto the LORDE, for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for euer.1. Mac. 4. c Iudit. 13. c Psal. 106. a Ecclī. 43. d Who can expresse ye noble actes of the LORDE, or shewe forth all his prayse? Blessed are they that allwaye kepe iudgment, and do rightuousnes. Remembre vs (o LORDE) acordinge to the fauoure that thou bearest vnto thy people: o vyset vs wt thy sauinge health. That we might se the pleasure of thy chosen, that we might reioyse in the gladnesse of thy people, and geue thankes with thine enheritaunce. Iud. 7. e We haue synned with oure fathers, we haue done amysse, we haue dealt wickedly. Oure fathers regarded not thy wonders in Egipte, they kepte not thy greate goodnesse in remē braunce: but were dishobediēt at the see, euē at the reed see. Neuertheles, he helped thē for his names sake, that he might make his power to be knowne. He rebuked the reed see, Psal. 103. a and it was dried vp: so he led thē thorow the depe as in a wildernesse. Thus he saued them from the honde of the hater, & delyuered them from the honde of the enemie.

As for those yt troubled them, the waters ouerwhelmed thē, there was not one of thē left. Exo. 15. a Then beleued they in his worde, and songe prayse vnto him. But within a whyle they forgat his workes, & wolde not abyde his councell. Nu. 11. a A lust came vpō them in the wildernesse, so that they tempted God in the deserte. Yet he gaue them their desyre, and sent thē ynough at their willes. They angred Moses in the tētes, Nu. 16. a and Aaron the saynte of the LORDE. So the earth opened & swalowed vp Dathan, and couered the congregaciō of Abiram. The fyre was kyndled in their company, the flame brent vp the vngodly. Exo. 32. a 1. cor. 10. a Rom. 1. They made a calfe in Horeb, and worshipped the moltē ymage. Thus they turned his glory into the similitude of a calfe, yt eateth haye. They forgat God their Sauior, which had done so greate thinges in Egipte. Wonderous workes in the londe of Ham, and fearfull thinges in the reed see. So he sayde he wolde haue destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stonde before him in ye gappe: to turne awaie his wrothfull indignacion, lest he shulde destroye thē.

Yee they thought scorne of yt pleasaunt londe, and gaue no credence vnto his worde.

But murmured in their tentes, and herkened not vnto the voyce of the LORDE.

Then lift he vp his honde agaynst them, to ouerthrowe them in the wildernes. To cast out their sede amonge the nacions, and to scater them in the londes. They ioyned themselues vnto Baal Peor, and ate the offeringes of the deed. Thus they prouoked him vnto anger with their owne invēcions, and the plage was greate amonge them.

Then stode vp Phineas and excuted iustice, & so the plage ceased. And that was counted vnto him for rightuousnesse, amonge all posterites for euermore. They angerd him also at the waters of strife, so that Moses was punyshed for their sakes. Because they prouoked his sprete, and he tolde thē planely with his lippes. Nether destroyed they the Heithen, as the LORDE commaunded them. But were mengled amon ge the Heithen, and lerned their workes.

In so moch that they worshipped their ymages, which turned to their owne decaye.

Yee they offred their sonnes & their doughters vnto deuels. And shed the innocent bloude of their sonnes and of their doughters, whom they offred vnto the ymages of Canaan, so that the londe was defyled wi •• bloude. Thus were they stayned wt the •• owne workes, and wente a whoringe with their owne invencions. Therfore was the wrath of the LORDE kyndled agaynst his people, in so moch that he abhorred his owne enheritaunce. And gaue them ouer in to the honde of the Heithē, and they that hated them, were lordes ouer them. Their enemies oppressed thē, and had them in subieccion. Many a tyme dyd he delyuer them, but they prouoked him with their owne invē cions, and were brought downe for their wickednesse. Neuerthelesse whē he sawe their aduersite, he herde their complaynte. 〈…〉 He thought vpō his couenaunt, and pitied thē acordinge vnto the multitude of his mercies. Yee he made all those yt had led them awaye captiue, to pitie them. Delyuer vs (o LORDE oure God) & gather vs from amō ge the Heithen: that we maye geue thankes to thy holy name, & make oure boast of thy prayse. Blessed be the LORDE God of Is

He sheweth his people the power of his workes, that he maye geue them the heretage of the Heithen. The workes of his hō des are verite & iudgment, all his cōmaundemētes are true. They stonde fast for euer & euer, 〈…〉 & are done in trueth & equite. He sent redempcion vnto his people, he hath commaunded his couenaunt for euer, holy & reuerent is his name. 〈…〉 The feare of the LORDE is the begynnynge of wyszdome, a good vnderstondinge haue all they that do therafter: the prayse of it endureth for euer.

The CXI. psalme. Halleluya.

BLessed is the man yt feareth the LORDE, & hath greate delite in his commaundementes. 〈…〉 His sede shall be mightie vpon earth, the generacion of the faithfull shalbe blessed. Riches & plēteousnesse shalbe in his house, & his rightuousnes endureth for euer. Vnto the godly there ariseth vp light in the darcknesse: he is merciful, 〈…〉 louynge & rightuous. Wel is him that is mercifull, & lendeth gladly, & pōdreth his wordes wt discrecion. 〈…〉 For he shal neuer be moued, the rightuous shal be had in an euer lastinge remembraunce. He wil not be afrayed for eny euell tydinges, his herte stondeth fast, & beleueth in ye LORDE. His herte is stablished, he wil not shrencke, vntill he se his desyre vpon his enemies. He hath sparsed abrode, 〈…〉 & geuē to the poore, his rightuousnes remayneth for euer, his horne shal be exalted wt honor. The vngodly shal se it, & it shal greue him: he shall gnash wt his •• th & consume awaye, & the desyre of the vn godly shal perish.

The CXII. psal. Halleluya.

PRayse the LORDE (O ye seruauntes) O prayse the name of the LORDE. 〈…〉

Blessed be the name of the LORDE, frō this tyme forth for euermore. The LORDES name is worthy to be praysed, frō the rysinge vp of the Sonne vnto the goinge downe of the same. The LORDE is hye aboue all Heithen, and his glory aboue the heauēs. Who is like vnto the LORDE oure God, yt hath his dwellinge so hye, which humbleth himself, to beholde that is in heauen and earth? Which taketh vp the symple out of the dust, and lifteth the poore out of the myre. That he maye set him amonge the prynces, euen amonge the prynces of his people. Which maketh the baren woman to kepe house, and to be a ioyfull mother of children. Halleluya.

The CXIII. psalme.

WHen Israel came out of Egipte, & the house of Iacob from amonge that straunge people. Iuda was his Sāctuary, Israel his dominion. Exo. 14. e Iosu. 3. d The see sawe that, and fled, Iordan turned backe. The mountaynes stripped like rammes, & the litle hilles like yonge shepe. What ayled the (o thou see) that thou fleddest? and thou Iordan, that thou turnedest backe? Ye mountaynes, that ye stripped like rammes? and ye litle hilles, like yonge shepe? The earth trembled at the presence of the LORDE, at the presence of the God of Iacob. Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. b Which turned the harde rocke in to a stondinge water, & the flynt stone in to a sprynginge well.

Here the Hebrues begynne the CXV. psalme.

Not vnto vs (o LORDE) not vnto vs, but vnto thy name geue the prayse, for thy louinge mercy and faithfulnes. Wherfore shal the Heithen saye: where is now their God? Psal. 78. b

As for oure God, he is in heauen, he doth what soeuer it pleaseth him. Their ymages are but syluer and golde, euen the worke of mens hōdes. They haue mouthes, Psal 13 4 Esa. 4 4. b ere. 10. a and speake not: eyes haue they, but they se not.

They haue eares, and heare not: noses haue they, but they smell not. They haue handes and handle not, fete haue they, but they can not go, nether can they speake thorow their throte. They that made them, are like vnto them, and so are all soch as put their trust in them. But let Israel trust in ye LORDE, for he is their sucoure & defence. Let the house of Aaron put their trust in ye LORDE, for he is their sucoure & defence. They that feare the LORDE, let thē put their trust in the LORDE, Psal. 17. c for he is their sucoure and defence. The LORDE is myndefull of vs, & blesseth vs: he blesseth ye house of Israel, he blesseth ye house of Aaron. Yee he blesseth all them that feare the LORDE, both small & greate. The LORDE encrease you more & more: you, and youre childrē. For ye are ye blessed of the LORDE, which made heauen & earth. All the whole heauens are the LORDES, but the earth hath he geuē vnto ye childrē of men. Psal. Esa The deed prayse not the (o LORDE) nether all they that go downe in to sylence. But we will prayse the LORDE, from this tyme forth for euermore. Halleluya.

The CXIIII. psalme.

I Am wel pleased, yt the LORDE 〈…〉 herde ye voyce of my prayer. 〈…〉 he hath enclyned his eare 〈…〉 therfore wil I call vpō him as long 〈…〉 . The snares of death cōpas 〈…〉 aboute, the paynes of hell gat 〈…〉 me, I founde trouble and heuy 〈…〉 called I vpon ye name of the LORDE: o LORDE, delyuer my soule. Gracious is ye LORDE & rightuous, yee oure God is mercifull.

The LORDE preserueth ye symple, I was brought downe, and he helped me. Turne agayne then vnto thy rest (o my soule) for the LORDE hath geuen the thy desyre.

Psal. 55. b And why? thou hast delyuered my soule from death, myne eyes from teares, and my fete from fallinge. I wil walke before ye LORDE, in the londe of the lyuynge.

The CXV. psalme. This psalme do the Hebrues ioyne vnto it that goeth before, and it is with them the CXVI psalme.

I Beleued, and therfore haue I spokē, but I was sore troubled.2. cor. 4. c Rom. 3. a I sayde in my haist: All men are lyers.

What rewarde shal I geue vnto ye LORDE, for all the benefites yt he hath done vnto me? I wil receaue the cuppe of saluaciō, and call vpon the name of the LORDE.

I wil paye my vowes in the presence of all his people, right deare in the sight of ye LORDE is the death of his sayntes. O LORDE, I am thy seruaunt, I am thy seruaunt, and the sonne of thy handmayden, thou hast broken my bondes in sonder. Hebr. 3. c Psal. 91. a I wil offre the the sacrifice of thankes geuynge, and wil call vpon the name of the LORDE. I wil paye my vowes vnto the LORDE in the sight of all his people, in the courtes of the LORDES house, euē in the myddest of the, o Ierusalem. Halleluya.

The CXVI. psalme.

O Prayse the LORDE all ye Gentiles, laude him all ye people. Rom. 15. c For his mercifull kyndnes is euer more and more towarde vs, & the trueth of the LORDE endureth for euer. Halleluya.

The CXVII. psalme.

O Geue thankes vnto the LORDE, for he is gracious, •• dit. 13. c •• al. 105. a 〈◊〉 6. a 135. a Nu. 16 a c 4. c and his mercy endureth for euer. Let Israel now confesse, yt his mercy endureth for euer. Let the house of Aaron now confesse, that his mercy endureth for euer. Yee let thē now that feare the LORDE, confesse, that his mercy endureth for euer. I called vpon the LORDE in trouble, and the LORDE herde me 〈◊〉 large. The LORDE is my helper, I wil 〈…〉 what man doeth vnto me. The 〈…〉 is my helper, & I shal se my desyre 〈…〉 enemies. It is better to trust 〈…〉 , then to put eny confidence in 〈…〉 is better to trust in the LORDE, 〈…〉 confidēce in prynces. All Heithen compased me rounde aboute, but in the name of the LORDE wil I destroye thē.

They kepte me in on euery syde, but in the name of the LORDE, I wil destroye them.

They came aboute me like bees, & were as hote as the fyre in the thornes, but in the name of the LORDE. I wil destroye them.

They thrust at me, that I might fall, but the LORDE was my helpe. 〈…〉 The LORDE is my strēgth, & my songe, & is become my saluacion. The voyce of ioye & myrth is in the dwellynges of ye rightuous, for ye right hande of the LORDE hath gottē the victory.

The right hande of the LORDE hath the preemynence, the right hāde of the LORDE hath gottē the victory. I wil not dye, but lyue, and declare the workes of the LORDE.

The LORDE hath chastened & correcte me, but he hath not geuen me ouer vnto death.

Open me the gates of rightuousnes yt I maye go in there thorow, & geue thākes vnto the LORDE. This is the dore of the LORDE, the rightuous shall entre in thorow 〈◊〉

I thanke the, yt thou hast herde me, & are become my saluaciō. The same stone which the buylders refused, is become the headestone in the corner. This was the LORDES doinge, & it is maruelous in or eyes. This is the daye which the LORDE hath made let vs reioyse and be glad in it. Helpe now o LORDE, o LORDE sende vs now prosperite.

Blessed be he that cōmeth in the name of the LORDE, we wish you good lucke, ye that be of the house of the LORDE. God is the LORDE, & hath shewed vs light: O 〈◊〉 the solempne feast with grene braunches, 〈◊〉 vnto the hornes of ye aulter. Thou art 〈◊〉 God, & I wil thanke the: thou art my 〈◊〉 and I wil prayse the. O geue thankes 〈◊〉 to the LORDE, for he is gracious, & his m ••• cy endureth for euer.

The CXVIII. psalme. Aleph.

BLessed are those yt be vndefiled in th waye: which walke in the lawe of 〈◊〉 LORDE. Blessed are they that kepe his t ••• timonies, & seke him with their whole hert

Which walke in his wayes, & do no wi kednesse. Thou hast geuen strayte cha ••• to kepe thy commaundementes. O th •• my wayes were stablished to kepe thy stat •• tes. So shulde I not be confounded, 〈◊〉 I haue respecte vnto all thy commaund mentes. I wil thanke the with an vnfay ned herte, because I am lerned in the iudg mentes of thy rightuousnesse. I wil 〈◊〉 thy statutes, o forsake me not vtterly.

They came aboute me lyke bees / & were s hote as the fyre in the thornes / but in the •• me of the Lorde I wyll destroye them.

They thrust at me / that I might fall / but •• e Lorde was my helpe.

*The Lorde is my strēgth / and my songe / nd is become my saluacyon.

The voyce of ioye and myrth is in ye dwel •• ges of the ryghtuous / for the ryght hāde 〈◊〉 the Lorde hath gotten the victory.

The ryght hande of the Lorde hath ye pre •• ynence / the ryght hande of the Lord hath •• tten the victory.

I wyll not dye / but lyue / and declare the orckes of the Lorde.

The Lorde hath chastened & correcte me / •• t he hath not geuen me ouer vnto death.

a* Open me the gates of ryghtuousnes / 〈◊〉 I maye goo in there thorow / and geue ••• nckes vnto the Lorde.

This is the dore of the Lorde / the rygh •• ous shall entre in thorow it.

I thancke the / that thou hast herde me / & become my saluacyon.

The same b* stone whych the buylders re •••••• / is become the heade stone in ye corner. Thys was the Lordes doynge / and it is ••• uelous in oure eyes.

This is the c* daye / which the Lorde hath •• de / let vs reioyse and be glad in it.

Helpe now O Lorde / O Lorde sende vs 〈◊〉 prosperite.

Blessed be he that commeth in the name of 〈◊〉 Lorde / we wysh you good lucke / ye that of the house of the Lorde.

God is the Lorde / & hath shewed vs light: garnysh the solempne feast wyth grene ••• ches / euē vnto the hornes of ye aulter. •• ou art my God / and I wyll thācke the 〈◊〉 art my God / and I wyll prayse the. 〈◊〉 geue thanckes vnto the Lorde / for he is •••• ous / and hys mercy endureth for euer.

¶The .cxix. Psalme.

This Psalme declareth how moche the saynctes 〈…〉 set by the lawes of God / and how greatly 〈◊〉 endeuour thē selues vnto them: in so moche that 〈◊〉 sorowe them to be transgressed & withstanded of 〈◊〉 wycked: And how they praye to be taught thē frō 〈◊〉 & to be accustomed with thē: & wyshe as many ransgresse & withstande them / to be destroyed and 〈◊〉 awaye.

א Aleph.

BLessed are those that a* be vndefyled in the waye: which walcke in the lawe of the Lorde.

Blessed are they that kepe hys testymo ••• s / and seke him with their whole herte. 〈◊〉 which walcke in his wayes / & do no wyc ••• nesse.

Thou hast geuen strayte charge to kepe 〈◊〉 commaundementes.

א O that my wayes were stablyshed to kepe thy statutes.

א So shulde I not be confounded / whyle I haue respecte vnto all thy cōmaundemētes.

א I wyll thancke the wt an vnfayned herte / because I am learned in the iudgmentes of thy ryghtuousnesse.

א I wyll kepe thy statutes / O forsake me not vtterly.

ב Beth.

ב Where withall shall a yonge man clense his waye? Euen by rulynge hym selfe after thy worde.

ב With my whole herte do I seke the / O let me not go wrōge out of thy cōmaundemētꝭ.

ב Thy wordes haue I hyd within my herte / that I shulde not synne agaynst the.

ב Praysed be thou O Lorde / O teach me thy statutes.

ב With my lyppes wyll I be tellyng out all the iudgmentes of thy mouth.

ב I haue as greate delyte in the waye of thy testymonies / as in all maner of ryches.

ב I wyll exercyse my selfe in thy cōmaundmētes / & haue respecte vnto thy fotepathes.

ב My delite shalbe in thy statutꝭ / I will not forget thy wordes.

ג Gimel.

ג O do well vnto thy seruaūt / that I maye lyue and kepe thy wordes.

ג Open thou myne eyes / and so shall I spie out wonderous thynges in thy lawe.

ג I am a straunger vpon earth / O hyde not thy commaundementes fro me.

ג My soule breaketh oute / for the very feruent desyre yt I haue alwaye vnto thy iudgmentes.

ג Thou rebukest the proude / cursed are they that departe from thy commaundementes.

ג O turne fro me shame and rebuke / for I kepe thy testimonyes.

ג b*Prynces also syt & speake agaynst me / but thy seruaūt is occupyed in thy statutes.

ג In thy testymonies is my delyte / they are my councelers.

ד Daleth.

ד My soule cleaueth to the dust / O quyckē thou me accordynge to thy worde.

ד I knowledged my wayes / & thou herdest me / O teach me then thy statutes.

ד Make me to vnderstande the waye of t 〈…〉 commaundementes / and so shall I ta 〈…〉 thy wonderous worckes.

ד My soule melteth awaye for ver 〈…〉 / O set me vp according vnto th 〈…〉

ד Take fro me ye waye of lyenge 〈…〉 me thy lawe.

ד I haue chosen the c* waye of treuth 〈…〉 iudgmentes haue I layed before me.

ד I stycke vnto thy testymonies / O Lo 〈…〉 confounde me not.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I wyll runne the waye of thy cōmaundementes / whē thou hast comforted my herte.

ה He.

ה Teach me O Lorde the waye of thy statutes / and I shall kepe it vnto the ende.

ה O d* geue me vnderstādynge / and I shal kepe thy lawe / yee I shall kepe it wyth my whole herte.

ה Leade me in the path of thy commaundmentes / for that is my desyre.

ה Enclyne myne herte vnto thy testymonies / and not to couetousnes.

ה O turne awaye myne eyes / lest they beholde vanite / & quycken me in thy waye.

ה O stablish thy worde in thy seruaunt / yt I maye feare the.

ה Take awaye ye rebuke that I am afrayed of / for thy iudgmentes are amyable.

ה Beholde / my delyte is in thy cōmaundemētes / O quyckē me in thy ryghtuousnesse.

ו Vau.

ו Let thy louynge mercy come vnto me / O Lorde / and thy sauynge health accordynge vnto thy worde.

ו That I maye geue answere vnto my blasphemers / for my trust is in thy worde.

ו O take not ye worde of treuth vtterly out of my mouth / for my hope is in thy iudgmētꝭ

ו So shall I alwaye kepe thy lawe / yee for euer and euer.

ו And I wyll walcke at lyberty / for I seke thy commaundementes.

ו I wyll speake of thy testimonies euen before kynges / and wyll not be ashamed.

ו My delyte shalbe in thy cōmaundmētes / which I loue.

ו My handes also wyll I lyft vp vnto thy commaundementes which I loue / & my talkynge shalbe of thy statutes.

ז Zain.

ז O thyncke vpon thy seruaunt as concernynge thy worde / wherin thou hast caused me to put my trust.

ז For it is my cōforte in my trouble / yee thy worde quyckeneth me.

ז The proude haue me greatly in derisyon / yet shryncke not I from thy lawe.

ז I remembre thyne euerlastyng iudgmētꝭ / O Lorde / and am comforted.

I am horribly afrayed for the vngodly / yt 〈…〉 thy lawe.

〈…〉 statutes are my songes in the house 〈…〉 ylgremage.

〈…〉 vpon thy name / O Lord / in the 〈…〉 eason / and kepe thy lawe.

〈…〉 myne awne / for I kepe thy cōmaūd •••• es.

ח Heth.

Thou art my porcyon / O Lorde / I am purposed to kepe thy lawe.

ח I make myne humble petycyon in presence with my whole herte / O be 〈◊〉 vnto me accordynge vnto thy wor ••

ח I call myne awne wayes to rememb ••• ce / and turne my fete in to thy testimon •••

ח I make haste / and prolonge not the 〈◊〉 to kepe thy commaundementes.

ח The congregacyons of the vngodly 〈◊〉 robbed me / but I forget not thy lawe.

ח At mydnight stande I vp / to geue thā ••• vnto the / for the iudgmentes of thy •••••• tuousnesse.

ח I am a companyon of all them that 〈◊〉 the / and kepe thy commaundementes.

ח *The earth / O Lorde / is full of thy 〈◊〉 . O teach me thy statutes.

ט Teh.

ט O Lord / thou hast dealt frendly with 〈◊〉 seruaunt / accordynge vnto thy worde.

ט O learne me thy kyndnesse / 〈◊〉 knowledge / for I beleue thy cōmaūde ••••

ט Before I was troubled / I went 〈◊〉 but now I kepe thy worde.

ט Thou art good & frendly / O teach 〈◊〉 statutes.

ט The proude ymagin lyes vpon me 〈◊〉 kepe thy commaundemētes with my 〈◊〉 herte.

ט Their herte is as fat as brawne / 〈◊〉 delyte is in thy lawe.

ט It is good for me yt I haue bene in •• ble / that I maye learne thy statutes.

ט The lawe of thy mouth is dearer 〈◊〉 me / then thousandes of golde and sylue

י Iod.

י *Thy hādes haue made me and 〈◊〉 me / O geue me vnderstādynge / that I 〈◊〉 learne thy commaundementes.

י They yt feare the / wyll be glad 〈…〉 me / because I put my trust in thy 〈◊〉

י I knowe / O Lorde / that thy iudgm ••• are right / and that thou of very faithfu •• hast caused me to be troubled.

י O let thy mercyfull kyndnesse be my •••• forte / accordynge to the promes that 〈◊〉 hast made vnto thy seruaunt.

י O let thy louyng mercies come vnto 〈◊〉 that I maye lyue / for thy lawe is my 〈◊〉

י Let the proude be cōfounded / which 〈◊〉 me so falslye.

י But let soch as feare the / and know 〈◊〉 testymonies / be turned vnto me.

י O lett myne herte be vndefyled in the •••• tutes that I be not ashamed.

כ Caph.

כ My soule longeth for thy sauynge 〈◊〉 for my trust is in thy worde.

כ Myne eyes lōge sore for thy worde / 〈◊〉 O when wylt thou comforte me?

For I am become like a botell in ye smoke / do not I forget thy statutes.

How many are the dayes of thy seruaūt? hen wylt thou be auēged of myne aduer ••• yes?

The proude haue dygged pyttes for me / •• ich are not after thy lawe.

ll thy commaundementes are true / they ••• secute me falsly / O be thou my helpe.

They haue allmost made an ende of me 〈◊〉 earth / but I forsake not thy cōmaunde •• ntes.

O quyckē me after thy louyng kyndnꝭ / & hall I kepe ye testimonyes of thy mo •• h.

ל Lamed.

O Lord / thy worde endureth for euer in ••• uen.

Thy treuth also remayneth frō one 〈…〉 to another: thou hast layed ye 〈…〉 of the earth / and it abydeth.

They contynue this daye accordynge to 〈◊〉 ordynaunce / for all thynges serue the. If my delyte were not in thy lawe / I 〈◊〉 peryshe in my trouble.

I wyll neuer forget thy commaunde •• ntes / for with them thou quickenest me. I am thyne / Oh helpe me / for I seke thy ••• maundementes.

The vngodly laye wayte for me to 〈◊〉 me / but I consydre thy testimonyes.

I e that all thyngꝭ come to an ende / but 〈◊〉 commaundement is exceadynge broade.

מ Mem.

O what loue haue I vnto thy lawe? all daye longe is my talkynge of it

Thou thorow thy commaundement hast 〈◊〉 me wyser then myne enemies for it is 〈◊〉 by me.

I haue more vnderstandyng then all my thers / for thy testymonies are my studie. Yee I am wyser then ye aged / for I kepe 〈◊〉 commaundementes.

I refrayne my fete frō euery euell waye / 〈◊〉 I maye kepe thy wordes.

I shrynck not from thy iudgmentes / for 〈◊〉 teachest me.

O how swete are thy wordes vnto my 〈◊〉 ?

Yee more then hony vnto my mouth.

Thorow thy cōmaundementes I get vn ••• standing / therfore I hate all false wayes.

נ Nun.

Thy worde is a e * lanterne vnto my fete 〈◊〉 a lyght vnto my ••• thes.

〈…〉 haue sworne & 〈◊〉 tedfastly purposed / epe ye iudgmētes 〈◊〉 hy ryghtuousnesse. I am troubled 〈◊〉 measure / quycken 〈◊〉 / O Lorde / accordynge vnto thy worde. Let the frewyll offe ynges of my mouth 〈◊〉 the / O Lord / & t ach me thy iudgmētꝭ

נ 〈…〉 My soule is alwaye in my hande / yet do not I forget thy lawe.

נ The vngodly haue layed a snare for me / but yet swarue not I frō thy cōmaundmētꝭ.

נ Thy testymonyes haue I claymed as myne herytage for euer: and why? they are ye very ioye of my herte.

נ I applye myne herte to fulfyll thy statutes alwaye / euen vnto the ende.

ס Samech.

ס I hate ye vngodly / but thy lawe do I loue.

ס Thou art my defence & shylde / my trust is in thy worde.

ס Awaye fro me ye wycked / I wyll kepe the commaundementes of my God.

ס O stablish me according vnto thy worde / that I maye lyue / & let me not be disapoynted of my hope.

ס Holde thou me vp / and I shall be safe: yee I shall euer be talkynge of thy statutes.

ס Thou treadest downe all them yt departe frō thy statutꝭ / for they ymagin but disceate

ס Thou puttest awaye all the vngodly of the earth lyke drosse / therfore I loue thy testymonies.

ס My flesh trembleth for feare of the / and I am afrayed of thy iudgmentes.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Aiin.

ע I deale wt the thinge yt is laufull & right / O geue me not ouer vnto mine oppressours.

ע Be thou suertye for thy seruaunte to do him good / yt the proude do me no wronge.

ע Myne eyes are waysted waye with lokyng for thy health / and for the worde of thy rightuousnesse.

ע O deale wt thy seruaunt accordyng vnto thy louynge mercy / & teach me thy statutes.

ע I am thy seruaūt / O graunte me vnderstāding / that I maye know thy testimonies.

ע It is tyme for the (O Lorde) to laye to thine hāde / for they haue destroyed thy lawe.

ע For I loue thy commaundemētes aboue golde and precious stone.

ע Therfore holde I streyght all thy commaundementes / and all false wayes I vtterly abhorre.

פ Phe.

פ Thy testymonyes are wonderfull / therfore doth my soule kepe them.

פ When thy worde goeth forth / it geueth lyght & vnderstandynge / euen vnto babes.

פ I opē my mouth and drawe in my breth / for I desyre thy commaundementes.

פ O loke thou vpon me / & be mercifull / as thou vsest to do vnto those yt loue thy name.

פ Ordre my goinges after thy worde that no wyckednesse raygne in me.

פ O delyuer me frō ye wrōgeous dealinges of men / & so shall I kepe thy cōmaundemētꝭ.

פ Shewe ye lyght of thy countenaūce vnto thy seruaunt / and learne me thy statutes.

פ Myne eyes gusshe out wt water / because men kepe not thy lawe.

צ Zade.

צ Ryghtuous art thou / O Lorde / and true is thy iudgment.

צ The testymonyes that thou hast cōmanded are exceadynge / ryghtuous and true.

צ sal. lx. c 〈◊〉 . ij. b. My zele hath euē consumed me / because myne enemyes haue forgotten thy wordes.

צ Thy worde is tryed to the vttermost / and thy seruaunte loueth it.

צ I am small and of no reputacyon / yet do not I forget thy commaundementes.

צ Thy ryghtuousnesse is an euerlastynge ryghtuousnes / and thy lawe is true.

צ Trouble and heuynesse haue taken holde vpō me / yet is my delyte in thy commaundementes.

צ The ryghtuousnes of thy testymonyes is euerlastyng / O graunte me vnderstādyng / and I shall lyue.

ק Koph.

ק I call with my whole herte / heare me / O Lorde / I wyll kepe thy statutes.

ק Yee euen vpon the do I cal / helpe me / and I shall kepe thy testymonies.

ק Early in the mornynge do Is What is •• fyed by 〈◊〉 ye haue 〈◊〉 Psalme crye vnto the / for in thy worde is my trust.

ק Myne eyes preuente the night watches / that I myght be occupied in thy wordes.

ק Heare my voyce / O Lorde / accordynge vnto thy louynge kyndnesse / quycken me accordynge as thou art wont.

ק They drawe nye that of malyce persecute me / and are farre from th lawe.

ק Be thou nye at hande also / O Lorde / for thy promyses are faythfull.

ק As concernynge thy testimonies / I haue knowne euer sens the begynnynge / yt thou hast grounded them for euer.

ר Res.

ר O cōsydre myne aduersyte / & delyuer me / for I do not forget thy lawe.

ר Manteyn thou my cause and defende me / quycken me accordynge vnto thy worde.

ר Health is farre from the vngodly / for they regarde not thy statutes.

ר Greate is thy mercy / O Lorde / quycken me as thou art wont.

ר Many there are that trouble me / & persecute me / yet do not I swarue from thy testimonyes.

ר It greueth me / when I se / that the transgressours kepe not thy lawe.

ר Consydre / O Lorde / how I loue thy commaundementes / O quycken me with thy louynge kyndnesse.

ר Thy worde is true from euerlastynge / all the iudgmentes of thy ryghtuousnesse endure for euer more.

ש Sin.

ש h*The princes persecute me wtout 〈◊〉 but my herte stādeth in awe of thy 〈◊〉

ש I am as glad of thy worde / as one 〈◊〉 greate spoyles.

ש As for lyes / I hate and abhorre 〈…〉 thy lawe do I loue.

ש i* Seuē tymes a daye do I prayse ••• cause of thy ryghtuous iudgmentes.

ש Greate is the peace that they haue 〈◊〉 lo e thy lawe / & they are not offend ••

ש Lorde / I loke for thy sauynge 〈◊〉 do after thy commaundementes.

ש My soule kepeth thy testymonyes 〈◊〉 loueth them exceadingly.

ש I kepe thy commaundementes and 〈◊〉 / for all my wayes are before 〈◊〉

ת Chau.

ת Let my complaynte come before 〈◊〉 Lorde / geue me vnderstandynge / 〈…〉 vnto thy worde.

ת Oh let my supplicacyon come befo •• delyuer me accordynge to thy promes

ת My lyppes shall speake of thy 〈◊〉 seynge thou hast taught me thy statu •••

ת Yee my tonge shall synge of thy 〈◊〉 for all thy commaundementes are 〈◊〉

ת Let thyne hande helpe me / for I haue 〈…〉 thy commaundementes.

ת I longe for thy sauynge health / O 〈◊〉 and in thy lawe is my delyte.

ת Oh let my soule lyue and prayse the 〈◊〉 thy iudgmentes maye helpe me.

ת I go astraye / lyke a shepe that is 〈◊〉 seke thy seruaunt / for I do not forget th •••• maundementes.

¶The .cxx. Psalme.

¶An affectuous complayn e of the prophe •• 〈◊〉 dryue oute of the l nde a ydyng amonge 〈…〉 that dyd all thynges by fraude and violence.

In Hebr. Maheloth. Ab . Ezra thyn 〈…〉 the begynnynge of some songe / after whose 〈…〉 Psalmes that haue this tytle were songe. 〈…〉 pounde it to sygnifye: in a hyghe plac . Some 〈…〉 which saye / that the Leuytes sange 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 in Dauids house / vpon the steares which 〈…〉 the chamber where the men asse bled / to the 〈◊〉 where the wemen comm n y abode. The songe of the steares.

WHen I am in trouble / I call 〈◊〉 the Lorde / & 〈◊〉 answereth 〈◊〉

Delyuer my soule / O 〈◊〉 from lyenge lyppes / & from a ••• ceatfull tonge.

What rewarde sha •• be geuen or 〈…〉 to the / thou false tong •• .

Euen myghtye an sharpe arowes / 〈◊〉 hote burnynge a* 〈◊〉 .

Wo is me that 〈◊〉 banishmēt endur ••• lōge: I dwell in ye tabernacles of ye soro •••

My soule hath lo ge dwelt amōge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the enemyes vnto peace.

I laboured for peace / but when I spake 〈◊〉 / they made them to battayle.

¶The .cxxj Psalme.

〈◊〉 sheweth that the godly must loke for their helpe 〈◊〉 God only / & that he geueth it very readely.

The songe of the steares.

I Lyft vp myne eyes vnto the a*hylles / 〈◊〉 from whence cōmeth my helpe.

My helpe commeth euen from the •• rde which hath made heauen and earth. He wyll not suffre thy fote to be moued / 〈◊〉 he that kepeth the / slepeth not.

*Beholde / he that kepeth Israel / doth 〈◊〉 lombre nor slepe.

The Lorde him selfe is thy keper / 〈◊〉 Lord hy defence vpon thy ryght hande.

So that the sunne shall not burne the by 〈◊〉 / nether the moone by nyght.

The Lorde preserueth the from all euell / 〈◊〉 it is the Lorde that kepeth thy soule.

The Lorde preserueth thy goynge out & 〈◊〉 commynge in / from this tyme forth for •• er more.

¶The .cxxij. Psalme.

nder the shadow and fygure of Ierusalem he de •••• eth the felycytie of the congregacyon of Christ / 〈◊〉 the desyres of the saynctes / wyshyng euer the fur •••• aunce of it.

The songe of the steares

I Was glad / when they sayde vnto me: we wyll go in to the house of the Lorde.

Oure fete shall stande in thy gates / 〈◊〉 Ierusalem.

Ierusalem is buylded as a cytye / that is 〈…〉 in it selfe.

For there the tribes go vp / euen the tribes 〈◊〉 the Lorde: to testyfye vnto Israel / to geue •• an kes vnto the name of the Lorde.

For there is the seate of iudgement / euen 〈◊〉 seate of the house of Dauid.

O praye for the peace of Ierusalē / they 〈◊〉 all prospere that loue the.

Peace be within thy walles / & plenteous ••• s with 〈◊〉 thy palaces.

For my brethren and companions sakes / 〈◊〉 wyll wysh 〈◊〉 the prosperite.

Yee because of the house of the Lord oure 〈◊〉 / I wyll se •• e to do the good.

¶The .cxxiij. Psalme.

The godly subdued 〈◊〉 the wycked / do affectuously 〈◊〉 God to delyuer th •• for vnto hym they wholy 〈◊〉 them selues.

The songe of the steares.

VNto the lyft I 〈◊〉 myne a * eyes / thou that dwellest in th •• e heauens.

Beholde / euē as the eyes of seruaū ••• loke vnto the handes of their masters: & 〈◊〉 the eyes of a mayden vnto the handes of astresse / euen so oure eyes wayte vpon 〈…〉 oure God / vn yll he haue mercy vpon vs.

Haue mercy vpon vs / O Lord / haue mercy vpon vs / for we are vtterly despysed.

Oure soule is fylled with the scornefull reprofe of the welthy / and wyth the despitefulnesse of the proude.

¶The .cxxiiij. Psalme.

¶The godly reioyse that they are rydde / by the helpe of God / frō a Ieopardy wherevnto they were very nye.

〈1 paragraph〉 The songe of the steares.

IF the Lorde had not bene of oure syde (now maye Israel saye) If the Lorde had not bene of oure syde / whē men rose vp agaynst vs.

They had swalowed vs vp quycke / when they were so wrathfully dyspleased at vs.

Yee the waters had drowned vs / ye streame had gone ouer oure soule.

The depe waters of the proude had gone euen vnto oure soule.

But praysed be the Lord / whych hath not geuen vs ouer for a praye vnto their teeth.

Oure soule is escaped / euē as a byrde out of the snare of the fouler: the snare is broken and we are delyuered.

Oure helpe standeth in the name of the Lorde / which hath made heauen and earth.

¶The .cxxv. Psalme.

¶The churche or congregacyon is in safetye when the Lorde defendeth it / and shalbe prosperous when he fauoreth it / and purgeth the wycked theroute.

The songe of the steares.

THey that put their trust in the Lorde / are euen as the mount Syon / which may not be remoued / but standeth fast for euer.

The hylles stande about Ierusalem / euē so standeth the Lorde rounde about his people / from this tyme forth for euermore.

That the rodd of the vngodly come not into the lot of the ryghtuous / lest ye ryghtuous put their hande vnto wyckednesse.

Do well / O Lorde / vnto those yt be good and 〈1 paragraph〉 true of herte.

As for soche as turne backe vnto their awne wyckednesse / the Lorde shall leade thē forth with the euyll doers: but peace be vpō Israel.

¶The .cxxvj. Psalme.

¶He descrybeth the gladnes of the people returning agayne from Babylon / & vnder the fygure herof the reioysynge of the Christen / whom the sonne of God hath made fre from the captiuyte of synne and deeth.

The songe of the steares.

VVhen the Lorde turneth agayne the captyuyte of Sion / then shall we be lyke vnto them that dreame.

Then shall oure mouth be fylled wyth laughter / and oure tonge with ioye.

Then shall it be sayd amonge the Heathē: the Lorde hath done greate thinges for thē.

Yee the Lorde hath done greate thynges for vs all ready / wherof we reioyse.

Turne oure captyuyte / O Lorde / as the ryuers in the south.

They yt sowe in teares / shall reape in ioye.

He that now goeth in his waye wepynge & beareth forth good sede / shal come agayne with ioye / & bringe his sheaues with hym.

¶The .cxxvij. Psalme.

¶By the only liberalyte & gyft of God is the house and housholde geuen / the cytye defended meate mynystred / chyldren & those toward and thryftye obtayned.

〈…〉 The songe of the steares.

EXcept the Lorde buylde the house / their labour is but lost that buylde it.

Except the Lorde kepe the cytye / the watchman waketh but in vayne.

It is but lost labour that ye rise vp early / and take no rest / but eate the bredde of carefulnesse: for loke to whom it pleaseth him / he geueth it in slepe.

Lo / chyldren and the frute of the wombe are an herytage & gift / yt cōmeth of ye Lorde.

Lyke as the arowes in the hande of the gyaunt / euen so are the yonge children.

Happy is the man / that hath his quyuer full of them: they shal not be ashamed / when they speake with their enemyes in the gate.

¶The .cxxviij. Psalme.

¶He that feareth God shall do well and fortunately at all ceasons.

The songe of the steares.

BLessed are all they that feare ye Lorde / and walke in hys wayes.

For thou shalt eate the laboures of thyne awne handes: O well is the / happy art thou.

Thy wyfe shalbe as ye frutefull vyne vpō the walles of thy house.

Thy chyldren lyke the Olyue braunches rounde aboute thy table.

Lo / thus shall the man be 〈…〉 blessed / that feareth the Lorde.

The Lorde shall so blesse the out of Siō / that thou shalt se Ierusalem in prosperyte all thy lyfe longe.

Yee that thou shalt se thy chylders chyldren / and peace vpon Israel.

¶The .cxxix Psalme.

¶Althoughe the wycked do longe and greatly persecute the godly / yet shall they not preuayle ouer them: yee they shall at the length perish when the godly shal be in safetye.

The songe of the steares.

MAny a tyme haue they fought agaynst me fro my youth vp (maye Israel now saye.)

Yee / many a tyme haue they fought agaynst me fro my youth vp / but they haue not ouercome me.

The plowers plowed vpon my backe / & and made longe forowes.

But the rightuous Lorde hath hewen 〈◊〉 yocke of the vngodly in peces.

Let them be confounded & turned bac •• ward / as many as haue euyl will at a * 〈◊〉

Let them be euen as the haye vpon 〈◊〉 house toppes / whych wythereth afore it 〈◊〉 pluckte vp.

Wherof the mower fylleth not his han •• nether he that byndeth vp the sheaues / 〈◊〉 bosome.

So yt they which go by / saye not so 〈◊〉 as: ye Lorde prospere you / we wish you 〈◊〉 lucke in the name of the Lorde.

¶The .cxxx. Psalme.

¶An earnest prayer of him that is oppressed with ••• uersitie for his sinnes / & that surely hopeth to 〈◊〉 of God bothe forgeuenes of his synnes & delyura ••• from hys aduersytyes.

The songe of the steares.

OVt of the a * depe call I vnto 〈◊〉 O Lorde / Lorde heare my voy ••

Oh let thyne eares 〈…〉 well the voyce of my complay •••

If thou Lord wylt be extreme to 〈◊〉 what is done a mysse / Oh Lorde who 〈◊〉 abyde it?

But there is mercy wyth the / that 〈◊〉 mayest be feared.

I loke for the Lord / my soule doth wa for hym / and in his worde is my trust.

My soule doth paciently abyde ye Lor •• from the one mornynge to the other.

Let Israel trust in the Lorde / for with 〈◊〉 Lorde there is mercy & plēteous redemp •••• And he shal redeme Israel frō al his synn

¶The .cxxxj. Psalme.

¶He sheweth yt he was not proude / but meake & 〈◊〉

The songe of the steares.

LOrde / I am not hye mynded / I haue 〈◊〉 proude lokes.

I do not exercyse my selfe in grea •• matters / which are to hye for me.

But I refrayne my soule & kepe it 〈◊〉 lyke as a childe that is weened from his 〈◊〉 : yee my soule is euē as a ween ed 〈◊〉

Let Israel trust in the Lorde from 〈◊〉 tyme forth for euermore.

¶The .cxxxij. Psalme.

¶He sheweth that the prosperyty 〈◊〉 of Christes kyn •• dome dureth euer / & that God is 〈◊〉 allwaye present 〈◊〉 his churche and congregacyon: Thys doth he 〈◊〉 the fygure of Dauid & of the •• a cke abydyng in 〈◊〉

The songe of the steares.

LOrde / remēbre Dauid & al his trou •••

How he swore, vnto the Lorde / 〈◊〉 vowed a vowe vnto the almyghtye 〈◊〉 of Iacob: I wyll not come within ye taber ••• cle of my house / nor clyme vp in my bedde

I wyll not suffre myne eyes to slepe / 〈◊〉 myne eye lyddes to •• omber.

Vntyll I fynde out a place for ye 〈◊〉 an habytacyō for the mightye one of 〈◊〉 shalt eate the laboures of thine owne hondes: o well is the, happie art thou. Thy wife shalbe as a frutefull vyne vpon the walles of thy house. Thy children like the olyue braunches roūde aboute ye table. Lo, thus shal ye mā be blessed, yt feareth the LORDE. 〈…〉 The LORDE shal so blesse the out of Sion, that thou shalt se Ierusalē in prosperite all thy life longe. Yee that thou shalt se thy childers childrē, & peace vpō Israel.

The CXXVIII. psalme.

MAny a tyme haue they fought agaynst me fro my youth vp (maye Israel now saie). Yee many a tyme haue they fought agaīst me fro my youth vp, but they haue not ouercome me. The plowers plowed vpō my backe, & made lōge forowes. But the rightous LORDE hath hewen ye yocke of ye vngodly in peces. Let them be confounded & turned backwarde, as many as haue euell will at Sion. 〈…〉 Let thē be euē as the haye vpon the house toppes, which wythereth afore it be pluckte vp.

Wherof the mower fylleth not his hande, nether he that byndeth vp the sheaues, his bosome. So that they which go by, saye not so moch as: the LORDE prospere you, we wish you good lucke in the name of the LORDE.

The CXXIX. psalme.

OVt of the depe call I vnto the (o LORDE) LORDE heare my voyce. Oh let thine eares considre well the voyce of my complaynte. 〈…〉 Yf thou (LORDE) wilt be extreme to marcke what is done amysse, Oh LORDE, who maye abyde it? But there is mercy with the, that thou mayest be feared. I loke for the LORDE, my soule doth wayte for him, and in his worde is my trust. My soule doth paciently abyde the LORDE, frō the one mornynge to the other. Let Israel trust in the LORDE for with the LORDE there is mercy and plenteous redempcion. 〈…〉 And he shal redeme Israel from all his synnes.

The CXXX. A psalme of Dauid.

LORDE, I am not hye mynded, I haue no proude lokes. 〈…〉 I do not exercise myself in greate matters, which are to hye for me. But I refrayne my soule and kepe it lowe, like as a childe yt is weened from his mother, yee my soule is euen as a weened childe. Let Israel trust in the LORDE, frō this tyme forth for euermore.

The CXXXI. Psalme

LORDE, remembre Dauid and all his trouble. How he swore vnto ye LORDE, & vowed a vowe vnto ye mightie one of Iacob: I wil not come within the tabernacle of my house, ner clymme vp ī to my bedde. I wil not suffre myne eyes to slepe, ner myne eye lyddes to slōber. Vntill I fynde out a place for the LORDE, an habitaciō for the mightie one of Iacob. Lo, we herde of the same at Ephrata, & foūde it in ye wod.

We wil go in to his tabernacle & fall downe before his fotestole.2. Par. 6. g Arise (o LORDE) in to thy restinge place, thou & ye arke of ye strēgth.

Let thy prestes be clothed with rightuousnesse, and let thy sayntes reioyse. Exo 28 a Ephe 6. b For thy seruaunte Dauids sake turne not awaye the presence of thine anoynted. The LORDE hath made a faithfull ooth vnto Dauid,2. Re. 7. c 1. Par. 18. b Psal. 88. a Act. 2. d & he shal not shrenke from it: Of the frute of thy body shal I set vpon thy seate. Yf thy children wil kepe my couenaunt, & my testimony yt I shal lerne thē, their childrē also shal syt vpō thy seate for euermore. For the LORDE hath chosen Siō, to be an habitaciō for him self hath he chosen her. This shalbe my rest, here wil I dwel, for I haue a delite therin. I will blesse hir vytales wt increase, & wil satisfie hir poore with bred. Psal 2. Esa I wil decke hir prestes with health, & hir sayntes shal reioyse & be glad. Luc 〈…〉 3. 〈…〉 15. There shall I make the horne of Dauid to florish, I haue ordened a lanterne for myne anoynted. As for his enemies, I shal clothe thē wt shame, but vpon himself shal his crowne florish.

The CXXXII. A psalme of Dauid.

BEholde, how good & ioyfull a thinge it is, 〈…〉 brethrē to dwell together in vnite. It is like yt precious oyntment vpon the heade, that ranne downe vnto the beerd, euē vnto Aarons beerd, 〈…〉 & wēte downe to the skyrtes of his clothinge. Like the dewe of Hermon, 〈…〉 which fell vpon the hill of Sion. For there the LORDE promised his blessynge, and life for euermore.

The CXXXIII. psalme.

BEholde, O prayse the LORDE all 〈◊〉 seruauntes of the LORDE, ye that 〈◊〉 night stōde in the house of the LORDE. 〈◊〉 lift vp youre handes in the Sanctua •• 〈◊〉 prayse the LORDE. The LOR •• 〈…〉 heauen & earth, blesse the out 〈…〉

The CXXXIIII. psal ••

O Prayse ye name 〈…〉 o ye seruaūte 〈…〉 in ye 〈…〉 of the house of 〈…〉 LORDE, for the 〈…〉 〈2 pages missing〉 For I knowe yt ye LORDE is greate. & yt or LORDE is aboue all goddes. What so euer ye LORDE pleaseth, yt doth he in heauē & in earth, in the see & in all depe places. He bryngeth forth the cloudes from the endes of the worlde, Iere. 10. c 51. a he turneth ye lightenīges vnto rayne, bringīge the wyndes out of their treasuries. Which smote the firstborne of Egipte, Exo. 12 e xo. 7.8. . 10. both of man and beest. He hath sent tokens and wonders in to the myddest of the (o thou londe of Egipte) vpon Pharao and all his seruauntes. Iosu. 12. a Which smote dyuerse nacions, & slewe mightie kynges. Num. 21. c Deut. 3. a Sihon kynge of ye Amorites, Og the kynge of Basan, and all the kyngdomes of Canaā. And gaue their lōde for an heretage, for an heretage vnto Israel his people. Thy name (o LORDE) endureth foreuer, so doth thy memoriall (o LORDE) from one generacion to another. Deu. 32. c For the LORDE wil auēge his people, & be gracious vnto his seruaūtes. As for the ymages of the Heithē, Psal. 113. b 〈◊〉 44. b 〈◊〉 10. a they are but syluer and golde, the worke of mens hādes. They haue mouthes, & speake not: eyes haue they, but they se not. They haue eares, and yet they heare not, nether is there eny breth ī their mouthes.

They that make them, are like vnto them, & so are all they that put their trust in thē. Prayse the LORDE ye house of Israel, prayse the LORDE ye house of Aaron. Prayse the LORDE ye house of Leui, ye that feare ye LORDE, prayse the LORDE. Praysed be the LORDE out of Sion, which dwelleth at Ierusalē.

Halleluya.

The CXXXV. psalme.

O Geue thankes vnto the LORDE, for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for euer. O geue thākes vnto the God of all goddes, for his mercy endureth for euer. O thanke the LORDE of all lordes, for his mercy endureth for euer.

hich only doth greate wonders, for his 〈…〉 endureth for euer. Which by his 〈…〉 soome made the heauens, for his mercy 〈…〉 for euer. Which layed out the earth 〈…〉 waters, for his mercy endureth for 〈…〉 hath made greate lightes, for 〈…〉 for euer. The Sonne 〈…〉 his mercy endureth for 〈…〉 the starres to gouerne 〈…〉 endureth for euer. 〈…〉 their firstborne, 〈…〉 for euer. And 〈…〉 them, for 〈…〉 reed see in to partes, for his mercy endureth for euer. And made Israel to go thorow ye myddest of it, for his mercy endureth for euer

But as for Pharao and his hoost, he ouer threwe them in the reed see, for his mercy endureth for euer. 〈…〉 Which led his people thorow the wyldernesse, for his mercy endureth for euer. Which smote greate kynges, 〈…〉 for his mercy endureth for euer. Yee and slewe mightie kynges, for his mercy endureth for euer. Sihon kynge of the Amorites, 〈…〉 for his mercy endureth for euer. And Og the kynge of Basan, for his mercy endureth for euer.

And gaue awaye their londe for an heretage, for his mercy endureth for euer. Euen for an heretage vnto Israel his seruaunt, for his mercy endureth for euer. Which remē breth vs, whē we are in trouble, for his mercy endureth for euer. Which geueth foode vnto all flesh, for his mercy endureth foreuer.

O geue thankes vnto the God of heauen, for his mercy endureth for euer.

The CXXXVI. psalme.

BY the waters of Babilon we sat downe and wepte, 〈…〉 when we remēbred Sion. As for oure harpes, we hanged them vp vpon the trees, that are therin. Thē, they that led vs awaye captyue, requyred of vs a songe and melody in or heuynes synge vs one of the songes of Sion. How shal we synge the LORDES songe in a straū ge lōde? 〈…〉 Yf I forget the (o Ierusalem) let my right hande be forgotten. Yf I do not remembre the, let my tonge cleue to the rofe of my mouth: yee yf I preferre not Ierusalem in my myrth. 〈…〉 Remembre the childrē of Edom (o LORDE) in the daye of Ierusalem, how they sayde: downe with it, downe with it, euē to the grounde. O doughter Babilō, 〈…〉 thou shalt come to misery thy self: yee happie shal he be, that rewardeth ye as thou hast serued vs. Blessed shal he be, that taketh thy children, and throweth them agaynst the stones

The CXXXVII. A psalme of Dauid.

I Wil geue thākes vnto the (o LORDE) with my whole hert, euen before the goddes wil I synge prayses vnto the.

I wil worshippe towarde thy holy tēple, and prayse thy name because of thy louynge kyndnesse and treuth, for thou hast magnified thy worde, acordynge vnto thy greate name. When I call vpō the, thou hearest me, and endewest my soule with moch strēgth. All the kynges of the earth shal prayse the (o LORDE) when they heare the wordes of thy mouth. Yee they shal synge in the wayes of the LORDE, that greate is the glory of the LORDE. For though the LORDE be hye, yet hath he respecte vnto ye lowly: as for ye proude, he beholdeth him afarre off. Though I walke ī ye myddest of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hā de vpō the furiousnes of myne enemies, & ye righthande shal saue me. The LORDE shal make good for me, yee thy mercy (o LORDE) endureth for euer: despyse not then the worke of thine owne handes.

The CXXXVIII. A psalme of Dauid.

O LORDE, thou searchest me out, and knowest me. Thou knowest my downe syttinge & my vprisynge, thou vnderstōdest my thoughtes afarre of. Thou art aboute my path & aboute my bedd, & spyest out all my wayes. For lo, there is not a worde ī my tōge, but thou (o LORDE) knowest it alltogether. Thou hast fashioned me behinde & before, & layed thine hōde vpon me. Soch knowlege is to wonderfull & excellēt for me, I can not atteyne vnto it. Whither shal I go then from thy sprete? Or, whither shal I fle from thy presence? Yf I clymme vp in to heauen, thou art there: yf I go downe to hell, thou art there also. Yf I take the wynges of the mornynge, & remayne in the vttemost parte of the see: Euen there also shal thy honde lede me, and thy right hande shal holde me. Yf I saye: peraduēture the darcknesse shal couer me, then shal my night be turned to daye. Yee the darcknesse is no darcknesse with the, but the night is as cleare as the daye, the darcknesse & light are both alike. For my reynes are thyne, thou hast couered me in my mothers wombe. I wil geue thākes vnto the, for I am wōderously made: maruelous are thy workes, and that my soule knoweth right well. My bones re not hyd from the, though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneth in the earth. Thine eyes se myne vnparfitnesse, they ston e all writtē ī thy boke: my dayes were fashi ned, when as yet there was not one of them

How deare are ye coūcels vnto me o God? O how greate is the summe of them? Yf I tell them, they are mo in nombre then the ende: when I wake vp, I am present with he. Wilt thou not slaye ye wicked (oh God) hat the bloudethyrstie mighte departe fro •• e? For they speake vnright of the, thine •• emies exalte them selues presumptuously.

I hate them (o LORDE) that hate the, & I maye not awaye with those that ryse vp gaynst the? Yee I hate them right sore, •• erfore are they myne enemies. Trye me o God) and seke the grounde of myne hert: proue me, & examen my 〈…〉 well, yf there be eny waye 〈…〉 me, & lede me in the waye 〈…〉

The CXXXIX. A psalme of Dauid

DElyuer me (o LORDE) from the 〈◊〉 men, oh preserue me from the wicked men. Which ymagin myschefe in their hertes, & stere vp strife all the daye longe. They sharpen their tonges like a serpent, Adders poyson is vnder their lippes. Sela. Kepe me (o LORDE) from the hande of the vngodly, preserue me from the wicked men, which are purposed to ouerthrowe my goinges. The proude haue layed a snare for me, & spred a nett abrode with coardes, yee & sett trappes in my waye. Sela.

But my sayenge is vnto the LORDE: thou art my God, heare the voyce of my prayer o LORDE. O LORDE God, thou strength of my health, thou hast couered my heade in ye daye of battayll. Let not ye vngodly haue his desyre (o LORDE) let him not haue his purpose, lest they be to proude. Sela. Let the myschefe of their owne lippes fall vpon ye head of thē, yt cōpase me aboute. Psal. 7. b Let hote burnynge coales fall vpō thē, let thē be cast in to the fyre, and in to the pytt, that they neuer ryse vp agayne. A man full of wordes shal not prospere vpon earth: a malicious & wicked person shal be hunted awaye and destroyed. Sure I am, that the LORDE wil auenge the poore, and manteyne the cause of the helplesse. The rightuous also shal geue thākes vnto thy name, & the iust shal continue in thy sight.

The CXL. A psalme of Dauid.

LORDE, I call vpon the: haist the vnto me, and consider my voyce, whē I crie vnto the. Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incēse, Exo. 30 b Nu. 2.8 a and let the liftinge vp of my hādes be an euenynge sacrifice. Set a watch (o LORDE) before my mouth, Eccli. 22. yee a watch at the dore of my lippes. O let not myne hert be enclyned to eny euell thī ge, to be mynded as the vngodly or wicked men, lest I eate of soch thinges as please thē

Let the rightuous (rather) smyte me frendly, and reproue me: so wil I take it, as though he had poured oyle vpō my heade: it shal not hurte my heade, yee I wil praye yet for the wickednesse. Their iudges stōble at the stone, yet heare they my wordes, yt they be ioyfull. Oure bones lye scatered before ye pytt like as when one graueth and dyggeth vp the grounde. But myne eyes loke vnto ye, o LORDE God: in the is my trust, oh cast not out my soule. Kepe me frō ye snare which 〈…〉 me, and frō the trappes 〈…〉 . Let the vngodly fall 〈…〉 nettes together, vntill I be 〈…〉 them.

The CXLI. A psalme of Dauid.

I Crie vnto the LORDE with my voyce, yee euē vnto the LORDE do I make my supplicacion. I poure out my complaynte before him, and shewe him of my trouble. When my sprete is in heuynesse, for thou knowest my path: in the waye where in I walke, haue they preuely layed a snare for me. I loke vpon my right honde & se, there is no man that wil knowe me. I haue no place to fle vnto, no man careth for my soule. Therfore do I crie vnto the (o LORDE) and saye: thou art my hope and my porcion, in the londe of the lyuynge. Cōsidre my complaynte, for I am brought very lowe. Oh delyuer me fro my persecuters, for they are to stronge for me: Brynge my soule out of preson, that I maye geue thākes vnto thy name: which thinge yf thou wilt graūte me, then shal the rightuous resorte vnto my cō pany.

The CXLII. A psalme of Dauid.

HEare my prayer (o LORDE) considre my desyre: answere me for thy treuth & rightuousnesse sake. And entre not in to iudgment with thy seruaunt, for in thy sight shal no man lyuynge be iustified. For the enemie persecuteth my soule, he smyteth my life downe to the grounde, he layeth me in the darcknesse, as the deed men of the worlde. Therfore is my sprete vexed within me, and my herte within me is desolate. Yet do I remēbre the tymes past, I muse vpō all ye workes, yee I exercise my self in the workes of thy hondes. I stretch forth my hondes vnto the, my soule crieth vnto the out of the thyrstie londe. Sela. Heare me (o LORDE) and that soone, for my sprete waxeth faynte: hyde not ye face fro me, lest I be like vnto thē that go downe in to the graue. Oh let me heare thy louynge kyndnesse by tymes in the mornynge, for in the is my trust: shewe thou me the waye that I shulde walke in, for I lift vp my soule vnto the. Delyuer me (o LORDE) fro myne enemies, for I resorte vnto the.

Teach me to do the thinge that pleaseth the, for thou art my God: let thy louynge spre e lede me forth vnto the londe of rightuousnesse. Quyckē me (o LORDE) for thy names sake, and for thy rightuousnesse sake brynge my soule out of trouble. And of thy goodnesse scater myne enemies abrode, and destroye all them that vexe my soule, for I am thy seruaunt.

The CXLIII. A psalme of Dauid.

BLessed be the LORDE my refuge, which teacheth my hādes to warre, & my fyngers to fight. My hope and my castell, my defence and my delyuerer, my shylde in whom I trust, which gouerneth the people that is vnder me. LORDE, what is mā, that thou hast soch respecte vnto him: Or the sonne of man, that thou so regardest him? Man is like a thinge of naught, his tyme passeth awaye like a shadowe. Bowe thy heauēs (o LORDE) & come downe, touch the mountaynes, yt they maye smoke withall

Sende forth the lightenynge & scater thē, shute out thine arowes and consume them. Sende downe thine hande from aboue, delyuer me and take me out of ye greate waters, from the hande of straunge childrē. Whose mouth talketh of vanite, & their right hāde is a righthande of falsede. That I maye synge a new songe vnto the (o God) & synge prayses vnto the vpon a tenstrynged luck, Thou that geuest victory vnto kynges, and hast delyuered Dauid thy seruaunt from the parell of the swerde. Saue me and delyuer me from the honde of straunge childrē, whose mouth talketh of vanite, and their right hande is a right hande of falsede. That 〈◊〉 sonnes maye growe vp as the yōge plantes, and that oure doughters maye be as the polished corners of the temple. That or garners maye be full and plenteous with all maner of stoare: that or shepe maye brynge forth thousandes and hundreth thousands in oure villages. That oure oxen maye be stronge to laboure, that there be no myschaunce, 〈◊〉 decaye, and no complayninge in oure stretes

Happie are the people that be in soch a •• se: yee blessed are the people, which haue the LORDE for their God.

The CXLIIII. A psalme of Dauid.

I Wil magnifie the (o my God & kynge I wil prayse ye name for euer & euer. Euery daye wil I geue thankes vnto the, and prayse ye name for euer and euer. Greate is the LORDE, & maruelous worthy to be praysed, there is no ende of his greatnesse. One generacion shal prayse thy w kes vnto another, and declare thy power. As for me I wil be talkīge of thy worshipe thy glory, thy prayse and wōderous workes

So that men shal speake of the might of thy maruelous actes, and tell of ye greatnes

The memoriall of ye abundaunt kyndne shal be shewed, and mē shal synge of thy righteousnesse. The LORDE is gracious and mercifull, longe sufferynge & of greate goodnesse. The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man, and his mercy is ouer all his workes. All thy workes prayse the (o LORDE) and thy sayntes geue thankes vnto the. They shewe the glory of thy kyngdome, and talke of ye power. That ye power, thy glo •• & mightynesse of thy kyngdome mig •• 〈◊〉 knowne vnto men. Thy kyngdome is an euerlastinge kyngdome, 〈…〉 & thy dominion endureth thorow out all ages. The LORDE vpholdeth all soch as shulde fall, and lifteth vp all those that be downe. The eyes of all wayte vpon the, and thou geuest them their meate in due season. Thou openest thine hāde, and fyllest all thinges lyuynge with plente usnesse. 〈…〉 The LORDE is righteous in all his wayes, & holy in all his workes. The LORDE is nye vnto all them that call vpon him, yee all soch as call vpon him faithfully.

He fulfilleth the desyre of them that feare him he heareth their crie, and helpeth them.

The LORDE preserueth all them that loue him, but scatereth abrode all the vngodly.

My mouth shal speake the prayse of the LORDE, And let all flesh geue thankes vnto his holy name for euer and euer. Halleluya.

The CXL . psalme.

PRayse the LORDE (o my soule:) whyle I lyue wil I prayse the LORDE, 〈…〉 yee as lōge as I haue eny beynge, I wil synge prayses vnto my God. 〈…〉 O put not yor trust in prynces, ner in the childe of man, for there is no helpe in thē. For when ye breth of man goeth forth, he shal turne agayne to his earth, and so all his thoughtes perishe. Blessed is he that hath ye God of Iacob for his helpe, and whose hope is in the LORDE his God. 〈…〉 Which made heauen and earth, yt see and all that therin is, which kepeth his promise for euer. Which helpeth them to right yt suffre wronge, which fedeth ye hongrie. The LORDE lowseth men out of preson, the LORDE geueth sight to the blynde.

The LORDE helpeth thē vp that are fallen, the LORDE loueth the righteous. The LORDE careth for the straungers, he defendeth ye fatherlesse and wyddowe: as for the waye of ye vngodly, he turneth it vpsyde downe. The LORDE thy God (o Sion) is kynge for euermore, and thorow out all generacions. Halleluya.

The CXLVI. psalme.

O Prayse the LORDE, for it is a good thinge to synge prayses vnto or God: yee a ioyfull and pleasaunt thinge is it to be thankfull. The LORDE shal buylde vp Ierusalē, & gather together ye outcastes of Israel. He healeth the contrite in herte, and byndeth vp their woundes. He telleth the nombre of the starres, Esa 40. d and calleth them all by their names. Greate is or LORDE, and greate is his power, yee his wyszdome is infinite. The LORDE setteth vp ye meke, & bryngeth ye vngodly downe to ye groūde

O synge vnto ye LORDE wt thankesgeuynge, synge prayses vpō ye harpe vnto or God.1. Esd. 3. c

Which couereth ye heauen wt cloudes, prepareth rayne for ye earth, Psal 103. b & maketh ye grasse to growe vpon the mountaynes. Which geueth foder vnto ye catell, Iob. 38. d & fedeth ye yonge rauens yt call vpō him. He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse, nether delyteth he in eny mās legges. But the LORDES delyte is in them that feare him, and put their trust in his mercy.

The CXLVII. psalme, This psalme do the hebrues ioyne vnto it, that goeth before.

PRayse ye LORDE o Ierusalē, prayse 〈◊〉 God o Sion. For he maketh fast 〈◊〉 baries of ye gates, & blesseth ye 〈…〉 within ye. He maketh peace in ye bord ••• 〈◊〉 fylleth ye with ye flor of wheate. He 〈◊〉 synde ye forth his cōmaundemēt vpō earth, 〈…〉 LORDE rūneth swiftly. He geueth snowe, Iaco. 1. 〈…〉 Eccls. 1. 〈…〉 And. 7. 〈…〉 Iob. 28 〈…〉 3. reg 3 〈…〉 4.c. & scatereth ye horefrost like ashes. 〈◊〉 . He forth his yse like morsels, who is ghtuous, and de his frost? He sendeth out •• cently: he emelteth them, he bloweth wt hi 〈◊〉 preserueth ye waters flowe. He sheweth 〈◊〉 shalt thou unIacob, his statutes & 〈…〉 and equi rael. He hath not dealt 〈◊〉 . Yf wyszdome then, nether haue they 〈◊〉 , and ye soule delyte in es. Halleluya. 〈◊〉 councell preserue the,

The 〈…〉 shal kepe the. That

P est be delyuered frō ye euell waye, om the man yt speaketh f owarde thines. from soch as leave the hye strete, and ualkei ye wayes of darcknesse: which reioyse 〈◊〉 doynge euell, and delyte i wicked thinges: whose wayes are croked, and their pathes slaunderous.

that thou mayest be delyuered also from the straunge woman, Pro. 1.a and .5.a and from her that is not thine owne: which geueth swete wordes, forfaketh the huszbande of hir youth, and for getteth the couenaunt of hir God. For hir house is enclyned unto death, and hir pathes unto hell. All they that go in unto her, come not agayne, nether take they holde of the wave of life.

That thou mayest walke in ye good waye, and kepe tha pathes of the righuous. For the iust shal dwell in the lende, and the inno

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Let them prayse the name of the LORDE, for his name only is excellent, and his prayse aboue heauen and earth. He exalteth the horne of his people, all his sayntes shal prayse him, the children of Israel, euen the people that serueth him. Halleluya.

The CXLIX. psalme. Halleluya.

O Synge vnto ye LORDE a new songe, let the cōgregacion of sayntes prayse him. Esa. 42. b Let Israel reioyse in him that made him, and let the children of Sion be ioyfull in their kynge. Let them prayse his name in the daūce, let them synge prayses vnto him with tabrettes and harpes. For the LORDE hath pleasure in his people, and helpeth the mekcharted. Let the sayntes be ioyfull with glory, let them reioyse in their beddes. Let the prayses of God be in their mouth, and sharpe swerdes in their handes. To be auenged of the Hei hē, & to rebuke the people. To bynde their •• nges in cheynes, & their nobles with lync •••• of yron. That they maye be auenged 〈…〉 , as it is written, Soch honoure haue 〈…〉 sayntes. Halleluya.

The CL. psalme. Halleluya.

〈◊〉 Prayse the LORDE in his Sanctu ••• 〈…〉 , prayse him in the firmament of 〈…〉 power. Prayse him in his noble 〈…〉 him in his excellēt greatnesse. 〈…〉 in the sounde of the trompet, 〈…〉 pō the lute and harpe. Pray 〈…〉 ymbals and daunse, prayse him 〈…〉 and pype. Prayse him 〈…〉 cymbals, prayse him 〈…〉 cymbals. Let 〈…〉 yt hath breth, 〈◊〉 LORDE. 〈◊〉 .

The Prouerbes of Salomon. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. The wysdome of God calleth vs by the mouth of Salomō, exorteth vs, and geueth vs warnynge to eschue the wicked: whose vn godly cōuersacion in worde and worke, and punyshment also of the same, is here descrybed. Chap. II. How wisdome maye be gotten, and what profit commeth of it. Chap. III. He exorteth us to the feare of God and to pacience: he commendeth wyszdome, requyreth us to cleue vnto the same. Chap. IIII. A fatherly exortacion vnto wisdome with the profit therof, and how we ought to refrayne the mēbres of oure body frō euell. Chap. V. He exorteth vnto wyszdōe, and to be warre of harlottes: he telleth what harme m ye folowe therout, whē men medle with soch: h teacheth men, louyngly to cleue vnto their m ried wyues, and descrybeth the ende of the vn godly. Chap. VI. He warneth men to bewarre of s ••• tishipe, exorteth the slouthfull to laboure, sheweth the wikednesse of false tonges, and requyreth men to bewarre of aduoutry, because it is more perlo s then theft or felony. Chap. VII. He exorteth vnto wiszdome, sheweth the condicions of harlottes, and what hurt happeneth vnto soch as enclyne to the prouocaciōs and desyres of the flesh. Chap. VIII. Wyszdome calleth men swetely vnto her, and telleth them what treasure and power she hath. A cōmendacion and prayse of wiszdome, wherout euery mā is exorted to cleue vnto her. Chap. IX. Wyszdome crieth vpō the ignoraūt, and promiseth them greate thinges. The foolish maner of a light woman. Chap. X. From this chapter forth vnto the XXXI, there are described many swete, louely and wyse sentences, which teach men wyszdome and what profit commeth of it: Agayne, how men maye auoyde foolishnesse, and the hurte therof. Chap. XXXI Wyszdome warneth us to bewarre of euell women, and descrybeth the cōuersacion, maner, & behauoure of an honest maried wyfe.

These are the prouerbes of Salomon the sonne of Dauid kynge of Israel: to lerne wyszdome nurtoure, vnderstondinge, prudence, rightuousnesse, iudgment and equite. That the very babes might haue wyt, and that yonge men might haue knowlege and vnderstondinge. By hearinge, the wyse mā shal cōme by more wysdome: and by experience, he shal be more apte to vnderstonde a parable, and the interpretacion therof: the wordes of the wyse, and the darcke speaches of the same. The feare of the LORDE is the begynnynge of wysdome. 〈…〉 But fooles despyse wysdome and nurtoure.

The first Chapter.

MY sonne, heare thy fathers doctryne, and forsake not the lawe of ye mother: for that shal brynge grace vnto thy heade, & shal be cheyne aboute thy necke. 〈…〉 My sonne, cō sente not vnto synners, yf they entyse the, and saye: come wyth us, let us laye wayte for bloude, & lurke preuely for the innocēt wyth out a cause: 〈…〉 let us swalowe thē vp like ye hell, let us deuoure thē quycke and whole, as those that go downe in to the pytt. So shal we fynde all maner of costly riches, and fyll oure houses wyth spoyles. Cast in thy lott amonge us, we shal haue all one purse.

My sonne, walke not thou wt them, refrayne ye fote frō their wayes. 〈…〉 For their fete rūne to euell, & are haistie to shed bloude. But in vayne is ye net layed forth before the byrdes eyes. Yee they thē selues laye wayte one for anothers bloude, and one of thē wolde slaye another. These are the wayes of all soch as be couetous, that one wolde rauysh anothers life.

Wyszdome crieth without, & putteth forth hir voyce in the stretes. She calleth before ye congregacion in ye open gates, and sheweth hir wordes thorow ye cite, sayenge: O ye childrē, how lōge wil ye loue childyshnesse? how longe wil ye scorners delyte in scornynge, & ye vnwyse be enemies vnto knowlege? O turne you vnto my correccion: lo, I wil expresse my mynde vnto you, and make you vnderstōde my wordes. Seinge then that I haue called, and ye refused it: I haue stretched out my honde, and no mā regarded it, but all my coū cels haue ye despysed, and set my correcciōs at naught. Therfore shal I also laugh in yor destruccion, and mocke you, when ye thinge that ye feare cōmeth vpon you: euen whē ye thinge that ye be afrayed of, falleth in sodenly like a storme, and yor misery like a tempest: yee whā trouble and heuynesse cōmeth vpon you. Then shal they call vpō me, but I wil not heare: they shal seke me early, but they shal not fynde me: And yt because they hated knowlege, and receaued not ye feare of ye LORDE, but abhorred my councell, and despysed my correccion. Therfore shal they eate ye frutes of their owne waye, and be fylled wt their owne councels: for ye turnynge awaye of ye vnwyse shal slaye thē, & ye prosperi of fooles shalbe their owne destrucciō. But who so harkeneth vnto me, shal dwell safely, Pro. 3. c and haue ynough without eny feare of euell.

The II. Chapter.

MY sonne, yf thou wilt receaue my wordes, and kepe my cōmaundemē tes by the, that thine eare maye herken vnto wysdome, applie thine herte then to vnderstōdinge. For yf thou criest after wyszdome, & callest for knowlege: yf thou sekest after her as after money, and dyggest for her as for treasure: Thē shalt thou vnderstonde ye feare of the LORDE, and fynde ye knowlege of God. Iaco. 1. a Eccls. 1. And. 7. c Iob. 28 b 3. reg 3 4. c. For it is the LORDE that geueth wyszdome, out of his mouth commeth knowlege and vnderstondinge. He preserueth ye welfare of the rightuous, and defendeth them yt walke innocently: he kepeth them in ye right path, and preserueth ye waye of his sayntes. Then shalt thou vnderstonde rightuousnesse, iudgment and equite, yee and euery good path. Yf wyszdome entre in to thine herte, and ye soule delyte in knowlege: then shal councell preserue the, and vnderstondinge shal kepe the. That thou mayest be delyuered frō ye euell waye, and from the man yt speaketh f owarde thinges. From soch as leaue the hye strete, and walke ī ye wayes of darcknesse: which reioyse in doynge euell, and delyte ī wicked thinges: whose wayes are croked, and their pathes slaunderous.

That thou mayest be delyuered also from the straunge woman, Pro. 7. a And. 5. a and from her that is not thine owne: which geueth swete wordes, forsaketh the huszbande of hir youth, and forgetteth the couenaunt of hir God. For hir house is enclyned vnto death, and hir pathes vnto hell. All they that go in vnto her, come not agayne, nether take they holde of the waye of life.

That thou mayest walke in ye good waye, and kepe the pathes of the rightuous. For the iust shal dwell in the londe, and the innocentes 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 shal remayne in it: but the vngodly shalbe roted out of ye londe, and the wicked doers shalbe taken out of it.

The III. Chapter.

MY sonne, forget not my lawe, but se yt thine hert kepe my cōmaundemē tes. Deu. 11. a For they shal prolōge ye dayes & yeares of ye lyfe, & brynge ye peace. Let mercy & faithfulnes neuer go from ye: bynde thē about ye necke, & wryte them in the tables of thine herte. So shalt thou fynde fauor and good vnderstondinge in ye sight of God and men. Put thy trust in ye LORDE with all thine herte, and leane not vnto thine owne vnderstondinge. In all thy wayes haue respecte vnto him, and he shal ordre thy goinges. Esa. 5. c Rom· 12. c Be not wyse in thine owne conceate, but feare ye LORDE and departe from euell: so shal thy nauel be whole, and thy bones stronge.

Honoure the LORDE wt ye substaunce, & wt ye firstlinges of all thine encrease: ob. 4. b Deut. 26. a Mala. 3. b Exo. 23. c and 34. c Pet. 4. b Tob. 12. c Heb. 12 a Apo 3. d so shal thy barnes be fylled with plenteousnesse, and thy presses shal flowe ouer with swete wyne. My sonne, despyse not the chastenynge of ye LORDE, nether faynte when thou art rebuked of him. For whō the LORDE loueth, him he chasteneth: and yet delyteth in him euen as a father in his owne sonne. Well is him that fyndeth wyszdome, & opteyneth vnderstondinge, for the gettinge of it is better then eny marchaundise of syluer, & the profit of it is better then golde. Pro. . a Wyszdome is more worth thē precious stones, & all ye thinges yt thou canst desyre, are not to be compared vnto her. Vpon hir right hande is longe life, & vpon hir left hande is riches & honor.

Hir wayes are pleasaunt wayes, and all hir pathes are peaceable. Gen. 2. b She is a tre of life to them that laye holde vpon her, and blessed are they that kepe her fast.

With wyszdome hath ye LORDE layed the foūdacion of ye earth, & thorow vnderstondinge hath he stablished ye heauēs. Thorow his wiszdome ye depthes breake vp, & ye cloudes droppe downe the dew. My sonne, let not these thinges departe from thyne eyes, but kepe my lawe and my councell: so shal it be life vnto thy soule, & grace vnto ye mouth.

Then shalt thou walke safely in ye waye, & thy fote shal not stomble. Yf thou slepest, thou shalt not be afrayed, but shalt take thy rest & slepe swetely. Pro. 3. c Thou neddest not to be afrayed of eny sodane feare, nether for the violent russhinge in of the vngodly, when it commeth.

For the LORDE shal be besyde the, & kepe thy fote yt thou be not taken. Refuse not to do good vnto him that shulde haue it, so lon •• as thine hande is able to do it. Saye no vnto thy neghboure: go thy waye & come agayne, tomorow wil I geue the: where as hou hast now to geue him. Intende no hurte vnto thy neghboure, seynge he hopeth to dwell in rest by the. Stryue not lightly wt eny man, where as he hath done yt no harme. Folowe not a wicked man, 〈…〉 and chose none of his wayes: for the LORDE abhorreth the frowarde, but his secrete is amonge the righteous. The curse of the LORDE is in the house of the vngodly, but he blesseth the dwellinges of the righteous

As for the scornefull, he shal laugh thē to scorne, but he shal geue grace vnto the lowly. The wyse shal haue honor in possession, but shame is the promociō that fooles shal haue.

The IIII. Chap.

HEare (O ye children) the fatherly exortaciō, & take good hede, that ye maye lerne wyszdome. Yee I shal geue you a good rewarde, yf ye wil not forsake my lawe. For when I myself was my fathers deare sonne, and tenderly beloued of my mother, he taught me also, sayenge: let thine herte receaue my wordes, kepe my commaundementes, and thou shalt lyue.

Get the wyszdome, get the vnderstondinge, forget not ye wordes of my mouth, & shrē ke not from them. Forsake her not, and she shal preserue the: loue her, and she shal kepe the. The chefe poynte of wyszdome is, that thou be wyllynge to opteyne wyszdome, and before all thy goodes to get the vnderstondynge. Make moch of her, and she shal promote the: Yee yf thou embracest her, she shal brynge the vnto honoure.

She shal makethe a gracious heade, and garnish the with ye crowne of glory. Heare my sonne, and receaue my wordes, that the yeares of thy life maye be many. I wil shewe the ye waye of wyszdome, and lede the in the right pathes. So that yf thou goest therin, there shal no straytnesse hynder the: and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall. Take fast holde of doctryne, let her not go: kepe her, for she is thy life.

Come not in the path of the vngodly, and walke not in the waye of the wicked.

Eschueit, & go not therin: departe asyde, & passe ouer by it. For they can not slepe e cepte they haue first done some myschef nether take they eny rest, excepte they haue first done some harme. For they eate the bred of wickednesse, and drīke the wyne of robbery. The path of the rightuous shyneth as the light, and is euer brighter & brighter vnto the parfecte daye. But ye waye of the vngodly is as the darcknesse, wherin mē fall, or they be awarre.

My sonne, marcke my wordes, and enclyne thine eare vnto my saynges. 〈…〉 Let them not departe from thine eyes, kepe them euen in the myddest of thine herte. For they are life vnto all those that finde thē, and health vnto all their bodies. Kepe thine hert with all diligence, for there vpon hangeth life. Put awaye from the a frowarde mouth, and let the lippes of slaunder be farre from the. Let thine eyes beholde the thinge yt is right, & let thine eye lyddes loke straight before the.

Pōdre the path of thy fete, so shal all ye wayes be sure. 〈…〉 Turne not asyde, nether to the right hande ner to the lefte, but witholde thy fote from euell.

The V. Chapter.

MY sonne, geue hede vnto my wysdome, & bowe thine eare vnto my prudē ce: yt thou mayest regarde good councell, and that thy lippes maye kepe nurtoure.

〈…〉 For the lippes of an harlot are a droppinge hony combe, and hir throte is softer then oyle. But at ye last she is as bitter as worm wod, and as sharpe as a two edged swerde. Hir fete go downe vnto death, and hir steppes pearse thorow vnto hell. She regardeth not the path of life, so vnstedfast are hir wayes, that thou canst not knowe them. Heare me therfore (o my sonne) and departe not frō the wordes of my mouth. Kepe thy waye farre from her, and come not nye ye dores of hir house. That thou geue not thine honor vnto another, and thy yeares to the cruell. That other men be not fylled with thy goodes, & that thy labours come not in a straunge house. Yee that thou mourne not at the last (when thou hast spent thy body and goodes) and then saye: Alas, why hated I nurtoure? why dyd my hert despyse correccion? Wherfore was not I obedient vnto the voyce of my teachers, & herkened not vnto them that infourmed me? I am come almost in to all mysfortune, in the myddest of the multitude and congregacion. Drinke of the water of thine owne well, and of the ryuers that runne out of thine owne sprīges. Let ye welles flowe out a brode, that there maye be ryuers of water in the stretes. But let them be only thine owne, & not straungers with the. Let thy well be blessed, and be glad with the wife of thy youth. Louynge is the hynde, and frendly is the Roo: Eccle. 9. let her brestes alwaye satisfie the, and holde the euer content with hir loue. My sonne, why wilt thou haue pleasure in an harlot, and embrace the bosome of another womā? Iob. 31. a And 34. For euery mās wayes are open in the sight of the LORDE, and he pōdereth all their goinges. The wickednesses of the vngodly shal catch himself, and with the snares of his owne synnes shal he be trapped. Because he wolde not be refourmed, he shal dye: and for his greate foolishnesse he shal be destroyed.

The VI. Chapter.

MY sōne, yf thou be suertie for ye neghboure, Pro. 21. 17. c. 20. thou hast fastened thine hōde wt another mā: yee thou art boūde with thine owne wordes, and taken wt thine owne speach. Therfore (my sonne) do this, discharge thy self, for thou art come ī to ye neghbours daunger. Go thy waye then soone, & intreate thy neghboure: let not thyne eyes slepe, ner thine eye lyddes slomber. Saue thy self as a doo frō ye honde, & as a byrde frō the hōde of the fouler. Go to the Emmet (thou slogarde) cōsidre hir wayes, & lerne to be wyse

She hath no gyde, no teacher, no leder: Pro. 24. 0. c. Pro. 13. yet in the sommer she prouideth hir meate, & gathereth hir foode together ī ye haruest. How lōge wilt thou slepe, thou slogish mā? Whā wilt thou aryse out of thy slepe? Yee slepe on still a litle, slōber a litle, folde thine handes together yet a litle, that thou mayest slepe: so shal pouerte come vnto the as one yt trauayleth by the waye, & necessite like a wapened man. A dissemblynge person, a wicked man goeth with a frowarde mouth: he wyncketh with his eyes, he tokeneth wt his fete, he poynteth wt his fyngers, he is euer ymageninge myschefe & frowardnesse in his hert, & causeth discorde. Therfore shal his destruccion come hastely vpō him, sodenly shal he be all to broken, and not be healed.

There be sixe thinges, which the LORDE hateth, & the seuenth he vtterly abhorreth: A proude loke, a dyssemblynge tonge, Psal. 17 Pro. 12. hādes that shed innocent bloude, an herte yt goeth aboute wt wicked ymaginaciōs, Pro. 1. a fete that be swift in rennynge to do myschefe, a false wytnesse yt bringeth vp lyes, & soch one as soweth discorde amonge brethren. My sonne, kepe thy fathers cōmaundemētes, & forsake not ye lawe of thy mother. Put thē vp together in thine herte, and bynde thē aboute thy necke. That they maye lede the where thou goest, preserue the when thou art aslepe, & yt when thou awakest, Psal. 118. o thou mayest talke of thē (For the commaundement is a lanterne, and the lawe a light: yee chastenynge & nurtoure is ye waye of life) that they maye kepe the frō the euell woman, Pro. 5 a. And. 7. a. & from the flaterynge tonge of the harlott: yt thou lust not after her beuty in thine herte, & lest thou be takē wt hir fayre lokes. An harlot wil make a mā to begg his bred, but a maried woman wil hunt for ye precious life. Maye a man take fyre in his bosome, and his clothes not be brent? Or can one go vpon hote coales, and his fete not be hurte? Euen so, who so euer goeth in to his neghbours wife, and toucheth her, can not be vngiltie. Men do not vtterly despyse a thefe, xo. 22. a. that stealeth to satisfie his soule, when he is hongerie: but yf he maye be gotten, he restoreth agayne seuen tymes asmoch, or els he maketh recompence with all the good of his house. But who so cōmitteth aduoutrie with a womā, he is a foole, and bryngeth his life to destruccion. He getteth him self also shame & dishonor, soch as shal neuer be put out. For the gelousy & wrath of the mā will not be ītreated, no though thou woldest ofre him greate giftes to make amendes, he will not receaue them.

The VII. Chapter.

MY sonne, kepe my wordes, & laye vp my cōmaundemētes by the. eut. 11. a. Nū. 15. d. Kepe my cōmaundemētes & my lawe, euē as the aple of thine eye, & thou shalt lyue. Bynde them vpon thy fyngers, & wryte thē in the table of thine hert. Saye vnto wysdome: thou art my sister, and call vnderstondinge thy kynswoman: Pro. 2. b. And. 5. a. that she maye kepe ye frō ye straūge womā, & frō ye harlot which geueth swete wordes. For out of the wyndowe of my house I loked thorow the trelies, & behelde the simple people: & amonge other yonge folkes I spyed one yonge foole goinge ouer the stretes, by the corner in the waye towarde the harlottes house in the twylight of of the euenynge, when it begāne now to be night and darcke. And beholde, there mett him a womā in an harlottes apparell (a disceatfull, wāton & an vnstedfast womā: whose fete coude not abyde in ye house, now is she without, now ī ye stretes, & lurketh ī euery corner) she caught ye yōge mā, kyssed him & was not ashamed, sayēge: I had a vowe to paye, & this daye I perfourme it. Therfore came I forth to mete the, that I might seke thy face, and so I haue founde the. I haue deckte my bed with coueringes & clothes of Egipte. My bed haue I made to smell of Myrre, Aloes and Cynamom. Come, let vs lye together, & take oure pleasure till it be daye light.

For the good man is not at home, he is gone farre of. He hath taken the bagg of moneye with him, who can tell whē he cōmeth home? Thus with many swete wordes she ouercame him, 〈…〉 and with hir flateringe lippes she wanne him.

Immediatly he foloweth her, as it were an oxeled to the slaughter (and like as it were to the stockes, where fooles are punyshed) so longe till she hath wounded his lyuer with hir darte: like as yf a byrde haisted to the snare, not knowinge that the parell of his life lyeth there vpō. Heare me now therfore (o my sonne) and marcke the wordes of my mouth.

Let not thine herte wandre in hir wayes, & be not thou disceaued in hir pathes. For many one hath she woūded and cast downe, yee many a stronge mā hath she slayne. Hir house is the waye vnto hell, where men go downe to the chambers of death.

The VIII. Chapter.

DOth not wysdome crie? doth not vnderstondinge put forth hir voyce? Stondeth she not in the hye places in the stretes & wayes? doth she not crie before the whole cite, & in the gates where men go out & in? It is you, o ye men (sayeth she) whom I call. Vnto you (o ye childrē of mē) lift I vp my voyce. Take hede vnto knowlege o ye ignoraūt, be wyse in herte o ye fooles. Geue eare, for I wil speake of greate matters, & open my lippes to tell thinges that be right. For my throte shal be talkynge of ye trueth, & my lippes abhorre vngodlynesse. All the wordes of my mouth are rightuous, there is no frowardnesse ner falsede therin. They are all playne to soch as wil vnderstō de, & right to thē that fynde knowlege. Receaue my doctryne therfore and not syluer, & knowlege more then fyne golde. For wysdome is more worth then precious stones, ye all the thinges that thou cāst desyre, are not to be compared vnto it.

I wysdome haue my dwellynge wt knowlege, and prudent councell is myne owne. With me is the feare of the LORDE, and ye eschuynge of euell. As for pryde, disdayne, an euell waye, & a mouth that speaketh wicked thīges, I vtterly abhorre thē. I can geue councell, and be a gyde: I haue vnderstondinge, I haue strength.

Thorow me, kynges reigne: thorow me, paces make iust lawes. Thorow me, lordes beare rule, and all iudges of ye earth execute iudgmēt. I am louynge vnto those that loue me, and they that seke me early, shal fynde me.

Riches & honoure are wt me, yee excellent goodes & rightuousnes. My frute is better thē golde & precious stone, & myne encrease more worth then fyne syluer. I walke in ye waye of rightuousnes, & in the strete of iudgment. That I maye sende prosperite to those that loue me, & to encrease their treasure.

The LORDE himself had me in possessiō in the begynnynge of his wayes, or euer he begame his workes aforetyme. I haue bene ordened frō euerlastīge, 〈…〉 & frō ye beginnynge or euer the earth was made. When I was borne, there were nether depthes ner springes of water. Before the foundacions of ye mountaynes were layed, yee before all hilles was I borne. The earth and all that is vpon the earth was not yet made, no not the grounde it self. 〈…〉 For when he made the heauens, I was present: whā he set the depthes in ordre: whan he hanged the cloudes aboue: whan he fastened the sprynges of the depe: 〈…〉 Whan he shutt the see within certayne bowndes, that ye waters shulde not go ouer their marckes. When he layed the foundacions of the earth, I was with him, ordringe all thinges, delytinge daylie & reioysynge all waye before him. As for the roūde cōpase of his worlde, I make it ioyfull for my delyte is to be amōge the children of men. 〈…〉

Therfore harken vnto me (o ye children) for blessed are they that kepe my wayes

O geue eare vnto nurtoure, be wyse, and refuse it not. Blessed is ye man that heareth me, watchinge daylie at my gates, & geuynge attendaunce at the postes of my dores.

For who so fyndeth me, fyndeth life, and shal optayne fauoure of the LORDE. But who so offendeth agaynst me, hurteth his owne soule. All they that hate me, are the louers of death.

The IX. Chapter.

WYsdome hath buylded herself an house, and hewen out seuen pilers: she hath slaughted, poured out hir wyne, and prepared hir table. She hath sent forth hir maydens to crie vpō the hyest place of the cite: Who so is ignoraūt, let him come hither. And to the vnwise she sayde: O come on youre waye, eate my bred, and drynke my wyne, which I haue poured out for you. Forsake ignoraūce, and ye shal lyue: and se that ye go in the waye of vnderstondinge.

Who so reproueth a scornefull personne, getteth him self dishonoure: and he that rebuketh the vngodly, stayneth himself.

Reproue not a scorner, lest he owe the euell wil: but rebuke a wyse man, and he wil loue the. Geue a discrete man but an occasion, & he wilbe the wyser teach a rightuous man, and he wil increase. The feare of the LORDE is the begynnynge of wysdome, Iob. 28. c Psal. 110. Eccli. 1. c Pro. 4. b & the knowlege of holy thinges is vnderstondinge. For thorow me ye dayes shalbe prolonged, and the yeares of thy life shal be many. Yf thou be wyse, yi wysdome shal do yi selfe good: but yf thou thynkest scorne therof, it shalbe thine owne harme. A foolish restlesse woman, full of wordes, and soch one as hath no knowlege, sytteth in the dores of hir house vpō a stole aboue in the cite, to call soch as go by and walke straight in their wayes. Who so is ignoraunt (sayeth she) let him come hither, and to the vnwyse she sayeth: stollen waters are swete, & the bred that is preuely eaten, hath a good taist.

But they cōsider not that death is there, and that hir gestes go downe to hell.

The X. Chapter. These are prouerbes of Salomon.

A Wyse sonne maketh a glad father, but an vndiscrete sonne is the heuynesse of his mother. Pro. 15. c Pro 11 a Eccli. 5. b Treasures that are wickedly gotten, profit nothinge, but rightuousnesse delyuereth from death. Pro. 12. The LORDE wil not let the soule of the rightuous suffre hōger, but he putteth ye vngodly frō his desyre. An ydle hande maketh poore, but a quycke laboringe hande maketh riche.

Who so gathereth in Sommer, is wyse: but he that is slogish in haruest, bringeth himself to confucion. Louynge and fauorable is the face of the rightuous, but ye fore heade of the vngodly is past shame, and presumptuous. Psal. 111. The memoriall of the iust shall haue a good reporte, but the name of the vn godly shal stynke. A wyse man wil receaue warnynge, but a foole wil sooner be smytten in the face. He that leadeth an innocent life, walketh surely: Psal. 22. a Pro. 28. Eccl. 27. but who so goeth a wrōge waye, shalbe knowne. He yt wynketh with his eye, wil do some harme: but he that hath a foolish mouth, shalbe beaten. The mouth of a rightuous man is a well of life, but ye mouth of the vngodly is past shame, & presumptuous. Euell will stereth vp strife, but loue couereth ye multitude of synnes.1. Pet. 4.

In ye lippes of him yt hath vnderstōdinge a mā shal fynde wysdome, but ye redde belō geth to ye backe of ye foolish. Wyse mē laye vp knowlege, but ye mouth of ye foolish is nye destrucciō. The rich mās goodes are his strō ge holde, but pouerte oppresseth the poore.

The rightuous laboureth to do good, but the vngodly vseth his increase vnto synne.

To take hede vnto ye chastenynge of nurtoure, is ye waye of life: but he that refuseth to be refourmed, goeth wrōge. Dissemblynge lippes kepe hatred secretly, and he that speaketh eny slaunder, is a foole. Where moch bablinge is, there must nedes be offence: he that refrayneth his lippes, is wysest of all. An innocent tonge is a noble treasure, but the herte of the vngodly is nothinge worth. The lippes of the rightuous fede a whole multitude, but fooles shal dye in their owne foly. 〈◊〉 . 42. c ccli 11. sal. 126. a at. 6. c. d The blessynge of the LORDE maketh rich mē, as for carefull trauayle, it doth nothinge therto. A foole doth wickedly & maketh but a sporte of it: neuertheles it is wysdome for a man to bewarre of soch.

The thinge that the vngodly are afrayed of, shal come vpon them, but the rightuous shal haue their desyre. The vngodly is like a tempest that passeth ouer & is nomore sene, but the rightuous remayneth sure for euer. As vyneger is to the teth, and as smoke is vnto ye eyes, euē so is a slogish personne to them that sende him forth. The feare of ye LORDE maketh a lōge life, but ye yeares of ye vngodly shal be shortened. The pacient abydinge of the rightuous shalbe turned to gladnesse, but the hope of the vngodly shal perish. The waye of the LORDE geueth a corage vnto ye godly, but it is a feare for wicked doers. The rightuous shal neuer be ouerthrowne, sa 124. a sal. 36. d but ye vngodly shal not remayne in the londe. The mouth of the iust wilbe talkynge of wysdome, but the tonge of the frowarde shal perish. The lippes of the rightuous are occupied in acceptable thinges, but the mouth of the vngodly taketh them to the worst.

The XI. Chapter.

A False balaunce is an abhominacion vnto the LORDE, ro. 16. b 〈◊〉 . b. d but a true weight pleaseth him. Where pryde is, there is shame also and confucion: but where as is lowlynes, there is wysdome. The innocent dealynge of the iust shal lede them, but the vnfaithfulnesse of the despysers shalbe their owne destruccion. Riches helpe not in the daye of vengeaunce, rou. 10. a ccli. 5. b but rightuousnesse delyuereth frō death. The rightuousnes of ye innocent ordreth his waye, but the vngodly shal fall in his owne wickednesse. The rightuousnesse of the iust shal delyuer them, but the despysers shalbe taken in their owne vngodlynesse. When an vngodly man dyeth, his hope is gone, the confydence of riches shal perish. The rightuous shalbe delyuered out of trouble, & the vngodly shal come in his steade. Thorow ye mouth of ye dyssembler is his neghboure destroyed, but thorow knowlege shal the iust be delyuered. 〈…〉 When it goeth well with the rightuous, the cite is mery: and when the vngodly perish, there is gladnesse. When the iust are in wealth, the cite prospereth: but whan the vngodly haue the rule, it decayeth. A foole bryngeth vp a slaunder of his neghboure, but a wyse man wil kepe it secrete. 〈…〉 A dyssemblynge person wil discouer preuy thinges, but he that is of a faithfull hert, will kepe councel. 〈…〉 Where no good councel is there the people decaye: but where as are many that can geue councell, there is wealth. 〈…〉 He that is suertye for a straunger, hurteth himself: but he that medleth not with suerteshippe, is sure. A gracious womā manteyneth honestie, as for the mightie, they manteyne ryches. He yt hath a gentle liberall stomacke, is mercifull: but who so hurteth his neghbor, is a tyraūt.

The laboure of the vngodly prospereth not, but he that soweth rightuosnes, shal receaue a sure rewarde. Like as rightuousnes bryngeth life, euē so to cleue vnto euell, bryngeth death. The LORDE abhorreth a fayned hert, but he hath pleasure in them that are vndefyled. It shal not helpe ye wicked, though they laye all their hondes together, but the sede of the rightuous shalbe preserued. A fayre woman without discrete maners, is like a rynge of golde in a swynes snoute. The iust laboure for peace and trā quylite, but the vngodly for disquyetnesse.

Some man geueth out his goodes, and is the richer, but ye nygarde (hauynge ynough) wil departe from nothinge, and yet is euer in pouerte. He that is lyberall in geuynge, shal haue plenty: and he that watereth, shal be watered also himself. Who so hoordeth vp his corne, shalbe cursed amonge the people: but blessynge shal light vpon his heade that selleth it. He that laboureth for honesty fyndeth his desyre: but who so seketh after myschefe, it shal happē vnto him. He that trusteth in his riches, shal haue a fall, but ye rightuous shal florish as the grene leaf.

Who so maketh disquyetnesse in his owne house, he shal haue wynde for his heretage, and the foole shal be seruaunt to the wyse.

The frute of the rightuous is as the tre of life, a wyse man also wynneth mens soules. Yf ye rightuous be recōpēsed vpō earth how moch more thē the vngodly & ye synner

The XII. Chapter.

Who so loueth wyszdome, wil be content to be refourmed: but he that hateth to be reproued,, is a foole. A good man is acceptable vnto the LORDE, but ye wicked wyl he condempne. A man cā not endure in vngodlynesse, but ye rote of ye righteous shal not be moued. A stedfast woman is a crowne vnto hir huszbonde: but she that behaueth herself vnhonestly, is a corrupcion in his bones. The thoughtes of ye righteous are right, but the ymaginacion of the vngodly are disceatfull. The talkynge of the vngodly is, how they maye laye wayte for bloude, but the mouth of ye righteous wil delyuer them. Or euer thou canst turne the aboute, the vngodly shal be ouerthrowne, but the house of the righteous shal stōde.

A man shalbe commended for his wyszdome, but a foole shal be despysed. A simple man which laboureth and worketh, is better thē one that is gorgious and wanteth bred.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his catell, but the vngodly haue cruell hertes. He that tilleth his lōde, shal haue plenteousnesse of bred: but he yt foloweth ydylnes, is a very foole. The desyre of ye vngodly hunteth after myschefe, but the rote of the righteous bryngeth forth frute. The wicked falleth in to the snare thorow ye malyce of his owne mouth, but the iust shal escape out of parell. Euery man shal enioye good acordinge to the innocency of his mouth, and after the workes of his hādes shal he be rewarded. Loke what a foole taketh in honde, he thinketh it well done: but he that is wyse, wyl be coūceled. A foole vttereth his wrath in all the haist, but a discrete man forgeueth wronge. A iust man will tell the trueth, & shewe the thinge yt is right: but a false wytnesse disceaueth. A slaunderous personne pricketh like a swerde, but a wyse mans tonge is wholsome. A true mouth is euer constāt, but a dyssemblinge tōge is soone chaunged. They that ymagin euell in their mynde, wil disceaue: but the councelers of peace shal heaue ioye folowinge thē. There shal no mysfortune happen vnto the iust, but the vngodly shal be fylled with misery. The LORDE abhorreth disceatfull lippes, but they that laboure for treuth, please him. He that hath vnderstōdinge, can hyde his wysdome: but an vndiscrete herte telleth out his foolishnesse. A diligēt hande shal beare rule, but the ydle shal be vnder tribute. Heuynesse discorageth ye herte of man, Pro. 5. b and. 17. d Eccli. 0. c but a good worde maketh it glad agayne. The righteous is liberall vnto his neghboure, but the waye of the vngodly wil disceaue them selues. A disceatfull man shal fynde no vaū tage, but he that is content wt that he hath,2. 〈◊〉 . 6 b Heb. 13. a is more worth thē golde. In the waye of righteousnesse there is life, as for eny other waye, it is the path vnto death.

The XIII. Chapter.

A Wyse sonne wyll receaue his fathers warnynge, but he yt is scornefull, wyll not heare when he is reproued. A good mā shal enioye the frute of his mouth, but he that hath a frowarde mynde, shalbe spoyled. He that kepeth his mouth, kepeth his life: but who so speaketh vnaduysed, fyndeth harme. The slogarde wolde fayne haue, and can not get his desyre: but the soule of the diligent shal haue plenty. A righteous man abhorreth lyes, but the vngodly shameth both other and himself. Righteousnesse kepeth the innocēt in the waye, but vngodlynesse shal ouerthrowe the synner.

Some men are riche, though they haue nothinge: agayne, Pro. 11. c some mē are poore hauynge greate riches. With goodes euery man delyuereth his life, and the poore wyl not be reproued. The light of the righteous maketh ioyfull, Pro. 4. c but the candle of the vngodly shal be put out. Amonge the proude there is euer strife, but amonge those that do all thinges with aduysement, there is wyszdome. Hastely gottē goodes are soone spent, but they that be gathered together with the hande, shal increase. Longe tarienge for a thinge that is dyfferred, greueth ye herte: but when the desyre commeth, it is a tre of life. Who so despyseth the worde, destroyeth himself: but he that feareth the cō maundement, shal haue peace. The lawe is a wel of life vnto the wyse, that it maye kepe him from the snares of death. Good vnderstondinge geueth fauoure, but harde is the waye of the despysers. A wyse man doth all thinges with discrecion, but a foole wil declare his foly. An vngodly messaū ger bryngeth myschefe, but a faithfull embassitoure is wholsome. He that thinketh scorne to be refourmed, commeth to pouerte and shame: but who so receaueth correccion, shal come to honoure. When a desyre is brought to passe, it delyteth the soule: Sap. 2. c but fooles abhorre him that eschueth euell. He that goeth in the company of wyse men, shal be wyse: but who so is a cōpanyō of fooles, shal be hurte. Myschefe foloweth vpon synners, but the rightuous shal haue a good rewarde. Which their childers childrē shal haue in possessiō, for the riches of the synner is layed vp for ye iust. Iob 27. c There is plenteousnesse of fode in the feldes of the poore, & shalbe increased out of measure. Eccli. 30. a Psal. 23. b Hebr. 12. b Psal. 33. b He that spareth the rodde, hateth his sonne: but who so loueth him, holdeth him euer in nurtoure. The rightuous eateth, and is satisfied, but ye bely of the vngodly hath neuer ynough.

The XIIII. Chapter.

A Wyse womā vpholdeth hir house, but a foolish wife plucketh it downe.

Who so feareth the LORDE, walketh in the right path: & regardeth not him that abhorreth the wayes of the LORDE. In the mouth of the foolish is the boostinge of lordshipe, but ye lippes of ye wyse wilbe warre of soch. Where no oxen are, there the crybb is emptie: but where the oxen laboure, there is moch frute. A faithfull wytnesse wyl not dyssemble, but a false recorde wil make a lye.

A scornefull body seketh wyszdome, & fyndeth it not: but knowlege is easy to come by, vnto him that wil vnderstonde. Se yt thou medle not with a foole, Pro. 8. a & do as though thou haddest no knowlege. The wyszdome of him that hath vnderstondinge is, to take hede vnto his waye, but the foolishnesse of the vnwyse disceaueth. Fooles make but a sporte of synne, but there is fauourable loue amō ge the rightuous. The herte of him that hath vnderstondinge wil nether dispare for eny sorow, ner be to presumptuous for eny sodane ioye.

The houses of the vngodly shalbe ouerthrowne, but the tabernacles of ye righteus shal florishe. Deu. 12. a Pro. 16. c There is a waye, which some men thinke to be right, but the ende therof ledeth vnto death. The herte is soroufull euen in laughter, and the ende of myrth is heuynesse. An vnfaithfull personne shal be fylled with his owne wayes, but a good mā wyl bewarre of soch. An ignoraūt body beleueth all thinges, but who so hath vnderstondinge, loketh well to his goinges. A wyse man, feareth, and departeth from euell, but a foole goeth on presumptuously. An vnpacient man handeleth foolishly, but he that is well aduysed, doth other wayes.

The ignoraūt haue foolishnes in possessiō, but the wyse are crowned with knowlege.

The euell shal bowe them selues before ye good, and the vngodly shal wayte at the •• res of the rightuous. The poore is hatch euen of his owne neghbours, but the riche hath many frendes. Who so despyseth his neghbor, doth amysse: but blessed is he that hath pyte of the poore. They that ymagin wickednes, shalbe disapoynted: but they that muse vpō good thinges, vnto soch shal happen mercy and faithfulnesse. Diligēt labor bryngeth riches, but where many vayne wordes are, truly there is scarcenesse.

Riches are an ornament vnto the wyse, but the ignoraunce of fooles is very foolishnesse. A faithfull wytnesse delyuereth so les, but a lyar dysceaueth them. The fear of the LORDE is a strōge holde, for vnto his he wyl be a sure defence. The feare of the LORDE is a well of life, to auoyde the snares of death. The increase and prosperite of the comons is the kynges honoure, but the decaye of the people is the confuciō of the prynce. Pacience is a token of wiszdome, but wrath and haistie displeasure is a token of foolishnesse. A mery herte is the life of the body, but rancoure consumeth awaye the bones. He that doth a poore man wrō ge, blasphemeth his maker: but who so hath pitie of the poore, doth honoure vnto God.

The vngodly is afrayed of euery parell, but the rightuous hath a good hope euē in death. Wyszdome resteth in the herte of him that hath vnderstondinge, and he wyll teach them that are vnlerned. Rightuousnes setteth vp the people, but wyckednesse bryngeth folke to destruccion. A discrete seruaunt is a pleasure vnto ye kynge, but one yt is not honest, prouoketh him vnto wrath.

The XV. Chapter.

A Softe āswere putteth downe displeasure, but frowarde wordes prouoke vnto anger. A wyse tonge commendeth knowlege, a foolish mouth blabbeth out nothinge but foolishnesse. The eyes of the LORDE loke in euery place, both vpon ye good and badd. A wholsome tonge is a tre of life, but he that abuseth it, hath a broken mynde. A foole despyseth his fathers correccion, but he yt taketh hede whan he is reproued, shal haue ye more vnderstōdinge.

In the house of the rightuous are greate riches, but in the increase of the vngodly there is mysordre. A wyse mouth poureth out knowlege, but ye herte of the foolish doth not so. The LORDE abhorreth ye sacrifice of the vngodly, but the prayer of the rightuous is acceptable vnto him. The waye of the vngodly is an abhominaciō vn to ye LORDE, but who so foloweth righteousnes, him he loueth. He that forsaketh ye ight strete, shalbe sore punyshed: & who so hateth correccion, falleth in to death. The hell wt hir payne is knowne vnto the LORDE, how moch more then the hertes of men?

A scornefull body loueth not one yt rebuketh him, nether wil he come amonge ye wyse. A mery herte maketh a chearfull countenaunce, but an vnquyet mynde maketh it heuy. A wyse herte wil seke after knowlege, but ye mouth of fooles medleth with foolishnesse. All the dayes of the poore are miserable, but a quyete herte is as a cōtynuall feast. Better is a litle with the feare of the LORDE then greate treasure, for they are not without sorowe. Better is a meace of potage with loue, then a fat oxe wt euell will.

An angrie man stereth vp strife, but he yt is pacient stilleth discorde. The waye of ye slouthfull is full of thornes, but ye strete of the rightuous is well clensed. A wyse sonne maketh a glad father, but an vndiscrete body shameth his mother. A foole reioyseth in foolish thinges, but a wyse man loketh well to his owne goinges. Vnaduysed thoughtes shal come to naught, but where as are men yt can geue councell, there is stedfastnesse. O how ioyfull a thinge is it, a man to geue a conuenient answere? O how pleasaunt is a worde spoken in due season? The waye of life ledeth vnto heauē, yt a man shulde be warre of hell beneth.

The LORDE wyl breake downe ye house of ye proude, but he shal make fast ye borders of ye wyddowe. The LORDE abhoreth ye ymaginacions of ye wicked, but pure wordes are pleasaunt vnto him. The couetous man wr tteth vp his owne house, but who so hateth rewardes, shal lyue. A rightuous mā museth in his mynde how to do good, but ye mynde of the vngodly ymagineth, how he maye do harme. The LORDE is farre from the vngodly, but he heareth ye prayer of the rightuous. Like as ye clearnesse of ye eyes reioyseth ye herte, so doth a good name fede ye bones. The eare yt harkeneth vnto wholsome warnynge, and enclyneth therto, shall dwell amonge ye wyse. He that refuseth to e refourmed, despyseth his owne soule: but he that submytteth himself to correccion, is wyse.

The XVI. Chapter.

THe feare of ye LORDE is ye right scyē ce of wyszdome, and lowlynes goeth before honor. A man maye well pur ose a thinge in his harte, but ye answere of ye tonge cōmeth of ye LORDE. Pro. 21 a Psal. 32. b A mā thinketh all his waies to be clene, but it is ye LORDE yt fashioneth ye myndes. Psal. 36. a Commytte thy workes vnto ye LORDE, and loke what thou deuysest, it shal prospere. The LORDE doth all thinges for his owne sake, yee & when he kepeth ye vngodly for ye daye of wrath.

The LORDE abhorreth all presumptuous & proude hertes, there maye nether strength ner power escape. With louynge mercy & faithfulnesse synnes be forgeuen, and who so feareth ye LORDE eschueth euell. When a mans wayes please ye LORDE, he maketh his very enemies to be his frendes. Better is it to haue a litle thinge wt rightuousnes, thē greate rentes wrongeously gotten. A mā deuyseth a waye in his herte, Pro 19. c but it is ye LORDE yt ordreth his goinges. When ye prophecy is in ye lippes of ye kynge, his mouth shal not go wrōge in iudgment. A true measure & a true balaūce are ye LORDES, Pro. 11. a and 20 b he maketh all weightes. It is a greate abhominaciō when kynges are wycked, for a kynges seate shulde be holden vp wt righteousnesse.

Righteous lippes are pleasaūt vnto kynges, and they loue him yt speaketh ye trueth.

The kynges displeasure is a messaunger of death, but a wyse man wyl pacifie him.

The cherefull countenaūce of ye kynge is life, and his louynge fauor is as the euenynge dewe. Pro. 8. a To haue wyszdome in possession is better then golde, and to get vnderstondynge, is more worth then syluer. The path of ye righteous eschueth euell, & who so loketh well to his wayes, kepeth his owne soule.

Presumptuousnes goeth before destruccion, and after a proude stomake there foloweth a fall. Better it is to be of humble mynde wt the lowly, then to deuyde ye spoyles wt ye proude. He yt handleth a matter wysely, opteyneth good: & blessed is he, Psal. 2. b yt putteth his trust in ye LORDE. Who so hath a wyse vnderstondinge, is called to councell: but he yt can speake fayre, getteth more riches. Vnderstondinge is a well of life vnto him yt hath it, as for ye chastenynge of fooles, it is but foolishnesse. The herte of the wyse enfourmeth his mouth, and amendeth ye doctryne in his lyppes.

Fayre wordes are an hony combe, a refreshinge of ye mynde, & health of ye bones.

There is a waye yt men thinke to be right, Pro 14. b Deut. 12. a Esa. 55. b but the ende therof leadeth vnto death. A troublous soule disquyeteth hir selfe, for hir owne mouth hath brought her therto. An vngodly personne stereth vp euell, and in his lippes he is as an whote burnynge fyre.

A frowarde body causeth strife, and he yt is a blabbe of his tonge, maketh deuysion amonge prynces. A wicked mā begyleth his neghbor, & ledeth him ye waye yt is not good.

He that wyncketh wt his eyes, ymagineth myschefe: and he yt byteth his lippes, wyl do some harme. Leui. 19 g Age is a crowne of worshipe, yf it be founde in the waye of righteousnes.

A pacient man is better then one that is strōge: and he that can rule him selfe, is more worth then he yt wynneth a cite. The lottes are cast in to the lappe, but their fall stōdeth in the LORDE.

The XVII. Chapter.

BEtter is a drye morsell wt quyetnesse, thē a full house and many fatt catell wt stryfe. Eccl . 10. d A discrete seruaūt shal haue more rule then the sonnes yt haue no wysdome, and shal haue like heretage wt the brethren. Sap. 3 a 1. pet. 1. b Like as syluer is tried in the fyre and golde in the fornace, euen so doth the LORDE proue the hertes. A wicked body holdeth moch of false lippes, & a dyssemblynge persone geueth eare to a disceatfull tōge. Pro. 14. d Iob. 31. c Pro 24. c Who so laugheth ye poore to scorne, blasphemeth his maker: and he yt is glad of another mans hurte, shal not be vnpunyshed. Childers children are a worshipe vnto the elders, and the fathers are the honor of the children. An eloquent speach becōmeth not a foole, a dyssemblinge mouth also besemeth not a prynce. Liberalite is a precious stone vnto him that hath it, for where so euer he becōmeth, he prospereth. Who so couereth another mans offence, seketh loue: but he yt discloseth the faute, setteth frendes at variaunce. One reprofe only doth more good to him yt hath vnderstōdinge, then an C. stripes vnto a foole. A sedicious personne seketh myschefe, ut a cruell messaunger shal be sent agaynst him. It were better to come agaynst a she Bere robbed of hir whelpes, then agaynst a foole in his foolishnes. . reg. 24. c 26. b. Who so rewardeth euell for good, the plage shal not departe frō his house.2. reg. 12. c He yt soweth discorde & strife, is like one yt dyggeth vp a water broke: but an open enemie is like the water yt breaketh out & rē eth abrode. The LORDE hateth as well him yt iustifieth ye vngodly, as him yt condempneth the innocēt. What helpeth it to geue a foole money in his hōde, where as he hath no mynde to bye wyszdome? He is a frende that all waye loueth, and in aduersite a man shal knowe who is his brother. Pro. 6. a 11. b Who so promiseth by the hande, & is suertie for another, he is a foole. He yt loueth strife, delyteth in synne: & who so setteth his dore to hye, seketh after a fall. Who so hath a frowarde herte, opteyneth no good: and he yt hath an ouērth •••• tonge, shal fall in to myschefe. An 〈◊〉 body bryngeth himselfe in to sorowe, and ye father of a foole can haue no ioye. A m •• y herte maketh a lusty age, but a sorowfull ••• de dryeth vp ye bones. The vngodly taketh giftes out of the bosome, to wraist the waye •• of iudgment. Wyszdome shyneth in ye face of him yt hath vnderstondinge, but ye eyes •• fooles wandre thorow out all lōdes. An 〈◊〉 discrete sonne is a grefe vnto his father, 〈◊〉 heuynesse vnto his mother yt bare him. 〈◊〉 punysh ye innocent, and to smyte ye prynces geue true iudgmēt, are both euell. He is 〈◊〉 and discrete, yt tempereth his wordes: 〈◊〉 he is a mā of vnderstōdinge, yt maketh mo •• of his sprete. Yee a very foole (when he hol deth his tonge) is counted wyse, and to 〈◊〉 vnderstōdinge, when he shutteth his lippes.

The XVIII. Chapter.

WHo so hath pleasure to sowe dis •• de, piketh a quarell in euery thing A foole hath no delyte in vnder •••• dinge, but only in those thinges wherin 〈◊〉 herte reioyseth. Where vngodlynes is, the re is also diszdayne: & so there foloweth sha me & dishonor. The wordes of a mās 〈◊〉 are like depe waters, and the well of wyszdo me is like a full streame. It is not good 〈◊〉 regarde ye personne of the vngodly, or to 〈◊〉 backe ye righteous in iudgmēt. A fooles lip pes are euer brawlinge, and his mouth pro uoketh vnto batayll. A fooles mouth is 〈◊〉 owne destruccion, and his lippes are ye 〈◊〉 for his owne soule. The wordes of a slaun derer are very woūdes, and go thorow vnto the ynmost partes of the body. Who so i slouthfull and slacke in his labor, is ye brother of him yt is a waister. The name of ye LORD is a stronge castell, ye righteous flyeth vnt it, and shalbe saued. But ye rich mās good •• are his stronge holde, yee he taketh them 〈◊〉 an hye wall roūde aboute him. After 〈◊〉 cōmeth destrucciō, and honor after lowlyne He that geueth sentēce in a matter before 〈◊〉 heare it, is a foole, and worthy to be confou •• ded. A good stomacke dryueth awaye a 〈◊〉 disease, but whā ye sprete is vexed, who may abyde it? A wyse herte laboureth for know lege, and a prudent eare seketh vnderstondi •• ge. Liberalite bryngeth a man to honor and worshipe, & setteth him amonge greate 〈◊〉

The righteous accuseth hī self first of all yf his neghbor come, he shal fynde him. Th lot pacifieth ye variaūce, & parteth ye might asunder. The vnite of brethren is stronge then a castell, and they that holde together are like the barre of a palace. A mans bely shalbe satisfied with the frute of his owne mouth, and with the increase of his lippes shal he be fylled. Death and life stonde in the power of the tonge, he that loueth it, shal enioye the frute therof. 〈…〉 Who so fyndeth a wife fyndeth a good thynge, & receaueth an wholsome benefite of the LORDE. The poore maketh supplicacion and prayeth mekely, but the riche geueth a rough answere.

A frende that delyteth in loue, doth a man more frēdshipe, and sticketh faster vnto him then a brother.

The XIX. Chapter.

BEtter is the poore that lyueth godly, thē the blasphemer that is but a foole. 〈…〉 Where no discrecion is, there the soule is not well: and who so is swifte on fote, stombleth hastely. Foolishnesse maketh a man to go out of his waye, & then is his herte vnpacient agaynst the LORDE. Riches make many frendes, but the poore is forsakē of his owne frendes. 〈…〉 A false wytnesse shal not remayne vnpunyshed, and he that speaketh lyes shal not escape. The multitude hāgeth vpō greate men, & euery man fauoureth him that geueth rewardes. As for the poore, he is hated amonge all his brethren: yee his owne frendes forsake him, & he that geueth credēce vnto wordes, getteth nothinge. He that is wyse, loueth his owne soule: and who so hath vnderstondinge, shal prospere. A false wytnesse shal not remayne vnpunyshed, & he yt speaketh lyes shal perishe. Delicate ease becōmeth not a foole, moch more vnsemely is it, a bonde man to haue ye rule of prynces. A wyse man putteth of displeasure, & it is his honor to let some fautes passe.

〈…〉 The kynges disfauor is like ye roaringe of a Lyō, but his frēdshpe is like the dewe vpō ye grasse. 〈…〉 An vndiscrete sonne is ye heuynes of his father, & a braulynge wife is like the topp of an house, where thorow it is euer droppynge. House & riches maye a mā haue by ye heretage of his elders, 〈…〉 but a discrete womā is the gifte of the LORDE. Slouthfulnes bryngeth slepe, & an ydell soule shal suffer hō ger. Who so kepeth the cōmaundemēt, kepeth his owne soule: but he yt regardeth not his waye, shal dye. He yt hath pitie vpon the poore, lēdeth vnto ye LORDE: & loke what he layeth out, it shalbe payed him agayne. Chastē ye sonne whyle there is hope, but let not ye soule be moued to slaye hī. For greate wrath bryngeth harme, therfore let him go, and so mayest thou teach him more nurtoure. O geue eare vnto good councell, & be content to be refourmed, that thou mayest bewyse here after. There are many deuices in a mās herte, Pro. 16. b neuertheles the coūcell of ye LORDE shal stō de. It is a mans worshipe to do good, & better it is to be a poore mā, then a dyssembler. The feare of the LORDE preserueth the life, yee it geueth plēteousnes, without the visitaciō of any plage. Pro. 26. A slouthfull body shuteth his honde in to his bosome, so yt he can not put it to his mouth. Yf thou smytest a scorneful personne, Pro. 21. b the ignoraūt shal take better hede: & yf thou reprouest one yt hath vnderstondinge, he wil be ye wyser. He yt hurteth his father or shuteth out his mother, is a shamefull & an vnworthy sonne· My sonne, heare nomore the doctrine yt leadeth the awaye from the wordes of vnderstondinge.

A false wytnes laugheth iudgmēt to scorne, & the mouth of the vngodly eateth vp wickednes. Punyshmentes are ordened for the scornefull, and stripes for fooles backes.

The XX. Chapter.

WYne is a voluptuous thinge, & drōckennes causeth sedicion: Ephe. 5. 3. Esd. 3. who so delyte h therin, shal neuer be wyse. The kynge ought to be feared as the roaringe of a lyon, Pro. 24. who so prouoketh him vnto anger, offendeth agaynst his owne soule. It is a mans honoure to kepe himself from strife, but they yt haue pleasure in braulinge, are fooles eueryone. A slouthfull body wyl not go to plowe for colde, therfore shal he go abegginge in Sommer, and haue nothinge. Wyse councell in the herte of man is like a water in the depe of the earth, but he that hath vnderstondinge, bryngeth it forth. Many there be that are called good doers, but where shal one fynde a true faithful mā? Who so ledeth a godly and an innocent life, happie shal his children be, Psal. 36 whom he leaueth behynde him.

A kynge that sytteth in iudgment, and loketh well aboute him, dryueth awaye all euell. Who can saye: my hert is cleane,1. Ioh. 1. b I am innocent from synne? To vse two maner of weightes, or two maner of measures, both these are abhominable vnto the LORDE.

A childe is knowne by his conuersacion, whether his workes be pure and right. As for the hearinge of the eare & the sight of ye eye, ye LORDE hath made thē both. Delyte not thou in slepe, lest thou come vnto pouerte: but opē thine eyes, & thou shalt haue bred ynough. It is naught, It is naught (saye men) whan they haue it, but whan it is gone, they geue it a good worde.

A mouth of vnderstōdinge is more worth then golde, many precious stones, and costly Iewels. 〈◊〉 . 6. a 〈◊〉 27. b Take his garment that is suertie for a straunger, & take a pledge of him for ye vnknowne mans sake. Euery mā liketh the bred that is gotten with disceate, but at the last is mouth shalbe fylled with grauell.

Thorow councell the thinges that men deuyse go forwarde: & with discrecion ought warres to be taken in honde. Medle not with him that bewrayeth secretes, and is a slaunderer, and disceaueth with his lippes. Who so curseth his father and mother, 〈◊〉 . 20. b 〈◊〉 . 20. b 〈◊〉 21. b eu. 27. c Re. 15. a 〈◊〉 . 5. e 〈◊〉 . 12. c his light shalbe put out in the myddest of darcknesse. The heretage that commeth to haistely at the first, shal not be praysed at the ende. Saye not thou: I will recompence euell, but put ye trust in the LORDE, & he shal defende ye. 〈◊〉 . 20. b The LORDE abhorreth two maner of weightes, and a false balaūce is an euell thinge. 〈◊〉 . 10. d The LORDE ordreth euery mās goinges, for what is he, that vnderstondeth his owne wayes? It is a snare for a man to blaspheme that which is holy, & then to go aboute wt vowes. Reg. 15 A wyse kynge destroyeth ye vngodly, & bryngeth the whele uer them. The lanterne of ye LORDE is ye breth of man, & goeth thorow all the inwarde partes of the body. 〈◊〉 . 29. b Mercy & faithfulnes preserue the kynge, & with louynge kyndnes his feate is holden vp. The strength of yonge men is their worshipe, & a gray heade, is an honor vnto ye aged. Woundes dryue awaye euell, and so do stripes the inwarde partes of the body.

The XXI. Chapter.

THe kynges hert is in the hande of the LORDE, . Reg. 1. c like as are the ryuers of water: he maye turne it whyther so euer he wyll. Euery man thinketh his owne waye to be right, but the LORDE iudgeth ye hertes. Mich. 6. b To do rightuousnesse and iudgmēt is more acceptable to the LORDE thē sacrifice.

A presumptuous loke, a proude stomacke, & the lanterne of the vngodly is synne. The deuyses of one that is diligent, brynge plenteousnes: but he yt is vnaduysed, commeth vn to pouerte. Who so hoordeth vp riches wt ye disceatfulnes of his tonge, he is a foole, & like vnto them that seke their owne death. The robberies of the vngodly shalbe their owne destruccion, for they wolde not do the thynge that was right. The wayes of the frowarde are straunge, it. 1. c 〈◊〉 . 25. d but ye workes of him yt is cleane, are right. It is better to dwell in a corner vnder ye house toppe, then with a braulinge woman in a wyde house.

The soule of the vngodly wysheth euell, and hath no pitie vpon his neghboure.

When the scornefull is punyshed, the ignoraunt take ye better hede: & when a wyse man is warned, he wil receaue the more vnderstondinge. The rightuous enfourmeth the house of the vngodly, but ye vngodly go on still after their owne wickednesse. Who so stoppeth his eare at the criēge of the poore, he shal crie himself and not be herde. 〈…〉 A preuy rewarde pacifieth displeasure, and a gifte in the bosome stilleth furiousnesse.

The iust delyteth in doynge the thynge that is right, but the workers of wickednesse abhorre the same. The man that wandreth cut of the waye of wyszdome, shal remayne in the cōgregacion of ye deed. He yt hath pleasure in banckettes, shal be a poore man: 〈…〉 Who so delyteth in wyne and delicates, shal not be riche. The vngodly shalbe geuen for the rightuous, & the wicked for the iust.

It is better to dwell in a wyldernesse, 〈…〉 thē with a chydinge and an angrie woman. In a wyse mans house there is greate treasure and plenteousnesse, but a foolish body spendeth vp all. Who so foloweth rightuousnesse and mercy, fyndeth both life, rightuousnesse and honor. A wyse man wynneth the cite of the mightie, and as for the strength yt they trust in, he bryngeth it downe. Who so kepeth his mouth and his tonge, 〈…〉 the same kepeth his soule from troubles. He yt is proude & presumptuous, is called a scornefull mā, which in wrath darre worke maliciously.

The voluptuousnesse of the slouthfull is his owne death, for his hādes wyll not labor.

He coueteth and desyreth all the daye longe, but the rightuous is allwaye geuynge & kepeth nothinge backe. 〈…〉 The sacrifice of the vngodly is abhominacion, for they offre the thinge yt is gotten wt wickednes. 〈…〉 A false wytnesse shal perishe, but he yt wilbe content to heare, shal allwaye haue power to speake himself. An vngodly man goeth forth rashly, but the iust refourmeth his owne waye.

There is no wyszdome, 〈…〉 there is no vnderstondinge, there is no councell agaynst the LORDE. The horse is prepared agaynst ye daye of battayll, but the LORDE geueth the victory.

The XXII. Chapter.

A Good name is more worth then greate riches, 〈…〉 and louynge fauor is better then syluer and golde. Whether riches or pouerte do mete vs, it commeth all of God. A wyse man seyth the plage and hydeth himself, but the foolish go on still and are punyshed. The ende of lowlynes & the feare of God, is riches, honor, prosperite and health. Speares and snares are in ye waye of the frowarde, but he yt wil kepe his soule, let him fle frō soch. Yf thou reachest a childe in his youth what waye he shulde go, he shall not leaue it when he is olde. The rich ruleth the poore, and ye borower is seruaunt to ye lender. He yt soweth wickednesse, shal reape sorowe, & the rodde of his plage shal destroye him. 〈…〉 A louynge eye shalbe blessed, for he geueth of his bred vnto ye poore. Cast out ye scornefull man, and so shal strife go out wt him, yee variaunce and slaunder shal cease. Who so delyteth to be of a clene herte and of gracious lyppes, ye kynge shal be his frende.

The eyes of ye LORDE preserue knowlege, but as for ye wordes of ye despyteful, he bryngeth them to naught. The slouthfull body sayeth: there is a lyō wt out, I might be slayue in ye strete. The mouth of an harlot is a depe pytt, 〈…〉 wherin he falleth that ye LORDE is angrie withall. Foolishnes sticketh in the herte of ye lad, but ye rod of correccion driueth it awaye. Who so doth a poore man wronge to increase his owne riches, geueth (comōly) vnto the rich, and at the last commeth to pouerte himself. My sonne, bowe downe thine eare, and herken vnto the wordes of wyszdome, applye ye mynde vnto my doctryne: for it is a pleasaunt thinge yf thou kepe it in thine herte, and practise it in thy mouth: that thou mayest allwaye put ye trust in the LORDE. Haue not I warned ye very oft with councell and lerninge? yt I might shewe ye the treuth and that thou wt the verite mightest answere them yt laye eny thinge against ye? Se yt thou robbe not ye poore because he is weake, and oppresse not ye simple in iudgment: for ye LORDE himself wyl defende their cause, and do violence vnto them yt haue vsed violence.

Make no frēdshipe with an angrie wylfull man, and kepe no company wt ye furious: lest thou lerne his wayes, and receaue hurte vnto thy soule. 〈…〉 Be not thou one of them yt bynde the r hande vpō promyse, and are suertie for dett: for yf thou hast nothinge to paye, they shal take awaye thy bed from vnder the. Thou shalt not remoue the lande marcke, 〈…〉 which thy fore elders haue sett. Seist thou not, yt they which be diligent in their busines stonde before kynges, and not amonge the symple people?

The XXIII Chapter

When thou syttest at the table to eate wt a lorde, ordre thy self manerly wt ye thinges that are set before ye Measure thine appetite: and yf thou wilt rule thine owne self, be not ouer gredy of his meate, for meate begyleth and disceaueth.

Take not ouer greate trauayle and labor to be riche, bewarre of soch a purpose. Eccl. 27. Iere 17. b 1. Tim. 6 Why wilt thou set thine eye vpon ye thinge, which sodenly vanisheth awaye? For riches make them selues wynges, and take their flight like an Aegle in to ye ayre. Eate not thou wt ye envyous, and desyre no his meate, for he hath a maruelous herte. He sayeth vnto ye: eate and drynke, where as his herte is not wt ye. Yee ye morsels that thou hast eaten shalt thou perbreake, and lese those swete wordes. Tel nothinge in to ye eares of a foole, for he wyl despyse the wyszdome of thy wordes. Remoue not ye olde lande marke, Pro. 22. d and come not within ye felde of the fatherlesse: For he yt deliuereth them is mightie, euen he shal defende their cause agaynst the. Applie thine herte vnto lernynge, and thine eare to the wordes of knowlege. Pro. 13. c ccl . 30. Witholde not correccion from ye childe, for yf thou beatest him wt the rodde, he shal not dye therof. Thou smytest him wt the rodde, but thou delyuerest his soule from hell. My sonne, yf ye herte receaue wyszdome, my herte also shal reioyce: yee myreynes shal be very glad, yf ye lyppes speake the thinge yt is right. Pro. 24 and. c Let not thine herte be gelous to folowe synners, but kepe ye still in the feare of the LORDE all the daye lōge: for the ende is not yet come, and thy pacient abydinge shal not be in vayne. My sonne, ne eare & be wyse, so shal thine hert prospere in the waye. Kepe no company wt wyne bebbers and ryotous eaters of flesh: for soch as be dronckardes and ryotous, Pro. 22. c shal come to pouerte, & he that is geuen to moch slepe, shal go wt a ragged cote. Geue eare vnto thy father that begat the, and despyse not thy mother whan she is olde. Labor for to get ye treuth: sell not awaye wyszdome, nourt or & vnderstōdinge (for a righteous father is maruelous glad of a wyse sonne, & delyteth in hī) so shal thy father be glad, and thy mother that bare the, shal reioyse. My sonne, geue me thyne herte, and let thine eyes haue pleasure in my wayes. For an whore is a depe graue, Pro. 22. b and an harlot is a narow pytt. She lurketh like a thefe, and those that be not awarre she brīgeth vnto her. Where is wo? where is sorow? where is strife? where is braulynge? where are woundes without cause? where be reed eyes? Euen amonge those that be euer at the wyne, and seke out where the best is. Loke not thou vpon the wyne, how reed it is, and what a color it geueth in the glasse.

It goeth downe softly, but at the last it byteth like a serpēt, and styngeth as an Adder.

So shal thine eyes loke vnto straunge women, & thine herte shal muse vpon frowarde thinges. Yee thou shalt be as though thou slepte, in ye myddest of ye see, or vpō ye toppe of the mast. They wounded me (shalt thou saie) but it hath not hurte me, they smote me, but I felt it not. Whē I am wel wakened, I wil go to ye drynke agayne.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

BE not thou gelous ouer wicked mē, & desyre not thou to be amonge them. Pro. 23. b 4. c

For their herte ymagineth to do hurte, & their lippes talke of myschefe. Thorow wyszdome an house shalbe buylded, & wt vnderstondinge it shalbe set vp. Thorow discrecion shal ye chābers be fylled wt all costly & pleasaunt riches A wyse mā is strōge, yee a mā of vnderstōdinge is better, thē he yt is mightie of strēgth. For with discrecion must warres be takē in honde, and where as are many yt can geue councell, there is ye victory. Wyszdome is an hie thinge, yee euē to ye foole, for he darre not opē his mouth in ye gate. He yt ymagineth myschefe, maye wel be called an vngracious personne. The thoughte of ye foolish is synne, & ye scornefull is an abhominacion vnto mē. Yf thou be ouersene & necligēt in tyme of nede, thē is thy strēgth but small. Delyuer thē yt go vnto death, & are led awaie to be slaine, & be not necligēt therin. Yf thou wilt saye: I knewe not of it. Thynkest thou yt he which made ye hertes, doth not cōsidre it? & yt he which regardeth ye soule, seith it not? Shal not he recōpence euery man acordinge to his workes? My sonne, thou eatest hony & ye swete hony cōbe, because it is good & swete in thy mouth. Euen so shall ye knowlege of wysdome be vnto ye soule, as soone as thou hast gottē it. And there is good hope, yee ye hope shal not be in vayne. Laye no preuy waite wickedly vpon ye house of ye rightuous, & disquiete not his restinge place. Psal. 33. c 3 d For a iust mā falleth seuen tymes, & ryseth vp agayne, but ye vngodly fall in to wickednes. Reioyce not thou at ye fall of thine enemie, Pro. 17. a and let not thine herte be glad whan he stombleth.

Lest ye LORDE (when he seyth it) be angrie, & turne his wrath from him vnto the. Pro. 23. b 24. a Let not ye wrath & gelousy moue ye, to foolow ye wicked and vngodly. And why? ye wicked hath nothinge to hope for, Iob 21. b Pro 13. a Pro. 20. a & ye cādle of the vngodly shall be put out. My sonne, feare thou ye LRODE & ye kinge, & kepe no cōpany wt ye slaunderous: for their destruccion shal come sodenly, & who knoweth ye fall of thē both?

These are also ye saiēges of ye wyse.

It is not good, 〈…〉 to haue respecte of any personne in iudgmēt. He yt saieth to ye vngodly: thou art rightuous, him shall the people curse, yee ye comōtie shal abhorre him. But they yt rebuke ye vngodly shalbe cōmended, & a riche blessinge shal come vpō thē. He maketh him self to be well loued, that geueth a good answere. First make vp ye worke yt is wt out, & loke well vnto yt which thou hast in ye felde, & thē buylde thine house. Be no false wytnesse agaynst ye neghbor, & hurte him not wt ye lyppes Saye not: 〈…〉 I wil hādle him, euē as he hath dealte wt me, & wil rewarde euery mā acordinge to his dedes. I wente by ye felde of ye slouthfull, & by ye vynyarde of the foolish mā. And lo, it was all couered wt nettels, & stode full of thistles, & ye stone wall was brokē downe. This I sawe, & cōsidered it wel: I loked vpō it, & toke it for a warnynge. Yee slepe on still a litle, 〈…〉 slōbre a litle, folde thine hōdes together yet a litle: so shall pouerte come vnto the as one yt trauayleth by ye waye, & necessite like a wapened man.

The XXV. Chapter.

THese also are Salomons prouerbe , which the men of Ezechias kinge of Iuda gathered together. It is the honor of God to kepe a thinge secrete, 〈…〉 but ye kinges honor is to search out a thinge. The heauen is hie, ye earth is depe, and ye kinges hert is vnsearcheable. Take ye drosse from ye syluer, & there shalbe a cleane vessell therof. Take awaye vngodlinesse frō ye kynge, & his seate shal be stablished wt rightuousnes.

Put not forth yt self in ye presence of ye kynge, & prease not in to ye place of greate men.

Better it is yt it be sayde vnto ye: 〈…〉 come vp hither, then thou to be set downe in ye presence of ye prynce, whom thou seyst with thine eyes. Be not haistie to go to the lawe, lest happlie thou ordre yi self so at ye last, yt thy neghbor put ye to shame. Handle thy matter wt yi neghbor himself, & discouer not another mans secrete: lest whan men heare therof, it turne to ye dishonor, & lest thine euell name do not ceasse. A worde spoken in due season, is like apples of golde in a syluer dyshe.

The correccion of the wyse is to an obedient eare, a golden cheyne and a Iewel of golde. Like as the wynter coole in the haruest, so is a faithfull messaunger to him that sent him, & refreszsheth his masters mynde.

Who so maketh greate boastes & geueth nothinge, is like cloudes & wynde without rayne. With pacience maye a prynce be pacified, & wt a soft tonge maye rigorousnes be brokē. Yf thou findest hony, eate so moch as is sufficiēt for ye: lest thou be ouer full, & per breake it out againe. Withdrawe ye foote frō thy neghbours house, lest he be weery of the, and so abhorre the. Who so beareth false wytnesse agaynst his neghboure, he is a very speare, a swearde & a sharpe arowe. The hope of the vngodly in tyme of nede, is like a rotten toth and a slippery foote. Who so syngeth a songe to a wicked herte, clotheth hī with ragges in the colde, and poureth vyneger vpon chalke. Yf thine enemie honger, fede him: 〈…〉 yf he thyrst, geue him drynke: for so shalt thou heape coales of fyre vpō his heade, and the LORDE shal rewarde the. The north wynde dryueth awaye the rayne, euen so doth an earnest sober countenaūce a back byters tonge. It is better to syt in a corner vnder the rofe, 〈…〉 then wt a braulynge woman in a wyde house. A good reporte out of a farre countre, is like colde water to a thyrstie soule. A righteous man fallynge downe before the vngodly, is like a troubled well and a sprynge yt is destroyed. Like as it is not good to eate to moch hony, 〈…〉 euen so he that wyll search out hye thynges, it shal be to heuy for him. He that can not rule himself, is like a cite, which is broken downe, and hath no walles.

The XXVI. Chapter.

LIke as snowe is not mete in sommer, ner rayne in haruest: euen so is worshipe vnsemely for a foole. Like as ye byrde and the swalowe take their flight and fle here and there, so the curse that is geuen in vayne, shal not light vpon a man. Vnto the horse belongeth a whyppe, 〈…〉 to the Asse a brydle, and a rodde to the fooles backe. Geue not the foole an answere after his foolishnesse, lest thou become like vnto him: but make ye foole an answere to his foolishnesse, lest he be wyse in his owne cōceate. He is lame of his fete, yee droncken is he in vanite, that cōmitteth eny thinge to a foole. Like as it is an vnsemely thīge to haue legges & yet to halte, euē so is a parable in ye fooles mouth.

He yt setteth a foole in hye dignite, yt is euē as yf a man dyd cast a precious stone vpō ye galous. A parable in a fooles mouth, is like a thorne yt pricketh a droncken man in ye hande. A man of experience discerneth all thinges well, but who so hyreth a foole, hyreth soch one as wyl take no hede. Like as the dogg turneth agayne to his vomite, 〈…〉 euen so a foole begynneth his foolishnesse agayne a fresh. Yf thou seyest a man yt is wyse in his owne conceate, there is more hope in a foole then in hī. 〈…〉 The slouthfull sayeth: there is a leoparde in ye waye, and a lyon in ye myddest of the stretes. Like as the dore turneth aboute vpon the tresholde, euen so doth the slouthfull we ter himself in his bedd. The slouthfull body thrusteth his hōde in to his bosome, Pro. 19. d and it greueth him to put it agayne to his mouth. The slogarde thinketh him self wyser, then vij. men that sytt and teach.

Who so goeth by and medleth with other mens strife, he is like one yt taketh a dogg by ye eares. Like as one shuteth deadly arowes and dartes out of a preuy place, Psal. 10. a euen so doth a dyssembler with his neghboure, And then sayeth he: I dyd it but in sporte. Where no wodd is, there the fyre goeth out: Eccli. 28. and where the bacbyter is taken awaye, there the strife ceaseth. Coles kyndle heate, and wodd ye fyre: euen so doth a braulinge felowe stere vp variaunce· A slaunderers wordes are like flatery, but they pearse ye inwarde partes of ye body. Venymous lippes & a wicked herte, are like a potsherde couered wt syluer drosse. An enemie dyssembleth with his lippes, and in the meane season he ymagineth myschefe: but whā he speaketh fayre, beleue him not, for there are seuen abhominaciōs in his herte. Who so kepeth euell will secretly to do hurte, his malyce shalbe shewed before the whole congregacion. Eccl . 10. Eccli. 27 Who so dyggeth vp a pytt, shal fal therin: and he yt weltreth a stone, shal stomble vpon it hymselfe.

A dyssemblynge tonge hateth one that rebuketh him, and a flaterīge mouth worketh myschefe.

The XXVII. Chapter.

TAke not thy boost of tomorow, for thou knowest not what maye happen todaye. Eze. 28. a Luc. 12. b Iaco. 4. Let another mā praysethe, & not thine owne mouth: yee other folkes lippes, and not thyne. Eccli. 22 The stone is heuy, and the sonde weightie: but a fooles wrath is heuyer then they both. Wrath is a cruell thīge, and furiousnesse is a very tempest: yee who is able to abyde envye? An open rebuke is better, then a secrete loue. Psa. 14 . Luc. 22. Faithfull are the woundes of a louer, but ye kysses of an enemie are disceatfull. He that is full, abhorreth an hony combe: but vnto him that is hōgrie, euery sower thinge is swete. He that oft tymes flytteth, is like a byrde yt forsaketh hir nest. The herte is glad of a swete oyntment and sauoure, but a stomacke that cā geue good councell, reioyseth a mans neghboure. Thyne owne frende and thy fathers frende se thou forsake not, but go not in to thy brothers house in tyme of thy trouble.

Better is a frende at hōde, then a brother farre of. My sonne, be wyse, and thou shalt make me a glad herte: so that I shal make answere vnto my rebukers. A wyse man seynge the plage wyl hyde him self, as for fooles they go on still, Pro. 10. c and suffer harme. Take his garment that is suertie for a straunger, & take a pledge of him for the vnknowne mans sake. He that is to hastie to praise his neghboure aboue measure, shalbe taken as one yt geueth him an euell reporte. Pro. 19. b A brawlynge woman and the rofe of the house droppynge in a raynie daye, maye well be compared together. He that refrayneth her, refrayneth the wynde, and holdeth oyle fast in his hōde. Like as one yrō whetteth another, so doth one man comforte another. Who so kepeth his fyge tre, shal enioye the frutes therof: he that wayteth vpon his master, shal come to honoure. Like as in one water there apeare dyuerse faces, euē so dyuerse men haue dyuerse hertes. Pro. •• Eccls. 1. a cclī. 14. a ccī. 27. b Like as hell & destruccion are neuer full, euen so the eyes of mē can neuer be satisfied. Syluer is tryed in the moulde, & golde in the fornace, & so is a man, whan he is openly praysed to his face. Though thou shuldest bray a foole wt a pestell in a morter like otemeell, yet wil not his foolishnesse go from him. Se yt thou knowe the nombre of thy catell thy self, Ioh. 10. a and loke well to thy flockes. For riches abyde not allwaye, & the crowne endureth not for euer. The hay groweth, ye grasse cōmeth vp, & herbes are gathered in ye mountaines.

The lambes shal clothe the, & for the goates thou shalt haue money to ye huszbondry.

Thou shalt haue goates mylck ynough to fede the, to vpholde thy husholde, & to susteyne thy maydens.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

THe vngodly flyeth no man chasynge him, eui. 26. c but the rightuous stondeth stiff as a lyon. Because of synne ye londe doth oft chaunge hir prynce: but thorow men of vnderstondinge & wyszdome a realme endureth longe. One poore man oppressinge another by violence, is like a contynuall rayne that destroyeth ye frute. They that forsake the lawe, prayse ye vngodly: but soch as kepe the lawe, abhorre them. Wicked men discerne not the thinge yt is right, Cor. 2. b but they that seke after the LORDE, discusse all thinges. Pro. 19. a A poore man ledynge a godly life, is better then the riche that goeth in frowarde wayes. Who so kepeth the lawe, is a childe of vnderstondinge: but he yt fedeth ryotous men, shameth his father. Who so increaseth his riches by vaūtage & wynnynge, let him gather them to helpe the poore withall. 〈…〉 He that turneth awaye his eare from hearinge ye lawe, his prayer shalbe abhorred. Who so ledeth ye rightuous in to an euell waye, shal fall in to his owne pytt, but ye iust shal haue the good in possession.

The rich man thynketh him self to be wyse, but the poore that hath vnderstondinge, cā perceaue him wel ynough. 〈…〉 When rightuous men are in prosperite, thē doth honoure florish: but when the vngodly come vp, ye state of men chaungeth. He that hydeth his synnes, shall not prospere: but who so knowlegeth them and forsaketh them, shall haue mercy. Well is him that stōdeth all waye in awe: as for him that hardeneth his herte, he shal fall in to mischefe. Like as a roaringe lyon and an hongrie beer, euen so is an vngodly prynce ouer the poore people.

Where the prynce is without vnderstondinge, there is greate oppression & wronge: but yf he be soch one as hateth couetousnesse, he shal longe raigne. 〈…〉 He that by violēce sheddeth eny mans bloude, shal be a rennagate vnto his graue, and no man shal be able to sucor him. 〈…〉 Who so leadeth a godly and an innocēt life, shalbe safe: but he that goeth frowarde wayes, shall once haue a fall. He yt tylleth his londe, 〈…〉 shal haue plenteousnesse of bred: but he that foloweth ydilnesse, shal haue pouerte ynough. A faithfull man is greatly to be commēded, but he that maketh to moch haist for to be riche, 〈…〉 shal not be vngiltie. To haue respecte of personnes in iudgment is not good: And why? he will do wronge, yee euen for a pece of bred. He that will be rich all to soone, hath an euell eye, and considereth not, that pouerte shall come vpon him. He that rebuketh a man, shall fynde more fauoure at ye last, thē he that flatreth him. Who so robbeth his father and mother, 〈…〉 and sayeth it is no synne: the same is like vnto a mortherer.

He that is of a proude stomacke, stereth vp strife: but he that putteth his trust in ye LORDE, shalbe well fedd. He that trusteth in his owne hert, is a foole: 〈…〉 but he that dealeth wisely, shalbe safe. He that geueth vnto the poore, shal not wante: but he that turneth awaye his eyes from soch as be in necessite, shall suffre greate pouerte himself.

Whan the vngodly are come vp, 〈…〉 men are fayne to hyde them selues: but whē they perish, the rightuous increase.

The XXIX. Chapter.

HE that is stiffnecked & wyll not be refourmed, shal sodenly be destroyed wt out eny helpe. Where ye rightuous haue the ouer hande, 〈…〉 ye people are in prosperite: but where the vngodly beareth rule, there ye people mourne. Who so loueth wyszdome, 〈…〉 maketh his father a glad man: but he yt kepeth harlottes, spēdeth awaye yt he hath. With true iudgment ye kynge setteth vp the londe, but yf he be a man yt taketh giftes, he turneth it vpsyde downe. Who so flatreth his neghbor, layeth a nette for his fete. The synne of ye wicked is his owne snare, but ye righteous shal be glad and reioyse. The righteous considreth the cause of the poore, but the vngodly regardeth no vnderstondynge. Wicked people brynge a cite in decaye, but wyse men set it vp agayne. Yf a wyse man go to lawe with a foole (whether he deale with him frendly or roughly) he getteth no rest. The bloudethyrstie hate the rightuous, but the iust seke his soule. A foole poureth out his sprete alltogether, but a wyse man kepeth it in till afterwarde.

Yf a prynce delyte in lyes, all his seruauntes are vngodly. The poore and the lender mete together, the LORDE lighteneth both their eyes. The seate of the kinge yt faithfully iudgeth the poore, 〈…〉 shal continue sure for euermore. The rodde and correccion mynistre wyszdome, but yf a childe be not loked vnto, he bryngeth his mother to shame. When the vngodly come vp, wickednesse increaseth: but the rightuous shall se their fall. Nurtoure thy sonne with correccion, and he shal comforte the, yee he shal do the good at thine hert. Where no prophet is, there the people perishe: but well is him that kepeth the lawe. A seruaūt wil not be the better for wordes, for though he vnderstonde, yet wil he not regarde them.

Yf thou seyst a man that is haistie to speake vnaduysed, thou mayest trust a foole more then him. He that delicately bryngeth vp his seruaunt from a childe, shal make him his master at length. An angrie man stereth vp strife, and he that beareth euell wyll in his mynde, doth moch euell. After pryde commeth a fall, 〈…〉 but a lowly sprete bryngeth greate worshipe. Who so kepeth company wt a thefe, hateth his owne soule: he heareth blasphemies, & telleth it not forth.

He that feareth men, shal haue a fall: but who so putteth his trust in the LORDE, shal come to honor. Many there be that seke ye prynces fauoure, but euery mans iudgment commeth from the LORDE.

The rightuous abhorre the vngodly: but as for those that be in ye right waye, ye wicked hate them.

The XXX. Chapter. The wordes of Agur the sonne of Iake.

THe prophecie of a true faithfull man, whō God hath helped, whom God hath cōforted & norished. For though I am ye leest of all, & haue no mās vnderstō dīge (for I neuer lerned wiszdome) yet haue I vnderstōdinge & am wel enfourmed in godly thinges. Who hath clymmed vp ī to heauen? Who hath come downe from thence?

Who hath holden ye wynde fast in his hā de? Who hath cōprehended ye waters in a garment? Who hath set all the endes of ye worlde? What is his name, or his sonnes name? Canst thou tell? Psal 17. c 1 . b. 118. All the wordes of God are pure & cleane, for he is a shylde vnto all them, that put their trust in him. 〈…〉 Put thou nothinge therfore vnto his wordes, lest he reproue the, and thou be founde as a lyar.

Two thinges I requyre of the, that thou wilt not denye me before I dye. Remoue fro me vanite and lyes: geue me nether pouerte ner riches, only graunte me a necessary lyuynge. Lest yf I be to full, I denye ye, & saye: Deut. 8. c and 31. e Exo. 5. a Iob 21· b Ecclī. 27. what felowe is ye LORDE? And lest I beinge constrayned thorow pouerte, fall vnto stealinge, and forsweare the name of my God.

Accuse not a seruaunt vnto his master, lest he speake euell of the also, and thou be hurte. He that bryngeth vp an euell reporte vpō the generacion of his father and mother, is not worthy to be commended.

The generacion that thynke them selues cleane, shal not be clensed from their fylthynesse. There are people yt haue a proude loke, and cast vp their eye lyddes. This peoples tethe are swerdes, and with their chaft bones they consume and deuoure the symple of the earth, and the poore from amonge mē.

This generacion (which is like an horsleche) hath two doughters: ye one is called, fetch hither: the other, brynge hither.

There be thre thinges that are neuer satisfied, and the fourth saieth neuer hoo. The hell, a womans wombe, Pro· 27. c and the earth hath neuer water ynough. As for fyre, it sayeth neuer: hoo. Who so laugheth his father to scorne, Exo. 21. b Deu 27. and setteth his mothers commaū dement at naught: the rauens pycke out his eyes in the valley, and deuoured be he of the yongle Aegles.

There be thre thinges to hye for me, Sap. 5. b and as for the fourth, it passeth my knowlege.

The waye of an Aegle in ye ayre, ye waye of a serpent ouer ye stone, ye waye of a shippe in ye see, & ye waye of a mā wt a yonge womā. Soch is the waye also of a wyfe yt breaketh wedlocke, which wypeth hir mouth like as whā she hath eatē, & sayeth: As for me, I haue done no harme. Thorow thre thinges the earth is disquieted, & the fourth maye it not beare: Thorow a seruaūt yt beareth rule, thorow a foole yt hath greate riches, thorow an ydle houswife, & thorow an handmayden yt is heyre to hir mastres. There be foure thinges in the earth, the which are very litle: but in wyszdome they exceade the wyse. The Emmettes are but a weake people, ro. 6. a yet gather they their meate together in ye haruest.

The conyes are but a feble folke, yet make they their couches amonge the rockes. The greshoppers haue not a gyde, yet go they forth together by heapes. The spyder laboureth wt hir hādes, & yt in ye kynges palace.

There be thre thinges yt go stiftly, but the goinge of the fourth is the goodliest of all. A Lyon which is kynge of beastes, & geueth place to no man: A cock ready to fight: A rā me: And a kynge yt goeth forth wt his people.

Yf thou be so foolish to magnifie ye self, or medlest wt eny soch thinge, thē laye thine hā de vpon ye mouth. Who so chyrneth mylck, maketh butter: he that rubbeth his nose, maketh it blede, and he that causeth wrath, bryngeth forth strife.

The XXXI. Chapter.

THese are the wordes of Kynge Lamuel, & ye lesson yt his mother taught him. My sonne, thou sonne of my body: O my deare beloued sonne, geue not ouer thy substaunce & mynde vnto women, which are the destrucciō euē of kynges. O Lamuel, geue kinges no wyne, geue kynges & prynces no stronge drynke: lest they beinge dronken forget the lawe, & regarde not ye cause of the poore, & of all soch as be in aduersite. Geue stronge drynke vnto soch as are condempned to death, & wyne vnto those yt mourne: that they maye drynke it, & forget their misery & aduersite. Be thou an aduocate & stonde in iudgment thyself, to speake for all soch as be dōme & sucourles. With ye mouth defende ye thinge yt is laufull and right, and ye cause of ye poore and helplesse.

Who so fyndeth an honest faithful womā, she is moch more worth thē perles. The herte of hir husbande maye safely trust in her, so that he shal haue no nede of spoyles.

She wil do him good & not euel all ye dayes of hir life. She occupieth woll & flax, & laboureth gladly wt hir handes. She is likē a marchauntes shippe, that bryngeth hir vytayles from farre. She is vp in ye night season, to prouyde meate for hir housholde, & foode for hir maydens. She considreth lō de, & byeth it, and wt the frute of hir handes she planteth a vynyarde. She gyrdeth hir loynes with strength, and courageth hir armes. And yf she perceaue that hir houswifrie doth good, hir candle goeth not out by night. She layeth hir fyngers to the spyndle, & hir hande taketh holde of ye rocke.

She openeth hir hande to ye poore, yee she stretcheth forth hir hādes to soch as haue nede. She feareth not yt the colde of wynter shal hurte hir house, for all hir housholde folkes are duble clothed. She maketh hir self fayre ornamētes, hir clothīge is whyte sylke & purple. Hir huszbāde is moch set by in ye gates, whē he sytteth amonge ye rulers of ye londe. She maketh cloth of sylke & selleth it, and delyuereth a gyrdle vnto ye marchaūt.

Strēgth and honoure is hir clothinge, & in the latter daye she shal reioyse. She openeth hir mouth with wyszdome, & in hir tō ge is the lawe of grace. She loketh wel to the wayes of hir housholde, & eateth not hir bred with ydilnes. Hir children arise & call hir blessed, & hir huszbande maketh moch of her. Many daughters there be yt gather riches together, but thou goest aboue thē all. As for fauor, it is disceatfull, and beutie is a vayne thinge: but a woman that feareth the LORDE, she is worthy to be praysed. Geue her of the frute of hir handes, and let hir owne workes prayse her in the gates.

The ende of the prouerbes of Salomon.
Ecclesiastes. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. All thinges (yf a mā wyl cōsidre them wel) are but vanite. Neuertheles amō ge them all there is nothīge weaker and more vnstedfast, then man him self. Chap. II. In this chapter (and in the other also) he maketh oft tymes mēsion of the wordes and cōuersaciō of the vngodly: that by this meanes he maye the better cause men to despyse all creatures, in respecte of the only euerlastinge God. Chap. III. Euery thinge hath a tyme. There is no thīge, but God hath put tedyousnesse and trauayle in it, to exercise men withall. What so euer a man enioyeth of his laboure, the same is a gift of God, geuen to the intent that men shulde feare him. Chap. IIII. A cōsideracion of diuerse thinges. There is nothinge so excellent and hye, but yf it do not the deuty and office where vnto it is ordened, it shalbe brought lowe. Chap. V. Agaynst foolish and temerarious vowes. Let no man maruayle that so moch euell is done, for the wicked are many. Agaynst the riche and agaynst riches. Chap. VI. Agaynst those riche mē that dar e not enioye their riches: how mad and foolish they be. Chap. VII. No man knoweth what is for to come. How worthy a thīge it is to haue a good name. The profit of wyszdome. Chap. VIII. Of the obediēce which men owe vnto God and to their heades. The lōge sufferaunce of God is not to be despised. It is not possible for eny mā, to cōprehende the workes that be in the worlde. Chap. IX. Like thinges happen vnto all men: therfore with myrth and thankfulnesse shulde men enioye the giftes of God. Wyszdome passeth all thinges. Chap. X.XI In these two chapters are many wyse and profitable sentences, wel worthy to be considered of euery man. Chap. XII. In this chapter the preacher sheweth his whole meanynge, as though he wolde saye: As for all the thinges that be vnder the Sonne (wher of I haue spoken) I haue cō sidered them, and proued them metely wel by experience. And this is the conclucion, that there is nothynge stedfast and durable but God himself, whō men ought to feare, and to haue his cōmaundementes before their eyes euen from their youth vp
The first Chapter. These are the wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid, kynge of Ierusalem.

ALl is but vanite (saieth ye preacher) all is but playne vanite. Eccl 12. b For what els hath a mā, of all the labor yt he taketh vnder the Sonne? One generaciō passeth awaye, another commeth, but the earth a bydeth still. The Sōne aryseth, the Sonne goeth downe, & returneth to his place, yt he maye there ryse vp agayne. The wynde goeth towarde ye South, & fetcheth his cōpase aboute vnto the North, & so turneth in to himself agayne. All floudes runne in to the see, Iob 14. b & yet the see is not fylled: for loke vnto what place the •• ters runne, thence they come agayne. All thinges are so harde, yt no mā can expresse them. The eye is not satisfied wt sight, Pro. 27. c Ecclī. 14. Eccls. 3. the eare is not fylled wt hearinge. The thinge yt hath bene, cōmeth to passe agayne: & ye thinge yt hath bene done, is done agayne, there is no new thinge vnder the Sonne. Is there eny thinge, wherof it maye be sayde: so, this is new? For it was lōge agoo in the tymes yt haue bene before vs. The thinge yt is past, is out of remēbraunce: Euē so the thīges that are for to come, shal no more be thought vpō amōge thē that come after. I myself ye Preacher, beynge kynge of Israel & Ierusalē, applyed my mynde to seke out & search for the knowlege of all thīges yt are done vnder heauē. Soch trauayle & labor hath God geuē vnto ye childrē of mē, to exercyse thē selues therī.

Thus I haue considered all the thinges that come to passe vnder the Sōne, & lo, they are all but vanite & vexacion of mynde. The croked can not be mayde straight, & the fautes cā not be nōbred. I cōmoned wt myne owne herte, sayēge: lo, . Pet 3. b and 4. c I am come to a greate estate, and haue gottē more wyszdome, thē all they yt haue bene before me in Ierusalem. Yee my hert had greate experiēce of wyszdome & knowlege, for there vnto I applyed my mynde: yt I might knowe what were wyszdome & vnderstōdinge, what were error & foolishnes. And I perceaued yt this also was but a vexacion of mynde: for where moch wyszdome is, there is also greate trauayle & disquietnes: & ye more knowlege a man hath, the more is his care.

The II. Chapter.

THē sayde I thus in my hert: Now go to, I wil take myne ease & haue good dayes. But lo, that was vanite also: in so moch that I sayde vnto laughter: thou art madd, and to myrth: what doest thou?

So I thought in my herte, to withdrawe my flesh from wyne, to applye my mynde vnto wyszdome, and to comprehēde foolishnes vntill the tyme that (amonge all ye thinges which are vnder ye Sonne) I might se what were best for men to do, so longe as they lyue vnder heauen.

eg. 3.4 6.7I made gorgious fayre workes, I buylded me houses, and planted vynyardes: I made me ortchardes and gardens of pleasure, and planted trees in them of all maner frutes. I made poles of water, to water ye grene and frutefull trees withall. eg. 4.9 I bought seruauntes and maydēs, and had a greate housholde. As for catell and shepe, I had more substaunce of them, then all they yt were before me in Ierusalem. I gathered syluer & golde together, euen a treasure of kynges & londes.

I prouided me syngers and womē which coude playe of instrumentes, to make men myrth and pastime. I gat me drynkynge cuppes also and glasses. (Shortly) I was greater & in more worshipe, then all my predecessours in Ierusalē. For wyszdome remayned with me: & loke what so euer myne eyes desyred, I let them haue it: & wherin so euer my herte delyted or had eny pleasure, I with helde it not frō it. Thus my hert reioysed in all yt I dyd, and this I toke for the porcion of all my trauayle, But whan I considered all the workes yt my handes had wrought, and all the labours that I had taken therin: lo, all was but vanite and vexacion of mynde, & nothinge of eny value vnder ye Sonne Then turned I me to considre wyszdome, erroure and foolishnesse (for what is he amonge men, that might be compared to me ye kynge in soch workes?) and I sawe, that wyszdome excelleth foolishnesse, as farre as light doth darknesse. For a wyse man beareth his eyes aboute in his heade, but the foole goeth in the darknesse. I perceaued also that they both had one ende.

Then thought I in my mynde: Yf it happen vnto the foole as it doth vnto me, what nedeth me then to laboure eny more for wyszdome? So I confessed within my harte, that this also was but vanite. For the wyse are euer as litle in remembraunce as the foolish, and all the dayes for to come shalbe forgotten, yee the wyse man dyeth aswell as ye foole. Thus begāne I to be weery of my life, in so moch that I coude awaye with nothinge that is done vnder the Sonne, for all was but vanite & vexacion of mynde: Yee I was weery of all my laboure, which I had taken vnder the Sonne, because I shulde be fayne to leaue them vnto another man, that cō meth after me: for who knoweth, whether he shalbe a wyse mā or a foole? And yet shal he be lorde of all my labours, which I with soch wyszdome haue taken vnder the Sonne. Is not this a vayne thinge? 〈…〉

So I turned me to refrayne my mynde from all soch trauayle, as I toke vnder the Sonne: for so moch as a man shulde weery him self with wyszdome, with vnderstondinge and opportunite, and yet be fayne to leaue his labours vnto another, yt neuer swett for them. This is also a vayne thinge and a greate misery. For what getteth a mā of all ye labor & trauayle of his mynde, yt he taketh vnder the Sonne, but heuynesse, sorowe & disquyetnes all ye dayes of his life? In so moch that his herte can not rest in the night. Is not this also a vayne thinge? Is it not better then for a mā to eate and drynke, and his soule to be mery in his laboure? Yee I sawe that this also was a gifte of God: 〈…〉 For who maye eate, drynke, or brynge eny thīge to passe without him? And why? he geueth vnto mā, what it pleaseth him: whether it be wyszdome vnderstondinge, or gladnesse. But vnto the synner he geueth weerynes and sorow, that he maye gather and heape together ye thinge, yt afterwarde shalbe geuen vnto him whom it pleaseth God. This is now a vayne thinge, yee a very disquietnesse and vexaciō of mynde.

The III. Chapter.

EVery thinge hath a tyme, yee all that is vnder the heauen, hath is conuenient season. There is a tyme to be borne, and a tyme to dye. 〈…〉 There is a tyme to plā te, and a tyme to plucke vp the thinge, yt is planted: A tyme to slaye, and a tyme to make whole: A tyme to breake downe, and a tyme to buylde vp: A tyme to wepe, and a tyme to laugh: A tyme to mourne, and a tyme to daunse: A tyme to cast awaye stones, and a tyme to gather stones together: A tyme to enbrace, & a tyme to refrayne from enbracynge: A tyme to wynne, and a tyme to lese: A tyme to spare, and a tyme to spende: A tyme to cutt in peces, and a tyme to sowe together: A tyme to kepe sylēce, and a tyme to speake: 〈…〉 A tyme to loue, & a tyme to hate: A tyme of warre, and a tyme of peace.

What hath a mā els (that doth eny thinge) but weerynesse and laboure? For as touchinge the trauayle and carefulnesse which God hath geuen vnto mē, I se that he hath geuen it them, to be exercised in it. All this hath he ordened maruelous goodly, to euery thinge his due tyme. He hath plāted ignoraunce also in the hertes of men, yt they shulde not fynde out ye grounde of his workes, which he doth from ye beginninge to ye ende. So I perceaued, yt in these thinges there is nothinge better for a man, thē to be mery & to do well so longe as he lyueth. For all yt a man eateth & drynketh, yee what so euer a mā enioyeth of all his labor, ye same is a gift of God. I cōsidered also yt what so euer God doth, it cōtinueth for euer, & yt nothinge can be put vnto it ner takē from it: & yt God doth it to ye intent, yt men shulde feare him. 〈…〉 The thinge yt hath bene, is now: & the thinge yt is for to come, hath bene afore tyme, for God restoreth agayne the thinge that was past. Morouer, I sawe vnder ye Sonne, vngodlynesse in the steade of iudgment, & iniquite in steade of rightuousnesse.

Then thought I in my mynde: God shal separate the rightuous from the vngodly, & then shal be the tyme & iudgmēt of all councels & workes. I cōmoned wt myne owne herte also cōcernynge the childrē of men: how God hath chosen them, and yet letteth thē apeare, as though they were beastes: for it happeneth vnto men as it doth vnto beastes, & as the one dyeth, so dyeth ye other: yee they haue both one maner of breth, so yt (in this) a man hath no preemynence aboue a beest, but all are subdued vnto vanite. They go all vnto one place, for as they be all of dust, so shal they all turne vnto dust againe.

〈…〉 Who knoweth the sprete of man yt goeth vpwarde, and the breth of the beest yt goeth downe in to the earth? Wherfore I perceaue, yt there is nothyinge better for a man, then to be ioyfull in his laboure, for that is his porcion. But who wil brynge him to se the thinge, that shal come after him?

The IIII. Chapter.

SO I turned me, and considered all the violent wronge that is done vnder the Sonne: 〈…〉 and beholde, the teares of soch as were oppressed, and there was no man to comforte them, or that wolde delyuer and defende them from the violence of their oppressours. Wherfore I iudged those that are deed, to be more happie then soch as be alyue: yee him that is yet vnborne to be better at ease thē they both, because he seith not the miserable workes that are done vnder the Sonne. Agayne, I sawe that all trauayle and diligence of laboure was hated of euery man. This is also a vaine thinge, and a vexacion of mynde. The foole foldeth his handes together, & eateth vp his owne flesh. One handfull (saieth he) is better wt rest, thē both ye handes full with labor and trauayle. Morouer, I turned me, and beholde yet another vanite vnder the Sonne. There is one man, no mo but himself alone, hauynge nether childe ner brother: yet is there no ende of his carefull trauayle, his eyes can not be satisfied with riches, (yet doth he not remembre himself, & saye:) For whom do I take soch trauayle? For whose pleasure do I thus consume awaye my lyfe? This is also a vayne and miserable thinge. Therfore two are better then one, for they maye well enioye the profit of their laboure. Yf one of them fall, his companyon helpeth him vp againe: But wo is him that is alone, for yf he fall, he hath not another to helpe him vp. Agayne, when two slepe together, they are warme: but how can a body be warme alone? One maye be ouercome, but two maye make resistaūce: A thre folde cable is not lightly broken. A poore childe beynge wyse, is better then an olde kinge, that doteth, and can not bewarre in tyme to come. Gen 41. b 1. Re. 16. c 3. Re. 12. c 2. Par 33. c 4. Re. 25. a Some one commeth out of preson, & is made a kynge: & another which is borne in the kyngdome, commeth vnto pouerte. And I perceaued, yt all men lyuynge vnder the Sonne, go wt the seconde childe, that commeth vp in the steade of the other. As for the people that haue bene before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their ioye the greater thorow him. This is also a vayne thinge and a vexacion of mynde. Whan thou commest in to the house of God, kepe thy fote, and drawe nye, that thou mayest heare: that is better then the offeringes of fooles,1. Reg. 15. c for they knowe not what euell they do.

The V. Chapter.

BE not hastie with thy mouth, & let not thine hert speake eny thīge rashly before God. For God is in heauen, & thou vpon earth, therfore let thy wordes be fewe. For where moch carefulnesse is, there are many dreames: & where many wordes are, there men maye heare fooles. Deu. 23. d Baruc. 6. Yf thou make a vowe vnto God, be not slacke to perfourme it. As for foolish vowes, he hath no pleasure in them. Yf thou promyse eny thinge, paye it: for better it is that thou make no vowe, then that thou shuldest promise, and not paye. Vse not thy mouth to cause ye flesh for to synne, yt thou saye not before the angell: my foolishnesse is in ye faute.

For thē God wil be angrie at thy voyce, and destroye all ye workes of thine handes.

And why? where as are many dreames & many wordes, there are also dyuerse vanities: Eccl . 4. a but loke yt thou feare God. Yf thou seyst the poore to be oppressed and wrongeously dealt withall, so ye equite & the right of the lawe is wraisted in the londe: maruell not thou at soch iudgmēt, for one greate mā kepeth touch with another, and the mightie helpe thē selues together. The whole londe also with the feldes and all that is therin, is in subieccion and bondage vnto ye kinge.

He that loueth money, wil neuer be satisfied with money: and who so delyteth in riches, shal haue no profit therof. Is not this also a vayne thinge Where as many riches are, there are many also that spende them awaye. And what pleasure more hath he that possesseth them, sauynge that he maye loke vpon them with his eyes? A labouringe man slepeth swetely, whether it be litle or moch that he eateth: Iob 20. c but the abundaunce of the riche wil not suffre him to slepe.

Yet is there a sore plage, which I haue sene vnder the Sonne (namely) riches kepte to the hurte of him yt hath them in possession.

Iob 1. c For oft times they perishe with his greate m sery and trouble: and yf he haue a childe, it getteth nothinge. Like as he came naked out of his mothers wombe, so goeth he thither agayne, and carieth nothinge awaye with him of all his laboure. This is a miserable plage, yt he shal go awaye euen as he came. What helpeth it him then, yt he hath labored in the wynde? All the daies of his life also must he eate in the darcke, with greate carefulnesse, sicknesse & sorow.

Eccls. 2. d Therfore me thinke it a better and a fayrer thinge, a man to eate and drynke, and to be refreshed of all his laboure, yt he taketh vnder the Sonne all the dayes of his life which God geueth him, for this is his porcion. For vnto whom so euer God geueth riches, goodes and power, he geueth it him to enioye it, to take it for his porcion, and to be refreshed of his laboure: this is now the gifte of God. For he thinketh not moch how longe he shal lyue, for so moch as God fylleth his hert with gladnesse.

The VI. Chapter.

THere is yet a plage vnder ye Sonne, & it is a generall thinge amonge mē: when God geueth a man riches, goodes & honoure, so that he wanteth nothinge of all that his herte can desyre: and yet God geueth him not leue to enioye the same, but another man spēdeth them. This is a vayne thinge & a miserable plage. Yf a man begett an hundreth children, and lyue many yeares, so that his dayes are many in nombre, and yet can not enioye his good, nether be buried: as for him I saye, that an vntymely byrth is better then he. For he cōmeth to naught, & goeth his waye in to darcknes, and his name is forgotten. Morouer, he seyth not the Sonne, and knoweth of no rest nether here ner there: Yee though he lyued two thousande yeares, yet hath he no good life. Come not all to one place? All the laboure that a man taketh, is for himself, and yet his desyre is neuer fylled after his mynde. For what hath the wyse more then the foole? What helpeth it the poore, that he knoweth to walke before the lyuynge? The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soule shulde so departe awaye. Howbeit this is also a vayne thinge and a disquietnesse of mynde. What is more excellent then man yet can he not in the lawe get the victory of him that is mightier thē he: A vayne thinge is it to cast out many wordes, but what hath a man els?

The VII. Chapter.

FOr who knoweth what is good for man lyuynge, in ye dayes of his vayne life, which is but a shadowe? Or who wil tell a man, what shal happen after him vnder the Sonne? 〈…〉 A good name is more worth then a precious oyntment, and the daye of death is better thē ye daye of byrth.

It is better to go in to an house of mournynge, then in to a bancket house. For there is the ende of all men, and he that is lyuinge, taketh it to herte. It is better to be sory then to laugh, for whē the countenaunce is heuy, the herte is ioyfull. The herte of ye wyse is in the mournynge house, but the hert of the foolish is in the house of myrth. It is better to geue eare to the chastenynge of a wyse man, then to heare the songe of fooles. For the laughinge of fooles is like ye crackynge of thornes vnder a pott. And yt is but a vayne thinge.

Who so doeth wronge, maketh a wyse man to go out of his witt, and destroyeth a gentle hert. The ende of a thinge is better then the begynnynge. The pacient of sprete is better then the hie mynded. Be not haistely angrie in ye mynde, for wrath resteth in the bosome of a foole. Saye not thou: What is the cause that ye dayes of ye olde tyme were better, then they yt be now for that were no wyse question. Wyszdome is better then riches, yee moch more worth then the eye sight. For wyszdome defendeth as well as moneye, and the excellent knowlege and wyszdome geueth life vnto him that hath it in possession. Considre the worke of God, how that no man can make the thinge straight, which he maketh croked. Vse well the tyme of prosperite, and remembre the tyme of mysfortune: for God maketh the one by the other, so that a man can fynde nothinge els.

These ij. thīges also haue I cōsidred in ye tyme of vanite: yt the iust man perisheth for his rightuousnes sake, & the vngodly liueth in his wickednesse. Therfore be thou nether to rightuous ner ouer wyse, 〈◊〉 . 11. c yt thou perish not: be nether to vnrightuous also ner to foolish, lest thou die before thy tyme. It is good for the to take holde of this, & not to let yt go out of thy hande. For he yt feareth God shal escape them all.

〈◊〉 . 20. c 〈◊〉 . 7. a 〈◊〉 . 6. f 〈◊〉 7. a Wyszdome geueth more corage vnto the wyse, then ten mightie men of the citie: for there is not one iust vpō earth, yt doth good, & sinneth not. Take not hede vnto euery worde yt is spoken, lest thou heare thy seruaunt curse the: for thine owne hert knoweth, that thou thy self also hast oft tymes spokē euell by other men. All these thinges haue I proued because of wyszdome: 〈◊〉 28 b for I thought to be wyse, but she wente farther fro me then she was before, yee & so depe that I might not reach vnto her. I applied my mynde also vnto knowlege, and to seke out sciēce, wisdome and vnderstondinge: to knowe the foolishnesse of the vngodly, and the erroure of dotinge fooles. 〈…〉 And I founde, that a woman is bytterer then death: for she is a very angle, hir hert is a nett, and hir handes are cheynes. Who so pleaseth God shal escape from her, but the synne will be taken wt her.

Beholde (sayeth ye preacher) this haue I diligently searched out & proued, yt I might come by knowlege: which as yet I seke, and fynde it not. Amonge a thousande men I haue founde one, but not one woman amonge all. 〈…〉 Lo, this onely haue I founde, that God made man iust & right, but they seke dyuerse sotylties, where as no man hath wyszdome & vnderstōdinge, to geue answere there vnto.

The VIII. Chapter.

WYszdome maketh a mās face to shyne, 〈…〉 but malice putteth it out of fauoure. Kepe the kynges commaundemēt (I warne the) & the ooth yt thou hast made vnto God. Be not haistie to go out of his sight, & se thou cōtynue in no euell thinge: for what so euer it pleaseth him, yt doeth he. Like as when a kynge geueth a charge, his commaundement is mightie: Euen so who maye saye vnto him: what doest thou? Iob Leui. Who so kepeth the commaundement, shall fele no harme: but a wyse mans herte discerneth tyme and maner: For euery thinge wil haue opportunite and iudgment, and this is the thinge that maketh men full of carefulnes & sorowe. And why? a man knoweth not what is for to come, for who wyll tell him? Nether is there eny mā yt hath power ouer ye sprete, to kepe stil ye sprete, ner to haue eny power in the tyme of death: It is not he also that can make an ende of the batayll, nether maye vngodlynes delyuer him yt medleth withall.

All these thinges haue I considered, and applied my mynde vnto euery worke that is vnder the Sonne: how one man hath lordshipe vpon another to his owne harme. For I haue oft sene ye vngodly brought to their graues, Psal. 3 and fallen downe from the hye and glorious place: in so moch yt they were forgotten in the cite, where they were had in so hye & greate reputacion. This is also a vayne thinge. Because now that euell workes are not haistely punyshed, the hert of man geueth him self ouer vnto wickednesse: But though an euell personne offende an hundreth tymes, and haue a longe life: yet am I sure, that it shal go well with thē that feare God, because they haue him before their eyes. Agayne, as for the vngodly, it shall not be well with him, nether shal he prolōge his dayes: but euen as a shadowe, so shall he be that feareth not God.

Yet is there a vanite vpon earth: There be iust men, vnto whom it happeneth, as though they had the workes of the vngodly: Agayne, there be vngodly, with whom it goeth as though they had the workes of ye rightuous. This me thinke also a vaine thinge. Therfore I commende gladnesse, because a man hath no better thinge vnder the Sonne, then to eate and drynke, and to be mery: for that shal he haue of his laboure all the daies of his life, which God geueth him vnder the Sonne. When I applied my mynde to lerne wyszdome, and to knowe the trauayle that is in the worlde (and that of soch a fashion, yt I suffred not myne eyes to slepe nether daye ner night) I vnderstode of all ye workes of God, that it is not possible for a man, to attayne vnto ye workes that are done vnder ye Sonne: and though he bestowe his laboure to seke them out, yet can he not reach vnto thē: yee though a wyse man wolde vndertake to knowe them, yet might he not fynde them.

The IX. Chapter.

FOr all these thinges purposed I in my mynde to seke out. The righteus and wyse yee and their workes also are in the hande of God: and there is no man that knoweth ether the loue or hate of the thinge that he hath before him. It happeneth vnto one as vnto another: It goeth with the rightuous as with the vngodly: 〈…〉 with the good & cleane as with the vncleane: with him that offereth as with him that offereth not: like as it goeth with the vertuous, so goeth it also with the synner: As it happeneth vnto the periured, so happeneth it also vnto him that is afrayed to be man sworne. Amonge all thinges yt come to passe vnder the Sonne, this is a misery, that it happeneth vnto all alyke. This is the cause also that the hertes of men are full of wickednesse, & madd foolishnesse is in their hertes as longe as they lyue, vntill they dye.

And why? As longe as a man lyueth, he is careles: for a quyck dogg (saye they) is better thē a deed lion: for they that be lyuynge, knowe yt they shall dye: but they yt be deed, knowe nothinge, nether deserue they eny more. For their memoriall is forgottē, so yt they be nether loued, hated ner envyed: nether haue they eny more parte in ye worlde, in all yt is done vnder the Sonne. Go thou ye waye then, eate thy bred with ioye, & drynke yt wyne wt gladnesse, for thy workes please God. Let thy garmētes be allwaye whyte, & let ye heade want no oyntmēt. 〈◊〉 . 6. b Vse thy self to lyue ioyfully wt thy wife whom thou louest, 〈◊〉 . 5. c all ye daies of thy life (which is but vayne) yt God hath geuē the vnder the Sonne, all ye dayes of thy vanite: for yt is thy porcion in this life, of all thy labor & trauayle yt thou takest vnder the Sonne. What so euer thou takest in hande to do, that do with all thy power: for amōge the deed (where as thou goest vnto) there is nether worke, councell, knowlege ner wyszdome.

So I turned me vnto other thinges vnder ye Sonne, and I sawe, that in runnynge, it helpeth not to be swift: in batayll, it helpeth not to be stronge: to fedynge, it helpeth not to be wyse: to riches, it helpeth not to be sutyll: to be had in fauoure, it helpeth not to be connynge: but that all lyeth in tyme & fortune. uc. 21. d For a man knoweth not his tyme, but like as the fyshe are takē with the angle, and as the byrdes are catched wt the snare: Euē so are men taken in the perilous tyme, when it commeth sodenly vpon them.

This wiszdome haue I sene also vnder ye Sōne, & me thought it a greate thinge. There was a litle cite, & a few mē within it: so there came a greate kynge & beseged it, & made greate bulworkes agaynst it. And in the cite there was founde a poore man (but he was wyse) which wt his wyszdome delyuered the cite: yet was there no body, yt had eny respecte vnto soch a symple man. Then sayde I: wyszdome is better then strength. 〈…〉 Neuertheles, a symple mans wyszdome is despysed, & his wordes are not herde. A wise mans councell that is folowed in sylence, is farre aboue the crienge of a captaine amōge fooles. For wyszdome is better then harnesse: 〈…〉 but one vnthrift alone destroyeth moch good.

The X. Chapter.

DEed flyes yt corruppe swete oyntment & make it to styncke, are somthinge more worth then the wyszdome & honor of a foole. A wyse mans hert is vpon the right hande, but a fooles hert is vpon the left. A dotinge foole thinketh, yt euery mā doth as foolishly as himself. Yf a principall sprete be geuē the to beare rule, 〈…〉 be not negligēt thē in thine office: for so shal greate wickednesse be put downe, as it were wt a medecyne. Another plage is there, which I haue sene vnder the Sonne: namely, ye ignoraunce yt is comonly amonge prynces: in yt a foole sytteth in greate dignite, & the rich are sett downe beneth: I se seruauntes ryde vpon horses, & prynces goinge vpon their fete as it were seruauntes. 〈…〉 But he yt dyggeth vp a pytt, shall fall therin himself: & who so breaketh downe the hedge, a serpent shal byte him. Who so remoueth stones, shall haue trauayle withall: and he that heweth wod, shalbe hurt therwith.

When an yron is blont, and ye poynt not sharpened, it must be whett againe, and that with might: Euen so doth wiszdome folowe diligence. A babler of his tonge is no better, then a serpent that styngeth without hyssynge. The wordes out of a wyse mans mouth are gracious, but the lippes of a foole wil destroye himself. The begynnynge of his talkynge is foolishnes, and the last worde of his mouth is greate madnesse. A foole is so full of wordes, that a man can not tell what ende he wyll make: who wyl then warne him to make a conclucion? The laboure of ye foolish is greuous vnto thē, while they knowe not how to go in to the cite.

Wo be vnto the (O thou realme and londe) whose kynge is but a childe, and whose prynces are early at their banckettes. But well is the (O thou realme and londe) whose kinge is come of nobles, and whose prynces eate in due season, for strength and not for lust. Thorow slouthfulnesse the balkes fall downe, and thorow ydle hādes it rayneth in at the house. Meate maketh men to laugh, and wyne maketh them mery: 〈…〉 but vnto money are all thinges obedient. Wysh the kynge no euell in ye thought, and speake no hurte of ye ryche in thy preuy chambre: for a byrde of the ayre shal betraye thy voyce, and wt hir fethers shal she bewraye thy wordes.

The XI. Chapter.

SEnde thy vytayles ouer the waters, and so shalt thou fynde thē after many yeares. Geue it awaye amonge seuen or eight, for thou knowest not what misery shal come vpō earth. Whē the cloudes are full, they poure out rayne vpon the earth. And whē ye tre falleth, (whether it be towarde the south or north) in what place so euer it fall, there it lyeth. He that regardeth ye wynde, shal not sowe: and he that hath respecte vnto the cloudes, shal not reape. Now like as thou knowest not the waye of the wynde, ner how ye bones are fylled in a mothers wombe: Euen so thou knowest not the workes of God, which is the workemaster of all.

Cease not thou therfore with thy handes to sowe thy sede, whether it be in ye mornynge or in the euenynge: for thou knowest not whether this or that shall prospere, & yf they both take, it is the better. The light is swete, & a pleasaunt thinge is it for the eyes to loke vpon the Sonne. Yf a man lyue many yeares, and be glad in them all, let him remembre the dayes of darcknesse, which shal be many: & when they come, all thinges shal be but vanite. Be glad then (O thou yonge man) in thy youth, and lat thine hert be mery in thy yonge dayes: folowe the wayes of thine owne hert, and the lust of thine eyes: but be thou sure, that God shal bringe the in to iudgment for all these thinges.

The XII. Chapter.

PVt awaye displeasure out of ye hert, & remoue euell from thy body: for childehode and youth is but vanite. Remembre thy maker in thy youth, or euer the dayes of aduersite come, and or the yeares drawe nye, when thou shalt saye: I haue no pleasure in them: before the Sonne, ye light, ye Moone and the starres be darckened, and or the cloudes turne agayne after the rayne: when the kepers of the house shall tremble, and when the stronge men shal bowe them selues: when the Myllers stonde still because they be so fewe, and when the sight of the wyndowes shal waxe dymme: whan the dores in the stretes shal be shutt, and whan ye voyce of the Myller shall be layed downe: whan men shall ryse vp at the voyce of the byrde, and whan all ye doughters of musyck shalbe brought lowe: whan men shal feare in hye places, and be afrayed in the stretes: whan the Almonde tre shalbe despysed, the greshopper borne out, and whan greate pouerte shall breake in: when man goeth to his longe home, and the mourners go aboute the stretes. Or euer the syluer lace be taken awaye, and or the golden bende be broken: Or the pott be broken at the well, & the whele vpon the Cisterne: Eccls. 3. Or dust be turned againe vnto earth from whence it came, and or the sprete returne vnto God, which gaue it. Eccls. 1. a All is but vanite (sayeth the preacher) all is but playne vanite.

The same preacher was not wyse alone, but taught the people knowlege also: he gaue good hede, sought out the groūde and set forth many parables. His diligence was to fynde out acceptable wordes, right scripture, and the wordes of trueth. Heb. 4. c For the wordes of ye wyse are like prickes and nales that go thorow, wherwith men are kepte together: for they are geuen of one shepherde onely. Therfore bewarre (my sonne) that aboue these thou make the not many & innumerable bokes, nor take dyuerse doctrynes in hande, to weery thy body withall.

Lat vs heare the conclucion of all thinges: Feare God, and kepe his comaundementes, for that toucheth all men: For God shall iudge all workes and secrete thinges, whether they be good or euell.

The ende of Ecclesiastes, called the Preacher.
Salomons Balettes, called Cantica Canticorum.
The first Chapter.

O That thy mouth wolde geue me a kysse, for ye brestes are more pleasaunt then wyne, & that because of the good and pleasaunt sauoure. •• cl . 7. a Thy name is a swete smellynge oyntment, therfore do the maydens loue the: yee that same moueth me also to renne after the.

The kynge hath brought me into his preuy chambre. We wil be glad & reioyce in the, we thynke more of thy brestes then of wyne: well is them that loue the.

I am black (o ye doughters of Ierusalē) like as the tentes of the Cedarenes, 〈◊〉 . 25. b Par. 3. c and as the hanginges of Salomon: but yet am I faire & wel fauoured withal. Maruell not at me yt I am so black, & why? ye Sonne hath shyned vpō me. For whan my mothers childrē had euell wil at me, they made me ye keper of the vynyarde. Thus was I fayne to kepe a vynyarde, which was not myne owne.

Tell me (o thou whom my soule loueth) where thou fedest, where thou restest at the noone daye: lest I go wronge, and come vnto the flockes of thy companyons,

Yf thou knowe not yi self (o thou fayrest amōge women) thā go ye waye forth after ye fotesteppes of the shepe, as though thou woldest fede ye goates besyde ye shepherdes tentes. There wil I tary for the (my loue) wt myne hoost & with my charettes, which shal be no fewer then Pharaos.

xo. 〈◊〉 . 14. b Then shal thy chekes & thy neck be made fayre, & hanged wt spāges & goodly iewels: a neck bande of golde wil we make ye wt syluer bottons. When the kynge sytteth at the table, he shal smell my Nardus: for a bōdell of Myrre (o my beloued) lyeth betwixte my brestes. A cluster of grapes of Cypers, or of the vynyardes of Engaddi, art thou vnto me, O my beloued.

ant. 4. a O how fayre art thou (my loue) how fayre art thou thou hast doues eyes. O how fayre art thou (my beloued) how well fauored art thou? Oure bed is decte with floures, ye sylinges of oure house are of Cedre tre, & ou e balkes of Cypresse.

The II. Chapter.

I Am the floure of the felde, and lylie of the valleys: as the rose amonge the thornes, so is my loue amonge the daughters.

Like as the aple tre amonge the trees of the wodd, so is my beloued amonge the sonnes. My delite is to sitt vnder his shadowe, for his frute is swete vnto my throte. He bryngeth me in to his wyne seller, and loueth me specially well. Refresh me wt grapes, cōforte me with apples, for I am sick of loue. 〈…〉 His left hāde lyeth vnder my heade, & his right hande enbraceth me.

I charge you (o ye doughters of Ierusalem (by the Roes & hyndes of the felde, yt ye wake not vp my loue ner touch her, till she be content herself.

Me thynke I heare the voyce of my beloued: lo, there commeth he hoppinge vpon ye mountaynes, and leapinge ouer the litle hilles. My beloued is like a Roo or a yonge hart. Beholde, he stondeth behynde or wall, he loketh in at the wyndowe, & pepeth thorow the grate.

My beloued answered & sayde vnto me: O stōde vp my loue, my doue, my beutyfull, & come: for lo, the wynter is now past, the rayne is awaie & gone. The floures are come vp in the felde, the twystinge tyme is come, the voyce of the turtle doue is herde in oure londe. The fyge tre bryngeth forth hir fyges, the vynes beare blossoms, and haue a good smell.

O stōde vp my loue, my beutyfull, and come (my doue) out of the caues of the rockes, out of the holes of the wall: O let me se thy countenaunce and heare thy voyce, for swete is thy voyce and fayre is thy face. Gett vs the foxes, yee the litle foxes that hurte ye vynes, for oure vynes beare blossoms.

My loue is myne, and I am his, 〈…〉 (which fedeth amōge the lylies) vntill the daye breake, and till the shadowes be gone. Come agayne preuely (o my beloued) like as a Roo or a yonge harte vnto the mountaynes.

The III. Chapter.

BY night in my bedd, I sought him, whom my soule loueth: yee diligently sought I him, but I founde him not. I wil get vp (thought I) and go aboute the cite: vpon the market and in all ye stretes will I seke him whom my soule loueth, but whan I sought him, I founde him not. The watchmen that go aboute ye cite, founde me. Sawe ye not him, whom my soule loueth?

So whan I was a litle past them, I foū de him whom my soule loueth. I haue got ten holde vpon him, and wyl not let him go, vntill I brynge him in to my mothers house, and in to hir chambre that bare me.

I charge you (o ye doughters of Ierusalē) by the Roes and hyndes of the felde, that ye wake not vp my loue ner touch her, till she be content herself.

Who is this, that commeth out of ye wyldernesse like pilers of smoke, as it were a smell of Myrre, frankencense and all maner spyces of the Apotecary?

Beholde, aboute Salomōs bedsteade there stonde LX. valeaunt men of the mightie in Israel. They holde swerdes euery one, & are experte in warre. Euery man hath his swerde vpō his thee, because of feare in the night.

Kynge Salomon hath made himself a bedsteade of the wodd of Libanus, the pilers are of syluer, the coueringe of golde, ye seate of purple, ye grounde pleasauntly paued for the doughters of Ierusalem.

Go forth (o ye doughters of Sion) and beholde kynge Salomon in the crowne, wherwith his mother crowned him in the daye of his mariage, and in the daye of the gladnesse of his hert.

The IIII. Chapter.

O How fayre art thou (my loue) how fayre art thou? 〈…〉 thou hast doues eyes besyde that which lyeth hid within. Thy hayrie lockes are like a flocke of shepe that be clypped, which go first vp from the washinge place: where euery one beareth two twyns, and not one vnfrutefull amōge them. Thy lippes are like a rose coloured rybende, thy wordes are louely: thy chekes are like a pece of a pomgranate, besydes that which lyed hyd within. Thy neck is like the tower of Dauid buylded with bulworkes, wher vpon there hāge a thousande sheldes, yee all the weapēs of the giaūtes. Thy two brestes are like two twyns of yonge roes, 〈…〉 which fede amōge the lilies. O that I might go to the mountayne of Myrre, and to the hyll of frankynsense: till the daye breake, and till the shadowes be past awaye. Thou art all fayre (o my loue) & no spott is there in the.

Come to me from Libanus (o my spouse) come to me from Libanus: come soone the next waye from the toppe of Amana, from the toppe of Sanir and Hermon, from the Lyons dennes and from the mountaynes of ye leopardes. Thou hast woūded my hert (o my sister, my spouse) thou hast wounded my hert, with one of thine eyes, and with one cheyne of thy neck. O how fayre and louely are thy brestes, my sister, my spouse Thy brestes are more pleasaunt then wyne, and the smell of thy oyntmentes passeth all spices. Thy lippes (o my spouse) droppe as the hony combe, yee mylck and hony is vnder thy tonge, and the smell of thy garmentes is like the smell of frankynsense.

Thou art a well kepte garden (o my sister, my spouse) thou art a well kepte water sprynge, a sealed well. The frutes that sproute in the, are like a very paradyse of pōgranates wt swete frutes: as Cypresse, Nardus, Saffron, Calmus, and all the trees of Libanus: Myrre, Aloes, and all the best spyces. Thou art a well of gardens, a well of lyuynge waters, which renne downe from Libanus. Vp thou northwynde, come thou southwynde, and blowe vpō my gardē, that the smell therof maye be caried on euery syde: Yee that my beloued maye come in to my garden, & eate of the frutes and apples that growe therin.

The V. Chapter.

COme in to my garden o my sister, my spouse: I haue gathered my Myrre wt my spyce. I wil eate my hony and my hony cōbe, I wil drynke my wyne & my mylk Eate o (ye frendes) drynke and be mery, o ye beloued.

As I was a slepe, & my hert wakynge, I herde the voyce of my beloued, whā he knocked. Open to me (sayde he) o my sister, my loue, my doue, my derlinge: for my heade is full of dew, and ye lockes of my hayre are full of the night droppes.

I haue put off my cote, how cā I do it on agayne? I haue washed my fete, how shal I fyle them agayne? But whan my loue put in his hande at the hole, my hert was moued towarde him: so that I stode vp to open vnto my beloued. My hādes dropped wt Myrre, & the Myrre ranne downe my fyngers vpon ye lock. Neuerthelesse whā I had opened vnto my beloued, he was departed, and gone his waye.

Now like as afore tyme whan he spake, my hert coude no longer refrayne: Euen so now I sought hī, but I coude not fynde him: I cried vpon him, neuerthelesse he gaue me no answere. So the watchmen that wente aboute the cite, foūde me, smote me, and wounded me: Yee they that kepte the walles, toke awaye my garmēt fro me. I charge you therfore (o ye doughters of Ierusalem) yf ye fynde my beloued, that ye tell him, how that I am sick for loue.

Who is thy loue aboue other louers, O thou fayrest amonge wemen? Or, what can thy loue do, more then other louers, that thou chargest vs so straitly?

As for my loue, he is whyte and reade coloured, a synguler personne amonge many thousandes: his heade is the most fyne golde, the lockes of his hayre are buszshed, browne as the euenynge: His eyes are as the eyes of doues by the water brokes, washen with mylek, and remaynynge in a plenteous place: His chekes are like a garden bedd, where in the Apotecaryes plāte all maner of swete thinges: His lippes droppe as the floures of the most pryncipall Myrre, his hādes are full of golde rynges and precious stones. His body is as the pure yuery, decre ouer with Saphyres: Eccl. 26. c His legges are as the pilers of Marbell, sett vpon sokettes of golde: His face is as Libanus, and as the bewty of the Cedre trees: His throte is swete, yee he is alltogether louely. Soch one is my loue (o ye doughters of Ierusalem) soch one is my loue.

Whither is thy loue gone thē (o thou fayrest amonge wemē) whither is thy loue departed, that we maye seke him with the?

The VI. Chapter.

MY loue is gone downe in to his garden, vnto ye swete smellinge beddes, that he maye refresh himself in the garden, and gather floures. My loue is myne, and I am his, which fedeth amonge the lilies.

Thou art pleasaunt (o my loue) euen as louelynesse itself, thou art fayre as Ierusalem, glorious as an armye of men with their bā ners (Turne awaye thine eyes fro me, for they make me to proude) Thy hayrie lockes are like a flocke of goates vpon ye mount of Galaad. Canti. 4. a Thy teth are like a flock of shepe yt be clypped, which go out of the washinge place: where euery one beareth two twyns, & not one vnfrutefull amōge them. Thy chekes are like a pece of a pomgranate, besydes yt which lyeth hid within. There are thre score quenes,3. Re. 11. a foure score concubynes, and yonge wemē without nombre. But one is my doue, my derlynge. She is the onely beloued of hir mother, & deare vnto her that bare her. Whā the daughters sawe her, they sayde she was blessed: Yee the quenes and concubines praysed her. What is she this, that pepeth out as the mornynge? fayre as the Moone, excellent as the Sonne, glorious as an armye of men with their banners?

I wente downe in to the nutt garden, to se what grew by the brokes, to loke yf the vynyarde florished, and yf the pomgranates were shot forth. Then the charettes of the prynce of my people made me sodenly afrayed. Turne againe, turne againe (O thou S •• lamite) turne agayne, turne agayne, that we maye loke vpon the.

The VII. Chapter.

WHat pleasure haue ye more in ye S lamite, than when she daunseth amonge the men of warre? O how pleasaunt are thy treadinges with thy sh es, thou prynces daughter? Thy thees are like a fayre iewell, which is wrought by a co •• nynge workmaster: Thy nauell is like a rou de goblett, which is neuer without drynke Thy wombe is like an heape of wheate, se •• aboute with lilies: Thy two brestes are like two twyns of yonge roes: Thy neck is as it were a tower of yuery: Thyne eyes are like ye water poles in Hesebon, besyde the porte of Bathrabbim: Thy nose is like the tower of Libanus, which loketh towarde Damascu That heade that stondeth vpon the is like Carmel: The hayre of thy heade is like the kynges purple folden vp in plates.

O how fayre and louely art thou (my derlynge) in pleasures? Thy stature is like a date tre, and thy brestes like the grapes. I sayde: I wil clymme vp in to the date tre, and take holde of his braunches. Thy brestes also shalbe as the vyne grapes, the smell of thy nostrels like the smell of apples, and thy th ••• te like the best wyne.

This shalbe pure & cleare for my loue, his lippes and teth shal haue their pleasure. There wil I turne me vnto my loue, and he shal turne him vnto me. O come on my loue, let vs go forth in to the felde, and take •• re lodginge in the vyllages. In the mornynge wil we ryse by tymes, and go se the vynyarde: yf it be spronge forth, yf the grapes be growne, & yf the pomgranates be sho •• out. There wil I geue the my brestes: There shal the Mandragoras geue their smell besyde oure dores: There (o my loue) haue I kepte vnto the all maner of frutes, both new and olde.

The VIII. Chapter.

O That I might fynde the without & kysse ye, whom I loue as my brother which suckte my mothers brestes: & that thou woldest not be offended, yf I toke the and brought the in to my mothers house: that thou mightest teach me, and that I might geue the drynke of spyced wyne and of the swete sappe of my pomgranates. His left hande lyeth vnder my heade, & his right hande embraceth me.

I charge you (o ye daughters of Ierusalē) 〈◊〉 ye wake not vp my loue ner touch her, 〈◊〉 she be content herself. What is she this, 〈◊〉 cōmeth vp from the wildernes, and 〈◊〉 vpon hir loue? I am the same that 〈◊〉 the vp amonge the aple trees, where thy •• ther beare ye, where ye mother brought 〈◊〉 in to the worlde.

O set me as a seale vpō thine hert, and as eale vpon thine arme: for loue is mightie the death, & gelousy as the hell. Hir coa •• are of fyre, and a very flamme of the LOR E: so yt many waters are not able to quench 〈◊〉 , nether maye ye streames drowne it. Yee 〈◊〉 man wolde geue all the good of his hou •• for loue, he shulde counte it nothinge.

When oure loue is tolde oure yonge sister, hose brestes are not yet growne, what shal e do vnto her? Yf she be a wall, we shal ylde a syluer bollworke there vpon: Yf she 〈◊〉 a tower, we shal festen her with bordes of edre tre.

Yf I be a wall, & my brestes like towres, then am I as one that hath founde fauoure in his sight.

Salomon had a vynyarde at Baal Hamon, this vynyarde delyuered he vnto the kepers: yt euery one for the frute therof shulde geue him a thousande peces of syluer. But my vynyarde (o Salomon) geueth the a thousande, and two hundreth to ye kepers of the frute.

Thou that dwellest in the gardens, O let me heare thy voyce, that my companyons maye herken to the same. O get the awaye (my loue) as a roo or a yonge hert vnto the swete smellinge moūtaynes.

The ende of Salomons Balettes, called Cantica Canticorum.
Fautes escaped in the pryntinge of this parte.

Vpon the seconde leaf, the seconde syde, in the syxte Chapter of Iob, the letter A.

Within the yoke an egg, rede, Within the yoke of an egg.

In the Psalter.

Vpon the xxxv. leaf, the seconde syde, in the cxxxvi. psalme, the seconde verse

Vpon the trees, rede, Vpon the wyll ye trees.

All the Prophetes in Englishe.

Esay. Ieremy. Baruch. Ezechiel. Daniel. Oseas. Ioel. Amos. Abdy. Ionas. Micheas. Naum. Abacuc. Sophony. Aggeus. Zachary. Malachy.

The Prophet Esay. What Esay conteyneth. Chap. I. The prophet rebuketh the people of Israel, for their abhominacions. Chap. II. The callynge of the Heithen. Chap. III. Punyshmēt of God, specially for the pryde of wemen. Chap. IIII. Plages to come, wyth a promyse of the grace and conforte thorow Christ. Chap. V. The louynge kyndnes of God towarde Israel, afore other people. Agayne, the vnthankfulnes and vnfaithfulnes of them. Chap. VI. The sendynge of Esay. The harde hertes of the people. Chap. VII. He rebuketh the kynge, for beynge afrayed of the vngodly kynges of the Heithen, and because he put not his trust in God. He geueth him a tokē of grace, which he receaueth not. Chap. VIII. The people forsake God, & seke helpe at the Heithen. Chap. IX. He putteth thē in mynde of the mysery that is past. Of the cōmynge and kyngdome of Christ. Punyshment for their pryde. Chap. X. Punyshment of vnrighteous rulers. The comforte of Israel agaynst the pry •• of the kynge of the Assyrians. Chap. XI. A prophecie of Christ. Chap. XII. A thankesgeuynge of the faithfull people. Chap. XIII. Punyshment to come vpon Babilon, by the Persians & Medes. Chap. XIIII. God will haue mercy on his people. He threteneth Palestina. Chap. XV. The plage of Moab. Chap. XVI. The vexacion & feare of Moab. Chap. XVII. Punyshmēt of Damascus & siria. Chap. XVIII. The callynge of the Heithen. Chap. XIX.XX. Plages vpon Egipte & Ethiopia. Chap. XXI. The punyshmēt of Babilon, Duma, and Arabia. Chap. XXII. The punyshment vpon Ierusalē by Sēnacherib Sobna is put downe, Eliachim commeth in his steade. Chap. XXIII. The punyshment of Tyre, of all the cities by the see coast, and of the Iles. Chap. XXIIII. Of the generall punyshment of the whole earth vnto the ende of the worlde. Chap. XXV. A thākesgeuynge vnto God. The callinge of the Heithen. Chap. XXVI. Men ought to trust onely ī God. Chap. XXVII. The punyshment of Leuiathan. The goodnes of God. The delyueraunce of Israel. The callynge of the Heithen. Chap. XXVIII. The punishment of Ephraim Of mens lawes Of the stone in Sion. Chap. XXIX. Punyshmēt vpon Ierusalem for mens lawes and doctrynes. Chap. XXX Gods people are punyshed, for sekinge helpe at other then him self. Chap. XXXI. He calleth the people agayne to God, and promiseth them defence. Chap. XXXII. Health vnder the kynge of righteousnes. He threateneth the carelesse cities· Chap. XXXIII. Punyshmēt vpon the enemies of Gods people. Chap. XXXIIII. Gods plage vpon the Heithen. Chap. XXXV. A cōforte, & secrete promyse concernynge the callynge of the Heithen. Chap. XXXVI. Sennacherib the kinge of the Assirians sendeth his hoost to besege Ierusalē. Chap. XXXVII. The prayer of Ezechias. God cō forteth him by Esay. The angel of the LORDE putteth the Assirians hoost to shame. Chap. XXXVIII. Ezechias is deed sicke. God helpeth him vp agayne. He thanketh God. Chap. XXXIX. The kynge of Babilon sendeth Embassitours vnto Ezechias, which sheweth them his treasure, & displeaseth God withall. Chap. XL. The delyueraūce not onely of Israel out of the captiuyte of Babilon, but of all faithfull also in Christ. The vanyte of mā. The excellent power of God. Chap. XLI. God reasoneth with the Iewes & gētiles, & reproueth the people of Israel for their vnthankfulnes. Chap. XLII. The cōmynge & power of Christ The praise of God. Punishment of the vngodly. Chap. XLIII. A prophecye of the cōmynge of the Sauioure. He putteth them in mynde of the benefites past. Chap. XLIIII. Vnthākfulnes of the people. The vanite of Idols or ymages. The madd foolishnes of those that make thē, or worshipe them. Chap. XLV. The LORDE onely is the true God of Israel. Chap. XLVI. Of the destruccion of ymages. The power of the true God. Chap. XLVII. Plages vpon proude Babilon. Chap. XLVIII. Agaynst the vanite of ymages. Chap. XLIX. The cōmynge & office of Christ. Saluaciō for the Iewes and for the gentyles. Chap. L. The Iewes refused, because they haue forsaken their maker, and go a whoringe with straunge goddes. Chap. LI. The mightie God hath euer done them good: yf they cleue to him, there shal no body hurte them. Chap. LII. A promyse of Messias: He waketh vp the Iewes and Gentyles also to the commynge of him. Chap. LIII. He complayneth of the hardneckes of the people, & testifieth clearly of Christ. Chap. LIIII. One church of Iewes & Gētiles. Chap. LV. God calleth all men to his goodnes in Christ. Chap. LVI. How the church of Christ shulde prepare hir self agaynst his cōmynge. A complaynte of false prophetes and rulers. Chap. LVII. He rebuketh the prophetes, r lers and the people, and promyseth mercy to all soch as wyl turne. Chap. LVIII. He putteth the prophetes in mynde of their office. What the true fast is. Chap. LIX. Why God heareth not the Iewes Chap. LX. He calleth vnto all soch as feare God, that they wyl knowe his goodnes. Chap. LXI. The office of a prophet, fulfilled specially in Christ. Chap. LXII. The prophet maye not leaue of to crie, to warne, and to exorte, vntyll the light of grace aryse in Sion. Chap. LXIII. An exortacion to receaue the Sauioure for to come. Chap. LXIIII. He longeth sore for the commynge of the Sauioure, sheweth his power, & prayeth for the people. Chap. LXV. Of the forsakinge of the Iewes, and callinge of the Heithen. Chap. LXVI. The outwarde ceremonies of the Iewes are refused: and here is shewed the true seruyce of God.

This is the prophecy of Esay the sonne of Amos, which he shewed vpon Iuda and Ierusalem: In the tyme of Osias, Ioathan, Ahas, and Ezechias kynges of Iuda. The first Chapter.

HEare o heauen, herken o earth, for the LORDE speaketh: 〈…〉 I haue norished & brought vp children, and they are fallen awaye fro me. An oxe knoweth his LORDE, and an Asse his masters stall, but Israel knoweth nothinge, my people hath no vnderstondinge. Alas for this synful people, which are experte in blasphemies, a frawerde generacion, vnnatural children. They haue forsaken the LORDE, they haue prouoked the holy one of Israel vnto anger, and are gone bacward. Wherfore shulde ye be plaged eny more? For ye are euer fallinge awaye. The whole heade is sick, and the herte is very heuy. 〈…〉 From the sole of the foote vnto the heade, there is no whole parte in all yor body: but all are woundes, botches, sores and strypes, which can nether be helped, bounde vp, molified, ner eased with eny oyntment.

Youre londe lieth waist, youre cities are brent vp, youre enemies deuoure youre londe, and ye must be fayne to stonde, and loke vpon it: and it is desolate, as it were with enemies in a batell. Morouer ye doughter of Syonis left alone like a cotage in a vynyearde, like a watchouse in tyme of warre, like a beseged citie. And excepte the LORDE of hostes had left us a few alyue: we shulde haue bene as Sodoma, & like vnto Gomorra.

Heare the worde of the LORDE ye tyrauntes of Sodoma: and herken vnto the lawe of oure God, thou people of Gomorra. Why offre ye so many sacrifices vnto me? I am discontent for the brent offringes of wethers, and with ye fatnesse offedbeastes. I haue no pleasure in the bloude of bullockes, lambes and gootes. When ye apeare before me, who requyreth you to treade within my porches? Offreme no mo oblacions, Hiere. 6. e Amos 5. b Mich 6. b for it is but lost laboure. I abhorre youre incense. I maye not awaye with youre newmoones, youre Sabbathes and solempne dayes. Esa. 58. a Youre fastinges are also in vayne. I hate youre new holy dayes and fastinges, euen fro my very harte. They make me weery, I can not abyde them. Though ye holde out yor hondes, yet turne I myne eyes from you. Zach. 7. b Mat. 6. b Esa. 59. a And though ye make many prayers, yet heare I nothinge at all, for youre hondes are full of bloude.

Wash you, make you clene, put awaye yor euell thoughtes out of my sight, Iere. 7. ae and 21. ae and 22. ae cease from doinge of euell and violence. Lerne to do right, applie youre selues to equyte, delyuer the oppressed, helpe the fatherlesse to his right, let the wydowes complaynte come be fore you. Now go to (saieth the LORDE) we wil talke together. Is it not so? Though youre synnes be as read as scarlet, shal the not be whyter then snowe? And though they were like purple, shall they not be like whyte woll? Is it not so? Yf ye be louynge & obedient, ye shal enioye the best thinge that groweth in the londe. Deut. 11. b Leui. 26. d deut. 28. d But yf ye be obstinate and rebellious, ye shalbe deuoured with the swerde: for thus the LORDE hath promised with his owne mouth.

How happeneth it then that the rightuous citie (which was full of equite) is become vnfaithfull as an whore? rightuousnes dwelt in it, but now murthur. Pro. 25. Eze. 2 . b Thy Siluer is turned to drosse, and thy wyne myxte wt water. Thy prynces are traytours and companyons of theues. Iere. 5. g They loue giftes altogether, and folowe rewardes. As for the fatherles, they helpe him not to his right, nether wil they let the wydowes causes come before them. Therfore speaketh the LORDE God of hostes the mighty one of Israel: Ah I must ease me of myne enemies, and a venge me vpō thē. And therfore shal I laye my honde vpon the, and burne out thy drosse from the fynest and purest, and put out all thy leade, & set thy iudges agayne as they were somtyme, and thy Senatours as they were from ye begynnynge. Zach. 8. Then shalt thou be called the rightuous citie, the faithful citie. But Sion shalbe redemed with equyte, and hyr captiuyte with rightuousnesse. For the transgressours and vngodly, and soch as are become vnfaithfull vnto the LORDE, must all together be vtterly destroyed.

And excepte ye be ashamed of the oketrees wherin ye haue so delited, and of the gardēs that ye haue chosen: ye shalbe as an oke whose leaues are fallen awaye, and as a garden that hath no moystnesse. Iere. 10. c And as for the glory of these thinges, it shalbe turned to drie strawe, and he that made them to a sparke. Esa. 29. b And they shal both burne together, so that no man shalbe able to quench them.

The seconde Chapter.

MOrouer this is the worde that was opened vnto Esaye the sonne of Amos, vpon Iuda and Ierusalem. It will be also in processe of tyme: That the hill where the the house of the LORDE is buylded, Mich. 4. a shal be ye chefe amōge hilles, and exalted aboue al litle hilles. Zach. 8. d And alheithē shal prease vnto him and the multitude of people shall go vnto him, speakinge thus one to another: vp, let us go to the hill of the LORDE, Psal. 121. a Iere. 31. a and to the house of ye God of Iacob: yt he maye shewe us his waye, Psal. 49. a Acto. 1. a and yt we maye walke in his pathes. For ye lawe shal come out of Syon, and the worde of God from Ierusalem, and shal geue sentence amonge the heithen, and shal reforme the multitude of people: So that they shal breake their swerdes and speares, to make sythes, sycles & sawes therof.

Ioel. 3. b From that tyme forth shal not one people lift vp wapen agaynst another, Mich. 4. b nether shal they lerne to fight from thensforth. It is to the that I crie (o house of Iacob) vp, let us walke in the light of the LORDE. But thou art scatred abrode with thy people (o house of Iacob) for ye go farre beyonde yor fathers, whether it be in Sorcerers) whom ye haue as the phylistynes had) or in calkers of mens byrthes, wherof ye haue to many. Deut. 8. c and 17. d As soone as youre londe was ful of syluer and golde, and no ende of youre treasure: so soone as youre londe was ful of stronge horses and no ende of youre charettes: Inmediatly was it ful of Idols also, euen workes of youre owne hondes, Esa. 44 b. which ye youre selues haue facioned, and youre fyngers haue made. There kneleth the man, there falleth the man downe before them, so yt thou canst not bringe him awaye from thence.

And therfore get ye soone in to some rock, vnd hyde the in the grounde from the sight of the fearful iudge,2. Tess. 1. b and from ye glory of his Magestie. Which casteth downe ye high lokes of presumptuous personnes, and bryngeth lowe the pryde of mā, Esa. 5. b and he only shall be exalted in ye daye. For the daye of ye LORDE of hostes shal go ouer all pryde & presumpciō, vpon all thē that exalte thē selues, and shal bringe them all downe? vpō all high & stoute Cedre trees of Libanus, and vpon all the okes of Basan, vpon all high hilles, and vpon all stoute mountaynes, vpon all costly towres, and vpon all stronge walles, vpon all shippes of the see, and vpon euery thinge yt is glorious and pleasaunt to loke vpon.

And it shall bringe downe the pryde of man, 〈…〉 〈…〉 and laye mans presumptuousnesse full lowe, and the LORDE shal only haue the victory in that daye. 〈…〉 But the Idols shal utterly be roted out. Men shal crepe in to holes of stone, and in to caues of the earth, from the sight of the fearfull iudge, and from the glory of his magesty: 〈…〉 what tyme as he shal make him vp to shake the earth. Then, thē shal mā cast awaye his goddes of syluer and golde (which he neuertheles had made to honoure thē) vnto Molles and Backes: that he maye the better crepe in to the caues and rockes, and in to the cliffes of hard stones, from ye sight of the fearful iudge and from the glory of his Magesty.

The thirde Chapter.

EVery man can eschue a persone moued in anger, for what doth he wysely Euen so shal ye LORDE of hoostes take awaye frō Ierusalē & Iuda, all possessiōs & power, all meat and drinke, ye captayne and the soudyare, ye iudge and the prophete, the wyse and the aged mā, the worshipful of fiftie yeare olde, and the honorable: the Senatours, and men of vnderstondinge: the masters of craftes and oratours. And I shal geue you children to be youre prynces (saieth the LORDE) and babes shall haue the rule of you. One shall euer be doinge violence and wronge to another. The boye shal presume agaynst the elder, and the vyle persone agaynst the honorable. Yee one shal take a frende of his own kynred by ye bosome, and saye: thou hast clothinge, thou shalt be oure heade, for thou mayest kepe us from this fall and parell.

Then shall he sweare and saye: I can not helpe you. Morouer, there is nether meate ner clothinge in my house, make me no ru ler of the people. For Ierusalem and Iuda must decaye, because that both their wordes and councels are agaynst the LORDE, they prouoke the presence of his magestyrs to anger. The chaunginge of their countenaunce bewrayeth them, yee they declare their owne synnes them selues, as the Sodomites, & hyde thē not. Wo be vnto their soules, for they shalbe heuely rewarded. Then shal they saye: O happie are the godly, for they maye enioye the frutes of their studies. But wo be to ye vngodly and vnrightuous for they shalbe rewarded after their workes. 〈…〉 O my people, rybaudes oppresse ye, and women haue rule of the.

O my people, thy leders deceaue the, and treade out the waye of thy footsteppes. 〈…〉 The LORDE is here to comon of the matter, and stondeth to geue iudgment with the people. The LORDE shal come forth to reason with the Senatours and prynces of his people, and shal saye thus vnto them: It is ye th̄at haue burnt vp my vynyearde, the robbery of the poore is in youre house. Wherfore do ye oppresse my people, and marre ye faces of the innocentes? thus shal the God of hoostes reuyle them.

Morouer thus saieth ye LORDE: Seinge the doughters of Sion are become so proude, and come in with stretched out neckes, and with vayne wanton eyes: seinge they come in trippinge so nycely with their fete: Therfore shal the LORDE shaue the heades of the doughters of Sion, and make their bewtie bare in that daye. In that daye shal the LORDE take awaye the gorgiousnes of their apparel, and spanges, cheynes, partlettes, and colares, bracelettes and hooues, ye goodly floured, wyde and broderd raymēt, brusshes and headbandes, rynges and garlādes, holy daye clothes and vales, kerch es and pynnes, glasses and smockes, bonettes and taches.

And in steade of good smell there shalbe stynck amonge them. And for their gyrdles there shalbe lowse bondes. And for wel set hayre there shalbe baldnesse. In steade of a stomacher, a sack cloth, and for their bewty wythrednesse and sonneburnynge. Their husbondes and their mightie men shall perish with the swerde in batell.

The fourth Chapter.

AT that tyme shall their gates mourne and complayne, and they shal syt as desolate fol k vpon the earth. Then shal seuen wyues take holde of one man, and saye: we will laye all oure meat and cloothinge together in comon, only that we maye be called thy wyues, and that this shamefull reprofe maye be takē from us. 〈…〉 After that tyme shal the braunch of ye LORDE be beutiful and mightie, and ye frute of the earth shalbe fayre and pleasaunt for those Israelites that shall springe therof. 〈…〉 Then shall the remnaunt in Sion and the remnaunt at Ierusalem be called holy: namely all soch as are written amonge the lyuynge at Ierusalem: what tyme as the LORDE shall wash awaye the desolacion of the doughters of Siō, ād pourge the bloude out from Ierusalē, wt ye wynde of his smoke and fyre.

Morouer vpon all the dwellinges of the hill of Sion and vpon their whole congregacion, shal the LORDE prouyde a cloude and smoke by daye, and the shyninghe of a flammynge fyre by night, for all their glory shalbe preserued. And Ierusalem shall be a tabernacle for a shadowe because of hete in the daye tyme, a place and refuge where a man maye kepe him for wether and rayne.

The V. Chapter

NOw well than, I will synge my beloued frende a songe of his vynyearde. My beloued frende hath a vyneyearde in a very frutefull plenteous grounde. Iere. 2. c Matth. 21. This he hedged, this he walled rounde aboute, and planted it with goodly grapes. In the myddest of it buylded he a towre, and made a wyne presse therin And afterwarde when he loked yt it shulde bringe him grapes, it brought forth thornes. I shewe you now my cause (o ye Citysens of Ierusalem and whole Iuda:) Iudge I praye you betwixte me: and my wynegardinge. What more coude haue bene done for it, Iere. 2. d that I haue not done? Wherfore then hath it geuen thornes, where I loked to haue had grapes of it?

Well, I shall tell you how I will do wt my vynyarde: I will take the hedge from it, that it maye perish, and breake downe ye wall, that it maye be troden vnder fote. I will laye it waist, that it shall nether be twysted nor ut, but beare thornes and breares. I wil also forbyd ye cloudes, that they shal not rayne vpon it. As for the vynyarde of the LORDE of hoostes it is the house of Israel, and whole Iuda his fayre plantinge. Of these he loked for equyte, but se there is wronge: for rightuousnesse, lo, It is but misery.

Wo to you that ioyne one house to another, and bringe one londe so nigh vnto another, till ye can get no more grounde. Esaiae 32. c and 56. c Wil ye dwell vpon the earth alone? The LORDE of hoostes rowneth me thus ī myne eare: shal not many greater and more gorgious houses be so waist, that no man shall dwell in thē? And ten akers of vynes shal geue but a Quarte, and xxx. bushels of sede shal geue but thre.

Wo be vnto them that ryse vp early to vse them selues in dronkynnes, and yet at night are more superfluous with wyne. In whose companies are harpes and lutes, ob 21 b tabrettes and p pes, and wyne. But they regarde not the worke of the LORDE, Amos a and cō sidre not the operaciō of his hondes. Therfore cometh my folck also in captiuyte, Osee 4 b Abac. 2 b because they haue no vnderstondynge. Their glory shalbe myxte with hūger, and their pryde shalbe marred for thurste. Therfore gapeth hel, and openeth hyr mouth marvelous wyde: that pryde, boostinge and wisdome, with soch as reioyse therin, maye descende in to it.

Esaiae 2 b Thus shal man haue a fall, he shalbe brought lowe, and the high lokes of the proude layde downe. But the LORDE of hoostes, ye holy God: shalbe exalted and vntouched, when he shal declare his equyte and rightuousnesse after this maner. Then shal ye lambes eate their apoynted foder, and shal fede plenteously in the mountaynes. Wo vnto vayne persones, that drawe wickednes vnto thē, as it were with a coorde: and synne, as it were with a cart rope. Which vse to speake on this maner: let h m make haist now, and go forth wt his worke, Pro. 20 c that we maye se it. Let the councel of ye holy one of Israel come, and drawe me, yt we maye knowe it.

Wo vnto them that call euel good, and good euel: Pro. 17 c Mich 3 a which make darcknesselight, & light darcknesse, yt make sower swete, and swete sower. Wo vnto them that are wyse in their owne sight, and thinke them selues to haue vnderstōdinge. Pro. 3 a Wo vnto them, yt are connynge men to suppe out wyne, and experte to set vp drōkēnesse. Pro 17 c Deut. 17 a Ezec. 13 d These gyue sentence with the vngodly for rewardes, but condemne the iust cause of the rightuous.

Therfore, like as fyre licketh vp the strawe, and as the flame cōsumeth the stubble: Euen so (when their root is ful,) their blossome shal vanish awaye like dust or smoke for they despyse the lawe of the LORDE of hoostes, Nu. 11 g and blaspheme the worde of the holy maker of Israel.

Therfore is the wrath of the LORDE kyndled also agaynst his people, and he shaketh his honde at them: yee he shal smyte so, that the hilles shal tremble. And their carcases shal lye in the opē stretes, like myre. After all this, Esa. 9 e the wrath of God shall not c asse, but he shal stretch his hōde wyder And he shal gyue a tokē vnto a straunge people, Esa. 43 c Dan. 9 c and call vnto them in a farre countre: and beholde, they shal come hastely with spede. There is not one faynt nor feble amonge them, no not a slogish nor slepery parsone. There shal not one of them put of the gyrdle from his loynes, ner lowse the lachet of his shue. Their arowes are sharpe, and their bowes bent. Their horse hoofes are like flynt, and their cartwheles like a stormy wynde. Their crie is as it were of a lyon, and the roaringe of them like lyons whelpes. They shal roare, and hātch vp the praye, and no man shal recouer it or get it from thē. In that daye they shal be so fearce vpon them, as the see. And yf we loke vnto the londe, beholde, it shalbe all darcknesse and sorowe. Yf we loke to heauen: beholde, it shalbe darck with careful desperacion.

The vj Chapter.

IN the same yeare yy kynge Osias dyed, I a e the LORDE sittinge vpon an high and glorious seate,3 Reg. 〈…〉 4. Reg. 〈…〉 2. 〈…〉 and his trayne fylled ye palace. From aboue flakred the Seraphins, wherof euery one had sex wynges. With twayne ech couered his face, wt twayne his fete, and with twayne dyd he flye. They cried also ech one to other on this maner: holy, holy, holy is the LORDE of hoostes. 〈…〉 The whole worlde is ful of his glory. Yee the geastes and dorechekes moued at their crienge, and the house was ful of smoke. Then I sayde: O wo is me. For I was astonished: that I (which am a man of vnclene lippes, and dwell amonge people yt hath vnclene lippes also:) Shulde se ye Kynge and LORDE of hoostes with myne eyes.

Then flewe one of the Seraphins vnto me, hauinge a hote cole in his honde, which he had taken from the aulter with the tonges, and touched my mouth, and sayde: lo, this hath touched thy mouth, & thy vnrightuousnes is taken awaye, and thy synne forgeuen. After this I herde the voyce of the LORDE takinge advysement on this maner: Whom shall I sende, and who wilbe oure messaunger? Thē I sayde: here am I, sende me. And so he sayde: go, and tel this people: ye shall heare in dede, but ye shal not vnderstonde, 〈…〉 ye shal plane lyse, and not perceaue. Harden the harte of this people, stoppe their eares, and shut their eyes, that they se not wt their eyes, heare not with their eares, and vnderstonde not with their hartes, and conuerte and be healed.

Then spake I: LORDE, how longe? he answered: vntil the cities be vtterly without inhabitours, and ye houses without men, till the lōde be also desolate, and lye vnbuylded. For the LORDE shal take the men farre awaye, so that the londe shal lye waist Neuertheles, the tenth parte shal remayne therin, for it shal conuerte and be fruteful. And like wise as the Terebyntes and Oketrees bringe forth their frutes, so shal the holy sede haue frute. 〈…〉

The seuenth Chapter.

IT happened in the tyme of Ahas the sonne of Ionathas, 〈◊〉 . 16 a 〈◊〉 . 3 a which was the sonne of Ioathan Kynge of Iuda: that Rezin the Kinge of Siria, and Poca Rome lies sonne, Kynge of Israel: wente vp toward Ierusalem to besege it (but wanne it not.) Now when the house of Dauid (that is Ahas) herde worde therof, yt Siria and Ephraim were confederate together: his herte quaked (yee and ye hertes also of his people) like as a tre in the felde, that is moued with the wynde.

Then sayde God vnto Esay: go mete Ahas (thou and thy sonne Sear Iasub) at the heade of ye ouer pole, in the fote path by the fullers grounde, and saye vnto him: take hede to thy self and be still, but feare not, nether be faynt harted, for these two tales: that is: for these two smokynge fyre brandes, the wrath and furiousnes of Rezin the Sirian and Romelies sonne: because that the Kynge of Siria Ephraim and Romelies sonne haue wekedly conspyred agaynst the, sayenge: We will go downe in to Iuda, vexe thē, and brynge them vnder vs, and set a Kynge there, euen the sonne of Taball. For thus saieth the LORDE God therto, It shall not so go forth, nether come so to passe: for the head citie of ye Sirians is Damascus, but the head of Damascus is Rezin. And after fyue and threscore yeare, shal Ephraim be nomore a people. And the chefe citie of Ephraim is Samaria, but the head of Samaria is Rome lies sonne. And yf ye beleue not, there shall no promyse be kepte with you. 〈…〉

Morouer, God spake vnto Ahas, sayenge: requyre a token of the LORDE thy God, whether it be towarde the depth beneth or towarde ye hight aboue. Thē sayde Ahas: I will requyre none, nether will I tempte the LORDE. The LORDE answered: Then he are to, ye of the house of Dauid: Is it not ynough for you, that ye be greuous vnto men, but ye must greue my God also? And therfore the LORDE shal geue you a token of himself: Beholde, Luc. 1 d Math. 1 d a virgin shal cōceaue and beare a sonne, and shal call his name Emanuel. Butter and hony shal he eate, yt he maye knowe the euel, and chose ye good. But or euer that childe come to knowlege, to eschue the euel and chose the good: The londe (that thou art so afrayde for) shalbe desolate of both hir kynges.

The LORDE also shal sende a tyme vpon the, vpon thy people, and vpō thy fathers house (soch as neuer came sence the tyme yt Ephraim departed from Iuda) thorow ye kynge of the Assirians. For at the same tyme shal the LORDE whistle for the flyes yt are aboute the water of Egipte,2. Par. 32 a Esa. 36 a and for ye Beyes in the Assirians londe. These shall come, and shal light all in the valeyes, in ye vowtes of stone, vpon all grene thinges, and in all corners.

At the same tyme shal the LORDE shaue the hayre of the heade and the fete and the beerd clene of, with the rasoure that he shall paye them withall beyonde the water: namely, with ye kynge of the Assirians. At the same tyme shall a man lyue with a cowe, and two shepe. Then because of the aboundaunce of mylck,2. Par. 22 e he shal make butter and eat it. So that euery one which remayneth in the londe, shal eate butter and hony. At the same tyme all vynyardes (though there be a thousand vynes in one, and were solde for a thousand siluerlinges) shalbe turned to brears and thornes. Like as they shal come in to the londe with arowes and bowes, so shal all the londe become brears and thornes. And as for all hilles that now are hewen downe, thou shalt not come vpō them, for feare of brears and thornes. But the catel shalbe dryuen thither, and the shepe shal fede there.

The viij Chapter.

MOrouer the LORDE sayde vnto me: Take the a greate leaf, Esa. 30 b and wryte in it, as men do with a penne, that he spede him to robbe, and haist him to spoyle. And Inmediatly I called vnto me faithful wytnesses: Vrias the prest, and Zacharias ye sonne of Barachias. After that went I vnto the prophetisse, that now had conceaued and borne a sonne. Then sayde the LORDE to me: geue him this name: Maherschalal haschbas, that is: a spedierobber, an hastie spoyler. For why, or euer the childe shal haue knowlege to saye: Abi and Im, yt is father, and mother: shal ye riches of Damascus and ye substaunce of Samaria be takē awaye, thorow the kynge of ye Assirians.4. Re. 16 b 4. Re. 17 a

The LORDE spake also vnto me, sayenge: e. 2. a •• al. 12 a aiae 30. a hel. 9. a for so moch as the people refuseth the sti renninge water of Silo, and put their delite in Rezin and Romelies sonne: Beholde, the LORDE shal bringe mightie and great floudes of water vpon them: namely, ye kynge of the Assirians with all his power. . Reg. 18. c saiae 36 a Which shall poure out his furyousnes vpō euery man, and renne ouer all their bankes. And shal breake in vpon Iuda, increasinge in power, till he get him by the throte. He shal fyl also the wydenesse of thy londe wt his brode wynges, O Emanuel. Go together ye people, and gather you, herken to all ye of farre countrees. Mustre you, and gather you: mustre you and gather you, take youre councel together, yet must youre councel come to nought: saiae 19. c go in honde withal, yet shal it not prospere. Excepte Emanuel: (that is God) be with us. For the LORDE chastised me, and toke me by ye honde, and warned me, sayenge vnto me: that I shulde not walcke in the waye of this people. He sayde morouer: rounde with none of thē, who so euer saye: yonder people are bounde together.1. Pet. 3. b 4 Reg. 17. g Matth. 10. d 1. Cor. 1. d 1. Pet. 2. b Neuertheles feare them not, nether be afrayde of them, but sanctifie the LORDE of hoostes, let him be youre feare and drede. For he is the sanctifienge, and stone to stomble at, ye rock to fall vpon, a snare and net to both the houses: to Israel, and the inhabitours of Ierusalem. And many shal stomble, fall, and be brokē vpon him: yee they shalbe snared and taken.

Now laye the witnesses together (sayde the LORDE) and seale the lawe with my disciples. Daniel. 8. d Thus I waite vpon the LORDE, that hath turned his face from the house of Iacob, Heb. . d and I loke vnto him. But lo, as for me, and the children which the LORDE hath geuen me: we are a token and a wondre in Israel, for the LORDE of hoostes sake, which dwelleth vpon the hill of Syon.

And therfore yf they saye vnto you: aske councel at the soythsayers, witches, charmers and coniurers, then make them this answere: Is there a people enywhere, that a eth not councel at his God: whether it be concernynge the dead, or the lyuynge? Yf eny man want light, Psal. 1 . let him loke vpon the lawe and the testimony, whether they speake not after this meanynge. Yf he do not this, he stombleth and suffreth hūger. And yf he suffre honger, he is out of pacience, and blasphemeth his kynge and his God. Then loketh he vpwarde, and downewarde to the earth, and beholde, there is trouble and darcknesse, vexacion is rounde aboute him, and the cloude of erroure And out of soch aduersite, shall he not escape.

The jx. Chapter.

EVen like as in tyme past it hath bene well sene, 〈…〉 that ye londe of Zabulon and the londe of Nepthali (where thorow the see waye goeth ouer Iordane in to the londe of Galilee) was at the first in litle trouble, but afterward sore vexed. 〈…〉

Neuertheles ye people that haue dwelt in darcknesse, shal se a greate light. As for them that dwel in the londe of the shadowe of death, vpon them shal the light shyne. Shalt thou multiplie the people, and not increase the ioye also? 〈…〉 They shal reioyse before the euen as men make mery in haruest, and as men that haue gotten the victory, when they deale the spoyle. For thou shalt breake the yocke of the peoples burthen: the staff of hys shulder, 〈…〉 and the rod of his oppressoure, as in ye daye at Madiā.

Morouer all temerarious and sedicious power (yee where there is but a cote fyled wt bloude) shalbe burnt, and fede the fyre. 〈…〉 For vnto us a childe shalbe borne, and vnto us a sonne shalbe geuē. Vpō his shulder shal the kyngdome lye, and he shalbe called wt his owne name? 〈…〉 The wōderous geuer of councel, the mightie God, the euerlastinge father, the prynce of peace, he shal make no ende to encrease the kyngdome and peace, and shal syt vpon the seate of Dauid and in his kyngdome, to set vp the same, to stablish it with equyte and rightuousnesse, from thence forth for euermore. This shal the gelousy of the LORDE of hoostes bringe to passe.

The LORDE sent a worde in to Iacob, the same is come in to Israel. All the people also of Ephraim, and they that dwel in Samaria, can saye with pryde and hie stomackes, on this maner: The tyle worcke is fallen downe, but we will buylde it with harder stones. The Molbery tymbreys broken, but we shal set it vp agayne with Cedre. Neuertheles, the LORDE shal prepare Rezin the enemie agaynst thē, and so ordre their aduersaries, that ye Sirians shal laye holde vpon them before, and the Philistynes behynde, and so deuoure Israel with open mouth.

After all this, 〈…〉 the wrath of the LORDE shal not ceasse, but yet his hande shable stretched out still. For the people turneth not vnto him, that chastiseth them, nether do they seke the LORDE of hoostes. Therfore the LORDE shal rote out of Israel both heade and tale, braunch and twygge in one daye. By the heade, is vnderstonde the Senatoure and honorable man, and by ye tale, the prophet that preacheth lyes. For all they which enfourme the people that they be in a right case, soch be disceauers. Soch as men thynke also to be perfecte amonge these, are but cast awaye.

Therfore shal the LORDE haue no pleasure in their yonge mē, nether fauoure their fatherlesse and wydowes. For thei are altogether ypocrites and wicked, and all their mouthes speake foly. After all this shal not the LORDES wrath ceasse, but yet his honde shalbe stretched out still. For the vngodly burne, as a fyre in the bryers and thornes: And as it were out of a fyre in a wod or a redebush, so ascendeth the smoke of their pryde.

For this cause shal ye wrath of the LORDE of hoostes fall vpon the londe, and the people shalbe consumed, as it were with fyre, no man shal spare his brother. Yf a man do turne him to the right honde, he shal famesh, or to the lefte hande to eat, he shal not haue ynough. Euery man shal eate the flesh of his owne arme: Manasses shal eate Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and they both shal eate Iuda. After all this shal not the LORDEs wrath ceasse, but yet shal his honde be stretched out still.

The tenth chapter.

WO be vnto you yt make vnrightuous lawes, 〈…〉 and devyse thinges, which be to harde for to kepe: wherthorow the poore are oppressed, on euery syde, and the innocētes of my people are there with robbed of iudgment: that wyddowes maye be youre praye, and that ye maye robbe the fatherlesse. What will ye do in tyme of the visitacion and destruction, that shal come from farre? To whom will ye renne for helpe? or to whom will ye geue youre honoure, that he maye kepe it? that ye come not amonge the presoners, or lye amonge the deed? 〈…〉 After all this shal not the wrath of the LORDE ceasse, but yet shal his honde be stretched out still.

〈◊〉 26. a 〈◊〉 25. b 〈◊〉 1. b Wo be also vnto Assur, which is a staff of my wrath, in whose honde is the rod of my punyshment. For I shal sende him amonge those ypocritish poeple, amonge the people that haue deserued my disfauoure shal I send him: that he maye utterly robbe them, spoyle them, and treade them downe like the myre in the strete. Howbeit his meanynge is not so, nether thinketh his harte of this fashion. But he ymagineth only, how he maye ouerthrowe and destroye moch people, for he saieth: are not my princes all kynges?4. Reg. 18. Is not Calno as easie to wynne, as Charchamis? Is it harder to conquere Antiochia then Arphad? Or is it lighter to ouercome Damascus thē Samaria? As who say: I were able to wynne the kingdome of the Idolaters and their goddes, but not Ierusalem and Samaria. Shal I not do vnto Ierusalem and their ymages, as I dyd vnto Samaria and their ymages?

Wherfore the LORDE saieth: As soone as I haue perfourmed my whole worcke vpon the Hyl of Syon and Ierusalem: thē will I also vyset the noble and stoute kynge of Assiria, with his wysdome and pryde. For he stondeth thus in his owne cōceate: This do I, Deut. 8. d Esa. 47. b Eze. 29. b thorow the power of myne owne honde, and thorow my wisdome: For I am wyse, I am he that remoue the londes of the people, I robbe their prynces: and (like one of the worthies) I dryue them from their hie seates. My honde hath founde out the hoostes of the people, as it were a nest. And like as egges, that were layde here and there, are gathered together: So do I gather all countrees. And there is no man, yt darre be so bolde, as to touch a fether, that darre open his mouth, or once whisper.

But doth the axe boost itself, Esa. 45. b Rom. 9. c agaynst him yt heweth therwith, or doth the sawe make eny krakinge, agaynst him that ruleth it? That were euen like, as yf the rod dyd exalte it self agaynst him, that beareth it: or as though ye staff shulde magnifie it self, as who saye: it were no wodd. Esa. 37. f Therfore shal the LORDE of hoostes sende him pouerte in his riches, and burne vp his power, as it were with a fyre. Mat. 13. a But the light of Israel shalbe yt fyre, and his Sanctuary shalbe the flame, and it shal kyndle, and burne vp his thornes and breyers in one daye, yee all the glory of his woddes and feldes shalbe consumed with body and soule. As for himself, he shalbe as one chased awaye. The trees also of his felde shalbe of soch a nombre, that a childe maye tell them.

After yt daye shal the remnaunt of Israel, and soch as are escaped out of the house of Iacob, seke no more cōforte at him that smote them, but shal conforte themselues with faithfulnesse and treuth in the LORDE, the holy, . Re. 19. c Ro. 9. c Esa. 28. f and 11. e one of Israel. The remnaunt, yee and the Posteryte of Iacob, shal cōuerte vnto God the mighty one. For though thy people (o Israel) be as the sonde of the see, yet shal but the remnaunt of them only conuerte vnto him. Perfecte is the iudgmēt of him that floweth in rightuousnesse: and therfore ye LORDE of hoostes shal perfectly fulfil the thinge, that he hath determyned in the myddest of the whole worlde. Therfore thus saieth the LORDE God of hoostes: Thou my people, that dwellest in Sion, be not afrayde for the kinge of the Assirians: He shal wagg his staff at the, yee and beate the with the rodd, as the Egiptiās dyd sometyme: But soone after, shal my wrath and my indignacion be fulfylled agaynst their blasphemies.

Morouer the LORDE of hoostes shal prepare a scourge for him, Esa. 37. f Iudic 7. g like as was the punyshmēt of Madiā vpō ye mount of Oreb. And he shal lift vp his rod ouer the see, Exo. 14. c as he dyd somtyme ouer the Egiptians. Their shal his burthen be taken from thy shulders, and his yock from thy neck, yee the same yock shal corrupte for very fatnesse. He shal come to Aiath, and go thorow toward Migron. But at Machmas shal he muster his hooste, and go ouer ye foorde. Gaba shal be their restinge place, Rhama shalbe afrayde, Gabea Saul shal fle awaye. The voyce of ye noyse of thy horses (o doughter Gallim) shalbe herde vnto lais and to Anathoth, which also shalbe in trouble. Madmena shal tremble for feare, but the citesyns of Gahim are māly, yet shal he remayne at Nob that daye. After that, shal he lift vp his honde agaynst the mount Sion, and agaynst the hill of Ierusalem. But se, the LORde God of hoostes shal take awaye the proude from thence, wt feare. He shal hew downe the proude, and fel the hie mynded. The thornes of the wod shal be rooted out wt yron, and Libanus shal haue a mightie fal.

The xj. Chapter.

AFter this there shal come a rod forth of ye Kynrede of Iesse, Mat. 1. a Esa. 61. a Luc. 4. b and 7. c and a blossome out of his rote. The sprete of the LORDE shal light vpon it: the sprete of wysdome, and vnderstondinge: the sprete of councel, and strength: ye sprete of knowlege, and of the feare of God: and shal make him feruent in the feare of God. For he shal not geue sentēce, after the thinge yt shal be brought before his eies, nether reproue a matter at the first hearinge: but with rightousnesse shal he iudge the poore, and with holynes shal he refourme the symple of the worlde. 〈…〉

He shal smyte ye worlde with ye staff of his mouth, & with ye breath of his mouth shal he slaye the wicked. 〈…〉 Rightuousnesse shalbe the gyrdle of his loynes, treuth and faithfulnesse the gyrdinge vp of his raynes. Thē shal ye wolfe dwel with the lābe, and the leop rde shal lye downe by the gote. Bullokes, 〈…〉 lyons and catel shal kepe company together, so that a litle childe shal dryue them forth. The cowe and the Bere shal fede together, and their yongones shal lye together. The lyō shal eate strawe like the oxe, or the cowe. The childe whyle he sucketh, shal haue a desyre to the serpentes nest, and whē he is weened, he shal put his hande in to the Cockatryce denne. 〈…〉 No man shal do euel to another, no man shal destro another, in all the hill of my Sanctuary. For the earth shalbe ful of ye knowlege of ye LORDE, euen as though the water of the see flowed ouer the earth.

Then shal the Gentiles enquere after the rote of Iesse (which shalbe set vp for a token vnto the Gentiles) for his dwellinge shalbe glorious. 〈…〉 At the same tyme shal the LORDE take in honde agayne, to conquere ye remnaunt of his people (which are lefft alyue) From the Assiriās, Egiptians, 〈…〉 Arabians, Morians, Elamites, Caldeyes, Antiochiās and Ilōdes of the see. 〈…〉 And he shal set vp a tokē amonge the Gentiles, and gather together ye dispersed of Israel, yee and the outcastes of Iuda from the foure corners of ye worlde. The hatred of Ephraim, and ye enmyte of Iuda shalbe clene rooted out. Ephraim shal beare no euel wil to Iuda, and Iuda shal not hate Ephraim: but they both together shal flye vpō the shulders of the Philistynes toward the West, and spoyle them together that dwell toward the East. The Idumytes and the Moabites shal let their hōdes fall, and the Ammonites shalbe obedient vnto them.

The LORDE also shal cleue the tunges of the Egipciās see, and with a mightie wynde shal he lift vp his honde ouer Nilus, and shal smyte his seuē streames and make men go ouer drye shod. And thus shal he make a waye for his people, yt remayneth from the Assirians, 〈…〉 like as it happened to ye Israelites, what tyme they departed out of the londe of Egipte.

The xij. Chapter.

SO that then thou shalt saye: O LORDE, I thanke the, for thou wast displeased at me, but thou hast refrayned thy wrath, 〈◊〉 c. . c 〈…〉 . a 〈◊〉 . 117. b and hast mercy vpon me. Beholde, God is my health, in whom I trust, and am not afrayde. For the LORDE God is my strength, and my prayse, he also shalbe my refuge. Therfore with ioye shal ye drawe water out of the welles of the Sauioure, and then shal ye saye: 〈…〉 . a 〈…〉 . b Let vs geue thankes vnto the lorde, and call vpon his name, and declare his councels amonge the people, and kepe them in remembraunce, for his name is excellēt. O synge praises vnto the LORDE, for he doth greate thinges, as it is knowne in all the worlde. Crie out, and be glad, thou that dwellest in Sion, for greate is thy prince: the holy one of Israel.

The XIII. Chapter.

THis is ye heuy burthē of Babilō, which Esaye the sonne of Amos dyd se. Make some tokēs to the hie hilles, 〈…〉 call vnto them, holde vp youre hōde, that the prynces maye go in at the dore. For I will sende for my debites and my gyaūtes (sayeth the LORDE) and in my wrath I will call for soch, as tryumphe in my glory.

〈…〉 With that, me thought I herde in the moūtaynes, a noyse, like as it had bene of a greate people: and a ruszshinge, as though the kyngdomes of all nacions had come together. (And the LORDE of hoostes was the captayne of the whole armye.) As they had come not only out of farre countrees, but also from the endes of the heauēs: Euē the LORDE himself with the ministers of his wrath, to destroye the whole lōde. Mourne therfore, for the daye of the LORDE is at honde, and commeth as a destroyer from ye allmighty. Then shall all hondes be letten downe, and all mens hertes shal melt awaie, they shal stonde in feare, carefulnesse and sorowe shal come vpō them, and they shal haue payne, as a woman that traueleth with childe. 〈…〉 One shall euer be abaszshed of another, & their faces shal burne, like ye flāme.

For lo, the daye of the LORDE shall come, terrible, full of indignacion and wrath: to make the londe waist, and to root out the synne therof. For the starres and planetes of heauen shal not geue their light, the Sonne shalbe quenched in the rysinge, 〈…〉 and the Mone shal not shyne with his light. And I wil punysh the wickednesse of the worlde, & the synnes of the vngodly, sayeth the LORDE. The hye stomackes of the proude will I take awaye, and will laye downe the boostinge of tyrauntes. I will make a man dearer thē fyne golde, and a man to be more worth, thē a golden wedge of Ophir. Morouer, I will so shake the heauē, that the earth shall remo out of hir place.

Thus shall it go wt Babilon, in the wrath of the LORDE of hoostes in ye daye of his fearfull indignaciō. And Babilon shalbe as an hunted or chased doo, and as a flocke wt out a shepherde. Euery mā shal turne to his owne people, & fle echone into his owne londe. Who so is founde alone, shalbe shot thorow: And who so gather together, shalbe destroyed wt the swerde. Their children shalbe slayne before their eyes, their houses spoyled, & their wyues rauyshed. For lo, I shall bringe vp ye Medes agaynst thē, which shal not regarde syluer, nor be desyrous of golde. Then shall yonge mens bowes be knapped asunder. The Medes shal haue no pitie vpō womē wt childe, & their faces shall not spare ye childrē. And Babilō (yt glory of kīgdomes and bewtie of the Caldees honor) shalbe destroyed, euē as God destroyed Sodom & Gomorra. It shal neuer be more inhabited, Gen. 19. c nether shal there be eny more dwellinge there, from generacion to generacion.

The Arabians shall make no mo tentes there, nether shall the shepardes make their foldes there eny more: but wylde beastes shal lie there, & ye houses shalbe full of greate Oules. Estriches shal dwell there, & Apes shal daunse there: The litle Oules shall crie in the palaces, one after another, & Dragōs shalbe in the pleasaūt perlours. And as for Babilons tyme, it is at honde, & hir dayes maye not be longe absent.

The XIIII. Chapter.

BVt ye LORDE wilbe mercyfull vnto Iacob, & wyll take vp Israel agayne, & set thē in their owne lōde. Straūgers shal clene vnto thē, & get thē to ye house of Iacob. They shal take ye people, Abdie 1. d Zach. 2. b & cary thē home wt thē. And ye house of Israel shal haue thē in possession, for seruaūtes & maydēs in ye lōde of ye LORDE. They shal take those prisoners, whose captyues they had bene afore: & rule those, yt had oppressed thē. When ye LORDE now shal bringe ye to rest, frō ye trauayle, feare, & harde bondage yt thou wast laden with all: then shalt thou vse this mockage vpon ye kinge of Babilon, & saye: How happeneth it yt ye oppressour leaueth of? It ye golden tribute come to an ende? Doutles the LORDE hath broken the staff of the vngodly, & the cepter of ye lordly. Which whē he is wroth, smyteth ye people wt durable strokes, & in his wōders he persecuteth thē, & tameth thē cōtinually. And therfore ye whole worlde is now at rest and quyetnesse, & men synge for ioye.

Yee euen the Fyrre trees and Cedres of Libanus reioyse at thy fall, sayenge: Now yt thou art layde downe, there come no mo vp to destroye vs. Hell also trembleth at thy commynge, All mightie men and prynces of the earth, steppe forth before the. All kynges of the earth stonde vp frō their seates, that they maye all (one after another) synge and speake vnto the. Art thou wounded also as we? art thou become like vnto vs? Thy pompe and thy pryde is gone downe to hell: Mothes shalbe layde vnder the, Luc. 10. c & wormes shalbe thy coueringe.

How art thou fallen from heauen (o Lucifer) thou faire mornīge childe? APo. 12. d hast thou gotten a fall euen to the grounde, thou that (not withstondinge) dyddest subdue the people? And yet thou thoughtest in thine harte: I will clymme vp in to heauen, and make my seate aboue the starres of God, I wyll syt vpon the glorious mount toward the North, I wyll clymme vp aboue the cloudes, & wilbe like the highest of all. Yet darre I laye, yt thou shalt be brought downe to the depe of hell. Eze. 31. c Eze. 32. c They that se the, shal narowly loke vpō the, and thinke in them selues, sayenge: Is this the man, that brought all londes in feare, and made ye kingdomes afrayde: Is this he that made the worlde in a maner waist, & and layde the cities to the grounde, which let not his prisoners go home?

How happeneth it, that the kynges of all people lie, euery one at home in his owne palace, with worshipe, and thou art cast out of thy graue like a wilde braunch: like as dead mens rayment that are shott thorow with the swerde: as they that go downe to the stones of the depe: as a dead coarse that is tr den vnder fete: and art not buried wt them? Euen because that thou hast waisted thy lō de, and destroyed thy people. For the generacion of the wicked shalbe without honor, for euer. There shal a waye be sought to destroye their childrē, for their fathers wickednes: they shal not come vp agayne to possesse the londe, and fyll the worlde ful of castels and townes.

I wil stonde vp agaynst them (sayeth the LORDE of hoostes) and root out ye name and generacion of Babilon (saieth the LORDE) & wil geue it to the Otters, and wil make water poddels of it. And I wil swepe them out with the besome of destruccion, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes. The LORDE of hoostes hath sworne an ooth, sayēge: It shal come to passe as I haue determined: & shalbe fulfilled as I haue deuysed. Esa. 37. a The Assirians shalbe destroyed in my londe, and vpon my mountaytaines wyll I treade them vnder fote. Wherthorow his yocke shall come from you, & his burthen shalbe taken from youre shulders. This deuyce hath God taken thorow the whole worlde, and thus is his honde stretched out ouer all people. For yf the LORDE of hoostes determe a thinge, who wyl dysanulle it? And yf he stretch forth his honde, who wil holde it in agayne?

The same yeare that kynge Achas dyed, God threatned by Esay on this maner: 〈…〉 Reioyse not (thou whole Palestina) as though ye rod of him yt beateth the were broken: For out of ye serpentes rote, there shal waxe a k c katrice, & the frute shalbe a fyrie worme. But the poore shall fede of the best thinges, and the symple shal dwell in safetie. 〈…〉 Thy rotes wil I destroye wt honger, and it shall slaye ye remnaunt. Mourne ye portes, wepe ye Cities And feare thou (o whole Palestina) for that shal come frō the North a smoke, whose power no man maye abyde. Who shall then maynteyne the messages of the Gentyles? But the LORDE stablisheth Syon, & the poore of my people shall put their trust in him.

The XV. Chapter.

THis is ye heuy burthē vpō Moab: Ar of Moab was destroyed (as me thought) in the night season: 〈…〉 The walles of Moab perished in the night, & vanished awaye: They wēte to Baith and Dibon in the hie places, for to wepe: Moab did mourne frō Nebo to Medba: All their heades were colled, and al their beardes shauen. 〈…〉 In their stretes were they gyrded aboute with sack cloth. In all the toppes of their houses & stretes was there nothinge, but mournynge and weping . Hesebon and Eleale cried, that their voyce was herde vnto Iahaz. The worthies also of Moab bleared and cried for very sorow of their myndes: Wo is my hert for Moabs sake. They fled vnto the cite of Zoar, which is like a fayre fruteful bullock, they went vp to Luhith, wepinge. The waye toward Horonaim was ful of lamentacion for ye hurte. The waters of Nimrim were dried vp, the grasse was wythred, the herbes destroyed, & what necessary grene thinge there was besyde. In like maner the thinge yt was left them of their substaunce, they caried it by water to Araby. The crie went ouer the whole londe of Moab: from Eglaim vnto Beer, was there nothinge but mournynge. The waters of Dimon were full of bloude, for ye enemie had sent thither a bonde of men, which as a lyon, layde waite for the remnaunt of the londe, and for them yt were escaped.

The xvj. Chapter.

THen sent the lordes of the lōde a mā of warre, from the rocke that lieth toward the deserte, vnto the hill of the doughter Sion (For as for the doughters of Moab, they were as it had bene a trymblinge byrde, yt is put out of hir nest, by the fery of Arnon) which messaunger sayde: gather youre councel, come together, couer vs with youre shadowe in the myddaye, 〈…〉 as the night doth: hyde the chased, & bewraye not thē that are fled, let the persecuted Moabites dwel amōge you, be oure open refuge agaynst the destroyer: for the aduersary oppresseth vs, the robber vndoeth vs, & the tyraunte dryueth vs out of oure londe. But ye Trone of youre kingdome is ful of grace, therfore he that sytteth vpon it wt faitfulnesse & treuth in the house of Dauid, knowe the thinge & do his diligence to helpe shortly acordinge to Equite and rightuousnes. As for Moabs pride (shal they answere) it is wel knowne. And all though they be excellent, 〈…〉 proude, arrogant, & hie mynded: yet is their strength nothinge like. And therfore Moab complayneth vnto Moab, wher thorow they come all to mourne: & now yt they be smytten, they take their deuyce beneth by the bryckwall, and make their cō playnte.

The suburbes also of Hesebon were made waist, & the princes of the Gentyles hewed downe ye vynyardes of Sibma, which were planted with noble grapes, and spred vnto Iazer, and went vnto the ende of the deserte, whose braunches stretched their selues forth beyonde the see. Therfore I mourned for Iazer, & for ye vynyardes of Sibma wt greate sorow. I poured my teares vpon Hesebon & Eleale, for all their songes were layde downe, in their haruest & gatheringe of their grapes: Myrth and chere was gone out of ye felde & vynyardes, in so moch, that no man was glad ner sunge. There wēte no treader in to the wynepresse, their mery chere was layde downe. Wherfore my bely rōbled (as it had bene a lute) for Moabs sake, & myne inwarde membres, for the bryckwalles sake. For it happened thus also: whē Moab sawe that she was turned vpsyde downe: 〈…〉 she went vp an hie in to hir sanctuary to make hir prayer there, but she might not 〈◊〉 helped. This is the deuyce, which the LORDE toke in honde at that tyme agaynst Moab. But now the LORDE sayeth thus: In thre yeare shal ye power of Moab wt their pōpe (which is greate) be minished, like as ye burthē of an hyred seruaunte: And as for ye remnaunt of them, they shalbe lesse then a fewe, and not rekened moch worth.

The xvij. Chapter.

THis is the heuy burthē vpō Damascus: Beholde, Iere. 49 d Amos. 1. a Damascus shal be nomore a cite, but an heape of broken stones. The cities of Aroer shalbe waist, The catel shal lie there, & nomā shal fraye thē awaye. Ephraim shal no more be strōge, & Damascus shal no more be a kyngdome. And as for ye glory of ye remnaunt of ye Sirians, it shalbe as the glory of the childrē of Israel, saieth ye LORDE of hoostes. At that tyme also shal ye glory of Iacob be very poore, & his fatnes leane. It shal happē to thē, as when one sheareth in haruest, which cutteth his handful wt the sickle, & when one gathreth ye sheaues together in the valley, of Rephaim, there remayneth yet some ears ouer. Or as whē one shaketh an olyue tre, Esa. 24. b which fyndeth but two or thre olyue beries aboue in the toppe, and foure or fyue in the braunches. Thus the LORDE God of Israel hath spoken.

Then shal man cōuerte agayne vnto his maker, & turne his eyes to the holy one of Israel And shal not turne to the aulters that are ye worke of his owne hōdes, nether shal he loke vpon groaues & ymages, which his fyngers haue wrought. At the same tyme shal their stronge cities be desolate, like as were once ye forsakē plowes & corne, which they forsoke, for feare of ye children of Israel.4. Re. 7. b

So shalt thou (o Damascus) be desolate, because thou hast forgottē God ye Sauioure, & hast not called to remēbraunce ye rock of thi strēgth, Wherfore thou hast also set a fayre plāte, & grafted a straunge braunch. In the daye when thou diddest plante it, it was greate, and gaue soone the frute of thi sede: But in the daye of haruest, thou shalt reape an heape of sorowes & miseries.

Wo be to the multitude of moch people, that russh in like the see, and to the heape of folke, that renne ouer all like greate waters. For though so many people increase as the flowinge waters, Esa. 37 and though they be armed, yet they fle farre of, and vanish awaye like the dust with the wynde vpon an hill, and as the whyrle wynde thorow a storme. Though they be fearful at night, yet in the morninge it is gone with thē, This is their porcion, that do vs harme, and heretage of them, that robbe vs.

The xviij. Chapter.

WO be to the londe of flienge shippes, which is of this syde ye floude of Ethiopia: which sendeth hir message ouer the see in shippes of redes vpō ye water, and sayeth: go soone, and do yor message vnto a straunge and harde folke: to a fearful people, & to a people yt is further then this: to a desperate and pylled folke, whose londe is deuyded from vs with ryuers of water. Yee all ye yt fyt in the compasse of the worlde, and dwell vpon the earth: when the token shalbe geuen vpō the mountaynes, then loke vp: and when the home bloweth, then herken to, for thus hath ye LORDE sayde vnto me. I layde me downe, and pondred the matter in my house, at the noone daye when it was hote: and there fel a myslinge shower, like a dew, as it happeneth in haruest. But the frutes, were not yet ripe cut of, and the grapes were but yonge and grene. Then one smote of the grapes with an hoke, yee he hewed downe also the buwes and the braunches, & dyd cast thē awaye. And thus they were layde waist, for the foules of the mountaynes, and for ye beastes of the earth together. So yt the foules sat ther vpon, and the beastes of the earth wyntered there. Then shal there be a present brought vnto the LORDE of hoostes: euen that harde folke, that fearful folke, and that further is thē this: yt desperate and pylled folke (whose londe is deuyded from vs with floudes of water) vnto the place of the name of the LORDE of hoostes: Deut. 12. a euen vnto the hill of Sion.

The xix. Chapter.

THis is the heuy burthen vpon Egipte: Beholde, Iere. 46. a Eze. 29. a Luc. 21. d the LORDE wil ryde vpon a swifte cloude, and come in to Egipte. And the goddes of Egipte shal trymble at his cōmynge, and the hert of Egipte shal quake within her. For thus saieth the LORDE: I wil stere vp the Egiptians one agaynst a nother amonge them selues, Mar. 13. a so that one shalbe euer agaynst his brother and neghboure, yee one cite agaynst another, and one kyngdome agaynst another. And Egipte shalbe choked in hir self. Whē they axe councel at their goddes, at their Prophetes, at their soythsayers and witches: then will I bringe their councel to naught.

I wil delyuer Egipte also in to the hondes of greuous rulers, and a cruel kinge shal haue the rule of them. The water of the see shalbe drawē out, Nilus shal synke awaye, & be dronke vp. The ryuers also shalbe drawen out, the welles shal decreace and drie awaye. Rede and rush shal fayle, the grasse by the waters syde or vpon ye ryuers bancke, yee and what so euer is sowen by the waters, shalbe wythered, destroyed, & brought to naught. The fyshers shall mourne, all soch as cast angles in the water, shal complayne, & they that sprede their nettes in the water, shalbe faynt harted. Soch as laboure vpon flax & sylcke, shal come to pouerte, & they also that weeue fyne workes. All the poundes of Egipte, all the policie of their Moates & diches shal come to naught.

Yee the vndiscrete prynces of Zoan, 〈…〉 the councel of the wyse Senatours of Pharao, 〈…〉 shal turne to foolishnesse: Those that darre boast & saye of Pharaos behalfe: I am come of wyse people. I am come of ye olde regall Progeny. But where are now thy wyse mē? Let them tel the & shewe the, what the LORDE of hoostes hath taken in honde agaynst Egypte. Fooles are those prynces of Zoan, & proude are the prynces of Noph: yee they dysceaue Egypte mith the nobilite of their stocke. 〈…〉 For the LORDE hath made Egypte dronckē with the sprete of erroure, and they shal vse it in all matters: euē like as a dronkē mā goeth spewinge aboute. For Egipte shal lacke good councel, so yt they shal not knowe what to do, nether beginnynge nor ende, nether vpon the lōde nor water. Thē shal ye Egiptiās be like vnto womē, afrayde & astō ed, at the liftinge vp of the hōde, which ye LORDE of hoostes shal lifte vp ouer them.

The londe of Iuda also shal make the Egiptians afrayde, who so doth but speake vpon it, shal put them in feare: And that be cause of the councel, which ye LORDE of hoostes hath devysed agaynst them. Then shal the fyue cities of Egipte speake with the Canaanites t nge, ande sweare by the LORDE of hoostes, & Heliopolis shalbe one of them. At the same tyme shal the LORDE of hoostes haue an aulter in the myddest of the londe of Egipte, with this title ther by: Vnto the LORDE. This shalbe a token or testimony vnto the LORDE of hoostes in the londe of Egipte, when they shal crie vnto him, because of those that oppresse them: that he shal sende them a captayne and a Sauioure to delyuer them.

Morouer, Egipte shalbe bought vnto the LORDE, and the Egiptians also shal knowe the LORDE at the same tyme: they shal do him reuerence with peace offringes, and with meat offringes: they shal promyse him offringes, yee & paye him also. Thus the LORDE shal smyte Egipte, & heale it agayne: & so shal they turne to ye LORDE, and he also shal haue mercy vpō them, and saue them. Then shal there be a comon waye out of Egipte in to Assiria. The Assirians shal come in to Egipte, and the Egypcians in to Assiria. The Egipcians also and the Assirians shal both haue one Gods seruyce. Then shal Israel with honoure be the thirde to Egipte and Assur. And the LORDE of hoostes shal blesse them, sayenge: Blissed is my people of the Egipcians, Assur is the worke of my hō des, but Israel is myne enheritaunce.

The xx. Chapter.

THe same yeare that Harthan came to Aschod, where Sargē the kinge of the Assirians sent him, what tyme as he also be seged Aschdod, & wāne it ye same season: Thē spake the LORDE vnto Esaye ye sonne of Amos, sayenge: go and lowse of yt sack cloth frō thy loynes, and put of ye shues from thy fete. And so he dyd, goinge naked & barefote. Then sayde the LORDE: where as my seruaunt Esaye goeth naked and barefote, it is a token and signifienge of the thinge, that after thre yeare shal come vpō Egipte and Ethiopia. For euen thus shal the kinge of the Ass rians driue both yonge and olde, as prisoners naked and barefote, out of Egipte and Ethiopia, And shal dyscouer ye shame of Egipte. They shalbe also at their wittes ende, and ashamed one of another: the Egipcians of the Moryans, and the Morians of the Egipcians, at the sight of their glory.

Morouer they that dwel in ye Iles shal saye euen the same daye: beholde, this is oure hope, to whom we fled to seke helpe, that we might be delyuered from the kinge of ye Assirians. How will we escape?

The xxj. Chapter.

THis is the heuy burthē of the waist see: A greuous visiō was shewed vnto me, like as when a storme of wynde and rayne russheth in from the wyldernesse, that terrible londe. Who so maye disceaue (sayde the voyce) let him disceaue: Who so maye distroye, let him distroye. Vp Elam, besege it o Madai, for I will still all their gronynges. With this, the raynes of my backe were ful of payne: sa. 13. a 〈◊〉 . 13. a Panges came vpon me, as vpon a woman in hir trauayle. When I herde it, I was abasshed: and whē I loked vp, I was afrayde. Myne herte paunted, I trembled for feare. The darcknesse made me fearfull in my mynde.

Yee soone make redy the table (sayde this voyce) kepe the watch, eate and drynke: Vp ye captaynes, take you to youre shylde, for thus the LORDE hath charged me: go thy waye, and set a watchmā, that he maye tell what he seyth. And whē he had wayted diligētly, he sawe two horsmen: the one rydinge vpon an Asse, the other vpon a camel. And the lyon cried: LORDE, I haue stonde waytinge all the whole daye, and haue kepte my watch all the night. With yt came there one rydinge vpon a charet, which answered, and sayde: Babilon is fallen, Iere. 51. a Apo. 14. b and 1 . a she is turned vpsyde downe, and all ye ymages of hir goddes are smytten to ye grounde. This (o my felowe throsshers and fanners) haue I herde of the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel, to shewe it vnto you.

The heuy burthen of Duma.

One of Seir cried vnto me: watchman, Iere. 49. b what hast thou espied by night? Watchman, what hast thou espied by night? The watchman answered: The daye breaketh on, and the night is cōmynge: Yf youre request be earnest, then axe, and come agayne.

The heuy burthen vpon Arabia.

At euen ye shal abyde in the wod, in the waye toward Dedanim. Esa. 16. a Mete the thurstie with water, (o ye citisens of Hema) mete those with b ed that are fled. For thei shal runne awaye from the weapen, from the drawē swerde, from the bēt bowe, and from the greate batell. For thus hath the LORDE spoken vnto me: ouer a yeare shal all the power of Cedar be gone, like as when the office of an hyred seruaunte goeth out: And the remnaunt of the good Archers of Cedar, shalbe very few: Iere. 49. e For the LORDE God of Israel hath spoken it.

The xxij. Chapter.
The heuy burthen, apon the valley of Visions.

WHat hast thou there to do, that thou clymnest vp in to the house toppe, o thou citie of miracles, sedicious and wilfull? seinge, thy slayne mē are nether killed wt swerde, ner deed in batel? For all thy captaynes gat them to their horses from the ordinaunce, yee they are altogether rydden awaye, and fled farre of. When I perceaued yt, I sayde: awaye fro me, yt I maye wepe bytterly. Take no laboure for to cōforte me, Iere. 9. a Lucae 19. d as touchinge the destruction of my people. For this is ye daye of the LORDE of hoostes, wherin he will plage, treade downe, and wede out the valley of Visiōs, and breake downe the walles, with soch a crack, that it shal geue a sownde in the mountaynes.

I sawe the Elamites take the quyuers to carte and to horse, and that the walles were bare from harnesse. Thy goodly valleys were ful of Charettes, the horse men made them soone to besege the gates. Then was the coueringe of Iuda put from thence, and then was sene the sege of the tymbre house. There shal ye se the riftes in the walles of the cite of Dauid,2. Peg. 5. b wherof there shalbe many. Ye shal gather together the waters of the lower pole, and tel the houses of Ierusalē, and break of some of thē to kepe ye walles. And ye shal make a pyt betwyxte ye twayne walles of the water of the olde pole, and nothinge regarde him, that toke it in honde and made it. And at the same tyme shal ye LORDE of hoostes cal mē to wepinge mourninge, to baldnesse and puttinge on of sack clothe. But they to fulfil their lust and wilfulnes, slaugter oxē, they kyll shepe, they eate costly meate, Sap. 2. b 1. Cor. 15. c & drynke wyne: let vs eate and drinke, tomorow we shal die. Neuertheles whē the LORDE of hoostes herde of it, he sayde: yee, yf this wickednes of yours shalbe remitted, ye must die for it. This hath ye LORDE God of hoostes spoken.

Thus sayeth the LORDE God of hoostes: Go in to the treasury vnto Sobna the gouernoure, Esa. 36. a and saye vnto him: What hast thou here to do? & from whēce comest thou? that thou hast made the a graue here? For he had caused a costly tombe of stone to be made for himself, and a place to lye in to be hewen out of a rock. Beholde the LORDE shal cast the out by violence, he will deck the of another fashion, and put vpon the a straunge clothe. He shal carie ye in to a farre coū tre, like a ball with his hondes, There shalt thou die, there shal the pompe of thy charettes haue an ende: thou vylleyne of the house of thy LORDE: I wil shute the out of thine office, and put the from thine estate.

After this wil I cal my seruaunt Eliakim, ye sonne of Helkia, and araye him with thy cote, and gyrde him with thy gyrdle, and I wil geue thy power in to his honde He shalbe a father of the citisens of Ierusalem, Apo. 1. d Iob 12. b and of the Kynred of Iuda. I will also laye the keye of Dauids house vpon his shulders, and yf he open, no man shal shit, and yf he do shyt, no man shal open. I wil fasten him to a nale in the place of the most hie faithfulnesse, Zach. 10. a and he shalbe vpon the glorius trone of his fathers house. They shal hā ge vpon him all the glory of his fathers house, of the children and childers childrē, all apparel small and great, all instrumentes of measure & musike. This shal come to passe, (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) when the nale, yt is fastened to the place of the highest faithfulnesse: shalbe pluckt of, And whē the weight that hangeth vpon it, shal fall, be broken, and hewen in peces. For the LORDE himself hath sayde it.

The xxiij. Chapter.

AN heuy burthen vpon Tirus. Mourne ye shippes of Tharsis, 〈…〉 for she is throwne downe to the grounde, and conquered of them, that are come from Cithim. The Indwellers of the Ilondes, the marchauntes of Sidon, and they that occupied the see (of whom thou wast ful somtyme) are at a poynte. For by see were there frutes brought vnto the, and all maner of corne by water. Thou wast the comon marcket of al people. Sidō is sory for it, yee and all ye power of the see cōplaneth, and saieth: O yt I had neuer traueled with childe, that I had neuer borne eny, yt I had nether norished boye, ner brought vp doughter. As soone as Egipte perceaueth it, she wilbe as sory as Tirus it self. Go ouer the see, Mourne ye yt dwel in the Iles. Is not that the glorious cite, which hath bene of longe antiquite? whose natyues dwellinge farre of, commende her so greatly Who hath deuysed soch thinges vpon Tirus the crowne of al cities, whose marchaūtes and captaynes were the highest and principal of the worlde? Euē the LORDE of hoostes hath deuysed it, that he maye put downe al pompe, and minish all the glory of the worlde. Go thorow thy londe (o thou doughter of the see) as men go ouer the water, 〈…〉 and there is not a gyrdle more.

Thus the LORDE that remoueth the kingdomes, 〈…〉 and hath taken in hande agaynst that mightie Canaan to rote it out:) hath stretched out his honde ouer the see, and sayde: From hence forth shalt thou make no more myrth (o thou doughter Sidon) for thou shalt be put downe of the Cethēs. Stonde vp therfore, and go where the enemie wil carie the, where thou shalt also haue no rest. Beholde (for thyne ensample:) The Caldees were soch a people, that no man was like them, Assur buylded them: he set vp his castels & palaces, and broke them downe agayne. And therfore mourne (ye shippes of the see) for youre power shalbe throwne downe.

After that, shal the lxx yeares of Tirus (euen as longe as their kinges life was) beforgotten. And after lxx. yeares, it shal happē to Tirus as with an harlot that playeth vpon a lute. Take thy lute (saie men to her) and go aboute the citie, thou art yet an vnknowne wensche, make pastyme with dyuerse balettes, wherby thou mayest come in to acquantaunce. Thus shal it happen after lxx. yeares. 〈…〉 1. a The LORDE shal uiset the citie of Tirus, and it shal come agayne to hyr Marchaundyse, and shal occupie with al the Kingdomes that be in the worlde. But all hir occupiēge and wynnynge, shalbe halowed vnto the LORDE. 〈◊〉 4 . c For then shal they laye vp nothinge behinde them nor vpon heapes: but the marchaūdise of Tirus shal belōge vnto the citisens of the LORDE, to the fedinge and susteninge of the hūgrie, and to the clothinge of the aged.

The xxiiij. Chapter.

BEholde, ye LORDE shal waist and plage the worlde, 〈◊〉 4 b he shal make the face of the earth desolate, & scatre abrode ye inhabitours therof. Then shal the prest be as the people, the master as the seruaunt, the dame like the mayde, the seller like the byer, he that lēdeth vpon vsury, like him yt boroweth vpō vsury, the creditoure, as the detter. Yee miserably shal ye worlde be waysted & clene destroyed. For ye LORDE hath so determed in himself. The earth shalbe heuye and decaye: The face of ye earth shal perish & fal awaye, the proude people of ye worlde shal come to naught, For ye earth is corrupte of hir indwellers.

For why they haue offended ye lawe, chaunged the ordinaūces, and made the euerlastinge testamēt of none effecte, And therfore shal the curse deuoure the earth: for they yt dwel therō, haue synned. wherfore they shal be brent also, and those that remayne, shalbe very few. The swete wyne shal mourne, the grapes shalbe weake, and all yt haue bene mery in harte, po. 1 . c shal sighe. The myrth of tabrettes shalbe layde downe, the chere of the ioyful shal ceasse, and the pleasure of lutes shal haue an ende: there shal no more wyne bedronke with myrth, the beer shal be bytter to thē that drinke it, the wicked cities shalbe broken downe, all houses shalbe shut, that no man maye come in.

In the stretes shal there be lift vp a crie because of wyne, all mens chere shal vanish awaye, and all ioye of the earth shal passe. Desolacion shal remayne in the cities, and the gates shalbe smytten with waistnesse. For it shal happen vnto all londes and to all people, like as when a mā smyteth downe ye olyues, yt are left vpon the tre: Esa 17. b or seketh after grapes, when the wyne gatheringe is out. And those same (that remayne) shal lift vp their voyce, and be glad, & shal magnifie the glory of the LORDE, euen from the see, & prayse the name of the LORDE God of Israel, in the valeis and Ilōdes. We heare songes sunge to the prayse of the rightuous, frō al the endes of the worlde. Therfore I must speake: O my vnfrutfulnesse, o my pouerte, Wo is me, all is ful of synneres, which offende of purpose and malice. And therfore, (o thou that dwellest vpon the earth) there is at hōde for the, feare, pyt and snare. Who so escapeth the terrible crie, shal fall in to the pyt. Iere. 4 g And yf he come out of the pyt, he shalbe takē with the snare. For the wyndowes aboue shalbe opened, and the foundacion of the earth shal moue.

The earth shal geue a greate crack, it shal haue asore ruyne, and take an horrible fall. The earth shal stacker like a dronken man, and be takē awaye like a tent. Hir misdedes shal lie so heuye vpō her, yt she must fall, and neuer rise vp agayne. At the same tyme shal the LORDE mustre together the hie hooste aboue, and ye kynges of the worlde vpon the earth. These shalbe coupled together as prisoners be, and shalbe shut in one warde and punished innumerable daies. The Moone and the Sonne shalbe ashamed, Luc. 21. c when the LORDE of hoostes shal rule them at Ierusalem vpon the mount Sion, before and with his excellent councel.

The xxv. Chapter.

O LORDE, thou art my God, I wil prayse the, and magnifie ye name: For thou bringest marvelous thinges to passe, acordinge to thine olde councels, truly and stedfastly. Thou makest of townes, sa. 26. a heapes of stone: and of head cities, broken walles: The palaces of the wicked destroyest thou out of the citie, that they shal neuer be buylded againe. Therfore the very rude people must magnifie the, and the cities of the cruel heithen must feare the. For thou art the poore mans helpe, a strēgth for the neadful in his necessite. Thou art a defence agaynst euel wether, a schadowe agaynst the hete. But vnto the presumptuous, thou art like a strō ge whyrle wynde, that casteth downe the boostinge of the vngodly, thou kepest men from heate with the shadow of the cloudes, thou cuttest of the braunches of tyrauntes.

Morouer the LORDE of hoostes shal once prepare a feast for all people vpō the hill: Luc. 14 d A plenteous, costly, pleasaunt feast, of fat and welfed beastes, of swete and most pure thinges. Vpon the hill shal he take awaye the syde vale yt hāgeth before ye face of al people, Ose. 13. e 1. Co. 15. g Apo. 7. d and 21. a and the coueringe wherwith all Gentiles are couered. As for death, he shal vtterly cōsume it, The LORDE God shal wipe awaye the teares from all faces, and take awaye the confuciō of his people thorow ye whole worlde. For ye LORDE himself hath sayde it.

At the same tyme shal it be sayde: lo, this is oure God in whō we put oure trust, Ephe. 2. a and he hath healed vs. This is the LORDE that we haue wayted for: Let vs reioyse & delyte in his health. For the hōde of ye LORDE ceaseth vpō this hil. But Moab shalbe throsshē downe vnder him, like as the straw is trodē vnder fete in a dōge hill. For he shal stretch out his hōdes vpon him, like as a swimmer doth to swymme. And wt the power of his hondes shal he cast downe his hie pompe. As for his strōge holdes & hie walles: he shal bur e them, cast thē downe, and fell thē to the grounde in to dust.

The xxvj. Chapter.

THen shal this songe be sunge in the londe of Iuda: Pro. 1 . b Zac. 2. a Psal. 117. b We haue a strōge citie, the walles & t e ordinaūce shal kepe vs. Opē ye gates, yt the good people maye go in, which laboureth for the treuth. And thou, which art the doer and hast the matter in honde: shalt prouyde for peace, euē the peace yt mē hope for in the. Rom. 5. a Esa. 12. b Esa. 25. a Hope stil in the LORDE, for in the LORDE God is euerlastinge strēgth. For why, it is he, yt bringeth lowe the hie mynded citesyns, & casteth downe the proude cities. He casteth thē to the groūde, yee euē in to ye myre, yt they maye be trodē vnder the fete of the symple, & with the steppes of the poore. Pro. 16. a Iere. 10. d Thou (LORDE) cōsidrest the path of ye rigtuous, whether it be right, whether the waye of ye rightuous be right. Therfore (LORDE) we haue a respecte vnto the waye of thy iudgmentes, thy name and thy remē braunce reioyse the soule. Psal. 62. a and 142. a My soule lusteth after the all the night lōge, & my mynde haisteth frely to the. For as soone as thy iudgment is knowne to the worlde, thē the inhabitours of the earth lerne rightuousnesse. But the vngodly (though he haue recaued grace) yet lerneth he not rightuousnesse, but in that place where he is punished, he offendeth, & feareth not the glory of the LORDE.

LORDE, they wil not se thine hie honde, but they shal se it, and be confounded: whē thou shalt deuoure them with the wrath of the people, and with the fyre of thine enemies. But vnto vs (LORDE) prouyde for peace: for thou workest in vs all or workes. 〈…〉 O LORDE oure God, though soch lordes haue dominacion vpon vs as knowe not the: yet graūte, that we maye only hope in the, and kepe thy name in remembraunce. The malicious Tyrauntes whē they die, 〈…〉 are nether in life nor in the resurrectiō, for thou visitest thē and rootest thē out, and destroyest all the memoryall of them. Agayne, thou increacest the people (o LORDE), thou increacest the people, thou shalt be praysed and magnified in all ye endes of the worlde. The people that seke vnto the in trouble, that same aduersite which they complane of, is vnto thē a chastenynge before the. Like as a wife wt childe (whē hir trauayle cōmeth vpō her) is ashamed, 〈…〉 crieth and suffreth the payne: Euē so are we (o LORDE) in thy sight. We are with childe, we trauayle, & beare, 〈…〉 & with the sprete we bringe forth health, where thorow the earth is vndestroyed, and the inhabitours of the worlde perish not.

But as for thy dead men and ours, 〈…〉 that be departed, they are in life and resurrection. They lie in the earth, they wake, & haue ioye: for yt dew is a dew of life & light. But ye place of the malicious Tyrauntes is fallē awaye. So go now my people in to thy chābre, 〈…〉 and shut the doore to the, and suffre now ye twīcklinge of an eye, 〈…〉 till the wrath be ouerpast. For beholde, the LORDE wil go out of his habitacion, 〈…〉 & vyset the wickednes of thē that dwell vpon earth. He wil discouer the bloude that she hath deuoured, she shal neuer hyde thē, that she hath murthured.

The xxvij. Chapter.

THen the LORDE with his heuye, great and lōge swearde shal vyset Leuiathā, that invincible serpēt: euē Leuiathā yt croked serpent, and shal slaye the Wallfish in ye see. At the same tyme shal mē synge of the vynyarde of Muscatel. I the LORDE kepe it, and water it in due season. I watch daye & night, that no man breake in to it. I beare no euel wil in my mynde. Who will compell me, that I greatly forgettinge all faith fulnesse, shulde burne it vp at once wt thornes & bushes? Or who will enforce me to kepe or make peace? It wil come to this poynte, yt Iacob shalbe rooted againe, and Israel shalbe grene & beare floures, & they shal fyll ye whole worlde wt their frute. Smyteth he not his smyter, as euel as he is smyttē him self? Destroieth he not ye murtherers, as he is murthured? Euery mā recōpenseth wt ye measure yt he receaueth: He museth vpō his sore wynde, as vpō the dayes of extreme heate. And therfore shal the iniquite of Iacob be thus reconciled. And so shal he take awaye all ye frute of his synnes.

〈◊〉 . 9. c As for aulter stones, he shal make them all as stones beaten to poulder: the Groues and Idols shal not stonde. The stronge cities shalbe desolate, and ye fayre cities shal be left like a wildernes. The catel shal fede and lie there, and the shepe shal eate it vp. Their haruest shal be brent, their wyues which were their bewtie when they came forth: 〈…〉 . 26 〈◊〉 . 32. b shalbe defyled. For it is a people without vnderstōdinge, and therfore he yt created them, shal not fauoure them: and he yt made them, shal not be merciful to thē. In yt tyme shal ye LORDE shute from ye swifte water of Euphrates, vnto ye ryuer of Egipte. And there shal the children be chosen out one by one. Then shal the greate trompet be blowen, so that those which haue bene destroyed in the Assirians londe, and those that be scatred abrode in Egipte: shal come & worshipe the LORDE at Ierusalē, vpō the holy mount.

The xxviij. Chapter.

WO be to ye crowne of pryde, to ye dronkē Ephraemites, 〈◊〉 3 a and to the faydinge floure, to the glory of his pōpe, yt is vpō the toppe of the plēteous valley: which mē be ouerladen wt wyne. Beholde, the strength and power of the LORDE shal breake in to the londe on euery syde, like a tempest of hale, that beareth downe stronge holdes, and like an horrible, mightie and ouer flowinge water. And the proude crowne of the dronken Ephraemites, shal be troden vnderfoote. 〈◊〉 10. a And as for the faydinge floure, the glory of his pompe, which is vpon the toppe of the plenteous valley: it shal happen vnto him, as to an vntymely frute before the haruest come. Which as soone as it is sene, is by and by deuoured, or euer it come well in a mans honde.

And then shal the LORDE of hoostes be a ioyful crowne, and a glorious garlāde vnto the remnaunt of his people. Vnto the lowly, he shalbe a sprete of iudgment, and vnto them that dryue awaye the enemies from ye gates, he shalbe a sprete of strēgth. But they go wronge by ye reason of wyne, they fall and stacker because of strōge drynke. Yee euē the prestes and prophetes them selues go amisse, Esa. 3. c they are dronken with wyne, and weake braned thorow stronge drynke. They erre in seinge, and in judgmēt they fayle. For all tables are so ful of vomyte and fylthynes, yt no place is clene. What is he amonge them, yt can teach, instructe or enfourme the childrē, which are weened from suck or taken from the brestes: of eny other fashion, then: Esa. 10. a Mat 23. b Commaunde yt maye be commaunded, byd yt maye be byddē, forbyd that maye be forbyddē, kepe backe yt maye be kepte backe, here a litle, there a litle.1. Cor. 14. c And therfore the LORDE also shal speake wt lispinge lippes and wt a straunge lāguage vnto this people, to whom he spake afore of this maner: This shal bringe rest, yf one refresh the weery, ye this shal bringe rest. But they had no will to heare. And therfore the LORDE shal answere their stubbournes (Cōmaunde yt maye be cōmaunded, byd yt maye be bydden, forbyd yt maye be forbyddē, kepe backe yt maye be kepte backe, here a litle, there a litle) That they maye go forth, fall backwarde, be brussed, snared and taken. Wherfore heare the worde of the LORDE, ye mockers that rule the LORDEs people, which is at Ierusalē. For ye cōforte yor selues thus: Tush, death & we are at a poynte, & as for hell, we haue made a cōdicion with it: that though there breake out eny sore plage, it shal not come vpon vs. Amos 9. d For with disceate wil we escape, and with nymblenes will we defende or selues. Psal. 117. c Ro 9. g 1 Pet 2. a Luc. 20. b Therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I wil laye a stone in Sion, a greate stone, a costly corner stone for a sure foundacion: yt who so putteth his trust in him, shal not be confouded. Rightuousnes wil I set vp agayne in ye balaunce, and iudgment in the weightes.1. Cor. 13. b The tēpest of hale shal take awaye yor refuge, that ye haue to disceaue withal, and ye ouerflowinge waters shal breake downe yor strōge holdes of dissimulaciō. Thus the appoyntmēt that ye haue made wt death, shalbe done awaye, and the cōdicion that ye made with hell, shal not stōde. When the greate destructiō goeth thorow, it shal all to treade you, It shal take you quyte awaye before it. For it shal go forth early in the mornynge, and contynue only yt daye and yt night. And the very feare only shal teach you, when ye heare it. For ye bedde shal be so narow yt a mā cā not lye vpon it. And the coueringe to small, that a mā maye not wynde him self therin. For the LORDE shal steppe forth as he dyd vpon the mount Perazim, Esa. 37. f 2. Re. 5. d Iosue 10. b 1. Par. 14. d and shal take on as he dyd vpō the dale of Gabaon: that he maye bringe forth his deuyce, his straunge deuyce: and fulfil his worke, his wonderful worcke. And therfore make no mockes at it, that youre captiuyte increase not: for I haue herde the LORDE of hoostes saye, that there shal come a soden destruction and plage vpon the whole earth. Take hede, and heare my voyce, pondre and merck my wordes wel. Goeth not the husbonde man euer in due season earnestly to his londe? he moweth & ploweth his grounde to sowe. And whē he hath made it playne, he soweth it with fitches or comyn. He soweth ye wheate and Barlye in their place, Milium and Rye also in their place. And yt he maye do it right, his God teacheth him and sheweth him. For he treadeth not the fitches out with a wayne, nether bringeth he the cart here and there ouer the comyn, but he throssheth ye fitches out with a flale, and the comyn with a rod. As for the wheate, he gryndeth it to make bred therof, In as moch as he can not bringe it to passe wt treadinge out. For nether the brussinge that the cart wheles make, ner his beastes can grynde it. This and soch like thinges come of the LORDE of hostes which is maruelous in councel, and greate in rightuousnesse.

The xxix. Chap.

WO vnto the o Ariel Ariel, thou cite that Dauid wāne. Eze. 43. c 2. Reg. 5. a Take yet some yeares, and let some feastes yet passe ouer: then shal Ariel be beseged, so that she shal be heuy and sorouful, and shal be vnto me euen as a lyon. For I wil laye sege to the rounde aboute, and kepe ye in with towers, and graue vp dykes agaynst ye. And thou shalt be brought lowe, and speake out of the earth, and thy wordes shal go humbly out of ye grounde. Thy voyce shal come out of the earth, like the voyce of a witch, and thy talkinge shal groane out of the myre. For the multitude of thine enemies shalbe like mealdust. Psal. 1. b And the nombre of Tyrauntes shalbe as ye dust that the wynde taketh awaye sodenly.

Thou shalt be visited of the LORDE of hoostes with thondre, earth quake, and with a greate crack, with the whyrle wynde, tempest, and with the flame of a consumynge fyre. But now the multitude of all the people, that went out agaynst Ariel: the whole hooste, the stronge holdes, and sege: is like a dreame which apeareth in the night. Psal. 72. c It is like as when an hungrie man dreameth that he is eatynge, and when he awaketh, he hath nothinge: like as when a thurstie man dreameth that he is drinkinge, and when he awaketh, he is faynt, and his soule vnpacient.

So is the multitude of all people, that mustre them selues agaynst the hill of Sion. But ye shalbe at youre wittes ende, ye shalbe abasshed: ye shal stackre, and rele to and fro. Ye shalbe dronken, but not of wyne. Ye shal fall, but not thorow dronkenes: For the LORDE shal geue you an hard slepinge sprete, and holde downe youre eyes: namely yor prophetes and heades which shulde se, them shal he couer. 〈…〉 And all visions shalbe vnto you, as the wordes that stonde in a sealed lettre, when one offreth it to a man that is lerned, and sayeth: rede vs this lettre. Thē he answereth: I cā not rede it, for it is shutt. But yf it be geuē to one yt is not lerned, or sayde vnto him: rede this lettre: Then sayeth he. I can not rede.

Therfore thus sayeth the LORDE: For so moch as this people draweth nye me wt their mouth, 〈…〉 and prayseth me highly with their lippes (where as there herte neuertheles is farre fro me, and the feare which they owe vnto me, that turne they to mens lawes and doctrynes) therfore wil I also shewe vnto this people, a maruelous terrible and greate thinge (Namely this: 〈…〉 ) I wil destroye the wisdome of their wise, and the vnderstōdinge of their lerned men shal perish. Wo be vnto them that seke so depe, 〈…〉 to hyde their ymaginacion be fore the LORDE, which rehearce their coūcels in ye darknes, and saye: who seith vs, or who knoweth vs?

Which ymaginacion of yours is euen as when the potters claye taketh advisemēt, as though the worke might saye to ye worke master: make me not, or as when an erthen vessel saieth of the potter: he vnderstondeth not. Se ye not that it is hard by, 〈…〉 that Libanus shalbe turned in to Charmel, and that Charmel shalbe taken as a wodde? Then shal deaf men vnderstonde the wordes of the boke, and the eyes of the blynde shal se without eny cloude or darknes. The oppressed shal holde a mery feast in the LORDE, and the poore people shal reioyse in the holy one of Israel.

Then shal the furious people ceasse, and ye mockers shal be put awaye, and all they yt do wronge shalbe rooted out, soch as laboure to drawe mē vnto synne: 〈…〉 and yt disceaue him, which reproueth them in the gate, & soch as turne good personnes to vanite.

And therfore the LORDE (euen the defender of Abraham) saieth thus vnto the house of Iacob: 〈…〉 Now shal not Iacob be ashamed, nor his face cōfounded, when he seith amonge his children (whom my hondes haue made) soch as halowe my name amonge them: that they maye sancifie the holy one of Iacob, and feare the God of Israel: and that they which afore tyme were of an erroneous sprete, haue now vnderstondinge, and yt soch as before coude not speake, are now lerned in my lawe.

The xxx. Chapter.

WO be to those shrenkinge children (saieth the LORDE) which seke councel, 〈…〉 but not at me: which take a webbe in honde, but not after my will: that they maye heape one synne vpon another. They go downe in to Egipte, (and axe me no councel) to seke helpe at the power of Pharao, and cō forte in the shadowe of the Egipciās. But Pharaos helpe shalbe youre cōfucion, and the comforte in the Egipcians shadowe shalbe youre owne shame. Youre rulers haue bene at Zoan, and yor messaungers came vnto Hanes. 〈◊〉 29. a 〈◊〉 1 . d 〈◊〉 16. b But ye shal all be ashamed of the people yt maye not helpe you, which shal not bringe you strength or comforte, but shame and confucion.

Youre beastes haue borne burthens vpō their backes towarde the South, thorow the waye that is ful of parell and trouble, because of the lyō and lyones, of the Cockatrice and shutynge dragon. Yee the Mules bare youre substaunce, and the Camels brought yor treasure vpon their croked backes, vnto a people that can not helpe you. For the Egipcians helpe shalbe but vane and lost. Therfore I tolde you also yt youre pryde shulde haue an ende. 〈…〉 Wherfore go hē ce, and write them this in their tables, and note it in a booke: that it maye remayne by their posterite, and be stil kepte. For it is an obstinate people, sa. 1. a vnfaithful children, children that will not heare the lawe of the LORDE.

〈◊〉 . 11. d 〈◊〉 7. b They darre saye to the prophetes: Intro mitte youre selues with nothinge, and vnto ye Soythsayers: tell us of nothinge for to come, but speake frendly wordes vnto vs, and preach vs false thinges. Treade out of the waye, go out of the path, turne the holy one of Israel from vs. Therfore thus saieth the holy one of Israel: In as moch as ye haue cast of youre bewtie, and conforted youre selues with power and nymblenesse, and put youre confidence therin: therfore shal ye haue this myschefe agayne for youre destruction and fall, like as an hie wall, that falleth because of some rift (or blast,) whose breakinge cometh sodenly.

And youre destruction shalbe like as an erthē pot, sal. 2. b which breaketh no man touchinge it, yee and breaketh so sore, that a man shal not fynde a sheuer of it to fetch fyre in, or to take water with all out of the pyt. For the LORDE God, Exo. 14. d 2. Par. 20 c euen the holy one of Israel hath promised thus: With stilsittinge and rest shal ye be healed, In quyetnesse and hope shal youre strength lie. Notwithstondinge ye regarde it not, but ye will saie: No, for thus are we cōstrayned to fle vpō horses. (And therfore shall ye fle) we must ryde vpon swift beastes, and therfore youre persecutours shal yet be swifter. Leui. 26. h Iosu. 23. c A thousand of you shal fle for one, or at the most for fyue, which do but only geue you euell wordes: vntil ye be desolate, as a ship mast vpon an hie mountayne, and as a beaken vpon an hill.

Yet stondeth the LORDE waitinge, Ro. 2. a that he maye haue mercy vpon you, and lifteth him self vp, that he maye receaue you to grace. For the LORDE God is rightuous. Happie are all thei that wate for him. For thus (o thou people of Sion and ye citisens of Ierusalem) shal ye neuer be in heuynes, for doutlesse he will haue mercy vpon the. As soone as he heareth the voyce of thy crie, he will helpe the. The LORDE geueth you the bred of aduersite, and the water of trouble. But thine instructer fleyth not farre from the, yf thine eyes loke vnto thine instructer, and thine eares harken to his worde, that crieth after the and saieth: Deut. 4. a This is the waye, go this, and turne nether to the right honde nor the leffte.

Morouer yf ye destroye the syluer workes of youre Idols, and cast awaye the golden coapes that ye deckt them withall (as fylthynes) and saie, get you hence: Thē wil he geue rayne to the sede, that ye shal sowe in the earth, and geue you breade of the encrease of the earth, so that all shalbe plenteous and abundaunt. Psal. 36. b Thy catel also shal he fede in the brode medowes. yee thyne oxē and Mu es that till the grounde, shal eate good fodder, which is pourged wt ye fanne. Goodly ryuers shal flowe out of all his mountaynes and hilles. In the daye of the greate slaughter when the towers shal fall,2. Pet. 3. b the Moone shal shyne as the Sonne and ye Sōne shyne shalbe seuē folde, and haue as moch shyne, as in seuen dayes beside.

In that daye shal the LORDE bynde vp ye brussed sores of his people, and heale their woundes. Beholde, the glory of the LORDE shal come from farre, his face shal burne, that no man shalbe able to abyde it, his lippes shal wagge for very indignacion, and his tunge shal be as a consumynge fyre. His breath like a vehement floude of water, which goeth vp to the throte. That he maye take awaye ye people, which haue turned them selues vnto vanite, and the brydle of erroure, that lieth in other folkes chawes.

But ye shal synge, as the vse is in ye night of the holy solempnite. Ye shal reioyse from youre hert, as they that come with the pipe, when they go vp to the mount of the LORDE, vnto ye rock of Israel. The LORDE also shal set vp the power of his voyce, and declare his terrible arme, with his angrie countenaunce, yee and the flame of the consumynge fyre, with earth quake, tempest of wynde, Esa. 10. a and hale stones. Then shal the Assirian feare also, because of the voyce of the LORDE, which shal smyte him with the rodde. And the same rodde which the LORDE wil sende vpon him, shal moue the whole foundacion: with trompet, with noyse of warre and batell to destroye. Mat. 25. d For he hath prepared the fyre of payne from the begynnynge, yee euen for kynges also. This hath he made depe & wyde, ye norishinge therof is fyre and wodde innumerable, which the breath ofte LORDE kyndleth, as it were a match of brymstone.

The xxxj. Chapter.

WO vnto them that go downe in to Egipte for helpe, and trust in horses, and conforte them selues in Charettes, because they be many, and in horse mē because they be lustie and stronge. But they regarde not the holy one of Israel, and they aske no question at the LORDE. Where as he neuertheles plageth ye wicked, and yet goeth not from his worde, whā he steppeth forth and taketh the victory agaynst the housholde of the frauwerde, and against the helpe of euel doers. Now the Egiptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh and not sprete. And as soone as the LORDE stretcheth out his honde, then shal the helper fall, and he that shulde haue bene helped, and shal altogether be destroyed. For thus hath the LORDE spokē vnto me: Apo. 5. a 〈◊〉 . 49. b Like as the Lyon or lyōs whelpe roareth vpon the pray that he hath gotten, and is not afrayde, though ye multitude of shepardes crie out vpon him, nether abashed for all the heape of them: So shal the LORDE of hoostes come downe from the mount Sion, and defende his hill. Like as byrdes flotre aboute their nestes, so shal the LORDE of hoostes kepe, Deut. 32. b saue, defende and deliue Ierusalem. Therfore (o ye childrē of Israel turne agayne, like as ye hahaue exceaded in youre goinge back. For in yt daye euery man shal cast out his Idols of syluer and golde, 〈…〉 which ye haue made with youre synful hondes. Assur also shalbe slayne with the swerde, not wt a mans swerde A swerde shal deuoure him, 〈…〉 but not a mans swerde. And he shal fle from the slaughter, and his seruauntes shalbe taken prisoners He shal go for feare to his stronge holdes, and his prynces shal fle from his badge. This hath ye LORDE spokē, whose light burneth in Sion, and his fyre in Ierusalem.

The xxxij. Chapter.

BEholde, the kinge shal gouerne after ye rule of rightuousnes, and ye princes shal rule acordinge to the balaunce of equite. He shalbe vnto mē, as a defence for the wynde, and as a refuge for the tempest, like as a ryuer of water in a thurstie place, and ye schadowe of a greate rock in a drie lōde. The eyes of the seinge shall not be dymme, and the eares of them that heare, shal take diligēt hede. The hert of the vnwise, shal attayne to knowlege, and the vnparfite tūge shal speake planely and distinctly. Then shal the nygarde be no more called gentle, ner the churle lyberall. But the churle wil be churlishly mynded, and his hert wil worke euell and playe the ypocrite, and ymagyn abhominaciōs agaynst God, to make the hungrie leane, and to with holde drinke from the thurstie: These are the perlous weapons of the cuvetous, these be his shameful councels: that he maye begyle the poore with disceatful workes, yee euen there as he shulde geue sentence with the poore. 〈…〉 But the liberall person ymagineth honest thinges, and commeth vp with honesty.

Vp (ye rich and ydle cities), harken vnto my voyce. Ye careles cities, marcke my wordes. After yeares and dayes shal ye be brought in feare, o ye carelesse cities. For Haruest shalbe out, and the grape gatheringe shal not come. O ye rich ydle cities, ye that feare no parell, ye shalbe abashed and remoued: when ye se the barennesse, the nakednesse and preparinge to warre. Ye shal knock vpō youre brestes, because of the pleasaunt felde, and because of the fruteful vynyarde. My peoples felde shal bringe thornes and thistels, for in euery house is voluptuousnes & in the cities, wilfulnes. The palaces also shalbe broken, and the greatly occupide cities desolate. The towers and bulwerckes shalbe become dennes for euermore, the pleasure of Mules shalbe turned to pasture for shepe: Vnto the tyme that ye sprete be poured vpon vs from aboue.

Then shal the wildernesse be a fruteful felde & the plenteous felde shalbe rekened for a wodde. Then shal equyte dwel in the deserte, and rightuousnesse in a fruteful londe. And the rewarde of rightuousnesse shalbe peace, 〈…〉 and hir frute rest and quietnesse for euer. 〈…〉 And my people shal dwel in the ynnes of peace, in my tabernacle and pleasure, where there is ynough in thē all. And whē the hale falleth, it shal fall in the wodde and in the citie. O how happy shal ye be, whē ye shal safely sowe youre sede besyde all waters & dryue thither the fete of youre oxē & asses.

The xxxiij. Chapter.

THerfore wo vnto the (o robber) shalt not thou be robbed also? 〈◊〉 26. c and vnto the that laiest wait, as who saye there shulde no waite be layde for the? 〈…〉 Wo vnto the which doest hurte, euen so shalt thou be hurt also. And as thou layest waite, so shal wait be layde for the also.

LORDE be merciful vnto vs, we wait for the. Thine arme is at a poynte to vyset vs, but be thou oure health in the tyme of trouble. 〈…〉 Graūte that the people maye fle at the anger of thy voyce, & that at thy vpstondinge the Gentiles maye be scatred abrode, and that their spoyle maye be gathered, as the greshoppers are comonly gathered together in to the pyt. Stonde vp LORDE, thou that dwellest on hie: Let Siō be fylled with equyte and rightuousnesse. Let treuth and faithfulnesse be in hir tyme: power, health, wisdome, knowlege & the feare of God are hir treasure. Beholde, their aungels crie with out, the messaungers of peace wepe bytterly. The stretes are waist, there walketh no man therin, the appoyntmen is broken, the cities are despised, they are not regarded, the desolate earth is in heuynes. Libanus taketh it but for a sporte, that it is hewen downe: Saron is like a wyldernes: Basā & Charmel are turned vpside downe. And therfore saieth ye LORDE: I wil vp, now wil I get vp, now wil I aryse. Ye shal conceaue stubble, 〈…〉 and beare strawe, & youre sprete shal be the fyre, that it maye consume you: & the people shalbe burnt like lyme, & as thornes burne that are hewen of, & cast in the fyre.

Now herken to (ye that are farre of) how I do with them, & cōsidre my glory, ye that be at honde. The synners at Sion are a frayde, a sodane fearfulnesse is come vpon the ypocrytes. What is he amonge us (saye they) that will dwell by that consumynge fyre? which of vs maye abyde that euerlastinge heate? 〈◊〉 14 a He that ledeth a godly life (saye I) & speaketh the treuth: He that abhorreth to do violence and disceate: he that kepeth his hōde that he touch no rewarde: which stoppeth his eares, that he heare no councel agaynst the innocent: which holdeth downe his eyes, that he se no euel. He it is, that shal dwel on hie, whose sauegarde shalbe in the true rocke, to him shalbe geuen the right true meat & drynke. His eyes shal se the kynge in his glory: & in the wyde worlde, and his herte shal delite in the feare of God. What shal then become of the scrybe?1. Cor. 1. d of the Senatoure? what of him that teacheth childrē? There shalt thou not se a people of a straunge tūge, to haue so diffused a lāguage, that it maye not be vnderstonde: nether so straunge a speache, but it shal be perceaued.

There shal Sion be sene, the head citie of oure solempne feastes. There shal thine eyes se Ierusalem that glorious habitation: the tabernacle that neuer shal remoue, whose nales shal neuer be taken out worlde without ende, Heb. 9. b whose coardes euerychone shal neuer corruppe: for the glorious Magesty of the LORDE shal there be present amōge vs. In that place (where fayre broade ryuers & streames are) shal nether Gallye rowe, ner greate shippe sale. For the LORDE shalbe oure capteyne, Iaco. 4. c the LORDE shalbe oure lawe geuer, The LORDE shalbe oure kinge, & he himself shalbe oure Sauioure. There are the coardes so layd abrode, that they cā not be better: The mast set vp of soch a fashion, that no bāner ner sale hāgeth therō: but there is dealed greate spoyle, yee lame men runne after the pray. There lieth no mā that saieth: I am sick, but all euel is taken awaye from the people, that dwel there.

The xxxiiij. Chapter.

COme ye Heithen & heare, take hede ye people. Herkē thou earth & all that is therin: thou rounde cōpasse & al that groweth ther vpon: for the LORDE is angrie with al people, & his displeasure is kindled agaynst all the multitude of them, to curse them, & to slaye them. So that their slayne shalbe cast out, & their bodies stincke: that euē the very hilles shalbe wet with the bloude of them. All the starres of heauen shalbe consumed, & the heauen shal folde together like a roll, & all the starres therof shall fall,2. Pet. 3. b like as the leaues fall from the vynes and fygetrees. For my swearde (saieth he) shalbe bathed in heauen, & shal immediatly come downe vpon Idumea, and vpon the people which I haue cursed for my vengeaunce.

And the LORDES swearde shalbe full of bloude, & be rustie with the fatnesse & bloude of lambes and gootes, with the fatnesse of neeres of the wethers. For the LORDE shal kyl a great offringe in Bosra, and in the londe of Idumea. There shal the Vnicornes fall with the Bulles, (that is with the giauntes) and their londe shalbe washed with bloude, & their grounde corrupte with fatnesse. Vnto the also (o Sion) shal come the daye of the vengeaunce of God, Esa. 63. a and the yeare when as thyne owne iugdmentes shalbe recompensed. Thy floudes shalbe turned to pytch, and thine earth to brymstone, & therwith shal the londe be kyndled, so that it shal not be quenched daye ner night: But smoke euermore, & so forth to lie waist. And no man shal go thorow thy londe for euer: But Pellicanes, Soph. 2. b Storkes, great Oules, and Rauens shall haue it in possession, & dwell therein.

For God shal sprede out the lyne of desolacion vpon it, & weye it with the stones of emptynes. When kinges are called vpō, there shalbe none, and all princes shalbe awaye. Thornes shal growe in their palaces, nettels & thistles in their stronge holdes, yt the dragons maye haue their pleasure therin, & that they maye be a courte for Estriches. There shal straunge visures and monstruous beastes mete one another, Tren. 4. b & the wylde kepe company together. There shal the lamia lye, & haue hir lodginge. There shall the hedghogge buylde, digge, be there at home, and bringe forth his yongeones. There shal the kytes come together, ech one to his like.

Ioh. 5. b Deut. 28.Seke thorow the scripture of the LORDE & rede it. There shal none of these thinges be left out, there shal not one (ner soch like) fayle For what his mouth commaundeth, that same doth his sprete gather together (or fulfilleth). Vpon whom so euer ye lot fallet, or to whom he dealeth it with the line: those shal possesse the enheritaunce from generacion to generacion, and dwel therin.

The xxxv. Chapter.

BVt the deserte & wildernesse shal reioyse, ye waist grounde shal be glad, and florish as the lilly. She shal florish pleasauntly, and be ioyful, and euer be geuynge of thankes more and more. For ye glory of libanus, the bewty of Charmel & Sarō shalbe geuen her. These shal knowe the honoure of the LORDE, and the magesty of oure God. And therfore strength ye weake hō des, Heb. 12. b Deut. 30. a 31. b and conforte the feble knees. Saye vnto them that are of a fearful hert: Be of good chere, and feare not. Beholde: youre God cometh, to take vengeaunce & to rewarde, God cometh his owne self, and wil delyuer you. 〈…〉 Then shal the eyes of the blinde be lightned, and the eares of the deaff opened. Then shal the lame man leape as an herte, & the domme mās tūge shal geue thankes.

In the wildernesse also there shal welles springe, and floudes of water in the deserte. 〈…〉 The drie grounde shal turne to ryuers, and the thurstie to springes of water. Where as dragons dwelt afore, there shal growe swete floures and grene russhes. There shalbe footpathes & comon stretes, this shalbe called the holy waye. No vnclene person shal go thorow it, for the LORDE himself shal go with thē that waye, and the ignoraūt shal not erre. There shalbe no lyon, and no rauyshinge beast shall come therin nor be there, but men shal go there fre and safe. And the redemed of the LORDE shal conuerte, 〈…〉 and come to Sion with thankesgeuinge. Euerlastinge ioye shal they haue, pleasure & gladnesse shalbe amōge them, And as for all sorow and heuynes, it shal vanish awaye.

The xxxvj. Chapter.

IN the xiiij. yeare of kinge Ezechias, 〈…〉 came Sennacherib kinge of the Assirians downe, to laye sege vnto all the stronge cities of Iuda And the kinge of the Assiriās sent Rabsaches from Lachis toward Ierusalem, agaynst kinge Ezechias, with a greuous hooste which set him by the condite of the ouerpole, in the waye that goeth thorow ye fullers lōde. And so there came forth vnto him Eliachim Helchias sonne the presydent, Sobna the scribe, 〈…〉 and Ioah Asaphs sonne the Secretary.

And Rabsaches sayde vnto them: Te Ezechias, that the greate kinge of Assiria sayeth thus vnto him: What presumpcion is this, that thou trustest vnto? Thou thinkest (peraduēture) that thou hast councel & power ynough, to mayntene this warre: or els wher to trustest thou, that thou castest thi self of fro me? lo, Thou puttest thy trust in a broken staff of rede (I meane Egipte) which he that leaneth vpon, 〈…〉 it goeth in to his honde & shuteth him thorow. Euen so is Pharao the kinge of Egipte, vnto all thē that trust in him. But yf thou woldest saye to me: We trust in ye LORDE oure God: A goodly god, indede: whose hie places & aulteres Ezechias toke downe, and commaunded Iuda and Ierusalem, to worshipe only before the aulter. Abyde the, thou hast made a condicion with my lorde the kinge of the Assiriās, that he shulde geue the two thousande horses: Art thou able to set mē there vp? Seinge now that thou canst not resist the power of the smallest prynce that my LORDE hath, how darrest thou trust in yt charettes and horse men of Egipte? Morouer, thinkest thou yt I am come downe hither, to destroye this londe with out the LORDES will? The LORDE sayde vnto me: go downe in to that londe, that thou mayest destroye it.

Then sayde Eliachim, Sobna & Iohah vnto Rabsaches: Speake to vs thy seruauntes (we praye the) in the Sirians language, for we vnderstonde it well: And speake not to vs in the Iewes tunge, lest the folcke heare, which lieth vpon the wall. Then answered Rabsaches: Thinke ye, yt the kinge sent me to speake this only vnto you? Hath he not sent me to thē also, that lie vpō the wall? that they be not cōpelled to eate their owne donge, and drinke their owne stale with you?

And Rabsaches stode stiff, & cried with a loude voyce in the Iewes tūge, and sayde: Now take hede, how the greate kinge of the Assiriās geueth you warnynge. Thus saieth the kinge: Let not Ezechias disceaue you, for he shal not be able to delyuer you. Morouer, let not Ezechias comforte you in the LORDE, when he saieth: The LORDE with out doute shal defende vs, & shal not geue ouer this cite in to the hondes of the kinge of the Assiriās, beleue him not. But thus saieth the kinge of Assiria: opteyne my fauoure, enclyne to me: So maye euery mā enioye his vynyardes and fygetrees, and drinke the water of his cisterne: vnto the tyme that I come myself, & bringe you in to a londe, yt is like youre owne: wher in is wheat and wyne, which is both sowen with sede, and planted with vynyardes. Let not Ezechias disceaue you, when he sayeth vnto you: the LORDE shal delyuer us.

Might the goddes of the Gentiles kepe euerymans londe, 〈…〉 from the power of the kinge of the Assirians? Wher is the God of hemath & Arphad? Where is the God of Sepharnaim? And who was able to defende Samaria out of my honde? Or which of all the goddes of the lōdes, hath deliuered their countre out of my power, so that the LORDE shulde delyuer Ierusalem fro my honde? Vnto this, Ezechias messaungers helde their tunges, and answered not one worde: for the kinge had charged them, that they shulde geue him none answere. So came Eliachim Elchias sonne the presidēt, Sobna the scrybe, and Ioah Asaphs sonne the Secretary, vnto Ezechias with rente clothes, & tolde him the wordes of Rabsaches.

The xxxvij. Chapter.

WHen Ezechias herde that, he rente his clothes, & put on a sack cloth,4. Re. 19. a & went in to the temple of the LORDE. But he sent Eliachim the Presidēt, Sobna the scrybe wt the eldest prestes cloothed in sack, Ione 3. a vnto the Prophet Esay the sonne of Amos, & they sayde vnto him: Thus saieth Ezechias: this is the daye of trouble, of plage & of wrath: like as when a childe cometh to the byrth, but the woman hath no power to bringe it forth. The LORDE thy God (no doute) hath well considered the wordes of Rabsaches, whom his lorde ye kinge of the Assirians hath sent, to defie & blaspheme the lyuynge God with soch wordes, as the LORDE ye God hath herde rightwell. And therfore lift vp ye prayer for the remnaunt, that yet are left. So the seruauntes of kinge Ezechias came to Esay.

And Esay gaue them this answere: Saie thus vnto youre lorde: thus saieth the LORDE: Be not afrayde of the wordes that thou hast herde, wherwith the kinge of Assiriās seruauntes haue blasphemed me. Beholde, I will cause a wynde go ouer him, Esa. 31. b as soone as he heareth it, he shal go agayne in to his countre, there will I distroye him with the swerde. Now when Rabsaches returned,1. Re. 23 c he founde ye kinge of Assiria layenge sege to Lobna, for he had vnderstonde, that he was departed from Lachis. For there came a rumoure, yt Taracha kinge of Ethiopia was come forth to warre agaynst him.

And when the kinge of Assiria herde yt, he sent other messaungers to kinge Ezechias, with this commaundement. Saye thus to Ezechias kinge of Iuda: Let not thy God disceaue the, in whom thou hopest, & sayest: Ierusalē shal not be geuē in to the hondes of the kinge of Assiria. For thou knowest well, how the kinges of Assiria haue handled all the londes, that they haue subuerted, & hapest thou to escape? Were the people of the Gētiles (whom my progenitours cōquered) deliuered at eny tyme thorow their goddes? As namely, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph,4. Re. 17. a & the childrē of Eden, which dwell at Thalassar. Where is the kinge of Hemath, & the kinge of Arphad, & the kinge of the citie Sepharnaim, Ena and Aua? Now when Ezechias had receaued ye lettre of the messaungers, & red it, he went vp into the house of the LORDE, & opened the lettre before ye LORDE. And Ezechias prayed before the LORDE on this maner: O LORDE of hoostes, thou God of Israel, which dwellest vpō Cherubin. Batuc. 2. c Thou art the God, Exo 25 c Gene. 1. a that only is God of all the kingdomes of the worlde, for thou only hast created hauē & earth. Encline thine eare LORDE & cōsidr , open thine eyes (o LORDE,) & se, and pondre all the wordes of Sēnacherib, which hath sent his embassage to blaspheme the, the lyuynge God. It is true (o LORDE) that the kinges of Assiria haue cōquered all kingdomes & londes, & cast their goddes in the fyre. Notwithstōdinge those were no goddes but the workes of mens hondes, of wodd or stone, therfore haue they destroyed them. Delyuer vs then (o LORDE oure God) from the hondes of Sennacherib, yt all kingdomes of the earth maye knowe, that thou only art ye LORDE. Then Esay the sonne of Amos sent vnto Ezechias, sayenge: Thus saieth ye LORDE God of Israel: Where as thou hast made thy prayer vnto me, as touchinge Sennacherib, this is the answere, that the LORDE hath geuen concernynge him: Despised art thou, & mocked (o doughter of Sion) he hath shaken his heade at the, o doughter of Ierusalem. Zac. 2. b Matt. 25. b But thou Sennacherib, whom hast thou defied or blaspemed? And agaynst whō hast thou lifted vp thy voyce, Act. 9. a & exalted thy proude lokes? euen agaynst the holy one of Israel. Thou with thy seruauntes hast blasphemed the LORDE, and thus holdest thou of thy self: I couer the hie mountaynes, & sydes of Libanus with my horsmen. And there wil I cut downe the hie Cedre trees & the fayrest Fyrre trees. I will vp in to the heyth of it & in to the chefest of his timbre woddes. Yf there be no water, I wil graue & drynke. And as for waters of defence, I shal drie them vp with the fete of myne hooste. Yee (saiest thou) hast thou not herde, what I haue taken in honde, & brought to passe of olde tyme? That same wil I do now also: waist, destroye, & bringe the stronge cities vnto heapes of stones. For their inhabitours shalbe like lame men, brought in feare & confounded. They shalbe like the grasse & grene herbes in the felde, like the hay vpō house toppes, that wythereth, a fore it be growne vp.

I knowe thy wayes, thy goinge forth & thy cōmynge home, yee & thy madnesse agaynst me. Therfore thy furiousnesse agaynst me, & thy pryde is come before me. I wil put a rynge in ye nose, & a bridle byt in the chawes of the, & turne the aboute, euē the same waye thou camest. I wil geue the also this token (o Ezechias) this yeare shalt thou eate that is kepte in stoare, & the next yeare soch as groweth of himself, and in the thirde yeare ye shal sowe and reape, yee ye shal plante vynyardes, and enioye the frutes therof.

And soch of the house of Iuda as are escaped, shal come together, and the remnaunt shal take rote beneth, & bringe forth frute aboue. For the escaped shal go out of Ierusalē, & the remnaunte from the mount Sion. And this shal the gelousy of the LORDE of hoostes bringe to passe. Therfore thus saieth the LORDE, cōcernynge the kinge of the Assirians: He shall not come in to the citie, and shal shute no arowe in to it, there shall no shilde hurte it, nether shal they graue aboute it. The same waye that he came, shal he returne, and not come at this citie, saieth the LORDE. And I wil kepe and saue the citie (saieth he) for myne owne, & for my seruaunte Dauids sake.

Thus the angel went forth, 〈…〉 and slewe of the Assirians hooste, 〈…〉 an clxxxv. thousande. And when men arose vp early (at Ierusalē:) Beholde, all laye ful of deed bodies. So Sennacherib the kinge of the Assirians brake vp, and dwelt at Niniue. Afterwarde it chaunsed, as he prayed in the Tēple of Nesrah his god, that Adramalech and Sarazer his owne sonnes slewe him with the swearde, and fled in to the londe of Ararat. And Esarhadon his sonne reigned after him.

The xxxviij. Chapter.

NOt longe afore this, was Ezechias deadsick: 〈…〉 And the prophet Esay the sonne of Amos came vnto him, and sayde: Thus commaundeth the LORDE: Set thyne house in ordre, for thou must dye, and shalt not escape. Then Ezechias turned his face towarde the wall, & prayed vnto the LORDE, and sayde: Remembre (o LORDE) that I haue walked before the in treuth and a stedfast hert, and haue done the thinge that is pleasaunt to the. And Ezechias wepte sore. Thē sayde God vnto Esay: Go and speake vnto Ezechias: The LORDE God of Dauid thy father sendeth ye this worde: 〈…〉 I haue herde thy prayer, and considred thy teares: beholde, I will put xv yeares mo vnto thy life, and delyuer the and the citie also, from the honde of the kinge of Assiria, for I will defende the cite. And take the this token of the LORDE, 〈…〉 yt he will do it, as he hath spoken: Beholde, I will returne the shadowe of Achas Diall, yt now is layed out with the Sonne, and bringe it ten degrees bacward. So the Sonne turned ten degrees bacward, the which he was descended afore.

A thankesgeuynge, which Ezechias kinge of Iuda wrote, when he had bene sicke, & was recouered.

I thought I shulde haue gone to the gates of hell in my best age, and haue wanted the residue of my yeares.

I spake within my self: I shal neuer viset the LORDE God in this life: I shal neuer se man, amonge the dwellers of the worlde

Myne age is folden vp together and taken awaye fro me, like a sheperdes cotage: my lyfe is hewen of, like as a weeuer cutteth of his webb.

Whyl I was yet takinge my rest, he hewed me of, & made an ende of me in one daie.

〈◊〉 4. d I thought I wolde haue lyued vnto the morow, but he brussed my bones like a lyon, and made an ende of me in one daye.

Then chatred I like a swalowe, and like a Crane, and mourned as a doue.

I lift vp myne eyes in to ye hight: O LORDE, (sayde I) violence is done vnto me, be thou suertie for me.

What shal I speake or say, ethat he maye this doo? yt I maye lyue out all my yeares, yee in the bytternesse of my life?

Verely (LORDE,) men must lyue in bytternesse, & all my life must I passe ouer therin: For thou raysest me vp, and wakest me. But lo, I wilbe wel content with this bytternes.

Neuertheles my cōuersacion hath so pleased ye, that thou woldest not make an ende of my life, so that thou hast cast all my synnes behynde thy backe.

〈…〉 For hell prayseth not the, death doth not magnifie the.

They that go downe in to the graue, prayse not thy treuth: but the lyuynge, yee the lyuynge acknowlege the, like as I do this daye. The father telleth his children of thy faithfulnesse.

Delyuer vs (o LORDE) and we wil synge prayses in thy house, all the dayes of oure life.

And Esay sayde: take a playster of fyges, and laye it vpon the sore, so shal it be whole. Then saide Ezechias: O what a greate thinge is this, that I shal go vp in to the house of the LORDE.

The xxxix. Chapter.

AT the same tyme Merodach Baladā, Baladās sonne kinge of Babilon, 〈…〉 sent lettres and presentes to Ezechias. For he vnderstode, how that he had bene sick, & was recouered agayne. 〈…〉 And Ezechias was glad therof, & shewed them the cōmodities of his treasure: of syluer, of golde, of spyces & rootes, of precious oyles, all that was in his cubboordes and treasure houses. There was not one thinge in Ezechias house, & so thorow out all his kingdome, but he let them se it.

Thē came Esay the prophet to kinge Ezechias, and sayde vnto him: What haue ye men sayde, and from whence came they vnto the? Ezechias answered: They came out of a farre countre vnto me: out of Babilon. Esay sayde: what haue they looked vpon in thyne house? Ezechias answerde: All that is in myne house, haue they sene: and there is no thinge in my treasure, but I shewed it them.

Then sayde Esay vnto Ezechias:4. Re. 2. c Vnderstōde the worde of the LORDE of hoostes, Beholde, the tyme wil come, that euery thinge which is in thine house, and all that thy progenitours haue layde vp in stoare vnto this daye, shalbe caried to Babilon, and nothinge left behinde. This sayeth the LORDE. Yee and parte of thy sonnes that shal come of the, and whom thou shalt get, shalbe caried hence, and become gelded chamberlaines in the kinge of Babilons courte: Then sayde Ezechias to Esay: Now God prospere his owne councel, which thou hast tolde me. He sayde morouer: So that there be peace, and faithfulnesse in my tyme.

The xl. Chapter.

BE of good chere my people, be of good chere (saieth youre God) Conforte Ierusalem, and tell her: that hir trauale is at an ende, that hir offence is pardoned, that she hath receaued of the LORDES honde sufficient correction for all hir synnes. A voyce crieth: Matt. 3. a Mar. 1. a Luc. 3. c Esa. 57. e Ioh. 1. d Prepare ye waye for the LORDE in the wyldernesse, make straight ye path for oure God in the deserte. Let all valleis be exalted, and euery mountayne and hill be layde lowe. What so is croked, let it be made straight, and let the rough places be made playne feldes. Ioh. 1. b For the glory of the LORDE shal apeare, & all flesh shal se it, for why, ye mouth of the LORDE hath spoken it.

The same voyce spake: Now crie. Psal. 89. a Eccī. 14. Iaco. 1. b 1. Pet. 1. d And I sayde: what shal I crie? Then spake it: that, all flesh is grasse, and that all the bewtie the rof, is as the floure of the felde. When the grasse is wytthered, the floure falleth awaye. Euen so is the people as grasse, when the breath of the LORDE bloweth vpon them. Neuerthelesse whether the grasse wyther, Matt. 5. d Psal. 32. b Iaco. 1. b 1. Pet. 2. b or the floure fade awaye: Yet the worde of oure God endureth for euer. Morouer the voyce cried thus: Go vp vnto the hill (o Sion) thou that bringest good tidinges, lift vp thy voyce with power, o thou preacher Ierusalem. Lift it vp without feare, and say vnto the cities of Iuda: Beholde, youre God: Esa. 6 . c beholde, the LORDE, euen the almightie sha come with power, & beare rule with his arme. Beholde, he bringeth his treasure with him, and his workes go before him. He shal fede his flock like an hirdman. Esa. 34. d He shal gather the lambes together with his arme, and carie them in his bosome, & shal kindly intreate those that beare yonge.

Who hath holden the waters in his fist? Who hath measured heauen with his spanne and hath comprehended all the earth of ye worlde in thre fyngers? Who hath weyed the mountaynes and hilles? Who hath refourmed the mynde of the LORDE? Sap. 9. b Ro. 11. d Or who is of his councel to teach him? At whom hath he asked coūcel, to make him vnderstō de, and to lerne him the waye of iudgment: to teach him science, and to enstructe him in the waye of vnderstōdinge? Beholde, all people are in cōparison of him, as a droppe to a bucket full, and are counted as the leest thinge yt the balaunce weyeth. Beholde, ye Iles are in comparison of him, as the shadowe of the Sonne beame. Libanus is not sufficiēt to ministre fyre for his offringe, and all the beastes therof are not ynough to one sacrifice. All people in comparison of him, are rekened, Psal. 61. b as nothinge, yee vayne vanite and emptynesse.

To whom then will ye licke God? or what similitude will ye set vp vnto him? Shal the caruer make him a carued ymage? and shal the goldsmyth couer him with golde, or cast him in to a fourme of syluer plates? Morouer shal the ymage maker (yt the pooreman which is disposed, maye haue somthinge to set vp also) seke out and chose a tre, that is not rotten, and carue therout an ymage, yt moueth not? Knowe ye not this? Herde ye neuer of it? Hath it not bene preached vnto you sence the begynnynge? Haue ye not bene enfourmed of this, sence the foundacion of ye earth was layde: That he sytteth vpon the Circle of the worlde, and that all the inhabitours of the worlde are in cōparison of him, but as greshoppers: sa. 44. e That he spredeth out the heauēs as a coueringe, that he stretcheth them out, as a tent to dwell in: That he bringeth princes to nothinge, and the iudges of the earth to dust: so that they be not planted nor sowen agayne, nether their stocke rooted agayne in the earth? For as soone as he bloweth vpon them, they wither & fade awaye, like the strawe in a whirle wynde.

To whom now wil ye licken me, & whom shal I be like, saieth the holyone? Lift vp youre eyes an hie, and considre. Who hath made those thinges, which come out by so greate heapes? and he can call them all by their names. 〈…〉 For there is nothinge hyd vnto the greatnesse of his power, strength, and might. How maye then Iacob thinke, or how maye Israel saye: My wayes are hyd from the LORDE, and my God knoweth not of my iudgmentes. Knowest thou not, or hast thou not herde, that the euerlastinge God, the LORDE which made all the corners of the earth, is nether weery nor faynt, and that his wisdome can not be comprehended: but that he geueth strength vnto the weery, and power vnto the faynte? Children are weery and faynt, and the strongest men fall: But vnto them that haue the LORDE before their eyes, shal strength be encreased, 〈…〉 Aegles wynges shal growe vpon them: When they runne, they shal not fall: and when they go, they shal not be weery.

The xlj. Chapter.

BE still (ye I londes) and herken vnto me. Be stronge ye people, Come hither, and shew youre cause, we will go to the lawe together. Who rayseth vp ye iuste from the rysinge of the Sonne, and calleth him to go forth? Who casteth downe the people, and subdueth the kinges before him: that he maye throwe them all to the groūde with his swearde, and scatre them like stuble with his bowe? He foloweth vpon them, and goeth safely himself, and cometh in no footpath with his fete. Who hath made, created, and called the generacions from the begynnynge? Euen I the LORDE, 〈…〉 which am the first, and with the last.

Beholde ye Iles, that ye maye feare, and ye endes of the earth, that ye maye be abasshed, draw nye, and come hither. Euery man hath exorted his neghboure, and brother, and bydden him be stronge. The Smyth conforted the moulder, & the Ironsmyth the hammerman, sayenge: It shalbe good, that we fasten this cast worke: and then they fastened it with nales, that it shulde not be moued. And thou Israel my seruaunt: Iacob my electe sede of Abrahā my beloued, whom I led from the endes of the earth by the honde: For I called the from farre, & saide vnto the: Thou shalt be my seruaunt: 〈…〉 I haue chosen the, & will not cast ye awaye: be not afrayde, for I wil be with ye. Lake not behinde ye, for I wil be thy God, to strēgth ye, helpe ye, & to kepe ye with this right hōde of myne. Beholde, all they that resist the, shal come to confucion and shame: and thine aduersaries shalbe destroyed & brought to naught. So that who so seketh after them, shal not fynde them. Thy destroyers shal perish, & so shall they that vndertake to make batell agaynst the. For I thy LORDE & God, wil strength thy right honde. Euen I that saye vnto the: Feare not, I will helpe the. Be not afrayde thou litle worme Iacob, and thou despysed Israel: For I will helpe the, saieth the LORDE, & the holyone of Israel thine avenger. Beholde, I wil make the a treadinge cart & a new flale, yt thou mayest throsshe & grynde the mountaynes, and bringe the hilles to poulder. Thou shalt fanne them, & the wynde shal carie them awaye, & the whyrlwynde shal scatre thē. But thou shalt reioyse in the LORDE, and shalt delite in praysinge the holyone of Israel.

When the thurstie and poore seke water & fynde none, 〈…〉 & when their tunge is drie of thurst: 〈◊〉 . 3 . b 〈◊〉 4 . c 〈◊〉 44 a I geue it them, saieth the LORDE. I the God of Israel forsake them not. I bringe forth floudes in the hilles, & welles in the playne feldes. I turne ye wildernes to ryuers, and the drie londe to condytes of water. I plante in the wayst grounde trees of Cedre, Boxe, Myrre and olyues. And in the drie, I set Fyrre trees, elmes and hawthornes together. All this do I, yt they altogether maye se and marcke, perceaue with their hertes, & considre: that the honde of the LORDE maketh these thinges, and that the holyone of Israel bringeth them to passe. Stonde at youre cause (saieth the LORDE) and bringe forth youre strōgest grounde, counceleth the kinge of Iacob. Let the goddes come forth them selues, and shewe vs the thinges yt are past, what they be: let thē declare thē vnto vs, yt we maye take them to herte, and knowe them herafter. Ether, let thē shewe vs thinges for to come, and tel vs what shalbe done herafter: so shal we knowe, that they be goddes. Shewe somthinge, ether good or bad, so wil we both knowlege ye same, & tel it out.

Beholde, ye goddes are of naught, & yor makinge is of naught, but abhomination hath chosen you. Neuertheles I haue waked vp one from the North, & he shal come. And another from the East, which shal call vpō my name, & shal come to the prynces, as the Potter to his claye, & as ye Potter treadeth downe the myre. Who tolde yt afore? So wil we confesse & saye, that he is rightuous. But there is none that sheweth or declareth eny thinge, there is none also that heareth youre wordes. Beholde, I will first graūte thē of Sion & Ierusalem to be Euangelistes. But when I cōsidre: there is not one amonge thē yt prophecieth, nether (when I axe him) yt answereth one worde. Lo, wicked are they & vayne, with the thinges also that they take in honde: yee wynde are they, and emptynesse, with their ymages together.

The xlij. Chapter.

BEholde now therfore, this is my seruaunt whom I will kepe to my self: Matt. 3. Matt 12. Matt. 17. my electe, In whom my soule shalbe pacified. I will geue him my sprete, that he maye shewe forth iudgment & equyte amonge the Gentiles. He shal not be an outcryer, ner an hie mynded person. His voyce shall not be herde in ye stretes. A brussed rede shal he not breake, & the smokinge flax shal he not quench: but faithfully & truly shal he geue iudgmēt. He shal nether be ouersene ner haistie, that he maye restore rightuousnesse vnto the earth: & the Gētiles also shal kepe his lawes. Esa 44. Esa. 40. f For thus saieth God the LORDE vnto him (Euen he that made the heauens, and spred them abrode, & set forth the earth with hir encrease: which geueth breath vnto the people that is in it, & to them that dwel therin) I the LORDE haue called ye in rightuousnesse, & led the by the honde. Therfore wil I also defende the, & geue the for a couenaunt of the people, & to be the light of the Gētiles. That thou mayest open the eyes of the blinde, let out the prysoners, Esa. 49. Luc. 2. c Zac. 9. b & them that syt in darknesse, out of the dongeon house. I my self, whose name is the LORDE, which geue my power to none other, nether myne honoure to the goddes: shewe you these new tidinges, and tel you them or they come, for olde thinges also are come to passe.

Synge therfore vnto the LORDE, Psa. 149. a new songe of thākes geuynge, blow out his prayse vnto the ende of the worlde. They that be vpon the see, & all that is therin, prayse him, the Iles & they that dwel in them. Let the wildernes with hir cities lift vp hir voyce, the townes also that be in Cedar. Let them be glad that syt vpon rockes of stone, and let them crie downe from the hie mountaynes: ascribinge almightynes vnto the LORDE, & magnifienge him amonge the Gētiles. The LORDE shal come forth as a gyaunte, and take a stomacke to him like a fresh man of warre. He shal roare and crie, and ouercome his enemies.

I haue longe holden my peace (saieth the LORDE) shulde I therfore be still, and kepe sylence for euer? I will crie like a trauelinge woman, and once wil I destroye, and deuoure. I wil make waist both mountayne & hill, & drie vp euery grene thinge, that groweth theron. I wil drie vp the floudes of water, & drinke vp the ryuers. I wil bringe the blinde in to a strete, that they knowe not: and lede them in to a fotepath, that they are ignoraunt in. I shal make darknesse light before thē, & the thinge yt is croked, to be straight. These thinges will I do & not forget them. And therfore let them conuerte, Esa. 44. b and be a shamed earnestly, that hope in Idols, & saye to fashioned ymages: ye are oure godes.

Heare, o ye deaf men, and sharpen youre sightes to se (o ye blinde. Matt. 15. b ) But who is blynder, thē my seruaunt? Or so deaf, as my messaungers, whom I sent vnto them? For who is so blynde as my people, & they yt haue the rule of them? They are like, as yf thou vnderstodest moch, and keptest nothinge: or yf one herde well, but were not obedient. The LORDE be merciful vnto them for his rightuousnesse sake, that his worde might be magnified & praysed. But it is a myscheuous & wiked people. Their yonge men belonge all to the snare, & shalbe shut in to preson houses. They shal be caried awaye captyue and no man shal lowse them. Deut. 28 They shal be trodē vnder fote, sa. 44. d & no man shal laboure to bringe thē agayne. But who is he amonge you, yt pondreth this in his mynde, yt considreth it, & taketh it for a warnynge in tyme to come?

Who suffred Iacob to be trodden vnder fote, aruc. 1 d obi 3. a Dan. 9. a and Israel to be spoyled? dyd not the LORDE? Now haue we synned agaynst him, and haue had no delite to walke in his wayes, nether bene obedient vnto his lawe. Therfore hath he poured vpon vs his wroothful displeasure, and strōge batell, which maketh vs haue to do on euery syde, yet will we not vnderstōde: He burneth vs vp, yet syncketh it not in to oure hartes.

The xliij. Chapter.

BVt now the LORDE that made the (o Iacob) and he that fashioned the (o Israel) saieth thus: sa. 41. b . Re. 17. g Deut. 7. a Deu. 26. d Ose. 1 b xo. 14. Dan. 3. d Feare not, for I will defende ye. I haue called ye by thy name, thou art myne owne. When thou wentest in the water, I was by the, that the strō ge floudes shulde not pluck ye awaye: When thou walkest in the fyre, it shal not burne ye, and the flame shall not kindle vpon the. For I am the LORDE thy God, the holyone of Israel, thy Sauioure. I gaue Egipte for ye delyueraunce, the Moryās and the Sabees for the: because thou wast deare in my sight, and because I set by the, and loued the. 〈…〉 I pilled all men for the, and delyuered vp all people for thy sake, that thou shuldest not feare, 〈…〉 for I was with the. I wil bringe thy sede from the east, and gather the together from the west. I wil saye to the north: let go. And to the south, kepe not backe: But bringe me my sonnes from farre, and my doughters from the endes of the worlde: Namely, all those that be called after my name: For thē haue I created, fashioned, and made for myne honoure.

Bringe forth that people, whether they haue eyes or be blynde, deaf or haue eares. 〈…〉 All nacions shal come in one, and be gathered in one people. But which amonge yonder goddes shall declare soch thinges, & tell vs what is to come? Let them bringe their witnesses, so shal they be fre: for thē men shal heare it, and saye: it is truth. But I bringe you witnesses (saith the LORDE) euen those that are my seruauntes, whom I haue chosen: to the intent that ye might be certified, and geue me faithful credence: yee and to cō sidre, that I am he, before whom there was neuer eny God, and that there shalbe none after me. I am only the LORDE, 〈…〉 and without me is there no Sauioure. I geue warnynge, I make whole, I teach you, that there shulde be no straunge God amonge you. And this recorde must ye beare me youre selues (saieth the LORDE) that I am God. And euen he am I from the begynnynge, and there is none, 〈…〉 that can take eny thinge out of my honde. And what I do, can no man chaunge.

Thus saieth the LORDE the holyone of Israel youre redemer: 〈…〉 For youre sake I will sende to Babilon, and bringe all the strongest of them from thence: Namely, the Caldees that boost them of their shippes: Euen I the LORDE youre holy one which haue made Israel, and am youre kinge. Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE (Euen he that maketh a waye in the see, 〈…〉 and a footpath in the mightie waters: which bringeth forth the charettes and horses, the hooste and the power, that they maye fall a slepe and neuer ryse, and be extincte, like as tow is quenched.

Ye remembre not thinges of olde, 〈…〉 and regarde nothinge that is past. Therfore beholde, I shal make a new thinge, and shortly shall it apeare: Ye shall well knowe it, I tolde it you afore, but I will tell it you agaane.

I will make stretes in the deserte, and ryuers of water in the wildernesse. The wilde beastes shal worshippe me: the dragon, and the Estrich. For I shall geue water in ye wildernesse, 〈…〉 and streames in the deserte: that I maye geue drīke to my people, whom I chose. This people haue I made for my self, and they shal shewe forth my prayse. For thou (Iacob) woldest not call vpon me, but thou haddest an vnlust towarde me, o Israel. Thou gauest me not thy yonge beastes for burnt offringes, nether didest honoure me with thy sacrifices. Thou boughtest me no deare spice with thi money, nether pouredest the fat of thy sacrifices vpon me. Howbeit I haue not bene chargeable vnto the in offrī ges, Esa. 1. b 〈…〉 . c nether greuous in Incense.

But thou hast ladē me with thy synnes, and weeried me with thy vngodlynes: 〈◊〉 24. b 〈◊〉 33. b Where as I yet am euen he only, that for myne owne selfes sake do awaye thine offences, & forget thy synnes: so that I wil neuer thinke vpon them. Put me now in remembraunce (for we will reason together) & shewe what thou hast for the, 〈◊〉 . 3. b 〈◊〉 . 0. b to make the quyte. Thy first father offended sore, and thy rulers haue synned agaynst me Therfore I ether suspended, or slewe the chefest prynces: I dyd curse Iacob, and gaue Israel into reprofe.

The xliiij. Chapter.

SO heare now, o Iacob my seruaunt, and Israel whom I haue chosē. 〈◊〉 30. b 〈◊〉 4 . g 〈◊〉 . 4 . a 〈◊〉 . 41. b For thus saieth the LORDE, that made the, fashioned the, and helped the, euen from thy mothers wombe: Be not afrayde (o Iacob my seruaunte,) thou rightuous, whom I haue chosen. For I shal poure water vpon the drie grounde, 〈◊〉 . d 〈◊〉 . 2. g 〈◊〉 . 2. g and ryuers vpon the thurstie. I shal poure my sprete vpon thisede, and myne encrease vpō thy stocke. They shal growe together, like as the grasse, and as the Willies by the waters side. One will saye: I am the LORDES. Another wil call vnder the name of Iacob. The thirde shal subscrybe with his honde vnto ye LORDE, and geue him self vnder the name of Israel.

Morouer, thus hath the LORDE spokē: euen the kinge of Israel, 〈◊〉 . 4 . b 〈…〉 d 〈◊〉 . 4 . b 〈◊〉 . 2. c 〈◊〉 43. b and his avenger, ye LORDE of hoostes: I am the first, and the last, and without me is there no God. For what is he, that euer was like me, which am from euerlastinge? Let him shewe his name and do wherthorow he maye be lickened vnto me. Let him tell you forth planely thīges, that are past and for to come: yee and that without eny feare or stoppe. For haue not I euer tolde you hytherto, & warned you? Ye can beare me recorde youreselues. Is there eny God excepte me? or eny maker, that I shulde not knowe him?

Wherfore all caruers of Idols are but vayne, and their laboure lost. They must beare recorde them selues, that (seinge they can nether se ner vnderstonde) they shalbe confounded. Who shulde now make a god, Esa. 42. b or fashiō an Idol, that is profitable for nothinge? Beholde all the felashippe of thē must be brought to confucion. Psal. 113. b Sap. 13. c Let all the workmasters of them come and stonde together from amonge men: they must be abashed and confoūded one with another. The smyth taketh yron, and tempreth it with hote coles, and fashioneth it with hammers, & maketh it wt all the strength of his armes: Yee somtyme he is faynt for very hunger, and so thurstie, that he hath no more power. The carpenter (or ymage caruer) taketh me the tymbre, and spredeth forth his lyne: he marketh it with some coloure: he playneth it, he ruleth it, ād squareth it, and maketh it after the ymage of a man, and acordinge to the bewtie of a man: that it maye stonde in the temple.

Morouer, he goeth out to hewe downe Cedre trees: He bringeth home Elmes and okes, and other tymbre of the wodd. Or els the Fyrretrees which he planted himself, ād soch as the rayne hath swelled, which wodde serueth for mē to burne. Of this he taketh and warmeth himself withall: he maketh a fyre of it to bake bred. And after warde maketh a god there of, to honoure it: and an Idol, to knele before it. One pece he burneth in the fyre, with another he rosteth flesh, that he maye eate roste his bely full: with the thirde he warmeth himself, and saieth: A ha: I am well warmed, I haue bene at the fyre. And of the residue, he maketh him a god, and an Idol for himself. He kneleth before it, he worshippeth it, he prayeth vnto it, and sayeth: delyuer me, for thou art my god.

Yet men nether considre ner vnderstonde, because their eyes are stopped, Esa. 42. that they can not se: and their hertes, that they can not perceaue. They pondre not in their myndes (for they haue nether knowlege ner vnderstōdinge) to thinke thus: I haue brēt one pece in the fyre, I haue baked bred wt ye 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 coles there of, I haue rosted flesh withall, & eaten it: Shal I now of the residue make an abhominacion, and fall downe before a rotten pece of wodd? The kepinge of dust, and folishnesse of herte hath turned them a syde: so that none of them can haue a fre conscience to thinke: maye not Ierre?

Cōsidre this (o Iacob and Israel) for thou art my seruaūt. I haue made the, that thou mightest serue me. O Israel, forget me not. As for thyne offences, sa. 43. d I dryue them awaye like the cloudes, and thy synnes as the myst. Turne ye agayne vnto me, & I will delyuer ye.

Be glad ye heauens, whom the LORDE hath made, let all yt is here beneth vpon the earth, be ioyfull. Reioyse ye mountaynes & woddes, with all the trees that are in you: for ye LORDE shal redeme Iacob, & shewe his glory vpon Israel. For thus saieth the LORDE thy redemer, euen he that fashioned the from thy mothers wombe: om. 11. d Gen. 1. a sa. 4. c I am the LORDE, which do all thinges my self alone. I only haue spred out the heauens, and I only haue layde the foundacion of the earth. I destroye the tokens of witches, and make the Sothsayers go wronge. As for the wise, I turne them bacward, and make their conninge folishnesse.

But I set vp the purpose of my seruauntes, and fulfil the councel of my messaūgers. I saye to Ierusalē: turne agayne: And to the cities of Iuda, be ye buylded agayne: and I repayre their decayed places. I saye to the grounde: be drie. And I drie vp thy water floudes. I saye to Cirus: thou art myne hyrd man, so that he shal fulfill all thinges after m will. I saye to Ierusalem: be thou buylded, and to the tēple: be thou fast grounded.

The xlv. Chapter.

THus saieth the LORDE vnto Cirus his anoynted, Esd. 1. a whom he ledeth by ye right hō de: that the people maye fall downe before him: I wil lowse the gyrdle of kinges, yt they shal open the gates before thy face, and not to shut their dores. I wil go before the, and make the croked straight. I shal breake the brasen dores, & burst the yron barres. I shall geue the the hyd treasure, & the thinge which is secretly kepte: that thou mayest knowe, yt I the God of Israel haue called the by thy name: en. 39. a and that for Iacob my seruaunt sake, & for Israel my chosen. For I called the by ye name, and ordened the, or euer thou knewest me: sa. 43. b Euen I the LORDE, before whom there is none other, for wt out me there is no God I haue prepared the, or euer thou knewest me: ere. 1. a that it might be knowne from the risynge of the Sonne to the goinge downe of the same, that all is nothinge without me. For I am the LORDE, & there is els none. 〈…〉 It is I yt created the light and darcknes, I make peace and trouble: Yee euen I the LORDE do all these thinges. The heauens aboue shal droppe downe, and the cloudes shal rayne rightuousnes. The earth shal open it self, and brynge forth health, and therby shal rightuousnes florish. Euen I the LORDE shal bringe it to passe.

Wo be vnto him that chydeth wt his maker, the potsherde with the potter. 〈…〉 Saieth ye claye to the potter: What makest thou? or, yi worke serueth for nothīge? Wo be vnto him, yt saieth to his father: why begettest thou? And to his mother: why bearest thou? Thus saieth the LORDE, euen the holy one & maker of Israel: Axe me of thinges for to come, concernynge my sonnes: and put me in remē braunce, as touchinge the workes of my hō des: I haue made the earth, and created mā vpon it. With my hondes haue I spred forth heauen, and geuen a commaundment for all the hooste therof. I shal wake him vp with rightuousnesse, and ordre all his wayes. 〈…〉 He shal buylde my cite, & let out my prisoners: & that nether for gift nor rewardes, saieth the LORDE of hoostes.

The LORDE hath sayde morouer: The occupiers of Egipte, the marchauntes of the Moryans and Sabees, shal come vnto the with tribute, they shabethine, they shal folowe the, and go with cheynes vpon their fete. They shal fall downe before the, and make supplicacion vnto the. For God (wt out whō there is none other God) shal be with the. 〈…〉 O how profounde art thou o God, thou God & Sauioure of Israel? Confounded be ye, and put to dishonoure: go hence together with shame, all ye that be workmasters of erroure: (that is worshippers of Idols) But Israel shalbe saued in the LORDE, which is the euerlastinge saluaciō: They shal not come to shame ner confucion, worlde without ende.

For thus sayeth the LORDE: euen he that created heauen, the God yt made the earth, 〈…〉 that fashioned it, and set it forth: I haue not made it for naught, but I made it to be enhabited: Euen I the LORDE, without whom there is none other. 〈…〉 I haue not spoken secretly, nether in darcke places of the earth. It is not for naught, that I sayde vnto the sede of Iacob: seke me. I am the LORDE, which whē I speake, declare the thinge that is rightuous and true. Let thē be gathered & come together, let thē drawe nye hyther, yt are escaped of the people: Haue they eny vnderstondinge, that set vp the stockes of their Idols, and praye vnto a god, 〈◊〉 44 c 〈◊〉 . that cā not helpe thē? Let men drawe nye, let them come hither, ād aske councel one at another, and shewe forth What is he, that tolde this before? or, who spake of it, euer sence the begynnynge? Haue not I ye LORDE done it: 〈◊〉 . 4 . b without whom there is none other God? the true God and sauioure, 〈◊〉 44. b and there is els none but I? And therfore turne you vnto me (all ye endes of the earth) so shal ye be saued, for I am God, & there is els none. I sweare by myself: out of my mouth cōmeth ye worde of rightuousnesse, and that maye no man turne: but all knees shal bowe vnto me, and all tunges shal sweate by me, 〈◊〉 . 14. b 〈◊〉 . 2. b sayenge: Verely in the LORDE is my rightuousnes and strength. To him shal mē come: but all they that thinke scorne of him, shalbe confounded. And the whole sede of Israel shalbe iustified, & praysed in ye LORDE

The xlvj. Chapter.

〈◊〉 14. c 〈◊〉 . 5. a 〈◊〉 . 5. a Neuertheles Bel shal fall, & Nabo shalbe broken: whose ymages are a burthē for the beastes and catell, to ouerlade thē, and to make them weery. They shal syncke downe, and fall together: for they maye not ease them of their burthen, therfore must they go in to captiuyte.

Herken vnto me, o house of Iacob, and all ye that remayne yet of the housholde of Israel: whom I haue borne from youre mothers wombe, and brought you vp from yor byrth, till ye were growen: I I which shall beare you vnto youre last age: I haue made you, I will also norish you, beare you and saue you. Whom will ye make me like, in fashion or ymage, 〈◊〉 44 . 〈◊〉 3 . a that I maye be like him? Ye fooles (no doute) wil take out syluer and golde out of youre purses, and weye it, and hyre a goldsmyth to make a god of it, that men maye knele downe and worshipe it. Yet must he be taken on mens shulders and borne, 〈◊〉 44. c 〈…〉 c and set in his place, that he maye stonde and not moue. Alas that men shulde crie vnto him, which geueth no answere: and delyuereth not the man that calleth vpon him, from his trouble.

Considre this well, and be ashamed, Go into youre owne selues (O ye runnagates). Remembre the thinges which are past, sence the begynnynge of the worlde: that I am God, and that there is els no God, yee and yt there is nothinge like vnto me. In the begynnynge of a thinge, I shewe the ende therof: and I tel before, thinges that are not yet come to passe. With one worde is my deuyce accomplished, & fulfilleth all my pleasure. I call a byrde out of the east, Exo. 16. c and all that I take in honde, out of farre countrees. As soone as I commaunde, I bringe it hither: as soone as I thinke to deuyse a thinge, I do it. Psal. 148. a 32. b

Heare me, o ye that are of an hie stomack, but farre from rightuousnesse. I shal bringe forth my rightuousnesse, It is not farre, and my health shal not tarie longe awaye. I wil laye health in Siō, and geue Israel my glory.

The xlvij. Chapter.

BVt as for the (O doughter, thou virgin Babilon) thou shalt syt in the dust. Thou shalt syt vpon the groūde, and not in atr one (o thou mayden of Chaldea). Thou shalt nomore be called tender, and pleasaūt. Thou shalt bringe forth the querne, & grynede meel, put downe thy stomacher, make bare thy knees, and shalt wade thorow the water ryuers. Thy shame shalbe discouered, Eze. 16. d Nau. 3. b ād thy preuyties shal be sene. For I wil auenge me of the, and no man shal let me: saieth oure redemer, which is called the LORDE of hoostes, the holy one of Israel.

Syt still, holde thy tunge, and get the in to some darcke corner (O doughter Caldea) for thou shalt nomore be called lady of kyngdomes. I was so wroth with my people, yt I punyshed myne enheritaunce, Pro. 21. b Iere. 50. b and gaue them in to thy power. Neuertheles, thou shewdest them no mercy, but euen the very aged men of thē, didest thou oppresse right sore with thy yock, & thou thoughtest thus: I shalbe lady for euer. And besyde all that, thou hast not regarded these thinges, nether cast, what shulde come after.

Heare now therfore, thou wilful, that syttest so carelesse, Esa. 10. b Apo. 18. c & speakest thus in thine herte: I am alone, and without me is there none: I shal neuer be wydow, ner desolate agayne. And yet both these thīges shal come to the vpō one daye in the twincklinge of an eye: Namely, wyddowhead, and desolacion. Dani. 5. c They shal mightely fall vpon the, for ye multitude of thy witches, and for the greate heape of thy coniurers. For thou hast conforted thy self in thy disceatfulnes, and hast sayde: No mā seith me. Thyne owne wisdome & connynge haue disceaued the, Esa. 29. c In that thou hast sayde: I am alone, and without me there is none. Therfore shal trouble come vpō ye, & thou shalt not knowe, from whēce it shal arise. Myschefe shal fall vpō ye, which thou shalt not be able to put of. A sodane misery shal come vpon the, or euer thou be awarre.

Now go to thy coniurers, and to the multitude of thy witches, (whom thou hast bene acquanted withal from thi youth) yf they maye helpe the, or strengthē the. Thou hast hither to had many councels of them, so let the heauengasers & the beholders of starres, come on now and delyuer the: yee and let thē shewe, when these new thinges shall come vpon the. Beholde, they shalbe like strawe, which yf it be kindled with fyre, no man maye rydde it for the vehemence of the flame: And yet it geueth no zynders to warme a mā by, ner cleare fyre to syt by. Euen so shal they be vnto the, whom thou hast vsed & occupide from thy youth. Euery one shal shewe yt his erroneous waye, yet shall none of them defende the.

The xlviij. Chapter.

HEare this, O thou house of Iacob: ye yt are called by the name of Israel, and are come out of one stocke wt Iuda: which sweare by the name of the LORDE, phe. 2. b sa. 1. c erem. 3. f and beare witnesse by the God of Israel (but not wt treuth and right) which are called fre men of the holy citie, as they that loke for conforth in the God of Israel, whose name is the LORDE of hoostes.

The thinges that I shewed you euer sence the begynnynge: Haue I not brought thē to passe, immediatly as they came out of my mouth, and declared them? And they are come? Howbeit I knewe that thou art obstinate, and that thy neck hath an yron vane, and that thy brow is of brasse. Neuertheles I haue euer sence the begynnynge shewed the of thinges for to come, and declared thē vnto the, or euer they came to passe: that thou shuldest not saye: myne Idol hath done it, my carued or cast ymage hath shewed it. Heare & considre all these thinges, whether it was ye that prophecied thē: But as for me, I tolde the before at the begynnynge, new & secrete thinges, yt thou knewest not of: And some done now not of olde time, Esa. 37. f wherof thou neuer herdest, before they were brought to passe: that thou canst not saye: I knewe of them. Morouer there be some wherof thou hast nether herde ner knowne, nether haue they bene opened vnto thine eares afore tyme. For I knew that thou woldest maliciousli offende, therfore haue I called the a transgressoure, euen from thy mothers wombe.

Neuertheles for my names sake, I haue withdrawen my wrath, and for myne honoursake I haue ouersene the, so that I haue not rooted the out. Beholde I haue pourged the, and not for moneye. I haue chosen the in the fyre of pouerte, And that only for myne owne sake, 〈…〉 for I geue myne Honoure to none other, that thou shuldest not despise me. Herken vnto me o Iacob, 〈…〉 & Israel whō I haue called. I am euen he that is, I am ye first and the last. 〈…〉 My honde is the foundacion of the earth, & my right honde spanneth ouer the heauens. As soone as I called thē they were there. Gather you all together, ād herken: Which of yonder goddes hath declared this, that the LORDE wil do by the kinge of Babilon, (whom he loueth & fauoureth) and by the Caldees his arme I my self alone haue tolde you this before. Yee I shal call him and bringe him forth, & geue him a prosperous iourneye. Come nye & heare this: 〈…〉 haue I spokē eny thīge darckly sence the begynnynge? whē a thīge begynneth, I am there.

Wherfore the LORDE God with his sprete hath sent me, And thus saieth the LORDE thine avenger, the holyone of Israel: 〈…〉 I am ye LORDE thy God, which teach the profitable thinges, and lede ye the waye, that thou shuldest go. Yf thou wilt now regarde my cōmaundement, thy welthynes shalbe as the water streame: & thy rightuousnes as the wawes flowinge in the see. Thysede shalbe like as the sonde in the see, & the frute of thy body, like the grauel stones therof: Thy name shal not be roted out, nor destroyed before me. Ye shal go awaye from Babilon, and escape the Caldees with a mery voyce. 〈…〉 This shalbe spoken of, declared abrode, & go forth vnto the ende of the worlde: so that it shalbe sayde: The LORDE hath defended his seruaunte Iacob, that they suffred no thurste, 〈…〉 whē they trauayled in the wildernesse. He claue the rockes a sonder, and the water gusshed out. As for the vngodly, they haue no peace, 〈…〉 saieth the LORDE.

MESSIAS The xlix. Chapter.

HErken vnto me, ye Iles, and take hede ye people from farre: The LORDE hath called me fro my byrth, and made mēcion of my name fro my mothers wōbe: he hath made my mouth like a sharpe swerde, 〈…〉 vnder ye shadowe of his honde hath he defended me, and hyd me in his quyuer, as a good arowe, and sayde vnto me: Thou art my seruaunt Israel, I wilbe honoured in the. 〈…〉 Then answerde I: I shal lese my laboure, I shal spende my strength in vayne. Neuertheles, I wil commytte my cause and my worke vnto the LORDE my God. And now saieth the LORDE (euē he that fashioned me fro my mothers wombe to be his seruaūte, that I maye bringe Iacob agayne vnto him: howbeit, Israel will not be gathered vnto hī agayne. In whose sight I am greate, which also is my LORDE, my God and my strēgth) Let it be but a smal thinge, that thou art my seruaunt, to set vp the kinreddes of Iacob, & to restore the destructiō of Israel: 〈…〉 yf I make the not also the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my health vnto the ende of the worlde.

Morouer thus saieth the LORDE the avē ger and holy one of Israel, because of the abhorringe and despisinge amonge the Gentiles, concernynge the seruaunt of all them yt beare rule: Kynges and prynces shal se, and arise and worshipe, because of the LORDE that he is faithfull: and because of the holy one of Israel, which hath chosen the.

〈…〉 And thus saieth the LORDE: In the tyme apoynted wil I be present with the. And in the houre of health wil I helpe the, & delyuer the. I wil make the a pledge for ye people, so yt thou shalt helpe vp the earth agayne, and chalenge agayne the scatred heretages: 〈…〉 That thou mayest saye to ye presoners: go forth, & to them that are in darknesse: come in to the light, that they maye fede in the hie wayes, & get their lyuynge in all places. There shal nether hunger ner thirste, heate nor Sonne hurte them. 〈…〉 For he that fauoureth them, shal lede them, and geue them drī ke of the springe welles. I will make wayes vpon all my mountaynes, and my fote pathes shalbe exalted. And beholde, they shal come from farre: lo, seme from the north and west, 〈…〉 some from the south. Reioyse ye heauens, and synge prayses thou earth: Talke of ioye ye hilles, for God wil cōforte his people, & haue mercy vpon his, yt be in trouble.

Then shal Sion saye: God hath forsaken me, and the LORDE hath forgottē me. Doth a wife forget the childe of hir wombe, 〈…〉 ād the sonne whō she hath borne? And though she do forget, yet wil not I forget the. Beholde, I haue written the vp vpon my hondes, thy walles are euer in my sight. They that haue broken the downe, shal make haist to buylde the vp agayne: and they that made the waist, shal dwell in the. Lift vp thine eyes, and loke aboute the: 〈…〉 all these shal gather them together, and come to the. As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE) thou shalt put them all vpō the, as an apparell, and gyrde thē to the, as a bryde doth hir Iewels. As for thy londe that lieth desolate, waisted & destroyed: it shalbe to narow for thē, that shal dwell in it. And they yt wolde deuoure the, shalbe farre a waye. Then the childe whō ye barē shall bringe forth vnto ye, shal saye in thine eare: this place is to narow, syt nye together, yt I maye haue rowme. Then shalt thou thinke by thy self: Who hath begottē me these? seinge I am barē & alōe, a captyue & an outcast? And who hath norished thē vp for me? I am desolate & alone, but frō whēce come these?

And therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I will stretch out myne honde to the Gentiles, and set vp my token to the people. They shal bringe the thy sonnes in their lappes, & carie thy doughters vnto ye vpon their shulders. For kinges shalbe thy noursinge fathers, and Quenes shalbe thy noursinge mothers. They shal fall before the wt their faces flat vpon the earth, and lick vp the dust of thy fete: that thou mayest knowe, how that I am the LORDE. Ro. 9. d And who so putteth his trust in me, shal not be confounded. Who spoyleth the giaunte of his pray? or who taketh the presoner from the mightie? And therfore thus saieth the LORDE: The prisoners shalbe taken from the giaunte, and the spoyle delyuered from the violēte: for I wil maynteyne thy cause agaynst thine aduersaries, and saue thy sonnes. And wil fede thine enemies with their owne fleshe, and make thē drinke of their owne bloude, as of swete wyne. And all flesh shal knowe (o Iacob) that I am the LORDE thy Sauioure, and stronge auenger.

Chap. I.

THus saieth the LORDE: Where is the bill of yor mothers deuorcemēt, that I sent vnto her? or who is the vsurer, Iere. 3. a to whō I solde you? Beholde, for youre owne offēces are ye solde: & because of youre transgression, Esa. 9. a is youre mother forsakē. For why wolde no mā receaue me, when I came? & when I called, no man gaue me answere. Was my hōde clene smytē of, that it might not helpe? or, had I not power to delyuer? lo, Exo. 14. c Iosu. 3. d at a worde I drī ke vp the see, & of water floudes I make drie lōde: so yt for want of water, the fish corruppe and die of thurst. As for heauen, Exo. 10. I clooth it with darcknesse, and put a sack vpon it.

The LORDE God hath geuē me a wel lerned tūge, so that I can conforte them which are troubled, yee & yt in due season.2. Cor. 1. He waked myne eare vp by tymes in ye mornynge (as ye scolemasters do) yt I might herkē. The LORDE God hath opened myne eare, therfore cā I not saye naye, ner wtdrawe myself, Psal. 39. b Iob. 30. d Mat. 26. g Heb. 13. but I offre my backe vnto ye smyters, and my chees to the nyppers. I turne not my face frō shame ād spittinge, for the LORDE God helpeth me, therfore shal I not be cōfounded. I haue hardened my face like a flynt stone, for I am sure, that I shal not come to confucion. Myne aduocate speaketh for me, who wil then go with me to lawe? Let vs stō de one agaynst another: yf there be eny that wil reason with me, let him come here forth to me. Ro . f Beholde, the LORDE God stondeth by me, what is he that can condempne me? lo, they shalbe all like as an olde cloth, which ye mothes shal eate vp. Psalm. 101

Therfore who so feareth the LORDE amō ge you, let him heare the voyce of his seruaūt. Who so walketh in darcknesse, & no light shyneth vpō him, let him hope in the LORDE, and holde him by his God. But take hede, ye haue all kyndled a fyre, and gyrded youre selues with the flame: Ye walke in the glistrī ge of youre owne fyre, and in the flame that ye haue kyndled. This cometh vnto you fro my honde, namely, yt ye shal slepe in sorowe.

The li. Chapter.

HErken vnto me, ye that holde of rightuousnes, ye that seke the LORDE. Take hede vnto the stone, wherout ye are hewen, and to the graue wherout ye are digged. Considre Abraham youre father, & Sara that bare you: Gen. 21. a Rom. 4. a Gen. 12. a how that I called him alone, prospered him wel, & encreased him: how the LORDE conforted Siō, and repayred all hir decaye: makinge hir deserte as a Paradise, and hir wildernesse as the garden of the LORDE. Myrth and ioye was there, thankes geuynge and ye voyce of prayse. Haue respecte vnto me then (o my people) and laye thine eare to me: for a lawe, and an ordinaunce shal go forth fro me, Esa. 2. a to lighten the Gentiles. It is hard by, that my health & my rightuousnesse shal go forth, and the people shalbe ordred with myne arme.

The Ilondes (that is ye Gentiles) shal hope in me, and put their trust in myne arme. Lift vp youre eyes toward heauē, and loke vpon the earth beneth. Psal. 101. d Matt. 24. c 2. Pet. 3. b For the heauens shal vanish awaye like smoke, and the earth shall teare like a clothe, & they that dwel therin, shal perish in like maner. But my health endureth for euer, Psalm. 36 and my rightuousnes shall not ceasse. Therfore hercken vnto me, ye yt haue pleasure in rightuousnes, Iere. 31. f thou people that bearest my lawe in thine herte. Feare not the curse of men, Matt. 10. d Luc. 12 a Psal. 101. d be not afrayde of their blasphemies & reuylinges: for wormes & mothes shal eat thē vp like clothe & woll. But my rightuousnesse shal endure for euer, & my sauynge health from generacion to generacion.

Wake vp, wake vp, & be stronge: O thou arme of the LORDE: wake vp, lyke as in tymes past, euer and sence the worlde beganne. Art not thou he, 〈…〉 that hast wounded that proude lucifer, and hewen the dragon in peces? Art not thou euen he, which hast dried vp the depe of the see, which hast made playne the see grounde, that the delyuered might go thorow? 〈…〉 That the redemed of the LORDE, which turned agayne, might come with ioye vnto Siō, there to endure for euer That myrth and gladnesse might be with them: that sorowe & wo might fle from thē? 〈…〉 Yee I, I am euē he, that in all thīges geueth you consolacion. What art thou then, that fearest a mortall mā, ye childe of man, which goeth awaye as doeth the floure? And forgettest the LORDE that made the, 〈…〉 that sp ed out the heauens, and layde the foundacion of the earth. But thou art euer afrayde for the sight of thyne oppressoure, which is ready to do harme: Where is the wrath of the oppressoure? It cometh on fast, it maketh haist to apeare: It shal not perish, yt it shulde not be able to destroye, nether shal it fayle for faute of norishinge. I am the LORDE yi God, that make the see to be still, 〈…〉 and to rage: whose name is the LORDE of hoostes. I shal put my worde also in thy mouth, and defende the with the turnynge of my honde that thou mayest plante the heauens, and laye the foundacions of the earth, and saye vnto Sion: thou art my people.

Awake, Awake, and stonde vp o Ierusasalem, 〈…〉 thou that from the honde of the LORDE, hast dronkē out the cuppe of his wrath: thou that hast supped of, and sucked out the slombringe cuppe to the botome. For amonge all the sonnes whom thou hast begotten, there is not one that maye holde the vp: and not one to lede the by the honde, of all the sonnes that thou hast norished. Both these thinges are happened vnto the, but who is sory for it? Yee, destruction, waistinge, hunger & swerde: but who hath conforted the? Thy sonnes lie comfortles at ye heade of euery strete like a takē venyson, & are ful of ye te rible wrath of ye LORDE, & punyshmēt of thy God. And therfore thou miserable & dronkē (howbeit not wt wyne) Heare this: Thus saieth thy LORDE: thy LORDE & God, ye defender of his people: Beholde, I wil take ye slō brīge cuppe out of thy hōde, euē ye cuppe wt the dregges of my wrath: yt frō hence forth thou shalt neuer drinke it more, & wil put it ī their hōde that trouble the: which haue spoken to thy soule: stoupe downe, that we maye go ouer the: make thy body eauē with the grounde, and as the strete to go vpon.

The lij. Chapter.

VP Sion vp, take thy strength vnto the: put on thine honest rayment o Ierusalē, thou citie of the holy one. For from this tyme forth, there shal no vncircumcised ner vncleane person come in the. Shake the frō the dust, arise & stonde vp, o Ierusalē. Pluck out thy neck from the bōde, o thou captyue doughter Sion. For thus saieth the LORDE: Ye are solde for naught, 〈…〉 therfore shal ye be redemed also without eny money.

For thus hath the LORDE sayde: My people wēte downe afore tyme in to Egipte, 〈…〉 there to be straungers. Afterwarde dyd the kinge of the Assirians oppresse thē, for naught. And now what profit is it to me (saieth ye LORDE) yt my people is frely caried awaye, & brought in to heuynes by their rulers, 〈…〉 and my name euer still blasphemed? saieth the LORDE. But yt my people maye knowe my name, 〈…〉 I my self will speake in that daye. Beholde, here am I. O how bewtiful are the fete of the Embassitoure, yt bringeth the message frō the mountayne, 〈…〉 & proclameth peace: yt brīgeth the good tydinges, & preacheth health, & saieth vnto Sion: Thy God is the kinge. Thy watchmē shal lift vp their voyce, wt loude voyce shal they preach of him: for they shal se him present, whē the LORDE shal come agayne to Sion.

Be glad, o thou desolate Ierusalē, & reioyse together: 〈…〉 for the LORDE will cōforte his people, he wil delyuer Ierusalē. The LORDE wil make bare his holy arme, 〈…〉 & shewe it forth in the sight of all the Gētiles, & all the endes of the earth shal se the sauynge health of oure God. 〈…〉 Awaye, Awaye, get you out frō thence, & touch no vncleane thinge. Go out from amonge soch, And be cleane, ye that beare the vessell of the LORDE. But ye shal not go out with sediciō, ner make haist as they that fle awaye: for the LORDE shal go before you, ād the God of Israel shal kepe the watch. 〈…〉

Beholde, my seruaunt shal deale wysely, therfore shal he be magnified, exalted & greatly honoured. Like as ye multitude shal wō dre vpon him, because his face shalbe so deformed & not as a mans face, & his bewtie like no man: Euen so shal the multitude of the Gētiles loke vnto him, & ye kinges shal shut their mouthes before him. For they yt haue not bene tolde of him, shal se him: and they yt herde nothinge of him, 〈◊〉 5. c 〈◊〉 5 a shal beholde him.

The liij. Chapter.

BVt who geueth credence vnto oure preachinge? Or to whō is the arme of the LORDE knowne? 〈…〉 He shal growe before the LORDE like as a braūch, & as a rote in a drie grounde. He shal haue nether bewty ner fauoure. When we loke vpon him, there shalbe no fayrnesse: we shal haue no lust vnto him. Hebr. a He shalbe the most symple & despised of all, which yet hath good experience of sorowes & infirmities. We shal reken him so symple & so vyle, that we shal hyde oure faces frō him. Math. 8. b 1. Pet. 2. d Howbeit (of a treuth) he only taketh awaye oure infirmite, & beareth oure payne: Yet we shal iudge him, as though he were plaged and cast downe of God:2. Cor. 11. c where as he (notwithstōdinge) shal be woūded for oure offences, & smytten for oure wickednes. For the payne of or punyshmēt shalbe layde vpō him, & wt his stripes shal we be healed.

As for vs, we go all astraye (like shepe), euery one turneth his owne waye. But thorow him, the LORDE pardoneth all or synnes. He shal be payned & troubled, ād shal not opē his mouth. Iere. 11. d Actu. f Mat. 27. b 1. Cor. 5. c He shalbe led as a shepe to be slayne, yet shal he be as still as a lambe before the shearer, & not open his mouth. He shal be had awaye, his cause not herde, & wt out eny iudgment: Whose generacion yet no man maye nombre, when he shalbe cut of frō the grounde of the lyvinge: Which punyshment shal go vpon him, for the transgression of my people. Mat. 27. c His graue shalbe geuē him with the cōdemned, & his crucifienge with the theues,2 Cor. 5. c 1. Pet. 2. d Where as he dyd neuer violence er vnright, nether hath there bene eny disceatfulnesse in his mouth.

Yet hath it pleased ye LORDE to smyte him with infirmite, Iohā. 12. c Rom. 8. d that when he had made his soule an offeringe for synne, he might se a lō ge lastinge sede. And this device of the LORDE shal prospere in his honde. With trauayle and laboure of his soule, shal he optayne greate riches. My rightuous seruaunt shall with his wisdome iustifie & delyuer the multitude, for he shal beare awaye their synnes. Therfore wil I geue him the multitude for his parte, Rom. . c & he shal deuyde the strōge spoyle because he shal geue ouer his soule to death, & shalbe rekened amonge the transgressours, which neuertheles shal take awaye ye synnes of the multitude, Marc. 15. d Luc. 22. b and make intercession for the myszdoers.

The liiij. Chapter.

THerfore be glad now, thou barē that bearest not. Reioyce, synge & be mery, thou yt art not with childe: For the desolate hath moo children, then the maried wife, Gala. . d saieth the LORDE. Make thy tente wyder, & sprede out the hanginges of thine habitaciō: spare not, laye forth thy coardes, and make fast thy stakes: 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 for thou shalt breake out on the right syde and on the left, & thy sede shal haue ye Gē tiles in possession, ād dwel in the desolate cities. Feare not, for thou shalt not be confoū ded: Be not ashamed, for thou shalt not come to confucion. Yee thou shalt forget the shame off thy youth, and shalt not remembre the dishonoure of thy wedo wheade. For he that made the, shalbe thy LORDE & husbonde (whose name is the LORDE of hoostes) & thine avenger shalbe euen the holy one off Israel, Esa. 62 a Eze 16. b Esa. 48. a the LORDE of the whole worlde. For the LORDE shal call the, beinge as a desolate soroufull woman, and as a yonge wife that hath broken hir wedlocke: saieth thy God.

A litle while haue I forsaken the, but wt greate mercifulnes shal I take the vp vnto me. Esa. 26. d Psal. 29. a Whē I was angrie, I hid my face from the for a litle season, but thorow euerlastinge goodnesse shal I pardon the, saieth the LORDE thine avenger. And this must be vnto me, as the water of Noe: For like as I haue sworne yt I wil not bringe the water off Noe eny more vpō the worlde: Gen. 9. b So haue I sworne,2. Re. 7. c yt I wil neuer be angrie wt the, ner reproue the: The mountaynes shall remoue, & the hilles shal fall downe: but my louynge kyndnesse shal not moue, and the bonde off my peace shal not fall downe frō ye, saieth ye LORDE thy merciful louer.

Beholde, thou poore, vexed & despised: I wil make thy walles of precious stones, Esa. 6. b & ye foundaciō of Saphires, thy wyndowes off Cristall, thi gates of fyne cleare stone, & ye borders of pleasaūt stones. Thy childrē shal all be taught of God,1. Ioh. 2. d Ioh. 6. e & I wil geue thē plenteousnes of peace. In rightuousnes shalt thou be grounded, & be farre frō oppression: for the which thou nedest not be afrayed, nether for hynderaūce, for it shal not come nye the. Beholde, ye ale unt yt was farre frō the, shal dwell wt the: & he yt was somtyne a straunger vnto the, shalbe ioyned wt the: Beholde, I make the smyth yt bloweth the coles in the fyre, & he maketh a weapon after his hondy worke. I make also the waister to destroye: but all the weapens yt are made agaynst the, shal not prospere. And as for all tunges, yt shal resiste the in iudgmēt, Luc. 21. b Actu. 4. a thou shalt ouer come thē, & cōdemne them. This is the heretage of the LORDES seruauntes, & the rightuousnes that they shal haue of me, saieth the LORDE.

The lv. Chapter.

COme to the waters all ye, yt be thurstie, Ecc . 51. d Ioh. 7. d Apo. 22. d & ye that haue no moneye. Come, bye, that ye maye haue to eate. Come, bye wyne & mylck, without eny money, or moneye worth, Wherfore do ye laye out yor moneye, for the thinge yt fedeth not, and spende youre laboure aboute the thinge that satisfieth you not? But herkē rather vnto me, ād ye shal eate of the best, & youre soule shal haue hir pleasure in plēteousnes. Enclyne youre eares, & come vnto me, take hede & youre soule shal lyue. For I will make an euerlastinge couenaunt with you, 〈…〉 euē the sure mercies of Dauid.

Beholde, I shal geue him for a witnesse amōge ye folke, for a prynce & captayne vnto the people. Lo, thou shalt call an vnknowne people: & a people that had no knowlege of the, shall runne vnto the: because off the LORDE thy God, ye holy one of Israel, which glorifieth the. Seke the LORDE while he maye be founde, call vpō him while he is nye. Let the vngodly man forsake his wayes, 〈…〉 ād the vnrightuous his ymaginaciōs, & turne agayne vnto the LORDE, 〈…〉 so shal he be merciful vnto him: and to oure God, for he is redy to forgeue.

For thus saieth the LORDE: My thoughtes are not youre thoughtes, & youre wayes are not my wayes: But as farre as the heauens are hyer then the earth, so farre do my waies exceade yours, 〈…〉 & my thoughtes yours And like as the rayne & snowe cōmeth downe from heauē, & returneth not thither agayne, but watereth the earth, maketh it frutefull & grene, that it maye geue corne & breade vnto the sower: So the worde also that commeth out of my mouth, shal not turne agayne voyde vnto me, but shal accōplish my wil & prospere in the thinge, wherto I sende it. And so shal ye go forth wt ioye, & be led with peace. The mountaynes and hilles shal synge with you for ioye, and all the trees of the felde shal clappe their hondes. For thornes, there shal growe Fyrre trees, & ye Myrte tre in the steade of breres. And this shal be done to the prayse of the LORDE, & for an euerlastinge tokē, that shal not be taken awaye.

The lvj. Chapter.

THus saieth ye LORDE: Kepe equite, and do right, for my sauynge health shal come shortly, & my rightuosnes shalbe opened. Blissed is the man yt doth this, & the mans childe which kepeth the same. He that taketh hede, 〈…〉 yt he vnhalowe not the Sabbath (that is) he that kepeth himself that he do no euel. Then shal not the straunger, which cleaueth to the LORDE, saye: 〈…〉 Alas the LORDE hath shut me cleane out from his people. Nether shal the gelded man saye: lo, I am a drie tre. For thus saieth the LORDE, first vnto the gelded yt kepeth my Sabbath: Namely: that holdeth greatly of the thinge that pleaseth me, and kepeth my couenaūt: Vnto them wil I geue in my housholde and with in my walles, a better heretage & name: thē yf they had bene called sonnes & daughters. 〈◊〉 1. a I wil geue them an euerlastinge name, that shall not perishe. Agayne, he saieth vnto the straūgers that are disposed to sticke to the LORDE, to serue him, & to loue his name: That they shalbe no bōde mē. And all they, which kepe thē selues, that they vnhalowe not the Sabbath, namely: that they fulfill my couenaūt: Them wil I bringe to my holy moūtayne, 〈◊〉 . 7. c & make thē ioyfull in my house of prayer. Their burnt offringes and sacrifices shalbe accepted vpō myne aulter. 〈◊〉 1. b 〈◊〉 8. f for my house shalbe an house of prayer for all people.

Thus saieth the LORDE God which gathereth together the scatred of Israel: 〈◊〉 . 11. b 〈◊〉 19. d I wil bringe yet another cōgregacion to him. All the beastes of the felde, & all the beastes of ye wod, shal come to deuoure hī. For his watch men are all blinde, they haue alltogether no vnderstondinge, they are all domme dogges, 〈◊〉 . 1 . b not beinge able to barcke, they are slepery: slogish are they, & lie snortinge: they are shamelesse dogges, yt be neuer satiszfied. The sheperdes also in like maner haue no vnderstondinge, but euery man turneth his owne waye, euery one after his owne couetousnes, wt all his power. 〈…〉 Come (saye they) I wil fetch wyne, so shal we fyll oure selues, that we maye be dronken. And do tomorow, like as to daye, yee and moch more.

The LVII. Chapter·

BVt in the meane season ye righteous perisheth, & no mā regardeth it in his hert. Good godly people are taken awaye & no mā cōsidreth it. 〈…〉 Namely: that the righteous is conuayed awaye thorow ye wicked:: that he himself might be in rest, lie quietly vpon his bed, & lyue after his owne pleasure. Come hither therfore ye charmers children, 〈◊〉 1 . d ye sonnes of the aduoutrer & the whore: Wherin take ye youre pleasure? Vpō whom gape ye with yor mouth, & bleare out yor tonge? Are ye not childrē of aduoutry, & a sede of dissimulaicon? Ye take youre pleasure vnder the okes, 〈◊〉 1 . b 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 7. a 〈◊〉 1 . b 〈◊〉 20. d 〈◊〉 20. a 〈…〉 . c & vnder all grene trees, the childe beynge slayne in the valleys, & dennes of stone. Thy parte shalbe with the stony rockes by the ryuer: Yee euen these shal be thy parte. For there thou hast poured meat and drynk-offringes vnto thē. Shulde I ouersee that? Thou hast made thy bed vpon hie mountaynes, thou wentest vp thither, and therehast thou slayne sacrifices. Behynde the dores & postes, hast thou set vp thy remembraunce?

When thou haddest discouered thyself to another then me, when thou wētest downe & made thy bed wyder (that is) when thou didest carue the certayne of yonder Idols, & louedest their couches, where thou sawest thē: Thou wentest straight to kinges with oyle & dyuerse oyntmentes (that is) thou hast sent thy messaungers farre of, Ose. 12. a Eze. 16. b and yet art thou fallen in to the pyt therby. Thou hast had trouble for ye multitude of thyne owne wayes, yet saydest thou neuer: I wil leaue of. Thou thinkest to haue life (or health) of thy self, Math. 9. and therfore thou beleuest not that thou ar sick. For when wilt thou be abaszshed or feare, seinge thou hast broken thy promyse, & remembrest not me, nether hast me in thine hert? Thinkest thou, that I also will holde my peace (as afore tyme) yt thou fearest me not? Yee verely I wil declare ye goodnes & ye workes, but they shal not profit ye. whē thou criest, let ye chosen heape delyuer the. Iere. 2. d Deut. 32. But the wynde shal take them all awaye, & cary thē in to ye ayre. Neuertheles, they yt put their trust in me, shal inheret the londe, and haue my holy hill in possession.

And therfore thus he saieth: Make redy, make redy, and clense ye strete, take vp what ye can out of the waye, that ledeth to my people. For thus saieth the hie and excellēt, euen he that dwelleth in euerlastingnesse, whose name is the holy one: Psal. 50. b Esa. 61. a I dwel hie aboue and in the sanctuary, & with him also, yt is of a cō trite and hūble sprete: yt I maye heale a troubled mynde, and a cōtrite herte. Psal. 101. For I chide not euer, & am not wroth wt out ende. But ye blastinge goeth fro me, though I make the breath. I am wroth wt hī for his couetousnes & lust, I smyte him, I hyde me, and am angrie, whē he turneth him self, and foloweth ye bywaye of his owne hert. But yf I maye se his right waye agayne, I make him whole, I lede him, and restore him vnto them whom he maketh ioyful, & that were sory for him. I make the frutes of thākesgeuinge. I geue peace vnto them that are farre of, Ephe. 2. d and to them that are nye, saye I the LORDE, that make him whole. But the wicked are like the raginge see, that cā not rest, who se water fometh with the myre & grauel. Euēso ye wicked haue no peace, saieth my God. Esa. 48. d

The LVIII. Chapter.

ANd therfore crie now, Eze. 3. c Iere. 1 . a Ionae. 3. a Mat. 10. a and •• . e as loude as thou canst. Leaue not of, life vp thy voyce like a trōpet, and shewe my people their offences, and ye house of Iacob their synnes. For they seke me dalye, and wil knowe my wayes, euen as it were a people that dyd right, and had not forsaken the statutes of their God. They argue with me concernynge right iudgment, and wil pleate at the lawe with their God. Wherfore fast we (saye they) and thou seist it not? we put oure liues to straitnesse, and thou regardest it not?

Beholde, when ye fast, youre lust remayneth still: Esa. 1. b for ye do no lesse violence to youre detters: lo, ye fast to strife and debate, and to smyte him with youre fist, that speaketh vnto you. Ye fast not (as somtyme) that youre voyce might be herde aboue. Thynke ye this fast pleaseth me, zach. 7 that a mā shulde chasten himself for a daye, and to wryth his heade aboute like an hoke in an hairy cloth, & to lye vpon the earth? Shulde that be called fastinge, or a daye yt pleaseth ye LORDE? But this fastinge pleaseth not me, Deu. 15 a till ye tyme be thou lowse him out of bondage, that is in thy daunger: that thou breake the ooth of wicked bargaynes, that thou let the oppressed go fre, and take from them all maner of burthens. It pleaseth not me, till thou deale thy bred to the hongrie, Eze. 18. b Mat. 25. b & brynge the poore fatherlesse home in to thy house, when thou seist the naked that thou couer him, and hyde not thy face frō thine owne flesh. Then shal thy light breake forth as ye mornynge, and thy health florish right shortly: thy rightuousnesse shal go before the, Luc. 11. d and ye glory of the LORDE shal embrace the.

Then yf thou callest, the LORDE shal answere the: Pro. 21. b yf thou criest, he shal saye: here I am. Yee yf thou layest awaye thy burthens, and holdest thy fyngers, and ceasest from blasphemous talkinge, yf thou hast compassion vpon the hongrie, and refreszshest ye troubled soule: Then shal thy light springe out in the darknesse, zach. 7. a Mat. 5. b and thy darknesse shalbe as the noone daye. The LORDE shal euer be thy gyde, and satisfie the desyre of thine hert, and fyl ye bones with marry. Thou shalt be like a freshwatred garden, and like the founteyne of water, that neuer leaueth runnynge. Then the places that haue euer bene waist, shalbe buylded of the: there shalt thou laye a foundacion for many kynreds. Thou shalt be called the maker vp of hedges, and ye buylder agayne of ye waye of the Sabbath.

Esa. 56. a Esa. 66. d Yee yf thou turne thy fete from the Sabbath, so that thou do not the thinge which pleaseth thyself in my holy daye: then shalt thou be called vnto the pleasaunt, holy & glorious Sabbath of the LORDE, where thou shalt be in honor: so yt thou do not after thine owne ymaginacion, nether seke thine owne wil, ner speake thine owne wordes. Thē shalt thou haue ye pleasure in ye LORDE, which shal carie ye hie aboue ye earth, & fede the wt the heretage of Iacob thy father: for the LORDES owne mouth hath so promised.

The LIX. Chap.

BEholde, the LORDES honde is not so shortened yt it can not helpe, 〈…〉 nether is his eare so stopped yt it maye not heare. But yor myszdedes haue separated you from yor God, & yor synnes hyde his face from you, yt he heareth you not. For yor hondes are defyled with bloude, 〈…〉 and yor fyngers wt vnrighteousnesse: Yor lippes speake lesynges, & yor tonge setteth out wickednes. No man regardeth righteousnes, & no mā iudgeth truly Euery man hopeth in vayne thinges, and ymagineth disceate, cōceaueth weerynesse, & bringeth forth euell. 〈…〉 They brede cockatrice egges, & weeue ye spyders webb. Who so eateth of their egges, dieth. But yf one treade vpon thē, there cōmeth vp a serpent. Their webbe maketh no clothe, & they maye not couer thē wt their labours. Their dedes are ye dedes of wickednes, & ye worke of robbery is in their hōdes. Their fete runne to euell, & they make haist to shed innocēt bloude. 〈…〉 Their coū cels are wicked coūcels, harme & destrucciō are in their wayes. But ye waye of peace they knowe not. In their goinges is no equyte, their wayes are so croked, yt who so euer goeth therin, knoweth nothinge of peace.

And this is ye cause yt equite is so farre frō vs, & yt rightuousnes cōmeth not nye vs. 〈…〉 We loke for light, lo, it is darknesse: for ye mornynge shyne, se, we walke in ye darke. We grope like ye blynde vpon ye wall, we grope euen as one yt hath none eyes. We stomble at ye noone daye, as though it were toward night: in ye fallinge places, like men yt are half deed. We roare all like Beeres, & mourne stil like doues. We loke for equite, but there is none: for health, but it is farre frō vs. For or offences are many before ye, & or synnes testifie agaynst vs. Yee we must cōfesse yt we offende, & knowlege, yt we do amysse: Namely, transgresse & dyssemble agaynst ye LORDE, & fall awaye frō or God: vsinge presūptuous & traytorous ymaginacions, & castinge false matters in or hertes. And therfore is equyte gone asyde, & righteousnes stōdeth farre of: 〈…〉 treuth is fallen downe in the strete, and the thinge that is playne and open, maye not be shewed. Yee ye treuth is lade in preson, and he that refrayneth himself frō euel, must be spoyled.

When the LORDE sawe this, it displeased him sore, 〈◊〉 . 5. a yt there was no where eny equite. He sawe also, that there was no man, which had pitie therof, or was greued at it. And he helde him by his owne power, and cleued to his owne rightuousnes. He put rightuousnes vpō him for a brest plate, 〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 . 5. & set the helmet of health vpō his heade. He put on wrath in steade of clothīge, & toke gelousy aboute him for a cloke: (like as when a man goeth forth wrothfully to recōpence his enemies, & to be avenged of his aduersaries.) Namely, that he might recompence and rewarde the I lō des, wherthorow the name of the LORDE might be feared, from the risynge of the Sō ne: and his magesty, vnto the goinge downe of the same.

For he shal come as a violent waterstreame, 〈◊〉 . 1 . a 〈◊〉 1. d which the wynde of the LORDE hath moued. But vnto Sion there shal come a redemer, and vnto them in Iacob that turne from wickednesse, saieth the LORDE. I will make this conuenaunt with them (sayeth ye LORDE): My sprete that is come vpon the, & the wordes which I haue put in yt mouth, shal neuer go out of thy mouth, nor out of ye mouth of thy childrē, no ner out of ye mouth of thy childers childrē, from this tyme forth for euer more.

The lx. Chapter.

〈◊〉 6. c 〈◊〉 5. b ANd therfore get the vp by tymes, for thy light cometh, & the glory of ye LORDE shal ryse vp vpō ye. For lo, while ye darknesse & cloude couereth the earth & the people, the LORDE shal shewe the light, & his glory shal be sene in the. 〈…〉 The Gentiles shal come to thy light, 〈◊〉 . 49. c 〈◊〉 1 . a 〈…〉 . a & kynges to the brightnes yt springeth forth vpō ye. Lift vp thine eyes, & loke rounde aboute the: All these gather thē selues, & come to the. Sonnes shal come vnto ye from farre, & doughters shal gather thē selues to the on euery side. When thou seist this, thou shalt maruel exceadingly, and thine hert shalbe opened: when the power of the see shalbe cōuerted vnto the (that is) whē the strength of the Gentiles shal come vnto the. The multitude of Camels shal couer ye, the Dromedaries of Madiā and Epha. All they of Saba shal come, bringinge golde & incense, 〈◊〉 2. b 〈◊〉 1. & shewinge the prayse of the LORDE. All the catel of Cedar shalbe gathered vnto ye, 〈◊〉 . 1 . b the rāmes of Nabaioth shal serue the, to be offred vpō myne aulter, which I haue chosen, & in the house of my glory which I haue garnished. But what are these that fle here like the cloudes, and as the doues flienge to their wyndowes?

The Iles also shal gather thē vnto me, and specially the shippes of ye see: that they maye bringe the sonnes from farre, and their syluer and their golde with them, vnto the name of the LORDE thy God, vnto the holy one of Israel, that hath glorified the. Esa. 54 b Straū gers shal buylde vp thy walles, and their kī ges shal do the seruyce. For when I am angrie, I smyte the: and when it pleaseth me, I pardon the. Thy gates shal stonde open still both daye and night, and neuer be shut: Apo. 21. g that the hooste of the Gentiles maye come, and that their kinges maye be brought vnto the. For euery people & kingdome that serueth not the, shal perish, and be distroyed wt the swerde. The glory of libanus shal come vnto the: The Fyrre trees, Boxes & Cedres together, to garnish the place of my Sanctuary, for I wil glorifie the place of my fete.

Morouer those shal come knelinge vnto the, yt haue vexed the: & all they that despised ye, shal fall downe at ye fote. Thou shalt be called the cite of the LORDE, the holy Sion of Israel. Because thou hast bene forsakē and hated, so that noman went thorow the: I wil make the glorious for euer and euer, ād ioyful thorow out all posterities. Thou shalt sucke the mylck of the Gentiles, Esa. 49. and kinges brestes shal fede the. And thou shalt knowe that I the LORDE am thy Sauioure and defender, the mighty one of Iacob. For brasse wil I geue the golde, and for yron syluer, for wod brasse, and for stones yron. I wil make peace thy ruler, and rightuousnes thyne officer. Violence and robbery shal neuer be herde of in thy londe, nether harme and destruction with in thy borders. Thy walles shalbe called health, Apo. 21. g & thy gates the prayse of God The Sonne shal neuer by thy daye light, ād the light of the Moone shal neuer shyne vnto the: Apo. 22. b but ye LORDE himself shalbe thy euerlastinge light, & thy God shalbe thy glory.

Thy Sonne shal neuer go downe, & thy Moone shal not be taken awaye, for the LORDE himself shalbe thy euerlastinge light, ād thy sorouful dayes shalbe rewarded ye. Thy people shalbe all godly, & possesse the londe for euer: the floure of my plantinge, the worke of my hondes, wherof I wil reioyce. The yongest & leest shal growe in to a thousande, & the symplest in to a stronge people. I the LORDE shal shortly bringe this thinge to passe in his tyme.

The lxj. Chapter.

THe sprete of the LORDE God is wt me, Luc. 7. c Luc. 4. c Esa. 11. a for ye LORDE hath anoynted me, & sent me, Esa. 66 a Esa. 57. c to preach good tydīges vnto the poore, yt I might bynde vp ye wounded hertes, yt I might preach delyueraunce to ye captyue, & open the preson to thē that are bounde: yt I might declare ye acceptable yeare of ye LORDE, & the daye of ye avēgeaunce of oure God: that I might comforte all them that are in heuynesse, Matt. . a Matt. 11. d that I might geue vnto them yt mourne in Sion, bewty in the steade of asshes, ioyful oyntmēt for sighinge, pleasaunt raymēt for an heuy mīde: That they might be called excellent in rightuousnesse, a plātinge of the LORDE for him to reioyce in. Esa. 60. d

They shal buylde the lōge rough wildernes, & set vp ye olde deserte. They shal repayre the waist places, & soch as haue bene voyde thorow out many generaciōs Straūgers shal stōde & fede yor catel, & the Aleauntes shalbe yor plowmē & reapers. But ye shalbe named the prestes of the LORDE, & mē shall call you the seruaūtes of oure God. Esa. 66. d Iere. 33. d Ye shall enioye the goodes of ye Gētiles & tryūphe in their substaūce. For yor greate reprofe & shame, shal they haue ioye, yt ye maye haue parte wt thē. For they shal haue dubble possession ī their lōde, & euerlastinge ioye shalbe wt them. Luc. 2. d For I the LORDE, which loue right ād hate robbery (though it were offred me) shal make their workes ful of faithfulnes, & make an euerlastinge couenaunt with them.

Their sede also and their generacion shal be knowne amōge the Gentiles, and amōge the people. All they that se them, shall knowe, that they are the hie blessed sede of ye LORDE. And therfore I am ioyful in the LORDE, & my soule reioyseth in my God. Psal. 131. b For he shall put vpon me the garmēt of health, & couer me with the mātle of rightuousnes. He shal decke me like a brydegrome, & as a bryde that hath hir apparell vpō her. For like as ye grounde bringeth forth frute, & as the gardē shuteth forth sede: So shal the LORDE God cause rightuousnes, and the feare of God to florish forth before all the Heithen.

The lij. Chapter.

FOr Sions sake therfore wil I not holde my tūge, & for Ierusalēs sake I will not ceasse: vntill their rightuousnes breake forth as ye shyninge light, & their health as a burnynge lampe. Then shal the Gētiles se thy rightuousnesse & all kinges thy glory. Thou shalt be named with a new name, which the mouth of ye LORDE shal shewe. Thou shalt be a crowne in the honde of the LORDE, and a glorious garlāde in the hōde of thy God. From this tyme forth thou shalt neuer be called the forsakē, & thy lōde shal nomore be called the wildernesse. But thou shalt be called Hephziba (that is, my beloued) & ye londe Beula (that is) a maried womā: 〈…〉 for ye LORDE loueth ye, & thy lōde shalbe inhabited. And like as yonge mā taketh a doughter to mariage, so shal God mary himself vnto ye sonnes. And as a brydegrome is glad of his bryde, so shal God reioyse ouer the.

I wil set watchmē vpō thy walles (o Ierusalem) which shall nether ceasse daye nor night, to preach ye LORDE. And ye also shall not kepe him close, nor leaue to speake of hī, vntill Ierusalē be set vp, & made the prayse of the worlde. The LORDE hath sworne by his right honde & by his stronge arme, that frō hence forth he wil not geue thy corne to be meate for thine enemies, ner ye wyne (wherī thou hast laboured) to be drynke for ye straungers. But they that haue gathered in the corne, shal eate it, & geue thankes to the LORDE: & they that haue borne in the wyne, shall drynke it in the court of my Sanctuary.

Stōde back, & departe a sunder, ye yt stonde vnder ye gate, make rowme ye people, repayre the strete, & take awaye ye stones, & set out a tokē for the people. Beholde, ye LORDE proclameth in the endes of the worlde: 〈…〉 tel ye doughter Siō: se, thy Saluaciō cometh, beholde, he bringeth his treasure wt him, & his workes go before him. For they whō ye LORDE delyuereth, shalbe called the holy people: & as for the, thou shalt be named the greatly occupied, and not the forsaken.

The lxiij. Chapter.

WHat is he this, that cometh from Edom, with stayned reade clothes of Bosra: (which is so costly cloth) & cometh in so neēbly with all his strēgth: I am he yt teacheth rightuousnes, & am of power to helpe. Wherfore thē is thy clothinge reade, & thy raymēt like his yt treadeth in ye wyne presse? I haue troddē the presse my self alone, & of all people, there was not one with me. 〈…〉 Thus haue I trodē downe myne enemies in my wrath, and set my fete vpō them in my indignacion: And their bloude sprange vpō my cloothes, & so haue I stayned all my rayment. For the daye of vengeaūce that I haue takē in honde, & the yeare of my delyueraunce is come. I loked aboute me, and there was no mā to shewe me eny helpe, I fel downe, and no man helde me vp. Thē I helde me by myne owne arme, & my feruētnesse susteyned me. And thus haue I troden downe the people in my wrath, and bathed them in my displeasure: In so moch that I haue shed their bloude vpon the earth.

I will declare the goodnesse of the LORDE, 〈…〉 yee and the prayse of the LORDE for all that he hath gyuen vs, for the greate good yt he hath done for Israel: which he hath gyuen them of his owne fauoure, & acordinge to the multitude of his louynge kindnesses. For he sayde: These no doute wilbe my people, and no shrēkinge children, and so he was their Sauioure. 〈…〉 In their troubles he forsoke thē not, but the angel that went forth from his presence, delyuered them: Of very loue & kindnesse that he had vnto them, redemed he them. He hath borne them, and caried them vp euer, sence the worlde begāne. But after they prouoked him to wrath and vexed his holy minde, he was their enemie, and fought agaynst them him self. Yet remēbred he the olde tyme, of Moses & his people: How he brought them from the water of the see, 〈◊〉 14. c 〈◊〉 76. b as a shepherde doth with his shepe: how he had geuen his holy sprete amonge them: how he had led Moses by the right honde with his glorious arme: how he had deuyded the water before them (wherby he gat him self an euerlastinge name) how he led them in the depe, as an horse is led in the playne, that they shulde not stomble. The sprete of the LORDE led them, as a tame beast goeth in the felde.

Thus (o God) hast thou led thy people, to make thy self a glorious name with all. Loke downe then from heauē, 〈…〉 and beholde the dwellinge place of thy sanctuary & thy glory. How is it, yt thy gelousy, thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies and thy louynge kyndnesse, wyl not be entreated of vs? Yet art thou or father: 〈…〉 For Abraham knoweth vs not, nether is Israel acquanted with vs. But thou LORDE art oure father and redemer, 〈…〉 and thy name is euer lastinge. O LORDE wherfore hast thou led vs out of thy waye? wherfore hast thou hardened oure hertes, that we feare the not? Be at one with vs agayne, for thy seruauntes sake yt are of the generaciō of thy heretage. Thy people hath had but litle of thy Sanctuary in possessiō, for oure enemies haue takē it in: And we are become, euen as we were from the beginnynge: but thou art not their LORDE, for they haue not called vpon thy name.

The lxiiij. Chapter.

O That thou woldest cleue the heauen in sonder, & come downe: that the mountaynes might melt awaye at thy presence, like as at an hore fyre: and that the malicious might boyle, as the water doth vpon the fyre: Wherby thy name might be knowne amō ge thine enemies, & yt the Gētiles might trē ble before ye. That thou mightest come downe with thy wonderous straunge workes, then shulde the hilles melt at thy presence. For sence the begynnynge of the worlde there was none (excepte thou o God) that herde or perceaued,1. Cor. 2. b nether hath eny eye sene what thou dost for thē, that put their trust in the.

Thou helpest him that doth right with cherefulnesse, and them that thynke vpon thy wayes. But lo, thou art angrie, for we offende, and haue bene euer in synne, and there is not one whole. Ro. 3. b Psal. 13. a We are all as an vnclene thinge, & all oure rightuousnesses are as the clothes stayned with the floures of a woman: we fall euerychone as the leaf, for oure synnes carie vs awaye like the wynde. There is no man that calleth vpon thy name, that stondeth vp to take holde by the. Therfore hydest thou thy face from vs, and consumest vs, because of oure synnes.

But now o LORDE, thou father of ours: Matt. 6. b Iere. 18. b Ro 9. c Eccī. 33 b Iere. 10. d Psal. 78. a Iere. 26. d we are the claye, and thou art oure potter, and we all are the worke of thy hondes. Be not to sore displeased (o LORDE) and kepe not oure offences to lōge in thy remembraunce, but considre that we all are thy people. The cities of thy Sanctuary lye waist, Sion is a wildernesse, and Ierusalem a deserte. Mich 3. c Oure holy house which is oure bewty, where oure fathers praysed the, is brent vp, yee all oure cōmodities and pleasures are waysted awaye. Wilt thou not be intreated (LORDE) for all this? Wilt thou holde thy peace, and scourge vs so sore?

The lxv. Chapter.

THey shal seke me, that hitherto haue not axed for me: they shal fynde me, Esa. 52. a Ro. 10. d that hither to haue not sought me. Then shal I saye immediatly, to the people that neuer called vpon my name: I am here, I am here. For thus longe haue I euer holden out my hondes to an vnfaithful people, that go not the right waye, but after their owne ymaginacions: To a people, that is euer defyenge me to my face. Deut. 12. a Deut. 14. b They make their oblacions in gardens, and their smoke vpon aulters of bricke, they lurck amonge the graues, and lie in the dennes all night. Leuit. 11. a Deut. 14 a They eate swyne flesh, and vnclene broth is in their vessels. Yf thou comest nye them, they saie: touch me not, for I am holyer then thou.

All these men when I am angrie, shalbe turned to smoke and fyre, that shal burne for euer. •• tt 25. d Beholde, it is written before my face, & shal not be forgotten, but recōpensed. I shal rewarde it them in to their bosome: 〈◊〉 . 7. a 〈◊〉 57. a 〈◊〉 . 20. d I meane youre mysdedes, and the mysdedes of youre fathers together (saieth the LORDE) which haue made their smokes vpon the mountaynes, and blasphemed me vpon the hilles: therfore will I measure their olde dedes in to their bosome agayne.

Morouer thus saieth the LORDE: like as when one wolde gather holy grapes, 〈◊〉 . 11. b men saye vnto him: breake it not of, for it is holy: Euen so will I do also for my seruauntes sakes, Re. 19. c 〈◊〉 . 9. c that I will not destroye them all. But I will take a sede out of Iacob, and out of Iuda one, to take possession of my hill. My chosen shal possesse these thinges, & my seruauntes shall dwell there. •• su. 7. d Saron shalbe a shepefolde, and the valley of Achor shal geue stallinge for the catell of my people, that feare me. But as for you, ye are they, yt haue for saken the LORDE, and forgotten my holy hill. Ye haue set vp an aulter vnto fortune, & geuē rich drink offeringes vnto treasure. Therfore wil I nombre you with the swerde, that ye shall be destroyed all together. 〈◊〉 . 1. c 〈◊〉 . 7. c For when I called, no man gaue me answere: when I spake, ye herkened not vnto me, but dyd wickednes before myne eyes, and chosed the thinge that pleased me not.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, my seruauntes shal eate, but ye shall haue honger. Beholde, my seruauntes shall drynke, but ye shal suffre thurste. Beholde, my seruauntes shal be mery, but ye shal be cō founded. Beholde, my seruauntes shal reioyse for very quietnesse of herte. •• cob. 4. b But ye shal crie for sorow of hert, and cōplayne for vexacion of mynde. Youre name shal not be sworne by amonge my chosen, for God the LORDE shal slaye you, and call his seruauntes by another name. •• re. 9. d Cor. 1. d Cor. 11. a Who so reioyseth vpō earth, shall reioyse in the true God: And Who so sweareth vpō earth, shal sweare in the true God. For the olde enemite shalbe forgotten, and taken awaye out of my sight. For lo, I shal make a new heauē, Pet. 3. b po. 21. a & a new earth. And as for the olde, they shall neuer be thought vpō, ner kepte in mynde: but mē shalbe glad and euermore reioyse, for the thinges, that I shall do.

For why: Beholde, I shal make a ioyfull Ierusalē, yee I myself will reioyse with Ierusalem, po. 21. a & be glad with my people: And the voyce of wepinge and waylinge shall not be herde in her from thēce forth. There shall neuer be childe ner olde man, that haue not their full dayes. But whē the childe cometh to an hūderth yeare olde, it shall dye. And yf he that is an hūderth yeare of age do wronge, he shalbe cursed. 〈…〉 They shal buylde houses, and dwel in them: they shal plante vynyardes, and eate the frute of them. They shall not buylde, & another possesse: they shall not plante, and another eate: 〈…〉 But the life of my people shalbe like a tre, and so shal the worke of their hondes.

My chosen shal lyue longe, they shall not laboure in vayne, ner beget wt trouble: for they are the hie blessed sede of the LORDE, & their frutes with them. And it shalbe, that or euer they call, I shal answere them. 〈…〉 Whyle they are yet but thinkinge how to speake, I shal heare them. The wolff and the lambe shal fede together, and the lyon shal eate haye like the bullocke. But earth shalbe the serpētes meate. 〈…〉 There shal no man hurte ner slaye another, in all my holy hill, saieth the LORDE.

The lxvj. Chapter.

THus saieth the LORDE: Heauē is my seate, and the earth is my fote stole. 〈…〉 Where shal now the house stonde, yt ye will buylde vnto me? And where shal be the place, yt I wil dwel in? As for these thinges, my hōde hath made them all, and they are all created, saieth the LORDE. Which of them shal I then regarde? Euē him that is of a lowly troubled sprete, and stōdeth in awe of my wordes. For who so slayeth an oxe for me, doth me so greate dishonoure, as he yt kylleth a mā. He that kylleth a shepe for me, choketh a dogge. He that bringeth me meat offringes, offreth swynes bloude: Who so maketh me a memoriall of Incense, prayseth the thinge yt is vnright. Yet take they soch wayes in honde, and their soule deliteth in these abhominacions.

Therfore wil I also haue pleasure in laughinge them to scorne, 〈…〉 and the thinge that they feare, wil I bringe vpon thē. For when I called, no man gaue answere: when I spake, they wolde not heare: But dyd wickednesse before myne eyes, & chose the thinges that displease me. Heare the worde of God all ye, that feare the thinge which he speaketh. Youre brethren that hate you, and cast you out for my names sake, saye: Let the LORDE magnifie himself, that we maye se youre gladnesse: & yet they shalbe cōfounded.

For as touchinge the cite and the temple, 〈…〉 I heare the voyce of the LORDE, that will rewarde, and recompēce his enemies: like as when a wife bringeth forth a man childe, or euer she suffre the payne of the byrth and anguysh of ye trauayle. Who euer herde or sawe soch thinges? doth the grounde beare in one daye? or are the people borne all at once, as Sion beareth his sonnes? For thus-sayeth the LORDE: Am I he that maketh other to beare, and beare not my self? Am not I he that beareth, and maketh baren? 〈…〉 saieth thy God. Reioyse with Ierusalem, & be glad with her, all ye that loue her. Be ioyful with her, all ye that mourned for her. For ye shal sucke cōforte out of hir brestes, and be satisfied. Ye shal taist, and haue delite in the plenteousnesse of hir power. For thus sayeth the LORDE: beholde, I wil let peace ī to her, like a water floude, & yt might of the Heithē like a flowinge streame. Then shal ye sucke, ye shal be borne vpon hir sydes, and be ioyful vpō hir knees. For like as a childe is comforted of his mother, so shal I conforte you, and ye shalbe comforted in Ierusalem. 〈…〉 And when ye se this, youre herte shal reioyse, and youre bones shal florish like an herbe.

Thus shal the honde of the LORDE be knowne amonge his seruauntes, and his indignacion amonge his enemies. For beholde, the LORDE shal come wt fyre, and his charet shal be like a whyrlwynde, that he maye recompence his vengeaunce in his wrath, and his indignacion with the flame of fyre. For ye LORDE shal iudge all flesh with the fyre and with his swerde, and there shalbe a greate nombre slayne of the LORDE. Soch as haue made themselues holy and cleane in the gardens, and those that haue eaten swyne flesh, myce, and other abhominaciōs, shal betaken awaye together, saieth the LORDE. For I wil come to gather all people and tonges, with their workes and ymaginacions: these shal come, and se my glory. Vnto them shal I geue a tokē, and sende certayne of thē (that be delyuered) amonge the Gentiles: in to Celicia, Africa and Lidia (where men can handle bowes) in to Italie also and Greke londe.

The Iles farre of, Esa. 61. a 52. a 60 65. a that haue not herde speake of me, & haue not sene my glory: shal preach my prayse amonge the Gentiles, and shal bringe all youre brethrē for an offringe vnto the LORDE, out of al people, vpō horses, charettes and horse lytters, vpō Mooles and cartes to Ierusalem my holy hill (saieth the LORDE) like as the children of Israel bringe the offringe in cleane vessels, to the house of the LORDE.

And I shal take out certayne of them for to be preastes and leuites, saieth ye LORDE. Esa. 61. a 1. pet. . Rom. 1 For like as the new heauē and the new earth which I wil make, shalbe fast stablished by me: (saieth the LORDE) So shal youre sede and youre name contynue, and there shalbe a new Moone for the other, and a new Sabbath for the other, & all flesh shal come to worshipe before me, (saieth ye LORDE.) And they shal go forth, and loke vpō the caryons of them, that haue transgressed agaynst me. For their wormes shal not dye, Mat. 9 Mar. 9. nether shal their fyre be quenched, & all flesh shal abhorre them.

The ende of the prophet Esay.
The Prophet Ieremy. What Ieremy conteyneth. Chap. I. He declareth first his callinge, and in a vision he seith the destruccion of Ierusalem. Chap. II. The faithfulnesse and louynge mercy of God: Agayne, the vnthanckfulnes of the people. Chap. III He crieth vpon the people to amende, and sheweth them the wrath of God. Chap. IIII. He layeth the wrothfull displeasure of God before them, and exorteth thē to amendment Chap. V.VI.VII.VIII. The wrath of God, and the cause therof. Plages and misery for to come. Chap. IX. The prophet mourneth and cō playneth vpon the synnes of the people. Chap. X. He geueth thē warnynge, that they folowe not the vses and customes of the Heithē, and sheweth them how vayne a thinge it is to worshipe ymages, and to forget the true lyuynge God. Chap. XI. He puteth them in remembraū ce of the couenaunt, sheweth their misery, & complayneth of his owne persecucion. Chap. XII. The prosperite of the wicked, & trouble of thē that are godly. The forsakynge of the Iewes, and callynge of the Heithē. Chap. XIII. Sore plages vpō the people, shewed vnto the prophet by the lynninge breche. Chap. XIIII· The derth of frutes. So wroth is God at the people, that he forbiddeth the prophet to praye for them. Chap. XV. God wil not be intreated, where his lawe is troden vnder fote. He answereth the prophet to his complaynte. Chap. XVI. The LORDE forbiddeth the prophet to kepe company with the people, or to-take a wife in that place, for he is mynded to punish them. Chap. XVII. Punyshment of them that forsake the LORDE, and put their trust in men. A cō maundement concernynge the Sabbath. Chap. XVIII. By the potters worke the prophet is taught, so that he warneth the people, and telleth them of the punyshment. Chap. XIX. The plage vpō Ierusalem and Tophet. Chap. XX. Pashur the chefe prest smyteth Ieremy the prophet, and putteth him in preson: which sheweth him his plage for to come. Chap. XXI. The prophet sheweth the kynge, what shal become of the cite. Chap. XXII He exorteth the kynge and all the people vnto godlynesse, and telleth what shal become of Sellū (other wyse called Ioas) the sonne of Iosias: and what shal happē to Iechonias the sonne of Ioachim. Chap. XXIII. He reproueth the wicked rulers and false prophetes. Chap. XXIIII. The vision of the fyge maūdes. Chap. XXV. He reproueth the kynge and all the people, and sheweth the punyshment for to come vpon the heithen. Chap. XXVI. Because the prophet rebuketh the people, the prestes and the prophetes put him to trouble: but at the last Ahicam delyuereth him. Chap. XXVII. God commaundeth the prophet for to make bondes and cheynes, to signifie the captiuyte of the Heithen kynges. Chap. XXVIII. Hananias the false prophet with stondeth Ieremy. Chap. XXIX. A lettre of Ieremy sent vnto the presoners at Babilon. Chap. XXX. Ieremy (at the cōmaundement of God) wryteth his sermons in a boke. Swete and cōfortable promises vnto the godly: Agayne, the wrath of God agaynst the wicked. Chap. XXXI. He putteth the people in mynde of the louynge mercy and benefites of God, and cōforteth them with his promises. Chap. XXXII The prophet beynge in preson sheweth the delyueraunce of the people out of captiuyte. Chap. XXXIII. A playne and manifest prophecy of the kyngdome of Christ. Chap. XXXIIII. He sheweth the kynge Sedechias and the people their punyshmēt for breakynge the couenaunt. Chap. XXXV. He reproueth the disobediēce of the people, thorow the good example of the Rechabites. Chap. XXXVI The kynge burneth the propheres boke, but a greater is wryttē agayne for it, and the kynge punyshed. Chap. XXXVII. Pharao commeth out of Egipte to helpe the kynge, but in vayne. Ieremy is put in preson. Chap. XXXVIII The prynces laboure to haue the prophet deed, they put him ī a sorer preson: but Abdemelech getteth him out, and the kynge cō moneth with him. Chap. XXXIX. The cite of Ierusalem is wonne the kynge taken, his sonnes and prynces slayne before his face, his owne eyes put out, and he led vnto Babilon. But Ieremy and Abdemelech escape. Chap. XL. How the chefe captayne intreateth Ieremy. Godolias is made gouernoure of the londe, the people resorte vnto him. Chap, XLI. Ismael slayeth Godolias, and taketh the people presoners, but Iohanna defendeth them. Chap. XLII. The captaynes axe councell at Ieremy, but folowe him not. Chap. XLIII.XLIIII. They wil nedes go into Egipte agaynst the commaundement of God The prophet exorteth thē to the cōtrary, and to leaue their ydolatry: Neuertheles, they regarde it not, but wil do as their fathers dyd before them. Chap. XLV. Ieremy comforteth Baruch, cō cernynge his weaknesse of mynde. Chap. XLVI. The summe of Ieremies preachinge vnto the Heithen, specially vnto Egipte. Chap. XLVII. Agaynst the Philistynes. Chap. XLVIII. Agaynst Moab. Chap· XLIX. Agaynst the Ammonites, Edomites, Damascus, Cedar and Elam. Chap. L.LI. Agaynst Babilon. Chap. LII. A recitynge how Ierusalē was beseged, wonne, and taken.

These are the Sermons of Ieremy the sonne of Helchia the prest, one of them that dwelt at Anathot in the londe of Ben Iamin: 〈…〉 when the LORDE had first spoken with him, in the tyme of Iosias the sonne of Amon kinge of Iuda, in the xiij yeare of his kingdome: and so duringe vnto the tyme of Ioachim the sonne of Iosias kinge of Iuda, and vnto the xj yeares of Sedechias the sonne of Iosias kinge of Iuda were ended: 〈◊〉 39. a 〈◊〉 2 . a when Ierusalem was taken, euen in the fyfth Moneth.

The first Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE spake thus vnto me: 〈◊〉 44. a Before I fasshioned the in thy mothers wō be, 〈…〉 I dyd knowe the: And or euer thou wast borne, I sanctified the, & ordened the, to be a prophet vnto the people. 〈◊〉 14. b 〈◊〉 4. c Thē sayde I: Oh LORDE God, I am vn ete, for I am yet but yonge. And the LORDE answered me thus: Saye not so, I am to yonge: 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 . c 〈◊〉 3. a 〈◊〉 1 a For thou shalt go to all that I shall sende the vnto, and what so euer I cō maunde the, that shalt thou speake. Be not afrayed of their faces, for I wilbe with the, to delyuer the, saieth the LORDE.

And with that, the LORDE stretched out his honde, 〈◊〉 6. a and touched my mouth, and sayde morouer vnto me: Beholde I put my wordes in thy mouth, and this daye do I set the ouer the people and kingdomes: that thou mayest rote out, breake of, destroye, and make waist: and that thou mayest buylde vp, and plāte. After this, the LORDE spake vnto me sayenge: Ieremy, what seist thou? And I sayde: 〈◊〉 4. b I se a wakynge rodde. Then sayde ye LORDE: thou hast sene right, for I will watch diligently vpon my worde, to perfourme it.

It happened afterwarde, that the LORDE spake to me agayne, & sayde: What seist thou? 〈◊〉 41. b And I sayde: I do se a seethinge pot, lokinge from out of the north hitherwarde.

Then sayde the LORDE vnto me & Out of the north shall come a plage vpon all the dwellers of the londe. For lo, Iere. 4 b Abac. 1. b Iere. 25. b I will call all the officers of the kyngdomes of the north, (saieth the LORDE.) And they shall come, and euery one shall set his seate in the gates of Ierusalem, and in all their walles rounde aboute, and thorow all the cities of Iuda. And thorow them shall I declare my iudgment, vpon all the wickednesse of those men that haue forsaken me: that haue offred vnto straunge goddes, & worshipped the workes of their owne hondes.

And therfore gyrde vp thy loynes, arise, Eze. 3. a and tell them all, that I geue the in cōmaundement. Feare them not, I will not haue the to be afrayed of thē. For beholde, Iere. 15. d this daye do I make the a strōge fensed towne, an yron pyler, and a wall of or brasse stele agaynst ye whole londe, agaynst the kinges and mightie men of Iuda, agaynst the prestes and people of the londe. They shall fight agaynst the, but they shall not be able to ouer come the: Iere. 25. d for I am wt the, to delyuer the, saieth the LORDE.

The II. Chapter.

MOrouer, the worde of the LORDE cōmaunded me thus: Go thy waye, Iere. 3. d crie in the eares of Ierusalē, & saye: Thus saieth the LORDE: I remembre the for the kyndnesse of thy youth, and because of thy stedfast loue: in that thou folowdest me thorow the wildernesse, in an vntilled londe. Thou Israel wast halowed vnto te LORDE, and so was his first frutes. Iere. 10. d and 0 c Zac. 2. b All they that deuoured Israel, offended: miszfortune fell vpon them, saieth the LORDE. Heare therfore the worde of the LORDE, O thou house of Iacob, and all the generacion of the house of Israel. Thus saieth ye LORDE vnto your

What vnfaithfulnesse founde youre fathers in me, that they wente so farre awaye fro me, fallinge to lightnesse, and beinge so vayne? They thought not in their hertes: Where haue we left the LORDE, yt brought vs out of the lōde of Egipte: Exo. 14. c yt led vs thorow the wildernesse, thorow a deserte and roughlonde, thorow a drie and a deedly londe, yee a londe that no man had gone thorow, and wherein no man had dwelt. Esa. 32. f Deut. 6. b And when I had brought you in to a pleasaunt welbuylded londe, that ye might enioye the frutes and all the cōmodities of the same: ye went forth and defyled my londe, Iere. 32. c & brought myne heretage to abhominacion.

The prestes thē selues saide not once: where is ye LORDE? Marc. 12. c Ioh. 5. d They yt haue the lawe in their hondes, knowe me not: The shepherdes offende agaynst me. The prophetes do seruyce vnto Baal, & folowe soch thinges as shall bringe them no profit.

Wherfore I am constrayned (sayeth the LORDE) to make my complaynte vpon you, and vpon youre children. Go in to the Iles of Cethim, and loke wel: sende vnto Cedar, take diligent hede: and se, whether soch thinges be done there, whether the Gentiles them selues deale so falsly & vntruly with their goddes (which yet are no goddes in dede. Psal. 95. a ) But my people hath geuen ouer their hie honoure, for a thinge that maye not helpe them.

Be astonished (o ye heauens) be afrayde, & abashed at soch a thinge, saieth the LORDE. For my people hath done two euels. They haue forsakē me the well of the water of life, Ba uc. 3. b Iere. 17. c Ioh. 4. b and digged them pittes, yee vile and broken pittes, that holde no water. Is Israel a bonde seruaunt, or one of the housholde? Why is he then so spoyled? Exo. 4. d Why do they roare and crie then vpon him, as a lyon? They haue made his londe wayst, his cities are so brent vp, Esa. 1. b that there is no man dwellinge in them. Yee the children of Noph and Taphanes haue defyled thy necke.

Cōmeth not this vnto the, because thou hast forsaken the LORDE thy God, Iere. 32. c euer sence he led the by the waye? And what hast thou now to do in ye strete of Egipte? to drinke foule water? Ether, what makest thou in the waye to Assiria? To drinke water of the floude? Iob 22. b Thine owne wickednesse shal reproue the, and thy turnynge awaye shal condemne the: that thou mayest knowe and vnderstonde, how euel and hurtful a thinge it is, yt thou hast forsaken the LORDE thy God, and not feared him, saieth the LORDE God of hoostes.

Esa. 65. a Eze. 20. d Iere. 3. b I haue euer broken thy yock of olde, & bursten thy bondes: yet saiest thou, I wil nomore serue, but (like an harlot) thou runnest aboute vpon all hie hilles, & amonge all grene trees: where as I planted the out of noble grapes and good rotes. Esa. a How art thou turned then into a bytter, vnfrutefull, and straunge grape? Yee and that so sore: that though thou wasshest the with Nitrus & makest thiself to sauoure with that swete smellinge herbe of Borith: yet in my sight thou art stayned with thy wickednesse, saieth the LORDE thy God.

Saye not now: I am not vnclene, and I haue not folowed the goddes. ere. 3. b Re. 17. b ere. 5. b Isa. 5 . a 〈◊〉 16. b Loke vpō thyne owne waies in the woddes, valleis & dennes: so shalt thou knowe, what thou hast done. Thou art like a swift Dromedary, that goeth easely his waye: and thy wantonnes is like a wilde Asse, that vseth the wildernesse, and that snoffeth and bloweth at his wil. Who can tame the? All they that seke the, shal not fayle, but fynde the in thyne owne vnclennes. Thou kepest thy fote from nakednes, and thy throte from thurste, and thinkest thus in thy self: tush, I wil take no sorowe, I wil loue the straunge goddes, & hange vpon them.

Like as a thefe that is taken with the dede, commeth to shame, euē so is the house of Israel come to confucion: the comon people, their kinges and rulers, their prestes and prophetes. For they saye to a stock, 〈…〉 thou art my father, and to a stone: thou hast begotten me, yee they haue turned their back vpon me, & not their face. But in the tyme of their trouble, when they saye: stonde vp, and helpe vs, I shal answere thē: 〈…〉 Where are now thy goddes, that thou hast made the? byd them stonde vp, and helpe the in the tyme of nede? For loke how many cities thou hast (o Iuda) so many goddes hast thou also.

Wherfore thē wil ye go to lawe with me, seinge ye all are synners agaynst me, saieth the LORDE? It is but lost laboure, that I smyte youre children, for they receaue not my correction. 〈…〉 Youre owne swearde destroyeth youre prophetes, like a deuouringe lyon. Yf ye be the people of the LORDE, then herkē vnto his worde: Am I thē become a wildernesse vnto the people of Israel? or a londe that hath no light? Wherfore saieth my people then: we are fallē of, and we wil come no more vnto the? Doth a mayden forget hir raymēt, or a bryde hir stomacher And doth my people forget me so lōge? Why boostest thou thy wayes so hylie, (to optayne fauoure there thorow) when thou hast yet stained them wt blasphemies?

Vpon thy wynges is founde the bloude of poore and innocent people, 〈…〉 and that not in corners and holes only, but opēly in all these places. Yet darrest thou saye: I am giltlesse: Tush, his wrath can not come vpō me. Beholde, I wil reason with ye, because thou darrest saye: I haue not offended. O how euel wil it be for the, to abyde it: when it shall be knowne, 〈…〉 how oft thou hast gone bacwarde? For thou shalt be confounded, as wel of Egipte, as of the Assirians: Yee thou shalt go thy waye from thē, & smyte yine hondes together vpon thy heade. Because the LORDE shal bringe that confidence and hope of thine to naught, and thou shalt not prospere with all.

The III. Chapter.

COmonly, when a man putteth awaye his wife, 〈◊〉 24. a and she goeth from him, and marieth with another, then the question is: shulde he resorte vnto her eny more after that? Is not this felde then defyled and vnclene? 〈…〉 But as for the, thou hast played the harlot with many louers, yet turne agayne to me, saieth the LORDE. Lift vp thine eyes on euery syde, and loke, yf thou be not defyled. Thou hast waited for them in the stretes, and as a murtherer in the wildernesse. Thorow thy whordome and shamefull blasphemies, is the londe defyled.

〈…〉 This is the cause, that the rayne and euenynge dew hath ceased. Thou hast gotten the an whores foreheade, and canst not be ashamed. Els woldest thou saye vnto me: O my father, thou art he that hast brought me vp, and led me fro my youth: Wilt thou then put me awaye, and cast me of foreuer? Or wilt thou withdrawe thy self clene fro me? Neuertheles, thou speakest soch wordes, but thou art euer doinge worse, and worse.

The LORDE sayde also vnto me, in the tyme of Iosias the kinge: Hast thou sene what that shrēkinge Israel hath done? how she hath runne vp vpon all hie hilles, 〈◊〉 2. d 〈◊〉 17. b and amonge all thick trees, and there played the harlot? hast thou sene also, (when she had done all this) how I sayde vnto her: that she shulde turne agayne vnto me, and yet she is not returned? 〈◊〉 3. b Iuda that vnfaithfull sister of hirs also sawe this: Namely, that affter I had well sene the aduoutrye of the shrenkinge harlot Israel, I put her awaye, and gaue her a byll of deuorcement.

For all this, hir vnfaithfull sister Iuda was not ashamed, but wente backe and played the whore also. Yee and the noyse of hir whordome hath defyled the whole lōde. For she hath committed hir aduoutrie with stones and stockes.

Neuerthelesse, hir vnfaithfull sister Iuda is not turned vnto me agayne with hir whole herte, 〈◊〉 3. a but faynedly, saieth the LORDE. And the LORDE sayde vnto me: The bacslyder Israel is more rightuous, 〈…〉 thē the vnfaithfull Iuda: and therfore go preach these wordes towarde the north, & saye: Thou shrenkinge Israel, turne agayne (saieth the LORDE,) and I will not turne my face from you, for I am merciful, saieth the LORDE, & I will not allwaye beare displeasure agaynst the: but on this condicion, that thou knowe thy greate blasphemy: Namely, that thou hast vnfaithfully forsaken the LORDE thy God, Iere. 5. b Esa. 57. a & hast made thy silf partaker of straunge goddes vnder all grene trees, but hast had no wil to heare my voyce, saieth the LORDE.

O ye shrenkinge children, turne agayne, Eze. 2. e Osee. 14. a Eze. 14. a Osee. 2. d saieth the LORDE, and I wilbe maried with you. For I will take one out of the citie and two out of one generacion from amōge you, and bringe you out of Sion: and will geue you hyrdmē after myne owne mynde, which shal fede you with lernynge and wyszdome. Morouer, when ye be increased and multiplied in the londe, then (saieth the LORDE) there shall nomore boost be made of the arke of the LORDES Testament: No man shall thinke vpon it, nether shall eny man make mencion of it: for from thence forth it shall nether be visited, ner honoured with giftes.

Then shall Ierusalem be called the LORDES seate, and all Heithen shalbe gathered vnto it, for the name of the LORDE sake, which shalbe set vp at Ierusalem. And from that tyme forth, they shall folowe nomore the ymaginacion of their owne frauwerde herte.

Thē those yt be of the house of Iuda, shal go vnto the house of Israel: And they shal come together out of the north, Matt. 8. b in to the same londe that I haue geuen youre fathers. I haue shewed also, how I toke the vp beinge but a childe, and gaue the a pleasaunt londe for thine heretage, yee and a goodly hooste of the Heithen: and how I commaunded the, Matt. 23. c that thou shuldest call me father only, and not to shrencke fro me.

But like as a woman fayleth hir louer, so are ye vnfaithfull vnto me (o ye house of Israel) saieth the LORDE. And therfore the voyce of the children of Israel was herde on euery side, wepinge and waylinge: Iere. 31. c for they haue defyled their waye, and forgotten God their LORDE.

O ye shrenkinge children, turne agayne, (saynge: lo, we are thine, for thou art the LORDE oure God:) And so shal I heale youre bacturnynges. The hilles fall, and all the hie pryde of the mountaynes, but the health of Israel stondeth only vpon God oure LORDE.

Confucion hath deuoured oure fathers laboure from oure youth vp: Tren. 5. a Dan. 3. b 6. a Baruc. 1. b Iere. 14. a Psal. 105. a Esa. 64. a Hest. 14. a Iudit 7. c yee their shepe and bullockes, their sonnes and doughters. So do we also slepe in oure confucion, and shame couereth vs: for we and oure fathers from oure youth vp vnto this daye haue synned agaynst the LORDE oure God and hahaue not obeyed the voyce of the LORDE oure God. . Esd. 9. a and 10. b

The IIII. Chapter.

O Israel, yf thou wilt turne the, then turne vnto me, saieth the LORDE. And yf thou wilt put awaye thy abhominaciōs out of my sight, thou shalt not be moued: Iere. 5. a and 12. a And shalt sweare: The LORDE lyueth: in treuth, in equite and rightuousnesse: and all people shall be fortunable and ioyfull in him. For thus saieth the LORDE, to all Iuda and Ierusalem: plowe youre londe, and sowe not amonge the thornes.

Iere. 6. b and 9. a Be circumcided in the LORDE, and cut awaye the foreskynne of youre hertes, all ye of Iuda, Iere. 21. c and all the indwellers of Ierusalem: that my indignacion breake not out like fyre, & kyndle, so that no man maye quench it, because of the wickednes of youre ymaginacions.

Preach in Iuda and Ierusalem, crie out and speake: Esa. 58. a blowe the trompettes in the londe, crie that euery man maye heare, and saye: Gather you together, and we will go in to stronge cities. Set vp the token in Sion, spede you, and make no tarienge: for I will bringe a greate plage, and a greate destruction from the north. Iere. 1. c For the spoyler of the Gentiles is broken vp from his place, as a lyon out of his dēne, that he maye make the londe waist, and destroye the cities, so, that no man maye dwell therin. Wherfore gyrde youre selues aboute wt sack cloth, mourne, and wepe, for the fearfull wrath of the LORDE shal not be withdrawen from you

At the same tyme (saieth the LORDE) the hert of the kinge and of the prynces shal be gone, the prestes shalbe astonished, and the prophetes shalbe sore afrayed. Then sayde I: O LORDE God, hast thou then disceaued this people and Ierusalem, sayenge: ye shall haue peace, Deut. 28. a and now the swearde goeth thorow their lyues? Then shal it be saide to the people & to Ierusalem: Iere. 1. b there commeth a warme wynde from the north thorow the waye of my people, but nether to fanne, ner to clēse.

After that shall there come vnto me a stronge wynde, and then wil I also geue sentence vpon them. For lo, he commeth downe like as a cloude, and his charettes are like a stormy wynde: Tren. 4. d Dan. 7. a his horsmen are swifter then the Aegle. Wo vnto vs, for we are destroyed. O Ierusalem, wash thine hert from wickednesse, Esa. 1. c that thou mayest be helped. How longe shal thy noysome thoughtes remayne with the?

For a voyce from Dan and from ye hill of Ephraim speaketh out, and telleth of a destruction. Beholde, the Heithen geue Ierusalem warnynge, and preach vnto her, that hir destroyers are cōmynge from farre countrees. They tell the cities of Iuda the same also, they shall geue them warnynge in euery place, like as the watch men in the felde. For they haue prouoked me to wrath, 〈…〉 saieth the LORDE.

Thy wayes and thy thoughtes, 〈…〉 haue brought the vnto this, this is thyne owne wickednesse and disobediēce, that hath possessed thyne hert: Ah my bely, ah my bely, (shalt thou crie) how is my hert so sore? my hert paunteth within me, I can not be still, for I haue herde the crienge of the trompettes, and peales of warre.

They crie murthur vpon murthur, the whole londe shal perish. Immediathly my tentes were destroyed, and my hanginges, in the twincklinge of an eye. How longe shall I se the tokens of warre, and heare the noyse of the trompettes?

Neuertheles this shall come vpon them, because my people is become foolish, 〈…〉 and hath vterly no vnderstondinge. They are the children of foolishnes, 〈…〉 and without eny discreciō. To do euell, they haue witt ynough: but to do well, they haue no wiszdome. I haue loked vpon the earth, and se, it is wayst and voyde. I loked towarde heauen, and it had no shyne.

I behelde the mountaynes, and they trembled, and all the hilles were in a feare. I loked aboute me, and there was no body, and all the byrdes of the ayre were awaye. I marked well, and the plowed felde was become waist: yee all their cities were broken downe at the presence of the LORDE, and indignacion of his wrath.

For thus hath the LORDE sayde: The whole londe shalbe desolate, yet will I not then haue done. And therfore let the earth mourne, and let the heauen be sory aboue: for the thinge that I haue purposed and taken vpon me to do, shal not repente me, and I will not go from it. The whole londe shal fle, for the noyse of the horsmen and bowmen: they shall runne in to dennes in to woddes, and clymme vp the stony rockes. All the cities shalbe voyde, and no man dwellinge therin.

What wilt thou now do, thou beinge destroyed? 〈…〉 For though thou clothest thy self with scarlet, & deckest ye with gold: though thou payntest thy face wt colours, 〈…〉 yet shalt thou trymme thy self in vayne.

For those that hither to haue bene thy greate fauourers, shal abhorre the, and go aboute to slaye ye. For (me thinke) I heare a noyse, like as it were of a woman trauelinge, or one laboringe of hir first childe: Euen the voyce of the doughter Sion, that casteth out hir armes, and swowneth, sayenge: Ah wo is me, how sore vexed and faynte is my herte, for them that are slayne?

The V. Chapter.

LOke thorow Ierusalem, beholde and se: Seke thorow hir stretes also within, yf ye can fynde one man, that doth equall and right, or that laboureth to be faithfull: and I shall spare him (saieth the LORDE) For though they can saye: 〈…〉 the LORDE lyueth, yet do they sweare to disceaue: Where as thou (o LORDE) lokest only vpon faith and treuth.

Thou hast scourged them, but they toke no repentaunce: thou hast correcte them for amendemēt, but they refused thy correction. They made their faces harder then a stone, and wolde not amende.

Therfore I thought in my self: peraduenture they are so symple and folish, that they vnderstonde nothinge of the LORDES waye, 〈◊〉 . 17. d and iudgmentes of oure God. Therfore will I go vnto their heades and rulers, and talke with them: yf they knowe the waye of the LORDE, and the iudgmētes of oure God. But these (in like maner) haue broken the yock, and bursten the bondes in sonder.

Wherfore a lyon out of the wod shal hurte them, 〈◊〉 . 2. d and a wolfe in the euenynge shal destroye them. The cat of the mountayne shal lie lurkinge by their cities, to teare in peces all them, that come therout. For their offences are many, and their departinge awaye is greate.

〈◊〉 1. a Shulde I then for all this haue mercy vpon the? Thy children haue forsaken me, and sworne by them that are no goddes. And albeit they were bounde to me in mariage, yet they fell to aduoutrie, and haunted harlottes houses.

In the desyre of vnclenly lust they are become like the stoned horse, euery man neyeth at his neghbours wife. 〈◊〉 . 22. b Shulde I not correcke this, saieth the LORDE?

〈◊〉 . 9. a Shulde I not be avenged of euery people, that is like vnto this? Clymme vp vpon their walles, beate them downe, but destroye them not vtterly: cut of their braunches, because they are not the LORDES.

For vnfaithfully hath the house of Israel and Iuda forsaken me, saieth the LORDE. 2. Pet. 2. a Iere. 14. Deu. 29. Soph. 1. Ier. 23. c They haue denied the LORDE, and sayde: it is not he.

Tush, there shall no miszfortune come vpon vs, we shall se nether swearde ner honger. As for the warnynge of the prophetes, they take it but for wynde, Iere. 6. b yee there is none of these, which will tell them, that soch thinges shal happen vnto them.

Wherfore thus saieth the LORDE God of hoostes: because ye speake soch wordes, beholde: Esa. 33. b The wordes that are in thy mouth will I turne to fyre, and make the people to be wod, that it maye consume them.

Lo, Deut. 28. Baru. 4. I will bringe a people vpō you from farre, o house of Israel (saieth the LORDE) a mightie people, an olde people, a people whose speach thou knowest not, nether vnderstō dest what they saye.

Their arowes are sodane death, yee they them selues be very giauntes. This people shal eate vp thy frute & thy meate, yee they shal deuoure thy sonnes and thy doughters, thy shepe and thy bullockes.

They shall eate vp thy grapes & fyges. As for thy stronge and well fensed cities, wherin thou didest trust, they shal destroye them with the swearde.

Neuertheles I will not then haue done with you, saieth the LORDE. But yf they saye: wherfore doth the LORDE oure God all this vnto vs?

Then answere them: because, that like as ye haue forsakē me, Iere. 16. b Deu. 28. g and serued straunge goddes in youre owne londe, euen so shall ye serue other goddes also in a straunge londe.

Preach this vnto the house of Iacob, & crie it out in Iuda, and saye thus: Heare this (thou folish and vndiscrete people. Esa. 6. b Ioh. 9. d ) Ye haue eyes, but ye se not: eares haue ye, but ye heare not.

Feare ye not me, saieth the LORDE? Are ye not ashamed, to loke me in the face? Iob 26 b 28. a which bynde the see with the sonde, so that it can not passe his boundes: For though it rage, yet can it do nothinge: and though the wawes therof do swell, yet maye they not go ouer.

But this people hath a false and an obstinate herte, they are departed and gone awaye fro me. They thinke not in their hartes: O let vs feare the LORDE oure God, that geueth vs rayne early and late, when nede is: which kepeth euer still the haruest for vs yearly.

Neuertheles youre miszdedes haue turned these from you, Esa. 59. a & youre synnes haue robbed you herof. For amonge my people are founde wicked personnes, that priuely laye snares and waite for men, to take them, and destroye them.

And like as a net is full of byrdes, so are their houses full of that, which they haue gotten with falsede and disceate. Herof cō meth their greate substaunce and riches, her of are they fat and welthy, and are runne awaye fro me with shamefull blasphemies. They ministre not the lawe, sa. 1. e they make no ende of the fatherlesses cause, they iudge not the poore acordinge to equite.

ere. 9. a ere. 5. b Shulde I not punysh these thinges, saieth the LORDE? Shulde I not be avenged of all soch people, as these be? Horrible and greuous thinges are done in the londe.

The prophetes teach falsely, and the prestes folowe them, and my people hath pleasure therin. What will come therof at the last?

The VI. Chapter.

COme out of Ierusalem, ye stronge childrē of Ben Iamin: blowe vp the trompettes ye Tecuites, . Re. 14. a set vp a token vnto Bethacarem, for a plage and a greate misery pepeth out from the North.

I will licken the doughter Sion to a fayre and tendre woman, and to her shall come the shepherdes with their flockes. Their tentes shal they pitch rounde aboute her, and euery one shal fede with his honde. Make batell agaynst her (shal they saye:) Arise, let vs go vp, while it is yet daye.

Alas, the daye goeth awaye, & the night shadowes fall downe: Arise, let vs go vp by night, and destroye hir stronge holdes, for thus hath the LORDE of hoostes commaunded.

Hew downe hir trees, and set vp bulworkes agaynst Ierusalē. This is the cite that must be punished, for in her is all maliciousnes. Like as a cōdyte aboundeth in water, euē so this citie aboūdeth in wickednes. Robbery and vnrightuousnesse is herde in her, sorow & woundes are euer there in my sight. Amēde the (o Ierusalem) lest I with drawe my herte from the, and make the desolate: & thy londe also, yt no man dwel in it. For thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: The residue of Israel shalbe gathered, as the remnaunt of grapes.

And therfore turne thine honde agayne in to the baszket, like the grape gatherer. But vnto whom shal I speake? whom shal I warne, ere. 4. a 9. d that he maye take hede? Their eares are so vncircumcised, that they maye not heare.

Beholde, 〈…〉 they take the worde of God but for a scorne, and haue no lust therto. And therfore I am so full of thy indignacion (o LORDE) that I maye suffre no longer. Shed out thy wrath vpon the children that are without, and vpon all yonge men. Yee the man must be taken presoner with the wife, and the aged with the crepel. Then •• uses with their londes and wiues shal be turned vnto straungers, whē I stretchout myne hō de vpon the inhabitours of this londe, saieth the LORDE. For from the leest vnto the most, 〈…〉 they hange all vpon covetousnes: and from the prophet vnto the prest, they go all aboute with falsede and lyes.

And besyde that, 〈…〉 they heale the hurte of my people with swete wordes, sayenge: peace, peace, when there is no peace at all. 〈…〉 Therfore they must be ashamed, for they haue cō mitted abhominacion. But how shulde they be ashamed, when they knowe nothinge, nether of shame ner good nurture? And therfore they shal fall amonge the slayne, 〈…〉 and in the houre when I shall viset them, they shal be brought downe, saieth the LORDE.

Thus saieth the LORDE: go in to the stretes, considre and make inquisicion for the olde waye: and yf it be the good and right waye, then go therin, that ye maye fynde rest for youre soules. (But they saye: we will not walke therin) and I will set watchmen ouer you, and therfore take hede vnto the voyce of the trompet. But they saye: we will not take hede. Heare therfore ye Gentiles, and thou congregacion shalt knowe, what I haue deuysed for them. Heare thou earth also: beholde, 〈…〉 I will cause a plage come vpon this people, euen the frute of their owne ymaginacions.

For they haue not bene obedient vnto my wordes and to my lawe, but abhorred them. Wherfore bringe ye me incense from Saba, 〈…〉 & swete smellinge Calamus from farre countrees? Youre burnt offeringes displease me, and I reioyse not in youre sacrifices.

And therfore thus saieth the LORDE: beholde, I will make this people fall, and there shal fall from amonge them the father wt the children, one neghboure shal perish with another.

Morouer thus saieth ye LORDE: Beholde, there shal come a people from the North, 〈…〉 & a greate people shal arise from ye endes of ye earth, wt bowes & wt dartes shal they be weapened: It is a rough & fearce people, an vnmerciful people: their voyce roareth like the see, they ride vpō horses wel apointed to ye batell agaynst the, o doughter Sion. Then shal this crie be herde: Oure armes are feble, heuynes and sorow is come vpon vs, as vpon a woman trauelinge with childe. Noman go forth in to the felde, no man come vpon the hie strete: for the swearde and feare of the enemie shalbe on euery side.

Wherfore, gyrde a sack cloth aboute the (o thou doughter of my people) sprynkle thy self with aszshes, 〈…〉 mourne and wepe bitterly, as vpon thy only beloued sonne: For the destroyer shal sodenly fall vpon vs. The haue I set for a prouer of my harde people, to seke out and to trye their wayes. For they are all vnfaithful and fallen awaye, they hange vpon shameful lucre, they are clene brasse and yron, for they hurte and destroye euery man. The bellous are brent in the fyre, the leade is consumed, the melter melteth in vayne, for the euel is not taken awaye from them. Therfore shal they be called naughty syluer, because the LORDE hath cast them out.

The VII. Chapter.

THese are the wordes, that God spake vnto Ieremy: 〈◊〉 17. d 〈◊〉 6. a Stonde vnder the gates of the LORDES house, and crie out these wordes there, with a loude voyce, and saye: Heare the worde of the LORDE, all ye of Iuda, that go in at this dore, to honoure the LORDE. Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel. sa. 1. c 〈◊〉 . 6. c Amende youre wayes and youre councels, and I wil let you dwell in this place. Trust not in false lyenge wordes, sayenge: here is the temple of the LORDE, here is the temple of the LORDE, here is the temple of the LORDE.

〈◊〉 . 22. c 〈◊〉 . 8 c 〈◊〉 . 19. g 〈◊〉 24. a For yf ye will amende youre waies and councels, yf ye wil iudge right betwixte a man and his neghboure: yf ye wil not oppresse the straunger, the fatherles & the wyddowe: yf ye will not shed innocent bloude in this place: yf ye wil not cleue to straūge goddes to youre owne destruction: then wil I let you dwell in this place, yee in the londe that I gaue afore tyme vnto youre fathers for euer. But take hede, yee trust in councels, that begyle you and do you no good. For when ye haue stollē, murthured, committed aduoutrie, and periury: Whē ye haue offred vnto Baal, folowinge straunge & vnknowne goddes: 〈…〉 Then come ye, and stonde before me in this house (which hath my name geuen vnto it) and saye: Tush, we are absolued quyte, though we haue done all these abhominacions.

sa. 6. b What? thinke you this house that beareth my name, is a denne of theues? Ioh. 2. b Matt. 21. Iere. 32. d Iosu. 18. a Iere. 26. 1. Re. 3, 4 5.6 And these thinges are not done priuely, but before myne eyes, saieth the LORDE. Go to my place in Silo, where vnto I gaue my name afore tyme, and loke well what I dyd to the same place, for the wickednes of my people of Israel. And now, though ye haue done all these dede (saieth the LORDE) and I my self rose vp euer by tymes to warne you and to comon with you: yet wolde ye not heare me: I called, ye wolde not answere. Esa. 95. b Pro. 1. c Luc. 2 . a And therfore euen as I haue done vnto Silo, so wil I do to this house, that my name is geuen vnto, (and that ye put youre trust in) yee vnto the place that I haue geuen to you and youre fathers.4. Re. 17. And I shal thrust you out of my sight, as I haue cast out all youre brethren the whole sede of Ephraim.

Therfore thou shalt not praye for this people, thou shalt nether geue thākes, Iere. 14. 1. Ioh. 5. a Eze. 14. c nor byd prayer for them: thou shalt make no intercession to me for them, for in no wise will I heare the. Seist thou not what they do in the cities of Iuda, and without Ierusalem? The children gather stickes, Iere. 44. the fathers kyndle the fyre, the mothers kneade the dowe, to bake cakes for the quene of heauen.

They poure out drink offringes vnto straū ge goddes, to prouoke me vnto wrath: How be it they hurte not me (saieth the LORDE) but rather confounde, and shame them selues.

And therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: beholde, my wrath and my indignacion shalbe poured out vpon this place, vpon men and catell, vpō the trees in the felde and all frute of the londe, & it shal burne so, that no man maye quench it.

Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes, the God of Israel: Esa. 1. a Ye heape vp youre burntoffringes with youre sacrifices, & eate ye flesh. But when I brought youre fathers out of Egipte, Deut. 10 Esa. 43. d Exo. 6. b I spake no worde vnto them of burnt offringes and sacrifices: but this I commaunded them, sayenge: herken and obeye my voyce, Exo. 20. a and I shalbe youre God and ye shal be my people: so that ye walke in all the wayes, which I haue cōmaunded you, that ye maye prospere.

But they were not obedient, zach. 7. b they inclyned not their eares there vnto, but went after their owne ymagynacions and after the mocions of their owne wicked herte, and so turned them selues awaye, and conuerted not vnto me. And this haue they done, from the tyme that youre fathers came out of Egipte, vnto this daye.

Iere. 25. a Neuertheles, I sent vnto them my seruauntes all the prophetes: I rose vp early and sent them worde, yet wolde they not herkē, ner offre me their eares, but were obstinate, and worse then their fathers.

And thou shalt now speake all these wordes vnto them, but they shal not heare the: thou shalt crie vpon them, but they shal not answere the. Therfore shalt thou saye vnto them: this is the people, that nether heareth the voyce of the LORDE their God, ner receaueth his correction. Iere. 5. a Faithfulnes & treuth is clene rooted out of their mouth.

Eze. 5. a Wherfore cut of thine hayre, and cast it awaye, take vp a complaynte in the whole londe: for the LORDE shal cast awaye, and scatre the people, yt he is displeased withall.

For the children of Iuda haue done euell in my sight, Iere. 12. d saieth the LORDE. They haue set vp their abhominacions, in the house yt hath my name, and haue defyled it. They haue also buylded an aulter at Tophet,4. Re. 23. e Deut. 32. c Psal. 105. c Iere. 44. a which is in the valley of ye childrē of Ennō: yt they might burne their sonnes and doughters, which I neuer cōmaunded them, nether came it euer in my thought. And therfore beholde, the dayes shal come (saieth the LORDE) that it shal no more be called. Tophet or the valley of the children of Ennon, ere. 19. c but the valley of the slayne: for in Tophet they shal be buried, because they shal els haue no rowme. ere. 8. b . c Yee ye deed bodies of this people shal be eaten vp of the foules of the ayre & wilde beastes of the earth, & no man shal fraye them awaie. Eze. 26. b And as for the voyce of myrth & gladnesse of the cities of Iuda, & Ierusalem, the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde: ere. 16. b 5. b I will make them ceasse, for the londe shal be desolate.

The VIII. Chapter.

AT the same tyme, saieth the LORDE, the bones of the kinges of Iuda, the bones of his princes, the bones of the prestes and prophetes, yee and the bones of the citisens of Ierusalē, shalbe brought out of their graues and layed agaynst the Sonne, Deut. 4. e ap. 21. a the Moone and all the heauenly hooste: whom they loued, whom they serued, whom they ranne after, whom they sought & worshipped. They shal nether be gathered together ner buried, but shal lye vpō the earth, to their shame and despisinge.

And all they that remayne of this wicked generacion, Luc. 23. c shal desyre rather to dye thē to lyue: where so euer they remayne, & where as I scatre them, saieth the LORDE of hoostes. This shalt thou saye vnto them also: Thus saieth the LORDE: Do men fall so, that they arise not vp agayne: And turne they so farre awaye, yt they neuer conuerte? Wherfore then is this people and Ierusalem gone so farre backe, that they turne not againe They are euer the longer the more obstinate, and will not be conuerted.

For I haue loked, and considered: but there is no mā, that speaketh a good worde: 〈…〉 there is no man, that taketh repētaunce for his synne, that will so moch as saye: wherfore haue I done this? But euery man (as soone as he is turned backe) runneth forth still, like a wilde horse in a battayl. The Storke knoweth his apoynted tyme, the Turtledoue, ye Swalow and the Crane, cōsidre the tyme of their trauayle: 〈…〉 but my people will not knowe the tyme of the punyshment of the LORDE. How darre ye saye then: we are wise, we haue the lawe of the LORDE amonge vs?

Beholde, the disceatfull penne of the scrybes, setteth forth lies: therfore shal the wise be confounded, they shalbe afrayed and taken: for lo, 〈…〉 they haue cast out the woorde of the LORDE: what wyszdome can then be amonge them? Wherfore, I will geue their wyues vnto aleauntes, and their feldes to destroyers.

For from the lowest vnto the hyest, they folowe all shamefull lucre: and from the prophet vnto the prest, they deale all with lies. Neuertheles, 〈…〉 they heale the hurte of my people with swete wordes, sayenge: peace, peace, where there is no peace at all.

Fye for shame, how abhominable thinges do they? And yet they be not ashamed, yee they knowe of no shame.

Wherfore in the tyme of their visitacion, 〈…〉 they shal fall amonge the deed bodies, saieth the LORDE.

Morouer I will gather them in (saieth the LORDE) so that there shal not be one grape vpon the vyne, nether one fyge vpon the fyge tre, and the leaues shalbe plucte of.

Then will I cause them to departe, and saye: why prolonge we the tyme? Let vs gather oure selues together, and go in to the stronge cite, there shall we be in rest: For the LORDE oure God hath put vs to sylence, and geuen vs water myxte with gall, to drynke, because we haue synned agaynst him.

We loked for peace, and we fayre not the better, 〈…〉 we wayted for the tyme of health, and lo, here is nothinge but trouble.

Then shall the noyse of his horses be herde from Dan, the whole londe shall be afrayed at the neyēge of his stronge horses: for they shal go in, and deuoure the londe, with all that is in it: the cities, and those that dwell therin. Morouer, I will sende Cockatrices & serpētes amonge you (which will not be charmed) and they shal byte you, 〈◊〉 6. d sayeth the LORDE.

Sorowe is come vpon me, and heuynes vexeth my herte: for lo, the voyce of the criē ge of my people is herde from a farre countre: Is not the LORDE in Sion? Is not he kinge in her? Wherfore then haue they greued me (shall the LORDE saye) with their ymages and foolish straunge fashions? The haruest is gone, the Sōmer hath an ende, and we are not helped. I am sore vexed, because of the hurte of my people: I am heuy and abashed, for there is no more Triacle at Galaad, and there is no Phisician, that cā heale the hurte of my people.

The IX. Chapter.

O, Who will geue my heade water ynough, & a well of teares for myne eyes: that I maye wepe night ād daye, for the slaughter of my people? Wolde God that I had a cotage some where farre from folke, that I might leaue my people, and go from thē: for they be all aduoutrers and a shrenckinge sorte. They bēde their tū ges like bowes, to shute out lies: As for the treuth, they maye nothinge awaye with all in the worlde. For they go from one wickednes to another, and holde nothinge of me, saieth the LORDE.

Yee one must kepe himself from another, no man maye safely trust his owne brother: for one brother vndermyneth another, 〈◊〉 . 12. b 〈◊〉 . 0. c 〈◊〉 7. & one neghboure begyleth another. Yee one dissembleth with another, and they deale with no treuth. 〈◊〉 . 2 . a They haue practised their tunges to lye, and taken greate paynes to do myschefe. They haue set their stole in the myddest of disceate, and (for very dissemblinge falsede) they wil not knowe me, saieth the LORDE.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes, beholde, I wil melte them and trie thē, for what shulde I els do to my people? Their tunges are like sharpe arowes, 〈◊〉 . 1 . a sal. 17. a to speake disceate. With their mouth they speake peaceably to their neghboure, but preuely they laye waite for him. Shulde I not punysh them for these thinges, saieth the LORDE? Or, shulde I not be auenged of eny soch people, 〈…〉 as this? Vpon the mountaynes will I take vp a lamentacion and soroufull crie, and a mournynge vpon the fayre playnes of the wildernes: Namely, how they are so brente vp, that no man goeth there eny more: Yee a man shal not heare one beast crie there.

Byrdes and catell are all gone from thē ce. Psal. 78. a Mich. 3. c I will make Ierusalem also an heape of stones, and a denne of venymous wormes. And I wil make the cities of Iuda so waist, that no man shal dwell therin. What man is so wise, as to vnderstonde this? Or to whom hath the LORDE spoken by mouth, that he maye shewe this, and saye: O thou londe, Osee. 14. why perishest thou so? Wherfore art thou so brent vp, and like a wildernesse, that no mā goeth thorow? Yee the LORDE himself tolde the same vnto them, that forsoke his lawe, and kepte not the thynge that he gaue them in commaundement, nether lyued therafter: but folowed the wickednes of their owne hertes, Deu. 29. Iosu. 24. and serued straunge goddes, as their fathers taught them.

Therfore, thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes, the God of Israel: Beholde, I will fede this people with wormwod, and geue thē gall to drynke. Deu. 32. c Ierē. 23. c I will scatre them also amonge the Heithen, whom nether they ner their fathers haue knowne: and I will sende a swearde amonge them, to persecute them, Deu. 28. c vntill I bringe them to naught. Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: loke that ye call for mournynge wyues, and sende for wise women: that they come shortly, and singe a mournynge songe of you: that the teares maye fall out of oure eyes, and that oure eye lyddes maye guszhe out of water.

For there is a lamentable noyse herde of Sion: O how are we so sore destroyed? O how are we so piteously confounded? We must forsake oure owne naturall countre, and we are shot out of oure owne lodgīges. Yet heare the worde of the LORDE (o ye women) and set youre eares regarde the wordes of his mouth: that ye maye lerne youre doughters to mourne, and that euery one maye teach hir neghbouresse, to make lamentacion. Namely thus: Deeth is clymmē vp in at oure wyndowes, he is come in to oure houses, to destroye the childe before the dore, & ye yonge man in the strete.

But tell thou planely, thus saieth ye LORDE: The deed bodies of men shal lye apon ye grounde, as the donge vpon the felde, Iere. 7 d. . b and as the hay after the mower, and there shal be no man to take them vp. Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE: Let not the wise man reioyse in his wisdome, ner the stronge man in his strength, nether the rich man in his riches: 〈◊〉 65. c Cor. 1. g Co. 10. d But who so wil reioyse, let him reioyse in this, that he vnderstōdeth, and knoweth me: for I am the LORDE, which do mercie, equite and rightuousnes vpon earth. Therfore haue I pleasure in soch thinges, att. 9. b a 〈◊〉 . 6. b saieth ye LORDE. Beholde, the tyme cōmeth (saieth the LORDE) that I wil vyset all them, whose foreskynne is vncircumciscd: The Egipcians, 〈◊〉 . 25. c the Iewes, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the shauen Madianites, that dwel in the wildernes. For all ye Gentiles are vncircumcised in the flesh, re. 4. a b om. 2. c but all the house of Israel, are vncircumcised in the herte.

The x. Chapter.

HEare the worde of the LORDE, yt he speaketh vnto the, o thou house of Israel: Thus saieth the LORDE: Ye shal not lerne after the maner of the Heithē, sa. 47. c and ye shal not be afrayed for the tokens of heauen: for the Heithen are afrayed of soch: Yee all the customes and lawes of the Gētiles are nothinge, sa. 44. b but vanite. They hewe downe a tre in the wod with the hondes of the worke man, and fashion it with the axe: they couer it ouer with golde or syluer, they fasten it wt nales and hammers, that it moue not. It stō deth as stiff as the palme tre, it can nether speake ner go, •• ruc 6 Re. 17. g but must be borne. Be not ye afrayed of soch, for they cā do nether good ner euel. But there is none like vnto ye (o LORDE) thou art greate, and greate is the name of yi power. po. 15. a Who wolde not feare the or what kī ge of the Gentiles wolde not obeye the?

For amonge all the wysemen of the Gentiles, and in all their kingdomes, there is none, that maye be lickened vnto the. They are alltogether vnlerned and vnwise, All their connynge is but vanite: namely, wod, syluer, which is brought out of Tharsis, and beatē to plates: Reg. 9 and golde from Ophir, a worke yt is made with the honde of the craftesman & the caster, clothed with yalow sylck and scarlet: euen so is the worke of their wyse men all together. But the LORDE is a true God, a lyuinge God, and an euerlastinge kinge. Yf he be wroth, aum 1. a the earth shaketh: all the Gētiles maye not abyde his indignacion.

As for their goddes, it maye well be sayde of thē: they are goddes, that made nether heauē ner earth: therfore shal they perish frō the earth, and from all thinges vnder heauen. en. 1. a re. 51. c But (as for oure God) he made the earth with his power, and with his wisdome hath he fynished the whole compasse of the worlde, with his discrecion hath he spred out the heauens, At his voyce the waters gather together in the ayre, he draweth vp ye cloudes from the vttemost partes of ye earth: 〈…〉 he turneth lighteninge to rayne, and brīgeth forth the wyndes out of their treasuries: 〈…〉 His wisdome maketh all men fooles. And confunded be all casters of ymages, for that they cast, 〈…〉 is but a vayne thinge, and hath no life. The vayne craftes men with their workes, that they in their vanite haue made, shall perish one with another in the tyme of visitacion Neuertheles, Iacobs porciō is not soch: but it is he, that hath made all thinges, and Israel is the rodd of his inheritaūce: The LORDE of hoostes is his name. Put awaye thy vnclennesse out of the londe, thou that art in the stronge cities. For thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, I wil now thrust out the inhatours of this londe a greate waye off, and trouble them of soch a fashiō, that they shal no more be founde.

Alas, how am I hurte? Alas, how panefull are my scourges vnto me? For I cōsidre this sorow by my self, & I must suffre it, My tabernacle is destroyed, and all my coardes are broken. My children are gone fro me, ād can no where be founde. Now haue I none to sprede out my tente, or to set vp my hanginges. For the hyrdmen haue done folishly, that they haue not sought the LORDE. Therfore haue they dealt vnwisely with their catell, & all are scatred abrode. Beholde, the noyse is harde at honde, and greate sediciō out of the north: to make the cities of Iuda a wyldernesse, and a dwellinge place for Dragons. 〈…〉 Now I knowe (o LORDE) that is not in mās power to ordre his owne waies, or to rule his owne steppes & goinges. Therfore chastē thou vs (o LORDE) but with fauoure, and not in thy wrath, 〈…〉 bringe vs not vtterly to naught. Poure out thy indignacion rather vpon the Gētiles, that knowe ye not, and vpon the people that call not on thy name: And that because they haue consumed, deuoured and destroyed Iacob, and haue roted out his glory.

The XI. Chapter.

THis is another Sermon, which the LORDE commaunded Ieremy for to preach, sayenge:

Heare the wordes of the couenant, and speake vnto all Iuda, and to all them that dwel at Ierusalem, And saye thou vnto thē: Thus saieth the LORDE God of Israel: Cursed be euery one, that is not obedient vnto ye wordes of this couenaūt: which I commaunded vnto youre fathers, what tyme as I brought them out of Egipte, from the yron fornace, sayenge: Be obedient vnto my voyce, 〈◊〉 19. a and do accordinge to all that I commaunde you: so shal ye be my people, and I wil be youre God, 〈◊〉 . 6. b and will kepe my promyse, yt I haue sworne vnto youre fathers: 〈◊〉 . 5. c 〈…〉 . c Namely, that I wolde geue them a londe which floweth with mylke and hony, as ye se, it is come to passe vnto this daye.

Then answered I, and sayde: Amen. It is euen so LORDE, as thou sayest. Then the LORDE sayde vnto me agayne: Preach this in ye cities off Iuda and rounde aboute Ierusalem, and saye: Heare the wordes off this cō uenaunt, that ye maye kepe them. For I haue diligently exorted youre fathers, euer sence the tyme that I brought them out off the Londe off Egipte, vnto this daye. I gaue them warnynge by tymes, sayenge: herken vnto my voyce: 〈◊〉 . 11. b Neuertheles, they wolde not obeye me, nor enclyne their eares vnto me, 〈…〉 but folowed the wicked ymaginaciōs of their owne hertes. And therfore haue I accused them as transgressours of all the wordes off this conuenaunt, that I gaue them to kepe, which they (notwithstōdinge) haue not kepte.

And the LORDE sayde vnto me: It is foū de out, that whole Israel and all the citisens off Ierusalem are gone backe. They haue turned them selues to the blasphemies off their fore fathers, which had no lust to heare my worde. Euen likewise haue these also folowed straunge goddes, and worshipped them. The house off Israel and Iuda haue broken my couenaunt, which I made wt their fathers.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, I will sende a plage amonge you, which ye shal not be able to escape: and though ye crie vnto me, I will not heare you. Thē shal the townes off Iuda and the citisens of Ierusalem go, 〈◊〉 7. b and call vpon their goddes, vnto whom they made their oblaciōs: but they are not able to helpe them in tyme off their trouble. 〈◊〉 . 32. c re 2. d For as many cities as thou hast (o Iuda) so many goddes hast thou also: And loke how many stretes there be in the (o Ierusalem) so many shameful aulters haue ye set vp, 〈◊〉 . 7. c 〈◊〉 . 1 . a to offre vpon them vnto Baal. But praye not thou for this people, byd nether prayse ner prayer for them: for though they crie vnto me in their trouble, yet will I not heare them.

O thou beloued, why doest thou so shamefull greate blasphemies in my house? euen as though that holy flesh might absolue the, 〈…〉 specially when thou hast made thy boost off thy wickednes. The LORDE called the a grene olyue tre, a fayre one, a frutefull one, Iere. 17 b Matt. 7. b Ro. 11. c a goodly one: but now that there is a contrary reporte off the abrode, he will burne the vp, ād destroye thy braunches. Esa. 12. d For the LORDE off hoostes that plāted the, hath deuysed a plage for the (o thou house of Israel & Iuda) for ye euel that ye haue done, to prouoke him to wrath, in that ye dyd seruyce vnto Baal.

This (o LORDE) haue I lerned of the, and vnderstonde it, for thou hast shewed me their ymaginacions. Esa. 53. b But I (as a meke lambe) was caried awaye to be slayne: not knowinge, that they had deuysed soch a councel agaynst me, sayenge: Iere. 18. b We will destroye his meate with wod, and dryue him out of the londe of the lyuynge, that his name shal neuer be thought vpon. Therfore I will beseke the now (o LORDE of hoostes) thou rightuous iudge, Iere. 20. c 17. b thou that tryest the reynes and the hertes: let me se the auenged of them, for vnto the haue I committed my cause. The LORDE therfore spake thus of the citesens of Anothot, that sought to slaye me, sayēge: Esa. 30. b Amo. 7. b Preach not vnto vs in the name of the LORDE, or els thou shalt dye of oure hondes. Thus (I saye) spake the LORDE of hoostes: Beholde, I will viset you. Youre yonge mē shal perish with the swearde, yor sonnes and youre doughters shal vtterly dye of honger, so that none shal remayne. For vpon the citesyns off Anathot wil I bringe a plage, and the yeare of their visitacion.

The XII. Chapter.

O LORDE, thou art more rightuous, then that I shulde dispute with the: Neuertheles, let me talke with the in thinges reasonable. How happeneth it, Iob. 21. a Aba. 1. c that the waye off the vngodly is so prosperous? and that it goeth so wel with them, which (with out eny shame) offēde and lyue in wickednesse? Thou plantest them, they take rote, they growe, and bringe forth frute. They boost moch off the, yet doest thou not punysh them. But thou LORDE (to whom I am well knowne) thou that hast sene, & proued my herte, take them awaye, like as a flock is caried to the slaughter house,2. Pet. 2. and apoynte them for the daye off slaughtinge.

How longe shall the londe mourne, and all the herbes off the felde perish, for the wickednes off them that dwell therin?

The catell and the byrdes are gone, Iere. 14. b Deu. 29. c Soph. 1. c Iere. 5. b •• . c yet saye they: tush, God will not destroye vs vtterly.

Seinge thou art weery in runnynge with the fote men, how wilt thou then runne wt horses? In a peaceable sure londe thou mayest be safe, but how wilt thou do in the furious pryde of Iordane? For thy brethren ād thy kynred haue altogether despised the, and cried out vpon the in thine absence. Iere. 9. a Beleue them not, though they s eake fayre wordes to the. As for me (saye I) I haue forsaken myne owne dwellinge place, and left myne heretage. My life also that I loue so wel, haue I geuen in to the hōdes of myne enemies. Myne heretage is become vnto me, as a Lyon in the wod. It cried out vpon me, therfore haue I forsaken it. Esa. 19. Myne heretage is vnto me, as a spreckled byrde, a byrde of dyuerse coloures is vpon it. Go hence, and gather all the beastes of the felde together, that they maye eate it vp.

Dyuerse hyrdmē haue broken downe my vynyarde, Esa. 6. c Esa. 5. a and troden vpon my porcion. Of my pleasaunt porcion, they haue made a wildernes & deserte. They haue layed it waist: and now that it is waist, it sigheth vnto me. Yee the whole londe lieth waist, and no man regardeth it. The distroyers come ouer the heeth euery waye, for the swearde off the LORDE shal consume from the one ende of ye lōde to the other, Pro. 22. d and no flesh shal haue rest. They shal sowe wheat, and reepe thornes. They shal take heretage in possession, but it shal do them no good. And ye shalbe confounded of youre owne wynnynges, because of the greate wrath of the LORDE.

Thus saieth the LORDE vpon all myne euel neghbours, that laye honde on myne heretage, which I haue geuen my people of Israel: Beholde, I wil plucke them (namely Israel) out of their londe, and put out the house of Iuda from amonge them. And whē I haue rooted thē out, Deu. 4. e 30. a Esa. 54. b 1. Esd. 1. a I wil be at one with thē agayne, and wil haue mercy vpon them: and brynge them agayne, euery man to his owne heretage, and in to his lōde. And yf they (namely that trouble my people) wil lerne ye wayes of them, to sweare by my name: The LORDE lyueth (like as they lerned my people to sweare by Baal) thē shal they be rekened amōge my people. But yf they wil not obeye, thē will I rote out the same folke, Mat. 22. b and destroye them, saieth the LORDE,

The XIII. Chapter.

MOrouer, thus saied the LORDE vnto me: go thy waye & get the a lynnen breche, and gyrde it aboute thy loynes, and let it not be wet. Then I got me a brech, acordinge to the commaundemēt of the LORDE, and put it aboute my loynes. After this, the LORDE spake vnto me agayne: Take the breche that thou hast prepared & put aboute the, and get the vp, and go vnto Euphrates, and hyde it in a hole off the rock. So wēt I, and hydde it, s the LORDE commaunded me. And it happened longe after this, that the LORDE spake vnto me: Vp, and get the to Euphrates, and fet the breche from thence, which I commaunded the to hyde there. Then went I to Euphrates, and digged vp, and toke the brech from the place where I had hyd it: and beholde, the brech was corrupte, so that it was profitable for nothinge.

Then sayde the LORDE vnto me: Thus saieth the LORDE: Euen so will I corruppe the pryde off Iuda and the hie mynde off Ierusalē. This people is a wicked people, they will not heare my worde, 〈…〉 they folowe ye wicked ymaginacions off their owne hert, & hange vpon straūge goddes, thē haue they serued & worshipped: and therfore they shalbe as this brech, that serueth for nothinge. For as strately as a brech lieth vpon a mās loynes, so strately dyd I bynde ye whole house of Israel, and the whole house of Iuda vnto me, saieth the LORDE: 〈…〉 that they might be my people: that they might haue a glorious name: yt they might be in honoure: but they wolde not obeye me. Therfore laye this ryddle before them, and saye: Thus saieth the LORDE God of Israel: euery pot shal be fylled with wyne. And they shal saye: thinkest thou we knowe not, yt euery pot shalbe fylled with wyne? Then shalt thou saye vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, I shal fyll all the inhabitours of this lōde wt dronckēnes, the kynges that syt vpō Dauids stole, the prestes and prophetes, with all yt dwell at Ierusalem. And I will shute them one agaynst another, yee ye fathers agaynst the sonnes, saieth the LORDE.

I wil not pardon them, I wil not spare them, ner haue pitie vpon them: but destroye them. Be obedient, geue eare, take no diszdayne at it, for it is the LORDE himself that speaketh. Honoure ye LORDE youre God herein, or he take his light from you, and or euer youre fete stomble in darknesse at ye hill: lest whē ye loke for the light, he turne it in to ye shadowe and darknesse of death. But yf ye wil not heare me, that geue you secrete warnynge, I will mourne fro my whole herte for youre stubburnesse. Piteously will I wepe, 〈…〉 and the teares shall guszhe out of myne eyes. For the LORDES flocke shalbe caried awaye captiue. Tell the kinge & the rulers: Humble yor selues, set you downe lowe, for ye crowne of yor glory shal fall from youre heade. The cities towarde the south shalbe shut vp, & no man shal open thē. All Iuda shal be caried awaye captyue, so that none shall remayne.

Lift vp youre eyes, and beholde thē, that come from the North: Like a fat flocke shal they fall vpon the. To whom wilt thou make thy mone, when they come vpon the? for thou hast taught thē thy self, and made thē masters ouer the. 〈◊〉 10. a 〈◊〉 13. b 〈◊〉 21. a Shal not sorowe come vpō the, as on a woman trauelinge with childe? And yf thou woldest saye thē in thine hert: Wherfore come these thinges vpō me? Euē for the multitude of thy blasphemies, 〈◊〉 5. b shall thy hynder partes & thy fete be discouered. For like as the man of Iude maye chaunge his skynne, & the cat of the mountayne hir spottes: so maye yet that be exercised in euell, do good. Therfore will I scatre you, lyke as ye stobble that is takē awaye with ye south wynde. This shal be youre porcion, and the porcion of youre measure, wher with ye shal be rewarded of me, saieth the LORDE: because ye haue forgotten me, and put youre trust in disceatful thinges. Therfore shall I turne thy clothes ouer thy heade, 〈◊〉 . 2. b and discouer thy thees, that thy preuyties maye be sene: ye aduoutrie, thy deedly malice, thy beastlynes and thy shamefull whordome. For vpon the feldes and hilles I haue sene thy abhominacions. Wo be vnto the (o Ierusalē) whē wilt thou euer be clensed enymore?

The XIIII. Chapter. The worde of the LORDE shewed vnto Ieremy, cōcernynge ye derth off the frutes.

IVda shal mourne, men shall not go moch more thorow his gates: the londe shal be nomore had in reputacion, & the crie of Ierusalē shal breake out. The lordes shall sende their seruauntes to fetch water, & when they come to the welles, they shal fynde no water, but shal carie their vessels home emptie. They shal be ashamed ād confounded, 〈◊〉 23. b & shal couer their heades. For the groūde shalbe dried vp, because there cō meth no rayne vpon it. The plowmen also shalbe ashamed, ād shal couer their heades. The Hynde shal forsake the yonge fawne, that se brīgeth forth in ye felde, because there shalbe no grasse. The wilde Asses shall stonde in the Mosse, and drawe in their wynde like the Dragōs, their eyes shal fayle for wāt of grasse.

Doutles oure owne wickednesse rewarde vs: But LORDE do thou acordinge to yi name, though oure transgressions and synnes be many. Esa. 49. b Iere. 16. c 17. c For thou art the comforte & helpe of Israel in the tyme of trouble. Why wilt thou be as a straunger in the Londe, and as one that goeth ouer the felde, ād cōmeth in only to remayne for a night? Why wilt thou make thy self a cowarde, and as it were a giaūte that yet maye not helpe? For thou ar ours (o LORDE) and we beare thy name, therfore forsake vs not.

Then spake the LORDE, concernynge this people yt haue pleasure to go so nembly wt their fete, and leaue not of, and therfore displease the LORDE: in so moch, that he will now bringe agayne to remembraunce all their myszdedes, ād punysh all their synnes. Yee euen thus sayde the LORDE vnto me: Thou shalt not praye to do this people good. Iere. 7. b Esa 1. b For though they fast, I will not heare their prayers. And though they offre burnt offrīges & sacrifices, yet wil not I accepte them. For I will destroye them with the swearde, honger and pestilence. Then answerde I: O LORDE God, the prophetes saye vnto them: Tush, Iere. 5. b Soph. 1. c Iere. 14. b 23. c ye shal se no swearde, and no honger shall come vpon you, but the LORDE shal geue you continuall rest in this place.

And the LORDE sayde vnto me: The prophetes preach lies vnto them in my name. I haue not spoken with them, Iere. 23. d nether gaue I them eny charge, nether dyd I sende thē: yet they preach vnto you false visions, charmynge, vanite, and disceatfulnesse of their owne herte. Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: As for those prophetes that preach in my name (whom I neuertheles haue not sent) and y saye: Tush, there shal nether batel ner honger be in this londe: With swearde ād with honger shal those prophetes perish, Zach. 13. a and the people to whom they haue preached, shal be cast out of Ierusalem, dye of honger, ād be slayne with the swearde, (and there shal be no man to burie them) both they ād their wyues, their sonnes and their doughters. Iere. 16. a For thus wil I 〈◊〉 their wickednes vpon thē. This shalt tho saye also vnto them: Myne eyes shal wepe without ceass nge daye & night. Thren. 2. f Tren. 1. d For my people shalbe dtstroyed with greate harme, and shall perish with a greate plage. For yff I go in to the felde, lo, it lieth all full off slayne men: Yff I come in to the cite, lo, they be all fameshed of honger.

Yee their prophetes also and prestes shal be led in to an vnknowne londe.

Hast thou then vtterly forsaken Iuda? (sayde I) Dost thou so abhorre Siō? Or hast thou so plaged vs, that we can be healed no more? Iere. . c We loked for peace, and there cōmeth no good: for the tyme of health, & lo, here is nothinge but trouble. We knowlege (o LORDE) all oure myszdedes, and the synnes of oure fathers, that we haue offended ye. Be not displeased (o LORDE) for thy names sake, forget not thy louynge kyndnes: Esa. 49. c Remembre ye trone of thyne honoure, breake not the couenaūt, Iere. 5. d that thou hast made with vs. Are there eny amonge the goddes of the Gentiles, that sende rayne, or geue the showers of heauen? Dost not thou it o LORDE oure God, in whō we trust? Yee LORDE, thou dost all these thinges.

The XV. Chapter.

THen spake the LORDE vnto me, ād sayde: Iere. 7. b 11. c. 14. b Eze. 14. c Though Moses and Samuel stode before me, yet haue I no herte to this people. Dryue them awaye, that they maye go out of my sight. And yf they saye vnto the: zach 11. b Eze. 5. c Whyther shal we go? Thē tell thē: The LORDE geueth you this answere: Some vnto death, some to the swearde, some to honger, some in to captiuyte. For I will bringe foure plages vpon them, saieth the LORDE. The swearde shal strāgle them, Iere. 16. a the dogges shal deuoure them, the foules of the ayre ād beestes of the earth shal eate them vp, and destroye them. I will scatre them aboute also in all kingdomes and londes to be plaged, because of Manasses the sonne of Ezechias kinge of Iuda,4. Re. 21. a for the thinges that he dyd in Ierusalem.

Who shal then haue pite vpon the, o Ierusalem? Who shal be sory for the? Or who shal make intercession, to opteyne peace for the? seinge thou goest fro me, ād turnest bacwarde, saieth the LORDE? Therfore I will stretch out myne honde agaynst the, to destroye the, and I will not be intreated. I will scatre the abrode with the fanne on euery side of the londe: I will waist my people and destroye them, Iere. 6. c for they haue had no lust to turne from their owne wayes. I will make their wyddowes mo in nombre, then the sondes of the see. Vpon ye mothers of their children, I shal bringe a destroyer in the noone daye.1. Tess. 5. a Sodenly and vnawarres, shal I sende a feare vpon their cities. She that hath borne vij. children, shal haue none, hir herte shal be ful of sorowe.

The Sonne shall fayle her in the cleare daye, when she shalbe confounded and faynte for very heuynesse. Amo. 8. b As for those yt remayne, I wil delyuer them vnto the swearde off their enemies, saieth the LORDE. O mother, alas that euer thou dydest beare me, 〈…〉 an enemie and hated of the whole londe: Though I neuer lente ner receaued vpon vsury, yet euery man speake euell vpon me. And ye LORDE answered me: Lede not I the then vnto good? Come not I to the, when thou art in trouble: and helpe ye, when thine enemie oppresseth the? Doth one yron hurte another, or one metall that cōmeth from the north, another? As for youre riches and treasure, I wil geue them out in to a pray, 〈…〉 not for eny money, but because of all youre synnes, that ye haue done ī all youre coastes. And I wil brī ge you with youre enemies in to a londe, 〈…〉 yt ye knowe not: for the fyre that is kyndled in my indignacion, shal burne you vp.

O LORDE (sayde I then) thou knowest all thinges, therfore remembre me, ād viset me, delyuer me fro my persecuters: Receaue not my cause in yi lōge wrath, yet thou knowest, that for thy sake I suffre rebuke. 〈…〉 When I had founde thy wordes, I at them vp gredely: they haue made my hert ioyfull & glad. For I call vpon thy name, o LORDE God off hoostes. I dwell not amonge the scorners, nether is my delyte therin: but I dwell only in the feare of thy honde, for thou hast fylled me with bytternes. Shall my heuynes endure for euer? Are my plages then so greate, yt they maye neuer be healed? Wilt thou be as a water, that falleth, and can not contynue? Vpon these wordes, thus sayde the LORDE vnto me: Yf thou wilt turne agayne, I shal set the in my seruyce: and yf thou wilt take out the thinge that is precious from the vyle, thou shalt be euen as myne owne mouth. They shal conuerte vnto the, 〈…〉 but turne not thou vnto thē: and so shal I make the a strō ge wall of stele agaynst this people. 〈…〉 They shal fight agaynst the, but they shal not preuayle. For I my self will be with the, to helpe the, and delyuer the, saieth the LORDE. And I will ryd the out of the hondes of the wicked, and delyuer the out of the honde of Tirauntes.

The XVI. Chapter.

MOrouer, thus sayde the LORDE vnto me: Thou shalt take ye no wife, ner beget children in this place. For of the children that are borne in this place, of their mothers that haue borne them, and of their fathers that haue begotten them in this londe, thus saieth the LORDE: 〈…〉 They shal dye an horrible deeth, no mā shal mourne for them, ner burie them, but they shal lye as dō ge vpon the earth. They shal perish thorow the swearde and honger, and their bodies shal be meate for the foules of the ayre, sal. 7 . a ere. 5. a and beestes of the earth. Agayne, thus saieth the LORDE: Go not vnto them, that come together, for to mourne and wepe: for I haue taken my peace frō this people (saieth the LORDE) yee my fauoure and my mercy. And in this londe shal they dye, olde and yonge, and shall not be buried: no man shall be wepe them, no man shall clippe or shaue himselff for them.

There shal not one viset another, to mourne with them for their deed, or to comforte them. One shall not offre another the cuppe off consolacion, to forget their heuynes for father and mother. Thou shalt not go in to their feast house, Cor. 5. b to syt downe, moch lesse to eate or drynke with them. For thus saieth the LORDE off hoostes the God off Israel: Beholde, 〈◊〉 . 7. d 25 b I shall take awaye out of this place, the voyce off myrth ād gladnesse, the voyce off the brydegrome and off the bryde: yee and that in youre dayes, that ye maye se it.

〈…〉 Now when thou shewest this people all these wordes, and they saye vnto the: Wherfore hath the LORDE deuysed all this greate plage for vs? Or what is the offence and synne, that we haue done agaynst the LORDE oure God? Then make thou them this answere: Because youre fathers haue forsaken me (saieth the LORDE) and haue cleued vnto straunge goddes, 〈◊〉 . 4. d whom they haue honoured and worshipped: but me haue they forsakē, and haue not kepte my lawe. And ye wt youre shamefull blasphemies, 〈◊〉 . 7. d haue exceaded the wickednes off youre fathers. For euery one off you foloweth the frawerde euel ymaginacion off his owne hert, and is not obedient vnto me.

Therfore wil I cast you out off this londe, 〈◊〉 . 28. c 〈◊〉 . 23. b in to a londe that ye and youre fathers knowe not: and there shall ye serue straunge goddes daye and night, there will I shewe you no fauoure. Beholde therfore (saieth the LORDE) the daies are come, that it shall nomore be sayed: 〈◊〉 . 3. b The LORDE lyueth, which brought the children of Israel out of the lō de of Egipte: but (it shall be sayde) the LORDE lyueth, that brought the children of Israel from the North, & from all londes where I had scatred them. For I wil bringe thē agayne in to the lōde, that I gaue vnto their fathers.

Beholde, (saieth the LORDE) I will sende out many fiszhers to take them, 〈◊〉 4. c and after yt wil I sende out many hunters to hunte thē out, from all mountaynes and hilles ād out of the caues of stones. For myne eyes beholde all their wayes, and they can not be hyd fro my face, nether can their wicked dedes be kepte close out of my sight. But first will I sufficiently rewarde their shamefull blasphemies and synnes, wherwith they haue defyled my londe: Namely, with their stinckinge Idols and abhominacions, wherwt they haue fylled myne heretage. O LORDE, Iere. 14 17. c my strength, my power, and refuge in tyme off trouble. The Gentiles shall come vnto the from the endes off the worlde, and saye: Verely oure fathers haue cleued vnto lies, their Idols are but vayne and vnprofitable. How can a man make those his goddes, which are not able to be goddes? And therfore, I will once teach them (saieth ye LORDE) I wil shewe them my honde and my power, that they maye knowe, yt my name is ye LORDE.

The XVII. Chapter.

YOure synne (o ye off the trybe of Iuda) is writtē in the table of yor hertes, & grauē so vpon the edges of yor aulters wt a penne of yron & with an Adamāt clawe: yt youre children also maye thynke vpon youre aulters, woddes, thicke trees, hie hilles, mountaynes & feldes. Wherfore, Iere. 1 . c 20. b I will make all youre substaunce & treasure be spoyled, for the greate synne that ye haue done vpon youre hie places, thorow out all ye coostes off youre lōde. Ye shal be cast out also from the heretage, that I gaue you. And I wil subdue you vnder the heuy bōdage of youre enemies, in a londe that ye knowe not. For ye haue ministred fyre to my indignacion, which shal burne euermore. Thus saieth the LORDE: Psal. 48. Iere. 46. 48. a Pro. 11. c Eze. 29. Cursed be the man that putteth his trust in man, ād that taketh flesh for his arme: and he, whose herte departeth from ye LORDE. He shall be like the heeth, that groweth in the wildernes. As for the good thinge that is for to come, he shall not se it: but dwell in a drie place off the wildernes, in a salt and vnoccupied londe. O Blissed is the man, that putteth his trust in the LORDE, Psal. 2. b Pro. 22. c Psal. 1. a 117. a. 12 a and whose hope the LORDE is himself. For he shalbe as a tre, that is planted by the water syde: which spredeth out the rote vnto moystnesse, whom the heate can not harme, when it commeth, but his leaues are grene. And though there growe but litle frute because off drouth, yet is he not carefull, but he neuer leaueth of to bringe forth frute. Amonge all thinges lyuynge, man hath the most disceatfull and vnsercheable hert.

Who shall then knowe it? Euen I the LORDE ripe out the grounde off the hert, 〈◊〉 . 2. d 〈◊〉 . 11. d 〈◊〉 . 2. a 〈◊〉 . 23. a 〈◊〉 . 51. b 〈◊〉 . 12. b ād search the reynes and rewarde euery mā acordinge to his wayes, and acordinge to the frute off his councels.

The disceatfull maketh a nest, but bringeth forth no yonge: He commeth by riches, but not rightuously. In the myddest off his life must he leaue them behinde him, and at the last be founde a very foole. But thou (o LORDE) whose trone is most glorious, excellent and off most antiquite, which dwellest in the place of oure holy rest: Thou art the comforte off Israel. All they that forsake the, ere. 2. b oh. 4. b ze. 36. d shalbe confounded: all they that departe from the, shalbe written in earth, for they haue forsaken the LORDE, the very condite of the waters of life.

Heale me (o LORDE) and I shall be whole: saue thou me, and I shalbe saued, for thou art my prayse. Beholde, these men saye vnto me: Where is the worde of the LORDE? Let it come. Where as I neuertheles ledinge the flock in thy wayes, haue compelled none by violence. For I neuer desyred eny mās deeth, this knowest thou well. My wordes also were right before the. Iere. 14. a 16. c Be not now terrible vnto me (o LORDE) for thou art he, in whom I hope, when I am in parell. Let my persecuters be confounded, but not me: let them be afrayed, and not me. Thou shalt bringe vpon thē the tyme off their plage, and shalt destroye them right sore.

Agayne, thus hath the LORDE sayde vnto me: Iere. 7. a 26. a Go and stonde vnder the gate, where thorow the people and the kinges of Iuda go out and in, yee vnder all the gates of Ierusalem, and saye vnto them: Heare the worde of the LORDE, ye kinges of Iuda, and all thou people of Iuda, and all ye citesyns of Ierusalem, that go thorow this gate: Thus the LORDE commaundeth: Deu. 4. b Deu. 5. b Exo. 20. b Take hede for youre lyues, that ye carie no burthen vpon you in the Sabbath, to bringe it thorow the gates of Ierusalem: ye shall beare no burthen also out of youre houses in the Sabbath: Ye shall do no laboure there in, but halowe the Sabbath, as I commaunded youre fathers. How be it they obeyed me not, nether herkened they vnto me: Eze. 20. b but were obstinate & stubburne, ād nether obeyed me, ner receaued my correccion.

Neuertheles, yf ye will heare me (saieth the LORDE) and beare no burthen in to ye cite thorow this gate vpon the Sabbath: Yf ye will halowe the Sabbath, so that ye do no worke there in: Exo. 20. b then shal there go thorow the gates of this cite, kinges and prynces, that shall syt vpon the stole of Dauid: They shall be caried vpon charettes, and ryde vpon horses, both they and their princes: Yee whole Iuda and all the citesyns of Ierusalem shall go here thorow, and this cite shall euer be the more and more inhabited. There shall come men also from the cities of Iuda, from aboute Ierusalem, ād from ye londe of Ben Iamin, from the playne feldes, from the mountaynes and from the wildernesse: which shall bringe burnt offringes, sacrifices, oblacions, and incense, and offre vp thankesgeuynge in the house of the LORDE. But yff ye will not be obedient vnto me, to halowe the Sabbath, so that ye will beare youre burthens thorow the gates off Ierusalem vpon the Sabbath: Then shall I set fyre vpon the gates off Ierusalem, ād it shal burne vp the houses off Ierusalem, and no man shal be able to quench it.

The XVIII. Chapter. This is another communicacion, that God had with Ieremy, sayenge:

ARise, and go downe in to the Potters house, and there shall I tell the more off my mynde. Now when I came to the Potters house, I founde him makinge his worke vpon a whele. The vessel that the Potter made off claye, brake amonge his hō des: So he beganne a new, and made a nother vessell, acordinge to his mynde. Then sayde the LORDE thus vnto me: 〈…〉 Maye not I do wt you, as this Potter doth, O ye house off Israel? saieth the LORDE? Beholde, ye house off Israel: ye are in my honde, euen as the claye in the Potters honde.

When I take in honde to rote out, 〈…〉 to destroye, or to waist awaye eny people or kīgdome: yff that people (agaynst whom I haue thus deuysed) cōuerte from their wickednes: Immediatly, I repente off the plage, that I deuysed to bringe vpon thē. Agayne: 〈…〉 Whē I take in honde, to buylde, or to plante a people or a kingdome: yff the same people do euell before me, and heare not my voyce: Immediatly, I repente of the good, that I deuysed to do for them.

Speake now therfore vnto whole Iuda, and to them that dwell at Ierusalem: Thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, I am deuysinge a plage for you, and am takinge a thinge in honde agaynst you.

Therfore, 〈…〉 let euery man turne from his euell waye, 〈◊〉 . 35. c take vpon you the thinge that is good, and do right. But they saye: No more of this, 〈◊〉 . 13. b we will folowe oure owne ymaginacions, and do euery mā acordinge to the wilfulnesse of his owne mynde.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: Axe amonge the Heithen, yf eny man hath herde soch horrible thinges, as the doughter of Sion hath done. Shal not ye snowe (yt melteth vpon the stony rockes of Libanus) moysture the feldes? Or maye the springes off waters be so grauen awaye, that they runne no more, geue moystnesse, ner make frutefull? But my people hath so forgotten me, yt they haue made sacrifice vnto vayne goddes. And whyle they folowed their owne wayes they are come out of the hie strete, and gone in to a fote waye not vsed to be troden. Where thorow they haue brought their londe in to an euerlastinge wildernesse and scorne: 〈◊〉 . 19. b 49. c So yt who so euer trauayleth ther by, shalbe abashed, and wagge their heades. With an East wynde will I scatre thē, before their enemies. And when their destruction cō meth, I will turne my backe vpō them, but not my face.

〈◊〉 11 d Then sayde they: come, let vs ymagin somthinge agaynst this Ieremy. Yee this dyd euen the prestes, to whom ye lawe was commytted: the Senatours, yt were the wyfest: and the prophetes, which wanted not ye worde off God. Come (sayde they) let vs cut out his tūge, and let vs not regarde his wordes. Considre me (o LORDE) and heare the voyce of myne enemies. Do they not recompence euell for good, 〈…〉 108 a 〈◊〉 34. b when they dygg a pyt for my soule? Remembre, how that I stode before the, to speake for thē, ād to turne awaye thy wrath from them. 〈◊〉 . 0. d

Therfore let their childrē dye of hunger, and let them be oppressed with the swearde. 〈◊〉 . 3. f Let their wyues be robbed of their childrē, and be come wyddowes: 〈…〉 let their huszbōdes be slayne, let their yonge men be kylled with the swearde in the felde. Let the noyse be herde out of their houses, when the murtherer cōmeth sodenly vpon them: For they haue digged a pit to take me, and layed snares for my fete. 〈…〉 Yet LORDE, thou knowest all their coūcell, that they haue deuysed, to slaye me. And therfore forgeue them not their wickednes, and let not their synne be put out of thy sight: but let them be iudged before the as the giltie: This shalt thou do vnto thē in ye tyme of thy indignacion.

The XIX. Chapter.

MOrouer, thus saide the LORDE vnto Ieremy: Go thy waye, and bye the an erthen pytcher, and bringe forth the Senatours and chefe prestes in to the valley of the children off Ennon, which lieth before the porte that is made of brick, & shewe them there the wordes, that I shall tell the, and saye thus vnto them: Heare the worde of the LORDE, ye kinges of Iuda, ād ye citesyns of Ierusalem: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Beholde, I will bringe soch a plage vpon this place, that ye eares of all that heare it, shal glowe. And that because they haue forsakē me,4. Re. 21 Iere. 6. c and vnhalowed this place, and haue offred in it vnto straunge goddes: whō nether they, their fathers, ner the kinges off Iuda haue knowne. Deu. 12. d 28. b Eze. 20. d Psal. 105. Eze. 16. b They haue filled this place also wt the bloude of innocentes, for they haue set vp an aulter vnto Baal, to burne their children for a burnt offringe vnto Baal, which I nether commaunded, ner charged them, nether thought once there vpon.

Beholde therfore, ye tyme cōmeth (saieth the LORDE) yt this place shal nomore be called Tophet, Iere. 7. d ner ye valley of ye childrē of Ennō, but ye valley of slaughter. For in this place wil I slaye the Senatours of Iuda & Ierusalē, & kill thē downe wt the swearde in ye sight of their enemies, ād of them that seke their lyues. And their deed carcases wil I geue to be meate for the foules of the ayre, and beestes of the felde. And I wil make this cite so desolate, ād despysed:3. Re. 9. b Iere. 18. b 49. c. 50. b that who so goeth there by, shal be abaszhed & geast vpon her, because of all hir plages.

I will fede them also wt the flesh of their sonnes & their doughters. Tre. 4. b Yee euery one shal eate vp another in the beseginge & straytnesse, Deu. 28. b wher wt their enemies (yt seke their lyues) shal kepe thē in. And the pitcher shalt thou breake in the sight of the mē, yt shalbe wt the, and saye vnto thē: Thus saieth the LORDE off hoostes: Iere. 18. a Euē so wil I destroye this people & cite: as a Potter breaketh a vessel, that can not be made whole agayne.

In Tophet shal they be buried, Iere. 7. b for they shal haue none other place. Thus wil I do vnto this place also, saieth the LORDE, and to thē yt dwell there in: yee I wil do to this cite, as vnto Tophet (For the houses of Ierusalē & the houses of the kinges of Iuda are defyled, like as Tophet,) because off all the houses, in whose parlers they dyd sacrifice vnto all the hooste of heauē, and poured out drynke offringes vnto straunge goddes. And so Ieremy came from Tophet, where the LORDE had sent him to prophecie, and stode in the courte off the house off the LORDE, and spake to all the people: Thus saieth the LORDE off hoostes the God of Israel: Beholde, I will bringe vpon this cite and vpon euery towne aboute it, all the plages that I haue deuysed agaynst them: for they haue bene obstinate, Iere. 7. c 13. b ād wolde not obeye my warnynges.

The XX. Chapter.

WHen Pashur the preast, the sonne off Emmer, chefe in the house of ye LORDE, herde Ieremy preach so stedfastly: Act. 23. a Ioh. 18. c he smote Ieremy, and put him in the stockes, that are by the hie gate of Ben Iamin, in the house of ye LORDE. The nexte daye folowinge, Pashur brought Ieremy out of the stockes agayne. Then sayde Ieremy vnto him: The LORDE shall call the nomore Pashur (that is excellent and increasinge) but Magor (that is fearfull ād afrayed) euery where. For thus saieth the LORDE: beholde, I will make the afrayed, the thy self, and all that fauoure ye: which shal perish with the swearde off their enemies, euen before yt face.

And I wil geue whole Iuda vnder the power of the kinge of Babilon, which shall carie some vnto Babilon presoners, and slaye some with the swearde. Morouer, all ye substaunce of this londe,4. Re. 20. c Iere. 15. c 17. a all their precious and gorgeous workes, all costlynesse, and all the treasure of the kinges of Iuda: wil I geue into the hōdes of their enemies, which shal spoyle them, and carie them vnto Babilon. But as for the (o Pashur) thou shalt be caried vnto Babilon with all thine housholde, & to Babilō shalt thou come, where thou shalt die, and be buried: thou and all thy fauourers, to whom thou hast preached lies. O LORDE, thou makest me weake, but thou refreszhest me, & makest me stronge agayne. All the daye longe am I despysed, Tre. 3. b and laughed to scorne of euery man: because I haue now preached longe agaynst malicious Tyranny, Iere. 6. b and shewed them off destruccion. For ye which cause they cast the worde off the LORDE in my teth, and take me euer to the worst.

Wherfore, I thought from hence forth, not to speake of him, ner to preach eny more in his name. But the worde off the LORDE was a very burnynge fyre in my hert and in my bones, which when I wolde haue stopped, I might not. For why, I herde so many derisiōs and blasphemies, yee euen of myne owne companyons, Psal. 0. b and off soch as were conuersaunte with me: which wente aboute, to make me afrayed sayenge: vpon him, let vs go vpon him, to feare him, and make him holde his tonge: yt we maye ouercome him, and be avenged off him.

But the LORDE stode by me, like a mightie giaunte: therfore my persecuters fell, and coude do nothinge. They shal be sore confoū ded, for they haue done vnwisely, they shall haue an euerlastinge shame. And now, o LORDE of hoostes, 〈…〉 thou rightuous sercher) which knowest the reynes and the very hertes:) let me se them punyshed, for vnto the I committe my cause.

Synge vnto the LORDE, and prayse him, for he hath delyuered the soule off the oppressed, from the honde off the violent. Cursed be the daye, wherein I was borne: 〈…〉 vnhappie be ye daye, where in my mother brought me forth. Cursed be the man, that brought my father the tidinges, to make him glad, sayenge: thou hast gotten a sonne. Let it happen vnto that man, 〈…〉 as to the cities which ye LORDE turned vpside downe (when he had longe herde the wicked rumoure of them) because he slewe me not, as soone as I came out off my mothers wombe, and because my mother was not my graue hirselff, that the byrth might not haue come out, but remayned still in her. Wherfore came I forth off my mothers wombe? 〈…〉 To haue experience of laboure and sorowe? and to lede my life with shame?

The XXI. Chapter.

THese are the wordes that the LORDE spake vnto Ieremy, what tyme as kinge Sedechias sent vnto him Pashur the sonne off Melchia, and Sophonias the sonne of Maasia prest, sayenge: Axe councell at the LORDE (we praye the) of oure behalfe, for Nabuchodonosor the kinge off Babilon besegeth vs, yff the LORDE (peraduenture) will deale with vs, acordinge to his maruelous power, and take him from vs.

Then spake Ieremy: Geue Sedechias this answere, 〈…〉 Thus saieth the LORDE God off Israel: beholde, I will turne backe the weapens, that ye haue in youre hondes, wherwith ye fight agaynst the kinge of Babilō & the Caldees, which besege you rounde aboute ye walles: & I wil brīge thē together in to the myddest of this cite, and I my selff will fight agaynst you, with an outstretched honde, ād with a mightie arme, in greate displeasure and terrible wrath: and will smyte them, that dwell in this cite: yee both mē ād catell shal dye of the pestilence.

And after this (saieth the LORDE) I shall delyuer Sedechias the kinge of Iuda, & his seruauntes, his people (and soch as are escaped in the cite, from the pestilence, swearde, and honger) into the power of Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon: ere. 9. a yee in to the hōdes of their enemies, in to the hōdes of those yt folowe vpon their lyues, which shall smyte them with ye swerde: they shal not pite thē, they shal not spare them, they shall haue no mercy vpon them.

And vnto this people thou shalt saye: Thus saieth the LORDE: 〈◊〉 . 30. c 〈◊〉 . 38. a 〈◊〉 . 27. a beholde, I laye before you the waye of life and deeth. Who so abydeth in this cite, shal perish: ether wt the swearde, with honger, or with pestilēce. But who so goeth out to holde on ye Caldees parte, yt besege it, he shal saue his life, and shall wynne his soule for a pray. For I haue set my face agaynst this cite (saieth the LORDE) to plage it, 〈◊〉 . 32. a and to do it no good. It must be geuē in to the honde of the kinge of Babilon, & be brent with fyre.

And vnto the house of the kinge off Iuda, saye thus: Heare the worde of ye LORDE (o thou house off Dauid) for thus saieth the LORDE: 〈◊〉 . 7. b 〈◊〉 . 22. a Esa. 1. c ere. 4. a ach . c Ministre rightuousnes, and that soone, delyuer the oppressed frō violent power: or euer my terrible wrath break out like a fyre and burne so, that no man maye quēch it, because of the wickednes of youre ymaginacions. 〈◊〉 . 48 a Beholde (saieth the LORDE) I wil come vpō you, that dwel in the valleis, rockes and feldes and saye: 〈◊〉 12. a. 〈◊〉 . 9 c 〈◊〉 . 5. b 〈◊〉 . 23. c •• ph. 1. c Tush, who will make vs afrayed? or who will come in to oure houses? For I will vyset you (saieth the LORDE) because off the wickednes off youre invencions, and will kyndle soch a fyre in youre wod, as shall cōsume all, that is aboute you.

The XXII. Chapter.

THus sayde the LORDE also: Go downe in to the house of the kinge off Iuda, and speake there these wordes, & saye: Heare the worde off the LORDE, thou kinge off Iuda that syttest in the kyngly seate off Dauid: thou and thy seruauntes ād ye people, that go in & out at this gate. Thus the LORDE commaundeth: Esa. 1. c 〈◊〉 21. d •• ch. 7. b . c kepe equite and rightuousnesse, delyuer the oppressed frō the power off the violent: do not greue ner oppresse the straunger, the fatherlesse ner the wyddowe, ād shed no innocēt bloude in this place.

And yff ye kepe these thinges faithfully, then shall there come in at the dore off this house kynges, to syt vpō Dauids seate: they shal be caried in Charettes and ryde vpon horses, both they & their seruauntes, ād their people. But yf ye wil not be obedient vnto these commaundementes, Iere. 51. c Esa. 45 c Heb. 6. b I sweare by myne owne self (saieth ye LORDE) this house shal be waist. For thus hath the LORDE spoken vpon the kinges house of Iuda: Thou art the heade, as Galaad is in Libanus: What wilt thou laye of it, yf I make the not so waist (& thy cities also) that no man shal dwell there in? I will prepare a destroyer with his weapēs for the, to hew downe thy special Cedre trees, and to cast them in the fyre.

And all the people that go by this cite, shall speake one to another: Wherfore hath the LORDE done thus vnto this noble cite? Then shall it be answered: because they haue broken the couenaunt off the LORDE their God, Deu. 29. 3. Re. 9 b 4. Re. 23 and haue worshipped and serued straūge goddes. Mourne not ouer the deed, and be not wo for them, but be sory for him that departeth awaye: for he commeth not agayne, ād seeth his natyue countre no more. For thus saieth the LORDE, as touchinge Sellum the sonne of Iosias kinge of Iuda,2. Par. 3. which reygned after his father, and is caried out off this place:

He shal neuer come hither agayne, for he shal dye in the place, where vnto he is led captyue, and shall se this londe nomore. Esa. 5. c Agg. 1. a Wo worth him, that buyldeth his house with vnrightuousnes, ād his perlers with the good, that he hath gotten by violence: which neuer recompenseth his neghburs laboure, ner payeth him his hyre. He thinketh in himself: I wil buylde me a wyde house, ād gorgeous perlers: He causeth wyndowes to be hewen there in, and the sylinges and geastes maketh he off Cedre, and paynteth them with Zenober. Thinkest thou to reigne, now that thou prouokest me to wrath with yt Cedre trees?

Dyd not thy father eate and drynke, and prospere well, as lōge as he dealt with equite ād rightuousnesse? Yee when he helped ye oppressed and poore to their right, then prospered he well.

From whence came this, but only because he had me before his eyes? saieth the LORDE. Neuertheles, as for thine eyes and thine herte, they loke vpon covetousnesse, to shed innocent bloude, to do wronge and violence. And therfore, thus saieth the LORDE agaynst Ioachim,4. Re. 23.24. a Iere. 36. d ye sonne of Iosias kynge of Iuda: They shall not mourne for him (as they vse to do) alas brother, alas syster: Nether shall they saye vnto him: Alas syr, alas for that noble prynce. But as an Asse shall he be buried, corrupte and be cast with out the gates of Ierusalem.

Clymme vp the hill off Libanus (o thou doughter Sion) lift vp thy voyce vpon Basan, crie from all partes: for all thy louers are destroyed. I gaue the warninge, whyle thou wast yet ī prosperite, But thou saydest: I wil not heare. And this maner hast thou vsed from thy youth, that thou woldest neuer heare my voyce. All thy hyrdmen shalbe dryuen with the wynde, and thy derlinges shalbe caried awaye in to captiuyte: Then shalt thou be brought to shame and confucion, because of all thy wickednes: thou that dwellest vpon Libanus, ād makest thy nest in the Cedre trees. Esa. 13. b 21. a Iere. 13. d 30. a O how greate shal yi mournynge be, when thy sorowes come vpon the, as a woman trauelinge with childe?

As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE.) Though Iechonias the sonne off Ioachim kinge off Iuda were the signet off my right honde,4. Reg. 24. b yet will I plucke him of: And I wil geue the in to ye power off thē that seke to slaye the, and in to the power off them that thou fearest: in to the power off Nabuchodonosor the kinge off Babilon, and in to the power of the Caldees. Morouer, I will sende the and thy mother that bare the, in to a straunge londe, where ye were not borne, ād there shall ye dye. But as for the londe that ye will desyre to returne vnto, ye shall neuer come at it agayne. This mā Iechomas shal be like an ymage robbed and torne in peces, which pleaseth no man, for all his apparell. Wherfore both he and his sede shalbe sent awaye, and cast out in to a lōde, that they knowe not.

O thou earth, earth, earth: heare the worde off the LORDE: Wryte this man amonge the outlawes, for no prosperite shall this man haue all his life longe. Nether shall eny of his sede be so happie, as to syt vpon the seate of Dauid, and to beare rule in Iuda.

The XXIII. Chapter.

WO be vnto the shepherdes, that destroye, Ezec. 34. a and scatre my flocke, saieth the LORDE. Wherfore, this is the cō maundemēt of the LORDE God of Israel, vnto the shepherdes that fede my people: Ye scatre ād thrust out my flocke, and loke not vpon them. Therfore, now will I vyset the wickednes of youre ymaginacions, saieth ye LORDE: And will gather together the remnaunt of my flocke, from all londes that I ha dryuen them vnto, 〈…〉 and will bringe them agayne to their pastures, that they maye growe and increace. I will set shepherdes also oue them, which shall fede them. They shall no more feare and drede, for there shall none off them be lost, saieth the LORDE. Beholde, the tyme commeth (saieth the LORDE) that I wil rayse vp the rightuous braunch off Dauid, 〈…〉 which shall beare rule, and discusse matters with wyszdome, 〈…〉 and shall set vp equyte and rightuousnes agayne in the earth.

In his tyme shall Iuda be saued, and Israel shal dwell without feare. 〈…〉 And this is the name that they shall call him: euen the LORDE oure rightuous maker. 〈…〉 And therfore beholde, the tyme commeth (saieth the LORDE) that it shall no more be sayde: the LORDE lyueth, which brought the children off Israel out of the londe of Egipte: But the LORDE lyueth, which brought forth, ād led the sede of the house off Israel, out off the north londe, and from all countrees where I had scatred them, and they shal dwell in their owne londe agayne.

My herte breaketh in my body because of the false prophetes, all my bones shake: I am become like a droncken man (that by the reason of wyne can take no rest) for very feare of the LORDE, and of his holy wordes: Because the londe is full of aduoterers, where thorow it is destroyed and mourneth, and ye pleasaunt pastures of the deserte are dryed vp. Yee the waye that men take, is wicked, 〈…〉 & their gouernaunce is nothinge like the holy worde of the LORDE. For the prophetes and the prestes them selues are poluted Ypocrytes, ād their wickednes haue I founde in my house, saieth the LORDE. Wherfore, their waye shall be slippery in the darcknesse, where in they maye stacker and fall. For I will bringe a plage vpon them, euen the yeare of their visitacion, saieth the LORDE. I haue sene foly amonge the prophetes of Samaria, yt they preched for Baal, ād disceaued my people off Israel. I haue sene also amonge the Prophetes off Ierusalem foule aduoutery, and presumptuous lies. They take the most shamefull men by the hōde, flatringe them, so that they cā not returne from their wickednes. All these with their citesyns are vnto me, as Sodom, and as the inhabitours off Gomorre.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes concernynge the prophetes: Beholde, 〈…〉 I wil fede them with worm wod, & make them dryncke the water of gall. For frō the prophetes of Ierusalem is the sicknes of Ypocrisie come in to all the londe.

And therfore the LORDE of hoostes geueth you this warnynge: 〈◊〉 27. b 〈◊〉 2 . b Heare not the wordes of the prophetes, that preach vnto you, and disceaue you: for they speake the meanynge of their owne herte, and not out of the mouth of the LORDE. 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉 . 5. b 〈◊〉 14. b 〈◊〉 . 29. c They saye vnto them, that despyse me: The LORDE hath spoken it: Tush, ye shal prospere right well. And vnto all them, that walke after the lust of their owne herte, they saye: Tush, there shall no myszfortune happen you. For who hath sytten in the councell of the LORDE, that he hath herde and vnderstonde, what he is aboute to do? Who hath marcked his deuyce, 〈…〉 and herde it? Beholde, the stormy wether of the LORDE (that is, his indignacion) shal go forth, and shal fall downe vpon the heade of the vngodly. And the wrath of the LORDE shal not turne agayne, vntill he perfourme, and fulfull the thoughte of his herte. 〈◊〉 30 d And in the latter dayes ye shall knowe his meanynge.

I haue not sent these prophetes, (saieth the LORDE) and yet they ranne. I haue not spoken to them, 〈◊〉 14. b and yet they preached. But yf they had continued in my councell and herde my wordes: they had turned my people from their euell wayes and wicked ymaginacions. 〈…〉 Am I thē God that seeth but the thinge, which is nye at honde, and not that is farre of? saieth the LORDE. Maye eny man hyde him self so, that I shal not se him? saieth the LORDE. 〈◊〉 138. a 〈◊〉 . 9. a 〈◊〉 . 66. a 〈◊〉 7. f 〈◊〉 17. d Do not I fulfill heauen and earth? saieth the LORDE. I haue herde well ynough, what the prophetes saye, that preach lyes in my name, sayēge: I haue dreamed, I haue dreamed. How longe wil this cōtynue in the prophetes hertes, to tel lyes, and to preach the craftie sotylte of their owne herte? Whose purpose is, (with the dreames that euery one tell) to make my people forget my name, as their fore fathers dyd, whē Baal came vp. The prophet that hath a dreame, let him tell it: and he that vnderstondeth my worde, 〈◊〉 . 4. b 〈◊〉 . 4. a let him shewe it faithfully.

For what hath chaffe and wheat to do together? saieth the LORDE. Is not my worde like a fyre, saieth the LORDE) and like an hammer, that breaketh the harde stone? Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: beholde, I wil vpō the prophetes, that steale my worde priuely from euery man. Beholde, here am I (saieth the LORDE) agaynst the prophetes, that take vpon their tunges to speake: The LORDE hath sayde it. Beholde, here am I (saieth ye LORDE) agaynst those prophetes, that darre prophecy lies, and disceaue my people with their vanities and miracles, whom I neuer sent, ner commaunded them. They shal do this people greate harme, saieth the LORDE.

Yf this people, ether eny prophete or prest axe the, and saye: what is the burthen of the LORDE? Thou shalt saye vnto them: What? burthen? Therfore will I cast you fro me (saieth the LORDE) because ye youre selues are a burthen. And the prophet, prest or people that vseth this terme (the burthen of the LORDE) him will I viset, and his house also.

But thus shall ye saye, euery one to another: What answere hath the LORDE geuen? or, what is the LORDES commaundement? And as for the burthen of the LORDE, ye shal speake nomore of it: for euery mans owne worde is his burthen, because ye haue altered the wordes of the lyuynge God the LORDE of hoostes oure God.

Thus shall euery man saye to the prophetes: what answere hath the LORDE geuen the? Or, what saieth the LORDE? And not once to name the burthen of the LORDE. Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: For so moch as ye haue vsed this terme (the burthen of the LORDE) where as I notwithstondinge sent vnto you, and forbade you to speake of the LORDES burthen:

Beholde therfore, I will repute you as a burthen, and will cast you out of my presence: yee and the cite also, that I gaue you and youre fathers: and will bringe you to an euerlastinge confucion, and in to soch a shame, as shal neuer be forgotten.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

THe LORDE shewed me a visiō: Beholde, there stode two maundes of figes before ye Tēple of the LORDE after yt Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilō had led awaye captyue Iechonias the sonne of Ioachim kinge of Iuda,4. Reg. 24. d the mightie men also of Iuda, with the workemasters and cō nynge men of Ierusalem, vnto Babilon. In the one maunde were very good fyges, euen like as those that be first ripe. In the other maunde were very naughtie figes, Os . 9. b which might not be eaten, they were so euell.

Then sayde the LORDE vnto me: what seist thou Ieremy? I sayde: fyges, where of some be very good, and some so euel, that no man maye eate them.

Then came the worde of the LORDE vnto me, after this maner: Thus saieth ye LORDE the God of Israel: like as thou knowest the good fyges, so shal I knowe the men led awaye, whom I haue sent out of this place in to the londe of the Caldees, for their profite: and I will set myne eyes vpon them for the best, for I will bringe them agayne in to this londe: I will buylde them vp, and not breake them downe: I will plante them, and not rote them out. Deu. 29. a Iere. 31. f 30. d. 32. c And I will geue them an herte, to knowe, how that I am the LORDE. They shalbe my people, and I wilbe their God, for they shal returne vnto me with their whole herte.

Iere. 29. c And like as thou knowest the naughtie fyges, which maye not be eatē, they are so euel: Euen so wil I (saieth the LORDE) let Sedechias the kinge of Iuda, (ye and all his prynces, & the residue of Ierusalem that remayne ouer in this londe, & them also that dwell in Egipte) to be vexed & plaged in all kingdomes & londes. And will make them to be a reprofe, Psal. 78. a Baru. 3. a a comon byworde, a laughinge stocke & shame, in all the places, where I shal scatre them. I will sende the swearde, honger & pestilence amonge them, vntill I haue clene consumed them out of the londe, that I gaue vnto them & their fathers.

The XXV. Chapter.

A Sermone that was geuen vnto Ieremy, vpon all the people of Iuda: In the fourth yeare of Ioachim the sonne of Iosias kinge of Iuda, that was, in the first yeare of Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon. Which sermone, Ieremy the prophet made vnto all the people of Iuda, & to all ye Inhabitours of Ierusalē, on this maner:

From the xiij yeare of Iosias the sonne of Amon kinge of Iuda, vnto this present daye, (that is euen xxiij yeare) the worde of the LORDE hath bene committed vnto me. And so I haue spokē to you, ere. 29. c 4. a. 35. c I haue rysen vp early, I haue geuē you warnynge in season, but ye wolde not heare me. Though the LORDE hath sent his seruauntes, . Par. 86. c all the prophetes vnto you in season: Yet wolde ye not obeye, ye wolde not encline yor eares to heare.

He sayde: turne agayne euery man from his euell waye,4. Re. 17. c & from youre wicked ymaginacions, & so shal ye dwell for euer in the londe, that the LORDE promised you & youre fore fathers: And go not after straunge goddes, serue them not, worshipe them not, & angre me not with the workes of youre hōdes: then will not I punysh you. Neuertheles, ye wolde not heare me (saieth the LORDE) but haue defied me with the workes of youre hō des, to youre owne greate harme.

Wherfore, thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: Because ye haue not herkened vnto my worde, lo, I will sende out, & call for all the people, 〈…〉 yt dwell in the north (saieth the LORDE) & wil prepayre Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilon my seruaunt, 〈…〉 and wil bringe them vpon this londe, and vpon all yt dwell therein, & vpon all the people that are aboute them, and will vterly rote them out. I will make of them a wildernesse, a mockage, and a continuall deserte.

Morouer, I will take from them the voyce of gladnesse and solace, 〈…〉 the voyce of the brydegrome & the bryde, the voyce of the anoynted, with the creszshettes: & this whole londe shal become a wildernes, & they shall serue the sayde people and the kinge of Babilon, thre score yeares and ten. 〈…〉 When the lxx yeares are expyred, I wil viset also the wickednesse of the kinge of Babylon & his people, saieth the LORDE: yee & the londe of the Caldees, & wil make it a perpetuall wildernes, & wil fulfil all my wordes vpon that londe, which I haue deuysed agaynst it: yee all that is written in this boke, which Ieremy hath prophecied of all people: so that they also shal be subdued vnto dyuerse nacions & greate kynges, for I wil recompense them, acordinge to their dedes & workes of their owne hondes. 〈…〉

For thus hath the LORDE God of Israel spoken vnto me: 〈…〉 Take this wyne cuppe of indignacion fro my honde, that thou mayest cause all the people (to whom I sende the) for to drinke of it: that when they haue dronkē thereof, they maye be madd, & out of their wyttes, when the swearde commeth, that I wil sende amōge them. Then toke I the cuppe from the LORDES honde, & made all the people drynke there of, vnto whom the LORDE had sent me.

But first the cite of Ierusalem, & all the cities of Iuda, their kinges & prynces: to make thē desolate, waist, despysed & cursed, acordinge as it is come to passe this daye. Yee & Pharao ye kinge of Egipte, his seruauntes, his prynces & his people altogether one wt another and all kinges of the londe of Hus, all kinges of the Philistynes londe, Ascalon, Gaza, Accaron & the remnaunt of Aszdod the Edomites, the Moabites & the Ammonites: all the kinges of Tirus & Sidon: the kinges of the Iles, that are beyonde the see: Dedan, Thema, Buz & the shauen Ismaelites: 〈…〉 all the kinges of Araby, & (generally) all the kinges that dwell in the deserte: all the kinges of Simri, all the kinges of Elam, all ye kinges of the Meedes, all kinges towarde the north (whether they be farre or nye) euery one with his neghbours: Yee and all the kingdomes that are vpon the whole earth. The kinge of Sesach (sayde he) shal drinke with them also.

And saye thou vnto them: this is the commaundement of the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: drinke and be droncken, spewe, and fall, that ye neuer ryse: and that thorow the swearde, which I wil sende amonge you. But yf they will not receaue the cuppe of thy honde, and drinke it, then tell them: Thus doth the LORDE of hoostes threaten you: 〈◊〉 49. b 〈◊〉 . 9. b 〈◊〉 . 4. c drynke it ye shal, and that shortly. For lo, I begynne to plage the cite, that my name is geuen vnto: thynke ye then, that I will leaue you vnpunyshed? Ye shall not go quyte. For why, I call for a swearde vpō all the inhabitours of the earth, saieth the LORDE of hoostes.

Therfore tell them all these wordes, and saye vnto them: 〈◊〉 3 c 〈◊〉 1. a The LORDE shal crie from aboue, and let his voyce be herde from his holy habitacion. With a greate noyse shall he crie from his courte regall. He shal geue a greate voyce (like the grape gatherers) and the sounde thereof shalbe herde vnto the endes of the worlde. For the LORDE hath a iudgment to geue vpon all people, and will holde his courte of iustice with all flesh and punyshe the vngodly, saieth the LORDE.

〈…〉 For thus sayeth ye LORDE of hoostes: Beholde, a miserable plage shall go from one people to another, and a greate stormy water shal arise from all the endes of the earth. And the same daye shall the LORDE himself slaye them, from one ende of the earth to another. There shall no mone be made for eny of them, none gathered vp, none buried: but shall lie as dunge vpon the grounde.

Mourne (o ye shepherdes) & crie: sprinckle youre selues with aszshes, o ye rammes of the flocke: for the tyme of youre slaughter is fulfilled, and ye shal fall like vessels connyngly made for pleasure.

〈◊〉 . 41 a The shepherdes shall haue no waye to fle, and the rammes of the flocke shall not escape. Then shal the shepherdes crie horribly, and the rammes of the flocke shal mourne: for the LORDE shal consume their pasture, and their best feldes shal lie deed because of the horrible wrath of the LORDE. They shall forsake their foldes like as a lyon: For their londes shalbe waist, because of the wrath of the destroyer, and because of his fearfull indignacion.

The XXVI. Chapter.

IN the begynnynge of the reigne of Ioachim the sonne of Iosias kynge of Iuda, came this worde from the LORDE, sayenge: Thus saieth the LORDE: Iere. 7. a 17. d Stonde in the courte of the LORDE house, and speake vnto all them which (out of the cities of Iuda) come to do worshippe in the LORDES house, all the wordes yt I commaundethe to saye. Loke that thou kepe not one worde backe, Det. 4. a 12. b yf (perauenture) they will herkē, and turne euery man from his wicked waye: that I maye also repente of the plage, which I haue determed to brynge vpon them, because of their wicked invencions.

And after this maner shalt thou speake vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE: yf ye will not obeye me, to walke in my lawes, which I haue geuen you, and to heare the wordes of my seruauntes the prophetes, whom I sent vnto you, rysynge vp tymely, and still sendinge: Yf ye will not folowe thē (I saye) then will I do to this house, as I dyd vnto Silo, and will make this cite to be abhorred of all the people of the earth. Iere. 7. a And the prestes, the prophetes and all the people herde Ieremy preach these wordes, in the house of the LORDE.

Now when he had spoken out all the wordes, that the LORDE commaunded him to preach vnto all the people, then the prestes, the prophetes and all the people toke holde vpon him, and sayde: thou shalt dye. How darrest thou be so bolde, as to saye in the name of the LORDE: it shal happen to this house as it dyd vnto Silo? and this cite shalbe so waist, that no man shal dwell there in?

And when all the people were gathered aboute Ieremy in the house of the LORDE, the prynces of Iuda herde of this rumoure, & they came soone out of the kinges Palace in to the house of the LORDE, and sat them downe before the new dore of the LORDE. 4. Re. 15. g Iere. 36. b Then spake the prestes and the prophetes vnto the rulers & to all the people, these wordes: This man is worthy to dye, Ioh. 19. a for he hath preached agaynst this cite, as ye youre selues haue herde with youre eares.

Then sayde Ieremy vnto the rulers and to all the people: The LORDE hath sente me to preach agaynst this house & agaynst this cite all the wordes that ye haue herde. Iere. 7. a Therfore amende youre wayes, and youre advysementes, and be obedient vnto the voyce of the LORDE youre God: so shal the LORDE repēt of the plage, yt he had deuysed agaynst you. Now as forme: I am in youre hondes, do with me, as ye thinke expediēt and good. But this shall ye knowe: yf ye put me to death, ye shal make youre selues, this cite & all the inhabitours there of, Mat. 23. e giltie of innocent bloude. For this is of a treuth: that the LORDE hath sente me vnto you, to speake all these wordes in youre eares.

Then sayde the rulers and the people vn the prestes and prophetes: This man maye not be condemned to death, for he hath preached vnto vs in the name of the LORDE oure God. The Elders also of the londe stode vp, & sayde thus vnto all the people: Mich. 1. a Micheas the Morascite, which was a prophet vnder Ezechias kinge of Iuda, spake to all the people of Iuda: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: Mich. 3. c Sion shalbe plowed like a felde, Ierusalē shalbe an heape of stones, & the hill of the LORDES house shalbe turned to an hie wod. Dyd Ezechias ye kinge of Iuda & the people of Iuda put him to deeth for this? No verely, but rather feared ye LORDE, & made their praier vnto him. For the which cause also ye LORDE repented of the plage, yt he had deuysed agaynst them. Shulde we then do soch a shamefull dede agaynst oure soules? There was a prophet also, that preached stiffly in the name of the LORDE, called Vrias the sonne of Semeia of Cariathiarim: this mā preached also agaynst this cite & agaynst this lōde,3. Re. 22. d acordinge to all as Ieremy saieth. Now when Ioachim the kinge with all the estates & prynces had herde his wordes, the kinge went aboute to slaye him. When Vrias perceaued that,2. Re. 19. a Matt. 2. c he was afrayed, & fled, & departed in to Egipte.

Then Ioachim the kinge sent seruauntes in to the lōde of Egipte, Namely: Elnathā the sonne of Achbor, & certayne men wt him in to Egipte, which fetched Vrias out of Egipte, & brought him vnto kinge Ioachim that slewe him with the swearde, & cast his deed body in to ye comō peoples graue. But Ahicam the sonne of Saphan helped Ieremy, that he came not in to the hondes of the people to be slayne.

The XXVII. Chapter.

IN the begynnynge of the reigne of Ioachim the sonne of Iosias kynge of Iuda, came this worde vnto Ieremy from the LORDE, which spake thus vnto me: Make the bondes & chaynes, and put them aboute thy neck, & sende thē to the kinge of Edom, the kinge of Moab, the kinge of Amon, the kinge of Tirus, & to the kinge of Sidon: & that by the messaungers, which shal come to Ierusalem vnto Sedechias the kinge of Iuda, and byd them saye vnto their masters: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel, speake thus vnto yor masters: I am he that made the earth, 〈…〉 the men & ye catell that are vpon the grounde, with my greate power & outstretched arme, & haue geuen it vnto whom it pleased me. 〈…〉 And now will I delyuer all these londes in to the power of Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilon my seruaunt. The beestes also of the felde shal I geue him to do him seruyce. And all people shal serue him, & his sonne, and his childes children, vntil the tyme of the same lō de be come also: Yee many people & greate kinges shal serue him.

Morouer, that people & kingdome which wil not serue Nabuchodonosor, and that wil not put their neckes vnder ye yock of the kinge of Babilon: the same people will I viset with swearde, with honger, with pestilence, vntill I haue consumed them in his hondes, saieth the LORDE. And therfore, 〈…〉 folowe not youre prophetes, soythsayers, expounders of dreames, charmers & witches, which saye vnto you: ye shal not serue the kinge of Babilon. For they preach you lies, to bringe you farre from youre londe, & that I might cast you out, & destroye you. But the people that put their neckes vnder the yock of the kinge of Babilon, & serue him, those I willet remayne still in their owne lōde (saieth the LORDE) & they shal occupie it, & dwell there in.

All these thinges tolde I Sedechias the kinge of Iuda, and sayde: 〈…〉 Put youre neckes vnder the yock of the kinge of Babilon, and serue him & his people, that ye maye lyue. Why wilt thou and thy people perish with the swearde, with honger, with pestilence: like as the LORDE hath deuysed for all people, that wil not serue the kinge of Babilon? Therfore geue no eare vnto those prophetes (that tell you: Ye shall not serue the kinge of Babilon) for they preach you lies, 〈…〉 nether haue I sent them, saieth the LORDE: how be it they are bolde, falsely for to prophecie in my name: that I might ye sooner dryue you out, & that ye might perish with yor preachers.

I spake to the prestes also and to all the people: Thus saieth the LORDE: 〈…〉 Heare not the wordes of those prophetes, that preach vnto you, & saye: Beholde, the vessels of the LORDES house shall shortly be brought hither agayne from Babilon: For they prophecie lies vnto you. Heare them not, but serue the kinge of Babilon, yt ye maye lyue. Wherfore will ye make this cite to be destroyed? But yf they be true prophetes in very dede, and yf the worde of the LORDE be commytted vnto them, then let them praye the LORDE of hoostes, that the remnaunt of the ornamentes (which are in the house of the LORDE, and remayne yet in the house of the kinge of Iuda and at Ierusalem) be not caried to Babilon also. For thus hath the LORDE of hoostes spoken concernynge the pylers, the lauer, the seate and the residue of the ornamentes that yet remayne in this citie, which Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilon toke not, when he caried awaye Iechonias the sonne of Ioachim kinge of Iuda, with all the power of Iuda and Ierusalem, from Ierusalem vnto Babilon, captyue.

Yee thus hath the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel spoken, as touchinge the residue of the ornamentes of the LORDES house of the kinge of Iudaes house, and of Ierusalem: They shalbe caried vnto Babilon, and there they shall remayne, vntil I vyset them, saieth the LORDE. Then wil I bringe them hither agayne. And this was done in the same yeare: euē in the begynnynge of the reigne of Sedechias kinge of Iuda.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

BVt in the fourth yeare of the reigne of Sedechias kinge of Iuda, in the fifth Moneth, It happened, that Hananias ye sonne of Assur the prophet of Gabaon, spake to me in the house of the LORDE, in the presence of the prestes & of all the people, & sayde: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: I haue brokē the yock of the kinge of Babilon, and after two yeare will I bringe agayne in to this place, 〈…〉 all the ornamentes of the LORDES house, yt Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon caried awaye from this place vnto Babilon. Yee I will bringe agayne Iechonias the sonne of Ioachim the kinge of Iuda himself, with all the presoners of Iuda, (yt are caried vnto Babilon,) euē in to this place, saieth ye LORDE, for I wil breake ye yock of the kinge of Babilō.

Then the prophet Ieremy gaue answere vnto that prophet Hananias, before the prestes & before all the people that were present in the house of the LORDE. And the prophet Ieremy sayde: 〈…〉 Amen, the LORDE do that, & graunte the thinge, which thou hast prophecied: that he maye bringe agayne all the ornamentes of the LORDES house, & restore all the presoners from Babilon in to 〈◊〉 place. Neuertheles, herken thou also, what I will saye, that thou & all the people maye heare: The prophetes that were before vs in tymes past, which prophecied of warre, or trouble, or pestilence, ether of peace, vpon many nacions & grea e kingdomes, were proued by this (yf God had sende them in very dede) when the thinge came to passe, which that prophet tolde before.

And Hananias the prophet toke the chayne from the prophet Ieremias neck, Deu. 18. d Nu. 16. a & brake it: & with that sayde Hananias, that all the people might heare: Thus hath the LORDE spoken: Euen so will I breake the yock of Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilō, from the neck of all nacions, yee & that within this two yeare. And so the prophet Ieremy wente his waye. After now that Hananias the prophet had taken the chayne from the prophet Ieremies neck, and broken it: The worde of the LORDE came vnto the prophet Ieremy sayenge: Go, and tell Hananias these wordes: Thus saieth the LORDE: Thou hast broken the chayne of wodd, but in steade of wodd, thou shalt make chaynes of yron. For thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: I wil put a yock of yron vpon the neck of all this people, that they maye serue Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilon, yee & so shal they do. And I wil geue him ye beestes in the felde. Iere. 29. c Then sayde the prophet Ieremy vnto ye prophet Hananias: Heare me (I praye the) Hananias: The LORDE hath not sent the, but thou bringest this people in to a false beleue. And therfore thus saieth ye LORDE: beholde, I wil sende the out of the lō de, & within a yeare thou shalt die, because thou hast falsely spokē agaynst the LORDE. So Hananias the prophet died the same yeare in the seuenth Moneth.

The XXIX. Chapter.

THis is the Copie of the lettre, yt Ieremy the prophet sent from Ierusalem vnto the presoners? the Senatours, presies, prophetes, & all the people, whom Nabuchodonosor had led vnto Babilō: after ye tyme yt kinge Iechonias & his Quene, his chambrelaynes, the prynces of Iuda & Ierusalē & the workmasters of Ierusalē were departed thither. Which lettre, Elasa ye sonne of Saphā & Gamaria ye sonne of Helchia dyd beare, whō Sedechias the kinge of Iuda sent vnto Babilō to Nabuchodonosor ye kinge of Babilō: these were ye wordes of Ieremias lettre: Th s hath ye LORDE of hoostes ye God of Israel spokē, vnto all the presoners, yt were ed frō Ierusalē vnto Babilō: Iere. 5. a 〈…〉 you houses to dwell therein: plāte you 〈◊〉 , yt ye maye enioye the frutes thereof: Gene. d 1. . a take you wyues, to beare you sonnes and doughters: prouyde wyues for youre sonnes, & huszbondes for youre doughters: that they maye get sonnes & doughters, and that ye maye multiplie there. Laboure not to be fewe, but seke after peace & prosperite of the cite, where in ye be presoners, Baru. 1. e 1. Tim. 2. a & praye vnto God for it. For in the peace there of, shal yor peace be.

For thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Iere. 23. c 27. b Let not those prophetes and soythsaiers yt be amonge you, disceaue you: & beleue not youre owne dreames. Iere. 14. e For why, they preach you lies in my name, & I haue not sent them, saieth the LORDE. But thus saieth the LORDE: When ye haue fulfilled lxx yeares at Babilon,2. Pa. 36. d Iere. 25. b 1. Esd. 1. a I wil bringe you home, and of myne owne goodnes I will carie you hither agayne vnto this place. For I knowe, what I haue deuysed for you, saieth the LORDE. My thoughtes are to geue you peace, & not trouble (which I geue you all redie) & that ye might haue hope agayne. Deu. 4. e 30. a Ye shall crie vnto me, ye shal go & call vpō me, & I shal heare you. Ioan. 7. d Ye shal seke me, & fynde me: Yee, yf so be that ye seke me with youre whole herte, I will be founde of you (saieth the LORDE) and will delyuer you out of preson, & gather you together agayne out of all places, where in I haue scatred you, saieth the LORDE: and wil bringe you agayne to the same place, from whence I caused you be caried awaye captyue.

But where as ye saye, that God hath raysed you vp prophetes at Babilon: Thus hath the LORDE spoken (concernynge the kinge that sytteth in the stole of Dauid, and all ye people that dwell in this cite, youre brethren that are not gone with you in to captiuyte.4. Reg. 24. d ) Thus (I saye) speaketh the LORDE of hoostes: Beholde, I wil sende a swearde, honger & pestilence vpon them, Iere. 24. b & wil make them like vntymely fyges, that maye not be eatē for bytternes. And I wil persecute them with the swearde, with honger & death.

I will delyuer them vp to be vexed of all kingdomes, to be cursed, abhorred, laughed to scorne, & put to confucion of all the people, amonge whom I haue scatred them: & that because they haue not bene obedient vnto my commaundementes, (saieth the LORDE) which I sent vnto them by my seruauntes the prophetes. I stode vp early, and sent vnto them, Iere. 25. a 44. a but they wolde not heare, saieth the LORDE. Heare therfore the worde of the LORDE, all ye presoners, whom I sent from Ierusalē vnto Babilon: Thus hath the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel spoken, of Achab ye sonne of Colaias, & of Sedechias the sonne of Maasia, which prophecie lies vnto you in my name: Beholde, I wil delyuer them in to the honde of Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilon, that he maye slaye them before youre eyes. And all ye presoners of Iuda that are in Babilon, shal take vpō them this terme of cursinge, and saye: Now God do vnto the, as he dyd vnto Sedechias & Achab, whom the kinge of Babilon rosted in the fyre, because they synned shamefully in Israel.

For they haue not onely defiled their neghbours wyues, but also preached lyenge wordes in my name, which I haue not commaunded them. This I testifie, & assure, saieth the LORDE. But as for Semeia the Nehela •• te, thou shalt speake vnto him: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Because thou hast sealed lettres vnder thy name, vnto all the people that is at Ierusalem, & to Sophonias the sonne of Maasia the prest, yee and sent them to all the prestes: where in thou wrytest thus vnto him: The LORDE hath ordened the to be prest in steade of Ioiada the prest, that thou shuldest be the chefe in the house of the LORDE aboue all prophetes, & preachers, & that thou mightest put them in preson, or in ye stockes. How happeneth it then, that thou hast not reproued Ieremy of Anathot, which neuer leaueth of his prophecienge. And beside all this, he hath sent vs worde vnto Babilon, and tolde vs planely, that oure captiuyte shal longe endure: that we shulde buylde vs houses to dwell therin, & to plante vs gardens, that we might enioye the frutes therof. Which lettre Sophonias the prest dyd rede, and let Ieremy the prophet heare it.

Then came the worde of the LORDE vnto Ieremy, sayenge: Sende worde to all them that be in captiuyte, on this maner: Thus hath the LORDE spoken concernynge Semeia ye Nehelamite: Because that Semeia hath prophecied vnto you without my commyssion, & brought you in to a false hope, therfore thus the LORDE doth certifie you: Beholde, I wil vyset Semeia the Nehelamite, & his sede: so that none of his shall remayne amonge this people, & none of them shall se the good, yt I will do for this people, saieth the LORDE. For he hath preached falsely of the LORDE.

The XXX. Capter.

THese are the wordes, that the LORDE shewed vnto Ieremy, saienge: Thus saieth the LORDE God of Israel: 〈…〉 Wryte vp diligently all the wordes, that I haue spoken vnto the, in a boke. For lo, the tyme commeth (saieth the LORDE) that I will bringe agayne the presoners of my people of Israel and Iuda, saieth the LORDE: For I will restore them vnto the londe, that I gaue to their fathers, and they shall haue it in possession.

Agayne, these wordes spake the LORDE, cōcernynge Israel and Iuda: Thus saieth the LORDE: We heare a terrible crie, feare and disquietnesse. For what els doth this signifie, that I se? Namely, that all stronge men smyte, euery man his honde vpon his loynes, as a woman in the payne of hir trauayle. Who euer sawe a man trauayle with childe? 〈…〉 Enquere therafter, & se. Yee all their faces are maruelous pale.

Alas for this daye, which is so dredefull, that none maye be lickened vnto it: and alas for the tyme of Iacobs trouble, from the which he shall yet be delyuered. For in that daye, saieth the LORDE, I will take his yock from of thy neck, & breake thy bondes. They shall nomore serue straunge goddes vnder him, but they shall do seruyce vnto God their LORDE, 〈◊〉 . 34. d 〈◊〉 . 46. e and to Dauid their kinge, whom I will rayse vp vnto them. And as for the, o my seruaunt Iacob, feare not (saieth ye LORDE) and be not afrayed, 〈◊〉 . 9. b o Israel. For lo, I will helpe the also from farre, & thy sede from the londe of their captiuyte.

And Iacob shall turne agayne, he shalbe in rest, and haue a prosperous life, and no man shall make him afrayed. For I am with the, to helpe the, saieth the LORDE. And though I shal destroye all the people, amonge whom I haue scatred the, yet will I not destroye the, but correcke the, and that with discrecion. 〈◊〉 . 10. d 〈◊〉 . 34. a 〈◊〉 1. a For I knowe, that thou art in no wise without faute. Therfore thus saieth ye LORDE: I am sory for thy hurte and woundes. There is no man to medle with thy cause, or to bynde vp thy woundes: there maye no man helpe the.

All thy louers haue forgotten the, and care nothinge for the. For I haue geuen the a cruell stroke, and chastened the roughly: and that for the multitude of thy myszdedes, 〈◊〉 . 13. d for thy synnes haue had the ouer hande. Why makest thou mone for thy harme? I my self haue pite of thy sorowe, but for the multitude of thy myszdedes and synnes, I haue done this vnto the.

ere. 2. a 〈◊〉 . d And therfore all they that deuoure the, shalbe deuoured, and all thine enemies shal be led in to captiuyte. All they that make the waist, shalbe waisted them selues: and all those that robbe the, will I make also to be robbed. For I will geue the thy health agayne, and make thy woundes whole, saieth the LORDE: because they reuyled the, as one cast awaye vnd despised, o Sion.

For thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, Nu. 24. a I will set vp Iacobs tentes agayne, and defende his dwellinge place. The cite shalbe buylded in hir olde estate, and the houses shal haue their right foundacion. And out of them shall go thankesgeuynge, and the voyce of ioye.

I will multiplie them, and they shall not mynishe: I shall endue them with honoure, and no man shall subdue them. Their children shalbe as a fore tyme, and their congregacion shal cōtinue in my sight. And all those that vexe them, will I viset.

A captayne also shall come of them, Mich. 5. and a prynce shall springe out from the myddest of them: him will I chalenge to my self, and he shall come vnto me. For what is he, Ioan. 6. that geueth ouer his herte, to come vnto me? saieth the LORDE. Ye shalbe my people also, Iere. 13. 24. b. 3. f Iere. 23. 25. d and I wilbe youre God. Beholde, on the other syde shall the wrath of the LORDE breake out as a stormy water, as a mightie whyrle wynde: and shal fall vpō the heades of the vngodly.

The terrible displeasure of the LORDE shall not leaue of, vntill he haue done, & perfourmed the intent of his herte, Iere. 23. which in the latter dayes ye shal vnderstonde. At the same tyme (saieth the LORDE) shal I be the God of all the generacions of Israel, & they shalbe my people.

The XXXI. Chapter.

THus saieth the LORDE: The people of Israel which escaped in ye wildernes from the swearde, Nu. 14. c founde grace to come in to their rest. Euen so shal the LORDE now also apeare vnto me from farre, and saye: I loue the with an euerlastinge loue, therfore do I sprede my mercy before the. Eze. 16. I will repayre the agayne (o thou doughter of Israel) that thou mayest be fast and sure. Thou shalt take thy tabrettes agayne, & go forth with them, that lede the daunce.

Thou shalt plante vynes agayne vpon ye hilles of Samaria, and the grape gatherers shall plante, and synge.

And when it is tyme, the watchmen vpon the mount of Ephraim shall crie: Arise, Esa. . a let vs go vp vnto Sion to ou e LORDE God for thus saieth the LORDE: Reioyce with gladnes because of Iacob, crie vnto the heade of the Gentiles: speake out, synge, and saye: The LORDE shall delyuer his people, the remnaunt of Israel &, make them whole Beholde, I will bringe them agayne from out of the north lōde, and gather them from the endes of the worlde, with the blynde and lame that are amonge them, with the women that be greate with childe, and soch as be also delyuered: and the company of them that come agayne, shal be greate.

They departed from hence in heuynes, but with ioye will I bringe them hither agayne. I will lede them by the ryuers of water in a straight waye, where they shall not stomble: •• ut. 32. a 〈◊〉 . 48. d For I will be Israels father, and Epraim shalbe my firstborne.

Heare the worde of the LORDE (o ye Gentiles) preach in the Iles, that lie farre of, and saye: he that hath scatred Israel, shall gather him together agayne, and shall kepe him as a shepherde doth his flocke. For the LORDE shall redeme Iacob, and ryd him from the honde of the violent. And they shal come, & reioyce vpon the hill of Sion, & shall haue plenteousnes of goodes, which the LORDE shall geue them: Namely, wheate, wyne, oyle, yonge shepe and calues. And their conscience shalbe as a well watred garden, for they shall nomore be hongrie.

Then shal the mayde reioyce in the daunce, yee both yonge and olde folkes. For I will turne their sorow in to gladnesse, and will comforte them, and make them ioyfull, euen from their hertes. I will poure plenteousnes vpon the hertes of the prestes, and my people shalbe satisfied with good thinges, saieth the LORDE.

•• re. 3. e att. 2. c Thus saieth the LORDE: The voyce of heuynes, wepynge and lamentacion came vp in to heauen: euen of Rachel mournynge for hir children, and wolde not be comforted, because they were awaye.

But now saieth the LORDE: leaue of from wepynge and crienge, witholde thyne eyes from teares, for thy laboure shalbe rewarded, saieth the LORDE. And they shall come agayne out of the londe of their enemies: Yee euen thy posterite shall haue consolacion in this (saieth the LORDE) that thy children shall come agayne in to their owne londe.

Morouer I herde Ephraim, (that was led awaye captyue) complayne on this maner: ze. 20. f O LORDE, thou hast correcte me, and thy chastenynge haue I receaued, as an vntamed calfe. Conuerte thou me, 〈…〉 and I shalbe conuerted, for thou art my LORDE God. Yee as soone as thou turnest me, I shall refourme my self: and when I vnderstonde, I shall smyte vpon my thee. For verely I haue cōmitted shamefull thinges: O let my youth beare this reprofe and confucion.

Vpon this complaynte, I thought thus by my self: is not Ephraim my deare sonne? 〈…〉 Is he not the childe, with whom I haue had all myrth and pastyme? For sence the tyme that I first cōmoned with him, I haue him euer in remembraunce: therfore my very herte dryueth me vnto him: gladly and louyngly will I haue mercy vpon him, saieth the LORDE. Get the watchmen, prouyde teachers for the: set thine herte vpon the right waie, that thou shuldest walke, and turne agayne: (o thou doughter of Israel,) turne agayne to these cities of thyne. How longe wilt thou go astraie, o thou shrēkinge doughter? For the LORDE will worke a new thynge vpon earth: A woman shall compasse a man.

For thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: It will come therto, that when I haue brought Iuda out of captiuyte, these wordes shalbe herde in ye londe and in his cities: The LORDE, 〈…〉 which is the fayre brydegrome of rightuousnesse, make the frutefull, o thou holy hill: And there shall dwell Iuda and all hir cities, the shepherdes and huszbonde men: 〈…〉 For I shall fede the hongrie soule, and refresh all faynte hertes. When I herde this, I came agayne to my self, and mused, like as I had bene waked out of a swete slepe.

Beholde (saieth the LORDE) the dayes come, that I will sowe the house of Israel and the house of Iuda, with men and with catell. Yee it shall come therto, 〈…〉 that like as I haue gone aboute in tymes past to r te them out, to scatre them, to breake them downe, to destroye them and chastē them: Euen so will I also go diligently aboute, to buylde them vp agayne, and to plante them, saieth the LORDE.

Then shall it no more be sayde: 〈…〉 ye fathers haue eaten a sower grape, and the childrens teth are set on edge: for euery one shal dye for his owne myszdede, so that who so eateth a sower grape, his teth shalbe set on edge.

Beholde, 〈…〉 the dayes come (saieth the LORDE) yt I will make a new couenaunt with ye house of Israel & with ye house of Iuda: not after the couenaunt that I made with their fathers, when I toke them by the honde, & led them out of the londe of Egipte: which couenaunt they brake, wherfore I punyshed them sore, saieth the LORDE: But this shal be the couenaunt that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes, 〈…〉 saieth the LORDE: I will plante my lawe in the inwarde partes of them, and write it in their hertes, and wilbe their God, and they shalbe my people.

And from thēce forth shall no man teach his neghboure or his brother, and saye: knowe the LORDE: But they shall all knowe me, from the lowest vnto the hyest, saieth the LORDE. For I will forgeue their myszdedes, and wil neuer remembre their synnes eny more. Thus saieth the LORDE which gaue the sonne to be a light for the daye, 〈…〉 and the Moone and starres to shyne in the night: which moueth the see, so that the floudes therof waxe fearce: his name is the LORDE of hoostes. Like as this ordinaunce shal neuer be taken out of my sight, saieth the LORDE: So shal the sede of Israel neuer ceasse, but all waye be a people before me.

Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE: like as the heauen aboue can not be measured, and as the foundacions of the earth beneth maye not be sought out: 〈…〉 So will I also not cast out the whole sede of Israel, for that they haue commytted, saieth the LORDE. Beholde, the daies come saieth the LORDE, yt the cite of ye LORDE shalbe enlarged from the towre of Hananeel, vnto ye gate of the corner wall. 〈…〉 From thence shal the right measure be taken before her vnto the hill toppe of Gareb, and shal come aboute Gaatha, and the whole valley of the deed carcases, and of the ashes, 〈…〉 & all Seremoth, vnto the broke of Cedron: and from thence vnto the corner of the horsgate towarde ye east, where as the Sanctuary of the LORDE also shal be set. And when it is now buylded, & set vp of this fashion it shall neuer be broken, ner cast downe eny more.

The XXXII. Chapter.

THese wordes spake the LORDE vnto Ieremy, in the tenth yeare of Sedechias kinge of Iuda, which was ye xviij yeare of Nabuchodonosor, what tyme as the kinge of Babilons hooste layed sege vnto Ierusalem. But Ieremy the prophet laye bounde in ye courte of the preson, which was in the kinge of Iudaes house: where Sedechias the kinge of Iuda caused him to be layed, because he had prophecied of this maner: 〈…〉 Thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, I will delyuer this cite in to the hondes of the kinge of Babilon, which shal take it. Iere. 34. a 27. a. 38. a 39. a As for Sedechias the kinge of Iuda, he shal not be able to escape the Caldees, but surely he shall come in to the hondes of the kinge of Babilon: which shall speake with him mouth to mouth, and one of them shall loke another in the face. And Sedechias shalbe caried vnto Babilon, and there shall he be, vntill the tyme that I vyset him, saieth the LORDE. But yf thou takest in hōde to fight agaynst the Caldees, thou shalt not prospere.

And Ieremy sayde: Thus hath the LORDE spoken vnto me: Beholde, Hananeel the sonne of Sellum thine Vncles sonne shall come vnto the, and requyre the to redeme ye londe, that lieth in Anathot vnto thy self: for by reason of kynred it is thy parte to rede me it, and to bye it out. Leui. 25. d Nu. 27. a 36. a Ruth. 4. a

And so Hananeel myne Vncles sonne came to me in the courte of the preson, (acordinge to the worde of the LORDE,) and sayde vnto me: Bye my londe (I praye the) that lieth in Anothot in the countre of Ben Iamyn: for by heretage thou hast right to lowse it out for thy self, therfore redeme it. Then I preceaued, that this was the commaundement of the LORDE, and so I lowsed the londe from Hananeel of Anathot, myne Vncles sonne, and weyed him there the moneye: euen seuen sycles, and ten syluer pens.

I caused him also to make me a writinge, and to seale it, and called recorde there by, and weyed him there the money vpon the waightes. So I toke the euydence with the copie (when it was orderly sealed and red ouer) and I gaue the euydence vnto Baruch the sonne of Nerias the sonne of Maasia in the sight of Hananeel my cosen, and in the presence of the witnesses, that be named in the euydence, and before all the Iewes that were therby in the courte of the preson.

I charged Baruch also before them, saienge: The LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel commaundeth the, to take this sealed euydence with the copie, and to laye it in an erthen vessell, that it maye longe continue.

For the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel hath determed, that houses, feldes and vynyardes shalbe possessed agayne in this londe.

Now when I had delyuered the euydence vnto Baruch ye sonne of Nerias, I besought the LORDE, sayenge: O LORDE God, Gene. 1. a Iere. 10. b It is thou that hast made heauen and earth with thy greate power and hie arme, and there is nothinge to harde for ye. Thou shewest mercy vpon thousandes, thou recompēcest the wickednes of the fathers, Exo. 34. a in to the besome of the children that come after them.

Thou art the greate and mightie God, whose name is the LORDE of hoostes: greate in councell, and infinite in thought: Thine eyes loke vpon all the wayes of mens children, Ro. 2. a to rewarde euery one after his waye, and acordinge to the frutes of his inuencions: Thou hast done greate tokens and wonders in the londe of Egipte (as we se this daye) vpon the people of Israel and vpon those men: to make thy name greate, as it is come to passe this daye: Exo. 7. vnto the 15. chapter. Thou hast brought thy people of Israel out of the londe of Egipte, with tokens, with wondres, with a mightie honde, with a stretched out arme and with greate terriblenes: and hast geuen them this londe, like as thou haddest promysed vnto their fathers: Namely, that thou woldest geue them a lōde, that floweth with mylke and honye.

Iudi. 2.3.4.6.8Now when they came therin, and possessed it, they folowed not thy voyce, and walked not in thy lawe: but all that thou commaundedest them to do, that haue they not done, and therfore come all these plages vpon them.

Beholde, there are bulworckes made now agaynst the cite, to take it: and it shalbe wonne of the Caldees that besege it, with swearde, with honger and death, and loke what thou hast spoken, that same shal come vpon them.

For lo, all thinges are present vnto the: Yet sayest thou vnto me (o LORDE God) and commaundest me, that I shall loose a pece of londe vnto my self, and take witnesses therto: and yet in the meane season the cite is delyuered in to the power of the Caldees.

Then came the worde of the LORDE vnto me, sayenge: Beholde, I am the LORDE God of all flesh, Is there eny thinge then to harde for me? Therfore thus sayde the LORDE: beholde, I shal delyuer this cite in to the power of the Caldees, and in to the power of Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilon, Iere. 25. b 39. b they shall take it in: For the Caldees shall come, and wynne this cite, and set fyre vpon it, and burne it: with the gorgeous houses, in whose parlers they haue made sacrifice vnto Baal, and poured drynke offeringes vnto straunge goddes, to prouoke me vnto wrath.

For seinge the children of Israel and the children of Iuda haue wrought wickednes before me euer from their youth vp, what haue they els done, but prouoked me with the workes of their owne hondes? saieth the LORDE.

Or, what hath this cite bene els, but a prouokinge of my wrath, euer sence the daye that I buylded it, vnto this houre? Wherin I cast it out of my sight, be cause of the greate blasphemies of the childrē of Israel and Iuda, which they haue done to prouoke me: yee they, their kinges, their prynces, their prestes, their prophetes, whole Iuda, and all the citesyns of Ierusalem.

When I stode vp early, 〈…〉 and taught them and instructe them, they turned their backes to me, and not their faces. They wolde not heare, to be refourmed and correcte. They haue set their goddes in ye house, 〈…〉 that is halowed vnto my name, to defyle it. They haue buylded hie places for Baal in the valley of the children of Ennon, to vowe their sonnes and doughters vnto Moloch: which I neuer commaūded them, nether came it euer in my thought, to make Iuda synne with soch abhominacion.

Morouer thus hath the LORDE God of Israel spoken, concernynge this cite, which (as ye youre selues confesse) shalbe delyuered in to the honde of the kinge of Babilon, when it is wonne with the swerde, with honger and with pestilence. Beholde, 〈…〉 I will gather them together from all londes, wherin I haue scatred them in my wrath, in my fearfull and greate displeasure: and will bringe them agayne vnto this place, where they shal dwell safely. And they shalbe my people, and I wilbe their God.

And I will geue them one herte and one waye, 〈…〉 that they maye feare me all the daies of their life, that they and their children after them maye prospere. 〈…〉 And I will set vp an euerlastinge couenaunt with them, Namely: that I will neuer ceasse to do them good, and that I will put my feare in their hertes, so that they shall not runne awaye fro me.

Yee I will haue a lust and pleasure to do them good, 〈…〉 and faithfully to plante them in this londe, with my whole herte, and with all my soule.

For thus saieth the LORDE: like as I haue brought all this greate plage vpon this people: so will I also bringe vpon them all the good, that I haue promysed them And men shall haue their possessions in this londe, wherof ye saye now, that it shal nether be inhabited of people ner of catell, but be deliuered in to the hōdes of the Caldees: Yee londe shalbe bought for money, & euydē ces made ther vpon & sealed before witnesses in the countre of Ben Iamin, & rounde aboute Ierusalem: in the cities of Iuda, in the cities that are vpō the mountaynes, & in them that lie beneth, yee & in the cities that are in the deserte. For I wil bringe their presoners hither agayne, saieth the LORDE.

The XXXIII. Chapter.

MOrouer the worde of the LORDE came vnto Ieremy on this maner, 〈◊〉 . 20. a whē he was yet bounde in the courte of the preson: Thus saieth the LORDE, which fulfilleth the thinge that he speaketh the LORDE which perfourmeth the thinge that he taketh in honde: euen he, whose name is the LORDE: Thou hast cried vnto me, and I haue herdethe: I haue shewed greate and hie thinges, which were vnknowne vnto you.

Thus (I saye) spake the LORDE God of Israel, concernynge the houses of this cite, and the houses of the kinges of Iuda: that they shalbe broken thorow the ordinaunce and weapens, when the Caldees come to be sege them: and they shalbe fylled with the deed carcases of men, whom I will slaye in my wrath and displeasure: whē I turne my face from this cite, because of all hir wickednes. Beholde, (saieth the LORDE) I will heale their woundes, and make them whole: I will open them the treasure of peace and treuth.

And I will returne the captiuyte of Iuda and Israel: 〈◊〉 . 43. d and will set them vp agayne, as they were afore. From all myszdedes (wherin they haue offended agaynst me) I will clēse them: And all their blasphemies which they haue done agaynst me, when they regarded me not, I will forgeue them.

And this shal get me a name, a prayse and honoure, amonge all people of the earth, which shall heare all the good, that I will shewe vnto them: Yee they shall be afrayed and astonnied at all the good dedes and benefites, that I will do for them. Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE: 〈◊〉 . 7. d In this place, wherof ye saye that it shalbe a wildernesse, wherin nether people ner catell shal dwell: In like maner in the cities of Iuda and without Ierusalem (which also shalbe so voyde, that nether people ner catell shall dwell there) Shal the voyce of gladnesse be herde agayne, the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde, the voyce of them that shall synge: (Prayse the LORDE of hoostes,1. Ma. 4. Psal. 117. for he is louynge, and his mercy endureth for euer) and the voyce of them that shall offre vp giftes in the house of the LORDE. For I will restore the captiuyte of this londe, as it was afore, saieth the LORDE. Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes. It shall come yet therto, that in this londe, which is voyde from men and catell, and in all the cities of the londe, there shal be set vp shepherdes cotages: in the cities vpon the mountaynes, and in the cities that lie vpon the playne, and in the deserte.

In the londe of Ben Iamin, in the feldes of Ierusalem, and in the cities of Iuda shal the shepe be nombred agayne, vnder the honde of him, that telleth them, saieth the LORDE. Beholde, Iere 23. a the tyme commeth (saieth the LORDE) that I wil perfourme that good thinge, which I haue promised vnto the house of Israel and to the house of Iuda. In those daies and at the same tyme, I will bringe forth vnto Dauid, the braunch of rightuousnes, and he shall do equite and rightuousnesse in the londe. In these daies shall Iuda be helped, Esa. 32. a and Ierusalem shall dwell safe, and he that shall call her is euen God oure rightuous maker. For thus the LORDE promyseth:2. Re. 7. e Dauid shal neuer want one, to syt vpon the stole of the house of Israel:1. Re. 2. nether shall the prestes and Leuites want one to offre allwaye before me, burnt offeringes, to kyndle the meat offeringes, & to prepare the sacrifices.

And the worde of the LORDE came vnto Ieremy after this maner: Thus saieth the LORDE: Gene. 8. Maye the couenaunt which I haue made with daye and night, be broken, that there shulde not be daye and night in due season? Then maye my couenaunt also be broken, which I made with Dauid my seruaunt, and so he not to haue a sonne to reigne in his Trone.1. Pet. 2. a So shall also the prestes and Leuites neuer fayle, but serue me. For like as the starres of heauen maye not be nombred, Gen. 15. a 22. c nether the sonde of the see measured: so will I multiplie the sede of Dauid my seruaunt, and of the Leuites my ministers.

Morouer, the worde of the LORDE came to Ieremy, saienge: Cōsidrest thou not what this people speaketh? Two kynreddes (saye they) had the LORDE chosen, & those same two hath he cast awaye. For so farre is my people come, yt they haue no hope to come together eny more, and to be one people agayne. Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: Yf I haue made no couenaunt with daye & night, and geuē no statute vnto heauen and earth: then will I also cast awaye the sede of Dauid my seruaunt: so that I wil take no prynce out of his sede, to rule the posterite of Abrahā, Isaac and Iacob. But yet I will turne agayne their captiuyte, and be mercifull vnto them.

The XXXIIII. Chapter.

THese are the wordes which the LORDE spake vnto Ieremy, •• re. 39. a what tyme as Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilon, & all his hoostes (out of all the kingdomes yt were vnder his power) and all his people, fought agaynst Ierusalem and all the cities therof. Thus saieth the LORDE God of Israel: Go, & speake to Sedechias the kinge of Iuda, & tell him: The LORDE sendeth the this worde: Re. 25. a ere. 32. a 〈◊〉 . a Beholde, I will delyuer this cite in to the hōde of the kinge of Babilon, he shal burne it, and thou shalt not escape his hondes, but shalt be led awaye presoner, and delyuered into his power. Thou shalt loke the kinge of Babilon in the face, and he shal speake with the mouth to mouth, and then shalt thou go to Babilon. Yet heare the worde of the LORDE, o Sedechias thou kinge of Iuda: Thus saieth the LORDE vnto the: Thou shalt not be slayne with the swearde, but shalt die in peace. Like as ye fore fathers, the kinges, . Re. 3 . c thy progenitours were brente: so shalt thou be brente also, & in the mournynge they shal saye: oh lorde. For thus haue I determed, saieth the LORDE.

Then spake Ieremy the prophet all these wordes vnto Sedechias kinge of Iuda in Ierusalem: what tyme as the kinge of Babilons hooste beseged Ierusalem, and the remnaunt of the cities: Namely, Lachis & Azecha, . Par. 11. a which yet remayned of the stronge defensed cities of Iuda.

These are the wordes that the LORDE spake vnto Ieremy the prophet, when Sedechias was agreed with all the people at Ierusalem, that there shulde be proclamed a liberte: Exo. 21. a Leuit. 25. f Deut. 15. b so that euery man shulde let fre go his seruaunt and handemayde, Hebrue & Hebruesse, & no Iewe to holde his brother as a bonde man. Now as they had consented, euen so they were obedient, & let them go fre. But afterwarde they repented, & toke agayne the seruauntes and handemaydens, whom they had letten go fre, and so made them bonde agayne.

For the which cause the worde of the LORDE came vnto Ieremy from the LORDE him self, sayenge: Thus saieth the LORDE God of Israel: I made a couenaunt with youre fathers, when I brought them out of Egipte, (that they shulde no more be bondmen,) sayenge: When seuen yeares are out, 〈…〉 euery man shal let go fre his bought seruaunte an Hebrue, yf he haue serued him sixe yeares. But yor fathers obeied me not & herkened not vnto me. As for you, ye were now turned, & dyd right before me, in yt ye proclamed, euery mā to let his neghboure go fre, & in yt ye made a couenaunt before me, in the temple that beareth my name: But yet ye haue turned youre selues agayne, and blasphemed my name: In this, yt euery man hath requyred his seruaunt and hand mayden agayne, whom ye had letten go quyte and fre, and compelled them to serue you agayne, and to be youre bonde men. And therfore thus saieth the LORDE: Ye haue not obeyed me, euery man to proclame fredome vnto his brother and neghbor: wherfore, I will call you vnto a fredome, saieth the LORDE: euen vnto the swearde, to the pestilence, and to honger, and will make you to be plaged in all the kyngdomes of the earth. Yee those men that haue brokē my couenaunt, and not kepte the wordes of the apoyntmēt, which they made before me: when they hewed the calfe in two, 〈…〉 & when there wente thorow the two halfes therof: The prynces of Iuda, the prynces of Ierusalem, the gelded men, the prestes and all the people of the londe (which wēte thorow the two sydes of the calfe.) Those men wil I geue in to the power of their enemies, and in to the hondes of them that folowe vpon their lyues.

And their deed bodies shall be meate for the foules of the ayre, 〈…〉 and beestes of the felde. As for Sedechias the kinge of Iuda & his prynces, I will delyuer them in to the power of their enemies, and of them that desyre to slaye them, and in to the honde of the kynge of Babilons hooste, 〈…〉 which now is departed from you: But thorow my commaundement (saieth the LORDE) they shal come agayne before this cite, they shall fight agaynst it, wynne it, and burne it. Morouer I will laye the cities of Iuda so waist, that no man shall dwell therin.

The XXXV. Chapter.

THe wordes which the LORDE spake vnto Ieremy, (in the reigne of Ioachim the sonne of Iosias kinge of Iuda) are these: Go vnto ye house of the Rechabites, 〈…〉 & call them out, & bringe thē to ye house of the LORDE in to some commodious place, and geue them wyne to drynke. Then toke I Iasanias the sonne of Ieremy, the sonne of Habazania, and his brethrē and all his sonnes, and the whole housholde off the Rechabites: and brought them to the house off the LORDE, in to the closet of the children off Hanan the sonne off Igdalia the man off God: which was by the closet off the prynces, that is aboue the closet of Maasia the sonne of Sellum, which is the chefe off the tresury. And before the sonnes of the kynred of the Rechabites, I set pottes full of wyne, and cuppes, and sayde vnto them: drynke wyne. But they sayde: we drynke no wyne, For Ionadab the sonne of Rechab oure father commaunded vs, sayenge: Ye and youre sonnes shall neuer drynke wyne, buylde no houses, 〈◊〉 . 9. b sowe no sede, plante no vynes, yee ye shall haue no vynyardes: but for all youre tyme ye shall dwell intētes, yt ye maye lyue lōge in the lōde, wherin ye be straūgers.

Thus haue we obeyed the cōmaundemēt of Ionadab ye sonne of Rechab oure father, in all yt he hath charged vs, and so we drynke no wyne all oure lyue longe: we, oure wyues, or sonnes & oure doughters. Nether buylde we eny house to dwell therin, we haue also amonge vs nether vynyardes, ner corne lōde to sowe: but we dwell in tentes, we obeye, & do acordinge vnto all, that Ionadab oure father commaunded vs.

But now yt Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilō came vp in to the lōde, we sayde: come, let vs go to Ierusalē, yt we maye escape the hooste of the Caldees ād the Assiriās: & so we dwell now at Ierusalē. Then came ye worde of the LORDE vnto Ieremy, sayenge: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Go & tell whole Iuda & all the inhabitours of Ierusalē: Wyll ye not be refourmed, to obeye my wordes? saieth the LORDE. The wordes which Ionadab the sonne off Rechab cōmaunded his sonnes, yt they shulde drynke no wyne, are fast & surely kepte: for vnto this daye they drynke no wy e: but obeye their fathers cōmaundement. But as for me, 〈◊〉 18. a 25. a I haue stōde vp early, I haue spokē vnto you, & geuen you earnest warnynge: & yet haue ye not bene obediēt vnto me. Yee I haue sent my seruaūtes, all the prophetes vnto you, I rose vp early, & sent you worde, sayenge: O turne you, euery man from his wicked waye: amēde yor lyues, & go not after straū ge goddes, to worshippe thē: yt ye maye cō tinue in the lōde, which I haue geuen vnto you and youre fathers, but ye wolde nether heare me, ner folowe me.

The childrē of Ionadab Rachabs sonne haue stedfastly kepte their fathers cōmaū dement, yt he gaue them, but this people is not obedient vnto me. And therfore thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes ye God of Israel: Beholde, I wil bringe vpō Iuda & vpō euery one yt dwelleth in Ierusalē, all the trouble yt I haue deuysed agaynst thē. For I haue spokē vnto thē, but they wolde not folowe: Pro. 1. c Esa. 65. b Iere. 7. b I haue called vnto them, neuertheles they wolde geue me no answere. Ieremy also spake vnto the housholde off the Rechabites: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: For so moch as ye haue obeyed ye cōmaundemēt of Ionadab yor father, & kepte all his preceptes, & done acordinge vnto all yt he hath bydden you: Therfore thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Ionadab the sonne of Rechab shal not fayle, but haue one out of his stocke, Iere. 33. c to stōde allwaye before me.

The XXXVI. Chap.

IN the fourth yeare of Ioachim the sonne of Iosias kynge of Iuda, came ye worde of the LORDE vnto Ieremy, sayege: Take a boke, & write therin all ye wordes, yt I haue spokē to the, to Israel, Iere. 30. a to Iuda & to all the people, frō the tyme yt I begāne for to speake vnto the (in ye reigne of Iosias) vnto this daye. That when the house of Iuda heareth of the plage, which I haue deuysed for thē, they maye peraduēture turne, euery man frō his wicked waye, Iere. 18. a that I maye forgeue their offences and synnes.

Then dyd Ieremy call Baruch the sonne of Nerias, Iere. 45. a & Baruch wrote in the boke at ye mouth of Ieremy, all the wordes of the LORDE, which he had spoken vnto him. And Ieremy commaunded Baruch sayenge: I am in preson, so that I maye not come in to the house of ye LORDE: therfore go thou thither, & rede the boke, that thou hast writtē at my mouth: Namely, the wordes off the LORDE, & rede thē in the LORDES house vpon the fastinge daye: that the people, whole Iuda, & all they that come out of the cities, maye heare. Peraduenture they will praye mekely before the face of the LORDE, and turne, euery one from his wicked waye. For greate is the wrath and displeasure, that the LORDE hath taken agaynst this people.

So Baruch the sonne of Nerias dyd, acordinge vnto all that Ieremy the prophet cōmaūded him, readinge the wordes off the LORDE out off the boke in the LORDES house. And this was done in the fyfth yeare off Ioachim ye sonne of Iosias kinge of Iuda, Ione. 3. a in the ix. moneth when it was commaunded, Ione. 3. a that all the people of Ierusalem shulde fast before the LORDE, and they also that were come from the cities of Iuda vnto Ierusalem.

Then red Baruch the wordes of Ieremy out of the boke within the house of the LORDE, out of ye treasury of Gamarias the sonne off Saphan the scrybe, Iere. 26. d which is besyde the hyer loffte off the new dore of the LORDES house: that all ye people might heare. Now whē Micheas the sonne off Gamarias the sonne of Saphan had herde all the wordes of the LORDE out of ye boke, he wēte downe to the kinges palace in to ye scrybes chābre for there all ye prynces were set: Elisama the scrybe, Dalias the sonne of Semei, Elnathā the sonne off Achbor, Gamaria the sonne of Saphan, Sedechias the sonne of Hananias, with all the princes. And Micheas tolde them all the wordes, yt he herde Baruch rede out of the boke before the people.

Then all the prynces sent Iehudi ye sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Salamia the sonne of Chusi, vnto Baruch, sayenge: Take in thine honde the boke, wherout thou hast red before all the people, and come. So Baruch the sonne of Nerias toke ye boke in his honde, and came vnto them. And they sayde vnto him: Syt downe, and rede the boke, yt we maye heare also. So Baruch red, yt they might heare. Now when they had herde all the wordes, they were abaszhed one vpon another, and sayde vnto Baruch: We wil certifie the kinge of all these wordes. And they examined Baruch, sayenge: Tell vs, how didest thou wryte all these wordes out off his mouth? Then Baruch answered them: He spake all these wordes vnto me with his mouth, and I alone was with him, and wrote them in the boke.

Then sayde the prynces vnto Baruch: Go thy waye, and hyde the with Ieremy, so that no man knowe where ye be. And they went in to the kinge to the courte. But they kepte the boke in the chambre off Elisama the scrybe, ād tolde the kynge all the wordes, that he might heare. So the kynge sent Iehudi to fetch him ye boke, which he brought out of Elisama ye scrybes chambre. And Iehudi red it, that the kynge and all the prynces, which were aboute him, might heare. Now the kynge sat in the wynter house, for it was in their. Moneth, and there was a good fyre before him. And whē Iehudi had red thre or foure leaues therof, he cut the boke in peces with a penne knyfe, Acto. 19. b and cast it in to the fyre vpō the herth, vntil the boke was all brente in the fyre vpon the herth.

Yet no man was abashed therof, or rente his clothes: nether the kynge himselffe, ner his seruauntes, though they herde all these wordes. Neuertheles Elnathan, Dalias ād Gamarias, besoughte the kings, that he wolde not burne the boke: notwithstondinge ye kynge wolde not heare them, but commaunded Ieramyhel the sonne off Amalech, Sarias the sonne of Esriel and Selamia ye sonne of Abdiel, to laye hondes vpon Baruch the scrybe, and vpon Ieremy the prophet: but the LORDE kepte them out of sight. After now that the kynge had brente the boke, ād ye sermōs which Baruch wrote at ye mouth off Ieremy: The worde of the LORDE came vnto Ieremy sayenge: Take another boke, and write in it all the forsayde sermons, that were written in the first boke, which Ioachim the kynge off Iuda hath brente.

And tell Ioachim the kynge off Iuda, Thus saieth the LORDE: thou hast brente ye boke, and thoughtest within thy selff: Why hast thou written therin, that the kynge off Babilon shal come, & make this lōde waist? so that he shall make both people and catel to be out of it? 〈…〉 Therfore thus the LORDE saieth, of Ioachim the kynge of Iuda: There shal none of his generacion syt vpon the trone of Dauid. His deed corse shalbe cast out, that the heat off the daye, 〈…〉 and the frost of the night maye come vpon him: And I will vyset the wickednes of him, of his sede, and of his seruauntes. Morouer all the euell that I haue promised thē (though they herde me not) will I bringe vpon them, vpon ye inhabitours of Ierusalem, and vpon all Iuda. Then toke Ieremy another boke, and gaue it Baruch the scrybe the sonne of Nerias, which wrote therin out of the mouth off Ieremy: all the sermons that were in the first boke, which Ioachim the kynge off Iuda dyd burne. And there were added vnto them many mo sermons, then before.

The XXXVII. Chapter.

SEdechias ye sonne of Iosias (which was made kynge thorow Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon) reigned in the londe of Iuda, 〈…〉 in the steade off Iechonias the sonne of Ioachim. But nether he, ner his seruauntes, ner the people in the lōde wolde obeye the wordes of ye LORDE, which he spake by the prophet Ieremy. 〈…〉 Neuertheles Sedechias the kynge sent Iuchal the sonne of Selamia and Sophonias the sonne of Maasia the prest to the prophet Ieremy, sayenge: O praye thou vnto the LORDE oure God for vs. Now Ieremy walked fre amonge the people at that tyme, and was not put in preson as yet. 〈◊〉 . 17. b Pharaos hooste also was come out of Egipte: which when the Caldees that beseged Ierusalem, perceaued, they departed from thence.

Then came the worde of the LORDE vnto Ieremy the prophet, sayēge: Thus saieth ye LORDE God of Israel, This answere shal ye geue to the kynge of Iuda, that sent you vnto me for councell: 〈◊〉 46. a Beholde, Pharaos hooste which is come forth to helpe you, shall returne to Egipte in to his owne londe: But the Caldees shall come agayne, & fight agaynst this cite, wynne it, and set fyre vpon it. For thus saieth the LORDE: disceaue not yor owne myndes, thinkynge on this maner: Tush, the Caldees go now their waye from vs: No, they shall not go their waye. For though ye had slayne the whole hooste off the Caldees that besege you, and euery one of the slayne laye in his tent, yet shulde they stonde vp, and set fyre vpon this cite. Now whē the hooste of the Caldees was brokē vp from Ierusalē for feare of the Egipcians armye, Ieremy went out of Ierusalē towarde the lōde of Ben Iamin, to do certayne busynesse there amōge ye people. And whē he came vnder Ben Iamyns Porte, there was a porter called Ierias the sonne of Selamia ye zōne of Hananias, 〈…〉 which fell vpō him & toke him, sayēge: ye mynde is to runne to the Caldees. Then sayde Ieremy: It is not so, I go not to the Caldees. Neuertheles Ierias wolde not beleue him, but brought Ieremy boū de before the princes. Wherfore the princes were angrie with Ieremy, causinge him to be beaten, & to be layed in preson in the house of Ionathas the scrybe. For he was the ruler of the preson. Thus was Ieremy put in to the dongeon & preson, and so laye there a longe tyme. 〈◊〉 . 33. c Then Sedechias the kynge sent for him, & called him, & axed him quietly in his owne house, sayenge: thinkest thou this busynes (that now is in honde) cōmeth of the LORDE? Ieremy answerde: yee yt it doth: & thou (sayde he) shalt be delyuered in to the kynge of Babilons power.

Morouer, Ieremy sayde vnto kynge Sedechias: What haue I offended agaynst ye, agaynst thy seruaūtes, or agaynst this people, that ye haue caused me be put in preson? Where are youre prophetes, 〈◊〉 . 28.29. which haue prophecied vnto you and sayde, that ye kynge of Babilō shulde not come agaynst you & this lōde? And therfore heare now, o my lorde the kynge: let my prayer be accepte before the, & sende me nomore in to ye house of Ionathas the scrybe, that I dye not there. Then Sedechias the kynge commaunded to put Ieremy in the fore entrie off the preson, and dayly to the geuen him a cake of bred, and els no dighte meate, vntill all the bred in the cite was eaten vp. Thus Ieremy remayned in ye fore entre off the preson.

The XXXVIII. Chapter.

SAphatias the sonne off Mathā, Gedolias the sonne of Pashur, Iuchal the sonne of Selamia, & Pashur the sonne of Malchias perceaued the wordes, yt Ieremy had spokē vnto all the people, namely on this maner: Thus saieth the LORDE: Who so remayneth in this cite, shall perish, ether with the swearde, Iere. 21. b 27. a with honger or with pestilence: But who so falleth vnto the Caldees, shal escape, wynnynge his soule for a pray, & shal lyue. For thus saieth the LORDE This cite (no doute) must be delyuered in to ye power of the kīge of Babilō, Iere. 32 a & he also shal wynne it. Thē sayde the prynces vnto ye kynge: Syr, we besech you let this man be put to death, For thus he discorageth the hōdes of the soudyers yt be in this cite, & the hōdes of all the people, whē he speaketh soch wordes vnto thē. This mā verely laboureth not for peace of ye people, but mischefe. Sedechias the kinge answered and sayde: lo, he is in yor hōdes, for ye kīge maye denye you nothinge. Then toke they Ieremy, and cast him in to the dongeon off Malchias the sonne off Amalech, that dwelt in the fore entre off the preson. And they let downe Ieremy wt coardes in to a dongeon, where there was no water, but myre. So Ieremy stack fast in the myre. Now when Abdemelech the Morian beynge a chamberlayne in the kynges courte, vnderstode, that they had cast Ieremy in to the dongeon: he went out off the kynges house, and spake to the kynge (which thē sat vnder the porte off Ben Iamin) these wordes: My lorde the kynge, where as these men medle with Ieremy the prophet, they do him wronge: Namely, in that they haue put him in preson, there to dye of honger, for there is no more bred in the cite. Thē the kynge commaūded Abdemelech the Morian, and sayde: Take from hēce xxx. men whom thou wilt, & drawe vp Ieremy the prophet out of the dongeon, before he dye. So Abdemelech toke the men wt him, & went to ye house of Amalech, & there vnder an almery he gat olde ragges & worne cloutes, & let thē downe by a coarde, in to the dongeon to Ieremy.

And Abdemelech the Morian sayde vnto the prophet Ieremy: O put these ragges and cloutes vnder thine arme holes, betwixte thē and the coardes: ād Ieremy dyd so. So they drewe vp Ieremy with coardes and toke him out of the dongeon, and he remayned in the fore entrie of the preson. Thē Sedechias the kynge sent and caused Ieremy the prophet be called vnto him, in to the thirde entrie, that was by the house off the LORDE. Iere. 37· c And the kynge sayde vnto Ieremy: I wil axe the somwhat, but hyde nothinge fro me. Thē Ieremy answerde Sedechias: Yf I be playne vnto the, thou wilt cause me suffre death: yf I geue the coūcell, thou wilt not folowe me. So the kynge swore an ooth secretly vnto Ieremy, sayenge: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, that made vs these soules, I will not slaye the, ner geue the in to the hō des of them, that seke after thy life.

Then sayde Ieremy vnto Sedechias: Thus saieth ye LORDE off hoostes the God of Israel: Yf case be, that thou wilt go forth vnto the kynge off Babilons prynces, thou shalt saue thy life, and this cite shall not be brēt, Iere. 27. b yee both thou and thy housholde shall escape with youre lyues. But yff thou wilt not go forth to the kynge off Babilons prynces, then shal this cite be delyuered in to the hondes of the Caldees which shal set fyre vpon it, and thou shalt not be able to escape them. And Sedechias sayde vnto Ieremy: I am afrayde for the Iewes, that are fled vnto the Caldees, lest I come in their hōdes, and so they to haue me in derision.

But Ieremy answerde: No, they shal not betraye the: O herken vnto the voyce off the LORDE (I beseke ye) which I speake vnto the, so shalt thou be well, and saue thy life. But yf thou wilt not go forth, the LORDE hath tolde me this planely: Beholde, all the women that are left in the kynge of Iudaes house, shal go out to the kynge of Babilons prynces. For they thynke, yt thou art disceaued and that ye men in whom thou didest put thy trust, haue gotten the vnder, and set thy fete fast in the myre, and gone their waye from the. Therfore all thy wyues with their children shall fle vnto the Caldees, and thou shalt not escape their hondes, but shalt be ye kynge of Babilons presoner, & this cite shall be brent. Then sayde Sedechias vnto Ieremy: loke yt no body knowe off these wordes, and thou shalt not dye. But yf the prynces perceaue, that I haue talked with the, and come vnto the, sayenge: O speake, what sayde the kynge to the hyde it not from vs, and we wil not put the to death. Tell vs (we praye the) what sayde ye kynge to the? Se thou geue them this answere: I haue humbly be sought the kynge, that he will let me lye no more in Ionathas house, that I dye not there? Then came all the princes vnto Ieremy, and axed him, And he tolde them, after the maner as the kynge bad him. 〈…〉 Then they helde their peace, for they perceaued nothinge. So Ieremy abode still in the fore entrie off the preson, vntill the daye that Ierusalem was wonne.

The XXXIX. Chapter.

NOw when the cite off Ierusalē was taken (for in the ix. yeare of Sedechias kynge of Iuda in the tenth Moneth, 〈…〉 came Nabuchodonosor the kynge off Babilon and all his hooste, and beseged Ierusalem. And in the xi. yeare of Sedechias in the fourth Moneth ye ix. daye of ye Moneth, he brake in to the cite). Then all the kynge of Babilons prynces came in, & sat thē downe vnder the porte: Nergall, Sarezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal, Sarezer, Rabmag, with all the other prynces of the kynge of Babilon. And when Sedechias the kynge of Iuda with his soudyers sawe them, they fled, 〈…〉 and departed out of ye cite by night thorow the kynges gardē, and thorow the porte that is betwene the two walles, and so they wente towarde the wildernesse.

But the Caldees hooste folowed fast after them, and toke Sedechias in the felde of Iericho, and brought him presoner to Nabuchodonosor the kynge off Babilō vnto Reblatha, that lieth in the londe off Hemath where he gaue iugdment vpon him. So the kynge of Babilon caused the children of Sedechias and all the nobles off Iuda be slayne, before his face at Reblatha. And made Sedechias eyes be put out, and boūde him with chaynes, and sent him to Babilon.

Morouer, the Caldees brēt vp the kynges palace, with ye other houses of the people, 〈…〉 and brake downe the walles off Ierusalem. As for the remnaunt of the people that were in the cite, and soch as were come to helpe them (what so euer was left of the comē sorte) Nabuzaradan the chefe captayne caried them to Babilon. But Nabuzaradā the chefe captayne let the rascall people (and those that had nothinge) dwell still in the lōde off Iuda, and gaue them vynyardes and corne feldes at the same tyme. Nabuchodonosor also the kynge of Babilon gaue Nabuzaradā the chefe captayne a charge, cōcernynge Ieremy, sayenge: take and cherish him, and make moch off him se thou do him no harme, but intreate him after his owne desyre.

So Nabuzaradā ye chefe captayne, Nabusaszbā the chefe chamberlayne, Nergalsarezer the treasurer and all the kynge of Babilons lordes, 〈…〉 sent for Ieremy, & caused him be fet out off the fore entrie off the preson, and committed him vnto Godolias the sonne off Ahicam the sonne of Saphan: that he shulde carie him home, and so he dwelt amonge the people. 〈…〉 Now whyle Ieremy laye yet bounde in the fore entrie of the preson, ye worde off the LORDE came vnto him sayenge: Go, and tell Abdemelech the Morian: Thus saieth the LORDE off hoostes ye God off Israel: Beholde, the cruell and sharpe plage that I haue deuysed for this cite, will I brynge vpon them, that thou shalt se it: but I wil delyuer the (sayeth the LORDE) and thou shalt not come in the hondes off those men, whom thou fearest. For doutles I will saue the, so that thou shalt not perish with the swearde: but thy life shalbe saued, and that because thou hast put thy trust in me, saieth the LORDE.

The XL. Chap.

THis is the maner, how the LORDE intreated Ieremy, when Nebuzaradan the chefe captayne had let him go fre from Rama, 〈…〉 whither as he had led him bounde, amonge all the presoners, that were caried from Ierusalem and Iuda vnto Babilon. The chefe captayne called for Ieremy, and sayde vnto him: The LORDE thy God spake mightely before off the mysery vpon this place: Now the LORDE hath sent it, and perfourmed it, as he had promised: For ye haue synned agaynst the LORDE, and haue not bene obedient vnto his voyce, therfore commeth this plage vpon you. Beholde, I lowse the bondes from thy hōdes this daye: yf thou wilt now go with me vnto Babilon, vp thē: For I will se to the, and prouyde for the: But yf thou wilt not go with me to Babilon, then remayne here. Beholde, all the londe is at thy will: loke where thou thinkest conveniēt & good for the to Abyde, 〈…〉 there dwell. Yf thou canst not be content to dwell alone, then remayne wt Godolias the sonne off Ahicā the sonne of Saphā, whom the kynge of Babilō hath made gouernoure ouer ye cities of Iuda, 〈…〉 & dwell wt him amonge the people, or remayne, where so euer it pleaseth ye. So the chefe captayne gaue him his expēses wt a rewarde, & let him go. Then wēte Ieremy vnto Godolias ye sonne of Ahicā to Masphat, 〈…〉 & dwelt there wt him amonge the people that were left in the londe.

Now when ye captaynes of the hooste of Iuda (which wt their felowes were scatred abrode on euery syde in ye lōde) vnderstode, yt the kynge of Babilō had made Godolias ye sonne of Ahicā gouernoure in the lōde, & yt man, wife & childe, yee & the poore men in the londe (yt were not led captyue to Babilon) shulde be vnder his Iurisdictiō: They came to Godolias vnto Masphat: Namely, Ismael the sonne of Nathanias, Iohāna & Ionathas the sonnes of Carea, Sareas the sonne of Tanhorneth, the sonnes of Opheus ye Netophetite, Iesanias ye sonne of Machati, wt their cōpanyons. And Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne off Saphā, swore vnto thē & their felowes on this maner: Be not afrayed to serue the Caldees, dwell in the lōde,4. Re. 25. c & do the kynge of Babilon seruyce, so shal ye prospere. Beholde, I dwell at Masphat to be an officer in the Caldees behalfe, & to satisfie soch as corne to vs. Therfore gather you wyne, corne and oyle, and kepe them in youre ware houses, and dwell in youre cities, that ye haue in kepinge.

Yee all the Iewes also yt dwelt in Moab vnder ye Ammonites, in Idumea & in all ye coūtrees, whē they herde, yt the kinge of Babilō had made Godolias the sonne of Ahicā the sonne of Saphā, gouernoure vpō thē yt were left in Iuda: All the Iewes (I saye) returned out off all places where they were fled vnto: & came in to the lōde of Iuda to Godolias vnto Masphat, & gathered wyne and other frutes, and that very moch.

Morouer Iohanna the sonne of Carea & all ye captaynes of ye hooste, yt were scatred on euery syde in the londe, came to Godolias in Masphat, & sayde vnto him: knowest thou not yt Baalis kinge of ye Ammonites hath sent Ismael ye sonne of Nathanias, to slaye the? But Godolias ye sonne of Ahicā beleued thē not. Thē sayde Iohāna the sonne of Carea vnto Godolias in Masphat these wordes secretly: Let me go (I praye the) & I will slaye Ismael the sonne of Nathanias, so yt no body shal knowe it. Wherfore will he kyll the, yt all the Iewes which resorte vnto the, might be scatred, & the remnaunt in Iuda perishe? Thē sayde Godolias the sonne of Ahicam to Iohanna the sonne of Carea: Thou shalt not do it, for they are but lies, that men saye of Ismael.

The XLI. Chap.

BVt in the seuenth Moneth it happened, 4. Re. 25. d yt Ismael the sonne of Nathanias ye sonne of Elisama (one of ye kynges bloude) came wt thē that were greatest aboute the kynge, & ten men that were sworne with him: vnto Godolias the sonne off Ahicam to Masphat, and eate there together. And Ismael ye sonne of Nathanias wt those ten men that were sworne to him, starte vp, and smote Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan wt the swearde, & slewe hym, whom the kynge off Babilō had made gouernoure off the londe. Ismael also slewe all the Iewes that were with Godolias at Masphat, and all the Caldees that he founde there waitynge vpon him.

The nexte daye after that he had slayne Godolias (the matter was yet vnknowne) there came certayne men from Sichem, frō Silo and Samaria, to the nombre off lxxx. which had shauen their beerdes, rent their clothes, & were all heuye, bringinge meatoffringes and incense in their hondes, to offre it in the house off the LORDE. And Ismael the sonne of Nathanias went forth of Masphat wepinge, to mete them. Now whē he met them, he sayde: Go youre waye to Godolias the sonne of Ahicam. And when they came in the myddest off the cite, Ismael the sonne off Nathanias (with them that were sworne vnto him) slewe them, euē at the myddest off the pyt. Amonge these lxxx. mē there were ten, yt sayde vnto Ismael: Oh slaye vs not, for we haue yet a greate treasure in the felde, off wheate, barley, oyle and hony. So he spared thē, and slewe them not with their brethren. Now the pyt wherin Ismael dyd cast the deed bodies off the mē (whom he slewe because off Godolias) had kynge Asa caused to be made, . Re. 15. for feare off Baasa the kynge off Israel, and the same pit dyd Ismael fyll with slayne men. As for the rē naunt off th people, the kynges doughters and all the people that were yet left at Masphat, vpon whom Nabusaradan the chefe Captayne had made Godolias the sonne of Ahicam gouernoure:4. Re. 25. c Ismael the sonne off Nathanias caried them awaye presoners towarde the Ammonites. But when Iohā na the sonne off Carea and all they which had bene captaynes ouer the kynges hooste with him, Gen. 14 c . Re. 30. b herde of all the wickednes that Ismael the sonne off Nathanias had done: they toke their companyons, and wente out for to fight with Ismael the sōne of Nathanias, and founde him by the waters of Rabim in Gabaon. Now when all the people, whom Ismael led captyue, sawe Iohāna ye sonne off Carea and all the other captaynes off the hooste, they were glad. So all the people that Ismael had caried awaye frō Masphat, were brought agayne.

And whē they returned, they came to Iohanna the sonne off Carea. But Ismael the sonne off Nathanias fled from Iohāna wt eight of his sworne companyons, & wente to the Ammonites. Then Iohanna the sonne of Carea and all the captaynes of the hooste that were wt him, toke the remnaūt of the people, whom Ismael the sonne of Nathanias had led awaye (When he had slayne Godolias the sonne of Ahicā) whom they also had rescued from him: fightinge men, women & children, and gelded men, whom they brought agayne from Gabaon: and wente from thence, and sat them downe at Geruth Chimham, which lieth besyde Bethleē, that they might go in to Egipte for feare of the Caldees: of whom they were afrayed, because that Ismael the sonne off Nathanias had slayne Godolias Ahicams sonne, whom the kynge off Babilon had made gouernoure in the londe. 〈…〉

The XLII. Chapter.

SO all the rulers, and Iohāna the sonne off Carea, Iesanias the sonne off Osias came with all the people frō the leest vnto the most, & sayde vnto Ieremy the prophet: O heare oure peticiō, 〈…〉 that thou mayest praye for vs vnto the LORDE ye God, and for the remnaunt, wherof there be very few left off many, as thou seist vs: that the LORDE thy God maye shewe vs a waye to go in, & tell vs, what we shulde do. Then Ieremy the prophete sayde vnto them: I haue herde you. Beholde, I will praye vnto God youre LORDE, as ye haue requyred me: and loke what answere the LORDE geueth you, I shall certifie you theroff, and kepe nothinge back frō you. And they sayde vnto Ieremy: 〈…〉 The LORDE off treuth & faithfulnes be oure recorde, that we wil do all, that the LORDE thy God commaundeth vs, whether it be good or euell. We will herken vnto the voyce off oure LORDE God, to whom we sendethe: that we maye prospere, when we haue folowed the voyce off the LORDE oure God.

And after ten dayes came the worde off the LORDE vnto Ieremy. Then called he Iohanna the sonne of Carea, and all the captaynes of the people that were with him: Yee & all the people from the leest to the most, & sayde vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE God of Israel vnto whom ye sent me, to laye forth youre prayers before him: Yf ye wel dwell in this londe, I shall buylde you vp, & not breake you downe: I shall plante you, & not rote you out: for I am pacified, as cōcernynge the trouble that I haue done to you. Feare not the kynge off Babilon, off whom ye stonde in awe: O be not afrayed off him, saieth the LORDE: for I will be with you, to helpe you, and delyuer you from his honde. I will pardon you, I wil haue mercy vpon you, and brynge you agayne in to youre owne londe.

Neuertheles, yf ye purpose not to dwell in this londe, ner to folowe the voyce off the LORDE youre God: but will saye thus: we will not dwell here, but go in to Egipte: where we shall nether se warre, heare the noyse off batell, ner suffre honger, there will we dwell. Wherfore heare now the worde of the LORDE, o ye remnaunt of Iuda. Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: 〈◊〉 . 27. a Yf ye be whole purposed to go in to Egipte, ād to be there as straūgers: the swearde that ye feare, 〈◊〉 . 41. c shall ouertake you in Egipte: and the honger wheroff ye be here afrayed, shall hange vpon you in to Egipte, and there ye shall dye. For all they, that off set purpose vndertake to go in to Egipte, there to ease them selues off their mysery, shall perish with the swearde, with honger and pestilence: not one off them shall remayne, there shal none escape the plage, that I wil bringe vpon them.

For thus saieth the LORDE off hoostes the God off Israel: like as my wrath and indignacion is come vpon the inhabitours of Ierusalē, so shall my displeasure go forth vpon you also, yf ye go in to Egipte: For there ye shalbe reuyled, abhorred, brought to shame and confucion: and as for this place, ye shall neuer se it more. The LORDE forbyddeth you (o ye remnaūt of Iuda) that ye shall not go in to Egipte. And forget not that I haue warned you earnestly this daye els shal ye begyle youre selues. 〈◊〉 . 41. a For ye sent me vnto the LORDE youre God, and sayde: O praye thou the LORDE oure God for vs: and loke what answere the LORDE oure God geueth the, that bringe vs agayne, ād we shall do thereafter. Now haue I shewed, and declared vnto you the voyce off the LORDE youre God, for the which cause he hath sent me to you. 〈◊〉 . 2 . c Yf ye will not folowe it, be sure, yt ye shall perishe with the swearde, with honger & pestilence: euen in the same place, where youre lust was to go, and dwell.

The XLIII. Chapter.

NOw when Ieremy had ended all ye wordes of ye LORDE God vnto ye people, (for their sakes to whom God had sent him) Asarias the sonne of Osias, & Iohāna ye sonne of Carea, with all the proude personnes, sayde vnto Ieremy: Thou lyest, Iere. 42. the LORDE oure God hath not sent ye to speake vnto vs, that we shulde not go in to Egipte, and dwell there: But Baruch the sonne of Nerias prouoketh the agaynst vs, that he might bringe vs in to the captyuyte off the Caldees: that they might slaye vs, and carie vs awaye presoners vnto Babilon.

So Iohanna the sonne of Carea, and all the captaynes of the hooste, and all the people folowed not the commaundement of the LORDE: Namely, to dwell in the londe off Iuda: But Iohanna the sonne of Carea & all the captaynes of the hooste, caried awaye all the remnaunt in Iuda, that were come together agayne from the Heithen (amōge whom they had bene scatred) to dwell in the londe of Iuda: Men, women, childrē, Iere 41. c the kynges doughters: all those that Nabusaradan the chefe captayne had left with Godolias the sonne of Ahicam. They caried awaye also the prophet Ieremy, Baruch the sonne of Nerias, and so came in to Egipte: for they were not obedient vnto the commaundement of God. Thus came they to Taphnis.

And in Taphnis the worde off the LORDE happened vnto Ieremy, sayenge: Take greate stones in thine hōde, and hyde them in the brick wall, vnder the dore off Pharaos house in Taphnis, that all the men of Iuda maye se, and saye vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Beholde, Iere. 46. I will sende and call for Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon my seruaunt, and will set his seate vpon these stones that I haue hyd, and he shall sprede his tente ouer them.

And when he commeth, he shal smyte the lōde of Egipte with slaughter, with presonment and with the swearde. He shall set fyre vpon the temples of the Egipciās goddes, and burne them vp, & take them selues presoners. Morouer he shall araye himselff wt the lōde of Egipte, like as a shepherde putteth on his cote, and shall departe his awaye from thence in peace. The pilers also of the temple of the Sonne that is in Egipte, shal he breake in peces, and burne the tempels of the Egipcians goddes.

The LXIIII. Chapter.

THis is the worde yt was shewed to Ieremy cōcerninge all ye Iewes, which dwelt in Egipte: at Magdal, at Taphnis, at Memphis, & in the londe of Patures. Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Ye haue sene all ye mysery, yt I haue brought vpon Ierusalem, and vpon all the cities of Iuda: so that this daye they are desolate, and no man dwellinge therin: & yt because of the greate blasphemies, which they committed, to prouoke me vnto anger: In that they wente backe to do sacrifice ād worshipe vnto straunge goddes: whom nether they, ner ye, ner yor fathers haue knowne. Howbeit, I sent vnto them my seruaūtes all the prophetes: ere. 25. a 29. c I rose vp early, I sent vnto them, and gaue them warninge: O do no soch abhominable thinges, & thinges that I hate. But they wolde not folowe ner herkē, to turne from their wickednes, and to do no more sacrifice vnto straunge goddes.

Wherfore my indignacion & wrath was kyndled, 〈…〉 and it brente vp the cities of Iuda, the feldes with the stretes off Ierusalem: so that they were made waist and desolate, as it is come to passe this daye Now therfore thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: How happeneth it, that ye do so greate euell vnto youre owne soules, thus to destroye the men and women, childrē and babes of Iuda? so that none of you is left, because ye prouoke me vnto wrath with the workes of youre owne hondes: whē ye offre vnto straunge goddes in the londe off Egipte, where as ye be gone to dwell: That ye might vtterly perishe, and that ye might be reuyled and shamfully intreated of all nacions. Or, haue ye now forgotten the wickednes off yor forefathers, the wickednes off ye kynges of Iuda and their wyues, ye wickednes that ye youre selues ād youre wyues haue done in the londe of Iuda, in the cite and in the londe off Ierusalem?

Yet are ye not sory this daye, ye feare not, nether walke ye in my lawe and in my commaundementes, that I haue geuē vnto you and youre forefathers.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God off Israel: I am stedfastly advysed and determed, Amo 9. b to punysh you, and to rote out all Iuda. As for the remnaunt off Iuda that purposly wente in to Egipte, Iere. 42. c 43. a there to ease them off their mysery: I will take them, and they shall all be destroyed. In ye londe of Egipte shall they perishe, beynge consumed with the swearde and with honger. For from ye leest vnto ye most, they shal perishe with the swearde and with honger. Morouer they shalbe reuyled, abhorred, shamed, and confounded. For I will viset them that dwell in Egipte, 〈…〉 as I haue visited Ierusalem: with the swearde, with honger and with pestilence: So that none off the remnaunt off Iuda, which are gone to dwell in Egipte, shall be left to come agayne in to ye londe off Iuda: all though they thynke to come thither agayne, and to dwell there. For none shal come agayne, but soch as are fled awaye.

Then all the men which knewe that their wyues had offred vnto straunge goddes, & a greate sorte off wyues that stode there, yee and all the people that dwelt there in Egipte in the cite of Patures, answerde Ieremy, & sayde: As for the wordes that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the LORDE, we will in no wyse heare them: but what so euer goeth out of oure owne mouth, that wil we do: We will do sacrifice, and offre oblacions vnto the Quene off heauen: Iere 〈…〉 like as we and or forefathers, oure kynges and oure heades haue done in the cities off Iuda, and in the stretes and feldes of Ierusalem. For then had we plenteousnesse off vytales, then were we in prosperite, and no myszfortune came vpon vs.

But sens we left of, to offre, and to do sacrifice vnto the Quene of heauen, 〈…〉 we haue had scarcenes of all thinges, and perish wt the swearde and honger. Last of all, when we womē did sacrifice and offred vnto the Quene of heauē, did we make her cakes ād poure vnto her drink offeringes, to do her seruyce, without oure huszbondes wylles?

Then sayde Ieremy vnto all the people, to the men, to the women and to all the fol •• , which had geuen him that answere: Dyd not the LORDE remembre the sacrifices that ye, yor forefathers, 〈…〉 youre kīges & rulers (wt all the people) haue offred in the cities of Iuda, in the stretes and londe off Ierusalem? and hath he not considered this in his mynde? In so moch, that the LORDE might no longer suffre the wickednes off youre inuencions, and the abhominable thynges which ye dyd? 〈…〉 Is not youre londe desolate & voyde, yee and abhorred, so that no mā dwelleth therin eny more, as it is come to passe this daye?

Dyd not all this happen vnto you, 〈…〉 because ye made soch sacrifice, and synned agaynst the LORDE? Ye haue not folowed his voyce, to walke in his lawe, 〈…〉 in his ordinaunces and statutes.

Yee this is the cause, that all mysfortune happened vnto you, as it is come to passe this daye.

Morouer, Ieremy spake vnto all the people and to all the women: Heare the worde off the LORDE all Iuda, ye that be in the londe off Egipte: Thus saieth the LORDE off hoostes the God of Israel: Ye and youre wyues haue spoken with youre owne mouth, the thinge that ye haue fulfilled in dede.

Yee thus haue ye sayde: We will not fayle, but do the thynge that pleaseth vs: we wil do sacrifice and poure out drynk offringes to the Quene of heauen. 〈◊〉 . 44. c Purposly haue ye set vp youre owne good meanynges, & hastely haue ye fulfilled youre owne intente. And therfore, heare the worde of the LORDE all Iuda, ye that dwell in the londe off Egipte.

〈◊〉 . 22. a Beholde, I haue sworne by my greate name (saieth the LORDE) that my name shal not be rehearsed thorow eny mans mouth of Iuda, in all the londe of Egipte: to saye: The LORDE God lyueth, for I wil watch, to plage them, and not for their wealth. And all the men of Iuda that be in the lōde of Egipte, 〈◊〉 42. c shal perish with the swearde and with hō ger, vntill they be vtterly destroyed.

Neuertheles, those that fled awaye for ye swearde, shal come agayne in to the lōde of Iuda (but there shal be very fewe of them) And all the remnaunt off Iuda, that are gone in to Egipte, there to dwell, shall knowe, whose wordes shalbe founde true: theirs or myne. Take this for a token, that I wil viset you in this place (saieth the LORDE) and that ye maye knowe, how that I (without doute) wil perfourne my purpose vpon you,) to punysh you. Beholde (saieth the LORDE I wil delyuer Pharao Ophram kynge of Egipte in to the hondes of his enemies, yt seke after his life: euen as I gaue Sedechias the kynge of Iuda in to the hondes of Nabuchodonosor kīge of Babilō, Re. 25. a •• re 39. b which sought after his life.

The XLV. Chapter.

THese are the wordes yt Ieremy the prophet spake vnto Baruch the sonne of Nerias, ere. 36. a after that he had written these Sermōs in to a boke at the mouth of Ieremy, In the fourth yeare of Ioachim the sonne of Iosias kynge of Iuda.

Thus saieth the LORDE God of Israel vnto the, O Baruch: In so moch as thou thoughtest thus (when thou wast writinge) Wo is me, the LORDE hath geuen me payne for my trauayle: I haue weeried my self wt sighinge, and shall I fynde no rest? Therfore tell him (O Ieremy) yt the LORDE saieth thus: Beholde, The thīge that I haue buylded, wil I breake downe agayne, and rote out the thinge, that I haue planted, yee this whole londe. And sekest thou yet promociō? Loke not for it, and desyre it not. For I will bringe a miserable plage vpō all flesh, saieth the LORDE. Iere 21. But thy life will I geue the for a pray, where so euer thou goest.

The XLVI. Chapter.

HEre folowe the wordes off the LORDE to the prophet Ieremy, which he spake vnto the Gentiles. Esa. 19. 30. a Eze. 29 30.31. 4. Re. b These wordes folowinge preached he to the Egipciās concernynge the hoost off Pharao Necho kynge off Egipte, when he was in Charcamis besyde the water off Euphrates: what tyme as Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon slewe him, In the fourth yeare off Ioachim the sonne off Iosias kynge off Iuda.

Ye make redy buckler and shylde, Iere. 36 ye go forth to fight: Yee harnesse youre horses, & set youre selues vpon them: Ye set youre salettes fast on, ye bringe forth speares, ye scoure youre sweardes, & put on youre brest plates.

But alas, how happeneth it, that I se you so afrayed? why shrēcke ye backe? where fore are youre worthies slayne? Yee they runne so fast awaye, that none off them loketh behynde him. Fearfulnesse is fallen vpon euerychone off them, saieth the LORDE. The lightest off fote shall not fle awaye, and the worthies shall not escape.

Towarde the north by the water of Euphrates they shall stomble and fall. But what is he this, that swelleth vp, as it were a floude, roaringe & raginge like the streames off water? It is Egipte that ryseth vp like the floude, and casteth out the waters with so greate noyse.

For they saye: We will go vp, and will couer the earth: we wil destroye ye cities, with them that dwell therin. Get you to horse backe, roll forth ye Charettes, come forth ye worthies: ye Morians, ye Libeans with youre buclers, ye Lideans with youre bowes: So shall this daye be vnto the LORDE God of hoostes, a daye of vēgeaunce, that he maye avēge him of his enemies. The swearde shal deuoure, it shal be satisfied and bated in their bloude: For the LORDE God off hoostes shall haue a slayne offringe towarde the North, by the water of Euphrates. Go vp (o Galaad) & bringe triacle vnto the doughter off Egipte:

But in vayne shalt thou go to surgery, for thy wounde shall not be stopped. The Heithen shall heare off thy shame, and the londe shalbe full of thy confucion: for one stronge man shall stomble vpon another, how then shulde they not fall both together?

These are the wordes that the LORDE spake to the prophet Ieremy, •• re. 45. b concernyge ye hoost of Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon, which was to destroye the londe off Egipte: Preach out thorow the londe of Egipte, and cause it be proclamed at Migdal, Memphis and Taphnis, and saye: Stonde still, make the redie, for the swearde shal consume the rounde aboute.

How happeneth it that thy mightie worthies are fallen? why stode they not fast? Euen because the LORDE thrust them downe. The slaughter was greate, for one fell euer still vpon another. One cried vpon another: Vp, let vs go agayne to oure owne people, and to oure owne naturall countre, from the swearde of oure enemie.

Crie euen there: O Pharao kynge of Egipte, the tyme will bringe sedicion. As truly as I lyue (saieth the kynge, sa 48. a 11. whose name is the LORDE of hoostes) it shall come as ye mount of Thabor, and as Libanus yf it stode in the see. O thou doughter of Egipte, make redy thy geer to flyt. For Memphis shalbe voyde and desolate, so that no mā shal dwell therin. The londe of Egipte is like a goodly fayre calfe, but one shall come out of the north to dryue her forwarde. Hir wagied souldyers that be with her, are like fat calues.

They also shall fle awaye together, and not abyde: for the daye off their slaughter and the tyme of their visitacion shall come vpon them.

The crie off their enemies shall make a noyse, as the blast of a trompet. For they shall entre in with their hooste, and come wt axes, as it were hewers downe of wod. And they shall cut downe hir wod (saieth the LORDE) with out eny discrecion. For they shal be mo in nōbre then the greshoppers, so that no man shalbe able to tell thē. The doughter of Egipte shalbe confoūded. whē she shalbe delyuered in to the hondes off the people off the north.

Morouer thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Beholde I will vyset that restlesse people off Alexandria, Pharao and Egipte, yee both their goddes and their kynges: euen Pharao, and all them yt litten vnto him. 〈…〉 Yee I will delyuer them in to the hondes off those, that seke after their lyues: Namely, in to the power off Nabuchodonosor the kynge off Babilon, and in to the power off his seruaūtes. 〈…〉 And after all these thinges, it shalbe inhabited as afore tyme, saieth the LORDE

But be not thou afrayed (o my seruaunt Iacob) feare not thou, o Israel. For lo, 〈…〉 I wil helpe the from farre, and thy sede from the londe of thy captiuyte. Iacob also shall come agayne, and be in rest: he shall be rich, and no man shall do him harme. 〈…〉 Feare thou not (o Iacob my seruaunt) saieth the LORDE, for I am with the: and will destroye all nacions, amonge whom I haue scatred the. Neuertheles I will not consume the, but chasten the and correcke the: yee and that with discrecion: nether wil I spare the, as one that were fautlesse.

The XLVII. Chapter.

THese are the wordes, that the LORDE spake vnto Ieremy the prophet agaynst the Phylistines, 〈…〉 before that Pharao smote the cite off Gaza. Thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, there shall waters arise out off the north: and shall growe to a greate floude, runnynge ouer and couerynge the londe, the cities and them that dwell therin

And the men shall crie, and all they that dwell in the londe, shall mourne at the noyse and stampynge off their stronge barded horses, at the shakynge off their charettes, and at the remblinge off the wheles. The fathers shall not loke to their children, so feable and weery shall their hondes be: at the same tyme, when he shal be there, to destroye the whole londe off the Phylistynes. He shall make waist both Tirus, Sidon ād all other that are sworne vnto them.

For the LORDE will destroye all Palestina, and the other Iles, that be deuyded frō the countre. Baldnesse is come vpon Gaza, Ascalon with hir other valleys shall kepe hir peace.

How longe wilt thou slaye, O thou swearde off the LORDE? Turne agayne in to ye sheeth, reste, and leaue off. But how can it ceasse, when the LORDE himselff hath geuen it a charge agaynst Ascalon, and raysed it vp agaynst the cities off the see coast?

The XLVIII. Chapter.

THus saieth ye LORDE off hoostes ye God of Israel against Moab: 〈…〉 Wo be to ye cite of Nebo, for it shal be layed waist, 〈◊〉 . 25. b 〈◊〉 . . b 〈◊〉 . 1 . c brought to confucion and taken. Yee ye strōge cite of Cariatharim shalbe brought to shame, and afrayed: Moab shall nomore e had in honoure: Wicked councell shalbe taken vpon Hesebon. Come (shall they saye) let vs rote them out, that they maye be nomore amonge the nombre of the Gentiles, yee that they maye nomore be thought vpon: Thus the swearde shall persecute ye. A voyce shall crie from Horonaim: With greate waistinge and destruction, is Moab made desolate.

And this crie shalbe herde in all hir cities. At the goinge vp vnto Luhtih there shall arise a lamētacion: and downe towarde Horonaim, there shall be herde a cruell and a deedly crie: Get you awaye, saue youre lyues & be like vnto the heeth in ye wildernes. For, 〈◊〉 . 17. b 〈◊〉 9. a sa. b because thou hast trusted in thy stronge holdes and treasure, thou shalt be taken. Chamos with his prestes and prynces shall go awaye in to captiuyte.

The destroyer shal come vpon all cities, none shall escape. The valleys shalbe destroyed, and the feldes shall be layed waist: like as the LORDE hath determed.

Make a token vnto Moab, that she get hir awaye spedely: for hir cities shalbe made so desolate, that no man shall dwell therin. Cursed be he that doth the worke of the LORDE necligently, and cursed be he that kepeth backe his swearde from sheddynge off bloude.

〈◊〉 47. b Moab hath euer bene rich and carlesse from hir youth vp, she hath sytten and takē hir ease with hir treasure. She was neuer yet put out off one vessell in to another (yt is) she neuer wente awaye in to captyuyte, therfore hir taist remayneth, and hir sauoure is not yet chaunged.

But lo, the tyme commeth (saieth the LORDE) that I shall sende hir trussers to trusse her vp, to prepare and season hir vessels: yee hir tankerdes rattell, and shake to & fro. And Moab shalbe ashamed off Chamos, like as Israel was ashamed off Bethel, wherin she put hir trust.

Wherfore do ye thinke thus: we are mightie, Re 13. and stronge men off warre? Moab shal be destroyed, e. 11. g and hir cities brente vp: hir chosen yonge men shall be slayne, saieth the kinge, whose name is the LORDE off hoostes. The destruction off Moab commeth on a pace, and hir fall is at honde.

All hir neghbours shall mourne for her, and all they that knowe hir name, shal saye: O how happeneth it, that the stronge staff and the goodly rod is thus broken? And thou doughter Dibō, come downe from thy glory, and syt in pouerte. For he that destroyeth Moab, shall come vp to the also, and breake downe thy stronge holdes.

And thou that dwellest in Aroer, get the to ye strete, & loke aboute the: axe them that are fled and escaped, and saye: what thynge is happened? O, Moab is confounded and ouercome.

Mourne and crie, tell it out at Arnon, that Moab is destroyed. And mysery shall come vpon the playne londe: Namely, vpō holon, and Iaza: vpon Mephat and Dibō, vpon N bo and the house of Diplathaim, vpon Cariatharim and Bethgamul, vpon Bethniaon and Carioth, vpon Bosra and all the cities in the lōde off Moab, whether they lye farre or neare.

The horne of Moab shal be smyttē downe, & hir arme broken, saieth the LORDE. Make hir dronken (for she magnified hir self aboue the LORDE:) that men maye clappe their hondes at hir vomyte, and that she also maye be laughed to scorne. O Israeli shalt thou not laugh him to scorne, when he is taken amōge theues? Nu. 27. a Yee because off thy wordes that thou hast spoken agaynst him, thou shalt be dryuen awaye. Ye Moabites shal leaue the cities, and dwell in rockes off stone, and become like doues, that make their nestes in holes.

As for Moabs pryde, we haue herde off it, she is very hie mynded. Esa. 16. b Iere. 49. I knowe hir stoutnesse, hir boostinge, hir arogācy and the pryde off hir stomack, saieth the LORDE. For hir furiousnes maye nether vpholde her wt strength, ner dede. Therfore shal there mournynge be made for Moab, and euery mā shal crie for Moabs sake: a lamentacion shalbe made, to the men that stonde vpon the wall. So will I mourne for the also (o Iazer) and for the, O thou vynyarde off Sybma.

Thy wyne braūches shal come ouer ye see, and the braunches off Iazer but vnto the see: the destroyer shall breake in to thy haruest and grape gatheringe. Myrth and cheare shalbe taken awaye from the tymbre felde, and from the whole londe off Moab.

There shall be no swete wyne in the presse, the treader shall haue no stomacke to crie, yee there shall be none to crie vnto him: which afore tyme were herde from hesebon to Eleale and Ioaz, which lifted vp their voyce from Zoar vnto Horonaim, that bullock off thre yeare olde. The waters also off Nemrim shalbe dried vp.

Morouer I will make Moab ceasse (saieth the LORDE) from the offringes and censinge that she hath made vnto hir goddes in hie places. Wherfore my herte mourneth for Moab, like a crowde playenge an heuy songe: and for the mens sake off the bricke wall my herte mourneth also, Esa. 15. a euen as a pype, that pipeth a dolefull songe: for they shalbe very fewe, and destroyed.

All heades shall be shauen, and all beerdes clipped off: all hondes bounde, and all loynes gyrded aboute with sack cloth. Vpō all the house toppes and stretes off Moab, there shalbe mournynge: For I will breake Moab like an vnprofitable vessell saieh the LORDE O how fearfull is she? O how mourneth she? O how doth Moab hange downe hir heade, and is ashamed? Thus shall Moab be a laughinge stocke, and had in derision off all them, that be rounde aboute her.

Deu. 28 c ere. 49. d For thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, the enemie shal come flyenge as an Aegle, and sprede his wynges vpon Moab. They shall clymme ouer the walles, and wynne, the stronge holdes. Then the mighty mens hertes in Moab, •• re. 49. d shalbe like the herte off a woman trauelinge with childe.

And Moab shalbe made so desolate, that she shal nomore be a people, because she hath set vp her selfe agaynst the LORDE. Feare, pyt, and snare shall come vpō the (o Moab) saieth the LORDE. Who so escapeth the feare, shal fall in the pyt: and who so getteth out off the pyt, Esa. 24. c shall betaken in the snare.

For I will bringe a yeare off visitacion vpon Moab, saieth the LORDE. They that are able to fle, shall stonde vnder the shadowe off Hesebon. For there shall go a fyre out off Hesebon, and a flame from Sion, & shall burne vp that proude people off Moab, both before and behynde.

Wo be vnto the (o Moab) for thou people off Chamos shalt perish: Yee thy sonnes and doughters shall be led awaye captyne. Yet at the last will I bringe Moab out off captiuyte agayne, saieth the LORDE. Thus farre off the plage off Moab.

The XLIX. Chapter.

AS concerninge the Ammonites, thus the LORDE saieth: Eze. 21 d 25. a mos. 1. a Hath Israel no children, or is he without an heyre? Why hath youre kynge then taken Gad in? wherfore doth his people dwell in his cities? Beholde therfore, the tyme commeth (saieth ye LORDE) that I will brynge a noyse off warre into Rabath off the Ammonites. Lahel shalbe desolate, and hir cities brent vp: and the Israelites shall be lordes ouer those, that had thē in possession afore, saieth the LORDE. Hesebon shall mourne, for it shal be roted out off the grounde, saieth the LORDE. The cities off Rabath shall crie out, and gyrde them selues with sack cloth: they shall mourne, and runne aboute the walles: for their kynge shall be led awaye presoner: yee his preestes and prynces with him.

Wherfore trustest thou in the water streames, that flowe to and fro, o thou fearce doughter: and thynkest thou art so safe (by reason off thy treasure) that no man shal come to the?

Beholde, I will brynge a feare vpon the, saieth the LORDE God off hoostes, from all those that be aboute the: so that ye shall be scatred euery man from another, and no mā shall gather them together agayne, that be fled. But after that, I will bringe the Ammonites also out off captyuyte agayne.

Vpon the Edomites hath the LORDE off hoostes spoken on this maner: 〈…〉 Is there no more wyszdome in Theman? Is there no more good councell amonge his people? Is their wyszdome then turned clene to naught? Get you hence, turne youre backes, crepe downe into the depe, O ye citesyns off Dedan.

For I will bringe destructiō vpon Esau, yee and the daye off his visitacion. Yff the grape gatherers came vpon the, shulde they not leaue some grapes? Yff the night robbers came vpon the, shulde they not take so moch, as they thought were ynough?

But I will make Esau bare, and discouer his secretes, so that he shall not be able to hyde them. His sede shalbe waisted awaye, yee his brethren and his neghbours, ād he himselff shall not be left behinde.

Thou shalt leaue thy fatherlesse children behinde the, 〈…〉 and I will kepe them and thy wydowes shall take their comforth in me. For thus hath the LORDE spoken: Beholde, they that men thought were vnmete to drinke of the cuppe, haue dronken with the first: and thynkest thou then to be fre?

No, no: thou shalt nether be quyte no fre, but thou must drynke also: For why, I haue sworne by my selff (saieth the LORDE) that Bosra shall become a wyldernesse, an open shame, a laughinge stocke and cursynge: and hir cities shalbe a continuall deserte.

For I am perfectly infourmed of the LORDE, that he hath sent a message all ready vnto the Hiethen. Gather you together, and go forth agaynst them: make you ready to the battayle, 〈◊〉 . 1. a 〈◊〉 47. b 〈◊〉 4 . d for lo: I will make the but small amonge the Heithen, and litle regarded amonge men.

Thy hie stomack & the pryde of thy herte haue disceaued ye, because thou wilt dwell in the holes of stony rockes, and haue the hie mountaynes in possession. Neuertheles though thy nest were as hie as the Aegles, yet wil I cast the downe, saieth the LORDE. Morouer Idumea shall be a wildernesse: who so goeth by it, 〈◊〉 . 1 . b 〈◊〉 . 0. b 〈◊〉 . 19. c shalbe abashed, and wondre at all hir miserable plages. Like as Sodom, Gomor and the cities that laye there aboute, were turned vpsyde downe (saieth ye LORDE) so shal no body dwell in Idumea, and no man shal haue his habitacion there. Beholde, like as the Lyon cōmeth vp from the pleasaunt medowes of Iordane vnto ye grene pastures of Ethā, so wil I dryue him, & make him runne agaynst her. But who is the yonge man that I will ordene therto? Who is like, vnto me? What is he that will stryue with me? What shepherde maye stonde in my hondes?

Therfore heare the councell of the LORDE, 〈◊〉 136. b that he hath taken vpon Idumea: & his purpose, that he hath deuysed vpon the cite syns of Theman: The leest of the flocke shal teare them in peces, & loke what fayre thynge they haue, they shal make it waist, & them selues also. At the noyse of their fall ye earth shal quake, the crie of their voyce shalbe herde vnto the reed see. Beholde, ye enemie shall come and fle vp hither, like as it were an Aegle, & sprede his wynges vpon Bosra. Then shal the hertes of the worthies in Edom be as the herte of a woman trauelinge of childe. 〈◊〉 . 48. f 〈◊〉 . 7. c 〈◊〉 . 1. a Vpon Damascus, Hemath and Arphad shall come confucion, for they shall heare euell tydinges: they shal be tossed to and fro like the see that can not stonde still. Damascus shalbe sore afrayde, & shal fle, tremblinge shal come vpon her. Sorowe and payne shal ouer take her as a woman trauelinge of childe. But how shulde so worshipfull and glorious a cite be forsaken? Heare therfore: hir yonge men shal fall in the stretes, and all hir men of warre shal be takē awaye in that tyme, saieth the LORDE of hoostes. I will kyndle a fyre in the walles of Damascus, which shal cōsume the palace of Benadad.

As for Cedar and the kyngdome of Hasor, Esa. 21. c whom Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon smote downe, the LORDE hath spoken thus vpon them: Arise, and get you vp vnto Cedar, and destroye the people towarde the easte. Their tentes and their flockes shal they take awaye, yee their hanginges and their vessell. Their Camels also shall they carie awaye with them. They shall come aboute them on euery syde with a fearfull crie.

Fle, get you soone awaye, crepe in to caues, that ye maye dwell there: O ye inhabitours of Hasor, saieth the LORDE: for Nabuchodonosor ye kinge of Babilon hath holden a councel concernynge you, & concluded his deuyce agaynst you. Arise, & get you vp agaynst yonder rich & carelesse people (saieth the LORDE) which haue nether gates ner dore barres, & that dwell not together. Their Camels shalbe stollen, & the droues of their catell dryuen awaye.

Morouer, these that be shauen wil I scatre towarde all the wyndes, & bringe them to destruction: Yee & that thorow their owne familiers, saieth the LORDE. Hasor also shall be a dwellinge for Dragons, and an euerlastinge wildernesse: so that no body shal dwell there, and no man shal haue there his habitacion.

These are the wordes, that the LORDE spake to the prophet Ieremy concernynge Elam, Eze. 32. d Dan. 8. a in the begynnynge of the reigne of Sedechias kinge of Iuda. Thus saieth the, LORDE of hoostes: Beholde, I wil breake the bowe of Elam, and take awaye their strength: and vpon Elam I wil bringe the foure wyndes from ye foure quarters of heauen, & wil scatre them agaynst the same foure wyndes. And there shal be no people, but some of Elam shal fle vnto them.

For I wil cause Elam be afrayed of their enemies, & of them that seke their lyues: & wil bringe vpō them the indignacion of my wrath, saieth the LORDE. And I wil persecute them with the swearde so longe til I haue brought them to naught. I wil set my stole in Elam, I wil destroye both the kinge & ye prynces from thence, saieth the LORDE. But in processe of tyme, I wil bringe Elam out of captiuyte agayne, saieth the LORDE.

The L. Chapter.

THe wordes yt the LORDE spake vnto the prophet Ieremy, concernynge Babilon, & the londe of the Caldees: Esa. 15. a 47. a Iere. 25. 31. a Esa. 46. a Dan. 5. a Preach amonge the Gentiles, let youre voyce be herde, make a tokē: crie out, kepe no sylence, but saye: Babilon shal be wonne, Bel shalhe cō founded, and Merodach shalbe ouercome.

Yee their goddes shal be brought to shame, and their ymages shall stonde in feare. For out of the north there shal come a people agaynst her, which shal make hir londe so waist, that no body shal dwell therin: nether man ner beast, for they shall fle and departe from thence. In those dayes & at that tyme (saieth the LORDE) the childrē of Israel shall come, Esd. 1. a they & the children of Iuda, wepinge & makinge haist, & shal seke the LORDE their God. They shall axe the waye to Sion, thyther shall they tu •• e their faces, & come, and hange vpon the, in a couenaunt that neuer shal be broken.

ere. 25. a ze 36. f My people hath bene a lost flocke, my shepherdes haue disceaued them, & haue made them go astraye vpon the hilles. They haue gone from the mountayne to the litle hill, & forgotten their folde. All they yt came vpon them, haue deuoured thē: & their enemies sayde: We haue made no faute agaynst them, for they haue displeased the LORDE, yee euen the LORDE which is the bewtie of their rightuousnes, & ye defended their fathers. Yet shal ye fle from Babilon, & departe out of ye londe of the Caldees, and ye shall be as the rammes that go before the flocke. •• re. 50. g For lo, I will wake vp an hoost of people from ye northren londe, & bringe them vpon Babilon: these shal laye sege to it, & wynne it: Their arowes shal not mysse, like as a connynge archer shuteth not wronge. And the Caldees shalbe spoyled, & all they that spoyle them, shalbe satisfied, sa. 47. a saieth the LORDE: because ye were so chearfull & glad, to treade downe myne heretage, & fulfilled youre pleasures, as the calues in the grasse: and triumphed ouer them like the bulles, when ye had gotten the victory. Youre mothers shalbe sore confounded, and they that bare you, shal come to shame. She shall be the leest set by amonge the nacions, vyode, waist, & dried vp. No man shal be able to dwell there, for the feare of ye LORDE, but she shal be whole desolate. All they that go by Babilon, •• re. 18. b 〈◊〉 . b. 49. c shall stonde still, & be abashed, & shal wondre at all hir plages.

Go forth in yor araye agaynst Babilon rounde aboute, all ye that can hādle bowes: shute as her, spare no arowes, for she hath synned agaynst the LORDE. Crie out: vpon her, vpon her, agaynst her roūde aboute: she shal yelde herselfe, her foundaciōs shal fall, & hir walles shall come downe, for it shalbe the vengeaunce of the LORDE. xo. 21. b eu. 24. d hel. . b Yee vēgeaunce shalbe taken of her, & as she hath done, so shal she be dealt withall. They shal rote out the sower from Babilon, & him yt handleth the sickle in haruest. For feare of the swearde of the enemie, euery man shall get him to his owne people, & euery man shal fle to his owne londe. Israel is a scatred flocke, the Lyons haue dispersed them. 〈…〉 First the kinge of the Assirians deuoured them, last of all this Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon hath brussed all their bones.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: Beholde, I will viset the kinge of Babilon & his kingdome, 〈…〉 as I haue visited the kinge of the Assirians: and will bringe Israel agayne to his pleasaunt pasture, that he maye fede vpon Charmel & Basan, and be satisfied vpon the mount of Ephraim & Galaad. In those dayes and at the same tyme (saieth the LORDE) yf the offence of Israel be sought for, 〈…〉 there shal none be founde: Yf men enquere for the synne of Iuda, there shal be none: for I wil be mercifull vnto them, whom I suffre to remayne ouer.

Go downe (o thou avenger) in to the enemies londe, & viset them that dwell therin: downe with them, and smyte them vpon the backes, saieth the LORDE: do acordinge to all, that I haue commaunded the. There is gone aboute the londe a crie of a slaughter & greate murthur, namely on this maner: How happeneth it, that the hammer of the whole worlde is thus broken & brussed in sonder? How chaunceth it, that Babilon is become a wildernes amonge the Heithen on this maner? I my self haue layed wayte for the, & thou art taken: vnawarres art thou trapped & snared: for why, thou hast prouoked ye LORDE vnto anger: The LORDE hath opened his house of ordinaunce, & brought forth the weapens of his wrath. For the thinge that is done in the londe of the Caldees, it is the LORDE of hoostes worke.

These thinges shal come vpon her at the last, they shal breake in to hir preuy chābres, they shall leaue her as bare as stones, that be layed together vpon heapes. They shall so destroye her, yt nothinge shal be left. They shal slaye all hir mightie souldyers, and put them to death. Wo be vnto thē, for the daye & tyme of their visitacion is at honde. Me thinke I heare already a crie, of them that be fled & escaped out of the londe of Babilon, which shewe in Sion the vengeaunce of the LORDE oure God, the vengeaunce of his temple: Yee a voyce of them, that crie agaynst Babilon: Call vp all the archers agaynst Babilon, pytch youre tentes rounde aboute her, that none escape. Recompence her, 〈…〉 as she hath deserued: and acordinge as she hath done, so deale with her agayne: for she hath set vp her self agaynst the LORDE, agaynst ye holy one of Israel. Therfore shal hir yonge men fall downe in the stretes, & all hir men of warre shal be roted out in yt daye, saieth the LORDE. Beholde, I speake vnto the (o thou proude) saieth the LORDE God of hoostes: for thy daye shal come, euē the tyme of ye visitaciō. And the proude shal stomble & fall, & no man shal helpe him vp. I wil burne vp his cities with fyre, & it shal consume all that is rounde aboute him.

Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: The children of Israel & Iuda suffre violence together. All they that haue them in captiuyte, kepe them fast, & wil not let them go: but their avēger & redemer is mightie, whose name is the LORDE of hoostes: he shal manteyne their cause, he shal make the londe shake, & iudge them that dwell therin, one with another. The swearde shall come vpon the Caldees (saieth the LORDE) vpon them that dwell in Babilon, vpon their prynces, & vpō their wyse mē: The swearde vpon their soythsayers, (as for those, they shall become fooles.) The swearde vpō their worthies, so that they shal stonde in feare: The swearde vpon their horsmen and charettes, & vpon all the comon people that dwell vnder thē: so that they all shal become like women: The swearde vpon their treasure, so that it shal be stollen awaye: The swearde vpon their waters, so that they shalbe dried vp: For the londe worshippeth ymages, & delyteth in straunge wondrefull thinges. Therfore shal wilde beestes, Apes & Estriches dwell therin: for there shal neuer man dwell there, nether shal eny man haue his habitacion there for euermore. 〈◊〉 19. d Like as God destroyed Sodom & Gomorre, with the cities that laye there aboute, saieth the LORDE: So shal noman dwell there also, nether shal eny mā haue there his habitacion. 〈◊〉 0. b 〈◊〉 28. c Beholde, there shal come a people from the north, with a greate bonde of men, & many kinges shal stonde vp from the endes of the earth: They beare bowes & buclers, cruell are they & vnmercifull.

Their voyce roareth like the raginge see, they ryde vpon horses, & come weapened to fight agaynst the: O Babilon. As soone as the kinge of Babilon heareth tell of them, his hondes shal waxe feable: Sorowe and heuynes shall come vpon him, as a woman trauelinge with childe. Beholde, like as the Lyon commeth vp from the pleasaunt medowes of Iordane vnto the grene pastures of Ethan, 〈◊〉 49. c so wil I dryue thē forth, and make them runne agaynst her. But whom shal I chose out, & ordene to soch thinge? Iob 41.. a For who is like me, or who wil stryue with me? or what shepherde maye stonde agaynst me? Therfore heare the councel that the LORDE hath geuen vpon Babilon, and the deuyce that he hath taken vpon the londe of the Caldees. The leest amōge the people shal teare them in peces, & loke what pleasaunt thinge they haue: they shal laye it waist The noyse at ye wynnynge of Babilon sh •• moue the earth, & the crie shalbe herde amonge the Gētiles.

The LI. Chapter.

THus hath the LORDE sayde: Beholde, Iere. 25. b 50. a I will rayse vp a perlous wynde agaynst Babilon & hir citesens, yt beare euell will agaynst me. I wil sende also in to Babilō fanners, to fanne her out, & to destroye hir londe: for in the daye of hir trouble they shal be aboute her on euery syde. Morouer, the LORDE hath sayde vnto the bowe men, & to them yt clymme ouer the walles in brest plates: Ye shal not spare hir yongemē, kyll downe all hir hoost. Thus the slayne shal fall downe in the londe of the Caldees, and the wounded in the stretes. Iere. 50. d As for Israel & Iuda, they shall not be forsakē of their God, of the LORDE of hoostes, of the holyone of Israel: no, though they haue fylled all their londe full of synne. Fle awaye from Babilon, Esa. 48. d euery man saue his life. Let no man holde his tunge to hir wickednes, for the tyme of the LORDES vengeaunce is come, yee he shal rewarde her agayne. Babilon hath bene in the LORDES honde a golden cuppe, Iere. 5. c yt maketh all londes droncken. Of hir wyne haue all people droncken, therfore are they out of their wittes. But sodenly is Babilon fallen, Esa. 21. b Apo. 18. a 14. b and destroyed. Mourne for her, brynge plasters for hir woundes, yf she maye peraduenture be healed agayne. We wolde haue made Babilon whole (saye they) but she is not recouered. Therfore wil we let her alone, & go euery mā in to his owne countre. For hir iudgmēt is come in to heauen, & is gone vp to the cloudes. And therfore come on, we will shewe Sion the worke of the LORDE oure God.

Make sharpe the arowes, and fyll the quyuers: Iud. 2. c 3. Re. 11. c for the LORDE shall rayse vp the sprete of the kynge of the Meedes, which hath allready a desyre to destroye Babilon. This shalbe the vengeaunce of the LORDES, and the vengeaunce of his temple.

Set vp tokens vpon the walles of Babilon, make youre watch stronge, set yor watch men in araye, yee holde preuye watches: & yet for all that shall the LORDE go forth with the deuyce, which he hath taken vpon them that dwell in Babilon.

O thou that dwellest by the greate waters, o thou that hast so greate treasure and riches, thyne ende is come: & the rekenynge of thy wynnynges. Amos 6. c Iere. 22. a The LORDE of hoostes hath sworne by himself, that he wil ouerwhelme the with men like greshoppers in nombre, which with a corage shall crie Alarum Alarum agaynst the. Iere. 10. b Yee euen the LORDE of hoostes, that with his power made the earth, with his wiszdome prepayred ye rounde worlde, & with his discrecion spred out the heauens. As soone as he letteth his voyce be herde, the waters in the ayre waxe fearce: He draweth vp the cloudes from the endes of the earth. Psal. 134. b He turneth ye lightenynges to rayne, he bringeth the wyndes out of their secrete places. By the reason of wyszdome, all men are become fooles. Esa. 44. c Baru. 6. a Confounded be all the casters of ymages: for ye thinge that they make, is but disceate, & hath no breath. Vayne is it, & worthy to be laughed at: & in the tyme of visitacion it shal perish.

Neuertheles, the porcion of Iacob is none soch: but he that made all thinges, whose name is the LORDE of hoostes, he is the rodde of his enheritaunce. Thou breakest my weapens of warre, & yet thorow the I haue scatred the nacions & kyngdomes: Thorow the haue I scatred horse & horse man, yee the charettes, & soch as sat vpon them: Thorow the I haue scatred man & woman, olde and yonge, bacheler & mayden. Thorow the I haue scatred the shepherde & his flocke, the husbond man & his catell, the prynces & the rulers. Therfore wil I rewarde the cite of Babilon & all hir citesyns the Caldees, with all the euell which they haue done vnto Sion: Yee that ye youre selues shall se it, saieth the LORDE. Beholde, I come vpon the (thou noysome hill) saieth the LORDE, thou that destroyest all londes. I wil stretch out my honde ouer the, & cast the downe from the stony rockes: & wil make the a brente hill, so that nether corner stones, ner pinnacles, ner foundacion stones shalbe taken eny more out of the but waist & desolate shalt thou lie foreuermore, saieth the LORDE.

Set vp a tokē in the londe: blowe the trompettes amonge the Heithen, prouoke the nacions agaynst her, call the kyngdomes, of Ararat, Menni & Ascanes agaynst her: nombre out Taphsar agaynst her, bringe as greate a sorte of horses agaynst her, as yf they were greshoppers. Prepare agaynst them ye people of the Meedes wt their kynges, prynces & all their chefe rulers, yee and the whole londe that is vnder them.

The londe also shal shake & be afrayed, when the deuyce of the LORDE shall come forth agaynst Babilon: to make the londe of Babilon so waist, that no mā shal dwell eny more therin. The Worthies of Babilon shal leaue the batell, & kepe them selues in stronge holdes, their strength hath fayled them, they shalbe like women. Their dwellinge places shal be brent vp, their barres shalbe broken. One purseuaunt shal mete another, yee one poste shal come by another, to bringe the kinge of Babilon tydinges: that his cite is taken in on euery syde, the foordes occupyde, the fennes brent vp, and the souldyers sore afrayed.

For thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel: The doughter of Babilon hath bene in hir tyme like as a threszshinge floore, but shortly shal hir haruest come. Nabuchodonosor the kinge of Babilon hath deuoured and distroyed me, he hath made me an emptie vessell. He swalowed me vp like a Dragon, and fylled his bely with my delicates: he hath cast me out, he hath takē my substaunce awaye, & the thinge that was left me hath he caried vnto Babilon, saieth the doughter, that dwelleth in Sion: Yee & my bloude also, vnto the Caldees, saieth Ierusalem. Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, I wil defende thy cause, & avenge the: I will drynke vp hir see, & drye vp hir water sprynges.

Babilon shal become an heape of stones, 〈…〉 a dwellinge place for dragons, a fearfulnes & wondringe, because no man dwelleth there. They shall roare together like lyons, & as the yonge lyons when they be angrie, so shal they bēde them selues. In their heate I shal set drynke before thē, & they shalbe droncken for ioye: Then shal they slepe an euerlastinge slepe, & neuer wake, 〈…〉 saieth the LORDE I shal carie them downe to be slayne like shepe, like wethers & gootes. O, how was Sesah wonne? O, how was the glory of ye whole londe taken? how happeneth it, that Babilon is so wondred at amonge the Heithē? The see is rysen ouer Babilon, & hath couered her with his greate wawes. Hir cities are layed waist, the londe lieth vnbuylded and voyde: it is a londe, where no man dwelleth, & where no mā traueleth thorow. Morouer I wil vyset Bel at Babilō: 〈…〉 & the thinge that he hath swalowed vp, that same shal I plucke out of his mouth. The Gentiles also shall runne nomore vnto him, yee and the walles of Babilon shal fall.

〈…〉 O my people, come out of Babilon, that euery man maye saue his life, from the fearfull wrath of the LORDE. Be not faynte herted, & feare not at euery rumoure that shalbe herde in the londe: for euery yeare bringeth new tydinges, yee straunge wickednes and lordshipe. And lo, the tyme commeth that I wil vyset the ymages of Babilō, and the whole londe shalbe confounded, yee and hir slayne shal lie in the myddest of her. Heauen and earth with all that is therin, 〈…〉 shall reioyce ouer Babilon, when the destroyers shal come vpon her from the north, saieth ye LORDE.

〈…〉 Like as Babilō hath beaten downe and slayne many out of Israel, so shal there fall many, and be slayne in all hir kyngdome. Ye that haue escaped the swearde, haist you, stō de not still, remembre the LORDE afarre of: and thinke vpon Ierusalem, for we were ashamed to heare the blasphemies: oure faces were couered with shame, because the straunge aleauntes came in to the Sanctuary of the LORDE. Wherfore beholde (saieth the LORDE) the tyme commeth, that I wil vyset the ymages of Babilon, and thorow the whole lōde they shal mourne and fall. 〈…〉 Though Babilon clymmed vp in to heauē, and kepte her power an hie: yet shal I sende her destroyers saieth the LORDE.

A piteous crie shall be herde from Babilon, and a greate mysery from the londe of the Caldees: when the LORDE destroyeth them, and when he dryueth out the hie stomack & proude boostinge, where with they haue bene as furious, as the wawes of greate water floudes, and made greate crakes with their wordes. For the destroyers shall come vpon her (euen vpon Babilon) which shal take hir worthies, and brake their bowes: for God is disposed to avenge him self vpon them, & sufficiently to recompence thē. Yee (saieth the LORDE) I will make their prynces, their wyse men, their chefe rulers & all their worthies, dronckē: so that they shal slepe an euerlastinge slepe, and neuer wake: Thus saieth the kinge, whose name is ye LORDE of hoostes.

Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: The thicke wall of Babilon shal be broken, and hir proude gates shalbe brente vp. And the thinge that the Gētiles and the people haue wrought with greate trauayle and laboure, shal come to naught, and be consumed in the fyre.

This is the charge that Ieremy gaue vnto Sarias the sonne of Nerias, the sonne of Maasia, when he wente towarde Babilon with Sedechias the kinge of Iuda, in the fourth yeare of his reigne. Now this Sarias was a peaceable prynce. Ieremy wrote in a boke, all the misery that shulde come vpon Babilon, yee and all these sermons that be written agaynst Babilon, and gaue Sarias this charge: When thou commest vnto Babilon, se that thou rede all these wordes, and saye: O LORDE, thou art determed to rote out this place, so that nether people ner catell shal dwell there eny more, but to lie waist for euer: and when thou hast redde out the boke, bynde a stone to it, and cast it in the myddest of Euphrates, and saye: Apoc. 18. Euē thus shal Babilon syncke, & be thrust downe with the burthen of trouble, that I will bringe vpon her: so that she shal neuer come vp agayne. Thus farre are ye preachinges of Ieremy.

The LII. Chap.

SEdechias was xxj. yeare olde, when he was made kynge,4. Re. 24 d 2. Par. 36. b & he raigned xj. yeare in Ierusalem. His mothers name was Hamithal, Ieremies doughter of Lobna. He lyued wickedly before the LORDE euen as Ioachim dyd. Wherfore the LORDE was angrie at Ierusalem & Iuda, so longe till he had cast thē out of his presence. And Sedechias fel from the kynge of Babilon. But in ye ix. yeare of his raigne, Iere. 39. a 4. Re. 25. a In the tēth Moneth, the tenth daye of the Moneth it happened, that Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon with all his hooste came before Ierusalem, & beseged it, & made them bulworkes rounde aboute it. And this beseginge of the cite endured vnto the xj yeare of kynge Sedechias.

And in the fourth Moneth, the ix daye of the Moneth, there was so greate honger in the cite: that there were no more vitayles for the people of the londe. Iere. 38. b 39. a So all the souldyers brake awaye, and fled out of the cite by night, thorow the waye of the porte betwene the two walles by the kynges garden. Now ye Caldees had cōpassed the cite rounde aboute, yet wente these men their waye towarde the wildernesse.

And so the Caldees folowed vpon them, and toke Sedechias the kinge in the felde of Iericho, when his hoost was runne from him. So they caried the kynge awaye presoner to Reblatha, vnto the kinge of Babilon in the londe of Hemath, where he gaue iudgment vpon him. Iere. •• b

The kinge of Babilō also caused Sedechias sonnes be slayne before his face, yee & put all the prynces of Iuda to death at Reblatha. Morouer he put out the eyes of Sedechias, caused him be bounde with cheynes, to be caried vnto Babilon: & let him lie in preson, till he dyed.

Now ye tenth daye of the fyfth Moneth in the xix yeare of Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon, Nabusaradan the chefe captayne and the kinge of Babilons seruauntes came vnto Ierusalem, & brent vp the house of the LORDE. He brent vp also the kinges palace, all the houses & all the gorgeous buyldinges in Ierusalē. And the whole hoost of the Caldees yt were with the chefe captayne, brake downe all the walles of Ierusalem rounde aboute.

As for the poore people & soch folke as yet was left in the cite, which also were fallen to the kinge of Babilon, yee & what people as yet remayned: Nabusaradan the chefe captayne caried them awaye presoners. But ye poore people of the countre, dyd Nabusaradan the chefe captayne leaue in the londe, to occupie the vynyardes & feldes. The Caldees also brake the brasen pilers, that were in the house of the LORDE, yee the seate and the brasen lauer that was in the house of ye LORDE: & caried all the metall of them vnto Babilon. They toke awaye also the Cauldrons, shouels, flesh hokes, sprinklers, spones & all the brasen vessell that was occupide in the seruyce: with the basens, colepannes, sprinklers, pottes, candilstickes, spones, and cuppes: wherof some were of golde, and some of syluer.

The chefe captayne toke also the two pilers, the lauer, the xij brasen bullockes yt stode vnder ye seate,3. Re. 7. which kinge Salomon made in the house of the LORDE: & all the vessell conteyned so moch metall, that it might not be weyed. For euery piler was xviij cubites hie, & the rope that went aboute it, was xij cubites, & foure fingers thick and rounde: Now vpon the rope were brasen knoppes, & euery knoppe was fyue cubites hie: & vpon the knoppes were whopes, & pomgranates rounde aboute of clene brasse.

After this maner were both the pilers fashioned with the pomgranates, wherof there were an hundreth and xcvj, which hanged vpon the whoopes rounde aboute. The chefe captayne also toke Sarias yt hie pre •• & Sophonias that was chefe next him, and the thre kepers of the treasury. He toke out of the cite a chamberlayne which was a captayne of the souldyers, & seuen men that were the kinges seruauntes, which were founde in the cite: & Sepher a captayne that vsed to muster the men of warre: with lx men of the countre that were taken in the cite. These Nabusaradan the chefe captayne toke, & caried them to the kinge of Babilon vnto Reblatha: and the kinge of Babilon caused them to be put to death at Reblatha in the londe of Hemath. And thus Iuda was ledde awaye captyue, out of his owne londe.

This is the summe of the people, whom Nabuchodonosor ledde awaye captyue.

In the seuenth yeare of his reigne, he caried awaye of ye Iewes, thre thousande thre and twenty. In the xviij yeare Nabuchodonosor caried awaye from Ierusalem eight hunderth & xxxij personnes. In the xxiij yeare of Nabuchodonosor Nabusaradan the chefe captayne, toke awaye seuen hundreth xlv Iewes presoners. The whole summe of all the presoners, is foure thousande and 〈◊〉 hundreth.

In the xxxvij yeare after that Ioachi the kinge of Iuda was caried awaye in the xxv daye of the xij Moneth, Euilmerodach kinge of Babilon (the same yeare yt he reigned) gaue Ioachim the kinge of Iuda his pardon, and let him out of preson, and spake louyngly to him: And set his trone aboue ye trones of the other kinges that were with him in Babilon. He chaunged also the dothes of his preson, yee and he att with him all his life longe. And he had a cōtinuall lyuynge geuen him of the kinge of Babilon, euery daye a certayne thinge alowed him, all the dayes of his life, vntill he dyed.

The ende of the prophet Ieremy.
The Lamentatacions of Ieremy.

And it came to passe (after Israel was brought in to captiuyte, and Ierusalem destroyed:) that Ieremy the prophet sat wepinge, mournynge and makinge his mone in Ierusalem: so that wt an heuy herte he sighed, & sobbed, sayenge:

The first Chapter.

ALas, how sitteth the cite so desolate, yt some tyme was full of people? 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 how is she become like a wedowe, which was the lady of all nacions? 〈◊〉 . 4. b 〈◊〉 . 15. a How is she brought vnder tribute, that ruled all londes?

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 She wepeth sore in the night, so that ye teares runne downe hir chekes: for amonge all hir louers, there is none, that geueth her eny comforte: yee hir nexte frendes abhorre her, & are become hir enemies.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Iuda is taken presoner, because she was defyled: & for seruynge so many straunge goddes, she dwelleth now amonge the Heithen. She fyndeth no rest, all they that persecuted her, toke her, and so she dwelleth amonge hir enemies.

The stretes of Sion mourne, because no man commeth more to the solempne feastes: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 All hir gates are desolate, hir prestes make lamentacion, hir maydens are carefull, and she herself is in greate heuynesse.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hir enemies are fallen vpon hir heade, & haue put her to shame: because the LORDE hath chastened her for hir greate wickednes: hir children are ledde awaye captiue before their enemie. 〈…〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 All the bewtie of the doughter of Sion is awaye, hir prynces are become like wethers, that fynde no pasture. They are dryuē awaye before their enemie, so that they haue no more power.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Now doth Ierusalem remembre the tyme of hir misery & disobedience, yee the ioye & pleasure yt she hath had in tymes past: seynge hir people is brought downe thorow the power of their enemie, & there is no man for to helpe her: hir enemies stōde lokinge at her and laugh hir Sabbath dayes to scorne.

Ierusalem synned euer more & more, therfore is she come in decaye. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 All they that had her in honoure, despise her: for they haue sene hir fylthinesse. Yee she sigheth, and is a shamed of herselfe.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hir skyrtes are defyled, she remēbred not what wolde folowe: therfore is hir fall so greate, and there is no mā to comforte her. O LORDE, cōsidre my trouble, for myne enemie hath the vpper honde.

The enemie hath put his honde to all the precious thinges that she had, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 yee euen before hir eyes came the Heithen in and out of the Sanctuary: Deu. 23. a whom thou (neuertheles) hast forbydden to come within thy congregacion.

All hir people seke their bred with heuynes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 4. Re. 6. f Tren. 2. c & loke what precious thinge euery man hath, that geueth he for meate, to saue his life. Considre (O LORDE) and se, how vyle I am become.

O ye all that go fore by, beholde and se, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 yf there be eny sorowe like vnto myne, wherwith the LORDE hath troubled me, in the daye of his fearefull wrath.

From aboue hath he sent downe a fyre, in to my bones and chastened me: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he hath layed a not for my fete, and throwne me wyde open: he hath made me desolate, so that I must euer be mournynge.

The yocke of my transgression is come at the last, with his honde hath he taken it vp, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and put it aboute my neck. My strength is gone: the LORDE hath delyuered me into those hondes, wherout I can not quyte myself.

The LORDE hath destroyed all the mightie men, that were in me. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath proclamed a feast, to slaughter all my best mē. The LORDE hath troden downe the doughter of Iuda, like as it were in a wyne presse.

Therfore do I wepe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Iere. 14. c Tren. 2. and myne eyes gusshe out of water: for the cōforter that shulde quycken me, is farre fro me. My children are dryuen awaye, for why? the enemie hath gotten the ouer honde.

Sion casteth out hir hōdes, and there is no man to comforte her. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The LORDE hath layed the enemies rounde aboute Iacob, and Ierusalem is as it were a menstruous womā, in the myddest of them.

The LORDE is rightuous, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Dan. 9. a for I haue prouoked his countenaunce vnto anger. O take hede all ye people, and considre my heuynes: My maydens and my yonge men are led awaye in to captiuyte.

I called for my louers (but they begyled me:) for my prestes and councelers, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but they perished: euen while they sought for meate, to saue their lyues.

Considre (O LORDE) how I am troubled, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 my wombe is disquieted, my herte turneth aboute in me, and I am full of heuynes. The swearde hurteth me without, and within I am like vnto death.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They heare my mournynge, but there is none that wil comforte me. All myne enemies haue herde of my trouble, and are glad therof, because thou hast done it. But thou shalt brynge forth the tyme, when they also shal be like vnto me.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 From the shall come all their aduersite: thou shalt plucke them awaye, euē as thou hast plucked me, because of all my wickednesse. For my sorow is very greate, and my herte is heuy.

The II. Chapter.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ALas, how hath ye LORDE darckened the doughter of Sion so sore in his wrath? ren. 4 b As for the honoure of Israel, he hath casten it downe from heauen: Par. 19. a sal 98. a How happeneth it, that he remembred not his owne fote stole, when he was angrie?

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The LORDE hath cast downe all the glory of Iacob without eny fauoure: All the stronge places of the doughter Iuda hath he broken in his wrath, & throwne them downe to the grounde: hir kyngdome & hir prynces hath he suspended.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 In the wrath of his indignacion he hath broken all the horne of Israel: he hath with drawē his right honde from the enemie: yee a flame of fyre is kyndled in Iacob, & hath consumed vp all rounde aboute.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath bent his bowe like an enemie, he hath fastened his right honde as an aduersary: and euery thinge that was pleasaūt to se, he hath smyten it downe. He hath poured out his wrath like a fyre, in to the tabernacle of the doughter ion.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The LORD is become, like as it were an enemie, he hath cast downe Israel & all his places: yee all his stronge holdes hath he destroyed, and fylled the doughter of Iuda wt moch sorow and heuynesse..

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hir tabernacle (which was like a garden of pleasure) hath he destroyed: hir hie solēpne feastes hath he put downe. Iere. 7. b The LORDE hath brought it so to passe, that the hie solempne feastes and Sabbathes in Sion, are clene forgottē. In his heuy displeasure hath he made the kynge & prestes to be despised.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The LORDE hath forsaken his owne aulter, & is wroth with his owne Sanctuary, & hath geuen the walles of their towres in to the hondes of the enemie. Their enemies made a noyse in the house of the LORDE, as it had bene in a solempne feast daye.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The LORDE thought to breake downe the walles of the doughter Sion, he spred out his lyne, & drewe not in his honde, till he had destroyed them. Therfore mourne the turrettes and the broken walles together.

Hir portes are casten downe to the grounde, hir barres are broken & smytten in sonder: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hir kynge & prynces are caried awaye to the Gētiles. 〈…〉 They haue nether lawe ner prophetes, ner yet eny vision from the LORDE.

The Senatours of the doughter Sion sit vpon the grounde in sylence, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they haue strowed aszshes vpon their heades, and gyrded them selues with sackcloth. The maydens of Ierusalem hange downe their heades to the grounde.

Myne eyes begynne to fayle me thorow wepinge, my body is disquieted, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈…〉 my leueris poured vpon the earth, for the greate hurte of my people, seynge the children and babes dyd swowne in the stretes of the cite.

Euen when they spake to their mothers: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 where is meate and drynke? for whyle they so sayde, they fell downe in the stretes of the cite, like as they had bene wounded, and some dyed in their mothers bosome.

What shal I saye of the (O thou doughter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ierusalem) to whom shall I lickē the? To whom shal I cōpare the (o thou doughter Sion) to comforte the withall? Thy hurte is like a mayne see, who maye heale the?

Thy prophetes haue loked out vayne & folish thinges for the, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈…〉 they haue not shewed the of thy wickednesse, 〈…〉 to kepe the from captiuyte: but haue ouerladen the, and thorow falsede scatred the abrode.

All they that go by the, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 clappe their hondes at the: hissinge and wagginge their heades vpon the doughter Ierusalem, and saye: is this the cite that men call so fayre, wherin the whole londe reioyseth?

All thine enemies gape vpon the, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 whisperinge and bytinge their teth, sayenge: let vs deuoure, for the tyme that we loked for, is come: we haue founde and sene it.

The LORDE hath fulfilled the thinge, 〈…〉 that he was purposed to do: and perfourmed that he had deuysed longe agoo: he hath destroyed, and not spared. He hath caused thine aduersary to tryumphe ouer the, and set vp the horne of thine enemie.

Let thine hert crie vnto the LORDE, O thou cite of the doughter Sion: let thy teares rūne downe like a ryuer daye & night: rest not, & let not the aple of thine eye leaue of.

Stonde vp, and make thy prayer in the first watch of the night, poure out thine he •• like water before the LORDE: lift vp thine hondes, for the lyues of thy yonge children, that dye of honger in the stretes.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Beholde (O LORDE) & considre, why hast thou gathered me vp so clene? Shal the women then eate their owne frute, euen children of a spanne longe? Shal the prestes and prophetes be slayne thus in the Sanctuary of the LORDE?

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Yonge & olde lye behinde the stretes vpon the grounde, my maydens & yonge men are slayne with the swearde: whom thou in the daye of thy wrothfull indignacion hast put to death: Yee euen thou hast put them to death, & not spared them.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 My neghbours that are rounde aboute me, hast thou called, as it were to a feast daye: so that in the daye of the LORDES wrath none escaped, nether was eny left behinde. Those that I had brought vp & norisshed, hath myne enemy destroyed.

The III. Chapter.

I Am the mā, that (thorow the rodd of his wrath) haue experiēce of misery. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He droue me forth, and led me: yee into darcknesse, but not in to light.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Agaynst me only he turneth his honde, & layeth it euer vpon me.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 My flesh & my skynne hath he made olde, and my bones hath he brussed.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath buylded rounde aboute me, & closed me in with gall and trauayle.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath set me in darcknesse, as they that be deed for euer.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath so hedged me in, that I can not get out, & hath layed heuy lynckes vpon me.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Though I crie & call piteously, yet heareth he not my prayer.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath stopped vp my wayes with foure squared stones, & made my pathes croked.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He layeth waite for me like a Bere, and as a lyon in a hole.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath marred my wayes, and brokē me in peces, he hath layed me waist altogether.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath bent his bowe, and made me as it were a marck to shute at.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The arowes of his quyuer hath he shot, euen in to my reynes.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I am laughed to scorne of all my people, they make songes vpon me all ye daye lōge.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath fylled me with bytternesse, & geuen me wormwod to drynke.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hat smytten my teth in peces, & rolled me in the dust.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He hath put my soule out of rest, I forget all good thinges.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I thought in myself: I am vndone, there is no hope for me in the LORDE.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 O remembre yet my mysery and my trouble, the wormwod and the gall.

Yee thou shalt remēbre them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for my soule melteth awaye in me.

Whyle I cōsidre these thinges in my hert, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I get a hope agayne.

Namely, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that the mercies of the LORDE are not clene gone, & that his louynge kyndnesse ceasseth not.

His faithfulnes is greate, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and renueth it self as the mornynge.

The LORDE is my porcion (saieth my soule) therfore wil I hope in him. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

O how good is the LORDE vnto thē, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that put their trust in him, and to the soule that seketh after him?

O how good is it with stilnesse to wate and tarie, for the health of the LORDE? 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

O how good is it for a man, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to take the yock vpon him from his youth vp?

He sitteth alone, he holdeth him still 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and dwelleth quietly by him self.

He layeth his face vpon the earth, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 yf (per case) there happen to be eny hope.

He offreth his cheke to the smyter, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he will be content with reproues.

For the LORDE wil not forsake for euer. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

But though he do cast of, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 yet (acordinge to ye multitude of his mercies) he receaueth to grace agayne.

For he doth not plage, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & cast out the children of men from his herte.

To treade all the presoners of the earth vnder his fete. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

To moue the iudgment of man before the most highest. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

To condemne a man in his cause: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The LORDE hath no pleasure in soch thinges.

What is he then that saieth: there shulde somthinge be done without the LORDES cō maundement? 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Out of the mouth of the most highest goeth not euell and good. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Wherfore them murmureth the lyuinge man? let him murmoure at his owne synne, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Let vs loke well vpon oure owne waies, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & remembre oureselues, and turne agayne to ye LORDE.

Let vs lift vp oure hertes with oure hondes vnto the LORDE, that is in heauen. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

We haue bene dyssemblers & haue offended, wilt thou therfore not be intreated? 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Thou hast couered vs in thy wrath, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & persecuted vs, thou hast slayne vs without eny fauoure.

Thou hast hyd thy self in a cloude, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that oure prayer shulde not go thorow.

Thou hast made vs outcastes, and to be despysed amonge the Heithen. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 All oure enemies gape vpon vs.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Feare and snare is come vpon vs, yee despite and destruccion.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Whole ryuers of water guszshe out of myne eyes, for the greate hurte of my people.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Myne eyes runne, and can not ceasse, for there is no rest.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 O LORDE, when wilt thou loke downe frō heauen, and considre?

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Myne eye breaketh my herte, because of all the doughters of my cite.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Myne enemies hunted me out sharpely like a byrde, yee and that with out a cause.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They haue put downe my life in to a pitte, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and layed a stone vpon me.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They poured water vpon my heade, then thought I: now am I vndone.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I called vpon thy name (O LORDE) out of the depe pitte.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thou hast herde my voyce, & hast not turned awaye thine eares fro my sighinge and crienge.

Thou hast enclyned yi self vnto me, whē I called vpon the, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & haist sayde: feare not.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thou (O LORDE) hast mayntened the cause of my soule, and hast redemed my life.

O LORDE, thou hast sene my blasphemers, take thou my cause vpon the. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Thou hast well considred how they go aboute to do me harme, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & that all their councels are agaynst me.

Thou hast herde their despytefull wordes (O LORDE) yee and all their ymaginacions agaynst me. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

The lippes of myne enemies, & their deuyces that they take agaynst me, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 all the daye longe.

Thou seist also their sittinge downe and their rysinge vp, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they make their songes of nothinge but of me.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Rewarde them (O LORDE) acordinge to the workes of their hondes.

Geue them ye thinge, that their owne herte is afrayed of: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 euen thy curse.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Persecute them, (O LORDE) with thy indignacion, & rote them out from vnder the heauen.

The IIII. Chapter.

O How is the golde become so dymme? How is the goodly coloure of it so sore chaunged? 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and the stones of ye Sanctuary thus scatred in the corner of euery strete?

The children of Sion that were allwaye in honoure, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & clothed with ye most precious golde: how are they now becomme like the erthen vessels which be made with the potters honde?

The Lamyes geue their yonge ones suc wt bare brestes: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but the doughter of my people is cruel, and dwelleth in the wyldernesse: like the Estriches.

The tonges of the suckinge children, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cleue to ye rofe of their mouthes for very thurst. The yonge children axe bred, but there is noman, that geueth it them.

They that were wonte to fayre delicatly, perishe in the stretes: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they that afore were brought vp in purple, make now moch of donge.

The synne of the doughter of my people is become greater, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈…〉 then ye wickednesse of Sodome, that sodēly was destroyed, and not taken with hondes.

Hir abs •• yners (or Nazarees) were whyter then ye snowe or mylke: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 their coloure was fresh read as the Corall, their beutie like the Saphyre.

But now their faces are very black: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈…〉 In so moch, that thou shuldest not knowe them in the stretes. Their skynne cleueth to their bones, It is wythered, and become like a drye stock.

They that be slayne with the swearde, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are happier, then soch as dye of honger, and perishe awaye famishinge for the frutes of the felde.

The womē (which of nature are pitefull) haue sodden their owne children with their hondes: that they might be their meate, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈…〉 in ye miserable destruccion of the doughter of my people.

The LORDE hath perfourmed his heuy wrath: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈…〉 he hath poured out the furiousnes of his displeasure. He hath kindled a fyre in Sion, which hath consumed the foundacions therof.

Nether the kinges of the earth, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ner all ye inhabitours of the worlde, wolde haue beleued, that the enemie & aduersary shulde haue come in at the gates of the cite of Ierusalē.

Which neuertheles is come to passe for ye synnes of hir prophetes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and for the wickednes of hir prestes, that haue shed innocentes bloude within her.

So that these blynde men wēte stomblinge in the stretes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and stayned themselues wt bloude, which els wolde touche no bloudy cloth.

But they cried vnto euery mā: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 fle the staynynge, awaye, get you hēce, touch it not. Yee (sayde they) ye must be brent, ye must dwell amonge the Gentiles, & byde no longer here.

The countenaunce of the LORDE hath banyshed them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & shal neuer loke more vpon them: For they them selues nether regarded the prestes, nor pitied their elders.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Wherfore yet oure eyes fayle vs, whyle we loke for vayne helpe: seynge we be euer waitynge vpon a people, that can do vs no good,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They laye so sharpe waite for vs, that we can not go safe vpon the stretes: for oure ende is come, oure dayes are fulfilled, oure ende is here.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Oure persecuters are swifter then the Aegles of the ayre: they folowed vpon vs ouer the mountaynes, and layed wait for vs in ye wildernesse.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈…〉 The very breth of oure mouth: euen the anoynted LORDE himself shalbe takē in oure synnes, of whom we saye: Vnder his shadowe we shal be preserued amonge the Heithen.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And thou (O doughter Edom) that dwellest in the londe of Hus, be glad and reioyce: for the cuppe shal come vnto the also, which whē thou suppest of, thou shalt be dronckē.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thy synne is wel punished (O thou doughter Sion) he shall not suffre the to be caried awaye eny more. But thy wickednesse (O doughter Edom) shall he vyset, and for thy synnes sake, he shal lede the in to captiuyte.

The V. Chapter.

CAll to remēbraunce (O LORDE) what we haue suffred, cōsidre and se oure cō fucion. Oure enheritaunce is turned to the straungers, & oure houses to the aleauntes. We are become carefull and fatherlesse, and oure mothers are as the wydowes. We are fayne to drynke oure owne water for moneye, and oure owne wod must we bye with moneye. Oure neckes are vnder persecucion, we are weery, and haue no rest.

Afore tyme we yelded oure selues to the Egipcians, and now to the Assirians, only that we might haue bred ynough. Oure fathers (which now are gone) haue synned, 〈◊〉 31. e 〈◊〉 . 18. a & we must beare their wickednesse. Seruauntes haue the rule of vs, and no man delyuereth vs out of their hōdes. We must get or lyuynge with the parell of oure lyues, because of the drouth of the wildernesse.

Oure skynne is as it had bene brent in an ouen, for very sore honger. The wyues are raueshed in Sion, & the maydens in the cities of Iuda. The prynces are hanged vp with the honde of the enemies, they haue not spared the olde sage men, they haue taken yonge mens lyues from them, and the boyes are hanged vp vpon trees. The elders syt no more vnder the gates, and the yonge men vse no more playenge of Musick. The ioye of oure herte is gone, oure mery quere is turned in to mourninge. The garlande of oure heade is fallen: alas, that euer we synned so sore.

Therfore oure hert is full of heuynesse, & oure eyes dymme: because of ye hill of Sion that is destroyed, In so moch, that the foxes runne vpon it. But thou (O LORDE) that remaynest for euermore, and thy feate worlde with out ende: Wherfore wilt thou still forget vs, and forsake vs so longe? O LORDE: Turne thou vs vnto the, & so shal we be turned. Renue or daies as in olde tyme, Iere. 31. e for thou hast now banished vs longe ynough, and bene sore displeased at vs.

The ende of the Lamentacions of Ieremy.
The Prophet Baruch. What Baruch conteyneth. Chap. I. Baruch readeth the boke before the kynge and all the people, which sende money to Ierusalem. Chap. II. They knowlege, that they haue deserued punyshment: God promyseth them forgeuenesse. Chap. III. They praye hartely beinge in preson, and he exorteth them to amende. Chap. IIII. A sermon to the people, with an exortacion to pacience. Chap. V. He conforteth them, and sheweth the vocacion of the Heithen Chap. VI. A copie of the epistole, that Ieremy sent to the Iewes, which were led awaye presoners vnto Babilon.

These are the wordes of the boke, that Baruch the sonne of Nerias the sonne of Maasia, the sonne of Sedechias, the sonne of Sedei, the sonne of Helchia, wrote at Babilon in the fifth yeare the seuēth daye of the moneth:4. Re. 2 what tyme as the Caldees wanne Ierusalem and brent it.

The first Chapter.

ANd Baruch dyd rede the wordes of this boke, that Iechonias the sonne of Ioachim kynge of Iuda might heare: and in the presence of all the people, that were come to heare the boke: yee and before all the noble kinges sonnes, before ye lordes of the councell and elders: and before the whole people, from ye lowest vnto the hyest: before all them that dwelt at Babilon, by ye water of Sodi. Which when they herde it, wepte, fasted, and prayed before the LORDE.

They made a colleccion also of money, acordinge to euery mans power, and sent it to Ierusalem vnto Ioachim the sonne of Helchia the sonne of Salon prest, with ye other prestes: and to all the people which were wt him at Ierusalē, what tyme as they had gotten the ornamentes of the temple of ye LORDE (that were taken awaye out of the temple) that they might brynge them agayne in to the londe of Iuda, the x. daye of the moneth Siban: namely, syluer vessel, (which Sedechias the sonne of Iosias kinge of Iuda had made.) After that Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon had takē Iechonias, with all his prynces, lordes, and all the people, and led them captyue from Ierusalem vnto Babilon.

And they sayde: Beholde, we haue sent you money, e . 14. c to bye you burnt offerynges and incense withall: make you vnleuended bred, & offre for synne vpon the aulter of the LORDE oure God. •• re. 29. b Tim. . a And praye for the prosperite of Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon, and of Balthasar his sonne: yt their dayes maye be vpon earth, as the dayes of heauen: that God also maye geue vs strength, and lighten oure eyes: that we maye lyue vnder the defence of Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon, and vnder the proteccion of Balthasar his sonne: that we maye longe do them seruyce, and fynde fauoure in their sight. Praye for vs also vnto the LORDE oure God, for we haue synned agaynst the LORDE oure God, and vnto this daye is not his wrath turned yet awaye from vs. And se that ye rede this boke (which we haue sent vnto you to be rehearced in the temple of the LORDE) vpon the hye dayes, and at tyme conuenient.

Thus shal ye saye: The LORDE or God is rightuous, 〈…〉 . b 〈…〉 a but we are worthy of cōfucion & shame: like as it is come to passe this daye, vnto all Iuda, & to euery one yt dwelleth at Ierusalem: to or kinges, prynces, prestes, prophetes & to oure fathers. We haue synned before the LORDE oure God, we haue not put oure trust in him, ner geuen him credence: we haue not obeyed him, we haue not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE oure God, to walke in the commaundementes that he gaue vs. Sens the daye that he brought oure forefathers out of the londe of Egipte vnto this present daye, we haue bene euer a mysbeleuynge and an vnfaithful people vnto ye LORDE oure God: destroyenge oure selues vtterly, and shrenckinge backe, that we shulde not heare his voyce.

Wherfore there are come vpon vs greate plages & dyuerse curses, 〈…〉 like as the LORDE deuysed by Moses his seruaūt: which brought oure forefathers out of the lōde of Egipte, to geue vs a lōde, that floweth with mylcke and hony, like as it is to se this daye. Neuertheles, we haue not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE oure God, acordinge to all the wordes of the prophetes, whom he sent vnto vs and to oure rulers: but euery man folowed his owne mynde and wicked ymaginacion: to offre vnto straūge goddes, and to do euel in the sight of the LORDE oure God.

The II. Chapter.

FOr the which cause the LORDE oure God hath perfourmed his deuyce, 〈…〉 wherof he certified vs, and oure heades that ruled in Ierusalē: yee and oure kynges, oure princes, with all Israel and Iuda. And soch plages hath ye lorde brought vpō vs, as neuer came to passe vnder the heauē: like as it is fulfilled in Hierusalem, acordinge as it is written in the lawe of Moses: 〈…〉 that a man shulde eate ye flesh of his owne sonne, & the flesh of his owne doughter. Morouer, he hath delyuered them in to the hondes of all the kinges, yt are rounde aboute vs (to be confounded and desolate) & scatred thē abrode in all londes & naciōs. Thus are we brought beneth & not aboue, for we haue synned against the LORDE or God, & not bene obedient vnto his voyce. Therfore ye LORDE or God is rightuous, 〈…〉 & we with or fathers (as reason is) are brought to opē shame, as it is to se this daye And as for these plages yt are come vpon vs allready, ye LORDE had deuyced thē for vs: yet wolde we not praye vnto ye LORDE oure God, yt we might euery mā turne frō his vngodly wayes. So ye LORDE hath caused soch plages to come vpon vs, for he is rightuous in all his workes, which he hath cōmaunded vs: which we also haue not done, ner harkened vnto his voyce, for to walke in ye cōmaundemētes of ye LORDE, yt he had geuē vnto vs.

And now o LORDE God of Israel, thou that hast brought thy people out of the londe of Egipte with a mightie honde, 〈…〉 with tokens and wōdres, with thy greate power ād outstretched arme: and hast gotten thy selff a name, as it is come to passe this daye: O LORDE oure God, we haue synned, we haue done wickedly, 〈◊〉 9. c we haue behaued oure selues vngodly in all thy rightuousnesses. Turne thy wrath frō vs (we beseke the) for we are but a few left amonge the Heithen, where thou hast scatred vs. Heare or prayers (o LORDE) & oure peticiōs, bringe vs out of captiuyte, 〈…〉 for thine owne sake: get vs fauoure in the sight of thē, which haue led vs awaye: yt all lōdes maye knowe, that thou art the LORDE oure God, and that Israel and his generacion calleth vpon thy name.

〈…〉 O LORDE, loke downe frō thy holy house vpon vs: enclyne thine eare, & heare vs. For the deed, yt be gone downe to their graues, & whose soules are out of their bodies, 〈…〉 ascribe vnto the LORDE nether prayse ner rigtuous-makynge: but the soule that is vexed for the multitude of hir synnes, which goeth on heuely and weakely, whose eyes begynne to fayle: yee soch a soule ascrybeth prayse and rightuousnesse vnto the LORDE. O LORDE, we poure out oure prayers before the, and requyre mercy in thy sight, O LORDE oure God: not for eny godlynesse off oure forefathers, but because thou hast sent out thy wrath & indignacion vpon vs: acordinge as thou dydest threaten vs, by thy seruaūtes the prophetes, sayenge:

〈…〉 Thus sayeth the LORDE: Bowe downe youre shulders and neckes, and serue the kynge of Babilon, so shal ye remayne still in the londe, that I gaue vnto youre fathers. Yff ye will not do this, ner heare the voyce of ye LORDE youre God, to serue the kynge of Babilon: I shall destroye you in the cities of Iuda, within Ierusalem and without. I will also take from you the voyce off myrth and the voyce of ioye, the voyce of the brydegrome and the voyce of the bryde, ād there shal no man dwell more in the londe. But they wolde not herken vnto thy voyce, to do the kynge of Babilon seruyce: and therfore hast thou perfourmed the wordes, that thou spakest by thy seruauntes the prophetes: namely, that the bones of oure kynges and the bones of oure fathers shulde be trāslated out of their place.

And lo, now are they layde out in the heate of ye Sonne, & in the colde of ye night, ād deed in greate mysery: wt hunger, wt swearde, wt pestilence & are clene cast forth. As for the tēple wherin thy name was called vpon thou hast layde it waist, as it is to se this daye: & yt for the wickednes of the house of Israel & the house of Iuda O LORDE or God, thou hast intreated vs after all thy goodnes & acordinge to all ye greate louinge mercy of thyne, like as thou spakest by thy seruaunte Moses, in the daye when thou didest cōmaū de him, to wryte thy lawe before the children of Israel, sayenge: Yf ye will not herkē vnto my voyce, Deu. 4. d 28. d thē shal this greate multitude be turned in to a very smal people, for I wil scatre thē abrode. Not withstōdinge I am sure, that this folke will not heare me: for it is an hardnecked people. But in ye lōde of their captiuyte, they shall remembre them selues, & lerne to knowe, yt I am the LORDE their God: when I geue thē an herte to vnderstōde, & eares to heare. Then shal they prayse me in the lōde of their captiuyte, & thynke vpon my name. Then shall they turne them frō their harde backes, & from their vngodlynes: Then shal they remembre the thynges, yt happened vnto their forefathers, which synned agaynst me. So will I bringe them agayne in to the londe, which I promised wt an ooth vnto their fathers: Abrahā, Isaac & Iacob: & they shal be lordes of it, yee I wil increace thē, and not minysh thē. And I wil make another couenaūt with them: Heb. 8. c Zach 8. b Apoc. 2 . soch one as shal endure for euer: namely, yt I will be their God, and they shalbe my people: and I wil nomore dryue my people the children off Israel, out of the londe yt I haue geuē thē.

The III. Chapter.

ANd now o LORDE allmightie, thou God of Israel: or soule yt is in trouble, & or sprete yt is vexed, crieth vnto the: heare vs (o LORDE) & haue pite vpon vs, for thou art a mercifull God: be gracious vnto vs, for we haue synned before ye. Thou endurest for euer, shulde we thē vtterly perishe O LORDE almightie, thou God of Israel: Heare now ye prayer of ye deed Israelites & of their childrē, which haue synned before ye, Ephe. 2. a & not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE their God, Dani. 3. c Iere. 〈◊〉 3. c. 5. e for the which cause these plages hange now vpō vs. O LORDE, remēbre not ye wickednes of or forefathers, but thinke vpō thy power & name now at this tyme: for thou art ye LORDE or God, & ye (o LORDE) wil we prayse. For thou hast put ye feare ī or hartes, to ye intēt yt we shulde call vpon ye name, & prayse ye in oure captiuyte: Nu. 1 . a Psal. 77. a and yt we might turne from the wickednesse of oure forefathers, yt synned before the.

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Beholde, we are yet this daye in oure captiuyte, where as thou hast scatred vs, to be an abhominacion, curse, and synne: like as it hath happened vnto oure fathers also, Psal. 78. a because of all their wickednesse and departynge from the.

O Israel, heare the commaundementes of life: pondre them well with thine eares, that thou mayest lerne wysdome. But how happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thyne enemies lōde? thou art waxen olde in a straū ge countre, and defyled with the deed. Why art thou become like them, that go downe to their graues? Euē because thou hast forsaken the well of wysdome. Iere. 2. b For yf thou haddest walked in the waye of God, truly thou shuldest haue remayned still safe ī thine owne londe.

O lerne then where discrecion is, where vertu is, Pro. 1 a 3. a where vnderstōdinge is: that thou mayest knowe also frō whence cōmeth longe life, Psal. 18. b 118. r a necessary lyuynge, the light of the eyes & quyetnes. Who euer foūde out hir place? or who came euer in to hir treasures?

Where are ye prynces of the Heithen become, and soch as ruled the beestes vpon the earth? They that had their pastyme with the foules of the ayre, they that hoorded vp syluer and golde (wherin men trust so moch) and made no ende of their gatheringe? What is worth of them, that coyned siluer, and were so carefull, and coude not bringe their workes to passe? They be roted out, and gone downe to hell, and other men are come vp in their steade? Yonge men haue sene light, and dwelt vpon earth: but the waye of reformacion haue they not knowne, ner vnderstonde the pathes therof: nether haue their children receaued it, yee right farre is it frō thē. It hath not bene herde of in the lōde of Canaan, nether hath it bene sene at Theman.

The Agarenes sought after wisdome, but that which is earthly, like as the marchauntes of the lōde do. They of Theman are connynge also, & they laboure for wisdome & vnderstondinge: but ye waye of true wisdome they knowe not, nether do they thynke vpon the pathes therof. O Israel, how greate is the house of God? and how large is the place of his possession? Deu. 4. f Iere. 23. d Psa. 144. a Greate is he, and hath none ende: hye and vnmeasurable. What is become of those famouse giauntes, that were so greate of bodyes, and so worthy men of warre? Those had not the LORDE chosen, nether haue they founde the waye of reformacion, therfore were they destroyed: and for so moch as they had no wisdome, they perished because of their foolishnesse.

Who hath gone vp in to heauen, to take wisdome there, & brought her downe frō the cloudes? Who hath gone ouer the see to fynde her, & hath chosen her aboue golde, and so brought her hither? No man knoweth the wayes of wisdome, nether is there eny yt can seke out hir pathes. But he that woteth all thynges, knoweth her, & he hath founde her out with his foreknowlege. 〈…〉 This same is he which prepared the earth at the begynnynge, & fylled it with all maner of foules & beestes. When he sendeth out the light, it goeth: & whē he calleth it agayne, it obeyeth hī wt feare. The starres kepe their watch, & geue their light, yee and yt gladly. When he calleth them, they saye: here we be. And so with chearfulnes they shewe light vnto him yt made thē. This is oure God, ād there shall none other be cōpared vnto him: It is he, yt hath founde out all wisdome, 〈…〉 and hath geuen her vnto Iacob his seruaunt, & to Israel his beloued. 〈…〉 Afterwarde dyd he shewe himself vpon earth, and dwelt amonge men.

The IIII. Chapter.

THis is the boke off the commaundemētes of God, and the lawe ye endureth for euer. All they yt kepe it, shall come to life: but soch as forsake it, shall come to death. Turne the o Iacob, and take holde of it: walke by this waye, thorow his brightnesse and shyne. Geue not thyne honoure to another, and thy worshipe to a straunge people. O Israel, how happie are we, 〈…〉 seīge that God hath shewed vs soch thynges as are pleasaūt vnto him? Be of good cheare, thou people of God, o thou awnciēt Israel. Now are ye solde amonge the Heithen, howbeit not for youre vtter destruccion: but because ye prouoked God the LORDE to wrath and displeasure, therfore were ye delyuered vnto vnto youre enemies: For ye displeased the euerlastinge God that made you, offerynge vnto deuels and not God. Ye haue forgottē him that brought you vp, ād youre nurse haue ye greued, o. Ierusalem.

When she sawe that the wrath off God was commynge vpon you: she sayde: Herkē o ye that dwell aboute Sion, for God hath brought me into greate heuynesse: ād why? I se the captyuyte of my people, of my sonnes and doughters, which the euerlastynge God will brynge vpon them. With ioye dyd I norish them, but now must I leaue them with wepynge and sorow.

Let no man reioyce ouer me wyddowe ād forsaken: which for the synnes off my children, am desolate of euery man. For why, they departed from the lawe of God: they wolde not knowe his rightuousnes, ner walke in the waye off his cōmaundementes: and as for the pathes off the treuth and godlynesse, they had no lust to go in them.

O ye dwellers aboute Sion: come, and let vs call to remembraunce the captiuyte, that the euerlastinge God hath brought vpon my sonnes and my doughters. He hath brought a people vpon them from farre, an vncurteous people, 〈…〉 and of a straunge lāguage: which nether regarde the olde, ner pyte the yonge,

These haue caried awaye the deare beloued of my wyddowes, leauynge me alone, both desolate and childlesse. But alas, what can I helpe you? Now he yt hath brought these plages vpon you, delyuer you also frō the hondes of youre enemies.

Go youre waye (O my children) go youre waye: for I am desolate and forsaken. I haue put of the clothinge of peace, and put vpon me the sack cloth off prayer, and for my tyme I will call vpon the most hyest. Be off good cheare, 〈…〉 o my children: crie vnto the LORDE, and he shal delyuer you from the power of the prynces, youre enemies.

For verely, I haue euer a good hope off youre prosperous health: yee a very gladnesse is come vpon me from the holy one, because of the mercy that ye shall haue off oure euerlastinge Sauioure.

With mournynge and wepinge dyd I let you go fro me, but with ioye and perpetuall gladnesse, shall the LORDE brynge you agayne vnto me. Like as the neghbours of Sion sawe youre captyuite from God, Euē so shal they also se shortly youre health in God, which shal come on you with greate honoure and euerlastinge worshipe.

O my children, suffre paciētly the wrath that shal come vpon you, For the enemie hath persecuted the, but shortly thou shalt se his destruccion, and shalt treade vpon his necke. My derlinges haue gone rough harde wayes, for they are led awaye as a flocke that is scatred abrode with the enemies. But be of good cōforte (o my children) & crie vnto the LORDE: For he that led you awaye, hath you yet in remembraūce: and like as ye haue bene mynded to swarne from yor God, so shal ye now endeuoure youre selues x. tymes more, 〈◊〉 33. b to turne agayne, and to seke him. For he that hath brought these plages vpō you, shal brynge you euerlastinge ioye agayne with youre health. Take a good herte vnto the, o Ierusalē: for he which gaue ye that name, exorteth the so to do.

The wicked doers that now put the to trouble, shall perish: Iere. 50. a b. c and soch as haue reioysed at thy fall, shalbe punyshed. The cities whom thy children serue, and that haue caried awaye thy sonnes, shal be correcte. For like as they be now glad of yi decaye, so shal they mourne in their owne destruccion. The ioye off their multitude shalbe taken awaye ād their cheare shalbe turned to sorowe. For a fyre shal fall vpon them from the euerlastinge God, longe to endure: and it shalbe inhabited of deuels for a greate season.

The V. Chapter.

O Ierusalem, loke aboute the towarde the east, and beholde the ioye, that commeth vnto the from God. For lo, thy sonnes, (whom thou hast forsakē, and that were scatred abrode) come gathered together from the east and west, reioysinge in the worde of the holy one, vnto the honoure off God.

Put of thy mournynge clothes (o Ierusalem) and thy sorow, and decke the with the worshipe and honoure, that commeth vnto the from God, with euerlastinge glory. God shal put the cloake off rightuousnesse vpon the, and set a crowne off euerlastinge worshipe vpon thine heade: for vpon the will God declare his brightnes, that is vnder the heauen: Yee an euerlastinge name shalbe geuen the of God, with peace of rightuousnesse, & ye honoure of Gods feare.

Arise o Ierusalem, stōde vp on hye: loke aboute the towarde the east, and beholde thy children gathered from the east vnto the west: which reioyce in the holy worde, hauynge God in remembraunce. They departed from the on fote, and were led awaye of their enemies: but now shal the LORDE bringe them caried with honoure, as children off ye kyngdome. For God is purposed to brynge downe all stoute moūtaynes, yee and all hye rockes, to fyll the valleys, & so to make them eauen with the grounde: yt Israel maye be diligēt to lyue vnto ye honoure of God. The woddes & all pleasaūt trees shal ouershadowe Israel, at the cōmaundement of God. For hyther shal God brynge Israel with ioyfull myrth, and in the light of his magesty: with the mercy and rightuousnesse, that cō meth of himselff.

A copie off the epistle, that Ieremy the prophet did sende vnto the Iewes, which were led awaye presoners by the kynge of Babilō. Wherin he certifieth them of the thinge, that was cō maunded him of God.

The VI. Chapter.

BEcause of the synnes that ye haue done agaynst God, er. 25 a. b ye shal be led awaye captyue vnto Babilon, euen off Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon. So when ye be come in to Babilon, ye shall remayne there many yeares, and for a longe season: namely, vij. generacions: & after that wil I bringe you awaye peaceably from thē ce. Now shal ye se in Babilō, goddes of golde, of syluer, of wodd and of stone: borne vpon mens shulders, to cast out a fearfulnes before the Heithen. But loke that ye do not as the other: be not ye afrayed, and let not the feare of them ouercome you.

Therfore, when ye se the multitude of people worshippinge them behinde & before, saye ye in youre hertes: O LORDE, it is thou, that oughtest only to be worshipped? Myne angel also shal be with you, Deu. 6. c and I myself wil care for youre soules. As for the tymbre of those goddes, ye carpēter hath polisshed them: yee gylted be they, & layed ouer with syluer, yet are they but vayne thinges, & can not speake. Like as a wench yt loueth peramours is trymly deckte, euen so are these made & hanged wt golde. Crownes of golde verely haue their goddes vpon their heades: so the prestes themselues take the golde and syluer from them, & put it to their owne vses: yee they geue of the same vnto harlottes, ād trymme their whores withall: Agayne, they take it from the whores, and decke their goddes therwith. Yet can not these goddes delyuer them selues from rust and mothes. Iere. 10. a Whē they haue couered them with clothynge off purple, they wype their faces for the dust of the temple, wherof their is moch amōge thē. One hath a sceptre in his honde, as though he were iudge of the countre: yet can he not slaye soch as offende him. Another hath a swearde or an axe in his honde, for all that, is he nether able to defende him selfe from batayll, ner f o murtherers.

By this ye maye vnderstonde, that they be no goddes: therfore se yt ye nether worshipe them, ner feare them. For like as a vessel yt a man vseth, is nothinge worth when it is broken, euen so is it with their goddes. When they be set vp in the temple, their eyes be full of dust, thorow the fete of those that come in. And like as ye dores are shut in roū de aboute vpō him, yt hath offended the kinge: Or as it were a deed body kepte besyde the graue: Euen so the prestes kepte the dores with barres and lockes, lest their goddes be spoyled with robbers. They set vp cā dels before thē (yee verely and yt many) wherof they can not se one, but euen as blockes, so stonde they in the temple. It is sayde, yt the serpentes and wormes, which come off the earth, gnawe out their hertes, eatinge them & their clothes also, and yet they fele it not. Their faces are blacke, thorow the smoke yt is in the temple. The oules, swalowes & byrdes fle vpon them, yee and the cattes runne ouer their heades.

By this ye maye be sure, that they are not goddes, therfore feare them not. The golde that they haue, is to make them beutifull: for all that, excepte some body dight off their rust, they wil geue no shyne: and when they were cast into a fourme, they felt it not. They are bought for money, and haue no breth off life within them. They must be borne vpon mens shulders, as those that haue no fete: wherby they declare vnto men, that they be nothynge worth. Confounded be they then, that worshipe them. For yf they fall to the grounde, they can not ryse vp agayne of thē selues: Yee though one helpe them vp and set them right, yet are they not able to stonde alone: but must haue proppes set vnder them, like deed men. As for the thinge that is offred vnto them, their prestes sell it, ād abuse it: yee the prestes wyues take therof, but vnto the sicke and poore they geue nothinge of it, the women with childe & the mēstruous laye hondes of their offerynges. By this ye maye be sure, that they are not goddes, therfore be not ye afrayde of them. From whence cōmeth it thē, that they be called goddes? The women syt before the goddes of syluer, golde and wodde, and the prestes syt in their temples, hauynge open clothes, whose heades and beerdes are shauen, and haue nothige vpon their heades: roaringe and cryenge vpon their goddes, as men do at the feast, when one is deed.

The prestes also take awaye the garmentes of the ymages, and decke their wyues & children withall. Whether it be good or euell yt eny man do vnto them, they are not able to recompence it: they can nether set vp a kynge, ner put him downe. In like maner they maye nether geue riches, ner rewarde euell. Though a man make a vowe vnto them ād kepe it not, they wil not requyre it. They can not restore a blynde mā to his sight, ner helpe eny mā at his nede. They cā shewe no mercy to the wyddowe, ner do good to ye fatherles. Their goddes of wodd, stone, golde & syluer, are but euen as other stones, yt be hewē of ye mountayne. They yt worshipe thē, shal be cōfounded. How shulde they then be taken for goddes? yee how darre men call thē goddes? And though the caldees worshiped thē not, hearinge yt they were but domme & coude not speake: Yet they them selues offre vnto Bel, and wolde fayne haue him to speake: as who saye, they coude fele, yt maye not moue. But when these mē come to vnderstōdinge, they shall forsake them, for their goddes haue no felinge. A greate sorte off women gyrded with coardes, syt in the stretes, & burne olyue beries. Now yf one off them be conveyed awaye, & lye wt eny soch as come by: she casteth hir neghburesse in the teth, because she was not so worthely reputed, ner hir coorde broken. What so euer is done for them, it is but in vayne ād lost: How maye it thē be thought or sayde, yt they are goddes? Carpenters & goldsmythes make thē, nether be they eny other thinge, but euen what the worke men wil make of them. Yee the goldsmithes them selues that make thē, are of no longe cōtynuaunce: How shulde then the thī ges that are made of them, be goddes? Vayne therfore are the thinges (yee very shame is it) that they leaue behinde thē for their posterite. For as soone as there cōmeth eny warre or plage vpon thē, then the prestes ymagyn, where they maye hyde thē selues with thē. How can men thynke then, that they be goddes, which nether maye defende them selues from warre, ner delyuer thē fro mysfortune? For seynge they be but of wodd, of stone, of syluer and of golde: all people & kynges shal knowe herafter, that they be but vayne thinges: yee it shalbe openly declared, that they be no goddes: but euen the very workes off mēs hōdes, & that God hath nothinge to do with thē. They can set no kynge in the londe ner geue rayne vnto men. They can geue no sentence of a matter, nether defende the londe frō wronge: For they are not able to do so moch as a crowe, that flyeth betwixte heuen and earth

Whē there happeneth a fyre into the house of those goddes of wodde, of syluer and of golde, the prestes wil escape & saue thē selues, but the goddes burne as the balkes therin They can not withstōde eny kynge or batell: how maye it then be thought or graunted, that they be goddes? Morouer, these goddes of wodde, of stone, of golde & syluer maye nether defende thēselues from theues ner robbers: yee ye very wicked are stronger thē they. These strype them out off their apparell, that they be clothed withall, these take their golde & syluer frō thē, and so get thē awaye: yet cā they not helpe thēselues. Therfore it is moch better for a man, to be a kinge & so to shewe his power: or els a profitable vessel in a house, wherin he yt oweth it, might haue pleasure: yee or to be a dore in a house, to kepe soch thinges safe as be therin: thē to be soch a vayne god. The Sōne, the Mone & all the starres when they geue their shyne & light, are obedient, & do men good: When the lightenynge glistreth, all is cleare: The wynde bloweth in euery countre, & whē God cōmaundeth the cloudes to go rounde aboute the whole worlde, they do as they are bydden: when the fyre is sent downe frō aboue & cōmaunded, it burneth vp hilles ād woddes: But as for those goddes, they are not like one off these thynges, nether in beuty ner strēgth. Wherfore mē shulde not thynke, ner saye that they be goddes, seynge they cā nether geue sentence in iudgment, ner do men good. For so moch now as ye are sure, that they be no goddes, then feare them not: For they can nether speake euell ner good of kynges. They cā shewe no tokens in heauē for ye Heithen, nether shyne as the Sōne, ner geue light as the Mone: yee ye vnreasonable beastes are better then they: for they can get thē vnder the rofe, and do them selues good: So can ye be certified by no maner off meanes, that they be goddes: therfore feare thē not. For like as a frayboggarde in a garden off Cucumbers kepeth nothinge, euen so are their goddes of wod, of syluer & golde: and like as a whyte thorne in an orcharde, that euery byrde sytteth vpon: yee like as a deed body that is cast in the darcke, Euen so is it with those goddes of wodde, syluer and golde. By the purple and scarlet which they haue vpon thē, ād soone faydeth awaye, ye maye vnderstonde, that they be no goddes: yee they them selues shal be cōsumed at the last, which shal be a greate cōfucion of the londe. Blessed is the godly man, yt hath no ymages & worshippeth none, for he shalbe farre from reprofe.

The ende of the prophet Baruch which is not in the Canon of the hebrue.
The Prophet Ezechiel. What Ezechiel conteyneth. Chap. I. The vision of the iiij. beestes and wheles. Chap. II. The sendinge out of the prophet. Chap. III. The office of a prophet. Chap. IIII. A prophecy of the sege of Ierusalem. Chap. V. With what plages God punished Ierusalem. Chap. VI. Punishment for Idolatry. Chap. VII. The longe captiuyte of the people and causes therof. Chap. VIII. Ezechiel seyth greate abhominacion thorow the hole in the wall. Chap. IX. The slaughter of the people. Soch as haue the signe of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thau, are saued. Chap. X. The visiō of the iiii. beestes agayne. Chap. XI. The vision of the xxv. men. Chap. XII. A prophecy of the captiuyte of Iuda. Chap. XIII. A sermon agaynst false prophetes Chap. XIIII. Punyshment for wylfulnesse and presumpciō of synne God letteth soch people be disceaued. Chap. XV. Agaynst Ierusalem that vnfrutfull vyne. Chap. XVI. A maruelous goodly descripcion of the Idolatry of Ierusalem, for the which he calleth them whores. Chap. XVII. A prophecy of the destruccion off Ierusalem. A promyse of Christ. Chap. XVIII. Euery man shall beare his owne synne, and not anothers. Chap. XIX. The captiuyte off the kyng s of Iuda. The crueltie of kinges and princes. Chap. XX. The greate vnthanfulnesse off the people. Agayne, the merciful longe sufferaunce of God. Chap. XXI. The swearde, prophecyed to come vpon Israel and the Ammonites, by the kynge of Babilon. Chap. XXII. The synnes, wherfore Ierusalē was punished: both the prophetes, prestes, rulers and comon people. Chap. XXIII. The Idolatry or whordome of Samaria and Ierusalem. Chap. XXIIII. The destruccion off Ierusalem and captiuyte of the people signified by the pot. Chap. XXV. Agaynst Ammon, Moab, Seir, and the Palestynes. Chap. XXVI. He mourneth vpon the cite off Tyre (otherwyse called Zor) for the destruccion that was to come vpon her. Chap. XXVII.XXVIII. Agaynst the prince of Tyre, and agaynst Sidon. Chap. XXIX.XXX.XXXI.XXXII. Plages vpon Egipte and the kynges therof. Chap. XXXIII. The office off a preacher. The worde of God must be folowed in very 〈◊〉 , and not only in mouth. Chap. XXXIIII. Agaynst euell shepherdes, Christ the only true shepherde is promised. Chap. XXXV. Agaynst the mount Seir, that is, agaynst the Edomites. Chap. XXXVI. A promyse of the delyueraunce of Israel. Chap. XXXVII. A consolacion for the Israelites, and a figure of the generall resurrecciō, signified by the drye bones. Chap. XXXVIII.XXXIX. Of Gog and Magog, with their destruccion. Chap. XL. From this chapter vnto the ende, the prophet seith in a vision the buyldinge agayne of Ierusalē, ād the temple: Wherby is descrybed the mystery off the church off christ, and saluacion of the faithfull in hi

The first Chapter.

IT chaūsed, in the xxx. yeare the fifth daye off the fourth Moneth, that I was amonge the presoners by the ryuer off Cobar: where the heauens opened, & I sawe a vision of God. Now the fifth daye off the Moneth made out the fyfth yeare off kynge Ioachims captiuyte. At the same tyme came ye worde off the LORDE vnto Ezechiel the sonne off Buzi prest, in the londe off the Caldees by the water of Cobar, where the honde off the LORDE came vpō him. 〈…〉 And I loked: & beholde, a stormy wynde came out off the north with a greate doude full of fyre, which wt his glistre lightened all rounde aboute.

And in ye myddest off the fyre it was all cleare, and as it were the licknesse of foure beastes, which were fashioned like a man: sauynge, that euery one had foure faces and foure wynges.

Their legges were straight, but their fete were like bullockes fete, and they glistred, as it had bene fayre scoured metall. Vnder their wynges vpon all the foure corners, they had mens hondes. Their faces and the it wynges were towarde the foure corners: yet were the wynges so, that one euer touched another. When they wente, they turned them not aboute: 〈…〉 but ech one wente straight forwarde.

Vpon the rightside off these foure, their faces were like the face off a man and the fa off a Lyon: But vpon the left side, they had the face off an oxe and the face off an Aegle.

Their faces also and their wynges werespred out aboue: so that two wynges off one touched euer two wynges off another, and with the other two they couered their bodie. Euery one when it wente, it wente straight forwarde.

Where as the sprete led them, thither they wente, and turned not aboute in their goynge. 〈…〉

The fashion and countenaūce of the beestes was like hote coales off fyre, euen as though burnynge cresshettes had bene amonge the beestes: and the fyre gaue a glistre, and out off the fyre there wente lighteninge. Whē ye beestes wēte forwarde & backwarde, one wolde haue thought it had lightened. Now whē I had well considered the beestes, I sawe a worke off wheles vpon the earth with foure faces also like the beestes.

The fashion & worke of the wheles was like the see. The foure wheles were ioyned and made (to loke vpon) as it had bene one whele in another. When one wente forwarde, they wente all foure, and turned thē not aboute ī their goinge. They were large, greate and horrible to loke vpon.

Their bodies were full off eyes rounde aboute them all foure. Whē the beestes wē te, the wheles wente also with them: And when the beestes lift them selues vp from ye earth, the wheles were lift vp also. Whyther so euer the sprete wente, thither wente they also, & ye wheles were lift vp & folowed thē. for ye sprete of life was in the wheles. When ye beestes wēte forth, stode still, or lift them selues vp from the earth: then the wheles also wente, stode still, & were lift vp, for ye breth off life was in the wheles.

Aboue ouer ye heades of the beestes there was a firmament, which was fashioned as it had bene off the most pure Christall, & that was spred out aboue vpon their heades: vnder the same firmament were their wynges layed abrode, one towarde another, and two wynges couered the body of euery beest. And when thy wente forth, I herde the noyse off their wynges, like the noyse of greate waters, as it had bene the voyce off the greate God, and a russhinge together as it were off an hoost off men. And when they stode still, they let downe their winges. Now when they stode still, and had letten downe their wynges, it thondred in the firmament, that was aboue their heades.

Aboue the firmament that was ouer their heades, there was the fashion off a seate, as it had bene made off Saphir. Apon the seate there sat one like a mā. I behelde him, and he was like a cleare light, as it had bene all of fyre with in from his loynes vpwarde.

And beneth when I loked vpon him vnder ye loynes, me thought he was like a shyninge fyre, that geueth light on euery syde. Yee the shyne and glistre yt lightened rounde aboute, was like a raynbowe, which in a raynie daye apeareth in the cloudes. Euē so was the similitude, wherin the glory off the LORDE apeared. Whē I sawe it, I fell vpon my face, and herkened vnto the voyce off him, that spake.

The II. Chapter.

THen sayde he vnto me: Stonde vp vpon thy fete (O thou sonne of mā) and I will talke with the. ze. 3. d And as he was commonynge with me, the sprete came in to me, and set me vp vpon my fete: so that I marcked the thinge, that he sayde vnto me. And he sayde: Beholde, thou sonne off man: I will sende the to the children off Israel, to those runnagates and obstinate people: for they haue takē parte agaynst me, and are runne a waye fro me: both they, and their forefathers, Exo. 32. a vnto this daye.

Yee I will sende ye vnto a people yt haue rough vysages and stiff stomackes: vnto whom thou shalt saye on this maner: This the LORDE God himselff hath spoken, yt whether they be obedient or no (for it is a frauwarde housholde) they maye knowe yet that there hath bene a prophet amonge them.

Therfore (thou sonne off man) feare thē not, nether be afrayed off their wordes: for they shall rebell agaynst the, Iere. 1. c and despise ye. Yee thou shalt dwell amonge scorpions: but feare not their wordes, be not abashed at their lokes, for it is a frauwerde housholde.

Se that thou speake my wordes vnto them, whether they be obediēt or not, for they are obstinate. Therfore (thou sonne of man) obeye thou all thinges, that I saye vnto ye, and be not thou stiffnecked, like as they are a stiffnecked housholde. Open thy mouth, and eate that I geue the.

So as I was lokynge vp, beholde, there was sent vnto me an hande, wherin was a closed boke: and the hande opened it before me, Apo. 5. a and it was written within and without, full off carefull mourninges: alas, and wo.

The III. Chapter.

THen sayde he vnto me: thou sonne of mā, eate that, what so euer it be: Yee eate that closed boke, and go thy waye, Iere. 15. c 4. Es. 14 Apo. 10. b and speake vnto the children off Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gaue me the boke for to eate, and sayde vnto me: Thou sonne of man, thy bely shal eate, and thy bowels shalbe fylled with ye boke, that I geue the. Then dyd I eate the boke, 〈…〉 and it was in my mouth sweter then hony.

And he sayde vnto me: thou sonne of mā, get the soone vnto the house off Israel, ād shewe thē ye wordes, that I cōmaunde the: 〈…〉 for I sende the not to a people that hath a straūge, vnknowne or harde speache, but vnto the house off Israel: Not to many nacions, which haue diuerse speaches and harde languages, whose wordes thou vnderstōdest not: Neuertheles, 〈…〉 yf I sent the to those people, they wolde folowe the: But the house off Israel wil not folowe ye, for they will not folowe me: 〈…〉 Yee all the house off Israel haue stiff foreheades and harde hertes. Beholde therfore, I will make thy face preuayle agaynst their faces, and harden thy foreheade agaynst their foreheades: so that thy foreheade shall be harder then an Adamāt or flynt stone: that thou mayest feare them yt lesse, 〈…〉 and be lesse afrayed off them, for they are a frauwerde housholde.

He sayde morouer vnto me: thou sonne off man, take diligent hede with thine eares, to ye wordes that I speake vnto the, fasten them in thine herte: and go to the presoners off thy people, speake vnto them, ād saye on this maner:

Thus the LORDE God hath spokē: Whether ye heare, or heare not. With that, the sprete toke me vp. And I herde the noyse of a greate russhinge and remouynge off the most blissed glory off the LORDE out off his place.

I herde also the noyse off the wynges off the beestes, that russhed one agaynst another, yee and the ratlynge off the wheles, that were by them, which russhinge & noyse was very greate.

Now when the sprete toke me vp, and caried me awaye, 〈…〉 I wente with an heuy and a soroufull mynde, but the honde off ye LORDE comforted me right soone.

And so in the begynnynge off the Moneth Abib, I came to the presoners, that dwelt by the water off Cobar, and remaȳ ned in that place, where they were: 〈…〉 and so continued I amonge them seuen dayes, beinge very sory.

And when the seuen dayes were expyred, the LORDE sayde vnto me: Thou sonne off man, 〈…〉 I haue made the a watch man vnto the house of Israel: therfore take good hede to the wordes, and geue them warnynge at my commaundement.

Yff I saye vnto the, concernynge the vngodly mā, that (without doute) he must dye, and thou geuest him not warnynge, ner speakest vnto him, that he maye turne from his euell waye, and so to lyue: Then shall the same vngodly man dye in his owne vnrightuosnes: but his bloude will I requyre off thyne honde. Neuertheles, yff thou geue warnynge vnto the wicked, and he yet forsake not his vngodlynesse: then shall he dye in his owne wickednesse, but thou hast discharged thy soule.

Now yf a rightuous mā go frō his rightuousnesse, 〈…〉 and do the thinge that is euell: I will laye a stomblinge blocke before him, and he shall dye, because thou hast not geuen him warninge: Yee dye shall he in his owne synne, so that the vertue, which he did before, shall not be thought vpon: but his bloude will I requyre of thine honde.

Neuertheles, yf thou exhortest the rightuous, that he synne not, and so ye rightuous do not synne: Then shall he lyue, because he hath receaued thy warnynge, and thou hast discharged thy soule. And there came the hō de off the LORDE vpon me, and he sayde vnto me: Stonde vp, and go in to the felde, yt I maye there talke with the.

So when I had rysen vp, and gone forth into the felde: Beholde, the glory off the LORDE stode there, 〈…〉 like as I sawe it afore, by the water off Cobar.

〈◊〉 . 1. g Then fell I downe vpon my face, and ye sprete came in to me, which set me vp vpon my fete, and sayde thus vnto me: Go thy waye, and sparre thy selff in thyne house. Beholde (O thou sonne off man) there shall chaynes be brought for the, to bynde the wt all, so that thou shalt not escape out off thē. And I will make thy tunge cleue so the rofe off thy mouth, that thou shalt be domme, and not be as a chider with them: for it is an obstinate housholde.

But when I speake vnto the, then open thy mouth, and saye: Thus saieth the LORDE God: who so heareth, let him heare: who so will not, let him leaue: for it is a frauwarde housholde.

The IIII. Chapter.

THou sonne off man: take a tyle stone, and laye it before the, and descrybe vpon it the cite off Ierusalem: how it is beseged, how bulworkes and strō ge diches are grauen on euery syde off it: descrybe also tentes, and an hoost off men rounde aboute it.

Morouer, take an yron panne, and set it betwixte the & ye cite in steade off an yron wall, Then set thy face towarde it, besege it, and laye ordinaunce agaynst it, to wynne it. This shal be a token vnto the house off Israel. But thou shalt slepe vpon thy left syde, and laye the synne of the house off Israel vpon the.

Certayne dayes apoynted, thou shalt slepe vpon that syde, and beare their synnes. Dan. 9. d Neuertheles I will apoynte the a tyme (to put off their synnes) and the nombre off the daies: Thre hundreth & xc. dayes must thou beare the wickednesse off the house of Israel. When thou hast fulfilled these dayes, lye downe agayne, and slepe vpon thy right syde xl. dayes, and beare the synnes off the house of Iuda.

A daye for a yeare, a daye (I saye) for a yeare, will I euer laye vpon the. Nu. 14. Therfore set now thy face agaynst that beseged Ierusalem, and discouer thine arme, that thou mayest prophecie agaynst it.

Beholde, I will laye chaynes vpon the, that thou shalt not turne the from one syde to another, till thou hast ended the dayes of thy sege.

Wherfore, take vnto the wheate, barly beanes, growell sede, milium and fitches: and put these together in a vessell, and make the loaues of bred therof, acordinge to the nombre of the dayes that thou must lye vpon yt syde: that thou mayest haue bred to eate, for thre hundreth and XC. dayes.

And the meate that thou eatest, shall haue a certayne waight apoynted: Namely, twentie sycles euery daye. This apoynted meate shalt thou eate daylie, from the beginnynge to the ende.

Thou shalt dryncke also a certayne measure off water: Namely, the sixte parte of an Hin shalt thou drynke daylie from the begynnynge to the ende. Barly cakes shalt thou eate, yet shalt thou first strake thē ouer with mās donge, yt they maye se it. And with that, sayde the LORDE: Osec. 9 a Euen thus shal the children of Israel eate their defyled bred in the myddest off the Gentiles, amonge whom I will scatre them.

Then sayde I: Oh LORDE God, Beholde, my soule was yet neuer stayned: for fro my youth vp vnto this houre, I dyd neuer eate of a deed carcase, or of that which was slayne of wilde beestes, nether came there euer eny vnclene flesh in my mouth.

Where vnto he answered me, and sayde: Well than, I will graunte the to take cowes donge, for the donge off a man, and to strake the bred ouer with all, before thē.

And he sayde vn to me: Beholde thou sonne off man, Eze. 5. d Eze. 14. d Re. 25. a I will mynishe all the prouysion of bred in Ierusalem, so that they shall we ye their bred, and eate it with scarcenesse. But as for water, they shall haue a very litle measure theroff, to drynke. And when they haue nomore bred ner water, one shal be destroyed with another, and famish awaye for their wickednesse.

The V. Chapter.

TAke the then a sharpe knyfe (O thou sonne of man) namely, a rasoure. Take that, and shaue the hayre off thy heade and beerd: Then take the scoales and the waight, and deuyde the hayre a sunder. And burne the thirde parte therof in the fyre in the myddest off the cite, and cut the other thirde parte in peces with a knyfe. Iere 2. d As for the thirde parte that remayneth, cast it in the wynde, and then shewe the bare knyfe.

Yet afterwarde take a litle off the same, & bynde it in they cote lappe. Then take a curtesy of it, and cast it in the myddest of ye fyre, and burne it in the fyre. Out of the same fyre shall there go a flame, vpon the whole house of Israel.

Morouer, thus sayde the LORDE God: This same is Ierusalem. I set her in the middest of the Heithen and nacions, that are rounde aboute her, but she hath despised my iudgmētes more then ye Gentiles thē selues, and broken my cōmaundementes more then the nacions, that lye rounde aboute her: For they haue cast out myne ordinaunces, and not walked in my lawes. Therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: Leui. 8. d For so moch as ye wt youre wickednesse farre exceade the Heithē, that dwell rounde aboute you: (For ye haue not walked in my lawes, nether haue ye kepte myne ordinaūces) Therfore thus saieth ye LORDE God:

I will also come vpon the, for in the myddest of the will I syt in iugdmēt, in the sight of the Heithen, and will handle the of soch a fashion, as I neuer dyd before, and as I neuer wil do from that tyme forth, and that because of all thy abhominacions. For in the the fathers shal be fayne to eate their owne sonnes, Deu. 28. e Tren. 4. b 4. Reg. 6. f and the sonnes their owne fathers. Soch a courte will I kepe in the, and the whole remnaunt will I scatre in to all the wyndes.

Wherfore, as truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE God) seynge thou hast defyled my Sanctuary, with all maner off abhominacions and with all thy shamefull offences: For this cause will I also destroye the Myne eye shall not ouersee the, nether will I spare the.

One thirde parte within the, 〈…〉 shall die of the pestilence and of honger: Another thirde parte shall be slayne downe rounde aboute the, with the swearde: The other thirde parte that remayneth, will I scatre abrode towarde all the wyndes, and drawe out the swearde after them. Thus wil I perfourme my indignacion and set my wrath agaynst them, and ease my self. So that when I haue fulfilled myne anger agaynst them, they shall knowe, that I am the LORDE, which wt a feruent gelousy haue spoken it.

Morouer I will make the waist and abhorred, before all the Heithen that dwell aboute the, and in the sight off all them, that go by the: so that when I punysh the in my wrath, in myne anger, and with the plage off my whote displeasure: thou shalt be a very abhominacion, shame, a gasinge and wondringe stocke, amonge the Heithen that lye aboute the.

Euen I the LORDE haue spoken it, and it shall come to passe, when I shute amonge them the perlous dartes of hōger, which shalbe but death: 〈…〉 Yee therfore shall I shute them, because I will destroye you. I will encrease hunger, and mynish all the prouysion off bred amonge you.

Plages and mysery will I sende you, yee and wilde beestes also to destroye you. Pestilence and bloud sheddinge shall come vpon you, and the swearde wil I bringe ouer you. Euen I the LORDE, haue sayde it.

The VI. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne off man, turne thy face to the mountaynes of Israel, 〈…〉 that thou mayest prophecie vnto them, and saye: Heare the worde of the LORDE God, o ye mountaynes off Israel: Thus hath the LORDE God spoken to the moūtaynes, hilles, valleys and dales:

Beholde, I will brynge a swearde ouer you, and destroye youre hie places: I wil cast downe youre aulters, and breake downe youre temples. Youre slayne men will I laye before youre goddes, and the deed carcases off the children off Israel will I cast before their ymages, youre bones wil I strowe rounde aboute youre aulters, and dwellinge places.

The cities shalbe desolate, ye hill chapels layed waist: youre aulters destroyed, & broken: youre goddes cast downe, and taken awaye, yor tēpels layde eauē with the groūde, youre owne workes clene roted out. Youre slayne men shall lie amonge you, that ye maye lerne to knowe, how yt I am the LORDE. Those yt amōge you haue escaped the swearde, will I leaue amonge the Gentiles, for I will scatre you amonge the nacions. And they that escape from you, 〈…〉 shall thinke vpon me amonge the heithen, where they shalbe in captiuyte.

As for that whorish and vnfaithfull herte of theirs, wherwith they runne awaye frome, I will breake it: yee & put out those eyes off theirs, that committe fornicacion with their Idols.

Then shall they be ashamed, and displeased with their selues, for the wickednesses ād abhominacions, which they haue done: and shal lerne to knowe, how that it is not in vayne, that I the LORDE spake, to bringe soch mysery vpon them.

The LORDE sayde morouer vnto me: Smyte thine hondes together, and stampe with thy fete, and saye: Wo worth all the abhominacions and wickednesses of the house of Israel, for because of thē, they shal perish with the swearde, with hōger and with pestilence. Who so is farre of, shall dye off the pestilence: he that is nye at hande, shall perish with the swearde: and ye other that are beseged, shall dye of honger.

Thus wil I satisfie my wrothfull displeasure vpon them. And so shall ye lerne to knowe, that I am the LORDE, whē youre slayne men lye amōge youre goddes, and aboute youre aulters: vpon all hie hilles and toppes off mountaynes, amōge all grene trees, amonge all thicke okes: euen in the places, where they dyd sacrifice to all their Idols. I will stretch myne honde out vpon them, & will make the londe waist: So that it shall lye desolate and voyde, from the wildernesse off Deblat forth, thorow all their habitacions: to lerne them for to knowe, that I am the LORDE.

The VII. Chapter.

THe worde off the LORDE came vnto me, on this maner: The I call, O thou sonne off man. Thus saieth the LORDE God vnto the londe off Israel: The ende commeth, yee verely the ende commeth vpon all the foure corners off the earth.

But now shall the ende come vpon the: for I will sende my wrath vpō the, and wil punysh the: acordinge to thy wayes, and rewarde the after all thy abhominaciōs. Myne eye shall not ouersee the, Eze. 7. b 9. c nether will I spare the: but rewarde the, acordinge to thy waies, and declare thy abhominacions. Then shall ye knowe, that I am the LORDE.

Thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, one mysery and plage shall come after another: the ende is here. The ende (I saye) that waiteth for the, is come already, ye houre is come agaynst the, that dwellest in the londe.

The tyme is at honde, the daye of sediciō is hard by, & no glad tidinges vpō the moū taynes. Therfore, I will shortly poure out my sore displeasure ouer the, and fulfill my wrath vpon the. I will iudge the after thy waies, and recompence the all thy abhominacions.

Myne eye shal not ouersee the, Eze. 7. b 9. c nether wil I spare the: but rewarde the after thy waies, and shewe thy abhominacions: to lerne you for to knowe, how yt I am the LORDE, yt smyteth. Beholde, the daye is here, the daye is come, the houre is runne out, the rodde florisheth, wylfulnesse waxeth grene, malicious violēce is growne vp, and the vngodly waxen to a staff. Yet shall there no complaynte be made for them, ner for the trouble that shall come of these thinges.

The tyme cōmeth, the daye draweth nye: Who so byeth, let him not reioyce:1. Cor. 7. he that selleth, let him not be sory: for why, Trouble shall come in the myddest off all rest:2. Tess. 5. Iere. 15. b so that the seller shall not come agayne to the byer, for nether off them both shall lyue. For the vision shal come so greatly ouer all, yt it shal not be hyndered: No mā also wt his wickednesse shall be able to saue his owne life.

The trompettes shall ye blowe, and make you all ready, but no man shall go to the batell, for I am wroth with all the whole multitude.

The swearde shalbe without, pestilence and honger within: so that who so is in the felde, shalbe slayne with the swearde: and he that is in the cite, Deu. 32. d shall perish with honger and pestilence.

And soch as escape and fle from amonge them, shal be vpon the hilles, like as the doues in the felde: euery one shalbe afrayed, because off his owne wickednesse.

Esa 15. e All hondes shalbe letten downe, and all knees shalbe weake as the water: they shall gyrde them selues with sack cloth, feare shal fall vpon them. Their faces shall be confoū ded, and their heades balde: their syluer shall lye in the stretes, and their golde shalbe despised: Soph. 1. c Ecc. 5 b Yee their syluer and golde maye not delyuer them, in the daye of the fearfull wrath of the LORDE.

They shall not satisfie their hongrie soules, nether fyll their emptie belies therwith: For it is become their owne decaye thorow their wickednesse: because they made therof, not only costly Ieweles for their pompe and pryde, Osee. 8. a but also abhominable ymages and Idols. For this cause will I make them to be abhorred. Morouer, I will geue it in to ye hondes off the straungers to be spoyled: and to ye wicked, for to be robbed, and they shall destroye it.

My face wil I turne from thē, my Treasury shall be defyled: for the theues shall go in to it, and suspende it. I wil make clene ryddaunse, for the londe is whole defyled with vnrightuous iudgment of innocent bloude, & the cite is full off abhominacions.

Wherfore, I will bringe the most cruell tyrauntes from amonge the Heithen, to take their houses in possession. I will make the pompe off the proude to ceasse, ād they shal take in their Sanctuary. When this trouble cōmeth, they shal seke peace, but they shal haue none. One myschefe and sorowe shal folowe another, and one rumoure shal come after another: Then shall they seke visions in vayne at their prophetes. The lawe shal be gone from the prestes, ere. 38. c and wyszdome from the elders. The kynge shall mourne, the princes shalbe clothed with heuynesse, and ye hō des off the people in the londe shall tremble for feare. I will do vnto them after their owne waies, & acordinge to their owne iudgmentes will I iudge them: to lerne them for to knowe, that I am the LORDE.

The VIII. Chapter.

IT happened, that in the sixte yeare, the fifth daye of the sixte Moneth I sat in my house, and the LORDES off the councell off Iuda with me: and the honde off the LORDE God fell euen there vpō me.

And as I loked vp, I sawe as it were a licknesse off fyre from his loynes downwarde, and from his loynes vpwarde it shyned maruelous cleare. Eze. 3. b 11. d

This symilitude stretched out an honde, and toke me by the hayrie lockes off my heade, and the sprete lift me vp betwitte heauen and earth: and God brought me in a vision to Ierusalem, in to the courte off the inwarde porte that lieth towarde the north: there stode an ymage, with whom he that hath all thinges in his power, was very wroth.

And beholde, the glory off the God off Israel was in the same place: 〈…〉 euē as I had sene it afore in the felde. And he sayde vnto me: Thou sonne off man, O lift vp thine eyes, and loke towarde the north. Then lift I vp myne eyes towarde the north, and beholde: Besyde the porte northwarde, there was an aulter made vnto the ymage off prouocacion in the very entrynge in.

And he sayde furthermore vnto me: Thou sonne off man, Seist thou what these do? Seist thou the greate abhominacions that the house off Israel commytte in this place? which ought not to be done in my sanctuary?

But turne the aboute, and thou shalt se yet greater abhominacions. And with that brought he me to the courte gate: and whē I loked, beholde, there was an hole in the wall.

Then sayde he vnto me: Thou sonne off man, dygge thorow the wall. And when I dygge thorow the wall, beholde, there was a dore. And he sayde vnto me: go thy waye in, & loke what wicked abhominacions they do there.

So I wente in, and sawe: and beholde, there were all maner ymages off wormes & beastes, all Idols and abhominacions of ye house off Israel paynted euerychone rounde aboute the wall.

There stode also before the ymages lxx. lordes of the councell off the house off Israel: 〈…〉 and in the myddest off them stode Iaasanias the sonne off Saphan: And euery one off them had a censoure in his honde, & out off the incense, there wente a smoke, as it had bene a cloude.

Then sayde he vnto me: Thou sonne off man, 〈…〉 hast thou sene what the Senatours off the house off Israel do secretly, euery one in his chambre? For they saye: Tush, the LORDE seth vs not, the LORDE regardeth not the worlde. And he sayde vnto me: Turne the yet agayne, and thou shat se the greate abhominacions that they do.

And with that, he brought me to the dore off the porte off the LORDES house, towarde the north. And beholde, there sat women mournynge for Thamus. Then sayde he vnto me: hast thou sene this, thou sonne of mā? Turne ye aboute, & thou shalt se yet greater abhominacions. And so he brought me in to the inwarde courte of the LORDES house: & beholde, at the porte of the LORDES house, betwixte the fore entrie and the aulter, there were fyue and twenty men, that turned their backes vpon the Temple of the LORDE, & their faces towarde the easte, and these worshipped the Sonne.

And he sayde vnto me: hast thou sene this, thou sonne of man? Thinketh the house of Israel, that it is but a trifle, to do these abhominacions here? Shulde they fyll the londe full of wickednesse, and vndertake to prouoke me vnto anger? Yee & purposly to cast vp their noses vpon me? Therfore wil I also do some thinge in my wrothfull displeasure, so that myne eye shall not ouersee them, nether wil I spare them. 〈◊〉 1. c 〈◊〉 1 c 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 . 3. a Yee and though they crie in myne eares with loude voyce, yet wil I not heare them.

The IX. Chapter.

HE cried also with a loude voyce in myne eares, sayenge: Come here ye rulers of the cite, euery man with his weapened honde to the slaughter. Then came there sixe men out of the strete of the vpper porte towarde the north, and euery man a weapen in his honde to the slaughter. There was one amongst them, that had on him a lynninge rayment, and a wryters ynckhorne by his syde.

These wente in, and stode beside the brasen aulter: 〈◊〉 0. e 〈◊〉 9. c 〈◊〉 1. b for the glory of the LORDE was gone awaye from the Cherub, and was come downe to the thresholde of the house, & he called the mā, that had the lynnynge rayment vpon him, and the writers ynckhorne by his syde, and the LORDE sayde vnto him: Go thy waye thorow the cite of Ierusalem, and set this marck 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thau vpō the foreheades of them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that mourne, and are sory for all the abhominacions, that be done therin. And to the other, he sayde that I might heare: Go ye after him thorow the cite, slaye, ouersee none, 〈◊〉 2. a spare none: Kyll, & destroye both olde men and yonge, maydens, children, and wyues.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 But as for those, that haue this marck 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thau vpō them: se that ye touch them not, and begynne at my Sanctuary. 〈◊〉 25. d 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 . 4. c Then they begāne at the elders, which were in the Temple, for he had sayde vnto them: When ye haue defyled the Temple, and fylled the courte with the slayne, then go youre waye forth. So they wēte out and slewe downe thorow ye cite. Now when they had done ye slaughter, & I yet escaped: I fell downe vpon my face, & cried, sayenge: O LORDE, wilt thou then destroye all the resydue of Israel, in thy sore displeasure, that thou hast poured vpō Ierusalem?

Then sayde he vnto me: The wickednesse of the house of Israel and Iuda is very greate: so that the lōde is full of bloude, Iob 22. b Esa. 29. c Eccī. 23. c Ezec. 7. a and ye cite full of vnfaithfulnesse: For they saye: Tush, ye LORDE regardeth not the earth, he seyth vs not. Therfore will I vpon them, myne eye shall not ouersee them, nether will I spare them, but will recompence their wickednesse vpon their heades.

And beholde, the mā that had the lynnynge rayment vpon him, and the writers, ynck horne by his syde: tolde all the matter how it happened, and sayde: LORDE, as thou hast commaunded me, so haue I done.

The X. Chapter.

ANd as I loked, beholde, In the firmament that was aboue the Cherubins there apeared the similitude of a stole of Saphir vpō them: Eze. 9 a Then sayde he that sat therin, to him that had the lynnynge rayment vpon him: Crepe in betwene the wheles that are vnder the Cherubins, and take thine honde full of hote coales out from betwene the Cherubins, and cast them ouer the cite. And he crepte in, that I might se.

Now the Cherubins stode vpō the right syde of the house, when the man wēte in, and the cloude fylled the ynnermer courte.2. Par. 7 a But the glory of the LORDE remoued from the Cherubins, and came vpon the thresholde of the house: so that the Temple was full of cloudes, and the courte was full of the shyne of the LORDES glory. Yee and the sounde of the Cherubins wynges was herde in to the forecourte, like as it had bene the voyce of the almightie God, when he speaketh. Now when he had bydden the man yt was clothed in lynnynge, to go and take the hote coales from the myddest of ye wheles, which were vnder the Cherubins: he wente and stode besyde the wheles. Then the one Cherub reached forth this honde from vnder the Cherubins, vnto ye fyre that was betwene the Cherubins, and toke therof, and gaue it vnto him (that had on the lynnynge rayment) in his honde: which toke it, and wente out. And vnder the wynges of ye Cherubins, there apeared the licknes of a mās hō de: I sawe also foure wheles besyde the Cherubins, so that by euery Cherub there stode a whele. And the wheles were (to loke vpon) after ye fashion of ye precious stone of Tharsis: Yet (vnto the sight) were they fashioned & like, as yf one whele had bene in another.

When they wente forth, they wēte all iiij together, not turnynge aboute in their goinge: But where the first wente, thither wente they after also, so that they turned not aboute in their goinge. ze. 1. b Their whole bodies, their backes, their hōdes & wynges, yee & the wheles also, were all full of eyes rounde aboute them all foure. And I herde him call ye wheles, Galgal (that is) a rounde boull. Euery one of them had foure faces: so that the one face was the face of a Cherub, the seconde of a man, the thirde of a lyon, the fourth of an Aegle, & they were lifted vp aboue. This is the beest, that I sawe at the water of Cobar. Now when the Cherubins wente, the wheles wente with them: & when the Cherubins shoke their wynges to lift them selues vpwarde, the wheles remayned not behynde, but were with them also. Shortly, when they stode, these stode also: And when they were lift vp, ye wheles were lift vp also with thē, for the sprete of life was in the wheles.

ze. 11. d . a Then the glory of the LORDE was lift vp from the thresholde of the temple, and remayned vpon the Cherubins: And the Cherubins flackred with their wynges, and lift thē selues vp from the earth: so that I sawe when they went, and the wheles with them. And they stode at the east syde of the porte that is in the house of the LORDE. So the glory of the LORDE was vpon them. This is the beest that I sawe vnder the God of Israel, by the water of Cobar. And I perceaued, that it was the Cherubins. Euery one had foure faces, & euery one foure wynges, & vnder their winges, as it were mēs hondes. Now the figure of their faces was, euen as I had sene them, by the water of Cobar, & so was the countenaunce of thē: Euery one in his goinge wente straight forwarde.

The XI. Chapter.

MOrouer, the sprete of the LORDE lift me vp, & brought me vnto ye east porte of the LORDES house. And beholde, there were xxv men vnder the dore: amōge whom I sawe Iaasanias the sonne of Asur, & Pheltias the sonne of Banias, the rulers of the people. Then sayde the LORDE vnto me: Thou sonne of man: These men ymagin myschefe, and a wicked councel take they in this cite, sayenge: Tush, there is no destruccion at honde, let vs buylde houses: This Ierusalem is the cauldron, & we be the flesh. Therfore shalt thou prophecie vnto them, yee prophecie shalt thou vnto them, O sonne of man. And with that, fell the sprete of the LORDE vpon me, and sayde vnto me: Speake, thus saieth the LORDE: On this maner haue yee spokē (O ye house of Israel) and I knowe the ymaginaciōs of youre hertes. Many one haue ye murthured in this cite, & filled the stretes full of the slayne.

Therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: The slayne men that ye haue layed on the grounde in this cite, are the flesh, & this cite is the cauldron: 〈…〉 But I wil bringe you out of it: ye haue drawē out ye swearde, euē so wil I also bringe a swearde ouer you, saieth ye LORDE God. I will dryue you out of this cite and delyuer you in to youre enemies honde, & wil condemne you. Ye shal be slayne in all the coastes of Israel, I wil be avenged of you: to lerne you for to knowe, that I am the LORDE. This cite shal not be youre cauldron, nether shal ye be the flesh therin: but in the coastes of Israel wil I punysh you, that ye maye knowe, that I am the LORDE: in whose commaundementes ye haue not walked, ner kepte his lawes: 〈…〉 but haue done after the customes of the Heithen, that lie rounde aboute you.

Now when I preached, Pheltias the sonne of Banias dyed. Then fell I downe vpō my face, & cried with a loude voyce: O LORDE God, wilt thou then vterly destroye all the remnaunt in Israel? And so the worde of the LORDE came to me on this maner: Thou sonne of man: Thy brethren, thy kynsfolke, & ye whole house of Iuda, which dwell at Ierusalem, saye: They be gone farre from the LORDE, but the londe is geuen vs in possession. Therfore tell them, thus saieth the LORDE God: I wil sende you farre of amōge the Gentiles, & scatre you amonge the nacions, & I wil halowe you but a litle, in the londes where ye shall come. Tell them also, thus saieth the LORDE God: I wil gather you agayne out of the nacions, & bringe you from the countrees where ye be scatred, & will geue you the londe of Israel agayne: & thither shal ye come. And as for all impedimentes, & all youre abhominacions: I will take them awaye.

And I wil geue you one herte, & wil plante a new sprete within yor bowels. 〈…〉 That stony herte wil I take out of youre body, & geue you a fleshy herte: that ye maye walke in my commaundementes, and kepe myne ordinaunces, & do them: that ye maye be my people, and I youre God. But loke whose hertes are disposed to folowe their abhominacions and wicked lyuynges: Those mens dedes will I bringe vpon their owne heades, saieth the LORDE God. After this dyd the Cherubins lift vp their winges, and the wheles wente with them, and the glory of the LORDE was vpon them. 〈…〉 So the glory of the LORDE wente vp from the myddest of the cite, 〈…〉 & stode vpon the mount of the cite towarde the east. But the wynde toke me vp, & in a vision (which came by the sprete of God) it brought me agayne in to Caldea amonge the presoners. Then the vision that I had sene, vanyshed a waye fro me. So I spake vnto the presoners, all the wordes of the LORDE, which he had shewed me.

The XII. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto me, 〈…〉 sayenge: Thou sonne of mā, thou dwellest in the myddest of a frauwerde housholde: which haue eyes to se, & yet se not: eares haue they to heare, and yet heare they not, for they are an obstinate housholde. Therfore (O thou sonne of man) make thy gere redy to flit, and go forth by fayre daye light, yt they maye se. Yee euē in their sight shalt thou go from thy place to another place: yf peraduenture they wil considre, yt they be an vnobedient housholde. Thy gere that thou hast made redy to flit withall, shalt thou beare out by fayre daye light, that they maie se: & thou yi self shalt go forth also at euē in their sight, as a mā doth whē he flitteth.

Dygge thorow the wall, that they maye se, and beare thorow it the same thinge, that thou tokest vp in their sight. As for thy self, thou shalt go forth in the darcke. Hyde thy face that thou se not ye earth, for I haue made the a shew tokē vnto the house of Israel. Now as ye LORDE cōmaunded me, so I dyd: ye gere that I had made redy, brought I out by daye. At euen I brake downe an hole thorow the wall with my honde: & when it was darcke, I toke the gere vpō my shulders, and bare them out in their sight.

And in the mornynge, came the worde of the LORDE vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, yf Israel, yt frauwerde housholde axe the, and saye: what dost thou there? Then tell them: Thus saieth the LORDE God: This punyshment toucheth the chefe rulers at Ierusalem, and all the house of Israel, that dwell amonge them: Tell them: I am youre shew token: like as I haue done, so shal it happen vnto you: Flyt shal ye also, and go in to captiuyte. 〈◊〉 21. b The chefest that is amonge you, shall lade his shulders in the darcke, and get him awaye. He shal breake downe the wall, to carie stuff there thorow: He shal couer his face, that he se not the grounde, with his eyes.

My lyne will I sprede out vpon him, and catch him in my net, Eze. 17. c 3 . a and carie him to Babilon, in the lōde of the Caldees: which he shal not se, & yet shal he dye there. As for all his helpers, and all his hoostes that be aboute him: I will scatre them towarde all the wyndes, and drawe out a swearde after them. So when I haue scatred them amonge the Heithen, and strowed them in the londes: Eze. 1 . b b. 22 they shal knowe, that I am ye LORDE. But, I will leaue a litle nombre of them, from the swearde, hunger & pestilence: to tell all their abhominacions amonge the Heithen, where they come: that they maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

Morouer, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me sayenge: Thou sonne of man: with a fearfull trēblinge shalt thou eate thy bred, with carefulnesse & sorowe shalt thou drynke thy water. And vnto the people of the londe, speake thou on this maner: Thus saieth the LORDE God, to them that dwell in Ierusalem, and to the londe of Israel: Ye shall eate youre bred with sorowe, and drynke youre water with heuynesse: Yee the londe with the fulnesse therof shalbe layde waist, for ye wickednesse of them that dwell therin. And the cities that now be well occupied, shal be voyde, and the londe desolate: that ye maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

Yet came the worde of the LORDE vnto me agayne, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, what maner of byworde is that, Ro. 2. a which ye vse in the londe of Israel, sayenge: Tush, seynge that the daies are so slacke in commynge,2. Pet. 3. b all the visiōs are of none effecte: Tell them therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: I wil make that byworde to ceasse, so that it shall nomore be comonly vsed in Israel.

But saye this vnto them: The daies are at honde, that euery thinge which hath bene prophecied, shalbe fulfilled. There shall no vision be in vayne, nether eny prophecie fayle amonge the children of Israel: For it is I the LORDE, that speake it: and what so euer I ye LORDE speake, it shal be perfourmed, and not be slacke in commynge.

Yee euen in youre dayes (O ye frauwarde housholde) will I deuyse some thinge, & bringe it to passe, saieth the LORDE God. And the worde of the LORDE came vnto me sayenge: Beholde, thou sonne of man: The house of Israel saye in this maner: Tush, as for the vision that he hath sene, it will be many a daye or it come to passe: Is it farre of yet, the thinge that he prophecieth. Therfore saye vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE God: All my wordes shal nomore be slacke: Loke what I speake, that same shal come to passe, saieth the LORDE.

The XIII. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayēge: Thou sonne of man, Speake prophecie agaynst those prophetes, that preach in Israel: & sayeth thou vnto them that prophecie out of their owne her es: Heare the worde of the LORDE, thus saieth the LORDE God: Eze. 34. a Wo be vnto those folish prophetes, that folowe their owne sprete, and speake, where they se nothinge. O Israel, thy prophetes are like the foxes vpon the drie felde: For they stonde not in the gappes, nether make they an hedge for the house of Israel, Iere. 27. a that mē might abyde the parell in the daye of the LORDE. Vayne thinges they se, & tell lies, to mayntene their preachinges withall. The LORDE (saye they) hath spokē it, when in very dede the LORDE hath not sent them. Vayne visiōs haue ye sene, & spokē false prophecies. when ye saye: the LORDE hath spoken it, where as I neuer sayde it.

Therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: Because youre wordes be vayne, & ye seke out lies: Beholde, I wil vpon you, saieth ye LORDE. Myne hondes shal come vpon the prophetes, that loke out vayne thinges, and preach lies: they shal not be in the councell of my people, ner written in the boke of the house of Israel, nether shal they come in the londe of Israel: that ye maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE God. And that for this cause: Iere. 8. b they haue disceaued my people, & tolde them of peace, where no peace was. One setteth vp a wall, & they dawbe it with lowse claye. Matt. 7. c Therfore tell them which dawbe it with vntempered morter, that it shall fall. For there shal come a greate shuwer of rayne, greate stones shall fall vpon it, & a fore storme of wynde shal breake it, so shal ye wall come downe. Shal it not then be sayde vnto you: where is now the morter, that ye dawbed it withall? Therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: I will breake out in my wrothfull displeasure with a stormy wynde, so that in myne anger there shal come a mightie shuwer of rayne, & hale stones in my wrath, to destroye withall.

As for ye wall, that ye haue dawbed with vntempered morter, I wil breake it downe, & make it eauen with the grounde: so that the foundacion therof shal remoue, & it shal fall yee & ye youre selues shall perish in the myddest therof: to lerne you for to knowe, that I am the LORDE. Thus wil I perfourme my wrath vpon this wall, & vpon them that haue dawbed it with vntempered morter, and then will I saye vnto you: The wall is gone, & the dawbers are awaye. These are the prophetes of Israel, which prophecie vnto the cite of Ierusalem, & loke out visions of peace for them, where as no peace is, saieth the LORDE God. Wherfore (o thou sonne of mē,) set thy face agaynst the doughters of ye people, which prophecie out of their owne hertes: & speake thou prophecie agaynst them, & saye: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Wo be vnto you, that sowe pilowes vnder all arme holes, and bolsters vnder the heades both of yonge and olde, to catch soules withall. For when ye haue gotten the soules of my people in youre captiuyte, 〈…〉 ye promyse them life, and dishonoure me to my people, for an handfull of barly, & for a pece of bred: when ye kyll the soules of them that dye not, & promyse life to them, that lyue not: Thus ye dyssemble with my people, yt beleueth yor lies.

Wherfore thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I wil also vpō the pillowes, wherwith ye catch the soules in flyenge: thē will I take from youre armes, & let the soules go, that ye catch in flyenge. Youre bolsters also wil I teare in peces, & delyuer my people out of youre honde: so that they shal come nomore in youre hōdes to be spoyled, & ye shal knowe, that I am the LORDE. Seinge yt with youre lyes ye discomforte the herte of the rightuous, whom I haue not discomforted: Agayne: 〈…〉 For so moch as ye corage the honde of the wicked, so that he maye not turne from his wicked waye, & lyue: therfore shall ye spie out nomore vanyte, ner prophecie youre owne gessinges: for I wil delyuer my people out of youre honde, that ye maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

The XIIII. Chapter.

THere resorted vnto me certayne of ye elders of Israel, & sat downe by me, 〈…〉 Then came the worde of the LORDE vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, these men beare their Idols in their hertes, & go purposly vpon the stomblinge block of their owne wickednesse: how darre they then are councell at me? Therfore speake vnto them, & saye: thus saieth the LORDE God: Euery man of the house of Israel that beareth his Idols in his herte, purposynge to stomble in his owne wickednesse, and commeth to a prophet, to enquere eny thinge at me by him: vnto that man wil I the LORDE myself geue answere, acordinge to the multitude of his Idols: that the house of Israel maye be snared in their owne hertes, because they be clene gone fro me, for their Idols sakes.

Wherfore, tell the house of Israel: thus saieth the LORDE God: 〈…〉 Be conuerted, forsake youre Idols, and turne youre faces from all yor abhominacions. For euery man (whether he be of the house of Israel, or a straunger, that sogeourneth in Israel) which departeth fro me, and carieth Idols in his herte, purposinge to go still stomblinge in his owne wickednesse, and commeth to a prophet, for to axe councell at me thorow him: vnto yt man wil I the LORDE geue answere, by myne owne self.

I wil set my face agaynst that man, and wil make him to be an example for other, yee and a comon byworde: and wil rote him out of my people, that he maye knowe, how yt I am the LORDE. 〈…〉 And yf that prophet be disceaued, when he telleth him a worde: then I the LORDE myself haue disceaued that prophet, and wil stretch forth myne honde vpon him, to rote him out of my people of Israel: and they both shall be punyshed for their wickednesse.

Acordinge to ye synne of him that axeth, shal the synne of the prophet be: that ye house of Israel be led nomore fro me thorow erroure, and be nomore defyled in their wickednesse: but that they maye be my people, and I their God, saieth the LORDE God. And the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, when the londe synneth agaynst me, and goeth forth in wickednesse: I will stretch out myne hōde vpon it, and destroye all the prouysion of their bred, and sende derth vpon them, to destroye man & beest in the londe. 〈…〉 And though Noe, Daniel and Iob these thre men were amonge them, 〈…〉 yet shal they in their rightuousnesse delyuer but their owne soules, saieth the LORDE God.

Yf I bringe noysome beestes in to the londe, to waist it vp, and it be so desolate, that no man maye go therin for beestes: yf these thre men also were in the londe, as truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE God) they shal saue nether sonnes ner doughters, but be only delyuered them selues: and as for the londe, it shal be waist.

Or, yf I bringe a swearde in to the londe, and charge it to go thorow the londe: so that I slaye downe man and beest in it, and yf these thre men were therin: As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE God) they shal delyuer nether sonnes ner doughters, but only be saued them selues.

Yf I sende a pestilence in to the londe, and poure out my sore indignacion vpon it in bloude, so that I rote out of it both man and beest, and yf Noe, Daniel and Iob were therin: As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE God) they shal delyuer nether sonnes ner doughters, but saue their owne soules in their rightuousnesse.

Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE God: Though I sende my foure trublous plages vpon Ierusalem: the swearde, honger, Iere. 27. b perlous beestes and pestilence, to destroye man and beest out of it: yet shal there a remnaunt be saued therin, which shal bringe forth their sonnes and doughters. Beholde, they shal come forth vnto you, and ye shall se their waye, and what they take in honde, & ye shal be cōforted, as touchinge all the plages that I haue brought vpon Ierusalem.

They shall comforte you, when ye se their waye and workes: and ye shal knowe, how yt it is not without a cause, that I haue done so agaynst Ierusalem, as I dyd, saieth the LORDE God.

The XV. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man: What commeth of the vyne amonge all other trees? and of the wyne stocke, amōge all other tymbre of the groaue? Do mē take wodd of it, to make eny worke withall? Or maye there a nale be made of it, to hange eny thinge vpon? Beholde, it is cast in the fyre to be brent, the fyre consumeth both the endes of it, the myddest is brent to aszshes. Is it mete then for eny worke? No.

Seinge then, that it was mete for no worke, beinge whole: moch lesse maye there eny thinge be made of it, when the fyre hath consumed and brent it. And therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: Like as I cast the vyne in to the fyre for to be brent, as other trees of the wod: Euen so wil I do with them that dwell in Ierusalem, and set my face agaynst them: they shall go out from the fyre, and yet the fyre shall consume them. Eze. 1 . 2 . b Then shal ye knowe, that I am the LORDE, when I set my face agaynst them, and make the londe waist: because they haue so sore offended, saieth the LORDE God.

The XVI. Chapter.

AGayne, the worde of LORDE spake vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, shewe the cite of Ierusalem their abhominacions, and saye: thus saieth the LORDE God vnto Ierusalem: Thy progeny and kynred came out of the londe of Canaan, thy father was an Amorite, thy mother a Cethite. In ye daye of thy byrth when thou wast borne, ye stringe of thy nauel was not cut of: thou wast not bathed in water to make the clene Thou wast nether rubbed wt salt, ner swedled in cloutes: No man regarded the so moch, as to do eny of these thinges for ye, or to shewe the soch fauoure, but thou wast vtterly cast out vpon ye felde, yee despised wast thou in the daye of thy byrth.

Then came I by the, and sawe the troden downe in thine owne bloude, & sayde vnto the: thou shalt be pourged from thine owne bloude, frō thine owne bloude (I saye) shalt thou be clensed. Esa. 5. a Iere. 11. c So I planted the, as the blossome of thy felde: thou art growen vp, & waxē greate: thou hast gotten a maruelous pleasaunt beutie, thy brestes are come vp, thy hayre is goodly growen, where as thou wast naked and bare afore.

Now when I wente by ye, & loked vpon the: beholde, thy tyme was come, yee euē the tyme to wowe the. Then spred I my clothes ouer the, to couer thy dishonestie: Yee I made an ooth vnto the, Iere. 3. a Ose. 2. c & maried my self with the (saieth the LORDE God) & so thou becamest myne owne. Then waszshed I the with water, & pourged thy bloude from the. I anoynted the with oyle, I gaue the chaunge of raymentes, I made the shues of Taxus lether: I gyrthed ye aboute wt white sylcke, I clothed the with kerchues, I decked the wt costly apparell, I put rynges vpon thy fyngers: a chayne aboute thy necke, spāges vpō thy foreheade, eare rynges vpon thyne eares, & set a beutifull crowne vpon thine heade. Thus wast thou deckte with syluer & golde, & thy rayment was of fyne white sylke, of nedle worke & of dyuerse colours.

Thou didest eate nothinge but symnels, honny & oyle: maruelous goodly wast thou & beutifull, yee euen a very Quene wast thou: In so moch, that thy beuty was spoken of amonge the Heithen, for thou wast excellēt in my beuty, which I put vpō the, saieth the LORDE God. But thou hast put confidēce in thine owne beuty, & played the harlot, when thou haddest gotten the a name. Thou hast committed whordome, with all that wente by the, & hast fulfilled their desyres: Yee thou hast taken thy garmētes of dyuerse colours, & deckte thine aulters therwith, 〈…〉 where vpon thou mightest fulfill thine whordome, of soch a fashion, as neuer was done, ner shalbe. 〈…〉 The goodly ornamētes & Iewels which I gaue the of myne owne golde and syluer, hast thou takē, & made the mēs ymages therof, and committed whordome withall.

Thy garmentes of dyuerse colours hast thou taken, and deckte them therwith: myne oyle & incense hast thou set before them. My meate which I gaue the, as symnels, oyle & hony: (to fede the withall) that hast thou set before them, for a swete sauoure. And this came also to passe, saieth the LORDE God Thou hast takē thine owne sonnes & doughters, whom thou haddest begotten vnto me 〈…〉 and these hast thou offred vp vnto them, to be their meate. Is this but a small whordome of thine (thinkest thou) that thou slayest my children, and geuest them ouer, to be br •• vnto them? And yet in all thy abhominacions and whordome, thou hast not remembred the dayes of thy youth, how naked and bare thou wast at that tyme, & troden downe in thine owne bloude. After all these thy wickednesses (wo wo vnto the, saieth ye LORDE) thou hast buylded thy stewes and bredel houses in euery place: yee at the heade of euery strete hast thou buylded the an aulter. Thou hast made thy beuty to be abhorred: thou hast layed out thy legges to euery one that came by, and multiplied thine whordome. 〈…〉 Thou hast committed fornicacion with the Egipcians thy neghbours, which had moch flesh: & thus hast thou vsed thine whordome, to anger me.

Beholde, I will stretch out myne honde ouer the, and wil mynish thy stoare of fode, and delyuer the ouer in to the willes of the Philistynes thine enemies, which are ashamed of thy abhominable waye. 〈…〉 Thou hast played the whore also with the Assirians, which might not satisfie the: Yee thou hast played the harlot, & not had ynough. Thus hast thou still cōmitted thy fornicacion from the londe of Canaan vnto the Caldees, and yet thy lust not satisfied. How shulde I circumcide thine herte (saieth the LORDE God) seinge thou doest all these thinges, thou precious whore: buyldinge thy stewes at the heade of euery strete, and thy brodel houses in all places? Thou hast not bene as an other whore, yt maketh booste of hir wynnynge: but as a wife yt breaketh wedlocke, & taketh other in steade of hir huszbōde. Giftes are geuen to all other whores, but thou geuest rewardes vnto all thy louers: & offrest them giftes, to come vnto the out of all places, & to committe fornicacio with the. It is come to passe with the in thy whordomes, contrary to the vse of other women: yee there hath no soch fornicacion bene committed after the, seinge that thou profrest giftes vnto other, & no rewarde is geuen the: this is a contrary thinge. Therfore heare the worde of the LORDE, o thou harlot: Thus saieth the LORDE God: For so moch as thou hast spēt thy moneye, & discouered thy shame, thorow thy whordome with all thy louers, and with all the Idols of thy abhominacions in the bloude of thy children, whom thou hast geuen them: 〈…〉 Beholde therfore, I wil gather together all thy louers, vnto whom thou hast made thy self comon: yee & all them whom thou fauourest, and euery one that thou hatest: 〈…〉 and will discouer thy shame before thē, that they all maye se thy fylthines.

Morouer, I wil iudge the as a breaker of wedlocke and a murthurer, and recompence the thine owne bloude in wrath and gelousy. I wil geue the ouer in to their power, that shal breake downe thy stewes, and destroye thy brodel houses: they shal stripe the out of thy clothes, all thy fayre & beutifull Iewels shal they take from the, and so let the syt naked & bare: 〈…〉 Yee they shal bringe the comon people vpon the, which shal stone the, & slaye the downe with their sweardes. They shall burne vp thy houses, and punysh the in the sight of many womē. Thus wil I make thy whordome to ceasse, so that thou shalt geue out no mo rewardes.

Shulde I make my wrath to be still, take my gelousy from the, be content, and nomore to be displeased? seinge thou remembrest not the dayes of thy youth, but hast prouoked me to wrath in all these thinges? Beholde therfore, I wil bringe thine owne wayes vpon thine heade, saieth the LORDE God: how be it, I neuer dyd vnto the, acordinge to thy wickednesse and all thy abhominacions. Beholde, all they yt vse comon prouerbes, shall vse this prouerbe also agaynst the: Soch a mother, soch a doughter.

Thou art euen thy mothers owne doughter, that hath cast of hir houszbonde and hir children: Yee thou art the sister of thy sisters, which forsoke their huszbōdes and their children. 〈…〉 Youre mother is a Cethite, and youre father an Amorite. Thine eldest sister is Samaria, she and hir doughters that dwel vpō thy left honde.

But thy yongest sister that dwelleth on ye right hōde, is Sodoma and hir doughters. Yet hast thou not walked after their wayes, ner done after their abhominacions: But in all thy wayes thou hast bene more corrupte then they.

As truly as I lyue, Gen. 18. saieth the LORDE God: Sodoma thy sister with hir doughters, hath not done so euel, as thou and thy doughters. Beholde, the synnes of thy sister Sodoma were these: Pryde, fulnesse of meate, abundaunce and Idilnesse: these thinges had she and hir doughters. Besydes that, they reached not their honde to the poore and nedy, but were proude, and dyd abhominable thinges before me: Gene. 19 therfore I toke them awaye, when I had sene it. Iere. 3. c Nether hath Samaria done half of thy synnes, yee thou hast exceaded them in wickednesse: In so moch that in comparison of all the abhominacions which thou hast done, thou hast made thy sisters good women. Therfore beare thine owne shame, thou that in synne hast ouercome thy sisters: seinge thou hast done so abhominably, that they were better then thou. Be ashamed therfore (I saye) and beare thine owne confucion, thou that makest thy sisters good women.

As for their captiuyte, namely the captiuyte of Sodoma and hir dougters: the captiuyte of Samaria and hir doughters: I wil bringe them agayne, so will I also bringe agayne thy captiuyte amōge them: that thou mayest take thine owne confucion vpon the, and be ashamed of all that thou hast done, and to comforte them.

Thus thy sisters (namely) Sodoma and hir doughters: Samaria and hir doughters with ye self & thy doughters, shalbe brought agayne to youre olde estate. Whē thou wast in thy pryde, and before thy wickednesse came to light: thou woldest not heare speake of thy sister Sodoma, vntill the tyme that the Sirians with all their townes, and the Philistynes with all that lye rounde aboute them, brought the to shame and confucion: that thou mightest beare thine owne fylthynes and abhominacion, saieth the LORDE.

For thus saieth the LORDE God: I shulde (by right) deale with the, as thou hast done. Thou hast despysed the ooth, and broken the couenaunte. Neuertheles, I wil remembre the couenaunt, that I made with them thy youth, in so moch that it shall be an euerlastinge couenaunt: So that thou also remembre thy wayes, and be ashamed of thē: then shalt thou receaue of me thy elder and yonger sisters, whom I wil make thy doughters, and that besyde thy couenaunt. 〈◊〉 . 31. c 〈◊〉 . 8. b And so I wil renue my couenaunt with the, yt thou mayest knowe, that I am the LORDE: that thou mayest thincke vpō it, be ashamed, and excuse thine owne confucion nomore: when I haue forgeuen the, all that thou hast done, saieth the LORDE God.

The XVII. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man: put forth a darcke speakynge and a parable, 〈◊〉 . 24. a vnto the house of Israel, and saye: Thus saieth the LORDE God: 〈◊〉 . 7. a There came a greate Aegle with greate wynges, yee wt mightie longe wynges, and full of fethers of dyuerse colours, vpon the mount of Libanus, and toke a braunch from a Cedre tre, and brake of the toppe of his twygge, and caried it in to the londe of Canaan, and set it in a cite of marchauntes. He toke also a braunch of the londe, and planted it in a frutefull grounde, he brought it vnto greate waters, & set it as a will ye tre therby. Then dyd it growe, and was a greate wyne stocke, but lowe by the grounde: thus there came of it a vyne, and it brought forth blossomes, & spred out braunches.

But there was another Aegle, a greate one, which had greate wynges and many fethers: and beholde, ye rotes of this vyne had an hūger after him, and spred out his braunches towarde him, to water his frutes: Neuertheles it was plāted vpon a good grounde besyde greate waters: so that (by reason) it shulde haue brought out braunches and frute, and haue bene a goodly vyne. Speake thou therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: Shal this vyne prospere? shal not his rotes be pluckte out, his frute broken of, his grene braunches wythereed and fade awaye? yee without ether stronge arme or many people, shal it be plucked vp by the rotes. Beholde, it was planted: shall it prospere therfore? Shall it not be dryed vp and withered, yee euen in the shutinge out of his blossomes, as soone as ye east wynde bloweth?

Morouer, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me sayenge: . Re. 24. c Speake to that frauwarde housholde: knowe ye not, what these thinges do signifie? Tell them: Beholde, the kinge of Babilon came to Ierusalem, and toke the kinge & his prynces, and ledde them to Babilon.

He toke of the kinges sede, and made a couenaunt with him, and toke an ooth of him: The prynces of the londe toke he with him also, that the londe might be holden in subieccion, and not to rebelle, but kepe the couenaunt, and fulfill it. But he fell from him, & sent his Embassitours in to Egipte, that he might haue horses & moch people. Shulde that prospere? Shulde he be kepte safe, that doth soch thinges? Or shulde he escape, that breaketh his couenaunt?

As truly as I lyue, saieth the LORDE God: He shal dye at Babilon, in ye place where the kinge dwelleth, that made him kinge: whose ooth he hath despised, and whose couenaunt he hat broken. Nether shall Pharao with his greate hoost and multitude of people, maynteyne him in the warre: when they cast vp diches, and set vp bulworkes to destroye moch people. For seinge he hath despysed the ooth, and broken the couenaunt (where as he yet gaue his honde thervpon) and done all these thinges, he shall not escape.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: As truly as I lyue, I will bringe myne ooth that he hath despysed, and my couenaunt that he hath broken, vpon his owne heade. 〈…〉 I wil cast my net aboute him, and catch him in my yarne. To Babilon will I cary him, there will I punysh him, because of the greate offence that he made me. As for those yt fle from him out of ye hoost, they shalbe slayne with the swearde. The residue shalbe scatred towarde all the wyndes: and ye shal knowe, that I the LORDE haue spoken it.

Thus saieth the LORDE God: I will also take a braunch from an hie Cedre tre, and will set it, and take the vppermost twygge, that yet is but tendre, and plante it vpon an hie hill: Namely, vpon the hie hill of Sion will I plante it: that it maye bringe forth twygges, and geue frute, and be a greate Cedre tre: so that all maner of foules maye byde in it, and make their nestes vnder the shadowe of his braunches.

And all the trees of the felde shall knowe, that I the LORDE haue brought downe the hie tre, and set the lowe tre vp: that I haue dryed vp the grene tre, and made the drye tre to florish: Euen I the LORDE yt spake it, haue also brought it to passe.

The XVIII. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto me, on this maner: what meane ye by this comon prouerbe, that ye vse in the londe of Israel, sayenge: The fathers haue eaten soure grapes, 〈…〉 and the childrēs teth are set on edge? As truly as I lyue, saieth ye LORDE God, ye shal vse this by worde nomore in Israel.

〈◊〉 . 23. a Beholde, all soules are myne. Like as the father is myne, so is ye sonne myne also. The soule that synneth, 〈◊〉 . 1 . a shal dye. Yf a man be godly, and do the thinge that is equall & right, (he eateth not vpon the hilles: he lifteth not his eyes vp to the Idols of Israel: he defyleth not his neghbours wife: he medleth wt no menstruous woman: he greueth no body: he geueth his detter his pledge agayne: he taketh none other mans good by violēce: he parteth his mete with the hongrie: he clotheth the naked: he lendeth nothinge vpon vsury: 〈◊〉 25. c 〈◊〉 4. a he taketh nothinge ouer: he withdraweth his honde from doinge wronge: he hādleth faith fully betwixte man & man: he walbeth in my commaundementes, & kepeth my lawes, 〈…〉 & perfourmeth thē faithfully:) This is a rightuous mā, he shal surely lyue, saieth the LORDE God.

Yf he now get a sonne, that is a murthurer, a shedder of bloude: yf he do one of these thinges (though he do not all) he eateth vpon the hilles: 〈◊〉 2. b he defyleth his neghbours wife: he greueth the poore and nedy: he robbeth and spoyleth: he geueth not the detter his pledge agayne: he lifteth vp his eyes vnto Idols, & medleth with abhominable thinges: he lendeth vpon vsury, and taketh more ouer. Shal this man lyue? He shal not lyue. Seinge he hath done all these abhominacions, he shall dye: his bloude shalbe vpon him.

Now yf this man get a sonne also, that seith all this fathers synnes, which he hath done: and feareth, nether doth soch like: Namely, he eateth not vpon the mountaynes: he lifteth not his eyes vp to the Idols of Israel: he defyleth not his neghbours wife: he vexeth no man: he kepeth no mans pledge: he nether spoyleth, ner robbeth eny man: he dealeth his meate with the hungrie: he clotheth the naked: he oppresseth not the poore: he receaueth no vsury, ner eny thinge ouer: he kepeth my lawes, and walketh in my commaundementes: This man shal not dye in his fathers synne, but shall lyue without fayle. As for his father: because he oppressed and spoyled his brother, and dyd wyckedly amonge his people: lo, he is deed in his owne synne. And yet saye ye: Wherfore thē shulde not this sonne beare his fathers synne? Therfore: because the sonne hath done equyte and right, hath kepte all my commaundementes, and done them: therfore, shall he lyue in dede.

〈◊〉 24. c 〈◊〉 14. c The same soule yt synneth, shall dye. The sonne shal not beare the fathers offence, nenether shal the father beare the sonnes offence.2. Par. 25. Iere. 18. a Ro. 1. b Abac. 2. The rightuousnes of the rightuous shall be vpon himself, and the wickednes of the wicked shal be vpon himself also. But yf ye vngodly will turne awaye, from all his synnes that he hath done, and kepe all my commaundemētes, and do the thinge yt is equall & right: doutles he shal lyue, and not dye. As for all his synnes that he dyd before, they shall not be thought vpon: but in his rightuousnes that he hath done, he shal lyue. For haue I eny pleasure in the death of a synner, saieth the LORDE God?2. Pet. 3. b but rather that he conuerte, and lyue?

Agayne: yf the rightuous turne awaye from his rightuousnes, and do iniquyte, acordinge to all the abhominacions, that ye wicked mā doth: shal he lyue? All the rightuousnes that he hath done, shall not be thought vpō: but in the fawte that he hath offended withall, and in the synne that he hath done, he shal dye.

And yet ye saye: Tush, Eze. 33. c the waye of ye LORDE is not indifferēt. Heare therfore ye house of Israel: Is not my waye right? Or, are not youre wayes rather wicked? When a rightuous mā turneth awaye from his rightuousnesse, and medleth with vngodlynes: he must dye therin: Yee for the vnrightuousnes that he hath done, must he dye. Agayne: when the wicked man turneth awaye from his wickednesse, that he hath done, Esa. 55. b and doth the thinge which is equall and right: he shal saue his soule alyue. For in so moch as he remembreth himself, and turneth him from all the vngodlynes, that he hath vsed, he shall lyue, and not dye.

And yet saieth the house of Israel: Tush, the waye of the LORDE is not equall. Are my wayes vnright, o ye house of Israel? Are not youre wayes rather vnequall? As for me, I wil iudge euery man, acordinge to his wayes, O ye house of Israel, saieth the LORDE God. Wherfore, be conuerted, Esa. 55. b Matt. 3. and turne you clene from all youre wickednesse, so shal there no synne do you harme. Cast awaye frō you all youre vngodlynesse, that ye haue done: make you new hertes and a new sprete. Eze. 11. d 33. c 36. c Wherfore wil ye dye, O ye house of Israel? seynge I haue no pleasure in ye death of him that dyeth, saieth the LORDE God. Turne you then, and ye shal lyue.

The XIX. Chapter.

BVt mourne thou for the prynces off Israel, & saye: Wherfore laye thy mother that lyonesse, amōge the lyons? & norished hir yonge ones amōge the lyons 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 whelpes? One of hir whelpes she brought vp, & it became a lyon: it lerned to spoyle, and to deuoure folke. The Heithen herde of him, & toke him in their nettes, & brought him in chaynes vnto the londe of Egipte.

Now when the damme sawe, that all hir hope & comforth was awaye, she toke another of hir whelpes, and made a lyon of him: which wente amonge the lyons, & became a fearce lyon: lerned to spoyle and to deuoure folcke: he destroyed their palaces, and made their cities waist: In so moch that the whole londe and euery thinge therin, were vtterly desolate, thorow the very voyce of his roaringe.

Then came the Heithen together on euery syde out of all countrees agaynst him, layed their nettes for him, and toke him in their pytte. e. 25. a e 39. c 〈◊〉 a So they bounde him with chaynes, and brought him to the kinge of Babilon: which put him in preson, that his voyce shulde nomore be herde vpon the mountaynes of Israel. As for thy mother, she is like a vyne in thy bloude, planted by the water syde: hir frutes and braunches are growen out of many waters: hir stalkes were so stronge, that men might haue made staues therof for officers: she grew so hie in hir stalkes.

So when men sawe that she exceaded ye heith and multitude of hir braunches, she was roted out in displeasure, and cast downe to the grounde. The East wynde dryed vp hir frute, hir stronge stalkes were broken of, wythered and brent in the fyre. But now she is planted in the wildernesse, in a drye and thurstie grounde. And there is a fyre gone out of hir stalkes, which hath brēt vp hir braunches and hir frute: so that she hath no mo stronge stalkes, to be staues for officers. This is a piteous and miserable thinge.

The XX. Chapter.

IN in the xvij yeare the x daye of the v Moneth, e. 14. a it happened, that certayne of the elders of Israel came vnto me for to axe councell at the LORDE, and sat them downe by me. Then came the worde of the LORDE vnto me on this maner: Thou sonne of man: Speake to the elders of Israel, and saye vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Are ye come hither to axe eny thinge at me? As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE,) I will geue you no answere. Wilt thou not reproue them (thou sonne of man) wilt thou not reproue them? Shewe them the abhominacions of their forefathers, & tell thē: Thus saieth the LORDE God: 〈◊〉 . 3. b In the daye when I chose Israel, and lift vp myne honde vpon the sede of the house of Iacob, & shewed my self vnto them in the londe of Egipte: Yee when I lifte vp myne honde ouer thē, and sayde: I am the LORDE youre God, euen in the daye that I lift vp myne honde ouer them, to bringe them out of the londe of Egipte: in to a londe that I had prouyded for them, which floweth with mylcke and hony, and is a pleasaunt lōde amonge all other: Then sayde I vnto them: 〈…〉 Cast awaye euery man the abhominacions that he hath before him, and defyle not youre selues with the Idols of Egipte, for I am the LORDE youre God.

But they rebelled agaynst me, and wolde not folowe me: to cast awaye euery man the abhominacions of his eyes, and to forsake the Idols of Egipte. Then I made me to poure my indignacion ouer them, and to satisfie my wrath vpon them: yee euen in the myddest of the londe of Egipte. But I wolde not do it, for my names sake: that it shulde not be vnhalowed before the Heithen, amonge whom they dwelt, and amonge whom I shewed my self vnto them, that I wolde bringe them out of the londe of Egipte. Now when I had caried them out of the londe of Egipte, and brought them in to the wildernesse: I gaue them my commaundementes, 〈…〉 & shewed thē my lawes: which who so kepeth shal lyue in them. I gaue them also my holy dayes, to be a token betwixte me and them, and therby to knowe, that I am the LORDE, which haloweth them. And yet the house of Israel rebelled agaynst me in the wildernesse, they wolde not walke in my commaundementes, they haue cast awaye my lawes: (which who so kepeth shulde lyue in them,) and my Sabbath daies haue thy greatly vn halowed.

Thē I made me to poure out my indignacion vpon them, 〈…〉 & to cōsume them in the wildernesse. Yet I wolde not do it, for my names sake: lest it shulde be dishonoured before the Heithē, from the which I had caried them awaye. But I swore vnto them in the wildernesse, that I wolde not bringe them into the londe, which I gaue them: a londe that floweth with mylcke & hony, & is a pleasure of all londes: & yt because they refused my lawes, & walked not in my cōmaundemētes, but had vnhalowed my Sabbathes, for their herte was gone after their Idols. Neuertheles myne eye spared thē, so yt I wolde not vtterly slaye thē, & cōsume thē in the wildernes. Morouer, I sayde vnto their sonnes in ye wildernesse: 〈…〉 walke not in the statutes of yor forefathers, kepe not their ordinaunces, and defyle not youre selues with their Idols, for I am the LORDE youre God. But walke in my statutes, kepe my lawes & do them, halowe my Sabbathes: 〈◊〉 . 16. e 〈◊〉 . 32. c for they are a token betwixte me & you, that ye maye knowe, how yt I am the LORDE. 〈…〉 Notwithstōdinge, their sonnes rebelled against me also: they walked not in my statutes, they kepte not my lawes to fulfill them (which he that doth shal lyue in them) nether halowed they my Sabbath dayes. 〈◊〉 . 18. a 〈◊〉 . 3. b 〈◊〉 0. a Thē I made me agayne to poure out my indignacion ouer them, and to satisfie my wrath vpon them in the wildernesse. Neuertheles I with drewe my honde for my names sake, lest it shulde be vn halowed amonge the Heithē, before whom I had brought them forth. I lift vp myne honde ouer them also in the wildernesse, that I wolde scatre them amonge the Heithen, and strowe them amonge the nacions: because they had not kepte my lawes, but cast asyde my commaundementes, vnhalowed my Sabbathes, and lift vp their eyes to their fathers Idols. Wherfore I gaue them also commaundementes not good, & lawes thorow the which they shulde not lyue, & I vnhalowed them in their owne giftes: 〈◊〉 . 13. a (when I appoynted for myself all their first borne) to make them desolate: that they might knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

Therfore (O thou sonne of man) tell the house of Israel, thus saieth the LORDE God: Besyde all this, youre forefathers haue yet blasphemed me more, and greatly offended agaynst me: For after I had brought them in to the londe, yt I promysed to geue them, when they sawe euery hie hill & all the thicke trees: they made there their offringes, and prouoked me with their oblacions, makinge swete sauoures there, & poured out their drinke offeringes. Then I axed them what haue ye to do with all, that ye go thither? And therfore is it called the hie place vnto this daye. Wherfore, speake vnto the house of Israel: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Ye are euen as vnclene as youre forefathers, & committe whordome also with their abhominaciōs. 〈◊〉 . 1 . a 〈◊〉 . 12. d In all youre Idols, where vnto ye bringe youre oblaciōs, 〈◊〉 16. c 〈◊〉 . 17. c & to whose honoure ye burne youre children: ye defyle youre selues, euen vnto this daye: 〈◊〉 3. a how darre ye thē come, and axe eny question at me? O ye housholde of Israel? As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE God) ye get no answere of me: & as for the thinge that ye go aboute, it shal not come to passe, where as ye saye: we wil be as the Heithen, & do as other people in the londe, wod & stone wil we worshipe.

As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE God) I myself, wil rule you with a mightie honde, with a stretched out arme, and with indignacion poured out ouer you: & wil bringe you out of the nacions and londes, wherin ye are scatred: and gather you together with a mightie hōde, with a stretched out arme & wt indignacion poured out vpon you: & wil bringe you in to the wildernesse of the people, & there I will reason with you face to face. Like as I punished yor forefathers in the wildernesse, so wil I punish you also, saieth the LORDE God. I wil bringe you vnder my iuriszdiction, and vnder the bonde of the couenaunt. The forsakers also and the transgressours wil I take from amonge you, & bringe them out of the londe of youre habitacion: as for the londe of Israel, they shall not come in it: that they maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

Go now then (saieth the LORDE God) ye house of Israel, cast awaye, Esa. 2. c 80 d Eze. 14 and destroye euery man his Idols: then shal ye heare me, and nomore blaspeme my holy name with youre offrynges and Idols. But vpon my holy hill, euē vpon the hie hill of Israel shal all the house of Israel and all that is in the londe, worshipe me: and in the same place will I fauoure them, Deu. 12 14. b and there will I requyre youre heaue offringes, and the first linges of youre oblacions, with all youre holy thinges.

I wil accepte youre swete sauoure, when I bringe you from the nacions, and gather you together out of the londes, wherin ye be scatred: that I maye be halowed in you before the Heithen, and that ye maye knowe, that I am the LORDE, which haue brought you in to the londe of Israel: yee in to the same lōde, that I swore to geue vnto youre fore fathers. There shal ye call to remembraunce youre owne wayes and all youre ymaginacions, wherin ye baue bene defyled: and ye shal be displeased with youre owne selues, Iere. 8. a 8 a. 31. c for all youre wickednes, that ye haue done. And ye shal knowe, that I am the LORDE: when I entreate you after my name, not after yor wicked wayes, ner acordinge to youre corrupte workes: o ye house of Israel, saieth the LORDE.

Morouer, the worde of ye LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of mā, set thy face towarde the south, & speake to the south wynde, and saye to the wodde towarde the souht: Heare the worde of the LORDE, thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I wil kyndle a fyre in the, yt shal cōsume the grene trees wt the drye. No man shal be able to quench his flame, but all that oketh from the south to the north, shal be brent therin: & all flesh shal se, that I the LORDE haue kyndled it, so that no man maye quench it. Then sayde I: O LORDE, 〈◊〉 . 20. b they wil saye of me: Tush, they are but fables, that he telleth.

The XXI. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came to me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, set thy face towarde Ierusalem, speake agaynst the Sanctuary, & prophecie agaynst the londe of Israel, saye to the lōde of Israel: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I wil vpon the, & wil drawe my swearde out of ye sheth, & rote out of ye both the rightuous & the wicked. Seinge then that I will rote out of the both the rightuous & wicked, therfore shal my swearde go out of his sheth, agaynst all flesh from the north to the south: that all flesh maye knowe, how that I the LORDE haue drawen my swearde out of the sheth, & it shal not be put in agayne.

Mourne therfore (o thou sonne of man) yt thy loynes crack withall, yee mourne bytterly for them: And yf they saye, wherfore mournest thou? Then tell them: for the tydinges that commeth, at the which all hertes shall melt, all hondes shal be letten downe, all stomackes shal faynte, and all knees shall waxe feble. Beholde, it commeth & shal be fulfilled, saieth the LORDE God.

Agayne, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, prophecie, and speake: Thus saieth the LORDE God: speake, the swearde is sharpened & wel scoured. Sharpened is it for the slaughter, & scoured yt it maye be bright. 〈◊〉 10. a O, the destroyenge staff of my sonne, shal bringe downe all wodde. He hath put his swearde to ye dightinge, yt good holde maye be takē of it. This swearde is sharpened & dight, yt it maye be geuen in to the honde of the manslayer.

Crie (o thou sonne of man) and howle, for this swearde shal smyte my people, & all the rulers in Israel, which with my people shall be slayne downe to the grounde thorow this swearde. Smyte thou vpō thy thee, for, wherfore shulde not the plage & staff of indgmēt come? Prophecy thou sonne of man, & smyte thine hōdes together: make the swearde two edged, yee make it thre edged, yt manslayers swearde, that swearde of the greate slaughter, which shal smyte them, euen in their preuy chambres: to make them abaszshed & faynte at the hertes, & in all gates to make some of them fall. O how bright and sharpe is it, how wel dight & mete for ye slaughter: Get the to some place alone, ether vpon the right honde or on the lefte, whither so euer thy face turneth. I wil smyte my hondes together also, and satisfie my wrothfull indignacion: Euen I the LORDE haue sayde it.

The worde of the LORDE came yet vnto me agayne, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, make the two stretes, that the swearde of ye kinge of Babilō maye come. Both these stretes shall go out of one londe. He shal set him vp a place, at the heade of the strete shal be chose him out a corner. Make ye a strete, that the swearde maye come towarde Rabath of the Ammonites, and to the stronge cite of Ierusalem. For the kinge of Babilon shall stonde in the turnynge of the waye, at the heade of the two stretes: 〈…〉 to axe councell at the soythsayers, castinge the lottes with his arowes, to axe councell at the Idols, and to loke in the lyuer. But the soythsayenge shall poynte to the right syde vpon Ierusalem, that he maye set men of warre, to smyte it with a greate noyse, to crie out Alarum, to set batellrammes agaynst the gates, to graue vp dyches, & to make bulworkes.

Neuertheles, as for ye soythsayenge, they shall holde it but for vanite, euen as though a iest were tolde them: Yee and they them selues remembre their wickednesse, so that by right they must be takē and wonne. Therfore saieth the LORDE God: For so moch as ye youre selues shewe youre offence, and haue opened youre wickednesse, so that in all youre workes men maye se youre synnes: Yet in so moch (I saye) that ye youreselues haue made mencion therof, ye shalbe taken by violence.

O thou shameful wicked gyde of Israel, whose daye is come euen the tyme that wickednesse shall haue an ende: Thus saieth the LORDE God: take awaye the mytre, and put of the crowne, and so is it awaye: the humble is exalted, and the proude brought lowe. Punysh, punysh, yee punysh them will I, and destroye them: and that shall not be fulfilled, vntill he come, to whom the iudgment belongeth, and to whom I haue geuē it. And thou (o sonne of man) prophecy, & speake: 〈…〉 Thus saieth the LORDE God to the children of Ammon, & to their blasphemy, speake then: The swearde, the swearde, is drawen forth alredy to the slaughter, & s •• ured that it glistreth (because thou hast loked the out vanities, & prophecied lyes) yt it maye come vpon thy necke, like as vpō the other vngodly, which be slayne: whose daye came, when their wickednesse was full.

Though it were put vp agayne into the sheath, yet will I punysh the, in the londe where thou wast norished & borne, and poure my indignacion vpon the, and will blowe vpon the in the fyre of my wrath, and delyuer the vnto cruell people, which are lerned to destroye. Thou shalt fede the fyre, and yt bloude shall be shed in the londe, that thou mayest be put out of remembraunce. Euen I the LORDE haue spoken it.

The XXII. Chapter.

MOrouer, the worde of ye LORDE came vnto me, & sayde: Thou sonne of man, wilt thou not reproue this bloudthurstie cite? Shewe thē their abhominaciōs, & tell them: Thus saieth the LORDE God: O thou cite, yt sheddest bloude in ye myddest of the, yt thy tyme maye come also: and makest the Idols to defyle the withall. Thou hast made thy self gilty, in ye bloude yt thou hast shed: & defyled ye ī ye ydols, which thou hast made. Thou hast caused thy daies to drawe nye, & made the tyme of thy yeares to come. Therfore will I make ye to be confounded amōge the Heithē, & to be despised in all the lōdes, whether they be nye or farre frō the: they shal laugh ye to scorne, thou yt hast gottē the so foule a name, & art full off myschefe. 〈◊〉 5. c 〈◊〉 5. c Beholde, the rulers of Israel haue brought euery man his power, to shed bloude in the. In the haue they despised father & mother, in the haue they oppressed the straūger, in the haue they vexed the wyddowe & the fatherlesse. Thou hast despysed my Sāctuary, 〈…〉 and vnhalowed my Sabbath. Murtherers are there in the, that shed bloude, & eate vpon the hilles, and in the they vse vnhappynesse.

In ye haue they discouered their fathers shame, in the haue they vexed women in their sicknesse. 〈◊〉 3 . f 〈◊〉 . 5. a Euery mā hath dealte shamefully with his neghbours wife, & abhominably defyled his doughter in lawe. In the hath euery man forced his owne sister, 〈◊〉 . 27. c 〈◊〉 . 3. d 〈…〉 . c euen his fathers doughter: Yee giftes haue bene receaued in the, to shed bloude. Thou hast taken vsury & encreace, thou hast oppressed thy neghbours by extorcion, and forgotten me, saieth the LORDE God. Beholde, I haue smytten my hondes vpō thy couetousnesse, that thou hast vsed, and vpon the bloude which hath bene shed in the. Is thy herte able to endure it, or maye thy hondes defende them selues, in the tyme that I shall bringe vpon the? Euen I the LORDE that speake it, will bringe it also to passe.

I will scatre the amonge the Heithen, Eze. 1 . c 15. b & strowe the aboute in the lōdes, and wil cause thy fylthynesse to ceasse out off the: yee and I will haue the in possession in the sight of the Heithen, that thou mayest knowe, that I am the LORDE,

And the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, the house of Israel is turned to drosse. Esa. 1. c All they that shulde be brasse, tynne, yrō & leade, are in the fyre become drosse. Therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: For so moch as ye all are turned in to drosse, beholde: I will brynge you together vnto Ierusalem, like as syluer, brasse, yron, tynne and leade are put together in the fornace, and the fyre blowen there vnder to melt them: Euen so will I gather you, put you in together, and melt you in my wrath and indignacion. I will brynge you together, and kyndle the fyre of my cruell displeasure vnder you, that ye maye be melted therin.

Like as the syluer is melted in the fyre, so shall ye also be melted therin: that ye maye knowe, how that I the LORDE haue poured my wrath vpon you.

And the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayēge: Thou sonne of mā, tell her: Thou art an vn clene londe, which is not rayned vpon in the daye off the cruell wrath: Mich. 3. c thy prophetes that are in the, are sworne together to deuoure soules, like as a roaringe Lyon, that lyueth by his pray. They receaue riches and good, and make many wyddowes in ye. Thy prestes breake my lawe, and defyle my Sanctuary. Leui. 10. They put no dyfference betwene the holy and vnholy, nether discerne betwene the clene and vnclene: they turne their eyes fro my Sabbathes, and I am vnhalowed amonge them.

Thy rulers in the are like rauyshinge wolues, to shed bloude, Mich. 3. d Soph. . Eze. 13. b and to destroye soules, for their owne covetous lucre. As for thy prophetes, they dawbe with vntempered claye, they se vanities and prophecie lies vnto them, sayenge: the LORDE God sayeth so, where as the LORDE hath not spoken The people in the londe vseth wicked extorciō and robbery. Exo. 2 . They vexe the poore and nedy: and oppresse the straunger agaynst right. And I sought in the londe for a man, that wolde make vp the hedge, and see him self in the gappe before me in the lōdes behalfe, yt I shulde not vtterly destroye it but I coude fynde none. Therfore wil I poure out my cruell displeasure vpon them, and burne them in the fyre of my wrath: their owne wayes will I recompence vpō their heades, saieth the LORDE God.

The XXIII. Chapter.

THe worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, there were two womē, that had one mother: Eze. 0. a These (when they were yonge) beganne to playe the harlottes in Egipte. There were their brestes brussed, and the pappes off their maydenheade destroyed. The eldest of them was called Oola, and hir yongest sister Ooliba. These two were myne, and bare sonnes and doughters. Their names were, Samaria, and that was Oola: and Ierusalem, that was Ooliba. As for Oola, she beganne to go a whorynge, when I had takē her to me. She was set on fyre vpon hir louers the Assirians, which had to do with her: euen the prynces and lordes, that were deckte in costly araye: . Re. 15. d fayre yonge men, lusty ryders of horses.

Thus thorow hir whordome, she cleued vnto all the yonge men off Assiria: Yee she was madde vpon them, and defyled herselff with all their Idols. Nether ceassed she frō the fornicaciō, that she vsed with the Egipcians: for in hir youth they laye wt her, they brussed the brestes of hir maydenheade, and poured their wordome vpon her. . Re. 17. Wherfore, I delyuered her in to ye hōdes of hir louers, euen the Assirians, whom she so loued. These discouered hir shame, toke hir sonnes and doughters, Eze. 16. b and slewe her with the swearde: An euell name gat she of all people, ād they punyshed her.

Hir sister Ooliba sawe this, ād destroyed herself wt inordinate loue, Iere. 3. b . Re. 16. b more then she, & exceaded hir sister in whordome: she loued ye Assirians (which also laye wt her) namely, the prynces & greate lordes, that were clothed wt all maner of gorgious apparell, all lusty horsmen and fayre yonge personnes. Then I sawe, that they both were defyled a like. But she increased still in whordome: for when she sawe men paynted vpon the wall, the ymages off the Caldees set forth with fresh colours, with fayre gyrdles aboute them, and goodly bonettes vpon their heades, lokynge all like prynces (after ye maner of the Babiloniās and Caldees in their owne londe, where they be borne) Inmediatly, as soone as she sawe them, she brent in loue vpon them, and sent messaūgers for them in to the londe of the Caldees.

Now when the Babiloniās came to her, they laye with her, and defyled her with their whordome, and so was she poluted with with them. And when hir lust was abated from them, 〈…〉 hir whordome and shame was discouered & sene: then my herte forsoke her, like as my herte was gone from hir sister also. Neuertheles she vsed hir whordome en the longer the more, and remembred the dayes off hir youth, wherin she had played the harlot in the londe off Egipte: she brent in lust vpon them, 〈…〉 whose flesh was like ye flesh of Asses, and their sede like the sede off horses. Thus thou hast renued the fylthynesse of thy youth, when thy louers bressed ye pappes, and marred thy brestes in Egipte.

Therfore (o Ooliba) thus saieth ye LORDE God. I will rayse vp thy louers (with whom thou hast satisfied thy lust) agaynst the, and gather them together rounde aboute the: Namely, the Babilonians, and all the Caldees: Pecod, Schoa and Coa, with all the Assirians: all yonge and fayre louers: prynces and lordes, knyghtes and gentlemen, which be all good horsmen: These shall come vpon the with horses, charettes, & a greate multitude of people: which shal be harnessed aboute the on euery syde, wt brestplates, sheldes and helmettes. I will punysh yt before them, yee they thē selues shal punysh the, acordinge to their owne iudgmēt. I will put my gelousy vpon the, so that they shall deale cruelly with the. They shal cut of thy nose and thine eares, and the remnaunt shall fall thorow the swearde. They shall cary awaye thy sonnes and doughters, & the resydue shalbe brent in the fyre. Thy shal strype the out of thy clothes, & cary thy costly Iewels awaye with them.

Thus will I make an ende off thy fylthynesse & whordome, which thou hast brought out of the lōde of Egipte: so that thou shalt turne thine eyes nomore after them, & cast thy mynde nomore vpon Egipte. For thus saieth the LORDE: Beholde, I will delyuer ye in to the hōdes of them, whom thou hatest: yee euen in to the hondes of them, with whō thou hast fulfylled thy lust, which shall deale cruelly with ye: All thy laboure shal they take with them, and leaue the naked and bare, and thus the shame of thy filthy whordome shal come to light. All these thinges shal happen vnto the, because of thy whordome, which thou hast vsed amonge the Gentiles, with whose Idols thou hast defyled yt self. Thou hast walked in the waye of thy sister, therfore will I geue the hir cuppe in thy honde.

Thus saieth the LORDE God: Thou shalt drynke off thy sisters cuppe, how depe & farre so euer it be to the botome. Thou shalt be laughed to scorne, and had as greatly in derision, as is possible. Thou shalt be full off dronckennes and sorowe, for the cuppe of ye sister Samaria is a cuppe of destruccion & waistinge: the same shalt thou drynke, and suppe it out euē to ye dregges, yee thou shalt eate vp the broken peces off it, and so teare thine owne brestes: For euen I haue spoken it, saieth the LORDE God.

Therfore thus saieth ye LORDE God: For so moch as thou hast forgottē me, & cast me asyde, so beare now thine owne fylthinesse & whordome. The LORDE sayde morouer vnto me: Thou sonne of mā, wilt thou not reproue Oola & Ooliba? Shewethē their abhominaciōs: namely, yt they haue brokē their wedlocke, & stayned their hōdes wt bloude: yee euen wt their Idols haue they committed aduo try, 〈…〉 & offred them their owne children (to be deuoured) whō they had borne vnto me. Yee & this haue they done vnto me also: 〈…〉 they haue defyled my Sāctuary in that same daye, & haue vnhalowed my Sabbath. For when they had slayne their childrē for their Idols, they came the same daye in to my Sanctuary, to defyle it. Lo, this haue they done in my house. Besyde all this, thou hast sent yt messeungers for men out of farre coūtrees: and whē they came, thou hast bathed, trymmed and set forth thy selff off the best fashion: thou sattest vpō a goodly bed, 〈…〉 & a table spred before the: whervpon thou hast set myne incense and myne oyle.

Then was there greate cheare wt her, & the men yt were sent frō farre coūtrees ouer the deserte: vnto these they gaue bracelettes vpon their hondes, & set glorious crownes vpon their heades. Then thought Imodonte, these wil vse their harlotry also wt yōder olde whore. And they wente in to her, as vnto a comon harlot: Euen so wente they also to Oola & Ooliba, those filthy women.

O ye all that loue vertue and rightuousnes, 〈…〉 iudge thē, punysh them: as aduoutrers and murtherers ought to be iudged and punyshed. For they are breakers off wedlocke, and the bloude is in their hondes. Wherfore thus saieth the LORDE God: bringe a greate multitude off people vpon them, and make them be scatred and spoyled: these shal stone them, and gorre them with their sweardes. They shal slaye their sonnes and doughters and burne vp their houses with fyre.

Thus will I destroye all soch fylthynes out off the londe: that all women may lerne, not to do after youre vnclēnesse. And so they shall laye youre fylthinesse vpon youre owne selues, and ye shalbe punyshed for the synnes, that ye haue committed with youre Idols: & ye shall knowe, that I am the LORDE.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

IN the ix. yeare, in the x. Moneth. the x. daye off the Moneth, came the worde off the LORDE vnto me, sayenge: O thou sonne off man, wryte vp the name off this daye, yee euē ye houre of this present daye: when the kynge of Babilon set himself agaynst Ierusalē. Eze. 17. a Eze 11. b Shewe yt obstinate housholde a parable, & speake vnto thē: Thus sayet the LORDE God: Get the a pot, set it on, & poure water in to it: put all the peces together in it, all the good peces: the loyne and the shulder, & fyll it with the best bones. Take one off the best shepe, & an heape off bones withall: let it boyle well, & let the bones seyth well therin.

With that, sayde the LORDE God on this maner: Wo be vnto the bloudy cite of ye pot, Nau. 3. Aba. 2. a whervpon the rustynesse hāgeth, and is not yet scoured awaye. Take out the peces that are in it, one after another: there nede no lottes be case therfore, for the bloude is yet in it Vpon a playne drye stone hath she poured it, and not vpon the grounde, that it might be couered with dust. And therfore haue I letten her poure hir bloude vpon a playne drye stony rocke, because it shulde not be hid, and that I might bringe my wrothfull indignacion and vengeaunce vpon her.

Wherfore, thus saieth ye LORDE God: O, wo be vnto that bloudthurstie cite, for whō I wil prepare a heape off wodde: beare thou ye bones together, kyndle thou the fyre, seeth the flesh, let all be well soddē, that the bones maye be suckte out. Morouer, set the potemptye vpon the coales, that it maye be warme and the metall hote: that the fylth and rustynesse maye be consumed. But it will not go off, there is so moch off it: the rustinesse must be brent out. Thy filthinesse is abhominable, for I wolde haue clensed the, but thou woldest not be clensed. Thou canst not be pourged from thine vnclennesse, till I haue poured my wrothfull indignacion vpon the. Euen I the LORDE haue so deuysed: Yee it is come therto allredy, that I will do it. I will not go backe, I will not spare, I wil not be intreated: but acordinge to thy wayes ād ymaginacions, thou shalt be punyshed, saieth the LORDE God.

And the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne off man, beholde, I will take awaye the pleasure off thine eyes wt a plage: yet shalt thou nether mourne ner wepe, ner water thy chekes therfore: thou mayest mourne by thy selff alone, but vse no deadly lamentacion. Holde on thy bonet, and put on thy shues vpon thy fete, couer not thy face, and eate no mourners bred. So I spake vnto the people bytymes in the mornynge, and at euen my wyfe dyed: then vpon the nexte morow, I dyd as I was cō maunded. And ye people sayde vnto me: wilt thou not tell vs, what that signifieth, which thou doest? I answered them, the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayēge: Tell the house of Israel, thus saieth ye LODDE God: beholde, I wil suspende my Sanctuary: evē the glory of youre power, the pleasure of yor eyes, and the thinge that ye love: youre sonnes and doughters whom ye haue left, shal fall thorow the swerde.

Like as I haue done, so shall ye do also: Ye shal not hyde youre faces, ye shal eate no mourners bred: youre bonettes shal ye haue vpon youre heades, & shues vpon youre fete Ye shal nether mourne ner wepe, but in youre synnes ye shal be soroufull, and one repēte with another. Thus Ezechiel is youre shew tokē. For loke as he hath done, so (when this commeth) ye shall do also: that ye maye lerne to knowe, that I am ye LORDE God. But beholde, O thou sonne of man: In the daye when I take from them their power, their ioye and honoure, the lust off their eyes, the burthē of their bodies: namely, their sonnes and doughters: Thē shall there one escape, and come vnto the, for to shewe the. In that daye shal yi mouth be opened to him, which is escaped, that thou mayest speake, and be nomore domme: Yee and thou shalt be their shew tokē, that they maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

The XXV. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, set thy face agaynst ye Ammonites, prophecy vpon them, 〈◊〉 . 21 d ere 49. a and saye vnto the Ammonites: Heare the worde off the LORDE God, Thus saieth the LORDE God: for so moch as thou speakest ouer my Sanctuary: A ha, I trow it be now suspended: and ouer the londe of Israel, I trow it be now desolate: yee ād ouer the house of Iuda, I trow they be now led awaye presoners: Beholde, I will delyuer ye to the people of the east, yt they maye haue the in possession: these shal set their castels and houses in the. They shall eate thy frute, and drynke vp thy mylcke. As for Rabath, I wil make of it a stall for camels, and of Ammon a shepefolde: and ye shal knowe, that I am the LORDE.

For thus saieth the LORDE God: In so moch as thou hast clapped with thine hondes, and stamped with thy fete, yee reioysed in thine herte ouer the londe of Israel with despyte: beholde, I wil stretch out myne hō de ouer the also, and delyuer the, to be spoyled off the Heithen, and rote the out from amonge the people, and cause the be destroyed out off all londes: yee I will make the be layed waist, that thou mayest knowe, that I am the LORDE.

Thus saieth ye LORDE God: 〈…〉 For so moch as Moab and Seir do saye: As for the house off Iuda, it is but like as all other Gētiles be: Therfore beholde, I will make the cities off Moab weapenlesse, and take awaye their strength: their cities and chefe coastes off their londe, which are the pleasures off the countre: As namely. Betiesimoth, Baalmeō and Cariathaim: these will I open vnto thē off the east, yt they maye fall vpon the Ammonites: and will geue it them in possession: so that the Ammonites shal no more be had in remēbraunce amonge the Heithen. Euen thus will I punysh Moab also, that they maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

Morouer, thus sayeth the LORDE God: Because that Edom hath avenged & eased himself vpon the house off Iuda, 〈…〉 therfore thus saieth the LORDE: I will reach out myne honde vpon Edom, and take awaye man and beest out off it. From Themā vnto Dedan wil I make it desolate, they shalbe slayne with the swearde. Thorow my people of Israel, wil I avenge me agayne vpō Edō: 〈…〉 they shal hādle him, acordinge to my wrath and indignaciō, so that they shal knowe my vengeaunce, saieth the LORDE God.

Thus saieth ye LORDE God: For so moch as the Philistynes haue done this: namely, 〈…〉 taken vengeaunce with despitefull stomackes, and off an olde euell will set them selues to destroye: Therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I wil stretch out myne hōde ouer the Philistynes, and destroye the destroyer, and cause all the remnaunt off the see coast to perish. A greate vengeaunce will I take vpon them, and punysh them cruelly: that they maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE, which haue avenged me off them.

The XXVI. Chapter.

IT happened, that in the xi. yeare, the first daye off the Moneth, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: 〈…〉 Thou sonne of man, Because that Tyre hath spoken vpon Ierusalem: A ha, now I trow the portes of the people be broken, and she turned vnto me, for I haue destroyed my bely full. Yee therfore saieth ye LORDE God: Beholde O Tyre, I will vpō the, I wil bringe a greate multitude off people agaynst ye, like as whē the see aryseth with his wawes: These shal breake the walles off Tyre, and cast downe hir towres; I wil scrape the grounde from her, and mate her a bare stone: yee as the dryenge place, where the fyshers hange vp their nettes by the see syde. Euen I haue spoken it, sayeth the LORDE God. The Gē tiles shal spoyle her: hir doughters vpon the felde shall perish with the swearde, yt they maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

For thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I will brynge hither Nabuchodonosor (which is the kynge off Babilon & a kynge of kynges) from the North, vpō Tyre, with horses, charettes, horsmen and with a greate multitude of people. Thy doughters that are in the londe, shal be slaye with ye swearde: But agaynst ye, he shall make bullworkes & graue vp dyches aboute the, & lift vp his shylde agaynst ye. His slynges & batelrā mes shal he prepare for thy walles, & wt his wrapēs breake downe thy towres. The dust of his horses shal couer ye, they shalbe so many: yi walles shal shake at the noyse of ye horse men, charettes & wheles: when he cōmeth to thy portes, as men do into an open cite. With the hoffes off his horse fete, shal he treade downe all thy stretes.

He shal slaye thy people wt the swearde, & breake downe the pilers of thy strength. They shal waist awaye thy riches, & spoyle yi marchaūdise. Thy walles shal they breake downe, & destroye thy houses of pleasure. Thy stones, thy tymbre & foundacions, shall they cast in the water. Thus wil I brynge the melody of thy songes, 〈…〉 & the voyce of thy mynstrelsy to an ende, so that they shal no more be herde. I wil make a bare stone off the, yee a dryenge place for nettes, and shalt neuer be buylded agayne: For euē I ye LORDE haue spoken it, sayeth the LORDE God: thus hath the LORDE God spoken concernynge Tyre: The Iles shall be moued at the noyse off thy fall, & at the crie of the slayne, yt shal be murthured in the. All kynges off the see shall come downe from their seates regall: they shal laye awaye their roabes, and put off their costly clothinge: Yee with tremblinge shal they be clothed, they shall syt vpō the grounde: they shal be afrayed at thy sodane fall, and be abasshed at the.

They shal mourne for the, and saye vnto the: O thou noble cite, yt hast bene so greatly occupyed off olde, Tren. 1. a. thou that hast bene the strongest vpon the see wt thine inhabitours off whom all men stode in feare: How art thou now so vtterly destroyed? Now at the tyme off thy fall the inhabitours off the Iles, yee and the Iles them selues shall stonde in feare at thine ende. For thus sayeth the LORDE God: when I make the a desolate cite (as other cities be, that no man dwell in) and when I brynge the depe vpon the, yt greate waters maye couer the: Then will I cast the downe vnto them, that descende in to ye pytte: vnto a people that hath bene lō ge deed, and set the in a londe yt is beneth, like the olde wyldernes, with them which go downe to their graues, so yt no mā shal dwell more in the. And I wil make the to be no more in honor, in the lōde of the lyuynge. I wil make an ende off the, ād thou shalt be gone. Though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou not be founde for euermore, saieth ye LORDE God.

The XXVII. Chapter.

THe worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: O thou so ane off mā, make a lamentable cōplaynte vpon Tyre, saye vnto Tyre, which is a porte off the see, yt occupieth with moch people: Eze. 26.28. and many Iles: thus speaketh ye LORDE God: O Tyre thou hast sayde: what, I am a noble cite. thy borders are in the myddest of the see, and thy buylders haue made the maruelous goodly. All yi tables haue they made of Cip e trees of the mount Senir. Frō Libanus haue they takē Cedre trees, to make the mastes: & the Okes of Basan to make the rowers.

Thy boordes haue they made of yuery, & of costly wod out of the Ile of Cethim. Thy sale was of whyte small nedle worke out off the londe of Egipte, to hāge vpō thy mast: & thy hanginges of yalow sylcke & purple, out of ye Iles of Elisa. They of Sidō & Arnad were thy maryners, & the wysest in Tyre were thy shypmasters. The eldest and wysest at Gebal were they, that mended & stopped thy shippes.

All shippes off the see with their shipmē occupied their marchaundies in the. The Perses, Lydians and Lybians were in thyne hoost, and helped the to fight: these hanged vp their shildes & helmettes with the these set forth thy beuty.

They off Arnad were with thine hoost roūde aboute thy walles, & were thy watchmen vpon thy towres: these hanged vp their shildes roūde aboute thy walles, and made the maruelous goodly. Tharsis occupide with the in all maner of wares, in syluer, yron, tynne and lead, and made thy market greate. Iauan, Tubal and Mesech were thy marchauntes, which brought the men, & ornamentes off metall for thy occupyenge. They off the house of Thogarma brought vnto the at the tyme off thy Marte, horse, horsmen and mules. They off Dedan were thy marchaūtes: Eze. 25. and many other Iles that occupyed with the, brought the wethers, elephāt bones and Paycockes for a present The Sirians occupied with the, because of thy dyuerse workes, and increased thy marchaundies, with Smaragdes, with scarlet, with nedle worke, wt whyte lynninge cloth, with sylcke and with Christall.

Iuda and the londe off Israel occupide with the, and brought vnto thy markettes, wheate, balme, hony, oyle, & triacle. Damascus also vsed marchaūdies with the, in the best wyne and whyte woll: because thy occupienge was so greate, and thy wares so many. Dan, Iauan, and Meusal haue brought vnto thy markettes, yron redy made, with Casia and Calamus, acordinge to thyne-occupienge. Dedan occupied with the, infayre tapestry worke and quyszhyns. Arabia & all the princes off Cedar haue occupied wt the, in shepe, wethers and goates. The marchauntes off Seba and Rema haue occupied also with the, in all costly spices, in all precious stones and golde, which they brought vnto thy marckettes. Haran, Chene and Eden, the marchauntes off Saba, Assiria and Chelmad, were all doers with ye and occupied with the: In costly rayment, off yalow sylke and nedle worke, (very precious, & therfore packte & boūde together wt roapes) Yee and in Ced e wodde, at the tyme off ye marckettes. The shippes of Tharsis were the chefe off thy occupienge.

Thus thou art full, and in greate worshipe, euen in the myddest off the see. Thy maryners were euer brynginge vnto the out of many waters. But ye easte wynde shal ouerbeare the in to the myddest off the see: so yt thy wares, thy marchaūdies, thy ryches, thy maryners, thy shipmasters, thy helpers, thy occupiers (that brought the thinges necessary) the men off warre that are in the: yee and all thy comons shall perish in the myddest off the see, in the daye off thy fall. The suburbes shall shake at the loude crie-off thy shippmen. All whirry men, and all maryners vpō the see, shall leape out of their bootes, and set them selues vpon the lōde. They shal lift vp their voyce because off the, and make a lamentable crye. They shall cast dust vpon their heades, ād lye downe in the asshes. They shal shaue them selues, & put sacke cloth vpon them for thy sake.

They shall mourne for the with hertfull sorow, and heuy lamentacion, yee their children also shall wepe forthe: Alas, what cite hath so bene destroyed in the see, as Tyre is? When thy wares & marchaundies came frō the sees. thou gauest all people ynough. The kynges off the earth hast thou made rich, thorow the multitude off thy wares and occupienge: But now art thou cast downe is to the depe of the see, all thy resorte of people is perished with the. All they that dwell in the Iles are abasshed at the, and all their kynges are afrayed, yee their faces haue chaunged coloure. The marchauntes of the nacions wondre at the, In that thou art so clene brought to naught, & cōmest nomore vp.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, tell the prynce of Tyre: 〈…〉 Thus saieth the LORDE God: because thou hast a proude hert and hast sayde: I am a God, 〈…〉 I haue my seate in the myddest off the see like a god: where as thou art but a man & not God, & yet stondest in thine owne cōceate, that thou art God: Beholde, thou thynkest thy selfe wyser then Daniel, that there is no secretes hyd from ye. With thy wiszdome & thy vnderstō dinge, thou hast gottē the greate welthynesse, and gathered treasure of syluer & golde, With thy greate wiszdome and occupienge, hast thou increased thy power, and because of thy greate riches thy hert is proude.

Therfore thus saieth ye LORDE God: For so moch as thou hast lift vp thine herte, as though thou werst God: beholde, I will bringe enemies vpon the, euen the tyrauntes of the Heithē: these shal drawe out their sweardes vpon thy beuty and wiszdome, and shall defyle thy glory. They shal cast the downe to the pytte, so that thou shalt dye in the middest of the see, as they that be slayne. Let se, yff thou wilt saye then (before thē that slaye ye) I am God: where as thou art but a man, and not God, in the hondes of them that slaye the. Dye shalt thou, euen as the vncircumcised in the hōdes of ye enemies: for I myself haue spoken it, saieth the LORDE God.

Morouer, the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne off man, make a lamentable complaynte ouer the kynge of Tyre, & tell him: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Thou art a seale of a licknesse, full off wyszdome & excellent beuty. Thou hast bene in ye pleasaūt gardē off God: thou art decte with all maner of precious stones: with Ruby, Topas, Christall, Iacyncte, Onyx, Iaspis, Saphir, Smaragde, Carbūcle, & golde. Thy beuty & ye holes yt be in ye were set forth in the daye of ye creacion. Thou art a fayre Cherub, stretched wyde out for to couer.

I haue set the vpon the holy mount off God, there hast thou bene, and walked amō ge the fayre glisteringe stones. From the tyme of thy creacion thou hast bene right excellent, tyll wickednesse was founde in the. Because off thy greate marchaundise, 〈◊〉 2. b thy hert is full of wickednesse, & thou hast offended. Therfore wil I cast the from the mount of God, (O thou coueringe Cherub) and destroye the amōge the glisteringe stones. Thy hert was proude in ye fayre beuty, & thorow thy beuty thou hast destroyed thy wiszdome. I will cast ye downe to the grounde, & yt in ye sight of kynges. Thou hast defyled thy Sāctuary, wt the greate wickednesse off thy onrightuous occupyenge. I wil bringe a fyre from the myddest of the, to consume the: ād wil make the to asshes, in the sight of all thē yt loke vpon the. All they that haue bene acquaunted with the amonge the Heithē, shal be abasshed at the: seinge thou art so clene brought to naugth, and cōmest no more vp.

And the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, set thy face agaynst Sidō, Prophecie vpō it, and speake. Thus saieth the LORDE God: 〈◊〉 . 3. a 〈◊〉 . 9. a Beholde o Sidon, I wil vpō the, & get me honoure in the: that it maye be knowne, how that I am ye LORDE, when I punysh her, & get me honoure in her. For I will sende pestilence & bloud sheddinge in to hir stretes, so yt those which be slayne with the swerde, shal lye rounde aboute in the myddest of her: & they shal knowe, that I am the LORDE. She shal no more be a prickinge thorne, & an hurtinge brere vnto the house of Israel, ner vnto thē that lye rounde aboute her and hate her: and they shal knowe, that I am the LORDE.

Thus saieth the LORDE God: when I gather the housholde of Israel together agayne, from the nacions amonge whom they be scatred: then shal I be sanctified in thē, in ye sight of the Gētiles: & they shal dwell in the lōde, yt I gaue to my seruaunt Iacob. They shal dwell safely therin, buylde houses, Deu. 28. c Esa. 65. d and plante vynyardes: Yee safely shal they dwell therin, when I haue punyshed all those, that despyse them rounde aboute: and then shall they knowe, yt I am the LORDE their God.

The XXIX. Chapter.

IN the x. yeare, vpon the xij. daye off the x. Moneth, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayēge: Esa. 19. a 20. a Iere. 46. Eze. 30.31.32. O thou sonne off mā, set now thy face agaynst Pharao the kynge off Egipte, Prophecye agaynst him and agaynst the whole lōde of Egipte: Speake, and tell him, thus saieth the LORDE God: beholde, o Pharao thou kinge of Egipte, I wil vpō the, thou greate whall fysh, yt lyest in yi waters: Thou yt sayest: the water is myne, I haue made it myself. I wil put an hoke in thy chawes, & hāge all the fish in thy waters vpō thy skales: after yt I wil drawe the out of thy waters, yee & all the fish of ye waters that hange vpon thy skales.

I wil cast the out vpon the dry lōde with the fish of thy waters, so that thou shalt lye vpon the felde. Thou shalt not be gathered ner taken vp, but shalt be meate for the beestes of the felde, & for the foules off the ayre: that all they which dwell in Egipte, maye knowe, that I am the LORDE: because thou hast bene a staff of rede to the house of Israel.4. Re. 18. Esa 30 a 31. a. 36. a When they toke holde of ye wt their hōde thou brakest and prycdest them on euery syde: and yff they leaned vpō the, thou brakest, ād hurtdest the reynes of their backes. Therfore, thus sayeth the LORDE: God: beholde, I will brynge a swearde vpon the, and rote out of the both man and beest. Yee the londe of Egipte shalbe desolate and waist, & they shal knowe, that I am the LORDE: Because he sayde: the water is mine, I my self haue made it. Beholde therfore, I wil vpon the, & vpon thy waters: I will make the londe off Egipte waist and desolate, from the towre of Syenes vnto the borders of the Moriās londe: so that in xl. yeares there shall no fote off man walke there, nether fote of catell go there, nether shal it be inhabited. I wil make the londe of Egipte to be desolate amonge other waist countrees, and her cities to lye voyde xl. yeares, amonge other voyde cities: And I wil scatre the Egipcians amonge the Heithen and nacions.

Agayne, thus sayeth the LORDE God: Whē the xl. yeares are expyred, I wil gather the Egipcians together agayne, Iere. 46. out off the naciōs, amonge whō they were scatred, and wil bringe the presoners off Egipte agayne in to the londe off Pathures their owne natyue 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 councre, that they maye be there a lowly small kyngdome: yee they shal be the smallest amonge other kyngdomes, lest they exalte them selues aboue the Heithen: for I will so mynish them, that they shall nomore rule the Heithen. They shall nomore be an hope vnto the house off Israel, nether prouoke thē enymore to wickednesse, to cause them turne backe, and to folowe them: ād they shal knowe, that I am the LORDE God.

In the xxvij. yeare, the first daye of the first Moneth, came ye worde off the LORDE vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne off man, Nabuchodonosor the kynge off Babilon hath made his hoost, with greate trauayle and laboure to come before Tyre: that euery heade maye be balde, and euery shulder bare. Yet hath Tyre geuen nether him ner his hoost eny rewarde, for ye greate trauayle yt he hath taken there. Therfore thus saieth ye LORDE God: beholde I wil geue the lōde of Egipte vnto Nabuchodonosor the kynge off Babilō, yt he maye take awaye all hir substaūce, robbe hir robberies, ād spoyle hir spoyles, to paye his hoost their wagies withall. I wil geue him the londe of Egipte for his laboure, that he toke for me before Tyre. At the same tyme wil I cause the horne off the house of Israel to growe forth, & open thy mouth agayne amonge them: that they maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

The XXX. Chapter.

MOrouer, the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, prophecy & speake: thus saieth the LORDE God: Mourne, wo worth this daye, Eze. 29.31.32. for the daye is here, the daye of ye LORDE is come: the darcke daye of ye Heithē the houre is at honde, the swearde commeth vpon Egipte. When the wounded men fall downe in Egipte, when hir people are taken awaye, and when hir foundaciōs are destroyed: the Morians londe shal be afrayed, yee the Morians londe, Lybia & Lydia, all their comon people, & Chub, & all yt be confederate vnto thē, shal fall wt thē thorow ye swearde.

Thus saieth ye LORDE: The maynteyners of the lōde of Egipte shal fall, the pryde of hir power shal come downe: euē vnto the tower off Syenes shall they be slayne downe wt the swearde, saieth ye LORDE God: amonge other desolate countrees they shal be made desolate, & amōge other waist cities they shalbe waisted. And they shal knowe, yt I am ye LORDE, when I kyndle a fyre in Egipte, & when all hir helpers are destroyed.

At that tyme, shal there messaungers go forth frome in shippes, to make ye carelesse Morians afrayed: and sorowe shal come vpon them in the daye of Egipte, for doutles it shal come. Thus saieth the LORDE God: I wil make an ende of the people of Egipte thorow the honde of Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon. He and his people with him, yee and the cruell tyrauntes of the Heithen shalbe brought to destroye the londe. They shal drawe out their sweardes vpon Egipte and fyll the londe full of slayne men. I will drye vp their floudes of water, ād sell the lō de in to the hondes of wicked people. The lō de and all yt is therin, wil I destroye thorow the enemies. Euē I the LORDE haue sayde it.

And thus saieth the LORDE God: I will destroye the Idols, and brynge the ymages of Noph to an ende. 〈…〉 There shal nomore be a prynce of Egypte, and a fearfulnesse will I sende in to the Egipcians londe. As for Pathures, I wil make it desolate, ād kyndle a fyre in Zoan. Alexandria will I punysh, & poure my wroth full indignaciō vpō Sin, which is the strength of Egipte. All the sustaunce of Alexandria will I destroye, and kyndle a fyre in Egipte.

Sin shalbe in greate heuynesse, Alexandria shalbe roted out, and Noph shall haue daylie sorowe. The best men off Heliopolis & Bubasto shalbe slayne with the swearde, ād caried awaye captyue. At Taphnis the daye shalbe darke, when I breake there the scepter of the londe of Egipte, and when ye pompe of hir powr shal haue an ende. A clonde shal couer her, and hir doughters shalbe led a waye in to captyuyte. Thus will I punysh Egipte, that they maye knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

It happened in the xi. yeare, vpon the seuēth daye of ye first Moneth, yt the LORDES worde came vnto me, sayēge: Beholde, thou sonne of mā, I wil breake ye arme of Pharao kynge of Egipte: and lo, it shal not be boūde vp to be healed, nether shal eny plays re be layed vpon it, for to ease it, or to make it so strōge, as to holde a swearde. Therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: beholde, I will vpon Pharao ye kinge of Egipte, & brusse his strō ge arme (yet is it but a broken one) & will smyte the swearde out of his honde.

As for the Egipcians, I wil scatre them amonge the Heithen, & strowe thē in the londes aboute. Agayne I wil strength ye arme of the kinge of Babilō, & geue him my swearde in his hōde: but I wil breake Pharaos arme, so yt he shal holde it before him piteously, like a wounded man.

Yee I will stablish the kynge of Babilōs arme, & the armes of Pharao shal fall downe: that it maye be knowne, that I am the LORDE, which geue the kynge off Babilon my swearde in his hōde, that he maye drawe it out vpon the londe of Egipte: and that when I scatre the Egipcians amonge the Gentiles, and strowe them in ye lōdes aboute, they maye knowe, yt I am the LORDE.

The XXXI. Chapter.

MOrouer, it happened in the xi. yeare ye first daye of the thirde Moneth, that the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, speake vnto Pharao the kynge of Egipte, 〈◊〉 29· 〈◊〉 32. ād to all his people: Whom art thou like in yt greatnesse? Beholde, Assur was like a Cedre tre vpō the mount of Libanus, with fayre braū ches: so thicke, that he gaue shadowes, and shot out very hye. His toppe reached vnto the cloudes. The waters made him greate, and the depe set him vp an hye. Roūde aboute the rotes of him rāne there floudes of water, he sent out his litle ryuers vnto all the trees of the felde. Therfore was he hyer thō all the trees of the felde, and thorow ye multitude of waters that he sent frō him, he optayned many and longe braunches. All foules of the ayre made their nestes in his braū ches, vnder his bowes gēdred all the beastes of ye felde, & vnder his shadow dwelt all people. Fayre and beutifull was he in his greatnesse, and in the length of his braunches, for his rote stode besyde greate waters: no Cedretre might hyde him. In the pleasaūt garden of God, there was no Fyrre tre like his braūches, the playne trees were not like ye bowes of him. All the trees in the garden off God might not be cōpared vnto him in his beuty: so fayre and goodly had I made him with the multitude of his braunches: In so moch, yt all the trees in the pleasaūt gardē of God, had envye at hī. Therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: For so moch as he hath lift vp himself so hie, & stretched his toppe in to the cloudes, & seinge his hert is proude in his highnesse: I wil delyuer him in to ye hondes of ye mightiest amōge ye Heithē, which shall rote him out. Acordīge to his wickednes will I cast him awaye, the enemies shal destroye him, & the mighty men of the Heithen shall so scatre him, that his braunches shal lye vpon all mountaynes & in all valleys: his bowes shall be broken downe to the grounde thorow out the londe. Then all the people of the londe shal go from his shadowe, and forsake him. When he is fallē, all ye foules of ye ayre shal syt vpon him, and all wilde beestes of the felde shal go aboute amonge his braū ches: so that from hence forth, no tre in the water shall attayne to his hyenesse, nor reach his toppe vnto the cloudes, nether shall eny tre off the water stonde so hye, as he hath done. For vnto death shall they all be delyuered vnder the earth, and go downe to ye graue, like other men.

Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE God: In the daye when he goeth downe to the graue, I wil cause a lamentacion to be made. I will couer the depe vpon him, I will staunch his floudes, and the greate waters shalbe restrayned. I shall cause Libanus to be soroufull for his sake, and all the trees off the felde shall be smyttē. Esa. 14. c Eze. 32. c I wil make the Heithen shake at the sounde of his fall, when I cast him downe to hell, with them yt descende in to the pytte. All the trees of Eden, wt all the chosen and besttrees of Libanus, yee and all they that are planted vpon the waters, shal mourne with him also in the lower habitaciōs: for they shal go downe to hell wt him, vnto thē that be slayne with the swearde, which dwelt afore vnder the shadow off his arme amōge the Heithē. To whom shalt thou be lickened, that art so glorious & greate, amonge the trees off Eden? Yet art thou cast downe vnder ye earth (amonge the trees off Eden) where thou must lye amonge the vncircumcised, with them that be slayne wt the swearde. Euen thus is it with Pharao & all his people, saieth the LORDE God.

The XXXII. Chapter.

IN the xij. yeare, the first daye of the xij. Moneth, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, take vp a lamentacion vpō Pharao the kynge of Egipte, & saye vnto him: Eze. 29.30.31. Thou art reputed as a Lyon of the Heithen, & as a whalfish in the see. Thou castest yt waters aboute the, thou troublest the waters wt thy fete, and stampest in their floudes. Thus sayeth the LORDE God: Eze. 12. b 17. c I wil sprede my net ouer ye, namely, a greate multitude of people: these shal dryue the into my yarne, for I will cast the vpō the lōde, and let the lye vpō the felde, that all the foules of the ayre maye syt vpō the: I wil geue all the beastes of the felde ynough off the. Thy flesh will I cast vpō the hilles, and fyll the valleys with thy hyenesse. I will water the londe with the abundaunce off thy bloude euen to the moū taynes, & ye valleys shal be full off the.

When thou art put out, I will couer the heauen, and make his starres dymme. Eze. 13. loc. 3. c I will sprede a cloude ouer the Sonne, ād the Moone shall not geue hir light. All the lightes off heauen will I put out ouer the, and bringe darcknesse vpon thy londe, saieth ye LORDE God. I wil trouble the hertes off many people, when I bringe thy destruccion amō ge the Heithen and countrees, whom thou knowest not. Yee I will make many people with their kynges so afrayed thorow ye, that their hayre shal stonde vp, whē I shake my swearde at their faces. Sodenly shal they be astonnyed, euery man in him self, at ye daye of thy fall.

For thus saieth the LORDE God: the kynge of Babilons swearde shal come vpon ye, with ye sweardes of the worthies will I smyte downe thy people. All they that be mightie amonge the Gētiles, shal waist the proude pompe of Egipte, and brynge downe all hir people. All the catell also of Egipte wil I destroye, that they shal come nomore vpō the waters: so that nether mās fote ner beastes clawe, shal stere them eny more. Then wil I make their waters cleare, and cause their floudes to runne like oyle, sayeth the LORDE God: when I make the londe of Egipte desolate, and when ye countre with all that is therin, shalbe layde waist: and whē I smyte all thē which dwell in it, that they maye knowe, that I am the LORDE. This is the mournynge, that the doughters off the Heithen shall make: Yee a sorow and lamentaciō shal they take vp, vpon Egipte and all hir people, saieth the LORDE God.

In the xij. yeare, the xv. daye of the Moneth, came the worde off the LORDE vnto me sayenge: Thou sonne of man. Take vp a lamentacion vpon the people of Egipte, and cast them downe, yee ād the mightie people of the Heithē also, Esa. 14. c Eze. 31. c euen with thē that dwell beneth: and with them that go downe in to the graue. Downe (how fayre so euer thou be) and laye the with the vncircircumcised. Amōge those that be slayne with the swearde, shal they lye. The swearde is geuen alredy he shal be drawen forth and all his people. The mightie worthies and his helpers, yt be gone downe and lye with the vncircumcised and with them that be slayne with ye swearde: shal speake to him out of the hell.

Assur is there also with his company, ād their graues rounde aboute, which were slayne ād fell all with the swearde, whose graues lye besyde him in the lowe pytte. His comōs are buried rounde aboute his graue: alltogether wounded and slayne with the swearde, which men afore tyme brought feare into ye londe off the lyuynge.

There is Elam also with all his people, 〈…〉 and their graues rounde aboute: which all beynge wounded and slayne with the swearde, are gone downe vncircumcised vnder the earth, which neuertheles somtyme brought feare in to the londe off the lyuynge: for the which they beare their shame, with the other that be gone downe to ye graue.

Their buryall is geuen them and all their people, amonge them that be slayne. Their graues are rounde aboute all them, which be vncircumcised, and with them that be slay thorow the swearde: for seynge that in tymes past they made the londe off the lyuynge afrayed, they must now beare their owne shame, with them that go downe to the pytte, and lye amonge them, that be slayne.

There is Mesech also and Tubal, and their people, and their graues rounde aboute. These all are amonge the vncircūcised, and them that be slayne with the swearde, because afore tyme they made the londe off the lyuynge afrayed.

Shulde not they then lye also amonge ye worthies, and vncircumcised Giauntes? which wt their weapens are gone downe to hel: whose sweardes are layed vnder their heades, whose wickednesse is vpon their bones: because that as worthies, they haue brought feare in to ye lōde of ye lyuinge? Yee amōge the vncircūcised shalt thou be destroyed, and slepe with them, that perished thorow the swearde.

There is the lōde off Edom with hir kynges and prynces also, which wt their strēgth are layed by them that were slayne with the swearde, yee amonge the vncircumcised, 〈…〉 and them which are gone downe in to the pytte. Morouer, there be all the prynces of the north, with all the Sidoniās, which are gone downe to the slayne.

With their feare and strength they are come to confucion, and lye there vncircumcised, amonge those that be slayne with the swearde: and beare their owne shame, with them that be gone downe to ye pytte. Now when Pharao seyth this, he shal be comforted ouer all his people, that is slayne with the swearde: both Pharao & all his hoost, saieth ye LORDE God. For I haue geuē my feare in the lōde of the lyuynge. But Pharao & all his people shall ye amōge the vncircumcised, and amonge them that be slayne with the swearde, saieth the LORDE God.

The XXXIII. Chapter.

AGayne, the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne off man, Speake to the childrē of thy people, and tell them: When I sende a swearde vpon a londe, yf the people off the londe take a man off their countre, and set him to be their watchman: ye same man (whā he seyth the swearde come vpon the londe) shall blowe the trompet, Re. 9. d and warne the people.

Yff a man now heare the noyse off the trompet & will not be warned, and the swearde come ād take him awaye: his bloude shall be vpō his owne heade: For he herde the soū de of the trompet, and wolde not take hede, therfore his bloude be vpon him. But yff he will receaue warnynge, he shal saue his life. Agayne, yf the watch man se the swerde come, and shewe it not with the trompet, so yt the people is not warned: yff the swearde come then, and take eny man from amōge thē: the same shall be taken awaye in his owne synne, but his bloude will I requyre off the watchmans honde.

And now (O thou sonne of man) I haue made the a watchman vnto the house of Israel: ze. 3. c that where as thou hearest eny thinge out of my mouth, thou mayest warne them on my behalfe. Yff I saye vnto the wicked: thou wicked, thou shalt surely dye: and thou geuest him not warnynge, that he maye bewarre off his vngodly waye: then shall the wicked dye in his owne synne, but his bloude will I requyre of thy honde. Neuertheles yf thou warne the wicked off his waye, to turne from it, where as he yet wil not be turned from it: then shal he dye because off his synne, but thou hast delyuered thy soule.

Therfore (O thou sonne off man) speake vnto the house off Israel, Ye saye thus: Oure offences and synnes lye vpon vs, and webe corrupte in them: how shulde we then be restored vnto life? Tell them: As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE God) I haue no pleasure in the death off the wicked, ze. 18. but moch rather that the wicked turne from his waye and lyue. Turne you, turne you from yor vngodly wayes, o ye off the house off Israel. Oh, wherfore will ye dye?

Thou sonne off man, tell the children off thy people: ze. 18. d The rightuousnes of the rightuous shall not saue him, whan so euer he turneth awaye vnfaithfully: Agayne, the wickednesse of the wicked shal not hurte him, whan so euer he conuerteth from his vngodlynesse:

And ye rightuousnesse of the rightuous shal not saue his life, when so euer he synneth. Yff I saye vnto the rightuous, that he shall surely lyue, and so he trust to his owne rightuousnesse, and do synne: then shall his rightuousnesse be nomore thought vpon, but in the wickednesse that he hath done, he shall dye.

Agayne, yff I saye to the wicked: Esa. 55. b Iere. 1 a thou shalt surely dye: and so he turne frō his synnes, and do the thinge that is laufull and right: In so moch that the same wicked mā geueth the pledge agayne, restoreth that he had taken awaye by robbery, walketh in the cōmaundementes off life, and doth no wrō ge:

Then shall he surely lyue, and not dye. Yee the synnes that he had done, shal neuer be thought vpon: For in so moch as he doth now the thynge that is laufull and right, he shall lyue. And yet the children off thy people saye: Tush, the waye of the LORDE is not right, where as their owne waye is rather vnright.

When the rightuous turneth from his rightuousnesse, and doeth the thynge that is wicked, he shall dye therfore. But yf the wicked turne from his wickednesse, doinge the thinge that is laufull and right, Eze. 18. Ro 2. a he shall lyue therfore. Yet ye saye he waye of ye LORDE is not equall. O ye house of Israel, I wil iudge euery one of you after his wayes.

In the xij. yeare, the v. daye of the x. Moneth of oure captyuyte, it happened, that one which was fled out of Ierusalem, came vnto me, and sayde: ye cite is destroyed. Now the honde of the LORDE had bene vpon me the euenynge, afore this man (which was escaped) came vnto me, and had opened my mouth, vntyll the mornynge that he came to me: Yee he opened my mouth, so yt I was nomore domme. Then came the worde of ye LORDE vnto me, and sayde: Thou sonne off man, these that dwell in the waisted londe of Israel, saye: Abraham was but one man, ād he had the londe in possessiō: now are we many, and the londe is geuen vs to possesse also And therfore tell them: Thus saieth the LORDE: In the bloude haue ye eaten, youre eyes haue ye lift vp to Idols, Leui. 17 Deu. 3. and haue shed bloude: shal ye then haue the londe in possession?

Ye leane vpon youre sweardes, ye worke abhominacions, euery one defyleth his neghbours wife: and shal ye then possesse the londe? Saye thou these wordes vnto thē: Thus saieth the LORDE God: As truly as I lyue, all ye that dwell in this wildernesse, shall be slayne wt the swearde: what so is vpon the felde, will I geue vnto the beestes to be deuoured: those that be in stronge holdes and dennes, shall dye off the pestilēce. For I wil make the londe desolate and waist, and ye pō pe off hir strength shall come to an ende. The mountaynes in Israel shal be so waiste that no man shall trauayle therby.

Then shall they lerne to knowe, that I am the LORDE, Eze. 25. c whē I make the lōde waist and desolate, because off all their abhominacions, that they haue wrought. And thou sonne off man, the children off thy people yt talke of the, by the walles ād in the dores of their houses, sayenge one to another: come, let vs heare, what worde is gone forth from the LORDE: These come vnto the, after ye maner of a greate people: yee my people syt downe before the, and heare thy wordes, but they do not therafter: Esa. 29 c Mat. 15. a For in their mouthes they shewe themselues, as though they were feruent, but their herte goeth after their owne couetous lucre. And as a balet yt hath a swete tune, ād is pleasaūt to synge, so shalt thou be vnto them: thy wordes shal they heare, but they will not do therafter. Whē this commeth to passe (for lo, it cōmeth in dede) then shal they knowe, that there hath bene a prophet amonge them.

The XXXIIII. Chapter.

ANd the worde off the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne off mā, prophecye agaynst the shepherdes of Israel, prophecy, and speake vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Wo be vnto the shepherdes off Israel, Eze. 13. a re. 14. b 23. a that fede them selues. Shulde not the shepherdes fede ye flockes?

Ye haue eaten vp the fatte, ye haue clothed you with the woll: the best fedde haue ye slayne, but ye flocke haue ye not norished: The weake haue ye not holden vp, uc. 4. b the sicke haue ye not healed: the broken haue ye not bounde together, the outcastes haue ye not brought agayne: ye lost haue ye not sought, but churlishly and cruelly haue ye ruled thē. . Pe. 5. a Thus are they scatred here and there without a shepherde: yee all the beastes off the felde deuoure them, and they go astraye.

My shepe go wandringe vpon all moū taynes and vpon euery hye hill, yee they be scatred abrode in all feldes, and there is no man, that careth for them, or seketh after them.

Therfore o ye shepherdes, heare the worde off the LORDE, Thus sayeth the LORDE God: As truly as I lyue, for so moch as my shepe are robbed, and deuoured off all the wylde beestes off the felde, hauynge no shepherde: and seynge that my shepherdes take no regarde off my shepe, but fede them selues only, and not my shepe: Therfore heare ye worde off the LORDE, o ye shepherdes: Thus sayeth the LORDE God: Beholde, I myselff will vpon the shepherdes, and requyre my shepe from their hondes, and make thē ceasse from fedynge of my shepe: yee the shepherdes shall fede them selues nomore: For I will delyuer my shepe out off their mouthes so that they shall not deuoure them after this.

For thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I will loke to my shepe myselff, 〈…〉 and seke them. Like as a shepherde amōge the flocke seketh after the shepe that are scatred abrode, euen so will I seke after my shepe, and gather them together out off all places, where they haue bene scatred in the cloudy and darcke daye. I will bringe them out from all people, and gather them together out of all londes. I will bringe thē in to their owne londe, and fede them vpon the mountaynes off Israel, by the ryuers, and in all the places of the countre. I will fede them in right good pastures, and vpon the hie mountaynes off Israel shall there foldes be. There shal they lye in a good folde, ād in a fat pasture shall they fede: euen vpon the mountaynes of Israel.

I will fede my shepe myselff, and bringe them to their rest, sayeth the LORDE God. Soch as be lost, will I seke: 〈…〉 soch as go astraye, wil I brynge agayne: soch as be woūded, will I bynde vp: soch as be weake, will I make stronge: soch as be fat and well lykinge, those will I preserue, and fede them with ye thinge that is laufull. And as for you (o my shepe) sayeth the LORDE God: I will put a difference amonge the shepe, 〈…〉 amonge the wethers ād the goates. Was it not ynough for you, to eat vp the good pasture, but ye must treade downe the residue of youre pasture wt youre fete also? Was it not ynough for you to drynke cleare water, but ye must trouble the residue also with youre fete?

Thus my shepe must be fayne to eate ye thinge, that ye haue troden downe with yor fete, and to drynke it, that ye with youre fete haue defyled.

Therfore, thus sayeth the LORDE God vnto them: Beholde, I will seuer the fat shepe from the leane: for so moch as ye haue shot the weake shepe apō ye sydes & shulders, and runne vpon them with youre homes, so longe till ye haue vtterly scatred them abrode. I wil helpe my shepe, so yt they shal nomore be spoyled: yee I wil discerne one shepe from another. I wil rayse vp vnto them one only shepherde: euen my seruaunt Dauid, 〈◊〉 30. b 〈◊〉 c 〈◊〉 5. a he shal fede thē, and he shal be their shepherde. I the LORDE wil be their God, and my seruaunt Dauid shal be their prince: Euen I the LORDE haue spoken it.

Morouer, I wil make a couenaunt of peace with them, and dryue all euell beastes out of the londe: so that they maye dwell safely in the wildernesse, and slepe in the woddes. Good fortune & prosperite wil I geue them, and vnto all that be rounde aboute my hill. A prosperous shower and rayne wil I sende them in due season, 〈…〉 b that the trees in the wodde maye bringe forth their frutes, & ye grounde hir increase. They shalbe safe in their londe, and shal knowe, that I am the LORDE, which haue brokē their yocke, and delyuered them out of the hondes of those, that helde them in subieccion.

They shal nomore be spoyled of the Heithen, ner deuoured with the beastes of the lō de: but safely shal they dwell, & no man shall fraye them. I wil set vp an excellēt plāte for them, so yt they shal suffre no more hunger in the londe, nether beare the reprofe of ye Heithen eny more. Thus shal they vnderstonde, that I the LORDE their God am wt them, & yt they (euen the house of Israel) are my people, saieth the LORDE God. Ye men are my flocke, 〈◊〉 4. b ye are the shepe of my pasture: and I am youre God, saieth the LORDE God.

The XXXV. Chapter.

MOrouer, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, turne thy face towarde the mount Seir, prophecy vpon it, & saye vnto it: 〈◊〉 4. 〈…〉 49. b 〈◊〉 5. b 〈◊〉 6. a Thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, (o thou mount Seir) I will vpon the, I will reach out myne hōde ouer the, yee waist & desolate wil I make the. Thy cities wil I breake downe, & thou shalt lye voyde: that thou mayest knowe, how that I am the LORDE. For so moch as thou bearest an olde enemyte agaynst the children of Israel, 〈◊〉 20. c 〈…〉 . a & with a cruel honde hast made them afrayed, what tyme as they were troubled & punyshed for their synne: Therfore, as truly as I lyue (saieth ye LORDE God) I wil prepare the vnto bloude, yee bloude shal folowe vpon the: seinge thou layest waite for bloude, 〈◊〉 . 5. a therfore shall bloude persecute the. Thus wil I make the mount Seir desolate & waist, and bringe to passe, that there shall no man go thither, ner come from thence. His mountaynes wil I fyll wt his slayne men: thy hilles, dales and valleys shallye full of them, that are slayne with ye swearde. I wil make the a perpetuall wildernesse, so that noman shal dwell in thy cities: yt ye maye knowe, how yt I am the LORDE.

And because thou hast sayde: what, both these nacions and both these londes must be myne, & I wil haue them in possession, Exo. 25. c where as the LORDE was there. Therfore, thus saieth the LORDE God: As truly as I lyue, I will hādle the acordinge to thy wrath and gelousy, like as thou hast dealt cruelly with them: that I maye be knowne amōge them, how I haue punyshed the. Yee and that thou also mayest be sure, that I the LORDE haue herde all thy despyteful wordes, which thou hast spokē agaynst the mountaynes of Israel, sayenge: Lo, they are made waist, and geuen vs to deuoure.

Thus with youre mouthes ye haue made youre boost agaynst me, yee & multiplied youre pronde wordes agaynst me, which I haue herde altogether. Where vnto, thus saieth ye LORDE God: when the whole worlde is in wealth, then wil I make the waist. Eze. 22. 26. a And like as thou (o mount Seir) wast glad, because the heretage of the house of Israel was destroyed: euen so wil I do vnto the also, that thou and whole Edom shall be destroyed, & knowe, that I am the LORDE.

The XXXVI. Chapter.

THou sonne of man, prophecie vpon the mountaynes of Israel, & speake: Eze. 6. c Heare the worde of the LORDE, o ye mountaynes of Israel: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Because yor enemie hath sayde vpon you: A ha, ye hie euerlastynge places are now become ours: prophecy therfore, & speake: thus saieth ye LORDE God: Seinge ye be waisted & trodē downe on euery syde, & become a possession vnto ye resydue of ye Gētiles, which haue b ought you in to mēs mouthes & vnto an euel name amonge ye people: Therfore, heare the worde of the LORDE God, o ye mountaynes of Israel: Thus saieth the LORDE God vnto the mountaynes and hilles, valleys & dales, to the voyde wildernesses & desolate cities, which are spoyled, and had in de ision on euery syde, amonge the resydue of the Heithē: Yee euē thus saieth the LORDE God: In the yre of my gelousy haue I taken a deuyce, agaynst the resydue of the Gētiles, and agaynst all Edom: Ez . 35. which haue takē in my lō de vnto thē selues for a possession: which also reioysed frō their whole herte wt a despiteful stomacke, to waist it, and to spoyle it.

Prophecy therfore vpon the londe of Israel, speake vnto ye mountaynes and hilles, to valleys and dales, thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, this haue I deuysed in my gelousy and terrible wrath: For so moch as ye haue suffred reprofe of the Heithen, therfore thus saieth the LORDE God: I haue sworne, that the Gentiles which lye aboute you, shal beare youre confucion them selues. And as for you (o mountaynes of Israel) ye shall shute out youre braunches, and bringe forth youre frute to my people of Israel, for it is harde by, that it wil come.

Beholde, I come vnto you, and vnto you will I turne me, that ye maye be tylled and sowen. I wil sende you moch people, which shalbe all of the house of Israel: the cities shalbe inhabited, and ye decayed places shal be repayred againe. I wil prouyde you with moch people and catell, which shal increase & bringe frute. I wil restore you also to youre olde estate, and shewe you more kindnes thē euer ye had before: wherby ye shal knowe, yt I am the LORDE. Yee people wil I sende vnto you (o my folke of Israel (which shal haue the in possession, and thou shalt be their inheritaunce, so that thou shalt nomore be without them. Agayne, thus saieth the LORDE God: For so moch as they saye vnto you: thou art an eater vp of men, and a waister of thy people: therfore thou shalt eate no mo men, nether destroye thy people eny more, saieth the LORDE God. And I wil not suffre the, for to heare thine owne confucion amonge the Gentiles from hensforth. Thou shalt not beare the reprofe of the nacions, ner cast out thine owne people enymore, saieth the LORDE God.

Morouer, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: O thou sonne of mā, when the house of Israel dwelt vpon their owne grounde, they defyled them selues with their owne wayes & ymaginacions: so that in my sight their waye was like the vnclennesse of a menstruous woman. Wherfore I poured my wrothfull displeasure vpon them, because of the bloude that they had shed in the londe, & because of their Idols, wherwith they had defyled them selues. I scatred them also amonge the Heithen, so that they were strowed aboute in the lōdes. Acordinge to their wayes & after their owne inuencions, so dyd I punysh them.

Now when they were gone vnto the Hetthen, 〈◊〉 . 2. c 〈◊〉 . 52. b and come in amonge them, they dishonoured my holy name: so that it was sayde of them: Are these the people of God, & must go out of their owne londe? Then spared I my holy name, which ye house of Israel had dishonoured amonge the Gentiles, to whom they came. Therfore tell ye house of Israel: Thus saieth the LORDE God: I do not this for yor sakes (O house of Israel) but for my holy names sake, which ye dishonoured amō ge the Heithen, when ye came to them. Therfore, I wil halowe my greate name agayne, which amonge the Gētiles is euel spoken of: for ye youre selues haue dishonoured it amō ge them. And the Gentiles shal knowe, that I am the LORDE, when I am honoured in you before their eyes, saieth ye LORDE God.

As for you, I wil take you from amonge the Heithen, and gather you together out of all countrees, and bringe you agayne into youre owne londe. 〈…〉 Then will I poure cleare water vpon you, & ye shalbe clene: Yee from all youre vnclennesse and from all yor Idols shal I clense you. A new herte also wil I geue you, 〈…〉 and a new sprete wil I put in to you: As for that stony hert, I will take it out of youre body, and geue you a fleszshy herte. 〈…〉 I wil geue you my sprete amonge you, and can se you to walke in my commaundemētes, to kepe my lawes, and to fulfill them.

And so ye shall dwell in the londe, that I gaue to yor forefathers, & ye shal be my people, and I wil be youre God. I wil helpe you out of all youre vnclēnesse, I wil call for the corne, and wil increase it, and wil let you haue no honger. I will multiplie the frutes of the trees and ye increase of the felde for you, so that ye shal beare no more reprofe of honger amōge the Heithē. Then shal ye remēbre yor owne wicked wayes, and youre ymaginaciōs, which were not good: so that ye shal take displeasure at youre owne selues, by reason of youre synnes and abhominacions.

But I wil not do this for youre sakes (saieth the LORDE God) be ye sure of it. Therfore (o ye house of Israel) be ashamed of youre synnes. Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE God: what tyme as I shal clēse you from all youre offences, then wil I make the cities to be occupied agayne, and wil repayre the places that be decayed. The desolate londe shal be buylded agayne, which afore tyme laye waist, in the sight of all them, that wēte by. Then shal it be sayde: This waist lōde is become like a garden of pleasure, and the voyde, desolate and brokē downe cities, are now stronge, and fensed agayne. Then the residue of the Heithen that lye rounde aboute you, shal knowe, that I am the LORDE, which repayre that was broken downe, and plant agayne, that was made waist. Euen I the LORDE haue spoken it, & wil do it in dede.

Thus saieth the LORDE God: I wil yet once be founde agayne of ye house of Israel, & do this for them: I shal increase them as a flocke of men. 〈…〉 Like as the holy flocke and the flocke of Ierusalem are in the hie solempne feastes: so shal also the wilde waisted cities be fylled with flockes of men: and they shal knowe, that I am the LORDE.

The XXXVII. Chapter.

THe honde of the LORDE came vpon me, & caried me out in the sprete of the LORDE, & let me downe in a playne felde, that laye full of bones, & he led me rounde aboute by them & beholde, the bones that laye vpon the felde, were very many, & maruelous drye also. Then sayde he vnto me: Thou sonne of man: thinkest thou these benes maye lyue agayne? I answered: O LORDE God, thou knowest. And he sayde vnto me: Prophecy thou vpon these bones, & speake vnto them: Ye drye bones, heare the worde of the LORDE. Thus saieth the LORDE God vnto these bones: Beholde, I will put breth in to you, that ye maye lyue: I wil geue you synowes, & make flesh growe vpon you, & couer you ouer with skynne: & so geue you breth, 〈…〉 that ye maye lyue, and knowe, that I am the LORDE.

〈◊〉 . 15. a So I prophecied, as he had cōmaunded me. And as I was prophecienge, there came a noyse and a greate mocion, so that the bones ranne euery one to another. Now whē I had loked, beholde, they had synowes, and flesh grewe vpon them: and aboue they were couered with skynne, but there was no breth in them. Then sayde he vnto me: Thou sonne of man, prophecie thou towarde the wynde: prophecy, and speake to the wynde: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Come (o thou ayre) from the foure wyndes, & blowe vpon these slayne, that they maye be restored to life. So I prophecied, as he had commaunded me: Then came the brethtn to them, and they receaued life, and stode vp vpon their fete, a maruelous greate sorte.

Morouer, he sayde vnto me: Thou sonne of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. 〈…〉 Beholde, they saye: oure bones are dryed vp, oure hope is gone, we are clene cut of. Therfore prophecie thou, & speake vnto them. Thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, I wil open youre graues (o my people) & take you out of youre sepulcres, & bringe you in to the londe of Israel agayne. So shall ye knowe yt I am the LORDE, when I open youre graues, & bringe you out of them. My sprete also wil I put in you, & ye shal lyue: I wil set you agayne in youre owne londe, and ye shal knowe, that I am the LORDE, which haue sayde it, and fulfilled it in dede.

The worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, take a sticke and wryte vpon it: Vnto Iuda & to the children of Israel his companyons. Then take another sticke, and wryte vpon it: Vnto Ioseph the stocke of Ephraim, and to all the housholde of Israel his companyons. And than take both these together in thine honde, so shal there be one stycke therof. Now yf the childrē of thy people saye vnto the: wilt thou not shewe vs, what thou meanest by these? Then geue them this answere: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, Osee . b I wil take the stocke of Ioseph, which is in the honde of Ephraim and of the trybes of Israel his felowes, and wil put them to the stocke of Iuda, & make them one stocke, and they shal be one in my honde. And the two stickes where vpon thou wrytest, shalt thou haue in thine honde, that they maye se, and shalt saye vnto them:

Thus saieth the LORDE God: beholde, I wil take awaye the childrē of Israel from amonge the Heithen, vnto whom they be gone, and wil gather them together on euery syde, and bringe them agayne in to their owne londe: yee I wil make one people of thē in ye londe, vpon the mountaynes of Israel, and they all shal haue but one kinge. They shall nomore be two peoples from hensforth, nether be deuyded in to two kingdomes: they shal also defyle thē selues nomore with their abhominacions, Idols and all their wicked-doinges. I wil helpe thē out of all their dwellinge places, wherin they haue synned: & will so clense them, that they shalbe my people, and I their God.

Dauid my seruaunt shalbe their kinge, Eze 34. Ioh 10. b & they all shal haue one shepherde only. They shal walke in my lawes, and my commaundementes shal they both kepe & fulfill. They shal dwell in the londe, that I gaue vnto Iacob my seruaunt, where as youre fathers also haue dwelt. Yee euē in the same londe shal they, their children, & their childers children dwell for euermore: and my seruaunt Dauid shal be their euerlastynge prynce. Morouer, I will make a bonde of peace with them, which shal be vnto them an euerlastinge couenaunt. I wil sattle thē also, and multiplie them, my Sanctuary wil I set amonge thē for euermore.

My dwellinge shalbe wt them, yee I wil be their God, & they shalbe my people. Thus the Heithen also shal knowe, that I the LORDE am ye holy maker of Israel: whē my Sanctuary shal be amonge them for euer more.

The XXXVIII. Chapter.

ANd the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thou sonne of man, turne thy face towarde Gog in the londe of Magog, which is the chefe prynce at Mesech and Tubal: prophecy agaynst him, and saye: ze. 39. Thus saieth the LORDE God: O Gog thou chefe prynce of Mesech and Tubal: po. 20. c beholde, I wil vpon the, and wil turne the aboute, and put a bytt in thy chawes: I wil bringe the forth and all thine hoost, both horse & horsmen, which be all weapened of the best fashion: a greate people, that handle altogether speares, shyldes, and swerdes: the Perses, Moryans and with them the Lybians, which all beare shyldes and helmettes: Gomer, and all his hoostes: the house of Thogorma out of the north quarters, and all his hoostes, yee and moch people with the.

Therfore prepare the, set thy self in araye with all thy people, that are come vnto the by heapes, and be thou their defence. After many dayes thou shalt be visited, and in the latter yeares thou shalt come in to the lōde, that hath bene destroyed with the swearde, & now is replenished agayne wt dyuerse people vpon the mountaynes of Israel, which haue lōge lyen waist. Yee they be brought out of the nacions, & dwell all safe. Thou shalt come vp like a stormy wether, to couer the lō de, and as it were a darcke cloude: thou with all thine hoostes, and a greate multitude of people with the.

Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE God: At the same tyme shal many thinges come in to thy mynde, so that thou shalt ymagyn myschefe, and saye: I wil vp to yonder playne londe, seinge they syt at ease, and dwell so safely (for they dwell all without eny walles, they haue nether barres nor dores) to spoyle them, to robbe thē, to laye honde vpon their so wel inhabited wildernesses: agaynst that people, yt is gathered together from amonge the Heithē, which haue gotten catell and good, and dwell in the myddest of the londe. Then shal Saba and Dedan and the marchauntes of Tharsis wt all their Worthies, saye vnto the: Art thou come to robbe? Hast thou gathered thy people together, because thou wilt spoyle? to take syluer and golde: to cary awaye catell and good: and to haue a greate pray?

Therfore, o thou sonne of man, thou shalt prophecie, and saye vnto Gog: Thus saieth the LORDE God: In that daye thou shalt knowe, that my people of Israel dwelleth safe: and shalt come from thy place, out of the north partes: thou and moch people wt the, which ryde vpon horses, wherof there is a greate multitude and an innumerable sorte. Yee thou shalt come vpon my people of Israel, as a cloude to couer the lōde. This shal come to passe in the latter dayes: I wil bringe the vp in to my londe, that the Heithen maye knowe me, when I get me honoure vpon the (o Gog) before their eyes.

Thus saieth the LORDE God: Thou art he, of whom I haue spoken afore tyme, by my seruauntes ye prophetes of Israel, which prophecied in those dayes & yeares, that I shulde bringe the vpon them. At the same tyme, when Gog commeth vp in to the londe of Israel (saieth the LORDE God) shal my indignaciō go forth in my wrath. For in my gelousy and hote displeasure I haue deuysed, 〈…〉 that there shalbe a greate trouble in the londe of Israel at that tyme. The very fyszshes in the see, the foules of the ayre, the beestes of the felde, and all the men yt are vpon the earth, shal tremble for feare of me.

The hilles also shalbe turned vp side downe, the stayres of stone shal fall, and all walles shal syncke to the grounde. I wil call for a swearde vpon them in all my mountaynes, saieth the LORDE God: so that euery mans swearde shal be vpon another. With pestilē ce and bloude wil I punysh him: stormy rayne and hale stones, fyre and brymstone, wil I cause to rayne vpon him and all his heape, yee and vpon all that greate people that is with him. Thus wil I be magnified, honoured, and knowne amonge the Heithen: that they maye be sure, how yt I am ye LORDE.

The XXXIX Chapter.

THerfore o thou sonne of man, prophecie agaynst Gog, and speake: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Beholde, o Gog: 〈…〉 thou chefe prynce at Mesech and Tubal, I wil vpon the, and turne the aboute, & carie the forth, & lede yt from the north partes, and bringe the vp to the mountaynes of Israel. As for thy bowe, I wil smyte it out of thy left honde, and cast thine arowes out of thy right honde. Thou with all thine heape, and all the people that is with the, must fall vpon the mountaynes of Israel. Then wil I geue the vnto ye foules and wilde beastes of the felde, to be deuoured: there must thou lye vpon the felde: for euē I the LORDE haue spoken it, saieth the LORDE God.

In to Magog, and amonge those that sit so carelesse in the Iles: wil I sende a fyre, and they shal knowe, yt I am the LORDE. I wil make also the name of my holynesse to be knowne amonge my people of Israel: and I will not let my holy name be euel spoken of enymore: but the very Heithen also shal knowe, that I am the LORDE, the holy one of Israel. Beholde, it commeth, and shalbe fulfilled in dede, saieth the LORDE God. This is the daye, wherof I haue spoken: They that dwell in ye cities of Israel, shal go forth and set fyre vpon the weapens, and burne them: shyldes and speres, bowes and arowes, bylles and clubbes: seuen yeares shall they be burnynge therof, so that they shall els bringe no stickes from ye felde, nether haue nede to hew downe eny out of the wodde: For they shall haue weapens ynew to burne. They shal robbe those that robbed them, and spoyle those that spoyled them, saieth ye LORDE God.

At the same tyme will I geue vnto Gog, a place to be buried in, in Israel: euē the valley, where thorow men go from the east to the see warde. Those that trauayle therby, shal abhorre it. There shal Gog and all his people be buried: and it shalbe called the valley of the people of Gog. Seuen monethes longe shall the house of Israel be burienge of them, that they maye clense the lōde: Yee all the people of the londe shal burie them. O it shal be a glorious daye, when I get me that honoure, saieth the LORDE God. They shal ordene men also to be deed buriers, euer goinge thorow the lōde, and appoynte them certayne places to bury those in, which remayne vpon the felde, that the londe maye be clensed. From ende to ende shal they seke, and that v monethes lōge. Now those that go thorow the londe, where they se a mans bone, they shall set vp a token by it, till the deed buriers haue buried it also, in the valley of the people of Gog. And the name of the cite shalbe called Hamona: Thus shall they make the londe clene.

And thou sonne of man: thus saieth the LORDE God: Speake vnto all the foules and euery byrde, yee and to all the wilde beastes of the felde: heape you together and come, gather you roūde aboute vpō my slaughter, that I haue slayne for you: euen a greate slaughter vpon the mountaynes of Israel: eate flesh, 〈◊〉 . 19. d. and drynke bloude. Ye shal eate ye flesh of the worthies, and drynke the bloude of the prynces of the londe: of the wethers, of the lambes, of the goates, and of the oxen that be all slayne at Basan. Eate ye fat youre bely full, and drynke bloude, till ye be droncken of the slaughter, which I haue slayne vnto you. Fyl you at my table, with horses & stronge horsmen: with captaynes and all mē of warre, saieth the LORDE God.

I will bringe my glory also amonge the Gentiles, that all the Heithen maye semy iudgment, that I haue kepte, and my honde which I haue layed vpon them: that ye house of Israel maye knowe, how that I am ye LORDE their God, from that daye forth. And the Heithen shal knowe, that where as the house of Israel were led in to captiuyte: it was for their wickednes sake, because they offended me.

For the which cause I hyd my face from them, and delyuered them in to the hondes of their enemies, that they might all be slayne with 〈…〉 . Acordinge to their vn clennesse 〈◊〉 vnfaithfull dealinges, so haue I entreated them, and hyd my face from them. Therfore thus saieth ye LORDE God: Now will I bringe agayne the captyues of Iacob, and haue mercy vpon the whole house of Israel, and be gelous for my holy names sake. All their confucion and offence that they haue done agaynst me, shal be taken awaye: and so safely shal they dwell in their londe, that no man shal make them a frayed. And when I haue brought thē agayne from amonge the people, when I haue gathered them together out of their enemies londes, and am praysed in them before many Heithen: then shall they knowe, that I am the LORDE their God, which suffred them to be led in to captiuyte amonge the Heithen, but now haue brought them agayne in to their owne londe, and not left one of them yonder.

After that, will I hyde my face nomore from them, but will poure out my sprete vpon the house of Israel, Eze. 36. d saieth the LORDE God.

The xl. Chapter.

IN the xxv yeare of oure captiuyte, in the begynnynge of the yeare, the x daye of the moneth: that is the xiiij yeare, after that ye cite was smytten downe: the same daye came the honde of the LORDE vpon me, and caried me forth: euen in to the londe of Israel brought heme in the visions of God: and set me downe vpō a maruelous hie mountayne, whervpon there was a buyldinge (as it had bene of a cite) towarde the north.

Thither he caried me, and beholde, there was a man, whose similitude was like brasse, which had a threde of flax in his honde, and a meterodde also. He stode in the dore, & sayde vnto me: marcke well with thine eyes, herken to with thine eares, and fasten it in thine hert, whatso euer I shal shewe the, for to the intent that they might be shewed the, therfore art thou brought hither. And what soeuer thou seyst, thou shalt certifie the house of Israel therof.

Beholde, there was a wall on the outsyde rounde aboute the house: the meterodde that he had in his honde, was six cubites longe & a spanne. So he measured the bredth of the buyldinge, which was a meterodde, and the heyth also a meterodde. Then came he vnto the eastdore, and wente vp the stares, measured the postes of the dore 〈…〉 was a meterodde thicke 〈…〉 was a meterodde longe 〈…〉 the chambers were 〈…〉 of the dore within the 〈…〉 meterodde. He measured als 〈…〉 of the nnermer dore, which 〈…〉 meterodde. Thē measured he the entrie of 〈…〉 that conteyned eght cubites, and his pilers two cubites: and this entrie stode inwarde.

The chambers of the dore eastwarde, were thre on euery syde: alike brode and longe. The pilers also that stode of both the sydes, were of one measure. After this, he measured the wydenesse of the dore: which was x cubites, & the heyth of the dore xiij cubites. The edge before the chābres was one cubite b ode vpō both the sydes, & the chambres six cubites wyde of either syde. He measured ye dore from the rygge of one chābre to another, whose wydenesse was xxv cubites, & one dore stode agaynst another. He made pilers also lx cubites hie, rounde aboute the courte dore. Before the inwarde parte vnto the fore entre of the ynnermer dore, were fiftie cubites. The chambers and their pilers within, rounde aboute vnto ye dore, had syde wyndowes: So had the fore entries also, whose wyndowes wente rounde aboute within. And vpon the pilers there stode date trees.

Then brought he me in to the fore courte, where as were chābres & paued workes, made in ye fore courte roūde aboute: xxx chābres vpon one paued worcke. Now the paued worke was a lōge besyde the dores, and that was the lower paued worke. After this, he measured ye bredth from the lower dore, vnto the ynnermer courte of the out syde, which had an hundreth cubites vpon the east & the north parte. And the dore in the vttemost courte towarde the north, measured he after the lēgth and bredth: his thre chambres also on either syde, with his pilers & fore entries: which had euen the measure of the first do e. His heyth was fiftie cubites, the bredth xxv cubites: his wyndowes & porches with his date trees, had euen like measure as the dore towarde the east: there where vij steppes to go vp vpō, & their porche before them. Now ye dore of the ynnermer courte stode straight ouer agaynst the dore, that was towarde ye north east. From one dore to another, he measured an C cubites.

After that; he brought me to the south syde, where there stode a dore towarde ye south: whose pilers and porches he measured, these had the fyrst measure, & with their porches they had wyndowes rounde aboute, like the first yndowes. The heyth was I cubites, ye 〈◊〉 xxv, with steppes to go vp vpon: his 〈◊〉 stode before him, with his pilers and da •• trees on either syde. And the dore of the ynnermer courte stode towarde the south, & he measured from one dore to another an C cubites. So he brought me in to ye ynnermer courte, thorow the dore of the south syd which he measured, & it had the measure afore sayde. In like maner, his chambres, pilers and fore entries, had euen the fore sayde measure also. And he had with his porches rounde aboute, wyndowes of l cubites hye, & xxv cubites brode. The porches rounde aboute were xxv cubites longe, and v cubites brode: and his porch reached vnto ye vttemost courte: vpon his pilers there were date trees, and viij steppes to go vp vpon.

He brought me also in to the ynmost courte vpon the east syde, and measured the dore, acordinge to ye measure afore sayde. His chā bers, pilers and porches had euen the same measure, as the first had: & with his porches he had wyndowes roūde aboute. The heith was l cubites, ye bredth xxv cubites: His porches reached vnto the vttemost courte: his pilers also had date trees on either syde, and viij steppes to go vp vpon. And he brought me to the north dore, and measured it, which also had the foresayde measure. His chābres, pilers and porches had wyndowes rounde aboute: whose heyth was l cubites, and the bredth xxv. His pilers stode towarde the vttemost courte, and vpon them both were date trees, and viij steppes to go vp vpon. There stode a chambre also, whose intraūce was at the dore pilers, and there the burnt offringes were waszshed.

In the dore porche, there stode on ether syde two tables for the slaughtinge: to slaye the brent offringes, synne offringes and trespace offringes thervpon. And on the out syde as men go forth to the north dore, there stode two tables. Foure tables stode on ether syde of the dore, that is viij tables, whervpon they slaughted. Foure tables were of hewen stone for the burnt offringes, of a cubite and a half longe and brode, and one cubite hie: whervpon were layed ye vessels and ornamentes, which were vsed to, the burnt & slayne offeringes, when they were slaughted. And within there were hokes foure fyngers brode, fastened rounde aboute, to hange flesh vpon, & vpon the tables was layed the offringe flesh. On the outsyde of the ynnermer dore were the syngers chambers 〈◊〉 the inwarde courte besyde ye north dore 〈◊〉 agaynst the south. There stode one also 〈…〉 syde the east dore north warde.

And he sayde vnto me: This chambre 〈◊〉 the south syde belongeth to the prestes, 〈◊〉 . 2. a 〈◊〉 . 2. f 〈◊〉 kepe the habitacion: and this towarde 〈◊〉 north, is the prestes that wayte vpon the aulter: which be the sonnes of Sadoch, that do seruyce before the LORDE in steade of the children of Leui. So he measured the fore courte, which had in length an C cubites, and as moch in bredth by the foure corners. Now the aulter stode before the house: And he brought me to the fore entre of the house, and measured the walles by the entre dore: which were fyue cubites longe on ether syde. The thicknesse also of the dore on ether syde, was thre cubites. The lēgth of the porche was xx cubites. the bredth xj. cubites, and vpon steppes went men vp to it: by the walles also were pilers, on either syde one.

The XLI. Chapter.

AFter this he brought me to the temple, and measured the postes: which were of both the sydes vj. cubites thicke, acordinge to the wydenesse of the tabernacle. The bredth of ye dore was x. cubites, & the walles of the dore on either syde fyue cubites. He measured the length therof, which conteyned xl. cubites, and the bredth xx. Thē wente he in, and measured the dore postes, which were two cubites thicke: but the dore itself was sixe cubites, and the bredth of the dore was vij. cubites. He measured the lēgth and bredth therof, which were euery one xx. cubites, before the temple.

And he sayde vnto me: this is the holyest of all. He measured also the wall of the house, which was sixe cubites. The chambres yt stode rounde aboute ye house, were euery one foure cubites wyde, and one stode harde vpō another, wherof there were xxxiij. And there stode postes beneth by the walles rounde aboute the house, to beare thē vp: but in ye wall of ye house they were not fastened: The syde chambres were the hyer the wyder, and had steppes thorow them rounde aboute ye house. Thus was it wyder aboue, that from the lowest men might go to the hyest & mydde chābers I sawe also that the house was very hye rounde aboute. The foundacion of the syde chambres was a meterodde (that is sixe cubites) brode. The thicknesse of the syde wall without, conteyned fyue cubites, & so 〈…〉 of the chābers in ye house. 〈…〉 chambers, was the 〈…〉 aboute ye house. The 〈…〉 ouer agaynst the out 〈…〉 was towarde the north, ye 〈…〉 south: and the thicknesse 〈…〉 cubites rounde abou •• 〈…〉 that was separated 〈…〉 west, was lxx. cubites wyde: the wall 〈◊〉 buyldinge was v cubites thicke roūde aboute, and the length foure score cubites and ten. So he measured the house which was an C. cubites longe, and the separated buyldinge with the wall were an C. cubites lōge also. The wydnesse before the house and of it yt was separated towarde the east, was an C. cubites.

And he measured the length of the buyldinge before and behinde with the chābers vpon both the sydes: and it conteyned an C. cubites. The ynnermer temple, the porch of the forecourte, ye syde postes, these thre had syde wyndowes, and pilers rounde aboute ouer agaynst the postes, from the grounde vp to the wyndowes: The wyndowes them selues were syled ouer with bordes: & thus was it aboue the dore, vnto the ynmost house, and without also: Yee the whole wall on euery syde both within and without was syled ouer wt greate bordes. There were Cherubins and date trees made also, so that one date tre stode euer betwixte two Cherubins: One Cherub had two faces, ye face of a man lokinge asyde towarde the date tre, and a lyons face on the other syde. Thus was it made roūde aboute in all the house: Yee the Cherubins and date trees were made from the grounde vp aboue the dore, and so stode they also vpon the wall of the temple.

The bypostes of the temple were foure squared, and the fashion of the Sanctuary was, euen as it appeared vnto me afore in ye 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 vision. The table was of wodde, thre cubites hie and two cubites longe: his corners, the length and the walles were of wodde. And he sayde vnto me: This is the table, that shal stonde before the LORDE. The temple and the holiest of all had ether of them two dores, and euery dore had two litle wickettes which were folden in one vpon another, on euery syde two. And vpon the dores of the temple there were made Cherubins and date trees, like as vpon the walles: and a greate thicke balke of wodde was before on the outsyde of the porche. Vpō both the sydes of the walles of the porche, there were made depe wyndowes and date trees, hauynge beames and balkes, like as the house had.

The XLII. Chapter.

THen caried he me out in to t ••• fore courte towarde the north, & brought me in to the chambre that stode ouer agaynst the backe buyldinge northwarde, which had the length of an 〈◊〉 cubites, whose dore turned towarde the north. The wydenesse conteyned L. cubites, ouer agaynst the xx. cubites of the ynnermer courte, & agaynst the paued worke that was in the fore courte. Besyde all these thre there stode pilers, one ouer against another: And before this chā bre there was a walkinge place of x. cubites wyde, and within was a waye of one cubite wyde, and their dores towarde the north. Thus the hyest chambres were allwaye narower then the lowest and myddelmost of ye buildinge: for they bare chambre vpon chambre, and stode thre together one vpon another, not hauynge pilers like the fore courte: therfore were they smaller then those beneth and in the myddest, to reken from the grounde vpwarde.

The wall without that stode by ye chambres towarde the vttemost courte vpon the fore syde of the chambres, was L. cubites lō ge: for the lēgth of ye vttemost chambers in the fore courte was L. cubites also: but the length therof before the temple was an C. cubites. These chambres had vnder them an intraunce of the east syde, wherby a man might go into them out of the fore courte, thorow the thicke wall of the fore courte towarde the east, right ouer agaynst the separated buyldinge. Before the same buyldinge vpō this syde there were chābers also which, had a waye vnto them, like as the chambers on the north syde of the same length and wydenesse.

Their intraunce, fashion and dores were all of the same maner. Yee euen like as the other chamber dores were, so were those also of the south syde. And before the waye towarde the syngers steppes on the east syde, there stode a dore to go in at. Then sayde he vnto me: The chambers towarde the north & the south, which stōde before the backe buyldinge: those be holy habitacions, wherin the prestes that do seruyce before the LORDE, must eate the most holy offringes: and there must they laye the most holy offringes: meat offringes, synne offringes & trespace offringes, for it is an holy place. When the prestes come therin, they shal not go out in to the fore courte: but (seynge they be holy) they shall leaue the clothes of their ministracion, and put on other garmentes, when they haue eny thinge to do with the people.

Now when he had measured all the ynnermer house, he brought me forth thorow the east porte, and measured the same rounde aboute. He measured the east syde with ye meterodde, which rounde aboute conteyned v.C. meteroddes. And the north syde measured he, which conteyned rounde aboute euen so moch. The other two sydes also towarde the south and the west (which he measured) conteyned ether of them v.C. meteroddes. So he measured all ye foure sydes where there wente a wall rounde aboute v.C. meteroddes longe, and as brode also, which separated the holy from the vnholy.

The XLIII. Chapter.

SO he brought me to ye dore, that turneth towarde the east. Beholde, thē came the glory of the God of Israel from out of the east, whose voyce was like a greate noyse of waters, and the earth was lightened with his glory. His sight to loke vpon was like the first, that I sawe, 〈…〉 when I wente in, what tyme as the cite shulde haue bene destroyed: and like the vision that I sawe by the water of Cobar. 〈…〉 Then fell I vpon my face, but the glory of the LORDE came in to the house thorow the east dore. So a wynde toke me vp, and brought me in to ye ynnermer courte: & beholde, the house was full of the glory of the LORDE.

I herde one speakinge vnto me out of the house, and there stode one by me, that sayde vnto me: O thou sonne of man, 〈…〉 this rowme is my seate, and the place of my fotesteppes: where as I wil dwell amonge the children of Israel for euermore: so that the house of Israel shal no more defyle my holy name nether thei, ner their kinges, thorow their whordome, thorow their hie places, & thorow the deed bodies of their kinges: which haue buylded their thresholdes in maner harde vpon my thresholdes, and their postes almost at my postes: so that there is but a bare wall betwixte me and them.

Thus haue they defyled my holy name with their abhominacions, that they haue cōmitted. Wherfore I haue destroyed them in my wrath: But now they shal put awaye their whordome and the deed bodies of their kinges out of my sight, that I maye dwell amōge them for euermore. 〈…〉 Therfore (o thou sonne of man) shewe thou the housholde of Israel a temple, that they maye be ashamed of their wickednesse, and measure them selues an example therat.

And when they be ashamed of all their workes, then shewe them the fourme and fashion of the temple: the cōmynge in, the goinge out, all the maner and descripcion therof, yee all the vses and ordinaunces of it, yt they maye kepe & fulfill all the fashions and customes therof.

This is the descripcion of the house: Aboue vpō the mount rounde aboute all the corners, it shalbe ye holiest of all. Beholde, that is the descripcion and fashion of the house. This is the measure of the aulter (after the true cubite,: which is a spanne longer then another cubite) his botome in the myddest was a cubite longe and wyde, and the ledge that wente rounde aboute it, was a spanne brode. This is the heyth of the aulter: From the grounde to the lower steppes the length is two cubites, and the bredth one cubite: and from the lower steppes to the higher are foure cubites, & the bredth but one cubite.

〈◊〉 . 7. a The aulter was foure cubites hie, & from the aulter vpwarde stode foure hornes, and it was xij cubites longe and xij cubites brode, vpon the foure corners: the coueringe of the aulter was xiiij cubites longe and brode vpon the foure corners, and the ledge that wente rounde aboute, had half a cubite: and the botome therof rounde aboute one cubite: his steppes stode towarde the easte. And he sayde vnto me: Thou sonne of man, thus saieth the LORDE God: these are the ordinaunces and lawes of the aulter, in the daye whē it is made, to offre burnt offringes, and to sprenkle bloude ther vpon. 〈◊〉 . 44. c To the prestes, to ye Leuites that be of the sede of Sadoch, and treade before me to do me seruyce, saieth the LORDE God: Vnto these geue thou a yonge bullocke, for a syn offringe: & take the bloude of him & sprenkle his foure hornes withal, & the foure corners of the aulter coueringe, with the ledge that goeth rounde aboute: Leui. 16 here with shalt thou clense it, and reconcile it. Thou shalt take the bullock also of the syn-offringe, & burne him in a seuerall place with out the Sanctuary.

The nexte daye, take a gootbuck without blemish for a syn offringe, to reconcile the aulter withall: like as it was reconciled with ye bullocke. Now when thou hast made it clene, then offre a yonge bullocke without blemish, and a ramme out of the flocke without blemish also: Offre them before the LORDE, Leui. 22. c and let the prest cast salt thervpon, Leui. 2. b and geue them so vnto the LORDE for a burntoffringe. Seuen dayes shalt thou bringe, euery daye a gootbucke. A yonge bullocke & a ramme of the flocke (both without blemish) shal they offre. Seuen dayes shal they reconcile and clense the aulter, & offre vpon it. When these dayes are expired, then vpon the viij daye and so forth, the prestes shal offre their burnt offringes and health offringes vpō ye aulter: so wil I be mercifull vnto you, saieth the LORDE God.

The XLIIII. Chapter.

AFter this, he brought me agayne to ye outwarde dore of the Sanctuary on the east syde, and that was shut. Then sayde the LORDE vnto me: This dore shal be stil shut, and not opened for eny mā to go thorow it, but only for the LORDE God of Israel: yee he shal go thorow it, els shal it be shut still. The prynce himself shal come thorow it, that he maye eate bred before the LORDE. At the porche shal he come in, and there shal he go out agayne. Exo 40. 24. d Nu. 9. c 3. Reg. 8. b 2. Par. 7. Then brought he me to the dore, vpon the north syde of the house. And as I loked aboute me, beholde, the glory of the LORDE fylled the house: and I fell downe vpon my face. So the LORDE spake vnto me: O thou sonne of man, fasten this to thine herte, beholde, and take diligēt hede to all that I wil saye vnto the, concernynge all the ordinaunces of the LORDE and all his lawes: pondre well with thine herte the commynge in of the house and the goinge forth of the Sanctuary: and tell that obstinate housholde of Israel: Thus saieth the LORDE God: O house of Israel, ye haue now done ynough with all youre abhominaciōs, seynge that ye haue brought in to my Sanctuary straungers, hauynge vncircumcised hertes & flesh, where thorow my Sāctuary is defiled, whē ye offre my bred, fat, & bloude.

Thus with all youre abhominacions ye haue broken my couenaunt, and not kepte the holy ordinaunces of my Sanctuary but set kepers of my Sanctuary, euen after youre owne mynde. Therfore thus saieth ye LORDE God: Of all the straungers that dwell amōge the childrē of Israel, no straunger (whose herte & flesh is not circumcised) shal come within my Sanctuary: No ner the Leuites that be gone backe fro me, and haue disceaued the people of Israel with erroures, goinge after their Idols: therfore shal thei beare their owne wickednes. Shulde they be set and ordened to ministre, vnder the dores of the house of my Sanctuary? and to do seruyce in the house: to slaye burnt offringes and sacrifices for ye people: to stōde before them, and to serue them: seynge the seruyce that they do them, is before their Idols, and cause the house of Israel to stomble thorow wickednesse?

. Reg. 2. f For the which cause I haue pluckte out myne honde ouer them (saieth the LORDE) so that now they must beare their owne iniquyte, and not to come nye me, to serue me with their preasheade, in my Sanctuary, and most holyest of all: that they maye beare their owne shame and abhominacions, which they haue done. Shulde I vse them to be porters of the house, and to all the seruyce yt is done therin? But the prestes ye Leuites the sonnes of Sadoch, Eze. 43. d 48. b that kepte the holy ordinaunces of my Sanctuary, when the children of Israel were gone fro me: shal come to me, to do me seruyce, to stonde before me, and to offre me the fat and the bloude, saieth the LORDE God.

They shall go in to my Sanctuary, and treade before my table, to do me seruyce, and to waite vpō myne ordinaunces. Now whē they go in at the dores of the ynnermer courte, they shal put on lynnynge clothes, so that no wollyne come vpon them: whyle they do seruyce vnder the dores of ye ynnermer courte, and within. They shal haue fayre lynnynge bonettes vpon their heades, and lynnynge breches vpon their loynes, which in their laboure they shal not put aboute them: And when they go forth to the people in to the outwarde courte, they shal put of the clothes, wherin they haue ministred, and laye them in the habitacion of the Sanctuary, & put on other apparell, lest they onhalowe ye people with their clothes.

They shal not shaue their heades, ner norish the bushe of their hayre, Leui. 19. f 21. a but roūde their heades only. All the prestes that go in to the ynmost courte, Leui. 10. c 1. b Ose. 1. a 3. a shall drynke no wyne. They shall mary no wydowe, nether one that is put from hir huszbonde: but a mayde of the sede of the house of Israel, or a wydowe, that hath had a prest before.

They shal shewe my people the difference betwene the holy and vnholy, 〈…〉 betwixte the clene and vnclene. Yf eny discorde aryse, they shal discerne it, and geue sentence after my iudgmentes. My solempne feastes, my lawes and ordinaunces shal they kepe, and halowe my Sabbathes. 〈…〉 They shal come at no deed persone, to defyle them selues: (excepte it be father or mother, sonne or doughter, brother or sister that hath had yet no husbonde) in soch they maye be defyled.

And when he is clensed, there shal be rekened vnto him vij dayes: and yf he go into the Sanctuary agayne to do seruyce, he shal bringe a syn offringe saieth the LORDE God. They shall haue an heretage, 〈…〉 yee I my self wilbe their heretage: els shall ye geue thē no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. The meat offringe, syn offringe & trespace offringe shal they eate, and euery dedicate thinge in Israel, shalbe theirs. The firstlinges of all the first frutes, and all fre will offringes shal be the prestes.

Ye shall geue vnto the prest also the firstlinges of youre dowe, that God maye prospere the resydue. 〈…〉 But no deed carion shall the prest eate, ner soch as is deuoured of wilde beestes, foules or catell.

The XLV. Chapter.

WHen ye deuyde the lōde by the lott, ye shal put asyde one parte for the LORDE, 〈…〉 to be holy from other londes: namely, xxv M meteroddes longe, and x M brode. This shalbe holy, as wyde as it is rounde aboute. Of this parte there shalbe longe vnto the Sanctuary v C meteroddes in all the foure corners, and l cubites wyde rounde aboute to the suburbes. And from this meausre, namely of xxv M metteroddes longe, and x M brode, thou shalt measure, wherin the Sanctuary and the holiest of all maye stonde.

The resydue of that holy grounde shall be the prestes, which do seruyce in the Sanctuary of the LORDE, and go in before the LORDE to serue him, that they maye haue rowme to dwell in.

As for the Sanctuary, it shal stonde for it self: and to the Leuites the serue in that house, there shalbe geuen xx habitacions, of the xxv M lēgth & x M bredth: ye shal geue also vnto the cite a possessiō of v M meteroddes brode, & xxv M longe, besyde the parte of ye Sanctuary: that shal be for the whole house of Israel. 〈…〉 Vpon both the sydes of the Sanctuarys parte, & by the cite, there shalbe geuen vnto the prynce, what so euer lyeth ouer agaynst the cite, as farre as reacheth westwarde and eastwarde: which shalbe as longe as one parte, frō ye west vnto ye east.

This shalbe his owne lōde in Israel, that my princes be nomore chargeable vnto my people. And soch as remayneth yet ouer in the londe, shalbe geuen to the house of Israel acordinge to their trybes. Thus saieth the LORDE God: O ye princes, ye haue now oppressed and destroyed ynough: now leaue of, handle now acordinge to the thinge, that is equall and laufull: and thrust out my people nomore, sayeth ye LORDE God. Ye shal haue a true weight, a true Epha, & a true Bat.

•• ui. 19. g •• ut 25. c 〈◊〉 . 20. b The Epha & the Bat shalbe a like. One Bat shal cōteyne ye tēth parte of an Homer, and so shal one Epha do: their measure shal be after ye Homer. One Sycle maketh xx. Geras. 〈◊〉 . 10. b 〈◊〉 27. d 〈…〉 g So xx. Sycles, and xxv. & xv. Sycles make a pounde. This is the Heaue offrynge, that ye shal geue to be heaued: namely, the xvj. parte of an Epha, out of an Homer of wheat: and the xvj. parte of an Epha, out of an Homer of barlie. The oyle shal be measured with the Bat: euen the x. parte of one Bat out of a Cor.

Ten Battes make one Homer: for one Homer maketh ten Battes. And one lābe from two hundreth shepe out of the pasture of Israel, for a meat offrynge, burnt offrynge and health offrynge, to recōcile them, sayeth the LORDE God. All the people of the londe shal geue this heaue offrynge with a frewil. Agayne, it shal be the prynces parte to offre burnt offrynges, meat offrynges and drynk offrynges vnto the LORDE, in the holy dayes, new Moones, Sabbathes, and in all the hye feastes of the house of Israel. The syn offrynge, meat offerynge, brent offerynge & health offringe shal he geue, to recō cile the house of Israel. Thus sayeth ye LORDE God: The first daye of the first moneth thou shalt take a yōge bullocke without blemysh, and clense the Sanctuary.

So the prest shal take of the bloude of ye syn offrynge, and sprenkle it vpon the postes of the house, and vpon the foure corners of the aulter, with the dore postes of the ynnermer courte. And thus shalt thou do also the seuenth daye of ye moneth (for soch as haue synned of ignoraunce, or beynge disceaued) to reconcile the house withall. Vpon ye xiiij. daye of the first moneth ye shal kepe Easter. Seuē dayes shal the feast contynue, xo. 12 a 〈◊〉 23. a 〈◊〉 . 16. a wherin there shal no sower ner leuēded bred be eatē.

Vpon the same daye shal ye prynce geue for himself and all the people of the londe, a bullocke for a syn offringe. And in the feast of the seuen dayes he shal offre euery daye a bullocke & a ram, that are with out blemysh, for a burnt offrynge vnto the LORDE: & an he gaote daylie for a syn offrynge. For the meat offrynges he shall geue euer an Epha to a bullocke, an Epha to a ram, & an Hin of oyle to an Epha. Vpon ye xv. daye of the seuenth moneth, he shal kepe the seuen dayes holy one after another, euē as the other vij. dayes: with the syn offrynge, burnt offringe, meat offrynge, and with the oyle.

The XLVI. Chapter.

THus sayeth the LORDE God: ye dore of the ynnermer courte towarde the east, shall be shut the vj. worke dayes: but in the Sabbath and in the daye of the new Moone, it shalbe opened. Then shal the prynce come vnder the dore porche, & stonde still without by the dore cheke. So ye prestes shall offre vp his burnt & health-offrynges. And he shal worshipe at the dore poste, and go his waye forth agayne: but ye dore shal nomore be shut till the euenynge.

On the same maner shal the people of the londe also do their worshipe before the LORDE, without this dore vpon the Sabbathes and new Moones. This is now the burnt-offrynge, that the prynce shall bringe vnto the LORDE vpon the Sabbath: sixe lambes without blemysh, & a ram without blemysh, and an Epha for a meat offringe, with ye ram. As for the lambes, he maye geue as many meat offrynges to them, as he wil, & an Hin of oyle to an Epha. In the daye of the new moneth, it shalbe a yonge bullocke with out blemysh, sixe lambes & a ram also without blemysh. With the bullocke he shal geue an Epha, and with the ram an Epha also for a meatofferinge: but to ye lambes, what he maye come by: And euer an Hin of oyle to an Epha. When the prynce cōmeth, he shall go vnder the dore porche, and euen there departe forth agayne. But when the people of the londe come before the LORDE in the hye solempne feast, as many as come in by the north dore to do worshipe, shal go out agayne at the south dore. And they that come in at the south dore, shal go forth agayne at ye north dore. There shal none go out at the dore where he came in, but shal go forth right ouer on the other syde, and the prynce shall go in and out amonge them.

Vpon the solempne and hie feaste dayes, this shalbe the meatofferynge: An Epha to a bullock, and an Epha to a ram: and to the lambes, as many as he wil, but euer an Hin of oyle to an Epha. Now when the prynce bryngeth a burntofferynge or an health offerynge with a fre wil vnto the LORDE, the east dore shalbe opened vnto him, yt he maye do with his burnt & healthofferynges, as he doth vpō the Sabbath: and when he goeth forth, the dore shal be shut after him agayne. He shal daylie brynge vnto the LORDE a lambe of a yeare olde without blem sh for a burntofferynge: this shall he do euery mornynge. And for a meatofferynge he shal geue the sixte parte of an Epha, & the thirde parte of an Hin of oyle (to myngle with the cakes) euery mornynge. Yee this shalbe a daylie meatofferinge vnto the LORDE, for an euerlastinge ordinaunce: & thus shal the lambe, the meatofferynge and oyle be geuen euery mornynge, for a dailie burntofferinge.

Morouer, thus sayeth the LORDE God: Yf the prynce geue a gifte vnto eny of his sonnes, then shall it be his sonnes heretage perpetuall, yt he maye possesse it. But yf he wil geue one of his seruauntes some of his heretage, 〈◊〉 . 25. b 〈◊〉 . 36. c it shall be his to the fre yeare, and thē to returne agayne vnto ye prynce: for his heretage shalbe his sonnes only. 〈◊〉 . 21. a 〈◊〉 . 9. b The prynce also shal take none of the peoples enheritaunce, ner put thē from their possession: but to his owne sonnes shal he geue his possession, that my people be not scatred abrode, but that euery man maye haue his owne.

And he brought me thorow the intraunce at the syde of the dore to ye habitacion of the Sanctuary, that belongeth to ye prestes and stode towarde the north, & beholde, there was a place vpon the west syde, then sayde he vnto me: This is the place, where the prestes shall dight the trespace and synofferynges, & bake ye meatofferynges: that they nede not beare thē in to the outwarde courte, and so to vnhalowe the people. So he brought me in to the vttemost courte, rounde aboute all the foure corners. Beholde, in euery corner of ye fore courte, there was yet a litle courte. Yee in all the foure corners of the courte, there was made a litle courte of xl. cubites longe, and xxx. cubites brode: these foure litle courtes were of one like measure, & there went a rygge wall rounde aboute them all foure, vnder the which there were harthes made rounde aboute. Then sayde he vnto me: This is the kechin, where the ministers of the house shal dight the slayne offerynges of the people.

The XLVII. Chapter.

AFter this he brought me agayne before the dore of the house: & beholde, there guszshed out waters from vnder ye postes of the house eastwarde (for the house stode towarde the east) that ranne downe vpō the right syde of the house, which lyeth to the aulter south warde. Thē caried he me out to the north dore, and brought me forth there rounde aboute by the vttemost dore, yt turneth eastwarde. Beholde, 〈…〉 there came forth the water vpon the right syde. Now whan the man yt had the meterodde in his honde wente out vnto the east dore, he measured a M. cubites, & thē he brought me thorow ye water, euē to the ancles: so he measured yet a thousande, & brought me thorow ye water agayne vnto the knees: yet measured he a thousande, and brought me thorow the water vnto the loynes. After this he measured a thousande agayne, then was it soch a ryuer, yt I might not wade thorow it: The water was so depe, that it was nedefull to haue swymmed, for it might not be waded ouer. And he sayde vnto me: hast thou sene this, o thou sonne of man? and with that, he brought me to the ryuer banck agayne.

Now when I came there, there stode many trees vpon ether syde of the ryuer bācke. Then sayde he vnto me: This water that floweth out towarde the east, and runneth downe in to the playne felde, commeth into the see: and from the see it runneth out, & maketh the waters whole. Yee all that liue and moue, where vnto this ryuer commeth, shal recouer. And where this water cōmeth, there shalbe many fysh. For all that commeth to this water, shall be lusty and whole. By this riuer shal the fyszshers stonde from Engaddi vnto En Eglaim, & there sprede out their nettes: for there shalbe greate heapes of fysh, like as in the mayne see. As for his claye and pyttes, they shal not be whole, for why, it shalbe occupide for salt.

By this ryuer vpon both the sydes of the shore, there shall growe all maner of frutefull trees, whose leaues shall not fall of, nether shal their frute perish: 〈…〉 but euer be rype at their monethes, for their water runneth out of the Sanctuary. His frute is good to eate, and his leaf profitable for medycine. Thus sayeth the LORDE God: Let this be the border, wherin ye shall deuyde the londe vnto the xij. trybes of Israel, with the lyne. Parte it indifferently vnto one as vnto another: 〈…〉 of the which lōde I swore vnto youre fathers, that it shulde fall to youre enheritaunce.

This is the border of the londe vpon the northsyde, from the mayne see, as men go to Zadada: namely, Hemath, Berotha, Sabarim: from the borders of Damascus and Hemath vnto Hazar Tichon, that lieth vpon the coastes of Hauerā. Thus the borders frō the see forth, shalbe Hazar Euan, the border of Damascus the north, and the borders of Hemath: that is the north parte.

The east syde shal ye measure from Haueran and Damascus, from Galead and the londe of Israel by Iordane and so forth, from the see coast, that lieth eastwarde: and this is the east parte.

The south syde is, from Thamar forth to the waters of strife vnto Cades, 〈◊〉 . 10. b 〈◊〉 . 17. b the ryuer, to the mayne see: and that is the south parte.

The west parte: namely the greate see from the borders therof, till a man come vnto Hemath: this is the west parte.

This londe shal ye parte amonge you, acordinge to the trybes of Israel, and deuyde it to be an heretage for you, and for the straūgers that dwel amōge you, and begette children.

〈◊〉 19 g 〈◊〉 . 10. d 〈◊〉 24 c For ye shal take them amonge the childrē of Israell, like as though they were of youre owne housholde and countre, and they shal haue heretage with you amonge the childrē of Israel.

Loke in what trybe the straunger dwelleth, in the same trybe shal ye geue him his heretage, saieth the LORDE God.

The XLVIII. Chapter.

THese are ye names of the trybes that lye vpon the northsyde, by the waye of Hetlon, tyll thou commest vnto Hemath and Hazar Enam, the borders of Damascus towarde the north besyde Hemath: Dan shal haue his porciō from the east quarter vnto the west. Vpon the borders of Dan from the east syde vnto the west, shal Asser haue his porcion. Vpon the borders of Asser frō the east parte vnto the west, shal Nephtali haue his porcion.

Vpon the borders of Nephtali from the east quarter vnto the west, shal Manasses haue his porcion. Vpon the borders of Manasses from the east syde vnto the west, shal Ephraim haue his porcion. Vpon the borders of Ephraim from the east parte vnto the west, shal Ruben haue his porcion. Vpō the borders of Ruben from the east quarter vnto the west, shal Iuda haue his porcion. Vpon the borders of Iuda from the east parte vnto the west, ye shal set a syde one porciō of xxv.M. meteroddes longe and brode (like as another porcion from the east syde vnto the west,) wherin the Sanctuary shal stōde.

As for the porcion, that ye shal separate out for the LORDE, it shalbe xxv.M. longe, Eze. 45. and x.M. brode. Which separated holy porcion shal belonge vnto these: namely to the prestes, towarde the north xxv.M. & towarde the west x.M. brode, towarde the east x.M. brode also, & towarde the south xxv.M. longe, wherin the Sanctuary of the LORDE shal stonde. Yee this same place shal be the prestes, yt are of the childrē of Sadoch, Eze. 43. and 44. & haue kepte my holy ordinaunce: which wente not astraye in the erroure of the children of Israel, like as the Leuites are gone astraye: and this separated pece that they haue of the londe, shalbe the most holy, harde vpon the borders of the Leuites. And nexte vnto the prestes, shal the Leuites haue xxv.M. lō ge and x.M. brode. This shalbe on euery syde xxv.M. longe, and x.M. brode. Of this porciō they shal sell nothinge, ner make eny permutacion therof, lest the chefe of the londe fall vnto other, for it is halowed vnto the LORDE.

The other v.M. after the bredth, yt lyeth by the xxv.M, shalbe comon: it shal belonge to the cite and to the suburbes for habitacions, and ye cite shal stonde in the myddest therof. Let this be the measure: towarde ye north parte, v.C. & iiij.M: towarde the south parte, v.C. & iiij.M: towarde the east parte, v.C. and iiij.M: towarde ye west parte, v.C. and iiij.M.

The suburbes harde vpon the cite, shall haue towarde the north, L. and ij.C: towarde the south, L. and two C: towarde the east, L. and two C: towarde the west also, L. and two C. As for the residue of the length, that lyeth hard vpon the separated holy grounde: namely, x.M. towarde the east and x.M. towarde the west, next vnto the holy porciō: it and the increase therof shal serue for their meate, that laboure in the cite. They that laboure for the welth of the cite, shall manteine this also, out of what tribe so euer they be in Israel.

All that is separated of the xxv.M. longe and xxv.M. brode on the foure partes, yt shall ye put a syde for the separated porcion of the Sanctuary, & for the possession of ye cite. The resydue vpon both the sydes of the Sanctuary and possession of the cite, Eze. 45. a shall belonge to the prynce, before the place of ye xxv.M. vnto the east ende, & before the place of ye xxv.M. westwarde, vnto the borders of ye cite: this shalbe ye prynces porciō. This shalbe the holy place, and the house of the Sanctuary shal stonde in the myddest. Morouer, from the Leuites and the cities possession, yt lye in the myddest of the prynces parte: loke what remayneth betwixte the border of Iuda & the border of Ben Iamin, it shal be the prynces.

Now of the other trybes.

Frō the east parte vnto the west, shal Ben Iamin haue his porcion. Vpon the borders of Ben Iamin frō the east syde vnto ye west, shal Symeon haue his porcion. Vpon the borders of Symeō from the east parte vnto the west, shal Isachar haue his porcion. Vpō the borders of Isachar from the east syde vnto the west, shal Sabulon haue his porcion. Vpon the borders of Sabulon from the east parte vnto the west, shal Gad haue his porcion. Vpon the borders of Gad southwarde, the coastes shal reach frō Thamar forth vnto the waters of strife to Cades, and to the floude, euen vnto the mayne see.

ume. 32 s. 13.14.This is ye lōde wt his porciōs, which ye shal distribute vnto the trybes of Israel, saieth ye LORDE God. Thus wyde shal the cite reach: vpon the north parte v C and iiij M measures. The portes of the cite, shal haue the names of the trybes of Israel. Thre portes of ye northsyde: One Ruben, another Iuda, the thirde Leui.

Vpō ye east syde, v C & iiij M measures, wt ye thre portes: The one Ioseph, another Bē Iamin, the thirde Dan. Vpon the south syde v C and iiij M measures, with the thre portes: the one Symeon, another Isachar, the thirde Sabulon. And vpon the west syde v C and iiij M measures, with thre portes also: the one Gad, another Asser, the thirde Nephtali. Thus shal it haue xviij M measures roūde aboute. And from that tyme forth, ye name of the cite shal be: the LORDE is there.

The ende of the Prophet Ezechiel.
The Prophet Daniel. What Daniel conteyneth. Chap. I. Daniel, Ananias, Misael and Asarias are chosen to lerne Caldeish, & to stōde before the kynge. Chap. II. Daniel expoūdeth the kynges dreame. Chap. III. The thre children wil not worshipe the ymage, they be cast in the fyre, but God delyuereth them. Chap. IIII. Another dreame expounded. Chap. V Daniel readeth the writinge on the wall, and declareth it. Chap. VI. Daniel is cast in the Lyons 〈◊〉 . Chap. VII. The vision of the foure beestes. Chap. VIII. Of the Ramme and the gote. Chap. IX. The prophecy of the seuentie we es and of Christ. Chap. X. Another vision shewed to Daniel. Chap. XI.XII. Certayne reuelacions of thinges for to come: some, of the delyueraunce frō the captiuyte of Babilon: some, of the destruccion of Ierusalem: some, concernynge the latter dayes.
The first. Chapter.

IN ye thirde yeare of ye raigne of Ioachim kynge off Iuda, came Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon vnto Ierusalem, 〈◊〉 24 a 〈◊〉 . 6. c & beseged it: and the LORDE delyuered Ioachim the kynge off Iuda in to his honde, with certayne ornamentes of the house off God, which he caried awaye vnto the londe of Sennar, to the house of his god and there brought them in to his gods treasury. And the kynge spake vnto Asphenes ye chefe chamberlayne, that he shulde brynge him certayne of the children of Israel, that were come of the kynges sede and of prynces, yōge spryngaldes with out eny blemish but fayre ād wel fauored, instructe in all wisdome, connynge and vnderstōdinge: which were able to stonde in the kynges palace, to reade, and to lerne for to speake Caldeish.

Vnto these the kinge appoynted a certayne porcion of his owne meate and of the wine, which he drancke himselff, so to norish thē thre yeare: that afterwarde they might stonde before the kynge. Amonge these now were certayne of the children off Iuda: namely Daniel, Ananias, Misael and Azarias. Vnto these the chefe chamberlayne gaue other names, and called Daniel, Balthasar: Ananias, Sydrac: Misael, Misac: and Asarias, Abdenago. But Daniel was at a poynt wt himself, that he wolde not be defyled thorow the kynges meate, 〈◊〉 43. f 〈◊〉 . 1. b 〈◊〉 . 1 . a ner ye wyne which he drō ke. And this he desyred off the chefe chāberlayne, lest he shulde defyle himselff. So God gaue Daniel fauoure and grace before ye chefe chamberlayne, that he sayde vnto him: I am afrayed off my lorde the kynge, which hath appoynted you youre meate and drynke: lest he spye youre faces to be worse lykynge then the other spryngaldes of youre age, ād so ye shal make me loose my heade vnto ye kynge.

Then Daniel answered Melassar, whom the chefe chamberlayne had set ouer Daniel, Ananias, Misael and Asarias, and sayde: O proue but ten dayes with thy seruauntes, and let vs haue potage to eate, and water to drynke: then loke vpon oure faces, and theirs that eate off the kinges meate. And as thou seyst, so deale with thy seruauntes. So he consented to them in this matter, ād proued thē x. dayes. And after ye ten dayes, their faces were better lykinge & fatter, then all the yonge spryngaldes, which ate of the kinges me te.

Thus Melassar toke awaye their meate and wyne, and gaue them potage therfore. God gaue now these foure spryngaldes connynge and lernynge in all scripture and wisdome: but vnto Daniel specially, he gaue vnderstondinge off all visions and dreames. Now when the tyme was expyred, that the kynge had appoynted to brynge in these yonge springaldes vnto him: the chefe chamberlayne brought them before Nabuchodonosor, and the kynge commoned with them. But amonge them all were founde none soch as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Asarias. Therfore stode they before the kynge, which in all wisdome and matters off vnderstōdinge, that he enquered off them, founde them ten tymes better, thē all the soythsayers and charmers, that were in all his realme. And Daniel abode still, vnto the first yeare of kynge Cyrus.

The II. Chapter

IN the secōde yeare off the raigne of Nabuchodonosor, had Nabuchodonosor a dreame, Iob. 7. b Dan. 4. a 5. a where thorow his sprete was vexed, and his slepe brake from him. Then the kynge cōmaunded to call together all ye soythsayers, charmers, witches and Caldees, for to shewe the kynge his dreame. So they came, and stode before the kynge. And the kynge sayde vnto them: I haue dreamed a dreame, & my sprete was so troubled therwith, yt I haue clene forgotten, what I dreamed. Vpon this, the Caldees answered the kynge in the Syrians speach: O kynge, God saue thy life for euer. Shewe thy seruauntes the dreame, and we shal shewe the, what it meaneth. The kynge gaue the Caldees their answere, ād sayde: It is gone fro me: Yf ye wil not make me vnderstonde the dreame with the interpretacion theroff, ye shal dye, and youre houses shal be prysed. But yff ye tell me the dreame and the meanynge therof, ye shall haue off me giftes, rewardes and greate honoure: only, shewe me the dreame and the significacion of it. They answered agayne, and sayde: the kynge must shewe his seruauntes the dreame, and so shal we declare, what it meaneth.

Then the kynge answerde, sayenge: I perceaue off a treuth, that ye do but prolōge ye tyme: for so moch as yese, that the thinge is gone fro me. Therfore, yff ye wil not tell me the dreame, ye shal all haue one iudgment. But ye fayne and dyssemble with vayne wordes, which ye speake before me, to put off the tyme. Therfore tell me the dreame, ād so shall I know yff ye can shewe me, what it meaneth. Vpon this, the Caldees gaue answere before the kynge, and sayde: there is no man vpon earth, that can tell the thinge, which ye kynge speaketh of: Yee there is nether kynge prynce ner LORDE, that euer axed soch thinges at a soythsayer, charmer or Caldeer: for it is a very harde matter, that the kynge requyreth. Nether is there eny, that can certifie the kynge theroff, excepte the goddes: whose dwellinge is not amonge the creatures.

For ye which cause the kynge was wroth with greate indignaciō, and cōmaunded to destroye all the wyse men at Babilon: and ye proclamacion wēte forth, that the wyse mē shulde be slayne. They sought also to slaye Daniel with his cōpanyons. Then Daniel enquered Arioch the kynges stewarde, off the iudgment and sentence, that was gone forth alredy to kyll soch as were wyse at Babilon. He answered, and sayde vnto Arioch beinge then the kinges debyte: Why hath the kynge proclamed so cruell a sentence? So Arioch tolde Daniel the matter. Vpon this, wente Daniel vp, and desyred the kinge, ye he might haue leysoure, to shewe the kynge the interpretacion: and then came he home agayne & shewed the thinge vnto Ananias, Misael & Asarias his companiōs: yt they shulde beseke the God of heauen for grace in this secrete, that Daniel and his felowes with other soch as were wyse in Babilon, perished not. Then was the mystery shewed vnto Daniel in a visiō by nyght. And Daniel praysed ye God of heauē, Daniel also cryed loude, and sayde: O that the name of God might be praysed for euer and euer, for wisdome and strength are his owne: he chaungeth the tymes and ages: Dan. 7. d Luc. 1. c Iob. 34. b Iere. 27. a Dan. 4. c Iob. 32. b he putteth downe kynges, he setteth vp kynges: he geueth wyszdome vnto the wyse, and vnderstōdinge to those that vnderstōde he openeth the depe secretes: he knoweth ye the thynge that lyeth in darcknesse, for the light dwelleth with him.1. Ioh. 1. b I thanke the, and prayse the (O thou God off my fathers) that thou hast lent me wyszdome and strength, & hast shewed me the thinge, that we desyred off the, for thou hast opened the kynges matter vnto me.

Vpon this wente Daniel in vnto Arioch, whom the kinge had ordened to destroye the wyse at Babilon: he wente vnto him, and sayde: destroye not soch as are wyse in Babilon, but bringe me in vnto the kynge, and I shal shewe the kynge the interpretacion. Then Arioch brought Daniel into the kynge in all the haist, and sayde vnto him: I haue founde a man amonge the presoners off Iuda, yt shal shewe the kinge the interpretacion. Thē answered the kynge, and sayde vnto Daniel, whose name was Balthasar: Art thou he, yt cāst shewe me ye dreame, which I haue sene, & the interpretacion therof? Daniel answered the kynge to his face, and sayde: As for this secrete, for the which the kinge maketh inquisicion: it is nether the wyse, the sorcerer, the charmer ner the deuell coniurer, that can certifie the kynge off it: Only God in heauē cā open secretes, and he it is, 〈…〉 that sheweth the kinge Nabuchodonosor, what is for to come in the latter dayes.

Thy dreame, and that which thou hast sene in thyne heade vpon thy bed, is this O kynge, thou didest cast in thy mynde, what shulde come herafter: So he that is the opener off mysteries, telleth the, what is for to come. As for me, this secrete is not shewed me, for eny wiszdome that I haue, more then eny other lyuynge: but only that I might shewe the kynge the interpretacion, & that he might knowe the thoughtes off his owne herte. Thou kynge sawest, and beholde: there stode before the a greate ymage, whose fygure was maruelous greate, and his vysage grymme. The ymage heade was of fyne golde, his brest and armes off syluer, his body ād loynes were off copper, his legges were off yron, his fete were parte off yron, and parte of earth.

This thou sawest, till the tyme that (without eny hondes) there was hewen off a stone which smote the ymage vpon the fete, 〈…〉 that were both off yron and earth, and brake thē to poulder: then was the yron, the earth, the copper, the syluer and golde broken altogether in peces: and became like the chaffe off corne, that the wynde bloweth awaye from ye somer floores, that they cā nomore be foū de. But the stone that smote the ymage, became a greate mountayne, which fulfylleth the whole earth: This is the dreame. And now will we shewe before the kynge, what it meaneth.

O kynge, thou art a kynge off kynges: 〈…〉 For the God off heauē hath geuē the a kingdome, ryches, strength and maiesty: & hath delyuered the all thinges, that are amōge ye children off men: the beastes off the felde, ād the foules vnder the heauē, and geuen the dominion ouer them all. Thou art that goldē heade. After yt there shal aryse another kingdome, which shal be lesse then thyne. The thyrde kingdome shal belyke copper, and haue dominacion in all lōdes. The fourth kingdome shal be as stronge as yron. For like as yron brusseth and breaketh all thinges: Yee euen as yron beateth euery thinge downe, so shal it beate downe and destroye.

Where as thou sawest the fete and toes, parte of earth and parte off yron: that is a deuyded kyngdome, which neuertheles shal haue some off the yron grounde mixte with it, for so much as thou hast sene the yron mixte with the claye.

The toes of the fete that were parte off yron and parte off claye, signifieeh: that it shalbe a kyngdome partely stronge and partely weake. And where as thou sawest yron myxte with claye: they shall myngle them selues wt ye sede off symple people, & yet not contynue one with another, like as yron wil not be souldered with a potsherde.

〈◊〉 9. b In the dayes off these kynges, shall the God of heauen set vp an euerlastinge kyngdome which shall not perish, and his kyngdome shall not be geuen ouer to another people: Yee the same shall breake and destroye all these kyngdomes, but it shall endure for euer.

And where as thou sawest, that without eny hondes there was cut out of the mount a stone, 〈◊〉 . 12. c which brake the yron, the copper ye earth, the syluer and golde in peces: by that hath ye greate God shewed the kynge, what wyl come after this. This is a true dreame, and the interpretacion of it is sure.

Then the kynge Nabuchodonosor, fell downe vpon his face, and bowed him self vnto Daniel, and commaunded that they shulde offre meat offrynges and swete odoures vnto him.

The kynge answerde Daniel, and sayde: Yee off a treuth, youre God is a God aboue all goddes, a LORDE aboue all kynges, and an opener of secretes: seynge thou canst discouer this mysterie. So the kynge made Daniel a greate man, and gaue him many and greate giftes.

He made him ruler off all the countrees of Babilon, and lorde of all the nobles, that were at Babilon. Now Daniel intreated the kynge for Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago, so that he made them rulers ouer all the offyces in the londe off Babilon: but Daniel himself remayned still in the courte by the kynge.

The III. Chapter.

NAbuchodonosor the kynge caused a goldē ymage to be made, which was lx. cubites hye, and sixe cubites thicke. This he made to be set vp in the valley of Duran in the londe of Babilon & sent out to gather together the dukes, lordes & nobles, the iudges and officers, the debites ād shreues, with all the rulers of the londe: yt they might come to the dedicacion of the ymage which Nabuchodonosor the kynge had set vp. So the dukes, lordes and nobles, the iudges and officers, debytes and shreues with all the rulers of the londe gathered them together, and came vnto the dedicatynge of ye ymage, that Nabuchodonosor the kinge had set vp.

Now when they stode before the ymage, which Nabuchodonosor set vp, the bedell cried out wt all his might: O ye people, kynreddes and tunges, to you be it sayde: that whē ye heare the noyse off the trompettes, which shalbe blowne, wt yt harpes, shawmes, Psalteries, Symphonies and all maner off Musick: ye fall downe and worshipe the golden ymage, yt Nabuchodonosor the kynge hath set vp. Who so then falleth not downe and boweth himself, shal euen the same houre be cast in to an hote burnynge ouen. Therfore, when all the folke herde the noyse off the trompettes that were blowne, with the harpes, shawmes, Psalteries, Symphonies and all kynde of Melody: thē all the people, kynreddes and nacions fell downe, and bowed them selues vnto the golden ymage, that Nabuchodonosor the kynge had set vp.

Now were there certayne men off the Caldees, that went euen then and accused ye Iewes, and sayde vnto kynge Nabuchodonosor: O kynge, God saue thy lyfe for euer. Thou beynge kynge hast geuen a-commaū demēt, that all men when they heare the noyse off the trompettes, harpes, shawmes, psalteries, symphonies and all the other melodies: shall fall downe and bowe them selues towarde the golden ymage: who so thē fell not downe and worshipped not, that he shulde be cast in to an hote burnynge ouen. Now are there certaine Iewes, whom thou hast set ouer the offices of the londe off Babilon: namely, Sydrac, Dan. 2. g Misac and Abdenago. These men (o kynge) regarde not thy cō maundemēt, yee they will not serue thy goddes, ner bowe them selues to the golden ymage, that thou hast set vp.

Then Nabuchodonosor in a cruell wrath and displeasure, commaunded, yt Sidrac, Misac & Abdenago shulde be brought vnto him. So these men were brought before the kynge. Then Nabuchodonosor spake vnto them, and sayde: what? o Sidrac 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Misac and Abdenago, will not ye serue my goddes? nor bowe youre selues to the golden ymage, that I haue set vp? wel, be redy herafter, when ye heare the noyse of the trōpettes, blowne with the harpes, shawmes, psalteries, symphonies and all ye other melodies: that ye fall downe, and worshipe the ymage which I haue made. But yff ye worshipe it not, ye shal be cast immediatly in to an hote burnynge ouen. Let se, what god is there, yt maye delyuer you out of my hondes?

Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago answered the kynge, and sayde: O Nabuchodonosor, we ought not to cōsente vnto ye in this matter, for why: oure God whom we serue, is able to kepe vs from the hote burnynge ouen (O kynge) and can right wel delyuer vs out off thy hondes. Nu. 16. g And though he wil not, yet shalt thou knowe (o kynge) that we will not serue thy goddes, ner do reuerēce to the ymage, which thou hast set vp. Then was Nabuchodonosor full off indignacion, so that ye countenaunce of his face chaunged vpō Sidrac, Misac & Abdenago. Therfore he charched and commaunded, that the ouen shulde be made seuen tymes hoter, then it was wōte to be: and spake vnto the strongest worthies that were in his hooste, for to bynde Sidrac, Misac and Abdenago, and to cast them in to the hote burnynge ouen.

So these men were bounde in their cotes, hosen, shues with their other garmentes, ād castin to the hote burnynge ouen: for the kinges commaundement was so strate, and the ouen was exceadynge hote. As for the men that put in Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago, the flame off the fyre destroyed them. And these thre men Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago fell downe in ye hote burnynge ouen, Esa. 43. a beinge fast bounde.

Then Nabuchodonosor the kynge marueled, and stode vp in all haist: he spake vnto his councel and sayde: dyd not ye cast these thre men bounde in to the fyre? They answered, and sayde vnto the kynge: Yee o kynge. He answered and sayde: lo, for all that, yet do I se foure men goinge lowse in the myddest off the fyre, Actu. 9. a Dan. 10. b and nothinge corrupte: and the fourth is like an angel to loke vpon. Vpon this wēte Nabuchodonosor vnto the mouth of the hote burnynge ouen: he speake also, & sayde: O Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago, ye seruauntes of the hye God: go forth, and come hither. And so Sydrac, Misac, and Abdenago wente out of the fyre. Then the dukes, lordes and nobles, and the kynges councell came together to se these men, vpon whom the fyre had no maner of power in their bodies: 〈…〉 In so moch that the very hayre of their heade was not burnt, and their clothes vnchaunged: Yee there was no smell of fyre felt vpon them.

Then spake Nabuchodonosor, and sayde: Blessed be the God of Sidrac, 〈…〉 Misac & Abdenago: which hath sent his angel, 〈◊〉 defended his seruaūtes, that put their trust in him: yt haue altered the kynges commaundement, and ioperde their bodies ther vpon •• ther then they wolde serue or worshipe eny other god, excepte their owne God only. Therfore I wil and commaūde, that all people, kynreddes & tunges which speake eny blasphemy agaynst the God of Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago, shal dye, and their houses shalbe prysed: Because, 〈…〉 there is no God yt maye saue, as this. So the kynge promoted Sidrac, Misac and Abdenago, in the londe of Babylon.

Nabuchodonosor kynge, vnto all people, 〈…〉 kynreddes and tunges that dwell vpon the whole earth: peace be multiplied amōge you I thought it good to shewe the tokēs & maruelous workes, yt ye hye God hath wrought vpon me O how greate are his tokēs, 〈…〉 & how mightie are his wonders? His kyngdome is an euerlastinge kyngdome, and his power lasteth for euer and euer.

The IIII. Chapter.

I Nabuchodonosor beynge at rest in myne house, ād florishinge in my palace, sawe a dreame, which made me afrayed: ād the thoughtes that I had vpō my bed, with the visions of myne heade, troubled me. Then sent I out a commission, 〈…〉 that all they which were of wiszdome at Babilō shulde be brought before me, to tell me the interpretacion of the dreame. So there came the soythsayers, charmers, Caldees and coniurers of deuels: to whom I tolde the dreame, but what it betokened, they coude not shewe me: till at the last, there came one Daniel (otherwyse called Balthasar, acordinge to the name of my God) which hath the sprete of the holy goddes in him: to whom I tolde the dreame, sayenge: O Balthasar, thou prynce of saythsayers: For so moch as I knowe, that thou hast the sprete of the holy goddes, and no secrete is hyd from the: tel me therfore, what ye visiō of my dreame (yt I haue sene) maye signifie. I sawe a vision in my heade vpon my bed: and beholde, there stode a tre vpon the grounde, which was very hye, greate and mightie: ye heyth reached vnto the heauē, and the bredth extended to all the endes of the earth: his leaues were fayre, he had very moch frute, so yt euery mā had ynough to eate therin.

The beastes of the felde had shadowes vnder it, and the foules off the ayre dwelt in the bowes therof. Shortly, all creatures fed of it. I sawe in my heade a vision vpon my bed: & beholde, a watcher (euē an holy angel) came downe from heauen, and cryed mightely, sayenge: Hew downe the tre, breake off his braunches, shake of his leaues, and scatre his frute abrode: that all the beestes maye get them awaye from vnder him, and the foules from his braunches. Neuertheles leaue the grounde of his rote still in the earth, and bynde him vpon the playne felde, with cheynes of yron and stele. With the dew of heauen shall he be wet, and he shall haue his parte in the herbes of the grounde with other wylde beastes.

That mans herte off his shall be taken from him, and a beastes herte shall be geuen him, till seuen yeares be come and gone vpon him.

This erande of the watcher, is a cōmaundemēt grounded and sought out in the councel off him, that is most holy: to lerne men for to vnderstonde, that the hyest hath power ouer the kyngdomes off men, ād geueth them, to whom it liketh him, and bryngeth the very outcastes off men ouer them. This is the dreame, yt I kynge Nabuchodonosor haue sene.

Therfore o Balthasar, tell thou me what it signifieth: for so moch as all the wyse men off my kyngdome are not able to shewe me, what it meaneth. But thou canst do it, for ye sprete of the holy Goddes is in the.

Then Daniel (whose name was Balthasar) helde his peace by the space of an houre ād his thoughtes troubled him. So the kynge spake, and sayde: O Balthasar, let nether the dreame ner the interpretacion theroff feare the. Balthasar answered, sayenge: O my LORDE, this dreame happen to thyne enemies, and the interpretacion to thyne aduersaries. As for the tre that thou sawest which was so greate & mightie, whose heyth reached vnto the heauen, and his bredth in to all the worlde: whose leaues were fayre, ād the frute moch: vnder the which the beastes of the felde had their habitacion, and vpon whose braunches the foules of the ayre dyd syt:

Euen thou (o kynge) art the tre, greate & strōge. Thy greatnesse increaseth, & reacheth vnto the heauen, so doth thy power to the endes ef the earth. But where as the kynge sawe a watcher euen an holy angel, that came downe from heauen, and sayde: hew downe the tre, and destroye it: yet leaue the groun-of the rote in the earth, and bynde him vpon the playne felde with cheynes off yron and stele: He shall be wet with the dew off heauen, and his parte shalbe with the beestes of the felde, till seuen yeares be come and gone vpon him: This (o kynge) is ye interpretaciō, yee it is the very deuyce of him, yt is hyest of all, & it toucheth my LORDE the kynge.

Thou shalt be cast out fro men, and thy dwellinge shalbe with the beestes of the felde: with grasse shalt thou be fed like an oxe. Thou must be wet with the dew of the heauen: yee seuen yeares shall come and go vpon the, till thou knowe, that the hyest hath power vpon the kyngdomes of men, & geueth them, to whom he lyst. Morouer, Dan. 2. c Iere. 27. a where as it was sayde, that the rote of the tre shulde be be left still in the grounde: it betokeneth, yt thy kyngdome shall remayne whole vnto ye, after thou hast lerned to knowe, that the power commeth from heauen. Wherfore (o kinge) be contēt with my councel, that thou mayest lowse thy synnes with rightuousnesse, ād thyne offences with mercy to poore people: for soch thinges shall prolonge thy peace. All these thynges touch the kynge Nabuchodonosor.

So after xij. monethes, the kynge walked vp and downe in the paalace off the kyngdome off Babilon, and sayde: This is the greate cite off Babilō, which I myself (with my power & strength) haue made a kynges courte, for the honoure off my magesty. Whyle these wordes were yet in the kynges mouth, there fell a voyce from heauē, sayengt: O kinge Nabuchodonosor, to the be it spokē: Thy kyngdome shall departe from the, thou shalt be cast out of mens company: thy dwellinge shalbe with the beestes off the felde, so that thou shalt eate grasse like as an oxe, till seuen yeares be come and gone ouer the: euen vntill thou knowest, that the hyest hath power vpon the kyngdomes off men, and that he maye geue them, vnto whom it pleaseth him.

The very same houre was this matter fulfylled vpō Nabuchodonosor: so that he was cast out off mēs cōpany, & ate grasse like an oxe. His body was wet with the dew of heauen, till his hayres were as greate as Aegles fethers, and his nales like byrdes clawes.

When this tyme was past, I Nabuchodonosor lift vp myne eyes vnto heauen, and myne vnderstondinge was restored vnto me agayne. Then gaue I thankes vnto the hyest. I magnified and praysed him that lyueth for euermore, whose power endureth all waye, and his kyngdome from one generacion to another: in comparyson off whom, all they that dwell vpon the earth, are to be reputed as nothinge. Dan. 3. f

He handleth acordinge to his will, amō ge ye powers of heauen & amonge the inhabitours of the earth: Psal. 134. a and there is none that maye resiste his honde, Iob. 42. b or saye: what doest thou? At the same tyme was myne vnderstondynge geuen me agayne, and I was restored to the honoure of my kingdome, to my dignite, and to myne owne shappe agayne. My greatestates and prynces sought vnto me, and I was set in my kyngdome agayne, so that I had yet greater worshipe.

Thē dyd I Nabuchodonosor, loaue, magnifie and prayse the kynge of heauen: for all his workes are true, and his wayes right. As for those that go on proudly, he is able to brī bringe them downe.

The V. Chapter.

BAlthasar the kynge made a greate bancket to his thousande lordes: withall these thousande he made greate cheare, and when he was dronken wt wyne, he commaunded to brynge him ye golden and syluer vessel, which his father Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the temple at Ierusalem: . Par. 46. c that the kynge and his lordes (with his quene and concubynes) might drī ke therout.

So they brought the golden vessel, that was takē out of the temple of the LORDES house at Ierusalem. Then the kynge and his lordes with his quene and concubines dronke out of them. They dronke wyne, and praysed their Idols of golde, syluer, copper, yron, wodde and stone.

In the very same houre there appeared fyngers, as it had bene of a mans honde writynge, right ouer agaynst the candelsticke vpon the playne wall in the kynges palace: and the kynge sawe the palme of ye honde yt wrote. Iere. 50. a Then chaunged the kynge his countenaunce, and his thoughtes troubled him: so that the ioyntes off his body shoke, and his knees smote one agaynst the other. Wherfore the kynge cryed mightely, Dan. 2. a that thy shulde brynge him the charmers, Caldees and coniurers of deuels. The kynge spake also to the wysemen of Babilon, and sayde: Who so can rede this wrytynge, and shewe me the playne meanynge theroff: shall be clothed with purple, haue a cheyne off golde aboute his necke, and rule the thirde parte off my kyngdome.

Vpon this, came all the kynges wyse men: but they coude nether rede the wrytinge, 〈◊〉 shewe the kynge what it signified. Thē was the kynge sore afrayed, in so moch, that his coloure chaunged, and his lordes were so sorevexed. So by reason off this matter, yt had happened to the kynge & his lordes, the quene went vp herself in to the bancket house, and spake vnto the kynge, sayenge: O kynge God saue thy life for euer: Let not yt thoughtes trouble the, and let not thy countenaunce be chaunged. For why: there is a man in ye kyngdome, that hath the sprete off the holy goddes within him, as it was sene in thy fathers dayes. He hath vnderstondinge ād wysdome like the goddes. Yee the kynge Nabuchodonosor thy father made this man chest of the soythsayers, charmers, Caldees and deuel coniurers: because that soch an abundaunt sprete, knowlege & wisdome (to expoū de dreames, to open secretes, and to declare harde dowtes) was founde in him: yee euen in Daniel, whom the kynge named Balthasar. Let this same Daniel be sente for, and he shall tell, what it meaneth.

Then was Daniel brought before the kinge. So the kynge spake vnto Daniel, and sayde: Art thou that Daniel, one off the presoners of Iuda, whom my father the kynge brought out of Iewry? I haue herde speake of the, that thou hast the sprete of the holy goddes, experience and vnderstōdinge, and that there hath bene greate wisdome founde in the. Now haue there bene brought me, wise and connynge charmers, to rede this wrytynge, and to shewe me the meanynge theroff: But they coude not tell me, what this matter signified. Then herde I saye, yt thou canst expounde darcke thinges, and declare harde doutes. Well than, yf thou canst rode this writinge, and shewe me the meaninge therof: thou shalt be clothed wt purple, haue a cheyne of golde aboute thy necke, & rule the thirde parte of my kyngdome.

Daniel answered, and sayde before ye kynge: As for thy rewardes, kepe them to thy self, or geue ye rych giftes to another: 〈…〉 yet not thelesse, I wil rede the wrytynge vnto ye kinge, and shewe him the interpretacion therof O kinge, God the hyest gaue vnto Nabuchodonosor thy father, ye dignite of a kynge, 〈…〉 wt worshipe & honor: so yt all people, kynreddes & tunges stode in awe & feare of him, by reason off the hye estate, that he had lent him. For why: he slewe, whom he wolde: he smoke, whom it pleased him. Agayne: whom he wolde, he set vp: and whom he list, he put downe. 〈◊〉 4. d But because his herte was so proude, and his stomack set fast vnto wylfulnesse: he was deposed from his kyngly trone, and his magesty was taken from him. He was shot out from amonge men, his herte was like a beestes herte, and his dwellynge was with the wylde Asses: he was fayne to eate grasse like an oxe, and his body was wet with the dew off the heauen: till he knewe, that the hyest had power vpon the kyngdomes of men, and setteth ouer them, whom he list.

And thou his sonne (o Balthasar) for all this, hast not submitted thine hert, though thou knewest all these thinges: but hast magnified thy selff aboue the LORDE off heauen, so that the vessels off his house were brought before the: that thou, and thy lordes, with thy quene and concubynes, might drynke wyne therout: And hast praysed the Idols of syluer and golde, copper and yron, off wodde & stone: As for the God, in whose honde consisteth thy breth ād all thy wayes: thou hast not loaued him. 〈◊〉 17. c

Therfore is the palme off this honde sent hither from him, to token vp this wrytinge, And this is the scripture, that is written vp: Mane, Thetel, Phares. Now the interpretacion off the thynge is this: Mane, God hath nombred thy kyngdome, and brought it to an ende: Thetel, Thou art weyed in the balaunce, and art founde to light: Phares, Thy kyngdome is delt in partes, and geuen to the Medes and Perses.

Then commaunded Balthasar, to cloth Daniel with purple, to hange a cheyne off golde aboute his necke, and to make a proclamacion concernynge him: that he shulde be the ruler off the thirde parte off his kyngdome. 〈◊〉 7. b 21 a . a The very same night was Balthasar the kynge off the Caldees slayne, and Darius out of Media toke in the kyngdome, beynge lxij. yeare off age.

The VI. Chapter.

IT pleased Darius to set ouer his kīgdome an C and xx. lordes, which shulde be in all his kingdome aboute. Aboue these he set thre prynces (off whom Daniel was one) that the lordes might geue accomptes vnto them, and the kynge to be vndiseased.

But Daniel exceaded all these princes ād lordes, for the sprete off God was plenteous in him: so that the kynge was mynded to set him ouer the whole realme. Wherfore the prynces and lordes sought, to pyke out in Daniel some quarel agaynst the kyngdome: yet coude they fynde none occasion ner fawte vpon him. For why: he was so faythful, yt there was no blame ner dishonesty founde in him.

Then sayde these men: we will get no quarell agaynst this Daniel, excepte it be in the lawe off his God. Vpon this, wente the princes and lordes together vnto the kynge, and sayde thus vnto him: kynge Darius, God saue thy life for euer.

All the great estates off the realme: as ye prynces, dukes, senatours and iudges, are determed to put out a commaundement off ye kynge, and to make a sure statute: namely, that who so desyreth eny peticion, ether of eny god or man (with in this xxx. dayes) excepte it be only off the, O kynge: the same person maye be cast into the Lyons denne. Wherfore, o kynge, confirme thou this stature, and make a writynge: that the thynge which the Medes and Perses haue ordened be not altered ner broken.

So Darius made the wrytynge, and confirmed it. Now when Daniel vnderstode that the wrytynge was made, he wente in to his house: and the wyndowes of his hall towarde Ierusalem stode open. There kneled he downe vpon his knees, thre tymes a daye: there he made his peticion, and praysed his God, like as his maner was to do afore tyme.

Then these men made searche, and founde Daniel makynge his peticion, and prayenge vnto his God. So they came to the kynge, and spake before him concernynge his commaundement, sayenge: O kynge, hast thou not subscribed the statute, that within xxx. dayes who so requyreth his peticion off eny god or man, but only of thy self, o kynge: he shalbe cast in to the denne of the Lyons? The kynge answered, ād sayde: yee, it is true. It must be as a lawe of ye Medes and Perses, that maye not be broken.

Then answered they, and sayde vnto the kynge: Daniel one of the presoners of Iuda (O kynge) regardeth nether the ner thy statute, that thou hast made, but maketh his peticion thre tymes a daye. When the kynge herde these wordes, he was sore greued, and wolde haue excused Daniel, to delyuer him, and put off the matter, vnto the Sonne wē te downe, to the intent that he might saue him.

These men perceauynge the kynges mynde, sayde vnto him: knowe this (o kynge) that the lawe off the Medes and Perses is, that the commaundement and statute which the kynge maketh, ani. 14. c maye not be altered. Then the kynge bad them brynge Daniel, and they cast him into the Lyons denne.

The kynge also spake vnto Daniel, ād sayde: Thy God, whom thou allwaye seruest, euen he shall defende the. And there was brought a stone, and layed vpon the hole of the denne: this the kynge sealed with his owne rynge, and with ye signet of his prynces: that the kynges commaundement concernynge Daniel, shulde not be broken.

So the kynge wente in to his palace, and kepte him sober all night, so that there was no table spred before him, nether coude he take eny slepe. But be tymes in the mornynge at the breake off the daye, the kynge arose, and wente in all haist vnto the denne off the Lyons.

Now as he came ny vnto ye dēne, he cried wt a piteous voyce vnto Daniel: Yee ye kī ge spake, and sayde vnto Daniel: O Daniel, thou seruaunt off the lyuynge God, Is not thy God (whom thou allwaye seruest) able to delyuer the from the lyons? Daniel sayde vnto the kynge: O kynge, God saue thy life for euer:

Dan. 3. e Act. 12. c Iud. 14. c . Re. 17. e Heb. 11. f My God hath sent his angel, which hath shut the lyons mouthes, so that they might not hurte me. For why: myne vngiltynesse is founde out before him. And as for the (o kynge) I neuer offended the.

Then was the kynge exceadinge glad, ād commaunded to take Daniel out off the denne. So Daniel was brought out of the dēne, and no maner of hurte was founde vpō him For he put his trust in his God. And as for those men which had accused Daniel, the kī ge commaunded to bringe them, and to cast them in the lyons denne: Hest. 2. b Dani 14. g them, their children and their wyues. So the lyons had the mastry of them, and brake all their bones a sonder, or euer they came at the grounde.

Dan. 3. f After this, wrote kynge Darius vnto all people, kynreddes and tunges, that dwelt in all londes: peace be multiplied with you: My commaundement is, in all my dominiō and kyngdome, that men feare and stonde in awe off Daniels God:

Dani. 14. f 7. c For he is the lyuinge God, which abydeth euer: his kyngdome shall not fayle, and his power is euerlastynge. It is he that delyuereth, Esa. 43. b Osee. 13. b Dan. 3. f. and saueth: he doth wonders and maruelous workes, in heauen and in earth: he hath preserued. Daniel from the power of the lyons. 〈…〉 This Daniel prospered in the raigne off Darius and Cirus of Persia.

The VII. Chapter.

IN the first yeare off Balthasar kynge off Babilon, sawe Daniel a dreame, and a vision was in his heade vpon his bedde. Which dreame he wrote, and the summe of the matter is this: Daniel spake, and sayde: I sawe in my vision by nyght, and beholde: the foure wyndes of ye heauen stroue vpon the see, and foure greate beestes came vp from the see, one vnlike another.

The first was as a lyon, and yet had he Aegles wynges. I sawe, 〈…〉 that his wynges were plucte from him, and he taken awaye from the earth: that he stode vpon his fete as a man, 〈…〉 and that there was geuen him a mans herte.

Beholde, the seconde beest was like a Beer, and stode vpon the one syde. 〈…〉 Amonge his teth in his mouth he had iij greate lōge teth and it was sayde vnto him: Arise, eate vp moch flesh.

Then I loked, & beholde, there was another like vnto a Leoparde: this had wynges as a foule, euen foure vpon the backe. This beest had foure heades, ād there was power geuen him. 〈…〉 After this I sawe in a vision by night, & beholde: the fourth beest was grymme and horrible, and maruelous stronge. It had greate yron teth, it deuoured, and destroyed, and stamped the residue vnder fete. It was farre vnlike the other beestes that we •• before it: for it had ten hornes, 〈…〉 wheroff I toke good hede.

And beholde, there came vp amonge thē, another like horne, before whom there were thre of the first hornes pluckte awaye. Beholde, this horne had eyes like a mā, & a mouth speakynge presumptuous thinges. 〈…〉 I loked till the seates were prepared, ād till the olde aged sat him downe. His clothinge was as white as snowe, and the hayres of his heade like the pure woll.

His trone was like the firie flame, and his wheles as the burnynge fyre. There drew forth a firie streame, & wente out from him. A thousand tymes a thousande serued him, x.M. tymes ten thousande stode before him. The iudgmēt was set, and the bokes opened Then toke I hede there vnto, because of the voyce of the proude wordes, which that horne spake.

I behelde, till the beest was slayne, and his body destroyed, 〈◊〉 . 1 . d 〈◊〉 . 19. d 20. c & geuen ouer to be brent in the fyre.

As for the power of the other beestes also, it was taken awaye, but their lyues were prolonged for a tyme and season. I sawe in a vision by night, and beholde: there came one in the cloudes of heauen like the sonne of a man, 〈◊〉 . 13. c ct. 1. b 〈◊〉 . 1. a which wente vnto the olde aged, before whom they brought him: Then gaue he him power ād dignite regall, 〈◊〉 . 2. a 〈◊〉 . 28. c 〈◊〉 . 12. d that all people, trybes and tunges shulde serue him. His power is an euerlastinge power, which shal neuer be put downe: & his kyngdome endureth vncorrupte. My herte was vexed, & I Daniel had a troubled sprete within me, 〈◊〉 4. f ād the visions off my heade made me afrayed: till I gat me vnto one off them that stode by, 〈◊〉 . 9. d to knowe the treuth, concerninge all these thinges. So he tolde me, and made me vnderstōde the interpretaciō of these thinges.

These foure greate beastes, are foure kinges which shal aryse out of the earth. These shal take in the kyngdome off the sayntes of the most hyest, and possesse it still more & more for a longe season. After this I requyred diligently to knowe the treuth, concerninge the fourth beest, which was so farre vnlike the other beestes, and so horrible: whose teth were of yron, and his nales off brasse: which deuoured and destroied, and stamped the resydue vnder his fete. 〈◊〉 . 13. a 17. c. I desyred also to knowe the treuth, as touchinge the ten hornes that he had vpon his heade, and this other which came vp afterwarde, before whose face the fell downe thre: which horne had eyes and a mouth that spake presumptuous thinges, and loked with a grimmer visage then his felowes.

I behelde, and the same horne made battail agaynst the sayntes, yee ād gat the victory off them: vntill the tyme, that the olde aged came, that the iudgment was geuē to the chefest sayntes: and till the tyme, that ye sayntes had the kyngdome in possession.

He gaue me this a swere: That fourth beest shalbe the fourth kingdome vpō earth: it shalbe more then all other kyngdomes, it shall deuoure, treade downe ād destroye all other londes.

ach. 1. e The ten hornes, are ten kynges that shal aryse out of that kyngdome, after whō there shall stonde vp another, which shall be greater then the first.

He shall subdue thre kynges, and shall speake wordes agaynst the hyest off all: he shall destroye the sayntes of the most hyest and thynke, that he maye chaunge tymes and lawes. They shall be geuen vnder his power, vntill a tyme, two tymes, Dan. 2. c Apoc. 12. and halff a tyme.

But the iudgment shalbe kepte, so that his power shalbe taken from him, for he shal be destroyed, and perish at the last. As for the kyngdome, power and all might that is vnder the heauen: it shal be geuen to the holy people off the most hyest, Luc. 1. c Dan. 14 f whose kyngdome is euerlastinge, yee all powers shall serue and obeye him. Thus farre extēde ye wordes.

Neuerthelesse, I Daniel was so vexed in my thoughtes, that my countenaunce chaunged, Luc. 2. c but the wordes I kepte still in my herte.

The VIII. Chapter.

IN the thirde yeare off the raigne of kinge Balthasar, there apeared a visiō vnto me Daniel, after that I had sene the first. I sawe in a vision, (and when I sawe it, I was at Susis in the chefe cite, Dan. 2. a which lyeth in the londe off Elam) and in ye vision, me thought I was by the ryuer off Vlai.

Then I loked vp, and sawe: and beholde there stode before the ryuer, a ramme, which had hornes: and these hornes were hye, but one was hyer then another, and the hyest came vp last. I sawe that this ramme puszhed with his hornes, agaynst the west, agaynst the north, and agaynst the south: so that no beestes might stonde before him, ner defende them from his power: but he dyd as him listed, and waxed greatly. I toke hede vnto this, and then came there an hegoate from the west, ouer the whole earth, and touched not the grounde.

This goate had a maruelous goodly horne betwixte his eyes, and came vnto the ramme, that had the two hornes (whom I had sene a fore by the ryuer syde) and ranne fearcely vpon him with his might. I sawe him drawe nye vnto the ramme, beynge very fearce vpon him: yee he gaue him soch a stroke, that he brake his two hornes:

Nether had the ramme so moch strength as to stonde before him: but he kest him downe, trodde him vnder his fete: and no man was able to delyuer the ramme out of his power.

The goate waxed exceadinge greate, and when he was at the strongest, his greate horne was broken also. Then grewe there other foure soch like in the steade, towarde the foure wyndes off the heauen. Dan. 7. a 11. a Mac. 1. a Yee out of one of the leest off these hornes, there came vp yet another horne, which waxed maruelous greate: towarde the south, towarde the east, and towarde the fayre pleasaunt londe. It grewe vp to the hoost off heauen, wherof it dyd cast some downe to the grounde, and off the starres also, and trode them vnder fete.

Yee it grewe vp vnto the prynce off the hoost, from whom the daylie offeringe was taken, and the place off his Sanctuary casten downe. And a certayne season was geuen vnto it, agaynst the daylie offeringe (because of wickednesse) that it might cast downe the verite to the grounde, and so to prospere in all thinges, that it went aboute. Vpon this I herde one off the sayntes speakynge, which saynte sayde vnto one that axed this question:

How longe shall this vision off the daylie sacrifice and of the waistinge abhominacion endure: that the Sanctuary and the power shall so be troden vnder fote? And he answered him: Vnto the euenyinge & the morninge, euen two thousande and thre hūdreth dayes: then shall the Sanctuary be clensed agayne.

Now when I Daniel had sene this vision, and sought for the vnderstondinge of it: beholde, there stode before me a thinge like vnto a man. And I herde a mans voyce in the ryuer off Vlai, which cryed, and sayde: O Gabriel, make this man vnderstonde the vision. So he came, and stode by me. But I was afrayed at his cōminge, and fell downe vpon my face.

Then sayde he vnto me: O thou sonne of man, marcke well, for in the last tyme shall this vision be fulfylled. Now as he was speakynge vnto me, I waxed faynte, so that I suncke downe to the grounde. But he toke holde vpon me, and set me vp agayne, sayenge: Beholde, I will shewe the, what shall happen in the last wrath: for in the tyme appoynted it shal be fulfilled.

The ramme which thou sawest with the two hornes, is the kynge off the Medes ād Perses: but the goate is the kynge of Greke londe: the greate horne that stode betwixte his eyes, that is the pryncipall kynge. But where as it brake, and foure other rose vp in the steade: it signifieth, that out of this people shall stonde vp foure kyngdomes, but not so mightie as it.

After these kyngdomes (whyle vngodnesse is a growinge) there shall aryse a kynge off an vnshamefast face, which shall be wyse in darcke speakinges.

He shalbe mightie and stronge, but not in his owne strength. He shall destroye aboue measure, and all that he goeth aboute, shall prospere: he shall slaye the stronge and holy people. And thorow his craftynes, falsede shall prospere in his honde, his herte shall be proude, and many one shall he put to death in his welthynesse. He shal stonde vp agaynst the prynce off prynces, but he shalbe destroyed without honde. 〈…〉 And this vision that is shewed vnto the, is as sure as the evenynge and the mornynge. Therfore wryte thou vp this sight, 〈…〉 for it wylbe longe or it come to passe.

Vpon this was I Daniel very faynte, so that I laye sicke certayne dayes: but whan I rose vp, I wente aboute the kynges busynesse, and marueled at the vision, neuerthelesse no man knewe of it.

The IX. Chapter.

IN the first yeare off Darius the sonne off Ahasuerus, 〈…〉 which was of the sede off the Medes, & was made kynge ouer the realme of the Caldees: Yee euen in the first yeare off his raigne, I Daniel desyred to knowe the yearly nombre out of the bokes, 〈…〉 wherof the LORDE spake vnto Ieremy the prophet: that Ierusalem shulde lie waist lxx. yeares: ād I turned me vnto God the LORDE, 〈…〉 for to praye and make myne intercessiō, with fastinge, sack cloth ād ashes I prayed before the LORDE my God, and knowleged, sayenge:

O LORDE, thou greate & fearfull God, thou that kepest couenaunt and mercy with them, which loue the, and do thy commaundementes: We haue synned, we haue offended, 〈…〉 we haue bene disobedient and gone backe: yee we haue departed from all thy preceptes and iudgmentes.

We wolde neuer folowe thy seruauntes the prophetes, that spake in thy name to oure kynges and prynces to oure forefathers, and to all the people off the londe. 〈…〉 O LORDE, rightuousnesse belongeth vnto the, vnto vs pertayneth nothynge but open shame: as it is come to passe this daye vnto euery man of Iuda, and to them that dwell at Ierusalem:

Yee vnto all Israel, whether they be farre or nye: thorow out all londes, wherin thou hast strowed them, because of the offences that they had done agaynst the.

Yee o LORDE, vnto vs, to oure kinges & prynces, to oure forefathers: euen to vs all, that haue offended the, 〈◊〉 105. a belongeth open shame. But vnto the o LORDE oure God, pertayneth mercy and forgeuenesse. As for vs, we are gone backe from him, and haue not obeyed the voyce of the LORDE oure God, to walke in his lawes, which he layed before vs by his seruauntes the prophetes: 〈◊〉 . 1. d 〈◊〉 . 7. b yee all Israel haue transgressed, and gone backe from thy lawe, so that they haue not herkened vnto thy voyce.

〈…〉 Wherfore the curse and ooth, that is written in the law of Moses the seruaūt of God (against whom we haue offended) is poured vpon vs. And he hath perfourmed his wordes, 〈…〉 which he spake agaynst vs, & agaynst oure iudges that iudged vs: to bringe vpon vs soch a greate plage, as neuer was vnder heauen, like as it is now come to passe in Ierusalem. Yee all this plage, as it is written in the lawe of Moses, is come vpon vs. Yet made we not oure prayer before the LORDE oure God, that we might turne agayne from oure wickednesse, and to be lerned in thy verite. Therfore hath ye LORDE made haist, to bringe this plage vpon vs: for the LORDE oure God is rightuous, in all his workes which he doth: for why, we wolde not harken vnto his voyce.

And now, o LORDE oure God, thou that with a mightie honde hast brought thy people out of Egipte, 〈◊〉 . 2. b 〈◊〉 . 14 to get thy self a name, which remayneth this daye: we haue synned (o LORDE) & done wickedly agaynst all thy rightuousnes: yet let thy wrothfull displeasure be turned awaye (I beseke the) from thy cite Ierusalem thy holy hill. And why? for oure synnes sake and for the wickednesse of oure forefathers: is Ierusalem and thy people abhorred, of all them that are aboute vs. Now therfore (O oure God) heare the prayer of thy seruaunt, and his intercession: O let thy face shyne ouer thy sanctuary, that lieth waist.

O my God, enclyne thine eare, and herken (at the leest for thine owne sake) open thine eyes: beholde how we be desolated, yee and the cite also, which is called after thy name: For we do not cast oure prayers before the in oure owne rightuousnesse, no: but only in thy greate mercies. O LORDE, heare: O forgeue LORDE: O LORDE considre, tary not ouerlonge: but for thine owne sake do it, O my God: for thy cite and thy people is called after thy name.

As I was yet speakinge at my prayers, knowleginge myne owne synnes and ye synnes of my people, makinge so myne intercession before the LORDE my God, for the holy hils sake of my God: yee whyle I was yet speakinge in my prayer, beholde, the mā Gabriel (whom I had sene afore in the vision) came flyenge to me, Dan. 2. c 8. a and touched me aboute ye offeringe tyme in the euenynge. He infourmed me, and spake vnto me: O Daniel (sayde he) I am now come, to make the vnderstonde it: For as soone as thou begannest to make thy prayer, it was so diuysed, and therfore am I come to shewe the. And why? Dā. 10. c. d for thou art a man greatly beloued.

Wherfore, pondre the matter wel, that thou mayest lerne, to vnderstonde the vision. Lxx. wekes are determed ouer thy people, & ouer thy holy cite: that the wickednesse maye be consumed, that the synne maye haue an ende, that the offence maye be reconciled, and to bringe in euerlastinge rightuousnesse, to fulfill ye visions and the prophetes, and to anoynte the most holy one. Vnderstōde this then, and marcke it well:1. Par. 36. d 1. Esd. 1. a that from the tyme it shalbe concluded, to go and repayre Ierusalem agayne, vnto Christ (or the anoynted) prynce: there shalbe seuen wekes. Then shall the stretes & walles be buylded agayne lxij. wekes, but with harde troublous tyme. Afther these lxij. wekes, shal Christ be slayne, & they shal haue no pleasure in him. Then shal there come a people with the prynce, and destroye the cite and the sanctuary: and his ende shal come as the water floude. But the desolacion shall continue till the ende of the batell.

He shall make a stronge bonde with many, for the space of a weke: and when the weke is half gone, he shal put downe the slayne and meat offringe. Matt. 24.13. Mar. 13. b And in the temple there shalbe an abhominable desolaciō, till it haue destroyed all. And it is concluded, yt this waistinge shal continue vnto the ende.

The X. Chapter.

IN the thirde yeare of kinge Cirus of Persia, there was shewed vnto Daniel (otherwise called Balthasar) a matter, yee a true matter, but it is yet a longe tyme vnto it.

He vnderstode the matter well, and perceaued what the vision was. At the same tyme, I Daniel mourned for the space of thre wekes, so that I had no lust to eate bred: as for flesh and wyne, there came none within my mouth: No, I dyd not ones anoynte my self, till the whole thre wekes were out.

Vpon the xxiiij. daye of the first moneth, I was by the greate floude, called Tigris: I lift vp myne eyes, and loked: and beholde, a man clothed in lynnynge, an. 7. b Apo. 1. c whose loynes were gyrded vp with fyne golde of Araby: his body was like the Chrisolite stone, his face (to loke vpon) was like lightenynge, his eyes as the flame of fyre, his armes and fete were like fayre glisteringe metall, but the voyce of his wordes was like ye voyce of a multitude.

Dan. 3. e Act. 9. a I Daniel alone sawe this vision, the men that were with me, sawe it not: but a greate fearfulnesse fell vpon them, so that they fled awaye, and hyd them selues. I was left there my self alone, and sawe this greate vision, so longe til there remayned nomore strength within me: Yee I lost my coloure clene, I waisted awaye, and my strength was gone. Yet herde I the voyce of his wordes: & as soone as I herde it, fayntnesse came vpon me, and I fell downe flat to the grounde vpon my face. And beholde, an hande touched me, which set me vp vpon my knees & vpon the palmes of my hondes, sayenge vnto me: O Daniel, Dan. 9. b thou well beloued man: take good hede of the wordes, that I shal saye vnto ye, & stōde right vp, for vnto yt am I now sent.

And when he had sayde these wordes, I stode vp tremblinge. Then saide he vnto me: feare not Daniel: for why, sence the first daye that thou set thine herte to vnderstonde, and didest chasten thy self before thy God: thy wordes haue bene herde. And I had come vnto the whē thou begannest to speake, had not the prynce ouer the kingdome of the Perses wt stonde me xxj. dayes. But lo, Michael one of the chefe prynces, osu. 5. d Dan. 12. a came to helpe me, him haue I left by the kinge of Persia, & am come to shewe the, what shal happen vnto thy people in the latter dayes: for it wilbe lō ge yet or the vision be fulfilled.

Now when he had spoken these wordes vnto me, I kest downe my heade to ye grounde, and helde my tunge. Beholde, there touched my lippes one, very like vnto a man. Then opened I my mouth, and sayde vnto him, that stode before me: O my lorde, my ioyntes are lowsed in the vision, and there is no more strēgth within me: How maye my lordes seruaunt then talke with my lorde? seinge there is no strength in me, so that I can not take my breth? Vpon this there touched me agayne, one moch like a man, & conforted me, Dan. 9. b sayenge: O thou man so wel beloued, feare not: be content, take a good herte vnto the, and be stronge. So when he had spoken vnto me, I recouered, & sayde: Speake on my lorde, for thou hast refreszshed me. Thē sayde he: knowest thou wherfore I am come vnto ye? now wil I go agayne to fight with the prynce of the Perses. As soone as I go forth, lo, the prynce of Grekelonde shal come. Neuertheles, I wil shewe the the thinge, yt is fast noted in the scripture of treuth. And as for all yonder matters, there is none that helpeth me in them, but Michael youre prynce.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd in the first yeare of Darius of Media, I stode by him, to conforte him, & to strength him, and now wil I shewe the the treuth. Beholde, there shal stonde vp yet thre kinges in Persia, but ye fourth shal be farre richer then they all. And when he is in the chefest power of his riches, he shal prouoke euery man agaynst the realme of Grekelonde. Then shal there arise yet a mightie kinge, that shal rule with greate dominion, and do what him list. 〈…〉 And as soone as his kingdome commeth vp, it shalbe destroyed, 〈…〉 & deuyded towarde ye foure wyndes of the heauen. They yt come after him, shall not haue soch power & dominion as he: but his kingdome shalbe scatred, yee euen amonge other thē those. And the kynge of ye south shalbe migthier, then his other prynces. Agaynst him there shal one make himself strō ge, & shal rule his dominiō wt greate power.

But after certayne yeares they shalbe ioyned together, & the kynges doughter of the south shall come to the kynge of the north, for to make frēdshipe, but she shal not optayne the power of that arme, nether shall she be able to endure thorow his might: but she, & soch as brought her (yee & he yt begat her, & conforted her for his tyme) shalbe delyuered vp. Out of ye braunches of hir rote, there shal one stonde vp in his steade: which with power of armes shal go thorow the kynges londe of the north, & handle him acordinge to his strength. As for their Idols & prynces, with their costly Iewels of golde & syluer, he shal cary them awaye captyues in to Egipte, and he shal preuayle agaynst the kynge of the north certayne yeares. And when he is come into ye kynges realme of ye south, he shal be fayne to turne agayne in to his owne londe. Wherfore his sonnes shalbe displeased, and shal gather together a mightie greate hoost of people: and one of them shal come, and go thorow like a waterfloude then shal he returne, and go forth with defyenge and boostinge vnto his owne londe.

Thē the kinge of ye south shalbe angrie, and shal come forth to fight agaynst the kinge of the north: Yee he shall bringe a greate multitude of people together, and a greate heape shalbe geuē into his honde: these shal he cary awaye wt greate pryde, for so moch as he hath cast downe so many thousandes, neuertheles he shall not preuayle. For ye kinge of ye north shal gather (of the new) a greater heape of people then afore, & come forth (after a certayne tyme and yeares) with a mightie hoost & exceadinge greate good.

At the same tyme there shall many stonde vp agaynst the kinge of the south, so that ye wicked children of thy people also shal exalte them selues (to fulfill the vision) and then fall. So the kinge of the north shall come to laye sege, and to take the strōge fensed cities: And the power of thē of ye south shal not be able to abyde him, & the best men of the people shall not be so stronge, as to resist him. Shortly, when he commeth, he shall handle him as he list, & no man shalbe so hardy as to stonde agaynst him. He shal stōde in the pleasaunt countre, which thorow him shalbe destroyed. He shal set his face wt all his power to optayne his kingdome, & to be like it. Yee that shal he do, & geue him vnto the doughters amōge women, to destroye him. But he shal fayle, nether shal he optayne his purpose. After this, shall he set his face vnto the Iles, & take many of thē. A prynce shal stoppe him, to do him a shame, besyde the confucion that els shal come vnto him. Thus shal he turne agayne to his owne londe, stomble, & fall, and be nomore founde: so he that came vpon him & dyd him violence, shal stonde in his place, & haue a pleasaunt kingdome: and after few dayes he shal be destroyed, & that nether in wrath ner in batell. In his steade there shal aryse a vyle person not holdē worthy of a kinges dignite: this shall come in craftely, & optayne the kingdome with fayre wordes: he shal fight agaynst the armes of the mightie (& destroye them,) yee & agaynst the prynce of the couenaunt.

So after yt he hath taken truce with him, he shal hādle disceatfully: that he maye get vp, & ouer come him with a small flocke: & so with craftynesse to get him to ye fattest place of the londe, and to deale otherwise, then ether his fathers or graūd fathers dyd. For he shal destroye the thinge, ye they had robbed & spoyled, yee & all their substaunce: ymagenynge thoughtes agaynst the strōge holdes, & that for a tyme. His power and herte shalbe sterred vp wt a greate armye agaynst the kinge of the south: where thorow the kinge of the south shalbe moued then vnto batell, with a greate & mightie hoost also. Neuerthelesse, he shal not be able to stonde, for they shall conspyre agaynst him. Yee they yt eate of his meate, shal hurte him: so that his hoost shal fall, & many be slayne downe.

These two kinges shalbe mynded to do myschefe, & talke of disceate at one table: but they shal not prospere: for why,2. Mac. 5. the ende shal not come yet, vnto the tyme apoynted. Thē shall he go home agayne in to his owne londe with greate good, & set his herte agaynst the holy couenaunt, he shalbe busy agaynst it, & then returne home. At the tyme appoynted he shal come agayne, & go towarde the south: So shall it happen otherwise then at the first, yet ones agayne. And why, the shippes of Cythim shal come vpon him, that he maye be smytten & turne agayne: Nu. 24. d yt he maye take indignacion agaynst the couenaunt of holynes, to medle agaynst it. Yee he shal turne him, & drawe soch vnto him, as leaue the holy couenaunt.

He shal set mightie men to vnhalowe the sanctuary of strēgth, to put downe the day lie offeringe, & to set vp the abhominable desolacion. And soch as breake the couenaunt, shal he flatre with fayre wordes. But ye people that wil knowe their God, shal haue the ouerhāde and prospere. Those also that haue vnderstondinge amonge the people, shal enfourme the multitude: & for alonge season, they shalbe persecuted with swearde, with fyre, with captyuyte & with the takynge awaye of their goodes. Now whē they fall, they shalbe set vp with a litle helpe: but many shal cleue vnto them faynedly.

Yee some of those which haue vnderstondynge shal be persecuted also: yt they maye betryed, purified & clēsed, till the tyme be out: for there is yet another tyme appoynted. The kinge shal do what him list, he shal exalte and magnifie himself agaynst all, that is God.2. he. 2 Yee he shall speake maruelous thinges agaynst the God of all goddes, wherin he shal prospere, Apoc. 15 so longe till the wrath be fulfilled, for the conclusion is deuysed alredy. He shal not regarde the God of his fathers, but his lust shall be vpon womē: Yee he shal not care for eny God, for he shal magnifie himself aboue all. In his place shal he worshipe the mightie Idols: & the god whom his fathers knewe not, shal he honoure with golde and syluer, with precious stones and pleasaunt Iewels.

This shal he do, sekinge helpe and sucoure at the mightie Idols and straunge goddes. Soch as wil receaue him, and take him for God, he shal geue them greate worshipe and power: yee and make them lordes of the multitude, and geue them the londe with rewardes. In the latter tyme, shal the kinge of the south stryue with him: and the kinge of the north in like maner shall come agaynst him with charettes, horsmen & with a greate nauy of shippes. He shal come in to the londes, destroye and go thorow: he shal entre also in to the fayre pleasaunt londe. Many cities & countrees shal decaye, Apo. 12. c excepte Edom, Moab & the best of the children of Ammon, which shal escape from his honde. He shall stretch forth his hōdes vpon the countrees, & the londe of Egipte shal not escape him. For thorow his goinge in, he shal haue dominion ouer the treasures of syluer & golde, & ouer all the precious Iewels of Egipte, Lybia and Ethiopia Neuerthelesse the tydinges out of the east and the north shall trouble him, Apo. 11. c for the which cause he shal go forth to destroye & curse a greate multitude. The tentes of his palace shall he pytch betwixte the two sees, vpon the hill of the noble sanctuary, po. 19. d 〈◊〉 . c for he shal come to the ende of it, and then shal no man helpe him.

The XII. Chapter.

THe tyme wil come also, that the greate prynce Michael, po 19. c which stondeth on thy peoples syde, shal aryse vp, for there shal come a tyme of trouble, at. 24. b soch as neuer was, sens there begāne to be eny people, vnto that same tyme. Then shal thy people be delyuered, yee all those that be foūde written in the boke. oh. 5. c Cor. 15. c Many of them that slepe in the dust of the earth, shal awake: some to euerlastinge life, some to perpetuall shame & reprofe. att. 13. c The wyse (soch as haue taught other) shal glister, as the shyninge of heauen: and those that haue instructe the multitude vnto godlynesse, shalbe as the starres, worlde without ende.

And thou o Daniel, shut vp these wordes, & seale the boke, till the last tyme. Many shal go aboute here and there, and thē shal knowlege increase. So I Daniel loked, and beholde, there stode other two: one vpon this shore of the water, the other vpon yonder syde. And one of thē sayde vnto him, which was clothed in lynnynge, and stode aboue vpon the waters of the floude: How longe shall it be to the ende of these wonderous workes? Then herde I the man with the lynnynge clothes, 〈◊〉 . 10. a which stode aboue vpon the waters of the floude: when he helde vp his right and left honde vnto heauen, & sware by him which lyueth for euer: 〈…〉 that it shal tary for a tyme, two tymes & half a tyme: & when the power of the holy people is clene scatred abrode, thē shal all these thinges be fulfilled.

I herde it well, but I vnderstode it not. Then sayde I: O my lorde, what shal happen after that? He answered: Go thy waye Daniel, for these wordes shal be closed vp & sealed, till the last tyme: & many shalbe purified, clensed & tried. But the vngodly shall lyue wickedly, and those wicked (as many of thē as they be) shal haue no vnderstondinge. As for soch as haue vnderstondinge, 〈…〉 they shal regarde it. And from ye tyme forth that the daylie offerynge shalbe put downe & the abhominable desolacion set vp, there shalbe a thousande two hūdreth & xc. dayes. O well is him, that waiteth, & commeth to the thousande iij.C. & xxxv. dayes. Go thou thy waye now, till it be ended: take thy rest, and byde in thy lot, till the dayes haue an ende.

The ende of the prophet Daniel.
The Prophet Oseas What Oseas conteyneth. Chap. I. God refuseth the Iewes, and ma eth himself to the Gentiles. Chap. II. Plage ouer the Iewes, that will not amende: A promyse of mercy to those that wil repente. Chap· III. The mercifull loue of God, towarde the same vnthankful people. Chap. IIII. The synnes of the prestes and of the people, with reprofe for the same. Chap. V. Against the prestes that disceaue the people. Chap. VI. The vnthankfulnes of the People: Agayne, the louynge kyndnesse of God. Chap. VII. No medycine can helpe, so sore are they wounded with ydolatry. Chap. VIII. Idolatry in Samaria and Israel. Chap. IX. Punyszhment vpon Israel for Idolatry. Chap. X. The vnthankfulnesse of Israel. The calfe in Samaria, for the which and soch like abhominacions, he telleth them of destruccion. Cha. XI.XII. God calleth them agayne, with rehearsinge his benefites done to them afore. Chap. XIII. He sheweth them their wickednesse, and punyszhment for the same. Chap. XIIII. He crieth and exorteth the people to conuerte, promisynge swetely and louyngly to receaue them.

This is the worde of the LORDE, that came vnto Oseas the sonne of Beeri, 〈…〉 in the dayes of Osias, Ioathan, Achas & Ezechias kinges of Iuda: and in the tyme of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas kynge of Israel.

The first Chapter.

FIrst, when the LORDE spake vnto Oseas, he saide vnto him: Go thy waye, 〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 4. d take an harlot to thy wife, and get childrē by her: for the ode hath cōmitted greate whordome agaynst the LORDE. So he wente, and toke Gomer ye doughter of Deblaim: which conceaued, and brought forth a sonne. And the LORDE sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 call his name Iesrael, for I wil shortly auenge the bloude of Iesrael vpon the house of Iehu, and will bringe the kingdome of the house of Israel to an ende. Then will I breake the bowe of Israel, in the valley of Iesrael.

She conceaued yet agayne, and bare a doughter. And he sayde vnto him: Call hir name Loruhama (that is, not opteyninge mercy) ofr I wil haue no pyte vpon the house of Israel, 〈…〉 but forget them, and put them clene out of remembraunce. 〈…〉 Neuerthelesse I wil haue mercy vpon the house of Iuda, & wil saue them, euen thorow the LORDE their God. But I wil not delyuer them thorow eny bow, swearde, batel, horses or horsmen.

Now when she had weened Loruhama, she conceaued agayne, & bare a sonne. Then sayde he: call his name Lo Ami (that is to saye, not my people.) For why? ye are not my people, therfore will not I be yours. And though the nombre of the children of Israel be as the sonde of the see, 〈…〉 which can nether be measured ner tolde: Yet in the place where it is sayde vnto them, ye be not my people: euen there shall it be thus reported of them: they be ye childrē of the lyuynge God. Then shal the children of Iuda and the childrē of Israel be gathered together agayne, 〈…〉 & chose them selues one heade, and then departe out of the londe: for greate shalbe the daye of Iesrael.

The II. Chapter.

TEll youre brethren, that they are my people: and youre sisteren, that they haue optayned mercy. As for youre mother, ye shal chyde with her, and reproue her: for she is not my wife, Iere. 3. a nether am I hir huszbōde: vnlesse she put awaye hir whordome out of my sight, and hir aduoutry from hir brestes. Yf no, I shal strype her naked, & set her, euen as she came in to ye worlde: Eze. 16. a Yee I shal laye hir waist, and make her like a wildernesse, and slaye her for thyrste. I shal haue no pite also vpon hir children, Ioh. 8. d for they be the children of f rnicacion.

Their mother hath broken hir wedlocke, and she that bare them, is come to cōfucion.4. Re. 17 For she sayde: I wil go after my louers, that geue me my water and my bred, my woll & my flax, my oyle and my drynke. But I will hedge hir waye with thornes, and stoppe it, that she shal not fynde hir fotestoppes: and though she runne after hir louers, yet shall she not get them: she shal seke them, Leui. 15. c but not fynde them. Then shal she saye: well, I will go turne agayne to my first huszbonde, for at yt tyme was I better at ease, then now. But this wolde she not knowe, where as I yet gaue her corne, wyne, oyle, syluer and golde, which she hath hanged vpon Baal.

Wherfore now will I go take my corne & wyne agayne in their season, Eze. 16. b and fet agayne my woll and my flax, which I gaue her, to couer hir shame. Iere. 13. c And now will I dyscouer hir foolishnesse, euen in the sight of hir louers, and no man shal delyuer her out of my hondes. Morouer, I wil take awaye all hir myrth, hir holy dayes, hir newmoones, Deu. 16. c hir Sabbathes and all hir solempne feastes: I will destroye hir vynyardes and fyge trees. though she saieth: lo, here are my rewardes, that my louers haue geuen me. I wil make it a wodde, and the wylde beestes shall eate it vp: I will punysh her also for the dayes of Baal, wherin she censed him, Iud. . b 10. b deckynge him with hir earynges and cheynes: when she folowed hir louers, and forgat me, saieth the LORDE.

Wherfore beholde, I wil call her againe, bringe her in to a wildernes, and speake frendly vnto her: there wil I geue her hir vynyardes agayne, Iosu. 7. d yee and the valley of Achor also, to shewe hir hope & comforte. Then shal she synge there as in the tyme of hir youth, & like as in the daye when she came out of the londe of Egipte. Iudic. 5. a Exo. 15. a Then (saieth the LORDE) she shal saye vnto me: O my houszbande, & shal call me nomore Baal: for I wil take awaye those names of Baal from hir mouth, yee she shal neuer remembre their names eny more. Leui. 26. a Then will I make a couenaunt with them, with the wylde beastes, with the foules of the ayre, & with euerythinge that crepeth vpon the earth.

Esa. 2. a As for bowe, swerde and batel, I will destroye soch out of the londe, & wil make them to slepe safely. Eze. 16. b Thus wil I mary the vnto myne owne self for euermore: yee euen to my self wil I mary the, in rightuousnesse, in equyte, in louynge kyndnesse and mercy. In faith also will I mary the vnto my self, & thou shalt knowe the LORDE. At the same tyme wil I shewe my self frendly and gracious vnto ye heauens, saieth the LORDE: & the heauens shal helpe the earth, and the earth shal helpe the corne, wyne and oyle, and they shal helpe Iesrael. I wil sowe them vpō earth, for a sede to myne owne self, & wil haue mercy vpon her, yt was without mercy. And to thē which were not my people, Ro. 9. c 1. Pet. 2. b I wil saye: thou art my people. And he shal saye: thou art my God.

The III. Chapter.

THen sayde ye LORDE to me: Go yet ye waye & wowe an aduouterous womā, Eze. 44. d whō thy neghboure loueth, as ye LORDE doth the childrē of Israel: how be it they haue respecte to straunge goddes, Esa. 28. a Amos 6. a and loue the wyne kannes. So I gat her for xv. syluerlinges, and for an Homer and an half of barlye, & sayde vnto her: Thou shalt byde with me alonge season, but se that thou playest not the harlot, and loke thou medle with none other man, & then wil I kepe my self for the.

Thus the childrē of Israel shal syt a greate whyle without kinge and prynce,2 Par. 25. a Dan. 3. d without offerynge and aulter, without prest and reuelacion. But afterwarde shal the children of Israel conuerte, and seke the LORDE their God, Eze. 34. d and Dauid their kinge: and in ye latter dayes they shal worshipe the LORDE, and his louynge kyndnesse.

The IIII. Chapter.

HEare ye worde of the LORDE, o ye children of Israel: For the LORDE must punysh thē, yt dwel in the londe. And why? There is no faith fulnesse, there is no mercy, there is no knowlege of God in the lō de: but swearinge, lyēge, māslaughter, the ft and aduoutry haue gotten the ouerhande, & one bloud giltynesse foloweth another. Therfore shal the londe be in a miserable case, and all they that dwell therin, shal mourne. The beastes in the felde, the foules in ye ayre, and the fishes in the see shall dye. Yet is there none, that wil chastē nor reproue another. The prestes which shulde refourme other mē, are become like the people.

Therfore stomblest thou in ye daye tyme & the prophet with the in the night. I wil bringe thy mother to sylence, & why? 〈…〉 my people perish, because they haue no knowlege. Seinge then that thou hast refused vnderstondinge, therfore wil I refuse ye also: so that then shalt nomore be my prest. And for so moch as thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God. I wil also forget thy childrē. The more they increased in multitude, the more they synned agaynst me, therfore wil I chaurge their honoure in to shame. They eate vp the synnes of my people, & corage them in their wickednesse. 〈…〉 Thus the prest is become like the people. Wherfore I will punysh them for their wicked wayes, & rewarde them acordinge to their owne ymaginacions They shal eate, & not haue ynough: They haue vsed whordome, therfore shall they not prospere: & why? they haue forsaken the LORDE, & not regarded him.

Whordome, wyne and dronckennesse take the herte awaye. My people axe councel at their stockes, their staffe must tell them. For an whorish mynde hath disceaued them, so yt they cōmitte fornicacion agaynst their God. They make sacrifice vpon the hie mountaynes, & burne their incense vpon the hilles, yee amonge the okes, groues & buszshes, for there are good shadowes. Therfore yor doughters are become harlottes, and youre spouses haue brokē their wedlocke I wil not punish yor doughters for beinge defyled, & yor brydes that became whores: 〈…〉 seinge the fathers themselues haue medled with harlottes, and offered with vnthriftes: but the people that wil not vnderstonde, must be punyshed.

Though thou Israel art disposed to playe ye harlot, yet shuldest not thou haue offended, o Iuda: 〈…〉 thou shuldest not haue runne to Galgala, ner haue gone vp to Bethauē, nor haue sworne: the LORDE lyueth. For Israel is gone backe, like a wāton cowe. The LORDE therfore shal make hir fede, as ye lābe yt go eth astraye. And where as Ephraim is become partaker of Idols, wel, let him go. Their dronckēnesse hath put thē backe, & brought them to whordome. Their rulers loue rewardes, brynge (saye they,) to their owne shame. A wynde shall take holde of their fethers, & they shal be cōfounded in their offeringes.

The V. Chapter.

HEare this, o ye prestes: take hede, o thou housholde of Israel: geue eare, o thou kingly house: for this punyshment wil come vpon you, that are become a snare vnto Myspa, and a spred net vnto the mount of Thabor. They kyll sacrifices by heapes, to begyle the people therwith: therfore wil I punysh them all. Eze. 8. b 〈◊〉 . 23. d I knowe Ephraim well ynough, & Israel is not hyd fro me: for Ephraim is become an harlot, and Israel is defyled. They are not mynded to turne vnto their God, for they haue an whorish herte, so yt they can not knowe the LORDE.

〈◊〉 7. b But the pryde of Israel wil be rewarded him in his face, yee both Israel and Ephraim shal fall for their wickednesse, and Iuda with them also. 〈◊〉 . 3. b 〈◊〉 . 4. 〈…〉 . 14. a They shall come with their shepe & bullockes to seke ye LORDE, but they shal not fynde him, for he is gone from them. As for the LORDE, they haue refused him, and brought vp bastarde children: a moneth therfore shall deuoure them with their porcions.

Blowe with the shawmes at Gabea, and with the trumpet in Rama, crie out at Bethauen vpon the yonside of Ben Iamin. In the tyme of ye plage shal Ephraim be layed waist, therfore dyd I faithfully warne the trybes of Israel. 〈◊〉 . 19. d 〈◊〉 . 7. b Yet are the prynces of Iuda become like them, that remoue the londemarckes, therfore wil I poure out my wrath vpon them like water. Ephraim is oppressed, and can haue no right of the lawe: for why? they folowe ye doctrynes of men. Therfore will I be vnto Ephraim as a moth, & to the house of Iuda as a caterpiller.

〈◊〉 . 1 . b 〈◊〉 . 28. c When Ephraim sawe his sicknesse, and Iuda his disease: Ephraim wente vnto Assur, and sent vnto kinge Iareb: yet coude not he helpe you, ner ease you of youre payne. I am vnto Ephraim as a lyon, and as a lyons whelpe to the house of Iuda. Euen I, I wil spoyle them, & go my waye. I wil take them with me, and no man shal rescue them. I wil go, and returne to my place, till they waxe faynt, and seke me.

The VI. Chapter.

IN their aduersite they shall seke me, and saye: come, let vs turne agayne to the LORDE: 〈…〉 for he hath smytten vs, and he shal heale vs: He hath wounded vs, & he shal bynde vs vp agayne: after two dayes shal be quycken vs, in the thirde daye he shal rase vs vp, so that we shal lyue in his sight. Then shal we haue vnderstondinge, & endeuoure oure selues to knowe the LORDE. He shal go forth as the sprynge of the daye, and come vnto vs as the euenynge and mornynge rayne vpon the earth. Pro. 16.

O Ephraim, what shal I do vnto the? O Iuda, how shal I intreate the? seynge youre loue is like a mornynge cloude, & like a dew yt goeth early awaye. Therfore haue I cut downe the prophetes, & letten them be slayne for my wordes sake: so that thy punyshment shal come to light. For I haue pleasure in louynge kyndnesse, and not in offerynge: Matt. 9.12. a Yee in the knowlege of God, more then in burnt sacrifice. But euen like as Adam dyd, Gen. 3. b so haue they broken my couenaunt, and set me at naught. Galaad is a cite of wicked doers, of malicious people and bloudshedders. The multitude of the prestes is like an heape of theues, murtherers & bloud thurstie: for they haue wrought abhominacion. Iere. 1 . b Horrible thinges haue I sene in the house of Israel, there playeth Ephraim the harlot, and Israel is defyled: but Iuda shall haue an haruest for himself, when I returne the captiuyte of my people.

The VII. Chapter.

WHen I vndertake to make Israel whole, then the vngraciousnesse of Ephraim and the wickednes of Samaria commeth to light: then go they aboute with lyes. At home, they be theues: and without, they fall to robbynge. They cōsidre not in their hertes, that I remēbre all their wickednes. They go aboute wt their owne ynuenciōs, but I se them wel ynough. They make the kinge and the princes, to haue pleasure in their wickednes & lyes. All these burne in aduoutry, as it were an ouen yt the baker heateth, whē he hath lefte kneadinge, till the dowe be leuended. Euen so goeth it this daye with oure kinges and prynces, for they begynne to be woode droncken thorow wyne: they vse familiarite with soch as disceaue thē. They with the ymaginacion of their herte are like an ouē, their slepe is all ye night like the slepe of a baker, in the mornynge is he as hote as the flame of fyre: they are altogether as hote as an ouen.

They haue deuoured their owne iudges, all their kinges are fallē: yet is there none of thē yt calleth vpon me. Therfore must Ephraim be mixte amonge ye Heithen. Ephraim is become like a cake, yt no man turneth: straungers haue deuoured his strength, yet he regardeth it not: he waxeth ful of gray haires, yet wil he not knowe it: & ye pride of Israel is cast downe before their face, Osee . a yet wil they not turne to the LORDE their God, ner seke him, for all this.

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Ephraim is like a doue, that is begyled, and hath no herte. . Re 1 . b Now call they vpon the Egipcians, now go they to the Assirians: but whyle they be goinge here and there, I shal sprede my net ouer them, & drawe them downe as ye foules of the ayre: and acordinge as they haue bene warned, so will I punysh them. Esa. 1. a Wo be vnto them, for they haue forsakē me. They must be destroyed, for they haue set me at naught. . Pet. 2. a Matt. 15. a Esa. 29. d Eze. 33. f I am he that haue redemed them, and yet they dyssemble wt me. They call not vpon me with their hartes, but lye youlinge vpon their beddes. Where as they come together, it is but for meate & drincke, and me will they not obeye. I haue taught them, and defended their arme, yet do they ymagin myschefe agaynst me. They turne them selues, but not a right, & are become as a broken bowe. Their prynces shalbe slayne wt the swearde, for the malice of their tunges, soch blasphemies haue they lerned in the londe of Egipte.

The VIII. Chapter.

SEt the horne to thy mouth, and blowe: get the swiftly (as an Aegle) vnto the house of the LORDE: Deu. 31. d for they haue broken my couenaunt, and transgressed my lawe. Israel can saye vnto me: thou art my God, we knowe the: but he hath refused the thinge that is good, therfore shall the enemye folowe vpon him. . Re. 12. c They haue ordened kinges, but not thorow me: they haue made prynces, and I must not knowe of it. Of their syluer and golde haue they made them ymages, ze. 7. d to bringe them selues to destruccion.

. Re. 12. d Thy calfe (O Samaria) shalbe taken awaye. for my wrothfull indignacion is gone forth agaynst the. How longe wil it be, or they can be clensed? For the calfe came from Israel, the worke man made it, therfore can it be no God, but euen to a spyders webbe shal ye calfe of Samaria be turned. They haue sowne wynde, therfore shal they reepe a storme.

Their sede shal beare no corne, there shal no meel be made of their increase: though ye re be, yet shall straungers deuoure it vp. Israel shall perish, the Gentiles shall entreate him as a foule vessel. Sens they went vp to the Assirians, they are become like a wylde asse in the deserte.

. Re. 7. a Eze. 16. b Ephraim geueth rewardes to get louers, therfore are they scatred amōge the Heithē, there wil I gather them vp. They shal soone be weery of the burthen of kinges & prynces. Ephraim hath made many aulters to do wickednes, therfore shal the aulters turne to his synne. Though I shewe thē my lawe neuer so moch, they counte it but straunge doctrine. Where as they do sacrifice, offeringe the flesh and eatinge it: the LORDE will haue no pleasure therin: but will remembre their wickednes, and punysh their synnes. Israel turneth agayne into Egipte, 〈…〉 they haue forgotten him that made them, they buylde churches, 〈…〉 and Iuda maketh many stronge cities: therfore wil I sende a fyre into their cities, and it shal consume their places.

The IX. Chapter.

DO not thou triumphe (O Israel) make no boostinge more then the Heithen, for thou hast cōmitted aduo try agaynst ye God: straunge rewardes hast thou loued, more thē all corne floores. 〈…〉 Therfore shall they nomore enioye the cornefloores and wyne presses, and their swete wyne shal fayle thē. They wil not dwel in the LORDES londe, 〈…〉 but Ephraim turneth agayne in to Egipte, & eateth vncleane thinges amonge the Assirians. They poure out no wyne for a drinkofferinge vnto the LORDE, nether geue they him their slayne offeringes: but they be vnto them as mourners meates, wherin all they that eate them, are defyled. For the bred that they haue soch lust vnto, shal not come in the house of the LORDE. What wil ye do then in the solempne dayes, and in the feast of the LORDE? lo, they shall get them awaye for the destruccion, Egypte shal receaue them, & Noph shal bury them.

The nettles shall ouergrowe their pleasaunt goodes, and burres shalbe in their tabernacles. Be ye sure (O Israel) the tyme of visitacion is come, the dayes of recompencinge are at honde. As for the prophet, ye holde him for a foole: and him that is rich in the sprete, for a mad man: so greate is youre wickednes and malice. Ephraim hath made himself a watchman of my God, a prophet yt is become a snare to do hurte in euery strete, and abhominacion in the house of his God. They be gone to farre, 〈…〉 & haue destroied thē selues, like as they dyd afore tyme at Gabaa. Therfore their wickednes shal be remē bred, and their synnes punyshed.

I fande Israel like grapes in the wildernes, & sawe their fathers as the first fyges in ye toppe of ye fyge tre. But they are gone to Baal Peor, 〈…〉 & runne awaie fro me to yi shame full Idoll, & are become as abhominable as their louers Ephraim flieth like a byrde, so shal their glory also: In so moch, yt they shal nether begette, cōceaue ner beare children.

And though they bringe vp eny, yet will I make them childlesse amonge men. Yee wo shall come to them, when I departe from them. Ephraim (as me thinke) is planted in welthinesse, 〈…〉 like as Tyrus, but now must she bringe hir owne children forth to the man slayer.

O LORDE thou shalt geue them: what shalt thou geue them? geue them an vnfrutefull wombe and drye brestes. 〈◊〉 4. d All their wickednesse is done at Galgal, there do I abhorre them. For the vngraciousnes of their owne inuencions, I wil dryue them out of my house. I will loue them nomore, for all their prynces are vnfaithfull. Ephraim is hewen downe, their rote is dryed vp, so yt they shal bringe nomore frute: yee and though they bringe forth eny, yet wil I slaye euen the best beloued frute of their body. My God shall cast them awaye, for they haue not bene obediēt vnto him, therfore shal they go astraye amonge the Heithen.

The X. Chapter.

ISrael was a goodly vyne, but he hath brought forth vnprofitable frute: 〈…〉 yee the more frute he had, the mo aulters he made: ye more good I dyd to their londe, the more frendshipe shewed they to their ymages. Their herte is deuyded, therfore wil they be destroyed. The LORDE shall breake downe their ymages, he shal destroye their aulters. Then shal they saye: we haue no kinge, for why? we haue not feared the LORDE. And what shal then the kinge do to vs? They comon together, and sweare vayne oothes: they be cōfederate together, therfore groweth their punyshment, as the wedes in the forowes of the londe.

They that dwell in Samaria haue worshipped the calfe of Bethauē: therfore shall the people mourne ouer them, yee and the prestes also, that in their welthynesse reioysed with them: and why? it shal passe awaye from them. It shalbe brought to the Assirian, for a present vnto kinge Iareb. Ephraim shal receaue full punishment: Israel shal be confounded for his owne ymaginacions, Samaria wt his kinge shall vanish awaye, as the scomme vpon the water. The hye places of Auen where Israel do synne, shal be cast downe: thistles and thornes shal growe vpon their aulters. Then shal they saye to ye mountaynes: 〈…〉 couer vs, and to the hilles: fall vpon vs.

O Israel, thou hast synned as Gabaa dyd afore tyme, 〈◊〉 9. a where they remayned: shulde not the batel then come vpon the wicked children, as wel as vpon the Gabaonites? I wil chasten them, euen after myne owne desyre, the people shal be gathered together ouer them, whē I punysh them for their greate wickednesse. Ephraim was vnto me, as a cow that is vsed to go to plowe, therfore I loued him, and fell vpon his fayre neck. I droue Ephraim, Iuda plowed, Matt. 11. & Iacob played the huszbōde man: that they might sowe vnto rightuousnes, and reape the frutes of weldoynge: yt they might plowe vp their fresh londe, and seke the LORDE, till he came, and lerned them rightuousnes.

But now they haue plowed them wickednesse, therfore shal they reepe synne, and eate the frute of lyes. Seinge thou puttest thy cō fidence in thine owne wayes, and leanest to ye multitude of thy worthies: there shal growe a sedicion amonge thy people. All ye strō ge cities shalbe layed waist, Iud. 8. c euen as Salmana was destroyed with his familiers, thorow him that was auenged of Baal, in the daye of batel, where ye mother perished with hir childrē. Euen so shal it go with you (o Bethel) because of youre malicious wickednes. Like as the mornynge goeth awaye, so shal the kinge of Israel passe.

The XI. Chapter.

WHen Israel was yōge, I loued him: and called my sonne out of the londe of Egipte. Exo. 3. b 6. b Matt. 2. c But ye more they were called, the more they wente backe: offerynge vnto Idols, and censynge ymages. Exo. 32. b 3. Re. 12. e 4. Re. 16. I lerned Ephraim to go, and bare them in myne armes, but they regarded not me, that wolde haue helped them. I led them with coardes of frendshipe, & with bondes of loue. I was euen he, that layed the yocke vpon their neckes. I gaue them their fodder myself, Exo. 16. c yt they shulde not go agayne in to Egipte: And now is Assur their kinge: For they wolde not turne vnto me. Therfore shal ye swearde begynne in their cities, the stoare that they haue lickened vnto, shall be destroyed and eaten vp: and that because of their owne ymaginacions. My people hath no lust to turne vnto me, their prophetes laye the yocke vpon thē, Esa. 10. a 28. b Matt. 2 . Luc. 11. d but they ease them not of their burthen.

What greate thinges haue I geuen the, o Ephraim? how faithfully haue I defended the, o Israel? Gen. 19. e Deu. 29. d haue I dealt with the as with Adama? or haue I intreated the like Seboim? No, my hert is otherwise mynded. Yee my mercy is to feruent: therfore haue I not turned me to destroye Ephraim in my wrothful displeasure. For I am God and no man, I am euen that holy one in the myddest of the, though I came not within the cite.

The LORDE roareth like a lyon, that they maye folowe him: 〈◊〉 . 5. a Yee as a lyon roareth he, that they maye be afrayed, like the children of the see: that they maye be scarred awaye from Egipte, as men scarre byrdes: & frayed awaye (as doues vse to be) from the Assiriās londe: and that because I wolde haue them tary at home, saieth the LORDE. But Ephraim goeth aboute me with lies, and the house of Israel dyssembleth. Only Iuda holdeth him with God, and with the true holy thinges.

The XII. Chapter.

EPhraim kepeth the ayre, and foloweth after the east wynde: he is euer increasinge lyes & destruction. They be confederate with the Assirians, their oyle is caried in to Egipte. . Re. 16 b •• a. 57. b The LORDE hath a courte to holde with Iuda, and wil punysh Iacob: After their owne waies and acordinge to their owne inuencions, shal he recompence them. He toke his brother by the hele, when he was yet in his mothers wombe: en. 25 a en. 32. d en. 35. b and in his strength he wrestled with God. He stroue with the Angel, and gat the victory: so that he prayde and desyred him. He fande him at Bethel, & there he talked wt vs.

Yee the LORDE God of hoostes, euen ye LORDE him self remembred him: Then turne to thy God, kepe mercy and equyte, and hope still in thy God. But the marchaunt hath a false weight in his honde, he hath a pleasure to occupie extorcion. po. 3. c Ephraim thinketh thus: Tush, I am rich, I haue good ynough: In all my workes shal not one fawte be founde, that I haue offended. Yet am I the LORDE thy God, euē as when I brought the out of the londe of Egipte, and set the in thy tentes, and as in the hye feast dayes.

I haue spokē thorow the prophetes, and shewed dyuerse visions, and declared my self by the ministracion of ye prophetes. But at Galaad is the abhominacion, they are fallen to vanyte. At Galgal they haue slayne oxen: Deu. 12. a 4. b and as many heapes of stones as they had in their lōde forowes, so many aulters haue they made. Iacob fled into the londe of Siria, and Israel serued for a wife, and for a wife he kepte shepe. Gen. 28. a

By a prophet the LORDE brought them out of Egipte, and by a prophet he preserued thē. But Ephraim hath prouoked him to displeasure thorow his abhominacions: therfore shal his bloude be poured vpon him self, and the LORDE his God shal rewarde him his blasphemies.

The XIII. Chapter.

THe abhominacion of Ephraim is come also in to Israel. He is gone backe to Baal, therfore must he dye. Esa. 〈…〉 Eze 〈…〉 Osee 〈…〉 Osee 〈…〉 And now they synne more and more: of their syluer, they make them molten ymages, like the Idols of the Heithen, and yet all is nothinge but the worke of the craftesman. Not withstōdinge they preach of the same: who so wil kysse the calues, offreth to men. Therfore they shalbe as the mornynge cloude, and as the dew that early passeth awaye: and like as dust that ye wynde taketh awaye from the floore, and as smoke that goeth out of ye chymney.

I am the LORDE thy God, 〈…〉 which brought the out of the londe of Egipte: that thou shuldest knowe no God but me only, & that thou shuldest haue no Sauioure but only me. 〈…〉 I toke diligent hede of the in the wildernesse that drye londe. But when they were wel fedde and had ynough, they waxed proude, and forgat me. 〈…〉 Therfore will I be vnto them as a lyon, and as a leoparde in ye waye to the Assirians. I wil come vpon them as a she beer, that is robbed of hir welpes, and I wil breake that stubburne herte of theirs. There wil I deuoure them as a lyon: yee the wylde beastes shal teare them.

O Israel, thou doest but destroye thy self, 〈…〉 In me only is thy helpe. Where are thy kinges now, that shulde helpe the in all thy cities? Yee and thy iudges, of whom thou saydest: geue me a kinge and prynces? well, 〈…〉 I gaue the a kinge in my wrath, and in my displeasure will I take him from the agayne. The wickednesse of Ephraim is bounde together, & his synne lieth hyd. Therfore shall sorowes come vpon him, as vpon a woman that traualeth. An vndiscrete sonne is he: for he considreth not, that he shulde not haue bene able to haue endured in the tyme of his byrth, had not I defended him from the graue, and delyuered him from death.

O death, I wil be thy death: o hell, 〈…〉 I wil be thy stynge. Yet can I se no comforth, for when he is now the goodliest amonge the brethren, the east wynde (euen the wynde of the LORDE) shal come downe from the wildernesse, and drye vp his condytes, and drynke vp his welles: he shal spoyle the treasure of all pleasaunt vessels.

As for Samaria, they shalbe made waist, 〈…〉 & why? they are disobedient vnto their God. They shal perish with the swearde, their children shalbe slayne, and their women bygg with childe shalbe rypte vp.

The XIIII. Chapter.

TVrne the now (o Israel) vnto ye LORDE thy God, 〈…〉 for thou hast taken a greate fall thorow thy wickednesse. Take these wordes with you, when ye turne to the LORDE, & saye vnto him: O forgeue vs all oure synnes, receaue vs graciously, & then wil we offre ye bullockes of oure lyppes vnto the. 〈◊〉 . 13. c sal 91. a Assur shalbe no more oure helper, nether will we ryde vpon horses eny more. As for the workes of oure hondes, we wil nomore call vpon them: For it is thou that art oure God, thou shewest euer mercy vnto the fatherlesse.

O (yf they wolde do this) I shulde heale their sores: yee with all my herte wolde I loue them: so yt my wrath shulde clene be turned awaye from them. Yee I wolde be vnto Israel as the dewe, and he shulde growe as ye lylie, & his rote shulde breake out as Libanus. His braunches shulde sprede out abrode, & be as fayre as the olyue tre, & smel as Libanus. They that dwel vnder his shadowe, shulde come agayne, & growe vp as the corne, & florish as the vyne: he shulde haue as good a name, as the wyne of Libanus.

O Ephraim, what haue I to do with Idols eny more I wil graciously heare him, & lede him forth. I wil be vnto the as a grene Fyrre tre, vpon me shalt thou fynde thy frute. Who so is wyse, shal vnderstonde this: & he yt is right enstructe, wil regarde it. For ye wayes of the LORDE are rightuous, soch as be godly wil walke in them: As for the wicked, they wil stomble therin.

The ende of the prophet Oseas.
The Prophet Ioel. What Ioel conteyneth. Chap. I. He sheweth Israel, that all their glory and outwarde ceremonies, shal be put downe and ceasse. Chap. II. The plages are greate, wherfore he wolde haue them to mourne: yet yf they will amende, they maye hope for grace. Chap. III. How the people are brought agayne, and their enemies punished.
The first Chapter.

THis is the worde of the LORDE, that came vnto Ioel the sonne of Phatuel: Heare o ye elders: pōdre this wel, all ye that dwell in the lō de: yf euer there happened soch a thinge in youre dayes, or in ye dayes of youre fathers. Tell youre children of it, & let them shewe it vnto their children, & so they to certifie their posterite therof. Exo. 10. Loke what the caterpiller hath lefte, yt hath the greshopper eaten vp: what the greshopper lefte, that hath the locuste eaten vp: & what the locuste hath lefte, that hath the blastinge consumed. Wake vp ye dronckardes, & wepe: mourne all ye wyne suppers, because of youre swete wyne, for it shal be taken awaye from youre mouth. Yee a mightie & an innumerable people shall come vp in to my londe: these haue teth like the teth of lyons, & chaftbones like the lyones. Deu. 32. ses. They shal make my vinyarde waist, they shal pyll of the barckes of my fygetrees, strype them bare, cast them awaye, and make the braunches whyte.

Make ye mone as a virgin doth, yt gyrdeth her selfe with sacke, because of hir bryde grome. For the meate & drynkofferynge shalbe taken awaye from the house of the LORDE: & the prestes ye LORDES ministers shal mourne. The felde shalbe waisted, the londe shalbe in a miserable case: for the corne shalbe destroyed, the swete wyne shal come to confucion, & the oyle vtterly desolate. The huszbō de men & the wyne gardeners shal loke piteously & make lamentacion, for the wheate wyne & barley, & because the haruest vpon the felde is so clene destroyed. The grape gatherers shal make greate mone, when the vynyarde & fygetrees be so vtterly waisted. Yee all the pomgarnettes, palmtrees, apletrees, & the other trees of the felde shall wyther awaye. Thus the mery cheare of the children of men shal come to confucion.

Gyrde you, & make yor mone, o ye prestes: mourne ye ministres of the aulter: go youre waye in, & slepe in sack cloth, o ye officers of my God: for the meat & drynkofferynge shal be taken awaye from the house of yor God. Proclame a fastynge, call the cōgregacion, gather the elders & all the inhabiters of the londe together into the house of the LORDE yor God, & crie vnto the LORDE: alas, Ioel. 2. c alas for this daye. And why? the daye of the LORDE is at honde, and commeth as a destroyer from the Allmightie. Shal not ye meates be taken awaye before oure eyes, the myrth also & ioye from the house of oure God? The sede shal perish in the grounde, the garners shall lye waist, the floores shalbe broken downe, for the corne shalbe destroied.3. Re. 18. a O what a sighinge make the catell? the bullockes are very euel likynge, because they haue no pasture: and the shepe are fameszshed awaye.

O LORDE, to the will I crie: for the fyre hath consumed the goodly pastures of the wyldernesse, and the flame hath brent vp all the trees of the felde. Yee the wylde beestes crie also vnto the: for the water ryuers are dryed vp, and the fyre hath consumed the pastures of the wyldernesse.

The II. Chapter.

BLowe out ye trompet in Sion, & crie vpō my holy hill, yt all soch as dwel in the londe, maye trēble at it: for ye daie of the LORDE commeth, •• ph. 1. c mos 5. c & is harde at honde: a darcke daye, a gloomynge daye, a cloudy daye, yee & a stormy daye, like as the mornynge spredeth out vpō the hilles: Namely, a great & mightie people: soch as haue not bene sens ye begynnynge, nether shal be after them for euermore. Before him shal be a consumynge fyre, & behynde him a burnynge flame. The londe shal be as a garden of pleasure before him, but behinde him shal it be a very waist wildernesse, & there is no man, that shal escape him. They are to loke vpon like bayrded horses, & runne like horse men. They skyppe vp vpon ye hilles, as it were the sounde of charettes: as the flame of fyre that consumeth the strawe, and as a mightie people redy to the batell.

The folke shalbe afrayed of him, all faces shal be as blacke as a pot. These shal rū ne like giauntes, & leape ouer the walles like men of warre. Euery mā in his goinge shal kepe his araie, & not go out of his Path. There shal not one dryue another, but ech shal kepe his owne waye. They shal breake in at the wyndowes, & not be hurte: They shal come into the cite, & runne vpon the walles: They shal clymme vp vpon the houses, & slyppe in at the wyndowes like a thefe. The earth shal quake before him, yee the heauens shalbe moued: 〈◊〉 3. c att. 24 c the Sonne & Moone shal be darckened, and the starres shal withdrawe their shyne. The LORDE shal shewe his voyce before his hoost, for his hoost is greate, stronge & mightie to fulfill his commaundement. This is ye greate and maruelous fearfull daye of the LORDE: And who is able to abyde it?

Now therfore saieth the LORDE: Turne you vnto me with all youre hertes, poc. 6. c 〈◊〉 . 4. c . a with fastinge, wepynge and mournynge: rente youre hertes, & not youre clothes. Turne you vnto the LORDE youre God, •• al. 85. a 〈◊〉 4. a for he is gracious & mercifull, longe sufferynge & of greate compassion: & redy to pardone wickednes. Then (no doute) he also shal turne, & forgeue: & after his chastenynge, he shall let youre increase remayne, for meat & drynck offerynges vn to the LORDE youre God? Ioel 〈…〉 Blowe out with the trōpet in Sion, proclame a fastynge, call the congregacion, & gather the people together: warne the congregacion, gather the elders, bringe the children & suclynges together. Let ye brydegrome go forth of his chā bre, & the bryde out of her closet. Let the prestes serue the LORDE betwixte the porch & ye aulter, wepinge & sayenge: be fauourable (o LORDE) be fauourable vnto thy people: let not thine heretage be brought to soch confucion, lest the Heithen be lordes therof. Wherfore shulde they saye amonge the Heithen: 〈…〉 where is now their God?

Then shal the LORDE be gelous ouer his londe, & spare his people: yee ye LORDE shal answere, & saye vnto his people: Beholde, I wil sende you corne, wyne & oyle, so that ye shal haue plenty of them: & I wil nomore geue you ouer to be a reprofe amonge the Heithen. Agayne, as for him of the north, I shal dryue him farre from you: & shute him out in to a drye and waist londe, his face towarde the east see, and his hynder partes towarde the vttemost see. The stynke of him shall go vp, and his fylthy corrupcion shal fall vpon himself, because he hath dealte so proudly. Feare not (o londe) but be glad and reioyse, for the LORDE wil do greate thinges. Be not ye afrayed nether (o ye beastes of the felde) for the pastures shal be grene, and the trees shal beare their frute: the fygetrees & vinyardes shal geue their increase.

Be glad then (o ye children of Sion) and reioyse in the LORDE youre God, for he hath geuen you the teacher of rightuousnes: & he it is yt shal sende you downe shuwers of rayne, early and late in the first moneth: 〈…〉 so that ye garners shal be full of corne, and the presses plenteous in wyne and oyle. And as for the yeares that ye greszshopper, locuste, blasstinge & caterpiller (my greate hoost, which I sent amonge you) haue eaten vp, I shal restore them to you agayne: so that ye shal haue ynough to eate, and be satisfied: and prayse the name of the LORDE youre God, that so maruelously hath dealte with you.

And my people shall neuer be confounded eny more: Ye shall well knowe, that I am in the myddest of Israel, and that I am youre God: yee and that there is none other, and my people shall nomore be brought to confucion.

After this, will I poure out my sprete vpon all flesh: 〈…〉 & yor sonnes & yor doughters shal prophecy: yor olde mē shal dreame dreames & youre yonge men shal se visions: 〈…〉 Yee in those dayes I will poure out my sprete vpon seruauntes and maydens. I will shewe wonders in heauen aboue, and tokēs in the earth beneth: bloude and fyre, and the vapoure off smoke. The Sonne shalbe turned in to darcknesse, & ye Moone in to bloude: before ye greate & notable daye off the LORDE come. And the tyme shal come: yt who so euer calleth on the name of the LORDE, 〈◊〉 10. b shalbe saued. For vpon the mount Sion & at Ierusalem, there shalbe a saluacion, like as the LORDE hath promised: yee & amonge the other remnaunt, whom the LORDE shall call.

The III. Chapter.

FOr take hede: In those dayes & at ye same tyme, when I turne agayne the captyuite of Iuda & Ierusalē: I shal gather all people together, & brynge thē in to the valley of Iosaphat: and there wil I reason with thē, because of my people & heretage of Israel: whō they haue scatred aboute in the nacions, & parted my lōde: yee they haue cast lottes for my people, the yonge mē haue they set in the brodel house, & solde the Damsels for wyne, yt they might haue to drī ke. 〈◊〉 6. a 7.28. 〈◊〉 1. b Thou Tirus and Sidō and all ye borders of the Philistynes: what haue ye to do with me? Will ye defye me? well: yf ye will nedes defye me, I shall recōpence you, euen vpon youre heade, & yt right shortly: for ye haue takē awaye my syluer & golde, my fayre & goodly Iewels, & brought them in to youre gods houses. The children also of Iuda and Ierusalem haue ye solde vnto the Grekes, that ye might brynge thē farre frō ye borders of the rowne countrees.

Beholde therfore: I will rayse them out of the place, 〈…〉 where ye haue solde them, & will rewarde you euen vpon youre heade. Youre sonnes & youre doughters will I sell thorow the hondes of the childrē of Iuda, & so they shal geue them forth to sell, vnto thē of Saba, a people of a farre coūtre: for the LORDE himself hath sayde it. Crie out these thinges amonge the Gentiles, proclame warre, wake vp the giauntes, let them drawe nye, let thē come vp all the lusty warryours of thē. Make you sweardes of youre ploweshares, 〈…〉 and speares of youre syckles & sythes. Let ye weake man saye: I am stronge. Mustre you, and come, all ye Heithē roūde aboute: gather you together, there shall the LORDE laye all thy giauntes to the grounde. Let the people aryse, and get them to the valley of Iosaphat: for there wil I syt, and iudge all Heithē roū de aboute.

Laye to youre sythes, Apo. 14. d for the haruest is rype: come, get you downe: the wynepresse is full, yee the wynepresses runne ouer, for their wickednesse is waxen greate. In the valley appoynted, there shalbe many, many people: for the daye of the LORDE is nye in ye valley appoynted. The Sonne and Moone shall be darckened, Ioel. 2. b Esa. 13. b & the starres shal withdrawe their light. The LORDE shal roare out of Sion, & crie out of Ierusalē, Iere. 25. d that the heauens & the earth shal quake withall. But the LORDE shal be a defence vnto his owne people, ād a refuge fo the childrē of Israel. Thus shal ye knowe, yt I the LORDE youre God dwell vpō my holy mount of Sion. Then shal Ierusalē be holy, & there shal no straungers go thorow her eny more. Then shal the moūtaynes droppe swete wyne, & the hylles shall flowe with mylcke, Amos. 9. c All the ryuers of Iuda shal haue water ynough, & out of the LORDES house, there shal flowe a sprynge, to water ye broke of Sitim: but Egipte shalbe layed waist, & Edō shal be desolate: Iere 46. a Iere. 49. b because they haue dealte so cruelly with the childrē of Iuda, and shed innocent bloude in their londe. Agayne, Iuda shalbe inhabited for euermore, & Ierusalē from generacion to generaciō: for I wil not leaue their bloude vnauenged. And the LORDE shal dwell in Sion.

The ende of the prophet Ioel.
The Prophet Amos. What Amos conteyneth. Chap. I. He prophecyeth agaynst Damascus, Gasa, Tyre, Edom and Ammon. Chap. II. Punyshment vpō Moab, Iuda, and Israel. Chap. III. God warneth before he punysh. Chap. IIII. He sheweth them their wickednesse, and the plages fo: the same, and exorteth thē to amende. Chap. V. He complayneth for the captyuyte off Israel. Chap. VI. He reproueth the welthy, ydyll and delicate people, tellinge them their destruccion. Chap. VII. The punyshment off the people shewed by dyuerse visions. Chap. VIII. A vision agaynst the covetous people and false waightes. The hunger of Gods worde. Chap. IX. Plages vpon Iuda. The power off God. The receauynge off the Heithen. Conuersion off the Iewes.
The first. Chapter.

THese are the sermons, that were shewed vnto Amos (which was one of the shepherdes at Thecua) vpon Israel, in the tyme of Osias kynge of Iuda, & in the tyme of Ieroboā ye sonne of Ioas kynge of Israel,4. Re 15. a 4. Re. 14. c two yeare before ye earthquake And he sayde: The LORDE shal roare out off Sion, Iere. 25. d Ioel. 3. c & shewe his voyce frō Ierusalē: so that ye pastures of the shepherdes shal be in a miserable case, & ye toppe of Charmel dryed vp.

Thus sayeth the LORDE: for thre & foure wickednesses of Damascus, Esa. 17. a Iere. 49. d I will not spare her: because they haue throszhed Galaad wt yrō f ales: But I wil sende a fyre in to ye house of Hazael, the same shal consume the palaces of Benadab. Thus wil I breake the barres off Damascus, & rote out the inhabiter frō the felde of Auen, and him yt holdeth the scepter, out of ye pleasunt house: so yt the people shalbe dryuen out of fayre Siria sayeth the LORDE. Thus saieth the LORDE: For thre & foure wickednesses of Gaza, I wil not spare her: Zach. 9. c because they make the presoners yet more captyue, & haue dryuen thē in to the lōde of Edom. Therfore wil I sende a fyre in to ye walles of Gaza, which shal deuoure hir houses. I wil rote out thē yt dwell at Asdod & him yt holdeth the scepter of Ascalon, and stretch out myne honde ouer Accaron, that the remnaunt of the Philistines shal perish saieth the LORDE.

Thus sayeth the LORDE: For thre and foure wickednesses off the cite off Tyre, I will not spare her: Ioel. 3. a because they haue increased ye captiuyte of the Edomites, and haue not remembred the brotherly couenaunt. Therfore will I sende a fyre into the walles off Tyre,3. Re. 5. a that shal consume hir pallaces. Thus sayeth the LORDE: For thre and foure wickednesses of Edom I wil not spare him, Ab . 1. a Iere. 49. b Gen. 27. g because he persecuted his brother with the swerde, destroyed his mothers wombe, bare hatred very longe, and so kepte indignacion all waye by him. Therfore will I sende a fyre in to Themā, which shal deuoure the pallaces of Bosra.

Thus sayeth the LORDE: For thre ād foure wickednesses of the children off Ammon, ere. 49. a Eze. 21. d 25. a I will not spare them: because they rypte vp the womē greate with childe in Galaad, to make the borders of their londes the wyder Therfore I wil kyndle a fyre in the walles of Rabbath, that shall consume hir palaces: with a greate crie, in the daye of batel, in tempest and in the daye off storme: so that their kynge shal go in to captiuyte, he and his prī ces together, sayeth the LORDE.

The II. Chapter.

THus sayeth the LORDE: For thre and foure wickednesses off Moab, sa. •• 16 a Ier. 〈…〉 I will not spare him: because he brent the bones off the kynge of Edom to asshes. Therfore will I sende a fyre in to Moab, which shal cōsume ye pallaces of Carioth: so yt Moab shal perish with a noyse, and the sounde of a shawme. I will rote out the iudge from amōge them, and slaye all his prynces with him, sayeth the LORDE. Thus sayeth the LORDE: 〈…〉 for thre ād foure wickednesses of Iuda, I wil not spare him: because he hath cast asyde the lawe of the LORDE, and not kepte his commaundementes: for why, they wolde nedes be disceaued with the lyes, that their forefathers folowed. Therfore will I sende a fyre in to Iuda, which shal consume the palaces of Ierusalem.

Thus sayeth the LORDE: For thre & foure wickednesses of Israel, I wil not spare him: because he hath solde the rightuous for money, and the poore for shues. They treade vpon poore mens heades in the dust of the earth, & croke the wayes off the meke. The sonne and the father go to the harlot, to dishonoure my holy name: they lye besyde euery aulter vpon clothes taken to pledge, and in the house of their goddes they drynke the wyne of the oppressed. 〈…〉 Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, that was as hie as the Cedre trees, and as stronge as the okes: notwithstōdinge I destroyed his frute frō aboue, and his rote from vnder.

Agayne: I brought you out of the londe of Egipte, 〈…〉 and led you xl. yeares thorow the wyldernesse, that ye might haue the Amoriters londe in possession. I raysed vp prophetes amonge youre children, and absteyners amonge youre yōge men. Is it not so, o ye children of Israel, sayeth the LORDE? But ye gaue the absteyners wyne to drynke, 〈…〉 yee ye cō maunded the prophetes, sayenge: Prophecy not. Beholde, I wil crasshe you in sonder, like as a wayne crassheth, yt is full of sheaues: so that ye swifte shall not escape, nether the stronge be able to do eny thynge: no, the giaunte shal not saue his owne life. The archer shall not abyde, and the swifte off fote shall not escape. The horsmā shal not saue his life, & he that is as māly of stomack as a giaunte, shall in that daye be fayne to runne his waye naked, sayeth the LORDE.

The III. Chapter.

HEare, what the LORDE speaketh vn to you (o ye children of Israel) namely, vnto all ye trybes, whō I brought out of Egipte, and sayde: You only haue I accepted from all the generacions off the earth: therfore will I vyset you in all youre wickednesses. Maye twaine walke together excepte they be agreed amonge them selues? Doth a lyon roare in the wodde, excepte he haue a pray? Or crieth a lyons whelpe out of his denne, 〈◊〉 6. a excepte he haue gotten somthī ge? Doth a byrde fall in a snare vpō ye earth where no fouler is? Taketh a man his snare vp from the grounde, afore he catche somwhat? Crie they out Alarum with the trompet in the cite, and the people not afrayed? Commeth there eny plage in a cite, without it be the LORDES doinge? Now doth the LORDE God no maner of thinge, but he telleth his secrete before vnto his seruauntes ye prophetes. When a lyon roareth, who will not be afrayed? Seynge then that the LORDE God himself speaketh, who will not prophecy?

Preach in the palaces at Asdod, and in the palaces off the londe off Egipte, and saye: gather you together vpon the moūtaynes off Samaria, so shall ye se greate murthur and violent oppression amonge them: for why, they regarde not the thinge that is right, sayeth the LORDE: they gather together euell gotten goodes, and laye vp robbery in their houses.

Therfore, thus sayeth the LORDE God: This londe shalbe troubled and beseged roū de aboute, thy strength shalbe plucte from the, and thy palaces robbed. Thus saieth the LORDE: like as an hyrdeman taketh two legges or a pece off an eare out off the Lyons mouth: Euen so the children of Israel (that dwell in Samaria, hauynge their couches in the corner, and their beddes at Damascus) shalbe plucte awaye. Heare, and beare recorde in the house of Iacob (sayeth the LORDE God of hoostes) that when I begynne to vyset the wickednesse of Israel, 〈…〉 I will vyset ye aulters at Bethel also: so that the hornes of the aulter shalbe broken of, & fall to the groū de.

As for the wynter house and sommer house, I will smyte them downe: and the houses of yuery, yee and many other houses shal perish, and be destroyed, sayeth the LORDE.

The IIII. Chapter.

HEare this worde, o ye fat kyne, that be vpon the hill of Samaria: ye that do poore mē wronge, and oppresse the nedy: ye that saye to youre lordes: brynge hyther, let vs drynke. Therfore the LORDE hath sworne by his holynesse: The dayes shall come vpon you, that ye shalbe lift vp vpō speares, and youre posterite caried awaye in fyssher pannes. Ye shall get you out at the gappes one after another, and in Armon shal ye be cast awaye, sayeth the LORDE.

Ye came to Bethel for to worke vngraciousnes, and haue increased youre synnes at Galgal. Iosu. 16. a 3. Re. 12. c Osee. 4. c Osee. 9. c 12. b Ye brought youre sacrifices in the mornynge, and youre tythes vnto the thirde daye. Ye made a thākofferinge off leuen, ye promised frewillofferinges, and proclamed them. Soch lust had ye, o ye children of Israel, sayeth the LORDE God. Therfore haue I geuen you ydle teth in all youre cities, & scarcenesse off bred in all youre places: yet will ye not turne vnto me, sayeth the LORDE. Whē there were but thre monethes vnto ye haruest, I withelde the rayne from you: Deu. 11. b 28. b Iere. 14. Ioel. 3. c yee I rayned vpō one cite, and not vpō another one pece off grounde was moystured with rayne, and the grounde that I rayned not vpon, was drye. Wherfore two (yee thre) cities came vnto one, to drynke water: but they were not satisfied, yet will ye not turne vnto me, sayeth ye LORDE.

I haue smyten you with drouth and blastinge: and loke how many orchardes, vinyardes, fygetrees and olyuetrees ye had: ye catirpiller hath eaten them vp. But yet will ye not turne vnto me, sayeth the LORDE. Pestilence haue I sent amōge you, as I dyd in Egipte: Exo. 9. b youre yonge men haue I slayen wt ye swerde, and caused youre horses be taken captyue: I made the stynckinge sauoure of youre tentes to come vp in to youre nostrels: Yet wil ye not turne vnto me, sayeth the LORDE. Some off you haue I ouerthrowen? Gen. 19. b 2. Pet. 2 b as I ouerthrewe Sodome & Gomorre: so that ye were as a brande plucte out of the fyre. Yet will ye not turne vnto me, sayeth the LORDE. Therfore, thus will I handle the agayne (O Israel) ye euen thus will I handle the. Make the ready then to mete thy God, o Israel. For lo, he maketh the mountaynes, he ordeneth the wynde, he sheweth man what he is aboute to do: he maketh the mornynge and the darcknesse, he treadeth vpō the hye places off the earth: ye LORDE God of hoostes is his name.

The V. Chapter.

HEare this words (o ye house of Israel) and why? I must make this mone for you: The vyrgin Israel shall fall, & neuer ryse vp agayne: she shall be cast downe vpon hir owne grounde, and no man shal helpe hir vp. For thus sayeth ye LORDE God: Where as there dwelt a M. in one cite, there shalbe left scarce an C. therin: and where ye re dwelt an C. there shal scarce ten be left for the house off Israel. Neuertheles, thus sayeth the LORDE vnto ye house of Israel: Seke after me, ād ye shal lyue, but seke not after Bethel. Come not at Galgal, and go not to Bersaba: for Galgal shall be caried awaye captyue, and Bethel shal come to naught Seke the LORDE, yt ye maye lyue: lest the house of Ioseph be brent with fyre and cōsumed, and lest there be none to quench Bethel.

Ye turne the lawe to wormwod, and cast downe rightuousnes vnto the grounde. The LORDE maketh the vij. starres and the Oryons, Iob. 9. a he turneth the night into daye, and off the daye he maketh darcknesse. He calleth ye waters of the see, and poureth them out vpon the playne grounde: Am. 9. b the LORDE is his name. Herayseth destruccion vpon the mightie people, & bryngeth downe the stronge holde: but they owe him euel will, yt reproueth them openly: and who so telleth thē the playne treuth, they abhorre him. For so moch thē as ye oppresse ye poore, Deu. 28. c Soph. 1. c and robbe him of his best sustenaunce: therfore, whereas ye haue buylded houses off square stone, ye shall not dwell in them. Maruelōs pleasaunt vynyardes shall ye plante, but the wyne of thē shal ye not drynke: and why? as for the multitude of youre wickednesses and youre stoute synnes, Exo. 23. a Mich. 3. a I knowe them right well. Enemies are ye off the rightuous, ye take rewardes, ye oppresse the poore in iudgment. Therfore the wyse must now be fayne to holde his tūge, so wicked a tyme is it.

Seke after the thinge that is good, & not euell, so shall ye lyue: yee the LORDE God off hoostes shal be with you, acordinge to youre owne desyre. Hate the euell, and loue the good: Psal. 96. b Deu. 17. a Ro. 12. b set vp right agayne in the porte: & (no doute) the LORDE God of hoostes shall be mercifull vnto the remnaunt of Ioseph. Yff no (sayeth the LORDE God, the God of hoostes) there shal be mourninge in all stretes, yee they shal saye ī euery strete: alas, alas. They shall call the housbonde man to lamentaciō, and soch as can mourne, to mournynge. In all vynyardes there shal be heuynesse, for I will come amonge you, sayeth the LORDE. Wo be vnto them that desyre the daye off ye LORDE: Wherfore wolde ye haue it? As for that daye of the LORDE, it shalbe darcke ād not cleare: Yee like as when a mā rūneth frō a lyon, and a Beer meteth with him: or, whē he commeth into the house, and leeneth his honde vpon the wall, a serpent byteth him Shall not the daye of the LORDE be darcke, 〈…〉 and not cleare? shal it not be cloudy, and no shyne in it?

I hate and abhorre youre holy dayes, ād where as ye cense me when ye come together I will not accepte it. 〈…〉 And though ye offre me brentofferinges and meatofferinges, yet haue I no pleasure therin: As for youre fat thankofferynges, I wil not loke vpon them. Awaye with that noyse of thy songes, I wil not heare thy playes of musick: but se that equyte flowe as the water, and rightuousnesse as a mightie streame. O ye house of Israel, gaue ye me offeringes and sacrifices those xl. yeares longe in the wyldernesse? 〈…〉 Yet haue ye set vp tabernacles to youre Moloch, and ymages of youre Idols, Yee ād the starre of youre god Rempha, 〈…〉 figures which ye made to worshipe them. Therfore wil I cause you be caried awaye beyonde Damascus, sayeth the LORDE, whose name is the God off hoostes.

The VI. Chapter.

WO be to the proude welthy in Siō, to soch as thinke thē so sure vpon ye mount of Samaria? 〈…〉 which holde them selues for the best of the worlde, and rule the house of Israel, euē as they list. Go vnto Calne, and se: and from thence get you to Hemath the greate cite, and so go downe to Gath of the Philistines: be they better at ease then these kyngdomes, or the border of the ir londe wyder then yours? Ye are taken out for the euel daye, euen ye that syt in the stole of wylfulnesse: Ye that lye vpon beddes off yuery, and vse youre wantonnesse vpon youre couches: ye that eate the best lambes of ye flocke, and the fattest calues off the droaue: ye that synge to the lute, 〈…〉 and in playenge off instrumentes compare youre selues vnto Dauid: ye that drynke wyne out of goblettes, & anoynte youreselues with the best oyle, but no man is sory for Ioseps hurte. Therfore now shall ye be the first of them, that shal be led awaye captyue, and the lusty chere of the wylfull shall come to an ende.

The LORDE God hath sworne euen by himself (sayeth the LORDE God of hoostes: 〈…〉 ) I hate the pryde of Iacob, and I abhorre his palaces: and I wil geue ouer the cite, wt all that is therin: so that though there remayne ten men in one house, they shal dye. So their nexte kynszfolckes and the deed buriers shall take them, and cary awaye their bones, and saye vnto him, that is in the ynnermer house: is there yet eny mo by ye? And he shal answere: they are all gone, holde thy tunge (shall he saye) for they wolde not remembre the name of the LORDE. 〈…〉

Beholde, the LORDE is mynded to smyte the greate houses, so that they shall decaye: ād the litle houses, that they shall cleue a sunder. Who can runne with horses, or plowe wt oxen vpon the harde rockes off stone? For why, ye haue turned true iudgment in to bytternesse, and the frute of rightuousnesse in to wormwod: Yee euen ye, that reioyse in vayne thynges: ye that saye: haue not we optayned hornes in oure owne strength? Well, take hede, o ye house off Israel, sayeth the LORDE God of hoostes: I will brynge a people vpō you, which shall trouble you, from the waye that goeth towarde Hemath, vnto the broke in the medowe.

The VII. Chapter.

THe LORDE God shewed me soch a vision: beholde, there stode one that made greszshoppers, euen when the corne was shutynge forth, after the kynge had clipte his shepe. Now when they vndertoke to eate vp all the grene thinges in ye lōde, I sayde: O LORDE God, be mercifull, I beseke the: who shulde els helpe vp Iacob, that is brought so lowe? So the LORDE was gracious therin, and the LORDE sayde: well, it shall not be. Agayne, ye LORDE shewed me this vision: beholde, the LORDE God called the fyre to punysh withall, and it deuoured the greate depe: yee it consumed a parte allredy. Then sayde I: O LORDE God, holde thy ne honde: for who shulde els helpe vp Iacob that is brought so lowe? So the LORDE was merciful therin, and the LORDE God sayde: well, it shal not be.

Morouer, he shewed me this vision: beholde, the LORDE stode vpon a plastered wall, & 〈…〉 a masons trowell in his hōde. And the LORDE sayde vnto me: Amos, what seist thou? I answered: a masons trowell. Then sayde the LORDE: beholde, I will laye the trowell amō ge my people of Israel, and will nomore ouersee them: but the hye hilchapels off Isaac must be layed waist, and the churches off Israel made desolate: and as for the house of Ieroboam, I will stonde vp agaynst it with the swerde. 〈◊〉 17. a Vpon this sent Amasias the prest to Bethel vnto Ieroboam the kinge of Israel, 〈◊〉 17. a sayenge: Amos maketh the house off Israel to rebell agaynst the, the londe cā not awaye with his wordes. For Amos sayeth: Ieroboam shall dye with the swerde, and Israel shall be led awaye captyue out of their owne londe. And Amasias sayde vnto Amos: Get the hence (thou that cāst se so well) and fle in to the londe of Iuda: get the there thy lyuynge, and prophecy there: Esa. 0. b and prophecy nomore at Bethel, for it is the kynges chapel, and the kynges courte.

Amos answered, and sayde to Amasias: As for me, I am nether prophet, ner prophetes sonne: but a keper of catell. Zach. 13. a Now as I was breakynge downe molberies, and goynge after the catell, the LORDE toke me, & sayde vnto me: Go thy waye, and prophecy vnto my people of Israel. And therfore, heare thou now the worde off the LORDE: Thou saiest: prophecy not agaynst Israel, and speake nothinge agaynst the house off Isaac. Wherfore thus sayeth the LORDE: Thy wife shalbe defyled in ye cite, yt sonnes and doughters shalbe slayne with the swerde, and thy londe shalbe measured out with the lyne: Thou thy self shalt dye in an vnclene londe, and Israel shalbe dryuen out off his owne countre.

The VIII. Chapter.

THe LORDE God shewed me me this vision: and beholde, there was a maū de with sommer frute. And he sayde: Amos, what seist thou? I answered: a maū de with sommer frute. Then sayde the LORDE vnto me: the ende commeth vpon my people of Israel, I wil nomore ouersee them. In that daye shall the songes off the temple be turned in to sorow, sayeth the LORDE God. Many deed bodyes shal lye in euery place, & be cast forth secretly. Heare this, O ye yt oppresse the poore, Esa. 5. b and destroye the nedy in ye londe, sayenge: Whan will the new moneth be gone, that we maye sell vytale, and ye Sabbath, that we maye haue scarcenesse of corne: to make the buszshel lesse, and the Sycle greater? We shall set vp false waightes, yt we maye get the poore vnder vs with their money, and the nedy also for shues: yee let vs sell the chaffe for corne.

The LORDE hath sworne agaynst the pryde of Iacob: Am. 6. b these workes of theirs will I neuer forget. Shal not the londe tremble, and all they that dwell therin, mourne for this? Shal not their destruccion come vpon them like a water streame, & flowe ouer thē, as the floude of Egipte? At the same tyme (sayeth the LORDE God) I shall cause ye Sō ne to go downe at noone, Iere. 15. b and the londe to be darcke in the cleare daye. Youre hye feastes will. Tob. 2. a I turne to sorow, and youre songes to mournynge: I wil brynge sack cloth vpō all backes, & baldnes vpō euery heade: yee soch a mournynge wil I sende them, Iere. 6. d as is made vpon an only begotten sonne, and they shall haue a miserable ende.

Beholde, the tyme commeth (sayeth the LORDE God) yt I shal sende an hūger in to ye earth: not the hunger of bred, ner the thyrst of water: but an hunger to heare the worde off the LORDE: so that they shal go from the one see to the other, yee from ye north vnto ye cast, runnynge aboute to seke the worde of ye LORDE, and shal not fynde it. In that tyme, shal the fayre virgins and the yonge men perish for thyrst, yee euen they that sweare in the offence off Samaria, and saye: as truly as thy God lyueth at Dan, and as truly as ye God lyueth at Bersaba. These shal fall, and neuer ryse vp agayne.

The IX. Chapter.

I Sawe the LORDE stondinge vpon the aulter, and he sayde: smyte the dore cheke, that the postes maye shake withall. For their couetousnesse shal fall vpon all their heades, and their posterite shalbe slayne with the swerde. They shall not fle awaye, there shall not one off them escape, ner be delyuered. Though they were buryed in the hell, my honde shal fetch them from thence: Psal. 138. a Abd. 1. a though they clymme vp to heauen, yet shal I cast them downe: though they hyde them selues vpō the toppe of Carmel, yet shal I seke them out, and brynge them from thence: Though they crepe downe fro my sight in to the depe of the see, I shal cōmaū de the serpente, euen there to byte them. Yff they go awaye before their enemies ī to captyuyte, then shall I commaunde the swerde, there to slaye them.

Thus wil I set myne eyes vpon them, for their harme and not for their wealth. For when the LORDE God of hoostes toucheth a londe, it cōsumeth awaye, and all they that dwell therin, must nedes mourne: And why? their destruccion shal aryse as euery streame and runne ouer them, Am. 8. a . Re. 8. g as the floude in Egipte. He that hath his dwellinge in heauen, ād groundeth his tabernacle in the earth: He that calleth the waters of the see, Amos. 5. b and poureth them out vpon the playne grounde: his name is the LORDE. O ye children off Israel, are ye not vnto me, euen as the Morians, sayeth the LORDE? haue not I brought Israel out off the londe off Egipte, the Philistynes from Capthor, Gen. •• . b and the Sirians frō Cyr? Beholde, the eyes of the LORDE are vpon the realme that synneth, 〈…〉 to rote it clene out of the earth: Neuertheles, I will not vterly destroye the house of Iacob, saieth the LORDE.

For lo, this I promyse: though I siffte ye house of Israel amonge all nacions (like as they vse to sifte in a syue) yet shall not ye smallest grauel stone fall vpō the earth: But all the wicked doers of my people, that saye: Tush, the plage is not so nye, to come so hastely vpon vs: those shal perish with the swerde. At that tyme wil I buylde agayne the tabernacle off Dauid, 〈…〉 that is fallen downe, and hedge vp his gappes: and loke what is brokē, I shal repayre it: Yee I shal buylde it agayne, as it was afore tyme, yt they maye possesse the remnaunt of Edom, yee and all soch people as call vpon my name wt thē, saieth the LORDE, which doth these thinges

Beholde, the tyme commeth (saieth the LORDE) that the plowman shal ouertake ye mower, and ye treader off grapes, him that soweth sede. 〈…〉 The mountaynes shall droppe swete wyne, and the hilles shall be frutefull, and I wil turne the captyuyte of my people of Israel: they shal repayre the waist cities, & haue thē in possessiō: they shal plante vinyardes, ād drynke the wyne therof: they shal make gardens, and enioye the frutes off thē. And I wil plāte them vpō their owne groū de, so that I will neuer rote them out agayne from their londe, which I haue geuen thē sayeth the LORDE thy God.

The ende of the prophet Amos.
The Prophet Abdy. What Abdy conteyneth. Chap. I He prophecyeth agaynst the proude stomackes of the Edomites, that vexed the Israelites in their aduersite. He sheweth, what plages shal come vpon them.
The first Chapter.

THis is the vision that was shewed vnto Abdy: Thus hath ye LORDE God spokē vpō Edō: 〈…〉 We haue herde of the LORDE yt there is an embassage sent amonge the Heithen: Vp, let vs aryse, and fight agaynst them. Beholde, I will make ye small amōge the Heithen, so that thou shalt be vtterly despised. 〈◊〉 . 49. c The pryde of thine herte hath lift the vp, thou that dwellest in ye strō ge holdes off stone, and hast made the an hye seate: Thou sayest in thyne herte: who shal cast me downe to the grounde? But though thou wentest vp as hye as the Aegle, 〈◊〉 9 a 〈◊〉 . 2. b and maydest thy nest aboue amonge the starres: yet wolde I plucke the downe from thēce. Yf ye theues & robbers came to ye by-night, thou takinge thy rest: shulde they not steale, till they had ynough? yf the grape gatherers came vpon the, wolde they not leaue the some grapes? But how shall they rype Esau, and seke out his treasures?

Yee the men that were sworne vnto the, shal dryue the out off the borders off thyne owne londe. They that be now at one with the, shal disceaue the, and ouercome ye: Euē they that eate thy bred, shall betraye the, or euer thou perceaue it. Shal not I at the same tyme destroye the wyse men of Edom, sa. 29.c Cor. 1. c ād those that haue vnderstondinge, from the mount of Esau? Thy giauntes (o Theman) shalbe afrayed, for thorow the slaughter they shalbe all ouer throwne vpon the moūt of Esau. Shame shal come vpon the, for ye malice that thou shewedest to thy brother Iacob: yee for euermore shalt thou perish, & that because of the tyme, 〈◊〉 17. c 〈◊〉 . 20. c when thou didest set thyself agaynst him, euen when the enemies caried awaye his hoost, and when the aleauntes came in at his portes, and cast lottes vpon Ierusalem, and thou thyself wast as one of them.

Thou shalt nomore se the daye of thy brother, thou shalt nomore beholde the tyme of his captiuyte: thou shalt nomore reioyse ouer the children of Iuda, in the daye of their destruccion, thou shalt tryumphe nomore in the tyme of their trouble. Thou shalt nomore come in at the gates off my people, in the tyme of their decaye: thou shalt not se their mysery in the daye of their fall.

Thou shalt sende out no man agaynst their hoost, in the daye of their aduersite: nether shalt thou stōde wayringe enymore at ye corners of the stretes, to murthur soch as are fled, or to take them presoners, that remayne in the daye of their trouble. For the daye off the LORDE is harde by vpon all Heithen. Like as thou hast done, 〈◊〉 . 0 c 〈◊〉 . 3. b so shalt thou be dealte withall, yee thou shalt be rewarded euen vpon thine heade. For like wyse as ye haue droncken vpon myne holy hill, so shal all heithen dryncke continually: yee dryncke shall they, and swalowe vp so that ye shall be, as though ye had neuer bene.

But vpon the mount Sion, there shall a remnaunt escape: these shalbe holy, Zach. 2. and the house of Iacob shal possesse euen those, that had them selues afore in possessiō. Morouer, the house of Iacob shalbe a fyre, Iere. 5. c the house of Ioseph a flame, & the house of Esau shalbe the strawe: which they shal kyndle and cō sume, so that nothinge shalbe left of the house of Esau, for the LORDE himself hath sayde it. They of the south shal haue the mount of Esau in possession: and loke what lieth vpon the grounde, that shal the Philistynes haue: the playne feldes shal Ephraim and Samaria possesse: and the mountaynes of Galaad shal Ben Iamin haue. And this hoost shalbe the childrē of Israels presoners: Now what so lieth from Canaan vnto Sarphad, and in Sepharad, that shal be vnder the subieccion of Ierusalem: and the cities of the south shall enheret it. Thus they that escape vpon the hill off Sion, shall go vp to punysh the mount off Esau, Zac. 14. b and the kyngdome shalbe the LORDES.

The ende off the prophet Abdy.
The Prophet Ionas. What Ionas conteyneth. Chap. I. God sendeth Ionas vnto Niniue, he fleyth, and is cast in to the see. Chap. II. A fysh swaloweth vp Ionas, which crieth vnto God, and prayseth hym, and the fysh casteth him out agayne vpon the londe. Chap. III. God sendeth him agayne to Niniue, to shewe them the punyshment for to come, yf they wil not repent: they amende, and God is mercifull to them. Chap. IIII. Ionas is angrie, and complayneth of God, which refourmeth him.
The first Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE came vnto Ionas the sonne of Amithai, sayenge: Aryse,4. Re. 14 Ione 3 a Gen. 10. and get the to Niniue that greate cite: and preach vnto them, Gen. 18. how yt their wickednesse is come vp before me. And Ionas made him ready to fle vnto Tharsis from the presence of the LORDE, and gat him downe to Ioppa: where he founde a shippe ready for to go vnto Tharsis. So he payde his fare, and wente aborde, that he might go with them vnto Tharsis from the presence of the LORDE. But the LORDE hurled a greate wynde in to the see, and there was a mightie tempest in the see: so that the shippe was in ioperdy of goinge in peces. Then the maryners were afrayde, and cried euery man vnto his god: and the goodes that were in the shippe, they cast in to the see, to lighten it off them. But Ionas gat him vnder ye hatches, where he layed him downe and slombred.

So the master of the shippe came to him and sayde vnto him: why slomberest thou? Vp, call vpon thy God: yf God (happly) wil thynke vpon vs, that we peryshe not. And they sayde one to another: come, let vs cast lottes: that we maye knowe, for whose cause we are thus troubled. osu. 7. c And so they cast lottes, and the lot fell vpon Ionas.

Thē sayde they vnto him: tell vs, for whose cause are we thus troubled? what is thine occupacion? whence commest thou? what countre man art thou, and of what nacion? He answered them: I am an Ebrue, and I feare the LORDE God of heauen, which made both the see and drie londe. Then were ye men exceadingly afrayed, & sayde vnto him: why didest thou so? (for they knewe, that he was fled from the presence of the LORDE, because he had tolde them) and sayde morouer vnto him: What shall we do vnto the, that the see maye ceasse from troublinge vs? (for the see wrought and was troublous) he answered them: Take me, and cast me in to the see, so shal it let you be in rest: for I wote, it is for my sake, that this greate tempest is come vpon you.

Neuerthelesse, the men assayed with rowinge, to brynge the shippe to lōde: but it wolde not be, because the see wrought so, & was so troublous agaynst them. Wherfore they cried vnto the LORDE, and sayde: O LORDE, Deu. 21. b let vs not perish for this mans death, nether laye thou innocent bloude vnto oure charge: for thou (o LORDE) hast done, euen as thy pleasure was.

So they toke Ionas, and cast him in to the see, and the see lefte ragynge. And the men feared the LORDE exceadingly, doynge sacrifices ād makynge vowes vnto the LORDE.

The II. Chapter.

BVt the LORDE prepared a greate fyshe, to swalow vp Ionas. So was Ionas in the bely of the fysh, Matt. 12. d thre dayes and thre nightes. And Ionas prayed vnto the LORDE his God, out of the fysshes bely, and sayed: 〈…〉 In my trouble I called vnto ye LORDE, and he herde me: out off the bely off hell I cried, and thou herdest my voyce. Thou haddest cast me downe depe in ye middest off the see, and the floude compased me aboute: 〈…〉 yee all thy wawes and rowles of water went ouer me, I thought that I had bene cast awaye out of thy sight: but I wil yee agayne loke towarde thy holy temple.

The waters compased me, euen to the very soule: the depe laye aboute me, and the wedes were wrapte aboute myne heade. I wente downe to the botome of the hilles, & was barred in with earth for euer. But thou (o LORDE my God) hast brought vp my lyfe agayne out of corrupcion. When my soule faynted within me, I thought vpon the LORDE: and my prayer came in vnto the, euen in to thy holy temple, They that holde of vayne vanyties, wil forsake his mercy. But I wil do the sacrifice with the voyce of thankesgeuynge, and wil paye that I haue vowed: for why? saluacion commeth of the LORDE. And ye LORDE spake vnto ye fysh, and it cast out Ionas agayne vpon the drye londe.

The III. Chapter.

THen came the worde of the LORDE vnto Ionas agayne, sayenge: vp, and get the to Niniue that greate cite, 〈…〉 & preach vnto them the preachinge, which I bade the. So Ionas arose, and wente to Niniue at the LORDES commaundement. Niniue was a greate cite vnto God, namely, off thre dayes iourney.

And Ionas wente to, and entred in to ye cite: euen a dayes iourney, and cried, sayenge: There are yet xl. dayes, and then shal Niniue be ouerthrowen. 〈…〉 And the people of Niniue beleued God, and proclamed fastinge and arayed them selues in sack cloth, as well the greate as the small of them. And the tydinges came vnto ye kinge of Niniue, which arose out off his seate, and dyd his apparell off, and put on sack cloth, and sate him downe in asshes.

And it was cried and commaunded in Niniue, by the auctorite of the kīge and his lordes, sayenge: se that nether man or beest, 〈…〉 oxe or shepe taist ought at all: and that they nether fede ner drincke water: but put on sack cloth both man and beest, and crye mightely vnto God: yee se that euery man turne frō his euell waye, and from the wickednesse, 〈…〉 yt he hath in honde.

Who can tell? God maye turne, and repē te, and cease from his fearce wrath, that we perish not. And when God sawe their workes, how they turned from their wicked wayes: 〈◊〉 38. b he repented on the euell, which he sayde he wolde do vnto them, and dyd it not.

The IIII. Chapter.

WHerfore Ionas was sore discontēt, and angrie. And he prayed vnto the LORDE, and sayde: O LORDE, was not this my sayenge (I praye the) when I was yet in my countre? therfore I haisted rather to fle vnto Tharsis, for I knowe well ynough that thou art a mercifull God, full of compassion, lōge sufferinge, and of greate kyndnesse, and repentest when thou shuldest take punyshment. And now o LORDE, take my life fro me (I beseke the) for I had rather dye then lyue. 〈◊〉 . 19. a Then sayde the LORDE: art thou so angrie? And Ionas gat him out of the cite, and sat downe on ye east syde therof: and there made him a bothe, and sat vnder it in the shadow, till he might se, what shulde chaunce vnto the cite.

And the LORDE God prepared a wylde vyne, which sprange vp ouer Ionas, that he might haue shadowe aboue his heade, to delyuer him out of his payne. And Ionas was exceadinge glad of the wylde vyne. But vpō the nexte morow agaynst the springe of the daye, the LORDE ordened a worme, which smote the wylde vyne, so that it wethered awaye. And when the Sōne was vp God prepared a feruent east wynde: and the Sonne bete ouer the heade of Ionas, that he faynted agayne, and wyszshed vnto his soule, that he might dye, and sayde: It is better for me to dye, thē to lyue. And God sayd vnto Ionas: Art thou so angrie for the wylde vyne? And he sayde: yee very angrie am I euen vnto the deeth. And the LORDE sayde: thou hast compassion vpon a wylde vyne, wherō thou bestowdest no laboure, ner may dest it growe: which sprange vp in one night and perished in another: And shulde not I then haue compassion vpon Niniue that greate cite, wherin there are aboue an C. and xx. thousande personnes, yt knowe not their right hōde frō the lefte, besydes moch catell?

The ende of the prophet Ionas.
The Prophet Micheas. What Micheas conteyneth. Chap. I. He reproueth the people off Israel and Iuda for their wickednesse and Idolatry: he telleth them their punyshment with mournynge. Chap. II. He rehearseth their abhominacions. Chap. III. He reproueth the rulers and the prophetes, as cause of the peoples misery. Chap. IIII.V. He prophecyeth of the saluacion off Gods people in Christ, of his kyngdome, and power of his gospel. Chap. VI. Another reprofe. Outwarde offeringes are excluded, and here is declared what God requyreth off man. Chap. VII. The summe off the thinges before sayde The litle flocke of the faithfull.
The first Chapter.

THis is the worde of the LORDE, that came vnto Micheas the Morastite,4. Re. 15. 2. Pa. 27. 4. Re. 16. 4 Re. 18. and .19. in the dayes of Ioathan, Achas and Ezechias kīges of Iuda: which was shewed him vpon Samaria and Ierusalem.

Heare all ye people, Deu. 32. a Esa. 1. a marcke this well o earth, and all that therin is: Yee the LORDE God himself be witnesse amonge you, euen ye LORDE from his holy temple. For why? beholde, the LORDE shal go out of his place, & come downe, and treade vpon the hie thinges of the earth. The moūtaynes shall consume vnder him, Esa. 26. & the valleys shal cleue asunder: like as wax cōsumeth at the fyre, & as ye waters runne downwarde. And all this shal be for the wickednesse of Iacob, and the synnes of the house of Israel.

But what is the wickednesse of Iacob? Is not Samaria?3. Re. 12. 3. Re. 11. a 4. Re. 16 21. a Which are the hye places of Iuda? Is not Ierusalē? Therfore I shall make Samaria an heape of stones in the felde, to laye aboute the vynyarde: hir stones shal I cast in to the valley, & discouer hir foū daciōs. All hir ymages shalbe brokē downe & all hir wynnynges shal be brent in the fyre: yee all hir Idols will I destroye: for why, they are gathered out of the hyre of an whore, Deu. 23. & in to an whores hyre shal they be turned agayne. Wherfore I wil mourne & make lamentacion, bare & naked will I go: I must mourne like ye dragōs, & take sorow as ye Estriches: for their woūde is past remedy: And why? it is come in to Iuda, & hath touched ye porte of my people at Ierusalē allredy. Wepe not, lest they at Geth perceaue it. . Re. 1.

Thou at Betaphra, welter thy self in the dust and asshes. Thou that dwellest at Sephir, get the hence with shame. The proude shall boost nomore for very sorowe: & why? hir neghboure shall take from her what she hath. The rebellious cite hopeth, that it shal not be so euell: but for all that, the plage shal come from the LORDE, euen in to the porte of Ierusalem. The greate noyse off the charettes shall feare them,4. Re. 18. c that dwell at Lachis, which is an occasion of ye synne of ye doughter of Sion, for in the came vp the wickednesses of Israel. Yee she sent hir coursers in to the londe of Geth.

The houses of lies will disceaue the kynges of Israel. And as for the (o thou that dwellest at Morassa) I shal brynge a possessioner vpon the, ād the plage of Israel shal reach vnto Odolla. Make the balde, and shaue the, because of thy tender children: Make the cleane balde as an Aegle, for they shalbe caried awaye captyue from the.

The II. Chapter.

WO vnto them, that ymagyn to do harme, and deuyse vngraciousnesse vpon their beddes, to perfourme it in ye cleare daye: for their power is agaynst God. When they covet to haue londe, they take it by violence, . Re. 21. a they robbe men off their houses.

Thus they oppresse a mā for his house, & euery man for his heretage. Therfore thus sayeth the LORDE: Beholde, agaynst this housholde haue I deuysed a plage, Am. 5. b wherout ye shal not plucke youre neckes: Ye shal nomore go so proudly, for it will be a perlous tyme. In that daye shall this terme be vsed, and a mournynge shal be made ouer you on this maner: We be vtterly desolate, the porcion off my people is translated. Whan wil he parte vnto vs the londe, that he hath taken from vs?

Neuerthelesse there shalbe noman to deuyde the thy porcion, in the congregacion off the LORDE. Nu. 33. f Tush, holde youre tunge (saye they) It shall not fall vpon this people, we shall not come so to confucion, sayeth the house off Iacob. Is the sprete off the LORDE so clene awaye? or is he so mynded? Treuth it is, my wordes are frendly vnto them that lyue right: but my people doth the contrary, therfore must I take parte agaynst them: for they take awaye both cote and cloke from the symple.

Ye haue turned youre selues to fight, the women off my people haue ye shot out frō their good houses, and taken awaye my excellent giftes from their children Vp, get you hence, for here shall ye haue no rest.

Because off their Idolatry they are corrupte, and shall myserably perish. Yff I were a fleshly felowe, and a preacher of lyes and tolde them that they might syt bebbinge and bollynge, and be droncken: O that were a prophet for this people.

But I will gather the in dede (o Iacob) and dryue the remnaunt off Israel all together. I shall cary them one with another, as a flocke in the folde, and as the catell in their stalles, that they maye be disquieted of other men.

Who so breaketh the gappe, he shall go before. They shall breake vp the porte, and go in and out at it. Their kynge shall go before them, and the LORDE shalbe vpon the heade of them.

The III. Chapter.

HEare, o ye heades of the house of Iacob, and ye leders of the house of Israel: Shulde not ye knowe, 〈…〉 what were laufull and right? But ye hate the good, and loue the euell: ye plucke of mens skynnes, and the flesh from their bones: Ye eate the flesh of my people, ād flay of their skynne: ye breake their bones, ye choppe them in peces as it were in to a cauldron, ād as flesh into a pot. Now the tyme shall come, 〈…〉 that when they call vnto the LORDE, he shall not heare them, but hyde his face from them: because that thorow their owne ymaginaciōs, they haue dealte so wickedly.

And as concernynge the prophetes that disceaue my people, thus the LORDE sayeth agaynst them: 〈…〉 When they haue eny thinge to byte vpon, then they preach that all shalbe well: but yf a man put not some thinge in to their mouthes, they preach of warre agaynst him.

Therfore youre vision shalbe turned to night, & youre prophecyenge to darcknesse. 〈…〉 The Sonne shall go downe ouer those prophetes, & the daye shalbe darcke vnto them. Then shall the vision seers be ashamed, & ye sayth sayers confounded: yee they shalbe fayne (all the packe of thē) to stoppe their mouthes, for they haue not Gods worde. As for me, I am full of strength, 〈…〉 & of ye sprete of ye LORDE, full of iudgment & boldnesse: to shewe the house of Iacob their wickednesse, & the house of Israel their synne.

O heare this ye rulers of the house of Iacob, and ye iudges of the house off Israel: ye that abhorre the thinge that is laufull, and wraist asyde the thinge that is straight: Ye that buylde vp Sion with bloude, A a. . b Re. 8. a 〈◊〉 . 1. b 〈◊〉 . 5. b 〈◊〉 . 6. b and Ierusalem with doynge wronge. O ye iudges, ye geue sentence for giftes: O ye preastes, ye teach for lucre: O ye prophetes, ye prophecy for money. Yet wil they be takē as those that holde vpon God, and saye: Is not the LORDE amonge vs? Tush, there can no misfortune happen vs. Iere. 6. d ere. 9. b Re 9. b L c. 19 d 21 a Therfore shal Sion (for youre sakes) be plowed like a felde: Ierusalē shall become an heape of stones, and the hill of ye temple shal be turned to an hye wodde.

The IIII. Chapter.

BVt in the latter dayes it wil come to passe, Isa. . a eui. 6. g that the hill off the LORDES house shalbe set vp hyer thē eny moū taynes or hilles: Yee the people shall preese vnto it, and the multitude off the Gentiles shal haist them thither, sayēge: Come, let vs go vp to the hill of the LORDE, & to the house of the God of Iacob: that he maye teach vs his waye, and that we maye walke in his pathes.

eui 24. d Psal. 49. a For the lawe shall come out off Sion, ād the worde of God from Ierusalem, and shall geue sentence amonge the multitude off the Heithen, and refourme the people off farre coūtrees: so that of their swerdes they shal make plowshares, and sythes off their speares.

One people shall not lift vp a swerde agaynst another, Esa. 11. b Esa. 65. d yee they shall nomore lerne to fight: but euery man shal syt vnder his vinyarde and vnder his fyge tre, and no man to fraye him awaye: for the mouth off ye LORDE of hoostes hath spoken it. Therfore, where as all people haue walked euery man in ye name of his owne god, we will walke in the name of oure God for euer and euer. At the same tyme (sayeth the LORDE) will I gather vp the lame and the outcastes, •• ph. 3. d and soch as I haue chastened: and will geue yssue vnto the lame, and make of ye outcastes a greate people: Luc. 1. c and the LORDE himself shal be their kynge vpon the mount Sion, frō this tyme forth for euermore. Gen. 3 . d And vnto the (O thou tower of Eder, thou stronge holde off the doughter Sion) vnto the shal it come: euē the first lordshipe and kyngdome of the doughter Ierusalē. Why thē art thou now so heuy? is there no kynge in the? are thy councelers awaye that thou art so payned, as a woman in hir trauayle?

And now (o thou doughter Sion) be sory, let it greue the as a wife laboringe with childe: for now must thou get the out off the cite, and dwell vpon the playne felde: Yee vnto Babilō shalt thou go, there shalt thou be delyuered, and there the LORDE shal lowse the from the honde off thine enemies.

Now also are there many people gathered together agaynst the, sayenge: what, Mich. 5. Sion is cursed, we shall se oure lust vpon her. But they knowe not the thoughtes off the LORDE, they vnderstonde not his councell, Esa. 14. d that shall gather them together as the sheeues in the barne. Therfore get the vp (o thou doughter Sion) and throsshe out the corne: For I wil make thy horne yron, and thy clawes brasse, that thou mayest grynde many people: their goodes shalt thou appropriate vnto the LORDE, and their substaunce vnto the ruler off the whole worlde.

The V. Chapter.

AFter that shalt thou be robbed thy selff, o thou robbers doughter: they shal laye sege agaynst vs, and smyte the iudge off Israel with a rodde vpon the cheke. And thou Bethleem Ephrata, Matt. 2. Ioh. 7. art litle amonge the thousandes off Iuda, Out off the shal come one vnto me, which shall be ye gouernoure ī Israel: whose outgoinge hath bene from the begynnynge, and from euerlastinge. In the meane whyle he plageth them for a season, vntill the tyme that she (which shall beare) haue borne: then shall the remnaunt of his brethren be conuerted vnto ye children of Israel. He shal stonde fast, and geue fode in the strength of the LORDE, Eze. 34 Ioh. 10. Rom. 1 and in the victory of the name of ye LORDE his God: and when they be conuerted, he shall be magnified vnto the farthest partes of the worlde.

Then shal there be peace, so that the Assirian maye come in to oure londe, and treade in oure houses. We shall brynge vp seuen shepherdes and viij. prynces vpō them: these shal subdue the londe of Assur wt the swerde, Gen. 10 Mich. 4 and the londe of Nymrod with their naked weapens. Thus shal he delyuer vs from the Assiriā, when he commeth within oure lande, and setteth his fote within oure borders. And the remnaunt of Iacob shal be amonge the multitude of people, as the dew of the LORDE, and as the droppes vpon the grasse, that tarieth for no man, and waiteth of no body. Yee the residue of Iacob shalbe amonge the Gentiles and the multitude off people, Gen. 4 as the lyon amonge the beestes of ye wodde, and as the lyons whelpe amonge a flocke of shepe: which (when he goeth thorow) treadeth downe, teareth in peces, and there is no man that can helpe. Thyne honde shalbe lift vp vpon thine enemies, and all thine aduersaries shal perish.

The tyme shal come also (sayeth the LORDE) that I wil take thine horses from the, & destroye thy charettes. I will breake downe the cities off thy londe, and ouerthrow̄e all thy stronge holdes. Deu. 18. b All witchcraftes will I rote out of thyne hande, there shall no mo soythsayenges be within the. Thine Idols and thyne ymages will I destroye out of yt so that thou shalt nomore bowe thy self vnto the workes of thyne owne hondes. Thy groues wil I plucke vp by the rotes, & breake downe thy cities. Thus will I be auēged also, vpon all Heithen that will not heare.

The VI Chapter.

HErken now what the LORDE sayeth: Vp, sa 58. a reproue the mountaynes, and let the hilles heare thy voyce. O Heare the punyshment of the LORDE, ye mountaynes, and ye mightie foundaciōs of ye earth: for the LORDE wil reproue his people, ād reason with Israel: O my people, what haue I done vnto the? or wherin haue I hurte the? geue me answere. xo. 14 c Because I brought the frō the londe of Egipte, and delyuered the out of the house of bondage? Because I made Moses, u. 12. a Aaron and Miriam to lede the? Remembre (o my people) what Balach the kynge of Moab had ymagined agaynst the, 〈◊〉 22.23 24.25. ād what answere that Balaam the sonne of Be or gaue him, from Sethim vnto Galgal: yt ye maye knowe the louynge kyndnesses of ye LORDE.

What acceptable thynge shal I offre vnto the LORDE? shall I bowe mykne to the hye God? Shal I come before him wt brent offeringes, and with calues of a yeare olde? Hath the LORDE a pleasure in many thousand rammes, or innumerable streames of oyle? Or shal I geue my firstborne for myne of fences, and the frute of my body for the synne of my soule? I wil shewe the (O mā) what is good, and what the LORDE requyreth off the: Namely, to do right, to haue pleasure in louynge kyndnesse, to be lowly, and to walke with thy God: sa. 1. d. that thou mayest be called a cite of the LORDE, & that thy name maye be rightuousnesse. Heare (o ye trybes) who wolde els geue you soch warnynge? Shulde I not be displeased, 〈◊〉 . 19. g 〈◊〉 . 25. c 〈◊〉 . 20. b 〈◊〉 . 5. b for the vnrightuous good in the houses of the wicked, and because the measure is minished? Or sh lde I ius fie the false balaunces and the bagge of disceatfull weightes, amonge those that be full off riches vnrightuously gotten: where the citesyns deale with falsede, speake lyes, and haue disceatfull tunges in their mouthes?

Therfore I will take in honde to punysh the, and to make the desolate, because of thy synnes. Thou shalt eate, & not haue ynough: yee thou shalt bringe thy self downe. 〈…〉 Thou shalt fle, but not escape: ād those yt thou woldest saue, wil I delyuer to the swerde. Thou shalt sowe, but not reape: 〈…〉 thou shalt presse out olyues, but oyle shalt thou not haue, to anoynte thy self withall: thou shalt treade out swete must, but shalt drynke no wyne. Ye kepe the ordinaunces of Amri, 〈…〉 & all the customes of the house of Achab: ye folowe their pleasures, therfore wil I make the waist, & cause ye inhabiters to be abhorred, O my people: & thus shalt thou beare thine owne shame.

The VII. Chapter.

WO is me: I am become as one, that goeth a gleenynge in the haruest. There are no mo grapes to eate, yet wolde I fayne (with all my herte) haue of the best frute. There is not a godlyman vpō earth, there is not one rightuous amōge mē. 〈…〉 They laboure all to shed bloude, & euery mā hunteth his brother to death: yet they saye they do well, when they do euell. As the prince wil, so sayeth the iudge: yt he maye do him a pleasure agayne. The greate mā speaketh what his herte desyreth, & ye hearers alowe him. The best off thē is but as a thistle, and the most rightuous of them is but as a b ere in the hedge. But when the daye of thy preachers commeth, yt th u shalt be vysited: thē shal they be waisted awaye. Let no man beleue his frende, 〈…〉 ner put his confidēce in a prince. Kepe the porte of thy mouth, from her yt lieth in thy bosome: 〈…〉 for ye sonne shal put his father to dishonoure, the doughter shal ryse agaynst her mother, ye doughter in lawe agaynst hir mother in lawe: and a mans foes shalbe euen they of his owne housholde.

Neuerthelesse I wil loke vp vnto ye LORDE, I wil paciently abyde God my sauioure: my God shal heare me. O thou enemie of myne, reioyce not at my fall, for I shal get vp agayne: and though I syt in darcknesse, 〈…〉 yet ye LORDE is my light. I will beare the punishment of the LORDE (for why, I haue offended him) till he syt in iudgment vpon my cause, and se that I haue right. He wil bringe me forth to the light, and I shal se his rightuosnesse.

She that is myne enemy shall loke vpon it, Re 1 . a & be confounded, which now saieth: Where is thy LORDE God? Myne eyes shal beholde her, when she shalbe troden downe, as the claye in the stretes. 〈…〉 The tyme wil come, that thy gappes shal be made vp, and the lawe shal go abrode: and at that tyme shal they come vnto the, from Assur vnto the strōge cities, and from the stronge cities vnto the ryuer: from the one see to the other, from the one mountayne to the other.

Notwtstondinge the londe must be waisted, because of them that dwell therin, and for the frutes of their owne ymaginacions. Therfore fede thy people with thy rodde, the flocke of thine heretage which dwell desolate in the wodde: that they maye be fedde vpon the mount of Charmel, Basan & Galaad as afore tyme. Maruelous thinges will I shewe them, 〈◊〉 14. a like as when they came out of Egipte. This shal the Heithen se, and be aszshamed for all their power: 〈◊〉 9. d so that they shal laye their honde vpon their mouth, and stoppe their eares. 〈…〉 They shal licke the dust like a serpent, & as the wormes of the earth, yt tremble in their holes. They shalbe afrayed of the LORDE oure God, & they shal feare ye.

Where is there soch a God as thou? that pardonest wickednes, and forgeuest the offences of the remnaunt of thine heretage? He kepeth not his wrath for euer. And why? his delyte is to haue compassion: 〈…〉 he shal turne agayne, & be mercyfull to vs: he shal put downe oure wickednesses, & cast all oure synnes in to the botome of the see. Thou shalt kepe thy trust with Iacob, and thy mercy for Abraham, like as thou hast sworne vnto oure fathers longe agoo.

The ende of the prophet Micheas.
The Prophet Naum. What Naum conteyneth. Chap. I. He prayseth the power and goodnesse of God: he reproueth the Niniuites, because they despysed the councell and punyshment of God. Chap. II. He descrybeth vnto them the terryblenesse of the plage. Chap. III. He reproueth the abhominacions of the malicious cite, and •• heweth them of their punyshment.

This is the heuy burthen of Niniue, which Naum of Elchos dyd wryte, as he sawe it.

The first Chapter.

THe LORDE is a gelous God, and a taker of vengeaunce: yee a taker of vēgeaunce is ye LORDE, and wrothfull. Deu. 5. b The LORDE taketh vengeaunce of his enemies, and reserueth displeasure for his aduersaries. The LORDE suffreth longe, Ro. 2. a Exo. 34. a Iere. 30. b he is of greate power, & so innocent, that he leaueth no man fautlesse before him. The LORDE goeth forth in tempest and stormy wether, the cloudes are the dust of his fete. Whē he reproueth the see, he dryeth it vp, & turneth all the floudes to drye londe. Basan is desolate, Charmel and the pleasure of Libanus waisteth awaye. The mountaynes tremble for him, the hilles consume. At the sight of him, the earth quaketh: yee the whole worlde, and all that dwell therin. Iere. 10. b Esa. 34. a Abac. 3. a Soph. . b Who maye endure before his wrath? Or who is able to abyde his grymme displeasure? His anger taketh on like fyre, and the harde rockes burst in sunder before him.

Ful gracious is the LORDE, and a stronge holde in tyme of trouble, he knoweth thē that put their trust in him: when the floude renneth ouer, and destroyeth the place, and when the darcknesse foloweth still vpon his enemies. What do ye ymagin then agaynst the LORDE on this maner? (Tush, when he hath once made an ende, there shal come nomore trouble.) For like as the thornes that sticke together, and as the drye strawe, so shal the dronckardes be consumed together, euen when they be full. There come out of ye soch as ymagin myschefe, and geue vngracious councell agaynst the LORDE.

Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: Let thē be as wel prepared, yee and as many as they can, yet shal they be hewen downe, and passe awaye. And as for the, I wil vexe the, but not vtterly destroie the. And now wil I breake his rodde from thy backe, and burst thy bondes in sonder. But the LORDE hath geuen a commaundement cōcernynge the, that there shall come nomore sede of thy name. The carued and casten ymages will I rote out of the house of thy god. Mich. 5. Thy graue shal I prepare for the, and thou shalt be confounded.

The II. Chapter.

BEholde, vpon the mountaynes come the fete of him, Esa. 52. b Ro. 10. c that bryngeth good tydinges, & preacheth peace. O Iuda, kepe thy holy dayes, perfourme thy promyses: for Belial shal come nomore in the, he is vtterly roted out.

The scaterer shal come vp agaynst the, & laye sege to the castell. Loke thou wel to the stretes, make thy loynes stronge, arme thy self with all thy myght: for the LORDE shal restore agayne the glory of Iacob, like as ye glory of Israel. The destroyers haue broken them downe, & marred the wyne braunches. The shylde of his giauntes glistereth, his men of warre are clothed in purple. His charettes are as fyre, when he maketh him forwarde, his archers are wel deckte & trimmed. The charettes rolle vpon the stretes, & welter in the hye wayes. They are to loke vpon like cressettes of fyre, and go swyftly, as the lightenynge.

When he doth but warne his giauntes, they fall in their araye, & haistely they clymme vp the walles: yee the engyns of the warre are prepared all ready. The water portes shal be opened, and the kinges palace shall fall. The quene hir self shal beled awaye captyue, and hir gentilwomen shal mourne as the doues, ob. 14. b oph. 2. c & grone within their hertes. Niniue is like a pole full of water, but then shal they be fayne to fle. Stonde, stōde, (shal they crie) & there shal not one turne backe. Awaye with the syluer, awaye with the golde: for here is no ende of treasure. There shalbe a multitude of all maner costly ornamentes. Thus must she be spoyled, emptied & clene striped out: that their hertes maye be melted awaye, their knees trēble, all their loynes be weake, and their faces blacke as a pot.

Where is now the dwellinge of the lyōs, and the pasture of the lyons whelpes? where the lyon and the lyonesse wente with the whelpes, and no man frayed them awaye? But the lyon spoyled ynough for his yonge ones, and deuoured for his lyonesse: he fylled his dennes with his pray, & his dwellinge place with that he had rauyszshed. Beholde, I wil vpon the (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) and wil set fyre vpon thy charettes, that they shal smoke withall, and the swerde shal deuoure thy yonge lyons. I wil make an ende of thy spoylinge from out of the earth, & the voyce of thy messaungers shall nomore be herde.

The III. Chapter.

WO to that bloudthursty cite, which is all full of lyes and robbery, ze. 24. a bac. 2. b & wil not leaue of from rauyszshinge. There a man maye heare scourginge, ruszshinge, the noyse of the wheles, the crienge of the horses, & the rollinge of the charettes. There the horse men get vp with naked swerdes, and glisterynge speares: There lyeth a multitude slayne, and a greate heape of deed bodies: There is no ende of deed coarses, yee men fall vpon their bodies: And that for the greate and many folde whord me, of the fayre and beutifull harlot: which is a mastresse of wychcraft, yee and selleth the people thorow hir whordome, and the nacions thorow hir wichcraft.

Beholde, 〈…〉 I wil vpon the (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) and wil pull thy clothes ouer thy heade: that I maye shewe thy nakednes amonge the Heithen, and thy shame amonge the kingdomes. I wil cast dyrte vpon yt, to make the be abhorred, and a gasynge stocke: Yee all they that loke vpon the, shal starte backe, & saye: Niniue is destroyed.

Who wil haue pyte vpō the? where shal I seke one to conforte the? Art thou better then the greate cite of Alexādria? that laye in the waters, and had the waters rounde aboute it: which was strongly fenced & walled with the see? Ethiopia and Egipte were hir strēgth, & that exceadinge greate aboue measure. Aphrica and Lybia were hir helpers, yet was she dryuen awaye, & brought in to captiuyte: hir yonge children were smytten downe at the heade of euery strete, the lottes were cast for the most awncient men in her, and all hir mightie men were bounde in chaynes. Euen so shalt thou also be droncken, and hyde thy self, and seke some helpe agaynst thine enemy. All thy stronge cities shal be like fyge trees wt rype fyges: which whē a mā shaketh, they fall in to the mouth of the eater.

Beholde, thy people with in the are but w men: the portes of thy londe shal be opened vnto thine enemies, and the fyre shal deuoure ye barres. Drawe water now agaynst thou be beseged, make vp thy strōge holdes, go in to the claye, tempre the morter, make stronge bricke: yet the fyre shal consume the, 〈…〉 the swerde shal destroye the, yee as ye locuste doth, so shal it eate the vp. It shal fall heuely vpon the as the locustes, yee right heuely shal it fall vpon the, euen as the greshoppers. Thy marchauntes haue bene mo then the starres of heauē: but now shal they sprede abrode as the locustes, and fle their waye: Thy lordes are as the greshoppers, & thy captaynes as the multitude of greshoppers: which whē they be colde, remayne in ye hedges: but when the Sonne is vp, they fle awaye, and no mā can tell where they are become. Thy shepherdes are aslepe (o kinge of Assur) thy worthies are layed downe: ye people is scatred abrode vpon the mountaynes, and no man gathereth them together agayne. Thy wounde can not be hyd, thy plage is so sore. All they that heare this of the, shall clappe their handes ouer the. For what is he, to whō thou hast not allwaye bene doynge hurte?

The ende of the prophet Naum.
The Prophet Abacuc. What Abacuc conteyneth. Chap. I. He complayneth vnto God of the wickednes of the people, and threateneth them with the plage of God. Chap. II. He reproueth the cuvetous and vnrightuous men. Chap. III. A prayer of the prophet.
The first Chapter.

THis is the heuy burthē, which the prophet Abacuc dyd se. 〈◊〉 2 . a O LORDE, how longe shal I crie, & thou wilt not heare? 〈◊〉 3. a How longe shall I complayne vnto the, suffrynge wronge, and thou wilt not helpe? Why lettest thou me se weerynesse and laboure? Tyrāny and violence are before me, power ouergoeth right: for the lawe is torne in peces, and there can no right iudgment go forth. And why? the vngodly is more set by then the rightuous: this is the cause, yt wronge iudgment procedeth. Beholde amonge the Heithen, 〈…〉 and loke wel: wondre at it, and be abaszshed: for I wil do a thinge in youre tyme, which though it be tolde you, ye shal not beleue.

Forlo, I wil rase vp ye Caldees, that bytter and swifte people: 〈…〉 which shal go as wyde as the londe is, to take possession of dwellinge places, that be not their owne. A grymme & boysteous people is it, these shal syt in iudgment & punyshe. Their horses are swifter then the cattes of the mountayne, & byte sorer then ye wolues in ye euenynge. 〈…〉 Their horsmen come by greate heapes from farre, they fle hastely to deuor as the Aegle. They come all to spoyle: out of them commeth an east wynde, which bloweth and gathereth their captyues, like as the sonde. They shall mocke the kinges, and laugh the prynces to scorne. They shal not set by eny stronge holde, for they shal laye ordinaunce agaynst it, and take it. Then shal they take a fresh corage vnto them, to go forth & to do more euell, & so ascrybe that power vnto their God. 〈◊〉 45. a 〈…〉 . d

But thou o LORDE my God, my holy one, thou art from the begynnynge, therfore shal we not dye. O LORDE, thou hast ordened them for a punyshmēt, and set them to reproue the mightie. Thine eyes are clene, thou mayest not se euell, thou canst not beholde ye thinge that is wicked. Iere. 12. a Psal. 36. a Wherfore then dost thou loke vpon the vngodly, and holdest thy tunge, when the wicked deuoureth the man that is better thē himself? Thou makest men as the fish in the see, and like as the crepinge beestes, that haue no gyde. They take vp all with their angle, they catch it in their net, & gather it in their yarne: wherof they reioyce and are glad. Therfore offre they vnto their net, and do sacrifice vnto their yarne: because that thorow it their porcion is become so fat, and their meate so pleteous. Wherfore they cast out their net agayne, & neuer ceasse to slaye the people.

The II. Chapter.

I Stode vpon my watch, and set me vpon my bulworke, to loke & se what he wolde saye vnto me, and what answere I shulde geue him yt reproueth me. But the LORDE answered me, and sayde: Wryte the vision planely vpon thy tables, that who so commeth by, maye rede it: for ye visiō is yet farre of for a tyme, Dan. 9. d but at ye last it shal come to passe, & not fayle. And though he tary, yet wait thou for him, Heb. 10. d for in very dede he wil come, and not be slacke. Beholde, who so wil not beleue, his soule shal not prospere: but the iust shal lyue by his faith. Ro. 1. b Like as the wyne disceaueth the dronckarde, euen so the proude shal fayle & not endure. He openeth his desyre wyde vp as the hell, & is as vnsaciable as death. Pro. 30. b All Heithen gathereth he to him, & heapeth vnto him all people.

But shall not all these take vp a prouerbe agaynst him, and mocke him with a byworde, and saye: Wo vnto him that heapeth vp other mens goodes? How longe wil he lade himself with thicke claye? O how sodenly wil they stonde vp, yt shal byte the, & awake, that shal teare ye in peces? yee thou shalt be their pray. Abdi. 1. c Seinge thou hast spoyled many Heithen, therfore shall the remnaunt of the people spoyle the: because of mens bloude, & for the wronge done in the londe, in the cite & vnto all them that dwel therin.

Wo vnto him, Esa. 5. b that couetously gathereth euell gotten goodes in to his house: that he maye set his nest an hye, Abdi. 1. a to escape from the power of mysfortune. Thou hast deuysed ye shame of thine owne house, for thou hast slayne to moch people, and hast wilfully offended: so that the very stones of the wall shal crie out of it, uc. 19. d and the tymbre that lieth betwixte the ioyntes of the buyldinge shall answere. ze. 24. a Naū 1. a Mich. 3. c Wo vnto him, yt buyldeth the towne with bloude, and maynteneth ye cite with vnrightuousnes. Shal not the LORDE of hoostes bringe this to passe, that the laboures of the people shal be brent with a greate fyre, and that the thinge wher vpon the people haue weeried them selues, shall be lost? For the earth shalbe full of knowlege of the LORDES honoure, Exo. 9. c Nu. 14 c Esa. 11. b like as the waters that couer the see.

Wo vnto him that geueth his neghboure dryncke, to get him wrothfull displeasure for his dronckennesse: Gen 9. d that he maye se his preuyte s. Therfore with shame shalt then be fylled, in steade of honoure. Dryncke thou also, till thou slombre withall: for the cuppe of the LORDES right hōde shall compasse the aboute, and shamefull spewinge in steade of thy worshipe. For the wrōge that thou hast done in Libanus, ere. 50. Abdi. 1. c shal ouerwhelme the, and the wilde beastes shal make the afrayed: because of mens bleude, and for the wronge done in the londe, in the cite, and vnto all soch as dwel therin.

What helpe than wil ye ymage do, whom the workman hath fashioned? Or the vayne cast ymage, wherin because the craftesman putteth his trust, therfore maketh he domme Idols? Wo vnto him, that saieth to a pece of wod: arise, and to a domine stone: stonde vp. For what instrucciō maye soch one geue? Beholde, it is layed ouer with golde and syluer, Psal. 10. a & there is no breth in it. But the LORDE in his holy tēple is he, whom all the worlde shulde feare.

The III. Chapter. A prayer of the prophet Abacuc for the ignoraunt.

O LORDE, when I herde speake of ye, I was afrayed. The worke yt thou hast taken in honde, shalt thou perfourme in his tyme, O LORDE: and when thy tyme commeth, thou shalt declare it. In thy very wrath thou thinkest vpon mercy. God commeth from Theman, and the holy one from the mount of Pharan. Sela.

His glory couereth the heauens, and the earth is full of his prayse. His shyne is as ye sonne, & beames of light go out of his hondes, there is his power hid. Destrucciō goeth before him, and burnynge cressettes go from his fete. He stondeth, & measureth the earth: He loketh, & the people consume awaye, the moūtaynes of ye worlde fall downe to powlder, and the hilles are fayne to bowe them selues, for his goinges are euerlastinge and sure.

I sawe, that the pauilions of the Morians and the tentes of the londe of Madian were vexed for weerynesse. Wast thou not angrie (o LORDE) in the waters? was not thy wrath in the floudes, and thy displeasure in the see? yes, whē thou sattest vpon thine horse, and when thy charettes had the victory. Thou shewdest thy bowe opēly, like as thou haddest promised with an ooth vnto the trybes. Sela. 〈…〉

Thou didest deuyde the waters of the earth. When the mountaynes saw the, they were afrayed, ye water streame wēte awaye: the depe made a noyse at the liftinge vp of thine honde. 〈…〉 The Sonne and Mone remayned still in their habitacion. Thine arowes wente out glisteringe, and thy speares as the shyne of the lightenynge. 〈…〉 Thou trodest downe the londe in thine anger, and didest thro •• she the Heithen in thy displeasure. Thou c •• mest forth to helpe thy people, to helpe thi •• anoynted. Thou smotest downe the heade in the house of the vngodly, & discoueredest his foundacions, euē vnto ye necke of him. Sela.

Thou cursest his septers, the captayne of his men of warre: which come as a stormy wynde to s atre me abrode, & are glad when they maye eat vp ye poore secretly. Thou makest a waye for thine horses in the see, euen in the mudde of greate waters. Whē I heare this, my body is vexed, my lippes tremble at ye voyce therof, my bones corruppe, I am afrayed where I stonde. O that I might rest in the daye of trouble, that I might go vp vnto oure people, which are alredy prepared.

For the fyge trees shal not be grene, & the vynes shal beare no frute. The laboure of ye olyue shalbe but lest, and the londe shall br nge no corne: the shepe shalbe taken out of ye folde, and there shalbe no catell in ye stalles. But as for me, I wil be glad in the LORDE, and will reioyce in God my Sauioure. 〈…〉 The LORDE God is my strength, he shall make my fete as the fete of hertes: & he which geueth ye victory, shal bringe me to my hye places, synginge vpon my psalmes.

The ende of the prophet Abacuc.
The Prophet Sophony. What Sophony conteyneth. Chap. I. He prophecieth of plages for to come vpon Iuda. Chap. II. He exorteth them to amēde, that they maye escape the wrath of God: and sheweth the Gentiles their punyshment. Chap. III. Punyshment because of the wickednesse of the Iewes: whom God therfore refused, and chose the Heithen.
The first Chapter.

THis is the worde of the LORDE, which came vnto Sophony the sonne of Chusi, the sonne of Gedolias, the sonne of Amarias ye sonne of Hezechias: in the tyme of Iosias the sonne of Amonkinge of Iuda. 〈…〉 I will gather vp all thinges in the londe (saieth the LORDE) I wil gather vp man and beest: I wil gather vp the foules in the ayre, and the fysh in the see (to the greate decaye of the wicked) & wil vtterly destroye the men out of the londe, saieth the LORDE. I wil stretch out myne honde vpon Iuda, and vpon all soch as dwel at Ierusalem. Thus wil I rote out the remnaunt of Baal from this place, and the names of the Kemuryns and prestes: yee & soch as vpon their house toppes worshipe & bowe them selues vnto the hoost of heauen: which sweare by the LORDE, 〈…〉 and by their Malchom also: which starte a backe from ye LORDE, and nether seke after the LORDE, ner regarde him.

Be still at ye presence of the LORDE God, for the daye of the LORDE is at honde: 〈…〉 yee the LORDE hath prepared a slayne offeringe, and called his gestes therto. And thus shall it happen in the daye of the LORDES a slaynofferynge: 〈…〉 I will vyset the prynces, the kinges children, & all soch as weere straū ge clothinge. In the same daye also wil I vyset all those, that treade ouer the thresholde so proudly, which fyll their lordes house wt robbery and falsede. At ye same tyme (saieth the LORDE) there shall be herde a greate crie from the fyshporte, and an howlinge from ye other porte, and a greate murthur from the hilles. Howle ye that dwel in the myll, for all the marchaunt people are gone, and all they that were laden with syluer, are roted out.

At the same tyme wil I seke thorow Ierusalem with lanternes, 〈…〉 and vyset them that contynue in their dregges, and saye in their hertes: Tush, the LORDE wil do nether good ner euell. Their goodes shalbe spoyled, and their houses layed waist. Amo 5. b They shall buylde houses, and not dwel in them: they shal plante vynyardes, but not drynke the wyne therof. Ioel. 2. a For the greate daye of the LORDE is at honde, it is harde by, & commeth on a pace. Horrible is ye tydinges of the LORDES daye, then shall the giaunte crie out: for that daye is a daye of wrath, a daye of trouble & heuynesse, a daye of vtter destruccion & mysery, a darcke & glomynge daye, a cloudy & stormy daye, a daye of the noyse of trompettes and shawmes, agaynst the stronge cities and hie towres. I wil bringe ye people into soch vexacion, that they shal go aboute like blinde mē, because they haue synned agaynst the LORDE. Their bloude shalbe shed as the dust, & their bodies as the myre. Eze. 7. d Nether their syluer ner their golde shalbe able to delyuer thē in that wrothfull daye of the LORDE, but the whole londe shalbe cōsumed thorow the fyre of his gelousy: Soph. 3. b for he shall soone make clene ryddaunce of all them that dwell in the londe.

The II. Chapter.

COme together and gather you, O ye frauwerde people: or ye thinge go forth that is concluded, & or the tyme be passed awaye as the dust: or the fearfull wrath of the LORDE come vpon you, yee or the daye of the LORDES sore displeasure come vpon you. Seke the LORDE all yee meke harted vpon earth, ye that worke after his iudgmēt:4. Re. 20. a Ione 3. a seke rightuousnesse, seke lowlynesse: that ye maye be defended in the wrothfull daye of ye LORDE. For Gaza shal be destroyed, Esa. 14. Iere. 47. a Eze. 25. c & Ascalon shall be layed waist: They shal cast out Aszdod at the noone daye, and Accaron shal be pluckte vp by the rotes.

Wo vnto you yt dwel vpon the see coost, ye murthurous people: the worde of ye LORDE shal come vpon you. O Canaan thou londe of the Philistynes, I wil destroye the, so that there shal no man dwel in the eny more: & as for the see coost, it shal be hyrdmens cotages & shepe foldes: yee it shalbe a porcion for soch as remayne of the house of Iuda, to fede ther vpon. In ye houses of Ascalon shal they rest towarde night: for the LORDE their God shal vyset thē, & turne awaye their captyuite. I haue herde the despite of Moab, & the blasphemies of the children of Ammon: Esa. 15.1 Iere. 48. a Eze. 5. b how they haue shamefully intreated my people, and magnified them selues within the borders of their londe. Therfore as truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE of hoostes the God of Israel) Moab shalbe as Sodome, & Ammon as Gomorra: euen drie thorne hedges, salt pittes and a perpetuall wyldernes. The residue of my folke shall spoyle them the remnaunt of my people shall haue them in possession. This shal happen vnto them for their pryde, Zach. 2. b because they haue dealte so shamefully with the LORDE of hoostes people, and magnified them selues aboue them. The LORDE shall be grymme vpon them, and destroye all the goddes in the londe. Esa. 2. c And all the Iles of the Heithen shal worshipe him, euery man in his place.

Ye Moriās also shal perish with my swerde: Yee he shall stretch out his honde ouer the north, and destroye Assur. As for Niniue, he shal make it desolate, drye and waist. The flockes and all the beastes of the people shall lye in the myddest of it, pellicanes and storckes shall abyde in the vpper postes of it, foules shal synge in the wyndowes, and rauens shal syt vpon the balckes, for the bordes of Cedre shalbe ryuē downe. This is the proude and carelesse cite,4. Re. 19 f Esa 47. b 34. c that sayde in hir herte: I am, and there is els none. O how is she made so waist, yt the beestes lye therin? Who so goeth by, mocketh her, and poynteth at her with his fynger.

The III. Chapter.

WO to the abhominable, fylthie and cruel cite: which wil not heare, ner be refourmed. Hir trust is not in the LORDE, nether wil she holde her to hir God. Hir rulers within her are as roaringe lyons: Eze. 22. c Mich. 3. c Abac. 1. b hir iudges are as wolues in the euenynge, which leaue nothinge behynde them till the morow. Hir prophetes are light personnes and vn faithfull men: hir prestes vnhalowe the Sanctuary, and do wronge vnder the pretence of the lawe. But the iust LORDE that doth no vnright, was amonge them, euery mornynge shewinge them his lawe clearly, and ceassed not. But the vngodly will not lerne to be aszshamed. Therfore wil I rote out this people, and destroye their towres: yee and make their stretes so voyde, that no man shall go therin. Their cities shall be brokē downe, so that no body shal be left, ner dwel there eny more.

I sayde vnto them: O feare me, and be cō tent to be refourmed. That their dwellinge shulde not be destroyed, and that there shulde happen vnto them none of these thinges, wherwith I shal vyset thē. But neuertheles they stonde vp early, to folowe the filthynes of their owne ymaginacions. Therfore ye shal waite vpon me (saieth the LORDE) vntil the tyme that I stonde vp: for I am determed, to gather the people and to bringe the kingdomes together, that I maye poure out myne anger, yee all my wrothfull displeasure vpon them. 〈…〉 For all the worlde shalbe consumed with the fyre of my gelousy. And then wil I clense the lippes of the people, that they 〈◊〉 euerychone call vpon the name of the LORDE, and serue him with one sh lder. So •• as I haue subdued, and my children also whom I haue scatred abrode, shal brynge me presentes beyonde the waters of Ethiopia.

In that tyme shalt thou nomore 〈◊〉 founded, because of all thy ymaginacion , wher thorow thou haddest offended me: 〈…〉 for I wil take awaye the proude boosters of thine honoure from the, so that thou shalt no more tryumphe because of my holy h ll. In the also wil I leaue a smal poore symple people, which shal trust in the name of the LORDE. The remnaunt of Israel shal do no wickednes, ner speakelyes: nether shal there eny disceatful tunge be founde in their mouthes. For they shal be fed, and take their rest, and no man shal make them afrayed. Geue th •• kes o doughter Siō, be ioyful o Israel: reioyce & be glad from thy whole herte, o doughter Ierusalem, for the LORDE hath taken awaye thy punyshment, and turned backe thine enemies. The kinge of Israel, euen the LORDE himself is with the: so that 〈…〉 nomore to feare eny myszfortune.

In that tyme it shall be sayed to Ierusa lem: feare not, and to Sion: let not thine h ndes be slacke, for the LORDE thy God is with the, it is he that hath power to saue: he hath a special pleasure in the, and a maruelous loue towarde the: yee he reioyseth ouer the 〈◊〉 gladnesse. Soch as haue bene in heuyn sse, wil I gather together, and take out of thy congregacion: as for the shame and 〈◊〉 that hath bene layed vpon the, it shal be f •• re from the. And lo, in yt tyme wil I destroy all those that vexe the: 〈…〉 I wil helpe the 〈◊〉 and gather vp the cast a waye: yee I wil get them honoure and prayse in all lōdes, where they haue bene put to shame. At ye same tyme wil I bringe you in, and at the same tyme wil I gather you. I wil get you a name and a good reporte, amonge all people of the earth, when I turne backe youre captiuyte before youre eyes, saieth the LORDE.

The ende of the prophet Sophony.
The Prophet Aggeus. What Aggeus conteyneth. Chap. I. He exorteth the people to buylde vp the tēple, and reproueth thei lōge tariēge. Chap. II. He geueth the rulers a corage. Of the ornamētes and glory of the seconde temple, wherby is vnderstōde the church of the faith full.
The first Chapter.

In the seconde yeare of kynge Darius, Esd. 6. a an. 5. c 〈…〉 a in the vj. moneth the first daye of the moneth, came the worde of the LORDE (by the prophet Aggeus) vnto Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel ye prynce of Iuda, Esd. . a Esd. .3. .5 and to Iesua the sonne of Iosedec the ye prest, sayenge: Thus speaketh the LORDE of hoostes, and saieth: This people doth saye: The tyme is not yet come to buylde vp the LORDES house. Then spake the LORDE by the prophet Aggeus & sayed: Ye yor selues can fynde tyme to dwell in syled houses, ere. 2 . b and shal this house lye waist? Considre now youre owne wayes in youre hertes (saieth ye LORDE of hoostes) ye sowe moch, but ye bringe litle in: Leui. 25. d ich. 6. b ice 4. b ala. 3. b Ye eate, but ye haue not ynough: ye drinke, but ye are not fylled: ye decke youre selues, but ye are not warme: & he yt earneth eny wage, putteth it in a broken purse.

Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: Cō sidre youre owne wayes in youre hertes, get you vp to the mountayne, fetch wod, & buylde vp to the house: Re. 8. d that it maye be acceptable vnto me, and that I maye shewe myne honoure, saieth the LORDE. Ye loked for moch, and lo it is come to litle: & though ye brynge it home, yet do I blowe it awaye. And why so, saieth the LORDE of hoostes? Euē because that my house lyeth so waist, Cor. 3. b . c Cor 6. c and ye renne euery man vnto his owne house. Wherfore the heauen is forbyddē to geue you eny dew, and the earth is forbydden to geue you encrease. eut. 28. d I haue called for a drouth, both vpō the londe & vpon the mountaynes, vpon corne, vpon wyne & vpon oyle, vpon euery thinge that the grounde bryngeth forth, vpon men and vpon catell, yee and vpon all handy laboure.

Now when Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, & Iesua the sonne of Iosedec the hye prest with the remnaunt of the people, herde the voyce of the LORDE their God, & the wordes of the prophet Aggeus (like as the LORDE their God had sent him) the people dyd feare the LORDE, Then Aggeus the LORDES angel sayed in the LORDES message vnto the people: I am wt you, Deut. 7 31. g Agg. 2. a Iere. 46 1. Esd. 5 a saieth the LORDE. So the LORDE waked vp the sprete of Zorobabel the prynce of Iuda, and the sprete of Iesua the sonne of Iosedec the hye prest, and the sprete of the remnaunt of all the people: yt they came & laboured, in the house of the LORDE of hoostes their God.

The II. Chaptyr.

VPon the xxii j. daye of the sixte moneth, in the secōde yeare of kinge Darius, the xxi. daye of the seuenth moneth, came the worde of the LORDE by the prophet Aggeus, sayenge: speake to Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel prynce of Iuda, and to Iesua the sonne of Iosedec the hye prest, and to the residue of ye people, & saye: Who is left amōge you,1. Esd. 3. that sawe this house in hir first beuty: But what thinke ye now by it? Is it not in youre eyes, euē as though it were nothinge? Neuerthelesse be of good chere, Deu. 31. Iosu. 1. o Zorobabel (saieth the LORDE) be of good conforte, o Iesua thou sonne of Iosedec, hye prest: take good hartes vnto you also, all ye people of the londe, saieth the LORDE of hoostes, and do acordinge to the worde (for I am with you, Agg. 1. saieth the LORDE of hoostes) like as I agreed with you, when ye came out of the londe of Egypte: & my sprete shalbe amonge you, feare ye not.

For thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: Yet once more will I shake heauē and earth, Heb. 12 the see and the drye lōde: Yee I will moue all Heithen, & the comforte of all Heithen shall come, & so wil I fyll this house with honoure, saieth the LORDE of hoostes. The syluer is myne, & the golde is myne, Deut. saieth the LORDE of hoostes. Thus ye glory of the last house shalbe greater thē the first, saieth the LORDE of hoostes: & in this place wil I geue peace, saieth the LORDE of hoostes.

The xxiiij. daye of the ix moneth in these conde yeare of kinge Darius, came the worde of the LORDE vnto the prophet Aggeus sayenge: Thus saieth ye LORDE God of hoostes: Axe the prestes concernynge the lawe, & saye: Iere. 11 Yf one beare holy flesh in his cote lappe, & with his lappe do touch the bred, potage, wyne, oyle or eny other meate: shall he be holy also? The prestes answered, & saide: No. Then sayde Aggeus: Now yf one beynge defyled with a deed carcase, touch eny of the se: shall it also be vnclene? The prestes gaue answere & sayed: yee, it shall be vnclene. Leui. 5.11. d Nu. 19. Thē Aggeus answered, and sayde: Euen so is this people & this nacion before me, saieth ye LORDE: and so are all the workes of their hōdes, yee and all that they offre, is vnclene.

And now (I praye you) cōsidre from this daye forth, and how it hath gone with you afore: or euer there was layed one stone vpō another in the temple of the LORDE: that when ye came to a corne heape of xx. busshels, gg. 1. a there were scarceten: and that when ye came to the wyne presse for to poure out L. pottes of wyne, there were scarce xx. For I smote you with heate, blastinge & hale stones in all the labours of youre hondes: yet was there none of you, that wolde turne vnto me, saieth the LORDE. Considre then from this daye forth and afore, namely, from the xxiiij. daye of the ix. moneth, vnto the daye that the foundacion of the LORDES temple was layed: ch. 8. b Marck it well, Is not the sede yet in the barne? haue not the vynes, the fygetrees, the pomgranates and olyue trees bene yet vnfrutefull? but frō this daye forth, I shal make them to prospere.

Morouer the xxiiij. daye of the moneth came the worde of the LORDE vnto Aggeus agayne, sayenge: Speake to Zorobabel the prynce of Iuda, and saye: I will shake both heauen and earth, and ouerthrowe the seate of the kingdomes, yee & destroye the mightie kingdome of the Heithē. I wil ouerthrowe the charettes, and those that syt vpon them, so that both horse and man shal fall downe, euery man thorow his neghbours swerde. And as for the, o Zorobabel (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) thou sonne of Salathiel, my seruaunt: I wil take the (saieth the LORDE) at the same tyme, and make the as a seale for I haue chosen the, saieth the LORDE of hoostes.

The ende of the prophet Aggeus.
The Prophet Zachary. What Zachary conteyneth. Chap. I. He exorteth the people, not to be disobedient to the voyce of God, as their forefathers were, but to conuerte: and he sheweth them ioyfull thinges in visions. Chap. II. Visions, signifienge the delyueraunce out of the captiuyte of Babilon, and the redempcion in Christ. Chap. III. A vision in Iesua, signifienge the LORDE Iesus oure hye prest. Chap. IIII. Another vision, wherin Zorobabel is conforted with his litle nombre of people. The right mystery herof belongeth vnto Chap. V. The wrath of God for the (Christ synnes of the people. Chap. VI. A vision, wherin is declared the almighty power of God, which geueth peace or warre at his pleasure. Chap. VII. What the true fast is: namely, to kepe iudgment and iustice, a man to do good to his neghboure, to defende the widdowe and the fatherlesse, to do no man wronge, &c. Chap. VIII. Cause of all the wrath of God: yet yf men wil turne, he is mercifull. Chap. IX. The ioyfull callinge of the Heithē. Chap. X. Thorow corporal promises, the prophet ledeth men vnto the promises that are fulfilled in Christ: and threateneth punyshment vnto the false prophetes and shepherdes. Chap. XI. Of secrete mysteries, and of the destrucciō of the secōde temple. God is a good shepherde. Chap. XII. The punyshment which the LORDE deuysed for Israel. Chap XIII. Of welles and clensynge, which belonge to the tyme of Christ. Chap. XIIII. The plage of the Iewes. The takynge vp of Ierusalem the church of God.
The first Chapter.

IN the eight moneth of the secōde yeare of kinge Darius, came the worde of the LORDE vnto Zachary the sonne of Barachias, the sonne of Addo, 〈…〉 the prophet, sayenge: The LORDE hath bene sore displeased at youre forefathers. And saye thou vnto them: thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes. Turne you vnto me (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) and I wil turne me vnto you, 〈…〉 saieth the LORDE of hoostes. Iere. 〈…〉 Psal. 〈…〉 Be not ye like youre forefathers, vnto whom the prophetes cried afore tyme, sayēge: Thus saieth the LORDE God of hoostes: 〈…〉 Turne you from youre euell wayes, & from youre wicked ymaginacions. But they wolde not heare, 〈…〉 ner regarde me, saieth the LORDE. What is now become of youre forefathers and the prophetes? are they yet still alyue? But dyd not my wordes & statutes (which I cōmaunded by my seruauntes yt prophetes) touch yor forefathers? Vpō this, they gaue answere & sayde: like as ye LORDE of hoostes deuysed to do vnto vs, acordinge to or owne wayes & ymaginacions, euen so hath he dealte with vs.

Vpon the xxiiij. daye of the xj. moneth (which is the moneth Sebat) in the seconde yeare of Darius, came the worde of the LORDE vnto Zachary the sonne of Barachias, the sonne of Addo the prophete, sayenge: I sawe by night, and lo, there sat one vpon a reade horse, 〈…〉 and stode still amonge the Myrte trees, that were beneth vpon the grounde: and behynde him were there reade, spreckled and whyte horses.

Then sayde I: O my LORDE, what are these? And the angel that talked with me, sayed vnto me: I will shewe the what these be. And the man that stode amōge the Myrte trees, answered & sayde: These are they, whom the LORDE hath sent to go thorow the worlde. And they answered the angel of the LORDE, that stode amonge the Myrte trees, and sayde: We haue gone thorow the worlde: and beholde, all the worlde dwell at case, and are carelesse.

Then the LORDES angel gaue answere and sayde: O LORDE of hoostes, how longe wilt thou be vnmercifull to Ierusalē and to the cities of Iuda, ere. 25. b 〈◊〉 . b 〈◊〉 . 1. a with whom thou hast bene displeased now these lxx. yeares? So the LORDE gaue a louynge and a confortable answere, vnto the angel that talked with me. And the angel that commoned with me, sayde vnto me: Crie thou, and speake, thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: I am exceadynge gelous ouer Ierusalem and Sion, and sore displeased at the carelesse Heithen: for where as I was but a litle angrie, they dyd their best that I might destroye them. Therfore thus saieth the LORDE: •• ch. . a I wil turne me agayne in mercy towarde Ierusalem, so that my house shalbe buylded in it, saieth the LORDE of hoostes: yee and the plommet shal be layed abrode in Ierusalem, saieth the LORDE of hoostes.

Crie also, and speake: thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: My cities shall be in good prosperite agayne, the LORDE shall yet conforte Sion, and chose Ierusalem. Then lift I vp myne eyes and sawe, and beholde, foure hornes. And I sayde vnto the angel, that talked with me: what be these? he answered me: 〈…〉 These are ye hornes, which haue scatred Iuda, Israel and Ierusalem abrode. And ye LORDE shewed me iiij. carpenters. Then sayde I: what wil these do? He answered, & sayde: Those are the hornes, which haue so strowed Iuda abrode, that no man durst lift vp his heade: But these are come to fraye them awaye, and to cast out ye hornes of the Gentiles, which lift vp their horne ouer the londe of Iuda, to scatre it abrode.

The II. Chapter.

I Lift vp myne eyes agayne, & loked: and beholde, ze. 43. b Apo. 1. c a man with a measure lyne in his honde. Then saide I: whether goest thou? And he sayde vnto me: To measure Ierusalem, that I maye se how longe and how brode it is. And beholde, the angel that talked wt me, wente his waye forth. Then wēte there out another angel to mete him, & sayde vnto him: Runne, speake to this yongeman, & saye: Ierusalem shal be inhabited without eny wal, for ye very multitude of people & catell, yt shal be therin. Deut. 4 Zach. Yee I myself (saieth the LORDE) wil be vnto her a wall of fyre rounde aboute, & wilbe honoured in her.

O get you forth, O fle from the londe of ye north (saieth the LORDE) ye, Iere. 23. whom I haue scatred in to the foure wyndes vnder heauē, saieth the LORDE. Saue thy self, o Sion: thou that dwellest with ye doughter of Babilon, for thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: With a glorious power hath he sent me out to the Heithē, which spoyled you: Iere. 2. a 20. d. 30 Psal. 1 . Esa. 14 for who so toucheth you, shal touche the aple of his owne eye. Beholde, I will lift vp myne honde ouer them: so that they shal be spoyled of those, which afore serued them: & ye shal knowe, that the LORDE of hoostes hath sent me.

Be glad, & reioyce, o doughter of Sion: Exo. 25 Matt. 2 for lo, I am come to dwell in the myddest of the, saieth the LORDE. At the same tyme there shal many Heithen cleue to the LORDE, & shal be my people. Thus wil I dwel in the myddest of the, & thou shalt knowe, that the LORDE of hoostes hath sent me vnto the. The LORDE shall haue Iuda in possession for his parte in the holy grounde, & shal chose Ierusalem yet agayne. Soph. Let all flesh be still before the LORDE, for he is rysen out of his holy place.

The III. Chapter.

ANd he shewed me Iesua ye hye prest, stondinge before the angel of the LORDE, Psal. 10 Matt. Iude 1. and Satan stode at his right honde to resiste him. And the LORDE sayde vnto Satan: The LORDE reproue the (thou Satan) yee the LORDE that hath chosen Ierusalem, reproue the. Is not this a brande takē out of the fyre? Now Iesua was clothed in vnclene rayment, and stode before the angel: which answered & sayde vnto those, yt stode before him: take awaye ye foule clothes from him. And vnto him he sayde: Beholde, I haue takē awaye thy synne from the, & wil decke the with chaunge of raymēt. He sayde morouer: set a fayre myter vpon his heade. So they set a fayre myter vpon his heade, & put on clothes vpon him, and the angel of ye LORDE stode there. Then the angel of the LORDE testified vnto Iesua, & spake, thus sayeth the LORDE of hoostes: Yf thou wilt walke in my wayes, & kepe my watch: thou shalt rule my house, & kepe my courtes, & I wil geue the place amōge these that stonde here. Heare o Iesua thou hye prest, thou & thy frendes that dwell before the, for they are wōderous people. 〈◊〉 . 47. a ach. 6. b ere. 2 . a c sa. 28. c Pet. . a 〈◊〉 . 3. a Beholde, I will bringe forth the braunch of my seruaunt: for lo, the stone that I haue layed before Iesua: vpon one stone shalbe vij. eyes. Beholde, I will hewe him out (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) and take awaye the synne of that londe in one daye. Then shall euery man call for his neghboure, vnder the vyne & vnder ye fygetre, saieth the LORDE of hoostes.

The IIII. Chap.

ANd ye angel that talked with me, came agayne, & waked me vp (as a man that is raysed out of his slepe) & sayde vnto me: What seist thou? And I sayde: I haue loked, and beholde: a candelsticke all of golde, with a boll vpon it & his vij. lampes therin, 〈◊〉 . 11 a & vpon euery lampe vij. stalkes: And ij. olyue trees therby, one vpon the right syde of the boll, & the other vpon the left syde. So I answered, & spake to the angel yt talked with me, sayenge: O my lorde what are these? The angel that talked with me, answered & sayde vnto me: knowest thou not what these be? And I sayde: No, my lorde. He answered, & sayde vnto me: This is the worde of the LORDE vnto Zorobabel, sayenge: Nether thorow an hoost of men, ner thorow strēgth, 〈◊〉 11. a but thorow my sprete, saieth ye LORDE of hoostes. What art thou (thou greate mountayne) before Zorobabel? thou must be made eauen. 〈◊〉 . 28. c And he shal bringe vp the first stone, so that men shall crie vnto him: good lucke, good lucke.

Morouer, the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, 〈◊〉 . 1. a sayenge: The hondes of Zorobabel haue layed ye foundacion of this house, his hondes also shal fynishe it: that ye maye knowe, eut. 18. d how that the LORDE of hoostes hath sent me vnto you. For he that hath bene despysed a litle season, shal reioyce, whē he seyth the tynne weight in Zorobabels honde. The vij. eyes are the LORDES, which go thorow the hole worlde. Then answered I, & sayde vnto him: What are these two olyue trees vpon the right and left syde of the candilsticke? I spake morouer, & sayde vnto him: what be these ij. olyue braunches which (thorow ye two golden pipes) emptie them selues in to the golde? He answered me, & sayde: knowest thou not, what these be? And I sayde: No, my lorde. Then sayde he: These are the two olyue braunches, poc. 11. a that stonde before the ruler of the whole earth.

The V. Chapter.

SO I turned me liftynge vp myne eyes, & loked, & beholde, a flyenge boke. And he sayde vnto me: what seist thou? I answered: I se a flyenge boke of xx. cubites longe & x. cubites brode. Then sayde he vnto me: This is the curse, yt goeth forth ouer the whole earth: For all theues shalbe iudged after this boke, & all swearers shalbe iudged acordinge to the same. I wil bringe it forth (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) so yt it shal come to the house of the thefe, 〈…〉 & to the house of him, that falsely sweareth by my name: & shal remayne in his house, & cōsume it, with the tymbre & stones therof. Thē the angel that talked with me, wente forth, & sayde vnto me: lift vp thine eyes & se, what this is yt goeth forth. And I sayde: what is it? He answered: this is a measure goinge out. He sayde morouer: Euen thus are they (yt dwell vpon the whole earth) to loke vpon. And beholde, there was lift vp a talent of leade: & lo, a woman sat in the myddest of the measure. And he sayde: This is vngodlynesse. So he cast her in to the myddest of the measure, & threwe ye lompe of leade vp in to an hole.

Then lift I vp myne eyes, & loked: & beholde, there came out ij. women, & the wynde was in their wynges (for they had wynges like the wynges of a Storke) & they lif vp the measure betwixte the earth & the heauen. Then spake I to the angel, yt talked wt me: whyther wil these beare the measure? And he sayde vnto me: 〈…〉 in to the londe of Synear, to buylde them an house: which when it is prepared, the measure shall be set there in his place.

The VI. Chapter.

MOrouer I turned me, liftynge vp myne eyes, & loked: & beholde, there came iiij. charettes out frō betwixte two hilles, which hilles were of brasse: 〈…〉 In the first charet were reade horse, In the secō de charet were blacke horse, In ye thirde charet were whyte horse, In ye fourth charet were horses of dyuerse colours, & stronge. Then spake I, and sayde vnto the angel that talked with me: O lorde, what are these The angel answered, & sayde vnto me: 〈…〉 These are the iiij. wyndes of the heauen, which be come forth to stōde before the ruler of all ye earth. That with the blacke horse wente in to the londe of the north, & the whyte folowed thē, and the sprekled horses wente forth towarde the south. These horses were very stronge, & wente out: and sought to go and take their iourney ouer the whole earth. And he sayde: get you hence, and go thorow the worlde. So they wēte thorow out the worlde. Then cried he vpon me, and spake vnto me, sayenge: Beholde, these that go towarde ye north, shal still my wrath in the north countre.

And the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Take of the presoners that are come from Babilon: namely, Heldai, Tobias and Idaia: & come thou the same daye, and go in to the house of Iosias the sonne of Sophony. Then take golde and syluer, and make crownes therof, and set them vpon the heade of Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, the hie prest, and speake vnto him: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: Beholde, the man whose name is the braunch: ach 3. b sal. 126. a & he that shall springe vp after him, shal buylde vp the temple of the LORDE: yee euen he shall buylde vp the temple of the LORDE. Apo. 4. b b He shal beare the prayse, he shall syt vpon the LORDES trone, and haue the dominacion.

〈◊〉 . 109. a •• b. 5.6 8.9.10A prest shall he be also vpon his trone, & a peaceable councell shalbe betwixte them both. And the crownes shal be in the temple of the LORDE, for a remembraunce vnto Helem, Tobias, Idaia and Hen the sonne of Sophony. And soch as be farre of, shal come and buylde the temple of the LORDE: that ye maye knowe, how that the LORDE of hoostes hath sent me vnto you. And this shal come to passe, yf ye wil herken diligently vnto the voyce of the LORDE youre God.

The VII. Chapter.

IT happened also in the fourth yeare of kynge Darius, that the worde of the LORDE came vnto Zachary in the fourth daye of the ix. moneth, which is calleth Casle : what tyme as Sarasar and Rogomelech and the men that were with them, sent vnto Bethel for to praye before ye LORDE: and that they shulde saye vnto the prestes, which were in the house of the LORDE of hoostes, and to the prophetes: Shulde I wepe in the fyfte moneth, Re. 25. b and absteyne, as I haue done now certayne yeares? Then came the worde of the LORDE of hoostes vnto me, sayenge: Speake vnto all the people of the londe, and to the prestes, and saye: when ye fasted and mourned in the v & vij. moneth (now this lxx. yeares) dyd ye fast vnto me? •• re. 41. a Re. 5. d When ye ate also and dronke, dyd ye not eate and drinke for youre owne selues? Are not these the wordes, which the LORDE spake by his prophetes afore tyme, when Ierusalem was yet inhabited and welthy, she and the cities rounde aboute her: when there dwelt mē, both towarde the south and in the playne countrees?

And the worde of the LORDE came vnto Zachary, sayenge: Thus saieth ye LORDE of hoostes: Execute true iudgment: shewe mercy and louynge kyndnesse, Zach. Exo. 22. Leui. 19 Iob 24. a Iere. 7. a euery man to his brother: Do the wyddowe, the fatherlesse, the straunger, and poore no wronge: and let no man ymagen euell agaynst his brother in his hert. Iere. 7. Neuertheles they wolde not take hede, but turned their backes, and stopped their eares, that they shulde not heare. yee they made their hertes as an Adamant stone, lest they shulde heare the lawe & wordes,2. Pet. 1. which the LORDE of hoostes sent in his holy sprete by the prophetes afore tyme.

Wherfore the LORDE of hoostes was very wroth at them. And thus is it come to passe, Iere. 11. that like as he spake and they wolde not heare: euen so they cried, and I wolde not heare (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) but scatered them amonge all Gentiles, whom they knewe not. Thus the londe was made so desolate, yt there traualed no man in it nether to ner fro, for that pleasaunt londe was vtterly layed waist.

The VIII. Chapter.

SO the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: I was in a greate gelousy ouer Sion, yee I haue bene very gelous ouer her in a greate displeasure. thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: I wil turne me agayne vnto Sion, and wil dwel in the myddest of Ierusalem: Esa. 1. d so that Ierusalem shalbe called a faithfull and true cite, the hill of the LORDE of hoostes, yee an holy hill.

Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: There shall yet olde men and women dwel agayne in the stretes of Ierusalem: yee and soch as go with staues in their hondes for very age. The stretes of the cite also shalbe full of yonge boyes and damselles, playnge vpon the stretes.

Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: yf the residue of this people thynke it to be vnpossible in these dayes, shulde it therfore be vnpossible in my sight, Mat. 1 sayeth the LORDE of hoostes? Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: Beholde, I wil delyuer my people from the londe of the east and west, and wil brynge them agayne: that they maye dwel at Ierusalem. They shalbe my people, Iere. 3. f Heb. 8. Apo. 21. and I will be their God, in trenth and rightuousnesse. Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: let youre hondes be stronge, ye that now heare these wordes by the mouth of the prophetes, which be in these dayes that the foundacion is layed vpon the LORDE of hoostes house, that the temple maye be buylded. For why? Agg. 1. before these dayes nether men ner catel coude wynne eny thinge, nether might eny man come in and out in rest, for trouble: but I let euery man go agaynst his neghboure.

Neuerthelesse I wil now intreate the residue of this people nomore, as afore tyme (saieth the LORDE of hoostes) but they shalbe a sede of peace. gg. 2. c The vynyarde shal geue hir frute, the grounde shal geue hir increase, and the heauens shal geue their dew: and I shal cause the remnaunt of this people, to haue all these in possession. And it shall come to passe, that like as ye were a curse amonge the Heithen (O ye house of Iuda and ye house of Israel) Euen so wil I delyuer you, that ye shalbe a blessynge: feare not, but let youre hō des be stronge.

For thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: like as I deuysed to punysh you, what tyme as youre fathers prouoked me vnto wrath (sayeth the LORDE of hoostes) and spared not: Euen so am I determed now in these dayes, for to do wel vnto the house of Iuda and Ierusalem, therfore feare ye not. Now the thinges that ye shal do, e. 4. c ch. 7. b a. 2 b are these: Speake euery man the treuth vnto his neghboure, execute iudgment truly and peaceably within youre portes, none of you ymagyn euell in his hert agaynst his neghboure, and loue no false oothes: for all these are the thinges that I hate, sayeth the LORDE. And the worde of the LORDE of hoostes came vnto me, sayenge: thus sayeth the LORDE of hoostes: The fast of the fourth moneth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seuenth, and the fast of the tenth, shal be ioye and gladnesse, & prosperous hye feastes vnto the house of Iuda: Only, loue the treuth and peace.

Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: There shall yet come people, and the inhabiters of many cities: and they that dwell in one cite, 〈…〉 shal go to another, sayenge Vp, let vs go, and praye before the LORDE, •• t vs seke the LORDE of hoostes, I wil go with you. Yee moch people and mightie Heithen shal come and seke the LORDE of hoostes at Ierusalem, and to praye before the LORDE. Thus saieth the LORDE of hoostes: In that tyme shal ten men (out of all maner of languages of the Gentiles) take one Iewe by the hemme of his garment, and saye: we wil go with you, for we haue herde, that God is amonge you.

The IX. Chapter.

THe worde of the LORDE shalbe receaued at Adrach, & Damascus shal be his offerynge: for the eyes of all mē and of the trybes of Israel shall loke vp vnto the LORDE. The borders of Hemath shal be harde therby, Tyrus also & Sidon, for they are very wise. 〈…〉 Tyrus shal make hirself stronge, heape vp syluer as the sonde, and golde as the claye of the stretes. Beholde, the LORDE shal take her in, and haue her in possession: he shal smyte downe hir power in to the see, 〈…〉 and she shalbe consumed with fyre. This shal Ascalon se, and be afrayed. Gaza shalbe very sory, so shal Accaron also, 〈…〉 because hir hope is come to confucion. For the kinge of Gaza shall perish, and at Ascalon shal no man dwel.

Straūgers shall dwel at Aszdod, & as for ye pryde of ye Philistynes, I shal rote it out. Their bloude will I take awaye from their mouth, 〈…〉 and their abhominaciōs from amonge their teth. Thus they shal be left for oure God, yee they shalbe as a prynce in Iuda, & Accaron like as Iebusi. And so will I compase my house rounde aboute with my men of warre, goinge to and fro: that no oppressoure come vpon them eny more. For that haue I sene now with myne eyes.

Reioyce thou greatly, o doughter Sion: be glad, o doughter Ierusalem. For lo, Esa. 〈…〉 Ioh. 〈…〉 thy kinge commeth vnto the, euen the rightuous and Sauioure: Lowly and symple is he, he rydeth vpon an asse, and vpō the foale of an asse. I wil rote out the charettes frō Ephraim, & the horse from Ierusalem, the batel bowes shalbe destroyed. He shall geue the doctryne of peace vnto the Heithen, Psal. 〈…〉 and his dominion shalbe from the one see to the other, & from the floudes to the endes of the worlde.

Thou also thorow the bloude of thy couenaunt: Esa 〈…〉 Apo. 〈…〉 shalt let thy presoners out of the pytte, wherin is no water. Turne you now to the stronge holde, ye that be in preson, 〈…〉 & longe sore to be delyuered: And this daye I bringe the worde, that I wil rewarde the dubble agayne. For Iuda haue I bent out as a bowe for me, and Ephraim haue I fylled.

Thy sonnes (o Siō) wil I rayse vp agaynst the Grekes, and make the as a giauntes swearde: the LORDE God shalbe sene aboue thē, and his dartes shall go forth as the lightenynge. The LORDE God shall blowe the trompet, and shal come forth as a storme out of the south.

The LORDE of hoostes shall defende thē, 〈…〉 they shall consume and deuoure, and subdue them with slynge stones. They shal drynke & rage, as it were thorow wyne. They shalbe fylled like ye basens, & as ye hornes of ye aulter. The LORDE their God shal delyuer thē in ye daye, as the flock off his people: for the stonēs off his Sanctuary shalbe set vp in his lā de. O how prosperous and goodly a thynge shall that be? The corne shall make the yonge men chearefull, and the new wyne the maydens.

The X. Chapter.

PRaye the LORDE then bytymes to geue you the latter rayne, so shall the LORDE make cloudes, 〈…〉 and geue you rayne ynough for all the increace off the felde: For vayne is the answere of Idols. The soythsayers se lyes, and tell but vayne dreames: the comforth that they geue, is nothynge worth. Therfore go they astraye like a flocke of shepe, ād are troubled, because they haue no shepherde. 〈…〉 My wrothfull displeasure is moued at the shepherdes, and I will vyset the goates. For the LORDE of hoostes wil graciously vyset his flocke (the house of Iuda) and holde them as a goodly fayre horse in the batell. 〈◊〉 . 12. d 〈◊〉 . 1 . b Out of Iuda shal come the helmet, the nale, the batelbowe, and all the princes together. They shalbe as the giauntes, which in the batell treade downe the myre vpon ye stretes. They sha fight, for ye LORDE shalbe with them, so that the horsmen shalbe confounded.

I wil cōforte the house of Iuda, and preserue the house of Ioseph. I wil turne them also, for I pytie them: and they shal be like as they were, when I had not cast them of. For I the LORDE am their God, and wil heare them. Ephraim shalbe as a giaunt, and their herte shalbe cherefull as thorow wyne: Yee their children shal se it, and be glad, and their herte shal reioyce in the LORDE. I wil blowe for them & gather them together, for I wil redeme them. They shall increace, as they increased afore. I wil sowe thē amonge the people, yt they maye thinke vpō me in farre countrees: they shal lyue wt their childrē, and turne agayne. I wil bringe them agayne also from the londe of Egipte, and gather them out of Assiria. I wil carye them in to ye londe of Galaad and to Libanus, and they shal wante nothynge. He shall go vpon the see of trouble and smyte the see wawes: so yt all the depe floudes shalbe dryed vp. The proude boostinge of Assur shalbe cast downe, 〈◊〉 10. a at. 29 and the scepter off Egipte shall be taken awaye. I will comforte them in the LORDE, that they maye walke in his name, saieth the LORDE.

The XI. Chapter.

OPen thy dores (o Libanus) that the fyre maye consume thy Cedre trees. Howle ye Fyrre trees, for the Cedre is fallē, yee all ye proude are waisted awaye Howle (o ye oke trees of Baasan) for ye mightie stronge wod is cut downe. Men maye heare the shepherdes mourne, for their glory is destroyed. Mē maye heare the lyons whelpes roare, for the pryde off Iordane is waisted awaye.

Thus sayeth the LORDE my God: Fede the shepe of ye slaughter, which shalbe slayne of those that possesse them: yet they take it for no synne, but they yt sell thē, saye: The LORDE be thanked, I am rich: Yee their owne shepherdes spare them not. Therfore wil I nomore spare those that dwell in the londe (sayeth the LORDE) but lo, I will delyuer the people, euery man in to his neghbours honde, and in to the hōde of his kynge: that they maye smyte the londe, and out off their hondes wil not I delyuer them.

I myself fedde ye slaughter shepe (a poore flocke verely) ād toke vnto me two staues: the one I called louynge mekenesse, the other I called wo, and so I kepte the shepe. Thre shepherdes destroyed I in one moneth, for I might not awaye wt them, Apo. 22. nether had they eny delyte in me. Then sayde I: I will fede you nomore, the thinge that dyeth, let it dye: and that wil perishe, let it perish, & let the rē naunt eate, euery one the flesh of his neghboure. I toke also my louynge meke staff, ād brake it, that I might disanuil the conuenaunt, which I made with all people, And so it was broken in that daye.

Then the poore symple shepe that had a respecte vnto me, knewe therby, that it was the worde of the LORDE. And I sayde vnto them: yff ye thynke it good, brynge hither my pryce: yf no, then leaue. So they wayed downe xxx. syluer pens, ye value that I was prysed at. And the LORDE sayde vnto me: Matt. 27 cast it vnto the potter (a goodly pryce for me to be valued at of them) and I toke the xxx. syluers pens, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORDE.

Then brake I my other staff also (namely wo) that I might lowse the brother heade betwixte Iuda and Israel. And the LORDE sayde vnto me: Take to the also the staff off a foolish shepherde: for lo, I will rayse vp a shepherde in the londe, which shall not seke after the thinges that be lost, ner care for soch as go astraye: he shall not heale the wounded, he shal not norish the thinge that is whole: but he shall eate the flesh off soch as be fat, and teare their clawes in peces.

O Idols shepherde, that leaueth the flocke. The swerde shal come vpon his arme and vpon his right eye. His arme shalbe clene dried vp, and his right eye shalbe sore blynded.

The XII. Chapter. The heuy burthen which ye LORDE hath deuysed for Israel.

THus saieth the LORDE, which spred the heauēs abrode, Esa. 40. c 4. c. 45. b Gen. 2. b layde the foundacion of the earth, and geueth man ye breath of life: Beholde, I will make Ierusalem a cuppe of surfet, vnto all the people yt are rounde aboute her: Yee Iuda himself also shalbe in the sege agaynst Ierusalem. zac. 14. c At the same tyme will I make Ierusalem an heuy stone for all people, so that all soch as lift it vp, shalbe toarne and rēte, and all the people of the earth shalbe gathered together agaynst it.

In that daye (sayeth ye LORDE) I wil make all horses abasshed, and those that ryde vpon them, to be out of their wyttes. I will open myne eyes vpon the house of Iuda, ād smyte all the horses of the people with blyndnesse. And the prynces of Iuda shall saye in their hertes: The inhabiters off Ierusalem shall geue me consolacion in the LORDE off hoostes their God. In that tyme will I make the prynces of Iuda like an hote burnynge ouen with wodd, Abd. 1. d mo . 1. a and like a cress het off fyre amonge the strawe: so that they shal cō sume all the people roūde aboute them, both vpon the right honde and the left. Ierusalē also shalbe inhabited agayne: namely, in the same place where Ierusalem stondeth.

The LORDE shall preserue the tentes off Iuda like as afore tyme: so that the glory of the house of Dauid and the glory of the cytesyns of Ierusalem, shalbe but litle regarded, in comparison off the glory off Iuda. In that daye shall the LORDE defende the citesyns of Ierusalem: so that the weakest then amonge them shalbe as Dauid: and the house of Dauid shalbe like as Gods house, Re. 17. f and as the angell off the LORDE before them.

At the same tyme will I go aboute to destroye all soch people as come agaynst Ierusalem. ze. 36. d oel. 2. f ct. 2. b Morouer, vpon the house off Dauid and vpon the citesyns off Ierusalem, will I poure out the sprete of grace and prayer: so that they shal loke vpon me, 〈…〉 whom they haue pearsed: and they shall be wepe him, as men mourne for their only begotten sonne: Yee and be sory for him, as men are sory for their first childe.

Then shall there be a greate mournynge at Ierusalem, 〈…〉 like as the lamentacion at Adremnon in the felde off Maggadon. 〈…〉 And the londe shall bewayle, euery kynred by thē selues: The kynred off the house of Dauid them selues alone, and their wyues by them selues: 〈…〉 The kynred off the house of Nathan them selues alone, and their wyues by them selues: The kynred off the house of Leui thē selues alone, and their wiues by them selues: The kynred of the house of Semei them selues alone, and their wyues by them selues: In like maner, all the other generaciōs, euerychone by them selues alone, and their wyues by them selues.

The XIII. Chapter.

IN that tyme shall the house off Dauid and the citesyns off Ierusalem haue an open well, 〈…〉 to wash of synne and vnclennesse. And then (sayeth the LORDE off hoostes) I will destroye the names of Idols out off the londe: Esa. 〈…〉 so that they shal nomore be put in remembraunce.

As for the false prophetes also and the vnclene sprete, 〈…〉 I shall take them out of the londe: So that yf eny off them prophecy eny more, his owne father and mother that begat him, shall saye vnto him: Thou shalt dye, 〈…〉 for thou speakest lyes vnder the name off the LORDE: Yee his owne father and mother that begat him, shall wounde him, when he prophecyeth. And then shall those prophetes be confounded, euery one off his vision when he prophecieth: nether shall they weere sack clothes eny more, to disceaue mē with all. But he shall be fayne to saye: 〈…〉 I am no prophet: I am an husbonde man, for so am I taught by Adam fro my youth vp. 〈…〉 And yff it be sayde vnto him: How came these woundes then in thine hondes? He shall answere: Thus am I wounded in the house off myne owne frendes.

Arise (o thou swearde) vpon my shepherde, and vpon the prynce of my people, 〈…〉 sayeth the LORDE of hoostes: Smyte the shepherde and the shepe shalbe scatred abrode, and so will I turne myne honde to the litle ones. And it shal come to passe (sayeth the LORDE) that in all the londe two partes shalbe roted out, 〈…〉 but the thirde parte shal remayne therin. And the same thirde parte wil I brynge thorow the fyre, 〈◊〉 . 3. a 〈◊〉 . 43. a 〈◊〉 . 6. a 〈◊〉 6 . b 〈◊〉 . 1. b 〈…〉 . a 〈◊〉 3. a 〈◊〉 1. a and will clense them, as the syluer is clensed: Yee and trye them, like as golde is tryed.

Then shall they call vpon my name, and I wil heare them: I will saye: it is my people. And they shal saye: LORDE, my God.

The XIIII. Chapter.

BEholde, the daye of the LORDE cō meth, that thou shalt be spoyled and robbed: for I wil gather together all the Heithen, to fight agaynst Ierusalem: so that the cite shalbe wonne, the houses spoyled, and the women defyled. The half of the cite shal go awaye in to captiuyte, and the residue of the people shal not be caried out of the cite.

After that shall the LORDE go forth to fight agaynst those Heithen, as men vse to fight in the daye of batell. Thē shall his fete stōde vpō the mount oliuete, that lieth vpon the east syde of Ierusalē. And ye mount olyuete shal cleue in two, eastwarde, & westwarde so yt there shal be a greate valley: & the halff mount shal remoue towarde the north, and the other half towarde the south.

And ye shall fle vnto the valley of my hilles, for the valley off the hylles shal reach vnto Asal. Yee fle shall ye. like as yefled for the earthquake in the dayes off Osias kynge of Iuda. 〈◊〉 1. a And the LORDE my God shal come, and all sanctes with him. In that daye shal it not be light, 〈…〉 . c but colde and frost. This shalbe that specyall daye, which is knowne vnto the LORDE: nether daye ner night, but aboute the euenynge tyme it shal be light. In that tyme shall there waters of life runne out from Ierusalem: 〈…〉 the half parte of them towarde the east see, ād the other half towarde the vttemost see, and shall continue both somer and wynter. And the LORDE himself shalbe kynge ouer all the earth. 〈…〉

At that tyme shal there be one LORDE only, and his name shalbe but one. Men shal go aboute the whole earth, as vpon a felde: from Gibea to Remmon, and from ye south to Ierusalem She shalbe set vp, and inhabited in hir place: 〈…〉 From Ben Iamins porte, vnto the place of the first porte, 〈…〉 and vnto ye corner porte: and from the tower of Hanael, vnto the kynges wyne presses. There shall men dwell, and there shal be nomore cursinge, but Ierusalem shalbe safely inhabited.

This shalbe the plage, wherwith ye LORDE wil smyte all people, that haue fought agaynst Ierusalem: Namely, their flesh shall consume awaye, though they stonde vpon their fete: their eyes shall corruppe in their holes, and their tunge shal consume in their mouth.

In that daye shall the LORDE make a greate sedicion amōge them, so that one mā shal take another by the honde, and laye his hondes vpon the hondes of his neghboure. Iuda shal fight also agaynst Ierusalem, zach. 12. a ād the goodes of all the Heithen shalbe gathered together rounde aboute: golde and syluer and a very greate multitude off clothes. And so shal this plage go ouerhorses, mules camels, asses and all the beastes that shall be in the hooste, like as yonder plage was.

Euery one that remayneth then of all ye people, which came agaynst Ierusalem, shal go vp yearly, to worshipe the kynge (euen ye LORDE of hoostes) and to kepe the feast off tabernacles. Nu. 29. b Leui. 23. f 3. Esd. 5. e 2. Mac. 1. b And loke what generacion vpon earth goeth not vp to Ierusalem, for to worshipe the kynge (euen the LORDE of hoostes) vpon the same shal come no rayne. Yff the kynred of Egipte go not vp & come not, it shall not rayne vpon them nether.

This shalbe the plage wherwith ye LORDE wil smyte all Heithen, that come not vp to kepe the feast of tabernacles: Yee this shalbe the synneplage of Egipte and the synneplage of all people, that go not vp to kepe the feast of tabernacles.

At that tyme shal the rydinge geer of ye horses be holy vnto the LORDE, and the kettels in the LORDES house shal be like the basens before the aulter: yee all the kettels in Ierusalem and Iuda, shalbe holy vnto the LORDE of hoostes: and all they that slay offeringes, shall come and take of them, and dight them therin. And at that tyme there shal be no mo Cananites in the house of the LORDE.

The ende off the prophet Zachary.
The Prophet Malachy. What Malachy conteyneth. Chap. I. The benefites of God, shewed specially vnto Israel before all other: Agayne, the punyshment of the vnthanfulnesse, vnfaithfulnesse and covetousnesse of the prestes and the people. Chap. II. He threatneth punyshment and confucion vnto the prestes, and commaundeth men to loue their wyues. Chap. III. Of Christes commynge, and of him that maketh redy his waye before him. Off the abrogacion of the olde leuiticall prest-heade. Of the power of the iudge for to come and of that fearfull daye.
The first Chapter. The heuy burthen which the LORDE sheweth agaynst Israel by Malachy.

I Haue loued you, sayeth ye LORDE: ād yet ye saye: wherin hast thou loued vs? Was not Esau Iacobs brother, sayeth the LORDE? yet haue I loued Iacob, Gen. 25. c Ro 9 b Iosu. 24. a Gen. 36. a and hated Esau: Yee I haue made his hilles waist, and his heretage a wyldernesse for dragōs. And though Edom sayde: well, we are destroyed, we wil go buylde vp agayne the places that be waisted: yet (sayeth ye LORDE of hoostes) what they buylded, that brake I downe: so that it was called a cursed londe, Abd. 1. a and a people, whom the LORDE hath euer bene angrie withall.

Youre eyes haue sene it, ād ye youre selues must confesse, that ye LORDE hath brought the londe of Israel to greate honoure. Shulde not a sonne honoure his father, and a seruaūt his master? Yf I be now a father, where is myne honoure? Exo. 20. a Deu. 32. a yf I be the LORDE, where am I feared? sayeth the LORDE of hoostes.

Now to you prestes, that despise my name. And yf ye saye: wherin haue we despised thy name? In this, that ye offre vnclene bred vpō myne aulter. And yf ye wil saye: wherin haue we offred eny vnclene thynge vnto the? In this that ye saye: the aulter of the LORDE is not to be regarded. Yf ye offre ye blynde, is not yt euell? And yf ye offre the lame and sick, Leu. 22. Eze. 43. c is not that euell? Yee offre it vnto thy prynce, shal he be cōtent with the, or accepte thy personne, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes?

And now make youre prayer before God, that he maye haue mercy vpon vs: for soch thinges haue ye done. Shal he regarde youre personnes (thynke ye) sayeth the LORDE of hoostes? Yee what is he amonge you, that wil do so moch as to shut ye dores, or to kyndle ye fyre vpō myne aulter for naught? I haue no pleasure in you, sayeth the LORDE off hoostes: and as for the meatofferinge, I wil not accepte it at youre honde. 〈…〉 For from the rysinge vp of ye sonne vnto ye goinge downe of the same, 〈…〉 my name is greate amonge the Gentiles: Yee in euery place shal there sacrifice be done, and a clene meatofferinge offred vp vnto my name: for my name is greate amonge the Heithē, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes. But ye haue vnhalowed it, in that ye saye, the aulter of ye LORDE is not to be regarded, and the thinge that is set thervpon, not worthy to be eaten.

Now saye ye: It is but laboure and trauayle, and thus haue ye thought scorne at it, (sayeth the LORDE off hoostes) offerynge robbery, yee the lame and the sicke. Ye haue brought me in a meatofferynge, shulde I accepte it of youre honde, sayeth the LORDE? Cursed be the dyssembler, which hath in his flocke one that is male, and when he maketh a vowe, offereth a spotted one vnto the LORDE. For I am a greate kynge (sayeth the LORDE of hoostes) and my name is fearfull amonge the Heithen.

The II. Chapter.

ANd now (o ye prestes) this commaundement toucheth you: yf ye will not heare it, ner regarde it, to geue the glory vnto my name (sayeth the LORDE off hoostes) I wil sende a curse vpon you, 〈…〉 & will curse youre blessinges: yee curse them will I yf ye do not take hede. Beholde, I shal corruppe youre sede, and cast donge in youre faces: euen the donge of youre solempne feastes and it shal cleue fast vpon you. And ye shall knowe, that I haue sent this commaundement vnto you: that my couenaunt which I made with Leui, might stonde, sayeth ye LORDE of hoostes.

I made a couenaunt of life and peace wt him: this I gaue him, that he might stonde in awe of me: and so he dyd feare me, ād had my name in reuerence. The lawe of treuth was in his mouth, and there was no wickednesse founde in his lippes. He walked with me in peace ād equyte, 〈…〉 and dyd turne many one awaye from their synnes. For the prestes lippes shulde be sure knowlege, that men maye seke the lawe at his mouth, for he is a messaunger of the LORDE of hoostes. But as for you, ye are gone clene out off the waye, and haue caused the multitude to be offended at the lawe: ye haue broken the couenaunt of Leui, 〈…〉 sayeth the LORDE of hoostes. Therfore wil I also make you to be despised, and to be of no reputacion amonge all ye people: because ye haue not kepte my wayes, but bene parciall in the lawe.

Haue we not all one father? Hath not one God made vs? 〈◊〉 . 4. a 〈◊〉 . 7. b . c why doth euery one off vs then despyse his owne brother, and so breake the couenaunt of oure fathers? Now hath Iuda offended: yee the abhominacion is done in Israel and in Ierusalē, 〈◊〉 . 9. a 〈◊〉 1. c for Iuda hath defyled the Sāctuary of the LORDE, which he loued, and hath kepte the doughter of a straunge God. But the LORDE shal destroye the mā that doth this (yee both the master & the scolar) out off the tabernacle of Iacob, with him that offreth vp meatofferynge vnto the LORDE off hoostes. Now haue ye brought it to this poynte agayne, that the aulter of the LORDE is couered with teares wepynge and mournynge: so that I will nomore regarde the meatofferynge, nether wil I receaue or accepte eny thinge at youre hō des.

And yet ye saye: wherfore? Euen because that where as the LORDE made a couenaūt betwixte ye and the wife off thy youth, thou hast despysed her: Yet is she thyne owne cō panyon and maried wife.

So dyd not 〈…〉 the one, & yet had he an excellent sprete. What dyd then the one? He sought the sede promised of God. Therfore loke well to youre sprete, & let no man despyse ye wife of his youth. Yf thou hatest her, put her awaye, sayeth the LORDE God of Israel and geue her a clothinge for the scorne, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes. Loke well then to youre sprete, and despyse her not. Ye greue the LORDE with youre wordes, and yet ye saye: wherwithall haue we greued him? In this, that ye saye: All that do euell are good in the sight of God, and soch please him. Or els where is the God that punysheth?.

The III. Chapter.

BEholde, I wil sende my messaunger, which shal prepare the waye before me: 〈…〉 and the LORDE whom ye wolde haue, shal soone come to his temple, yee euen the messaunger of the couenaunt whom ye longe for.

Beholde, he commeth, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes. But who maye abyde the daye of his commynge? Who shalbe able to endure, when he appeareth? For he is like a goldsmythes fyre, ād like wasshers sope. He shall syt him downe to trye and to clense ye syluer, he shal pourge the children of Leui, and purifie them like as golde and syluer: that they maye brynge meatofferinges vnto the LORDE in rightuousnes. Then shall the offeringe of Iuda and Ierusalem be acceptable vnto the LORDE, like as from the begynninge & in the yeares afore tyme. I will come & punysh you, & I my self wil be a swift wytnes agaynst the witches, agaynst the aduouterers, agaynst false swearers: yee ād agaynst those, that wrōgeously kepe backe the hyrelynges dewty: which vexe the wyddowes & the fatherlesse, & oppresse the straunger, and feare not me, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes. For I am the LORDE yt chaunge not, & ye (o children of Iacob) wil not leaue of: ye are gone awaye fro myne ordinaūces, Deu. 1. f 4. Re. 17. c & sens ye tyme of youre forefathers haue ye not kepte them.

Turne you now vnto me, and I wil turne me vnto you, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes. Zach. 1. a Ye saye: Wherin shal we turne? Shulde a man vse falsede and disceate with God, as ye vse falsede and disceate with me? Yet ye saye: wherin vse we disceate with the? In Tythes and heaue offerynges. Leui. 27. d Agg. 1. a b Therfore are ye cursed with penury, because ye dyssemble with me, all the sorte of you.

Brynge euery Tythe in to my barne, yt there maye be meat in myne house: and proue me withall (sayeth the LORDE of hoostes) yf I wil not open the wyndowes of heauen vnto you, and poure you out a blessinge with plenteousnesse. Yee I shal reproue the consumer for youre sakes, so that he shall not eate vp the frute of youre grounde, nether shal ye vynyarde be baren in the felde, sayeth ye LORDE of hoostes: In so moch that all people shal saye, that ye be blessed, for ye shall be a pleasaunt lōde, sayeth the LORDE off hoostes.

Ye speake hard wordes agaynst me, sayeth the LORDE. And yet ye saye: What haue we spoken agaynst the? Ye haue sayed: It is but lost laboure, to serue God: What profit haue we for kepynge his commaundementes, Iob. 21. b Psal. 72. b and for walkinge humbly before the LORDE off hoostes? Therfore maye we saye, Iob. 21. a Iere. 12. that the proude are happie, and that they which deale with vngodlynesse, are set vp: for they tempte God, and yet escape.

But they that feare God, saye thus one to another: The LORDE cōsidreth and heareth it. Yee it is before him a memoriall boke written for soch as feare the LORDE, and remembre his name. And in the daye that I wil make (saieth ye LORDE of hoostes) they shalbe myne owne possession: and I will fauoure them, like as a man fauoureth his owne sonne, that doth him seruyce. Turne you therfore, and considre what difference is betwixte the rightuous and vngodly: betwixte him that serueth God, ād him that serueth him not.

For marck, the daye commeth that shall burne as an ouē: Psal. 17. a and all the proude, yee and all soch as do wickednesse, shalbe straw: and the daye that is for to come, shall burne thē vp (sayeth the LORDE of hoostes) so that it shal leaue them nether rote ner braunch. But vnto you that feare my name, shall the Sōne of rightuousnesse aryse, & health shal be vnder his winges. Ye shal go forth, & multiplie as ye fat calues. Ye shal treaded 〈◊〉 ye vngodly: for they shalbe like the 〈◊〉 vnder the soles of youre fete, in the daye yt I shal make, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes.

Remembre the lawe of Moses my seruaunt, 〈…〉 which I committed vnto him in reb for all Israel, 〈…〉 with the statutes and ordinaunces. Beholde, I will sende you 〈◊〉 y prophet: before the cōmynge off the daye of the great and fearfull LORDE. He shall 〈◊〉 the hertes of the fathers to their children and the hertes of the children to their fathers, 〈…〉 that I come not, and smyte the earth with cursynge.

The ende of the prophet Malachy.

APOCRIPHA The bokes and treatises which amonge the fathers of olde are not rekened to be of like authorite with the other bokes of the byble, nether are they foūde in the Canon of the Hebrue.

The thirde boke of Eszdras. The fourth boke of Eszdras. The boke of Tobias. The boke of Iudith. Certayne chapters of Hester. The boke of Wyszdome. Ecclesiasticus. The Storye of Susanna. The Storye of Bell. The first boke of the Machabees. The seconde boke of the Machabees.

Vnto these also belongeth Baruc, whom we haue set amōge the prophetes next vnto Ieremy, because he was his scrybe, and in his tyme.

The transzlatoure vnto the reader.

THese bokes (good reader) which be called Apocrypha, are not iudged amonge the doctours to be of like reputacion with the other scripture, as thou mayest perceaue by S. Ierome in epistola ad Paulinum. And the chefe cause therof is this: there be many places in them, that seme to be repugnaunt vnto the open and manyfest trueth in the other bokes of the byble. Neuertheles I haue not gathered them together to the intent that I wolde haue them despysed, or litle sett by, or that I shulde thinke them false, for I am not able to proue it: Yee I doute not verely, yf they were equally conferred with the other open scripture (tyme, place, and circumstaunce in all thinges considered) they shulde nether seme contrary, ner be vntruly & peruersly aledged. Treuth it is: A mās face can not be sene so wel in a water, as in a fayre glasse: nether cā it be shewed so clearly in a water that is stered or moued, as in a styll water. These & many other darck places of scripture haue bene sore stered and myxte with blynde and cuvetous opynions of men, which haue cast soch a myst afore the eyes of ye symple, that as longe as they be not cō ferred with the other places of scripture, they shall not seme other wyse to be vnderstonde, then as cuvetousnes expoundeth them. But who so euer thou be that readest scripture, let the holy goost be thy teacher, and let one text expounde another vnto the: As for soch dreames, visions and darck sentences as be hyd from thy vnderstondinge, commytte them vnto God, and make no articles of them: But let the playne text be thy gyde, and the sprete of God (which is the author therof) shal lede the in all trueth.

As for the prayer of Salomō (which thou findest not herin) ye prayer of Azarias, and the swete songe that he and his two felowes songe in the fyre: the first (namely the prayer of Salomon) readest thou in the eight chapter of the thirde boke of the kynges, so that it appeareth not to be Apocryphum: The other prayer and songe (namely of the thre children) haue I not founde amonge eny of the interpreters, but onely in the olde latyn texte, which reporteth it to be of Theodotios translacion. Neuertheles, both because of those yt be weake and scrupulous, and for their sakes also that loue soch swete songes of thankesgeuinge: I haue not left them out: to the intent that the one shulde haue no cause to complayne, and that the other also might haue the more occasion to geue thankes vnto God in aduersite, as the thre children dyd in the fyre. Grace be with the. Amen.

The thirde boke of Eszdras. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. The vertuous kynge Osias renueth the seruyce of God, setteth the prestes in their ordre, and holdeth the feast of Easter. Of his death. Of Iechonias his sonne. Of kynge Ioachim and Sedechias. Chap. II. God moueth kinge Cyrus to delyuer the presoners, like as he promysed by the prophet Ieremy. Of kynge Artaxerses, by whose auctorite the Iewes are forbydden to buylde vp Ierusalem. Chap. III. Of the feast that kinge Darius made, and of the thre yonge men that wrote euery one his sentence, to proue who might saye the best. The first sheweth his mynde. Chap. IIII. The seconde goeth aboute to proue his sentence the wisest, but Zorobabel getteth the victory, for the trueth beareth euer the bell. Darius cōmaundeth to buylde vp Ierusalem agayne. Chap. V. What they be & how many, that come agayne to Ierusalem out of the captiuyte of Babilon. The tēple and the altare are buylded agayne. The Heithen withstonde them. Chap. VI. The officers in Syria laboure vnto kynge Darius, to forbyd the buyldinge of the temple at Ierusalem: but he commaundeth to kepe the ordinaunce that kynge Cyrus made before. Chap. VII. The aduersaries myndes are satisfied, the buyldinge is fynished, and the Passeouer holden. Chap. VIII. How Eszdras and the other (beinge discharged by the letters and commaūdemēt of kinge Artaxerses) go vp to Ierusalem. The complaynte concernynge those, that were defyled and vncleane. Chap. IX. Of the councell that was taken, as touchinge the vncleane mariage.

The first Chapter.

ANd Iosias helde the feast of Easter in Ierusalem vnto the LORDE, 〈◊〉 . 23. a Re. 23. c and slewe ye Passeouer the xiiij. daye of the first moneth. He set ye prestes also in ordre (acordīge to their daylie courses) beynge arayed in longe garmētes in the tēple of the LORDE. And he spake vnto the Leuites the holy ministers of Israel, that they shulde halowe them selues vnto the LORDE, to set the holy arke of the LORDE, in the house that kynge Salomō the sonne of Dauid had buylded and sayde: Ye shal nomore beare the Arke vpon yor shulders. Now serue yoor LORDE, & take the charge of his people of Israel, after youre vyllagies and youre trybes: acordinge as kynge Dauid the kynge of Israel hath ordened, & acordinge as Salomon his sonne hath honorably prepared: Yee loke yt ye all do seruyce in the temple, acordinge to the ordringe and distribucion of the pryncipall mē which are appoynted out of the trybes, to do seruyce for the childrē of Israel. 〈◊〉 . 12· d Kyll ye Passeouer, & prepare offeringes for yor brethren, and do accordinge to the commaundemēt of ye LORDE, which he gaue vnto Moses. And vnto ye people yt was foūde, Iosias gaue xxx. thousande of shepe, lambes, kyddes and goates, & thre thousande oxē. These the kynge (of his kyngly liberalite) gaue vnto the people, acordinge as he had promysed: & to the prestes (for the Passeouer) he gaue two thousande shepe & an hundreth oxē. Morouer Iechonias & Semeias and Nathanael brethren, & Hasabias, Iehiel and Iosabad, gaue them to the Passeouer, fyue thousande shepe and fyue hundreth bullockes.

And whan these thinges were brought to passe, the prestes and the Leuites stode goodly in their ordre, and had the vnleuended bred thorow out ye trybes. And after the ordringe of the pryncipall men in the trybes, they offred vnto the LORDE in the sight of the people, acordinge as it is wrytten in the boke of Moses, Exo. 12 & so they rosted the Easter-lambe as acordinge was. As for the thākofferinges & the other, they dight thē in kettels & pottes, & sett them before the people wt good will, and afterwarde before them selues and the prestes. For the prestes offred the fatt, vntyll the tyme was expyred, but the Leuites prepared for them selues & for their brethren the childrē of Aaron. The syngers also ye children of Asaph. stode in their ordre, acordinge as Dauid had deuysed. So dyd Asaph, Zachary & Iedithū, which were appoynted by the kynge. Morouer the porters & dorekepers stode by the dores & yt diligently, so yt none wente out of his stondinge & seruyce: for their brethren (the Leuites) prepared for them. Thus were all thinges perfourmed, that belonged to the offringe of the LORDE. In that daye they helde the Passeouer, & offred thankofferinges besyde ye sacrifice of ye LORRDE, acordinge to ye cōmaundement of kynge Iosias.

So the children of Israel which were thē present helde an honorable Passeouer, & the feast of swete bred vij: dayes lōge. Yee soch a Passeouer was not kepte in Israel, from ye tyme of the prophet Samuel. And all the kynges of Israel helde not soch an Easter, as this which kynge Iosias helde, & ye prestes, ye leuites, ye Iewes & all Israel, of all thē yt were at Ierusalē. In ye xviij: yeare of ye raigne of Iosias was this Passeouer kepte. And wt a parfecte hert dyd kynge Iosias ordre all his workes (before ye LORDE) & ye thinges yt were wryttē of hī in tymes past, cōcernynge those yt synned & were vngodly agaynst ye LORDE before all people, & yt sought not the worde of ye LORDE vpon Israel. After all these actes of kynge Iosias, Pharao ye kynge of Egipte wēte vp,4. Re. 2 . Par. 25. & came towarde Carcamis by Euphrates, & Iosias wēte to mete hī. Then sent the kynge of Egipte vnto Iosias, sayenge: what haue I to do wt ye, o kynge of Iuda? I am not sent of ye LORDE to fight agaynst ye, for my warre is vpō Euphrates, go thou ye waye home agayne in all ye haist. And Iosias wolde not turne agayne vpon his charet, but vndertoke to fight agaynst him, & herkened not vnto ye worde of ye prophet, which he tolde him out of the mouth of God, but pitched a battaill agaynst him in ye felde of Mageddo. And the prynces preassed to kynge Iosias. Then sayde the kynge vnto his seruauntes: 〈◊〉 . 2 . f Cary me awaye out of the battayll, for I am sore wounded. And immediatly his seruauntes toke him awaye out of the front of the battayll. Then satt he vp vpon the secōde charett, came to Ierusalē, dyed, & was buried in his fathers sepulcre. And in all Iewry they mourned for Iosias, yee the rulers also wt their wyues made lamētacion for him vnto this daye: And this was done euer still in Israel.

These thinges are written in the boke of of the stories of ye kynges of Iuda: namely, all the actes & workes of kynge Iosias, his kyngly power & maiesty, his vnderstandinge in the lawe of God, & what he dyd, yee thinges which are not wryttē in the boke of the kynges of Israel & Iuda. And ye people toke Iechonias the sonne of Iosias, 〈◊〉 . 23. f 〈◊〉 . 36. a & made him kynge in ye steade of Iosias his father, whan he was xxxiij. yeare olde. And he raigned ouer Israel thre monethes. And the kinge of Egipte put him downe, yt he shulde not raigne in Ierusalē, & raysed vp a taxinge of the people: namely, an C. talentes of syluer & one talēt of golde. The kinge of Egipte also made Ioachim his brother kynge of Iuda & Ierusalē. As for thē of the kinges councell wt the kynge himself and Zaraceles his brother, he toke thē, & caried thē awaye presoners in to Egipte. Fyue & twentie yeare olde was Ioachim, whan he was made kynge in the londe of Iuda and Ierusalem, and he dyd euell before the LORDE. After this, Nabuchodonosor ye kynge of Babylō came vp, bounde him wt bandes of yron, Reg. . c & caried him vnto Babilō. Nabuchodonosor also toke all ye vessell yt were halowed in the tēple of the LORDE, & all ye Iewels, & caried thē vnto Babilon, & brought thē in to his owne tēple at Babilon. Of his vnclennes & vngodlynes, it is writtē in ye boke of the actes of ye kynges. And Ioachim his sonne raigned in his steade: He was made kynge beinge xviij. yeare olde, & raigned but thre monethes & x. dayes in Ierusalē, & dyd euell before the LORDE. So after a yeare, Nabuchodonosor sent & caused him be brought vnto Babilon wt ye holy vessels of ye LORDE, & made Sedechias his brother kynge of Iuda and Ierusalē, whan he was xxj. yeare olde: and he raigned xj. yeare.

And he dyd euell also in ye sight of ye LORDE, & cared not for ye wordes yt were spokē vnto hī by ye prophet Ieremy at ye mouth of the LORDE. Iere. 〈…〉 And where as he had made on oth vnto kynge Nabuchodonosor, he manswor himself, & fell frō him hauynge a stiff neck & hert, & trāsgressed all ye statutes & ordinaunces of the LORDE God of Israel. The rulers also & heades of ye people of the LORDE dyd moch euell, & became vngodly, more thē the Heithen, beynge defyled in all maner of abhominaciōs: Yee & defyled ye holy tēple of the LORDE at Ierusalē. And the God of their fathers sent his messaungers vnto thē, to turne them backe & to call thē agayne frō their synnes: for he wolde fayne haue spared thē for his holy tabernacles sake. Neuertheles, they had his messaungers in derision: & loke what God spake vnto thē by his prophetes, they made but a sporte of it. This drew on so longe, tyll the LORDE was wroth wt his people for their vngodlynes, & tyll he caused the kinges of ye Caldees to come vp, which slew their yonge men wt the swerde, yee euen in the compasse of their holy tēple, & spared no body, nether yonge ner olde, nether mayden ner yonge man: but they were all delyuered in to the power of the kynges of ye Caldees, & all the holy vessels of the LORDE and the kynges treasures toke they, & caried them vnto Babilon. As for the house of the LORDE, 〈…〉 they brēt it, & brake downe the walles of Ierusalē, set fyre vpon hir towres, destroyed all hir noble buyldinges and brought them to naught, and the people that were not slayne with the swerde, they caried vnto Babilon.

Thus became they ye presoners & bōdemē of ye kynge of Babilon, tyll they were delyuered & raygned for them selues, when the wordes of the LORDE were fulfilled, which he promysed them by the mouth of the prophet Ieremy, and tyll the londe had hir rest: namely, all the tyme yt it laye wayest, 〈…〉 had it rest & quyetnes lxxvij. yeares.

The II. Chapter.

NOw whā kynge Cyrus raigned ouer the Persians, 〈…〉 & whā the LORDE wolde perfourme the worde yt he had promysed by the mouth of the prophet Ieremy: the LORDE raysed vp the sprete of Cyrus, the kynge of the Persiās, so yt he caused this wrytinge to be proclamed thorow out his whole realme, sayenge: Thus sayeth the kynge of ye Persians: The LORDE of Israel that hye LORDE hath made me kynge of the lōde, and commaunded me to buylde him an house at Ierusalem in Iewry. Yf there be eny now of youre people, ye LORDE be with him, and go vp with him to Ierusalem. And all they that dwell rounde aboute yt place, shal helpe thē, whether it be with golde, with syluer, with giftes, with horses and necessary catell, and all other thinges that are brought wt a fre wyll to the house of the LORDE at Ierusalē.

Then the pryncipall mē out of the trybes and vyllages of Iuda and Ben Iamin stode vp: so dyd the prestes also & the leuites (whō the LORDE had moued) to go vp, and to buylde the house of the LORDE at Ierusalē. And they that were aboute them, helped them wt all maner of golde, and syluer, and catell also and with many liberall giftes, and this dyd many one, whose mynde was stered vp therto. Kynge Cyrus also brought forth the vessels and ornamentes, that were halowed vnto the LORDE (which Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon had caried awaye from Ierusalem, and consecrated them to his Idoll and ymage) and delyuered them to Mithridatus his treasurer, and by him they were delyuered to Salmanasar ye debyte in Iewry. And this was the nōbre of them: Two thousande and iiij.C. syluer boules, xxx. syluer basens, xxx. basens of golde, ij.M. and iiij.C. vessels of syluer, and a thousande besyde. All the vessels of golde and syluer were v.M.viij.C. and lx. These were nombred vnto Salmanasar, and them that were come agayne with him to Ierusalē out of the captiuyte of Babilon. Now in the tyme of kynge Artaxerses the kynge of Persia, these men: Balemus and Mithridatus, Sabellius, Rathimus, Balthemus, Semelius ye scrybe, and other that dwelt in Samaria & in other places vnder ye dominion therof, Wrote a letter vnto kynge Artaxerses, wherin they complayned vnto the kynge of them in Iewry and Ierusalem. The letter was made after this maner:

Syr, thy seruauntes Rathimus the story wryter, Sabellius the Scrybe, & other iudges of thy courte in Celosyria and Phenices. Be it knowne and manifest to or lorde the kyn that the Iewes which are come vp frō you vnto vs into the rebellious and wicked cite, begynne to buylde it agayne, and the walles aboute it, and to set vp the tēple of the new. Now yf this cite and the walles therof be sett vp agayne, they shal not only refuse to geue trybutes and taxinges, but also rebell vtterly agaynst the kynge. And for so moch as they take this in hande now aboute the temple, we thought it reason, to thinke no scorne of it, but to shewe it vnto or lorde the kynge, & to certifie him therof: to the intent yt yf it please the kinge, he maye cause it be sought in the bokes of olde: and thou shalt fynde soch warnynge wrytten, and shalt vnderstonde, that this cite hath allwaye bene rebellious and disobedient, that it hath subdued kynges and cities, and that the Iewes which dwell therin, haue euer bene a rebellious, obstinate, vnfaithfull and fightinge people, for the which cause this cite is waysted. Wherfore now we certifie oure lorde the kynge, that yf this cite be buylded and occupied agayne, & the walles therof set vp a new, thou canst haue no passage in to Celosyria and Phenices.

Then wrote the kynge to Rathimus the story wryter, to Balthemus, to Sabellius ye scrybe, and to the other officers and dwellers in Syria and Phenices, after this maner: I haue red the epistle which thou sentest vnto me, and haue commaunded to make diligent search, and haue founde, that the cite hath euer resisted kynges, that the same people are dishobedient, and haue caused moch warre, & that mightie kynges haue raigned in Ierusalem, which also haue raysed vp taxinges of Syria and Phenices. Wherfore, I haue commaūded those people, that they shal not buylde the cite, that they make no more in it, and that they procede no further with the buyldinge: for so moch as it might be the cause of warre, and displeasure vnto kynges.

Now whan Rathymus and Sabellius the scrybe and the rulers in the londe had red the wrytinge of kynge Artaxerses, they gatt them together, and came in all the haist to Ierusalem with an hoost of horsemen, and with moch people of fote, and forbad them to buylde. And so they left of from buyldinge of the temple, vnto the seconde yeare of kynge Darius.

The III. Chapter.

KYnge Darius made a greate feast vnto his seruaūtes, vnto all his courte, & to all the officers of Media and Persia, yee and to all the debytes & rulers that were vnder him, from India vnto Ethiopia, an hundreth & xxvij, countrees. So whan they had eaten, and dronken beinge satisfied, and were gone home agayne, Darius the kynge wente in to his chambre, layed him downe to slepe, and so awaked.

Then the thre yonge men, that kepte the kynges personne, and watched his body, commoned amonge them selues, and spake one to another: Let euery one of vs saye some thinge, and loke whose sentence is wyser and more excellent then the other, vnto him shal kinge Darius geue greate giftes, and clothe him with purple. He shal geue him vessels of golde to drynke in, clothes of golde and coueringes: he shall make him a costly charett & a brydle of golde, he shall geue him a bonet of whyte sylke and a chayne of golde aboute his neck: yee he shal be the seconde & pryncipall nexte vnto kynge Darius, & that because of his wyszdome, and shalbe called ye kynges kynsman.

So euery one wrote his meaninge, sealed it and layed it vnder the kinges pelowe, and sayde: whan the kynge aryseth, we will geue him oure wrytinges: and loke whose worde the kynge and his chefe lordes iudge to be the most wysely spoken, the same shall haue the victory. One wrote: wyne is a stronge thinge. The secōde wrote: The kynge is strō ger. The thirde wrote: wemen haue yet more strength, but aboue all thinges ye trueth beareth awaye the victory. Now whan the kynge was rysen vp, they toke their wrytinges and delyuered them vnto him, and so hered them. Then sent he forth to call all his chefe lordes, all the debytes & rulers of the countrees of Media and Persia. And whan they were sett downe in the councell, the wrytinges were red before them. And he commaunded to call for ye yonge mē, yt they might declare their meanynges thēselues by mouth. So when they were sent for, and came in, ye kynge sayde vnto them: shew vs and make vs to vnderstōde, what the thinges are that ye haue wrytten.

Then beganne the first (which had spokē of the strength of wyne) & sayde: O ye men, wyne is maruelous strōge, ro. 20. a and ouercōmeth them ye drynke it: it disceaueth the mynde, & bryngeth both the poore man & ye kynge to dotage and vanite. Thus doth it also wt the bondman and with the fre, with the poore & rych: it taketh awaye their vnderstondinge, and maketh them careles and mery, so that none of them remembreth eny heuynes, dett or dewtie: It causeth a man to thinke also that ye thinge which he doth, is honest and good: and remembreth not that he is a kynge, nor yt he is in auctorite, & yt he ought not to do soch thinges. Morouer, whan men are drynckinge, they forgett all frendshipe, all brotherly faithfulnes & loue: but as soone as they are dronckē, they drawe out the swerde & wil fight: & whā they are layed downe frō the wyne, & so rysen vp agayne, they can not tell what they dyd. Iudge ye now, Is not wyne the strongest? For who wolde els take in hande, to do soch thinges? And whan he had spoken this, he helde his tonge.

The IIII. Chapter.

THen the seconde (which had sayde, yt the kynge was stronger) beganne to speake, sayēge: O ye men, are not they the strongest & most excellent, yt cōquere the lōde & the see, & all yt is in ye see & in the earth? Now is the kynge lorde of all these thinges, & hath dominion of thē all: & loke what he cō maūdeth, it is done. Yf he sende his mē forth a warfare, they go and breake downe hilles, walles & towres. They are slayne, & slaye (oher men) them selues, & ouer passe not ye kynges worde. Yf they get the victory, they brynge the kynge all the spoyle. Likewyse, the other yt medle not wt warres & fightinge, but tyll the grounde: whan they reape, they brynge trybute vnto ye kynge. And yf ye kynge alone do but cōmaunde to kyll, they kyll: yf he cō maunde to forgeue, they forgeue: yf he cōmaunde to smyte, they smyte: yf he byd dryue awaye, they dryue awaye: yf he commaunde to buylde, they buylde: yf he cōmaūde to breake downe, they breake downe: yf he cōmaunde to plante, they plāte. The comon people & ye rulers are obedient vnto him. And ye kynge in the meane season sytteth hī downe, eateth and drynketh, & taketh his rest: thē kepe they watch roūde aboute ye kinge, & not one of thē darre gett him out of ye waye, to do his owne busynes, but must be obediēt vnto ye kinge at a worde. Iudge ye now o ye men, how shulde not he go farre aboue, vnto whom men are thus obediēt? And whan he had spokē this, he helde his tonge. The thirde (whose name was Zorobabel, which had spokē of wemen & of ye trueth) begāne to saye after this maner: O ye mē, it is not ye greate kynge, it is not the multitude of mē, nether is it wine yt excelleth: Who is it thē, yt hath ye lordshipe ouer thē? Haue not wemen borne the kynge, & all ye people yt rule these thinges? Haue not wemē borne thē, & brought thē vp, yt plante the vynes, wher out ye wyne cōmeth? They make garmē tes for all mē, they geue honor vnto all men, & wt out wemen can not men lyue. Yf they gather golde & syluer & all precious thinges, & se a fayre & wel fauoured womā, they leaue all together, and turne their eyes onely vnto the woman, & gape vpon her, & haue more desyre vnto her, then vnto the syluer & golde, or eny maner of precious thinge. 〈…〉 A mā leaueth his father yt brought him vp, he leaueth his owne naturall coūtre, and cleueth vnto the woman: yee he ioperdeth his life with the woman, and remembreth nether father, ner mother, ner countre. By this then ye must nedes knowe, yt wemen haue ye domynion ouer you.

Doth it greue you? A mā taketh his swerde & goeth his waye to steale, to kyll, to murther, to sayle vpon the see, & seyth a lyon, and goeth in the darcknes: and when he hath stollen, disceaued & robbed, he bringeth it vnto his loue. Agayne, a man loueth his wyfe better then father and mother: yee many one there be, that renne out of their wyttes & become bondmen for their wyues sakes: many one also haue perished, & haue bene slayne, & haue synned because of wemen.

And now beleue me, I knowe a kynge which is greate in his power, & all lōdes stō de in awe of him, & no man darre laye hande vpon him: yet dyd I se, yt Apame (ye daughter of the greate kynge Bartacus) the kynges cōcubine, satt besyde the kynge vpō the right hāde, and toke of his crowne from his heade, and set it vpon hir owne heade, and smote the kynge with hir left hande. Morouer, the kynge loked vpō her wt open mouth: yf she laughed vpon him, he laughed also: but yf she toke eny displeasure with him, the kynge was fayne to flater her, & to geue her good wordes, till he had gotten hir fauoure agayne.

O ye men, are not wemen then stronger? Greate is the earth, and hie is the heauen that do these thinges. Then the kynge & the prynces loked one vpon another. So he beganne to speake of the trueth: O ye men, are not wemē stronger? Greate is the earth, hye is the heauen, swyft is the course of the Sonne, he compaseth the heauen rounde aboute, 〈◊〉 . 1. a and fetcheth his course againe to his owne place in one daye. Is he not excellent that doth this? yee greate is the trueth, and stronger then all thinges. All the earth calleth vpon the trueth, the heauen prayseth it, all workes shake and tremble at it, and with it is no vnrighteous thinge. Wine is vnrighteous, the kynge is vnrighteous, wemen are vnrighteous: all the children of men are vnrighteous, yee all their workes are vnrighteous, and there is no trueth in them, in their vnrighteousnes also shall they be destroyed and perish. 〈◊〉 . 40. a 〈◊〉 116. a As for ye trueth, it endureth, and is allwaye stronge: it lyueth, and cōquereth for euermore worlde without ende.

The trueth accepteth no personnes, it putteth no difference betwixte rych or poore, betwixte ye mightie or symple, but doth right vnto euery mā, whether they be euel or good, & all men are louyngly dealt withall in the workes of it. In the iudgment of it there is no vnrighteous thinge, but strength, kingdome & power and maiesty for euermore. Blessed be the God of trueth.

And with that he helde his tōge, and all ye people cried & sayde: Greate is the trueth, and aboue all. Then sayde the kynge vnto him: Axe what thou wilt, more then is appoynted in the wrytinge, and I shal geue it the, for thou art founde wyser then thy companyons: thou shalt sytt nexteme, and be my kynsman. Then sayde he vnto the kynge: Remembre thy promyse and vowe, which thou hast vowed and promysed (in the daye whan thou camest to the kyngdome) to buylde vp Ierusalem, and to sende againe all the vessels and Iewels, that were taken awaye out of Ierusalem: which Cyrus separated, whan he offred in Babilon, and wolde sende them agayne. And thy minde was to buylde vp the temple, which the Edomites brēt, whan Ierusalem was destroyed by the Caldees. This onely (O kynge) is the thinge that I requyre, this is ye maiesty, which, I desyre & axe of the: that thou perfourme the vowe, which thou with thine owne mouth hast made vnto the kynge of heauen.

Then Darius the kynge stode vp, and kyssed him,2. Esd. 2 3. Esd. 6. and wrote a letter vnto all the debytes and shreues, to all ye lordes and nobles, yt they shulde conveye him forth, & all them yt wolde go vp with him. He wrote a letter also vnto all ye shreues yt were in Celosyria & Phenices, & vnto Libanus, yt they shulde harle cedre trees from Libanus vnto Ierusalem, to buylde ye cite withall. Morouer he wrote vnto all ye Iewes that were gone out of his realme in to Iewry because of the fredome, yt no officer, no ruler ner shreue shulde come to their dores: and that all their londe which they had conquered, shulde be fre and not tributary: And that the Edomytes shulde geue ouer the cities and vyllagies of the Iewes, which they had taken in: yee & that they shulde yearly geue xx. talētes to ye buyldinge of the temple, vntill the tyme that it were fynished: and to the daylie halowinge of the brent offeringes (as it is commaunded) ten talentes yearly also: And yt all they which come from Babilon to buylde the cite, shulde haue fre lybertie, they & their children, and all the prestes.

He wrote the greatnesse also, & commaunded that the holy garment shulde be geuen thē, wherin they ministred: and wrote that commaundementes shulde be geuen to the Leuites, vntill the daye, that the house were fynished and Ierusalem buylded vp: and cō maunded that all they that watched the cite, shulde haue their porcions and wagies.

He gaue ouer also all the vessell yt Cyrus had separated from Babilon: & all yt Cyrus had geuē in cōmaundement, ye same charged he also, yt it shulde be done, & sent vnto Ierusalem. Now whan this yonge mā was gone forth, he turned his face towarde Ierusalē, & praysed ye kinge of heauē, & sayde: Of ye cōmeth victory, 〈◊〉 . 1. a of the cōmeth wyszdome & clearnesse, & I am thy seruaunt. Blessed art thou, which hast geuen me wyszdome: the wyll I prayse, O LORDE, thou God of oure fathers.

And so he toke the letters, & wente vnto Babilon: And whan he came there, he tolde this vnto all his brethrē yt were at Babilō, & they praysed ye God of their fathers, yt he had geuē them refreszshinge & lyberte to go vp, & to buylde Ierusalē & the temple (which is there called after the name of the LORDE) and they reioysed with instrumentes & gladnesse, seuen dayes longe.

The V. Chapter.

AFter this, were the prynciall mē of all ye vyllagies chosen in the trybes & kinreddes, that they shulde go vp with their wiues and children, with their seruauntes and maydens, with all their catell & substaunce. And Darius the kynge sent with them a thousande horsmen, to conveye them safely vnto Ierusalem: and their brethrē were glad, playenge vpon instrumētes, and synginge.

And these are the names of the mē, which wente vp out of the vyllagies acordinge to the trybes. Of the prestes, the sonne of Phineas, the sonne of Aaron: Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, att. 1. b Ioachim the sonne of Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel (of the kynred of Dauid, out of the kynred of Phares, of the trybe of Iuda) which spake wonderfull thinges vnder Darius the kynge of Persia, Esd. 4. b in ye seconde yeare of his raigne in the first moneth of Nisan.

These also are they of Iewry, which came vp and turned Agayne vnto Ierusalem, out of the captiuyte that Nabuchodonosor ye kynge of Babilon had brought vnto Babilon. And euery man sought his porcion agayne in Iewry, his cite, they that came wt Zorobabel, and with Iesus, Nehemias, Saraias, Raelaias, Elimeus, Emmanius, Mardocheus, Beelserus, Mechpsa, Rochor, Oliorus, Emonias, one of their prynces.

And the nōbre of thē, acordinge to their kynreddes & rulers, was. The childrē of Phares, two thousande, an hundreth & lxxij. The children of Ares, iij.M. an C. and lvij. The children of Femo, an C. and xlij. In the sonnes of Iesus and Ioabes, a M.iij.C. and two. The sonnes of Beniu, ij.M.iiij.C. and lxx. The sonnes of Choroba, ij.C. and v. The sonnes of Banica, an C. and lxviij. The sonnes of Rebech, iiij.C. and thre. The sonnes of Archad, iiij.C. and xxvij. The sonnes of Cham, xxxvij. The sonne of Zoroar, ij.M. and lxvij. The sonnes of Adinu, iiij.C. and lxj. The sonnes of Adarectis an C. and viij. The sonnes of Ciaso and Zelas, an C. and vij. The sonnes of Azorec, iiij.C. and xxxix. The sonnes of Iedarbone, an C. and xxxij. The sonnes of Hananias, an C. and xxx. The sonnes of Asoni, xc. The sonnes of Marsar, iiij.C. and xxij. The sonnes of Zabarus, xcv. The sonnes of Sepholemon, an C. and xxiij. The sonnes of Nepopas, lv. The sonnes of Hechanatus, an C. and lviij. The sonnes of Zebethanus, an C. and xxxij. The sonnes of Crearpatros, (which is called also Enohadies and Modias) iiij.C. and xxiij. Of them of Gramos and Gabea, an C. and xxj. Of them of Besselon and C agge, lxv. Of them of Bastharus, an C. and xxij. Of them of Bechenobes, lv. Of the sonnes of Liptis, there were an C. and lv. Of the sonnes of Labonnus, iij.C. and lvij. Of the sonnes of Sichem, iij.C. and lxx. Of the sonnes of Suadon and Elimon, iij.C. and lxxviij. Of the sonnes of Ericus, ij.M. an C. and xlv. The sonnes of Anaas, thre hundreth and lxx.

The prestes: The sonnes of Ieddus: The sonnes of Euther: The sonnes of El Iasib, iij.C. and lxxij. The sonnes of Emerus, ij.C. and lij. The sonnes of Fasurius, iij.C. & lvij. The sonnes of Carea, ij.C. & xxvij. The Leuites: The sonnes of Iesus in Caduhel and Banus, and Serebias, and Edeas, seuentie and foure.

The whole nombre of these from xij. yeares, was iij.M.iiij.C. and lxij Of the sonnes, daughters and wyues, the whole summe was iiij.M.ij.C. and xlij. The sonnes of the prestes that praysed God in the temple: The sonnes of Asaph, of whom there were an C. and xxviij. But the dore kepers were: The children of Esmenus: The children of Aser: The children of Amon: The children of Acuba, Topa: The children of Tobi: an C. and xxxix. in all.

The prestes that serued in the temple: The sonnes of Sel, the sonnes of Gaspha, the sonnes of Tobloch, the sonnes of Caria, the sonnes of Sub, the sonnes of Heliu, the sonnes of Labana, ye sonnes of Armacha, ye sonnes of Acub, the sonnes of Vtha, the sonnes of Cetha, the sonnes of Aggab, the sonnes of Obay, the sonnes of Anani, the sonnes of Canna, ye sonnes of Geddu, ye sonnes of An, ye sonnes of Radin, ye sonnes of Desanon, the sonnes of Nechoba, the sonnes of Caseba, the sonnes of Goza, the sonnes of Ozul, the sonnes of Sinona, the sonnes of Atra, ye sonnes of Hastem, ye sonnes of Asiana, ye sonnes of Manei, ye sonnes of Nasisin, ye sonnes of Accufa, ye sonnes of Agista, ye sonnes of Azui, ye sonnes of Fauon, the sonnes of Phasalon, the sonnes of Meeda, the sonnes of Susa, the sonnes of Cared, ye sonnes of Barcus, the sonnes of Sarea, ye sonnes of Coesi, ye sonnes of Nasit, ye sonnes of Agista, the sonnes of Pedon: Salomon his sonnes, the sonnes of Asophot, the sonnes of Phazida, the sonnes of Celi, ye sonnes of Dedon, the sonnes of Gaddahel, the sonnes of Zapheus, ye sonnes of Aggia, the sonnes of Sacharet, ye sonnes of Sabathē, the sonnes of Saroneth, ye snones of Malsit, ye sonnes of Ania, ye sonnes of Sasus, ye sonnes of Addus, ye sonnes of Suba, ye sonnes of Eura, ye sonnes of Rahotis, the sonnes of Phasphat, ye sonnes of Malmon. All these mynistred in the Sanctuary, & were seruauntes of Salomon: euen iiij.C. and lxxxij.

These folowinge are they, yt wēte vp frō Chelmellat Thelarsa (whose prynces were Carmelā & Careth) & might not shewe forth their cities & kynreddes, how they were of Israel: The sonnes of Dalarus, ye sonnes of Tubē, ye sonnes ef Nechodaicus. Of ye prestes yt executed ye office of ye presthode, & were not founde: The sonnes of Obia, ye sonnes of Achisos, the sonnes of Addin, which maried one of ye daughters of Phargeleu, & were named, after him. The writinge of ye same kynred was sought in ye register of their generacion, but it was not foūde: & therfore were they forbyddē to execute ye office of ye presthode. Vnto these sayde Nehemias and Astharas, yt they shulde haue no porcion in ye Sanctuary, tyll there rose vp an hie prest, yt were well instructe in the playne clearnes & trueth. Of all Israel (besyde seruauntes & maydens) there were xlij.M.iij.C. & xl. Now were there of seruauntes & maydens, vij.M.iij.C. & xxxvj. Of synginge mē & synginge wemen there were ij.C. & lxv. Foure hundreth & xxxv. Camels. Seuen thousande & xxxvj. horses. Two hundreth thousande & xlv. Mooles. Fyue thousande and xxxv. Asses.

Their heades also and the rulers in the trybes, whan they came to Ierusalem, & wolde buylde & sett vp ye tēple of God againe in his place, they gaue (after their abylite) vnto the tēple, to ye treasure & to ye seruyce of the Sāctuary, xij.M. poundes of golde, v. thousande of syluer, & an hundreth prestes garmētes. And so dwelt the prestes & the Leuites, & the people yt wente out to Ierusalē & in the countre there aboute, the syngers also & the porters, euery one of Israel in his owne lande.

So whan the seuenth moneth came, and whan the childrē of Israel were euery man at his busines,1. Esd. . a they came all with one cōsent in to the courte, which was before ye east dore. And there stode Iesua the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren ye prestes, & Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and his brethren, settinge vp an aulter, to offre brent sacrifices vpon it, as it is written in ye lawe of Moses.

There came people also of other countrees, and the Heithen out of all londes set vp the aulter in his place, and offred sacrifices & brent offerynges vnto the LORDE in the mornynge. And so they helde the feast of tabernacles, as it is commaunded in the lawe. Leu . 23. f And daylie offred they as acordinge was, and made the sacrifices appoynted, the offeringes also of the Sabbathes and of the new Moones, and all holy feastes.1. Esd. 3. b And all they that vowed offerynges vnto the LORDE, beganne at the new Moone of ye seuēth moneth to offre vnto God, for the temple of the LORDE was not yet buylded. And they gaue vnto the Masons and Carpēters, money, meate & drynke with chearfulnesse. Vnto them of Sydon also and Tyre they gaue cartes, yt they shulde cary Cedre trees from Libanus to be ieastes and beames, and that they shulde make shippes in the hauen of Ioppa, acordinge as it was appoynted and ordeyned, by Cyrus kynge of the Persians.

And in the seconde yeare they came in to the temple of God at Ierusalem. In the seconde moneth beganne Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, Eccl . 49. and c and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and their brethren the prestes and Leuites, and all they that were come vnto Ierusalem out of the captiuyte of Babilon, & layed the foundacion of the temple, in the new Moone of the seconde moneth in the seconde yeare yt they were come in to Iewry and Ierusalem. And they appoynted the Leuites (that were aboue xx. yeare olde) vnto the seruyce of the LORDE: so Iesua and his sonnes and his brethren all the Leuites stode together, and perfourmed the lawe & ordinaunce in the house of the LORDE.

And the prestes stode and had their garmentes & trompettes, & the Leuites, the sonnes of Asaph had Cymbals, geuynge thankes, and prayses vnto the LORDE, acordinge as Dauid the kynge of Israel had ordeyned.1. Par. 17. b And the songe that they dyd synge vnto the LORDE, was after this maner: O synge vnto the LORDE, Psal. 135. a for he is gracious, and his goodnes vpon Israel endureth for euer. And all the people blew out with trompettes, and sunge with loude voyce, praysynge the LORDE together in the rearinge vp of the house of the LORDE. There came also from amonge the prestes and Leuites the rulers and elders, acordinge to the trybes and kynreds (soch as had sene the house afore) to the buyldinge of this temple with greate crye and greate mournynge, many also with trompettes and greate ioye: In so moch, that the trompettes might not wel be herde for the wepynge and mournynge. For the comon people blew goodly vpō the trompettes.

Then came the enemies of the trybes of Iuda and Ben Iamin, . Esd. 4. a to knowe what that trōpettynge and noyse of shawmes might be. And they perceaued yt it was they which were come agayne out of captiuyte, & wolde buylde the temple a new vnto the LORDE God of Israel. So they wente to Zorobabel and Iesua and to the rulers of the vyllages, & sayde vnto them: Shal we buylde wt you also? for we like wyse haue herde youre LORDE, & we walke after the same maner, from the dayes of Aszbazareth the kinge of Assiria, which brought vs hither. Then Zorobabel and Iesua and the rulers of the villages of Israel sayde vnto them: It is not mete, that ye shulde buylde the temple of oure God wt vs: we oure selues alone wil buylde vnto the LORDE, Esd. . a like as Cyrus the kynge of the Persians hath commaūded vs,

But the Heithen in the londe layed them selues against those that were in Iewry, helde vp the buyldinge from them, layed wayte vpō them preuely, stopped soch as brought eny thinge to them, forbad them to buylde, & hyndered those that made thē passage, that the buyldinge shulde not be fynished: & this contynued so longe as kynge Cyrus lyued: & so they put of the buyldinge for the space of two yeare, vntill ye raigne of kynge Darius.

The VI. Chapter.

NOt wt stondinge, in the seconde yeare of the raigne of Darius, Es. 5. a Aggeus & Zachary the sonne of Addo prophecied vpon them in Iewry and Ierusalem, in the name of the God of Israel. Then Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec stode vp, 〈…〉 and beganne to buylde the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem, when the prophetes of the LORDE helped them.

At the same tyme came Sysennes the vnder shreue in Syria and Phenices, with the landlordes and his companyons, and sayde vnto them: Who hath bydden & commaunded you to buylde the house? to make the rofe and all other thinges agayne? And who are the worke men, that buylde them? Neuertheles the elders of the Iewes had soch grace of the LORDE, that they wolde not be lett (though they were prouoked therto) but buylded on still, vntill the tyme that kynge Darius were certified therof, and an answere receaued from him. The letter that these men sent vnto kynge Darius, was after this maner:

Sysennes the vnder shreue in Syria and Phenices, and the landlordes with their cō paniōs, which are head rulers in Syria and Phenices, sende their salutacion vnto Darius the kynge. We certifie oure lorde the kynge, that we came in to the londe of Iewry, & wente to Ierusalem: where we founde them buyldinge the greate house of God and the tēple, with greate costly frestone and with goodly tymbre for the walles: yee they make greate haist with the worke, & helpe one another, and it goeth forth prosperously in their handes, and with greate diligence & worshipe is it made. Then axed we the elders, who had cōmaunded them to make vp the house and the buyldinge: and this we dyd, to ye intēt that we might certifie the perfectly, and wryte vnto the, the names of those yt were ye rulers of the worke. So they gaue vs this answere: we are the seruauntes of the LORDE, which made heauen and earth: & as for this house, 〈…〉 it hath bene buylded and set vp afore tyme by the greate and mightie kynge of Israel. But whan oure fathers prouoked God vnto wrath, & synned agaynst the God of Israel, 〈…〉 he gaue thē ouer in to the power of Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babilon the kynge of the Caldees, which brake downe ye house and brēt it, and caried awaye the people presoners vnto Babilon.

Neuertheles, in the first yeare that kynge Cyrus reigned at Babilon, 〈…〉 Cyrus the kynge wrote and commaunded to buylde vp this house agayne: and all the ornamentes that Nabuchodonosor caried awaye from Ierusalem vnto Babilon, and appropriated vnto his owne temple: those brought Cyrus forth agayne, and delyuered them to Zorobabel & to Salmanasar the vndershreue, commaundynge them, yt they shulde brynge those same ornamentes agayne to Ierusalē in to ye tē ple, & to begynne from yt tyme forth, to buylde the tēple agayne in his owne place. Thē Salmanasar layed the foundacion of ye LORDES house at Ierusalem, and euer sence haue they buylded, & yet is it not ended. And therfore (O kynge) yf thou thynkest it good, let it be sought in the Lybraries & rolles of kynge Cyrus: yf it be founde thē, that it is done wt the councell and cōsent of kynge Cyrus, and yf oure lorde ye kynge be so mynded, let him wryte vnto vs therof.

Then cōmaunded kinge Darius, to seke in the Lybraries: 〈…〉 and so at Egbathanis in a litle cite in Media there was founde soch a wrytinge: In the first yeare of the raigne of Cyrus, the same kynge Cyrus cōmaunded, yt the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem shulde be buylded agayne (& odoures to be made there contynually vnto the LORDE) whose heyth shalbe ten cubites, ye bredth lx. cubites & iiij. square wt thre hewen stones, wt a lofte of tymbre of the same countre, yee wt a new loft, & the expenses therof to be geuen of ye house of kynge Cyrus. And the ornamētes of golde & syluer, yt Nabuchodonosor toke out of the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem, shalbe set agayne in the temple at Ierusalē, where they were afore. Sysennes also the vndershreue in Syria and Phenices, ye prynces and their companyons, and the other yt be head rulers in Syria and Phenices, shall not medle ner haue eny thinge to do with that place.

I Cyrus haue cōmaunded also, that they shal buylde the house of the LORDE whole vp: & haue ordeyned them, to helpe those yt be come out of captiuyte, tyll the house of the LORDE be fynished: & out of the trybute and taxinge that is yearly raysed vp in Syria and Phenices, diligently to geue them a certayne summe, to the offerynge of the LORDE: and the same to be delyuered vnto Zorobabel the officer: that he therwithall maye ordeyne oxen, rammes, lambes, & corne, salt, wyne and oyle, and that contynually euery yeare: after the expences which the prestes that be at Ierusalem, shew to be made daylie: 〈…〉 this shalbe geuen vnto them without delaye, that they maye offer sacrifices daylie to the hyest God, for the kynge and for his seruauntes, and to praye for their lyues. Let it be proclamed also on euery syde, that who o euer breaketh or despyseth this cōmaundement of ye kynge, shalbe hanged vpon a galow (made of his owne good) & all his goodes shalbe seasoned vnto ye kynge. The LORDE therfore (whose name is there called vpon) rote out and destroye all ye kynges and people, that vndertake by violence to hynder the same, or to deale vncurteously wt the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem. I Darius the kinge haue ordeyned, that these thinges shalbe done with all diligence.

The VII. Chapter.

THen Sysennes ye vndershreue in Celosyria and Phenices, and the other landlordes with their companyons, obeyed the thinges that kynge Darius had ordened, were diligent in the holy workes, & were felow helpers with the olde rulers of the Iewes. And so the worke of the Sanctuary wente forth and prospered, whan Aggeus and Zachary prophecied. And they perfourmed all thinges thorow the commaundement of the LORDE God of Israel, and after the deuyce of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerses kynges of Persia.

And thus was oure house fynished, vnto the xxiij. daye of the moneth Addar in ye vj. yeare of kynge Darius. And the children of Israel the prestes & the Leuites, & the other that were come out of captiuyte, & soch as were ioyned vnto them, dyd acordinge as it is wrytten in the boke of Moses. And in the dedicacion of the temple they offred an hundreth oxen, an C. rammes, iiij.C. lambes, & xij. goates for the synnes of all the people of Israel, after ye nombre of the trybes of Israel. The prestes also & the Leuites stode arayed in the prestly garmētes, after ye trybes, ouer all ye workes of the LORDE God of Israel, acordinge to ye boke of Moses, and the porters by all the dores.

And the children of Israel (wt those yt were come out of captiuyte) helde the Passeouer the xiiij. daye of the first moneth, whan the prestes and the Leuites were sanctified. They that came out of captiuyte, were not all sanctified together: but the Leuites were all sanctified together. And so all they that came out of captiuyte, kylled the easter lambe, for their brethrē, for the prestes & for them selues. And the childrē of Israel yt came out of captiuyte, & escaped frō all ye abhominacions of the Heithē, sought the LORDE, and kepte the feast of vnleuended bred vij. daies longe, eatinge & drynkynge & were mery before the LORDE: yt the LORDE had turned the deuyce of the kynge of Assiria, & comforted their handes to the workes of ye LORDE God of Israel.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd after him, whan Artaxerses the kynge of ye Persiās raigned,1. Esd. 7. a there wē te vnto him Eszdras the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Helchia, ye sonne of Sallū, the sonne of Sadoc, ye sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Amarias, ye sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Boccus, ye sonne of Abisu, ye sonne of Phineas, the sonne of Eleazar, ye sonne of Aaron ye first prest. This Eszdras wēte vp from Babilon (for he had good vnderstondinge in ye lawe of Moses, yt was geuē of the LORDE God of Israel, to be taught & done in dede.) And ye kinge fauoured him, & dyd him greate worshipe and honoure, after all his desyres. There wente vp with him also certayne of ye children of Israel, of the prestes, of ye Leuites, of the syngers, porters, and mynisters of ye temple at Ierusalem.

In the vij. yeare of the raigne of kynge Artaxerses, in the v. moneth, yt is in the vij. yeare of the raigne, they wente from Babilon in the newmoone of the v. moneth, & came the hye waye to Ierusalē after his commaundement, like as the LORDE had prospered their iourney. For in these Eszdras gat greate instruccion, yt he shulde leaue none of ye thinges behynde, which were in ye lawe & cōmaundementes of God. And he taught whole Israel all righteousnes & iudgment.

Then came the Secretaries of kynge Artaxerses, & delyuered ye wrytinges (yt were come frō Artaxerses the kynge) to Eszdras the prest & reder of the lawe of the LORDE: And this is ye copye of ye letter: Kynge Artaxerses sendeth his gretinge vnto Eszdras the prest & reder of the lawe of ye LORDE: Of frendshipe & good will I haue ordeyned and charged, yf there be eny of the Iewes, of ye prestes & Leuites in my realme, which desyreth & is contēt to go wt the vnto Ierusalē, yt he maye do it. Therfore yf eny be mynded to beare the cōpany, let thē come together, & go wt the (like as I am contēt & my vij. frendes my coūcelers:) to se what they do at Ierusalē & in Iewry, & kepe ye thinges acordinge as thou hast in ye lawe of the LORDE: & to bringe the giftes vnto God the LORDE of Israel, yt I & my frendes haue promysed to Ierusalē, & all the syluer & golde yt is in ye countre of Babilon, vnto ye LORDE to Ierusalē, wt the thinge yt is geuē for the people in the LORDES temple at Ierusalem: Yee that the same syluer & golde maye be gathered, and oxen, rammes, shepe & goates and other that belōge to these thinges: and that they maye offer sacrifices vnto the LORDE, vpon the aulter of their LORDE, which is at Ierusalem.

And what so euer thou & thy brethrē wyl do wt the syluer & golde, yt do after ye mynde, & after the cōmaundement of the LORDE thy God: & like wyse wt all the holy vessels, yt are geuē the for the seruyce of the house of the LORDE thy God: & other thinges what soeuer is necessary for the to the worke of the temple, yt shalbe geuē the of the kynges treasure: & loke what thou with thy brethrē wilt do with the golde and syluer, that do after ye wil of the LORDE. And I kynge Artaxerses haue commaunded the kepers of ye treasures in Syria and Phenices, that what soeuer Eszdras the prest and reder of the lawe of the LORDE doth wryte, it shalbe geue him: tyll an C. talentes of syluer, and of golde in lyke maner: Of corne also an C. measures, and tyll an hūdreth vessels of wyne, and other plenteous thinges without nombre. Let all thinges be done after the lawe of ye hyest God, that the wrath of God aryse not in the realme of the kynge and of his sonnes. I commaunde you also, that ye requyne no taxinge ner tribute of the prestes, Leuites, syngers, and mynisters of the temple, ner of the wryters: and that no man haue auctorite to medle eny thinge against them. As for the (O Eszdras) set thou iudges and arbitrers in the whole lande of Syria and Phenices, after the wyszdome of God: and lerne all soch as are ignoraunt in the lawe of God thy LORDE, and let all them that offende agaynst the lawe, be punyshed: whether it be with death, with payne, to be condemned in money, or to be banyshed.

Then sayde Eszdras ye wryter: Blessed be ye God of oure fathers, that hath geuen so good a mynde and wyll in to the hert of the kynge, to magnifie his house yt is at Ierusalem, and hath made me to be accepted in the sight of ye kynge, of his councell, of his frē des and of his nobles. And so I was stedfast in my mynde, acordinge as the LORDE my God helped me, and I chose out men of Israel, to go vp with me. And these are the heades (after their kynreds & houses of their fathers) that wente vp with me from Babilon, Esd. . a out of the kyngdome of Artaxerses: Of the sonnes of Phares, Gersonius. Of ye sonnes of Siemarith, Amenus. Of the sonnes of Dauid, Accus, the sonne of Cecilia.

Of the sonnes of Phares, Zachary: and with him there turned agayne an hundreth and fiftie men. Of the sonnes of the captayne of Moabilon, Zaraei, and with him ij.C. and l. men. Of the sonnes of Zachnes, Iechonias Zecholi, and with him ij.C. and l. men. Of the sonnes of Salamaasias, Gotholie, and lxx. with him. Of the sonnes of Zaphacia, Zarias Miheli, and with him lxxx. Of the sonnes of Iob, Abdias Ieheli, and with him ij.C. and xij. men. Of the sonnes of Bania, Salimoth the sonne of Iosaphia, and with him an C. and lx. men. Of the sonnes of Beer, Zachary Bebei, and with him ij.C. and viij. men. Of the sonnes of Esead, Iohannes Ezechan, and with him Cx. men. Of the sonnes of Adonicā those that were the last, and these are their names: Eliphalam ye sonne of Gebel and Semeias, & with him lxx. men. All these called I together by the water Thia, where we pitched oure tentes thre dayes, and there I mustered them.

〈…〉 As for the sonnes of the prestes and Leuites, I founde none there. Then sent I vnto Eleazar, & Eccelom, and Masman, & Malobam, and Enaathan, and Samea, and Ioribimathan, Eunagan, Zachary, Mosollamū (these were the leders and men of experiēce) & I sent them worde, that they shulde come vnto Loddeus, which was by the place of the treasury, & commaunded them that they shulde speake vnto Loddeus and to his brethren & to those that were in the treasury, to sende vs soch mē, as might execute the prestes office in the house of the LORDE oure God. And wt the mightie hāde of oure LORDE God, they brought vnto vs mē of good experience, from amōge the sonnes of Moolius, the sonne of Leui, ye sonne of Israel, Sebebeiam & the sonnes & his brethrē Aszbin & Anim, of whom there were xviij. From amō ge the children of the sonnes of Cananeus, & their sonnes were xx. men. And of them yt serued in the temple, whom Dauid had ordeyned, and the pryncipall men that ministred for the worke vnto the Leuites in the temple, ij.C. and xx. men: whose names are all tokened vp in wrytinge.

Then commaunded I a fastynge vnto ye yonge men before the LORDE, 1. Esd. 8. yt I might desyre of him a prosperous iourney & a good waye for vs, yee for vs, for oure children and for the catell, because of the layenges awayte: & I durst not require of the kynge men of horse & of fote, to conveye vs safely agaynst oure enemies, for we had sayde vnto the kynge, that ye power of the LORDE oure God shulde be with them, that seke him wt their whole hert. And therfore we besought God oure LORDE earnestly because of these thinges, and he was mercifull vnto vs, and herde oure prayer. And I separated from amonge ye rulers of the people, & from ye prestes of ye temple xij. men, & Sebeia & Asania, & ten men of their brethren with them. And I weied thē the golde & the syluer & all ye prestly ornamētes of the house of or God, which the kynge & his coūcell, & his prynces & whole Israel had geuē. And whan I had weyed it, I gaue thē an Cl. talētes in syluer, an C. talentes of syluer vessell, an C. talentes of golde, & of goldē vessell seuē tymes twentie, and vessels of other metall (yee of good metall) xij. glisteringe as the golde, & saide vnto thē: ye also are holy vnto the LORDE, & the vessels are holy, & the golde & the syluer is promised vnto the LORDE the God of or fathers. Be diligent now & kepe it, vntill the tyme yt ye delyuer it to the rulers of the people, to yt prestes, to the Leuites & to ye pryncipall mē of the cities of Israel in Ierusalem, & in the chambre of the house of oure God.

So ye prestes & the Leuites which receaued of me the golde, the syluer & the vessell,1. Esd. 8. d brought it to Ierusalē in to the tēple of the LORDE. And from Thia we brake vp the xij. daye of the first moneth, tyll we came to Ierusalē. And whan the thirde daye was past, the weyed golde & syluer was delyuered in ye house of the LORDE the fourth daye, vnto Marimoth the sonne of Ior the prest, & wt him was Eleazar ye sonne of Phineas, and with thē were Iosabdus ye sonne of Iesnet, Medias & the sonne of Banus, & certayne of the Leuites to the nombre & to the waighte: & the waight of them was writtē vp the same tyme. As for those that were come out of captiuyte, they offred sacrifice vnto the LORDE the God of Israel: euē xij. oxen for all Israel, lxxxvj. rammes, lxxij. shepe, xij. goates for synne, xij. kyne for a thankofferinge, all to the sacrifice of the LORDE. And ye kinges cōmission delyuered they vnto ye stewardes and debytes of the kynge, and to the vndershreues in Celosyria and Phenices.

1. Esd. 9. a Now whan these thinges were done, the rulers came vnto me, and sayde: The generacion of Israel, the prynces, ye prestes and Leuites, the straunge people and indwellers of the londe, haue not put awaye their vnclennesse, from the Cananites, Hethites, Pheresites, from the Moabites, Egipcians & Edomites. For both they and their sonnes haue mengled them selues with the daughters of them, & the holy sede is mixte with the outlandish Heithen, & sens the begynnynge of their raigne haue the rulers and heades bene partakers of their wickednesse.

As soone as I had herde these thinges, immediatly I rent my holy garmentes, and pulled out ye hayre of my heade & my beerd, & sat me downe soroufull & heuy. So all they that were moued thorow the worde of the God of Israel, came vnto me: and I sat still full of heuines vntill the euenynge sacrifice. Then stode I vp frō fastinge, hauynge rente clothes & the holy garmēt, kneled downe vpon my knees, helde out my hādes vnto ye LORDE, & sayde: O LORDE, I am confounded & ashamed before thy face, for oure synnes are become many vpon oure heades, & or wickednesses are exalted vnto the heauē: for sens ye tyme of or fathers we are in greate sinne vnto this daye. And for the synnes of vs & or fathers, we wt oure brethren & wt oure prestes haue bene deliuered vnto the kinges of the earth, in to the swerde, & in to captiuite, & became a spoyle with confucion & shame vnto this daie. And now O LORDE God, how greate is the mercy yt we haue gottē of the? in yt thou hast left vs a rote & a name in the place of thy Sanctuary, to discouer oure light in the house of ye LORDE or God, & geuē vs meate at all tymes of or ministracion. And whan we were in captiuyte, we were not forsaken of the LORDE oure God: but he made the kynges of Persia gracious & fauourable vnto vs, so yt they gaue vs vytayles & meate, yee & leue to buylde vp the tē ple of oure LORDE God agayne, to repayre the waisted places of Sion, and to dwell in Iewry & Ierusalem. And now O LORDE, what shall we saye, hauynge all these thinges in possession? For we haue broken thy cō maundementes, which thou gauest vnto vs by the handes of thy seruauntes the prophetes, sayenge: The londe yt ye go vnto, & yt is geuen you for an heretage to haue in possession, is defyled with the vnclennes & fylthynes of the Heithen, & with their abhominacion haue they poluted it alltogether. Therfore shal ye not ioyne youre daughters vnto their sonnes, 〈…〉 ner mary yor sonnes vnto their daughters: Morouer, ye shall neuer seke to make peace wt them, yt ye maye increase & eate the best in the lande, & yt ye maye denyde ye inheritaunce of the lande vnto yor children for euermore. As for the thinge yt now happeneth vnto vs, it commeth all for or wicked workes & greate synnes. yet hast thou geuen vs soch a rote, yt we are come againe in to or owne londe: and we are so wicked, yt we haue brokē thy statutes & cōmaundementes agayne, & mengled or selues wt the vnclēnes of the outlandish Heithen. O LORDE, art thou angrie with vs? wilt thou rote vs cleane out? yt oure rote & name remayne nomore? O LORDE God of Israel, thou art true, for oure rote endureth yet vnto this present daye. And beholde, now are we before ye in or synnes, now can we not stonde before the in them.

And whan Eszdras with this prayer had knowleged the synne, wepinge, 〈…〉 & lyēge flatt vpon the grounde before the tēple, there gathered vnto him from Ierusalem a greate multitude of men & wemen, of yonge men & maydens, for there was a very greate wepinge and mournynge in the cōgregacion. So whan Iechonias the sonne Ieheli one of the children of Israel cried, he sayde vnto Eszdras: we haue synned agaynst the LORDE, because we haue maried outlandish women of the Heithē. Now art thou ouer all Israel. We wil sweare an ooth therfore vnto ye LORDE, yt we shal put awaye all or wyues which we haue takē of the Heithē, wt their childrē: like as it is appoynted the by or fore elders. Stonde vp then, open thou it and declare it playnely vnto vs acordīge to the lawe of ye LORDE: for the matter belongeth vnto ye, & we wyll helpe the, quyte thy self manly. So Eszdras arose, and toke an ooth of the rulers of ye prestes & of ye Leuites & of all Israel, to do after these thinges, and they sware.

The IX. Chapter.

THen Eszdras stode vp from the courte of the tēple without, 〈…〉 & wente in to the chāber of Ionathas the sonne of Nasabus, & remayned there, & ate no meate ner dronke drynke, for the multitude of the wickednes of the people. And there was made a proclamacion in all Iewry & at Ierusalem, for all soch as were gathered at Ierusalē out of captiuyte, yt who so ouer came not to Ierusalē within two or thre dayes (acordinge to the iudgment of the olde lordes of councell) his goodes shulde be taken from him, & he excluded from the cōgregacion of the captiuyte. And in thre dayes were all they of the trybe of Iuda & Ben Iamin gathered together at Ierusalem, the xx. daye of ye ix. moneth. And ye whole multitude sat trē blinge in the courte of the temple, for it was wynter. So Eszdras arose vp, & sayde vnto them: ye haue done vnrighteously, in that ye haue taken outlandish wyues to mariage, & so to increase the synnes of Israel. And now knowlege the same, & geue prayse vnto the LORDE God of oure fathers, & perfourme his wil, departinge from the Heithen of the londe, & from the outlandish wyues. Then cried the whole multitude with loude voyce, & sayde: like as thou hast spokē, so wil we do: But for so moch as the people are many, & ye wynter here, we maie not stōde without ye house: agayne, this worke is not a thinge, yt can be fynished in a daye or two, for we be many yt haue synned in these thinges: Ordene therfore, yt the rulers of the multitude and all they that dwell with vs, and as many as haue outlandish wyues, the prestes also and iudges of euery place, maye stonde in the tyme appoynted, tyll they lowse vp the wrath of the LORDE in this busynes.

Then Ionathas the sonne of Ezeli, & Ozias and Thecam receaued ye charge of this matter, & Bozoramus, & Leius and Sabatheus helped thē therto. After this, all they stode vp yt were come out of captiuyte. And Eszdras the prest chose vnto him the pryncipall men from amonge the fathers acordinge to their names, & in the new moone of the tenth moneth they sat together, to examen this matter. And so the matter was a determynge (concernynge the men yt had outlandish wyues) vntill the new moone of the first moneth. And of the prestes yt had mixte thē selues wt outlandish wyues, there were founde: 〈◊〉 . 10. d Of the sonnes of Iesu the sonne of Iosedec & his brethren, Mazeas, Eleazer, Ioribus & Ioadeus, which offred them selues to put awaye their wyues, & to offre a ramme for their ignoraunce. And of the sonnes of Semmeri, Masseas, & Esses & Ieelech Azarias. Of ye sonnes of Fosera, Limosias, Hismaen, Nathanea, Iussio, Ieddus, & Talsas. And of the Leuites, Iosabdus, Semeis and Colnis, Caletas, Facteas, Colnas and Elionas. Of the syngers of the Sāctuary, Eliarib, Zackarus. Of the porters, Sallumus & Tolbanes. And of Israel, of the children of Foro, Osi & Remias, & Geddias, & Melchias, Michelus, Eleazarus, Iēmebias & Bannas. And of the childrē of Iolaman, Chanias, Zachary, Ietzrelus, Ioddius, Erimoth & Elias. And of ye sonnes of Iathoim. Eliadas, Liasamus, & Zochias, Larimoth, Sabdis & Tebedias. And of ye sonnes of Zebes, Iohānes Amanias, Zabdias, & Emeus. And of the sonnes of Bannus, Olammus, Maluchus, Ieddus, Iasub, Asabus & Ierimoth. And of ye sonnes of Addin, Naatus & Moosias & Caleus & Raanas Maasuas, Mathathias, Besel, Bannus, and Manasses.

And of the sonnes of Naue, Nones, Afeas, Melchias, Sameas, Simō, Ben Iamin, Malchus & Marras. And of the sonnes of Asom, Carianeus, Mathathias, Bannus, Eliphalach, Manasses, Semei. Of the sonnes of Bannus, Ieremy, Moodias, Abramas, Iohel, Baneas, Peliaas, Iona, Marimoth, Eliasib, Mathaneus, Eliasis, Orizas, Dielus, Semedius. Zambris & Ioseph. Of ye sonnes of Nobeus, Idelus, Mathathias, Sabadus, Zecheda, Sedmi, Iesseus, & Baneas. All these had takē outlādish wemē to mariage, & they put thē awaye wt their childrē.

The prestes & Leuites, & all they yt were of Israel, dwelt at Ierusalem & thorow out all ye londe, in the new moone of the seuenth moneth, & the childrē of Israel were in their dwellynges. And ye whole multitude came together vpon ye floore at ye east syde of the holy porte of ye tēple.2. Esd. 8. a And they spake vnto Eszdras ye hie prest & reder, yt he wolde brynge ye lawe of Moses, which was geuē of ye LORDE God of Israel. So Eszdras the hie prest brought the lawe vnto the whole multitude, to man and woman, & to all prestes, yt they might heare the lawe, in the new moone of the seuenth moneth. And he red in ye floore yt is before ye holy porte of ye tēple, from the mornynge early vntill the euenynge, before men & wemen. And they applied their mynde all vnto the lawe.

And Eszdras the prest & reder of ye lawe stode vp vpon a scaffolde of wodd, which was made therfore: & vpon his right hande there stode by him Mathathias, Samus, Ananias, Azarias, Vrias, Ozechias, & Balsamus: Vpon his lefte hāde stode Faldeus, Misael, Malachias, Abuschas, Sabus, Nabadias, & Zachary. Then toke Eszdras ye boke before the whole multitude, for he was ye pryncipall and had in most honor of thē all. And whā he had red out ye lawe, they stode all straight vp vpon their fete. So Eszdras praysed the LORDE the most hye God, the Allmightie God of hoostes. And all ye people answered, Amen: & helde vp their hādes, fell downe flat vpon the earth, & praysed ye LORDE: Iesus, Beneas, Sarebias, Iaddimus, Accubus, Sabbatheus, Calithes, Azarias, Ioradus, Ananias, & Philias the Leuites which taught the lawe of the LORDE, & red the lawe of the LORDE in the cōgregacion, & euery man sett those before yt vnderstode the lawe. Then spake Atharathes vnto Eszdras the hye prest & reder, & to the Leuites yt taught the multitude, sayenge: This daye is holy vnto the LORDE: & all they yt had herde the lawe, wepte So Eszdras sayde: . Esd. 8. c Departe yor waye then, & eate the best, & drynke the swetest, & sende giftes vnto them yt haue nothinge: for this daye is holy vnto the LORDE, and be not ye sory. Then wente they their waye euerychone, ate and dronke and were mery, & sent rewardes vnto thē yt had nothinge, yt they also might eate with gladnesse: for they were exceadingly reioysed, thorow the wordes that were red vnto them in the lawe: And so they were all gathered together at Ierusalem to holde the feast, acordinge to the couenaunt of ye LORDE God of Israel.

The ende of the thirde boke of Eszdras.
The IIII boke of Eszdras. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. God reproueth the people for their vnthankfulnes, and rehearseth vnto them his owne louynge mercy, that he maye bringe thē agayne: yf they wyl not amende, he wil chose another people. Chap. II. The Synagoge cōplayneth vpō hir children The callynge of the Heithen. Chap. III. Eszdras sheweth of the excellent workes of God, done vnto the people, and hath a frendly contencion with God: because he suffreth the Babilonians to haue the dominion ouer them, where as they yet are sinners also. Chap. IIII. The angel rebuketh Eszdras, for takinge in hāde to seke out the grounde of Gods iudgment, and instructeth him with fayre symilitudes. Chap. V. A communicaciō of Eszdras and the angel together. Chap. VI. The angel enfourmeth Eszdras, and answereth him to his questions. Chap. VII. The angel sheweth Eszdras many secrete matters, and thinges for to come. Chap. VIII. Eszdras prayeth for the people, that God wyll rather loke vpon his owne louynge mercy and the godlynes of few, thē vpon the wycked synnes of many. Chap. IX. Tokens of the tyme and punyshment for to come. Visions are shewed vnto Eszdras. Chap. X. A communicacion betwixte Eszdras, and the woman that appeared vnto him. Chap. XI.XII.XIII. Of certayne visions and the interpretacions therof. Chap. XIIII. God appeareth vnto Eszdras in the bush, talketh with him, and cōmaundeth him what he shal doo. Chap. XV. God sheweth Eszdras the punyshmēt that he wyl sende vpon the synfull people, and commaundeth him to tell them the same. Chap. XVI. Punyshment vpon the Heithen, and how the people of God shal behaue them selues therin.
The first Chapter.

THe seconde boke of ye prophet Eszdras: (ye sonne of Saraias, 〈…〉 the sonne of Azarias, ye sonne of Helchia, ye sonne of Sallū, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Amerias, the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Maraioth, the sonne of Sarahias, the sonne of Vzi, the sonne of Boccus, the sonne of Abisu, the sonne of Phineas, the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron, of the trybe of Leui) which was presoner in the lande of the Meedes, in the raigne of Artaxerses kynge of Persia.

And the worde of the LORDE came vnto me, sayenge: 〈…〉 Go thy waye & shew my people their synfull dedes, & their children their wickednesses, which they haue done against me, that they maye tell their childers childrē the same: for the synnes of their fathers are increased in them. And why? they haue forgotten me, & haue offred vnto straunge goddes. Am not I euen he, that brought them out of the lande of Egipte, from the house of bondage? But they haue prouoked me vnto wrath, & despysed my councels. Pull thou out then the hayre of thy heade, and cast all euell ouer them, for they haue not bene obedient vnto my lawe.

It is a people without lernynge & nourtoure. How longe shal I forbeare them, vnto whom I haue done so moch good? Many kynges haue I destroyed for their sakes: 〈…〉 Pharao wt his seruaūtes and all his power haue I smytten downe and slayne: 〈…〉 All ye nacions haue I destroyed and roted out before them, and in ye east haue I brought two landes and people to naught, euen Tyre & Sydon, and haue slayne all their enemies. Speake thou therfore vnto them, sayenge: Thus sayeth the LORDE: 〈…〉 I led you thorow the see, and haue geuen you sure stretes sence the begynnynge. I gaue you Moses to be youre captayne, and Aaron to be the prest: 〈…〉 I gaue you light in a piler of fyre, & greate wōders haue I done amōge you: yet haue ye forgotten me, sayeth the LORDE.

Thus sayeth the allmightie LORDE: I gaue you quales to eate, Exo. 16. c and tentes for youre sucoure: Neuertheles ye murmured, and ascrybed not ye victory of youre enemies vnto my name: yee this same daie do ye yet murmoure. Where are the benefites, that I haue done for you? Whan ye were hongrie in the wildernes, 〈◊〉 . 14. a dyd ye not crie vnto me: Why hast thou brought vs in to this wildernes, to kill vs? It had bene better for vs, to haue serued ye Egipcians, then to dye in this wildernesse. Thē had I pitie vpon youre mourninges, and gaue you Manna to eate. Ye ate angels foode. Whā ye were thyrstie, dyd not I hew ye hardstone, 〈◊〉 . 0. b & caused water ynough to flowe thereout? For the heate, I couered you with ye leaues of the trees. A good pleasaunt fatt londe gaue I you: I cast out the Cananites, the Pheresites and Philistynes before you. What shal I do more for you, saieth the LORDE?

Thus sayeth the Allmightie LORDE: Whan ye were in the wildernes, Exo. 15. d in the water of the Amorites, beynge a thyrst & blasphemynge my name, I gaue you not fyre for youre blasphemies, but cast a tre in to ye water, and made the ryuer swete. What shall I do vnto the, O Iacob? Thou Iuda woldest not obeye me. 〈◊〉 . 32. b I wil turne me to another people, & vnto those will I geue my name, that they maye kepe my statutes. Seinge ye haue forsakē me, I wil forsake you also. Whan ye desyre me to be gracious vnto you, I shal haue no mercy vpon you. 〈…〉 Whan ye call vpō me, I wil not heare you. For ye haue defyled youre hādes with bloude, and youre fete are swift to commytt manslaughter. Ye haue not forsaken me (in a maner) but youre owne selues, sayeth the LORDE.

Thus sayeth the Allmightie LORDE: haue I not prayed you, as a father his sonnes, as a mother hir daughters, and as a norsse hir yonge babes, that ye wolde be my people, and I shulde be youre God: that ye wolde be my children, and I shulde be youre owne father? 〈◊〉 . 3. d I gathered you together, as an henne gathereth hir chekens vnder hir wynges. But now what shal I do vnto you? I shal cast you out fro my face. 〈…〉 Whan ye offre vnto me, I shal turne my face from you: for youre solempne feast dayes, youre new moones and youre circumcisions haue I forsaken. I sent vnto you my seruauntes the prophetes, whom ye haue taken and slayne, and torne their bodies in peces, whose bloude I wyll requyre of youre handes, sayeth the LORDE.

Thus sayeth the Allmightie LORDE: youre house must be desolate. I wil cast you out as the wynde doth ye strawe: youre children shal not be frutefull, for they haue despysed my commaundement, and done ye thinge yt is euell before me. Youre houses wil I geue vnto a people yt shal come, Esa. 65. a Rom. 10 and they yt neuer herde me, shal beleue in me: & they vnto whō I neuer shewed token, shal do the thinge yt I cōmaunde thē. They haue sene no prophetes, yet shal they call their synnes to remembraunce, and knowlege thē. I reporte me vnto the grace, that I wil do for the people which is to come, whose children reioyse in gladnes: & though they haue not sene me wt bodely eyes, yet in sprete they beleue the thinge that I saye. And now brother, beholde what greate worshipe, Esa. 41. c Luc. 13. Matt. . and se ye people that commeth from the east, vnto whom I wyll geue the dukedome of Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, of Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, of Ioel, Abdy, Ionas, Naum and Abacuc, of Sophony, Aggeus, Zachary and Malachy, which is called also an angel (or messaūger) of the LORDE.

The II. Chapter.

THus sayeth the LORDE: I brought this people out of bondage, I gaue thē my cōmaundementes by my seruaūtes ye prophetes, whom they wolde not heare, but despysed my coūcels. The mother that bare them, sayeth vnto them: Go youre waye ye children, for I am a wyddow & forsaken: I brought you vp with gladnesse, but with sorow and heuynes haue I lost you: for ye haue synned before the LORDE yor God, and done ye thinge that is euell before him. But what shall I now do vnto you? I am a wyddow and forsakē: go youre waye (o my children) and axe mercy of the LORDE. As for me O father, I call vpon the for a wytnesse ouer the mother of these childrē, which wolde not kepe my couenaunt: yt thou brynge them to cōfucion, and their mother to a spoyle, that she beare no more. Let their names be scatred abrode amonge the Heithen, let them be put out of the earth, for they haue thought scorne of my couenaunt.

Wo be vnto the Assur, thou that hydest the vnrighteous by the. Thou wicked people, Gen. 19. c remembre what I dyd vnto Sodom and Gomorre, whose land is turned to pitch and aszshes. Euen so also wyll I do vnto all them, that heare me not, sayeth the Allmightie LORDE. Thus sayeth the LORDE vnto Eszdras: Tell my people, yt I will geue them the kyngdome of Ierusalem, which I wolde haue geuen vnto Israel. Their glory also wyl I take vnto me, and geue them the euer lastynge tabernacles, which I had prepared for those.

The tre of life shalbe vnto them a swete smellynge oyntment: they shal nether laboure ner be weery. Go ye youre waye, & ye shall receaue it. Praye for yor selues a few dayes, that they maye dwell therin. Now is the kingdome prepared for you, therfore watch. Take heauē and earth to wytnesse, for I haue broken the euell in peces, and created the good, for I lyue sayeth ye LORDE. Mother enbrace thy children, and brynge them vp with gladnes: make their fete as fast as a piler, for I haue chosen the, sayeth the LORDE.

And those that be deed wyll I rayse vp agayne from their places, and brynge them out of ye graues, for I haue knowne my name in Israel. Feare not thou mother of the children, for I haue chosen the, sayeth the LORDE. And for thy helpe I shal sende the my seruauntes Esay and Ieremy, after whose councell I haue sanctified & prepared for the, xij. trees with dyuerse frutes, and as many welles flowinge with mylck and hony, & seuen mountaynes, whervpō there growe roses and lilies, wherin I wyl fyll my children with ioye. Execute iustice for the wyddowe, be iudge for the fatherlesse: geue to ye poore: defende the cōfortlesse: clothe the naked: heale the wounded and sick: laugh not a lame man to scorne: defende the crepell, and lat the blinde come in to ye sight of my clearnes. Kepe the olde & yonge within thy walles: obi. 1. d where so euer thou fyndest the deed, tokē them, and burye them, and I shal geue the the first place in my resurreccion. Holde styll (O my people) and take ye rest, for thy quyetnes is come. Fede thy children O thou good norsse, stablish their fete: As for the seruauntes whom I haue geuen the, there shal not one of them perishe, for I wyl seke thē from thy nombre, vexe not thy self.

For whan the daye of trouble and heuynes commeth, other shal wepe and be soroufull, but thou shalt be mery and plenteous. The Heithen shalbe gelous, but they shalbe able to do nothinge agaynst the, sayeth the LORDE. My handes shal couer the, so that thy children shal not se the fyre euerlastinge. Be ioyfull O thou mother with thy childrē, for I wyll delyuer the, sayeth the LORDE. Remembre thy deed childrē, for I shal brynge them out of the earth, and shew mercy vnto them, for I am mercifull, sayeth the LORDE Allmightie.

Enbrace thy childrē, vntyll I come and shew mercy vnto them, for my welles runne ouer, and my grace shal not fayle. I Eszdras receaued a charge of the LORDE vpon the mount Oreb, that I shulde go vnto Israel. But whan I came vnto thē, they set me at naught, and despysed the commaundement of ye LORDE. And therfore I saye vnto you O ye Heithen, that heare and vnderstonde: Loke for youre shepherde, he shal geue you euerlastinge rest: for he is nye at hande, that shal come in the ende of the worlde. Be ready to the rewarde of the kyngdome, for the euerlastinge light shall shyne vpon you for euermore. Fle the shadowe of this worlde, receaue the ioyfulnes of youre glory. I testifie my sauioure openly: O receaue the gift yt is geuen you, and be glad, geuynge thankes vnto him, that hath called you to the heauenly kyngdome. Aryse vp, and stonde fast: beholde the nombre of those that be sealed in the feast of the LORDE, which are departed from the shadowe of the worlde, and haue receaued glorious garmētes of the LORDE. Take thy nombre O Sion, and shutt vp thy purified, which haue fulfilled the lawe of the LORDE. The nombre of thy children whom thou longedest for, is fulfilled: beseke the power of the LORDE, that thy people which haue bene called from the begynnynge, maye be halowed.

I Eszdras sawe vpon the mount Sion a greate people, whom I coude not nombre, 〈…〉 & they all praysed the LORDE with songes of thankesgeuynge. And in the myddest of thē there was a yonge mā of an hye stature, m re excellent then all they, and vpon euery one of their heades he sett a crowne, and was euer hygher and hygher, which I marueled at greatly. So I axed ye angell, & sayde: Syr, what are these? He answered and sayde vnto me: These be they, that haue put of the mortall clothinge and put on the immortall, and haue testified & knowleged the name of God. Now are they crowned, and receaue the rewarde.

Then sayde I vnto the angell: what yonge personne is it, that crowneth them, & geueth them the palmes in their handes? So he answered and sayde vnto me: It is ye sonne of God, whom they haue knowleged in the worlde. Then beganne I greatly to commende them, that stode so stifly for the name of the LORDE. And so the angell sayde vnto me: Go thy waye, and tell my people, what maner of thinges and how greate wonders of the LORDE thy God, thou hast sen .

The III. Chapter.

IN the thirtie yeare of the fall of the cite, I was at Babilon & laye troubled vpō my bed, & my thoughtes came vp ouer my hert: for I sawe ye desolacion of Sion, & the plenteous wealth of them yt dwelt at Babilon: & my sprete was sore moued, so that I begāne to speake fearfull wordes to the most hyest, and sayde: O LORDE LORDE, thou spakest at the begynnynge, whan thou plantedst ye earth (and that thy self alone) and gauest commaundement vnto ye people, and a body vnto Adam, which was a creature of thy handes, 〈◊〉 . 2. b and hast brethed in him the breth of life: and so he lyued before the, and thou leddest him in to paradyse, which gardē of pleasure thy right hande had planted, or euer the earth was made. And vnto him thou gauest commaundemēt to loue ye waye, which he transgressed, & immediatly thou appoyntedest death in him, and in his generacions. Of him came nacions, trybes, people & kynreddes out of nombre. 〈◊〉 6. b And euery people walked after their owne wil, and dyd nyce thinges before the: and as for thy commaundementes, they despysed them.

But in processe of tyme thou broughtest the water floude, 〈◊〉 . 7. b vpon those that dwelt in the worlde, and destroydest them. And like as the death was in Adam, so was the water floude also in these. Neuertheles one of them thou leftest: namely, Noe with his housholde, of whom come all righteous mē. And it happened that, whan they yt dwelt vpon the earth, beganne to multiplie, and had gotten many children, and were a greate people, they beganne to be more vngodly then the first.

Now whan they all lyued so wickedly before the, 〈◊〉 . 12.15 thou didest chose the a man from amonge them, whose name was Abram. Him thou louedest, and vnto him only thou shewdest thy wyll, and maydest an euerlastinge couenaunt with him, promisinge him, that thou woldest neuer forsake his sede. And vnto him thou gauest Isaac, 〈◊〉 . 21. a 〈◊〉 25. c 〈…〉 a vnto Isaac also thou gauest Iacob and Esau. As for Iacob thou didest chose him, and put backe Esau. And so Iacob became a greate multitude.

And it happened that whā thou leddest his sede out of Egipte, thou broughtest thē vp to the mount Sion, 〈◊〉 . 19. 〈…〉 4. b bowinge downe the heauens, settinge fast the earth, mouynge the grounde, makynge the depthes to shake, and troublynge the worlde: And thy glory wente thorow foure portes of fyre, and earth quakes, and wyndes and colde: that thou mightest geue the lawe vnto the sede of Iacob, and diligence vnto the generaciō of Israel.

And yet tokest thou not awaye from thē that wicked hert, that thy lawe might brynge forth frute in them. For the first Adam bare a wicked hert, transgressed, and was ouercome, and so be all they yt are borne of him. Thus remayned weaknes with the lawe in the hert of the people, Rom. . a with the wickednesse of the rote: so that the good departed awaye, and the euell abode still. So the tymes passed awaye, and the yeares were brought to an ende.1. Re. 16. c 2. Reg. 5. a Then didest thou rayse the vp a seruaunt: called Dauid, whom thou commaundedst to buylde a cite vnto thy name, and to offre vp incense and sacrifice vnto the therin. This was done now many yeares.

Then the inhabiters of the cite forsoke the, and in all thinges dyd euē as Adam and all his generacions had done: for they also had a wicked hert. And so thou gauest thy cite ouer in to the handes of thine enemies. Are they of Babilon then better and more righteous then thy people, yt they shal therfore haue the domynion of Sion? For whan I came there, and sawe their vngodlynes, and so greate wickednesse, that it coude not be nōbred: yee whan my soule sawe so many euell doers (in ye xxx. yeare) my hert fayled me, for I sawe, how thou suffrest them in soch vngodlynes, and sparest ye wicked doers: but thine owne people hast thou roted out, and preserued thine enemies, & this hast thou not shewed me.

I can not perceaue how this happeneth. Do they of Babilon then better, then they of Sion? Or is there eny other people, yt knoweth the, sauynge the people of Israel? Or what generacion hath so beleued ye couenaū tes, as Iacob? And yet their rewarde appeareth not, and their labo hath no frute. For I haue gone here and there thorow the Heithē, & I se, yt they be rych & wealthy, & thynke not vpon ye commaundementes. Weye thou therfore oure wickednesse now in ye balaunce, and theirs also that dwell in the worlde, and so shal thy name be nowhere founde but in Israel. Or where is there a people vpon earth, yt hath not synned before the? Or what people hath so kepte thy commaundementes? Thou shalt fynde, that Israel by name hath kepte thy preceptes, but not the other people and Heithen.

The IIII. Chapter.

ANd the angell that was sent vnto me (whose name was Vriel) gaue me answere, and sayde: Thy hert hath takē to moch vpon it in this worlde, and thou thinkest to comprehende the waye of the Hyest. Then sayde I: yee my lorde. And he answered me, and sayde: I am sent to shewe the thre wayes, and to sett forth thre symilitudes before the: wherof yf thou canst declare me one, I wil shewe the also the waye, that thou desyrest to se, and I shal shewe the from whēce the wicked hert commeth. And I sayde: tell on my LORDE. Then sayde he vnto me: Go thy waye, weye me the weight of the fyre, or measure me the blast of the wynde, or call me agayne the daye that is past. Then answered I and sayde: What man borne is able to do that? Why requyrest thou soch of me? And he sayde vnto me: Yf I shulde axe the, how depe dwellinges are in the see? Or how greate water springes are vpon ye firmamēt? Or how greate water sprynges are in the begynnynge of the depe? Or which are the out goinges of Paradise? Peraduēture thou woldest saye vnto me: I neuer wente downe yet in to ye depe ner hell, nether dyd I euer clymme vp in to heauen. Neuertheles now haue I axed the but onely of fyre and wynde and of the daye, where thorow thou hast trauayled, and from the which thou canst not be separated: and yet canst thou geue me no answere of them.

He sayde morouer vnto me: Thine owne thinges, and soch as are growne vp with ye, canst thou not knowe: how shulde thy vessel then be able to cōprehende the waye of the Hyest, and now outwardly in the corrupte worlde, to vnderstōde the corrupcion yt is euydent in my sight? Thē sayde I vnto him: It were better that we were not at all, thē that we shulde lyue in wickednesse, and to suffre, and not to knowe wherfore. He answered me, and sayde: I wēte in a wod, and the trees toke soch a deuyce and sayde: Iud. 9. b Par. 25. c Come let vs go, and fight agaynst the see, that it maye departe awaye before vs, and that we maye make vs yet more woddes.

The floudes of the see also in lyke maner toke this deuyce. and sayde: Come, let vs go vp, and fight agaynst the trees of the wodd, that we maye make oure londe the wyder. The thought and deuyce of the wodd was but vayne and nothinge worth, for the fyre came, and consumed the wod: The thought of the floudes of the see came likewyse to naught also, for the sonde stode vp and stopped them.

Yf thou were iudge now betwyxte these two, whom woldest thou iustifie, or whom woldest thou cōdemne? I answered and sayde: Verely it is a foolish thought that they both haue deuysed. For the grounde is geuen vnto the wod, and the see also hath his place to beare his floudes. Then answered he me & sayde: Thou hast geuen a right iudgment, why iudgest thou not thy self also? For like as the grounde is geuen vnto the wod, and the see to his floudes: 〈…〉 euen so they that dwell vpon earth, maye vnderstonde nothinge, but that which is vpon earth: and he that dwelleth aboue the heauens, maye onely vnderstō de the thinges, that are aboue the heauens. Then answered I and sayde: I beseke the (O LORDE) let me haue vnderstondinge: for it was not my mynde to be curious of thy hye thinges, but of soch as we daylie medle with all: namely, wherfore that Israelis blasphemed of the Heithen, and for what cause the people (whom thou euer hast loued) is geuen ouer, to be punyshed of vngodly naciōs: and why the lawe of oure fathers is brought to naught, and the wrytten couenauntes come to none effecte, and we passe awaye out of the worlde as the greshopers, and oure life is a very feare, and we are not worthy to optayne mercy. What wyl he do then vnto his name, which is called vpon ouer vs? Of these thinges haue I axed question.

Then answered he me and sayde: The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt maruel, for the worlde hasteth fast to passe awaye, and can not comprehende the thinges, that are promysed for the righteous in tyme to come, 〈…〉 for this worlde is full of vnrighteousnes and weaknes.

But as concernynge the thinges wherof thou axest me, I wyl tell the. The euell is sowne, but the destruccion therof is not yet come. Yf the euell now that is sowne, be not turned vpsyde downe, and yf the place where ye euell is sowne, passe not awaye, then can not the thinge come yt is sowne with ye good. For the corne of euell sede hath bene sowne in the hert of man from the begynnynge, and how moch vngodlynes hath he brought vp vnto this tyme? and how moch shal he yet brynge forth, vntyll he come in to the barne?

Pondre now by thyself, whā ye corne of euell sede is cutt downe, how greate a barne shal it fyll? I answered and sayde: How and whā shal these thinges come to passe? Wherfore are o yeares few & euell? And he answered me, sayēge: Haist not thou to moch vpon the Hyest, for thy haistynes to be aboue him is but in vayne, thou makest to moch a doo. Dyd not ye soules also of the righteous axe question of these thinges in their holynes, sayenge: How longe shal I hope of this fashion? Whan commeth the frute of my barne, and my rewarde? And vpō this Ieremiel the archangel gaue them answere, and sayde: poc. 6. b Euē whan the nombre of the sedes is fylled in you: for he hath weyed the worlde in the balaunce: in measure and nombre hath he measured the tyme, and moueth it not, vntyll the same measure be fulfylled. Then answered I and sayde: O LORDE LORDE, now are we all full of synne, and for oure sake peraduenture it is not, that the barne of the righteous shall not be fylled, because of the synnes of thē that dwell vpon earth.

So he answered me, & sayde: Go yt waye to a woman with childe, and axe her, when she hath fulfilled hir ix. monethes, yf hir childeszbed maye kepe ye byrth eny lōger within her. Thē sayde I: No LORDE, that can she not. And he sayde vnto me: In hell the secrete places of soules are like ye preuy chamber of a woman. For like as a woman that trauayleth, maketh haist, whan the tyme & necessite of the byrth is at hande: Euē so doth she haist to delyuer it that is commytted vnto her. Loke what thou desyrest to se, it shalbe shewed the from the begynnynge. Then answered I and sayde: Yf I haue founde fauoure in thy sight, and yf it be possible, and yf I be mete therfore, shewe me then, whether there be more to come thē is past, or more past then is for to come. What is past, I knowe: but what is for to come, I knowe not.

And he saide vnto me: Stonde vp vpō ye right syde, and I shal expounde the symilitude vnto the. So I stode, & beholde, an whote burnynge ouē wente ouer before me: & it happened yt whan the flamme was gone by, the smoke had the vpper hande. After this there wēte ouer before me a watery cloude, and sent downe moch rayne wt a storme: & whan the stormy rayne was past, the droppes remayned still. Then sayde he vnto me: like as the rayne is more then the droppes, and as the fyre exceadeth the smoke, euen so ye measure of the thinges that are past, hath the vpper hande. Then wente the droppes and the smoke aboue: and I prayed and sayde: Maye I lyue (thynkest thou) vntyll that tyme? Or what shall happen in those dayes? He answered me, and sayde: As for the tokēs wherof thou axest me, I maye tell the of thē in a parte: but as touchinge 〈…〉 ye life, I maye not shewe the, for I am not sent therfore.

The V. Chapter.

NEuerthelesse, as concernynge the tokens, mark this: Beholde, the dayes shal come, that they which dwell vpon earth, shalbe takē in a greate nombre, & the waye of the trueth shalbe hyd, and the lō de shalbe baren from faith: Mat. 〈…〉 but iniquyte shal haue the vpper hande, like as thou hast sene now, and as thou hast herde lōge agoo. And the londe that thou seist now to haue rule, shalt thou shortly se waist. But yf God graunte the to lyue, thou shalt se after ye thirde trompet, that the Sonne shal sodenly shyne agayne in the night, and the Moone thre tymes in the daye, & bloude shal droppe out of wodd, and the stone shal geue his voyce, and the people shalbe vnquyete: and euen he shal rule, whom they hope not that dwell vpon earth, and the foules shal flyt, and the Sodomitysh see shal cast out his fish, and make a noyse in the night, which many shal not knowe, but they shal all heare the voyce therof.

There shalbe a cōfucion also in many places, and the fyre shal be oft sent agayne, and the wylde beastes shal go their waye, & menstruous wemen shal beare monsters, and salt waters shalbe founde in the swete: one frende shal fight agaynst another: then shal all wyt and vnderstandinge be hyd and put asyde in to their secrete places, & shalbe sought of many, and yet not be founde: then shal vnrighteousnes and volupteousnes haue the vpperhande vpon earth. One lande also shal axe another, and saye: Is righteousnes gone thorow the? And it shal saye: No. At the same tyme shal men hope, but nothinge optayne: they shal laboure, but their wayes shall not prospere.

To shewe the soch tokens I haue leue, and yf thou wylt praye agayne, & wepe as now, and fast seuen dayes, thou shalt heare yet greater thinges. Then I awaked, and a fearfulnes wente thorow all my body, & my mynde was feble and carefull, so that I allmost swowned withall. So the angell that was come to talke with me, helde me, comforted me, and sett me vp vpon my fete.

And in the seconde night it happened, yt Salathiel the captayne of the people came vnto me, sayenge: Where hast thou bene? and why is thy countenaunce so heuy? Knowest thou not, yt Israel is commytted vnto the, in the londe of their captyuyte? Vp then, and eate, and forsake vs not, as the shepherde that leaueth his flock in the handes of wicked wolues. Then sayde I vnto him: Go thy waye fro me, and come not nye me: & he herde it, and as I sayde, so wēte he his waye fro me. And so I fasted seuen dayes, mournynge and wepynge, like as Vriell the angell commaunded me. And after seuen dayes it happened, that ye thoughtes of my hert were very greuous vnto me agayne, & my soule receaued ye sprete of vnderstandynge, & I begāne to talke wt the most hyest agayne, and sayde: O LORDE LORDE, of euery wod of ye earth & of all the trees therof, thou hast chosen ye one onely vynyarde: and of all londes of the whole worlde thou hast chosen the one pytt: and of all floures of the groūde thou hast chosen the one lylie: and of all the depthes of the see thou hast fylled the one ryuer: and of all builded cities thou hast halowed Sion vnto thy self: and of all ye foules that are created, thou hast named the one doue: and of all the catell yt are made, thou hast prouyded ye one shepe: & amōge all ye multitudes of folkes thou hast gotten the one people, and vnto this people whom thou louedest, thou gauest a lawe, yt is proued of all.

And now O LORDE, why hast thou geuē this one people ouer vnto many? & vpon the one rote thou hast prepared other, and why hast thou scatred ye one onely people amonge many? which treade thē downe, yee which haue euer withstonde ye promyses, & neuer beleued ye couenaūtes? And though thou werest enemye vnto ye people, yet shuldest thou punysh thē wt thine owne handes. Now whā I had spokē these wordes, the angell yt came to me ye night afore, was sēt vnto me, & sayde vnto me: Heare me, & herkē to ye thinge yt I saye, & I shal tell ye more. And I sayed: Speake on my LORDE. Thē sayde he vnto me: Thou art sore vexed & troubled for Israels sake. Louest thou yt people better, then him yt made them? And I sayde: No LORDE, but of very grefe & cōpassion haue I spokē. For my reynes payne me euery houre, because I wolde haue experience of the waye of the most hyest, and to seke out parte of his iudgment. And he sayde vnto me: that thou mayest not. And I sayde: wherfore LORDE? Where vnto was I borne then? Or why was not my mothers childesbed then my graue? So had I not sene the mysery and trouble of Iacob, and the trauayle of my people of Israel.

And he sayde vnto me: Nōbre me ye thinges, yt are not yet come: gather me together ye droppes, that are scatred abrode: make me ye floures grene agayne yt are wythered: opē me the thinge that is closed: and bringe me forth the wyndes, that are shutt vp: Shewe me the ymage of a voyce, and then shal I declare the the thinge, that thou labourest to knowe. And I sayde: O LORDE LORDE, who maye knowe these thinges, but he that hath not his dwellynge wt mē? As for me, I am vnwyse: how maye I thē speake of these thinges, wherof thou axest me? Thē sayde he vnto me: like as thou canst do none of these thinges yt I haue spoken of, Euen so canst thou not fynde out my iudgment, or in the ende the loue that I haue promysed vnto my people. And I sayde: Beholde o LORDE, yet art thou nye vnto them that haue no ende: and what shal they do that haue bene before me, or we that be now, or they that shal come after vs? And he sayde vnto me: I wyl lycken my iudgment vnto a rynge. Like as there is no slacknesse of the last, euen so is there no swiftnesse of the first. So I answered & sayde: Coudest thou not make those (that haue bene made, and that be now, and that are fo to come) in one, that thou mightest shewe thy iudgment the sooner?

Then answered heme and sayde: The creature maye not haist aboue the maker, nether maye the worlde holde thē at once, that shalbe created.

And I sayde: How hast thou sayde then vnto thy seruaunt, that thou lyuynge maker hast made the creature lyuynge at once, & the creature bare it? euē so might it now also beare them that be present, at once. And he sayde vnto me: Axe the childeszbed of a womā, and saye vnto her: Yf thou bringest forth childrē, why doest thou it not together, but one after another? Praye her therfore, to brynge forth ten children at once. And I sayde: she can not, but must do it one after another.

Then sayde he vnto me: Euen so haue I geuen a childeszbed vnto the earth, for those that be sowne vpon it by processe of tyme. For like as a yonge childe maye not brynge forth the thinges that belonge to the aged, euen so haue I ordened the worlde which I made.

And I axed and sayde: Seynge thou hast now geuē me a waye, I wyl speake before ye: for oure mother of whō thou hast tolde me, is yet yonge, & now she draweth nye vnto age. He answered me & sayde: Axe a woman that beareth children, & she shal tell the. Saye vnto her: wherfore are not they (whom thou hast now brought forth) like those that were before the, but lesse of stature? And she shal answere the: They yt be borne in the youth of strēgth, are of one fashion: and they that are borne in the tyme of age (whan the childeszbed fayleth) are other wyse. Cōsidre now thyself, how that ye are lesse of stature, then those that were before you, and so are they that come after you, lesse then ye, as the creatures which now begynne to be olde, and haue passed ouer the strength of youth. Then sayde I: LORDE I beseke the, yf I haue founde fauoure in thy sight, shewe thy seruaunt, by whom doest thou vyset thy creature?

The VI. Chapter.

ANd he sayde vnto me: In the begynnynge whan the grounde was made, before the worlde stode, or euer ye wyndes blew, before it thondred and lightened, or euer the foundacions of Paradise were layed, before the fayre floures were sene, or euer the moueable powers were stablished, before ye innumerable multitudes of angels were gathered together, or euer ye highnesses of ye ayre were lifted vp, afore ye measures of the firmament were named, or euer ye chymneys in Sion were hote, and or the presente yeares were sought out, and or euer the invencions of them yt now synne, were put asyde, before they were sealed that now gather faith for a treasure: then dyd I cōsidre and pondre all these thinges, and they all were made thorow me, and thorow none other: by me also they be ended, and by none other.

Then answered I and sayde: which shal be the partynge asunder of the tymes? Or whan shalbe the ende of the first, and the begynnynge of it that foloweth? And he sayde vnto me: From Abrahā vnto Isaac, whā Iacob & Esau were borne of him, Iacobs hande helde first the hele of Esau: for Esau is the ende of this worlde, and Iacobis the begynnynge of it that foloweth. The hande of man betwixte the hele and the hande. Other question (Eszdras) axe thou not.

I answered then and sayde: O LORDE LORDE, yf I haue founde fauoure in thy sight, I beseke the, shewe thy seruaunt the ende of thy tokēs, wherof thou shewdest me parte the last night. So he answered and sayde vnto me: Stōde vp vpon thy fete, and heare the perfecte voyce and sounde. There shal come a greate mocion, but ye place where thou stōdest shal not be moued. And therfore whan thou hearest the wordes, be not afrayed: for of the ende shal the worde and foundacion of ye earth be vnderstonde. And why? the worde therof trembleth and quaketh, for it knoweth, that it must be chaunged at the ende. And it happened, that whā I had herde it, I stode vp vpon my fete and herkened: and beholde, there was a voyce yt spake, and the sounde of it was like the sounde of many waters, and it sayde. Beholde, ye dayes come, yt I wyl begynne to drawe nye, and to vyset them that dwell vpō earth, and wyl begynne to make inquysicion of them, what they be yt haue hurte equyte wt vnrighteousnes, and whan the lowe estate of Sion shalbe fulfylled: and whan the worlde, that shal vanish awaye, shalbe ouersealed, then wyl I do these tokens.

The bokes shalbe opened before the firmament, and they shal se all together, & the children of a yeare olde shal speake wt their voyces: the womē with childe shal brynge forth vntymely children of thre or foure monethes olde, and they shall lyue, and be raysed vp: & sodēly shal the sowne places appeare as the vnsowne, the full store houses shal sodenly be founde emptie, and the trompett shal geue a sounde, which whā euery man heareth, they shalbe haistely afrayed. Mat. 10. c Mich. 7. a At that tyme shall frendes fight one agaynst another like enemies, and the earth shal stonde in feare with them.

The sprynges of the welles shal stonde styll, and in thre houres they shal not renne. Who so euer remayneth from all these thinge that I haue tolde the, shal escape, and se my saluacion, and the ende of youre worlde. And the men that are receaued, shal se it, they that haue not taisted death frō their byrth: and the hert of the indwellers shalbe chaunged, and turned in to another meanynge: for euell shalbe put out, and disceate shal be quenched. As for faith, it shal florish, corrupcion shalbe ouercome: and the trueth, which hath bene so longe without frute, shal be declared.

And it happened whan he talked wt me, that I loked demurely vpō him, before whō I stode, and these wordes sayde he vnto me: I am come to shewe ye, the tyme of ye night for to come.

Yf thou wilt praye yet more, and fast seuē dayes agayne, I shal tel the more thinges, & greater then before: for thy voyce is herde before the Hyest: for why? the Mightie hath sene thy righteous dealynge, he hath sene also thy chastite, which thou hast had euer sence thy youth: and therfore hath he sent me to shewe the all these thinges, and to saye vnto the: Be of good comforte, and feare not, and haist not with ye tymes that are past to thynke vayne thinges, and make no haist of the latter tymes.

And it happened after this, yt I wepte agayne, and fasted seuen dayes in like maner, that I might fulfill the thre wekes, which he tolde me. In the eight night was my hert vexed within me agayne, and I beganne to speake before the Hyest: for my sprete was greatly set on fyre, and my soule was in distresse, and I sayde: O LORDE, thou spakest vnto thy creature from the begynnynge (euen the first daye) and saydest: Gen. 1. a Let heauen and earth be made, and thy worde was a perfecte worke. And then was there the sprete, and the darcknesses were yet on euery syde, and sylence: there was no mans voyce as yet from the. Then commaundedst thou a fayre light to come forth out of thy treasures, that thy worke might appeare and be sene.

Vpon the seconde daye thou maydest the sprete of the firmament, and commaundedst it to parte asunder & to make a deuysion betwixte the waters, that the one parte might remayne aboue, and the other beneth. Vpon the thirde daye thou broughtest to passe, yt the waters were gathered in the seuenth parte of the earth: Sixe partes hast thou dryed vp, and kepte them, to the intēt yt men might sowe and occupie huszbandrie therin. As soone as thy worde wente forth, the worke was made. For immediatly there was greate in numerable frute, & many dyuerse pleasures & desyres of temptacion, floures of chaungeable coloure and smell, and this was done the thirde daye.

Vpon the fourth daye thou cōmaundedst that the Sonne shulde geue his shyne, and ye Moone hir light: the starres didest thou sett in ordre, and gauest them a charge, to do seruyce euen vnto man, that was for to be made. Deu. 4. c Vpō the fifth daye thou saydest vnto the seuenth parte (where the waters were gathered) that they shulde bringe forth diuerse beastes, foules and fishes. And so it came to passe, that the domme water and without soule, brought forth lyuynge beastes at the commaundement of God, that all people might prayse thy wonderous workes. Then didest thou preserue two soules, ye one thou calldest Enoch and the other Leuiathan, and didest separate the one from the other: for the seuenth parte (namely, where the water was gathered together) might not holde them both. Vnto Enoch thou gauest one parte, which was dryed vp the thirde daye, that he shulde dwell in the same parte, wherin are a thousande hilles. But vnto Leuiathā thou gauest the seuenth parte, namely the moyst, and hast kepte him to deuoure what th •• wylt, and whan.

Vpon the sixte daye thou gauest cōmaundement vnto the earth, that before the it shulde brynge forth beastes, catell and all ye crepe, & (besydes this) Adam also, whom thou maydest lorde of all thy creatures: Of him come we all, and the people also, whom thou hast chosen specially vnto thy self. All this haue I sayde now and spoken before the, that I might shewe, how that the worlde is made for oure sakes. As for the other people which also come of Adam, thou hast sayde that they are nothinge, but be like a spetle, and hast lickened the abundaūce of them vnto a droppe (that falleth) from the rofe of the house.

And now (O LORDE) the Heithē which haue euer bene reputed as nothinge, haue begō ne to be lordes ouer vs, and to deuoure vs: but we thy people (whom thou hast called ye first borne, thy only begotten, and thy feruent louer) are geuen in to their handes and power. Yf the worlde now be made for oure sakes, why haue we not the inheritaunce in possession with the worlde? How longe shal this endure?

The VII. Chapter.

ANd it happened after that I had spoken out these wordes, there was sent vnto me an angell (which had bene by me also the nightes afore) and he sayde vnto me: Vp Eszdras, and heare the wordes that I am come to tell the. And I sayde: speake on LORDE my God. Thē sayde he vnto me: The see is sett in a wyde place, yt it might be depe and greate: but the intraūce is narow and small like a ryuer. For who wolde go in to the see, to loke vpon it, and to rule it? Yf he wente not thorow the narow, how might he come in to the brode?

Item, another. A cite is buylded and sett vpon a brode felde, and is full of all goodes: the intraunce is narow and sodane, like as yf there were a fyre at the right hande, and a depe water at the left, and as it were onely one strate path betwixte thē both, so small, that there coude but one man go there.

Yf this cite now were geuen to an heyre, & he neuer wente thorow this parlous waye, how wolde he receaue his inheritaūce? And I sayde: It is so, LORDE. Then sayde he: Euen so is Israel also a porcion. And why? for their sakes haue I made the worlde: & whan Adam trāsgressed my statutes, then was ye thinge iudged that was done Then were ye intraunces of the worlde made narow, full of sorow and trauayle: They are but few & euell, full of parels and laboure. For the intraunces of the fore worlde were wyde and sure, and brought immortall frute.

Yf they now which are entred in to this worlde, maye not comprehende these strayte and vayne thinges, moch lesse maye they cō prehende and vnderstonde the secrete thinges: Why disquietest thou thy self then, seynge thou art but a corruptible mā? And what woldest thou knowe, where as thou art but mortall? And why hast thou not receaued in to thine hert the thinge that is for to come, but that is present?

Thē sayde I: O LORDE LORDE, thou hast ordened in thy lawe, eut. . a that the righteous shulde inheret these thinges, but that the vnfaithfull and vngodly shulde perishe. Neuertheles the righteous shall suffre strayte thinges, and hope for wyde: for they that haue lyued vngodly & suffred strayte thinges, shal not se the wyde.

And he saide vnto me: There is no iudge aboue God, and none that hath vnderstondinge aboue the Hyest. For there be many yt perish, because they despyse ye lawe of God that is sett before them. For God hath geuen strayte commaundement to soch as come, that they knowe what they do, and how they shulde lyue: and yf they kepte this, they shulde not be punyshed.

Neuertheles they were not obedient vnto him, but spake agaynst him: ymagined vayne thinges, & purposed to synne, and sayde morouer, that there was no God, & that God regarded it not. His wayes haue they not knowne, his lawe haue they despysed, & denyed his promyses: in his statutes & ordinaunces haue they not bene faithfull & stedfast, and haue not perfourmed his workes.

And therfore Eszdras, vnto the full, plenty: and to the emptye, emptynesse. Beholde, the tyme shal come, yt these tokens which I haue tolde the, shal come to passe, & the bryde shall appeare: & the earth yt now passeth awaye, shalbe shewed: & whoso euer is delyuered from ye foresayde euels, shal se my wō ders. For my sonne Iesus shal be openly declared, wt those yt be wt him: & they yt remayne, shal be mery in foure hundreth yeares.

After these same yeares shall my sonne Christ dye, and all men that haue life: and ye worlde shalbe turned in to the olde sylence seuen dayes, like as in the fore iudgmentes, so that no man shall remayne. And after seuē dayes, the worlde that yet awaketh not, shalbe raysed vp, & shal dye corrupte. And the earth shal restore those that haue slepte in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell in sylēce, and the secrete places shal delyuer those that be committed vnto them. And ye ost hyest shal be openly declared vpon the seate of iudgment, & all misery shal vanysh awaye, and lōge suffringe shalbe gathered together. But the iudgment shall contynue, ye trueth shal remayne, and faith shal waxe strōge, the worke shal folowe, and the rewarde shall be shewed, the righteousnesses shall watch, and the vnrighteousnesses shall beare no rule.

Then sayde I: Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, Gen. 18. Exo. 32. 2. Re. 24 2. Par. 6. 3. Re. 17. 4. Re. 18 and 19. & Moses for the fathers yt synned in the wyldernes, & he yt came after him for Israel, in ye tyme of Achas and Samuel: and Dauid for ye destruccion, and Salomon for them that came in to the Sanctuary, & Helias for those that receaued rayne, and for the deed, that he might lyue: and Ezechias for ye people in the tyme of Senna cherib: & dyuerse other in like maner, which haue prayed for many.

Euē so now, seynge ye corrupte is growne vp, and wickednes increased, and the righteous haue prayed for the vngodly, wherfore shal it not be so now also?

He answered me, and sayde: This present worlde is not ye ende, there remayneth moch honoure in it, therfore haue they prayed for the weake. But the daye of dome shalbe the ende of this tyme, and ye begynnynge of the immortalite for to come, wherin all corrupcion vanysheth, all volupteousnes is lowsed, all myszbeleue taken awaye, righteousnes growne, and the verite spronge vp. Then shall no man be able to saue him that is destroyed, ner to oppresse him yt hath gottē ye victory. I answered thē, & sayde: This is my first & last sayenge: yt it had bene better, not to haue geuen the earth vnto Adam: or els whan it was geuē him, to kepe him that he shulde not synne. For what profit is it for men now in this present tyme to lyue in heuynes, & after death to loke for punyszment? O thou Adā, what hast thou done? For though it was thou yt synned, thou art not fallē alone, but we all yt come of the. For what profit is it vnto vs, yf there be promysed vs an immortall tyme, where as we medle wt deadly workes? & that there is promysed vs an euerlastinge hope, where as we or selues are euell & vayne? & yt there are layed vp for vs dwellynges of health & fredome, where as we haue lyued euell? and that the worshipe of ye Hyest is kepte to defende them, which haue led a pacient life, where as we haue walked in ye most wicked wayes of all? and that there shalbe shewed a paradyse, whose frute endureth for euer, wherin is fredome and medycyne, where as we shal not go in? for we haue walked in vnpleasaunt places: And that the faces of them which haue absteyned, shal shyne aboue the starres, where as oure faces shalbe black and darcke? For whyle we lyued and dyd vnrighteously, we considered not, that we shulde suffre therfore after death?

Thē answered he me, and sayde: This is the consideracion & thought of the battayl, which man hath vpon earth: that yf he be ouercome, he shall suffre as thou hast sayde. But yf he gett the victory, he shall receaue the thinge that I saye. For this is the life, wherof Moses spake vnto the people, whyle he lyued, eut. 0. d sayenge: Chose the life, that thou mayest lyue. Neuertheles they beleued him not, nether the prophetes after him, No ner me which haue spoken vnto them, that heuynes shulde not reach vnto them to their destruccion, like as ioye is for to come ouer those, that haue suffred thē selues to be enfourmed in saluacion.

I answered then & sayde: I knowe LORDE, that the Hyest is mercyfull, in yt he hath mercy vpon them, which are not yet in the worlde, and vpon those also that walke in his lawe: 〈◊〉 . 2. a and that he is pacient and longe sufferinge towarde those that haue synned in their workes: and that he is liberall to geue where as it requyreth: and that he is of greate mercy, for he multiplieth his louynge kyndnesses towarde those that are present, and that are past, and to them which are for to come. For yf he multiplie not his mercies, the worlde shal not be made lyuynge, with those that dwell therin: He geueth also, for yf he gaue not of his goodnesse, that they which haue done euell, might be eased, the ten thousande parte of men shulde not be made lyuynge. And yf the iudge forgaue not those yt be healed with his worde, and yf he wolde destroye ye multitude that stryueth, there shulde be very few left in an innumerable multitude.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd he answered me, sayēge: The most hyest made this worlde for many, but the worlde to come for few. I wyl tell the a symilitude, Eszdras: As whan thou axest the earth, it shal saye vnto the, that it geueth moch moulde, wherof erthen vessels are made, but litle of it yt golde cōmeth of.

Euen so is it with the worke of this worlde. There be many created, 〈…〉 but few shall be preserued. Then answered I & sayde: Then swalowe vp the witt (thou soule) and deuoure the vnderstondinge, for thou art agreed to herken and to geue eare, and wyllinge to prophecie: for thou hast no longer space geuen the, but only to lyue. O LORDE, wilt thou not geue thy seruaunt leue, yt we maye praye before the, and that thou mayest geue sede vnto oure hert, and buylde oure vnderstondinge, that there maye come frute of it: and that euery one which is corrupte, and beareth the state and place of a man, maye lyue?

For thou art alone, and we all are one workmanshipe of thy handes, like as thou hast sayde, and like as the body is fashioned now in the childeszbed, and thou geuest the membres, and thy creature is preserued in fyre and water: & ix. monethes doth thy worke suffre thy creature, which is fashioned in her: but the thinge that preserueth and it yt is preserued, shal both be kepte together: & whan tyme is, the childeszbedd delyuereth ye thinge, that is kepte and growne in her.

For thou hast commaunded the brestes to geue mylck vnto the frute, that the thinge which is created and fashioned, maye be norished for a tyme: and then thou disposest and ordrest it with thy mercy, bryngest it vp with thy righteousnes, nurturest it in thy lawe, and refourmest it with thy vnderstondinge, mortifiest it as thy creature, and makest it lyuynge as thy worke. Seinge then that thou destroyest him, which wt so greate labours is created and fashioned thorow thy commaundement, thou coudest lyghtly ordene also, that the thinge which is made, might be preserued.

And this I speake now of all men in generall, as thou knowest: but of thy people, for whose sake I am sory: and of thy inheritaunce, for whose cause I mourne: and of Israel, for whom I am wofull: and for Iacob, for whose sake I am greued: therfore begynne I to praye before the, for my self and for them, for I se the fall of vs, euen of vs, that dwell vpon earth. But I haue herde the swiftnes of the iudge, which is to come: therfore heare my voyce, and vnderstōde my wordes, and I shal speake before the.

This is the begynnynge of the wordes of Eszdras, before he was receaued: O LORDE, thou that dwellest in euerlastyngnesse, whose eyes are lift vp in the ayre, whose stole is exceadinge hye, whose glory and maiesty maye not be comprehēded, before whom the hoostes of heauen stonde with tremblinge, whose kepinge is turned in winde and fyre, whose worde is true, whose talkynge is stedfast, whose commaundement is stronge, whose ordynaunce is fearfull, whose loke dryeth vp the depthes, whose wrath maketh the mountaynes to melt awaye, & whose trueth beareth wytnes: O heare ye prayer of thy seruaunt, and marck with thine eares the peticion of thy creature.

For whyle I lyue, I wil speake: and so lō ge as I haue vnderstondinge, I will answere. O loke not vpō the synnes of thy people, which serue yt in the trueth. Haue no respecte vnto the wicked studies of the Heithen, but to the desyre of those that kepe thy testimonies with sorowes. Thinke not vpon those that haue walked faynedly before the, but vpon them, which with wyll haue knowne thy feare.

Let it not be thy wyll to destroye them, which haue had beastly maners, but to loke vpon them that haue clearly taught thy lawe. Take thou no indignacion at them, which are worse then beastes: but loue them, that allwaye put their trust in ye righteousnes and glory: for we and oure fathers haue all the same sicknes and disease, but because of oure synnes thou shalt be called mercifull.

For yf thou hast mercy vpon vs, thou shalt be called mercifull, where as we haue no workes of righteousnes: for ye righteous which haue layed vp many good workes together, shall out of their dedes receaue rewarde. For what is man, that thou shuldest take displeasure at him? Or what is the corruptible mortall generacion, that thou shuldest be so rough towarde him?

〈◊〉 . 8. g Pa . 6. f oh. 1. b For of a trueth there is no man amonge them that be borne, but he hath dealt wickedly: and amonge the faithfull there is none, which hath not done amysse. For in this (O LORDE) thy righteousnes & thy goodnes shalbe praysed and declared, yf thou be mercifull vnto them, which are not rych in good workes.

Then answered he me and sayde: Some thinges hast thou spoken a right, and acordinge vnto thy wordes it shal be. For I wil not verely cōsidre the worke of them, which haue synned before death, before the iudgment, 〈◊〉 4. a before destrucciō but I wyll reioyse ouer the worke and thought of ye righteous. I wil remembre also the pilgramege, the holymakynge and the rewarde. Like as I haue spoken now, so shall it come to passe. For as the huszbād man soweth moch sede vpon the grounde, and planteth many trees, and yet allwaye the thinge that is sowne or plā ted is not all kepte safe, nether doth it all take rote: Euen so is it of them that are sowne in the worlde, they shal not all be preserued.

I answered then & sayde: Yf I haue founde grace, then let me speake. Like as the husbāde mans sede perisheth, yf it receaue not rayne in due season, or yf there come to moch rayne vpon it: Euen so perisheth man also, which is created with thy handes, and is like vnto thine owne ymage and to thy self, for whose sake thou hast made all thinges, and lickened him vnto the huszbande mans sede. Be not wroth at vs (O LORDE) but spare thy people, and haue mercy vpon thine owne inheritaunce: O be mercifull vnto thy creature.

Then answered he me and sayde: Thinges present are for the present, and thinges to come for soch as be to come. For thou wā test yet moch, seynge thou mayest loue my creature aboue me: I haue oft times drawne nye vnto the, but neuer to the vnrighteous. In this also thou art maruelous before the Hyest, in that thou hast humbled thy self, as it becommeth the, and hast not regarded thine owne self, yt thou art had in soch honoure amonge the righteous. Therfore shal greate wrechidnes and mysery come vpon them, that in the latter tyme shal dwell in ye worlde, for they haue walked in greate pryde.

But vnderstonde thou for thy self, and seke out glory for soch as be like the: for vnto you is paradyse opened, the tre of life is plā ted, the tyme to come is prepared, plenteousnes made ready: a cite is builded for you, and a rest is prepared, yee perfecte goodnes and wyszdome. The rote of euell is marked from you, the weaknes and moth is hyd from you, & in to hell flyeth corrupcion in forgetfulnes. Sorowes are vanyshed awaye, and in the ende is shewed the treasure of immortalite. And therfore axe thou no more questions, cō cernynge the multitude of them that perishe. For they haue taken libertie, despysed the Hyest, thought scorne of his lawe, and forsaken his wayes.

Morouer, they haue troden downe his righteous, and sayde in their hert, Psal. 13. a that there is no God, yee and that wittingly, for they dye. For like as the thinge that I haue spoken of, is made ready for you: Euē so is thyrst and payne prepared for them. For it was not his wil that man shulde come to naught: but they which be created, haue defyled the name of him that made them, and are vn than full vnto him, which prepared life for them. And therfore is my iudgment now at hande. These thinges haue I not shewed vnto all men, but vnto few: namely, vnto the, and to soch as be like the.

Then answered I and sayde: Beholde O LORDE, now hast thou shewed me the multitude of the tokens, which thou wilt begynne to do at the last: but at what tyme and whan, thou hast not shewed me.

The IX. Chapter.

HE answered me then and saide: Measure thou the tyme diligenly in it self, whan thou seist that one parte of the tokens come to passe, which I haue tolde ye before: so shalt thou vnderstonde, that it is the very same tyme, wherin the Hyest wil begynne to vysit the worlde, which he made. And whā there shalbe sene earthquake and vproure of the people in the worlde, then shalt thou well vnderstonde, that the most hyest spake of those thinges, from the dayes that were before the, euen from the begynnynge.

For like as all that is made in the worlde, hath a begynnynge and ende, and the ende is manyfest: Euen so the tymes also of the Hyest haue playne begynnynges in wonders and signes, and the ende in workynge and in tokens. And euery one that shalbe saued, and shall be able to escape by his workes & by faith (wherin ye haue beleued) shall be preserued from the saide parels, and shal se my sauioure in my londe and within my borders, for I haue halowed me from the worlde. Then shall they be in carefulnesse, which now haue abused my waies: and they that haue cast them out despytefully, shall dwell in paynes.

For soch as in their life haue receaued benefites, and haue not knowne me, and they that haue abhorred my lawe, whyle they had yet fredome, and whan they had yet open rowme of amendemēt and conuersion, & vnderstode not, but despysed it: ye same must knowe it after death in payne. And therfore be thou nomore carefull, how the vngodly shalbe punyshed, & how the righteous shalbe saued, and whose the worlde is, and for whom the worlde, and whan it is. Then answered I and sayde: Esd. . a I haue talked before & now I speake, and wyl speake also herafter, that there be many moo of them which perish, then shal be saued, like as the floude is greater then the droppes.

And he answered me, sayenge: like as the felde is, so is also the sede: as the floures be, so are the colours also: soch as the workman is, soch is also ye worke: and as the huszband man is himself, so is his huszbandrye also, for it was the tyme of the worlde. And whan I prepared for them that are now, or euer the worlde was made, wher in they shulde dwel then was there no man that withstode me. Now whan euery one was, and the maker also in the worlde which is now prepared, and the moneth that ceaseth not, and the lawe which is vnsearcheable, their maners were corrupte. So I considered the worlde, and beholde, there was parell, because of ye thoughtes that were come in to it. And I sawe, and spared thē greatly, and haue kepte me a wynebery of the grapes, and a plante from amonge many generacions. Let the multitude perish thē, which are growne vp in vayne, and let my grape & wynebery be kepte: euen my plante: for with greate laboure haue I made it vp.

Neuertheles yf thou wilt take vpon the yet seuen dayes mo (but thou shalt not fast in them) go thy waye then in to ye felde of floures, where no house is buylded, and eate onely of the floures of the felde, taist not flesh, drinke no wine, but eate floures onely. Praye vnto the Hyest contynually, so will I come, and talke with the.

So I wente my waye and came in to the felde which is called Ardath (like as he commaunded me) and there I sat amonge ye floures, and ate of the herbes of the felde, and ye meate of the same satisfied me. After seuen dayes I sat vpon the grasse, & my hert was vexed within me like as afore: and I opened my mouth, and beganne to talke before the Hyest, and saide: O LORDE, thou yt shewest thy self vnto vs, 〈…〉 thou hast declared and opened thy self vnto oure fathers in the wyldernes, in a place where no man dwelleth, in a baren place, whan they came out of Egipte, and thou spakest, sayēge: Heare me O Israel, and marke my wordes thou sede of Iacob. Beholde, I sowe my lawe in you, and it shal brynge frute in you, & ye shalbe honoured in it for euer. For oure fathers which receaued the lawe, kepte it not, and obserued not thy ordinaunces and statutes, & the frute of ye lawe was not declared: for it might not, for why? it was thine. For they that receaued it, perished, 〈…〉 because they kepte not ye thinge that was sowne in them.

It is a custome whan the grounde receaueth sede, or the see a shipp, or a vessell meate and drynke, that, whan it perisheth or is broken wherin a thinge is sowne, or wherin eny thinge is put: the thinges also perishe & are broken, which are sowne or putt therin. But vnto vs it hath not happened so: for we yt haue receaued the lawe, perish in synne, and oure hert also which receaued the lawe: notwithstondinge the lawe perisheth not, 〈◊〉 . 40. a . Tim. 2. a but remayneth in his laboure.

And whan I considered these thinges in my hert after this maner, I loked aboute me with myne eyes, 〈◊〉 . 10. d and vpon the right syde I sawe a woman, which mourned sore, made greate lamentacion, and wepte with loude voyce: hir clothes were rent in peces, & she had aszshes vpon hir heade.

Thē let I my thoughtes go, yt I was in, & turned me vnto her, & sayde: wherfore wepest thou? why art thou so sory & discomforted? And she sayde vnto me: Syr, let me bewayle myself & take yet more sorowe: for I am sore vexed in my mynde, & brought very lowe. And I saide vnto her: what ayleth yt? Or who hath done eny thinge to ye? tell me. She sayde: I haue bene vnfrutefull and baren, and haue had an huszband thirtie yeares. And these xxx. yeares I do nothinge els daye and night and all houres, but make my prayer to ye Hyest. After thirtie yeares God herde me thy handmayden, loked vpon my misery, considred my trouble, and gaue me a sonne, and I was glad of him, so was my huszbād also and all my neghbours, and we gaue greate honoure vnto ye Mightie. And I norished him with greate trauayle. So whan he grewe vp, & came to the tyme, that he shulde haue a wife, I made a feast.

The X. Chapter.

ANd it happened that whan my sonne wente in to his chamber, he fell downe, and dyed: thē ouethrew we all the lightes, and all my neghbours rose vp to cō forte me. Thē toke I my rest vnto the secōde daye at night: & whan they had all rested, yt they might comforte me, I rested also, and rose vp by night, and fled, and am come hither in to this felde, as thou seist: and am purposed not to come in the cite, but to remayne here, and nether to eate ner drynke, but continually to mourne and to fast, vntill I dye.

Then let I my meditacions and thoughtes fall, that I was in, and spake to her in displeasure: Thou foolish woman, seist thou not oure heuynes and mournynge, and what happeneth vnto vs? how Sion or mother is all wofull and sory, and how she is cleane brought downe and in misery? seinge we be all now in heuynes, & make oure mone (for we be all soroufull.) As for the heuynes that thou takest, it is but for one sonne. Demaunde the earth, and she shal tell the, that it is she which ought (by reason) to mourne, for the fall of so many that growe vpon her. For from the begynnynge all men are borne of her, & other shal come: and beholde, they walke allmost all into destruccion, and many of them shalbe roted out.

Who shulde then (by reason) make more mournynge, then she, that hath lost so greate a multitude? and not thou, which art sory but for one. But yf thou woldest saye vnto me: My mournynge is not like the mournynge of the earth, for I haue lost the frute of my body, which I bare with heuynes: as for the earth, acordinge to the ordynaunce of ye earth onely, so that many are gone awaye in her, as it is come to passe: Then saye I vnto the: like as thou hast borne with trauayle & sorowe, euen so the earth also from the begynnynge geueth hir frute vnto man, for him yt made her. And therfore witholde thy sorowe and heuynes by thy self, and loke what happeneth vnto ye, beare it strōgly. Heb. 12. For yf thou iudgest the marck & ende of God to be righteous and good, and receauest his councell in tyme, thou shalt be commended therin. Go thy waye then in to the cite to thy husbande.

And she sayde vnto me: that wyll I not do, I will not go in to the cite, but heare will I dye. So I commoned more with her, and sayde: Do not so, but be coūceled, and folowe me: for how many falles hath Sion? Be of good comforte because of the sorowe of Ierusalem. For thou seist that oure Sanctuary is layed waist, oure aulter broken, oure temple destroyed, oure playenge of instrumentes and synginge layed downe, the thankesgeuynge put to sylence, or myrth is vanished awaye, the light of oure candelstick is quenched, ye Arke of the couenaunt is takē from vs, all oure holy thinges are defyled, and the name that is called vpon ouer vs, is dishonoured, oure children are put to shame, oure prestes are brent, oure Leuites are caried awaye in to captiuyte, oure virgins are defyled, and oure wyues rauyshed, oure righteous men spoyled, and oure childrē destroyed, oure yonge men are brought in bōdage, and oure strōge worthies are become weake: and Sion (which seale is ye greatest of all) is lowsed vp from hir worshipe: for she is deliuered into the handes of them that hate vs.

And therfore shake of ye greate heuynes, and putt awaye the multitude of sorowes: that the Mightie maye be mercyfull vnto the, and that the Hyest maye geue the rest from ye laboure and trauayle. And it happened, that whan I was talkynge with her, hir face dyd shyne & glyster, so that I was afraied of her, and mused what it might be. And immediatly she cast out a greate voyce, very fearfull, so that ye earth shoke at the noyse of the woman: and I loked, and beholde, the woman appeared vnto me nomore: but there was a cite buylded, and a place was shewed from the grounde and foundacion.

Then was I afrayed, and cried with loude voyce, and sayde: where is Vriel the angell, Es. 4. a which came to me at the first? For he hath caused me to come in many consideracions and hye thoughtes, and myne ende is turned to corrupcion, and my prayer to rebuke. And as I was speakynge these wordes, he came vnto me, and loked vpon me, and I laye as one that had bene deed, and myne vnderstandinge was altered, and he toke me by the right hande, and comforted me, and set me vp vpon my fete, and sayde vnto me: what ayleth the? and why is thine vnderstandinge vexed? and the vnderstondinge of thy hert, and wherfore art thou sory? And I sayde: Because thou hast forsaken me: and I haue done acordynge vnto thy wordes, Esd. 9. a I wente in to the felde, and there haue I sene thinges, that I am not able to expresse. He saide vnto me: Stōde vp and be manly, and I shal geue the exortacion.

Then sayde I: Speake on to me my LORDE, forsake me not, lest I dye in vayne: for I haue sene that I knewe not, & herde that I do not knowe. Or shall my vnderstondynge be disceaued, and my mynde? But now I be seke the, that thou wilt shewe thy seruaunt of this wōder. He answered me thē and sayde: heare me, and I shall enfourme the, and tell the wherfore thou art afrayed, for the Hyest hath opened many secrete thynges vnto the.

He hath sene that thy waye is right, and that thou takest sorowe continually for thy people, and makest greate lamentacion for Sion: and therfore vnderstonde the vision which thou sawest a litle whyle agoo after this maner: Thou sawest a woman mournynge, and thou hast comforted her: Neuertheles now seist thou the licknes of the woman nomore, but thou thoughtest there was a cite buylded: and like as she tolde the of the fall of her sonne, so is this the answere: The woman whom thou sawest, is Sion: and where as she tolde the, that she hath be ne thirtie yeares vnfrutefull and baren, those are the xxx. yeares, wherin there was no offeringe made in her.

But after xxx. yeares Salomon buylded her, and offred, and then bare the baren a sonne. And where as she tolde the, that she norished him with laboure, that was the dwellynge of Ierusalem. But where as the sonne dyed in hir chamber, that is the fall of Ierusalem. And thou sawest hir lickenesse, how she mourned for hir sonne: and what els happened vnto her, I haue shewed ye. And now God seyth, that thou art sory in thy mynde, and suffrest from ye hert for her: and so hath he shewed the hir clearnesse, and the faymes of hir bewtye.

And therfore I bad the remayne in the felde, where no house is buylded. For I knew yt the Hyest wolde shew this vnto the, therfore I commaunded the to go in to the felde, where no foundacion ner buyldinge is. For in the place where the Hyest wyll shewe his cite, there shall be no mans buyldinge. And therfore feare not, and let not thine hert be afrayed, but go thy waye in, and se the glorious and fayre buyldinge, and how greate it is, and how greate thou thinkest it after the measure of thine eyes, & then shalt thou heare as moch as thine eares maye comprehēde. For thou art blessed aboue many other, and art called with the Hyest, as ye few. But tomorow at night thou shalt remayne here, and so shal ye Hyest shewe the visions of hye thinges, which he wyll do vnto them that dwell vpon earth in ye last dayes. So I slepte the same night like as he cōmaunded me.

The XI. Chapter.

THen sawe I a dreame: and beholde, there came vp from ye see an Aegle, which had xij. wynges and thre heades: And I sawe, and beholde, he spred his wynges ouer all the earth, and all the wyndes of the ayre blew in them, and so they were put together agayne. And I behelde, and out of his fethers there grew other litle contrary fethers: the heades rested, the head in the myddest was greater then the other, yet rested it with the residue.

Morouer I sawe, that the Aegle flew wt his wynges, and raigned vpon earth, & ouer all them that dwell vpon the earth: and I sawe yt all thinges vnder heauen were subiecte vnto him, and no man spake against him, no not one creature vpon earth. I sawe also that the Aegle stode vp vpon his clawes, & gaue a sounde wt his fethers, & a voyce sayē ge after this maner: watch not all together, slepe euery mā in his owne place, & watch for a tyme, but let the heades be preserued at the last. Neuertheles I sawe, yt the voyce wente not out of his heades, but from the myddest of his body. And I nombred his cōtrary fethers, & beholde, there were eight of them. And I loked, & beholde, vpon the right syde there arose one fether, & raigned ouer all the earth. And it happened, yt whan it raigned, the ende of it came, & the place therof appeared no more. So the nexte folowinge stode vp, & raigned, & had a greate tyme: & it happened, yt whan it raigned, the ende of it came also like as the first, so that it appeared nomore.

Then came there a voyce vnto it, & sayde: Heare thou yt hast kepte in the earth so lōge, this I saye vnto the, before thou begynnest to appeare nomore: There shal none after ye atteyne vnto thy tyme. Then arose the thirde, & raigned as the other afore, & appeared nomore also. So wēte it with all the residue one after another, so yt euery one raigned, & thē appeared nomore. Thē I loked, & beholde, in processe of tyme the fethers yt folowed were set vp vpō the right syde, yt they might rule also: and some of thē ruled, but within a while they appeared nomore: for some of thē were set vp, but ruled not. After this I loked, & beholde, ye xij. fethers appeared nomore, and the two wynges: & there was nomore vpon the Aegles body, but two heades that rested, & sixe fethers. Then sawe I also, yt the sixe fethers were parted in two, & remayned vnder the heade, yt was vpon the right syde, for the foure cōtynued in their place. So I loked, and beholde, they that were vnder the wynges, thought to set vp them selues, and to haue the rule. Then was there one set vp, but shortly it appeared nomore, and the seconde were sooner awaye then the first. And I behelde, and lo, the two thought also by thē selues to raigne: & whā they so thought, beholde, there waked one of the heades that were at rest, namely, it that was in the myddest, for that was the greater of the two heades. And then I sawe, that the two heades were fylled with him, and the heade was turned with them yt were by him, & ate vp ye two vnder wynges, yt wolde haue raigned.

But this heade put ye whole earth in feare, and bare rule in it, ouer all those yt dwelt vpon earth with moch laboure, and he had the gouernaunce of the worlde, ouer all the foules that haue bene. After this I loked, and beholde, the heade that was in the middest, sodenly appeared nomore, like as ye wynges: then came the two heades, which ruled vpon earth, & ouer those that dwelt therin. And I behelde, & lo, the heade vpon the right side, deuoured it that was vpon the left syde. And I herde a voyce, which sayde vnto me: loke before the, and considre the thinge that thou seist. Then I sawe, and beholde, as it were a lyon that roareth, rennynge haistely out of ye wod, and he sent out a mans voybe vnto the Aegle, and sayde: Heare thou, I wyl talke with the, and the Hyest shal saye vnto the: Is it not thou that hast the victory of the foure beastes, whom I made to raigne vpon earth and in my worlde, and that ye ende of their times might come thorow thē?

And the fourth came, and ouerwanne all the beastes that were past, and had power ouer the worlde with greate fearfulnes, and ouer the whole compasse of the earth wt the most wicked laboure, and so longe time dwelt he vpon the earth with disceate, & the earth hast thou iudged not with trueth. For thou hast troubled the meke, thou hast hurte the peaceable and quyete, thou hast loued lyers, and destroyed the dwellynges of them that brought forth frute, and hast cast downe the walles of soch as dyd the no harme. Therfore is thy wrongeous dealynge and blasphemy come vp vnto the Hyest, and thy pryde vnto the Mightie. The Hyest also hath loked vpō the proude tymes, and beholde, they are ended, and their abhominacions are fulfilled. And therfore appeare nomore thou Aegle, and thy horrible wynges, and thy wicked fethers, and thy vngracious heades, and thy synfull clawes, and all thy vayne body: that the earth maye be refreshed, and come agayne to herself, whan she is deliuered from thy violence, and that she maye hope for ye iudgment and mercy of him that made her.

The XII. Chapter.

ANd it happened whā ye Lyō spake these wordes vnto ye Aegle, rede, *I sawe and beholde, ye heade yt afore had ye vpperhāde, appeared nomore: nether dyd ye foure wynges appeare eny more, yt came to hī, & were sett vp to raigne, & their kyngdome was small & full of vproure.

And I sawe, & beholde, they appeared no more, & ye whole body of ye Aegle was brēt, & the earth was in greate feare. Then awaked I out of the traunce of my mynde, and from greate feare, and sayde vnto my sprete: Lo, this hast thou geuen me, in yt thou searchest out the wayes of the Hyest: lo, yet am I weary in my minde, and very weake in my sprete, and litle strēgth is there in me, for the greate feare that I receaued this night. Therfore wil I now beseke the Hyest, yt he wyl comforte me vnto the ende, & I sayde: LORDE LORDE yf I haue founde grace before thy sight, and yf I am iustified with ye before many other, & yf my prayer be come vp before thy face, cō forte me then, and shew me thy seruaunt the interpretacion & playne differēce of this horrible sight, that thou mayest perfectly cōforte my soule: for thou hast iudged me worthy, to shew me ye last oftymes.

And he sayde vnto me: this is the interpretacion of this sight, The Aegle whom thou sawest come vp from the see, is the kingdome which was sene in the vision of thy brother Daniel, Dan 7. but it was no expounded vnto him, for now I declare it vnto the.

Beholde, the dayes come, that there shal ryse vp a kyngdome vpō earth, and it shal be feared aboue all the kyngdomes yt were before it. In the same kyngdome shal xij. kynges raigne, one after another. For the secōde shal begynne to raigne, and shal haue more tyme thē the other, & this do ye xij. wynges signifie, which thou sawest. As for the voyce that spake, and that thou sawest go out from the heades but not from ye body, it betokeneth, that after the tyme of that kyngdome there shall aryse greate stryuynges, and it shal stonde in parell of fallynge: neuertheles it shal not yet fall, bot shal be set in to his beginnynge. And ye eight vnderwynges which thou sawest hā ge vnto ye wynges of hī, betokē, yt in hī there shal aryse eight kynges, whose tyme shalbe but small, & their yeares swift, & two of them shal beare. But whan the middest tyme commeth, there shal be foure kepte in the tyme, whan his tyme begynneth to come that it maye be ended, but two shal be kepte vnto ye ende.

And where as thou sawest thre heades restynge, this is the interpretacion: In his last shal the Hyest rayse vp thre kyngdomes, and call many agayne into thē, & they shal haue the dominion of the earth, and of those that dwell therin, with moch labor aboue all those yt were before thē. Therfore are they called ye heades of the Aegle: for it is they yt shal bringe forth his wickednes agayne, & yt shal perfourme & fynish his last. And where as thou sawest, that ye greate heade appeared nomore, it signifieth, that one of them shal dye vpō his bed, & yet with payne, for the two that remayne, shalbe slayne with the swerde. For the swerde of the one shal deuoure the other, but at the last shal he fall thorow the swerde himself.

And where as thou sawest two vnder ••• ges vpon the heade that is on the right syde, it signifieth, that it is they, whō the Hyest hath kepte vnto their ende: this is a small kyngdome, & full of trouble. The Lyon whō thou sawest rysinge vp out of the wodd and roaringe, and speakinge vnto the Aegle, and rebukynge him for his vnrighteousnesse, is the wynde, which the Hyest hath kepte for them and for their wickednesse vnto the ende: he shal reproue them, and rente them asunder before them. For he shal sett them lyuynge before the iudgment, and shal rebuke them: for the residue of my people shal he delyuer with trouble, those yt be preserued ouer myne endes: and he shal make them ioyfull vntyll the commynge of the daye of iudgment, wherof I haue spoken vnto the from the begynnynge. This is the dreame that thou sawest, and this is the interpretacion. Thou only hast bene mete to knowe the secrete of the Hyest.

Therfore wryte all these thinges yt thou hast sene in a boke, and hyde them, and teach thē the wyse in the people, whose hertes thou knowest maye comprehēde and kepe these secretes. But wayte thou here yi self yet seuen dayes moo, that it maye be shewed the, what so euer it pleaseth the Hyest to declare vnto the, and with that he wente his waye.

And whan all the people perceaued, yt the seuen dayes were past, & I not come agayne in to ye cite, they gathered them alltogether from the least vnto the most, & came vnto me, and sayde: what haue we offended the? and what euell haue we done agaynst the, yt thou forsakest vs, & syttest here in this place? For of all people thou only art left vs, as a grape of the vyne, and as a candell in a darcke place, and as an hauen & shippe preserued from ye tēpest. Haue we not els aduersite ynough, but thou must forsake vs? Were it not better for vs, that we had bene brent with Sion? For we are no better, then they yt dyed there: and they wepte wt loude voyce. Then answered I thē & sayde: Be of good cōforte O Israel, & be not heuy thou house of Iacob: for ye Hyest hath you in remēbraūce, & ye Mightie hath not forgottē you in tētaciō. As for me, I haue not forsakē you, nether am I departed from you: but am come in to this place to praye, because of ye mysery of Israel, that I might seke mercy for ye lowe estate of yor Sāctuary. And now go yor waye home euery mā, and after these dayes wyl I come vnto you. So the people wēte their waye in to the cite, like as I commaunded them: but I remayned still in the felde seuen dayes, as ye angell bad me, and I ate onely of the floures of the felde, and had my meate of the herbes in those dayes.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd it happened after the seuē dayes, yt I dreamed a dreame by night. And beholde, there arose a wynde from the see, that it moued all the floudes therof. And I loked, and beholde, the man was stronge and increased with the cloudes of heauen: and whan he turned his countenaunce to cō sider, all the thinges trembled that were sene vnder him: and whan the voyce wente out of his mouth, all they brent that herde him, like as the earth whan it feleth the fyre.

After these I sawe, & beholde, there was gathered together a multitude of mē out of nombre from the foure wyndes of the heauē, to fight agaynst ye man, that came out from ye see. And I loked, & beholde, he graued him self a greate moūtayne, and flew vp vpon it. But I wolde haue sene the border or place, wherout the hill was grauen, & I coude not.

I sawe after these, yt all they which came to fight agaynst him, were sore afrayed, and yet durst they fight. Neuertheles whan he sawe the fearsnesse and violence of the people, he nether lift vp his hande ner helde swerde, ner eny weapen: but onely (as I sawe) he sent out of his mouth as it had bene a blast of fyre, and out of his lippes ye wynde of the flamme: and out of his tōge he cast out sparkes and stormes, and they were all myxte together: the blast of fyre, the wynde of the flā mes, and ye greate storme, & fell with a russhe vpon ye people, which was prepared to fight & brēt thē vp euerychone: so that of the innumerable multitude there was nothinge sene, but onely dust & smoke. Whan I sawe this, I was afrayed.

Afterwarde sawe I the same man come downe from the mountayne, and callinge vnto him another peaceable people: and there came moch people vnto him: some were glad some were sory, some of them were bounde, so that they were caried and brought forth.

Then was I sick thorow greate feare, and I awaked, and sayde: thou hast shewed ye seruaunt all ye wōders frō ye begynnynge, & hast counted me worthy, yt thou mightest receaue my prayer: shewe me now yet the interpretacion of this dreame. For thus I cōsidre in my vnderstandinge: Wo vnto them that shal be left in those dayes, & moch more wo vnto thē that are not left behynde: for they that were not left, were in heuynes.

Now vnderstonde I ye thinges that are layed vp in the latter dayes, which shal happen vnto them, and to those that are not left behynde. Therfore are they come in to greate parells, and many necessities, like as these dreames declare. Yet is it easier, yt he which suffreth hurte, come in these, then to passe awaye as a cloude out of the worlde, and now to se ye thinges yt shal happen in ye last.

Then answered he me, and sayde: The interpretacion of the sight shall I shewe the, and I will open vnto the, the thinge yt thou hast requyred. For thou hast spoken of them that are left behynde, and this is the interpretacion. He that taketh awaye the parell in that tyme, hath kepte himself. They that be fallen in to harme, are soch as haue workes & saith vnto the Most mightie. Knowe this therfore, that they which be left behynde, are more blessed, then they that be deed. This is the meanynge of the vision. Where as thou sawest a man commynge vp from the depe of the see, ye same is he whom God the Hyest hath kepte a greate season, which by his owne self shall delyuer his creature, & he shal ordre thē that are left behynde. And where as thou sawest, yt out of his mouth there came a blast of wynde, fyre & storme, & how yt he lift vp nether swerde ner weapen, but yt the ruszshinge in of him destroyed the whole multitude, yt came to fight agaynst him: it signifieth, that the dayes come, whan God wyll delyuer thē yt are vpon earth, & in a traunce of mynde shall he come vpon thē, yt dwell in the earth. And one shal vndertake to fight agaynst another, one cite agaynst another, one place agaynst another, Mat. 24. one people agaynst another, & one realme agaynst another. Whan this commeth to passe, then shal the tokens come, that I shewed the before: and thē shal my sonne be declared, whō thou sawest clymme vp as a mā. And whan all ye people heare his voyce, euery man shal in their owne lōde leaue the battayll, yt they haue one agaynst another, and an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as they that be willinge to come and to ouer come him by fightinge. But he shal stōde vpon the toppe of the mount Sion. Neuertheles Sion shall come, & shall be shewed, beynge prepared & buylded for all men, like as thou sawest the hill grauen forth without eny hā des. But my sonne shal rebuke the people yt are come for their wickednes, with the tempest, and for their euell ymaginacions: and their paynes wherwith they shal be punyshed, are lickened vnto the flamme: and with out eny laboure shal he destroye them, euen by the lawe, which is cōpared vnto the fyre.

And where as thou sawest, that he gathered another peaceable people vnto hī: those are the ten trybes, which were caried awaye presoners out of their owne londe, in the tyme of Oseas the kynge,4. Re. 17. a whom Salmanasar the kinge of Assiria toke presoner, and caried them ouer ye water, and so came they in to another londe.

But they gaue them this councell, yt they shulde leaue the multitude of the Heithē, and to go forth in to a farther countre, where neuer mankynde dwelt: that they might there kepe their statutes, which they neuer kepte in their owne lande. And so they entred in at the narow passages of the water of Euphrates, xo. 14. e •• su. 3. d and God shewed tokens for thē, and helde styll the floude tyll they were passed ouer: for thorow that countre there was a greate waye, namely of a yeare and an half iourney, for the same region is called Asareth. Then dwelt they there vnto the latter tyme: and when they come forth agayne, ye Hyest shall holde styll the sprynges of the streame agayne, that they maye go thorow, therfore sawest thou the multitude with peace. And they that be left behynde of thy people, are those that be founde within my border. Now whan he destroyeth the multitude that is gathered together, he shal defēde his people that remayne, and then shal he shew them greate wonders.

Then sayde I: O LORDE LORDE, shew me this: wherfore haue I sene the man commynge vp from the depe of the see?

And he sayde vnto me: Like as thou cāst nether seke out ner knowe these thinges that are in the depe of the see, euen so maiest thou not se my sonne, or those that be with him, but in the tyme of the daye. This is the interpretacion of the dreame which thou sawest, therfore thou onely art here lightened: for thou hast forsaken thine owne lawe, and applied thy diligence vnto myne, and sought it. Thy life hast thou ordred in wyszdome, Reg. 3. •• ou. 7. a and hast called vnderstondinge thy mother, and therfore haue I shewed the ye treasure of the Hyest. After thre dayes I wil shew the more, and talke with the at more large, yee heuy and wonderous thinges wyl I declare vnto the.

Then wente I forth in to ye felde, geuynge prayse and thankes greatly vnto God, because of his wonders which he dyd in tyme, and because he gouerneth the same, and soch 〈◊〉 is in tyme, and there I satt thre dayes.

The XIIII. Chapter.

VPon the thirde daye I satt vnder an oke tre, then came there a voyce vnto me out of the bush, & sayde: Eszdras, Eszdras. And I sayde: here I am LORDE, and stode vp vpon my fete. 〈…〉 Thē spake he vnto me: In the bush dyd I appeare vnto Moses, & talked wt him, whā my people serued in Egipte, and I sent him, and led my people out of Egipte, & brought him vpō ye mount Sion, where I helde him by me a longe season, and tolde him my wonderous workes, and shewed him ye secretes of the tymes, and the ende, and commaunded him, sayēge: These wordes shalt thou declare, & not hyde thē. And now I saye vnto the, that thou laye vp in thine hert the dreames that thou hast sene, and the interpretacions which I haue shewed the: for thou shalt be receaued of all, thou shal be turned and remayne wt my councell, and with soch as be like the, vntyll ye tymes be ended. For the worlde hath lost his youth, and the tymes begynne to waxe olde. For the tyme is deuyded in to twolue partes, and ten partes of it are gone all ready, and half of the tenth parte: yet remayneth there that, which is after ye half of ye tenth parte.

Therfore prepare and ordre thy house, and refourme thy people: comforte soch of thou as be in trouble: and tell now of the destruccion: let go from the mortall thoughtes: cast awaye the burthens of man: put of the weake nature: laye vp in some place ye thoughtes that are most heuy vnto the, and haist the to flyt from these tymes: for soch euell & wickednesse as thou hast now sene happē, shal they do yet moch worse. For the weaker that the worlde and the tyme is, 〈…〉 the more shal 〈…〉 wickednesse increase, in them that dwell vpō earth. For the trueth is fled farre awaye, & lesynge is hard at hande. For now ha •• teth the vision to come, that thou hast sene.

Then answered I and sayde: Beholde LORDE, I wyl go as thou hast commaunded me, and refourme the people which are present. But they yt shal be borne afterwarde, who wyl exhorte or rebuke thē? Thus the worlde is set in darcknes, and they yt dwel therin, are without light: for thy lawe is kyndled, bec use no man knoweth the thinges that are done of the, or that shalbe done. Yf I haue foū de grace before the, sende the holy goost in to me, and I shall wryte all that hath bene done in the worlde sene the begynnynge, which was wrytten in thy lawe, that men maye fynde the path, and that they which wyl lyue in the latter dayes, maye lyue.

And he answered me, sayēge: Go yt waye, gather thy people together, & saye vnto thē, that they seke the not for xl. dayes, but loke thou gather the many boxe trees, and take with the Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Echanus and Asial, these fyue, which are ready to wryte swiftly, and come hither, and I shal light a cādle of vnderstōdinge in thine hert, which shal not be put out, tyll the thinges be perfourmed which thou shalt begynne to wryte. And then shalt thou declare some thinges openly vnto the perfecte, and some thinges shalt thou shew secretly vnto ye wyse. Tomorow this houre shalt thou begynne to wryte.

Then wēte I forth (as he commaūded me) and gathered all ye people together, and sayde: Heare these wordes o Israel: Oure fathers from the begynnynge were straunges in Egipte, from whēce they were delyuered, and receaued the lawe of life, 〈…〉 which they kepte not, which ye also haue trāsgressed after thē. Then was this londe and the londe of Sion parted amōge you by the lot to possesse. But yor fathers and ye yor selues also haue done vnrighteousnes, & haue not kepte the wayes which the Hyest cōmaunded you. And for so moch as he is a righteous iudge, he toke from you in tyme the thinge that had geuen you. And now are ye here and yor brethren amōge you. Therfore yf so be that ye wil subdue yor owne vnderstandinge, and refourme youre hert, ye shal be kepte aliue, & after death shal ye opteyne mercy. For after death shall the iudgment come, whan we shal lyue agayne: and then shal the names of the righteous be manifest, and ye names of the vngodly with their workes shalbe declared. Let no mā therfore come now vnto me, ner axe eny question at me these xl. dayes.

So I toke the fyue men (as he commaunded me) and we wente in to the felde, and remayned there. The next daye a voyce called me sayēge: Eszdras, Open thy mouth, & drynke that I geue the. 〈…〉 Thē opened I my mouth, & beholde, he reached me a full cuppe, which was full of water, but the color of it was like fyre. And I toke it and dranke. And whā I had dronken it, my hert had vnderstondinge, and wyszdome grew in my brest: for my sprete was kepte in remembraunce, and my mouth was opened and shut nomore. The Hyest gaue vnderstondinge vnto the fyue men, yt they wrote ye hye thīges of the night, which they vnderstode not. But in the night they ate bred: as for me, I spake in the daye, and helde not my tonge by night. In xl. dayes, they wrote two hundreth & foure bokes.

And it happened whā the xl. dayes were fulfilled, that the Hyest spake, sayenge: The first that thou hast wryttē, speake openly, yt the worthy and vnworthy maye rede it. But kepe ye lxx. last, yt thou mayest shew it onely to soch as be wyse amonge thy people. For in them is the sprynge of vnderstōdinge, the fountayne of wyszdome, and the streame of knowlege. And I dyd so.

The XV. Chapter.

BEhelde, speake thou in the eares of my people the wordes of prophecie, which I wyll put in ye mouth, saieth the LORDE: and cause them to be wrytten in a letter, for it is the trueth. Feare not the ymaginaciōs against yt, let not ye vnfaithfulnes of them trouble the, that speake agaynst the. For all the vnfaithfull shal dye in their vnfaithfulnes. Beholde saieth the LORDE, I wil brynge plages vpon the worlde: ye swerde, honger, death and destruccion, for wickednes hath the vpper hande in all ye earth, and their shamefull workes are fulfilled.

Therfore saieth the LORDE: I wil holde my tonge nomore vnto their wickednesse, which they do so vngodly: nether wil I suffre them in the thinges, that they deale with all so wickedly. Beholde, Apo. 6. b and 19. a the innocent bloude of the troubled crieth vnto me, and the soules of the righteous complayne cōtynually: and therfore (saieth the LORDE) I wil surely auē ge, and receaue vnto me all the innocēt bloude from amonge them.

Beholde, my people, Psal. 43. c Rom. 8. c 1. Co. 4. b is led as a flock of shepe to be slayne, I wil not suffre them now to dwel in Egipte, but wyl brynge them ou with a mightie hande and a stretched out arme, and smyte it with plages as afore, and wyl destroye all the londe off it. Egipte shal mourne, and the foundacions of it shalbe smytten with the plage and punyshment, yt God shal brynge vpon it.

They that tyll ye groūde, shal mourne, for their sedes shal be destroyed thorow the blastinge and hale, and an horrible starre. Wo worth ye worlde and them that dwell therin, for ye swerde & their destrucciō draweth nye: & one people shal stōde vp to fight against another, & swerdes in their hādes. For mē shal be vnstedfast, and some shal do violence vnto other: they shal not regarde their kynge and prynces, the wayes of their doinges and hā delinges in their power. A man shal desyre to go in to the cite, & shal not be able. For because 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 of their pryde ye cities shalbe brought in feare, ye houses shal shake, and men shalbe afrayed. A man shal haue no pitie vpon his neghboure, but one shal prouoke another vnto battayll, to spoyle their goodes because of the honger of bred, and because of the greate trouble.

Beholde, I gather & call together all the kynges of ye earth which are from the vprysinge, from the south, from the east and Libanus to turne vnto them, and restore the thinges that they haue geuē them. Like as they do yet this daye vnto my chosen, so wil I do also, and recōpense thē in their bosome. Thus sayeth ye LORDE God: My right hande shal not spare ye synners, and my swerde shal not ceasse ouer them, that shed the innocēt bloude vpon earth. The feare is gone out frō his wrath, and hath cōsumed the foundacions of the earth, and the synners like the strawe that is kindled. Wo worth them that synne, and kepe not my commaundementes, saieth the LORDE. I wil not spare them. Go youre waye ye children from violence, defyle not my Sanctuary: for the LORDE knoweth all thē that synne agaynst him, and therfore delyuereth he them vnto death and destrucciō: For now are the plages come vpon the worlde, & ye shal remayne in thē. For God shal not delyuer you, because ye haue synned agaynst him.

Beholde, an horrible vision commeth frō the east, where generacions of Dragons shal come out, and the people of the Arabes with many charettes, and the multitude of them shalbe as the wynde vpō earth, that all they which heare them ragynge in their wrath, maye feare and be afrayed: and as the wylde bores out of ye wod, so shal they go out, and with greate power shal they come, and stonde fightinge with thē, and shal waist the porcion of the londe of the Assirians.

And then shal the Dragons haue the vpper hande, not remembringe their byrth, and shal turne aboute swearinge together in greate power, to persecute them. But these shalbe afrayed, and kepe sylence at their power, and shal fle: and one out of the londe of the Assirians shal besege thē, and consume one of thē, and in their hoost shal be feare and drede, and strife amonge their kynges.

Beholde cloudes from the east, and from the north vnto the south, and they are very horrible to loke vpon, full of wrath and storme. They shal smyte one vpon another, and they shal smyte at ye greate starre vpon earth and their starre, and the bloude shalbe from the swerde vnto the bely, and the smoke of mā vnto ye Camels lytter: And there shalbe greate fearfulnes and tremblinge vpō earth, and they that se the wrath, shal be afrayed, and a tremblinge shal come vpon them.

And then shal there come greate raynes from ye south and from the north, and parte from the west, and from the stormy wynde from the east, and shal shutt them vp agayne, & the cloude which he raysed vp in wrath, and the starre to cause feare towarde ye east and west wynde, shalbe destroyed, & the greate cloudes shalbe lift vp, and ye mightie cloudes full of wrath, and the starre, that they maye make all the earth afrayed and thē yt dwell therin, and that they maye poure out ouer all places an horrible starre, fyre and h le and flyenge swerdes, and many waters: yt all feldes maye be full, and all ryuers, & they shal breake downe the cities & walles, mountaynes & hylles, all trees, wod, and the grasse of the medowes, and all their frute. And they shal go stedfast vnto Babilon, and m ke her afrayed, they shal come to her and besege her: the starre and all wrath shal they poure out vpon her.

Then shal the dust and smoke go vp vnto the heauen, and all they that be aboute her, shal bewayle her: and they that remayne vnder her, shal do seruyce vnto them that haue put her in feare. And thou Asia yt cōfortest thyself also vpō the hope of Babilon, and art a worshipe of hir personne: Wo be vnto the thou wretch, because thou hast made thyself like vnto her, & hast decte ye daughters ī who dome, that they might tryumphe and please thy louers, which haue allwaye desyred to cō mytte whordome wt the: thou hast folowed the abhominable cite in all hir workes and invencions.

Therfore sayeth God: I wyl sende plages vpon the, wyddowhode, pouerte, hōger, warres, and pestilence, to waist thy houses with destruccion and death, and the glory of thy power shal be dryed vp as a floure, whan ye heate aryseth yt is sent ouer the. Thou shalt be sick as a poore wife that is plaged & beatē of wemen: so yt the mightie and louers shal not be able to receaue the. Wolde I so hat the saieth the LORDE? Yf thou haddest not allwaye slayne my chosen, exaltinge the stroke of thy handes, and sayde ouer their death, whan thou wast dronkē: set forth the betw •• of thy countenaunce.

The rewarde of thy whordome shalbe recompensed the in thy bosome, therfore shalt thou receaue 〈…〉 rewarde.

Like as thou hast done vnto my chosen (sayeth the LORDE) euen so shal God do vnto the, and shal delyuer the in to the plage. Thy childrē shal dye of honger, & thou shalt fall thorow ye swerde. Thy cities shalbe broken downe, & all thine shal perish wt the swerde in ye felde. They yt be in ye moūtaynes shal dye of honger, & eate their owne flesh, & drinke their owne bloude for very hōger of bred & thyrst of water. Thou vnhappie shalt come thorow the see, & receaue plages agayne.

In the passage they shall cast downe the slayne cite, & shal rote out one parte of ye londe, & cōsume the porcion of thy glory. They shal treade the downe like stuble, & they shal be thy fyre and shal consume the: thy cities and thy londe, thy wod & thy frutefull trees shal they burne vp with the fyre. Thy children shal they cary awaye captyue, and loke what thou hast, they shal spoyle it, and marre the bewtie of thy face.

The XVI. Chapter.

WO vnto the Babilon & Asia, wo vnto ye Egipte & Syria: gyrde yor selues wt clothes of sack & hayre, and mourne for youre childrē, be sory, for yor destruccion is at honde. A swerde is sent vpon you, & who wil turne it back? A fyre is kyndled amōge you, & who wil quench it? Plages are sent vnto you, & what is he that wil dryue them awaye? Maye eny man dryue awaye an hōgrie lyon in the wod? Or maye eny mā quench the fyre in the stubble, whan it hath begonne to burne? Maye one turne agayne the arowe, yt is shot of a stronge archer? The mightie LORDE sendeth the plages, & what is he that wil dryue them awaye? The fyre is kyndled & gone forth in his wrath, & what is he that will quench it? He shall cast lightenynges, & who shal not feare? He shal thonder, and who shall not be afrayed? The LORDE shal threaten, & who shal not vtterly be beaten to poulder at his presence? The earth quaketh, & the foundacions therof: ye see aryseth vp wt wawes from the depe, and the floudes of it are vnquyete, & the fishes therof also before the LORDE, & before the glory of his power. For stronge is his right hande that holdeth the bowe, his arowes that he shuteth, are sharpe, & shall not mysse, whan they begynne to be shot in to ye endes of the worlde.

Beholde, ye plages are sent, & shal not turne agayne, tyll they come vpon earth. The fyre is kyndled, & shall not be put out, tyll it consume the foundacions of the earth. Like as an arowe which is shot of a mightie archer, returneth not bacwarde, euen so ye plages yt shal be sent vpon earth, shal not turne agayne. Wo is me, wo is me, who wyl delyuer me in those dayes? The begynnynge of sorowes & greate mourninge: the begynnynge of derth & greate death: the begynnynge of warres, & the powers shal stonde in feare the begynnynge of euels, & they shal tremble euery one. What shal I do in these thinges, whan the plages come? Beholde, hōger and plage, trouble & anguysh are sent, as scourges for amendement. But for all these thinges they shal not turne frō their wickednesses, ner be allwaye myndefull of ye scourges.

Beholde, vitayles shalbe so good cheape vpon earth, yt they shal thinke themselues to be in good case: and euen then shal myschefe growe vpō earth, warres, derth & greate disquietnes. For many of them that dwell vpō earth shall perish of hōger, & the other that escape the honger, shal the swerde destroye: & the deed shalbe cast out as donge, & there shalbe no man to cōforte them. For ye earth shalbe waisted, & the cities shalbe cast downe: there shalbe no man left to tyll ye earth & to sowe it. The trees shal geue frute, & who shal plucke thē of & gather them? The grapes shal be ripe, & who shal treade thē? For all places shalbe desolate of mē, so that one man shal desyre to se another, or to heare his voyce. For of one whole cite there shalbe ten left, & two in the felde, which shall hyde thēselues in the thicke buszshes, & in the clyffes of stones: like as whan there remayne thre or foure olyues vpon the olyue tre, or as whan a vynyarde is gathered, there are left some grapes, of them that diligētly sought thorow the vynyarde.

Euen so in those dayes there shalbe thre or foure left, for thē yt search their houses wt the swerde. And the earth shalbe left waist, & the feldes therof shall waxe olde: and hir wayes and all hir pathes shal growe full of thornes, because no man shal trauayle there thorow. The daughters shal mourne, hauinge no brydegromes: the wemen shal make lamentacion, hauynge no huszbandes, their daughters shal mourne, hauinge no helpe of their brydegrome. In the warres shall they be destroyed, & their huszbandes shal perish of honger. O ye seruauntes of the LORDE, heare these thinges, & marck thē. Beholde, the worde of the LORDE, O receaue it: beholde, the plages drawe nye, & are not slack in tarienge. Like as a trauaylinge woman, which after ye ix. moneth brīgeth forth a sonne, whan the houre of the byrth is come, an houre two or thre afore that the paynes come vpō hir body, & whan the childe cōmeth to the byrth, they tary not the twincklynge of an eye: Euē so shall not ye plages be slack to come vpon earth, & the worlde shal mourne, & sorowes shal come vpō it on euery syde.

O my people, heare my worde, make you redy to the battayll: & in all euell be euen as pylgrems vpon earth. He yt selleth, let him be as he that flyeth his waye: & he yt byeth, as one that wil lese. Cor. 7. d Who so occupieth marchaūdies, as he that wynneth not: & he that buyldeth, as he that shall not dwell therin: he that soweth, as one yt shal not reape: he that twysteth the vynyarde, as he that shal not gather the grapes: they that mary, as they that shall get no children: & they yt mary not, sal. 126. a ro. 10 c ccli. 11. b as the wyddowes: & therfore they yt laboure, labor in vayne. For straungers shall reape their frutes, & spoyle their goodes, ouer throwe their houses, & take their childrē captyue, for in captiuyte & honger shal they get children. And they that occupie their marchaundies wt robbery, how longe decke they their cities, their houses, their possessions & personnes? the more wil I punysh them for their synnes, sayeth the LORDE. Like as an whore enuyeth an honest woman, so shall righteousnes hate iniquyte, whan she decketh hir self, and shall accuse her to hir face, whan he cōmeth that defendeth, which shal make inquysiciō for all synne vpō earth. And therfore be not ye like there vnto, ner to the workes therof: for or euer it be longe, iniquite shalbe taken awaye out of the earth, and righteousnes shal raigne amonge you.

Let not the synner saye, that he hath not synned: for coles of fyre shal burne vpon his heade, which saieth before the LORDE God & his glory: I haue not synned. Beholde, the LORDE knoweth all ye workes of men, their ymaginacions, their thoughtes & their hertes. Gene. 1. a For he spake but the worde: let the earth be made, & it was made: let the heauē be made, & it was made. In his worde were ye starres made, & he knoweth the nombre of them. He searcheth the grounde of the depe, & the treasures therof: he hath measured the see, & what it conteyneth. He hath shut the see in the myddest of the waters, and wt his worde hath he hanged the earth vpon the waters. He spredeth out the heauen like a vowte, vpon the waters hath he founded it. In the deserte and drye wyldernes hath he made sprynges of water, and poles vpō the toppe of the mountaynes, yt the floudes might poure downe from ye stony rockes to water the earth. He made man, and put his hert in the myddest of ye body, and gaue him breth, life and vnderstandinge, yee and the sprete of ye Allmightie God, which made all thinges, and hath searched the groūde of all the secretes of the earth.

He knoweth youre ymaginacions & inuē cions, and what ye thynke whan ye synne, & wolde hyde youre synnes. Therfore hath ye LORDE searched and sought out all yor wo kes, and he shal bewraye you all. And whan yor synnes are brought forth, ye shalbe ashamed before men, and youre owne synnes shal be youre accusers in that daye. What wil ye do? Or how will ye hyde youre synnes before God and his angels? Beholde, God himself is the iudge, feare him, leaue of from youre synnes, and forget youre vnrighteousnesses, and medle nomore with them: so shal God lede you forth, and delyuer you from all trouble. For beholde, the heate of a greate multitude is kyndled ouer you, and they shal take awaye certayne of you, and fede the ydle wt Idols: and they that cōsent vnto them, shal be had in derision, laughed to scorne, & trodden vnder fote.

For vnto the places there shalbe a place, and in the next cities a greate insurreccion vpon those that feare ye LORDE. They shal be like mad men, they shall spare no man: they shall spoyle and waist soch as feare the LORDE, their goodes shall they take from them, and shute them out of their houses. Then shall it be knowne who are my chosen, & they shalbe tryed as the golde in the fyre. Heare O ye my beloued, saieth the LORDE: beholde, the dayes of trouble are at honde, but I wil delyuer you from the same. Be not ye afraied, dispayre not, for God is youre captayne.

Who so kepeth my cōmaundementes and preceptes (sayeth the LORDE God) let not youre synnes weye you downe, & let not youre vnrighteousnesses be lift vp. Wo be vnto thē that are subdued vnto their synnes, and tangled in their wickednesses: like as a felde is hedged in with buszshes, and the path therof couered with thornes, yt no man maye trauayle thorow: and so is he taken, and cast in the fyre, and brent.

The ende of the IIII. boke of Eszdras.
The boke of Tobias. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Of the kynred, life and godly conuersacion of Tobias. Chap. II, The louynge compassion that Tobias sheweth in buryēge the deed, for the which cause he is hated and persecuted. God nurtoureth him with blyndnes. His wyfe casteth him in the teth. Chap. III. Tobias prayeth hertely vnto God, for the trouble and captiuyte of himself and the people. Of Sara the daughter of Raguel. Chap. IIII. Tobias teacheth his sonne in the feare of God. Chap. V. The sonne obeyeth the father, and goeth his earāde. God prouydeth mercifully for him, and sendeth his angell to be his gyde. Chap. VI. In their iourney they take a fish, wherof the angell commaundeth him to kepe the hert, the gall and the leuer, and telleth him wherto it is good. Chap. VII. They come to Raguel, which receaueth them louyngly, and marieth his daughter Sara vnto Tobias. Chap. VIII. Tobias goinge to bed with his wyfe, ordreth him self as the angell bad him, and so both he and his wyfe are preserued from euell. Chap. IX. Tobias sendeth the angell vnto Gabelus for the money. Chap. X. Tobias father and mother lōge sore for his commynge: And Raguel seynge that he can kepe him no longer, sendeth him awaie with his wife. Chap. XI. They returne home, and are welcommed ioyfully. Olde Tobias hath his sight agayne. They reioyse alltogether, and geue thā kes vnto God. Chap. XII. The father and the sonne wolde fayne rewarde the angell. He wil haue nothinge: but sheweth them what he is. Chap. XIII. Tobias the elder prayseth God, & exorteth other mē, to be thankfull vnto him. Chap. XIIII. Tobias beynge now olde, prophecieth the destrucciō of Niniue, and the prosperous health of Israel. The sonne forsaketh the sinfull cite, as his father bad him, & goeth to his father in lawe.
The first Chapter.

TObias was of the trybe and cite of Nephtali, which lyeth in the hye countrees of Galile aboue Naason the waye towarde the west, hauynge the cite of Sephet vpon the left syde.

Though he was taken presonner in the dayes of Salmanasar kynge of the Assirians, 〈◊〉 . 17. a neuertheles beynge in captiuyte, he forsoke not ye waye of trueth: In so moch that what so euer he might gett, he parted it dailie with his felowpresoners & brethren, that were of his kynred. And though he were yonger thē all in the trybe of Nephtali, yet dyd not he behaue himself childeshly in his workes. And whan all the other wente to ye goldē calues,3. Re. 12. which Ieroboam the kynge of Israel had made, he himself alone fled all their companies, and gat him to Ierusalem vnto the temple of the LORDE, and there worshipped ye LORDE God of Israel, Exo. 22. d and 23. c Deut. 12. a 18. a. 26. a faithfully offeringe all his first frutes and tithes, so that in the thirde yeare he ministred all the tithes vnto the straungers and conuertes. These and soch like thinges dyd he acordinge to the lawe of God, whan he was yet but yonge.

But whan he was a man, he toke out of his owne trybe a wyfe called Anna, Nu. 36. c and of her he begat a sonne, whom he called after his owne name, and taught him from his youth vp, to feare God, and to refraine from all synne.

Now whan he with his wife, his sonne and with all his kynred was come in captiuite vnto Niniue, what tyme as they all are of the meates of the Heithē, Gen. 43. Iudit. 12. he kepte his soule, and was neuer defyled in their meates. And for so moch as he was myndefull of the LORDE in all his hert, Iere. 40. God gaue him fauoure in the presence of Salmanasar the kynge, which gaue him power to go where he wolde, and so had he liberte to do what him list.

So wente Tobias vnto all them that were in preson, and comforted them, Matt. 25. and gaue them wholsome exortacions. And whan he came to Rages a cite of the Medes, hauynge Some reade: * ten tal •• tes of golde. ten talētes of syluer (of ye thinges wher with the kynge had honoured him) and sawe amonge a greate company of people of his kinred, one Gabelus (which was of his owne trybe) beynge in necessite, he gaue him the sayde weight of syluer vnder an handwritinge.

After a longe season whan Salmanasar the kynge was deed, and Sennacherib his sonne reigned in his steade, which hated the children of Israel, Tobias wente daylie thorow out all his kynred, and comforted them, and gaue of his goodes to euery one of thē, as moch as he might: he fed the hongrie, clothed the naked, and buried the deed and slaine, and that diligently.

And whan Sennacherib the kynge came agayne and fled out of Iewry (what tyme4. Re. 19. as God punyshed him for his blasphemy) & in his wrath slew many of the children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies.4. Esd. 2. c But whan it was tolde the kynge, he commaunded to slaye him, and toke awaye all his goodes. Neuertheles Tobias with his sonne & with his wife fled his waye, and was hyd naked, for there were many that loued him. But after xlv. dayes the kynge was slayne of his owne sonnes. Then came Tobias againe to his house, and all his goodes were restored vnto him.

The II. Chapter.

AFter these thinges vpon a solempne daye of the LORDE Tobias made a good feast in his house, & sayde vnto his sonne: Go yt waye & brynge hither some of oure trybe, soch as feare God, that they maye make mery with vs. And whā he was gone, he came agayne, and tolde his father, that one of the children of Israel laye slayne vpon the strete. And immediatly he leape from his table, left the feast, came fastinge to the deed coarse, toke him & bare him preuely in to his house, yt whan the Sonne was downe, he might safely burye him. And whā he had hyd the coarse, he ate his meate with mournynge and feare, remembrynge ye wordes, that the LORDE sayeth by the prophet Amos: mos 8. b Mac. 1. b youre hye feastes shalbe turned to sorowe and heuynes.

But whan ye Sonne was downe, he wente his waye & buried him. Then all his neghbours reproued him, sayenge: It is not lōge, sens it was commaunded to slaye the because of this matter, obi. 1. d and hast scarce escaped the daunger of death, and buriest thou the deed againe? Neuertheles Tobias fearinge God more then the kynge, toke the bodies of the slayne, hyd them in his house, & buried them at mydnight.

It happened vpō a daye, that he had buried ye deed, & was weery, came home, & layed him downe by the wall & slepte. And whyle he was a slepe, there fell downe vpō his eyes warme donge out of the swalowes nest, so yt he was blynde. eu. 8. a 〈◊〉 . 13. a 〈◊〉 . 9. a 〈…〉 . a This tentacion dyd God suffre to happen vnto him, that they which came after, might haue an example of his paciēce, like as of holy Iob. For in so moch as he euer feared God from his youth vp, & kepte his commaundementes, he was not heuy against God, that the plage of blyndnes chaūsed vnto him, but remayned stedfast in the feare of God, and thanked God all the dayes of his life.

For like as blessed Iob was had in derision of kynges, euen so was he laughed to scorne of his elders & kynsfolkes, which sayde vnto him: where is thy hope, Iob 4. for ye which thou hast done allmes and buried the deed? But Tobias rebuked thē, & spake: Saye not so, for we are the children of holy men, Tobi & loke for the life, which God shal geue vnto them, that neuer turne their beleue from him. Anna his wife wente daylie to the weeuynge worke, Ephe & loke what lyuinge she coude get wt the labor of hir handes, she brought it. And it happened yt she toke a kyd and brought it home.

And whan hir huszband herd it crie, he sayde: loke yt it be not stollen, 〈…〉 restore it agayne to the owners: for it is not laufull for vs, to eate or to touch eny thinge of theft. Then was his wife angrie, and sayde: Iob 1. Now is thy hope become vayne openly, & thy allmes dedes are manifest. With these & soch like wordes dyd she cast him in the tethe.

The III. Chapter.

THen Tobias toke it heuely, & wt teares beganne to make his prayer, sayē ge: O LORDE, thou art righteous, & all thy iudgmētes are true, yee all ye wayes are mercy, faithfulnes & iudgmēt. Psal. •• And now O LORDE be myndefull of me, & take no vengeaunce of my synnes, nether remembre my myszdedes ner ye myszdedes of my elders. For we haue not bene obediēt vnto ye cōmaundemētes, therfore are we spoyled, brought in to captiuyte, in to death, in to derision & shame vnto all nacions, amōge whō thou hast catred vs. And now O LORDE, ye iudgmentes are greate, for we haue not done acordīge to ye cōmaundemētes, nether haue we walked innocētly before ye. And now O LORDE, de le with me acordinge to thy wil, & cōmaunde my sprete to be receaued in peace, for mere erpediēt were it for me to dye, thē to lyue.

At the same tyme it happened, that Sara the daughter of Raguel at Rages a cite of ye Medes was slaundred of one of hir fathers handmaydes, namely, that she shulde haue had seuen huszbandes, which as soone as they were gone in vnto hir, were slayne of the deuell called Asmodeus. Therfore whan she reproued the mayden for hir faute, she answerde her, sayenge: God let vs neuer se sonne ner daughter of the more vpon earth, thou kyller of thy huszbandes. Wilt thou slay me also, as thou hast slayne seuen men? At this voyce wēte Sara in to an hye chamber of hir house, and thre dayes and thre nightes she nether ate ner drāke, but cō tynued in prayer, and besought God with teares, that he wolde delyuer her from this rebuke.

Vpon the thirde daye it chaunced, that whan she had made an ende of hir prayer, she praysed the LORDE, sayenge: Blessed be thy name O God of or fathers, which whan thou art wroth, shewest mercy, and in the tyme of trouble thou forgeuest the synnes of them, that call vpon the. Vnto the O LORDE turne I my face, vnto the lift I vp myne eyes. I beseke ye O LORDE, lowse me out of the bondes of this rebuke, or els take me vtterly awaye frō of ye earth. Thou knowest LORDE, that I neuer had desyre vnto man, and that I haue kepte my soule cleane from all vnclenly lust. I haue not kepte company with those that passe their tyme in sporte, nether haue I made my self partaker with them that walke in lighte behauoure. Neuertheles an huszbande haue I consented to take, not for my pleasure, but in thy feare.

Now peraduenture either I haue bene vnworthy of them, or els were they vnmete for me, for thou happly hast kepte me to another huszband. 〈…〉 For why? thy councell is not in ye power of man. But who so euer loueth the and serueth the a right, is sure, that yf his life be tempted and proued, it stādeth in the tryenge: and yf he endure in pacience, he shal haue a rewarde and be hylie crowned: and yf he be in trouble, that God (no doute) shal delyuer him: and yf his life be in chastenynge, that he shall haue leue to come vnto thy mercy.

For thou hast no pleasure in oure dampnacion: & why? after a storme thou makest ye wether fayre and still: after wepinge and heuynes thou geuest greate ioye. Thy name O God of Israel, be praysed for euer. At the same tyme were both their prayers herde in the sight of the magesty of the Hyest God. And Raphael the holy angel of the LORDE was sent to helpe thē both, whose prayers came together before God.

The IIII. Chapter.

SO whā Tobias thought his prayer to be herde, that he might dye, he called vnto him his sonne Tobias, & sayde vnto him: My sonne, heare the wordes of my mouth, and laye thē in thine hert as a foundacion. Whan God taketh awaye my soule, 〈…〉 burie thou my body, & holde thy mother in honoure all the dayes of hir life. For thou oughtest to remembre, what and how greate parels she suffred for ye in hir wōbe. And whā she also hath fulfilled the tyme of hir life, bury her besyde me. Haue God in thy thought all the dayes of thy life, & bewarre, lest at eny tyme thou cōsent vnto synne, Rom. 6. b and lest thou let slippe the commaundemētes of the LORDE oure God.

Geue allmes of thy goodes, and turne neuer thy face from the poore: and so shal it come to passe, that the face of the LORDE shal not be turned awaye from the. Be mercifull after ye power. Yf thou hast moch, geue plē teously: yf thou hast litle, do thy diligence, gladly to geue of that litle. For so gatherest thou thy self a good rewarde in the daye of necessite. For allmes delyuereth Some reader * frō all synne & from d •• ath. frō death, & suffreth not the soule to come in darcknes. A greate comforte is allmes before the hye God, vnto all them that do it.

My sonne, kepe the well from all whordome,1. Tess. 4. and (besyde thy wife) se that no faute be knowne of the. Let neuer pryde haue rule in thy mynde ner in thy worde, Gen. 3. a for in pryde beganne all destruccion.

Who so euer worketh eny thinge for the, immediatly geue him his hyre, Deu. 24. and loke that thy hyred seruaunte wagies remayne not by the ouer night. Matt. 7. a Loke that thou neuer do vnto another man, the thinge that thou woldest not another mā shulde do vnto the. Eate thy bred with the hongrie and poore, Luc. 14. and couer the naked with thy clothes. Set thy bred and wyne vpon the buryall of the righteous, and do not thou eate and drynke therof with the synners. Axe euer councell at ye wyse.

Be allwaye thankfull vnto God, and be seke him, that he will ordre thy wayes, & that what: so euer thou deuysest or takest in hande, it maye remayne in him. I certifie the also my sonne, that (whan thou wast yet but a bab) I delyuered ten talentes of syluer vnto Gabelus, at Rages a cite of the Medes, Tobi. 1. & his handwritinge haue I by me. And therfore seke some meanes, how thou mayest come by him, & receaue of him ye sayde weight of syluer, and geue him his handwritynge agayne.

My sonne, be not afrayed: trueth it is, we lede here a poore life: Rom. 8. but greate good shall we haue, yf we feare God, and departe from all synne, and do well.

The V. Chapter.

THen answered Tobias his father, & sayde: father, all that thou hast commaunded me, wil I do, and that diligently. But how I shal requyre this money, I can not tell. Nether doth he knowe me, ner I him. What token shal I geue him And as for the waye thither, I neuer knew it. Then his father answered him, and sayde: I haue his handwritinge by me, which whan thou shewest him, immediatly he shall paye the. But go thy waye now, & get the some faithfull man to go with ye for an hyre, that thou mayest receaue ye money, whyle I am yet lyuynge.

Then wente Tobias out, & vpon the strete he founde a fayre yonge man stondinge, gyrded vp, and as it were one ready to take his iourney. And he knew not that it was an angell of God, but saluted him, and sayde: From whence art thou, thou good yonge man? He answered: Of the children of Israel.

And Tobias sayde vnto him? knowest thou the waye, that ledeth vnto the countre of ye Medes? He answered: I knowe it well, and all those stretes haue I gone oft tymes, and haue lodged with oure brother Gabelus, that dwelleth in Rages a cite of ye Medes, which lyeth vpon the mount Egabthanis. Tobias sayde vnto him: I praye the, tary for me, tyll I haue tolde my father these thinges. Then wēte Tobias in, and tolde his father all. At ye which his father marueled, & prayed, that he wolde come in vnto him.

Now whan the angell came in, he saluted him, and sayde: ioye be with the for euermore. And olde Tobias saide: what ioye can I haue, that syt here in darcknes, & se not the light of heauen? The yonge man sayde vnto him: Be of good cheare, God shal helpe the shortly. And Tobias sayde vnto him: Canst thou brynge my sonne to Gabelus, vnto the cite of Rages in Media? And whan thou commest agayne, I shal paye the thy hyre. And the angell sayde vnto him: I shal lede thy sonne, and brynge him to the agayne. Then Tobias answered him: Tell me I praye the, of what house, or of what trybe art thou?

The angell Raphael sayde vnto him: Axest thou after the kynred of an hyrelinge, or sekest thou a gyde for thy sonne to go with him? But that I make the not carefull, I am Azarias the sonne of greate Hananias. And Tobias answered: Thou art come of a greate kynred, but I praye ye, be not displeased, that I desyred to knowe thy kynred. The angell sayde vnto him: Thy sonne shal I lede forth safely, and brynge him whole to the agayne.

Then answered Tobias, and sayde: well, go on youre waie, and God be in youre iourney, and his angell beare you company. So whan they had prepared all thinges, yt they wolde take with them in their iourney, Tobias bad his father & his mother fare well, and they wente on their waye both together. Now whan they were gone, his mother beganne to wepe, and sayde: 〈…〉 The staff of oure age hast thou taken awaye, and sent him from vs.

Wolde God that money had neuer bene, for the which thou hast sent him awaye. Yf we had bene content wt or pouerte, this had bene greate riches vnto vs, that we sawe oure sonne here. Then sayde Tobias vnto her: wepe not, oure sonne shall come to vs agayne safe and sounde, & thine eyes shall se him. For I trust, that ye good angell of God shal beare him cōpany, and ordre well all the thinges that he doth: so that he shal come to vs agayne with ioye. At these wordes his mother left of frō wepynge, & helde hir tonge.

The VI. Chapter.

SO Tobias wente on his waye, and a dogg folowed him, and ye first night they abode by the water of Tigris. Then wente he out to wash his fete, and beholde, there came forth an horrible fish to deuoure him. Of whom Tobias was afrayed, and cried with a loude voyce, sayenge: LORDE, he commeth vpon me. And the angell sayde vnto him: Take him by the cheke blade, and drawe him to the. And he dyd so, and drew him vpō the londe, and the fish beganne to leape at his fete.

Thē sayde the angell vnto him: Take out the bowels of this fish, and as for the hert, the gall and the leuer, kepe them by the. For these thinges are necessary and good for medicyne. Tobias dyd so, and rosted the fish, and they toke him with them in their iourney: the residue they salted, as moch as was sufficient for them, till they came to Rages. Then Tobias axed the angell, and sayde vnto him: I praye ye brother Azarias, tell me, wher to are these thinges good of the fish, that thou hast bydden me kepe?

The angell answered him and sayde: Yf thou layest a pece of the hert vpon the coales, the smoke therof dryueth awaye all maner of euell spretes, whether it be from man or from woman, so that from thence forth ye same shal come nomore vnto them. The gall is good to anoynte or to strake ye eyes withall, where as there is eny blemish in them, so shal they be whole.

And Tobias sayde vnto him: where wilt thou that we remayne? 〈…〉 The angell answered and saide: Here is a nye kinsman of thine, one Raguel by name, which hath a daughter called Sara, & hath nether sonne ner daughter but her. All his good belōgeth vnto the, and thou must mary his daughter: and therfore desyre her at her father, and he shal geue her the to wife. Then answered Tobias & sayde: As I vnderstonde, she hath bene maried vnto seuen huszbandes, and they all are deed: and I haue herde saye, that the deuell slew them. I am afrayed therfore, lest soch thinges happen vnto me also: which yf it came to passe (seinge I am the onely sonne of my father and my mother) I shulde brynge thē in their age wt sorow to their graues.

Then sayde ye angell Raphael vnto him: Heare me, and I will tell the, what they be of whom the deuell hath power. Namely, they that receaue mariage of soch a fashiō, that they shut God out from thē and from their hert, ess. 4. a 〈…〉 b and geue them selues to their owne lust, euen as it were an horse and Moole, which haue no vnderstondinge: vpon soch hath ye deuell power. But whan thou takest her, and art come in to the chamber, witholde thy self from her thre dayes, and geue thy diligence vnto nothinge but vnto prayer with her. obi. 8. b

And in the first night rost the leuer of the fish, and the deuell shalbe dryuē awaye. The secōde night shalt thou be receaued in to the company of the holy patriarkes. The thirde night shalt thou opteyne the blessinge of God, so that whole children shalbe borne of you. After the thirde night take the mayden in the feare of God, and more for the desyre of children, then for eny fleshly lust: that in the sede of Abraham thou mayest optayne the blessinge in children.

The VII. Chapter.

THen wente they in to Raguel, which receaued them ioyfully. And whan Raguel loked vpon Tobias, he sayde vnto Anna his wife: How like is this yonge man vnto my sisters sonne. And whan he had spoken this, he saide: whence be ye good brethren? They saide: Of the trybe of Nephtali, out of the captiuyte of Niniue. Then sayde Raguel vnto them: knowe ye my brother Tobias? They saide: yee, we knowe him well. And whan he had spoken moch good of him, the angell sayde vnto Raguel: Tobias of whom thou axest, is this yonge mās father. Then Raguel bowed him self downe, and wepte, toke him aboute the neck and kyssed him, obi. 9. b and sayde: Gods blessynge haue thou my sonne, for thou art the sonne of a good vertuous man. And Anna his wyfe and Sara his daughter wepte also.

Now whā they had talked together, Raguel bad kyll a wether, and to make a feast. And whā he prayed thē to sytt downe to dyner, Tobias sayde: I wil nether eate ner drinke here this daye, excepte thou first graunte me my peticion, & promyse me to geue me thy daughter Sara. Whan Raguel herde this, he was astonnyed, for he knew, what had happened vnto the other seuen men, that wē te in vnto her: and he begannne to feare that it shulde chaunce vnto him also in like maner.

And whyle he stode so in doute, and gaue the yonge man no answere, the angell sayde vnto him: Feare not to geue him thy daughter, for vnto this man that feareth God, belōgeth thy daughter to wife, therfore might none other haue her.

Thē sayde Raguel: I doute not, but God hath accepted my prayers and teares in his sight: and I trust he caused you to come vnto me for the same intent, that this daughter of myne might be maried in hir owne kynred, acordinge to the lawe of Moses. And now dowte thou not, Tob. 6 but I wil geue her vnto the: So he toke the righthande of his daughter, and gaue her in to the right hāde of Tobias, and sayde: The God of Abrahā, the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob be with you, ioyne you together, and fulfill his blessynge in you. And they toke a letter and made a wrytinge of the mariage. And then made they mery, and praysed God. And Raguel called Anna his wife vnto him, and bad her prepare another chamber, and thither he brought Sara his daughter, and she wepte. Then sayde he vnto her: Be of good cheare my daughter, the LORDE of heauen geue the ioye, for the heuynesse that thou hast suffred.

The VIII. Chapter.

NOw after yt they had supped, they brought the yōge man in to her. Thē thought Tobias vpon the wordes of the angell, and toke out of his bagg a pece of the leuer of the fish, and layed it vpon the hote coales. So the angell Raphael toke holde of the deuell, and sent him awaye, and bounde him in the wyldernes of the hyer Egipte. Thē spake Tobias vnto the virgin, and sayde: Vp Sara, let vs make oure prayer vnto God to daye, tomorow,1. Cor. and ouermorow: for these thre nightes wil we reconcyle oure selues with God: and whan the thirde holy night is past, we shall ioyne together in ye deutye of mariage. For we are the children of holy men, and we maye not come together as the Heithen, yt knowe not God.

Then stode they vp both together, and be sought God earnestly, 〈◊〉 . 6. d yt he wolde preserue them. And Tobias sayde: O LORDE God of o fathers, praysed be thou of heauē & earth of the see, welles, & floudes, & of all the crea, tures that be therin. Thou maydest Adam of the moulde of the earth, 〈◊〉 . 2. b & gauest him Eua for an helper. And now LORDE thou knowest that it is not because of voluptuousnes, that I take this sister of myne to wyfe, but onely for the loue of childen, in whom thy name be blessed for euer. And Sara sayde: haue mercy vpon vs (O LORDE) haue mercy vpon vs, and let vs both come whole and sounde to a good age.

And aboute the cocke crowe, it happened, that Raguel called his seruauntes, and they wēte with him, to make a graue. For he sayde: it is chaunced vnto him peraduēture, as it dyd vnto the other seuen men, that wente in vnto her. Now whā they had made the graue, Raguel came agayne to his wyfe, and sayde vnto her: sende one of thy maydēs, to loke yf he be deed, that I maye burye him afore it be light daye.

So she sent a mayden to se, which whan she came in to the chamber, she founde them whole and sounde, slepynge together. And so she came agayne, & brought good tydinges. Then Raguel and Anna his wife praysed ye LORDE, and sayde: Praysed be thou o LORDE God of Israel, For it is not happened vnto vs, as we thought. For thou hast dealte mercifully with vs, and put awaye from vs the enemye that persecuted vs, and hast shewed mercy vnto yonder two beloued. O LORDE, cause thē to magnifie the more perfectly, and to offre the the sacrifice of thy prayse, and of their health: that all people maye knowe, yt thou onely art God in all the earth.

And immediatly Raguel commaunded his seruauntes, to fyll the graue, that they had made, with earth, afore it was light: and bade his wife prepare a feast, & to make ready all thinges that were necessary for meate, to soch as wente by ye waye. He caused two fatt kyne also and foure wethers to be slayne, & meates to be prepared for all his neghbours and frendes.

And Raguel charged Tobias, to remayne with him two wekes. As for all the good yt he had, he gaue Tobias ye one half of it, and made this wrytinge, that the half which remayned, shulde fall vnto Tobias after their death.

The IX. Chapter.

THen Tobias called vnto him the angell, whom he thought to haue bene a man, and sayde vnto him. Brother Azarias, I praye the herkē vnto my wordes: Yf I shulde geue myself to be ye seruaunt, I shal not deserue ye prouydence. Neuertheles I beseke the, that thou wylt take the beastes and the seruauntes, and go vnto Gabelus in Rages the cite of the Meedes, and delyuer him his handwrytinge, and receaue the money of him, and praye him to come to my mariage. For thou knowest thy self, that my father telleth ye dayes: and yf I tary one daye to longe, he wyl be sory in his mynde. Now seist thou how earnestly Raguel hath requyred me, so that I can not saye him nay.

Then toke Raphael foure of Raguels seruauntes, and two Camels, & wente vnto Rages the cite of the Medes: and whan he had founde Gabelus, he gaue him his handwrytynge, & receaued all ye money. He tolde him also of Tobias ye sonne of Toby, how all thī ges had happened, & caused him to come wt him to ye mariage. Now whan he came in to the house of Raguel, he foūde Tobias syttinge at ye table: & he leape vp, & they kyssed one another, and Gabelus wepte, and praysed God, and sayde: the blessynge of the God of Israel haue thou, Tob. for thou art the sonne of a right verteous & iust man, & of one yt feareth God, & geueth greate allmes. And blessynge haue ye wife, and yor elders, that ye maye se yor children, and youre childers childrē, vnto the thirde and fourth generaciō, and that youre sede maye be blessed of ye God of Israel, which reigneth worlde without ende. And whan they all had sayde Amen, they wente to the feast, but with the feare of the LORDE helde they the feast of the mariage.

The X. Chapter.

NOw whyle yōge Tobias made lōge tarienge by reason of ye mariage, his father was full of care and heuynes, and thought: what shulde be the cause, that my sonne tarieth so longe? Or why shulde he be kepte so longe there? Peraduenture Gabelus is deed, and no man wyl geue him the money. Thus begāne he to be very soroufull, he & Anna his wife with him, & beganne to wepe both together, because their sonne was not come agayne vnto them at the daye appoynted. As for his mother, she wepte with discomfortable teares, and sayde: Wo is me, my sonne: Oh what ayled vs to sende the awaye into a straunge countre, thou light of oure eyes, thou staff of oure age, Tob thou comforte of oure life, thou hope of oure generacion? Seinge all ye thinges that we haue are onely in the, we shulde not haue sent the awaye from vs.

Then Tobias comforted her, and sayde: holde thy tonge, and be not discomforted, oure sonne is whole and sounde: the man yt we sent him withall, is faithfull ynough. Neuertheles she might in no wyse be cōforted: but daylie wente out, loked aboute, and wente aboute all the stretes, wherby she thought he shulde come againe: that (yf it were possible) she might se him cōmynge afarre of.

But Raguel saide vnto his sonne ī lawe: O tary here, and I shall sende a messaūger vnto thy father Tobias, to tell him yt thou art in good health. Tobias sayde vnto him: I am sure, that my father and my mother counte euery daye, and that their hertes are sory.

So whan Raguel prayed Tobias wt many wordes, & he wolde in no wyse heare him, he delyuered Sara vnto him, & the half parte of all his good: in seruauntes and handmaydēs, in shepe, in camels, and in kyne and moch money, and so sent him awaye from him with peace and ioye, and sayde: The holy angell of the LORDE be with you in youre iourney, and brynge you forth safe & sounde, that ye maye fynde all thinges in good case with youre elders, and that myne eyes maye se youre children, afore I dye.

So the elders enbraced their daughter, kyssed her, and let her go, exortinge her to honoure hir father and mother in lawe, to loue hir huszbande, to rule well hir huszsholde, to kepe hir house in good ordre, and to shew hir self fautlesse.

The XI. Chapter.

NOw as they were goinge homewarde againe, vpon ye xj. daye they came to Charra, which lyeth in the half waye towarde Niniue. And the angell sayde: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou hast left thy father: therfore yf it please the, we two wyll go before, and let the husholde with thy wife and ye catell come soft & fayrly after vs. And whan Tobias was content that they shulde go before, Raphael sayde vnto him: Take of the gall of the fish with the, for it shal be necessary. So Tobias toke of the g ll, and they wente their waye. But Anna the mother of Tobias sat daylie by the waye syde vpon ye toppe of an hill, from whence she might se farre aboute her.

And whyle she was waytinge there for his cōmynge, she loked a farre of, and anone she perceaued hir sonne comminge, and ranne and tolde hir buszbande, sayenge: beholde, thy sonne commeth. And Raphael sayde vnto Tobias: As soone as thou commest in to the house, immediatly worshipe the LORDE thy God, and geue thankes vnto him: then go to thy father, and kysse him, & strake his eyes ouer wt the gall of ye fish, that thou hast brought with the. For be sure, that his eyes shal straight waye be opened, and thy father shal se the light of heauen, and shal reioyse at the sight of the. Then the dogg that had bene with them in their iourney, rāne before, and came as a messaūger, and wagged with his tayle for gladnesse.

So ye blynde father arose, and beganne to renne, and stombled with his fete, and gaue a seruaunt his hande, ranne to mete his sonne, receaued him, and kyssed him, he and his wife, and beganne to wepe for ioye.

Now whan they had worshipped & thanked God, they satt downe. Then toke Tobias of the fishes gall, and anoynted his fathers eyes: and taried half an houre, and then beganne the blemysh to go out of his eyes, like as it had bene the whyte szkynne of an egg: which Tobias toke and drew from his eyes, and immediatly he receaued his sight.

Then they praysed God, he and his wife, and all they that knew him. And Tobias sayde: O LORDE God of Israel, I geue the prayse and thankes, for thou hast chastened me, and made me whole. And lo, now do I se my sonne Tobias. After seuen dayes came Sara his sonnes wife also whole and sounde with all ye housholde and catell, with camels and moch money of his wyues, and with the money that he had receaued of Gabelus: and he tolde his father and his mother all the benefites, which God had done for him, by the man that led him. Achior also and Nabath Tobias sister sonnes came and were glad, & reioysed with him, by reason of all the good that God had shewed vnto him.

And so for ye space of seuen dayes they made mery, and were right ioyfull euerichone.

The XII. Chapter.

THē Tobias called his sonne vnto him & sayde: What maye we geue this holy man, that wente with the? Tobias answered his father and sayde: Father, what rewarde shal we geue him? Or what thinge can deserue his benefites? He hath bene my gyde, and brought me safe agayne: he receaued the money from Gabelus, he caused me to get my wife, he droue the euell sprete from her, he hath bene occasiō of gladnesse to hir father and mother: he delyuered me, that I was not deuoured of the fish, he hath made the to se the light of heauen, yee we all haue receaued greate good of him. How shulde we worthely deserue these thinges vnto him? But I praye the my father, that thou wilt desyre him, yf happlie he wil voutsafe, to take with him the half of all that we haue brought.

So the father and the sonne called him, toke him asyde, and beganne to praye him, that he wolde be content to take in good worth, the half parte of all that they had brought. Then sayde he secretly vnto them: Prayse ye God of heauen, and geue thankes vnto him before all men lyuynge, for he hath shewed his mercy Some rede * vnto you. vnto vs. It is good to hyde the Kynges secrete, but to shew and to prayse ye workes of God, it is an honorable thinge. Prayer is good with fastinge, and to geue allmes is better, then to hoorde vp treasures of golde. Tob. 4. b Dani. 4. d For allmes delyuereth from death, clenseth synne, and causeth to fynde euerlastinge life, But they that do synne and vnrighteousnes, are ye enemies of their owne soules.

Wherfore I tell you the trueth, and wyll hyde nothinge from you. Tob. 2. a Whan thou praydest with teares, and burydest the deed, and leftest thy dyner, and hyddest the deed in thy house vpon the daye tyme, that thou mightest burye them in the night, I offred thy prayer before the LORDE. And because thou wast accepte and beloued of God, it was necessary, that tentacion shulde trye the. And now hath the LORDE sent me to heale the, Prou. 3. b and to delyuer Sara ye sonnes wife from the euell sprete. For I am Raphael an angell, one of the seuen that stonde before God.

Whā they herde this, they were sore afrayed, and trembled, and fell downe vpon their faces vnto the grounde. Then sayde the angell: Peace be with you, feare not. Where as I haue bene wt you, it is the will of God, geue prayse and thankes vnto him.

You thought that I dyd eate and drinke with you, Gen. 18. a and 19. a Iud. 13. c but I vse meate that is invisible, and drynke that can not be sene of men.

Now therfore is ye tyme that I must turne agayne, vnto him that sent me: but be ye thankfull vnto God, and tell out all his wonderous workes.

And whan he had spoken these wordes, he was taken awaye out of their sight, so yt they sawe him nomore. Then fell they downe flat vpon their faces by the space of thre houres, and praysed God: and whan they rose vp, they tolde all his wōderous workes.

Then XIII. Chapter.

THen olde Tobias opened his mouth, and praysed the LORDE and sayde: Greate art thou o LORDE for euermore, and thy kyngdome worlde without ende: for thou scourgest and healest, 〈…〉 thou ledest vnto hell, and bryngest out agayne, and there is none yt maye escape thy hande. O geue thankes vnto ye LORDE ye children, of Israel, and prayse him in the sight of the Heithē. For amonge the Heithen which knowe him not hath he scatred you, to the intēt that ye shulde shew forth his maruelous workes: & cause them for to knowe, that there is none other God allmightie but he. He hath chastened vs for oure myszdedes, and for his owne mercy sake shal he saue vs.

Considre then, how he hath dealt wt you, & prayse him with feare and drede, and magnifie the euerlastinge kynge in yor workes.

I wil prayse him euen in the londe of my captiuyte, for he hath shewed his maiesty vnto a synfull people. Turne you therfore O ye synners, and do righteousnes before God, and be ye sure, that he wyl shew his mercy vpon you. As for me & my soule, we wil reioyse in God. O prayse the LORDE all ye his chosen, holde the dayes of gladnesse, and be thankfull vnto him. 〈…〉 O Ierusalem thou cite of God, the LORDE hath punyshed the for the workes of thine owne handes. O prayse the LORDE in thy good thinges, & geue thankes to the euerlastinge God, that he maye builde vp his tabernacle agayne in ye, that he maye call agayne vnto the, all soch as be in captiuyte, and that thou mayest haue ioye for euermore. With a fayre light shalt thou shyne, & all ye endes of ye worlde shal honoure the. 〈…〉 The people shal come vnto the from farre, 〈…〉 they shal bringe giftes, and worshipe ye LORDE in the, and thy londe shal they haue for a Sanctuary, for they shal call vpon the greate name in the.

Cursed shal they be that despyse the, & all they that blaspheme the, shal be condēpned: but blessed shal they be, yt buylde the vp. As for the, thou shalt reioyse in yi childrē, for they all shalbe blessed, and gathered together vnto the LORDE. Blessed are they all yt loue ye, and be glad of thy peace. Prayse thou the LORDE o my soule, for the LORDE oure God hath delyuered his cite Ierusalem from all hir troubles. I wil counte my self happie, yf my sede remayne to se ye clearnes of Ierusalē.

The gates of Ierusalem shalbe buylded with Saphyre and Smaragde, and all the cōpase of hir walles with precious stones. 〈…〉 All hir stretes shalbe paued wt whyte Marblestone, and in all hir stretes shal Alleluya be sunge. Praysed be ye LORDE, which hath exalted her, yt his kyngdome maye be vpon her for euermore, Amen. And so Tobias made an ende of his talkynge.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd after that Tobias had gottē his sight agayne, 〈◊〉 42. c 〈…〉 . a he lyued two and xl. yeares, & sawe his childers children. Now whan he was an hundreth and two yeare olde, he dyed, & was buried honorably in Niniue. For whan he was sixe and fiftie yeares of age, he lost the sight of his eyes, and whā he was thre score yeare olde, he gat his sight agayne. The residue of his life led he in ioye, and increased well in the feare of God, & departed in peace.

But in ye houre of his death he called vnto him his sonne Tobias, & seuen yonge springaldes his sonnes children, and sayde vnto them: The destruccion of Niniue is at hande, 〈◊〉 23 〈…〉 c for the worde of the LORDE can not fayle, and oure brethren that are scatred out of the londe of Israel, shal come thither agayne. And the whole londe of it that hath bene waist, 〈…〉 shalbe fylled: and the house of God that was brent in it, shalbe buylded againe, & all soch as feare God shall returne thither: the Heithen also shal forsake their Idols, & come to Ierusalem, and dwell there, and all the kynges of the earth shalbe glad of her, and worshipe the LORDE God of Israel.

And therfore my children, heare youre father: 〈…〉 Serue the LORDE in faithfulnes, seke after his will, and do the thinge that pleaseth him. Commaunde youre children yt they do right, geue allmes, be myndefull of God, and euer to be thankfull vnto him in trueth and with all their power. Heare me therfore my childrē, and abyde not here: but in what daye so euer ye haue buried youre mother besyde me, gett you from hence. For I se, that the wickednes of it shal brynge it to destruccion and ende.

After ye death of his mother, Tobias departed awaye from Niniue, with his wife and children, and with his childers children, & came agayne to his father and mother in lawe, and founde them whole and in a good age, and toke the care of thē. And he closed their eyes, and was heyre vnto all Raguels goodes, and sawe the fifth generacion and childers childrē. And whan he was xcix. yeare of age, he dyed in the feare of the LORDE, and his kynsfolkes buried him. And all his posterite continued in a good life, and holy conuersacion: so that they were loued & accepted both of God and men, and of all the people of the londe.

The ende of the boke of Tobias.
The boke of Iudith. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Of the noble cite Egbathanis. Of Nabuchodonosor the kynge of the Assirians, of his victory and power. Chap. II. The vnsaciable desyre that Nabuchodonosor had to raigne: of his hoost & tyrānye. Chap. III. Dyuerse kynges and prynces yelde themselues for feare. The tyranny of Holofernes and pryde of the kynge. Chap. IIII. The Iewes are afrayed and carefull for Ierusalem and the temple, make their londe strōge, prepare them selues to the battayll, call vpon God, and Eliachim the prest comforteth them. Chap. V. Holofernes taketh indignacion at the children of Israel, because they go aboute to defende them selues. Achior beareth wytnesse to the trueth. Chap. VI. Achior for tellynge the trueth is takē and delyuered vnto the people of the Iewes: vnto whom he telleth all the matter, which moueth the people to crye vpon God. Chap. VII. Holofernes layeth sege to Bethulia. The children of Israel crye vpon God Holofernes taketh the water from them, so that they in the cite haue greate thyrst, and are vnpacient. Osias comforteth them, and appoynteth fyue dayes to the grace of God. Chap. VIII. Iudith reproueth the elders that set a tyme to the mercy of God: she exorteth the people to amēdemēt & to praier, rehearseth the benefites of God, and telleth them hir deuyce. Chap. IX Iudith goeth in to hir oratory, and prayeth feruently vnto God, for the deliueraū ce of hir people. Chap. X. Iudith decketh herself of the best fashiō, taketh hir maydē with her, & goeth forth by night in to Holofernes tent. Chap. XI. Iudith telleth Holofernes the cause of hir cōmynge, which pleaseth him well Chap. XII. Holofernes commaundeth to intreate hir well, and geueth hir liberty to go in and out to hir prayer, maketh a greate supper, byddeth hir to it, and is dronken. Chap. XIII. Iudith seketh oportunite, prayeth vnto God for strēgth, smyteth of the heade of drō ken Holofernes, and bryngeth it in to the cite, where the people reioyse and prayse God. Chap. XIIII. Holofernes heade is stickte vp vpon the walles, the children of Israel fall vpon their enemies, which take their flight. Achior cōmeth in to the nombre of the people of God. Chap. XV. Holofernes hoost are out of their wyttes after his death, the Israelites folowe vpō thē, the other cities of Israel helpe them, they wynne greate spoyles, & cōmēde Iudith. Chap. XVI. Iudith syngeth prayse vnto the LORDE. The people come together vnto Ierusalē to geue thankes and prayse vnto the LORDE How Iudith made hir ende.
The first Chapter.

ARphaxat the kynge of the Medes subdued many people vnto his dominion, & buylded a noble strōge cite, which he called Egbathanis. The walles of it made he of fre stone, foure squared, seuētie cubites hye, and thirtie cubites brode. He made towres therevpon of an hundreth cubites hye. But vpon the foure corners euery syde was twentie fote brode. He made the portes in the heith, like as the towres. This kynge trusted in his mightie hoost, & in his glorious charettes.

So in ye twolft yeare of his raigne it happened, that Nabuchodonosor ye kynge of the Assirians (which raigned in the greate cite of Niniue) fought agaynst Arphaxat, and ouercame hī in ye greate felde called Ragau, besyde Euphrates and Tigris and Iadason in the felde of Erioth the kinge of the Elikes.

Then was the kyngdome of Nabuchodonosor exalted, . Mac. 1. a and his hert was lift vp: and he sent vnto all them that dwelt in Celicia, in Damascus, in Libanus, and vnto the Heithen that dwelt in Carmel and Cedar, and to soch as dwelt in Galile in the greate felde of Eszdrelō, to all them that were in Samaria, and beyonde the water of Iordane vnto Ierusalem and the whole londe of Iesse vnto the mountaynes of Ethiopia. Vnto all these dyd Nabuchodonosor the kynge of ye Assirians sende messaungers. But they all wt one consent wolde not agree vnto him, and sent the messaungers agayne emptie, and put thē awaye without honoure. Then Nabuchodonosor the kynge toke indignaciō at all those londes, and sware by his trone & by his kyngdome, that he wolde be auenged of all these countrees.

The II. Chapter.

IN the xiij. yeare of kynge Nabuchodonosor, vpon the xxij. daye of ye first moneth, it was deuysed in the courte of Nabuchodonosor ye kynge of the Assiriās, that he wolde defende himself. So he called vnto him all ye elders, all his captaynes and men of warre, and shewed them his secrete councell, and tolde them, that his purpose was, to brynge the whole earth vnder his domynion. Now whan they were all content with this sayenge, Nabuchodonosor the kinge called Holofernes the chefe captayne of his warres and saide vnto him: Go thy waye forth agaynst all the kyngdomes of the west and specially agaynst those that haue despysed my commaundement. 〈…〉 Thou shalt spare no realme, all stronge cities shalt thou brynge in subieccion vnto me.

Then Holofernes called together all the captaynes & rulers of all the power in Assiria, and mustred the soudyers vnto the hoost (like as the kynge commaunded him) namely, an hundreth and twētye thousande fightinge men vpon fote, and twolue thousande archers vpon horsebacke. All his ordinaunce sent he before with an innumerable multitude of camels, so that the hoost was well prouyded for with oxen, and small catell, and yt without nombre. He caused corne to be prepared out of all Syria for his hoost. Moch golde and syluer also toke he out of the kynges house. So he toke his iourney, he and all his hoost, with charettes, horsmen, and archers: of whom there were so many, that they couered the grounde of the lande, like the greshoppers.

And whan he was gone past the borders of the Assirians, he came towarde the greate mountaynes of Ange, which lye vpon the left syde of Celicia: and so he wente vp in to all their castels, and wanne euery strōge holde. As for ye welthy cite of Melothus, he brake it downe, & spoyled all the childrē of Tharsis and the Ismaelites, which laye towarde the wyldernes and vpon the south syde of ye londe of Chelon. He wente ouer Euphrates also, and came in to Mesopotamia, and brake downe all the hye cities that were there, from the broke of Mambre tyll a man come to the see: and he toke the borders in from Celicia vnto the coastes of Iaphet towarde the south. He caried awaye all the Madianites, and spoyled all their goodes: & who so euer withstode him, he slew them with the swerde After this he wente downe in to the felde of Damascus in the tyme of haruest, and brent vp all the corne and all the trees, and caused the vynes to be cutt downe. And the feare of him fell vpon all them that dwelt in ye earth

The III. Chapter.

SO the kynges & prynces of all cities & londes sent their Embassitours: namely, they of Syria and Mesopotamia, Syria Sobal & Lybia & Celicia, which came to Holofernes, & sayde: Let thy wrath ceasse towarde vs: It is better for vs to serue the greate kynge Nabuchodonosor with oure lyues, and to be subiecte vnto the, then that we shulde dye and be slayne, and receaue greater hurte. All oure cities and possessions, all mountaynes and hilles, all feldes, greate and small catell, shepe, goates, horses, and camels, all oure goodes and housholdes, be in thy power, vnder thy subieccion be it alltogether. We oure selues also and oure children wylbe thyne owne, come vnto vs a peceable lorde, and vse oure seruyce at thy pleasure.

Then came Holofernes downe from the mountaynes with horsemē & greate power, and conquered all stronge fensed cities, and all that dwelt in the londe. And out of all cities he toke stronge men, & soch as were mere for ye warre, to helpe him. There came soch a feare also vpon those countrees, that the in dwellers of all the cities, the prynces and rulers & the people together, 〈◊〉 . 5. a wēte forth to mete him as he came, & receaued him honorably with garlandes & torches, with daunses, tabrettes and pipes.

Neuertheles though they dyd this, yet might they not swage his rigorous stomak: but he destroyed their cities, & hewed downe their woddes. For Nabuchodonosor the kynge had commaunded him, that he shulde rote out all the goddes of the londe: to ye intent that he onely might be called and taken for God, of the nacions which Holofernes with his power brought vnder him. So wente he thorow Syria Sobal, and thorow all Appamia, and all Mesopotamia, came to the Idumeans in the lōde of Gabaa and Septopoli, and toke their cities, and remayned there thirtie dayes, wherin he caused all the whole multitude of his hoost to be gathered together.

The IIII. Chapter.

WHan the children of Israel yt dwelt in Iewry herde this, they were sore afrayed of him. There came soch tremblinge also and feare vpon them, that they sorowed he shulde do vnto the cite of Ierusalem and the temple of the LORDE, as he had done to other cities & their temples. So they sent in to all Samaria roūde aboute vnto Iericho, toke in and occupied all the toppes of the mountaynes, made fast the townes with walles, and prepared corne for them agaynst the battayll.

Eliachim also ye prest wrote vnto all thē that dwelt towarde Eszdrelon (which lyeth ouer agaynst ye greate felde by Dotha Im) & vnto all those by whom men might haue passage vnto them, that they shulde take in the wayes of the mountaynes, wherby there might be eny waye and passage to Ierusalem, & yt they shulde holde diligent watch, where eny strate waye was betwixte ye moū taynes. And the children of Israel dyd, as Eliachim the prest of the LORDE had commaunded them. And all the people, Eccli. 35. cried earnestly, and humbled their soules with fastinges and prayers, they and their wyues. The prestes put on hayrie clothes, and layed the yonge babes before the temple of the LORDE, and couered the aulter of the LORDE with an hayrie clothe. And with one acorde cried they vnto the LORDE God of Israel, that their children shulde not be geuen in to a pray, and their wyues in to a spoyle, yt their cities shulde not be layed waist, & yt their Sanctuary shulde not be vnhalowed, and so they to be a shame and rebuke vnto the Heithen.

Then Eliachim the hye prest of the LORDE wente rounde aboute all Israel, and spake vnto them, sayenge: Be ye sure, yt the LORDE wil heare youre peticions, yf ye cōtynue stedfast in fastinges and prayers in ye sight of the LORDE. Remembre Moses the seruaunte of the LORDE, Exo. 17. which ouerthrew ye Amalechites (that trusted in their might & power, in their hoost, in their shildes, in their charettes & horsmen) not with weapens, but with holy prayers. Euen so shal all the enemies of Israel be, yf ye contynue in this worke, that ye haue begonne. So vpon this exortacion they contynued in prayer before the LORDE: In so moch that they which offred brent sacrifices vnto the LORDE, ffred the offringes vnto ye LORDE, beynge arayed in hayrie clothes, and had aszshes vpon their heades. And they all besought God from their whole hert, yt he wolde vyset his people of Israel.

The V. Chapter.

ANd worde came to Holofernes the prynce of the warres of the Assyriās, yt the childrē of Israel prepared them selues to make resistaunce & how they had stopped the wa es betwixte the mountaynes. Then was he exceadinge wroth & called all the prynces of Moab, & the captaines of Ammon, & sayde vnto them: Tell me, what people is this, yt kepeth in the moūtaynes? Or what maner of cities are they? What is their power? Or what maner of hoost haue they? Who is their captayne? And why do they despyse vs (more then all those that dwell in the east) and come not forth to mete vs, Iudit. . b yt they might receaue vs with peace?

Iudit. 11. b Then Achior the captayne of all the Ammonites answered, and sayde: Syr, yf it please the to heare me, I wil tell the trueth before the concernynge this people that dwell in the mountaynes, and there shal no lye go out of my mouth.

This people is of the generacion of the Caldees, Gen. 11. d they dwelt first in Mesopotamia, for they wolde not folowe ye goddes of their fathers that were in the londe of the Caldees, & so forsoke they the customes of their forefathers (which had many goddes) and worshipped one God, that made heauē and earth: which also commaunded them that they shulde go from thence, and dwell at Haran. Gen. 41. g nd 46. a Exodi 1. a nd 12. f Galat. 3. c Now whan there came a derth in to ye whole londe, they wente downe to Egipte, & there they dwelt foure hundreth yeares, in ye which they multiplied so greatly, that their hoost might not be nombred. And whan the kynge of Egipte oppressed them, xodi 1. b nd 5. b and subdued thē in buyldinge of his cities with makynge of claye & brick, they cried vnto God their LORDE, which punyshed the whole londe of Egipte with dyuerse plages.

Now whan the kynge of Egipte let thē go their waye, xo. 12. c nd 14. b & the plage ceassed, & then folowed after thē, to take thē, & to brynge thē agayne in to his seruyce, whyle they were flyenge awaye, the God of heauē opened ye see, so yt the waters stode fast vpon both the sydes as a wall, & these wente thorow the botome of the see drye shod, In the which place whā an innumerable people of the Egipcians folowed vpon them, they were so ouerwhelmed with the waters, that there remayned not one, to tell thē that came after, how it happened.

So whan this people was passed thorow the reed see, they came in to the wildernes of the mount Synai, where neuer man might dwell afore, & where the sonne of mā had neuer rested. xo. 15. d xo. 1 . f eut. 8. a There were ye bytter waters made swete for thē, that they might drynke, & xl. yeares had they meate from heauē. Where so euer they wente (without bowe & arowe, without bukler or swerde) their God fought for thē, & caused thē to haue the victory. Yee no man was able to hurte this people, excepte it were so, yt they departed vnfaithfully from ye worshippinge of the LORDE their God. 〈…〉 But as oft as they worshipped eny other besyde their God, he gaue them ouer to be spoyled, to be slayne, & to be put to confucion. Neuertheles as oft as they were sory for departynge from the worshipe of their God, the same God of heauen gaue them power & strēgth to withstōde their enemies.

Morouer they slew the kynge of the Cananites, Iebusites, Pherezites, Ethites, Eu tes & Amorites, & all ye mightie in Hesebon, 〈…〉 & toke their lōdes & cities in possession: and so longe as they synned not in ye sight of their God, it wēte well with them, for their God hateth vnrighteousnesse. For in tymes past whan they wente out of ye waye, 〈…〉 which God had geuen them, yt they shulde walke in it, they were destroyed in dyuerse battayles of many nacions, & many of them were caried awaye presoners into a straūge coūtre. But now lately they haue turned thēselues agayne vnto the LORDE their God, 〈…〉 & are come together agayne out of the countrees where they were scatred abrode: and thus haue they cōquered these mountaynes & dwell therin: & as for Ierusalem where their Sanctuary is, they haue it againe in possession.

And therfore my lorde, make diligēt inquisicion, yf this people haue done wickednesse in the sight of their God, then let vs go vp agaynst them, for doutles their God shal delyuer them in to thy handes, & subdue them vnto yt power. But yf this people haue not displeased their God, we shal not be able to withstande them, 〈…〉 for their God shal defende thē, & so shall we be a shame to all ye worlde.

Now whan Achior had spoken out these wordes, all the prynces of Holofernes were wroth, & thought to slaye him, & sayde one to another: what is he this, which darre saie, yt ye childrē of Israel are able to withstōde Nabuchodonosor the kynge & his hoost? where as they are an vnwapened people, without strēgth or vnderstōdinge of ye fettes of warre? That Achior therfore maye knowe, yt he hath disceaued vs, we wil go vp in to ye moū taynes: & whan the mightie men of thē are taken, he also shalbe stickte with the swerde, yt all people maye knowe, that Nabuchodonosor is the God of the earth, and that there is none other without him.

The VI. Chapter.

SO whan they had left of speakinge, Holofernes toke sore indignacion, & sayde vnto Achior. For so moch as thou hast prophecied vnto vs, sayenge: 〈…〉 that the people of Israel shalbe defended of their God, I will shew the, that there is no God but Nabuchodonosor. Yee whan we slaye them all as one man, 〈…〉 thou also shalt perish with them thorow the swerde of the Assirians, & all Israel shal be destroyed with the, & thē shalt thou fele, that Nabuchodonosor is the LORDE of the whole earth. Thē shal the swerde of my knyghthode go thorow ye sydes, & thou shalt fall downe stickte amonge the wounded of Israel, & shalt not come to thy self agayne, but be vtterly destroyed with thē. But yf thou thynkest thy prophecy to be true, why dost thou then chaunge thy coloure? why art thou afrayed? Thynkest thou that my wordes are not able to be perfourmed? But that thou mayest knowe, that thou shalt fele these thinges with thē, beholde, from this houre forth wyll I sende the vnto yonder people, that whan the punyshment of my swerde (which they haue worthely deserued) falleth vpon them, thou mayest be punyshed with them.

So Holofernes cōmaunded his seruauntes to take Achior, & to cary him vnto Bethulia, and to delyuer him in to the handes of the children of Israel. Then Holofernes seruaūtes toke him, & wēte thorow the playne felde. But whan they drew nye vnto the mountaynes, the slynge casters came out agaynst them: Neuertheles they gat them awaye by the syde of the mountayne, & bounde Achior hand & fote to a tre, & so left him bounde with wythies, & turned agayne vnto their lorde.

Notwithstōdinge the children of Israel wente downe frō Bethulia, came vnto him, lowsed him, brought him to Bethulia, set him in the myddest of the people, and axed him what the matter was, that the Assiriās had left him bounde.

Osias the sonne of Micha of the trybe of Symeon, & Charmim (which is also called Gothoniel) were the pryncipall rulers at the same tyme. Now whan Achior stode in the myddest of the Senatours, & before thē all, he tolde them, 〈◊〉 . 5. b what answere he gaue Holofernes, to the thinge that he axed him, and how Holofernes people wolde haue slayne him for so sayenge, & how Holofernes himself was wroth, & cōmaunded him for the same cause to be delyuered vnto ye Israelites: that whan he ouer came the childrē of Israel he might commaunde Achior also to be put to death with dyuerse tormentes, because he sayde: 〈◊〉 . 5. f the God of heauen is their defender.

And whā Achior had playnely tolde out all these thinges, all the people fell downe vpon their faces, praysinge the LORDE, and poured out their prayers together vnto the LORDE, with a generall complaynte & wepynge, & sayde: O LORDE God of heauen & earth, beholde their pryde, & loke vpon oure lowlynes, & cōsidre how it standeth with thy sayntes, & make it to be knowne, yt thou forsakest not those, which holde them fast by the, & how yt thou bringest thē lowe, yt presume of thē selues, & make their boast in their owne strength. So whan the wepinge and prayer of the people (which they had made the whole daye longe) was ended, they cōforted Achior, sayēge: the God of oure fathers, whose power & strength thou hast praysed, shall so rewarde the, yt thou shalt rather se their destruccion. Whan ye LORDE or God then shall geue his seruauntes this liberte, God be with the also amonge vs: so yt yf it please yt, thou wt thyne mayest dwell wt vs.

Now whan Osias had ended the councell, he toke him in to his house, and made a greate supper, called all the elders to it, & so they refreszshed them selues after the fastinge. And afterwarde was all the people called together, which made their prayers all the night longe in the congregacion, and be sought the God of Israel for helpe.

The VII. Chapter.

THe next daye Holofernes commaunded his hoost, to go vp agaynst Bethulia. Iudit. 2. There were an C. & xx. thousande fightinge men on fote, & two & twentie thousande horsmē, besyde the preparynge of them yt were wonne, & came to them on euery syde out of the countrees & cities which he had takē. All these prepared them selues vnto the battayll agaynst the Israelites, and came on by the hyll syde, vnto the topp that loketh ouer agaynst Dothaim, from the place which is called Belma, vnto Chelmon yt lyeth towarde Eszdrelon.

Now whan the childrē of Israel sawe so greate a multitude of the Assirians, they fell downe flat vpon ye grounde, strowed aszshes vpon their heades, & prayed wt one acorde, yt the God of Israel wolde shew his mercy vpon his people. And so they toke their weapens, & sat betwixte the mountaynes in ye narow place, & kepte the waye daye & night. But whyle Holofernes was goinge aboute, he founde the water springe, which from the south syde was conueyed in to the cite by a condyte: this cōmaunded he to be directe another waye, & to cut their condite in sunder. There were welles also not farre from the walles, which they vsed secretly, more for pleasure then for necessite.

Then wente the Ammonites & the Moabites vnto Holofernes, and sayde: The children of Israel trust nether in speare ner arowe, but haue taken in, and kepe the mountaynes and hilles. That thou mayest ouercome them therfore without ye strykynge of eny battayll, sett mē to kepe the welles, that they drawe no water out of them: so shalt thou destroye thē without swerde, or at the least they shall be so feble, that they must be fayne to geue ouer the cite, which they thinke not able to be wōne, for so moch as it lieth in the moūtaynes. These wordes pleased Holofernes well and all his men of warre, and he set an hundreth men at euery well rounde aboute. Iudit. 16. a

And whan this watch had endured twentye dayes, the Cisternes and all that had water, fayled them that dwelt in the cite of Bethulia, so that in ye whole cite they had not drynke ynough for one daye, for the people had water geuen them daylie in a measure. Then came the men and women, yonge personnes and children all vnto Osias, and sayde all with one voyce: Exo. 17. a God be iudge betwixte vs and the, for thou hast dealt euell with vs: thou woldest not speake peaceably with the kynge of the Assirians, therfore hath God solde vs in their handes, and there is no man to helpe vs, where as we are brought downe before their eyes in thirst and greate destruccion. Therfore gather now together all the people that be in the cite, that we maye all yelde oure selues wyllingly vnto ye people of Holofernes: for better it is yt we be captyue and prayse the LORDE with oure lyues, then to be slayne and perishe, and to be laughed to scorne & shamed of euery man whan we se oure wyues and children dye before oure eyes. We take heauen & earth this daye to recorde, and the God of oure fathers (which punysheth vs acordinge to the deseruynge of oure synnes) and geue you warnynge, yt ye geue vp the cite now in to ye power of Holofernes hoost, that oure ende maye be shorte with the swerde, which els shal endure longe for wante of water and for thirst.

Whan they had spokē out these wordes, there was a greate wepynge and howlynge in the whole congregacion, and that of euery man, and they cryed an whole houre longe vnto God with one voice, sayenge: we haue synned with oure fathers, we haue done amysse, sal. 105. a we haue dealt wickedly. Thou yt art gracious, haue mercy vpon vs, punysh oure vnrighteousnes with thine owne scourge, and geue not those ouer that knowlege the, vnto a people which knoweth the not, lest they saye amonge the Heithen: Psal 〈…〉 where is their God?

And whan they were so weery with this crienge and wepynge, that they helde their tunges, Osias stode vp with watrye eyes, and sayde: 〈…〉 O take good hertes vnto you (deare brethren) and be of good cheare, and let vs wayte yet these fyue dayes for mercy of the LORDE: peraduenture he shal cut awaye his indignacion, and geue glory vnto his name. But yf he helpe vs not whan these fyue dayes are past, we shall do as ye haue sayde.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd it happened whan these wordes came to the eares of Iudith a wyddow, which was the daughter of Merari, the sonne of Idox, the sonne of Ioseph, the sonne of Osias, the sonne of Elai, ye sonne of Iammor, the sonne of Iedeon, the sonne of Raphoim, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Melchia, the sonne of Euam, ye sonne of Nathania, the sonne of Salathiel, ye sonne of Symeon, the sonne of Ruben. And hir huszbande was called Manasses, which dyed in the dayes of the barlye haruest. For whyle he was byndinge ye sheeues together in the felde, the heate came vpon his heade, and he dyed at Bethulia his cite, and there was he buried beside his fathers. Now was Iudith his desolate wyddow thre yeares & six monethes. And in the hyer partes of hir house she made hirself a preuy chambre, where she dwelt, beynge closed in with hir maydēs. She ware a smock of hayre, and fasted all the dayes of hir life, excepte the Sabbathes, and new moones & the solempne dayes that the people of Israel kepte. She was a very fayre and beutyfull personne. Hyr husbande also had left her greate riches, a plenteous housholde, greate vnmoueable possessions and many catell. This Iudith was a woman of a very good reporte with euery one, for she feared the LORDE greatly, and there was no body that speake an euell worde of her.

Whā this Iudith herde, how Osias had promised the people, 〈…〉 that after the fyffte daye he wolde geue vp ye cite vnto the Assirians, she sent for the elders Chambri and Charmin: and whan they came to her, she sayde: what thinge is this, wherin Osias hath consented, yt yf God helpe not within fyue dayes, he wil geue ouer the cite to the Assirians? What are ye, that ye tempte the LORDE? This deuyce optayneth no mercy of God, but prouoketh him vnto wrath and displeasure. Wyl ye set the mercy of ye LORDE a tyme, & appoynte him a daye after youre wyll?

Neuertheles for so moch as the LORDE is pacient, let vs rather amende oure selues, pouringe out teares, and besekynge him of grace. 〈…〉 For God threateneth not as a mā, nether wyll he be prouoked vnto wrath as the children of men. And therfore let vs hertely fall downe before him, and serue him with a meke sprete, and with wepynge eyes saye vnto the LORDE, that he deale with vs acordinge to his owne wyll and mercy: that like as oure hert is now vexed, & brought lowe thorow the pryde of them, it maye so be comforted thorow his grace: in so moch as we folowe not the synnes of oure fathers, which forsoke their God, & worshipped other goddes: 〈…〉 for the which synne they perished with the swerde, were spoyled & brought to shame of all their enemies. As for vs, we knowe none other God but onely him, for whose cō forte let vs tary with mekenesse. He shall requyre and make inquisicion for oure bloude, from the vexacions of oure enemies: 〈…〉 he shal brynge downe all the Heithen, that ryse vp agaynst vs, and put them to dishonoure, euē the LORDE oure God.

Therfore deare brethren, seinge ye are the honorable and elders in the people of God, vnto whom all ye people haue respecte, and vpon whom the life of the people stondeth, lift vp their hertes with youre exortacion, yt they maye call to remembraunce, how oure fathers also in tymes past were tempted, 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 32. f yt they might be proued, yf they worshipped their God a right. They ought to remēbre, how oure father Abraham beinge tempted, 〈◊〉 17. a 〈◊〉 1 . a and tryed thorow many tribulacions, was founde a louer and frende of God. So was Isaac, 〈…〉 28. b 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 2. a so was Iacob, so was Moses, and all they that pleased God, beinge tryed thorow many troubles, were foūde stedfast in faith. Agayne, they that receaued not their tentacions with the feare of God, but put thē selues forth with vnpaciency and murmurynge agaynst God, 〈◊〉 11. a 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 1 . a perished of the destroyer, and were slayne of serpentes. And therfore shulde not we vndertake to be auenged, for the thinge that is done vnto vs: but to considre, that all these punyshmentes are farre lesse then oure synnes & myszdedes: Beleuynge also, that this correccion commeth vnto vs (as to the seruauntes of God) for amendment, om. 5. d and not for oure destruccion.

Then sayde Osias & the elders vnto Iudith: All that thou speakest, is true, and no mā can reproue ye wordes. Praie thou for vs now therfore vnto God, for thou art an holy womā, and fearest God. And Iudith sayde vnto them: Seynge ye knowe,1. cor. 14. d 1. Ioh. 4. a 1. Tess. 5. c that my wordes are of God, then proue my councell and deuice, yf it be of God: and beseke God, that he wyll brynge my councell to a good ende.

Thus haue I deuysed: Iudit. 10. b Ye shal stōde this night before the porte, and I wyll go forth with Abra my maydē: Praye ye therfore vnto God, that he wyl graciously remēbre his people of Israel within fyue daies, as ye haue sayde. As for the thinge that I go in hande withall, axe ye no questions of it, tyll Iopen it vnto you myself: do ye nothinge els, but praye vnto the LORDE youre God for me. Then Osias the prynce of the people of Iuda sayde vnto her: Go thy waye in peace, the LORDE be with the, that we maye be auenged of oure enemies, And so they wente from her agayne.

The IX. Chapter.

NOw whā they were gone their way, Iudith wente in to hir oratory, put on an hayrie smock, strowed aszhes vpon hir heade, fell downe before the LORDE, and cryed vnto him, sayenge: O LORDE God of my father Symeon, Gen. 34. which gauest him a swerde for a defence agaynst the enemies, that vsed violence and wilfulnes, and that rauyshed ye vyrgin and put her to dishonesty. Thou that gauest their wiues in to a praye, and their daughters in to captiuyte, and all their praye for a spoyle vnto thy seruauntes, which bare a zele vnto the, helpe me wyddow, O LORDE my God, I beseke ye. For thou hast done all thinges from the begynnynge, and loke what thou hast taken in hande and deuysed, it came euer to passe. For all thy wayes are prepared, & thy iudgmentes are done in thy euerlastinge fore knowlege. O loke now vpon the armyes of the Assirians, like as it was thy pleasure somtyme to loke vpon the hoost of the Egipcians, whan they beynge weapened, Exo. 14. persecuted thy seruauntes, & put their trust in their charettes, horsmen, and in the multitude of their men of warre. But thou lokedest vpon their hoost, castinge a thick darcknes before them: and whan they came in to the depe, the waters ouerwhelmed them.

Euē so LORDE let it go with these, that trust in ye power and multitude of their men of warre, Psal. 45. b in their charettes, arowes & speares, and knowe not, that thou onely art oure God, which destroyest warres from the begynnynge, and that thou art the LORDE. O lift vp thine arme now like as euer from ye begynnynge, and in thy power brynge their power to naught, cause their might to fall in thy wrath. They make their boast, yt they wyl vnhalowe and defyle thy Sanctuary, and to waist the tabernacle of ye name, and to cast downe the horne of thine aulter with their swerde. Brynge to passe (O LORDE) yt the pryde of the enemye maye be cut downe with his owne swerde: that he maie be taken with the snare of his eyes in me, and yt thou mayest smyte him with the lippes of my loue. O geue me a stedfast mynde, that I maye despyse him and his strength, and that I maye destroye him.

This shal brynge thy name an euerlastinge remēbraunce, udic. 4. d and 5. d . Par. 14. c 16. b. 20. a udic. 7. a Psal. 146. b yf the hande of a woman ouerthrowe him. For thy power (O LORDE) stondeth not in ye power of men, nether hast thou eny pleasure in the strēgth of horses. There was neuer proude personne that pleased the, but in the prayer of the humble and meke hath thy pleasure bene euermore.

O thou God of the heauens, thou maker of the waters, and LORDE of all creatures, heare me poore woman, callynge vpon the, and puttynge my trust in thy mercy. Remembre thy couenaunt O LORDE, ccli. 36. a and mynister wordes in my mouth, & stablysh this deuyce in my hert, that thy house maye contynue still in holynes, and that all the Heithen maye knowe and vnderstōde, that thou art God, and that there is none other but thou.

The X. Chapter.

ANd whan she had left of cryenge vnto the LORDE, she rose vp from the place, where she had lyen flat before the LORDE, and called hir mayde, wente downe in to hir house, layed ye hayrie cloth from her, udit. 16. b put of the garmentes of hir wyddowhode, waszshed hir body, anoynted hir self with precious thinges of swete sauoure, broyded and plated hir hayre, sett an hooue vpon hir heade, and put on soch apparell as belongeth vnto gladnesse, slippers vpon hir fete, armelettes, spanges, earynges, fynger rynges, and deckte herself with all hir best araye.

The LORDE gaue her also a speciall beutye and fayrnesse (for all this deckinge of hir self was not done for eny volupteousnesse and pleasure of the flesh, but of a right discrecion and vertue, therfore dyd the LORDE increase hir bewtye) so yt she was exceadinge amyable and welfauoured in all mens eyes. She gaue hir mayde also a bottell of wyne, a pot with oyle, pottage, cakes, bred & chese, and wente hir waye.

Now whan she came to the porte of the cite, she founde Osias and the elders of the cite waitinge there. Which whan they sawe her, they were astonnyed, & marueled greatly at her bewty, neuertheles they axed no question at her, but let her go, sayenge: The God of oure fathers geue ye his grace, and with his power perfourme all the deuyce of thy hert: that Ierusalem maye reioyse ouer the, and that thy name maye be in the nombre of the holy & righteous. And all they yt were there, sayde wt one voyce: so be it, so be it. Iudith made hir prayer vnto ye LORDE, & wente out at ye porte, she & hir mayde.

And as she was goinge downe the mountayne, it happened that aboute the sprynge of the daye, the spyes of ye Assirians met wt her, and toke her, sayenge: whence commest thou? Or whither goest thou? She answered: I am a daughter of ye Hebrues, and am fled from them, for I knowe, that they shalbe geuē vnto you to be spoyled: because they thought scorne to yelde thē selues vnto you, that they might fynde mercy in youre sight. Therfore haue I deuysed by my self after this maner: I wyll go before the prynce Holofernes, and tell him all their secretes, and wyll shew him, how he maye come by them, and wynne them, so that not one man of his hoost shall perish.

And whan these men had herde hir wordes, & considered hir fayre face, they were astonnyed (for they wondred at hir excellent bewtye) & sayde vnto her: Thou hast saued ye life by fyndinge out this deuyce, yt thou woldest come downe to or lorde: & be thou sure, that whā thou cōmest vnto him, he shal intreate the well, & thou shalt please him at ye hert. So they brought her in to Holofernes pauylion, and tolde him of her. Now whan she came in before him, immediatly he was ouercome & taken with hir bewtye. Then saide his seruauntes: who wolde despyse ye people of ye Iewes, yt haue so fayre wemē? Shulde we not by reason fight against thē for these? So whā Iudith sawe Holofernes syttinge in a canapye, yt was wrought of purple, sylke, golde, Smaragde and precious stones, she loked fast vpō him, & fell downe vpō the earth. And Holofernes seruaūtes toke hir vp agayne, at their lordes commmaundement.

The XI. Chapter.

THen sayde Holofernes vnto her: Be of good chere, and feare not in thine hert, for I neuer hurte man, that wolde serue Nabuchodonosor the kynge. As for thy people, yf they had not despysed me, I shulde not haue lift vp a speare agaynst thē. But tell me now, what is the cause yt thou art departed from them, and wherfore art thou come vnto vs?

And Iudith sayde vnto him: Syr, vnder stonde the wordes of thy handmayden: for yf thou wilt do after ye wordes of thy hādmayden, the LORDE shall brynge thy matter to a prosperous effecte. As truly as Nabuchodonosor a lorde of the londe lyueth, & as truly as his power lyueth, which is in the to the punyshment of all men that go wronge, all men shall not onely be subdued vnto him thorow the, but all the beestes also of ye felde. For all people speake of thy prudēt actiuyte, and it hath euer bene reported, how thou onely art good and mightie in all his kyngdome, and thy discrecion is commēded in all londes.

The thinge is manifest also, that Achior spake, 〈◊〉 . 5 a and it is wel knowne, what thou commaūdedst to do vnto him. For this is plaine and of a suretye, that oure God is so wroth with vs (by the reason of oure synnes) that he hath shewed by his prophetes vnto the people, how that for their synnes he wyl delyuer them ouer vnto the enemie. And for so moch as the children of Israel knowe that they haue so displeased their God, they are sore afrayed of the. They suffre greate honger also, & for wante of water, they are deed now in a maner. Morouer, they are appoynted to slaye all their catell, that they maye drynke the bloude of them: and are purposed to spende all the holy ornamentes of their God (which he hath forbyddē thē to touch) for corne, wyne and oyle. Seinge now that they do these thinges, it is a playne case, yt they must nedes be destroyed. Which whan I thy handmayden perceaued, I fled from them, and the LORDE hath sent me vnto ye, to shew the these thinges. For I thy handmayden worshipe God euen here now besyde the, and thy honde mayden shal go forth, and I wil make my praier vnto God, and he shal tell me, whan he wyl rewarde thē their synne: then shal I come and shew the, & brynge the thorow the myddest of Ierusalem, so that thou shalt haue all ye people of Israel, as the shepe without a shepherde: there shal not so moch as one dogg barck agaynst the, for these thinges are shewed me by the prouydence of God: and for so moch as God is displeased with them, he hath sent me to tell the the same.

These wordes pleased Holofernes and all his seruauntes, which marueled at the wysdome of her, and sayde one to another: there is not soch a woman vpon earth, in bewtye and discrecion of wordes. And Holofernes sayde vnto her: God hath done well, that he hath sent the hither before thy people, that thou mayest geue them into oure handes. And for so moch as ye promyse is good, yf thy God perfourme it vnto me, he shall be my God also, and thou shalt be excellent and greate in the courte of Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shalbe spoken of in all the londe.

The XII. Chapter.

THen commaunded he her to go in, where his treasure laye, and charged that she shulde haue hyr dwellynge there, and appoynted, what shulde be geuen her frō his table. Iudith answered him, and sayde: Gen. 34. f As for the meate that thou hast commaunded to geue me, I maye not eate of it as now (lest I displease my God) but wyl eate of soch as I haue brought with me. Then sayde Holofernes vnto her: Yf these thinges that thou hast brought with the fayle, what shal we do vnto the? And Iudith sayde: As truly as thou lyuest my lorde, thy hande mayden shall not spende all this, tyll God haue brought to passe in my hande, the thinges that I haue deuysed.

So his seruauntes brought her in to the tent, where as he had appointed. And as she was goinge in, she desyred that she might haue leue to go forth by night & before daye, to hir prayer and to make intercession vnto the LORDE. Then commaunded Holofernes his chamberlaynes, that she shulde go out and in at hir pleasure, to praye vnto hir God those thre dayes.

And so in the night season she wēte forth in to the valley of Bethulia, and wasszhed hirself in the wellwater. Then wente she vp, and besought the LORDE God of Israel that he wolde prospere hir waye, for the delyueraunce of his people. And so she wente in, and remayned cleane in hir tent, till she toke hir meate in the euenynge.

Vpon ye fourth daye it happened, yt Holofernes made a costly supper vnto his seruaū tes, and sayde vnto Vagao his chamberlayne: Go yi waye, and councell this Hebruesse, that she maye be wyllynge to consent to kepe company with me. For it were a shame vnto all the Assirians, that a woman shulde so laugh a man to scorne, that she were come from him vnmedled withall.

Then wente Vagao vnto Iudith, and sayde: Let not the good daughter be afrayed, to come in to my lorde, that she maye be honoured before him, that she maye eate and drynke wyne, and be mery with him. Vnto whom Iudith answered: Who am I, that I shulde saye my lorde naye? what so euer is good before his eyes, I shal do it: and loke what is his pleasure, that shal I thinke well done, as longe as I lyue.

So she stode vp, and deckte hirself with hir apparell, and wente in, and stode before him. And Holofernes hert was whole moued, so that he brent in desyre towarde her. And Holofernes sayde vnto her: drynke now and sytt downe, and be mery, for thou hast founde fauoure before me. Then sayde Iudith: Syr, I wil drynke, for my mynde is meryer to daye, then euer it was in all my life. And she toke and ate and dranke before him, the thinges that hir mayden had prepared for her. And Holofernes was mery wt her, and dranke more wyne, then euer he dyd afore in his life.

The XIII. Chapter.

NOw whan it was late in the night, his seruauntes made haist, euery mā to his lodginge. And Vagao shutt the chamber dores, and wente his waye, for they were all ouerladen with wyne. ccli. 31. c So was Iudith alone in the chamber. As for Holofernes, he laye vpon the bed all droncken, and of very dronkennes fell a slepe.

Then commaunded Iudith hir mayden, to stōde without before the dore, and to wayte. And Iudith stode before the bed, makynge hir prayer with teares, and moued hir lippes secretly, and sayde. Strength me O LORDE God of Israel, and haue respecte vnto the workes of my handes in this houre, that thou mayest set vp thy cite of Ierusalem, like as thou hast promysed: O graunte that by the I maye perfourme the thinge, which I haue deuysed thorow the beleue that I haue in the.

And whan she had spoken this, she wente to the bedsteade, and lowsed the swerde that hanged vpon it, and drew it out. Then toke she holde of the hairie lockes of his heade, and sayde: Strength me o LORDE God in this houre, and with that, she gaue him two strokes vpon the neck, and smote of his heade. Then toke she the canapy awaye, and rolled the deed body asyde. Immediatly she gat her forth, and delyuered the head of Holofernes vnto hir mayden, and bad hir put it in hir walett.

And so these two wente forth together after their custome, as though they wolde praye, and so passed by the hoost, and came thorow the valley vnto the porte of the cite. And Iudith cried a farre of vnto ye watch men vpon the walles: Open the gates (sayde she) for God is with vs, which hath shewed his power in Israel. And whan they herde hir voyce, they called the elders of the cite together. And they came all to mete her, litle & greate, yonge & olde, for they thought not that she shulde haue come so soone. So they lighted candels, and gathered aboute hir euaerichone: but she wente vp into an hye place, and caused sylence to be proclamed.

Whan euery man now helde his tonge, Iudith sayde: O prayse the LORDE oure God, for he hath not despysed, ner forsaken them, that put their trust in him: and in me his honde mayden he hath perfourmed his mercy, which he promysed vnto the house of Israel: yee in my hāde this same night hath he slayne the enemy of his people.

And with that she toke forth the heade of Holofernes out of the walett, and shewed it them, sayenge: Beholde the heade of Holofernes the captayne of the Assiriās, and this is the canapy, wherin he laye in his dronkennes: where the LORDE oure God hath slayne him by the hande of a woman.

But as truly as the LORDE lyueth, his angell hath kepte me, goinge thither, remayninge there, and commynge hither agayne from thence. And the LORDE hath not suffred me his handmayden to be defyled, but without eny fylthynes of synne hath he brought me agayne vnto you: & yt with greate victory, so that I am escaped, and ye delyuered. O geue thankes vnto him euerychone, 〈…〉 for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for euer.

So they praysed the LORDE alltogether, and gaue thākes vnto him. And to her they sayde: The LORDE hath blessed the in his power, for thorow the he hath brought oure enemies to naught.

And Ozias ye chefe ruler of the people of Israel, sayde vnto her: Blessed art thou of the LORDE the hye God, aboue all wemen vpon earth.

Blessed be the LORDE the maker of heauen and earth, which hath gyded ye a right to wounde and to smyte of the heade of the captayne of oure enemies. For this daye he hath made thy name so honorable, that thy prayse shall neuer come out of the mouth of mē, which shal all waye remembre ye power of the LORDE: seinge thou hast not spared thine owne self, but put the in ieoperdy, consideringe the anguysh and trouble of thy people, and so hast helped their fall before God or LORDE. And all the people sayde: Amē, Amen.

Achior also was called, & he came. Then sayde Iudith vnto him: The God of Israel vnto whō thou gauest wytnes, that he wolde be auenged of his enemies, euen he hath this night thorow my hande smyttē of the head of all the vnfaithfull. And that thou mayest se that it so is, beholde, this is ye heade of Holofernes, which in his presumptuous pryde despysed the God of the people of Israel, and threatened ye with destruccion, sayenge: whan the people of Israel is takē, I shall cause the also to be stickte with the swerde. 〈◊〉 16. a Whan Achior sawe Holofernes heade he fell downe vpon his face to the grounde for very anguish & feare, so yt he swowned with all. But after that he was come agayne to himself, he fell downe before her & praysed her, sayēge: Blessed art thou of thy God in all the tabernacles of Iacob: for all the people that heare of thy name, shall prayse the God of Israel because of the.

The XIIII. Chapter.

IVdith saide vnto all the people: Brethren heare me, Styck vp this heade vpon oure walles, and whan the Sonne aryseth, take euery man his weapen, and fall out violently: not as though ye wolde go besyde them, but to renne vpon them with violence. Whan the spyes in the tētes se this, they shall of necessite be cōpelled to fle bacwarde, and to rayse vp their captayne to the battayll. So whā their captaynes come in to Holofernes pauylion, and fynde the deed body wrapped in the bloude, fearfulnes shall fall vpon them: and whan ye perceaue that they fle, folowe them without all care, for God shal delyuer them vnto you to be destroyed.

Then Achior seynge the power of God which he had shewed vnto the people of Israel, fell of from his Heithenish beleue, and put his trust in God, and let him self be circumcided: and so was he nombred amonge the people of Israel, he and all his posterite vnto this daye.

Now as soone as it was daye, they stickte vp Holofernes heade vpon the walles, and euery man toke his weapen, and so they wente out with an horrible crye. Whan the spyes sawe that, they ranne vnto Holofernes tent. And they that were within the tēt, came before his chamber, and made a greate russzhinge to wake him vp, because they thought with the noyse to haue raised him. For there durst not one of the Assirians knocke, go in, ner to open.

But whan the captaynes and prynces and all the chefe in the kynge of the Assirians hoost came together, they saide vnto the chamberlaynes: Go youre waye in, and wake him vp, for the myse are crepte out of their holes, and darre prouoke vs vnto battayll.1. Re. 14.

Then wente Vagao in to his chamber, stode before the bed, and clapped with his handes, for he thought he had bene slepynge with Iudith.

But whā he had herkened perfectly with his eares, and coude perceaue no sterynge, he wente nyer to the bed, and lift it vp, and then sawe he the deed body of Holofernes lyenge there without a heade, weltred in his bloude vpon the earth. Then cried he with loude voyce, and with wepynge rent his clothes, and wente in to Iudiths tent, and founde her not: And so he leapte out vnto the people, and sayde: one womā of ye Iewes, hath brought all Nabuchodonosors people to shame. For lo, Holofernes lyeth vpō the grounde, and hath no heade.

Whan the chefe of the assirians hoost herde that, they rente their clothes, and there fell an intollerable feare and tremblinge vpō them, so yt theyr myndes were sore afrayed. And there was an exceadynge greate crye in the whole hoost.

The XV. Chapter.

NOw whan all the hoost herde that Holofernes was headed, their mynde and councell fell from them: and soch a feare came vpon them, that they vndertoke to defende themselues by flyenge awaye: one spake not to another, but hanged downe their heades, left all behynde them, and made haist to escape from the Hebrues: for they herde, that they were haistinge to come after with their weapens, and so they fled by the wayes of the feldes, and thorow all the fote pathes of the dales.

And whan ye children of Israel sawe that they fled, they folowed vpon them, and wente downe with trōpettes, blowinge and makynge a greate crie after thē. As for the Assirians, they had no ordre, and kepte not thē selues together, but fled their waye. Neuerthelesse the children of Israel fell vpon them with one company and ordre, and discomfited as many as they might gett. And Osias sent messaungers vnto all the cities and coūtrees of Israel.

So all the regions and euery cite sent out their best men after them in harnesse, & smote them with the swerde, tyll they came to ye vttemost parte of their borders. And the other that were in Bethulia came into the tē tes of the Assirians, and toke all that they which were fled, had left behynde them, and so they founde greate good. And they that came agayne to Bethulia from the battayll, toke with them soch thinges as had bene theirs: there was no nōbre of the catell, and of all costly Iewels, so that from the lowest vnto the hyest, they were all made riche of the spoyles of them. And Ioachim the Hye prest at Ierusalē, came to Bethulia with all the elders, that they might se Iudith.

Now whan she came out vnto them, they beganne all to prayse her with one voyce, sayenge: thou worshipe of the cite of Ierusalem, thou ioye of Israel, thou honor of oure people, thou hast done manly, and thy hert is comforted, because thou hast loued clenlynes and chastyte, & hast knowne no man but thine owne huszbande: therfore hath the hā de of the LORDE comforted the, and blessed shalt thou be for euer. And all people sayde: so be it, so be it.

In thirtie dayes coude the people of Israel scarse gather vp the spoyles of the Assirians. But all that belonged vnto Holofernes, and had bene his specially, (whether it were of golde, of syluer, precious stones, clothinge and all ornamentes) they gaue it vnto Iudith. And all the people reioysed, both wemen, maydens, and yonge people, with pipes and harpes.

The XVI. Chapter.

THen sange Iudith this songe vnto the LORDE: Begynne vnto the LORDE vpon the tabrettes, singe vnto the LORDE vpon the cymbals. O synge vnto him a new songe of thankesgeuynge, be ioyfull and call vpon his name. Psal. 〈…〉 It is the LORDE that destroyeth warres, euen the LORDE is his name. Which hath pitched his tentes in the myddest of his people, that he might delyuer vs from the hande of all oure enemies. Assur came out of the mountaynes in the multitude of his strength. His people stopped the water brokes, 〈…〉 and their horses couered the valleys. He purposed to haue brēt vp my londe, and to slaye my yonge men with the swerde.

He wolde haue caryed awaye my children and virgins in to captiuyte, but the allmightie LORDE hurte him, and delyuered him in to the handes of a woman, which brought him to confucion. For their mightie was not destroyed of the yonge men. It was not the sonnes of Titan that slew him, nether haue the greate giauntes sett them selues agaynst him: but Iudith the daughter of Merari wt hir fayre bewtye hath discomfited him, and brought him to naught. 〈…〉 For she layed awaie h r widdowes garment, and put on the appared of gladnesse in the reioysinge of the children of Israel. She anoynted hir face, and bounde vp hir hayre in an hooue, to begyle him. Hir slippers rauyshed his eyes, hir bewtye captyuated his mynde, 〈…〉 with the swerde smote she of his neck. The Persians were astonnyed at hir sted fastnesse, and the Medes at hir boldnes. Then howled the armyes of ye Assirians, whan my symple appeared, drye of thyrst. The sonnes of the daughters haue pearsed them thorow, and slayne them as fugityue childrē: they peryshed in the battayll, for the very feare of the LORDE my God. Let vs synge a songe of thākesgeuynge vnto the LORDE, a new songe of prayse wyl we synge vnto oure God. LORDE, LORDE, thou art a greate God, mightie in power, whom no man maye ouercome. All thy creatures shulde serue the, for thou spakest but the worde, 〈…〉 & they were made: thou sente thy sprete, & they were created, and no man maye withstonde thy voyce. The mountaynes shal moue from the foundacions with the waters, the stony rockes shal melt before the like waxe. But they that feare the, shal be greate with ye in all thinges. Wo vnto the people that ryse vp against my generacion, for the allmightie LORDE wyll auenge him self of them, & in the daye of iudgmēt wyl he vyset them. For he shall geue fyre & wormes in to their flesh, that they maye burne and fele it for euermore.

After this it happened, that after the victory all the people came to Ierusalem, to geue prayse and thankes vnto the LORDE. And whā they were purified, they offred all their brent sacrifices and their promysed offerynges. And Iudith offred all Holofernes weap ns, and all the Iewels, that ye people had geuē her, 〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 . 13 b and the canapy that she toke from his bed, and hanged them vp vnto the LORDE. The people was ioyfull, as the vse is: & this ioye by reason of the victory, with Iudith, endured thre monethes.

So after these dayes euery man wente home agayne, and Iudith was in greate reputacion at Bethulia, and right honorably taken in all the londe of Israel. Vnto hir vertue also was chastite ioyned, so yt after hir huszbonde Manasses dyed, she neuer knew man all the dayes of hir life. Vpon the hye solempne dayes she wente out with greate worshipe. She dwelt in hir huszbandes house an hundreth and fyue yeare, & left hir hond mayden fre, and dyed, and was buried besyde hir huszbande in Bethulia. And all the people mourned for her seuen dayes. 〈…〉 So longe as she lyued, there was none that troubled Israel, and many yeares also after hir death.

The daye wherin this victory was gotten, was solemply holden, and rekened of the Iewes in the nombre of the holy dayes, and is yet greatly holden of the Iewes euer sence, vnto this daye.

The ende of the boke of Iudith.
The chapters in the boke of Hester, which are not founde in the text of the Hebrue, but in the Greke and Latyn.
The XI. Chapter after the Latyn. In this chapter is descrybed the dreame of Mardocheus.

MArdocheus the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Semei, 〈…〉 ye sonne of Cisei of ye trybe of Ben Iamin a Iew: which had his dwelllynge in Susis, a man of greate reputaciō, & excellent amonge all them that were in the kynges courte (Neuerthelesse he was one of the presoners,4. Reg. 24 d Iere. 24. a whom Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilō had caried awaye from Ierusalem vnto Babilon wt Iechonias the kynge of Iuda.) In the seconde yeare of the raigne of greate Artaxerses in the first daye of ye moneth Nisan, had this Mardocheus soch a dreame: He thought he herde a greate tēpest, horrible thonder clappes, erthquakes, & greate vpror in ye londe: & yt he sawe two greate dragōs, ready to fight one agaīst another. Their crye was greate. At the which roaringe and crye all Heithen were vp, to fight agaynst ye righteous people. And ye same daye was full of darcknes & very vncleare, full of trouble & anguysh, yee a greate fearfulnes was there in all the londe. The righteous were amased, for they feared ye plage & euell yt was deuysed ouer thē, & were at a poynte wt them selues to dye. So they cried vnto God. and while they were cryenge, the litle well grew in to a greate ryuer & in to many waters. And with yt it was daye, & the sonne rose vp agayne. And ye lowly were exalted, and deuoured the glorious and proude.

Now whan Mardocheus had sene this dreame, he awoke, and mused stedfastly in his hert, what God wolde do: and so he desyred to knowe all the matter, and his mynde was there vpon vntyll the night.

The XII. Chapter. In this chapter is declared, how Mardocheus vttereth the treason of the two seruauntes agaynst the kynge, and therfore doth the kynge rewarde him.

AT the same tyme dwelt Mardocheus with Bagatha and Thares the kynges chamberlaynes and porters of the palace. But whan he herde their deuyce, and had diligently considered their ymaginacions, he perceaued that they wente aboute, Hest. 2. d and 6. a to laye their cruell handes vpon the kynge Artaxerses: and so he certified the kinge therof. Then caused the kynge to examen ye two gelded with tormentes. And whan they had graunted it, they were put to death.

This the kynge caused to be put in ye Cronicles for an euerlastinge remembraūce, and Mardocheus wrote vp the same matter. So the kynge commaunded, that Mardocheus shulde do seruyce in the courte, and for this faithfulnesse of his, he gaue him a rewarde. But Aman the sonne of Amadathu the Agagite, which was holden in greate honoure and reputacion in the kynges courte, vndertoke to hurte Mardocheus & his people, because of the two chamberlaynes that were put to death.

The XIII. Chapter. The copie of the commaundement, which kīge Artaxerses (by the entisinge of Amā) sent out in to all countres, for the destruccion of the Iewes. The prayer of Mardocheus.

THe greate kynge Artaxerses which raigneth from India vnto Ethiopia, Hest. 1. a and 16. a ouer an hundreth and seuen and twē tye londes, sendeth his frendly salutacion vnto all the prynces and debytes of the countrees, which be subiecte vnto his dominion. Whan I was made lorde ouer many people, and had subdued the whole earth vnto my dominion, my mynde was not with crueltye and wronge to exalte myself by the reason of my power: but purposed wt equyte allwaye and gentylnes, to gouerne those that be vnder my iuriszdiccion, and wholy to set them in a peaceable life, and therby to brynge my kingdome vnto tranquylite, that men might safely go thorow on euery syde, and to renue peace agayne, which all men desyre. Now whan I axed my councelers, how these thines might be brought to a good ende, there was one by vs, excellēt in wyszdome, whose good wyll, trueth & faithfulnes hath oft bene shewed & proued (which was also ye pryncipall & next vnto ye kīge) Amā by name, which certified vs, how yt in all lōdes there was crepte in a rebellious folke, yt made statutes & lawes agaynst all other people, & haue allwaye despysed the proclamed commaundementes of kynges: and how that for this cause it were not to be suffred, that soch rule shulde contynue by you & not to be put downe. Seinge now we perceaue the same, that this people alone are contrary vnto euery man, vsynge straunge and other maner of lawes, & withstonde oure statutes and doinges, and go aboute to stablish shrewd matters, that oure kyngdome shulde neuer come to good estate and stedfastnes: Therfore haue we commaū ded, that all they that are appoynted in wrytinge and shewed vnto you by Aman (which is ordened and set ouer all oure busynes, and the most pryncipall next vnto the kynge, and in maner as a father shal with their wiues & children be destroyed and roted out with the swerde of their enemies and aduersaries: & yt there shalbe no mercy shewed, & no man spared. And this shalbe done ye xiiij. daye of the moneth called Adar) of this yeare, that they which of olde (and now also) haue euer bene rebellious, maye in one daye with violence be thrust downe in to the hell, to the intēt that after this maner, oure empyre maye haue peace and tranquylite.

But Mardocheus thought vpon all the workes and noble actes of ye LORDE, & made his prayer vnto him, sayenge: O LORDE LORDE, thou valeaunt and allmightie kynge (for all thinges are in thy power, and yf thou wilt helpe and delyuer Israel, there is no mā that can withstōde ner lett the: for thou hast made heauen & earth, and what wonderous thinge so euer is vnder the heauen: thou art LORDE of all thinges, and there is no man, yt can resist the O LORDE) Thou knowest all thinges, thou wotest LORDE, that it was nether of malyce, ner presumpcion, ner for eny desyre of glory, that I wolde not bowe downe myself ner worshipe yonder proude presumptuous Aman (for I wolde haue bene cō tent, and yt with good wyll, yf it might haue done Israel eny good, to haue kyst euē his fotesteppes) but that I dyd it, because I wolde not sett the honoure of a mā in the steade of the glorye of God, and because I wolde worshipe none but onely ye my LORDE. And this haue I done in no pryde ner presumpcion.

And therfore O LORDE thou God and kinge, haue mercy vpon thy people for they ymagyn how they maye bringe vs to naught, yee their mynde and desyre is to destroye and to ouerthrowe the people, that hath euer bene thine enheritaunce of olde. O despyse not thy porciō, which thou hast delyuered & brought out of Egipte for thine owne self. Heare my prayer, and be mercifull vnto ye people, whō thou hast chosen for an heretage vnto thyself. Turne oure complaynte and sorow in to ioye, that we maye lyue O LORDE, and prayse thy name. O LORDE, suffre not ye mouthes of them that praise the, to be destroyed.

All ye people of Israel in like maner cried as earnestly as they coude vnto the LORDE, for their death and destruccion stode before their eyes.

The XIIII. Chapter. Of the sorowe, complaynte and prayer of quene Hester.

QVene Hester also beynge in the battayll of death, resorted vnto the LORDE, layed awaye hir glorious apparell, and put on the garmētes that serued for sighinge and mournynge. In the steade of precious oyntment, she scatred ashes and dō ge vpon hir heade: and as for hir body, she humbled it, and brought it very lowe, All the places where she was wōte to haue ioye afore, those fylled she with ye hayre, yt she pluc •• out hirself. She prayed also vnto the LORDE God of Israel with these wordes:

O my LORDE, thou onely art oure kynge, helpe me desolate womā, which haue no helper but ye, for my misery and destruccion is harde at my hande. Fro my youth vp I haue herde out of the kynred of my father, 〈◊〉 . 4. c 〈◊〉 7. d that thou tokest Israel from amōge all people (and so haue oure fathers of their fore elders) that they shulde be thy perpetuall inheritaunce, and loke what thou didest promise thē, thou hast made it good vnto thē.

Now well LORDE, we haue synned before the, 〈◊〉 . 12. c therfore hast thou geuen vs in to the hādes of oure enemies, because we worshipped their goddes. LORDE thou art righteous. Neuertheles it satisfieth thē not, that we are in bytter and heuy captiuyte and oppressed amonge them, but thou hast layed their hondes vpon the hondes of their goddes: so that they begynne to take awaye, the thinge that thou with thy mouth hast ordened and appoynted: to destroye thyne inheritaunce, to shut and to stoppe ye mouthes of them that prayse the, to quēch the glory and worshipe of thy house and thine aulter, and to open the mouthes of the Heithen, yt they maye prayse the power & vertue of the goddes, and to magnifie the fleshly kynge for euer.

O LORDE, geue not thy cepter vnto thē that be nothinge, lest they laugh vs to scorne in oure misery and fall: but turne their deuyce vpō them selues, and punysh him, that hath begonne the same ouer vs, and set him to an exampls. Thinke vpon vs O LORDE, and shew thy self in ye tyme of oure distres and of oure trouble. Strength me O thou kynge of goddes, thou LORDE of all power, geue me an eloquēt and pleasaunt speach in my mouth before the Lyon. 〈…〉 Turne his hert in to ye hate of oure enemie, to destroye him, and all soch as consent vnto him. But delyuer vs with thy hande, and helpe me desolate woman, which haue no defence ner helper but onely ye. LORDE thou knowest all thinges, thou wotest that I loue not the glory and worshipe of the vnrighteous, and that I hate and abhorre the bed of the vncircū cyded and of all Heithen.

Thou knowest and wotest my necessite, yt I hate the token of my preemynence & worshipe, which I beare vpon my heade, what tyme as I must shew my self and be sene, & that I abhorre it as an vncleane cloth, and that I weere it not whā I am quyete and alone by my self. Thou knowest also that I thy honde mayden haue not eaten at Amās table, and that I haue had no pleasure ner delyte in the kynges feast, that I haue not dronke the drynk offeringes, and that I thy honde mayden haue had not ioye sens ye daie that I was brought hither vnto this daye: but onely in the O LORDE. O thou God of Abraham, O thou mightie God aboue all, heare the voyce of them, that haue none other hope, and delyuer vs out of the hande of ye wicked, & delyuer me out of my feare.

The XV. Chapter. Quene Hester appeareth before the kynge, with an heuy hert for the trouble of hir people, and God turneth the kynges hert.

ANd vpon ye thirde daye it happened, that Hester layed awaye ye mournynge garmētes, Hester. 5. a and put on hir glorious apparell, and decte hirself goodly (after that she had called vpon God, which is the beholder & Sauioure of all thinges) toke two maydes wt her: vpon the one she leaned hir self, as one yt was tender: the other folowed her, and bare the trayne of hir vesture. The shyne of hir bewtye made hir face rose coloured. The similitude of hir face was chearfull and amyable, but hir hert was soroufull for greate feare. She wente in thorow all the dores, and stode before the kynge. The kynge sat vpon the trone of his kingdome, and was clothed in his goodly araye, all of golde, and sett wt precious stones, and he was very terryble. He lift vp his face, that shone in the clearnes, and loked grymly vpon her. Then fell the Quene downe, was pale and faynt, leaned hir self vpon the heade of the mayde that wente with her.

Neuertheles God turned ye kynges mynde, that he was gentle, Prou. 21. a that he leape out of his seate for feare, and gat her in his armes, & helde hir vp tyll she came to herself agayne. He gaue her louynge wordes also, & sayde vnto her: Hester, what is the matter? I am ye brother, be of good cheare, thou shalt not dye: for oure commaundement toucheth the comons, not the. Come nye. And with that he helde vp his golden wande, and layed it vpon hir neck, and enbraced her frendly, and sayde: talke with me. Thē sayde she: Gen. 33. b 2. Re 19. c I sawe the (O lorde) as an angell of God, & my hert was troubled for feare of thy maiesty and clearnesse. For excellent and wonderfull art thou (O lorde) and thy face is full of amyte. But as she was thus speakynge vnto him, she fell downe agayne for fayntnes: for the which cause the kynge was afrayed, and all his seruauntes comforted her.

The XVI. Chapter. A copye of the commaundement, which kinge Artaxerses caused to be proclamed in all the countrees of his domynion, for the wealth of the Iewes.

THe greate kynge Artaxerses, which raigneth frō India vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundreth and xxvij. londes, sendeth vnto the prynces & rulers of the same londes, soch as loue him, his frendly salutacion. There be many, that for the sondrye frendshipes and benefites which are diuersly don vnto them for their worshipe, be euer ye more proude and hye mynded, and vndertake not onely to hurte oure subiectes (for plenteous benefites maye they not suffre, and begynne to ymagin some thinge agaynst those that do them good, and take not onely all vnthankfulnes awaye fro men) but in pryde and presumpcion (as they that be vnmyndefull and vnthākfull for the good dedes) they go aboute to escape the iudgment of God, yt seyth all thinges, which (iudgment) hateth & punysheth all wickednes. It happeneth oft also, yt they which be set in office by the hyer power, and vnto whom the busynes and causes of the subiectes are cōmytted to be handled, waxe proude, and defyle thē selues with sheddynge of innocent bloude, which bryngeth them to intollerable hurte. Which also with false and disceatfull wordes and with lyenge tales, disceaue and betraye the innocent goodnes of prynces.

Now is it profitable and good, that we take hede, make search therafter, and consider, not onely what hath happened vnto vs of olde, but the shamefull, vnhonest, and noysome thinges, that the debites haue now taken in hande before oure eyes: and therby to bewarre in tyme to come, that we maye make the kyngdome quyete & peaceable for all men, and that we might some tyme drawe it to a chaunge: and as for ye thinge that now is present before oure eyes, to withstande it, and to put it downe, after the most frendly maner.

Hester 3. a What tyme now as Aman the sonne of Amadathu ye Macedonyan (a straunger verely of the Persians bloude, and farre from oure goodnes) was come in amōge vs as an aleaunt, and had optayned the frendshipe that we beare towarde all people, so that he was called oure father, and had in hye honoure of euery man, as the next and pryncipall vnto the kynge, he coude not forbeare him self from his pryde, hath vndertaken not onely to robbe vs of the kyngdome, but of oure life.

With manyfolde disceate also hath he desyred to destroye Mardocheus oure helper and preseruer, which hath done vs good in all thinges: and innocent Hester the like partaker of oure kyngdome, with all hir people. For his mynde was (whan he had takē them out of the waye, and robbed vs of them) by this meanes to translate the kyngdome of the Persians vnto thē of Macedonia. But we fynde, that the Iewes (which were accused of ye wicked, yt they might be destroyed) are no euell doers, but vse reasonable & right lawes, and that they be the children of the most Hye lyuynge God, by whom the kyngdome of vs and oure progenitours hath bene well ordred hither to. Wherfore, as for the letters and cōmaundementes, that were put forth by Aman the sonne of Amadathu, ye shal do well, yf ye holde them of none effecte: for he that set them vp and inuented thē, hangeth at Susis before the porte, with all his kinred, and God (which hath all thinges in his power) hath rewarded him after his deseruynge.

And vpon this ye shal publish and set vp the copy of this letter in all places, that the Iewes maye frely and without hinderaunce holde them selues after their owne statutes, and that they maye be helped, and that vpō ye xiij. daye of ye xij. moneth Adar they may be auenged of them, which in the tyme of their anguysh and trouble wolde haue oppressed thē. For the God that gouerneth all thinges, hath turned to ioye, the daye wherin ye chosen people shulde haue perished.

Morouer, amōge the hye solempne dayes that ye haue, ye shall holde this daye also wt all gladnesse: that now and in tyme to come, this daye maye be a remembraūce to good, for all soch as loue the prosperite of the Persians: but a remembraunce of destruccion to those that be sedicious vnto vs.

All cities and lōdes that do not this, shal horribly perish and be destroyed wt the swerde and fyre, and shall not onely be nomore inhabited of men, but be abhorred also of ye wilde beastes & foules.

The boke of Wyszdome. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. An exortaciō for iudges and rulers to loue wyszdome. The sprete of wyszdome hateth falsede, disfimulacion and Ypocrysie, rebuketh vnrighteousnesse and abhorreth wicked doers. Chap. II. The ymaginaciōs and thoughtes of the vngodly, how they geue thē selues ouer vnto synne, and persecute all vertue and trueth. Chap. III. The felicite and health of godly people, though they be put here to trouble and heuynesse: Agayne, what sorow shall happen to the vngodly and their children. Chap. IIII. To lyue chaist & godly withall, is cō mendable. A disprayse of the wicked. The honoure of verteous age. The shamefull death of the vngodly. Chap. V. How the iust men shal stōde against the wicked, that haue put them here to trouble & what sorowe shall come vpon the vngodly. Agayne, what ioye shal happen to the righteous, which haue God himself for their defēce. Chap. VI. An exortacion vnto soch as be in rule and auctorite, to receaue wyszdome. A commē dacion of wyszdome. Chap. VII. All men haue like intraūce in to the worlde: yet who so calleth vpon God for wyszdome, shal haue his desyre The profit that cō meth by wyszdome passeth all other thinges. Chap. VIII. Wiszdome shulde be receaued in youth. He that marieth himself vnto her, shall optayne loue of God and men. Chap. IX. A prayer vnto God for the gift of wyszdome. Chap. X. What profit and good came by wyszdome in the olde tyme. Chap. XI. How wiszdome ledeth the righteous, & how the vngodly are punyshed thorow the mightie hande of God. Chap. XII. God is mercifull and suffreth longe, to the intent that synners shulde amende. Chap. XIII. Vayne are they that haue not the knowlege of the lyuynge God, but turne vnto to the creatures: vnhappie are they that honoure ymages. Chap. XIIII. The worshippinge of ymages. The power of God. Punyshment of them that make ymages, and of soch as worshipe them. How ymages came vp first. The honouringe of ymages is the cause, begynnynge, and ende of all myschefe. Chap. XV. The faithfull haue respecte vnto God and not vnto ymages. Chap. XVI. God punisheth the wicked, but defendeth the godly, & that by greate wonders. Chap. XVII. Of the greate darcknesse in Egipte, and blyndnesse of the vngodly. Chap. XVIII. How God destroied the firstborne of Egipte. Gods people eate the easter lambe ioyfully, the Egiptians mourne, God punysheth the synners in the wildernesse, Moses intreateth for the people. Chap. XIX. Like as the wicked are euer synnynge more and more, so doth the wrath of God neuer ceasse, tyll they be destroyed. Of them that were punyshed in the tyme of Loth.

The first Chapter.

O Set youre affeccion vpō wyszdome, 3. Reg. 3 Psal. 2. b ye that be iudges of the earth. Haue a good opinion of the LORDE, & seke him in the synglenesse of hert.2. Par. 15 For he will be foūde of them that tempte him not, and appeareth vnto soch as put their trust in him. As for frowarde thoughtes, they separate from God, but vertue (yf it be alowed) refourmeth ye vnwyse. And why? wyszdome shall not entre in to a frowarde soule, ner dwell in the body that is subdued vnto synne. For the holy goost abhorreth fayned nurtoure, & withdraweth himself frō ye thoughtes that are without vnderstondinge: & where wickednes hath the vpper hāde, he flieth from thence. Galat. 5. For the sprete of wyszdome is louynge, gentle and gracious, and wil haue no pleasure in him that speaketh euell with his lippes. For God is a witnesse of his reynes, a true searcher out of his hert, and an hearer of his tonge. Esaie 6. a Iere. 23. d Acto. 7. For the sprete of ye LORDE fylleth the rounde compasse of the worlde, and ye same that vpholdeth all thinges, hath knowlege also of the voyce.

Therfore he that speaketh vnrighteous thinges, can not be hydd,3. Re. 2. g Matt. 6. a Heb. 4. b nether maye he escape the iudgmēt of reprofe. And why? inquysicion shal be made for the thoughtes of the vngodly, and the reporte of his wordes shal come vnto God, so that his wickednes shalbe punished. For the eare of gelousy heareth all thinges, and the noyse of the grudginges shal not be hydd. Therfore bewarre of murmuringe, which is nothinge worth, and refrayne youre tonge from slaūder. For there is no worde so darck and secrete, Luce 12. a that it shall go for naught: and the mouth that speaketh lyes, slayeth the soule.

O seke not youre owne death in ye erroure of youre life, Deut. 4. c destroye not youre selues thorow the workes of youre awne handes. For God hath not made death, nether hath he pleasure in the destruccion of the lyuynge. For he created all thinges, that they might haue their beynge: yee all the people of the earth hath he made that they shulde haue health, that there shulde be no destruccion in them, and that the kyngdome of hell shulde not be vpon earth (for righteousnesse is euerlastinge and immortall, but vnrighteousnes bringeth death.) Neuerthelesse, the vngodly call her vnto them both wt wordes & workes, & whyle they thinke to haue a frende of her, they come to naught: for the vngodly that are confederate with her and take hir parte, are worthy of death.

The II. Chapter.

FOr ye vngodly talke & ymagin thus amonge them selues (but not right:) The tyme of oure life is but short & tedious, 〈◊〉 7. a at. 22 b Cor. 15. d & when a man is once gone, he hath nomore ioye ner pleasure, nether knowe we eny man yt turneth agayne from death: for we are borne of naught, & we shal be herafter as though we had neuer bene. For oure breth is as a smoke in oure nostrels, & ye wordes as a sparck to moue oure herte. As for or body, it shalbe very aszshes yt are quēched, & or soule shal vanish as ye soft ayre. Oure life shall passe awaye as ye trace of a cloude, & come to naught as ye myst yt is dryuē awaye wt the beames of ye Sonne, & put downe wt the heate therof. Oure name also shalbe forgotten by litle & litle, & no man shal haue oure workes in remembraunce.

For or tyme is a very shadow yt passeth awaye, Par. 30. c sa. 22. b 〈◊〉 56. c ap. 5. b & after or ende there is no returnynge, for it is fast sealed, so yt no mā cōmeth agayne. Come on therfore, let vs enioye ye pleasures yt there are, & let vs soone vse ye creature like as in youth. We wil fyll oure selues wt good wyne & oyntment, there shal no floure of the tyme go by vs. We wil crowne or selues wt roses afore they be wythered. There shal be no fayre medowe, but or lust shall go thorow it. Let euery one of you be partaker of oure volupteousnes. Let vs leaue some token of or pleasure in euery place, for yt is oure porcion, els gett we nothinge. Let vs oppresse the poore righteous, let vs not spare the wyddowe ner olde man, let vs not regarde ye heades yt are gray for age. Let ye lawe of vnrighteousnesse be oure auctorite, for ye thinge yt is feble is nothinge worth. Therfore let vs defraude the righteous, & why he is not for or profit, yee he is cleane cōtrary to or doinges. He checketh vs for offendinge agaynst ye lawe, & slaundreth vs as transgressours of all nurtor. He maketh his boost to haue ye knowlege of God, yee he calleth him self Gods sonne. He is the bewrayer of oure thoughtes: Ioh. 〈…〉 Esa. 〈…〉 It greueth vs also to loke vpon him, for his lyfe is not lyke other mens, his wayes are of another fashion. He counteth vs but vayne personnes, he wt draweth him self from or wayes as from fylthynes: he cō mendeth greatly ye latter ende of the iust, & maketh his boast yt God is his father. Let vs se then yf his wordes be true, let vs proue what shal come vpon him: so shal we knowe what ende he shal haue. For yf he be ye true sonne of God, Psal. 〈…〉 he will receaue him & delyuer him from the handes of his enemies. Let vs examen him with despitefull rebuke and tormentinge, that we maye knowe his dignite & proue his pacience. 〈…〉 Let vs condemne him with the most shamefull death: for like as he hath spoken, so shal he be rewarded.

Soch thinges do the vngodly ymagin, & go astraye, for their owne wickednes hath blynded them. As for the misteries of God, they vnderstonde them not: they nether hope for the rewarde of righteousnesse, ner regarde the worshipe that holy soules shall haue. For God created man to be vndestroied, yee after the ymage of his awne licknesse made he him. Gen. 〈…〉 Gen. 〈…〉 Neuerthelesse thorow envye of the deuell came death in to the worlde, and they that holde of his syde, do as he doth. 〈…〉

The III. Chapter.

BVt the soules of ye righteous are in ye hande of God, 〈…〉 & ye payne of death shal not touch thē. 〈…〉 In ye sight of the vnwyse they appeare to dye, & their ende is takē for very destruccion. The waye of the righteous is iudged to be vtter destruccion, but they are in rest. And though they suffre payne before men, 〈…〉 yet is their hope full of immortalite. They are punished but in few thinges, neuerthelesse in many thinges shal they be well rewarded. For God proueth them, & fyndeth thē mete for himself: yee as the golde in the fornace doth he trye them, & receaueth them as a brent offeringe, and when ye tyme commeth they shalbe loked vpon.

The righteous shal shyne as the sparkes yt renne thorow the rede buszshe. 〈…〉 They shal iudge the nacions, & haue dominion ouer ye people, & their LORDE shal raigne for euer. They yt put their trust in him, shal vnderstonde the trueth, & soch as be faithfull, wil agree vnto him in loue: for his chosen shal haue giftes & peace. 〈…〉 But the vngodly shalbe punyshed acordinge to their awne ymaginaciōs, for they haue despysed the righteous, & forsaken the LORDE.

Whoso despyseth wyszdome & nurtor, he is vnhappie, and as for the hope of soch, it is but vayne, their labours vnfrutefull, and their workes vnprofitable. Their wyues are vndiscrete, and their childrē most vngodly. Their creature is cursed. Blessed is rather ye baren & vndefyled, which hath not knowne the synfull bedd: she shall haue frute in the rewarde of the holy soules. And blessed is ye gelded, 〈…〉 which wt his handes hath wrought no vnrighteousnesse, ner ymagined wicked thinges agaynst God. For vnto him shal be geuen ye speciall gift of faith, and the most acceptable porcion in ye temple of God. For glorious is the frute of good laboure, & the rote of wyszdome shall neuer fade awaye. As for ye childrē of aduoutrers, they shal come to an ende & the sede of an vnrighteous bedd shal be roted out. And though they lyue lōge, yet shal they be nothinge regarded, & their last age shalbe without honoure. Yf they dye haistely, they haue no hope, nether shal they be spoken to in the daye of knowlege. For horrible is the death and ende of the vnrighteous.

The IIII. Chapter.

O How fayre is a chaist generacion wt vertue? The memoriall therof is immortall, for it is knowne wt God and men. When it is present, mē take exāple there at: and yf it go awaye, yet they desyre it. It is allwaie crowned & holden in honor, & wynneth ye rewarde of the vndefyled battayll. But the multitude of vngodly childrē is vnprofitable, and the thinges yt are planted wt whordome, shal take no depe rote, ner laye eny fast foundacion, 〈◊〉 . 17. b 〈◊〉 1 a 〈◊〉 . 7. c Though they be grene in the braunches for a tyme, yet shal they be shakē wt the wynde: for they stonde not fast, & thorow the vehemence of the wynde they shalbe roted out. For the vnparfecte braunches shalbe broken, their frute shalbe vnprofitable & sower to eate, yee mete for nothinge. And why? all the children yt are borne of the wicked, must beare recorde of the wickednesse agaynst their fathers & mothers, when they be axed. But though the righteous be ouertaken wt death, yet shal he be in rest.

Age is an honorable thinge: neuertheles it stondeth not only in the lenth of tyme, ner in the multitude of yeares: but a mans wyszdome is the graye hayre, and an vndefyled life is the olde age. He pleased God, & was beloued of him: so that where as he lyued amō ge synners, 〈◊〉 . 11. a he trāslated him. Yee sodēly was he taken awaye, to the intent yt wickednesse shulde not alter his vnderstōdinge, & yt ypocrisye shulde not begyle his soule. For ye craftie bewitchinge of lyes make good thinges darck, ye vnstedfastnesse also & wickednes of voluptuous desyre, turne asyde ye vnderstondinge of ye symple. Though he was soone deed, yet fulfilled he moch tyme. For his soule pleased God, therfore haisted he to take him awaye frō amonge ye wicked. This the people se, & vnderstonde it not: they laye not vp soch thinges in their hertes, how yt ye louynge fauor & mercy of God is vpō his saintes, & yt he hath respecte vnto his chosen.

Thus ye righteous yt is deed, cōdemneth the vngodly which are lyuinge: & ye youth yt is soone brought to an ende, ye lōge life of ye vnrighteous. For they se ye ende of ye wyse, but they vnderstōde not what God hath deuysed for him, & wherfore ye LORDE hath taken him awaie. And why? they se him & despyse him, therfore shall God also laugh thē to scorne: So yt they thē selues shal dye here after (but without honor) yee in shame amonge ye deed for euermore. For without eny voyce shal he burst those yt be puft vp, & remoue thē frō ye foundacions, so yt they shalbe laied waist vnto the hyest. They shal mourne, and their memoriall shall perishe. So they beynge afrayed shall remembre their synnes, and their owne wickednesse shal bewraye thē.

The V. Chapter.

THen shal ye righteous stonde in greate stedfastnesse agaynst soch as haue dealt extremely wt thē, Matt. 19. & takē awaye their labours. When they se it, they shalbe vexed wt horrible feare, & shal wonder at the haistynesse of ye sodane health: groninge for very distresse of mynde, & shall saye within them selues (hauynge inwarde sorow, and mournynge for very anguysh of mynde):

These are they, whom we somtyme had in derision, & iested vpō. We fooles thought their life very madnesse, Sap. 3. a & their ende to be wt out honoure. But lo, how they are counted amonge the children of God, & their porcion is amonge the sayntes. Therfore we haue erred from the waye of trueth, ye light of righteousnesse hath not shyned vnto vs, and the Sōne of vnderstōdinge rose not vp vpō vs. We haue weeried or selues in ye waye of wickednesse & destruccion. Tedious wayes haue we gone: but as for the waye of the LORDE, we haue not knowne it.

What good hath or pryde done vnto vs? Or, what profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs?1. Par. 30. Sap. 2. b All those thinges are passed awaye like a shadowe, & as a messaunger rennynge before: as a shippe yt passeth ouer the wawes of the water, which whan it is gone by, the trace therof can not be founde, Pro. 0. b nether ye path of it in the floudes. Or as a byrde yt flyeth thorow ye ayre, & no man can se eny token where she is flowen, but only heareth the noyse of hir wynges, beatinge the light wynde, partinge the ayre thorow the vehemēce of hir goinge, & flyeth on shakynge hir wynges, where as afterwarde no tokē of hir waye can be foūde. Or like as whē an arowe is shott at a marck, it parteth the ayre, which immediatly cōmeth together agayne, so that a man can not knowe where it wente thorow. Euen so we in like maner as soone as we were borne, beganne immediatly to drawe to oure ende: & haue shewed no token of vertue, but are consumed in oure owne wickednesse.

Soch wordes shal they that haue synned, speake in the hell: for the hope of the vngodly is like a drye thistell floure (or dust) that is blowne awaye wt the wynde: ob 8. a Psal. 1. b Pro. 10. d and 11. a ac. 1. b like as thynne scomme yt is scatred abrode wt the storme: like as ye smoke which is dispersed here & there wt the wynde, & as ye remembraunce of a straūger yt tarieth for a daie, & thē departeth.

sal. 39. a But ye righteous shal lyue for euermore: their rewarde also is wt the LORDE, & their remembraunce wt the Hyest. Therfore shal they receaue a glorious kyngdome & a beutifull crowne of the LORDES hande: for wt his right hande shal he couer thē, & wt his owne arme shall he defende thē. His gelousy also shal take awaye the harnesse, & he shal wapē ye creature to be auēged of ye enemies. He shal put on righteousnes for a brest plate, phe. 6. b & take sure iudgment in steade of an helmett. The invyncible shylde of equite shall he take, his cruell wrath shal he sharpē for a speare, & the whole compase of the worlde shall fight with him agaynst the vnwyse.

Thē shal the thonder boltes go out of ye lighteninges, & come out of the rayne bowe of the cloudes to the place apoynted: out of the hard stony indignacion there shall fall thick hales, & ye water of ye see shalbe wroth agaynst thē, & the floudes shal renne roughly together. Yee a mightie wynde shal stōde vp agaynst them, & a storme shall scater thē abrode. Thus the vnrighteous dealinge of thē shal bringe all the lōde to a wyldernes, & wickednes shall ouerthrowe the dwellinges of the mightie.

The VI. Chapter.

WYszdome is better then strength, & a mā of vnderstādinge is more worth thē one yt is strōge. Eccls. 9. d Heare therfore (O ye kinges) & vnderstonde: O lerne ye yt be iudges of the endes of the earth. Geue are ye yt rule ye multitudes, & delite in moch people. Rom. 13. a For the power is geuē you of the LORDE, & the strēgth from the Hyest: which shal trie yor workes and search out yor ymaginaciōs: How that ye beynge officers of his kyngdome, haue not executed true iudgment, haue not kepte the lawe of righteousnes, ner walked after his will. Horribly & that right soone shall he appeare vnto you: for an harde iudgmēt shal they haue yt beare rule. Mercy is graūted vnto the symple, Eccl . 〈…〉 but they that be in auctorite shalbe sore punyshed. For God which is LORDE ouer all, shall excepte no mās personne, nether shal he stande in awe of eny mans greatnesse: for he hath made ye small and greate, & careth for all alyke. But the mightie shal haue ye sorer punyshmēt.

Vnto you therfore (o ye kinges) do I speake, yt ye maye lerne wyszdome and not go amysse: for they yt kepe righteousnes shalbe righteously iudged: and they yt are lerned in righteous thinges, shal finde to make answere. Wherfore set yor lust vpon my wordes, & loue thē, so shal ye come by nurtor. Wyszdome is a noble thinge, & neuer faydeth awaie: yee she is easely sene of thē that loue her, & founde of soch as seke her. She preuēteth them yt desyre her, yt she maye first shewe herself vnto thē. Who so awaketh vnto her by tymes, shal haue no greate trauayle, for he shal fynde her syttinge ready at his dores. To thinke vpon her, is parfecte vnderstandinge: & who so watcheth for her, shalbe safe, & that soone. For she goeth aboute, sekynge soch as are mete for her, sheweth her self cherefully vnto them in their goynges, & meteth them wt all diligēce. For ye vnfained desyre of refourmacion is hir begynnynge: to care for nurtor is loue, and loue is the kepinge of hir lawes. 〈…〉 Now the kepinge of ye lawes is perfeccion & an vncorrupte life, & an vncorrupte life maketh a man familier wt God. And so the desyre of wyszdome ledeth to ye kingdome euerlastinge. Yf yor delyte be thē in royall seates & cepters (o ye kynges of the people) set youre lust vpō wyszdome, 〈…〉 yt ye maye raigne for euer more. O loue the light of wyszdome, all ye yt be rulers of the people. As for wyszdome, what she is, and how she came vp, I wil tell you, and will not hyde the misteries of God from you: but wil seke her out from ye begynnynge of the natiuyte, and brynge the knowlege of her in to light, and wil not kepe back the trueth: Nether will I haue to do wt cōsumynge envye, for soch a man shal not be partaker of wiszdome. But the multitude of the wyse is the welfare of the worlde, and a wyse kynge is the vpholdinge of the people. O receaue nourtoure then thorow my wordes, and it shal do you good.

The VII. Chap.

I Myself also am a mortall man, like as all other, & am come of ye earthy generaciō of him yt was first made, 〈…〉 & in my mothers wōbe was I fashioned to be flesh: In the tyme of ten monethes was I brought together in bloude thorow the sede of man, & the cōmodious appetite of slepe. Whan I was borne, I receaued like ayre as other men, & fell vpon the earth (which is my nature) crienge & wepinge at the first, as all other do. I was wrapped in swadlinge clothes, & brought vp wt greate cares. For there is no kinge yt hath had eny other begynnynge of byrth. All men then haue one intraunce vnto life, 〈◊〉 1. c 〈◊〉 . 6. b & one goinge out in like maner.

Wherfore I desyred, and vnderstandinge was geuē me: I called, & the sprete of wyszdome came in to me. I set more by her thē by kingdomes & royall seates, & counted riches nothinge in cōparison of her. 〈…〉 As for precious stone I compared it not vnto her: for all golde is but grauell vnto her, & syluer shalbe counted but claye before hir sight. I loued her aboue welfare & beutie, & purposed to take her for my light, for hir shyne can not be quenched. All good thinges came to me wt her, 〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 6. d & innumerable riches thorow hir hādes. I was glad in thē all, for this wyszdome wē te before me, & I knew not yt she is the mother of all good thinges. Now as I myself lerned vnfaynedly, so do I make other men partakers of her, & hyde her riches from no man: for she is an infinite treasure vnto men, which who so vse, become partakers of the loue & frendshipe of God, and are accepted vnto him for the giftes of wyszdome.

God hath graunted me to talke wysely, & conueniētly to hādle the thinges yt he hath graciously lent me. For it is he, yt ledeth vnto wyszdome, & teacheth to vse wyszdome a right. In his hāde are we & or wordes: yee all or wyszdome, 〈◊〉 . 3. a or vnderstandinge & knowlege of all or workes. For he hath geuē me ye true sciē ce of these thinges: so that I knowe how ye worlde was made, & the powers of ye elemē tes: ye begynnynge, endinge & myddest of ye tymes: how the tymes alter, how one goeth after another, and how they are fulfilled: ye course of the yeare: the ordinaunces of the starres: the natures & kindes of beastes: the furiousnesse of beastes: the power of ye wyndes: the ymaginacions of mē: the deuersities of yonge plantes: the vertues of rootes, & all soch thinges as are secrete & not loked for, haue I lerned. For the worckmaster of all thinges hath taught me wyszdome. In hir is ye sprete of vnderstādinge, which is holy, manifolde, one onely, sotyll, curteous, discrete, quyck, vndefyled, playne, swete, louynge the thinge yt is good, sharpe, which forbyddeth not to do well, gētle, kynde, stedfast, sure, fre: hauynge all vertues, circūspecte in all thinges: receauinge all spretes of vnderstādinge beīge cleane & sharpe. For wiszdome is neembler thē all neēble thīges: she goeth thorow & attayneth to all thīges, because of hir clennes. For she is ye breth of ye power of God, & a pure cleane expressinge of ye clearnes of Allmightie God. Therfore can no vndefyled thinge come in to her: Heb. 1. a for she is ye bryghtnes of ye euerlastīge light, ye vndefiled myrror of ye maiesty of God, & ye ymage of his goodnesse. And for so moch as she is one, she maie do all thinges: & beinge stedfast herself she renueth all, & amōge ye people cōveyeth she herself in to ye holy soules. She maketh Gods frendes & p ophetes: for God loueth no mā, but him in whō wyszdome dwelleth. For she is more beutyfull then the Sonne, and geueth more light then the starres, and the daye is not to be cōpared vnto her: for vpō ye daye cōmeth night. But wickednesse can not ouer come wyszdome, and foolishnes maye not be wt her.

The VIII. Chapter.

WYszdome reacheth frō one ende to another mightely, & louīgly doth she ordre all thinges. I haue loued her and laboured for her euē fro my youth vp: I dyd my diligēce to mary my self wt her, soch loue had I vnto hir beutye. Who so hath ye cō pany of God, cōmēdeth hir nobilyte, yee the LORDE of all thinges himself loueth her. For she is ye scolemastresse of ye nurtor of God, & ye choser out of his workes. Yf a man wolde desyre riches in this life, what is richer then wiszdome, ye worketh all thīges? (Thou wilt saye:) vnderstādinge worketh. What is it amōge all thinges, yt worketh more thē wyszdome? Yf a man loue vertue & righteousnes, let him labor for wyszdome, for she hath greate vertues. And why? she teacheth sobernes & prudence, righteousnes & strēgh, which are soch thinges as mē can haue nothinge more profitable in their life. Yf a mā desyre moch knowlege, she cā tell ye thinges yt are past, & discerne thinges for to come: she knoweth ye sotilties of wordes, & cā expoūde darcke sentēces. She can tell of tokēs & wōderous thinges, or euer they come to passe, & the endes of all tymes & ages. So I purposed after this maner: I will take her vnto my cōpany, & comō louīgly wt her: no doute she shal geue me good coūcell, & speake cōfortably vnto me in my carefulnes & grefe. For hir sake shal I be well and honestly taken amōge the comōs & lordes of ye councell. Though I be yonge, yet shal I haue sharpe vnderstandinge: so yt I shal be maruelous in ye sight of greate mē, & ye faces of prynces shal wōder at me. Whā I holde my tōge, they shal byde my leysure: Iob. 2 . whā I speake, they shal loke vpō me: & yf I talke moch, they shal laye their handes vpō their mouth. Morouer, by the meanes of her I shal optayne immortalite, and leaue behinde me an euerlastinge memoriall, amōge thē yt come after me. I shal set ye people in ordre, & the nacions shalbe subdued vnto me. Horrible tyrauntes shal be afrayed, whan they do but heare of me: amonge the multitude I shal be counted good, & mightie in battayll. Whā I come home, I shal fynde rest wt her: for hir cōpany hath no bytternes, & hir felashipe hath no tediousnesse, but myrth & ioye.

Now whan I cōsidered these thinges by myself, & pondered them in my hert, how yt to be ioyned vnto wyszdome is immortalite, & greate pleasure to haue hir frendshipe: how yt in the workes of hir handes are infinite riches: how that, who so kepeth company wt her shalbe wyse: and that he which talketh with her, shal come to honoure: I wente aboute sekynge, to gett her vnto me. For I was a ladd of a rype wytt, and had a good vnderstandinge.

But whan I grewe to more vnderstādinge, I came to an vndefyled body. Neuertheles whan I perceaued that I coude not kepe myself chaist, excepte God gaue it me (& yt was a poynte of wyszdome also, to knowe whose gift it was) I stepte vnto the LORDE, and besought him, and with my whole hert I sayde after this maner:

The IX. Chapter.

O God of my fathers, & LORDE of mercies,3. Reg. 3. b Gen. 1 (thou yt hast made all thīges wt yi worde, & ordeyned mā thorow thy wyszdome, yt he shulde haue dominiō ouer ye creature, which thou hast made: yt he shulde ordre ye worlde acordinge to equite & righteousnes, & execute iudgmēt wt a true hert) geue me wyszdome, which is euer aboute ye seate. & put me not out frō amōge ye children: for I thy seruaunt & sonne of ye handmayden, Psal. 115. b am a feble personne, of a shorte tyme, and to yō ge to the vnderstandinge of iudgment and ye lawes. And though a man be neuer so parfecte amonge the children of men, yet yf thy wyszdome be not with him, he shal be nothinge regarded.1. Par. 29. b 2. Par. 1. a But thou hast chosen me to be a kynge vnto ye people, and the iudge of thy sonnes and daughters.

Thou hast cōmaunded me to buylde a temple vpon ye holy mount, & an aulter in the cite wherin thou dwellest: a licknesse of thy holy tabernacle which thou hast prepared frō the beginnynge, and thy wyszdome with ye, which knoweth ye workes: P o. 8. c 〈◊〉 . 1. a which also was wt ye whan thou maydest ye worlde, & knew what was acceptable in thy sight, & right in thy commaundementes. O sende her out of thy holy heauens and from the trone of thy maiesty, that she maye be with me, & laboure with me: that I maye knowe, what is acceptable in ye sight. For she knoweth and vnderstandeth all thinges: and she shal lede me soberly in my workes, and preserue me in hir power. So shal my workes be acceptable, & then shal I gouerne thy people righteously, & be worthy to syt in my fathers seate. For what man is he, 〈…〉 that maye knowe the councell of God? Or, who can thinke what the will of God is? For the thoughtes of mortall men are miserable, & oure forecastes are but vncertayne. And why? a mortall and corruptible body is heuy vnto the soule, 〈…〉 and the earthy mansion kepeth downe the vnderstandinge yt museth vpon many thinges. Very hardly can we discerne the thinges that are vpon earth, and greate labor haue we, or we can fynde the thinges which are before oure eyes: Who will then seke out the groūde of the thinges that are done in heauē? Oh LORDE, who cā haue knowlege of ye vnderstandinge and meaninge, excepte thou geue wyszdome and sende thy holy goost frō aboue? that the wayes of them which are vpon earth maye be refourmed: yt men maye lerne ye thinges that are pleasaunt vnto the, and be preserued thorow wyszdome.

The X. Chapter.

WYszdome preserued ye first mā, whō God made a father of the worlde, 〈…〉 whā he was created alone, brought him out of his offence, toke him out of the moulde of ye earth, & gaue him power to rule all thinges. Whan the vnrighteous wente awaye in his wrath from this wyszdome, ye brotherheade perished thorow ye wrath of murthur. Agayne, 〈…〉 whā ye water destroyed ye whole worlde, 〈…〉 wyszdome preserued the righteous thorow a poore tre, wherof she was gouerner herself. Morouer whā wickednes had gotten ye vpperhande, so yt the nacions were puft vp with pryde, 〈…〉 she knewe ye righteous, preserued him fautlesse vnto God, and layed vp sure mercy for his children. She preserued the righteous, 〈…〉 whan he fled from the vngodly yt perished, what tyme as ye fyre fell downe vpon ye v. cities: Like as yet this daye the vnfrutefull, waist and smokinge lō de geueth testimony of their wickednesse: yee the vnripe and vntymely frutes that growe vpon the trees.

And for a tokē of a remembraunce of the vnfaithfull soule, there standeth a piler of salt. For all soch as regarded not wyszdome, gat not only this hurte, that they knewe not the thinges which were good, but also left behinde them vnto mē, a memoriall of their foolishnes: so yt in the thinges wherin they synned, they coude not be hydd. But as for soch as take hede vnto wyszdome, she shal delyuer them from sorowe.

Whan the righteous fled because of his brothers wrath, 〈…〉 wyszdome led him the right waye, shewed him ye kyngdome of God, gaue him knowlege of holy thinges, made him riche in his laboures, and brought to passe the thinges that he wente aboute. In ye disceatfulnes of soch as defrauded him, she stode by him, & made him ryche. She saued him from the enemies, and defended him from ye disceauers. She made him stronge in battayll, and gaue him the victory, yt he might knowe, how that wyszdome is stronger then all thinges. 〈◊〉 . 7. c 〈◊〉 . 7. b Whan the righteous was solde, she forsoke him not, but delyuered him frō synners. She wente downe with him in to the dongeon, and fayled him not in the bandes: 〈◊〉 41 f tyll she had brought him the cepter of ye realme, and power agaynst those that oppressed him. As for them that had accused him, she declared them to be lyers, & brought him to perpetuall worshipe.

She delyuered the righteous people and fautlesse sede, 〈◊〉 . 1. b 〈◊〉 . 45. from the nacions that oppressed them. She entred in to the soule of the seruaunt of God, and stode by him in wonders and tokens agaynst the horrible kynge. She gaue ye righteous the rewarde of their labours, & led them forth a maruelous waye: on the daye tyme she was a shadowe vnto them, and a light of starres in the night season. 〈◊〉 . 4. f She brought them thorow the reed see, and caried them thorow the greate water. She drowned their enemies in the see, and brought them out of the depe. So the righteous toke the spoyles of the vngodly, and praysed thy holy name (o LORDE) and magnified thy victorious hād with one acorde. 〈…〉 For wyszdome openeth the mouth of ye domme, & maketh ye tonges of babes to speake.

The XI. Chapter.

SHe ordred their workes in the hādes of the holy prophet: 〈◊〉 . 1 . a so yt they wente thorow ye wyldernes yt was not inhabited, & pitched their tētes in ye waist deserte. They stode agaynst their enemies, & were auenged of their aduersaries. 〈◊〉 17. b 〈…〉 a Whā they were thirstie, they called vpō ye, & water was geuē them out of ye rok, & their thirst slockened out of ye harde stone. For by ye thinges, where thorow their enemies were punished, were they helped in their nede. For vnto the enemies thou gauest mās bloude in steade of lyuynge water. And where as they had scarcenesse in ye rebuke whan the children were slayne, thou gauest vnto thine awne a plenteous water vnloked for: declaringe by the thyrst yt was at that tyme, how thou woldest bringe thine awne vnto honor, & slaye their aduersaries.

For whan they were tryed & nourtured wt fatherly mercy, Deut. 8. a they knowleged how the vngodly were iudged, and punyshed thorow ye wrath of God. These hast thou exorted as a father, & proued thē: but vnto ye other thou hast bene a boysteous kynge, layed hard to their charge, & condēned thē. Whether they were absent or present, their punyshmēt was alyke. For their grefe was dubble: namely, mournynge, and ye remēbraunce of thinges past. But whā they perceaued yt their punishmētes dyd thē good, they thought vpon the LORDE, & wondered at ye ende. For at the last they helde moch of him, of whō in ye out castinge they thought scorne, as of an abiecte. Neuerthelesse ye righteous dyd not so when they were thirstie: but euenlike as ye thoughtes of ye foolish were, so was also their wickednes. Where as certayne mē now (thorow error) dyd worshipe dommeserpentes & vayne beestes, Sap. 12. e Rom. 1. c thou sendedst a multitude of domme beastes vpon them for a vengeaunce: yt they might knowe, that loke where withall a mā synneth, by the same also shal he be punyshed. For vnto thy allmighty hande, that made the worlde of naught, it was not vnpossible, Leui. 26. d Sap. 16. a Iere. 8. c to sende amonge them an heape of Beeres, or woode lyōs, or cruell beastes of a straū ge kynde, soch as are vnknowne, or spoute fyre, or cast out a smokinge breth, or shote horrible sparkes out of their eyes: which might not only destroye them with hurtinge, but also kyll them with their horrible sight. Yee without these beestes might they haue bene slayne with one winde, beynge persecuted of their awne workes, and scatered abrode thorow the breth of thy power.

Neuertheles thou hast ordred all thinges in measure, nōbre & weight. For thou hast euer had greate strēgth & might, & who maye withstōde ye power of thine arme? And why like as ye small thynge yt ye balaunce weyeth, so is ye worlde before ye: yee as a droppe of ye morninge dew, that falleth downe vpon the earth. Thou hast mercy vpon all, for thou hast power of all thynges: and makest the as though thou sawest not the sinnes of mē, Rom. 2. because they shulde amende. For thou louest all the thinges that are, and hatest none of thē whō thou hast made: nether didest thou ordeyne or make eny thinge of euell will.

How might eny thinge endure, yf it wer not ye will? Or how coude eny thinge be preserued, excepte it were called of ye? But thou sparest all, for all are thine, o LORDE, thou louer of soules.

The XII. Chapter.

O LORDE, how gracious & swete is thy sprete in all thinges? Therfore chastenest thou thē measurably that go wrōge, and warnest them, concernynge the thinges wherin they offende: thou speakest vnto them (o LORDE) and exortest thē to leaue their wickednes, and to put their trust in the. Deut. 9. a 12. d. 18. b As for those olde inhabiters of thy holy londe, thou mightest not awaye with them, for they commytted abhominable workes agaynst the: as wytch craft, sorcery and Idolatry: they slew their owne children without mercy: they ate vp mens bowels, and deuoured the bloude: Yee because of soch abhominaciōs, myszbeleues & offeringes, thou slewest the fathers of the desolate soules by the handes of oure fathers: that ye londe which thou louest aboue all other, might be a dwellinge for the childrē of God.

Neuertheles thou sparedest thē also (as mē) & sendedst ye forerūners of thyne hoost, euē hornettes to destroye thē out by lytle & litle. Not yt thou wast vnable to subdue ye vngodly vnto ye righteous in battayll, Exo. 23. d Deut. 7. d or with cruell beestes, or wt one rough worde to destroye thē together: But ye mynde was to dryue thē out by lytle & litle, geuinge thē time & place to amende: knowinge well, yt it was an vnrighteous nacion & wicked of nature, & yt their thought might neuer be altered. For it was a cursed sede from ye begynnynge, & feared no mā: Yet hast thou pardoned their synnes. For who wyl saye vnto the: why hast thou done yt? Or who wyl stōde agaynst thy iudgmēt? Or who wil come before ye face an auēger of vnrighteous mē? Or who wil blame ye, yf ye people perish, whō thou hast made?1. Pet. 5. a For there is none other God but thou, yt carest for all thinges: yt thou mayest declare how yt ye iudgmēt is not vnright. There darre nether kīge, ner tyraūt in ye sight requyre accōptes of them, whō thou hast destroyed.

For so moch thē as thou art righteous ye self, thou ordrest all thīges righteously, & punishest euē hī yt hath not deserued to be punyshed, ob 9. b & takest him for a straūger & an aleaunt in ye lōde of ye power. For ye power is ye beginnynge of righteousnes: and because thou art LORDE of all thinges, therfore art thou gracious vnto all. Whan men thinke ye not to be of a full strength, thou declarest ye power: & boldly delyuerest thou them ouer yt knowe ye not. But thou LORDE of power iudgest quyetly, and ordrest us with greate worshipe, for thou mayest do as thou wilt.

By soch workes now hast thou taught thy people, that a mā also shulde be iust and louynge: and hast made thy childrē to be of a good hope: for euen when thou iudgest, thou geuest rowme to amende from synnes. For in so moch as thou hast punyshed, and wt soch diligence delyuered ye enemies of thy seruaū tes, which were worthy to dye (where thorow thou gauest thē tyme & place of amēdement yt they might turne frō their wickednes) wt how greate diligence then punyshest thou thine awne childrē, vnto whose fathers thou hast sworne & made couenaūtes of good promises? So where as thou doest but chasten vs, thou punyshest or enemies dyuerse wayes: to ye intēt yt whā we punysh, we shulde remē bre ye goodnesse: & whan we or selues are punyshed, to put oure trust in thy mercy.

Wherfore where as men haue lyued ignoraūtly & vnrighteously, thou hast punyshed thē sore, 〈…〉 euē thorow ye same thinges that they worshipped. For they wente astraye very lō ge in ye waye of error, & helde ye beestes (which euē their enemies despysed) for goddes, lyuynge as children of no vnderstandinge. Therfore hast thou sent a scornefull punyshment amonge them, as amonge the chidrē of ignoraunce. As for soch as wolde not be refourmed by those scornes & rebukes, they felt the worthy punishmēt of God. For ye thinges yt they suffred, they bare thē vnpaciētly, beinge not contēt in them but vnwyllinge. And whan they peryshed by ye same thinges that they toke for goddes, they knowleged then, that there was but one true God, whom afore they wolde not knowe: therfore came ye ende of their dampnacion vpon them.

The XIII. Chapter.

VAyne are all men, which haue not ye knowlege of God: as were they that out of the good thinges which are sene, knewe not him, 〈…〉 that of himself is euerlastinge. Nether toke they so moch regarde of the workes that are made, as to knowe, who was the craftesman of them: but some toke the fyre, some the wynde or ayre, some ye course of ye starres, some ye water, some toke Sonne and Moone, or the lightes of heauen which rule ye earth, for goddes. 〈…〉 But though they had soch pleasure in their beuty, that they thought them to haue bene goddes: yet shulde they haue knowne, how moch more fayrer he is that made them. For the maker of beuty hath ordened all these thinges. Or yf they marueled at the power and workes of thē, they shulde haue perceaued therby, yt he which made these thinges, is mightier then they.

For by the greatnesse & beutye of the creature, ye maker therof maye playnely be knowne. Notwithstondinge they are the lesse to be blamed, that sought God & wolde haue founde him, and yet myssed. And why? for so moch as they wēte aboute in his workes and sought after them, it is a tokē, that they regarded and helde moch of his workes yt are sene: howbeit they are not wholy to be excused. For yf their vnderstondinge and knowlege was so greate, yt they coude discerne the worlde and ye creatures, why dyd they not rather fynde out ye LORDE therof?

But vnhappie are they, and amonge the deed is their hope, that call thē God which are but the workes of mens handes: golde, syluer and the thinge, that is founde out by connynge, the similitude of beastes, or eny vayne stone that hath bene made by hande of olde. 〈◊〉 44. b 〈◊〉 . 10. a Or as whan a carpenter cutteth downe a tre out of the wodd, and pareth of the barck of it connyngly: and so with the one parte maketh a vessell to be vsed, and dighteth meate with the residue. As for the other parte that is left, which is profitable for nothinge (for it is a croked pece of wodd and full of knobbes) he carueth it diligently thorow his vanite, and (acordinge to the knowlege of his connynge) he geueth it some proporcion, fashioneth it after the similitude of a man, or maketh it like some beest, straketh it ouer with reed and paynteth it, and loke what foule spot is in it, he casteth some coloure vpon it. Then maketh he a conueniēt tabernacle for it, setteth it in the wall and maketh it fast with yron, prouydinge so for it, lest it happē to fall: for it is well knowne, that it can not helpe it self: And why? it is but an ymage, and must of necessite be helped.

Then goeth he and offreth of his goodes vnto it for his children and for his wife: he seketh helpe at it, he axeth councell at it: he is not ashamed to speake vnto it yt hath no soule: for health, he maketh his peticion vnto him that is sicke: for life, he prayeth vnto him that is deed: he calleth vpon him for helpe, that is not able to helpe him self: & to sende him a good iourneye, he prayeth him that maye not go. And in all the thinges yt he taketh in hande (whether it be to optayne eny thinge or to worke) he prayeth vnto him that can do maner of good.

The XIIII. Chapter.

AGayne, another mā purposinge to sayle & begīnynge to take his iourney thorow ye raginge see, calleth for helpe vnto a stock, yt is farre weaker, thē ye tre yt beareth him. For as for it, coueteousnesse of moneye hath founde it out, & ye craftesmā made it wt his connynge. But ye prouydence (O father) gouerneth all thinges frō ye begynnynge, for thou hast made a waye in ye see, Exo. 14. d & a sure path in the myddest of ye wawes: declaringe therby, yt thou hast power to helpe in all thinges, yee though a man wente to the see without shippe. Neuerthelesse, yt ye workes of ye wyszdome shulde not be vaine, thou hast caused an arke to be made: Gen. 6. c & therfore do men commytte their lyues to a small pece of wod passinge ouer the see in a shyppe, & are saued.

For in the olde tyme also whā the proude giauntes perished, Gen. 7. b he (in whō the hope was left to increase ye worlde) wēte in to the shippe, which was gouerned thorow thy hande, & so left sede behinde him vnto ye worlde. For happie is ye tre where thorow righteousnes cōmeth: but cursed is the ymage of wod, yt is made wt hādes, yee both it & he yt made it: He, because he made it: & it, because it was called God, where as it is but a frayle thinge. For the vngodly & his vngodlynes are both like abhominable vnto God. Psal. 7. a Euen so ye worke & he yt made it also shal be punyshed together. Therfore shal there a plage come vpon the ymages of the Heithen: for out of the creature of God they are become an abhominacion, a temptacion vnto the soules of men, and a snare for the fete of the vnwyse. And why? the sekinge out of ymages is the beginnynge of whordome, and the bringinge vp of them is the destruccion of life. For they were not from the begynnynge, nether shall they cōtinue for euer. The welthy ydilnes of men hath founde them out vpon earth, therfore shal they come shortly to an ende. Whē a father mourned for his sonne yt was taken awaye frō him, he made him an ymage (in all ye haist) of his deed sonne: & so begāne to worshipe him as God, which was but a deed mā & ordened his seruauntes to offre vnto him. Thus by processe of tyme & thorow lōge custome, this error was kepte as a lawe, & tyraū tes cōpelled mē by violēce to honor ymages. As for those yt were so farre of, yt mē migt not worshipe them presently, their picture was brought frō farre (like the ymage of a kynge whō they wolde honoure) to the intent that with greate diligence they might worshipe him which was farre of, as though he had bene present. Agayne, the syngular connyn be of the craftesman gaue the ignoraunt also a greate occasiō to worshipe ymages. For the workman wyllinge to do him a pleasure that sett him a worke, laboured with all his connynge to make the ymage of the best fashion. And so (thorow the beuty of the worke) the comon people was disceaued, in so moch that they toke him now for a God, which a litle afore was but honored as a man. And this was the erroure of mans life, whan men (ether for to serue their owne affeccion, or to do some pleasure vnto kinges) ascrybed vnto stones and stockes the name of God, which ought to be geuen vnto no man.

Morouer, this was not ynough for them that they erred in the knowlege of God: but where as they lyued in the greate warres of ignoraunce, those many and greate plages called they peace. Deut. 1 . b ere. 7. a nd 19. a For ether they slewe their awne children and offred them, or dyd sacrifice in the night season, or els helde vnreasonable watches: so that they kepte nether life ner mariage cleane: but ether one slewe another to death maliciously, or els greued his neghboure wt aduoutrie. And thus were all thinges myxte together: bloude, manslaughter, theft, dissimulacion, corrupcion, vnfaithfulnesse, sedicion, periury, disquyetinge of good men, vnthākfulnes, defylinge of soules, chaū ginge of byrth, vnstedfastnesse of mariage, mysordre of aduoutrie and vnclennesse. And why? the honouringe of abhominable ymages, is the cause, the begynuynge and ende of all euell. For they yt worshipe Idols, either they are madd whā they be mery, or prophecie lyes, or lyue vngodly, or els lightly mansweare them selues. For in so moch as their trust is in ye Idols (which haue nether soule ner vnderstondinge) though they sweare falsely, yet they thinke it shal not hurte them.

Therfore commeth a greate plage vpon them, and that worthely: for they haue an euell opiniō of God, geuinge hede vnto Idols, swearinge vniustly to disceaue, and dispysinge righteousnes. For their swearinge is no vertue, but a plage of them that synne, and goeth euer with the offence of the vngodly.

The XV. Chapter.

BVt thou (O or God) art swete, longe sufferinge and true, and in mercy ordrest thou all thinges. Though we synne, yet are we thine, for we knowe thy strength. Yf we synne not, then are we sure, that thou regardest vs. For to knowe the, is parfecte righteousnes: Yee to knowe ye righteousnes and power, is the rote of immortalite. As for the thinge that men haue founde out thorow theyr euell science, it hath not disceaued vs: as the payntinge of the picture (an vnprofitable laboure) and carued ymage, with diuerse colours, whose sight entiseth the ignoraunt: so that he honoureth and loueth the picture of a deed ymage, that hath no soule.

Neuertheles, they that loue soche euell thinges, are worthy of death: they that trust in them, they that make them, they that loue them, and they that honoure them. The potter also taketh & tempereth soft earth, laboureth it, and geueth it the fashion of a vessell, what so euer serueth for oure vse: and so of one pece of claye he maketh some cleane vessel for seruice, and some contrary. But where to euery vessell serueth, that knoweth ye potter himself. So with his vayne laboure he maketh a god of the same claye: this doth euen he, which a litle afore was made of earth himself, and within a litle whyle after (whan he dyeth) turneth to earth agayne.

Notwithstandinge, he careth not ye more because he shal labor ner because his life is shorte: but stryueth to excell goldsmythes, ye syluer smythes & copper smithes, and taketh it for an honor to make vayne thinges. For his hert is ashes, his hope is but vaine earth & his life is more vyle then claye: for so moch as he knoweth not his awne maker, that gaue him his soule to worke, and brethed in him the breth of life. They counte oure life but a pastyme, and oure conuersacion to be butt a market, and that men shulde euer be gettinge, yee and that by euell meanes. Now he yt of earth maketh frayle vessell and ymages, knoweth himself to offende aboue all other.

All the enemies of thy people and yt holde them in subieccion, are vnwyse, vnhappie and exceadinge proude vnto their owne soules: 〈…〉 for they iudge all the Idols of the Heithē to be goddes, which nether haue eyesight to se, ner noses to smell, ner eares to heare, ner fingers of handes for to grope: & as for their fete, they are to slowe to go. For man made them, and he that hath but a borowed sprete, fashioned them. But no man can make a God like vnto him: for seinge he is but mortall himself, it is but mortall that he maketh with vnrighteous handes. He himself is better then they whom he worshippeth, for he lyued though he was mortall, but so dyd neuer they. Yee they worshippe beestes also which are most miserable: for compare thinges that can not fele vnto them, & they are worse then those. Yet is there not one of these beestes, that with his sight cā beholde eny good thinge, nether haue they geuen prayse ner thankes vnto God.

The XVI. Chapter.

FOr these and soch other thinges haue they suffred worthy punyshment, & thorow ye multitude of beestes are they roted out. Insteade of ye which punishmentes thou hast graciously ordred thine awne people, & geuen them their desyre that they lōged for: a new & straunge taist, preparinge them quales to be their meate: 〈◊〉 . 11. g to the intent yt (by the thinges which were shewed and sent vnto them) they yt were so gredy of meate, might be withdrawen euen from the desyre that was necessary. But these within shorte tyme were brought vnto pouerte, and taisted a new meate. For it was requisite yt (without eny excuse) destruccion shulde come vpō those which vsed tyrāny, & to shewe onely vnto the other, how their enemies were destroyed. 〈◊〉 . 1. a For whan the cruell woodnesse of the beestes came vpon them, they peryshed thorow the stinges of the cruell serpentes

Notwithstōdinge yi wrath endured not perpetually, but they were put in feare for a litle season, yt they might be refourmed, hauynge a token of saluacion, to remembre the cōmaundement of thy lawe. For he yt cōuerted, was not healed by the thinge yt he sawe, but by THE, O sauio of all. So in this thou shewdest thine enemies, yt it is thou, which deliuerest frō all euell. As for thē whan they were bytten wt greshoppers and flyes, 〈◊〉 . 10. d they died, for they were worthy to perish by soch: But nether the teth of dragons ner of venymous wormes ouer came ye children, for thy mercy was euer by them & helped thē. Therfore were they punyshed to remēbre thy wordes, but hastely were they healed agayne: lest they shulde fall in to so depe forgetfulnesse, that they might not vse thy helpe.

It was nether herbe ner plaster yt restored thē to health, but thy worde (o LORDE) which healeth all thinges. It is thou (o LORDE) yt hast the power of life & death: 〈◊〉 . 32. f 〈…〉 . b thou ledest vnto deathes dore, & bringest vp agayne. But man thorow wickednes slayeth his owne soule, & when his sprete goeth forth, it turneth not agayne, nether maye he call agayne ye soule yt is takē awaye: It is not possible to escape yi hande. For ye vngodly yt wolde not knowe ye, were punyshed by ye strēgth of thine arme: 〈◊〉 9. c wt straūge waters, hales and raynes were they persecuted, & thorow fyre were they cōsumed. For it was a wonderous thinge that fyre might do more then water which quēcheth all thinges: but ye worlde is ye auēger of the righteous. Some tyme was ye fyre so tame, yt the beestes which were sent to punysh ye vngodly, brent not: & yt because they shulde se & knowe, yt they were persecuted wt the punyshmēt of God. And somtyme brent the fyre in the water on euery syde, yt it might destroye ye vnrighteous naciō of the earth. Againe, thou hast fed thine awne people wt angels fode, Exo. 16. & sent thē bred ready from heauē (without their labo) beynge very pleasaūt & well gusted. And to shewe thy riches & swetnesse vnto thy childrē, thou gauest euery one their desyre, so yt euery man might take what liked him best. But the snowe & yse abode the violēce of the fyre, & melted not: yt they might knowe, yt the fyre burninge in the hale & rayne, destroied ye frute of ye enemies: ye fyre also forgatt his strēgth agayne, yt ye righteous might be norished. For ye creature yt serueth ye (which art ye maker) is fearse in punyshinge ye vnrighteous, but it is easy & gētle to do good, vnto soch as put their trust in the. Therfore dyd all thinges alter at the same tyme, & were all obediēt vnto thy grace, which is ye norse of all thinges, acordinge to ye desyre of thē yt had nede therof: yt ye childrē (O LORDE) whō thou louest, Deut. 8. Matt. 4 might knowe, yt it is not nature & the growinge of frutes yt fedeth mē, but yt it is ye worde, which preserueth thē yt put their trust in the. For loke what might not be destroyed wt the fyre, as soone as it was warmed wt a litle Sonne beame, it melted: yt all men might knowe, yt thankes ought to be geuen vnto ye before ye Sonne ryse, & yt thou oughtest to be worshipped before ye daye sprynge. For ye hope of ye vnthankfull shal melt awaie as the wynter yse, & perishe as water, yt is not necessary.

The XVII. Chapter.

GReate are thy iudgmētes (o LORDE) & thy councels can not be expressed: Rom. 11. therfore men do erre, yt wil not be refourmed wt thy wyszdome. For whan the vnrighteous thought to haue thy holy people in subieciō, they were bounde wt the bandes of darcknes & longe night, shutt vnder ye rofe, Exo. 10. thinkinge to escape ye euerla tinge wiszdome. And whyle they thought to be hyd in ye darcknesse of their synnes, they were scatered abrode in ye very myddest of the darck coueringe of forgetfulnes, put to horrible feare & wonderously vexed. For the corner where they were, might not kepe them from feare: because ye sounde came downe and vexed them: yee many terryble and straunge visions made them afrayed.

No power of the fyre might geue them light, nether might the cleare flāmes of the starres lightē yt horrible night. For there appeared vnto thē a sodane fyre, very dredeful: At ye which (whan they sawe nothinge) they were so afrayed, that they thought ye thinge which they sawe, to be the more fearfull. As for the sorcery & enchauntemēt yt they vsed, •• od. 7. b it came to derisiō, and the proude wyszdome was brought to shame. For they yt promysed to dryue awaie the fearfulnes & drede frō ye weake soules, were sick for feare thē selues, and that wt scorne. And though none of ye wōders feared thē, yet were they afrayed at the beestes which came vpon thē, & at ye Hissynge of the serpētes: In so moch that with trēblinge they swowned, & sayde they sawe not ye ayre, which no mā yet maye escape.

For it is an heuy thinge, whā a mans owne consciēce beareth recorde of his wickednes & condēpneth him. And why? a vexed & wounded consciēce, taketh euer cruell thinges in hāde. 〈◊〉 . 45. a Fearfulnes is nothinge els, but a declaringe yt a mā seketh helpe & defence, to answere for him self. And loke how moch lesse the hope is within, the more is ye vn certaynte of the matter, for the which he is punished. But they yt came in ye mightie night, slepte ye slepe yt fell vpō thē frō vnder & frō aboue: somtyme were they afrayed thorow ye feare of ye wonders, & somtyme they were so weake, yt they swowned withall: for an hastie & sodane fearfulnes came vpon thē. Afterwarde, yf eny of thē had fallē, he was kepte & shutt in preson, but without chaynes. But yf eny dwelt in a vyllage, yf he had bene an hyrd or huszbandman, he suffred intollerable necessite: for they were all bounde with one chayne of darcknesse.

Whether it were a blasynge wynde, or a swete songe of ye byrdes amonge the thicke braunches of the trees, or the vehemence of haistie rūnynge water, or greate noyse of ye fallynge downe of stones, or the playenge & rūnynge of beastes whō they sawe not, or ye mightie noyse of roaringe beestes, or ye sownde yt answereth agayne in the hye mountaynes: it made thē swowne for very feare. For all the earth shyned wt cleare light, & no mā was hyndered in his labor. Onely vpon thē there fell a heuy night, an ymage of darcknesse that was to come vpon them. Yee they were vnto them selues the most heuy & horrible darcknesse.

The XVIII. Chapter.

NEuertheles thy sayntes had a very greate light (and the enemies herde their voyce, but they sawe not the figure of them.) And because they suffred not ye same thinges, they magnified the: and they yt were vexed afore (because they were not hurte now) thanked the, and besought ye (o God) yt there might be a difference. Therfore had they a burnynge piler of fyre to lede them in the vnknowne waye, 〈…〉 & thou gauest them the Sonne for a fre gift without eny hurte. Reason it was, that they shulde want light & to be put in the preson of darcknes, which kepte thy childrē in captiuyte, by whom the vncorrupte light of the lawe of ye worlde was for to be geuen. Whan they thought to slaye the babes of the righteous (one beinge laied out, 〈…〉 and yet preserued to be leder vnto the other) thou broughtest out the whole multitude of the children, 〈…〉 and destroydest these in the mightie water. Of that night were oure fathers certified afore, that they knowinge vnto what oothes they had geuen credē ce, might be of good cheare. Thus thy people receaued ye health of the righteous, but the vngodly were destroied. For like as thou hast hurte oure enemies, so hast thou promoted vs whom thou calledest afore. For the righteous children of the good men offred secretly, & ordred the lawe of righteousnes vnto vnite: yt the iust shulde receaue good and euell in like maner, singinge prayses vnto ye father of all men. Agayne, there was herde an vnconuenient voyce of the enemies, & a piteous crie for childrē that were bewayled. The master and the seruaūt were punyshed alike, the meane man and the kynge suffred in like maner. For they all together had innumerable that dyed one death.

Nether were ye lyuinge sufficient to bury ye deed, for in ye twincklinge of an eye, 〈…〉 the noblest nacion of thē was destroyed. As oft as God helped thē afore, yet wolde it not make thē beleue: but in ye destruccion of ye first borne they knowleged, that it was ye people of God. For whyle all thinges were still, & whā ye night was in ye myddest of hir course, thy Allmightie worde (o LORDE) leapte downe frō heauē out of ye royall trone, as a rough mā of warre, in ye myddest of ye londe yt was destroyed: & ye sharpe swerde perfourmed yi straite cōmaundemēt, stādinge & fyllinge all thinges wt death: yee it stode vpō ye earth & reached vnto the heauen. Then the sight of the euell dreames vexed them sodenly, and fearfulnesse came vpon them vnawarres.

Then laye there one here, another there half deed half quyck, and shewed the cause of his death. For the visions that vexed thē, shewed thē these thinges afore: so that they were not ignoraunt, wherfore they perished.

The tentacion of death touched the righteous also, and amonge the multitude in the wyldernesse there was insurreccion, but thy wrath endured not longe. For the fautlesse man wente in all the haist, 〈◊〉 16 g and toke the battayll vpon him, brought forth the weap of his ministracion: euen prayer and ye cēsours of recōcilinge, set himself agaynst ye wrath, and so brought the misery to an ende: declaringe therby, that he was thy seruaunt. For he ouercame not the multitude with bodely power, ner with weapēs of might: but with the worde he subdued him that vexed him, puttinge the in remembraunce of the ooth & couenaūt made vnto the fathers. For whan the deed were fallen downe by heapes one vpon another, he stode in the myddest, pacified the wrath, and parted ye waye vnto the lyuynge. 〈…〉 . b. c And why in his longe garmēt was all the beuty, and in the foure rowes of the stones was the glory of the fathers grauē, and thy maiesty was written in the crowne of his heade. Vnto these the destroyer gaue place, and was afrayed of them: for it was only a tentacion worthy of wrath.

The XIX. Chapter.

AS for the vngodly, the wrath came vpō them without mercy vnto the ende. For he knew before what shulde happē vnto them: how that (whan they had cōsented to lett them go, and had sent them out with greate diligence) they wolde repente, & folowe vpon them. For whan they were yet mournynge and makinge lamētacion by the graues of the deed, 〈◊〉 14. a they deuysed another foolishnes: so that they persecuted them in their flienge, whom they had cast out afore wt prayer. Worthy necessite also brought them vnto this ende, for they had cleane forgotten the thinges yt happened vnto them afore. But the thinge that was wantynge of their punyshment, was requysite so to be fulfilled vpon them with tormētes: that thy people might haue a maruelous passage thorow, and that these might fynde a straunge death.

Thē was euery creature fashioned agayne of the new acordinge to the wyll of their maker, obeyenge thy commaundementes, yt thy children might be kepte without hurte. For the cloude ouershadowed their tentes, & the drye earth appeared, where afore was water: so yt in the reed see there was a waye without impediment, and the greate depe became a grene felde: where thorow all ye people wente that were defended with thy hande, seinge thy wonderous & maruelous workes. For as ye horses, so were they fedd, & leapte like lābes, praysinge the (o LORDE) which haddest delyuered them. And why? they were yet myndefull of the thinges, that happened whyle they dwelt in the londe: how the grounde brought forth flyes insteade of catell, and how ye ryuer scrauled with the multitude of frogges in steade of fyszshes.

But at the last they sawe a new creacion of byrdes, Exo. 16. c Nu. 11. g what tyme as they were disceaued with lust, and desyred delicate meates. For whan they were speakinge of their appetite, the quales came vp vnto them from the see, and punyshmentes came vpon ye synners, not without the tokēs which came to passe afore by the vehemēce of ye streames: for they suffred worthely acordinge to their wickednesses, they dealt so abhominably & churlishly with straungers. Some receaued no vnknowne gestes, some brought ye straungers in to bondage that dyd them good. Besyde all these thinges there were some, that not only receaued no straungers with their wylles, but persecuted those also, . oh. b and dyd thē moch euell, that receaued thē gladly. Therfore were they punyshed with blyndnesse, like as they that were couered with sodane darcknesse at the dores of the righteous: Gen. 19. 4. Re. 6. so yt euery one sought ye intraunce of his dore.

Thus the elementes turned in to them selues, like as whan one tune is chaunged vpon an instrument of musick, and yet all the residue kepe their melody: which maye easely be perceaued, by the sight of the thinges that are come to passe. The drye lōde was turned in to a watery, & ye thinge that afore swamme in the water, wente now vpon the drye grounde. The fyre had power in the water (cōtrary to his awne vertue) and the water forgatt his awne kynde to quench. Agayne, the flammes of the noysome beastes hurte not the flesh of them that wēte with them, nether melted they the yse, which els melteth lightly. In all thinges hast thou promoted thy people (o LORDE) and brought them to honoure: thou hast not despysed them, but allwaye and in all places hast thou stonde by them.

The ende of the boke of wyszdome.
Ecclesiasticus called Iesus Syrac The prologe of Iesus the sonne of Syrac vnto his boke.

MAny and greate mē haue declared wyszdome vnto vs out of ye lawe, out of ye prophetes & out of other that folowed thē. In the which thinges Israel ought to be commended, by the reason of doctrine and wiszdome: Therfore they that haue it & reade it, shulde not onely thē selues be wyse there thorow, but serue other also with teachinge and wrytinge.

After that my graundfather Iesus had geuen diligent laboure to reade the lawe, the prophetes and other bokes that were left vs of oure fathers, and had wel exercised himself therin: he purposed also to wryte some thinge of wyszdome and good maners, to the intēt that they which were wyllinge to lerne and to be wyse, might haue the more vnderstandinge, and be the more apte to lede a good conuersacion.

Wherfore I exorte you to receaue it louyngly, to reade it with diligence, and to take it in good worth: though oure wordes be not so eloquent as the famous oratours. For the thinge that is wryttin in the Hebrue tonge, soundeth not so well whan it is trāslated in to another speache. Not only this boke of myne, but also the lawe, the prophetes, and other bokes sounde farre other wyse, then they do, whan they are spoken in their awne language.

Now in the XXXVIII. yeare whan I came in to Egipte in the tyme of Ptolomy Euerges, and continued there all my life, I gat libertie to reade and wryte many good thinges. Wherfore I thought it good and necessary, to bestowe my diligence and trauayle to interprete this boke. And consideringe that I had tyme, I laboured and dyd my best to perfourme this boke, and to brynge it vnto light: that the straūgers also which are disposed to lerne, might applye them selues vnto good maners, & lyue acordinge to ye lawe of ye LORDE.

What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. All wyszdome commeth of God, for he onely is wyse The frute of Gods feare. Chap. II. An exortacion vnto pacience & to the feare of God. Chap. III. A doctryne for children, how they shulde honoure father and mother: & how men ought to be gentle and lowly. Chap. IIII. Wyszdome lerneth to be mercifull and louynge vnto euery man. What rewarde wyszdome geueth, to them that loue her and seke her. Chap. V. Let no man trust in his riches, let no man leane vpon his owne power, let no man despyse the mercy & longe sufferynge of God. Chap. VI. Of true & false frendshipe. An exortacion to herken vnto wyszdome. Chap. VII. Many goodly lessons and documē tes. Chap. VIII. He teacheth to bewarre of strife, to thincke scorne of no mā, to avoyde suerryshipp, to bewarre of branelesse and cruell people. Chap. IX. How mē shulde behaue them selues with their wyues, & how olde frendshipe ought nor to be broken &c. with many other good lessons. Chap. X. Of iudges & rulers of the people. How pryde ought to be eschued. Chap. XI. Many good instruccions. Chap. XII. How and to whom a mā shulde do good. Chap. XIII. How the poore shulde kepe himself from the riche. Chap. XIIII. The vnfaithfulnes and wickednes of rich nygardes. An exortacion to do good & to cleue vnto wyszdome. Chap. XV. The profit that commeth of the feare of God & of wyszdome, which the wicked will not receaue. Chap. XVI. The multitude of euell children is not good, for the grace of God is not amonge the vngodly. The pacience, mercy, and wyszdome of God. Chap. XVII. How God made man, endewed him with giftes, openynge his wil & lawe vnto him: but chose Israel out of all people. Chap. XVIII. The wyszdome of God and ordre of his workes, which no man maye comprehende. The dayes of man are shorte. God suffreth longe, rebuketh and teacheth all soch as wil receaue nurtoure. Chap. XIX. Many good lessons of wyszdome. Chap. XX. Men ought to geue warnynge, to exorte and to rebuke: but not to be cruell, violent or malicious. Of sylence, and speakinge, & how to bewarre of lyes. Chap. XXI. All maner of synnes ought to be eschued The difference of the wyse and foolish. Chap. XXII. A foole wyll not be refourmed nor rebuked. Be faithfull vnto thy neghboure and frende. Chap. XXIII. A faithfull prayer vnto God, to preserue the mouth and tonge from noysome wordes and oothes, & the hert from euell thoughtes. How greate abhominacion aduoutry is. Chap. XXIIII. A commendacion of wyszdome. Chap. XXV. There is nothinge better, then an honest verteous woman. Agayne, there is nothinge worse then an euell, vngodly, & frowarde woman. Chap. XXVI. A commendacion and prayse of a good honest woman, and how noysome an euell wyfe is. Chap. XXVII. Many goodly sentences. Chap. XXVIII. Men ought not to take vengeaū ce, but euery man to forgeue his neghboure, & not to beare euell wil ner to stryue. What harme commeth of false tongues & slaunderers. Chap. XXIX. How mē shulde haue compassion and lende vnto their neghbours: and how they that borowe, ought to behaue them selues agayne. Of vnaduysed suertieshipe. How euery man ought to be content with that he hath, and not to be chargeable vnto other. Chap. XXX. Who so loueth his children, teacheth them, nurtoreth them and chasteneth thē. Health is a noble gift. Chap. XXXI. The misery of the cuvetous. How one shulde be haue him self at the table, and be measurable in meate and drynke. What harme commeth of drynkinge to moch wyne. Chap. XXXII. To be set in rule & dignite, shulde not make a man proude and hye minded, but to feare, to be diligent and faithful vnto them, that are committed vnto him &c. with other good lessons. Chap. XXXIII. How God ought to be feared, & his lawe kepte. The difference of dayes and of men. The ordringe of children and housholde. Chap. XXXIIII. The hope of the vngodly is vayne: the righteous shalbe preserued, for he putteth his trust in God, which wil not be reconciled with offeringes, but with an innocent life. Chap. XXXV. The offringe that pleaseth God is to kepe his cōmaundementes, to be thankful, mercifull, and to ceasse from synne God is the defender of wyddowes, fatherlesse, and oppressed, and heareth their prayer. Chap. XXXVI. An earnest prayer vnto God for helpe agaynst the enemies. The prayse of an honest woman. Chap. XXXVII. Of true & false frēdshipe. Good councell ought to be sought at them, which are verteous and feare God, but first at God himself. Of wyszdome and sobernesse. Chap. XXXVIII. Phisicians and medicyns ought not to be despysed, but vsed as a gift of God: neuertheles God himself is first to be sought in all sicknesse. Men shulde be measurable in mourninge for the deed, & prepare them selues also vnto death. Euery workman ought to be diligent in his laboure, and to please God with kepinge his commaundementes. Chap. XXXIX. Wyszdome and the feare of God excell all other thinges. All thinges are made to serue the faithfull. Chap. XL. The life of man is a battayll. All thinges passe awaie, but the trueth abydeth for euer. The liberall and louynge condicions of the righteous. The vnfaithfullnes and nigardnesse of the vngodly. Chap. XLI. Death is fearfull vnto the wicked, but a ioye vnto the righteous. The cursinge of the vngodly. A good name is a noble thinge. What the thinges be, wherof a man ought to be ashamed. Chap. XLII. Where one ought not to be ashamed. The care and bringinge vp of childrē. The power and wyszdome of God. Chap. XLIII. The beuty of the firmamēt, wher by the power and wyszdome of God is knowne, & shulde by right be praysed. Chap. XLIIII. A commendacion and prayse of the olde fathers. Chap. XLV. Of the faithfull worthies, and their noble actes. Of the presthode and offeringes. The punyshment of the sedicious. Chap. XLVI. The manlynesse of Iosue & Caleb. Of the rulers in Israel, vnto the tyme of faithfull Samuel. Chap. XLVII. Of Nathan, Dauid and Salomon. Chap. XLVIII. Of Elyas, Ezechias and Esay. Chap. XLIX. The actes of good Iosias. The decaye of Ierusalem. Of the prophetes and patriarckes. Chap. L. A commēdacion of Simeon the sonne of Onias. Chap. LI. A prayer of Iesus Syrac. Wyszdome calleth the ignoraunt vnto her.

The first Chapter.

ALl wyszdome cōmeth of God the LORDE, 3. Re. 3. and 4. c Iob 28. c Iacobi 1. & hath bene euer wt him, and is before all tyme. Who hath nombred ye sonde of the see, ye droppes of the rayne & the dayes of tyme? Who hath measured the heyth of heauē, ye bredth of the earth & the depenesse of the see? Who hath sought out the grounde of Gods wiszdome, which hath bene before all thinges? Wiszdome hath bene before all thinges, Rom. 11. and the vnderstandinge of prudence from euerlastinge. (Gods worde in the heyth is the well of wyszdome, and the euerlastinge cōmaundementes are the intraunce of her.) Vnto whom hath ye rote of wyszdome bene decla red? Or who hath knowne hir wyt? Vnto whom hath the doctrine of wyszdome bene discouered and shewed? and who hath vnderstande the many folde entraūce of her?

There is one: euē the Hyest, the maker of all thinges, ye Allmightie, ye kynge of power (of whom men ought to stonde greatly in awe) which sytteth vpon his trone, beinge a God of dominion: He hath created her thorow ye holy goost: he hath sene her, nombred her, and measured her: He hath poured her out vpon all his workes, and vpon all flesh acordinge to his gift: he geueth her richely vnto them that loue him. The feare of the LORDE is worshipe and triūphe, gladnesse & a ioyfull crowne. The feare of the LORDE maketh a mery hert, geueth gladnesse, ioye and longe life. Who so feareth the LORDE, it shal go well with him at the last, & in the daye of his death he shal be blessed.

The loue of God is honorable wiszdome: loke vnto whom it appeareth, they loue it, for they se what wōderous thinges it doth. The feare of LORDE is the begynnynge of wyszdome, •• al. 110. b 〈◊〉 . 9. b and was made with the faithfull in the mothers wombe: it shall go with the chosen wemen, and shalbe knowne of ye righteous and faithfull. The feare of the LORDE is ye right Gods seruyce, that preserueth and iustifieth the hert, and geueth myrth & gladnesse. Who so feareth the LORDE, shal be happie: and whan he hath nede of comforte, he shal be blessed. To feare God is the wiszdome that maketh rich, and bringeth all good with her. She fylleth the whole house with hir giftes, & the garners with her treasure. The feare of the LORDE is the crowne of wyszdome, and geueth plenteous peace & health. He hath sene her & nombred her: knowlege and vnderstandinge of wyszdome hath he poured out as rayne: and them that helde her fast, hath he brought vnto honor.

The feare of the LORDE is the rote of wyszdome, and hir braunches are longe life. (In the treasures of wyszdome is vnderstondinge and deuocion of knowlege, but wyszdome is abhorred of synners.) The feare of the LORDE dryueth out synne, for he that is without feare, can not be made righteous, & his wilfull boldnes is his owne destruccion. A paciēt man wyl suffre vnto the tyme, and thē shal he haue ye rewarde of ioye. A good vnderstōdinge wil hyde his wordes for a tyme, and many mēs lippes shal speake of his wyszdome. In the treasures of wyszdome is the declaracion of doctrine, but the synner abhorreth the worshipe of God. My sonne, yf thou desyre wiszdome, kepe the commaundement, and God shal geue her vnto the: for the feare of the LORDE is wyszdome & nurtoure, he hath pleasure in faith and louynge mekenesse, and he shal fyll the treasures therof. Be not obstinate and vnfaithfull to the feare of the LORDE, and come not vnto him with a duble hert. Be not an ypocrite in the sight of men, and take good hede what thou speakest. Marck well these thinges, lest thou happen to fall and brynge thy soule to dishonoure, and so God discouer thy secretes, and cast the downe in the myddest of the congregacion: because thou woldest not receaue the feare of God, and because thy hert is full of faynednes and disceate.

The II. Chapter.

MY sonne, yf thou wilt come in to ye seruyce of God, Matt. 〈…〉 Tim. 〈…〉 2. Pe . 〈…〉 stonde fast in rightousnes and feare, & arme thy soule to tentacion: sattle thine hert, and be paciēt: bowe downe thine eare, receaue the wordes of vnderstondinge, and shrencke not awaye, whan thou art entysed. Holde the fast vpon God, ioyne thy self vnto him & suffre, that thy life maye encreace at the last. What so euer happeneth vnto the, receaue it: suffre in heuynesse, and be pacient in thy trouble. Sap. 3 Pro. 〈…〉 For like as golde and syluer are tryed in the fyre, euen so are acceptable men in the fornace of aduersite. Beleue in God, and he shal helpe the: ordre thy waie a right, and put thy trust in him. Holde fast his feare, and growe therin O ye yt feare the LORDE, take sure holde of his mercy: shrencke not awaye frō him, that ye fall not. O ye that feare ye LORDE, beleue him, and youre rewarde shall not be emptye. O ye that feare ye LORDE, put youre trust in him, & mercy shal come vnto you for pleasure. O ye yt feare ye LORDE, set yor loue vpō him, & yor hertes shal be lightened.

Considre the olde generacions of men (o ye children) and marck them well: Psal 〈…〉 Esa 〈…〉 was there euer eny one confounded, that put his trust in the LORDE? Who euer contynued in his feare, and was forsaken? Or whom dyd he euer despyse, that called faithfully vpō him? For God is gracious and mercifull, he forgeueth synnes in ye tyme of trouble, and is a defender for all them yt seke him in ye trueth. Wo be vnto him that hath a dubble hert, wicked lippes and euell occupied handes, & to the synner yt goeth two maner of waies. Wo be vnto them that are lowse of hert, which put not their trust in God, and therfore shal they not be defended of him. Wo be vnto them that haue lost pacience, forsaken the right wayes, and are turned back in to frowarde wayes. What wyl they do, whan the LORDE shal begynne to vyset thē?

They that feare ye LORDE, wil not mystrust his worde: and they that loue him, 〈…〉 wyl kepe his commaundement. They that feare the LORDE, wyl seke out ye thinges that are pleasaunt vnto him: and they that loue him, shal fulfill his lawe. 〈…〉 They that feare ye LORDE wil prepare their hertes, and hūble their soules in his sight. (They that feare the LORDE, kepe his commaundementes, and wil be pacient, 〈◊〉 24. c 〈…〉 d tyll they se himself) sayenge: better it is for vs to fall in to the handes of ye LORDE, then in to the hādes of men: for his mercy is as greate as him self.

The III. Chapter.

THe children of wyszdome are a cōgregacion of the righteous, and their exercise is obedience and loue. Heare me youre father (o my deare children) and do there after, 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 . 5. a that ye maie be safe. For the LORDE wil haue the father honoured of the children, and loke what a mother commaūdeth hir children to do, he wil haue it kepte. Who so honoureth his father, his synnes shall be forgeuē him: and he that honoureth his mother, is like one that gathereth treasure together. Who so honoureth his father, shal haue ioye of his owne children: & whan he maketh his prayer, he shal be herde. He that honoureth his father, 〈◊〉 5. a shall haue a longe life: & he that is obedient for ye LORDES sake, his mother shal haue ioye of him.

He that feareth the LORDE, honoureth his father and mother, and doth them seruyce, as it were vnto the LORDE himself. Honoure thy father in dede, in worde and in all pacience, 〈◊〉 7. d 〈◊〉 49. a 〈…〉 . a that thou mayest haue his blessinge: for the blessinge of ye father buyldeth vp the houses of the children, but the mothers curse roteth out the foundacions. Reioyse not whan thy father is reproued, for it is no honoure vnto the, but a shame. For the worshipe of a mans father is his awne worshipe, and where the father is without honoure, it is the dishonesty of the sonne. My sonne, make moch of thy father in his age, and greue him not as longe as he lyueth. And yf his vnderstandinge fayle, haue pacience wt him, & despyse him not in thy strength. For the good dede that thou shewest vnto thy father, shall not be forgotten: and whan thou thy self wantest, it shall be rewarded the (and for thy mothers offence thou shalt be recompensed with good, yee it shal be founded for the in righteousnes) and in the daye of trouble thou shalt be remembred: thy synnes also shall melt awaye, like as the yse in ye fayre warme wether.

He yt forsaketh his father, shall come to shame: & he that defyeth his mother, is cursed of God. My sonne, perfourme ye workes wt louynge mekenesse, so shalt thou be loued aboue other men. 〈…〉 The greater thou art, the more hūble thy self (in all thinges) and thou shalt fynde fauor in the sight of God. For greate power belongeth onely vnto God, & he is honoured of the lowly.

Seke not out the thinges that are aboue thy capacite, Pro. 25. d Rom. 12. a and search not the grounde of soch thinges as are to mightie for the: but loke what God hath commaunded the, Deut. 4. a thinke vpō that allwaye, and be not curious in many of Some rede * thy workes. his workes. For it is not nedefull for the, to se wt thine eyes, ye thinges yt are secrete. Make not thou to moch search in superfluous thinges, and be not curious in many of his workes: for many thinges are shewed vnto the allready, which be aboue ye capacite of men. The medlinge with soch hath begyled many a man, and tangled their wyttes in vanite. Now he that loueth parell, shal per sh therin.

An harde herte shall fayre euell at ye last (an hert that goeth two wayes, shal not prospere: & he that is frowarde of hert, wyll euer be the worse and worse) A wicked hert shall be ladē wt sorowes, and ye vngodly sinner wyll heape one synne vpon another. The councell of the proude hath no health, for ye plante of synne shal be roted out in thē. The hert of h m yt hath vnderstandinge, shal perceaue hye thinges, and a good eare wil gladly herken vnto wyszdome. An hert that is wyse & hath vnderstādinge, wyl abstayne from synnes, and increase in the workes of righteousnes. Water quencheth burnynge fyre, Psal. 40. a Dan. 4. d Math. 5. a & mercy reconcyleth synnes. God hath respecte vnto him yt is thankfull: he thinketh vpon him agaynst the tyme to come: so that whan he falleth, he shal fynde a stronge holde.

The IIII. Chapter.

MY sonne, defraude not the poore of his almes, Deut. 15. a Mat. 25. c and turne not awaye thine eyes from him that hath nede. Despise not an hongrie soule, and defye not the poore in his necessite: greue not the hert of him that is helplesse, and withdrawe not the gift from ye nedefull. Refuse not the prayer of one that is in trouble, and turne not awaye thy face from the nedy. Cast not thine eyes asyde frō ye poore, yt thou geue him not occasion to speake euell of the. For yf he complayne of yt in the bytternes of his soule, his prayer shal be herde: euē he yt made him, shal heare him. Be curteous vnto ye company of the poore, humble thy soule vnto the elder, & bowe downe ye heade to a man of worshipe. Let it not greue the to bowe downe thine eare vnto the poore, but paye thy dett, and geue him a frendly answere, and yt wt mekenesse.

Delyuer him yt suffreth wrōge frō ye hāde of ye oppressor, Gen. 14. Exo. 2. b & be not faint harted whā thou sittest in iudgmēt. Be merciful vnto ye fatherles as a father, & be in steade of an huszbāde vnto their mother: so shalt thou be as an obediēt sonne of ye Hyest, and he shal loue the more thē yi mother doth. Wiszdome bretheth life in to hir children, receaueth thē yt seke her, & wyll go before thē in ye waye of righteousnes. He yt loueth her, loueth life: & they yt seke her diligētly, shal haue greate ioye. They yt kepe her, shal haue the heretage of life: for where she entreth in, there is the blessinge of God. They that honoure her, shal be ye seruauntes of the holy one: and they that loue her, are beloued of God. Who so geueth eare vnto her, shal iudge the Heithē: and he that hath respecte vnto her, shall dwell safely.

He that beleueth her, shal haue her in possess on, and his generacion shal endure: for whan he falleth, she shal go with him before all. eare, drede and tentacion shal she bringe vpon him, and trye him in hir doctrine: tyll she haue so proued him in his thoughtes, that he committe his soule vnto her. Thē shal she stablish him, bringe the right waye vnto him, make hī a glad mā, shewe him hir secretes, and heape vpon him the treasures of knowlege, vnderstondinge and righteousnes. But yf he go wronge, she shall forsake him, and geue him ouer in to the handes of his enemie.

My sonne, make moch of the tyme, eschue the thinge yt is euell, phe. 5. b and for ye life shame not to saye ye trueth. For there is a shame yt bringeth synne, ath. 10. e and there is a shame that bringeth worshipe and fauor. eui. 19. d Accepte no person after thine owne will, that thou be not confounded to thine owne decaye. Be not ashamed of ye neghbor in his aduersite, & kepe not back ye councell whā it maye do good, nether hyde ye wyszdome in hir beuty. For in the tō ge is wyszdome knowne, so is vnderstandinge, knowlege and lernynge in the talkinge of the wyse, & stedfastnesse in ye workes of righteousnes. In no wise speake agaynst the worde of treuth, but be ashamed of the lyes of thine owne ignoraunce. Shame not to confesse thine erroure, and submitte not thyself vnto euery man because of synne. Withstande not ye face of the mightie, and stryue not agaynst the streame. But for the trueth stryue thou vnto death, and God shal fight for the agaynst thine enemies. Be not haystie in thy tonge, nether slack and negligent in thy workes. Be not as a lyon in thine owne house, destroyinge thy housholde folkes, and oppress nge them yt are vnder the. Let not thine hande be stretched out to receaue, Act. 20. c and shutt whan thou shuldest geue.

The V. Chapter.

TRust not vnto thy riches, and saye not: tush, I haue ynough for my life. 〈…〉 (For it shall not helpe in the tyme of vengeaunce and temptacion) Folowe not the lust of thine owne hert in thy strength, and saye not: tush, how shulde I, or who wyl cast me downe because of my workes? for doutles God shal auenge it. And saye not: I haue committed mo synnes, butt what euell hath happened me? For the Allmightie is a pacient rewarder. 〈…〉 Because yt synne is for geuē ye, be not therfore without feare, nether heape one synne vpō another. And saye not: tush, the mercy of the LORDE is greate, 〈…〉 he shal forgeue my synnes, be they neuer so many. For like as he is mercifull, 〈…〉 so goeth wrath from him also, and his indignacion cōmeth downe vpon synners.

Make no tariēge to turne vnto ye LORDE, & put not of frō daye to daie: for sodenly shal his wrath come, & in the tyme of vengeaunce he shal destroie ye. 〈…〉 Trust not in wicked riches for they shal not helpe in the daye of punishment and wrath. Be not caried aboute to euery wynde, and go not in to euery waye: for so doth the synner that hath a dubble tonge (Stonde fast in ye waye of ye LORDE) be stedfast in thy vnderstandinge, abyde by ye worde, and folowe the worde of peace and righteousnes. Be gētle to heare ye worde of God, that thou mayest vnderstande it, and make a true answere wt wyszdome. 〈…〉 Be swift to heare, but slowe and pacient in geuinge answere. Yf thou hast vnderstondinge, shappe thy neghbor an answere: Yf no, laye thine hāde vpō ye mouth: lest thou be trapped in an vndiscrete worde, & so cōfoūded. Honor & worshipe is in a mās wyse talkinge, but yt tōge of ye vndiscrete is his awne distrucciō. 〈…〉 Be not a preuy accuser as longe as thou lyuest, and vse no slaunder wt thy tonge. For shame and sorow goeth ouer the thefe, and an euell name ouer him that is dubble tonged: but he that is a preuy accuser of other men, shalbe hated envyed and confounded. Se that thou iustifie the small and greate alyke.

The VI. Chapter.

BE not ye neghbours enemye for ye frē des sake: for who so is euel shal be ye heyre of rebuke & dishono, & who soeuer beareth envye and a dubble tōge, offendeth. 〈…〉 Be not proude in the deuyce of thyne owne vnderstandinge, lest ye leaues wyther, and ye frute be destroyed, & so thou be left as a drye tre For a wicked soule destroyeth him that hath it, maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemies, (and bringeth him to the porcion of the vngodly. 〈…〉 ) A swete worde multiplieth frendes, and pacifieth thē yt be at variaunce, and a thankfull tonge will be plenteous in a good man. Holde frendshipe wt many, neuertheles haue but one counceler of a thousande.

〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 3 . b 〈◊〉 . 7. a 〈…〉 c Yf thou gettest a frende, proue him first, and be not haistie to geue him credence. For some man is a frende but for a tyme, and wyl not abyde in the daye of trouble. And there is some frende that turneth to enemyte, and taketh parte agaynst the: and yf he knowe eny hurte by the, he telleth it out. Agayne, some frende is but a companyon at the table, 〈…〉 and in the daye of nede he contynueth not. But a sure frende wil be vnto yt euen as thyne owne self, and deale faithfully with thy housholde folke. Yf thou suffre trouble and aduersite, he is with the, and hydeth not him self from the. Departe frō thine enemies, yee and bewarre of thy frendes.

A faithful frende is a stronge defence: who so findeth soch one, findeth a noble treasure. A faithfull frende hath no peare, the weight of golde and syluer is not to be compared to the goodnesse of his faith. A faithfull frende is a medicyne of life, & they yt feare the LORDE, shal fynde him. Who so feareth the LORDE, shal prospere with frendes: and as he is himself, so shal his frende be also My sonne, receaue doctryne frō thy youth vp, so shalt thou fynde wyszdome tyll thou be olde. Go to her as one that ploweth, and soweth, and wayte paciētly for hir good frutes. 〈…〉 For thou shalt haue but litle laboure in hir worke, but thou shalt eate of hir frutes right soone. O how exceadīge sharpe is wiszdome to vnlerned men? an vnstedfast body wyl not remayne in her. Vnto soch she is as it were a twichstone, & he casteth her from him in all the haist: for wyszdome is wt him but in name, there be but few yt haue knowlege of her. (But with them that knowe her, she abydeth euē vnto ye appearinge of God.)

Geue eare (my sonne) receaue my doctryne, and refuse not my councell. Put thy fote in to hir lynckes, 〈◊〉 . 11. c and take hir yock vpon thy neck: bowe downe thy shulder vnder her, beare hir paciently, and be not weery of hir bandes. Come vnto her with ye whole hert, and kepe hir wayes with all thy power. Seke after her, and she shalbe shewed the: and whā thou hast her, forsake her not. For at the last thou shalt fynde rest in her, and that shal be turned to thy greate ioye. Then shal hir fetters be a stronge defence for the, & hir yock a glorious rayment. For the bewtye of life is in her, and hir bandes are the couplinge together of saluacion. Yee a glorious rayment is it, thou shalt put it on, and the same crowne of ioye shalt thou weere.

My sonne, yf thou wilt take hede, thou shalt haue vnderstādinge: and yf thou wilt applye ye mynde, thou shalt be wyse. Yf thou wilt bowe downe thine eare, thou shalt receaue doctryne: and yf thou delyte in hearinge, thou shalt be wyse. Stonde with ye multitude of soch elders as haue vnderstandinge, and consente vnto their wyszdome with thine hert: Eccli. 8. a that thou mayest heare all godly sermons, and that the worthy sentences escape the not. And yf thou seist a man of discrete vnderstandinge, gett the soone vnto him, and let thy fote treade vpon the steppes of his dores. Psal. 1. a Let thy mynde be vpon the commaundementes of God, & be earnestly occupied in his lawes: so shal he stablish ye hert, and geue ye wyszdome at thine owne desyre.

The VII. Chapter.

DO no euell, so shall there no harme happen vnto the. Departe awaye from the thinge that is wicked, and no mysfortune shal medle with the. My sonne, sowe no euell thinges in the sorowes of vnrighteousnes, so shalt thou not reape thē seuenfolde. Labo not vnto man for eny lordshipe, nether vnto the kynge for the seate of honoure. Psal. 142. Eccls. 7. c Iob 9. a. c Luc. 19. b Iustifie not thy self before God (for he knoweth the hert) and desyre not to be reputed wyse in the presence of the kynge. Make no laboure to be made a iudge, excepte it so were, yt thou coudest mightely put downe wickednes: for yf thou shuldest stōde in awe of ye presence of the mightie, thou shuldest fayle in geuynge sentence. Offende not in ye multitude of the cite, and put not thyself amonge the people. Eccli. 12. Bynde not two synnes together, for in one synne shalt thou not be vnpunyshed. Saye not: tush, God wil loke vpō the multitude of my oblacions, and whan I offre to the hyest God, he wyl accepte it.

Be not faynt harted whan thou makest ye prayer, nether slack in geuinge of allmesse. Laugh no man to scorne in the heuynesse of his soule, for God (which seyth all thinges) is he that can bringe downe,1 Reg. 2. and set vp agayne. Accepte no lesynge agaynst thy brother, nether do the same agaynst thy frende. Vse not to make eny maner of lye, for the custome therof is not good. Make not many wordes, whan thou art amonge the elders: and whan thou prayest, make not moch bablinge. Mat. 6. b Eccli. 1. c Ro. 12. b Let no laborious worke be tedious vnto the, nether the huszbandrie which the Allmightie hath created. Make not thy boast in the multitude of thy wickednes, but humble thy self euen from thine hert: and remembre that the wrath shall not be longe in tarienge, and that the vengeaunce of the flesh of ye vngodly is a very fyre and worme. Ge e not ouer thy frende for eny good, ner thy faithfull brother for the best golde.

Departe not from a discrete and good woman, that is fallen vnto the for thy porcion in the feare of the LORDE, for ye gift of hir honesty is aboue golde. eui. 19. c Where as thy seruaunt worketh truly, intreate him not euell, ner the Hyrelinge that is faithfull vnto the. Loue a discrete seruaunte as thine owne soule, defraude him not of his libertie, nether leaue him a poore man. eut. 25. a Yf thou haue catell, loke well to them: and yf they be for thy profit, kepe them. Yf thou haue sonnes, brynge them vp in nurtor and lernynge, ccli. 30. a & holde thē in awe from their youth vp. Yf thou haue daughters, kepe their body, & shew not thy face cherefull towarde thē. Marye ye daughter, and so shalt thou perfourme a weightie matter: but geue her to a man of vnderstandinge. Yf thou haue a wife after thine owne mynde, forsake her not: (but cōmitte not thy self to the hatefull.)

ccli. 3. a obi. 4. a Honoure thy father from thy whole herte, and forgett not the sorofull trauaile that thy mother had wt the: remembre that thou wast borne thorow them, and how cāst thou recōpense them the thinges that they haue done for the? Feare the LORDE with all ye soule, & honoure his ministers. Loue thy maker with all thy strēgth, eut. 12. c and forsake not his seruauntes. Feare the LORDE with all thy soule, 〈◊〉 . 18. b. c & honoure his prestes. Geue thē their porcion of the first frutes and increase of ye earth, like as it is commaūded the: geue thē ye shulders, and their appoynted offeringes, and firstlinges, Reach thine hande vnto the poore, that God maye blesse the with plenteousnes. alat. 6. b Be liberall vnto all men lyuynge, yet let not but do good euen to them that are deed. 〈◊〉 . 1. d

〈◊〉 . 12. b Let not them that wepe be without comforte, but mourne with soch as mourne. Let it not greue the to vyset the sick, 〈◊〉 . 25. c for that shal make the to be loued. What so euer thou takest in hande, remembre the ende, and thou shalt neuer do amysse.

The VIII. Chapter.

STryue not with a mightie man, lest thou chaunse to fall in to his hādes. Make no variaūce wt a riche mā, att. 5. e lest he happen to bringe vp an harde quarell agaynst ye. 〈…〉 For golde & siluer hath vndone many a man, yee euē ye hertes of kynges hath it made to fall. Stryue not wt a mā that is full of wordes, & laye no stickes vpon his fyre. Kepe no company with the vnlerned, lest he geue thy kynred an euell reporte. 〈…〉 Despyse not a man that turneth himself awaye from synne, and cast him not in the teth withall: but remēbre yt we are frayle euerychone. 〈…〉 Thynke scorne of no mā in his olde age, for we waxe olde also. Be not glad of the death of thine enemie, but remembre that we must dye all the sorte of vs (and fayne wolde we come in to ioye. 〈…〉 ) Despyse not the sermons of soch elders as haue vnderstandinge, but acquaunte thy self wt the wyse sentences of them: for of them thou shalt lerne wyszdome and the doctrine of vnderstandinge, and how to serue greate men without complaynte.

Go not from ye doctryne of the elders, for they haue lerned it of their fathers. For of them thou shalt lerne vnderstandinge, so yt thou mayest make answere in ye tyme of nede. Kyndle not ye coales of synners, lest thou be brent in the fyrie flammes of their synnes Resist not the face of the blasphemer, that he laye not wayte for thy mouth. Lende not vnto him that is mightier then thyself: 〈…〉 Yf thou lendest him, counte it but lost. Be not suertie aboue ye power: yf thou be, then thynke surely to paye it. Go not to lawe wt the iudge, for he wyl iudge acordinge to his owne honoure. Trauayle not by the waye wt him yt is branelesse, lest he do the euell: 〈…〉 for he foloweth his awne wilfulnes, & so shalt thou perish thorow his foly.

Stryue not with him that is angrie and cruell, 〈…〉 and go not with him in to ye wyldernes: for bloude is nothinge in his sight, and where there is no helpe, he shal murthur ye. Take no councell at fooles, 〈…〉 for they loue nothinge but the thinges that please themself. Make no coūcell before a straunger, for thou canst not tell what wyll come of it. Opē not thine hert vnto euery man, lest he be vnthā full to the, and put the to reprofe.

The IX. Chapter.

BE not gelous ouer ye wyfe of thy bosome, yt she shew not some shrewed poynte of wicked doctryne vpō the. Geue not the power of thy lyfe vnto a w man, lest she come in yi strength, and so thou be confounded. Loke not vpon a womā that is desyrous of many men, lest thou fall in to hir snares. Vse not the company of a womā that is a player and daūser, & heare hir not, lest thou perish thorow hir entysinge. Beholde not a maydē, that thou be not hurt in hir bewtye. 〈◊〉 5. a Cast not thy mynde vpon harlottes in eny maner of thinge, lest thou destroye both thy self and thine heretage. Go not aboute gasinge in euery layne of the cite, nether wādre thou abrode in the stretes therof. Turne awaye thy face from a beutyfull woman, 〈◊〉 5. c and loke not vpon the fayrnesse of other.

Many a man hath perished thorow the bewty of women, 〈◊〉 34. a 〈◊〉 11 a 〈◊〉 10. 〈…〉 12 for thorow it the desyre is kyndled as it were a fyre. (An aduouterous woman shalbe trodden vnder fote as myre, of euery one that goeth by the waye. Many a man wonderinge the bewtye of a straūge woman, haue bene cast out, for hir wordes kyndle as a fyre.) Sytt not wt another mans wyfe by eny meanes, lye not with her vpon the bedd, make no wordes with her at ye wyne: lest thine hert consent vnto her, & so thou with thy bloude fall in to destruccion. Forsake not an olde frende, for the new shal not be like him.

A new frende is new wine: let him be olde, & thou shalt drynke him with pleasure. Desyre not ye honoure and riches of a synner, for thou knowest not what destruccion is for to come vpon him. Delyte not thou in the thinge that the vngodly haue pleasure in: beinge sure, that the vngodly shall not be accepted vntyll their graue.

Kepe the from the man that hath power to slaye, so nedest thou not to be afrayed of death. And yf thou commest vnto him, make no fawte, lest he happen to take awaye thy life. Remembre that thou goest in the myddest of snares, and vpon the bulworkes of ye cite. Bewarre of thy neghboure as nye as thou canst, 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉 2. b and medle with soch as be wyse and haue vnderstandinge. Let iust men be thy gestes, let thy myrth be in the feare of God, let the remembraūce of God be in thy mynde, and let all thy talkynge be in the commaundementes of the Hyest. In the handes of craftesmen shall the workes be commended, so shal the prynces of the people in the wyszdome of their talkynge. A man full of wordes is perlous in his cite: and he that is temerarious and past shame in his talkinge, is to be abhorred.

The X. Chapter.

A Wyse iudge wil ordre his people with discrecion, and where a man of vnderstandinge beareth rule, there goeth it well. As the iudge of the people is himself, euē so are his officers: and loke what maner of man the ruler of the cite is, soch are they that dwell therin also. . Re. 12. a An vnwise kinge des royeth his people, but where they that be in auctorite are men of vnderstandinge, there the cite prospereth.

The power of the earth is in the hande of God, and whan his tyme is, he shal set a profitable ruler vpon it. In the hande of God is the power of man, and vpō the scrybes shal he laye his honoure. Remembre no wronge of thy neghboure, Leui. 19. c and medle thou wt no vnrighteous workes. Pryde is hatefull before God and men, and all wickednes of the Heithen is to be abhorred. Iere. 27. a Dan. 4. c Because of vnrighteous dealinge, wronge, blasphemies and diuerse disceate, a realme shal be trāslated frō one people to another.

There is nothinge worse then a cuvetous man. What prydest thou the, o thou earth and aszshes? There is not a more wicked thinge, then to loue moneye. And why? soch one hath his soule to sell: yet is he but fylthie dō ge whyle he lyueth.

And though the phisician shewe his helpe neuer so longe, yet in conclucion it goeth after this maner: to daye a kynge, tomorow deed. For whan a man dyeth, he is the heyre of serpentes, beastes and wormes. The begynnynge of mans pryde, is to fall awaye from God: and why? his hert is gone from his maker, for pryde is the origenall of all synne. Who so taketh holde therof, shalbe fylled with cursinges, and at ye last it shal ouer throwe him. Therfore hath the LORDE brought the cōgregacions of the wicked to dishonor, and destroyed them vnto the ende.

God hath destroyed the seates of proude prynces, and sett vp the meke in their steade. Sap. 6. b Luc. 1. d 14. b 18. b God hath wythered the rotes of the proude Heithen, and planted the lowly amonge them. God hath ouerthrowne the londes of the Heithen, Gen. 19. and destroyed them out of the grounde. He hath caused them to wyther awaye, he hath brought them to naught, and made the memoriall of them to ceasse from out of the earth. (God hath destroyed the name of the proude, and left the name of ye humble of mynde.) Pryde was not made for man, nether wrothfulnes for mens children. The sede of men that feareth God, shalbe brought to honoure: but ye sede which transgresseth the commaundementes of ye LORDE shalbe shamed. He yt is the ruler amōge brethren, is holdē in honoure amōge them, and he regardeth soch as feare the LORDE.

The glory of the riche, of the honorable and of the poore is the feare of God.

Despyse not thou the iust poore man, and magnifie not ye rich vngodly. Greate is the iudge and mightie in hono, yet is there none greater, then he yt feareth God. Vnto ye seruaunt that is disceete, Pro. 17. a shal the fre do seruyce. He that is wyse and well nurtoured, wyll not grudge whan he is refourmed, & an ignoraūt body shal not come to honoure.2. Re. 12. c Be not proude to do thy worke, and dispare not in the tyme of aduersite. Pro. 12. b Better is he yt laboureth, and hath plenteousnes of all thinges, then he yt is gorgious, and wanteth bred.

My sonne, kepe thy soule in mekenes, and geue her hir due honoure. Who shal iustifie him, that synneth agaynst himself? Who wil honoure him, that dishonoureth his owne life? The poore is honoured for his faithfulnes and trueth, but ye rich is had in reputaciō because of his goodes. He that ordreth himself honestly in pouerte, how moch more shal he behaue himself honestly in riches? And who so ordreth himself vnhonestly in riches, how moch more shal he behaue himself vnhonestly in pouerte?

The XI. Chapter.

THe wyszdome of him yt is brought lowe, Gen. 41. f Dan. 6. a shal lift vp his heade, and shal make him to sytt amonge greate mē. Commende not a man in his bewtye, nether despyse a man in his vtter appearaūce. The Bey is but a small beast amonge the foules, yet is hir frute exceadīge swete. Be not proude of thy rayment, and exalte not thyself in the daye of thy honoure: Acto. 12. d for ye workes of the Hyest onely are wonderfull: yee glorious, secrete and vnknowne are his workes. Many tyrauntes haue bene fayne to syt downe vpō the earth,1. Reg. 15. f Hest. 6.7 & ye vnlickly hath worne ye crowne Many mightie mē haue bene brought lowe, and the honorable haue bene delyuered in to other mens handes. Deut. 13. b and .17. b Iosu. 7. c and .22. c Condemne no man, before thou haue tryed out the matter: and whan thou hast made enquisicion, then refourme righteously. Geue no sentēce before thou hast herde the cause, Pro. 18. b but first let men tell out their tayles.

Stryue not for a matter that toucheth not thyself, and stonde not in the iudgment of synners. My sonne, medle not with many matters: Mat. 19. c 1. Ti. 6. b & yf thou wylt be riche, thou shalt not gett it: and though thou rennest ye waye afore, yet shalt thou not escape. There is some mā that laboureth, Pro. 10. c and the more he weerieth himself, the lesse he hath. Agayne, some man is slouthfull, hath nede of helpe, wāteth strēgth, and hath greate pouerte, and Gods eye loketh vpon him to good, setteth him vp from his lowe estate, 〈…〉 and lifteth vp his heade: so that many men maruell at him, and geue honoure vnto God.

Prosperite and aduersite, life and death, pouerte and riches come all of the LORDE. 〈…〉 (Wyszdome, nurtoure and knowlege of ye lawe are with God: loue and ye wayes of good are with him. Erroure and darcknes are made for synners: and they that exalte them selues in euell, waxe olde in euell.) The gift of God remayneth for the righteous, and his good wyl shal geue prosperite for euer. Some man is rich by lyuynge nygardly, and yt is the porcion of his rewarde, in that he sayeth: now haue I gotten rest, and now wyl I eate and drynke of my goodes myself alone. 〈…〉 And yet he considereth not, that the tyme draweth nye, yt he must leaue all these thinges vnto other men, and dye himself. Stonde thou fast in thy couenaunt, and exercyse thy self therin, and remayne in the worke vnto ye age. Contynue not in the workes of synners, but put thy trust in God, and byde in thine estate: for it is but an easy thīge in ye sight of God, to make a poore man riche, and that sodenly. The blessinge of God haisteth to ye rewarde of the rightous, and maketh his frutes soone to florish and prospere. Saye not: what helpeth it me? and what shal I haue ye whyle? Agayne, saye not: I haue ynough, how can I wante? Whan thou art in welfare, forget not aduersite: 〈…〉 and whan it goeth not well with the, haue a good hope, that it shal be better. For it is but a small thinge vnto God, in the daye of death to rewarde euery mā acordinge to his wayes. The aduersite of an houre maketh one to forgett all pleasure, and whan a man dyeth, his workes are discouered. Prayse no body before his death, for a man shalbe knowne in his children.

Bringe not euery man in to thine house, for the disceatfull layeth wayte dyuersly. Like as a partrich in a maūde, so is the hert of the proude: and like as a spye, that loketh vpon the fall of his neghbo. For he turneth good vnto euell, and slaundreth the chosen. Of one sparck is made a greate fyre, & an vngodly mā layeth wayte for bloude. Bewarre of the disceatfull, for he ymagineth wicked thinges, to bringe yt in to a perpetuall shame. Yf thou takest an aleaūt vnto ye, he shal destroye the in vnquietnes, and dryue the from thine owne wayes.

The XII. Chapter.

WHan thou wylt do good, knowe to whom thou doest it, & so shalt thou be greatly thanked for thy benefites. Do good vnto the righteous, alat. 6. b . Tim. 5. a and thou shalt fynde greate rewarde: though not of him, yet (no doute) the LORDE him self shal rewarde the. He stōdeth not in a good case, that is allwaye occupied in euell, & geueth no allmes: for the Hyest hateth the synners, and hath mercy vpon them that shew the workes of repētaunce. Geue thou vnto soch as feare God, and receaue not a synner: As for the vngodly and synners, he shall recompense vengeaūce vnto them, and kepe them to the daye of wrath. Geue thou vnto the good, and receaue not the synner: do well vnto him that is lowly, but geue not to the vngodly. Let not the bred be geuen him, that he be not mightier then thy self therin. For so shalt thou receaue twyse as moch euell, in all the good that thou doest vnto him: And why? the Hyest hateth synners, and shal rewarde vengeaunce to the vngodly.

In prosperite a frende shal not be knowne, & in aduersite an enemye shal not be hyd. For whan a mā is in wealth, it greueth his enemies: but in heuynes and trouble a man shal knowe his frende. Trust neuer thine enemy, for like as an yron rusteth, so doth his wikednes. And though he make moch croutchinge and knelinge, yet kepe well thy mynde, and bewarre of him. Sett him not by yt, nether let him sytt at thy right hāde: lest he turne him, gett in to thy place, take thy rowme and seke thy seate, and so thou at the last remembre my wordes, and be pricked at my sayenges.

Bynde not two synnes together, for there shal not one be vnpunyshed. 〈◊〉 7. a Who wil haue pite of the charmer, that is stynged of ye serpēt, or of all soch as come nye ye beastes? Euē so is it wt him yt kepeth cōpany with a wicked mā, & lappeth him self in his synnes. For a season wil he byde wt the, but yf thou stomble, 〈◊〉 4 . b he tarieth not. An enemy is swete in his lippes, he can make many wordes & speake many good thinges: Yee he can wepe wt his eies, but in his herte he ymagineth, how to throwe the in to the pytte: & yf he maye fynde oportunyte, he wil not be satisfied wt bloude. Yf aduersite come vpon the, thou shalt fynde him there first: & though he pretēde to do ye helpe, yet shal he vndermyne ye. He shal shake his heade, & clape his handes ouer yt for very gladnes, & whyle he maketh many wordes, he shall dysguyse his countenaunce.

The XIII. Chapter.

WHo so toucheth pitch, shalbe fyled withall: 〈◊〉 7. a and he that is famyliar wt ye proude, shal clothe himself with pryde. He taketh a burthen vpon him, that accompanyeth a more honorable man then him self. Therfore kepe no familiarite with one that is richer then thy self. How agree the ketell & the pott together? for yf ye one be smytten agaynst the other, it shal be brokē. The rich dealeth vnrighteously, & threateneth withall: but ye poore beinge oppressed and wrōgeously dealt withall, suffreth scarcenesse, & geueth fayre wordes. Yf thou be for his profit, he vseth the: but yf thou haue nothinge, he shal forsake the. As longe as thou hast eny thinge of thine owne, he shal be a good felowe with the: Yee he shal make the a bare man, and not be sory for the. Yf he haue nede of the, he shall defraude the: & (with a preuy mock) shal he put the in an hope, and geue the all good wordes, and saye: what wantest thou? Thus shal he shame yt in his meate, vntill he haue supte the cleane vp twyse or thryse, and at the last shal he laugh the to scorne. Afterwarde, whan he seyth that thou hast nothinge, he shal forsake the, and shake his heade at the.

Bewarre, that thou be not disceaued and brought downe in thy symplenesse. (Be not to humble in thy wyszdome, lest whan thou art brought lowe, thou be disceaued thorow foolishnes.) Yf thou be called of a mightie man, absent thy self, so shal he call the to him the more oft. Preasse not thou vnto him, that thou be not shott out: but go not thou farre of, lest he forgett the. Withdrawe not yi self frō his speach, but beleue not his many wordes. For wt moch cōmunicacion shall he tempte the, and (wt a preuy mock) shall he question ye of thy secretes. The vnmercifull mynde of his shal marck ye wordes, he shal not spare to do ye hurte & to put yt in preson. Bewarre, & take good hede to yi self, for thou walkest in parell of yt ouerthrowinge.

(Now whā thou hearest his wordes, make the as though thou werest in a dreame, & wake vp. Loue God all thy life longe, & call vpon him in thy nede.) Euery beast loueth his like, euen so let euery man loue his neghboure. All flesh wil resorte to their like, and euery man will kepe company with soch as he is himself. But as ye wolfe agreeth with the lambe, so doth the vngodly with ye righteous.2. Cor. 6. What felishippe shulde an holy man haue with a dogg? How can the ryche and the poore agree together? The wilde asse is the lyons pray in the wildernesse, euen so are poore men the meate of the ryche. Like as the proude maye not awaye with lowlynes, euen so doth the riche abhorre the poore. Yf a rich man fall, his frendes sett him vp agayne: but whan the poore falleth, his frendes forsake him. Yf a rich mā fall in to an erroure, he hath many helpers: he speaketh proude wordes, and yet men iustifie him.

But yf a poore man go wronge, he is punyshed: yee though he speake wisely, yet can it haue no place. Whan the riche man speaketh, euery body holdeth his tōge: and loke what he sayeth, they prayse it vnto the cloudes. But yf the poore man speake, they saye: What felowe is this? and yf he do amysse, they shal destroye him. Riches are good vnto him that hath no synne in his conscience, and pouerte is a wicked thinge in the mouth of the vngodly. The h rt of man chaungeth his countenaunce, whether it be in good or euell. A chearfull countenaunce is a tokē of a good hert, for els is it an harde thinge to knowe the thought.

The XIIII. Chapter.

BLissed is the man, that hath not fallen with ye worde of his mouth, ccli. 19. c nd 25. c 〈◊〉 . . a and is not pricked with the conscience of synne. Happie is he that hath had no heuynes in his mynde, and is not fallen from his hope. It becommeth not a cuvetous man and a nygarde, to be ryche: and what shulde a nygarde do with golde? He that with all his carefulnes heapeth together vnrighteously, gathereth for other folkes, and another mā shal make good chere with his goodes. He yt is wicked vnto him self, how shulde he be good vnto other mē? How can soch one haue eny pleasure of his goodes? There is no thinge worse, then whan one disfauoureth himself, & this is a rewarde of his wickednes. Yf he do eny good, he doth it not knowinge therof, and agaynst his will, and at the last he declareth his vngraciousnes. A nygarde hath a wicked eye, he turneth awaye his face, and despyseth his owne soule. A couetous mans eye hath neuer ynough in the porcion of wickednes, 〈◊〉 . 27. c ccl . 1. a vntyll the tyme that he wither awaye, and haue lost his owne soule.

A wicked eye spareth bred, & there is scarcenesse vpō his table. My sonne, do good to ye self of yt thou hast, & geue ye LORDE his due offeringes. Remembre yt death tarieth not, & how yt the couenaunt of the graue is shewed vnto the: (for the couenaunt of this worlde shal dye the death. Eccli. 4. a obi. 4. b uc. 16. b ) Do good vnto yt frende before thou dye, and acordinge to thy abylite reach out thine hande, and geue vnto ye poore. Be not dispoynted of ye good daye, & let not ye porcion of ye good daie ouerpas the. Shalt thou not leaue thy trauayles and labours vnto other men? In the deuydinge of the heretage geue and take, and sanctifie thy soule. Worke thou righteousnes before thy death, for in ye hell there is no meate to fynde. All flesh shal fade awaye like grasse, Esa. 4 . Pet. Iacob. & like a florishinge leaf in a grene tre. Some growe, some are cast downe: euen so is ye generacion of flesh and bloude: one commeth to an ende, another is borne.

All transitory thinges shall fayle at the last, and the worker therof shal go withall. Euery chosen worke shall be iustified, and he yt medleth withall, shal haue honoure therin. Blessed is the man yt kepeth him in wyszdome, and exercyseth himself in vnderstandinge, & with discrecion shal he thinke vpon the fore knowlege of God. Which considereth ye wayes of wyszdome in his hert, hath vnderstandinge in hir secretes, goeth after her (as one that seketh hir out) & contynueth in hir wayes. He loketh in at hir windowes, & herkeneth at hir dores: He taketh his rest besyde hir house, & festeneth his stake in hir walles: He shall pitch his tent nye vnto hir hande, and in his tent shal good thinges rest for euermore: He shal sett his children vnder hir coueringe, & shal dwell vnder hir braunches. Vnder hir coueringe shal he be defended from the heate, and in hir glory shall he rest.

The XV. Chapter.

HE that feareth God, wil do good: and who so kepeth the lawe, shal optayne wyszdome. As an honorable mother shal she mete him, and as a vyrgin shall she receaue him. 〈…〉 With ye bred of life and vnderstandinge shall she fede him, 〈…〉 and geue him the water of wholsome wyszdome to drynke. Yf he be constant in her, he shall not be moued: and yf he holde him fast by her, he shal not come to cōfucion. She shall brynge him to honoure amonge his neghbours, and in the myddest of the congregacion shall she open his mouth. With the sprete of wyszdome and vnderstādinge shal she fyll him, and clothe him with the garment of glory. She shal heape the treasure of myrth & ioye vpō him, and geue him an euerlastinge name to heretage. Foolish men wyll not take holde vpon her, but soch as haue vnderstandinge, wil mete her, for she is farre from pryde and disceate. Men that go aboute with lyes, wil not remembre her: (but men of trueth shall be founde in her, euen vnto the beholdinge of God.) Prayse is not semely in the mouth of ye vngodly, for he is not sent of ye LORDE. For of God commeth wyszdome, & the prayse shall stonde by the wyszdome of God, and shal be plenteous in a faithfull mouth, and the LORDE shal geue her vnto him.

Saye not thou: It is the LORDES faute that I am gone by, for thou shalt not do ye thinge that God hateth. Saye not thou: he hath caused me to go wronge, for he hath no nede of the vngodly. God hateth all abhominacion of erroure, & they that feare God wyl loue no soch. 〈…〉 God made man from the begynnynge, & left him in the hande of his councell. He gaue him his commaundementes and preceptes: yf thou wilt obserue the commaundementes, & kepe acceptable faithfulnes for euer, they shal preserue ye. He hath set water and fyre before the, 〈…〉 reach out thine hande vnto which thou wilt. Before man is life and death, good and euell: loke what him liketh, shalbe geuen him. For the wyszdome of God is greate and mightie in power, and beholdeth all men contynually. 〈◊〉 33. b The eyes of the LORDE are vpon them that feare him, and he knoweth all the workes of man He hath commaūded no man to do vngodly, nether hath he geuen eny man leue to synne.

The XVI. Chapter.

DElyte not thou in the multitude of vngodly children, and haue no pleasure in them, yf they feare not God. Trust not thou to their life, and regarde not their labours: for one sonne yt feareth God is better, thē a thousande vngodly. And better it is for a man to dye without childrē, thē to leaue behynde him soch children as are vngodly. For by one yt hath vnderstandinge, maye a whole cite be vpholden, but though the vngodly be many, yet shal it be waysted thorow them. Many soch thinges hath myne eye sene, and greater thinges then these haue I herde with myne eares. In the congregacion of the vngodly shal a fyre burne, 〈…〉 & amonge vnfaithfull people shal the wrath be kyndled.

The olde giaūtes optayned no grace for their synnes, 〈…〉 which were destroyed, trustinge to their owne strēgth. Nether spared he them, amōge whom Loth was a straunger: but smote them and abhorred them because of the pryde of their wordes. 〈◊〉 19. c He had no pitie vpō them, but destroyed all the people, that were so stoute in synne. 〈◊〉 4. c 〈◊〉 2 f And for so moch as he ouersawe not the sixe hundreth thousande, that gathered them selues together in ye hardnesse of their hert: it were maruell yf one beynge hardnecked, shulde be fre. For mercy & wrath is with him: 〈…〉 he is both mightie to forgeue, and to poure out displeasure. Like as his mercy is greate, euē so is his punyshment also, he iudgeth a man acordinge to his workes. The vngodly shal not escape in his spoyle, and the longe pacience of him that sheweth mercy, shal not byde behynde. All mercy shall make place vnto euery man acordinge to the deseruynge of his workes, (and after the vnderstandinge of his pilgremage.)

Saye not thou: I wyl hyde my self from God, for who wyl thinke vpon me from aboue? I shal not be knowne in so greate a heape of people, for what is my soule amonge so many creatures? Beholde, the heauen, yee the heauen of heauens, the depe, the earth and all that therin is, shall be moued at his presence: the mountaynes, the hilles and the foundacions of the earth shal shake for feare, whan God vysiteth them. These thinges doth no hert vnderstonde, but he vnderstandeth euery hert, and who vnderstandeth his wayes? No man seyth his storme, and the most parte of his workes are secrete. Who wil declare the workes of his righteousnes? Or who shal be able to abyde them? for the couenaunt is farre from some, and the tryenge out of men is in the fulfillynge. He that is humble of hert, thinketh vpon soch thinges: but an vnwyse and erroneous man casteth his mynde vnto foolish thinges.

My sonne, herken thou vnto me, & lerne vnderstādinge, and marck my wordes with thine hert: I wyll geue the a sure doctrine, & planely shal I enstrucke the. God hath sett his workes in good ordre from the begynninge, and parte of them hath he sundered from the other. He hath garnyshed his workes from euerlastinge, and their begynnynges acordinge to their generacions. None of thē hyndered another, nether was eny of them dishobedient vnto his worde. After this, God loked vpō the earth, and fylled it with his goodes. With all maner of lyuinge beastes hath he couered the grounde, and they all shalbe turned vnto earth agayne.

The XVII. Chapter.

BOd shope man of the earth, and turned him vnto earth agayne. Gene. 1. c He gaue him the nombre of dayes and certayne tyme, yee and gaue him power of the thinges that are vpō earth. He clothed him with strength, and made him after his owne licknes. He made all flesh to stonde in awe of him, so that he had the dominion of all beastes & foules. Gen. 2. d He made out of him an helper like vnto him self, and gaue them discrecion and tonge, eyes and eares, and a hert to vnderstande, and fylled them with instruccion & vnderstandinge. He created for them also the knowlege of the sprete, fylled their hert with vnderstandinge, and shewed them good and euell. He sett his eye vpō their hertes, declaringe vnto them his greate and noble workes: (that they shulde prayse his holy name together, reioyse of his wonders, & be tellinge of his noble actes. xo. 20. a eut. 4.5. nd 9.) Besydes this, he gaue them instruccion, and the lawe of life for an heretage. He made an euerlastinge couenaunt with them, and shewed them his righteousnes & iudgmentes. They sawe his glory with their eyes, and their eares herde the maiesty of his voyce. And he saide vnto them: bewarre of all vnrighteous thinges. He gaue euery man also a commaundement concernynge his neghboure.

Their waies are euer before him, and are not hyd from his eyes. om. 13. a eut. 4. c nd 10. c He hath sett a ruler vpon euery people, but Israel is ye LORDES porcion. All their workes are as the Sonne in ye sight of God, & his eyes are allwaye lokynge vpon their wayes. All their vnrighteousnesses are manifest vnto him, & all their wickednesses are open in his sight. The mercy yt a man sheweth is as it were a purse wt him, ccli. 29. b and a mans good dede preserueth him as the apple of an eye. At the last shall he awake, att. 25. c & rewarde euery man vpon his heade as he hath deserued, and shal turne them together in to the nethermost partes of the earth. cto. 3. c But vnto them that wyll repent, he hath geuē the waye of righteousnes. As for soch as be weake, he comforteth thē, suffreth them, and sendeth them the porcion of ye verite. O turne then vnto the LORDE, forsake thy synnes, make thy prayer before the LORDE, do the lesse offence, turne agayne vnto the LORDE, forsake thine vnrighteousnes, be an vtter enemy to abhominacion (lerne to knowe the righteousnes and iudgmentes of God, stonde in the porcion that is sett forth for the & in the prayer of the most hye God. Go in to the porcion of the holy worlde, with soch as be lyuinge and geue thankes vnto God.)

Who wil prayse the LORDE in the hell? Abyde not thou in the erroure of the vngodly, sal. 6. a sa. 38. d but geue him thākes before death. As for ye deed, thankfulnesse perisheth from him as nothinge. Geue thou thankes in thy life, yee whyle thou art lyuynge & whole shalt thou geue thankes, and prayse God and reioyse in his mercy. O how greate is the louynge kyndnesse of the LORDE, and his mercifull goodnes vnto soch as turne vnto him? For all thinges maye not be in man: & why? the sonne of man is not immortall, and he hath pleasure in the vanyte of wickednes. What is more cleare thē the Sonne? yet shal it fayle. Or what is more wicked, then the thinge that flesh and bloude hath ymagined? and that same shall be reproued. The LORDE seyth the power of the hye heauen, and all are but earth and aszshes.

The XVIII. Chapter.

HE that lyueth for euermore, made all thinges together. 〈…〉 God onely is righteous, & remayneth a victorious kynge for euer. Psal 〈…〉 Ecc 〈…〉 Who shalbe able to expresse the workes of him? Who hath sought out the grounde of his noble actes? Who shal declare the power of his greatnesse? Or, who will take vpon him to tell out his mercy? As for the wonderous workes of ye LORDE, there maye nothinge be taken from them, nothinge maye be put vnto them, nether maye the grounde of them be founde out. But whan a man hath done his best, he must begynne agayne: and whan he thinketh to be come to an ende, he must go agayne to his laboure. What is man? Wherto is he worth? What good or euell can he do? 〈…〉 Yf the nombre of a mans dayes be allmost an hundreth yeare, it is moch.

Like as the droppes of rayne are vnto ye see, and as a grauell stone is in comparison of the sonde: 〈…〉 so are these few yeares to the dayes euerlastinge. Therfore is ye LORDE pacient with them, and poureth out his mercy vpon them. He sawe and perceaued the thoughtes and ymaginacions of their harte, that they were euell: therfore heaped he vp his mercifull goodnes vpon them, and shewed them the waie of righteousnes. The mercy that a mā hath, reacheth to his neghboure: but ye mercy of God is vpon all flesh. He chasteneth, he teacheth and nourtureth: yee euen as a shepherde turneth agayne his flock, so doth he all them that receaue chastenynge, nurtoure and doctryne. Mercifull is he vnto them, 〈…〉 that stonde in awe of his iudgmentes.

My sonne, whan thou doest good, make no grudginge at it: and what so euer thou geuest, speake no discomfortable wordes. Shal not the dew coole the heate? Euen so is a worde better then a gift. Is not a frendly worde a good honest gift? 〈…〉 but a gracious man geueth them both. A foole shal cast a man in the tethe, and that roughly, 〈…〉 & a gift of the nygarde putteth out ye eyes. Get the righteousnes before thou come to iudgmēt: Lerne before thou speake, and go to phisick or euer thou be sick: Cor. 11. d examen and iudge thy self, before the iudgment come, and so shalt thou fynde grace in the sight of God. Humble thy self afore thou be sick, and in tyme of thy disease shewe thy conuersacion. Let not to praye allwaye, and stonde not in feare to be refourmed vnto death, for the rewarde of God endureth for euer. Before thou prayest, prepare thy soule, and be not as one yt tempteth God. Thynke vpon the wrathfull indignacion that shalbe at the ende, and the houre of vēgeaunce, whā HE shal turne awaie his face. 〈…〉 Whan thou hast ynough, remembre the tyme of honger: and whan thou art rych, thynke vpon the tyme of pouerte and scarcenesse.

From the mornynge vntyll the euenynge the tyme is chaunged, and all soch thynges are soone done in ye sight of God. A wyse man feareth God in all thinges, and in the dayes of transgression he kepeth him self from synne. A discrete man hath pleasure in wyszdome, and he that fyndeth her, maketh moch of her. They that haue had vnderstandinge, haue dealt wysely in wordes, haue vnderstonde the trueth and righteousnes, and haue sought out wyse sentēces and iudgmentes. 〈◊〉 . 6. b 〈◊〉 13. b Folowe not thy lustes, but turne ye from thine owne will. For yf thou geuest thy soule hir desyres, it shal make thine enemies to laugh the to scorne. Take not thy pleasure in greate volupteousnes, & medle not to moch withall. Make not to greate cheare of the thinge that thou hast wonne by avauntage: lest thou fall in to pouerte, and haue nothinge in thy purse.

The XIX. Chapter.

A Labourynge man that is geuen vnto dronckennes, shall not be riche: and he that maketh not moch of small thynges, 〈◊〉 . 19. g eg. 11 a shal fall by litle and litle. Wyne and women make wyse men rēnagates, and put men of vnderstādinge to reprofe: and he that accompanieth aduouterers shal become a wicked man. Mothes and wormes shall haue him to heretage, yee he shall be sett vp to a greater example, and his soule shalbe roted out of the nombre. 〈◊〉 22. c He that is haistie to geue credence, is light mynded, and doth agaynst himself. Who so reioyseth in wickednes, shal be punished: he that hateth to be refourmed, his life shalbe shortened: and he that abhorreth bablinge of wordes, quencheth wickednes. (He that offendeth agaynst his owne soule, shal repent it: and he that reioyseth in wickednes, shalbe punyshed.)

Rehearse not a wicked and churlish worde twyse, and thou shalt not be hyndered. Shew thy secretes nether to frende ner foo, & yf thou hast offended, tell it not out. For he shal herken vnto the and marck the: and whan he fyndeth oportunyte, he shall hate the. Eccli. 22 and 7. Yf thou hast herde a worde agaynst ye neghboure, lett it be deed within the: and be sure, thou shalt haue no harme therby. A foole trauaileth with a worde, like as a woman that is payned with bearinge of childe. Like as an arowe shott in a dogges thye, so is a worde in a fooles hert. Leui. 19 Matt. 18 Tell thy frende his faute, lest he be ignoraunt, and saye: I haue not done it, or yf he haue done it, that he do it nomore. Reproue thy neghboure, that he kepe his tonge: and yf he haue spokē, that he saye it nomore.

Tell thy neghboure his faute, for oft tymes an offence is made, and geue not credē ce to euery worde. A man falleth somtyme with his tonge, but not with his will. Eccli. 14 and 25. Iacob. For what is he, yt hath not offended in his tonge? Geue thy neghboure warnynge, before thou threaten him, and geue place vnto the lawe of the LORDE. The feare of God is all wyszdome, & he that is a right wyse man kepeth the lawe. As for the doctrine of wickednes, it is no wyszdome, and the prudence of synners is no good vnderstondinge: it is but wickednesse and abhominacion & a blasphemynge of wyszdome. A symple man of small vnderstandinge that feareth God, is better then one that hath moch wyszdome, and transgresseth the lawe of the Hyest.

A craftye sotell man can be wyse, but he is vnrighteous, and with giftes he wraysteth the open and manyfest lawe. A wicked man can behaue himself humbly, and can douke with his heade, and yet is he but a disceauer within. He hydeth his face, Matt. 6. and disguyseth it: & because he shulde not be knowne, he preuenteth the.

And though he be so weake that he can do the no harme, yet whan he maye fynde oportunyte, he shall do some euell. A man maye be knowne by his face, and one that hath vnderstondinge, maye be perceaued by the loke of his countenaunce. A mans garment, laughter & goynge, Eccli. 21. declare what he is.

The XX. Chapter.

SOme man reproueth his neghbo oft tymes, but not in due season: Eccli. 31. Agayne, some man holdeth his tonge, and he is wyse and discrete. It is moch better to geue warnynge and to reproue, then to beare euell will: for he that knowlegeth him self openly, shalbe preserued from hurt and destruccion. Like as whan a chamberlayne thorow desyre and lust defyleth a mayden, euen so is it with him that vseth violence and vnrighteousnes in ye lawe: (O how good a thinge is it, a man yt is reproued, to shewe openly his repentaunce? for so shalt thou escape wylfull synne.)

Some man kepeth sylence, and is founde wyse: but he that is not ashamed what he sayeth, is hatefull. Some man holdeth his tonge, because he hath not the vnderstandinge of the language: and some man kepeth sylence, 〈◊〉 3. a ccli. 32. a waytinge a conuenyent tyme. A wyse man wyll holde his tonge tyll he se oportunyte, but a wanten and an vndiscrete body shal regarde no tyme. He that vseth many wordes, shal hurte his owne soule: and he that taketh auctorite vpō him vnrighteously, shalbe hated.

Some man hath oft tymes prosperite in wicked thinges: Agayne, some man getteth moch, and hath harme and losse. There is some gift that is nothinge worth: Againe, there is some gift, whose rewarde is dubble. Some man getteth a fall for beynge to proude, and some commeth to worshipe from lowe estate. Some man bieth moch for a litle pryce, and must paye for it seuen folde.

A wyse man with his wordes maketh him self to be loued, 〈◊〉 . 6. a but the fauours of fooles shalbe poured out. The gift of the vnwyse shal do the no good, for his eyes are seuen folde. ccli. 18. c He shal geue litle, & saye he gaue moch: he openeth his mouth and crieth out, as it were one that crieth out wyne. To daye he lendeth, tomorow he axeth it agayne, and soch a man is to be hated. The foole sayeth: I haue no frende, I haue no thanke for all my good dedes: yee euen they that eate my bred, speake no good of me. O how oft, and of how many shal he be laughed to scorne? He taketh a more perlous fall by soch wordes, then yf he fell vpon the grounde: euen so shal the falles of wicked men come haistely. In the mouth of him that is vntaught, are many vnconuenient and vnmete wordes. A wyse sentence shall not be alowed at the mouth of the foole, for he speaketh it not in due season.

Some man synneth not, because he hath not wherwithall, and in his rest he shall be stynged. Some man there is that destroyeth his owne soule with shame, and for an vnwyse bodyes sake destroieth he it, (and with acceptinge of personnes shal he vndoo him self.) Some man promiseth his frende a gift for very shame, and getteth an enemye of him for naught. A lye is a wicked shame in a man, yet shall it be euer in the mouth of the vnwyse. A thefe is better, then a man that is accustomed to synne, but they both shal haue destruccion to heretage. The condicions of lyers are vnhonest, and their shame is euer with them.

A wyse man shall brynge himself to honoure with his wordes, 〈…〉 and he that hath vnderstondinge shall be sett by amonge greate men. He that tylleth his londe, Pro. 〈…〉 shal increase his heape of corne: he that worketh righteousnes, shall be exalted, & he that pleaseth greate men, shall escape moch euell. 〈…〉 Rewardes and giftes blynde the eyes of the wyse, and make him domme, that he can not tell mē their fautes. Wyszdome that is hyd, and treasure that is hoorded vp, 〈…〉 what profit is in them both? Better is he that kepeth his ignoraunce secrete, then a man that hydeth his wyszdome.

The XXI. Chapter.

MY sonne, yf thou hast synned, do it nomore: 〈…〉 but praye for thy foresynnes, that they maye be for geuen the. Fle from synne, euen as from a serpent: for yf thou commest to nye her, she wyll byte the. The teth therof are as the teth of a lyon, to slaye the soules of men. The wickednes of man is as a sharpe two edged swerde, which maketh soch woundes that they can not be healed.

Stryfe and wrongeous dealinge shall waist awaye a mans goodes, & thorow pryde a rich house shalbe brought to naught: so the riches of the proude shalbe roted out. The prayer of the poore goeth out of the mouth, and commeth vnto the eares, 〈…〉 and his vengeaunce (or defence) shall come, and yt haistely. Who so hateth to be refourmed, it is a token of an vngodly personne: but he that feareth God, wyl remembre himself. A mightie man is knowne afarre of by his tonge, but he that hath vnderstondinge, perceaueth that he shal haue a fall.

Who so buyldeth his house with other mens cost, is like one that gathereth stones in wynter. 〈…〉 The congregacion of the vngodly is like stubble gathered together, their ende is a flamme of fyre. The waye of the vngodly is sett with stones, but in their ende is hell, darcknes, and paynes. He that kepeth the lawe, wyll holde fast the vnderstandinge therof, and the ende of the feare of God is wyszdome. He that is not wyse, wyll not be taught in good: but the vnwyse man aboundeth in wickednes: and where bytternes is, there is no vnderstōdinge. The knowlege of the wyse shall flowe like water that renneth ouer, and his councell is like a fountayne of life.

The hert of a foole is like a brokē vessell, he can kepe no wyszdome. Whan a man of vnderstondinge heareth a wyse worde, he shal commende it, and make moch of it. But yf a volupteous man heare it, he shall haue no pleasure therin, but cast it behynde his back. The talkynge of a foole is like an heuy burthen by the waye: but to heare a wyse man speake, it is a pleasure. Where a doute is in the congregacion, it is axed at the mouth of the wyse, and they shal pondre his wordes in their hertes. Like as a house that is destroyed, euen so is wyszdome vnto a foole: As for the knowlege of the vnwyse, it is but darck wordes. Doctryne is vnto him yt hath no vnderstandinge, euen as fetters aboute his fete, and like mannicles vpon his right hande. 〈◊〉 19. d A foole lifteth vp his voyce wt laughter, but a wyse man shall scarse laugh secretly.

Lernynge is vnto a wyse man a Iewell of golde, and like an armlett vpō his right arme. A foolish mans foote is soone in his neghbours house, but one that hath experience, shall be ashamed at the personne of the mightie. A foole wyll pepe in at ye wyndow in to the house, but he that is well nourtured, wyll stonde without. A foolish man stondeth herkenynge at the dore, but he that is wyse, wyll be ashamed.

The lippes of the vnwyse wylbe tellynge foolish thinges, but ye wordes of soch as haue vnderstandinge, shalbe weyed in the balaunce. The hert of fooles is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wyse is in their hert. Whan the vngodly curseth the blasphemer, he curseth his owne soule. 〈◊〉 19. d A preuy accuser of other men shal defyle his owne soule, and be hated of euery man: (but he that kepeth his tonge and is discrete, shall come to honoure.)

The XXII. Chapter.

A Slouthfull body is moulded of a stone of claie: he that toucheth him, must wash his handes agayne. A mysnurtored sonne is the dishonoure of the father. A foolish daughter shalbe litle regarded. A wyse daughter is an heretage vnto hir husbande: but she that commeth to dishonesty, bringeth hir father in heuynes. A daughter that is past shame, dishonoureth both hir father & hir huszbande: the vngodly shal regarde her, but they both shal despise her. the playenge of Musick is not mete where heuynes is, euen so is the correcciō & doctryne of wyszdome euer vnpleasaunt vnto fooles.

Who so teacheth a foole, is euen as one that gleweth a potsherde together: as one that telleth a tayle to him that heareth him not, and as one that rayseth a mā out of an heuy slepe. Who so telleth a foole of wyszdome, is euen as a man, which speaketh to one yt is a slepe. Whā he hath tolde his tayle, he sayeth: what is the matter? Whā one dyeth, lamentacion is made for him, because the light fayleth him: euē so let mē mourne ouer a foole, for he wanteth vnderstandinge. Make but litle wepinge because of the deed. for he is come to rest: but the life of the foole is worse then the death. Gen. 50. b Seuen dayes do men mourne for him that is deed, but the lamentacion ouer the vnwyse and vngodly shulde endure all the dayes of their life.

Talke not moch with a foole, and go not with him that hath no vnderstondinge. Bewarre of him, lest it turne the to trauayle, & thou shalt not be defyled with his synne. Departe from him, and thou shalt fynde rest, & shalt not be drawē back in to his foolishnes. What is heuyer then leade? And what shulde a foole be called els, but leade? Sōde, Pro. 27. a salt & a lōpe of yron is easier to beare, then an vnwyse, foolish, and vngodly man. Like as the band of wodd bounde together in the foundacion of the house can not belowsed, euē so is it with ye hert yt is stablished in ye thought of coūcell. The thought of the wyse, shal nether feare ner be offended at eny tyme.

Like as a fayre playstred wall in a winter house, & an hye buyldinge, maye not abyde ye wīde & storme: euē so is a fooles hert afraied in his ymaginacion: he feareth at euery thinge, and can not endure. He that nyppeth a mans eye, bryngeth forth teares: and he that pricketh the hert, bringeth forth ye meanynge & thought. Who so casteth a stone at the byrdes, frayeth them awaye: & he yt blasphemeth his frēde, breaketh ye frēdshipe though thou drewest a swerde at thy frende, yet dispayre not, for thou mayest come agayne to ye frende. Yf he speake sowerly, feare not, for ye maye be agreed together agayne: excepte it be so that thou blaspheme him, dyszdayne him, opē his secretes and wounde him tratorously: for all soch thinges shal dryue awaye a frende.

Be faithfull vnto ye neghbo in his pouerte, that thou mayest reioyse with him also in his prosperite. Abyde stedfast vnto him in ye tyme of his trouble, that thou maiest be heyre wt him in his heretage. Like as the vapor and smoke goeth out at the ouen before ye fyre, euen so euell wordes, rebukes and threatenynges go before bloudsheddinge. Be not ashamed to defende yi frende: as for me, I wyl not hyde my face from him, though he shulde do me harme. Who so euer heareth it, shal bewarre of him. Who shal set a watch before my mouth, •• al. 140 & a sure seale vpon my lippes, yt I fall not wt thē, & yt my tonge destroye me not?

The XXIII. Chapter.

O LORDE, father and gouernoure of my life, leaue me not in their ymaginaciō & councell. Oh let me not fall in soch reprofe. Who wyll kepe my thought with ye scourge, and the doctryne of wyszdome in myne herte? that he spare not myne ignoraunce, that I fall not with them, lest myne ignoraunces increase, that myne offences be not many in nombre, and that my synnes exceade not: lest I fall before myne enemyes, and so my aduersary reioyse. O LORDE, thou father & God of my life, leaue me not in their ymaginacion. O let me not haue a proude loke, but turne awaye all volupteousnes fro me. Take fro me the lustes of the body, let not the desyres of vnclennes take holde vpon me, and geue me not ouer in to an vnshamefast and obstinate mynde.

Heare me (o ye children) I will geue you a doctryne, how ye shal ordre yor mouth: who so kepeth it, shal not perish thorow his lippes, ner be hurt thorow wicked workes (As for the synner, he shalbe taken in his owne vanite: he that is proude and cursed, shal fall therin. xo. 20. b ccli. 27. d att. 5. d ) Let not thy mouth be accustomed with swearinge, for in it there are many falles. Let not the namynge of God be continually in ye mouth: for like as a seruaunt which is oft punyshed can not be without some sore, euen so what so euer he be yt sweareth and nameth God, shal not be cleane pourged frō synne. A man that vseth moch swearinge, shalbe fylled with wickednes, and the plage shall neuer go from his house. Yf he begyle his brother, his faute shalbe vpon him: yf he knowlege not his synne, he maketh a dubble offence: and yf he sweare in vayne, he shall not be founde righteous, for his house shalbe full of plages.

The wordes of ye swearer bringeth death (God graunte yt it be not founde in the house of Iacob. eui. 24. c ) But they yt feare God, eschue all soch and lye not weltringe in synne. Vse not ye mouth to vnhonest and fylthye talkynge, for in it is the worde of synne. Ephe 〈…〉 Remembre yi father and thy mother, whā thou art set amonge greate men: lest God forget yt in their sight, and lest •• ou dotinge in thy custome, suffre rebuke. and wyshe not to haue bene borne, and so curse the daye of thy natiuite. The man that is accustomed with the wordes of blasphemy, 〈…〉 wyl neuer be refourmed all ye dayes of his life. To synne twyse is to moch, but the thirde bringeth wrath and destruccion. An whote stomack can not be quenched (euē like a burnynge fyre) tyll it haue swalowed vp somthīge: euē so an vnchaste mā hath no rest in his flesh, tyll he haue kyndled a fyre.

All bred is swete to an whoremonger, he wyl not leaue of, tyll he haue his purpose. A man that breaketh wedlock, & regardeth not his soule, but sayeth: Tush, who seyth me? Esa 〈…〉 I am compassed aboute with darcknes, the walles couer me, no body seyth me: whom nede I to feare? The Hyest wyl not remembre my synnes. (He vnderstondeth not that his eyes se all thinges, for all soch feare of mē dryueth awaye the feare of God from him: for he feareth onely the eyes of men, and considereth not that the eyes of the LORDE are clearer then the Sonne, beholdinge all ye wayes of men and the grounde of the depe, and lokynge euen to mens hertes in secrete places. The LORDE God knewe all thinges or euer they were made, and after they be brought to passe also he loketh vpon them all. 〈…〉 The same mā shalbe opēly punyshed in ye stretes of ye cite, and shalbe chased abrode like a yonge horse foale: and whan he thinketh leest vpon it, he shalbe takē, Thus shal he be put to shame of euery man, because he wolde not vnderstonde the feare of the LORDE. And thus shal it go also wt euery wyfe yt leaueth hir huszbande, & getteth enheretaunce by a straūge mariage. First, she hath bene vnfaithfull vnto the lawe of ye Hyest: Secō dly, she hath forsaken hir owne huszbande: 〈…〉 Thirdly, she hath played ye whore in aduoutry, & gottē hir childrē by another man. She shalbe brought out of ye cōgregaciō, and hir childrē shalbe loked vpō. Hir childrē shal not take rote: & as for frute, hir braūches shal brī ge forth none. A shamefull reporte shal she leaue behynde her, & hir dishono shal not be put out. And they yt remayne, shal knowe, yt there is nothīge better, thē ye feare of God: & yt there is nothinge sweter, then to take hede vnto the commaundementes of the LORDE. A greate worshipe is it to folowe ye LORDE, for longe life shalbe receaued of him.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

WYszdome shal prayse hirself, & be honoured in God, & reioyse in ye myddest of his people: In the cōgregacions of the Hyest shal she open hir mouth, & tryumphe in ye beholdinge of his power: In ye myddest of hir people shal she be exalted, & wondred at in the holy fulnesse: In the multitude of the chosen she shalbe commended, & amonge soch as be blessed she shalbe praysed, & shal saye: I am come out of the mouth of ye Hyest, first borne before all creatures. I caused ye light yt fayleth not, to aryse in the heauen, & couered all the earth as a cloude. My dwellinge is aboue in ye heyth, & my seate is in the piler of the cloude. I my self alone haue gone rounde aboute the compasse of heauen, & pearsed the grounde of ye depe: I haue walked in the floudes of ye see, & haue stonde in all landes: my domynion is in euery people and in euery nacion, & with my power haue I troden downe the hertes of all, both hye and lowe.

In all these thinges also I sought rest, & a dwellinge in some enheritaunce. So ye creator of all thinges gaue me a commaundement: & he that made me, appoynted me a tabernacle, and saide vnto me: Let thy dwellinge be in Iacob, and thy inheritaunce in Israel, & rote thy self amōge my chosen. I was created from the begynninge and before the worlde, 〈…〉 & shal not leaue of vnto the worlde to come. 〈…〉 In the holy habitacion haue I serued before him, and so was I stablished in Sion. 〈◊〉 . 13 . b In ye holy cite rested I in like maner, & in Ierusalem was my power. I toke rote in an honourable people, euen in the porcion of ye LORDE & in his heretage, & kepte me in ye fulnes of the sayntes. I am sett vp an hye like a Ceder vpō Libanus, & as a Cypers tre vpon the mount Hermon: I am exalted like a palme tre in Cades, & as a rose plāte in Iericho: As a fayre olyue tre in the felde, & am exalted like as a plantayne tre by the water syde. I haue geuen a smell in the stretes, as ye Cynamom and Balme, that hath so good a sauoure: yee a swete odoure haue I geuen, as it were Myrre of the best.

I haue made my dwellinges to smell as it were of rosyn, Galbanum, of Clowes and Incense, & as Libanus whan it is not hewē downe, & mine odoure is as the pure Balme. As the Terebynte haue I stretched out my braunches, and my braunches are the braunches of honoure and louynge fauoure. 〈…〉 As ye vyne haue I brought forth frute of a swete sauoure, and my floures are ye frute of hono and riches. I am the mother of bewtye, of loue, of feare, of knowlege & of holy hope. In me is all grace of life and trueth: Ioh. 14. a In me is all hope of life and vertue. O come vnto me, all ye that be desyrous of me, and fyll youre selues with my frutes: for my sprete is sweter then hony, & so is my inheritaunce more then the hony combe: the remembraunce of me endureth for euermore. They that eate me, shal haue the more honger: and they that drynke me, shal thyrste the more. Who so herkeneth vnto me, shall not come to confucion: and they that worke in me, shal not offende. They that make me to be knowne, shal haue euerlastinge life.

All these thinges are the boke of life, the couenaunt of the Hyest, and the knowlege of the trueth. Exo. 20. and 24. a Moses commaunded the lawe in the preceptes of righteousnes for an heretage vnto the house of Iacob, and cōmitted ye promyses vnto Israel (Out of Dauid his seruaūt HE ordened to raise vp a most mightie kinge, Psal. 131. Act. 2. d syttinge in the seate of honoure for euermore. Deut. 4. and 29. b ) This fylleth with wyszdome like as the floude of Phison, & as ye floude of Tigris, whan the new frutes are a growinge.

This bringeth a plenteous vnderstandinge, like Euprates: & fylleth it vp, Iosu. 3. as Iordane in the time of haruest. This maketh nurtor to breake forth as the light, & as the water Gihon in ye haruest. The first hath not knowne her perfectly, nomore shal the last seke out ye grounde of her. For hir thought is fuller thē the see, and hir councell is profounder then the greate depe.

I wyszdome haue cast out floudes. I am as a greate waterbroke out of ye riuer. I am as the ryuer Dorix, and as a water condyte am I come out of the garden of pleasure. I sayde: I wyl water the garden of my yonge plantes, and fyll the frute of my byrth. So my waterbroke became exceadinge greate, and my ryuer approched vnto the see. For I make doctryne to be vnto all mē as light as the fayre mornynge, and I shall make it to be euer the clearer. (I will pearse thorow all the lower partes of the earth, I wyll loke vpon all soch as be a slepe, and lighten all thē that put their trust in the LORDE.) I shal yet poure out doctrine, like as prophecy, and leaue it vnto soch as seke after wyszdome, and their generacions shal I neuer fayle, vnto the holy euerlastinge worlde. Beholde, how that I haue not laboured for my self onely, but for all them yt seke after ye trueth. Eccli. 3. b

The XXV. Chapter.

THre thinges there are, yt my sprete fauoureth, en. 13. b om. 12. a which be also alowed before God and men: The vnyts of brethren, the loue of neghbours, and man & wyfe that agree well together. ccl. 40. d

Thre thinges there be which my soule hateth, and I vtterly abhorre the life of them: A poore man that is proude. A rich mā that is a lyar, en. 18. b and an olde body that doteth and is vnchaste.

Yf thou hast gathered nothinge in thy youth, what wylt thou fynde thē in thine age? O how pleasaūt a thinge is it, whā gray headed men are discrete, & whan the elders can geue good councell? O how cōly a thinge is wyszdome vnto aged men? yee vnderstondinge and councell is a glorious thinge. The crowne of olde men is to haue moch experience, & ye feare of God is their worshipe.

There be ix. thinges, which I haue iudged in my hert to be happie, and the tenth wil I tell forth vnto men with my tonge. A man yt whyle he lyueth, hath ioye of his children, and seith ye fall of his enemies. Well is him, that dwelleth with an houswife of vnderstō dinge, ccli. 14. a nd 19. c aco. 3. a and that hath not fallen with his tonge, and yt hath not bene faine to serue soch as are vnmete for him. Wel is him, yt fyndeth a faithfull frende: & wel is him, which talketh of wiszdome to an eare yt heareth him. O how greate is he, yt fyndeth wyszdome & knowlege? Yet is he not aboue him, that feareth the LORDE. The feare of God hath sett itself aboue all thinges. Blessed is ye man, vnto whō it is graunted to haue the feare of God. Vnto whō shal he be lickened, yt kepeth it fast? The feare of God is the begynnynge of his loue, and the begynnynge of faith is to cleue fast vnto it. The heuynes of the hert is all the punyshment, and the wickednes of a woman goeth aboue all. All punyshment & plage is nothinge in comparison of the plage of the hert, euē so all wickednes is nothinge to the wickednes of a woman.

What so euer happeneth vnto a man, is nothinge in comparison of it, yt his euell willers do vnto him: and all vengeaunce is nothinge to the vengeaūce of the enemye. There is not a more wicked heade then the heade of the serpēt, and there is no wrath aboue ye wrath of a woman. Pro. 21. c I wyl rather dwell with a lyon and dragon, then to kepe house with a wicked wyfe. The wickednesse of a woman chaungeth hir face, she shal moffell hir coū tenaunce as it were a Beer, & as a sack shall she shewe it amonge the neghbours. Hir husbande is brought to shame amōge his neghbours, & whā he heareth it, it maketh him to sighe. All wickednes is but litle to the wickkednes of a woman, ye porcion of the vngodly shal fall vpon her.

Like as to clymme vp a sondy waye is to ye fete of the aged, euē so is a wife full of wordes to a still quyete man. 〈…〉 Loke not to narowly vpon the bewtye of a woman, lest thou be prouoked in desyre towarde her. The wrath of a woman is dishonoure and greate confuciō. Yf a woman gett the mastrie, then is she contrary to hir huszbande. A wicked wife maketh a sory hert, an heuy countenaunce and a deed wounde. 〈…〉 Of the woman came ye begynnynge of synne, and thorow her we all are deed. Geue thy water no passage, no not a litle, nether geue a wicked woman hir will. Yf she walke not after thy hande, she shall confounde the in the sight of thy enemies. Cut her of then from thy flesh, that she do not allwaye abuse the.

The XXVI. Chapter.

HAppie is the man that hath a vertuous wyfe, for the nōbre of his yeares shalbe dubble. An honest woman maketh hir huszbande a ioyfull man, & she shall fyll ye yeares of his life in peace. A vertuous woman is a noble gift, which shalbe geuen for a good porcion vnto soch as feare God. Whether a man be rich or poore, he maye haue euer a mery hert, & a chearful countenaū ce. There be thre thinges yt my hert feareth, and my face is afrayed of the fourth. Treason in a cite, a sedicious people, and noysome tonges, all these are heuyer then the death. But whan one is gelous ouer his wife, it bryngeth payne and sorowe vnto the hert: and a woman that telleth out all thinges, is a scourge of the tonge. Whan one hath an euell wife, it is euen as whan an vnlike par of oxen must drawe together: he that getteth her, getteth a scorpion. 〈…〉 A dronken woman is a greate plage, for she can not couer hir owne shame.

The whordome of a woman maye be knowne in the pryde of hir eyes and eyelydlyddes. Yf thy daughter be not shamefast, 〈…〉 holde her straitly, lest she abuse hirself thorow ouermoch liberte. Bewarre of all the dishonesty of hir eyes, and maruell not yf she do agaynst the. Lik as one that goeth by the waye and is thyrstie, so shall she open hir mouth, and drynke of euery nexte water that she maye gett.

By euery hedge shal she syt her downe, & opē hir quyuer against euery arowe. A louynge wyfe reioyseth hir huszbande, and fedeth his bones with hir wyszdome. A woman of few wordes is a gift of God, and to a well nurtured mynde maye nothinge be compared.

An honest and manerly woman is a gyft aboue other giftes, and there is no waight to be compared, vnto a mynde that can rule it self. Like as the Sonne whan it aryseth, is an ornament in the hye heauen of ye LORDE, so is a vertuous wife ye bewtye of all hir house. Like as the cleare light is vpon ye holy cādelstick, so is the bewtye of the face vpō an honest body. 〈◊〉 5. d Like as the goldē pilers are vpon the sockettes of syluer, so are the fayre legges vpon a woman that hath a cōstant mynde. (Perpetuall are the foūdacions that be laied vpon a whole stonye rocke, so are ye commaundementes of God vpon an holy woman.)

There be two thinges yt greue my hert, and in the thirde is a displeasure come vpon me. When an experte man of warre suffreth scarsenes and pouerte, Whan men of vnderstondinge and wyszdome are not set by: And whan one departeth from righteousnes vnto synne. Who so doth soch, the LORDE hath prepared him vnto the swerde. There be two maner of thinges, which me thyncke to be herde and perylous. A marchaunt can not lightly kepe him from wronge, nether a tauerner himself from synne.

The XXVII. Chapter.

BEcause of pouerte haue many one offended: and he that seketh to be riche, turneth his eyes asyde. Like as a nale in the wall sticketh fast betwixte two stones, euen so doth synne sticke betwixte ye byer and the seller. Yf he holde him not diligently in ye feare of the LORDE, his house shall soone be ouerthrowne. Like as whan one sifteth, the fylthynes remayneth in the syue: So, remayneth there some vncleane thinge in the thought of man. The ouen proueth the potters vessell, 〈…〉 so doth tentacion of trouble trye righteous men. The tre of the felde is knowne by his frute, so is the thought of mās hert knowne by his wordes. Prayse no mā excepte thou haue harde him, for a man is knowne by his wordes. Yf thou folowest righteousnes, thou shalt get her, and put her vpon yt as a fayre garment. (And thou shalt dwell with her, and she shal defende the for euer, and in ye daye of knowlege thou shalt fynde stedfastnesse.) The byrdes resorte vnto their like, so doth the trueth turne vnto them that be occupied withall. The lyon wayteth for ye praye: so do the synnes lurke vpon the workes of wickednes. The talkinge of him that feareth God, is nothinge but wyszdome: as for a foole, he chaungeth as ye Moone. Yf thou be amonge the vndiscrete, kepe thy worde to a conuenient tyme, but amonge soch as be wyse, speake on hardely. Ro. 12. b Col. 4. a The talkinge of fooles is abhominaciō, and their spo te is volupteousnesse and mysnurtoure. Moch swearynge maketh the hayre to stonde vp, and to stryue with soch, Eccli. 23. b stoppeth the eares.

The stryfe of the proude is bloudsheddynge, & their blasphemynge is heuy to heare. Who so discouereth secretes, Eccli. 19. b and 22. d leseth his credence, and fyndeth no frende after his will. Loue thy frende, and bynde thyself in faithfulnes with him: but yf thou bewrayest his secretes, thou shalt not get him agayne: For like as the mā is that destroyeth his enemye so is he also that dealeth falsly in the frendshipe of his neghboure.

Like as one that letteth a byrde go out of his honde, can not take her agayne: Euen so thou, yf thou geue ouer thy frende, thou canst not get him agayne: Yee thou cāst not come by him, for he is to farre of. He is vnto the as a Roo escaped out of the snare, for his soule is wounded. As for woundes, they maye be bounde vp agayne, and an euell worde maye be reconcyled: but who so bewrayeth the secretes of a frende, there is no more hope to be had vnto him.

He that wyncketh with the eyes, Pro. 10. b ymagineth some euell, and no man shal take him from it. Whan thou art present, he shal hylie commende and prayse thy wordes: but at the last he shall turne his tayle, and slaūder thy sayenge. Many thinges haue I hated, but nothinge so euell, for the LORDE himself also abhorreth soch one.

Who so casteth a stone an hye, it shal fall vpon his owne heade: Exo. 21. b and he that smyteth with gyle, woundeth himself. Who so diggeth a pytt, shal fall therin: Hest. 7. b Psal. 7. b Pro. 26. c Eccle. 10. a and he that layeth a snare, shal be taken in it himself. Who so geueth a wicked noysome councell, it shall come vpon himself, and he shall not knowe from whēce. The proude blaspheme and are scornefull, but vengeaunce lurketh for them as a lyon. They that reioyse at the fall of ye righteous, shal be taken in ye snare, anguysh of hert shall consume them before they dye Anger and rigorousnes are two abhominable thinges, and ye vngodly hath them both vpon him.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

HE that seketh vengeaunce, shal fynde vengeaunce of the LORDE, Deut. 32. c Rom. 12. c Mat. 5. b . b. 1 . b which shal surely kepe him his synnes. Forgeue thy neghboure the hurte that he hath done the, and so shal thy synnes be forgeuen the also, whan thou prayest. A man that beareth hatred agaynst another, how darre he desyre forgeuenesse of God? He that sheweth no mercy to a mā which is like himself, how darre he axe forgeuenesse of his synnes? Yf he that is but flesh, beareth hatred and kepeth it, who wyl intreate for his synnes? Remembre the ende, & let enmyte passe, which seketh death and destruccion, and abyde thou in ye commaundementes. Remembre ye commaundement, so shalt thou not be rigorous ouer ye neghboure. Thynke vpō the couenaunt of ye Hyest, and forgeue thy neghbours ignoraū ce. Eccli. 8. a Bewarre of strife, and thou shalt make ye synnes fewer. For an angrie man kyndleth variaunce, and the vngodly disquyeteth frē des, and putteth discorde amonge them that be at peace. The more wodd there is, the more vehement is the fyre: Pro. 26. c and the mightier yt men be, the greater is the wrath: and the longer the strife endureth, the more it burneth.

An haistie brawlinge kyndleth a fyre, and an haistie strife sheddeth bloude. Yf thou blowe the sparke: it shal burne: Yf thou spytt vpō it, it shal go forth, and both these go out of thy mouth. Eccli. 21. d The slaunderer and dubble tō gued is cursed, for many one that be frendes setteth he at variaunce. The thirde tonge hath disquieted many one, and dryuen them from one londe to another. Stronge cities hath it broken downe, and ouerthrowne the houses of greate men. The thirde tōge hath cast out many an honest woman, and robbed them of their labours. Who so harkeneth vnto soch, shal neuer fynde rest, and neuer dwell safely. The stroke of ye rod maketh yedders, but the stroke of the tonge smyteth the bones in sunder. There be many that haue perished with the swerde, but many mo thorow the tonge.

Wel is him that is kepte frō an euell tonge, & commeth not in ye anger therof: which draweth not the yock of soch, and is not boū de in the bondes of it. For the yock therof is of yron, and ye bonde of it of stele. The death therof is a very euell death: hell were better for one, then soch a tonge. But the fyre of it maye not oppresse them that feare God, and ye flamme therof maye not burne thē. Soch as forsake the LORDE, shal fall therin: and it shal burne them, and no man shal be able to quench it. It shal fall vpon thē as a Lyō, and deuoure them as a leparde. Thou he gest ye goodes wt thornes: why doest thou not rather make dores and barres for ye mouth? Thou weiest thy golde and syluer: why doest thou not weye thy wordes also vpon the balaunce? Bewarre, that thou slyde not in thy tonge, and so fall before thine enemies, that laye wayte for the.

The XXIX. Chapter.

WHo so wil shewe mercy, let him lende vnto his neghboure: 〈…〉 and he that is able, let him kepe the commaundement. Lende vnto thy neghboure in tyme of his nede, and paye thou thy neghboure agayne in due season. Kepe thy worde, & deale faithfully with him, & thou shalt allwaye fynde the thinge yt is necessary for the. There haue bene many, that whan a thinge was lent them, rekened it to be founde: and made them trauayle and laboure, that had helped them. Whyle they receaue eny thinge, they kysse the handes of soch as geue them, and for their neghbours good they hūble their voyce. But whan they shulde paye agayne they kepe it back, and geue euell wordes, and make many excuses by reason of the tyme: & though he be able, yet geueth he scarse the half agayne, and rekeneth ye other to be founde. And yf he with olde not his moneye, yet hath he an enemye of him, and that vndeserued.

He payeth him with cursinge and rebuke and geueth him euel wordes for his good dede. There be many one which are not glad for to lende, not because of euell, but they feare to lese the thinge that they lende. Yet haue thou pacience with the symple, and wt holde not mercy from him. Helpe the poore for the commaundementes sake, and let him not go emptye from the because of his necessite. Lese thy money for yi brother and neghbours sake, and burye it not vnder a stone, wher it rusteth and corruppeth. 〈…〉 Gather thy treasure after the commaundement of ye Hyest, and so shal it bringe the more profit thē golde. Laye vp the allmes in the hand of the poore, and it shal kepe the from all 〈◊〉 . (A mans allmes is as a purse with him, 〈◊〉 shall kepe a mans fauoure as the apple of an eye: and afterwarde shall it aryse, & paye euery man his rewarde vpon his heade.) It shal fight for the agaynst thine enemies, better then the shylde of a giaunte, or speare of the mightie.

A good honest mā is suertye for his neghboure, but a wicked personne letteth him come to shame. Forget not the frendshipe of thy suertye, for he hath geuē his soule for ye. The vngodly despyseth ye good dede of his suertye, & the vnthankfull and ignoraunt leaueth his suertie in daunger. (Some man promyseth for his neghboure: & whan he hath lost his honesty, he shal forsake him.) Suertishipe hath destroyed many a ryche man, & remoued them as the wawes in ye see. Mightie people hath it dryuen awaye, and caused thē to wandre in straunge countrees. An vngodly man transgressynge the commaundement of the LORDE, shal fall in to an euell suertishipe: and though he force himself to get out, yet shal he fall in to iudgment. Helpe thy neghboure out after thy power, and bewarre, yt thou thy self fall not in soch dett. The chefe thinge that kepeth in the life, 〈…〉 is water and bred, clothinge and lodginge, to couer the shame.

Better is it to haue a poore lyuynge in a mans owne house, 〈◊〉 36. b 〈◊〉 . 6. b 〈◊〉 . 13. a thē delicate fayre amōge the straunge. Be it litle or moch yt thou hast, holde the contēt withall (& thou shalt not be blamed as a vagabounde:) for a myserable life is it, to go from house to house: and where a mā is fremde, he darre not opē his mouth. Though one be lodged, and haue meate and drynke, yet shall he be taken as vnworthy, & heare many bytter rough wordes, namely thus: Go thy waye thou straunger, and prepare a table (for thy self) and fede me also of that thou hast. Awaye thou straunger (so, that he regardeth his honoure nomore) my brother commeth in to my house, & so he telleth him the necessite of his house. These thinges are heuy to a man that hath vnderstandinge: namely, the forbyddinge of ye house, & that the lēder casteth him in the teth.

The XXX. Chapter.

WHo so loueth his childe, holdeth him still vnder correccion, 〈◊〉 3. c 〈◊〉 2 . b that he maye haue ioye of him afterwarde (and that he grope not after his neghbours dores. 〈◊〉 . 6. a ) He yt teacheth his sonne, shall haue ioye in him, & nede not be ashamed of him amōge his aquantaūce. Who so enfourmed & teacheth his sonne, greueth ye enemie, nd before his frendes he maye haue ioye of him. Though the father dye, yet is he as though he were not deed: for he hath left one behynde him that is like him. In his life he sawe him, & had ioye in him, & was not sory in his death, (nether was he ashamed before ye enemies.) For he left behinde him an auenger agaynst his enemies, and a good doer vnto the frendes. For the life of childrē he shal binde the woundes together, and his hert is greued at euery crye. An vntamed horse wylbe harde, and a wanton childe wyl be wylfull. Yf thou brynge vp thy sonne delicatly, he shal make ye afrayed: and yf thou playe with him, he shal brynge the to heuynes. Laugh not with him, lest thou wepe wt him also, and lest thy teth be sett on edge at the last.

Geue him not liberte in his youth, & excuse not his foly. Eccli. 7. Bow downe his neck whyle he is yonge, hytt him vpon the sydes whyle he is yet but a childe, lest he waxe stubburne, & geue no more force of ye (and so shalt thou haue heuynes of soule.) Teach thy childe, & be diligēt therin, lest it be to thy shame. Better is the poore beynge whole & stronge, thē a man to be riche, & not to haue his health. Health and welfare is aboue all golde, and an whole body aboue all treasure. There is no riches aboue a sounde body, & no ioye aboue the ioye of the hert. Death is better then a wretched life, or contynuall sicknes. The good thinges yt are put in a close mouth, are like as whan meate is layed vpon ye graue.

What good doth the offeringe vnto an Idoll? For he can nether eate, taist ner smell. Bel. Euē so is it also with the riche, whom God maketh seke: he seith it with his eyes, & groneth therafter, and is euen as a gelded man, that lyeth with a vyrgin and sygheth. Pro. 12. d 15. b. 17. d Eccli 38. Pro. 14. Geue not ouer thy mynde in to heuynes, & vexe not thy self in thine owne councell. The ioye & chearfulnes of the hert is the life of man, and a mans gladnes is the prolonginge of his dayes. Loue thine owne soule, and comforte thine hert: as for sorow and heuynes, dryue it farre from ye,2. Cor. 7. for heuynes hath slayne many a man, and bryngeth no profit. Zele and anger shorten the dayes of the life: carefulnes and sorow brynge age before the tyme. Vnto a mery hert euery thinge hath a good taist, that he eateth.

The XXXI. Chapter.

TRauayle and carefulnes for riches taketh awaye the slepe,1. Tim. 6. b and maketh the flesh to cōsume. Whan one lyeth and taketh care, he waketh euer vp, like as greate sicknes breaketh the slepe. The rich hath greate labor in gatheringe his riches together, and then with the pleasure of his riches he taketh his rest & is refreshed. But who so laboureth and prospereth not, he is poore: and though he leaue of, yet is he a begger. He that loueth riches, shall not be iustified: and who so foloweth corrupciō, shal haue ynough therof. Eccli. 8. a Many one are come in greate mysfortune by the reason of golde, & haue founde their destruccion before them. It is a tre of fallynge vnto them that offre it vp, and all soch as be foolish fall therin. Blessed is the rich, which is founde without blemysh, and hath not gone after golde, ner hoped in money and treasures. Where is there soch one? and we shal commende him, and call him blessed, for greate thinges doth he amonge his people. Who so is tryed, & founde perfecte in soch thinges, shalbe commended and praised. Who might offende, & hath not offended? Who coude do euell, and hath not done it? Therfore shal his good be stablished, and the whole congregacion shal declare his allmesses. Yf thou sytt at a greate mans table, open not thy mouth wyde vpon it, and make not many wordes. Remembre, that an euell eye is a shrew.

What thinge created is worse then a wicked eye? therfore wepeth it before euery mās face? Laye not thine hand vpon euery thinge that thine eye seyth, and stryue not with him in the dyshe. att. 7. a Ponder by thy self what thy neghboure wolde fayne haue, & be descrete in euery poynte. Eate the thinge that is set before the, manerly, as it becommeth a man: ccli 37. d and eate not to moch, lest thou be abhorred. Leaue thou of first of all because of nurtoure, lest thou be he whom no man maye satisfie, which maye turne to thy decaye. Whā thou syttest amonge many men, reach not thine hāde out first of all. O how well contēt is a wyse man wt a litle wyne? so yt in slepe thou shalt not be seke therof, ner fele eny payne. A swete wholsome slepe shal soch one haue, and fele no inwarde grefe. He ryseth vp by tymes in ye mornynge, and is well at ease in him self. But an vnsaciable eater slepeth vnquyetly, and hath ache and payne of the body. Yf thou felest that thou hast eaten to moch, aryse, go thy waye, cast it of thy stomack, and take thy rest.

My sonne, heare me, and despyse me not: and at the last thou shalt fynde as I haue tolde the. om. 12. b In all thy workes be diligent and quycke, so shal there no sicknes happen vnto the. ro. 22. a Who so is liberall in dealynge out his meate, many men shall blesse him and prayse him with their lippes: and the same is a sure token of his loue and faithfulnes. But he yt is vnfaithfull in meate, the whole cite shall complayne of him: and that is a sure experiēce of his infidelite and wickednes. phe. 5. b udit. 13. a Be not thou a wine bebber, for wyne hath destroyed many a man. The fyre proueth ye hard yron, euen so doth wyne proue the hertes of the proude, whan they be droncken.

Wyne sorbely droncken, quyckeneth the life of mā. Yf thou drynckest it measurably, Psal. 〈…〉 Pro. 〈…〉 thou shalt be temperate. What life is it, yt maye contynue without wyne? Wyne was made from the begynnynge to make men glad (and not for dronkennes) Wyne measurably dronkē is a reioysinge of the soule and body. But yf it be dronken with excesse, it maketh bytternes and sorowe vnto the mynde. Dronkēnes fylleth the mynde of the foolish with shame and ruyne, mynisheth the strēgth, and maketh woundes. 〈…〉 Rebuke not thy neghboure at ye wyne, and despyse him not in his myrth. Geue him no despytefull wordes, and preasse not vpon him with contrary sayenges.

The XXXII. Chapter.

YF thou be made a ruler, pride not thy self therin, 〈…〉 but be thou as one of the people. Take diligent care for them, 〈…〉 and loke well therto: and whan thou hast done all thy dewtye, syt the downe, that thou mayest be mery with them, and receaue a crowne of honoure. Talke wysely & honestly, for wyszdome becommeth the right well. Hynder not musyck. Speake not, where there is no audyence: 〈…〉 and poure not forth wyszdome out of tyme, at an importunyte. Like as the Carbuncle stone shyneth, that is set in golde, so doth a songe garnysh the wyne feast: and as ye Smaragde that is set in golde, so is the swetnes of Musyck by ye myrth of wyne.

Thou yonge mā, speake that becommeth the, & that is profitable, and yet scarse whan thou art twyce axed. Comprehende moch with few wordes. In many thinges be as one that is ignoraunt, geue eare, and holde thy tonge withall. Yf thou be amonge men of hyer auctorite, desyre not to compare thy self vnto them: and whā an elder speaketh, make not thou many wordes therin. Before the thonder goeth lightenynge, and before nurtoure and shamefastnesse goeth loue and fauoure. Stōde vp by tymes, and be not the last: but get the home soone, & there take thy pastyme, & do what thou wilt: so yt thou do no euell, and defye no mā. But for all thinges geue thankes, vnto him that hath made the, and replenished the with his goodes.

Who so feareth the LORDE, wyl receaue his doctryne: and they that get them to him by tymes, shall fynde grace. He that seketh the lawe, shall be fylled withall: As for him yt is but fayned, he wyll be offended therat. They that feare the LORDE, shal fynde the iudgment, & their righteousnes shalbe kyndled as a light. An vngodly man will not be refourmed, but can helpe him self with the example of other in his purpose. A man of vnderstondinge despyseth no good councell: but a wylde and proude body hath no feare. My sonne, do nothinge without advisement, so shal it not repēt the after ye dede. Go not in the waye where thou mayest fall, ner where thou mayest stomble against the stone. Geue not yi self in to a laborious slypery waye, and bewarre of thine owne children. In all thy workes put thy trust in God from thy whole hert, for that is the kepinge of the cō maundementes. Who so beleueth Gods worde, taketh hede to the commaundementes: & he that putteth his trust in ye LORDE, shal wante nothinge.

The XXXIII. Chapter.

THere shall no euell happen vnto him that feareth God: but whan he is in tentacion, the LORDE shall delyuer him. A wyse man hateth not ye lawe, but an ypocryte is as a shyp in a raginge water. A man of vnderstondinge geueth credence vnto the lawe of God, and ye lawe is faithfull vnto him. Be sure of the matter, then talke therof: Be first wel instructe, thē maiest thou geue answere. The hert of ye foolish is like a cartwhele, and his thoughtes renne aboute like the axell tre. Like as a wylde horse that neyeth vnder euery one yt sytteth vpon him, so is it with a scornefull frende. Why doth one daie excell another, seynge all the dayes of the yeare come of the Sonne? The wyszdome of the LORDE hath so parted them a sunder, and so hath he ordened the tymes and solempne feastes. Some of them hath he chosen and halowed before other dayes. And all men are made of the grounde, & out of the earth of Adam.

In the multitude of scyence hath ye LORDE sundered them, and made their wayes of dyuerse fashions. Some of them hath he blessed, made moch of them, halowed them, & claymed them to himself. But some of thē hath he cursed, brought thē lowe, & put thē out of their estate. 〈◊〉 9. c Like as ye claye is in the potters hande, & all the ordrynge therof at his pleasure: so are men also in the hande of him yt made thē, so that he maye geue them as it liketh him best. Agaynst euell is good, and agaynst death is life: so is the vngodly agaynst soch as feare God. Beholde thus all the workes of the Hyest, & there are euer 〈…〉 two agaynst two, and one set agaynst another. I am awaked vp last of all, as one that gathereth after in haruest. In the giftes of God and in his blessynge I am increased, & haue fylled my wyne presse, like a grape gatherer. Beholde, Ecclesia •• tici. 24. how I haue not laboured onely for my self, but for all soch as loue nurtoure and wyszdome.

Heare me O ye greate men of the people, & harken wt yo eares ye rulers of ye congregacion. Geue not ye sonne & wyfe, ye brother & frende power ouer the, whyle thou lyuest: & geue not awaye thy substaunce and good to another, lest it repent the, & thou be fayne to begg therfore thy self. As longe as thou lyuest & hast breth, let no man chaunge the: For better it is thy children to praye the, then yt thou shuldest be fayne to loke in their handes. In all thy workes be excellent, that thy honoure be neuer stained. At the tyme whan thou shalt ende thy dayes, and fynish thy life, distribute thine inheretaūce. The fodder, the whyppe, and the burden belongeth vnto the Asse: Meate, correccion, and worke vnto the seruaunt.

Yf thou set thy seruaunt to laboure, thou shalt fynde rest. But yf thou let him go ydel, he shal seke libertye. The yock & ye whyppe bowe downe the neck, but tame thou thy euell seruaunt with bōdes & correccion. Sende him to laboure, that he go not ydle: For Idylnesse bryngeth moch euell. Sett him to worke, for that belongeth vnto him and becōmeth him well. Yf he be not obedient, bynde his fete: but do not to moch vnto him in anye wyse, & without discrecion do nothinge. Yf thou haue a (faithfull) seruaūt, Eccli. 7. c let him be vnto the as thine owne soule, for in bloude hast thou gotten him. Yf thou haue a seruaunt, holde him as thy self, for thou hast nede of him as of thy self. Yf thou intreatest him euell, and kepest him harde, and makest him to be proude, and to renne awaye from ye, thou canst not tell, what waye thou shalt seke him.

The XXXIIII. Chapter.

VNwyse people begyle them selues wt vayne and disceatfull hope, and fooles trust in dreames. Who so regardeth dreames, is like him that wil take holde of a shadowe, and folowe after the wynde: Euen so is it with the appearinges of dreames. Before the face is the licknes of a face. Who can be clensed of ye vncleane? Or what treuth can be spoken of a lyar? Soythsayenge, witchcraft, sorcery and dreaminge is but vanyte: like as whan a womā trauayleth wt chylde, and hath many fantasyes in hir herte. Where as soch visions come not of God, set not thine herte vpon them: For dreames haue disceaued many a mā, and they fayled, that put their truste therin.

The lawe shalbe fulfilled without lyes, & wyszdome is sufficient to a faithfull mouth. A wyse man yt is well instructe, vnderstonstondeth moch: & he yt hath good experiēce, can talke of wyszdome. He yt hath no experiē ce, knoweth litle: & he yt erreth, causeth moch wickednes. Whan I was yet in erroure, I lerned moch also: yee I was so lerned, that I coude not expresse it all, and came oft in parell of death therouer, tyll I was delyuered from it. Now I se, that they which feare God, haue the right sprete: for their hope stō deth in him, that can helpe thē. Who so feareth the LORDE, stōdeth in awe of no man, and is not afrayed, for the LORDE is his hope and comforte.

Blessed is the soule of him yt feareth the LORDE: In whō putteth he his trust? who is his strēgth? For the eyes of the LORDE haue respecte vnto them, that loue him. He is their mightie proteccion, & strōge grounde: A defence for the heate, a refuge for the hote noone daye, a sucore for stomblynge, & an helpe for fallynge. He setteth vp the soule, and lighteneth ye eyes: He geueth health life, and blessynge. He that geueth an offeringe of vnrighteous good, his offerynge is refused: and the scornefull dealinges of the vnrighteous please not God. God hath no delyte in the offerynges of ye vngodly, ro. 15. a nether maye synne be reconcyled in the multitude of oblacions. Who so bryngeth an offerynge out of ye goodes of ye poore, doth euē as one yt kylleth ye sonne before ye fathers eyes.

The bred of the nedefull is the life of the poore: he yt defraudeth him therof, is a man, of bloude. Who so robbeth his neghbor of his lyuinge, doth as greate synne as though he slew him to death. Deu. 24. c ccli. 7. c He that defraudeth ye laborer of his hyre, is a bloude shedder. Whā one buyldeth, and another breaketh downe, what profit haue they then but laboure? Whan one prayeth, & another curseth, whose voyce wyl the LORDE heare? Nu. 1 . b He that washeth himself because of a deed body, & then toucheth the deed agayne, what doth his waszshinge? Pro. 26. b . Pet. 2. b So is it with a man that fasteth for his synnes, and doth them agayne: who wil heare his prayer? Or what doth his fastynge helpe him?

The XXXV. Chapter.

WHo so kepeth the lawe, bryngeth offerynges ynough. Iere. 7. c He that holdeth fast the commaundement, offreth the right health offrynge. He yt is thankfull & recompenseth, offreth fyne floure. 〈…〉 Who so is mercifull & geueth allmes, yt is the right thank offrynge. God hath pleasure, whā one departeth frō synne: & to forsake vnrighteousnes recōcileth vs wt him. Thou shalt not appeare emptye before ye LORDE, 〈…〉 for all soch is done because of ye cōmaundemēt. The offeringe of ye righteous maketh ye aulter fatt, & a swete smell is it before ye Hyest. The offerynge of the righteous is acceptable vnto God, & shal neuer be forgottē. 〈…〉 Geue God his hono with a chearfull eye, & kepe not backe the firstlinges of ye handes. In all thy giftes shew a mery countenaunce, 〈…〉 & halowe thy tithes vnto God wt gladnes. Geue vnto God, 〈…〉 acordinge as he hath enriched & prospered their loke what thine hande is able, yt geue wt a chearfull eye: for the LORDE recompenseth, & geueth ye seuē tymes as moch againe.

Geue no vnrighteous giftes, for soch wil not he receaue. Bewarre of wrongeous offeringes, for ye LORDE is a righteous iudge, 〈…〉 & regardeth no mans personne: He accepteth not the personne of the poore, but he heareth ye prayer of ye oppressed. 〈…〉 He despyseth not ye desyre of ye fatherles, ner ye wyddow, whan she poureth out hir prayer before him. Doth not God se ye teares, yt renne downe ye chekes of the wyddow? Or heareth he not the complaynte, ouer soch as make her to wep Who so serueth God after his pleasure, shalbe accepted, & his prayer reacheth vnto the cloudes. The prayer of him yt humbleth himself, 〈…〉 goeth thorow ye cloudes, tyll she come nye. She wyl not be comforted, ner go hir waye, tyll ye hyest God haue respecte vnto her, geue true sentēce, & perfourme ye iudgmēt. And ye LORDE wil not be slack in cōmynge, ner tary longe: tyll he haue smyttē in sonder ye backes of ye vnmercyfull, & auenged himself of ye Heithen: tyll he haue takē awaye ye multitude of ye cruell, & brokē the cepter of the vnrighteous: tyll he geue euery man after his workes, & rewarde them as they haue deserued: tyll he haue delyuered his people, mayntened their cause, & reioysed them in his mercy. O how fayre a thinge is mercy, in the tyme of anguysh & trouble? It is like a cloude of rayne, yt cōmeth in ye tyme of a drouth.

The XXXVI. Chapter.

HAue mercy vpon vs O LORDE, thou God of all thinges. Haue respecte vnto vs (shew vs the light of thy mercies, & sende ye feare amōge ye Heithē & straū gers, which seke not after the: yt they maye knowe, how yt there is no God but thou, and yt they maye shew thy wonderous workes.) Lift vp thine hande ouer the outlādish Heithen, yt they maye lerne to knowe thy might & power. Like as thou art halowed in vs before them, so brynge to passe, yt thou mayest be magnified also in them before vs: yt they maye knowe the, like as we knowe the. For there is none other God, but onely thou O LORDE. Renue the tokens, & chaunge the wonderous workes. Shewe thine hāde and thy right arme gloriously. Rayse thy indignacion, & poure out thy wrath. Take awaye the aduersary, & smyte the enemye. Make ye tyme shorte, remembre thy couenaunt, that ye wonderous workes maye be praysed. Let the wrath of the fyre consume them, that lyue so careles: and let them perish, that do ye people hurte. Smyte in sonder the heade of the prynces, that be oure enemies, and saye: there is none other but we.

Gather all ye trybes of Iacob together againe, yt they maie knowe, how yt there is none other God but onely thou, yt they maie shew thy wonderous workes, and be thy people & heretage, like as from the begynninge. O LORDE haue mercy vpon the people yt hath ye name, 〈◊〉 4. f & vpō Israel, whom thou hast lickened to a first borne sonne. O be merciful vnto Ierusalē the cite of thy Sanctuary, ye cite of thy rest. 〈◊〉 6. g Fyll Sion with thy vnspeakeable vertues, & yi people wt thy glory. Geue wytnes vnto ye creature, whom thou maydest from the begynnynge, and rayse vp the prophecies yt haue bene shewed in thy name. Rewarde them yt wayte for the, yt thy prophetes maye be founde faithfull. O LORDE heare the prayer of thy seruauntes, acordinge to ye blessinge of Aaron ouer thy people: that all they which dwell vpon earth, 〈◊〉 6. d maye knowe, that thou art the LORDE the eternall God, which is from euerlastinge.

The bely deuoureth all meates, yet is one meate better then another. Like as the tonge taisteth venyson, 〈◊〉 . 2. b so doth an hert of vnderstondinge marck false wordes. A frowarde hert geueth heuynes, but a man of experience lifteth him vp agayne. The woman receaueth euery man, yet is one daughter better then another. A fayre wife reioyseth hir huszbande, and a man loueth nothinge better. Yf she be louynge & vertuous withall, then is not hir huszbande like other men. He that hath gotten a vertuous woman, hath a goodly possession: she is vnto him an helpe and piler wher vpon he resteth. Where no hedge is, there the goodes are spoyled: and where no houszwife is, there ye frēdles mourneth. Like as there is no credence geuen to a robber, yt goeth from one cite to another: So is not ye man beleued, that hath no nest, and must turne in, where he maye abyde in the night.

The XXXVII. Chapter.

EVery frende sayeth: I wil be frendly vnto him also. But there is some frende, which is onely a frende in name. Remayneth there not heuynes vnto death, whan a companyon and frende is turned to an enemye? O most wicked presumpcion: Frō whence art thou spronge vp, to couer the earth with falsede & disceate? Eccli. 6. b There is some companyon, which in prosperite reioyseth with his frēde: but in the tyme of trouble, he taketh parte agaynst him. There is some cō panyon, that mourneth with his frende for the bely sake: but whan trouble commeth, he taketh holde of the shylde. Forget not thy frende in thy mynde, & thynke vpon him in yi riches. Euery counceler bryngeth forth his councell: Neuertheles there is some, yt counceleth but for his owne profit. Eccli. 8. and 9. c Bewarre of ye counceler, & be aduysed afore wherto thou wilt vse him, for he wil geue coūcell for him self. Lest he cast the lott vpon the, & saye vnto the: Thy waye and purpose is good, and afterwarde he stande agaynst the, and loke what shal become of the.

Axe no coūcell at him, yt suspecketh ye for an enemie, & hyde ye councell from soch as hate ye. Axe no councell at a woman, cōcernynge ye thinges yt she lōgeth for: ner at a fearful & fayntharted body, in matters of warre: or at a marchaunt, how deare he wil cheape thy wares towarde his: or at a byer, of sellynge: Or at an envyous man, of thankesgeuynge: Or at the vnmercifull, of louynge kindnes: Or at ye slouthfull, of workinge: Or at an hyrelynge which hath no house, of profit or wealth. (An ydle body wolde not gladly heare speake of moch labo.) Take no soch folkes to coūcell, but be diligēt to seke coūcel at a vertuous man, yt feareth God, soch one as thou knowest to be a keper of ye cōmaundemētes, which hath a minde after thine owne minde, & is sory for ye whā thou stōblest.

And holde thy councell fast in thine hert: for there is no man more faithful to kepe it, then thou thy self. For a mās mynde is somtyme more disposed to tell out, then seuen watchmen that sytt aboue in an hye place lokynge aboute them. And aboue all this praye the Hyest, that he wil lede thy waye in faithfulnes & trueth. Before all thy workes axe councell first: and or euer thou doest eny thinge, be well aduysed. There be foure thinges that declare a chaunged hert, wherout there springeth euell & good, death & life, & a masterfull tonge that bableth moch. Some man is apte and well instructe in many thinges, and yet very vnprofitable vnto himself. Some man there is, that can geue wyse and prudent councell, and yet is he hated, & contynueth a begger: for that grace is not geuē him of God, to be accepted. Another is robbed of all wiszdome, yet is he wise vnto him self, and the frute of vnderstōdinge is faithfull in his mouth.

A wyse man maketh his people wyse, & ye frutes of his wiszdome fayle not. A wyse mā shal be plēteously blessed of God: & all they that se him, shal speake good of him. The life of man stondeth in ye nōbre of the dayes, but the dayes of Israel are innumerable. A wyse man shal opteyne faithfulnes & credence amonge his people, & his name shalbe perpetuall. My sonne, proue thy soule in thy life: & yf thou se eny euell thinge, geue it not vnto her. Cor. 6. c nd 10. c For all thinges are not profitable for all men, nether hath euery soule pleasure in euery thinge. Be not gredy in euery eatynge, ccli. 31. b and be not to haistye vpō all meates. For excesse of meates bryngeth siknes, and glotony commeth at the last to an vnmeasurable heate. Thorow glotony haue many one perished: but he that dyeteth him self temperatly, prolongeth his life.

The XXXVIII. Chapter.

HOnoure the Phisician: honoure him because of necessite. God hath created him (for of the Hyest commeth medecyne) and he shal receaue giftes of the kynge. The wiszdome of the phisician bryngeth him to greate worshipe, & in the sight of the greate men of this worlde, he shalbe honorably taken. The LORDE hath created medecyne of the earth, and he that is wyse, wyl not abhorre it. Exo. 15. d 4. Re. 4. c Was not ye bytter water made swete with a tre? that men might lerne to knowe the vertue therof. The LORDE hath geuen men wyszdome & vnderstondinge, yt he might be honoured in his wōderous workes. With soch doth he heale men, & taketh awaye their paynes: Of soch doth the Apotecary make a confeccion, yet can no man perfourme all his workes. For of ye LORDE commeth prosperous wealth ouer all ye earth.

My sonne, despyse not this in thy sicknes: but praye vnto the LORDE, Esa. 38 a . Pa . 16. c & he shal make the whole. Leaue of from synne, & ordre thy handes a right: clēse thine hert from all wickednes. Geue a swete sauoured offrynge, & ye fyne floure for a token of remembraunce: make the offrynge fatt, as one that geueth the first frutes, & geue rowme to the Phisician For ye LORDE hath created him: let him not go from the, for thou hast nede of him. The houre maye come, yt the seke maye be helped thorow them, whan they praye vnto ye LORDE, yt he maie recouer, & get health to lyue lō ger. He that synneth before his maker, shall fall in to the handes of the Phisician.

My sonne, brynge forth thy teares ouer the deed: and begynne to mourne, 〈…〉 as yf thou haddest suffred greate harme thy self: & thē couer his body after a conuenyent maner, & despyse not his buryall. Enforce thy self to wepe, & prouoke thy self to mourne, & make lamentacion expediently, 〈…〉 and yt a daye or two, lest thou be euell spoken of: & then cōforte thy self because of the heuynes. 〈…〉 For of heuynes cōmeth death, the heuynes of ye hert breaketh strength. Heuynes and pouerte greueth the hert in tentacion & offence. Take no heuynes to hert, dryue it awaye, and remembre the last thinges. Forget it not, for there is no turnynge agayne. Thou shalt do him no good, but hurte thy self. Remembre his iudgmēt, thine also shalbe likewyse: vnto me yesterdaye, vnto the to daye. Let the remembraunce of the deed ceasse in his rest, 〈…〉 and cō forte thy self agayne ouer him, seynge his sprete is departed from him.

The wyszdome of the scrybe is at cōuenyent tyme of rest: & he yt ceasseth from exercyse & labo, shalbe wyse. He that holdeth ye plough, & hath pleasure in proddynge & dryuynge ye oxen, & goeth aboute wt soch workes, he can speake of oxen. He setteth his hert to make forowes, & is diligent to geue ye kyne fodder. So is euery carpenter also & work master, that laboureth still night & daye: he carueth, graueth & cutteth out, & his desyre is in sondrye connynge thinges, and his hert ymagineth, how he maye conyngly cast an ymage, his diligence also & watchinge perfourmeth the worke. The yronsmyth in like maner bydeth by his stythie, & doth his diligence to laboure the yron. The vapoure of the fyre brenneth his flesh, and he must fight with the heate of the fornace. The noyse of the Hammer soundeth euer in his eares, and his eyes loke still vpon the thinge yt he maketh. He hath set his minde there vpon, that he wyll make out his worke, and therfore he watcheth, how he maie set it out, and brynge it to an ende.

So doth the potter syt by his worke, he turneth ye whele aboute with his fete, he is diligent & carefull in all his doynges, & his laboure and worke is without nombre. He fashioneth the claye with his arme, and wt his fete he tēpereth it. His hert ymagineth how he maye make it pleasaunt, & his diligence is to clense the ouen. All these hope in their hādes, & euery one thinketh to be connynge in his worke. Without these maye not the cities be manteyned, inhabited ner occupied: yet come they not hye in the congregacion: they vnderstande not the couenaunt of ye lawe: they can not declare equyte & iudgment: they can not fynde out the darck sentē ces: but thorow them shal the creature of ye worlde be manteyned: their prayer concerneth onely the worke & labor of cōninge.

The XXXIX. Chapter.

BVt he yt applyeth his mynde to vnderstande the lawe of God, doth diligently seke out ye wyszdome of them of the olde tyme, & exercyseth him self in the prophetes. He kepeth ye sayenges of famous men, and preasseth to the vnderstandinge of darck sentēces of wyszdome. He seketh out ye mysterye of secrete sayēges, and exercyseth him self therin cōtynually. He doth seruyce amonge greate men, & appeareth before the prynce. He goeth in to a straunge countre, & trauaileth thorow it: loke what good or euell is amōge men, he proueth it & seketh it out. He purposeth in his hert, to resorte early vnto the LORDE yt made him, & to praye before the hyest God. He openeth his mouth in prayer, & prayeth for his synnes.

When the greate LORDE wil, he shalbe filled wt the sprete of vnderstādinge, yt he maie then poure out wyse sentences, & geue thankes vnto the LORDE in his prayer. He shal ordre his deuyce, and lede his knowlege aright, & geue him vnderstandinge of secrete thinges. He shal shew forth the sciēce of his lerninge, & reioyce in the couenaunt of the lawe of the LORDE. The whole congregacion shal cōmende his wyszdome, & it shal neuer be put out. The remembraunce of him shal neuer be forgotten, & his name shal contynue from one generacion to another. 〈◊〉 44. b His wyszdome shalbe spoken of, & the whole congregacion shall openly declare his prayse. Whyle he liueth, he hath a greater name thē a thousande besyde: & after his death, the same name remayneth vnto him. Yet wyll I speake of mo men of vnderstandinge, for I am full as the Moone.

Herkē vnto me (ye holy vertuous childrē) brynge forth frute, as the rose that is planted by the brokes of the felde, and geue ye a swete smell as Libanus. Florish as the rose garden, synge a songe of prayse. O geue thā kes vnto God ouer all his workes. Geue glory and honoure vnto the LORDE, shew his prayse with youre lippes. Yee euen with the songe of youre lippes, with harpes & playenge, and in geuinge thankes vnto him, saye after this maner: Gen. 1. d All ye workes of the LORDE are exceadinge good, and all his commaundementes are mete and conuenient in due season.

A mā nede not to saie: what is yt? what is that? Gen. 7. d for at time conuenient they shal all be sought. At his cōmaundement ye water was as a wall, & at the worde of his mouth ye waters stode still. In his commaundement is euery thinge acceptable and reconcyled, and his health can not be minished. The workes of all flesh are before him, & there is nothinge hydd from his eyes. He seith from euerlastinge to euerlastinge, and there is nothinge to wonderfull or hye vnto him. A man nede not to saye then, what is this, or that? For he hath made all thinges to do good vnto man. His blessynge shall renne ouer as the streame, and moysture the earth like a floude of water. Like as he maketh the water for drouth, so shall his wrath fall vpon the Heithen.

His wayes are playne and right vnto ye iust, but the vngodly stomble at them. Ose. 14. Rom. 8. For the good are good thinges created from the begynnynge, and euell thinges for the vngodly. All thinges necessary for the life of man are created from the begynnynge: water, fyre, yron and salt, meel, Eccli. 29. 1. Ti. 4. a wheate and hony mylke and wyne, oyle and clothinge. All these thinges are created for the best to the faithfull: But to the vngodly shal all these thinges be turned to hurte and harme. There be spretes that are created for vengeaūce, and in their rigorousnes haue they fastened their tormentes. Matt. 2 . In the tyme of the ende they shal poure out their strēgth, and pacifie ye wrath of him that made them. Fyre, hayle, Eccli 40. honger and death: all these thinges are created for vengeaunce.

The teth of wylde noysome beestes, the scorpions, serpentes, and the swerde are created also for vengeaunce, to the destruccion of the vngodly. They shall be glad to do his commaundementes: and whan nede is, they shalbe ready vpon earth: and whan their houre is come, they shal not ouerpasse the commaundement of the LORDE.

Therfore haue I taken a good corage vnto me from the begynnynge, and thought to put these thinges in wrytinge, and to leaue thē behynde me. 〈◊〉 . 1. d All ye workes of the LORDE are good, and he geueth euery one in due season, and whan nede is, So that a man nede not to saye: this is worse then that. For in due season they are all pleasaunt and good: And therfore prayse the LORDE with whole hert and mouth, & geue thankes vnto his name.

The XL. Chapter.

A Greate trauayle is created for all mē, and an heuy yock vpon all mens children, from the daye that they go out of their mothers wombe, tyll they be buried in (the earth) the mother of all thinges: namely, their thoughtes and ymaginacions, feare of the hert, councell, meditacions, longinge and desyre, the daye of death: from the hyest that sytteth vpon the glorious seate, vnto the lowest and most symple vpon the earth: from him that is gorgiously arayed, and weereth a crowne, vntyll him that is but homely and symple clothed. There is nothinge but wrath, zele, fearfulnes, vnquietnes, and feare of death, rigorous anger and stryfe. And in the night whan one shulde rest and slepe vpon his bedd, the slepe chaungeth his vnderstandinge and knowlege. A litle as nothinge is his rest, in ye slepe as well as in the daye of laboure.

He feareth and is disquyted in the vision of his hert, as one that renneth out of a battayll: and in the tyme of health he awaketh, and marueleth that the feare was nothinge. Soch thinges happen vnto all flesh, both man and best: but seuenfolde to the vngodly. Morouer death, bloudsheddinge, strife & swerde, oppression, honger, destruccion and punyshment: ccli. 39. c en. 7. d en. 3. d ccli. 41 b these thinges are all created agaynst the vngodly, and for their sakes came the floude also. All that is of the earth, shal turne to earth agayne: and all waters ebb agayne in to the see. All brybes and vnrighteousnes shalbe put awaye, but faithfulnes and trueth shal endure for euer. The substaū unce and goodes of ye vngodly shalbe dried vp and syncke awaye as a water floude, and they shall make a sounde like a greate thonder in the rayne.

Like as the righteous reioyseth whan he openeth his hande, so shall the trāsgessours be faynte, whan their goodes vanysh and consume awaye. The children of the vngodly shal not optayne many braunches: ccli. 41 b and ye vncleane rotes vpō the hye rockes shalbe roted out before the gras by the water syde & vpon the ryuer bankes.

Frendlynes and liberalite in the increase and blessynge of God, is like a paradise & garden of pleasure: soch mercy also & kindnes endureth for euer. . Tim. Ph •• . 4 To labo & to be content with that a man hath, is a swete pleasaunt life: & that is to fynde a treasure aboue all treasures. To beget children and to repayre the cite, maketh a perpetuall name: but an honest woman is more worth thē they both. Wyne and mynstrals ye reioyse the hert, but the loue of wyszdome is aboue them both.

Pypinge and harpinge make a swete noyse, but a frendly tonge goeth beyonde them both. Thine eye desyreth fauoure and bewtie but a grene sede tyme rather thē they both. A frende and companyon come together at oportunyte, Eccl. •• but aboue them both is a wife that agreeth with hir huszbande. One brother helpeth another in the tyme of trouble, but allmes shal deliuer more then they both. Golde and syluer fasten the fete, but a good councell is more pleasaunt then they both. Temporall substaunce and strength lift vp the mynde: but the feare of the LORDE more then they both. The feare of the LORDE wanteth nothinge, and nedeth no helpe. The feare of ye LORDE is as a pleasaunt gardē of blessynge, and nothinge so bewtyfull as it is. My sonne, lede not a beggers life, for better it were to dye thē to begg. Who so loketh to another mans table, taketh no thought for his owne lyuynge how to vpholde his life, for he fedeth himself with other mens meate. But a wyse and well nurtoured man wyll bewarre therof. Beggynge is swete in the mouth of the vnshamefast, but in his bely there burneth a fyre.

The XLI. Chapter.

O Death, how bytter is the remembraunce of the, to a man that seketh rest and comforte in his substaunce and riches, vnto the man that hath nothinge to vexe him, and that hath prosperite in all thinges, yee vnto him that yet is able to receaue meate? O death, how acceptable and good is thy iudgment vnto the nedefull, and vnto him whose strength fayleth, & that is now in his last age, and that in all thinges is full of care and fearfulnes: vnto him also that is in dispayre, and hath no hope ner pacience? Be not thou afrayed of death: remembre them yt haue bene before the: and yt come after ye: this is the iudgmēt of ye LORDE ouer all flesh. 〈…〉 And why woldest hou be agaīst this pleasure of ye Hiest Whether it be ten, an hundreth, or a thousande yeares: death axeth not how longe one haue lyued.

The children of the vngodly are abhominable children, and so are they that kepe company with the vngodly. The inheretaunce of vngodly children shall come to naught, ccli 40. c and their posterite shal haue perpetuall shame and confucion. The children complayne of an vngodly father: and why? for his sake they are rebuked and despysed. Wo be vnto you (O ye vngodly) which haue forsakē the lawe of ye hyest God: Yf ye be borne, ye shal be borne to cursynge: yf ye dye, ye curse shal be youre porcion.

〈◊〉 40. b All that is of ye earth, shal turne to earth agayne: so go the vngodly also out of ye curse in to destruccion. The sorow of men is in their body: but ye name of the vngodly shal be put out, for it is nothinge worth. Laboure to get the a good name, 〈◊〉 22. a for that shall contynue su er by the, then a thousande greate treasures of golde. A good life hath a nōbre of dayes, but a good name endureth euer.

My children, kepe wyszdome in peace: for wiszdome that is hyd and a treasure that is not sene, 〈◊〉 0. d what profit is in thē both? A man that hydeth his foolishnes, is better then a man that hydeth his wyszdome. Therfore be ye turned at my wordes: for it is not good, in all thinges and allwaie to be ashamed. True faith must proue and measure it.

Be ashamed of whordome before father and mother: Be ashamed of lesynge before the prynce and men of auctorite: Of synne, before the iudge and ruler: Of offence, before the congregacion and people: Of vnrighteousnes, before a companyon and frēde: Of theft, before ye neghbours. As for the trueth of God and his couenaunt, be not ashamed therof. 〈◊〉 . 1. b

Be ashamed to lye with thyne elbowes vpon the bred: Be ashamed to loke vpō harlottes: Be ashamed to turne awaye thy face from thy frende: Be ashamed to take & not to geue: Be ashamed also to loke vpon anothers mans wyfe, and to make many tryflinge wordes with hir mayden, or to stonde by hir bedsyde. Be ashamed to vpbrade thy frē de: and whan thou geuest eny thinge, cast him not in the teth withall.

The XLII. Chapter.

EEhearse not a thinge twyse, and disclose not the wordes, that thou hast herde in secrete. Be shamefast & well manered in dede, so shall euery man fauoure the. Of these thinges be not thou ashamed, and accepte no personne to offende. Namely, of these thinges be not ashamed: Of the lawe of God, of the couenaunt, of iudgmēt: to brynge the vngodly from his vngodlines vnto righteousnes, and to make him a good man: to deale faithfully wt neghbo & companyon: to distribute the heretage vnto ye frendes: to be diligent to kepe true measure and weight: to be content, whether thou gettest moch or litle: to deale truly wt temporall goodes in byenge and sellynge: to brynge vp children with diligence: to correcke an euell seruaunt: to kepe that thine is frō an euell wife: to set a lock where many handes are: what thou delyuerest and geuest out to be kepte, to tell it, and to weye it: to wryte vp all the out geuynge and receauynge: to enfourme ye vnlerned and vnwyse: Of the aged, that are iudged of the yonge. Yf thou be diligēt in these thinges, truly thou shalt be lerned and wyse and accepted of all men.

The daughter maketh ye father to watch secretly: and the carefulnes that he hath for her, taketh awaye his slepe: yee in the youth, lest she shulde ouergrowe him: And whan she hath an huszbande, lest she shulde be hated: lest she shulde be defyled or rauyshed in hir virginyte, or gotten with childe in hir fathers house: Or (whan she commeth to the man) lest she behaue herself not right, or cō contynue vnfrutefull. Yf thy daughter be wanton, kepe her strately, Eccli. 26 b lest she cause thine enemies laugh the to scorne, & the whole cite to geue yt an euell reporte, and so hou be fayne to heare thy shame of euery man, and be confounded before all ye people. Eccli. 25. d Beholde not euery bodies bewtye, & haue not moch dwellynge amonge wemen. For like as the worme and moth commeth out of clothinge, Gen. 3. b so doth wickednes come of wemen.

It is better to be with an euell man, then wt a frendly wife yt putteth one to shame and rebuke. I wyl remembre the workes of the LORDE, and declare the thinge yt I haue sene. In ye wordes of ye LORDE are his workes. The Sōne ouerloketh all thīges wt his shine, & all his workes are full of ye clearnes therof. Hath not the LORDE brought to passe, that his sayntes shulde tell out all his wōderous workes, which the allmightie LORDE hath stablyshed? All thinges endure in his glory. He seketh out the grounde of the depe and the hert, and he knoweth all their ymaginacion & wyszdome. For ye LORDE knoweth all scyence, and he loketh in to ye token of the time. He declareth the thinges yt are past and for to come, Iob. 24. a Esa. 29. c & discloseth thinges that are secrete. No thought maye escape him, nether maye eny worde be hyd from him. He hath garnyshed the hye excellent workes of his wyszdome, and he is frō euerlastinge to euerlastinge. Vnto him maye nothinge be added nether can he be mynished, he hath no nede also of eny councell. O how amiable are all his workes, & as a sparke to loke vpon? They lyue all, and endure for euer: and whan so euer nede is, they are all obedient vnto him. They are all dubble, one agaynst another: he hath made nothinge that hath faute or blemysh. Deut. 3 . a He hath stablyshed the goodes of euerychone: and who maye be satisfied with his glory, whan he seith it?

The XLIII. Chapter.

THe glory of the heyth, is the fayre and cleare firmament, sal. 8. a the bewtye of the heauen in his glorious clearnes. The sonne whan it appeareth, declareth the daye in ye goinge out of it, a maruelous worke of the Hyest. At noone it burneth ye earth, and who maye abyde for the heate therof? Who so kepeth an ouen whan it is hote, thre tymes more doth the Sonne burne vpon ye mountaynes, whan it bretheth out the fyrie beames and shyneth: with the brightnes of it, it blyndeth the eyes. Greate is the LORDE that made it, and in his commaundement he causeth it to renne haistely.

Gen. 1. b The Moone also is in all, and at conuenient season it sheweth the tymes, and is a token of the tyme. The token of the solempne feast is taken of the Moone, xo. 12. a a light that mynisheth and increaseth againe. The Moneth is called after the Moone, it groweth wonderously in hir chaunginge.

The armye of heauen also is in the Heith, in the firmament of heauen it geueth a cleare and glorious shyne. This is the clearnes of the starres, the bewtifull apparell of heauen, the apparell that the LORDE lighteneth in the heyth. In his holy worke they continue in their ordre, and not one of them fayleth in his watch. Gen. 9. b Loke vpon ye rayne bowe, and prayse him that made it: very bewtifull is it in his shyne. He compaseth the heauen aboute with his clearnes & glory, the handes of the Hyest haue bēded it. Thorow his commaundement he maketh the snowe to fall, & the thonder of his iudgment to smyte hastely. Thorow his commaundement the treasures are opened, and the cloudes fle as the foules. In his power hath he strengthened the cloudes, and brokē the hayle stones.

The mountaynes melt at ye sight of him, the wynde bloweth accordinge to his wyll. The sounde of his thonder beateth ye earth, and so doth the storme of the north: the whirle wynde also lighteth downe as a fethered foule, casteth out and spredeth the snow abrode: and as the greshoppers that destroye all, so falleth it downe. The eie marueleth at ye bewtye of the whytenesse therof, and the hert is afraied at the raine of it. He poureth out the frost vpon earth, like salt, and whan it is frosen, it is as sharpe as the prycke of a thistle.

Whan the colde northwynde bloweth, harde Christall commeth of the water. He lighteth downe vpon all the gatheringes together of water, and putteth on ye waters as a brest plate. He deuoureth the mountaynes, and burneth the wyldernesses: and loke what is grene, he putteth it out like fyre. The medycine of all these is, whan a cloude commeth hastely: and whan a dew commeth vpon the heate, it shalbe refreszshed agayne.

(In his worde he stylleth the wynde,) In his councell he setteth the depe, and (the LORDE) Iesus planted it. They that sayle ouer the see, tell of his parels and harmes: and whan we heare it with oure eares, we maruell therat. For there be straūge wonderous workes, dyuerse maner of nyce beestes and whall fishes. Thorow him are all thinges set in good ordre and perfourmed, & in his worde all thinges endure.

I speake moch, but I can not sufficiently attayne vnto it, for he himself onely is the perfeccion of all wordes. We shulde prayse the LORDE after all o power, for he is greate in all his workes. Psa The LORDE is to be feared yee very greate is he, and maruelous is his power. Prayse the LORDE, and magnifie him as moch as ye maye, yet doth he farre farre exceade all prayse. 〈…〉 O magnifie him wt all youre power, and laboure earnestly, yet are ye in no wyse able sufficiently to prayse him. Who hath sene him, 〈…〉 that he might tell vs? Who can magnifie him so greatly as he is? For there are hyd yet greater thinges thē these be: as for vs, we haue sene but few of his workes. For the LORDE hath made all thinges, and geuen wyszdome to soch as feare God.

The XLIIII. Chapter. A commendacion of the olde vertuous fathers.

LEt vs commende the noble famous men, and the generacion of oure foreelders and fathers. Many more glorious actes hath the LORDE done, and shewed his greate power euer sens ye begynnynge. The noble famous men raigned in their kyngdomes, and bare excellent rule. In their wyszdome and vnderstondinge, they folowed the councell shewed in the prophecies. 〈…〉 They led the folke thorow the councell and wyszdome of the scrybes of the people. Wyse sentences are founde in their instruccion. They sought the swetenes and melody of Musick, and brought forth the pleasaunt songes in scripture. They were riche also, & coude comforte and pacifie those that dwelt with them. All these were very noble and honorable men in their generacions, and were well reported of in their tymes. These haue left a name behynde them, so that their prayse shal allwaye be spokē of. Afterwarde there were some, whose remembraunce is gone. 〈…〉 They came to naught and perished, as though they had neuer bene: and became as though they had neuer bene borne, yee & their children also with them.

Neuertheles these are louynge men, whose righteousnes shal neuer be forgotten, but contynue by their posterite. Their children are an holy good heretage: Their sede endured fast in ye couenaunt. For their sakes shal their childrē & sede contynue for euer, & their prayse shal neuer be put downe. Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name lyueth for euermore. The people can speake of their wyszdome, & the congregacion can talke of their prayse. 〈◊〉 49. c 〈…〉 c Enoch walked right & acceptably before the LORDE: therfore was he trāslated for an example of amendemēt to ye generacions. 〈◊〉 6. b 〈…〉 . Noe was a stedfast & righteous man: & in the tyme of wrath he became a recōcylinge. Therfore was he left a remnaunt vnto the earth, whan the floude came. An euerlastinge couenaunt was made wt him, 〈…〉 that all flesh shulde perishe nomore with ye water.

Abraham was a greate father of many people, 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 a in glory was there none like vnto him. He kepte the lawe of the Hyest, & came in to a couenaunt with him. He set the couenaunt in his flesh, 〈◊〉 22. a and whan he was tempted, he was founde faithfull. Therfore swore God vnto him with an ooth, that he wolde blesse all people in his sede, that he wolde multiplie and increase him as the dust of the earth, and to exalte his sede as the starres: yee and that his sede shulde haue ye possession and inheretaunce of the londe from see to see, and from the ryuer vnto ye borders of the londe.

With Isaac dyd he stablish ye same couenaūt, for Abrahā his fathers sake. Gen. 26· a Yee yt gracious blessynge and health of all men, and couenaunt dyd he stablysh with Isaac, and made it to rest vpon the heade of Iacob. He knew him, Gen. 28. c 29.30. in that he prospered him so well and richely, and gaue him an heretage, and sundered his porcion by it self, Iosu. 18.19 and parted it amonge the twolue trybes. Mercifull men brought he out of him, which founde fauor before all flesh.

The XLV. Chapter.

MOses beloued of God and mē, whose remembraunce is in hye prayse: Exo. 11. a Act. 7. c him hath the LORDE made like in the glory of the sayntes, and magnified him so that the enemies stode in awe of him, thorow his wordes he dyd greate wonders. He made him greate in the sight of kynges, gaue him commaundement before his people, and shewed him his glorious power. He stablyshed him with faithfulnes and mekenes, Num. 12. a and chose him out of all men. For he herde his voyce, and led him in the darcke cloude, and there he gaue him the commaundementes, yee the lawe of life and wyszdome, Exo. 19.20 that he might teach Iacob the couenaunt, and Israel his lawes.

He chose Aaron his brother also out of ye trybe of Leui, exalted him, Exo. 4. c & made him soch like. An euerlastinge couenaunt made he wt him, Exo. 28. a and gaue him the presthode in the people. He made him glorious in bewtifull araye, and clothed him with the garment of honoure. He put perfecte ioye vpō him, and gyrded him with strength. He deckte him with syde clothes and a tunycle, with an ouerbody cote also and gyrdle. Rounde aboute made he him belles of golde, and that many: that whan he wente in, Exo. 28. f the sounde might be herde, that they might make a noyse in the Sanctuary, and geue the people warnynge. The holy garment was wrought & broderd with golde, yalow sylke and purple. And in the brestlappe there was a goodly worke, Exo. 28. c wherin was fastened light and perfectnesse.

Vpon ye same also there was a worke fastened and set with costly precious stones, all bounde with golde: and this he brought in his mynistracion. The stones also were fastened for a remembraunce, after the twolue trybes of Israel. Vpon his mytre there was a plate of pure golde, a grauen ymage of holynes, a famous and noble worke, garnished, and pleasaunt to loke vpon. Before him were there sene no soch fayre ornamētes, and these it behoued hī allwaye to vse: There might none other put them on, but onely his children and his childers children perpetually. Daylie perfourmed he his burnt offeringes two tymes. Leui. 8. a Moses fylled his handes, and anoynted him wt holy oyle.

This was now confirmed him with an euerlastinge couenaunt, and to his sede, as ye dayes of heauē: namely, that his childrē shulde allwaye mynistre before him, and perfourme the office of the presthode, and wysh the people good in his name. Before all men lyuynge chose he him, that he shulde offre before the LORDE, and make odours for a swete sauoure and remembraūce, that he shulde reconcyle the people of the LORDE with him agayne. Deu. 17. c and 21. a Mal. 2. a He gaue him auctorite also in his commaundementes and in ye couenaūt, that he shulde teach Iacob the statutes and testimonies, and to enfourme Israel in his lawe.

Therfore there stode vp certayne agaynst him, Num. 16. a and had envye at him in the wyldernes: namely, they that were of Dathan & Abirams syde, and the furious congregaciō of Chore. This the LORDE sawe, and it displeased him, and in his wrothfull indignacion were they consumed. A greate wonder did he vpon them, and consumed them with the fyre. Num. 17. b Besydes this, he made Aaron yet more honorable and glorious. He gaue him an heretage, and parted the first frutes vnto him. Exo. 25. f Leui. 24. b Vnto him specially he appoynted the bred for sustenaunce (for the prestes ate of ye offerynges of the LORDE) this gaue he vnto him & his sede. Deut. 12. b and 18. a Eze. 44. d Els had he no heretage ner porcion in ye londe and with the people. For the LORDE himself is his porcion and enheritaunce.

The thirde noble and excellent mā is Phineas the sonne of Eleazer, which pleased the God of Israel, Num. 25. c because he had ye zele & feare of the LORDE. For whan the people were turned back, he put him self forth right soone, & that with a good wyll, to pacifie the wrath of the LORDE towarde Israel. Therfore was there a couenaūt of peace made with him, yt he shulde be the principall amonge the righteous and the people, that he and his posterite shulde haue the office of the presthode for euer (Like as there was made a couenaūt with Dauid of the trybe of Iuda, that frō amonge his sonnes onely there shulde be a kynge: And that Aaron also & his sede shulde be the heretage, to geue vs wyszdome in o hert, to iudge his people in righteousnes: that his goodes shulde not come in to forgetfulnes, and that their honoure might endure for euer.

The XLVI. Chapter.

MAnly & stronge in battaill was Iesus ye sonne of Naue, 〈…〉 which in steade of Moses ye prophet was geuen to be captayne of the people (which acordinge vnto his name was a greate sauioure vnto the electe of God) to punysh the enemies, that rose vp agaynst Israel, yt Israel might optayne their inheritaunce. O how greate, noble and excellent was he, 〈…〉 whan he lift vp his hande, and drew out his swerde agaynst the cities? Who stode so manly before him? For the LORDE himself brought in the enemies. 〈…〉 Stode not the Sonne styll at his commaundemēt, and one daye was as longe as two? He called vpon the Hyest & most mightie, whā ye enemies preassed vpon him on euery syde: and the LORDE herde him with the hayle stones. They smote ye Heithenish people mightely, & in fallinge downe they slew all ye aduersaries, so that the Heithē knewe his hoost, and all his defence, that the LOR- himself fought against them, for he folowed vpon the mightie men of them.

In the tyme of Moses also he and Caleb the sonne of Iephune, dyd a good worke, 〈…〉 which stode agaynst the enemies, withelde the people from synne, and stylled ye wicked murmurynge. And of sixe hundreth thousande people of fote, they two were preserued, 〈…〉 whan they were brought in to the heretage, namely, a londe that floweth with mylke & hony. The LORDE gaue strength also vnto Caleb, 〈…〉 which remayned with him vnto his age: so that he wente vp in to the hye places of the londe, and his sede conquered the same for an heretage: that all the childrē of Israel might se, how good a thinge it is, to be obedient vnto the LORDE. And the iudges or rulers (euery one after his name) whose hert wente not a whoringe, ner departed from ye LORDE, and that forsake not the LORDE vnfaithfully, whose remembraūce hath a good reporte: Yee their bones florish out of their place, and their name shal neuer be chaūged.

Samuel the prophet beloued of the LORDE, ordeyned a kinge, 〈…〉 and anoynted the prynces ouer the people. In the lawe of the LORDE ruled he, and iudged the congregacion, & the LORDE had respecte vnto Iacob. The prophet was founde diligent in his faithfulnes: yee in his faithfulnes was the faithfulnes of the vision knowne. He called vpon ye LORDE the mightie, 〈…〉 whā the enemies preassed vpon him on euery syde, what tyme as he offred the suckynge lambes. And the LORDE thondred from heauen, and mayde his voyce to be herde wt a greate noyse. He discomfited the prynces of Tyre, & all the rulers of the Philistynes. Re. 12. a Before his last ende he made protestacion in the sight of the LORDE & his anoynted, that he toke nether substaunce ner good of eny man, no not so moch as a shue: & no man might accuse him. After this he tolde, that his ende was at honde, and shewed the kynge also his ende and death: & from ye earth lift he vp his voyce in the prophecie, yt the vngodly people shulde perishe.

The XLVII. Chapter.

AFterwarde in the tyme of kynge Dauid, Re. 12 a there rose vp a prophet called Nathan: For like as the fat is taken awaye from the offrynge, so was Dauid chosen out of the childrē of Israel. He toke his pastyme wt the lyons as wt kyddes, and with beares like as with lambes. Slew he not a giaunte whan he was yet but yonge, 〈◊〉 17. f & toke awaye the rebuke from his people? what tyme as he toke the stone in his hande, & smote downe proude Goliath wt the slynge? For he called vpon the hyest LORDE, which gaue him strength in his right hande, so that he ouerthrew the mightie giaunte in the battayll, that he might set vp the horne of his people agayne.

Thus brought he him to worshipe aboue all prynces, 〈…〉 and made him to haue a good reporte in the prayse of the LORDE, yt he shulde weere a crowne of glory. For he destroied the enemies on euery syde, 〈…〉 roted out the Philistynes his aduersaries, & brake their horne in sunder, like as it is brokē yet this daye. In all his workes he praysed ye Hyest & Holiest, & ascrybed the honoure vnto him. With his whole hert dyd he prayse and loue him that made him. 〈◊〉 25. a He set syngers also before the aulter, and in their tune he made swete songes. He ordeyned to kepe the holy daies worship fully, and that the solempne feastes thorow the whole yeare shulde be honorably holdē, with praysinge the name of the LORDE, & with synginge by tymes in the mornynge in the Sanctuary.

The LORDE toke awaye his synnes, and exalted his horne for euer. 〈◊〉 2. c He gaue him ye couenaunt of the kyngdome, and the trone of worshipe in Israel. After him there rose vp the wyse sonne called Salomon, 〈…〉 and for his sake he droue ye enemies awaie farre of. This Salomon reigned with peace in his tyme (for God gaue him rest from his enemies on euery syde, that he might buylde him an house in his name, & prepare the Sanctuary for euer) like as he was well īstructe in his youth & fylled with wyszdome and vnderstōdinge, as it were with a water floude. He couered and fylled the whole londe with similitudes and wyse prudent sentences.

His name wente abrode in the Iles, because of his peace he was beloued. All londes marueled at his songes, prouerbes, symilitudes, and at his peace, and at the name of ye LORDE God, which is called the God of Israel. He gathered golde as tynne,3. Re. 10. & he had as moch syluer as leade. He was moued in vnordinate loue towarde wemen,3. Re. 11. a and was ouercome in affeccion. He stayned his hono and worshipe, yee his posterite defyled he also, in bringinge the wrath of the LORDE vpon his children, and sorowe after his ioye: so yt his kyngdome was deuyded,3. Re. 12. & Ephraim became an vnfaithfull & an vnconstant kingdome.2. Re. 7. Neuertheles God forsoke not his mercy, nether was he vtterly destroyed because of his workes, yt he shulde leaue him no posterite.

As for ye sede yt came vpon him (which he loued) he brought it not vtterly to naught, but gaue yet a remnaunt vnto Iacob, and a rote vnto Dauid out of him. Thus rested Salomon with his fathers, and out of his sede he left behynde him a very foolishnes of the people, and soch one as had no vnderstō dinge: namely,3. Re. 12. 3. Re. 12. Roboā which turned awaye the people thorow his councell, and Ieroboam ye sonne of Nabat, which caused Israel to synne, and shewed Ephraim the waye of vngodlynes: In so moch that their synnes & myszdedes had the vpper hande so sore, that at the last they were dryuen out of the londe for the same: Yee he sought out & brought vp all wickednes, tyll the vengeaunce came vpon them.

The XLVIII. Chapter.

THen stode vp Elias the prophet as a fyre,3. Re. 17. a and his worde br •• t like a creshett. He brought an hōger vpon thē and in his zele he made them few in nombre. (For they might not awaye wt the commaū dementes of the LORDE.) Thorow the worde of the LORDE he shut the heauen, and thre tymes brought he the fyre downe.3. Re. 18. 4. Re. 1. c Thus became Elias honorable in his wonderous dedes. Who maye make his boost to be like him?3. Re. 17. c One that was deed raysed he vp from death, & in the worde of ye Hyest he brought him out of the graue agayne. He cast downe kynges and destroyed them, and the honorable from their seate. Vpon the mount Syna he herde the punyshment, & vpon Horeb the iudgmēt of the vengeaunce. He prophecied recompensynge vnto kynges, and ordeyned prophetes after him. Re. 19. c Re. 2. c He was taken vp in the storme of fyre, in a charett of horses of the LORDE. He was ordeyned in the reprouynges in tyme, to pacifie the wrath, to turne ye hertes of the fathers vnto the children, Luc. . a & to set vp the trybes of Iacob agayne. Blessed were they that saw the, and were garnished in loue: for we lyue in life.

Elias was couered in the storme, but Heliseus was fylled with his mouth. . Re. 2. c . 4. Whyle he lyued he was afrayed of no prynce, and no man might ouercome him. There coude no worde disceaue him, . Re. 13. a . Re. 56. . 13. . Re. 18. b & after his death his body prophecied. He dyd wonders in his life, & in death were his workes maruelous. For all this, the people amended not, nether departed they from their synnes: tyll they were caried awaye presoners out of the londe, and were scatred abrode in all countrees, so that of them there remayned but a very litle people, and a prynce vnto ye house of Dauid. Howbeit some of them dyd right, & some heaped vp vngodlynes.

Ezechias made his cite stronge, conveyed water in to it, . Par. 32. a dygged thorow the stony rock with yron, & made vp a well by the water syde. . Re. 18. c sa. 6. a In his tyme came Sennacherib vp, and sent Rabsaches, lift vp his hande agaynst Sion, & defyed them with greate pryde. Thē trymbled their hertes and handes, so yt they sorowed like a woman trauaylinge with childe. So they called vpō the LORDE, which is mercyfull, & lift vp their hādes before him. Immediatly the LORDE herde thē out of heauen, and delyuered them by the hande of Esay. . Re. 19. g He smote the hoost of the Assirians, & his angell destroyed thē. For Ezechias had done the thinge that pleased the LORDE, & remayned stedfastly in the waye of Dauid his father. Which Esay was greate & faithfull in his visions. . Re. 20 b sa. 38. b In his tyme ye Sonne wē te backwarde, & he lengthened the kynges life. With a right sprete prophecied he, what shulde come to passe at the last: & to soch as were soroufull in Sion he gaue consolacion, wherwhith they might cōforte them selues for euermore. He shewed thinges yt were for to come & secrete, or euer they came to passe.

The XLIX. Chapter.

THe remembraūce of Iosias is like as whan the Apotecary maketh many precious swete smellynge thinges together. . Re. 22. a nd 23. . Pa. 34. a His remembraunce shalbe swete as hony in all mouthes, and as the playenge of Musick by the wyne. He was appoynted to turne the people agayne, & to take awaye all abhominacions of ye vngodly. He directed his hert vnto the LORDE, & in the tyme of the vngodly he set vp the worshipe of God agayne. All kynges (excepte Dauid, Ezechias & Iosias) cōmitted wickednes: for euen ye kynges of Iuda also forsoke ye lawe of God. For they gaue their horne vnto other, their hono & worshipe also to a straunge people.

Therfore was the electe cite of the Sāctuary brent with fyre, 〈…〉 and the stretes therof laye desolate & waist: for they intreated Ieremy euell, which neuertheles was a prophet ordeyned from his mothers wombe, that he might rote out, breake of, & destroye: 〈…〉 & that he might buylde vp, & plante agayne. Ezechiel sawe the glory of the LORDE in a vision, which was shewed him vpon the charet of the Cherubins. For he thought vpon the enemies in ye rayne, to do good vnto soch as had ordred their wayes a right. And the bones of the twolue prophetes florish from out of their place: for they gaue comforte & consolacion vnto Iacob, and delyuered thē faithfully. How shall we prayse Zorobabel, 〈…〉 which was as a ringe in the right hande?

So was Iesus also the sonne of Iosedec: these men in their tymes buylded the house, 〈…〉 & set vp the Sanctuary of ye LORDE agayne, which was prepared for an euerlastinge worshipe. 〈…〉 And Nehemias is allwaye to be cōmended, which set vp for vs the walles yt were broken downe, made the portes & barres agayne, and buylded oure houses of the new. 〈…〉 But vpon earth is there no man created like Enoch, for he was taken vp from ye earth. And Ioseph, which was lorde of his brethren, & the vpholder of his people: His bones were couered & kepte. Seth & Sem were in greate honoure amonge ye people: and so was Adam aboue all the beastes, whā he was created.

The L. Chapter.

SYmon the sonne of Onias the hye prest, 〈…〉 which in his life set vp the house agayne, & in his dayes made fast the tēple. The heyth of ye temple also was founded of him, the dubble buyldinge, & the hye walles of the temple. In his dayes the welles of water flowed out, and were exceadinge full as the see. He toke care for his people, & delyuered them from destruccion. He kepte his cite & made it stronge, that it shulde not be beseged. He dwelt in honoure and worshipe amonge his people, and enlarged the intraunce of the house and the courte. He geueth light as the mornynge starre in the myddest of the cloudes, and as ye Moone whan it is full. He shyneth as the Sonne in the temple of God. He is as bright as ye rayne bowe in ye fayre cloudes, & florisheth as the floures and roses in the sprynge of ye yeare, & as the lilies by the ryuers of water: Like as the braunches vpon the mount Libanus in tyme of Sommer: as a fyre & incē se that is kyndled: Like as an whole ornament of pure golde, set with all maner of precious stones: and as an olyue tre that is frutefull: & as a Cypres tre which groweth vp an hye.

Whan he put on the garment of honoure, & was clothed withall bewtye: whan he wente to the holy altare, to garnysh the couerynge of the Sanctuary: whan he toke ye porcions out of the prestes hande, he himself stode by the herth of the altare, and his brethren rounde aboute in ordre. As the braunches of Cedre tre vpon the mount Libanus, so stode they rounde aboute him. And as the braunches of the olyue tre, so stode all ye sonnes of Aaron in their glory. And yt he might sufficiently perfourme his seruyce vpon the altare, & garnysh the offrynge of the hyest God, he stretched out his hande and toke of the drynk offerynge, & poured in of the wyne: so he poured vpon the botome of the aulter a good smell vnto the hyest prynce.

Then beganne ye sonnes of Aaron to synge, and to blowe with trompettes, & to make a greate noyse, for a remembraūce & prayse vnto the LORDE. Then were the people afrayed, & fell downe to the earth vpō their faces, to worshipe the LORDE their God, & to geue thankes to Allmightie God. They sunge goodly also with their voyces, so that there was a pleasaunt noyse in ye greate house of the LORDE. And the people in their prayer besought the LORDE the Hyest, that he wolde be mercyfull, tyll the honoure of ye LORDE were perfourmed. Thus ended they their mynistracion and seruyce.

Then wente he downe, and stretched out his handes ouer the whole multitude of the people of Israel, that they shulde geue praise & thankes out of their lippes vnto ye LORDE, and to reioyse in his name. He beganne yet once also to praye, that he might openly shew the thankesgeuynge before the Hyest, namely thus: O geue prayse & thankes (ye all) vnto the LORDE oure God, which hath euer done noble and greate thinges: which hath increased oure dayes from or mothers wombe, and dealt with vs acordinge to his mercy: that he wyl geue vs the ioyfulnes of hert, & peace for oure tymes in Israel. Which faithfully kepeth his mercy for vs euermore, & allwaye delyuereth vs in due season.

There be two maner of people, that I abhorre fro my hert: as for the thirde, whom I hate, it is no people: They that syt vpon the mountayne of Samaria, the Philistynes, & the foolish people that dwell in Sichimis.

I Iesus the sonne of Sirac Eleazarus of Ierusalem, haue tokened vp these informacions and documētes of wyszdome and vnderstādinge in this boke, and poured out the wyszdome out of my hert. Blessed is he that exerciseth him self therin: and who so taketh soch to hert, shal be wyse. Yf he do these thinges, he shal be stronge in all. For the light of the LORDE ledeth him.

The LI. Chapter. A prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirac.

I Thanke the O LORDE and kynge, and praise the O God my Sauioure, I wil yelde prayse vnto ye name: for thou art my defender and helper, & hast preserued my body from destruccion, from ye snare of traytorous tōges, and from the lippes that are occupied with leyes. Thou hast bene my helper, from soch as stode vp agaynst me, and hast delyuered me after the multitude of thy mercy, and for thy holy names sake. Thou hast delyuered me from the roaringe of them, that prepared them selues to deuoure me, out of ye handes of soch as sought after my life: from the multitude of them yt troubled me, & wente aboute to set fyre vpon me on euery syde, so yt I am not brent in the myddest of the fyre: From the depe of hell, from an vncleane tōge, from lyenge wordes, from the wicked kynge, and from an vnrighteous tonge. My soule shal prayse ye LORDE vnto death, for my life drew nye vnto hell.

They cōpased me rounde aboute on euery syde, & there was no mā to helpe me. I loked aboute me, yf there were eny man that wolde socoure me: but there was none. Then thought I vpon thy mercy O LORDE, and vpon thy actes that thou hast done euer of olde: namely, yt thou delyuerest soch as putt their trust in the, and ryddest them out of ye handes of the Heithen. Thus lift I vp my prayer from the earth, and prayed for delyueraunce from death. I called vpon the LORDE my father, that he wolde not leaue me wt out helpe, in the daye of my trouble & in the tyme of the proude. I praysed thy name contynually, yeldinge honoure and thākes vnto it: and so my prayer was herde. Thou sauedest me from destruccion, and delyueredest me frō ye vnrighteous tyme. Therfore wil I aknowlege and praise the, and magnifie ye name of the LORDE.

Whā I was yet but yonge, or euer I wē te astraye, I desyred wyszdome openly in my prayer. I came therfore before the temple, & sought her vnto the last. Then florished she vnto me, as a grape that is soone rype. My hert reioysed in her, then wente my fote the right waye, yee from youth vp sought I after her: I bowed downe myne eare and receaued her. I founde me moch wyszdome, and prospered greatly in her. Therfore wyll Iascrybe the glory vnto him, that geueth me wyszdome: for I am aduysed to do therafter. I will be gelous to cleue vnto the thinge yt is good, so shal I not be cōfounded. My soule hath wrestled with her, and I haue bene diligent to be occupied in her. I lift vp myne handes an hye, then was my soule lightened thorow wiszdome, that I knowleged my foolishnes. I ordred my soule after her, she & I were one hert from the begynninge, and I founde her in clennesse. And therfore shal I not be forsaken.

My hert longed after her, and I gat a good treasure. Thorow her ye LORDE hath geuen me a new tonge, wherwith I wil praise him. O come vnto me ye vnlerned, & dwell in ye house of wyszdome: withdrawe not youre selues from her, but talke & comon of these thinges, for youre soules are very thirstie. I opened my mouth, Esa. 35. a and spake: O come & bye wyszdome without money, bowe downe youre neck vnder hir yock, and youre soule shall receaue wyszdome. She is harde at hande, & is content to be founde. Beholde with youre eyes, Eccli. 6. c how that I haue had but litle laboure, and yet haue founde moch rest. O receaue wyszdome, and ye shall haue plenteousnes of syluer and golde in possession. Let youre mynde reioyse in his mercy, & be not ashamed of his prayse. Wyrke his worke by tymes, & he shal geue you youre rewarde in due tyme.

The ende of Ecclesiasticus, other wyse called Iesus the sonne of Syrac.
The prayer of Azarias and the songe of ye thre children after Theodotios translacion: which wordes are wryten in ye thirde chapter of Daniel after the olde text in Latyn.

ANd they walked in the myddest of the flamme, praysynge God and magnifienge ye LORDE. Asarias stode vp, and prayde on this maner, Euen in the myddest of the fyre opened he his mouth, & saide: Blessed be thou (o LORDE God of or fathers) right worthy to be praysed and honoured is yt name of thine for euermore: for thou art righteous in all ye thinges yt thou hast done to vs: Yee faithfull are all ye workes, ye wayes are right, & ye iudgmētes true. In all ye thinges yt thou hast brought vpon vs, & vpon the holy cite of or fathers (euen Ierusalem) thou hast executed true iudgment: Yee acordinge to right and equyte hast thou brought these thinges vpō vs, because of oure synnes.

For why? we haue offended, & done wickedly, departynge from the: In all thinges haue we trespaced, 〈…〉 & not obeyed thy cōmaundementes, ner kepte thē, nether done as thou hast bydden vs, yt we might prospere. Wherfore, all yt thou hast brought vpon vs, 〈…〉 & euery thinge yt thou hast done to vs, thou hast done them in true iudgment: As in delyueringe vs in to the hondes of oure enemies, amōge vngodly & wicked abhominacions, & to an vnrighteous kinge, yee ye most frowarde vpō earth. And now we maye not opē or mouthes, we are become a shame & reprofe vnto ye seruauntes, & to thē yt worshipe the.

Yet for thy names sake (we beseke the) geue vs not vp for euer, breake not thy couenaunt, & take not awaye thy mercy from vs, for thy beloued Abrahams sake, for thy seruaunt Isaacs sake, & for thy holy Israels sake: to whom thou hast spoken & promysed, yt thou woldest multiply their sede as ye starres of heauen, & as the londe yt lieth vpon ye se shore. For we (o LORDE) are become lesse thē eny people, & be kepte vnder this daye in all the worlde, because of oure synnes: So ther now we haue nether prynce, duke, prophet, burnt offerynge, sacrifice, oblaciō, incēse ••• Sanctuary before the.

Neuerthelesse, in a contrite herte and an humble sprete let vs be receaued, yt we maie opteyne thy mercy. Like as in the burnt offerynge of rammes & bullockes, and like as in thousandes of fat lambes: so let or offrynge be in thy sight this daye, 〈…〉 yt it maye please ye, for there is no cōfucion vnto them, yt put there trust in the. And now we folowe the with all or herte, we feare the, & seke thy face. Put vs not to shame, but deale wt vs after thy louynge kyndnesse, & acordinge to the multitude of thy mercies. Delyuer vs by thy miracles (o LORDE) & get thy name an honoure: that all they which do thy seruauntes euell, maye be confoūded. Let them be ashamed thorow thy Allmightie power, and let their strength be broken: that they maye knowe, how that thou only art the LORDE God, & honor worthy thorow out all the worlde.

And the kynges seruātes yt put them in, ceassed not to make the ouen hote with wylde fyre, drye strawe, pitch & fagottes: so that the flamme wente out of the ouen vpon a xlix. cubites: yee it toke awaye, & brent vp those Caldees, yt it gat holde vpon besyde the ouen. But the angel of the LORDE came downe in to the ouen to Asarias and his felowes, & smote ye flamme of the fyre out of the ouen, & made the myddest of the ouen, as it had bene a coole wynde blowinge: so that the fyre nether touched them, greued them, ner dyd them hurte. Then these thre (as out of one mouth) praysed, honoured, and blessed God in the fornace, sayenge:

〈…〉 Blessed be thou, o LORDE God of oure fathers: for thou art prayse & honoure worthy, 〈…〉 yee & to be magnified for euermore. Blessed be ye holy name of thy glory, for it is worthy to be praysed, and magnified in all worldes. Blessed be thou in the holy temple of ye glory, for aboue all thinges thou art to be praysed, yee & more then worthy to be magnified for euer. Blessed be thou in the trone of ye kyngdome, for aboue all thou art worthy to be wel spoken of, & to be more then magnified for euer. Blessed be thou, that lokest thorow the depe, 〈…〉 & syttest vpon the Cherubyns: for thou art worthy to be praysed, & aboue all to be magnified for euer. Blessed be thou in ye firmament of heauen, for thou art prayse and honoure worthy for euer.

O all ye workes of the LORDE: speake good of ye LORDE, prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

〈…〉 O ye angels of the LORDE, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye heauēs, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O all ye waters that be aboue the firmamēt, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O all ye powers of the LORDE, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye Sōne & Moone, Psal. 148. a speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye starres of heauē, Psal. 1 5. a speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye schowers & dew, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O all ye wyndes of God, speake good of ye LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye fyre & heate, speake good of ye LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye wynter and sommer, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye dewes & frostes, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye frost and colde, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye yse and snowe, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him and set him vp for euer.

O ye nightes and dayes, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye light and darcknesse, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set vp him for euer.

O ye lightenynges and cloudes, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O let the earth speake good of the LORDE: yee lett it prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye moūtaynes and hilles, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O all ye grene thinges vpon the earth, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye welles, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye sees and floudes, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye whalles and all that lyue in the waters, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O all ye foules of the ayre, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O all ye beastes & catell, speake good of ye LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye children of men, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O let Israel speake good of the LORDE, prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye prestes of ye LORDE, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

Psal. 112. a 134. a. & 133. a Apo. 19. a O ye seruauntes of the LORDE, speake good of the LORDE: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O ye spretes and soules of the righteous, speake good of ye LORDE: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye holy and humble men of herte, speake ye good of the LORDE: prayse ye him, & set him vp for euer.

O Ananias, Asarias and Misael, speake ye good of the LORDE: prayse ye him, and set hī vp for euer. Iere. 20. c Which hath delyuered vs from ye hell, kepte vs from ye honde of death, rydde vs from the myddest of the burnynge flamme, Esa. 43. a 1. Mac. 2. f and saued vs euē in the myddest of ye fyre. Psal. 104. a 103. a. 106. a. 116. a & 13 . a O geue thākes therfore vnto ye LORDE: for he is kynde harted, and his mercy endureth for euer. O all ye deuoute men, speake good of the LORDE, euen the God of all goddes: O prayse him, and geue him thankes, for his mercy endureth worlde without ende.

The story of Susanna which is the XIII. chapter of Daniel after the Latyn.

THere dwelt a man in Babilō, called Ioachim: yt toke a wife, whose name was Susanna, (ye doughter of Helchias) a very fayre woman, & soch one as feared God. Hir father & hir mother also were godly people, & taught their doughter acordinge to ye lawe of Moses. Now Ioachim (hir huszbonde) was a greate rich man, & had a fa re orcharde ioyninge vnto his house. And to him resorted the Iewes comonly, because he was a man of reputacion amonge them. The same yeare were there made two iudges, soch as the LORDE speaketh of: All the wickednesse of Babilon, cōmeth from ye elders (yt is) from ye iudges, which seme to rule the people. These came offt to Ioachims house, & all soch as had eny thinge to do in the lawe, came thither vnto them.

Now when the people came agayne at after noone, Susanna wente in to hir huszbō des orcharde, to walke. The elders seynge this, that she went in daylie & walked: they burned for lust to her, yee they were allmost out of their wittes, & cast downe their eyes, that they shulde not se heauē, ner remembre, yt God is a righteous iudge. For they were both woūded wt the loue of her, nether durst one shewe another his grefe. And for shame, they durst not tell her their inordynate lust, yt they wolde fayne haue had to do wt her. Yet they layed wayte for her earnestly from daye to daye, that they might (at the leest) haue a sight of her. And the one sayde to ye other: Vp, let vs go home, for it is dyner tyme. So they wente their waye from her.

When they returned agayne, they came together, enqueringe out ye matter betwixte them selues: yee the one tolde ye other of his wicked lust. Thē apoynted they a tyme, whē they might take Susanna alone.

It happened also yt they spyed out a conueniēt tyme, when she wente forth to walke (as hir maner was) & no body with her, but two maydēs, 〈…〉 & thought to wash her self in the garden, for it was an hote season: And there was not one person there, excepte the two elders, yt had hyd them selues, to beholde her. So she sayde to hir maydens: go set me oyle & sope, & shut the orcharde dore, yt I maye wash me. And they dyd as she bad them, & shut the orcharde dore, & wente out them selues at a backe dore, to fet the thinge yt she had cōmaunded: but Susanna knewe not, yt ye elders laie there hyd within. Now when the maydens were gone forth, ye two elders gat them vp, & ranne vpon her, sayenge: now, the orcharde dores are shut, that no man can se vs: we haue a lust vnto the, therfore consent vnto vs, and lye with vs.

Yf thou wilt not, we shall bringe a testimoniall agaynst the: that there was a yonge felowe with the, and that thou hast sent awaye thy maydens from the for the same cause. Susanna sighed, and sayde: Alas, I am in trouble on euery syde. Though I folowe youre mynde, it wyll be my death: and yf I consent not vnto you, I can not escape youre hondes. Wel, it is better for me, to fall in to youre hondes without the dede doinge, then to synne in the sight of the LORDE: and with that, she cried out with a loude voyce the elders also cried out agaynst her.

Then ranne there one to the orcharde dore, & smote it open. Now when the seruauntes of the house herde ye crie in ye orcharde, they ruszshed in at the backe dore, to se what the matter was. So when the elders tolde them, the seruauntes were greatly ashamed, for why, there was neuer soch a reporte made of Susanna. On the morow after came the people to Ioachim hir houszbonde, and ye two elders came also, full of myscheuous ymaginacions agaynst Susanna, to bringe her vnto death, & spake thus before the people: Sende for Susanna ye daughter of Helchias, Ioachims wife. And immediatly they sent for her. So she came wt her father & mother; hir children & all her kynrede. Now Susanna was a tender person, & maruelous fayre of face. Therfore the wicked men cōmaunded to take of the clothes from her face (for she was couered) yt at the leest, they might so be satisfied in hir beutie. Then hir frēdes, yee & all they yt knewe her, begāne to wepe.

These two elders stode vp in the myddest of the people, 〈…〉 & layed their hondes vpon ye heade of Susanna: which wepte, and loked vp towarde heauen, for hir herte had a sure trust in the LORDE. And the elders sayde: As we were walkinge in the orcharde alone, this woman came in wt hir two maydēs: whom she sent awaye from her, & sparred ye orcharde dores. With that, a yonge felowe (which there was hyd) came vnto her, & laye wt her. As for vs, we stode in a corner of the orcharde. And whē we sawe this wickednes, we rāne to her: & perceaued, yt they had medled together. But we coude not holde him, for he was stronger then we: thus he opened ye dore, & gat him awaye. Now whē we had takē this womā, we axed her, what yōge felow this was: but she wolde not tell vs. This is ye matter, & we be witnesses of ye same.

The comon sorte beleued them, as those yt were the elders & iudges of the people, & so they condemned her to death. Susanna cried out wt a loude voyce, & sayde: O euerlastinge God, 〈…〉 thou sercher of secretes, thou yt knowest all thinges a fore they come to passe: thou wotest, yt they haue borne false wytnes agaynst me: & beholde, I must dye, where as I neuer dyd eny soch thinges, as these men haue maliciously inuented agaynst me. And ye LORDE herde hir voyce. For whē she was led forth to death, ye LORDE raised vp ye sprete of a yōge childe, whose name was Daniel, 〈…〉 which cried wt a loude voice: I am clene frō this bloude. Thē all ye people turned thē towarde him, & saide: What meane these wordes, yt thou hast spokē Daniel stode in ye myddest of thē, & sayde: Are ye soch fooles (O ye childrē of Israel) yt ye cā not discerne? Ye haue here condēned a daughter of Israel vnto death, and knowe not the trueth wherfore: Go syt on iudgment agayne, for they haue spoken false witnesse agaynst her.

Wherfore the people turned agayne in all the haist. And the elders (that is, the principall heades) sayde vnto him: come sit downe here amonge vs, and shewe vs this matter, seynge God hath geuen the as greate honoure, as an elder. And Daniel sayde vnto them:3. Reg. 3. d Put these two asyde one from another and then shal I heare them. When they were put a sunder one from another, he called one of them, and sayd vnto him: O thou olde canckerde carle, that hast vsed thy wickednesse so longe: thine vngracious dedes which thou hast done afore, are now come to light. For thou hast geuen false iudgmentes, thou hast oppressed the innocent, and letten the giltie go fre, where as yet the LORDE saieth: Exo. 23. a Pro. 17. c The innocent and righteous se thou slaye not. Wel than, yf thou hast sene her, tel me, vnder what tre sawest thou them talkynge together? He answered: Vnder a Molbery tre. And Daniel sayde: very wel, Now thou leist euen vpon thine heade. Lo the messaunger of the LORDE hath receaued the sentence of him, to cut ye in two.

Then put he him asyde, and called for the other, and sayde vnto him: O thou sede of Canaan, but not of Iuda: Fayrnesse hath disceaued the, and lust hath subuerted thine herte. Thus dealte ye afore with the daughters of Israel, and they (for feare) consented vnto you: but the daughter of Iuda wolde not abyde youre wickednesse. Now tell me than, vnder what tre didest thou take them speakinge together? He answered: vnder a pomgranate tre. Then sayde Daniel vnto him: very wel, now thou leyst also euen vpō thine heade. The messaunger of the LORDE stondeth waytinge with the swerde, to cut the in two, and to slaye you both.

With that, all the whole multitude gaue a greate shoute, and praysed God, which allwaye delyuereth them yt put their trust in him. And they came vpon the two elders, Psal. 1 . a (whom Daniel had conuicte with their owne mouth: that they had geuen false witnesse) and dealte with them, Deu. 19. d Prou. 19. a euen likewyse as they wolde haue done with their neghbouresse: Yee they dyd acordinge to the lawe of Moses, and put them to death. Thus the innocent bloude was saued the same daye.

Thē Helchias & his wife praysed God for their daughter Susanna, with Ioachim hir huszbonde and all ye kinrede: that there was no dishoneste founde in her. From that daye forth was Daniel had in greate reputaciō in the sight of ye people.

The ende of the story of Susanna.
The story of Bel, which is the xiiij. Chapter of Daniel after the Latin.

THere was at Babilon an ymage, called Bel: and there were spent vpon him euery daye, xij. cakes, xl. shepe, and sixe greate pottes of wine. Him dyd the kynge worshipe himself, and wente daylie to honor him: but Daniel worshiped his owne God. And the kynge sayde vnto him: Why dost not thou worshipe Bel? Deut. 4. c and 5. a Exo. 20. a Deut. 6. d Matt. 4. a he answered and sayde: Because I maye not worshipe thinges, that be made wt hondes, but the lyuynge God, which made heauen and earth, and hath power vpon all flesh. The kynge sayde vnto him: thinkest thou not, yt Bel is a lyuynge God? Or seist thou not, how moch he eateth and drynketh euery daye? Daniel smyled, and sayde: O kynge, disceaue not thyselfe: This is but made of claye within, and of metall without, nether eateth he euer eny thinge. Eccle 30. e

Then the kynge was wroth, and called for his prestes, and sayde vnto them: Yf ye tell me not who this is, that eateth vp these expenses, ye shal dye: But yf ye can certifie me, that Bel eateth them, then Daniel shall dye, Leu. 24. c for he hath spoken blasphemy agaynst Bel. And Daniel sayde vnto the kynge: let it so be, acordinge as thou hast sayde. The prestes of Bel were lxx. besyde their wyues and children. And the kynge wente with Daniel in to the temple of Bel. So Bels prestes sayde: Lo, we wil go out, & set thou ye meate there (O kynge) & poure in the wyne: then shutt the dore fast, and seale it with thine owne signet: and tomorow when thou commest in, yf thou fyndest not, that Bel hath eaten vp all, we wil suffre death: or els daniel, that hath lyed vpon vs. The prestes thought them selues sure ynough, for vnder ye altare they had made a preuy intraunce, & there wente they in euer, and ate vp what there was.

So when they were gone forth, the kynge set meates before Bel. Now Daniel had cōmaunded his seruauntes to bringe aszshes and these he siffted thorow out all the temple, that the kynge might se. Then wente they out, & sparre the dore, sealinge it with ye kynges signet, and so departed. In ye night came the prestes with their wyues and children (as they were wonte to do) and ate and dronke vp all. In the mornynge be tymes at the breake of the daye, the kynge arose, & Daniel with him. And the kynge sayde: Daniel, are the seales whole yet? He answered: Yee (o kynge) they be whole. Now as soone as he had opened the dore, the kinge loked vnto ye altare, and cried with a loude voyce: Great art thou o Bel, and with the is no disceate. Then laughed Daniel, and helde the kynge, that he shulde not go in, and sayde: Beholde the pauement, marcke well, whose fotesteppes are these? The kynge sayde: I se the fotesteppes of men, women and children.

Therfore the kynge was angrie, and toke the prestes, with their wyues and childrē, & they shewed him ye preuy dores, where they came in, & ate vp soch thinges as were vpon ye altare. 〈…〉 For the which cause ye kynge slewe them, & delyuered Bel in to Daniels power, which destroyed him and his temple.

And in that same place there was a greate dragon, which they of Babilon worshipped. And ye kynge sayde vnto Daniel: sayest thou, yt this is but a god of metall also? lo, he liueth, he eateth & drinketh: so yt thou cāst not saye, that he is no lyuinge God, therfore worshipe him. Daniel sayde vnto ye kinge: I wil worshipe the LORDE my God, 〈…〉 he is ye truelyuynge God: as for this, he is not the God of life. But geue me leaue (o kynge) & I shal destroye this dragon without swearde or staff. The kynge sayde: I geue ye leaue. Then Daniel toke pitch, fatte and hairie woll, and did seyth them together, and made lompes therof: this he put in ye Dragōs mouth, and so ye dragon barst in sonder: and Daniel sayde: lo, there is he whom ye worshipped.

When they of Babylon herde that, they toke greate indignacion, and gathered them together agaynst the kynge, sayenge: The kynge is become a Iewe also, he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slayne ye Dragon, and put the prestes to death. So they came to ye kynge, & sayde: let us haue Daniel, or els we w l destroye the and thine house.

Now whan ye kynge sawe, that they russhed in so sore vpon him, & that necessite constrained him, 〈…〉 he deliuered Daniel vnto them: which cast him in to the lyons denne, where he was sixe dayes. In the denne there were seuen lyons, and they had geuen them euery daye two bodies and two shepe: which then were not geuē them, that they might deuoure Daniel.

There was in Iewry a prophet called Abacuc, which had made potage, and broker bred in a depe platter, and was goinge in to the felde, for to brynge it to ye mowers. But the angell of the LORDE sayde vnto Abacuc: go cary the meate that thou hast in to Babilon, vnto Daniel, which is in ye lyōs denne. And Abacuc sayde: LORDE, I neuer sawe Babilon: and as for the denne, I knowe it not. 〈…〉 Then the angel of the LORDE toke him by the toppe, and bare him by the hayre of the heade, and (thorow a mightie wynde) set him in Babilon vpon the denne. And Abacuc cried, sayenge: O Daniel thou seruaunt of God, 〈…〉 haue, take the breakfast, yt God hath sent ye. And Daniel saide: O God, hast thou thought vpon me? wel, thou neuer faylest them that loue the. So Daniel arose, & ate: and the angel of the LORDE set Abacuc in his owne place agayne immediatly.

Vpon the seuenth daye, the kynge wente to bewepe Daniel: and whan he came to the denne, he loked in: and beholde, Daniel sat in the myddest of the lyons. Then cried ye kynge with a loude voyce, sayenge: Greate art thou, 〈…〉 o LORDE God of Daniel: & he drewe him out of the denne. As for those that were ye cause of his destrucciō, 〈…〉 he dyd cast thē in to the denne, and they were deuoured in a moment before his face.

After this, wrote the kynge vnto all people, kynreddes and tunges, that dwelt in all countrees, sayenge: peace be multiplied with you. My commaundement is, in all the dominyon of my realme: that men feare and stonde in awe of Daniels God, 〈…〉 for he is the lyuynge God, which endureth euer: his kyngdome abydeth vncorrupte, Luc. 1. c Esa 43. b Ose. 13. b Dan. 3. f and his power is euerlastinge. It is he that can delyuer and saue: he doth wonders and maruelous workes in heauen and in earth, for he hath saued Daniel from the power of the Lyons.

The ende of the Storye of Bel.
The first boke of the Machabees, What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. Of the power of Alexander kynge of Macedonia. Of certayne vnfaithfull Israelites. Of the greate tyranny of Antiochus, & how miserably he destroyeth Ierusalē: which God suffreth to be plaged, because they haue forsaken him. Chap. II. How feruently Matathias and his sonnes stryue for the honoure of God and welfare of the people: How swetely he exorteth his sonnes (euē in the houre of his death) to be sted fast in the lawe of God. Chap. III. Of Iudas Machabeus that worthy captayne, and of his noble actes agaynst Antiochus. Chap. IIII.V. Of the glorious victory, that God gaue Iudas against Gorgias and Lisias: how they wynne the cite, and clense the temple agayne, & how they fyght afterwarde against the Heithen. Chap. VI. Antiochus besegeth Elymas in Persia. Iudas layeth sege to the castelar Ierusalem, the kynge goeth aboute to helpe thē that are therin. Chap. VII. The tyranny of Demetrius. They take truce with the people of God, & kepe it not. Chap. VIII. Iudas hearinge how reasonable the Romaynes are, seketh for to make peace with them. Chap. IX. How Iudas was slaine in the bataill and how there came vp derth after his death. Ionathas was captayne after him, and gatt the victory of Bachides. Chap. X. Of Alexāder the sonne of Antiochus. Demetrius maketh peace with Ionathas, & so doth Alexander afterwarde. Ptolomy geueth his doughter Cleopatra vnto Alexāder. Demetrius defyeth Ionathas. Chap. XI. Ptolomy ryseth agaynst Alexander and Ionathas, and promyseth to geue Demetrius his daughter, whom he had geuen allredy vnto Alexander. The death of Alexander and Ptolomy the raigne of Demetrius. Demetrius and Ionathas are frendes. Alexanders sonne taketh the kyngdome vpon him. Chap. XII. The Iewes wryte vnto the Romaynes and Sparcians to renue the olde frendshipe. Triphon receaueth Ionathas with fayre wordes, and then causeth him and his to be slayne. Chap. XIII. After the death of Ionathas is Symon his brother made Captaine of the people which goeth forth agaynst Triphon, and burieth his brother. Triphon slayeth Antiochus haynously. Symon maketh peace with Demetrius, and layeth sege to Gaza. Chap. XIIII. Demetrius seketh helpe against Triphō. Demetrius is takē. Peace in Iewry. Simō ruleth well. The Romaines and they of Sparta renue the peace with Symon. Chap. XV. Antiochus wryteth louyngly vnto the Iewes, and persecuteth Triphon. He breaketh the bonde with the Iewes. Chap. XVI. The faithfulnes of Symō & his sonnes. Ptolomy szlayeth them disceatfully, and betrayeth the londe.
The first Chapter.

AFter that Alexander the sonne of Philippe, kynge of Macedonia wente forth of the londe of Cethim, and slewe Darius kynge of the Persiās and Meedes: It happened, that he toke greate warres in honde, wanne very many stronge cities, and slew many kinges of ye earth: goinge thorow to ye endes of the worlde, and gettinge many spoyles of the people: In so moch, yt the worlde stode in greate awe of him, & therfore was he proude in his herte. udit. 1. b Now whē he had gathered a mightie strōge hoost, & subdued ye lōdes and people with their prynces, so that they became tributaries vnto hī: he fell sick. And whē he perceaued that he must nedes die, he called for his noble estates (which had bene brought vp with him of children) & parted his kyngdome amonge them, an. 7. a nd 8. b whyle he was yet alyue. So Alexāder raygned xij. yeare, and then dyed.

After his death fell the kyngdome vnto his prynces, and they optayned it euery one in his rowme, and caused them selues to be crowned as kynges: and so dyd their childrē after them many yeares, & moch wickednesse increaced in the worlde. Out of these came yt vngracious rote, noble Antiochus ye sonne of Antiochus the kynge (which had bene a pledge at Rome) & he raigned in ye Cxxxvij. yeare of the raigne of the Grekes. . Mac. 8. a

In those dayes wēte there out of Israel wicked men, which moued moch people wt their coūcel, Deut. 7. a udic. 2. a sayēge: Let vs go & make a couenaunt with the Heithen, yt are rounde aboute vs: for sence we departed from them, we haue had moch sorow. ere. 44. c So this deuyce pleased them well, and certayne of ye people toke vpon thē for to go vnto ye kynge, which gaue them licence to do after the ordinaūce of the Heithen. 〈…〉 Then set they vp an open scole (at Ierusalem) of the lawes of the Heithē, and were nomore circumcised: but forsoke ye holy Testamente, and ioyned them selues to ye Heithē, & were cleane solde to do myschefe. 〈…〉

So when Antiochus beganne to be mightie in his kyngdome, he wente aboute to optayne ye londe of Egipte also, that he might haue the dominion of two realmes. Vpon this entred he in to Egipte with a stronge hoost, with charettes, elephantes, 〈…〉 horsmen & a greate nombre of shippes, and beganne to warre agaynst Ptolomy the kynge of Egipte. But Ptolomy was afrayed of him, and fled: and many of his people were wounded to death. Thus Antiochus wāne many strō ge cities, and toke awaye great good out of the londe of Egipte.

And after that Antiochus had smytten Egipte, he turned agayne in the Cxliij. yeare & wente towarde Israel, 〈…〉 and came vp to Ierusalem with a mightie people: and entred proudly into ye Sanctuary, and toke awaye the golden altare, the candilsticke and all ye ornamētes therof: the table of the shewbred the pouringe vessel, the chargers, the golden spones, the vale, the crownes and golden apparel of the temple, and brake downe all. He toke also the syluer and golde, the precious Iewels, and the secrete treasures that he foū de. And when he had taken awaye alltogether, caused a greate murthur of men, and so fulfilled his malicious pryde, he departed in to his owne londe.

Thus there arose greate heuinesse and misery in all the londe of Israel. The prynces and the elders of the people mourned, the yō ge men and the maydens were defyled, and the fayre beutye of women was chaunged: the brydegrome and the bryde toke them to mournynge: the londe and those that dwelt therin, was moued: for all the house of Iacob was brought to confucion.

After two yeares the kynge sent his chefe treasurer vnto the cities of Iuda, 〈◊〉 . 5. c which came to Ierusalem with a greate multitude of people, speakīge peaceable wordes vnto thē, but all was disceate: for when they had geuen him credence, he fell sodēly vpon the cite, and smote it sore, and destroyed moch people of Israel. 〈…〉 And when he had spoyled the cite, he set fyre on it, castinge downe houses and walles on euery syde. 〈…〉 The women & their children toke they captiue, and led awaye their catell. Then buylded they the castel of Dauid with a greate and thicke wall, and with mightie towres, & made it a stronge holde for them. Besyde all this they sett wicked people and vngodly men to kepe it, stoared it with weapens and vytales: gathered the goodes of Ierusalem, and layed thē vp there: thus became it a theuysh castell.

And this was done to laye waite for the people that wente in to the Sanctuary, and for the cruell destruccion of Israel. Thus they shed innocent bloude on euery syde of ye Sanctuary, and defyled it: In so moch that the citesyns were fayne to departe, and the cite became an habitacion of straungers, beynge desolate of hir owne sede, for hir owne natyues were fayne to leaue her. Hir Sāctuary was clene waisted, hir holy dayes were turned in to mournynge, 〈…〉 hir Sabbathes were had in derision, and hir honor brought to naught. Loke how greate hir glory was afore, so greate was hir confucion, and hir ioye turned in to sorow.

Antiochus also the kynge sent out a commission vnto all his kyngdome, 〈…〉 that all the people shulde be one. Then they left euery man his lawe, and all the Heithen agreed to the cōmaundement of kynge Antiochus: Yee many of the Israelites consented there vnto, offerynge vnto Idols, and defylinge the Sabbath. So the kynge Antiochus sent his messaungers with his commission vnto Ierusalem, and to all ye cities of Iuda: that they shulde folowe ye lawes of the Heithē, and for bad ether burnt offerynge, meat offerynge or peace offerynge to be made in the temple of God, & that there shulde no Sabbath ner hye feast daye be kepte: but commaunded, that the Sanctuary and the holy people of Israel shulde be defyled.

He commaunded also that there shulde be set vp other altares, temples and Idols: to offre vp swynes flesh and other vnclene beastes: that men shulde leaue their children vncircumcised, to defyle their soules with all maner of vnclennesse & abhominacions: that they might so forget the lawe, and chaūge all the holy ordinaunces of God: and that who so euer wolde not do acordynge to the commaundement of kynge Antiochus, shulde suffre death. In like maner commaunded he thorow out all his realme, and sett rulers ouer the people, for to compell them to do these thynges, commaundinge the cities of Iuda to do sacrifice vnto Idols.

Then wente the people vnto the Heithen by heapes, forsoke the lawe of the LORDE, and committed moch euell in the londe: yee and chaced out the secrete Israelites, which had hyd them selues in corners and preuy places. The xv. daye of the moneth Casleu, in the Cxlv. yeare, set kynge Antiochus an abhominable Idol of desolacion vpon the altare of God, and they buylded altares thorow out all the cities of Iuda on euery syde, before the dores of the houses, and in the stretes: where they brent incense, and dyd sacrifyce. And as for the bokes of the lawe of God, Iere. 36. c they brent them in the fyre, and rente them in peces. What so euer he was that had a boke of the Testament of the LORDE founde by hym, yee who so euer endeuored himself to kepe the lawe of the LORDE, the kynges commaundement was, yt they shulde put him to death. And thorow his anctorite they executed these thinges euery moneth, vpon the people of Israel that were founde in the cities.

The fyue and twentye daye of the moneth,2. Ma. . b what tyme as they dyd sacrifice vpon the altare (which stode in the steade of the altare of the LORDE) acordinge to the commaundement of kynge Antiochus, they put certayne women to death, which had caused their children to be circumcised: Not only that, but they hanged vp the children by the neckes thorow out all their houses, and slewe the circumcisers of them.

Yet were there many of the people of Israel, which determed in them selues, that they wolde not eate vncleane thinges: but chose rather to suffre death, then to be defyled with vncleane meates. So because they wolde not breake the blessed lawe of God, they were cruelly slayne. And this greate tyranny increased very sore vpon the people of Israel.

The II. Chapter.

IN those dayes there dyd stōde vp one Matathias the sonne of Symeon the prest (out of the kynred of Ioaris) frō Ie Ierusalem, and dwelt vpon the mount of Modin, and had v. sonnes: Ihō called Gaddis: Symon, called Thasi: Iudas, other wyse called Machabeus: Eleazer, other wyse called Abaron: and Ionathas, whose surname was Apphus. These sawe the euell, yt was done amonge the people of Iuda and Ierusalem. And Matathias sayde: Wo is me, alas that euer I was borne, to se this misery of my people, and ye piteous destrucciō of the holy cite: & thus to syt so styll, it beynge delyuered in to the hondes the enemies, Hir Sanctuary is come in to the power of straungers,1. Mac. 1. b hir temple is, as it were a man yt hath lost his good name. Hir precious ornamentes are caried awaye captyue, hir olde men are slayne in the stretes, and hir yonge men are fallen thorow the swearde of the enemies.

What people is it, that hath not some possession in hir kyngdome? Or who hath not gotten some of hir spoyles? All hir glory is taken awaye. She was a Quene, and now she is become an handmayde. Beholde oure Sanctuary, oure bewtye and honoure is waisted awaye, and defyled by the Gentiles. What helpeth it vs then to lyue? And Matathias rente his clothes, he and his sonnes, and put sack cloth vpon them, & mourned very sore.

Then came the men thither which were sent of kynge Antiochus, to compell soch as were fled in to the cite of Modin, for to do sacrifice and to burne incense vnto Idols, and to forsake the lawe of God. So, many of the people of Israel consented and enclyned vnto them, but Matathias and his sonnes remayned stedfast. Then spake the commissioners of kynge Antiochus, & sayde vnto Matathias: Thou art a noble man, of hye reputacion and greate in this cite, hauinge fayre children and brethren. Come thou therfore first, and fulfill the kynges commaundemēt, like as all the Heithen haue done, yee and ye men of Iuda, and soch as remayne at Ierusalem: so shalt thou and thy children be in ye kynges fauoure, and enriched with golde, syluer and greate rewardes.

Matathias answered, and spake with a loude voyce: Though all nacions obeye the kynge Antiochus, and fall awaie euery man frō kepynge ye lawe of their fathers: though they consente to his commaundementes, yet wil I & my sonnes and my brethren, not fall from the lawe oure fathers. God forbyd we shulde: that were not good for vs, that we shulde forsake the lawe and ordinaunces of God, and to agre vnto the commaundement of kynge Antiochus. Therfore we will do no soch sacrifice, nether breake the statutes of or lawe, to go another waye. 〈…〉 And whē he had spoken these wordes, there came one of the Iewes, which openly in the sight of all, dyd sacrifice vnto the Idols vpon the aulter in the cite of Modin, acordinge to the kynges commaundement.

When Matathias sawe this, it greued him at the herte, so that his raynes sho e withall, and his wrath kindled for very zele of the lawe. With that he gaue a szkippe forth, and kylled the Iew besyde the aulter: Yee and slewe ye kynges commissioner, that cōpelled him to do sacrifice, & destroyed the aulter at the same time: soch a zele had he vnto the lawe of God, 〈…〉 like as Phinees dyd vnto Zambri the sonne of Salomi. And Matathias cried with a loude voyce thorow ye cite, sayenge: Who so is feruent in the lawe, & wil kepe ye couenaunt, let him folowe me. So he and his sonnes fled in to the mountaynes and left all that euer they had in ye cite. 〈…〉 Many other godly men also departed in to the wyldernesse with their children, their wyues and their catell, and remayned there: for the tyranny increaced so sore vpon them.

Now when the kynges seruauntes and the hoost, which was at Ierusalem in the cite of Dauid herde, that certayne mē had broken the kynges commaundement and were gone their waye to the wyldernesse in to secrete places, and that there were many departed after them: they folowed vpon them to fight agaynst them in the Sabbath daye, and sayde: Wyll ye yet rebell? Get you hence & do the commaundement of kynge Antiochus, and ye shall lyue. They answered: We wil not go forth, nether wil we do the kinges cōmaundement, to defyle ye Sabbath daye. 〈…〉 Then beganne they to fight agaynst them neuerthelesse they gaue them none other answere, nether cast they one stone at them, ner made fast their preuy places, but sayde: We wil dye all in oure innocency, heauen & earth shal testifie with vs, that ye put vs to death wrongeously. Thus they fought agaynst them vpon the Sabbath, & slewe both men and catell, their wyues and their children, to the nombre of a thousande people.

When Matathias and his frendes herde this, they mourned for them right sore, and sayde one to another: Yf so be that we all do as oure brethrē haue done, and fight not for oure lyues & for oure lawes agaynst the Heithen: then shall they the sooner rote vs out of the earth. So they cōcluded amonge thē selues at the same tyme, sayenge: What so euer he be that cōmeth to make battayll wt vs vpon the Sabbath daye, we wyll fight agaynst him, & not dye all, as or brethren yt were murthured so haynously. Vpō this came the Synagoge of the Iewes vnto thē: stronge men of Israel, all soch as were feruent in the lawe. And all they that were fled for persecucion, came to helpe them, and to stonde by them: In so moch that they gathered an hoost of men, and slewe the wicked doers in their gelousy, and the vngodly men in their wrath. Some of the wicked fled vnto the Heithen, and escaped.

Thus Matathias and his frendes wente aboute, and destroyed the aulters, and circumcided the children, that had not yet receaued circumcision: as many as they founde within ye coostes of Israel: and folowed mightely vpon the children of pryde, and this acte prospered in their hondes: In so moch, that they kepte the lawe agaynst the power of the Gentiles and the kynges, and gaue not ouer their dominion vnto wicked doers.

After this when the tyme drew on fast, that Matathias shulde dye, he sayde vnto his sonnes: Now is pryde and persecucion increased, now is the tyme of destruccion and wrathfull displeasure: Wherfore (o my sonnes) be ye feruent in the lawe, and ioperde youre lyues for the Testament of the fathers: call to remembraunce what actes oure fathers dyd in their tyme, so shall ye receaue greate honoure and an euerlastinge name.

〈◊〉 . . e 〈◊〉 . 11. d 〈◊〉 . 4. d 〈◊〉 . •• . a 〈◊〉 . 44. c 〈◊〉 . 41. f 〈◊〉 . 21. c 〈◊〉 . 4 . f Remembre Abraham, was not he founde faithfull in tentacion, and it was reckened vnto him for righteousnesse? Ioseph in tyme of his trouble kepte the commaundement, and was made a lorde of Egipte. Phinees oure father was so feruent for the honoure of God, that he optayned the couenaūt of an euerlastinge presthode. 〈◊〉 . 7. d 〈◊〉 . 1 a Iosue for fulfillinge the worde of God, was made the captayne of Israel. 〈◊〉 14. a Caleb bare recorde before the cōgregacion, and receaued an heretage. 〈◊〉 . 24 c Dauid also in his mercifull kyndnesse, optayned the trone of an euerlastinge kyngdome. 〈…〉 Elias beynge gelous and feruent in the lawe, was taken vp in to heauē. Hananias, Asarias and Misael remayned stedfast in faith, 〈…〉 and were delyuered out of the fyre. In like maner Daniel beynge vngiltie, 〈…〉 was saued from the mouth of the Lyons.

And thus ye maye considre thorow out all ages sens the worlde beganne, Heb. 11. b that who so euer put their trust in God, were not ouer come. Mat. 10. Esa. 51. c and 40. 1. Pet. 1. d Iacob. 1. Eccll. 14. Psal. 26. and 30. d Feare not ye then the wordes of an vngodly man, for his glory is but donge and wormes: to daye is he set vp, and to morow is he gone: for he is turned in to earth, and his memoriall is come to naught. Wherfore (o my sonnes) take good hertes vnto you, and quyte youre selues like men in the lawe: for yf ye do the thinges that are commaunded you in the lawe of the LORDE youre God, ye shal optaine greate honoure therin.

And beholde, I knowe that youre brother Symon is a man of wyszdome: se that ye geue eare vnto him allwaye, he shall be a father vnto you. As for Iudas Machabeus, he hath euer bene mightie and strōge from his youth vp: let him be youre captayne, and ordre the battayll of ye people: Thus shall ye brynge vnto you all those that fauoure the lawe, and se that ye auenge the wronge of youre people, and recompence the Heithen agayne, and applie youre selues whole to the commaundement of the lawe. So he gaue them his blessinge, and was layed by his fathers: and dyed in the Cxlvj, yeare at Modin, where his sonnes buried him in his fathers sepulcre, & all Israel made greate lamentacion for him.

The III. Chapter.

THen stode vp Iudas Machabeus in his fathers steade, Iosephus cap. 8.9. 12. Antiq and all his brethrē helped him: and so dyd all they that helde with his father, and fought with cherefulnesse for Israel. So Iudas gat his people greate honoure: He put on a brest plate as a giaunte, and arayed him self with his harnesse, and defended the hoost with his swearde. In his actes he was like a lyon, & as a lyons whelpe roaringe at his praye. He was an enemie to the wicked, Psal 100. 2. Mac. 8. and hūted them out: and brent vp those, that vexed his people: So that his enemies fled for feare of him, and all the workers of vngodlynes were put to trouble: soch lucke and prosperite was in his honde. This greued dyuerse kynges, but Iacob was greatly reioysed thorow his actes, and he gat him self a greate name for euer.

He wente thorow the cities of Iuda, destroyenge the vngodly out of them, turnynge awaye the wrath from Israel, and receauynge soch as were oppressed: and the fame of him wente vnto the vttemost parte of ye earth. Then Appollonius (a prynce of Syria) gathered a mightie greate hoost of the Heithen & out of Samaria, to fight agaynst Israel. Which when Iudas perceaued, he wente forth to mete him, fought with him, slewe him, and a greate multitude with him: the remnaunte fled, and he toke their substaunce. Iudas also toke Appollonius owne swearde, and fought wt it all his life longe.

Now when Seron (another prynce of Siria) herde saye, that Iudas had gathered vnto him the congregacion and church of the faithfull, he sayde: I will get me a name and a prayse thorow out the realme: for I will go fight with Iudas and them that are with him, as many as haue despised the kynges commaundement. So he made him ready, and there wente with him a greate mightie hoost of the vngodly, to stonde by him, and to be auenged of the childrē of Israel. And when they came nye vnto Bethoron, Iudas wente forth agaynst them with a small company. And when his people sawe soch a greate hoost before thē, they sayde vnto Iudas: How are we able (beynge so fewe) to fight agaynst so greate a multitude and so stronge? seinge we be so weery, and haue fasted all this daye?

Re. 14. a But Iudas sayde: It is a small matter for many to be ouercome with fewe: Yee there is no difference to the God of heauen, to delyuer by a greate multitude or by a small company: Par. 25. b for the victory of the battell stondeth not in the multitude of the hoost, but the strength commeth from heauen. Beholde, they come agaynst vs with a presumptuous and proude multitude: to destroye vs, oure wyues and oure children, and to robbe vs. But we will fight for oure lyues and for oure lawes, and the LORDE himself shall destroye thē before oure face: therfore be not ye afrayed of them.

As soone as he had spoken these wordes, he leapte sodenly vpon thē. Thus was Seron smytten, and his hoost put to flight and Iudas folowed vpon them beyonde Bethoron vnto the playne felde: where there were slayne eight hundreth men of them, and the residue fled in to the londe of the Philistynes. Then all the Heithen on euery syde were afrayed for Iudas and his brethren: so yt the rumoure of him came vnto the kynges eares, for all the Gentiles coude tell of the warres of Iudas.

So whan kynge Antiochus herde these tidinges, he was angrie in his mynde: wherfore he sente forth and gathered an hoost of his whole realme, very stronge armies: and opened his treasury, and gaue his hoost a yeares wagies in honde, commaundynge them to be ready at all tymes.

Neuerthelesse when he sawe, that there was not moneye ynough in his treasuries, and that thorow the discorde and persecucion, which he made in ye londe (to put downe ye lawes that had bene of olde tyme) his customes and tributes of the londe were my niszshed: he feared that he was not able for to beare the costes and charges eny lenger, ner to haue soch giftes, to geue so liberally as he dyd a fore, more then the kynges that were before him.

Wherfore he was heuy in his mynde, and thought to go in to Persides, 〈…〉 for to take tributes of ye londe, and so to gather moch moneye. So he left Lysias (a noble man of the kynges bloude) to ouersee the kynges busynesses, from the water Euphrates vnto the borders of Egipte: and to kepe well his sonne Antiochus, till he came agayne.

Morouer, he gaue him half of his hoost and elephantes, committed vnto him euery thinge of his mynde, concernynge those which dwelt in Iuda, and Ierusalem: that he shulde sende out an army agaynst them, to destroye and to rote out the power of Israel and the remnaunt of Ierusalem: to put out their memoriall from that place, to set straungers for to inhabit all their quarters, and to parte their londe amōge them. 〈…〉 Thus the kynge toke the other parte of the hoost, and departed from Antioch (a cite of his realme) ouer the water of Euphrates, in the hundreth and xlvij. yeare, and wente thorow the hye countrees.

And Lysias chose vnto him Ptolomy the sonne of Doriminus, 〈…〉 Nycanor and Gorgias mightie men, & the kynges frendes. These he sent with xl. thousande fote men and vij. thousande horsmen, for to go in to ye londe of Iuda, and to destroye it, as the kynge commaunded. So they wente forth with all their power, and came to Emmaus in to the playne felde. When the marchaūtes herde the rumoure of them, they and their seruauntes toke very moch siluer and golde, for to bye the children of Israel to be their bonde men. There came vnto them also yet moo men of warre on euery syde, out of Syria & the from the Palestynes.

Now when Iudas and his brethrē sawe that trouble increased, and that the hoost drew nye vnto their borders: consideringe ye kynges wordes which he commaunded vnto the people: namely, that they shulde vtterly waist and destroye them: They sayde one to another: Let vs redresse the decaye of oure people, let vs fight for oure folke and for oure Sanctuary. Then the congregacion were soone ready gathered to fight, to praie and to make supplicacion vnto God for mercy and grace.

•• ac 3. d As for Ierusalem, it laye voyde, and was as it had bene a wyldernesse. There wente no man in nor out at it, and the Sanctuary was troden downe. The aleauntes kepte the castell, there was the habitacion of the Heithen. The myrth of Iacob was taken awaye, the pype & the harpe was gone from amonge them.

The Israelites gathered them together, and came to Maspha before Ierusalem: for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetyme. 〈◊〉 . 7. b So they fasted that daye, and put sack clothes vpō them, cast aszshes vpon their heades, rente their clothes, and layde forth the bokes of the lawe (wherout ye Heithen sought the licknesse of their ymages) and brought the prestes ornamentes, the firstlinges and the Tythes. They set there also the absteyners (which had fulfilled their dayes) before God, 〈◊〉 6. a and cried with a loude voyce towarde heauen, sayenge: what shal we do with these? and whither shall we cary them awaye?

For thy Sanctuary is troden downe and defyled, thy prestes are come to heuynesse and dishonoure: and beholde, the Heithen are come together for to destroye vs. Thou knowest what thīges they ymagyn against vs. How maye we stonde before them, excepte thou (o God) be oure helpe?

They blewe out the trompettes also with aloude voyce. Then Iudas ordened captaynes ouer the people: 〈◊〉 . 1 . d ouer thousandes, ouer hundredes, ouer fiftie, and ouer ren. But as for soch as buylded them houses, maried wyues, planted them vynyardes, and those that were fearfull: Deu. 20 Iudic. 7 he commaunded them euery man to go home, acordinge to ye lawe. So the hoost remoued, and pitched vpon the South syde of Emmaus.

And Iudas sayde: Arme youre selues, be stronge (o my children) make you ready agaynst tomorow in the mornynge, that ye maye fight with these people, which are agreed together to destroye vs & oure Sanctuary. Better is it for vs to dye in battayll, then to se oure people and oure Sanctuary in soch a miserable case. Neuerthelesse, Matt. 6. Luc. 11. a as ye will is in heauen, so be it.

The IIII. Chapter.

THen toke Gorgias fyue thousande men of fote, Iosephu ubisupr and a thousande of the best horsmen: and remoued by night, to come nye where ye Iewes hoost laye, and so to slaye them sodenly. Now the men that kepte the castell, were the cōueyers of them. Then arose Iudas to smyte the chefe and pryncipall of the kinges hoost at Emmaus, for the army was not yet come together. In the meane season came Gorgias by night in to Iudas tentes: & when he founde no man there, he sought them in the moūtaynes, and thought they had bene fled awaye because of him. But whē it was daie, Iudas shewed himself in ye felde with thre thousande men only, which had nether harnesse ner sweardes to their myndes.

But on the other syde, they sawe that the Heithen were mightie and wel harnessed, and their horsmen aboute them, and all these wel experte in fettes of warre Then sayde Iudas to ye men that were with him: Feare not ye the multitude of them, Deu. 20. be not afrayed of their violente runnynge: remembre how oure fathers were delyuered in the reed see, Exo. 14. when Pharao threatned them with a greate hoost. Euen so let vs also crie now towarde heauen:1. Mac. 9. and the LORDE shall haue mercy vpon vs, and remembre the couenaunt of oure fathers, yee and destroye this hoost before oure face this daye: And all Heithen shal knowe, that it is God himself, which delyuereth and saueth Israel.

Then the Heithen lift vp their eyes: and when they sawe that they were commynge agaynst them, they wente out of their tentes in to the battayll: and they that were wt Iudas, blewe vp the trompettes. So they buckled together, Mac. 8. d and the Heithen were discomfited, and fled ouer the playne felde: but the hynmost of them were slayne. For they folowed vpon them vnto Assaremoth, and in to the feldes of Idumea towarde Azot and Iamnia: so that there were slayne of them vpon a thre thousande men. So Iudas turned agayne with his hoost, and sayde vnto the people: Be not gredy of ye spoyles, we haue yet a battayll to fight: for Gorgias & his hoost are here by vs in the mountaynes, but stonde ye fast agaynst oure enemies, and ouercome them: then maye ye safely take the spoyles.

As Iudas was speakynge these wordes, there apeared one parte of them vpon the mount. But when Gorgias sawe that they of his partie were fled, and the tentes brent vp (for by the smoke they might vnderstonde what was done) they perceauynge this, were very sore afrayed: and when they sawe also that Iudas and his hoost were in ye felde ready to stryke battayll, they fled euerychone in to the londe of the Heithen.

So Iudas turned agayne to spoyle the tentes, where they gat moch golde and syluer, precious stones, purple & greate riches. Thus they wente home, and sunge a Psalme of thankesgeuynge and praysed God in heauen: udit. 13. c sal. 106. a 17. a. 135. a nd 105. a for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for euer: And so Israel had a greate victory in that daye.

Now all the Heithen that escaped, came and tolde Lysias euery thinge as it happened. Wherfore Lysias was sore afrayed and greued in his mynde, because Israel had not gottē soch mysfortune as he wolde they shulde, . Mac. 3. c nether as the kynge commaunded. The nexte yeare folowinge, gathered Lysias thre score thousande chosen men of fote, and fyue thousande horsmen, to fight agaynst them.

So they came in to Iewry, and pitched their tentes at Bethoron, where Iudas came agaynst them with ten thousande men. And when he sawe so greate mightie an hoost, he made his prayer and sayde: Blessed be thou (o sauioure of Israel) which diddest destroye the violent power of the giaunte, . Re. 7. g in the honde of thy seruaunt Dauid, and gauest the hoost of the Heithē in to the honde of Ionathas (the sonne of Saul) and of his weapen bearer. 〈…〉

Put this hoost now in to the honde of ye people of Israel, and let them be confounded in their multitude and horsmen. Make them afrayed, & discomforth the boldnes of their strength, yt they maye be moued thorow their destruccion. Cast them downe thorow the swearde of thy louers, then shal all they that knowe thy name, prayse the with thankesgeuynge.

So they stroke the batell, and there were slayne of Lysias hoost, fyue thousande men. Then Lysias seynge the discomfetynge of his men, and the manlynesse of the Iewes, how they were ready, ether to lyue or to dye like men: He wente vnto Antioche and chose out men of warre: that when they were gathered together, they might come agayne in to Iewry. Then sayde Iudas and his brethren: beholde, oure enemies are discomfited: Let vs now go vp, to clēse and to repayre the Sanctuary.

Vpon this, all the hoost gathered them together, and wente vp vnto mount Sion. 〈…〉 Now when they sawe the Sanctuary laied waist, the aulter defyled, the dores brent vp, the shrubbes growinge in the courtes, like as in a wod or vpon mountaynes, yee and that the prestes Celles were broken downe: They rente their clothes, made greate lamentacion, cast aszshes vpon their heades, fell downe flat to the grounde, made a greate noyse with the trompettes, and cried towarde heauen.

Then Iudas apoynted certayne men to fight against those which were in the castel, till they had clensed the Sanctuary. So he chose prestes yt were vndefyled, soch as had pleasure in the lawe of God: and they clensed the Sanctuary, & bare out the defyled stones in to an vncleane place. And for so moch as the aulter of burn offerynges was vnhalowed, he toke aduysement, what he might do withall: so he thought it was best to destroye it (lest it shulde happen to do them eny shame) for the Heithen had defyled it, & therfore they brake it downe. As for the stones, they layed them vp vpon the mountayne by the house in a conuenient place: till there came a prophet to shewe, what shulde be done with them.

So they toke whole stones acordinge to the lawe, 〈◊〉 . 0 d 〈◊〉 . 27. a 〈◊〉 . . g and buylded a new aulter soch one as was before, and made vp the Sanctuary within and without, and halowed the courtes. They made new ornamentes, & brought ye candilsticke, the aulter of incense, and the table in to the temple. The incense layed they vpon the aulter, & lighted the lampes which were vpon the candilsticke, that they might burne in the temple. They set the shewbred vpon the table, and hanged vp the vale, and set vp ye temple, as it was afore. And vpon the xxv. daye of the ix. moneth (which is called the moneth of Casleu) in the C. xlviij. yeare: 〈◊〉 10. a they rose vp by tymes in the mornynge for to do sacrifice (acordinge to the lawe) vpon the new burnt offrynge aulter, that they had made: after the tyme and season that ye Heithen had defyled it. The same daye was it set vp agayne, with songes pipes, harpes and cymbales.

And all the people fell vpon their faces, worshippynge and thankynge the God of heauen, which had geuen them the victory. So they kepte the dedicacion of the aulter viij. dayes, 〈◊〉 . 7. b offerynge burntsacrifices and thank offeringes with gladnesse. They deck to the temple also with crownes and shyldes of golde, and halowed the portes and celles, and hanged dores vpon them. Thus was there very greate gladnes amonge the people, because the blasphemy of the Heithē was put awaye.

So Iudas and his brethren with the whole cōgregacion of Israel, ordened, that the tyme of the dedicacion of ye aulter shulde be kepte in his season from yeare to yeare, 〈◊〉 . 10. c by the space of viij. dayes, from the xxv. daye of the moneth Casleu: yee and that wt myrth and gladnesse.

And at the same tyme buylded they vp ye mount Sion with hye walles and stronge towres rounde aboute: lest ye Gentiles shulde come and treade it downe, as they dyd afore. 〈…〉 Therfore Iudas set men of warre in it, to kepe it: and made it stronge, for to defende Bethsura: that the people might haue a refuge agaynst the Edomites.

The V. Chapter.

IT happened also that when ye Heithen rounde aboute herde, Iosephu cap. 12. bro 12. how that the aulter and the Sanctuary were set vp in their olde estate: it displeased them very sore, wherfore they thought to destroye the generacion of Iacob that was amonge them: In so moch that they beganne to slaye and to persecute certayne of ye people. Then Iudas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea, Eze. 25. c and 35. a and agaynst those which were at Arabathane (for they dwelt rounde aboute ye Israelites) where he slewe & spoyled a greate multitude of thē.2. Ma. 10. He thought also vpon the malice and vnfaithfulnes of the children of Bean, how they were a snare and stoppe vnto ye people, and how they layed waite for them in the hie waye: wherfore he shut them vp in to towers, and came vnto them, condemned them, and brent vp their towres, with all that were in them.

Afterwarde wente he agaynst the children of Ammon, wherof he founde a mightie power and a greate multitude of people, with Tymothy their captayne. So he stroke many battayls with them, which were distroyed before him. And when he had slayne them, he wanne Gazer the cite, with the townes belonginge therto, and so turned agayne in to Iewry. The Heithen also in Galaad gathered them together, agaynst the Israelites that were in their quarters, to slaye them: but they fled to the castel of Datheman, and sent letters vnto Iudas and his brethren, sayenge: The Heithen are gathered agaynst vs on euery syde, to destroye vs, and now they make thē for to come and laye sege to ye castel, whervnto we are fled, & Timothy is the captayne of their hoost: come therfore, and delyuer vs out of their hondes: for there is a greate multitude of vs slayne all ready. Yee and oure brethren that were at Tubin, are slayne and destroyed (wel nye a thousande men) and their wyues, their children and their goodes haue the enemies led awaye captyue.

Whyle these letters were yet a readinge, beholde, there came other messaūgers from Galilee, with rente clothes: which tolde euen the same tydinges, and sayde, that they of Ptolomais, of Tirus and of Sidon were gathered agaynst them, and that all Galilee was fylled with enemies to destroye Israel. When Iudas and ye people herde this, they came together (a greate congregacion) to deuyse,2. Mac 8. what they might do for their brethren, that were in trouble and beseged of their enemies. And Iudas sayde vnto Symon his brother: chose ye out certayne men, and go delyuer thy brethren in Galilee: As for me and my brother Ionathas, we wyl go in to Galaadithim. So he left Iosephus ye sonne of Zachary, and Asarias, to be captaynes of the people and to kepe the remnaunt of the hoost in Iewry, & commaunded them, sayenge: Take the ouersight of this people, and se that ye make no warre agaynst the Heithen, vntill the tyme that we come agayne. And vnto Simon he gaue thre thousande men for to go into Galilee, but Iudas himself had eight thousande in to Galaadithim.

Then wente Symon in to Galilee, and stroke dyuerse batels wt the Heithen: whom he discomfited, and folowed vpon them vnto the porte of Ptolomais. And there were slayne of the Heithen allmost iij. thousande men. So he toke the spoyles of them, and caried awaye the Israelites (that were in Galilee and Arbatis) with their wyues, their children and all that they had, and brought them in to Iewry with greate gladnesse. Iudas Machabeus also and his brother Ionathas, wente ouer Iordane, and trauayled iij. dayes iourney in the wyldernesse: Where the Nebuthees met them, and receaued them louyngly, and tolde thē euery thinge that had happened vnto their brethren in Galaadithim, and how that many of them were beseged in Barasa, Bosor, Alimis, Casphor, Mageth and Carnaim (all these are stronge walled and mightie greate cities) and yt they were kepte in other cities of Galaad also: and tomorow they are apoynted to brynge their hoost vnto these cities, to take them and to wynne them in one daye.

So Iudas and his hoost turned in all the haist in the wildernesse towarde Bosor, and wanne the cite, slewe all the males with the swearde, toke all their goodes, and set fyre vpon the cite. And in the night they toke their iourneye from thence, and came to the castell. And by tymes in the mornynge when they loked vp, beholde, there was an innumerable people bearynge laders and other instrumētes of warre, to take the castell and to ouercome them.

When Iudas sawe that the battayll beganne, and that the noyse therof wente vp and range in to the Heauen, and that there was so greate a crie in the cite: He sayde vnto his hoost: fight this daye for youre brethren. And so came behynde their enemies in thre companies, and blewe vp the trompettes, and cried in their prayer to God.

But as soone as Tymothis hoost perceaued that Machabeus was there, they fled from him, and ye other slewe them downe right sore: so that there were kylled of them that same daye, allmost eight thousande men. Then departed Iudas vnto Maspha, layed sege vnto it and wanne it, slewe all the males in it, spoyled it, and set fyre vpon it. From thence wente he and toke Casbon, Mageth, Bosor and the other cities in Galaad.

After this gathered Timothy another hoost, 〈…〉 which pitched their tentes before Raphon beyonde the water. Iudas sent to spye the hoost, and they brought him worde againe, sayenge: All the Heithen that be rounde aboute vs, are gathered vnto him, and the hoost is very greate: Yee they haue hyred the Arabians to helpe them, & haue pitched their tentes beyonde the water, and are ready to come and fight agaynst the. So Iudas wente on to mete them.

And Timothy sayde vnto the captaynes of his hoost: when Iudas and his hoost come nye the ryuer: yf he go ouer first, we shall not be able to withstonde him: for why, he wil be to stronge for vs. But yf he darre not come ouer, so that he pitch his tente beyonde the water: then will we go ouer, for we shalbe stronge ynough agaynst him. Now as soone as Iudas came to the ryuer, he appoynted certayne scrybes of the people, and commaunded them, sayenge: se that ye leaue none behynde vpon this syde of ye ryuer, but let euery man come to the battayll. So he wente first ouer vnto them, and his people after him.

And all the Heithen were discomfited before him, and let their weapens fall, and ranne in to the temple that was at Carnaim. Which cite Iudas wanne, and brent the temple with all yt were in it: So was Carnaim subdued, and might not withstōde Iudas. Then Iudas gathered all the Israelites that were in Galaadithim, from ye leest vnto the most, with their wyues and their children (a very greate hoost) for to come in to the londe of Iuda.

So they came vnto Ephron, which was a mightie, greate and stronge cite, 〈…〉 and laye in their waye. For they coude not go by it, nether of the right honde ner of the left, but must go thorow it. Neuerthelesse they that were in the cite, wolde not let them go thorow, but walled vp the portes with stones. And Iudas sent vnto thē with peaceable wordes, sayenge: Let vs passe thorow youre londe, 〈◊〉 . 10. c that we maye go in to oure owne coū tre: there shal no body do you harme, we wil but only go thorow. But they wolde not let them in.

Wherfore Iudas commauded a proclamacion to be made thorow out the hoost, that euery man shulde kepe his ordre: and so they dyd their best like valeaunt men.

And Iudas beseged the cite all that daie and all that night, and so wanne it: where they slewe as many as were males, and d •• troyed the cite, and spoyled it, and wēte thorow all the cite ouer them that were slayne. Then wente they ouer Iordane in to the playne felde before Bethsan. And Iudas helped those forwarde that came behynde, and gaue the people good exortacion all ye waye thorow, till they were come in to the londe of Iuda. Thus they wente vp vnto the mount Sion, where they offred with myrth and thankesgeuynge: 〈…〉 because there were none of them slayne, but came home agayne peaceably.

Now what tyme as Iudas and Ionathas were in the londe of Galaad, and Symon their brother in Galilee before Ptolomais: Then Iosephus the sonne of Zachary and Asarias the captaynes, hearinge of the actes that were done and of the battels that were stroken, sayde: Let vs get vs a name also, and go fight agaynst the Heithen that are rounde aboute vs.

So they gaue their hoost a commaundement, and wente towarde Iamnia. Then came Gorgias and his men out of the cite, to fight agaynst them: Iosephus also and Asarias were chased vnto ye borders of Iewry, & there were slayne yt daye of ye people of Israel ij.M. men: so yt there was a greate misery amōge ye people, & all because they were not obediēt vnto Iudas & his brethren, but thought they shulde quyte them selues man fully. 〈◊〉 . 5. b Neuertheles they came not of the sede of these men, by whom Israel was helped. But the men that were with Iudas, were greatly commended in the sight of all Israel and all Heithen, where so euer their name was herde vpō, and the people came vnto them byddinge them welcome.

After this wente Iudas forth with his brethren, and fought agaynst the children of Esau, in the londe yt lieth towarde the south where he wanne the cite of Hebron and the townes that lye besyde it: and as for the walles and towres rounde aboute it, he brent them vp. Then remoued he to go in to the lō de of the Philistines, and wente thorow Samaria. At the same tyme were there many prestes slaine in ye battayll, which wilfully & without advysement wente out for to fight to get them honoure. And when Iudas came to Azot in the Philistynes londe, he brake downe their altares, Deut. 7. brent the ymages of their Idols, spoyled the cities, and came agayne in to the londe of Iuda.

The VI. Chapter.

NOw when kynge Antiochus trauayled thorow the hye countrees, Iosephu cap. 13. 12. anti. 2. Ma. 9. he herde that Elymas in Persia was a noble and plenteous cite in siluer and golde, & that there was in it a very rich temple: where as were clothes, cote armoures and shyldes of golde, which Alexander the sonne of Philippe kynge of Macedonia had left behynde him. Wherfore he wente aboute to take the cite and to spoyle it, but he was not able: for ye citisēs were warned of it, & fought with him. And so he fled, and departed with greate heuynesse, & came agayne in to Babilon. Morouer there came one which brought him tidinges in Perside,1. Mac. 3. and. 4. yt his hoostes which were in the londe of Iuda, were dryuen awaye, and how that Lisias wente forth first with a greate power, and was dryuen awaye of the Iewes: how they had wonne the victory, and gotten greate goodes out of the hoostes that peryshed: how they had broken downe the abhominacion, which he set vp vpon the altare at Ierusalem,1. Mac. 1. and fenced the Sanctuary with hye walles, like as it was afore: yee and Bethsura his cite also.

So it chaunced, that when the kinge had herde these wordes, he was afrayed and greued very sore. Wherfore he layed him downe vpon his bed, and fell sicke for very sorowe: and all because it had not happened as he had deuysed. And there continued he longe, for his grefe was euer more and more, so yt he sawe he must nedes dye. Therfore he sent for his frendes, & sayde vnto them: ye slepe is gone fro mine eyes, for ye very sorowe & vexaciō of herte yt I haue. For when I considre in my mynde ye greate aduersite yt I am come vnto and the floudes of heuynesse which I am in, where as afore tyme I was so mery, and so greatly set by (by reason of my power) Againe, cōsideringe ye euell yt I haue done at Ierusalē, from whence I toke all ye riches of golde and syluer yt were in it, & sent to fetch awaye the inhabitours of Iewry without eny reason why: I knowe, yt these troubles are come vpon me for the same cause. And beholde, I must dye with greate sorow in a straū ge londe.

Then called he for one Philippe a frende of his, whom he made ruler of all his realme and gaue him the crowne, his robe and his rynge: that he shulde take his sonne Antiochus vnto him and brynge him vp, till he might raigne himself. Mac. 9 b. c. d. e So the kynge Antiochus dyed there, in the Cxlix. yeare. When Lysias knewe that the kynge was deed, •• sephus •• pi. 14 〈◊〉 . 12 Mac. . d he ordened Antiochus his sonne (whom he had brought vp) to raigne in his fathers steade) and called him Eupator. Now they that were in the castel (at Ierusalem) kepte in the Iewes rounde aboute the Sāctuary, and sought euer styll to do them harme, for the strengthenynge of the Heithen.

Wherfore Iudas thought to destroye them, and called all the people together, yt they might laye sege vnto them. So they came together in the Cl. yeare, and beseged thē layenge forth their ordinaunce and instrumentes of warre. Then certayne of them yt were beseged wente forth (vnto whom some vngodly men of Israel ioyned thē selues also) and wente vnto the kynge, sayēge: How longe wil it be, or thou punysh and avenge oure brethren? We haue bene euer mynded to do thy father seruyce, to walke in his statutes, and to obeye his commaundementes: Therfore oure people fell from vs, and where so euer they founde eny of vs, they slewe them: and they haue not only medled with vs, but with all oure countrees: and beholde, this daye are they beseginge the castell at Ierusalem, and haue made vp the stronge holde in Bethsura: Ma. 4. g And yf thou doest not preuente them right soone, they wil do more then these, and thou shalt not be able to ouercome them.

When the kynge herde this, he was very angrie, Ma. 13. a and called all his frendes, the captaynes of his fote men and of all his horse men together. He hyred men of warre also out of other realmes and out of the Iles of the see, which came vnto him. And the nombre of his hoost was an hundreth thousande fote men, and twentye thousande horsmē, & xxxij. Elephantes wel exercised to battayll These came thorow Idumea vnto Bethsura, and beseged it a longe season, 〈…〉 and made dyuerse instrumentes of warre agaynst it. But the Iewes came out and brent them, and fought like men. Then departed Iudas from the castell at Ierusalem, and remoued ye hoost towarde Bethza carā ouer agaynst the kynges armye.

So the kynge arose before the daye, and brought the power of his hoost in to ye waie to Bethzacaran, where the hoostes made them to the battayll, blowynge the trompettes. 〈…〉 And to prouoke the Elephantes for to fight, they shewed them the sappe of reed grapes and molberies. And deuyded the Elephantes amonge the hoost: so that by euery Elephante there stode a M. men wel harnessed, and helmettes of stele vpon their heades: Yee vnto euery one of the Elephantes also, were ordened v.C. horsmen of the best, which waited of the Elephante, goinge where so euer he wente, and departed not from him. Euery Elephant was couered wt a strō ge tower of wod, where vpon were xxxij. valeaunt men wt weapens to fight, & within it was a man of Inde to rule the beest.

As for the remnaunt of the horsmen, he set them vpon both the sydes in two partes with trompettes, to prouoke the hoost, and to stere vp soch as were slowe in the armye. And when the Sonne shone vpon their shyldes of golde and stele, the mountaynes glistered agayne at them, & were as bright as the creszshettes of fyre. The kynges hoost also was deuyded, one parte vpon the hie mountaynes, the other lowe beneth: so they wente on, takynge good hede, and kepinge their ordre. And all they that dwelt in the londe, were afrayed at the noyse of their hoost, when the multitude wente forth, and when the the weapens smote together, for the hoost was both greate & mightie. Iudas also and his hoost entred in to the battayll, and slewe vj.C. men of the kynges armye.

Now when Eleasar the sonne of Saura dyd se one of ye Elephantes deckte wt the kynges badge, and was a more goodly beest thē the other: He thought ye kinge shulde be vpō him, and ioperde himself to delyuer his people, and to get him a perpetuall name.

Wherfore he ranne with a corage vnto the Elephante in the myddest of the hoost, smytinge them downe of both the sydes, and slewe many aboute him. So wente he to the Elephantes fete, and gat him vnder him, and slewe him: then fell the Elephante downe vpon him, and there he dyed. Iudas also and his men seinge the power of the kinge and the mightie violence of his hoost, departed from them. And the kynges armye wente vp agaynst them towarde Ierusalem, and pitched their tentes in Iewry besyde mount Sion. Morouer the kynge toke truce with them that were in Bethsura. 〈◊〉 . 4. g

But when they came out of the cite (because they had no vytales within, 〈…〉 and the londe laye vntylled) the kynge toke Bethsura, and set men to kepe it, & turned his hoost to the place of the Sanctuary, and layed sege to it a greate whyle. Where he made all maner ordinaunce: handbowes, fyrie dartes, rackettes to cast stones, scorpions to shute arowes, and slynges. The Iewes also made ordinaunce agaynst theirs, and fought a longe season.

But in the cite there were no vytayles, for it was the seuenth yeare of the warres, and those Heithen that remayned in Iewry had eaten vp all their stoare. And in the Sanctuary were few men lefte, for the hunger came so vpon them, that they were scatered abrode euery man to his owne place.

So when Lysias herde, that Philippe (whom Antiochus the kynge whyle he was yet lyuinge, 〈…〉 had ordened to bringe vp Antiochus his sonne, that he might be kynge) was come agayne out of Persia and Media with the kynges hoost, and thought to optayne the kyngdome: He gat him to the kynge in all the haist and to the captaynes of the hoost, and sayde: we decrease daylie, and oure vytales are but small: Agayne, the place that we laye sege vnto, is very stronge, and it were oure parte to se for the realme. Let vs agre with these men and take truce with them, and with all their people, and graunte them to lyue after their lawe, as they dyd a fore. For they be greued and do all these thinges agaynst vs, because we haue despysed their lawe. So the kynge and the prynces were content, and sent vnto them to make peace, and they receaued it. Now whē the kynge and the prynces had made an ooth vnto them, they came out of the castel, and the kynge wēte vp to mount Sion. But when he sawe that ye place was wel fenced, he brake the ooth that he had made, and commaunded to destroye the wall rounde aboute. Then departed he in all the haist, and returned vnto Antioche, where he founde Philippe hauynge dominion of the cite. So he fought agaynst him, and toke the cite agayne in to his hondes.

The VII. Chapter.

IN the Clj. yeare came Demetrius ye sonne of Seleucus from ye cite of Rome wt a small company of men,2. Ma. 14. vnto a cite of the see coast, and there he bare rule. And it chaunced, that when he came to Antioch the cite of his Progenitours, his hoost toke Antiochus and Lysias, to b ynge them vnto him. But when it was tolde him, he saide: let me not se their faces. So the hoost put them to death. Now when Demetrius was set vpon the trone of his kyngdome, there came vnto him wicked and vngodly men of Israel: whose captayne was Alcimus, that wolde haue bene made hye prest. These men accused the people of Israel vnto the kynge, sayenge: Iudas and his brethren haue slayne thy frendes, and dryuen vs out of oure owne londe. Wherfore sende now some man (to whom thou geuest credence) that he maye go and se all the destruccion, which he hath done vnto vs and to the kynges londe, and let him be punished with all his frēdes and fauourers.

Then the kynge chose Bachides a frende of his, which was a man of greate power in the realme (beyonde the greate water) and faithfull vnto the kynge: and sent him to se the destruccion that Iudas had done. And as for that wicked Alcimus, he made him hye Prest, and commaunded him to be auenged of the children of Israel. So they stode vp, and came with a greate hoost in to ye londe of Iuda, sendinge messaūgers to Iudas & his brethrē, & speakinge vnto them wt peaceable wordes: but vnder disceate. Therfore Iudas & his people beleued not their saiēge,1. Mac. 1. for they sawe yt they were come wt a greate hoost

After this came ye scribes together vnto Alcimus & Bachides, trustinge the best vnto them. And first, ye Assideans requyred peace of them, sayenge: Alcimus ye prest is come of the sede of Aarō, how can he disceaue vs? So they gaue them louīge wordes, & swore vnto them, and sayde: we wil do you no harme, nether youre frendes: and they beleued them. But the very same daye toke they lx. men of them, & slewe thē: acordinge to ye wordes yt are writtē: Psal. 78. They haue cast ye flesh of ye sanctes, & shed their bloude roūde aboute Ierusalē, & there was nomā yt wolde bury thē.

So there came a greate feare and drede amonge the people, sayenge: there is nether treuth nor righteousnesse in them, for they haue brokē the appoyntment and ooth that they made. And Bachides remoued his hoost from Ierusalem, and pitched his tente at Bethzecha: where he sent forth, and toke many of them that had forsaken him: He slewe many of the people also, and cast them in to a greate pytt. Then committed he the londe vnto Alcimus, and left men of warre with him to helpe him, and Bachides himself wente vnto the kynge. And thus Alcimus defended his hie presthode, and all soch as vexed Israel, resorted vnto him: In so moch that they optayned the lō de of Iuda, and dyd moch euell vnto the Israelites.

Now when Iudas sawe all the myschefe that Alcimus and his company had done (yee more then the Heithē them selues) vnto the Israelites: He wente forth rounde aboute all the borders of Iewry, and punyshed those vnfaithfull rennagates, so that they came no more out in to the countre. So whē Alcimus sawe, that Iudas and his people had gotten the vpperhande, and that he was not able to abyde them: he wente agayne to the kynge, and sayde all the worst of them that he coude. Then the kynge sent Nicanor, one of his chefe prynces (which bare euell wyl vnto Israel) and commaunded him, that he shulde vtterly destroye the people.

So Nicanor came to Ierusalem with a greate hoost, and sent vnto Iudas and his brethren with frendly wordes (but vnder disceate) sayenge: . Ma. 15. a there shal be no warre betwixte me and you: I wil come with a few men, to se how ye do, with frenshipe. Vpon this he came vnto Iudas, and they saluted one another peaceably: but the enemies were appoynted to take Iudas by violence. Neuertheles it was tolde Iudas, yt he came vnto him but vnder disceate: wherfore he gat him awaie from him, and wolde se his face nomore. When Nicanor perceaued yt his councell was bewrayed, he wente out to fight agaynst Iudas, besyde Capharsalama: Where there were slayne of Nicanors hoost, v.M. men: the residue fled vnto the castell of Dauid.

After this came Nicanor vp vnto moūt Sion: and the prestes with the elders of the people wente forth to salute him peaceably, & to shewe him ye burnt sacrifices yt were offered for the kynge. But he laughed thē to scorne, mocked thē, defyled their offeringes, and spake diszdanedly, yee and swore in his wroth, sayenge: Yf Iudas and his hoost be not delyuered now in to my hondes, 〈…〉 as soone as euer I come agayne (and fayre well) I shal burne vp this house. With that, wente he out in a greate anger. Then the prestes came in, and stode before the aulter of the tē ple, wepinge & sayenge: For so moch as thou (o LORDE) hast chosen this house, 〈…〉 that thy name might be called vpon therin, and yt it shulde be an house of praier and peticion vnto thy people: 〈…〉 Be avenged of this mā & his hoost, and let them be slayne with ye swearde: remembre the blasphemies of them, & suffre them not to continue eny longer.

When Nicanor was gone from Ierusasalem, he pitched his tente at Bethoron, and there an hoost met hī out of Siria. And Iudas came to Adarsa with iij.M. mē, & made his prayer vnto God, sayenge: O LORDE, because the messaungers of kynge Senacherib blasphemed the, the angel wente forth, and slewe an Clxxxv. thousande of them: 〈…〉 Euen so destroye thou this hoost before vs to daie that other people maye knowe, how that he hath blasphemed thy Sanctuary: and punysh him, acordinge to his maliciousnesse.

And so the hoostes stroke the felde, the thirtente daye of the moneth Adar: and Nicanors hoost was discomfited, and he himself was first slayne in the battayll. When Nicanors men of warre sawe that he was kylled, 〈…〉 they cast awaye their weapens and fled: but the Iewes folowed vpon them an whole dayes iourney, from Adazer vnto Gazara, blowinge with the trompettes, and makinge tokens after them. So the Iewes came forth of all the townes there aboute, and blewe out their hornes vpon them, and turned agaynst them: Thus were they all slayne, and not one of them lefte.

Then they toke their substaunce for a pray, and smote of Nicanors heade & his right honde (which he helde vp so proudly) and brought it with them, 〈…〉 and hāged it vp afore Ierusalem. Wherfore the people were exceadingly reioysed, and passed ouer that daye in greate gladnesse. And Iudas ordened, that ye same daye (namely the xiij. daye of ye moneth Adar) shulde be kepte in myrth euery yeare. Thus the londe of Iuda was in rest a litle whyle.

The VIII. Chapter.

IVdas herde also the fame of the Romaynes, that they were mightie and valeaunt men, agreable to all thinges that are requyred of them, & make peace with all men, which come vnto them, and how they were doughty men of strength. Besydes that, it was tolde him of their battayls & noble actes which they dyd in Galacia, how they had conquered them and brought them vnder tribute: and what greate thinges they had done in Spayne, how that with their wyszdome and sober behauoure they had wonne the Mynes of syluer and golde that are there, and optayned all the londe, with other places farre from thē: how they had discomfited and slayne downe the kynges that came vpon them from the vttemost parte of the earth, and how other people geue them tribute euery yeare: How they had slayne and ouercome Philippe and Perses kynge of Cethim and other mo (in battayll,) which had brought their ordinaunce agaynst them: how they discomfited greate Antiochus kynge of Asia (that wolde nedes fight wt them) hauynge an hundreth and xx. Elephantes, with horsmen, charettes, and a very greate hoost: how they toke him self alyue, and ordened him (with soch as shulde raigne after him) to paye thē a greate trybute, 〈…〉 yee and to fynde thē good suerties and plege: Besydes all this, how they had takē from him India, Media and Lydia (his best londes) and geuen them to kynge Eumenus. Agayne, how they perceauynge yt the Grekes were cōmynge to vexe them: sent against thē a captaine of an hoost which gaue thē battayll, slewe many of thē, led awaye ther wyues and children captyue, spoyled thē, toke possession of their londe, destroyed their stronge holdes, and subdued thē to be their bonde men vnto this daye: Morouer, how yt as for other kyngdomes & Iles, which somtyme withstode thē, they destroyed them, and brought them vnder their dominion: But helped euer their owne frendes and those yt were confederate with them, & conquered kyngdomes both farre & nye: & yt who so euer herde of their renowne, was afrayed of them: for whom they wolde helpe to their kyngdomes, those raigned: & whō it lyked not them to raigne, they put him downe: And how they were come to greate preeminence: hauynge no kynge amonge thē, nether eny man clothed in purple, to be magnified there thorow: but had ordened thē selues a perlament, where in there sat iij.C. and xx. Senatours daylie vpon the councell, to dispatch euer the busynesse of the people, and to kepe good ordre: And how yt euery yeare they chose a Mayre, to haue the gouernaun-of all their londe: to whom euery man was obedient, and yt there was nether euell will ner discencion amonge them.

Then Iudas chose Eupolemus the sonne of Ihon the sonne of Iacob, & Iason the sonne of Eleazar, & sent thē vnto Rome for to make frenshipe & a bonde of loue wt them: yt they might take frō them the bondage of ye Grekes, for ye Iewes sawe yt the Grekes wolde subdue the kyngdome of Israel. So they wēte vnto Rome (a very greate iourney) & came in to ye Perlamēt, & saide: Iudas Machabeus wt his brethrē & the people of ye Iewes hath sent vs vnto you, to make a bonde of frendshipe & peace wt you, & ye to note vs as yor louers & frendes. And ye matter pleased ye Romaines right well, wherfore it was writtē vp: of ye which ye Romaynes made a wrytinge in tables of Latō & sent it to Ierusalē: yt they might haue by thē a memoriall of ye same peace & bōde of frēdshipe, after this maner: God saue ye Romaines & ye people of the Iewes both by see & by lōde, & kepe ye swearde & enemy frō thē for euermore. Yf there come first eny warre vpō ye Romaynes or eny of their frēdes thorow out all their dominyō ye people of ye Iewes shal helpe thē (as ye tyme requireth) & yt wt all their hertes. Also they shal nether geue nor sēde vnto their enemies vitales, weapēs, money ner shippes: but fulfil this charge at the Romaynes pleasure, & take nothinge from them therfore. Againe yf the people of the Iewes happē first to haue warre, the Romaynes shal stonde by thē with a good wil, acordinge as the tyme wil suffre: Nether shal they geue vnto the Iewes enemies, vytales, weapens, money ner shippes. Thus are the Romaynes content to do, & shal fulfill their charge without eny disceate.

Acordinge to these articles, the Romaynes made the bonde with the Iewes. Now after these articles (sayde they) yf eny of the parties wyll put to them, or take eny thinge from them: they shal do it with the consente of both: and what so euer they adde then vnto them or take from them, it shall stonde fast. And as touchinge the euell that Demetrius hath done vnto the Iewes, we haue wrytten vnto him, sayenge: Wherfore layest thou thy heuy yocke vpon the Iewes oure frendes and louers? Yf they make eny complaynte of the agayne vnto vs, we shall defende them, and fight with the by see and by londe.

The IX. Chapter.

IN ye meane season when Demetrius herde that Nicanor & his hoost was slayne in the felde,1. Mac. 7. f ose. ca. 17 libro 32. he proceded further to sende Bachides and Alcimus againe in to Iewry, and those that were in the right wynge of his hoost, with them. So they wē te forth by the waye that ledeth vnto Galgala, and pitched their tentes before Mesaloth which is in Arbellis, and wanne the cite, and slewe moch people. In ye first moneth of the Clij. yeare, they brought their hoost to Ierusalem, and rose vp and came to Berea, with xx.M. fote men, and ij.M. horsmen.

Now Iudas had pitched his tente at Laisa, with thre thousande chosen men. And when they sawe the multitude of the other army yt it was so greate, they were sore afrayed, & many conveyed them selues out of the hoost, In so moch yt there abode no mo of them but viij.C. men. When Iudas sawe that his hoost fayled him, and that he must nedes fight: it brake his herte, yt he had no tyme to gather them together: wherfore the man was in extreme trouble. Neuerthelesse he sayde vnto them, yt remayned with him: Vp, let vs go agaynst oure enemies, peraduanture we shal be able to fight with them. But they wolde haue stopped him, sayenge: we shall not be able, therfore let vs now saue oure lyues, and turne agayne to or brethren, and then wil we fight agaynst thē, for we are here but fewe. And Iudas sayde: God forbyd, that we shulde fle from them. Wherfore yf oure tyme be come, let vs dye manfully for oure brethren, and let vs not stayne oure honoure. Then the hoost remoued out of the tentes, & stode agaynst them. The horsmen were deuyded in two partes: the slynge casters and the archers wente before the hoost, and all the mightie men were formest in the felde. Bachides himself was in the right wynge of the batell, & the hoost drewe nye in two partes, and blewe the trompettes. They of Iudas syde blewe ye trompettes also, & the earth shoke at the noyse of the hoostes, and they stroke a felde from the morow till night. And when Iudas sawe yt Bachides hoost was strongest of the right syde, he toke with him all the hardy mē, and brake the right wynge of their ordre, and folowed vpon them vnto the mount Azot.

Now when they which were of the lefte wynge, sawe that the right side was discomfited, they persecuted Iudas and them that were wt him. Then was there a sore battayll, for many were slayne and wounded of both the parties, Iudas also himself was kylled, and the remnaunt fled. So Ionathas and Symō toke Iudas their brother, and buried him in his fathers sepulcre in the cite of Modin. And all the people of Israel made greate lamentacion for him, and mourned longe, sayenge: Alas, that this worthy shulde be slayne, which delyuered ye people of Israel. As for other thinges pertayninge to ye battayls of Iudas, the nobles actes that he did and of his worthynesse: they are not writtē, for they were very many.

And after the death of Iudas, wicked mē came vp in all the coastes of Israel, 〈…〉 and there arose all soch as worke vngodlynesse. In those dayes was there a greate derth in the londe, and all the countre gaue ouer them selues & theirs vnto Bachides. So Bachides those wicked men, and made them lordes in the londe. These sought out and made search for Iudas frendes, and brought them vnto Bachides: which auenged himself vpon thē with greate despite. And there came so greate trouble in Israel, as was not sens the time that no prophet was sene there.

Then came all Iudas frendes together, and sayde vnto Ionathas: For so moch as thy brother Iudas is deed, there is none like him to go forth agaynst or enemies, agaynst Bachides, and soch as are aduersaries vnto oure people. Wherfore this daye we chose the for him, to be oure prynce and captayne to ordre oure batell. And Ionathas toke the gouernaunce vpon him at the same tyme, and ruled in steade of his brother Iudas. When Bachides gat knowlege therof, he sought for to slaye him: But Ionathas and Symon his brother, perceauynge that, fled in to ye wildernesse of Thecua with all their company, and pitched their tētes by the water pole of Asphar.

Which when Bachides vnderstode, he came ouer Iordane with all his hoost vpon ye Sabbath daye. Now had Ionathas sent his brother Ihon (a captayne of the people) to praye his frendes the Nabuthites, yt they wolde lende them their ordinaunce, for they had moch. So the children of Iambry came out of Madaba, & toke Ihon & all yt he had, & wente their waye withall. Then came worde vnto Ionathas & Symon his brother, yt the children of Iambri made a greate mariage, & brought ye bryde from Madaba with greate pompe: for she was doughter to one of the noblest prynces of Canaan. Wherfore they remembred the bloude of Ihon their brother, and wente vp, and hyd them selues vnder the shadowe of the mountayne.

So they lift vp their eyes, and loked: and beholde, there was moch a doo, & greate repayre: for the brydegrome came forth, & his frēdes and his brethren met them with tympanys, instrumentes of musick, and many weapēs. Then Ionathas and they that were with him, rose out of their skoukinge places agaynst them, and slewe many of them. As for the remnaunt, they fled in to ye mountaynes, and they toke all their substaunce. Thus the mariage was turned to mournynge, and ye noyse of their melody in to lamentacion. And so when they had auenged the bloude of their brother, they turned agayne vnto Iordane.

Bachides hearinge this, came vnto ye very border of Iordane with a greate power vpon the Sabbath daye. And Ionathas sayde to his company: let vs get vp, & fyght agaynst oure enemies: for it stondeth not with vs to daye, as in tymes past: Beholde, or enemies are in oure waye, ye water of Iordane vpon the one syde of vs, with banckes, fennes and woddes of ye other syde, so yt there is no place for vs to departe vnto. 〈◊〉 . 0. a 〈◊〉 . 4. b Wherfore crie now vnto heauen, that ye maye be delyuered from the power of youre enemies. So they stroke the batell. And Ionathas stretched out his honde to smyte Bachides, but he fled bacwarde. Then Ionathas and they yt were with him leapte in to Iordane, & swymmed ouer Iordane vnto him, & there were slayne of Bachides syde that daye, a thousande men.

Therfore Bachides wt his hoost turned againe to Ierusalem, & buylte vp ye castels & stronge holdes that were in Iewry, Iericho, Emaus, Bethoron, Bethel, Thānata, Phara & Thopo, wt hye walles, wt portes & with lockes: & set men to kepe them, yt they might vse their malice vpon Israel. He walled vp Bethsura, Gazara & the castell at Ierusalē also, & prouyded them wt men & vytales: He toke also the chefest mens sonnes in the countre for pledges, and put them in the castel at Ierusalem to be kepte.

Afterwarde in the C.liij. yeare in the seconde moneth, Alcimus cōmaunded, that ye walles of the ynmost Sanctuary shulde be destroyed, & the buyldinges of ye prophetes also. And when he beganne to destroye thē, ye thinges yt he wēte aboute, were hyndered: for he was smytten wt a palsey, & his mouth shutt, so yt he coude nomore speake ner commaunde eny of his house cōcerninge his busynesse. Thus dyed Alcimus in greate misery at the same tyme. And whē Bachides sawe yt Alcimus was deed, he turned agayne to ye kynge, & so the londe was in rest ij. yeares. Then all the vngodly men helde a councell, sayenge: Beholde, Ionathas and his cōpany are at ease, & dwell without care. Wherfore let vs brynge Bachides hither, & he shall take them all in one night.

So they wēte & gaue Bachides this councell, which arose to come wt a greate hoost, & sent letters priuely to his adherentes which were in Iewry, to take Ionathas & those yt were with him: but they might not, for the other had gotten knowlege of their deuyce. And Ionathas toke L. men of the countre (which were the ryngleders of them) & slewe them. Then Ionathas and Symon wt their cōpany departed vnto the cite Bethbessen, which lieth in the wyldernesse, and repayred the decaye therof, & made it stronge. When Bachides knewe this, he gathered all his hoost, and sent worde to them that were of Iewry. Thē came he and layed sege to Bethbessen, and fought against it a longe season, and made instrumentes of warre. Now Ionathas lefte his brother Symon in the cite, and wente forth himself in to the countre, and came with a certayne nombre, and slewe Odares and his brethren and the children of Phaseron in their tentes: so yt he beganne to be stronge, & to increase in power.

As for Symon and his company, they wente out of the cite, and brēt vp the instrumētes of warre, and fought agaynst Bachides, and discōfited him. And Bachides was sore vexed, because his councell and trauayle was in vayne. Wherfore he was wroth at ye wicked men (that gaue him councell to come in to their londe) and slew many of them. Then purposed he with his company to go awaye in to his owne countre: wherof whē Ionathas had knowlege, he sent embassitours vnto him, for to make peace with him, & yt he shulde deliuer him his presoners againe. To the which Bachides cōsented gladly, and dyd acordinge to his desyre: yee and made an ooth, that he shulde neuer do him harme all the dayes of his life. So he restored vnto him all the presoners that he had taken out of the londe of Iuda, and thē turned and wente his waye in to his owne londe, nether proceded he eny further to come vnto ye borders of Iuda. Thus Israel had no more warre. And Ionathas dwelt at Machmas, and beganne there to gouerne the people, and destroyed the vngodly men out of Israel.

The X. Chapter.

IN the C.lx. yeare came Alexander ye sonne of noble Antiochus, osephus ap. 2.3. li ro 13. and toke Ptolomais, whose citisens receaued him, and there he raigned. When Demetrius herde therof, he gathered an exceadinge greate hoost, and wēte forth agaynst him to fight. Wherfore Demetrius sent letters vnto Ionathas with louynge wordes, and praysed him greatly. For he sayde: we wyll first make peace with him, before he bynde him selfe with Alexander agaynst vs: els he shall remembre the euell that we haue done against him, his brother & his people. And so he gaue Ionathas leue to gather an hoost, to make weapens, Mac. 9. c and to be confederate wt him, and commaunded the pledges that were in the castell, to be delyuered vnto him.

Then came Ionathas to Ierusalem, and red the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in ye castell. And therfore were they sore afrayed, because they herde, that the kynge had geuē him licence to gather an hoost. Thus were the pledges delyuered vnto Ionathas, which restored them to their elders. Ionathas also dwelt at Ierusalem, and begāne to buylde vp and to repayre the cite: commaundinge the worke men, to wall it, and the mount Sion rounde aboute with fre stone, to be a stronge holde, and so they dyd. As for the Heithen that were in ye castels which Bachides had made vp, they fled: so that euery man left the place, and wēte in to his owne countre. Onely at Bethsura remayned certayne of the Iewes, which had forsaken the lawe and cō maundementes of God, for Bethsura was their refuge.

Now when kynge Alexander herde of ye promises yt Demetrius had made vnto Ionathas, and when it was tolde him of ye batels and noble actes, which he and his brethren had done, and of the greate trauayles that they had taken: he saide: where shal we fynde soch a man? wel, we will make him oure frende, & be confederate with him. Vpon this he wrote a lettre vnto him, wt these wordes: kinge Alexāder saluteth his brother Ionathas. We haue herde of the, yt thou art a valeaunt man, & mete to be or frende: wherfore this daye we ordene the to be the hye prest of thy people, and to be called the kynges frende. Vpon this, he sente him a purple clothinge & a crowne of golde) yt thou mayest considre what is for oure profit, & kepe frendshipe towarde vs.

So in the vij. moneth of the C.lx. yeare vpon the solempne feast daye of the tabernacles, Ionathas put the holy rayment vpon him. Then gathered he an hoost, & made many weapēs. Which when Demetrius herde, he was maruelous sory, & sayde: Alas, what haue we done, yt Alexander hath preuented vs in gettinge the frendshipe of the Iewes, for his owne defence? Yet wil I wryte louingly vnto them also, yee & promise them dignities & rewardes, yt they maye be of my syde. Whervpon he wrote vnto thē these wordes: Kinge Demetrius sendeth gretinge vnto ye people of the Iewes. Where as ye haue kepte yor couenaunt towarde vs, & cōtinued in or frendshipe, not enclyninge to oure enemies we were glad, when we herde therof. Wherfore remayne still & be faithfull to vs: & we shal wel recōpense you for the thinges, yt ye haue done on or partie: we shall release you of many charges, and geue you rewardes.

And now I discharge you & all ye Iewes from tributes, I forgeue you the customes of salt, and release you of the crowne taxes, of the thirde parte of sede, and half of the frute of trees, which is myne owne dewty. These I leaue for you, from this daye forth: so that they shall not be taken of the londe of Iuda ner of the thre cities which are added thervnto out of Samaria and Galilee, from this daye forth for euermore. Ierusalē also with all thinges belōginge therto, shal be holy and fre, yee yt tithes & tributes shal pertayne vnto it. As for the power of ye castell which is at Ierusalem, I remytte & geue it vnto the hye prest, that he maye set in it soch men, as he shall chose to kepe it. I frely delyuer all the Iewes that are presoners thorow out all my realme: so that euery one of them shalbe fre from payenge eny tribute, yee euen of their catell.

All the solēpne feastes, Sabbathes, New mones, the dayes appoynted, the thre daies before and after the feast shall be fre for all the Iewes in my realme: so that in them no man shal haue power to do eny thinge, or to moue eny busynesse agaynst eny of them in eny maner of cause. There shal xxx.M. also of the Iewes be written vp in the kynges hoost, and haue their wages payed, as all other men of warre of the kynges shulde haue: and of them shalbe ordened certayne, to kepe the kynges stronge holdes: yee and some of them shalbe set ouer the kynges busynesse, that they maye faithfully deale with the same. The Iewes also shal haue prynces of their owne, & walke in their owne lawes, as the kynge hath commaunded in the londe of Iuda.

And the thre cities that are fallen vnto Iewry from the countre of Samaria and Galilee: shalbe taken as Iewry, and be vnder one: nether be subiecte to eny straunge lorde, but to the hye prest. As for Ptolomais and the londe pertayninge therto, I geue it vnto the Sanctuary at Ierusalem, for the necessary expēces of the holy thinges. Morouer, I will geue euery yeare xv.M. Sycles of syluer out of ye kynges checker (which pertayneth vnto me) to the worke of the temple: yee & loke what remayneth (which they yt had oure matters in honde in tymes past, haue not payed) that same shal they geue vnto them also. And besydes all this, the v.M. sycles which they toke yearly of the rētes of the Sanctuary, shal belonge vnto the prestes that do seruyce.

Item, who so euer they be that fle vnto the temple at Ierusalem or within the liberties therof, where as they are fallen in to the kynges daunger for eny maner of busynes, they shall be pardoned, and all the goodes that they haue in my realme, shalbe fre. For the buyldinge also & repayringe of the worke of the Sanctuary, expenses shalbe geuen out of the kynges Checker: Yee and for the makinge of the walles rounde aboute Ierusalem, for the breakinge downe of the olde, and for the settinge vp of the stronge holdes in Iewry, shal ye costes and charges be geuen out of the kynges Checker.

But when Ionathas and the people herde these wordes,1. Mac. 7. b they gaue no credence vnto them, nether receaued them: for they remembred the greate wickednesse that he had done vnto Israel, and how sore he had vexed them. Wherfore they agreed vnto Alexander, for he was a prynce that had dealte frendly with them, and so they stode by him allwaye. Thē gathered kynge Alexā der a greate hoost, and brought his armye agaynst Demetrius. So ye two kynges stroke battayll together, Iosephus ca. 5. lib. 1 but Demetrius hoost fled, and Alexander folowed after and fell vpon them. A mightie sore felde was it, continuynge till the Sonne wente downe, and Demetrius was slayne the same daye.

And Alexander sente embass tours vnto Ptolomy the kynge of Egipte with these wordes, sayenge: For so moch as I am come agayne to my realme, and am set in the trone of my progenitours, and haue gotten the dominion, ouer come Demetrius, conquered the londe, and striken a felde with him, so that we haue discomfited both him and his hoost, and syt in the trone of his kyngdome: Let vs now make frendshipe together, geue me thy daughter to wife: so shall I be thy sonne in lawe, and both geue the rewardes, and hir greate dignite. Ptolomy the kynge gaue answere, sayenge: Happy be the daye wherin thou art come agayne to the londe of thy progenitours, and set in the trone of their kyngdome. And now will I fulfill thy writynge: but mete me at Ptolomais, yt we maye se one another, and that I maye mary my doughter vnto the acordinge to thy desyre. So Ptolomy wēte out of Egipte with his doughter Cleopatra, & came vnto Ptolomais in ye Clxij. yeare: where kynge Alexā der met him, & he gaue Alexander his doughter Cleopatra, and maried them at Ptolomais with greate worshipe, like as the maner of kynges is to be.

Then wrote kynge Alexander vnto Ionathas, that he shulde come and mete him. So he wente honorably vnto Ptolomais, & there he met the two kinges, and gaue them greate presentes of golde and syluer, & founde fauoure in their sight. And there came together agaynst Ionathas certayne wicked men and vngracious personnes of Israel, makynge complayntes of him, but the kynge regarded them not. As for Ionathas, the kynge commaunded to take of his garmentes, and to clothe him in purple: and so they dyd. Then the kynge appoynted him to syt by him, and sayde vnto his prynces: Go with him in to the myddest of the cite, and make a proclamacion, that no man complayne agaynst him of eny matter, and that no man trouble him for eny maner of cause.

So it happened that when his accusers sawe the worshipe which was proclamed of him, & yt he was clothed in purple: they fled euerychone. And the kynge made moch of him, wrote him amonge his chefe frendes, made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion. Thus Ionathas wente agayne to Ierusalem with peace and gladnesse. Iosephus ap. 6. lib. 〈◊〉 . Antiq. In the Clxv. yeare came Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius from Creta in to his fathers londe: wherof when Alexander herde tell, he was right sory, and returned vnto Antioche. And Demetrius chose Appollonius (which had the gouernaunce of Celosyria) to be his captayne. . Mac. 3. a

So he gathered a greate hoost and came vnto Iamnia, and sende worde vnto Ionathas the hye prest, sayenge: Darrest thou wt stonde vs thy self alone? As for me, I am but laughed to scorne and shamed, because thou prouest thy strength agaynst vs in the mountaynes. Now therfore yf thou trustest in thyne owne strength, come downe to vs in to the playne felde, and there let vs proue oure strength together: thou shalt fynde, that I haue valeaunt men of warre with me: and shalt knowe who I am, & the other that stonde by me.

Which saye, that youre fote is not able to stonde before oure face, for thy fathers haue bene twyse chaced in to their owne londe. And now, how wylt thou be able to abyde so greate an hoost of horsmen and fotemen in the felde, where as is nether rocke, stone ner place to fle vnto?

When Ionathas herde the wordes of Appollonius, he was moued in his mynde: wherfore he chose x. thousande men and wente out of Ierusalem, and Symon his brother met him for to helpe him: And they pitched their tentes at Ioppa, but the cite kepte him forth, for Ioppa was an holde of Appollonius. Then Ionathas layed sege to it, and they that were in the cite, for very feare let him in: and so Ionathas wanne Ioppa. Appollonius hearinge of this, toke thre thousande horsmen, with a greate hoost of fote, and wente as though he wolde go to Azotus, & came Immediatly in to the playne felde: because he had so many horsmē, and put his trust in thē. So Ionathas folowed vpon him to Azotus, & there they stroke the battayll. Now had Appollonius lefte a M. horsmen behynde them pryuely in the tētes. And when Ionathas knewe that soch waite was layed behynde them, they wēte rounde aboute the enemies hoost, and shot dartes at the people from the mornynge to the euenynge. As for Ionathas people, they kepte their ordre as he had commaunded them, & the enemies horses were euer labouringe.

Then brought Symon forth his hoost, and set them agaynst the fote men. For the horsmē were weery allready. So he discomfited them, and they fled. And they that were scatred in the felde, gat them to Azotus, and came in to the temple of Dagon their Idol, yt they might there saue their lyues. But Ionathas set fyre vpon Azotus and all the cities rounde aboute it, & toke their goodes, 〈…〉 and brēt vp the temple of Dagon with all them that were fled in to it.

Thus were slayne and brēt well nye viij. thousande men. So Ionathas remoued the hoost from thence, and brought them to Ascalon: where ye men of the cite came forth, and met him with greate worshipe. After this wente Ionathas and his hoost agayne to Ierusalem, with greate substaunce of good. And when kynge Alexander herde the se thinges, he thought to do Ionathas more worshipe, & sent him a colar of golde, as the vse is to be geuen vnto soch as are of the kynges nexte bloude. He gaue him also ye cite of Accaron (with the londes belongynge therto) in possession.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd ye kynge of Egipte gathered an hoost, 〈…〉 (like the sonde yt lieth vpon the see shore) and many shippes: and wente aboute thorow disceate to optayne ye kingdome of Alexāder, & to ioyne it vnto his owne realme. Vpon this he toke his iourneye in to Syria, & was letten in to the cities, and mē came forth to mete him: for kinge Alexā der had cōmaunded them so to do, because he was his father in lawe. Now when Ptolomy entred in to eny cite, he lefte mē of warre to kepe it, and this he dyd thorow out all ye cities. And when he came to Azotus, they shewed him the temple of Dagon and Azotus that was brent vp, Mac. 10. i with the other thinges which were destroyed, the deed bodies cast abrode, and ye graues that they had made by the waye syde, for soch as were slayne in the felde: And tolde the kynge that Ionathas had done all these thinges, to the intēt they might get him euell will. But the kynge sayde not a worde therto.

And Ionathas met the kynge with greate honor at Ioppa, where they saluted one another, and toke their rest. So when Ionathas had gone with ye kynge, vnto the water that was called Eleutherus, he turned agayne to Ierusalem. Now Ptolomy had gotten the dominion of the cities vnto Selencia vpon the see coost, ymaginynge wicked councels agaynst Alexander, & sent embassitours vnto Demetrius, sayenge: Come, let vs make a bonde betwixte vs, so shall I geue the my doughter that Alexander hath, and thou shalt raigne in thy fathers kyngdome. I repente that I gaue Alexander my doughter, for he goeth aboute to slaye me. And thus he slaundred Alexander, because he wolde haue had his realme.

Thus he toke his doughter from him, gaue her vnto Demetrius, and forsoke Alexander, so that his malice was openly knowne. And Ptolomy came to Antioche, where he set two crownes vpon his owne heade: the crowne of Egipte and of Asia. In the meane season was kynge Alexander in Cilicia, for they that dwelt in those places, had rebelled agaynst him. But when Alexāder herde of this, he came to warre agaynst him. So kinge Ptolomy brought forth his hoost and met him with a mightie power, and chaced him awaye. Then fled Alexander in to Araby, there to be defended, and kynge Ptolomys honoure increased. And Zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexanders heade, and sent it vnto Ptolomy. But the thirde daye after, died kynge Ptolomy himself: and they whom he had set in the stronge holdes, were slayne of those that were within ye cities. And Demetrius raigned in ye hundreth and seuen and sixtie yeare.

At the same tyme gathered Ionathas them that were in Iewry to laye sege vnto the castell which was at Ierusalem, and so they made many instrumentes of warre agaynst it. Then wente there certaine vngodly personnes (which hated their owne people) vnto kynge Demetrius, and tolde him, that Ionathas beseged ye castell. So when he herde it, he was angrie, and Immediatly came to Ptolomais, and wrote vnto Ionathas, that he shulde not laye sege to the castell, but come and speake with him in all the haist. Neuerthelesse when Ionathas herde this he commaunded to besege it. He chose also certayne of the elders and prestes of Israel, and put him self in the parell, and toke with him golde, syluer, clothinge and diuerse presentes and wente to Ptolomais vnto the kynge, and founde him gracious.

And though certayne vngodly men of his owne people made complayntes vpon him, yet the kynge intreated him,1. Ma. 10. like as his predecessours had done before: and promoted him in the sight of all his frendes, confirmed him in the hye presthode with all the worshipe yt he had afore, and made him his chefe frende. Ionathas also desyred the kynge that he wolde make Iewry fre, with the thre head cities of Samaria and the londes pertayninge therto:1. Ma. 10. vpon this dyd Ionathas promyse him thre C. talentes. Where vnto the kynge consented, and gaue Ionathas wrytinge of the same, conteyninge these wordes: kynge Demetrius sendeth gretinge vnto his brother Ionathas and to the people of ye Iewes. We sende you here a copy of the lettre which we dyd wryte vnto oure elder Lasthenus, concernynge you, that ye shulde knowe it.

Kynge Demetrius sendeth gretinge vnto Lasthenus his elder. For the faithfulnes that oure frendes the people of the Iewes kepe vnto vs, and for the louynge kyndnesse which they beare towarde vs: we are determed to do them good. Wherfore we ordene all ye coostes of Iewry with the thre cities, Lyda and Ramatha (which are added vnto Iewry from Samaria) & all ye lōdes pertayninge there vnto, to be frely separated for soch as do sacrifice in Ierusalē: both concernynge the paymētes which the kynge toke yearly afore tyme, & ye frutes also of the earth & trees. As for other tithes & tributes yt belonged vnto vs, we discharge thē therof from this tyme forth. In like maner we graū te vnto thē all the customes of salt and crowne taxes, which were brought vnto vs. And this fredome shal they haue firme & stedfast, frō this tyme forth for euermore. Therfore se yt ye make a copy of these or letters, and delyuer it vnto Ionathas: that it maye be kepte vpon ye holy mount in a cōuenient place.

After this, when Demetrius the kynge sawe that his londe was in rest, and that no resistaunce was made him: he sent awaye all his hoost euery man to his owne place, excepte an armye of straungers, whom he brought from the Iles of the Heithen, wherfore all his fathers hoost had euell wyll at him. Mac. 12. c Now was there one Triphon (that had bene of Alexanders parte afore) which when he sawe that all the hoost murmured agaynst Demetrius: he wente to Emalcuel the Arabian (that brought vp Antiochus the sonne of Alexander) and laye sore vpon him, to delyuer him this yonge Antiochus: that he might raigne in his fathers steade. He tolde him also what greate euell Demetrius had done, & how his mē of warre loued him not: & so remayned there a lōge season.

And Ionathas sent vnto kynge Demetrius, to dryue them out which were in the castell at Ierusalem and in the other refugies, for they dyd Israel greate harme. So Demetrius sent worde vnto Ionathas, sayenge: I wil not only do these thinges for the and thy people, but at tyme conueniēt I wil do both the & thy people greate worshipe. But now thou shalt do me a pleasure, yf thou wilt sende me men to helpe me: for all myne armye is gone fro me. So Ionathas sent him iij.M. stronge men vnto Antioche, and they came vnto the kynge, wherfore the kynge was very glad at their commynge. But they that were of the cite (euen an Cxx. thousande mē) gathered them together, & wolde haue slayne the kynge, which fled in to his courte: & the citesyns kepte the stretes of the cite, and beganne to fight.

Then the kynge called for the Iewes helpe, which came vnto him all together, & wente abrode thorow the cite, and slewe the same daye an C.M. men: set fyre vpon the cite, gat many spoyles in that daye, and delyuered ye kynge. So when the citesyns sawe that the Iewes had gotten their wyll of the cite, and they them selues dispoynted of their purpose: they made their supplicacion vnto the kynge, sayēge: Graunte vs peace, and let the Iewes ceasse from troublinge vs and the cite, and vpon this they cast awaye their weapens. Thus they made peace, and ye Iewes gat greate worshipe in the sight of the kynge, and in the sight of all that were in his realme, and were spoken of thorow out the kyngdome: and so they came agayne to Ierusalem with greate goodes.

So the kynge Demetrius sat in the trone of his kyngdome, and had peace in his lōde Neuertheles he dyssembled in all that euer he spake, & with drewe himself from Ionathas, nether rewarded him acordinge to the benefites which he had done for him, but troubled him very sore. After this came Triphon agayne with yonge Antiochus, which raigned & was crowned kynge. Then there gathered vnto him all ye men of warre, whō Demetrius had put awaye: these fought agaynst Demetrius, which fled & turned his backe. So Triphon toke the Elephantes, & wanne Antioche. And yōge Antiochus wrote vnto Ionathas, sayenge: I confirme the in thy presthode, & make ye ruler of iiij. countrees, yt thou mayest be a frende of ye kinges.

Vpon this he sent him golden vessel to be serued in, and gaue him leue to drynke in golde, to be clothed in purple, and to weere a colar of golde, He made his brother Symon also captayne, from the coostes of Tyrus vnto the borders of Egipte. Then Ionathas toke his iourney, & wente thorow ye cities beyō de the water (of Iordane) and all the men of warre of Syria gathered thē vnto him for to helpe him. So he came vnto Ascalon, and they of the cite receaued him honorably: & from thence wente he vnto Gaza, but they wolde not let him in: wherfore he layed sege vnto it, burnynge vp and spoylinge the places that were aboute the cite.

And the citesyns of Gaza submytted thē selues vnto Ionathas, which made peace with them, but toke of their sonnes to pledge, sent thē to Ierusalē, & wente thorow the countre vnto Damascus. Now when Ionathas herde that Demetrius princes were come in to Cades (which is in Galile ) with a greate hoost, purposinge to put Demetrius out from medlinge in the realme: he came agaynst them, and lefte Symon his brother in the londe: which came to Bethsura, and layed sege to it a longe season, and discomfited them. So they desyred to haue peace wt him, which he graunted them, & afterwarde put them out from thence, toke the cite, and set mē to kepe it. And Ionathas with his hoost came to the water of Genesar, & by tymes in the mornynge gat them to the playne felde of Azor.

And beholde, the hoostes of the Heithen met thē in the felde, & layed watch for thē in the mountaynes: so yt when Ionathas came agaynst thē, the other (which were layed to watch) rose out of their places, & fought, & they that were of Ionathas syde, fled euery man: & there was not one of thē lefte, excepte Matathias the sonne of Absalomus, and Iudas the sonne of Calphi the captayne of the hoost. Thē Ionathas rente his clothes, layed earth vpō his heade, made his prayer, & turned againe to thē in ye felde: where they fought together, and he put them to flight. Now when his owne mē yt were fled, sawe this: they turned agayne vnto him, & helped him to folowe vpon all their enemies vnto their tentes at Cades. So there were slayne of the Heithen the same daye, iij.M. men, & Ionathas turned agayne to Ierusalem.

The XII. Chapter.

IOnathas seynge that ye tyme was mete for him, chose certayne men and sent them vnto Rome for to stablish & to renue the frendshipe wt thē. He sent lettres also vnto Sparta, 〈…〉 and to other places in like maner. So they wēte vnto Rome and entred in to ye councell, & sayde: Ionathas ye hye prest & the people of ye Iewes sent vs vnto you, for to renue ye olde frēdshipe & bonde of loue. Vpō this ye Romaynes gaue thē fre pasportes, yt mē shulde lede thē home in to ye lōde of Iuda peaceably. And this is ye copy of the lettres that Ionathas wrote vnto the Sparcians:

Ionathas ye hye prest wt ye elders, prestes, & the other people of ye Iewes, sende gretinge vnto ye Sparciās their brethrē. There were lettres sente lōge agoo vnto Onias ye hye prest, from Arius which than raigned amonge you: that ye are oure brethren, as the wrytinge made thervpon specifieth. And Onias intreated the embassitoure that was sent, honorably, and receaued ye lettres: wherin there was mencion made of the bonde of loue & frendshipe. But as for vs, we nede no soch writinges: for why, we haue the holy bokes of scripture in oure hondes to oure comforte. Neuerthelesse we had rather sende vnto you, for the re uynge of ye brotherhode and frendshipe: lest we shulde be straunge vnto you, for it is longe, sens ye tyme yt ye sent worde vnto vs. Wherfore in ye sacrifices yt we offre & other ceremonies vpon ye hye solempne dayes and other we allwaye remembre you without ceassynge (like as reason is, and as it becommeth vs to thynke vpon oure brethren) yee and are right glad of youre prosperous honoure.

And though we haue had greate troubles and warres, so that the kynges aboute vs haue foughten agaynst vs: yet wolde we not be greuous vnto you ner to other of oure louers and frendes in these warres. For we haue had helpe frō heauē, so that we are delyuered, and oure enemies subdued. Wherfore we chose Numenius the sonne of Antiochus and Antipater the sonne of Iason, and sente them vnto the Romaynes, for to renue the olde bonde of frendshipe and loue with them. We commaunded them also to come vnto you, to salute you, and to delyuer you or lettres, concerninge the renouacion of or brotherhode. And now ye shal do right wel, to geue vs an answere there vnto.

And this is the copy of the wrytinge, which Arius the kynge of Sparta sente vnto Onias: Arius kinge of the Sparcians sendeth gretynge vnto Onias the hye prest. It is founde in wrytynge, that the Sparcians and Iewes are brethren, and come of the generacion of Abraham. And now for so moch as this is come to oure knowlege, ye shal do wel, to wryte vnto vs of youre prosperite. As for vs, we haue wrytten o mynde vnto you: Oure catell and goodes are yours and yours, ours. These thinges haue we cō maunded to be shewed vnto you.

When Ionathas herde, that Demetrius prīces were come forth to fight against him with a greater hoost thē afore, he wente frō Ierusalem, & met thē in the lōde of Hemath, for he gaue them not space to come in to his owne countre. And he sent spyes vnto their tentes, which came agayne and tolde him, that they were appoynted to come vpō him in the night season. Wherfore when the Sō ne was gone downe, Ionathas cōmaunded his men to watch all ye night, & to be ready wt weapens for to fight: and set watchmen rounde aboute the hoost. But when the aduersaries herde that Ionathas was re •• y wt his men to the battayll, they feared & were afrayed in their hertes, & kyndled fyres in their tentes, brake vp, and gat them awaye. Neuertheles Ionathas and his company knewe it not till the morninge, for they sawe the fyres burnynge.

Then Ionathas folowed vpon thē, but he might not ouertake them, for they were gone ouer the water Eleutherus. So Ionathas departed vnto ye Arabiās (which were called Zabadei) slewe them, & toke their goodes. He proceded furthur also, and came vnto Damascus, & wente thorow all that countre. But Simon his brother toke his iourney and came to Ascalon and to the nexte stronge holdes: departinge vnto Ioppa, and wanne it. For he herde, that they wolde stonde of Demetrius partie: wherfore he sent mē of warre in the cite, to kepe it. After this came Ionathas home agayne, & called the elders of the people together: and deuysed with thē for to buylde vp the strōge holdes in Iewry, and the walles of Ierusalem, to set vp an hye wall betwixte the castell and ye cite, for to separate it from the cite, that it might be alone, and that men shulde nether bye nor sell in it.

Vpō this they came together for to buylde vp the cite: and for moch as the wall vpō the broke of the west syde (called Caphetheta) was fallen downe, they repayred it. And Symon set vp Adiada in Sephela, and made it stronge, settinge portes & lockes vpō it. Now when Triphon purposed to raigne in Asia. Ma. 11. c osephus api. 19. •• bro. 13. to be crowned, and to slaye the kynge Antiochus: he was afrayed that Ionathas wolde not suffre him, but fight against him. Wherfore he wente aboute to take Ionathas, and to kyll him.

So he departed, and came vnto Bethsan. Then wente Ionathas forth against him to the battayll with fourtye thousande chosen men, and came vnto Bethsan also. But whē Triphon sawe that Ionathas came with so greae an hoost to destroye him, he was afrayed: and therfore he receaued him honorably, commended him vnto all his frendes, gaue him rewardes, and commaunded his men of warre to be as obediēt vnto him as to himself.

And saide vnto Ionathas: why hast thou caused this people to take soch trauayle, seynge there is no warre betwixte vs? Therfore sende them home agayne, & chose certaine mē to waite vpon the, & come thou wt me to Ptolomais: for I wil geue it the, wt the other strō ge holdes, men of warre and their officers: As for me, I must departe, this is only ye cause of my cōmynge. Ionathas beleued him, & dyd as he sayde, puttinge awaye his hoost, which wente in to ye londe of Iuda. He kepte but iij.M. by him, wherof he sente ij.M. in to Galilee, & one M. wente with himself.

Now as soone as Ionathas entred in to Ptolomais, the citesyns sparred the gates of the cite, and toke him, and slewe all them with the swerde, that came in with him. Then sent Triphon an hoost of fote mē and horsmen in to Galilee and in to the greate playne felde, to destroye all Ionathas company. But when they knew that Ionathas was taken, and all they slayne that wayted vpon him: they toke councell together, and came forth ready to the battayll. So when they which folowed vpon them, sawe, that it was a matter of life, they turned backe agayne. As for the other, they wente in to ye londe of Iuda peacealy, & bewayled Ionathas, & them that were with him right sore. And Israel made greate lamentacion. Thē all the Heithen yt were rounde aboute them, sought to destroye thē. For they sayde: now haue they no captayne, nor eny man to helpe them. Therfore let vs ouercome them, and rote out their name from amonge men.

The XIII. Chapter.

NOw whan Symon herde that Triphon gathered a greate hoost, to come in to ye londe of Iuda, and to destroye it: and sawe yt the people was in greate fearfulnesse and care: He came vp to Ierusalem, and gathered the people together, & gaue thē exortacion, sayenge: Ye knowe what greate battayls I and my brethren & my fathers house haue stryken for the lawe & the Sāctuary, and what maner of troubles we haue sene: thorow occasion wherof, all my brethren are slayne for Israels sake, 〈…〉 and I am left alone. And now let not me spare myne owne life in eny maner of trouble, for I am no better then my brethren: but wil avenge my people and the Sanctuary, oure children and oure wyues: for all the Heithen are gathered together, to destroye vs of very malice.

At these wordes the hartes of the people were kyndled together, so that they cried with a loude voyce, sayenge: Thou shalt be o captayne in steade of Iudas & Ionathas thy brethren, ordre thou oure batell, & what so euer thou commaundest vs, we shall do it. So he gathered all the men of warre, makinge haist to fynish all the walles of Ierusalem, which he made stronge rounde aboute. Then sent he Ionathas the sonne of Absalomus wt a fresh hoost vnto Ioppa, which droue them out yt were in the castell, and remayned there himself. Triphon also remoued from Ptolomais with a greate armye, to come in to the londe of Iuda, and Ionathas with him in warde. And Simon pitched his tentes at Addus before the playne felde.

But when Triphon knewe that Symon stode vp in steade of his brother Ionathas, and that he wolde warre agaynst him: he sent messaungers vnto him, sayenge: Where as we haue kepte Ionathas thy brother, it is for money that he is owynge in the kynges accompte, concernynge the busynesse yt he had in honde. Wherfore sende now an C. talētes of syluer and his two sonnes for suertie, that when he is lettē forth he shal not forsake vs: and we shal sende him agayne. Neuerthelesse Symon knewe, that he dyssembled in his wordes: yet commaunded he the money & children to be delyuered vnto him: lest he shulde be the greater enemye agaynst ye people of Israel, and saye: because he sent him not the money and the children, therfore is Ionathas deed.

So Symon sent him the children and an hundreth talentes, but he dyssembled, & wolde not let Ionathas go. Afterwarde came Triphon in to the londe, to destroye it, and wente rounde aboute by the waye, yt ledeth vnto Ador. But where so euer they wente, thither wente Symon and his hoost also. Now they that were in the castell, sent messaungers vnto Triphon, that he shulde make haist to come by the wyldernesse, and to sende them vytales: And Triphon made ready all his horsmen to come that same night. Neuerthelesse it was a very greate snowe, so that he came not in Galaadithim. And whē he drewe nye Baschama, he slewe Ionathas and his sonnes there, and then turned for to go home in to his owne londe.

Thē sente Symon for to fet his brothers deed coarse, and buried it in Modin his fathers cite. So all Israel bewayled him with greate lamentacion, and mourned for him very longe. And Symon made vpon the sepulcre of his father and his brethrē a buyldynge hye to loke vnto of fre stone behynde and before: and set vp seuen pylers, one agaynst another (for his father, his mother and foure brethren) and set greate pilers roū de aboute, with armes vpon them for a perpetuall memory, and carued shippes besyde the armes: yt they might be sene of mē saylinge in the see. This sepulcre which he made at Modin, stondeth yet vnto this daye.

Now as Triphō wente forth to walke wt ye yōge kynge Antiochus, Iosephus capite 10 libro 1 he slewe him trayterously, and raigned in his steade, crowned himself kynge of Asia, and dyd moch euell in the londe. Symon also buylte vp the castels in Iewry, makynge them stronge with hye towres, greate walles, portes and lockes, and layed vp vytales in the stronge holdes. And Symon chose certayne men, and sente them to kynge Demetrius: to desyre him, yt he wolde discharge the londe from all bondage, for Triphon had spoyled it very sore. Where vpon Demetrius the kynge answered him, & wrote vnto him after this maner:

Demetrius ye kīge sendeth gretinge vnto Symon the hye prest his frende, with the elders and people of the Iewes. The golden crowne and precious stone yt ye sente vnto vs, haue we receaued: and are ready to make a stedfast peace with you, yee and to wryte vnto oure officers, for to release you, concernynge the thinges wherin we made you fre: and the appoyntment yt we make with you, shalbe firme and stable. The stronge holdes which ye haue buylded, shal be youre owne. As for eny ouer sight or fawte committed vnto this daye, we forgeue it, and the crowne taxe that ye ought vs also. And where as was eny other tribute in Ierusalem, it shal now be no tribute: and loke who are mete amonge you to be in oure courte, let them be written vp, that there maye be peace betwixte vs.

Thus the yock of the Heithen was taken from Israel, in the hundreth and seuentie yeare. And the peple of the Iewes beganne to write in their lettres and actes on this maner: In ye first yeare of Symon the hye prest,1. Mach . 14. d and prynce of the Iewes.

In those dayes wente Symon vnto Gaza, and beseged it rounde aboute, where he set vp ordinaunce of warre. And wanne a towre, which he toke. So they that gat in to the towre leapte into the cite, which was in a greate feare: In so moch that the people of the cite rente their clothes, and clymmed vp vpon the walles with their wyues and children, besekynge Symon to be at one with them, sayenge:

O rewarde vs not after o wickednes, but be gracious vnto vs, and we shal do ye seruyce. Then Symon for very pite, wolde fight nomore agaynst them, but put them out of the cite, and caused the houses (wherin the ymages were) to be clensed: and so entred the cite with Psalmes of prayse, geuinge thankes vnto the LORDE. So when he had cast all abhominaciōs out of the cite, he set soch men in it as kepte the lawe of God, and made the cite stronge, and builded a dwellinge place for himself.

Now when they in the castell at Ierusalem were kepte so strately, that they coude not come forth ner in to countre, and might nether bye ner sell: they were very hungrie, and many of them famished to death: In so moch that they besought Symon to be at one with them, which he graunted them. So he put them out from thence, and clensed the castell from fylthynesse. And vpon the xxiij. daye of the seconde moneth in the Clxxj. yeare they entred in to it with thankesgeuynge and braunches of palme trees, with harpes, crowdes, cymbals, and lutes, synginge psalmes and songes of prayse vnto God, for that the greate enemy of Israel was ouer come.

And Symon ordened that the same daye shulde be kepte euery yeare in gladnesse, and made stronge the hyll of the temple that was besyde the castell, where he dwelt him self with his company. Symon also perceauynge that Ihon his sonne was a mightie man of armes, made him captayne of all the hoostes, and caused him to dwell at Gaza.

The XIIII. Chapter.

IN the Clxxij. yeare gathered kynge Demetrius his hoost, and departed vnto Media, to gett him helpe for to fight agaynst Triphon. Now when Arsaces the kynge of Persia and Media herde, that Demetrius was entred within his borders: he sente one of his prynces to take him alyue, and to brynge him vnto him. So he wente and slewe Demetrius hoost, toke himselfe, brought him to Arsaces, which kepte him in warde. And all the londe of Iuda was in rest, so longe as Symon lyued: for he sought the wealth of his people, therfore were they glad to haue him for their ruler, and to do him worshipe allwaye.

Symon wanne the cite of Ioppa also for an hauen towne, and made it an intraunce in to the Iles of the see. He enlarged the borders of his people, and cōquered them more londe: He gathered vp many of their people that were presoners: he had the dominiō of Gaza, Bethsura and the castell, which he clensed from fylthines, and there was no mā that resisted him: So that euery man tylled his grounde in peace, the londe of Iuda and the trees gaue their frute and encreace. The elders sat all in iudgment, and toke their deuyce for the wealth of the londe: the yonge men put on worshipe and harnesse vpon them. He prouyded vytayles for the cities, and made goodly stronge holdes of them: so that the fame of his worshipe was spoken of vnto the ende of ye worlde. 〈…〉 For he made peace thorow out the londe, and Israel was full of myrth and ioye.

Euery mā sat vnder his vyne & fyge trees and there was no man to fraye them awaye. There was none in ye londe to fight agaynst them, for then the kinges were ouercome. He helped those that were in aduersite amonge his people, he was diligent to se ye lawe kepte: as for soch as were vngodly and wicked he toke thē awaye. He set vp ye Sanctuary, & encreased the holy vessels of the temple.

When ye Romaynes and Sparcians had gotten worde, yt Ionathas was deed, they were right sory. But when they herde yt Symon his brother was made hye prest in his steade, and how he had wonne the londe agayne wt the cities in it: they wrote vnto him in tables of laton, to renue the frendshipe & bonde of loue, which they had made afore with Iudas & Ionathas his brethrē. 〈…〉 Which writinges were red before the congregacion at Ierusalem.

And this is the copy of the lettres, that the Sparcians sent: The Senatours and citesyns of Sparta sende gretinge vnto Simō ye greate prest wt the elders, prestes, & ye other people of the Iewes their brethrē: Whē yo embassitours that were sente vnto o people, certified vs of youre worshipe, honoure and prosperous wealth: we were glad of their cō minge, and haue written the earande which they spake before the councell of the people: namely, that Numenius the sonne of Antiochus, and Antipater the sonne of Iason the Iewes embassitours are come vnto vs, for to renue the olde frendshipe with vs. Vpon this the people consented, that the men shulde be honorably intreated, and that the copy of their earande shulde be written in the speciall bokes of the people, for a perpetuall memory vnto the Sparcians: yee and that we shulde sende a copy of the same vnto Symon the greate prest.

After this dyd Symon sende Numenius vnto Rome, with a golden shylde of a thousande pounde weight, to confirme the frendshipe with them: which when the Romaynes vnderstode, they saide: what thākes shal we recompence agayne vnto Symon & his children? For he hath stablished his brethrē, and ouercome the enemies of Israel. Wherfore they graūted him to be fre. And all this wrote the Iewes in tables of laton, and naled it vnto the pilers vpon the mount Sion. The copy of the writinge is this:

The xviij. daye of ye moneth Elul in the Clxxij. yeare in the thirde yeare of Symon the hye prest, in the greate congregacion of ye prestes, rulers of the people, and elders of the countre at Asaramel, were these wordes openly declared:

For so moch as there was moch warre in oure londe, therfore Symon ye sonne of Matathias (come of the children of Iareb) and his brethren, put them selues in parell, and resisted the enemies of their people: that their Sanctuary and lawe might be manteyned, and dyd their people greate worshipe. Ionathas in like maner, after that he had gouerned his people and bene their hye prest: dyed, and lyeth buried besyde his elders.

After that wolde their enemies haue trodden their holy thinges vnder fote, destroyed their londe, and vtterly waisted their Sanctuary. Then Symon withstode them, and fought for his people, spent moch of his owne money, weapened the valeaunt men of his people, gaue them wages, made stronge ye cities of Iuda, with Bethsura that lieth vpon the borders of Iewry, (where the ordinaunce of their enemies laye somtyme) & set Iewes there for to kepe it.

He made fast Ioppa also, which lieth vpon the see, and Gaza that bordreth vpon Azotus, (where the enemies dwelt afore) and there he set Iewes to kepe it: and what so euer was mete for the subduynge of the aduersaries, that layed he therin. Now whē the people sawe the noble actes of Symon. and what worshipe he purposed to do for them, his godly behauoure, and faithfulnesse which he kepte vnto them, & how he sought by all waies ye wealth of his people, because he dyd all this, therfore they chose him to be their prynce & hye prest. And in his tyme they prospered wel by him, so yt the Heithē were takē out of their londe: & they also which were in the cite of Dauid at Ierusalē in the castell (where they wente out and defiled all thinges that were aboute the Sanctuary, and did greate harme vnto clenlynes) and Symon put men of the Iewes in it, for the defence of the londe and the cite, and set vp the walles of Ierusalem.

And kynge Demetrius confirmed him in his hye presthode, made him his frende, and dyd him greate worshipe. For he herde that the Romayns called ye Iewes their frendes, louers and brethren: how honorably they receaued Symons embassitours: how ye Iewes and prestes consented that he shulde be their prynce and hye prest perpetually (till God raysed vp the true prophet) and that he shulde be their captayne, to care for the Sanctuary, and to set officers vpon the workes therof, ouer the londe, ouer the weapens, ouer the houses of defence, to make prouysion for the holy thynges, and to be obeyed of euery man, and all the writynges of ye londe to be made in his name: that he shulde be clothed in purple and golde, and that it shulde be laufull for none of the people nor prestes to breake eny of these thynges, to withstonde his wordes, ner to call eny congregacion in the londe without him: that he shulde be clothed in purple, and weere a colar of golde: And yf there were eny which disobeyed or brake this ordinaunce, that he shulde be punyshed.

So all the people consented to alowe Symon, and to do acordynge to these wordes. Symon also himself toke it vpon him, and was contente to be the hye prest, the captayne and prynce of the Iewes and prestes, and to gouerne them all. And they commaunded to make this writinge in tables of laton, and to fasten it vnto the compasse of the Sanctuary in an open place: and to laye vp a copy of the same in the treasury, that Symon and his posterite might haue it.

The XV. Chapter.

MOrouer, kynge Antiochus the sonne of Demetrius sente lettres from the Iles of the see, vnto Symon the hye prest and prynce of the Iewes, and to all the people, conteyninge these wordes: Antiochus the kynge sendeth gretinge vnto Symon the hye prest and to the people of the Iewes. For so moch as certayne wicked men haue gotten the kyngdome of oure progenitours, I am purposed to chalenge the realme agayne, and to restore it to the olde estate.

Wherfore I haue gathered a greate hoost and made shyppes of warre: that I maye go thorow the countre, and be auenged of them which haue destroyed oure londe, and waysted many cities in my realme. And therfore now I make the fre also from all the tributes, wherof all kynges my progenitours haue discharged the, and from other customes (wher from they haue released the) what so euer they be: Yee I geue the leaue to smyte money of thine owne within thy londe. As for Ierusalem, I wil that it be holy and fre: and all the weapens and houses of defence which thou hast buylded and kepest in thine hondes, shal be thine. Where as eny thinge is or shal be owynge vnto the kynge, I forgeue it the, from this tyme forth for euermore. And when we haue optayned oure kyngdome, we shal do the, thy people and the temple greate worshipe: so that youre honoure shal be knowne thorow out ye whole worlde.

In the Clxxiiij. yeare wente Antiochus in to his fathers londe, and all the men of warre came together vnto him, so that fewe were left with Triphon. So the kynge Antiochus folowed vpon him, but he fled vnto Dora, which lieth by the see syde: for he sawe yt there was myschefe comminge vnto him, and that his hoost had forsaken him. Then came Antiochus vnto Dora wt an hūdreth & twentye thousande men of armes vpon fote, and eight thousande horsmen. So he compased the cite rounde aboute, and ye shippes came by the see. Thus they vexed the cite by londe and by water, in so moch that they suffred no man to go in nor out.

In the meane season came Numenius (& they that had bene with him) from the cite of Rome,1. Ma. 14. d hauynge lettres written vnto the kynges and prouyncies, wherin were conteyned these wordes: Lucius the Mayre of Rome sendeth gretinge vnto Ptolomy the kynge. The embassitours of the Iewes oure frē des beinge sent from Symon the hye prest and from the people of the Iewes, came vnto vs, for to renue the olde frendshipe and bonde of loue, and brought a shylde of golde weyenge a thousande pounde, which we were contente to receaue of them. Wherfore we thought it good to wryte vnto the kynges & prouincies, to do them no harme, nor to take parte agaynst thē, their cities ner countrees nether to mayntene their enemies agaynst them. Yf there be eny wicked personnes therfore fled from their countre vnto you, dely-them vnto Symon the hye prest, yt he maye punysh them acordinge to their owne lawe.

The same wordes wrote the Romaynes also vnto Demetrius the kynge, to Atta us, Araba, Arsaces and to all regions: as Samsanes, to them of Sparta, Delo, Mio , Sydon, Caria, Samos, Pamphilia, Lycia, Alicarnassum, and to ye Rhodes: to Faselis, Coo, Sida, Arado, Gortyna, Gnydum, to Cypres and to Cyren. And of euery lettre they sent a copy to Symon the hye prest and to the people of the Iewes. So Antiochus the kynge brought his host vnto Dora the seconde tyme, to take it: where he made diuerse ordinaū ce of warre, and kepte Triphon in, yt he shulde not come forth. Then Symon sent Antiochus two thousande chosen mē to helpe him with golde, syluer and other plenteous ge •• Neuerthelesse he wolde not receaue them, but brake all ye couenaunt which he made wt Symon afore, & withdrewe himself frō him.

He sent Athenobius also a frende of his vnto Symon, for to reason with him, sayenge: Ye witholde fro me Ioppa and Gaza (wt the castell that is at Ierusalē) which are cities of my realme, whose borders ye haue destroyed, and done greate euell in the londe, hauynge the dominaciō in many other places of my kyngdome. Wherfore delyuer now ye cities which ye haue takē, wt ye tributes of ye places yt ye haue rule vpon without the borders of Iewry: Or els geue me fyue hūdreth talentes of syluer, yee and for the harme that ye haue done in the cities and for the tributes of the same, other fyue hundreth talētes. Yf no, we shal come and fight agaynst you.

So Athenobius the kynges frende came to Ierusalē, and when he sawe ye greate worshipe and honoure of Symō in golde, syluer and so greate plenty of ornamentes: he marveled, and tolde Symon as the kynge commaunded him. Then answered Symon and saide vnto him: As for vs, 〈…〉 we haue nether taken other mēs londe, ner witholdē them, but only oure fathers heretage, which oure enemies had vnrighteously in possession a certayne tyme. This heretage of oure fathers haue we chalenged in processe of tyme. And where as thou cōplaynest concernynge Ioppa and Gaza, they dyd greate harme to or people and in o londe, yet wyll we geue an C. talentes for them.

Neuertheles Athenobius answered him not one worde, but turned agayne wrothfully vnto ye kynge, and tolde him all these wordes, and the greate dignite of Symon with all that he had sene, and the kinge was very angrie. In the meane tyme fled Triphon by shippe vnto Orthosaida. Then the kynge made Cendebeus captayne of the see coost, & gaue him an hoost of fote men and horsmen, cōmaundinge him to remoue ye hoost towarde Iewry, & to buylde vp the cite of Cedron, to make vp ye portes, & to warre agaynst ye people of the Iewes. As for the kynge himself, he folowed vpon Triphon. So Cendebe us came vnto Iamnia, & beganne to vexe ye people, to treade downe Iewry, to take the people presoners, 〈◊〉 . 16. b to slaye thē & to buylde vp Cedron: where he set horsmē & other men of warre, that they might come forth and go thorow the stretes of Iewry, like as the kynge had commaunded him.

The XVI. Chapter.

THen came Ihon vp from Gaza, and tolde Symon his father, 〈◊〉 . 13. f what Cendebeus had done amonge their people. Vpon this called Symon two of his eldest sonnes, Iudas & Ihon, and sayde vnto them: I and my brethren & my fathers house, haue euer from oure youth vp vnto this daye, foughten agaynst the enemies of Israel, & God gaue vs good fortune to delyuer Israel oft tymes. And now for so moch as I am olde, be ye in steade of me & my brother, to go forth & fight for oure people, & the helpe of God be wt you. So he chose xx.M. fightingemen of the countre, with horsmen also, which wente forth agaynst Cendebeus and rested at Modin.

In the mornynge they arose, & wēte in to ye playne felde: and beholde, a mightie greate hoost came agaynst thē, both of fotemen & horsmen. Now was there a water broke betwixte them, & Ihon remoued the hoost towarde them. And when he sawe that the people was afrayed to go ouer ye water broke, he wente ouer first him self: and the men seynge this, folowed him.

Then Ihon set his horsmen & fote men in ordre, the one by the other, for their enemies horsmen were very many. But when they blewe vp the prestes trompettes, Cendebeus fled wt his hoost, wherof many were slayne, and the remnaunt gat them to their stronge holde. Iudas also Ihōs brother whas woū ded at ye same tyme. And Ihon folowed still vpon ye enemies, till he came to Cedrō which he buylded.1. Ma The enemies fled also vnto the towres yt were in ye feldes of Azotus, & those dyd Ihon burne vp. Thus there were slayne ij.M. men of them, & Ihon turned agayne peaceably in to Iewry.

And in the felde of Iericho was Ptolomy the sonne of Abobus made captayne: which because he had abundaunce of syluer & golde, (for he had maried the doughter of Symon the hye prest) waxed proude in his mynde, & thought to conquere the lōde, ymageninge falsed agaynst Symō & his sonnes, to destroye thē. Now as Symon was goynge aboute thorow the cities, yt were in yt coū tre of Iewry, and carynge for them: he came downe to Iericho, with Matathias & Iudas his sonnes, in the Clxxvij. yeare, in ye xj. moneth called Sabat. Then Ptolomy ye sonne of Abobus receaued them (but wt disceate) into a stronge house of his called Doch, which he had buylded, where he made them a bancket.

So when Symon & his sonnes were mery & had dronken well, Ptolomy stode vp wt his men (whō he had hyd there) & toke their weapens, entred in to the banckethouse, & slewe Symon wt his two sonnes, & certayne of his seruaūtes. Soch greate vnfaithfulnesse dyd Ptolomy in Israel, and recōpensed euell for good. Then wrote this Ptolomy ye same vnto kynge Antiochus, requyringe him that he shulde sende him an hoost to helpe him: & so shulde he delyuer him the londe, wt the cities & tributes of the same. He sent other men also vnto Gaza, for to take Ihon: & wrote vnto the captaynes to come to him, & he shulde geue them syluer, golde and rewardes. And to Ierusalem he sent other, to take it and the Sanctuary.

Thē ranne there one before, & tolde Ihon in Gaza, that his father & his brethren were slayne, and how that Ptolomy had sent to slaie him also. Whē Ihon herde this, he was sore abaszshed, and layed hōdes of them that were come to destroye him, and slewe them: for he knowe, that they wente aboute to kyll him.

As for other thinges concernynge Ihon: of his warres, of his noble actes (wherin he behaued him self manfully) of the buyldinge of walles which he made, and other of his dedes: They are written in the cronicles of his presthode, from the tyme forth yt he was made hye prest after his father.

The ende of the first boke of the Machabees.
The seconde boke Of the Machabees. What this boke conteyneth. Chap. I. The Iewes wryte vnto Aristobolus of the clensynge of the temple, and of the feast of tabernacles. Of the fyre that was hyd in the pyt. Chap. II. What Ieremy requyred of the Iewes that were in preson, and of their stories. Chap. III. The Heithē kynges helde the temple at Ierusalem in honoure. The variaunce betwixte Simon and Onias. What Appollonius & Heliodorus dyd at Ierusalem. The punyshment of Heliodorus. Chap. IIII. The wickednes of Symon. The faithfulnesse of Onias. Iason laboureth to be hye prest. Of his wickednesse, and how he was dryuen awaye. The alteracion of the presthode. Andronicus destroyeth Onias, and God striketh him therfore. Chap. V. Wonderous thinges done at Ierusalem. Iason falleth vpon the cite, handleth abhominably, and yet is fayne to fleat the last. The kynge of Egipte taketh the cite agayne with greate bloudsheddynge. Chap. VI. The kynge procedeth forth in his tyranny, as well in other cities where the lawe of God is kepte, as at Ierusalem. All this sendeth God for the wickednes of the people. The stedfastnesse of Eleazar. Chap. VII. The death of the vij. brethrē & their mother. How constante they are to suffre, rather then to obeye the wicked kynge. Chap. VIII. The manlynesse of Iudas Machabeus, and how Philippe medleth against him Iudas conforteth his people, and ouercommeth Nicanor. Chap. IX. Of Antiochus and his pryde, & how God punyshed him. Chap. X. Machabeus wynneth the holy cite agayne, and clenseth it. Eupator foloweth his father Antiochus. Iudas Machabeus ordreth him self well. Chap. XI. What Lysias purposeth. Iudas with stondeth him, God taketh his parte. Lysias & Iudas are at one. Chap. XII. Timotheus, Appolonius and other, ymagin treason. Iudas Machabeus punysheth them, wynneth Caspin & other cities. Chap. XIII. Antiochus & Lysias make thē forth agaynst the Iewes. Iudas gathereth the people, & byddeth them call vpon God, goeth on, and besyde Modin striketh a greate batell. Chap. XIIII. Of Demetrius the sonne of Seleucus. The trayterous dealinge of Alcimus. Nicanor breaketh falsely the bonde made with Iudas Machabeus. Of the mālynes of Razis. Chap. XV. Nicanors wicked purpose. Iudas geueth his people godly consolacion Of his dreames and visions, and how Nicanor perished.
The first Chapter.

THe brethrē of ye Iewes which be at Ierusalem & in the londe of Iewry, wish vnto those brethrē of ye Iewes that are thorow out Egipte: good fortune, health and peace.

God the LORDE be gracious vnto you, & thynke vpon his couenaunt yt he made wt Abraham, Isaac & Iacob his faithfull seruauntes: and geue you all soch an herte, 〈…〉 that ye maye loue and serue him, yee and perfourme his wyll with an whole herte and of a wyllinge mynde: He opē youre hertes in his lawe and in his commaundementes, sende you peace: heare youre prayers, be at one with you, and neuer forsake you in tyme of trouble. This is heare oure prayer for you.

What tyme as Demetrius raigned, in the Clxix. yeare, we Iewes wrote vnto you in ye trouble and violence that came vpon vs. In those yeares after that Iason departed out of the holy londe and kyngdome, they brent vp the portes, and shed innocent bloude. Then made we oure prayer vnto ye LORDE, and were herde: we offred, and lighted the candels, settinge forth cakes and bred. And now come ye vnto the feast of tabernacles in the moneth Casleu. 〈…〉

In the Clxxxviij. yeare ye people yt was at Ierusalem and in Iewry, the councell and Iudas himself, sent this wholsome salutaciō vnto Aristobolus kynge Ptolomys master, which came of the generacion of the anoynted prestes: and to the Iewes that were in Egipte: In so moch as God hath delyuered vs from greate parels, we thanke him hylie, In that we resisted so mightie a kynge. And why? he brought men out of Persis by heapes, to fight agaynst vs and the holy cite. For as he was in Persis (namely, ye captayne wt the greate hoost) he perished in the temple of Naneas, beynge disceaued thorow the deuyce of Naneas prestes. For as he was purposed to haue dwelt there, Antiochus & his frēdes came thither, to receaue moch moneye for a dowry. So whē Naneas prestes had layed forth ye moneye, he entred with a small company in to the compasse of the temple, and so they shut the temple.

Now when Antiochus entred by openynge the preuy intraunce of the temple, ye prestes stoned ye captayne to death, hewed thē in peces that were with him, smote of their heades, and threwe them out. In all thinges God be praysed, which hath delyuered the wicked in to oure hondes.

Where as we now are purposed to kepe the purificacion of the temple vpon ye xxv. daye of the moneth Casleu, we thought necessary to certifie you therof: that ye also might kepe the tabernacles feast daye, & the daye of the fyre, which was geuen vs when Nehemias offred, after that he had set vp ye temple & the aulter. For what tyme as or fathers were led awaye vnto Persis, ye prestes (which then sought the honor of God) toke ye fyre priuely from ye aulter, & hyd it in a valley, where as was a depe drye pyt: & therin they kepte it, because the place was vnknowne to euery man. Now after many yeares when it pleased God, yt Nehemias shulde be sent from the kynge of Persia: he sent the childers children of those prestes (which had hyd the fyre) to seke it. 〈◊〉 . 6. a 〈◊〉 . 16. c And as they tolde vs, they founde no fyre, but thicke water.

Thē cōmaunded he them to drawe it vp, & to brynge it him, & ye offerynges withall. Now when ye sacrifices were layed on & ordred, the prest Nehemias commaunded to sprenkle them & the wod wt the water. Whē this was done, & the tyme come yt the Sonne shone, which afore was hyd in the cloude: there was a greate fyre kyndled, In so moch yt euery man marueled. Now all the prestes prayed, whyle the sacrifice was a makynge. Ionathas prayed first, and ye other gaue answere.

And Nehemias prayer was after this maner: O LORDE God maker of all thinges, thou fearfull & stronge, thou righteous & mercifull, thou yt art onely a gracious kynge, onely lyberall, onely iust, Allmightie and euerlastinge, thou yt delyuerest Israel from all trouble, thou yt hast chosen the fathers & halowed them: receaue the offeringe for the whole people of Israel, preserue thine owne porcion, & halowe it. Gather those together, yt are scatred abrode from vs: delyuer them yt are vnder the Heithēs bondage, loke vpon them which are despysed & abhorred, yt the Heithen maie knowe & se, how yt thou art or God: Punyshe them yt oppresse, and proudly put vs to dishonoure. Set ye people agayne in thy holy place, 〈…〉 like as Moses hath spokē.

And the prestes songe Psalmes of thankesgeuynge, so lōge as the sacrifice endured. Now when the sacrifice was brent, Nehemias commaunded the greate stones to be sprenkled wt the resydue of the water. 〈…〉 Which when it was done, there was kyndled a flamme of thē also: but it was consumed thorow the light, yt shyned from the aulter. So whē this matter was knowne, it was tolde the kynge of Persia, that in the place where the prestes (which were led awaye) had hyd fyre, there apeared water in steade of fyre, & that Nehemias & his company had purified the sacrifices withall. Then the kynge considerynge & ponderynge ye matter diligently, made him a temple, to proue the thinge yt was done. And whē he founde it so in dede, he gaue the prestes many giftes & dyuerse rewardes: yee he toke them wt his owne hōde, & gaue thē. And Nehemias called the same place Nephthar, which is as moch to saye as a clensynge: but many men call it Nephi.

The II. Chapter.

IT is founde also in the writinges of Ieremy the prophet, yt he commaunded them which were caried awaye, to take fyre, as it is sayde afore.2. Mac. 1. He cōmaunded them also, Iere 29. b yt they shulde not forget the lawe & cōmaundementes of the LORDE, & yt they shulde not erre in their myndes, Baruc. 6. whē they se ymages of syluer & golde wt their ornamentes. These & soch other thinges commaunded he them, & exorted them, that they shulde not lett the lawe of God go out of their hertes.

It is wrytten also, how the prophet (at ye commaundement of God) charged them, to take the tabernacle & the arke wt them: & he wente forth vnto the mountaine, where Moses clymmed vp, & sawe ye heretage of God. Deu. 4. And when Ieremy came there, he founde an open caue, wherin he layed the tabernacle, ye arke & the aulter of incense, & so stopped the hole. There came certayne men together also folowinge him, to marck the place, but they coude not fynde it. Which when Ieremy perceaued, he reproued thē, sayenge: As for that place, it shalbe vnknowne, vntill ye tyme that God gather his people together againe, & receaue thē vnto mercy. Then shal God shewe them these thinges, & the maiesty of the LORDE shall appeare, & the cloude also, like as it was shewed vnto Moses: Exo. 13. d & like as when Salomon desyred yt the place might be sanctified, & it was shewed him.3. Re. 8. b

For he beynge a wyse man, handled honorably & wysely: offerynge vnto God in ye halowinge of the temple, when it was fynisshed. Leui. 9. d And like as when Moses prayed vnto the LORDE, the fyre came downe from heauen, & consumed the burnt offeringe: Euen so prayed Salomon also,2. Par. 7. a & the fyre came downe from heauen, & cōsumed the burnt offeringe. And Moses sayde: because the syn offerynge was not eaten, therfore it is cōsumed. In like maner Salomon kepte the dedicacion (or halowynge) eight dayes.

In ye Annotacions & wrytynges of Some reade: * Nehemias. Ieremy, were these thinges put also: & how he made a lybrary, & how he gathered out of all countrees the bokes of the prophetes, of Dauid, the epistles of the kynges, and of the presentes. Euen so Iudas also, loke what he lerned by experiēce of warre, & soch thinges as hath happened vnto vs, he gathered thē all together, & so we haue them by vs. Yf ye now desyre to haue the same, sende some body to fetch them vnto you. Whereas we thē are aboute to celebrate the purificacion, we haue written vnto you. Therfore ye shall do well, yf ye kepe the same dayes. We hope also, that the God (which delyuered his people, & gaue them all ye heretage, kyngdome, presthode & Sanctuary yt he promised them in the lawe) shal shortly haue mercy vpō vs, eut. 30. a & gather vs together from vnder the heauē in to his holy place: for he hath saued vs frō greate parels, & hath clensed the place.

As concernynge Iudas Machabeus & his brethren, the purificacion of the greate temple, the dedicacion of the aulter, yee & of the warres yt cōcerne noble Antiochus and Eupator his sonne, Mac. 6. a of the shyninges yt came downe from heauen vpon those, which manfully defended the Iewes. (For though they were but fewe, yet defended they the whole londe, droue awaye ye enemies hoost, recouered agayne the temple, yt was spoken of thorow out all the worlde, delyuered the cite, doynge their best yt the lawe of the LORDE which was put downe, might wt all tranquilite be restored agayne vnto the LORDE, yt was so mercifull vnto thē.) As touchinge Iason also of Cyren, we haue vnder takē cō pendiously to brynge in to one boke, the thinges yt were cōprehended of him in fyue. For we cōsideringe the multitude of the bokes, and how harde it shulde be for them yt wolde medle with stories and actes (and that because of so dyuerse matters) haue vnder taken so to comprehende the stories: that soch as are disposed to reade, might haue pleasure and pastyme therin: and that they which are diligent in soch thinges, might the better thinke vpon them: yee and that who so euer red them, might haue profit therby.

Neuerthelesse we oure selues that haue medled with this matter for the shortenynge of it, haue taken no small laboure, but greate diligence, watchynges and trauayle. Like as they that make a feast, wolde fayne do other men pleasure: Euen so we also (for many mens sakes) are very wel content to take the laboure, where as we maye shortly comprehēde, the thynges that other men haue truly wrytten

For he yt buyldeth an house a new, must prouyde for many thynges to ye whole buyldinge: but he that paynteth it afterwarde, seketh but only what is comly, mete and conuenient to garnysh it withall. Euen so do we also in like maner. And why? He that begynneth to wryte a story for the first, must with his vnderstondinge gather the matter together, set his wordes in ordre, and diligently seke out euery parte: But he that afterwarde wyll shorten it, vseth few wordes, and toucheth not the matter at the largiest. Let this be sufficient for a prologe, now wyll we begynne to shewe the matter: for it is but a foolish thinge to make a longe prologe, and to be shorte in the story it self.

The III. Chapter.

WHat tyme as the holy cite was inhabited in all peace and wealth, & when the lawes were yet very well kepte. (For so was it ordened by Onias the hye prest and other godly men, that were enemies to wickednesse:) It came therto, that euen the kynges and prynces thē selues dyd the place greate worshipe, 〈…〉 and garnyshed ye temple with greate giftes: Inso moch that Seleucus kynge of Asia of his owne rentes bare all the costes belonginge to the seruyce of the offerynges. 〈…〉 Then Symon of the trybe of Ben Iamin, a ruler of the temple, laboured to worke some myschefe in the cite: but the hye prest resisted him.

Neuerthelesse when he might not ouercome Onias, 〈…〉 he gat him to Appolonius the sonne of Thersa (which thē was chefe lorde in Celosyria and Phenices) and tolde him, yt the treasury in Ierusalem was full of innumerable money, and how that the comons goodes (which belonged not vnto the offeringes) were exceadinge greate also: yee and how it were possible, that all these might come vnder the kynges power.

Now when Appollonius had shewed the kynge of the moneye, as it was tolde him: ye kinge called for Heliodorus his stewarde, and sent him with a commaundement, to brynge him the sayde money. Immediatly Heliodorus toke his iourney, but vnder a coloure, as though he wolde go thorow Celosyria and Phenices to vyset the cities, but his purpose was to fulfill the kynges pleasure. So when he came to Ierusalem, and was louyngly receaued of the hye prest in to the cite: he tolde what was determed concernynge the moneye, and shewed the cause of his commynge: he axed also, yf it were so in dede. Then the hye prest tolde him, that there was soch money layed vp for the vpholdinge of weddowes and fatherlesse childrē, and how that a certayne of it belonged vnto Hyrcanus Tobias a noble man: and that of all the moneye (which that wicked Symon had bewrayed) there were iiij. hundreth talentes of syluer, and ij. hundreth of golde: yee & that it were vnpossible for those mens meaninge to be disceaued, that had layed vp their moneye in the place and temple (which is had in worshipe thorow the whole worlde) for the mayntenaunce and honoure of ye same. Whervnto Heliodorus answered, yt the kynge had commaunded him in eny wyse, to brynge him the moneye.

So at the daye appoynted, Heliodorus entred into the temple to ordre this matter. But there was no small feare thorow out the whole cite. The prestes fell downe before the aulter in their vestimentes, and called vnto heauen vpon him, which had made a lawe concernynge stuffe geuen to kepe, 〈◊〉 . 22. b that they shulde be safely preserued, for soch as cō mitte them vnto kepynge. Then who so had loked the hye prest in the face, it wolde haue greued his herte: For his countenaunce and the chaunginge of his coloure, declared the inwarde sorowe of his mynde. The mā was all in heuynesse, and his body in feare: wherby they that loked vpon him, might perceaue the grefe of his herte. The other people also came out of their houses by heapes vnto the comon prayer, because the place was like to come in to confucion. The women came together thorow the stretes, with hayrie clothes aboute their brestes.

The virgins also that were kepte in, ranne to Onias, some to the walles, other some loked out at the wyndowes: yee they all helde vp their hondes towarde heauē, & prayed. A miserable thinge was it, to loke vpon the comon people, & the hye prest beynge in soch trouble. But they besought Almightie God, that the goodes which were committed vnto thē, might be kepte whole, for those that had deliuered them vnto their kepynge. Neuertheles the thinge that Heliodorus was determed to do, that perfourmed he in the same place, he him self personally beynge aboute the treasury with his men of warre. But the sprete of Allmightie God shewed him self openly, so that all they which presumed to obeye Heliodorus, fell thorow ye power of God in to a greate fearfulnesse & drede. For there apeared vnto them an horse,2 Ma. 10. and 11. b with a terrible man syttinge vpon him, deckte in goodly araye, and the horse smote at Heliodorus with his fore fete. Now he that sat vpon ye horse, had harnesse of golde vpon him.

Morouer there apeared ij. fayre and beutifull yonge men in goodly araye, which stode by him, scourged him of both the sydes, & gaue him many stripes without ceassinge. With that, fell Heliodorus sodenly vnto the grounde.2. Mac. 5. So they toke him vp (beynge compased aboute with greate darcknesse) and bare him out vpō a beare. Thus he that came with so many runners and men of warre in to ye sayde treasury, was borne out, where as no man might helpe him: and so the power of God was manifest and knowne. He laye still domme also by the power of God, destitute of all hope and life. And they praysed the LORDE, that he had shewed his power vpon his place and temple, which a litle afore was full of feare & trouble: and that thorow the reuelacion of the Allmightie LORDE it was fylled with ioye and gladnesse.

Thē certaine of Heliodorus frēdes praied Onias, that in all haist he wolde call vpon God, to graunte him his life, which was geuynge vp the goost. So the hye prest considered the matter, and lest the kynge shulde suspecte that the Iewes had done Heliodorus some euell: he offred an health offerynge for him. Now whē ye hye prest had opteyned his peticion, the same yonge mē in the same clothinge apeared, & stode besyde Heliodorus, sayenge: Thanke Onias ye hye prest, for for his sake hath ye LORDE graunted the yi life: therfore seynge yt God hath scourged ye, Act. 27. c geue him prayse & thankes, and shewe euery man his might & power. And whē they had spoken these wordes, they apeared nomore.

So Heliodorus offred vnto God, made greate vowes vnto him which had graūted him his life, thāked Onias, toke his hoost, & wēte againe to ye kinge. Thē testified he vnto euery mā, of ye greate workes of God, yt he had sene wt his eyes. And whē the kynge axed Heliodorus who were mete to be sent yet once agayne to Ierusalem, he sayde: Yf thou hast eny enemy or aduersary vnto thy realme, sende him thither, & thou shalt haue him punished, yf he escape wt his life: for in yt place (no doute) there is a speciall power & workinge of God. For he yt dwelleth in heauē, vysiteth & defendeth yt place: & all yt come to do it harme, he punysheth & plageth thē. This is now ye matter cōcerninge Heliodorus, & ye kepinge of ye treasury at Ierusalē.

The IIII. Chapter.

THis Symon now (of whom we spake afore) beynge a bewrayer of the money and of his owne naturall countre, . Ma. . a reported the worst of Onias: as though he had moued Heliodorus vnto this, and as though he had bene a brynger vp of euell. Thus was he not ashamed to call him an enemie of ye realme, that was so faithfull an ouerseer & defender of the cite & of his people: yee & so feruent in the lawe of God. But when the malice of Symon increased so farre, yt thorow his frendes there were certayne manslaughters cōmitted: Onias considered the parell yt might come thorow this strife, and how that Appollonius (namely the chefe lorde in Celosyria and Phenices) was all set vpon tyranny, and Symons malice increased the same: He gat him to the kynge, not as an accuser of the citesyns, but as one that by him self intended the comon wealth of the whole multitude. For he sawe it was not possible to lyue in peace, nether Symon to leaue of from his foolishnesse, excepte the kynge dyd loke therto.

But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus (which is called the noble) toke ye kyngdome: Iason the brother of Onias laboured to be hye prest: For he came vnto the kynge, and promised him thre hundreth & lx. talentes of syluer, & of the other rētes lxxx. talentes. Besydes this he promised him yet an C. & L, yf he might haue ye scole of ye children, and that he might call them of Ierusalem Antiochians. Which when the kynge had graunted, & he had gotten the superiorite: he begāne immediatly to drawe his kinsmen to the custome of the Heithen, put downe the thinges, that the Iewes had set vp of loue, by Ihon the father of Eupolemius (which was sent embassitoure vnto Rome, for to make the bonde of frendshipe and loue.) He put downe all the Iawes & Lyberties of the Iewes, and set vp wicked statutes. He durst make a fightinge scole vnder ye castell, and set fayre yonge men to lerne the maners of whores and brodels.

This was now the begynnynge of the Heithenish & straunge cōuersacion, brought in thorow the vngracious and vnherde wickednesse of Iason (which shulde not be called a prest, but an vngodly personne.) In so moch, that the prestes were now nomore occupide aboute the seruyce of the aulter, but despysed the temple, regarded not the offrynges: yee gaue their diligēce to lerne to fight, to wristle, to leape, to daunce, & to put at ye stone: not settynge by ye honor of ye fathers, but liked ye glory of the Grekes best of all for the which they strous perlously, and were gredy to folowe their statutes, yee their lust was in all thinges to be like thē, which afore were their enemies & destroyers. Howbeit to do wickedly agaynst ye lawe of God, shal not escape vnpunyshed: but of this we shal speake here after.

What tyme as the 〈1 paragraph〉 Olympiades sportes were played at Tyrus (the kynge him selfe beinge presente) this vngracious Iason sent wicked men, bearinge from them of Ierusalem (which now were called Antiochians) iij.C. drachmas of syluer for an offerynge to Hercules. These had they that caried them, desyred vnder soch a fashiō, as though they shulde not haue bene offred, but bestowed to other vses. Neuertheles he that sent them, sent them to the intent that they shulde be offred vnto Hercules. But because of those that were present, they were geuen as to the makynge of shippes. And Appollonius the sonne of Nesteus was sent in to Egipte, because of the noble men of kynge Ptolomy Philometor. Now when Antiochus perceaued yt he was put out from medlinge in the realme, he sought his owne profit, departed from thence, came to Ioppa, & then to Ierusalem: where he was honorably receaued of Iason & the cite, & was brought in wt torche light and with greate prayse: and so he turned his hoost vnto Phenices.

After iij. yeare Iason sent Menelaus (the fore sayde Symons brother) to beare the money vnto ye kynge, 〈…〉 & to bringe him answere of other necessary matters. But he (when he was praysed of ye kynge for magnifienge of his power) turned ye hye presthode vnto him self, layenge vp iij.C. talētes of syluer for Iason. So whē he had gotten cōmaundemētes from ye kynge, he came, hauinge nothinge yt becōmeth a prest, but bearinge ye stomack of a cruell tyraunte, & the wrath of a wylde brute beest. 〈…〉 Then Iason (which had disceaued his owne brother) seynge yt he him self was begyled also, was fayne to fle in to ye lōde of ye Ammonites, & Menelaus gat ye dominiō. But as for ye moneye yt he had promised vnto the kynge, he dyd nothinge therin, when Sostratus the ruler of ye castell requyred it of him. (For Sostratus was the man, yt gathered ye customes) wherfore they were both called before the kynge. Thus was Menelaus put out of ye presthode, & Lysimachus his brother came in his steade. Sostratus also was made lorde of the Cyprians.

It happened in ye meane season, yt ye Tharsians & Mallocians made insurreciō, because they were geuen for a present vnto kynge Antiochus concubyne. Then came ye kinge in all ye haist, to still them agayne and to pacifie the matter, leauynge Andronicus there to be his debyte, as one mete therfore. Now Menelaus supposinge that he had gotten a right convenient tyme, stole certayne vessels of golde out of the temple, and gaue thē to Andronicus for a present: and some he solde at Tyrus and in the cities therby.

Which when Onias knewe of a suertye, he reproued him: but he kepte him in a santuary besyde Daphnis, that lyeth by Antioche. Wherfore Menelaus gat him to Andronicus, and prayed him that he wolde slaye Onias. So when he came to Onias, he counceled him craftely to come out of the santuary, geuynge him his honde with an ooth (how be it he suspecte him) and thē he slewe Onias, without eny regarde of rightuousnesse. For the which cause not only the Iewes, but other nacions also toke indignacion, and were displeased for the vnrightuous death of so godly a man.

And when the kynge was come agayne from Cilicia, the Iewes and certaine of the Grekes wente vnto him, complayninge for the vnrightuous death of Onias. Yee Antiochus himself also was sory in his mynde for Onias, so yt it pitied him, and he wepte, remembringe his sobernesse and manerly be hauoure. Wherfore he was so kyndled in his mynde, yt he cōmaunded Andronicus to be striped out of his purple clothinge, & so to be led thorow out all the cite, yee and ye vngracious man to be slayne in ye same place, where he committed his wickednes vpon Onias Thus ye LORDE rewarded him his punyshment, as he had deserued. Now when Lysimachus had done many wycked dedes in ye temple thorow the councell of Menelaus, and the voyce came abrode: the multitude gathered thē together agaynst Lisimachus, for he had caried out now moch golde.

So when the people arose and were full of displeasure, Lisimachus armed iij.M. vnthriftes to defende him: a certayne tyraunte beynge their captayne, which was growen both in age & woodnesse. But when the people vnderstode the purpose of Lysimachus, some gat stones, some good stronge clubbes, & some cast aszshes vpon Lisimachus. Thus there were many of thē wounded, some beynge slayne, & all the other chaced awaye. But as for yt wicked churchrobber himself, they kylled him besyde the treasury. Of these matters therfore there was kepte a courte agaynst Menelaus.

Now when ye kinge came to Tyrus, they made a cōplaynte vnto him of Menelaus, concerninge this busynesse, & ye embassitours were thre. But Menelaus wente & promised Ptolomy to geue him moch money, yf he wolde persuade the kynge. So Ptolomy wēte to the kinge in to a courte (where as he was set to coole him) & brughte him out of yt mynde In so moch yt he discharged Menelaus frō ye accusacions, yt not withstondinge was cause of all myschefe: and those poore men (which yf they had tolde their cause, yee before the Scythians, they shulde haue be iudged innocēt) thē he cōdēned to death. Thus were they so one punyshed, which folowed vpō ye matter for ye cite, for ye people, & for ye holy vessell. Wherfore they of Tyrus toke indignacion, & buried thē honorably. And so thorow ye covetousnesse of them that were in power, Menelaus remayned still in authorite, increasinge in malyce, to the hurte of the citesyns.

The V. Chapter.

AT ye same tyme Antiochus made him ready to go againe in to Egipte. Thē were there sene at Ierusalem (xl. dayes lōge) horsmē runninge to and fro in the ayre, which had rayment of golde, & speares. There were sene also whole hoostes of mē weapened, & horses runnynge in an ordre, how they came together, how they helde forth their shildes, how ye harnessed men drew out their sweardes, & shot their dartes. The shyne of ye goldē weapēs was sene, & of all maner of armure. Wherfore euerymā prayed, yt those tokens might turne to good. Now whē there was gone forth a false rumo, as though Antiochus had bene deed: Iason toke a M. mē, & came sodēly vpō ye cite. The citesyns rā ne vnto ye walles, at ye last was ye cite taken, and Menelaus fled in to the castell.

As for Iason, he spared not his owne citesyns in the slaughter, nether considered he what greate euell it were, to destroye ye prosperite of his owne kynsmen: but dyd as one that had gotten the victory of his enemies, and not of his frendes. For all this gatt he not the superiorite, but at the last receaued confucion for his malice, and fled agayne like a vagabunde in to the londe of the Ammonites.2. Ma. 4. Fynally (for a rewarde of his wickednesse) he was accused before Aretha the kynge of the Arabians: In so moch that he was fayne to fle from cite to cite, beynge despysed of euery man as a forsaker of the lawes, and an abhominable personne. And at ye last (as an open enemy of his owne naturall countre and of the citesyns,) he was dryuen in to Egipte.

Thus he yt afore put many out of their owne natyue londe, peryshed from home him self. He wente to Lacedemon, thinkinge there to haue gotten sucoure by reason of kynrede. And he that afore had casten many one out vnburied, was throwen out him self, no man mournynge for him, ner puttinge him in his graue: so that he nether enioyed ye buriall of a straunger, nether was he partaker of his fathers sepulcre.

Now when this was done the kinge suspecte, yt the Iewes wolde haue fallen from him: wherfore he came in a greate displeasure out of Egipte, & toke the cite by violence. He cōmaunded his men of warre also, Mac. 1. c that they shulde kyll & not spare, but slaye downe soch as wt stode them, or clymmed vp vpō ye houses. Thus was there a greate slaughter of yonge men, olde men, women, children and virgins. In iij. dayes were there slayne lxxx. M, fourty thousande put in preson, & no lesse solde. Yet was he not cōtent wt this, but durst go in to the most holy temple (Menelaus that traytoure to ye lawes & to his owne naturall countre, beynge his gyde) & with his wicked hondes toke ye holy vessell, which other kynges & cities had geuen thither for ye garnishinge & hono of ye place: thē toke he in his hōdes vnworthely, & defyled them.

So madd was Antiochus, that he considered not, how that God was a litle wroth for the synnes of them that dwelt in the cite, for the which soch confucion came vpon that place. dit. 5. d And why? yf it had not happened them to haue bene lapped in many synnes, this Antiochus (as soone as he had come) had sodenly bene punished, and shot out for his presumpciō: Ma. . d like as Heliodorus was, whom Seleucus the kynge sente to robbe ye treasury. Neuertheles God hath not chosen the people for the places sake, but the place for the peoples sake: and therfore is the place become partaker of the peoples trouble, but afterwarde shall it enioye the wealth of them. And like as it is now forsaken in the wrath of allmighty God, so when the greate God is reconcyled, it shal be set vp in hye worshipe agayne.

So when Antiochus had taken a M. and viij. C. talentes out of the temple, he gat him to Antioche in all the haist, thinkinge in his pryde, that he might make mē sale vpon the drye londe, and to go vpon ye see, soch an hye mynde had he. He lefte debites there to vexe the people: At Ierusalem left he Philippe a Phrigian, in maners more cruell thē himself yt set him there: At Garisim he left Andronicus & Menelaus, which were more greuous to the citisyns then other. Now as he was thus set in malyce agaynst ye Iewes, he sent Appollonius an hated prynce, wt xxij.M. cō maundinge him to slaye all those yt were of perfecte age, and to sell the womē, maydes & children. When he came now to Ierusalem, he fained peace, & kepte him still vntill ye Sabbath daye. And then he cōmaunded his men to take them to their weapens (for ye Iewes kepte holy daye) and so he slewe all them yt were gone forth to the open playe, runninge here and there thorow the cite with his men wapened, and murthured a greate nombre. But Iudas Machabeus which was the tenth, fled into the wyldernesse,1. Mac. •• led his life there with his company amonge the wylde beestes and vpon the mountaynes: dwellinge there and eatinge grasse, lest they shulde be partakers of the fylthynesse.

The VI. Chapter.

NOt longe after this, sent the kynge a messaunger of Antioche,1. Mac. •• for to compell ye Iewes to altre ye ordinaunces of ye fathers & the lawe of God, to defyle the temple yt was at Ierusalem, & to call it the tē ple of Iupiter Olimpius: & yt they shulde be in Gazarim, as those which dwell at ye place of Iupiter the harberous. This wicked sediciō of ye vngodly was heuy vpon all ye people: For ye temple was full of voluptuousnes bebbinge & bollinge of ye Heithē, of ribaudes & harlottes together. The womē wente in to ye holy place, & bare in that was not laufull. The aulter also was full of vnlaufull thinges, which ye lawe forbyddeth to laye vpō it. The Sabbathes were not kepte, the other solempne feastes of ye londe were not regarded To be plaine, there durst no mā be a knowne that he was a Iewe.

In the daye of the kynges byeth they were compelled perforce to offre: & when ye feast of Bachus was kepte, they were cōstrayned to weere garlandes of yven, and so to go aboute for the honoure of Bachus.

Morouer thorow the councell of Ptolomy, there wente out a commaundement in ye nexte cities of the Heithen, yt they shulde intreate the Iewes in like maner: namely, to cō pell thē for to do sacrifice after ye lawes of ye Gentiles: and who so wolde not, to put them to death. A piteous thinge was it to se. There were ij. women accused to haue circumcided their sonnes, . Mac. 1. f whom when they had led rounde aboute the cite (the babes hanginge at their brestes) they cast them downe headlinges ouer the walles. Some yt were crepte in to dennes and had kepte the Sabbath, were accused vnto Philippe, and brent in the fyre: because that for the feare of God they kepte the commaūdement so stiffly, and wolde not defende them selues.

Now I beseke all those which reade this boke, that they refuse it not for these falles of aduersite: & iudge the thinges (yt are happened) for no destruccion, but for a chastenynge of o people. And why? Whē God suffreth not synners longe to folowe their owne mynde, 〈◊〉 3. b but shortly punysheth them, it is a tokē of his greate louynge kyndnes. For this grace haue we of God more then other people, yt he suffreth not vs longe to synne vnpunyshed like other nacions, that when the daye of iudgment commeth, he maye punysh thē in the fulnes of their synnes. Yf we synne, he correcketh vs, but he neuer withdraweth his mercy frō vs: & though he punysh wt aduersite, yeth doth he neuer forsake his people. But let this that we haue spokē now wt few wordes, be for a warninge & exortaciō of ye Heithē. Now wil we come to the declaringe of the matter. Eleazar one of ye principall scribes, an aged mā & of a welfauored coūtenaūce, was cōstrained to gape wt opē mouth & to eate swynes flesh. 〈…〉 But he desyringe rather to dye gloriously thē to liue wt shame, offred himself willīgly to ye martirdome. Now whē he sawe yt he must nedes go to it; he toke it paciētly: for he was at a poynte wt himself, yt he wolde consente to no vnlaufull thynge for eny pleasure of life. They yt stode by beynge moued wt pyte (but not a right) for ye olde frendshipe of the man, toke him asyde priuely, and prayed him yt he wolde let soch flesh be brought him as were laufull to eate, & thē to make a coūtenaūce as though he had eaten of ye flesh of ye sacrifice like as the kynge commaunded, for so he might be delyuered from death: & so for the olde frendshipe of ye man, they shewed him this kindnes. But he beganne to considre his discrete and honorable age, his noble and worshipfull stocke, and how yt frō his youth vp he had bene of an honest and good conuersacion, yee & how constantly he had kepte ye ordinaunces and lawes commaūded by God, wherfore he gaue them this answere, and sayde:

Yet had I rather first be layed in my graue.1. Tess. 5. c For it becommeth not myne age (sayde he) in eny wyse to dyssemble, wherby many yonge personnes might thinke, that Eleazar beinge lxxx. yeare olde and ten, were now gone to a straunge life: and so thorow myne ypocrisy (for a litle tyme of a transitory life) they might be disceaued: by this meanes also shulde I defyle myne age, & make it abhominable. For though I were now delyuered from the tormentes of men, yet shulde I not escape the honde of allmightie God, Amos. 1. a nether alyue ner deed. Wherfore I will dye manfully, & do as it becommeth myne age: Wherby I maie peraduenture leaue an exāple of stedfastnesse for soch as be yonge, yf I wt a ready mynde & manfully dye an honest death, for the most worthy and holy lawes.

When he had sayde these wordes, immediatly he was drawen to the tormēte. Now they that led him and were mylde a litle afore, beganne to take displeasure, because of the wordes yt he sayde: for they thought he had spokē them of an hye mynde. But whē he was in his martirdome, he mourned and sayde: Thou (O LORDE) which hast the holy knowlege, knowest openly: that where as I might be delyuered frō death, I suffre these sore paynes of my body: but in my mynde I am wel contente to suffre them, because I feare the. Thus this man dyed, leauynge ye memoriall of his death for an example, not only vnto yonge men, but vnto all ye people, to be stedfast and manly.

The VII. Chapter.

IT happened also that there were vij brethren (with their mother) taken, Leuit. 11. & compelled by the kynge agaynst the lawe, to eate swynes flesh: namely wt scourges and lethren whippes. And one of them which was ye chefe, sayde: What sekest thou, and what requyrest thou of vs? As for vs, we are ready rather to suffre death, then to offende the lawes of God and the fathers. Then was the kynge angrie, and bad heare cauldrons and brasen pottes. Which when they were made hote, immediatly he commaunded ye tonge of him that spake first, to be cut out, to pull the skynne ouer his heade, to payre of the edges of his handes and fete: yee and that in the sight of his mother and the other of his brethren. Now when he was cleane marred, he commaunded a fyre to be made, & so (whyle there was eny breath in him) to be fryed in the caudron, In the which when he had bene longe payned, the other brethren with their mother exorted him to dye manfully, sayēge: The LORDE God shal regarde the treuth, and comforte vs, like as Moses testifieth and declareth in his songe, Deut. 18. sayenge: and he wyl haue compassion on his seruauntes.

So whē the first was deed after this maner, they brought the seconde to haue him in derision, pulled the skynne with the hayre ouer his heade, and axed him, yf he wolde eate swynes flesh, or he were payned in ye other membres also thorow out his body. But he answered boldly, and sayde: I will not do it. And so was he tormented like as ye first. And whē he was euē at ye geuinge vp of ye goost, he sayde: Thou most vngracious personne puttest vs now to death, but the kynge of ye worlde shall rayse vs vp (which dye for his lawes) in ye resurreccion of euerlastinge life.

After him, was the thirde had in derision: and when he was requyred, he putt out his tonge, and that right soone, holdinge forth his hondes manfully, and spake with a stedfast faith: These haue I of heauē, but now for the lawe of God I despyse them: for my trust is, that I shall receaue them of him agayne. In so moch that the kynge and they which were with him, marueled at the yonge mans boldnesse, that he nothinge regarded the paynes.

Now when he was deed also, they vexed the fourth with tormentes in like maner. So when he was now at his death, he sayde: It is better that we beynge put to death of mē, haue oure hope and trust in God, for he shal rayse vs vp agayne. Ioh. 5. c As for the, thou shalt haue no resurreccion to life.

And when they had spoken to the fifth, they tormēted him. Then loked he vnto ye kinge, & sayde: Thou hast power amōge mē (for thou art a mortall man also yi self) to do what thou wilt, but thinke not, yt God hath forsaken or generacion. Abyde the, tary styll a whyle, & thou shalt se the greate power of God, how he wil punysh the & thy sede.

After him they brought the sixte, which beynge at the poynte of death, sayde: Be not disceaued (o kynge) for this we suffre for oure owne sakes, because we haue offended oure God, & therfore marvelous thinges are shewed vpon vs. But thinke not thou (which takest in honde to stryue agaynst God) that thou shalt escape vnpunyshed.

This excellent mother (worthy to be well reported of, and had in remembraunce) sawe hir seuen sonnes dye in one daye, and suffred it paciētly, because of the hope that she had in God: Yee she exorted euery one of them in especiall, and that boldly and stedfastly, wt parfite wyszdome, wakynge vp hir wyuysh thought with a manly stomacke, and sayde vnto them: I can not tell how ye came in my wombe, for I nether gaue you breth ner soule, no ner life. It is not I yt ioyned yt mēbres of yo bodies together, but ye maker of ye worlde, which fashioned ye byrth of mā, & begāne all thinges. Euen he also of his owne mercy shall geue you breath and life agayne, like as ye now regarde not youre owne selues for his lawes sake.

Now thought Antiochus that she had despysed him, therfore he let her go with hir reproues, and beganne to exorte the yongest sonne (which yet was left) not only wt wordes but swore vnto him wt an ooth, yt he shulde make him a rich & welthy man (yf he wolde forsake ye lawes of his fathers) yee and yt he shulde geue him, what so euer were necessary for him. But whē the yonge man wolde not be moued, for all these thinges, he called his mother, & counceled her to saue hir sonnes life. And when he had exorted her with many wordes, she promised him, that she shulde speake vnto hir sonne. So she turned her vnto him (laughinge ye cruell tyraunte to scorne) & spake wt a boylde voyce: O my sonne, haue pite vpon me, yt bare ye ix. monethes in my wombe, that gaue the sucke, norished the and brought the vp vnto this age. I beseke the (my sonne) loke vpon heauen and earth and all that is therin, and considre, that God made them and mans generacion of naught: so shalt thou not feare this hangman, but suffre death stedfastly, like as thy brethren haue done: that I maye receaue the agayne in the same mercy with thy brethren.

Whyle she was yet speakynge these wordes, the yonge man sayde: Whom loke ye for Wherfore do ye tary? I wil not obeye the kynges commaundement, but the lawe that God gaue vs by Moses. 〈…〉 As for the that ymaginest all myschefe agaynst the Iewes, thou shalt not escape the honde of God: for we suffre these thinges, because of oure synnes.

And though God be angrie with vs a litle whyle (for or chasteninge & reformacion,) yet shal he be at one agayne wt his seruauntes. But thou. (O shamefull & most abhominable personne.) Pryde not thy self thorow vayne hope, in beynge so malicious vpon ye seruauntes of God: for thou hast not yet escaped the iudgmēt of the God, which is all mighty, & seyth all thinges. My brethren yt haue suffred a litle payne, are now vnder the couenaunt of euerlastinge life: but thorow the iudgment of God, thou shalt be punyshed righteously for thy pryde.

As for me (like as my brethrē haue done) I offre my soule & my body for ye lawes of o fathers, callinge vpon God, yt he will soone be mercifull vnto o people: yee & wt payne & punyshment to make the graunte, 〈…〉 yt he only is God. In me now & in my brethrē ye wrath of allmighty God is at an ende, which righteously is fallē vpon all o people. Then ye kynge beynge kyndled in anger, was more cruell vpon him then vpon all ye other, & toke indignaciō, yt he was so lighty regarded. So this yonge mā dyed vndefiled, & put his trust stil in ye LORDE. Last of all after ye sonnes, was ye mother put to death also. Let this now be ynough spoken, concernynge ye offringes, & extreme cruelnesse.

The VIII. Chapter.

THen Iudas Machabeus and they yt were wt him, wēte pryuely in to ye townes, called their kinsfolkes & frendes together, toke vnto them all soch as contynued yet in the faith & lawe of ye Iewes, and brought forth vj.M. men. So they called vpon the LORDE, yt he wolde haue an eye vnto his people, which was troddē downe of euery mā: to be gracious vnto ye tēple, yt was defyled of the vngodly: to haue cōpassion vpon ye destruccion of the cite, (which was shortly like to be laied waist) to heare ye voyce of ye bloude yt cried vnto him: to remē bre ye most vnrighteous deathes of yonge innocent children, the blasphemies also done vnto his name, & to punysh thē. Now whē Machabeus had gathered this multitude together, 〈…〉 he was to mightie for the Heithen (for ye wrath of ye LORDE was turned in to mercy) he fell vpon the townes & cities vnawarres, brent them, toke the most cōmodious places, & slewe many of the enemies. But specially he made soch chases by night, in so moch that his manlynesse was spoken of euery were.

So when Philippe sawe that the man increased by litle and litle, and that the matter prospered with him for the most parte: he wrote vnto Ptolomy (which was a captayne in Celosiria & Phenices) helpe him in ye kinges busynes. Thē sent he Nicanor Patrocli (a speciall frende of his) in all ye haist,1. Mac. 3. & gaue him of ye comon sorte of the Heithen no lesse then xx. M. harnessed men, to rote out ye whole generacion of the Iewes, hauinge to helpe him one Gorgias a man of warre, which in matters concernynge battayls had greate experience. Nicanor ordened also the tribute (which the Romaynes shulde haue had) to be geuen vnto the kynge, out of the captiuyte of the Iewes, namely ij.M. talentes. And immediatly he sent to ye cities of ye see coost, requyringe thē for to bye Iewes to be their seruauntes & bonde men, promisynge to sell them lxxx. and ten for one talente: but he considered not the wrath of allmighty God, yt was to come vpon him.

When Iudas knewe of this, he tolde the Iewes yt were wt him, of Nicanors cōmynge. Now were there some of them fearfull, not trustinge vnto the rightuousnes of God and fled their waye. But the other yt remayned, came together & besought the LORDE, to delyuer thē frō yt wicked Nicanor, which had solde thē or euer he came nye them: and though he wolde not do it for their sakes, yet for the couenaunt that he made wt their fathers, & because they called vpon his holy & glorious name.1. Mac. 5. b And so Machabeus called his men together, namely aboute vi.M. exortinge them not to agree vnto their enemies, nether to be afrayed for ye multitude of their aduersaries cōmynge agaynst them vnrighteously: but to fight manly, Deut. 0. 2. Pa. 0. c consideringe ye reprofe that they had done to the holy place without cause, how they had despysed and oppressed the cite, yee and destroyed ye lawes of the fathers. For they (sayde he) trust in their weapens and boldnesse, Iere. 17. b Psal. 19. b but oure confidence is in the allmighty LORDE, which in the twincklinge of an eye maye both destroye them that come agaynst vs, and all the worlde.

He exorted them also to call to remēbraū ce the helpe, that God shewed vnto their fathers:4. Re. 19 g Esa. 37. f 1. Mac. 7. as whē there perished an C. & lxxxvM of Sennacheribs people: And of ye battaill yt they had in Babilō agaynst ye Galacians: how yt all the Macedoniās yt came to helpe thē, stode in feare: & how they beynge but only vj.M. slewe an C. & xx.M. thorow ye helpe yt was geuen them from heauen, wherby they also had receaued many benefites.

Thorow these wordes ye mē toke good hertes vnto thē, ready to dye for the lawe & the coūtre. So he set vpon euery cōpany a captayne, one of his owne brethren: Simon, Ioseph and Ionathas: geuynge ech one xv.C. men. He caused Eszdras also to reade the holy boke vnto them, and to geue them a token of the helpe of God.

Then he himself beinge captaine in ye fore front of the battayll,1. Ma. 4. b buckled with Nicanor And God was there helpe, in so moch that they slewe aboue ix.M. mē & compelled ye more parte of Nicanors hoost to fle, they were so wounded and feable. Thus they toke the money from those that came to bye thē, and folowed vpon them on euery syde. But whē the tyme came vpon them, they returned, for it was the Sabbath, and therfore they folowed nomore vpon them. So they toke their weapens and spoyles & kepte the Sabbath, geuynge thankes vnto the LORDE, which had delyuered them that daye, and shewed them his mercy. After the Sabbath they distributed the spoyles to the sicke, to ye fatherlesse, Num. 31. d 1. Re. 30. e Deu. 20. b and to wyddowes, and the residue had they them selues with theirs. Whē this was done, and they all had made a generall prayer: they besought the mercifull LORDE to be at one with his seruauntes.

Of those also that were with Timotheus and Bachides, which fought agaynst them, they slewe xx.M. wanne hye and stronge holdes, and deuided moo spoyles: euer geuynge an equall porcion vnto ye sicke, to ye fatherles to wyddowes & to aged persons. And when they had diligently gathered their weapēs together, they layed them all in convenient places, & the remnaunt of ye spoyles brought they to Ierusalem. They slewe Philarches that wicked personne, which was with Timotheus, and had vexed many Iewes. And when they helde the thankesgeuyng at Ierusalem for the victory, they brent those that had set fyre on the portes of the temple: namely Calisthenes, which was fled in to an house: and so they gat a worthy rewarde for their wickednesse. As for that most vngracious Nicanor, which had brought a thousande marchaūtes, to bye the Iewes, he was thorow ye helpe of the LORDE brought downe, euen of them whom he regarded not: in so moch that he put of his glorious raymēt, fled by see, and came alone to Antioche wt greate shame & dishonor, which he gat thorow the destruccion of his hoost. Thus he yt promysed the Romaynes to paye thē their tribute, when he toke Ierusalem: beganne now to saye planely, that God was ye defender of the Iewes, & therfore not possible to wounde them, because they folowed ye lawes which God had made.

The IX. Chapter.

AT the same tyme came Antiochus agayne with dishonoure out of Persis. 〈…〉 For when he came to Persepolis, and vndertoke to robbe the temple and to subdue the cite, the people ranne together and defended them selues, in so moch yt he and his were fayne to fle with shame. And so after that flight, it happened, that Antiochus came agayne with dishonoure. But when he came to Egbathana, he gat knowlege what was happened vnto Nicanor & Timotheus. Now as he was auauncinge himself in his wrath, he thought he was able to avenge the iniury that was done to them, vpon the Iewes: and therfore commaunded to make ready his charet, haistinge on his iourney without ceassinge: the iudgmēt of God prouokynge him, because he had spokē so proudly, that he wolde come to Ierusalem, and make it a graue of the Iewes. But the LORDE God of Israel, that seith all thinges, 〈…〉 smote him with an invisible plage, which no man coude heale.

For as soone as he had spoken these wordes, there came vpon him an horrible payne of his bowels, & a sore grefe of the tharmes. And yt was but right: for he had martired other mens bowels with dyuerse and straū ge tormentes, how be it he wolde in no wyse ceasse from his malice. Yee he was yet the prouder, and more malicious agaynst the Iewes: But whyle he was commaundinge to make haist in the matter, it happened yt he fell downe violently from the charet, so yt it brussed his body, & dyd him greate payne.

And so he that thought he might commaunde ye floudes of the see (so proude was he beyonde the condiciō of man) and to weye the hye mountaynes in a payre of scoales, was now brought downe to the grounde, & caried vpon an horszlytter, knowlegynge ye manyfest power of God vpon him: so that yt wicked body of his was full of wormes, 〈…〉 which in his payne fell quyck out of his flesh: In so moch yt his hoost was greued with the smell and styncke of him. Thus he that a litle afore thought he might reach to the starres of heauen, him might no man now abyde ner beare, for the vehemence of styncke.

Therfore he beynge brought from his greate pryde, begāne for to come to ye knowlege of him self: for the punyshment of God warned him, & his payne increased euer more & more. And when he him self might not abyde his owne styncke, he sayde these wordes: It is reason to be obedient vnto God, & that a man desyre not to be like vnto him. This wicked personne prayed also vnto the LORDE, of whom he shulde haue optained no mercy. And as for the cite that he came vnto so haistely, to brynge it downe to the grounde, & to make it a graue for deed men: now he desyreth to delyuer it fre. And as touchinge ye Iewes, whom he had iudged not worthy to be buried, but wolde haue cast thē out for to be deuoured of the foules and wylde beastes, sayenge, that he wolde haue destroyed both olde and yonge: Now he promiseth, to make thē like ye citesyns of Athens. And where as he had spoyled the holy temple afore, now he maketh promyse to garnish it with greate giftes, to increase the holy ornamētes, and of his owne rentes to beare the costes and charges belonginge to the offerynges: yee and that he wolde also become a Iewe him self, to go thorow euery place of the worlde, and to preach the power of God.

But when his paynes wolde not ceasse, (for the righteous iudgmet of God was come vpon him) out of a very despayre he wrote vnto the Iewes a lettre of intercession, cō teyninge these wordes: The kynge and prynce Antiochus wysheth vnto the vertuous citesyns of the Iewes, moch health and good prosperite.

Yf ye and youre children fare well, and yf all thinges go after youre mynde: we geue greate thankes. In my sicknesse also do I remembre you louyngly: for as I came out of Persia, and was taken with sore disease: I thought it necessary to care for the comon wealth. Nether despare I in my self, but haue a good hope to escape this sicknes.

But considerynge that my father led an hoost some tyme in ye hyer places, & shewed who shulde raigne after him, that (yf there happened eny cōtrouersy, or eny harde thinge were declared,) they in the londe might knowe their chefe lorde, yt there shulde be no insurreccion: Agayne, when I pondre by my self, how that all ye mightie men and neghbours rounde aboute, are layēge waite, and loke but for oportunyte to do harme: I haue ordened that my sonne Antiochus shall raigne after me, whom I oft commended to many of you, when I was in the hyer kyngdomes, and haue wrytten vnto him as it foloweth herafter. Therfore I praye you and requyre you, to remembre the benefites that I haue done vnto you generally and in especiall. For I hope that he shall be of sober & louynge behauoure, and yf he folowe my deuyce, he shal be indifferent vnto you.

Thus that murthurer and blasphemer of God was sore smyttē: 〈…〉 and like as he had intreated other men, so he dyed a myserable death in a straunge countre vpon a mountayne. And his body dyd Philippe (that wē te with him) cary awaye: which fearynge the sonne of Antiochus, wente in to Egipte to Ptolomy Philometor.

The X. Chapter.

MAchabeus now & his company (thorow the helpe of the LORDE) wanne the temple and the cite agayne,1. Mac. 4. destroyed the aulters and chapels that the Heithē had buylded thorow the stretes: Exo. 20. clensed the temple, made another aulter of bricke stone, and after ij. yeares they offered sacrifices, set forth the incense, the lightes and shewe bred. When that was done, they fell downe flat vpon the grounde, and besought the LORDE, that they might come nomore in to soch trouble: but yf they synned eny more agaynst him, he him self to chasten them with mercy, and not to come in the hondes of those aleauntes and blasphemous men.

Now vpon the same daye that ye straungers poluted the temple, it happened that on the very same daye it was clensed agayne namely,1. Mac. 4. the xxij. daye of the moneth called Casleu. They kepte viij. dayes in gladnesse, like as in the feast of the tabernacles: remembrynge that not longe afore, they helde the feast of ye tabernacles vpon the mountaynes and in dennes like beastes. And to ye same token they bare grene bowes, braunches and palmes before him that had geuen them good fortune to clense his place. They agreed also together, and made a statute, yt euery yeare those dayes shulde be solemply kepte of all the people of the Iewes.

How Antiochus then (that was called the noble) dyed, it is sufficiently tolde. Now wil we speake of Nicanor the sonne of that wicked Antiochus, how it happened with him: and so with few wordes to comprehende the aduersite that chaunsed in ye warres. When he had taken in the kyngdome, he made one Lysias (which had bene captayne of the hoost in Phenices and Syria) ruler ouer the matters of the realme. For Ptolomy that was called Macron, beynge a ruler for the Iewes (and specially, to syt in iudgment for soch wronge as was done vnto them) vndertoke to deale peaceably with them. For the which cause he was accused of the frendes before Eupator: and when he was suspecte to be a traytoure (because he had left Cypers, that Philometor had committed vnto him: and because he departed from noble Antiochus, that he was come vnto) he poysoned himself, and dyed.

Now when Gorgias was gouernoure of the same places, he toke straungers and vndertoke oft tymes to warre with ye Iewes. Morouer the Idumeans that helde the strō ge holdes, receaued those that were dryuen from Ierusalem, and toke in honde to warre also. But they that were with Machabeus, besought and prayed vnto the LORDE, Mac. 5. a that he wolde be their helper: and so they fell in to the stronge holdes of the Idumeans, & wanne many places by strength: Soch as came agaynst them they slew, and kylled no lesse (of all together) then twentye thousande. Neuerthelesse some (no lesse then nyn thousande) were fled in to two stronge towres, hauynge all maner of ordinaunce to withstonde them.

Then Machabeus leauynge Symon, Iosephus, Zachaus and those that were with them, (which were very many) wente to besege thē, and to fight where most nede was, Now they that were with Symon beynge led with couetousnesse, were intreated for money, thorow certayne of those that

laye in the towers: toke lxx.M. drachmas, & let some of them escape. But when it was tolde Machabeus what had happened, he called ye captaynes of the people together, accusynge those personnes, that they had solde the brethren for money, and let their enemies go. So he slewe those traytours, & immediatly wente in honde with the ij. towers. And when they had ordred them selues manly with their weapens & hondes, they slewe in ye two castels moo thē twētie thousande.

Now Timotheus whom the Iewes had ouercome afore, 〈…〉 gathered a multitude of straunge people, brought an hoost also of horsmen of the Asians, to wynne Iewry by strength. But when he drewe nye, Machabeus and they that were wt him fell to their prayer, sprencled aszshes vpon their heades, 〈…〉 beynge gyrded wt hayrie cloth aboute their loines, fel downe before ye aulter, & besought the LORDE that he wolde be mercifull to them, but an enemie vnto their enemies, and to take parte agaynst their aduersaries, acordinge as it is promised in the lawe. So after the prayer, 〈…〉 they wente on further from the cite: and when they came nye the enemies, they prepared them selues agaynst them.

And by tymes in the mornynge at ye breake of the daye, both the hoostes buckled together. The one parte had the LORDE for their refuge, 〈…〉 which is the geuer of prosperite, strēgth and victory. The other had a mā ly stomack, which is a captayne of warre.

The battayll now beynge greate, there apeared vnto the enemies from heauen v. men, eg. 6 〈◊〉 3. d 〈◊〉 1 . b vpon horszback with brydels of golde, ledinge the Iewes, and two of them hauynge Machabeus betwixte them, yt kepte him safe on euery syde wt their weapēs, but shot dartes and lighteninges vpon the enemies. where thorow they were confounded with blyndnesse and so sore afrayed, that they fell downe. There were slayne of fote men twenty thousande and fyue hundreth, and sixe hū dreth horsmen. As for Timotheus him self, he fled vnto Gazar a very strōge holde, wherin Cereas was captayne. But Machabeus and his company layed sege to it cherfully iiij. dayes. Now they that were within, trustinge to the strength of the place, cursed & banned exceadingly, and made greate crakynge with wicked wordes. Neuerthelesse vpon the fifth daye in the mornynge, xx. yongemen of Machabeus cōpany, beynge set on fyre in their myndes because of the blasphemy: came manfully vnto the wall, and with bolde stomackes they and their other companyons clymmed vp vpon the towres, vndertakynge to set fyre vpon the portes, & to burne those blasphemous personnes quycke. Two dayes were they destroyenge the castell, which when they founde Timotheus (that was crepte in to a corner) they kylled him, and slewe Cereas his brother in like maner with Appollophanes. When this was done, they sunge Psalmes, with prayses and thankesgeuynges vnto the LORDE, which had done so greate thinges for Israel, & geuen them the victory.

The XI. Chapter.

NOt longe after this, Lysias the kynges stewarde and a kynsman of his, (which had the gouernaunce of his matters,) toke sore displeasure for the thinges that had happened: and when he had gathered lxxx.M. men of fote with all the hoost of the horsmen, he came agaynst the Iewes, thinkynge to wynne the cite, to make it an habitacion for the Heithen, and the temple wolde he haue to be an house of lucre, 〈…〉 like as the other goddes houses of the Heithē are, & to sell ye prestes office euery yeare: Not consideringe the power of God, but was wylde in his mynde, trustinge in ye multitude of fote mē, 〈…〉 in thousandes of horsmē, and in his lxxx. Elephantes.

So he came in to Iewry & then to Bethsura (a castell of defence lyenge in a narow place, v. furlonges from Ierusalē) and wanne it. Now when Machabeus and his company knew that the stronge holdes were taken,2. Ma. 10. e they fell to their prayers with wepynge and teares before the LORDE: and all the people in like maner besought him, that he wolde sende a good angell to delyuer Israel. Machabeus him self was the first that made him ready to the battayll, exortynge the other that were with him, to ioperde them selues and to helpe their brethrē. And when they were goyenge forth of Ierusalem together with a ready and wyllynge mynde,2. Mac. 3. d there apeared before thē vpon horszbacke a mā in whyte clothinge with harnesse of golde, shakinge his speare. Then they praysed ye LORDE all together, which had shewed them mercy, and were conforted in their myndes: in so moch that they were ready, not only to fight with men, but with ye most cruell beestes, yee and to runne thorow walles of yron.

Thus they wente on wyllingly hauynge an helper from heauē, and the LORDE mercifull vnto them. They fell mightely vpon their enemies like lyons, brought downe xj.M. fote men, xvj.C. horsmen, put all ye other to flight, many of them beynge wounded, and some gat awaye naked. Yee Lysias him self was fayne to fle shamefully, and so to escape. Neuerthelesse the man was not with out vnderstondinge, but considered by him self that his power was mynished, and pondred how ye Iewes beynge defended by the helpe of Allmighty God, were not able to be ouercome: wherfore he sent them worde, and promised, that he wolde consente to all thinges which were reasonable, and to make the kynge their frēde. To the which prayer of Lysias Machabeus agreed, sekynge in all thinges the comon wealth: and what so euer Machabeus wrote vnto Lysias cōcernynge the Iewes, the kynge graunted it. For there were lettres writtē vnto ye Iewes from Lysias conteynynge these wordes:

Lysias sendeth gretinge to the people of the Iewes. Ihon and Absalon which were sent from you, delyuered me wrytinges, and requyred me to fulfill the thinges concernynge their earande. Therfore loke what might be graunted, I certified ye kynge therof: and what so euer was conuenient, I agreed therto. Yf ye now wyll be faithfull in the matters, I shal endeuer my self herafter also to do you good. As concernynge other thinges by euery article therof: I haue committed them to youre messaungers, and to those whom I sent vnto you, to comon with you of the same, fare ye well, In the hūdreth and xlviij. yeare, the xxiiij. daye of the moneth Dioscorinthius.

Now the kynges lettre conteyned these wordes: Kynge Antiochus sendeth gretinge vnto his brother Lysias.2. Ma. 9. b For so moch as oure father is now deed, oure wyll is, that they which are in oure realme, lyue without eny insurreccion, and euery man to be diligent in his owne matters. We vnderstonde also, that the Iewes wolde not consent to oure father, for to be brought vnto the custome of the Gentiles, but stiffly to kepe their owne statutes: for the which cause they requyre of vs also, to let them remayne still by their owne lawes.

Wherfore oure minde is, that this people shalbe in rest: we haue concluded and determed also, to restore them their temple agayne: that they maye lyue acordinge to the vse & custome of their forefathers. Thou shalt do vs a pleasure therfore, yf thou sende vnto them & agre with them: that when they are certified of oure mynde, they maye be of good chere, and loke to their owne wealth.

And this was the lettre, that the kynge wrote vnto the Iewes: Kynge Antiochus sendeth gretinge vnto the councell and the other people of the Iewes. Yf ye fare well, we haue oure desyre: as for vs, we are in good health. Menelaus came and tolde vs, how yt youre desyre was to come downe to youre people, which are with vs.

Wherfore those that wyll come, we geue them fre lyberte, vnto the xxx. daye of the moneth of Aprill, that they maye vse ye meates of the Iewes and their owne lawes, like as afore: and none of them by eny maner of wayes to haue harme, for thinges done in ignoraunce. Menelaus whom we haue sent vnto you, shal comon with you at large, fare ye well. In the Cxlviij. yeare, the xv. daye of the moneth of Aprill.

The Romaynes also sent a lettre, conteynynge these wordes: Quintus Mennius & Titus Mamlius embassatours of the Romaynes, sende gretinge vnto the people of the Iewes. Loke what Lysias the kynges kynsman hath graunted you, we graunte you the same also. But as concernynge the thinges which he referred vnto the kynge, sende hither some with spede: and pōdre the mat er diligētly amonge youre selues, that we maye cast ye best to youre profite, for we must departe now vnto Antioche. And therfore wryte shortly agayne, that we maye knowe youre mynde. Fare well. In the hundreth xlviij. yeare, ye xv. daye of the moneth of Aprill.

The XII. Chapter.

WHen these couenauntes were made, Lysias wente vnto the kynge, and ye Iewes tylled their grounde. But Timotheus, Appollonius the sonne of Gemei, Ierome and Demophon ye proude, Nicanor ye captayne of Cypers, and they that laye in those places: wolde not let them lyue in rest and peace. They of Ioppa also dyd euen soch a shamefull dede: They prayed ye Iewes that dwelt amōge them, to go with their wyues and children in to the shippes which they had prepared, & dyd with them, as though they had ought them no euell wyll. For so moch then as there was gone forth a generall proclamaciō thorow ye cite because of peace, they consented therto, and suspecte nothinge: but when they were gone forth in to the depe, they drowned no lesse then ij.C. of them.

Whē Iudas knew of this cruelte shewed vnto his people, he commaunded those that were with him to make them ready, exortinge them to call vpon God the righteous iudge: wēte forth agaynst those murthurers of his brethrē, set fyre in ye hauen by night, brent vp ye shippes, and those that escaped from the fyre, he slewe with the swearde. And when he had done this, he departed as though he wolde come agayne, and rote out all them of Ioppa. But when he had gottē worde that the Iamnites were mynded to do in like maner vnto ye Iewes which dwelt amonge them, he came vpon the Iamnites by night, and set fyre in the hauen with the shippes: so that the light of the fyre was sene at Ierusalem, vpon a ii.C. & xl. furlonges.

Now when they were gone from thence ix. furlonges, in their iourney towarde Timotheus: v. thousande men of fote and v. hundreth horsmen of the Arabians fought

with him. So when the batell was earnest, and prospered with Iudas thorow the helpe of God: ye residue of the Arabians beynge ouercome, besought Iudas to be at one with them, and promised to geue him certayne pastures, & to do him good in other thinges. Iudas thynkynge that they shulde indede be profitable concernynge many thynges, promised them peace: whervpon they shoke hondes, and so they departed to their tentes. Iudas wente also vnto a cite, which was very fast kepte wt brydges, fensed rounde aboute with walles, & dyuerse kyndes of people dwellinge therin, called Caspin.

They that were within it, put soch trust in the strength of the walles, & in their stoare of vytales: that they were the slacker in their doynges, cursinge and reuylinge Iudas with blasphemies, and speakynge soch wordes as it becommeth not. But Machabeus callynge vpon the greate prynce of ye worlde (which without eny battayll rammes or ordinaunce of warre, dyd cast downe the walles of Iericho, 〈…〉 in the tyme of Iosue) fell manfully vpon the walles, toke the cite, and (thorow the helpe of the LORDE) made an exceadinge greate slaughter: In so moch that a lake of ij. furlōges brode which laye therby, semed to flowe with the bloude of the slayne.

Then departed they from thence vij.C. and L. furlonges, and came to Taraca vnto ye Iewes that are called Tubianei. But as for Timotheus, they coude not get him there: for (not one matter dispatched,) he was departed from thence, and had lefte certayne men in a very stronge holde. But Dositheus and Sosipater which were captaynes with Machabeus, slewe those yt Timotheus had lefte in the house of defence, euen x.M. men. And Machabeus prepared him with ye vj.M. men yt were aboute him, set them in ordre by companies, and wente forth agaynst Timotheus, which had with him an C. and xx.M. men of fote, ij.M. and v.C. horsmē.

When Timotheus had knowlege of Iudas commynge, he sent the women, children and the other baggage vnto a castell called Carnion. (For it coude not be wonne, & was harde to come vnto, the wayes of the same places were so narow) and when Iudas cō pany came first in sight, the enemies were smytten with feare, thorow the presence of God, which seyth all thinges: In so moch yt they fleynge one here, another there, were rather discomfited of their owne people, Iudit. 7. f 1. Re. 14. 2. Pa. 20. & woūded wt the strokes of their owne sweardes. Iudas also was very earnest in folowinge vpon them and punyshinge those vngodly, and slewe xxx.M. men of them. Timotheus also himself fell in to the hondes of Dositheus & Sosipater, whom he besought with many prayers, to let him go with his life: because he had many of the Iewes fathers and brethren in preson, which (yf they put him to death) might be disapoynted. So when he had promised faithfully to delyuer them agayne acordinge to the condicion made, they let him go without harme. for the health of ye brethren. And when Iudas had slayne xxv.M, he wente from Carnion.

Now after yt he had chased awaye and slayne his enemies, he remoued the hoost towarde Ephron a strōge cite,1. Mac. 5. wherin dwelt many dyuerse people of the Heithen, and ye stronge yonge men kepte the walles, defendinge thē mightely. In this cite was moch ordinaunce, and prouysion of dartes.2. Ma. 10. But when Iudas and his company had called vpon Allmighty God, (which wt his power breaketh the strength of the enemies) they wanne the cite, and slew xxv.M. of them yt were within. From thence wente they to the cite of the Scythians, which lieth vj.C. furlonges from Ierusalem. But when ye Iewes which were in the cite testified, that the cite syns dealte louyngly with them, yee and intreated them kyndly in ye tyme of their aduersite, Iudas and his company gaue them him (which made them his people, and euer defended his owne porcion with euydent tokens) that he wolde preserue them still. So at the commaundement of the captayne, they remoued from thence, and came to a towne called Dessasan. And Symon Iudas brother fell in honde with Nicanor, but thorow the sodane commynge of the enemies, he was afrayed.

Neuertheles Nicanor hearinge the manlynes of them that were with Iudas, and ye bolde stomackes that they had to fight for their naturall countre, durst not proue the matter with bloudsheddinge. Wherfore he sent Possidonius, Theodocius & Mathias before, to geue and to take peace. So when they had taken longe advysement there vpon, and the captayne shewed it vnto the multitude: they were agreed in one mynde, to haue peace. And they appoynted a daye to syt vpon these matters quyetly amonge them selues, ye stoles also were brought and set forth. Neuerthelesse Iudas cōmaunded certaine men of armes to waite in conueniēt places, lest there shulde sodenly aryse eny euell thorow the enemies. And so they commoned reasonably together.

Nicanor, whyle he abode at Ierusalem, ordred himself not vnreasonably, but sent awaye the people that were gathered together. He loued Iudas euer with his hert, and fauoured him. He prayed him also to take a wyfe, and to brynge forth children. So he maried, lyued in rest, and they led a comon life. But Alcimus perceauynge the loue that was betwixte them, and how they were agreed together, came to Demetrius, and tolde him that Nicanor had taken straunge matters in honde, and ordened Iudas (an enemy of the realme) to be the kynges successoure. Then the kinge was sore displeased, and thorow the wicked accusations which Alcimus made of Nicanor, he was so prouoked, that he wrote vnto Nicanor, sayenge: that he was very angrie for the frendshipe and agrement, which he had made with Machabeus. Neuertheles he commaunded him in all the haist, that he shulde take Machabeus presoner, and sende him to Antioche.

Which lettres when Nicanor had sene, he was at his wittes ende, and sore greued, that he shulde breake the thinges, wherin they had agreed: specially, seynge Machabeus was the man, that neuer dyd him harme. But because he might not withstonde the kynge, he sought oportunite to fulfil his commaundement. Notwithstondinge when Machabeus sawe that Nicanor beganne to be churlish vnto him, and that he intreated him more rughly then he was wonte, he perceaued that soch vnkyndnes came not of good, and therfore he gathered a few of his men, and withdrewe himself frō Nicanor. Which when he knewe that Machabeus had manfully preuented him, he came in to the greate and most holy temple: and commaunded the prestes (which were doynge their vsuall offeringes) to delyuer him the man. And when they sware that they coude not tell, where the mā was whō he sought, he stretched out his honde, and made an ooth, sayenge: Yf ye wyll not delyuer me Iudas captyue, 〈…〉 I shall remoue this temple of God in to the playne felde, I shal breake downe the aulter, and consecrate this tēple vnto Bachus. After these wordes he departed.

Then the prestes lift vp their hondes towarde heauen, and besought him that was euer the defender of their people, sayenge: Thou o LORDE of all, which hast nede of nothinge, woldest that the temple of thy habitacion shulde be amonge vs. Therfore now (o most holy LORDE) kepe this house euer vndefyled, which lately was clensed. 〈…〉 Now was there accused vnto Nicanor, one Razis an Alderman of Ierusalem, a louer of the whole cite, and a man of good reporte: which for the kynde hert that he bare vnto the people, was called a father of ye Iewes. This man oft tymes (when the Iewes were mynded to kepe them selues vndefyled) defended and delyuered them, beynge content stedfastly to spende his body and his life for his people.

So Nicanor wyllinge to declare the hate, that he bare to the Iewes, sent fyue hundreth men to take him: for he thought, yf he gat him, he shulde brynge the Iewes in greate decaye. Now when the people beganne to ruszshe in at his house, to breake the dores, and to set fyre on it: he beynge now taken, wolde haue defended himself with his swearde: chosinge rather to dye manfully, then to yelde himselfe to those wicked doers: and because of his noble stocke, he had rather haue bene put to extreme cruelte.

Notwithstondynge what tyme as he myssed of his stroke for haist, and the multitude fell in violently betwixte the dores: he rāne boldly to ye wall, & cast himself downe manfully amonge the heape of them, which gaue soone place to his fall, so that he fell vpon his bely. Neuerthelesse whyle there was yet breath within him, he was kyndled in his mynde: and whyle his bloude guszshed out exceadingly (for he was very sore wounded) he ranne thorow the myddest of ye people, and gat him to the toppe of a rocke. So when his bloude was now gone, he toke out his owne bowels with both his hondes, and threw them vpon the people: callinge vpon the LORDE of life and sprete, to rewarde him this agayne, and so he dyed.

The XV. Chapter.

NOw when Nicanor knewe that Iudas was in the countre of Samaria, 〈…〉 he thought with all his power to strike a felde with him vpon a Sabbath daye. Neuerthelesse the Iewes that were compelled to go with him, sayed: O do not so cruelly and vnkyndly, but halowe yt Sabbath daye, and worshipe him that seyth all thinges. For all this, yet sayed the vngracious personne: 〈◊〉 . 0. c Is there a mightie one in heauen, that commaunded the Sabbath daye to be kepte? And when they sayde: yee the lyuynge God, the mightie LORDE in heauen commaunded the seuenth daye to be kepte, 〈…〉 he sayde: And I am mightie vpon earth, to commaunde them for to arme them selues, and to perfourme the kynges busynesse. Notwithstondinge he might not haue his purpose.

Nicanor had deuysed with greate pryde to ouercome Iudas, and to brynge awaye ye victory. But Machabeus had euer a fast confidēce and a parfecte hope in God that he wolde helpe him, and exorted his people, not to be afrayed at the commynge of the Heithen: but allwaye to remembre the helpe that had bene shewed vnto them from heauen, yee and to be sure now also, yt Allmightie God wolde geue them the victory. He spake vnto them out of the lawe and prophetes, puttinge them in remembraunce of the battayls, that they had striken afore, & made them to be of a good corage.

So when their hartes were plucte vp, he shewed them also the disceatfulnesse of the Heithen, and how they wolde kepe no couenaunt ner ooth. Thus he weapened thē not with the armoure of shylde and speare, but with wholsome wordes and exortacions. He shewed them a dreame also, wherthorow he made them all glad, which was this: He thought that he sawe Onias (which had bene hye prest, a vertuous & louynge man, sad, and of honest conuersacion, well spoken, and nee that had bene exercised in godlynes frō a childe) holdinge vp his hōdes towarde heauen, and prayenge for his people. After this there apeared vnto him another mā, which was aged, honorable and glorious. And Onias sayde: This is a louer of the brethren, and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth moch for the people, and for all the holy cite: Ieremy the prophet of God. He thought also yt Ieremy helde out his right hōde, and gaue him (namely vnto Iudas) a swearde of golde, sayenge: Take this holy swearde, a gifte from God, wherwith thou shalt smyte downe the enemies of the people of Israel.

And so they were wel conforted thorow the wordes of Iudas, and toke corage vnto thē, so that the yonge men were determed in their myndes to fight, & to byde styfly at it: In so moch that in the thinges which they toke in honde, their boldnesse shewed the same, because the holy cite and the temple were in parell: for the which they toke more care, then for their wyues, children, brethrē and kynsfolkes. Agayne, they that were in the cite, were most carefull for those which were to fight. Now when they were all in a hope that the iudgment of the matter was at hō de, and the enemies drew nye, the hoost beynge set in araye, the Elephantes and horsmē euery one stondinge in his place: Machabeus considered the commynge of the multitude, the ordinaunce of dyuerse weapens, the cruelnesse of the beestes, and helde vp his hondes towarde heauen, callinge vpon the LORDE that doth wonders, which geueth not the victory after the multitude of weapens and power of the hoost (but o them that please him) acordinge to his owne will.2. Pa. 14. Iudic. 7. Therfore in his prayer he sayde these wordes:

O LORDE, 4. Reg. 19. g Esa. 37. f 1. Mac. 7. 2. Ma. . thou that diddest sende thine angell in the tyme of Ezechias kynge of Iuda, and in the hoost of Sennacherib slewest an hundreth and fyue and foure score thousande: sende now also thy good angell before vs (o LORDE of heauens) in the fearfulnesse and drede of thy mightie arme, that they which come agaynst thy holy people to blaspheme them, maye be afrayed. And so he made an ende of his wordes. Then Nicanor and they that were with him, drew nye with shawmes and songes: but Iudas and his company with prayer and callinge vpon God.

With their hondes they smote, but with their hertes they prayed vnto the LORDE, and slewe no lesse then xxxv.M. mē: For thorow the present helpe of God they were gloriously conforted.

Now when they left of, and were turninge agayne with ioye, they vnderstode that Nicanor himself was slayne with the other. Then they gaue a greate shoute and a crie, praysinge the allmighty LORDE with a loude voyce. And Iudas (which was euer ready to spende his body and life for his citesyns) commaunded to smyte of Nicanors heade, with his arme and honde, and to be brought to Ierusalem. When he came there, he called all the people, and the prestes at the aulter with those that were in ye castell, and shewed them Nicanors heade, and his wicked honde, which he had presumptuously holden vp agaynst the temple of God. He caused ye tonge also of that vngodly Nicanor to be cut in litle peces, and to be cast to the foules, and the cruell mans honde to be hanged vp before the temple.

So euery man gaue thankes vnto ye LORDE, saienge: blessed be he, that hath kepte his place vndefyled.

As fo: Nicanors heade, he hanged it vp vpō the hye castell, for an euydent and playne token of the helpe of God. And so they agreed all together, to kepe that daye holy: namely ye xiij. daye of ye moneth Adar, which in ye Syriās lāguage is called ye nexte daye before Mardocheus daye. Thus was Nicanor slayne, and from that tyme forth the Iewes had the cite in possession: And here wil I now make an ende.

The end of the seconde boke of the Machabees.

The new testament. The gospell of S Mathew. The gospell of S. Marke. The gospell of S. Luke. The gospell of S. Ihon. The Actes of the Apostles The epistles of S. Paul. The epistle vnto the Romaynes. The first and seconde epistle to the Corinthians The epistle to the Galathians. The epistle to the Ephesians. The epistle to the Philippians. The epistle to the Colossians. The first and secōde epistle to the Tessalonians The first and seconde epistle vnto Tymothy. The epistle vnto Titus. The epistle vnto Philemon. The first and seconde epistle of S. Peter. The thre epistles of S. Ihon. The epistle vnto the Hebrues. The epistle of S. Iames. The epistle of S. Iude. The Reuelacion of S. Ihon.

The gospell of S. Mathew. What S. Mathew conteyneth. Chap. I. The genealogy of Christ, and mariage of his mother Mary. The angell satisfieth Iosephs mynde. Chap. II. The tyme & place of Christes byrth. The wyse men ofre their presentes, Christ flyeth in to Egipte, the yonge childern are slayne Christ turneth in to Galilee. Chap. III. The baptyme, preachinge and office of Ihon, and how Christ was baptysed of him in Iordan. Chap. IIII. Christ fasteth and is tempted: he calleth Peter, Andrew, Iames and Ihon, & healeth all the sicke. Chap. V. In this Chapter and in the two next folowinge is conteyned the most excellēt and louynge Sermon of Christ in the mount: Which sermon is the very keye that openeth the vnderstondinge in to the lawe. In this fifth chapter specially he preacheth of the VIII. beatitudes or blessinges, of manslaughter, wrath and anger: of aduoutrie, of swearinge, of suffringe wronge, and of loue euen towarde a mans enemies. Chap. VI. Of Almes, prayer and fastinge. He forbyddeth the carefull sekynge of wordly thinges. Chap. VII. He forbyddeth fooliszh and temerarious iudgment, reproueth ypocrisie, exorteth vnto prayer, warneth to bewarre of false prophetes, and so concludeth his sermon. Chap. VIII. Christ clenseth the leper, healeth the captaynes seruaunt and many other diseases: helpeth Peters mother in lawe, stilleth the see and the wynde, and dryueth the deuels out of the possessed in to the swyne. Chap. IX. He healeth the palsye, calleth Mathew from the custome, answereth for his disciples, healeth the woman of the bloude yssue, helpeth Iairus doughter, geueth ij. blyndmen their sight, maketh a domme man to speake, dryueth out a deuell. Chap. X. Christ sendeth out his Xij Apostles to preach in Iewry, geueth them a charge, teacheth them, & comforteth them agaynst persecucion and trouble. Chap. XI. Ihon baptist sendeth his disciples vnto Christ, which geueth them their answere, rebuketh the vnthākfull cities, and louyngly exorteth men to take his yock vpon them. Chap. XII. The disciples plucke the eares of corne, he excuseth them, healeth the dried hande, helpeth the possessed that was blynde and dōme, rebuketh the vnfaithfull that wolde nedes haue tokens, and sheweth who is his brother, sister and mother. Chap. XIII. The parable of the sede, of the tares, of the mustarde sede, of the leuen, of the treasure hyd in the felde, of the perles, and of the nett. Chap. XIIII. Ihon is taken and headed, Christ fedeth fyue thousande men with v. loaues and two fishes, and apeareth by night vnto his disciples vpon the see. Chap. XV. Christ excuseth his disciples, and rebuketh the scrybes and pharises for transgressinge Gods cōmaundement thorow their owne tradicions. The thinge that goeth in to the mouth defyleth not the mā He delyuereth the woman of Cananees daughter, healeth the multitude, and with vij. loaues and a fewe litle fishes fedeth iiijM. men, besyde wemen & children. Chap. XVI. The Pharises requyre a token. Iesus warneth his disciples of the pharises doctrine The confession of peter. The keyes of heauen. The faithfull must beare the crosse after Christ. Chap. XVII. The transfiguracion of Christ vpō the mount of Tabor He healeth the lunatike and payeth tribute. Chap. XVIII. He teacheth his disciples to be humble, and harmlesse, to avoyde occasiōs of euel, and one to forgeue anothers offence. Chap. XIX. Christ geueth answere concernynge mariage, & teacheth not to be carefull ner to loue worldly riches. Chap. XX. Christ teacheth by a similitude that God is detter vnto no man, and how he is allwaye callinge mē to his laboure He teacheth his disciples to be lowly, & geueth ij. blynde men their sight. Chap. XXI. He rydeth in to Ierusalem, dryueth the marchauntes out of the temple, curseth the fyge tre, and rebuketh the Pharises with the similitude of the ij. sonnes and of the huszbandmen, that slew soch as were sent vnto them. Chap. XXII. The mariage of the kynges sonne. Tribute to be geuē to the Emperoure Christ confuteth the opynion of the Saduces cōcernynge the resurrecciō, and answereth the scrybe vnto his questyon. Chap. XXIII. Christ crieth wo ouer the pharises scribes and ypocrites, and prophecieth the destruccion of Ierusalem. Chap. XXIIII. Christ sheweth his disciples the destruccion of the temple, the ende of the worlde, the tokens of the latter dayes, and warneth thē to wake, for the worlde shal sodēly perish. Chap. XXV. The X. virgins. the talentes delyuered to the seruauntes, and of the generall iudgment. Chap. XXVI. The Magdalene anoynteth Christ. They eate the easter lambe and the supper of the LORDE, Christ prayeth in the garden, Iudas betraieth him, Peter smyteth of Malcus eare, Christ is accused by false wytnesses. Peter denyeth him. Chap. XXVII. Christ is delyuered vnto Pilate Iudas hangeth himself. Christ is crucified amō ge theues, he dyeth and is buried. Watchmen kepe the graue. Chap. XXVIII. The resurrecciō of Christ. The hye prestes geue the soudiers large moneye, to saie that Christ was stollē out of his graue. Christ appeareth to his disciples, and sendeth them forth to preach and to baptyse. The gospel of S. Mathew.

The first Chapter.

THis is the boke of the generacion of Iesus Christ ye sonne of Dauid, 〈…〉 the sonne of Abraham. Abrahā begat Isaac: 〈…〉 〈…〉 Isaac begat Iacob: 〈◊〉 . 29. f Iacob begat Iudas & his brethrē: Iudas begat Phares & Zarā of Thamar: 〈…〉 Phares begat Hesrom: 〈◊〉 . 46. b Hesrom begat Aram: 〈◊〉 4. d Aram begat Aminadab: 〈…〉 Aminadab begat Naasson: 〈◊〉 . 1. a Naasson begat Salmon: Salmon begat Boos of Rahab: Boos begat Obed of Ruth: Obed begat Iesse: Iesse begat Dauid the kynge: 〈…〉

〈…〉 Dauid the kynge begat Salomon, of her that was the wyfe of Vry: Salomon begat Roboam: Roboam begat Abia: Abia begat Asa: Asa begat Iosaphat: Iosaphat begat Ioram: Ioram begat Osias: Osias begat Ioatham: 〈◊〉 . 6. d Ioatham begat Achas: 〈◊〉 . 7. b Achas begat Ezechias: 〈◊〉 . 8. d Ezechias begat Manasses: 〈◊〉 . 20. c Manasses begat Amon: 〈…〉 Amon begat Iosias: 〈◊〉 . 21. c Iosias begat Iechonias and his brethren aboute the tyme of the captiuyte of Babylon. 〈…〉

〈…〉 . c 〈◊〉 . 1. a 〈◊〉 . 2. a And after the captiuyte of Babylon, Iechonias begat Salathiel: Salathiel begat Zorobabel: Zorobabel begat Abiud: Abiud begat Eliachim: Eliachim begat Azor: Azor begat Sadoc: Sadoc begat Achin: Achin begat Eliud: Eliud begat Eleasar: Eleasar begat Matthan: Matthan begat Iacob: Iacob begat Ioseph the huszbande of Mary, of whō was borne that Iesus, which is called Christ.

All the generacions from Abrahā to Dauid are fourtene generacions: From Dauid vnto the captiuite of Babylon, are fourtene generacions. From the captiuite of Babylon vnto Christ, are also fourtene generacions.

The byrth of Christ was on thys wyse: When his mother Mary was maried to Ioseph Some 〈◊〉 * befo •• they 〈◊〉 at hom •• togethe before they came together, Luc. 1. b she was foūde with chylde by ye holy goost, But Ioseph her huszbande was a perfect man, and wolde not bringe her to shame, but was mynded to put her awaie secretely. Neuertheles whyle he thus thought, beholde, the angell of the LORDE appered vnto him in a dreame, saynge: Ioseph thou sonne of Dauid, feare not to take vnto the Mary thy wyfe. For that which is cōceaued in her, is of ye holy goost. She shall brynge forth a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iesus. Phi. 2. a Act. 4. For he shall saue his people from their synnes.

All this was done, yt the thinge might, be fulfilled, which was spoken of the LORDE by the Prophet, saynge: Beholde, a mayde shall be with chylde, Esa. 7. c and shall brynge forth a sonne, and they shall call his name Emanuel, which is by interpretacion, God wt vs.

Now whan Ioseph awoke out of slepe he did as the angell of ye LORDE bade hym, and toke his wyfe vnto hym, and knewe her not, tyll she had brought forth hir fyrst borne sonne, and called his name Iesus. Luc. 2.

The II. Chapter.

WHen Iesus was borne at Bethleē in Iury, in the tyme of Herode the kynge, Beholde, there came wysemen from the east to Ierusalē, saynge: Where is the new borne kynge of the Iues? We haue sene his starre in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herode ye kynge had herde thys, he was troubled, & all Ierusalē with hym, and he gathered all the hye Prestes and Scribes of ye people, & axed of them, where Christ shulde be borne. And they sayde vnto hym: at Bethleem in Iury. For thus it is written by the Prophet: And thou Bethleem in the londe of Iury, Mich. 5. a art not the leest amonge the Princes of Iuda. ohan. 7. d For out of ye shall come vnto me the captayne, that shall gouerne my people Israel.

Then Herod preuely called the wyse men, and dyligently enquyred of them, what tyme the starre appered, and sent them to Bethleem, sainge: Go, and searche dyligently for the chylde. And when ye haue founde hym, bringe me worde agayne, that I maye come and worshippe hym also.

When they had heard the kynge, they departed: and lo, the starre which they sawe in the east, went before them, tyll it came, and stode ouer the place where the chylde was. When they sawe the starre, they were maruelously glad: and went into the house, and found the chylde with Mary his mother, and kneled downe and worshipped hym, & opened ther treasures, Psal. 71. b sa. 60. a and offred vnto hym gyftes: gold, franckynsence and myrre. And after they were warned of God in a dreame, that they shuld not go ageine to Herod, they returned into their awne countre another waye.

When they were departed: beholde, the angell of the LORDE appered to Ioseph in a dreame, sayinge: aryse, and take the chylde and his mother, and flye into Egypte, and abyde there tyll I brynge the worde. xo. 4. d For He rod wyl seke the chylde to destroye hym. Thē he arose, and toke the chylde and his mother by night, and departed into Egypte, and was there vnto ye deeth of Herod, that the thinge might be fulfylled which was spokē of the LORDE, by the Prophet, which sayeth: zeae. 11. a u. 4. b out of Egypte haue I called my sonne.

Then Herod perceauynge yt he was disceaued of the wyse men, was excedynge wroth, and sent forth, and slue all the chyldren that were in Bethleem, and in all the coastes there of, as many as were two yere olde and vnder, accordynge to the tyme which he had diligently searched out of the wyse men.

ere. 31. c Then was yt fulfilled which was spoken by ye Prophet Ieremy sayinge: On ye hilles was a voyce herde, greate mournynge, wepynge, & lamentacion: Rachel wepynge for her chyldren, and wolde not be conforted, because they were not.

When Herode was deed: beholde, an angell of the LORDE appered in a dreame to Ioseph in Egypte, sayinge: arise and take the chylde and his mother, & go into ye londe of Israel. For they are deed, which sought the chyldes life. And he arose vp, and toke ye chylde and his mother, & came into the londe of Israel. But whē he herde that Archelaus did raygne in Iury, in ye rowme of his father Herode, he was afrayde to go thither. Notwithstondinge after he was warned of God in a dreame, he turned asyde into the parties of Galile, and went and dwelt in a cite called Nazareth, 〈…〉 to fulfill yt which was spoken by the Prophetes: he shalbe called a Nazarite.

The III. Chapter.

IN those dayes Ihon the Baptyst came and preached in the wildernes of Iury, saynge: Amēde youre selues, the kyngdome of heuen is at honde. Ma •• •• Ioha •• Esai. 〈…〉 This is he, of whom it is spokē by ye Prophet Esay, which sayeth: The voyce of a cryer in ye wyldernes, prepare the LORDES waye, and make his pathes straight.

This Ihon had his garment of camels heer, and a lethrē gerdell aboute his loynes. 〈…〉 Hys meate was locustes and wylde hony. Then went out to hym Ierusalem, and all Iury, and all the region rounde aboute Iordan, and were baptised of him in Iordan, cō fessynge their synnes.

Now when he sawe many of the Pharises and of ye Saduces come to hys baptim, 〈…〉 he sayde vnto them: ye generaciō of vipers, who hath certified you, that ye shal escape ye vengeaunce to come? Bewarre, brynge forth due frutes of pennaunce. Thinke not now, to saye in your selues, we haue Abraham to oure father. For I saye vnto you, that God is able of these stones to rayse vp chyldren vnto Abraham. Euen now is the axe put vnto ye rote of the trees: 〈…〉 therfore euery tre which bringeth not forth good frute, shalbe hewē downe, and cast into the fyre.

I baptise you with water to repentaunce: but he that cōmeth after me, 〈…〉 is myghtier thē I, whose shues I am not worthy to beare. He shall baptise you with ye holy goost & wt fyre: which hath also his fan in his hond, and will pourge his floore, and gadre the wheet into his garner, & will burne ye chaffe with vnquencheable fyre. Luc. ••

Then came Iesus from Galile to Iordan, 〈…〉 vnto Ihon, to be baptised of hym. But Ihō forbade hym, saynge: I haue nede to be baptysed of the: and commest thou to me? Iesus answered & sayd vnto hym: Let it be so now. For thus it becommeth vs to fulfyll all righteousnes. Then he suffred hym. Ma . •• Luc •• Ioha •• •• And Iesus assone as he was baptised, came straight out of the water. And lo, heuē was opē ouer hym: and Ihon sawe the spirite of God descende lyke a doue, and lyght vpon hym. And lo, 〈◊〉 4 . a Ma . 17. a ac. 9. d . Pet. 1. d there came a voyce frō heuē sayng: Thys ys that my beloued sonne, in whom is my delyte.

The IIII. Chapter.

THen was Iesus ledd awaye of the spirite in to wildernes, to be tempted of the deuyll. And when he had fasted fourtye dayes and fourtye nightes, he was afterward an hungred. 〈◊〉 . 1. b uc. 4 a And the tēpter came to him and sayde: yf thou be the sonne of God, commaunde, that these stones be made breed. He answered & sayde: yt is wryttē: 〈…〉 Man shall not lyue by bred onlye, but by euery worde that proceadeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the deuyll toke hym vp into the holy cite, and set hym on a pynacle of the temple, and sayde vnto hym: yf thou be ye sonne of God, 〈◊〉 0. b cast thy sylfe downe. For it is wrytten: he shall geue his angels charge ouer the and with their handes they shal holde the vp, that thou dashe not thy fote agaynst a stone. And Iesus sayde vnto hym: it ys wrytten also: 〈◊〉 . c Thou shalt not tempte thy LORDE God.

Agayne, the deuyll toke hym vp and led hym into an excedynge hye mountayne, and shewed hym all the kyngdomes of the worlde, and all the glorie of them, and sayde vnto hym: all these wil I geue the, yf thou wilt fall downe and worship me. 〈◊〉 . . c eg. 7. a Then sayde Iesus vnto hym: Auoyde Satā. For it ys wryttē: thou shalt worshyp the LORDE thy God and hym onely shalt thou serue.

Then the deuell left hym, and beholde, the angels came and ministred vnto hym.

〈◊〉 1. b 〈◊〉 4. b When Iesus had herde that Ihon was taken, he departed into Galile and left Nazareth, and went and dwelt in Capernaum, which is a cite apon the see, in the coostes of zabulon and Neptalim, yt the thinge might be fulfilled whiche was spoken by Esay the Prophet, 〈◊〉 . d 〈◊〉 a sayinge: The londe of zabulon and Neptalim, the waye of the see beyonde Iordan, and Galile of the Gentyls, the people which sat in darknes, sawe a greate lyght, & to them which sat in the region & shadowe of deeth, lyght is begōne to shyne.

From that tyme forth beganne Iesus to preach, and to saye: Amende youre selues, ye kingdome of heauen is at honde.

As Iesus walked by the see of Galile, he sawe two brethren: Simon which was called Peter, & Andrew his brother, castynge a net into ye see, for they were fiszhers, and he sayde vnto them: folowe me, & I will make you fiszhers of mē. Iere. 16. c Eze. 47. And they strayght waye lefte their nettes, and folowed hym.

And whan he wēt forth from thence, he sawe other two brethren, Iames the sonne of zebede, and Ihon his brother, in the ship with zebede their father, mendynge their nettes, and called them. And they without tarynge lefte ye shyp and their father, Mat. 19. d Luc. 5. b and folowed hym.

And Iesus went aboute all Galile, Marc. 1. c teachyng in their synagoges, and preachynge the gospel of the kyngdome, and healed all maner of siknes, & all maner dyseases amonge the people. And his fame spred abrode through out all Siria. And they brought vnto hym all sick people, that were taken with diuers diseases and gripinges, and thē yt were possessed with deuils, & those which were lunatyke, and those that had the palsie: & he healed thē. And ther folowed hym a greate nombre of people, from Galile, & from the ten cities, and from Ierusalem, Marc. 3 a Luc. 6. b and from the regions that lye beyonde Iordan.

The V. Chapter.

WHen he sawe the people, he went vp into a mountayne: and when he was set, his disciples came to hym, and he opened his mouth, and taught them, sayinge: Luc. 6. c Blessed are the poore in sprete: for theirs is the kyngdome of heuē. Blessed are they that mourne: Esa. 61. a and 66. for they shalbe cō forted. Blessed are the meke: for they shall inheret the erth. Iere. 31. d Blessed are they which honger & thyrst for rightewesnes: for they shal be filled. Blessed are the mercifull: for they shall obteyne mercy. Blessed are the pure in herte: for they shall se God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shalbe called the chyldren of God. Blessed are they which suffre persecucion for rightwesnes sake: for theirs is the kyngdome of heuen.1. Pet. 4. 1. Pe. 2. c and 3. c Blessed are ye when men reuyle you, and persecute you, and falsly say all manner of yuell saynges against you for my sake. Act. 5. c Reioyce and be glad, for greate is youre rewarde in heuē.

For so persecuted they the Prophetes which were before youre dayes.

Ye are ye salt of the earth, but and yf the salt haue lost his saltnes, Marc. 9. Luc. 14. Marc. 4. b Luc. . b and 11. c what can be salted therwith? It is thence forth good for nothynge, but to be cast out, and to be trodden vnder fote of men. Ye are the light of the worlde. A cite that is set on an hill, can not be hid: nether do men lyght a candell, and put it vnder a buszhell, but on a candelstick, and it lighteth all that are in the house. Let youre light so shyne before men, ath. 6. a Pet. 2. b that they maye se youre good workes, and glorify youre father which is in heauen.

Thinke not, that I am come to destroye the lawe, or the Prophetes: no, I am not come to destroye them, at. 1. c c. d uc. 16. c uc. 18. d a. 40. a but to fulfyll them. For truly I saye vnto you: till heauen and earth periszhe, one iott or one tyttle of the lawe shall not escape, tyll all be fulfilled.

Whosoeuer breaketh one of these least cō maundmentes, co. . b zec. 18. b and teacheth mē so, he shalbe called the leest in the kyngdome of heauen, But whosoeuer obserueth and teacheth the same shalbe called greate in the kyngdome of heauen.

For I saye vnto you: excepte youre rightewesnes exceade the righetewesnes of the Scribes and Pharises, ye can not entre in to the kyngdome of heauen.

Ye haue herde, how it was sayde to thē of the olde tyme: co. 20. c •• . b eu. 24. d eut. 5. c Thou shalt not kyll. For whosoeuer kylleth, shall be in daunger of iudgement. But I saye vnto you: whosoeuer is angrie with his brother, is in daunger of the iudgement. Whosoeuer sayeth vnto his brother: Racha, is in daunger of ye coū sell. But whosoeuer sayeth: thou foole, is in daunger of hell fyre.

〈◊〉 42. b ala. 2. b Therfore when thou offrest thy gift at the altare, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought agaynst the: leaue there thyne offrynge before the altare, and go thy waye first, and reconcyle thy selfe to thy brother, & then come and offre thy gyfte.

Agre with thine aduersary quicklye, whyle thou art in the waye with hym, uc. 12. f rou. 25. b lest that aduersary deliuer the to the iudge, and the iudge deliuer the to the minister, and then thou be cast in to preson. I saye vnto the verely: thou shalt not come out thēce, till thou haue payed the vtmost farthinge.

xo. 20. c ccl. 41. c •• b. 31. a Ye haue herde, how it was sayde to them of olde tyme: Thou shalt not committe aduoutrie. But I saye vnto you, that whosoeuer loketh on a wife lustinge after her, hath committed aduoutrie with hir already in his hert.

Wherfore yf thy right eye offende the, plucke hym out, and cast him from the. Better it is for the, eut. 13. a arc. 9. c that one of thy membres periszhe, then that thy whole body shulde be cast in to hell. Also yf thy right honde offende the, cut hym of, and cast him from the. Better t is that one of thy mēbres periszh, thē yt all ye body shulde be cast in to hell.

It is sayde: whosoeuer putteth awaye his wyfe, Deu. 24. a Math. •• . b let hym geue her a testimonyall of the deuorcemēt. But I saye vnto you: Marc. 10. Luc. 16. c whosoeuer putteth awaye his wyfe (except it be for fornicaciō) causeth her to breake matrymony. And whosoeuer maryeth her that is deuorsed, breaketh wedlocke.

Agayne, ye haue herde, Leuit. •• Exo. •• Deu. •• Iaco. 5. c 2. Para. •• Esa. 65. a Mat. 〈…〉 how it was sayde to thē of olde tyme: Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe, but shalt performe thyne ooth to God. But I saye vnto you: sweare not at all, nether by heauē, for it is God is seate: nor yet by the earth, for it is his fote stole: nether by Ierusalem, for it is the cyte of ye greate kinge: nether shalt thou sweare by thy heed, because thou canst not make one heer whyte or blacke: But your communicacion shalbe, yee, yee: nay, nay. Ephe •• For what soeuer is more then that, commeth of euel.

Ye haue herde howe it is sayde: An eye for an eye, a toth for a toth. Exod. •• Deu. •• Leui. •• Luc. •• But I saye vnto you: that ye resist not euell. But whosoeuer geueth the a blowe on thy right cheke, turne to him the other also. And yf eny man will sue the at the lawe, & take awaye thy coate, let him haue thy cloake also. And who so compelleth the to go a myle, go wt hym twayne. Geue to hym that axeth: and from hym that wolde borowe, turne not awaye.

Ye haue herde, how it is saide: Leui. 4 thou shalt loue thyne neghboure, & hate thyne enemy. But I saye vnto you: loue youre enemies: Blesse thē that cursse you: Do good to thē that hate you: Rom. •• Praye for thē which do you wronge and persecute you, that ye maye be the chyldern of youre father which is in heauen: Deut. •• for he maketh his sonne to aryse on the euel and on the good, and sendeth his rayne on the iust and vniuste. Luc. •• For yf ye loue them which loue you, what rewarde shall ye haue? Do not the Publicans euē so? And yf ye be frendly to youre brethren onlye: what singuler thynge do ye? Do not the Publicans also lyke wyse? Ye shall therfore be perfecte, Leui. •• euen as youre father in heauē is perfecte.

The VI. Chapter.

TAke hede to youre almes, that ye geue it not in the syght of men, Luc. •• to the intent that ye wolde be sene of them: or els, ye get no rewarde of youre father which is in heauen. When soeuer therfore thou geuest thine almes, thou shalt not make a trompet to be blowen before the, as the ypocrites do in the synagoges and in the stretes, for to be praysed of mē. Verely I saye vnto you: they haue their rewarde. But whē thou doest almes, let not thy lefte, hande knowe, what thy righte hande doth, that thine almes maye be secrete: and thy father which seith in secrete, shall rewarde the openly.

. Re. 18. d Esa. 29. c 〈…〉 a And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as ye ypocrytes are. For they loue to stō de and praye in the synagoges, and in the corners of the stretes, to be sene of men. Verely I saie vnto you: they haue their rewarde. But when thou prayest, entre in to thy chamber, . Re. 4. d 〈◊〉 . 1 a and shut thy dore to the, & praye to thy father which is in secrete: and thy father which seith in secrete, shall rewarde the openly.

And when ye praye, bable not moch, as ye Hethen do: for they thinke that they shal be herde, 〈…〉 for their moch bablynges sake. Be not ye lyke them therfore. For youre father knoweth where of ye haue nede, Rom. 8. d before ye axe of him. After thys maner therfore shall ye praye:

〈…〉 O oure father which art in heauen, halowed be thy name. Thy kyngdome come. Thy wyll be fulfilled vpon earth as it is in heauen. Geue vs this daye oure dayly bred. And forgeue vs oure dettes, as we also forgeue oure detters. And lede vs not in to tēptacion: but delyuer vs from euell. For thyne is the kyngdome, and the power, and the glorye for euer. Amen. For yf ye forgeue other men their treaspases, youre heauenly father shall also forgeue you. But and ye wyll not forgeue mē their trespases, 〈…〉 8. d 〈◊〉 1. c nomo, re shall youre father forgeue you youre trespases.

〈…〉 Moreouer when ye fast, be not sad as ye ypocrytes are. For they disfigure their faces, that they myght be sene of men to fast. Verely I saye vnto you: they haue their rewarde. But thou, whē thou fastest, annoynte thyne heed, and wash thy face, that it appeare not vnto men, that thou fastest: but vnto thy father which is in secrete: and thy father which seyth in secrete, shal rewarde the openly.

Seth at ye gather you not treasure vpon the earth, 〈…〉 . d 〈◊〉 . 29. b 〈…〉 . a 〈…〉 . a where rust and mothes corrupte, and where theues breake through and steale. But gather you treasure together in heauen, where nether rust nor mothes corrupte, and where theues nether breake vp nor yet steale. For where youre treasure is, there is youre herte also.

〈…〉 The eye is the light of the body. Yf thyne eye then be syngle, all thy body shalbe ful of light: But and yf thyne eye be wycked, all thy body shalbe full of darckenes: Wherfore yf the light that is in the, be darckenes, how greate then shall that darckenes be?

No mā can serue two masters. For ether he shall hate the one and loue the other: Luc. 16. b or els he shall leane to the one, and despise the other: Ye can not serue God and mammon. Luc. 12. c Psal. 54. c 1. Pet. 5. a Therfore I saye vnto you: be not ye carefull for your lyfe, what ye shall eate, or what ye shall drinke: nor yet for youre body, what ye shal put on. Ys not the lyfe more worth thē meate, and the body more of value then raymēt? Beholde the foules of ye ayer: for they sowe not, nether reepe, nor yet cary in to the barnes: and yet youre heauēly father fedeth thē. Are ye not moch better thē they?

Which of you (though he toke thought therfore) coulde put one cubit vnto his stature? why care ye then for rayment? Considre the lylies of the felde, how they growe. They laboure not, nether spynne. And yet for all that I saye vnto you, that euen Salomon in all his royalte was not arayed lyke vnto one of these. Wherfore yf God so cloth the grasse, which is to daye in the felde, and to morowe shalbe cast in to the fornace: shal he not moch more do the same vnto you, o ye of lytle fayth?

Therfore take no thought, sayinge: what shall we eate, or what shall we drinke? or where with shall we be clothed? After all soch thynges do the heithen seke. For youre heauenly father knoweth, that ye haue nede of all these thynges. Seke ye fyrst the kyngdome of heauen and the righteousnes therof,3. Reg. 3 so shal all these thynges be ministred vnto you.

Care not then for the morow, for the morow shall care for it self: Euery daye hath ynough of his owne trauayll.

The VII. Chapter.

IVdge not, that ye be not iudged: For as ye iudge, so shal ye be iudged. Luc. 6. d Rom. 2. Marc. 4. And with what measure ye meete, with the same shall it be measured to you agayne. Why seist thou a moate in thy brothers eye, and perceauest not the beame yt is yn thine awne eye? Or why saiest thou to ye brother: holde, I wil plucke the moate out of thyne eye, and beholde, a beame is in thyne awne eye. Ypocryte, fyrst cast out the beame out of thyne awne eye, Prou. 18. and then shalt thou se clearly, to plucke out the moate out of thy brothers eye.

Geue not that which is holy, to dogges: nether cast ye youre pearles before swyne, 〈◊〉 . 136. c lest they treade them vnder their fete, & the other turne agayne and all to rente you.

〈◊〉 29. c an. 16. c Axe, and it shalbe geuen you: Seke, and ye shall fynde: knocke, and it shalbe opened vnto you. For whosoeuer axeth, receaueth: and he that seketh, fyndeth: and to hym yt knocketh, 〈◊〉 11. b it shal opened. Ys there eny man amonge you, which yf his sonne axed hym bred, wolde offer him a stone? Or yf he axed fyszhe, wolde he proffer hym a serpent? yf ye then which are euell, 〈◊〉 . 6. a can geue youre chyldren good gyftes: how moche more shall youre father which is in heauen, geue good thynges to them that axe hym?

Therfore what soeuer ye wolde that mē shulde do to you, 〈◊〉 31. b b. 4. c 〈◊〉 6. c euē so do ye to them. This ys the lawe and the Prophetes.

Enter in at the strayte gate: for wyde is the gate, 〈◊〉 . 13. c and broade is the waye, that leadeth to destruccion: & many there be, which go in therat. But strayte is the gate, and narowe ys the waye, which leadeth vnto lyfe, and fewe there be that fynde it.

•• ut. 13. a •• hā. 4. a 〈◊〉 6. c Beware of false Prophetes, which come to you in shepes clothinge, but inwardly they are rauenynge wolues, Ye shall knowe them by their frutes. Do men gather grapes of thornes? or figges of thistles? Euen so euery good tree bryngeth forth good frute. But a corrupte tree, bryngeth forth euyl frute, A good tree can not bryng forth bad frute: •• th. 12. d nother can a rotten tre bringe forth good frute. 〈◊〉 . 11. c •• th. 3. a c. 3. b Euery tre that bryngeth not forth good frute, shalbe hewen downe, and cast into the fyre. Wherfore by their frutes ye shall knowe them.

•• th. 25. a 〈◊〉 6. c 〈◊〉 13. c Not all they that saye vnto me, LORDE LORDE, shall enter in to the kyngdome of heauen: but he that doth the will of my father which ys in heauen.

〈◊〉 . 19. b Many shall saye to me in that daye: LORDE, LORDE: haue we not prophecied in thy name? Haue we not cast out deuyls in thy name? Haue we not done many greate dedes in thy name? And then will I knowlege vnto them: 〈◊〉 6. b •• th. 25. d I neuer knewe you, Departe fro me, ye workers of iniquite.

Whosoeuer therfore heareth of me these sayinges, 〈◊〉 . 6. e 〈◊〉 . 2. b and doeth the same, I wyll lyckē hym vnto a wyse man, which buylthys house vpon a rocke: Now whan abundaunce of rayne descended, and the wyndes blewe and bet vpon that same house, it fel not, because it was grounded on the rocke. And who soeuer heareth of me these sayinges, & doth thē not, shalbe lyckened vnto a folysh mā, which buylt his housse apon the sonde: Iaco . b Now whan abūdaunce of rayne descēded, & the wyndes blewe, & bet vpon yt housse, Eze. 1 b it f ll, and great was the fall of it.

And it came to passe, Marc. . b Luc. 4. c that when Iesus had ended these saynges, the people were astonnyed at hys doctryne. For he taught them as one hauynge power, and not as the Scribes.

The VIII. Chapter.

WHen he was come downe from the mountayne, Marc. . Luc. 4. b moch people folowed him. And lo, there came a leper, and worsheped him, sayinge: LORDE, yf thou wylt, thou canst make me cleane. And Iesus put forth hys honde, & touched him, sayinge: I wyl, be thou cleane: & immediatly his leprosie was clensed? And Iesus sayde vnto hym: Se thou tell no mā, but go and shew thy selfe to the preste, and offer the gyfte that Moses cōmaunded, 〈…〉 in witnes to them.

When Iesus was entred into Capernaum, there came vnto him a Captayne, Luc. a Iohan. •• & besought hym, sayinge: Syr, my seruaunt lyeth sicke at home of the palsye, and ys greuously payned. Iesus sayd vnto hym: I wil come & heale him. The Captayne answered and sayde: Syr, I am nor worthy, that thou shuldest come vnder my rofe, Psal. •• but speake the worde only, and my seruaunt shalbe healed. For I myselfe also am a mā subiect to ye auctorite of another, & haue sowdiers vnder me. Yet whā I saye to one: go, he goeth, and to another: come, he commeth: & to my seruaunt: do this, he doeth it. When Iesus hearde that, he marueled, and sayde to them that folowed hym: Verely I say vnto you: I haue not founde so greate fayth: no not ī Israel. But I say vnto you: Many shall come from the east and west, Esa. •• Luc. •• and shall rest with Abraham, Isaac and Iacob in the kyngdome of heauen: and the chyldren of the kyngdome shalbe cast out in to vtter darcknes: there shalbe wepinge & gnaszhing of teth. And Iesus sayd vnto ye Captayne: go thy waye, and as thou beleuest, so be it vnto the. And his seruaunt was healed the same houre.

And Iesus went in to Peters housse, 〈…〉 and sawe hys wyues mother lyinge sicke of a feuer: so he touched her hande, and the feuer left hir: and she arose, and ministred vnto them.

When the euen was come, 〈…〉 they brought vnto him many that were possessed with deuylls. And he cast out ye spirites with a worde, & healed all that were sicke, that ye thinge might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Esay the Prophet, sayinge: He toke on him oure infirmities, 〈…〉 and bare oure s •••• neses.

Whē Iesus sawe moch people about him, he commaunded to go ouer the water. 〈◊〉 9. f And there came a scribe and sayde vnto hym: master, I wyll folowe the, whyther so euer thou goest. And Iesus sayde vnto him: the foxes haue holes, and the byrddes of the ayer haue nestes, but ye sonne of mā hath not wheron to rest his heede. Another that was one of his disciples, 〈…〉 sayde vnto hym: Syr, geue me leue fyrst, to go & burye my father. But Iesus sayde vnto him: folowe thou me, and let the deed burie their deed.

And he entred in to a shyppe, & his disciples folowed him. 〈…〉 And beholde, there arose a greate tempest in the see, in so moch that the shippe was couered with wawes, & he was a slepe. And his disciples came vnto him, and awoke hym, sayinge: LORDE, saue vs, we perishe. And he sayde vnto them: why are ye fearfull, o ye of lytell faithe? Then he arose, 〈…〉 and rebuked the wyndes and the see, & there folowed a greate calme. And the men marueyled and sayde: what mā is this, that both wyndes and see obey hym?

And when he was come to ye other syde, into the countre of the Gergesites, 〈…〉 there met him two possessed of deuyls, which came out of the graues, and were out of measure fearce, so that no man myght go by that waye. And beholde, they cryed out sayinge: Oh Iesu thou sonne of God, what haue we to do wt the? 〈…〉 Art thou come hyther to tormēt vs, before the tyme be come? And there was a good waye of from them a greate heerd of swyne fedinge. 〈…〉 Then the deuyles besought him, sayinge: yf thou cast vs out, suffre vs to go oure waye in to the heerd of swyne. And he sayde vnto them: go youre wayes. Then went they out, and departed in to the heerd of swyne. And beholde, ye whoale heerd of swyne was caryed with violēce headlinge in to the see, and perished in the water. Thē the heerdmen fled and wente their ways in to the cyte, and tolde euery thinge, & what had fortuned vnto the possessed of the deuyls. And beholde, all the cyte came out and met Iesus. And when they sawe hym, they besought hym, 〈…〉 for to departe out of their coostes.

The ix. Chapter.

THen entred he into a shipp, and passed ouer and came in to his awne cite. And lo, Marc. 2. a Luc. 5. c Iohan. 5. a they brought vnto him a man sicke of ye palsie, lyinge in his bed. And when Iesus sawe the faith of thē, he sayde to the sicke of ye palsie: my sonne, be of good cheare, thy sinnes are forgeuē the. And beholde, certeyne of the scribes sayde in them selues: this man blasphemeth. But when Iesus sawe their thoughtes, he sayde: wherfore thinke ye euill in youre hertes? Whether ys it easier to saye: thy synnes be forgeuē ye, or to saie: arise and walke? But that ye maye knowe, that the sonne of man hath power to forgeue sinnes in earth, thē sayde he vnto the sicke of ye palsye: arise, take vp thy bed, and go home. Act. 9. And he arose and wente home. When ye people sawe it, they marueyled, & glorified God, which had geuē soch power vnto men.

And as Iesus passed forth from thence, Mar. 2. b Luc. 5. d. 15. a he sawe a man syt a receyuinge of custome, named Mathew, & sayde vnto him: folowe me. And he arose, and folowed him. And it came to passe as he sat at meate in the house: beholde, many publicans and synners came and sat downe also with Iesus and hys disciples.

When the Pharises sawe that, they sayde to hys disciples: why eateth youre master with publicans and synners? When Iesus herde that, he sayde vnto them: The whole nede not ye phisiciō, but they that are sicke. Go and learne, what that meaneth: I haue pleasure in mercy, and not in offerynge. Ose. 6. b Math. 1 . a 1. Tim. 1. c For I am not come to call the righteous, but ye synners to repentaunce,

Then came the disciples of Ihon to hym sayinge: why do we & ye Pharises fast so oft: Mar. 2. b Luc. 5. c and thy disciples fast not? And Iesus sayde vnto thē: Can the weddynge chyldrē mourne as lōge as the bridegrome is with them? The tyme will come, when the bridegrome shalbe taken from them, and thē shall they fast. No man peceth an olde garment with a pece of newe clothe. For then taketh he awaye the pece agayne from the garment, & the rent ys made greater. Act. 2. b Nether do men put new wyne in to olde vessels, for then the vessels breake, and the wyne runneth out, & ye vessels peryshe, But they poure newe wyne in to newe vessels, and so are both saued together.

Whyle he thus spake vnto them, beholde there came a certayne ruler, Marc. . c Luc 8. c and worshipped him, sayinge: My doughter is euē now deceased, but come and lay ye honde on her, and she shall liue. Iesus arose and folowed hym with hys disciples. ar. 5. c uc. 8. e euit. 15. d And beholde, a woman which was diseased wt an yssue of bloude xij. yeres, came behynde hym, and touched the hem of hys vesture. For she sayde in her silfe: yf I maye touche but euen his vesture only, I shalbe safe. Then Iesus tourned him aboute, and behelde her, sayinge: Doughter be of good conforte, thy faith hath made yt safe. And she was made whole, euen that same houre.

And when Iesus came into the rulers house, Mar. . d Luc. . f and sawe the minstrels and the people raginge, he sayde vnto them: Get you hē ce, for ye mayde is not deed, but slepeth. And they laughed hym to scorne. Iohā. 11. b But whan the people were put forth, he went in, and toke her by the honde, and the mayde arose. And this was noysed through out all that londe.

And as Iesus departed thence, two blynde mē folowed hym, cryinge and sayinge: O thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercy vpon vs. And when he was come home, the blynde came to hym, And Iesus sayde vnto them Beleue ye, that I am able to do thys? And they sayde vnto hym: yee, LORDE. Then touched he their eyes, sayinge: acordinge to youre fayth, Mat. 8. b be it vnto you. And their eyes were opened. And Iesus charged thē, sayinge: Se that no mā knowe of it. But they departed, & spred abroade his name through out all the londe.

Whan these were gone out, beholde, they brought to hym a domme man possessed of a deuyll. Mar. 7. d Luc. 11. b And whan the deuyl was cast out, the domme spake: And the people merueled sayinge: it was neuer so sene in Israel. But ye Pharises sayde: he casteth out deuyls, thorow the chefe deuyll. Mat. 12. c Mar. 3. b

And Iesus wente aboute in all cities and townes, Mar. 6. a Luc. 13. b teachinge in their synagoges & preachyng ye gospel of ye kyngdome, & healinge all maner sicknes & all maner desease amōge the people. And when he sawe the people, he had compassion on thē, Mar. 6. d because they were pyned awaye, and scattered abroade, euen as shepe hauinge no shepherd,

Then sayde he to hys disciples: ye heruest is greate, but ye laborers are fewe. Wherfore praye the LORDE of the haruest, Luc. 10. a 2. Tes 3. a to sende forth laborers into hys haruest.

The x. Chapter.

ANd he called his xii. disciples vnto hym, Mar. 3. b Luc. 6. b 9. a. 10. a & gaue them power ouer vncleane spretes, to cast them out, & to heaale all maner of sicknesses, and all maner of deseases.

The names of the xii. Apostels are these: The fyrst, Simon called Peter: & Andrew his brother. Iames the sonne of Zebede, and Ihon his brother. Philip and Bartlemew. Thomas, and Mathew the Publican. Iames the sonne of Alphe, and Lebbeus other wyse called Taddeus. Simon of Cane, and Iudas Iscarioth, which also betrayed hym.

These twolue sent Iesus, and commaunded them, sayinge: Luc. •• Go not in to the wayes yt leade to the Heithen, and in to the cities of the Samaritās enter ye not. But go rather to the lost shepe of the housse of Israel. 〈…〉 Go and preach, sayinge: The kyngdome of heuē is at hande. Heale the sicke, clense the lepers rayse the deed, cast out the deuils. Act •• Ma. Lu. 5. and •• Frely ye haue receaued, frely geue againe. Posses not golde, nor siluer, nor brasse yn youre gerdels, nor yet scrip towardes your iorney: nether two cotes, nether shues, nor yet a staffe. 〈…〉 For the workman is worthy of his meate. In to what soeuer cite or towne ye shall come, enquyre in it, who is mete for you, and there abyde, tyll ye go thence.

And whē ye come in to an house, salute ye same. And yf the housse be mete for you, yo peace shal come vpō it. But yf it be not mete for you, yo peace shal turne to you againe.

And yf no man wil receaue you, ner heare youre preachinge, departe out of that house or that cite, and shake the dust of youre fete. Truly I saye vnto you: 〈…〉 it shall be easyer for ye londe of Sodoma and Gomorra in ye daye of iudgment, then for that cite.

Beholde, I sende you forth as shepe amō ge wolues. Be ye therfore wyse as serpentes, and innocent as doues. Beware of men, 〈…〉 for they shall deliuer you vp to the coūsels, and shal scourge you in their synagoges. And ye shall be brought before prynces and kynges for my sake, in witnes to them and to the gentyls.

But when they delyuer you vp, take no thought how or what ye shall speake, 〈…〉 for yt shalbe geuen you, euen in that same houre, what ye shall saye. For it is not ye that speake, but the sprete of your father which speaketh in you.

The brother shall delyuer the brother to deeth, and the father the sonne. And the chyldren shall aryse agaynst their fathers & mothers, & shall helpe them to deeth: & ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake. But he yt endureth to the ende, shalbe saued. 〈…〉

When they persecute you in one cite, 〈…〉 flye in to another. I tell you for a treuth, ye shall not fynysshe all the cities of Israel, tyll the sonne of man come. The disciple is not aboue the master, 〈…〉 nether the seruaunt aboue the LORDE. It is ynough for the disciple, to be as his master, and the seruaunt as his LORDE. Yf they haue called the good mā of the house Beelzebub, how moch more shal they call them of his housholde so? Feare them not therfore.

There is nothinge hyd, that shal not be openly shewed: 〈…〉 and nothinge secrete, that shall not be knowne. What I tell you in darcknes, that speake ye in light: and what ye heare in the eare, that preach ye vpon the house toppes.

And feare ye not them that kyll the body, 〈…〉 and be not able to kyll the soule. But rather feare hī, which is able to destroye both soule and body in to hell. Are not two sparowes solde for a farthinge? Yet doth there none of thē light vpon the groūde without youre father. And now are all ye hayres of youre heade tolde. Feare ye not therfore: ye are of more value then many sparowes.

〈…〉 Therfore whosoeuer knowlegeth me before mē, him wil I knowlege also before my father which is in heauen. But who soeuer denyeth me before mē, him wil I also denie before my father which is in heauen.

Thynke not that I am come to sende peace vpon earth. 〈…〉 I came not to sende peace, but a swerde. For I am come to set a mā at variaunce ageynst his father, and the doughter ageynst hir mother, 〈…〉 & the doughter in lawe ageynst her mother in lawe: and a mans foes shalbe they of his owne housholde.

〈…〉 Who so loueth father and mother more then me, is not mete for me: and he that loueth sonne or doughter more then me, is not mete for me. And he yt taketh not his crosse and foloweth me, is not mete for me. Who so fyndeth his life, 〈…〉 shal lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shal fynde it.

He that receaueth you, receaueth me: & who so receaueth me, receaueth him yt sent me. He that receaueth a prophet in the name of a prophet, 〈…〉 shal receaue a prophetes rewarde. He yt receaueth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shal receaue a righteous mans rewarde: And who soeuer geueth vnto one of the least of these a cuppe of colde water onely to drinke, 〈◊〉 4. c in ye name of a disciple, verely I saie vnto you: he shal not lose his rewarde.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd it came to passe, whā Iesus had made an ende of cōmaundinge his twolue disciples, he departed thence. to teach and to preach in their cities.

Whan Ihon beinge in preson herde of the workes of Christ, Luc. 7. b he sent two of his disciples, and sayde vnto him Art thou he yt shal come, or shal we loke for another? Iesus answered and sayde vnto thē: Go youre waye and tell Ihon agayne, what ye se and heare. The blynde se, and the lame go: Esa. 35. a the lepers are clensed, and ye deaf heare: the deed aryse ageyne, Esa. 61. a and the gospell is preached to the poore: and blessed is he, that is not offended at me.

Whan they wente their waye, Luc. 7. c Iesus beganne to speake vnto the people, concernynge Ihon: What are ye gone out for to se in the wyldernes? Wolde ye se a rede shaken with the wynde? Or what are ye gone out for to se? Wolde ye se a man clothed in soft rayment? Beholde, they that weare soft clothinge, are in kinges houses, But what are ye gone out for to se? A prophet? Yee I saye vnto you, and more thē a prophet. For this is he, of whō it is written: Beholde, Mal. 3. a Marc. 1. a I sende my messaūger before thy face, which shal prepare thy waye before the.

Verely I saye vnto you: Amonge ye children of wemen arose there not a greater then Ihon the baptist. Not withstondinge he that is Some reade: * least. lesse in the kyngdome of Heauen, is greater then he. From the tyme of Ihon baptist hither to, ye kyngdome of heauen suffreth violence, Luc. 16. c and the violent plucke it vnto them. For all the prophetes and the lawe prophecied vnto Ihon. Also yf ye wil receaue it, this is Helias, Luc. 1. a Mala. 3. d Ihon. 1. b Luc. 7. d which shulde come. Who so hath eares to heare, let hī heare.

But where vnto shal I lickē this generacion? It is like vnto childrē which syt in the market, and call vnto their felowes, & saye: we haue pyped vnto you, and ye wolde not daunse: We haue morned vnto you, & ye wolde not wepe. For Ihon came nether eatinge nor drynkinge, & they saye: he hath the deuyll. The sonne of man came eatinge and drynkinge, & they saye: lo what a glutton and wyne bebber this mā is, and a companyon of publicans & synners? And wiszdome is iustified of hir children.

Then beganne he to vpbrade the cities, in the which most of his miracles were done, because they amended not. Luc. 10. b Wo vnto the Chorasin, Wo vnto the Bethsaida: for yf the miracles which haue bene shewed amō ge you, had bene done in Tyre and Sidon, they had repented longe agoo in sack cloth and aszhes. Neuertheles I saye vnto you: It shalbe easyer for Tyre and Sidon in the daye of iudgment, then for you. And thou Capernaum which art lift vp vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe vnto hel. For yf the miracles which haue bene done in the, had bene shewed in Sodom, they had remained vnto this daye. Neuertheles I saye vnto you: It shalbe easyer for the londe of Sodome in the daye of iudgment, thē for the.

At ye same tyme Iesus answered, and sayde: Luc. 10. c Prou. 11. a I prayse the (O father and LORDE of heauen and earth) that thou hast hid these thinges from the wyse and prudent, and opened thē vnto babes. Euen so father, for so it pleased the. Mat. 28. c Luc. 10. c Iohan. 3. e Iohā. 7. c 8. b. 10. b All thinges are geuen ouer vnto me of my father: and no mā knoweth the sonne, but the father: nether knoweth eny man the father, saue the sonne, and he to whom the sonne wil open it. Come vnto me all ye that laboure and are laden, and I wil ease you. Eccli. 6. d Iere. 6. c Take my yock vpon you, and lerne of me, for I am meke and lowlye of hert, & ye shal fynde rest vnto youre soules: for my yock is easy, . Iohā. 5. a and my burden is light.

The XII. Chapter.

AT the same tyme wēte Iesus thorow the corne vpon the Sabbath, and his disciples were hongrie, Marc. 2. e Luc. 6. a Dut. 23. d and beganne to plucke of the eares of the corne, and to eate. When ye Pharises sawe th t, they sayde vnto him: Beholde, thy disciples do that, which is not laufull to do vpon the Sabbath. He sayde vnto them: haue ye not red what Dauid did, whan he was hongrie, & they also yt were with him? How he entred in to the house of God, . Re. 21. b & ate the shew breds which were not laufull for him to eate, nether for thē yt were with him, but onely for the prestes? Or haue ye not red in the lawe how that the prestes in the temple breake the Sabbath, and yet are blamelesse? But I saye vnto you: yt here is one greater then the temple. Ose. 6. b Mat. 9. b But yf ye wyst what this were (I haue pleasure in mercy, and not in offeringe) ye wolde not haue condemned innocentes: For the sonne of man is LORDE euen ouer the Sabbath.

And he departed thence, and wente in to their synagoge: Marc. 3. a Luc. 6. a and beholde, there was a mā which had his hāde dryed vp. And they axed him, sayenge: Is it laufull to heale, vpon the Sabbath? Luc. 14. b because they might accuse him. But he sayde vnto thē: Which of you is it, yf he had a shepe fallē in to a pytte vpon the Sabbath, 〈…〉 that wolde not take him, and lift him out? And how moch is a man better then a shepe? Therfore it is lefull to do good vpon the Sabbath. Then sayde he to the mā: Stretch forth thine hande. And he stretched it forth: and it was whole agayne like vnto the other.

Then wente the Pharises out, 〈…〉 and helde a councell agaynst him, how they might destroye him. But whā Iesus knew therof, he departed thence, & moch people folowed him: and he healed them all, and charged them, yt they shulde not make him knowne: that the thinge might be fulfylled, which was spoken by Esay the prophet, which sayeth: Beholde, this is my seruaunt, 〈…〉 whom I haue chosen: and my beloued, in whom my soule delyteth: I wil put my sprete vpon hī, and he shal shewe iudgment vnto the Heithē. He shal not stryue, ner crye, nether shal eny man heare his voyce in the stretes. A brosed rede shal he not breake, and flax that beginneth to burne shal he not quench, tyll he sende forth iudgment vnto victory. And in his name shal the Heithen trust.

Then was there brought vnto him one possessed (of a deuell) the which was blynde and domne, and he healed him: 〈…〉 in so moch yt ye blynde and domne both spake and sawe. And all the people were amased, and sayde: Is not this the sonne of Dauid? 〈…〉 But whan the Pharises herde that, they sayde: He dryueth the deuyls out none other wyse, but thorow Beelzebub the chefe of the deuyls. Neuertheles Iesus knew their thoughtes, and sayde vnto them: Euery kyngdome deuyded within it self, shalbe desolate: and euery cite or house deuyded in it self, maye not contynue. So yf one Sathan cast out another, thē is he at variaunce within him self: how maye then his kyngdome endure? But yf I cast out deuils thorow Beelzebub, thorow whom do youre childrē cast them out? Therfore shal they be youre iudges. But yf I cast out the deuyls by the sprete of God then is the kyngdome of God come vpon you. Or how cā a man entre in to a stronge mans house, 〈…〉 and violently take awaye his goodes, excepte he first bynde the stronge mā, & thē spoyle his house? He that is not wt me, is agaynst me: & he yt gathereth not wt me, scatereth abrode. Therfore I saye vnto you: 〈…〉 All synne and blasphemy shalbe forgeuen vnto men, but the blasphemy agaynst the sprete shal not be forgeuen vnto men: And whosoeuer speaketh a worde agaynst the sonne of man, it shalbe forgeuē him. 〈…〉 But whosoeuer speaketh agaynst the holy goost it shal not be forgeuen him, nether in this worlde, ner in the worlde to come.

Either make the tre good and his frute good also, 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 6. c or els make the tre euel & his frute euel also. For the tre is knowne by the frute. O ye generaciō of vypers, how can ye speake good, whan ye youre selues are euell? For of ye abundāce of ye hert ye mouth speaketh. 〈…〉 A good man out of the good treasure of his hert, bringeth forth good thinges: & an euel man out of his euell treasure, bringeth forth euell thinges. But I saye vnto you, that of euery ydell worde that mē haue spoken, they shal geue accomptes at ye daye of iudgmēt. Out of thy wordes thou shalt be iustified, L c. 9. b Reg. 1. c & out of thy wordes thou shalt be cōdemned.

Then answered certayne of the scrybes and Pharises, and sayde: Master, we wolde fayne se a tokē of the. And he answered and saide vnto thē: 〈◊〉 . 1 . a 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 . 11. c This euell and aduouterous generacion seketh a token: and there shal no token be geuen thē, but the token of the prophete Ionas. 〈…〉 For as Ionas was thre dayes and thre nightes in the Whalles bely, so shal the sonne of mā be thre dayes and thre nightes in the hert of the earth. The men of Ninyue shal ryse in the last iudgment with this generacion, 〈◊〉 . 3. b and shal condemne it: for they dyd pēnaunce acordinge to ye preachinge of Ionas. And beholde, here is one greater thē Ionas. The quene of the south shal aryse in the last iudgmēt with this generacion, 〈◊〉 . 10. a 〈◊〉 . 9. a and shal condēne it: for she came from the vttemost partes of the earth, to heare ye wyszdome of Salomon: And lo, here is one greater then Salomon.

Whan the vncleane sprete is gone out of man, 〈◊〉 11. c he walketh thorow dry places, sekinge rest, & fyndeth none. Thē saieth he: I wil turne agayne in to my house, frō whence I wē te out. And whan he cōmeth, he fyndeth it emptye, swepte and garnyshed. Then goeth he his waye, & taketh vnto him seuen other spretes worse then him self: and whan they are entred in, 〈…〉 they dwell there: And the ende of that man is worse then the begynnynge. Euen so shal it go wt this euell generacion.

Whyle he yet talked vnto the people, beholde, his mother & his brethrē stode without desyringe to speake wt him. Then sayde one vnto him: 〈…〉 Beholde, thy mother and thy brethren stonde without, & wolde speake wt the. Neuertheles he answered & sayde vnto him that tolde him: Who is my mother? & who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hande ouer his disciples, & sayde: Beholde my mother and my brethrē. For who soeuer doth ye wyll of my father which is in heauē, Iohā. 15. the same is my brother, sister and mother.

The XIII. Chapter.

THe same daye wente Iesus out of ye house, and sat by the see syde, Marc. 4. Luc. 8. a & moch people resorted vnto him: so yt he wē te in to a shyppe and satt him downe, and all the people stode vpō the shore. And he spake many thinges vnto thē in symilitudes, sayenge: Beholde, The sower wente forth to sowe: and as he sowed, some fell by the waye syde: Then came the foules, & ate it vp. Some fell vpon stony grounde, & anone it spronge vp, because it had no depth of earth: But whan the Sonne arose, it caught heate: and for so moch as it had no rote, it withred awaye. Some fell amōge the thornes, & the thornes grewe vp, and choked it. Some fell vpō good groūde, & gaue frute: some an hundreth folde, some sixtie folde, some thirtie folde. Who so hath eares to heare, let hī heare.

And the disciples came vnto him, and sayde: Why speakest thou to thē by parables? Marc. 4. Luc. 8. b He answered and sayde vnto thē: Vnto you it is geuen to knowe the mystery of the kingdome of heauen,2. Cor. 3. Mat. 25. c Marc. 4. Luc. 8. b and 19. c but vnto them it is not geuen. For whoso hath, vnto him shal be geuē, and he shal haue abundaunce. But who so hath not, from him shalbe taken awaye, euē that he hath. Therfore speake I vnto thē by parables, for with seynge eyes they se not, & with hearinge eares they heare not, for they vnderstonde it not. And in them is fulfilled ye prophecie of Esay, which sayeth: Esa. 6. b Marc. 4. Luc. 8. b Iohā. 12. c Act. 28. d Rom. 11. Ye shal heare in dede, and shal not vnderstonde: and with seinge eyes shal ye se, and not perceaue. For ye hert of this people is waxed grosse, & their eares are thick of hearīge, & their eyes haue they closed, lest they shulde once se wt ye eyes, & heare wt the eares, & vnderstōde wt the hert, & turne, that I might heale them.

But blessed are youre eyes, for they se: & youre eares, for they heare. Verely I saye vnto you: Luc. 10. c 1. Pet. 1. b Many prophetes & righteous men haue desyred to se ye thinges that ye se, and haue not sene thē: and to heare the thinges that ye heare, and haue not herde thē. Heare ye therfore the parable of the sower. Marc. 4. b Luc. 8. b Whan one heareth ye worde of the kyngdome, and vnderstondeth it not, the euell man cōmeth, and plucketh it awaye that is sowne in his hert: & this is he yt is sowne by the waye syde. But he yt is sowne in the stonye grounde, is this: whā one heareth the worde, & anone with ioye receaueth it: neuertheles he hath no rote ī him, but endureth for a season: whā trouble & persecucion aryseth because of the worde, immediatly he his offended. As for him that is sowne amonge ye thornes, this is he: Whā one heareth the worde, & the carefulnes of this worlde, & the disceatfulnes of riches choke the worde, & so he becōmeth vnfrutefull. But he yt is sowne in the good grounde, is this: whan one heareth the worde, and vnderstondeth it, and bringeth forth frute: and some geueth an hūdreth folde, some sixtie folde, and some thirtie folde.

Another parable put he forth vnto thē, & sayde: The kyngdome of heauē is like vnto a man, arc. 4. c yt sowed good sede in his felde. But whyle mē slepte, there came an enemye, and sowed tares amonge ye wheate, & wente his waye. Now whā the blade was sprōge vp & brought forth frute, thē ye tares appeared also. Then came the seruaūtes to ye housholder, & sayde vnto him: Syr, sowdest not thou good sede in ye felde? Frō whēce thē hath it tares? He sayde vnto thē: that hath the enemye done. Thē sayde ye seruaūtes: wilt thou then yt we go & wede thē out? He sayde: No, lest whyle ye wede out ye tares, ye plucke vp the wheate also wt thē. Let thē both growe together tyll the haruest, and in tyme of haruest I wil saye vnto the reapers: Gather ye tares first, & bynde thē in sheeues to be brēt: but gather the wheate in to my barne.

Another parable put he forth vnto thē, and sayde: The kyngdome of heauen is like vnto a grane of mustarde sede, which a man toke, Marc. 4. c Luc. 33. b and sowed it in his felde. Which is the leest amonge all sedes. But whan it is growne, it is the greatest amonge herbes, and is a tre: so that the byrdes vnder the heauen come and dwell in the braunches of it.

Another parable spake he vnto thē: The kyngdome of heauē is like vnto leuē, Luc. 13. b which a woman toke, and myxte it amonge thre peckes of meele, tyll all was leuended.

All soch thinges spake Iesus vnto ye people by parables, Marc. 4. d & without parables spake he nothinge vnto thē: yt the thinge might be fulfilled, which was spokē by ye prophet, sayenge: I wil open my mouth in parables, and wil speake out the secretes from the begynnynge of the worlde. Psal. 77. a

Then sent Iesus the people awaye, and came home. And his disciples came vnto hī, and sayde: Declare vnto us ye parable of ye tares of ye felde. Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them: He that soweth the good sede, is the sonne of man: the felde is the worlde: ye good sede are the childrē of the kyngdome: The tares are the children of wickednes: ye enemye that soweth thē, is the deuell: ye haruest is the ende of the worlde: ye reapers are ye angels. For like as ye tares are weded out, Apo. 14 and brent in the fyre, euē so shal it go in ye ende of this worlde. The sonne of man shal sende forth his angels, & they shal gather out of his kingdome all thinges yt offende, & thē yt do iniquyte, & shal cast thē in to a fornace of fyre, there shalbe waylinge and gnaszhinge of teth. Dan. •• . a Sap. 3. b 2. Cor. 〈…〉 Thē shal the righteous shyne as the Sonne, in the kyngdome of their father. Who so hath eares to heare, let him heare.

Agayne, the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a treasure hyd in the felde, which a mā founde and hid it, and for ioye therof he wē te & solde all yt he had, and bought yt felde.

Agayne, the kyngdome of heauen is like vnto a marchaūt, yt sought good pearles: & whā he had founde a precious pearle, he wē te and solde all that he had, & bought it. Phil. .

Agayne, ye kyngdome of heauē is like vnto a nett cast in to ye see, wherwith are takē all maner of fyshes: & whā it is ful, mē drawe it out vnto ye shore, & sytt & gather ye good ī to the vessels, but cast the bad awaye. So shal it be also in ye ende of ye worlde. Mat. 〈…〉 The angels shal go out, & seuer the bad frō the righteous, & shal cast thē in to a fornace of fyre, there shalbe waylinge & gnaszhinge of teth. Mat. ••

And Iesus sayde vnto them: Haue ye vnderstōde all these thinges? They sayde: 〈…〉 Luc. 4. Yee LORDE. Then sayde he vnto thē: Therfore euery scribe taught vnto ye kingdome of heauen, is like an houszholder, which bryngeth out of his treasure thinges new and olde.

And it came to passe whā Iesus had ended these parables, he departed thence, and came into his owne coūtre, and taught thē in their synagoges: in so moch, that they were astonnyed and sayde: Whēce cōmeth soch wyszdome & power vnto him? 〈…〉 Is not this the carpēters sonne? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brethrē Iames & Ioses, and Symon and Iude? And are not all his sisters here with us? Whence hath he thē all these thinges? And they were offended at him. But Iesus sayde vnto thē: Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohā. 〈…〉 A prophet is nowhere lesse sett by, thē at home & amonge his owne. And he dyd not many miracles there, because of their vnbeleue.

The XIIII. Chapter.

AT that tyme Herode ye Tetrarcha herde of ye fame of Iesu, Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 & sayde vnto his seruaūtes: This is Ihō ye baptist. He is rysen agayne frō the deed, therfore are his dedes so mightie. 〈…〉 For Herode had takē Ihō bounde hī, & put him in preson for Herodias sake his brothers Philips wife. For Ihon sayde vnto him: 〈1 paragraph〉 It is not laufull for yt to haue her. And fayne wolde he haue put him to death, but he feared the people, because they helde him for a Prophet. 〈◊〉 21. b

Gen. 40. c But whan Herode helde his byrth daye, the doughter of Herodias daunsed before-thē, Marc. 6. c and that pleased Herode well, wherfore he promysed her with an ooth, yt he wolde geue her, whatsoeuer she wolde axe. And she (beynge instructe of hir mother afore) sayde: geue me Ihon baptistes heade in a platter. And the kynge was sory. Neuertheles for ye ooth sake, & thē yt sat with him at ye table, he cōmaunded it to be geuen her, and sent, & beheeded Ihon in the preson. And his heed was brought in a platter, and geuen to the damsell, & she brought it vnto her mother. Then came his disciples, and toke his body, and buried it, and wente and tolde Iesus.

Whan Iesus hetde yt, he departed thence by shippe in to a desert place alone. Marc. 6. d 〈◊〉 . 9. b ohā. 6. a And whā the people herde therof, they folowed him on fote out of ye cities. And Iesus wē te forth, and sawe moch people, and had pytie vpon them, and healed their sicke. But at euen his disciples came vnto him, & saide: This is a deserte place, and ye night falleth omlet ye people departe from the, that they maye go in to the townes, and bye them vytayles. But Iesus sayde vnto them: They nede not go awaye, geue ye thē to eate. Thē saide they vnto him: We haue here but fyue loaues and two fyshes. And he sayde: bringe thē hither. And he cōmaunded ye people to syt downe vpon the grasse, and toke ye fyue loaues and two fiszhes, and loked vp towarde heauen, and gaue thankes, and brake and gaue the loaues vnto the disciples, and the disciples gaue them to the people. And they all ate, and were suffised. And they gathered vp of the broken meate that remayned ouer, twolue baszkettes full. And they yt ate, were aboute a fyue thousande men, besyde wemen and children.

And straight waye Iesus made his disciples to entre in to a shippe, Marc. 6. c 〈◊〉 6. b & to go ouer before hī, tyll he had sent ye people awaye. And whan he had sent the people awaye, he wē te vp in to a mountayne alone, to make his prayer. 〈◊〉 6. b And at euen he was there him self alone. And ye shippe was allready in ye myddest of the see, & was tost wt wawes, for the winde was cōtrary. But in ye fourth watch of ye night Iesus came vnto thē, walkinge vpon the see. And whan his disciples sawe him goinge vpon the see, they were afrayed, sayenge: It is some sprete, and cried out for feare. But straight waye Iesus spake vnto them, and sayde: Be of good cheare, it is I, be not afrayed.

Peter answered him, & saide: LORDE, yf it be thou, byd me come vnto the vpon ye water. And he sayde: come on ye waye. And Peter stepte out of the shippe, & wēte vpon the water, to come vnto Iesus. But whan he sawe a mightie wynde, he was afrayed, & begāne to synke, & cried, sayenge: LORDE, helpe me. And īmediatly Iesus stretched forth his hande, & caught him, & sayde vnto him: O thou of litle faith, wherfore doutest thou? And they wente in to the shippe, Marc. 6. & the wynde ceased. Then they that were in ye shippe, came & fell downe before him, & sayde: Of a trueth thou art ye sonne of God. And they shipped ouer, & came in to the lōde of Genazereth. And whā ye mē of yt place had knowlege of hī, they sent out in to all that coūtre rounde aboute, & brought vnto him all that were sicke, & besought him, that they might but touch the hemme of his vesture onely: & as many as touched it, were made whole.

The XV. Chapter.

THen came vnto him the scribes and pharises from Ierusalem, sayenge: Marc. 7 Why do thy disciples transgresse ye tradicions of the elders? for they wash not their hōdes whan they eate bred. He answered & sayde vnto thē: Why do ye transgresse the cōmaundemēt of God, because of youre owne tradiciōs? For God cōmaunded, sayē ge: Honoure father & mother: & he yt curseth father & mother, shal dye the death. Exo. 20. Deu. 5. b and 27. But ye saye: Euery man shal saye to father or mother: The thīge yt I shulde helpe ye withal, is geuē vnto God. Pro. 28. By this is it come to passe, that no man honoureth his father or his mother eny more. And thus haue ye made the cōmaundement of God of none effecte, for youre owne tradiciōs. Ye ypocrites, full well hath Esaye prophecied of you, & sayde: This people draweth nye vnto me wt their mouth, & honoureth me wt their lippes, Esa. 29. c Ezec. 33. howbeit, their hert is farre fro me. But in vayne do they serue me, whyle they teach soch doctrynes as are nothinge but the commaundementes of men.

And he called ye people to hī, & saide vnto thē: Heare & vnderstōde: That which goeth in to the mouth, defyleth not the mā: but yt which cōmeth out of the mouth, defyleth ye mā.

Then came his disciples, & sayde vnto him: knowest thou yt the Pharises were offended, whan they herde this sayenge? He answered, and sayde: All plantes which my heauenly father hath not planted, Act. . shal be pluckte vp by ye rotes. Let thē go, they are ye blynde leaders of ye blynde. •• a. 42. c uc. 6. d Whā one blinde leadeth another, they fall both ī ye diche.

arc. 7. b Then answered Peter & sayde vnto him: Declare vnto vs this parable. And Iesus sayde vnto thē: Are ye yet thē without vnderstondinge? Perceaue ye not, yt what soeuer goeth in at ye mouth, descēdeth downe in to ye bely, & is cast out in to the draught? But the thinge that proceadeth out of the mouth, cōmeth frō ye hert, & that defyleth ye mā. For out of ye hert come euell thoughtes murthur, breakynge of wedlocke, whordome theft, false witnesse, blasphemy. The feare ye thinges that defyle a man. But to eate wt vnwaszhen hondes, defyleth not a man.

And Iesus wente out from thence, & departed in to the coastes of Tyre of Sidon. Marc. 7. c And beholde, a womā of Canaan wēte out of ye same coastes, & cried after him, sayēge: O LORDE, thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercy vpon me. My doughter is sore vexed wt a deuell. And he answered her neuer a worde. Thē came his disciples vnto him, & besought him, sayēge: Sēde her awaye, for she crieth after us. But he answered, & saide: I am not sent, uc. 19. a but vnto the lost shepe of the house of Israel. Notwithstondinge she came & fell downe before him, & sayde: LORDE, helpe me. He answered & sayde: It is not good, to take the childrens bred, & to cast it vnto dogges. It is trueth LORDE (sayde she) Neuertheles the whelpes eate of the crommes, that fall frō their lordes table. Then answered Iesus & sayde vnto her: O womā, greate is ye faith be it vnto the, euē as thou desyrest. And hir doughter was made hole at ye same houre.

And Iesus departed thēce, and came nye vnto the see of Galile, and wente vp in to a mountayne, and sat downe there, And there came vnto him moch people, hauinge with them, lame, blynde, dōme, crepell, and other many, and cast them downe at Iesus fete. And he healed thē, sa 35. a in so moch that the people wōdred, to sethe dōme speake, the crepell whole, the halt to go, & the blynde to se. And they praysed the God of Israel.

And Iesus called his disciples vnto him, & sayde: Marc. 8. a I haue cōpassion vpon the people, for they haue cōtynued wt me now thre dayes, & haue nothinge to eate, & I wil not let thē departe fastynge, lest they perishe in ye waye. And his disciples sayde vnto him: Whence shulde we get so moch bred in the wyldernes, that we might satiszfie so moch people? And Iesus sayde vnto thē: How many loaues haue ye? They sayde: seuē, & a few litle fyshes. And he cōmaunded ye people to syt downe vpō the grounde, and toke ye seuē loaues, & the fyshes, & gaue thankes & brake thē, & gaue thē to his disciples, & ye disciples gaue thē vnto the people. And they all ate, & were suff sed. And they toke vp of the brokē meate yt was left, seuen baszkettes full. And they yt ate, were foure thousande mē, besyde wemen and children. And whan he had sent awaye the people, he wente in to a shippe, & came in to the parties of Magdala.

The XVI. Chapter.

THen came the Pharises & Saduces vnto him, & tēpted him, Marc. Iohā requyringe him to shewe thē a tokē from heauē. But he answered, & sayde: At euē ye saye: Luc. •• . I wil be fayre wedder. for ye szkye is reed. And in ye mornynge, ye saye: It wil be foule wedder to daye, for the szkye is reed, & gloometh. O ye ypocrytes, ye can discerne the fashion of ye szkye: can ye not thē discerne the tokēs of these tymes also? This euell and aduouterous generaciō seketh a tokē, Ma . •• & there shal no tokē be geuē thē, but the tokē of ye prophet Ionas. So he left thē, and departed. 〈…〉

And whā his disciples were come to the other syde of the water, Marc •• they had forgotten to take bred wt them. Iesus sayde vnto thē: Take hede & bewarre of the leuē of ye Pharises & of the Saduces. 〈…〉 Thē thought they in thē selues, sayēge: We haue takē no bred wt us. Whē Iesus perceaued yt, he sayde to thē: O ye of litle faith, why are ye combred (in yor mindes (because ye haue takē no bred wt you? Do ye not yet perceaue? Remembre ye not those fyue loaues, Mat. 〈…〉 whē there were fyue thousande mē, and how many baszkettes toke ye vp? Mat. 〈…〉 Nether ye seuē loaues whan there were foure thousande men, & how many baskettes toke ye vp? Why perceaue ye not then, yt I spake not to you of bred, whē I saide: bewarre of ye leuē of ye Pharises & of ye Saduces? Thē vnderstode they, how yt he bad not thē bewarre of the leuē of bred, but of ye doctryne of the Pharises and of the Saduces.

Then came Iesus in to the coastes of the cite Cesarea Philippi, & axed his disciples & saide: Whō do mē saie, 〈…〉 yt ye sonne of mā is? They sayde: Some saye, yt thou art Ihō the baptist, Some yt thou art Elias, Some yt thou art Ieremy, or one of ye prophetes. He saide to thē: But whō saye ye yt I am? Thē answered Symō Peter and saide: Thou art Christ ye sonne of ye lyuinge God. 〈…〉 And Iesus answered, & saide vnto hī: Blessed art thou Symō ye sonne of Ionas, for flesh & bloude hath not opened yt vnto the, 〈…〉 but my father yt is in heauē. And I saie to ye: Thou art Peter, & 〈1 paragraph〉 vpō this rocke wil I builde my cōgregacion: and ye gates of hell shal not preuayle agaynst it. 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 18. b M •• . 18. b Iohā. 20. c And the keyes of heauen wil I geue vnto the: Whatsoeuer thou shalt bynde vpon earth, shalbe bounde also in heauen: & whatsoeuer thou shalt lowse vpon earth, shalbe lowsed also in heauē. Then charged he his disciples, that they shulde tell no mā that he was Iesus Christ.

From that tyme forth beganne Iesus to shew vnto his disciples, Marc. 8. d uc. 9. c how that he must go vnto Ierusalē, and suffre many thinges of the elders, and of the hye prestes, and of the scrybes, and be put to death, and ryse againe the thirde daye. But Peter toke him asyde, and beganne to rebuke him, sayenge: LORDE, fauoure thy self, let not this happen vnto the. Neuertheles he turned him aboute, 〈…〉 19. d & sayde vnto Peter: Auoyde fro me Sathā, thou hindrest me, for thou sauourest not ye thinges that be of God, but of men.

Ma . 0. c arc. . c 〈◊〉 . 9. c 〈◊〉 14. d •• hā. 12. c Then sayde Iesus vnto his disciples: Yf eny man wil folowe me, let him forsake him self, & take vp his crosse, and folowe me. For who so wil saue his life, shal lose it: but who so loseth his life for my sake, shal fynde it. What helpeth it a man though he wanne the whole worlde, and yet suffred harme in his soule? Or what can a man geue, to redeme his soule withall? For it wil come to passe, that the sonne of mā shal come in the glory of his father with his angels, and then shal he rewarde euery one acordinge to his dedes. 〈…〉 Verely I saye vnto you: there stonde here some, arc. 8. e 〈◊〉 9. c which shal not taist of death, tyll they se ye sonne of mā come in his kingdome.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd after sixe dayes Iesus toke Peter Iames, arc. 9. a 〈◊〉 9. d and Ihon his brother, and brought them vp in to an hye mountayne out of the waye, and was transfigured before thē: & his face shone as ye Sonne, and his clothes were as white as the light. And beholde, there appeared vnto thē Moses and Elias talkinge with him. Then answered Peter, and sayde vnto Iesus: LORDE, here is good beynge for us. Yf thou wilt, let us make here thre tabernacles: one for the, one for Moses, and one for Elias. Whyle he yet spake, 〈◊〉 42. a 〈◊〉 3. b beholde, a bright cloude ouershadowed them: and lo, there came a voyce out of the cloude, •• rc. 1. a 〈◊〉 1. d 〈◊〉 13. c saienge: This is my deare sonne, in whom I delyte, heare him. Whan ye disciples herde that, they fell vpon their faces, and were sore afrayed. But Iesus came and touched them, and sayde: Aryse, and be not afrayed. And whan they loked vp, they sawe no man, but Iesus onely.

And whā they came downe frō ye mountayne, Iesus charged them, and sayde: Marc. 9. Tell no man of this vision, tyll the sonne of man be rysen agayne from ye deed. And his disciples axed him, and sayde: Why saye the scrybes then, that Elias must first come? Iesus answered and sayde vnto them: Mal. 3. d Elias shall come first in dede, and bringe all thinges to r •• ht agayne. But I saye vnto you: Elias is come all ready, & they knewe him not, but haue done vnto him what they wolde. Euē so shal also the sonne of man suffre of them. Then the disciples perceaued, that he spake vnto them of Ihon the baptist.

And whan they were come to the people, Marc. 9. Luc. 9. d there came vnto him a certayne man, and kneled vnto him, and sayde: LORDE, haue mercy vpon my sonne, for he is lunatike, & sore vexed. He falleth oft tymes in to ye fyre, and oft in to ye water: and I brought him vnto thy disciples, and they coude not heale him. Iesus answered, and sayde: O thou faithles and frowarde generacion, how longe shal I be with you? How longe shal I suffre you? Bringe him hitherto me. And Iesus rebuked him, and ye deuyll wēte out of him, and ye childe was healed, euen that same houre.

Then came the disciples vnto Iesus secretly, & sayde: Marc. 9. Why coude not we cast him out? Iesus sayde vnto them: Because of youre vnbeleue. For I saye verely vnto you? Mat. 21. c Luc. 17. a Yf ye haue faith as a grane of mustarde sede, ye maye saye vnto this mountayne: Remoue hence to yonder place, and he shal remoue, nether shal eny thinge be vnpossible vnto you. How beit this kinde goeth not out, but by prayer and fastynge.

Whyle they occupied in Galile, Iesus sayde vnto them: it wil come to passe, that the sonne of man shalbe delyuered in to the hondes of men, and they shal kyll him, and the thirde daye shal he aryse agayne. And they were very sory. Now whā they were come to Capernaum, they that receaued ye tribute money, came to Peter, and sayde: Doth youre master paye tribute? He sayed: yee And when he was come home, Iesus preuented him, and sayde: What thinkest thou Symon? Of whom do the kynges of the earth take toll or tribute? Of their children, or of straungers? Then sayde Peter to him: Of straungers. Iesus sayde vnto him: Mat. 22. c Then are ye children fre. Neuertheles lest we offende them, go thy waye to the see, and cast thine angle, and take the fysh that first cōmeth vp, and whan thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt fynde a pece of twenty pens, take that, and geue it them forme and the.

The XVIII. Chapter.

AT the same tyme came the disciples vnto Iesus, Marc. 9. d uc. 9. c and sayde: Who is the greatest in the kyngdome of heauen? And Iesus called a childe vnto him, and set him in the myddest amonge them, and sayde: Verely I saye vnto you: Excepte ye turne and become as children, ye shal not entre in to the kyngdome of heauen. . Pet. . a Whosoeuer therfore humbleth him self as this childe, ye same is the greatest in ye kyngdome of heauen. And who so receaueth soch a childe in my name, receaueth me. But who so offendeth one of these litle ones which beleue in me, Marc. 9. c Luc. 17. a it were better for him, that a mylstone were hanged aboute his neck, and he drowned in the depth of the see.

Wo vnto the worlde because of slaūders. Yee there must slaunders come: . Cor. 11. b but wo vnto that man, by whom slaunder commeth. But yf thy hande or thy fote offende the, Mat. 5. d Marc. 9. c cut him of, and cast him from the. It is better for yt to entre in vnto life lame or crepell, thē yt thou shuldest haue two hōdes or two fete, and be cast in to euerlastinge fyre. And yf thyne eye offende the, Deu. 13. a plucke it out, & cast it from the. Better it is for the to entre in vnto life with one eye, thē to haue two eyes, and to be cast in to hell fyre.

Take hede, yt ye despyse not one of these litle ones. For I saye vnto you: their angels do alwaye beholde the face of my father which is in heauen: for the sonne of man is come to saue that which is lost. How thinke ye? Yf a man haue an hundreth shepe, and one of thē be gone astraye, Luc. 15. a doth not he leaue the nyentie and nyene in the mountaynes, and goeth, and seketh that one which is gone astraye? And yf it happen that he fynde it, verely I saye vnto you: he reioyseth more ouer it, then ouer the nyentie & nyene which wēte not astraye. Euen so is it not the will before youre father in heauen, that one of these litle ones shulde perishe.

Yf thy brother trespace agaynst the, go and tell him his faute betwene the and him alone. Luc. 17. a Eccli. 17. b Deut. 19. d Yf he heare the, thou hast wōne thy brother. But yf he heare the not, then take yet with the one or two, that in the mouth of two or thre wytnesses, Num. 25. d Deut. 17. b and 19. c . Cor. 13. a euery matter maye be stablyshed. Yf he heare not them, tell it vnto the congregacion. Yf he hea e not the cōgregacion, holde him as an Heithen and Publican. Verely I saye vnto you: what soeuer ye shal bynde vpon earth, Mat. 16. c shalbe boūde also in heauen: & what soeuer ye lowse vpon earth, shalbe lowsed also in heauē. Agayne, I saye vnto you: Yf two of you shal agree vpon earth (for what thinge soeuer it be yt they wolde desyre) they shal haue it of my father which is in heauē. For where two or thre are gathered together ī my name, Luc. 4 b there am I in the myddest amonge them.

Then came Peter vnto him, & sayde, LORDE, how oft shal I forgeue my brother, Mat. 〈…〉 Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 1 . a yt trespaceth agaynst me? Seuē tymes? Iesus saide vnto hī: I saye not vnto ye seuē tymes, but seuētie tymes seuen tymes. Therfore is ye kingdome of heauē lickened vnto a kynge which wolde reken wt his seruauntes. And whan he beganne to rekē, one was brought vnto him, which ought him ten thousande poūde. Now whā he had nothinge to paye his lorde cōmaunded him to be solde, & his wife & his childrē, & all yt he had, & payment to be made. Then the seruaunt fell downe, & besought him, sayenge: Syr, haue paciēce wt me, and I wil paye the all. Then had the lorde pytie on that seruaunt, & discharged him, and forgaue him the det .

And the same seruaunt wēte out, & foūde one of his felowes, which ought him an hū dreth pens, and layed hande vpon him, and toke him by the throte, and sayde: paye me that thou owest. Thē his felowe fell downe, and besought him, sayenge: haue paciēce wt me, and I wil paye the all Neuertheles, he wolde not, but wente and cast him into preson, tyll he shulde paye the dett. Whan his felowes sawe what was done, they were very sory, and came and tolde their lorde all that had happened. Then his lorde called for him, and sayde vnto him: Iaco. 4. O thou wicked seruaūt, I forgaue the all this dett, because thou praydest me: shuldest not thou then haue had compassion also vpon thy felowe, euen as I had pytie vpon the? And his lorde was wroth, and delyuered him vnto the iaylers, tyll he payed all that he ought. Mat. . Marc. So shal my heauenly father do also vnto you, yf ye euery one of you frō youre hertes, forgeue not his brother his trespaces.

The XIX. Chapter.

ANd it came to passe, whā Iesus had ended these sayenges, 〈…〉 he gat him frō Galile, & came ī to ye coastes of Iewry beyonde Iordane, & moch people folowed him, and he healed them there.

Then came vnto him the Pharises & tēpted him, & sayde vnto him: Is it laufull for a man to put awaye his wife for eny maner of cause? He answered & sayde vnto thē: Haue ye not red, how yt he which made (man) at the begynnynge, made thē mā & womā, & sayde: Gen. 2. d For this cause shal a mā leaue father & mother, & cleue vnto his wife, & they two shalbe one fleshe. Now are they not twayne then, but one flesh. Let not man therfore put a sunder, yt which God hath coupled together.

Then sayde they: Why dyd Moses then cōmaunde to geue a testimonyall of deuorsement, 〈◊〉 24. a 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 c & to put her awaye? He sayde vnto thē: Moses (because of ye hardnes of yo hertes) suffred you to put awaye youre wyues: Neuertheles frō the begynnynge it hath not bene so. 〈◊〉 3. d •• c. 10. a 〈◊〉 16. d But I saye vnto you: Whosoeuer putteth awaye his wife (excepte it be for fornicacion) and marieth another, breaketh wedlocke. And who so marieth her yt is deuorced, commytteth aduoutrye.

Then sayde his disciples vnto him: Yf ye matter be so betwene mā and wife, thē is it not good to mary. But he sayde vnto them: All mē can not cōprehende yt sayenge, saue they to whō it is geuē. 〈…〉 For there be some gelded, which are so borne from their mothers wombe: and there be some gelded, which are gelded of men: & there be some gelded, which haue gelded thē selues for the kyngdome of heauens sake. He that can cōprehende it, let him comprehende it.

•• rc. 10. b 〈…〉 b Then were brought vnto him yōge children, yt he shulde put his hondes vpon thē, & praye. And ye disciples rebuked them. But Iesus sayde: Suffre ye childrē, & forbyd thē not to come vnto me, for vnto soch belōgeth the kyngdome of heauen. And whā he had layed his hōdes vpō thē, he departed thēce.

And beholde, one came vnto him, and sayde: 〈◊〉 10. b 〈◊〉 11. c Good master, what good shal I do, yt I maye haue the euer lastinge life? He sayde vnto him: Why callest thou me good? there is none good, 〈…〉 but God onely. Neuertheles yf thou wilt entre into life, kepe ye 〈◊〉 20. d 〈◊〉 4. a 〈◊〉 5. a cōmaū demētes. Thē sayde, he vnto him: Which? Iesus saide: Thou shalt not kyll: thou shalt not breake wedlocke: thou shalt not steale: thou shalt beare no false wytnes: 〈◊〉 13. b Honoure father and mother: and thou shalt loue thy neghboure as thy self. 〈…〉 Then sayde the yonge mā vnto him: All these haue I kepte fro my youth vp: what lack I yet? Iesus sayde vnto him: Yf thou wilt be perfecte, go thy waye and sell that thou hast, 〈…〉 & geue it vnto the poore, and thou shalt haue a treasure in heauen, 〈…〉 and come and folowe me. Whan ye yonge man herde yt worde, he wente awaye sory, for he had greate possessions.

Iesus sayde vnto his disciples: Verely I saie vnto you: Marc. 10. c Luc. 1 . c it shalbe harde for a rich man to entre in to the kyngdome of heauē. And morouer I saye vnto you: It is easier for a Camell to go thorow the eye of a nedle, thē for a rich man to entre in to the kyngdome of heauen. Whan his disciples herde that, they were exceadingly amased, and sayde: Who can thē be saued? Neuertheles Iesus behelde them, and sayde vnto them: With men it is vnpossyble, but with God all thinges are possyble. Zach. 8. a

Then answered Peter & sayde vnto him: Marc. 10. c Luc. 18. c Mat. 4. c Beholde, we haue forsakē all, and folowed the: What shal we haue therfore? Iesus sayde vnto thē: Verely I saye vnto you: that when the sonne of man shal sytt in the seate of his maiestye, Luc. 21. b ye which haue folowed me in the new byrth, shal syt also vpon twolue seates, and iudge ye twolue trybes of Israel. Sap. 5. a And who so euer forsaketh houses or brethrē, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, Deu. 33. b or children, or londes, for my names sake, the same shal receaue an hundreth folde, and inheret euerlastinge life. But many that be the first, shalbe the last: Mat. 20. b Luc. 13. c and the last shalbe the first.

The XX. Chapter.

THe kyngdome of heauen is like vnto an housholder, which wēte out early in the mornynge, to hyre labourers in to his vyniarde. And whā he had agreed with the labourers for a peny a daye, he sent thē in to his vynyarde. And aboute ye thirde houre he wente out, and sawe other stondinge ydle in the market place, and sayde vnto them: Go ye also in to my vynyarde, & what so euer is right, I wil geue it you. And they wēte their waye. Agayne, he wēte out aboute the sixte and nyenth houre, and dyd likewyse, And aboute the eleuenth houre he wē te out, and founde other stōdynge ydle, and sayde vnto them: Why stonde ye here all the daye ydle? They sayde vnto him: because no man hath hyred us. He saide vnto thē: Go ye also in to my vinyarde, and loke what is right, ye shal haue it. Now whan euen was come, the lorde of the vynyarde sayde vnto his stewarde: Call the labourers, and geue them their hyre, begynnynge from the last vnto ye first. Then they that were hyred aboute the eleuenth houre, came and receaued euery man a peny. But whan the first came, they supposed that they shulde receaue more: and they also receaued euery man a peny. And whan they had receaued it, they murmured agaynst the housholder, and sayde: These last haue wrought but one houre, and thou hast made thē equall vnto us, which haue borne the burthen and heate of the daye. He answered and sayde vnto one of them: frende, I do ye no wronge: diddest not thou agree with me for a peny? Take that thine is, and go thy waye. I wil geue vnto this last also, like as vnto the. Or haue I not power, Rom. 11. c to do as me listeth with myne owne? Is thine eye euell, because I am good? So the last shalbe the first, & the first the last. Mat. 19. d Marc. 10. c Luc. 13. c Mat. 22. b For many are called, but few are chosen.

And Iesus wente vp to Ierusalem, and toke the twolue disciples asyde in the waye, Mar. 10. d Luc. 18. d and sayde vnto them: Beholde, we go vp to Ierusalem, and the sonne of man shalbe delyuered vnto the hye prestes and scribes: & they shal condemne him to death, and shal delyuer him vnto ye Heithen, to be mocked to be scourged, and to be crucified. And the thirde daye he shal ryse agayne.

Then came vnto him the mother of Zebedes childrē with hir sonnes, fell downe before him, Mar. 10. d and desyred a certayne thinge of hī. And he saide vnto her: What wilt thou? She sayde vnto him: Let these two sonnes of myne syt in thy kyngdome: the one vpon thy right honde, & the other vpon thy left honde. But Iesus answered, and sayde: Ye wote not what ye axe. Maye ye drynke the cuppe, that I shal drynke? & to be baptised with the baptyme, that I shalbe baptysed withall? They sayde vnto him: Yee that we maye. And he sayde vnto them: My cuppe truly shal ye drynke, & with the baptyme yt I shal be baptysed withall, shal ye be baptysed: Neuertheles to syt vpon my right honde & on my left, is not myne to geue, but vnto thē for whō it is prepared of my father. Mat. 25. c

Whan the ten herde that, they disdayned at the two brethren. Marc. 9. d and 10. e Luc. 9. c and 2. b But Iesus called them vnto him, and sayde: Ye knowe that ye prynces of the worlde haue domynacion of the people, and the greatest Some reade * The greatest deale with violence exercise power amonge thē. It shal not be so amonge you. But who so euer wyl be greate amonge you, let him be youre mynister: & who soeuer wyl be chefe, let him be youre seruaunt: Euen as the sonne of man came, not to be serued, but to do seruyce, and to geue his life to a redēpcion for many.

And when they departed from Iericho, moch people folowed him: Marc. 10. e Luc. 18. d and beholde, two blyndemen sat by the waye syde: And when they herde that Iesus passed by, they cried & sayde. O LORDE, thou sonne Dauid, haue mercy vpon vs. But ye people rebuked thē, that they shulde holde their peace. Neuertheles they cried the more, & sayde: O LORDE, thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercy vpon vs. And Iesus stode styll, and called them, and sayde: What wil ye, yt I shal do vnto you? They sayde vnto him: LORDE, that oure eyes maye be opened. And Iesus had compassion vpon them, and touched their eyes: & immediatly their eies receaued sight. And they folowed him.

The XXI. Chapter.

NOw whan they drew nye vnto Ierusalem, Marc. •• . Luc. 19. c and were come to Bethphage vnto mount Oliuete, Iesus sent two of his disciples, and sayde vnto them: Go in to the towne that lyeth before you, & anone ye shal fynde an Asse bounde, and hi foale with her: lowse them, and brynge thē vnto me. And yf eny man saye ought vnto you, saye ye: the LORDE hath nede of thē, And straight waye he wil let them go. But all this was done, that the thinge might be fulfylled, which was spoken by the prophet, sayenge: Tell the doughter of Sion: Zac . 〈…〉 Esa. 〈…〉 beholde, thy kynge commeth vnto ye meke, syttinge vpon an Asse and a foale of ye Asse vsed to the yocke. The disciples wente, and dyd as Iesus commaunded them, and brought the Asse and the foale, & layed their clothes vpon them, and set him theron. But many of the people spred their garmentes in the waye: Iohā. 〈…〉 other cut downe braunches from the trees, and strawed them in the waye. As for the people that wente before and that came after, they cryed and sayde: Hosianna vnto the sonne of Dauid, Psal. 〈…〉 Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the LORDE, Hosianna in the height.

And whan he was come into Ierusalem, all the cite was moued, and sayde: Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohā. 〈…〉 Iohā. 〈…〉 Who is this? And the people sayde: This is Iesus ye prophet of Nazareth out of Galile. And Iesus wente in to the tēple of God, and cast out all them that bought and solde in the tē ple, and ouerthrew the tables of the money chaungers, and the seates of them that solde doues, and sayde vnto them: It is wryttē: My house shalbe called ye house of prayer, 〈…〉 but ye haue made it a denne of murthurers. The blynde also and ye lame came vnto him in the temple, and he healed them.

But whan the hye prestes and the scrybes sawe the wonders that he dyd, and the children crienge in the temple and sayenge Hosianna vnto the sonne of Dauid, they disdayned, and sayde vnto him: Hearest thou what these saye? Iesus sayde vnto them: 〈…〉 Yee. Haue ye neuer red: Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklinges thou hast ordeyned prayse? And he left them there, and wente out of the cite vnto Bethania, 〈…〉 and there abode ouer night.

〈◊〉 11. c But in the mornynge as he returned in to the cite, he hūgred. And in the waye he sawe a fygge tre, and came vnto it, and founde nothinge theron, 〈…〉 but leaues onely, and sayde vnto it: Neuer frute growe on the from hence forth. And immediatly the fygge tre wythred awaye. And whan his disciples sawe that, they marueyled, and sayde. How is ye fygge tre wythred awaye so soone? Iesus answered and sayde vnto them: Verely I saye vnto you: 〈◊〉 17. c 〈◊〉 1 a Yf ye haue faith & doute not, ye shal not onely do this with the fygge tre, but yf ye shal saye vnto this mountayne: Avoyde, and cast thy self in to the see, it shal be done. 〈◊〉 . 11. c 〈◊〉 14. b 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉 . 20. a 〈…〉 d And what soeuer ye axe in prayer, yf ye beleue, ye shal receaue it.

And when he was come in to the tēple, the chefe prestes and the elders of the people came vnto him (as he was teachinge) & sayde: 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 d By what auctorite doest thou these thinges? and who gaue the this auctorite? Iesus answered and sayde vnto them: I wil axe a worde of you also: which yf ye tell me, I in like wyse wyl tell you, by what auctorite I do these thinges. The baptime of Ihō, whēce was it? from heauē, or of men? Then thought they amōge them selues, and saide: Yf we saye it was from heauē, then shal he saye vnto us: Why dyd ye not then beleue him? But yf we saye it was of men, thē feare we the people: 〈◊〉 14. a For euery mā helde Ihon for a prophet. And they answered Iesus, & sayde: We can not tell. Then sayde he vnto them: Nether tell I you, by what auctorite I do these thinges. But what thinke ye? A certayne man had two sonnes, and came to the first, and sayde: Go thy waye my sonne, & worke to daye in my vynyarde. He answered and sayde: I wil not, but afterwarde he repented, and wente. He came also vnto the secōde, and sayde likewyse. And he answered and saide: I wil syr. And wēte not. Whether of them twayne dyd the wil of the father? They sayde vnto him: the first. Iesus sayde vnto thē: Verely I saye vnto you: The publicans and harlottes shal come in to the kyngdome of God before you. 〈…〉 For Ihon came vnto you, and taught you ye right waye and ye beleued him not: but the publicans & harlottes beleued hī. As for you, though ye sawe it, yet were ye not moued with repē taunce, that ye might afterwarde haue •• leued him.

Heare another parable. There was a certayne houszholder which planted a vynyarde, and hedged it roūde aboute, Gen. 9. c Esa 5. a Iere. 12. b Marc. 12. b Luc. 20. a and dygged a wyne presse in it, and built a tower, and let it out vnto huszbandmen, and wente in to a straunge countre. Now whā the tyme of the frute drew neare, he sent his seruaūtes to the huszbandmen, to receaue the frutes of it. Then the huszbandmen caught his seruauntes: one they bett, another they kylled, the thirde they stoned. Agayne, he sent other seruauntes, moo then the first, and they dyd vnto them in like maner. At the last he sent his owne sonne vnto them, and sayde: they wyl stōde in awe of my sonne. But whē the huszbandmē sawe the sonne, they sayde amonge thēselues: This is the Heyre, come, Gen. 7. let us kyl hym, and take his inheritaūce vnto oure selues. And they caught him, and thrust him out of the vynyarde, & slew him. Now whē the lorde of the vynyarde commeth, what wyl he do wt those huszbandmen? They sayde vnto him: He wyl cruelly destroye those euell personnes, & let out his vyniarde vnto other huszbādmen, which shal delyuer him the frute at tymes conuenyent.

Iesus sayde vnto thē: Dyd ye neuer rede in the scriptures: Psal. 117. Act. 4. a 1. Pet. 2. a The same stone which the buylders refused, is become the heade stone in the corner? This was the LORDES doynge, & it is maruelous ī oure eyes Therfore I saie vnto you: The kingdome of God shalbe takē frō you, & shalbe geuē vnto the Heithē, which shal brynge forth ye frutes of it. And who so falleth vpō this stone, Zach. 12. shalbe brokē in peces: & loke vpō whom it falleth, it shal grynde him to poulder. Dan. 2. And when the hye prestes & Pharises herde his parables, Marc 11. Luc. 19. a and 20. b they perceaued, that he spake of them. And they wente aboute to take him, but they feared ye people, because they helde hī for a prophet. Iohā. 7. d

The XXII. Chapter.

ANd Iesus answered, and spake vnto thē agayne by parables, & sayde: The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a kynge, which maried his sonne. Luc. 14. b Apo. 19. b And sent forth his seruauntes, to call the gestes vnto the mariage, & they wolde not come. Agayne, he sent forth other seruauntes, and sayde: Tell the gestes: Beholde, I haue prepared my dynner, myne oxen and my fed catell are kylled, and all thinges are readye, come to the mariage. But they made light of it, and wente their wayes: one to his huszbandrye, another to his marchaundise. As f •• the remnaūt, they toke his seruauntes, and intreated thē shamefully, and slew thē. When the kynge herde that, he was wroth, and sent forth his warryers, and destroyed those murtherers, and set fyre vpon their cite. Then sayde he vnto his seruauntes: The mariage in dede is prepared, but the gestes were not worthy. Go youre waye out therfore into ye hye wayes, and as many as ye fynde, byd them to the mariage. And the seruauntes wēte out in to the hye wayes, and gathered together as many as they coulde fynde, both good and bad, & the tables were all full. Then the kynge wēte in, to se the gestes, and spyed there a man that had not on a weddynge garment, and sayde vnto him: Frende, how camest thou in hither, & hast not on a weddyinge garment? And he was euen spechlesse. Then sayde the kynge vnto his seruauntes: Mat. 1 . f and 25. c Take and bynde him hande and fote, & cast him into ye vtter darcknes: there shal be waylinge and gnaszhinge of teth. Mat. 20. b For many be called, but few are chosē.

Then wente the Pharises, and toke councell, Marc. 12. a Luc. 20. c ohā. 7. d how they might tangle him in his wordes, and sent vnto him their disciples with Herodes officers, and sayde: Master, we knowe that thou art true, and teachest the waye of God truly, and carest for no mā: for thou regardest not the outwarde appearaunce of mē. Tell us therfore, how thinkest thou? Is it laufull to geue tribute vnto the Emperoure, or not? Now whā Iesus perceaued their wickednes, he sayde: O ye ypocrites, why tēpte ye me? Shewe me ye tribute money. And they toke hī a peny. And he saide vnto thē: Whose is this ymage and superscription? They sayde vnto him: The Emperours. Then sayde he vnto them: Geue therfore vnto the Emperour, Mat. 17. d Rom. 13. b that which is the Emperours: and geue vnto God, that which is Gods. When they herde that, they marueyled, and left him, & wēte their waye.

The same daye there came vnto him the Saduces (which holde that there is no resurreccion) and axed him, Mar. 12. b Luc. 20. d Act. 23. a and sayde: Master, Moses sayde: Yf a man dye, hauynge no children, Deut. 25. a his brother shal mary his wife, & rayse vp sede vnto his brother. Now were there with us seuē brethren. The first maried a wife, and dyed: & for somoch as he had no sede, he left his wife vnto his brother. Like wyse the secōde, and thirde vnto the seuēth. Last of all the woman dyed also. Now in the resurreccion, whose wife shal she be of the seuen? For they all had her. Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them: Ye erre, and vnderstō de not the scriptures, ner the power of God. In the resurreccion they shal nether mary, ner be maried, but are as the angels of God in heauen.

As touchinge the resurrecciō of the deed, haue ye notred, what is spoken vnto you of God, which sayeth: I am the God of Abraham, and ye God of Isaac, Exod. 〈…〉 Heb. 〈…〉 and the God of Iacob? Yet is not God a God of the deed, but of the lyuynge. And whan the people herde that, they were astonnyed at his doctryne.

When the Pharises herde, Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 that he had stopped the mouth of the Saduces, they gathered them selues together. And one of them (a Scrybe) tēpted him, and sayde: Master, which is the chefest commaundemēt in the lawe? Iesus saide vnto him: Thou shalt loue the LORDE thy God with all thy hert, Deu. •• and •• with all thy soule, and with all thy mynde: this is the pryncipall and greatest cōmaundement. As for the seconde, it is like vnto it: Thou shalt loue thy neghboure as thyself. 〈…〉 In these two commaundementes hange all the lawe and the prophetes.

Now whyle the Pharises were gathered together, Iesus axed them, and sayde: 〈…〉 What thinke ye of Christ? Whose sonne is he? They sayde vnto him: Dauids. He sayde vnto them: How then doth Dauid in sprete, call him LORDE, sayenge: Psal. 〈…〉 The LORDE sayde vnto my LORDE: Syt thou on my right honde, tyll I make thine enemies thy fote stole. Yf Dauid now call him LORDE, how is he then his sonne? And no man coude answere him one worde, nether durst eny man axe him eny mo questiōs, frō that daye forth.

The XXIII. Chapter.

THen spake Iesus vnto ye people and to his disciples, and sayde: The scrybes & Pharises are set downe vpon Moses seate. Therfore what soeuer they bid you obserue, that obserue and do, 〈…〉 but after their workes shal ye not do, for they saye & do not. 〈…〉 For they bynde heuy and intollerable burthens, and laye them vpon mens shulders: But they them selues wil not heaue at them with one of their fyngers. All their workes do they to be sene of men. They set abrode their 〈1 paragraph〉 Philateries, and make large borders vpon their garmentes, and loue to syt vppermost at the table, and to haue the chefe seates in the synagoges, and loue to be saluted in the market, and to be called of mē Rabbi.

But ye shal not suffre youre selues to be called Rabbi, for one is youre master, euen Christ, and all ye are brethren. And call no man father vpon earth, for one is youre father, which is in heauē. And ye shal not suffre youre selues to be called masters, for one is youre master, namely, Christ. He that is greatest amōge you, shalbe youre seruaunt. For who so exalteth him self, 〈◊〉 14. b 〈…〉 b shal be brought lowe: and he that humbleth himself, shalbe exalted.

Wo vnto you Scrybes and Pharises, ye ypocrytes, 〈…〉 that shut vp the kyngdome of heauen before men: Ye come not in youre selues, nether suffre ye them to enter, that wolde be in.

Wo vnto you Scrybes and Pharises, ye ypocrytes, that deuoure wyddowes houses, and that vnder the culoure of prayenge longe prayers, therfore shal ye receaue ye greater damnacion.

Wo vnto you Scrybes and Pharises, ye ypocrytes, which compasse see and lōde to make one 〈…〉 Proselyte: and whan he is become one, ye make of him a childe of hell, two folde more then ye youre selues are.

Wo vnto you blyndegydes, which saye: Who so euer sweareth by the temple, that is nothinge: but who so euer sweareth by the golde of the temple, he is giltie. Ye fooles and blynde, whether is greater? the golde, or the tēple that sanctifieth the golde? And who so euer sweareth by the altare, that is nothinge: but who so euer sweareth by the offeringe that is vpō it, he is giltye. Ye fooles and blynde, whether is greater? the offeringe, or the altare that sanctifieth the offerynge? Therfore who so sweareth by the altare, sweareth by the same, and by all that is theron: and who so sweareth by the temple, sweareth by the same, and by him that dwelleth therin. And who so sweareth by heauen, 〈…〉 sweareth by the seate of God, and by him that sytteth theron.

Wo vnto you scrybes and Pharises, ye ypocrytes, 〈…〉 which tythe Mynt, Anyse and Commyn, and leaue the waightier matters of the lawe behynde: namely, iudgment, mercy, and fayth. These ought to haue bene done, and not to leaue the other behynde. O ye blynde gydes, which strayne out a gnat, but swalowe vp a Camell.

Wo vnto you scrybes and Pharises, ye Ypocrytes, which make cleane the vtter syde of the cuppe and platter, but within are ye full of robbery and 〈…〉 excesse. Thou blynde Pharise, clense first the insyde of the cuppe and platter, that the out syde maye be cleane also.

Wo vnto you scrybes and Pharises, ye Ypocrites, which be like vnto paynted Sepulcres, that appeare beutyfull outwarde, but within they are full of deed mens bones and all fylthines. Euen so are ye also: Outwarde ye appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of ypocrisye and iniquyte.

Wo vnto you scrybes and Pharises, ye Ypocrites, which buylde the tombes of the prophetes, and garnysh the sepulcres of the righteous, and saye: Yf we had bene in oure fathers tyme, we wolde not haue bene partakers with them in the bloude of the prophetes. Therfore ye be wytnesses vnto youre selues, that ye are the children of them,1. Tess. . c which slew the prophetes. Go to fulfyll ye also the measure of youre fathers. O ye serpentes, O ye generacion of vypers, how wyl ye escape the damnacion of Hell?

Therfore beholde, I sende vnto you prophetes and wysemen, and scrybes, Mat. 10. b Luc. 11. c Iohā. 16. a Act. 5. e and 7. g and some of them shal ye kyll and crucifye, and some of them shal ye scourge in youre synagoges, and persecute them from cite to cite: that vpon you maye come all the righteous bloude which hath bene shed vpon ye earth, from the bloude of righteous Abel, Gen. 4. b vnto ye bloude of Zachary ye sonne of Barachias, whom ye slew betwene the temple and the altare. Verely I saye vnto you:2. Pa. 24. d All these thinges shal light vpō this generacion. O Ierusalem Ierusalem, Luc. 13. d thou that slayest the prophetes, and stonest them that are sent vnto the: How oft wolde I haue gathered thy children together, euen as the henne gathereth hir chekens vnder hir wynges,4. Esdr 1. c and ye wolde not? Beholde, Psal. 68. d youre habitacion shalbe left vnto you desolate. For I saye vnto you: Ye shal not se me hence forth, tyll ye saye: Blessed be he, Psal. 117. c that commeth in the name of the LORDE.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

ANd Iesus wente out and departed from the temple, Marc. 13. a Luc. 21. a and his disciples came vnto him, to shew him the buyldinge of the temple. But Iesus sayde vnto them: Se ye not all these thinges? Verely I saye vnto you: Luc. 19. d there shal not be left here one stone vpon another, yt shal not be cast downe. And as he sat vpon the mount Oliuete, his disciples came vnto him secretly, & saide: Tell us, whē shal these thinges come to passe? and which shal be the token of thy cō mynge, and of the ende of the worlde? Iesus answered and sayde vnto them: Take hede, that no man disceaue you. For there shal many come in my name, Col. 2. c and saye: I am Christ, and shal disceaue many.

Ye shal heare of warres, and of ye noyse of warres: take hede, and be not ye troubled. All these thinges must first come to passe, but the ende is not yet. For one people shall ryse vp agaynst another, and one real me agaynst another:4. Esd 13. c and there shalbe pestilēce, honger, and earthquakes here & there. All these are the begynnynge of sorowes.

Mat. 10. b Marc. 13. b Luc. 21. b Iohā. 16. a Then shal they put you to trouble, & shal kyll you, and ye shalbe hated of all people for my names sake. Thē shal many be offended, and shal betraye one another, and shal hate one the other. And many false prophetes shal aryse, and shal disceaue many: and because iniquyte shal haue the vpper hande,4. Es. 14. b the loue of many shal abate. But who so endureth vnto ye ende, ye same shal be saued. And this gospell of the kyngdome shalbe preached in all the worlde for a wytnes vnto all people, Mat. 10. c Marc. 13. b and then shal the ende come.

Whan ye therfore shal se the abhominacion of desolacion (wher of it is spokē by Daniel the prophet) stonde in the holy place (who so readeth it, Marc. 13. b Luc. 21. c Dan. 9. c let him marck it well) thē let thē which be in Iewry, flye vnto ye moū taynes: and let him which is on the house toppe, not come downe to fet eny thinge out of his house: and let him which is in ye felde, not turne back to fetch his clothes. But wo vnto them that are with childe, and to them that geue suck in those dayes. But praye ye, that youre flight be not in ye wynter, Dan. 12. a ner on the Sabbath. For then shal there be greate trouble, soch as was not from the begynnynge of the worlde vnto this tyme, ner shalbe. Yee and excepte those daies shulde be shortened, there shulde no flesh be saued: but for ye chosens sake those dayes shalbe shortened.

Marc. 13. c Luc. 17. c Then yf eny man shal saye vnto you: lo, here is Christ, or there, beleue it not. For there shal aryse false Christes and false prophetes, . Tess. 2. b Deut. 13. a and shal do greate tokēs and wonders: In so moch, that (yf it were possible) the very chosen shulde be brought in to erroure. Beholde, I haue tolde you before. Wherfore yf they shal saye vnto you: Beholde, he is in the wildernes, go not ye forth: Beholde, he is in the chamber, beleue it not. For like as the lightenynge goeth out from the East, and shyneth vnto the west, so shal the commynge of the sonne of man be. For where so euer a deed carcase is, Iob. 3 there wyl the Aegles be gathered together.

Immediatly after the trouble of the same tyme, Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Ioel. 〈…〉 shal the Sonne and Moone lose their light, and the starres shall fall from heauen, and the powers of heauen shal moue: and then shal appeare the token of the sonne of man in heauē: and then shal all the kynreds of the earth mourne, and they shal se the sonne of man come in the cloudes of heauen with greate power and glory. Act. 〈…〉 And he shal sende his angels with ye greate voyce of a trompe, 〈…〉 & they shal gather together his chosen from the foure wyndes, from one ende of the heauen to the other.

Lerne a symilitude of ye fygge tre. 〈…〉 When his braunche is yet tender, and his leaues spronge, ye knowe that Sommer is nye. So likewyse ye, whan ye se all thynges, be ye sure, that it is nye euen at the dores Verely I saye vnto you: This generacion shal not passe, tyll all these be fulfylled. Heauen and earth shal perishe, but my wordes shal not perishe. 〈…〉 Neuertheles of that daye & houre knoweth no man, no not the angels of heauen, but my father onely. Euen as it was in the tyme of Noe, so shal the commynge of the sonne of man be also. 〈…〉 For as they were in the dayes before ye floude (they ate, they dronke, they maried, and were maried, euen vnto the daye yt Noe entred in to the shippe, and they regarded it not, tyll the floude came and toke them all awaye) So shal also the commynge of the sonne of man be. Thē shal two be in the felde: 〈…〉 the one shal be receaued, and the other shalbe refused: Two shal be gryndinge at the Myll, the one shalbe receaued, and the other shalbe refused:) Two in the bed, the one shalbe receaued, and the other refused.)

Watch therfore, 〈…〉 for ye knowe not what houre youre LORDE wil come. But be sure of this, that yf the good man of the house knewe what houre the thefe wolde come, 〈…〉 he wolde surely watch, and not suffre his house to be broken vp. Therfore be ye ready also, for in the houre that ye thynke not, shal the sonne of man come. 〈…〉 Who is now a faithfull and wyse seruaūt, whom his lorde hath made ruler ouer his houszholde, that he maye geue them meate in due season? 〈…〉 Blessed is yt seruaūt, whom his lorde (whan he cōmeth) shal fynde so doynge. Verely. I saye vnto you: he shal set him ouer all his goodes. But and yf the euell seruaūt shal saye in his hert: Tush, it wil be longe or my lorde come, and begynne to smyte his felowes, yee and to eate and drynke with the dronken: The same seruaūtes lorde shal come in a daye, whā he loketh not for him, and in an houre that he is not ware of, and shal hew him in peces and geue him his rewarde with ypocrytes: there shal be waylinge and gnaszhinge of teth.

The XXV. Chapter.

THen shal the kyngdome of heauen be like vnto ten virgins, which toke their lāpes, and wente forth to mete the brydegome. But fyue of them were foolish, and fyue were wyse. The foolish toke their lāpes, neuertheles they toke none oyle with them. But the wyse toke oyle in their vessels with their lampes. Now whyle the brydegrome taried, they slombred all and slepte. But at mydnight there was a crye made: Beholde, the brydegrome commeth, go youre waye out for to mete him. Then all those virgins arose, and prepared their lampes. But the foolish sayde vnto the wyse: geue vs of youre oyle, for oure lāpes are gone out. Then answered the wyse, and sayde: Not so, lest there be not ynough for vs and you, but go rather vnto them that sell, and bye for youre selues. And whyle they wente to bye, the brydegrome came: and they that were readye, wente in with him vnto the mariage, and the gate was shut vp. At ye last came ye other virgins also, and sayde: LORDE LORDE, 〈◊〉 7. b opō vnto vs. But he answered, and sayde: Verely I saye vnto you: I knowe you not. Luc. 6. c Ma . 24. d Marc. 13. d Luc. 12. d •• od. 2 . d Watch ye therfore, for ye knowe nether the daye ner yet the houre, whan ye sonne of man shal come.

Like wyse as a certayne mā ready to take his iourney in to a straunge countre, called his seruaūtes, 〈◊〉 . 13. d uc. 19. a and delyuered his goodes vnto thē. And vnto one he gaue fyue talentes, to another two, and to another one: vnto euery man after his abilyte, and straight waye departed. Then he that had receaued the fyue talentes, wente and occupied with the same, and wanne other fyue talentes. Likewyse he yt receaued two talentes, wāne other two also. But he that receaued ye one wente and dygged a pyt in the earth, and hyd his lordes money. After a longe season the lorde of those seruauntes came, and rekened with them. Then came he that had receaued fyue talentes, and brought other fyue talentes, and sayde: Syr, thou delyuerdst vnto me fyue talentes: Beholde, with them haue I wonne fyue talētes mo. Then sayde his lorde vnto hī: 〈◊〉 24. d wel thou good & faithfull seruaunt, thou hast bene faithfull ouer litle, I wil set the ouer moch: entre thou in to the ioye of thy lorde. Thē came he also that had receaued two talentes, and sayde: Syr, thou delyuerdst vnto me two talentes: Beholde, I haue wonne two other talētes with thē. His lorde sayde vnto him: Wel thou good and faithfull seruaūt, thou hast bene faithfull ouer litle, I wil set the ouer moch: entre thou in to the ioye of thy lorde.

Then he that had receaued the one talēt, came and sayde: Syr, I knew that thou artan hard man: thou reapest where thou hast not sowen, and gatherest where thou hast not strowed, and so I was afrayed, and wē te and hyd thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast thine owne. But his lorde answered, and sayde vnto him: Thou euell and slouthfull seruaunt, knewest thou that I reape where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not? Thou shuldest therfore haue had my money to the chaungers, and then at my commynge shulde I haue receaued myne owne with vauntage. Therfore take the talent frō him, and geue it vnto him that hath ten talentes. For who so hath, Ma . 13. Marc. 4. Luc. 8. and 19. to him shalbe geuen, and he shal haue abundaunce. But who so hath not, frō him shalbe takē awaye euen that he hath. And cast the vnprofitable seruaunt in to vtter darcknes: Mat. 13. there shalbe waylinge and gnaszhinge of teth.

But whan the sonne of man shal come in his glory, and all holy angels with him,2. Tess. then shal he syt vpon the seate of his glory. And all people shalbe gathered before him: and he shal separate them one from another as a shepherde deuydeth the shepe from ye goates. Ezec. 34 And he shal set ye shepe on his right honde, and the goates on the lefte. Then shal the kynge saye vnto them that shalbe on his right honde: Come hither ye blessed of my father, inheret ye ye kingdome, which is prepared for you from the begynnynge of the worlde. For I was hongrie, Mat. 20. and ye gaue me meate: I was thirstie, and ye gaue me drynke: I was harbourlesse, Esa. 58. b Ezec. 18. and ye lodged me: I was naked, & ye clothed me: I was sicke, and ye vysited me: I was in preson, Eccli. 7. d 2. Tim. 1. and ye came vnto me.

Then shal the righteous answere him, & saye: LORDE, whē sawe we the hōgrie, and fed the? Or thirstie, and gaue the drynke? When sawe we the herbourlesse, and lodged the? Or naked, and clothed ye? Or whē sawe we ye sicke or in preson, and came vnto the? And the kynge shal answer and saye vnto them: Verely I saye vnto you: Loke what ye haue done vnto one of the least of these my brethren, the same haue ye done vnto me.

Then shal he saye also vnto them that shalbe on the left hande: 〈◊〉 6. b 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 13. c 〈◊〉 30. f 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 19. d 〈◊〉 20. c Departe fro me ye cursed in to the euerlastinge fyre, which is prepared for the deuell and his angels. For I was hōgrie, and ye gaue me no meate: I was thirstye, and ye gaue me no drynke: I was herbourlesse, and ye lodged me not: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sicke and in preson, and ye vysited me not.

Then shal they also answere hī, and saye: LORDE, when sawe we the hōgrie, or thyrstie, or herbourlesse, or naked, or sicke, or in preson, and haue not mynistred vnto the? Thē shal he answere them, and saye: Verely I saye vnto you: 〈◊〉 2. b 〈◊〉 30. c 〈◊〉 14. p 〈◊〉 17. a •• hā. 5. c Loke what ye haue not done vnto one of the leest of these, the same haue ye not done vnto me. And these shal go in to euerlastinge payne, but the righteous in to euerlastinge life.

The XXVI. Chapter.

ANd it came to passe whā Iesus had fynished all these wordes, he sayde vnto his disciples: Ye knowe, that after two dayes shalbe Easter, 〈◊〉 . 14. a 〈◊〉 22. a •• hā 18. a and the sonne of man shalbe delyuered to be crucified.

Then assembled together the hye prestes and the scrybes, •• hā. 11. e and the elders of the people in to the palace of the hye prest which was called Caiphas, and helde a councell, how they might take Iesus by disceate, and kyll him. But they sayde: Not on the holy daye, lest there be an vproure in the people.

Mar. 14. a uc. 7. d ohā. 12. a Now when Iesus was at Bethany in the house of Symon the leper, there came vnto hī a woman, which had Some eade: A glas ith pre ious wa er a boxe with precious oyntment, and poured it vpon his heade, as he sat at the table. Whan his disciples sawe that, they diszdayned, and sayde: Where to serueth this waist? This oyntmēt might haue bene wel solde, and geuē to the poore. Whē Iesus perceaued that, he sayde vnto them: Why trouble ye the woman? She hath wrought a good worke vpon me for ye haue allwaye the poore with you, but me shal ye not haue allwayes. Deut. 15. b Where as she hath poured this oyntmēt vpon my body, she dyd it to bury me. Verely I saye vnto you: where so euer this gospell shalbe preached thorow out all the worlde, there shal this also that she hath done, be tolde for a memoriall of her.

Then one of the twolue (called Iudas Iscarioth) wente vnto the hye prestes, and sayde: What wil ye geue me, Mar. 14. b Luc. 2 . a Iohā. 13. and I shal delyuer him vnto you? And they offred hī thirtie syluer pens. And from that tyme forth, he sought oportunyte to betraye him?

The first daye of swete bred came the disciples to Iesus, and sayde vnto him: Marc. 14. Luc. 〈…〉 Where wilt thou that we prepare for the, to eate the Easter lambe? He sayde: Go in to the cite to soch a man, and saye vnto him: The Master sendeth the worde: My tyme is a honde, I wil kepe myne Easter by the with my disciples. And the disciples dyd as Iesus had appoynted them, and made ready the Easter lambe.

And at euen he sat downe at the table with the twolue. And as they ate, he sayde: Marc. 14. Luc. 〈…〉 Iohā. 〈…〉 Verely I saye vnto you: One of you shal betraye me. And they were exceadinge soroufull, and beganne euery one of them to saye vnto him: Syr, is it I? He answered and sayde: He that deppeth his honde with me in the dyszhe, the same shal betraye me. The sonne of man goeth forth, as it is wrytten of him: but wo vnto that man by whō the sonne of man shalbe betrayed: It had bene better for that mā, yf he had neuer bene borne. Thē Iudas that betrayed him, answered and sayde: Master, is it I? He sayde vnto: him Thou hast sayde.

And as they ate, Iesus toke the bred, gaue thankes, brake it, Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 1. Cor. 〈…〉 and gaue it to the disciples, and sayde: Take, eate, this is my body. And he toke the cuppe, and thanked, and gaue it thē, and sayde: Drynke ye all therof, this is my bloude of the new testament, that shalbe shed for many for the remission of synnes. I saye vnto you: I wil not drynke hence forth of this frute of the vyne tre, vntill that daye that I shal drynke it new with you in my fathers kyngdome.

And whan they had sayde grace, Ma . 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohā. 〈…〉 they wente forth vnto mount Oliuete. Then sayde Iesus vnto them. 〈…〉 Zach. 〈…〉 Ma . 〈…〉 Iohā. 〈…〉 This night shal ye all be offended in me. For it is wrytten: I wil smyte the shepherde, and the shepe of the flocke shalbe scatered abrode. But after that I ryse agayne, Act. •• I wil go before you in to Galile. Peter answered and sayde vnto him: Ma . 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohā. 〈…〉 Though all men shulde be offended in ye, yet wyl I neuer be offēded. Iesus sayde vnto hī: Verely I saye vnto ye: This same night before ye cock crowe, shalt thou denie me thryse. Peter saide vnto him: And though I shulde dye with the, yet wil I not denye the. Likewyse also sayde all the disciples.

Then came Iesus with them into a felde which is called Gethsemane, and sayde vnto the disciples: 〈◊〉 . 14. d Syt ye here, whyle I go yonder & praye. And he toke with him Peter, and the two sonnes of Zebede, and beganne to wexe soroufull and to be in an agonye. Then sayde Iesus vnto them: My soule is heuy euen vnto the death. •• hā. 1 . c Tary ye here, and watch with me. And he wente forth a litle, Luc. 2. c and fell flat vpon his face, and prayed sayenge: O my father, yf it be possible, let this cuppe passe fro me: neuertheles not as I wil but as thou wilt. And he came to his disciples, and founde thē a slepe, & sayde vnto Peter: What? coude ye not watch with me one houre? Watch & praye, that ye fall not in to temptacion. 〈…〉 The sprete is wyllinge, but the flesh is weake.

Agayne, he wēte forth the seconde tyme and prayed, 〈◊〉 14. c sayenge: O my father, yf this cuppe can not passe awaye fro me (excepte I drynke of it) thy will be fulfilled. And he came, and founde them a slepe agayne, and their eyes were heuy. And he left them, and wente forth agayne, and prayed the thirde tyme, sayenge the same wordes. Then came he to his disciples, and sayde vnto them: Slepe on now, and take youre rest. Beholde, the houre is come, yt the sonne of man shalbe delyuered in to the hondes of synners: Aryse, let us be goynge. Beholde, he is at hō de, that betrayeth me.

Whyle he yet spake, lo, Iudas one of the twolue came, and with him a greate multitude with swerdes and staues, 〈◊〉 4. b 〈◊〉 22. d ••• ā. 8. a sent frō the hye prestes and elders of the people. And he that betrayed him, had geuen them a tokē, sayenge: Whom so euer I kysse, that same is he, laye hōdes vpō him. And forth withal he came to Iesus, and sayde: Hayle master, and kyssed him. And Iesus sayde vnto him: Frende, wherfore art thou come? Then came they, and layed hondes vpon Iesus, and toke him. And beholde, one of them that were with Iesus, stretched out his honde, and drue his swerde, and stroke a seruaunt of the hye prestes, & smote of his eare: Then sayde Iesus vnto him: Put vp ye swerde in to his place. 〈◊〉 9. a 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 1 . b For all that take the swerde, shal perish with the swerde. Or thinkest thou that I can not praye my father now, to sende me more then twolue legions of angels? But how thē shulde the scriptures be fulfylled? 〈◊〉 14. d For thus must it be.

In the same houre sayde Iesus vnto the multitude: 〈◊〉 14. f 〈◊〉 22. d Ye are come out as it were to a murthurer with swerdes and staues for to take me. I sat daylie teachinge in the temple amonge you, and ye toke me not. But all this is done, Esa. 35. d Psal. 21.6 that the scriptures of the prophetes might be fulfylled. Mat. 26. Thē all the disciples left him, and fled. But they that toke Iesus, led him to Caiphas the hye prest, Marc. 14. Iohā. 18 where the scrybes and the elders were gathered together. As for Peter, he folowed him a farre of vnto the hye prestes palace, & wente in, and sat with the seruauntes, that he might se the ende.

But the hye prestes and the elders, Marc. 14. Act. 6. b and the whole councell sought false wytnesse ageynst Iesus, that they might put him to death, and founde none. And though many false wytnesses stepte forth, yet founde they none. At the last there stepte forth two false wytnesses, & spake: He sayde: I can breake downe the temple of God, and buylde it agayne in thre dayes. Iohā. 2. c

And the hye prest stode vp, Mar. 14. and sayde vnto him: Answerest thou nothinge, vnto it, that these testifie agaynst the? Neuertheles Iesus helde his tonge. And the hye prest answered, and sayde vnto him: Luc. 22. I charge the by ye lyuynge God, that thou tell us, yf thou be Christ the sonne of God. Iesus spake: Thou hast sayde it. Neuerthelesse I saye vnto you: Iohā. 6. g Act. 1. b From this tyme forth it shal come to passe, that ye shal se the sonne of man syttinge vpon the right hande of the power (of God) and commynge in the cloudes of the heauen.

Then the hye prest rente his clothes, and sayde: He hath blasphemed, Mar. 14. g Luc. 22. e what nede we eny mo wytnesses? Lo, now haue ye herde his blasphemy: What thinke ye? They answered, & sayde: He is gyltie of death. Leui. 24. Then Esa. 50. b ohā. 18. c spytted they in his face, & smote him with fistes. Some smote him vpon the face, and sayde: Prophecie vnto vs thou Christ, who is it, that smote the?

As for Peter, Mar. 14. g Luc. 22. Iohā. 18. b he sat without in the palace. And there came vnto him a damsell, and sayde: And thou wast with Iesus of Galile also. Neuertheles he denyed before thē all, and sayde: I can not tell what thou sayest. But whan he wēte out at the dore, another damsell sawe him. and sayde vnto them that were there: This was also with Iesus of Nazareth. And he denyed agayne, and sware also: I knowe not the mā. And after a litle whyle, they that stode there, stepte forth, and sayde vnto Peter: Of a trueth thou art one of them also, for thy speach be wrayeth the. Then begāne he to curse and to sweare: I knowe not the man. And immediatly the cock crew. Then thought Peter vpon the wordes of Iesus, which sayde vnto him: Mat. 26. c before the cock crow, thou shalt denye me thryse. And he wente out, and wepte bytterly.

The XXVII. Chapter.

VPon the morow, all the hye prestes and elders of the people helde a councell agaynst Iesus, Mal 2. a Marc. 15. a Luc. 23. a ohā. 19. d that they might put him to death, and bounde him, and led him forth, and delyuered him vnto Pontius Pilate the debyte. ct. 3. b

When Iudas which betrayed him, sawe this that he was condemned vnto death, it repented him, and brought agayne the thirtie syluer pens to the hye prestes and the elders, and sayde: I haue done euell, in that I haue betrayed innocēt bloude. They sayde: What haue we to do with yt? Se thou therto. And he cast the syluer pens in the tē ple, and gat him awaye, and wente and hanged him self. . Re. 17. d Act. 1. c

So the hye prestes toke the syluer pens, and sayde: It is not laufull to put them in to the Gods chest, for it is bloudmoney. Neuertheles they helde a councell, and bought with thē a potters felde, for to burye straū gers in. Wherfore the same felde is called the bloudfelde vnto this daye. Then was that fulfylled, which was spoken by Ieremy the prophet sayenge: ere. 32. b Zach. 11. c And they toke thirtie syluer pens, the pryce of him that was solde, whom they bought of the children of Israell: and these they gaue for a potters felde, as the LORDE commaunded me.

As for Iesus, he stode before the debyte, and the debyte axed him, Marc. 15. a Luc. 23. a Iohā. 8. d and sayde: Art thou the kynge of the Iewes? And Iesus sayde vnto him: Thou sayest it. And whā he was accused of the hye prestes and elders, he answered nothinge. Then sayde Pylate vnto him: Hearest thou not, how sore they accuse the? And Esa. 53. b he answered him not one worde: in so moch that the debyte marueled exceadingly.

At that feast, the debyte was wōte to delyuer a presoner fre vnto the people, Marc. 15. a Luc. 23. b Iohā. 18. e whom they wolde. And at the same tyme he had a notable presoner called Barrabas. And whan they were gathered together, Pylate sayde vnto them: Whether wil ye, that I geue lowse vnto you? Barrabas, or Iesus which is called Christ? For he knewe well that they had delyuered him of enuye. And whā he sat vpō the iudgmēt seate, his wife sent vnto him, sayenge: Haue thou nothinge to do with that righteous man, for I haue suffred many thinges this daye in a dreame because of him.

But the hye prestes and the elders persuaded the people, Mar. 〈…〉 that they shulde axe Barrabas, and destroye Iesus. Then answered the debyte, & sayde vnto thē: Luc. 〈…〉 Whether of these two wyl ye yt I geue lowse vnto you? They sayde: Barrabas: Pylate say •• vnto them: 〈…〉 What shal I do then with Iesus, which is called Christ? They sayde all: let him be crucified. The debyte saide: What euell hath he done thē? Neuertheles they cried yet more and sayde, let him be crucified. So whan Pilate sawe, that he coude not helpe, but that there was a greater vproure, he toke water, and waszhed his handes before the people, and sayde: I am vngiltie of ye bloude of this righteous man. Se ye therto. Then answered all the people, and sayde: His bloude come vpon vs, and vpon oure children. 〈…〉 Then gaue he Barrabas lowse vnto thē, but caused Iesus be scourged, and delyuered him to be crucified

Then the debites soudyers toke Iesus, in to the comon hall, 〈…〉 and gathered the whole multitude ouer him, and stryped him out of his clothes, and put a purple robe vpō him, and plated a crowne of thorne, & set it vpon his heade, and a rede in his hāde, and kneled before him, and mocked him, and sayde: hayle kynge of the Iewes. And spytted vpon him, and toke ye rede, & smote him vpon the heade. And whā they had mocked hī, they toke the robe of him ageyne, & put his owne clothes vpon him, and led him forth, yt they might crucifie hī. 〈…〉 And as they were goinge out, they founde a man of Cyren called Symon: him they compelled to beare his crosse. And when they came vnto the place called Golgatha (that is to saye by interpretaciō a place of deed mens sculles) they gaue him to drynke, veneger myxte wt gall. 〈…〉 And whan he had tasted therof, he wolde not drynke.

So whan they had crucified him, 〈…〉 they parted his garmētes, and cast lottes therfore: that the thinge might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet: 〈…〉 They haue parted my garmētes amonge thē, & cast lottes vpon my vesture. And there they sat, and watched hī. And aboue ouer his heade, they put vp the cause of his death in wrytinge: namely: This is the kynge of the Iewes.

Then were there two murthurers crucified with him, Esa. . the one of the right hande, and the other on the left. They that wente by, reuyled him, and wagged their heades and sayde: Thou that breakest downe the tēple of God, and buyldest it in thre dayes, helpe thy self. Yf thou be the sonne of God, come downe from the crosse. The hye prestes also in like maner with the scrybes & elders, laughed him to scorne, and sayde: he hath helped other, and can not helpe him self: 〈…〉 Yf he be the kynge of Israel, let him come downe now from the crosse, and we wil beleue him 〈…〉 He trusted in God, let him delyuer him now, yf he wil haue him. For he hath sayde: I am the sonne of God. The murtherers also that were crucified with him, cast the same in his tethe.

And from ye sixte houre there was darcknes ouer the whole earth vnto the nyenth houre. 〈…〉 And aboute the nyenth houre, Iesus cried with a loude voyce, and sayde: Eli, Eli, Lamma asabthani? that is, My God, my God, 〈…〉 why hast thou forsaken me? But some of thē that stode there, when they herde yt sayde: He calleth Elias. And immediatly one of them ranne, 〈◊〉 5. d 〈◊〉 19. c and toke a spōge, and fylled it with veneger, and put it vpon a rede, and gaue him to dryncke. But ye other sayde: holde, let se whether Elias wyl come, and delyuer him. Iesus cried agayne with a loude voyce, and gaue vp the goost.

And beholde, the vale of the temple was rente in two peces, from aboue tyll beneth, and the earth quaked, and the stones rent, and the graues opened, and many bodies of the sayntes that slepte, arose, and wēte out of the graues after his resurreccion, and came in to the holy cite, and appeared vnto many.

〈◊〉 15. d uc. 23. c But the captayne and they that were with him, and kepte Iesus, when they sawe the earthquake and the thinges that were done, they were sore afrayed, and sayde: Verely this was Gods sonne. And there were many wemen there lokynge to afarre of, arc. 13. which had folowed Iesus from Galile, and had mynistred vnto him: amonge whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Iames and Ioses, and the mother of the children of Zebede.

At euen there came a rich man of Arimathia, called Ioseph, which was also a disciple of Iesus. Marc. 15. c Luc. 23. c ohā. 19. c He wēte vnto Pylate, and axed the body of Iesus. Then commaunded Pylate that the body shulde be geuē him. And Ioseph toke the body, and wrapped it in a cleane lynnen cloth, and layed it in his owne new sepulcre, which he had hewen out in a rocke, and rolled a greate stone to the dore of the sepulcre, and wente his waye. And there was Mary Magdalene and ye other Mary, syttinge ouer agaynst the sepulcre. Marc. 15.

The next daye that foloweth the daye of preparynge, the hye prestes and Pharises came together vnto Pylate, and saide: Syr, we haue called to remembraunce, that this disceauer sayde whyle he was yet alyue: Mat. 16.17. c. d Marc. 9. Luc. 18. d After thre dayes I wyl ryse agayne. Cōmaunde therfore that the sepulcre be kepte vnto the thirde daye, lest peraduenture his disciples come, and steale him awaye, and saye vnto the people: He is rysen from the deed, and so shal the last errour be worse thē the first. Pylate sayde vnto them: There haue ye watchmē, go youre waye, and kepe it as ye can. They wēte and kepte the sepulcre wt watchmen, and sealed the stone.

The XXVIII. Chapter.

VPon the euenynge of the Sabbath holy daye, Marc. 16 Luc. 24. Iohā. 20 which dawneth ye morow of the first daye of ye Sabbathes, came Mary Magdalene and ye other Mary, to se ye sepulcre. And beholde, there was made a greate earthquake: for the angell of the LORDE descended from heauen, and came and rolled backe ye stone from the dore, and sat vpon it. And his countenaunce was as ye lightenynge, and his clothinge whyte as snowe. But ye watch mē were troubled for feare of him, and became as though they were deed.

The angell answered, Marc. 1 Luc. 24 and sayde vnto ye women: Be not ye afrayed. I knowe that ye seke Iesus that was crucified. He is not here. He is rysen, as he sayde. Come, and se ye place, where the LORDE was layed, and go youre waye soone, and tell his disciples, that he is rysen from the deed. And beholde, he wyl go before you in to Galile, there shal ye se him. Lo, I haue tolde you.

And they departed from the graue in all the haist with feare and greate ioye, Mar. 16 Luc. 24 1. Cor. 1 & ranne to brīge his disciples worde. And as they were goinge to tell his disciples, beholde, Iesus met them, and sayde: God spede you. And they wente vnto him, and helde his fete, and fell downe before him. Thē sayde Iesus vnto them: Be not afrayed: go youre waye and tell my brethren, that they go in to Galile, there shal they se me. Act. 1. b

And whan they were gone, beholde, certayne of the watchmen came in to the cite, & tolde the hye prestes euery thinge that had happened. And they came together with the elders, and helde a councell, and gaue ye sonders money ynough, and sayde: Saye ye: his disciples came by night, and stole him awaye, whyle we were a slepe. And yf this come to the debytes eares, we wyl styll him, and brynge it so to passe, that ye shal be safe. And they toke the money, and dyd as they were taught. And this sayenge is noysed amonge the Iewes vnto this daye.

The eleuen disciples wente vnto Galile in to a mountayne, where Iesus had appoynted them. And whan they sawe him, they fell downe before him: but some of them douted. And Iesus came vnto them, talked with them, Mat. 11. e ohā. 17. a hil. 2. a Mar. 16. b and sayde: Vnto me is geuē all power in heauen and in earth. Go ye youre waye therfore, and teach all nacions, and baptyse them in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy goost: and teach them to kepe all thinges, what soeuer I haue commaunded you. ohā. 14. b And lo, I am with you euery daye vnto the ende of the worlde.

The ende of the gospell of S. Mathew.
The gospell of S. Marke. What S. Marke conteyneth. Chap. I. The office of Ihon the baptist, The baptyme of Christ, his fastynge, his preachinge, and the callynge of Peter, Andrew, Iames and Ihon. Christ healeth the man with the vncleane sprete, helpeth Peters mother in lawe, and clenseth the leper. Chap. II. He healeth the man of the palsye, calleth Leui the customer, eateth with open synners, and excuseth his disciples. Chap. III. He helpeth the man with the dryed hande, choseth his apostles, and casteth out the vncleane sprete, which the Pharises ascrybe vnto the deuell. The brother, sister and mother of Christ. Chap. IIII. The parable of the sower. Christ stilleth the tempest of the see, which obeyeth him. Chap. V. He delyuereth the possessed from the vncleane sprete, the woman from the bloudye yssue, and rayseth the captaynes doughter. Chap. VI. Christ preacheth at home, and is not regarded. He sendeth out his disciples. Ihon baptist is taken and headed. Christ fedeth fyue thousande men with fyue loaues and two fiszhes. He walketh vpon the see. Chap. VII. The Pharises are not cōtent, that the disciples eate with vnwaszhen handes: but Christ rebuketh thē selues for breakinge the commaundementes of God, healeth the woman of Canaans daughter, and maketh the domme to speake. Chap. VIII. He fedeth foure thousande mē with vij loaues, reproueth the Pharises that are so desyrous of tokens, warneth his disciples to bewarre of their leuen, maketh a blynde man to see, axeth his disciples what men holde of him, reproueth Peter, telleth his disciples of his passion, and exorteth them to folowe him Chap. IX. The transfiguracion of Christ, which healeth the childe that was possessed of a domme sprete, teacheth his disciples to be lowly, and to auoyde occasions of euell. Chap. X. Christ geueth his answere concernynge mariage, and that it is harde for th rich to come in to heauē: reproueth the disdayne of his disciples, lerneth thē to be meke, and restoreth blynde Barthimeus to his sight. Chap. XI. Christ rydeth in to Ierusalem, dryueth the marchauntes out of the temple, curseth the fyge tre, and confoundeth the Pharises. Chap. XII. He rebuketh the synne and vnthankfulnesse of the Iewes with a goodly symilitude, taketh thē in their owne disceatfull questions, exorteth to bewarre of their doctryne and lyuynge, and commendeth the good wyll of the poore wyddowe. Chap. XIII. He warneth his disciples to bewarre of false teachers and disceauers, comforteh them agaynst the trouble for to come, tellinge them of the horrible destruccion of Ierusalem, of his commynge, and ende of the worlde. Chap. XIIII. The Magdalene anoynteth Christ. They eate the easter lambe, and the supper of the LORDE. Christ is taken, and brought in to Caiphas house. Peter denyeth him. Chap. XV. The crucifienge of Christ, and how he was buried. Chap. XVI. The resurreccion of Christ, which appeareth vnto Mary Magdalene and to his disciples, whom he sendeth forth in to the worlde to preach the gospell, and ascēdeth vp in to heauen himself. The gospell of S. Marke.

The first Chapter.

THis is the begynnynge of the gospell of Iesus Christ the sonne of God, as it is wryttē in the prophetes. 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 7. c Beholde, I sende my messaūger before thy face, which shal prepare thy waye before the. The voyce of a cryer is in the wyldernes: 〈…〉 Prepare the waye of the LORDE, make his pathes straight.

Ihon was in the wyldernes, and baptysed, 〈◊〉 3. d and preached the baptyme of amendment, for the remyssion of synnes. And there wente out vnto him the whole londe of Iewry, and they of Ierusalem, and were all baptysed of him in Iordan, and knowleged their synnes.

Ihon was clothed with Camels heer, and with a lethron gerdell aboute his loynes, 〈◊〉 . 3. a and ate locustes and wylde hony, and preached, and sayde: There commeth one after me, 〈◊〉 3. b 〈◊〉 3. c 〈…〉 . c which is stronger then I: before whom I am not worthy to stoupe downe, and to lowse vp ye lachet of his shue. I baptyse you with water, but he shal baptyse you with the holy goost.

〈◊〉 3. b 〈◊〉 3. c ••• ā 1. d And it happened at the same tyme, that Iesus came out of Galile from Nazareth, and was baptysed of Ihon in Iordan. And as soone as he was come out of the water, he sawe that the heauens opened, and the goost as a doue cōmynge downe vpon him. And there came a voyce from heauē: Thou art my deare sonne, 〈…〉 in whom I delyte.

And immediatly the sprete droue him in to the wyldernes: and he was in the wyldernes fourtye dayes, 〈◊〉 4. a 〈◊〉 4. a and was tempted of Sathan, and was with the wylde beestes. And the angels mynistred vnto him.

But after that Ihon was taken, Iesus came in to Galile, Mat. 4. b Luc. 4. b and preached the gospell of the kyngdome of God, and sayde: the tyme is fulfylled, and the kyngdome of God is at hande: Amende youre selues, and beleue the gospell.

So as he walked by the see of Galile, Mat. 4. c Luc. 5. a he sawe Symon and Andrew his brother, castinge their nettes in the see, for they were fyszhers. And Iesus sayde vnto thē: Folowe me, and I wil make you fyszhers of mē. Iere. 16. c Eze. 47. b And immediatly they left their nettes, and folowed him.

And when he was gone a lytle further from thence, he sawe Iames the sonne of Zebede, and Ihon his brother, as they were in the shyppe mendynge their nettes. And anone he called them. And they left their father Zebede in the shyppe with the hyred seruauntes, and folowed him.

And they wente in to Capernaum, Luc. 4. d Iohā 2 b and immediatly vpon the Sabbathes, he entred in to the synagoge, and taught. And they were astonnyed at his doctryne: Mat. 7. c for he taught them as one hauynge power, and not as the Scrybes.

And in their synagoge there was a man possessed with a foule sprete, Luc. 4. d which cried and sayde: Oh what haue we to do with the, thou Iesus of Nazareth. Art thou come to destroye us? I knowe that thou art euen yt holy one of God. And Iesus reproued him, and sayde: holde thy tonge, and departe out of him. And the foule sprete tare him, and cried with a loude voyce, and departed out of him. And they were all astonnyed, in so moch that they axed one another amonge thē selues, & sayde: What is this? What new lernynge is this? For he cōmaundeth the foule spretes with power, and they are obedient vnto him. And immediatly the fame of him was noysed rounde aboute in the coastes and borders of Galile.

And forth with they wente out of the synagoge, Mat. 8. b Luc. 4. d and came in to the house of Symō and Andrew, wt Iames and Ihon. And Symons mother in lawe laye, & had the feuers, and anone they tolde him of her. And he came to her, and set her vp, and toke her by ye hande, and the feuer left her immediatly. And she mynistred vnto them.

At euen whan the Sonne was gone downe, Mat. 8. b Luc. 4. e they brought vnto him all that were sick and possessed, and the whole cite was gathered together at the dore, and he healed many that were diseased with dyuerse sicknesses, and cast out many deuels, and suffred not the deuels to speake, because they knew him.

And in the mornynge before daye, he arose, and wente out. And Iesus departed in to a deserte place, and prayed there. Peter also and they that were with him, folowed after him. And whan they had founde him, they sayde vnto him: Euery man seketh the. And he sayde vnto them: Let us go in to the next townes, that I maye preach there also, for therto am I come. And he preached ī their synagoges, in all Galile, and droue out the deuyls.

Mat. 8. a Luc. 5. b And there came vnto him a leper, which besought him, and kneled before him, & sayde vnto him: Yf thou wilt, thou canst make me cleane. And it pitied Iesus, and he stretched forth his honde, and touched him, and sayde: I wyll, be thou cleane. And whā he had so spoken, immediatly the leprosy departed frō him, Marc. 7. d and 9. a and he was clensed. And Iesus forbad him strately, and forth with sent him awaye, and sayde vnto him: Take hede, that thou saye nothinge to eny man, but go thy waye, and shew thy self vnto the prest, and offre for thy clensynge what Moses commaunded, Leui. 14. a for a wytnesse vnto them. But he whan he was departed, beganne to speake moch of it, and made the dede knowne: in so moch that Iesus coude no more go into the cite openly, but was without in deserte places, & they came vnto him frō all quarters.

The II. Chapter.

ANd after certayne dayes he wente agayne vnto Capernaum, Mat. 9. a Luc. 5. c Iohā. 5 a and it was noysed that he was in ye house. And immediatly there was gathered a greate multitude, in so moch that they had no rowme, no not without before the dore. And he spake the worde vnto thē. And there came vnto him certaine, which brought one sicke of the palsye borne of foure. And when they coude not come nye him for ye people, they vncouered ye rofe of ye house where he was. And when they had made a hole, they let downe the bed (by coardes) wherin the sicke of ye palsy laye. But when Iesus sawe their faith, he sayde vnto the sicke of the palsye: My sonne, thy synnes are forgeuen the.

Neuertheles there were certayne scrybes which sat there, & thought in their hertes: How speaketh this man soch blasphemy? Who can forgeue synnes, Esa. 43. d but onely God? And immediatly Iesus knew in his sprete, that they thought so in thē selues, and saide vnto them: Why thynke ye soch thinges in youre hertes? Whether is easier to saye to the sicke of the palsye: Thy synnes are forgeuē the, or to saye: aryse, take vp thy bed and walke. But that ye maye knowe, that ye sonne of man hath power to forgeue synnes vpon earth, he sayde vnto the sicke of ye palsye: I saye vnto the, aryse, take vp thy bed, and go home. And immediatly he arose, toke his bed, and wente forth before them all: Act. in so moch that they were all astonnied, and praysed God, and sayde: We neuer sawe soch.

And he wente forth agayne vnto the see, and all the people came vnto him, 〈…〉 and he taught them. And as Iesus passed by, he sawe Leui the sonne of Alpheus syttinge at the receate of custome, and sayde vnto him: Folowe me. And he arose, and folowed him. And it came to passe as he sat at the table in his house, there sat many publicans & synners at the table with Iesus and his disciples: For there were many yt folowed him. And whan the scrybes and Pharises sawe that he ate with publicans & synners, they sayde vnto his disciples: Why doth he eate and dryncke with ye publicans and synners? Whan Iesus herde that, he sayde vnto thē: The whole nede not ye Phisician, but they that are sycke. I am not come to call the righteous, but the synners to repētaunce. 〈…〉

And the disciples of Ihon and of ye Pharises faste . And there came certaine, 〈…〉 which sayde vnto him: Why fast the disciples of Ihon, and of ye Pharises, and thy disciples fast not? And Iesus sayde vnto them: How can the weddinge children fast, whyle the brydegrome is with them? So longe as ye brydegrome is with them, they cannot fast. But the tyme wyl come, that the brydegrome shalbe taken from them, and then shal they fast.

No man soweth a pece of new cloth vnto an olde garment, for els he taketh awaye the new pece from the olde, and so is the rēt worse. And no man putteth new wyne in to olde vessels, els the new wyne breaketh the vessels, and the wyne is spylt, and ye vessels perishe: but new wyne must be put in to new vessels.

And it chaunsed that vpon ye Sabbath he wente thorow the corne feldes, 〈…〉 and his disciples begāne to make a waye thorow, and to plucke the eares of ye corne. And the Pharises sayde vnto him: Beholde, what thy disciples do, which is not laufull vpō the Sabbath. And he sayde vnto thē: Haue ye neuer red what Dauid dyd, whā he had nede, and was anhongred, both he and they that were wt him: how he wente in to the house of God in the tyme of Abiathar the hye prest, and ate the shewbreds (which was laufull for no man to eate, 〈◊〉 . 21. b but for the prestes) and he gaue them vnto him, and to them that were with him? And he sayde vnto them: The Sabbath was made for mans sake, and not man for the Sabbathes sake. Therfore is the sonne of man LORDE euen ouer the Sabbath.

The III. Chapter.

HE wente agayne also in to the synagoge, and there was there a mā that had a wythred hande. 〈…〉 And they marked him, whether he wolde heale him on the Sabbath, that they might accuse him. And he sayde vnto ye mā with the wythred hāde: Steppe forth here. And he sayde vnto thē: Is it laufull to do good on the Sabbath? Or is it laufull to do euell? to saue life, or to kyll? But they helde their tonge. And he loked rounde aboute vpon them with wrath, and was sory for the harde hertes of thē, and sayde vnto the man: Stretch out thine hande. And he stretched it out. And his hande was made whole like as ye other. 〈◊〉 15. b

And the Pharises wēte out, and straight waye they helde a councell with Herodes officers agaynst him, 〈◊〉 12. b 〈◊〉 10. d how they might destroye him. But Iesus departed awaye with his disciples vnto the see. And there folowed him moch people out of Galile, 〈…〉 and frō Iewry, and from Ierusalē, and out of Idumea, and from beyonde Iordan, and they that dwelt aboute Tyre and Sydon, a greate multitude which had herde of his noble actes, and came vnto him.

And he spake vnto his disciples yt they shulde kepe a shyppe for him because of the people, lest they shulde thrunge him: for he healed many of them, in so moch, that all they which were plaged, preased vpon him, that they might touch him. And whan the foule spretes sawe him, 〈◊〉 . 4. c they fell downe before him, and cried, and sayde: Thou art the sonne of God. And he charged them strately, that they shulde not make him knowne.

〈◊〉 10. a 〈◊〉 6. b 〈◊〉 . a 〈…〉 b And he wente vp in to a mountayne, and called vnto him whom he wolde, and they came vnto him. And he ordeyned ye twolue, that they shulde be with him, and that he might sende them out to preach, and that they might haue power to heale sicknesses, and to cast out deuyls. And vnto Symon he gaue the name Peter, and Iames the sonne of Zebede, and Ihon the brother of Iames, and gaue thē the name Bonarges, that is to saye, the children of thonder: and Andrew, and Philippe, and Bartylmew, and Mathew, and Thomas, and Iames ye sonne of Alpheus, and Taddeus, and Symon of Cana, and Iudas Iscarioth which betrayed him.

And they came to house. Then assembled the people together agayne, in so moch that they had no leysure to eate. And when they that were aboute him herde of it, they wente out to holde him. For they sayde: Some reade: *He wil go out of his witt. he taketh to moch vpon him. But the scrybes that were come downe from Ierusalem, sayde: He hath Belzebub, and thorow the chefe deuell casteth he out deuyls. And he called them together, Mat. 9. d and 12. c Luc. 11. b and spake vnto them in symilitudes:

How can one Sathan dryue out another? And yf a realme be deuyded in it self, how can it endure? And yf a house be deuyded agaynst it self, it can not contynue. Yf Sathan now ryse agaynst him self, and be at variaunce with him self, he can not endure, but is at an ende. No man can entre in to a stronge mans house, and take awaye his goodes, excepte he first bynde the stronge man, and then spoyle his house.

Verely I saye vnto you: Mat. 12. c Luc. 12. a 1. Ioh. 5. c All synnes shalbe forgeuen the children of men, and the blasphemy also wherwith they blaspheme. But who so blasphemeth the holy goost, hath neuer forgeuenes, but is giltie of the euerlastinge iudgment. For they sayde: he hath an vncleane sprete.

And there came his mother and his brethrē, and stode without, and sente vnto him, Mat. 12. c Luc. 8. c and called him. And the people sat aboute him, and sayde vnto him: Beholde, thy mother and thy brethrē axe after the without. And he answered, and sayde: Who is my mother and my brethren? And he loked rounde aboute him vpon his disciples, which sat rounde in compasse aboute him, and sayde: Beholde, my mother and my brethren. For who so euer doth the will of God the same is my brother, and my sister and my mother.

The IIII. Chapter.

ANd he begāne agayne to teach by ye see side. Mat. 1 . a Luc. 8. b And there gathered moch people vnto him, so that he wente in to a shippe, and sat vpon the water. And all the people stode vpon the londe by the see syde. And he preached longe vnto thē by parables, and sayde vnto thē in his doctryne: Herken to, beholde, there wente out a sower to sowe: & it happened whyle he was sowinge, that some fell by the waye syde. Then came the foules vnder the heauen, and ate it vp. Some fell vpon stonye grounde, where it had not moch earth: and anone it came vp, because it had not depe earth. Now whā the Sonne arose, it caught heate: and in so moch as it had no rote, it wythred awaye. And some fel amonge the thornes, & the thornes grew vp, and choked it, and it gaue no frute. And some fell vpon a good grounde, which gaue frute, that came vp and grew. And some bare thirtie folde, and some sixtie folde, and some an hundreth folde, And he sayde vnto them: Who so hath eares to heare, let him heare.

And whan he was alone, they that were aboute him wt the twolue, Mat. 1 . b Luc. 8. b axed him concernynge this parable. And he sayde vnto thē: Vnto you it is geuen, to knowe the mystery of the kyngdome of God: but vnto them that are without, all thinges happen by parables, Esa. 6. b Iohā. 12. c Act. 28. d Rom. 11. b that with seynge eyes they maye se, and not discerne: and that with hearinge eares they maye heare, and not vnderstōde, lest at eny tyme they turne, and their synnes be forgeuen them. And he sayde vnto them: Vnderstonde ye not this parable? How wyl ye then vnderstonde all other parables?

The sower soweth the worde. These be they that are by the waye syde? where the worde is sowne, Mat. 13 c and as soone as they haue herde it, immediatly commeth Sathā, and taketh awaye the worde that was sowen in their hertes. And likewyse are they that are sowen on the stonye grounde: which when they haue herde the worde, receaue it with ioye, and haue no rote in them: but endure for a tyme. When trouble and persecucion aryseth for ye wordes sake, immediatly they are offended. And these are they that are sowen amōge the thornes: which heare the worde, and ye carefulnes of this worlde, and the disceatfulnes of riches, and many other lustes entre in, and choke the worde, and so is it made vnfrutefull. And these are they yt are sowen vpō a good grounde: Which heare ye worde, and receaue it, and brynge forth frute: some thirtie folde, and some sixtie folde, and some an hundreth folde.

Mat. 5. b Luc. 8. b and 11. c And he sayde vnto thē: Is a candle lighted to be put vnder a buszhell, or vnder a table? Is it not lighted, to be set vpon a candelsticke? For there is nothinge hyd, that shal not be openly shewed: and there is nothinge secrete, yt shal not be knowne. Mat. 10. Luc. and 12. Who so hath eares to heare, let him heare. And he sayde vnto them: Take hede what ye heare. With what measure ye mete, with the same shal it be measured vnto you agayne. And vnto you that heare this, Mat. 7 Luc. . shal more be geuen. For who so hath, vnto him shal be geuen: and who so hath not, Ma . and Luc. and from him shalbe taken awaye, euen that he hath.

And he sayde: The kyngdome of God is after this maner, as when a man casteth sede vpon the londe, and slepeth, and stondeth vp night and daye, Mat. and the sede spryngeth vp, & groweth, he not knowinge of it. (For the earth bryngeth forth frute of her selfe: first the grasse, afterwarde the eare, then the full wheate in the eare) But whan she hath brought forth the frute, he putteth to the syckell, because the haruest is come.

And he sayde: Where vnto wyl welicken the kyngdome of God? Or by what symilitude wyl we compare it? Mat Luc It is like a grayne of mustarde sede, which whā it is sowē vpō the londe, is the leest amonge all sedes of the earth. And whā it is sowen, it groweth vp, and is greater then all herbes, and getteth greate braunches, so yt the foules vnder the heauē maye dwell vnder ye shadowe therof.

And by many soch parables he spake the worde vnto thē, there after as they might heare it, 〈…〉 & without parables spake he nothinge vnto them: but vnto his disciples he expounded all thinges pryuately. And the same daye at euen he sayde vnto them: Mat. Luc let us passe ouer. And they let the people go, and toke him as he was in the shippe, and there were mo shippes with him. And there arose a greate storme of wynde, and daszhed the wawes in to the shippe, so that the shippe was full. And he was behynde in the shippe and slepte vpon a pelowe. And they awoke him & sayde vnto him: Master, Carest thou not, that we perishe? And he arose, and rebuked ye wynde, and sayde vnto the see: Peace, and be styll, And the wynde was layed, & there folowed a greate calme. And he sayde vnto them: Why are ye so fearfull? How is it, that ye haue no faith? And they feared exceadingly, & sayde one to another: What is he this? For wynde and see are obedient vnto him.

The V. Chapter.

ANd they came ouer vnto the other syde of the see in to the countre of the Gaderenites. 〈…〉 And whan he wēte out of the shippe, there met him a mā possessed of an vncleane sprete, which had his dwellinge in the graues. And no man coude bynde hym, no not with cheynes: for he was oft bounde with fetters & cheynes, and pluckte the cheynes in sunder, and brake the fetters in peces, and no man coude tame him. And he was allwaye both daye and night vpon the mountaynes and in the graues crienge, and beatinge him self with stones. But whan he sawe Iesus afarre of, he ranne, and fell downe before him, and cried loude, and sayde: 〈…〉 What haue I to do with the O Iesus thou sonne of ye Hyest God? I charge the by God, that thou torment me not. Neuertheles he sayde vnto him: Go out of the man thou foule sprete. And he axed him: What is thy name? And he answered and sayde: My name is Legion, for there be many of vs. And he prayed him instantly, that he wolde not sende them awaye out of that countre.

And euen there in the mountaynes there was a greate heerd of swyne fedynge, 〈…〉 and all the deuyls praied him, and sayde: Let vs departe in to the swyne. And anone Iesus gaue them leue. Then the foule spretes wente out, and intred in to the swyne. And the heerd of swyne, ranne heedlinges in to ye see with a storme. They were aboute a two thousande swyne, and were drowned in the see.

And the swyne herdes fled, and tolde it in the cite, and in the countre. And they wente out for to se what had happened, and came to Iesus, and sawe hym which was possessed and had had ye legion, that he sat, and was clothed, and in his right mynde, and they were afrayed. And they that had sene it, tolde them what had happened to the possessed, and of the swyne.

And they beganne to praye him, that he wolde departe out of their coastes. And whan he came in to the shyppe, the possessed prayed him, that he might be with him.

Neuertheles Iesus wolde not suffre hī, but saide vnto hī: Go ī to ye house & to thine awne, and tell thē how greate benefites the LORDE hath done for ye, and how he hath had mercy vpon the. And he wente his waye, and beganne to publish in the ten cities how greate benefites Iesus had done for him. And euery man marueyled.

And whan Iesus passed ouer agayne by shippe, there gathered moch people vnto him, 〈…〉 and was by the see syde. And beholde, there came one of the rulers of the synagoge, whose name was Iairus. And whan he sawe him, he fell downe at his fete, and besought him greatly, & sayde: My doughter is at the poynte (of death) let it be thy pleasure to come and laye thine honde vpon her, that she maye be whole and lyue. And he wente with him, and moch people folowed him, and thronged him.

And there was a woman, which had had the bloude yssue twolue yeares, Mat. 9. c Luc. 8. c and had suffred moch of many phisicians, and spent all that she had, and was not helped, but rather in worse case. Whan she herde of Iesus, she came behynde amonge the people, and touched his garment. For she sayde: Yf I maye but touch his clothes, I shal be whole.

And immediatly ye fountayne of hir bloude was dryed vp, and she felt in hir body, yt she was healed of the plage.

And forth with Iesus felt in himself the power that was gone out of him, and turned him aboute amōge the people, and sayde: Who hath touched my clothes? And his disciples sayde vnto him: Thou seist that the people thrusteth the, and sayest: Who hath touched me? And he loked aboute to se her, that had done it.

As for the woman, she feared and trembled (for she knew, what was done in her) and came and fell downe before him, and tolde him the whole trueth. And he sayde vnto her: Doughter, Luc. 7. c thy faith hath made the whole: go thy waye in peace, & be whole of thy plage.

Whyle he yet spake, Mat. 9. c Luc. 8. f there came certayne from the ruler of the synagoges house, and sayde: Thy doughter is deed, why troublest thou the master eny more? But Iesus herde right soone the worde that was spoken, and sayde vnto the ruler of the synagoge: Be not thou afrayed, beleue onely.

And he suffred no mā to folowe him, but Peter and Iames and Ihon his brother. And he came in to the ruler of the synagoges house, and sawe the busynes, and them that wepte and wayled greatly: and he wente in, and sayde vnto them: Why make ye this a doo, and wepe? The mayde is not deed, but slepeth. Iohā. 11. b

And they laughed him to scorne 4. Re. 4. d And he droue them all out, and toke the father and mother of the mayde, and them that were with him, and wente in where the mayden laye. And he toke the maydē by the honde, and sayde vnto her: Thabith a Cumi (which is by interpretaeion) Maydē, I saye vnto the: Aryse. Iohā. 5. c Act. 9. f And immediatly the mayden arose, and walked. She was twolue yeare olde, and they were astonnyed out of measure. And he charged them strately, that no man shulde knowe of it, and sayde vnto them, that they shulde geue her to eate.

The VI. Chapter.

ANd he departed thence, and came in to his awne countre, Mat. 13. a Luc. 4. b and his disciples folowed him. And whā ye Sabbath came, he begāne to teach in their synagoge. And many that herde it, marueled at his lernynge, and sayde: From whēce hath he these thinges? And what wyszdome is this, yt is geuē him: & soch actes as are done by his handes? Is not this the Carpenter the sonne of Mary, and the brother of Iames and Ioses, and of Iude and Symon? Are not his sisters here with vs also? And they were offended at him. But Iesus saide vnto thē: A prophet is nowhere lesse set by, Mat. 13. g Luc. 4. c Iohā. 4. c thē in his awne countre, & at home amonge his awne. And he coude not shew one miracle there, but layed his handes vpon a few sicke, and healed them. And he marueyled at their vnbeleue.

And he wente aboute in the townes on euery syde, and taught them. And called the twolue, and begāne to sende them two and two, and gaue them power ouer the vncleane spretes. And commaunded thē, that they shulde take nothinge with them towarde their iourney, saue onely a rodde: no scrippe, no bred, no money in the gerdell, but shulde be shod with sandales, and that they shulde not put on two cotes. And he sayde vnto them: Where so euer ye shal entre in to an house, there abyde, tyll ye go thence. And who so euer wyll not receaue you, ner heare you, Mat. 10. b Luc. 9. a departe out from thence, and shake of the dust from youre fete, for a wytnesse vnto them. I saye vnto you verely: It shal be easyer for Sodome and Gomorra in the daye of iudgment, Mat. 11. d Luc. 10. a then for that cite.

Mat. 10. a And they wēte forth, and preached, that men shulde amēde them selues, and they cast out many deuyls: and many that were sicke anoynted they with oyle, and healed thē.

And it came to kynge Herods eares (for his name was now knowne) and he sayde: Mat. 14. a Luc. 9. a Ihon the baptist is rysen agayne from the deed, and therfore are his dedes so mightie. But some sayde: It is Elias. Some sayde: It is a prophet, or one of ye prophetes. But when Herode herde it, he sayde: It is Ihon whom I beheeded, he is rysen againe from the deed. This Herode had sent forth, and taken Ihon, and put him in preson, because of Herodias his brother Philippes wife, for he had maried her. Neuertheles Ihon sayde vnto Herode 〈…〉 It is not laufull for the to haue ye brothers wife. But Herodias layed wayte for him, and wolde haue slayne him, and coude not. Notwithstōdinge Herode feared Ihō, for he knew that he was a iust and holy man: and he kepte him, and herkened vnto him in many thinges, and herde him gladly.

And there came a conuenient daye, that Herode on his byrth daye made a supper to the lordes, 〈…〉 captaynes and chefe estates of Galile. Then the daughter of Herodias came in, and daunsed, and pleased Herode, and them that sat at the table. Then sayde the kynge vnto ye damsel: Axe of me what thou wilt, I wil geue it the. And he sware vnto her: What soeuer thou shalt axe of me, I wil geue it the, euen vnto ye one half of my kyngdome. She wente forth, and sayde vnto hir mother: what shal I axe? She sayde: Ihon baptistes heade. And immediatly she wēte in to the kinge with haist, and sayde: I will that thou geue me straight waye in a platter the heed of Ihon the baptist. Then the kynge was sory: Yet for the oothes sake and thē that sat at the table, he wolde not saye her nay.

And immediatly he sent the hangman, and commaunded his heade to be brought in. So he wēte, and heeded him in the preson, and brought his heade in a platter, and gaue it vnto the damsell, and the damsell gaue it vnto hir mother. And whan his 〈◊〉 herde that, they came and toke his body, & layed it in a graue.

And the Apostles came together vnto Iesus, and tolde hī all, 〈…〉 and what they had done and taught. And he sayde vnto them: Let vs go out of the waye in to the wyldernes, and rest a litle. For there were many cō mers and goers, and they had not tyme ynough to eate. And there he passed by shippe out of ye waye in to a deserte place. And the people sawe thē departynge awaye, and many knewe of it, & ranne thither together of fote out of all cities, & came before thē, & came vnto him. And Iesus wente out, 〈…〉 and sawe moch people, and had cōpassion vpon them: for they were 〈…〉 as the shepe, that haue no shepherde, and he begāne a lōge sermon.

Now whan the daye was farre past, his disciples came vnto him, and sayde: This is a deserte place, 〈◊〉 14. b let them departe, that they maye go in to the vyllagies and townes rounde aboute, and bye themselues bred, for they haue nothinge to eate. But Iesus answered and sayde vnto them: geue ye them to eate.

And they sayde vnto him: Shal we go then, and bye two hundreth peny worth of bred, and geue them to eate? He sayde vnto them: 〈◊〉 . 8. a How many loaues haue ye? Go and se. And when they had searched, they sayde: Fyue, and two fiszhes. And he commaunded them all to syt downe by table fulles vpon the grene grasse. And they sat downe here arowe and there arowe by hundreds and by fifties. And he toke the fyue loaues and two fiszhes, and loked vp vnto heauen, and gaue thankes, and brake the loaues, and gaue to the disciples, to set before them. And the two fiszhes parted he amonge them all. And they all ate, and were satisfied. And they toke vp twolue baskettes full of ye broken peces and of the fiszhes. And they that ate, were aboute fyue thousande men. And anone he caused his disciples to go in to the shippe, 〈◊〉 4. c 〈◊〉 . 6. b and to passe ouer before him vnto Bethsaida, whyle he sent awaye the people. And at euen was the shippe in the myddest of the see, and he alone vpon the londe. And he sawe that they were in parell with rowynge, for the wynde was agaynst them.

And aboute the fourth watch of ye night he came vnto them, and walked vpon the see, and wolde haue gone ouer by thē. And whan they sawe him walkinge vpon the see, they thought it had bene asprete, and cried out, for they sawe him all, and were afrayed. But immediatly he talked with them, and sayde vnto them: Be of good comforte, it is I, 〈◊〉 . 14. d be not afrayed. And he wēte vnto them in to the shippe, and the wynde ceassed. And they were astonnyed, and marueled exceadingly: for they had forgotten the 〈◊〉 . 6. e loaues, and their hert was blynded.

And whan they were passed ouer, they came in to lande of Genezareth, and drue vp in to the hauen. And whan thy were come out of the shippe, immediatly they knewe him, and ranne thorow out all the region aboute, and beganne on euery syde to brynge vnto him in beddes soch as were sicke, where they herde that he was. And whither so euer he entred in to townes, cities or vyllagies, there layed they the sicke in the market place, and prayed him, that they might but touch the hemme of his garment. And as many as touched him, were made whole.

The VII. Chapter.

ANd there came vnto him the Pharises, and certayne of the scrybes, Mat 15. a that were come from Ierusalē. And whā they sawe certayne of his disciples eate bred with comon (that is, with vnwashen) handes, they complayned. For the Pharises & all the Iewes eate not, excepte they wash their handes oft tymes: obseruynge so the tradicions of the elders. And whan they come from the market, they eate not, excepte they waszhe. And many other thynges there be, which they haue taken vpon them to obserue, as the washinge of cuppes and cruses, and brasen vessels and tables.

Then the Pharises and scrybes axed him: Why walke not thy disciples after the tradicions of the elders, but eate bred with vnwaszhen handes? But he answered & sayde vnto them: Full well hath Esay prophecied of you Ypocrytes, as it is wryttē: Esa. 29. c This people honoureth me wt their lippes, but their hert is farre fro me. But in vayne do they serue me, whyle they teach soch doctrynes as are nothinge but the commaundemētes of mē. Ye leaue the cōmaundement of God and kepe the tradicions of men, as the wasshynge of cruses and cuppes, & many soch thinges do ye.

And he saide vnto thē: How goodly haue ye cast asyde the cōmaundement of God, to manteyne youre owne tradicions? Exo. 20. b Deut. 5. a For Moses sayde: Honoure father & mother. Exo. 21. b Who so curseth father and mother, shal dye the death. But ye saye: A mā shal saye to father or mother: Corban, that is, The thinge yt I shulde helpe the withall, is geuē vnto God. And thus ye suffre him nomore to do ought for his father or his mother, & make Gods worde of none effecte, thorow youre owne tradicions that ye haue set vp. And many soch thinges do ye.

And he called vnto him all the people, Mat. 15. b and sayde vnto them: Herken vnto me ye all, and vnderstonde me. There is nothinge without a man, that can defyle him, whan it entreth in to him. But that goeth out of him, that is it that maketh the man vncleane. Yf eny man haue eares to heare, let him heare. And whan he came from the people in to ye house, his disciples axed him of this symilitude. And he sayde vnto them: Are ye so then without vnderstondinge? Perceaue ye not yet, yt euery thinge which is without, and goeth into the mā, can not defyle him? For it entreth not in to his hert, but in to ye bely, and goeth out in to the draught, that purgeth all meates.

And he sayde: The thinge that goeth out of the man, that defyleth the man. For from within out of the hert of man proceade euell thoughtes, aduoutrye, whordome, murthur, theft, coueteousnes, wickednes, disceate, vnclennes, a wicked eye, blasphemy, pryde, foolishnes. All these euell thinges go from within, and defyle the man.

Mat. 15. c And he arose, and wente from thence in to the borders of Tyre and Sydon, & entred into an house, and wolde let no man knowe of it, and yet coude he not be hyd: For a certayne woman (whose doughter had a foule sprete) herde of him, and came and fell downe at his fete (and it was in Heithē woman of Syrophenices) and she besought him, that he wolde dryue out the deuell from hir doughter. But Iesus sayde vnto her: Let the children be fed first: It is not mete to take the childrēs bred, and to cast it vnto dogges. She answered and sayde vnto him: Yee LORDE, neuertheles the whelpes also eate vnder ye table, of ye childrēs crōmes. And he sayde vnto her: Because of this sayenge go thy waye, the deuell is departed out of thy doughter. And she wente vnto her house, & founde that the deuell was departed, and hir doughter lyenge on the bed.

Mat. 9. d Luc. 11. b And whan he wente out agayne from the coastes of Tyre and Sydon, he came vnto the see of Galile, thorw the myddes of ye coastes of the tē cities. And they brought vnto him one that was deaf, and had impediment in his speach. And they prayed him, that he wolde laye his hande vpon him.

And he toke him a syde from the people, and put his fyngers in his eares, and dyd spyt, and touched his tonge, and loked vp vnto heauen, sighed, and sayde vnto him: Ephatha, that is, be opened. And immediatly his eares were opened, and the bonde of his tōge was lowsed, and he spake right. And he charged them, Marc. 1. d and 9. a that they shulde tell noman.

But the more he forbad them, the more they published it, & marueyled out of measure, and sayde: Gen. 1. d Eccli. 39. c He hath done all thinges well. The deaf hath he made to heare, and the domme to speake.

The VIII. Chapter.

AT the same tyme whan there was moch people there, and had nothinge to eate, Iesus called his disciples to him, and sayde vnto them: I haue compassion vpon the people, for they haue taried wt me now thre dayes, & haue nothinge to eate. And yf I let them go home fro me fastynge, they shulde faynte by the waye. Tob. 〈…〉 Esa. 〈…〉 For some of them were come from farre. And his disciples answered him: Where shulde we get bred here in the wyldernes, to satisfie them? And he axed thē: Marc. How many loaues haue ye? They sayde: Seuen. And he commaunded the people to syt downe vpon the grounde. And he toke the seuen loaues, and gaue thākes, and brake them, and gaue thē vnto his disciples to set them before the people. And they set thē before the people. And they had a few small fyshes, and whan he had geuen thankes, he bad set the same before the people. They ate, and were satisfied, & toke vp seuē baszkettes full of ye brokē meate that was left. And they yt ate, were vpō a foure thousande. And he sent thē awaye.

And forth with he wente in to a shippe with his disciples, 〈…〉 and came in to the coastes of Dalmanutha. And the Pharises wente out, and begāne to dispute with him, and tempted him, and desyred a token of him from heauē. And he sighed in his sprete, and sayde: 〈…〉 Why doth this generacion seke a token? Verely I saye vnto you: There shal no tokē be geuē vnto this generacion. And he left them, and wēte againe into the shippe, and passed ouer.

And they forgat to take bred with them, 〈…〉 and had nomore with them in the shippe but one loaf. And he cōmaunded them, and sayde: Take hede, and bewarre of the leuen of the Pharises, and of the leuen of Herode. And their myndes wauered here and there, and sayde amonge them selues: This is it, that we haue no bred. And Iesus vnderstode that, and sayde vnto them: Why trouble ye youre selues, that ye haue no bred? Are ye yet without vnderstondinge? Haue ye yet a blynded hert in you? Haue ye eyes, & se not? and haue ye eares, and heare not? and remē bre ye not, 〈…〉 that I brake fyue loaues amonge fyue thousande, how many baszkettes full of broken meate toke ye then vp? They sayde: twolue. And 〈1 paragraph〉 whan I brake the seuen amonge the foure thousande, how many baskettes full of broken meate toke ye then vp? They sayde: Seuen. And he sayde vnto thē: Why are ye then without vnderstondinge?

And he came to Bethsaida, & they brought one blynde vnto him, and prayed him to touch him. And he toke the blynde by the hande, and led him out of the towne, and spat in his eyes, and layed his handes vpon him, and axed him whether he sawe ought. And he loked vp, and sayde: I se men goynge as yf I sawe trees. After this he layed his handes vpon his eyes ageyne, and made him to se. And he was brought to right againe, and sawe all clearly. And he sent him home, and sayde: Go not in to ye towne, and tell it also vnto noman therin.

And Iesus wente out and his disciples into the townes of the cite Cesarea Philippi, 〈◊〉 . 16. b 〈◊〉 9. c And in ye waye he axed his disciples and sayde vnto them: What do men saye, that I am? They answered: They saye, thou art Ihon the baptist: Some saye thou art Elias, some that thou art one of the prophetes. And he sayde vnto them: But whom saye ye that I am? Then answered Peter and sayde vnto him: 〈◊〉 26. g Thou art very Christ. And he charged them strately, that they shulde tell no man of him. And he begāne to teach them: 〈◊〉 16. c 〈◊〉 . 20. b The sonne of man must suffre many thinges, and be cast out of the elders & hye prestes and scrybes, and be put to death, and after thre dayes ryse agayne. And that worde spake he fre openly. And Peter toke him vnto him, and beganne to rebuke him. But he turned him aboute, and loked vpon his disciples, and reproued Peter, and sayde: Go after me thou Sathan, for thou sauourest not the thinges that be of God, but of men.

And he called vnto him the people with his disciples, 〈◊〉 . 16. d 〈◊〉 . 9. c and sayde vnto them: Who so euer wyl folowe me, let him denye himself, and take vp his crosse, and folowe me. For who so euer wyl saue his life, 〈◊〉 . 17. d 〈◊〉 . 12. c shal lose it: and who so euer loseth his life for my sake and ye gospels, ye same shal saue it. What helpeth it a mā though he wāne the whole worlde, and yet toke harme in his soule? Or, what can a man geue, to redeme his soule withall? Who so euer is ashamed of me and of my wordes amonge this aduouterous and synfull generacion, 〈◊〉 10. d 〈◊〉 9. c 〈…〉 4. b of him shal the sonne of man also be ashamed, whan he commeth in the glory of his father with the holy angels. 〈◊〉 . 16. d 〈◊〉 9. c And he sayde vnto them: Verely I saye vnto you: There stōde here some, which shal not taist of death, tyll they se the kyngdome of God come with power.

The IX. Chapter.

ANd after sixe dayes Iesus toke vnto him Peter, Iames and Ihon, Mat. 17. a Luc. 9. d and brought them vp in to an hye mountayne out of the waye alone, and was ttāsfigured before them, and his clothes were bright and very whyte as ye snowe, so whyte as no fuller can make vpon earth. And there appeared vnto thē Elias with Moses, and they talked with Iesus. And Peter answered, and sayde vnto Iesus: Rabbi, here is good beynge for vs. Let vs make thre tabernacles: one for the, one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he knewe not what he sayde, and they were very fearfull. And there was a cloude, which ouershadowed thē. And out of the cloude there came a voyce, Mat. 3. b Marc. 1. a Luc. 3. c and sayde: This is my deare sonne, Deu 18 heare him. And immediatly they loked aboute them, and sawe noman more then Iesus onely with them.

But whan they wente downe from the mountayne, Iesus charged them, Mat. 17. that they shulde tell no man what they had sene, tyll the sonne of man were rysen agayne from the deed.

And they kepte that sayenge by them, and axed one another: What is that rysinge agayne from the deed? And they axed him, and sayde: Why saye the scrybes then, that Mala. 3. Elias must first come? He answered and sayde vnto them: Elias shal come first in dede, and brynge all thinges to right agayne. The sonne of man also shal suffre many thinges, and be despysed, Esa. 53. Psal. 21. a as it is wrytten. But I saye vnto you: Elias is come, and they haue done vnto him what they wolde, acordinge as it is wrytten of him?

And he came to his disciples, and sawe moch people aboute them, Mat. 17. Luc. 9. d and the scrybes disputynge with them. And as soone as the people sawe, they were astonnyed, and ranne vnto him, and saluted him. And he axed the scrybes: What dispute ye with them? And one of the people answered, and sayde: Master, I haue brought vnto the my sonne, which hath a domme sprete: and whan so euer he taketh him, he teareth him, and he fometh, and gnaszheth with the teth, and pyneth awaye, & I haue spoken to thy disciples that they shulde cast him out, and they coude not.

He answered him, and sayde: O thou vnfaithfull generacion, how longe shal I be with you? How longe shal I suffre you? Brynge hī hither to me. And they brought him vnto him. And as soone as the sprete sawe him, he tare him, and fell vpon the 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 earth, and weltred and fomed. And he axed his father: How longe is it, sens this happened vnto him? He sayde: Of a childe, and oft tymes hath he cast him in to the fyre and water, to destroye him: but yf thou canst do eny thinge, haue mercy vpon vs, and helpe vs. Iesus sayde vnto him: Yf thou couldest beleue: All thinges are possible vnto him that beleueth. And immediatly the father of the childe cried with teares, and sayde: LORDE I beleue: O helpe thou myne vnbeleue.

Now whan Iesus sawe that the people ranne to, he rebuked the foule sprete, and sayde vnto him: Thou domme and deaf sprete, I charge the, departe out of him, and entre nomore in to him from hence forth. And he cried, and rent him sore, and departed. And he was as though he had bene deed, in so moch that many sayde: he is deed. But Iesus toke him by the hande, and set him vp. And he arose. And whan he came home, his disciples axed him secretly: Mat. 17. c Why coulde not we cast him out? And he sayde: This kynde cā go out by no meanes, but by prayer and fastynge.

And they departed thēce, and toke their iourney thorow Galile, Mat. 17. d Marc. 8. d nd 10. d uc. 18. d nd 9. c and he wolde not that eny man shulde knowe of it. But he taught his disciples, and sayde vnto them: The sonne of mā shalbe delyuered in to the handes of men, and they shal put him to death: and whan he is put to death, he shal ryse ageyne the thirde daye. But they vnderstode not that worde, and were afrayed to axe him.

And he came to Capernaum. And whan he was at home, Mat. 18. a he axed them? What disputed ye amonge youre selues by ye waye? But they helde their tūges: For they had disputed by the waye amonge them selues, Marc. 10. e who shulde be ye greatest. And he sat downe, and called the twolue, and sayde vnto them: Yf eny man wyl be the first, Mat. 20. d the same shal be the last of all, and the seruaunt of all. And he toke a childe, and set him in the myddest of them, and toke him in his armes, and sayde vnto them: Luc. 9. e nd 10. b ohā. 13. c Who so euer receaueth soch a childe in my name, receaueth me: and who so euer receaueth me, receaueth not me, but him that hath sent me.

Ihon answered him, and sayde: Master, we sawe one dryue out deuels in thy name, but he foloweth not vs, and we forbad him because he foloweth vs not. But Iesus sayde: Forbyd him not: for 1. Co. 12. a there is no mā that doth a myracle in my name, and can soone speake euell of me. For who so euer is not agaynst vs, the same is for vs. And whosoeuer euer geueth you a cuppe of water to drynke in my name, because ye belonge vnto Christ, Mat. •• verely I saye vnto you: he shal not lose his rewarde. Mat. •• Luc. And who so offendeth one of these litle ones that beleue in me, it were better for him, that a mylstone were hāged aboute his neck, and he cast in to the see. Mat. 5. and •• Yf thy hāde offende the, cut him of. Better it is for the to entre in to life lame, thē hauynge two hondes to go in to hell in to the euerlastinge fyre, where their worme dyeth not, and their fyre goeth not out.

Yf thy fote offende the, cut him of. Better it is for the to entre into life crepell, thē hauynge two fete to be cast into hell in the fyre euerlastynge, where their worme dyeth not, and their fyre goeth not out. Yf thine eye offende the, cast him from the. Better it is for the to entre in to ye kyngdome of God with one eye, then hauynge two eyes to be cast in to the fyre of hell: Esa. Eze where their worme dyeth not, and their fyre goeth not out. For euery mā must be salted wt fyre, & 〈1 paragraph〉 euery offerynge shalbe seasoned wt salt. Ma . 〈◊〉 The salt is good: but yf ye salt be vnsauery, wherwith all shal it be salted? Haue salt in you, & peace amonge yo selues one with another.

The X. Chapter.

ANd he rose vp, and came from thence in to the places of Iewry beyonde Iordan. And the people wēte agayne vnto him by heapes, and as his maner was he taught them agayne. And the Pharises came vnto him, and axed him, yf it were laufull for a man to put awaye his wife, and tempted him withall. But he answered and sayde: What hath Moses cōmaunded you? They sayde: 〈…〉 Moses suffred to wryte a testimoniall of deuorcemēt, and to put her awaye. Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them: Because of ye hardnesse of yo hert dyd Moses wryte you this commaundement. But from the first creacion God made thē man and woman. 〈…〉 For this cause shal a man leaue his father & mother, and cleue vnto his wife, and they two shalbe one flesh. Now are they not twayne thē, but one flesh. Let not man therfore put asunder that, which God hath coupled together.

And at home his disciples axed him agayne of ye same. And he sayde vnto thē: Whoso euer putteth awaye his wife, 〈…〉 & marieth another, breaketh wedlocke to her warde. And yf a womā forsake hir huszbande, & be maried to another, she cōmitteth aduoutrie.

And they brought childrē vnto him, that he might touch them. 〈◊〉 . 19. b 〈◊〉 . 1 . b But the disciples reproued those that brought thē. Neuertheles whan Iesus sawe it, he was displeased, and sayde vnto them: Suffre the children to come vnto me, and forbyd them not, for of soch is the kyngdome of God. Verely I saye vnto you: Who so euer receaueth not the kyngdome of God as a childe, he shal not entre therin. And he toke them vp in his armes, and layed his handes vpon them, and blessed them.

And whan he was gone forth vpon the waye, there came one runninge, and kneled vnto him, 〈◊〉 . 19. c 〈◊〉 1 . c & axed him: Good Master, what shal I do, that I maye inheret euerlastinge life? But Iesus saide vnto him: Why callest thou me good? 〈…〉 There is no man good, but God onely, Thou knowest the commaundementes: 〈◊〉 0. b Thou shalt not breake wedlocke: thou shalt not kyll: thou shalt not steale: thou shalt beare no false wytnesse: thou shalt begyle no man: Honoure thy father and mother. But he answered, and sayde vnto him: Master, all these haue I kepte fro my youth vp. And Iesus behelde him, and loued him, & sayde vnto him: Thou wantest one thinge: Go thy waye, and 〈◊〉 . 2. c 〈◊〉 4. d sell all that thou hast, and geue it vnto ye poore: so shalt thou haue a treasure in heauen, and come & folowe me, and take the crosse vpon ye. And he was disconforted at the sayenge, & wente awaye sory, for he had greate possessions.

And Iesus loked aboute him, and sayde vnto his disciples: 〈◊〉 19. c 〈◊〉 1 . c O how hardly shal the ryche come into ye kyngdome of God? And the disciples were astonnyed at his wordes. But Iesus answered agayne, and sayde vnto them: Deare children, how harde is it for them that trust in riches, to come in to the kyngdome of God? It is easier for a Camell to go thorow the eye of a nedle, then for a rich man to entre in to ye kyngdome of God. Yet were they astonnyed ye more, and sayde amonge thē selues: Who can thē be saued? But Iesus behelde them, and sayde: With men it is vnpossyble, but not with God: for with God all thinges are possyble. 〈…〉

Then sayde Peter vnto him: Beholde, we haue forsaken all, 〈◊〉 . 19. d 〈◊〉 . 1 . c and folowed the. Iesus answered & sayde: Verely I saye vnto you: There is no man that forsaketh house, or brethren, or sisters, or father or mother, or wife, or children, or londes for my sake and the gospels, that shal not receaue an hundreth folde now in this tyme, houses, and brethrē, and sisters, and mothers and children, and londes with persecucions, and in the worlde to come euerlastinge life. But many that are the first, shal be the last: and the last the first. Luc. 1 . c

They were in the waye goinge vp to Ierusalem, and Iesus wente before them. Mat. 20. b Luc. 18. d And they were astonnyed, and folowed him, and were afrayed. And Iesus toke the twolue agayne, and tolde them what shulde happē vnto him. Beholde, we go vp to Ierusalem, and the sonne of man shalbe delyuered vnto the hye prestes and scrybes, and they shal condemne him to death, and delyuer him vnto the Heythē. And they shal mocke hī, and scourge him, and spyt vpon him, and put him to death, and on the thirde daye shal he ryse agayne.

Then wēte vnto him Iames and Ihon ye sonnes of Zebede, and sayde: Master, Mat. 10. c We desyre, that whatsoeuer we axe of the, thou wilt do it for vs. He sayde vnto thē: What desyre ye that I shal do to you? They sayde vnto him: Graunte vs, that we maye syt one at thy right hande, and one at thy left hande in thy glory. But Iesus sayde vnto thē: Ye wote not what ye axe. Maye ye drynke the cuppe, yt I shal drynke? and be baptysed with the baptyme that I shal be baptysed withall? They sayde vnto him: Yee yt we maye. Iesus sayde vnto them: The cuppe that I drynke, shal ye drynke in dede: and be baptysed with the baptyme that I shall be baptysed withall. Neuertheles to syt at my right hande and at my left, is not myne to geue you, but vnto them for whom it is prepared.

And whā the ten herde that, they disdayned at Iames and Ihon. But Iesus called them, and sayde vnto them: Ye knowe that the prynces of ye worlde haue domynacion of the people, Mat. 20. Marc. 9. Luc. 9. c and 22. b and ye mightie exercise auctorite amonge them. So shal it not be amonge you: but who so euer wil be greate amō ge you, shal be youre mynister: and who so wyl be chefest amonge you, shalbe seruaunt of all. For the sonne of man also came not to be serued, but to do seruyce, and Ioh. 10. to geue his life to a redempcion for many.

And they came vnto Iericho. Mat. 20. d Luc. 18. d And whan he wente out of Iericho, and his disciples, and moch people, there sat one blynde Barthimeus the sonne of Thimeus by ye waye, and begged. And whā he herde that it was Iesus of Nazareth, he beganne to crie and saye: Iesu thou sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me. And many reproued him, that he shulde holde his tunge. But he cried moch more: Thou sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpō me. And Iesus stode styll, and bad call him. And they called the blynde, and sayde vnto him: Be of good conforte, aryse, he calleth the. And he cast awaye his garment from him, stode vp, and came to Iesus. And Iesus answered, & sayde vnto him: What wilt thou that I do vnto the? The blynde sayde vnto him: Master, that I might se. Iesus sayde vnto him: Go yt waye, thy faith hath helped ye. And immediatly he had his sight and folowed him in the waye.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd whan they came nye Ierusalem to Bethphage and Bethanye vnto mount Oliuete, Mat. 21. a Luc. 19. c he sent two of his disciples, and sayde vnto them: Go in to the towne that lyeth before you, and as soone as ye come in, ye shal fynde a foale bounde, wher vpon no man hath syttē: lowse it, and brynge it hither. And yf eny man saye vnto you: wherfore do ye that? Then saye ye: The LORDE hath nede therof, and forth with he shal sende it hither. They wēte their waie and founde the foale tyed by ye dore without at the partynge of the waye, and lowsed it. And certayne of those yt stode there, axed them: What do ye, that ye lowse the foale? But they sayde vnto thē, like as Iesus had commaunded them. And so they let them alone. And they brought the foale vnto Iesus, and layed their clothes theron, and he sat theron. But many spred their garmētes in the waye: ohā. 12. c some cut downe braunches frō the trees, and strowed thē in the waye. And they that wente before, and that folowed after, cried, and sayde: Hosyanna, blessed be he, Psal. 117. c that commeth in the name of the LORDE: blessed be the kyngdome of oure father Dauid, which commeth in the name of the LORDE. Hosyanna in the height.

And the LORDE entred in to Ierusalem, and wente in to the temple, and loked vpon all. And at euen he wente out vnto Bethany with the twolue: and on the morow whā they departed from Bethanye, he hūgred, and sawe a fygge tre afarre of, Mat. 21. b which had leaues. Then came he nye, (to se) yf he coude fynde eny thinge theron. Luc. 13. a And whan he came to it, he founde nothinge but leaues (for the tyme of fygges was not yet) And Iesus answered, and sayde vnto it: Neuer mā eate frute of the for euermore. And his disciples herde it.

And they came to Ierusalem. And Iesus wente in to the temple, and beganne to dryue out the sellers and byers in the tēple, Marc. •• Luc. •• Ioh . •• & ouerthrew the tables of the money chaungers, and the stoles of the doue sellers, and suffred not eny man to cary a vessel thorow the temple. And he taught and sayde vnto them: Is it not wrytten: Esa. •• Iere. 3. 5. Re. •• My house shalbe called a house of prayer for all people? But ye haue made it a denne of murthurers.

And the scrybes and hye prestes herde of it. Mat. •• Iohā. •• And they sought how they might destroye him, but they were afrayed of him, for all the people marueled at his doctryne. And at euen he wente out of the cite. And on the morow they passed by, Mat. •• and sawe the fygge tre, that it was wythred vnto the rote. And Peter thought theron, and sayde vnto him: Master, beholde, the fygge tre yt thou cursedest, is wythred awaye. Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them: Mat. •• Luc. Haue faith in God. Verely I saye vnto you: Who so euer saieth vnto this mountayne: Avoyde, and cast thy self in to the see, and 〈1 paragraph〉 douteth not in his hert, but beleueth that the thinges shal come to passe which he saieth, then loke what he sayeth, it shal come to passe. Therfore I saye vnto you: Iohā. •• 15. a •• What so euer ye desyre in youre prayer, beleue that ye shal receaue it, and ye shal haue it. Mat. •• 1 . c. Luc. •• And whan ye stonde and praye, forgeue yf ye haue ought ageynst eny man, that youre father also in heauen, maye forgeue you youre trespaces.

And they came agayne vnto Ierusalem and whan he wente in the temple, Mat. •• Luc. •• there came vnto him the hye prestes and scrybes and the elders, and sayde vnto him: By what auctorite dost thou these thinges? and who gaue the this auctorite to do soch?

But Iesus answered and sayde vnto thē: I wil axe you a worde also, answere me, and I wyl tell you, by what auctorite I do these. The baptyme of Ihon, was it from heauen, or of men? Answere me.

And they thought in them selues: yf we saye, it was from heauen, then shal he saye: Why dyd ye not then beleue him? But yf we saye: It was of men, then feare we the people, for they all helde that Ihon was a true prophet. And they answered, and saide vnto him: We can not tell. And Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them: Nether tell I you, by what auctorite I do these thinges.

The XII. Chapter.

ANd he beganne to speake vnto them by parables: A certayne mā planted a vynyarde, 〈◊〉 2 . d 〈◊〉 20. a and made a hedge aboute it, and dygged a wynne presse, and buylded a tower, and let it out vnto huszbande men, and wente in to a straunge countre. And whan the tyme was come, he sent a seruaūt to the huszbande men, that he might receaue of the huszbandmen, of the frute of the vynyarde. But they toke him, and bet him, and sent him awaye emptye. Agayne, he sent vnto them another seruaunt, whom they stoned, and brake his heade, and sent him awaye shamefully dealt withall. Agayne he sent another, whom they slew, and many other: some they b tt, and some they put to death.

Then had he yet one sonne onely, whom he loued, him he sent also vnto them at the last, and sayde: they wyl stonde in awe of my sonne. But the same huszbandmen sayde amonge themselues: This is the heyre, Come, let vs kyll him, so shal the inheritaunce be ours. And they toke him, and slewe him, and cast him out of the vynyarde. What shal now the lorde of the vynyarde do? He shal come and destroye the huszbande men, and geue the vynyarde vnto other. Haue ye not red this scripture: 〈◊〉 117. c The same stone which the buylders refused, is become the headstone in the corner? This was the LORDES doynge, and it is maruelous in oure eyes. And they wente aboute to take him (but they feared the people) for they perceaued, 〈◊〉 22. b 〈◊〉 20. b that he had spokē this parable agaynst thē. And they left him, and wente their waye.

And they sent vnto him certayne of the Pharises and Herodes officers to take him in his wordes. 〈◊〉 20. c And they came, and sayde vnto hī: Master, we knowe that thou art true and carest for no man. For thou regardest not the outwarde appearaunce of men, but teachest ye waye of God truly. Is it laufull to geue tribute vnto the Emperoure, or not? Ought we to geue it, or ought we not to geue it? But he perceaued their ypocrisye, and sayde vnto them: Why tempte ye me? Brynge me a peny, that I maye se it. And they brought it him. Then sayde he: Whose ymage and superscripcion is this? They sayde vnto him: The Emperours. Then answered Iesus and sayde vnto thē: 〈◊〉 17. d 〈◊〉 13. b Geue therfore vnto the Emperoure that which is the Emperours, and vnto God that which is Gods. And they marueled at him.

Then came vnto him the Saduces (which holde that there is no resurreccion) these axed him, at. 12 c uc. 20. d 〈◊〉 2 a and sayde: Master, Moses wrote vnto vs. Yf eny mans brother dye, Deut. 25. a and leaue a wife, and leaue no children, his brother shal take his wife, and rayse vp sede vnto his brother. Now were there seuen brethren: the first toke a wife, and dyed, and left no sede: and the seconde toke her, and dyed, and left no sede also: the thirde in like maner.

And they all seuen toke her, and left no sede. At the last after them all, the wyfe dyed also. Now in the resurreccion whan they shal ryse agayne, whose wife shal she be of them? For seuen had her to wife.

Then answered Iesus, and sayde vnto them: Do not ye erre? because ye knowe not the scryptures ner ye power of God? Whan they shal ryse agayne from the deed, they shal nether mary ner be maried, but they are as the angels in heauen. As touchinge the deed, that they shal ryse agayne, haue ye not red in the boke of Moses, how God spake vnto him in the bush, and sayde: Exod. 3. a Act. 7. d I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, & the God of Iacob? Yet is not God a God of the deed, but of the lyuynge. Therfore ye erre greatly.

And there came vnto him one of the scrybes, Mat. 22. d that had herkened vnto thē how they disputed together, and sawe that he had answered them well, and axed him: Which is the chefest cōmaundement of all? Iesus answered him: The chefest commaundemēt of all commaundementes is this: Deut. 6. and 30. b Heare O Israel, the LORDE oure God is one God, and thou shalt loue the LORDE thy God with all thy hert, with all thy soule, with all thy mynde, and with all thy strength. This is the chefest commaundement, and the seconde is like vnto it: Thou shalt loue thy neghboure as thy self. Leui. 19. Ro. 13. b There is none other greater commaundement then these.

And the scrybe sayde vnto him: Master, Verely thou hast sayde right: for there is but one God, & there is none other without him, and to loue him with all the hert, with all the mynde, with all the soule, and with all the strength, and to loue a mans neghboure as himself, is more then brent sacrifices and all offerynges. But whā Iesus sawe that he answered discretly, he sayde vnto him: Thou art not farre from the kyngdome of God. And after this durst no man axe him eny mo questions.

And Iesus answered, and sayde, whan he taught in the temple: How saye the scrybes, Mat. 22. d Luc. 20. c yt Christ is the sonne of Dauid? But Dauid himself saieth thorow the holy goost: The LORDE sayde vnto my LORDE: Psal. 109. a Syt thou on my right honde, tyll I make thine enemies ye fotestole. There Dauid calleth him his LORDE. How is he thē his sonne? And many people herde him gladly.

And he taught thē, and sayde vnto thē: Bewarre of the scrybes, Mat. 23. a Luc. 20. c that loue to go in longe garmentes, and loue to be saluted in the market, and syt gladly aboue in the synagoges and at the table: they deuoure wyddowes houses, and vnder a coloure they make longe prayers. These shal receaue the more damnacion.

Luc. 21. a And Iesus sat ouer agaynst the 4. Reg. 12. b Gods chest, and behelde how the people put money into the Gods chest. And many that were riche: put in moch. And there came a poore wyddowe, and put in two mytes, which make a farthinge. And he called vnto him his disciples, and sayde vnto them: Verely I saye vnto you: this poore wyddowe hath put more in ye Godschest, then all they that haue put in: For they all haue put ī of their superfluyte, but she of hir pouerte hath put in all that she had, euen hir whole lyuynge.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd whan he wēte out of the temple, one of his disciples sayde vnto him: Mat. 24. a Luc. 21. a Master, se, what stones and what a buyldinge is this? And Iesus answered and sayde vnto him: Seist thou all this greate buyldinge? There shal not one stone be left vpō another, yt shal not be broken downe.

And whan he sat vpon mount Oliuete ouer ageynst the temple, Peter and Iames, and Ihon, and Andrew axed him pryuatly: Tell vs, Whan shal all these come to passe? And what shalbe the tokē, whā all these shalbe fulfilled? Iesus answered them, and beganne to saye: Take hede, that no man disceaue you, for there shal many come vnder my name, and saye: I am Christ, & shal disceaue many. But whan ye shal heare of the noyse of warres, be not ye afrayed: for so must it be, but ye ende is not yet. One people shal ryse ageynst another, Isa. 19. a and one realme ageynst another, and there shal be earth quakes here and there, and derth shal there be and troubles. These are the begynnynge of sorowes.

But take ye hede to youre selues. For they shal delyuer you vp to the Some eade: coūcell- ouses. councels, Mat. 10. b and synagoges, and ye shal be beaten, and shalbe brought before prynces and kynges for my namessake, for a wytnesse vnto thē. And ye gospel must first be preached amōge all people.

Nowwhan they shal lede you and delyuer you vp, Mat. •• Luc. •• and •• take ye no thought afore what ye shal saye: and ymagyn ye nothinge afore hande, but what so euer shal be geuē you at the same houre, that speake: for it is not ye that speake, but the holy goost. One brother shal delyuer another vnto death, and the father the sonne, & the children shal ryse ageynst their fathers and mothers, and shal helpe them to death, and ye shal be hated of all men for my names sake. But who so endureth to the ende, shalbe saued.

Whan ye shal se the abhominaciō of desolacion (wherof it is spokē by Ma •• •• Luc. •• D •• •• Daniel the prophet) stonde where it ought not (who so readeth it, let him marck it well) then let thē which be in Iewry, flye vnto the mountaynes: and let him that is on the house toppe not descēde into the house, ner come therin, to fetch eny thinge out of the house. And let him that is in the felde, not turne backe to fetch his clothes.

But wo vnto them that are with childe, and to them that geue suck in those dayes. Neuertheles praye ye, that youre flight be not in the wynter. For in those dayes there shal be soch trouble as was not from the begynnynge of ye creatures which God created, vnto this tyme, nether shal be. And yf ye LORDE had not shortened those dayes, there shulde no man be saued. But for the electes sake whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened those dayes.

Now yf eny man shal saye vnto you at yt tyme: Lo, here is Christ: lo, he is there, 〈…〉 Luc. •• beleue it not. For there shal aryse false Christes, and false prophetes, which shal do tokens & wonders, to disceaue euen the very chosen, yf it were possyble. But take ye hede, Beholde, I haue tolde you all before.

But at the same tyme after this trouble, Ma •• •• Luc. •• Io •• . •• the Sonne and Mone shal lose their light, and the starres shall fall from heauen, and the powers of the heauens shal moue: 〈1 paragraph〉 and then shal they se the sonne of man commynge in the cloudes with greate power and glory. And thē shal he sende his angels, and shal gather together his chosen frō the foure wyndes, from one ende of the earth to the other.

Lerne a symilitude of the fyge tre: Whā his braunch is yet tēder, 〈…〉 and hath brought forth leaues, ye knowe that the Sommer is nye. So lykewyse whā ye se all these thinges come to passe, be ye sure, that it is nye euen at the dores. Verely I saye vnto you: this generaciō shal not passe, tyll all these be fulfilled. Heauen and earth shal perishe, but my wordes shal not perishe. But of that daye and houre knoweth no man, 〈…〉 nether the angels in heauen, no not the sonne him self, but the father onely.

Take hede, watch, & praye, for ye knowe not whan the tyme is. 〈◊〉 24. b 〈◊〉 •• a 〈◊〉 22. d 〈◊〉 9. a Like as a man that wente in to a straunge countre, and left his house, and gaue his seruauntes auctorite, vnto euery one his worke, and commaunded ye porter, that he shulde watch. Watch ye therfore, for ye knowe not whā the master of ye house cōmeth, whether he cōmeth in the euenynge, or at mydnight, or aboute the cock crowynge, or in the mornynge, that he come not sodenly, and fynde you slepynge. Loke what I saye vnto you, that saye I vnto all. Watch.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd after two dayes was Easter, and the daies of swete bred. 〈◊〉 •• . a 〈◊〉 •• . a 〈◊〉 •• . c And ye hye prestes & scrybes sought how they might take him with disceate, & put him to death. But they sayde: Not in the feast daye, lest there be an vproure in the people.

〈◊〉 26. a 〈◊〉 . d 〈◊〉 12. a And when he was at Bethanye in the house of Symon the leper, and sat at the table, there came a woman, which had a boxe of pure and costly Nardus oyntment. And she brake ye boxe, & poured it vpō his heade. Then were there some, yt disdayned and sayde: Where to serueth this waist? This oyntment might haue bene solde for more then thre hundreth pens, & bene geuē to ye poore. And they grudged agaynst her.

But Iesus sayde: let her be in rest. Why trouble ye her? She hath done a good worke vpō me. Ye haue allwaye the poore with you, and whā so euer ye wil, ye maye do thē good: but me haue ye not allwaie. She hath done what she coulde, she is come before, to anoynte my body for my buriall. Verely I saye vnto you: Where so euer this gospell shal be preached in all the worlde, there shal this also that she hath now done, be tolde for a remembraunce of her.

And Iudas Iscarioth one of the twolue wente vnto the hye prestes, 〈◊〉 . 2 . b 〈◊〉 22. a 〈◊〉 13. a to betraye him vnto them. Whan they herde yt, they were glad, & promysed that they wolde geue him money. And he sought, how he might cōueniently betraye him.

And vpon ye first daye of swete bred, whā the Easter Iambe was offered, 〈◊〉 12 c 〈◊〉 25. b 〈◊〉 2 . a his disciples sayde vnto him? Where wilt thou yt we go and prepare, yt thou mayest eate ye Easter lābe? And he sent two of his disciples, and sayde vnto them: Go youre waye into the cite, and there shal mete you a mā bearinge a pitcher with water, folowe him, & where so euer he goeth in, there saye ye to the good man of the house: The Master sendeth the worde: Where is the gest house, wherin I maye eate the Easter lābe, wt my disciples? And he shal shewe you a greate parlour, which is paued & prepared, there make readye for vs. And ye disciples wēte forth, & came in to ye cite, & foūde it as he had sayde vnto thē. And they prepared ye Easter lambe.

At euen he came wt the twolue. And as they sat at the table & ate, Iesus sayde: Mat. 26. b Luc. 22. b Iohā. 13. c Verely I saye vnto you: One of you yt eateth wt me, shal betraye me. And they were sory, & sayde vnto hī one after another: Is it I? & another (sayde:) is it I? He answered & saide vnto thē: One of the twolue, euen ye same yt dyppeth with me in ye platter. The sonne of man truly goeth forth, as it is wryttē of hī. But wo vnto that mā, by whom the sonne of man is betrayed. It were better for the same man, that he had neuer bene borne.

And as they ate, Iesus toke the bred, Mat. 26. c Luc. 22. b 1. Cor. 11. c gaue thankes, & brake it, and gaue it thē, & sayde: Take, eate, this is my body. And he toke the cuppe, thāked, and gaue it thē, and they all dranke therof. And he sayde vnto them: This is my bloude of the new Testament, which shalbe shed for many. Verely I saye vnto you, that from hence forth I wil not drynke of the frute of the vyne, tyll ye daye yt I drynke it new in ye kyngdome of God. And whā they had sayde grace, they wēte forth vnto mount Oliuete.

And Iesus sayde vnto them: This night shal ye all be offended in me, Mat. 26. c for it is wrytten: Zac. 13. b I wil smyte the sheperde, & the shepe shal be scatred abrode. Neuertheles after yt I am rysen agayne, I wil go before you in to Galile. But Peter sayde vnto him: Act. 1. a And though all men shulde be offended, yet wolde not I be offended. And Iesus sayde vnto him: Verely I saye vnto ye: Todaye in this same night, before ye cock crowe two tymes, shalt thou denye me thryse. But he saide yet more: Yee though I shulde dye wt ye, yet wil I not denie ye. So saide they all ī like maner.

And they came in to ye felde called Gethsemane, and he saide vnto his disciples: Syt ye here, tyll I go yonder, and praye. And he toke with him Peter & Iames, & Ihon, and begāne to waxe fearefull, & to be in an agonye, & sayde vnto thē: My soule is heuy euē vnto ye death: tary ye here and watch. And he wente forth a litle, fell vpon the grounde and prayed, that, (yf it were possyble) ye houre might passe frō him, and sayde: Abba, my father, all thinges are possyble vnto the, take this cuppe awaye fro me: Neuertheles not what I wyl, but what thou wilt.

And he came vnto them, and founde thē slepynge, and sayde vnto Peter: Symon, slepest thou? Couldest thou not watch with me one houre? Watch and praye, that ye fal not in to temptacion. The sprete is wyllinge, but ye flesh is weake. And he wēte forth agayne, and prayde, and spake the same wordes, and returned, and founde them slepynge agayne: for their eyes were heuy, & they knewe not what they shulde answere him. And he came the thirde tyme, and sayde vnto them: Slepe on now, and take youre rest, It is ynough, the houre is come: beholde, ye sonne of man shalbe delyuered into the handes of synners: aryse, let vs be goynge. Beholde, he is at hande, that betrayeth me.

Mat. 26. d Luc. 22. d Iohā. 18. a And immediatly whyle he yet spake, came Iudas one of the twolue, and with him a greate multitude, with swerdes and staues from the hye prestes and scrybes and elders. And the traytoure had geuen them a tokē, and sayde: Whom so euer I kysse, that same is he, laye handes vpon him, and lede him awaye warely. And whā he was come, he wente straight waye vnto him, and sayde vnto him: O master, master, and kyssed him. Then layed they their handes vpon him, & toke him. But one of thē that stode by, drew out his swerde, and smote the hye prestes seruaunt, and cut of his eare.

And Iesus answered, and sayde vnto thē: Ye are come forth as it were to a murthurer with swerdes and with staues to take me. Mat. 26. f Luc. 22. d I was daylie with you in the temple, and taught, and ye toke me not. Esa. 53. b Marc. 15. c But this is done, hat the scrypture maye be fulfilled. And all the disciples forsoke him, and fled. And there folowed him a yonge mā, which was clothed in lynnen vpon the bare skynne, and the yonge mē toke holde of him. But he let the lynnen go, and fled naked from them.

Mat 26. f Luc. 22. d Ioh. 18. b And they led Iesus vnto the hye prest, where all ye hye prestes, and elders and scrybes were come together. As for Peter, he folowed him afarre of into the hye prestes palace. And he was there, and sat with the seruauntes, and warmed him.

Mat. 26. f But the hye prestes and the whole councell sought wytnesse agaynst Iesus, yt they might brynge him to death, and they founde none. Many gaue false wytnesse agaynst him, but their wytnesses agreed not together. And some stode vp, and gaue false wytnes agaynst him, and sayde: We herde him saye: I wil breake downe this temple that is made with hōdes, Iohā. •• and in thre dayes buylde another not made wt handes. But their wytnesse agreed not together.

And the hye prest stode vp amonge them, and axed Iesus, and sayde: 〈…〉 Answerest thou nothinge vnto it, that these testifie agaynst the? But he helde his tunge, and answered nothinge. 〈…〉 Thē the hye prest axed him agayne, and sayde vnto him: Art thou Christ the sonne of the blessed? Iesus sayde: I am. And ye shal se the sonne of man syt at the right hande of power, 〈…〉 and come in the cloudes of heauē. Then the hye prest rent his clothes, & sayde: What nede we eny mo wytnesses? Ye haue herde the blasphemy. What thynke ye? They all cōdemned him, that he was giltie of death. Then beganne there some to spyt vpō him, and to couer his face, and to smyte him with fistes, and to saye vnto him Prophecie vnto vs. 〈…〉 And the seruauntes smote him on the face.

And Peter was beneth in ye palace. Thē came one of the wenches of the hye prest: 〈…〉 And whā she sawe Peter warmynge him, she loked vpō hī, and sayde: And thou wast with Iesus of Nazareth also. But he denyed, & sayde: I knowe him not, nether can I tell what thou sayest. And he wente out in to the fore courte, and the cock crew. And a damsell sawe him, and beganne agayne to saye vnto them that stode by: This is one of them. And he denyed it agayne. And after a litle whyle they yt stode by, sayde agayne vnto him: Of a trueth thou art one of them for thou art a Galilean, and thy speach soundeth euen alike. But he begāne to curse and sweare: I knowe not the man, that ye speabe of. And the cock crew agayne. Then thought Peter vpon the worde, that Iesus sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 Before ye cock crow two tymes, thou shalt denye me thryse. And he beganne to wepe.

The XV. Chapter.

ANd soone in the mornynge the hye prestes helde a councell wt the elders and scrybes and the whole councell, Psa •• Ma •• Lu 〈…〉 Ma •• •• & bounde Iesus, and led him awaye, and delyuered him vnto Pylate. And Pylate axed him: Art thou the kynge of the Iewes? He answered, and sayde vnto him: Thou sayest it. And the hye prestes accused him sore. But Pylate axed him agayne, and sayde: Answerest thou nothinge? Beholde, how sore they laye to ye charge. Neuertheles Iesus answered nomore, in so moch yt Pylate marueyled.

At that feast of Easter he was wonte to delyuer vnto them a presoner, 〈◊〉 17. b whom so euer they wolde desyre. There was ī preson with the sedicious, one called Barrabas, which in the vproure had committed murthur. And the people wente vp, and prayed him, that he wolde do, as he was wonte. Pylate answered them: wyl ye that I geue lowse vnto you the kynge of the Iewes? For he knew, that ye hye prestes had delyuered him of envye. But the hye prestes moued ye people, 〈…〉 that he shulde rather geue Barrabas lowse vnto them.

Pylate answered agayne, and sayde vnto them: 〈◊〉 7. c 〈…〉 b What wil ye thē that I do vnto him, whom ye accuse to be kynge of the Iewes? They cried agayne: Crucifie hī. Pylate sayde vnto thē: What euell hath he done? But they cried yet moch more: Crucifie him. So Pylate thought to satisfie the people, and gaue Barrabas lowse vnto them, and delyuered thē Iesus, to be scourgd & crucified.

〈◊〉 7. d 〈◊〉 9. a And the soudyers led him in to the comō hall, and called the whole multitude together, and clothed him with purple, and plated a crowne of thorne, and crowned him withall, and beganne to salute him: Hayle kynge of the Iewes. And smote him vpon the heade with a rede, and spytted vpō him, and fell vpō the kne, & worshipped him. And whā they had mocked him, 〈◊〉 19. b they toke ye purple of him, and put his clothes vpon him, & led him out, that they might crucifye him.

And they compelled one that passed by, called Symon of Cyren (which came from the felde, 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 c and was the father of Alexander and Ruffus) to beare his crosse. And they brought him to the place Golgatha, which is by interpretacion: a place of deed mens skulles. And they gaue him wyne myxted wt myrre, to drynke, & he toke it not. And whan they had crucified him, they parted his garmētes, 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 27. d 〈…〉 c & cast lottes therfore, what euery one shulde take. And it was aboute ye thirde houre, & they crucified him. And the tytle of his cause was wryttē ouer aboue him (namely:) The kynge of the Iewes. And they crucified him wt two murthurers, one at ye right hande, and one at the left. Then was the scrypture fulfilled, 〈…〉 14. f which sayeth: He was coūted amonge the euell doers.

〈◊〉 27. c 〈◊〉 23. d And they that wēte by, reuyled him, and wagged their heades, and sayde: Fye vpon the, how goodly breakest thou downe ye tē ple, & buyldest it agayne in thre dayes? Helpe ye self now, & come downe frō the crosse. The hye prestes also in like maner laughed him to scorne amonge thē selues, with the scrybes, & sayde: He hath helped other, himself can he not helpe. Yf he be Christ and ye kyge of Israel, let him come downe now frō the crosse, yt we maye se it, & beleue. And they yt were crucified wt hī, checked hī also.

And whā it was aboute the sixte houre, there was a darcknesse ouer the whole lōde, tyll aboute ye nyenth houre. Mat. 27. c Luc. 23. d And aboute ye nyenth houre Iesus cried loude, and sayde: Eli, Eli, lamma asabthani? which is interpreted: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some that stode by, Psal. 21. a whan they herde yt, they sayde: Beholde, he calleth Elias. Then rāne there one, & fylled a spōge wt vyneger, & stickte it vpō a rede, Mat. 27. c Ioh. 19. c & gaue hī to drynke, & sayde: Holde styll, let se, whether Elias wil come, and take him downe. But Iesus cried loude, and gaue vp the goost. And the vale of the tēple rent in two peces, from aboue tyll beneth.

The captayne that stode thereby ouer agaynst him, Mat 27. f Luc. 23. c whā he sawe yt he gaue vp the goost with soch a crye, he sayde: Verely this man was Gods sonne.

And there were wemen there also, which behelde this afarre of, Iohā 19. c amōge whō was Mary Magdalene, & Mary of Iames ye litle, & the mother of Ioses, & Salome, which had folowed him whā he was in Galile, and mynistred vnto hī: & many other yt wēte vp wt hī to Ierusalem. And at euen (for so moch as it was the daye of preparinge, Mat. 27. g Luc. 23. c Iohā 19. d which is the fore Sabbath) there came one Ioseph of Arimathia, a worshipfull Senatoure (which loked also for the kyngdome of God) & wēte in boldely vnto Pilate, & axed ye body of Iesus. But Pylate marueyled yt he was deed allready, & called ye captayne, & axed hī, whether he had lōge bene deed. And whā he had gotten knowlege of the captayne, he gaue Ioseph ye body. And he bought a lynnē cloth, & toke him downe, & wrapped hī in ye lynnē clothe, & layed him in a sepulcre, which was hewē out of a rocke, & rolled a stone before ye dore of ye sepulcre. But Mary Magdalene and Mary Ioses behelde, Mat. 27. g where he was layed.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd whan the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, & Mary Iames, Mat. 28. a Luc 24. a Iohā. 20. a and Salome, bought spyces, yt they might come, & anoynte hī. And they came to the sepulcre vpō a daye of ye Sabbathes very early, whā ye Sonne arose, & sayde one to another: Who shal rolle vs ye stone frō ye dore of the sepulcre? And whan they loked, they sawe, that the stone was rolled awaye: for it was a very greate one. And they wente in to the sepulcre, and on the right hande they sawe a yonge man syttinge, which had a longe whyte garmēt vpon him, and they were abaszhed. But he sayde vnto thē: Be not ye afrayed, ye seke Iesus of Nazareth which was crucified: he is rysen, he is not here. Beholde, ye place, where they layed him. But go ye youre waye, and tell his disciples and Peter, that he wil go before you into Galile, Act. 1. a there shal ye se him Mar. 14. d as he sayde vnto you. And they wente forth in all the haist, and fled from the sepulcre: for there was a tremblynge & feare come vpon them, nether sayde they eny thinge to eny man, for they were afrayed.

But Iesus, whan he was rysen vp early vpō the first daye of the Sabbathes, Mat. 28. a Luc. 24. a . Cor. 15. a he appeared first vnto Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast out seuen deuels. And she wēte and tolde thē that were with him, as they mourned and wepte. And whan they herde that he lyued, and had appeared vnto her, they beleued it not. After warde as two of thē were walkynge, he shewed himself vnder another figure, Luc. 24. b whan they were goynge vpon the felde. And they wente, and tolde the other: these they beleued not also.

At the last, as the eleuen sat at the table, he shewed himself vnto them, Luc. 24. c and rebuked their vnbeleue, and ye hardnesse of their hert, because they beleued not thē which had sene him rysen. And he sayde vnto them: Go ye youre waye in to all the worlde, Mat. 28. c Iohā. 20. c and preach the gospell vnto all creatures. Who so beleueth and is baptysed, shalbe saued: but who so beleueth not, shalbe damned.

As for the tokens, which shal folowe thē that beleue, Act. 5. b. . 2.16. c. 19. a these are they: In my name shal they cast out deuyls: Act. 2. a Luc. 10. b Act. 28. a Speake with new tunges: Dryue awaye serpētes: And yf they drynke eny deedly thinge, it shal not hurte them: Act. 14. b and 28. a Luc. 24. d Act. 1. b and 7. g They shal laye their handes vpō the sicke, and they shal recouer.

And the LORDE, after that he had spoken vnto them, was taken vp into heauen, and sytteth at the right hāde of God. And they wente out, and preached euery where. And the LORDE wrought with them, and confirmed the worde with tokens folowynge.

The ende of the gospell of S. Marke.
The gospell of S. Luke. What S. Luke conteyneth. Chap. I. The cōcepcion and byrth of Ihon the baptist. The concepcion of Christ. The thākfull songes of Mary, and Zachary Chap. II. The byrth & circūcision of Christ. How he was receaued in to the tēple, how Symeon and Anna prophecie of him, and how he was founde in the tēple amōge the doctours. Chap. III. The preachinge, baptyme, and presonment of Ihon. The baptyme of Christ, and a rehearsall of the generacion of the fathers. Chap. IIII. Iesus is led into the wyldernesse, & fasteth all the tyme of his temptacion, ouercōmeth the deuell, goeth in to Galilee, preacheth at Nazareth and Caphernaū: the Iewes despyse him, the deuels knowlege him: he cō meth into Peters house, healeth his mother in lawe, and doth greate miracles. Chap. V. Christ preacheth in the shippe: The disciples forsake all, and folowe him. He clenseth the leper, healeth the man of the palsye, calleth Mathew the customer, and eateth with open synners. Chap. VI. He excuseth the disciples, that plucke the eares of corne, he healeth the man with the wythred hande, choseth his twolue Apostles, maketh a swete sermon, and teacheth to do good for euell. Chap. VII. He healeth the captaynes seruaunt rayseth vp the wyddowes sonne from death to life, enfourmeth the disciples whom Ihon baptist sent vnto him, commendeth Ihon, and reproueth the Iewes for their vnthankfulnesse. He eateth with the pharisee. The woman waszheth his fete with hir teares, and he forgeueth her hir synnes. Chap. VIII. Christ with his apostles goeth frō towne to towne and preacheth, sheweth the parable of the sede, telleth who is his mother and his brother, stilleth the raginge of the see delyuereth the possessed, and dryueth the deuels in to the heerde of swyne, helpeth the sick woman and Iairus daughter. Chap. IX. He sendeth out the twolue Apostles to preach, Herode heareth tell of hī, He fedeth fyue thousande men with fyue loaues and two fishes, the disciples confesse him to be the sonne of God, he transfigureth himself vpon the mount, delyuereth the possessed, and teacheth his disciples to be lowly. They desyre vēgeaunce, but he reproueth them. Chap. X. He sendeth the seuentye before him for to preach, and geueth thē a charge how to behaue them selues, prayseth his heauenly father, answereth the scrybe that tempted him and (by the example of the Samaritane) sheweth who is a mās neghbour. Martha receaueth the LORDE into hir house, Mary Magdalene is feruent in hearinge his worde. Chap. XI. He teacheth his disciples to praye, dryueth out a deuel, and rebuketh the blasphemous pharises. They requyre sygnes and tokens. He eateth with the pharisee, and reproueth the ypocrisy of the pharises, scrybes and ypocrites. Chap. XII. The leuen of the pharises. Christ conforteth his disciples agaynst persecucion warneth them to bewarre of cuvetousnesse, by the symilitude of a certayne rich man: he wyll not haue them to hange vpō earthly thinges, but to watch and to be ready agaynst his commynge. Chap. XIII. Of the Galileans whom Pilate slew and of those that dyed in Syloe. The symilitude of the fyge tre. Christ healeth the sicke woman. The parable of the mustarde sede and leuen. Few entre in to the kyngdome. Christ reproueth Herode and Ierusalem. Chap. XIIII. Iesus eateth with the pharisee, healeth the dropsye vpon the Sabbath, teacheth to be lowly, telleth of the greate supper, and warneth them that wyll folowe him, to laye their accomptes before, what it wyll cost thē. The salt of the earth. Chap. XV. The louynge mercy of God openly set forth in the parable of the hundreth shepe, and of the sonne that was lost. Chap. XVI. The parable of the wicked Mammon Not one title of Gods worde shal perish. Of the rich man, and of poore Lazarus. Chap. XVII. Christ teacheth his disciples to avoyde occasions of euell, one to forgeue another, stedfastly to trust in God, and no man to presume in his owne workes. He healeth the ten lepers, speaketh of the latter dayes, and of the ende of the worlde. Chap. XVIII. He teacheth to be feruēt in prayer cōtinually. Of the pharisee and the publican. The kyngdome of God belongeth vnto childrē. Christ answereth the ruler, and promiseth rewarde vnto all soch as suffre losse for his sake and folowe him. The blynde mā is restored to his sight. Chap. XIX. Of Zacheus, and the ten seruauntes to whō the ten talētes were delyuered. Christ rydeth to Ierusalem, and wepeth ouer it. Chap. XX. They axe Christ one questyon, and he axeth them another. The parable of the vynyarde. Of tribute te be geuē vnto the Emperoure, & how Christ stoppeth the mouthes of the Saduce s. Chap. XXI. Christ commendeth the poore wyddow, telleth of the destruccion of Ierusalem, of false teachers, of the tokēs and troubles for to come, of the ende of the worlde, and of his owne commynge. Chap. XXII. Christ is betrayed, they eate the easter lambe. The institucion of the sacramēt. They stryue who shalbe greatest, he reproueth them: He prayeth thre tymes vpon the mount. They take him and bringe him to the hye prestes house: Peter denyeth him thryse, and they bringe him before the councell. Chap. XXIII. Iesus is brought before Pilate and Herode. The wemē make lamētacion for him. He prayeth for his enemies, forgeueth the synner vpon his right hande, dyeth on the crosse, and is buried. Chap. XXIIII. The wemen come to the graue, Christ apeareth vnto the two disciples that go towarde Emaus, stondeth in the myddest of all his disciples, openeth their vnderstondinge in the scriptures, geueth them a charge, and ascendeth vp into heauen. The gospell of S. Luke.

The prologe of S. Luke.

FOR so moch as many haue taken in hande, to set forth ye wordes of the actes that are come to passe amonge vs, like as they delyuered thē vnto vs, which from the begynnynge sawe them their selues, and were mynisters of the worde, I thought it good (after that I had diligently searched out all from the begynnynge) to wryte the same orderly vnto the (good Theophilus) that thou mightest knowe the certēte of ye wordes, wherof thou art infourmed.

The first Chapter.

IN the tyme of Herode kynge of Iewry, there was a prest named Zachary of the 1. Pa. 25. b course of Abia: and his wife of the doughters of Aaron, & hir name Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God, and walked in all the commaundementes and statutes of the LORDE vnreproueably. And they had no childe, for Elizabeth was baren, and they were both well stricken in age.

And it came to passe as he executed the prestes office before God whan his course came (acordinge to the custome of the presthode) it fell to his lott to burne incense. And Exo. 30. b Heb. 9. a he wente into the temple of the LORDE, and the whole multitude of the people was without in prayer, whyle the incense was aburnynge. And the angell of the LORDE appeared vnto him, and stode on the right syde of the altare of incēse. And whan Zachary sawe him, he was abaszhed, & there came a feare vpon him.

But the angell sayde vnto him: Feare not Zachary, for thy prayer is herde. And ye wife Elizabeth shal beare the a sonne, whose name thou shalt call Ihon, & thou shalt haue ioye and gladnesse: and many shal reioyce at his byrth, for he shal be greate before the LORDE. Wyne and stronge drynke shal he not drynke. And he shalbe fylled wt the holy goost, euen in his mothers wombe. And many of the children of Israel shal he turne vnto the LORDE their God. And he shal go before him in the sprete and power of Mala. 3 d Matt. 11. b Elias, to turne the hertes of ye fathers vnto the children, and the vnfaithfull vnto the wyszdome of the righteous, to make the people ready for the LORDE.

And Zachary sayde vnto the Angel: Wherby shal I knowe this? Gen. 17. c and 18. b Iud c. 13. b For I am olde, and my wife well stricken in age. The angell answered, and sayde vnto him: I am Gabriell that stonde before God, and am sent to speake vnto the, and to shewe the these glad tydinges. And beholde, thou shalt be domme, and not able to speake, vntyll the daye that this come to passe, because thou hast 4. Re. 7. a not beleued my wordes, which shalbe fulfylled in their season.

And the people wayted for Zachary, and marueyled, that he taried so longe in the tē ple. And whā he wēte out, he coude not speake vnto them. And they perceaued, that he had sene a vision in the tēple. And he beckened vnto them, and remayned speachlesse.

And it fortuned whā the tyme of his office was out, he wente home in to his house. And after those dayes Elizabeth his wife conceaued, and hyd hir self fyue monethes, & sayde: Thus hath ye LORDE done vnto me in ye dayes, wherin he hath loked vpō me, to take awaye frome my rebuke amōge men.

Matt. 1. c And in the sixte moneth was the angell Gabriel sent from God in to a cite of Galile, called Nazareth, vnto a virgin that was spoused vnto a man, whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Mary. And the angell came in vnto her, and sayde: Hayle thou full of grace, the LORDE is with the: blessed art thou amonge wemen.

Whā she sawe him, she was abaszhed at his sayenge, and thought: What maner of salutacion is this? And the angell sayde vnto her: Esa. 7. c Mat. 4. c Feare not Mary, for thou hast foūde grace with God. Beholde, thou shalt cōceaue in thy wōbe, & beare a sonne Luc. •• & shalt call his name Iesus: he shalbe greate, & shalbe called ye sonne of the Hyest. And the LORDE God shal geue him ye seate of Dauid his father, Esa. •• & he shal be kinge ouer ye house of Iacob for euer 〈…〉 & there shalbe no ende of his kyngdome. Then sayde Mary vnto the angell: How shal this be, seinge I knowe not a mā? The angell answered, & sayde vnto her: The holy goost shal come vpon the, & the power of the Hyest shal ouer shadowe the. Therfore that Holy also which shalbe borne (of the) shalbe called the sonne of God. And beholde, thy cosen Elizabeth she also hath cōceaued a sonne in hir olde age, & this is the sixte moneth of her, which is reported to be barem: 〈…〉 for wt God is nothinge vnpossyble. And Mary sayde: Beholde, here am I the hand 〈◊〉 of the LORDE: be it vnto me, as thou hast sayde. And the angell departed frō her.

And Mary arose in those dayes, and wente in to the moūtaynes with haist, into 〈…〉 ye cite of Iewry, and came in to ye house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it fortuned as Elizabeth herde the salutacion of Mary, the babe sprange in hir wombe. And Elizabeth was fylled with the holy goost, & cried loude, and sayde: Blessed art thou amō ge wemen, and blessed is the frute of ye wombe. And how happeneth this to me, that ye mother of my LORDE commeth vnto me? Beholde, whan I herde the voyce of thy salutacion, the babe sprange in my wombe wt ioye, And blessed art thou that hast beleued, for ye thinges shalbe perfourmed, which were tolde ye frō ye LORDE. And Mary sayde:

My soule magnifieth the LORDE. 〈…〉 And my sprete reioyseth ī God my Sauioure.

For he hath loked vpō the lowe degre of his hande mayde. Beholde, frō hence forth shal all generacions call me blessed.

For he that is Mightie, hath done greate thinges vnto me, and holy is his name.

And his mercy endureth thorow out all generacions, vpon them that feare him.

He sheweth strength with his arme, and scatreth them that are proude in the ymaginacion of their hert.

He putteth downe the mightie from the seate, and exalteth them of lowe degre. 〈…〉

He fylleth the hongrie with good thinges, and letteth the riche go emptye.

He remēbreth mercy, and helpeth vp his seruaunt Israel.

Euen as he promysed vnto oure fathers, 〈…〉 Abraham and to his sede foreuer.

And Mary abode with her aboute thre monethes, and then returned home agayne.

And Elizabethes tyme was come, that she shulde be delyuered, & she brought forth a sonne. And hir neghbours and kynsfolkes herde, yt the LORDE had shewed greate mercy vpō her, & they reioysed with her. And it fortuned vpon the eight daye, 〈◊〉 19. b 〈…〉 a they came to circumcyse ye childe, and called him Zachary after his father: And his mother answered, and sayde: No, but he shalbe called Ihon. And they sayde vnto her: There is none in ye kynne, yt is so called. And they made signes vnto his father, how he wolde haue him called. And he axed for wrytinge tables, wrote & sayde: His name is Ihon. And they marueyled all. And immediatly was his mouth and his tōge opened, and he spake, & praysed God. And there came a feare vpon all their neghbours. And all this acte was noysed abrode thorow out all the hill countre of Iewry: And all they yt herde therof, toke it to hert, and sayde: What maner of man wil this childe be? For the hande of the LORDE was with him.

And Zachary his father was fylled with the holy goost, and prophecied, and sayde:

Blessed be ye LORDE God of Israel, for he hath vysited and redemed his people.

And hath set vp an 〈…〉 horne of saluacion in the house of his seruaunt Dauid.

Euen as he promysed afore tyme, by the mouth of his holy prophetes.

That he wolde delyuer vs frō oure enemies, & from ye hande of all soch as hate vs.

And yt he wolde shewe mercy vnto oure fathers, & thynke vpō his holy 〈◊〉 22. c couenaūt.

Euen the ooth yt he sware vnto oure father Abraham, for to geue vs.

〈…〉 That we delyuered out of ye hāde of o enemies, might serue him without feare all the dayes of oure life, in soch holynes and righteousnes as is accepte before him.

And thou childe shalt be called a prophet of the Hyest: for thou shalt go before ye LORDE, to prepare his wayes.

And to geue knowlege of saluacion vnto his people, for the remyssion of their synnes.

Thorow the tender mercy of oure God, wherby the daye sprynge from an hye hath vysited vs.

That he might geue light vnto them yt syt in darcknesse and shadowe of death, and to gyde oure fete into the waye of peace.

And the childe grew, and waxed stronge in sprete, and was in the wyldernes, tyll the tyme that he shulde shewe him self vnto the people of Israel.

The II. Chapter.

IT fortuned at the same tyme, that there wēte out a cōmaundement frō Augustus the Emperoure, that the whole worlde shulde be taxed. And this taxynge was the first that was executed, whan Syrenius was leftenaunt in Siria. And they wente all, euery one to his owne cite to be taxed. Then Ioseph gat him vp also frō Galile, out of the cite of Nazareth, into Iewry, to ye cite of Dauid, 1. Reg. 15.16. a. 20. b which is called Bethleem, (because he was of ye house and lynage of Dauid) that he might be axed wt Mary his spoused wife, which was wt childe.

And it fortuned whyle they were there, ye tyme was come, that she shulde be delyuered. Mat. 1. c And she brought forth hir first begottē sonne, & wrapped him inswadlinge clothes, and layed him in a maunger: for they had els no rowme in the ynne.

And there were in ye same region shepherdes in the felde by the foldes, and watchinge their flocke by night. And beholde, ye angell of the LORDE stode by thē, and ye brightnes of the LORDE shone rounde aboute them, and they were sore afrayed. And the angell sayde vnto them: Be not afrayed. Beholde, I brynge you tydīges of greate ioye, which shall happen vnto all people: for vnto you this daye is borne ye Sauioure, euē Christ ye LORDE, in the cite of Dauid. And take this for a token: Ye shal fynde the babe swadled, and layed in a maunger. And straight waye there was by the angell a multitude of heauenly hoostes, which praysed God, and sayde: Glory be vnto God an hye, & peace vpon earth, and vnto men a good wyll.

And it fortuned whā the angels were gone from thē in to heauē, the shepherdes sayde one to another: let vs go now euen vnto Bethleem, and se this thinge that is happened, which ye LORDE hath shewed vnto vs. And they came wt haist, & founde both Mary and Ioseph, & the babe layed in ye maunger. And whan they had sene it, they published abrode the sayenge, yt was tolde thē of this childe. And all they that herde it, wondred at the wordes, which the shepherdes had tolde them. But Mary kepte all these sayenges, and pondred them in hir hert. And the shepherdes returned, praysinge and laudinge God, for all that they had herde and sene, euen as it was tolde them.

And whan eight dayes were ended, Gen. 17. b that the childe shulde be circumcysed, his name was called Iesus, Luc. 1. c which was named of ye angell, before he was conceaued in his mothers wombe.

And whā the dayes of their purificacion after the lawe of Moses, Leuit. 12. b . Reg. 1. d were come, they brought him to Ierusalē, that they might present him vnto the LORDE (As it is wrytten in the lawe of the LORDE: Exo. 13. a Num. 8. c Euery mā childe that first openeth the Matrix, shalbe called holy vnto ye LORDE) and that they might geue the offerynge, as it is wryttē in the lawe of the LORDE (namely) a payre of turtle doues, or two yonge pigeons.

And beholde, there was a man (at Ierusalē) whose name was Symeon, and the same mā was iust, and feared God, and lōged for the consolacion of Israel, and the holy goost was in him. And an answere was geuē him of the holy goost, that he shulde not se death, before he had sene ye LORDES Christ. And he came by inspiracion into the tēple.

And whan the elders brought the childe Iesus into the temple, to do for him after ye custome of the Leui. 12. b lawe, then toke he him vp in his armes, and praysed God, and sayde:

LORDE, now lettest thou thy seruaūt departe in peace, acordinge to thy promesse.

For myne eyes haue sene thy Sauioure, whō thou hast prepared before all people.

Esa 49. b Act. 13. e A light for the lightenynge of the Heythē, & for the prayse of ye people of Israel.

And his father and mother marueyled at the thinges that were spokē of him. And Symeon blessed them, and sayde vnto Mary his mother: Beholde, this (childe) shalbe set to a fall, and to an vprysinge agayne of many in Israel, and for a token, which shalbe spokē agaynst. And the swerde shal pearse thy soule, that the thoughtes of many hertes maye be opened.

And there was a prophetisse, one Anna, the doughter of Phanuel of the trybe of Aser, which was of a greate age, and had lyued seuen yeares with hir huszbāde from hir virginite, & had now bene a wedowe aboute foure score & foure yeares, which came neuer frō the tēple, seruynge God wt fastynge and prayenge, daye and night: the same came forth also the same houre, and praysed the LORDE, and spake of him vnto all that loked for the redempcion at Ierusalem.

And whan they had perfourmed all acordinge to the lawe of the LORDE, thy returned īto Galile, to their owne cite Nazareth. And the childe grewe, and wexed stronge in sprete, full of wyszdome, & the grace of God was with him.

And his elders wente to Ierusalem euery yeare at the feast of Easter. And whan he was twolue yeare olde, they wente vp to Ierusalem, 〈…〉 after the custome of the feast. And whan they had fulfilled the dayes, and were gone home agayne, 〈…〉 the childe Iesus abode styll at Ierusalem. And his elders knewe it not, but thought he had bene in the company, and they came a dayes iourney, and sought hī amōge their kynszfolkes & acquā taunce. And whā they founde him not, they wēte agayne to Ierusalē, and sought him.

And it fortuned after thre dayes, yt they founde him in the temple, syttinge amonge the teachers, hearynge thē, and opposynge them. And all they that herde him; wōdred at his vnderstondynge and answeres. 〈…〉 And whan they sawe him, they were astonnyed. And his mother sayde vnto him: My sonne, why hast thou done this vnto vs? Beholde, thy father and I haue sought the sorowynge. And he sayde vnto them: Ioh •• What is it, that ye haue sought me? Wyst ye not, yt I must go aboute my fathers busynes? And they 〈…〉 vnderstode not the sayenge yt he spake vnto them. And he wente downe with thē, and came to Nazareth, and was obediēt vnto them. And his mother kepte all these wordes in hir hert. And Iesus increased in wyszdome, age and fauoure with God and men.

The III. Chapter.

IN the fiftenth yeare of the raigne of Tiberius the Emperoure, whā Pontius Pilate was leftenaūt in Iewry and Herode one of the foure princes in Galile, 〈…〉 and his brother Philippe one of the foure prynces in Iturea, & in the coastes of Traconites, and Lysanias one of the foure princes of Abilene, when Hannas and Caiphas were hye prestes, thē came ye worde of God vnto Ihon the sonne of Zachary in the wyldernes. And he came into all ye coastes aboute Iordan, and preached the baptyme of repētaunce for the remyssion of synnes. 〈…〉 As it is wryttē in ye boke of ye sayenges of Esaye the prophet, which sayeth: The voyce of a cryer in the wyldernes: 〈…〉 prepare the waye of the LORDE, and make his pathes straight. Euery valley shalbe fylled, and euery mountayne & hyll shalbe brought lowe. And what so is croked, shalbe made straight: and what rough is, shalbe made smooth, and all flesh shal se the Sauioure of God.

Then sayde he vnto the people, yt wente out to be baptysed of him: 〈…〉 Ye generacion of vipers, who hath certified you, that ye shal escape ye wrath to come? Take hede, brynge forth due frutes of repētaūce, & begynne not to saye: We haue Abrahā to or father. For I saye vnto you: God is able of these stones to rayse vp children vnto Abraham. The axe is put vnto the tre allready: so that euery tre which bryngeth not forth good frute, 〈◊〉 . . a 〈◊〉 7. b shalbe hewen downe, and cast into the fyre. And the people axed him, and sayde: ct. 2. d What shal we do then? He answered, & sayde vnto thē: He that hath two coates, let him parte wt him yt, hath none: and he that hath meate, let him do likewyse.

The publicans came also, to be baptysed and sayde vnto him: Master, what shal we do? He sayde vnto them: Requyre nomore, then is appoynted you. Then ye soudyours axed him likewyse, and sayde: What shal we do then? And he sayde vnto thē: Do no man violence ner wronge, and be content with youre wages.

But whan the people were in a doute, & thought all in their hertes, whether he were Christ, Ihon answered, and sayde vnto thē all: I baptyse you with water, but after me there cōmeth one stronger thē I, whose shue lachet I am not worthy to lowse: 〈◊〉 . b 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 1. c •• c. 36 he shal baptyse you with the holy goost and with fyre. Whose fanne is in his hande, and he shal pourge his floore, and shal gather ye wheate in to his barne, 〈◊〉 3. b and shal burne the chaffe with vnquencheable fyre. And many other thynges more exorted he, & preached vnto the people.

〈◊〉 14. a But Herode the Tetrarcha (whā he was rebuked of him because of Herodias his brothers wife, and for all the euels that Herode dyd) besydes all this he layed Ihō in preson.

〈◊〉 3. b 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 1. d And it fortuned whan all the people receaued baptyme, and whan Iesus also was baptysed and prayed, that heauen opened, and the holy goost came downe in a bodely shappe like a done vpon him. And out of heauen there came a voyce, which sayde: Thou art my deare sonne, in whō I delyte.

And Iesus was aboute thirtie yeares whan he beganne. at. 13. d 〈◊〉 6. a And he was taken for the sonne of Ioseph, which was the sonne of Eli, 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 1. c which was the sonne of Mathat.

Which was the sonne of Leui

Which was the sonne of Melchi.

Which was the sonne of Ianna.

Which was the sonne of Ioseph.

Which was the sonne of Mathathias.

Which was the sonne of Amos.

Which was the sonne of Nahum.

Which was the sonne of Eszli.

Which was the sonne of Nange.

Which was the sonne of Maath.

Which was the sonne of Mathathias.

Which was the sonne of Simei.

Which was the sonne of Ioseph.

Which was the sonne of Iuda.

Which was the sonne of Iohanna.

Which was the sonne of Resia.

Which was the sonne of Zorobabel.

Which was the sonne of Salathiel.

Which was the sonne of Neri.

Which was the sonne of Melchi.

Which was the sonne of Abdi.

Which was the sonne of Cosam.

Which was the sonne of Elmadam.

Which was the sonne of Her.

Which was the sonne of Ieso.

Which was the sonne of Eliezer.

Which was the sonne of Iorem.

Which was the sonne of Mattha.

Which was the sonne of Leui.

Which was the sonne of Simeon.

Which was the sonne of Iuda.

Which was the sonne of Ioseph.

Which was the sonne of Ionam.

Which was the sonne of Eliachim

Which was the sonne of Melca.

Which was the sonne of Menam.

Which was the sonne of Mathathan.

Which was the sonne of Nathan.

Which was the sonne of Dauid.

Which was the sonne of Iesse.

Which was the sonne of Obed.

Which was the sonne of Boos.

Which was the sonne of Salmon.

Which was the sonne of Naasson.

Which was the sonne of Aminadab.

Which was the sonne of Aram.

Which was the sonne of Esrom.

Which was the sonne of Phares.

Which was the sonne of Iuda.

Which was the sonne of Iacob.

Which was the sonne of Isaac.

Which was the sonne of Abraham.

Which was the sonne of Thara.

Which was the sonne of Nahor.

Which was the sonne of Serug.

Which was the sonne of Regu.

Which was the sonne of Peleg.

Which was the sonne of Eber.

Which was the sonne of Salah.

Which was the sonne of Caynan.

Which was the sonne of Arphachsad.

Which was the sonne of Sem.

Which was the sonne of Noe.

Which was the sonne of Lamech.

Which was the sonne of Mathusalah.

Which was the sonne of Henoch.

Which was the sonne of Iared.

Which was the sonne of Mahaleel.

Which was the sonne of Renan.

Which was the sonne of Enos.

Which was the sonne of Seth.

Which was the sonne of Adam.

Which was the sonne of God.

The fourth Chapter.

IEsus full of the holy goost, came agayne from Iordane, Mat. 4. a Marc. 1. b and was led of ye sprete into wyldernes, & fourty dayes lōge was he tēpted of ye deuell. Exo. 34 d . Re. 19. b And in those dayes ate he nothinge. And whan they were ended, he hongred afterwarde. And the deuell sayde vnto him: Yf thou be ye sonne of God, cōmaunde this stone, yt it be bred. And Iesus answered & sayde vnto hī: It is wrytten: Deut. 8 b Man shal not lyue by bred onely, but by euery worde of God. And ye deuell toke him vp into an hye moūtayne, and shewed him all the kyngdomes of ye whole worlde in ye twinckelinge of an eye, & sayde vnto him: All this power wil I geue vnto the, and the glory therof, for it is geuē ouer vnto me, and I geue it, to whom I wil. Yf thou now wilt worshippe me, they shal all be thine. Iesus answered him, and sayde: Auoyde fro me thou Satan. It is wrytten: Thou shalt worshippe the LORDE thy God, eut. 6. c and him onely shalt thou serue.

And he caried him to Ierusalem, and set him vpon a pynnacle of the temple, and sayde vnto him: Yf thou be ye sonne of God, cast thy self downe from hence. For it is wryttē: He shal geue his angels charge ouer the, to kepe the, sal. 90. b and with their handes they shal holde the vp, that thou dashe not thy fote agaynst a stone. And Iesus answered, and sayde vnto him: eut. 6. c It is sayde: Thou shalt not tempte the LORDE thy God. And whan ye deuell had ended all the temptacions, he departed from him for a season.

at. 4. b arc. 1. c And Iesus came agayne in the power of the sprete into Galile. And the fame of him was noysed thorow out all ye region rounde aboute. And he taught in their synagoges, and was commended of euery man.

at. 13. g arc. 6. a And he came vnto Nazareth where he was noursed, and as his custome was, he wē te in to the synagoge vpon ye Sabbath, and stode vp for to rede. Then was there delyuered him the Esd. 8. b boke of ye prophet Esay. And whan he had turned ouer the boke, he founde the place where it is wrytten: The sprete of the LORDE is with me, because he hath anoynted me: 〈◊〉 . 61. a to preach the Gospell vnto ye poore hath he sent me: to heale the broken harted: to preach delyueraūce to the captyue, and sight to the blynde: and frely to set at liberty them that are brused: and to preach the acceptable yeare of the LORDE.

And whan he had closed the boke, he gaue it agayne to ye mynister, & sat him downe. And the eyes of all that were in the synagoge, were fastened on him. And he begāne to saye vnto them: This daye is this scripture fulfilled in youre eares. 〈…〉 And they all gaue him wytnesse, and wōdred at the gracious wordes, which proceaded out of his mouth, and they saide: Is not this Iosephs sonne? Iohā. ••

And he sayde vnto them: Doutles ye wyl saye vnto me this prouerbe: Phisician, heale thyself. For how greate thinges haue we herde done at Capernaū? Do the same here also in thine owne countre. But he saide: Ma •• •• Ma •• •• Iohā. •• Verely I saye vnto you: There is no prophet accepted in his owne countre. Neuertheles of a trueth I saye vnto you: 〈1 paragraph〉 There were many wedowes in Israel in ye tyme of Elias, whā the heauē was shut thre yeares and sixe monethes, and whan there was a greate derth in all the lande: & to none of thē was Elias sent, but onely vnto Sarepta of the Sydonyans to a wedowe. 〈…〉 And many lepers were there in Israel in the tyme of Eliseus ye prophet, and none of thē was clensed, saue onely Naaman of Syria.

And as many as were in the synagoge, whā they herde yt, were fylled with wrath. And they rose vp, and thrust him out of the cite, and led him vp to the edge of the hyll whervpō their cite was buylded, that they might cast him downe headlynge. But he wente his waye euen thorow the myddest of them, Ma •• •• Ma •• •• Iohā. •• and came to Capernaum a cite of Galile, and taught thē vpō the Sabbathes. And they wondred at his doctryne, Ma •• •• Luc. •• for his preachinge was with power.

And in the Synagoge there was a man possessed with a foule deuell, & he cryed loude, and sayde: Let me alone, what haue we to do wt the thou Iesus of Nazareth? Ma •• •• Art thou come to destroye vs? I knowe ye who thou art, euen the Holy of God. And Iesus rebuked him and sayde: holde thy tūge, and departe out of him. And the deuell threw hī in the myddest amonge them, and departed from him, and dyd him no harme. And there came a feare ouer thē all, and they spake amonge themselues, and sayde: What maner of thinge is this? He commaundeth the foule spretes with auctorite and power, and they departe out. And ye fame of him was noysed thorow out all the places of ye countre rounde aboute.

And he rose vp out of the synagoge, Ma •• •• Ma •• •• and came into Symons house. And Symōs mother in lawe was takē with a greate feuer, & they prayde him for her. And he wēte vnto her, & cōmaunded the feuer. And it left her, & īmediatly she rose vp, & mynistred vnto thē.

And whan the Sonne was gone downe all they that had sicke of dyuerse diseases, brought thē vnto him. at. . b 〈◊〉 . c And he layed his hā des vpon euery one of thē, & made thē whole. •• rc. 3. b The deuels also departed out of many, criē ge and sayenge: Thou art Christ the sonne of God. And he rebuked thē, & suffred them not to speake: for they knewe that he was Christ. But whā it was daye, he wēte out into a deserte place. And the people sought hī, and came vnto him, & kepte him, yt he shulde not departe frō thē. But he sayde vnto thē: I must preach the Gospell of ye kyngdome of God to other cities also: for there to am I sent. And he preached in the synagoges of Galile.

The V. Chapter.

IT came to passe, yt the people preassed vpon him to heare the worde of God, 〈◊〉 4. c 〈◊〉 1. b and he stode by the lake of Genazereth, and sawe two shippes stōde by ye lake syde, but ye fishers were gone out of thē, and had waszhed their nettes. Then wente he into one of the shippes, which was Symons, and prayed him, yt he wolde thrust out a litle frō the londe. And he sat him downe, and taught the people out of ye shippe.

And whan he had left of talkynge, he sayde vnto Symon: Launch out in to the depe & let slyppe yo nettes, to make a draught. And Symon answered and sayde vnto him: Master, we haue laboured all ye night, and taken nothinge. But vpō thy worde, I wil lowse forth the nett. And whā they had so done, they toke a greate multitude of fiszhes, & their net brake. And they made sygnes to their felowes which were in ye other shippe, yt they shulde come, & helpe thē. And they came, & fylled both the shippes full, so yt they soncke. Whan Symon Peter sawe yt, he fell downe at Iesus knees, & sayde: LORDE, go frome, for I am a synfull man: For he was astonnyed and all that were wt him, at this draught of fishes which they toke, and so were Iames and Ihon also the sonnes of Zebede, which were Symons companyons. And Iesus sayde vnto Symō: Feare not, for frō hence forth thou shalt take men. And they brought the shippes to londe, 〈◊〉 4. c and left all, and folowed him.

〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 4. d And it fortuned as he was in a cite, beholde, there was a man full of leprosy. Whā he sawe Iesus, he fell vpō his face, & besought him, and sayde: LORDE, yf thou wilt, thou canst make me cleane. And he stretched out his hāde, and touched him, and sayde: I wil, be thou cleane. And immediatly the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him, yt he shulde tell no mā, but go thy waye (sayde he) and shewe thy self vnto ye prest, and offre for ye clensynge, Leui. 14 as Moses cōmaunded, for a witnesse vnto thē. But ye fame of hī wēte out farther abrode, & there came moch people together, to heare him, & to be healed by hī frō their sicknesses. And he departed into the wyldernesses, & gaue himself to prayer.

And it fortuned vpō a daye, yt he taught, and there sat ye Pharises and scrybes, which were come out of all the townes of Galile, Mat. 9. a Marc. 2. a and Iewry, and frō Ierusalē, and the power of the LORDE wēte frō him, & healed euery man. And beholde, certayne men brought vpon a bed, a man yt had ye palsye, and they sought how they might brynge him in, and laye him before him. And whan they coude not fynde by what waye they might bringe him in (for ye people) they clymmed vp to ye toppe of the house, & let him downe thorow the tylinge wt the bed, amōge thē before Iesus. And whan he sawe their faith, he sayde vnto hī: Man, yi synnes are forgeuē ye. And the scrybes and pharyses begāne to thynke, & saide: What is he this, yt speaketh blasphemy. Esa. 45. d and 44. Who cā forgeue synnes, but onely God?

Neuertheles whā Iesus perceaued their thoughtes, he answered, and saide vnto thē: What thynke ye in yor hertes? Mat. 9. a Marc. 2. a Iohā. 5. a Whether is easier to saye: Thy synnes are forgeuē ye, Or to saye: Aryse, and walke? But that ye maye knowe, that the sonne of mā hath power to forgeue synnes vpon earth, he sayde vnto ye sicke of the palsie: I saye vnto ye: Aryse, take vp ye bed, and go home. And immediatly he rose vp before thē, & toke vp the bed yt he had lyen vpō, and wēte home, and praysed God. And they were all astonnyed, and gaue God ye prayse, and were fylled wt feare, and sayde: We haue sene maruelous thynges to daye.

And afterwarde he wēte out, and sawe a publican named Leui, syttinge at ye receate of custome, & he sayde vnto him: Folowe me. Mat. 9. a Marc. 2. b Luc. 15. a And he left all, rose vp, & folowed him. And Leui made hī a greate feast ī his house. And many publicans & other sat wt hī at ye table. And the scrybes and Pharyses murmured agaynst his disciples, & saide: Wherfore do ye eate & drynke wt publicās & synners? Luc. 7. e and 15. a And Iesus answered, & sayde vnto thē: The whole nede not ye phisician, but they yt are sicke. I am not come to call ye righteous, but sinners to repentaūce.1. Tim. 1. c

But they sayde vnto him: Wherfore fast ye disciples of Ihō so of, & praye so moch, & the disciples of the Pharises likewyse, but ye disciples eate and drynke? And he sayde vnto them: Can ye make the weddynge childrē fast, so lōge as the brydegrome is with thē? But the tyme wil come that the brydegrome shalbe takē frō thē, then shal they fast.

And he sayde vnto them a symilitude: No man putteth a pece of new cloth in to an olde garment: for els he renteth the new, and the pece of the new agreeth not with the olde. And no man putteth new wyne in to olde vessels, for els ye new wyne barsteth the vessels, and runneth out it self, and the vessels perishe. But new wyne must be put in to new vessels, and so are they both preserued. And there is no man that drynketh the olde, and wolde straight waye haue the new, for he sayeth: the olde is pleasaunter.

Mat. 12. a arc. 2. cThe VI. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned vpon an after pryncipall Sabbath, that he wente thorow the corne felde, & his disciples plucked the eares of corne, and ate, and rubbed thē with their hādes. But certayne of the Pharises sayde vnto them: Wherfore do ye that, which is not laufull to do vpon the Sabbath? And Iesus answered, and sayde vnto thē: Haue ye not red what Dauid dyd, whā he was hongrie, and they that were with him, how he wente in to the house of God, and toke the Reg. 21. c Exo 25. c shewbred, and ate, and gaue also vnto them that were with him, which was laufull for no man to eate, but for the prestes onely? And he sayde vnto them: The sonne of man is LORDE euen ouer the Sabbath. Mat 12. b Marc. 3. a

It came to passe vpō another Sabbath, that he wēte in to the synagoge, and taught and there was a man, whose right hande was wythred. But ye scrybes and Pharises marked him, whether he wolde heale vpon the Sabbath, that they might fynde an occasion agaynst him. Neuertheles he perceaued their thoughtes, and sayde vnto the mā with the wythred hande: Aryse, and steppe forth here. And he arose, and stepped forth. Then sayde Iesus vnto thē: I wil axe you a question: What is it laufull to do vpō the Sabbath? good, or euell? to saue life, or to destroye it? And he behelde thē all rounde aboute, and sayde vnto the mā: Stretch out thine hande. And he dyd so. Then was his hande restored him to right, euen as whole as the other. But they were fylled full of madnes, and commoned together, what they wolde do to him. Mat. 14. Marc. ••

And it fortuned at the same tyme, that he wente out in to a mountayne to praye, and continued all night in prayer to God. Mat. •• Marc. •• and •• Luc. •• Act. •• And whā it was daye, he called his disciples, and chose twolue of them, whom he called also apostles. Symon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, Iames and Ihon, Phylippe and Bartylmew, Mathew and Thomas, Iames the sonne of Alpheus, Symon called Zelotes, Iudas the sonne of Iames, and Iudas Iscarioth, which was the traytoure.

And he wente downe with them, Mat. •• Marc. •• and stode vpon a playne in the felde, and the company of his disciples, and a greate multitude of people, from all Iewry, and Ierusalē, and from Tyre and Sydon by the see coast, which were come to heare him, and to be healed of their diseases, and they that were vexed with foule spretes, were healed. And all the people sought to touch him, for there wente vertue frō him, and healed thē all. Ma •• ••

And he lift vp his eyes vpō his disciples, and sayde: Blessed are ye poore, for yours is the kyngdome of God. Blessed are ye that honger here, for ye shalbe satisfied. Blessed are ye yt wepe here, for ye shal laugh. Blessed are ye, whan men hate you, and put you out of their cōpanyes, and reuyle you, and cast out youre name as an euell thinge, for the sonne of mans sake. Reioyse ye then, and be glad: for beholde, youre rewarde is greate in heauen. 〈…〉 Euen thus dyd their fathers vnto the prophetes also.

But wo vnto you riche, for ye haue youre cōsolacion allready. Wo vnto you that are full, for ye shal honger. Wo vnto you that laugh here, for ye shal wepe and wayle. Wo vnto you whan euery man prayseth you, Euen so dyd their fathers vnto the false prophetes also.

But I saye vnto you that heare: Loue youre enemies: do good vnto them that hate you: blesse them that curse you: praye for them that wrongfully trouble you. And who so smyteth the on the one cheke, offre him ye other also. And who so taketh awaye thy cloake, forbyd him not yt cote also. Who so euer axeth of the, geue him: and who so taketh awaye thyne, axe it not agayne. 〈1 paragraph〉 And as ye wolde that men shulde do vnto you, euen so do ye vnto them likewyse. 〈…〉

And yf ye loue them that loue you, what thāke haue ye therfore? For synners also loue their louers. And yf ye do good for youre good doers, what thanke haue ye therfore? For synners also do euen the same. And yf ye lende vnto them, of whō ye hope to receaue what thāke haue ye ther fore? For synners also lende vnto synners, that they maye receaue as moch agayne. But rather loue ye yor enemies, do good, and lende, lokynge for nothinge therof agayne: so shal yor rewarde be greate, and ye shalbe the children of the Hyest, for he is kynde, euen to the vnthankfull and to the euell.

〈◊〉 7. a 〈◊〉 12. c Be ye therfore mercifull, as youre father also is mercifull. Iudge not, and ye shal not be iudged. Condēpne not, and ye shal not be condempned. Forgeue, and ye shal be forgeuen. 〈…〉 Geue, and to you shalbe geuē. A good measure, pressed downe, shaken together, & rūnynge ouer, shal mē geue into youre bosome. For with what measure ye meete, with the same shal it be measured to you agayne. 〈◊〉 7. a 〈◊〉 4 c

And he sayde a symilitude vnto thē: Can the blynde shewe the waye to ye blynde? 〈◊〉 15. b Do they not both thē fall in to the dyche? The disciple is not aboue his master. But whosoeuer is perfecte, 〈◊〉 . 10. c 〈◊〉 . 13. b ye same shalbe as his master. But why seist thou a moote ī thy brothers eye, and considrest not the beame, that is in thine awne eye? Or how canst thou saye vnto thy brother: holde styll brother, I wil plucke ye moate out of thyne eye, 〈◊〉 7. a and thou thy self seist not ye beame in thine awne eye? Thou ypocryte, Fyrst cast the beame out of thine awne eye, and thē shalt thou se clearly to pull the moote out of thy brothers eye.

For it is no good tre, yt bryngeth forth euell frute: 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 2. d and no euell tre yt bringeth forth good frute. Euery tre is knowne by his frute. For mē gather not fygges of thornes, ner grapes of buszhes. A good mā out of ye good treasure of his hert, bryngeth forth yt which is good: and an euell mā out of the euell treasure of his hert, bryngeth forth that which is euell. For of the abundaunce of the hert, the mouth speaketh.

But why call ye me LORDE LORDE, & do not that I saye vnto you? 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 23. a 〈◊〉 7. c 〈◊〉 1. c Who so euer commeth vnto me, and heareth my wordes and doth thē, I wil shewe you to whom he is lyke. He is like vnto a man which buylded an house, and digged depe, and layed ye foundacion vpon a rocke. Whan the waters came, the floudes bett vpon that house, and coulde not moue it: for it was groūded vpō ye rocke. But he that heareth and doth not, is like vnto a man that buylded his house vpō the earth without foundacion, and the streames bett vpō it, and it fell immediatly, and greate was the fall of that house.

The VII. Chapter.

WHan he had ended his talkynge vnto the people, Mat. 8. a Iohā. 4. f he wente in to Capernaum: and a captaynes seruaunt laye deed sicke, whom he loued. Whā he herde of Iesus, he sent the elders of the Iewes vnto him, and prayed him, that he wolde come, and make his seruaunt whole. But whā they came to Iesus, they besought him instantly, & sayde: He is worthy yt thou shuldest shewe this for him, for he loueth oure people, & hath buylded vs ye synagoge. And Iesus wente wt them.

Now whan they were not farre from ye house, ye captaine sent frēdes vnto hī, saiēge vnto him: Oh LORDE, trouble not thy self, I am not worthy, yt thou shuldest enter vnder my rofe, and therfore I thought not my self worthy to come to ye: but speake ye worde, & my seruaūt shalbe whole. For I my self also am a mā, subiecte to the hygher auctorite, & haue soudyers vnder me. And I saye vnto one: Go, & he goeth. And to another: Come, & he cōmeth. And to my seruaūt: Do this, & he doeth it. Whan Iesus herde yt, he marueyled at hī, & turned him aboute, & sayde vnto ye people yt folowed hī: I saye vnto you: So greate faith haue I not founde, no not in Israel. And whā they that were sent, came home agayne, they founde the seruaūt that was sicke, whole.

And it fortuned afterwarde, that he wē te into a cite called Naim, and many of his disciples wente with him, and moch people. Whan he came nye to the gate of the cite, beholde, there was caried out one deed, which was the onely sonne of his mother, and she was a wyddowe, and moch people of the cite wente with her. And whan the LORDE sawe her, he had cōpassion on her, and sayde vnto her: Wepe not. And he came nye, and touched the Coffyn. And they that bare him, stode styll. And he sayde: Yonge man, I saye vnto the: Aryse. And 3. Re. 17. 4. Re. 4 Act. 9. f and 20. b the deed sat vp, and beganne to speake. And he delyuered him vnto his mother. And there came a feare on them all, and they praysed God, and sayde: Iohā. 4. and 6. b A greate prophet is rysen amonge vs, and God hath vysited his people. And this fame of him was noysed in all Iewry, and in all ye regions that laye rounde aboute.

And the disciples of Ihō shewed him of all these thinges. And Ihon called vnto him two of his disciples, and sent thē vnto Iesus sayenge: Art thou he that shal come, or shal we loke for another? Whan the men came to him, they sayde: Ihon ye baptist hath sent vs vnto the, sayenge: Art thou he that shal come, or shal we loke for another?

At the same houre healed he many from sicknesses & plages, and frō euell spretes, and vnto many that were blynde, he gaue sight. And Iesus answered, & sayde vnto thē: Go yor waye, shewe Ihon, what ye haue sene & herde. sa. 35. a The blynde se, the halt go, the lepers are clensed, the deaf heare, the deed aryse, Esa 61. a the Gospell is preached vnto ye poore, and blessed is he, that is not offended at me.

Mat. 11. a Whan the messaungers of Ihō were departed, Iesus begāne to speake vnto ye people cōcernynge Ihō: What are ye gone out for to se in ye wyldernesse? Wolde ye se a rede, that is shakē wt the wynde? Or what are ye gone out for to se? Wolde ye se a mā clothed in soft rayment? Beholde, they that are gorgiously arayed, & lyue delycately, are in kynges courtes. Or what are ye gone out for to se? Wolde ye se a prophet? Yee I saye vnto you: one that is more thē a prophet. This is he, of whom it is wrytten: Beholde, I sende my messaunger before ye face, al. 3. a arc. 1. a which shal prepare thy waye before the. For I saye vnto you: Amonge thē yt are borne of wemē, there is no greater prophet thē Ihon the baptist. Notwith stondynge he that is lesse in the kyngdome of God, is greater then he.

And all the people that herde him, and ye publicans, iustified God, and were baptysed with the baptyme of Ihon. But the Pharises and scrybes despysed ye councell of God against thē selues, & were not baptised of hī.

But the LORDE saide: Where vnto shal I licken the men of this generacion? at. 11. c And whom are they like? They are like vnto childrē which syt in the market, and crye one to another, and saye: We haue pyped vnto you, and ye haue not daunsed: we haue mourned vnto you, & ye haue not wepte. For Ihon ye baptist came, and at. 3. a ate no bred, and drāke no wyne, and ye saye: he hath ye deuell. The sonne of man is come, eateth and drynketh, & ye saye: This man is a glutton and a wyne bebber, a frende of publicans and synners. And wyszdome is iustified of all hir children.

at. 26. a ar. 14. a And one of the Pharises desyred him, yt he wolde eate with him. And he wente in to the Pharises house, and sat him downe at ye table. •• hā. 1 . a And beholde, there was in the cite a womā, which was a synner. Whē she knewe that Iesus sat at the table in the Pharises house, she brought a boxe with oyntment, & stode behynde at his fete, and wepte, and beganne to water his fete with teares, and to drye thē wt the hayres of hir heade, and kyssed his fete, & anoynted thē with oyntmēt.

But whan the Pharise which had called him sawe that, he spake within himself, 〈…〉 and sayde: Yf this mā were a prophet, he wolde knowe who, & what maner of woman this is that toucheth him, for she is a synner. And Iesus answered, and saide vnto him: Simō, I haue somewhat to saye vnto the. He sayde: Master saye on. A certayne lender had two detters, the one ought fyue hundreth pens, the other fiftie: but whan they had no thinge to paye, he forgaue thē both. Tell me which of them wyl loue him most? Symon answered, and sayde: He, (I suppose) to whō he forgaue most. Then sayde he vnto him: Thou hast iudged right.

And he turned him to the woman, and sayde vnto Symō: Seist thou this womā? I am come in to thine house, thou hast geuē me no water vnto my fete, but she hath watred my fete with teares, and dryed thē wt the hayres of hir heade: Thou hast geuē me no kysse, but she (sens the tyme she came in) hath not ceassed to kysse my fete: Thou hast not anointed my heade wt oyle, but she hath anoynted my heade with oyntment. Therfore I saye vnto the: Many synnes are forgeuen her, for she hath loued moch. But vnto whom lesse is forgeuen, the same loueth the lesse.

And he sayde vnto her: Thy synnes are forgeuen the. Then they that sat at the table with him, beganne to saye within them selues: What is he this, that forgeueth synnes also? But he sayde vnto the woman: Thy faith hath saued the, Go thy waye in peace.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned afterwarde, that he wente thorow the cities and townes, and preached, and shewed ye Gospell of the kyngdome of God, and the twolue wt him. And certayne wemen also, 〈…〉 whō he had healed frō euell spretes and infirmities: Namely, Mary 〈…〉 which is called Magdalene, out of whom wente seuen deuels, and Ioanna ye wife of Chusa Herodes stewarde, and Susanna, and many other, that mynistred vnto them of their substaunce.

Now whā moch people were gathered together, 〈…〉 and haisted vnto him out of the cities, He spake by asymilitude: There wente out a sower to sowe his sede, & whyle he was sowynge, some fell by the waye syde, and was troddē vnder fote, and the foules of the ayre ate it vp. And some fell on stone, and whan it was spronge vp, it wythred awaye; because it had no moystnesse. And some fell amonge thornes, and the thornes sprange vp with it, and choked it. And some fell vpō a good grounde, and sprange vp, and bare frute an hundreth folde. Whā he sayde this he cryed: Who so hath eares to heare, let him heare.

And his disciples axed him, and sayde: What symilitude is this? 〈◊〉 3. b 〈◊〉 . 4. a And he sayde: Vnto you it is geuē, to knowe the mysteryes of the kyngdome of God, but vnto the other in parables, yt though they se it, they shulde not se it, and though they heare it, they shulde not vnderstonde. 〈…〉

This is the parable: The sede is the worde of God: As for those that are by ye waye syde, they are they that heare it, afterwarde commeth the deuell, and taketh awaye the worde out of their hertes, that they shulde not beleue, and be saued. But they on ye stone, are soch as whan they heare it, receaue the worde with ioye, and these haue no rote: they beleue for a whyle, and in the tyme of temptacion they fall awaye. As for it that fel amonge the thornes, are soch as heare it, and go forth amonge the cares, riches and volupteousnesses of this life, and are choked and brynge forth no frute. But that on the good grounde, are they that heare the worde, and kepe it in a pure good hert, and brynge forth frute in pacience.

No man lighteth a cādell, and couereth it with a vessell, 〈…〉 or putteth it v der a table, but setteth it vpon a candelsticke, that soch as go in maye se light. 〈…〉 For there is nothinge hyd, that shal not be openly shewed: and there is nothinge secrete, that shal not be knowne, and come to light. Take hede therfore how ye heare. 〈◊〉 . 13. b 〈◊〉 5. c 〈◊〉 4. c 〈◊〉 . c For who so hath, vnto him shalbe geuē: but who so hath not, from him shalbe taken awaye, euē the same that he thynketh to haue.

There wente vnto him his mother and his brethren, and coude not come at him for the people. And it was tolde him. Thy mother and thy brethren stonde without, 〈…〉 and wolde se the. But he answered, & sayde vnto thē: My mother and my brethren are these, which heare the worde of God, and do it.

〈…〉 And it fortuned vpon a certayne daye, yt he wente in to a shippe, and his disciples wt him, & he sayde vnto thē: Let vs passe ouer to the other syde of ye lake. And they thurst of frō the lōde. And as they sayled, he slepte. And there came a storme of wynde vpon ye lake, and the wawes fell vpon thē, and they stode in greate ioperdy. Then wēte they vnto him, and waked him vp, & sayde: Master master, we perishe. Then he arose, and rebuked the wynde, and the tēpest of water, and they ceassed, and it waxed calme. But he sayde vnto thē: Where is youre faith? Neuertheles they were afrayed, and wōdred, and sayde one to another: What is he this? For he cōmaundeth the wyndes and the water, and they are obedient vnto him. Mat. 8 d Marc. 5. And they sayled forth in to the countre of the Gadarenites, which is ouer agaynst Galile.

And whan he wente out to londe, there met him out of ye cite a mā, which had a deuell longe tyme, & ware no clothes, & taried in no house, but in the graues. Neuertheles whā he sawe Iesus, he cried, and fell downe before him, and cried loude, & sayde: What haue I to do with the Iesus, thou sonne of the Hyest God? I beseke the, that thou wilt not tormēte me. For he cōmaunded the foule sprete, that he shulde departe out of the mā, for he had plaged hī a lōge season. And he was bounde with cheynes, and kepte wt fetters, and he brake the bondes in sonder, and was caried of the deuell in to the wyldernesse.

And Iesus axed him, and sayde: What is thy name? He sayde: Legion. For there were many deuels entred in to him. And they besought him, that he wolde not cōmaunde thē to go in to the depe. Mat. 8. d Marc. 5. b But there was there a greate heerd of swyne fedynge vpon the mountayne, and they besought him, that he wolde geue them leue, to entre in to ye same. And he gaue thē leue. Then departed ye deuels out of the mā, and entred in to the swyne. And the heerd ruszhed headlynges with a storme in to the lake, and were drowned. But whā ye herdmen sawe what had chaunsed, they fled, and tolde it in the cite and in the vyllagies.

Then wente they out, for to se what was done, and came to Iesus, and founde the mā (out of whom the deuyls were departed) syttinge at Iesus fete, clothed, and in his right mynde, and they were afrayed. And they yt had sene it, tolde thē how the possessed was healed. And the whole multitude of ye countre of the Gadarenites besought him, that he wolde departe from them, for there was a greate feare come vpon thē. Marc. 5. b And he gat him in to ye shippe, and turned ag yne. And the man out of whō the deuels were departed, besought him, yt he might be with him. But Iesus sent him awaye, and sayde: Go home agayne, and shewe how greate thinges God hath done for the. And he wente his waye, & preached thorow out all ye cite, how greate thinges Iesus had done for hī.

Mat. 9. c Marc. 5. c And it fortuned whā Iesus came agayne, the people receaued him, for they wayted for him. And beholde, there came a man named Iairus (and he was a ruler of the synagoge) and fell at Iesus fete, Mat. 9. c Marc. 5. c & besought him, that he wolde come in to his house. For he had but one doughter (vpon a twolue yeare of age) and she laye at ye poynt of death. And as he wente, the people thronged him. And a womā hauynge the bloudyssue twolue yeares, (which had spent all hir substaunte vpon phisicians, and coude be healed of none) came behynde, & touched the hemme of his garmēt, and immediatly hir yssue of bloude was staunched.

And Iesus sayde: Who hath touched me? But whan they all denyed, Peter sayde, and they that were with him: Master, the people thronge the and thrust the, and thou sayest: Who hath touched me? Iesus saide: Some body hath touched me, for Ifele, that there is vertue gone out fro me. But whan the woman sawe that she was not hyd, she came trēblynge, Mat 9. c Marc. 5. d and fell downe before him, and tolde him before all the people, for what cause she had touched him, & how she was healed immediatly. And he sayde vnto her: Doughter, be of good comforte, thy faith hath made the whole, go thy waye in peace.

Whyle he yet spake, there came one frō ye ruler of ye synagoges house, and sayde vnto him: Thy doughter is deed, disease not the master. Whan Iesus herde that, he answered him, Iohā. 11. b and sayde: Feare not, beleue onely, and she shal be made whole. But whan he came in to the house, he suffred no man to go in, saue Peter, and Iames and Ihō, and the father and mother of the mayden. They wepte all, and sorowed for her. But he sayde: Wepe not, for she is not deed, but * slepeth. And they laughed hī to scorne, knowynge well that she was deed. But he thrust them all out, and toke her by the hande, and cryed, and sayde: Maydē aryse. And hir sprete came agayne, & she arose straight waye. And he cōmaunded to geue her meate. Mat. 10. a Marc. 3. b and 6. a Luc. 6. b And hir elders were astonnyed. But he charged them, that they shulde tell no man, what was done.

Mar. 6. a Luc. 10. aThe IX. Chapter.

ANd he called the twolue together, and gaue them power and auctorite ouer all deuels, and that they might heale diseases. And he sent thē out to preach the kyngdome of God, and to heale ye sicke, and sayde vnto them: 〈…〉 Ye shal take nothinge with you by the waye, nether staff, ner scryppe, ner bred, ner money: ner haue two coates. And into what house so euer ye entre, there abyde, tyll ye go thence. 〈…〉 And who so euer receaue you not, departe out of the same cite, and shake of the dust from youre fete, for a wytnesse ouer them. And they departed, and wente thorow the townes, preachinge ye Gospell, & healynge euery where.

Herode the Tetrarcha herde of all that was done by him. And he toke care, for so moch as it was sayde of some: Ihō is rysen agayne from the deed: of some, Elias hath appeared: of some, 〈1 paragraph〉 One of the olde prophetes is rysen agayne. And Herode sayde: Ihō haue I beheaded, who is this then, of whō I heare soch thinges? And he desyred to se him.

And the Apostles came agayne, and tolde him how greate thinges they had done. And he toke them to him, and wente asyde into a solytary place by the cite called Bethsaida. Whan the people knew of it, they folowed him. And he receaued them, and spake vnto them of the kyngdome of God, and healed soch as hade nede therof. But the daye beganne to go downe. Then came the twolue to him, and sayde vnto him: let the people departe frō the, that they maye go in to the townes rounde aboute, and in to ye vyllagies, where they maye fynde lodgynge & meate, for we are here in ye wyldernesse. But he sayde vnto them: Geue ye them to eate. They sayde: We haue nomore but fyue loaues and two fyszhes. Excepte we shulde go & bye meate for so moch people (for there were vpon a fyue thousande men) But he sayde vnto his disciples: Cause them to syt downe by fifties in a cōpany. And they dyd so, and made them all to syt downe. Then toke he the fyue loaues and two fiszhes, and loked vp towarde heauē, and sayde grace ouer them, brake them, 〈…〉 and gaue them to the disciples, to set thē before the people. And they ate, and were all satisfied. And there were taken vp of that remayned to them, twolue baskettes full of broken meate.

And it fortuned whan he was alone, and at his prayer, and his disciples with him, he axed them, and sayde: Whom saye the people that I am? They answered, and sayde: They saye, thou art Ihon the baptist: 〈…〉 Some, that thou art Elias: Some, that one of the olde prophetes is rysen agayne. 〈…〉 But he sayde vnto them: Whom saye ye that I am? Then answered Peter and sayde: Thou art the Christ of God. And he charged them strately, 〈◊〉 . 6. g and commaunded them, that they shulde tell this vnto no mā, and sayde: 〈◊〉 . 16. c 〈◊〉 20. b 〈◊〉 . . d 〈◊〉 10. d 〈◊〉 . 18. d For the sonne of man must suffre many thinges, and be cast out of the Elders and of ye hye prestes, and scrybes, and be put to death, and ryse agayne the thirde daye.

〈…〉 Then sayde he vnto them all: Yf eny mā wil folowe me, let hī denie himself, & take vp his crosse daylie, & folowe me. 〈◊〉 . 17. d For who so euer wil saue his life, shal lose it. But who so loseth his life for my sake, shal saue it. For what auauntage hath a man, though he wanne the whole worlde, and loseth himself, or runneth in dammage of himself? 〈◊〉 10. d 〈◊〉 . 8. c 〈◊〉 12. a Who so is ashamed of me and of my sayenges, of him shall the sonne of mā also be ashamed, whan he commeth in his glory, and in the glory of his father, and of the holy angels. I saye vnto you of the treuth: 〈◊〉 . 16. d 〈◊〉 8. c there be some of them that stonde here, which shall not taist of death, tyll they se the kyngdome of God.

And it fortuned, that aboute an eight dayes after these wordes, 〈◊〉 17. a 〈◊〉 . 9. a he toke vnto him Peter, Ihon and Iames, and wente vp in to amoūt for to praye. 〈◊〉 . 1. d And as he prayed, the shappe of his countenaunce was chaunged of another fashion, and his garment was whyte, and shyned: and beholde, two men talked with him, Which were Moses and Elias, that appeared gloriously, and spake of his departynge, which he shulde fulfill at Ierusalem. As for Peter and them that were with him, they were full of slepe. But whan they awoke, they saw his glory, and the two men stondynge with him.

〈◊〉 17. a 〈◊〉 . 9. a And it chaunsed, whan they departed frō him, Peter sayde vnto Iesus: Master, here is good beynge for vs. Let vs make thre tabernacles: one for the, one for Moses, and one for Elias, and wyst not what he sayde. But whyle he thus spake, there came a cloude, and ouershadowed them. And they were afrayed, whan the cloude couered them. And out of the cloude there came a voyce, which sayde: This is my deare sonne, 〈…〉 heare him. And whyle this voyce came to passe, they founde Iesus alone. And they kepte it close, and tolde no mā in those dayes eny of the thinges which they had sene.

〈…〉 And it chaunsed on the nexte daye after, whan they came downe from the mount. moch people met him, and beholde, a man amonge the people cryed out, and sayde: Master, I beseke the, loke vpon my sonne, for he is my onely sonne: beholde, the sprete taketh him, and sodenly he crieth, and he teareth him, that he fometh, and with payne departeth he from him, whan he hath rente him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out, and they coulde not. Then answered Iesus, and sayde: Oh thou vnfaithfull and croked generacion, how longe shal I be with you, & suffre you? Brynge hither thy sonne. And whan he came to him, the deuell rente him and tare him. But Iesus rebuked the foule sprete, and healed the chylde, and delyuered him vnto his father agayne. Marc. 1. c Luc. 4. d And they were all amased at the mighty power of God.

And whyle they wondred euery one at all thinges which he dyd, he sayde vnto his disciples: Comprehende these sayenges in youre eares. Mat. 16. c and 20. b Marc. 8. d and 9. d Luc. 2. g and 18. d For the sonne of man must be delyuered in to the hādes of men. But they wyst not what that worde meaned, and it was hyd from them, that they vnderstode it not. And they were afrayed to axe him of that worde. Mat. 18. Marc. 9. d Luc. 22. b There came a thought also amonge them, which of them shulde be the greatest. But whā Iesus sawe the thoughtes of their hert, he toke a childe, & set him harde by him, and sayde vnto them? Mat. 10 e Marc. 9. c Luc. 10. b Iohā. 13. c Whosoeuer receaueth this childe in my name, receaueth me: and who so euer receaueth me, receaueth him that sent me. Mat. 20. Marc. 9. and 10. e Luc. 22. b But who so is leest amōge you all, ye same shal be greate.

Then answered Ihō, and sayde: Master, we sawe one dryue out deuels in thy name, and we forbad him, for he folowed the not with vs. And Iesus saide vnto him: For byd him not, for he that is not agaynst vs, is for vs.

And it fortuned whan the tyme was fulfylled that he shulde be receaued vp from hence, he turned his face to go straight to Ierusalem, and before him he sent messaungers, which wente their waye, and came in to a towne of the Samaritans, to prepare lodginge for him. And they wolde not receaue him, because he had turned his face to go to Ierusalē. But whan his disciples Iames and Ihon sawe that, they sayde: LORDE, wilt thou, that we commaunde, that fyre fall downe from heauen, and consume them, 4. Re. 1. c as Elias dyd? Neuertheles Iesus turned him aboute, and rebuked them, and sayde: Knowe ye not, what maner of sprete ye are of? The sonne of man is not come to destroye mens soules, but to saue them. And they wente in to another towne.

Mat. 8. c And it fortuned as they went by the waye, one sayde vnto him: I wil folowe the, whyther so euer thou go. And Iesus sayde vnto him: The foxes haue holes, and the byrdes vnder the heauē haue nestes: but the sonne of man hath not wheron to laye his heade.

Mat. 8. c And he sayde vnto another: Folowe me. He sayde: Syr, geue me leue first to go, and burye my father. But Iesus sayde vnto him: Leu. 21. b Let the deed burye their deed. But go thou thy waye, and preach the kyngdome of God.

And another sayde: Syr, I will folowe the, 3. Re. 19. but geue me leue first, to go byd them farwele, which are at home in my house. Iesus sayde vnto him: Who so putteth his hā de to the plowe, and loketh backe, is not mete for the kingdome of God.3. Pet. 2 d

The X. Chapter.

AFterwarde the LORDE appoynted out other seuentie, and sent them two and two before him in to euery cite and place, whither he himself wolde come, and sayde vnto them: The haruest is greate, but the labourers are fewe. Mat. 9. d Praye therfore the LORDE of the haruest, to sende forth labourers in to his haruest. Go youre waye: beholde, Mat. 10. a arc 6. a uc. 9. a I sende you forth as the lābes amonge ye wolues. Beare nether wallet, ner scryppe, ner shues, and . Re. 4. d salute no mā by the waye. In to what so euer house ye entre, first saye: Peace be in this house. And yf the childe of peace be there, youre peace shal rest vpon him. Yf no, then shal youre peace turne to you agayne. But tary ye still in the same house, eatinge and drynkinge soch as they haue. For the labourer is worthy of his rewarde.

Go not from house to house. And in to what so euer cite ye entre, and they receaue you, eate soch thinges as are set before you. And heale the sicke that are there, and saye vnto them: The kyngdome of God is come nye vnto you. Mat. 10. b Marc. 6. b uc. 9. a ct. 13. c nd 1 . a But in to what so euer cite ye come, and they receaue you not, go youre waye out in to the stretes of the same, and saye: Euen the very dust which cleaueth vpon vs of youre cite, wype we of vpon you. But of this ye shal be sure, that the kyngdome of God was come nye vnto you. I saye vnto you: It shalbe easyer for Sodome in that daye, then for that cite.

Wo vnto the Chorazin, wo vnto the Bethsaida: Mat. 11. b for yf the miracles which haue bene done amonge you had bene done at Tyre and Sidon, they had done pennaunce longe agoo, syttinge in sack cloth and in asshes. Neuertheles it shalbe easyer for Tyre and Sidon at the iudgment, then for you. And thou Capernaum which art exalted vnto the heauen, shalt be thrust downe vnto hell. He that heareth you, heareth me: 〈…〉 and he that despyseth you, despyseth me: but who so despyseth me, despyseth him yt sent me.

The seuētye came agayne with ioye, and sayde: LORDE, the deuels also are subdued vnto vs in thy name. But he sayde vnto them: I sawe Sathan fall downe from heauen as a lightenynge. Beholde, Esa 〈…〉 Ap . 〈◊〉 Act I haue geuen you power to treade vpon serpētes and scorpions, and ouer all power of the enemye, and nothinge shall hurte you. Neuertheles, reioyce not ye in this, that the spretes are subdued vnto you: but reioyse, 〈1 paragraph〉 that youre names are wrytten in heauen.

At the same houre reioysed Iesus in sprete, and sayde: 〈…〉 I prayse the (O father and LORDE of heauen and earth) that thou hast hyd these thinges from the wyse and prudent, and hast opened them vnto babes. Euen so father, for so it pleased the. 〈…〉 All thinges are geuen ouer vnto me of my father: 〈1 paragraph〉 and no man knoweth who the sonne is, but onely the father: nether who the father is, saue onely the sonne, and he to whō the sonne wil open it.

And he turned him vnto his disciples, and sayde in especiall: Blessed are the eyes, which se that ye se. For I saye vnto you: Many prophetes and kynges, 〈…〉 wolde haue sene the thynges that ye se, and haue not sene them: and to haue herde the thynges that ye heare, and haue not herde them.

And beholde, there stode vp a scrybe and tempted him, and sayde: Master, what must I do, to inheret euerlastinge life? He sayde vnto him: What is wrytten in the lawe? How readest thou? He answered and sayde: 〈…〉 Thou shalt loue thy LORDE God with all thy hert, with all thy soule, with all thy strength, and with all thy mynde, and 〈…〉 thy neghboure as thy self. He sayde vnto him: Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt lyue. But he wolde haue iustified himself, & sayde vnto Iesus: Who is then my neghboure?

Then answered Iesus, and sayde: A certayne man wente downe from Ierusalem vnto Iericho, and fell amonge murthurers, which stryped him out of his clothes, and wounded him, and wente their waye, and left him half deed. And by chaūce there came downe a prest the same waye: and whan he sawe him, he passed by. And likewyse a Leuite, whā he came nye vnto the same place and sawe him, he passed by. But a Samaritane was goynge his iourney, and came that waye, and whan he sawe him, he had compassion vpon him, wente vnto him, bounde vp his woundes, and poured oyle and wyne therin, and lifte him vp vpon his beast, and brought him in to the ynne, and made prouysion for him. Vpon the next daye whan he departed, he toke out two pens, and gaue them to the oost, and sayde vnto him: Take cure of him, and what so euer thou spendest more, I wil paye it the, whan I come agayne. Which of these thre now thinkest thou, was neghboure vnto him, that fell amonge the murtherers? He sayde: He that shewed mercy vpon him Then sayde Iesus vnto him: Go thy waye then, and do thou likewyse.

It fortuned as they wēte, that he entred in to a towne, where there was a woman named Martha, which receaued him in to hir house. And she had a sister, called Mary, 〈◊〉 33. a which sat hir downe at Iesus fete, and herkened vnto his worde. But Martha made hir self moch to do, for to serue him. And she srepte vnto him, and sayde: LORDE, carest thou not, that my sister letteth me serue alone? Byd her therfore, that she helpe me. But Iesus answered, and sayde vnto her: Martha Martha, thou takest thought, and combrest thy self aboute many thinges: 〈◊〉 25. a there is but one thinge nedefull. Mary hath chosen a good parte, which shal not be taken awaye from her.

The XI. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned that he was in a place, and prayed. And whan he had ceassed, one of his disciples sayde vnto him: LORDE, teach vs to praye, as Ihon also taught his disciples. He sayde vnto thē: Whan ye praye, saye: O oure father which art in heauen, halowed be thy name. Thy kyngdome come. Thy wil be fulfilled vpon earth, as it is in heauen. Geue vs this daye oure daylie bred. And forgeue vs oure synnes, for we also forgeue all them that are detters vnto vs. And lede vs not in to temptacion, but delyuer vs from euell.

And he sayde vnto them: Which of you is it that hath a frende, and shulde go to him at mydinght, and saye vnto him: frende, lende me thre loaues, for a frende of myne is come to me out of the waye, and I haue nothinge to set before him: and he within shulde answere and saye: Disquyete me not, the dore is shutt allready, and my children are with me in the chamber, I can not ryse, and geue the. I saye vnto you: and though he wolde not aryse and geue him, because he is his frende, Yet because of his vnshame fast begginge he wolde aryse, and geue him as many as he neded.

And I saye vnto you also: Axe, and it shal be geuen you: Seke, and ye shal fynde: Pro. 8. b Mat. 7. a Iohā. 14. 15. a. 16. c knocke, and it shalbe opened vnto you. For who so euer axeth, receaueth: and he that seketh, fyndeth: and to him that knocketh, shal it be opened. Yf the sonne axe bred of eny of you that is a father, wyl he geue him a stone therfore? Or yf he axe a fyszhe, wyl he for the fish offre him a serpent? Or yf he axe an egg, wyl he profer him a scorpion? Yf ye then which are euell, can geue youre children good giftes, how moch more shal the father of heauen geue the holy sprete vnto them that axe him?

And he droue out a deuell that was domme: Mat. 9. and 12 and it came to passe whan the deuell was departed out, the domme spake, and the people wondred. But some of them sayde: He dryueth out the deuels, thorow Beelzebub the chefe of the deuels. Marc. The other tempted him, and desyred a token of him from heauen. But he knewe their thoughtes, and sayde vnto them: Euery kyngdome deuyded within it self, shal be desolate, and one house shal fall vpō another. Yf Sathan then be at variaunce within himself, how shal his kyngdome endure? Because ye saye, that I dryue out deuels thorow Beelzebub.

And yf I dryue out deuels thorow Beelzebul, by whom thē do youre children dryue them out? Therfore shall they be youre iudges. But yf I cast out the deuels by the fynger of God, then is the kyngdome of God come vnto you.

Whan a stronge harnessed man kepeth his house, that he possesseth is in peace: Mat. 12. Col. 2 but whan a stronger then he commeth vpō him, and ouercommeth him, he taketh frō him all his wapens, wherin he trusted, and deuydeth the spoyle. He that is not with me, is agaynst me: and he that gathereth not with me, scatereth abrode.

Mat. 12. c Whan the vncleane sprete is gone out of a man, he walketh thorow drye places, sekynge rest, and fyndeth none. Then sayeth he: I wil turne agayne in to my house, from whence I wente out. And whan he commeth, he fyndeth it swepte, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh vnto him seuen other spretes, worse thē himself. And whan they are entred in, they dwell there. And the ende of that man is worse then the begynnynge.

And it fortuned whan he spake soch, a certayne woman amonge the people lift vp hir voyce, and sayde vnto him: Blessed is ye wombe that bare the, and the pappes that thou hast sucked. But he sayde: Yee blessed are they that heare the worde of God, and kepe it.

Whan the people were gathered thicke together, he beganne to saye: This is an euell generacion, arc. 8. b they desyre a tokē, and there shal no token be geuen them, but the tokē of the prophet Ionas. onae 3. a 〈◊〉 3. b For like as Ionas was a tokē vnto the Niniuytes, so shal the sonne of man be vnto this generacion The quene of the south shal aryse at the iudgmēt with the men of this generacion, Re. 10. a Par. 9. a at. 12. d and shall condempne them: for she came from the ende of the worlde, to heare the wyszdome of Salomon. And beholde, here is one more then Salomon. The men of Niniue shal aryse at the iudgment with this generacion, and shall condempne them: for they dyd pennaunce after the preachinge of Ionas: and beholde, here is one more thē Ionas.

at. 5. b arc. 4. b 〈◊〉 . 8. b No man lighteth a candell, and putteth it in a preuy place, nether vnder a buszhell, but vpon a candilsticke, that they which come in, maye se ye light. Mat. 6. c The eye is the light of the body. Yf thine eye then be syngle, all thy body shal be full of light: but yf thine eye be wicked, then shal all thy body be full of darcknesse. Take hede therfore, that the light which is in the, be not darcknesse. Yf thy body now be light, so that it haue no parte of darknesse, then shal it be all full of light, and shall light the euen as a cleare lightenynge.

But whyle he yet spake, a certayne Pharise prayed him, that he wolde dyne with him. And he wente in, and sat him downe at the table. Whan the Pharise sawe that, he marueyled, that he waszhed not first before dyner. But the LORDE sayde vnto him: Now do ye Pharises make cleane the out syde of the cuppe and platter, 〈…〉 but youre inwarde partes are full of robbery and wickednesse. Ye fooles, is a thinge made cleane within, because the outsyde is clensed? Neuertheles geue almesse of that ye haue, and beholde, all is cleane vnto you.

But wo vnto you Pharises, ye that tythe mynt and rewe, and all maner herbes, 〈…〉 and passe ouer iudgmēt and ye loue of God. These ought to haue bene done, and not to leaue the other vndone.

Wo vnto you Pharises, Mat. Ma . Luc. for ye loue to syt vppermost in the synagoges, and to be saluted in the market.

Wo vnto you scrybes and Pharyses, ye ypocrites, for ye are like couered sepulcres, where ouer men walke, and are not awarre of them.

Then answered one of the scrybes, and sayde vnto him: Master, with these wordes thou puttest vs to rebuke also. But he saide: And wo vnto you also ye scrybes, for ye lade men with vntollerable burthens, and ye youre selues touch them not with one of yo fyngers. 〈…〉

Wo vnto you, for ye buylde the sepulcres of the prophetes, 〈…〉 but youre fathers put them to death. Doutles ye beare wytnesse, and consente vnto the dedes of yo fathers: for they slewe them, and ye buylde their sepulcres.

Therfore sayde the wyszdome of God: 〈…〉 I wil sende prophetes and Apostles vnto thē: and some of them shal they put to death and persecute, that the bloude of all the prophetes which hath bene shed sens the foundacion of the worlde was layed, maye be requyred of this generacion: 〈…〉 from the bloude of Abell, vnto ye bloude of 〈1 paragraph〉 Zachary, which perished betwene the altare and ye temple. Yee I saye vnto you: it shalbe requyred of this generacion.

Wo vnto you scrybes, 〈…〉 for ye haue receaued ye keye of knowlege. Ye are not come in youre selues, and haue forbydden them that wolde haue bene in.

Whan he spake thus vnto them, the scrybes and Pharyses beganne to preasse sore vpon him, and to stoppe his mouth with many questions, and layed wayte for him, and sought to hunte out some thinge out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

The XII. Chapter.

THere were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, in so moch that they trode one another: Then beganne he, and sayde first vnto his disciples: Bewarre of the leuen of the Pharises, which is ypocrisye. at. 16. a arc. 8. a ap. 1. b at. 10. d arc. 4. b 〈◊〉 . . b But there is nothinge hyd, that shal not be discouered: nether secrete, that shal not be knowne. Therfore what soeuer ye haue spokē in darknesse, that same shal be herde in light: and that ye haue spoken in to the eare in the chābers, shalbe preached vpon the house toppes.

But I saye vnto you my frendes: Be not afrayed of them that kyll the body, and after that haue no more that they can do. 〈◊〉 . 10. d 〈◊〉 0. c But I wil shewe you, whom ye shal feare. Feare him, which after he hath kylled, hath power also to cast in to hell: Yee I saye vnto you: Feare him. Are not fyue sparowes bought for two farthinges? Yet is not one of them forgotten before God. The very hayres of youre heade also are nombred euery one. Feare not therfore, for ye are better then many sparowes.

〈◊〉 . 10 d •• rc. . e 〈◊〉 . 9 c 〈◊〉 . a I saye vnto you: Who so euer knowlegeth me before men, him shal the sonne of mā also knowlege before the angels of God: But he that denyeth me before men, shal be denyed before the angels of God. And who so euer speaketh a worde agaynst the sonne of man, 〈◊〉 . 11. c 〈◊〉 . 3. c it shalbe forgeuen him: But who so blasphemeth the holy goost, it shal not be forgeuen him.

Whan they brynge you in to their synagoges, 〈◊〉 . 10. c 〈◊〉 . 13. b 〈◊〉 . 21. b and to the rulers & officers, take ye no thought, how or what ye shal answere, or what ye shal speake: for the holy goost shal teach you in the same houre, what ye ought to saye.

But one of the people sayde vnto him: Master, byd my brother deuyde the enheritaunce with me. Neuertheles he sayde vnto him: Man, who hath set me to be a iudge or heretage parter ouer you? And he sayde vnto them: Take hede, and bewarre of couetousnesse, for no man lyueth therof, that he hath abundaunce of goodes. And he tolde them a symilitude, and sayde: There was a riche man, whose felde had brought forth frutes plenteously, and he thought in himself, and sayde: What shal I do? I haue nothinge wher into gather my frutes. And he sayde: This wil I do, I wil breake downe my barnes, & buylde greater, and therin wil I gather all myne increace, & my goodes, & wil saye vnto my soule: Soule, thou hast moch goodes layed vp in stoare for many yeares, 〈◊〉 1. c take now thine ease, eate, drinke, and be mery. But God sayde vnto him: Thou foole, Iere. 17. this night shal they requyre thy soule from the, Psal. 38. and whose shal it be that thou hast prepared? Thus goeth it with him yt gathereth treasure for himself, and is not riche in God.

But he sayde vnto his disciples? Therfore I saye vnto you: Psal. 54. Mat. 6. 1. Pet. 5. a Take ye no thought for youre life, what ye shal eate: nether for youre body, what ye shal put on. The life is more then meate, and the body more then raymēt. Consydre the rauens, they nether sowe ner reape, they haue also nether stoarehouse ner barne, and yet God fedeth them. But how moch better are ye then the foules?

Which of you (though he toke thought therfore) coulde put one cubyte vnto his stature? Mat. 6. Seinge then ye be not able to do that which is least, why take ye thought for the other? Considre the lilies vpō the felde, how they growe: they laboure not, they spynne not. But I saye vnto you: that euen Salomen in all his royalte was not clothed like one of these. Wherfore yf God so cloth the grasse, yt is to daye in ye felde, and tomorow shalbe cast into the fornace, how moch more shal he clothe you, o ye of litle faith? Axe not ye therfore what ye shal eate, or what ye shal drynke, and clymme not vp an hye: The Heithen in the worlde seke after all soch thinges. But seke ye the kyngdome of God, and all these shal be mynistred vnto you.

Feare not thou litle flocke, for it is youre fathers pleasure to geue you the kyngdome. Deut 1. c and 20. a Sell that ye haue, and geue almesse. Make you bagges, which waxe not olde: euen a treasure that neuer fayleth in heauen, where no thefe commeth, Mat. 6. c and 19. c and no moth corruppeth: for where youre treasure is, there wil youre hert be also.

Let youre loynes be gerded aboute, Ephe. 6. 1. Pet. 1. c and youre lightes burnynge, and be ye like vnto men that wayte for their lorde, agaynst he returne from the mariage, that whan he cō meth & knocketh, they maye straight waye open vnto him. Blessed are those seruauntes, whom the LORDE (whan he cōmeth) shal fynde wakynge. Verely I saye vnto you: Luc. 22. b He shal gyrde vp him self, and make them syt downe at the table, and shal go by them, and mynister vnto them. And yf he come in the seconde watch, and in the thirde watch, and fynde them so, blessed are those seruauntes. But be sure of this, Mat. 24. d Marc. 13. d that yf the good man of the house knewe, what houre the thefe wolde come, he wolde surely watch, and not suffre his house to be broken vp. Therfore be ye ready also, for at an houre whan ye thynke not, shal the sonne of man come. at. 25. a

But Peter sayde vnto him: LORDE, tellest thou this symilitude vnto vs, or to all men also? The LORDE sayde: How greate a thinge is a faithfull and wyse stewarde, whom his lorde setteth ouer his houszholde, to geue thē their dewtye in due season? Blessed is that seruaunt, whom his lorde (whan he cōmeth) shal fynde so doynge. po. 16. c Verely I saye vnto you: he shal set him ouer all his goodes. Mat. 4. d But yf the same seruaūt shal saye in his hert: Tush, it wil be longe or my lorde come, and shal begynne to smyte ye seruauntes and maydens, yee & to eate and drynke, & to be dronkē: the same seruauntes lorde shal come in a daye whan he loketh not for him, and in an houre that he is not aware of, & shal hew him in peces, and geue him his rewarde with the vnbeleuers.

aco. 4. b The seruaunt that knewe his lordes wil and prepared not himself, nether dyd acordinge to his will, shal be be ten with many strypes: But he that knewe it not, and yet dyd thinges worthy of strypes, shal be beaten with few strypes. For loke vnto whom moch is geuen, of him shal moch be sought: and loke to whom moch is commytted, of him shal moch be requyred.

I am come to kyndle fyre vpō earth, and what wolde I rather, thē that it were kyndled allready. Notwithstōdinge I must first be baptised with a baptyme, and how am I payned tyll it be ended? Thynke ye, that I am come to brynge peace vpon earth? Mat. 10. c Mich. 7. a I tell you nay, but rather debate. For from hence forth there shal be at varyaūce in one house: thre agaynst two, and two agaynst thre. The father shal be deuyded agaynst ye sonne, and the sonne agaynst the father: the mother agaynst the doughter, & the doughter agaynst the mother: the mother in lawe agaynst hir doughter in lawe, and ye doughter in lawe agaynst hir mother in lawe.

And he sayde vnto the people: Whan ye se a cloude ryse out of ye west, Mat. 1 . a straight waye ye saye: there cōmeth a shower, and so it is: and whan ye se the southwynde blowe, ye saye: It wil be hote, and it commeth so to passe. O ye ypocrytes, ye can discerne the fashion of the skye and of the earth: Why can ye not discerne this tyme also? Yee and why iudge ye not of youre selues, what is right?

Whyle thou goest with thine aduersary vnto the Prynce, geue diligēce by the waye, that thou mayest be quyte of him, lest he brynge the before the iudge, and the iudge delyuer the to the iaylar, and the iaylar cast the in to preson. I tell the, thou shalt not come out thence, tyll thou paye the vttemost myte.

The XIII. Chapter.

THere were present at the same season certayne, that shewed him of ye Act. 1 Galileans, whose bloude Pilate had mē gled with their awne sacrifice. And Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them: Suppose ye, that these Galileās were greater synners then all the other Galileans, because they suffred soch punyshment? I tell you naye, but excepte ye amēde youre selues, ye shal all perishe likewyse. Or thinke ye that ye eightene (vpon whom the tower in Siloe fell and slewe them) were giltie aboue all men that dwell at Ierusalem? I tell you naye: but excepte ye amende youre selues, ye shal all perishe likewyse.

And he tolde them this symilitude: A certayne mā had a fygge tre, which was planted in his vynyarde, & he came and sought frute theron, and founde none. Then sayde he vnto the wyne gardener: Beholde, This thre yeare longe haue I come euery yeare, and sought frute vpon this fygge tre, and fynde none: cut it downe, why hyndreth it the grounde? But he answered, and sayde: Syr, let it alone yet this yeare, tyll I dygge roūde aboute it and donge it, yf it wyl brynge forth frute: Yf no then cut it downe afterwarde.

And he taught in a synagoge vpon the Sabbath: and beholde, there was a womā, which had a sprete of infirmyte eightene yeares, and was croked, and coulde not well loke vp. Whan Iesus sawe her, he called her to him, and sayde vnto her: Woman, be delyuered from thy disease. And he layed his handes vpō her, and immediatly she was made straight, and praysed God. Then answered the ruler of the synagoge, and toke indignacion (because Iesus healed vpō ye Sabbath) and sayde vnto the people: There are sixe dayes, wherin men ought to worke, in them come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath.

Then the LORDE answered him, and sayde: Thou ypocryte, doth not euery one of you lowse his oxe or asse frō the crybbe vpō Sabbath, and leade him to the water: But shulde not this (which is Abrahams doughter) whom Sathan hath bounde now eightene yeares, be lowsed from this bonde vpō the Sabbath? And whan he thus sayde, all his aduersaries were ashamed. And all the people reioysed ouer all the excellent dedes, that were done by him.

〈◊〉 . 13. d 〈◊〉 . 4. a And he sayde: What is the kyngdome of God like? Or wher vnto shal I cōpare it? It is like a grayne of mustarde sede, which a man toke, and cast in his garden: and it grewe, and waxed a greate tre, and the foules of the ayre dwelt amonge the braunches of it.

〈◊〉 . 13. c And agayne he sayde: Where vnto shal I licken the kyngdome of God? It is like vnto leuen, which a woman toke, and myxte it amōge thre peckes of meele, 〈◊〉 . 1 . a tyll it was all leuended. And he wēte thorow cities and townes, and taught, and toke his iourney towarde Ierusalem.

And one sayde vnto him: LORDE, are there few (thinkest thou) that shalbe saued? But he sayde vnto them: 〈◊〉 . 7. b Stryue ye to entre in at the strayte gate, for many (I saye vnto you) shal seke to come in, and shal not be able. From that tyme forth, whan the good man of the house is rysen vp, and hath shut the dore, then shal ye begynne to stonde without, and to knocke at ye dore, and saye: LORDE LORDE, 〈◊〉 . 5. a open vnto vs. And he shal answere, and saye vnto you: I knowe you not whence ye are.

Then shal ye begynne to saye: We haue eaten and dronken before the, and thou hast taught vs vpon ye stretes. And he shal saye: I tell you, I knowe you not whence ye are. Departe fro me all ye workers of iniquyte. 〈◊〉 . 6. b 〈◊〉 . 7. b 〈◊〉 25. d There shalbe wepynge and gnaszhinge of teth, when ye shal se Abraham, and Isaac, and Iacob and all the prophetes in ye kyngdome of God, and youre selues thrust out, And whā they shal come from the east and from the west, 〈…〉 from the north and from the south, which shal syt at ye table in the kyngdome of God. 〈◊〉 . 19. d 〈◊〉 20. b 〈◊〉 20. c And beholde, there are last, which shal be fyrst: and there are first, which shalbe last.

Vpon the same daye there came certayne of ye Pharises, and sayde vnto him: Get the out of the waye, and departe hence, for Herode wyl kyll the. And he sayde vnto thē: Go ye and tell that foxe: beholde, I cast out deuels, and heale the people todaye and tomorow, and vpō the thirde daye shal I make an ende: for it can not be, that a prophet perishe without Ierusalem.

〈…〉 O Ierusalem Ierusalē, thou that kyllest the prophetes, and stonest thē that are sent vnto ye, how oft wolde I haue gathered thy children together, euen as the henne gathereth hir nest vnder hir wynges, and ye wolde not? Beholde, yo habitacion shal be left vnto you desolate. For I saye vnto you: ye shal not se me, tyll ye tyme come that ye shal saye: blessed be he, Luc. 19. d Psal. 117. yt cōmeth in ye name of the LORDE.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned that he came in to the house of one of ye chefe Pharises vpō a Sabbath, to eate bred, & they watched him. And beholde, there was a mā before him, which had ye dropsye. And Iesus answered, & spake vnto the scrybes and Pharises, & sayde: Luc. 6. a and 13. b Mat. 12. b Marc. 3. a Is it laufull to heale on the Sabbath? But they helde their tonge. And he toke him, and healed him, & let him go, and answered, and sayde vnto thē: Which of you shal haue an oxe or an asse fallen in to a pytte, Exo. 23. a Deut. 22. and wil not straight waye pull him out on the Sabbath daye? And they coude not answere him agayne to that.

And he tolde a symilitude vnto ye gestes, whā he marked how they chose the hyest seates, & sayde vnto thē: Whan thou art byddē of eny man to a weddynge, syt not downe in the hyest rowme, lest a more honorable man thē thou be byddē of him, and he that bade both the and him, come & saye vnto ye: geue this mā rowme, and thou thē begynne with shame to take ye lowest rowme. But rather whā thou art byddē, go and syt in ye lowest rowme, that whā he that bade the, cōmeth, he maye saye vnto the: Frende, syt vp hyer: then shalt thou haue worshipe in the presence of them that syt at the table. Pro. 25. a For who so euer exalteth himself, shalbe brought lowe: Mat. 23. b. Luc. 18. b and he yt humbleth himself, shalbe exalted.

He sayde also vnto him that had bydden him: Whā thou makest a dyner or a supper, call not thy frendes, ner thy brethren, ner thy kynsfolkes, ner ye riche neghbours, lest they call the agayne, and recompēce be made ye. But whā thou makest a feast, Tob. 4. call the poore, the crepell, the lame, the blynde, then art thou blessed, for they can not recompēce ye. But it shalbe recompensed the in the resurreccion of the righteous.

Whan one of them that sat by at the table herde this, he sayde vnto him: Blessed is he, that eateth bred in ye kyngdome of God. But he sayde vnto him; Mat. 22. Apo. 19. b A certayne mā made a greate supper, and called many ther to. And in ye houre of the supper he sent his seruaūte, to saye vnto thē yt were byddē: Come, for now are all thinges ready. And they begāne all together to excuse thē selues one after another: The first saide vnto hī: I haue bought a ferme, and I must nedes go forth and se it, I praye ye haue me excused. And ye seconde sayde: I haue bought fyue yoke of oxen, and now I go to proue them, I praye the haue me excused, And the thirde sayde: I haue maried a wife, therfore can I not come. And the seruaunt came, and brought his lorde worde agayne therof.

Then was the good man of the house displeased, and sayde vnto his seruaūt: Go out quyckly in to the stretes and quarters of ye cite, and brynge in hither the poore and crepell, and lame and blynde. And the seruaūt sayde: lorde, it is done as thou hast cōmaunded, and there is yet more rowme. And the lorde sayde vnto the seruaunt: Go out into the hye wayes, and to the hedges, and compell them to come in, that my house maye be fylled. But I saye vnto you: that none of these men which were bydden, shal taist of my supper.

There wente moch people with him, and he turned him aboute and sayde vnto them: eut. 13. b at. 10. c nd 16. d Yf eny man come vnto me, and hate not his father, mother, wife, childrē, brethrē, sisters, yee and his owne life also, he can not be my disciple. And whosoeuer beareth not his crosse, and foloweth me, can not be my disciple.

Which of you is it, yt wil buylde a tower, and sytteth not downe first and counteth ye cost, whether he haue sufficiēt to perfourme, it? lest after he hath layed the foundaciō, and is not able to perfourme it, all they that se it, begynne to laugh him to scorne, & to saye: This man beganne to buylde, and is not able to perfurme it. Or what kynge wil go to make battayl agaynst another kynge, and sytteth not downe first, and casteth in his mynde, whether he be able with ten thousande, to mete him that commeth agaynst him with twentye thousande? Or els, whyle the other is yet a greate waye of he sendeth embassage, and desyreth peace. So likewyse euery one of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, can not be my disciple.

Mat. 5. b Marc. 9. c Salt is a good thinge: but yf the salt be vnsauery, what shal they season withall? It is nether good vpon the lande, ner in the donge hyll, but shal be cast awaye. He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.

The XV. Chapter.

THere resorted vnto him all the publicans and synners, that they might heare him. And ye Pharises and scrybes murmured, and sayde: Mat. 9. a Marc. 2. b Luc. 5. d Luc. 5. d nd 7. c This man receaueth synners, and eateth with them. But he tolde thē this symilitude, and sayde: What man is he amonge you, that hath an hundreth shepe, and yf he loose one of thē, that leaueth not the nyne and nyentye in the wyldernesse, Mat. 〈…〉 and goeth after that which is lost tyll he fynde it? And whan he hath founde it, he layeth it vpon his shulders with ioye: and whan he commeth home, he calleth his frēdes and neghbours, and sayeth vnto thē: Reioyce with me, for I haue founde my shepe, yt was lost. I saye vnto you: Euē so shal there be ioye in heauen ouer one synner that doth pennaunce, more then ouer nyne and nyentye righteous, which Luc. 〈…〉 nede not repen taunce.

Or what woman is it that hath ten grotes, yf she loose one of them, that lighteth not a candell, and swepeth the house, and seketh diligently, tyll she fynde it? And whan she hath founde it, she calleth hir frendes & neghbouresses, and sayeth: Reioyce with me, for I haue foūde my grote, which I had lost. Euen so (I tell you) shal there be ioye before the angels of God, ouer one synner yt doth pennaunce.

And he sayde: A certayne man had two sonnes, and the yonger of them sayde vnto the father: Father, geue me the porcion of ye goodes, that belongeth vnto me. And he deuyded the good vnto them. And not longe therafter, gathered the yonger sonne all together, & toke his iourney in to a farre countre, and there waisted he his goodes with ryotous lyuynge. Now whan he had spent all that he had, there was a greate derth thorow out all the same lōde. And he begāne to lacke, and wente his waye, and claue to a cytesin of that same countre, which sent him in to his felde, to kepe swyne. And he wolde fayne haue fylled his bely with the coddes, that the swyne ate. And noman gaue him them.

Then came he to him self, and sayde: How many hyred seruauntes hath my father, which haue bred ynough, and I perish of honger? I wil get vp, and go to my father, and saye vnto him: Father, I haue synned agaynst heauen and before the, and am nomore worthy to be called thy sonne, make me as one of thy hyred seruauntes. And he gat him vp, & came vnto his father. But whan he was yet a greate waye of, 〈…〉 his father sawe him, and had cōpassion, and ranne, and fell aboute his neck, and kyssed him. Then sayde the sonne vnto him: Father, I haue synned agaynst heauē, and before the, I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne. But the father sayde vnto his seruauntes: Brynge forth the best garment, and put it vpon him, and geue him a rynge vpon his hande, and shues on his fete, and brynge hither a fed calfe, and kyll it, lat vs eate and be mery: for this my sonne was deed, and is alyue agayne: he was lost, and is founde. And they beganne to be mery.

But the elder sonne was in the felde. And whan he came, and drewe nye to the house, he herde ye mynstrelsye and daunsynge, and called one of the seruauntes vnto him, and axed what it was. He sayde vnto him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath slayne a fed calfe, because he hath receaued him safe and sounde. Then was he angrie, and wolde not go in. Then wente his father out, and prayed him. But he answered, and sayde vnto his father: Lo, thus many yeares haue I done the seruyce, nether haue I yet broken thy commaundement, and thou gauest me neuer one kydd, yt I might make mery with my frendes. But now that this thy sonne is come, which deuoured his goodes with harlottes, thou hast slayne a fed calfe. But he sayde vnto him: My sonne, thou art allwaye with me, and all that is myne, is thine: thou shuldest be mery and glad, for this ye brother was deed, and is alyue agayne: he was lost, and is founde agayne.

The XVI. Chapter.

HE sayde also vnto his disciples: There was a certayne riche man, which had a stewarde, that was accused vnto him, that he had waisted his goodes. And he called him, and sayde vnto him: How is it, that I heare this of the? geue a comptes of ye stewardshipe, for thou mayest be no longer stewarde. The stewarde sayde within himself: What shal I do? My lorde wil take awaye the stewardshipe fro me. I cā not dygge, and to begg I am ashamed. I wote what I wil do, that whā I am put out of the stewardshipe, they maye receaue me in to their houses.

And he called vnto hī all his lordes detters, and sayde vnto the first: How moch owest thou vnto my lorde? He sayde: an hundreth tonnes of oyle. And he sayde: Take ye byll, syt downe quyckly, & wryte fifti . Then sayde he vnto another: How moch owest thou? He sayde: an hundreth quarters of wheate. And he sayde vnto him: Take thy byll, and wryte foure score. And the lorde cō mended the vnrighteous stewarde, because he had done wysely. For the children of this worlde are in their kynde wyser, thē the children of light. And I saye vnto you: Make you frendes with the vnrighteous Mammon, yt whan ye shal haue nede, they maye receaue you in to euerlastinge Tabernacles.

He that is faithfull in the least, is faithfull also in moch: and he that is vnrighteous in the least, is vnrighteous also in moch. Yf ye then haue not bene faithfull in the vnrighteous Mammon, who wyll beleue you in that which is true? And yf ye haue not bene faithfull in anothers mans busynesse, who wil geue you that which is youre awne?

No seruaunt can serue two masters: Mat. 6. c for either he shal hate the one, and loue ye other: or els he shal leane to the one, and despyse the other. Ye can not serue God and Mammon.

All these thinges herde the Pharises, which were couetous, and they mocked hī. And he sayde vnto them: Ye are they that iustifie yor selues before men, but God knoweth youre hertes. For yt which is hye amonge men, is an abhominacion before God.

The lawe and ye prophetes prophecied vnto Ihon, Mat. 11. b and from that tyme forth is ye kyngdome of God preached thorow ye Gospell, and euery man p easseth in to it by violence. But easier is it, for heauen and earth to perishe, then one tittle of ye lawe to fall. Who so euer putteth awaye his wife, & marieth another, breaketh matrimonye: Mat. 5. d and 19. b Marc. 10. a and he that marieth her which is deuorced frō hir huszbande, breaketh wedlocke also.

There was a certayne riche man, which clothed him self with purple and costly lynnen, and fared deliciously euery daye. And there was a poore man named Lazarus which laye at his gate full of sores, and desyred to be fylled with the crommes, that fell from the riche mans table. Yet came the dogges, and licked his sores. But it fortuned, that the poore man dyed, and was caried of the angels in to Abrahams bosome. The riche man dyed also, and was buried.

Now whan he was in the hell, he lift vp his eyes in the payne, and sawe Abraham afarre of, and Lazarus in his bosome: and he cried, and sayde: Father Abraham, haue mercy vpon me, and sende Lazarus, that he maye dyppe the typpe of his fynger in water, & coole my tonge, for I am tormēted in this flāme. But Abrahā saide: Remēbre sonne, yt thou hast receaued good in ye life, & contrary wyse Lazarus receaued euell. But now is he comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, there is a greate space set betwene vs and you: so yt they which wolde go downe from hence vnto you, can not: nether maye they passe ouer from thence vnto vs.

Then sayde he: I pray the then father, that thou wilt sende him vnto my fathers house, for I haue yet fyue brethren, that he maye warne them, lest they also come in to this place of torment. Abraham sayde vnto him: They haue Moses and the prophetes, let them heare them. But he sayde: Nay father Abraham, but yf one wente vnto them frō the deed, they wolde do pennaunce. Neuertheles he sayde vnto him: Yf they heare not Moses & the prophetes, then shal they not beleue also, though one rose agayne frō the deed.

The XVII. Chapter.

HE sayde vnto his disciples: It is vnpossible that offences shulde not come: Mat. 18. a Marc. 9. e but wo vnto him by whom they come: It were better for him, that amylstone were hanged aboute his neck, and he cast in to the see, then that he shulde offende one of these litle ones. Take hede to youre selues. Yf thy brother trespace agaynst the, rebuke him: Mat. 18. b and yf he amende, forgeue him. And though he synne agaynst the seuentymes in a daye, and come seuen tymes in a daye to ye agayne, and saye: It repenteth me, forgeue him.

And the Apostles sayde vnto ye LORDE: Increace oure faith. The LORDE sayde: Yf ye haue faith as a grayne of mustarde sede, Mat. 17. c and 21. c and saye vnto this Molbery tre: Plucke thy self vp by the rotes, and plāte thy self in the see, it shalbe obediēt vnto you. Which of you is it, that hath a seruaunt (which ploweth, or fedeth the catell) whā he commeth home from ye felde, that he wil saye vnto him: Go quyckly, and syt the downe to meate? Is it not thus? that he sayeth vnto him: Make ready, that I maye suppe, gyrde vp thyself, and serue me, tyll I haue eaten and dronken, afterwarde shalt thou eate and drynke also. Thanketh he the same seruaunt also, because he dyd that was commaunded him? I trowe not. So likewyse ye, whā ye haue done all that is cōmaunded you, saye: We are vnprofitable seruauntes, we haue done that we were bounde to do.

And it fortuned, whan he toke his iourney towarde Ierusalem, he wente thorow the myddest of Samaria and Galile. And as he came in to a towne, there met him ten leporous men, which stode afarre of, and lift vp their voyce, and sayde: Iesu master, haue mercy vpon vs. And whan he sawe them, he sayde vnto thē: Leuit 〈…〉 Go, and shewe youre selues vnto ye prestes. And it came to passe, as they wente, they were clensed. And one of them whā he sawe that he was clensed, he turned backe agayne, and praysed God with loude voyce, and fell downe on his face at his fete, and gaue him thankes. And the same was a Samaritane. Iesus answered and saide: Are there not ten clensed? But where are those nyne? There were els none founde, that turned agayne, and gaue God the prayse, saue onely this straūger. And he sayde vnto him: Aryse, go thy waye, thy faith hath made ye whole.

But whan he was demaunded of ye Pharises: Whan cōmeth the kyngdome of God? He answered them, and sayde: The kyngdome of God commeth not with outwarde appearaunce, nether shal it be sayde: lo, here or there is it. For beholde, ye kyngdome of God is inwarde in you.

And he sayde to the disciples: The tyme shal come, whā ye shal desyre to se one daye of the sonne of man, and shal not se it. And they shal saye vnto you: Se here, Se there. 〈…〉 Go not ye, nether folowe, for as the lightenynge shyneth aboue from the heauen, and lighteth ouer all that is vnder the heauē, so shal the sonne of mā be in his daye. But first must he suffre many thinges, 〈…〉 and be refused of this generacion.

And as it came to passe in the tyme of Noe, 〈…〉 so shal it come to passe also in ye dayes of the sonne of man. They ate, they dranke, they maried, and were maried, euen vnto ye daye that Noe wente in to the Arke, and ye floude came, and destroyed them all.

Likewyse also as it came to passe in the tyme of Lot, they ate, they dranke, they bought, they solde, they planted, they buylded. But euen the same daye that Lot wente out of Sodom, 〈…〉 it rayned fyre and brymstone from heauē, and destroyed them all. After this maner also shal it go, in the daye whan the sonne of man shal appeare.

In that daye, who so is vpō the rofe, and his stuffe in ye house, 〈…〉 let him not come downe to fetch it: Likewyse he that is in the felde, let him not turne backe, for it that is behynde him. 〈1 paragraph〉 Remēbre Lottes wife. Who so euer goeth aboute to saue his life, shal lose it: and who so euer shal lose it, shal saue it.

I saye vnto you: In yt night shal two lye vpon one bed, the one shalbe receaued, the other shalbe for saken. Two shalbe gryndinge together, 〈◊〉 14. d the one shalbe receaued, the other shalbe forsaken. And they answered, and sayde vnto him: Where LORDE? He sayde vnto thē: Where so euer ye deed carcase is there wil ye Aegles be gathered together.

The XVIII. Chapter.

HE tolde them a symilitude, signifienge, 〈◊〉 5. c yt men ought allwayes to praye, & not to leaue of, & sayde: There was a iudge in a cite, which feared not God, and stode in awe of no man. And in the same cite there was a wedowe, which came vnto him, and sayde: delyuer me fro myne aduersary. And he wolde not a greate whyle. But afterwarde he thought within hīself: Though I feare not God, & stonde in awe of no man, yet seynge this weddowe is so importune vpon me, I wil delyuer her, lest she come at the last, and rayle vpon me.

Then sayde the LORDE: Heare what ye vnrighteous iudge sayeth. But shall not God also delyuer his chosen, that crye vnto hī daye and night, though he differre thē? I saye vnto you: He shal delyuer them, and that shortly. Neuertheles, whan the sonne of man cōmeth, suppose ye, that he shal fynde faith vpon earth?

And vnto certayne which trusted in thē selues, that they were perfecte, and despysed other, he spake this symilitude: There wente vp two men in to the tēple, to praye: the one a Pharise, the other a publican. The Pharise stode, and prayed by himself after this maner: 〈…〉 I thanke the God, that I am not as other men, robbers, vnrighteous, aduouters, or as this publican. I fast twyse in the weke, I geue the tithes of all that I haue. And the publican stode afarre of, and wolde not lift vp his eyes to heauen, but smote vpon his brest, and sayde: God be thou mercyfull vnto me synner. I tell you: This man wente downe in to his house iustified more thē the other. 〈◊〉 23. b 〈◊〉 4. b For who so euer exalteth himself, shalbe brought lowe: and he that humbleth himself, shalbe exalted.

〈…〉 They brought yonge children also vnto him, that he shulde touch them. But whan the disciples sawe that, they rebuked them. Neuertheles Iesus called them vnto him, and sayde: Suffre childrē to come vnto me, and forbyd thē not, for of soch is ye kyngdome of God. Verely I saye vnto you: Whosoeuer receaueth not ye kyngdome of God as a childe, shal not enter therin.

And a certayne ruler axed him, and sayde: Good master, what must I do, Mat. 19. Mar. 10. b that I maye enheret euerlastinge life? But Iesus sayde vnto him: Why callest thou me good? There is no man good, but God onely. Thou knowest the cōmaundementes: Thou shalt not breake wedlocke: Thou shalt not kyll: Exo. 0. c Thou shalt not steale: Thou shalt not beare false wytnesse: Honoure thy father and ye mother. But he sayde: All these haue I kepte fro my youth vp. Whā Iesus herde that, he sayde vnto him: Yet lackest thou one thinge, sell all that thou hast, and geue it vnto ye poore, and thou shalt haue a treasure in heauen, and come & folowe me. Whan he herde that, he was sory, for he was very riche.

Whan Iesus sawe that he was sory, he sayde: Mat. 19. c Marc. 10. c How hardly shal the riche come in to the kyngdome of God? It is easyer for a Camell to go thorow the eye of a nedle, thē for a rich man to entre in to the kyngdome of God. Then sayde they yt herde that: Who can then be saued? But he sayde: loke what is vnpossible with mē, is possible with God.

Then sayde Peter: Beholde, Luc. 1. c we haue forsakē all, and folowed the. He sayde vnto thē: Mat. 19. d Mar. 10. c Verely I saye vnto you: There is no mā yt forsaketh house, or elders, or brethren, or wife, or children for the kyngdome of Gods sake, which shal not receaue moch more in this tyme, and euerlastinge life in the worlde to come.

He toke vnto him the twolue, and sayde vnto them: Beholde, we go vp to Ierusalē, Mat. 20. b Marc. 10 d and it shal all be fulfilled, that is wrytten by the prophetes of the sonne of man. For he shal be delyuered vnto ye Heythen, and shalbe mocked, and despytefully intreated, Luc. 23. a and spitted vpon: and whan they haue scourged him, they shal put him to death, and vpon the thirde daye shal he aryse agayne. Luc. 2. g And they vnderstode nothinge of these thinges. And this sayenge was hyd from them, and they perceaued not the thinges that were spoken.

And it came to passe, Mat. 20. d Marc. 10. c whan he came nye vnto Iericho, there sat one blynde by the waye, and begged. And whan he herde the people passe by, he axed what it was. Then sayde they vnto him, that Iesus of Nazareth passed by. And he cryed, and sayde: Iesu thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercy vpon me. But the people that wente before, rebuked him, that he shulde holde his tunge. Neuertheles he cried moch more: Thou sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpō me. Iesus stode styl, & cōmaunded hī to be brought vnto hī. And whan he was come neare, he axed him and sayde: What wilt thou, that I do vnto the? He sayde: LORDE, that I maye receaue my sight. And Iesus sayde vnto him: Receaue thy sight, thy faith hath saued the. And immediatly he sawe, and folowed him, & praysed God. And all the people that sawe it, gaue God the prayse.

The XIX. Chapter.

ANd he entred in, and wente thorow Iericho: & beholde, there was a man named Zacheus, which was a ruler of the publicans, and was riche, and desyred to se Iesus what he shulde be, and he coulde not for the people, for he was lowe of stature. And he ranne before, and clymmed vp in to a wylde fygge tre, that he might se him: for he shulde come yt waye. And whan Iesus came to the same place, he loked vp, and sawe him, and sayde vnto him: Zache, come downe haistely, for todaye must I turne in to thy house. And he came downe hastely, and receaued him Act. 16. c with ioye. Whan they sawe that, they murmured all, and sayde, yt he was gone in, to a synner.

But Zacheus stode forth, and sayde vnto the LORDE: Beholde LORDE, the half of my goodes geue I to the poore: and yf I haue defrauded eny man, I restore him foure folde. Iesus sayde vnto him: This daye is health happened vnto this house, for so moch as he also is Abrahams sonne. Mat. 15. c For the sonne of mā is come, to seke and to saue that which was lost.

Now whyle they herkened, he tolde a symilitude also, because he was nye vnto Ierusalem, and because they thought, that the kyngdome of God shulde appeare immediatly. And he sayde: A certayn noble mā wē te in to a farre countre, Mat. 25. a Marc. 13. d to receaue hī a kyngdome, and then to come agayne. This man called ten of his seruauntes, and delyuered them ten pounde, and sayde vnto them: Occupye, tyll I come agayne. But his citesyns hated him, and sent a message after him, and sayde: We wil not haue this man to raigne ouer vs.

And it fortuned whan he came agayne, after that he had receaued the kyngdome, he bade call for the seruauntes, vnto whom he had geuē his money, yt he might knowe, what euery one had done. Then came the first and sayde: Syr, thy pounde hath wonne ten pounde. And he sayde vnto him: Well thou good seruaūt, for so moch as thou hast bene faithfull in the least, thou shalt haue auctorite ouer ten cities. The seconde came also, and sayde: Syr, thy pounde hath wonne fyue pounde. And to him he sayde: And thou shalt be ouer fyue cities. And ye thirde came, and sayde: Lo syr, here is thy pounde, which I haue kepte in a napkyn. I was afrayed of the, for thou art an harde man, thou takest vp yt thou hast not layed downe, and reapest that thou hast not sowne. He sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 Of thine awne mouth iudge I the thou euell seruaunt. Knewest thou thou that I am an harde man, takynge vp that I layde not downe, and reapynge that I dyd not sowe? Wherfore then hast thou not delyuered my money to the exchaunge banke? And at my commynge might I haue requyred myne awne with vauntage?

And he sayde vnto them that stode by: Take ye pounde from him, and geue it vnto him that hath ten pounde. And they sayde vnto him: Syr, he hath ten pounde already. But I saye vnto you: Whosoeuer hath, 〈…〉 vnto him shalbe geuē: but from him that hath not, shal be taken awaye euen that he hath. As for those myne enemies, which wolde not that I shulde raigne ouer them, bringe them hither, and slaye them before me. And whan he had thus sayde, he wēte on forwarde, and toke his iourney vp to Ierusalem.

And it fortuned whan he came nye to Bethphage and Bethany vnto mount Oliuete, he sent two of his disciples, and sayde: 〈…〉 Go in to the towne that lyeth ouer agaynst you, and assone as ye are come in, ye shal fynde a foale tyed, wheron yet neuer man satt, lowse it, and brynge it hither. And yf eny mā axe you wherfore ye lowse it, saye thus vnto him. The LORDE hath nede therof.

And they that were sent, wēte their waye and founde euen as he had sayde. But whā they lowsed ye foale, the owners therof sayde vnto thē: Why lowse ye the foale? They sayde: The LORDE hath nede therof. And they brought it vnto Iesus, and cast their clothes vpō the foale, and set Iesus theron. Now as he wente, 〈…〉 they spred their garmentes in the waye.

And whan he wēte downe fro mount Oliuete, ye whole multitude of his disciples begāne ioyfully to prayse God with loude voyce, ouer all the miracles that they had sene, and sayde: Blessed be he, 〈…〉 that cōmeth a kynge in the name of the LORDE. 〈1 paragraph〉 Peace be in heauen, and prayse in the height. And some of the Pharises amonge the people sayde vnto him: Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and sayde vnto them: I tell you, 〈…〉 yf these holde their peace, yet shal the stones crye.

And whan he was come neare, he behelde the cite, and 〈◊〉 11. d wepte vpō it, and sayde: Yf thou knewest what were for ye peace, thou shuldest remēbre it euen in this present daye of thine. But now is it hyd from thine eyes. For the tyme shal come vpon the, 〈…〉 that thine enimies shal cast vp a bāke aboute the, and aboute thy children with the, and besege ye, and kepe the in on euery syde, and make the eauen with the grounde, and shal not leaue in the one stone vpon another, because thou hast not knowne ye tyme, wherin thou hast bene visited.

And he wente in to the temple, and begā ne to dryue out them that bought and solde therin, 〈…〉 and sayde vnto them: It is wrytten: 〈…〉 My house is an house of prayer, but ye haue made it a denne of murthurers. And he taught daylie in the tēple. But the hye prestes and the scrybes and the chefest of ye people wente aboute to destroye him, 〈…〉 and founde not, what to do vnto him. For all the people stacke by him, and gaue him audience.

The XX. Chapter.

ANd it fortuned one of those dayes, whan he taught the people in the tē ple, 〈◊〉 1. c 〈◊〉 . 11. d and preached the Gospell, the hye prestes and scrybes came to him with the Elders, and spake vnto him, and sayde: Tell vs, by what auctorite doest thou these thinges? Or who gaue the this auctorite? But he answered, & sayde vnto thē: I wil axe you a worde also, tell it me: The baptyme of Ihō was it from heauen, or of men? But they thought in them selues, and sayde: Yf we saye, from heauen, then shal he saye: Why dyd ye not thē beleue him? But yf we saye, of men, then shal all the people stone vs, for they be persuaded, that Ihon is a prophet. And they answered, that they coulde not tell, whence it was. And Iesus sayde vnto them: Nether tell I you, by what auctorite I do these thinges.

And he beganne to tell the people this symilitude: 〈…〉 A certayne man planted a vynyarde, and let it out vnto huszbādmen, and wente himself in to a straunge countre for a greate season. And whan his tyme was come, he sent a seruaūt to the huszbādmen, that they might geue him of the frute of the vynyarde. But the huszbandmen bet him, and sent him awaye emptye. And agayne he sent yet another seruaūt: but they bet him also, and intreated him shamefully, & sent him awaye emptye. And besydes this, he sent the thirde: but they wounded him also, and thrust him out. Then sayde the lorde of the vynyarde: What shal I do? I wil sende my Iohā. 3. c Rom. 8. Phil. 2. a deare sonne, peraduenture they wil stonde in awe of him, whan they se him.

But whan the huszbande men sawe the sonne, they thought in thē selues, and sayde: This is the heyre, come, Gen. 37. let vs kyll him, yt the inheritaunce maye be oures. And they thrust him out of ye vynyarde, and slew him. What shal now the lorde of the vynyarde do vnto them? He shal come, and destroye those huszbandmen, and let out his vynyarde vnto other. Whan they herde that, they sayde: God forbyd.

But he behelde thē, and sayde: What is this then that is wrytten: Psal. 117. Esa. 28 c The same stone which the buylders refused, is become the head corner stone? Who so euer falleth vpon this stone, shalbe broken in sunder: but vpō whō so euer he falleth, he shall grynde him to poulder. Mat. 21 c Marc. 12. Luc. 19. c And the hye prestes and scrybes wente aboute to laye handes vpon him the same houre, and they feared the people: for they perceaued, that he had spokē this symilitude agaynst them.

And they watched hī, & sent forth spyes, which shulde fayne thē selues perfecte, Mat. 2 Marc. 12. that they might take him in his wordes, to delyuer him vnto the power and auctorite of ye debite. And they axed him, & sayde: Master, we knowe that thou sayest & teachest right, and regardest the outwarde appearaūce of no man, but teachest the waye of God truly. Is it laufull, that we geue tribute vnto the Emperoure, or not? But he perceaued their craftynes, and sayde vnto them: Why tēpte ye me? Shewe me the peny. Whose ymage and superscripcion hath it? They answered, and sayde: The Emperours. Then sayde he vnto them: Geue thē vnto the Emperoure, that which is the Emperours: & vnto God, that which is Gods. And they coude not reproue his worde before the people, and marueyled at his answere, and helde their peace.

Then came vnto him certayne of the Saduces (which holde that there is no resurreccion) and axed him, and sayde: Master, Mat. 22. c Marc. 12. Moses wrote vnto vs, yf eny mans brother dye hauynge a wife, and dyeth without childrē, Deut. 25. a then shal his brother take his wife, and rayse vp sede vnto his brother. Now were there seuē brethrē: the first toke a wife, and dyed childlesse: and the seconde toke the wife, and deyed without children also: and the thirde toke her, likewyse all the seuē, and left no children behynde thē, and dyed. At the last after them all, the woman dyed also. Now in the resurreccion, whose wife shal she be of them For seuen had her to wife. And Iesus answered and saide vnto them: The childrē of this worlde mary, & are maried, but they yt shalbe worthy to enioye that worlde and the resurreccion from the deed, shal nether mary ner be maried, for they can dye nomore. For they are like vnto the angels, and are the Iohā. 3. a children of God, in so moch as they are children of the resurreccion.

But that the deed ryse agayne, hath Moses also signified besydes the bush, when he called the LORDE, xod. 3. a the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob. But God is not a God of the deed but of the lyuynge, for they lyue all vnto him. Then answered certayne of the scrybes, and sayde: Master, thou haist sayde well. And from that tyme forth they durst axe him no mo questions.

Mat. 2. d Marc 12. d But he sayde vnto them: How saye they that Christ is Dauids sonne? And Dauid himself sayeth in the boke of the Psalmes: The LORDE sayde vnto my LORDE: Psal. 109. a Syt thou on my right honde, tyll I make thine enemies thy fote stole. Dauid calleth him LORDE, how is he then his sonne?

Mat. 23. a Marc. 12. d uc. 11. d Now whyle all the people gaue audience, he sayde vnto his disciples: Bewarre of the scrybes, which wyl go in longe garmentes, and loue to be saluted vpon the market, and desyre to syt hyest in the synagoges, and at the table. They deuoure wedowes houses and that vnder a culoure of longe prayenge: These shal receaue the greater dānacion.

The XXI. Chapter.

ANd he loked vp, and behelde ye riche, how they put in their offerynges in to the Gods chest. Marc. 12. d He sawe also a poore wedowe, which put in two mytes, and he sayde: Verely I saye vnto you: 1. Cor. 8. b This poore wedowe hath put in more thē they all: For these all haue of their excesse put in vnto the offerynge of God, but she of hir pouerte hath put in all hir lyuynge that she had.

Mat. 24. a Marc. 13. a And whā some spake of the temple, that it was garnished with goodly stones and Iewels, he saide:3. Re. 9. b Iere. 7. b Luc. 19. d The time shal come, wher in of all this that ye se, there shal not be left one stone vpon another, which shal not be broken downe. They axed him, and sayde: Master, whā shal these be? and what shalbe the token, whan these shal come to passe?

He sayde: Take hede, that ye be not disceaued:1. Ioh. 4. a For many shal come in my name, and saye, I am he, & the tyme is come hard by. Folowe them not.

But whan ye heare of warres and insurreccions, be not ye afrayed, for soch must come to passe, but the ende is not yet there so soone. Then sayde he vnto them: One people shal ryse agaynst another, Esa. 9 a and one realme ageynst another, & shal be greate earthquakes here and there, pestilence, and derth, and fearfull thinges. And greate tokēs shal there be frō heauē. But before all these, Mat. 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohā. 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 . they shal laye handes vpon you, and persecute you, and delyuer you vp in to their synagoges and presons, and brynge you before kynges & prynces for my names sake. But this shal happen vnto you for a wytnesse. Be at a poynt therfore in youre hertes, that ye take no thought, how ye shal answere: for I wil geue you mouth & wyszdome, Exo 〈…〉 Esa. 〈…〉 Act 〈…〉 gaynst the which all youre aduersaries shal not be able to speake ner to resist. But ye shal be delyuered vp euen of youre elders, brethren, Mich. 〈…〉 kynszfolkes and frendes, and some of you shal they put vnto death, and ye shal be hated of euery man for my names sake, and yet shal not one hayre of youre heade perishe. Holde fast youre soules with pacience.

But whan ye shal se Ierusalem beseged with an hoost, then vnderstonde, 〈…〉 that the desolacion of it is nye. Then let them which be in Iewry, flye vnto the mountaynes nd let soch as be in the myddest therof, departe out: and let soch as be in the countrees, not come therin. For these are the dayes of vengeaunce, that euery thinge which is wrytten, maye be fulfilled. But wo vnto them that are with childe, and to them that geue sucke in those dayes: for there shalbe greate trouble vpon earth, and wrath ouer this people, and they shal fall thorow the edge of the swerde, and be led captyue amōge all nacions. 〈…〉 And Ierusalē shalbe troden downe of the Heithen vntyll the tyme of the Heithen be fulfilled.

And there shalbe tokens in the Sonne and Mone, and starres, 〈…〉 and vpon earth the people shalbe in soch perplexite, that they shal not tell which waye to turne them selues. And the see and the waters shal roare, and men shal pyne awaye for feare, and for lokynge after the thinges which shal come vpō earth. For euen the very powers of heauen shal moue.

And then shal they se the sonne of man commynge in the cloude with power and greate glory. 〈…〉 But whan these thinges begynne to come to passe, thē loke vp, and lift vpp youre heades, for youre redempcion draweth nye.

And he tolde them a symilitude: Beholde the fygge tre, 〈◊〉 . 4. c 〈◊〉 . 1 . d and all tre trees, whā they now shute forth their buddes, ye se by them, and perceaue, that Sommer is now at hande. So likewyse ye, whan ye se all these thinges come to passe, be sure that the kyngdome of God is nye. Verely I saye vnto you: This generaciō shal not passe, tyll all be fulfilled. Heauen and earth shal passe, but my wordes shal not passe.

〈…〉 But take hede vnto youre selues, that yo hertes be not ouerladē with excesse of eatinge and with dronkennes, and with takinge of thought for lyuynge, and so this daye come vpō you vnawares. For as a snare shal it come on all them that dwell vpon earth. Watch therfore cōtynually, 〈◊〉 . 14. d 〈◊〉 . 1 d 〈◊〉 . 5. b and praye, that ye maye be worthy to escape all this that shal come, & to stōde before ye sonne of man.

And on the daye tyme he taught in the temple, but in the night season he wente out and abode all night vpon mount Oliuete. And all the people gat them vp early vnto him in the temple, for to heare him.

The XXII. Chapter.

THe feast of swete bred (which is called Easter) drue nye. And ye hye presstes and Scrybes sought how they might put him to death, and were afrayed of the people. But 〈◊〉 2 . a 〈◊〉 . 14. a 〈◊〉 . 7. c and f 〈◊〉 . 11. a 〈◊〉 8. c Satan was entred in to Iudas, named Iscarioth (which was of ye nombre of ye twolue) and he wēte his waye, and talked with the hye prestes and with ye officers, how he wolde betraye him vnto them. And they were glad, and promysed to geue him money. And he cōsented, & sought oportunite, yt he might betraye hī without eny rumoure.

〈◊〉 25. b 〈◊〉 14. b Then came ye daye of swete bred, wherin the Easter lambe must be offered. And he sent Peter and Ihon, and sayde: Go youre waye, prepare vs the Easter lambe, that we maye eate. But they sayde vnto him: Where wilt thou, that we prepare it? He saide vnto them: Beholde, whā ye come in to ye cite, there shal mete you a man, bearinge a pitcher of water, folowe him in to the house yt he entreth in, and saye vnto the good man of the house: The master sendeth ye worde: Where is ye gesthouse, wherin I maye eate the Easter lābe with my disciples? And he shal shewe you a greate parlour paued. They wente their waye, and founde as he had sayde vnto them, and made ready the Easter lambe.

And whan the houre came, he sat him downe, and the twolue Apostles with him, and he sayde vnto them: I haue hertely desyred to ate this Easter lābe with you before I suffre. For I saye vnto you: that hence forth I wil eate nomore therof, tyll it be fulfilled in the kyngdome of God. Mat. 26. Mar. 14. 1. Cor. 11. And he toke the cuppe, gaue thankes, and sayde: Take this and deuyde it amonge you. For I laye vnto you: I wil not drynke of the frute of ye vyne, vntyll the kyngdome of God come.

And he toke the bred, gaue thankes, and brake it, and gaue it them, and sayde: This is my body, Iohā. 6. f which shalbe geuen for you. This do in the remembraunce of me. Likewyse also the cuppe, after they had supped, and sayde: This cuppe is the new Testamēt in my bloude, which shalbe shed for you.

But lo, Mat. 26. Mar. 14. the hande of him that betrayeth me, is with me on the table. And the sonne of man trulye goeth forth, as it is appoynted. But wo vnto that man, by whom he is betrayed. And they beganne to axe amonge them selues, which of them it shulde be, that shulde do that.

There rose a strife also amōge thē, Mat. 20. Marc. 9. and 10. c Luc. 9. c which of them shulde be takē for the greatest. But he sayde vnto them: The kynges of ye worlde haue domynion ouer ye people, and they that beare rule ouer thē, are called gracious lordes. 1. Pet. 5. a But ye shal not be so: But the greatest amonge you, shalbe as the yongest: and the chefest, as a seruaunt. For which is the greatest? he that sytteth at the table, or he that serueth? Is not he that sytteth at the table? Luc. 12. But I am amōge you as a mynister. As for you, ye are they, that haue byddē wt me in my temptacions. And I wil appoynte the kyngdome vnto you, euen as my father hath appoynted me, that ye maye eate and drynke at my table in my kyngdome, Mat. 19. d Apoc. 3. d and syt vpon seates, and iudge the twolue trybes of Israel.

But the LORDE sayde: Simon Simon, beholde, Satan hath desyred after you, that he might siffte you euen as wheate: but I haue prayed for ye, that thy faith fayle not. And whan thou art cōuerted, strength thy brethren: But he sayde vnto him: LORDE, Mat. 26. Marc. 14. Iohā. 13. I am ready to go with the in to preson, and in to death. Neuertheles he sayde: Peter, I saye vnto the: The cock shal not crowe this daye, tyll thou haue thryse denyed, yt thou knewest me.

And he sayde vnto them: Mat. 10. a Marc. 6. Luc. 9. a Whan I sent you without wallet, without scryppe, and without shues, lacked ye eny thinge? They sayde: No. Then sayde he vnto them: But now, he that hath a wallet, let him take it vp, likewyse also the scryppe. But he that hath not, let him sell his coate, & bye a swerde. For I saye vnto you: It must yet be fulfilled on me, that is wryttē: Esa. 53. c He was counted amonge the euell doers. For loke what is wrytten of me, it hath an ende. But they sayde: LORDE, Beholde, here are two swerdes. He sayde vnto thē: It is ynough.

Mat. 26. c Iohā. 18. a And he wente out (as he was wonte) vnto moūt Oliuete. But his disciples folowed him vnto the same place. And whan he came thither, he sayde vnto thē: Mat. 6. b Praye, that ye fall not in to tēptacion. And he gat him from them aboute a stones cast, and kneled downe, prayed, & sayde: Father, yf thou wilt, take awaye this cuppe fro me: Neuerthelesse, not my wyll, but thyne be fulfylled. And there appeared vnto him an angell frō heauen, ohā. 6. d and conforted him. And it came so, that he wrestled with death, and prayed the longer. And his sweate was like droppes of loude, runnynge downe to the grounde. And he rose vp frō prayer, and came to his disciples, and founde them slepinge for heuynesse, and sayde vnto them: What, slepe ye? ryse vp and praye, that ye fall not in to tentacion.

But whyle he yet spake, beholde, the multitude, Mat. 26. e Marc 14. e ohā. 18. a and one of the twolue called Iudas wente before them, and he came nye vnto Iesus, to kysse him. But Iesus sayde vnto him: Iudas, betrayest thou the sonne of mā with a kysse? Whan they that were aboute him, sawe what wolde folowe, they sayde vnto him: LORDE, shal we smyte with the swerde? And one of thē stroke a seruaūt of ye hye prestes, & smote of his eare. But Iesus answered, and sayde: Suffre thē thus farre forth. And he touched his eare, & healed him.

But Iesus sayde vnto the prestes and rulers of the temple, Mat. 26. f Marc. 14. f and to the Elders that were come vnto him: Ye are come forth as it were to a murthurer with swerdes, & with staues. I was daylie with you in the temple, and ye layed no handes vpon me. But this is youre houre, and the power of darknesse. Neuerthelesse they toke him, and led him, Iohā. 18. b and brought him in to the hye prestes house. As for Peter, he folowed hī a farre of.

Then kyndled they a fyre in the myddest of the palace, and sat them downe together. And Peter sat him downe amonge them. Then a damsell sawe him syttinge by the light, and behelde him well, and sayde vnto him: This same was also with him. But he denyed him, and sayde: Womā, I knowe him not. And after a litle whyle, another sawe him, and sayde: Thou art one of them also. But Peter sayde: Man, I am not.

And aboute the space of an houre after, another affirmed, & sayde: Verely this was with him also, for he is a Galilean. But Peter saide: Mā, I wote not what thou sayest. And immediatly whyle he yet spake, ye cock crewe. And the LORDE turned him aboute and loked vpō Peter. And Peter remembred the wordes of ye LORDE, how he sayde vnto him: Luc. 〈…〉 Mat. 〈…〉 Mar. 〈…〉 Before the cock crowe, thou shalt denye me thryse. And Peter wente out, and wepte bytterly.

The men that helde Iesus, mocked him, Mat. 〈…〉 . and stroke him, blyndfolded him, and smote him on the face, and axed him, and sayde: Prophecie, who is it that smote the? And many other blasphemies sayde they vnto hī.

And whan it was daye, there gathered together the Elders of the people, Mat. 〈…〉 Mat. 〈…〉 the hye prestes and scrybes, and led him vp before, their councell, and sayde: Art thou Christ? Tell vs. But he sayde vnto them: Yf I tell you, ye wyl not beleue: But yf I axe you, ye wyl not answers me, nether wyl ye let me go. Col. 〈…〉 Heb. 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 From this tyme forth shal the sonne of man sytt at the right hāde of the power of God. Then sayde they all: Art thou then ye sonne of God? He sayde vnto them: Ye saye it, for I am. They sayde: What nede we anye farther wytnesse? Ma . 〈…〉 We oure selues haue herde it of his awne mouth.

The XXIII. Chapter.

ANd the whole multitude of thē arose, and led him vnto Pilate, 〈…〉 and begā ne to accuse him, and sayde: We haue founde this felowe peruertinge the people, and forbyddinge to geue trybute vnto the Emperoure, and sayeth, that he is Christ a kynge. But Pilate axed him, and sayde: 〈…〉 Art thou the kynge of the Iewes? He answered him, and sayde: Thou sayest it. Pilate sayde vnto ye hye prestes and to the people: I fynde no cause in this man. But they were the more fearce, and sayde: He hath moued the people, in that he hath taught here & there in all the londe of Iewry, and hath 〈…〉 begonne at Galile vnto this place.

Whan Pilate herde mencion of Galile, he axed whether he were of Galile. And whan he perceaued that he was vnder 〈…〉 He rodes iurisdiccion 〈…〉 he sent him to Herode, which was also at Ierusalē in those dayes. When Herode sawe Iesus, he was exceadinge glad, for he had longe bene desyrous to se him: because 〈…〉 he had herde moch of him, & hoped to se a miracle of hī. And he axed him many thinges. Neuertheles he answered him nothinge. The hye prestes and scrybes stode, and accused him sore. But Herode wt his men of warre despysed him, and mocked him, put a whyte garmēt vpō him, and sent him agayne vnto Pilate. Vpō ye same daye were Pilate and Herode made frendes together, for afore they had bene at variaunce.

Pilate called the hye prestes, and the rulers, and the people together, and sayde vnto thē: 〈◊〉 . 27. b 〈◊〉 . 5. a 〈◊〉 8. c Ye haue brought this man vnto me, as one that peruerteth the people, and beholde, I haue examyned him before you, & fynde in the mā none of the causes, wherof ye accuse him: Nor yet Herode: for I sent you to him, and beholde, there is brought vpon hī nothinge, that is worthy of death. 〈◊〉 . 9. a Therfore wil I chasten him, and let him lowse: For he must haue let one lowse vnto them after the custome of the feast.

〈◊〉 . 27. c 〈◊〉 . 1 . b Then cried the whole multitude, and sayde: Awaye with him, and delyuer vnto vs Barrabas, which for insurreccion made in the cite, and because of a murthur, was cast in to preson. Then called Pilate vnto them agayne, & wolde haue let Iesus lowse. But they cried, and sayde: Crucifye him, Crucifye him. Yet sayde he vnto them, the thirde tyme: What euell thē hath he done? I fynde no cause of death in hī, therfore wil I chasten him, and let him go. But they laye styll vpon him with greate crye, and requyred yt he might be crucified. And the voyce of thē and of the hye preastes preuayled.

And Pilate gaue sentence, that it shulde be as they requyred, 〈◊〉 . 7. c 〈◊〉 3. b and let lowse vnto thē, him, that for insurrecciō and murthur was cast in to preson, whom they desyred, but gaue Iesus ouer vnto their wyll. And as they led him awaye, 〈◊〉 . •• . d 〈◊〉 19. b they toke one Simon of Cyren (which came from the felde) and layed ye crosse vpon him, to beare it after Iesus.

〈◊〉 . 12. c And there folowed him a greate multitude of people and of wemen, which bewayled and lamented him. But Iesus turned him aboute vnto thē, and sayde: Ye doughters of Ierusalē, wepe not ouer me: but wepe ouer youre selues, and ouer youre childrē. For beholde, the tyme wil come, wherin it shal be sayde: Blessed are the baren, and the wombes that haue not borne, and the pappes that haue not geuen sucke. 〈…〉 Then shal they begynne to saye vnto the mountaynes: Fall vpon vs. And to the hylles: Couer vs. For yf this be done to a grene tre, what shal be done then to the drye?

〈…〉 And two other (which were myszdoers) were led out also, to be put to death with him. And whā they came to ye place, which is called Caluery, they crucifyed him euen there, and the two myszdoers with him, the one on the righte hande, the other on ye left. But Iesus sayde: Father, forgeue them, Act. 7. for they wote not what they do. Psal. 2 Mat. 27 Marc. 1 Iohā. 19 And they parted his garmentes, and cast lottes therfore. And the people stode and behelde.

And the rulers mocked him with them, and sayde: He hath helped other, let him helpe him self now, yf he be Christ ye chosen of God. The soudyers also mocked him, wēte vnto him, & brought him vyneger, and sayde: Yf thou be the kynge of the Iewes, then helpe thyself. And aboue ouer him was this superscripcion wrytten with letters of Greke, Latyn, and Hebrue: Mat. 27 Iohā. 19 This is the kynge of the Iewes.

And one of the myszdoers that hanged there, blasphemed him, and sayde: Yf thou be Christ, then helpe thy self and vs. Then answered the other, rebuked him, and sayde: And thou fearest not God also, which art yet in like dānacion. And truly we are therin be right, for we receaue acordinge to oure dedes. As for this man, he hath done nothinge amysse. And he sayde vnto Iesus: LORDE, remembre me, whan thou commest in to thy kyngdome. And Iesus sayde vnto him: Verely I saye vnto the: To daye shalt thou be with me in Paradyse. And it was aboute the sixte houre, Mat. 25 Marc. 1 and there was darknesse ouer ye whole londe vntyll the nyenth houre. And the Sonne was darkened, and the vayle of the temple rente in two euen thorow the myddes.

And Iesus cryed loude, & sayde: Father, Psal. 30 Act. 7. g in to thy handes I commende my sprete. And whan he had so sayde, he gaue vp the goost. Mat. 27 Marc. 15 But whan the Captayne sawe what had happened, he praysed God, and sayde: Verely this was a iust mā. And all the people that stode by & behelde, whan they sawe what was done, smote vpon their brestes, & turned backe agayne. But all his acquantaunce, and the wemen that had folowed him out of Galile, stode afarre of, and behelde all these thinges.

And beholde, a mā named Ioseph, Mat. 27. Marc. 15. Iohā. 19. a Senatour, which was a good iust man, the same had not consented vnto their councell, and dede, which was of Arimathia a cite of the Iewes, which same also wayted for the kyngdome of God: he wēte vnto Pilate, and axed the body of Iesus. And the toke him downe, wrapped him in a lynnen cloth, and layed him in a hewen sepulcre, wherin neuer man was layed. And it was the daye of preparinge, and the Sabbath drue on.

〈…〉 The wemen that were come with him out of Galile, folowed him, and behelde the Sepulcre, & how his body was layed. But they returned, and made ready the spyces & anontmētes. And vpon the Sabbath they rested, acordinge to the lawe.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

BVt vpon one of the Sabbathes very early in the mornynge, Mat. 28. a arc. 16. a •• hā. 20. a they came vnto the Sepulcre, and brought ye spyces which they had prepared, and certayne wemen with thē. Neuertheles they founde the stone rolled awaye from the sepulcre, and wente in, and founde not the body of ye LORDE Iesu. •• hā. 0. b And it happened as they were amased therat, beholde, there stode by them two men in shyninge garmentes. And they were afrayed, and cast downe their faces to the earth. Then sayde they vnto thē: What seke ye? the lyuynge amōge the deed? He is not here. He is rysen vp. Remembre, how yt he tolde you whā he was yet in Galile, and sayde: 〈◊〉 . 9. c The sonne of man must be delyuered in to the hādes of synners, and be crucified, and the thirde daye ryse agayne.

And they remēbred his wordes, and wente from the sepulcre, at. 28. b arc 16. b •• hā. 20. b and tolde all this vnto the eleuen, and to all the other. It was Mary Magdalene, and Iohanna, and Mary Iames, and the other with them, that tolde this vnto the Apostles. And theyr wordes semed vnto them, as though they had bene but fables, and they beleued them not. But Peter arose, and ranne to the sepulcre, and stouped in, and sawe the lynnen clothes layed by them selues, and departed. And he wondred within himself at that which had happened

And beholde, two of them wente that same daye, at. 1 . b to a towne (which was thre score furlōges from Ierusalem) whose name was called Emaus. And they talked together of all these thinges yt had happened. And it chaunced as they were thus talkinge and reasonynge together, Mat. 1 . c Iesus himself drue nye, and wente with them. But their eyes were holden, that they shulde not knowe hī. And he sayde vnto them: What maner of cōmunicacions are these that ye haue one to another as ye walke, and are sad? Then answered the one, whose name was Cleophas, and sayde vnto him: Art thou onely a straunger at Ierusalē, not knowinge what is come to passe there in these dayes? And he sayde vnto thē: What? They sayde vnto him: That of Iesus of Nazareth, Mat. 1. c which was a prophet, mightie in dede and worde, before God and all ye people, how oure hye prestes and rulers delyuered him to the condemnacion of death, and crucified him. But we hoped that he shulde haue delyuered Israel. And besydes all this, todaye is the thirde daye that this was done. Luc. 24. Iohā. 〈…〉 Yee & certayne wemen also of oure company which were early at the Sepulcre, and founde not his body, came and tolde, that they had sene a visiō of angels, which sayde he was alyue. And certayne of them that were with vs, wente vnto the sepulcre, and founde it euen so as ye wemē sayde, but hī founde they not.

And he sayde vnto thē: O ye fooles and slowe of hert to beleue all that the prophetes haue spokē? Esa. 〈…〉 Ought not Christ to haue suffred these thinges, and to entre in to his glory? And he beganne at Moses and at all the prophetes, and expounded vnto them all the scriptures, that were spoken of him. And they drue nye vnto the towne, which they wēte vnto, and he made as though he wolde haue gone farther. Gen. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 And they compelled him, and sayde: Abyde with vs, for it draweth towardes night, and the daye is farre passed. And he wente in to tary with thē. And it came to passe whan he sat at the table with thē, he toke the bred, gaue thankes, brake it, and gaue it them. Then were their eyes opened, and they knewe him. And he vanyshed out of their sight. And they sayde, betwene thē selues: Dyd not oure hert burne with in vs, whan he talked with vs by the waye, whyle he opened the scriptures vnto vs? And they rose vp the same houre, turned agayne to Ierusalem, and founde ye eleuē gathered together, and them that were with them, which sayde: The LORDE is rysen of a trueth, and hath appeared vnto Symon. And they tolde thē what had happened by ye waye, and how they knewe him in breakynge of the bred.

But whyle they were talkynge therof, 〈…〉 Iesus himself stode in the myddes amonge thē, and sayde: Peace be with you. But they were abashed and afrayed, supposinge that they had sene a sprete. And he saide vnto thē: Why are ye abashed? & wherfore ryse there soch thoughtes in yo hertes? Beholde my hādes & my fete, it is euen I my self. Handle me, and se, for a sprete hath not flesh and bones, as ye se me haue. And whan he had thus spokē, he shewed thē his hōdes and his fete. But whyle they yet beleued not for ioye and wondred, 〈…〉 he sayde vnto them: Haue ye eny thinge here to eate? And they set before him a pece of a broyled fish, and an hony combe. And he toke it, and ate it before thē.

And he sayde vnto them: 〈◊〉 . 1 . c These are the wordes, which I spake vnto you, whyle I was yet with you. For it must all be fulfilled that was wrytten of me in the lawe of Moses, in the prophetes, & in the Psalmes. Thē opened he their vnderstondinge, that they might vnderstonde the scriptures, and sayde vnto them: 〈…〉 Thus is it wryttē, and thus it behoued Christ to suffre, & the thirde daye to ryse agayne frō the deed, and to let repentaunce and remyssion, of synnes be preached in his name amōge all nacions, 〈◊〉 . 4. a and to begynne at Ierusalē. As for all these thinges, ye are wytnesses of thē. And beholde, I wil sende vpon you the 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 1 a ••• ā 14. c 〈…〉 a promes of my father: but ye shal tary in the cite of Ierusalem, tyll ye be endewed with power from aboue.

〈…〉 . c 〈…〉 b But he led them out vnto Bethany, and lift vp his handes, and blessed them. And it came to passe whā he blessed them, he departed from them, and was caried vp in to heauen. And they worshipped him, and turned agayne to Ierusalem with greate ioye: and were contynually in ye tēple, geuynge prayse and thankes vnto God. Amen.

The ende of the gospell of S. Luke.
The gospell of S. Ihon. What S. Ihons gospell conteyneth. Chap. I. The euerlastinge byrth of the sonne of God, and how he became man. The testimony of Ihon and of his baptyme. The callinge of Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael. Chap. II. Christ turneth the water vnto wyne at the mariage in Cana, and dryueth the marchauntes out of the temple. Chap. III. The swete talkinge of Christ with Nicodemus. The doctryne & baptyme of Ihō, and what wytnesse he beareth of Christ. Chap. IIII. The louynge communicacion of Christ with the woman of Samaria by the welles syde. How he commeth into Galile, and healeth the rulers sonne. Chap. V. He healeth the man that was sicke eight & thirtie yeare. The Iewes accuse him as a breaker of the Sabbath: he answereth for himself, and reproueth them Chap. VI. Iesus fedeth fyue thousande me with fyue barlye Loaues, departeth awaye, that they shulde not make him kynge, goeth vpō the see, and reproueth the fleshly hearers of his worde. The carnall are offended at hī, and forsake him. Chap. VII. Iesus commeth to Ierusalē at the feast, teacheth the Iewes and reproueth thē: The pharises & the hye prestes hearinge that the people begynne to fauour Christ and to beleue in him, sende out officers to take hī. There are dyuerse opinions of him amōge the people. The pharises rebuke the officers because they haue not taken him, and chyde with Nicodemus for takinge his parte. Chap. VIII. A woman is taken in aduoutrie: Christ delyuereth her. The fredome of soch as folowe Christ, whom they accuse to haue the deuel within him, and go aboute to stone him. Chap. IX. Christ maketh the man to se that was borne blynde, where thorow he getteth himself more displeasure amonge the Iewes and Pharises. Chap. X. Christ is the true shepherde, and the dore of the shepe. Some saye: Christ hath the deuell, and is madd, some saye: he speaketh not the wordes of one that hath the deuell. Because he telleth the trueth, the Iewes take vp stones to cast at him, call his preachinge blasphemy, and go aboute to take him. Chap. XI. Christ rayseth Lazarus frō death. The hye prestes & the pharyses gather a councell, and cast their heades together agaynst him, therfore he getteth him out of the waye. Chap. XII. Mary anoynteth Christes fete, Iudas murmureth, Christ excuseth her, rydeth in to Ierusalem, and is louyngly receaued of the thankfull, but vtterly despysed of the vngodly. Chap. XIII. Christ washeth the disciples fete, telleth them of Iudas the traytour, and commaundeth thē earnestly to loue one another. Chap. XIIII. He armeth his disciples with consolacion agaynst trouble for to come, taketh frō thē the heuynesse that they had because of his departinge, and promiseth them the holy goost, the spirite of comforte. Chap. XV. The true vyne, the huszbandman & the braunches. A doctryne of loue, and a swete comforte agaynst persecucion. Chap. XVI. Cōsolacion agaynst trouble. Prayers are herde thorow Christ. Chap. XVII. The most hartely & louinge prayer of Christ vnto his father, for all soch as receaue the trueth, and be his awne. Chap. XVIII. Christ is betrayed. The wordes of his mouth smyte the officers to the grounde. Peter smyteth of Malchus eare. Iesus is brought before Anna, Caiphas, and Pilate. Chap. XIX. Christ is crucified. He commendeth his mother vnto Ihon, sheddeth his bloude, and is buried. Chap. XX. The resurreccion of Christ, which appeareth to Mary Magdalene and to all his disciples, to their greate comforte. Chap. XXI. He appeareth to his disciples agayne by the see of Tyberias, and commaundeth peter earnestly to fede his shepe. The gospell of S. Ihon.

The first Chapter.

IN the begynnynge was the worde, and the worde was with God, and God was ye worde. The same was in the begynnynge wt God. Gen. 1. a ro. 8. b All thinges were made by the same, and without the same was made nothinge that was made. In him was the Iohā. 14. b Iohā. 8. b •• a. 12. c life, and the life was the Iohā. 14. b Iohā. 8. b •• a. 12. c light of men: and the light shyneth in the darknesse, and the darknesse comprehended it not.

There was sent from God a man, whose name was Ihon. The same came for a witnesse, to beare wytnesse of ye light, that thorow him they all might beleue. ohā. 5. d He was not that light, but that he might beare witnesse of ye light. That was the true light, which lighteth all men, that come in to this worlde. He was in the worlde, & the worlde was made by him, and ye worlde knewe him not. He came in to his awne, and his awne receaued him not. But as many as receaued him, •• se. 1. b om. 8. b •• al. 4. a to them gaue he power to be the children of God: euen soch as beleue in his name. Which are not borne of bloude, ner of the wyl of the flesh, ner of the wyl of man, but of God.

And the worde became flesh, and dwelt amonge vs: aruc. 2. e Mat. 17. a . Pet. 1. c . Iohā. 1. a and we sawe his glory, a glory as of the onely begottē sonne of the father, full of grace and trueth.

Ihon bare wytnesse of him, cryed, and sayde: Mat. . b Marc. 1. a It was this, of whom I spake: After me shal he come, that was before me, For he was or euer I: and Col. . b of his fulnesse haue all we receaued grace for grace. For the lawe was geuen by Moses, grace and trueth came by Iesus Christ. Deut. 〈…〉 1. Iohā. 〈…〉 No man hath sene God at eny tyme. The onely begottē sonne which is in the bosome of the father, he hath declared the same vnto vs.

And this is the recorde of Ihon, whan the Iewes sent prestes and Leuites frō Ierusalem, to axe him: Who art thou? And Iohā. 〈…〉 he confessed and denyed not. And he confessed, and sayde: I am not Christ. And they axed him: What thē? Art thou Elias? He sayde: I am not. Art thou the Deut. 〈…〉 Prophet? And he answered: No. Then sayde they vnto him: What art thou thē, yt we maye geue answere vnto thē that sent vs? What sayest thou of ye self? He sayde: Mat. 〈…〉 Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 I am ye voyce of a cryer in the wyldernesse. Make straight ye waye of the LORDE. Esa 〈…〉 As ye prophet Esay sayde:

And they that were sent, were of ye Pharises. And they axed him, & sayde vnto him: Why baptysest thou then, yf thou be not Christ, ner Elias, ner a prophet? Ihon answered them, and sayde: Ma 〈…〉 Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Act. 〈…〉 I baptyse with water, but there is one come in amonge you, whom ye knowe not. It is he that cōmeth after me, which was before me: whose shue lachet I am not worthy to vnlowse. This was done at Bethabara beyonde Iordane, Iohā 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 where Ihon dyd baptyse.

The nexte daye after, Ihon sawe Iesus commynge vnto him, and sayde: Beholde the Esa. 〈…〉 1. Co 〈…〉 lābe of God, which taketh awaye the synne of the worlde. This is he, of whom I sayde vnto you: After me commeth a man, which was before me. For he was or euer I, and I knewe him not: but that he shulde be declared in Israel, therfore am I come to baptyse with water.

And Ihon bare recorde, & sayde: I sawe the sprete descende from heauen like vnto a doue, and abode vpon him, 〈…〉 & I knewe him not. But he that sent me to baptyse with water, ye same sayde vnto me: Vpon whom thou shalt se the sprete descende and tary styll on him, the same is he, that baptyseth with the holy goost. And I sawe it, and bare recorde, that this is the sonne of God.

The nexte daye after, Ihon stode agayne, and two of his disciples. And whā he sawe Iesus walkynge, he sayde: Beholde the 〈…〉 lā be of God. And two of his disciples herde him speake, and folowed Iesus. And Iesus turned him aboute, and sawe them folowinge, and sayde vnto thē: What seke ye? They sayde vnto him: Rabbi, (which is to saye by interpretacion, Master.) Where art thou at lodginge? He sayde vnto them: Come and se it. They came and sawe it, & abode with him the same daye. It was aboute the tenth houre.

One of the two, which herde Ihon speake, and folowed Iesus, was Andrew the brother of Symon Peter: the same founde first his brother Symon, and sayde vnto him: We haue founde Messias (which is by interpretacion, ye Anoynted) and brought him to Iesus. Whan Iesus behelde him, he sayde: Thou art Symon the sonne of Ionas, 〈…〉 thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretacion, a stone.

The nexte daye after, wolde Iesus go agayne in to Galile, and founde Philippe, and sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 Folowe me. Philippe was of Bethsaida the cite of Andrew and Peter. Philippe founde Nathanael, and sayde vnto him: We haue founde him, of whō 〈…〉 Moses in the lawe, and ye 〈…〉 prophetes haue wrytten, euen Iesus the sonne of Ioseph of Nazareth. And Nathanaell sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 What good can come out of Nazareth? Philippe sayde vnto him: Come, and se.

Iesus sawe Nathanael cōmynge to him, and sayde of him: Beholde, a righte Israelite, in whom is no gyle. Nathanael sayde vnto him: From whence knowest thou me? Iesus answered, and sayde vnto him: Before yt Philippe called the, whan thou wast vnder the fygge tre, I sawe the. Nathanaell answered, and sayde vnto hī: Rabbi, thou art ye sonne of God, thou art ye kynge of Israel. Iesus answered, & sayde vnto him: Because I sayde vnto the, that I sawe the vnder the fygge tre, thou beleuest: thou shalt se yet greater thinges thē these. And he sayde vnto him: Verely verely I saye vnto you: Frō this tyme forth shal ye se the heauen open, 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d and the angels of God goinge vp & downe ouer the sonne of man.

The II. Chapter.

ANd vpon the thirde daye there was a mariage at Cana in Galile, and the mother of Iesus was there. Iesus also and his disciples was called vnto ye mariage. And whan the wyne fayled, the mother of Iesus saide vnto him: They haue no wyne. Iesus sayde vnto her: 〈…〉 Womā, what haue I to do wt the? Myne houre is not yet 〈◊〉 His mother sayde vnto ye mynisters: Whatsoeuer he sayeth vnto you, do it. There were set there sixe water pottes of stone, after ye maner of the purifienge of ye Iewes, euery one cōteyninge two or thre measures.

Iesus sayde vnto thē: Fyll the water pottes with water. And they fylled thē vp to ye brymme. And he sayde vnto thē: Drawe out now, & brynge vnto the Master of the feast. And they bare it. Whā the master of ye feast had taisted ye wyne which had bene water, and knewe not whence it came (but the mynisters that drue ye water, knewe it) the Master of the feast called the brydegrome, and sayde vnto him: Euery man at the first geueth the good wyne: & whan they are dronken, thē that which is worse. But thou hast kepte backe the good wyne vntyll now.

This is the first token that Iesus dyd at Cana in Galile, and shewed his glory, and his disciples beleued on him. Afterwarde wente he downe to Capernaum, he, Mat. 4. b Marc. 1. b Luc. 4 d his mother, his brethrē, and his disciples, and taried not longe there.

And the Iewes Easter was at hande. Mat. 21. b Marc. 11. b Luc. 19. d And Iesus wēte vp to Ierusalem, and founde syttinge in the tēple, those that solde oxen, shepe, and doues, and chaungers of money. And he made a scourge of small cordes, and droue them all out of the tēple with the shepe and oxen, and poured out the chaungers money, and ouerthrewe the tables, and sayde vnto them that solde the doues: Haue these thinges hēce, and make not my fathers house an house of marchaundyse. His disciples remembred it, that is wrytten: Psal. 68. b The zele of thine house hath euen eaten me.

Then answered the Iewes, and sayde vnto him: What token shewest thou vnto vs, Mat. 16. a Iohā. 6. d that thou mayest do these thinges? Iesus answered & sayde vnto thē: Mat. 26. f Breake downe this temple, and in thre dayes wil I set it vp agayne. Then sayde the Iewes: 1. Esd. 5.6 Sixe and fourtye yeare was this temple abuyldinge, and wilt thou set it vp in thre dayes? But he spake of ye tēple of his body. Now whā he was rysen agayne from the deed, his disciples remembred that he thus sayde, and they beleued the scripture, and the wordes which Iesus spake.

Whā he was at Ierusalē at Easter in ye feast, many beleued on his name, whan they sawe ye tokēs yt he dyd. But Iesus cōmytted not himself vnto thē, for he knewe thē all, & neded not yt eny mā shulde testifye of man, Iere. 17. b Apo. 2. d for he knewe well what was in ma

The III. Chapter.

THere was a man of the Pharises, named Nicodemus a ruler amōge the Iewes. Iohā. 7. e and 19. d The same came vnto Iesus by night, & sayde vnto hī: Master, we knowe yt thou art come a teacher frō God: for Iohā. 9. b no mā can do these tokēs yt thou doest, excepte God be with him. Iesus answered, and sayde vnto him: Verely verely I saye vnto the: Excepte a man be borne a new, he can not se the kyngdome of God. Nicodemus sayde vnto him: How can a man be borne, whan he is olde? Can he entre into his mothers wombe, and be borne agayne? Iesus answered: Verely verely I saye vnto the: ohā. 4. b nd 7. d Tit. 3. a Excepte a mā be borne of water and of the sprete, he can not come in to ye kyngdome of God.

Rom 8. a That which is borne of flesh, is flesh: & that which is borne of the sprete, is sprete. Maruell not, that I sayde vnto ye: Ye must be borne of new. The wynde bloweth where he wyl, and thou hearest his sounde: Eccls. 11. a but thou canst not tell whēce he commeth, and whither he goeth. So is euery one, that is borne of the sprete.

Nicodemus answered, and sayde vnto him: How maye these be? Iesus answered, & sayde vnto hī: Art thou a Master in Israel, & knowest not these? Verely I saye vnto ye: We speake that we knowe, and testifie that we haue sene, and ye receaue not oure wytnesse. Yf ye beleue not whan I tell you of earthly thinges, how shulde ye beleue, whā I speake vnto you of heauenly thinges?

Ephe. 4. a And noman ascendeth vp in to heauen, but he that is come downe from heauē, (namely) the sonne of man which is in heauen. And like as Moses lift vp the serpent in the wyldernes, Num. 21. b Iohā. 8. c and 12. d euen so must the sonne of man be lift vp, that who so euer beleueth in him, shulde not perish, but haue euerlastinge life.

For God so loued the worlde, that he gaue his onely sonne, Rom. 5. a . Iohā. 4. b that who so euer beleueth in hī, shulde not perishe, but haue euerlastinge life. Luc. 19. a For God sent not his sonne in to ye worlde to condempne the worlde, but that the worlde might be saued by him. He that beleueth on him, shal not be cōdemned. But he that beleueth not, is cōdemned allready: because he beleueth not on the name of the onely sonne of God. But this is ye cōdempnacion, Iohā. 1. a and 12. f that the light is come in to the worlde, and men loued the darknesse more thē ye light: for their workes were euell. Whosoeuer doth euell, hateth the light, and cōmeth not to the light, that his dedes shulde not be reproued. But he that doth the trueth, commeth to the light, that his workes maye be knowne: for they are done in God.

Afterwarde came Iesus & his disciples in to the lōde of Iewry, and had his beynge there with them, Iohā. 4. a and baptysed Mat. 3. a Marc. 1. a Luc. 3. a Mat. 4. b Ihon baptysed also in Enon besyde Salem: for there was moch water there. And they came thither, and were baptysed: for Ihon was not yet put in preson.

Then arose there a question amonge the disciples of Ihon with the Iewes aboute the purifienge, and they came vnto Ihon, and sayde vnto him: Master, he yt was with the beyonde Iordan, of whom thou barest wytnesse, beholde, * he baptyseth, and euery man cōmeth vnto him. Ihon answered and sayde: A man can receaue nothinge, excepte it be geuen him from heauē. Ye youre selues are my witnesses, how Iohā 〈…〉 that I sayde, I am not Christ, but am sent before him. He that hath the bryde, is the brydegrome: but the frende of the brydegrome stondeth, and herkeneth vnto him, and reioyseth greatly ou r the voyce of the brydegrome, this same ioye of myne is now fulfilled. He must increace, but I must decreace.

He that commeth from an hye, is aboue all. He that is of the earth, is earthly, and speaketh of the earth. He that commeth frō heauen, is aboue all, and testifieth what he hath sene & herde, and no man receaueth his wytnesse. But he that receaueth it, hath set to his seale, 〈…〉 that God is true. For he whō God hath sent, speaketh ye wordes of God: Esa 〈…〉 for God geueth not the sprete (vnto him) by measure. The father loueth the sonne, Mat 〈…〉 Luc 〈…〉 and hath geuen him all thinges in to his hande. Iohā 〈…〉 1. Iohā 〈…〉 He that beleueth on the sonne, hath euerlastinge life: he that beleueth not the sonne, shal not se the life, but ye wrath of God abydeth vpon him.

The IIII. Chapter.

NOw whan Iesus had knowlege, yt it was come to the eares of the Pharises, that Iesus made and baptised mo disciples thē Ihon (howbeit Iesus himself baptysed not, but his disciples) 〈…〉 he left the londe of Iewry, and departed agayne in to Galile. But he must nedes go thorow Samaria. Then came he in to a cite of Samaria, called Sichar, nye vnto ye pece of lōde, 〈…〉 yt Iacob gaue vnto Ioseph his sonne. And there was Iacobs well. Now whan Iesus was weerye of his iourney, he satt hī downe so vpō the well. And it was aboute the sixte houre. Then came there a woman of Samaria to drawe water. Iesus sayde vnto her: Geue me drynke. (For his disciples were gone their waye in to ye cite, to bye meate.) So the woman of Samaria sayde vnto him: How is it that thou axest drynke of me, seynge thou art a Iewe, and I a woman of Samaria? For the Iewes medle not with the 〈…〉 Samaritans.

Iesus answered, and sayde vnto her: Yf thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that sayeth vnto the, geue me drynke, thou woldest axe of him, and he wolde geue the, the water of life. 〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 7. d The woman sayde vnto him: Syr, thou hast nothinge to drawe withall, and the well is depe, from whence hast thou then that water of life? Art thou greater then oure father Iacob, which gaue vs this well? And he himself dranke therof, and his children, and his catell. Iesus answered, and sayde vnto her: Who so euer drynketh of this water, shal thyrst agayne: But whosoeuer shal drynke of the water that I shal geue him, shal neuer be more a thyrst: 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 a but the water that I shal geue him, shalbe in him a well of water, which spryngeth vp in to euerlastinge life.

The woman sayde vnto him: 〈…〉 Syr, geue me that same water, that I thyrst not, nether nede to come hither to drawe. Iesus sayde vnto her: Go, call they huszbande, and come hither. The woman answered, and sayde vnto him: I haue no huszbande.

Iesus sayde vnto her: Thou hast sayde well, I haue no huszbande: for thou hast had fyue huszbandes, and he whom thou hast now, is not thine huszbande: there saydest thou right. The womā sayde vnto him: Syr, I se, that thou art a prophet. Oure fathers worshipped vpon this mountayne, and 〈◊〉 . 9. a 〈◊〉 . 7. c ye saye, that at Ierusalem is the place, where men ought to worshippe. Iesus sayde vnto her: Woman, beleue me, the tyme commeth, that ye shal nether vpon this mountayne ner at Ierusalem worshippe the father. Ye wote not what ye worshippe, but we knowe what we worshippe, for 〈◊〉 1. c Saluacion commeth of the Iewes. But the tyme commeth, and is now allready, that the true worshippers shal worshippe the father in 〈◊〉 1. a sprete and in the trueth: For the father wil haue soch so to worshippe him. 〈◊〉 . 3. c God is a sprete, and they that worshippe him, must worshippe in sprete and in the trueth.

The womā sayde vnto him: I wote that Messias shal come, which is called Christ. Whan he commeth, he shal tell vs all thinges. Iesus sayde vnto her: I that speake vnto the, am he. And in the meane season came his disciples, and they marueyled that he talked with the woman. Yet sayde no man: What axest thou, or what talkest thou with her? Then the woman let hir pot stonde, and wente in to the cite, and sayde vnto the people: Come, se a man, which hath tolde me all that euer I dyd, Is not he Christ? Then wente they out of the cite, and came vnto him: In the meane whyle his disciples prayed him, and sayde: Master, eate. But he sayde vnto them: I haue meate to eate, that ye knowe not of. Then sayde the disciples amōge them selues: Hath eny man brought him meate? Iesus sayde vnto thē: My meate is this, that I do the wyll of him that sent me, and to fynish his worke. Saye not ye youre selues: There are yet foure monethes, and then commeth the haruest? Beholde, I saye vnto you: lift vp youre eyes, and loke vpon the felde, Mat. 9. d Luc. 10. a for it is whyte allready vnto the haruest.

And he that reapeth, receaueth rewarde, and gathereth frute to euerlastinge life, that both he that soweth and he that reapeth, maye reioyse together. For herin is the prouerbe true: One soweth, another reapeth. I haue sent you to reape that, wheron ye bestowed no laboure. Other haue laboured, and ye are come in to their laboures.

Many Samaritans of the same cite beleued on him, for the sayenge of the woman, which testified: He hath tolde me all that euer I dyd. Now whan the Samaritans came to him, they besought him, that he wolde tary with them. And he abode there two dayes, and many mo beleued because of his worde, and sayde vnto the woman: We beleue now hence forth, not because of thy sayenge, Iohā. 17. b we haue herde him oureselues, and knowe, that this of a trueth is Christ the Sauioure of the worlde.

After two dayes he departed thence, and wente in to Galile. Mat. 13. g Mar. 6. a Luc. 4. c For Iesus himself testified, that a prophet is nothinge set by at home. Now whā he came in to Galile, the Galileās receaued him, which had sene all that he dyd at Ierusalem in the feast: for they also were come thither in the feast. And Iesus came agayne vnto Cana in Galile, Iohā. 2. a where he turned the water vnto wyne.

And there was a certayne ruler, whose sonne laye sicke at Capernaum. This herde that Iesus came out of Iewry in to Galile, and wente vnto him, and besought him, that he wolde come downe, and helpe his sonne, for he laye deed sicke. And Iesus sayde vnto him: Excepte ye se tokens and wonders, ye beleue not. The ruler sayde vnto him: Come downe Syr, or euer my childe dye. Iesus sayde vnto him: Go thy waye, thy sonne lyueth. The man beleued the worde, that Iesus sayde vnto him, and wente his waye. And as he was goinge downe, his seruauntes mett him, and tolde him, and sayde: Thy childe lyueth. Then enquyred he of them the houre, wherin he beganne to amende. And they sayde vnto him: Yesterdaye aboute the seuēth houre the feuer left him. Then the father perceaued, that it was aboute the same houre, wherin Iesus sayde vnto him: Thy sonne lyueth. Act. 18. a And he beleued with his whole house. This is now the seconde token that Iesus dyd, whan he came from Iewry in to Galile.

The V. Chapter.

AFterwarde, there was a feast of the Iewes, and Iesus wente vp to Ierusalem. There is at Ierusalem by the slaughter house a pole, which in Hebrue is called Bethseda, & hath fyue porches, wherin laye many sicke, blynde, lame, wythred, which wayted, whan the water shulde moue. For the angell wente downe at his tyme in to the pole, and stered the water. Who so euer now wente downe first, after that the water was stered, ye same was made whole, what soeuer disease he had. And there was a man, which had lyen sicke eight and thirtie yeares. Whan Iesus sawe him lye, & knewe that he had lyen so longe, he saide vnto him: Wilt thou be made whole? The sicke answered him: Syr, I haue no man, whan the water is moued, to put me in to the pole. And whan I come, another steppeth downe in before me.

Iesus sayde vnto him: Aryse, take vp thy bed, and go thy waye. And immediatly the man was made whole, and toke vp his bed and wente his waye. Mat. 9. a Marc. 2. a uc. 5. c Mat. 12. a Marc. 2. c nd 3. a uc. 6. a •• b. 14. a ohā. 7. b nd 9. b But vpon the same daye it was the Sabbath. Then sayde the Iewes vnto him that was made whole: To daye is ye Sabbath, it is not laufull for the to cary the bed. He answered them: He that made me whole, sayde vnto me: Take vp thy bed, and go ye waye. Then axed they him: What man is that, which sayde vnto the: Take vp thy bed, and go ye waye? But he that was healed, wyst not who he was: for Iesus ohā. 6. b had gottē him self awaye, because there was moch people.

Afterwarde founde Iesus him in the tē ple, and sayde vnto him: Beholde, thou art made whole, ohā. 8. a synne nomore, lest a worse thinge happen vnto the. The mā departed, and tolde the Iewes, that it was Iesus, which had made hī whole. Therfore dyd ye Iewes persecute Iesus, and sought to slaye him, because he had done this vpō ye Sabbath.

But Iesus answered them: . Cor. 12 a My father worketh hither to, and I worke also. Therfore sought the Iewes the more to slaye hī: because he brake not onely ye Sabbath, but saide also, that God was his father, and made him self equall with God. Thē answered Iesus, and sayde vnto them: Verely verely I saye vnto you: Iohā 〈…〉 The sonne can do nothinge of himself, but that he seyth the father do. For what soeuer he doeth, that doeth ye sonne also. The father loueth the sonne, & sheweth him all that he doth, and wyll shewe him yet greater workes, so that ye shal marueyle. For as the father rayseth vp the deed, and maketh them lyue, euē so the sonne also maketh lyuynge whom he wyll. For the father iudgeth no man, but 〈…〉 hath geuen all iudgmēt vnto the sonne, that they all might honoure the sonne, euen as they honoure ye father. Who so honoureth not the sonne, the same honoureth not the father, which hath sent him.

Verely verely I saye vnto you: Who so heareth my worde, Iohā 〈…〉 and beleueth him that sent me, hath euerlastinge life, and Luc. 〈…〉 cōmeth not in to damnacion, but is passed thorow from death vnto life.

Verely verely I saye vnto you: 〈…〉 Iohā 〈…〉 The houre cōmeth, & is now allready, yt the deed shal heare ye voyce of ye sonne of God: and they that heare it, shal lyue. For Iohā 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 as the father hath life in him self, so likewyse hath he geuen vnto the sonne, to haue life in him self: & hath geuē hī power also to execute iudgmēt because he is the sonne of mā. Maruayle not ye at this: 〈…〉 for ye houre cōmeth, in ye which all that are in ye graues, shal heare his voyce, and shal go forth, they that haue done good, vnto the resurreccion of life: but they that haue done euell, vnto the resurreccion of damnacion.

I can do nothinge of myself. As I heare, so I iudge: & my iudgmēt is iust. For I seke not myne owne wyll, but the wyll of the father which hath sent me. 〈…〉 Yf I beare wytnesse of my self, my wytnesse is not true. There is another that beareth wytnesse of me, and I am sure, that the wytnesse which he beareth of me, is true.

〈…〉 Ye sent vnto Ihon, and he bare wytnes of the trueth. As for me, I take no recorde of mā, but these thinges I saye, that ye might be saued. He was a burnynge and shyninge light, but ye wolde haue reioysed a litle whyle in his light. Neuertheles I haue a greater wytnesse then the wytnesse of Ihon. 〈…〉 For the workes which the father hath geuē me to fynish, the same workes which I do, beare wytnesse of me, that the father hath sent me. And ye father him self which hath sent me, beareth wytnesse of me. 〈…〉 Ye haue nether herde his voyce at eny tyme, ner sene his shappe: and his worde haue ye not abydinge in you, for ye beleue not him, whom he hath sent.

〈…〉 Searche the scripture, for ye thinke ye haue euerlastinge life therin: 〈◊〉 . 1 . c and the same is it that testifyeth of me, and ye wil not come vnto me, 〈…〉 that ye might haue life. I receaue not prayse of men. But I knowe you, that ye haue not the loue of God in you. I am come in my fathers name, and ye receaue me not. 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 a Yf another shal come in his awne name, him wil ye receaue. How can ye beleue which receaue prayse one of another, and seke not the prayse, that is of God onely?

Ye shall not thynke that I wyll accuse you before ye father: there is one yt accuseth you, euen Moses, in whō ye trust. Yf ye beleued Moses, ye shulde beleue me also: For he hath wryttē of me. 〈…〉 But yf ye beleue not his wrytinges, how shal ye beleue my wordes?

The VI. Chapter.

AFter this wente Iesus ouer the see vnto the cite Tiberias in Galilee. 〈◊〉 4. b 〈◊〉 . 6. d 〈◊〉 9 b And moch people folowed him, because they sawe the tokens that he dyd vpon thē which were diseased. But Iesus wēte vp in to a mountayne, and there he sat with his disciples. And Easter ye feast of the Iewes was nye. Then Iesus lift vp his eyes, and sawe yt there came moch people vnto him, and he sayde vnto Philippe: Whence shal we bye bred, yt these maye eate? But this he sayde to proue him, for he himself knewe, what he wolde do.

Philippe answered him: Two hundreth peny worth of bred is not ynough amonge thē, yt euery one maye take a litle. Thē sayde vnto hī one of his disciples, Andrew ye brother of Symō Peter: There is a lad here, yt hath fyue barlye loaues, and two fishes, but what is that amōge so many? 〈…〉 Iesus sayde: Make the people syt downe. There was moch grasse in the place. Then they sat thē downe, aboute a fyue thousande men. Iesus toke the loaues, thanked, and gaue them to the disciples: the disciples (gaue) to them that were set downe. Likewyse also of the fishes as moch as they wolde.

Whan they were fylled, he sayde vnto his disciples: Gather vp the broken meate that remayneth, that nothinge be lost. Thē they gathered, and fylled twolue baskettes with the brokē meate, that remayned of the fyue barlye loaues, vnto them which had eaten. Now whan the men sawe the token yt Iesus dyd, they saide: Luc. 7. b Ioh. 4. c This is of a trueth the Prophet, yt shulde come in to the worlde. Whan Iesus now perceaued that they wolde come, and take him vp, to make him kynge, Iohā. 5. a he gat him awaye agayne in to a mountayne himself alone.

At euen wente his disciples downe to ye see, and entred in to the shippe, Mat. 14. c Marc. 6. and came to the other syde of ye see vnto Capernaū. And it was darcke allready. And Iesus was not come to thē. And ye see arose thorow a greate wynde. Now whan they had rowed vpō a fyue and twētie or thirtie furlonges, they sawe Iesus goinge vpon the see, and came nye to the shippe. And they were afrayed. But he sayde vnto them: It is I, be not afrayed. Then wolde they haue receaued him in to ye shippe. And immediatly ye shippe was at the londe whither they wente.

The nexte daye after, the people which stode on the other syde of the see, sawe that there was none other shippe there saue that one, wherinto his disciples were entred: and that Iesus wēte not in with his disciples in to the shippe, but yt his disciples were gone awaie alone. Howbeit there came other shippes from Tiberias, nye vnto ye place where they had eatē the bred, after yt the LORDE had geuen thankes. Now whan the people sawe that Iesus was not there, nether his disciples, they toke shippe also, and came to Capernaum, and sought Iesus.

And whan they founde him on the other syde of the see, they sayde vnto him: Master, whan camest thou hither? Iesus answered thē, & sayde: Verely verely I saye vnto you: Ye seke me not because ye sawe ye tokēs, but because ye ate of the loaues, and were fylled. Laboure not for the meate which perisheth but yt endureth vnto euerlastinge life, which the sonne of mā shal geue you: For him hath God the father sealed.

Thē sayde they vnto him: What shal we do, that we maye worke ye workes of God? Iesus answered, and sayde vnto thē: This is the worke of God, that ye beleue on him, whom he hath sent. Then sayde they vnto him: Mat. 16. a Marc. 8. b Iohā. 2. c What token doest thou thē, that we maye se and beleue ye? What workest thou? Oure fathers ate Māna in the wyldernesse, as it is wryttē: Exo. 16. a Psal. 77. c He gaue thē bred frō heauen to eate. Then sayde Iesus vnto thē: Verely verely I saye vnto you: Moses gaue you not bred from heauē, but my father geueth you the true bred from heauen: For this is that bred of God, which commeth from heauen, and geueth life vnto the worlde.

Thē sayde they vnto him: Ioh. 4. b Syr, geue vs allwaye soch bred. But Iesus sayde vnto thē: I am yt bred of life. He that cōmeth vnto me, shal not hūger: & he that beleueth on me, shal neuer thyrst. But I haue sayde vnto you, yt ye haue sene me, and yet ye beleue not. All that my father geueth me, cōmeth vnto me: and who so cōmeth vnto me, him wyl not I cast out: for I am come downe from heauē, not to do myne awne wyll, but the wyll of him that hath sent me. L c. 22. c

This is ye will of the father, which hath sent me, Iohā. 10 c and 18. a that of all that he hath geuē me, I shulde lose nothinge, but shulde rayse it vp agayne at the last daye. This is the wyl of him which hath sent me, that, who soeuer seyth the sonne and beleueth on him, Iohā. 5. c haue euerlastinge life, and I shal rayse him vp at the last daye.

Thē murmured the Iewes therouer, that he sayde: I am yt bred which is come downe from heauē, and they sayde: Is not this Iesus, Iosephs sonne, whose father and mother we knowe? How sayeth he then, I am come downe from heauen? Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them: Murmur not amonge youre selues. Mar. 16. c oh 6. g . Tess. 3. a No man can come vnto me, excepte the father which hath sent me, drawe him. And I shal rayse him vp at the last daye. It is wrytten in the prophetes: They shal all be taught of God. Who so euer now heareth it of the father, and lerneth it, commeth vnto me. Esa. 54. c ere. 31 f Mat. 11. c Luc. 10. c Deut. 5. c Not that eny man hath sene the father, saue he which is of the father, the same hath sene the father.

Verely verely I saye vnto you: oh. 3. e . Ioh. 5. b He that beleueth on me, hath euerlastinge life. I am that bred of life. Youre fathers ate Manna in the wyldernes, and are deed. This is that bred which commeth from heauen, that who so eateth therof, shulde not dye. I am that lyuynge bred, which came downe frō heauen: Who so eateth of this bred, shal lyue for euer. And the bred that I wil geue, is my flesh Luc. 22. b which I wil geue for ye life of the worlde.

Then stroue the Iewes amonge them selues, and sayde: How cā this folowe geue vs his flesh to eate? Iesus sayde vnto thē: Verely verely I saye vnto you: Excepte ye eate ye flesh of ye sonne of man and drynke his bloude, ye haue no life in you. Who so eateth my flesh, and drynketh my bloude, hath euerlastinge life: and I shal rayse him vp at the last daye. For my flesh is ye very meate, and my bloude is ye very drynke. Who so eateth my flesh, and drynketh my bloude,1. Ioh. 4. abydeth in me, and I in him. As the lyuynge father hath sent me, and I lyue for the fathers sake: Euen so he that eateth me, shal lyue for my sake. This is ye bred which is come frō heauen: Not as youre fathers ate Manna, and are deed. He that eateth of this bred, shal lyue for euer.

These thinges sayde he in the synagoge, whā he taught at Capernaum. Many now of his disciples that herde this, sayde: This is an harde sayenge, who maye abyde the hearynge of it? But whan Iesus perceaued in hī self, that his discipes murmured therat he sayde vnto them: Doth this offende you? What and yf ye shal se the sonne of man ascende vp thither, where he was afore? It is ye sprete that quyckeneth, ye flesh profiteth nothinge. The wordes that I speake, are sprete, and are life. But there are some amō ge you, that beleue not. For Iesus knewe well from the begynnynge, which they were that beleued not, and who shulde betraye him. And he sayde: Therfore haue I sayde vnto you: Ioh. No man can come vnto me, excepte it be geuen him of my father.

From that tyme forth, many of his disciples wente backe, and walked nomore with him. Then sayde Iesus vnto the twolue: Wyll ye also go awaye? Then answered Simon Peter: LORDE, Whither shal we go? Thou hast the wordes of euerlastinge life: and we haue beleued & knowne, that thou art Christ the sonne of the lyuynge God. Iesus answered them. Haue I not chosen you twolue, and one of you is a deuell? But he spake of Iudas Symon Iscarioth: the same betrayed him afterwarde, and was one of the twolue.

The VII. Chapter.

AFter that wente Iesus aboute in Galile, for he wolde not go aboute in Iewry, because the Iewes sought to kyll him. 〈…〉 But the Iewes feast of Tabernacles was at hande. Then sayde his brethren vnto him: Get the hēce, and go into Iewry, that thy disciples also maye se thy workes, that thou doest. He that seketh to be openly knowne, doth nothinge in secrete. Yf thou do soch thinges, thē shewe yi self before the worlde: For his awne brethren also beleued not in him.

Then sayde Iesus vnto them: My tyme is not yet come, but youre tyme is allwaye ready. Ioh. •• The worlde can not hate you, 〈1 paragraph〉 but me it hateth: because I testifye of it, that the workes of it are euell. Go ye vp vnto this feast, I wyll not go vp yet vnto this feast, for my tyme is not yet fulfylled. Whan he sayde this vnto them, he abode styll in Galile. But as soone as his brethren were gone vp, then wente he vp also vnto the feast, not openly, but as it were secretly. Then sought him ye Iewes at ye feast, and sayde: 〈…〉 Where is he? And there was a greate murmur of him amonge the people. Some sayde: He is good. But other sayde: No, he doth but disceaue the people. Howbeit no man spake frely of him, 〈…〉 for feare of the Iewes.

But in the myddes of the feast wēte Iesus vp in to the temple, and taught. And the Iewes marueyled and sayde: How can he ye scrypture, seynge he hath not lerned it? Iesus answered them, and sayde: My doctryne is not myne, but his that hath sent me. Yf eny man wyl do his will, he shal knowe, whether this doctryne be of God, or whether I speake of my self. He that speaketh of himself, seketh his awne prayse: but he that seketh the prayse of him that sent him, the same is true, & there is no vnrighteousnes in him. 〈…〉 Hath not Moses geuen you the lawe. and none of you kepeth the lawe? Why go ye aboute to kyll me? The people answered, and sayde: Thou hast the deuell, who goeth aboute to kyll the? Iesus answered and sayde: 〈…〉 One worke haue I done, and ye all maruayle. Moses gaue you the circumcision, (not because it commeth of Moses, but of ye 〈◊〉 7. b fathers:) Yet do ye circumcyse a man vpon the Sabbath. Yf a man receaue circūcision vpon the Sabbath, that the lawe of Moses shulde not be broken, diszdayne ye then at me, because I haue made a mā euery whyt whole on the Sabbath? Iudge not after the vtter appearaūce, 〈…〉 but iudge righteous iudgment.

Then sayde some of them of Ierusalem: Is not this he, whō they go aboute to kyll? And beholde, he speaketh boldely, and they saye nothinge to him. Do oure rulers knowe in dede, that he is very Christ? Howbeyt 〈…〉 we knowe, whence this is. But whā Christ commeth, no man shal knowe whence he is.

Then cryed Iesus in the temple as he taught, and sayde: Yee ye knowe me, and whence I am ye knowe, 〈…〉 and of my self am I not come, but he yt sent me, is true, whom ye knowe not. But I knowe him, for I am of him, and he hath sent me. Then sought they to take him, but no mamlayed handes vpon him, for his houre was not yet come. 〈…〉 But many of the people beleued on him, and sayde: Whan Christ commeth, shall he do mo tokens, then this doth?

And it came to the Pharises eares, that ye people murmured soch thinges of him. And the Pharises and hye prestes sent out seruauntes, to take him.1. Re. 19 d Mat. 22. b Marc. 12. b Luc. 20. c Ioh. 16. b Then sayde Iesus vnto them: I am yet a litle whyle with you and then go I vnto him that hath sent me. Ye shal seke me, & not fynde me: Iere. 29. c Ioh 8. b and 13. d and where I am, thither can ye not come. Then sayde the Iewes amonge them selues: Whyther wil he go, that we shal not fynde him? Wyl he go amōge the Grekes that are scatred abrode, and teach the Grekes? What maner of sayenge is this, that he sayeth: ye shal seke me, and not fynde me: and where I am, thither can not ye come?

But in the last daye which was ye most solempne daye of the feast, Iesus stode vp, cried, and sayde: Who so thyrsteth, Esa. 55. a Esa 12 a Ioel. 2. f Ioh. 3. a and 4. b let him come vnto me, and drynke. He that beleueth on me, as the scripture sayeth, out of his body shal flowe ryuers of the water of life. (But this spake he of the Act. 2. a sprete, which they that beleue on him, shulde receaue. For the holy goost was not yet there, because Iesus was not yet glorifyed.) Many of the people now whan they herde this sayenge, sayde: This is a very prophet. Other sayde: Mat. 21. b Mat. 16. Ioh. 1. e He is Christ. But some sayde: Shal Christ come out of Galile? Sayeth not the scripture, Psal. 131. b that Christ shal come of the sede of Dauid, and out of the towne of Mich. 5. a Mat. . a Bethleem, where Dauid was? Thus was there discencion amonge the people for his sake. Some of them wolde haue taken him, but no man layed handes on him.

The seruauntes came to the hye prestes and pharises, and they sayde vnto them: Why haue ye not brought him? The seruauntes answered: Neuer mā spake as this man doth. Then answered them the pharises: Are ye also disceaued? Ioh. 12. f 1. Cor. 1. d Doth eny of the rulers or pharises beleue on him? But the comon people which knowe not the lawe, are cursed. Ioh 3. a Nicodemus sayde vnto them, he that came to him by night, which was one of them: Exo. 23. a Leui. 19. Doth oure lawe iudge eny man, before it heare him, and knowe what he hath done? They answered and sayde vnto him? Art thou a Galilean also? Ioh. 1. Searche and loke, out of Galile aryseth no prophet. And so euery man wente home.

The VIII. Chapter.

IEsus wente vnto mount Oliuete, and early in the mornynge came he agayne in to the temple, Mat. 21. b Marc. 11. b and all the people came vnto him. And he sat downe, and taught them. And ye scrybes and Pharises brought vnto him a woman taken in aduoutrye, and set her there openly, and sayde vnto him: Master, this woman was taken in aduontrye, euē as the dede was adoynge. Leui. 20. b Moses in the lawe commaunded vs to stone soch. What sayest thou? This they sayde, to tempte him, that they might haue wherof to accuse him. But Iesus stouped downe, and wrote with his fynger vpō the grounde. Now whyle they contynued axynge him he lift him self vp, and sayde vnto them: He that is amonge you without synne, let him cast the first stone at her. And he stouped downe agayne, and wrote vpon the grounde. But whan they herde that, they wente out, one after another: the eldest first, and left Iesus alone, and the woman stondinge before him. Iesus lift himself vp, and whan be sawe noman but the woman, he sayde vnto her: Woman, where are thine accusers? Hath noman condempned the? She sayde: LORDE, no man. Iesus sayde: Nether do I cōdempne the, Go thy waye, and synne nomore. Iohā. 5. b

Then spake Iesus agayne vnto them, and sayde: Ioh. 1. a . a. 1 . I am the light of the worlde. He that foloweth me, shal not walke in darknesse, but shal haue the light of life. Then sayde the Pharises vnto him: Thou bearest recorde of thy self, thy recorde is not true.

Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them: Though I beare recorde of my self, yet my recorde is true: for I knowe whence I came, and whither I go: but ye can not tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye iudge after the flesh, I iudge no man: but yf I iudge, my iudgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the father that hath sent me. It is wrytten also in youre lawe, Deut. 17. a and 19. c that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that beare wytnesse of my self: And the father that sent me, Mat. 17. a beareth wytnes of me also. Then sayde they vnto him: Where is thy father? Iesus answered: Ye nether knowe me ner yet my father. Mat. 11. e Luc. 10. c oh. 7. c Yf ye knewe me, ye shulde knowe my father also. These wordes spake Iesus vpon the Gods chest, as he taught in the tēple. And noman toke him, Ioh. 7. c for his houre was not yet come.

Ioh. 7. d and. 13. d Then sayde Iesus agayne vnto them: I go my waye, and ye shal seke me, and shal dye in youre synnes: whither I go, thither can not ye come. Then sayde ye Iewes: Wyl he kyll him self then, that he sayeth: whither I go, thither can not ye come? And he sayde vnto them: Ye are from beneth, I am from aboue: Ye are of this worlde, I am not of this worlde. Therfore haue I sayde vnto you, that ye shal dye in youre synnes. 〈…〉 Ioh. 〈…〉 For yf ye beleue not that I am he, ye shal dye in youre synnes.

Then sayde they vnto him: Who art thou then? And Iesus sayde vnto thē: Euē the very same thinge that I saye vnto you. I haue many thinges to saye and to iudge of you. But he that sent me, is true: and loke what I haue herde of him, Ioh. 〈…〉 that speake I before the worlde, Howbeit they vnderstode not, that he spake of the father.

Then sayde Iesus vnto them: Whan ye haue lift vp an hye the sonne of man, then shal ye knowe that I am he, and that I do nothinge of my self: Ioh 〈…〉 but as my father hath taught me, euen so I speake. And he that sent me, is with me. The father leaueth me not alone, for I do alwaie that pleaseth him. Whan he thus spake, Ioh 〈…〉 many beleued on him. Then sayde Iesus vnto the Iewes, that beleued on him: Yf ye contynue in my worde, then are ye my very disciples, and ye shall knowe the trueth, and the trueth shal make you 〈…〉 fre.

Then answered they him: We are Abrahams sede, we were neuer bonde to eny man, how sayest thou then: Ye shal be fre? Iesus answered them, and sayde: Verely verely I saye vnto you: 〈…〉 Who so euer doth synne, is the seruaunt of synne: As for the seruaunt, he abydeth not in the house for euer, but the sonne abydeth euer. Yf the sonne therfore make you fre, then are ye fre in dede. I knowe that ye are Abrahams sede, but ye seke to kyll me. For my worde taketh not amonge you. I speake that I haue sene of my father, & ye do that ye haue sene of youre father.

They answered, and sayde vnto him: Abraham is oure father. Iesus sayde vnto them: Yf ye were Abrahams children, ye wolde do the dedes of Abraham. But now ye go aboute to kyll me, a man, that haue tolde you the trueth, 〈…〉 which I haue herde of God, this dyd not Abraham. Ye do the dedes of youre father. Then sayde they vnto him: We are not borne of fornicacion, we haue one father, euen God. Iesus sayde vnto them: Yf God were youre father, then wolde ye loue me. For I am proceaded forth, and come from God. For I am not come of my self, but he hath sent me. Why knowe ye not thē my speach? Euē because ye can not abyde the hearinge of my worde.

Ye are of the father the deuell, and after the lustes of youre father wyl ye do. 〈…〉 The same was a murthurer from the begynnynge, and abode not in the trueth: for the trueth is not in him. Whan he speaketh a lye, then speaketh he of his awne: for he is a lyar, and a father of the same. But because I saye the trueth, ye beleue me not.

Which of you can rebuke me of one synne? Yf I saye the trueth, why do ye not beleue me? 〈…〉 He that is of God, heareth Gods worde. Therfore heare ye not, because ye are not of God.

Then answered the Iewes, and sayde vnto him: Saye we not right, that thou art a Samaritane, 〈…〉 and hast the deuell? Iesus answered: I haue no deuell, but I honoure my father, and ye haue dishonoured me. I seke not myne awne prayse, but there is one that seketh it, and iudgeth. Verely verely I saye vnto you: 〈…〉 Yf eny man kepe my worde, he shal neuer se death.

Then sayde the Iewes vnto him: Now knowe me, that 〈…〉 thou hast the deuell. Abraham is deed and the prophetes, and thou sayest: Yf eny mā kepe my worde, he shal neuer taist of death. Art thou greater then oure father Abraham? which is deed, and the prophetes are deed? Whō makest thou thy self? Iesus answered: 〈…〉 Yf I prayse my self, then is my prayse nothinge. But it is my father that prayseth me, which ye saye is youre God, and ye knowe hī not: but I knowe him. And yf I shulde saye, I knowe him not I shulde be a lyar, like vnto you. But I knowe him, and kepe his worde.

Abraham youre father was glad, that he shulde se my daye, 〈…〉 And he sawe it, and reioysed. 〈…〉 Then sayde the Iewes vnto him: Thou art not yet fiftie yeare olde, and hast thou sene Abraham? Iesus sayde vnto thē: Verely verely I saye vnto you: Or euer Abraham was, 〈◊〉 3. c I am. Then toke they vp stones, to cast at him. But Iesus hyd himself, and wente out of the temple.

The IX. Chapter.

ANd Iesus passed by, and sawe a man that was borne blynde. And his disciples axed him, & sayde: Master, Who hath synned? this, or his elders, that he was borne blynde? Iesus answered: Nether hath this synned, ner his elders, 〈…〉 but that ye workes of God shulde be shewed on him. I must worke the workes of him that hath sent me, whyle it is daye. The night commeth, whan no man can worke. As longe as I am in the worlde, I am the Iohā. 1. a 8. b. 12. e light of the worlde.

Whan he had thus sayde, he spat on the grounde, and made claye of the spetle, and rubbed the claye on the eyes of the blynde, and sayde vnto him: Go thy waye to the pole of Esa. 8. b Syloha (which is interpretated, sent) and wash the. Then wēte he his waye and waszhed him, and came seynge. The neghbours and they that had sene him before, that he was a begger, sayde: Is not this he that sat, and begged? Some sayde: It is he. Other sayde: he is like him. But he himself sayde: I am euen he. Then sayde they vnto him: How are thine eyes opened? He answered, and sayde: The mā that is called Iesus, made claye, and anoynted myne eyes, and sayde: Go thy waye to the pole of Siloha, and wash the. I wente my waye, & washed me, and receaued my sight. Then sayde they vnto him: Where is he? He sayde: I can not tell.

Then brought they vnto the pharises, him that a litle before was blynde Mat. 1 . a Marc. 1. c Luc. 6. a Iohā. 5. a and 7. b It was the Sabbath, whan Iesus made the claye, and opened his eyes. Then agayne the Pharises also axed him, how he had receaued his sight. He sayde vnto thē: He put claye vpon myne eyes, and I waszhed me, & now I se.

Then sayde some of the pharises: This man is not of God, seynge he kepeth not ye Sabbath. Iohā. 7. d 10. b. 12. b But the other sayde: How can a synfull man do soch tokens? And there was a stryfe amonge thē. They sayde agayne vnto ye blynde: What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He sayde: he is a prophet.

The Iewes beleued not hī, that he was blynde, and had receaued his sight, tyll they called the elders of him, that had receaued his sight, and they axed them, and sayde: Is this youre sonne, whom ye saye, was borne blynde? How doth he now se then? His elders answered them, and sayde: We knowe that this is oure sonne, and that he was borne blynde. But how he now seyeth, we can not tell: or who hath opened his eyes, can we not tell. He is olde ynough himself, 〈◊〉 him, let him speake for him self.

This sayde his elders, because they feared the 〈…〉 Therfore sayde his elders: He is olde ynough, are him.

Then called they the mā agayne yt was blynde, and sayde vnto him: Iosue. 7. c Act. 1 . d Geue God ye prayse, we knowe that this man is a synner. He answered, & sayde: Whether he be a synner or no, I can not tell: one thinge am I sure off, that I was blynde, and now I se. Thē sayde they vnto him agayne: What dyd he vnto the? How opened he thine eyes: He answered them: I tolde you right now. Herde ye it not? What, wil ye heare it agayne? Will ye also be his disciples? Then rayted they him, and sayde: Thou art his disciple. We are sure that God spake wt Moses: As for this felowe, we know not whēce he is.

The man answered, and sayde vnto thē: This is a maruelous thinge, that ye wote not whence he is, and he hath opened mine eyes. For we knowe that God heareth not ye sinners: but yf eny mā be a fearer of God, and doth his will, him heareth he. Sens ye worlde beganne was it not herde, that eny man opened the eyes of one that was borne blynde. Yf this man were not of God, he coulde haue done nothinge. They answered, and sayde vnto him: Thou art alltogether borne in synne, and teachest thou vs? And they thrust him out.

Iesus herde, yt they had thrust him out, and whā he had founde him, he sayde vnto him: Beleuest thou on the sonne of God? He answered, and sayde: LORDE, who is it, yt I might beleue on him? Iesus sayde vnto him: Thou hast sene him, and he it is, that talketh with the. He sayde: LORDE, I beleue. And he worshipped him.

And Iesus sayde: I am come to iudgmēt in to this worlde, that they which se not, might se: and that they which se, might be made blynde. And some of the Pharises yt were with him, herde this, and sayde vnto him: Are we then blynde also? Iesus sayde vnto thē: ohā. 15. c Yf ye were blynde, ye shulde haue no synne. But now that ye saye, we se, therfore youre sonne remayneth.

The X. Chapter.

VErely verely I saye vnto you: He yt entreth not in at the dore in to the shepefolde, but clymmeth vp some other waye, the same is a thefe & a murthurer. But he that goeth in at the dore, is the shepherde of the shepe: to him ye porter openeth, and the shepe heare his voyce, and he * calleth his awne shepe by name, and ledeth them out. And whan he 〈…〉 forth his wne shepe, he 〈…〉 , and the 〈…〉 is voyce. As for a straunger, they folowe him not, but flye from him: for they knowe not the voyce of straungers. This prouerbe spake Iesus vnto them, but they vnderstode & not what it was, that he sayde vnto them.

Then sayde Iesus vnto them agayne: Verely verely I saye vnto you: Ioh. I am the dore of the shepe. All they that are come before me, are theues and murthures. But ye shepe harkened not vnto them. I am the dore. Yf eny man entre in by me, he shalbe saued, and shal go in and out, and fynde pasture. A thefe cōmeth not, but for to steale, kyll, and destroye. I am come, yt they might haue life, and haue it more abundauntly.

I am a good shepherde. A good shepherde geueth his life for the shepe. But an hyred seruaunt, which is not the shepherde, 〈…〉 nether the shepe are his awne, seyth ye wolfe cōmynge, and leaueth ye shepe, and flyeth. And the wolfe catcheth & scatereth ye shepe. But the hyred seruaūt flyeth, because he is an hyred seruaunte, and careth not for the shepe. I am a good sheperde, 〈…〉 and knowe myne, and am knowne of myne. Euē as my father knoweth me, and I knowe ye father. And 〈…〉 I geue my life for my shepe. And I haue yet other shepe, which are not of this folde, and those same must I brynge also, and they shal heare my voyce, and there shalbe one flocke and one shepherde.

Therfore doth my father loue me, because I leaue my life, that I maye take it agayne. Nomā taketh it fro me, but I leaue it of myself. I haue power to leaue it, and haue power to take it agayne. This commaundement haue I receaued of my father. Then was there discension amōge the Iewes for these sayenges. Many of thē sayde: 〈…〉 He hath the deuell, and is madd, why heare ye him? Other sayde: 〈1 paragraph〉 These are not wordes of one that is possessed. Can the deuell also open ye eyes of the blynde?

It was the dedicacion of the tēple at Ierusalē, & was wynter, 〈…〉 and Iesus walked in 〈1 paragraph〉 Salomōs porche. Thē came ye Iewes rounde aboute hī, & saide vnto hī: How lōge dost thou make vs doute? Yf thou be Christ, tell vs planely. Iesus answered thē: I tolde you, & ye beleue not. The workes yt I do in my fathers name, they beare wytnesse of me. But ye beleue not, because ye are not of my shepe as I sayde vnto you. My shepe heare my voyce, & I knowe thē, & they folowe me. And I geue thē euerlastinge life, & they shal neuer perishe, and nomā shal plucke thē out of my hande. My father which gaue thē me, is greater thē all: & noman is able to plucke them out of my fathers hande. 〈…〉 . a 〈…〉 c I and the father are one. Then the Iewes toke vp stones agayne, to stone him. Iesus answered thē: Many good workes haue I shewed you fro my father, for which of thē stone ye me?

The Iewes answered hī, and sayde: For the good worke sake we stone the not, 〈…〉 but for the blasphemy: and because yt thou beynge a man, makest thy self God. Iesus answered thē: Is it not wrytten in youre lawe: 〈…〉 I haue sayde, Ye are Goddes? Yf he call them Goddes, vnto whom the worde of God came (& the scripture can not be brokē) saye ye thē vnto hī, whō ye father hath sanctified & sent in to ye worlde: thou blasphemest God, because I sayde: I am ye sonne of God? 〈◊〉 6. g 〈◊〉 . 14. b 〈…〉 . c 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 . c Yf I do not ye workes of my father, beleue me not: but yf I do thē, thē (yf ye beleue not me) yet beleue ye workes, yt ye maye knowe & beleue, yt the father is in me, & I in ye father.

〈…〉 3. a 〈…〉 . b They wente aboute agayne to take him, but he escaped out of their hādes, and wēte awaye agayne beyōde Iordane, in to ye place 〈…〉 where Ihō had baptysed before, & there he abode. And many came to hī, and sayde: Ihō dyd no tokēs, but all yt Ihon spake of this man, is true. And many beleued on him there.

The XI. Chapter.

THere laye one sicke, named Lazarus of Bethania, in ye towne of Mary & hir sister Martha 〈◊〉 . 7. c It was yt Mary which anoynted ye LORDE wt oyntment, & dryed his fete wt hir heer, whose brother Lazarus laye sicke.) Thē sent his sisters vnto hī, & sayde: LORDE, beholde, he whō thou louest lyeth sicke. Whā Iesus herde that, he sayde: This sicknesse is not vnto death, but for the prayse of God, 〈◊〉 9. a yt the sonne of God maye be praysed there thorow. Iesus loued Martha & hir sister, & Lazarus. Now whā he herde that he was sicke, he abode two dayes in ye place where he was.

After warde sayde he vnto his disciples: Let vs go agayne ī to Iewry. His disciples sayde vnto him: Master, 〈◊〉 7. c 〈◊〉 10. c lately wolde the Iewes haue stoned the, & wilt thou go thither agayne Iesus answered: Are there not twolue houres in ye daye? He yt walketh in the daye, stombleth not, for he seyeth ye light of this worlde. But he that walketh in the night, stōbleth: for there is no light in him.

This he spake, & after warde sayde he vnto thē: Lazarus o frende 〈…〉 slepeth, but I go to wake him out of slepe. Thē sayde his disciples: LORDE, yf he slepe, he shal do well ynough (Howbeyt Iesus spake of his death but they thought yt he had spokē of ye bodely slepe.) Thē sayde Iesus vnto thē planely: Lazarus is deed, & I am glad for yo sakes, yt I was not there, that ye maye beleue. Neuertheles let vs go vnto hī. Thē sayde Thomas (which is called Didimus) vnto ye disciples: Let vs go also, yt we maye dye wt hī. Iohā. 20. c

Thē came Iesus, & founde yt he had lyen in ye graue foure dayes allready. Bethanye was nye vnto Ierusalē, aboute fiftene furlō ges. And many of the Iewes were come to Martha & Mary, to cōforte thē ouer their brother. Now whā Martha herde yt Iesus came, she wēte to mete him. But Mary satt styl at home.

Thē sayde Martha vnto Iesus: LORDE, yf thou haddest bene here, my brother had not bene deed. Ioh. 11. But neuertheles I knowe also, what soeuer thou axest of God, that God wyl geue it the. Iesus sayde vnto her: Thy brother shal ryse agayne. Martha sayde vnto hī: I knowe, yt he shal ryse agayne in the resurreccion at ye last daye. Iesus saide vnto her: I am the resurreccion & the life Rom. 1. b Ioh. 3. b and 6. f He yt beleueth on me, shal lyue, though he were deed allready: & whosoeuer lyueth and beleueth on me, shal neuer dye. Beleuest thou this? She saide vnto him: Yee LORDE, I beleue, that thou art Christ the sonne of God, which shulde come in to the worlde. And whā she had sayde this, she wēte hir waye, & called Mary hir sister secretly, & saide: The maister is come, & calleth for the. She whan she herde that, rose vp quyckly, and came vnto him: For Iesus was not yet come in to ye towne, but was yet in the place, where Martha met him. The Iewes that were wt her in the house and comforted her, whan they sawe Mary, that she rose vp haistely, & wente out, they folowed her, & saide: She goeth to the graue, to wepe there.

Now whā Mary came where Iesus was & sawe him, she fell downe at his fete, & sayde vnto hī: LORDE, yf thou haddest bene here, my brother had not bene deed. Ioh. 11. c Whā Iesus sawe her wepe, & the Iewes wepinge also yt came wt her, he groned in the sprete, & was sory wt in himself, & sayde: Where haue ye layed him? They sayde: LORDE come, & se it. And * Iesus wepte. Then sayde ye Iewes: Beholde how he loued him. But some of thē saide Coulde not he * which opened the eyes of ye blynde, haue made also, that this mā shulde not haue dyed? But Iesus groned agayne i himself, and came to the graue. It was a caue, and a stone layed on it. Iesus saide: Take awaye ye stone. Martha the sister of him was deed, saide 〈…〉 allready, for 〈…〉 Iesus sayde vnto her: Sayde I not vnto the, that yf thou dyddest beleue, thou shuldest se the glory of God?

Then toke they awaye the stone, where the deed laye. Iesus lift vp his eyes, and sayde: Father, I thāke ye, that thou hast herde me. Howbeit I knowe, that thou hearest me allwaye: but Iuh. 12. d because of ye people that stonde by, I sayde it, that they maye beleue, that thou hast sent me.

Whan he had sayde this, he cryed loude: Lazarus come forth. And ye deed came forth bounde hande & fote wt graue clothes, & his face bounde wt a napkyn. Iesus sayde vnto thē: Lowse him, & let him go. Many now of ye Iewes which mere come vnto Mary, and sawe what Iesus dyd, beleued on him. But some of thē wente their waye vnto the pharises, and tolde thē what Iesus had done.

Then the hye prestes, and the pharises gathered a counce l, and sayde: Psal. 2. a Act. 4. b What do we? This man doth many tokens. Yf we let him go thus, all mē wyl beleue in him: an. 9. c thē shal the Romaynes come, and take awaye oure londe and people. But one of them, named Caiphas, which was hye prest that same yeare, sayde vnto them: Ye knowe nothinge nether considre ye eny thinge at all. 〈◊〉 . 18. b It is better for us that one mā dye for the people, then that all the people shulde perishe.

This spake he not of himself, but for so moch as he was hye prest of the same yeare, he prophecied. For Iesus was for to dye for the people, and not for the people onely, but that he shulde gather together the children of God, which were scatered abrode: From that daye forth they toke coūcell, how they might put him to death. Iesus walked nomore openly amonge the Iewes, but wente from thence in to a countre by the wyldernesse, to a cite called Ephraim, & there had he his beynge with his disciples.

The Iewes Easter was nye at hande. And there wente vp many to Ierusalē out of that countre before ye Easter, to purifye them selues. Then stode they vp, and axed after Iesus, and spake amonge them selues in the temple:* What thynke ye, that he cō meth not to ye feast? The hye prestes & pha ises had geuen a commaundement, that yf ny man knewe where he were, he shulde h we it, that they might take him.

The XII. Chapter.

SIxe dayes before Easter came Iesus vnto Bethanye, where Lazarus was, which was deed, whom Iesus 〈◊〉 from the deed. There they made him a supper, and Martha serued. But Lazarus was one of them, that sat at the table with him. Luc. Then toke Mary a pounde of oyntment of pure and costly Nardus, and anoynted Iesus fete, & dryed his fete with hir heer. The house was full of the sanoure of the oynment. Then sayde one of his disciples, Iudas Iscarioth Symons sonne, which afterwarde betrayed him: Why was not this oyntment solde for thre hundreth pens, and geuen to the poore? (This sayde he not that he cared for the poore, but because he was a thefe, and Ioh. 〈…〉 had the bagge, and bare that which was geuē.) Then sayde Iesus: Let her alone, this hath she kepte agaynst the daye of my buryenge. For the poore haue ye allwaye with you, but me haue ye not allwaye.

Then moch people of the Iewes had knowlege, that he was there, and they came not for Iesus sake onely, but also yt they might se Lazarus, 〈…〉 whom he had raysed from the deed. But ye hye prestes were aduysed to put Lazarus to death also: because yt for his sake many of the Iewes wēte awaye and beleued on Iesus.

Vpon the nexte daye moch people which were come vnto the feast, 〈…〉 whan they herde that Iesus came towarde Ierusalem, they toke braunches of palme trees, and wēte out to mete him, and cryed: Hosianna, Psal 〈…〉 Blessed be he, that in the name of the LORDE commeth kynge of Israel. Iesus gat a yonge Asse, and rode theron, As it is wryttē: Esa 〈…〉 Zac 〈…〉 Feare not thou doughter of Sion, beholde, thy kynge cōmeth rydinge vpō an Asses foale. Neuertheles his disciples vnderstode not these thinges at the first, but whan Iesus was glorified, then remēbred they that soch thinges were wryttē of him, and that they had done soch thinges vnto him.

The people that was with him whan he called Lazarus out of ye graue and raysed him from the deed, commended the acte. Therfore the people met him, because they herde, that he had done soch a miracle. But the pharises sayde amonge them selues: Ye se, that we preuayle nothinge, beholde, all ye worlde runneth after him.

There were certayne Grekes (amonge thē that were come vp to Ierusalē to worshipe at the feast) the same came vnto Philippe, 〈…〉 Act. 〈…〉 〈1 paragraph〉 which was of Bethsaida out of Galile, & prayed him, and sayde: Syr, we wolde fayne se Iesus. Philippe came, & tolde Andrew. And agayne, Philippe and Andrew tolde Iesus. Iesus answered thē, and sayde: The houre is come, 〈…〉 that the sonne of man must be glorified.

Verely verely I saye vnto you: Excepte the wheatcorne fall in to the grounde, 〈…〉 and dye, it bydeth alone: But yf it dye, it beyngeth forth moch frute. He that loueth his life, 〈…〉 shal lose it: and he that hateth his life in this worlde, shal kepe it vnto life euerlastinge. He that wyl serue me, let him folowe me. And where I am, there shal my seruaunt be also: and he that serueth me, him shal my father honoure.

〈…〉 . d 〈◊〉 4. d 〈◊〉 22. c Now is my soule heuy, and what shal I saye? Father, helpe me out of this houre. But therfore am I come in to this houre. Father, glorifye thy name.

Then came there a voyce from heauen: I haue glorified it, and wyl glorifye it agayne. Then sayde the people that stode by and herde: It thondereth. Other sayde: An angell spake vnto him. Iesus answered, and sayde: 〈…〉 This voyce came not because of me, but for youre sakes.

Now goeth the iudgment ouer the worlde. Now shal the prynce of this worlde be thrust out. And I whan I am life vp from the earth, wyl drawe all vnto me. (But this he sayde, to signifye, what death he shulde dye.) Then answered him the people: We haue herde in the 〈…〉 lawe, that Christ endureth for euer: and how sayest thou then, that the sonne of man must be lift vp? Who is this sonne of man?

Then sayde Iesus vnto them: The light is yet a litle whyle with you, 〈…〉 walke whyle ye haue the light, that the darknesse fall not vpō you. He that walketh in the darknesse, woteth not whither he goeth. Beleue ye on the light, whyle ye haue it, that ye maye be the children of light.

These thinges spake Iesus, and departed awaye, and hyd himself from them. And though he had done soch tokens before thē, yet beleued they not on him, that the sayenge of Esay the prophet might be fulfylled, which he spake: 〈…〉 LORDE, who beleueth oure preachinge? Or to whom is the arme of the LORDE opened? Therfore coulde they not beleue, 〈…〉 for Esay saide agayne: He hath blynded their eyes, and hardened their hert, that they shulde not se with the eyes, ner vnderstonde with the hert, & shulde be conuerted, and he shulde heale them. This sayde Esay, whan he sawe his glory, and spake of him.

Neuertheles many of the chefe rulers beleued on him, 〈◊〉 7. c but because of the Pharises they wolde not be aknowne of it, lest they shulde be excommunicate, Ioh. 9. c Iohā. 5. d For they loued more the prayse with men, then with God.

Iesus cryed and sayde: He that beleueth on me, beleueth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seyth me, seyth him yt sent me. I am come a light in to the worlde, Iohā. 3. 8. b. 9. a that whosoeuer beleueth on me, shulde not byde in darknesse. And he that heareth my wordes and beleueth not, I iudge him not, for I am not come to iudge the worlde, Ioh. 3. c but to saue the worlde. He that refuseth me, and receaueth not my wordes, hath one allready that iudgeth him. Deut. 18. The worde that I haue spoken, that shall iudge him at the last daye, For I haue not spoken of myself: Ioh. 16. b but the father that sent me, hath geuen me a commaundement, what I shulde do and saye. And I knowe that his commaundement is life euerlastinge. Therfore loke what I speake, that speake I euē so, as the father hath sayde vnto me.

The XIII. Chapter.

BEfore the feast of Easter whan Iesus knewe that his tyme was come, that he shulde departe out of this worlde vnto ye father, as he loued his which were in the worlde, euen so loued he them vnto the ende. And after supper, Mat. 26. b Mar. 14. b Luc. 22. a whan the deuell had allready put into ye hert of Iudas Iscarioth Symons sonne, to betraye him, Iesus knowinge that the father had geuen all thinges in to his handes, Mat. 11. e Luc. 10. c & that he was come from God, and wente vnto God, he rose from supper, and layed asyde his vpper garmentes, and toke a towell, and gyrde it aboute him. Afterwarde poured he water in to a basen, and beganne to wash the disciples fete, and dryed them with the towell, yt he was gyrded withall.

Then came he vnto Symon Peter, and ye same sayde vnto him: LORDE, shalt thou washe my fete? Iesus answered and sayde vnto him: What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt knowe it herafter. Thē sayde Peter vnto him: Thou shalt neuer wash my fete. Iesus answered him: Yf I wash ye not, thou shalt haue no parte with me. Symon Peter sayde vnto him: LORDE, not the fete onely, but the handes also and the heade.

Iesus sayde vnto him: He that is waszhē, nedeth not, saue to washe ye fete, but is cleane euery whytt. And ye are cleane Ioh 6 g. but not all. For he knewe his betrayer, therfore sayde he: ye are not all cleane.

Now whan he had waszhen their fete, and taken his clothes, he sat him downe agayne, and sayde vnto thē: Wote ye what I haue done vnto you? Ye call me master and LORDE, and ye saye right therin, for so I am. Yf I then youre LORDE and master haue waszhen youre fete, ye ought also to wash one anothers fete. Ephe. 5. a 1. Pet. 2. c I haue geuē you an ensample, that ye shulde do as I haue done vnto you. Verely verely I saye vnto you: Mat. 10. c Luc. 6. d Ioh. 15. b the seruaunt is not greater then his lorde, nether is the Apostell greater then he that sent him. Yf ye knowe these thinges, blessed are ye yf ye do them. Mat. 3. b I speake not of you all, I knowe whom I haue chosen, but that the scripture might be fulfilled: Psal. 40. b He yt eateth my bred, hath lift vp his hele against me. Ioha. 14. c and 16. a I tell it you now, before it come, that whan it is come to passe, ye maye beleue, that I am he.

Verely verely I saye vnto you: He that receaueth whom so euer I sende, Mat. 10. e Mat. 9. d Luc. 10. b receaueth me: and he that receaueth me, receaueth him that sent me. Whan Iesus had thus sayde, he was heuy in sprete, and testified, and sayde: Mat. 26. b Marc. 14. c Luc. 22. a Verely verely I saye vnto you: One 1. Io 2. c Act. 20. d amonge you shal betraye me. Then the disciples loked one vpon another, & were in doute, of whom he spake. But there was one amōge his disciples, that leaned at the table on Iesus bosome, Iohā. 0. a whō Iesus loued: to him beckened Symon Peter, that he shulde axe, who it was, of whom he spake. For the same leaued vpō Iesus brest, and sayde vnto him: LORDE, who is it? Iesus answered: It is he, vnto whom I dyppe the soppe & geue it. And he dypte in the soppe, and gaue it vnto Iudas Iscarioth Symons sonne. And after ye soppe the deuell entred in to him.

Then sayde Iesus vnto him: That thou boest, do quyckly. But ye same wyst no man at the table, for what intent he sayde it vnto him. Some thought (for so moch as Iudas had the bagge) that Iesus had sayde vnto him: Iohā. 12. a Bye that is necessary for vs agaynst the feast: Or that he shulde geue some thinge vnto the poore. Whan he had receaued the soppe, he wente out immediatly, and it was night.

Whan he was gone forth, Iesus sayde: Now is the sonne of mā glorified, ohā. 12. c and 17. a and God is glorified in him. Yf God be glorified in him, thē shal god glorifie him also in hīself, & straight waye shal he glorifye him. Deare childrē, I am yet a litle whyle with you. Ye shal seke me, Ioh. 7. d nd 8. b and (as I sayde vnto ye Iewes) whither I go, thither can ye not come. And now I saye vnto you, Iohā 〈…〉 A new cōmaundemēt geue I you, that ye loue together as I haue loued you, yt euen so ye loue one another. By this shal euery man knowe that ye are my disciples, yf ye haue loue one to another. 〈…〉 Symon Peter sayde vnto him: LORDE, whither goest thou? Iesus answered him: Whither I go, thou canst not folowe me now, 〈…〉 but thou, halt folowe me herafter. Peter sayde vnto him: LORDE, why cānot I folowe the ow? I wil geue my life for yt sake. Iesus answered him: Wilt thou geue thy life for my sake? Verely verely I saye vnto ye. 〈…〉 The cock shal not crowe, tyll thou haue denyed me thryse.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd he sayde vnto his disciples: Let not youre hert be afrayed. Yf ye beleue on God, thē beleue also on me. In my fathers house are many dwellinges. Yf it were not so. I wolde haue tolde you: I go to prepare the place for you. And though I go to prepare the place for you, yet wil I come agayne, and receaue you vnto myself, yt ye maye be where I am. And whither I go, ye knowe, and the waye knowe ye also.

Thomas sayde vnto him: LORDE, we knowe not whither thou goest, & how can we knowe the waye? Iesus sayde vnto him: I am the waye, and the trueth, and the life. Noman cōmeth to the father but by me. 〈…〉 Yf ye knewe me, ye knewe my father also. And frō hēce forth ye knowe hī, & haue sene him. Philippe sayde vnto him: LORDE, shewe vs the father, and it sufficeth vs. Iesus sayde vnto him: Thus longe am I with you, and hast thou not knowne me? Philippe, he that seyth me, seyth the father. And how sayest thou then: Shewe vs the father? Beleuest thou not that I am in the father, 〈…〉 and that ye father is in me? 〈…〉 The wordes that I speake vnto you, those speake not I of my self: but the father that dwelleth in me, he doth the workes. Beleue me, that I am in the father, and that ye father is in me: Or els, beleue me at the leest for the workes sake.

Verely verely I saye vnto you: He that beleueth on me, shal do the workes that I do, and shal do greater then these: for I go to the father. 〈…〉 And what soeuer ye axe ye father in my name, that wyl I do, that the father maye be praysed in the sonne. Yf ye axe eny thinge in my name, I wyl do it.

Yf ye loue me, kepe my commaundementes. And I wyl praye the father, and he shal geue you another comforter, that he maye byde wt you for euer: euen ye sprete of trueth, whom ye worlde can not receaue, for it seyth him not, nether doth it knowe him: but ye knowe him, for he abydeth wt you, & shalbe in you 〈…〉 I wil not leaue you cōfortles, I come vnto you. It is yet a litle whyle, thē shal the worlde se me nomore, 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 b but ye shal se me: for I lyue, and ye shal lyue also. In yt daye shal ye knowe, that I am in the father and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my cō maundementes, 〈…〉 and kepeth them, the same is he that loueth me: and he that loneth me, shalbe loued of my father: & I wyl loue him, and wyl shewe myne owne self vnto him. 〈…〉 Iudas sayde vnto hī: (not that: Iscarioth) LORDE, What is the cause thē, that thou wilt shewe thy self vnto vs, and not vnto the worlde?

Iesus answered, and sayde vnto him: He that loueth me, wyl kepe my worde, and my father wyl loue him: and we wyl come vnto him, and wyll make oure dwellynge with him. But he that loueth me not, kepeth not my sayenges. And the worde that ye heare, is not myne, but the fathers which hath sent me.

This haue I spoken vnto you, whyle I was with you. 〈…〉 But that comforter euen ye holy goost, whō my father shal sende in my name, he shal teache you all thinges, & bringe all to youre remembraunce, what soeuer I haue tolde you.

Peace I leaue vnto you, my peace I geue you: I geue not vnto you, as the worlde geueth. Let not yo hert be troubled, nether let it be afrayed. Ye haue herde, that I sayde vnto you: I go, & come agayne vnto you. Yf ye loued me, ye wolde reioyse, because I saide, I go to the father: for ye father is greater thē I. 〈…〉 And now haue I tolde you, before it come, that whan it is come to passe, ye maye beleue: Here after wyl not I talke moch with you. 〈…〉 For the prynce of this worlde cōmeth, and hath nothinge in me. But that the worlde maye knowe that I loue ye father. And as the father hath cōmaunded me, so do I. Aryse, let vs go hence.

The XV. Chapter.

I Am a true 〈◊〉 4. c vyne, and my father is an huszbande man. Euery braunch that bringeth not forth frute in me, shal he cut of: and euery one that bryngeth forth frute, shal he pourge, yt it maye bringe forth more frute. Now are ye cleane, because of the worde, that I haue spokē vnto you. Byde ye in me, and I in you. Like as ye braunch can not brynge forth frute of it self excepte it byde in the vyne, Euen so nether ye also, excepte ye abyde in me.

I am the vyne, ye are the braunches. He that abydeth in me, and I in him, the same bryngeth forth moch frute: for without me can ye do nothinge. He that abydeth not in me, is cast out as a vyne braunche, and it wythereth, and men gather it vp, and cast it in to the fyre, and it burneth. Mat. 21. e Marc. 11. c Ioh 14. b and. 16. c Yf ye abyde in me, and my wordes abyde in you, ye shal axe what ye wyl, & it shal be done vnto you. Herin is my father praysed, that ye brynge forth moch frute, and become my disciples. Like as my father hath loued me, euē so haue I loued you. Cōtynue ye ī my loue. Ioh. 14. d Yf ye kepe my cōmaundementes, ye shal cōtynue in my loue: like as I haue kepte my fathers cōmaundementes, and cōtynue in his loue.

These thinges haue I spoken vnto you, that my ioye might remayne in you, and yt youre ioye might be perfecte. Ioh. 13. d 1. Ioh. 3. c This is my cōmaundement, that ye loue together, as I haue loued you. No man hath greater loue, then to set his life for his frende. Mat. 12. e Ye are my frendes, yf ye do that I commaunde you. Hence forth call I you not seruauntes, for a seruaunt knoweth not what his lorde doeth. But I haue sayde that ye are frendes: For all that I haue herde of my father, haue I shewed vnto you. Ephe. 1. a Ye haue not chosen me, but I haue chosen you, and ordeyned you, that ye go, and Col. 1. a bringe forth frute, and that youre frute contynne, that what soeuer ye axe the father in my name, he shulde geue it you.

This I commaunde you, that ye loue one another. Yf the worlde hate you, then knowe, that it hath hated me before you. Yf ye were of the worlde, the worlde wolde loue his owne. Howbeit because ye are not of the worlde, but I haue chosen you from the worlde, therfore the worlde hateth you. Remembre my worde, that I sayde vnto you: The seruaunt i not greater then his lorde. Mat. 10. c Luc. 6. d Ioh. 13. b Yf they haue persecuted me, they shal persecute you also: Yf they haue kepte my worde, they shal kepe yours also.

But all this shal they do vnto you for my names sake, because they knowe not him yt sent me. Yf I had not come & spokē vnto thē, thē shulde they haue no synne But now haue they nothinge to cloake their synne ithall. He yt hateth me, hateth my father also. Yf I had not done amōge thē the workes which no other mā dyd, they shulde haue no synne. But now haue they sene it, and yet haue they hated both me & my father. Neuertheles that the sayenge might be fulfilled, which is wrytten in their lawe: They haue hated me without a cause. Psal. 34. c and 68. a

But whā the comforter commeth, whō I shal sende you from the father euē the sprete of trueth which proceadeth of the father, Ioh. 14. c and 16. a Act. 2. a he shal testifie of me Act. . a and . d and ye shal beare wytnesse also: for ye haue bene with me from the begynnynge.

The XVI. Chapter.

THese thinges haue I sayde vnto you, that ye shulde not be offended. They shal excomunicate you. The tyme commeth, that who soeuer putteth you to death, shal thynke that he doth seruyce vnto God. Act. 9. a Iohā. 15. c 1. Cor. 2. a And soch thinges shal they do vnto you, because they haue nether knowne ye father ner yet me. But these thinges haue I sayde vnto you, Ioh. 13. b and 14. c that whan the tyme cōmeth ye maye thynke theron, that I tolde you. But these thinges haue I not sayde vnto you from the begynnynge: For I was with you.

But now I go vnto him that sent me, & none of you axeth me: Whither goest thou? but because I haue sayde these thinges vnto you, youre hert is full of sorowe. Neuertheles I tell you the trueth, It is better for you yt I go awaye: For yf I go not awaye that comforter commeth not vnto you: but yf I departe, Ioh 14. c and 15. c I wil sende hī vnto you. And whan he commeth, he shal rebuke the worlde of synne, and of righteousnes, & of iudgment. Of synne, because they beleue not on me. O frighteousnes, because I go to the father, and ye shal se me nomore. Of iudgmēt, because the prynce of this worlde is iudged allready. Ioh. 12. d

I haue yet moch to saye vnto you, but ye can not now beare it awaye: howbeit whan he (the sprete of trueth commeth) he shal lede you in to all trueth. Ioh. 14 c Iohā. 12. f For he shal not speake of himself, but what soeuer he shal heare, that shal he speake: and he shall shewe you, what is for to come. He shal glorifye me: for he shal receaue of myne, and shal shewe vnto you. Mat. 11. e Luc. 10. c Ioh. 3. e All that the father hath, is myne. Therfore haue I sayde: he shal receaue of myne, and shewe vnto you.

After a litle whyle, and ye shal not se me: and agayne after a litle whyle, and ye shal se me: for I go to the father. Thē saide some of his disciples amonge themselues: What is this that he sayeth vnto vs, After a litle whyle, and ye shal not se me: & agayne after a litle whyle, & ye shal se me: for I go to the father? Then sayde they: What is this, that he sayeth: After a litle whyle? We can not tell what he sayeth. Then perceaued Iesus that they wolde axe him, and he sayde vnto them: Ye enquyre of this amonge youre selues, that I sayde: After a litle whyle, and ye shal not se me: & agayne after a litle whyle, and ye shal se me.

Verely verely I saye vnto you: Ye shal wepe and lamente, but the worlde shal reioyse: Ye shal be sory, but youre sorowe shal be turned in to ioye. A woman whan she trauayleth, hath sorowe, for hir houre is come. But whan she is delyuered of the childe, she thinketh nomore of the anguyshe, for ioye that a man is borne in to the worlde. And now haue ye sorowe also: but I wil se you agayne, and youre hert shal reioyse, and you reioye shal noman take from you. And in that daye shal ye axe me no question. 〈…〉 Verely verely I saye vnto you: Yf ye axe ye father ought in my name, he shal geue it you. Hither to haue ye axed nothinge in my name. Axe, and ye shal receaue, yt youre ioye maye be perfecte. These thinges haue I spoken vnto you by 〈…〉 prouerbes. Neuertheles the tyme commeth, that I shal speake nomore by prouerbes, but I shal shewe you planely of my father.

In that daye shal ye axe in my name. And I saye not vnto you, that I wyl praye vnto the father for you: for the father himself loueth you, because ye haue loued me, & beleued that I am come out from God. 〈…〉 I wente out from the father, and came into the worlde: Agayne, I leaue ye worlde, and go to the father.

His disciples sayde vnto him: Beholde, now talkest thou planely, and speakest no prouerbe. Now are we sure yt thou knowest all thinges, and nedest not that eny mā shulde axe the. Therfore beleue we, that thou camest out from God: Iesus answered them: Now ye do beleue: Beholde, 〈…〉 the houre draweth nye, and is come allready, that ye shalbe scatred, euery man in to his awne, and shal leaue me alone: and yet am I not alone, 〈…〉 for the father is with me.

These thinges haue I spoken vnto you, that in me ye might haue peace. 〈…〉 In ye worlde haue ye trouble, but be of good comforte, I haue ouercome the worlde.

The XVII. Chapter.

THese thinges spake Iesus, and lift vp his eyes towarde heauen, and sayde: Father, the houre is come, 〈…〉 that thou glorifye thy sonne, that thy sonne also maye glorifye the. Like as thou hast geuen him power ouer all fleshe, 〈…〉 that he shulde geue euerlastinge life to as many as thou hast geuen him. 〈…〉 But this is the life euerlastinge, that they knowe the (that thou onely art the true God) and whom thou hast sent, Iesus Christ.

I haue glorified ye vpō earth, & 〈…〉 fynished ye worke, yt thou gauest me to do. And now glorifye me thou father by thine awne self with ye glory which I had or euer the worlde was. I haue declared thy name vnto ye men, whom thou gauest me from the worlde. They were thine, and thou gauest them vnto me, and they haue kepte thy worde.

Now knowe they, that all thinges what so euer thou hast geuen me, are of the. For ye wordes which thou gauest me, haue I geuē vnto them, 〈…〉 and they haue receaued them, & knowne of a trueth, that I am come forth from the, and haue beleued, that thou hast sent me. I praye for them, and praye not for the 〈…〉 worlde, but for them whom thou hast geuen me, for they are thine. And all that is myne, is thine: and what thine is, that is myne. And I am glorifyed in them. And now am I nomore in the worlde, and they are in ye worlde, and I come to the. Holy father, kepe in thy name, those whom thou 〈…〉 hast geuē me, that they maye be one, like as we are. Whyle I was with thē in the worlde, I kepte them in thy name. Those yt thou gauest me, haue I kepte, and none of them is lost, but that lost childe, that the 〈…〉 . a 〈◊〉 40. b 〈…〉 a scripture might be fulfylled. But now come I vnto the, and this I speake in the worlde, that they maye haue my ioye perfecte in them. I haue geuen them thy worde, 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 . c and the worlde hateth thē: for they are not of the worlde, euen as I also am not of the worlde. I praye not that thou shuldest take them out of the worlde, 〈…〉 but that thou kepe thē frō euell. They are not of the worlde, as I also am not of the worlde.

Sanctifye them in thy trueth. Thy worde is the trueth. Like as thou hast sent me in to the worlde, so haue I sent them in to the worlde: and for their sakes I sanctifye my self, that they also maye be sanctifyed in the trueth.

Neuertheles I praye not for them onely, but also for those, which thorow their worde shal beleue on me, that they all maye be one, like as thou father art in me, and I in ye, that they also maye be 〈…〉 one in vs: that the worlde maye beleue, that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gauest me, haue I geuen them: that they maye be one, like as we are one. I in thē, and thou in me, that they maye be perfecte in one, and that the worlde maye knowe, that thou hast sent me and hast loued them, as thou hast loued me.

Father, I wil, Ioh. 12. e and 14. a that they whom thou hast geuen me, be with me where I am, yt they maye se my glory, which thou hast geuē me: for thou hast loued me, or euer ye worlde was made. Righteous father, Mat. 11 e Ioh. 15. c and. 16. a the worlde hath not knowne yt, but I haue knowne ye: and these haue knowne, that thou hast sent me. And I haue declared thy name vnto them, & wyl declare it, yt the loue wherwith thou hast loued me, maye be in thē, & I in them.

The XVIII. Chapter.

WHan Iesus had thus spokē, he wē te forth with his disciples ouer the broke Cedron, Mat. 26. a Mar. 14. Luc. 22. where there was a gardē, in to the which Iesus entred and his disciples. But Iudas yt betrayed hī, knewe the place also. For Iesus resorted thither oft tymes wt his disciples. Mat. 26. Mar. 14. Luc. 22. d Now whan Iudas had takē vnto him the cōpany, & mynisters of the hye prestes and Pharises, he came thither with creshettes, wt lanternes, and with weapens. Iesus now knowinge all yt shulde come vpon him, wēte forth, and sayde vnto thē: Whom seke ye? They answered him: Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus sayde vnto them: I am he. Iudas also which betrayed him, stode with thē. Now whan Iesus sayde vnto thē: I am he, they wēte bacwardes, and fell to the grounde. Then axed he thē agayne: Whom seke ye? They sayde: Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus answered: I haue tolde you, that I am he. Yf ye seke me, then let these go their waye. That the worde might be fulfylled, which he sayde: Ioh. 17. b Of them whō thou gauest me, haue I not lost one. Then had Symon Peter a swerde, and drewe it out, and smote the hye prestes seruaūt, and cut of his right eare. And ye seruaūtes name was Malchus.

Then sayde Iesus vnto Peter: Put vp thy swerde in to the sheeth. Shal I not drynke of ye cuppe, which my father hath geuē me? Then the company and the captayne & the officers of the Iewes toke Iesus, and bounde him, & led him awaye first vnto Annas, that was fatherlawe vnto Caiphas, which was hye prest yt same yeare. Ioh. 11. e It was Caiphas, which gaue coūcell vnto ye Iewes that it were good, that one man shulde dye for the people.

As for Symon Peter, he and another disciple folowed Iesus. The same disciple was knowne vnto the hye prest, and wēte in with Iesus in to the hye prestes palace. But Peter stode without at the dore. Then yt other disciple which was knowne vnto the hye prest, wente out, and spake to the damsell yt kepte the dore, and brought in Peter. Then the damsell that kepte the dore, sayde vnto Peter: Art not thou also one of this mans disciples? He sayde: I am not.

The seruauntes & officers stode, and had made a fyre of coles (for it was colde) & warmed thē selues. Peter also stode with them, and warmed him self. The hye prest axed Iesus of his disciples, and of his doctryne. Iesus answered him: Ioh. 7. b I haue spoken openly before the worlde, I haue euer taught in the synagoge and in the tēple, whither all the Iewes resorted, & in secrete haue I spokē nothinge. Why axest thou me? Axe thē yt haue herde, what I haue spoken vnto thē: beholde, they can tell what I haue sayde. But whan he had thus spokē, Iere. 30. a Mat. 26. g Act. 33. a one of the officers that stode by, smote Iesus on the face, and sayde: Answerest thou the hye prest so? Iesus answered him: Yf I haue euell spokē, thē beare wytnesse of euell: but yf I haue well spoken, why smytest thou me? And Annas sent him bounde vnto Caiphas ye hye prest.

Mat. 26. g Mar. 14. g Luc. 22. d Symō Peter stode and warmed him self. Thē sayde they vnto him: Art not thou one of his disciples? He denyed, and sayde: I am not. A seruaūt of the hye prestes, a kynszmā of his, whose eare Peter had smytten of, sayde vnto him: Dyd not I se the in the gardē with him?

Then Peter denyed agayne. And immediatly the cock crew. Ioh. 13. d Mat. 27 a Marc 15. a Luc. 2 . a Then led they Iesus from Caiphas in to the comon hall. And it was early in the mornynge. And they them selues wēte not in to the comō hall, lest they shulde be defyled, but yt they might eate ye Pascall lambe. Then wente Pilate out vnto thē, and sayde: What accusacion brynge ye agaynst this man? They answered, and sayde vnto him: Yf he were not an euell doer, we had not delyuered him vnto the. Then sayde Pilate vnto thē: Take ye him, and iudge him after yo lawe. Then sayde ye Iewes vnto him: It is not laufull for vs to put eny mā to death. That ye worde of Iesus might be fulfilled, Ioh. 12. d which he spake, whan he signified, what death he shulde dye.

Mat. 27. b Marc. 15. a Luc. 23. a Then entred Pilate in to the comon hall agayne, and called Iesus, & sayde vnto him: Art thou the kynge of the Iewes? Iesus answered: Sayest thou that of thy self, or haue other tolde it the of me?

Pilate answered: Am I a Iewe? Thy people and the hye prestes haue delyuered the vnto me. What hast thou done? Iesus answered: My kyngdome is not of this worlde. Yf my kyngdome were of this worlde, my mynisters wolde fight therfore, yt I shulde not be delyuered vnto the Iewes. Ioh. But now is my kyngdome not from hence. Thē sayde Pilate vnto hī: Art thou a kynge thē? Iesus answered: Thou sayest it, for I am a kynge. For this cause was I borne, and came in to the worlde, that I shulde testifye the trueth. Who so euer is of the trueth, heareth my voyce. Pilate sayde vnto hī: What is the trueth? Ma 〈…〉 Ma . 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 And whan he had sayde that he wēte out agayne to the Iewes, and sayde vnto them: I fynde no gyltinesse in him: Ma . 〈…〉 Ma . 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 But ye haue a custome, that I shulde geue one vnto you lowse at Easter. Wyl ye now yt I lowse vnto you the kynge of ye Iewes? Thē cryed they agayne alltogether, and sayde: Not him, but Barrabas. Yet was Barrabas a murthurer.

The XIX. Chapter.

THen Pilate toke Iesus, and scourged him. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 And the soudyers platted a crowne of thornes, and set it vpon his heade, and put a purple garment vpon him, and sayde: Hayle kynge of the Iewes. And they smote him on the face. Then wente Pilate forth agayne, and sayde vnto thē: Beholde, I brynge him forth vnto you, yt ye maye knowe, yt I fynde no faute in hī. So Iesus wente out, & ware a crowne of thorne and a purple robe. And he sayde vnto them: Beholde, the man. Whan the hye prestes & the mynisters sawe him, they cryed, & sayde: Crucifye, crucifye. Pilate saide vnto thē: Take ye him, and crucifye him, for I fynde no giltynesse in him. The Iewes answered him: We haue a lawe, 〈…〉 & after oure lawe he ought to dye, 〈1 paragraph〉 because he made him self the sonne of God. Whan Pilate herde that worde, he was the more afrayed, and wente agayne in to the comon hall, and sayde vnto Iesus: Whence art thou? But Iesus gaue him no answere. Thē sayde Pilate vnto him: Speakest thou not vnto me? Knowest thou not, yt I haue power to crucifye ye, & haue power to lowse ye? Iesus answered: Thou shuldest haue no power vpō me, yf it were not 〈…〉 geuē the from aboue. Therfore he that delyuered me vnto ye, hath the more synne. From that tyme forth Pilate sought meanes to lowse him. But the Iewes cryed, & sayde: Yf thou let him go, thou art not the Emperours frē de. For whosoeuer maketh himself kynge, 〈…〉 is agaynst the Emperoure.

Whan Pilate herde yt worde, 〈…〉 he brought Iesus forth, & sat hī downe vpō ye iugdmēt seate, in the place which is called the Pauement, but in the Hebrue, Gabbatha. It was the daye of preparinge of the Easter aboute the sixte houre. And he sayde vnto the Iewes: Beholde yo kynge. But they cryed: Awaye wt him, awaye wt him, crucifie him. Pilate saide vnto thē: Shal I crucifye yo kynge? The hye prestes answered: We haue no kynge but ye Empero. Thē delyuered he him vnto them, to be crucifyed.

They toke Iesus, and led him awaye. And he bare his crosse, 〈…〉 and wente out to the place called ye place of deed men skulles, which in Hebrue is named Golgatha, where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either syde one, but Iesus in the myddes 〈◊〉 7. d 〈◊〉 . 5. c 〈◊〉 . 23. d Pilate wrote a superscripcion, and set vpon the crosse. And there was wrytten: Iesus of Nazareth, kynge of the Iewes. This superscripcion red many of the Iewes. For ye place where Iesus was crucifyed, was nye vnto the cite. And it was wrytten in Hebrue, Greke & Latyn. Then sayde the hye prestes of the Iewes vnto Pilate: Wryte not kynge of the Iewes, but yt he sayde, I am kynge of the Iewes. Pilate answered: What I haue wrytten, that haue I wrytten.

The sondyers, whan they had crucifyed Iesus, 〈…〉 . d 〈◊〉 . 5. c toke his garmentes, and made foure partes, to euery soudyer one patte, and the cote also. As for the cote, it was vnsowed frō aboue, wrought thorow and thorow. Then sayde they one to another: Let vs not deuyde it, but cast lottes for it, who shal haue it, that the scripture might be fulfilled, which sayeth: 〈◊〉 1. b They haue parted my garmentes amonge them, and on my cote haue they cast lottes. This dyd the soudyers in dede.

There stode by the crosse of Iesus, his mother, and his mothers sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Now whan Iesus sawe his mother, and the disciple stondynge by, whō he loued, he sayde vnto his mother: Woman, beholde, that is thy sonne. Then sayde he to the disciple: beholde, that is thy mother. And from that houre the disciple toke her vnto him.

After that whan Iesus knewe that all was perfourmed, 〈◊〉 8. c that the scripture might be fulfylled, he sayde: I am a thyrst. There stode a vessell full of vyneger. They fylled a sponge with vyneger and wonde it aboute with ysope, 〈…〉 and helde it to his mouth. Now whan Iesus had receaued the vyneger, he sayde: It is fynished, and bowed his heade, and gaue vp the goost.

The Iewes then, for so moch as it was the daye of preparinge, that ye bodies shulde not remayne vpon the crosse on the Sabbath, (for ye same Sabbath daye was greate) besought Pilate, that their legges might be broken, and that they might be taken downe. Then came the soudyers, and brake the legges of the first, and of the other that was crucifyed with him. But whan they came to Iesus, and sawe that he was deed allready, they brake not his legges, but one of the soudyers opened his syde with a speare. Zach. 1 . And immediatly there wente out bloude and water.

And he that sawe it, bare recorde, and his recorde is true. And he knoweth that he sayeth true, that ye might beleue also. For this is done, yt the scripture might be fulfylled: Exod. 12. Ye shal not breake a bone of him. And agayne, another scripture sayeth: Zach. 12 They shal se him, whom they haue pearsed.

After that, Ioseph of Arimathia, which was a disciple of Iesus (but secretly for feare of the Iewes) besought Pilate, Marc. 15. Mat. 27. Luc. 23. c yt he might take downe the body of Iesus. And Pilate gaue him lycence. There came also Ioh. . a Nicodemus, (which afore came vnto Iesus by night) & brought of Myrre & Aloes mingled together, aboute an hūdreth poūde weight.

Thē toke they the body of Iesus, & wonde it with lynnen clothes, and with the spyces, as the maner of the Iewes is to burye. And by ye place where Iesus was crucified, there was a gardē, and in the garden a new sepulchre, where in was neuer man layed: there layed they Iesus, because of the preparinge daye of ye Iewes, for the sepulcre was nye at hande.

The XX. Chapter.

VPon one daye of the Sabbath, came Mary Magdalene early (whē it was yet darcke) vnto the sepulcre, & sawe that the stone was takē from the sepulcre. Then ranne she, & came to Symon Peter, and to ye other disciple, Ioh. 13. c 19. c. 21. a whom Iesus loued, and sayde vnto them: They haue takē awaye the LORDE out of the sepulcre, & we can not tell where they haue layed him. Thē wēte Peter forth and the other disciple, and came to the sepulcre. They rāne both together, and that other disciple outrāne Peter, and came first to the sepulcre, and loked in, and sawe the lynnen clothes layed. But he wēte not in. Thē came Symon Peter after him, and wente in to the sepulcre, & sawe the lynnē clothes lye, and the napkyn that was bounde aboute Iesus heade, not layed with the lynnen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by it self. Thē wēte ī also yt other disciple, which came first to ye sepulcre, & he sawe & beleued: for as yet they knewe not ye scriptures, Psal. 15. b Act. 2. c 3. d. 17. a yt it behoued hī to ryse agayne frō ye deed. Thē wēte ye disciples againe together.

As for Mary, she stode before ye sepulcre & wepte without. Now as she wepte she loked in to the sepulcre, and sawe two angels in whyte garmentes syttinge, ye one at the heade, & the other at ye fete, where they had layed the body of Iesus. And they sayde vnto her: Womā, why wepest thou? She saide vnto thē: They haue taken awaye my LORDE, & I wote not where they haue layed hī. And whan she had sayde yt, she turned her self backe, & sawe Iesus stondinge, & knewe not yt it was Iesus. Iesus sayde vnto her: Woman, why wepest thou? Whom sekest thou? She thought yt it had bene ye gardener, & sayde vnto him: Syr, yf thou hast borne him hence: then tell me where thou hast layed him? and I wil fetch hī. Iesus sayde vnto her: Mary. Then turned she her aboute, & sayde vnto him: Rabboni, yt is to saye: Master. Iesus sayde vnto her: Touche me not, for I am not yet ascended vnto my father. But go thou ye waye vnto my Psal. 21. c brethrē & saye vnto thē: I ascēde vp vnto my father and yo father: ohā. 16. d to my God, & yo God. Mary Magdalene came, & tolde ye disciples: I haue sene the LORDE, Luc. 42. a & soch thinges hath he spoken vnto me.

The same Sabbath at euē whā ye disciples were gathered together, Luc. 24. c and the dores were shut for feare of ye Iewes, came Iesus, and stode ī yr myddes, & sayde vnto thē: Peace be wt you. And whā he had so sayde, he shewed thē his hādes & his syde. Ioh. 16. c Thē were ye disciples glad, yt they sawe ye LORDE. Thē sayde Iesus vnto thē agayne: Peace be with you. Esa. 61. a Mar. 16. b Luc. 4. a Ioh. 17. c Like as my father sent me, euē so sēde I you. And whan he had sayde yt, he brethed vpō thē, and sayde vnto thē: Receaue the holy goost. Whose synnes soeuer ye remytte, they are remytted vnto thē: and whose synnes so euer ye retayne, they are retayned.

But Thomas one of the twolue Ioh. 11. b which is called Didimus, was not wt thē whā Iesus came. Thē sayde the other disciples vnto him: We haue sene the LORDE. But he sayde vnto thē: Excepte I se in his handes the prynte of the nales, and put my hāde in to his syde, I wil not beleue.

And after eight dayes agayne were his disciples with in, & Thomas wt thē. Thē came Iesus (whā ye dores were shutt) & stode in the myddes, & sayde: Peace be wt you. After yt sayde he vnto Thomas: Reach hither yi fynger, and se my handes, and reach hither yi hāde, & put it ī to my syde, & be not faithlesse, but beleue. Thomas answered, & sayde vnto him: My LORDE, and my God. Iesus sayde vnto him: Thomas, because thou hast sene me, thou hast beleued. Blessed are they, that se not, and yet beleue.

Many other tokēs dyd Iesus before his disciples, which are not wryttē in this boke, But these are wryttē, yt ye shulde beleue, yt Iesus is Christ the sonne of God, & that ye thorow beleue might haue life in his name.

The XXI. Chapter.

AFter that shewed Iesus himself agayne at the see of Tiberias. But on this wyse shewed he himself. There were together Symō Peter, & Thomas which is called Didimus, & Ioh Nathanael of Cana a cite of Galile, & the sonnes of Zebede, & two other of his disciples. Symon Peter sayde vnto thē: I go a fyshinge. They sayde vnto hī: We also wil go wt the. They wēte out, & entred into a shippe straight waye. And yt same night toke they nothinge. But whā it was now morow, Iesus stode on the shore, but his disciples knewe not yt it was Iesus. Iesus sayde vnto thē: Childrē, haue ye eny thinge to eate? They answered hī: No. He sayde vnto thē: 〈…〉 Cast out the nett on ye right syde of the shippe, & ye shal fynde. Thē they cast out, & coulde nomore drawe it for ye multitude of fishes. Thē sayde ye disciple 〈…〉 whō Iesus loued, vnto Peter: It is the LORDE.

Whan Simon Peter herde that is was the LORDE, he gyrde his mantell aboute him (for he was naked) and sprange in to ye see. But other disciples came by shippe (for they were not farre frō londe, but as it were two hundreth cubytes) and they drewe the net with the fiszhes. Now whan they were come to londe, they sawe coles layed, and fysh theron, and bred. Iesus sayde vnto thē: Bringe hither of the fyshes, 〈…〉 that ye haue taken now. Symon Peter stepped forth, and drew the nett to the londe, full of greate fyszhes, and hundreth and thre and fyftie. And for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

Iesus sayde vnto them: Come, and dyne. But none of the disciples durst axe him: Who art thou? For they knewe, that it was the LORDE. Then came Iesus, and toke ye bred, and gaue it thē: and the fyszhe likewyse. This is now the thirde tyme that Iesus appeared vnto his disciples, after that he was rysen agayne from the deed.

Now whā they had dyned, Iesus sayde vnto Symon Peter: Symō Iohāna, louest thou me more then these do? He sayde vnto him: Yee LORDE, thou knowest yt I loue the. He sayde vnto him: Fede my lābes. He sayde vnto him agayne the seconde tyme: Symō Iohāna, louest thou me? He sayde vnto him: Yee LORDE, thou knowest, yt I loue ye. He sayde vnto him: Fede my shepe. He saide vnto him ye thirde tyme: Symon Iohāna, louest thou me? Peter was sory, because he sayde vnto him, louest thou me? And he sayde vnto him: 〈◊〉 . 5. d LORDE, thou knowest all thinges, thou knowest, that I loue ye. Iesus sayde vnto him: Fede my shepe.

Verely verely I saye vnto the: Whan thou wast yōge, thou gerdedst thyselfe, and walkedst whither thou woldest. 〈…〉 But whā thou art olde, thou shalt stretch forth thy handes, 〈…〉 and another shal gyrde the, and lede the whither thou woldest not. But this he sayde, to signifye with what death he shulde glorifye God.

Whan he had spoken this, he sayde vnto him: Folowe me. Peter turned him aboute, and sawe the disciple folowinge, whom Iesus loued,( 〈…〉 which also leaned vpō his brest at the supper, and sayde: LORDE, who is it that betrayeth the)? Whā Peter sawe him, he sayde vnto Iesus: LORDE, but what shal he do? Iesus sayde vnto him: Yf I wil that he tary tyll I come, what is that to the? Folowe thou me. Then wente there out a sayenge amonge the brethren: This disciple dyeth not. And Iesus sayde not vnto him: He dyeth not, but: Yf I wil that he tary tyll I come, what is that to the? This is the same disciple, which testifyeth of these thinges, and wrote these thinges, and we knowe that his testimony is true.

There are many other thinges also that Iesus dyd, which, yf they shulde be wryttē euery one, I suppose the worlde shulde not contayne the bokes, that were to be wrytten.

The ende of the Gospell of S. Ihon.
The Actes of the Apostles, wrytten by S. Luke the Euangelist. What the Actes conteyne. Chap. I. The ascension of Christ. Mathias is chosen in the steade of Iudas. Chap. II. The commynge of the holy goost. The sermon of Peter before the cōgregacion at Ierusalem, and the increase of the faithfull. Chap. III. The halt is restored to his fete. Peter preacheth Christ vnto the people. Chap. IIII. The Apostles are takē and brought before the councell. They are forbydden to preach, but they turne them vnto prayer, and are more obedient vnto God then vnto men. Chap. V. The dyssemblynge of Ananias and Saphira is punyshed. Miracles are done by the Apostles, which are taken, but the angel of God bryngeth them out of preson. They are brought before the councell, The sentence of Gamaliel. The apostles are bett, they reioyse in trouble. Chap VI. Ministers (or deacons) are ordened in the congregacion to do seruyce in necessary thinges of the body, that the Apostles maye wayte onely vpō the worde of God. Steuen is accused. Chap. VII. Steuen maketh answere to his accusacion, rebuketh the hardnecked Iues, and is stoned vnto death. Chap. VIII. Saul persecuteth the Christē, The Apostles are scatred abrode. Philip commeth in to Samaria. Simon magus is baptised, he dyssembleth. Philip baptiseth the chamberlayne. Chap. IX. Paul is conuerted, and confoundeth the Iues Peter rayseth Tabitha. Chap. X. The vision that Peter sawe. How he was sent to Cornelius. The Heithen also receaue the sprete, and are baptised. Chap. XI. Peter sheweth the cause wherfore he wente to the Heithen. Barnabas and Paul preach vnto the Heithen. Agabus prophecieth derth for to come. Chap. XII. Herode persecuteth the christē, kylleth Iames, and putteth Peter in preson, whō the LORDE delyuereth by an angell. The shamefull death of Herode. Chap. XIII. Paul and Barnabas are called to preach amonge the Heithen Of Sergius Paulus and Elymas the sorcerar. Paul preacheth at Antioche. Chap. XIIII. Paul and Barnabas preach at I •• nium: some beleue, some stere vp sedicion. A Listra they wolde do sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul, which refuse it, and exorte the people to worshipe the true God Paul is stoned, after that commeth he to Derba, lystra, I conium and to Antioche. Chap. XV. Variaunce aboute circumcision, The Apostles pacifie the matter at Ierusalē. Paul and Barnabas preach at Antioche. Chap. XVI. Timothy is circumcised, Paul preacheth at Philippos, and there is he put in preson. Chap. XVII. Paul cōmeth to Thessalonica, where the Iues set the cite on a roore Paul escapeth, and commeth to Athens, where he preacheth the true and vnknowne God. Chap. XVIII. Paul preacheth at Corinthum, contynuinge there a yeare and a half, goeth agayne in to Syria, commeth to Ephesus, Cesarea and Antioche. Of Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla. Chap. XIX. Of the xij. men whom Paul baptised at Ephesus, and what miracles were done by him. Demetrius moueth sedicion in the cite. Chap. XX. Paul goeth in to Macedonia and in to Grekelonde. At Troas he rayseth vp a deed body. At Ephesus he calleth the elders of the congregacion together, committeth the kepinge of Gods flocke vnto them, warneth thē for false teachers, maketh his prayer with them, and departeth to shippe. Chap. XXI. Pauls iourneye by shippe. Of Philippe the Euāgelist, and Agabus the Prophet, which warneth Paul not to go to Ierusalem. He remayneth stedfast in his purpose, and is taken in the temple. Chap. XXII. Paul answereth the Iewes, is scourged, and layed in preson agayne. Chap XXIII. Paul commeth before the councell. Debate ariseth amonge the people, the captayne delyuereth him, God conforteth him. Chap. XXIIII. Paul is accused before felix, he answereth for himself. Chap. XXV The Iewes accuse Paul before Festus, he appealeth vnto the Emperoure, and is sent vnto Rome. Chap. XXVI. Kynge Agrippa heareth Paul, which telleth him his callinge from the begynnynge. Chap. XXVII. Pauls shippinge towarde Rome, Iulius the captayne intreateth Paul curteously, at the last they suffre shipwrake. Chap. XXVIII. The vyper hurteth not Pauls hande, he healeth Publius father, and preacheth Christ at Rome. The Actes of the Apostles.

The first Chapter.

THE first treatise (deare Theophilus) haue I made of all that Iesus beganne to do and to teache, vntyll ye daye that he was taken vp, after that he (thorow the holy goost) had geuen commaundementes to to the Apostles, whom he had chosen: to whō also he shewed himself alyue after his passion, by many tokēs, Io and appeared vnto them fourtye dayes longe, and spake vnto them of the kyngdome of God.

And whan he had gathered them together, he commaunded them that they shulde not departe from Ierusalem, but to wayte for the promyse of the father, wherof (sayde he) ye haue herde of me: 〈…〉 〈1 paragraph〉 For Ihon baptysed with water, but ye shalbe baptysed wt ye holy goost, & that within this few dayes.

Now whan they were come together, they axed him, and sayde: LORDE, shalt thou at this tyme set vp the kyngdome of Israel agayne? But he sayde vnto them: It belongeth not vnto you to knowe the tymes or seasons, 〈…〉 which the father hath kepte in his awne power, but ye shal receaue the power of ye holy goost, which shal come vpon you, and ye shalbe my witnesses at Ierusalem, Luc. 〈…〉 . Act. 〈…〉 Act. 〈…〉 and in all Iewrye and Samaria, and vnto the ende of the earth.

And whan he had spoken these thinges, whyle they behelde, he was taken vp, and a cloude receaued him from their fight. 〈…〉 And whyle they loked after him, as he wente in to heauen, beholde, there stode by them two men in whyte garmentes, which also sayde: ye men of Galile, Why stonde ye gasynge vp in to heauen? This Iesus which is takē vp from you in to heauen 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 24. c 〈◊〉 13. c 〈◊〉 17. c 〈◊〉 21. d shal come euen so as ye haue sene him go in to heauen.

Then turned they agayne from ye mount that is called Oliuete, which is nye to Ierusalem, and hath a Sabbath dayes iourney. And whan they came in, they wente vp in to a parler, 〈◊〉 . 10. a 〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 5. b 〈◊〉 9 a where abode Peter and Iames, Ihon and Andrew, Philippe and Thomas, Bartilmew and Mathew, Iames the sonne of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Iudas the sonne of Iames. These all contynued with one acorde in prayer and supplicacion, with the wemen and Mary the mother of Iesu and with his brethren.

And in those dayes Peter stode vp in the myddes amonge the disciples, and sayde: (The company of the names together, was aboute an hundreth and twentye.) Ye men and brethren, this scripture must nedes be fulfylled, which ye holy goost by the mouth of Dauid spake before of Iudas, which was a gyde of thē that toke Iesus: 〈◊〉 10. a for he was nombred with vs, and had opteyned the felashippe of this mynistracion. This same trulye possessed the 〈◊〉 7. a felde for the rewarde of vnrighteousnes, and hanged himself, and brast a sunder in the myddes, and all his bowels guszhed out. And it is knowne vnto all thē that dwell at Ierusalem, in so moch that the same felde is called in their mother tonge Acheldema, that is to saye, the bloude felde.

For it is wrytten in the boke of psalmes: His habitacion be voyde, and noman be dwellinge therin. And: 〈◊〉 3. d 〈◊〉 103. a His biszhoprike another take. Wherfore amonge these men which haue bene gathered together with vs (all the tyme that the LORDE Iesus wē te out and in amonge vs, begynnynge from the baptyme of Ihon, vntyll ye daye that he was takē vp from vs) must one be a wytnesse with vs of his resurreccion.

〈…〉 And they appoynted two (Ioseph called Barsabas, whose syrname was Iustus, and Mathias.) makinge their prayer and sayenge: 〈◊〉 19. c Thou LORDE, which knowest the hertes of all men, shewe whether of these two thou hast chosen, that the one maye take the rowme of this mynistracion and Apostelshippe, from the which Iudas by transgression fell, that he might go awaye in to his awne place. And they gaue forth the lottes ouer them, and the lot fell vpon Mathias. And he was counted with the eleuen Apostles.

The II. Chapter.

ANd whan the Deut. 16. Leui. 24. Whit sondaye was fulfylled, they were all with one acorde together in one place. And sodenly there came a sounde from heauen, as it had bene the cōmynge of a mightie wynde, and it fylled the whole house where they sat. And there appeared vnto them clouen tunges, like as they had bene of fyre. And he sat vpon ech one of them, and they were all fylled with the holy goost. Mat. 16. c And they beganne to preach with other tunges, euen as the sprete gaue them vtteraunce.

There were dwellinge at Ierusalem Iewes, men that feared God, out of euery nacion that is vnder heauen. Now whan this voyce came to passe, the multitude came together, and were astōnyed: For euery one herde, that they spake with his awne tunge. They wondred all and marueyled, and sayde amonge themselues: Beholde, are not all these which speake, of Galile? How heare we thē euery one his awne tunge, wherin we were borne? Parthians and Medes, and Elamites, and we that dwell in Mesopotamia, and in Iewry and Capadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrigia and Pamphilia, Egipte, and in the partes of Lybia by Cyren, and straungers of Rome, Iewes and Mat. 23. Proselytes, Cretes and Arabians: we heare them speake with oure awne tunges the greate workes of God.

They were all amased, and wondred, and sayde one to another: What wil this be? But other mocked them, and sayde: They are full of swete wyne. Then stode Peter vp with the eleuen, and lift vp his voyce, and sayde vnto them:

Ye men of Iewry, and all ye that dwell at Ierusalē, be this knowne vnto you, and let my wordes entre in at youre eares. For these are not dronken, as ye suppose, for it is yet but the thirde houre of ye daye: but this is it, that was spokē before by the prophet Ioel: And it shal come to passe in the last dayes, sayeth God, Ioel . f I will poure out of my sprete vpon all flesh, and youre sonnes and youre doughters shal prophecye, and youre yonge men shal se visions Act. 10. and 16. b and youre olde men shall dreame dreames, Luc. 2. f Act. 21. b and on my seruauntes and on my handmaydens wyll I poure out of my sprete in those dayes, & they shal prophecye.

And I wil shewe wonders in heauen aboue, and tokens on the earth beneth, Mat. 27. f Luc. 23. d bloude and fyre, and the vapoure of smoke. The Sonne shalbe turned in to darknesse, and the Moone in to bloude, before that greate and notable daye of the LORDE come. And it shall come to passe, o. 10. b Who so euer shal call vpō the name of the LORDE, shalbe saued.

Ye men of Israel, heare these wordes: Iesus of Nazareth, ye man approued of God amonge you with miracles, and wonders and tokens, which God dyd by him in the myddes amonge you, as ye yo selues knowe also, Mat. 27. c him (after that he was delyuered by the determinate councell and foreknowlege of God) haue ye taken by the handes of vnrighteous personnes, and crucifyed him, & slayne him, ct. 10. e whō God hath raysed vp, and lowsed the sorowes of death, for so moch as it was vnpossyble that he shulde be holden of it. sal. 15. b For Dauid speaketh of him: Afore honde haue I set the LORDE allwayes before me, for he is on my right hōde, that I shulde not be moued. Therfore dyd my hert reioyse, and my tunge was glad: For my flesh also shal rest in hope. For thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell, nether shalt thou suffer ye Holy to se corrupcion. Thou hast shewed me the wayes of life, thou shalt make me full of ioye with thy countenaunce.

Ye men and brethren, let me frely speake vnto you of the Patryarke Dauid: For he is deed and buried, Reg. 2. b and his sepulcre is with vs vnto this daye. Wherfore now seinge yt he was a prophet, and knewe that God had promised him with an ooth, that the frute of his loynes shulde syt on his seate, al. 131. b he sawe it before, and spake of the resurreccion of Christ: for his soule was not left in hell, nether hath his flesh sene corrupcion. This Iesus hath God raysed vp, ct. 1 a 〈◊〉 . 15. c wherof we all are witnesses.

Seynge now that he by the right hande of God hilip. 2. a is exalted, and hath receaued of ye father ye promyse of the holy goost, he hath shed forth this, that ye se and heare. For Dauid is not ascended in to heauen, but he sayde: •• al. 109. a The LORDE sayde vnto my LORDE: Syt thou on my righte hande, vntyll I make thine enemies yt fote stole. So therfore let all the house of Israel knowe for a suertye, yt God hath made this same Iesus (whom ye haue crucified) LORDE and Christ.

ach. 1 . c Whan they herde this, their hert pricked them, and they sayde vnto Peter and to the other Apostles: Ye men and brethrē, 〈◊〉 . 3. b ct. 9. a 〈◊〉 16. d What shal we do? Peter sayde onto them: Amēde youre selues, and let euery one of you be baptysed in the name of Iesus Christ, for the remyssion of synnes, and ye shal receaue the gifte of the holy goost. For this el. . f promyse was made vnto you and youre children, and to all that are farre of, whō so euer the LORDE oure God shal call. And wt many other wordes bare he witnesse, and exorted them, and sayde: Saue youre selues from this vntowarde generacion. They that gladly receaued his preachinge, were baptysed, & the same daye there were added vnto them aboute thre thousande soules.

They contynued in the Apostles doctryne, and in the felashippe, and in breakynge of bred, and in prayer. And feare came vpō euery soule, and many wonders and tokens were done by ye Apostles. But all they that beleued, were together, Act. and had all thinges commen. They solde their goodes and possessions, and parted them out amonge all, acordinge as euery mā had nede. And they contynued daylie with one acorde in the tē ple, and Esa brake bred in euery house: they toke their meate with ioye & synglenesse of hert, praysinge God, and had fauoure with all ye people. And the LORDE added to the congregacion daylie soch as shulde be saued.

The III. Chapter.

PEter and Ihon wente vp together in to the temple aboute the nyenth houre to praye. And there was a certayne man halt from his mothers wombe, whom they brought and layed daylie at the gate of the tēple, which is called, the Bewtyfull, that he might axe almesse of them that wēte in to the temple. Now whan he sawe Peter and Ihon, that they wolde in to the temple, he desyred to receaue an almesse. Peter behelde him with Ihon, and sayde: Loke on vs. And he gaue hede vnto them, hopynge to receaue somethinge of them. Howbeit Peter saide: Syluer and golde haue I none: but soch as I haue geue I the. Act. In the name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth ryse vp & walke. And he toke him by the righte hande and lifte him vp. Immediatly his legges & ancle bones were made strōge, and he sprange, stode and walked, and entred with them in to the tēple, walkynge, and leapinge and praysinge God.

And all the people sawe him walke and prayse God. And they knewe him, yt it was he, which sat for almesse at the bewtyfull gate of the temple. And they were fylled with wondrynge, and were astonnyed at that, which had happened vnto hī. But as this halt which was healed helde him to Peter and Ihon, all the people ranne vnto them in to the 〈…〉 porche, which is called Salomōs, and wondred.

Whan Peter sawe that, he answered vnto the people: Ye men of Israel, why maruayle ye at this, or why loke ye so at vs, as though we by oure awne power or deseruynge, had made this man to walke? The God of Abraham and of Isaac, and of Iacob, ye God of oure fathers hath glorifyed his childe Iesus, 〈…〉 whom ye delyuered and denyed in the presence of Pilate, whan he had iudged him to be lowsed. But ye denyed the holy and iust, and desyred the murthurer to be geuen you, but ye slewe the prynce of life, whom God hath raysed from the deed, of the which we are witnesses. And thorow ye faith in his name, hath he confirmed his name vpon this man, whom ye se and knowe: and faith thorow him, hath geuē this man this health before youre eyes.

Now deare brethrē, I knowe that ye haue done it 〈…〉 thorow ignoraunce, as dyd also youre rulers. But God, which by the mouth of all his prophetes had shewed before, yt his Christ shulde suffre, hath so fulfilled it. Do penaunce now therfore and turne you, that youre synnes maye be done awaye, whan the tyme of refreshinge shal come before the presence of the LORDE, and whan he shal sende him, which now before is preached vnto you, euen Iesus Christ: which must receaue heauen vntyll the tyme that all thinges, which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy prophetes sence ye worlde beganne, be restored agayne.

For Moses sayde vnto ye fathers: A prophet shal the LORDE youre God rayse vp vnto you, 〈…〉 . c 〈…〉 . c euen from amōge youre brethren, like vnto me: him shal ye heare, in all that he shal saye vnto you. And it shal come to passe, what soule soeuer shal not heare the same prophet, shal be destroyed from amonge the people. And all the prophetes from Samuel and thence forth as many as haue spoken, haue likewyse tolde of these dayes.

Ye are the children of the prophetes and of the couenaunt, which God made vnto or fathers, whan he sayde vnto Abrahā: Thorow ye sede shal all ye naciōs of ye earth be blessed. 〈◊〉 12. a 〈◊〉 22. c 〈◊〉 . 10. a First vnto you hath God raysed vp his childe Iesus, & sent hī vnto you, to blesse you: yt euery one shulde turne frō his wickednesse.

The IIII. Chapter.

BVt as they spake to ye people, there came vnto thē the prestes and the rulers of the tēple, and the Saduces, whō it greued yt they taught the people, & preached in Iesu ye resurreccion frō the deed and they layed handes vpon them, and put thē in holde tyll the morow: for it was now euentyde. Howbeit many of thē which herde the worde, beleued, and the nombre of ye men was aboute fyue thousande.

And it chaunced on ye morow, that their rulers and Elders and scrybes (as Annas ye hye prest and Caiphas, and Ihon & Alexander, and as many as were of the hye prestes kynred) gathered them selues together at Ierusalem, and set them before them, and axed them: By what auctorite, Or in what name haue ye done this? Mat. 1. c

Peter full of the holy goost, sayde vnto them: Ye rulers of the people, and ye Elders of Israel, Yf we this daye be examyned concernynge this good dede vpon the sicke mā, by what meanes he is made whole, be it knowne then vnto you and to all the people of Israel, Act. 3. a that in ye name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whō God hath raysed vp from the deed, stōdeth this man here before you whole. Psal. 117. c Mat. 21. e 1. Pet. 2. a This is the stone refused of you buylders, which is become the heade corner stone, nether is there saluacion in eny other: Mat. 1. c Phil. 2. a Ner yet also is there geuē vnto mē eny other name, wherin we must be saued.

They sawe the boldnesse of Peter & Ihon and marueyled, for they were sure yt they were vnlerned men and laye people. And they knewe thē also, that they were wt Iesu. As for the man yt was made whole, they sawe hī stōdinge by thē, & coulde not saye agaynst it. Then cōmaunded they thē to stōde asyde out of ye councell, & cōmened amōge thēselues, & saide: Ioh. 11. c What shal we do to these mē? for a manyfest token is done by them, and is openly knowne vnto thē that dwell at Ierusalem, and we can not denye it. But that it breake out no farther amōge the people, let vs threatē them earnestly, that hence forth they speake of this name vnto noman.

And they called them, and cōmaunded thē, that in eny wyse they shulde not speake ner teache in the name of Iesu. But Peter & Ihon answered, and sayde vnto thē: Iudge ye youre selues, whether it be right before God, that we shulde be more obedient vnto you, then vnto God. We can not chose, but speake that we haue sene & herde. But they threatened them, and let them go, and founde nothinge how to punyshe them because of ye people: for they all praysed God because of that, Act. which was done. For the man, vpon whom this token of health was done, was aboue fourtye yeare olde.

And whan they were let go they came to their folowes, and tolde them what ye hye prestes and Elders sayde vnto them. Whā they herde that, they lifte vp their voyce wt one acorde vnto God, and sayde: LORDE, thou that art the God which made heauen and earth, and the see, and all that therin is thou that by the mouth of Dauid thy seruaūt hast sayde: Why do the Heythē rage? and ye people ymagin vayne thinges? The kynges of the earth stonde vp, Psal. 2. a and the prynces haue gathered them selues together agaynst ye LORDE, and agaynst his. Christ. Of a trueth agaynst thy holy childe Iesus, whom thou hast anoynted, both Herode & Pontius Pilate with the Heythen and people of Israel, haue gathered thēselues together, to do what soeuer thy hande and thy councell determyned before to be done. And now LORDE, beholde their threatenynges, and graunte vnto thy seruauntes with all stedfast boldnesse to speake thy worde: and stretch out thine hande, that healinge and tokēs and wonders maye be done by the name of thy holy childe Iesus.

And whā they had prayed, the place moued where they were gathered together, & they were all fylled with ye holy goost, & spake the worde of God boldly. The multitude of them that beleued, were of one hert and of one soule. Also none of them sayde of his goodes, that they were his awne, but had all thinges cōmen. And with greate power gaue the Apostles witnesse of the resurreccion of the LORDE Iesu, and greate grace was with them all. Nether was there eny amonge them that lacked. For as many as were possessers of londes or houses, solde thē and brought ye money of the goodes that were solde, and layed it at the Apostles fete. And distribucion was made vnto euery mā, acordinge as he had nede.

Ioses which was also called of ye Apostles, Barnabas (that is to saye, the sonne of consolacion) a Leuite, of the countre of Cypers, had londe, and solde it, & brought the money, and layed it at the Apostles fete.

The V. Chapter.

BVt a certayne man named Ananias with Saphira his wife, solde his possession, and kepte awaye parte of the money (his wife knowinge of it) and broughte one parte, & layed it at the Apostles fete. But Peter sayde: Ananias, Wherfore hath Sathan fylled thine hert, that thou shuldest lye vnto the holy goost, and withdrawe awaye parte of the money of the lyuelod? Mightest thou not haue kepte it, whan thou haddest it? And whan it was solde, the money was also in thy power: Why hast thou then conceaued this thinge in thine hert? Thou hast not lyed vnto mē, but vnto God. Whan Ananias herde these wordes, he fell downe, & gaue vp the goost. And there came a greate feare vpon all thē that herde of this. The yonge men rose vp, and put him asyde, and caried him out, and buried him.

And it fortuned as it were aboute ye space of thre houres after, his wife came in, and knewe not what was done. But Peter answered vnto her. Tell me, solde ye the londe for somoch? She sayde: Yee, for so moch. Peter sayde vnto her: Why haue ye agreed together, to tempte the sprete of the LORDE? Beholde, the fete of thē which haue buried thy huszbande, are at the dore, & shal carye the out. And immediatly she fell downe at his fete, and gaue vp the goost. Then came in the yonge men, and founde her deed, and caried her out, and buried her by hir huszbā de. And there came a greate feare ouer the whole congregacion, and ouer all thē that herde it.

Many tokens and wonders were done amonge the people by the hādes of the Apostles (and they were all together with one acorde in 〈…〉 Salomons porche: but of other there durst no man ioyne him self vnto thē, neuertheles the people helde moch of them. The multitude of the men and wemen that beleued in the LORDE, grewe more and more) In so moch that they brought out the sycke in to the stretes, and layed them vpon beddes and barowes, that at the leest waye the shadowe of Peter (whan he came by) might ouershadowe some of thē. There came many also out of ye cities rounde aboute vnto Ierusalem, and brought the sicke and thē that were vexed with vncleane spretes, and they were healed euery one.

But the hye prest rose vp, and all they yt were with him, 〈…〉 which is the secte of the Saduces, and were full of indignacion, & layed handes on the Apostles, and put them in the comon preson. But the angell of ye LORDE by night opened the preson dores, 〈…〉 and brought thē out, and sayde: Go youre waye and steppe vp, and speake in the temple to the people all the wordes of this life. Whan they herde that, they entred in to the temple early in the mornynge: and taught.

But the hye prest came, and they yt were with him, and called the councell together, & all ye Elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the preson to fet them. The mynisters came and founde them not in the preson, ame agayne, and tolde, and sayde: The preson founde we shut with all diligence, and the kepers stondinge without before the dores: but whā we had opened, we founde noman therin. Whan the hye prest, and the rulers of the temple and the other hye prestes herde these wordes, they douted of them, whervnto this wolde growe.

Then came there one, which tolde them: Beholde, the men that ye put in preson, are in the temple, stondinge and teachinge the people. Then wēte ye rulers with their mynisters, and fetched them without violence: 〈…〉 for they feared the people, lest they shulde haue bene stoned. And whan they had brought them, they set thē before the councell. And the hye prest axed them, and sayde: Dyd not we 〈…〉 cōmaunde you strately, that ye shulde not teache in this name. And beholde, ye haue fylled Ierusalem with youre doctryne, 〈…〉 and ye intēde to brynge this mans bloude vpon vs.

But Peter and the Apostles answered, and sayde: We ought more to obeye God then men. The God of oure fathers hath raysed vp Iesus, whō ye slewe, and hanged on tre. Him hath the righte hande of God exalted, to be a prynce and Sauioure, to geue repentaunce and forgeuenesse of synnes vnto Israel. And we are his recordes of these wordes, and the holy goost, whō God hath geuen vnto thē that obeye him. Whā they herde that, it wente thorow the hertes of them, and they thoughte to slaye them.

Then stode there vp in ye councell a pharyse, 〈…〉 named Gamaliel, a scribe, had in greate reputacion before all ye people, and bad put the Apostles asyde a litle, and sayde vnto them: Ye men of Israel, take hede to youre selues, what ye do as touchinge these men. Before these dayes rose vp one Theudas, boostinge himself. (And there cleued vnto him a nōbre of mē, aboute a foure hundreth) which was slayne, and all they yt enclyned vnto him, were scatred abrode, and brought to naught. 〈…〉 After this stode vp Iudas of Galile in ye dayes of trybute, and drewe awaye moch people after him, & he also perished, & all they that enclyned vnto him, are scatred abrode. And now I saye vnto you: refrayne yo selues frō these men, and let thē go. 〈…〉 Yf this councell or worke be of mē, it wil come to naught: but yf it be of God, ye are not able to destroye it, lest ye be founde to be the men, that wil stryue agaynst God. Then they agreed vnto him, and called the Apostles, and bet them, and commaunded them, that they shulde speake nothinge in the name of Iesu, and let them go.

But they departed from the presence of the councell, reioysinge, Mat. 5. that they were worthy to suffre rebuke for his names sake. And daylie in the temple and in euery house they ceassed not, to teache and to preache the Gospell of Iesus Christ.

The VI. Chapter.

IN those dayes whan the nombre of the disciples increased, there arose a grudge amōge the Grekes agaynst the Hebrues, because their wyddowes were not loked vpon in the daylie handreachinge. Then the twolue called the multitude of the disciples together, and sayde: It is not mete that we shulde leaue the worde of God, and to serue at the tables. Wherfore brethren, loke out amonge you seuē men, 1. Tim. 3. b that are of honeste reporte, and full of the holy goost and wyszdome, whom we maye appoynte to this nedefull busynes. But we wil geue oure selues vnto prayer, and to the mynistracion of the worde of God. And the sayenge pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Steuen, a man full of fayth and of the holy goost, and Philippe, and Procorus, and Nicanor, and Thimon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas the Proselite of Antioche. Nu. 27. d Act. 1. d 1. Ti. 4. b 2. Tim. 1. b These they set before ye Apostles, and they prayed, and layed their handes vpon them. And the worde of God increased, and the nombre of the disciples multiplied greatly at Ierusalem. And there were many prestes also obedient vnto the fayth.

Steuen full of faith and power, dyd wonders and greate tokens amonge the people. Then arose there certayne of the synagoge, which is called (the synagoge) of ye Libertynes, & of the Cyrenites, and of the Alexādrines, and of thē yt were of Celicia and Asia, & disputed with Steuē, Luc. 21. b and they coulde not resiste the wyszdome and the sprete, out of the which he spake. Then sent they in certayne men, that sayde: Mat. 26. f We haue herde him speake blasphemous wordes agaynst Moses, and agaynst God. And they moued the people, and the Elders and the scrybes, and came vpon him, & caught him, and brought him before the councell, and set false witnesses there, which sayde: This man ceasseth not to speake blasphemous wordes agaynst this holy place and the lawe. For we herde him saye: Iesus of Nazareth shall destroye this place, and chaunge the ordinaunces which Moses gaue vs. And all they that sat in the councell, loked vpō him and sawe his face as the face of an angell.

The VII. Chapter.

Then sayde the hye prest: Is it euē so? He sayde: Deare brethren and fathers, herken to, The God of glorye appeared vnto o father Abrahā, whyle he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and sayde vnto him: Get yt out of thy coūtre, and frō thy kynred, and come in to a londe which I wil shewe ye. Thē wente he out of the lande of the Caldees, Gen. 11. d and dwelt in Haran. Gen. 12. a And from thēce, whan his father was deed, he brought him ouer in to this londe (where ye dwell now) and gaue him no enheritaūce therin, no not ye bredth of a fote: and promysed him, that he wolde geue it him to possesse, Gen. 13. d and to his sede after him, whan as yet he had no childe.

Gen. 15. c But thus sayde God vnto him: Thy sede shalbe a straunger in a straunge londe, and they shal make bonde men of them, and intreate thē euell foure hundreth yeares: and ye people whom they shal serue, wil Iiudge, sayde God. And after that shal they go forth, and serue me in this place. And he gaue him the couenaūt of circūcision. Gen. 17. b And he begat Isaac, Gen. 21. a Gen. 25. c and circūcised him the eight daye. And Isaac begat Iacob Gen. 29. f and Iacob begat the twolue Patriarkes.

And the Patriarkes had indignacion at Ioseph, Gen. 37. e Sap. 10. c and solde hī in to Egipte. And God was with him, and delyuered him out of all his troubles, and gaue him fauoure ād wyszdome ī the sight of Pharao kynge of Egipte Gen. 41. f which made him prynce ouer Egipte and ouer all his house.

But there came a derth ouer all the londe of Egipte and Canaan, Gen. 41. g and 42. a and a greate trouble, and oure fathers founde no sustenaunce. But Iacob herde that there was corne in Egipte, and sent oure fathers out the first tyme. Gen. 45. a And at the seconde tyme was Ioseph knowne of his brethren, and Iosephs kynred was made knowne vnto Pharao. But Ioseph sent out, and caused his father and all his kynred to be broughte, euē thre score and fyftene soules. Gen. 46. a G n. 49. And Iacob wente downe in to Egipte, and dyed, both he and oure fathers Ge. 50. b Iosue. 24 f and were brought ouer vnto Sichē, and layed in the sepulcre, that Abraham boughte for money of the children of Hemor at Sichem. Gen. 23. d

Now whā the tyme of the promes druenye (which God had sworne vnto Abrahā) the people grewe and multiplied in Egipte, Exod. 1. a Psal. 104. a tyll there rose another kynge, which knewe not of Ioseph. The same dealte suttely wt oure kynred, and intreated oure fathers euell and made them to cast out the yonge children, that they shulde not remayne alyue.

At the same tyme was Moses borne, 〈…〉 and was a proper childe before God, and was norished thre monethes in his fathers house. But whan he was cast out, Pharaos doughter toke him vp, and norished him vp for hir awne sonne. And Moses was learned in all maner wyszdome of the Egipcians, and was mightie in dedes & wordes.

But whan he was fourtye yeare olde, it came in to his mynde to vyset his brethren the children of Israel. And whan he sawe one of them suffre wrōge, he helped him, and delyuered him, that had the harme done vnto him, and slewe the Egipcian. But he thoughte that his brethren shulde haue vnderstonde, how that God by his hande shulde saue thē, howbeit they vnderstode it not.

And on the nexte daye he shewed himself vnto them as they stroue together, and wolde haue set them at one agayne, and sayde: Syrs, ye are brethren, why hurte ye one another? But he that dyd his neghboure wronge, thrust him awaye, and sayde: 〈…〉 Who made the a ruler and iudge ouer vs? Wilt thou slaye me also, as thou slewest the Egipcian yesterdaye? But Moses fled at that sayenge, and was a straunger in the lande of Madian, where he begat two sonnes.

And after fourtye yeares, 〈…〉 the angell of ye LORDE appeared vnto him vpon mount Sina, in a flamme of fyre in a buszhe. Whā Moses sawe it, he wondred at the sighte. But as he drue nye to beholde, ye voyce of ye LORDE came vnto him: I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob. How beit Moses trēbled, and durst not beholde. But ye LORDE sayde vnto hī: 〈…〉 Put of thy shues from thy fete, for ye place where thou stondest, is an holy grounde. I haue well sene the trouble of my people in Egipte, and haue herde their gronynge, and am come downe to delyuer them. And now come, I wil sende the in to Egipte.

This Moses, whom they refused, and sayde: Who made ye a ruler and iudge ouer vs? 〈…〉 him had God sent to be a ruler & delyuerer by the hande of the angell, that appeared vnto him in the buszhe. The same broughte them out, and dyd wonders and tokens in Egipte, and in the reed see, and in ye wyldernesse fourtye yeares. This is that Moses, which sayde vnto the children of Israel: 〈◊〉 . 18. c ct. 3. d A prophet shal the LORDE youre God rayse vp vnto you euen from amonge youre brethren, like vnto me. Him shal ye heare. This is he, 〈◊〉 . 19. a 〈◊〉 3. c that was in the congregacion in the wyldernesse with the angell, which talked with him, vpō mount Sina, and with oure fathers. This man receaued the worde of life to geue vnto vs, vnto whom oure fathers wolde not be obediēt, but thrust him frō thē, and in their hertes turned backe agayne in to Egipte, and sayde vnto Aaron: Make vs goddes to go before vs, 〈…〉 for we can not tell what is become of this Moses, yt broughte vs out of the lande of Egipte. And they made a calfe at the same tyme, and offred sacrifice vnto the ymage, and reioysed in the workes of their awne handes.

But God turned himselfe, & 〈◊〉 1. d gaue them vp, so that they worshipped the hooste of heauē, as it is wrytten in the boke of the prophetes: 〈◊〉 3. d 〈◊〉 . c O ye house of Israel, gaue ye me sacrifices and catel those fortye yeares in the wyldernesse? And ye toke vnto you ye tabernacle of Moloch, and the starre of youre god Remphan, ymages which ye youre selues made to worshippe thē. And I wil cast you out beyonde Babilon.

Oure fathers had the tabernacle of witnesse in ye wyldernesse, like as he appoynted them, 〈◊〉 25. d 〈◊〉 . . a whan he spake vnto Moses, that he shulde make it (acordinge to the patrone, yt he had sene.) which oure fathers also receaued, and brought it with Iosue into the londe that the Heythē had in possession, 〈…〉 whom God droue out before the face of oure fathers, vntyll the tyme of Dauid, which founde fauoure with God, and desyred that he might fynde a tabernacle for the God of Iacob.

But Salomon buylte hī an house. 〈◊〉 6. a 〈◊〉 17. d Howbeit ye Hyest of all dwelleth not in temples that are made with handes: As he sayeth by the prophete: 〈…〉 Heauē is my seate, and the earth is my fote stole. What house then wilye buylde vnto me? sayeth the LORDE: Or which is the place of my rest? Hath not my hande made all these thinges?

〈…〉 Ye styffnecked & of vncircumcysed hertes and eares, ye allwaye resiste the holy goost: Euē as yo fathers dyd, so do ye also. Which of the prophetes haue not yo fathers persecuted? And they slewe thē, which tolde before of the cōmynge of yt righteous, whose traytours and murthurers ye are now become. Ye receaued the lawe by the mynistracion of angels, 〈…〉 . b 〈◊〉 15. b and haue not kepte it.

Whan they herde this, it wente thorow ye hertes of thē, and they gnaszhed vpō him with their tethe. But he beynge full of the holy goost, loked vp towarde heauen, Mat. 16. and sawe the glorye of God, and Iesus stōdinge on the righte hande of God, and sayde: Beholde, I se the heauens open, and the sonne of mā stondinge on ye righte honde of God. But they cried out with a loude voyce, & Psal. 57. stopped their eares, and rāne violently vpon him all at once, and thrust him out of the cite, and stoned him. Act. 22. And ye witnesses layed downe their clothes at the fete of a yonge man, which was called Saul. And they stoned Steuen, which cryed, & sayde: LORDE Iesu, receaue my sprete. And he kneled downe, & cried with a loude voyce: LORDE, Luc. 2 . laye not this synne to their charge. And whā he had thus spoken, he fell a slepe.

The VIII. Chapter.

SAul had pleasure in his death. At ye same tyme there was a greate persecucion ouer the congregacion at Ierusalē. And they were all scatered abrode in the regions of Iewrye & Samaria, excepte the Apostles. As for Steuen, men yt feared God dressed him, and made greate lamentacion ouer him. Act. 9. 22. a. 26 1. Cor. Gal. 1. b But Saul made hauocke of the congregacion, entred in to euery house, and drue out men & wemen, & delyuered thē to preson. They now yt were scatered abrode wēte aboute & preached the worde. Thē came Philippe in to a cite of Samaria, and preached Christ vnto them. And the people gaue hede with one acorde vnto ye thinges that Philip spake, hearinge him, and seynge the tokēs that he dyd. For the vncleane spretes cryed loude, and departed out of many yt were possessed. And many that were sicke of the palsie and lame, were healed. And there was greate ioye in the same cite.

But afore there was in ye same cite a certayne mā, called Simon, which vsed witche craft, and bewitched ye people of Samaria, sayenge, that he was a man which coulde do greate thinges. And they all regarded him from the leest vnto ye greatest, & sayde: This is the power of God which is greate. But they regarded him, because that of longe tyme he had bewitched them with his sorcery. Howbeit whan they beleued Philips preachinge of ye kyngdome of God, and of the name of Iesu Christ, they were baptysed both mē & wemē. Then Symon himself beleued also, and was baptysed, and cleued vnto Philippe. And whā he sawe the dedes and tokens that were done, he wondred.

Whan the Apostles which were at Ierusalem, herde, that Samaria had receaued ye worde of God, they sent vnto thē Peter and Ihon. Which, whā they were come, prayed for thē, yt they might receaue the holy goost. For as yet he was come vpon none of them but they were baptysed onely in the name of Christ Iesu. ct. 13. a nd 19. a Tim. 4. b nd 5. c Tim. 1. b Then layed they their hādes on them, and they receaued the holy goost.

But whan Simon sawe, that by the layenge on of the Apostles hādes yt holy goost was geuen, he offred thē money, and sayde: Geue me also this power, that, on whomsoeuer I put the hōdes, he maye receaue the holy goost. Howbeit Peter sayde vnto him: Perishe thou with thy money, Mat. 10. a because thou thinkest that ye gifte of God maye be optayned with money. Thou shalt haue nether parte ner felashipe in this worde, for ye hert is not righte before God. Repente therfore of this ye wickednesse, and praye vnto God, yf happly the thought of thy hert maye be forgeuē ye. For I se, yt thou art full of bytter gall, and wrapped in wt vnrighteousnesse.

Then answered Simon, & sayde: 〈◊〉 . 21. b Praye ye vnto the LORDE for me, yt none of these thinges wherof ye haue spoken, come vpon me. And they, whā they had testified and spokē the worde of the LORDE, turned agayne to Ierusalem, and preached the Gospell in many townes of the Samaritanes.

But the angell of the LORDE spake vnto Philippe, and sayde: Aryse, & go towarde the South, vnto the waye that goeth downe from Ierusalem vnto Gaza, which is deserte. And he rose, and wente on. And beholde, a mā of the Morians lōde (a chamberlayne and of auctorite with Candace ye quene of the londe of the Morians) which had the rule of all hir treasuries, ye same came to Ierusalē to worshipe. And returned home agayne, and satt vpon his charet, and red the prophet Esay.

The sprete sayde vnto Philippe: Go neare, and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet. Thē ranne Philippe vnto him, and herde him rede the prophet Esay, and sayde: Vnderstōdest thou what thou readest? He sayde: How can I, excepte some mā enfourme me?

And he desyred Philippe, that he wolde come vp, and syt with him. The tenoure of the scripture which he red, was this: Esa. 53. b He was led as a shepe to be slayne, and as a lambe voycelesse before his sherer, so opened he not his mouth. In his humblenesse is his iudgment exalted. Who shal declare his generacion? for his life is taken awaye from the earth. Then answered the chamberlayne vnto Philippe, and sayde: I praye the, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himselfe, or of some other man?

Philippe opened his mouth, and beganne at this scripture, and preached him the Gospell of Iesus. And as they wēte on their waye, they came to a water. And the chamberlayne sayde: Beholde, here is water, what hyndereth me to be baptysed? Philippe sayde: Yf thou beleue from thy whole herte, thou mayest. He answered, and sayde: I beleue, that Iesus Christ is the sonne of God. And he commaunded to holde styll the charet, and they wente downe in to the water, both Philippe and the chamberlayne. And he baptysed him. But whan they were come vp out of the water, the sprete of the LORDE toke Philippe awaye. And the Chamberlayne sawe him nomore. But he wente on his waye reioysinge. As for Philippe, he was founde at Aszdod, and walked aboute, and preached the Gospell vnto all the cities, tyll he came to Cesarea.

The IX. Chapter.

SAul was yet breathinge out threatnynges and slaughter agaynst the disciples of the LORDE. Act. 〈…〉 1. Cor 〈…〉 And wente vnto ye hye preste, and desyred of him letters to Damascon vnto the synagoges, that yf he foūde eny of this waye (whether they were men or wemen) he mighte brynge thē bounde vnto Ierusalem. And as he was goinge on his iourney, it fortuned, that he came nye vnto Damascō, and sodenly there shyned rounde aboute hī a light frō heauē, and he fell to the earth, and herde a voyce, which sayde vnto him: Saul Saul 〈…〉 why persecutest thou me? He sayde: LORDE, who art thou? The LORDE sayde: I am Iesus, whō thou persecutest. It shalbe harde for ye to kycke agaynst the prycke. And he both tremblinge and astonnyed, sayde: LORDE 〈…〉 what wilt thou that I shal do? The LORDE sayde vnto him: Aryse, and go into the cite, there shal it be tolde the what thou shalt do.

As for ye mē that iourneyed wt him, they stode and were amased: for they herde a voyce, but sawe noman. Saul rose from the earth, and whan he had opened his eyes, he sawe noman. Neuertheles they toke him by the honde, & broughte him to Damascō: and he was thre dayes without sighte, and nether ate ner dranke. At Damascon there was a disciple named Ananias, and vnto him sayde the LORDE in a vision: Ananias And he sayde: beholde, here am I LORDE. The LORDE sayde vnto him: Aryse, and go into the strete which is called straight, and are in the house of Iuda after one called Saul of 〈…〉 Tharsis: for beholde, he prayeth, & hath sene in a vision a mā named Ananias cōmynge vnto him, & layenge the hāde vpō him, that he mighte receaue his sighte.

Ananias answered: LORDE, I haue herde by many of this man, how moch euell he hath done to thy sayntes at Ierusalē. And here hath he auctorite of the hye prestes, to bynde all those yt call vpon thy name. The LORDE sayde vnto him: Go thy waye, 〈…〉 for this man is a chosen vessell vnto me, that he maye beare my name before the Heythen, and before kynges, and before the children of Israel. I wil shewe him, how greate thinges he must suffre for my names sake.

And Ananias wente his waye, and came into the house, 〈◊〉 22. b and layed the handes vpon him, and sayde: Brother Saul, the LORDE which appeared vnto ye in the waye as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receaue thy sight, and be fylled with the holy goost. And immediatly there fell from his eyes as it had bene scales, and he receaued his sighte, and rose, and was baptysed, and toke meate, and was conforted.

Then was Saul a certayne dayes with the disciples that were at Damascon. And straight waye he preached Christ in the synagoges, how that he was ye sonne of God. But all they that herde him, were amased, and sayde: Is not this he, which at Ierusalem spoyled all those that called on his name? and came hither to the intent that he shulde brynge them bounde vnto the hye prestes? But Saul increased in strength, & cōfounded ye Iewes which dwelt at Damascon, and affirmed yt this was very Christ.

And after many dayes the Iewes helde a councell together to kyll him. But it was tolde Saul, that they layed wayte for him. And they wayted at ye gates daye & night, 〈◊〉 . 11. d that they might kyll him. 〈◊〉 . 2. c. 〈◊〉 . 19. c Then the disciples toke him by nighte, & put him thorow the wall, and let him downe in a baslrett.

〈◊〉 2. b But whan Saul came to Ierusalem, he assayed to ioyne himself to ye disciples. And they were all afrayed of him, and beleued not, yt he was a disciple. Neuertheles Barnabas toke him, and broughte him to the Apostles, and tolde them how he had sene the LORDE in the waye, and how he spake to him, & how he had done boldly at Damascon in the name of Iesu. And he was with them, and wente out and in at Ierusalē, and quyte himselfe boldly in ye name of ye LORDE Iesu. He spake also, and disputed with ye Grekes. But they wēte aboute to slaye him. Whan the brethren knewe yt, Act. 22. b they brought him to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tharsis. So the congregacions had rest thorow out all Iewry, and Galile, and Samaria, & were edified, and walked in the feare of the LORDE, and were fylled with the comforte of the holy goost.

It chaunced that as Peter walked thorow all quarters, he came also vnto ye sayntes which dwelt at Lydda. There founde he a man named Eneas, which had lyen vpon his bedd eight yeares sicke of ye palsye. And Peter sayde vnto him: Eneas, Iesus Christ make the whole, aryse, and make thy bedd for ye self. And he arose immediatly. And all they that dwelt at Lydda and at Sarona, sawe him, and turned vnto the LORDE.

At Ioppa there was a certayne woman that was a disciple, named Tabitha, which by interpretacion is called Dorcas: ye same was full of good workes and almesse dedes, which she dyd. But it chaunced at the same tyme, that she was sicke, and dyed. Then waszhed they her, and layed her in a chāber. But for so moch as Lydda was nye vnto Ioppa, and the disciples herde that Peter was there, they sent two men vnto him, and desyred him, yt he wolde take it for no grefe to come vnto them.

Peter rose, and came with thē. And whā he was come, they broughte him in to the chamber, and all the wyddowes stode rounde aboute him, wepynge, and shewed him the cotes and garmētes, which Dorcas made whyle she was with them. And whā Peter had put them all forth, he kneled downe, made his prayer, and turned him vnto the body, and sayde: Tabitha, ryse vp. And she opened hir eyes: and whan she sawe Peter Some reade: *She 〈◊〉 vp she sat hir downe agayne. But he gaue her the hande, and lifte her vp, and called the sayntes and the wedowes, and shewed her there alyue. And it was knowne thorow out all Ioppa, & many beleued on ye LORDE. And it fortuned, yt he taried a lōge season at Ioppa by one Simō, which was a tanner.

The X. Chapter.

THere was a man at Cesarea, named Cornelius (a captayne of ye cōpany, which is called ye I alianysh) a denoute man, & one that feared God wt all his house, & gaue moch almesse to ye people, and prayed God allwaye. The same sawe in a vision openly (aboute the nyenth houre of the daye) an angell of God entringe in to him, and sayenge vnto him: Cornelius. He loked vpon him, and was afrayed, and sayde: LORDE, what is it? He sayde vnto him: Eccli. 35. b Thy prayers & thine allmesses are come vp in to remēbraunce before God. And now sende men vnto Ioppa, & call for Simō, whose syrname is Peter, which is at lodginge with one Symon a tanner, whose house lyeth by ye see syde: he shal tell ye, what thou oughtest to do. And whā the angell which spake to Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his housholde seruauntes, & a deuoute soudyer, of thē that wayted vpon him: and tolde them all, and sent thē to Ioppa.

On the nexte daye after whan these were goinge on their iourney, and came nye vnto the cite, Peter 4. Re. 4. d Mat 6. a Luc. 6. b wente vp in to a chamber to praye aboute the sixte houre. And whan he was hōgrie, he wolde haue eatē. But whyle they made ready for him, he fell into a traunce, and sawe heauē open, and a vessell cōmynge downe vnto him, as it had bene a greate lynnē clothe, knytt at the foure corners, and was let downe to ye earth, wherin were all maner of foure foted beestes of the earth, & wylde beestes, and wormes, and foules of the ayre. And there came a voyce vnto him: Ryse Peter, slaye, & eate. But Peter sayde: Oh no, LORDE, Leuit. 11. a Deut. 14. a for I neuer ate eny commen or vncleane thinge. And the voyce spake vnto him agayne ye secōde tyme: Mat 15. b Ro 14. b Tim 4. a Tit. 1. c What God hath clensed, yt make not thou vncleane. This was done thryse. And ye vessell was receaued vp agayne into heauen.

But whyle Peter was combred in himselfe, what maner of vision this shulde be which he had sene, beholde, the men yt were sent from Cornelius, enquered after Simōs house, and stode before the dore, and called, and axed whether Simon (whose syrname was Peter) were lodged there. Whyle Peter was musinge of the vision, the sprete sayde vnto him: beholde, the men seke the. Aryse therfore, and get the downe, & go with thē, and doute not, for I haue sent them.

Then wente Peter downe to the men, yt were sent vnto him from Cornelius, and sayde: lo, I am he whom ye seke: what is yt cause, wherfore ye are come? They sayde: Cornelius the captayne, a iust man and one that feareth God, and of good reporte amōge all the people of the Iewes, was warned by an holy angell, to sende for the in to his house, and to heare wordes of the. Gen. 19. a and. 24. d . Pet. 4. b Then called he them in, and lodged them.

The nexte daye after wente Peter forth with them, and certayne brethren of Ioppa bare him company. And ye daye folowinge came they to Cesarea. Cornelius wayted for thē, and had called together his kynszfolkes and speciall frendes. And as it chaunced yt Peter came in, Cornelius mett him, and fell downe at his fete, & worshipped him. But Peter toke him vp, and sayde: Act. •• . Apo. •• and •• Stonde vp, I am a man also. And as he talked wt him, he wente in, and founde many that were come together, and he sayde vnto them: Ye knowe, Deu. •• that it is not laufull for a man beynge a Iewe to ioyne him selfe or to come to a straunger. But God hath shewed me, yt I shulde call no mā cōmen or vncleane. Therfore haue I not douted to come, as soone as I was sent for. I axe you therfore, for what intent haue ye sent for me?

Cornelius sayde: It is now foure dayes agoo, then fasted I, and at the nyenth houre I prayed in my house, and beholde, there stode a mā before me in a bryghte clothinge, and sayde: Cornelius, yi prayer is herde, and thine allmesse dedes are had in remēbraunce in the sighte of God. Sende therfore to Ioppa, and call for one Simon (whose syrname is Peter) which is at lodginge in ye house of Simon ye tāner, by the seesyde: ye same whā he commeth, shal speake vnto ye. Then sent I vnto the immediatly, and thou hast done well, that thou art come. Now are we all here presente before God, to heare all thinges that are commaunded the of God.

Peter opened his mouth, & sayde: 〈…〉 Now perceaue I of a trueth, that God hath no respecte of personnes, 〈1 paragraph〉 but in all people he yt feareth him, and worketh righteousnes, is accepted vnto him. Ye knowe of ye preachinge that God sent vnto the children of Israel, preachinge thorow Iesus Christ (which is LORDE ouer all) which preachinge was published thorow out all Iewry, 〈…〉 and begāne in Galile after ye baptyme that Ihon preached, how God 〈…〉 anoynted the same I sus of Nazareth with the holy goost and wt power, which wente aboute, & dyd good, and healed all those that were oppressed of the deuell, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he dyd in the londe of the Iewes, & at Ierusalem. Whom they slewe, and hanged on tre.

Him God raysed vp on the thirde daye, and caused him be openly shewed, not to all the people, but to ye chosen witnesses of God euen vnto vs, which ate & dronke with him, 〈…〉 after he was rysen vp from the deed. And he commaunded vs to preach vnto the people, 〈…〉 and to testifye, that it is he which is ordeyned of God a iudge of the lyuynge and of the deed. 〈◊〉 4 . d 〈◊〉 53. c 〈◊〉 30. d 〈◊〉 4. d Of him beare all the prophetes wytnesse, that thorow his name all they yt beleue in him, shal receaue remyssion of synnes. Whyle Peter was yet speakynge these wordes, the holy goost fell vpō all thē that herkened vnto the worde. And the faithfull of the circūcision which came with Peter, were astonnyed, because that the gifte of ye holy goost was shed out also vpon the Heythen. For they herde that they spake with tunges, and magnified God. Thē answered Peter: 〈◊〉 3. d Maye eny man forbydde water, that these shulde not be baptysed, which haue receaued the holy goost as well as we? And he commaunded them to be baptysed in the name of the LORDE. Thē prayed they him, that he wolde tary there certayne dayes.

The XI. Chapter.

THe Apostles and the brethren that were in Iewrye, herde saye, that the Heythen also had receaued the worde of God. And whan Peter was come vp to Ierusalem, they that were of the circūcision, chode with him, and sayde: 〈◊〉 7. a Thou wentest into men that are vncircumcysed, and hast eaten with them. But Peter beganne, and expounded the thinge in order vnto thē and sayde: I was in ye cite of Ioppa prayē ge, 〈◊〉 10. b and in a traunce I sawe a vision, a vessell cominynge downe, as it had bene a greate lynnen clothe with foure corners, and let downe from heauen, and came vnto me. In to the which I loked, and considered, and sawe foure foted beestes of the earth, and wylde beestes, and wormes, and foules of the ayre. And I herde a voyce, which sayde vnto me: Ryse Peter, slaye, & eate. But I sayde: Oh no, LORDE, for there neuer entred eny commen or vncleane thinge in to my mouth. Neuertheles the voyce answered me agayne from heauen: What God hath clensed, that call not thou vncleane. This was done thre tymes, and all was taken vp agayne into heauen.

And beholde, immediatly stode there thre men before the dore of the house that I was in, sent from Cesarea vnto me. But the sprete sayde vnto me, that I shulde go with thē and doute nothinge. ct. 10. c These sixe brethrē also came with me, and we entred in to the mās house.

And he shewed vs, how he had sene an angell stondinge in his house, which sayde vnto him: Sende men to Ioppa, and call for Simon (whose syrname is Peter) he shal tell ye wordes, wherby thou and all thy house shal be saued. But whan I beganne to speake, the holy goost fell vpō them, Act. 2. a like as vpon vs at ye begynnynge. Then thoughte I vpon the worde of the LORDE, how he sayde: Act. 1. a Ihon baptysed with water, but ye shalbe baptysed with ye holy goost. For as moch then as God hath geuen them like giftes, as vnto vs, which beleue on the LORDE Iesus Christ, who was I, that I shulde be able to withstōde God? Whan they herde this, they helde their peace, and praysed God, and sayde: Then hath God also to the Heithen graunted repentaunce vnto life.

They that were scatred abrode thorow ye trouble yt rose aboute Steuen, Act 8. a walked on euerysyde vntyll Phenices, and Cipers, and Antioche, and spake the worde vnto noman but onely vnto ye Iewes. Neuertheles some of thē were men of Cipers and Cyren, which came to Antioche, and spake also vnto the Grekes, & preached the Gospell of the LORDE Iesu. And ye hande of the LORDE was with thē. And a greate nombre beleued, and turned vnto the LORDE.

This tydinges of them came to ye eares of the cōgregacion at Ierusalem. And they sent Barnabas, that he shulde go vnto Antioche. Which whan he was come thither, & sawe the grace of God, he was glad, Act. 13. d and exorted them all, that with purpose of hert they wolde contynue in the LORDE. For he was a good man, full of the holy goost and faith. And there was a greate multitude of people added vnto the LORDE. But Barnabas departed vnto Tharsus, to seke Saul And whā he had foūde hī, he brought hī to Anthioche. It chaūced, that a whole yeare they were there cōuersaunte together in the cōgregaciō, & taughte moch people, so that the disciples at Antioche were first called Christen.

In those dayes came there prophetes frō Ierusalem vnto Antioche. And one of them (whose name was Act. 21. b Agabus) stode vp, and declared by the sprete a greate derth, that shulde come ouer the whole compasse of the earth: which came to passe vnder the Emperoure Claudius. But the disciples cōcluded (euery one acordinge to his abylite) to sende 1. Cor. 16. 2. Cor. 8. and 9. a an handreachinge vnto ye brethren that were in Iewry: which thinge they also dyd, and sent it by the handes of Barnabas and Saul.

The XII. Chapter.

AT the same tyme layed kynge Herode handes vpon certayne of the congregacion, to vexe them. As for Mat. 4. c Iames the brother of Ihon, him he slewe with the swerde. And whan he sawe that it pleased the Iewes, he proceaded farther to take Peter also. But it was Easter. Now whan he had taken him, he put him in preson, and delyuered him vnto foure quaternions of soudyers, to kepe him: and thought after Easter to bringe him forth to the people. And Peter was kepte in the preson Act. 4. c But prayer was made without ceassinge of the congregacion, vnto God for him. And whan Herode wolde haue broughte him out vnto the people, in the same nighte slepte Peter betwene two soudiers, bounde with two cheynes. And the kepers before the dore kepte the preson.

And beholde, the angell of the LORDE was there presente, and a lighte shyned in the habitacion, and he smote Peter on the syde, and waked him vp, and sayde: Aryse vp quyckly. And the cheynes fell of from his hondes. And the angell sayde vnto him: Gyrde the, and put on thy shues. And he dyd so. And he sayde vnto him: Cast thy mantle aboute the, and folowe me. And he wente out, and folowed him, and wyst not, that it was trueth that was done by ye angell, but thoughte he had sene a vision. Neuertheles they wente thorow the first and seconde watch, and came to the yron gate, that ledeth vnto the cite, which opened to thē by his awne acorde. And they wente out, and passed thorow one strete, and immediatly the angell departed from him.

And whan Peter was come to himself, he sayde: Now I knowe of a trueth, that ye LORDE hath sent his angell, and delyuered me out of the honde of Herode, and from all the waytinge for of the people of the Iewes. And as he considered the thinge, he came to the house of Mary the mother of one Ihon, (which after his syrname was called Marke) where many were gathered together, Act. 1. b and prayed. As Peter knocked at the entry dore, there came forth a damsell to herken, named Rhoda. And whan she knewe Peters voyce, she opened not the entrye for gladnes, but rāne in, and tolde, that Peter stode before ye entrye. But they sayde vnto her: Thou art mad. Neuertheles she abode by it, that is was so. They sayde: it is his angell. But Peter contynued knockinge. Whan they opened the dore, they sawe him, and were astonnyed. Act. 13. b But he beckened vnto them with the hande, to holde their peace, & tolde them, how the LORDE had broughte him out of the preson. And he sayde: Shewe this vnto Iames, and to the brethren. And he departed, and wēte in to another place.

Whan it was daye, there was not a litle a doo amōge the soudyers, what was become of Peter. Whan Herode had called for him, and founde him not, he caused the kepers to be examyned, and commaunded thē to be caried awaye, and he wente downe frō Iewry vnto Cesarea, and there abode. But he was displeased with thē of Tyre and Sidō. Neuertheles they came vnto him with one accorde, and made intercession to Blastus the kynges chamberlayne, and desyred peace, because their countre was norished by the kynges londe. But vpon a daye appoynted, Herode put on ye kyngly apparell, sat him downe vpon the iudgment seate, and made an oracion vnto them. As for the people, they cried therto: This is a voyce of God, and not of a man. Immediatly the angell of the LORDE smote him, because he gaue not God the honoure: And he was eaten vp of wormes, 〈…〉 and gaue vp the goost. But the worde of God grewe, and multiplyed. As for Barnabas and Saul, they came agayne to Ierusalem, and delyuered Act 〈…〉 the handreachinge, and toke with them Ihon, whose syrname was Marke.

The XIII. Chapter.

THere were at Antioche in the congregacion, prophetes and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyren, and Manahen Herodes the Tetrachas norsfelowe, and Saul. As they serued ye LORDE, and fasted, the holy goost sayde: Separate me out Barnabas and Saul for the worke, Act 〈…〉 where vnto I haue called them. Then fasted they and prayed, and layed the handes on them, and let them go. And they beynge sent of the holy goost, came vnto Seleucia, from thence they sayled vnto Cypers. And whan they were come in to the cite Salamin, they shewed the worde of God in the synagoges of ye Iewes. And they had 〈…〉 Ihon to their mynister.

And whan they had gone thorow out the yle vnto the cyte of Paphos, they founde a certayne Sorcerer and false prophete, a Iewe (whose name was Bariesu) which was with Sergius Paulus the ruler of the countre, a mā of vnderstondinge. The same called Barnabas and Saul vnto him, and desyred to heare ye worde of God. Then the 〈…〉 Sorcerer Elimas (for so was his name by interpretacion) withstode thē, and soughte to turne awaye the ruler frō the faith. But Saul which is also called Paul, beynge full of the holy goost, loked vpon him, and sayde: O thou childe of the deuell, full of all suttyl ie and all disceatfulnesse, and enemye of all righteousnes, thou ceassest not to peruerte the straight wayes of ye LORDE. And now beholde, the hāde of the LORDE commeth vpon the, and thou shalt be blynde, and not se the Sonne for a season, And immediatly there fell on him a myst and darknesse, and he wente aboute, and soughte them that shulde lede him by the hande. Whan the ruler sawe what was done, he beleued, and wō dred at the doctryne of the LORDE.

Whan Paul and they that were with him, were departed by shippe frō Paphos, they came to Perga in the londe of Pamphilia. 〈…〉 But Ihon departed from them, and wente agayne to Ierusalem. Neuertheles they wandred thorow from Perga, and came to Antioche in the londe of Pisidia, and wēte in to the synagoge vpon the Sabbath daye, and sat downe. But after the lecture of the lawe and of the prophetes, the rulers of the synagoge sent vnto them, sayenge: Good brethren, yf ye haue eny sermon to exorte the people, saye on. Then stode Paul vp, and 〈…〉 beckened with the hande (that they shulde holde their peace) and sayde:

Yemen of Israel, and ye that feare God, herkē to: The God of this people chose oure fathers, and exalted the people, whan they were straungers in the lōde of Egipte, and with a mightie arme broughte he them out of it. 〈…〉 And by the space of fortye yeares suffred he their maners in the wyldernesse, and destroyed seuen nacions in the lande of Canaan, 〈◊〉 . 13. b and parted their londe amonge them by lott. 〈◊〉 . 1. a After that gaue he them iudges by the space of foure hundreth and fiftye yeares, vnto the prophet Samuel. And after that they desyred a kynge, 〈…〉 and God gaue vnto them Saul the sonne of Cis, 〈…〉 a man of the trybe of Ben Iamin, fortye yeares longe. 〈…〉 And whan he had put him downe, he set vp Dauid to be their kynge, of whom he reported, sayenge: 〈…〉 I haue founde Dauid the sonne of Iesse, a man after my hert, he shal fulfyll all my wyll.

Of this mans sede hath God ( 〈◊〉 . 131. a 〈◊〉 7. c acordinge to the promesse) broughte forth vnto the people of Israel, ye Sauioure Iesus: whan Ihon had first preached before his cōmynge the baptyme of repentaunce vnto Israel. But whan Ihon had fulfylled his course, he sayde: I am not he, that ye take me for. But beholde, there commeth one after me, whose shues of his fete I am not worthy to lowse. Ye men and brethren, ye children of the generacion of Abraham, and they that feare God amonge you, Mat. 10. a vnto you is ye worde of this saluacion sent. For the inhabiters of Ierusalem, and their rulers, for somoch as they knewe him not, ner yet the voyces of the prophetes (which are red euery Sabbath) haue fulfylled them in condemnynge him.1. Cor 2 a Luc. 23. a And though they founde no cause of death in him, yet desyred they Pilate to kyll him. And whan they had fulfylled all that was wrytten of him, they toke him downe from the tre, and layed him in a sepulcre. Luc. 23. But on ye thirde daye God raysed him vp from the deed, and he appeared many dayes vnto thē, that wente vp with him from Galile vnto Ierusalem, which Act. 1. a are his witnesses vnto the people.

And we also declare vnto you ye promes, which was made vnto oure fathers, how that God hath fulfylled the same vnto vs their children, in yt he raysed vp Iesus agayne. As it is wrytten in the seconde Psalme: Thou art my sonne, this daye haue I begotten the. But that he hath raysed him vp frō the deed, now nomore to returne to corrupcion, he sayde on this wyse: The grace promysed to Dauid, Esa. 55. wyl I faithfully kepe vnto you. Therfore sayeth he also in another place: Thou shalt not suffre thy Holy tose corrupcion. For Dauid, Psal. 15. b whan he in his tyme had serued the wyll of God, 3. Reg. 2. b he fell a slepe, and was layed by his fathers, & sawe corrupcion. But he whō God raysed vp agayne, sawe no corrupcion.

Be it knowne vnto you therfore ye men and brethrē, yt thorow this man is preached vnto you ye forgeuenesse of synnes, Luc. 24. d and frō all ye thinges, wherby ye mighte not be iustifyed in the lawe of Moses. But whosoeuer beleueth on this man, is iustifyed. Bewarre therfore, that it come not vpon you, which is spoken in the prophetes: Beholde ye despysers, and wonder at it, and perishe, Abac. 1. a for I do a worke in youre tyme, which ye shal not beleue, yf eny man tell it you.

Whan the Iewes were gone out of the synagoge, the Heythen besoughte them, yt they wolde speake ye worde vnto them betwene the Sabbath dayes. And whā the cō gregacion of the synagoge was broken vp, many Iewes and Proselites yt serued God, folowed Paul and Barnabas, which spake to them, and Act. 11. c exorted them, that they shulde contynue in the grace of God.

On ye Sabbath folowinge, came almost the whole cite together, to heare the worde of God. But whan the Iewes sawe the people, they were full of indignacion, and spake agaynst that which was spoken of Paul, speakinge agaynst it, & blasphemynge. But Paul and Barnabas waxed bolde, and sayde: Mat. 10. a nd. 15. c It behoued first the worde of God to be spoken vnto you: but now that ye thrust it frō you, and counte youre selues vnworthy of euerlastinge life, lo, Mat. 1. c we turne to the Gentyles. For so hath the LORDE cōmaunded vs: Esa. 49. b Mat. 5. b Luc. 3. c I haue set the to be a lighte vnto ye Gentyles, yt thou be ye Saluacion vnto the ende of the earth. Whan the Gentyles herde that, they were glad, and praysed the worde of the LORDE, and beleued, euē as many as were ordeyned to euerlastinge life. And the worde of ye LORDE was spred abrode thorow out all the region. Howbeit the Iewes moued the deuoute and honorable wemen,1. Tim. . b and the chefemen of the citie, and raysed vp a persecucion agaynst Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coastes. But they Mat. 10 b Mar. 6. b Luc. 9. a shoke of the dust of their fete agaynst them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were fylled with ioye and with the holy goost.

The XIIII. Chapter.

IT fortuned at Iconium, that they wēte both together in to the synagoge of the Iewes, and spake so, that a greate multitude of the Iewes & of the Grekes beleued. But the vnbeleuynge Iewes moued and disquyeted the soules of the Heythē agaynst the brethrē. So they had their beynge there a lōge season, and quyte themselues boldly in the LORDE, which gaue testimony vnto the worde of his grace, and caused tokens and wonders to be done by their handes. Marc. 16. c Howbeyt the multitude of the cite was deuyded, some helde wt the Iewes, and some with the Apostles.

But whan there rose vp an insurreccion of the Heythē and of ye Iewes, and of their rulers, to put them to shame, and to stone thē, they perceaued it, and Mat. 10. c fled vnto lystra and Derba cities of ye countre of Licaoni •• and vnto ye region that lyeth rounde aboute, and there they preached the Gospell.

And amonge them of Lystra, there was a man, which sat beynge impotent of his fete, and was crepell frō his mothers womb , and had neuer walked, the same herde Paul speake. And whan he behelde him, and perceaued that he had faith to be made whole, he sayde wt a loude voyce: Stonde vprighte on thy fete. And he sprange vp and walked. But whan the people sawe what Paul had done, they lifte vp their voyce, and sayde in ye speache of Lycaonia: The goddes are become like vnto men, and are come downe vnto vs. And they called Barnabas Iupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because he was the preacher. But Iupiters prest which dwel before their cite, broughte oxen and garlandes before the gate, and wolde haue done sacrifice with the people.

Whan ye Apostles Barnabas and Paul herde that, they rent their clothes, and ranne in amonge the people, cryenge and sayenge: Ye mē, Why do ye this? Act 〈…〉 We are mortall mē also like vnto you, & preach vnto you ye Gospell, that ye shulde turne from these vayne thinges vnto ye lyuynge God, which made heauē and earth, and the see, 〈…〉 and all that therin is, which in tymes past suffred all ye Heythen to walke after their awne wayes. Neuertheles he hath not left hī selfe without wytnesse, in yt he hath shewed his benefites, and geuen vs rayne from heauen, and frutefull seasons, fyllynge oure hertes with fode and gladnesse. And whan they sayde this, they scarse refrayned the people, that they dyd not sacrifice vnto them.

But there came thither certayne Iewes from Antioche and Iconiū, and persuaded the people, and 〈…〉 stoned Paul, and drue him out of the cite, supposinge he had bene deed. Howbeyt as ye disciples stode rounde aboute him, he rose vp, & came in to the cite. And on the nexte daye he departed with Barnabas vnto Derba, and preached the Gospell vnto the same cite, and taughte many of them. And they wēte agayne vnto Lystra, and Iconium and Antioche, strengthinge the soules of ye disciples, and exortinge thē to cōtynue in the faith: and that we thorow moch tribulacion must entre in to the kyngdome of God. 〈…〉 And whā they had ordeyned them Elders by eleccion thorow all the congregacions, they prayed and fasted, and cō mended them vnto the LORDE, on whom they beleued.

And they wente thorow Pisidia, and came to Pamphilia, and spake the worde at Perga, and wēte downe to Attalia, and frō thence departed they by shippe vnto Antioche: from whence they were delyuered to the grace of God vnto ye worke, which they had fulfylled. Whan they came there, they gathered the congregacion together, & shewed them, how greate thinges God had done with thē, and how he had opened the dore of faithe vnto the Heithen. And there they abode a longe tyme with the disciples.

The XV. Chapter.

ANd there came certayne frō Iewry, and taughte the brethren: 〈…〉 Excepte ye be circumcysed after the maner of Moses, ye can not be saued. Now whā there rose a discēsion, and Paul and Barnabas had set them selues harde agaynst them, 〈…〉 they ordeyned, that Paul and Barnabas and certayne other of them shulde go vp to Ierusalem vnto the Apostles and Elders, aboute this questiō. And they were broughte on their waye by ye cōgregacion, & wente thorow Phenices and Samaria, and declared the 〈…〉 conuersacion of the Heythen, and brought greate ioye vnto all the brethren. Whan they came to Ierusalē, they were receaued of ye cōgregacion, & of the Apostles, and of the Elders, & they tolde how greate thinges God had done with thē. Then rose there vp certayne of the secte of ye Pharises (which beleued) and sayde: They must be circumcysed and cōmaunded, to kepe the lawe of Moses. But the Apostles and Elders came together, to reason vpon this matter.

Now whan there was moch disputinge Peter rose vp, and sayde vnto thē: Ye men and brethren, ye knowe that a good whyle agoo, God chose amonge vs, yt the Heythē by my mouth shulde heare the worde of the Gospell, and beleue. And God the knower of hertes bare wytnesse ouer thē, 〈…〉 and gaue thē the holy goost, like as vnto vs, & put no dyfference betwixte vs & them, and purified their hertes thorow fayth. Now therfore why tempte ye God, with layenge vpon ye disciples neckes the yocke, 〈…〉 which nether o fathers ner we were able to beare? But we beleue to be saued thorow the grace of the LORDE Iesu Christ, 〈…〉 like as they also. The all ye multitude helde their peace, and gaue audience vnto Paul and Barnabas, which tolde how greate tokens and wonders God had done by thē amōge the Heythen. Afterwarde whan they helde their peace, Iames answered, and sayde: Ye men and brethren, herkē vnto me, Simō hath tolde, how God at the first vysited to receaue a people vnto his name from amonge the Heythen. And vnto this agree ye wordes of the prophetes, as it is wryttē: 〈…〉 After this wyl I returne and wyl buylde agayne ye tabernacle of Dauid, that is fallen downe, and that which is fallen in decaye therof, wyl I buylde agayne, and wyl set it vp, that the residue of men maye seke after the LORDE: & also the Heythen / vpō whom my name is named, sayeth the LORDE, which doth all these thinges. Knowne vnto God are all his workes from the begynnynge of ye worlde. Wherfore my sentence is, that they which from amonge the Heythen are turned vnto God, be not disquyeted, but to wryte vnto them, that they absteyne them selues from fylthynesse of Exo. 20. a Ephe. 5. a Gen. 9. a Idols, from Exo. 20. a Ephe. 5. a Gen. 9. a whordome, and from Exo. 20. a Ephe. 5. a Gen. 9. a strangled, and bloude. For Moses hath of olde tyme in euery cite them that preach him: and he is red in the synagoges euery Sabbath daye.

And the Apostles and Elders with the whole congregacion thoughte it good, to chose out men of them, and to sende them vnto Antioche with Paul and Barnabas, namely Ioh. 14. b Iudas, whose syrname was Barsabas, and Sylas (which were chefe men amō ge the brethrē) and gaue thē letters in their handes after this maner:

We the Apostles and Elders & brethren, wysh health vnto the brethrē of the Heythē which are at Antioche, and Syria and Celicia. For so moch as we haue herde that certayne of oures are departed, and haue troubled you, and combred youre myndes, Gal. . sayenge: ye must be circumcysed, and kepe ye lawe (to whom we gaue no soch commaundemēt) it semed good vnto vs, beynge gathered together with one accorde, to chose out men, and to sende them vnto you, with oure beloued Barnabas and Paul, men that haue Act. 13. e and. 14. ioperded their lyues for ye name of oure LORDE Iesus Christ. Therfore haue we sent Iudas and Sylas, which shal also tell you the same with wordes. For it pleased the holy goost and vs, to laye no charge vpon you, more then these necessary poyntes: That ye absteyne from the 1. Cor. 8. a and. 10. c offeringes of Idols, and from bloude, and from strangled, and from whordome. From the which yf ye absteyne youre selues, ye shal do well. Fare ye well.

Whan these were sent forth, they came vnto Antioche, and gathered the multitude together, and delyuered the epistle. Whan they had red it, they were glad of that cōsolacion. As for Iudas & Sylas (which were prophetes also) they exorted ye brethrē with moch preachinge, and strēgthed them. And whan they had taried there for a season, they were let go of the brethren in peace vnto the Apostles. Notwithstondinge Sylas thoughte it good to byde there styll. But Paul and Barnabas cōtynued at Antioche, teachinge and preachinge the worde of the LORDE, with other many.

Neuertheles after certayne dayes Paul sayde vnto Barnabas: let vs go agayne, and vyset oure brethren thorow all the cities (wherin we haue shewed the worde of the LORDE) how they do. But Barnabas gaue councell, that they shulde take with thē Ihon, whose syrname was Marke. Howbeit Paul thoughte it mete, not to take him with them, Act. 1 . b which departed from them in Pamphilia, and wente not with them vnto the worke. And so sharpe was the strife betwene them, that they departed asunder ye one frō the other, and Barnabas toke Marke vnto him, and sayled vnto Cypers. But Paul chose Sylas, and departed, beynge cō mytted of the brethren vnto the grace of God. He wente thorow Syria and Celicia, stablishynge the congregacions.

The XVI. Chapter.

HE came vnto Derba and to Lystra, and beholde, a certayne disciple was there named Timotheus, the sonne of a Iewish woman, which beleued, but his father was a Greke: ye same had a good reporte amonge the brethrē of Lystra and at Iconium. Paul wolde that the same shulde go forth with him, and toke and Gal. 2. a. circumcysed him because of the Iewes that were in those quarters. For they knewe all, that his father was a Greke. But as they wente thorow the cities, they delyuered them the sentence to kepe, Act. 5. d which was concluded of the Apostles and Elders at Ierusalem. Thē were the congregacions stablyshed in the faith, and increased in nombre daylie.

But as they wente thorow Phrygia and the londe of Galacia, they were Rom. 1. b forbydden of the holy goost, to preache the worde in Asia. Howbeit as they came in to Mysia, they proued to take their iourney in to Bithinia, and the sprete suffred them not.

Neuertheles whan they had passed thorow Mysia, they came downe to Troada, and there appeared a Act. 18. a and 23. b vision vnto Paul by night, that there was a man of Macedonia which stode and prayed him, and sayde: Come downe to Macedonia, and helpe vs. Whan he had sene ye vision, we soughte immediatly to go, vnto Macedonia, beynge certified, that ye LORDE had called vs thither, to preach the Gospell vnto them. Thē departed we from Troada, and came the straight course vnto Samothracia, on the nexte daye to Neapolis, and from thence to Philippis, which is the chefe cite of the londe of Macedonia, and a fre cite. In this cite abode we certayne dayes.

On the daye of the Sabbathes wēte we out of the cite besyde the water, where men were wonte to praye, and we sat downe, and spake vnto the wemen that resorted thither. And a deuoute woman (named Lydia) a seller of purple, out of the cite of Thiatira, herkened to, whose hert the LORDE opened that she gaue hede vnto the thinges that Paul spake. Whan she was baptysed and hir housholde, she besoughte vs, and sayde: Yf ye thynke that I beleue on the LORDE, then come in to my house, and a byde there. And she 〈…〉 constrayned vs.

It fortuned whan we wente to prayer, yt there met vs a damsel, which had a sprete of soythsayenge, and broughte hir master and mastresse greate vauntage with soyth sayenge: ye same folowed Paul and vs, and cryed, and sayde: These men are the seruauntes of the most hye God, which shewe vs ye waye of saluacion. This dyd she many dayes. But Paul was not content with it, and turned him aboute, and sayde vnto the sprete: I cō maunde the in the name of Iesu Christ, that thou departe out of her. 〈…〉 And he departed out at the same houre.

But whā hir master and mastresse sawe that the hope of their vauntage was gone, 〈…〉 they toke Paul and Sylas, drue them in to the market place before ye rulers, & broughte thē vnto the officers, and sayde: These men trouble oure cyte, & are Iewes, and preach an ordynaunce, which is not laufull for vs to receaue, ner to obserue, seynge we are Romaynes. And the people rāne on them, and the officers rente their clothes, and cōmaunded them to be beaten with roddes. 〈…〉 And whan they had beaten them sore, they cast thē in preson, and commaunded the iayler, to kepe them diligētly. Which whan he had receaued soch commaundement, he cast thē in to the ynner preson, and put their fete in the stockes.

But at mydnight prayed Paul and Sylas, and praysed God. And the presoners herde them. Sodenly was there a greate earth quake, so that the foundacions of the preson were shaken. And immediatly were all the dores open, & all their bondes lowsed Whā the keper of the preson waked out of slepe, and sawe the preson dores open, he drue out his swerde, and wolde haue kylled him selfe: for he thoughte ye presoners had bene fled. But Paul cryed loude, and sayde: Do thy self no harme, for we are all here.

He called for a lighte, and sprange in, and trembled, and fell at the fete of Paul and Sylas, and broughte them out, and sayde: Syrs, what must I do, to be saued? They sayde: 〈…〉 Beleue on the LORDE Iesus, and so shalt thou and thy housholde be saued. And they preached the worde of the LORDE vnto him, and to all that were in his house.

And he toke them to him in the same houre of the night, and waszhed their strypes. And immediatly was he baptysed, and all his. And he broughte them in to his house, and set them a table, and 〈…〉 reioysed with all his housholde, that he was become a beleuer on God.

And whan it was daye, the officers of the cite sent mynisters, and sayde: Let those men go. And the keper of the preson tolde this sayenge vnto Paul: The officers haue sent hither, that ye shulde be lowse. Now therfore get you hēce, and go in peace. But Paul sayde vnto them: They haue beaten vs openly vncondempned (where as we are yet Romaynes) and haue cast vs in preson, and shulde they now thrust vs out preuely? Not so, but let them come them selues, and brynge vs out. The mynisters tolde these wordes vnto the officers. And they feared, whan they herde that they were Romaynes, and came and besoughte them, and prayed thē to departe out of the cite. Then wente they out of the preson, and entred in to the house of Lydia. And whan they had sene the brethren and comforted them, they departed.

The XVII. Chapter.

AS they made their iourney thorow Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagoge of the Iewes. And Paul (as his maner was) wēte in vnto them, and vpon thre Sabbathes he spake vnto them of the scripture, opened it vnto thē, and alleged, 〈◊〉 4. d 〈…〉 . c 〈…〉 . d that Christ must nedes haue suffred, & ryse agayne from the deed: and this Iesus, whom I preach vnto you (sayde he) is ye same Christ. And some of thē beleued, and were ioyned vnto Paul and Sylas, a greate multitude also of the deuoute Grekes, and of the chefe wemen not a fewe.

But the styffnecked Iewes had indignacion, and toke vnto them certayne euell men which were vagabundes, and gathered a company, and set the cite in a rore, and preassed vnto the house of Iason, and soughte to brynge them out vnto the comon people. But whan they founde them not, they drue Iason, and certayne brethren vnto the rulers of the cite, and cryed: These that trouble all the worlde, are come hither also, whom Iason hath receaued preuely. And these all do contrary to the decrees of the Emperoure, sayenge, Ioh. 18. and. 19. a that there is another kynge, one Iesus. They troubled the people, and the rulers of the cite, that herde this. And whan they had receaued a sufficient answere of Iason and of the other, they let them go.

But the brethren immediatly sent awaye Paul and Sylas by night vnto Berea. Whan they came there, they wēte in to the synagoge of the Iewes (for they were the Eldest amonge thē at Thessalonica) which receaued the worde maruelous wyllingly, and Ioh. 5. d searched the scriptures daylie, whether it were euen so. Then beleued many of them, and worshipfull wemen off the Grekes, and men not a fewe. 1. Tess. 2. c But whan the Iewes off Thessalonica had knowlege, that the worde off God was preached off Paul at Berea, they came, and moued the people there also. Howbeit the brethren sent Paul awaye then immediatly, to go vnto the see. As for Sylas and Timotheus, they abode there styll.

They that conueyed Paul, brought him vnto Athens. And whan they had receaued a commaundement vnto Sylas and Timotheus, that they shulde come vnto him in all the haist, they wente their waye. But whyle Paul wayted for them at Athens, his sprete was moued in him, whan he sawe the cite geuē so to the worshippinge of ymages. And he spake vnto the Iewes and deuoute personnes in the synagoge, & in ye market daylie vnto thē that came to him. But certayne Philosophers of ye Epicurees and Stoikes disputed with him. And some sayde: What will this babler saye? But some sayde: He semeth to be a tidinges brynger of new Some reade: * deuyls. goddes (That was, because he had preached vnto thē the Gospell of Iesus, & of the resurreccion.) And they toke him, and broughte him before the councell house, and sayde: Maye we not knowe, what new doctryne this is that thou teachest? For thou bryngest straūge tidinges to oure eares? We wolde knowe therfore, what this meaneth. As for all they of Athens, and straungers & gestes, they gaue thē selues to nothinge els, but either to tell, or to heare some newes.

Paul stode on the myddes of the comon place, and sayde: Ye mē of Athens, I se that in all thinges ye are supersticious. I haue gone thorow, & sene youre gods seruyce, and founde an altare, where vpō was wrytten: To the vnknowne God. Now shewe I vnto you ye same, whom ye worshippe ignorauntly. God which made ye worlde, and all that therin is, Psal. 145. a Act. 14. c for so moch as he is LORDE of heauen and earth, Esa. 66. a Act. 7. f dwelleth not in temples made of handes, nether is he worshipped with mens handes, as though he had nede of eny man, seynge he himself geueth life and breth vnto all men euery where: Gen. 2. b and hath made of one bloude all the generacion of men to dwell vpō all the face of ye earth: and hath assygned borders appoynted before, how longe and farre they shulde dwell, that they shulde seke the LORDE, yf they mighte fele and fynde him.

And truly he is not farre from euery one of vs. For in him we lyue, moue, and haue oure beynge, as certayne of youre awne Poetes also haue sayde: We are his generacion. For as moch then as we are the generacion of God, we oughte not to thinke that the Godheade is like vnto golde or syluer, or ymagery worke of the crafte or ymaginacion of man. Rom. 2. a And truly God hath ouersene the tyme of ignoraunce: Lu. 24. d But now he commaundeth all men euery where to repente, because he hath appoynted a daye, in the which he wyl iudge the cōpasse of the worlde, with righteousnesse, by that one man in whō he hath appoynted it: and offred faith vnto all men, after that he had raysed him vp from the deed.

Whan they herde of the resurreccion of the deed, some mocked. But some sayde: We wyl heare the agayne of this matter. So Paul departed from amonge them. Howbeit certayne men claue vnto him, and beleued: amonge whom was Dionisius, one of the councell: and a woman named Damaris, and other with them.

The XVIII. Chapter.

AFter that departed Paul frō Athens, and came to Corinthum, and founde a Iewe named Ro. 16. a 3. Tim. 4. c Aquila, borne in Pō tus, which was lately come out of Italy: and his wife Priscilla (because the Empero Claudius had commaunded all Iewes to departe from Rome) and he drue vnto thē. And because he was of the same crafte, he abode with thē, and wroughte. Their crafte was to make tentes. And he preached in the synagoge euery Sabbath daye, and exhorted the Iewes and the Grekes.

Whan Sylas and Timotheus were come fro Macedonia, Paul was constrayned by the sprete to testifye vnto ye Iewes, that Iesus was very Christ. But whā they sayde cōtrary and blasphemed, 〈…〉 he shoke his rayment, and sayde vnto them: Youre bloude be vpon youre awne heade. From hence forth I go blamelesse vnto the Gentyles. And he departed thence, and came in to the house of a man named Iustus, which feared God, and his house was nexte vnto the synagoge. Howbeit Crispus the chefe ruler of the synagoge, beleued on ye LORDE with all his housholde. And many of the Corinthians that gaue audience, beleued, and were baptysed.

The LORDE spake vnto Paul by a vision in ye nighte: Be not afrayed, but speake, and holde not thy peace, for I am with the: and noman shal inuade the that shal hurte the, for I haue moch people in this cite. He contynued there a yeare and sixe monethes, and taught them the worde of God.

But whan Gallio was ruler of the countre of Achaia, the Iewes made insurreccion wt one acorde agaynst Paul, & broughte him before the iudgment seate, and sayde: This felowe counceleth men to worshipe God cōtrary to the lawe. Whan Paul was aboute to open his mouth, Gallio sayde vnto ye Iewes: Yf it were a matter of wronge or an euell dede (O ye Iewes) reason wolde that I shulde heare you: but yf it be a question of wordes, and of names, and of ye lawe amōge you, loke ye to it youre selues, I thinke not to be iudge there ouer. And he droue them from the iudgmēt seate. Then all the Grekes toke Sosthenes the ruler of the Sinagoge, and smote him before the iudgment seate. And Gallio cared for none of tho thinges.

Paul after yt he had taried a good whyle, toke his leue of the brethren, and sayled in to Syria, Priscilla & Aquila bearinge him company. And he shore his heade at Cenchrea (for he had a 〈…〉 vowe) & came downe to Ephesus, & lefte them there. But he himselfe wēte in to the synagoge, and reasoned with the Iewes. And they desyred him, that he wolde tary with them a longer season. And he cōsented not, but bad them farwele, and sayde: I must nedes in eny wyse kepe this feast that commeth, at Ierusalem: but 〈…〉 yf God wyl, I wil returne agayne vnto you.

And he departed from Ephesus, and came to Cesarea, and wente vp, and saluted ye congregacion, and toke his iourney downe to Antioche, and taried there a certayne tyme, and departed, and walked thorow all ye countre of Galatia and Phrigia by ordre, and strengthed all the disciples.

There came vnto Ephesus a certayne Iewe, named 〈…〉 . b 〈…〉 . b Apollo (borne at Alexādria) an eloquent man, and mightie in the scriptures: the same was infourmed in the waye of the LORDE, and spake feruently in the sprete, and taughte diligently the thinges of the LORDE, and knewe but the baptyme off Ihon onely. The same beganne to speake boldly in the synagoge. Whan Aquila and Priscilla herde him, they toke him vnto thē, and expounded the waye of God, vnto him more perfectly. But whan he wolde go in to Achaia, the brethren wrote, and exorted the disciples to receaue him. And whan he was come thither, he helped them moch which beleued thorow grace. For he ouercame the Iewes mightely, and shewed openly by ye scripture, that Iesus was Christ.

The XIX. Chapter.

BVt it fortuned whan Apollo was at Corinthum, that Paul walked thorow the vpper coastes, and came to Ephesus, and founde certayne disciples, vnto whom he sayde: Haue ye receaued ye holy goost, sence ye beleued? They sayde vnto hī: We haue not herde, whether there be an holy goost. He sayde vnto them: Where with then were ye baptysed? They sayde: With the baptyme of Ihon. Paul sayde: Ihon baptysed with the baptyme of repentaunce, 〈◊〉 3. b 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 c and spake vnto ye people, that they shulde beleue on him, which shulde come after him, that is, on Iesus, that the same is Christ. Whan they herde that, they were baptysed in the name of the LORDE Iesu. And whan Paul layed the hādes on thē, the holy goost came vpon them, and they spake with tunges, and prophecied. And all the men were aboute twolue.

He wēte in to ye synagoge, and preached boldly thre monethes longe, teachinge, and geuynge them exortacions of the kyngdome of God. But whan dyuerse waxed herde herted, and beleued not, and spake euell of the waye of the LORDE before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, and disputed daylye in the scole of one called Tyrannus. And this was done two yeares lōge, so that all they which dwelt in Asia, herde the worde of the LORDE Iesu, both Iewes & Grekes. And God wroughte no small miracles by the handes of Paul, so that from his body there were broughte napkyns or partlettes vnto the sicke, and the diseases departed from them, and the euell spretes wente out of them.

But certayne of the vagabounde Iewes which were coniurers, vndertoke to name ye name of the LORDE Iesus, ouer those that had euell spretes, and sayde: We charge you by Iesus whom Paul preacheth. They were seuen sonnes of one Sceua a Iewe the hye prest, which dyd so. The euell sprete answered, and sayde: Iesus I knowe, and Paul I knowe, but who are ye? And the mā in whō the euell sprete was, ranne vpon them, and ouercame them, and cast them vnder him, so that they fled out of the same house naked and wounded. This was knowne vnto all the Iewes and Grekes which dwelt at Ephesus, and there fell a feare vpon them all. And ye name of the LORDE Iesus was magnified. Mat. 3. a Many of thē also that beleued, came and cōfessed, and shewed their workes. But many of them that had vsed curious craftes, broughte the bokes together, and burnte them openly: and they counted the pryce of them, and founde it of money fiftye thousande pens. So mightely grewe ye worde of the LORDE, and preuayled.

Whan this was done, Paul purposed in sprete to take his iourney thorow Macedonia and Achaia, and to go to Ierusalē, and sayde: After that I haue bene there, I must se Rome also. And he sent into Macedonia two that mynistred vnto him, Timotheus and Erastus. But he himselfe remayned in Asia for a season. At the same tyme there rose no litle a doo aboute that waye. For a certayne man named Demetrius a goldsmyth, which made syluer shrynes for Diana, and broughte them of the crafte no small vauntage. Them he gathered together, and the felowe workmē of the same occupacion, and sayde: Syrs, ye knowe that by this craft we haue vauntage, and ye se and heare, that not onely at Ephesus, but almost also thorow out all Asia, this Paul turneth awaye moch people with his persuadynge, and sayeth: Psal. 113. They be not goddes that are made with hondes. Howbeit it shal not onely brynge oure occupacion to this poynte to be set at naught, but also the temple of greate Diana shal from hence forth be despysed, and hir maiestye also shalbe destroyed, whō neuertheles all Asia and the worlde worshippeth.

Whan they herde this, they were full of 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 wrath, cried out, and sayde: Greate is Diana of the Ephesians. And all ye cite was on a roore, and they ruszhed in with one assent in to the open place, and toke Gaius and Aristarchus of Macedonia, Pauls companyons. Whan Paul wolde haue gone in amonge the people, the disciples suffred him not. Certayne also of ye chefe of Asia which were Pauls good frendes, sent vnto him, and desyred him, that he shulde not preasse in to the open place. Some cried one thinge, some another. And the congregacion was out of quyete, and the more parte knewe not wherfore they were come together. Some of the people drue forth Alexander, whan ye Iewes thrust him forwarde. Alexāder beckened with the hande, and wolde haue geuen the people an answere. But whan they knewe that he was a Iewe, there arose a shoute of all, and cried the space of two houres: Greate is Diana of the Ephesians.

Whan the towne clarke had stylled the people, he sayde: Ye men of Ephesus, what man is it which knoweth not, that the cite of ye Ephesiās is a worshipper of the greate goddesse Diana, and of the heauenly ymage? Seinge now that this can not be sayde agaynst, ye ought to be contente, and to do nothinge without aduysement. Ye haue broughte hither these men, which are nether churchrobbers ner blasphemers off youre goddesse.

But yff Demetrius and they that are craftesmen with him, haue ought to saye vnto eny man, the lawe is open, and there are rulers, let them accuse one another. But yf ye wil go aboute eny other thinge, it maye be determyned in a laufull congregacion. For we stonde in ioperdy to be accused of this dayes vproure: and yet is there no man giltye, of whom we mighte geue a rekenynge of this vproure. And whan he had sayde this, he let the congregacion departe.

The XX. Chapter.

NOw whan the vproure was ceassed, Paul called the disciples vnto him, and toke his leue of them, and departed 1. Tim. 1. a to go in to Macedonia. And whan he had gone thorow those partes, and exhorted them with many wordes, he came in to Grekelonde, and there abode thre monethes. But whan the Iewes layed wayte for him, as he was aboute to sayle in to Syria, he purposed to turne agayne thorow Macedonia. There accompanied him in to Asia, Sopater of Berrea: and of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus: and Gaius of Derba, and Timotheus: but of Asia, Tychicus and Act. 〈…〉 . Tim. 〈…〉 Trophimus. These wente before, and taried for vs at Troada: but we sayled after the Easter dayes from Philippos, vnto ye fyfth daye, and came to them vnto Troada, and taried there seuen dayes.

Vpon one of the Sabbathes, whan the disciples came together to breake bred, Paul preached vnto them, wyllinge to departe on the morow, and contynued the preachinge vnto mydnight. And there were many lightes in the chamber, where they were gathered together. There sat a yonge man named Eutychos, in a wyndow, and fell in to a depe slepe (whyle Paul was speakinge) and was ouercome with slepe, and fell downe from the thirde lofte, and was taken vp deed. But Paul wente downe, and fell on him, and enbraced him, and sayde: Make nothinge a doo, for his soule is in hī. Then wente he vp, and brake the bred, and ate, and talked moch with thē, tyll the daye brake, and so departed. As for the yōge man, they broughte him alyue, and were not a litle conforted.

But we wente afore in to the shippe, and sayled towarde Asson, wyllinge there to receaue Paul. For so had he appoynted, and wolde himselfe go on fote. Whan he was come to vs vnto Asson, we toke him in, and came to Mitylenes, and sayled from thence, and came on the nexte daye ouer agaynst Chios, and on the daye folowinge we aryued at Samos, and taried at Tragilion, and on the nexte daye came we to Mileton: for Paul had determed to sayle ouer by Ephesus, that he nede not to spende the tyme in Asia: for he haisted to be at Ierusalem vpō the Whitsondaye, yf it were possible for him.

But from Mileton he sent vnto Ephesus, and called for the Elders of the congregacion. Whan they were come to him, he sayde vnto them: Ye knowe sence the first daye Act 〈…〉 that I came in to Asia, after what maner I haue bene with you at all tyme, and serued ye LORDE with all humblenesse of mynde, and with many teares and tentacions, which happened vnto me by ye layenges of wayte of the Iewes, how yt I haue kepte backe nothinge yt was profitable, but that I haue shewed you, and taughte you openly, and priuately from house to house. And haue testifyed both vnto the Iewes & to the Grekes * the repentaunce towarde God, and faith towarde oure LORDE Iesus.

And now beholde, I go bounde in ye sprete vnto Ierusalē, not knowinge what shal happen there vnto me, but yt the holy goost 〈…〉 witnesseth in euery cite, and sayeth, that bondes and troubles abyde me there. But 〈…〉 I regarde none of them, nether counte I my life bearer then my selfe, that I maye fulfyll my course with ioye, and the office yt I haue receaued of the LORDE Iesu, to testifye the Gospell of the grace of God.

And now beholde, I knowe that ye shal se my face nomore, all ye, thorow whom I haue gone, and preached the kyngdome of God. Wherfore I take you to recorde this daye, that I am pure from the bloude of all men: For I haue kepte nothinge backe, but haue shewed you all the councell off God. Take hede therfore vnto youre selues, and to all the flocke, amonge the which the holy goost hath set you to be Bishoppes, to fede the congregacion of God, which he hath purchaced thorow his owne bloude. For this I knowe, 〈…〉 that after my departinge there shal enter in amonge you greuous wolues, which shal not spare the flocke. Yee euē 〈…〉 from amonge youre awne selues shal men aryse, speakynge peruerse doctryne, to drawe disciples after them. Therfore awake, and remembre, that by the space of thre yeares I ceassed not to warne euery one off you both nighte and daye with teares.

And now brethren I commende you vnto God, and to ye worde of his grace, which is mightie to edifye you, and to geue you the enheritaunce amōge all them that are sanctified. 〈…〉 I haue not desyred syluer, golde or rayment off eny off you. For ye youre selues knowe, that 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 these handes haue mynistred vnto my necessities, and them that were with me. I haue shewed you all thinges, how that so labouringe ye oughte to receaue the weake, and to remembre the worde of the LORDE, how that he sayde: It is more blessed to geue, then to receaue.

And whan he had sayde this, he kneled downe, and prayed with them all. But there was moch wepynge amonge them all, and they fell aboute Pauls necke, and kyssed him, and were sory, most of all because of the worde which he had sayde, that they shulde se his face nomore. And they accōpanied him vnto the shippe.

The XXI. Chapter.

NOw whan it fortuned that we had launched forth and were departed from them, we came with a straight course vnto Coon, and on the daye folowinge vnto the Rhodes, and from thence vnto Patara. And whan we founde a shippe ready to sayle vnto Phenices, we wente aborde and set forth. But whā we came within the sighte of Cypers, we lefte it on the lefte hande, and sayled vnto Syria, and came vnto Tyre: for there the shippe shulde laye forth the ware. And whan we had founde disciples, we taried there seuen dayes. And they tolde Paul thorow the sprete, that he shulde not go vp to Ierusalem. And it fortuned whā we had fulfilled those dayes, we departed, and wente oure wayes, and they all broughte vs on oure waye with wyues and childrē, tyll we were come out of ye cite, and wekneled downe vpō the shore, and prayed. And whan we had taken oure leue one off another, we toke shippe, but they turned agayne vnto theirs. As for vs we ended the course from Tyre, and came to Ptolomaida, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one daye.

On the nexte daye we yt were with Paul, departed, and came vnto Cesarea, & entred in to the house of Act. 6. a and. . a Philippe the Euangelist (which was one of the seuē) and abode with him. The same had foure doughters, which were virgins, Ioel. 2. f and prophecied. And as we taried there mo dayes, there came downe from Iewry a prophet, named Act. 11. c Agabus. Whā he was come vnto vs, he toke Pauls gerdell, and bounde his hādes and fete, and sayde: Thus sayeth ye holy goost: Act. 10. c The man whose gerdell this is, shal the Iewes bynde thus at Ierusalem, and shal delyuer him in to the handes of the Heythē. Whan we herhe this, both we and they that were of the same place, besoughte him, that he wolde not go vp to Ierusalem. Then answered Paul and sayde: What do ye, wepynge, and breakynge my hert? For I am redye not onely to be bounde, but also to dye at Ierusalem for ye name of the LORDE Iesu. But whā he wolde not be persuaded, we ceassed, and sayde: Mat. . b The will of the LORDE be fulfylled. And after those dayes we were ready, & wente vp to Ierusalem: There came with vs also certayne of the disciples off Cesarea, and broughte with them one of Cypers, named Mnason, an olde disciple, with whom we shulde lodge. Now whā we came to Ierusalem, the brethren receaued vs gladly. But on the nexte daye Paul wente in with vs vnto Iames, and all the Elders came together. And whan he had saluted them, he tolde by order, what God had done amō ge the Heythen by his mynistracion.

Whan they herde that, they praysed the LORDE, and sayde vnto him: Brother, thou seyst how many thousande Iewes there are which beleue, and are all Zelous ouer ye lawe. But they are enfourmed agaynst the, that thou teachest all the Iewes which are amōge the Heythē, to forsake Moses, and sayest that they oughte not to circumcyse their children, ner to walke after the same custome. What is it therfore? The multitude must nedes come together, for they shal heare that thou art come. Do this therfore that we saye vnto the: We haue foure men, which haue a Num. 6. b Act. 13. b vowe on them, take them vnto ye, and purifye thyselfe with them, and do the cost on them, that they maye shaue their heades: and they shal knowe, that it is nothinge, wherof they are enfourmed agaynst the, but that thou also walkest and kepest the lawe. For as touchinge them that beleue amonge the Heythen, Act. 15. d we haue wrytten, and concluded, that they shulde obserue no soch, but onely to kepe them selues from the offeringes of Idols, from bloude, from strā gled, Act. 24. b and from whordome. Then Paul toke the men vnto him, and was purified with them on the nexte daye, and entred in to the temple, declaringe that he fulfylled the dayes of purificacion, tyll there was an offeringe offred for euery one of them.

But whan the seuen dayes were allmost fulfylled, the Iewes of Asia sawe him in the temple, and moued all the people, layed handes vpon him, and cryed: Ye men of Israel, helpe, this is the man, that teacheth all men euery where agaynst oure people, the lawe, and this place. He hath broughte Grekes also in to the temple, and hath defyled this holy place. For they had sene Act. 20. a 2. Tim. 4. c Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the cite, him they thoughte yt Paul had broughte in to the temple. And all the cite was moued, and the people ranne together. And they toke Paul, and drue him out off the temple, and forth with the dores were shut to.

But whan they wēte aboute to kyll him, tydinges came to the chefe captayne of the company, that all Ierusalem was moued. Which immediatly toke soudyers and captaynes vnto him, and ranne in amōge them. Whan they sawe the captayne and the soudyers, they lefte smytinge of Paul.

Whan the captayne came nye, he toke him, and commaunded him Act. 〈…〉 to be bounde with two cheynes, and axed what he was, and what he had done. One cried this, another that amonge the people. But whan he coulde not knowe the certente because of the rumoure, he commaunded him to be caried in to the castell. And whā he came to the steppes, it fortuned that he was borne of ye soudyers because of the violence of the people. For the multitude off the people folowed after, and cryed: Luc. 〈…〉 Awaye with him. Whan Paul was now to be caried in to the castell, he sayde vnto ye captayne: Maye I speake vnto the? He sayde: Canst thou Greke? Art not thou the Egipcian, which before these dayes maydest an vproure, & leddest out in to the wyldernesse foure thousande preuy murthurers? Paull sayde: I am a man which am a Iewe off Act. and Tharsis, a citesyn of a famous cite in Celicia: I beseke the, suffre me to speake vnto the people. Whan he had geuen him lycence, Paul stode on the steppes, and beckened with the hande vnto the people. Now whan there was made a greate sylēce, he spake vnto them in Hebrue, and sayde:

The XXII. Chapter.

YE men, brethren, and fathers, heare myne answere which I make vnto you. Whan they herde that he spake vnto them in the Hebrue, they kepte the more sylence. And he sayde: I am a man which am a Iewe, borne at Tharsis in Celicia, and broughte vp in this cite at the fete off Act 〈…〉 Gamaliel, enfourmed diligently in the lawe of the fathers, and was feruent mynded to God warde, as ye all are also this daye, Act 〈…〉 and 1. Co 〈…〉 Gal. 〈…〉 and I persecuted this waye vnto the death. I bounde them and delyuered them vnto preson, both men and wemen, as ye hye prest also doth beare me wytnesse, and all ye Elders: of whom I receaued letters vnto the brethren, and wente towarde Damascon, that I mighte brynge them which were there, bounde to Ierusalem, to be punyshed.

But it fortuned as I made my iourney, and came nye vnto Damascon, aboute noone, sodenly there shone a greate lighte aboute me from heauen, and I fell to the earth, and herde a voyce which sayde vnto me: Saull Saull, why persecutest thou me? I answered: Who art thou LORDE? And he sayde vnto me: I am Iesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest. As for them that were with me, they sawe ye lighte and were afrayed, but they herde not the voyce of him that spake with me. I sayde: LORDE, what shal I do? The LORDE sayde vnto me: Aryse, and go in to Damascon, there shal it be tolde yt of all that is appoynted the to do. But whan I sawe nothinge for the bryghtnesse of the lighte, I was led by the hande of them that were with me, and came to Damascon.

There was one Ananias, a deuoute man after the lawe, 〈◊〉 9. b which had a good reporte of all the Iewes that dwelt there, the same came, and stepte vnto me, and sayde: Brother Saul, loke vp. And I loked vp vpon him the same houre. He sayde: The God of oure fathers hath ordeyned the before, that thou shuldest knowe his wyll, and se the thinge yt is rightfull, and heare the voyce out of his mouth: for thou shalt be his wytnesse vnto all men, of tho thinges which thou hast sene and herde. And now why tariest thou? Aryse, and be baptysed, and wasze awaye thy synnes, and 〈…〉 call vpon the name of the LORDE.

But it fortuned, that whan I was come agayne to Ierusalē, and prayed in the temple, I was in a traunce, and sawe him. Then sayde he vnto me: Make haist, 〈◊〉 0. b 〈◊〉 9. d and get the soone out of Ierusalem, for they wyl not receaue the witnesse that thou bearest of me. And I sayde: LORDE, they thē selues knowe that I put in preson and bett in euery synagoge them that beleued on the. 〈…〉 And whā the bloude of Steuē thy witnesse was shed, I stode by also, & consented vnto his death, and kepte the clothes of them that slewe him. And he sayde vnto me: Go thy waye, for 〈◊〉 13. a 〈◊〉 1. c 〈◊〉 . 3. a I wil sende the farre amonge the Heythen.

They gaue him audience vnto this worde, and lifte vp their voyce, & sayde: Awaye with soch a felowe from the earth, for it is not reason that he shulde lyue. But as they cried, and cast of their clothes, & thrue dust in to the ayre, the captayne bad brynge him in to the castell, and commaunded him to be beaten with roddes and to be examyned, that he mighte knowe, for what cause they cried so vpon him. And whan he bounde him with thonges, Paul sayde vnto the vndercaptayne that stode by: Is it laufull for you to scourge a man that is a Romayne, and vncondemned? Whan the vndercaptayne herde that, he wēte to the vpper captayne, and tolde him, and sayde? What wilt thou do? This man is a Romayne. Then came ye vpper captayne, and sayde vnto him: Tell me, art thou a Romayne? He sayde: Yee. And the vpper captayne answered: With a greate summe optayned I this fredome. But Paul sayde: As for me, I am a Romayne borne. Thē straight waye departed from him, they that shulde haue examyned him. And ye chefe captayne was afrayed, whan he knewe that he was a Romayne, and because he had bounde him. On the nexte daye wolde he knowe the certentye wherfore he was accused of the Iewes, and he lowsed him from the bondes, and commaunded the hye prestes and all their councell to come together, and broughte Paul forth, and set him amonge them.

The XXIII. Chapter.

PAul behelde the councell, and sayde: Ye men and brethren, Act. 24. I haue lyued with all good conscience before God vnto this daye: Iere. 20. Ioh. 18. a But the hye prest Ananias commaunded them that stode aboute him, to smyte hī on the mouth. Then sayde Paul vnto him: God shal smyte the thou paynted wall. Deut. 17 Syttest thou and iudgest me after the lawe, and commaundest me to be smytten cō trary to ye lawe? And they that stode aboute hī, sayde: Reuylest thou Gods hye prest? And Paul sayde: Brethrē, I wyst not that he was the hye prest. For it is wryttē: Exo. 22. The ruler of thy people shalt thou not curse.

But whan Paul knewe that the one parte was Saduces, and the other parte Pharises, he cried out in ye councell: Ye men and brethren, I am a Pharise, and the sonne of a Pharise, Phil. . a Act. 4. a 26. a. 28. Of hope and resurreccion of the deed am I iudged. And whan he had so sayde, there arose a dissencion betwene ye Pharises and the Saduces, and the multitude was deuyded: Mat. 2. Marc. 12 Luc. 20. for the Saduces saye that there is no resurreccion, nether angell, ner sprete: but the Pharises graūte both. And there was made a greate crye. And ye Scrybes of the Pharyses secte, stode vp, and stroue, and sayde: We fynde no euell in this mā. But yf a sprete or an angell haue spokē vnto him, let vs not stryue agaynst God.

But whan the discension was greate, ye vpper captayne feared, that Paul shulde haue bene pluckte a sonder of them, and commaunded the soudyers to go downe, and to take him from them, and to brynge him in to the castell. But in the nighte folowinge, the LORDE stode by him, and sayde: Be of good cheare Paul, for as thou hast testified of me at Ierusalem Ephe. 3. a 2. Tim. 1. so must thou testifye at Rome also.

Now whan it was daye, certayne of the Iewes gathered them selues together, and made a vowe nether to eate ner drynke, tyll they had kylled Paul. They were mo then fortye, which had made this conspyracion. These came to the hye prestes and Elders, and sayde: We haue bounde oure selues wt a vowe, that we wil eate nothinge, tyll we haue slayne Paul. Now therfore geue ye knowlege to the vpper captayne and to the councell, that he maye brynge him forth vnto you tomorow, as though ye wolde heare him yet better: As for vs, we are ready to kyll him, or euer he come nye you.

But whan Pauls sisters sonne herde of their layenge awayte, he came, and entred in to the castell, and tolde Paul. So Paul called vnto him one of ye vnder captaynes, and sayde: Brynge this yonge man to the vpper captayne, for he hath somewhat to saye to him. He toke him, and broughte him to the vpper captayne, and sayde: Paul the presoner called me vnto him, and prayed me to brynge to the this yonge man, which hath somwhat to saye vnto the. Then the hye captayne toke him by the hande, and wente a syde with him out of the waye, and axed him: What is it, that thou hast to saye vnto me? He sayde: The Iewes are agreed together, to desyre the, to let Paul be broughte forth tomorow before the councell, as though they wolde yet heare him better. But folowe not thou their myndes, for there laye wayte for him mo then fortye men off them, which haue bounde them selues with a vowe, nether to eate ner drynke, tyll they haue slayne Paul: and euen now are they redye, and loke for thy promes.

Then the vpper captayne let the yonge man departe, and charged him to tell noman, that he had shewed him this. And he called vnto him two vndercaptaynes, and sayde: Make redye two hundreth soudyers, that they maye go to Cesarea, and thre score and ten horsmen, and two hundreth speare men at the thirde houre of the nighte, and delyuer thē beastes, that they maye set Paul theron, and brynge him safe vnto Felix the debyte, and he wrote a letter on this maner:

Claudius Lysias, vnto the most mightie Debyte Felix, gretynge. 〈◊〉 21. d The Iewes had taken this man, and wolde haue slayne him, then came I with soudyers, and rescued him, and perceaued that he is a Romayne. And whan I wolde haue knowne the cause, wherfore they accused hī, I broughte him in to their councell: then perceaued I, that he was accused aboute questions of their lawe. But there was no accusacion worthy of death or of bondes. And whan it was shewed me, that certayne Iewes layed wayte for him, I sent him straight waye vnto the, and commaunded the accusers also, that loke what they had agaynst him, they shulde tell the same before the. Fare well.

The soudyers (as it was commaunded them) toke Paul, and broughte him to Antipatras. But on the nexte daye, they lefte ye horse men to go with him, and turned agayne to the castell. When these came to Cesarea, they delyuered the letter vnto the Debyte, & presented Paul before him also. Whan the Debyte had red the letter, he axed off what countre he was. And whā he vnderstode that he was of Celicia, he sayde: Deut. 〈…〉 I wil heare the, whan thine accusers are come also. And he commaunded him to be kepte in Herodes iudgment house.

The XXIIII. Chapter.

After fyue dayes the hye prest Ananias came downe with the Elders, and wt the Oratour Tertullus, which appeared before the Debyte agaynst Paul. Whan Paul was called forth, Tertullus begāne to accuse him, and sayde: Seynge that we lyue in greate peace by the meanes of yt, and that many good thinges are done for this people thorow thy prouydence (most mightie Felix) that alowe we euer and in all places with all thankes. Notwithstondinge yt I be nomore tedious vnto the, I praye the, that of thy curtesy thou woldest heare vs a few wordes.

We haue founde this man a pestilent felowe, and a sterer vp of sedicion amonge all the Iewes thorow out all the worlde, and a manteyner of the secte of the Nazaretes, Act. 〈…〉 and hath taken in hande also to suspende the temple, whom we toke, and wolde haue iudged him acordinge to oure lawe. But Lysias the hye captayne came vpō vs, and with greate violence delyuered him out of oure handes, and commaunded his accusers to come vnto the: of whom (yf thou wilt enquyre) thou mayest haue knowlege of all these thinges, wherof we accuse him. The Iewes likewyse affirmed and sayde, that it was euen so.

But Paul (whan the debyte had beckened vnto him, that he shulde speake) answered: Seynge I knowe that thou hast bene iudge now many yeares amonge this people, I wil not be afrayed to answere for my selfe, because that thou mayest knowe, that there are yet nomore but twolue dayes sence I came vp to Ierusalem for to worshippe, and that they nether founde me in the temple disputinge with eny man, or makynge eny vproure amonge the people, ner in ye synagoges, ner in the cite: nether can they proue the thinges, wherof they accuse me. But this I 〈…〉 confesse vnto the, that after this waye which they call heresye, so worshippe I the God of my fathers, that I beleue all that is wrytten in the lawe and in the prophetes, and haue hope towarded God, that the same resurreccion of the deed (which they them selues loke for also) shalbe, both of the iust and vniust. Therfore studye I to haue allwaye a cleare conscience towarde God and towarde men. 〈…〉

But after many yeares I came and broughte allmesse vnto my people, and offeringes: 〈…〉 whervpon they founde me purifyed in the temple without eny maner of rumoure or vnquyetnesse. Howbeit there were certayne Iewes out of Asia, which shulde be here presente before the, and accuse me, yf they had oughte agaynst me: or els let these same here saye, yf they haue founde eny vnrighteousnes in me, whyle I stonde here before ye councell: excepte it be for this one worde, that I cried stondinge amonge them: 〈…〉 Of the resurreccion off the deed am I iudged of you this daye.

Whan Felix herde this, he dyfferred thē (for he knewe very well of that waye) and sayde: Whan Lysias the vpper captayne commeth downe, I wyl knowe ye vttemost of youre matter 〈…〉 But he commaunded the vndercaptayne to kepe Paul, and to let him haue rest, and that he shulde forbydde none of his acquauntaūce to mynister vnto him, or to come vnto him.

But after certayne dayes came Felix wt his wife Drusilla, which was a Iewesse, and called for Paul, and herde him of the faith in Christ. Howbeit whan Paul spake off righteousnesse, and off chastite and off the iudgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered: Go thy waye for this tyme. Whan I haue a conuenyent tyme, I wil sende for the. He hoped also, that money shulde haue bene geuen him of Paul, therfore called he oft for him, and commened with him. But after two yeares came Portius Festus in to felix rowme. Yet Felix wyllinge to shewe the Iewes a pleasure, left Paul bounde.

The XXV. Chapter.

NOw whan Festus was come in to the countre, ouer thre dayes he wente vp from Cesarea to Ierusalem. Then appeared the hye prestes and the chefe of the Iewes before him agaynst Paul, and intreated him, and desyred fauoure agaynst him, that he wolde sende for him to Ierusalem, and layed wayte for him, that they might slaye him by the waye. Then answered Festus, that Paul shulde be kepte at Cesarea, but that he himselfe wolde shortly go thither agayne. Let them therfore (sayde he) which are able amonge you, come downe with vs to accuse the man, yf there be ought in him.

Whan he had taried amonge them more then ten dayes, he wente downe to Cesarea. And on the nexte daye he sat downe on the iudgment seate, and commaunded Paul to be broughte. Whan he was come, ye Iewes which were come downe from Ierusalem, stode rounde aboute him, and broughte vp many and greuous quarels agaynst Paul, which they coulde not proue, whyle he answered for himselfe: I haue nether offended ought agaynst the lawe of the Iewes, ner agaynst the tēple, ner agaynst the Emperoure.

But Festus wyllinge to shewe the Iewes a pleasure, answered Paul, and sayde: Wilt thou go vp to Ierusalem, and there be iudged off these thinges before me? But Paul sayde: I stonde at the Emperours iudgmēt seate, where I ought to be iudged: to the Iewes haue I done no harme, as thou also knowest very well. Yf I haue hurte eny man, or committed eny thinge worthy off death, I refuse not to dye. But yf there are no soch thinges as they accuse me off, then maye no man delyuer me vnto them. I appeale vnto the Emperoure. Then spake Festus with the Councell, and answered: Thou hast appealed vnto the Emperoure, to the Emperoure shalt thou go.

After certayne dayes came kynge Agrippa and Bernice to Cesarea to welcome Festus. And whan they had taried there many dayes, Festus rehearsed Pauls cause vnto the kynge, and sayde: There is a man left bounde of Felix, for whose cause the hye prestes and Elders of the Iewes appeared before me whan I was at Ierusalem, and desyred a sentence agaynst him. Vnto whom I answered: Deut. 17. It is not the maner off the Romaynes to delyuer eny man that he shulde perishe, before that he which is accused, haue his accusers presente, and receaue libertye to answere for him selfe to the accusacion. Whā they were come hither together, I made no delaye, but sat the nexte daye in iudgment, and commaunded the man to be broughte forth. Of whom, whan the accusers stode vp, they broughte no accusacion of soch thinges as I supposed: But had certayne questions agaynst him of their awne supersticions, and of one Iesus deed, whom Paul affirmed to be alyue. Howbeit because I vnderstode not the question, I axed hī, whether he wolde go to Ierusalē, and there be iudged of these matters. But whā Paul had appealed, that he might be kepte vnto the knowlege of the Emperoure, I cōmaunded him to be kepte, tyll I mighte sende him to the Emperoure.

Agrippa sayde vnto Festus: I wolde fayne heare the man also. He sayde: Tomorow shalt thou heare him. And on the nexte daye came Agrippa & Bernice with greate pompe, and wēte in to the comon hall with the captaynes & chefe mē of the cite. And at Festus cōmaundement, Paul was brought forth. And Festus sayde: Kynge Agrippa, and all ye men which are here with vs, ye se this man, aboute whom all the multitude of the Iewes haue entreated me, both at Ierusalē and here also, and cried, that he ought not to lyue eny lenger. But whan I perceaued that he had done nothinge worthy off death, and that he himselfe also had appealed vnto the Emperoure, I determyned to sende him, of whō I haue no certayne thinge o •• ryte vnto my lorde. Therfore haue I caused hī to be broughte forth before you, specially before the (O kynge Agrippa) that after examinacion had, I might haue somwhat to wryte. For me thynke it an vnreasonable thinge to sende a presoner, and not to shewe the causes which are layed agaynst him.

The XXVI Chapter.

AGrippa sayde vnto Paul: Thou hast leue to speake for thy selfe. Thē Paul stretched forth the hande, and answered for himselfe: I thinke my selfe happye (O kynge Agrippa) because I shal answere this daye before the, of all the thinges wherof I am accused of the Iewes: specially forsomoch as thou art experte in all customes and questions, which are amonge the Iewes. Wherfore I beseche the, to heare me paciently.

My lyuynge truly from youth vp (how it was led from the begynnynge amonge this people at Ierusalē) knowe all the Iewes which knewe me afore at the first, yf they wolde testifye, for after the most strayte secte of oure Iewysh lawe, I lyued a Pharise. Act 〈…〉 Phil. 〈…〉 And now stonde I, and am iudged because of the hope of the 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 Deut 〈…〉 Psal. 〈…〉 promes, that was made of God vnto oure fathers, vnto the which (promes) oure twolue trybes hope to come, seruynge God instātly daye and nighte. For the which hopes sake (O kynge Agrippa) I am accused of the Iewes. Wherfore is this iudged amonge you not to be beleued, that God rayseth vp the deed?

I also verely thoughte by my selfe, that I oughte to do many cōtrary thinges cleane agaynst the name off Iesus off Nazareth, Act. 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 which I dyd at Ierusalem, whan I shut vp many sayntes in preson, whervpon I receaued auctorite of ye hye prestes. And whā they shulde be put to death, I broughte the sentence. And thorow all the synagoges I punyshed them oft, and compelled thē to blaspheme, and was exceadinge mad vpon them, and persecuted them euen vnto straunge cities. Aboute which thinges as I wente towarde Damascon with auctorite and lycence of the hye prestes, euen at myddaye (O kynge) I sawe in the waye, that a lighte from heauē (clearer then the brightnesse of the Sonne) shyned rounde aboute me, and them that iourneyed with me.

But whan we were all fallen downe to the earth, I herde a voyce speakynge vnto me, and sayēge in Hebrue: Saul Saul, why persecutest thou me? It shalbe harde for the to kycke agaynst the prycke. But I sayde: LORDE, who art thou? He sayde: I am Iesus, whom thou persecutest. But ryse vp, and stonde vpon thy fete, for therfore haue I appeared vnto the, that I mighte ordeyne the to be a mynister and witnesse of it that thou hast sene, and that I wyll yet cause to appeare vnto the. And I wil delyuer the from the people, and from the Heythen, amonge whō I wil now sende the, to opē their eyes, that they maye turne from the darknesse vnto the Esa 〈…〉 lighte, and from the power of ye deuell vnto God, that they maye receaue forgeuenesse of synnes, and the enheritaunce with them that are sanctified by faith in me.

Wherfore (O kynge Agrippa) I was not faithlesse vnto ye heauēly vision, but shewed it first vnto them at Damascon, and at Ierusalē, and in all the coastes of Iewry, and to the Heythen, that they shulde 〈…〉 do pennaunce, and turne vnto God, and to do the righte workes of pennaunce. For this cause the Iewes toke me in the temple, and wente aboute to kyll me. But thorow the helpe of God lent vnto me, I stonde vnto this daye, and testifye both vnto small and greate, and saye no other thinge, thē that ye prophetes haue sayde (that it shulde come to passe) and Moses, that Christ shulde suffre, and be the first of the resurreccion from the deed, and shew light vnto the people, and to the Heythen.

Whan he thus answered for himselfe, Festus sayde with a loude voyce: Paul, thou art besydes thy selfe, moch lernynge maketh ye madd. But Paul sayde: I am not madd (most deare Festus) but speake the wordes of trueth and sobernesse: for ye kynge knoweth this well, vnto whom I speake frely. For I thinke that none off these thinges is hyd from him: for this was not done in a corner. Beleuest thou the prophetes, O kynge Agrippa? I knowe that thou beleuest. Agrippa sayde vnto Paul: Thou persuadest me in a parte to become a Christen. Paul sayde: I wolde to God, that (not onely in a parte but alltogether,) I mighte persuade not the onely, but all them that heare me this daye, to be soch I am, these bondes excepte. And whan he had spoken this, the kynge rose vp, and the Debyte, and Bernice, and they that sat with them, and wente asyde, and talked together, and sayde: This man hath done nothinge that is worthy of death or of bondes. But Agrippa sayde vnto Festus: This man mighte haue bene lowsed, yf he had not appealed vnto the Emperoure.

The XXVII. Chapter.

WHan it was concluded that we shulde sayle in to Italy, they delyuered Paul and certayne other presoners to the vndercaptayne named Iulius, of the Emperours soudyers. And whan we were entred in to a shippe of Adramitium, to sayle by Asia, we lowsed from londe. And there was with vs one 〈…〉 Aristarchus out of Macedonia off Thessalonica, and on the nexte daye we came vnto Sidon. And Iulius intreated Paul curteously, and gaue him liberty to go to his frendes, and to refresh himselfe. And from thence launched we, and sayled harde by Cypers (because the wyndes were agaynst vs) and sayled ouer the see of Celicia and Pamphilia, and came to Myra in Lycia.

And there the vndercaptayne founde a shippe of Alexādria, ready to sayle in to Italy, and put vs therin. And whan we had sayled slowly, and in many dayes were scarcely come ouer agaynst Gnydon (for the wynde with stode vs) we sayled by Candy nye vnto the cite off Salmo, and came scarcely beyonde it. Then came we to a place, which is called Goodhauen, nye where vnto was the cite Lasea. Now whan moch tyme was spent, and saylinge was now ioperdous, because that they also had fasted ouerlonge, Paul exhorted them, and sayde vnto them: Syrs, I se that this saylinge wyl be with hurte and moch dammage, not onely of the ladynge and of the shippe, but also of oure lyues.

Neuertheles ye vndercaptayne beleued the gouernoure of the shippe and ye master, more then it that was spoken of Paul. And for somoch as the hauē was not comodious to wynter in, the more parte off them toke councell to departe thēce, yf by eny meanes they might come to Phenices to wynter there, which is an hauen of Candy, towarde the Southwest and Northwest wynde. Whan the South wynde blewe, they supposinge to haue had their purpose, lowsed vnto Asson, and sayled past all Candy.

But not longe after, there rose agaynst their purpose a flawe of wynde, which is called the Northeast. And whan the shippe was caught, and coulde not resist ye wynde, we let her go, and draue with the wedder. But we came to an Ile named Claudia, where we coulde scarce get a bote. Which they toke vp, and vsed helpe, and bounde it vnder harde to the shippe, fearinge lest they shulde haue fallen in to the Syrtes are perlous places ī the see. Syrtes, and let downe the vessell, and so were caried. And whan we had bydden a greate tēpest, on the nexte daye they made an outcastinge. And on the thirde daye with oure awne handes we cast out the tacklynge of the shippe. But whā nether Sonne ner starres appeared in many dayes, and no small tempest laye vpon vs, all the hope of oure life was taken awaye.

And after longe abstinence, Paul stode forth in the myddes of thē, and sayde: Syrs, ye shulde haue herkened vnto me, and not to haue lowsed from Candy, and not to haue broughte vs this harme and losse. And now I exhorte you to be of good cheare, for there shal none of oure lyues perishe, but the shippe onely.

For this night stode by me the angell off God (whose I am, & whō I serue) & saide: Feare not Paul, thou must be broughte before the Emperoure. And lo, God hath geuen vnto the all thē that sayle with the. Wherfore syrs be of good cheare: for I beleue God, yt it shal come so to passe, as it was tolde me. Howbeit we must be cast in to a certayne ylonde.

But whan the fourtenth night came, as we were caried in Adria aboute mydnight, ye shipmen demed that there appeared some countre vnto them, and they cast out the leade, and founde it twētye feddoms: and whā they were gone a litle farther, they cast out the leade agayne, and founde fyftene feddoms.

Then fearinge lest they shulde fall on some rocke, they cast foure anckers out of the sterne, and wyszhed for the daye. Whan the shipmen were aboute to flye out of the shippe, and let downe the bote in to the see, (vnder a coloure as though they wolde cast ankers out of the fore shippe) Paul sayde to ye vnder captayne and to the soudyers: Excepte these byde in the shippe, ye can not be saued. Then the soudyers cut of the rope from the bote, and let it fall. And whan it beganne to be daye, Paul exhorted them all to take meate, and sayde: To daye is the fourtene daye that ye haue taried and contynued fastinge, and haue receaued nothinge: Wherfore I praye you to take meate, for youre health: Mat. 10. d Luc. 12. a for there shal not one heer fall from the heade of eny of you. And whan he had thus spoken, he toke bred, and Mar. 6. c and 8. a Ioh. 6. a Tim 4. a gaue thankes to God before them all, and brake it, and begāne to eate. Then were they all of good cheare, and toke meate also. We were all together in the shippe two hundreth thre score and sixtene soules. And whan they had eaten ynough, they lightened the shippe, and cast out the wheate in to the see.

Whan it was daye, they knewe not the londe. But they spyed an hauen with a banke, in to which they were mynded (yf it were possible) to thrust in the shippe. And whan they had takē vp the anckers, they commytted them selues to the see, and lowsed the rudder bandes, and hoyssed vp the mayne sayle to the wynde, and drue towarde londe. And whan we chaunced on a place which had the see on both the sydes, the shippe daszhed vpon it. And the fore parte abode fast vnmoued, but the hynder parte brake thorow the violence of the wawes.

The soudyers councell was to kyll ye presoners, lest eny of them whan he had swymmed out, shulde flye awaye. But the vndercaptayne wyllinge to saue Paul, keped them from their purpose, and commaunded that they which coulde swymme, shulde cast them selues first in to the see, and escape vnto londe: and the other, some on bordes, some on broken pe es of the shippe. And so it came to passe, that all the soules came safe vnto londe.

The XXVIII Chapter.

ANd whā we were escaped, we knewe that the Ile was called Melite. As for the people, they shewed vs no litle kyndnesse: for they kyndled a fyre, and receaued vs all because of the rayne that was come vpō vs, and because of the colde. Whan Paul had gathered a bondell of stickes, and layed them on the fyre, there came a vyper out of the heate, and leape on Pauls hande. Whan the people sawe the beest hange on his hande, they sayde amonge them selues: This man must nedes be a murthurer, whō vengeaunce suffreth not to lyue, though he haue escaped the see. But he shoke of ye beest in to the fyre, and Luc 〈…〉 and felt no harme. Howbeit they wayted, whā he shulde haue swollen, or fallen downe deed sodenly. But whan they had loked a greate whyle, and sawe yt there happened no harme vnto him, they chaunged their myndes, and sayde that he was a God.

In the same quarters the chefe man of the Ile whose name was Publius had a lordshipe: the same receaued vs, and lodged vs thre dayes curteously. It fortuned whā Publius father laye sicke of the feuers and of a bloudy fluxe, Paul wente in vnto him, and prayed, and layed the handes on him, and healed him.

Whan this was done, other also which had diseases in the Ile, came, and were healed. And they dyd vs greate honoure. And whan we departed, they laded vs with thinges necessary.

After the monethes we sayled in a shippe of Alexandria, which had wyntred in the Ile, and had a badge of Castor and Pollux. And whan we came to Syracusa, we taried there thre dayes. And whan we had sayled aboute, we came to Rhegium: and after one daye whan the south wynde blewe, we came to Putiolus, where we founde brethrē and were desyred of them to tarye there seuē dayes, and so came we to Rome. And from thence whan the brethren herde of vs, they came forth to mete vs to Apiforum and to the Thre tauerns. Whan Paul sawe them, he thāked God, and waxed bolde. But whā we came to Rome, the vndercaptayne delyuered the presoners to ye chefe captayne. As for Paul, he had leue to byde alone with one soudyer that kepte him.

After thre dayes it fortuned, yt Paul called ye chefe of ye Iewes together. And whā they were come, he sayde vnto thē: Ye mē & brethrē 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 b I haue cōmytted nothinge agaynst o people, ner agaynst ye lawes of ye fathers, yet was I boūde, delyuered out of Ierusalē in to ye Romaynes hādes: which whā they had examyned me, wolde haue let me go, for so moch as there was no cause of death ī me. But whā ye Iewes spake ye cōtrary, I was cōstrayned to appeale vnto ye Empero: not as though I had ought to accuse my people of. For this cause haue I called you, euē to se you, & to speake wt you: because yt 〈…〉 for ye hope of Israel, I am bounde wt this cheyne. They sayde vnto hī: We haue nether receaued letter out of Iewry cōcernynge the, nether came there eny of the brethrē, yt shewed or spake eny harme of ye. But we wyl heare of ye, what thou thinkest: for we haue herde of this secte, that euery where 〈…〉 it is spoken agaynst. And whā they had appoynted hī adaye, there came many vnto hī in to his lodginge: vnto whō he expoūded ye kyngdome of God & preached vnto thē of Iesu, out of ye lawe and out of the prophetes, euē frō mornynge vntyll the euē. And some beleued ye thinge yt he sayde, but some beleued not.

But whā they agreed not amōge thē selues, they departed, whā Paul had spokē one worde: Full well hath the holy goost spokē by ye prophet Esay vnto o fathers, 〈…〉 & sayde: Go vnto this people, and saye: With eares ye shal heare, & not vnderstōde: & with eyes shal ye se, & not perceaue. For ye hert of this people is waxed grosse, & they heare hardly wt their eares: & their eyes haue they closed, yt they shulde not once se wt their eyes, & heare wt their eares, & vnderstōde ī their hertes, and be cōuerted, yt I mighte heale thē. Be it knowne therfore vnto you, yt this saluaciō of God is sent vnto ye Heythē, and they shal heare it. And whā he sayde yt, ye Iewes departed, & had a greate disputacion amonge thēselues. But Paul abode two whole yeares in his owne hyred dwellinge, & receaued all thē yt came in vnto hī, preachinge ye kyngdome of God, and teachinge those thinges which concerne the LORDE Iesus with all boldnesse, vnforbydden.

The ende of the Actes of the Apostles, wrytten by S. Luke, which was present at ye doynges of them.
The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Romaynes. The Summe of this Epistle. Chap. I. Paul declareth his loue towarde the Romaynes, sheweth what the gospell is with the frute therof, and rebuketh the beestlynesse of the flesh. Chap. II. He rebuketh the Iewes, which as touchinge synne are like the Heythē, yee worse then they. Chap. III. He sheweth what preferment the Iewes haue, and that both the Iewes and Gē tiles are vnder synne, and are iustified only by the grace of God in Christ. Chap. IIII. He declareth by the exāple of Abrahā, that faith iustifieth, and not the lawe, ner the workes therof. Chap. V. The power of faith, hope and loue and how death raigned frō Adā vnto Christ by whō only we haue forgeuenesse of synnes. Chap. VI. For so moch as we be delyuered thorow christ from synne, we must fashion oure selues to lyue as the seruauntes of God, and not after oure awne lustes. The vnlike rewarde of righteousnes and synne. Chap. VII. Christ hath delyuered vs from the lawe and death Paul sheweth what the flesh and outwarde man is, and calleth it the lawe of the membres. Chap. VIII. The lawe of the sprete geueth life. The sprete of God maketh vs Gods children and heyres with Christ. The abundaunt loue of God can not be separated. Chap. IX. Paul complayneth vpon the hard hertes of the Iewes, that wolde not receaue Christ, and how the Heythē are chosen in their steade. Chap. X. The vnfaithfulnes of the Iewes. Two maner of righteousnesses. Chap. XI. All the Iewes are not cast awaye, therfore Paul warneth the Gentiles that be called, not to be hye mynded, ner to despyse the Iewes, for the iudgmētes of God are depe and secrete. Chap. XII. The swete conuersacion, loue, and workes of soch as beleue in Christ. Chap. XIII. The obedience of men vnto their rulers. Loue fulfilleth the lawe. It is now no tyme to folowe the workes of darknesse. Chap. XIIII. The weake ought not to be despysed No man shulde offende anothers conscience. Agayne, for outward thinges shulde no man condemne another. Chap. XV. The infirmite and fraylnesse of the weake ought to be borne with all loue and kyndnesse, after the ensample of Christ. Chap. XVI. A chapter of salutacions He warneth them to bewarre of mens doctryne, and commendeth vnto them certayne godly men, that were louers and brethren in the trueth. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Romaynes.

The first. Chapter.

PAVL the seruaunte of Iesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, Act. 13. a put aparte to preach the Gospell of God (which Deut. 18. c Act. 26. d he promysed afore by his prophetes in ye holy scriptures) off his sonne, which was begottē Mat. 1. a . Tim. 2. a of ye sede of Dauid after the flesh: and mightely declared to be the sonne of God after the sprete which sanctifieth, sence the tyme that he rose agayne from the deed, namely, Iesus Christ oure LORDE, by whom we haue Act. 9. c receaued grace and Apostelshippe amonge all Heythen, to set vp the obedience of faith vnder his name, of whom ye are a parte also, which are called of Iesus Christ.

To all you that be at Rome, beloued of God, and sayntes by callynge 1. Cor. 1. a Gal. 1. a Grace be wt you and peace frō God oure father, and the LORDE Iesus Christ.

First, I thanke my God thorow Iesus Christ for you all, that youre faith is spoken of thorow out all the worlde. For God is my witnesse ( Ioh. 4. c 2. Tim. 1. a whom I serue in my sprete in the Gospell of his sonne) that without ceassynge I make mencion of you Phil. 1. a Col. 1. a besekinge allwayes in my prayers, that I mighte once haue a prosperous iourney ( Iere. 10. d by the will off God) to come vnto you. For I longe to se you, that I mighte bestowe vpon you some spirituall gifte to strēgth you (that is) that I mighte be conforted with you, thorow yo faith & myne, which we haue together.

But I wolde ye shulde knowe (brethren) how that I haue often tymes purposed to come vnto you (but haue bene Act. 16. a let hither to) that I mighte do some good amonge you, like as amonge other Gentyles. I am detter both to the Grekes, and to the vngrekes, to the wyse and to the vnwyse. Wherfore (as moch as ī me is) I am ready to preach the Gospell vnto you at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ: for it is the 〈…〉 power of God, which saueth all that beleue theron, the Iewe first & also the Greke: for in it ye righteousnes that is of value before God, is opened, which cō meth out of faith ī to faith. As it is wryttē: The iust shal lyue by his faith. 〈…〉 For ye wrath of God is declared from heauen vpon all vngodlynes and vnrighteousnes of mē, which witholde the trueth of God in vnrighteousnes: because that it, which maye be knowne of God, is manifest with thē. For God hath shewed it vnto thē, that the inuisible thinges of God (that is, his euerlastinge power and Godheade) mighte be sene 〈…〉 whyle they are considered by the workes from the creacion of the worlde: so that they are without excuse, in as moch as they knewe, that there is a God, and haue not praysed him as God ner thanked him, but became vayne in their ymaginacions, and 〈…〉 their foolish hert was blynded. Whan they counted them selues wyse, they became fooles: and 〈…〉 turned ye glory of the incorruptible God in to ye symilitude of ye ymage of a corruptible mā, & of byrdes, & of foure foted, 〈…〉 & of crepinge beestes 〈…〉 Wherfore God likewyse gaue them vp vnto their hertes lustes in to vnclennes, to defyle their awne bodies in them selues, which turned the trueth of God vnto a lye, & worshipped and serued the creature more then the maker, which is blessed for euer. Amen.

Therfore God gaue thē vp vnto shamefull lustes. 〈…〉 For their wemen chaunged the naturall vse in to the vnnaturall: likewyse ye mē also lefte the naturall vse of the woman, and brent in their lustes one on another, and man with man wrought fylthines, and receaued in them selues the rewarde of their erroure, as it was acordinge. 〈…〉 And as they regarded not to knowe God, euen so 〈…〉 God gaue thē vp in to a lewde mynde, to do those thinges which were not comly, beynge full of all vnrighteousnes, whordome, wickednes, couetousnes, maliciousnes, full of enuye, murthur, strife, disceate, euell cōdicioned whisperers, backbyters, despysers of God, doers of wronge, proude, boosters, bryngers vp of euell thinges, disobedient to their Elders, without vnderstondinge, couenaunt breakers, vnlouynge, stubborne, vnmercifull: which men, though they knowe the righteousnes of God (that they which do soch, are worthy of death) yet not onely do the same, but also haue pleasure in those that do thē.

The II. Chapter.

Therfore canst thou not excuse thy selfe (O mā) who soeuer thou be that iudgest: for 〈…〉 loke wherin thou iudgest another, thou condemnest thy selfe, in so moch as thou that iudgest, doest euen the same. For we are sure that the iudgment of God is (acordinge to the trueth) ouer them that do soch. But thinkest thou this O thou man, that iudgest them which do soch thinges, and doest euen the very same thy selfe, that thou shalt escape yt iudgmēt of God? Or despysest thou the riches of his goodnesse, pacience, and lōge sufferinge? 〈…〉 Knowest thou not, that ye louynge kyndnesse of God leadeth the to repentaunce?

But thou after thine harde and impenitent hert, heapest vnto thy selfe a treasure of wrath, agaynst the daye of wrath and of the openynge of the righteous iudgment of God, 〈…〉 which shal rewarde euery man acordinge to his dedes: namely, prayse & honoure, and vncorrupcion, vnto them that with pacience in doinge good, seke euerlastinge life: But vnto them that are contencious 〈…〉 & not obedient vnto the trueth, but obeye vnrighteousnes, shal come indignacion and wrath, trouble and anguysh vpō all the soules of mē that do euell, of the Iewe first and also of the Greke: But vnto all thē that do good (shal come) prayse and honoure, and peace, vnto the Iewe first, and also to the Greke.

〈…〉 For there is no respecte of personnes before God: Who so euer haue synned without lawe, shal perish also without lawe: and whosoeuer haue synned in the lawe, shalbe iudged by the lawe. 〈…〉 For before God; they are not righteous, which heare ye lawe: but they that do the lawe, shalbe iustified. For yf the Gentyles which haue not the lawe, do of nature the thinges conteyned in the lawe, then they hauynge not the lawe, are a lawe vnto them selues, in that they shewe, that the worke of ye lawe is wryttē in their hertes: whyle their conscience beareth witnesse vnto thē, and also the thoughtes which accuse or excuse them amonge them selues, in the daye whan God shal iudge the secretes of men by Iesus Christ, acordinge to my Gospell.

But take hede, 〈…〉 thou art called a Iewe, and trustest in the lawe, & makest thy boost of God, and knowest his will: & for so moch as thou art enfourmed out of ye lawe, thou prouest what is best to do, and presumest to be a leader of the blynde: a lighte of them yt are in darcknes: an enformer of ye vnwyse: a teacher of ye symple: which hast the ensample of knowlege & of the trueth in the lawe.

Now teachest thou other, and teachest not thy selfe. Thou preachest that a man shulde not steale, and thou stealest. Thou sayest, that a man shulde not breake wedlocke, and thou breakest wedlocke. Thou abhorrest ymages, and robbest God of his honoure. Thou makest thy boost of the lawe, and thorow breakynge of the lawe thou dishonorest God. For thorow you is the name of God euell spoken of amonge the Gentyles, * as it is wrytten.

The circūcision verely avayleth, Esa. 52. a Eze. 36. yf thou kepe the lawe: but yf thou breake the lawe, then is thy circumcision become vncircumcision. Therfore yf the vncircumcision kepe the righte thinges conteyned in the lawe, shal not his vncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And so it that of nature is vncircumcision, and fulfilleth the lawe shal iudge the, which vnder the letter and circumcision trāsgressest the lawe. For he is not a Iew which is a Iewe outwa de: nether is that circūcision which is done outwardly in ye flesh: But he is a Iewe, Ioh. 8. d Rom. 9. which is hydd within. And Col. . b the circumcision of ye hert is the circumcision, which is done in the sprete and not in the letter: Whose prayse is not of men, but of God.

The III. Chapter.

WHat furtheraunce then haue the Iewes? Or what avauntageth circūcision? Surely very moch. First Rom. 9. Vnto them was commytted what God spake. But where as some of them dyd not beleue theron, what then? shulde their vnbeleue make the promes of God of none effecte? God forbyd. Let it rather be thus, that God is true, Psal. 115 Psal. 50. a and all mē lyers. Ioh. 3. c As it is wrytten: That thou mayest be iustified in thy sayenges, and shuldest ouercome, whā thou art iudged.

But yf it be so, that oure vnrighteousnes prayseth ye righteousnes of God, what shal we saye? Is God then vnrighteous, that he is angrie therfore? (I speake thus after the maner off men) God forbyd. How mighte God thē iudge ye worlde? For yf the trueth of God be thorow my lye the more excellent vnto his prayse, why shulde I thē be iudged yet as a synner? & not rather to do thus (as we are euell spoken of, and as some reporte, that we shulde saye) Let vs do euell, yt good maye come therof. Whose dānaciō is inste.

What saye we then? Are we better then they? No, in no wyse: for we haue proued afore, yt both the Iewes and Grekes are all vnder synne. Psal. 13. a nd. 52. a As it is wryttē: There is none righteous, no not one. There is none yt vnderstondeth, there is none that seketh after God. They are all gone out of the waye, they are alltogether become vnprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no not one. Psal. 5. b Their throte is an open sepulcre, with their tunges they haue disceaued, Psal. 139. a the poyson off Aspes is vnder their lippes. Their mouth is full of cursynge and bytternesse. Pro. 1. a sa. 59. a Their fete are swifte to shed bloude. Destruccion & wrechidnes are in their wayes, and ye waye of peace haue they not knowne. Psal. 35. a There is no feare of God before their eyes.

But we knowe, yt, what soeuer the lawe sayeth, it sayeth it vnto them which are vnder the lawe, yt euery mouthe maye be stopped, & yt all the worlde maye be detter vnto God, Gal. 2. c because yt by ye dedes of the lawe no flesh maye be iustified in his sighte. Heb. 7. c For by the lawe commeth but the knowlege of synne. But now without addinge to of ye lawe is the righteousnes which avayleth before God, declared, hauynge witnesse of ye lawe and the prophetes: but I speake of ye righteousnes before God, which cōmeth by the faith on Iesus Christ, vnto all, and vpō all them that beleue.

For here is no difference. For they are all synners, and wāte the prayse that God shulde haue of thē, but without deseruynge are they made righteous euē by his grace, thorow the redempcion that is done by Christ Iesu, whom God hath set forth for a Exo. 25. c Heb. 5. a Mercyseate thorow faith in his bloude, to shewe the righteousnes which avayleth before him, in that he forgeueth the synnes, which were done before vnder the sufferaunce of God, which he suffred, that at this tyme he mighte shewe ye righteousnes which avayleth before him: yt he onely mighte be righteous, & the righteous maker of him which is of the faith on Iesus.

Where is now then thy reioysinge? It is excluded. By what lawe? By the lawe of workes? Nay, but by the lawe of faith. We holde therfore that a man is iustified Some eade: By aith onely. by faith, without the workes of the lawe. Or is God the God of the Iewes onely? Is he not also the God of the Heythen? Yes verely the God of the Heythen also, for so moch as he is the God onely that iustifieth the circumcision which is of faith, and the vncircūcision thorow faith. Destroys we then the lawe thorow faith? God forbyd. But we mantayne the lawe.

The fourth Chapter.

WHat shal we saye thē, that Abrahā o father as pertayninge to ye flesh dyd fynde? This we saye: Yf Abraham were made righteous thorow workes, then hath he wherin to reioyse, but not before God. But what sayeth ye scripture? Gen. 〈…〉 Gal. . a Iacob 〈…〉 Abrahā beleued God, & yt was counted vnto him for righteousnes. Vnto hī yt goeth aboute wt workes, is the rewarde not rekened of fauoure, but of dutye: Howbeit vnto him, yt goeth not aboute with workes, but beleueth on him yt iustifieth the vngodly, is his faith counted for righteousnes. Euen as Dauid sayeth also, that blessednes is onely that mans, vnto whō God counteth righteousnes without addinge to of workes, where he sayeth: Blessed are they, whose vnrighteousnesses are forgeuen, Psal 〈…〉 and whose synnes are couered. Blessed is the man, vnto whom the LORDE imputeth no synne.

Now this blessednes, goeth it ouer the circūcision, or ouer the vncircumcision? We must nedes graunte, yt Abrahās faith was coūted vnto hī for righteousnes. How was it thē rekened vnto him? In the circūcision, or in the vncircumcision? Doutles Gen. 〈…〉 not in the circūcision, but in the vncircumcision. As for the tokē of circūcision Gen. 〈…〉 he receaued it for a seale off the righteousnes off faith, which he had yet in ye vncircūcision, yt he shulde be a father of all thē yt beleue, beinge in ye vncircūcisiō, yt it might be coūted vnto thē also for righteousnes: & that he might be a father of circumcision, not onely of thē that are of ye circumcision, but of them also that walke in the fotesteppes of the faith, which was in the vncircumcision of oure father Abraham.

For the promes (that he shulde be ye heyre of the worlde) was not made vnto Abraham or to his sede thorow the lawe, but thorow the righteousnes of faith. Gal. 〈…〉 For yf they which are of the lawe be heyres, thē is faith vayne, and the promes of none effecte, for so moch as the lawe causeth but wrath. For where the lawe is not, there is also no transgression. Therfore was the promes made thorow fayth, that it myght come off fauoure, wherby the promesse myghte be made sure vnto all the sede: not onely vnto him which is off the lawe, but also vnto him that is of the faith of Abrahā 〈◊〉 5 . a 〈◊〉 13 b 〈◊〉 19. a 〈◊〉 . c al. a Ge. 17. a which is the father of vs all. As it is wrytten: 〈◊〉 5 . a 〈◊〉 13 b 〈◊〉 19. a 〈◊〉 . c al. a Ge. 17. a I haue made the a father of many Heythē before God, whom thou hast beleued: which quyckeneth the deed, and calleth it which is not, that it maye be.

And he beleued vpō hope, where nothinge was to hope, that he shulde be a father of many Heythen. Acordinge as it was sayde vnto him: 〈◊〉 1 . a Euen so shal thy sede be. And he was not faynte in faith, nether cōsidred his awne body, which was deed allready, whyle he was almost an hundreth yeare olde, nether the deed wombe of Sara. For he douted not in the promes of God thorow vnbeleue, but was strōge in faith, and gaue God the prayse: & was sure, that loke what God promyseth, he is able to make it good. And therfore was it rekened vnto him for righteousnes. 〈◊〉 . 15. a But this is not wryttē onely for his sake, yt it was counted vnto him, but also for oure sakes: vnto whō it shalbe counted, yf we beleue on him, that raysed vp oure LORDE Iesus from the deed. Which 〈◊〉 . 2. a was geuen for oure synnes, and raysed vp for oure righteousnesse sake.

The V. Chapter.

BEcause therfore that we are iustified by faith, we haue peace with God thorow oure LORDE Iesus Christ, by whō also we haue an intraunce in faith vnto this grace, wherin we stonde, & 〈◊〉 3. a reioyse in the hope of ye glorye for to come, which God shal geue. Not onely yt, but we reioyse also ī troubles, for so moch as we knowe, yt 〈◊〉 1. a trouble bryngeth paciēce, paciēce bryngeth experiēce, experiēce bryngeth hope: As for hope, is letteth vs not come to cōfusion, because the loue of God is shed abrode in oure hertes, by the holy goost which is geuen vnto vs. For whan we were yet weake acordinge to the tyme, Christ dyed for vs vngodly. Now dyeth there scace eny man for the righteous sake: 〈◊〉 3 a 〈◊〉 1. b 〈◊〉 3. b Peraduenture for a good man durst one dye. 〈◊〉 3. c 〈◊〉 . 3. c 〈◊〉 4. b 〈◊〉 9. c.d Therfore doth God set forth his loue towarde vs, in yt Christ dyed for vs, whan we were yet synners: Moch more then shal we be saued from wrath by him seynge we are now made righteous thorow his bloude.

For yf we were recōcyled vnto God by ye death of his sōne, whā we were yet enemies: moch more shal we be saued by him, now yt we are reconcyled. Not onely that, but we reioyse also in God thorow oure LORDE Iesus Christ, by whom we haue now receaued the attonement.

Wherfore Gen. 3. a as by one man synned entred in to the worlde, and death by ye meanes off synne: euen so wente death also ouer all men, in so moch as they all haue synned. For synne was in ye worlde vnto the lawe: but where no lawe is, there is not synne regarded. Neuertheles death reigned from Adam vnto Moses, euen ouer them also that synned not with like transgression as dyd Adam, which is ye ymage of him yt was to come.

But it is not with the gifte as with the synne: for yf thorow the synne of one many be deed, yet moch more plenteously came the grace and gifte of God vpon many Ioh. 1. b by the fauoure that belonged vnto one man Iesus Christ.

And the gifte is not onely ouer one synne, as death came thorow one synne of one that synned. For the iudgment came of one synne vnto condempnacion, but the gifte to iustifye fro many synnes. For yf by ye synne of one, death raigned by the meanes of one, moch more shal they which receaue the abūdaunce of grace and of the gifte vnto righteousnes, raigne in life by ye meanes of one Iesus Christ. Likewyse thē as by the synne of one, condemnacion came on all men, euen so also by the righteousnes of one, came the iustififienge off life vpon all men. For as by the disobedience of one, many became synners, euen so by the obedience of one shal many be made righteous.

But the lawe in the meane tyme entred, Gal. 3. that synne shulde increace. Luc. 7. Neuertheles where abundaunce of synne was, there was yet more plenteousnes of grace: that, like as synne had reigned vnto death, euē so mighte grace reigne also thorow righteousnes to euerlastinge life by the meanes of Iesus Christ.

The VI. Chapter.

WHat shal we saye then? Shal we contynue in synne, that there maye be abundaunce of grace? God forbyd. How shal we lyue in synne, yt are deed from it? Gal. 3. d Col. 2. b 1. Pet. 3. Knowe ye not, that all we which are baptysed in to Iesu Christ, are baptysed in to his death? Therfore are we buried wt him by baptyme in to death, that, like as Christ was raysed vp from the deed by the glory of the father, Ephe. 4. Col. 3. a Heb. 9. c euen so we also shulde walke in a new life. For yf we be grafted wt him vnto like death, then shal we be like the resurreccion also: For so moch as we knowe, that oure olde man is crucified with him, that the synfull body mighte ceasse, that hence forth we shulde serue synne nomore. Pet. 4. a For he that is deed, is made righteous frō synne.

But yf we be deed with Christ, we beleue, that we shal lyue also with him, Tim. 2. b and are sure, Apoc. 1. d that Christ raysed from the deed, dyeth nomore: Death shal haue nomore power ouer him. For as touchinge that he dyed, he dyed cōcernynge synne once: but as touchinge that he lyueth, he lyueth vnto God. Likewyse ye also, counte youre selues to be euen deed concernynge synne, and to lyue vnto God thorow Iesus Christ oure LORDE. Let not synne reigne therfore in youre mortall bodye, that ye shulde obeye vnto the lustes of it. Nether geue ye ouer youre membres vnto synne to be wapens of vnrighteousnes, but geue ouer youre selues vnto God, as they that off deed are become lyuynge, and youre membres vnto God to be wapēs off righteousnes. For synne shal not haue power ouer you, in so moch as ye are not vnder the lawe, but vnder grace.

How then? Shal we synne, because we are not vnder ye lawe, but vnder grace? God forbyd. oh 8. c Pet. 2. d Knowe ye not, that loke vnto whō ye geue ouer youre selues as seruauntes to obeye, his seruauntes ye are to whom ye obey, whether it be of synne vnto death, or of obediēce vnto righteousnes? But God be thanked, that though ye haue bene the seruauntes of synne, ye are now yet obedient of herte to the ensample off the doctryne, whervnto ye are commytted. For now that ye are made fre from synne, ye are become the seruauntes of righteousnes.

I wil speake grosly, because of the weaknes of youre flesh. Like as ye haue geuen ouer youre membres to the seruyce of vnclennesse, from one wickednesse to another: Euē so now also geue ouer youre membres to the seruyce of righteousnesse, that they maye be holy. For whan ye were the seruauntes of synne, ye were lowse from righteousnes. What frute had ye at that tyme in those thinges, wherof ye are now ashamed? For the ende of soch thinges is death. But now that ye be fre from synne, and are become the seruauntes of God, ye haue youre frute that ye shulde be holy: but the ende is euerlastinge life. Gen. 2. c om 5. b For death is the rewarde of synne, but the gifte of God is euerlastinge life.

The VII. Chapter.

KNowe ye not brethren (for I speake vnto them that knowe the lawe) how that ye lawe hath power vpon a man as longe as he lyueth?1. Cor. 〈…〉 For the woman yt is in subieccion to the man, is bounde vnto the lawe whyle the man lyueth: but yf the man dye, then is she lowsed from the lawe that concerneth the man. Nat. 〈…〉 Yf she be now with another man, whyle the manlyneth, she shal be called a wedlocke breaker. But yf the man be deed, then is she fre from the lawe, so that she is no wedlocke breaker, yf she be with another man.

Euen so my brethren, ye also are deed vnto the lawe by the body of Christ, that ye shulde be with another (namely wt him which is raysed vp from the deed) that we shulde brynge forth frute vnto God. For whan we were in the flesh, the synfull lustes (which were stered vp by the lawe) were mightie in oure membres to brynge forth frute vnto death. But now are we lowsed from the lawe, and deed vnto it, that helde vs captyue, so that we shulde serue in a new conuersacion of the sprete, and not in the olde conuersacion of the letter.

What shal we saye then? Is the lawe synne? God forbyd: Neuertheles I knewe not synne, but by ye lawe. For I had knowne nothinge of lust, yf the lawe had not sayde: Exo. 〈…〉 Deut. 〈…〉 Thou shalt not lust. But then toke synne occasion at the commaundement, and stered vp in me all maner of lust. For without the lawe synne was deed. As for me, I lyued some tyme without lawe. Howbeit whan the commaundement came, synne renyued, but I was deed. And the very same commaundement that was geuen me vnto life, was founde to be vnto me on occasion of death. For synne toke occasion at the cō maundement, and disceaued me, and slewe me by the same commaundement. Esa. 〈…〉 The lawe in dede is holy, and the commaundement holy, iust and good. Is that then which is good, become death vnto me? God forbyd. But synne, that it mighte appeare how yt it is synne, hath wroughte me death thorow good: that synne mighte be out of measure synfull by the commaundement. For we knowe, that the lawe is spirituall, but I am carnall, 〈…〉 solde vnder synne: because I knowe not what I do. For I do not yt I will, but what I hate, yt do I. Yf I do now that which I wil not, thē graunte I, that the lawe is good.

So then it is not I that do it, but synne that dwelleth in me: for I knowe that in me (yt is, in my 〈…〉 flesh) there dwelleth no good thinge. To wyll is present wt me, but to perfourme yt which is good, I fynde not. For ye good that I wyll, do I not: but the euell which I wil not, that do I. Yf I do now that I wil not, then is it not I that do it, but synne that dwelleth in me.

Thus fynde I now by the lawe, yt whan I wyl do good, euell is present with me. For I delite in the lawe of God after the inwarde man: but I se another lawe in my membres, which stryueth agaynst ye lawe of my mynde, and taketh me presoner in ye lawe of synne, which is in my membres. O wretched man that I am, who shal delyuer me from the body of this death? I thanke God thorow Iesus Christ oure LORDE. So then wt the mynde I serue ye lawe of God, but with the flesh the lawe of synne.

The VIII. Chapter.

THen is there now no damnacion vnto thē that are in Christ Iesu, which walke not after the flesh, but after ye sprete. For ye lawe of ye sprete (yt bryngeth life ī Christ Iesu) hath made me 〈…〉 fre frō the lawe of synne & death. 〈…〉 For what vnpossible was vnto ye lawe (in as moch as it was weake because of the flesh) yt perfourmed God, & sent his sonne in ye similitude of synfull flesh, & by Cor. 3. c synne dāned synne in ye flesh: that the righteousnes requyred of the lawe, mighte be fulfylled in vs, which walke not after the flesh, but after the sprete. For they that are fleshly, are fleshly mynded: but they that are goostly, are goostly mynded. To be fleshly mynded, is death: but to be goostly mynded, is life and peace. For to be fleshly mynded is enemyte agaynst. God, 〈…〉 syth it is not subdued vnto ye lawe of God, for it can not also. As for thē that are fleshlye, they can not please God. Howbeit ye are not fleshly, but goostly, yf so be that the sprete of God dwell in you. But who so hath not the sprete of Christ, the same is not his. Neuertheles yf Christ be in you, then is the body deed because of synne. But the sprete is life for righteousnes sake.

Wherfore yf the sprete of him, that raysed vp Iesus from the deed, dwell in you, then shal euen he also that raysed vp Christ from the deed, quyckē youre mortal bodies, because yt his sprete dwelleth in you. Therfore brethrē we are now detters, not to the flesh, to lyue after the flesh: for yf ye lyue after ye fleshe, ye must dye: but yf ye mortyfye the dedes of the body thorow the sprete, ye shal lyue. For who so euer are led by the sprete of God, 〈◊〉 . 4. a Tim. 1. a are Gods childrē: for ye haue not receaued the sprete of bondage to feare eny more, but ye haue receaued ye sprete of adopcion, wherby we crye: Abba, deare father. 2. Cor. 1. and 5. a Eph. 1. b The same sprete certifieth oure sprete, that we are the childrē of God. Yf we be childrē, then are we heyres also, namely the heyres of God, and heyres annexed with Christ, yf so be that we suffer together, that we maye be also glorified together.

For I suppose, that the affliccions off this tyme, are not worthy of ye glorye,2. Cor. 4 which shalbe shewed vpon vs.2. Co. For the feruent lō ginge of ye creature loketh for the appearinge of the children of God, because the creature is subdued vnto vanyte agaynst hir will, but for his wyll that hath subdued her vpon hope. For the creature also shal be fre from the bondage of corrupcion, vnto the glorious libertye of the childrē of God. For we knowe, that euery creature groneth, and Ioh. 16. trauayleth with vs in payne vnto the same tyme.

Not they only, but we oure selues also, which haue the first frutes of the sprete, grone within in oure selues for the childshippe, and loke for ye delyueraunce of oure bodye. For we are s ued ī dede, howbeit ī hope: but ye hope that is sene, is no hope: for how can a man hope for that which he seyeth? But yf we hope for that which we se not, thē do we thorow pacience abyde for it.

Likewyse the sprete also helpeth oure weaknesse: for we knowe not what we shulde desyre as we oughte: Esa. 26 neuertheles ye sprete it selfe maketh intercession mightely for vs with vnoutspeakable gronynges. Howbeit he yt searcheth the hert, knoweth what the mynde of the sprete is: for he maketh intercession for the sayntes acordinge to the pleasure of God. But sure we are, that all thinges serue for the best vnto them that loue of God, which are called of purpose. For those whom he knewe before, hath he ordeyned also before, yt they shulde be like fashioned vnto ye shappe of his sonne, yt he mighte be the first begottē amōge many brethrē. As for those whom he hath ordeyned before, them hath he called also: and whom he hath called, thē hath he also made righteous: and whom he hath made righteous, them hath he glorified also.

What shal we saye then vnto these thinges? Yff God be on oure syde, Nu. 14. Esa. 50. b who can be agaynst vs. Ge. 22 Esa. 53. c Which spared not his owne sonne, but hath geuen him for vs all: how shal he not with him geue vs all thinges also? Who wyl laye enythinge to ye charge of Gods chosen? Here is God that maketh righteous, who wil then condemne? Here is Christ that is deed, yee rather which is raysed vp agayne, which is also on ye righte hande of God, and maketh intercession for vs.

Who will separate vs from the loue of God? Trouble? or anguysh? or persecuciō? or honger? or nakednesse? or parell? or swerde? al. 43. c As it is wrytten: For thy sake are we kylled all the daye longe, we are counted as shepe appoynted to be slayne. Neuerthelesse in all these thinges we ouercome farre, for his sake that loued vs. For sure I am, that nether death ner life, nether angell, ner rule, nether power, nether thinges present, nether thinges to come, nether heyth, ner loweth, nether eny other creature shalbe able to separate vs from the loue of God, which is in Christ Iesu oure LORDE.

The IX. Chapter.

I Saye the trueth in Christ, and lye not (wherof my conscience beareth me witnesse in the holy goost) that I haue greate heuynesse & contynuall sorowe in my hert. 〈◊〉 . 31. g I haue wyszhed my selfe to be cursed from Christ for my brethren, that are my kynsmen after the flesh, which are off Israel: 〈◊〉 . 19. a 〈◊〉 . 7. a vnto whom pertayneth the childshippe, and the glory, and the couenauntes and lawe, and the seruyce of God, and the promyses: whose are also the fathers, off whom (after the flesh) commeth Christ, om. 1. c which is God ouer all, blessed for euer, Amē· But I speake not these thinges, as though the worde of God were of none effecte: for they are not all Israelites, om. 2. c which are of Israel: al. 4. c nether are they all children, because they are the sede of Abraham: en. 21. b but in Isaac shal the sede be called vnto the, that is, They which are children after the flesh, are not the children of God, but the children of the promes are counted for the sede. For this is a worde of the promes, where he sayeth: Aboute this tyme wyl I come, en. 18. b and Sara shal haue a sonne.

Howbeit it is not so with this onely, but also whan Rebecca was with childe by one (namely by oure father Isaac) or euer the childrē were borne, en. 25. c & had done nether good ner bad (that the purpose of God might stō de acordinge to the eleccion, not by the deseruynge of workes, but by the grace of the caller) it was sayde thus vnto her: The greater shal serue the lesse. As it is wrytten: •• al. 1. a Iacob haue I loued, but Esau haue I hated.

What shal we saye then? Is God then vnrighteous? God forbyd. For he sayeth vnto Moses: I shewe mercy, to whom I shewe mercy: and haue cōpassion, Exo. 〈…〉 on whō I haue compassion. So lyeth it not then in eny mans wyll or runnynge, but in the mercy of God. For the scripture sayeth vnto Pharao: Exo. 〈…〉 For this cause haue I stered the vp, euen to shewe my power on the, that my name mighte be declared in all lōdes. Thus hath he mercy on whom he wyl: and whom he wyl, he hardeneth.

Thou wilt saye then vnto me: Why blameth he vs yet? For who can resiste his will? O thou man, who art thou, that disputest with God? Sayeth the worke to his workman: Why hast thou made me on this fashion? Hath not the potter power, Iere. 〈…〉 Eccli. 〈…〉 . Tim. 〈…〉 out of one lompe of claye to make one vessell vnto honoure, and another vnto dishonoure? Therfore whan God wolde shewe wrath, and to make his power knowne, he broughte forth with greate pacience the vessels off wrath, which are ordeyned to damnacion: that he mighte declare the riches off his glorye on ye vessels of mercy, which he hath prepared vnto glorye, whom he hath called (namely vs) not onely of the Iewes, but also of the Gentyles. As he sayeth also by Osee: Osee 〈…〉 and c 1. 〈…〉 I wil call that my people, which is not my people: and my beloued, which is not ye beloued. And it shal come to passe in ye place, where it was sayde vnto them: Ye are not my people, there shal they be called the children of the lyuynge God. But Esay crieth ouer Israel: Esa. 〈…〉 Zach. 〈…〉 Though the nombre of the children of Israel be as the sonde of the see, yet shal there but a remnaunt be saued. For there is the worde, that fynisheth and shorteneth in righteousnes: for a shorte worde shal God make vpon earth. And as Esay sayde before: Excepte the LORDE of Sabbaoth had lefte vs fede, Esa. b we shulde haue bene as Sodoma, and like vnto Gomorra.

What shal we saye then? This wil we saye: The Heythen which folowed not righteousnes, haue ouertaken righteousnes: but I speake of the righteousnes that commeth of faith. Agayne, Israel folowed the lawe of righteousnes, and attayned not vnto the lawe of righteousnes. Why so? Euen because they soughte it not out of faith, but as it were out of the deseruynge of workes. For they haue stombled at the stomblinge stone. As it is wrytten: Beholde, Esa. 〈…〉 I laye in Sion a stone to stōble at, and a rocke to be offended at: and who so euer beleueth on him, Esa. 〈…〉 shal not be confounded.

The X. Chapter.

BRethren, my hertes desyre, & prayer vnto God for Israel is, that they might be saued. For I beare them recorde, that they are zelous for Gods cause, but not wt vnderstondinge. For they knowe not the righteousnes which auayleth before God, and go aboute to manteyne their awne righteousnes: and thus they are not subdued vnto the righteousnes, that is off value before God. 〈…〉 For Christ is the ende of the lawe, vnto righteousnes for euery one yt beleueth. para Moses wryteth of ye righteousnes which commeth of the lawe, that the man which doth ye same, shal lyue therin. But ye righteousnes which cōmeth of faith, speaketh on this wyse: 〈…〉 Saye not in thine hert: Who wil go vp in to heauē? (that is nothinge els then to fetch Christ downe) Or who wyl go downe in to ye depe? (that is nothinge els thē to fetch vp Christ from the deed.) But what sayeth the scripture? The worde is nye the, euen in thy mouth and in thine hert. This is ye worde of faith yt we preach.

For yf thou knowlegest Iesus with thy mouth, that he is the LORDE, and beleuest in thine hert, that God hath raysed him vp from the deed, thou shalt be saued. For yf a man beleue from the hert, he shalbe made righteous: and yf a mā knowlege with the mouth, he shal be saued. For the scripture sayeth: 〈…〉 Who so euer beleueth on him, shal not be confounded.

Here is no difference, nether of the Iewe ner of the Gentyle. For one is LORDE of all, which is riche vnto all yt call vpō him. * For who so euer shal call vpon the name of the LORDE, shalbe saued. But how shal they call vpō him, on whō they beleue not? How shal they beleue on him, of whō they haue not herde? How shal they heare without a preacher? But how shal they preach, excepte they be sent? 〈…〉 As it is wryttē: How beutyfull are the fete of thē yt preach peace, yt brynge good tidinges? But they are not all obedient vnto the Gospell. For Esaye sayeth: LORDE, who beleueth oure preachinge? So thē faith cōmeth 〈…〉 by hearynge, but hearinge cōmeth by the worde of God.

But I saye: Haue they not herde? No doute their sounde wēte out in to all londes, 〈…〉 and their wordes in to the endes of the worlde. But I saye: Hath not Israel knowne? First, 〈…〉 Moses sayeth: I wil prouoke you to enuye, by them that are not my people: & by a foolish nacion wyl I anger you. 〈…〉 Esaye after him is bolde, and sayeth: I am founde of them, that sought me not: & haue appeared vnto them, that axed not after me. But vnto Israel he sayeth: Esa . 6 . All the daye lōge haue I stretched forth my handes vnto a people yt beleueth not, but speaketh agaynst me.

The XI. Chapter.

I Saye then: Hath God thrust out his people? God forbyd: Iere 31. for I also am an Israelite, of the sede of Abraham out of the trybe of Ben Iamin. God hath not thrust out his people, whom he knewe before. Or wote ye not what the scripture sayeth of Elias, how he maketh intercession vnto God agaynst Israel, and sayeth:3. Re. 19. LORDE, they haue slayne thy prophetes, & dydged downe thine altares, and I am lefte ouer onely, and they seke my life? But what sayeth the answere of God vnto him?3. Re. 19. I haue reserued vnto me seuen thousande men, which haue not bowed their knee before Baal. Euē so goeth it now at this tyme also wt this remnaunt after ye eleccion of grace. Deut. 9. a Yf it be done of grace, thē is it not of deseruynge: els were grace no grace. But yf it be of deseruynge, then is grace nothinge: els were deseruynge no deseruynge.

What thē? Israel hath not optayned yt which he soughte, but the eleccion hath optayned it. As for ye other, they are blynded. As it is wrytten: God hath geuen them the sprete of vnquyetnesse, Esa. 6. b eyes that they shulde not se, and eares that they shulde not heare, euē vnto this daye. And Dauid sayeth: Let their table be made a snare to take thē with all, & an occasion to fall, Psal. 6 . d & a rewarde vnto thē. Let their eyes be blynded that they se not, and euer bowe downe their backes.

I saye then: Haue they therfore stombled, yt they shulde cleane fall to naughte? God forbyd: but thorow their fall is saluacion happened vnto ye Heythen, that he mighte prouoke them to be zelous after them. For yf their fall be the riches of the worlde, and the mynishinge of thē the riches of the Heythen: how moch more shulde it be so, yf their fulnesse were there? I speake vnto you Heythen: for in as moch as Rom. 1. a 1. Tim. 2. 2. Tim. 1. b I am ye Apostle of the Heythen, I wil prayse myne office, yf I mighte prouoke them vnto zele, which are my fleshe, and saue some of them. For yf the losse of them by the recōcylinge of the worlde, what were that els, then as yf life were taken of the deed? Yf the begynnynge be holy, then is all ye dowe holy: Esa. 65. b and yf the rote be holy, then are the braunches holy also.

But though some of ye braunches now be brokē, and thou, whā thou wast a wylde olyue tre, art grafte in amonge them, and made partaker of the rote and sappe of the Iere. 11. c olyue tre, boost not thy selfe agaynst the braunches. Yf thou boost thy selfe agaynst them, then bearest not thou the rote, but the rote beareth the. Thou wilt saye then: the braunches are brokē of, that I mighte be grafted in. Thou sayest well. They are broken of because off their vnbeleue, but thou stondest thorow beleue Eccl. 7. c Be not thou hye mynded, but feare, seynge God hath not spared the naturall braunches, lest he also spare not the.

Beholde therfore the kyndnesse and rigorousnes off God: on them which fell, rigorousnes: but towarde the, kyndnes, yf thou contynue in the kyndnesse. Els shalt thou be hewē of: . Cor. 3. c and they, yf they byde not styll in vnbeleue, shal be grafted in agayne. For God is of power to grafte thē in agayne. For yf thou be cut out of the naturall wilde olyue tre, and grafted (contrary to nature) in the good olyue tre, how moch more shal they that are naturall, be grafted in their awne olyue tre agayne?

I wolde not that this secrete shulde be hyd from you brethrē (lest ye shulde be wyse in youre awne cōsaytes) that partly blyndnesse is happened vnto Israel, Luc. 21. c so longe tyll the fulnesse of the Heythen be come in, and so all Israel shalbe saued. As it is wrytten: There shal come out of Sion he that doth delyuer, Psal. 13. a Esa. 59. c and shal turne awaye vngodlynes from Iacob. And this is my couenaūt with them, whā I shal take awaye their synnes. As concernynge the Gospell, I holde them as enemies for youre sakes: but as touchinge the eleccion, I loue them for the fathers sakes.

For verely the giftes & callynge of God are soch, that it can not repente him of them. For likewyse as ye also in tyme passed haue not beleued, but now haue optayned mercy thorow their vnbeleue: Euen so now haue they not beleued on the mercy which his happened vnto you, that they also maye optayne mercy. For God hath closed vp all vnder vnbeleue, that he mighte haue mercy on all.

O the depenesse of the riches, both of the wyszdome and knowlege of God? How incomprehensible are his iudgmentes, Sap. 17. a and his wayes vnsearcheable? Sap. 9. b Esa. 40. b . Cor 2. b Esa. 44. e For who hath knowne the mynde of the LORDE? Or who hath bene his councell geuer· Or who hath geuē him ought afore hande, that he mighte be recompenced agayne? For of him, and thorow him, and in him are all thinges. To him be prayse for euer, Amen.

The XII. Chapter.

I Beseke you brethrē by the mercyfulnesse of God, that ye geue ouer youre bodies for a * sacrifice, yt is quycke holy, and acceptable vnto God, which is yo reasonable seruynge off God. And fashion not youre selues like vnto this worlde, but be chaunged thorow the renewynge off yo mynde, yt ye maye proue, what thinge that good, yt acceptable, & perfecte wil of God is. For I saye thorow the grace yt is geuē me, vnto euery man amonge you: Ecc •• . 〈…〉 that no man esteme off him selfe more, then it becōmeth him to esteme: but that he discretly iudge of himselfe, acordinge as God hath dealte vnto euery man the measure of faith.1. Cor. 〈…〉 Eph. 〈…〉 For like as we haue many membres in one body, but all the membres haue not one maner of operacion: Euen so we beynge many are one body in Christ. But amonge oure selues euery one is the membre of another, and haue dyuers giftes, acordinge to the grace that is geuen vnto vs 1. Co. 〈…〉 Yf eny man haue the gifte of prophecienge, let it be acordinge to the faith.

1. Pet 〈…〉 Let him that hath an office, wayte vpō the office: let him that teacheth, take hede to the doctryne: Let him that exhorteth, geue attēdaunce to the exhortacion. Yf eny mā geueth, let hī geue with synglenesse. Let him that ruleth, be diligent. Ecc •• 〈…〉 〈1 paragraph〉 Yf eny man shewe mercy, let him do it with chearfulnesse. Let loue be without dissimulacion. Hate that which is euell: Cleue vnto that which is good. Be kynde one to another with brotherly loue. In geuynge honoure go one before another. Ecc 〈…〉 Be not slouthfull in the busynesse that ye haue in hande. Be feruent in the sprete. Applye youre selues vnto the tyme. Reioyse in hope, be pacient in trouble. Continue in prayer. Distribute vnto the necessities of the sayntes. Heb 〈…〉 Be glad to harbarow. Blesse thē that persecute you. Blesse, & curse not. Be mery with them that are mery and wepe with them that wepe.

Be of one mynde amonge youre selues. Be not proude in youre awne consaytes, but make youre selues equall to them of ye lowe sorte. Be not wyse in youre awne opinions Pro. 〈…〉 1. 〈…〉 Recompēse vnto no man euell for euell. Prouyde honestie afore hāde towarde euery mā. Yf it be possible (as moch as in you is) haue peace with all men.

Dearly beloued, auenge not youre selues, but geue rowme vnto the wrath off God. For it is wryttē: Vengeaunce is myne, 〈…〉 and I wil rewarde, sayeth ye LORDE. Therfore yf thine enemye hunger, fede him: Yf he thyrst, 〈…〉 geue him drinke. For in so doinge thou shalt heape coales of fyre vpō his heade. Be not ouercome with euell, but ouercome thou euell with good.

The XIII. Chapter.

LEt euery soule submytte himselfe to the auctorite off the hyer powers. 〈…〉 For there is no power but of God. The powers that be, are ordeyned of God: so that who so euer resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinaunce of God. And they that resiste, shal receaue to them selues dānacion. For rulers are not to be feared for good workes, but for euell. Yf thou wilt be without feare off the power, do well then, and thou shalt haue prayse of the same: for he is the minister off God for thy wealth. But yff thou do euell, then feare, for he beareth not the swerde for naughte. For he is the mynister of God, a taker of vengeaunce, to punyshe him that doth euell. Wherfore ye must nedes obeye, not onely for punyshmēt, but also because of conscience. For this cause must ye geue trybute also. For they are Gods mynisters, which māteyne ye same defence.

Geue to euery man therfore his dutye: tribute, 〈…〉 to whom tribute belongeth: custome, to whom custome is due: feare, to whom feare belongeth: honoure, to whom honoure pertayneth. Owe nothinge to eny man, but to loue one another. 〈…〉 For he that loueth another, hath fulfylled the lawe. For where it is sayde: ( 〈◊〉 0. c 〈◊〉 5. c Thou shalt not breake wedlocke: thou shalt not kyll: thou shalt not steale: thou shalt not beare false witnesse: thou shalt not lust) and yf there be eny other commaundement, it is comprehēded in this worde: 〈…〉 Thou shalt loue thy neghboure as thy selfe. Loue doth his neghboure no euell. Therfore is loue ye fulfillynge of the lawe.

And for so moch as we know this, namely the tyme 〈◊〉 5. a that the houre is now for vs to ryse from slepe (For now is oure saluacion nearer, then whan we beleued: the nighte is past, but the daye is come nye.) Let vs therfore cast awaye ye workes of darknesse, 〈…〉 and put on the armoure of lighte. Let vs walke honestly as in the daye, 〈…〉 not in excesse off eatinge and in dronkennesse, not in chamburynge and wantonnesse, not in stryfe and enuyenge: but put ye on the LORDE Iesus Christ, 〈…〉 and make not prouysion for ye flesh, to fulfill the lustes of it.

The XIIII. Chapter.

HIm that is weake in the faith, receaue vnto you, and trouble not the consciences. One beleueth that he maye eate all thinge: but he that is weake, eateth herbes. Let not him that eateth, despyse him that eateth not: and let not him which eateth not, iudge him that eateth: for God hath receaued him. Iaco. 4. b Who art thou, that iudgest another mans seruaūt? He stondeth or falleth vnto his LORDE: Yee he maye well stōde, for God is able to make hī stōde. Some man putteth differēce betwene daye & daye, but another man counteth all dayes alyke. Col. 2. c Let euery man be sure of his meanynge. He that putteth difference in the daye, doth it vnto the LORDE: & he that putteth no differēce in the daye, doth it vnto ye LORDE also. He yt eateth, eateth vnto the LORDE, for he geueth God thākes: and he that eateth not, eateth not vnto ye LORDE, and geueth God thankes. For none of vs lyueth to him selfe, and none dyeth to him selfe. Yf we lyue, we lyue vnto the LORDE: Yf we dye, we dye vnto the LORDE. Therfore, whether we lyue or dye, we are the LORDES.

For therto dyed Christ, and rose agayne, and reuyued, that he mighte be Act. 2. d Phil. . a LORDE both of deed and quycke. But why iudgest thou ye brother? Or thou other, why despysest thou ye brother? We shal all be broughte before ye iudgmēt seate of Christ. Gal. 6. a For it is wryttē: As truly as I lyue, (sayeth the LORDE) all knees shal bowe vnto me, Esa. 45. c Phil. 2. a & all tūges shal knowlege vnto God. Thus shal euery one of vs geue acomptes for himselfe vnto God. Let vs not therfore iudge one another eny more. But iudge this rather, yt nomā put a stomblinge blocke or an occasion to fall in his brothers waye.1. Cor. 8. I knowe, & am full certified in ye LORDE Iesu, yt there is nothinge cōmen of it selfe: but vnto him yt iudgeth it to be cōmen, to him is it cōmen. But yf ye brother be greued ouer ye meate, thē walkest thou not now after charite. Destroye not wt thy meate, him, for whom Christ dyed,

Se therfore that youre treasure be not euell spokē of. For the kyngdome of God is not meate and drynke, but righteousnes, & peace, and ioye in the holy goost. He that in these thinges serueth Christ, pleaseth God, & is cōmended of mē. Let vs therfore folowe those thinges which make for peace, & thinges wherwith one maye edifye another. Destroye not ye worke of God for eny meates sake. All thinges truly are cleane, Tit. 1. c but it is euell for yt mā, which eateth wt hurte of his cōscience 1. Cor. 8. b It is moch better yt thou eate no flesh, and drynke no wyne, nor eny thinge, wherby thy brother stombleth, or falleth, or is made weake. Hast thou faith, haue it with ye selfe before God happye is he, that cōdemneth not him selfe in yt thinge which he aloweth. But he that maketh conscience of it and yet eateth, is dampned: because he doth it not of faith. For Tit 1. c what so euer is not of faith, that same is synne.

The XV. Chapter.

WE that are stronge Gal. 6. a ought to beare ye fraylnesse of them which are weake, and not to stonde in oure awne consaytes. Let euery one of vs ordre himselfe so, that he please his neghboure vnto his welth, and edifienge: For Christ pleased not himselfe, but as it is wrytten: The rebukes of them which rebuked the, are fallen vpon me. Psal. 68 b Ro. 4. d What so euer thinges are wryttē afore tyme, are wrytten for oure learnynge, that we thorow pacience and comforte off the scriptures, might haue hope. The God of pacience and consolacion graunte you to be like mynded one towarde another, acordinge vnto Iesu Christ, that ye beynge of one mynde, maye wt one mouth prayse God the father of oure LORDE Iesu Christ.

Wherfore receaue ye one another, as Christ hath receaued you to the prayse off God. But I saye that Christ Iesus was a mynister of the circumcision for the trueth of God, to cōfirme the promyses made vnto the fathers, and that the Heythen mighte prayse God because of mercy, as it is wrytten:2 Re. 22. g Psal. 17. c For this cause wyl I prayse the amōge the Gētyles, and synge vnto thy name. And agayne he sayeth: Deu. 32. f Reioyse ye Heythen with his people. And agayne: Psa. 116. a Prayse the LORDE all ye Gentiles, and laude him all ye naciōs. And agayne Esay sayeth: There shalbe the rote of Iesse, and he that shal ryse to rule the Gentyles, in him shal the Gentyles trust. The God off hope fyll you wt all ioye and peace in beleuynge, yt ye maye be plenteous in hope thorow ye power of the holy goost.

I my selfe am full certified of you (my brethren) that ye youre selues are full of goodnes, fylled with all knowlege, so that ye are able to exhorte one another. Neuertheles (brethrē) I haue somwhat more boldly wrytten vnto you, as one that putteth you in remembraunce, for the grace that is geuē me of God that I shulde be a mynister of Iesu Christ amonge the Heythen, to declare the gospell of God, that the Heythen mighte be an acceptable offerynge vnto God, sanctified by the holy goost. Therfore maye I boost myselfe thorow Iesu Christ, that I medle with thinges perteyninge vnto God. For I durst not speake ought, excepte Christ had wroughte the same by me, to make the Heythen obediēt thorow worde and dede, thorow the power of tokens and wonders, and thorow the power of the sprete of God, so that from Ierusalē, and roūde aboute vnto Illyricon, I haue fylled all with the Gospell of Christ. So haue I enforced my se fe to preach ye Gospell, not where Chr stes name was knowne, lest I shulde buylde on another mans foundacion, but as it is wrytten: To whom he was not spoken of, they shal se: and they that haue not herde, Esa. 〈…〉 shal vnderstonde. This is also the cause, wherfore I haue bene oft tymes let to come vnto you. But now syth I haue nomore place in these countrees, hauynge yet a desyre many yeares sence to come vnto you, whan I shal take my iourney in to Spayne, I wil come to you: for I trust that I shal passe yt waye and se you, and to be broughte on my waye thitherwarde by you: but so, that I first refresh my selfe a litle with you.

But now go I to Ierusalem, to mynister vnto the sayntes. For they of Macedonia and Achaia haue wyllingly prepared a commen colleccion together, Act 〈…〉 1. Co. 〈…〉 2 Cor 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 for the poore sayntes at Ierusalem. They haue done it wyllingly, and their detters are they. 1. 〈…〉 Gal 〈…〉 For yf ye Heythen be made partakers off their spiritual thinges, their dutye is to mynister vnto thē in bodely thinges. Now whan I haue perfourmed this, and haue broughte thē this frute sealed, I wil take my iourney by you in to Spayne. But I am sure whan I come vnto you, that I shal come with ye full blessynge of the Gospell of Christ.

I beseke you brethren thorow oure LORDE Iesu Christ, and thorow the loue of the sprete, yt ye helpe me in my busynes with youre prayers vnto God for me, that I maye be delyuered from the vnbeleuers in Iewrye and that this my seruyce which I do to Ierusalem, maye be accepted of the sayntes, yt I maye come vnto you with ioye by ye wyll of God, and refreshe my selfe with you. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

The XVI. Chapter.

I Commende vnto you Phebe oure sister, which is a mynister of the congregacion of Cenchrea, that ye receaue her in the LORDE, as it be cōmeth the sayntes, and that ye helpe her in what soeuer busynesse she hath neade off you. For she hath succoured many, and myne awne selfe also.

Grete Prisca and 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 . 4. c Aquila my helpers in Christ Iesu, which for my life haue layed downe their awne neckes: vnto whom not I onely geue thankes, but all the congregacions of the Heythen. Grete the congregacion also in their house. Salute Epenetos my beloued, which is ye first frute amōge thē of Achaia ī Christ. Grete Mary, which hath bestowed moch laboure on vs. Salute Andronicus & Iunia my cosens, & felowe presoners, which are awncient Apostles, & were before me in Christ. Grete Amplias my beloued in ye LORDE. Salute Vrban o helper in Christ, & Stachis my beloued. Salute Apelles approued in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobolus housholde. Salute Herodion my kynszman. Grete thē which are of Narcissus housholde in the LORDE Salute Tryphena & Tryphosa, which haue laboured in ye LORDE. Salute my beloued Persi •• , which hath laboured moch & ye LORDE. Salute Ruffus ye chosen in ye LORDE: & his mother & myne. Grete Asyncritus, Phlegō, Herman, Patrobas, Hermen, & ye brethrē wt thē. Salute Philologus & Iulia, Nerius & his sister, & Olympa, & all the sayntes. wt thē Salute one another wt an holy kysse. The cō gregacions of Christ salute you.

〈…〉 I beseke you brethren, marke them which cause deuysion & geue occasions of euell, contrary to ye doctryne which ye haue learned, & avoyde them. For they yt are soch, serue not the LORDE Iesu Christ, 〈…〉 but their awne belly: & thorow swete preachinges & flateringe wordes, they disceaue ye hertes of ye innocentes. For youre obedience is published amonge all men, therfore am I glad of you.

But yet I wolde haue you wyse in that which is good, 〈…〉 & symple in euell. The God of peace treade Sathan vnder yo fete shortly. The grace of o LORDE Iesu Christ be with you 〈…〉 Timotheus my helper, & 〈…〉 Lucius, & 〈…〉 Iason, & 〈…〉 Sopater my kynsmē salute you. I Tertius which haue writtē this epistle in ye LORDE, salute you 〈…〉 Gaius myne ooste & ye oost of ye whole cōgregacion saluteth you. Erastus ye chāberlaine of ye cite saluteth you & Quartus a brother saluteth you. The grace of o LORDE Iesu Christ be wt you all Amē,

To him yt is of power to stablyshe you, acordinge to my Gospell & preachinge of Iesu Christ, wherby is vttered ye mystery which hath bene kepte secrete, sence ye worlde begā ne, but now is opened, & shewed by the scriptures of ye prophetes, at the cōmaundemēt of the euerlastinge God, to set vp ye obediē ce of the faith amonge all Heythen: 〈…〉 to the same God, which alone is wyse, be prayse thorow Iesus Christ for euer, Amen.

To the Romaynes.

Sent from Corinthum, by Phebe, which was a mynister of the congregacion at Cenchrea.

The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul, to the Corinthians. The summe of this Epistle. Chap. I. He commendeth the Corinthians exhorteth thē to be of one mynde, & rebuketh the diuysion that was amonge them. Wordly wysdome is foolishnes before God, yee there is no wysdome but in the despysed crosse of Christ. Chap. II. It is not eloquence and glorious paynted wordes of wordly wysdome, that can edifie and conuerte soules vnto Christ: but the playne wordes of the scripture, for, they make mencion of him and his crosse. Chap. III. Paul rebuketh the sec es and authores therof. Christ is the foūdaciō of his church No man ought to reioyce in men, but in God. Chap. IIII. The preachers are but ministers. Iudgment belongeth only vnto God. Chap. V. After what maner Paul curseth the man, that had committed fornicacion with his mother in lawe. Chap. VI. He rebuketh thē for goinge to lawe together before the Heithen, and reproueth vnclennesse. Chap. VII. Of mariage, virginite and wyddowheade. Chap. VIII. He rebuketh thē that vse their lyberte to the slaunder of other, & sheweth how men ought to behaue thē towarde soch as be weake. Chap. IX. Loue forbeareth the thinge that she maye do by the lawe. He exorteth them to runne on forth in the course that they haue begonne. Chap. X. He feareth them with the ensamples of the olde Testament, and exorteth them to a godly conuersacion. Chap. XI. He rebuketh thē for the abuse and misordre that they had aboute the Sacramēt of the body and bloude of Christ, and bringeth them agayne to the first institucion. Chap. XII. The diuersite of the giftes of the holy goost, geuen to the cōforte and edifienge of one another, as the membres of a mans body serue one another. Chap. XIII. The nature and condicions of loue. Chap. XIIII. Paul sheweth that the gift of prophecie, interpretinge, or preachinge, excelleth the gift of tunges, and how they ought both to be vsed. Chap. XV. The resurreccion of the deed. Chap. XVI. He putteth thē in remembraunce of the gadderynge for the poore christē at Ierusalē, and concludeth his epistle with the salutacions of certayne louynge brethren. The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul, to the Corinthians.

The first Chapter.

PAul, called to be an Apostle of Iesus Christ thorow ye will of God, and brother Act. 18. b Sosthenes, vnto the congregacion off God which is at Corinthum, to them that are Ioh. 17. c Heb. 9. c sanctified in Christ Iesus, sayntes by callinge, with all them that call vpon the name of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, in euery place both off theirs and oures. . Cor. 1. a Grace be with you and peace from God oure father, and from the LORDE Iesus Christ.

I thāke my God allwayes on youre behalfe, for the fauoure of God which is geuē you in Iesus Christ, that in all poyntes ye are made ryche by him, in euery worde, and in all maner of knowlege (euē as ye preachinge of Christ is confirmed in you) so that ye wante nothinge in eny gifte, and wayte but for the appearinge of oure LORDE Iesus Christ: which shal strength you also vnto ye ende, that ye maye be blamelesse in the daye of oure LORDE Iesus Christ. Num. 23. c 1. Co 10. b 1 Tess. 5. c For God is faithfull, by whō ye are called vnto the fellishippe of his sonne Iesus Christ oure LORDE.

But I beseke you brethrē thorow the name of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, that ye all speake one thinge, and let there be no discension amonge you, but that ye be perfecte in one meanynge. For it is shewed me (my brethren) of you, by them which are of ye housholde of Cloes, that there is stryfe amonge you. I speake of that, which euery one of you sayeth: I holde of Paul. Another, I holde of Act. 18. c Apollo The thirde, I holde of Cephas. The fourth, I holde off Christ. Is Christ then deuyded in partes? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptysed in ye name of Paul? I thanke God that I haue baptised none of you, but * Crispus and Gaius: lest eny shulde saye, yt I in myne awne name had baptised. I baptysed also ye housholde of Stephana. Farthermore knowe I not, whether I baptysed eny other. For Christ sent me not to baptyse, but to preach the Gospell, not with wyszdome of wordes, lest ye crosse of Christ shulde haue bene made of none effecte.

For the worde of ye crosse is foolishnesse to thē that perishe 〈…〉 but vnto vs which are saued, it is the power of God. For it is wryttē: 〈…〉 I wyl destroye the wyszdome of the wyse, & wil cast away the vnderstondinge of ye prudēt. 〈…〉 Where are the wyse? Where are ye scrybes? where are ye disputers of this worlde? Hath not God made the wyszdome of this worlde foolishnesse? For in so moch as the worlde by the wyszdome therof knewe not God in his wyszdome, it pleased God thorow foolish preachinge to saue them yt beleue. For 〈…〉 the Iewes requyre tokens, and the Grekes axe after wyszdome. But we preach Christ the crucified: to the Iewes an occasion off fallinge, and vnto the Grekes foolishnes. But vnto them that are called (both Iewes and Grekes) we preach Christ the power of God and 〈…〉 the wyszdome off God.

For the foolishnes of God is wyser then men: and the weaknes of God is strōger thē men. Brethren loke on youre callinge, how that 〈…〉 not many wysemē after the flesh, not many mightie, not many of hye degre are called: but that foolish is before the worlde, hath God chosen, that he mighte cōfounde the wyse: And that weake is before ye worlde, hath God chosen, yt he mighte confounde the mightye. And the vyle and despysed before the worlde hath God chosen, yee and that which is nothinge, that he mighte destroye that which is oughte, that no flesh shulde reioyse in his presence. Of the same are ye also in Christ Iesu, which of God is made vnto vs wyszdome and 〈…〉 righteousnes, and 〈…〉 sanctifienge and redēpcion, that, acordinge as it is wrytten: 〈…〉 He that reioyseth, shulde reioyse in the LORDE.

The II. Chapter.

ANd I brethrē, whā I came vnto you came not wt hye wordes or hye wyszdome, to shewe vnto you the preachinge of Christ. For I shewed not forth my selfe amonge you that I knewe eny thinge, saue onely Iesus Christ, euen the sam that ewas crucified. And I was amonge you in weaknes, and in feare, and in moch tremblinge: 〈…〉 and my worde and my preachinge was not with entysinge wordes of mans wyszdome, but in shewinge of the sprete and of power: that youre faith shulde not stonde in the wyszdome of men, but in the power of God.

That we speake of, is wyszdome amonge thē yt are perfecte: not ye wyszdome of this worlde, nether of the rulers of this worlde which go to naughte: but we speake of the wyszdome of God, which is in secrete and lyeth hyd: which God ordeyned before the worlde vnto oure glorye: 〈…〉 which none of ye rulers of this worlde knewe. For yf they had knowne it, they had not crucified the LORDE of glorye, but as it is wrytten: 〈…〉 The eye hath not sene, and the eare hath not herde, nether hath it entred in to the hert of man that God hath prepared for them that loue him.

But God hath opened it vnto vs by his sprete. 〈…〉 For the sprete searcheth out all thinges, yee euen the depenesses of the God heade. For what mā knoweth what is in man, saue the sprete of mā which is in him? Euen so no man knoweth what is in God, saue ye sprete of God. As for vs, we haue not receaued the sprete of this worlde, but the sprete which cōmeth of God, so that we cā knowe what is geuē vs of God: which we also speake, not with connynge wordes of mās wyszdome, but with the cōnynge wordes of the holy goost, and iudge spirituall matters spiritually. Howbeit the naturall man perceaueth nothinge of ye sprete of God. It is foolishnes vnto him, and he can not perceaue it: for it must be spiritually discerned. 〈…〉 But he that is spirituall, discusseth all thinges, and he is iudged of noman. 〈…〉 For who hath knowne ye mynde of the LORDE? Or who shal enfourme him? But we haue the mynde of Christ.

The III. Chapter.

ANd I brethren, coulde not speake vnto you as vnto spirituall, but as vnto carnall, euen as vnto babes in Christ. 〈…〉 I gaue you mylke to drynke, and not meate, for ye mighte not then awaye withall, nether maye ye yet euen now, in so moch as ye are yet fleshlye. For 〈…〉 seynge there is enuyenge, stryfe, and discencion amonge you are ye not fleshly, & walke after ye maner of men? For whan one sayeth: I holde of Paul: another, 〈…〉 I holde of Apollo, are ye not thē fleshlye? What is Paul? What is Apollo? Euē mynisters are they, by whom ye are come to the beleue, and the same, acordinge as the LORDE hath geuen vnto euery man. I haue planted, Apollo hath watred, Ioh. 6 g Act. 2. c but God hath geuen the increace. So then nether is he that planteth, eny thinge, nether he that watreth, but God which geueth the increace. As for him that planteth, and he that watreth, ye one is as the other: but yet shal euery one receaue his rewarde acordinge to his laboure. For we are Gods labourers, ye are Gods huszbandry, ye are Gods buyldinge.

Acordinge to the grace of God which is geuen vnto me, as a wyse buylder haue I layed the foundacion, but another buyldeth theron. Yet let euery man take hede how he buyldeth theron. Mat. 16. c For other foūdacion can noman laye, then that which is layed, the which is Iesus Christ. But yf enyman buylde vpon this foundacion, golde, syluer, precious stones, tymber, haye, stobble, euery mās worke shal be shewed. Esa. 28. c For the daye of the LORDE shal declare it, which shal be shewed with fyre: and the 1. Pet. 1. b and 4. b fyre shal trye euery mās worke what it is. Yf eny mans worke that he hath buylde theron, abyde, he shal receaue a rewarde: Yf eny mans worke burne, he shal suffre losse: but he shal be saued himselfe, neuertheles as thorow fyre.

1. Cor. 6. 2. Cor. 6. Heb. 3. a Knowe ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the sprete of God dwelleth in you? Yf eny man defyle the tēple of God, him shal God destroye. For the temple of God is holy, which ye are. Let no mā disceaue himselfe. Yf eny man thinke himselfe wyse amōge you, let him become a foole in this worlde, that he maye be wyse. For Rom. 1. c the wyszdome off this worlde is foolishnes with God. For it is wrytten: Iob. 5. b He compaseth the wyse in their craftynesse. And agayne: Psal. 93. b The LORDE knoweth the thoughtes of the wyse, that they are vayne. Therfore let no man reioyse in men. For all is youres, whether it be Paul or Apollo, whether it be Cephas or the worlde, whether it be life or death, whether it be presente or for to come. All is youres, but ye are Christes, and Christ is Gods.

The IIII. Chapter.

LEt euery man this wyse esteme vs, euen for the mynisters of Christ,2. Cor. 6. a and stewardes of the Deu. 29. d secretes of God. Now is there no more requyred of the stewardes, then, that they be founde Iere. 23 e Luc. 1 . faithfull. It is but a small thinge vnto me, that I shulde be iudged of you, or of mans daye, nether iudge I myne awne selfe. I knowe noughte by my selfe, Ioh. 9. a yet am I not therby iustified. It is the LORDE that iudgeth me. Therfore iudge ye nothinge before ye tyme, vntyll the LORDE come, which shal brynge it to lighte that is hyd in darknesse, and opē the councels of ye hertes, and thē shal euery one haue prayse of God.

These thinges brethren haue I described in myne awne preson & in Apollos for youre sakes, that ye mighte lerne by vs, that noman counte hygher of him self, then aboue is wrytten, that one be not puft vp agaynst another for eny mans cause. For who preferreth the? aco. 1. a What hast thou that thou hast not receaued? Yf thou hast receaued it, why makest thou thē thy boost, as though thou haddest not receaued it? Now ye are full, now ye are made riche, ye raigne without vs, and wolde God ye dyd raigne, that we might raigne with you.

Me thynketh that God hath set forth vs Apostles for the lowest off all, Psal. 43. c Rom. 8. e euen as those that are appoynted vnto death. For we are agasynge stocke vnto ye worlde and to the angels, and vnto men. We are fooles for Christes sake, but ye are wyse in Christ: We weake, but ye strōge: Ye honorable, but we despysed. Euen vnto this daye we hōger and thyrst, and are naked, and are boffetted with fystes, and haue no certayne dwellinge place, Act. 18. a and laboure and worke with oure awne handes. We are reuyled, Ro. 12. b and yet we blesse: we are persecuted, and suffre it: We are euell spoken of, and we praye: We are become as it were the very outswepinges of ye worlde, yee the of scowringe of all men vnto this tyme.

I wryte not this to shame you, but as my deare childrē I warne you. For though ye haue ten thousande instructours in Christ yet haue ye not many fathers. For I haue Gal. 4. b Iaco. 1. b begotten you in Christ Iesu thorow ye Gospell? Wherfore I exhorte you, 1. Co. 10. a Phil. 3. c be ye my folowers. For this cause haue I sent vnto you Timotheus (which is my deare sonne, and faithfull in the LORDE) that he maye put you in remembraunce of my wayes, which are in Christ, euē as I teach euery where in all congregacions. Some are puft vp, as though I wolde come nomore at you. But I wil come to you shortly ( Pro. 20. d Iere. 10. d yf the LORDE wyl) and wyl knowe, not the wordes of thē that are puft vp, but ye power. For the kyngdome of God is not ī wordes, but in power. What wil ye? Shal I come vnto you wt the rodd, or with loue and the sprete of mekenesse?

The V. Chapter.

THere goeth a commen reporte, that there is whordome amōge you, and soch whordome, as is not once named amōge the Heythen, 〈…〉 that one shulde haue his fathers wife. And ye are puft vp, and haue not rather sorowed, that he which hath done this dede, mighte be put frō amō ge you. For I verely as absent in body, but present in sprete, haue determyned allready as though I were present (cōcernynge him that hath done this dede) in ye name of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, whā ye are gathered together with my sprete, and with the power of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, Mat. 〈…〉 1. Tim. 〈…〉 to delyuer him vnto Sathan for the destruccion of the flesh, that the sprete maye be saued in the daye of the LORDE Iesus.

Youre reioysinge is not good. Gal. 5. Knowe ye not that a litle leuen sowereth the whole lompe of dowe? Pourge out therfore the olde leuen, that ye maye be new dowe, like as ye are swete bred. For we also haue an Esa. 〈…〉 Ioh. 〈…〉 Easter lambe, which is Christ, that is offred for vs. Wherfore let vs 〈…〉 kepe Easter, not in ye olde leuen, ner in the leuen of maliciousnes, and wickednes, but in the swete bred of purenesse and of the trueth.

I wrote vnto you in the Epistle, that ye shulde haue nothinge to do with whoremō gers, & that meant I not at all of the whoremongers of this worlde, ether of the couetous, or of extorcioners, or of thē that worshippe ymages, for then must ye nedes haue gone out of the worlde. 〈…〉 But now haue I wryttē vnto you, yt ye shulde haue nothinge to do with them: (Namely,) yf there be eny man that is called a brother, and is an whoremonger, or couetous, or a worshipper of ymages, ether a raylar, or a dronkarde, or an extorcioner, 〈…〉 with soch shal ye not eate. For what haue I to do to iudge them that are without? Do ye not iudge thē that are within? As for them that are without, God shal iudge them. 〈…〉 Put awaye frō you him that is euell.

The VI. Chapter.

HOw dare one off you hauynge busynes with another, go to lawe before the vnrighteous, and not before the sayntes? 〈…〉 Do ye not knowe that the sayntes shal iudge the worlde? Yf the worlde then shalbe iudged off you, are ye not good ynough to iudge small matters? Knowe ye not that we shal iudge the angels? how moch more thinges that pertayne to the tē porall life? Therfore yf ye haue iudgmentes of temporall matters, take them that are despysed in the congregacion, and set them to be iudges. This I saye to youre shame. Is there vtterly no wyse man amōge you? What not one at all, that can iudge betwene brother & brother? but one brother goeth to lawe with another, and that before the vnbeleuers?

Now therfore is there vtterly a faute amōge you, that ye go to lawe one with another. 〈…〉 Why rather suffre ye not wronge? Why suffre ye not youre selues rather to be defrauded? but ye youre selues do wrōge and defraude, and that euen the brethrē. Knowe ye not that ye vnrighteous shal not inheret the kyngdome of God? Be not disceaued. Nether whoremongers, 〈…〉 ner worshippers off ymages, ner breakers off wedlocke, ner weaklinges, nether abusers of them selues with mankynde, ner theues, nether the couetous, ner drōkardes, ner cursed speakers, ner extorcioners shal inheret the kyngdome of God. And soch haue some of you bene, but ye are waszhed, ye are sanctified, ye are made righteous by the name of the LORDE Iesus, and by the sprete of oure God.

I maye do all thinges, but 〈…〉 all thinges are not profitable. I maye do all thinges, but I wil be broughte vnder no mās power. Meates are ordeyned for ye bely, & the bely for meates. But God shal destroye both it and them. The body belongeth not vnto whordome, but vnto the LORDE, and the LORDE vnto the body 〈…〉 God hath raysed vp the LORDE, and shal rayse vs vp also by his power. Knowe ye not that youre bodies are the mēbres of Christ? Shal I now take the membres of Christ, and make them the membres of an harlot? God forbyd. Or do ye not knowe, that he which cleueth vnto an harlot, is one body? For they shalbe two ( 〈…〉 sayeth he) in one fleszhe. But he that cleueth vnto the LORDE, is one sprete.

Fle whordome. All synnes yt a man doth, are without the body. But he that commytteth whordome, synneth agaynst his awne body. 〈…〉 Or knowe ye not that youre body is the temple of the holy goost? Whom ye haue of God, and are not youre awne? 〈…〉 For ye are dearly boughte. Prayse ye God therfore in yo body & in yo sprete, which are Gods.

The VII. Chapter.

AS concernynge the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me, I answere: It is good for a man not to touche a woman. Neuertheles to avoyde whordome, let euery man haue his awne wife, and let euery woman haue hir awne huszbande. Let the mā geue vnto the wife due beneuolence: likewyse also the wife vnto ye man. The wife hath not power ouer hir awne body, but the huszbande: & likewyse the man hath not power ouer his awne body, but the wife. Tob 6. d and 8. a Ioel 2. c Withdrawe not yo selues one frō another, excepte it be with the consent of both for a tyme, that ye maye geue youre selues vnto fastinge and prayer, and thē come together agayne, lest Sathan tempte you for yo incontynē cye. But this I saye of fauoure, and not of commaundemēt. Howbeit I wolde rather yt all mē were as I am. Neuertheles euery one hath his proper gifte of God: one thus, another so. To them verely yt are vnmaried and to wedowes I saye: It is good for thē that they abyde also as I do. 1. Tim. 5. b But yf they cannot absteyne, let them mary. For it is better to mary, then to burne.

But vnto them that are maried, commaunde not I, but the LORDE, Mat. 5. d that the wife separate not her selfe from the huszbande: but yf she separate her selfe, yt she remayne vnmaried, or be reconcyled to hir huszbande: and let not the huszbande put awaye his wife from him.

As for the other, vnto thē saye I, not ye LORDE: Yf eny brother haue an vnbeleuynge wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not put hir awaye. And yf a woman haue an vnbeleuynge huszbande, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not put him awaye. For the vnbeleuynge huszbande is sanctified by the wife, and the vnbeleuynge wife is sanctified by the huszbande: or els were youre children vncleane, but now are they holy. But yf the vnbeleuynge departe, let him departe. A brother or a sister is not boūde in soch cases, but God hath called vs in peace. 1. Pet. . a For what knowest thou O womā, whether thou shalt saue ye mā? Or what knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt saue the woman? But euen as God hath distributed vnto euery one Ephe. 4. and as the LORDE hath called euery man, so let him walke: and so orden I in all congregacions.

Yf eny man be called beynge circumcysed let him take no Heythenshippe vpon him. Yf eny man be called in the Heythenshippe, let him not be circumcysed. Circumcision is nothinge, and vncircumcision is nothinge, but the kepynge of the commaundementes of God. Let euery one abyde in the callynge wherin he is called. 1. Tim. 6. a Art thou called a seruaūt, care not for it: neuertheles yf thou mayest be fre, vse it rather. For he that is called in the LORDE beynge a seruaūte, is a freman of the LORDE. Likewyse he that is called beynge fre, is a seruaūt of Christ.1. Cor. 6. c 1. Pet. 1. c Ye are dearly boughte, be not ye the seruauntes of men. Brethren let euery one wherin he is called, therin abyde with God.

As concernynge virgins, I haue no commaundement of the LORDE, neuertheles I saye my goodmeanynge, as I haue optayned mercy of the LORDE to be faithfull. I suppose it is good for ye present necessite: for it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bounde vnto a wife, seke not to be lowsed: Art thou lowsed frō a wife, seke not a wife. But yf thou take a wife, thou synnest not. And yf a virgin mary, she synneth not. Neuertheles soch shal haue trouble in the fleszhe. But I fauoure you.

Howbeit this I saye brethren: Psal. 89. a 2. Pet. 3. b the tyme is shorte. Farthermore this is the meanynge, yt they which haue wyues, be as though they had none: and they that wepe, be as though they wepte not: and they that reioyse, be as though they reioysed not: & they that bye, be as though they possessed not: & they that vse this worlde, be as though they vsed it not. For the faszhion off this worlde passeth awaye. Mat. 6. a Luc 2. c But I wolde that ye shulde be without care. 1. Tim. 5. a He that is syngle, careth for the thinges of the LORDE, how he maye please the LORDE. But he that is maried, careth for the thinges of the worlde, how he maye please his wife, and is deuyded. A woman and a virgin that is syngle, careth for the thinges of the LORDE, that she maye be holy both in body & also in sprete. But she that is maried, careth for ye thinges of the worlde, how she maye please hir huszbande.

This I saye for youre profit, not that I wil tangle you in a snare, but for that which is honest and comly vnto you, that ye maye cōtynually cleue vnto the LORDE without hynderaunce. But yf eny man thinke that it is vncomly for his virgin yf she passe the tyme of mariage, and yf nede so requyre, let him do what he lyst, he synneth not, let thē be coupled in mariage. Neuertheles he that purposeth surely in his hert, hauynge no nede, but hath power of his awne wyll, and determeth so in his hert to kepe his virgin, doth well. Fynally, he that ioyneth his virgin in mariage, doth well: but he that ioyneth not his virgin in mariage, doth better. Rom. The wife is bounde to the lawe, as longe as hir huszbande lyueth. But yf hir huszbande slepe, she is at liberty to mary vnto whom she wil, onely that it be done in the LORDE. But she is happier yf she so abyde after my iudgment. I thinke verely that I also haue the sprete of God.

The VIII. Chapter.

AS touchinge thinges Act offred vnto Idols 〈1 paragraph〉 we are sure yt we all haue knowlege. Knowlege puffeth a mā vp, but loue edifyeth. Neuertheles yf eny mā thinke yt he knoweth eny thinge, he knoweth not yet how he oughte to knowe. But yf eny man loue God, the same is knowne of him.

So are we sure now cōcernynge the meates offred vnto Idols, 〈…〉 that an Idoll is nothinge in the worlde, and that there is none other God but one. And though there be that are called goddes, whether in heauen or in earth (as there be goddes many and lordes many) yet haue we but one God, euen the father, 〈…〉 of whō are all thinges, and we in him & one LORDE Iesus Christ, by whō are all thinges, and we by him.

But euery man hath not knowlege: for some make yet 〈…〉 consciēce ouer the Idoll, and eate it as a thinge offred vnto Idols: and so their conscience beynge weake, is defyled. Neuertheles meate furthureth not vs vnto God. Yf we eate, we shal not therfore be the better: yf we eate not, we shal not therfore be the lesse. But take hede that this youre liberty be not an occasion of fallynge vnto ye weake. For yf eny man se the (which hast knowlege) syt at the table in the Idols house, shal not his conscience whyle it is weake, be occasioned to eate of the Idoll offeringes? And so thorow thy knowlege shal the weake brother perishe, for whō Christ dyed. But whan ye synne so agaynst the brethren, and wounde their weake cōscience, ye synne agaynst Christ. Wherfore 〈…〉 yf meate offende my brother, I wyl neuer eate flesh, lest I offende my brother.

The IX. Chapter.

AM I not an Apostle? Am I not fre? Act. Haue I not sene Iesus Christ oure LORDE? Are not ye my worke in the LORDE? Yf I be not an Apostle vnto other, yet am I youre Apostle: for the seale of myne Apostelshippe are ye in the LORDE. Myne answere vnto them that axe me, is this: Haue we not power to eate and drynke? Haue we not power also to leade aboute a sister to wife, as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the LORDE, and 〈…〉 Cephas? Or haue onely I and Barnabas not power this to do? Who goeth a warfare at eny tyme vpon his awne wages? Who planteth a vynyarde, and eateth not of the frute therof? Who fedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the mylke of the flocke?

Saye I these thinges after the maner of men? Sayeth not the lawe the same also? For 〈◊〉 . 5. a 〈◊〉 . 5. c it is wrytten in the lawe off Moses: Thou shalt not mosell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne. Doth God take thought for the oxen? Or sayeth he it not alltogether for oure sakes? For no doute it is wryttē for oure sakes. For he that eareth, shulde eare vpon hope: and he yt throszheth, shulde troszhe vpon hope, yt he mighte be partaker of his hope. 〈…〉 Yf we haue sowne vnto you spiritual thinges, is it a greate thīge yf we reape yo bodely thīges? But yf other be partakers of this power on you, wherfore are not we rather? 〈…〉 Neuertheles we haue not vsed this power, but suff e all thinges, lest we shulde hynder the Gospell off Christ. Knowe ye not that they which laboure in the temple, haue their lyuynge of ye temple: and they that wayte at the altare, enioye the altare? 〈…〉 Euen thus also hath ye LORDE ordeyned, that they which preach the Gospell, shulde lyue of ye Gospell. 〈…〉 But I haue vsed none of these thinges.

Nether wryte I therof, that it shulde be done so vnto me: for I had rather dye, thē that eny man shulde brynge my reioysinge to naughte. For in that I preach the Gospell, I neade not boost my selfe, for I must nedes do it. And wo vnto me, yff I preach not the Gospell. Yf I do it with a good wyll, I shall haue my rewarde: but yff I do it agaynst my wyll, yet is the office commytted vnto me. Wherfore thē shal I be rewarded? (Namely therfore) that I preach the Gospell, and do the same frely for naughte, that I abuse not my libertye in ye Gospell. For though I am fre from all men, yet haue I made my selfe euery mans seruaunt, yt I mighte wynne ye moo. 〈…〉 Vnto the Iewes I am become as a Iewe, to wynne ye Iewes. To them that are vnder the lawe, I am become as though I were vnder the lawe, to wynne them which are vnder the lawe.

Vnto them that are without lawe, I am become as though I were without lawe (where as yet I am not without the lawe of God, but am in ye lawe of Christ) to wynne thē that are without lawe. To the weake, am I become as weake, to wynne the weake. 〈◊〉 0. d I am become of all faszhions vnto euery man, to saue some at ye leest. But this I do for the Gospels sake, that I mighte be partaker therof.

Knowe ye not, that they which runne in a course, runne all, yet but one receaueth the rewarde? Runne ye so, that ye maye optayne. Euery one that proueth mastrye, absteyneth from all thinges, and they do it, that they maye optayne a corruptible crowne, but we to optayne an 1. Pet. 5. a vncorruptible crowne. I therfore so runne, not as at an vncertayne thinge: So fighte I, not as one yt beateth ye ayre: but I tame my body, and brynge it in to subieccion, lest whan I preach vnto other: I my selfe be a cast awaye.

The X. Chapter.

BRethren, I wolde not that ye shulde be ignoraunt of this, Exo. 1 . d that oure fathers were all vnder the cloude, Exo. 14. and all passed thorow the see, & were all baptised vnder Moses in the cloude and in the see, Exo. 16. and dyd all eate of one spirituall meate, and Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. a Mat. 16. dyd all drynke of one spirituall drynke: but they dronke of the spirituall Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. a Mat. 16. rocke that folowed thē, which rocke was Christ. Neuertheles in many of them had God no delyte, Num. 14 for they were smytten downe in the wyldernesse.

These are ensamples vnto vs, yt we shulde not lust after euell thinges, as they lusted. Nether be ye worshippers off ymages, as were some of them. Acordinge as it is wryttē: Exo 3 . b The people sat downe to eate and drynke, and rose vp to playe. Nether let vs commytte whordome, Num 25. Psal. 105. as some of them cōmytted whordome, and fell in one daye thre & twenty thousande. Nether let vs tempte Christ, Num. 21. as some of them tempted him, and were destroyed of serpētes. Nether murmur ye, Num. 11. as some of them murmured, and were destroyed thorow the destroyer.

All these thinges happened vnto thē for ensamples, but they are wryttē to warne vs, vpon whom the ende of ye worlde is come. Therfore let him that thinketh he stondeth, take hede, lest he fall. There hath yet no tēptacion ouertaken you, but soch as foloweth the nature of man. Neuertheles 1. Cor. 1. a 1. Thes. 2. God is faithfull, 2. Pe. 2. which shal not suffre you to be tempted aboue youre strength, but shal in the myddes of ye temptacion make a waye to come out, that ye maye beare it. Wherfore my dearly beloued, fle from worshippinge of Idols. I speake vnto them which haue discreciō, iudge ye what I saye. The cuppe of thākesgeuynge wherwith we geue thankes, is it not the partakinge of the bloude of Christ? The bred that we breake, is it not ye partakinge of ye body of Christ? For we many, are one bred & one body, in as moch as we all are partakers of one bred.

Beholde Israel after the fleszhe. They yt eate the sacrifices, are they not partakers of the altare? What shal I now saye then?1. Cor. 8. a Shal I saye that the Idoll is eny thinge? Or that it which is offred vnto the Idoll is eny thinge? Nay. But this I saye, that loke what the Heythen offre, that offre they vnto deuels, and not vnto God. Now wolde I not that ye shulde be in the fellishippe of deuels. Ye can not drynke of the cuppe of the LORDE and of the cuppe of the deuels. Ye can not be partakers of the LORDES table, and of the table of deuels. Or wyl we prouoke the LORDE?1. Cor. 6. c Eccli. 37. d I maye do all thinges, but all thinges are not profitable. I maye do all thinges, but all thinges edifye not. Let noman seke his awne profit, but let euery man seke anothers welth.

What soeuer is solde in the fleshmarket, that eate, and axe no question for conscience sake. Psal. 23. b For the earth is the LORDES, and all yt therin is. Yf eny of thē yt beleue not, byd you to a feast, and yf ye be disposed to go, what soeuer is set before you, that eate, axinge no question for conscience sake.

But yf eny man saye vnto you: This is offred vnto Idols, thē eate not of it, for his sake that shewed it, and for hurtinge of conscience. (The earth is the LORDES and all that therin is.) Neuertheles I speake of 1. Cor. 8. b consciēce, not thine, but of ye other. For why shulde my liberty be iudged of another mās cōscience: 1. Tim. 4. b For yf I take my parte wt thankesgeuynge, why am I euell spoken of, for yt thinge wherfore I geue thankes?

Col. 3. b Therfore whether ye eate or drynke, or what so euer ye do, do all to ye prayse of God. Be not ye an occasion of fallinge, nether to the Iewes, ner to the Gentyles, ner to the congregacion of God, 1. Cor. 9. d euē as I also please all men in all thinges, not sekinge myne awne profit, but the profit of many, that they mighte be saued. 1. Cor. 4. c Folowe ye me, as I do Christ.

The XI. Chapter.

I Commende you brethren, that ye remembre me in all poyntes, and kepe the ordinaunces, euē as I delyuered them vnto you. But I certifye you, that Christ is the heade of euery man. Ephe. 5. c As for ye man, he is the heade of ye woman, but God is Christes heade. Euery man that prayeth or prophecieth, and hath eny thinge on his heade, shameth his heade. But euery woman that prayeth or prophecieth with vncouered heade, dishonesteth hir heade. For it is euen a lyke moch as yf she were shauen. Yf the womā be not couered, let hir heer also be cut of. But yf it be vncomely for a woman to haue hir heer cut of or to be shauen, then let hir couer hir heade. Neuertheles the man oughte not to couer his heade, Ephe. for so moch as he is the ymage and glory of God: but the womā is the glory of the man. Gen. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Nether was the man created for the womans sake, but the womā for the mans sake.

Therfore ought the woman to haue a power vpon hir heade, for the angels sakes. Neuertheles nether is the man without ye woman, nether the woman without the mā in the LORDE. For as the woman is of the man, euen so commeth the man also by the woman, but all of God. Iudge ye by yo selues, whether it be comly, yt a womā praye before God bare headed? Or doth not nature teach you, yt it is a shame for a man yf he weere lōge heer, & a prayse to ye womā, yf she weere lōge heer? For hir heer is geuē heer to couer her withall. But yf there be eny man amōge you that hath lust to stryue, let him knowe, that we haue no soch custome, nether the congregacions of God. But this must I warne you of: I commende it not, that ye come together not after a better maner but after a worse. First, whan ye come together in the congregacion, I heare, that there are discensions amonge you, and I partly beleue it. 〈…〉 For there must be sectes amonge you, that they which are perfecte amonge you, mighte be knowne.

Now whan ye come together, the LORDES supper can not be kepte. For whan it shulde be kepte, euery mā taketh his awne supper afore. And one is hōgrie, another is dronkē. Haue ye not houses to eate and drynke in? Or despyse ye ye cōgregacion of God, and shame them that haue not? What shal I saye vnto you? Shal I prayse you? in this prayse I you not. That which I delyuered vnto you, receaued I of the LORDE. 〈…〉 For the LORDE Iesus the same nighte in the which he was betrayed, toke the bred, & gaue thankes, and brake it, and sayde: Take ye, & eate ye, this is my body, which is broken for you. This do in the remembraunce of me. After the same maner also he toke ye cuppe whan supper was done, and sayde: This cuppe is the new Testament in my bloude, this do (as oft as ye drynke it) in the remēbraūce of me. For as oft as ye shal eate of this bred, & drynke of this cuppe, ye shal shewe the LORDES death, vntyll he come.

Wherfore who soeuer shal eate off this bred, and drynke off this cuppe of the LORDE vnworthely, shalbe giltye of the body and bloude of the LORDE. 〈…〉 But let a man examen himselfe, and so let him eate of this bred, and drynke of this cuppe. For he that eateth and drynketh vnworthely, eateth & drynketh his awne damnacion, because he maketh no differēce of the LORDES body. Therfore are there so many weake and sicke amōge you, and many slepe. 〈…〉 For yf we iudged oure selues, we shulde not be iudged. But whan we are iudged, we are chastened of ye LORDE, that we shulde not be d ned with the 〈…〉 worlde. Wherfore my brethren, whan ye come together to eate, tary one for another. But yf eny man honger, let him eate at home, that ye come not together vnto cō dempnacion. As for other thinges, I wil set them in order whan I come.

The XII. Chapter.

AS concernynge spirituall giftes (brethren) I wolde not that ye were ignoraunt. Ye knowe that ye were Heythē and wente youre wayes vnto dōme Idols, euē as ye were led. Wherfore I declare vnto you, 〈…〉 that no man speakynge thorow the sprete of God, defyeth Iesus. And no man can saye that Iesus is the LORDE, but by the holy goost.

〈◊〉 1 . a There are dyuerse giftes, yet but one sprete: and there are dyuerse offices, yet but one LORDE: and there are dyuerse operacions 〈…〉 yet is there but one God, which worketh all in all. The giftes of the sprete are geuen vnto euery man to profit the cōgregacion. To one is geuen thorow the sprete the vtteraunce of wiszdome: to another is geuen the vtteraunce of knowlege acordinge to the same sprete: to another, faith in the same sprete: to another, the giftes of healinge in the same sprete: to another, power to do miracles: to another, prophecienge: to another, 〈…〉 iudgment to discerne spretes: to another, dyuerse tunges: to another, the interpretacion of tunges. These all doth ye same onely sprete worke, and distributeth vnto euery man, acordinge as he will.

For as the body is one, and hath yet many membres, 〈…〉 neuertheles all the membres of the body though they be many, are yet but one body: euen so Christ also. For we are all baptysed in one sprete to be one body, whether we be Iewes or Gentyles, whether we be bonde or fre, and haue all Esa. 55. a Ioh. 7. d dronkē of one sprete. For the body also is not one membre, but many. Yf the fote saye: I am not ye hande, therfore am I not a membre of the body, is he therfore not a membre of ye body? And yf the eare saye: I am not the eye, therfore am I not a membre of the body, is he therfore not a membre of the body? Yf all the body were an eye, where were then the hearinge? Yf all were hearinge, where then the smellinge? But now hath God set the membres, euery one seuerally in the body, as it hath pleased him. Neuertheles yf all the mē bres were one membre, where were then the body? But now are the membres many, yet is the body but one.

The eye can not saye vnto the hande: I haue no nede of the: or agayne the heade vnto the fete, I haue no nede of you: but rather a greate deale the mēbres of the body which seme to be most feble, are most necessary: and vpon those membres of the body which we thinke least honest, put we most honestie on: and oure vncomly partes haue most beutye on. For oure honest membres neade it not. But God hath so measured ye body, and geuen most honoure vnto that mēbre which had nede, that there shulde be no stryfe in the body, but that the membres shulde indifferently care one for another. And yf one membre suffre, all the membres suffre with him: and yf one membre be had in honoure, all the membres are glad with him also. But ye are the body of Christ, and membres, euery one of another.

And God hath ordeyned in the congregacion, first the Mat. 10. a Luc. 9. a Ephe 4. a Apostles, secōdly prophetes, thirdly Act. 13. a teachers, then doers of miracles, after that the giftes of healinge, helpers, gouerners, dyuerse tunges. Are they all Apostles? Are they all prophetes? Are they all teachers? Are they all doers of miracles? Haue they all the giftes of healinge? Speake they all with tunges? Can they all interprete? But covet ye the best giftes. And yet shewe I you a more excellent waye.

The XIII. Chapter.

THough I spake with the tunges of men and angels, and yet had not loue, I were euen as sowndinge brasse, or as a tynklinge Cymball. * And though I coulde prophecy, & vnderstode all secretes, and all knowlege, and had all faith so * that I coulde moue moūtaynes out of their places, and yet had not loue, I were nothinge. And though I bestowed all my goodes to fede ye poore, and though I gaue my body euen that I burned, and yet haue not loue, it profiteth me nothinge.

Loue is pacient & curteous, loue envyeth not, loue doth not frowardly, is not puft vp, dealeth not dishonestly, Phil. 2. b seketh not hir awne, is not prouoked vnto anger, thynketh not euell, reioyseth not ouer iniquyt , but reioyseth in the trueth, beareth all thinges, beleueth all thinges, hopeth all thinges, suffreth all thinges.

Though prophecienges fayle, or tunges ceasse, or knowlege perishe, yet loue falleth neuer awaye. For oure knowlege is vnparfecte, and oure prophecienge is vnparfecte. But whā that which is perfecte, commeth, then shal the vnparfecte be done awaye. Whan I was a childe, I spake as a childe, I vnderstode as a childe, I ymagined as a childe. But as soone as I was a man, I put awaye childishnes. Now we se thorow a glasse in a darke speakynge, but thē shal we se face to face. Now I knowe vnperfectly: but thē shal I knowe euē as I am knowne. Now abydeth faith, hope, loue, these thre: but the greatest of these is loue.

The XIIII. Chapter.

LAboure for loue. Couet spirituall giftes, but specially that ye maye prophecye. For he yt speaketh with tunges, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man heareth him. Howbeit in ye sprete he speaketh misteries. But he that prophecieth, speaketh vnto men to edifienge, & to exhortacion, and to cōforte. He that speaketh with tunges, edifieth himselfe: but he that prophecieth, edifieth the cōgregacion. I wolde that ye all spake with tunges, but rather that ye prophecied. For greater is he that prophecieth, then he that speaketh wt tūges: excepte he also expounde it, that the congregacion maye haue edifienge. But now brethren yf I come vnto you, and speake with tunges, what shal I profet you, excepte I speake vnto you ether by reuelacion or by knowlege, or by prophecienge, or by doctryne?

Likewyse is it also in ye thinges that geue sounde, and yet lyue not: whether it be a pype or an harpe, excepte they geue distyncte soundes from them, how shal it be knowne what is pyped or harped? And yf the trō pe geue an vncertayne sounde, who wil prepare him selfe to the battayll? Euen so ye like wyse, whan ye speake with tunges, excepte ye speake playne wordes, how shal it be knowne what is spokē? for ye shal but speake in ye ayre. So many kyndes of voyces are in the worlde, and none of them is without significacion. Yf I knowe not now what ye voyce meaneth, I shalbe an aleaunt vnto him that speaketh: & he that speaketh, shalbe an aleaūt vnto me. Euē so ye (for so moch as ye couet spirituall giftes (seke yt ye maye haue plentye to the edifienge of the congregacion. Wherfore let him that speaketh wt tunges, praye, that he maye interprete also. Yf I praye with tunges, my sprete prayeth, but my vnderstōdinge bryngeth no man frute. How shal it be then? Namely thus: I wil praye with ye sprete, and wil praye with the vnderstōdinge also: I wil synge psalmes in the sprete, and wil synge spalmes with yt vnderstondinge also.

But whan thou geuest thankes with ye sprete, how shal he that occupieth the rowme of the vnlearned, saye Amē at thy geuynge of thankes, seynge he knoweth not what thou sayest? Thou geuest well thankes, but the other is not edifyed. I thanke my God, that I speake with tunges more then ye all. Yet had I leuer in the cōgregacion to speake fyue wordes with my vnderstondinge yt I maye enfourme other also, rather then ten thousande wordes with tunges. 〈…〉 Brethren be not children in vnderstondinge, howbeit as concerninge maliciousnes be childrē, but in vnderstondinge be parfecte. In the lawe it is wrytten: 〈…〉 With other tunges and with other lippes wyl I speake vnto this people, and yet shal they not so heare me, sayeth the LORDE 〈…〉 Therfore are tunges for a token, not to thē that beleue, but to them that beleue not. Contrary wyse, prophecienge, not to them that beleue not, but to them which beleue.

Yf the whole cōgregacion now came together in to one place, & spake all with tunges, and there came in they that are vnlearned, or they which beleue not, shulde they not saye, that ye were out of youre wyttes? But yff all prophecied, and there came in one yt beleueth not, or one vnlerned, he shulde be rebuked of them all, and iudged of all, and so shulde the secrete of his hert be opened, and so shulde he fall downe vpon his face, worshippinge God, and knowleginge, that of a trueth God is in you. How is it then brethren? Whan ye come together, euery one hath a psalme, hath doctryne, hath a tunge, hath a reuelacion, hath an interpretacion. Let all be done to edifyenge. Yf eny mā speake with tunges, let him do it him selfe beynge the seconde, or at the most him selfe beynge ye thirde, and one after another, and let one interprete it. But yf there be not an interpreter, then let him kepe sylence in the congregacion, howbeit let him speake to himselfe and to God. As for the prophetes, let two or thre speake 〈◊〉 4. a and let the other iudge. But yf eny reuelacion be made vnto another that sytteth, then let the first holde his peace.

Ye maye all prophecye one after another that they all maye lerne, and that all maye haue comforte. And the spretes of the prophetes are subiecte vnto the prophetes. For God is not a God off discension, 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b but off peace, like as in all congregacions off the sayntes. 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b Let youre wyues kepe sylence in the cōgregacion, for it shal not be permytted vnto thē to speake, but to be vnder obedience, 〈…〉 as ye lawe sayeth also. But yf they wyll lerne eny thinge, let them axe their huszbādes at home. For it becommeth not wemē to speake in the congregacion. Or spronge the worde of God from amonge you? Or is it come vnto you onely? Yf eny man thynke himselfe to be a prophet, or spirituall, let him knowe what I wryte vnto you, for they are the commaundementes of the LORDE. But yf eny man be ignoraunt, let him be ignoraunt. Wherfore brethren, couet to prophecye, and forbyd not to speake with tunges. Let all thinges be done honestly and in order.

The XV. Chapter.

I Declare vnto you brethren, the Gospell that I haue preached vnto you (which ye haue also accepted, and in the which ye stōde, by the which also ye are saued) after what maner I preached it vnto you, yf ye haue kepte it, excepte ye haue beleued in vayne. For first of all I delyuered vnto you that which I also receaued, how that Christ dyed for oure synnes acordinge to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose agayne ye thirde daye acordinge to the scriptures, and that he was sene of Cephas, then of the twolue: after that was he sene of mo then fyue hundreth brethren at once, wherof there are yet many alyue, but some are fallen aslepe. Afterwarde was he sene of Iames, then of all the Apostles. Last of all was he sene of me also, as of one borne out of due tyme. 〈◊〉 3. b For I am ye leest of the Apostles, which am not worthy to be called an Apostle, 〈…〉 because I persecuted the congregacion of God. But by the grace of God I am that I am. And his grace in me hath not bene vayne, but I haue laboured more then they all: howbeit not I but the grace of God which is wt me. Now whether it be I or they, thus haue we preached, and thus haue ye beleued.

But yf Christ be preached, that he is rysen from the deed, how saye then some amō ge you, that there is no resurreccion of the deed? Yf there be no resurrecciō of the deed, then is Christ not rysen. Yf Christ be not rysen, then is oure preachinge in vayne, and youre faith is also in vayne: yee and we are founde false witnesses of God, because we haue testified agaynst God, that he hath raysed vp Christ, whom he hath not raysed vp, yf the deed ryse not agayne. For yf the deed ryse not agayne, thē is Christ also not rysen agayne. But yf Christ be not rysen agayne, then is youre faith in vayne, and ye are yet in youre synnes: they also that are fallē a slepe in Christ, are perished. Yf in this life onely we hope on Christ, then are we of all men the most miserable.

But now is Christ rysen from the deed, and is become Col. 1. b ye first frutes of them that slepe. For by one man commeth death, and by one man the resurreccion of the deed. For as they all dye in Adam, so shal they all be made alyue in Christ, but euery one in his order. The first is Christ, then they that belōge vnto Christ, whan he commeth. Then the ende, whā he shal delyuer vp the kyngdome vnto God the father, whan he shal put downe all rule, and all superiorite, & power. Psal. 109. Heb. 2. b For he must raygne, tyll he haue put all his enemies vnder his fete. The last enemye that shal be destroyed, is death, for he hath put all thinges vnder his fete. But whā he sayeth, that all thinges are put vnder him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which put all thinges vnder him. Whan all thinges shalbe subdued vnto him, then shal the sonne himselfe also be subiecte vnto him, which put all thinges vnder him, that God maye be all in all.

Or els what do they which are baptised ouer ye deed, yf the deed ryse not at all? Why are they then baptysed ouer the deed? And why stonde we in ioperdy euery houre? By oure reioysinge which I haue in Christ Iesu o LORDE, I dye daylie. That I haue foughte with beestes at Ephesus after ye maner of men, what helpeth it me, yf the deed ryse not agayne? Esa. 22. b Sap. 2. a Let vs eate and drynke, for tomorow we shal dye. Be not ye disceaued. Euell speakinges corruppe good maners. Awake righte vp, and synne not: for some haue not ye knowlege of God. This I saye to youre shame.

But some man mighte saye: How shal the deed aryse? And with what maner off body shal they come? Thou foole, Ioh. 12. c yt which thou sowest is not quyckened, excepte it dye. And what sowest thou? thou sowest not ye body that shalbe, but a bare corne, namely of wheate, or of some other. But God geueth it a body as he wil, and vnto euery one of ye sedes his owne body.

All fleszhe is not one maner of fleszhe, but there is one maner fleszhe of men, another of beastes, another of fiszhes, another of byrdes. And there are heauenly bodies, and there are earthy bodies: but the heauenly haue one glory, and ye earthy another. The Sonne hath one clearnes, the Moone hath another clearnesse, and the starres haue another clearnesse, for one starre excelleth another in clearnesse: Euen so the resurreccion of the deed. It is sowne in corrupcion, and shal ryse in vncorrupcion: It is sowne in dishonoure, & shal ryse in glory: It is sowne in weaknesse, and shal ryse in power: It is sowne a naturall body, & shal ryse a spirituall body.

Yf there be a naturall body, there is a spirituall body also. As it is wrytten: Gen. 2. b The first man Adam was made in to a naturall life, and the last Adā in to a spiritual life. Howbeit the spirituall body is not the first, but ye naturall, and then the spirituall. The first man is of the earth, earthy: ye seconde mā is frō heauē, heauēly. As the earthy is, soch are they also that are earthy: and as ye heauenly is, soch are they also yt are heauenly. And as we haue borne the ymage of the earthy, so shal we beare the ymage of the heauenly also. This I saye brethren, that flesh & bloude can not inheret ye kyngdome of God: nether shal corrupcion inheret vncorrupcion.

Beholde, I saye vnto you a mystery: Tess 4 c Phil. 3. c We shal not all slepe, but we shal all Tess 4 c Phil. 3. c be chaunged, and that sodenly and in the twinklynge of an eye, at the tyme of the last trompe. For the trompe shal blowe, and the deed shal ryse vncorruptible, and we shalbe chaunged. For this corruptible must put on vncorrupcion, and this mortall must put on immortalite. But whan this corruptible shal put on vncorrupcion, and this mortall shal put on immortalite, thē shal the worde be fulfylled that is wryttē: Death is swalowed vp in victory. 〈◊〉 . 13. c Heb. 3. b Death, where is thy stynge? Hell, where is ye victory? The stynge of death is synne: The strength of synne is the lawe. But thankes be vnto God 〈…〉 , which hath geuē vs the victory thorow oure LORDE Iesus Christ. Therfore my deare brethrē, be ye stedfast, vnmoueable, & allwaye riche in the worke of the LORDE, for as moch as ye knowe, that youre laboure is not in vayne in the LORDE.

The XVI. Chapter.

COncernynge the 〈…〉 gadderynge that is made for the sayntes, as I haue ordeyned in the congregacions of Galacia, euen so do ye also. Vpon some Sabbath daye let euery one of you put aside by himselfe, and laye vp what so euer he thinketh mete, that the colleccion be not to gather whan I come. Whan I am come, whom so euer ye shal alowe by youre letters, thē wyll I sende to brynge youre liberalite vnto Ierusalem. Neuertheles yf it be mete that I go thither also, they shal go with me. 〈…〉 But I wil come vnto you, whan I go thorow Macedonia: for thorow Macedonia wyl I take my iourney. With you peraduēture wil I abyde, or els wynter, that ye maye brynge me on my waye, whither so euer I go.

I wyl not se you now in my passage, for I hope to abyde a whyle with you, yf the LORDE shal suffre me. 〈…〉 But I wil tary at Ephesus vntyll whitsontyde. For a greate and frutefull dore is opened vnto me, and there are many aduersaries. Yf Timotheus come, se that he be without feare with you, for he worketh ye worke of the, LORDE as I do. Let no man therfore despyse him, but conuaye him forth in peace, that he maye come vnto me, for I loke for him with the brethren.

As for brother Apollo, be ye sure, that I greatly desyred him to come vnto you with the brethrē. And his mynde was not at all to come at this tyme, but he wyl come whā he hath oportunyte. Watch ye, stonde fast in the faith, quyte you like men, and be stronge: let all youre thinges be done in loue.

But brethren (ye knowe the house off 〈…〉 Stephana, that they are the first frutes in Achaia, and that they haue appoynted thē selues to mynister vnto the sayntes) I exhorte you to be obedient vnto soche, and to all that helpe and laboure. I am glad of the cō mynge of Stephana and Fortunatus, and Achaicus. For loke what was lackynge vnto me on youre parte, yt haue they suppleed: they haue refreszhed my sprete and youres. Knowe them therfore that are soch.

The congregacions of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you moch in the LORDE, and so doth the cōgregacion that is in their house. All the brethren salute you. 〈…〉 Salute ye one another with an holy kysse. The salutacion of me Paul wt myne awne hande. Yf eny mā loue not the LORDE Iesus Christ, the same be Anathema Maharan Matha. The grace of the LORDE Iesus Christ be with you. My loue be with you all in Christ Iesu. Amen.

The first Epistle to the Corinthians sent out of Asia, by Stephana and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, and Timotheus.

The seconde Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul, to the Corinthians. The summe of this Epistle. Chap. I. The consolacion of God in trouble The loue of Paul towarde the Corinthians, and his excuse that he came not vnto them. Chap. II. He sheweth the cause of his absence and exorteth thē to forgeue the man that was fallen, and to receaue him agayne with loue. Chap. III. He prayseth the preachinge of the Gospell aboue the preachinge of the lawe. Chap. IIII. A true preacher is diligent, he corruppeth not the worde of God, he preacheth not himselfe, but se eth the honoure of Christ, yee though it be with the parell of his life. Chap. V. The rewarde for suffringe trouble. Chap. VI. An exortacion to receaue the worde of God with thank fulnesse and amendmēt of life. The diligence of Paul in the gospell, and how he warneth them to eschue the company of the Heythen. Chap. VII. He exorteth thē to receaue the promises of God than fully The Corinthiās are commended for their obediēce and loue towarde Paul. Chap. VIII.IX. He putteth them in remembraunce to helpe the poore sayntes at Ierusalem, acordinge as the Macedonians dyd. Chap. X. He toucheth the false apostles, and defendeth his auctorite and callynge. Chap. XI. Paul (vnder sufferaūce) cōmendeth himselfe, and defendeth his auctorite agaynst the false prophetes. Chap. XII. Paul is takē vp in to the thirde heauen, and heareth wordes not to be spoken off. Chap. XIII. He promiseth to come vnto them, and exhorteth them so to ordre them selues that he maye fynde them parfecte, and of one mynde. The seconde Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul, to the Corinthians.

The first Chapter.

PAul an Apostle of Iesu Christ, by the will of God, and brother Timotheus. Vnto the congregacion of God which is at Corinthū, with all the sayntes which are ī all Achaia.

Gal. 1. a Ephe. 1. a 1. Pet. 1. a Grace be with you, and peace frō God oure father, and from the LORDE Iesus Christ.

Blessed be God the father of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, the father of mercy and ye God of all comforte, which comforteth vs in all oure trouble: in so moch yt we are able to comforte them that are in eny maner of trouble, with the same comforte wherwith we oure selues are comforted of God. For as the afflicciōs of Christ are plenteous in vs, euen so is o cōsolacion plenteous by Christ. But whether we haue trouble or comforte, it is done for youre welth. Yf it be trouble, it is done for youre cōforte and health, which health sheweth h r power, in that ye suffre the same affliccions which we suffre. Yf it be comforte, it is done also for youre comforte and health. Therfore is oure hope fast for you, in as moch as we knowe, that, like as ye are partakers of the afflicciōs, so shal ye be partakers also of the consolacion.

Brethren we wolde not haue you ignoraunt of oure trouble, Act. 19. c which happened vnto vs in Asia, for we were greued out off measure passynge strength, so that we euen dispared of life, and had concluded in oure selues yt we must nedes dye. But this was done, because we shulde not put oure trust in oure selues, but in God, which rayseth vp the deed to life agayne: which delyuered vs from so greate a death, and yet delyuereth daylie, On whom we trust, that he wil delyuer vs here after also, by the helpe of youre prayer for vs . Cor. 4. c that on oure behalfe many thankes maye be geuen by many personnes, for the gifte that is geuen vs.

For oure reioysinge is this, euen the testimony of oure conscience, that in synglenes & godly purenesse, not in fleshlye wyszdome, but in the grace of God, we haue had oure conuersacion in the worlde, but most of all with you. For we wryte nothinge els vnto you, then that ye rede and also knowe. Yee & I trust that ye shal fynde vs vnto the ende, euen as ye haue founde vs partly.

For we are youre reioysinge, euē as ye also are oure Phil. 2. b 1. Tess 2. c reioysinge in ye daye of the LORDE Iesus. And in this confidence was I mynded the other tyme to come vnto you (that ye mighte haue yet another pleasure more) & to passe by you into Macedonia,1. Co. 16. a & to come againe out of Macedonia vnto you & to be led forth to Iewrye warde of you.

Whan I thus wyse was mynded, dyd I vse lightnesse? Or are my thoughtes fleshly? Not so Mat. 5. d Iaco. 5. c but with me yee is yee, and nay is naye. O faitfull God, that oure worde vnto you hath not bene yee and naye. For Gods sonne Iesus Christ, which was preached amonge you by vs (namely, by me and Siluanus and Timotheus) was not yee and naye, but in him it was yee. For all the promyses of God are yee in him, & are Amē in him, to the prayse of God by vs. But it is God which stablysheth vs wt you in Christ, and hath anoynted us, Ephe. 4. c and sealed us, and geuen the ernest of the sprete in oure hertes.

The II. Chapter.

BVt I call God to recorde vnto my soule, Rom. 9. a that to fauoure you withall I came not agayne vnto Corinthum. Not that we are 1. Pet. . a lordes ouer youre faith, but we are helpers of youre ioye, for ye stonde in faith. But I determyned this wt my selfe, that I wolde not come agayne to you in heuynes. For yf I make you sory, who is it that shal make me glad, but the same which is made sory by me? And the same haue I wrytten vnto you, lest whā I come, I shulde take heuynes of them, of whom I oughte to reioyse: for somoch as I haue this confidence in you all, that my ioye is the ioye of you all. For in greate trouble and anguysh of hert wrote I vnto you with many teares: not yt ye shulde be sory, but that ye mighte perceaue the loue, which I haue most specially vnto you.

But yf eny man haue caused sorowe, the same hath not made me sory, but partely, lest I shulde greue you all. It is sufficient, that 〈…〉 the same man is so rebuked of many, so that from hence forth ye oughte the more to forgeue him and to comforte him, lest he be swalowed vp in ouer moch heuynesse. Wherfore I exhorte you, that ye shewe loue vpō him. For therfore dyd I wryte vnto you also, that I mighte knowe the profe of you, whether ye were obediēt in all thinges. But loke vnto whō ye forgeue eny thinge, I forgeue hī also. For I also, yf I forgeue ought vnto eny mā, that forgeue I for youre sakes in the rowme of Christ, lest we shulde be preuented of Sathan. For his thoughtes are not vnknowne vnto vs.

But whā I came to 〈…〉 Troada to preach ye Gospell of Christ (and a dore was opened vnto me in ye LORDE) I had no rest in my sprete, because I founde not Titus my brother: but I toke my leue of them, and wente awaye into Macedonia. Yet thankes be vnto God, which allwaye geueth vs the victory in Christ, 〈…〉 and openeth ye sauoure of his knowlege by vs in euery place. For we are vnto God the good sauoure of Christ, both amonge thē yt are saued, & amonge thēm yt perishe. 〈…〉 To these, ye sauoure of death vnto death: but vnto ye other, the sauoure of life vnto life. And who is mete therto? For we are not as many are, which choppe & chaunge wt the worde of God, but euē out of purenesse, and out of God, in ye sighte of God, so speake we in Christ.

The III. Chapter·

BEgynne we then agayne to prayse o selues? Or nede we (as some other) of pistles of commēdacion vnto you or letters of commēdacion from you? Ye are oure epistle wrytten in oure hertes: which is vnderstonde and red of all mē, in that ye are knowne, how that ye are ye epistle of Christ, mynistred by vs, and wryttē, not with ynke, but with the sprete of the lyuynge God: 〈…〉 not in tables of stone, 〈…〉 but in fleshy tables of the hert. Soch trust haue we thorow Christ to God warde, not that we are sufficient of oure selues to thynke eny thinge, as of oure selues, 〈…〉 but oure ablenesse commeth of God, which hath made vs able, to be 〈…〉 mynisters of the new Testament: not of the letter, but of the sprete. For the letter kylleth, but the sprete geueth life.

But yf the mynistracion yt kylleth thorow the letter, and was figured in stones, was glorious, 〈◊〉 . 34. d so that the childrē of Israel mighte not beholde the face of Moses, for ye clearnesse of his countenaūce, (which glory neuertheles is done awaye) how shal not ye mynistracion of ye sprete be moch more glorious? For yf the office that preacheth damnacion be glorious, moch more doth the office that preacheth righteousnes exceade in glory. For ye other parte that was glorified is nothinge glorified in respecte of this exceadinge glory. For yf that which is done awaye, be glorious, moch more shal yt which remayneth, be glorious.

Seynge then that we haue soch trust, we vse greate boldnesse, and do not as Moses, 〈◊〉 4. d which put a vayle before his face, so that ye children of Israel mighte not se the 〈…〉 ende of it, that is done awaye. But their myndes are blynded. 〈…〉 For vnto this daye remayneth the same coueringe vntakē awaye in the olde Testament, whan they rede it, which in Christ is put awaye. But euen vnto this daye whan moses is red, the vayle hangeth before their hertes: 〈◊〉 11. c Neuertheles whā they turne to the LORDE, the vayle shalbe taken awaye. 〈…〉 For the LORDE is a sprete: & where the sprete of the LORDE is, there is libertye. But now the glory of ye LORDE apeareth in vs all with open face, and we are chaunged into the same ymage, from one clearnes to another, euē as of the sprete of the LORDE.

The IIII. Chapter.

THerfore seynge we haue soch an office (euen as mercy is come vpon vs) we faynte not, but cast from vs the clokes of vnhonestye, and walke not in craftines: nether corruppe we the worde of God but open the trueth, and reporte oure selues to euery mans conscyence in the sighte of God.

Yf oure Gospell be yet hyd, it is hyd in them that are lost: amonge whom the God of this worlde 〈…〉 hath blynded ye myndes of them which beleue not, that ye lighte of the Gospell of the glory of Christ ( 〈…〉 which is the ymage of God) shulde not shyne vnto them. For we preach not or selues, but Iesus Christ to be the LORDE, and oure selues youre seruauntes for Iesus sake.

For God 〈…〉 that cōmaunded the light to shyne out of darcknesse, 〈…〉 hath geuen a cleare shyne in oure hertes, yt by vs ye light of ye knowlege of the glory of God mighte come forth, in the face of Iesus Christ.

But this treasure haue we in 〈…〉 earthen vessels, that ye power which excelleth might be of God, and not of vs. We are troubled on euery syde, yet are we not without shift. We are in pouertie, but not vtterly without somwhat. We are persecuted, but we are not forsaken. We are oppressed, neuertheles we perish not. Gal. 6. b We allwayes be are aboute in oure body the dyenge of the LORDE Iesus yt the life also of the LORDE Iesus might appeare in oure body. Rom. 8. For we which lyue, are alwayes delyuered vnto death for Iesus sake, that the life also of Iesus might appeare in oure mortall flesh.

Therfore is death now mightie in vs, but life in you. But seynge that we haue the same sprete of faith (acordinge as it is wrytten: Psal. 115. I beleued, and therfore haue I spokē.) we also beleue, & therfore we speake, for we knowe that he, which raysed vp ye LORDE Iesus, shal rayse vs vp also by ye meanes of Iesus, and shal set vs with you. For all thinges do I for youre sakes, . Cor. 1. that the plēteous grace by the thākesgeuynge of many, maye redounde to the prayse of God. Therfore are we not weery, but though or outwarde man be corrupte, yet the inwarde is renewed daye by daye. Psal. 29. a Ro. 8. c For oure trouble, which is but temporall and lighte, worketh an exceadinge and an eternall weighte of glorye vnto vs, which loke not on the thinges that are sene, but on them which are not sene. For ye thinges which are sene, are temporall: but the thinges that are not sene, are eternall.

The V. Chapter.

WE knowe surely, yt yf oure 2. Cor. 4. b earthy house of this dwellynge were destroyed, we haue a buyldynge ordeyned of God, an house not made with handes, but euerlastynge in heauen. Rom. 8. c And in the same sighe we also after oure māsion, which is from heauen: and longe to be clothed therwith, so yet, Apoc. 16. c yf that we be founde clothed, and not naked. For as longe as we are in this tabernacle, we sighe and are greued, for we had rather not be vnclothed, but to be clothed vpon, that mortalite might be swalowed vp of life. But he that hath ordeyned vs for this, is God, Rom. 8. b . Cor. 1. c which hath geuen vs the earnest of the sprete. Therfore are we allwaye of good cheare, and knowe, that as longe as we dwell here in the body, we are not at home with the LORDE: for we walke in faith, and se him not. Neuertheles we are of good comforte, and had leuer to be absent from the body, & to be at home with the LORDE.

Wherfore, whether we be at home or frō home, we endeuoure oure selues to please him. at. 25. c 〈◊〉 14. b For we must all appeare before the iudgment seate of Christ, yt euery one maye receaue in his body, acordinge to yt he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Seynge then that we knowe, how that the LORDE is to be feared, we fare fayre with men, but we are knowne well ynough vnto God: I trust also, that we are knowne in youre consciences. We prayse not oure selues agayne vnto you, but geue you an occasion to reioyse of vs, yt ye maye haue to reioyse agaynst them, which reioyse after the outwarde appearaunce, and not after the hert. For yf we do to moch, we do it vnto God: yf we kepe measure, we do it for youre sakes. For the loue of Christ constrayneth vs, in as moch as we thus iudge, that yf one be deed for all, then are all deed. 1. Tess. 5. b And therfore dyed he for all, that they which lyue, shulde not hence forth lyue vnto them selues, but vnto him, which dyed for them and rose agayne.

Therfore hence forth knowe we noman after ye flesh: and though we haue knowne Christ also after the flesh, yet knowe we him now so nomore. Therfore yf eny man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Olde thinges are past awaye, Apoc. 21. a beholde, all are become new. Neuertheles all thinges are off God, which hath reconcyled vs vnto himselfe by Iesus Christ, and hath geuen vs the office to preach the attonement. Col 2. b For God was in Christ, and Rom. 3. c Col. 1. b 1. Ioh. 4. b reconcyled the worlde vnto himselfe, and counted not ther synnes vnto them, and amonge vs hath he set vp the worde of ye attonemēt. Now thē are we messaungers in the rowme of Christ, euen as though God exhorted by vs. We beseke you now therfore in Christes steade, that ye be at one with God: Esa. 53. b Rom 8. a Heb. 9. c for he hath made him which knewe no synne, to be Esa. 53. b Rom 8. a Heb. 9. c synne for vs, yt we by his meanes shulde be that righteousnes, which before God is alowed.

The VI. Chapter.

WE as helpers therfore exhorte you, that ye receaue not ye grace of God in vayne. For he sayeth: Esa 49. b I haue herde the in the tyme accepted, and in the daye of saluacion haue I succoured the. Beholde, now is the accepted tyme, now is the daye of saluacion. Let vs geue no man occasion of euell, that oure office be not euell spoken of: but in all thinges let vs behaue oure selues as the 1. Co. 4. a 1. Cor. 3. a mynisters of God: in moch pacience, in troubles, in necessities, in anguysshes, in strypes, in presonmentes, in vproures, in laboures, in watchinges, in fastynges, in purenesse, in knowlege, in longe sufferynge, in kyndnesse, in the holy goost, in loue vnfayned, in the worde of the trueth, in the power of God, by the armoure of righteousnes on the righte hande and on the lefte, by honoure and dishonoure, by euell reporte and good reporte: as disceauers, & yet true: as vnknowne, and yet knowne: Esa. 〈…〉 as dyenge, and beholde, we lyue: as chastened, and not kylled: as sorowynge, and yet allwaye mery: as poore, & yet make many riche: as hauynge nothinge, & yet possessynge all thinges.

O ye Corinthians, oure mouth is open vnto you, oure hert is made large. Ye are in no straytnesse on oure behalfe: but where as ye are in straytnesse, that do ye of youre owne hertely meanynge. I speake to you, as to childrē, that haue like rewarde with vs. Set youre selues therfore at large.

Beare not a straunge yock with the vnbeleuers. 〈…〉 For what fellishippe hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes? What company hath lighte wt darknesse? 〈…〉 How agreeth Christ with Belial Or what parte hath the beleuer with the infydele? How acordeth ye tēple of God with ymages? Ye are the temple of the lyuynge God, as sayeth God: I wyl dwell in them, and walke in them, 〈…〉 and wyl be their God, & they shalbe my people. Wherfore come out from amōge them, and separate youre selues 〈…〉 (sayeth the LORDE) and touche no vncleane thinge, so wyl I receaue you, & be youre father, & ye shalbe my sonnes and doughters, sayeth ye Allmightie LORDE.

The VII. Chapter.

SEynge now that we haue soch promyses (dearly beloued) let vs clense oure selues from all fylthynes of the flesh and sprete, and growe vp to full holynes in ye feare of God. Vnderstōde vs right. We haue hurte no mā, we haue corrupte no man, we haue defrauded no man. I speake not this to cōdemne you, for I haue shewed you before, that ye are in oure hertes, to dye and to lyue wt you. I am very bolde towarde you, I make moch boost of you, I am fylled with comforte, I am exceadynge ioyous in all oure tribulacion. 〈…〉 For whan we were come into Macedonia, oure flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on euery syde: outwarde was fightinge, inwarde was feare. Neuertheles God that comforteth the abiecte, 〈…〉 comforted vs by the cōmynge of Titus.

Not onely by his commynge, but also by the cōsolacion wherwith he was cōforted of you, whan he tolde vs yor desyre, youre wepynge, yo feruēt mynde for me, so yt I now reioyse ye more. For where as I made you sory by the letter, it repenteth me not, though I dyd repēte. For I se, that the same epistle made you sory (though it were but for a ceason). But now I reioyce, not that ye were sory, but that ye were sory to repentaunce. For ye sorowed godly, so that in nothinge ye were hurte by vs. For godly sorowe causeth repentaunce vnto saluacion, not to be repented of: 〈◊〉 . 0. c but worldly sorowe causeth death. Beholde, where as ye haue had godly sorowe, what diligence hath it wrought in you? Yee a sufficiet answere, displeasure, feare, desyre, a feruēt mynde, punyshment. For in all poyntes ye haue shewed youre selues, that ye are cleare in that matter.

Wherfore though I wrote vnto you, yet is it not done for his cause that dyd hurte, nether for his cause that was hurte, but that youre diligence (which ye haue for vs in the sighte of God) mighte be manifest wt you. Therfore are we comforted, because ye are comforted: but exceadingly the more ioyed we, for the ioye of Titus, because his sprete was refreszhed of you all. I am therfore not now ashamed, though I boasted my selfe vnto him of you: but like as all is true that I haue spokē vnto you, euen so is oure boastinge vnto Titus founde true also. And his inwarde affeccion is more abundaunt towarde you, whan he remembreth the obedience of you all, how ye receaued him with feare and trēblynge. I reioyse, that I maye be bolde ouer you in all thinges.

The VIII. Chapter.

I Do you to wit (brethren) the grace of God, which is geuē in the congregacions of Macedonia. For their reioysinge was most abundaunt, whan they were tryed by moch trouble: & though they were exceadinge poore, yet haue they geuē exceadinge richely, and that in synglenesse. For to their power (I beare recorde) yee and beyonde their power, they were wyllinge of their awne acorde, and prayed vs with greate instaūce, that we wolde receaue their benefite and fellishippe of the 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉 1 . d 〈◊〉 . 16. a 〈◊〉 . 9. a hādreachinge that is done for the sayntes: And not as we loked for, but gaue ouer them selues first to the LODRE, and afterwarde vnto vs by ye wyl of God, so that we coulde not but desyre Titus, that like as he had begonne afore he wolde euen so accomplish the same beniuolence amonge you. Now as ye are riche in all poyntes, in faith and in worde, and in knowlege, and in all diligence, and in youre loue towarde vs, euen so se that ye be plenteous also in this benyuolēce. This I saye not as commaūdynge, but seynge, other are so diligent, I proue youre loue also, whether it be perfecte or no. For ye knowe the liberalite of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which though he be riche, yet for youre sakes he became poore, yt ye thorow his pouerte mighte be made riche.

And my councell herin I geue, for this is profitable for you, which haue begonne a yeare a goo, not onely to do, but also to wyll. But now perfourme the dede also, that like as there is a ready mynde to wil, there maye be a ready mynde also to perfourme the dede Pet. 4. b Pro. 3. b of that which ye haue. Luc. 2 For yf there be a wyllinge mynde, it is accepted acordinge to that a man hath, not acordinge to that he hath not. This is not done to the intent, that other shulde haue ease, and ye cōbraunce, but that it be a lyke. Let youre abundaunce sucker their lacke in this tyme off derth, that their abundaunce also herafter maye supplee youre lacke, that there maye be equalite. As it is wrytten: He yt gathered moch, Exo. 10. had not the more: and he that gathered litle, wanted nothinge. Thākes be vnto God, which put in the hert of Titus, the same diligence towarde you. For he accepted the request in dede, yee he was rather so well wyllynge, that of his awne acorde, he came vnto you.

We haue sent with him that brother, whose prayse is in the Gospell thorow out all the congregacions. Not onely that, but he is chosen also of the congregacions, to be a felowe with vs in oure iourney, for this benyuolence that is mynistred by vs vnto the prayse of the LORDE, and to stere vp youre prompte mynde, and to bewarre, lest eny mā reporte euell of vs because of this plenteousnes, which is mynistred by vs: Rom. 12 and therfore make we prouision for honest thinges, not onely before the LORDE, but also before men.

We haue sent with them also a brother of oures, whom we haue oft proued diligēt in many thinges, but now moch more diligent. And this haue we done in greate hope towarde you, whether it be for Titus sake (which is my felowe and helper amonge you) or for oure brethrē (which are Apostles of the cōgregacions, & the prayse of Christ.) Shewe now the profe off youre loue and off oure boastinge of you, vnto these, and opēly in the sighte of the cogregacions.

Of the •• m. 15 d •• o. 16. a •• or. 8. a handreachinge vnto ye sayntes, it is no nede for me to wryte vnto you: for I knowe youre redynesse of mynde, wherof I boast my selfe amonge them of Macedonia, and saye: Achaia was ready a yeare agoo. And youre feruentnesse hath prouoked many. Neuertheles yet haue we sent these brethren, left oure reioysinge ouer you shulde be in vayne in this behalfe, that ye mighte be ready, as I haue reported of you: left whan they of Macedonia come with me, and fynde you vnprepared, we (I wyl not saye ye) shulde be ashamed in this presumpcion of boostinge.

Wherfore I thoughte it necessary to exhorte the brethren, to come before hande vnto you, for to prepare this blessynge promysed afore, that it mighte be ready, so that it be a blessynge, and not a defraudynge. This I thynke: that 〈◊〉 . 11. c •• al. 6. a he which soweth litle, shal reape litle also: and he yt soweth plenteously, shal likewyse reape plenteously, euery one acordynge as he hath purposed in his hert, not grudgingly, or of compulsion. od. 25. a 〈◊〉 35. a cli. 35. a For God loueth a chearfull geuer. God is able to make you riche in all grace, yt ye in all thinges hauynge sufficiet to the vttemost, maye be riche to all maner of good workes. As it is wryttē: sal. 111. b He hath sparsed abrode & geuē to ye poore, his righteousnes remayneth for euer.

He that geueth sede vnto the sower, shal mynistre bred also for fode, and shal multiplye youre sede, and increase the frutes of yo righteousnes, that in all thinges ye maye be made riche vnto all singlenesse, which causeth thorow vs, thankesgeuynge vnto God. For the hādreachinge of this colleccion not onely suppleeth the nede off the sayntes, but also is abūdaunt herin, that for this laudable mynistracion many mighte geue thā kes vnto God, and prayse God for yo obedient professynge of the Gospell of Christ, & for yor synglenesse in distributynge vnto thē, and to all men, and in their prayer for you, which longe after you, for the abundaunt grace of God in you. Thankes be vnto God for his vnoutspeakeable gifte.

The X. Chapter.

I Paul my selfe beseke you by the mekenesse and softnesse off Christ, which when I am present amonge you, am of small reputacion, but am bolde towarde you beynge absent. I beseke you that I nede not be bolde whan I am present, & to vse yt boldnesse wherwith I am supposed to be bolde, agaynst some, which repute vs as though we walked after yo flesh: for though we walke in the flesh, yet fighte we not after a fleshly maner. For the 〈…〉 wapens of oure warre are not fleshly, but mightie before God to cast downe strōge holdes, wherwith we ouerthrowe ymaginacions, & euery hye thinge yt exalteth it selfe agaynst the knowlege of God, and brynge in to captiuyte all vnderstondinge to the obedience of Christ, & are ready to take vengeaunce on all disobedience, whan youre obediēce is fulfylled. Loke ye on thinges after ye vtter appearaūce?

Yf eny man trust of himselfe yt he is Christes, let him thinke this also by himselfe, yt like as he is Christes, euē so are we Christes also. And though I shulde boast my selfe somwhat more of oure auctorite 〈…〉 which ye LORDE hath geuē vs to edifye and not to destroye, it shulde not be to my shame. This I saye, lest I shulde seme, as though I wente aboute to make you afrayed with letters. For the pist les (saye they) are sore and stronge, but his bodely presence is weake, and his speache rude. Let him yt is soche, thinke on this wyse, that as we are in worde by letters wh we are absente, soch are we also in dede whan we are present. For we darre not reken or compare oure selues, vnto some that prayse them selues: Neuertheles whyle they measure them selues by them selues, and holde onely of them selues, they vnderstonde nothinge.

Howbeit we wil not boast o selues aboue measure, but onely acordinge to the measure of the rule, wherwith God hath distributed vnto vs the measure to reach euen vnto you. For we stretche not or selues to farre as though we had not reached vnto you. For euen vnto you haue we come with the Gospell of Christ, and boast not oure selues out of measure in other mens laboures: Yee and we hope whan youre faith is increased in you, that we wil come farther (acordinge to oure measure) and preach the Gospell vnto them that dwell beyonde you, and not to reioyse in that, which is prepared with another mans measure.

The XI. Chapter.

LEt him that reioyseth, reioyse in the LORDE: for he yt 〈…〉 prayseth him selfe, is not alowed, but he whō ye LORDE prayseth. Wolde God ye coulde suffre me a litle in my foloshnes, yet do ye forbeare me. For I am gelous ouer you wt godly gelousy. For I haue maried you vnto one mā, to brynge a chaste virgin vnto Christ. But I feare, left 〈…〉 as ye serpēt begyled Eue wt his sutteltie, euē so yor wyttes shulde be corrupte from the synglenesse that is in Christ. For yf he that commeth vnto you, preach another Iesus, whom we haue not preached, or yf ye receaue another sprete, yt ye haue not receaued, or another Gospell which ye haue not accepted, ye might right well haue bene cōtent. For I suppose that I am no lesse thē the hye Apostles are. And though I be rude in speakynge, yet am I not rude in knowlege. Howbeit amōge you I am knowne to the vttemost. Or dyd I synne therin because I submytted my selfe, that ye mighte be exalted?

For I preached vnto you the Gospell of God 〈◊〉 . 9. b frely, and robbed other cōgregacions, and toke wages of thē, to preach vnto you. 〈◊〉 . 20. c And whan I was present with you, and had nede, I was greuous to no man: 〈◊〉 4. c for yt which was lackynge vnto me, the brethren which came fro Macedonia, suppleed. And in all thinges I kepte myselfe so, yt I shulde not be greuous to you, & so wyl I kepe my selfe. As surely as the trueth of Christ is in me, this reioysinge shal not be taken fro me in the regions of Achaia. Wherfore? because I shulde not loue you? God knoweth. Neuertheles what I do and wyl do, that do I to cut awaye occasion, from thē which seke occasion, that they mighte boast thē selues to be like vnto vs. For soch false Apostles & disceatfull workers fashion them selues like vnto the Apostles of Christ. And that is no maruell: for Sathan himselfe is chaunged into ye fashion of an angell of light. Therfore is it no greate thinge, though his my misters fashion them selues as though they were the preachers of righteousnes, 〈…〉 a whose ende shalbe acordinge to their dedes.

I saye agayne, lest eny man thynke that I am folish: or els take me euen now as a fole, yt I maye boast myselfe a litle also. That I speake now, that speake I not after the LORDE, but as it were in folishnes, whyle we are now come to boastinge: Seynge that many boaste them selues after ye flesh, I wil boast my selfe also. For ye suffre foles gladly, in so moch as ye youre selues are wyse. For ye suffre euen yf a man brynge you in to bondage, yf a man put you to dishonesty, yf a man take ought frō you, yf a man exalte himselfe ouer you, yf a man smyte you on the face. I speake concernynge rebuke, as though we were weake.

Wherin so euer now eny man darre be bolde (I speake folishly) therin darre I be bolde also. They are Hebrues, so am I. They are Israelites, euen so am I. They are the sede of Abraham, so am I. They are the mynisters of Christ (I speake as a fole) I am more: in laboures more abūdaunt, in strypes aboue measure, in presonmentes more plenteously, in death oft. Deut. 25 Of the Iewes receaued I fyue tymes fortye strypes, one lesse. Act. 16. Thryse was I beaten with roddes. Act. 14. I was once stoned, Act. 27. I suffred thryse shypwracke: nighte and daye haue I bene in the depe of the see: I haue oft iourneyed: I haue bene oft in parels of waters, in parels amonge murthurers, in parels amonge the Iewes, in parels amonge the Heythen, in parels in cities, in parels in the wylderners, in parels vpon the See, in parels amonge false brethrē, in laboure & trauayle, in moch watchinges, in honger and thyrst, in moch fastinges in colde and nakednesse: Besyde those thynges which are outwarde, namely my daylie combraunce, my daylie care for all cōgregacions.1. Cor. 8. Who is weake, and I be not weake? Who is offended, & I burne not? Yf I must nedes make my boast, I wil boast my selfe of myne infirmyte. God ye father of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which is blessed for euer, knoweth that I lye not. Act. 9. d At Damascon the gouernoure of ye people vnder kynge Aretas, kepte ye cite of the Damascenes, & wolde haue taken me. and at a wyndowe was I let downe in a basket thorow the wall, & so escaped his handes.

The XII. Chapter.

IT profiteth me nothinge (no doute) to boaste. Neuertheles I wil come to ye visions and reuelacions off the LORDE. I knowe a man in Christ aboue fourtene yeares a goo (whether he was in ye body, I can not tell: or whether he was out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth.) the same was taken vp in to the thirde heauen: and I knowe the same man (whether he was in ye body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth) how that he was takē vp in to Paradise, and herde wordes not to be spoken, which no man can vtter. Here of will I boast, but of my selfe wil I make no boast, excepte it be of myne infirmyties. And though I wolde boast myself, I dyd not foolishly, for I wolde saye the trueth. But I refrayne my selfe, lest eny mā shulde thinke of me aboue yt he seyth in me, or heareth of me. Iob. 1. b And lest I shulde exalte my selfe out of measure because of the hye reuelacions, there is a warnynge geuen vnto my flesh, euen ye messaunger of Satan, to buffet me, that I shulde not exalte my selfe out off measure: for ye which I besoughte the LORDE thryse, that it mighte departe fro me. And he sayde vnto me: My grace is sufficiēt for the. For my strength is made perfecte thorow weaknes. Very glad therfore wil I reioyse in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ maye dwell in me.

Therfore am I contente in infirmities, in rebukes, in necessities, in persecucions, in anguyszhes for Christes sake: for whā I am weake, thē am I strōge. I am become a fole ī boastinge my selfe: Ye haue cōpelled me. For I oughte to be cōmended of you, Cor. 9. a in so moch as I am in nothinge inferior to ye hye Apostles. Though I be nothinge, yet are ye tokens of an Apostles wrought amōge you, with all paciēce, with signes, & with wōders & with mightie dedes. For what is it, wherin ye are inferiours to the other congregacions? excepte it be yt I haue not bene greuous vnto you. Forgeue me this wrōge. Beholde, I am ready the thirde tyme to come vnto you, and wyl not be chargeable vnto you. Act. 20. c For I seke not youres, but you. For ye childrē ought not to gather treasure for the elders, but the elders for the children. I wil very gladly bestowe, and wyl be bestowed for youre soules: though ye more I loue you, the lesse am I loue agayne.

But let it be so that I greued you not, neuertheles for so moch as I was craftye, I toke you wt gyle. Haue I defrauded you by eny of thē, whō I sent vnto you? I desyred Titus, & with him I sent a brother: dyd Titus defraude you? Haue we not walked in one sprete? Wēte we not in like fotesteppes? Agayne, thynke ye yt we excuse oure selues? We speake in Christ in the sighte off God. But all this (dearly beloued) is done for yor edifyenge. For I feare, lest whan I come, I shal not fynde you soch as I wolde: and lest ye shal fynde me soch as ye wolde not: lest there be amonge you, debates, envyenges, wrathes, stryuynges, bacbytinges, whysperinges, swellinges, vproures: lest whan I come agayne, God bringe me lowe amōge you & lest I be constrayned to bewayle many of thē yt haue synned before, & haue not repented ouer ye vnclennesse and whordome, and wantonnes, which they haue cōmytted.

The XIII. Chapter.

NOw come I the thirde tyme vnto you. Deut. 19. c Mat. 18. b In the mouth of two or thre witnesses shal euery matter be stabliszhed. I haue tolde you before, & tell you before as present ye seconde tyme, & wryte it now beynge absent, vnto thē which in tyme passed haue synned, & to all other: & yf I come agayne, I wil not spare, seynge that ye seke experiēce of him, 〈…〉 which speaketh in me, euen Christ, which amonge you is not weake, but is mightie amōge you. And though he was crucified in weaknes, yet lyueth he in the power of God. And though we are weake in him, yet lyue we with him in the power of God amonge you.

1. Cor. 〈…〉 Proue youre selues, whether ye are in the faith, examē youre selues. Or knowe ye not yor selues, yt Iesus Christ is in you? Excepte ye be cast awayes. But I trust ye knowe, yt we are not cast awayes. I desyre before God yt ye do no euell: not yt we shulde seme comendable, but yt ye shulde do yt which is good, & let vs be as cast awayes. For we maye do nothinge agaynst ye trueth, but for ye trueth. We are glad whan we are weake, & ye stronge: & the same also we wyszhe for, namely yor perfectnesse. Therfore wryte I these thinges beynge absent, lest whā I am present, I shulde vse sharpnesse, acordinge to the power 〈…〉 which the LORDE hath geuē me to edifye, and not to destroye.

Fynally brethren, reioyse, be parfecte, cō forte yor selues, be of one mynde, be peaceable, and the God of loue and peace shalbe wt you. Salute one another with an holykysse. All the sayntes salute you. The grace of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, & the loue of God, and the fellishippe of ye holy goost be with you all. Amen.

The seconde Epistle to the Corinthians. Sent from Phillippos in Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.

The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Galathians. The summe of this Epistle. Chap. I. Paul rebuketh them, because they were fallen awaye from the gospell, sheweth his awne cōuersion, magnifieth his office and apostelshippe, and declareth himself to be equall with the hye apostles. Chap. II. He withstondeth Peter in the face, and proueth, that the lawe and circumcision are not necessary to saluacion. Chap. III. He rebuketh the vnsted fastnesse of the Galathians, shewinge the vnparfectnesse of the lawe, and declareth neuerthelesse that it was not geuen for naught. Chap. IIII. Paul sheweth that thorow Christ we be delyuered from the lawe, and rebuketh the vnthankfulnesse of the Galathians. Chap. V. He laboureth to drawe them awaye from circūcision, sheweth them the barrayll betwixte the sprete and the flesh, and the f •• tes of them both. Chap. VI. He erorteth them to brotherly loue, and one to beare with another In the end he warneth them to bewarre of circūcision The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Galathians.

The first Chapter.

PAul an Apostle (not of men, nor by mā, but by Iesus Christ & by God the father, which raysed him vp frō ye deed) & all the brethrē which are wt me. Vnto the cō gregaciōs in Galacia.

〈…〉 Grace be with you, and peace frō God the father, and oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which gaue him selfe for oure synnes, that he mighte delyuer vs from this present euel worlde, acordinge to the wyll of God oure father, to whom be prayse for euer and euer. Amen.

I maruell yt ye are so soone turned (from him that called you in the grace of Christ) vnto another Gospell: which is nothinge els, but that there besome, which 〈…〉 trouble you, and intende to peruerte the Gospell of Christ.

Neuertheles though we oure selues, or an angell from heauē preach vnto you eny other Gospel, thē yt which we haue preached vnto you, the same be acursed. As we haue sayde afore, so saye we now agayne: Yf eny mā preach vnto you eny other thinge, thē yt ye haue receaued, ye same be acursed. Preach I men now or God: Or go I aboute to please men? Yf I shulde yet please men, I were not the seruaunt of Christ.

But I certifye you brethren, yt the Gospell which is preached of me, is not of men. For I nether receaued it ner lerned it of mā, but by the reuelacion of Iesus Christ. For ye haue herde of my conuersacion afore tyme in the Ieweshippe, 〈…〉 how that beyōde measure I persecuted the cōgregacion of God, and spoyled it, and preuayled in the Ieweshippe aboue many of my companyons in my nacion, & was a moch more feruent manteyner of the tradicions of the fathers.

But whan it pleased God which separated me fro my mothers wombe, and called me by his grace, for to declare his sonne in me, that I shulde preach him thorow the Gospell amonge the Heythen, immediatly I commened not of the matter with flesh and bloude: nether came I to Ierusalem vnto them which were Apostles before me: but wente my wayes in to Arabia, and came agayne to Damascon. Then after thre yeare I came to Ierusalē to se Peter, and abode with him fyftene dayes. As for the other Apostles, I sawe none of them, saue Iames the LORDES brother.

The thinges that I wryte vnto you, beholde, 2. Cor. 11. d God knoweth, I lye not. After that wente I into the coastes of Syria and Celicia: but of face I was vnknowne to ye Christen congregacions in Iewrye. Neuertheles they had herde onely, that: He that persecuted vs in tyme passed, preacheth now ye faith which some tyme he destroyed: and they praysed God in me.

The II. Chapter·

Then after fourtene yeares, Act. 15. a I wente vp agayne to Ierusalē with Barnabas, and toke Titus with me also. But I wente vp by reuelacion, and commened with thē of ye Gospell, which I preach amonge the Heythē: but specially with thē which were in reputacion, lest I shulde runne or had runne in vayne. Act. 16. a 1. Cor. 9. c But Titus which was also with me, was not compelled to be circūcysed, though he was a Greke: and that because of certayne incommers beynge false brethrē, which came in amōge other, to spye out oure libertye, which we haue in Christ Iesus, that they mighte brynge vs in to bondage: To whom we gaue no rowme, no not for the space of an houre, as concernynge to be broughte in to subieccion: yt the trueth of the Gospell mighte comtynue with you.

As for thē that semed to be greate, what they were in tyme passed, it maketh no matter to me. Act. 10. d Rom. 2 b Ephe. 6. a For God loketh not on the outwarde appearaunce of men. Neuertheles they which semed greate, taught me nothinge: but contrary wyse, whan they sawe that the Gospell ouer the vncircumcision was cō mytted vnto me, as ye Gospell ouer ye circū cision was commytted vnto Peter. (For he yt was mightie with Peter to the Apostleshippe ouer the circumcision, the same was mightie with me also amōge the Heythen) they perceaued the grace that was geuen vnto me.

Iames and Cephas and Ihon, which semed to be pilers, gaue me and Barnabas ye righte handes, and agreed with vs, that we shulde preach amonge the Heythē, and they amonge the Iewes: onely that we shulde remēbre the poore, Act. 11. e 2. Co 9. a which thinge also I was diligent to do.

But whā Peter was come to Antioche, I withstode him in ye face: for he was worthy to be blamed. For afore there came certayne from Iames, he ate with the Heythē. But whā they were come, he withdrue and separated himselfe, fearinge thē which were of the circumcision. And the other Iewes dyssembled with him likewyse, in so moch yt Barnabas was brought in to their symulacion also. But whan I sawe that they walked not right after ye trueth of the Gospell, I sayde vnto Peter openly before all: Yf thou beynge a Iewe, lyuest after the maner of the Gentyles, and not as do the Iewes, why causest thou the Gentyles then to lyue as do the Iewes?

Phil. 3 a Though we be Iewes by nature, and not synners of the Gentyles, yet (in so moch as we knowe, Rom. 3. b that a man is not made righteous by the dedes off the lawe, but by the faith on Iesus Christ) we haue beleued also on Iesus Christ, yt we might be made righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by the dedes of the lawe, because that by the dedes of the lawe no flesh shal be iustified.

Yf we then which seke to be made righteous by christ, shulde be yet founde synners or selues, is not Christ then the mynister of synne? God forbyd. For yf I buylde agayne yt which I haue destroyed, then make I my selfe a trespacer. But I thorow the lawe am deed vnto the lawe, that I might lyue vnto God. I am crucified with Christ, yet do I lyue: neuerthelesse now not I, but Christ lyueth in me. For ye life which I now lyue in ye fleszhe, I lyue in the faith of ye sonne of God phe. 5. a which loued me, and gaue himselfe for me. I cast not awaye the grace of God. For yf righteousnes come by the lawe, then dyed Christ in vayne.

The III. Chapter.

O Ye folishe Galathiās, who hath bewitched you, that ye shulde not beleue the trueth? To whō Iesus Christ was descrybed before the eyes and amonge you crucified. This onely wolde I lerne of you: Receaued ye the sprete by the dedes of the lawe, or by the preachinge of the faith: Are ye so vnwyse? Ye beganne in the sprete, wolde ye ende now thē in the flesh? Haue ye suffred so moch in vayne? Yf it be els in vayne. He that geueth you the sprete, and doth soch greate actes amōge you, doth he it thorow the dedes of the lawe, or by ye preachinge of the faith? 〈…〉 Euen as Abrahā beleued God, and it was counted vnto him for righteousnes. Thus ye knowe, that they which are of faith, are Abrahams children.

The scripture sawe afore hāde, that God iustifieth the Heythen thorow faith. Therfore shewed it glad tydinges afore vnto Abraham, and sayde: 〈…〉 In the shal all the Heythen be blessed. So then they which be of faith, are blessed with faithfull Abraham. For as many as go aboute with the workes of the lawe, are vnder ye curse: For it is wryttē: 〈…〉 Cursed be euery man, which cōtynueth not in all thinges that are wryttē in the boke of the lawe, to do them. That no man is iustified by the lawe in the sighte of God, it is euydēt: 〈…〉 For yt iust shal lyue by his faith. The lawe is not of faith, 〈…〉 but the mā that doth ye same, shal lyue therin. But Christ hath delyuered vs from ye curse of the lawe, whan he became a curse for vs. (For it is wryttē: 〈…〉 Cursed is euery man that hangeth on tre) yt the blessynge of Abraham mighte come on the Gentyles in Christ Iesu, and yt we might so receaue ye promysed sprete, thorow faith.

Brethren, I wil speake after the maner of men. Though it be but a mās Testamēt, yet no man despyseth it, or addeth eny thinge therto, 〈…〉 whan it is confirmed. To Abraham and his sede were the promyses made. He sayeth not: In the sedes, as in many, but in thy sede, as in one, which is Christ. This Testament (I saye) which afore was confirmed to Christ warde, is not disanulled (that the promes shulde be made of none affecte) by the lawe 〈…〉 which was geuen beyonde foure hundreth. & thirtie yeares therafter. 〈…〉 For yf the enheritaunce be gotten by the lawe, then is it not geuen by promes. But God gaue it frely vnto Abraham by promes.

Wherfore thē serueth the lawe? 〈…〉 It was added because of trangression, tyll the sede came, to the which the promes was made. 〈…〉 And it was geuen of angels, by the hande of the 〈…〉 mediatoure. A mediatour is not a mediatour of one onely, but God is one.

Is the lawe then agaynst the promyses of God? God forbyd. Howbeit yf there had bene geuen a lawe which coulde haue geuē life, thē no doute righteousnes shulde come of the lawe. 〈…〉 But ye scripture hath shut vp all vnder synne, that ye promes shulde come by the faith on Iesus Christ, geuē vnto thē that beleue. Before faith came, we were kepte and shut vp vnder the lawe, vnto the faith which shulde afterwarde be declared. Thus ye lawe was or scolemaster vnto Christ, that we might be made righteous by faith. But now that faith is come, we are nomore vnder the scolemaster. 〈…〉 For ye all are the children of God by the faith in Christ Iesu. 〈…〉 For as many of you as are baptysed, haue put on Christ. Here is nether Iewe ner Greke: here is nether bōde ner fre: here is nether man ner woman, for ye are all 〈…〉 one in Christ Iesu. Yf ye be Christes, thē are ye Abrahās sede and heyres acordynge to the promes.

The IIII. Chapter.

BVt I saye: As longe as the heyre is a childe, there is no difference betwene him and a seruaunt, though he be lorde of all ye goodes: but he is vnder tuters and gouerners, vntyll the tyme appoynted of the father. Euen so we also, whā we were children, were in bondage vnder the outwarde tradicions. But whan the tyme was fulfylled, God sent his sonne, borne of a womā, 〈…〉 and put vnder the lawe, to redeme them which were vnder the lawe, that we mighte receaue ye childshippe. 〈…〉 For so moch thē as ye are children, God hath sent the sprete of his sonne in to oure hertes, which cryeth: Abba, deare father. Wherfore now, thou art not a seruaunt, but a sonne. Yf thou be a sonne, then art thou the heyre of God thorow Christ. Notwithstondinge whan ye knewe not God, ye dyd seruyce vnto them, which by nature are no Goddes. But now seynge ye knowe God (yee rather are knowne off God) how is i 〈…〉 that ye turne you backe agayne vnto the weake and beggerly tradicions, wher vnto ye desyre agayne a fresh to be in bondage?

Ye obserue dayes and •• nethes, and tymes and yeares. I am in feare of you, lest I haue bestowed laboure on you in vayne. Brethrē I beseke you, be ye as I am, for I am as ye are. Ye haue not hurte me at all. For ye knowe how that in weaknes after ye flesh I preached ye Gospell vnto you at the first: and my tentacion which I suffred after the flesh, ye despysed not, nether abhorred, but receaued me as an angell of God, yee euen as Christ Iesus. How happy were ye then? For I beare you recorde, that yf it had bene possible, ye had plucked out youre awne eyes, and geuē them vnto me. Am I therfore become yor enemy, because I tell you ye trueth?

They are gelous ouer you amysse. Yee they wolde make you to fall backe, that ye might be feruēt to thē warde. It is good to be feruent, so yt it be allwaye in a good thinge, and not onely whan I am present wt you. My litle children (of whom I trauayle in byrth agayne, vntyll Christ be fashioned in you) I wolde I were wt you now, and coulde chaūge my voyce, for I stōdeī doute of you.

Tell me ye that wylbe vnder the lawe, haue ye not herde the lawe? For it is wrytten, that Abraham had two sonnes Gen. 16. d the one by a bonde mayde, Gen. 71. a the other by a fre woman. As for him that was of the bōde mayde, he was borne after ye flesh: but he which was of the fre woman, was borne by promes. These wordes betoken somwhat. For these wemen are the two Testamentes: The one from the mount Sina, that gendreth vnto bondage, which is Agar. For Agar is called in Arabia ye mount Sina, and reacheth vnto Ierusalem which now is, and is in bondage with hir children.

Apoc. 21 a But Ierusalem that is aboue, is the fre woman, which is the mother of vs all. For it is wryttē: Esa. 54. a Reioyse thou baren, that bearest no childrē: breake forth and crye thou yt trauaylest not, for the desolate hath many mo childrē, then she which hath an huszbande. As for vs (brethren) we are the children of Isaac acordinge to the promes.

Gen. 27. g But like as at that tyme, he that was borne after the flesh, persecuted him yt was borne after the sprete, euen so is it now also. But what sayeth the scripture? Gen. 21. b Put awaye the bonde mayden and hir sonne: for the sonne of ye bondmayde shal not be heyre with ye sonne of the fre woman. So now brethren, we are not children of the bonde mayde, but of the fre woman.

The V. Chapter.

STonde fast therfore in the libertye wherwith Christ hath made vs fre, and be not wrapped agayne in the yocke off bondage. Beholde, I Paul say vnto you: Yf ye be circumcysed, Christ profiteth you nothinge at all. I testifye aga •• ne vnto euery man which is circumcyse that he is bounde to kepe the whole lar Ye are gone quyte from Christ, as many you as wylbe made righteous by the la •• and are fallen from grace. But we wa in the sprete off hope, to 〈…〉 by faith. 〈…〉 For in Christ 〈…〉 circumcision eny thinge worth ner vncircumcision, but faith which 1. Co. 13. a by loue is might e in operacion. Ye ranne well, who was a let vnto you, that ye shulde not obeye the trueth? Soch councell is not of him that hath called you. 1. Cor. 5. a A litle leuen sowreth the whole lompe of dowe.

I haue trust towarde you in ye LORDE, that ye wylbe none otherwyse mynded. But he that troubleth you, shal beare his iudgment, what so euer he be. Brethren yf I yet preach circumcision, why do I suffre persecucion? then had the slaunder off the crosse ceassed. Wolde God they were roted out frō amōge you, which trouble you. But brethrē, ye are called vnto liberty, onely let not youre libertie be an occasion vnto the flesh, but by loue serue one another. For all the lawe is fulfylled in one worde, namely in this: Leuit 19. e Ro. 13. b loue thy neghboure as thy selfe. But yf ye byte and deuoure one another, take hede, that ye be not consumed one of another.

I saye: Walke in the sprete, and so shal ye not fulfill the 1. Pet. 2. b lustes off the fleshe. For the flesh lusteth agaynst the sprete, and the sprete agaynst the flesh. These are contrary one to the other, so that ye can not do that which ye wolde: But and yf ye be led of the sprete, then are ye not vnder the lawe.1. Tim. 5. c The dedes of ye flesh are manifest, which are these: Aduoutrye, whordome, vnclēnes, wantā nes, Idolatrye, witchcraft, hatred, variaunce, zele, wrath, stryfe, sedicion, sectes, envyenge, murthur, dronkennes, glotony, and soch like: of the which I tell you before, as I haue tolde you in tyme past, 1. Cor. 6. b that they which commytte soch, shal not inheret the kyngdome of God. Ephe. 5. b But the frute of the sprete, is loue, ioye, peace, longe sufferinge, gētlenes, goodnesse, faithfulnes, mekenesse, tēperaunce, 1. Tim. 1. b . Ro 13. b 1. Pet. 2. b Agaynst soch is not ye lawe:1. Tim. 1. b . Ro 13. b 1. Pet. 2. b But they that are Christes, haue crucified their flesh, with the lustes and desyres.

The VI. Chapter.

YF we lyue in the sprete, let vs walke also in the sprete. Let vs not be vayne glorious, prouokinge one another, and envyenge another. Brethren, Yf eny mā be ouertaken of a faute, ye which are spiri uall, enfourme him with a meke sprete: and •• nsidre thine owne selfe, that thou also be 〈◊〉 tempted. 〈…〉 Beare ye one anothers 〈…〉 , and so shal ye fulfyll the lawe of Christ. 〈◊〉 yf eny man thinke himselfe to be 〈…〉 (whan in dede he is nothinge) the 〈…〉 h mselfe. Let euery man proue 〈◊〉 owne wo •• e, and thē shal he haue reioysinge in his awne selfe, and not in another. For 〈…〉 euery one shal beare his owne burthen.

〈…〉 But let him that is taughte with the worde, mynister in all good thinges, vnto him that teacheth him. Be not disceaued, God wil not be mocked. 〈…〉 For what soeuer a man soweth, that shal he reape. He that soweth vpon the flesh, shal of the flesh reape destruccion: But he that soweth vpon ye sprete, shal of the sprete reape life euerlastinge. 〈…〉 Let vs not be weery of well doynge: for whā the tyme is come, we shal reape without ceassinge. Whyle we haue tyme therfore, let vs do good vnto all men 〈…〉 but specially vnto thē which are of ye housholde of faith.

Beholde, with how many wordes I haue wrytten vnto you with myne awne hande. They that wil please in the flesh, constrayne you to be circumcysed, onely lest they shulde be persecuted with the crosse of Christ. For euē they them selues which are circumcysed, kepe not the lawe, but wolde haue you circūcysed, that they mighte reioyse in youre flesh. But God forbyd that I shulde reioyse, saue onely in the crosse of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, wherby the worlde is crucified vnto me, and I vnto the worlde. 〈…〉 For in Christ Iesu nether circūcision avayleth eny thinge, ner vncircumcision, but a new creature. 〈…〉 And as many as walke acordynge to this rule, peace and mercy be vpon thē, and vpon Israel of God. From hence forth let no man put me to busynesse, 〈…〉 for I beare in my body the markes of the LORDE Iesu. Brethren, the grace of oure LORDE Iesu Christ be with youre sprete Amen.

Vnto the Galathians, sent from Rome.

The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Ephesians. The summe of this Epistle. Chap. I. The euerlastinge ordinaunce and eleccion of God in sauynge all men thorow Christ Iesus his sonne. We are ordened vnto good workes. The dominion of Christ. Chap. II. Paul sheweth them what maner of people they were before their conuersion, and what they are now in Christ. Chap. III. He sheweth the cause of his presonment, desyreth them not to faynte because of his trouble, and prayeth God to make thē stedfast in his sprete. Chap. IIII. He exhorteth them vnto mekenes, longe sufferinge, vnto loue and peace, euery one to serue and edifie another with the gifte that God hath geuē him, to bewarre of straunge doctrine, to laye asyde the olde conuersacion of gredy lustes, and to walke in a new life. Chap. V. He exhorteth them vnto loue, warneth them to bewarre of vnclennes, cuvetounesse, foolish talkynge and false doctryne: to be circumspecte, to avoyde dronkennesse, to reioyse and to be thankfull towarde God, to submytt thēselues one to another, He teacheth how wemen shulde obeye their huszbōdes, and how louyngly men ought to intreate their wyues. Chap. VI. How children shulde behaue themselues towarde their fathers and mothers: Likewyse fathers towarde their children: Seruauntes towarde their masters: Agayne, masters towarde their seruaūtes. An exhortacion to the spirituall battayll, and what weapens christen men shulde fight withall. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Ephesians.

The first Chapter.

PAul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God. To ye sayntes which are Ephesus, & to thē that beleue on Iesus Christ.

〈…〉 Grace be with you and peace from God oure father, & frō the LORDE Iesus Christ.

Blessed be God the father of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which hath blessed vs wt all maner of spirituall blessynge in heauenly thynges by Christ 〈…〉 acordinge as he had chosen vs by him, or euer the foundacion of the worlde was layed, that we shulde be holy and without blame before him in loue, & ordeyned vs before, to receaue vs as children thorow Iesus Christ, acordinge to the pleasure of his will, vnto the prayse of the glory of his grace, wherby he hath made vs accepted in the Mat. 3. b and 1 . a Beloued, in whom we haue redempcion thorow his bloude (namely) the forgeuenes of synnes, acordynge to ye riches of his grace, which he hath shed vpon vs abundauntly in all wyszdome and prudēce: and hath opened vnto vs the mystery of his wil acordinge to his pleasure, which he had purposed in himselfe, yt it shulde be preached Gal. 4. a whā the tyme was fullcome, that all thinges shulde be gathered together by Christ, both the thinges which are in heauen, and also the thinges that are vpon earth, euen by him, by whom also we are come to the inheritaunce Rom . d we that were therto predestinate before, acordinge to ye purpose of him, which worketh all thinges after ye councell of his owne wyll, that we mighte be to the prayse of his glory, euen we that before beleued on Christ, on whō also ye beleued, after that ye herde the worde of trueth, namely ye Gospell of youre saluacion: wherin whan ye beleued, ye were 2. Cor. . e and 5. a sealed with the holy sprete of promes, which is the ernest of oure inheritaunce to oure redempcion, that we mighte be his owne to the prayse off his glory.

Wherfore I also, (in so moch as I haue herde of the faith which ye haue in ye LORDE Iesu, and of youre loue vnto all ye sayntes) ceasse not to geue thankes for you, and make mencion of you in my prayers, that ye God of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, the father of glory maye geue vnto you the sprete of wyszdome, and open vnto you the knowlege of himselfe, and lighten the eyes of youre vnderstondinge, that ye maye knowe what is the hope of youre callynge, and what the riches of his glorious enheritaunce is vpon the sayntes, & what is the exceadinge greatnesse of his power towarde vs, which beleue acordinge to ye workynge of his mightie power, which he wroughte in Christ, whan he raysed him vp frō the deed, Psal. 109. and set him on his righte hāde ī heauēly thinges, aboue all rule, power, and mighte, and dominaciō, and aboue all that maye be named, not onely in this worlde, but also in ye worlde to come. Psal 8. b And hath put all thinges vnder his fete, and hath made him aboue all thinges Ephe. 4 and 5. c Col. 1. c the heade of the cōgregacion, which is his body, and the fulnesse of him that fylleth all in all.

The II. Chapter.

ANd quyckened you also, whan ye were deed thorow trespaces and synnes, in the which in tyme past ye walked. acordinge to the course off this worlde, and after the prynce that ruleth in the ayre namely, after ye sprete, which now worketh in the children of vnbeleue, Col. 3. a amonge whom we also had oure conuersacion in tyme past in the lustes of oure flesh, and dyd the wyll of the flesh and of the mynde, and were naturally the children of wrath, euen as well as other.

But God which is riche in mercy thorow his greate loue wherwith he loued vs euē whā we were deed in synnes, hath quyckened vs in Christ ( Esa. 25. b Act. 15. b for by grace are ye saued) and hath raysed vs vp with him, and set vs with him in heauēly thinges thorow Christ Iesus, yt in tymes to come he mighte shewe the exceadinge riches of his grace, in kyndnesse to vs warde in Christ Iesu. For by grace are ye saued thorow faith, and that not of youre selues, For it is ye gifte of God, not of workes, lest eny mā shulde boast him selfe. For we are his workmanshippe, created in Christ Iesu Tit. 2. b vnto good workes, to yt which God ordeyned vs before, that we shulde walke in them.

Wherfore remēbre, that ye (which afore tyme were Gentyles after the flesh, and were called vncircumcision, of thē that are called Phil. 3. a Col. 2. b circumcision after the flesh, which circumcision is made with the hande) that ye at the same tyme were without Christ, and reputed aleauntes from the comen welth of Israel, and were straungers from the Testamentes of promes, therfore had ye no hope, and were without God in this worlde. But now ye that be in Christ Iesu, and afore tyme were farre of, are now made nye by the bloude of Christ.

For he is o Esa. 9 b Col. 1. b peace, which of both hath made one, and hath broken downe the wall, that was a stoppe betwene vs, and hath also thorow his flesh put awaye the cause off hatred (namely the lawe of the commaundemētes contayned in the lawe wrytten) that of twayne he mighte create one new man in him selfe, and make peace, and to reconcyle both vnto God in one body thorow the crosse, and so he slewe ye hatred thorow his owne selfe, and came Esa. 57. c and preached peace in the Gospell, vnto you which were afarre of, and to thē that were nye. For thorow him we both haue intraunce in ne sprete vnto the father.

Now therfore ye are nomore gestes and straungers, but citesins with the sayntes, & of the housholde of God, buylded vpon Cor. 3. b ye foundacion of ye Apostles and prophetes Pet. 2. a where Iesus Christ is ye heade corner stone in whom euery buyldinge coupled together, groweth to an holy temple in the LORDE, in whom ye also are buylded together, to be an habitacion of God in the sprete.

The III. Chapter.

FOr this cause I Paul am 〈…〉 a presoner of Iesus Christ for you Heythen, acordinge as ye haue herde of ye office of the grace of God which is geuen me to you warde. For by 〈…〉 reuelacion was this mystery shewed vnto me, as I wrote abou in fewe wordes: wherby whan ye rede it, 〈◊〉 maye perceaue myne vnderstondynge in ye mystery of Christ, which (mystery) in tymes past was not opened vnto the childrē of mē as it is now declared to his holy Apostles and prophetes by the sprete: namely, that the Heythen shulde be inheritours also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promes in Christ by the Gospell, wherof I am made a mynister acordynge to the gifte of the grace of God, which is geuē me acordinge to the workynge of his power.

Vnto me 〈…〉 the leest of all sayntes is this grace geuen, that I shulde preach amonge the Heythē ye vnsearcheable riches of Christ, and to make all men se, what is the fellishippe of the 〈…〉 mystery, which frō the begynnynge of the worlde hath bene hyd in God, which made all thīges thorow Iesus Christ to the intent that now vnto the rulers and powers in heauē mighte be knowne by the congregacion the manifolde wyszdome off God, acordinge to ye eternall purpose, which he hath shewed in Christ Iesu oure LORDE by whom we haue boldnesse and intraunce in all confidēce thorow faith on him. Wherfore I desyre that ye faynte not because of my tribulacions, yt I 〈…〉 suffre for you, which is youre prayse.

For this cause I bowe my knees vnto the father of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which is the true father, ouer all that is called father in heauen and in earth, that he graunte you (acordinge to ye riches of his glory) to be strengthed with power by his sprete in ye inwarde mā, that Christ maye dwell in youre hertes by faith, that ye beynge roted and grounded in loue, maye be able to cōprehende with all sayntes, what is the bredth, and the length, and the deepth, and the heyth: and to knowe the loue of Christ, which loue yet passeth all knowlege: that ye maye be fylled with all maner of fulnesse of God.

Vnto him that is able to do exceadinge abundauntly, aboue all that we axe or vnderstonde (acordinge to ye power that worketh in vs) be prayse in the congregacion, which is in Christ Iesu, at all tymes for euer and euer, Amen.

The IIII. Chapter.

I Therfore which am presoner in the LORDE, exhorte you, that ye walke as it becōmeth yor callinge wherin ye are called, with all humblenes off mynde and mekenes, and longe sufferinge, forbearinge one another in loue, and be diligent to kepe the vnite of the sprete thorow the bonde of peace. One body and one sprete, euē as ye are called in one hope of youre callynge. One LORDE, one faith, one baptyme, one God and father of vs all, which is aboue all, and thorow all, and in you all.

〈…〉 Vnto euery one of vs is geuen grace, acordinge to the measure off the gifte off Christ. Therfore sayeth he: 〈…〉 He is gone vp an hye, and hath led awaye captiuyte captyue, and hath geuē giftes vnto men. That he wente, vp what is it, but that he first came downe in to ye lowest partes of ye earth? 〈…〉 He that came downe, is euen the same which is gone vp aboue all heauens, to fulfill all. 〈…〉 And ye same hath set some to be Apostles, some to be prophetes, some to be Euangelistes, some to be shepherdes & teachers, wherby the sayntes mighte be coupled together thorow comen seruyce to the edifienge of ye body of Christ, tyll we all come vnto one maner of faith and knowlege of the sonne of God, and become a perfecte man in to the measure of the perfecte age of Christ 〈…〉 that we be nomore children, 〈…〉 waueringe & caried aboute with euery wynde of doctryne thorow the wickednes of men and craftynes, wherby they laye awayte for vs to disceaue vs.

But let vs folowe the trueth in loue, and in all thinges growe in him, 〈…〉 which is the heade, euen Christ, in whom all the body is coupled together, and one membre hangeth by another thorow out all ye ioyntes. 〈…〉 Wherby one mynistreth vnto another (acordinge to the operacion as euery membre hath his measure) and maketh, that ye body groweth to the edifienge of it selfe in loue.

This I saye therfore, and testifye in the LORDE, that ye walke nomore * as ye other Heythen walke in the vanite of their mynde, blynded in their vnderstondinge, beynge straungers frō the life which is in God thorow the ignoraunce that is in them, because of the blyndnes of their hert: which beynge past repentaunce, haue geuē them selues ouer vnto wantonnes, to worke all maner of vnclennes euen with gredynesse.

But ye haue not so learned Christ, yf so be that ye haue herde of him, & are taught in him, euen as the trueth is in Iesu. So then as concernynge the conuersacion in tyme past Rom. 6. a Col. 3. a laye from you that olde man which marreth himselfe thorow disceauable lustes: but be ye renued in the sprete of youre mynde, and put on that new man, which is shapen after God, in true righteousnes and holynes. Zach. . c 1. Pet. 2. a Wherfore put awaye lyenge, and speake euery man the trueth vnto his neghboure, for as moch as we are membres one of another. Psal. 4. a Be angrie, but synne not. Let not ye Sonne go downe vpō youre wrath: nether geue place to the bacbyter. He that hath stollen, let him steale nomore: 2. Tess. 3. a but let him laboure rather, and do some good with his hondes, that he maye haue to geue vnto him that nedeth.

Let no filthy communicacion proceade out of youre mouth, Mat. 12. d Ephe. 5. a but that which is good to edifye withall, whā nede is, that it be gracious to heare. And greue not the holy sprete of God, wherwith ye are 2. Cor. 1. c sealed vnto ye daye of redempcion. Let all bytternes, and fearsnes, and wrath, and roaringe, & cursed speakynge be farre frō you with all maliciousnes. But be ye curteous one to another, mercifull, Mat. 6. and forgeue one another, euē as God hath forgeuen you in Christ.

The V. Chapter.

BE ye the Mat. 5. e Ioh. 13. b Gal. 1. a folowers therfore of God as deare children, and walke in loue, euen as Christ loued vs, and Mat. 5. e Ioh. 13. b Gal. 1. a gaue him selfe for vs an offerynge and sacrifice of a swete sauoure vnto God. As for whordome and all vnclennes, or couetousnes, let it not be named amōge you, as it becommeth sayntes: Ecclī 23. c nether fylthines, ner folish talkynge, ner ieastynge (which are not comly) but rather geuynge of thākes.1. Cor. 6. b Col. 3. a For be sure, that no whore monger, or vncleane person, or couetous person (which is a worshipper off ymages) hath inheritaunce in the kyngdome of Christ and of God. Col. 2. a (Let no man disceaue you with vayne wordes) for because of these commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of vnbeleue. Be not ye therfore companions with them. For sometyme ye were darknesse, 1. Tess. 5. but now are ye lighte in the LORDE.

Walke as the children of lighte. ( Gal. 5. c 〈◊〉 the frute of the sprete is all maner of goodnes, and righteousnes and tru th:) and proue what is pleasinge vnto the LORDE, and haue no fellishippe with ye vnfrutefull workes of darknes, but rather rebuke thē. For it is shame euen to name those thinges, which are done of them in secrete. But all thinges are manifest, whan they are rebuked of the lighte. For what so euer is manifest, that same is lighte. Therfore sayeth he: Esa. 60. a Rom. 13. b Awake thou that slepest, and stonde vp frō the deed, and Christ shal geue the lighte.

Col. 4. a Take hede therfore how ye walke circumspectly, not as the vnwyse, but as ye wyse, and redeme the tyme, for it is a miserable tyme. Wherfore be not ye vnwyse, but vnderstonde what the wil of the LORDE is, Ecclī. 31. c and be not dronken with wyne, wherin is excesse: but be full of the sprete Col. 3. b and talke amōge youre selues of Psalmes, and ymnes, and spirituall songes, synginge and makynge melody vnto the LORDE in youre hertes 1. Tess. 5. c geuynge thankes alwayes for all thinges vnto God the father, in the name of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, submyttinge youreselues one to another in the feare of God.

Let the wemen submytte them selues vnto their huszbandes, Col. 3. c 1. Pet. 3. a as vnto the LORDE. .1 Co. 11. a For the huszbande is the wyues heade, euē as Christ also is the heade of the congregacion, and he is the Sauioure of his body. Therfore as the congregacion is in subieccion to Christ, likewyse let the wyues be in subieccion to their huszbandes in all thinges.

Ye huszbandes loue youre wyues, even as Christ loued the congregacion, Ephe. 5. a Gal. 2. c and gaue himselfe for it, to sanctifye it, Tit. 3. a 1. Pet 3. c and clensed it in the fountayne of water by the worde, to make it vnto himselfe a glorious congregacion, hauynge no spot ner wrynkle, ner eny soch thinge, but that it shulde be holy and without blame.

So oughte men also to loue their wyues, euen as their awne bodyes. He that loueth his wife, loueth himselfe. For no mā euer yet hated his awne fleszhe, but norisheth and cheriszheth it, euen as the LORDE doth also the congregacion. For we are membres of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. Gen. 2. d Mat 19. a Marc. 10. a For this cause shal a man leaue father and mother, and cleue vnto his wife, and they two shal be one flesh: This is a greate secrete: but I speake of Christ and the congregacion. Neuertheles do ye so, that euery one of you loue his wife euen as himselfe: but let the 〈…〉 huszbande.

The VI. Chapter.

YE 〈…〉 children, obey youre elders in the LORDE, for that is righte. Honoure thy father and thy mother ( 〈…〉 That is the first commaundement, that hath eny promes) that thou mayest prospere, and lyuelonge vpon earth. And ye fathers, prouoke not youre children vnto wrath, but brynge thē vp in the nourtoure and informacion of the LORDE.

〈…〉 Ye seruauntes, obey youre bodely masters, with feare and tremblynge, in synglenes of youre hert, euen as vnto Christ, not with seruyce onely in the eye sighte, as men pleasers: but as the seruauntes off Christ, doynge the wyll off God from the hert with good wyll. Thynke that ye serue the LORDE and not mē: and be sure, that what good soeuer a man doth, he shal receaue it agayne of the LORDE, whether he be bonde or fre.

And ye masters, 〈…〉 do euen the same vnto thē, puttynge awaye threatenynges, and knowe that euen youre master also is in heauen, 〈…〉 nether is there eny respecte of personnes with him.

Fynally my brethren, be stronge in the LORDE, and in the power of his mighte: put on the armo of God, that ye maye stonde stedfast agaynst the craftie assautes off the deuell. For we wrestle not agaynst flesh and bloude, but agaynst rule, agaynst power namely, agaynst the rulers of the worlde, of the darknesse of this worlde, agaynst ye spretes of wickednes vnder the heauen. For this cause take ye the armoure of God, yt ye maye be able to resiste in the euell daye, and stonde perfecte in all thinges.

〈…〉 Stonde therfore, and youre loynes gyrde aboute with the trueth, hauynge on the brest plate of righteousnes, and shod vpō yo fete with the gospell of peace, that ye maye be prepared: Aboue all thinges take holde of the shylde of faith, wherwith ye maye quenche all the fyrie dartes of the wicked. And take the helmet of saluacion, & the swerde of the sprete, which is the worde of God.

〈…〉 And praye allwayes with all maner of prayer and supplicacion in the sprete, and watch there vnto with all instaunce and supplicacion for all sayntes and for me, 〈…〉 that the worde maye be geuen me, that I maye open my mouth boldly, to vtter the secretes of the Gospell, wherof I am a messaunger in bondes, that I maye speake therin frely, 〈…〉 as it becommeth me to speake.

But that ye maye also knowe, what case I am in, and what I do, Tichicus my deare brother and faithfull mynister in the LORDE, shal shewe you all: whom I haue sent vnto you for the same cause, that ye mighte knowe what case I stonde in, and that he mighte comforte youre hertes.

Peace be vnto the brethrē, and loue with faith, from God the father, & from the LORDE Iesu Christ. Grace be with all them that loue oure LORDE Iesus Christ vnfaynedly. Amen.

Sent from Rome vnto the Ephesians, by Tichicus.

The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Philippians. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. He exhorteth them to increace in loue, in knowlege and experience of godly thinges: maketh mencion of his presonment at Rome, is glad to heare Christ preached, is cōtent ether to dye or lyue, and prayeth them to lede a godly conuersacion, to be of one mynde, and to feare no persecucion. Chap. II. He exhorteth them to vnite and brotherly loue, and to bewarre of strife and vayne glory: And for a sure ensample he layeth Christ before them. Chap. III. He warneth thē to bewarre of false teachers, whom he calleth dogges and enemies of Christ, and reproueth mās owne righteousnesse. Chap. IIII. He saluteth certayne of them, exhorteth them to be of honest conuersacion, and thanketh them because of the prouysion, that they made for him beynge in preson.

The first Chapter.

PAul and Timotheus the seruauntes of Iesu Christ. Vnto all the sayntes in Iesu Christ, which are at Philippos, with the Biszhoppes and 〈…〉 mynisters.

Grace be with you and peace from God oure father, and from the LORDE Iesus Christ.

Col. 1. 1. Tess. 1. a I thanke my God, as oft as I remēbre you (which I allwayes do in all my prayers for you all, and praye with gladnesse) because of youre fellishippe which ye haue in the Gospell from the first daye vnto now, and am surely certified of this, yt he which hath begonne that good Ioh. . d worke in you, shal go forth with it untyll ye daye of Iesus Christ: as it becommeth me to iudge of you all, because I haue you in my hert, as those that are partakers with me of grace in my bondes, in defendinge and stablyshinge of the Gospell.

For God is my 1. Tess. 2. recorde, how I lōge after you all euen frō the very hert rote in Iesus Christ. Ephe. 1. c Col. 1. a . Tess. 1. b And for the same I praye, yt yo loue maye increace more & more in all maner of knowlege and in all experience, yt ye maye proue what is best, that ye maye be pure, & soch as hurte no mans conscience, vnto the daye of Christ: fylled with the frutes of righteousnes, which come by Iesus Christ vnto the glorye and prayse of God.

I wolde ye vnderstode brethren, that my busynes is happened vnto the greater furtheraunce of the Gospell, so that my bondes in Christ are manifest thorow out all ye iudgmēt hall, and in all other places: In so moch that many brethren in the LORDE, are boldened thorow my bōdes, and darre more largely speake the worde without feare. Some (no doute) preach Christ of enuye and stryfe, but some of good wil. The one parte preacheth Christ off stryfe and not purely, supposynge to adde more aduersite vnto my bondes. The other parte of loue, for they knowe that I lye here for the defence of the Gospell.

What then? So that Christ be preached all maner of wayes (whether it be done by occasion or of true meaninge) I reioyce therin, and wil reioyce. For I knowe that the same shal chaunce to my saluacion, 2. Cor. 1. thorow youre prayer and mynistrynge of the sprete of Iesu Christ, as I loke for and hope, that in nothinge I shalbe ashamed: but yt with all cōfidence (as allwayes in tymes past, euē so now) Christ shalbe magnified in my body whether it be thorow life or thorow death. For Christ is to me life, & death is to me au ge. But in as moch as to lyue in ye 〈◊〉 frutefull to me for the worke, 〈…〉 what I shal chose, for both these 〈…〉 harde vpon me. 〈…〉 I desyre to 〈…〉 be with Christ, which thin •• 〈…〉 (forme) but to abyde 〈…〉 nedefull for you.

And this am I sure of, that I shal abyde, and contynue with you all, for the furtheraunce and ioye of youre faith, that ye maye abundauntly reioyse in Christ Iesu thorow me, by my cōmynge to you agayne. Onely let youre conuersacion be Ephe. 4. a Col. 1. a 1. Tess. 4. a as it becommeth the Gospell of Christ, that whether I come & se you, or els be absent, I maye yet heare of you that ye cōtynue in one sprete and one soule, labourynge (as we do) to mayntayne the faith of the Gospell, and in nothinge fearinge youre aduersaries, which is to them a token off perdicion, but vnto you of saluacion, and that of God. For vnto you it is geuen, not onely that ye shulde beleue on Christ, but also suffre for his sake, and to haue euen the same fighte, which ye haue sene in me, and now heare of me.

The II. Chapter.

YF there be amonge you eny consolacion in Christ, yf there be eny comforte of loue, yf there be eny fellishippe off the sprete, yf there be eny compassion and mercy, fulfyll my ioye, that ye drawe one waye, hauynge one loue, beynge of one accorde, and of one mynde: that there be nothinge done thorow stryfe and vayne glory, but that thorow mekenesse of mynde euery man esteme another better then himselfe: and let euery mā loke not for his awne profet, but for the profet of other.

Let the same mynde be in you, that was in Christ Iesu: which beyinge in the shappe of God, thought it not robbery to be equall with God, but made himselfe of no reputacion, and toke vpon him the shappe of a seruaunt, 〈◊〉 . 5. a became like another man, and was founde in his apparell as a man: he humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto the death, euen vnto the death of the crosse.

Mat. 28 e Heb. 2. b Therfore hath God also exalted him, and geuen him a name, which is aboue all names, Esa. 45. c Dan. 7. c Ro. 14. b that in the name of Iesus euery kne shulde bowe, both of thinges in heauen of thinges vpō earth, and of thinges vnder the earth, and that all tunges shulde confesse, that Iesus Christ is the LORDE vnto 〈◊〉 prayse of God the father.

Wherfore my dearly beloued, as ye haue 〈…〉 obeyed (not onely in my presence, 〈…〉 so moch more in my absence) euen 〈…〉 youre awne saluacion with 〈…〉 . 〈…〉 For it is God which 〈…〉 the wyll and the deed, euen of his owne good wyll. Do all thinges without murmurynges and disputinges, that ye maye be fautles and pure, and the childrē of God 〈…〉 without rebuke, in the myddes of ye croked and peruerse nacion, 〈…〉 amonge whom se that ye shyne as lightes in the worlde, holdinge fast the worde of life, vnto my reioysinge in the daye of Christ, that I haue not runne in vayne, nether laboured in vayne. 〈…〉 Yee and though I be offred vp vpō the offerynge & sacrifice of youre faith, I am glad, and reioyce with you all: be ye glad also, and reioyce ye with me.

I trust in the LORDE Iesus, to sende Timotheus shortly vnto you, that I also maye be of good comforte, whan I knowe what case ye stonde in. For I haue no man that is so like mynded to me, which with so pure affecciō careth for you: for all other seke their awne, not that which is Iesus Christes. But ye knowe the profe of him: for as a childe vnto the father, so hath he mynistred vnto me in the Gospell. Him I hope to sende, as soone as I knowe how it wyll go with me. But I trust in the LORDE, that I also my selfe shal come shortly.

Neuertheles I thoughte it necessary to sende vnto you the brother Ephraditus, which is my companyon in laboure and felowe soudyer, and youre Apostell, and my mynister at my nede, for so moch as he longed after you all, and was full of heuynes, because ye had herde that he was sicke. And no doute he was sicke, and that nye vnto death: but God had mercy on him, and not on him onely, but on me also, lest I shulde haue had sorowe vpon sorowe.

I haue sent him therfore the more haistely, that ye mighte se him, and reioyce agayne, and that I also mighte haue the lesse sorowe. Receaue him therfore in the LORDE with all gladnes, 〈…〉 and make moch of soche: for because of the worke of Christ, he wente so farre, that he came nye vnto death, and regarded not his life, to fulfyll that seruyce which was lackynge on youre parte towarde me.

The III. Chapter.

MOROVER my brethren, reioyce in the LORDE. Where as I wryte euer one thinge vnto you, it greueth me not, and maketh you the surer. Bewarre off dogges, bewarre of euell workers, bewarre off discension: 〈…〉 for we are the circumcision, euen we that serue God in the sprete, and reioyce in Christ Iesu, and haue no confidence in the flesh, though I haue wherof I mighte reioyce in ye flesh. Yf eny other mā thynke that he hath wherof he mighte reioyce in the flesh, moch more I, which was circūcysed on the eight daye, one of the people of Israel, of the trybe off Ben Iamin, an hebrue of the Hebrues: as concernynge the lawe 〈…〉 a Pharise: as concernynge feruentnes 〈…〉 I persecuted the cōgregacion: and as touchinge the righteousnes which is in the lawe, I was vnrebukable.

〈…〉 But the thinges that were vauntage vnto me, haue I counted losse for Christes sake. Yee I thynke all thinges but losse, for that excellent 〈…〉 knowleges sake of Christ Iesu my LORDE: for whom I haue counted all thinge losse, and do iudge them but donge, that I mighte wynne Christ, & be founde in him, not hauynge myne awne righteousnes which commeth of the lawe, but by the faith of Christ (namely) the righteousnes which commeth of God in faith, to knowe him and the vertue of his resurreccion, and the fellishippe of his passion, 〈…〉 that I maye be conformable vnto his death, yff by eny meanes I mighte attayne to the resurreccion from the deed. Not that I haue attayned vnto it all ready, or that I am allready perfecte: but I folowe, yf I maye comprehende that, wherin I am comprehended off Christ Iesu. Brethren, I counte not my selfe yet that I haue gotten it: but one thinge I saye: I forget that which is behynde, and stretch my selfe vnto that which is before, & preace vnto ye marck apoynted, to optayne the rewarde of the hye callynge of God in Christ Iesu.

Let vs therfore (as many as be parfecte) be thus wyse mynded: and yf ye be otherwyse mynded, I praye God open euen this vnto you. Neuertheles in that wher vnto we are come, let vs procede by one rule, that we maye be of one accorde. 〈◊〉 4. c 〈…〉 d Brethren, be ye ye folowers of me, and loke on thē which walke euē so as ye haue vs for an ensample. For many walke (off whom I haue tolde you often, but now I tell you wepynge) euē enemies of the crosse of Christ, whose ende is damnacion, 〈…〉 whose God is the bely, & whose glory shalbe to their shame, which are earthly mynded. 〈…〉 But oure conuersacion is in heauen, from whence we loke for the Sauioure Iesu Christ ye LORDE, 〈…〉 which shal chaūge or vyle body, yt it maye be like fashioned vnto his glorious body, acordinge to ye workynge wherby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe.

The IIII. Chapter.

WHerfore my brethrē dearly beloued & longed for, my ioye & my crowne contynue so in the LORDE ye beloued. I praye Euodias, & beseke Syntiches, that they be of one mynde in the LORDE. Yee and I beseke the my faithfull yoc felowe, helpe the wemen, which haue laboured with me in the Gospell, with Clement & with my other helpers, Luc. 10. b Apo. 17. b whose names are in the boke of life. Reioyce in the LORDE allwaye, & agayne I saye, Reioyse. Let youre softnes be knowne vnto all men. The LORDE is euen at honde. Be not carefull, but in all thinges let yor peticions in prayer and supplicacion, with geuynge of thankes be knowne before God. And ye Ioh. 14. c Rom. 5. a peace of God, which passeth all vnderstōdinge, kepe youre hertes and myndes in Christ Iesu.

Furthermore brethren, whatsoeuer thinges are true, whatsoeuer thinges are honest, what soeuer thinges are iust, what so euer thinges are pure, what soeuer thinges pertayne to loue, whatsoeuer thinges are of honest reporte: yf there be eny vertuous thinge, yf there be eny laudable thinge, haue those same in yor mynde, which ye haue both lerned and receaued, and herde and sene in me: those thinges do, and the God of peace shal be with you. I reioyse greatly in ye LORDE, that now at the last ye are reuyued agayne to care for me, as ye cared for me afore, but ye lacked oportunyte. I speake not this because of necessite: for I haue lerned in what soeuer estate I am,1. Tim. 6. b therwith to be contēte I can be lowe, and I cā be hye. Euery where and in all thinges I am mete, both to be full, and to be hongrie: to haue plentye, and to suffre nede. I can do all thinges thorow Christ, which strēgtheth me. Notwithstondinge ye haue done well, that ye bare parte with me in my tribulacion.

But ye of Philippos knowe, that in the begynngnge of the Gospell whan I departed fro Macedonia, no congregacion bare parte with me concernynge geuynge and receauynge, but ye onely. For vnto Tessalonica ye sent once and afterwarde agayne vnto my necessite. Not that I seke giftes, but I seke the frute, that it be abūdaunt in yor rekenynge. For I haue all, and haue plentye. I was euen fylled whā I receaued of Epaphroditus, that which came from you, an odoure of swetenes, Rom. 12. a Heb. 1 . c a sacrifice accepted & pleasaunt vnto God. My God fulfyll all yor nede, acordinge to his riches in glory ī Christ Iesu.

Vnto God and oure father be prayse for euer and euer Amen.

Salute all ye sayntes in Christ Iesu. The brethrē that are with me, salute you. All the sayntes salute you, but specially they that are of the Emperours house. The grace of oure LORDE Iesu Christ be with you all, Amen.

Wrytten from Rome by Epaphroditus.

The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Colossians. The summe of this Epistle. Chap. I. He geueth thankes vnto God for their faith, loue, and hope: prayeth for their increase and sheweth how we are the kyngdome of God, optayned by Christ, which is the heade of the congregacion. Chap. II. What greate care Paul toke for all congregacions. He exhorteth them to be stedfast in Christ, to bewarre of false teachers and worldly wyszdome, and descrybeth the false prophetes. Chap. III. He putteth them in remembraunce of the spirituall resurrecciō, to laye asyde all maner of corrupte lyuynge, to be frutefull in all godlynesse and vertue, and sheweth all degrees their dutye. Chap. IIII. He exhorteth them to be feruent in prayer, to walke wysely vnto them that are not yet come to the true knowlege of Christ, and so saluteth them.

The first Chapter.

PAul an Apostle of Iesu Christ by the will of God, and brother Timotheus.

To ye sayntes which are at Colossa and brethren that beleue in Christ.

Grace be with you and peace from God oure father & frō the LORDE Iesus Christ.

〈…〉 We geue thankes vnto God and the father of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, prayenge allwayes for you (sence we herde of youre faith in Christ Iesu, and of youre loue to all sayntes) for ye hopes sake which is layed vp in stoare for you in heauen: of the which ye haue herde before by the worde of trueth in the Gospell, which is come vnto you, euē as it is in to all the worlde: and is frutefull, as it is in you, sence ye daye yt ye herde and knewe the grace of God in ye trueth, as ye learned of Col. 〈…〉 Epaphras oure deare felowe seruaunt, which is a faithfull mynister of Christ for you, which also declared vnto vs youre loue in the sprete.

〈…〉 For this cause we also, sence the daye yt we herde of it, ceasse not to praye for you, & desyre that ye mighte be fulfylled with the knowlege of his will, in all wyszdome and spirituall vnderstondinge, that ye mighte walke worthy off the LORDE, to please him in all thinges, 〈…〉 and to be frutefull in all good workes, and growe in the knowlege of God: & to be strengthed wt all power acordinge to the mighte of his glory, to all pacience and longsufferynge with ioyfulnes, and geue thankes vnto the father, which hath made vs mete for the enheritaunce of sayntes in lighte.

Which hath delyuered vs frō the power of darknesse, & translated vs in to the kyngdome of his deare sonne ( 〈…〉 in whom we haue redempcion thorow his bloude, namely, the forgeuenes of synnes.) 〈…〉 Which is the ymage of the inuisyble God, first begottē before all creatures. 〈…〉 For by him were all thinges created, that are in heauen and earth, thinges vysible and thinges inuysible, whether they be maiesties or lordshippes, ether rules or powers: All thinges are created by him and in him, and he is before all thinges, and in him all thinges haue their beynge.

〈…〉 And he is the heade of the body, namely, of the cōgregacion: 〈…〉 he is the begynnynge and first begotten from the deed, that in all thinges he mighte haue the preemynence. For it pleased the father, that in him shulde dwell all 〈…〉 fulnesse, and that by him all thinges shulde be 〈…〉 reconciled vnto himselfe, whether they be thinges vpon earth or in heauen, that thorow the bloude on his crosse he mighte make peace euen thorow his owne selfe. And you (which were in tymes past straungers and enemies, because youre myndes were set in euell workes) hath he now reconcyled in the body of his flesh thorow death, to make you holy, and vnblameable & with out faute in his awne sighte, yf ye contynue grounded and stablished in the faith, and be not moued awaye from ye hope of the Gospell, wherof ye haue herde: which is preached amonge all creatures yt are vnder heauen, wherof I Paul am made a mynister.

〈…〉 Now ioye I in my sufferynges, which I suffre for you, and fulfill that which is behynde of the passions of Christ in my flesh, for his bodyes sake, which is the congregacion, 〈◊〉 4. a wherof I am made a mynister, acordinge to ye Godly office of preachinge, which is geuen vnto me amonge you, that I shulde richely preach the worde of God, namely, 〈…〉 that mystery which hath bene hyd sence the worlde beganne, and sence the begynnynge of tymes: but now is 〈◊〉 11. c opened vnto his sayntes, to whom God wolde make knowne the glorious riches of this mistery amōge ye Heythen: which (riches) is Christ in you, euē he that is the hope of glory, whō we preach, and warne all men, and teach all men in all wyszdome, to make euery man parfecte in Christ Iesu: Wherin I also laboure, and stryue acordinge to the workynge of him which worketh mightely in me.

The II. Chapter.

I Wolde ye knewe what fightinge I haue for youre sakes, and for them of Laodicea, and for as many as haue not sene my personne in the flesh, that their hertes mighte be comforted and knytt together in loue, to all riches of full vnderstōdinge, 〈…〉 which is in the knowlege of the mystery of God the father and of Christ, 〈…〉 in whom are hyd a l the treasures of wyszdome and knowlege.

〈◊〉 . 3. a 〈◊〉 . 3. a This I saye, lest eny man shulde begyle you with entysinge wordes. 〈◊〉 . 3. a 〈◊〉 . 3. a For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I present with you in the sprete: ioyenge, and beholdinge youre order and the stedfastnes of youre faith in Christ. 〈…〉 As ye haue therfore receaued Christ Iesu the LORDE, euen so walke in him, and be roted & buylded in him, and be stedfast in faith, as ye haue learned: & be plenteous in the same in geuynge thankes.

〈…〉 Bewarre lest eny mā spoyle you thorow philosophy and disceatfull vanite after the tradicions of men, and after the ordinaūces of the worlde, and not after Christ. 〈◊〉 . 3. c For in him dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godheade bodely, and ye are complete in him, which is the heade of all rule and power: in whom also ye are circumcysed with Rom. 2. Phil. 3. a circumcision without handes, by puttynge of the synfull body of the flesh: (namely) with the circumcysion of Christ, Rom. 6. a in that ye are buried with him thorow baptyme: in whom ye are also rysen agayne thorow faith, that is wrought by the operacion of God, which raysed him vp from the deed.

Rom. 5. a Ephe. . a Col. 1. b And with him he quyckened you, whan ye were deed in synnes, and in the vncircumcision of youre flesh, and hath forgeuen vs all synnes, and put out the handwrytinge that was agaynst vs (cōtayned in the lawe wrytten) and that hath he taken out of the waye, and fastened it to the crosse: Gen. 3. c Luc. 11. c Ioh. 12. d And hath spoyled rule and power, and hath made a shewe of them openly, and triumphed ouer them in his awne persone.

Let no man therfore trouble youre consciences aboute meate or drynke, or for a pece of an holy daye, as the holy daye of ye newe Mone, or of the Sabbath dayes, Heb. 8. a 8. b. 10. a which are the shadowe of the thinges that were for to come: but the body selfe is in Christ. Let no man make you shote at a wronge mark, which after his owne chosynge walketh in humblenes and spiritualtye of angels, thinges which he neuer sawe, and is vayne, and puft vp in his owne fleshly mynde: and holdeth not himselfe to the heade, wherof the whole body by ioyntes and couples receaueth norishment, and is knyt together, and so groweth to the greatnes that commeth of God.

Wherfore yf ye be deed with Christ from the ordinaunces of the worlde, Gal. 4. a why are ye holden thē with soch tradicions, as though ye lyued after the worlde? As whan they saye: Touch not this, taist not that, handle not that. All these thinges do hurte vnto men, because of the abuse of them, which abuse commeth onely of the commaundementes and doctrynes of men:1. Tim. 4. f which thinges haue a shyne of wyszdome thorow chosen spiritualtie and humblenes, and in that they spare not the body; and do the flesh no worshipe vnto his nede.

The III. Chapter.

YF ye be rysen now with Christ, seke those thinges then which are aboue where Christ is, syttinge on the righte hande of God. Set youre mynde on the thinges which are aboue, not on ye thinge that are vpon earth. For ye are deed, * 〈◊〉 youre life is hyd with Christ in God. * 〈◊〉 whan Christ or life shal shewe himselfe, thē shal ye also appeare with him in glory.

Ephe. 5. a Mortifye therfore youre mēbres which are vpon earth, whordome, vnclennes, vnnaturall lust, euell concupiscēce, and couetousnes, which is a worshippynge of Idols: Gen 6.19 1. Cor. 10. a for which thinges sakes the wrath of God commeth vpon the children of vnbeleue: Ephe. 3. a in the which thinges ye walked some tyme, whan ye lyued in them.

Rom. 6. a Ephe. 4. c But now put all awaye frō you: wrath, fearcenesse, maliciousnes, cursed speakynge, fylthie wordes out of youre mouth. Lye not one to another. Rom. 13. b Put of ye olde mā with his workes, and put on ye newe, which is renued in knowlege after ye ymage of him that made him: Gal. 6. b where there is no Greke, Iewe, circumcision, vncircumcision, Barbarous, Sithian, bōde, fre: but Christ is all and in all.

Now therfore as the electe of God, holy and beloued, put on tender mercye, kyndnes, humblenes of mynde, mekenesse, longe sufferynge, forbearinge one another, and forgenynge one another, yf eny man haue a quarell agaynst another. Like as Christ hath forgeuen you, euen so do ye also. But aboue all thinges put on loue, which is the bonde of perfectnesse. And the peace of God rule in youre hertes, to the which (peace) ye are called also in one body: and se yt ye be thanfull.

Let ye worde of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wyszdome. Ephe. 5. b Teach and exhorte youre awne selues with psalmes and ymnes, and spirituall songes which haue fauoure with them, synginge in youre hertes to the LORDE. 1. Cor. 10. d And what soeuer ye do in worde or worke, do all in the name of the LORDE Iesu, Ephe. 5. b and geue thankes vnto God the father by him.

Ephe. 5. c 1. Pet. 3. a Ye wyues, submytte youre selues vnto youre huszbandes, as it is comly in the LORDE.

Ye huszbandes, loue youre wyues, and be not bytter vnto them.

Ephe. 6. a Ye children, obeye youre elders in all thinges, for that is well pleasynge vnto the LORDE.

Ye fathers, rate not yor children, lest they be of a desperate mynde.

phe. 6. a it. 2. b . Pet. 2. c Ye seruauntes, be obedient vnto youre bodely masters in all thinges, not with eye seruyce as men pleasers, but in synglenes of ert, fearinge God. What so euer ye do, do it •• rtely, euen as vnto the LORDE and not 〈…〉 . And be sure, that of the LORDE 〈…〉 the rewarde of ye enheritaun •• 〈…〉 LORDE Christ. But he that doth 〈◊〉 , shal receaue for the wronge that he hath done, 〈…〉 for there is no respecte of persons (with God.)

〈…〉 Ye masters, do vnto youre seruauntes that which is iust and equall, and knowe, yt ye also haue a master in heauen.

The IIII. Chapter.

COntynue in prayer, and watch in the same with thankesgeuynge, 〈…〉 and praye also together for vs, that God open vnto vs the dore of the worde, to speake the mystery of Christ (wherfore I am also in bō des) that I maye vtter ye same, as it becommeth me to speake. 〈…〉 Walke wysely towarde them that are without, and redeme ye tyme. Let youre speach be allwaye fauorable, seasoned with 〈…〉 salt, that ye maye knowe how to answere euery man.

Tichicus the deare brother and faithfull mynister & felowe seruaūt in ye LORDE, shal tell you what case I am in. Whom I haue sent vnto you for the same purpose, that he mighte knowe how ye do, & that he mighte comforte youre hertes, with one 〈…〉 Onesimus a faithfull and beloued brother, which is one of you: they shal shewe you of all thinges, which are adoynge here 〈…〉 Aristarchus my preson felowe saluteth you, and 〈…〉 Marcus Barnabasses sisters sonne, touchinge whom ye receaued commaundementes: Yf he come vnto you, receaue him, and Iesus, which is called Iustus, which are of the circumcision. These onely are my helpers in the kyngdome of God, which were to my consolacion.

〈…〉 Epaphras a seruaunt of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, & allwaye laboureth feruently for you in prayers, yt ye maye stonde perfecte and full, in all that is the wil of God. I beare him recorde, that he hath a feruent mynde for you, and for thē at Laodicea, and at Hierapolis. Deare Lucas the Phisician saluteth you, and so doth 〈…〉 Demas. Salute the brethrē, which are at Laodicea, and salute Nymphas, and the cōgregacion which is in his house. And whan the epistle is red of you, cause it to be red also in the cō gregaciō at Laodicea, & that ye likewyse reade the epistle of Laodicea. And saye to Archippus: Take hede to the office which thou hast receaued in the LORDE, that thou fulfyll it. My salutacion with the hnade of me Paul. Remembre my bōdes. 〈…〉 Grace be with you, Amen.

Sent from Rome by Tichicus and Onesimus.

The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Tessalonians. The summe of this Epistle. Chap. I. He thanketh God for them, that they are so stedfast in faith and good workes, and receaue the gospell with soch earnest. Chap. II. He putteth them in mynde of the godly conuersacion that he led amonge them when he preached the gospell vnto them, thanketh God that they receaue his worde so frutefully, and excuseth his absence. Chap. III. He sheweth how greatly he was reioysed, whā Timothy tolde him of their faith and loue. Chap. IIII. He exhorteth them to stedfastnesse, to kepe them selues from synne and vnclenly cōuersacion, to loue one another: rebuketh ydilnesse, and speaketh of the resurreccion. Chap. V. He enfourmeth them of the daye of dome and cōmynge of the LORDE, exhorteth them to watch, and to regarde soch as preach Gods worde amonge them.

The first Chapter.

PAVL and Siluanus and Timotheus.

Vnto the cōgregacion of the Tessalonyans, in God the father and in the LORDE Iesus Christ.

Grace be with you, and peace from God oure father and from the LORDE Iesus Christ.

〈…〉 We geue thankes vnto God allwaye for you all, makynge mēsion of you in or prayers without ceassynge, and call to remembraunce youre worke in the faith, and youre laboure in loue, & youre pacience in hope, 〈…〉 which is oure LORDE Iesus Christ before God oure father: Because we knowe (brethren, beloued of God) how that ye are electe: 〈…〉 for oure Gospell hath not bene with you in worde onely, but both in power and in the holy goost, and in moch certayntie, as ye knowe after what maner we were amonge you for youre sakes.

And ye became the folowers of vs and of the LORDE: and receaued the worde in moch affliccion with ioye of the holy goost: so that ye were an example to all that beleued in Macedonia and Achaia. For frō you was the worde of the LORDE noysed out, not onely in Macedonia & Achaia, but ī all quarters also is yor faith ī God spred abrode so that it nedeth not vs to speake eny thinge at all. For they them selues shewe of you, what maner of entrynge in we had vnto you, and how ye are turned vnto God from ymages, for to serue the lyuynge and true God, and to loke for his sonne Act. 1. b from heauē: whom he raysed vp from the deed, euen Iesus, which hath delyuered vs frō the Ioh. 8. c wrath to come.

The II. Chapter.

FOr ye youre selues (brethren) knowe of oure intraūce vnto you, how that it was not in vayne, but as we had suffred afore, & Act. 16. c were shamefully intreated at Philippos (as ye knowe) we were bolde in oure God, Act. 17. a to speake vnto you ye Gospel of God with moch stryuynge. For oure exhortacion was not to brynge you to erroure ner yet to vnclennes, nether was it with gyle: but as we are alowed of God, that the Gospell shulde be commytted vnto vs to preache, euen so we speake, Gal. 1. b not as though we wolde please mē, but God, which tryeth oure hertes.

For we haue not gone aboute with flateringe wordes (as ye knowe) ner wayted for oure owne profit ( Phil. 1. b God is recorde) nether soughte we prayse of men, nether of you ner of eny other, whan we mighte haue bene chargeable vnto you as the Apostles off Christ, but we were tender amonge you.

Like as a norsse cherisheth hir children, euen so had we hartely affeccion towarde you, and wolde with good wyl haue dealte vnto you, not onely the Gospell of God, but oure lyues also, because ye were deare vnto vs.

Ye remembre brethren oure laboure and trauayle. Act. 20. 2. Tess. . a For daye and nighte wroughte we (because we wolde not be chargeable vnto eny of you) and preached the Gospell of God amonge you. Ye are witnesses, and so is God, how holyly and iustly and vnblameable we behaued oure selues amōge you tha beleue: as ye knowe, how that as a 〈…〉 his children, euen so exhorte 〈…〉 and besoughte euery one 〈…〉 wolde walke worthely before God, 〈…〉 hath called you vnto his kyngdome & 〈…〉

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For this cause thanke we God without ceassynge, because that whā ye receaued of vs the worde of the preachinge of God, ye receaued it not as ye worde of men, but (euē as it is of a trueth) the worde of God, which worketh in you that beleue.

For ye brethren are become the folowers off Heb. 10. d the congregacions off God which in Iewry are in Christ Iesu, so that ye haue suffred euen like thinges of youre kynsmen, as they haue suffred of the Iewes. Which as they put the LORDE Iesus to death, and their awne prophetes, Mat. 23. d euen so haue they persecuted vs also, and please not God, and are cōtrary to all men, Act. 17. a. b forbyddinge vs to speake vnto the Heythen that they mighte be saued, to fulfill their synnes allwaye: for the wrath is come vpon them allready vnto ye vttemost.

But we (brethren) for as moch as we haue bene kepte from you for a season, as concernynge the bodely presence, but not in the hert, we haue haisted the more with greate desyre to se you personally. Therfore wolde we haue come vnto you, (I Paul) two tymes, Dan. 10. b but Sathan withstode vs. For who is oure hope, or ioye, or crowne of Phil. 2. b reioysinge? are not ye it in ye sighte of oure LORDE Iesus Christ at his commynge? Yes ye are oure prayse and ioye.

The III. Chapter.

WHerfore sence we coulde no longer forbeare, we thoughte it good to remayne at Act. 17. c Athens alone, & sent Timotheus oure brother and mynister of God, and oure helper in ye gospell of Christ, to stablysh you and to comforte you in youre faith, that noman shulde be moued in these troubles: (for ye youre selues knowe, that we are euen appoynted there vnto. And whan we were with you, we tolde you before, that we shulde suffre tribulacion, euen as it is come to passe, & as ye knowe.) For this cause seynge I coulde no longer forbeare, I sent, that I mighte haue knowlege of youre faith, lest happly the tempter had tempted you, and lest oure laboure had bene in vayne.

But now that Timotheus is come frō you vnto vs, and hath shewed vs of youre faith and loue, & how that ye haue allwaye good remembraunce of vs, desyringe to se vs 〈…〉 to se you: therfore brethren 〈…〉 in you in all oure 〈…〉 thorow youre faith. For 〈…〉 , yf ye stonde stedfast in ye ORDE. For what thankes can we recompēce to God agayne for you, because of this ioye that we haue concernynge you before oure God? We praye exceadingly daye and nighte, that we mighte se you presently, and fulfill that which is lackynge in yor faith.

God himselfe or father & or LORDE Iesus Christ gyde oure iourney vnto you. But the LORDE increace you, & make you flowe ouer in loue one towarde another, and towarde all men (euen as we do towarde you) that yor hertes maye be stable and vnblameable in holynes before God oure father, at the commynge of oure LORDE Iesus Christ with all his sayntes.

The IIII. Chapter.

FVrthermore we beseke you brethren and exhorte you in the LORDE Iesus, that ye increace more and more, euen as ye haue receaued of vs how ye oughte to walke and to please God. For ye knowe what commaundementes we ga ue you by oure LORDE Iesus Christ. For this is the 〈…〉 will of God, euen youre sanctifienge, that ye shulde absteyne from whordome, 〈1 paragraph〉 yt euery one of you shulde knowe how to kepe his vessell in holynes and honoure, & not in the lust of concupiscence, 〈…〉 as the Heythen which knowe not God. And that no man go to farre, ner defraude his brother in bargayninge. For the LORDE is the auenger of all soch thinges, as we haue sayde & testified vnto you afore tyme. For God hath not called vs to vnclennesse, but vnto holynes. 〈…〉 He therfore that despyseth, despyseth not man, but God, 〈…〉 which hath geuen his holy sprete in to you.

But as touchinge brotherly loue, ye nede not that I wryte vnto you, 〈…〉 for ye youre selues are taught of God to loue one another: yee and that thinge ye do vnto all the brethrē, which are thorow out all Macedonia. But we beseke you brethren that ye increace yet more and more, and that ye study to be quyete, and to medle with youre awne busynesse, 〈…〉 and to worke with youre awne hādes, as we commaunded you, that ye maye walke honestly towarde thē that are without, and that nothinge be lackynge vnto you.

We wolde not brethren that ye shulde be ignoraunt concernynge them which are fallen a slepe, that ye sorowe not as other do which haue no hope. For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne, euen so thē also which slepe by Iesus, shal God brynge with him. For this we saye vnto you in the worde of the LORDE, 〈…〉 that we which lyue and are remaynynge in the cōmyng of the LORDE, shal not come yer they which slepe. 〈…〉 For the LORDE himselfe shal come downe frō heauen with a shoute and voyce of ye Archangell and with the trompe of God, 〈…〉 and the deed in Christ shal aryse first: then shal we which lyue and remayne, be caught vp wt them also in the cloudes, to mete the LORDE in the ayre, and so shal we euer be with the LORDE. Wherfore comforte youre selues one another with these wordes.

The V. Chapter.

BVt of ye tymes and seasons (brethrē) it is no nede to wryte vnto you. For ye youreselues knowe perfectly, that 〈…〉 the daye of the LORDE shal come euen as a thefe in the nighte. For whan they shal saye Tush, It is peace, there is no daunger, 〈…〉 then shall soden destruccion come vpō thē, euen as the payne of a woman trauaylinge with childe, and they shal not escape. But ye brethren are not in darknes, that that daye shulde come on you as a thefe. Ye are alltogether children of lighte, and children of the daye. We are not of the night, nether of darknesse.

〈…〉 Therfore let vs not slepe as do other, but let vs watch, and be sober. For they that slepe, slepe in the nighte: and they that be dronken, are dronken in the nighte. But let vs which are of the daye, be sober, armed wt the brestplate of faith and loue, and with ye helmet of hope to saluacion.

For God hath not appoynted vs vnto wrath, but to optayne saluacion by ye meanes of oure LORDE Iesu Christ which dyed for vs: that whether we wake or slepe, we shulde lyue together with him. Wherfore comforte youre selues together, and edifye one another, euen as ye do.

We beseke you brethren, 〈…〉 that ye knowe them which laboure amonge you, and haue the ouersighte of you in the LORDE, and geue you exhortacion, that ye haue thē the more in loue for their workes sake, and be at peace with them. We desyre you brethrē, warne them that are vnruly, cōforte the feble mynded, forbeare the weake, be pacient towarde all men.* So that none recompence euell for euell vnto eny man: but euer folowe that which is good, both amōge youre selues and to all men.

Reioyse alwaye, praye contynually, 〈…〉 in all thinges be thankfull: for this is the wyll of God in Christ Iesu towarde you. 〈…〉 Quēch not ye sprete: despyse not propheciēges: proue all thīges, & kepe yt which is good. Abstayne frō all suspicious thinges. The very God f peace sanctifye you thorow out. And I raye God, that youre whole sprete, soule & ody be kepte blameles vnto ye cōmynge of ure LORDE Iesus Christ. 1. Cor. 1. a and 10. b Faithfull is he which hath called you, which wil also do it. Brethren, praye for vs. Grete all the brethrē with an holy kysse. I charge you by ye LORDE, that this epistle be red vnto all ye holy brethren.2. Tess. . b The grace of oure LORDE Iesus Christ be with you, Amen.

The first Epistle to the Tessalonians, sent from Athens.

The seconde Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Tessalonians. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. He thanketh God for their faith and loue, and prayeth for the increase of the same. Chap. II. He sheweth them that the daye of the LORDE shal not come, till the departinge frō the faith come first: and therfore he exhorteth them not to be disceaued, but to stonde stedfast in the thinges that h hath taught them. Chap. III. He desyreth them to praye for him that the gospell maye prospere, and geueth thē warnynge to reproue the ydle, and yf they wil not laboure with their handes, that they shal not eate.
The first Chapter.

PAVL and Siluanus and Timotheus.

To the congregacion of ye Tessaloniās in God oure father and in the LORDE Iesus Christ.

Grace be with you, and peace from God oure father, and from the LORDE Iesus Christ.

We are bounde to thanke God allwayes for you brethren, as it is mete: because that youre faith groweth exceadingly, and the loue of euery one of you increaseth towarde another amōge youre selues, so that we oure selues make oure boast of you (in the congregacions of God) of youre paciēce and faith in all youre persecucions and troubles that ye suffre, which is a token of the righteous iudgment of God, that ye are counted worthy of the kyngdome of God, for the which ye also suffre.

For it is a righteous thinge with God, to recōpence tribulacion vnto thē yt trouble you: but vnto you which are troubled, rest with vs, Mat 24. c and 25. c 2. Pet. 3. a whā the LORDE Iesus shal shewe himselfe from heauen, with the angels of his power, and with flammynge Mat 24. c and 25. c 2. Pet. 3. a fyre, to geue vengeaūce vnto them that knowe not God, Rom. 2. a and to them that obeye not the Gospell of oure LORDE Iesus Christ. Sap. 5. Which shalbe punyshed with euerlastinge damnacion, Esa. 2. b from ye presence of the LORDE, and from the glory of his power, whan he shal come to be glorified in his sayntes, and to be come maruelous in all them that beleue: because ye haue beleued oure testimony vnto you of the same daye. * Wherfore we praye allwayes for you, that oure God make you worthy of ye callynge, and fulfill all delectacion of goodnes, and the worke of faith in power, that ye name of oure LORDE Iesus Christ maye be praysed in you, and ye in him, acordinge to the grace of oure God, and of the LORDE Iesus Christ.

The II. Chapter.

WE beseke you brethren by the commynge of or LORDE Iesus Christ, and in that we shal assemble vnto him, that ye be not sodenly moued frō youre mynde, and be not troubled, nether by sprete, nether by wordes, ner yet by letter, which shulde seme to be sent from vs, as though ye daye of Christ were at hande. Let noman disceaue you by eny meanes. For the LORDE commeth not, excepte the Dan. 9. e 1. Tim. 4. a departynge come first, and that that Man of synne be opened, euen the sonne of perdicion, which is an aduersary, and is exalted aboue all yt is called God or Gods seruyce, so that he sytteth as God in the 1. Cor. 3. b temple of God, Dan. 11. e and boasteth himselfe to be God.

Remembre ye not, that whan I was yet with you, I tolde you these thinges? And now ye knowe what witholdeth it, euē that it mighte be vttered at his tyme. (1. Ioh. 2. c For the mystery of the iniquyte worketh allready, tyll he which now onely letteth, be takē out of the waye.) And then shal that wicked be vttered, Iob 15. d Esa. 11. a Dan. 8. d whom the LORDE shal cōsume with ye sprete of his mouth, & shal destroye with the appearaunce of his commynge: euen him, whose commynge is after the workynge of Sathan Deut. 13. a with all lyenge power, and signes and wonders, Mat. 24. b and with all deceauablenes of vnrighteousnes amonge them that perishe, because they receaued not the loue of ye trueth, that they might haue bene saued Zach. 5 a Rom. 1 d Therfore shal God sende them strō ge de •• sion, that they shulde beleue lyes, yt all they might be dāned, which beleued not the trueth, but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes.

But we are bounde to geue thankes allwaye vnto God for you, brethren be loued of the LORDE, because that God hath from the begynnynge chosen you to saluacion in the sanctifienge of the sprete and in beleuynge of the trueth, whervnto he hath called you by oure Gospell, to optayne the glory of oure LORDE Iesus Christ.

Therfore brethren stonde fast, and kepe the ordinaunces which ye haue lerned, whether it were by oure preachinge or by epistle. But oure LORDE Iesus Christ himselfe, and God oure father, which hath loued vs and geuen vs euerlastinge consolacion, and a good hope thorow grace, comforte youre hertes, and stablysh you in all doctryne & good doynge.

The III. Chapter.

FVrthermore brethren 〈…〉 praye for vs, that the worde of God maye haue fre passage and be glorified as it is with you, and that we maye be delyuered from vnreasonable and euell mē. 〈…〉 For faith is not euery mās. But the LORDE is faithfull, which shal stablyshe you and kepe you from euell. We haue confidence in the LORDE to you warde, that ye both do and wyll do that which we cōmaunde you. The LORDE gyde youre hertes vnto the loue of God and pacience of Christ.

〈…〉 But we requyre you brethren, in the name of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, that ye withdrawe youre selues from euery brother that walketh inordinatly, and not after the institucion which he receaued of vs. For ye yor selues knowe, how ye oughte to folowe vs: for we behaued not oure selues inordinatly amonge you, nether toke we bred of eny man for naughte 〈…〉 but wrought wt laboure and trauayle night and daye, lest we shulde be chargeable to eny of you. Not but that we had auctorite, but to geue oure selues for an ensample vnto you to folowe vs. And whan we were wt you, this we warned you of, that yf there were eny which wolde not worke, ye same shulde not eate. For we heare saye, that there are some which walke amonge you inordinatly, and worke not at all, but are busy bodies. 〈…〉 But them that are soche, we commaunde and exhorte by oure LORDE Iesus Christ, that they worke with quyetnes, and eate their awne bred.

Neuertheles brethren, 〈…〉 be not ye weery of well doynge. 〈…〉 But yf eny man obey not oure sayenges, sende vs worde of him by a letter, and haue nothinge to do with him, yt he maye be ashamed. Yet counte him not as an enemye, but warne him as a brother. The very LORDE of peace geue you peace allwayes by all meanes. The LORDE be with you all. The salutacion of me Paul with myne awne hande: This is the token in all epistles, So I wryte, The grace of oure LORDE Iesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Sent from Athens.

The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to Timothy. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. He exhorteth Timothy to wayte vpō his office: namely, to se that nothīge be taughte but Gods worde &c. He sheweth also wherfore the lawe is good, and telleth these swete and glad tidinges, that Christ Iesus came in to the worlde to saue synners, example of himselfe. Chap. II. He exhorteth to praye for all men. He will not haue wemen to be ouer costly arayed, ner to teach in the congregacion, but to be in sylence, and obeye their huszbandes. Chap. III. What maner of man a byszhpppe or prest ought to be, and what condicions his wife and children shulde haue. The properties also requyred in a deacon or mynister, and in his wife. Chap. IIII. He prophecieth of the latter dayes, and exhorteth Timothy to the diligēt readynge of the holy scripture. Chap. V. He teacheth him how he shal behaue himselfe in rebukynge all degrees An ordre concernynge wyddowes. Chap. VI. The dutye of seruauntes towarde their masters. Agaynst soch as are not satisfied with the worde of God, Agaynst cuvetousnes, A good lesson for riche men.

The first Chapter.

PAul an Apostle of Iesus Christ acordinge to the Act. 9. b commaundement of God oure Sauioure, and of the LORDE Iesus Christ,1. Tess. 1. a which is oure hope.

Vnto Timothy my naturall sonne in the faith.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God oure father, and oure LORDE Iesus Christ.

As I besoughte ye to abyde still at Ephesus ( Act. 19.20. whan I departed in to Macedonia) euē so do, that thou commaunde some, that they teach none other wyse, 2. Tim 2. c Tit. 3. b nether geue hede to fables and genealogies, which are endlesse, and brede doutes more then godly edifyenge, which is by faith. Rom. 13. b Gal. 6. a For ye chefe summe of the commaundement is loue of a pure hert, and of a good cōscience, and of faith vnfayned. From the which some haue erred, & haue turned vnto vayne iangelynge, wyllinge to be doctours of the scripture, and vnderstonde not what they speake, nether wherof they affirme.

Rom. 7. b But we knowe that the lawe is good, yf a man vse it laufully, vnderstōdinge this, Gal. 5. c that the lawe is not geuen vnto the righteous, but to the vnrighteous & dishobedient, to the vngodly & to synners, to the vnholy & vncleane, to murthurers of fathers and murthurers of mothers, to manslayers, to whoremongers, Rom. 1. d to thē that defyle them selues with mankynde, to menstealers, to lyars, to periured, & so forth yf there be eny other thinge yt is cōtrary to ye wholsome doctryne, acordinge to ye Gospell of ye glory of the blessed God, which (Gospell) is cōmytted vnto me.

And I thanke Christ Iesus or LORDE, which hath made me strōge, for he counted me faithfull, & put me in office, whā before I was a blasphemer, Act 9. a Gal. 1. b & a persecuter, & a tyraunt: but I optayned mercy, because I dyd it ignorauntly in vnbeleue. Neuertheles the grace of or LORDE was more abūdaunt thorow ye faith & loue which is in Christ Iesu.

For this is a true sayenge, and by all meanes worthy to be receaued, Mat. 9. b Ioh. . c that Christ Iesus came in to ye worlde to saue synners, of whom I am chefe. Notwithstondynge for this cause optayned I mercy, that Iesus Christ mighte pryncipally shewe in me all longe pacience, to the ensample of them which shulde beleue in him vnto eternall life. So then vnto God kynge euerlastinge, immortall and Col. 1. b invisible, and wyse onely, be honoure and prayse for euer and euer Amen.

This commaundement commytte I vnto the (my sonne Timotheus) acordinge to ye prophecies which in tyme past were prophecied of the, that thou in them shuldest fighte a good fighte, hauynge faith & good conscience, which some haue put awaye frō them, and as concernynge faith haue made shypwrake: of whose nombre is 2. Tim 2. b 2. Tim 4. b Hymeneos and 2. Tim 2. b 2. Tim 4. b Alexander, 1. Cor. 5. a whom I haue delyuered vnto Sathan, that they might be taught, nomore to blaspheme.

The II. Chapter.

I Exhorte therfore, yt aboue all thinges, prayers, supplicacions, intercessions and geuynge of thākes be had for all men Iere. 29 b Baruc. 1. c for kynges, and for all that are in auctorite, that we maye lyue a quyete & peaceable life in all godlynes and honestie. For that is good and accepted in ye sighte of God oure Sauioure, which wil haue all men saued, and to come vnto the knowlege of ye trueth. For there is one God, and Heb. 9. c one mediatour betwene God and men, (namely) the man Christ Iesus, which gaue him selfe a raunsome for all men, that at his tyme it shulde be preached, wherevnto Rom 1. a 2. Tim. 1. b I am ordeyned a preacher & an Apostle (I tell ye trueth in Christ and lye not) a teacher of the Heythē in faith and in the trueth.

I wil therfore that men praye Ioh. 4. c in all places, liftinge vp pure hādes without wrath or dowtynge. Tit. 2. a 1 Pet. 3. a Likewyse also the wemen, that they araye them selues in comly apparell with shamfastnes and discrete behaueor, not with broyded heer, or golde, or perles, or costly araye: but with soch as it becommeth wemē that professe godlynes thorow good workes. 1. Co. 14. e Let the woman lerne in sylēce with all subieccion. I suffre not a womā to teach Gen. 3. c Ephe. 5. c ner to haue auctorite ouer the man, but for to be in sylence. For Adam was first formed, and thē Eue: Adam also was not disceaued, but the woman was disceaued, and hath brought in the trāsgression. Notwitstondynge thorow bearynge of children she shalbe saued, yf she contynue in faith and in loue & in the sanctifyenge with discrecion.

The III. Chapter.

THis is a true sayēge: Yf a mā covet ye office of a Biszhoppe, he desyreth a good worke. But a Biszhoppe must be blamelesse, 〈…〉 the huszbāde of one wife, sober, discrete, manerly, harberous, 〈1 paragraph〉 apte to teach: Not geuen to moch wyne, no fighter, not geuen to filthy lucre: but gentle, abhorrynge stryfe, abhorrynge couetousnes: & one that ruleth his awne house honestly, hauynge obedient children with all honestye. (But yf a man can not rule his owne house, how shal he care for the congregacion of God?) He maye not be a yōge scolar, left he be puft vp, and fall in to the iudgment of ye euell speaker. He must also haue a good reporte of them which are without, lest he fall in to the rebuke and snare of the euell speaker.

Likewyse must the 〈…〉 mynisters be honest, not double tonged, not geuen to moch wyne, nether vnto fylthie lucre, but hauynge the mystery of faith in pure conscience. And let them first be proued, and then let them mynister, yf they be blamelesse.

Euen so must their wyues be honest, not euell speakers, but sober and faithfull in all thinges. Let the mynisters be, euery one the huszbāde of one wyfe, and soch as rule their children well, and their owne housholdes. 〈…〉 For they that mynister well, get them selues a good degree and greate libertye in the faith which is in Christ Iesu.

These thinges wryte I vnto the, trustinge shortly to come vnto the: but yf I tary lōge, that then thou mayest yet haue knowlege, how thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe in Gods house, which is the congregacion of the lyuynge God, the piler and grounde of trueth: and without naye, greate is that mystery of godlynes. 〈…〉 God was shewed in the flesh: was iustified in the sprete: 〈…〉 was sene of angels: was preached vnto the Heythen: was beleued on in the worlde: 〈…〉 was receaued vp in glory.

The IIII. Chapter.

THe sprete speaketh euydently, 〈…〉 that in ye latter tymes some shal 〈1 paragraph〉 departe from the faith, and shal geue hede vnto spretes of erroure, and deuelish doctrynes, of them which speake false thorow ypocrysie, and haue their cōscience marked with an whote yron, forbyddinge to mary, and cōmaundynge to abstayne frō the meates, which God hath created to be receaued wt geuynge thankes of them which beleue and knowe the trueth. 〈…〉 For euery creature off God is good, and nothinge to be refused, yt is receaued with thankesgeuynge: for it is sanctifyed by the worde of God and prayer. Yf thou shalt put the brethren in remembraunce of these thinges, thou shalt be a good mynister of Iesu Christ, 〈…〉 which hast bene norished vp in the wordes of faith and of good doctryne, which thou hast folowed hither to.

〈…〉 As for vngoostly and olde wyuesh fables, cast them awaye, but exercyse thy selfe vnto godlynes. For bodely exercyse profyteth litle, but godlynes is profytable vnto all thinges, as a thinge which hath promyses of the life that is now, and of the life for to come. This is a sure sayenge, & of all partes worthy to be receaued. For therfore we laboure and suffre rebuke, because we hope in the lyuynge God, which is the Sauioure of all men, but specially of those that beleue. Soch thinges commaunde thou and teach. 〈…〉 Let no man despyse ye youth, 〈…〉 but be thou vnto them that beleue, an ensample, in worde, in cōuersacion, in loue, in ye sprete, in faith, in purenesse.

Geue attendaunce to readynge, to exhortacion, to doctryne, vntyll I come. Be not necligent in the gifte that is geuen the thorow prophecye, 〈…〉 with layēge on of the handes of the Elders. These thinges exercyse, and geue thy selfe vnto them, that thine increace maye be manifest vnto euery man. Take hede vnto thy selfe, and to learnynge, cōtynue in these thinges. For yf thou so do, thou shalt saue thy selfe, and them that hearethe.

The V. Chapter.

EEbuke not an Elder, but exhorte him as a father: and the yōger men as brethren: the elder wemen as mothers: the yonger as sisters with all purenes. Honor wedowes, which are true wedowes. Yf eny wedowe haue children or neves, let them lerne first to rule their awne houses godly, and to recompence their elders. For yt is good & acceptable before God. 〈…〉 But she that is a right wedowe, & desolate, putteth hir trust in God, & cōtynueth in prayer and supplicacion nighte and daye. But she that lyueth in pleasures, is deed, euen yet a lyne. And these thinges commaunde, that they maye be without blame. 〈…〉 But yf there be eny man that prouydeth not for his awne, and specially for them of his houszholde, the same hath denyed the faith, and 1. Pet. 2. d is worse then an infydele.

Let no wedowe be chosen vnder thre score yeare olde, and soch one as was ye wife of one man, and well reported of in good workes, yf she haue brought vp children well, yf she haue bene 1. Pet. 4. b harberous, yf she haue wasshed the sayntes fete, yf she haue mynistred vnto thē which were in aduersite, yf she were continually geuen to all maner of good workes. But ye yonger wedowes refuse. For whan they haue begonne to waxe wanton agaynst Christ, then wil they mary, hauynge their damnacion, because they haue brokē ye first faith. Besydes this they are ydell, and lerne to runne aboute frō house to house. Tit. 2. a Not onely are they ydell, but also tryflinge & busy bodies, speakynge thinges which are not comly.

1. Cor. 7. a I wil therfore that the yonger wemen mary, beare children, gyde the house, to geue ye aduersary no occasion to speake euell. For some are turned back allready after Sathā. Yf eny man or woman that beleueth haue wedowes, let them make prouysion for thē, and let not the congregacion be charged: that they which are righte wedowes, maye haue ynough.

The Elders that rule well, are worthy of double honoure, most specially they which laboure in the worde & in teachinge. For ye scripture sayeth: Deut. 25. a 1. Cor. 9. b Thou shalt not mosell the mouth of ye oxe yt treadeth out ye corne. And: Mat 10. a The labourer is worthy of his rewarde.

Deut. 19 c Agaynst an Elder receaue none accusacion, but vnder two or thre witnesses. Thē that synne, rebuke in the presence of all, that other also maye feare.

I testifye before God and the LORDE Iesus Christ, and ye electe angels, that thou obserue these thinges without haistie iudgment, and do nothinge parcially. Laye hondes sodenly on no mā, nether be partaker of other mēs synnes. Kepe ye selfe pure. Eccli. 31. d Drynke no lenger water, but vse a litle wyne for ye stomackes sake, and because thou art oft tymes sicke. Some mēs synnes are opē, so that they maye be iudged afore hande: but some mens (synnes) shal be manifest herafter. Likewyse also good workes are manifest afore hāde: and they that are other wyse can not be hyd.

The VI. Chapter.

LEt as many seruauntes as are vnder the yocke, counte their m sters worthy of all honoure, that the name of God and his doctrine be not euell spoken of. Se that they which haue beleuynge masters, despyse them not because they are brethrē, but rather do seruyce, for so moch as they are beleuynge, and beloued, and partakers of the benefite.

These thinges teach and exhorte. Yf eny mā teach otherwyse, and agreeth not vnto the wholsome wordes of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, and to the doctryne of godlynes, he is puft vp, and knoweth nothinge, but waysteth his brayne aboute questions and stryuynges of wordes: Tit. 3. b wherof sprynge envye, stryfe, raylinges, euell surmysinges, vayne disputaciōs of soch men as haue corrupte myndes, 2. Tess. 2. b and are robbed of the trueth, which thynke that godlynes is lucre: From soch separate thy selfe. Howbeit it is greate avaūtage, who so is godly, Pro. 15. b Heb. 13. a and holdeth him content with that he hath. Iob. 1. c For we broughte nothinge in to the worlde, therfore is it a playne case yt we can cary nothinge out. Eccli. 29. d Whan we haue fode and rayment, let vs therwith be content. Pro. 23. a Mat. 13 c For they that wylbe riche, fall in to the tēptacion and snare, and in to many foliszhe & noysome lustes, which drowne men in destruccion and damnacion. For Couetousnes is the rote of all euell, which whyle some lusted after, they erred from the faith, and tangled them selues with many sorowes.

2. Tim. 2. c But thou man of God, flye soche thinges: folowe righteousnes, godlynes, faith, loue, pacience, mekenes: fighte a good fighte of faith: laye honde on eternall life, where vnto thou art called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I geue the charge before God, 1. Reg. 2. b Act. 17. e which quyckeneth all thinges, & before Iesu Christ, which vnder Pontius Pilate witnessed a good witnessynge, that thou kepe the commaundement, without spot, vnreproueable, vntyll the appearynge of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which appearynge (at his tyme) he shal shewe that is blessed, and mightie onely, Apo. 17. c and 19. c the kynge of all kynges, and LORDE of all lordes: which onely hath immortalite, and dwelleth in a lighte, that no man can attayne: Ioh. 1. b 1. Ioh. 4. b whom no man hath sene, nether can se. Vnto whom be honoure and empyre euerlastinge, Amen.

Charge thē which are riche in this worlde, that they be not proude, ner trust in the vncertayne riches, but in the lyuynge God (which geueth vs abundauntly all thinges to 〈◊〉 them:) That they do good: that they be rich in good workes: that they geue and distribute with a good wyll: Mat. . e gatherynge vp treasure for them selues, a good foundacion, agaynst ye tyme to come, that they maye laye honde on eternall life.

O Timothy, kepe that which is committed vnto the, and avoyde vngoostly vayne wordes, and opposicions of science falsly so called, which whyle some professed, they haue erred as concernynge the faith. Grace be with the, Amen.

Wrytten from Laodicea, which is the chefest cite of Phrigia Pacaciana.

The seconde Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to Timothy. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. Paul exhorteth Timothy to stedfastnesse and pacience in persecucion, and to continue in the doctryne that he had taught him. A commendacion of Onesiphorus. Chap. II. Like as in the first chapter, so here he exhorteth him to be constant in trouble, to suffre manly, and to byde fast in the wholsome doctrine of oure LORDE Iesus Christ. Chap. III. He prophecieth of the parelous tymes, setteth out ypocrites in their culours, telleth vs what they be within, for all their fayre faces outwardly. Persecucion for the gospell. Chap. IIII. He exhorteth Timothy to be feruē in the worde, and to suffre aduersite: maketh mension of his awne death, and byddeth Timothy come vnto him.
The first Chapter.

PAul an Apostle of Iesus Christ, by the wyll of God, to preach the promes of ye life which is in Christ Iesu.

To my deare sonne Timotheus.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father and from Christ Iesu oure LORDE.

I thanke God, 〈…〉 whome I serue fro my fore elders in a pure conscience, that without ceassynge I make mencion of the in my prayers night and daye: and longe to se the (whan I remembre thy teares) so that I am fylled with ioye, whan I call to remembraunce the vnfayned faith that is in the, which dwelt first in thy graundemother Lois, and in thy mother Eunica: And am assured, that it dwelleth in ye also. Wherfore I warne the, that thou stere vp ye gifte of God which is in the by puttynge on of my handes. 〈…〉 For God hath not geuen vs the sprete of feare, but of power, and of loue, and of right vnderstondynge.

〈…〉 Be not thou aszhamed therfore of ye testimony of or LORDE, nether of me, 〈…〉 which am his presoner: but suffre thou aduersite also wt the Gospell, acordinge to the power of God 〈…〉 which hath saued vs, and called vs with an holy callynge: not acordinge to oure dedes, but acordinge to his owne purpose and grace, which was geuen vs in Christ Iesu before the tyme of the worlde, but is now declared openly by the appearynge of oure Sauioure Iesu Christ. 〈◊〉 . 15. f 〈◊〉 . 1. c Which hath taken awaye ye power of death, and hath brought life and immortalite vnto lighte, thorow the Gospell: 〈◊〉 . 1. a 〈…〉 . a whervnto I am appoynted a preacher and an Apostell, and a teacher of the Heythen: for the which cause I also suffre these thinges, neuertheles I am not ashamed. For I knowe whom I haue beleued, and am sure that he is able to kepe that which I haue commytted vnto his kepynge agaynst that daye.

〈…〉 Holde the after ye ensample of the wholsome wordes, which thou heardest of me, concernynge faith and loue in Christ Iesu. This hye charge kepe thou thorow the holy goost, which dwelleth in vs. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia, be turned fro me, of which sorte are Phigelus and Hermogenes. The LORDE geue mercy vnto the house of 〈…〉 Onesiphorus: for he oft refreszhed me, and was not aszhamed of my cheyne: but whan he was at Rome 〈◊〉 13. c he soughte me out very diligently, and founde me. The LORDE graunte vnto him, that he maye fynde mercy with the LORDE in that daye. And how moch he mynistred vnto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

The II. Chapter.

THou therfore my sonne, be stronge thorow the grace which is in Christ Iesu. And what thinges thou hast herde of me by many witnesses, 〈◊〉 . 1. b the same commytte thou vnto faithfull men, which are apte to teach other. Thou therfore suffre affliccion as a good soudyer off Iesu Christ. No mā that warreth, tangleth himselfe with wordly busynesses, & that because he wolde please him, which hath chosen him to be a soudyer. And though a man stryue for a mastrye, yet is he not crowned, excepte he stryue laufully. 〈◊〉 . 9. b The huszbandman that laboureth, must first enioye the frutes. Consydre what I saye. The LORDE shal geue the vnderstondynge in all thinges.

Remembre that Iesus Christ, beynge Rom. 1 of the sede of Dauid, rose agayne frō the deed, acordynge to my Gospell, wherein I suffre as an euell doer euen vnto bandes: but the worde of God is not bounde. Act. 20. c Ephe. 3. a Col. 1. c Therfore suffre I all for the electes sakes, that they also mighte optayne the saluacion in Christ Iesu with eternall glory.

This is a true sayenge: Rom. 6. Rom. 8. Luc. 12. a Yf we be deed wt him, we shal lyue with him also: Rom. 6. Rom. 8. Luc. 12. a Yf we be pacient, we shal also raigne with him: Rom. 6. Rom. 8. Luc. 12. a Yf we denye him, he also shal denye vs: Nu. 23. Rom. .Yf we beleue not, yet abydeth he faithfull, he can not denye himselfe. Of these thinges put thou them in remēbraunce, and testifye before the LORDE, that they stryue not aboute wordes, which is to no profit, but to peruerte the hearers.

Study to shewe thy selfe vnto God a laudable workman, that nedeth not to be ashamed, deuydynge the worde of trueth iustly. 1. Tim. 1 4. a. 6. a As for vngoostly and vayne talkynges, eschue them: for they helpe moch to vngodlynes, and their worde fretteth as doth a canker: Of whose nombre is 1. Tim. 1 Hymeneos & Philetus, which as concernynge the trueth haue erred, sayenge, that the resurreccion is past allready, and haue destroyed the faith of dyuerse personnes.

But ye sure grounde of God stondeth fast, and hath this seale: Ioh. 10. The LORDE knoweth them that are his, and let euery mā that calleth vpon the name of Christ, departe from iniquyte. Notwithstondynge Rom. in a greate house are not onely vessels of golde and of syluer, but also of wod and of earth: some for honoure, and some to dishonoure. But yf a man pourge himselfe from soch felowes, he shalbe a vessell sanctified vnto honoure, mete for the LORDE, and prepared vnto all good workes. 1. Tim. 6 Fle thou the lustes of youth but folowe righteousnes, faith, loue, peace with all them that call vpon the LORD with pure hert. 〈…〉 As for folish questions an soch as teach not, put them frō the: for tho knowest that they do but gēder stryfe. Th seruaunt of the LORDE ought not to stryue, but to be gentle vnto euery man: apte to teach, one that can forbeare the euell, one yt can 〈…〉 with mekenesse enfourme hem yt 〈◊〉 yf God at eny tyme wyl geue 〈…〉 for to knowe the trueth 〈…〉 agayne from the snare of 〈…〉 are holden in preson of him 〈…〉

The III. Chapter.

. Tim. 4. a . Pet. 3. a ud. 1. c BVT this shalt thou knowe, that in the last dayes shal come parelous tymes. For there shalbe mē which shal holde of thē selues, couetous, boasters, proude, cursed speakers, dishobedient to their elders, vnthankfull, vngoostly, vnkynde, truce breakers, false accusers, ryatours, fearce, despysers of them which are good, traytours, heady, hye mynded, gredy vpon voluptuousnes more then the louers of God, hauynge a shyne off godly lyuynge, but denyenge the power therof. And soch avoyde. it. 1. c Of this sorte are they which rūne frō house to house, & brynge in to bondage wemē ladē wt synne: which (wemen) are led with dyuerse lustes, euer lernynge, and are neuer able to come vnto the knowlege of the trueth.

xod. 7. b But like as Iamnes and Iābres withstode Moses, euen so do these also resist the trueth: mē they are of corrupte myndes, and lewde as cōcernynge ye faith: but they shal preuayle no longer. For their folishnes shal be manifest vnto all men, as theirs was.

But thou hast sene the experience of my doctryne, my faszhion of lyuynge, my purpose, my faith, my longsufferynge, my loue, my pacience, my persecucions, my affliccions, which happened vnto me Act. 13. a •• d 14. a Cor. 1. b at Antioche, at Iconium, at Lystra, which persecucions I suffred paciently, and from thē all the LORDE delyuered me. Eccli. 2. a al. 33. c Yee and all they that wil lyue godly in Christ Iesu, must suffre persecucion. But the euell men and disceauers shal waxe worse and worse, disceauynge and beynge disceaued.

Tim. 1. c But contynue thou in the thinges that thou hast lerned, which also were cōmytted vnto the, seynge thou knowest of whō thou hast learned them, And for so moch as thou hast knowne holy scripture of a childe, the same is able to make ye wyse vnto saluacion thorow the faith in Christ Iesu. Pet. 1. d For all scripture geuē by inspiracion of God, is profitable to teach, to improue, to amende, and to instructe in righteousnes, that a man off God maye be perfecte, and prepared vnto all good workes.

The IIII. Chapter.

I Testifye therfore before God & before the LORDE Iesu Christ, which shal come to iudge the lyuynge and he deed, at is appearynge in his kyngdo •• 〈…〉 each hou the worde, be feruent, be it 〈…〉 out of season: Improue, rebuke, 〈…〉 all longe sufferynge and 〈…〉 wil come, whan they shal not suffre wholsome doctryne, but after their awne lustes shal they (whose eares ytche) get them an heape of teachers, and shal turne their eares from the trueth, and shalbe geuen vnto fables. But watch thou in all thinges, suffre aduersite, do the worke of a preacher of the Gospell, fulfyll thine office vnto the vttemost.

〈…〉 For I am now ready to be offered, and the tyme of my departinge is at honde. I haue foughte a good fighte: I haue fulfylled the course: I haue kepte the faith. From hence forth there is layed vp for me a 〈…〉 crowne of righteousnes, which the LORDE the righteous iudge shal geue me in yt daye: Howbeit not vnto me onely, but vnto all them that loue his cōmynge. Make spede to come vnto me at once.

For 〈…〉 Demas hath lefte me, and loueth this present worlde, and is departed vnto Tessalonica, Crescens in to Galacia, Titus vnto Dalmacia, Onely Lucas is with me. Take 〈…〉 Marke, & brynge him with the: for he is profitable vnto me to the mynistracion. Tichicus haue I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I lefte at Troada with Carpus brynge with the whan thou commest: and the bokes, but specially the parchemēt: 〈…〉 Alexāder the coppersmyth dyd me moch euell, the LORDE rewarde him acordynge to his dedes, of whom be thou ware also. For he withstode oure wordes sore.

In my first answerynge no man assisted me, but all forsoke me. I praye God that it be not layed to their charges. Notwitstondynge the LORDE stode by me, & strēgthed me, that by me the preachinge shulde be fulfylled to the vttemost, and that all the Heythē shulde heare. And I was delyuered out of the mouth of the lyon. And the LORDE shal delyuer me from all euell doynge, and shal kepe me vnto his heauenly kyngdome. To whom be prayse for euer and euer, Amen.

Salute Prisca and 〈…〉 Aquila, and ye houszholde of Onesiphorus. 〈1 paragraph〉 Erastus abode at Corinthum. But 〈1 paragraph〉 Trophimus left I sicke at Miletū. Make spede to come before wynter. Eubolus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren salute the. The LORDE Iesus Christ be with thy sprete. Grace be with you, Amen.

The seconde epistle vnto Timothy, wrytten from Rome, whā Paul was presented the seconde tyme before the Emperoure Nero.

The Epistle of of the Apostle S. Paul vnto Titus. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. Paul exhorteth Titus to ordene prestes or biszhoppes in euery cite, declareth what maner of men they ought to be that are chosen to that office, and chargeth Titus to rebuke soch as withstonde the gospell. Chap. II. He telleth him how he shal teach all degrees to behaue them selues. Chap. III. Of obedience to soch as be in auctorite. He warneth Titus to bewarre of foolish and vnprofitable questions.

The first Chapter.

PAUL the seruaunt of God, and an Apostle off Iesus Christ, 〈…〉 to preach the faith off Gods electe, and the knowlege of ye trueth, which ledeth vnto god lynes, vpon the hope of eternall life: which God 〈…〉 that can not lye hath promysed before the tymes of the worlde: but at his tyme hath opened his worde thorow preachinge, which is commytted vnto me acordinge to the commaundemēt of God oure Sauioure.

〈…〉 Vnto Titus my naturall sonne after ye comen faith.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father, and frō the 〈…〉 LORDE Iesu Christ oure Sauioure.

For this cause left I the in Creta, that thou shuldest perfourme that which was lackynge, and shuldest ordeyne Elders in euery cite, as I appoynted ye. Yf eny be blamelesse, the huszbande of one wife, hauynge faithfull children, which are not slaundred of ryote, nether are dishobedient. 〈…〉 For a Bisshoppe must be blamelesse, as the 〈…〉 stewarde of God: not wylfull, not angrye, 〈…〉 not geuen vnto moch wyne, no fyghter, not gredye of filthye lucre: but harbarous, one that loueth goodnes, sober mynded, righteous, holy, temperate, and soch one as cleueth vnto the true worde of doctryne: that he maye be able to exhorte with wholsome lernynge, & to improue them that saye agaynst it.

Act. 15. a For there are many dishobedient, and talkers of vanite, and disceauers of myndes: namely they of the circūcision, whose mouthes must be stopped:2. Tim. 3. a which peruerte whole houses, teachinge thinges which they oughte not, because of filthye lucre. One of them selues euen their awne prophet, sayde: Epimenides The Cretayns are alwayes lyars, euell beestes, and slowe belies. This witnesse is true. Wherfore rebuke them sharply, yt they maye be sounde in the faith, and not to take hede vnto Iewes fables and commaundementes of men, which turne them awaye from the trueth. Mat. 12 a and. 23. c Vnto ye cleane are all thinges cleane: but Ro. 14. c to the vncleane & vnbeleuers, there is nothinge cleane, but both their mynde & conscience is defyled. They saye that they knowe God, but with the dedes they denye him: for so moch as they are abhominable and dishobedient, and vnmete to all good workes.

The II. Chapter.

BVt speake thou that which becommeth wholsome learnynge. That ye elder men be sober, honest, discrete, sounde in the faith, in loue, in pacience. And the elder wemen likewyse that they shewe them selues as it becommeth holynes, that they be no false accusers, not geuen to moch wyne, that they teach honest thinges, that they enfourme the yonge wemen to be sober mynded, to loue their huszbandes, to loue their childrē, to be discrete, chaste, huszwyfly, good, Gen. . c obedient vnto their awne huszbandes, that the worde of God be not euell spoken of. Exhorte the yonge men likewyse, that they be sober mynded. Aboue all thinge shewe thy selfe 1. Tim. 4. b 1. Pet. 5. a an ensample off good workes, with vncorrupte doctryne, with honestye, with the wholsome worde which can not be rebuked: 1. Pet. 2 b 3. b that he which withstōdeth maye be ashamed, hauynge nothinge in you that he maye disprayse.

〈…〉 Exhorte the seruauntes, to be obedient vnto their masters, to please in all thinges, not answeringe agayne, nether to be pykers, but to shewe all good faithful 〈…〉 in all thinges they maye do 〈…〉 to the doctryne off God oure 〈…〉 For the grace of God that bryngeth 〈…〉 vnto all men, hath appeared, and teacheth vs, that we shulde denye vngodlynes, and 1. Ioh. 2. c wordly lustes: and that we shulde lyue discretly, righteously, and godly in this worlde, lokynge for that blessed hope and appearynge of the glory of ye greate God and of oure Sauioure Iesu Christ: Rom. 8. a Gal. 3. b which gaue him selfe for vs, to redeme vs frō all vnrighteousnes, and to pourge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe, to be feruently geuen Ephe. 2. b vnto good workes. These thinges speake and exhorte, and rebuke with all earnest. 1. Tim. 4. b Se that no man despyse the.

The III. Chapter.

WArne them Rom. 13. a 1. Pet. . b that they submytte them selues vnto Prynces and to the hyer auctorite, to obey the officers, to be ready vnto all good workes, that they speake euell of no man, that they be no stryuers, but soft, shewynge all mekenes vnto all men. For we oure selues also were in tymes past, vnwyse, dishobedient, in erroure, seruynge lustes and dyuerse maners of voluptuousnes, lyuynge in maliciousnes and envye, full of hate, hatynge one another.

But after that ye kyndnesse and loue of God oure Sauioure to man warde appeared, not for ye dedes of righteousnes which we wroughte, but after his mercy he saued vs by the Ioh. 3. a fountayne of the new byrth, and renuynge of the holy goost, which he shed on vs abundauntly, thorow Iesus Christ oure Sauioure: yt we beynge made righteous Act. 15. b Ephe. 2. a by his grace, shulde be heyres of eternall life acordynge to hope. This is a true sayēge.

Of these thinges wolde I that thou shuldest speake earnestly, that they which are become beleuers in God, might be diligent to excell in good workes: for these thinges are good and profitable vnto mē. 1. Tim. 1. a and 6. a 2. Tim. 2. c As for folish questions, and genealogies, and braulynges and stryuynges aboute ye lawe, auoyde thē, for they are vnprofitable and vayne. Mat 18. b 2. Tess. 3. a Ro. 16. b A mā that is geuen vnto heresye, after ye first and seconde monicion, auoyde, and knowe, that he that is soch, is peruerted, & synneth euen amned by his awne iudgment.

Whan I shal sende Artemas or Tichicus •• to ye, make spede to come to me vnto Ni •• polis, for I haue determyned there to •• ynter. Brynge Zenas ye Scrybe and Apol •• s on their iourney diligently, that nothin •• be lackynge vnto them. And let oures 〈…〉 •• cell in good workes, as farre 〈…〉 , that they be not 〈…〉

〈…〉 with me, salute the. Grete them that loue vs in the faith. Grace be with you all, Amen.

Wrytten from Nicopolis in Macedonia.

The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul vnto Philemon. The summe of this Epistle.

He reioyseth to heare of the faith and loue of Philemon, whom he desyreth to forgeue his seruaūt Onesimus, and louyngly to receaue him agayne.

PAul the presoner of Iesu Christ, and brother Timotheus.

Vnto Philemon the beloued, and oure helper, and to the beloued Appia, and to Archippus or felowe soudyer, and to the congregacion in thy house.

Grace be with you, and peace from God oure father and from the LORDE Iesus Christ.

I thanke my God, makynge mencion all wayes of the in my prayers (for so moch as I heare of thy loue and faith which thou hast on the LORDE Iesu, and towarde all sayntes) that oure comen faith maye be frutefull in the, thorow knowlege of all ye good that ye haue in Christ Iesu. Greate ioye and consolacion haue I in thy loue. For by the (brother) the sayntes are hertely refreshed.

Wherfore though I haue great boldnes in Christ to commaunde the that which becommeth the, yet for loues sake I rather beseke ye, though I be as I am, euē Paul aged, and now a presoner also of Iesu Christ. I beseke the for my sonne 〈…〉 Onesimus (whom I haue begotten in my bondes) which in tyme past was to the vnprofitable, but now profitable both to the and me. Whom I haue sent agayne: but receaue thou him (that is) euen myne awne hert. For I wolde haue kepte him styll with me, that in thy steade he might haue mynistred vnto me in ye bondes of ye Gospell: Neuertheles without thy mynde wolde I do nothinge, that ye good which thou doest, shulde not be of compulsion, but wyllingly.

Happly he therfore departed for a season, that thou shuldest receaue him for euer: not now as a seruaunt, but aboue a seruaunt, euen a brother beloued, specially to me, but how moch more vnto ye, both in ye flesh and in the LORDE? Yf thou holde me for thy companyon, receaue him then euen as my selfe. But yf he haue hurte the, or oweth the oughte, that laye to my charge. I Paul haue wrytten it with myne awne hande, I wil recompence it: so that I do not saye vnto ye, how t at thou owest vnto me euen thine owne selfe. Euen so brother, let me enioye the in the LORDE: refresh thou my hert in the LORDE.

Trustinge in thine obediēce, I haue wrytten vnto the, for I knowe that thou wilt do more then I saye. Morouer prepare me lodginge, for I hope that thorow youre prayers I shalbe geuen vnto you. There saluteth the, Epaphras my felowe presoner in Christ Iesu, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my helpers. The grace of oure LORDE Iesu Christ be with youre sprete, Amen.

Sent from Rome by Onesimus a seruaunt.

The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Peter. The summe of this Epistle. Chap. I. He sheweth that thorow the abundaunt mercy of God we are begotten agayne to a lyuely hope: and how faith must be tr ed: how the saluacion in Christ is no newes, but a thinge prophecied of olde. He exhorteth them to a godly conuersacion, for so moch as they are now borne a new by the worde of God. Chap. II. He exhorteth men to laye asyde all vyce, sheweth that Christ is the foundacion wher vpon they be buylt, prayeth them to absteyne frō fleshly lustes, and to obeye worldly rulers. How seruauntes shulde behaue them selues towarde their masters. He exhorteth to suffre after the ensample of Christ. Chap. III. How wyues ought to ordre them selues towarde their huszbandes and in their apparell The dutye of mē towarde their wyues. He exorteth all men to vnite and loue, and paciently to suffre trouble. Of true baptyme. Chap. IIII. He exhorteth men to ceasse from synne, to spende no more tyme in vyce, to be sober and apte to prayer, to loue ech other, to be pacient in trouble, and to bewarre that no man suffre as an euell doer, but as a Cristen man, and not to be ashamed. Chap. V. A speciall exhortacion for all bisshoppes or prestes to fede the flocke of Christ, and what their dutie is, and what rewarde they shal haue yf they be diligēt. He exhorteth yonge personnes to submytt thē selues to the elder, euery one to loue another, to be sober, & to watch, that they maye resist the enemye. The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Peter.
The first Chapter.

PETER an Apostle of Iesu Christ, to thē that dwell here and there as straungers thorow out Pontus, Galacia, Capadocia, Asia and Bithinia, electe acordinge to the foreknowlege of God the father thorow sanctifienge of the sprete, vnto obedience and Heb. 9. b and 10. c sprenklynge of the bloude of Iesus Christ.

Grace and peace be multiplied with you.

2. Cor. 1. a Ephe. 1. a Blessed be God and the father of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which acordinge to his greate mercy hath begotten vs agayne vnto a lyuely hope 1. Co. 15. c by the resurreccion of Iesus Christ from the deed, to an vncorruptible and vndefyled inheritaunce, which neuer shal fade awaye, but is reserued in heauen for you that are kepte by the power of God thorow faith to saluacion, which is prepared all ready to be shewed in the last tyme: in the which ye shal reioyse, though now for a litle season (yff nede requyre) ye are in heuynes thorow manyfolde temptacions: that youre faith once tryed (beynge moch more precious then the corruptible golde that is tryed thorow the fyre) might be founde vnto laude, glory and honoure at the appearynge of Iesus Christ: whom ye haue not sene, and yet loue him: Ioh. 0. in whom now ye beleue though ye se him not. Euen so shal ye reioyce also with vnoutspeakable and glorious ioye, receauynge the end of youre faith, euen the saluacion of your soules.

Of which saluacion the prophetes haue enquyred and searched, which prophecied off the grace that shulde come vpo you: searchinge whan or at what tyme th sprete off Christ that was in them, shuld signifye, which (sprete) testified before th passions that shulde come vnto Christ, an the glory that shulde folowe after. Vnt the which (prophetes) it was declared, th •• not vnto them selues, but vnto vs th •• shulde mynister the thinges which are no shewed vnto you, by them which thorow holy goost sent downe from heauen, ha •• preached vnto you the thinges 〈…〉 which 〈◊〉 angels delyte to beholde.

Wherfore gyrde op the 〈…〉 〈…〉 youre mynde, be sober, and trust 〈…〉 on the grace that is brought vnto you, by the declarynge of Iesus Christ, as obedient childrē, not faszhionynge youre selues to yor olde lustes of ignoraunce: but as he which hath called you is holy, euē so be ye holy also in all youre conuersacion: for it it wryttē: Leuit 11. g and 19 a Be ye holy, for I am holy.

And yf so be that ye call on the father, which without respecte of personnes iudgeth Mat. 25. c acordynge to euery mans worke, se yt ye passe ye tyme of youre pilgremage in feare: . Cor. 6. c and 7. c and knowe, that ye were not redemed wt corruptible syluer and golde, from youre vayne conuersacion (which ye receaued by the tradiciōs of the fathers) Heb. 9. b 1 Ioh. 1. b Apo. 1. a but with the precious bloude of Christ, as of an innocēt and vndefyled lambe, which was ordeyned before the worlde was made, but is declared in these last tymes Esa. 9 b Luc. 2. b for youre sakes, which thorow him beleue on God, that raysed him vp from the deed, Phil. 2. a and hath geuē him the glory, that ye might haue faith & hope in God: Euen ye which haue purifyed youre soules Act. 15. b in obeyenge the trueth thorow the sprete, for to loue brotherly without faynynge, & feruently one to loue another wt a pure hert, as they that are borne a new, not of corruptible sede, but of vncorruptible, euē by the lyuynge worde of God, which endureth for euer. Esa. 40. a Eccli. 14. b aco. 1. b For all flesh is as grasse, and all the glory of man is as the floure of grasse. The grasse withereth, & the fl ure falleth awaye but the worde of the LORDE endureth for euer. This is the worde, that is preached amonge you.

The II. Chapter.

WHerfore laye asyde all maliciousnes and all gyle, and ypocrisye, and envye, and all bacbytinge, & Ephe. 4. a Col. 3. a Heb. 12. a as new borne babes desyre that reasonable mylke, which is without corrupcion, that ye maye growe therin, yf so be that ye haue Psal. 33 a taisted how frendly the LORDE is. Vnto whom ye are come, Ephe. 2. c as to the lyuynge stone, which is disalowed of men, but chosen of God and precious. And ye also as lyuynge stones are made a spirituall house, and an holy presthode, to offre vp Rom. 12. a spirituall sacrifices, acceptable vnto God by Iesus Christ. Wherfore it is conteyned in the scripture: Esa. 28. c Mat. 21. e Act. 4. a Beholde, I put in Sion an heade corner stone, electe & precious, and he that beleueth on him, shal 〈◊〉 be cōfounded. Vnto you therfore which 〈…〉 he is precious: but vnto them that 〈…〉 is ye same stone which the Psal 〈…〉 〈…〉 made the heade stone in the 〈…〉 one to stomble at, Esa. 8. c and a rock to be offended at, namely in thē which stomble at ye worde, and beleue not that wheron they were set.

〈…〉 But ye are that chosen generacion, that kyngly presthode, that holy nacion, that peculier people, yt ye shulde shewe the vertues of him, which hath called you out of darknesse in to his maruelous lighte: 〈…〉 Euen you which in tyme past were not a people, but now are the people of God: which were not vnder mercy, but now haue optayned mercy.

Dearly beloued, I beseke you as straungers and pilgrems, 〈…〉 absteyne frō the fleshly lustes, which fighte agaynst the soule, and lede an honest conuersacion amonge the Heythen, 〈…〉 that they which bacbyte you as euell doers, maye se youre good workes, and prayse God in the daye of visitacion.

Submytte youre selues vnto all maner ordinaunce of men for the LORDES sake: 〈…〉 whether it be vnto the kynge as vnto ye chefe heade, or vnto rulers, as vnto them that are sent of him, for the punyshment of euell doers, but for the prayse of thē that do well. For so is the will of God, that ye with well doynge shulde put to sylence the ignoraunce of folishmen: as fre, and not as hauynge the libertye for a cloke of wickednes, but euē as the seruauntes of God. Honoure all men. Loue brotherly fellishippe. Feare God. 〈…〉 Honoure the kynge.

〈…〉 Ye seruaūtes, obey youre masters with all feare: not onely yf they be good and curteous, but also though they be frowarde. For that is grace, yf a man for conscience towarde God endure grefe, and suffre wronge. For what prayse is it, yf whā ye be buffeted for yor fautes, ye take it paciently? 〈…〉 But yf whan ye do well, ye suffre wronge, and take it paciently, that is grace with God. For herevnto are ye called, for so moch as Christ also suffred for vs, leauynge vs an 〈…〉 ensample, that ye shulde folowe his fotesteppes, which dyd no synne, nether was there gyle founde in his mouth: 〈…〉 which whan he was reuyled, reuyled not agayne: whā he suffred, he threatened not: but commyted the cause vnto him, that iudgeth righteously: 〈…〉 which his owne selfe bare oure synnes in his body vpon the tre, that we shulde be delyuered from synne, & shulde lyue vnto righteousnes: by whose strypes ye were healed. 〈…〉 For ye were as shepe goinge astraye, but now are ye turned vnto the shepherde and Biszhoppe of youre soules.

The III. Chapter.

LIkewyse 〈…〉 let the wyues be in subieccion to their huszbandes, that euen they which beleue not the worde, maye without the worde be wonne by ye cō uersacion of the wyues, whan they beholde yo pure conuersacion in feare. Whose apparell 〈…〉 shal not be outwarde wt broyded heer, & hanginge on of golde, or in puttynge on of gorgious araye, but let ye inwarde mā of ye hert be vncorrupte wt a meke & a quyete sprete, which before God is moch set by. For after this maner in the olde tyme, dyd ye holy wemē which trusted in God, tyer thēselues, & were obedient vnto their huszbādes: Euen as Sara obeyed Abraham, 〈…〉 and called him lorde: whose doughters ye are, as lōge as ye do well, not beynge afrayed for eny trouble.

Likewyse ye men, dwell with them acordinge vnto knowlege, geuynge 〈…〉 hono vnto the wife, as to the weaker vessel: & as vnto thē yt are heyres with you of the grace of life, that youre prayers be not let.

But in conclusion be ye all of one mynde, one suffre with another, loue as brethren, be pitefull, be curteous. 〈…〉 Recōpence not euell for euell, nether rebuke for rebuke: but cōtrary wyse, blesse: and knowe that ye are called therto, euen yt ye shulde be heyres of ye 〈…〉 blessynge. For 〈…〉 who so listeth to lyue, and wolde fayne se good dayes, Let him refrayne his tonge from euell, and his lippes yt they speake no gyle. Let him eschue euell, & do good: Let him seke peace and ensue it. For ye eyes of the LORDE are ouer the righteous, & his eares are open vnto their prayers. But ye face of the LORDE beholdeth thē yt do euell. And who is it that can harme you, yf ye folowe that which is good? Not withstōdinge 〈…〉 blessed are ye, yf ye suffre for righteousnes sake 〈…〉 Feare not ye their threatnynge, nether be troubled, but sanctifye the LORDE God in youre hertes. 〈…〉 Be ready allwayes to geue an answere to euery mā, that axeth you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with mekenes & feare, hauynge a good conscience, 〈…〉 that they which bacbyte you as euell doers, maye be ashamed, that they haue falsely accused youre good cōuersacion in Christ.

〈…〉 For it is better (yf the wyll of God be so) that ye suffre for well doynge, thē for euell doynge. For as moch as Christ hath once suffred for oure synnes, ye iust for the vniust, for to brynge vs to God: & was slayne after the flesh, but quyckened after the sprete.

In the which sprete he also wente, and preached vnto ye spretes that were in preson, which in tyme past beleued not, whan God once a bode and suffred paciētly in the tyme of Noe, whyle the Arke was a preparynge: Gen. 7. c Wherin fewe (that is to saye eight soules) were saued by water. Which signifieth Rom. 6. a baptyme yt now saueth vs: not ye puttinge awaye of the fylth of the flesh, but in yt a good cō sciēce cōsenteth vnto God by ye resurreccion of Iesus Christ, which is on the righte hande of God, and is gone in to heauē, angels, power and mighte subdued vnto him.

The IIII. Chapter.

FOr as moch then as Christ hath suffred for vs in ye flesh, arme youre selues likewyse with the same mynde. Rom. 9. a For he which suffreth in the flesh, ceasseth frō synne, yt hēce forth (as moch tyme as yet remayneth in ye flesh) he shulde not lyue after the lustes of mē, but after the wil of God. For it is ynough, yt we haue spent ye tyme past of the life, after the will of ye Heythen, whā we walked in wantannesse, lustes, dronkēnes, glotony, ryotous drynkynge, & ī abhominable Idolatrye. And it semeth to thē a straunge thinge, yt ye runne not also wt them vnto the same excesse of ryote, & speake euell of you. (Which shal geue acōptes vnto hī yt is ready to iudge ye quycke & ye deed.) For vnto this purpose also was ye Gospell preached vnto the deed, yt they shulde be iudged like other mē ī ye flesh, but shulde lyue vnto God in ye sprete. The ende of all thīges is at hāde.

Mat. 24. d Be ye therfore sober & watch vnto prayers: but aboue all thinges haue feruent loue amonge you one to another. Pro. 10. b For loue couereth the multitude of synnes. Be ye herberous one to another without grudginge, & mynister one to another, eueryone with the gifte yt he hath receaued, as good stewardes of the manifolde grace of God. Iere. 23. b Yf eny mā speake, let hī speake it as ye wordes of God. Ro. 12. b Yf eny man haue an office, let him execute it as out of the power yt God mynistreth vnto hī, yt God maye be praysed in all thinges thorow Iesus Christ, To whō be hono and domynion for euer and euer Amen.

Derely beloued, maruell not at this Luc. 〈…〉 1. Cor. . b 1 Pet. 1. b heate (which is come amōge you to trye you) as though some straūge thinge happened vnto you: but reioyce, in as moch as ye are partakers of Christes passiōs, yt whā his glory appeareth, ye maye be mery & glad. 〈…〉 Yf ye be reuyled for ye name of Christ, blessed are 〈…〉 ye sprete (which is ye sprete of glory & 〈…〉 resteth vpon you. On their parte 〈…〉 spoken of, but on yo parte he is 〈…〉

〈…〉 But se that none of you 〈…〉 , or as a thefe, or as an euell doer, or as a busy body in other mens matters. Yf eny man suffre as a Christen man, let him not be ashamed, but let him prayse God on this behalfe. Iere. 25. d and 40. b Ezec. 8. b For ye tyme is come, that iudgmēt must begynne at the house of God. Yf it first begynne at vs, what shal the ende be of thē which beleue not the Gospell of God? Pro. 11. d And yf ye righteous scacely be saued, where shal ye vngodly & synner appeare? Wherfore let them that suffer acordynge to the will off God, commytte their soules vnto him with well doynge, as to the faithfull creator.

The V. Chapter.

THe Elders which are amonge you I exhorte, which am also an Elder, Act. 5. c and a witnes off the affliccions in Christ, and partaker of the glory that shal be opened. Act. 20. d Fede Christes flocke which is amonge you, and take the ouerfighte of thē, not as though ye were cōpelled therto, but wyllingly: not for the desyre of filth ye lucre, but of a good mynde: not as though ye were lordes ouer the parishēs, Tit. 2. a but that ye be an ensample to the flocke: & whan the chefe shepherde shal appeare, ye shal receaue the vncorruptible crowne of glory.

Likewyse ye yōger submytte youre selues vnto the elder. Submytte youre selues euery man one to another, and knyt yor selues together in lowlynes of mynde. Pro. 11. a Iaco. 4. a For God resisteth the proude, but geueth grace to the humble. Submytte yo selues therfore vnder the mightie hande of God, that he maye exalte you whan the tyme is come. Mat. 6. c Luc. 12. c Cast all youre care on him, for he careth for you.

Be sober and watch, Iob. 1. b for yor aduersary ye deuell, walketh aboute as a roaringe lyon, sekynge whom he maye deuoure, Iaco. 4. a whom resiste stedfast in the faith, and knowe, that youre brethren in the worlde haue euen the same affliccions.

But ye God of all grace, which hath called you to his euerlastinge glory in Christ Iesu, shal his owne selfe make you perfecte, which suffre Rom. 8. c . Pet. 1. a Heb. •• . d a litle season: euē he shal settle, strength, and stablish you. To him be prayse and domynion for euer and euer, Amen.

By Siluanus youre faithfull brother (as I suppose) haue I wryttē vnto you breuely, exhortinge and testifyenge, how that this is the true grace of God wherin ye stōde. The companyons of youre eleccion that are at 〈…〉 , salute you, and Marcus my sonne. 〈…〉 one another with the kysse of loue. 〈…〉 with you all which are in Christ 〈…〉 .

The seconde Epistle of the Apostle S. Peter. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. For so moch as the power of God hath geuen them all thinges pertayninge vnto life, he exhorteth thē to flye the corrupcion of worldly lust, to make their callynge ore with good workes and frutes of faith. He maketh mencion of his owne death, declaringe the LORDE Iesus to be the true sonne of God, as he himself hath sene vpon the mount. Chap. II. He prophecieth of false teachers, and sheweth their punyshment. Chap. III. He exhorteth men to bewarre of soch as wolde make thē beleue, that the day of the LORDE were slacke in commynge: prayeth them to lede a godly life, and to loke verely for the commynge of the LORDE, whose •• ge tarienge is saluacion, and because he wolde haue no man lost, but wolde receaue all 〈◊〉 to repentaunce.
The first Chapter.

SYmon Peter a seruaūt and an Apostle of Iesus Christ.

Vnto thē which haue optayned like faith with vs in the righteousnes that commeth of oure God, and Sa oure Iesus Christ.

〈…〉 Grace and peace be multiplied with you thorow the knowlege of God and of Iesus Christ oure LORDE.

For so moch as his godly power hath geuen vs all thinges (that pertayne vnto life and godlynes) thorow the knowlege of him that hath called vs by his owne glorie and power, wherby the excellent and most greate promyses are geuē vnto vs: namely, that ye by the same shulde be 〈…〉 partakers of the godly nature, yf ye flye the corrupte lust of the worlde: Geue ye all youre diligence therfore here vnto, and in youre faith mynister vertue: in vertue, knowlege: in knowlege, temperancy: in temperancy, pacience: in pacience, godlynes: in godlynes, brotherly loue: in brotherly loue, generall loue. For yf these thinges be plenteous in you, they will not let you be ydle nor vnfrutefull in ye knowlege of oure LORDE Iesus Christ. But he that lacketh these thinges, is blynde, & gropeth for the waye with the hāde, and hath forgotten, that he was clensed from his olde synnes.

Wherfore (brethrē) geue the more diligence, to make youre callynge and eleccion sure: for yf ye do soch thinges, ye shal not fall, and by this meanes shal there be plenteously mynistred vnto you an entrynge in vnto ye euerlastinge kyngdome of oure LORDE and Sauioure Iesus Christ.

Therfore wil I not be necligēt to put you allwayes in remembraunce of soch thinges: though ye knowe them youre selues, and be stablished in the present trueth. Notwithstondinge I thinke it mete, as lōge as I am in this 〈…〉 tabernacle, to stere you vp by puttinge you in remembraunce. For I am sure, that I must shortly put of my tabernacle, euen as oure LORDE Iesus Christ hath shewed vnto me. Yet wyl I do my diligēce, that allwaye after my departynge ye maye haue wherwith to kepe these thinges in remembraunce.

For we folowed not deceaueable fables, whan we declared vnto you the power and commynge of oure LORDE Iesus Christ: 〈…〉 but with oure eyes we sawe his maiestie, whan he receaued of God the father honoure & prayse, by a voyce that came vnto him from the excellent glory, after this maner: 〈…〉 This is my deare sonne, in whom I haue delyte. And this voyce herde we broughte downe frō heauen, whan we were with him on the holy mount.

We haue also a sure worde of prophecie, and ye do well that ye take hede thervnto, as vnto a lighte 〈…〉 that shyneth in a darke place vntyll the daye dawne, and the daye starre aryse in youre hertes. And this shal ye knowe first, that no prophecie in the scripture is done of eny priuate interpretacion. 〈…〉 For the prophecie was neuer broughte by the wyll of man, but the holy men of God spake, as they were moued of ye holy goost.

The II. Chapter.

BVt there were false prophetes also amonge the people, 〈…〉 euen as there shalbe false teachers amonge you likewyse, which preuely shal brynge in damnable sectes, euen denyenge the LORDE that hath boughte them, and shal brynge vpon them selues swift damnacion: and 〈…〉 many shal folowe their damnable wayes, by whō the waye of the trueth shal be euell spokē of: and thorow cuvetousnes shal they with fayned wordes make marchaundise of you, vpō whō the iudgment is not necligēt in tarienge of olde, and their damnacion slepeth not.

〈…〉 For yf God spared not the angels that synned, but cast them downe with the cheynes of darknes in to hell, and delyuered thē ouer to be kepte vnto iudgment: Gen. 7. a Nether spared the olde worlde, but saued Noe the preacher of righteousnes himselfe beynge ye eight, and brought the floude vpō the worlde of the vngodly: Gen. 19. c And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomor into aszhes, ouerthrue them, damned them, and made on them an ensample, vnto those that after shulde lyue vngodly: And delyuered iust Loth which was vexed with the vngodly conuersacion of ye wicked. For in so moch as he was righteous and dwelt amonge them, so that he must nedes se it and heare it, his righteous soule was greued from to daye to daye with their vnlaufull dedes. 1. Cor. 10. b The LORDE knoweth how to delyuer the godly out of tentacion, and how to reserue the vniust vnto the daye of iudgment for to be punyshed: but specially them that walke after the flesh in ye lust of vnclennes, and despyse the rulers: beynge presumptuous, stubborne, and feare not to speake euell of thē yt are in auctorite Iudae. 1. b whā the angels yet which are greater both in power and might, beare not that blasphemous iudgment agaynst them of the LORDE. Iere. 12. a But these are as ye brute beestes, which naturally are broughte forth to be takē and destroyed: Iudae. 1. b speakynge euell of yt they knowe not, and shal perishe in their owne destruccion, and so receaue ye rewarde of vnrighteousnes.

They counte it pleasure to lyue deliciously for a season: Spottes are they and fylthynes: lyuynge at pleasure and in disceaueable wayes: feastynge wt that which is youres, hauynge eyes full of aduoutrye, and cā not ceasse from synne, entysinge vnstable soules: hauynge an hert exercysed wt couetousnes: they are cursed children, and haue forsaken the righte waye, and are gone astraye: folowinge the waye of Num. 22.23.24. Balaam the sonne of Bosor, which loued the rewarde of vnrighteousnes: but was rebuked of his iniquyte. The tame and domme beast spake with mās voyce, & forbad the foolishnes of ye prophet.

These are welles without water, & Iudae. . c cloudes caried aboute of a tēpest: to whō ye myst of darknesse is reserued foreuer. For they speake ye proude wordes of vanite, vnto ye vttemost, and entyse thorow wantannes vnto ye luste of the flesh, euen them that were cleane escaped, and now walke in erroure: and promyse them libertye, where as they them selues are seruauntes off corrupcion. Ioh. 8. c Rom. 6. b For off whom so euer a man is ouercome, vnto the same is he in bondage. Luc. 9 f For yf they (after they haue escaped from the fylthynes of the worlde, thorow the knowlege of ye LORDE and Sauioure Iesus Christ) are yet tangled agayne therin and ouercome, Mat. 12. c Heb. 6. a then is the latter ende worse vnto them then the begynnynge. For it had bene better for them, not to haue knowne the waye of righteousnes, then after they haue knowne it, Act. 5. a to turne from the holy commaundemēt, that was geuen vnto them. It is happened vnto them acordynge vnto the true prouerbe: Pro. 26 b Eccli. 34. d ye dogg is turned to his vomyte agayne and ye sowe that was waszhed, vnto hir walowynge in the myre.

The III. Chapter.

THis is the seconde Epistle that I now wryte vnto you (ye dearly beloued) wherin I stere vp and warne youre pure mynde, that ye maye remembre the wordes, which were tolde before of the holy prophetes: and also the commaundement of vs, that be the Apostles of the LORDE and Sauioure.

This first vnderstonde, 1. Tim. 4 a 2. Tim. 3. a Iudae. 1 c that in the last dayes there shal come mockers, which wyll walke after their awne lustes, & saye: Eze. 12. d Where is the promes of his commynge? For sence the fathers fell on slepe, euery thinge contynueth as it was from the begynnynge of ye creature. This they knowe not (and that wylfully) how that the heauens were afore tyme also, and the earth out of the water, & was in the water by the worde of God, Gen 7. d yet was the worlde at that tyme destroyed by the same with the floude. But the heauens which are yet, and ye earth, are kepte in stoare by his worde, to be reserued 2. Tess. 1. b vnto fyre agaynst the daye of iudgment and damnacion of vngodlymen.

Dearly beloued, be not ignoraunt of this one thinge, Psal. 89 a Eze. 12. d 1. Pet. 4. a how that one daye is with the LORDE as a thousande yeare: and a thousande yeare as one daye. The LORDE is not slacke to fulfyll his promes (as some mē counte slacknesse) but is Rom. 2. a paciēt to vs warde, Eze. 18. d and wyl not that eny mā shulde be lost, but that euery man shulde amende himselfe. Neuertheles Mat 24. d Tess. 5. a Apoc. 3. a the daye of the LORDE shal come euen as a these in the night: in the which (daye) the heauens shal perishe with a greate noyse, and the Elementes shal melte with heate, and the earth and ye workes that are therin, shal burne.

Yf all these thinges shal perishe, what maner persons then ought ye to be in holy cōuersacion and godlynes, lokynge for and hastynge vnto the commynge of the LORDE? In the which the heauens shal perishe with fyre, and the elementes shal melt with heate. Neuertheles 〈…〉 we loke for a new heauen and a new earth (acordynge to his promes) wherin dwelleth righteousnes.

Wherfore dearly beloued, seynge that ye loke for soch thinges, be diligent, yt ye maye be founde before him in peace without spot and vndefyled: and counte the long sufferynge of oure LORDE youre saluacion, Euen as oure dearly beloued brother Paul (acordinge to the wyszdome geuē vnto him) wrote vnto you: yee speakinge ther of allmost in all Epistles, wherin are many thinges harde to be vnderstonde, which they that are vnlerned and vnstable, peruerte, as they do the other scriptures also, to their awne dā nacion.

Ye therfore beloued, seynge ye knowe it before hande, bewarre, lest ye also be plucte awaye thorow the erroure of ye wicked, and fall from yor owne sted fastnes. But growe in grace, and in the knowlege of oure LORDE and Sauioure Iesus Christ. To him be prayse now and for euer, Amen.

The first Epistle of the Apostle and Euangelist S. Ihon. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. True wytnesse of the euerlastinge worde of God. The bloude of Christ is the purgacion from synne. No man is without synne. Chap. II. Christ is oure aduocate. Of true loue, and how it is tryed. Chap. III. The synguler loue of God to warde vs: and how we agayne oughte to loue one another. Chap. IIII. Difference of spretes, and how the sprete of God maye be knowne from the sprete of erroure. Of the loue of God and of oure neghbours. Chap. V. To loue God, is to kepe his commaundemētes. Faith ouercommeth the worlde. Euerlastinge life is in the sonne of God Of the synne vnto death.

The first Chapter.

THat which was from ye begynnynge, which we haue herde, which 〈…〉 we haue sene with or eyes, which we haue loked vpon, 〈…〉 and or handes haue handled of the worde of life: and the life hath appeared, and we haue sene, and beare wytnes, and shewe vnto you ye life that is euerlastinge, 〈…〉 which was with the father, and hath apeared vnto vs. That which we haue sene & herde, declare we vnto you, that ye also maye haue fellishippe with vs, and that oure fellishippe maye be with the father and with his sonne Iesus Christ. And this wryte we vnto you, 〈…〉 that youre ioye maye be full.

And this is the tydinges which we haue herde of him, & declare vnto you, that God is lighte, and in him is no darknes at all. Yf we saye that we haue fellishippe with him, and yet walke in darknes, we lye, and do not the trueth. But yf we walke in lighte, euen as he is in lighte, then haue we fellishippe together, 〈…〉 and the bloude of Iesus Christ his sonne clenseth vs from all synne.

〈…〉 Yf we saye that we haue no synne, we disceaue oure selues, and the trueth is not in vs. 〈…〉 But yf we knowlege oure synnes, he is faith full and iust to forgeue vs oure synnes, & to clense vs from all vnrighteousnes. Yf we saye, we haue not synned, we make him a lyar, and his worde is not in vs.

The II. Chapter.

MY litle children, these thinges wryte I vnto you, that ye shulde not synne: and yf eny man synne, we haue an aduocate with the father, euen Iesus Christ which is righteous: 〈…〉 and he it is that optayneth grace for oure synnes: not for oure synnes onely, but also for the synnes of all the worlde. And hereby are we sure that we knowe him, yf we kepe his cōmaundemē tes. Ioh. 4. c He that sayeth: I knowe him, and kepeth not his cōmaundemētes, is a lyar, and the trueth is not in him, But who so kepeth his worde, in him is the loue of God perfecte in dede. Ioh. 13. d Hereby knowe we, that we are in him. He yt sayeth he abydeth in him, oughte to walke euen as he walked.

Brethren, I wryte no new commaundement vnto you, but that olde commaundement, which ye haue herde from the begynnynge. The olde cōmaundement is the worde, which ye haue herde from the begynnynge. Agayne, Ioh. 13. d a new cōmaundemēt wryte I vnto you, a thinge that is true in him & also in you: for the darknesse is past, and the true lighte now shyneth.

He that sayeth he is in lighte, and hateth his brother, is yet in darknesse. He yt loueth his brother, abydeth in the lighte, and there is none occasion of euell in him. But he yt hateth his brother, is in darknes, and walketh in darknes, and can not tell whither he goeth, for ye darknes hath blynded his eyes.

Babes, I wryte vnto you, Luc. 24. Act. 4. a that yor synnes are forgeuen you for his names sake. I wryte vnto you fathers, how that ye haue knowne him which is from ye begynnynge. I wryte vnto you yonge mē, how that ye haue euercome the wicked. I wryte vnto you litle children, how that ye haue knowne the father. I haue wrytten vnto you fathers, how that ye haue knowne him, which is frō the begynnynge. I haue wrytten vnto you yonge men, how that ye are stronge, and the worde of God abydeth in you, and ye haue ouer come that wicked.

Se that ye loue not the worlde, nether ye thinges that are in the worlde. Yf eny man loue the worlde, the loue of the father is not in him: for all that is in the worlde (namely the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pryde of life) is not of the father, but of the worlde. And 1. Cor. 7. d the worlde passeth awaye and the lust therof. But he that fulfylleth the wyll of God, abydeth for euer.

Litle children, it is the last houre, and (as ye haue herde that Mat. 24. a Ioh. 5. d Antechrist shal come) euen now are there many become Antechristes allready: wherby we knowe, that it is ye last houre. They wente out Ioh. 1 . c Act. 20. d 〈◊〉 . 11. b frō vs, but they were not of vs: for yf they had bene of vs, they wolde no doute haue contynued with vs. But * that they maye be knowne, 〈◊〉 that they are not all of vs.

But ye haue the 〈◊〉 . 11. b anoyntinge of 〈…〉 holy, & ye knowe all thīges. I haue 〈…〉 vnto you, as though ye knewe not ye tr eth but ye knowe it, & are sure, yt no lye cōmeth of ye trueth. Who is a lyar, but he yt denyeth ye Iesus is Christ? The same is ye Antichrist, yt denyeth the father & ye sonne. Whosoeuer denyeth the sonne, the same hath not the father. Loke what ye haue herde now from ye begynnynge, let the same abyde in you. Yf yt which he herde from the begynnynge shal remayne in you, then shal ye also abyde in ye sonne and in the father. And this is the promes yt he hath promysed vs, euē eternall life.

This haue I wryttē vnto you cōcerninge thē that disceaue you. Esa. 54. c Ioh. 6. c 14. c. 16. b And the anoyntinge which ye haue receaued of him, dwelleth in you: & ye nede not yt eny mā teach you, but as the anoyntinge teacheth you all thīges, euen so is it true, & is no lye. And as it hath taughte you, euē so abide ye therin. And now babes, abyde in hī, yt whā he shal appeare, we maye be bolde, & not be made ashamed of him at his commynge. Yf ye knowe yt he is righteous, knowe also that he which doth righteousnes, is borne of him.

The III. Chapter.

BEholde what loue the father hath shewed on vs, yt we shulde be called the childrē of God. Therfore ye worlde knoweth you not, because it knoweth not him. Dearly beloued, we are now ye Luc. 20. d childrē of God, and yet hath it not appeared what we shalbe. Ro 8. c 1. Cor. 15 f Col. 3. a Phil. 3 c But we knowe yt when he shal appeare, we shal be like him: for we shal se him as he is. And euery man yt hath this hope in him, pourgeth him selfe, euen as he is pure. Who so euer cōmytteth synne, cōmytteth vnrighteousnes also, and synne is vnrighteousnes. Esa. 53. d . Tim. 1. c Tit. 2 b 8. Pet. 2. c And ye knowe that he appeared to take awaye oure synnes: and in him is no synne. Who so euer abydeth in him, synneth not: who soeuer synneth, hath not sene him nether knowne him.

Babes, let no man disceaue you. He that doeth righteousnes, is righteous, euen as he is righteous. He that commytteth synne, is of the deuell: Ioh. 8. d for the deuell synneth sence ye begynnynge. For this purpose appeared the sonne of God, to lowse the workes of the deuell. * Who so euer is borne of God, synneth not: for his * sede remayneth in him, & he cā not synne, because he is borne of God. * By this are the children of God knowne & the children of the deuell. Who so euer doeth not righteousnes, is not of God, nether he 〈◊〉 loueth not his brother.

〈◊〉 this is the tydinges which ye haue 〈◊〉 the begynnynge, that ye shulde 〈◊〉 one another, * not as Cain which was of the wicked, and slewe his brother. And wherfore slewe he him? euen because his awne workes were euell, and his brothers righteous. 〈…〉 Maruayle not (my brethren) though the worlde hate you. We knowe yt we are trāslated from death vnto life, because we loue the brethren. He that loueth not his brother, abydeth in death. 〈…〉 Who soeuer hateth his brother, is a mansleyer. And ye knowe that a mansleyer hath not eternall life abydinge in him.

Hereby haue we perceaued loue, that he gaue his life for vs, and therfore ought we also to geue oure lyues for the brethrē. But he yt hath this worldes good, & seyth his brother haue nede, and shutteth vp his hert frō him, how dwelleth the loue of God in him? My litle children, 〈…〉 let vs not loue with worde nether with tonge, but with ye dede, and with the trueth. Hereby knowe we, that we are of the verite, and can quyete oure hertes before him. But yf oure hert condemne vs, God is greater thē oure hert, and knoweth all thinges. Dearly beloued, yf oure hert condemne vs not, then haue we a fre boldnes to God warde. 〈…〉 And what so euer we axe, we shal receaue it: because we kepe his cō maundemētes, and do those thinges, which are pleasaunt in his sighte.

And this is his cōmaundement, that we beleue on ye name of his sonne Iesus Christ, and loue one another, 〈…〉 as he gaue commaundement. And he that kepeth his commaundementes, dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby knowe we that he abydeth in vs, euen by the sprete which he hath geuen vs.

The IIII. Chapter.

DEarly beleued, beleue not ye euery sprete, 〈…〉 but proue the spretes, whether they be of God. For many false prophetes are gone out in to the worlde. Hereby shal ye knowe the sprete of God: Euery sprete which confesseth, that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: And euery sprete which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not off God. And this is that sprete of Antechrist, off whom ye haue herde, how that he shal come, and euen now allready is he in the worlde. Litle children, ye are off God, and haue ouer come them: for greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the worlde. They are off the worlde, therfore speake they off the worlde, and the worlde herkeneth vnto them. We are of God, 〈…〉 and he that knoweth God, herkeneth vnto vs: he that is not of God, heareth vs not. Hereby knowe we the sprete of trueth, and ye sprete of erroure.

Dearly beloued, let vs loue one another, for loue commeth of God. And euery one yt loueth, is borne of God, and knoweth God. He that loueth not, knoweth not God: for God is loue. 〈…〉 By this appeared the loue of God to vs warde, because that God sent his onely begotten sonne in to this worlde, that we mighte lyue thorow him. Herein is loue, not that we loued God, but that he loued vs, 〈…〉 and sent his sonne to make agremēt for oure synnes.

Dearly beloued, yf God so loued vs, we oughte also to loue one another. 〈…〉 No man hath sene God at eny tyme. Yf we loue one another, God dwelleth in vs, and his loue is perfecte in vs. Hereby knowe we that we dwell in him, and he in vs, because he hath geuen vs of his sprete. And we haue sene, & testifye that the father sent the sonne to be the Sauioure of the worlde. 〈…〉 Who soeuer now confesseth yt Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God, and he in God: and we haue knowne and beleued the loue that God hath to vs.

God is loue, and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God, and God in him. Here in is the loue perfecte with vs, that we shulde haue a fre boldnesse in the daye of iudgment: for as he is, euē so are we in this worlde. Feare is not in loue, but perfecte loue casteth out feare: for feare hath paynefulnes. He that feareth, is not perfecte in loue.

Let vs loue him, for he loued vs first 〈…〉 Yf eny man saye: I loue God, & yet hateth his brother, he is a lyar. For he that loueth not his brother whom he seyth, how can he loue God, whom he seyth not? And this cōmaundement haue we of him, 〈…〉 that he which loueth God, shulde loue his brother also.

The V. Chapter.

WHo so euer beleueth that Iesus is Christ, 〈…〉 is borne of God. And who soeuer loueth him that begat, loueth him also which was begotten of him. By this we knowe that we loue Gods children, whan we loue God, and kepe his commaundementes. For this is the loue of God, that we kepe his commaundementes, 〈…〉 and his commaundemētes are not greuous. For all that is borne of God, ouer commeth the worlde: and this is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde, euē oure faith. Who is it yt ouercommeth the worlde, but he which beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of God?

This is he that cōmeth with water and bloude, euen Iesus Christ: not with water onely, but with water and bloude. Mat. 3. b and 17. a Ioh. 1. d and 12. d And it is the sprete that beareth wytnes: for the sprete is the trueth. (For there are thre which beare recorde in heauen: the father, the worde, and the holy goost, & these thre are one.) And there are thre which beare recorde in earth: the sprete, water and bloude, and these thre are one.

Yf we receaue the witnesse of men, the witnesse of God is greater: for this is the wytnesse of God, which he testifyed of his sonne. Ioh . e Rom. 8. b Gal. 4. a He that beleueth on ye sonne of God, hath the wytnes in him selfe. He that beleueth not God, hath made him a lyar. And this is that recorde, euen yt God hath geuē vs euerlastinge life. Ioh. 1. a And this life is in his sonne. He that hath the sonne of God, hath life: He that hath not the sonne of God, hath not life.

These thinges haue I wryttē vnto you, which beleue on the name of the sonne of God, that ye maye knowe, how that ye haue eternall life, and that ye maye beleue on ye name of the sonne of God. And this is the fre boldnesse which we haue towarde him, that yf we axe eny thinge acordinge to his wyll, he heareth vs. And yf we knowe that he heareth vs what so euer we axe, then are we sure that we haue ye peticions, which we haue desyred of him.

Yf eny man se his brother synne a synne not vnto death, let him axe, and he shal geue him life, for thē yt synne not vnto death. There is a Iere. 7. b Mat. 1 . c Ioh 8 b synne vnto death, for the which saye I not that a man shulde praye. All vnrighteousnes is synne, and there is synne not vnto death.

We knowe, that whosoeuer is borne off God, synneth not: but he that is begottē of God, kepeth himselfe, & yt wicked toucheth him not. We knowe that we are of God, & the worlde is set alltogether on wickednes. But we knowe, that the sonne of God is come, Luc. 4. and hath geuen vs a mynde, to knowe him which is true: and we are in him yt is true, in his sonne Iesu Christ. This is the true God, and euer lastinge life. Babes kepe youre selues from ymage

The seconde Epistle of S. Ihon. The summe of this epistle.

He wryteth vnto a certayne lady, reioyseth that her children walke in the trueth, exhorteth thē vnto loue, warneth them to bewarre of soch disceauers as denye that Iesus Christ came in the flesh, prayeth them to contynue in the doctryne of Christ, and to haue nothinge to do with them that bringe not this lernynge.

THE Elder. To ye electe lady and hir childrē whom I loue in the trueth: & not I onely, but all they also that haue knowne the trueth, for the truthes sake which dwelleth in vs, and shalbe with vs for euer.

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you frō the LORDE Iesus Christ ye sonne of the father in the trueth and in loue.

I am greatly reioysed, that I haue founde amonge thy children, them that walke in ye trueth, as we haue receaued a commaundement of the father. And now lady I beseke the (not as though I wrote a new commaundement vnto the, but the same which we haue had from the begynnynge) that we loue one another. And this is the loue, that we walke after his commaundementes.

This is the commaundement (as ye haue herde frō the begynnynge) that we shulde walke therin. . Ioh. 2. c and 4. a For many disceauers are come in to the worlde, which confesse not yt Iesus Christ is come in the flesh: this is a disceauer and an Antechrist. Take hede to youre selues, that we lose not that which we haue wrought, but that we maye receaue a full rewarde. Who so euer transgresseth, and abydeth not in the doctryne of Christ, hath not God: he that abydeth in ye doctryne of Christ, hath both the father and the sonne.

. Tess. 3. b Yf eny man come vnto you, and brynge not this doctryne, receaue him not in to the house, nether salute him: for he that saluteth him, is partaker of his euell dedes. I had 〈◊〉 any thinges to wryte vnto you: neuerthe •••• I wolde not wryte wt papyre and ynke, 〈…〉 to come vnto you, and to 〈…〉 mouth, that oure ioye 〈…〉 hildren of thy electe sister

The thirde Epistle of S. Ihon. The summe of this epistle.

He is glad of Gaius, that he walketh in the trueth: exhorteth him to be louynge vnto the poore christen in their persecucion, sheweth the vnkynde dealynge of Diotrephes, and the good reporte of Demetrius.

THE Elder. To the beloued Gaius, whom I loue in the trueth. My beloued, I wysshe in all thinges, that thou prospere and fare well euen as thy soule prospereth. I reioysed greatly, whan the brethren came, and testified of the trueth that is in ye, how thou walkest in the trueth. I haue no greater ioye, thē to heare that my childrē walke in the trueth.

My beloued, 〈…〉 thou doest faithfully what so euer thou doest to the brethren and to straūgers, which haue borne witnesse of thy loue before the congregacion: and thou hast done well that thou dyddest brynge them forwarde on their iourney, worthely before God. For because of his names sake they wente forth, and toke nothinge of the Heythen. We therfore oughte to receaue soch, that we mighte be helpers vnto the trueth.

I wrote to the congregacion, but Diotriphes, which loueth to haue the preemynence amonge them, receaued vs not. Wherfore, yf I come, I wil declare his dedes which he doeth, ieastinge vpō vs with malicious wordes: nether is he therwith cōtent. Not onely he himselfe receaueth not the brethrē, but also he forbyddeth them that wolde, and thrusteth them out of the congregacion.

My beloued, folowe not yt which is euell, but that which is good. He that doeth well, is of God: but he that doeth euell, seyth not God. Demetrius hath good reporte of all men, and of the trueth: yee and we oure selues also beare recorde, and ye knowe that oure recorde is true. I had many thinges to wryte, but I wolde not with ynke, and pen wryte vnto the. But I trust shortly to se the and so wyl we speake together mouth to mouth. Peace be with the. The louers salute the. Grete the louers by name.

The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Hebrues. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. How God dealt louyngly with thē of the olde tyme in sendynge them his prophetes, but moch more mercy hath he shewed vs in that he sent vs his owne sonne. Of the most excellent glory of Iesus Christ, which in all thinges is like to his father. Chap. II. He exhorteth vs to be obedient vnto the new lawe which Christ hath geuen vs and not to be offended at the infirmite and lowe degre of Christ: & why? it was necessary that for oure sakes he shulde take soch an humble state vpon him, that he might be like vnto his brethren. Chap. III. He requyreth vs to be obedient vnto the worde of Christ, which is more worthy then Moses The punyshment of soch as wyll nedes harden their hertes. Chap. IIII. The Sabbath or rest of the Christen. Punyshment of vnbeleuers. The nature of the worde of God. Chap. V. Christ is oure hye prest, the seate of grace, and more excellent then the hye prestes of the olde lawe. Chap. VI. He goeth forth with the thīge that he beganne in the latter ende of the fyfft chapter, and exhorteth them not to faynt, but to be stedfast and pacient: for so moch as God is sure in his promesse. Chap. VII. He cōpareth the presthode of Christ vnto Melchisedech, but to be farre more excellent. Chap. VIII. The office of Christ is more worthy then the prestes office of the olde lawe, which was vnperfecte, and therfore abrogate. Chap. IX. The profit and worthynesse of the olde Testament, and how farre the new excelleth it. Chap. X. The olde lawe had no power to clē se awaye synne, but Christ dyd it with offerynge vp his body once for all An exhortacion to receaue this goodnesse of God thāk fully with pacience and stedfast faith Chap. XI. What faith is, and a commēdacion of the same. The stedfast beleue of the fathers in olde tyme. Chap. XII. An exhortacion to be pacient and stedfast in trouble and aduersite, vpon hope of euerlastinge rewarde. A commēdacion of the new Testament aboue the olde Chap. XIII. He exhorteth vs vnto loue, to hospitalite, to thinke vpon soch as be in aduersite, to manteyne wedlocke, to avoyde cuvetousnesse, to make moch of thē that preach Gods worde, to bewarre of straunge lernynge, to be content to suffre rebuke with Christ, to be thankfull vnto God, and obedient vnto to oure heades.

The first Chapter.

GOD in tyme past dyuersly & many wayes, spake vnto ye fathers by prophetes, but in these last dayes he hath spoken vnto vs by his sonne, Mat. 28. c whom he hath made heyre of all thinges, by whom also he made the worlde. Sap. 7 d Which (sonne) beynge the brightnes of his glory, & the very ymage of his substaunce, bearinge vp all thinges with the worde of his power, Ephe. 1. a hath in his owne personne pourged oure synnes, and is set on the righte hande of the maiestie on hye: beynge euē as moch more excellēt thē ye angels, as he hath optayned a more excellēt Luc 〈…〉 Phil. 2. a name then they.

For vnto which of the angels sayde he at eny tyme: Psal. 2. a 2. Reg. 7 Thou art my sonne, this daye haue I begotten the? And agayne: Psal. 2. a 2. Reg. 7 I will be his father, & he shalbe my sonne: And agayne, whā he bryngeth in the fyrst begottē sonne in to the worlde, he sayeth: Psal. 96. And all the angels of God shal worshippe him. And of the angels he sayeth: Psal. 103. He maketh his angels spretes, & his mynisters flāmes of fyre. But vnto ye sonne he sayeth: Psal. 44 God, ye seate endureth for euer & euer: the cepter of ye kyngdome is a right cepter. Thou hast loued righteousnes, & hated iniquyte: wherfore God (which is thy God) hath anoynted the with the oyle of gladnesse aboue ye felowes. Psal. 101 And thou LORDE in ye begynnynge hast layed the foundacion of the earth, and ye heauēs are the workes of thy handes, 2. Pet. they shal perishe, but thou shalt endure: they all shal waxe olde as doth a garmēt, and as a vesture shalt thou chaunge them, and they shalbe chaunged. But thou art ye same, and th yeares shal not fayle. Vnto which of the angels sayde he at eny tyme: * Syt thou on my righte hāde, tyll I make thyne enemies thy fote stole? Are they not all mynistry 〈◊〉 spretes, sent to mynister for 〈…〉 , which shalbe heyres of saluacion 〈…〉

The II. Chapter.

WHerfore we ought to geue the more hede vnto the thinges which we haue herde, lest we periszhe. For yf the worde which was spokē by angels, was stedfast, and euery trāsgression and dishobedience receaued a iust recompence of rewarde, how shal we escape, yf we despyse so greate a saluacion: which Marc. 1 b after that it beganne to be preached by the LORDE himselfe, arc. 16. c was confirmed vpon vs, by them that herde it, God bearynge witnesse therto, with tokens, wonders and dyuerse powers, and giftes of the holy goost acordinge to his awne wyll.

For vnto the angels hath he not subdued the worlde to come, wherof we speake. But one in a certayne place witnesseth & sayeth: sal 8. b What is man, that thou art myndefull of him? or the sonne of man, that thou vysitest him? After thou haddest for a litle season made him lower thē ye angels, thou crownedst him with honoure and glory, and hast set him aboue the workes of thy handes. Thou hast put all thinges in subieccion vnder his fete. Cor. 1 . c In that he subdued all thinges vnto him, he lefte nothinge that is not put vnder him. Neuertheles now se we not all thinges yet subdued vnto him. But him, which for a litle season was made lesse then the angels, we se that it is Iesus: which is hil. 2. a crowned with honoure and glory for the sufferynge of death, that he by the grace of God, shulde taist of death for all men. For it became him, for whom are all thinges, and by whō are all thinges (after yt he had broughte many children vnto glory) that he shulde make the LORDE of their saluacion perfecte thorow sufferynge, for so moch as they all come of one, both he that sanctifieth, & they which are sanctified.

For the which causes sake, he is not ashamed to call them brethren, sayenge: •• al. 21. c I will declare thy name vnto my brethren, and in the myddes of the cōgregacion wil I prayse the. And agayne: •• al. 17. a 〈◊〉 . 12. a Esa. 8. d I wyl put my trust in him. And agayne: •• al. 17. a 〈◊〉 . 12. a Esa. 8. d beholde, here am I and my children, which God hath geuen me.

For as moch then as the children haue flesh and bloude. 〈◊〉 2. a he also himselfe likewyse toke parte with them, 〈◊〉 . 13. Cor. 15. f Tim. 1. b yt he thorow death, mighte take awaye ye power of him, which had lordshippe ouer death, that is to saye, ye deuell: & that he mighte delyuer thē which thorow feare of death were all their life tyme in 〈…〉 bōdage. For he in no place taketh on him 〈◊〉 ngels, but ye sede of Abraham tabeth he on him. Wherfore in all thinges it became him to be made 〈…〉 like vnto his brethren, that he mighte be mercyfull and a faithfull hye prest in thinges concernynge God, to make agrement for the synnes of ye people. 〈…〉 For in that he himselfe suffred and was tempted, he is able to sucker them that are tempted.

The III. Chapter.

WHerfore holy brethren, ye that are partakers of the heauēly callynge, consyder the Embasseatour and hye prest of or profession, Christ Iesus, which is faithfull to him that ordeyned him, euen as was 〈…〉 Moses in all his house. But this man is worthy of greater honoure then moses, in as moch as he which prepareth the house, hath greater honoure in it, then the house it selfe. For euery house is prepared of some mā: 〈…〉 but he that ordeyned all thinges, is God. And Moses verely was faithfull in all his house as a mynister, 〈…〉 to beare witnes of those thinges which were to be spoken afterwarde: But Christ as a sonne hath rule ouer his house, 〈…〉 whose house are we, yf we holde fast the confidence and reioysinge of that 〈…〉 hope vnto the ende.

Wherfore, as ye holy goost sayeth: 〈…〉 Todaye yf ye shal heare his voyce, harden not youre hertes, 〈…〉 as in the prouokynke in the daye of temptacion in the wyldernes, where youre fathers tempted me, proued me, and sawe my workes fortye yeares longe. Wherfore I was greued wt that generacion, and sayde: They erre euer in their hertes. But they knewe not my wayes, so that I sware in my wrath, that they shulde not enter into my rest.

Take hede brethren, that there be not in eny of you an euell hert of vnbeleue, to departe from the lyuynge God: but exhorte youre selues daylie, whyle it is called to daye, lest eny of you waxe harde harted thorow ye disceatfulnes of synne. For we are become partakers of Christ, yf we kepe sure vnto ye ende the begynnynge of the substāce, so longe as it is sayde: Todaye, yf ye shal heare his voyce, hardē not youre hertes, as in the prouocaciō. For some whan they herde, prouoked. Howbeit not all they yt came out of Egipte by Moses. But with whom was he displeased fortye yeares longe? Was he not displeased with them yt synned, whose carcases were ouerthrowne in ye wyldernesse? 〈…〉 To whom sware he, yt they shulde not enter in to his rest, but vnto thē yt beleued not? And we se yt they coulde not enter in because of vnbeleue.

The IIII. Chapter.

LEt vs feare therfore, lest eny of vs forsakynge the promes of entrynge in to his rest, shulde seme to come behinde: for it is declared vnto vs as well as vnto thē. But the worde of preachinge helped not thē, whā they that herde it, beleued it not. (For we which haue beleued, enter in to his rest) acordynge as he sayde: Euen as I haue sworne in my wrath, They shal not enter in to my rest. And that (spake he) verely lōge after that the workes frō the begynnynge of the worlde were made: For he spake in a certayne place of the seuēth daye, on this wyse: 〈…〉 And God rested on the seuenth daye from all his workes. And in this place agayne: 〈◊〉 4. b They shal not come in to my rest.

Seynge it foloweth thē, that some must enter there in to: and they, to whom it was first preached, entred not therin for vnbeleues sake, therfore appoynteth he a daye agayne after so longe tyme, and sayeth: Todaye (as it is rehearsed by Dauid) Todaye yf ye shal heare his voyce, then harden not youre hertes. For yf Iosua had geuen them rest, thē wolde he not afterwarde haue spoken, of another daye. Therfore remayneth there yet a rest vnto the people of God. For he that is entred in to his rest, ceasseth from his workes, 〈…〉 as God doth from his

Let vs make haist therfore to enter in to that rest, lest eny man fall after the same ensample of vnbeleue. For ye worde of God is quycke, and mightie in operacion, and sharper thē eny two edged swerde, and 〈…〉 entreth thorow, euen to the deuydinge of the soule & the sprete, and of ye ioyntes & the mary, and is a iudger of the thoughtes & intētes of the hert, nether is there eny creature invisible in ye sighte of him. But all thinges are naked & bare vnto ye eyes of hī of whō we speake.

The V. Chapter.

SEynge then that we haue a greate hye prest, euē Iesus ye sonne of God, which is entred in to heauen, let vs holde oure profession. For we haue not an hye prest which cā not haue cōpassion on or infirmities, but was in all poyntes tēpted, like as we are, but 〈…〉 without synne. Let vs therfore go boldely vnto the 〈…〉 seate of grace that we maye receaue mercy, and fynde grace to helpe in the tyme of nede.

For euery hye prest that is taken frō amō ge men, is ordeyned for men in thinges pertayninge to God, 〈…〉 to offer giftes and sacrifices for synne: which can haue cōpassion on the ignoraunt, and on them that are out of the waye, for so moch as he himselfe also is compased aboute with infirmyte. Therfore is he bounde to offer for synnes, as well for him selfe as for ye people. And nomā taketh ye honoure vnto himselfe, but he that is called of God, Exo. 28. a as was Aaron.

Euen so Christ glorified not himselfe to be made hye prest, but he yt sayde vnto him: Psal. 2. a Thou art my sonne, this daye haue I begotten the. As he sayeth also in another place: Psal. 109. a Thou art a prest for euer after ye order of Melchisedech. Luc. 23. c Ioh. 17. a And in ye dayes of his fleshe, he offred vp prayers & supplicacions, wt strō ge cryenge & teares vnto him yt was able to saue him frō death: & was herde also, because he had God in honoure. Phil. 2. a And though he was Gods sonne, yet lerned he obedience, by those thinges which he suffred. And he beynge made perfecte, became the cause of euerlastinge saluaciō, vnto all thē yt obeye him, and is called of God an hye prest after the order of Melchisedech. Wherof we haue many thinges to saye, which are harde to be vttered, because ye are dull of hearynge. 1. Cor. . a For where as concernynge the tyme ye ought to be teachers, yet haue ye nede agayne, yt we teach you the first preceptes of the worde of God: and are become soch as haue nede of mylke, and not stronge meate. For euery one that is fed yet with mylte, is vnexperte in the worde of righteousnes, for he is but a babe. But stronge meate belongeth vnto them yt are perfecte, which thorow custome haue their wyttes exercysed to iudge both good and euell.

The VI. Chapter.

WHerfore let vs leaue the doctryne pertaynynge to the begynnynge of a Christen life, and let vs go vnto perfeccion: and now nomore laye ye foundacion of repētaunce from deed workes, and of faith towarde God, of baptyme, of doctryne, of layenge on of hādes, of resurreccion of the deed, & of eternall iudgment. And so wil we do Act. 18. c Iaco. 4. b yf God permytte. Heb. 10. For it is not possible, that they which were once lighted, and haue taisted of the heauēly gyfte, and are become partakers of the holy goost, & 2. Pet. 2. a haue taisted of ye good worde of God, and of the power of the worlde to come, yf they fall awaye (and concernynge them selues crucifye the sonne of God afreszhe, and 〈◊〉 mocke off him) that they shulde be 〈◊〉 agayne vnto repentaunce.

For the earth, that drynketh 〈…〉 which commeth oft vpon 〈…〉 forth herbes mete for 〈…〉 receaueth blessynge of God: But yt grounde which beareth thornes and thistles, is nothinge worth, and nye vnto cursynge: whose ende is to be brent. Neuertheles (ye dearly beloued) we trust to se better of you, and yt saluaciō is nyer, though we thus speake. Mat. 25. d For God is not vnrighteous, that he shulde forget youre worke and laboure of loue, which ye shewed in his name, whan ye mynistred vnto the sayntes, and yet mynister. Yee and we desyre, that euery one of you shewe the same diligence, to the stablyshinge of hope euen vnto the ende, that ye faynte not, but folowe them which thorow faith and paciē ce inheret the promyses. For whan God made promes to Abraham, because he had none greater to sweare by, Gen. 22. c he sware by himselfe, and sayde: Surely I wil blesse the and multiplye ye in dede. And so he abode paciētly, and optayned the promes.

As for men, they sweare by him that is greater then them selues: Exo. 22. b and the ooth is the ende of all stryfe to confirme the thinge amōge them. But God, wyllinge very abundauntly to shewe vnto the heyres of promes the stablenes of his councell, added an ooth yt by two immutable thinges (in the which it is vnpossible yt God shulde lye) we mighte haue a stronge consolacion: euen we, which are fled to holde fast the hope that is set before vs, which (hope) we haue as a sure and stedfast anker of oure soule. Which (hope) also entreth in, in to those thinges that are within ye vayle, whither the forerūner is for vs entred in, euē Iesus, which is made an hye prest foreuer after ye order of Melchisedech.

The VII. Chapter.

THis Melchisedech Gen. 14. a kynge of Salem (which beynge prest of the most hye God, met Abraham as he returned agayne from the slaughter of the kynges, & blessed him, vnto whom Abraham also gaue tithes of all the goodes) first is by interpretacion kynge of righteousnes: after that is he kynge of Salem also (that is to saye, kynge of peace) without father, without mother, without kynne, and hath nether begynnynge of dayes, ner ende of life: but is likened vnto the sonne of God, and contynueth a prest for euer.

But cōsider how greate a man this was, to whom the Patriarke Abraham gaue ti hes of the spoyles. 〈…〉 And verely the children 〈…〉 , whan they recea •• the presthode, 〈…〉 •• mmaundement acordynge to the 〈…〉 he tithes of the people, that 〈…〉 their brethrē, though they also came out of the loynes of Abraham.

But he whose kynred is not counted amō ge them, receaued tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promes. Now is it so without all naysayenge, that the lesse receaueth blessynge of ye better. And here men that dye, receaue tithes. But there he receaueth tithes, of whom it is witnessed that he lyueth. And to saye the trueth, Leui himselfe also which receaueth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham: for he was yet in the loynes of his father Abraham, whan Melchisedech met him.

Yf now therfore perfeccion came by the presthode of the Leuites (for vnder the same (presthode) the people receaued the lawe) what neded it then furthurmore, that another prest shulde ryse after the order of Melchisedech, and not after the order of Aaron?

〈…〉 For yf the presthode be trāslated, thē of necessite must the lawe be translated also. For he of whom these thinges are spoken, is of another trybe, of the which neuer man serued at the altare.

For it is euidēt, 〈…〉 that oure LORDE spronge of the trybe of Iuda, to the which trybe Moses spake nothinge cōcernynge presthode, And it is yet a more euident thinge, yf after the symilitude of Mechisedech there aryse another prest, which is not made after ye lawe of the carnall commaundement, but after the power of the endlesse life (For he testifieth: 〈…〉 Thou art a prest for euer after the order of Melchisedech) then the commaundement that wente before, is disanulled, because of his weaknesse, and vnprofitablenes. For the lawe made nothinge perfecte, but was an introduccion of a better hope, by yt which hope we drawe nye vnto God. And for this cause is it a better hope, yt it was not promysed without an ooth. Those prestes were made without an ooth, but this prest with an ooth, by him that sayde vnto him: The LORDE sware, and wyl not repente: Thou art a prest for euer after the order of Melchisedech. Thus is Iesus become a stabliszher of so moch a better Testamēte.

And amonge them many were made prestes, because they were not suffred to endure by the reason of death. But this man, because that he endureth euer, hath an euerlastinge presthode. Wherfore he is able also euer to saue them, that come vnto God by him: & lyueth euer, 〈…〉 to make intercession for vs.

For it became vs to haue soch an hye prest as is holy, innocent, vndefyled, separate from synners, and made hyer then heauen: which nedeth not daylie ( 〈◊〉 . 9. b as yonder hye prestes) to offre vp sacrifice first for his awne synnes, and then for the peoples synnes. For that dyd he once for all, whan he offered vp him selfe. 〈…〉 For the lawe maketh men prestes which haue infirmitie: but the worde of the ooth, that came sence the lawe, maketh the sonne prest, which is perfecte for euermore.

The VIII. Chapter.

OF the thinges which we haue spoken, this is the pyth: 〈…〉 We haue soch an hye prest, that is set on ye righte hande of the seate of maiestie in heauē: and is a mynister of holy thinges, and of the true Tabernacle, which God pitched, & not man. For euery hye prest is ordened to offre giftes and sacrifices: Wherfore it is of necessite, yt this man haue somwhat also to offer. For he were not a prest, yf he were vpon earth, where are prestes yt acordynge to the lawe offer giftes (which prestes serue vnto the ensample and shadowe of heauēly thinges, euen as the answere of God was geuen vnto Moses, whan he was aboute to fynish the Tabernacle: 〈…〉 Take hede (sayde he) that thou make all thinges acordinge to the patrone shewed the in the mount.) But now hath he optayned a more excellent office, in as moch as he is the mediatour of a better Testament, which was made for better promyses. For yf that first (Testament) had bene fautles, then shulde no place haue bene soughte for the secōde. For in rebukynge thē he sayeth: 〈…〉 Beholde, the dayes wyll come (sayeth the LORDE) that I wyl fynish vpō the house of Israel, and vpon the house off Iuda, a new Testament: not as the Testament which I made with their fathers, in that daye whan I toke them by the handes, to lede them out of the londe of Egipte: 〈…〉 for they contynued not in my Testament, and I regarded them not, sayeth the LORDE.

For this is the Testament, that I wil make wt the house of Israell after those dayes, sayeth the LORDE. I wyl geue my lawes in their mynde, and in their hertes wyl I wryte them: 〈…〉 And I wil be their God, and they shal be my people: and they shal not teach euery mā his neghboure, and euery man his brother, sayenge: knowe ye LORDE, for they shal knowe me from the leest to the most of them: for I wil be mercifull ouer their vnrighteousnesses: And on their synnes & on their iniquyties wyl I not thynke eny more. In that he sayeth: A new, he weereth out ye olde. Now yt which is worne out and waxed olde, is ready to vanish awaye

The IX. Chapter.

THat first Tabernacle verely had ordinaunces, and seruynges off God and outwarde holynes. Exod. 25. a For there was made a foretabernacle, wherin was ye candilsticke, and the table, and the Leui. 24. b shewe bred: and this is called ye Holy. But behynde the seconde vayle was the Tabernacle which is called Holiest of all, which had the golden censor, and the Exod. 25. b Arke of the Testament ouerlayed rounde aboute with golde, wherin was the Exod. 16. f golden pot with Manna, and Aarons rodd Num. 17. a that florished, and the tables of the Testament: Aboue therin were the Cherubins off glory ouershadowynge the Mercyseate: Of which thinges it is not now to speake perticularly.

When these thinges were thus ordeyned, the prestes wente allwayes in to the first Tabernacle, and excuted ye seruyce of God. Exo. 30 b Leui. 16 g Luc. 1. a But in to the seconde wente the hye prest alone once in the yeare, not without bloude, which he offred for himselfe and for the ignoraunce of the people. Wherwith the holy goost this signifyeth, that the Ioh. 10. a and 14. a waye of holynes was not yet opened, whyle as yet the first Tabernacle was stondynge. Which was a symilitude for the tyme then present, in the which were offred giftes and sacrifices, and coulde not make perfecte (as partaynynge to the conscience) him, that dyd the Gods seruyce onely with meates and drynkes, and dyuerse waszhinges, and iustifienges of the flesh, which were ordeyned vnto the tyme of reformacion.

But Christ beynge an hye prest of good thinges to come, came by a greater and a more perfecte Esa. 33. c 2. Cor. 5. a Tabernacle, not made with handes, that is to saye, not of this maner buyldynge: nether by the bloude of goates or calues: 1. Ioh. 1. Pet. Apo but by his owne bloude entred he once for all in to the holy place, and hath founde eternall redempcion. For yff the bloude off oxen and off goates, 〈…〉 and the aszhes off the cowe whan it is sprenkled, haloweth the vncleane as touchynge the purificacion of the flesh, How moch more shal the bloude of Christ (which thorow the eternall sprete offred him selfe without spot vnto God) pourge oure conscience from deed workes, 〈…〉 for to serue t •• geuynge God? And for this cause is, & ••• e diatour of the new 〈…〉 thorow death which chaursed 〈◊〉 redempcion of those trāsgressons (that were vnder the first Testament) they which were called mighte receaue the promes of eternall inheritaunce. For where soeuer is a Testament, there must also be the death of him that maketh the testament.

Gal. 3. c For a Testamēt taketh auctorite whan men are deed: for it is of no value, as longe as he that made it is alyue. For the which cause that first Testamēt also was not ordeyned without bloude. For whan all the commaundementes (acordinge to the lawe) were red of Moses vnto all the people, he toke ye bloude of calues and of goates, with water and purple woll and ysope, and sprenkled the boke and all the people, sayenge: * This is the bloude of the Testament, which God hath appoynted vnto you. And the Tabernakle and all the vessels of the Gods seruyce sprenkled he with bloude likewyse. And allmost all thinges are pourged with bloude after the lawe: and without sheddynge of bloude is no remyssion. It is necessary then, that the symilitude of heauenly thinges be purified with soche: but ye heauenly thinges themselues are purified with better sacrifices, then are those.

For Christ is not entred in to the holy places yt are made with handes (which are but symilitudes of true thinges) but in to the very heauen, for to apeare now before the face of God for vs: Not to offer himselfe off Leui. 16. g as the hye prest entreth in to the holy place euery yeare with straunge bloude: for thē must he often haue suffred sence the worlde beganne. But now in the ende of the worlde hath he appeared once, to put synne to flight, by the offerynge vp of himselfe. And as it is appoynted vnto mē yt they shal once dye, and then cōmeth the iudgmēt: Rom. 5. a Pet. 3. c Euē so Christ was once offred, to take awaye the synnes of many. And vnto them that loke for him, shal he appeare agayne without synne vnto saluacion.

The X. Chapter.

FOr the lawe * which hath but the shadowe off good thinges to come, and not the thinges in their awne fashion, can neuer by the sacrifices which they offer yeare by yeare continually, make the commers there vnto perfecte: Els shulde they haue ceassed to haue bene offred, because that the offerers once pourged, shul •• 〈◊〉 had nomore conscience of synnes. 〈…〉 in those sacrifices there is ma e but a ••••• braunce of synnes euery yea e.* For 〈…〉 yt the bloude of oxen nd of goates shulde take awaye synnes. Wherfore whan he commeth in to the worlde, he sayeth: 〈…〉 Sacrifice & offerynge thou woldest not haue, but a body hast thou ordeyned me. Burnt offerynges and synneofferynges hast thou not alowed. Then sayde I: Lo, I come. I the begynnynge of the boke it is wrytten of me, that I shulde do ye wyll O God. Aboue whā he had sayde: Sacrifice and offerynge, and burntsacrifices & syn offerynges thou woldest not haue, nether hast alowed (which yet are offered after ye lawe). Thē sayde he: Lo, I come to do wil thy O God: there taketh he awaye the first, to stablyszhe the latter: In the which wyll we are sanctified by the offerynge vp of the body of Iesus Christ once for all.

And euery prest is ready daylie mynistringe, and oftymes offereth one maner of offerynges, which can neuer take awaye synnes. But this man whan he had offred for synnes, one sacrifice which is of value for euer, sat him downe on the righte hande of God, and from hence forth tarieth, 〈…〉 tyll his foes be made his fote stole. For with one offerynge hath he made perfecte for euer, thē that are sanctified. And the holy goost also beareth vs recorde of this, euen whan he sayde before: 〈…〉 This is the Testament, that I wyl make vnto them after those dayes, sayeth ye LORDE: I wyl geue my lawes in their hertes, and 〈…〉 myndes wyl I wryte them, and their synnes and iniquities wil I remē bre nomore. And where remyssion of these thinges is, there is nomore offerynge for synne.

Seynge now brethrē, that we haue a 〈…〉 fresure intraunce in to that Holy place, by the bloude of Iesu (which he hath prepared vnto vs for a new and lyuynge waye, thorow the vayle, that is to saye, by his flesh) and seynge also that we haue an hye prest ouer the house of God, let vs drawe nye with a true hert in a full faith, sprenkled in oure hertes from an euell conscience, and washed in oure bodies with pure water: and let vs kepe the profession of oure hope without wauerynge (for he is faith full that hath promysed) and let vs considre one another to ye prouokinge of loue and of good workes: and let vs not forsake the fellishippe that we haue amōge oure selues, as the maner of some is: but let vs exhorte one another, and that so moch the more, because ye se that the daye draweth nye.

〈…〉 For yf we synne wylfully after that we haue receaued the knowlege of the trueth, there remayneth vnto vs nomore sacrifice for synnes, but a fearfull lokynge for iudgment; and violente fyre, which shal deuoure ye aduersaries. 〈◊〉 . 17. b 〈◊〉 19. c He yt despyseth Moses lawe, dyeth without mercy vnder two or thre witnesses: Of how moch sorer punyshment (suppose ye) shal he be counted worthy, which treadeth vnder fote the sonne of God, and coūteth the bloude of ye Testamēt (wherby he is sanctified) an vnwholy thinge, & doth dishonoure to the sprete of grace? For we knowe him that hath sayde: 〈◊〉 . 32. c 〈◊〉 . 12. c 〈◊〉 32. c Vengeaunce is myne, I wil recompence, sayeth the LORDE. And agayne: 〈◊〉 . 32. c 〈◊〉 . 12. c 〈◊〉 32. c The LORDE shal iudge his people. It is a fearfull thinge to fall in to the handes of the lyuynge God.

But call ye to remēbraūce ye dayes yt are past, ī yt which after ye had receaued lighte, ye endured a greate fighte off aduersities: partly whyle all mē wōdred & gased at you for the shame and tribulacion that was done vnto you: and partly whyle ye became cō panyons of them which so passed their tyme. For ye haue suffred with my bōdes, and toke a worth ye spoylinge of youre goodes, and that with gladnes, knowynge in youre selues, how that ye haue in heauen a better & an enduringe substaunce. Cast not awaye therfore yor confidence, which hath so greate a rewarde. 〈…〉 For ye haue nede of pacience, that after ye haue done the wil of God, ye mighte receaue the promes. 〈…〉 For yet ouer a litle whyle, and then he that shal come, wyl come, and wyl not tary. 〈…〉 But the iust shal lyue by his faith: And yf he withdrawe himselfe awaye, my soule shal haue no pleasure in him. As for vs, we are not of those which withdrawe them selues to damnacion: but of them that beleue to the wynnynge of the soule.

The XI. Chapter.

FAith is a sure confidence of thinges which are hoped for, and a certaynte of thinges which are not sene. By it ye Elders were well reported of. Thorow faith we vnderstonde, that the worlde and all the thinges which are sene, were made of naughte by the worde of God.

〈◊〉 4. a By faith offered Abell vnto God a more plenteous sacrifice: by the which he optayned wytnesse, that he was righteous: God testifyenge of his giftes, by the which also he beynge deed, yet speaketh.

〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 4. b 〈◊〉 44. b 〈…〉 . c By faith was Enoch takē awaye, that he shulde not se death: and was not founde, because God had taken him awaye. For afore he was taken awaye, he had recorde that he pleased God. But without faith it is vnpossible to please God. For he that commeth vnto God, must beleue that God is, & yt he is a rewarder of them that seke him.

Gen. 6. d Eccli. 4 b By faith Noe honoured God, after yt he was warned of thinges which were not sene, & prepared the Arke, to ye sauinge of his housholde: thorow the which Arke he condemned the worlde, and became heyre of the righteousnes, which commeth by faith.

By faith Abraham (whā he was called) obeyed, to go out in to the place, Gen. 12. a 13 which he shulde afterwarde receaue to inheritaunce: and he wente out, not knowynge whither he shulde go.

By faith was he a straunger in the lōde of promes as in a straunge countre, & dwelt in tabernacles: and so dyd Isaac & Iacob, heyres with him of the same promes: for he loked for a cite which hath a foundacion, whose buylder and maker is God.

By faith Sara also receaued strength to be with childe, Gen. 21. a and was delyuered of a childe whan she was past age, because she iudged him to be faithfull which had promysed. And therfore spronge there of one (yee euen off one which was as good as deed concernynge the body) so many in multitude Gen. 15. a as the starres off the skye, and as the sonde off the See shore, which is innumerable.

All these dyed acordinge to faith and receaued not the promyses, but sawe thē afarre off, and beleued them, and saluted them: Gen. 47. and cōfessed, that they were straungers & pilgrems vpō earth. For they that saye soch thinges, declare, that they seke a naturall countre. And doutles yf they had bene myndefull off that countre from whence they came out, they had leysure to haue returned agayne. But now they desyre a better, that is to saye, a heauēly. Exo. 3. c Mat. 2 . d Wherfore God is not ashamed of thē, euē to be called their God: for he hath prepared a cite for them.

By faith Abrahā offered vp Isaac, whā he was tempted, Gen. 22. a Eccli. 44 and gaue ouer his onely begotten sonne, in whom he had receaued the promyses, of whom it was sayde: In Isaac shal thy sede be called: For he considered, yt God was able to rayse vp agayne from the deed. Therfore receaued he him for an ensample.

By faith Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau, Gen. 27. concernynge thinges to come.

By faith Iacob, whan he was a dyenge, Gen. 4 . c blessed both the sonnes off Ioseph, & bowed himselfe towarde the toppe of his cepter.

By faith Ioseph whan he dyed, Gen. 50. d remembred ye departynge of the childrē of Israel, & gaue cōmaundemēt concernynge his bones.

xod. 2. a By faith Moses whā he was borne, was hyd thre monethes of his Elders, because they sawe that he was a proper childe, nether feared they the kynges cōmaundemēt.

xod. 2. b By faith Moses whan he was greate refused to be called the sonne of Pharao doughter: and chose rather to suffre aduersite with the people of God, then to enioye ye pleasures of synne for a season: and estemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches, then the treasure of Egipte: for he had respecte vnto the rewarde.

By faith he forsoke Egipte, and feared not the fearcenes of the kynge: Exod. 12. f for he endured, euē as though he had sene him which is inuisible.

Exod. 12. b By faith he helde Easter, and the effusion of bloude, lest he which slewe the firstborne, shulde touche them.

Exod. 14 e By faith they passed thorow the reed See as by drye londe: which whā the Egipcians assayed to do, they were drowned.

By faith the walles of Iericho fell, whā they were compased aboute seuen dayes.

By faith the harlot Raab perished not with the vnbeleuers, whā she had receaued the spyes to lodginge peaceably.

And what shal I more saye? yt tyme wolde be to shorte for me to tell of udi. 7.4.4.11. . Reg. 17. . Reg. 12. Gedeon, of udi. 7.4.4.11. . Reg. 17. . Reg. 12.Barac, and of udi. 7.4.4.11. . Reg. 17. . Reg. 12. Samson, & of Iepthae, udi. 7.4.4.11. . Reg. 17. . Reg. 12. and of Dauid, and udi. 7.4.4.11. . Reg. 17. . Reg. 12. Samuel, and of the prophetes, which thorow faith subdued kyngdomes, wroughte righteousnes, optayned ye promyses, stopped ye mouthes of lyōs Dan. 3. quenched the violēce of fyre, escaped ye edge of the swerde, of weake were made stronge, became valeaunt in batayll, turned to flighte the armyes of the aleauntes, . Re. 17. c . Re. 4. d the wemen receaued their deed agayne from resurreccion. But other were racked, and accepted no delyueraunce, that they mighte optayne the resurreccion that better is.

Other taisted of mockinges and scourginges, of bondes also and presonment:3. Re. 21. were stoned, were hewen a sunder, were tempted, were slayne with the swerde, 4. Re. 1. b Mat. 3. a wente aboute in shepe skynnes and goates skynnes, in nede, in tribulacion, in vexacion, which (men) the worlde was not worthy of: they wandred aboute in wyldernesses, vpon mountaynes, in dennes and caues of the earth. And these all thorow faith optayned good reporte, and receaued not ye promes: because God had prouyded a better thinge for vs, that they without vs shulde not be made perfecte.

The XII. Chapter.

WHerfore seynge we haue so greate a multitude of witnesses aboute vs 〈…〉 let vs also laye awaye all yt presseth downe, and the synne that hangeth on, and let vs runne with pacience vnto the batayl that is set before vs, lokynge vnto Iesus ye auctor and fyniszher of faith: 〈…〉 which whan the ioye was layed before him, abode the crosse, and despysed the shame, and is set downe on ye righte hāde of ye trone of God. Cōsidre him therfore that endured soch speakinge agaynst hī of synners, lest ye be weery and faynte in youre myndes: for ye haue not yet resisted vnto bloude, stryuynge agaynst synne, and haue forgotten the consolacion, which speaketh vnto you as vnto children: 〈…〉 My sonne, despyse not the chastenynge off the LORDE, nether faynte whan thou art rebuked of him: 〈…〉 for whō the LORDE loueth, him he chasteneth, yee and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receaueth.

Yf ye endure chastenynge, God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto sonnes. What sonne is that, whom the father chasteneth not? Yf ye be not vnder correccion (wherof all are partakers) then are ye bastardes and not sonnes. Morouer seyenge we haue had fathers off oure flesh which corrected vs, & we gaue them reuerence, shulde we not then moch rather be in subieccion vnto ye father of spirituall giftes, yt we mighte lyue? And they verely for a few dayes nurtred vs after their awne pleasure: but he lerneth vs vnto yt which is profitable, that we mighte receaue of his holynes. No maner chastisynge for the present tyme semeth to be ioyous, but greuous: neuertheles afterwarde it bringeth the quyete frute of righteousnes, vnto them which are exercysed therby. 〈…〉 Life vp therfore the handes which were let downe, and the weake knees, and se that ye haue straight steppes vnto youre fete, lest eny haltinge turne you out of the waye, yee let it rather be healed.

Folowe after peace with all men, and holynes, without the which no man shal se the LORDE, ād loke well, that no mā be destitute of the grace of God, lest there sprynge vp eny bytter rote, and cause disquyetnes, and therby many be defyled: that there be no whoremonger, or vncleane person, as Esau, 〈…〉 which for one meate sake solde his byrth righte. For ye knowe, how that afterwarde whan he wolde haue inhereted the blessynge, he was put by: for 〈…〉 he foūde no place of repētaunce, though he desyred (ye blessynge) with teares. For ye are not come to ye moūt that can be touched 〈◊〉 . 19. c and burneth with fyre, nether yet to myst and darcknes, and tempest of wedder, nether to the sounde of the trompe, and ye voyce of wordes: which they that herde, wyszhed awaye, that the worde shulde not be spoken to them, for they were not able to abyde that which was spoken. 〈◊〉 . 19. b And yf a beest had touched the mountayne, it must haue bene stōed, or thrust thorow with a darte. And so terrible was the sighte which appeared, that Moses sayde: I feare and quake. But ye are come to the mount Sion, and to the cite of the lyuynge God, to the celestiall 〈◊〉 . 21. b Ierusalem, and to the multitude of many thousande angels, and vnto the congregacion of the first borne, which are wrytten in heauen, and to God the iudge of all, and to the spretes of iust and perfecte men, and to Iesus the mediatoure of the new Testament, and to the sprenklynge off bloude, that speaketh better then the bloude of 〈◊〉 . 4. b Abel.

Se that ye despyse not him that speaketh vnto you: for yf they escaped not which refused him that spake on earth, moch more shal we not escape, yf we turne awaye from him that speaketh from heauē: whose voyce shoke the earth at that tyme. But now promyseth he, & sayeth: 〈◊〉 . 2. b Yet once more wyl I shake, not the earth onely, but also heauen. No doute that same that he sayeth yet once more, signifieth the remouynge awaye of those thinges which are shaken, as off thinges which are made: that ye thinges which are not shakē, maye remayne. Wherfore, seynge we receaue the vnmoueable kyngdome, we haue grace, 〈◊〉 . 2. a wherby we maye serue God, & please him, with reuerence and godly feare. 〈◊〉 4. d For oure God is a consumynge fyre.

The XIII. Chapter.

LEt brotherly loue cōtynue. 〈◊〉 18. a 〈◊〉 . 19. a 〈◊〉 . 1 . b 〈◊〉 . 4. b Be not forgetfull to lodge straungers: for therby haue dyuerse receaued angels in to their houses vnawares. Remembre them that are in bondes, euē as though ye were bounde with them: and be myndefull off them which are in aduersite, as ye which are also in the bodye. Let wedlocke be had in pryce in all poyntes, & let ye chamber be vndefyled. For whorekepers and aduouterers God wil iudge. Let youre conuersacion be without couetousnes, 〈◊〉 . 29. d and be content with that ye haue allready, for he hath sayde: 〈◊〉 . 31. b 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 55. a 〈◊〉 17. a I wyl not fayle the nether forsake the, so that we maye boldely saye: 〈◊〉 . 31. b 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 55. a 〈◊〉 17. a The LORDE is my helper, and I wyl not feare what man maye do vnto me. Remembre thē which haue the ouersighte of you, which haue declared vnto you the worde of God. The ende of whose cōuersacion se that ye loke vpon, and folowe their faith.

Iesus Christ yesterdaye and Heb. 3. b Todaye, & the same cōtinueth foreuer. Be not caried aboute wt dyuerse and straunge lernynges: for it is a good thinge that the herte be stablyszhed with grace, and not with meates, which haue not profited them, that haue had their pastyme in them. We haue an altare, wherof they haue no power to eate, which serue in the Tabernacle. For the bodies of those beestes Exo. 29. Num 19 Leuit. 4 whose bloude is broughte in to the holy place by ye hye prest to pourge synne, are brent without the tētes. Therfore Iesus also, to sanctifye ye people by his awne bloude, Ioh. 19. b suffred without ye gate. Let vs go forth therfore out of the tentes, and suffre rebuke with him: Phil. 3. c for here haue we no contynuynge cite, but we seke one to come.

Psal. 91. Let vs therfore by him offre allwayes vnto God the sacrifice of prayse: that is to saye, the frute of those lippes which confesse his name. To do good and to destribute forget not, Phil. 4. for wt soch sacrifices God is pleased. Obey them that haue the ouersighte off you, and submytte youre selues vnto them: for they watch for youre soules, euen as they that must geue accōptes therfore, that they maye do it with ioye, and not with grefe: for that is an vnprofitable thinge for you. Praye for vs. We haue confidence, because we haue a good cōscience in all thinges, and desyre to lyue honestly. But I desyre you ye more abundauntly, that ye so do, yt I maye be restored vnto you the more quyckly.

The God of peace (that broughte agayne frō the deed oure LORDE Iesus the Eze. 34. Ioh. 10 a 1. Pet. 5. a greate shepherde of the shepe thorow the bloude of the euerlastinge Testament) make you perfecte in all good workes, to do his wyll, workynge in you that which is pleasaunt in his sighte thorow Iesus Christ, to whom be prayse for euer and euer Amen. I beseke you brethren, suffre the worde of exhortacion, for I haue wrytten vnto you in few wordes. Knowe or brother Timotheus, whom we haue sent from vs, with whom (yf he come shortly) I wil se you. Salute thē that haue the ouersighte of you and all ye sayntes. The brethren of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all, Amen.

Sent from Italy by Timotheus.

The Epistle of S. Iames. The summe of this epistle. Chap. I. He exhorteth to reioyse in trouble, to be feruent in prayer with stedfast beleue, to loke for all good thinges from aboue, to forsake all vyce: and thankfully to receaue the worde of God, not onely hearynge it and speakynge of it, but to do therafter in dede. True religion or deuocion what it is. Chap. II. He forbyddeth to haue eny respecte of personnes, but to regarde the poore as wel as the ryche, to be louynge and mercifull, and not to boast of faith where no dedes are: for it is but a deed faith, where good workes folowe not. Chap III. What good and euell commeth thorow the tonge. The dutye of soch as be lerned. The difference betwixte the wyszdome of the gospell and the wyszdome of the worlde. Chap. IIII. Warre and fightinge commeth of volupteousnesse. The frendishipe of the worlde is enemyte before God. An exhortacion to flye slaunder and the vanite of this life. Chap. V. He threateneth the wicked rych mē, exhorteth vnto pacience, to bewarre of swearynge, one to knowlege his fautes to another, one to praye for another, and one to laboure to brynge another to the trueth.
The first Chapter.

IAmes the seruaunt of God and of the LORDE Iesus Christ, sendeth gretinge to the xij. trybes which are ct. 8. a scatered here & there. My brethren, counte it exceadynge ioye whē ye fall in to diuers temptacions, for as moche as ye knowe, how yt the o. 5. a . Pet. 1. b ach. 13. b tryinge of youre faith bringeth pacience: and let pacience haue her parfect worke, yt ye maye be parfecte and sounde, lakinge nothinge.

ro. 2. a Yf eny of you lacke wyszdome, let him axe of God, which geueth to all men indifferentlie, and casteth no man in the teth: and it shal be geuē him. But let him axe in faith and wauer not. For he that douteth, is lyke the wawes of ye See, tost of the wynde, and caried wt violence. Nether let yt man thinke that he shal receaue eny thīge of ye LORDE. A wauerynge mynded mā ys vnstable in all his waies.

Let the brother of lowe degre reioyce, in yt he is exalted: and the rich, in yt he is made lowe. For euē as the flor of ye grasse shal he vanyshe awaye. The Sonne ryseth wt heat and the grasse wydereth, & his floure falleth awaye, and the beautie of the fassion of it periszheth: euen so shal the ryche man perisshe with his abundaunce.

Happy is the man that endureth in tēptacion, for when he is tryed, Iob. 〈…〉 he shal receaue the crowne of life, which the LORDE hath promised to them that loue him.

Let no man saye when he is tempted, yt he is tempted of God. For God tēpteth not vnto euell, nether tēpteth he eny man. But euery mā is tēpted, drawne awaye, & entysed of his awne cōcupiscēce. Thē whē lust hath conceaued, she bringeth forth synne, & synne when it is fynished, bringeth forth deeth.

Erre not my deare brethrē. Pro. 〈…〉 Ioh. 〈…〉 Euery good gifte, & euery parfait gift, is from aboue, and cōmeth downe from ye father of light, with whom is no variablenes, nether is he chaunged vnto darcknes. Ioh. 〈…〉 1. Co 〈…〉 Of his awne will begat he vs with the worde of life, that we shulde be the fyrst frutes of his creatures.

Pro 〈…〉 Ecc . 〈…〉 Wherfore deare brethren, let euery man beswifte to heare, slowe to speake, and slowe to wrath. For the wrath of mā worketh not that which is righteous before God.

Wherfore laye aparte all fylthines, all superfluite of maliciousnes, & receaue with meknes ye worde yt is grafted in you, which is able to saue youre soules. 〈…〉 And se that ye be doers of ye worde & not heares only deceauinge youre awne selues. 〈…〉 For yf eny heare the worde, and do it not, he is like vnto a mā that beholdeth his bodily face in a glasse. For assone as he hath loked on him selfe, he goeth his waye, and forgetteth immediatly what his faszhion was. 〈…〉 But who so loketh in ye perfect lawe of libertie, and continueth therin (yf he be not a forgetfull hearer, but a doar of the worke) the same shalbe happie in his dede.

Yf eny man amonge you seme deuoute, & refrayne not his tōge: but deceaue his awne herte, this mannes deuocion is in vayne. Pure deuocion and vndefiled before God the father, is this: to visit the frendlesse and widdowes in their aduersite, and to kepe him selfe vnspotted of the 〈…〉 worlde.

The II. Chapter.

BRethren, haue not the faith of oure LORDE Iesus Christ ye LORDE of glory in 〈…〉 respecte of persons. Yf ther come in to yor cōpany a mā wt a goldē rynge and in goodly aparell, & ther come in also a poore man in vyle raymēt, & ye haue a respecte to him yt weareth the gaye clothinge & saye vnto hī: Sit thou here ī a good place, & saye vnto ye poore, stonde thou there or sit here vnder my fote stole: are ye not parciall in youre selues, and haue iudged after euyll thoughtes?

Harken my deare beloued brethrē. at. 5. a Hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde, which are ryche in faith, and heyres of the kyngdom which he promysed to thē that loue him? But ye haue despised the poore. Are not the rych they which oppresse you: & they which drawe you before iudges? Do not they speake euell of that good name after which ye be named.

Yf ye fulfill the royall lawe acordinge to the scripture which saith: uit. 19. c Thou shalt loue thyne neghbour as thy selfe, ye do well. But yf ye regarde one person more then another, ye cōmit synne, and are rebuked of the lawe as tr āgressours. ec. 18. b Whosoeuer shal kepe the whole lawe, and yet fayle in one poynt, he is gyltie in all. For he that sayde: 〈◊〉 . 0. c Thou shalt not commit adulterie, sayed also: thou shalt not kyll. Though thou do none adulterie, yet yf thou kill, thou art a transgresser of the lawe. So speake ye, and so do as they that shalbe iudged by the lawe of libertie. 〈◊〉 . 18. d For ther shalbe iudgement merciles to him that sheweth no mercy, & mercy reioiseth against iudgment.

〈◊〉 . 7. c What a vayleth it my brethrē, though a man saye he hath faith, when he hath no dedes? Can faith saue him? 〈◊〉 3. c If a brother or a sister be naked or destitute of dayly fode, & one of you saye vnto them: Departe in peace, God sende you warmnes and fode: not withstōdinge ye geue them not tho thinges which are nedfull to the body: what helpeth it them? Euen so faith, yf it haue no dedes, is deed in it selfe.

Ye & a man might saye: Thou hast faith, and I haue dedes: Shewe me thy faith by thy dedes: and I wil shewe the my faith by my dedes. Beleuest thou yt ther is one God? Thou doest well. 〈…〉 . d 〈◊〉 . 1. c The deuils also beleue and tremble.

Wilt thou vnderstōde o thou vayne man that faith with out dedes is deed: Was not Abraham oure father iustified thorow workes when he offered Isaac his sonne vpon the aulter? Thou seist how yt faith wrought with his dedes, and through ye dedes was the faith made perfect: & the scripture was fulfilled which faith: 〈◊〉 . 1 . b 〈◊〉 . 4. b 〈◊〉 1. a Abrahā beleued God and it was reputed vnto him for rightewesnes: and he was called ye frende of God. Ye se then how that of dedes a man is iustified, and not of faith only 〈…〉 Likewise also was not Raab the harlot iustified thorow workes, when she receaued the messengers, and sent them out another waye? For as the body, with oute the sprete is deed, euen so faith wt out dedes is deed.

The III. Chapter.

MY brethrē, be not euery man a Mat. 23. master, remēbrynge how that we shall receaue the more damnacion: for in many thinges we synne all. Eccli. 14 19. c. 25. b Yf a man synne not in worde, the same is a parfecte man, & able to tame all the body. Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes yt they shulde obeye vs, and we turne aboute all the body. Beholde also ye shyppes, which though they be so gret, and are dryuen of fearce windes, yet are they turned about with a very smale helme, whither soeuer the violence of the gouerner wyll. Euen so the tōge is a lyttell member, and bosteth great thinges.

Beholde how gret a thinge a lyttell fyre kyndleth, and the tonge is fyre, and a worlde of wyckednes. So is the tonge set amonge oure membres, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth a fyre all that we haue of nature, and is it selfe set a fyre euen of hell.

All the natures of beastes, and of byrdes, and of serpentes, and thinges of the see, are meked and tamed of the nature of mā. But the tōge can no man tame. Yt is an vnruely euell full of deedly poyson. Therwith blesse we God the father, and therwith cursse wemen which Gen. 1. are made after the similitude of God. Out of one mouth proceadeth blessynge and cursynge. My brethrē these thinges ought not so to be. Doth a fountayne sende forth at one place swete water and bytter also? Can the fygge tree, my Brethren, beare oliue beries: ether a vyne beare fygges? So can no fountayne geue bothe salt water and freszhe also. If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you, let him shewe the workes of his good cōuersacion in meknes that is coupled with wiszdome.

But yf ye haue bitter enuyenge and stryfe in yor hertes, reioyce not: nether belyars agaynst the trueth. This wiszdome descendeth not from aboue: but is erthy, and naturall, and dyuelishe. For where enuyenge and stryfe is, there is vnstablenes and all māner of euell workes. But the wiszdom that is frō aboue, is fyrst pure, thē peasable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good frutes, without iudgynge, and without simulacion: yee, and the frute of rightewesnes is sowen in peace, of thē that mayntene peace.

The IIII. Chapter.

FRom whence commeth warre and fightynge amonge you: come they not here hence? euen of yor volupteousnesses that rayne in youre mēbres? Ye lust, and haue not. Ye envie and haue indignacion, and can not obtayne. Ye fight & warre, and haue not, because ye axe not. Ye axe & receaue not because ye axe amysse: euē to cōsume it vpō yor voluptuousnes. Ye aduouterars, & wemē that breke matrimonie: knowe ye not oh. 2. c 〈◊〉 . 1. b how that the frenshippe of ye worlde is ennimite to godwarde? Whosoeuer wilbe a frende of the worlde, is made ye enemie of god. Ether do ye thinke yt the scripture sayth in vayne. The 〈◊〉 . 5. c sprete yt dwelleth in you, lusteth euen contrary to enuie: but geueth more grace.

Submit youre selues to God, and et. 5. b resist the deuell, & he wil flye frō you. Drawe nye to God & he wil drawe nye to you. Clense yor hondes ye synners, and pourge youre hertes ye wauerynge mynded. Suffre affliccions: sorowe ye and wepe. Let youre laughter be turned to mornynge, and youre ioye to heuynes. Pet. 5. a Cast downe youre selues before the LORDE, and he shal lift you vp. Backbyte not one another, brethren. He that backbyteth his brother, and he yt iudgeth his brother, backbyteth the lawe, and iudgeth the lawe. But and yf thou iudge the lawe, thou art not an obseruer of the lawe: but a iudge. There is one lawe geuer, which is able to saue and to distroye. Ro. 14. a What art thou that iudgest another man?

ze. 18. a Luc. 12. b Go to now ye that saye: to daye & to morow let vs go into soche a citie and continue there a yeare, and bye and sell, and wynne: & yet cā not tell what shal happē to morowe. For what thinge is youre life? It is euen a vapoure that apereth for a lytell tyme, and thē vanysheth awaye: For that ye ought to say: Act. 28. a Heb. 6. a yf the LORDE wil, and yf we liue, let vs do this or that. But nowe ye reioyce in youre bostinges. All soche reioysynge is euell. Therfore Luc. 12. c to him that knoweth how to do good, and doth it not, to him it is synne.

The V. Chapter.

BOo to now ye riche men. Wepe, and howle on yo wretchednes that shal come vpon you.1. Tim. 6. b Youre riches is corrupte, youre garmētes are motheaten. Youre golde & yo siluer are cancred, & the rust of them shalbe a witnes vnto you, & shal eate youre fleszhe, as it were fyre. Ye haue heaped treasure togedder in yo last dayes: Leui. 19. c Deut. 24. c Tob. 4. c Beholde, the hyre of the labourers which haue reped downe youre feldes (which hyer is of you kept backe by fraude) cryeth: and the cryes of thē which haue reped, are entred in to the eares of the LORDE Sabaoth. Ye haue liued in pleasure on the earth and in wantannes. Ye haue noryszhed youre hertes, Luc 〈…〉 as in adaye of slaughter. Ye haue cōdempned and haue killed the iust, and he hath not resisted you.

Be pacient therfore brethren, vnto the cō mynge of the LORDE. Beholde, the huszbā de man wayteth for the precious frute of ye earth, and hath longe pacience there vpon, vntill he receaue the erly and the latter rayne. Be ye also pacient therfore, and settle youre hertes, for the commynge of the LORDE draweth nye. Grodge not one agaynst another brethren, lest ye be damned. Beholde, the iudge stondeth before the dore. Take (my brethren) the prophetes for an ensample of sufferynge aduersitie, and of longe pacience, which spake in the name of the LORDE. Beholde we counte them happy which endure. Ye haue hearde 〈…〉 of ye paciēce of Iob, and haue knowen what ende the LORDE made. For the LORDE is very pitifull and mercifull.

But aboue all thinges my brethrē, sweare not, nether by heauē, nether by earth, nether by eny other othe. Let youre ye be ye, 〈…〉 and yo naye naye: lest ye faule in to ypocricy. Yf eny of you be euell vexed, let hī praye. Yf eny of you be mery, let him singe Psalmes. Yf eny be deseased amonge you, let him call for the elders of the congregacion, & let thē praye ouer him, and anoynte him with oyle in the name of the LORDE: and ye prayer of faith shal saue the sicke, and the LORDE shal rayse him vp: and yf he haue cōmitted synnes, they shalbe forgeuen him.

Knowlege youre fautes one to another: and praye one for another, that ye maye be healed. The prayer of a righteous man auayleth moche, yf it be feruēt. 〈…〉 Helias was a mā mortall euen as we are, and he prayed in his prayer, that it might not rayne: & it rayned not on the earth by the space of thre yeares and sixe monethes. 〈…〉 And he prayed agayne, and ye heauē gaue rayne, & ye earth brought forth her frute.

Brethren, yf eny of you erre frō the trueth and another conuert him, let ye same knowe that he which conuerted the synner from goynge astraye out off his waye, shal saue a soule frō death, and shal hyde the multitude of synnes.

The ende of the epistle of S. Iames.
The Epistle of S. Iude. The summe of this epistle.

He rebuketh soch as beynge blynded with their owne lustes, resist the trueth, & that we maye knowe them the better, he sayeth they be soch as synne beastly agaynst nature, and despise rulers &c. He exhorteth vs to edifie one another, to praye in the holy goost, to continue in loue, to loke for the cōmynge of the LORDE, and one to helpe another out of the fyre.

IVdas the seruaunt of Iesus Christ, the brother off Iames. To thē which are called, and sanctified in God the father, and preserued in Iesu Christ. Mercy vnto you, and peace and loue be multiplied.

Beloued, when I gaue all diligence to wryte vnto you of the commen saluacion: it was nedefull for me to wryte vnto you, to exhorte you, that ye shulde continually laboure in the faith which was once geuē vnto the sayntes. 〈…〉 For there are certayne craftely crept in, of which it was wrytten afore tyme vnto soche iudgement. They are vngodly, and turne the grace of oure God vnto wantānes, and denye God the onely LORDE, and oure LORDE Iesus Christ.

My minde is therfore to put you in remē braūce, for as moche as ye once knowe this, how that ye LORDE (after that he had deliuered the people out of Egipt) destroyed them which afterwarde beleued not. 〈…〉 The angels also which kept not their first estate: but lefte their awne habitacion, he hath reserued in euerlastinge chaynes vnder darcknes vnto the iudgement of the greate daye: euen as 〈◊〉 9. c Sodom and Gomor, and the cities aboute them (which in lyke maner defiled them selues with fornicacion and folowed straunge fleszhe) are set forth for an ensample, and suffre the vengeaunce of eternall fyre. Lykewyse these dremers defyle the fleszhe despyse rulers, and speake euell of them that are in auctoritie.

〈◊〉 3 a Yet Michael the archangell when he stroue agaynst the deuell, & disputed aboute the body of Moses, durst not geue raylinge sentence, but sayde: the LORDE rebuke the. 〈…〉 But these speake euell off those thinges which they knowe not: and what thinges they knowe naturally, as beastes which are without reason, in tho thinges they corrupte them selues. Wo be vnto thē, Gen. 4. a Nu. 24. a Num. 16. for they haue folowed the waye of Cain, and are vtterly geuē to the erroure of Balaam for lukers sake, and peryszhe in the treason of Core.

These are spottes which of youre kindnes feast togedder, without feare, fedynge thē selues. Cloudes they are withouten water,2. Pet. 2. d caried about of wyndes, and trees without frute at gadringe tyme, twyse deed and plucked vp by the rotes. They are the ragynge waues of the see, fominge out their awne shame. They are wandrynge starres, to whō is reserued the myst of darcknes for euer.

Apoc. 1. a Esa. . c Enoch the seuenth from Adam prophecied before of suche, saienge: Beholde, the LORDE shal come with thousandes of sayntes, to geue iudgemēt agaynst all men, and to rebuke all that are vngodly amonge thē, of all their vngodly dedes, which they haue vngodly committed, and of all their cruell speakynges, which vngodly synners haue spoken agaynst him.

These are murmurers, complaners, walkynge after their awne lustes, whose mouthes speake proude thynges. They haue mē in greate reuerence because of avauntage. But ye beloued, remēber the wordes which were spoken before of the Apostles of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, how that they tolde you yt their shulde be begylers in the last tyme,1. Tim. 4. a 2. Tim. 3. a 2. Pet. . a which shulde walke after their awne vngodly lustes. These are makers off sectes fleshlie, hauynge no sprete.

But ye derlye beloued, edifye youre selues in youre most holy faith, prayenge in the holy goost, and kepe youre selues in the loue of God, lokinge for the mercy of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, vnto eternall life. And haue cō passion on some, separatinge thē: and other saue with feare, pullinge them out of the fyre, and hate the fylthy vesture of the fleshe.

Vnto him that is able to kepe you, that ye faule not, and to present you fautlesse before ye presence of his glory with ioye, yt is to saye, to God oure saueoure which only is wyse, be glory, maiestie, dominion, & power, now and for euer. Amen.

The Apocalips or reuelacion of S. Ihon. The summe of the Reuelacion. Chap. I. Happie are they that heare the worde of God and kepe it. He wryteth to the seuen congregaciōs in Asia, seyth seuē candilstickes, and in the myddest of them, one like vnto the sonne of man. Chap. II. He exhorteth foure congregacions to amende, and sheweth the rewarde of him that ouer commeth. Chap. III. He instructeth and enfourmeth the angels of thre cōgregacions, declaringe also the rewarde of him that ouercommeth. Chap. IIII. He seyth the heauen open, and the seate and one syttinge vpon it, and xxiiij seates aboute it with xxiiij. elders syttinge vpon thē, and foure beastes praysinge God daye and night. Chap. V. He seyth the lābe openynge the boke, and therfore the foure beastes, the xxiiij elders and the angels prayse the lambe and do him worshipe. Chap. VI. The lambe openeth the vi. seales, & many thinges folowe the openynge therof. Chap. VII. He seyth the seruauntes of God sealed in their foreheades out of all nacions and people: which though they suffre trouble, ye the lambe fedeth thē, ledeth them to the fountaynes of lyuynge water, and God shal wype awaye all teares from their eyes. Chap. VIII. The seuenth seale is opened, there is sylence in heauen: the foure angels blowe their trompettes, and greate plages folowe vpon the earth. Chap. IX. The fifth and sixte angell blowe their tompettes: the starre falleth from heauen: the locustes come out of the smoke: The first wo is past: the foure angels that were bounde are lowsed, and the thirde parte of mē is kylled. Chap. X. The angell hath the boke open, he sweareth there shalbe nomore tyme: he geueth the boke vnto Ihon, which eateth it vp. Chap. XI. The temple is measured, The seconde wo is past. Chap. XII. The seuenth angel bloweth his trō pet: There apeareth in heauen a woman clothed with the Sonne: Michael fighteth with the dragon, which persecuteth the woman. Chap. XIII. A beest ryseth out of the see with seuen heades and ten hornes. Another beest commeth out of the earth with two hornes. Chap. XIIII. The lābe stondeth vpon the mount Sion, and the vndefyled congregacion with him: The angell exhorteth to the feare of God and telleth of the fall of Babilon. Chap. XV. He seyth seuen angels, hauynge seuen vyalles full of wrath. Chap. XVI. The angels poure out their vyalles. Chap. XVII. He descrybeth the woman syttinge vpon the beast with ten hornes. Chap. XVIII. The louers of the worlde are sory for the fall off Babilon, but they that be off God, haue cause to reioyse for hir destruccion. Chap. XIX. Prayse and thankes are geuē vnto God for iudginge the whore, and for auenginge the bloude of his seruaūtes. The angel wyl not be worshipped. The foules and byrdes are called to the slaughter. Chap. XX. The dragon is b ūde for a thousande yeares. The deed arise, and receaue iudgment. Chap. XXI. In this chapter is descrybed the new and spirituall Ierusalem. Chap. XXII. The ryuer of the water of life, the frutefulnesse and light of the cite of God. The LORDE geueth euer his seruauntes warnynge of thinges for to come: The angel wyl not be worshipped. To the worde of God maye nothinge be added ner mynished there from.

The first Chapter.

THE reuelacion of Iesus Christ, which God gaue vnto him, for to shewe vnto his seruaūtes thīges which muste shortly come to passe. And he sent and shewed by his angel vnto his seruaunt Ihon 〈…〉 which bare recorde of the worde of God, and of the testimony of Iesus Christe, and of all thinges that he sawe. 〈…〉 Happy is he yt readeth, and they that heare the wordes of the prophesy and kepe thoo thinges which are wrytten therin. For the tyme is at honde.

Ihon to the seuen cōgregacions in Asia. Grace be with you & peace, frō him which is and which was, and which is to come, & frō the seuen spretes which are present before his trone, and from Iesus Christ which is a faithfull witnes, and first begotten of the deed: & LORDE ouer ye kinges of the earth. Vnto him that loued vs and weszhed vs frō synnes in his awne 〈…〉 bloud, and made vs kinges & Prestes vnto God his father, be glory, and dominion for euer more. Amen. Beholde, he commeth with cloudes, and all eyes shall se him: 〈…〉 & they also which peersed him. And all kinredes of the earth shal wayle. Euen so. Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the begynninge and the endinge, 〈…〉 sayeth ye LORDE almighty, which is and which was and which is to come.

I Ihon youre brother and cōpanyon in tribulacion, and in the kyngdome and paciē ce which is in Iesu Christe, was in the yle of Pathmos for the worde of God, and for ye witnessynge of Iesu Christe. I was in the sprete on a sondaye, and herde behynde me, a gret voyce, as it had bene of a trompe, sayenge: I am Alpha and Omega, the fyrst and ye laste. That thou seist, write in a boke, and sende it vnto the cōgregacions which are in Asia, vnto Ephesus and vnto Smyrna, and vnto Pargamos, and vnto Thiatira, and vnto Sardis, and vnto Philadelphia, and vnto Laodicia.

And I turned backe to se the voyce that spake to me. And whē I was turned: I sawe seuē goldē candestyckes, and in the myddes of the candelstyckes, 〈…〉 one like vnto the sonne of man clothed with a lynnin garmēt downe to the ground, and gyrd aboute the brest with a golden gyrdle. His heed, and his heares were whyte, as whyte woll, & as snowe: 〈…〉 and his eyes were as a flamme of fyre: and his fete like vnto brasse, as though they brēt in a fornace: and his voyce as the sounde of many waters. And he had in his right honde seuē starres. 〈…〉 And out of his mouth went a sharpe two edged swearde. And his 〈…〉 face shone euen as the sonne in his strength.

And when I sawe him, I fell at his fete, euen as deed. And he layde his right honde vpon me, sayenge vnto me: feare not. I am the fyrst, and the laste, and am alyue, and was deed. And beholde, I am alyue foreuer more 〈…〉 and haue the kayes of hell & of deth. Wryte therfore the thinges which thou hast sene, and the thinges which are, and ye thinges which shalbe fulfylled here after: & the mistery of the seuen starres which thou sawest in my right honde, and the seuen golden candelstickes. The seuen starres are the angels of the seuē congregacions: And the seuen candelstyckes which thou sawest, are the seuen congregacions.

The II. Chapter.

VNto the angell of the congregacion of Ephesus wryte: These thinges sayth he that holdeth the seuen starres in his righthonde, and walketh in the myddes of the seuen goldē candelstickes: I knowe thy workes, and thy labour, and thy pacience, & howe thou cannest not for beare them which are euell: and examinest them which saye they are Apostles, and are not: & hast founde thē lyars and hast suffred. And hast paciēce: and for my names sake hast laboured and hast not faynted. Neuerthelesse I haue somwhat agaynst the, for thou hast lefte thy fyrst loue. Remember therfore frō whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the fyrst workes. Luc. 13. a Or elles I wyl come vnto the shortly, and wil remoue thy cādelstycke out of his place, excepte thou repent. But this thou hast because thou hatest ye dedes of the Act. 6. a Nicolaitans, which dedes I also hate. Let him yt hath eares, heare, what ye sprete saith vnto the congregacions. To him that ouercommeth, will I Gen. 2. b geue to eate of the tree of life, which is in the myddes of ye paradise of God.

And vnto the angell of the congregacion of Smyrna wryte: These thinges saith he that Esa. 41. a is fyrst, and the last, which was deed, and is aliue: I knowe thy workes and tribulacion and pouerte, but thou art ryche: And I knowe the blaspheny of them which call them selues Iewes and are not: but are the cōgregacion of Sathan. Feare none of tho thinges which thou shalt soffre. Beholde, ye deuell shal cast of you in to preson, to tempte you, and ye shal haue tribulacion x. dayes. Be faithfull vnto the deeth, and I wil geue ye a crowne of life. Let him that hath ears, heare, what the sprete saith to the congregacions: He that ouer cōmeth, shal not be hurte of the seconde deeth.

And to the angell of the congregacion in Pergamos wryte: This sayth he which Heb. 4. c hath the sharpe swearde with two edges: I knowe thy workes, and where thou dwellest, euen where Sathans seat is, and thou kepest my name, & hast not denyed my faith. And in my dayes Antipas was a faithfull witnes of myne, which was slayne amonge you, where Sathan dwelleth. But I haue a fewe thinges agaynst the: that thou hast there, thē that manyntayne the doctryne of Num. 25. a and 31. c Balaam, which taught in Balak, to put occasion of syn before the children of Israell, that they shulde eate of meate dedicat vnto ydoles, and to commyt fornicacion. Euen so hast thou the •• that mayntayne ye doctryne of the Nicolaytans, which thinge I hate. But be cōuerted, or elles I wil come vnto the shortly, and wil fight agaynste thē with the swearde of my mouth. Let him yt hath eares, heare, what the sprete saith vnto the cōgregacions: To him that ouer commeth, wil I geue to eate māna that is hyd, and wil geue him a whyte stone, & in the stone a new name wryttē, which no man knoweth, sauinge he that receaueth it.

And vnto the angell of the cōgregacion of Theatira write: This saith the sonne of God, Apo 1. c 19. c which hath his eyes lyke vnto a flame of fyre, whose fete are like brasse: I knowe thy workes and thy loue, seruice, and faith and thy pacience, and thy dedes, which are mo at the last then at the firste. Notwithstondinge I haue a feawe thinges agaynst the, that thou sufferest that woman 3. Re. 16. d 4. Re. 9. c Iesabell (which called her selfe a prophetisse) to teache and to deceaue my seruauntes, to make them committ fornicacion, and to eate meates offered vp vnto ydoles. And I gaue her space to repēt of her fornicacion, and she repented not. Beholde, I wil cast her into a bed, and them that commit fornicacion with her, in to gret aduersite, excepte they turne from their dedes. And I wil kyll her childrē with deeth. And all the cōgregaciōs shal knowe, yt I am he which searcheth the reynes and hertes. And I wil geue vnto euery one of you acordynge vnto youre workes.

Vnto you I saye, and vnto other of thē of Thiatyra, as many as haue not this lernynge and which haue not knowen the depnes of Sathan (as they saye) I wil put vpō you none other burthen, but yt which ye haue already. Holde fast tyll I come, and whosoeuer ouercōmeth and kepeth my workes vnto ye ende, Psal. 2. b Apoc. 19. c to him wil I geue power ouer nacions, and he shal rule them with a rodde of yron: and as the vessels of a potter, shal he breake them to sheuers. Euē as I receaued of my father, so wil I geue him yt mornynge starre. Let him yt hath eares, heare, what the sprete sayth to the cōgregacions.

The III. Chapter.

ANd wryte vnto the angell of the congregacion off Sardis: this sayth he that hath the seuen spretes of God, & the seuen starres. I knowe thy workes, thou hast a name that thou lyuest, and thou art deed. Be awake, and strength the thinges which remayne, that are redy to dye. For I haue not founde thy workes perfecte before God. Remember therfore how thou hast receaued and hearde, and holde fast, and repent. Mat. 24. d 1. Tess. 5. a 2 Pet. 3. b Yf thou shalt not watche, I wil come on the as a these, and thou shalt not knowe what houre I wil come vpon ye Thou hast a fewe names in Sardis, which haue not defyled their garmentes: and they shal walke with me in whyte, for they are worthy. He that ouercommeth, shalbe clothed in whyte araye, and I wil not put out his name out of the boke of life, Luc. 12. a and I wil cōfesse his name before my father, and before his angels. Let him yt hath eares, heare, what the sprete sayth vnto the congregacions.

And wryte vnto ye angell of the cōgregaciō of Philadelphia: this sayth he yt is holy and true, which hath the keye of Dauid: which 〈…〉 openyth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth. I knowe thy workes. Beholde, I haue set before the an open doore, and no man can shut it, for thou hast a lyttell strength and hast not denyed my name. Beholde, I shal geue some of the congregacion of Sathan, which call them selues Iewes and are not, but dolye: Beholde: I wil make them, that they shal come & worshippe before thy fete: and shal knowe that I haue loued the.

Because thou hast kept the wordes of my pacience, therfore wil I kepe the from the houre of temptacion, which will come vpon all the worlde, to tempte them that dwell vpō the earth. Beholde, I come shortly. Holde that which thou hast, that no mā take awaye thy crowne. Him that ouer commeth, will I make a pyllar in the temple of my God, and he shal goo no more out.

And I will wryte vpon him, the name of my God, and the name of ye cite of my God, newe Ierusalem, which cōmeth downe out of heauen from my God, and I will wryte vpō him my newe name. Let him that hath eares, heare, what the sprete saith vnto the congregacions.

And vnto the angell of the cōgregacion, which is in Laodicia wryte: This sayth Amen the faithfull and true witnes, the begynnynge of ye creatures of God. I knowe thy workes, yt thou art nether colde nor hot: I wolde thou were colde or hote. So then because thou art bitwene bothe, and nether colde ner hote I wyll spew the out off my mouth: because thou saist thou art riche and incresyd with goodes and hast nede of nothinge, and knowest not how thou art wretched & miserable, poore, blynde, and nakyd. I counsell the to bye of me golde tryed in the fyre, that thou mayste be riche: and whyte rayment, that thou mayste be clothed, that thy fylthy nakednes do not apere: anoynt thine eyes with eye salue, yt thou mayste se.

〈…〉 As many as I loue, I rebuke & chasten. Be feruent therfore and repent. Beholde, I stonde at the doore & knocke. Yf eny man heare my voyce and vpen the dore, I wil come in vnto him and will suppe with him, & he with me. To him that ouercōmth, will I graūte 〈…〉 to sytt with me on my seate, euē as I ouercam and haue syttē with my father on his seate. Let him that hath eares, heare, what the sprete saith vnto the cōgregaciōs.

The IIII. Chapter.

AFter this I loked, and beholde, a dore was open in heauē, and the fyrste voyce which I harde, was as it were of a trompet talkinge with me, which sayde: come vp hydder, and I wil shewe the thinges which must be fulfylled her after. And immediatly I was in the sprete: & beholde, a seate was set in heauen, and one sat on the seate. And he that sat, was to loke vpon like vnto a iaspar stone, and a sardyne stone: And there was a rayne bowe aboute the seate, in syght like to a Smaragde. 〈…〉 And aboute the seate were xxiiij. seates. And vpon the seates xxiiij. elders syttinge clothed in whyte rayment, and had on their heades crownes of golde.

And out of ye seate proceded lightnynges, and thundrynges, & voyces, and there wer seuen lāpes of fyre, burninge before the seate, which are the seuen spretes of God. And before the seate there was •• see of glasse like vnto crystall, and in the mydes off the seate, and rounde aboute the seate, were foure beastes full of eyes before and behynde. And the first beest was like a lion, the seconde beest like a calfe, and the thyrde beest had a face as a man and the fourth beest was like a flyenge egle. And the foure beestes had eche one off them vj. wynges aboute him, and they were full of eyes with in. And they had no rest daye nether night, sayenge: * holy, holy, holy, is the LORDE God almyghty, which was, and is, and is to come.

And when those beestes gaue glory and honour and thankes to him that sat on the seate, which lyueth for euer and euer: ye xxiiij. elders fell downe before him that sat on the trone, and worshipped him yt lyueth for euer, and cast their crounes before ye trone, sayenge: thou art worthy LORDE to receaue glory, and honor, and power, for thou hast created all thinges, and for thy willes sake they are, and were created.

The V. Chapter.

ANd I sawe in the right hōde of him, 〈…〉 that sat in the trone, a boke wrytten with in & on the backside, sealed with seuē seales. And I sawe a strōge angell preachinge with a loude voyce: Who is worthy to open the boke, and to loose the seales therof? And no mā in heauē ner in earth, nether vnder ye earth, was able to opē ye boke, nether to loke thereon. And I wepte moch, because no man was founde worthy to open and to rede the boke, nether to loke thereon.

And one of the elders sayde vnto me: wepe not: Esa 49 b Esa. 1. b Beholde, the lyon which is off the trybe of Iuda, ye rote of Dauid, hath obtayned to opē the boke, and to lowse the seuē seales therof. And I behelde, & lo, in the myddes of the seate, and of ye foure beastes, and in the myddes of ye elders, stode a lambe as though he had bene kylled, which had seuen hornes and seuē eyes, which are the seuē spretes of God, sent in to all the worlde. And he came and toke the boke out of the right hō de of him that sat vpon the seate.

And when he had taken the boke, the foure beestes and the xxiiij. elders fell downe before the lambe, hauinge harpes and golden vialles full of odoures (which are ye prayers of the sayntes) and they songe a newe songe saynge: thou art worthy to take the boke & to opē the seales therof: for thou Heb. 9. b 1. Pet. . c 1. Ioh. 1. b Apo. 1. a wast kylled, and hast redemed vs by thy bloud, out of all kynreddes, and tōges, and people, and nacions, & hast made vs vnto or God, kynges and prestes, and we shal raygne on ye earth.

Dan. 7. b And I behelde, and I herd the voyce of many angilles aboute the trone, and aboute the beestes and ye elders, and I herde thousand thousandes, sayenge with a loude voyce: Worthy is the lambe that was killed, to receaue power, and riches & wiszdome, and strength, and honoure and glory, and blessynge. And all creatures, which are in heauē, & on the earth, & vnder the earth, & in the see, & all yt are in thē, herd I sayenge: blessinge, honoure, glory, & power, be vnto him, yt sytteth vpō the seate, and vnto the lābe for euermore. And the foure beestes saide: Amē. And ye xxiiij. elders fell vpon their faces, and worshipped him that lyueth for euermore.

The VI. Chapter.

ANd I sawe when the lābe opened one of the seales, & I herde one of the foure beestes saye, as it wer the noyse off thonder: come and se. And I sawe, and beholde Zach 1. b and 6. there was a whyte horsse, and he yt sat on him had a bowe, and a crowne was geuen vnto him, and he went forth conquerynge and for to ouercome. And whē he opened the seconde seale, I herde the seconde beeste saye: come and se. And there went out another horsse that was reed, & power was geuen to him that sat there on, to take peace from the earth, and that they shulde kyll one another. And there was geuē vnto him a gret swearde.

And when he opened the thyrde seale, I herde the thyrde beeste saye: come & se. And I behelde, and lo, a blacke horsse: and he that 〈2 pages missing〉 sate on him, had a payre of balances in his honde. And I herde a voyce in the myddes of the foure beastes saye: a measure of whete for a peny, and thre measures of barly for a peny: and oyle and wyne se thou hurte not.

And when he opened the fourth seale, I herde the voyce of the fourthe beaste saye: come and se. And I loked, and beholde a pale horsse, and his name that sat on him was deeth, and hell folowed after him, & power was geuē vnto them ouer the fourthe parte of the earth, to kyll with swearde, and wt honger, and with deeth, of the vermen of the earth.

And when he opened the fyfte seale, I sawe vnder the aultre, the soules of them yt were kylled for the worde of God, and for ye testimony which they had, and they cryed with a lowde voyce sayēge: How lōge tariest thou 4. Esd. 15. b Dan. 12. b LORDE holy and true, to iudge & to auenge oure bloude on them that dwell on the earth? And longe whyte garmentes were geuen vnto euery one of them. Esa. 26. c And it was sayde vnto them, that they shulde reste for a lyttle season, vntyll the nomber of their felowes, and brethrē, and of them that shulde be killed as they were, were fulfilled.

And I behelde when he opened the sixte seale, and loo, there was a grett earthquake, and ye sonne was as blacke as sacke cloth made of heare. And the mone wexed euē as bloude: and the starres of heauen fell vnto the earth, euen as a fyggetree castith from her her fygges, when she is shaken off a mighty wynde. And heauen vanyszhed awaye, as a scroll when it is rolled togedder. And all mountayns and yles, were moued out of their places. Esa. 2. c And the kynges of ye earth, and the grete men, and the riche men, and the chefe captaynes, and the myghte men, and euery free man, hyd them selues in dennes, Apo. 9. b and in rockes of ye hylles, and sayde to the hylles, and rockes: fall on vs, and hyde vs from the presence of him that sytteth on the seate, and from the wrath of the lambe, for the grete daye of his wrath is come. And who can endure it?

The VII. Chapter.

ANd after that sawe I foure angels stōde on ye foure corners of the earth, holdinge ye foure wyndes of ye earth, yt ye wyndes shulde not blowe on ye earth, nether on ye see, nether on eny tree. And I sawe another angel ascende frō the rysinge of the sonne: which had the seale of ye lyuinge God and he cryed with a loude voyce to the foure angelles (to whom power was geuen to hurt the earth and the see) sayenge: 〈…〉 Hurt not the earth nether the see, nether the trees, till we haue sealed the seruaūtes of oure God in their forheddes.

And I herde the nombre of them which were sealed, and there were sealed an c. and xliiij.M. of all the trybes of the children of Israell. Of ye trybe of Iuda were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Ruben were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Gad were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Asser were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Neptalym were sealed xij.M. Of ye trybe of Manasses were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Symeon were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Leui were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Isacar were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Zabulon were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Ioseph were sealed xij.M. Of the trybe of Beniamin were sealed xij. thousande.

〈…〉 After this I behelde, and lo, a gret multitude (which no man coulde nombre) of all nacions and people, and tonges, stode before the seate, and before the lambe, clothed wt longe whyte garmētes, and palmes in their hondes, and cryed with a londe voyce, sayenge: saluacion be asscribed to him yt sytteth vpon the seate of oure God, and vnto the lambe. And all the angels stode in the compase of the seate, and of the elders and of the foure beastes, and fell before ye seat on the faces, and worshipped God, sayenge, am •• Blessynge and glory, wiszdome and thākes, and honour, and power and might, be vnto oure God for euermore Amen.

And one of the elders answered, sayenge vnto me: what are these which are arayed in longe whyte garmētes, and whence, cam they? And I sayde vnto him: LORDE thou wotest. And he sayde vnto me: these are they which cam out of gret tribulacion, and made their garmentes large, and made thē whyte in the bloude of the lambe: therfore are they in the presence of the seate of God and serue him daye and night in his temple, and he that sytteth in the seate, wyll dwell amonge them. They shal honger 〈…〉 no more nether thyrst, nether shal the sonne lyght on them, nether eny heate: For the lābe which is in the myddes of the seate, shal fede them, and shal leade them vnto fountaynes of lyuynge water, 〈…〉 and God shal wype awaye all teares from their eyes.

The VIII. Chapter.

ANd when he had opened the seuenth seale, there was silēce in heauen aboute the space of halfe an houre. And I shal reigne for eurmore. And the foure and twentye Elders, which sat before God on their seatts, fell vpon their faces, and worshipped God sayenge: we geue the thankes LORDE God allmyghte: which art and wast, and art to come, for thou hast receaued thy greate might, and hast raygned. And the Heythen were angry, & thy wrath is come, and the tyme of the deed that they shulde be iudged, and that thou shuldest geue rewarde vnto thy seruaūtes the prophettes and saynctes, and to thē that feare thy name, small & greate: and shuldest destroye them which destroye the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heauen, and there was sene in his temple the arcke of his testament: and there folowed lightnynges, and voyces, and thondrynges and earth quake, and a greate hayle.

And there appeared a greate token in heauen. A woman clothed with the Sonne, and the mone vnder her fete, and vpon her deed a crowne of twolue starres. And she was with childe, and cryed trauaillinge in byrth, and payned redy to be delyuered. And there appeared another token in heauen, and beholde a greate reed dragon, hauinge seuen heades, and ten hornes and seuē crownes vpō his heades: and his tayle drue the thyrde parte of the starres, and cast them to the earth.

And the dragon stode before the womā, which was ready to be delyuered: for to devoure her childe as sone as it were borne. And she brought forth a man childe, which shulde rule all nacions with a rod of yron. And her sonne was taken vp vnto God, and to his seate. 〈…〉 12. d 〈◊〉 1. f And the woman fled in to wyldernes, where she had a place prepared off God, that they shulde fede her there a M.ij.C. and lx. dayes.

And there was a greate batayll in heauē Michael and his angels foughte with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, and preuayled not, nether was their place founde eny more in heauen. And the greate dragon that olde serpent (called the deuell and Sathanas) was cast out. Which disceaued all the worlde. 〈…〉 And he was cast in to the earth, and his angelles were cast out with him also.

And I harde a lowde voyce, which sayde in heauen: Now is saluacion, and strength and the kyngdome become oure Gods, and ye power his Christes: For he is cast downe, which accused them before God daye and night. And they ouercame him by the bloude of the lambe, and by the worde of their testimony, and they loued not their lyues vnto the deeth. Therfore reioyce ye heauens, and ye that dwell in them. Wo to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the see: for the deuell is come downe vnto you, which hath greate wrath, because he knoweth, that he hath but a short tyme.

And when the dragon sawe, that he was cast vnto the earth, he persecuted the woman, which brought forth the man childe. And to the woman were geuē two wynges of a greate egle Apoc. 12 that she might flye in to the wyldernes, in to her place, where she is noryszhed for a tyme, two tymes, and halffe a tyme, from the presence of the serpēt. And the dragon cast out of his mouth water after the womā, as it had bene a ryuer, Dan. 7. b that he might cause her to be caught of ye floud. And the earth holpe the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swalowed vp the ryuer which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the womā: and went and made warre with the remnaunt of hyr sede, which kepe the cō maundementes of God, and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ. And I stode on the see sonde.

The XIII. Chapter.

ANd I sawe a beest rise out of the see, hauinge seuen heades, and x. hornes, and vpon his hornes x. crownes, and vpō his heed, the names of blasphemy. Apo. 17. And the beest which I sawe was lyke a catt of the mountayne, and his fete were as the fete of a bear, Dan. 7. and his mouth as the mouthe of a lyon. And ye dragō gaue him his power and his seate, and greate auctorite: and I sawe one of his heades as it were wounded to death, and his dedly wounde was healed. And all the worlde wōdred at the beest, and they worshipped the dragon which gaue power vnto the beest, and they worshipped the beest, sayenge: who is like vnto the beest? who is able to warre with him?

And there was geuen vnto him a mouth to speake greate thinges & blasphemies, and power was geuen vnto him, to do xlij. monethes. And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy agaynst God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heauen. Apoc. 11. b And it was geuen vnto him to make warre with the sayntes, and to ouercome them. And power was geuen him ouer all kynred, tonge, and nacion: Dan. 11. f and all that dwell vpon the earth worshipt him: whose names are not wrytten in the boke of life of the lambe, which was kylled from the beginnynge of the worlde. Yf eny man haue an eare, let him heare. He that leadeth in to captiuite, shal go in to captiuite: en. 9 a Mat 26. e he that killeth with a swearde, must be killed with ye swearde. Apo. 14 c Heare is the pacience, and the faith of the saynctes.

And I behelde another beest commynge vp out of the earth, and he had two hornes like a lambe, and he spake as dyd the dragō. And he dyd all that the first beest coulde do in his presence, and he caused the earth, and them which dwell therin, to worshippe the fyrst beest, whose deedly woūde was healed. And he dyd greate wonders, so that he made fyre come downe from heauē in the sight of men. And deceaued them that dwelt on the earth by ye meanes of those signes which he had power to do in the sight of the beest, sayenge to them that dwelt on the earth: that they shulde make an ymage vnto the beest, which had the wounde of a swearde and dyd liue.

And he had power to geue a sprete vnto the ymage of the beest, and that the ymage of the beest shulde speake, and shulde cause, that as many as wolde not worshippe the ymage of the beest, shulde be kylled. And he made all bothe smale and greate, ryche and poore, fre and bond, to receaue a marke in their right hondes, or in their forheades. And that noman might by or sell, saue he yt had ye marke, or the name of the beest, ether the nombre of his name. Here is wiszdome. Let him that hath wyt, count the nombre of the beest. For it is the nombre of a man, and his nombre is sixe hondred, thre score and sixe.

The XIIII. Chapter.

ANd I loked, and lo, a lambe stode on the moūt Syon, and with him .C. and xliiij. thousande hauynge his fathers name wrytten in their forheades. And I herde a voyce from heauen, as the sounde of many waters, and as the voyce of a greate thondre. And the voyce that I herde, was as the harpers that playe vpon their harpers. And they songe as it were a newe songe, before the seate, & before ye foure beestes, and the elders, and no man coulde learne yt songe, but the hondred and xliiij.M. which were redemed from the earth. These are they, which were not defyled with wemen, for they are virgyns. These folowe the lambe whither soeuer he goeth. 〈…〉 These were redemed from men, beynge the fyrst frutes vnto God and to the lambe, and in their mouthes was founde no gyle. For they are withoutē spot before the trone of God.

And I sawe an angell flye in the myddes of heauen hauinge an euerlastinge Gospell, to preache vnto them that syt and dwell on the earth, and to all nacions, kinreddes, and tōges and people, sayēge with a lowde voyce: Feare God, and geue honour to him, for the houre of his iudgement is come: and worshippe him 〈…〉 that made heauen and earth, and the see, and the fountaynes off water. And there folowed another angell, sayenge: She is fallen, she is fallen: euē Babilon that greate cite, 〈…〉 for she made all nacions drynke off the wyne off hyr whordome.

And the thyrde angel folowed thē, sayenge with a loude voyce: Yf eny man worshippe the beest and his ymage, and receaue his marke in his forhed, or on his honde, the same shall drynke of the wyne of the wrath of God, which is powred in the cuppe of his wrath. And he shalbe punyszhed in fyre and brymstone, before the holy Angels, and before the lambe.

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore. And they haue no res daye ner nyght, which worshippe the beast and his ymage, and whosoeuer receaueth the prynt of his name. 〈…〉 Here is the pacience of sayntes. Heare are they that kepe the commaundementes and the faith off Iesu.

And I herde a voyce from heauen, sayenge vnto me: wryte: Blessed are ye deed, which here after dye in the LORDE. Yee the sprete sayeth, that they rest from their laboures, for their workes folowe them. And I loked and beholde, a whyte cloude, and vpō ye cloude one syttynge like vnto the sonne of man, hauinge on his heed a golden crowne, and in his hōde a sharpe sykle. And another angell came out of the temple, cryenge with a loude voyce to him that sat on the cloude: 〈…〉 Thruste in thy sycle and reepe: for the tyme is come to reepe, for the corne of the earth is rype. And he that sat on ye cloude thrust in his sykle on the earth, and the earth was reeped.

And another angell came out of the temple, which is in heauen, hauinge also a sharpe sykle. And another angel came out from the aultre, which had power ouer fyre, and cryed with a loude crye vnto hym that had the sharpe syckle, and sayde: Thruste in thy sharpe syckle, and gather the clusters of ye earth, for hir grapes are rype. And the angell thrust in his syckle on the erthe, and cut downe the grapes of the vynyarde of the earth, and cast them in to the greate wynefat of ye wrath of God: & the wynefat was trodden without the cite, and bloude came out of the fat, euen vnto the horsse brydles by the space of a thousande and sixe hundreth furlonges.

The XV. Chapter.

ANd I sawe another signe in heuen grett & mervellous .vii. angells havinge the seven laste plages, for in thē is fulfylled the wrath of god. And I sawe as it were a glassye see, mingled with fyre, and them that had gotten victory of the beest, and of his ymage, and of his marke, and of the nombre of his name, stonde on the glassye see, hauinge ye harpes of God: and they songe the songe of Moses the seruaunt of God, and the songe of the lambe, saynge: Greate and maruellous are thy workes LORDE God almyghty, iust and true are thy wayes, thou kynge of sayntes. 〈◊〉 10. a Who shal not feare the O LORDE and gloryfie thy name? For thou only are holy, for all gē tiles shall come and worshippe before the, for thy iudgmentes are made manyfest.

And after that, I loked, and beholde, the temple of the Tabernacle of testimony was open in heauen, and the seuen angelles came out of the temple, which had the seuen plages, clothed in pure and bryght lynnē, and hauynge their brestes gyrded with golden gerdelles. And one of the foure beestes gaue vnto the seuen angelles seuen golden vialles, full of the wrath of God which liueth for euermore. 〈◊〉 44. a And the temple was full of smoke for the glory off God, and for his power, and no man was able to entre in to the temple, tyll the seuen plages of the seuē angels were fulfilled.

The XVI. Chapter.

ANd I herde a greate voyce out of the temple, sayenge to the seuen angels: go youre wayes, poure out youre vialles of wrath vpon the earth. And the fyrst went, and poured out his viall vpon the earth, and there fell a noysom a sore botch vpon the men which had the marke of the beest, and vpon them that worshipped his ymage. And the seconde angel shed out his viall vpō the see, and it turned as it were in to the bloud of a deed man: and euery lyuinge thinge dyed in the see, And the thyrde angel shed out his vyall vpon the ryuers and fountaynes of waters, and they turned to bloude. And I herde an angel saye: LORDE which art and wast, thou art righteous and holy, because thou hast geuē soche iudgmentes, for they shed the bloude of sayntes, and prophetes, and therfore hast thou geuen them bloude to drynke: for they are worthy. And I herde another angell out of the aulter, saye: euen so LORDE God almighty, true and righteous are thy iudgmentes.

And the fourth angell poured out his viall on the Sonne, and power was geuen vnto him to vexe men with heate of fyre. And the men raged in gret heate, and spake euell of the name of God, which had power ouer those plages, and they repented not, to geue him glory. And the fifte angell poured out his vyall vpon the seate of the beest, and his kyngdome wexed derke, and they gnewe their tonges for sorowe, and blasphemed the God of heauē for sorowe, and payne of their sores, and repented not of their dedes.

And the sixte angell poured out his vyall vpon the gret ryuer Euphrates, and the water dryed vp, that the waye of the kynges of the Easte shulde be prepared. And I sawe thre vncleane spretes kike frogges come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out off the mouth off the beest, and out off the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spretes of deuels workynge myracles, to go out vnto the kynges of the earth and of the whole worlde, to gaddre them to the battayle of that gret daye of God allmighty. Mat. 24. Luc. 12. 1. Tess 5. 2. Pet. 3. Beholde, I come as a thefe. Happy is he that watcheth and kepeth his garmentes, lest he be founde naked, and men se his filthynes. And he gaddered them togedder in to a place, called in the hebrue tonge, Armagedon.

And the seuenth angell poured out his viall in to the ayre. And there came a greate voyce out of heauen from the seate, sayenge It is done. And there folowed voyces, 〈◊〉 dringes, and lightnynges, and there 〈…〉 gret earthquake, soch as was not 〈…〉 were vpon the earth, so myghty 〈…〉 quake and so greate. And 〈…〉 was deuyded in to thre parties. And the cities of nacions fell. And greate Babilon came in remembraunce before God, to geue vnto hyr the cuppe of wyne of the fearcenes of his wrath. And euery yle fled awaye, and the mountaynes were not founde. And there fell a greate hayle, as it had bene talentes, out of heauē vpon the men, and the men blasphemed God, because of the plage of the hayle, for it was greate, and the plage of it sore.

The XVII. Chapter.

ANd there cam one of the seuē angels, which had the seuen vialles, and talked with me, sayenge vnto me: Come, I wil shewe the the iugdment of the greate whore, that sytteth vpon many waters, with whom the kynges of the earth haue commytted whordome, and the inhabiters of the earth are dronken with the wyne of her fornicacion. And he caryed me awaye into the wildernes in ye sprete. And I sawe a woman syt vpon a rose colored beest, full of names of blasphemie, which had seuē heades & ten hornes. And ye woman was arayed in purple and rose color, and decked with golde, precious stone, and pearles, and had a cupp of golde in her honde, full of abhominacions, and fylthines of her wordome. And in her forhed was a name wryttē, a mistery: greate Babilon the mother of whordome, and abominaciōs of the earth. And I sawe the wyfe dronkē with the bloude of sayntes, and with the bloud of the witnesses of Iesu. And when I sawe her, I wondred with greate mervayle.

And the angell sayde vnto me: wherfore meruayllest thou? I wyl shewethe the mistery of the woman, and of the beest that beerith her, which hath seuen heades, and ten hornes. The beest that thou seest, was, and is not, and shall ascende out of the bottomlesse pytt, and shal go in to perdicion, and they that dwell on the earth shal wondre (whose names are not wrytten in the boke of life from the begynnynge of the worlde) when they beholde the beest that was, and is not. And here is a mynde, that hath wiszdome.

The seuen heades are seuen mountanes, 〈◊〉 the woman sytteth: they are also 〈…〉 . Fyue are fallen, and one is, 〈…〉 is not yet come. When he 〈…〉 continue a space. And the 〈…〉 and is not, is euē the eyght, and is of the seuen, and shal go in to destruccion. 〈…〉 And ye ten hornes which thou sawest, are ten kynges, which haue not yet receaued the kyngdome, but shal receaue power as kynges at one houre with ye beest. These haue one mynde, and shal geue their power and strēgth vnto ye beeste. These shal fyght with the lambe, and the lābe shal ouercome them: For he is 〈…〉 LORDE of all lordes, and kinge of all kinges: and they that are on his syde, are called, and chosen and faithfull.

And he saide vnto me: The waters which thou sawest, where ye whore sytteth, 〈…〉 are people, and folke, and nacions, and tonges. And the ten hornes, which thou sawest vpon the beest, are they that shal hate the whore, and shal make her desolate, and naked, and shall eate hir fleszhe, and burne her with fyre. For God hath put in their hertes, to fulfill his wyll, and to do with one consent, for to geue hir kyngdome vnto the beest, vntill the wordes of God be fulfylled. And the womā which thou sawest, is that greate cite, which raigneth ouer the kynges of the earth.

The XVIII. Chapter.

ANd after that I sawe another angel come downe frō heauē, hauinge greate power, and ye earth was lyghtned with his bryghtnes. And he cryed mightely with a stronge voyce, sayenge: 〈…〉 She is fallen, she is fallen, euen greate Babilon, and is become the habitacion of deuels, and ye holde of all fowle spretes, and a cage of all vncleane and hatefull byrdes: for all naciōs haue dronken of the wyne of the wrath of her whordome. And the kynges of the earth haue committed fornicacion with her, and her marchauntes are wexed ryche of the abundaunce of her pleasures.

And I herde another voyce from heauen saye: 〈…〉 come awaye from her my people, that ye be not partakers of her synnes, lest ye receaue of her plages. For her synnes are gone vp to heauen, and the LORDE hath remembred her wyckednes. Rewarde her euen as she rewarded you, and geue her dubble acordinge to her workes. And poure in dubble to her in the same cuppe, which she fylled vnto you. And as moche as she gloryfied her selfe and lyued wantanly, so moch poure ye in for her of punyszhmēt, and sorowe, for she sayeth in her herte: 〈…〉 I syt beinge a quene, and am no wyddowe, and shall se no sorowe. Therfore shal her plages come at one daye, death, and sorowe, and honger, and she shalbe brēt with fyre: for stronge is the LORDE God which shal iudge her.

And the kynges of the earth shal bewepe her and wayle ouer her, which haue committed fornicacion and lyued wantanly with her, when they shal se the smoke of her burnynge, and shal stonde a farre of for feare of her punyszhment, sayenge: Alas, Alas, that greate cite Babylon, that mighty cite: For at one houre is thy iudgment come. And the marchauntes off the earth shall wepe and wayle in them selues, because no man will bye their ware eny more, the ware of golde, and syluer, and of precious stones, off pearle, & sylke, and purple, and skarlet, & all Thynen wod, and all manner vessels of yuery, and all manner vessels of most precious wod, and of brasse, and of yron, & synomom and odours, and oyntmentes, and frank ynsence, and wyne, and oyle, and fyne floure, and wheate, and catell, and shepe, and horses, and charrettes, and bodies and soules of men.

And the apples that thy soule lusted after, are departed from the. And all thinges which were deyntie, and had in pryce, are departed from the, and thou shalt fynde them no more. The marchauntes of these thinges which were wexed ryche by her, shall stonde afarre of for feare of the punyszhment of her, wepynge and waylinge, and sayenge: alas alas, that greate cite, that was clothed in sylke, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with golde, and precious stone, and pearles: for at one houre so greate ryches is come to naught.

And euery shippe gouerner, and all they that occupie shippes, and shippmen which worke in the see, stode a farre of, and cryed, when they sawe the smoke of her burnynge, and sayde: what cite is like vnto this greate cite? And they cast dust on their heades, and cryed wepynge, and waylinge, and sayde: Alas, Alas the greate cite, wher in were made ryche all that had shippes in the see, by the reason of her wares: for at one houre is she made desolate.

Reioyce ouer her thou heauē, and ye holy Apostles, and prophetes: for God hath geuen youre iudgmēt on her. And a mighty angell toke vp a greate stone lyke a mylstone, and cast it in to the see, sayenge: with suche violēce shal that greate cite Babylon be cast, and shalbe founde nomore. And the voyce of harpers, and musicions, and of pypers, and trompetters, shalbe herde no more in the: and no craftes man (of what soeuer craft he be) shalbe founde eny more in the: and the sounde of a myll shalbe herde no more in the: Iere. 16.25 and the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde, shalbe herde nomore in the for thy marchauntes were prynces of the earth. And with thyne inchaūtment were deceaued all nacions: and in her was founde the bloude of the prophetes, and of the sayntes, and of all that were slayne vpō the earth.

The XIX. Chapter.

ANd after that, I herde the voyce of moch people in heauen, sayenge: Alleluia. Saluacion and glory and honour, and power be ascribed to the LORDE or God, for true and righteous are his iudgmentes, because he hath iudged the greate whore (which did corrupt ye earth with her fornicacion) and hath auenged the bloud of his seruaūtes of her hond. And agayne they sayde: Alleluia. Apo. 9 c 14. c And smoke rose vp for euermore. And ye xxiiij: elders, & the foure beestes fell downe, and worshipped God that sat on the seate, sayenge: Amen: Alleluia. And a voice came out of the seate, sayenge: prayse or LORDE God all ye that are his seruaūtes, 〈◊〉 that feare him both small and greate.

And I herde the voyce of moch people, 〈◊〉 ye voyce of many waters, & as ye voyce of stronge thondrynges, sayenge: Alleluia, for God omnipotent raigneth. Let vs be glad and reioyce, and geue honour to him: for the mariage of the lābe is come, and his wife made her selfe ready. And to her was graunted, that she shulde be arayed with pure and goodly sylke. (As for the sylke, it is the rightewesnes of sayntes.) And he sayde vnto me: Luc. 14. Blessed are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper. And he sayde vnto me: these are the true sayenges of God. And I fell at his fete, to worshippe him. And he sayde vnto me: Act. 10. c 14. c Apo. 2 d Se thou do it not. For I am thy felowe seruaunt, and one of thy brethren, and of them that haue the testimony of Iesus. Worshippe God. For the testimony of Iesus is ye sprete of prophesy. And I sawe heauē open, & beholde, a whyte horss and he yt sat vpon him, was called 〈◊〉 and true, & in rightewesnes dyd 〈…〉 make battayle. His eyes 〈…〉 were 〈…〉 fyre, and on his heade were 〈…〉 he had a name wrytten, 〈…〉 but him selfe. 〈…〉 And he was 〈…〉 vesture dipt in bloude, and his name is called, ye worde of God. And ye warriers which were in heauen, folowed him vpon whyte horsses, clothed with whyte and pure sylke and Apoc. 1. out of his mouthe wante a sharppe swerde, that with it he shulde smyte the Heithen: Psal. . b And he shall rule them with a rodde of yron, and he trode the wynefatte of the fearcenesse and wrath of allmightye God. And hath on his vesture and on his thyghe a name wrytten: Dan. 12. a Kynge of all kinges, and LORDE of all lordes. . Tim. . Apo. 17. c

〈◊〉 I sawe an angell stonde in the Sonne, and he cryed with a lowde voyce, sayenge to all the fowles that flye by them yddes vnder the heauen: Come and gaddre youre selues togedder vnto the supper of the gret God, that ye maye eate 〈◊〉 . 39. d the fleszhe of kynges, and of hye captaynes, and the fleszhe of mighty men, and the fleszhe of horsses, and of thē that syt on them, and the fleszhe of all free men and bondmen, both of small and greate. And I sawe the beeste and the kynges of ye earth, and their warriers gaddred togedder, to make battayle agaynste him that sat vpon the horsse, and agaynst his sowdiers.

And the beeste was taken, and with him that false prophet that wrought myracles before him, with which he disceaued then that receaued the beestes marke, and them that worszhipped his ymage. Dan. 7. b Apo. 20 c Mat 15. d The 〈◊〉 were cast in to a ponde of fyre burnynge wt brymstone: and the remnaunte were slayne with the swearde of him that sat vpon the horsse, Heb. 〈…〉 which swearde proceded out of his mouth, and all the foules were filled with their fleszhe.

The XX. Chapter.

ANd I sawe an angell come downe from heauen, hauinge the keye of the bottomlesse pyt, and a gret chayne in his honde. ob. 4. b Pet. 2. b And he toke the dragon that olde serpent (which is the deuell and Satanas) and he bounde him a thousand yeares: and cast him in to the bottomlesse pyt, and he bounde him, and set a seale on him, that he shuld disceaue the people nomoare, tyll the thousand yeares were fulfilled. And af •• r that must he be lowsed for a littell 〈…〉

〈…〉 seates, and they sat vpon 〈…〉 was geuen vnto 〈…〉 the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnes of Iesus 〈◊〉 for the worde of God: which had not wo •• shipped the beest, nether his ymage, nether had raken his marke vpon their forhea des, or on their hondes: and they lyued, and raygned with Christ a thousand yeare: brethe other of the deed men lyued not agayne, vntill the thousand yeare were fyniszhed. This is that fyrst resurreccion. Blessed and holy is he that hath parte in the fyrst resurreccion. On soch hath the seconde deeth no power, but they shalbe the prestes of God and of Christ, and shall raygne with him a thousand yeare.

And when the thousand yeares are expyred, Sathan shalbe lowsed out of his preson, and shal go out to deceaue the people which are in the foure quarters of the earth. 〈…〉 Gog and Magog, to gadder them togedder to batayle, whose nombre is as the sonde off the see: and they went vp on the playne of the earth, and compased the tentes of the sayntes aboute, and the beloued cite. And fyre cam doune from God out of heauen, and deuoured them: 〈…〉 and the deuell that disceaued them, was cast into a lake of fyre and brymstone, where the beest and the false prophet were, and shalbe tormented daye and night for euermore.

And I sawe a gret whyte seate, and him that sat on it, from whole face fled awaye both the earth and heauen, and their place was nomore founde. 〈…〉 And I sawe the deed, both gret and small stonde before God: And the bokes were opened, and another boke was opened, which is (the boke) of life, and the deed were iudged of tho thinges which were wrytten in the bokes accordinge to their dedes: and the see gaue vp her deed, which were in her, and deeth and hell delyuered vp the deed, which were in them: and they were iudged euery man accordynge to his dedes. And deth and hell were cast in to the lake of fyre. This is that second deeth. And whosoeuer was not founde wrytten in the boke off life, was cast in to the lake of fyre.

The XXI. Chapter.

ANd I sawe a 〈…〉 newe heauen and a newe earth. For the fyrst heauen, and the fyrst earth were vaniszhed awaye, and there was nomore See. And I Ihon sawe that holy cite newe Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen, prepared 〈…〉 garniszhed for hyr huszband. And 〈…〉 a greate voyce from the seate, sayen 〈…〉 , the tabernacle of God is with 〈…〉 and he wil dwell with them. And they 〈◊〉 his people, and God himselfe shalbe with thē, and shalbe their God. 〈…〉 And God shal wipe awaye all teares from their eyes. And there shalbe nomore deeth, nether sorowe, nether shal there be eny more payne, for ye olde thinges are gone. And he that sat vpon the seate, sayde: 〈…〉 Beholde, I make all thinges newe. And he sayde vnto me: wryte for these wordes are faithfull and true,

〈◊〉 sayde vnt 〈◊〉 : it is done 〈…〉 I am 〈…〉 begynnynge, and 〈…〉 that is a thyrst 〈…〉 He that 〈…〉 〈…〉 I wil 〈…〉 But 〈…〉 and murthurers, and whormongers, and sorcerers, and ydolaters, & all lyars, shal haue their parte in the lake, that burneth with fyre and brymstone, which is the seconde death.

And there came vnto me one of the seuen angels, which had the seuen vials full of the seuen last plages: and talked with me, sayenge: come hydder, I wil shewethe the bryde, ye lābes wyfe. And he caryed me awaye in ye sprete to a greate and an hye moūtayne, and he shewed me the greate cite, holy Ierusalē descendinge out of heauen from God, hauynge the brightnes of God. And her shynynge was lyke vnto a stone most precious, euen a Iaspar cleare as cristall: & had greate and hye walles, and had twolue gates, and at ye gates twolue angels: and names wrytten, which are the twolue trybes of Israel: on the est parte thre gates, and on the north syde thre gates, and towarde the south thre gates, and from the west thre gates and the wall of the cite had twolue foundaciōs, and in them the names of the lambes twolue Apostles.

〈…〉 And he that talked with me, had a golden rede to measure the cite with all, and the gates therof, and the wall therof. And the cite was bylt foure square, and the length was as large as the bredth of it, and he •• asured the cite with the rede twolue M. furlonges: and the length and the bredth, and ye heyth of it, were equall. And he measured the wall therof, an cxliiij. cubittee, after ye measure of a man, which the angel had. And the buyldinge of the wall of it was of Iaspar. And the cite was of pure golde, like vnto cleare glasse: and ye foundaciōs of the walles and of ye cite were garnyszhed with all maner of precious stones. The fyrst foundacion was a Iasper, the seconde a Saphyre, ye thyrde a Calcedony, the fourth a Smaragde: the fyft a Sardonix: the sixt a Sard os: the seuenth a Crysolite, the eyght berall: the nynth a Topas: the tenth a Crysoprasos: the eleuēth a Iacyncte: the twelfte an Amatist.

And the twolue gates were twolue pearles, and euery gate was of one pearle, and ye strete of the cite was pure golde, as a thorowe shyninge glasse. And I sawe no temple therin. For the LORDE God allmighty and the lambe is the temple of it, and the cite hath no nede of the Sonne, nether of the mone to lyghten it. For the bryghtnes of God doth light it: and the lambe is the lyght of it. And ye people which are saued, shal walke in the light of it: and the kynges of the earth shal brynge their glory vnto it. Esa. 60. b And the gates of it shal not be shut by daye. For there shalbe no nyght there. And there shal entre in to it none vncleane thinge: nether whatsoeuer worketh abhominacion: or maketh lyes: but they which are wrytten in the lambes boke of life.

The XXII. Chapter.

ANd he shewed me a pure ryuer of water of life clere as cristall: Eze. 47. a zac. 14. b proceadinge out of the seate of God and of ye lambe in the myddes of the strete of it, and of ether syde of the ryuer was there wod of life: which bare twolue māner of frutes: and gaue frute euery moneth: and the leaues of the wood serued to heale the people with all.

And there shalbe no more cursse, but the seate of God and ye lābe shalbe in it: and his seruauntes shal serue him: And shal se his face, and his name shalbe in their for heades. Esa. 60. d And there shalbe no night there, and they nede no candle, nether light of the Sonne: for the LORDE God geueth the light, and they shal reygne for euermore.

And he sayde vnto me these sayenges are faithfull, and true. And the LORDE God of the holy prophetes sent his angell to shewe vnto 〈◊〉 seruauntes, the thinges which muste shor ly be fulfylled. Beholde, I come shortly. Apoc. 1. Happy is he yt kepeth ye sayēge of ye prophesy of this boke. I am Ihon, which sawe these thinges and herde them. And whē I had herde and sene thē, I fell downe to worshippe before the fete of the angell which shewed me these thinges. And he saide vnto me: Apoc. 19. se thou do it not, for I am thy felowe seruaunt and the felowe seruaūt of thy brethren the prophetes, and of them, which kepe the sayenges of this boke. Worshippe God.

And he sayde vnto me: seale not the sayeng s of the prophesy of this boke. For the tyme is at hōde. Zach. 11. b He that doeth euell, let him do euell styll: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy styll: and he that is righteous, let him be more righteous: and he that is holy, let him be more holy. And beholde, I come shortly, and my rewarde with me, to geue euery mā acordinge as his dedes shalbe. Apoc. 1. b I am Alpha and Omega, ye beginnynge and the ende: the first & the last. Blessed are they that do his commaundementes, that their power maye be in the tree of life, and maye entre in thorow the gates in to the cite. 1. Cor. 6. b Gal. 5. c E he. 5. a For without are ogges and inchaunters and whormongers, and m rtherers, and ydolaters, and whosoeuer loueth or 〈◊〉 .

I Iesus haue sent myne angell, 〈◊〉 vnto you these thinges in the 〈◊〉 I am the rote and the generacion of 〈◊〉 and the bright mornynge starre. And the sprete and the bryde saye: Come. And let him that heareth, saye also: Come. 〈…〉 And let him that is a thyrst, come. And let whosoeuer wyll, take of the water of life fre.

I testifye vnto euery man that he areth the wordes of prophesy of this boke 〈…〉 yf eny man shal adde vnto these thinges, God shal adde vnto him the 〈◊〉 that are 〈…〉 in this boke. 〈…〉 of the wordes of 〈…〉 God shal 〈…〉 boke of life 〈…〉 holy cit 〈…〉 tho thinge 〈…〉 He which 〈…〉 Yee I come quyckly 〈…〉 LORDE Iesu. The 〈…〉 Iesu Christ be with you all. Amen.

The ende of the new testament.
A faute escaped in pryntinge the new Testament.

Vpon the fourth leafe, the first syde, in the sixte chapter of S. Mathew. Seke ye first the kyngdome of heauen: &c.

Reade.

Seke ye first the kyngdome of God. &c.

Prynted in the yeare of oure LORDE M.D.XXXV. and fynished the fourth daye of October.