The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,

I. KINGS.

[Prologue on the First book of Kings [This prologue is from M.] .]

IN this book of Kingis the first is contened, how Anna, the wijf of Helchana, that was longe tyme bareyn, axide of God to haue a sone, and God ȝaf to her axing; which sone Anna ȝaf in to the seruyse of the Lord, in the tabernacle of boond of pees, vndur Heli the heiȝeste prest. And God chees Samuel, and spak to him alle thingis, and forsook Heli and hise sones, for wickidnesse that the sones diden, wherfore thei perischiden alle in o dai. And Samuel anoyntide Saul in to king on Israel; and whanne Saul fulfillide not the hestis of God, God forsook him; and Samuel anoyntide Dauith in to king, whanne he kepte hise fadris scheep; wherfor Saul hatide Dauith, and pursuwide him, til to the dai of veniaunce of the Lord cam; and Saul perischide, and hise sones, and al his hous.

[Prologue to the four books of Kings [This prologue is from O.] .]

THE langage of men Sirus, and of Cal|deis also, witnessith that there ben two an twenty lettris, the which of a greet partie is acordynge to Ebrew; for also thei han two and twenti elementis in the same sown, and in dyuerse pryntis. Also Samaritans writen the fyue bookis of Moyses with so many lettris, oonly dyuersynge in the figuris and prentis; and it is certeyn, that Esdras, the scribe and a doctour of the lawe, foond other lettris, which we vsen now, aftir that Jerusalem was taken, and aftir restorynge of the temple vndur Zoro|babel; for vnto that tyme weren the same lettris and fyguris of Samarytans and of Ebrews vsid. Also in book of Numeri the same noumbrynge is mistily schewid vndir the noumbre of dekenes and prestis; and we han founden the hie name of the

Lord Tetragramaton in summe bookes of Grew expressid with olde lettris vnto this day. But also the salmes of the Sauter, as the xxxvj. salm, and the hundrid and x. salm, and the hundrid and aleuene salm, and the hundrid and xviij. salm, and the hundrid and xliiij. salm, al be it that thei ben writen with dyuerse metre, netheles thei ben writen and wouen to gideris with the abece of the same noumbre; and the Lamentaciouns of Jeremye, and the Preier of him, and also the Prouerbis of Sala|mon, in the ende, fro that place in which he seith, Who shal fynde a strong wom|man, be noumbryd with the same abeces of merkyngis. Forsothe the fyue double lettris anentis the Ebrews ben thes, Caph, Men, Num, Phe, Sade; for bi these lettris thei writen other while the bygynnyngis and the myddes of wordes, and in an|othir maner the endis. Wherfor these fyue bookes, Samuel, Malachim, Dabre Jamyn, Esdras, and Jeremye with Cynnoth, that is, his Lamentaciouns, ben gissid of sum men to be dowble bookes. Therfor as there ben xxij. lettris, by which we writen in manere of Ebrews alle thingis that we speken, and mannes vois taken with the bigynnynges of hem, so xxij. volyms ben noumbrid, by the whiche as by lettris and byginnynges the ȝonge tendre and ȝit soukynge childhod of the riȝtwise man is enformed in the doctryne of God. The first book anentis hem is clepid Bresith, whiche we clepen Genesis; the secounde, Elesmoch, which is clepid Exodi; the thridde, Vagetra, that is, the book of Leuyticy; the fourthe, Vagetaber, which we clepen Noumbre; the fyfte, Adda|barim, the which is bifore notid Deutro|nomye. These ben the fyue bookes of Moyses, the whiche thei clepen propurly Thorath, what is to seie, the lawe. Thanne thei maken the secunde ordre of profetis, and bygynnen at Jhesu, the sone of Naue, that anentis hem is seid Josue Benum. Fro thennus thei ioyneden yn

Sophim, that is, the book of Juges; and in to the same thei putten in Ruth, for in the dayes of Juges her storie is teeld to be fulfillid. The thridde book folewith, that is clepid Samuel, which we seyn the Firste and the Secounde book of Kynges. The fourthe is Malachim, that is, of Kyngis, which is conteyned in the thridde and the iiij. volym of Rewmes; and myche betere it is to seie Malachym, that is, of Kynges, than Maletoch, that is, of rewmes; for he discryueth not the rewmes of many folkis, but the rewme of o puple of Israel, that is conteyned in xij. lynagis. The fifte is Isaie; the sixte Jeromye; the seuenthe Ezechiel; the eiȝte in the book of xij. profetis, that anentis hem is clepid Thari|asrai. The thridde ordre weldith Agio|grafa, that ben hooly writen ensaumplis; and the firste book bygynneth fro Job; the secounde fro Dauith, which men holden in fyue dyuysiouns, and in o volym of Salmes; the thridde is of Salomon, hau|ynge iij. bookes, as Prouerbis or Parablis, that is clepid Maloth; the iiij. Ecclesi|asten, that is clepid Coelech; the fyfethe is the Song of Songis, whom thei biforen seien bi title Sirassirym; the sixte is Da|niel; the seuenthe Debraiamyn, that is to seie, the wordis of daies, the which more kouthly may be clepid the Cronycle of Goddis stories; the which book anentis vs is writen Paralipomenon the Firste and the Secounde; the eiȝtithe book is Esdras, the which also in lijk maner, bothe anentis Grekis and Latynes, is departid in to twey bookis; the nynthe is the book of Ester. And that is to seie, fyue booke of Moyses, and eiȝte bookes of the profitis, and neyne of Agiogrofis, that is to seie, of expresse ensaumplis of holynesse; al be it that sum men writun Ruth and Synoth among the Agiografis, and thei weenen that thes bookes shulden be rekened in her noum|bre, and be that to ben xxiiij. bookes of olde lawe; which the Apocalips of Joon bryngeth yn, vndur the noumbre of xxiiij.

eldris onourynge the lomb, and offrynge her crownes, with her cheris cast doun, and stondynge bifor the foure beestis that weren iȝed bifore and bihynde, that is to seie, biholdynge in to the tyme that is passid, and in to the tyme that is to come, and criynge with contynuel vois, without feyntise, Hooly, Holi, Holy, Lord God Almyȝti, that was, and that is, and that is to comen! This prologe of Scripturis as an helmed princeple mai acorde to alle the bookes which we han turned fro Ebrew in to Latyn, that we moun knowun that what euere writynge is out of these, is to be put amonge the Apocrifas, that is, amonge thilke wrytynges whos auctours ben vnknowe of alle hooly chirche. Ther|fore the book of Sapience, that comynly is writen to be the book of Salomon, and the book of Jhesu, the sone of Sirak, and the book of Judith, and Thobie, and Pastor, be not in the canoun. I found the Firste book of Makabeus of Ebrews langage; the Secounde book is Grew, that may be preued of the sittinge and of the speche. The which thingis, siththe thei han in sich manere, thou reder, I byseche thee, deeme thou not my trauayle to be maad in re|preuynge of old men. For ech man offrith in to the tabernacle of God that he mai, aftir his power; sum men offren gold, and siluer, and precious stoonys; othere men offren biys, and purpur, and scarled, and iacynt. With vs it is weel, if we offren skynnes, and the heeris of geet; and ne|theles the Postle schewith opynly, that oure foule thingis and contemptible ben more needful than sum faire thingis. Wherfore al the fairnesse of the taber|nacle, that was distinccioun and figure of hooly chirche that is now, and that is aftir to comynge, by alle her semelynesses is kyuerid with skynnes, and with heeris; and tho thingis that ben foulere letten the brennynge of the sunne, and the dis|pitousnesse of reynes and stormes. Thanne rede thou first Samuel, and my book Ma|lachim,

ȝhe, myn forsothe, myn; fore what euere we han lerned in ofte turnynge of bookes, and in more bisily amendynge, if we holden it in oure hertis, it is ouris, it is ouris. And whanne thou vndurstondist that biforn hond thou knewe not, thanne or deme thou me to be a trewe drawere out of hooly writ, if thou art kynde, or ellis a false spekere, if thou art vnkynde; al be it that I haue no conscience to my silf, me to haue chaungid ony thing fro Ebrews treuthe. Certis, if thou art hard of byleeue, rede the bookis of Grew and of Latyn, and leie hem to gideris with these litil werkes, whiche we han teld aboue; and where euer thou seest hem dis|corde bitwixe hem silf, axe thou ony mon of the Ebrewis, to whom thou shuldist ȝyue more feith to, and if he confermeth oure writyngis, I trowe thou shalt not deeme him a coniecture of lesyngis, that he hath dyuyned in the same place in lijk manere with me. But also I preye ȝou, Paula and Eustochie, seruauntis of Crist, which anoynten the heed of the Lord, sittinge doun with the moost preciouse myrre of bileeue, the whiche seken not oure Sauyour in the sepulcre, to whos bileeue Crist hath stied vp to his fadir, I preie ȝou, that ȝe putte the scheeldis of ȝoure good preieris aȝens the berkynge houndis that wexen cruel aȝens me with wood mouth, and gon aboute the citee, and in that demen hem to be wise, whanne thei bacbiten othir men. Therfor I, know|ynge my lownesse, shal euermore haue mynde of that sentence, [I] seid, I shal kepe my weies that I trespasse not [in] my tonge; I haue ordeyned a warde to my mouth, whan the synful trespasour stood aȝenus me; I bicame doumbe, and was lawid, and held my pees fro good thingis.

[Here biginnith the firste book of Kingis [From MP. No initial rubric in the other MSS.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] `A man was [Ther was a man I.] of `Ramathym of [Ramatha in DGIKMNOQXb.] So|phym, of the hil of Effraym, and his name was Elchana, the sone of Jeroboam, sone of Elyud, sone of Thau, sone of Suph, of Effraym [Effraym; for he dwellide in the hil of Ef|fraym, not for he was of the lynage of Ef|fraym, for he was a dekene of the sones of Chore, as it is had in thre book of Paral. vi. c^o. Lire here. C.] . [verse 2] And Helchana hadde twei wyues; the name `to oon [of that oon I. to the toon K.] was Anna, and the [Om. DKM.] `name of the [name to the plures. Om. I.] secounde was [hiȝte I.] Fenenna; and sones weren to Feuenna; forsothe [but Anna hadde none I.] fre children `weren not to Anna [Om. I.] . [verse 3] And thilke [that I.] man styede [stiede up I.] fro his citee in daies [the daies that weren I.] ordeyned, to worschipe and offre [to offre I.] sacrifice to the Lord of oostis in Silo. Forsothe [And I.] twei sones of Heli weren there, Ophym [Ofny I. Ophny Db.] and Fynees, preestis of the Lord. [verse 4] Ther|for [Thanne I.] the dai cam, and Helcana offride, and ȝaf [he ȝaf I.] partis to Fenenna, his wijf, and [verse 5] to alle hise sones and douȝtris; forsothe [and I.] he ȝaf soreufuly [he ȝaf soreu|fuly; Helcana was not soreu|ful of the ȝyu. yng, but for he hadde not fre children of Anna, to whiche chil|dren partis schulden be ȝouun. In E|breu it is had o part ethir double, of which the resoun sueth, for he louyde Anna; and in this he wolde onoure hir. Lire here. C.] o part to Anna, for he louyde Anna; forsothe [and I.] the Lord hadde closid hir wombe. [verse 6] And hir [Fenenna hir I.] enemy tur|mentide `hir, and angwischide [and noiede hir I.] greetly, in so myche that sche vpbreidide [vpbreidide hir I.] , that the Lord hadde closid hir wombe. [verse 7] And so sche [Fenenna I.] dide `bi alle ȝeeris [eche ȝeer I.] , whanne `in tyme comynge aȝen [the tyme came that I.] , thei stieden [stieden up I.] in to the hows of the Lord; and so sche terride Anna. Forsothe [And I.] Anna [thanne sche I.] wepte, and took not [no I.] mete [mete, that is, took litil of mete. Lire here. C.] . [verse 8] Therfor Helcana, hir hose|bonde, seide to hir, Anna, whi wepist thou, and whi etist thou [Om. I.] not, and whi is thin herte turmentid? Whether [Wher ceteri passim.] Y am not betere to thee than ben ten sones? [verse 9] `Sotheli Anna [Anna forsothe I.] roos, aftir that sche hadde ete and drunke in Silo. `And the while Hely was on his greet seete, bifor [Hely sittinge upon his sete I.] the [verse 10] postis of the `hows of the Lord [Lordis hows I.] , whanne [and whanne I.] Anna [sche I.] was in bittere soule [serowe of soule I.] , sche preyede

[verse 11] the Lord, and wepte largeli; and made [sche made I.] a vow [vow to the Lord I.] , and seide, Lord God of oostis, if thou biholdist, and seest the turment of thi seruauntesse, and hast [if thou hast I.] mynde of me, and forȝetist not thin handmayde, and ȝyuest [ȝyue C.] to [a sone to I.] thi seruauntesse `a male kynde [Om. I.] , Y schal ȝyue hym to the Lord in [Om. I.] alle daies [the daies I.] of his lijf, and a rasour schal not stie [come up I.] on his heed. [verse 12] Forsothe [And I.] it [whanne it C.] was doon, whanne sche multipliede preieris [hir preieris I.] bifor the Lord, that Ely [Ely the prest I.] aspiede hir mouth. [verse 13] Forsothe [Sotheli I.] Anna spak in hir herte, and oneli hir lippis weren mouyd, and outerly hir vois was not herd. Therfor Hely [Hely the prest I.] [verse 14] gesside hir drunkun, and he seide to hyr, Hou longe schalt thou be drunkun? Difye thou a litil the [and a lijtil the I.] wyn, `bi which [that I.] thou art moist [maad moist with I.] . [verse 15] Anna answeride, and seide, Nay [Nay; that is, Y am not drunkun. C.] , my lord, for Y am `a wretchid [an vnhappy I.] womman greetli [Om. I.] ; Y `drank not [haue not drunken I.] wyn `and al thing [nether ony thing I.] that may make drunkun, but Y schedde [haue helde I.] out my soule in the `siȝt of the Lord [Lordis siȝt I.] ; [verse 16] gesse thou not thin handmaide as oon of the douȝtris of Belyal, for of the multi|tude of my sorewe and morenyng [of my morenyng.] Y spak [haue spoken I.] `til in to [vnto this I.] present tyme. [verse 17] Thanne Hely seide to hir, Go thou in pees, and God of Israel ȝyue [ȝyue; in E|breu it is, schal ȝyue. C.] to thee the axyng which [that I.] thou preiedist [hast preied I.] hym. [verse 18] And sche [Anna I.] seide, `Y wolde [Wolde God I.] that thin hondmayde fynde grace in thin iȝen. And the womman ȝede [ȝede forth I.] in to hir weie, and eet; and hir cheris weren no more chaungid dyuersly. [verse 19] And `thei ryseden [Helcana and his meyne arisen up I.] eerly, and [and thei I.] worschipiden bi|fore the Lord; and thei turneden aȝen, and camen in to hir hows in Ramatha. Forsothe [And I.] Helchana knew fleischli [Om. IKO.] Anna, his wijf; and the Lord thouȝte on hir. [verse 20] And it was doon after the cumpas of daies, Anna conseyuede, and childide a sone, and sche [Om. S.] clepide his name Samuel [Samuel is in|terpretid axid of God. Lire here. C.] ; for sche hadde axid hym of the Lord. [verse 21] Forsothe [And I.]

hir hosebonde Helcana stiede [stiede up I.] , and al his hows [meynee I.] , to offre a solempne sacrifice, and his avow to the Lord. [verse 22] And Anna stiede not [not up to that solempnytee I.] , for sche hadde seid to hir hosebonde, Y schal not go, til the ȝonge child be wenyd, and til Y lede hym [hym thidere I.] , and he appere bifor the `siȝt of the Lord [Lordis siȝt I.] , and dwelle there contynueli [contynuely; in Ebreu it is, til in to the world, that is, til to the fiftithe ȝeer. Lire here. C.] . [verse 23] And Helcana, hir hosebonde, seide to hir, Do thou that that semeth good to thee, and dwelle thou [thou stille I.] til thou wene [haue wened I.] hym; and Y biseche, that the Lord fille [fulfille I.] his word. Therfor the womman dwellide [abode I.] , and ȝaf mylk to hir sone, til [til the tyme I.] sche remouyde hym fro [fro the I.] mylk. [verse 24] And sche [Anna I.] brouȝte hym with hir, aftir that sche hadde wened hym, with thre caluys, and thre buyschelis of mele, and amfore [a mesure I. an amfore K.] , `ether a pot [Om. I.] , of wyn; and sche brouȝte hym to the hows of the Lord in Silo. Forsothe [And I.] the child was ȝit ful ȝonge. [verse 25] And thei sacrifieden [sacrifisiden plures.] a calf, and thei offriden the child to Hely. [verse 26] And Anna seide, My lord, Y biseche [biseche thee I.] , that is [Om. EGKLMO.] , that this [thi FGMNPQSb.] child be thi [Om. C.] `disciple and [Om. DGMNPQXb.] seruaunt [the whole gloss omitted in I.] , thi soule lyueth; Y am that [the I.] womman, that stood bifor [verse 27] thee here, and preiede the Lord; for this child Y [and Y A.] preiede, and the Lord ȝaf to me myn axyng which [that I.] Y axide hym; [verse 28] therfor [therfor and BCEFGKLMNPQRSUWXb.] Y haue ȝoue hym to the Lord `in alle [alle the I.] daies, in whiche he is ȝouun to the Lord. And thei worschypiden there the Lord.

CAP. II.

[verse 1] And Anna worschipide, and seide, Myn herte fulli ioiede in the Lord, and myn horn is reisid in my God; my mouth is alargid on [upon I.] myn enemyes, for Y was [am I.] glad in thin helthe [helthe ȝiuer I.] . [verse 2] Noon is hooli as the Lord is; `for noon other is, outakun [neither certis ther is an other withoute I.] thee, and noon is strong as [as is I.] oure God. [verse 3] Nyle ȝe

multiplie to speke hiȝe thingis, and haue glorie [glorie theryn I.] ; elde thingis go awey fro ȝoure mouth; for God is Lord of kunnyngis, and thouȝtis ben maad redi to hym. [verse 4] The bouwe of strong men is ouercomun, and sijk [feble I.] men ben gird with strengthe. [verse 5] Men fillid [fulfillid I.] bifore settiden hem silf to hire for looues, and hungri men ben fillid; while [til BCDFGLMNOPQRSUWXb. vnto I. to EL.] the bareyn womman childide [childe GQR.] ful manye, and sche that hadde many sones, was sijke [maad sijk I.] . [verse 6] The Lord sleeth, and quikeneth; he [and A.] ledith forth to hellis [hillis A.] , and bryngith aȝen. [verse 7] The Lord makith pore, and [and he I.] makith riche; he makith low, and [and he I.] reisith [reisith up I.] . [verse 8] He reisith [upreisith I.] a nedi man fro poudur, and `he reisith [upreisith I.] a pore man fro dryt, that he sitte with princes, and holde the seete of glorie; for the endis of erthe [the erthe I.] ben of the Lord, and he hath set the world on [upon I.] tho. [verse 9] He schal kepe `the feet of hise seyntis [hise seyntis feet I.] , and wickid men schulen be stille to gidere in derknessis; for a man schal not be maad strong in his owne strengthe. [verse 10] Aduersa|ries of the Lord schulen drede hym, and in [fro I.] heuenes he schal thundre on [upon I.] hem; the Lord schal deme the endis of erthe, and he schal ȝyue lordschip to his kyng, and he schal enhaunse the horn, `that is, power [Om. X pr. m.] , of his Crist. [verse 11] And Helcana ȝede in to Ramatha, in to his hows; forsothe [and I.] the child was seruant in the siȝt of the Lord bifor the face of Ely the preest. [verse 12] Forsothe the sones of Hely weren sones [the sones I.] [verse 13] of Belial, and knewen [thei knewen I.] not the Lord, ne|ther the office of preestis to the puple; but who euer hadde offrid sacrifice, the child of the preest cam, while the fleischis weren in sething, and he hadde a fleischhook with [verse 14] thre teeth in his hond; and he sente [putte C sec. m. M. puttide I.] it in to the `grete vessel of stoon [stonen vessel I.] , ethir in to the caudrun, ethir in to the pot, ethir [or I.] in to the [Om. CNO. a K.] panne; and what euer thing [flesh I.] the fleischhook [hook I.] reiside [cauȝte I.] , the preest took [took that I.] to

hym silf [Om. I.] ; so thei [the prestis I.] diden to al Israel of men comynge in to Silo. [verse 15] Ȝhe bifor that `the sones of Hely [thei I.] brenten the ynnere fatnesse, the `child of the preest [prestis child I.] cam, and seyde to the offerere, Ȝyue `thou fleisch to me [to me the fleisch I.] , that Y sethe [seke it I.] to the preest; for Y schal not take of thee sodun fleisch, but raw. [verse 16] And `the offrere [he that offride I.] seide to hym, The [Be first the I.] ynnere fatnesse be [Om. I.] brent first [Om. I.] to day bi [aftir I.] the custom, and take thou to [thanne to I.] thee hou myche euer thi soule desirith. Whiche [the whiche I.] answeride, and seide to hym, Nay, for [but I.] thou schalt ȝyue [ȝyue it I.] now; ellis [for ellis I.] Y schal take [take it I.] bi violence. [verse 17] Therfor the synne of the chil|dren [sones of Hely prestis I.] was ful greuouse bifor the Lord; for thei withdrowen men fro the `sacrifice of the Lord [Lordis sacrifice I.] . [verse 18] `Forsothe Samuel, a child [Certis the child Samuel I.] gird with a lynnun clooth, mynystride [seruyde I.] bifor the face of the Lord. [verse 19] And his moder made to hym a litil coote, which [the which I.] sche [he I.] brouȝte in [to him in the I.] daies ordeyned [ordeyned to offre I.] , and stiede [sche stiede up I.] with hir hosebonde, that he schulde [wolde I.] offre a solempne offryng, and his auow. [verse 20] And Heli blesside Helcana and his wijf; and Heli [Om. I.] seide `to hym [Om. I.] , The Lord ȝelde to thee seed of this womman, for the ȝifte which [that I.] thou hast ȝoue to the Lord. And thei ȝeden in to her place [place aȝen I.] . [verse 21] Therfor the Lord visitide Anna, and sche conseyuede, and childide thre sones and twei douȝtris. And the child Samuel was `magnyfied at [maad wondirful gret anentis I.] the Lord. [verse 22] Forsothe [And I.] Hely was ful eld, and he herde alle `thingis whiche [the thingis that I.] hise sones diden in al Israel, and hou thei slepten with wymmen, that awaitiden [waitiden I.] at the dore of the tabernacle. [verse 23] And he [Hely I.] seide to hem [his sones I.] , Whi doen ȝe siche thingis, the worste thingis whiche [that I.] Y here of al the puple [puple of Israel I.] ? [verse 24] Nyle ȝe, my sones [sones, do so I.] ; it is not good [a good I.] fame, which [that I.] Y here, that ȝe make the `puple of the Lord [Lordis puple I.] to do trespas. [verse 25] If a man synneth aȝens a man, God may be

plesid to him [be plesid to him, bi prayeris and sacrifices. C.] ; forsothe [but I.] if a man syn|neth aȝens the Lord, who schal preye for hym [who schal praie for him; that is, it schal not be forȝouun to him bi siche thingis, nethe|les it may be forȝouun. Lire here. C.] ? And thei [his sones I.] herden not the vois of her fadir, for God wolde sle hem. [verse 26] For|sothe the child Samuel profitide, and en|creessyde, and pleside bothe God and men. [verse 27] Sotheli [Certis I.] a man of God cam to Hely, and seide to hym, The Lord seith these thingis, Whether Y was not schewid apertli to the hows of thi fadir, whanne he was in E|gipt, in the hows of Farao? [verse 28] And Y chees hym of alle lynagis [the lynagis I.] of Israel `in to [to be a I.] preest to me, that he schulde stie [stie up I.] to myn auter, and schulde brenne encense to me, and that he schulde bere bifor me preestis [a preestis I.] cloth; and Y ȝaf to `the hows of thi fadir [thi fadris hous I.] alle thingis [alle thingis perteynynge to hem, for sum part was brent to God, and sum part per|teynede to the offereris. Lire here. C.] of the [Om. I.] sacrifices of the sones of Israel. [verse 29] Whi hast thou cast awey with the [thin I.] heele my sacrifice [sacrifices I.] , and my ȝiftis, whiche [the whiche I.] Y comaundide to be offrid in the temple; and thou onouridst [hast honourid I.] more thi sones than me, that ȝe eeten the principal partis of ech sacrifice of `Israel, my puple [my puple of Israel I.] ? [verse 30] Therfor the Lord God of Israel seith these thingis, Y spekynge spak, that thin hows and `the hows of thi fadir [thi fadris hous I.] schulde my|nystre [haue mynystrid I.] in my siȝt til in to with outen ende; `now forsothe [certis now I.] the Lord seith, Fer be this fro me; but who euere onourith me, Y schal glorifie hym; forsothe [certis I.] thei that dispisen me, schulen be vnnoble. [verse 31] Lo! daies comen, and Y schal kitte awei thin arm [arm or thi power I.] , and the arm of the hows of thi fadir, that an eld man [prest or wijse.] be not in thin hows. [verse 32] And thou schalt se thin enemy [enemyes K.] in the temple, in alle prosperitees [the prosperitees I.] of Israel; and an eld man schal not be in thin hows in alle daies. [verse 33] Netheles Y schal not outerli take awei of thee a man fro myn auter, but that thin iȝen faile, and thi soule [lijf I text. or soule marg.] faile [langwishe I.] ; and greet [a greet I.] part of thin hows schal die, whanne it schal come to mannus age. [verse 34] Forsothe [Certis I.] this schal be signe [the tokene I.] , that schal

come to thi twei sones Ophym [Ofni EIP.] and Fy|nees, bothe [bothe thei I.] schulen die in o dai. [verse 35] And Y schal reise to me a feithful preest, that schal do bi [aftir I.] myn herte and my soule; and [Om. K.] Y schal bilde to hym a feithful hows, and he schal go bifore my Crist in alle daies. [verse 36] Forsothe [Sothly I.] it schal come, that who euer dwellith [schal dwelle I.] in thin hows, he come [he come. In Ebreu it is, tho he come to bow for him silf, in an halpeny of siluer; Ebrews expownen tho, that preestis dwellinge of the genera|cioun of Hely, ouȝten to meke hem silf bifor the hiȝeste preest, and to praye, that they myȝten serue in the temple for the priys of an halpeny of siluer, and of a cake of breed in the day, and the lettre that sueth, semeth acorde, whanne it sueth, and he seye, and so forth. Lire here. C.] that `me preie [men preie DGMNOPQRSUX. it be preied I.] for him, and that he offre a peny of siluer, and a cake of breed, and seie, Y biseche, suffre thou me to o `part of the preest [prestis part I.] , that Y ete a mussel [morsel I.] of breed.

CAP. III.

[verse 1] Forsothe the child Samuel `mynystride to [seruyde I.] the Lord bifor Heli, and the word of the Lord was preciouse [was preciouse. In Ebreu it is, was forbedun ethir maad derk. C.] ; in tho daies was noon opyn reuelacioun. [verse 2] Therfor [Thanne I.] it was doon in a dai, Heli lay in his bed, and hise iȝen dasewiden, and he myȝte not se the lanterne of God [the lanterne of God. Comyn Latyn biblis han thus, and hise iȝen dase|widen, and he myȝte not se the lanterne of God, bifor that it was quenchid, but certis this lettre is cor|rupt, as the Maistre of Stories and Lire here witnessen, and the book of Ebreu ques|tiouns; therfor in Ebreu it is had thus, and hise iȝen dase|widen, and he myȝte not se; the lanterne of the Lord was not ȝit quench|id. He myȝte not se the lan|terne of God, bifor that it was quenchid. C.] , bifor that it was quenchid. [verse 3] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel slepte in the temple [slepte in the temple; that is, in a chaumbir bisidis the temple, where dekenes weren that kepten the temple. Lire here. C.] of the Lord, where the ark of God was. [verse 4] And the Lord clepide Samuel; and he answeride and seide, Lo! Y [Y am redi I.] . [verse 5] And he ran to Hely, and seide to hym, Lo! Y; for thou clepidist me. Which [And I.] Hely seide, Y clepide not thee; turne thou [Om. DGIKMNOW sec. m.] aȝen and slepe. And he [Samuel I.] ȝede and slepte. [verse 6] And the Lord addide eft to clepe Samuel; and Sa|muel roos, and ȝede to Hely, and seide, Lo! Y [Y here I.] ; for thou clepidist me. And Heli answeride, Y clepide not thee, my sone; turne thou aȝen and slepe. [verse 7] Forsothe [Sothly I.] Samuel knew not ȝit the Lord [knewe not ȝit the Lord; that is, the maner of spek|ing of the Lord with profetis. Lire here. C.] , nether the `word of the Lord [Lordis word I.] was shewid to hym. [verse 8] And the Lord addide, and clepide [he clepide I.] ȝit Samuel the thridde tyme; `which Sa|muel [the which I.] [verse 9] roos [roos up I.] and ȝede [wente I.] to Heli, and seide, Lo! Y; for thou clepidist me. Therfor [Thanne I.] Heli vndirstood, that the Lord clepide [had clepid I.] the child; and Heli [he I.] seide to Samuel, Go [Go thou I.] and slepe; and if he clepith thee aftir|ward,

thou schalt seie, Speke thou, Lord, for thi seruaunt herith. Therfor [Thanne I.] Samuel ȝede and slepte in his place. [verse 10] And the Lord cam, and stood, and clepide as he hadde clepid the secunde tyme, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel seide, Speke thou, Lord, for thi seruaunt herith. [verse 11] And the Lord seide to Samuel, Lo! Y make a word [a word; that is, a thing sig|nefied bi a word. C.] in [to be knowen in I.] Israel, which [the which I.] word who euer schal here, bothe hise eeris schulen rynge [tyncle I.] [rynge; that is, he schal be astonyed for wundir and drede. Lire here. C.] [verse 12] In that dai Y schal reise [reise up I.] aȝens Heli alle thingis, whiche [that I.] Y spak [haue spoken up I.] on his hows; Y schal bigynne, and Y schal ende. [verse 13] For Y biforseide to hym, that Y schulde deme his hows with outen ende for wickid|nesse [the wickidnesse theroff I.] ; for he [Hely I.] knew, that hise sones diden vnworthili, and he chastiside not hem. [verse 14] Therfor Y swoor [haue swore I.] to the hows of Heli, that the wickidnesse of his hows [meynee or hows I.] schal not be clensid [schal not be clensid, as to peyne ordeyn|ed, thouȝ it were clensid as to synne and euerlastinge peyne, in hem that repent|iden verily. Lire here. C.] bi [with I.] sacrifices and ȝiftis til in to with outen ende. [verse 15] Forsothe [And thanne I.] Samuel slepte til the morewtid, and he openyde the doris of the hows of the Lord; and Samuel dredde to schewe the reuelacioun to Heli. [verse 16] Therfor Heli clepide Samuel, and seide, Samuel, my sone. And he an|sweride and seide, Y am redi. [verse 17] And Heli axide hym, What is the word which [that I.] the Lord spak [hath spoke I.] to thee? Y preye thee, hide thou [it I.] not fro me; God do to thee `these thingis [alle these yuelis I.] , and encreesse [encresse he I.] these thingis, if thou hidist fro me a word of alle wordis [the wordis I.] that ben seid to thee. [verse 18] And Samuel schew|ide to hym [Hely I.] alle the wordis, and `hidde not [he hidde noon I.] fro hym. And Heli answeride, He is the [Om. I.] Lord; do he that [Om. C.] , that is good in hise iȝen. [verse 19] Forsothe [Certis I.] Samuel encreeside, and the Lord was with hym, and noon of alle hise [the I.] wordis felde [felle voide I.] in to erthe [in to erthe; that is, in veyn, for al was fillid. Lire here. C.] [verse 20] And al Israel fro Dan to Bersabee knew, that feithful Samuel was a profete of the Lord. [verse 21] And the Lord addide `that he schulde [to I.] appere

in [eft in I.] Silo, for the Lord was schewid to Sa|muel in Silo bi the `word of the Lord [Lordis word I.] ; and the word of Samuel cam to al Israel.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] And it was doon in tho daies Filisteis camen to gidere in to batel; for [forsothe I.] Israel ȝede out aȝens Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] in to batel, and settiden [Israel sette I.] tentis bisidis the stoon of help. Forsothe [And the I.] Filisteis camen in to Aphet, [verse 2] and maden redi scheltrun aȝens Israel. Sotheli [And I.] whanne the batel was bigunnun, Israel turned backis [the backis I.] to Filisteis; and as [as a I.] foure thousynde of [Om. I.] men [men of Israel I.] weren slayn in that batel `euery where [ouer al I.] bi feeldis [the feeldis I.] ; and the puple of Israel turnede aȝen to tentis [her tentis I.] . And the grettere men in birthe of Israel seiden, Whi hath the Lord smyte vs to dai bifore Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ? Brynge we to vs fro Silo the arke of boond [the boond I.] of pees of the Lord, and come it in to the myddis of vs, that it saue vs fro the hond of oure enemyes. [verse 4] Therfor the puple sente in to Silo, and thei token fro thennus the arke of boond [the boond I.] of pees of the Lord of oostis, `that sat on [sittinge upon I.] cherubyn. And Ophym [Ophny DIX sec. m. PE.] and Fynees, twei [the two I.] sones of Heli, weren with the arke of boond [the boond I.] of pees of the Lord. [verse 5] And whanne the arke of boond of pees of the Lord hadde come in to the castels [tentis I.] , al Israel criede [for joie criede I.] with grete cry, and the erthe sownede. [verse 6] And Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] herden the vois of cry [her cry I.] , and seiden [thei seiden I.] , What [And what I.] is this vois of greet cry in the castels [tentis I.] of Ebrews? And thei knewen, that the arke of boond of pees of the Lord hadde come in to cas|tels [the castels CDELPQSUWX. the tentis of Israel I.] . [verse 7] And Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] dredden, and seiden, God is come in to `the castels [her tentis I.] ; and thei [the Philistees I.] [verse 8] weiliden, and seiden, Wo to vs! for so

greet ful [out I.] ioiyng was not [not there I.] ȝistirdai, and the thridde day passid; wo to vs! who schal kepe vs fro the hond [hondis K.] of `these hiȝe [the L.] goddis? these ben the goddis, that smyt|iden [smyten I.] Egipt with al veniaunce [with al ven|iaunce; as if they seyde, these goddis dide thenne al her myȝt, and therfor they moun not now anoye vs. Lire here. C.] in deseert. [verse 9] Filisteis [and it was seid, Filisteis I.] , be ȝe coumfortid, and be ȝe men, serue ȝe not [not to the I.] Ebrews, as thei serueden [han serued I.] vs [to ȝou I.] ; be ȝe coumfortid, and fiȝte ȝe [ȝe aȝens Israel I.] . [verse 10] Ther|for [Thanne I.] Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] fouȝten, and Israel was slayn [ouer|comen I.] , and ech man flei [fledde I.] in to his taber|nacle; and a ful greet veniaunce was maad, and thretti thousynde of foot men of Israel felden doun. [verse 11] And the arke of God was takun; and, twei [the two I.] sones of Heli, Ophym [Ophny EIPX sec. m.] and Fynees, weren deed. [verse 12] Sotheli [And I.] a man of Beniamyn ran fro the scheltrun, and cam in to Silo in that dai, with his cloth torent and his [with his I.] heed bispreynt with dust; [verse 13] and whanne he was comen, Heli sat `on an [on his C. upon a I.] hiȝe [Om. I.] seete, `and bihelde [abidynge I.] aȝens the [Om. QR sec. m.] weie; for his herte was dredyng for the arke of the Lord. Sotheli [And I.] aftir that thilke man entride [hadde entrid I.] , he telde to the [men of the I.] citee, and al the citee ȝellide. [verse 14] And Heli herde the soun of cry [the cry I.] , and seide [he seide I.] , What is this [the I.] sown of this noise? And he [the man I.] hastide, and cam, and telde to Heli. [verse 15] Forsothe [And I.] Heli was of foure score ȝeer and eiȝtene, and hise iȝen dasi|widen [derkeden I.] , and he myȝte not se. [verse 16] And he [the man I.] seide to Heli, Y am [am he I.] that cam fro batel [the batel I.] , and Y am [am he I.] that flei [fledde I.] to dai fro the schel|trun. To whom Ely seide, My sone, what is doon [ther don I.] ? [verse 17] Forsothe [And I.] he that telde an|sweride, and seide, Israel flei [hath fled I.] bifor Fi|listeis [the Filisteis I.] , and a greet fal [fallyng I.] is maad in the puple [puple of Israel I.] ; ferthermore and thi twey sones, Ophym [Ophny EIPX sec. m.] and Fynees, ben deed, and the arke of God is takun. [verse 18] And whanne he hadde [Om. I.] nemyd [nempned CEILMPUW. namid R.] the arke of God, Hely felde fro `the hiȝe [his I.] seete bacward bisidis the dore, and `was deed; for the nollis [for the nollis. In Ebreu it is, for his necke was brokun. C.] [his skulles I.] weren brokun [broke and he was deed I.] . For he was an eld man,

and of greet age; and he demyde Israel bi [Om. I.] fourti ȝeer. [verse 19] Forsothe [And I.] his douȝter in lawe, `the wijf of Finees [Finees wijf I.] , was with childe, and niȝ the child bering; and whanne `the message was herd [sche herde bi the messangere I.] that the arke of God was takun, and that hir fadir in lawe was deed, and hir hosebonde, sche bowide hir silf [silf doun I.] , and childide; for sodeyn sorewis felden in to hir. [verse 20] Sotheli [And I.] in that moment of hir deeth, wymmen [thei I.] that stoden aboute hir, seiden to hir, Drede thou not, for thou hast childid a sone. And sche answeride not to hem, for [Om. I.] nether `sche perseyuede [toke heede I.] . [verse 21] And sche clepide the child Ichaboth [Icaboth; that is, without glorie. Lire here. C.] , and seide, The glorie of the Lord is translatid fro Israel, for the arke of God is takun [taken awei I.] ; and for hir fadir in lawe and for hir hose|bonde [verse 22] sche seide, The glorie of God is translatid [taken awei I.] fro Israel, for the arke of God is [was plures.] takun.

CAP. V.

[verse 1] Forsothe [And the I.] Filisteis token the arke of God, and baren [baren it I.] awey it fro the stoon of help in to Azotus. [verse 2] And Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] tokun the arke of God, and brouȝten it to [into DEFGIKLMNOPX.] the temple of Dagon, and settiden it bisidis Dagon. [verse 3] And whanne men of Azotus had|den rise eerli in [into O.] the todir dai, lo! Dagon lay low in the erthe bifor the arke of the Lord. And thei token Dagon, and re|storiden hym in [into I.] his place. [verse 4] And eft thei risiden [risen I.] eerli in the tothir day, and found|en [thei founden I.] Dagon liggynge on his face on [upon I.] the erthe bifor the arke of the Lord. For|sothe [And I.] the heed of Dagon, and twei [the two I.] pawmes of his hondis weren kit [broken I. kutte K.] of [off I.] on [upon I.] [verse 5] the threisfold; certis [and I.] the stok aloone of Dagon lefte in his place. For this cause the preestis of Dagon, and alle that entren in to his temple, treden not on [upon I.] the threis|fold [threxhold L.] of Dagon in Azotus til [Om. I.] in to [vnto I.] this

dai. [verse 6] Forsothe the hond of the Lord was maad greuouse on [upon I.] men of Azotus, and he [the Lord I.] distriede hem, and he smoot Azotus [he smoot Azotus, that is, men dwelling there. C.] and the coostis therof in the priuyere [more priuee I.] part of buttokis [her tail eendis I.] ; and townes [the townes I.] [and townes; al this vers is not in Ebrew, til thidur, Sothely men of Azotus. Lire here. C.] and feeldis in the [Om. I.] myddis of that cuntrey buyliden out [out myis I.] , and myis camen forth; and greet confusioun of deth was maad in the citee. [verse 7] Sotheli [And I.] men of Azotus sien siche a ven|iaunce, and seiden [thei seiden I.] , The arke of God of Israel dwelle not at [anentis I.] vs; for his [the I.] hond [hond of God I.] is hard on [upon I.] vs, and on Dagon oure god. [verse 8] And thei senten, and gaderiden [gaderiden to hem I.] alle the wise men, `ether princes [Om. CDGIMNOSX pr. m.] , of Filisteis `to hem [Om. I.] , and seiden, What schulen we do of the arke of God of Israel? And men [the men I.] of Geth answeriden, The arke of God of Israel be led aboute; and thei ledden aboute the arke of God of Israel. [verse 9] Forsothe [And I.] while thei ledden it aboute, the hond of the Lord `of ful greet sleyng [Om. I.] was maad on [upon I.] alle citees [the citees aboute of ful gret slauȝtere I.] ; and he smoot men of ech citee fro a litil man [child I.] til [Om. I.] to `the more [a more man I.] , and the lowere [her priuey nether I.] entraylis `of hem [Om. I.] wexiden rotun, and camen forth; and men of Geth token counsel, and maden [thei maden I.] to hem [hem self I.] seetis of skynnes, ethir cuyschuns. [verse 10] Therfor thei senten the arke of the Lord in to Acco|ron. And whanne the arke of the Lord hadde come in to Accoron, men of Acco|ron crieden, and seiden, Thei han brought to vs the arke of God of Israel, that he sle vs and oure puple. [verse 11] Therfor [Thanne I.] thei senten, and gaderiden [gaderiden togidere I.] alle the wise men, `ethir princes [Om. DGIMNOQSX pr. m.] , of Filisteis; whiche [the whiche I.] seiden, De|lyuere ȝe the arke of God of Israel, and turne it aȝen in to his place, and sle not [not the Lord I.] vs with oure puple. [verse 12] For dreed of deeth was maad in alle citees, and the hond of the Lord was `greuouse greetli [ful greuouse I.] . Also [And I.] the men, that weren not deed, weren smytun in the priuy [priuyer BCW.] part [parties I.] of buttokis [her but|tokis I.] , and the ȝelling of ech citee stiede [stiede up I.] in to heuene.

CAP. VI.

[verse 1] Therfor the arke of the Lord was in the cuntrei of Filisteis bi [Om. I.] seuene monethis; [verse 2] and aftir these thingis Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] clepiden [clepiden togidere I.] preestis and false dyuynours, and seiden, What schulen we do of the arke of God? Shewe ȝe to vs, hou we schulen sende it [it aȝen I.] in to his place [place of it I.] . [verse 3] Whiche [The whiche I.] seiden, If ȝe senden aȝen the arke of God of Israel, nyle ȝe delyuere it voide, but ȝelde ȝe to hym that [that thing I.] , that ȝe owen for synne; and thanne ȝe schulen be heelid, and [and so I.] ȝe schu|len wite, whi `his hond [the hond of God I.] goith not awei fro ȝou. [verse 4] And thei seiden, What [What thing I.] is it, that we owen to ȝelde to hym [God I.] for trespas [oure trespas I.] ? [verse 5] And thei answeriden to hem, Bi the noumbre of prouynces [the provynces I.] of Filisteis ȝe schulen make fyue goldun ersis, and fyue goldun myis; for o veniaunce was to alle ȝou and to ȝoure `wise men, ether princes [princes C. wise men DGMNOQX.] . And ȝe schulen make the licnesse of ȝoure ersis, and the licnesse of myis that dis|triede ȝoure lond; and ȝe schulen ȝyue glorie to God of Israel, if in hap he with|drawe his hond [wrath I.] fro ȝou, and fro ȝoure goddis, and fro youre lond. [verse 6] Whi maken ȝe heuy ȝoure hertis, as Egipt, and Farao `made heuy [greuyde I.] his [her I.] herte? Whether not after that he was smytun, thanne he delyuerede hem [Goddis peple I.] , and thei ȝeden forth? [verse 7] Now ther|for take ȝe, and make [make ȝe A. maketh I.] o [a IR.] newe wayn, and ioyne ȝe [ȝe theryn I.] twei kien hauynge caluys, on [upon the I.] whiche kyen no ȝok was put; and close ȝe her calues at hoome. [verse 8] And ȝe schulen take the arke of the Lord, and ȝe schulen sette in the wayn; and ȝe schulen put in a panyere [litil coffre I.] at the side therof [of the ark I.] the goldun vessels, whiche ȝe [thei ELPRU.] payeden [han paied DGIKMNOQSXb.] to hym [the Lord I.] for trespas [ȝoure trespas I.] ; and delyuere ȝe the arke, that it go [go forth I.] . [verse 9] And ȝe schulen biholde [biholde it I.] , and so|theli if it stieth [goth up I.] aȝens Bethsames [Bethasames A.] bi the weie of `hise coostis [tho I.] , `he dide [the Lord hath thanne do I.] to ȝou this

greet yuel; but if nay [it go not thider I.] , we schulen wite `for his [that the I.] hond [hond of the Lord I.] touchide not vs, but `if it bifelde [if it fel L. it bifelde D. this thing hath fallen to us I.] bi hap. [verse 10] Therfor [Thanne I.] thei diden in this manere; and thei token twei kien that ȝauen mylk to caluys [her caluys I.] , and ioyneden [thei ioyneden hem I.] to the wayn; and thei closiden her caluys at hoome. [verse 11] And thei puttiden [putten I.] the arke of God on [upon I.] the wayn, and `thei puttiden [Om. I.] the panyere [litil coffre I.] , that hadde the goldun myis, and the licnesse of ersis `on the wayn [Om. I.] . [verse 12] Sotheli [And I.] the kien ȝeden streiȝtli bi the weie that ledith to Bethsames; and tho [thilke kijn I.] ȝeden [wenten I.] in o weie goynge and lowynge, and bowiden [thei bowiden I.] not nether to the riȝt side nether [ne I.] to the left side; but also the wise men of Filis|teis sueden `til to [vnto I.] the termes [coostis I.] of Beth|sames. [verse 13] Forsothe [And I.] men of Bethsames rep|iden whete in the [a I.] valey, and thei reisiden [lifte up I.] the [her I.] iȝen, and sien the arke, and thei weren ioyful, whanne thei hadden sien `the arke [it I.] . [verse 14] And the wayn cam in to the feelde of Josue of Bethsames, and stood [it stood I.] there [there stille I.] . Forsothe [And I.] a greet stoon was there; and thei [men of Bethsames I.] kittiden [hewiden I.] `the trees of [Om. I.] the wayn, and puttiden [upon that wode thei puttiden I.] the [tho I.] kien `on tho trees [Om. I.] , a brent sacrifice to the Lord. [verse 15] Sotheli [And I.] de|kenes [the dekenes I.] token doun the arke of God, and the panyere [litil coffre I.] , that was bisidis it, where ynne the goldun vessels weren; and thei settiden [puttiden tho I.] on [upon I.] the greet stoon. Forsothe [And I.] the men of Bethsames offriden brent sacri|fices, and offriden [Om. I.] slayn sacrifices in that dai `to the Lord [Om. I.] . [verse 16] And fyue [the fyue I.] princes [satrapis I.] of Filisteis sien, and turneden [thei turneden I.] aȝen in to Accoron in that dai. [verse 17] Sotheli [And I.] these ben the goldun [mennus goldun I.] ersis, whiche the Filisteis ȝeldiden to the Lord for trespas [her trespas I.] ; Azotus ȝeldide oon; Gaza ȝeldide [Om. I.] oon; Ascolon ȝeldide [Om. I.] oon; Geth ȝeldide [Om. I.] oon; Acca|ron [verse 18] ȝeldide [Om. I.] oon; and Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ȝeldiden golden myis bi [aftir I.] the noumbre of `citees of Filisteis [her citees I.] of fyue prouynces, fro a wallid

citee `til to [vnto I.] `a town that was with out wal [an vnwalled town I.] , and `til to [vnto I.] the greet Abel [greet Abel, that is, a stoon, and is inter|pretid mo|renyng. Lire here. C.] [ston that hiȝte Abel I. tabel K sec. m.] , `on which [upon whom I.] thei puttiden the arke of the Lord, that [the which ston I.] was there `til in [vnto I. til into K pr. m. X sec. m. in to E.] that dai in the feeld of Josue of Bethsames. [verse 19] Forsothe the Lord smoot of the men of Bethsames, for thei hadden seyn the arke of the Lord, and he smoot of the puple seuenti men [and he smoot of the peple seuenti men; for foure causis the Lord smoot the peple; for vnresonable gladnesse, that cam of the liȝtnesse of heed, and not of du reue|rence; and for brent sacrifice offrid vnduly of kyn, for femalis schuld|en not be of|frid in to brent sacrifice to the Lord, as it is seid in i. c<sup>o</sup>. of Leuyt.; and for they weren stirid bi curi|ouste to se the nakid arke, whiche thing is forbodun undur the peyne of deth in foure c<sup>o</sup>. of Numeri; and for they suf|friden the arke to dwelle out of hows, and with out liȝt and du reli|gioun. Ebrews undurstonden thus the noum|bre of men slayn here; they seyen that onely seuenti men weren smytun, whiche weren of so greet reputa|cioun, that they weren comparisound to one thou|sinde of the comyn peple; for therfor the principal men of the peple weren smytun, for they ouȝten ordeyne the peple, and bi|fore be war of the forseid of|fensis. Lire here. C.] , and fifty thousynde of the porail. And the puple morenyde, for the Lord hadde smyte `the puple [it I.] with greet veniaunce. [verse 20] And men of Bethsames seiden, Who schal now stonde in the siȝt of the Lord God of this hooli thing, and to whom schal it stie [stie up I.] fro vs? [verse 21] And thei senten messan|geris to the dwelleris of Cariathiarym, and seiden, Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] han brouȝt aȝen the arke of the Lord; come ȝe doun, and lede [ledeth I.] it aȝen to ȝou.

CAP. VII.

[verse 1] Therfor men of Cariathiarym camen, and ledden aȝen the arke of the Lord, and brouȝten [thei brouȝten I.] it in to the hows of Amynadab in Gabaa. Sotheli [And I.] thei halewiden Eleazar his sone, that he schulde kepe the ark of the Lord. [verse 2] And it was doon, fro which [that I.] dai `the arke of the Lord [that the Lordis arke I.] dwellide in Caryathiarym, daies [the daies I.] weren multiplied [daies were multiplied, in whiche Samuel excitide the puple to good. Lire here. C.] ; for [and I.] the twentithe ȝeer was [Om. D.] now [thanne I.] , after that Samuel bigan to teche the puple; and al Israel restide [restide in pes I.] aftir the Lord. [verse 3] For|sothe [And I.] Samuel spak to al the hows of Is|rael, and seide, If in al ȝoure herte ȝe turnen aȝen to the Lord, do ȝe awei alien goddis, Balym and Astaroth, fro the myddis of ȝou; and make ȝe redi ȝoure hertis to the Lord, and serue ȝe hym aloone; and he schal delyuere ȝou fro the hond of Fi|listeis [the Filisteis I.] . [verse 4] Therfor the sones of Israel diden awey Baalym and Astoroth, and serueden [thei serueden I.] the [to the I.] Lord aloone. [verse 5] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel seide, Gadere ȝe [ȝe togidere I.] al Israel [the peple of Israel I.] in to Masphat, that Y preie the Lord for ȝou. [verse 6] And thei camen

togidere in to Masphat, and thei [Om. DK.] drowen watir, and shedden [helden it I.] out in the `siȝt of the Lord [Lordis siȝt I.] ; and thei fastiden in that day, and seiden, Lord, we synneden [han synned I.] to thee. And Samuel demyde the sones [hous I.] of Israel in Masphat. [verse 7] And Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] herden that the sones of Israel weren gaderid [gaderid to gidere I.] in Mas|phat; and the princes of Filisteis stieden [stieden up I.] to Israel. And whanne the sones of Is|rael hadden herd this, thei dredden of the face of Filisteis. [verse 8] And `thei seiden [Israel criede I.] to Sa|muel, Ceesse thou not to crye for vs to oure Lord God, that he saue vs fro the `hoond of Filisteis [Philistees hoond I.] . [verse 9] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel took o soukynge lomb, and offride that [it I.] hool in to brent sacrifice to the Lord. And Sa|muel criede to the Lord for Israel; and the Lord herde hym. [verse 10] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon, whanne Samuel offryde brent [the brent I.] sacri|fice, that [Om. DGKMNOQSXb.] Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] bigunnen batel aȝens Israel. Sotheli [And I.] the Lord thundride with greet thundur [thundring KX.] in that dai on [upon the I.] Filisteis, and made [he made I.] hem aferd; and thei weren slayn of the sones of Israel. [verse 11] And the sones of Israel ȝeden [wenten I.] out of [fro I.] Masphat, and pursueden Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] , and smytiden [smoten I.] hem `til to [vnto I.] the place that was vndur Bethachar. [verse 12] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel took o stoon, and puttide [putte I.] it bitwixe Masphat, and bi|twixe [Om. I.] Sen; and he clepide the name of that place The stoon of help. And he seide, Hidir to the Lord helpide [hath helpid I.] vs. [verse 13] And Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] weren maad low, and addiden [thei addiden I.] no more to come in to the termes of Is|rael. And so the `hond of the Lord [Lordis hond I.] was maad on [upon the I.] Filisteis in alle the daies of Sa|muel. [verse 14] And the citees whiche [that I.] the Filis|teis token [hadden take I.] fro Israel, weren ȝoldun [ȝoldun aȝen I.] to Israel, fro Accaron `til to [vnto I.] Geth and `hise termes [the coostis of Geth I.] ; and the Lord delyuerede Israel fro the hond of Filisteis; and pees was bitwixe Israel and Ammorrey [Amorey, for Ammoreis ser|ueden to Israel vndur tribut. Lire here. C.] . [verse 15] Also [And I.]

Samuel demyde Israel in [Om. I.] alle the daies of his lijf [of his liyf; that is, til to the ordeynyng and conferm|yng of Saul. C.] , that is, `til to [in to E.] the ordeynyng [verse 16] `and confermyng [Om. N.] of Saul [gloss omitted in GIQSX pr. m. b.] ; and he ȝede [wente I.] [and he ȝede, etc. bi his owne trauel and costis to deme the peple in couen|able places, as it seid in xii. c^o. Lire here. C.] bi `alle ȝeeris [ech ȝeer I.] , and cumpasside Bethel, and Galgal, and Masphat, and he demyde Is|rael in the forseid places. [verse 17] And he turnede aȝen in to Ramatha, for his hows was there; and he demyde Israel there, and he bildide there also an auter to the Lord.

CAP. VIII.

[verse 1] Forsothe [And I.] it was don, whanne Samuel hadde [Om. I.] wexide [waxen EKL.] eld, he settide [sette I.] hise sones iugis [to be iugis I.] on [of DEIKLMOX.] Israel. [verse 2] And the name of his firste gendrid [goten I.] sone was Johel, and the name of the secounde was [Om. I.] Abia, iugis [that weren iugis I.] in Bersabee. [verse 3] And hise sones ȝeden [wenten I.] not in `the weies of hym [his weies I.] , but thei bowiden after aueryce, and thei token ȝiftis, and per|uertiden [misturneden I.] doom. [verse 4] Therfor alle the grettere men in birthe of Israel weren gaderid [gaderid togidere I.] , and camen to Samuel in to Ramatha. [verse 5] And thei seiden to hym [Samuel I.] , Lo! thou hast wexid [wexe I.] eld, and thi sones goen not in thi weies; ordeyne thou a kyng to vs, `that he deme vs [Om. K.] , as also alle naciouns [othere naciouns I.] han. [verse 6] And the word displeside in the iȝen [siȝt I.] of Samuel, for thei hadden seid, Ȝyue thou to vs a kyng, that he deme vs. And Samuel preiede to the Lord. [verse 7] Forsothe [And I.] the Lord seide to Samuel, Here thou the vois of the puple in alle thingis whiche [that I.] thei speken to thee; for [forsothe I.] thei han not caste awey thee [thee fro hem I.] , but me, that Y regne not on [upon I.] hem. [verse 8] Bi alle her [the I.] werkis whiche [that I.] thei diden [han do I.] , fro the day in whiche Y ledde hem out of Egipt `til to [vnto I.] this dai, as thei forsoken [han forsake I.] me, and seruyden [thei han serued I.] alien goddis, so thei doon also to thee. [verse 9] Now therfor here thou her vois; netheles [and netheles b.] witnesse [take I.] thou to [Om. I.] hem [hem togidere and witnesse thou to hem I.] ; bifor|seie [and biforseie IL.] thou to hem [hem and witnesse thou to hem KX.] the riȝt of [on K.] the kyng,

that schal regne on [upon I.] hem. [verse 10] Therfor [Thanne I.] Sa|muel seide alle the wordis of the Lord to the puple, that hadde axid of him a king; [verse 11] and he seide, This schal be the `riȝt of the kyng [kyngis riȝt I.] [This schal be the riȝt of the kyng. Alle thingis teld here of Samuel ben of the riȝt of rewme and kyng set in nede for comyn good of the rewme, for in sich a caas alle goodis of the rewme ben the kingis, netheles tho schulen be set forth and spendid for commyn profit and good. If the riȝt of the king is takun in an other maner out of nede, so ful many thingis ben expressid of Samuel, that perteynen not to the riȝt of a kyng, as alle tho thingis that maken the pu|ple suget ser|uyle ethir thral, and whiche thingis bihold|en not comyn good, but more the wille of a singuler man set in the rewme; and Samuel bifor seide siche thingis to hem, to withdrawe hem that they schulden not axe a kyng, for it was not spedeful to hem. And for gouernail is turned liȝtly in to tirauntrie, for greetnesse of power grauntid to kyngis, therfor it sueth and ȝe schulen be ser|uauntis to him, that is, if the gouernail is turned in to tirauntrie, whiche thing is doon liȝtly, nameli in parti for the greet power of the king. Therfor in xvij. c<sup>o</sup>. of Deut<sup>o</sup>. a king is comaundid to kepe him silf fro pride, co|uetyse and ty|rauntrie. Lire here. C.] , that schal comaunde to ȝou; he schal take ȝoure sones, and schal [he schal I.] sette [sette hem I.] [verse 12] in hise charis; and he schal make hem `to hym silf [Om. I.] rideris, and biforegoeris of hise cartis; and he schal ordeyne to hym tribunes, `that is, souereyns of a thou|synd [or souereyns on thousindis I. Om. X. pr. m.] , and centuriouns, `that is, soue|reyns of an hundrid [Om. IX pr. m.] , and eereris [tilieris I.] of hise feeldis, and reperis of cornes [his cornes I.] , and smythis of hise armeris, and charis [of his charis I.] . [verse 13] Also he schal make ȝoure douȝtris makeris of `oynementis to hym silf [his oyne|mentis I.] , and fueris [his fire makers I.] , and bakeris [his makers of bred I.] . [verse 14] And he schal take ȝoure feeldis and vyneris [ȝoure vyneris I.] and the beste places of olyues, and schal [he schal I.] ȝyue [ȝyue tho I.] to hise ser|uauntis. [verse 15] But also he schal take the tenthe part of ȝoure cornes, and rentis [the rentis I.] of vyneris [ȝoure vyneris I.] , that he ȝyue [ȝyue tho I.] to his chaum|berleyns and seruauntis. [verse 16] Sotheli [and I.] he schal take awey ȝoure seruauntis and [and ȝoure I.] hand|maydes [handmaydens DEI.] , and beste [ȝoure beste I.] ȝong men, and assis [ȝoure assis I.] , and schal [he schal I.] sette [sette these I.] in his werk. [verse 17] Also he schal take the tenthe part of ȝoure flockis, and ȝe schulen be `seruauntis to hym [his seruauntis.] . [verse 18] And ȝe schulen crye in that dai fro the face of ȝoure kyng, whom ȝe han chose to ȝou; and the Lord schal not here ȝou in that dai; for ȝe axiden a kyng to ȝou. [verse 19] Sotheli [And I.] the puple nolde [wolde not I.] here the vois of Samuel, but thei seiden, Nay [Nay; that is, the Lord schal not for|sake to here vs, if we han a king. Lire here. C.] , for [certis I.] a kyng [verse 20] schal be on [upon I.] vs; and we also [Om. I.] schulen be as alle folkis [folkis ben I.] , and oure kyng schal deme vs, and he schal go out [forth I.] bifor vs, and he schal fiȝte oure batel [batels BCIW.] for vs. [verse 21] And Samuel herde alle the wordis of the puple, and `spak tho [he spak hem I.] in the eeris of the Lord. [verse 22] For|sothe [And I.] the Lord seide to Samuel, Here thou `the vois of hem [her voices I.] , and ordeyne thou a kyng on [upon I.] hem. And Samuel seide to the men of Israel, Ech man go in to his citee.

CAP. IX.

[verse 1] And `a man was [ther was a man I.] of Beniamyn, `Cys bi name [that hiȝte Cys I.] , the sone of Abiel, sone [the sone I.] of Seor, sone [the sone I.] of Bethor, sone [the sone I.] of Aphia, sone [the sone I.] of the [a I. Om. N.] man Gemyny [of Gemyny CX pr. m. that hiȝt Gemyny I.] , strong [a strong man I.] in bodili myȝt. [verse 2] And to hym was a sone, Saul bi name, chosun and good [chosun and good, with out notable wem of vices; good, bi resoun of goode maneris and of vertues. C.] ; and no man [no man, and so forth, not onely he was good, but also of ex|cellent good|nesse. Lire here. C.] of the sones of Israel was betere than he; fro the schuldur and aboue [upward I.] he apperide ouer al [Om. I.] the puple. [verse 3] Sotheli [And I.] the femal [sche I.] assis of Cys, the fadir of Saul, perischyden [weren lost I.] [perischiden, that is, stray|eden, for tho perischiden not outirly, that weren foundun aftirward. Lire here. C.] . And Cys seide to Saul his sone, Take with thee oon of the children, and rise thou, and go, and [Om. I.] seke the femal [sche I.] assis. And whanne [verse 4] thei hadden go [gon forth I.] bi the hil of Effraym, and bi the lond of Salisa, and hadden [thei hadden I.] not foundun [foundun hem I.] , thei passiden [passiden forth I.] also bi the lond of Salym, and tho [thei I.] weren not there; but also `thei passiden [Om. I.] bi the lond of Gemyny, and founden [ȝit thei founden I.] not. [verse 5] Sotheli [Forsothe plures. And I.] whanne thei hadden come in to the lond of Suph, and hadden [thei hadden I.] not founde, Saul seide to his child that was with hym, Come thou, and turne we aȝen; lest perauenture my fadir hath [haue I.] lefte [lefte to charge I.] the [thes E. his K. Om. L.] femal [Om. I.] assis, and is bisy [bisy in herte or careful I.] for vs. [verse 6] Which [And the I.] child seide to hym, Lo! the [a I.] man of God is in this citee, a noble man; al thing that he spekith, cometh with out doute. Now therfor go we thidir, if perauenture he schewe to vs [vs the cause I.] of oure weie, for which we camen. [verse 7] And Saul seide to his child, Lo! we schulen go; what schulen we bere to the man of God? Breede failide [hath failid I.] in oure scrippis, and we han no present [present monei neither ony other thing I.] , that we ȝyue to the man of God, `nether ony othir thing [Om. I.] . [verse 8] Eft the child answeride to Saul, and seide, Lo! the fourthe part of `a stater, that is, a cicle, of siluer [a siluern sicle I.] is foundun in myn hond; ȝyue we [we it I.] to the man of God, that he schewe to vs oure weie [wher we schul go ferther or no I marg.] . [verse 9] Sumtyme in Israel ech man

goynge to counsel God [with God I.] spak thus, Come ȝe, and go we to the seere; for he, that is seid `to dai [now I.] a profete, was clepid sum|tyme a seere. [verse 10] And Saul seide to his child, `Thi word is the beste [Ful good is thi word I.] ; come thou, go we [we to him I.] . And thei ȝeden in to the citee, `in which [that I.] the man of God was [was ynne I.] . [verse 11] And whanne thei stieden [stieden up I.] in to the hiȝnesse of the citee, thei founden damesels goynge out to drawe watir, and thei seiden to the dameselis, Whether the seere is here? [verse 12] Whiche [And the I.] dame|selis answeriden, and seiden to hem, He is here; lo! he is bifor thee; `haste thou [and haste C. haste thee D. haste ȝou E. hie thee I.] now [Om. GQ. forsothe I.] , for to day he cam in to the citee; for to dai is sacrifice of the puple in the hiȝ place. [verse 13] Ȝe schulen entre [entre forth I.] in to the citee, and anoon ȝe schulen fynde hym, bifor that he stie [wende up I.] in to the hiȝ place to ete; for the puple schal not ete til [til that I.] he come, for he schal blesse the sacrifice, and afterward thei schulen ete that ben clepid. Now therfor stie ȝe [ȝe up I.] , for to day ȝe schulen fynde hym. [verse 14] And thei stieden [wenten up I.] in to the citee. And whanne thei ȝeden in [in to A pr. m.] the [Om. EIL.] myddis of the citee, Samuel apperide goynge out aȝens hem, that he schulde stie [stie up I.] in to the hiȝ place. [verse 15] Forsothe [And the dai before that Saul came I.] the Lord `hadde maad [made I.] reuelacioun in the eere of Samuel `bifor o dai, that Saul cam [Om. I.] , [verse 16] and seide, In this same our which [that I.] is now to morewe, Y schal sende to thee a man of the lond of Beniamyn, and thou schalt anoynte hym duyk on [upon I.] my puple Israel, and he schal saue my puple fro the hond of Filisteis; for Y haue biholde my puple [Y haue bi|holde, etc.; that is, with iȝe of mersy. Lire here. C.] , for [forsothe I.] `the cry of hem [her cry.] cam [hath come I.] to me. [verse 17] And whanne Samuel hadde biholde Saul, the Lord seide to Samuel, Lo! the man, whom Y seide to thee; this man schal be lord of my puple. [verse 18] Forsothe [And I.] Saul neiȝede to Sa|muel in the myddis of the ȝate, and seide, Y preye [preye thee I.] , schewe thou to me, where is the hows of the seere? [verse 19] And Samuel an|sweride

to Saul, and seide, Y am the seere; stie thou [thou up I.] bifor me in to the hiȝ place, that thou ete with me to dai, and Y schal delyuere thee in the morewtid, and Y schal schewe to thee alle thingis that ben in thin herte. [verse 20] And be thou not bisy of the femal [Om. I.] assis, whiche [whom I.] thou lostist the [in the I.] thridde dai agoon, for tho [thei I.] ben foundun; and whose schulen be alle the beste thingis of Israel, whether not to thee, and to al the hows of thi fader [to the hous of thy fadir; for Saul was kyng, and alle the beste thinges of the peple ben the kingis in nede, and Abner, prince of the knyȝ[t]hod,and othere myȝty men of the hows of Saul, hadden the beste thingis of the rewme; and so schulden her eyris haue had, if Saul hadde stonde in his good|nesse. Lire here. C.] ? Sotheli [And I.] Saul answeride, and seide, [verse 21] Whe|ther Y am not a [the I.] sone of Gemyny, of the leeste lynage of Israel, and my kynrede is the laste among alle the meynees of the lynage of Beniamyn? Whi therfor hast thou spoke to me this word? [verse 22] Therfor [And so I.] Samuel took Saul, and his child, and ledde [he ledde I.] hem in to the [a I.] chaumbur of thre ordris [seetis I.] , and he ȝaf to hem a place in the bigyn|nyng of hem that weren clepid [boden to the mete I.] ; for [and I.] thei weren as thretti [a thretti I.] men [men at mete I.] . [verse 23] And Samuel seide to the cook, Ȝyue thou [thou him I.] the part, which [that I.] Y ȝaf to thee, and comaundide, that thou schuldist kepe bi it silf anentis thee. [verse 24] Sotheli [And I.] the cook reiside [toke up I.] the [a I.] schuldir, and settide [he sette it I.] bifor Saul. And Samuel seide, Lo! that, that lefte [hath left I.] , `sette thou [take I.] bifor thee, and ete; for of purpos it was kept to thee, whanne Y clepide the puple [puple hidere I.] . And Saul eet with Samuel in [Om. I.] that dai. [verse 25] And thei camen doun fro the hiȝ place in to the citee; and Samuel spak with Saul in the [a I.] soler, and Saul `araiede a bed in the soler [beddide him there I.] , and slepte. [verse 26] And whanne thei hadden rise eerli, and `now it [the day I.] bigan to be cleer, Samuel clepide Saul in to the [a I.] soler, and seide, Rise thou [thou up I.] , that Y delyuere thee. And Saul roos [roos up I.] , and bothe ȝeden out, that is, he, and Sa|muel. [verse 27] And whanne thei ȝeden doun in the laste part of the citee, Samuel seide

to Saul, Seie thou to the [thi I.] child, that he go bifor vs, and passe [passe forth I.] ; forsothe [and I.] stonde thou [thou stille I.] a litil, that Y schewe to thee the word of the Lord.

CAP. X.

[verse 1] Forsothe Samuel took `a vessel of oyle [an oile vessel I.] , and schedde [he helde it I.] out on the heed of Saul, and kisside [he kisside I.] hym, and seide, Lo! [Fro this word lo til thi|dur in to prince is not in Ebreu. Lire here. C.] the Lord hath anoyntid thee in to prince [a prince I.] on hys eritage; and thou schalt delyuere his pu|ple fro the hond of his enemyes, that ben `in his cumpas [aboute hem I.] . And this [be this I. this is K.] a tokene to thee, that the Lord hath anoyntid thee in to [verse 2] prince [a prince I.] ; whanne thou schalt go fro me to day, thou schalt fynde twei men bisidis `the sepulcre of Rachel [Rachels biriel I.] , in `the endis of Beniamyn [Beniamyns coostis I.] , in myddai [the myddai I.] , clensynge grete dichis [This word clensyng grete dichis, is not in Ebreu, ne|ther in bokis amendid. Lire here. C.] ; and thei schulen seie to thee, The femel [sche I.] assis ben foundun, whiche [whom I.] thou ȝedist to seke; and while [Om. I.] the assis ben [Om. I.] lefte, thi fadir is bisy for ȝou, and seith [he seith I.] , What schal Y do of my sone? [verse 3] And whanne thou hast go fro thennus, and hast passid ferthere [fertheremore I.] , and hast come to the ook of Tabor, thre men, stiynge [stiynge up I.] to God in to Bethel, schulen fynde thee there, o man [man of hem I.] berynge thre kydis, and another man berynge thre kakis of breed, and an other man berynge a galoun of wyn. [verse 4] And whanne thei han gret thee, thei schulen ȝyue to thee twei loues, and thou schalt take [take tho I. take hem K.] of `the hond of hem [her hond I.] . [verse 5] After these thingis thou schalt come in to the `hil of the Lord [Lordis hil I.] , where is the stondyng [stondyng place I.] , that is, forselet [the forselet WX sec. m. gloss omitted in IX pr. m.] , of Filisteis; and whanne thou schalt entre in to the citee, there thou schalt haue metynge thee the [a I.] flok [flok or a cumpanye I.] of prophetis [profetis; pro|fetis ben clepid here deuout men and reli|giouse, whiche Samuel gader|ide to preise God; and with this they had|den spirit of profesie, namely summe of hem. Lire here. C.] comynge doun fro the hiȝ place, and a sautree, and tympane [a tym|pane I.] , and pipe [a pipe I.] , and harpe [an harpe I.] bifor hem, and hem prophesiynge. [verse 6] And the Spirit of the Lord schal skippe [anoon falle I.]

in to thee, and thou schalt prophecie with hem, and thou schalt be chaungid in to another man. [verse 7] Therfor whanne alle thesse signes [thingis I.] bifallen to thee, do thou, what euer thingis thin hond fyndith, `that is, dispose thee to regne comelili [comeli G.] and myȝtily [gloss omitted in IX pr. m.] , for the Lord is with thee. [verse 8] And thou schalt go doun bifor me in to Galgala; for Y schal come doun to thee, that thou offre [that thou offre; in E|breu it is to offre an of|fring, that is, with me for thyn helthe; and thus oure translacioun is expowned of oure doctours, that thou offre and make sacri|fice, not bi thee but by me, as the peple of|fride bi the preestis. Lire here. C.] an offryng, and offre [sacrifie I.] pesible sacrifices; bi seuene daies thou schalt abide, til I come to thee, and shewe to [Om. I.] thee what thou schal do. [verse 9] Therfor whanne Saul hadde turnede awei his schuldre to go fro Sa|muel, God chaungide another herte to Saul, and alle these signes [tokens I.] camen in that dai. [verse 10] And thei [Saul and his child I.] camen to the forseid hil, and lo! a cumpeny of prophetis metynge [weren metynge with I.] hym; and the Spirit of the Lord `scippide on hym [felle anoon upon Saul I.] , and he propheciede in the myddis of hem [the prophetis I.] . [verse 11] Sotheli [And I.] alle men, that knewen hym [Saul I.] ȝisterdai and the thrid dai ago, sien that he was with the prophetis, and that he prophesiede, and thei seiden togidere, What thing bifelde [hath bifalle I.] to the sone of Cys? Whether also Saul is among [chosen among the I.] prophetis? [verse 12] And o man answeride to another man [Om. I.] , and seide, And who is `his fadir [the fadir of Saul I.] [who is his fa|dir; in Ebreu it is, who is the fadir of hem, that is, of the profetis; as if he seide, pro|fesie is not bi eritage of fa|dris, but God ȝyueth profesie bi his grace, to whom he wole. Lire here. C.] ? Ther|for it was turned in to a prouerbe, Whe|ther also Saul is among prophetis [the prophetis I.] ? [verse 13] For|sothe [And I.] Saul ceside to prophesie, and he cam to an hiȝ place. [verse 14] And the brothir of `the fadir of Saul [Saulis fadir I.] seide to hym, and to his child, Whidur ȝeden [wenten I.] ȝe? And thei answeriden, To seke the [Om. I.] femal [sche I.] assis; and whanne we [thei A.] founden `not thoo [hem not IN.] , we camen to Samuel. [verse 15] And the brother of his [Sauls I.] fadir seide to hym, Schewe thou to me what Samuel seide to thee. [verse 16] And Saul seide to `the brother of hys fadir [his uncle I.] , He [Samuel I.] schewide to vs, that the femal [sche I.] assis weren foundun. Sotheli [But I.] Saul [he I.] schewide not to hym [his uncle I.] of the word of rewme [the rewme I.] , `which word [that I.] Samuel spak to hym. [verse 17] And Samuel cle|pide

togidere the puple to the Lord in [verse 18] Masphat; and he seide to the sones of Is|rael, The Lord God of Israel seith these thingis, Y ledde Israel out of the lond of Egipt, and Y delyuerede ȝou fro the hond of Egipcians, and fro the hond of alle kyngis [the kyngis I.] that turmentiden ȝou. [verse 19] Forsothe [And I.] to day ȝe han caste awei ȝoure Lord God, which [the which I.] aloone sauyde ȝou fro alle ȝoure yuelis and tribulaciouns; and ȝe seiden, Nay, but ordeyne thou a kyng on [upon I.] vs. Now therfor stonde ȝe bifor the Lord bi ȝoure lynagis, and bi [Om. I.] meynees. [verse 20] And Sa|muel settide [sette I.] to gidere alle the lynages [lynage A.] of Israel, and lot felde on [upon I.] the lynage of Beniamyn. [verse 21] And he settide [sette I.] togidere the lynage of Beniamyn, and the meynees therof; and lot felde on [upon I.] the meynees [meynee I.] of Mathri [Mathari, that is, of archeris schet|inge to a signe. Lire here. C.] , and it cam `til to [vnto EIL.] Saul, the son of Cys. Therfor [Thanne I.] thei souȝten hym [Saul I.] , and he was not foundun there. [verse 22] And aftir these thingis thei counseliden the [with the I.] Lord, whether Saul schulde come thidur. And the Lord answeride, Lo! he [Saul I.] is hid at hoom [he is id at hoome; not in Gabaa, but in the hows in which he was ynned. In Ebreu it is, he is hid among vessels, that is, armeris, ether what euer othere vessels thei puttiden in the yn, for keping. Lire here. C.] . [verse 23] Therfor thei runnen, and token hym fro thennus; and he [Saul I.] stood in the [Om. I.] myddil [myddis I.] of the puple, and was [he was I.] hiȝere than al the puple fro the schulder and `aboue [upward I.] . [verse 24] And Samuel seide to al the puple, Certis ȝe seen [han seen I.] whom the Lord hath chose; for noon in al the puple is lijk hym. And al the puple cryede, and seide, Lyue the kyng! [verse 25] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel spak to the puple the lawe of rewme [the rewme EIKLX.] , and wroot [he wroot it I.] in a book, and puttide [putte it I.] vp bifor the Lord. And Sa|muel [he I.] dilyuerede al the puple, ech man in [verse 26] to his hows; but also Saul ȝede in to his [Om. A.] hous in to [Om. I.] Gabaath; and the [a I.] part of the oost ȝede with hym, whose hertis God hadde touchid. [verse 27] Forsothe [And I.] the sones of Belyal seiden, Whether this man may saue vs? And thei dispisiden hym, and brouȝten [thei brouȝten I.] not ȝiftis, `that is, preisyngis [that is, presentis BNW. Om. CIX pr. m.] , to him; for|sothe [and I.] he `dissymelide hym to here [lete as thouȝ he herde not I.] .

CAP. XI.

[verse 1] And it was don as [as it were I.] aftir a monethe, Naas of Amon stiede [stiede up I.] , and bigan [he bigan I.] to fiȝte aȝens Jabes of Galaad. And alle the men of Jabes [the citee Jabes I.] seiden to Naas, Haue thou vs boundun in pees, and we schulen serue thee. [verse 2] And Naas of Amon answeride to hem, In this [this thing I.] Y schal smyte boond of pees with ȝou, that Y putte out the riȝt iȝen of alle ȝou, and that Y sette [putte I.] ȝou schenschip [to be reproff I.] in al Israel. [verse 3] And the eldere men of Jabes seiden to him, Graunte thou to vs seuene daies, that we senden messangeris to alle the termes [coostis I.] of Israel; and if noon be that defende vs, we schulen go out to thee. [verse 4] Therfor [Thanne I.] messangeris camen in to Gabaad of Saul, and spaken these wordis, `while [which C.] the puple herde [heringe the puple I.] ; and al the puple reiside her vois, and wepte. [verse 5] And lo! Saul cam, `and suede oxis [Om. I.] fro the feeld [feild and he suede oxen I.] ; and he seide, What hath the puple, for it wepith? And thei telden to hym the wordis of men [the men I.] of Jabes. [verse 6] And the Spirit of the Lord [the Spirit of the Lord, etc.; that is, the stiring of strengthe and of stide|fastnesse, to delyuere the peple bisegid. Lire here. C.] skippide [fel anoon I.] in to Saul, whanne he hadde herd these wordis, and his wood|nesse [feers wrath I.] was `wrooth greetli [greetli stirid I.] [verse 7] And he took euer either oxe, and kittide [he kitte hem I.] in to gobetis, and sente [he sente tho I.] in to alle the termes [coostis I.] of Israel, bi the hondis of messangeris; and seide [he seide I.] , Who euer goith not out, and sueth not Saul and Samuel, so it schal be don to hise oxun. Therfor the drede of the Lord asailide [wente into I.] the puple, and thei ȝeden out as o man. [verse 8] And he [Saul I.] noumbride hem in Be|sech; and thre hundrid thousynd weren [weren there I.] of the sones of Israel; forsothe [and I.] of the men of Juda weren thretti thousynde. [verse 9] And thei seiden to the messangeris that camen, Thus ȝe schulen seie to the men that ben in Jabes of Galaad, To morew [to morewe; that is, in tyme to comynge of next. Lire here. C.] schal be helthe to ȝou, whanne the sunne is hoot. Therfor [Thanne I.] the messangeris camen, and telden to the [Om. plures.] men of Jabes; whiche [the whiche I. whiche men K.]

[verse 10] weren glad, and seiden [seiden to Amon I.] , Eerli we schulen go out to ȝou, and ȝe schulen do to vs [and ȝe schulen do to vs, etc.; they seiden this in scorn, for thei wisten that help schal come to hem in the morewe. Lire here. C.] al that plesith ȝou [to ȝou I.] . [verse 11] And it was don, whanne the morewe dai [tijd I.] cam, Saul ordeynede the puple in to thre partis; and he [in the morewe tijd wacche Saul I.] entride in to the myddil tentis [tentis of Amon I.] `in the wakyng of the morewtid [Om. I.] , and he smoot Amon til the dai `was hoot [wexide I.] ; `forsothe the residues [and thei that weren left alijue I.] weren scaterid, so that tweyne [two men I.] togidere weren not left in hem. [verse 12] And the puple seide to Samuel, Who is this, that seide, Saul schal not regne on [upon I.] vs? Ȝyue ȝe the [tho I.] men [men hidere I.] , and we schulen sle hem. [verse 13] And Saul seide, No man schal be slayn in this dai, for to dai the Lord made [hath maad I.] helthe in Israel. [verse 14] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel seide to the puple, Come ȝe, and go we in to Galgala, and renule [renel EL.] we there [there therinne L.] the rewme. [verse 15] And al [Om. C.] the puple ȝede in to Galgala, and there thei maden Saul kyng bifor the Lord `in Galgala [Om. I.] ; and thei offriden [offriden there I.] pesible sacrifices bifor the Lord. And Saul was glad there, and alle the men of Israel greetli.

CAP. XII.

[verse 1] Forsothe Samuel seide to al Israel, Lo! Y herde ȝoure vois bi alle thingis whiche ȝe spaken to me, and Y ordeynede a kyng [verse 2] on [upon I.] ȝou; and now the king goith bifor ȝou. Sotheli [And I.] Y wexide [haue wexe I.] eld and hoor; forsothe [and I.] my sones ben with ȝou; therfor [also I.] Y lyuyde [haue lyued I.] bifor ȝou fro my ȝong wexynge age `til to [vnto I.] this dai. [verse 3] And lo! Y am redi; speke ȝe to me bifor the Lord, and bifor `the crist of hym [his anoyntid or kyng I.] ; whether Y took [haue take I.] `the oxe of ony man [ony mans oxe I.] , ether the [his I.] asse; if Y falsly [haue falsly I.] chalengide ony mon; yf Y oppress|ide [haue oppressid I.] ony man; if Y took [haue take I.] ȝifte [if Y took ȝifte, etc.; of this it is opin, that bi hise owne costis and trauels, he fillide the office of iuge, as it was seid in vii. c<sup>o</sup>. Lire here. C.] of `the hond of ony man [ony mans hond I.] ; and [Om. plures.] Y schal `dispise it [be despised L.] to dai, and Y schal restore to ȝou. [verse 4] And thei

seiden, Thou hast not falsly chalengid vs, nether hast [thou hast EIL.] oppressid vs [Om. plures.] , nether hast [thou hast EIL.] take ony thing of `the hond of ony man [ony mans hond I.] . [verse 5] And he [Samuel I.] seide to hem, The Lord is wit|nesse aȝens ȝou, and his crist [crist or king I.] is witnesse in this day; for ȝe han not founde ony thing in myn hond. And thei seiden [and thei seiden; in Ebreu it is, and he seide, Witnesse. E|brews expown|en thus, that aftir the wit|nessing of the puple declar|inge the inno|cence of Sa|muel, he axide herwith Goddis witnessing, and seide, the Lord is witnesse, that is, Y preye that he be wit|nesse; and thanne a voys cam sent fro the Lord, and seide, Witnesse, in witnessinge the innocence of Samuel. Lire here. C.] , Witnesse [He is witnesse I.] . [verse 6] And Samuel seide to the puple, The Lord, that made Moises and Aaron, and ledde [that ledde I.] ȝoure fadris out of the [verse 7] lond of Egipt, is present; now therfor stonde ȝe [ȝe forth I.] , that Y stryue bi doom aȝens ȝou bifor the Lord, of alle the mercyes of the Lord, whiche [that I.] he dide [hath do I.] with ȝou, and with ȝoure fadris. [verse 8] Hou [Hou that I.] Jacob entride in to Egipt, and ȝoure fadris crieden to the Lord; and the Lord sente Moises and Aaron, and ledde ȝoure fadris out of Egipt, and settide [hath sett I.] hem in this place. [verse 9] Whiche [The whiche I.] forȝaten [han forȝete I.] her Lord God; and he bitook hem in [in to I.] the hond of Sisara, mays|tir [the maystir I.] of the chyualrie of Asor, and in the hond of Filisteis, and in the hond of the [Om. DFKOXb.] kyng of Moab; and thei [these I.] fouȝten aȝens hem. [verse 10] Sotheli [And I.] afterward [aftir this I.] thei [ȝoure faders I.] crieden to the Lord, and seiden, We synneden [han synned I.] , for we forsoken the Lord, and seruyden Baa|lym and Astroth; now therfor delyuere thou vs fro `the hond of oure enemyes [our enemyes hond I.] , and we schulen serue thee. [verse 11] And the Lord sente Gerobaal [Gerobaal, that is Gedeon B text. C marg.] , and `Bedan, that is [Om. C.] , Sampson, and Barach, and Jepte, and Samuel, and delyuerede [he delyuerede I.] ȝou fro the hond of ȝoure enemyes bi cumpass; and ȝe [thanne ȝe I.] dwelliden tristili [sikirly I.] . [verse 12] Forsothe [And I.] ȝe sien, that Naas, kyng [the kyng I.] of the sones of Amon, cam aȝens ȝou; and ȝe seiden to me, counseil|ynge [counseilinge ȝou I.] to axe noon other kyng than God, Nay, but a kyng schal comaunde to vs; whanne `ȝoure Lord God [the Lord ȝoure God I.] regnede [schulde regne I.] in ȝou. [verse 13] Now therfor ȝoure kyng is redi, whom ȝe han chose and axid; lo! the Lord ȝaf [hath ȝoue I.] to ȝou a kyng. [verse 14] If ȝe dreden the Lord,

and seruen hym, and heren his vois, and wraththen not the `mouth of the Lord [Lordis mouth I.] [that is, the trewe speker of his word. I.] ; ȝe and ȝoure kyng, that comaundith to ȝou, schulen sue ȝoure Lord God. [verse 15] For|sothe [And I.] if ȝe heren not the vois of `the Lord [ȝoure Lord God I.] , but wraththen his word, the hond of the Lord schal be on ȝou [on ȝou; that is, it schal be on ȝou in tyme to comynge, as it was on ȝoure fadris in tyme passid. Lire here. C.] , and on ȝoure fadris. [verse 16] But also now stonde ȝe, and se this gret thing which [that I.] the Lord schal make [do I.] in ȝoure siȝt. [verse 17] Whether heruest [the heruest I.] of whete is not `to dai [now I.] ? I schal inwardli clepe the Lord, and he schal ȝyue voices, `that is, thundris [or thundris IS. Om. X pr. m.] , and reynes; and ȝe schulen wite, and schulen [Om. L.] se, for [that NX.] ȝe axynge a kyng on [upon I.] ȝou han [ȝe han I.] do greuouse yuel to ȝou [ȝou silf I.] in the siȝt of the Lord. [verse 18] And Samuel criede to the Lord, and the Lord ȝaf voices [thundres I.] and reynes in that dai. [verse 19] And al the puple dredde greetli the Lord and Samuel; and al the puple seide to Sa|muel, Preye thou for thi seruauntis to thi Lord God, that we die not; for [forsothe I.] we addiden [han eechid I.] yuel to alle oure synnes, that we axiden a kyng to vs. [verse 20] Forsothe [And I.] Sa|muel seide to the puple, `Nyle ȝe drede [Drede ȝe not I.] ; ȝe han do al this yuel; netheles `nyle ȝe go [go ȝe not I.] awey fro the bak of the Lord, but [verse 21] serue ȝe the Lord in al ȝoure herte; and nyle ȝe bowe aftir veyn thingis [veyn thingis; that is, idols in worschipinge tho, for no myȝt is in tho to saue ȝou. Lire here. C.] , that schulen not profite to [Om. I.] ȝou, nether schulen [thei schulen I.] delyuere ȝou; for tho ben veyn thingis. [verse 22] And [And thanne I.] the Lord schal not forsake his puple for his grete name; for the Lord swoor [hath swore I.] to make ȝou a puple to hym silf. [verse 23] For|sothe [And I.] this synne be fer fro me in [aȝens I.] the Lord, that Y ceesse to preye for ȝou; and Y schal teche ȝou a riȝtful weie and good [a good I.] . [verse 24] Therfor drede ȝe the Lord, and `serue ȝe [serueth I.] hym in treuthe, and of al ȝoure herte; for ȝe sien tho grete thingis, whiche [that I.] he `dide [verse 25] in [hath do to I.] ȝou; that if ȝe contynuen in malice, bothe ȝe and ȝoure kyng schulen perische to gidere.

CAP. XIII.

[verse 1] Saul was a child [sone I.] of o ȝeer [a child of o ȝeer; that is, so innocent and cleene of synne [as] a child of o ȝeer. C.] whanne he bigan to regne; forsothe [and I.] he regnede on [upon I.] Israel twei ȝeer [regnede on Israel by ii. ȝeer; that is, in his goodnesse and innocence, thouȝ he regn|ede in mo ȝeris while he was in malice; ether aftir ii. ȝeer of Saul, Dauyth was chosun of God in to kyng, and anoyntyd of Samuel, as it is had in xvi. c^o., and fro that tyme Saul regnede not bi riȝt, but onely bi tyrauntrie, and therfor the ȝeris suyng ben kit awey here fro his rewme. Lire here. C.] [verse 2] And Saul chees to hym thre thousynde [thousynde men K.] of Israel, and twei thousynde [thousynde of hem I.] weren with Saul in Machynas, in the hil of Bethel; forsothe [and I.] a thou|synde weren with Jonathas in Gabaath of Beniamyn; sotheli [and I.] he [Saul I.] sente aȝen the tother puple ech man in to [Om. D.] `hise taber|naclis [his tabernacle K sec. m. EL.] . [verse 3] And Jonathas smoot the stacioun [standart I.] [stacioun, that is, forselet, ether strong hold. C.] of Filisteis, that was in Gabaa. And whanne Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] hadden herd this [that I.] , Saul sownede with a clarioun in al the lond, and seide, Ebreys [ȝe men of Ebrewe I.] here [here ȝe I.] . [verse 4] And al Israel herde siche a fame, Saul smoot [hath smyten I.] the stacioun [standart I.] of Filisteis; and Israel reiside [reiside up I.] hym silf aȝens Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ; therfor [thanne I.] the puple criede after Saul in Galgala. [verse 5] And Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] weren gaderid [gaderid to gidre I.] to fiȝte aȝens Israel; `of Filisteis weren [Om. I.] thretti thousynde [xxx. thousinde, that is, of men fiȝtinge in cha|ris. Lire here. C.] of cha|ris [charis, that is, of men fiȝtinge in charis B.] , and sixe thousynde [hundrid thousynde I.] of knyȝtis [horsmen I.] , and the tother comyn puple, as [was as the I.] grauel [grauel of the see I.] `which is ful [Om. I.] myche in the brynke of the see; and thei stieden [stieden up I.] , and settiden tentis [her tentis I.] in Machynas, at the eest [eest coost I.] of Bethauen. [verse 6] And whanne men of Israel hadden seyn this [Om. I.] , that thei weren set in streiȝtnesse [the streiȝtnesse C.] , for [and that I.] the puple was turmentid, thei hidden hem silf in dennes, and in priuey places, and in stonys, and in dychis, and in cisternes. [verse 7] Sotheli [And I.] Ebreis [the men of Ebrew I.] passiden [passiden ouer I.] Jordan in to the lond of Gad and of Galaad. And whanne Saul was ȝit in Galgala, al the puple was aferd that suede hym. [verse 8] And seuene daies he [Saul I.] abood Samuel bi coue|naunt, and Samuel cam not in to Galgala; and the puple ȝede a wei fro Saul. [verse 9] Therfor Saul seide, Brynge ȝe to me brent sacri|fice,

and pesible sacrifices [offringis I.] ; and he offride brent sacrifice. [verse 10] And whanne he hadde endid offrynge brent [the brent I.] sacrifice, lo! Samuel cam; and Saul ȝede out aȝens hym [Samuel I.] , to greete Samuel [him I.] . [verse 11] And Samuel spak [seide I.] to hym [Saul I.] , What hast thou do? Saul an|sweride, For [Lo! for I.] Y siȝ that the puple ȝede awei fro me, and thou camest not bi the daies of couenaunt; certis [and the I.] Filisteis weren [verse 12] gaderid [gaderid to gidre I.] in Machynas; Y seide, Now Fi|listeis schulen come doun to me in to Gal|gala, and Y haue not plesyd the face of the Lord; Y was compellid bi nede, and Y offryde brent sacrifice to the Lord. [verse 13] And Samuel seide to Saul, Thou hast do folili, and thou `keptist not [hast not kept I.] the heestis of thi Lord God, whiche he comaundide to thee; and if thou haddist not do this thing, riȝt now the Lord hadde maad redi thi rewme [verse 14] on [upon I.] Israel with outen ende [with outen ende; that is, if thou haddist not do aȝenus Goddis heest, and haddist stonde in the goodnesse in which thou were, whanne thou biganst to regne, thou were disposid, that the rewme schulde be con|fermed to thee and to thi sones; netheles this conferm|yng schal be vndurstodun vndur a condi|cioun, if Saul and hise eiris stoden in good|nesse, which is chaungeable. Lire here. C.] ; but thi rewme schal not rise [rise to gidre I.] ferthere [ferthermore with thee, for thou hast lost iust tijtle I.] . The Lord hath souȝt a man to hym silf after his herte; and the Lord comaundide [hath comaundid I.] to hym, that he schulde be duyk on his puple, for thou keptist not tho thingis whiche the Lord comaundide. [verse 15] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel roos, and stiede [stiede up I.] fro Galgala in to Gabaa of Beniamyn; and the `residue puplis [peple that lefte I.] sti|eden [wenten up I.] after Saul aȝens the puple which [that I.] fouȝten aȝens hem; and thei camen fro Galgala in to Gabaa, in the hil of Benia|myn. And Saul noumbride the puple, that weren foundun with hym as sixe [a sixe I.] hundrid men. [verse 16] And Saul, and Jonathas his sone, and the puple that was foundun with hem, was in Gabaa of Beniamyn; forsothe [and I.] Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] saten togidere in Ma|chynas. [verse 17] And thre cumpanyes ȝeden out of the `castels of Filisteis [Filisteis tentis I.] to take prey; o cumpany ȝede aȝens the weie of Effraym [of Effraym; in Ebreu it is, aȝenus the weye of Effrata to the lond of Saul. C.] [verse 18] to the lond of Saul; sothely [and I.] an other cumpeny entride bi the weie of Bethoron; forsothe [and I.] the thridde cumpenye turnede it

silf to the weie of the terme in the lond of Sabaa; and that [the ABC.] terme neiȝeth [neiȝede I. noiyed L.] to the valey of Seboym aȝens the deseert. [verse 19] For|sothe [And I.] `no smyȝth of yrun [noon yren smith I.] was foundun in al the lond of Israel; for Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] `weren war, ether [Om. I.] eschewiden, lest per|auenture Ebreis [the Ebreis I.] maden a [Om. DIKOXb.] swerd ether a [Om. DEIKLOPSX.] spere. [verse 20] Therfor al Israel ȝede doun to Fi|listeis [the Filisteis I.] , that ech man schulde scharpe his schar, and picoise [his picoise I.] , and ax [his ax I.] , `and sarpe [Om. DGKMNOSXb. and his kuttinge hook I.] ; [verse 21] `and so [for I.] alle egis [the egis of her scharris I.] weren bluntid [blunt I.] `of scharris [Om. I.] , and of picoisis [her picoises I.] , and of `forkis of thre teeth [her thre tothid forkis I.] , and of axis, `til to [vnto I.] a pricke to be amendid. [verse 22] And whanne the dai of batel cam, no swerd and [ne CEIO pr. m.] spere was foundun in the hond of al the puple that was with Saul and Jonathas, outakun Saul [Sauls I.] , and Jonathas his sone. [verse 23] Forsothe [And I.] the stacioun [standart I.] of Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ȝede out, that it schulde passe in to Machynas.

CAP. XIV.

[verse 1] And it bifelde in a day, that Jonathas, the sone of Saul, seide to his squyer, a ȝong man, Come thou, and passe we [we forth I.] to the staciouns [standart I.] of the Filisteis, which [that I.] is biȝende that place; `sotheli he [and Jonathas I.] schewide not this same thing to his fadir. [verse 2] Sotheli [And I.] Saul dwellide in the laste part of Gabaa, vndur a pumgarnarde tre, that was in the feeld of Gabaa; and the puple as of sixe [a sixe I.] hundrid men was with [there with I.] hym. [verse 3] And Achias, sone [the sone I.] of Achitob, brother of Icaboth, sone [the sone I.] of Fynees, that was gendrid of Ely, preest [the preest I.] of the Lord in Silo, bar ephod [the ephod I.] , `that is [or I.] , the [Om. M.] preestis cloth [cope I. the whole gloss omitted in X.] ; but also the puple wiste not whidur Jonathas hadde [was I.] go. [verse 4] Sotheli [And I.] bitwixe the stiyngis [stiyngis up I.] , bi whiche [the whiche I.] Jonathas enforside to passe to the sta|cioun

of Filisteis, weren stonys stond|ynge forth on euer either side, and scarris brokun bifore bi the maner of teeth on ech syde; name to oon [that oon I. the toon K.] was Boses, and [verse 5] name to `the tother [that other I.] was Sene; o scarre was stondynge forth to the north aȝens Machynas, and the tother scarre to the south aȝens Gabaa. [verse 6] Forsothe [And I.] Jonathas seide to his ȝong squyer, Come thou, passe we to the stacioun of these [this C.] vncircumcisid men, if in hap the Lord do for vs; for it is not hard to the Lord to saue, ethir in manye ethir in fewe. [verse 7] And his squyer seide to hym, Do thou alle thingis that plesen [plesith A.] thi soule; go whidur thou co|ueitist, Y schal be with thee, where euer thou wolt. And Jonathas seide, Lo! [verse 8] we passen to these men; and whanne we ap|peren [verse 9] to hem, if thei speken thus to vs, Dwelle ȝe [ȝe stille I.] , til we comen to ȝou; stonde we in oure place, and stie we not to [up to I.] hem. [verse 10] Sotheli [And I.] if thei seien, Stye ȝe [ȝe up I.] to vs; stie we [we up to hem I.] , for the Lord hath bitake hem in [in to K.] oure hondis; this schal be a signe [token I.] to vs. [verse 11] `Therfor euer [And so I. Therfor K.] either apperide to the sta|cioun [standart I.] of Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ; and Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] seiden, Lo! Ebreis [the Ebreis I.] goen out of caues, in whiche thei weren hid. [verse 12] And men of the stacioun [stacioun of Philistees I.] spaken to Jonathas and to his squyer, and seiden, Stie ȝe [ȝe up I.] to vs, and we schulen schewe to ȝou a thing. And Jonathas seide to his squyer, `Stie we [Wende we up to hem I.] , sue thou me; for the Lord hath bitake hem in to the hondis of Israel. [verse 13] Forsothe [And I.] Jonathas stiede [stiede up I.] crepynge on hondis and feet, and his squyer after hym; and whanne thei [the Philistees I.] hadden seyn the face of Jonathas, summe felden doun bifor Jonathas, his [and his I.] squier killed othere, and suede [he suede I.] hym. [verse 14] And the firste wounde [veniaunce I.] was maad [don I.] , which [the which I.] Jonathas and his squyer smoot [killide I.] , as of twenti [Om. G.] men [thousynd men D pr. m. IKMNOQXb. Om. G.] , in `the myddil part of lond which [space of the erthe that I.] a peire of oxun was wont to ere in the [o I.] dai. [verse 15] And

a myracle was don in the castels [Philistees tentis I.] , and bi the [her I.] feeldis, but also al the puple of the [Om. GQb.] `stacioun of hem [Philistees stacioun I.] that ȝeden out to take prey, dredde, and `the castels [her tentis I.] weren dis|turblid; and it bifelde as a myracle of God. [verse 16] And aspyeris [the aspyeris I.] of Saul bihelden [bihelden this doyng I.] , that weren in Gabaa of Beniamyn, and lo! a multitude cast [of Philistees was cast I.] doun, and fleynge awei hidur and thidur. [verse 17] And Saul seide to the puple that weren with hym, Seke ȝe, and se ȝe, who ȝede awei fro vs. And whanne thei hadden souȝt, it was foundun, that Jonathas and his squyer weren not present. [verse 18] And Saul seide to Achias, Brynge [Bryng hidere I.] the arke of the Lord; for the arke of God was there in that dai [tyme I.] with the sones of Israel. [verse 19] And whanne Saul spak to the preest, a grete noise roos in the castelis [tentis I.] of Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ; and it encresside litil and litil, and sownede [it sownede I.] cleerliere [more clerly I.] . And Saul seide to the preest, Withdraw thin hond. [verse 20] Therfor [Thanne I.] Saul criede, and al the puple [multitude I.] that was with hym; and thei camen `til to [vnto I. into EL.] the place of batel, and, lo! the swerd of ech man [mannes I.] was turned to his neiȝbore, and a ful grete sleynge [slauȝtere ther I.] was. [verse 21] But also Ebreis [the Ebreis I.] that weren with Filisteis ȝistirday and the thridde dai ago, and hadde stied [stied up I.] with hem in [in to K.] castels [her tentis I.] , turn|eden aȝen to be with Israel [the men of Israel I.] , that weren with Saul and Jonathas. [verse 22] Also alle men [the men CI.] of Israel, that hadden hid hem silf in the hil of Effraym, herden that Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] had|den fled; and thei felouschipiden hem silf with her men in batel, and as ten [a ten I. twenti KXOQ.] thou|synde of men weren with Saul. [verse 23] And the Lord sauyde Israel in that day. Sotheli [And I.] the batel cam til [in EL.] to Bethauen. [verse 24] And men [the men I.] of Israel weren felouschipid [socied I.] to hem silf in that dai; forsothe [and I.] Saul swoor [Saul swoor. Saul synned in this ooth in double maner; for he swor yuele, and for he wolde fille worse; sothely he swoor here with out nede and du circum|staunces, and for he outook not the caas of nede, which is outakun in ech comaundement and lawe. Also hise ooth turn|ede to a worse issu, for the pu|ple, maad feynt for it, myȝte not pursue her enemyes, and ooth was occa|sioun of synne to al the puple. The ij. tyme Saul synnede, in fillinge wick|idly his ooth as myche as was in him, for he wol sle Jona|thas innocent, and reherside an other foly ooth on this. Jonathas syn|nede not in etinge hony, for he herde not the comaunde|ment of his fa|dir, and for he eet in nede. Jonathas was takun bi lot, that he schulde declare his in|nocence bifor alle men, and that, as inno|cent, he schulde be delyuerid bi the puple. Lire here. C.] to the puple, and seide, Cursid be the man, that etith breed `til to [vnto I. into EL.] euentid [the euentid I. euetide E.] , til [til the tyme that I.] `Y venge

me [Y be vengid I.] of myn enemyes. [verse 25] And al the puple ete not [no ELO pr. m.] breed [breed til that tyme I.] . And al the comyn puple of the lond cam in to a forest, in which was hony [hony aboue I.] on the `face of [Om. I.] erthe. [verse 26] And so the puple entride in to the forest, and flowynge [Om. I.] hony apperide [apperide there flowynge I.] ; and no man puttide [putte I.] hond [his hond I.] to his mouth [mouth therof I.] , for the pu|ple dredde the ooth. [verse 27] Forsothe [And I.] Jonathas herde not, whanne his fadir swoor [forbede this I.] to the puple; and he [Jonathas I.] helde forth the ende of a litil ȝerde, whiche [that I.] he hadde [heelde I.] in the [his I.] hond, and dippide [he dippide it I.] in to `a coomb of hony [an honycombe I.] ; and he turnede his hond to his mouth, and hise iȝen weren liȝtned. [verse 28] And oon of the puple answeride, and seide, Thi fader boond the puple with an ooth, and seide, Cursid be the man that etith breed to dai. For|sothe [And I.] the puple was feynt. [verse 29] And Jonathas seide, My fadir hath [bi this heest hath I.] disturblid the lond; ȝe sien, that myn iȝen ben liȝtned, for Y [verse 30] tastide a litil of this hony; hou myche more if the puple hadde ete the [of the DGIKMNOQSWXb.] prey of hise [her I.] enemyes, which [that I.] `prey it [thei I.] foond; whether not gretter veniaunce hadde be maad in Filisteis? [verse 31] Therfore thei smyt|iden [smytyn C. smeten LP. smitten E.] Filisteis in that dai fro Machynas `til in to [vnto I. into L.] Hailon. Forsothe [And I.] the puple was [verse 32] maad ful wery; and the puple turnede to prey [take prey I.] , and took [it took I.] scheep and oxun, and calues; and thei killiden in [these bestis upon I.] the erthe; and the puple eet [eet the fleishe I.] with blood. [verse 33] And thei [men I.] telden to Saul, and seiden, that the puple etynge with blood hadde synned to the Lord. And Saul seide, Ȝe han trespassid; walewe ȝe [ȝe anoon I.] to me `riȝt now [Om. I.] a greet stoon. [verse 34] And Saul seyde, `Be ȝe spred [Go ȝe forth I.] abrood in to the comyn puple, and seie ȝe to hem, that ech man brynge to me his oxe and ram [his wether I.] ; and sle ȝe on [tho upon I.] this stoon, and ete ȝe [ȝe hem I.] , and ȝe schulen not do synne to the Lord, `and ete [etynge hem I.] with blood. Therfor [And so I.] al the puple brouȝte ech man an oxe in his hond `til

to [vnto the I. into EL.] nyȝt, and thei killiden [killiden hem I.] there. [verse 35] Sotheli [And I.] Saul bildide [bildide there I.] an auter to the Lord; and thanne firste he bigan to bilde an auter to the Lord. [verse 36] And Saul seide, Falle we on [upon I.] the Filisteis in the nyȝt, and waste [destrie I.] we hem til the morewtid schyne; and leeue we not of hem a man. And the puple seide, Do thou al thing that semeth good to thee in thin iȝen. And the preest seide, Neiȝe we hidur to God. [verse 37] And Saul coun|selide [counselide with I.] the Lord, and seide, Whether Y schal pursue Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ? whether thou schalt bitake hem in to the hondis of Israel? And the Lord answeride not to him in that dai. [verse 38] And Saul seide, Brynge ȝe hidur alle the corneris [corneris, or the vttermeste parties I.] of the puple, and wite ȝe, and se [se ȝe DIKO.] , bi whom this synne bifelde [hath fallen I.] to dai. [verse 39] The Lord sauyour [the sauyour I.] of Is|rael lyueth; for if `it is [this synne be I.] don bi Jonathas my sone, he schal die with out aȝen draw|yng. At which [the which I.] ooth no man of al the puple aȝenseide hym [Saul I.] . [verse 40] And he seide to al Israel, Be ȝe departid in to o part, and Y with my sone Jonathas schal be in the tothir part. And the puple answeride to Saul, Do thou that, that semeth good in thin iȝen. [verse 41] And Saul seide to the Lord God of Israel, Lord God of Israel, ȝyue thou doom, what is [is it I.] , that thou answerist not to dai to thi seruaunt [Fro this word, to thi seruaunt, al that sueth til aftir this word, ȝyue thou hooly|nesse, is not in Ebreu, nether is of the text. Lire here. C.] ? If this wickid|ness is in me, ether [other EL.] in Jonathas my sone, ȝyue [make I.] thou schewyng [schewyng therof I.] ; ether if this wickidnesse is in thi [the A.] puple, ȝyue thou hoolynesse. And Jonathas was takun, and Saul [Saul bi lott I.] ; forsothe [and I.] the puple ȝede out. [verse 42] And Saule seide, Sende ȝe lot bitwixe me and Jonathas my sone. And Jonathas was takun `bi lot [Om. I.] . [verse 43] Forsothe [And I.] Saul seide to Jonathas, Schewe thou to me, what thou didist. And Jonathas schewide to hym, and seide, Y tastynge tastide a litil of [Om. I.] hony `in the ende of the ȝerde [with my ȝerdis eende I.] , that was in myn hond; and lo! Y die [lo Y die; with out resonable cause. Lire here. C.] . [verse 44] And

Saul seide, God do to me these thingis, and adde `these thingis [this to I.] , for [if I.] thou, Jona|thas, schalt [Om. I.] die [die not I.] bi deeth. [verse 45] And the puple seide to Saul, `Therfor whethir [Wher thanne I.] Jonathas schal die, that dide this greet helthe in Israel? this [it I.] is vnleueful [vnleueful that he dye I.] ; the Lord lyueth; noon [for no I.] heer of his heed schal falle [perishe I.] in to [Om. I.] erthe [the erthe KM.] ; for he wrouȝte [hath wrouȝt I.] with God to dai. Therfor [Thanne I.] the puple delyuerede [deluyede A.] Jonathas, that he diede not. [verse 46] And Saul ȝede a wey, and pursuede [he pursuede I.] not Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ; sotheli [and I.] Fi|listeys [the Filisteis I.] ȝeden in to her places. [verse 47] And Saul, whanne the [his I.] rewme was `confermyd on [stablid upon I.] Israel, fauȝt [he fauȝt I.] bi cumpas aȝens alle hise enemyes, aȝens Moab, and the sones of Amon, and Edom, and aȝens the kyngis of Soba, and aȝens Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ; and whidur euer he turnede hym, he ouercam [he ouercam. In Ebreu it is thus, dide vn|feithfully, ether was vnfeithful; and the lettre suynge acord|ith, where he fauȝte aȝenus Amalech. Lire here. C.] . [verse 48] And whanne the [his I.] oost was gaderid [gaderid togidere I.] , he smoot Amalech; and delyuerede [he delyuerede I.] Israel fro the hond of hise distrieris. [verse 49] Forsothe [And I.] the sones of Saul weren Jonathas, and Jesuy, and Melchisua; the names of hise twei douȝtris [douȝtris ben these I.] , name [the name I.] of the [his C.] firste gendrid douȝter was Merob, and name [the name I.] `of the [to his C.] lesse [ȝounger I.] douȝter [Om. I.] was Mycol. [verse 50] And name [the name I.] of `the wijf of Saul [Sauls wijf I.] was Achynoem, the douȝtir of Achymaas; and the name of the prince of his chyualrye was Abner, sone [the sone I.] of Ner, brother [the brothir I.] of the fadir of Saul. [verse 51] Forsothe [And I.] Cys was the fadir of Saul; and Ner, the sone of Abiel, was fadir [the fadir I.] of Ab|ner. [verse 52] Sotheli [And I.] myȝti [strong I.] batel was aȝens Fi|listeis [the Filisteis I.] in alle the daies of Saul; for whom euere Saul siȝ a strong man and schapli to [in I.] batel, Saul [he I.] felouschipide to him silf that man.

CAP. XV.

[verse 1] And Samuel seide to Saul, The Lord sente me, that Y schulde anoynte thee in to `kyng on [a kyng upon I.] his puple Israel; now therfor here thou the vois `of the Lord [Om. I.] . [verse 2] The Lord of oostis seith thes thingis, Y haue rikenyd [brouȝt to mynde I.] what euer thingis Amalech dide [hath do I.] to Israel; hou Amalech aȝenstood Israel in the weie, whanne he [Israel I.] stiede [stiede up I.] from E|gipt. [verse 3] Now therfor go thou, and sle Ama|lech, and distruye thou alle `thingis of hym [his thingis I.] ; spare thou not hym, and [ne I.] coueyte thou not [Om. I.] ony thing of hise thingis; but sle thou fro man `til to [vnto EL.] womman, and a [Om. F sec. vice. EIPXb.] litil child, and soukynge, an [Om. F sec. vice. DEIPXb.] oxe, and scheep, and camel, and asse. [verse 4] Therfor [And so I.] Saul comaundide to [Om. I.] the puple [puple to be gadrid to gidre I.] , and he noumbride hem as lambren twei hundrid thousynde of foot men, and ten thousynde of men of Juda. [verse 5] And whanne Saul cam to the citee of Amalech, he made redi buyschementis in the stronde. [verse 6] And Saul seide to Cyney [the peple of Cyney I.] [Saul seide to Cyney, that is, to hem that camen of Jetro, and weren with the sones of Israel. Lire here. C.] , Go ȝe [ȝe henns I.] , departe ȝe [ȝe awey I.] , and go ȝe awei [forth I.] fro Amalech, lest perauen|ture Y wlappe thee in with hem; for thou didist mercy with alle the sones of Israel, whanne thei stieden [stieden up I.] fro Egipt. And Cyney departide fro the myddis of Amalech. [verse 7] And Saul smoot Amalech fro Euila, til [to E. tho L.] thou [he A sec. m. X sec. m. EIPb.] come [came I. cam P.] to Sur [Assur F sec. m. EGKLNPQRbX sec. m.] , which is aȝens [euen aȝens I.] Egipt. [verse 8] And he [Saul I.] took Agag quyke [aliyue I.] , the kyng of Amalech; sotheli [and I.] he killide bi the [Om. I.] scharpnesse of swerd alle the comyn puple. [verse 9] And Saul and the [his I.] puple sparide Agag, and the [his I.] beste flockis of scheep, and of grete beestis, and clothis, and rammes, and alle thingis that weren faire; and thei nolden [wolden not I.] destrie tho; sotheli [but I.] what euer thing was vijl, and repreuable, thei dis|trieden this [that thing I. it EL.] . [verse 10] Forsothe [Sothly I.] the word of the [verse 11] Lord was maad to Samuel, and seide, It

repentith me [It repentith me. Repent|ing, whanne it berith chaunge|ablete, may not be in God, netheles God is seid to re|pente, for he hath him at the maner of a man repent|inge, whanne he distrieth that that he made; so it is in this poynt, for he demyde Saul to be cast awey, whom he reiside bi|for; netheles thilke chaunge|ablete, is onely in creaturis, for God bi vn|chaungeable wille, makith chaungeable thingis. Lire here. C.] , that Y made Saul kyng [a kyng C pr. m.] ; for he forsook [hath forsaken I.] me, and fillide [hath not fulfillid I.] not my wordis in werk. And Samuel was sory, and he criede to the Lord in al the [that I.] nyȝt. [verse 12] And whanne Samuel hadde rise [rise up I.] bi nyȝt to go eerly to Saul, it was teld to Samuel, that Saul hadde come in to Carmel, and hadde reisid [reisid up I.] to hym a signe of victorye; and that [Om. C.] he hadde turned aȝen [aȝen fro Amalech I.] , and hadde passid [passid forth I.] , and hadde go doun in to Galgala. Therfor [Thanne I.] Samuel cam to Saul, and Saul offride brent sacrifice to the Lord of the cheef thingis of preies, whiche he hadde brouȝt fro Amalech. [verse 13] And the while Samuel cam to Saul, Saul seide to hym, Blessid be thou of the Lord, Y haue fillid [fulfillid I.] the `word of the Lord [Lordis word I.] . [verse 14] And Samuel seide, And [Om. DF pr. m. GMNQWX.] what is the [this BCI.] vois of flockis, that sowneth in myn eeris, and of grete beestis, whiche Y here? [verse 15] And Saul seide, Thei [Men I.] brouȝten tho fro Amalech, for the puple sparide the betere [beste I.] scheep and grete beestis, that tho schulden be offrid to thi [the A pr. m. I.] Lord God; sotheli [and I.] we killiden the tothere beestis. [verse 16] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel seide to Saul, Suffre thou me, and Y schal schewe to thee what thingis the Lord spak [hath spoke I.] to me in the [this I.] nyȝt. And he [Saul I.] seide to Samuel, Speke thou. [verse 17] And Samuel seide, Whether not, whanne thou were litil in thin [thin owne I.] iȝen, thou were maade heed in the lynages of Israel, and the Lord anoyntide thee in to [verse 18] kyng [a kyng I.] on [upon I.] Israel; and the Lord sente [sende I.] thee in to the weie, and seide, Go thou, and sle the synneris of Amalech, and thou schalt fiȝte aȝens hem `til to [vnto I. into EL.] sleyng [the sleyng plures.] of hem. [verse 19] Whi therfor herdist thou not the vois of the Lord, but thou were turned to prey [the prey I.] , and didist yuel in the `iȝen of the Lord [Lordis siȝt I.] ? [verse 20] And Saul seide to Samuel, Ȝhis [This EIL.] , Y herde [haue herd I.] the `vois of the Lord [Lordis vois I.] , and Y ȝede [haue go I.] in the weie, bi which the Lord sente [sende I.]

me, and Y haue brouȝt Agag, the kyng of Amalech, and Y killide [haue killid I.] Amalech. [verse 21] For|sothe [And I.] the puple took [hath take I.] of the prey, scheep and oxun, the firste [cheef I.] fruytis of tho thingis, that ben slayn, that thei make sacrifice to her Lord God in Galgalis. [verse 22] And Samuel seide, Whether the Lord wole brent sacri|fices, ethir slayn sacrifices, and not more [more rather I.] that me obeie to the vois of the Lord? For [forsothe I.] obedience [obedience to him I.] is betere than sacrifices, and to `herkene Goddis [take heede to his I.] word is more than to [verse 23] offre the ynnere fatnesse of rammes; for it is as the synne of mawmetrie to `fiȝte aȝens Goddis heest [repugne the word of God I. fiȝte aȝens Goddis heestis K.] [aȝenus Goddis heest, whanne a man defend|ith his owne synne. Lire here. C.] , and it is as the wickidnesse of ydolatrie to nyle [nat I.] ascente to Goddis heest [consente to it I.] . Therfor for that [thi I.] , that thou castidist [hast throwen I.] awey the word of the Lord, the Lord castide [hath throwe I.] thee awei, that thou be not kyng. [verse 24] And Saul seide to Samuel, Y synnede [haue synned I.] , for Y brak [haue broke I.] the word of the Lord, and thi wordis; `and Y dredde [dredinge I. Y dredde K.] the puple, `and obeiede [obeiynge I.] to `the vois of hem [her vois I.] ; [verse 25] but now, Y biseche [biseche thee I.] , bere thou my synne, and turne thou aȝen with me, that Y wor|schipe the Lord. [verse 26] And Samuel seide to Saul, Y schal not turne aȝen with thee, for thou castidist [hast throwen I.] awey the word of the Lord, and the Lord castide [hath cast I.] awei thee, that thou be not king on [upon I.] Israel. [verse 27] And Samuel turnede [turnede him I.] to go a wey; sotheli [and I.] Saul took the ende [hemme I.] of the mentil of Sa|muel, which [the which I.] also was to-rent. [verse 28] And Sa|muel seide to hym [Saul I.] , The Lord hath kit the rewme of Israel fro thee to dai, and ȝaf [he hath ȝouen I.] it to thi neiȝbore betere than thou; [verse 29] certis the ouercomere in Israel schal not spare [spare hem that wil not obeie to him I.] , and [for C.] he schal [wil I.] not be bowid bi re|pentaunce; for he is not man [a man I.] , `that is, chaungeable [Om. I.] , that he do repentaunce. [verse 30] And Saul seide, Y synnede [haue synned I.] ; but now onoure thou me bifor the eldere men of my puple, and bifor Israel, and turne thou

aȝen with me, that Y worschipe thi Lord God. [verse 31] Therfor Samuel turnede aȝen [Samuel turn|ede aȝen; he wolde do wor|schip to Saul, as long as he was suffrid of God in the rewme, and that he schulde sle Agag, that was kept ȝit quyk. Lire here. C.] , and suede Saul, and Saul worschipide the Lord. [verse 32] And Samuel seide, Brynge ȝe to me Agag, the kyng of Amalech. And Agag `moost fat [the moost fat man I.] tremblynge was brouȝt to hym. And Agag seide, Whether thus departith [departe E. departid L.] bitter deeth? [verse 33] And Samuel seide, As thi swerd made [hath made I.] wymmen with out fre children, so thi modir schal be with out fre children among wymmen. And Samuel kittide [hewide I.] hym [Agag I.] in to gobetis bifor the Lord in Gal|galis. [verse 34] Forsothe [And I.] Samuel ȝede in to Ra|matha; sotheli [and I.] Saul stiede [wente up I.] in to his hows in [in to plures.] Gabaa. [verse 35] And Samuel siȝ no more Saul [Samuel siȝ no more Saul, in the kingis cloth and comyn staat. Lire here. C.] `til to [vnto I. into L.] the dai of his deeth; netheles Sa|muel biweilide Saul [Samuel bi|weilide Saul, not that the sentence of the Lord schulde be chaungid aȝenus him, but Samuel hadde compassioun of his soule, lest it were dampned with|outen ende, and Samuel dredde, lest the puple of Israel schulde be punyschid for the synnes of Saul. Lire here. C.] , for it repentide the Lord, that he hadde ordeyned Saul kyng on [upon I.] Israel.

CAP. XVI.

[verse 1] And the Lord seide to Samuel, Hou long biweilist thou Saul, sithen [sith I.] Y castide [haue cast I.] hym awey, that he regne not on [upon I.] Israel; fille thin horn with oile, and come, that Y sende thee to Ysay of Bethleem; for among hise sones Y haue purueide a king to me. [verse 2] And Samuel seide, Hou schal Y go? for [certis I.] Saul schal here [here therof I.] , and he schal sle me. And the Lord seide, Thou schalt take a calf of the droue in thi hond, and thou schalt seye, Y cam to make sacrifice to the Lord. [verse 3] And thou schalt clepe Ysay to the sacrifice, and Y schal schewe to thee, what thou schalt do; and thou schalt anoynte, whom euere Y schal schewe to thee. [verse 4] Therfor [Thanne I.] Samuel dide, as the Lord spak to hym; and he cam in to Bethleem, and the eldere men of the citee wondriden, and camen [ther camen I.] to hym, and seiden, Whether thin entryng [entree I.] is [be I.] pesible? [verse 5] And he seide, It is pesible; Y cam to make sacrifice to the Lord; be ȝe halewid, and come ȝe with me, that Y make sacrifice. Therfor [Thanne I.] he [Samuel I.]

halewide Ysai, and hise sones, and clepide [he clepide I.] hem to the sacrifice. [verse 6] And whanne thei hadden entrid, he [Samuel I.] siȝ Eliab [Eliab a sone of Ysai I.] , and seide [he seide I.] [and seide, in his herte. Lire here. C.] , Whether bifor the Lord is his crist [crist whom I anoynte I.] ? [verse 7] And the Lord seide to Samuel, Biholde thou not his cheer, nethir hiȝnesse [the hiȝnesse FGIKLNOPQRSUW.] of his sta|ture; for Y castide [haue cast I.] hym awei [for Y castide him awey, that he regne not. Lire here. C.] , and Y demyde [deme I.] not bi `the siȝt of man [mans siȝt I.] ; for a [Om. I.] man seeth tho thingis that ben opyn, but the Lord biholdith the herte. [verse 8] And Ysai clepide Amynadab, and brouȝte hym bifor Samuel; which [and he I.] seide, Nether the Lord hath chose this. [verse 9] Forsothe [And I.] Isay brouȝte [brouȝte forth I.] Samma; of whom Samuel seide, Also the Lord hath not chose this. [verse 10] Therfor [And so I.] Isai brouȝte [brouȝte forth I.] hise seuene sones bifor Samuel; and Samuel seide to Ysai, The Lord hath `not chose [chose noon I.] of these. [verse 11] And Samuel seide to Isai, Whether thi sones ben now fillid [fulfillid I.] ? [the Spirit of the Lord; that is, the spirit of strengthe and of stidefast|nesse, to dely|uere the puple; wherfor it is seid in xvii. c^o. that Dauid vn|armed ȝede stidefastly and wilfuly, to fiȝte aȝenus the Fi|listey. Sothely Jerom seith, that fro that day the spirit of profesie was in Dauyth, and fro that tyme he began to singe salmes, and this ac|cordith to the seiyng of hem, whiche seyen that he made that salm, Do|minus illumi|nacio mea, in his anoynting. Lire here. C.] And Isai answeride, Ȝit `another is, a [ther is anothir I.] litil child, and lisewith [he pasturith I.] scheep. And Samuel seide to Isai, Sende thou [ȝe I.] , and brynge hym [hym hidere I.] ; for we schulen not sitte to mete, bifor that he come hidur. [verse 12] Therfor [Thanne I.] Ysai sente, and brouȝte hym; sotheli he was rodi, and fair in siȝt, and of semely face. And the Lord seide, Rise thou, and anoynte hym; for [forsothe I.] it is he. [verse 13] Therfor Sa|muel took the horn of oyle, and anoyntid hym in the myddis of his britheren; and the Spirit of the Lord [and seide, in his herte. Lire here. C.] was dressid in to Dauid fro that day `and afterward [forth I.] . And Samuel roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede [wente I.] in to Ramatha. [verse 14] And so the Spirit of the Lord ȝede [wente I.] awei fro Saul, and a [the I.] wickid spirit of the Lord trauelide Saul. [verse 15] And the seruauntis of Saul seiden to hym, Lo! an yuel spirit [for Y castide him awey, that he regne not. Lire here. C.] of the [Lo an yuel spirit; the fend is seid the spirit of the Lord, for the good kynde of hym is of God bi creacioun ether making of nouȝt, but he was maad yuel bi his owne pride. Lire here. C.] [verse 16] Lord traueilith thee; oure lord the kyng comaunde, and thi seruauntis that ben bifore thee, schulen seke a man, that kan synge with an harpe, that [and C.] whanne the yuel spirit of the Lord takith thee, he [the man I.] harpe with his hond, and thou bere esi|liere

[it more esely I.] . [verse 17] And Saul seide to hise seruauntis, Puruey ȝe to me sum man syngynge wel, and brynge ȝe hym to me. [verse 18] And oon of the [his I.] children answeride and seide, Lo! Y siȝ the [a I.] sone of Ysai of Bethleem, kun|nynge to synge, and `strongeste in myȝt [moost strong man I.] , and `a man able [an able man I.] to batel, and prudent in wordis, and a feir man; and the Lord is with hym. [verse 19] Therfor Saul sente messan|geris to Ysay, and seide, Sende thou to me Dauid thi sone, `which is in the le|sewis [that is kepinge thi bestes I.] . [verse 20] Therfor [And so I.] Isai took an asse `ful of [chargid with I.] looues [an asse ful of looues, that is, chargid with looues. Lire here. C.] , and a galoun of wyn, and a `kyde of geet [geet kyde I.] ; and sente [he sente tho I.] bi the hond of Dauid his sone to Saul. [verse 21] And Dauid cam to Saul, and stood bifor hym; and Saul louyde hym greetli [myche I.] , and he [Dauid I.] was maad `his squyer [squyer of Saul I.] . [verse 22] And Saul sente to Isay, and seide, Dauid stonde in my siȝt, for he foond [hath founde I.] grace in myn iȝen. [verse 23] Therfor [Thanne I.] whanne euer the wickid [yuel I.] spirit of the Lord took [traueilide I.] Saul, Dauid took the [his I.] harpe, and smoot [harpide I.] with his hond, and Saul was coumfortid, and he hadde liȝtere [liȝtiliere plures. it more liȝtly I.] ; for the wickid [yuel I.] spirit ȝede [wente I.] awey fro hym.

CAP. XVII.

[verse 1] Forsothe [Sotheli the I.] Filisteis gaderiden [gaderiden to gidere I.] her cum|penyes in to batel, and camen [thei camen I.] to gidere in [in to I.] Socoth of Juda, and settiden [thei settiden I.] tentis bitwixe Socoth and Azecha, in the coostis of Domyn. [verse 2] Sotheli [And I.] Saul and the men of Israel weren gaderid [gaderid to gidre I.] , and camen [thei camen I.] in to the valey of Terebynte, and dressiden [thei dressiden I.] scheltrun to fiȝte aȝens Filisteis. [verse 3] And Fi|listeis [the Filisteis I.] stoden aboue the hil on this part, and Israel stood on the hil on the tother part of the valey, that was bitwixe hem.

[verse 4] And a man [bastard man GIKNOb. man bastard MOQSWX.] , `sone of a widewe [and a man sone of a widue. Ebrews seyen, a man in the myddis, that is a strong man, and hardy that goith bifor the oost, and is redy to fiȝte aȝenus oon of the enemyes in singuler batel. Lire here. C.] , whos fadir was vncerteyn [Gloss omitted in DGIKOQSWXb.] , ȝede [wente I.] out of the `castels of [Om. I.] Filisteis [Filisteis tentis I.] , Goliath bi name of Geth, of sixe cubitis heiȝ and a spanne; [verse 5] and a brasun basynet on [of A.] his heed; and he was clothid [closid b.] with `an haburioun hokid [a mailed haburioun I.] , ether mailid [nailed b. gloss omitted in I.] ; forsothe [and I.] the weiȝte of his haburioun was fyue thousynde si|clis [sichis A.] [verse 6] of bras; and he hadde `bootis of bras in the hipis [on his thies brasen bootis I.] , and a `scheld of bras [brasen scheld I.] hilide [hilide with C.] hise schuldris. [verse 7] Forsothe [And I.] `the schaft of his spere [his spere schaft I.] was as the beem of webbis [websters I.] ; for|sothe [and I.] thilke [the I.] yrun of his spere hadde [weiede I.] sixe hundrid siclis of yrun; and his squier ȝede bifor hym. [verse 8] And he [Goliath I.] stood, and cried aȝens the cumpenyes [cumpanye I.] of armed men of Israel, and seide [he seide I.] to hem, Why camen ȝe redi to batel? Whether Y am not a Fi|listei, and ȝe ben the seruauntis of Saul? Chese ȝe a man of ȝou, and come he doun [verse 9] to syngulere [a syngulere I.] batel; if he may fiȝte with me, and sleeth [sle EIL.] me, we schulen be `ser|uauntis to ȝou [ȝoure seruauntis I.] ; forsothe [and I.] if Y haue the maystry, and sle hym, ȝe schulen be boonde, and `ȝe schulen [Om. I.] serue vs. [verse 10] And `the Filister [Goliath I.] seide, Y haue `seyd schen|schip [put repreef I.] to dai to the cumpenyes of Israel; ȝyue [sende I.] ȝe a man [man to me I.] , and bigynne he `synguler batel [to fiȝte I.] with me [me aloone I.] . [verse 11] Sotheli Saul and alle men [the men I.] of Israel herden [herynge I.] siche wordis of `the Filistey [Goliath I.] , and [Om. I.] thei weren astonyed, and dredden greetli. [verse 12] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid was `the sone of a man [a mannes sone I.] of Effrata, of whom it is `biforseid [seid bifore I.] , of Bethleem of Juda, to `which man [whom I.] the name was Isay, which [and he I.] hadde eiȝte sones; and `the man was eld in the daies of Saul [in the daies of Saul Ysay was an olde man I.] , and of greet age among men. [verse 13] Sotheli [And the I. Sotheli the K.] thre grettere [eldeste I.] sones of Ysai ȝeden after Saul in to batel; and the names of hise thre sones, that ȝeden [wenten I.] to batel, Heliab [weren Heliab I.] , the [his I.] firste gendryd [bigoten I.] , and the secounde [secounde hiȝte I.] , Amynadab, and the thridde,

Samma. [verse 14] Forsothe [Therfor A. And I.] Dauid was the leeste [ȝoungist I.] . Therfor [Thanne I.] while thre [the thre IK. the O.] grettere [eldist sones I.] sueden Saul, [verse 15] Dauid ȝede, and turnede aȝen fro Saul, that he schulde [wolde I.] kepe the floc of his fadir in Bethleem. [verse 16] Forsothe [And bi fourti daies I.] the Filistey cam [ȝede I.] forth in the morewtid, and euentid; and stood `bi fourti daies [into repreef of Israel I.] . [verse 17] Sotheli [And I.] Ysai seide to Dauid his sone, Take thou to thi bri|theren meete maad of meele, the [at the I.] mesure of ephi [thre bushels I.] , and these ten looues, and renne thou in to the castels [tentis I.] to thi britheren; [verse 18] and thou schalt bere to the tribune these ten `litil [ten litle, etc. that is, x. litle chesis formed. Lire here.] formes of chese [smale cheeses I.] ; and thou schalt visite thi britheren, whether thei doon riȝtli [iustly I.] , and lurne [knowe I.] thou, with whiche [what I.] men thei ben ordeyned. [verse 19] Forsothe [Certis I.] Saul, and thei, and alle the sones of Israel in the valei of Terebynte fouȝten aȝens Fi|listeis [the Filisteis I.] . [verse 20] Therfor [And so I. And therfor K.] Dauid roos eerli, and bitook [he bitook I.] the floc to the [a I.] kepere, and he ȝede [ȝede forth I.] chargid, as Ysai `hadde comaundid to [comaundide I.] hym; and he cam to the place Ma|gala [of Magala I.] , and to the oost, which [the which I.] oost ȝede out to the batel [fiȝt I.] , and criede [it criede I.] in `the batel [fiȝtyng I.] . [verse 21] For Israel hadde dressid [ordeyned I.] scheltrun; `but also [and euen aȝens hem I.] Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] weren maad [Om. DIb.] redi `euen aȝens [also I.] . [verse 22] Therfor [Thanne I.] Dauid lefte the vessels, whiche [that I.] he hadde brouȝt, vndur the hond of a kepere `at the [atte EL.] fardels, and he ran to the place of batel, and he axyde, if alle thingis weren `doon riȝtli [iustly doon I.] anentis hise britheren. [verse 23] And whanne he spak ȝit to hem, thilke bastard apperide, Goliath bi name, a [the I.] Filistei of Geth, and stiede [he wente up I.] fro the castels [tentis I.] of Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ; and `while he spak [him spekynge I.] these same wordis, Dauid herde. [verse 24] And whanne alle men [the men IM.] of Israel hadden seyn `the man [Goliath I.] , thei fledden fro his face [siȝt I.] , and dredden hym greetli. [verse 25] And ech man of Israel seide [seide to oother I.] , Whether thou hast seyn this man that stiede [hath stied up I.] ? for [forsothe I.] he stiede [ȝede up I.] to

seie schenship [repreef I.] to Israel; therfor the kyng schal make [make that man I.] riche with greet richessis `the man [Om. I.] that sleeth thilke Filistei; and the kyng schal ȝyue his douȝter to that man, and schal [in Israel he schal I.] make the hows of his fader with out `tribut in Israel [paiyng of tribut I.] . [verse 26] And Dauyd spak to the men that stoden with hym, and seide, What schal be ȝouun to the man that sleeth this Filistei, and doith awei schenschip fro Israel? for [and I.] who is [is he I.] this Filistei vncircumcidid, that dispiside [dispisith I.] the scheltruns of God lyuynge? [verse 27] Forsothe [And I.] the puple tolde to hym [Dauid I.] the same word, and seide, These thingis schulen be ȝouun to the man that sleeth hym [Goliath I.] . [verse 28] And whanne Heliab, `his more brother [the eldre brother of Dauid I.] , had herd this, while he [Dauid I.] spak with othere men, he was wrooth aȝens Dauid, and seide, Whi camest thou [thou hidere I.] , and whi `leftist thou [hast thou lefte I.] tho fewe scheep in deseert? Y knowe thi pride, and the wewardnesse of thin herte; for thou camest doun to se the batel. [verse 29] And Dauid seide, What haue Y do [mysdo I.] ? Whether it is not a [but a I.] word? [verse 30] And Dauid bowide [ȝede thenns I.] a litil fro hym to another man; and Dauid seide the same word, and the puple an|sweride to hym al [the I.] word as bifore [thei diden bifore I.] . [verse 31] For|sothe [And I.] these [the I.] wordis weren herd, whiche [that I.] Dauid spak, and weren [thei weren I.] teld `in the siȝt of [bifore I.] Saul. [verse 32] And whanne Dauyd was brouȝt to Saul, Dauyd spak to hym [hym thus I.] , The herte of ony man falle not doun [down in him I.] for `that Fi|listei [Om. I.] , Y thi seruaunt schal go, and `Y schal [Om. I.] fiȝte aȝens the Filistei. [verse 33] And Saul seide to Dauid, Thou maist not aȝenstonde this Filistei, nether fiȝte aȝens hym, for thou art a child; forsothe [but I.] this man is a werriour fro his ȝong wexynge age. [verse 34] And Dauid seide to Saul, Thi seruaunt kepte `the floc of his fadir [his fadirs floc I.] , and a lioun cam, ether [also I. other L.] a bere, and took [tooken A. sec. m. I.] awei [Om. EL.] a ram fro [verse 35] the myddis [myddil I.] of the floc; Y pursuede, and

killide [I killide I.] hem, and rauyschide [I rauyschide it I.] fro `the mouth of hem [her mouth I.] ; and thei risiden [risen ELP. reriden hem up I.] aȝens me, and I took the [her I. Om. EL.] nether chaule `of hem [Om. I.] , and Y stranglide, and killide hem. [verse 36] For [Certis I.] Y thi seruaunt killide bothe a [the I.] lioun and a [the I.] bere; therfor and this Filistei vn|circumcidid schal be as oon of hem. Now Y schal go, and Y schal do awey the schenschip [repreef I.] of the puple; for who is this Filistei vncircumcidid, that was hardi to curse the oost of God lyuynge? [verse 37] And [And eft I.] Dauid seide, The Lord that delyuerede me fro the `mouth of the lioun [liouns mouth I.] , and fro the `hond, that is [Om. I.] , power, of the bere, he schal delyuere me fro the hond of this Filistei. Forsothe [And I.] Saul seide to Dauid, Go thou, and the Lord be with thee [the Lord be with thee; bi this summe seyen, that Saul hadde reuela|cioun, that Dauith schulde ouercome the Filistey, for Goddis reuela|ciouns ben maad sumtyme ȝhe to yuele men, for comyn good. Lire here. C.] . [verse 38] And Saul clothide Dauid with hise clothis, and put|tide [he sette I.] a brasun basynet on his heed, and clothide hym with an haburioun. [verse 39] Therfor [Thanne I.] Dauid was gird with his [a I.] swerd on his cloth, and bigan [he bigan I.] to asaie if he myȝte go armed; for [forsothe I.] he hadde not custom [the custom theroff I.] . And Dauid seide to Saul, Y may not go so [thus I.] , for Y haue not vss [the uss of it I.] . And Dauid puttide [putte I.] [verse 40] awei tho, and he took his staaf, which [that I.] he hadde euere in the [his I.] hondis. And he chees to hym fyue clereste [ful clere rounde I.] stonys, that is, harde, pleyn, and rounde, of the stronde; and he sente [putte IM.] tho in to the [his I. a X. Om. E.] schepherdis scrippe, which [that I.] he hadde with hym; and he took the [a I.] slynge in the [his I.] hond, and ȝede [he ȝede I.] forth aȝens the Filistei. [verse 41] Sotheli [And I.] the Filistei ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , `goynge and neiȝyng aȝens Dauid [Om. I.] ; and his squyer ȝede [Om. I.] bifor hym [hym, comynge niȝ aȝens Dauid I.] . [verse 42] And whanne `the Filistei [Goliath I.] hadde biholde Dauid, and hadde [Om. I.] seyn hym, he dispiside Dauid; forsothe [and I.] Dauid was a ȝong wexynge man, rodi, and feir in siȝt. [verse 43] And `the Filistei [Goliath I.] , seide to Dauid, Whether Y am a dogge, for thou comest to me with a staf? And `the Filistei [Goliath I.] curside Dauid in hise goddis; [verse 44] and he seide to Dauid, Come thou to me,

and Y schal ȝyue thi fleischis [fleishe I.] to the `vo|latilis of heuene [foulis of the eir I.] , and to the [Om. I.] beestis of erthe [the erthe I.] . [verse 45] Sotheli [And I.] Dauid seide to `the Fi|listei [Goliath I.] , Thou comest to me with swerd [a swerd E.] , and [Om. IK.] spere, and scheeld [and scheeld; that is, tristinge in thyn armeris and virtu. Lire here. C.] ; but Y come to thee in the [Om. EILP.] name of the Lord God [Om. I.] [of the Lord God, etc.; that is, trist|inge of Goddis virtu. Lire here. C.] of oostis, of [Om. I.] God of the [Om. EL.] cumpanyes of Is|rael, to whiche [whom I.] thou seidist [hast seid I.] schenschip [repreff I.] to dai. [verse 46] And the Lord schal ȝyue [the Lord schal ȝyue, etc. Dauyth seid this bi Goddis reue|lacioun, for he bifor tellith cer|tenly thing to comynge, vn|certeyn to mannus know|ing. Lire here. C.] thee in myn hond, and Y schal sle thee, and Y schal take awey [Om. DIMXb.] thin heed fro thee; and [and to dai I.] I schal ȝyue the deed bodies of the castels [tentis I.] of Filisteis `to day [Om. I.] to the volatils [foulis I.] of he|uene, and to the beestis of erthe [the erthe b.] ; that al the [Om. plures.] erthe wite, that the Lord God is in [verse 47] Israel, and that al this chirche knowe, that the Lord saueth not in swerd nether in spere; for [sothely I.] the batel is his, and he schal bitake ȝou in to oure hondis. [verse 48] Therfor [Thanne I.] whanne the Filistei hadde rise [risen up I.] , and cam, and neiȝede aȝens Dauid, Dauid hastide, and ran to batel [fiȝte I.] aȝens `the Filistei [Golie I.] . [verse 49] And Dauid putte [puttide EPb.] his hond `in to [in D.] his [the plures.] scrippe, and he took [took out EIL.] o [a IL.] stoon, and he [Dauid I.] castide [whirlide I. castide it EL.] with [Om. I.] the [his EL.] slynge [slynge aboute I.] , `and ledde aboute [and keste out therof a stoon I.] , and smoot [he smoot I.] `the Filistei [Golie I.] in the forheed; and the stoon was fastned in his [the DL. Om. E.] forheed, and he [Golie I.] felde doun in to his face on [upon I.] the erthe [erthe, in a slynge and a stoon I.] . [verse 50] And Dauid hadde the maistrie aȝens `the Filistei [Golie I.] `in a slyng and stoon [in a slyng and a stoon KL. Om. I.] , and he killide `the Filistei [Golie I.] smytun [whanne he hadde smytun him doun I.] . And whanne [verse 51] Dauid hadde no swerd in the [his I.] hond, he ran, and stood on [upon I.] `the Filistei [Golie I.] , and took his swerd; and Dauid drow out the [his A. that I.] swerd of his [the I.] schethe, and `killide him [he killide therwith Golie I.] , and kit|tide [kitte I.] awei [off I.] his heed. Forsothe [And I.] the Fi|listeis sien, that the strongeste [strengeste man I.] of hem was deed, and thei fledden. [verse 52] And the sones of Israel and of Juda risiden [resen up I. risen ELP.] to gidere, and crieden [thei crieden I.] , and pursueden Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] , `til the while [til the tyme I. vnto that EL.] thei camen in to the valei, and `til to [vnto I. into EL.] the ȝate of Accaron. And woundid [the woundid I.]

men of Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] felden [fellen doun I. fellen ELP.] in the weye of Sarym, and `til to [vnto I. into EL.] Geth, and `til to [vnto I. into EL.] Acca|ron. [verse 53] And the sones of Israel turneden aȝen, aftir that thei hadden pursuede Fi|listeis [the Filisteis I.] , and thei assailiden `the tentis of hem [her tentis I.] . [verse 54] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid took the heed of `the Filistei [Golie I.] , and brouȝte it in to Jerusa|lem; sotheli [and I.] he [Dauid I.] puttide hise [the I.] armeris [armeris of Golie I.] in the `tabernacle of the Lord [Lordis tabernacle I.] . [verse 55] Forsothe [And I.] in that tyme in which Saul siȝ Dauid goynge out aȝens `the Filistei [Golie I.] , he seide to Abner, prince [the prince I.] of his chiualrie [chiualrie, seiynge I.] , Abner, of what generacioun `cam forth [is I.] this ȝong wax|ynge [Om. I.] man? And Abner seide, Kyng, thi soule lyueth, I knowe [wot I.] not. [verse 56] And the kyng [thi soule lyueth; this is a maner of swering; and this is the sen|tence, as it is soth, that Y desire thi liyf, so it is soth, that Y knowe not him; and here this word if is takun for not ether nay. Lire here. C.] seide, Axe thou, whos sone this child is. [verse 57] And whanne Dauid hadde [was I.] come aȝen, whanne `the Filistei [Golie I.] was slayn, Abner [and Abner I.] took Dauid, and brouȝte [he brouȝte I.] hym in [in bifore Saul I.] , hauynge in the [his I.] hond the heed of `the Filistei [Filistei plures. Golie I.] , `bi|for Saul [Om. I.] . [verse 58] And Saul seide to hym [Dauid I.] , Of what generacioun art thou, ȝong waxynge [Om. I.] man? And Dauid seide, Y am the sone of thi seruaunt, Isai of Bethleem.

CAP. XVIII.

[verse 1] And it was doon, whanne Dauid `hadde endid [ent EL. hadde end P.] to speke to Saul, the soule of Jona|thas [Jonathanas A.] was glued [Jonathas was glued, etc.; that is, ioyned to gidere bi the glu of charite, that may not be brokun. Lire here. C.] togidre to the soule of Dauid, and Jonathas louyde hym [Dauid I.] as his owne soule. [verse 2] And Saul took [took to him I.] Dauid in that dai, and grauntide [he grauntide I.] not `to hym [leeue to Dauid I.] , `that he schulde [Om. I.] turne [to turne I.] aȝen in to `the hows of his fadir [his faders hows I.] . [verse 3] Forsothe [And I.] Jonathas and Dauid maden boond [a boond I.] of pees, `that is [in that D.] , swerynge euerlastynge [of euerlastynge EL.] frenschip [The whole gloss omitted in I.] ; for Jonathas louyde Dauid as his owne soule [lijf I.] ; [verse 4] for whi Jonathas dispuylide [vnclothide I.] him silf fro the coote `in which [that I.] he was clothid [clothid ynne I.] , and ȝaf [he ȝaf I.] it to Dauid, and hise othere clothis, `til to [vnto I. into EL.] his swerd and bouwe [his bouwe I.] , and `til to [vnto I. into EL.]

the [his I.] girdil. [verse 5] Also [And I.] Dauid ȝede out [forth I.] to alle thingis, to what euer thingis Saul `hadde sent [sente I.] hym, and he gouernede hym silf prudentli; and Saul settide [sette I.] hym ouer the men of batel [his batel I.] , and `he was [Om. I.] acceptid [accept plures. Om. I.] , `ether plesaunt [Om. CI.] , in the iȝen [siȝt I.] of al [Om. E.] the puple [puple Dauid was alowid I.] , and moost in the siȝt of `the seruauntis of Saul [Sauls seruauntis I.] . [verse 6] Forsothe [And I.] whanne Dauid turnede aȝen, whanne [and I.] `the Filistei [Golie I.] was slayn, and bar the heed of `the Filistei [Golie I.] in to Jeru|salem, wymmen ȝeden out of alle the citees of Israel, and sungen [wymmen sungen I.] , and ledden queris [daunces A sec. m. squeris L.] , aȝens the comyng of king Saul, in tympans of [and K sec. m.] gladnesse, and in [Om. I.] trumpis. [verse 7] And the wymmen sungen, pleiynge [pleynge A sec. m. fleyng DEGLMNOPQRSUWb.] , and seiynge, Saul smoot [hath sley I.] a thousynde, and Dauid smoot [Om. I.] ten thousynde. [verse 8] Saul [And Saul I.] was wrooth greetli, and this word displeside `in his iȝen [bifore him I.] ; and he seide, Thei ȝauen [han ȝouen I.] ten thousynde to Dauid, and `thei ȝauen a [but o I.] thousynde to me; what leeueth to hym [Dauith heroff I.] , no but the rewme aloone? [verse 9] Therfor [Thanne fro that dai forth I.] Saul bihelde Dauid not with `riȝtful iȝen [blythe chere I.] , `fro that dai and afterward [Om. I.] . [verse 10] Sotheli [And I.] aftir the tother dai a [the I.] wickid [yuel I.] spirit of God asailide Saul, and he propheciede [profesiede; not propirly, but he spak alien thingis, as a man tra|uelid of a fend. Lire here. C.] in the myddis of his hows [meynee I.] . [verse 11] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid harpide with his hond, as bi alle daies [daies bifore I.] ; and Saul helde a spere, and caste [he threwe I. castide M. sente DEKLOPXb.] it, and [for he I] gesside that he myȝte prene [haue perschid I.] Dauid with [thorouȝ to I.] the wal, that is, perse with the spere, so that it schulde passe [prene G.] til [in E.] to the wal [The whole gloss omitted in CI.] ; and Dauid bowide `fro his face [aside fro Saul I.] the secounde tyme. [verse 12] And Saul dredde Dauid, for the Lord was with hym [Dauid I.] , and hadde go awei fro him silf [Om. DIb.] . [verse 13] Therfor [Thanne I.] Saul remouide Dauid fro hym silf, and made hym tri|bune [chefteyn I.] [and made him tribune, etc.; Saul dide this, not for the onour of Da|uyth, but that Dauyth schulde go out to batels, and schulde be slayn; but the Lord turnede this in to the good of Dauyth as it is opin of the lettre suynge. Lire here. C.] on [upon I.] a thousynde men; and Dauid ȝede [wente I.] out and entride [he came I.] in `the siȝt of [bifore I.] the puple. [verse 14] And Dauid dide warli [wisely I.] in alle hise [verse 15] weies, and the Lord was with hym; and

so Saul siȝ that Dauid was ful prudent [wijs I.] , and he bigan to be war of Dauid. [verse 16] For|sothe [And I.] al Israel and Juda louyden Dauid; for he entride [ȝede yn I.] and ȝede [Om. I.] out bifor hem. [verse 17] And Saul seide to Dauid, Lo! `my more [myn eldre I.] douȝtir Merob, Y schal ȝiue her wijf to thee; oneli be thou a strong man, and fiȝte thou the `batels of the Lord [Lordis batels I.] . For|sothe [And I.] Saul `arettide, and [Om. I.] seide [seide withynne him self I.] , Myn hond be not in hym [Dauid I.] , but the hond of Filisteis be on hym. [verse 18] Sotheli [And I.] Dauid seide to Saul, Who am Y, ether what is my lijf, ether the [what is the I.] meynee [kynrede I.] of my fadir in Israel, that Y be maad the `sone in lawe of the kyng [kyngis sone in lawe I.] ? [verse 19] Forsothe [And whanne I.] the tyme `was maad [came I.] whanne [that I.] Merob, the douȝter of Saul, `ouȝte to [schulde haue I.] be ȝouun [ȝouun wijf I.] to Dauid, sche was ȝouun wijf to Hadriel Molatite. [verse 20] Forsothe [Certis I.] Dauid louide Mychol, the douȝtir of Saul; and it was teld to Saul, and it pleside hym. [verse 21] And Saul seide, Y schal ȝyue hir to hym, that it be to hym in to sclaundir, and the hond of Filisteis be on [upon I.] hym. Therfor [Thanne I.] Saul seide to Dauid, In `twei douȝtris [two thingis I.] [douȝtris; in summe bokis it is addid thingis, but it is not in Ebreu, nether it is of the text. Lire here. C.] thou schalt be my sone in lawe to dai. [verse 22] And Saul comaundide to hise seruauntis, Speke ȝe [ȝe priuely I.] to Dauid, while [as if I.] it `is hid fro me [were me vnwitinge I.] , and seie ȝe [ȝe to him I.] , Lo! thou plesist the king, and alle hise seruauntis louen thee; now ther|for be thou hosebonde of the `douȝtir of the kyng [kingis douȝtir I.] . [verse 23] And the seruauntis of Saul spaken alle these wordis in the eeris [heringe I.] of Da|uid. And Dauid seide, Whether it semeth [seme I.] litil to ȝou `to be sone in lawe of the kyng [me to be the kyngis sone in lawe I.] ? Forsothe [Sothli I.] Y am a pore man, and a feble. [verse 24] And the seruauntis telden to Saul, and seiden, Dauid spak siche wordis. [verse 25] So|theli [And I.] Saul seide, Thus speke ȝe to Dauid, The kyng hath no nede to ȝiftis for spow|sails [spousails; that is, pre|ciouse ȝiftis of gold ether of siluer, that ben wont to be ȝouun to kingis, whanne thei ȝyuen her douȝtris to hosebondis. Lire here. C.] , no [Om. I.] but onely to an hundrid pre|pucies [Om. I.] , `that is, mennus ȝerdis vncircum|cidid [Om. I.] , `of Filisteis [Filisteis prepucies I.] , that veniaunce be maad of the kyngis enemyes. Certis Saul

thouȝte to bitake Dauid in to the hondis of Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] . [verse 26] And whanne the seruauntis of Saul hadden teld to Dauid the wordis, whiche [that I.] Saul hadde seid, the word pleside `in the iȝen of [bifore I.] Dauid, that he schulde be maad the kyngis son in lawe. [verse 27] And aftir a fewe daies Dauid roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede in to Acharon, with the [Om. I.] men that weren with hym, and he killide of Filisteis twei hun|drid men; and brouȝte [Dauith brouȝte I.] `the prepucies of hem [her prepucies I.] , and noumbride [he noumbride I.] tho to the kyng, that he schulde be the kyngis sone in lawe. And so Saul ȝaf Mycol, his douȝter, wiif to hym [Dauid I.] . [verse 28] And Saul siȝ, and vndir|stood, that the Lord was with Dauid. [verse 29] Forsothe [Certis I.] Mychol, `the douȝter of Saul [Sauls douȝtir I.] , louide Dauid, and Saul bigan more to drede Dauid; and Saul was maad enemye to Dauid in alle daies. [verse 30] And the princes of Filisteis ȝeden out [out to fiȝte I.] ; forsothe [but I.] fro the bi|gynnyng of her goyng out Dauyd bar hym silf more warli [wisely I.] than alle the [Om. M.] men of Saul; and the name of Dauid was maad ful solempne.

CAP. XIX.

[verse 1] Forsothe [Sotheli I.] Saul spak to Jonathas, his sone, and to alle hise seruauntis, that thei schulden sle Dauid; certis Jonathas, the sone of Saul, louyde Dauid greetli. [verse 2] And Jonathas schewide to Dauid, and seide, Saul, my fadir, sekith to sle thee, wherfor, Y biseche, kepe `thou thee [thi self I.] eerli [to morowe eerly I.] ; and thou schalt dwelle priueli [priueli in the feeld I.] , and thou schalt be hid. [verse 3] Sotheli [And I.] Y schal go out, and stonde bisidis my fadir in the feeld, where euer he schal be; and Y schal speke of thee to my fadir, and what euer thing Y shal se [vndir|stonde of him I.] , Y schal telle to [Om. I.] thee. [verse 4] Therfor [Thanne I.] Jonathas spak good thingis of Dauid to Saul, his fadir, and seide to hym, Kyng, do thou not synne aȝens thi seruaunt Dauid, for he `synnede not [hath not synned I.] to thee, and [verse 5] hise werkis ben ful good to thee; and he

puttide [hath put I.] his lijf [he puttide his liyf; that is, puttide forth his liyf to perel, as myche as it semyde to mannus doom; for he ȝede vnarmed to fiȝte aȝenus the Filistey, as it is seide in xvii. c^o. Lire here. C.] in his [thin I.] hond, and he killide the Filistei. And [And so I.] the Lord made [hath maad I.] greet heelthe [helpe EL.] to al Israel; thou siȝ [sauȝst this I.] , and were [thou were I.] glad; whi therfor synnest thou in giltles blood, and sleest [wilt sle I.] Dauid, which [that I.] is with out gilt? [verse 6] And whanne Saul hadde herd this, he was plesid with the vois [spekyng I.] of Jonathas, and swoor [he swoor I.] , `The Lord lyueth [Om. I.] , `that is [Om. CI.] , bi the Lord lyuynge [Om. C.] , for Dauid schal not be slayn. [verse 7] Therfor [And so I.] Jonathas clepide Dauid, and schewide to hym alle these wordis. And Jonathas brouȝte in Dauid to Saul, and he was bifor hym [Saul I.] as `ȝistirdai and the thridde dai ago [he was wont bifore I.] . [verse 8] For|sothe [Certis I.] batel was moued eft; and Dauyd ȝede out, and fauȝt aȝens Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] , and he smoot hem with a [Om. I.] greet wounde [feersnesse I.] , and thei fledden fro his face. [verse 9] And the yuel spirit of the Lord was maad on [upon I.] Saul; sotheli [and I.] he sat in his hows, and helde a spere; certis Dauid harpide in [with I.] his hond. [verse 10] And Saul enforside [enforside hym I.] to prene [prenede U. that is, peerse K marg.] with the spere [spere to stike togidre I.] Dauid in the wal; and Dauid bowide [bowide awey I.] fro `the face of Saul [Sauls siȝt I.] ; forsothe [and I.] the spere `with voide wounde [with oute hurt of Dauid I.] was borun [ficchid I.] in to the wal; and Dauid fledde, and [and so he I.] was saued in that niȝt. [verse 11] Therfor [Thanne I.] Saul sente hise knyȝtis [cruel seruauntis I.] in the [that I.] nyȝt in to the hows of Dauid, that thei schulden kepe hym, and that he `schulde be [were I.] slayn in the morewtide. And whanne [Om. I.] Mychol, the wijf of Dauid, hadde teld this to Dauid, and seide, If thou sauest not thee in this [verse 12] nyȝt, thou schalt die to morew; sche [and sche I.] puttide [lete I.] hym doun bi a wyndow. For|sothe [And I.] he [Dauid I.] ȝede, and fledde [fledde thenns I.] , and was [he was I.] sauyd. [verse 13] Sotheli [And I.] Mychol took an ymage, and puttide [leide I.] it on the bed [bed of Dauid I.] , and puttide [sche putte I.] `an heeri skyn of geet [a rouȝ geet skin I.] at the heed therof, and hilide it with clothis. [verse 14] Forsothe [And I.] Saul

sente sergeauntis [his seruauntis I.] , `that schulden [to I.] rauysche Dauid [Dauid thenns I.] , and it was answeride [answeride to Saul I.] , that he [Dauid I.] was sijk. [verse 15] And eft Saul sente messangeris, that thei schulden se [slee K.] Dauid, and he [Saul I.] seide, Brynge ȝe hym [Om. I.] to me [me Dauid I.] in the [his I.] bed, that he be slayn. [verse 16] And whanne the messangeris hadden come [come to Dauid I.] , `a symylacre [an ymage lijk to Dauid I.] was foundun on the [his I.] bed, and `skynnes of geet [geet skynnes I.] at [on I.] the heed therof. [verse 17] And Saul seide to Mychol, Whi scornedist [scornest I.] thou me so, and `dely|ueredist [hast delyuered I.] myn enemy, that he fledde [fle awey I.] ? And Mychol answeride to Saul, For he [Dauid I.] spak to me, and seide, Delyuere thou me, ellis Y schal slee thee. [verse 18] Forsothe [Certis I.] Dauid fledde, and was sauyd; and he cam to Samuel in to Ramatha, and telde [he telde I.] to hym alle thingis which [that I.] Saul hadde do to hym; and he [Dauid I.] and Samuel ȝeden, and dwelliden in Naioth. [verse 19] Forsothe [And I.] it was teld to Saul of men, seiynge [seiynge to him I.] , Lo! Dauid is in Naioth in Ramatha. [verse 20] Therfor Saul sente [sente men I.] sleeris, that thei schulden rauysche [rauysche thenns I.] Dauid; and whanne thei hadden seyn the [a I.] cumpeny of profetis [profetis; that is, the felou|schipe of reli|giouse men preisinge God. Lire here. C.] profeciynge, and Samuel stond|ynge ouer hem, the Spirit of the Lord, `that is, the spirit of deuocioun [Om. I.] , was maad in hem, and thei also bigunnen to prophecie [to profesie; that is, to preise God, and ceessiden to pursue Dauith. Lire here. C.] . [verse 21] And whanne this was teld to Saul, he sente also othere messangeris; `sotheli and [and certis I.] thei profesieden. And eft Saul sente the thridde messangeris, and thei prophecieden. And [And with wrathfulnesse I.] Saul was wrooth [verse 22] `with irefulnesse [Om. I.] ; and he also ȝede in to Ramatha, and he cam `til to [into I. vnto EL.] the [a I.] greet cisterne, which [that I.] is in Socoth, and he axide, and seide, In what place ben Samuel and Dauid? And it was seid to hym, Lo! thei ben in Naioth in Ramatha. [verse 23] And he [Saul I.] ȝede in `to Naioth [Om. R.] in [in to AEF.] Ramatha; and the Spirit of the Lord was maad also on him; and he [Saul I.] `ȝede, and [goynge yn I.] entride [wente I.] , and prophe|ciede,

`til the while [unto the while E. for to I.] he cam `in to [to A.] Naioth in [in to ADEF.] Ramatha. [verse 24] And `he also [Saul also I.] dispuylide [vnclothide I.] [dispuylide; not that he lefte nakid, but for he dide awey the ournementis of kyng, that he schulde take clothis liyk re|ligiouse men, preisinge God, as Dauyth dide bifor the arke. Lire here. C.] him silf [Om. I.] of hise clothis, and [and he I.] propheciede with othere men bifor Samuel, and he profeciede nakid in [Om. I.] al that dai and nyȝt. Wherfor `a prouerbe, that is [Om. I.] , a comyn word [seiynge I.] , ȝede out, Whether and Saul [Saul be I.] among prophetis [wher and Saul among profetis; this is seide of him, in whom sum deuocioun ap|perith sudeynly at an our, as whanne a man of dissolute liyf schewith ony signe of deuocioun, it is seid of him, Bernard is maad a munk, so and thanne it was seid of siche men, wher and Saul among profetis, as if he seide thilke deuo|cioun is tran|sitorie and at an our, and is not stidefast. Lire here. C.] ?

CAP. XX.

[verse 1] Forsothe [Certis I.] Dauid fledde fro Naioth, which [that I.] is in Ramatha, and cam [he cam I.] and spak bifor Jonathas, What haue Y do? what is my wickidnesse, and what is my synne aȝens thi fadir, for he sekith [sekith to lese I.] my lijf? [verse 2] And Jonathas seide to hym [Dauid I.] , Fer be it fro thee, thou schalt not die, for my fadir schal not do ony thing greet ether litil, `no but [but if I.] he schewe firste to me; therfor my fadir [fadir oonli I.] kepte [hath kept I.] preuy fro me this word oneli [Om. I.] , forsothe [certis I.] it schal not be. [verse 3] And eft he [Jonathas I.] swoor to Dauid. And Dauid seide, Treuli [Sotheli I.] thi fadir woot, that Y haue founde grace `in thin iȝen [bifore thee I.] , and [and therfor I.] he schal [wil I.] seie, Jonathas wite not this, lest perauenture he be sory; certis the Lord lyueth, `and thi soule lyueth [Om. I.] , for [forthi I.] , that Y seie so, Y and deeth ben departid oneli bi o degree. [verse 4] And Jonathas seide to Dauid, What euer thing thi soule schal seie to me, Y schal do [do it I.] to thee. [verse 5] And Dauid seide to Jonathas, Lo [Lo! calen|dis; that is, the feeste of newe moone. Lire here. C.] ! calendis ben to morewe, and bi cus|tom Y am wont to sitte bi the kyng to ete; therfor suffre thou me, `that Y [to I.] be hid in the feeld `til to [vnto I.] euentid of the thridde dai. [verse 6] If [and if I.] thi fadir biholdith, and axith me [after me I.] , thou schalt answere to hym, Dauid preiede me, that he schulde [myȝte I.] go swiftli [anoon I.] into Bethleem, his citee, for so|lempne sacrifices ben [ben nowe I.] there to alle the [Om. I.] men of his lynage. [verse 7] If he [thi fadir I.] seith [sey I.] , Wel, pees schal be to thi seruaunt; forsothe [and I.] if he is wrooth, wite thou, that his malice is

fillid. [verse 8] Therfor do thou mercy in to thi seruaunt, for thou madist [hast maad I.] me thi seruaunt to make with thee the [Om. I.] boond of pees of the Lord; sotheli [but I.] if ony wickidnesse is in me, sle thou me, and brynge thou not in me to thi fadir. [verse 9] And Jonathas seide, Fer be this fro me, for [certis I.] it mai not be doon, that Y telle not to thee, if Y knowe certeynli, that the malice of my fadir is fillid aȝens thee. [verse 10] And Dauid answeride to Jonathas, Who schal telle to [Om. I.] me, if in caas thi fadir answerith [answere I.] harde ony thing [thingis I.] of me? [verse 11] And Jonathas seide to Dauid, Come thou, and go we forth in to the feeld. And whanne [whanne thei I.] bothe hadden go in [verse 12] to the feeld, Jonathas seide to Dauid, Lord [thou, Lord I.] God of Israel, if Y enquere the sentence of my fadir to morewe, ether in the nexte dai aftir, and ony `thing of good [good thing I.] is [be seid I.] of Dauid [thee I.] , and Y sende not anoon to [verse 13] thee, and make [make it I.] knowun to thee, God do [do ellis I.] these thingis to Jonathas, and `adde these thingis [do he mo yuel thingis to me I.] . Forsothe [And I.] if the malice of my fadir contynueth [contynue I.] aȝens thee, Y schal schewe [schewe it I.] to thin eere, and Y schal delyuere thee, that thou go in pees; and the Lord be with thee, as he was with my fadir. [verse 14] And if Y lyue [schal lyue I.] , do thou the mercies of the [verse 15] Lord to me; forsothe [and I.] if Y am [be I.] deed, `thou schalt not take [take thou not I.] awei thi mercy fro myn hows `til in to [vnto I. into E.] with outen ende; `and ȝif Y do it not [Om. A pr. m. EFPb. either if I schal not do to thee as I haue bihiȝt I. forsothe Dauid seide, if I do not K sup. ras. ether if I do not DOMSW. or if I do not X.] , whanne the Lord schal drawe out bi the roote the enemyes of Dauid, ech man fro the lond [erthe I.] , take he awei Jonathas fro his hows, and seke the Lord of the hond of the enemyes of Dauid. [verse 16] Therfor Jonathas made boond of pees with the hows of Dauid, and the Lord souȝte [souȝte out wreeche I.] of the hond of enemyes [the enemyes I.] of Dauid. [verse 17] And Jo|nathas addide to swere stedfastli to Dauid, for he louyde Dauid [him I.] ; for he louyde so Dauid, as his owne soule [lijf I.] . [verse 18] And Jonathas

seide to hym [Dauid I.] , `Calendis ben [Om. I.] to morewe [morewe is the first day of the monthe, that is solempne I.] , [verse 19] and thou schalt be souȝt; for [and I.] thi sittyng schal be souȝt [axid I.] til after to [the I.] morewe. Ther|for thou schalt go doun hastili, and thou schalt come in to the [a I.] place, where thou schalt be hid in the day, whanne it is leueful to worche; and thou schalt sitte bisidis the stoon, `to which the name is [that hiȝt I.] Ezel [is Ezel; that is, of walking. Lire here. C.] . [verse 20] And Y schal sende [schete I.] thre [thee K.] arowis bisidis that stoon, and Y schal caste [caste tho I.] as `excercisynge ether pleiynge me at a signe [it were vsynge me to throwe at a marke I.] . [verse 21] Y schal sende also and my [Om. I.] child, and Y schal seie to hym, Go thou, and brynge to me the [tho I.] arewis. [verse 22] If Y seie [schal seie I.] to the child, Lo! the arewis ben `with ynne [on this side I.] thee, take thou tho; come [thanne come I.] thou to me, for pees is to thee, and no thing is of yuel, the Lord lyueth. Sotheli [But I.] if Y speke thus to the child, Lo! the arowis ben biȝende thee; go thou [thou thanne forth I.] in pees, for the Lord de|liuerede [hath delyuered I.] thee. [verse 23] Forsothe [certis I.] of the word [of the word, etc.; that is, of the boond of pees bitwixe vs and oure eiris. Lire here. C.] , which [that I.] thou and Y han [haue I.] spoke, the Lord be [be witnesse I.] bitwixe me and thee til [Om. EL.] in to with outen ende. [verse 24] Therfor Dauid was hid in the feeld; and the `calendis camen [solempne feest came I.] , and the kyng sat to ete breed. [verse 25] And whanne the kyng hadde seete [sett him I.] on [upon I.] his chaier bi custom, `which chaier [that I.] was [was stondynge I.] bisidis the wal, Jonathas roos, and sat `aftir Abner [Om. I.] , and Abner sat at the side of Saul, and the place of Dauid apperide voide. [verse 26] And Saul spak not ony thing in that dai [dai of Dauid I.] ; for he [Saul I.] thouȝte, that `in hap [perauenture I.] it bifelde [hadde bifalle I.] to hym [Dauid I.] , that he was not clene `nether [ne I. ether K.] purified [purified as her custom was I.] . [verse 27] And whanne the secounde dai aftir the calendis [firste solempne dai I.] hadde schyned [comen I.] , eft the place of Dauid apperide voide. And Saul seide to Jonathas his sone, Whi cometh [came I.] not the sone of Isai, nether ȝisterdai, nether [ne I.] to dai to ete? [verse 28] And Jonathas answeride to Saul, He preiede me mekeli, that he schulde go [verse 29] in to Bethleem; and he seide, Suffre thou

me, for solempne sacrifice is in my citee; oon of my britheren clepide me; now therfor [therfor he seide I.] if Y foond [haue founde I.] grace `in thin iȝen [bifore thee I.] , Y schal go soone [soone thidere I.] , and `Y schal [Om. I.] se my britheren; for this cause he [Dauid I.] cometh not to the `table of the kyng [kyngis table I.] . [verse 30] Forsothe [And I.] Saul was wrooth aȝens Jonathas, and seide to hym, Thou sone of a [the I.] womman `rauysch|ynge at her owne wille [wilfully rauyschynge I.] a man, whether Y woot not, that thou louest the sone of Ysay in to thi confusioun, and in to the confusioun of thi schendful modir? [verse 31] For in alle the daies in whiche the sone of Isai lyueth on erthe, thou schalt not be stablischid, nether thi rewme; therfor `riȝt now [anoon I.] sende thou, and brynge hym to me, for he is the sone of deeth. [verse 32] Sotheli [And I.] Jona|thas answeride to Saul his fadir, and seide, Whi schal he [Dauid I.] die? what hath he do? [verse 33] And Saul took the [a I.] spere, that he schulde smyte hym, and Jonathas vndirstood, that it was determynd [purposid fulli I.] of his fadir, that Dauid schulde be slayn. [verse 34] Therfor [Thanne I.] Jonathas roos fro the table in `the ire of woodnesse [ful feers wraththe I.] , and he ete not breed in the secounde dai of calendis [that solempnytee I.] ; for he was sori on [for I.] Dauid, for his fadir hadde schent him. [verse 35] And whanne the morewtid `hadde schyned [wexe cler I.] , Jonathas cam in to the feeld, and a litil child with hym, bi the couenaunt of [maad of I.] Dauid. [verse 36] And Jonathas seide to his child, Go thou, and brynge to me the arowis whiche [that I.] Y caste [haue schotte I.] . And whanne the child hadde runne [runne forth I.] , he castide [schotte I.] another arowe biȝende the child. [verse 37] Therfor [And so whanne I.] the child cam to the place of the arowe which [that I.] Jonathas hadde sent [schott I.] ; and Jonathas criede bihynde the `bak of the child [childis bak I.] , and seide, Lo! the arowe is not there, certis it is biȝende [bihynde I.] thee. [verse 38] And Jo|nathas criede eft bihynde the bak of the child, `and seide [Om. I.] , Haste thou swiftli, stonde thou not. Therfor [Sothely I.] the child gaderide [gaderide up I.] the arowis of Jonathas, and brouȝte [brouȝte hem I.] to his

[verse 39] lord, and outerli he [the child I.] wiste not what was doon; for oonli Jonathas and Dauid knewen the thing. [verse 40] Therfor [Thanne I.] Jonathas ȝaf hise armeris [bowe and arowis I.] to the child, and seide to hym, Go thou, bere [bere these I.] in to the citee. [verse 41] And whanne the child hadde go [go thenns I.] , Dauid roos [roos up I.] fro the place that `ȝede to [was towardis I.] the south; and he felde low `in to [upon I.] the [Om. plures.] erthe, and wor|schipide [he worschipide him I.] the thridde tyme, and thei kiss|iden hem silf to gidere, and `wepten to gidere [euer either wepten I.] ; forsothe [but I.] Dauid wepte more. [verse 42] Therfor [Thanne I.] Jonathas seide to Dauid, Go thou in pees; what euer thingis we bothe han swoore in [and seid in I.] the `name of the Lord [Lordis name I.] , `and seiden [Om. I.] , `The Lord be [Be the Lord witnesse theroff I.] bitwixe me and thee, and bitwixe my seed and thi seed til [Om. EL.] in to with outen ende, `be stidfast [Om. I.] . [verse 43] And Dauid roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , but also [and I.] Jonathas entride [ȝede I.] in to the citee.

CAP. XXI.

[verse 1] Forsothe Dauid cam in to Nobe to Achimelech preest [the preest I.] ; and Achymelech won|drid, for Dauid `hadde come [came thidere I.] ; and [also and M.] he seide to Dauid, Whi art thou aloone, and no man is with thee [and no man is with thee; sum men weren in his cumpeny, as it is seid with ynne, but few in comparisoun of hem that weren wont to go with him. Lire here. C.] ? [verse 2] And Dauid seide to Achymelech preest [the preest I.] , The kyng co|maundide [hath comaundid I.] to me a word, and seide, No man wite the thing, for which thou art sent fro me, and what maner comaunde|mentis [heestis I.] Y ȝaf [haue ȝoue I.] to thee; for Y seide also to children [my children I.] , that thei schulden go in to [verse 3] that `and that [Om. I.] place; now [and that now I.] therfor if thou hast ony thing [thing to ete I.] at hond, ether fyue looues, ȝyue thou [thou it I.] to me, ether what euer thing thou fyndist [fyndist of mete I.] . [verse 4] And the preest answeride to Dauid, and seide to hym, Y haue `not lewid [not redy lewid brede I.] , `that is, comyn, looues at hoond [that is, bred for lewid men I marg.] , but oneli hooli breed; whether [if I.] the chil|dren ben clene [wher the chil|dren ben clene; as if he seide, tho looues moun be ȝouun to hem in nede. Lire here. C.] , and moost [namely I.] of wymmen [wymmen, ete thei I.] ? [verse 5] And Dauid answeride to the preest, and seide to hym, And sotheli if it is doon of

wymmen, we absteyneden [han absteyned I.] vs fro ȝistirdai and the thridde dai ago, whanne we ȝeden out, and [Om. I.] the `vessels, that is [Om. I.] , bodies, of the children weren cleene [cleene therof I.] ; forsothe [certis I.] this weie is defoulyd [this weye is defoulid; that is, we myȝten drawe vnclen|nesse in the weye; but also that schal be halewid in the vessels; that is, siche vnclen|nesse schal be excusid in vs for the con|tynence fro wymmen. Ether thus, this weye is de|foulid; that is, this proces is unleueful of comyn cours, that halewid breed be ȝouun to lewid men, but it schal be excusid for oure nede. Lire here. C.] , but also [and I.] that [it I.] schal be halewid to dai in the vessels. [verse 6] Therfor [Thanne I.] the preest ȝaf to hym [Dauid I.] halewid breed, for noon other breed was there, no but [Om. I.] oneli looues of settyng forth, that weren takun awey fro the face of the Lord, that hoote looues schulen be set [set forth I.] . [verse 7] Forsothe [And I.] sum [a I.] man of the seruauntis of Saul was there [there that dai I.] with ynne in the tabernacle [in the taber|nacle; that is, in the cumpas of the taber|nacle, where lewid men weren res|seyued for offryng ether preyer. Lire here. C.] of the Lord; and his name was Doech of Ydumee [and his name was Doech of Ydume; this that sueth in summe bokis, and he kepte the mulis of Saul, is not in Ebreu, nether is of the text. Lire here. C.] , the myȝtiest [myȝtiest man Ib.] of the scheepherdis [heerdes I.] , `that is, iugis [Om. I.] , of Saul [Saul, and he kepte the mulis of Saul IL. Saul, he fedde the mules of Saul E.] . [verse 8] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid seide to Achymelech, If thou hast `here at hond [redy here I.] spere, ether swerd, ȝyue [ȝyue it I.] to me; for Y took not with me my swerd and [neither I.] myn armeris; for [for why I.] the `word of the kyng [kyngis word I.] con|streynede me [me to go in haaste I.] . [verse 9] And the preest seide, Lo! here [Om. I.] the swerd of Goliath Filistei, whom thou killidst in the valey of Terebynte, is wlappid [wrappid K.] in a cloth aftir [next after I.] ephoth; if thou wolt take this, take thou [it I.] ; for here is noon other outakun that. And Dauid seide, Noon other is lijk this, ȝyue thou it to me. [verse 10] Therfor [And so I.] Dauid roos [roos up I.] , `and fledde [Om. I.] in that dai fro the face of Saul, and cam [he cam I.] to Achis, the kyng of Geth. [verse 11] And the seruauntis of Achis seiden to hym, whanne thei hadden seyn Dauid, Whether this is not Dauid, kyng of the lond [lond of Israel I.] ? Whether thei [wymmen I.] sungen not to hym bi queeris [carouls DEF sec. m. GIKLMNOPQRSWXb.] , and seiden, Saul smoot a thou|synde, and Dauid smoot ten thousynde? [verse 12] Sotheli [And I.] Dauid puttide [toke I.] these wordis `in his [to I.] herte, and he dredde greetli of the face of Achis, kyng of Geth. [verse 13] And Dauid chaungide his mouth bifor Achis, and felde doun bitwixe her hondis, and he hurtlide aȝens the doris [and he hurt|lide aȝenus the doris; in Ebreu it is, and he peyntide on the doris, in mak|ing there summe figuris, as foolis ben wont to make. Lire here. C.] of the ȝate, and

his drauelis, `that is, spotelis [Om. I.] , flowiden doun in to the beerd. [verse 14] And Achis seide to hise seruauntis, Seen ȝe the wood man? why brouȝten ȝe hym to me? whether wood men failen to vs? whi han ȝe brouȝt in hym, that he schulde be wood, while Y am present? Delyuere ȝe hym fro hennus, lest he entre in to myn hows.

CAP. XXII.

[verse 1] Therfor Dauid ȝede fro thennus, and fledde [he fledde I.] in to the denne of Odollam; and whanne hise britheren, and al the hows of his fadir hadden herd this, thei camen doun thidur to hym. [verse 2] And alle men that weren set in angwisch, and oppressid with [with the dett of I.] othere mennus [men I.] dette [Om. I.] , and in bittir soule [sorowe of herte I.] , camen togidere to hym [Dauid I.] ; and he was maad the [her I.] prince `of hem [Om. I.] , and as foure [a foure I.] hundrid men weren with hym. [verse 3] And Dauid ȝede forth fro thennus in to Masphat, which [that I.] is of [in I.] Moab; and he seide to the kyng of Moab, Y preye, dwelle my fadir and my modir with ȝou, til Y wite what thing God schal do to me. [verse 4] And he lefte hem [him there I.] bifor the face of the kyng of Moab; and thei dwelliden at hym in alle daies [the daies I.] , `in whiche [that I.] Dauid was in `the forselet, ether [Om. I.] stronghold. [verse 5] And Gad, the profete, seide to Dauid, Nyle thou dwelle [dwelle still I.] in `the forselet [oo strong hold I.] ; go thou forth, and go [wende I.] in to the lond of Juda. And Dauid ȝede forth, and cam [he cam I.] in to the forest of Areth. [verse 6] And Saul herde, that Dauid apperide, and the men that weren with hym. Forsothe [And I.] whanne Saul dwellide in Gabaa, and was in the [a I.] wode which [that I.] is in Rama, and [and he I.] `helde a spere [led a preste E. helid a preste L.] in the [his I.] hond, and alle hise ser|uauntis [verse 7] stoden aboute hym, he seide to hise seruauntis that stoden nyȝ hym, The [Ȝe AI.] sones of Gemyny [that is, ȝe that be my britheren I marg.] , here [here ȝe I.] me now; whether the sone of Ysai schal ȝyue to alle ȝou feeldis and vyneris, and schal [he schal I.] make alle ȝou tribunes [chefteyns upon thousyndis I.] and centuriouns [upon hundridis of men I.] ? [verse 8] For alle

ȝe han swore [Om. I.] , ether [Om. CI.] conspirid [Om. C.] , togidere aȝens me, and noon is that tellith to me; moost sithen also my sone hath ioyned boond of pees with the sone of Ysai; noon is of ȝou, that sorewith `for my stide [my while I.] , nether that tellith to me, for my sone hath reisid my seruaunt aȝens me, settynge tre|soun to me `til to [vnto I.] dai [this dai I.] . [verse 9] Sotheli [But I.] Doech of Ydumye answeride, that stood nyȝ, and was the firste [cheef I.] among `the seruauntis of Saul [Sauls seruauntis I.] , and seide, Y siȝ `the sone of Ysai [Ysais sone I.] in Nobe, at Achymelech, preest [the preest I.] , the sone [verse 10] of Achitob; which [and Achimelech I.] counseilide [counseilide with I.] the Lord for Dauid, and ȝaf [ȝaf him I.] meetis `to hym [Om. I.] , but also he ȝaf to Dauid the swerd of Goliath [Golie I.] Filistei. [verse 11] Therfor [Thanne I.] the kyng sente to clepe Achymelech, the preest, `the sone of Achi|tob [Achitobs sone I.] , and al the hows [meynee I.] of his fadir, of preestis that weren in Nobe; whiche [the whiche I.] alle camen to the kyng. [verse 12] And Saul seide to Achymelech, Here [Here me I.] , thou sone of Achitob. Which [The which I.] answeride, Lord, Y am redi. [verse 13] And Saul seide to hym, Whi hast thou con|spirid aȝens me, thou, and the sone of Ysai, and ȝauest [hast ȝoue I.] looues and a swerd to hym, and councelidist [hast counseilid with I.] the Lord for hym, that he schulde rise aȝens me, and he dwellith a tretour `til to [vnto this I.] dai? [verse 14] And Achy|melech answeride to the kyng, and seide, And [Om. I.] who among alle thi seruauntis is [is so feithful I.] as Dauid feithful [Om. I.] , and the [he is thi I.] sone in lawe `of the kyng [Om. I.] , and goynge at thi [Om. EL. the K. thin I.] comaunde|ment [heest I.] , and gloriouse in [in al I.] thin hows? [verse 15] Whe|ther Y bigan to dai to counsele the Lord for hym [Dauid I.] ? Fer be this fro me; suppose not the kyng [kyng sich thing I.] aȝens his seruaunt `siche a thing [or aȝens ony other I.] in al `the hows of my fadir [my fadir hous I.] ; for thi seruaunt knew not ony thing, ether litil ethir greet, of this cause. [verse 16] And the kyng seide, Achymelech, thou schalt die bi deeth, thou, and al [Om. C.] the hows of thi fadir. [verse 17] And the kyng seide to men able to be

sent out, that stoden aboute hym, Turne ȝe, and sle the preestis of the Lord, for the hond of hem is with Dauid; and thei wisten that he fledde, and thei schewiden not to me. Sotheli the seruauntis of the kyng nolden [wolden not I.] holde forth her hond [the ser|uauntis of the kyng nolden holde forth her hond; these men able to be sent out, weren Abner and Amasa, that weren sent out to the nedis of the rewme, they nolden sle the prestis of the Lord, for they wisten that it was not to obeye to the king, in tho thingis that ben aȝenus God; and they token this of that word in i. c^o. of Josue, as we obeyeden in alle thingis to Moyses, so we schulen obeie also to thee, onely thi Lord God be with thee; that is, in tho thingis in whiche is acordinge with Goddis wille, we schu|len obeye, and in noon othere. Lire here. C.] in to the preestis of the Lord. [verse 18] And the kyng seide to Doech, Turne thou, and hurle [hurtle X.] in to the preestis of the Lord. And Doech of Ydumee turnede, and hurlide [hurtlid DLX sec. m.] in to the preestis, and stranglide in that dai foure score and fyue men, clothid with `ephoth [clothid with ephoth; for they camen to the king in the clothis in whiche they mynistriden bifor God, that thei schulden bowe more his wraththid soule to pitee. Lire here. C.] of lynnun cloth [lynnun prestes copis I.] . [verse 19] Forsothe [Certis I.] he [Doech I.] smoot [destriede I.] Nobe, the citee of preestis [the preestis I.] , by the scharp|nesse of swerd, men and wymmen, litle children and soukynge, and oxe, and asse, and sheep, bi [he slewȝe bi I.] the scharpnesse of swerd. [verse 20] Forsothe [But I.] o sone of Achymelech, sone [the sone I.] of Achitob, ascapide, of which sone the name was Abiathar; and he fledde to Dauid, [verse 21] and telde to [Om. I.] hym that Saul hadde slayn the preestis of the Lord. [verse 22] And Dauid seide to Abiathar, Sotheli [Certis I.] Y wiste, `that is, Y coniectide, ether dredde [Om. CI.] , in that dai, that whanne Doech of Ydumee was there, he wolde telle with out doute to Saul; Y am gilti of alle the lyues [lyues that be sleyn I.] of thi fadir [fadir hous I.] . [verse 23] Dwelle thou with me, drede thou not; if ony man sekith thi lijf, he schal seke also my lijf, and thou schalt be kept with me.

CAP. XXIII.

[verse 1] And thei [men I.] telden [telden, that is, men of Seila telden perel neiȝinge to hem. Lire here. C.] to Dauid, and seiden, Lo! Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] fiȝten aȝens Seila, and ra|uyschen [strien I.] the corn floris. [verse 2] Therfor [Thanne I.] Dauid councelide [counselide with I.] the Lord, and seide, Whether Y schal go [go out I.] , and smyte Filisteis [these Filisteis BC. the Filisteis I.] ? And the Lord seide to Dauid, Go thou [forth I.] , and thou schalt smyte Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] , and thou schalt saue Seila. [verse 3] And men, that weren with Dauid, seiden to him, Lo! we ben heere in Judee, and dredden [han dred I.] ; hou myche more,

if we schulen go in to Seila aȝens the cumpanyes of Filisteis. [verse 4] Therfor eft Dauid councelide [councelide with I.] the Lord; which [the which I.] answeride, and seide to Dauid, Rise thou [thou up I.] , and go `in to [in A.] Seila; for Y schal bitake Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] in [in to EL.] thin hond. [verse 5] Therfor [Thanne I.] Dauid ȝede [wente I.] , and hise men, in to Seila, and fauȝt aȝens Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] ; and he [Dauid I.] droof awey her werk beestis, and smoot hem with greet wounde; and Dauid sauyde the dwelleris of Seila. [verse 6] Forsothe [And I.] in that tyme, `wher ynne [in whiche I.] Abiathar, sone [the sone I.] of Achymelech [Abimelech ELP.] , fledde to Dauid in to Seile, he [Abiathar I.] cam doun [down thidere I.] , and hadde [he hadde I.] with hym `ephoth, that is [Om. I.] , the cloth [coope I.] of the hiȝeste preest [The whole gloss omitted in X.] [prest; wher|ynne was the racional of doom, in whiche the an|swering of the Lord apperide. Lire here. C.] . [verse 7] Forsothe [And I.] it was teld to Saul, that Dauid hadde come in to Seila; and Saul seide, The Lord hath take hym in to myn hondis, and he `is closid, and [Om. I.] entride in to a [the I.] citee, in [is closid with ynne in I.] which [the which I.] ben ȝatis and lockis. [verse 8] And Saul comaundide to al the puple, that it schulde go doun to batel in to Seila, and bisege [bisege ȝe I.] Dauid and hise men. [verse 9] And whanne Dauid perceyuede, that Saul made redi yuel priueli to hym, he seide to Abiathar, preest [the preest I.] , Brynge hidur ephoth [the prestis coope I.] [ephoth; that is, clothe thee with ephoth, to councele the Lord. Lire here. C.] . [verse 10] And Dauid seide, Lord God of Israel, thi ser|uaunt `herde fame [hath herd sey I.] , that Saul disposith to come to Seila, that he distrie the citee for [verse 11] me; if the men of Seila schulen bitake me in to hise hondis, and if Saul schal come doun, as thi seruaunt herde [hath herd I.] , thou Lord God of Israel schewe [schewe it I.] to thi seruaunt? And the Lord seide, He schal come doun [he schal come doun; that is, if thou dwellist in the citee, he schal come doun. Lire here. C.] . [verse 12] And Dauid seide eft, Whether the men of Seila schulen bitake me, and the men that ben with me, in to the hondis of Saul? And the Lord seide, Thei schulen bitake, `that is, if thou dwellist in the citee, and Saul come [comith C.] thidur [Om. X. thee to Saul, if thou abijdist him there I.] . [verse 13] Therfor Dauid roos, and hise men, as [as a I.] sixe hundrid; and thei ȝeden out of Seila, and wandriden vncer|teyn hidur and thidur. And it was telde to Saul, that Dauid hadde fledde fro Seila,

and was saued; wherfor Saul dissymylide [feynede I.] to go out. [verse 14] Forsothe [But I.] Dauid dwellide in the [Om. EIKL.] deseert, in strongeste [ful stronge I.] places, and he dwellide in the hil of wildirnesse of Ziph, in a derk hil [hil of wode I.] ; netheles Saul souȝte hym in alle daies, and the Lord bitook not hym in to the hondis of Saul. [verse 15] And Dauid siȝ, that Saul ȝede out, that he schulde [wolde I.] seke his lijf. Forsothe [And I.] Dauid was in the [Om. EL.] deseert of Ziph, in a wode. [verse 16] And Jonathas, the sone of Saul, roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede to Dauid in to the wode, and coumfortide [he coumfortide I.] hise hondis in God. [verse 17] And he seide to Dauid, Drede thou not; for the hond of Saul my fadir schal not fynde thee, and thou schalt regne on Israel, and Y schal be the secounde to thee; but also Saul my father woot this. [verse 18] Therfor euer eithir smoot boond of pees bifor the Lord. And Dauid dwellide in the wode; forsothe [and I.] Jonathas turnede aȝen in to his hows. [verse 19] Forsothe [Certis I.] men of Ziph stieden [stieden up I.] to Saul in Gabaa, and seiden, Lo! whether not [Om. D. now EL.] Dauid is hid at [in D. anentis I.] vs in the sikireste [ful siker I.] places of [in I.] the wode [thicke wode I.] , in the hille of Achille, which [that I.] is at the riȝt syde of deseert? [verse 20] Now therfor come thou doun, as thi soule desiride, that thou schuldist come doun; forsothe it schal be oure [oure doyng I.] , that we bitake hym [Dauid I.] in to the hondis of the kyng. [verse 21] And Saul seide, Blessid be ȝe of the Lord, for ȝe sorewiden [han serewid I.] `for my stide [my while I.] . [verse 22] Therfor, Y preie [preie ȝou I.] , go ȝe, and make [makith I.] redi more diligentli, and do ȝe more curiousli ether intentifli, and biholde ȝe swiftly, where his foot is, ethir who siȝ hym there, where ȝe seiden; for he thenkith on me, that felli Y aspie hym. [verse 23] Biholde ȝe, and se [se ȝe I.] alle his hidyng places, in whiche he is hid, and [and thanne I.] turne ȝe aȝen to me at a certeyn thing, that Y go with ȝou; that if he closith [schal close I.] hym silf ȝhe in to [the I. Om. DKMOSb.] erthe, Y schal seke hym with [in I.] alle the thousyndis of Juda. [verse 24] And thei risiden [resen up I. risen ELP.] , and ȝeden in to

Ziph bifor Saul. Forsothe [And I.] Dauid and hise men weren in the deseert of Maon, in the [Om. IK.] feldi places, at the riȝt half of Jesy|myth. [verse 25] Therfor Saul ȝede and hise felowis to seke Dauid, and it was teld to Dauid; and anoon he [Dauid I.] ȝede doun to the stoon, and lyuyde in the deseert of Maon; and whanne Saul hadde herd this, he pursuede Dauid in the deseert of Maon. [verse 26] And Saul ȝede and hise men at the side of the hil `on o [the too K.] part; forsothe [and I.] Dauid and hise men weren [wenten I.] in [at I.] the side of the hil on the tother part; sotheli [forsothe BC.] Dauid dispeiride [Dauyth dis|peiride; Da|uyth dispeiride not to ascape in his owne persoone, for he was certeyn of the filling of Goddis biheest, that he schulde be kyng aftir Saul, but he despeiride to ascape with out batel with Saul, of which batel he hadde hi|dousnesse and dredde, for the deth of hise men, and of summen that weren with Saul, and su|eden him more aȝenus her wille, than wilfuly. Lire here. C.] , that he myȝte ascape fro the face of Saul. And so Saul and hise men cumpassiden bi the maner of a coroun [coroun round aboute I.] Dauid and hise men, that thei schulden take hem. [verse 27] And a messanger cam to Saul, and seide, Haste thou, and come, for Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] han spred hem silf on the lond. [verse 28] Therfor Saul turnede aȝen, and ceesside to pursue Dauid; and ȝede [he ȝede I.] aȝens the comyng of Filisteis. For this thing [for this thing; that is, for the oost of Saul was departid there, fro the pursuyng of Dauyth. Lire here. C.] thei clepen [clepiden DEFGIKLMNOPQRSUWXb.] that place the Stoon De|partynge [of Departyng EIPX.] .

CAP. XXIV.

[verse 1] Therfor Dauid stiede [stiede up I.] fro thennus, and dwellide in the sykireste [most sikir I.] places of En|gaddi. [verse 2] And whanne [whanne that I.] Saul turnede aȝen, aftir that he pursuede Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] , thei [men I.] telden to hym, and seiden, Lo! Dauid is in the [Om. EL.] deseert of Engaddi. [verse 3] Therfor Saul took three thousinde of [Om. I.] chosun men of al Israel, and ȝede [he ȝede I.] to seke Dauid and hise men, ȝhe on [upon the I.] moost brokun rochis, that [the whiche I.] ben `able to weie [weies DK sec. m. X sec. m. thorouȝ weies I. able weie MX pr. m. able to weies O.] to wield geet aloone. [verse 4] And he [Saul I.] cam to the fooldis of scheep, that [the whiche I.] offriden [profreden I.] hem silf to the wei goere. And there was a denne [caaue I.] , in to which [the whiche I.] denne [Om. DIKMXb.] Saul entride, that he schulde [wolde I.] purge the [his I.] wombe; forsothe [certis I.] Dauid and hise men weren hid in the ynnere part of the [that I.] denne. [verse 5] And the seruauntis of Dauid

seiden to hym, Lo! the dai of which the Lord spak to the, Y schal bitake to thee thin enemy, that thou do to hym as it plesith in thin iȝen. Therfor Dauid roos [roos up I.] , and kittide the hemme of the mentil of Saul priuely. [verse 6] Aftir these thingis Dauid smoot his herte [herte, or repentide him I.] [smoot his herte; that is, his consience repreuyde him. Lire here. C.] , for he hadde kit awei the hemme of the mentil of Saul. [verse 7] And Dauid seide to hise men, The Lord be merciful to me, lest Y do this thing to my lord, the crist [anoyntid I. crist, that is, anoyntid K.] of the Lord, that [and that A pr. m. CEGKLMNOPQRSUWXb. or that I.] Y sende [putte MW.] myn hond `in to [on I.] hym, for he is the crist of the Lord. The Lord lyueth, for no [Om. I.] but the Lord smyte hym [Saul I.] , ether his dai come, that he die, ether he go doun in to batel and perische [perische so I.] , the Lord be merciful to me, that Y sende [putte M.] not [Om. I.] myn hond in to the crist [anoyntid I.] of the Lord [crist of the Lord; in summe bokis it sueth, and Dauyth brak his men bi siche wordis, and suffride not hem, that they risiden aȝenus Saul, but this lettre is not in Ebreu, nether in bokis amendid. Lire here. C.] . [verse 8] For|sothe [And I.] Saul roos out of the denne, and ȝede in the weie bigunnun. [verse 9] Sotheli [And I.] Dauid roos [roos up I.] aftir hym, and he ȝede out of the denne, and criede aftir the bak of Saul, and seide, My lord, the [Om. I.] kyng! And Saul bihelde bihinde him silf [Om. I.] ; and Dauid bowide hym silf lowe to the erthe, and worschipide [worschipide him I.] . [verse 10] And he [Dauid I.] seide to Saul, Whi herist thou the wordis of men spekynge, Dauid sekith yuel aȝens thee? [verse 11] Lo! to dai thin iȝen siȝen, that the Lord bitook thee in myn hond in the denne, and Y thouȝte that Y wolde sle [haue slawe I.] thee, but myn iȝe [iȝen BC.] sparide thee; for Y seide, Y schal not holde forth myn hond in to my lord, which [for he I.] is [which is the crist; that is, anoyntid. C.] the crist [anoyntid I.] , `that is, anoyntid [Om. INX.] , of the Lord. [verse 12] But rathere, my fadir, se thou, and knowe the hemme of thi mentil in myn hond, for whanne Y kittide aweie the hemme of thi mentil, Y nolde [wolde not I.] holde forth myn hond in [aȝens I.] thee; perseyue thou, and see, for nether yuel nether wickidnesse is in myn hond, nether Y synnede [haue synned I.] aȝens thee; but thou aspiest my lijf, that thou do it awei. [verse 13] The Lord deme bitwixe me and thee, and the Lord

venge me of thee; but myn hond be not [verse 14] in [aȝens I.] thee, as it is seid also [Om. I.] in eld prouerbe, Wickidnesse schal go out of wickid men; therfor myn hond be not in [aȝens I.] thee. [verse 15] `Whom pursuest [Om. I.] thou, kyng of Israel, whom pur|suest thou? Thou pursuest a deed hound, and a quyk fle. [verse 16] The Lord be iuge, and the Lord deme bitwixe me and thee, and se, and deme my cause, and delyuere [delyuere he I.] me fro thin hond. [verse 17] Sotheli [And I.] whanne Dauid hadde fillid [fillid or endid I.] spekynge siche [siche maner I.] wordis to Saul, Saul seide, Whether this is thi vois, my sone Dauid? And Saul reiside [reiside up I.] his vois, and wepte. [verse 18] And he seide to Dauid, Thou art more iust than Y; for thou ȝauest goodis [gode thingis I.] to me; forsothe [but I.] Y ȝeldide [haue ȝolden I.] yuelis to thee. [verse 19] And thou schewidist [hast schewid I.] to me to dai, what goodis thou hast do to me, how the Lord bitook me in thin hond, and thou killidist not me. [verse 20] For who, `whanne he fyndith his enemy [Om. I.] , schal delyuere hym [his enmy I.] in [in to K.] good weie [weie, whanne he fyndith him I.] ? But the Lord ȝelde to thee this while, for that, that [Om. I.] thou wrouȝtist [hast wrouȝt I.] to dai in me. [verse 21] And now, for Y woot, that thou schalt regne moost [ful I.] certeynli, and schalt haue in thin hond the rewme of Israel, [verse 22] swere thou to me in the Lord, that thou do not a wei my seed aftir me, nether take a wey my name fro the hows of my fadir. And Dauid swoor to Saul. [verse 23] Therfor Saul ȝede in to his hows, and Dauid and hise men stieden [stieden up I.] to sikire [sikerer BCKO.] placis.

CAP. XXV.

[verse 1] Forsothe Samuel was deed; and al Israel was gaderid to gidere, and thei biweiliden hym greetly, and birieden hym in his hows in Ramatha. And Dauid roos [roos up I.] , and

ȝede [wente I.] doun in to deseert [the deseert I.] of Faran. [verse 2] For|sothe [And I.] a [sum BCDEFGKLNOPQRSUXb. Om. I.] `man was [Om. I.] in Maon [the desert of Maon Ib marg.] [in Maon; in summe bokis is in the wildir|nesse of Maon, but this word wildirnesse, is not in Ebreu, nether is of the text; for bi the book of Ebreu questiouns he dwellide in a gretter citee, but hise beestis weren in Car|mele. Lire here. C.] , and [ther was a man, and I.] his possessioun was in Carmele, and thilke [that I.] man was ful greet, and thre [ther weren to him thre I.] thousynde scheep and a thousynde geet [of geet I.] `weren to hym [Om. I.] ; and it bifelde that his flocke was clippid [schore I.] in Carmele. [verse 3] Forsothe [And I.] the name of that man was Nabal, and the name of his wijf was Abigail; and thilke womman was moost prudent and fair; forsothe [but I.] hir hosebond was hard and ful wickid and malicious; sotheli [and I.] he was of the kyn of Caleph. [verse 4] Therfor whanne Dauid hadde herde in deseert, that Nabal clippide his [verse 5] floc, he sente ten ȝonge men, and seide to hem, Stie ȝe [ȝe up I.] in to Carmele, and ȝe schulen come to Nabal, and ȝe schulen grete hym [verse 6] of my name pesibli; and ȝe schulen seie thus, Pees be to my britheren and to thee, and pees be to thin hows, and pees be to alle thingis, `what euer thingis thou hast [whateuer thou hast DIKOQSXb. thingis whiche thou hast G. thingis whateuer thou hast N.] . [verse 7] Y [which manie ȝeres hath maad sauf thi seruauntes and alle thi godes, Y. A sec. m. Ib sec. m.] herde [haue herd I.] that thi scheepherdis, that weren with vs in deseert, clippiden [han schore I.] thi flockis; we weren neuere diseseful to hem, nether ony tyme ony thing of the floc failide to hem, in al time [the time BCEFGIKLMNOPQRSUWXb.] in which thei weren with [verse 8] vs in Carmele; axe thi children, and thei schulen schewe to thee. Now therfor thi children fynde [we fynde I.] grace in thin iȝen; for in a good dai we camen [ben comen I. comen plures.] to thee; what euer thing thin hond fyndith [fyndith or plesith to thee I.] , ȝyue [ȝyue it I.] to thi ser|uauntis, and to thi sone Dauid. [verse 9] And whanne the children of Dauid hadden come [come to Nabal I.] , thei spaken to Nabal [him I.] alle these wordis in the name of Dauid, and helden pees. [verse 10] Forsoth [Certis I.] Nabal answeride to the children of Dauid, and seide, Who is Dauith? and who is the sone of Isai? To dai seruauntis encreesiden [han encressid I.] that fleen [han fled I.] her lords. [verse 11] Therfor schal Y take my looues [schal Y take my looues; as if he seye, Y owe not to do. and my watris, that is, my drynkis, for ofte in scrip|ture, ech drynk is vndurstodun bi the name of water, as bi the name of breed is understond|un ech mete. Lire here. C.] and my watris, and the fleischis [fleishe I.] of beestis,

whiche [the whiche I.] Y haue slayn to my schereris, and schal Y ȝyue to men, whiche [that I.] Y knowe not of whennus thei ben? [verse 12] Therfor the children of Dauid ȝeden aȝen bi her weie; and thei turneden aȝen, and camen, and telden to hym [Dauid I.] alle wordis [the wordis I.] whiche [that I.] Nabal hadde seid [seid to hem I.] . [verse 13] Thanne Dauid seide to hise children, Ech man be gird with his swerd. And alle men weren gird with her swerdis, and Dauid also was gird with his swerd; and as foure [a foure I.] hundrid men sueden Dauid, forsothe [for I.] two hundrid leften at the fardels. [verse 14] Forsothe [And I.] oon of hise [the I.] children telde to Abigail, wijf [the wijf I.] of Nabal, and seide, Lo! Dauid sente [hath sent I.] messangeris fro deseert, that thei schulden blesse oure lord [blesse oure lord, in gret|ynge hym cur|teysly, and in axinge mekly his benefice. Lire here. C.] [lord Nabal I.] , and he [verse 15] turnede [hath turned I.] hem a wey; these men weren good ynow, and not diseseful to vs, and no thing [thing of oure I.] perischide `in ony tyme [Om. I.] in al the tyme in which we lyueden [weren I.] with hem [verse 16] in deseert; thei weren to vs for a wal, bothe in niȝt and in [Om. plures.] dai, in [and L.] alle daies [the daies I.] in whiche we lesewiden flockis at [anentis I.] hem. [verse 17] Wherfor biholde thou, and thenke, what thou schalt do; for malice is fillid [fulfillid I.] aȝens thin hosebonde, and aȝens `thin hows [thi meynee I.] ; and he [Nabal I.] is the sone of Belial, so that no man may speke to him. [verse 18] Therfor Abigail hast|ide, and took two hundrid looues, and two vessels of wyn, and fyue whetheris sodun, and seuene buyschelis and an half of flour, and an hundrid bundles of dried grape [grapes ELM. grapis or reisynns I.] , and two hundrid gobetis [peis I.] of dried figus; [verse 19] and puttide [sche putte I.] on [al this upon I.] assis, and seide to hir children, Go ȝe bifor me; lo! Y schal sue ȝou `aftir the [bihynde ȝoure I.] bak. Forsothe [And I.] sche schew|ide not [not this I.] to hir hosebonde Nabal. [verse 20] Therfor whanne sche hadde stied [stied up I.] on the [an I.] asse, and cam doun `at the roote [to the foot I.] of the hil, and [Om. I.] Dauid and hise men camen doun in to the [hir I.] comyng `of hir [Om. I.] ; whiche [the whiche I.] also [Om. I.] sche mette. [verse 21] And Dauid seide, Verili in veyn

Y haue kept alle thingis [these thingis K.] that weren of this Nabal in the [Om. EILNPX.] deseert, and no thing perischide of alle thingis that perteyneden to hym, and he hath ȝolde to me yuel for good. [verse 22] The Lord do these thingis, and adde [adde he I.] these thingis to the enemyes of Dauid, if Y schal leeue [leeue vndestried I.] of alle thingis that perteynen to him til the [to I.] morewe a pisser to the [a I.] wal. [verse 23] Sotheli [And I.] whanne Abi|gail siȝ Dauid, sche hastide, and ȝede doun of the asse; and sche fel doun bifor Dauid on hir face, and worschipide [worschipide him I.] on the erthe. [verse 24] And sche felde doun to hise feet, and seide, My lord the [Om. I.] kyng, this wickydnesse be in [at I.] me; Y biseche [biseche thee I.] , speke thin handmayden [handmaide I.] in thin eeris, and here thou the wordis of [verse 25] thi seruauntesse; Y preie, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, sette [that he sette I.] not his herte on [upon I.] this wickid man Nabal, for bi his name he is a fool, and foli is with hym; but, my lord, Y thin handmayde siȝ not thi children, whiche thou sentist [sentist to him I.] . [verse 26] Now therfor, my lord, the Lord lyueth [the Lord lyueth; as if sche seide, as it is soth, that the Lord lyu|eth, and thou lyuest, so it is doon bi Goddis mersy, that Y cam aȝenus thee to lette. lest thou schuldist come in to blood, that is, to schede out blood. Lire here. C.] , and thi soule lyueth, which [the which I.] Lord forbeed [hath forboden I.] thee, lest [that I.] thou schuldist come in to blood, and he [the Lord I.] sauede thi soule [lijf I.] to thee [he sauyde thi soule innocent. Lire here. C.] ; and now thin enemyes, and thei that seken yuel to [to thee Ib sec. m.] my lord, be [be thei I.] maad as Nabal. [verse 27] Wherfor resseyue thou this bless|yng, which [that I.] thin handmaide brouȝte [hath brouȝt I.] to thee, my lord, and ȝyue [ȝyue it I.] thou [Om. I.] to the chil|dren that suen thee, my lord. [verse 28] Do thou awey the wickidnesse [wickenesse E.] of thi seruauntesse; for the Lord makynge schal make a feith|ful hows to thee, my lord, for thou, my lord, fiȝtist the batels of the Lord; therfor malice be not foundun in thee in alle dais [the daies I.] of thi lijf. [verse 29] For if a man risith ony tyme, and pursueth thee, and sekith thi lijf, the lijf of my lord schal be kept [schal be kepte, etc.; that is, schal be defendid aȝenus alle tre|souns of yuel men. Lire here. C.] as in a bundel of lyuynge trees, at thi Lord God; forsothe [but I.] the soule of thin enemyes schal be hurlid round aboute as in feersnesse, and sercle of a slynge. [verse 30] Therfor whanne

the Lord hath do to thee, my lord, alle these goode thingis, whiche he spak [hath spoke I.] of thee, and hath ordeyned thee duyk on [upon I.] [verse 31] Israel, this schal not be in to siȝyng [in to siȝȝyng; that is, in to morenyng of soule and in to remors of con|sience. Lire here. C.] and in to doute of herte to thee, my lord, that thou hast sched out giltles blood, ether that thou hast vengid thee [thi silff I.] . And whanne the Lord hath do wel to thee, my lord, thou schalt haue mynde on [of I.] thin hand|maide, and thou schalt do wel to hir. [verse 32] And Dauid seide to Abigail, Blessid be the [Om. C.] Lord God of Israel, that sente [hath sent I.] thee to dai in to my comyng, and blessid be [verse 33] thi speche; and blessid be thou, that hast forbede [forbode L.] me, lest Y ȝede [ȝide to day I.] to blood, and [verse 34] vengide [had vengid I.] me with myn hond; ellis the Lord God of Israel lyueth, which [that I.] forbeed [hath forboden I.] me, `lest Y dide [Y schulde not do I.] yuel to thee, if thou haddist not soone come in to `metyng to me [my metyng I.] , a pissere to the wal schulde not haue left to Nabal til to the [Om. I.] morewe liȝt. [verse 35] Therfor Dauid resseyuede of hir hond alle thingis whiche sche hadde brouȝt to hym [Dauid I.] ; and he seide to hir, Go thou in pees in to thin hows; lo! Y herde [haue herd I.] thi vois, and Y onouride thi face. [verse 36] Forsothe Abi|gail cam to Nabal; and, lo! a feeste was to him in his hows, as the feeste of a kyng; and the herte of Nabal was iocounde [merye I.] , for [certis I.] he was `drunkun greetli [ful drunkun I.] ; and sche schewide not to hym a word litil ether [ne EL. or P.] greet til the morewe. [verse 37] Forsothe [But I.] in the morewtid, whanne Nabal hadde defied the wiyn, his wijf schewide to hym alle these wordis; and his herte was almest deed with ynne, and he was maad as a stoon. [verse 38] And whanne ten daies hadden passid, the Lord smoot Nabal, and he was deed. [verse 39] Which [The which I.] thing whanne Dauid hadde herd, Nabal deed [to be deed I.] , he seide, Blessid be the Lord God, that vengide [hath vengid I.] the cause of my schenschip of the hond of Nabal, and kepte [hath kept I.] his seruaunt fro yuel, and the

Lord ȝeldide [hath ȝoulde I.] the malice of Nabal in to the heed of hym. Therfor Dauid sente, and spak to Abigail, that he wolde take hir wijf to hym. [verse 40] And the children of Dauid camen to Abigail in to Carmele, and spaken to hir, and seiden, Dauid sente vs to thee, that he take thee in to wijf to hym. [verse 41] And sche roos [roos up I.] , and worschipide lowe to erthe [the erthe I.] , and seide, Lo! thi ser|uauntesse be [be sche I.] in to an handmayde, that sche waische the feet of the seruauntis of my lord. [verse 42] And Abigail hastide [hastide hir I.] , and roos [roos up I.] , and stiede [sche stiede up I.] on an [the CDEFGKLMNOPQRSUWXb.] asse; and fyue damesels, sueris of hir feet, ȝeden [ȝeden forth I.] with hir, and sche [Abigail I.] suede the messangeris of Dauid, and was [sche was I.] maad wijf to hym. [verse 43] But also Dauid took Achynoem of Jezrael, and euer eithir was [verse 44] wijf to hym; forsothe [and I.] Saul ȝaf Mycol his douȝtir, wijf of Dauid, to Phalti [to Phalti; Ebreys seyen, that this Phalti was a doctour of the lawe, and therfor thouȝ he took Mychol, to obeye to Saul, and that he schulde be onourid as the hosebonde of the kingis douȝter, nethe|les he knew not hir fleisly, for he wiste that sche was the veri wiyf of Dauyth, for he hadde not forsake hir, and therfor Dauyth res|seyuede hir aftirward, and netheles he hadde not take hir aftirward, if sche hadde be knowun fleisly of Phalti, as he entride no more to hise wyues, whiche Absolon knew, as it is had in ii. book xx. c^o. Lire here. C.] , the sone of Lais, that was of Gallym.

CAP. XXVI.

[verse 1] And Zipheis [men of Zephei I.] camen to Saul in to Ga|baa, and seiden, Lo! Dauid is hidde in the hille of Achille, which [that I.] is `euene aȝens [anentis I.] the wildirnesse. [verse 2] And Saul roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede doun in to deseert [the deseert I.] of Ziph, and with hym thre thousynde of men of the chosun of Israel, that he schulde seke Dauid in the desert of Ziph. [verse 3] And Saul settide tentis [his tentis I.] in Gabaa of Achille, that was euen aȝens the wildirnesse in the weie. Sotheli [And I.] Dauid dwellide in deseert [the deseert CI.] . Forsothe Da|uid siȝ [Dauyth siȝ, that is, knew bi a messanger. Lire here. C.] that Saul hadde come aftir hym [verse 4] in to deseert; and Dauid [he I.] sente aspieris, and lernede [he lernede I.] moost certeynli, that Saul hadde come thidur. [verse 5] And Dauid roos [roos up I.]

priueli, and cam to the place where Saul was. And whanne Dauid hadde seyn the place, wher ynne Saul slepte, and Abner, the sone of Ner, the prince of his chyual|rye, and Saul slepynge in the [his I.] tente, and the tother comyn puple bi his cumpas, [verse 6] Dauid seide to Achymelech, Ethey, and to Abisai, sone [the sone I.] of Saruye, the brother of Joab, `and seide [seijng K.] , Who schal go doun with me to Saul in to `the castels [his tentis I.] ? And Abisai seide, Y schal go doun with thee. [verse 7] Therfor Da|uid and Abisai camen to the puple in the nyȝt, and thei founden Saul lyggynge and slepynge in `the tente [his tentis I.] , and a spere sette faste in the erthe at his heed; `forsothe thei founden [and also I.] Abner and the puple slep|ynge in his cumpas. [verse 8] And Abisay seide to Dauid, God hath closid to dai thin enemy in to thin hondis; now therfor Y schal peerse hym with a [the I.] spere onys in the erthe, and `no nede [mouyd BC.] schal be the secounde tyme. [verse 9] And Dauid seide to Aby|sai, Sle thou not hym, for who schal holde forth his hond into the crist of the Lord, and schal be innocent? [verse 10] And Dauid seide, The Lord lyueth, for no [Om. I.] but the Lord smyte hym [Saul I.] , ether his dai come that he die, ether he go doun in to batel and [verse 11] perische; the Lord be merciful to me, that Y holde not forth myn hond in to the crist of the Lord; now [Om. I.] therfor take thou the spere, which [that I.] is at his heed, and `take thou [Om. I.] the cuppe of watir, and go we a wei. [verse 12] Dauid [Thanne Dauid I.] took the spere, and the cuppe of watir, that was at the heed of Saul, and thei ȝeden forth, and no man was that siȝ, and vndirstood, and wakide, but alle men slepten; for the sleep of the Lord [the sleep of the Lord; that is, a greuouse sleep sent of God. hadde feld on hem, that so Dauyth schulde go awey with out perel, and that bi the spere takun, and the vessel of water, he schulde de|clare his inno|cence anentis Saul, and schulde con|uycte ether ateynte him of wickidnesse. Lire here. C.] `hadde feld [was fallen I. hadde fallen L. hadde falle EMP.] on hem. [verse 13] And whanne Dauid hadde passid [passid forth I.] euene aȝens [ouer aȝens hem I.] , and hadde stonde on [afer upon I.] the cop of the [an I.] hil afer [Om. I.] , [verse 14] and a greet space was bitwixe hem, Dauid criede to the puple, and to Abner, the sone of Ner, and seide, Abner, whether thou

schalt [wolt I.] not answere? And Abner an|sweride, and seide, Who art thou, that criest, and disesist the kyng? [verse 15] And Dauith seide to Abner, Whether thou art not a man, and what other man is lijk thee in Israel? whi therfor `kepist thou not [hast thou not kept I.] thi lord the kyng? `For o [Certis a I.] man of the cum|panye entride, that he schulde sle thi lord [verse 16] the kyng; this that thou hast doon, is not good; the Lord lyueth, for ȝe ben sones of deeth, that kepten not ȝoure lord, the crist [anoyntid I.] of the Lord. Now therfor se thou, where is the spere of the kyng, and where is the cuppe of watir, that weren [was I.] at his heed. [verse 17] Forsothe Saul knew the vois of Dauid, and seide, Whether this vois is thin, my sone Dauid? And Dauid seide, My lord the [Om. I.] kyng, it is my vois. [verse 18] And Dauid seide [seide eft I.] , For what cause pursueth my lord his seruaunt? What haue Y do, ether what yuel is in myn hond? Now [verse 19] therfor, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, Y preye, here the wordis of thi seruaunt; if the Lord stirith thee aȝens me, the sacrifice be smellid [the sacrifice be smellid; that is, my pacience in this pursu|yng be ac|ceptid bifor God, as if Y offrede brent sacrifice at his auter. if the sones of men, bringe thee herto, as Doech and hise fe|lowis doen. thei ben cursid, whiche han cast me out to day, that is, in pre|sent tyme. that Y dwelle not, etc.; that is, that Y dwelle not pesibly in the lond of biheste, where Goddis wor|chiping was quyk, that Y myȝte go thi|dur, and offre due sacrifices. and seyen, in dede. go thou, serue thou alien goddis, for thei that ben compellid for persecu|cioun, to entre in to a lond suget to idola|trie, be set forth to the synne of idola|trie, for liȝtly they ben en|clyned herto of idolatrours, and sum tyme they ben com|pellid bi vio|lence of peyne. Lire here. C.] ; forsothe [and I.] if sones of men stiren thee, thei ben cursid in the siȝt of the Lord, whiche han cast me out `to dai [now I.] , that Y dwelle not in the erytage of the Lord, and seien, Go thou, serue thou alien goddis. [verse 20] And now my blood be not sched out [ouȝte L.] in the erthe bifor the Lord; for the kyng of Israel ȝede [hath gon I.] out, that he seke a quike fle, as a partrich is pursuede in hillis. [verse 21] And Saul seide, Y synnede [haue synned I.] ; turne [turne thou I.] aȝen, my sone Dauid, for [forsothe I.] Y schal no more do yuel to thee, for my lijf [lord G.] was precious to day in thin iȝen; for [Om. I.] it semeth [apperith BCDFGHKLMNOPQRSUWb.] , that [forsothe that I.] Y dide [haue don I. die N. do M.] folili, and Y vnknew [haue unknowe I.] ful many thingis. [verse 22] And Dauid answeride and seide, Lo! the spere of the kyng, oon of the `children of the kyng [kyngis children I.] passe [passe ouer hidere I.] , and take it; forsothe the Lord schal ȝelde to ech man [verse 23] bi [aftir I.] his riȝtfulnesse and feith [his feith I.] ; for [certis I.] the

Lord bitook thee to dai in to myn hond, and Y nolde [wolde not I.] holde forth myn hond in to [verse 24] the crist of the Lord; and as thi lijf is magnified to dai in myn iȝen, so my lijf be magnyfied in the iȝen of the Lord [Lord God I.] , and delyuere he me fro al angwisch. [verse 25] Therfor Saul seide to Dauid, Blessid be thou, my sone Dauid; and sotheli thou doynge schalt do, and thou myȝti schalt be myȝti. Therfor [Thanne I.] Dauid ȝede [ȝede forth I.] in to his weie, and Saul turnede aȝen in to his place.

CAP. XXVII.

[verse 1] And Dauid seide in his herte, Sumtyme Y schal falle in o dai in the hond of Saul; whether it is not [Om. C.] betere, that Y fle, and be sauyd in the lond of Filisteis, that Saul dispeire [that Saul dispeire; that is, of my taking. Lire here. C.] , and cesse to seke me in alle the endis of Israel; therfor fle we hise hondis. [verse 2] And Dauid roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , he and sixe hundrid men with hym, to Achis, the sone of Maoth, kyng of Geth. [verse 3] And Dauid dwellide with Achis in Geth, he, and hise men, and his hows; Dauid [that is, Dauid I.] , and hise twei wyues, Achynoem of Jezrael, and Abigail, the wijf of Nabal of Carmele. [verse 4] And it was teld to Saul, that Dauid fledde in to Geth; and he [Saul I.] addide [addide to I.] no more `that he schulde [for to I.] seke Dauid. [verse 5] Forsothe Dauid seide to Achis, If Y haue founden grace in thin iȝen, a place be ȝouun to me in oon of the citees of this cuntrey, that Y dwelle there; for whi dwellith thi seruaunt in the citee of the kyng with thee? [verse 6] Therfor Achis ȝaf to [Om. I.] hym Sichelech in that dai, for which [the which I.] cause Sichelech was maad in to the [Om. I.] possessioun of the kyngis of Juda `til in to [vnto I.] this dai. [verse 7] Forsothe [And I.] the noumbre of daies, in whiche Dauid dwellide in the cuntrei of Filisteis, was of foure monethis [was foure monethis; in Ebreu it is, dayes and foure monethis, a ȝeer ether ȝeeris moun be vndurstondun by dayes, and so it schal be takun here, as it semeth. Lire here. C.] . [verse 8] And Dauid stiede [stiede up I.] , and hise men, and token [thei token I.] preies of Gethsuri, and of Gethri, and of men of Amalech; for these townes weren enhabitid bi eld tyme in the lond,

to men goynge to Sur, `til to [vnto I.] the lond of Egipt. [verse 9] And Dauid smoot al the lond of hem, and lefte [he lefte I.] not man `lyuynge and womman [ne womman lyuynge I.] ; and he took scheep, and oxun, and assis, and camels, and clothis, and turnede [turneden A. he turnede I.] aȝen, and cam to Achis. [verse 10] Sotheli [And I.] Achis seide to hym, `In to [Aȝens I.] whom `hurliden ȝe [han ȝe hurlid I.] to dai? Dauid [And Dauid C.] answeride, Aȝens the south of Juda, and aȝens the south of Hiramel, and aȝens the south of Ceney. [verse 11] Dauid left not [not in these I.] quik man and [ne I.] womman, nether brouȝte `in to [in A.] Geth [Gethony I.] , and [but he I.] se ide, Lest perauenture thei speken aȝens vs. Dauid dide these thingis, and this was his doom, in alle daies in whiche he dwellide in the cuntrei of Filisteis. [verse 12] Therfor Achis bileuyde to Dauid, and seide, Forsothe [Certis I.] he [we A pr. m. C pr. m. EGKLMNOPQRSU pr. m. WXb.] wrouȝte [hath wrouȝt I.] many yuelis aȝens his puple Israel, therfor he schal be euerlastynge [a I.] seruaunt to me [me for euer|more I.] .

CAP. XXVIII.

[verse 1] Forsothe it was doon in tho daies, Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] gaderiden [gaderiden to gidre I.] her cumpenyes, that thei schulden be maad redi aȝens Israel to batel. And Achis seide to Dauid, Thou witynge `wite now [schalt knowe I.] , for thou schalt go out with me in [in to K.] castels [tentis I.] , thou and thi men. [verse 2] And Dauid seide to Achis, Now thou schalt wyte what thingis thi seruaunt schal do. And Achis seide to Dauid, And Y schal sette thee kepere of myn heed in alle dayes. [verse 3] Forsothe [Certis I.] Samuel was deed, and al Israel biweilide hym, and thei birieden hym in Ramatha, his citee. And Saul dide awey fro the lond witchis and fals dyuynours [false dy|vynours; this that sueth, and he killide hem that hadden fendis spekinge in the wombe, is not in Ebreu, nether is of the text. Lire here. C.] , `and he slouȝ hem that hadden [Om. A pr. m. BCEFLNPRU.] `charmers of [Om. A pr. m. BCDEFGIKLMNOPQRSUWX. charmers and b.] deuelis [Om. A pr. m. BCEFLNPRU. fendis spekinge DIKMOSWX.] `in her wombe [in the wombe DGKMOQSWX. Om. A pr. m. BCEFLNPRU.] . [verse 4] And Filisteis weren gaderid, and camen, and settiden tentis in Sunam; sotheli and Saul gaderide al Israel, and

cam in to Gelboe. [verse 5] And Saul siȝ the cas|tels of Filisteis, and he dredde, and his herte dredde greetli. [verse 6] And he counselide the Lord; and the Lord answeride not to hym, nether bi preestis, nether [ne EILP.] bi dremes, nether [ne EILP.] bi profetis. [verse 7] And Saul seide to hise seruauntis, Seke ȝe to me a womman hau|ynge a feend spekynge in the [Om. I.] wombe; and Y schal go to hir, and Y schal axe [enquere I.] bi hir. And hise seruauntis seiden to hym, A womman hauynge a feend spekynge in the wombe is in Endor. [verse 8] Therfor Saul chaungide his clothing, and he was clothid with othere clothis; and he ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , and twei men with hym; and thei camen to the womman in the nyȝt. And he [Saul I.] seyde, Dy|uyne thou to me in [Om. C.] a fend spekynge in the wombe, and reise thou to [up to I.] me whom Y schal seie to thee. [verse 9] And the womman seide to hym, Lo! thou woost hou grete thingis Saul hath do, and hou he dide [hath do I.] awei fro the lond witchis, and fals dyuyn|ours; whi therfor settist thou tresoun to my lijf, that Y be slayn? [verse 10] And Saul swoor to hir in the Lord, and seide, The Lord lyueth; for no thing of yuel schal come to thee for this thing. [verse 11] And the womman seide to hym, Whom schal Y reise [reise up I.] to thee? And he [Saul I.] seide, Reise thou Samuel to [up to I.] me. [verse 12] Sotheli whanne the womman hadde seyn Samuel, sche criede with greet vois, and seide to Saul, Whi hast thou disseyued me? for [certis I.] thou art Saul. [verse 13] And the kyng seide to hir, Nyl thou drede; what hast thou seyn? And the womman seide to Saul, Y siȝ goddis stiynge [stiynge up I.] fro erthe [the erthe I.] . [verse 14] And Saul seide to hir, What maner forme is of hym? And sche seide, An eld man stieth [stieth up I.] , and he is clothid with a mentil. And Saul vndirstood that it was Samuel [Saul vndur|stood that it was Samuel. Seynt Austin in his Pistle to Simplycian, rehersith tweyne opyny|ouns; oon seith, that Samuel ap|peride verili in soule bi Goddis ordenaunce, to telle to Saul his deth and the scateryng of the puple of Israel; the tother opyny|oun seith, that the deuel ap|peride in the licnesse of Samuel; and Austyn enclyn|eth more to this opynyoun, as it is teld in Decrees, in xxvi. cause, v. ques|tioun, c^o. nec myrum. For the deuel trans|figurith him|silf in to an aungel of liȝt, as Poul seith, and bi the maner of spek|ing of scrip|ture, a licnesse takith the name of a thing, whos licnesse it berith, and the euydensis for the con|trarie part moun liȝtly be asoilid. Lire here. C.] ; and Saul bowide hym silf on his face to the erthe, and worschipide. [verse 15] Sotheli [And I.] Sa|muel seide to Saul, Whi hast thou disesid me, that Y schulde be reisid? And Saul

seide, Y am constreyned greetli; for Fi|listeis [the Filisteis I.] fiȝten aȝens me, and God ȝede [hath gon I.] awei fro me, and he nolde [wolde not I.] here me, nether bi the hond of profetis [prestys ELP. dyuynours I sed expunxit sec. m.] , nether [ne ELP.] bi dremes; therfor Y clepide thee, that thou schuldist schewe to [Om. I.] me what Y schal do. [verse 16] And Samuel seide, What axist thou me, whanne God hath go awei fro thee [the A.] , and passide [hath passid I.] to thin enemy? [verse 17] For [Sothli I.] the Lord schal do to thee as he spak [hath spoke I.] in myn hond, and he schal kitte awey thi rewme fro thin hond, and he schal ȝyue it to Dauid, thi neiȝ|bore; [verse 18] for thou obeiedist not to [Om. I.] the vois of the Lord, nether didist [thou didist I.] the `ire of hys strong veniaunce [feers wraththe of the Lord I.] in Amalech. Therfor the Lord hath do to thee to day that that [verse 19] thou suffrist; and the Lord schal ȝyue also Israel with thee in the hond of Fi|listeis. Forsothe to morewe thou and thi sones schulen be with me; but also the Lord schal bitake the castels of Israel in the hond of Filistiym [Philistees I.] . [verse 20] And anoon Saul felde [felle doun I.] stretchid [and was stretchid I.] forth to [upon the I.] erthe; for he dredde the wordis of Samuel, and strengthe was not in hym, for he hadde not ete breed in al that dai and al [al that I.] nyȝt. [verse 21] Therfor thilke womman entride to Saul, and seide; for he was disturblid greetli; and sche seide to hym, Lo! thin handmayde obeiede [hath obeied I.] to thi vois, and Y haue put my lijf in myn [thin OKX sup. ras.] hond [in myn hond; that is, Y dide at thyn axyng a werk forbedun vndur the peyne of deth. Lire here. C.] , and Y herde thi wordis, whiche thou spakist to me. [verse 22] Now [And now I.] therfor and [Om. I.] thou here the vois of thin handmaide, and Y schal sette a mussel [morsel I.] of breed bifor thee, and that [Om. C.] thou etynge wexe strong, and maist do the [thi I.] iourney. [verse 23] And he forsook [forsook it I.] , and seide, Y schal not ete. Sothely [But I.] hise seruauntis and the womman compelliden hym [compelliden him; that is, bi bisi preyeris; and so he was coumfortid in party, and assentide to hem. Lire here. C.] ; and at the laste, whanne the vois of hem was herd, he roos [roos up I.] fro the erthe, and sat on the [a I.] bed. [verse 24] Sotheli [And I.] thilke wom|man hadde a fat calf in the [hir I.] hows, and `sche hastide [hee hastide E. hee castid L.] , and killide hym [it I.] ; and sche took mele, and meddlide it [it togidre I.] , and made

[verse 25] therf breed; and settide [sche sette forth I.] bifor Saul and bifor hise seruauntis, and whanne thei hadden ete, thei risiden [resin EP. resen up I.] , and walkiden bi [in I.] al that [the I.] nyȝt.

CAP. XXIX.

[verse 1] Therfor alle the cumpenyes of Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] weren gaderid in [in to I.] Aphec, but also Israel settide tentis aboue the welle that was in Jezrael. [verse 2] And sotheli the princis of Fi|listeis [Philistee I.] ȝeden in cumpenyes of an hundrid, and in thousyndis; forsothe [but I.] Dauid and hise men weren in the laste cumpenye with Achis. [verse 3] And the princes of Filisteis seiden to Achis, What wolen these Ebreis to hem silf? And Achis seide to the princes of Filisteis, Whether ȝe knowen not Dauid, that was the seruaunt of Saul, kyng of Israel? and he was with me in [Om. I.] many daies, `ether ȝeeris [Om. C.] , and Y foond not in hym ony thing [ony thing; of ymagynyng to yuel, which schulde be per|seyued in so long tyme, if it hadde be verily in him. Lire here. C.] , fro the dai, in which he fledde to me `til to [vnto I.] this dai. [verse 4] Sotheli [Certis I.] the princes of Filisteis weren wrooth aȝens hym [Achis I.] , and seiden [thei seiden I.] to hym, The man turne aȝen, and sitte [abide he I.] in his place, in which thou hast ordened hym, and come he not down with vs in to batel, lest he be maad aduer|sarie to vs, whanne we han bigunne to fiȝte; for hou mai he plese his lord in other maner, no [Om. I.] but in oure heedis? [verse 5] Whether this is not Dauid, to whom thei sungen in daunsis, and seiden, Saul smoot in thousyndis, and Dauid smoot in hise ten thousyndis? [verse 6] Therfor Achis clepide Dauid, and seide to hym, The Lord lyueth; for thou art riȝtful, and good in my siȝt, and thi goyng out and `thin entryng [thi comyng yn I.] is with me in castels [tentis I.] , and Y `foond not [haue not founden I.] in thee ony thing of yuel, fro the day [tyme A.] in which thou camest to me til to this dai; but thou plesist not the princis [princis or satrapis I.] . [verse 7] Therfor turne thou aȝen, and go in pees, and offende thou not the iȝen

of princis [the princis CEFL. the satrapis I.] of Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] . [verse 8] And Dauid seide to Achis, Forsothe [And I.] what `dide Y [haue I do I.] , and what hast thou founde in me thi seruaunt, fro the dai in which Y was in thi siȝt til in to this dai, that Y come not, and fiȝte aȝens the enemyes of my lord the kyng? [verse 9] Forsothe [And I.] Achis answeride, and spak to Dauid, Y woot that thou art good, and as the aungel of God in my iȝen; but the princes of Filisteis seyden, He [Dauid I.] schal not stie [stie up I.] with vs in to batel. [verse 10] Therfor rise thou [thou up I.] eerli, thou, and thi seruauntis that camen with thee; and whanne ȝe han ryse bi nyȝt, and it bigynneth to be cleer [cleer day I.] , go ȝe [ȝe forth I.] . [verse 11] Therfor Dauid roos [roos up I.] bi nyȝt, he and hise men, that thei schulden go forth eerli, and turne aȝen to the lond of Fylisteis; sotheli [but the I.] Filisteis stieden [stieden up I.] in to Jezrael.

CAP. XXX.

[verse 1] And whanne Dauid and hise men hadden come `in to [in A.] Sichelech in the thridde dai, men of Amalech hadden maad asauȝt on [fro I.] the south part in [of BC. aȝens I.] Sichelech; and thei [Om. EL.] smytiden [smoten I. smeten L. smetyn EP.] Sichelech, and brenten [thei brenten I.] it bi [with I.] fier. [verse 2] And thei ledden the wymmen pri|soneris fro thennus, fro the leeste `til to [til A. vnto I. to o sec. m.] the grete [moost I.] ; and thei hadden not slayn ony, but thei ledden [ledden hem forth I.] with hem, and ȝeden [thei ȝeden I.] in her weie. [verse 3] Therfor whanne Dauid and hise men hadde come to the citee, and hadden founde it brent bi [with I.] fier, and that her [menns I.] wyues, and her sones, and douȝtris [verse 4] weren led [led awey I.] prisoneris, Dauid [thanne Dauid I.] and the puple that was with hym reisiden her voices, and weiliden, til teeris [the teeris I.] failiden in hem. [verse 5] Forsothe [And I.] also twei [the two I.] wyues of Dauid weren led [led awey I.] prisoneris, Achynoem of Jez|rael, and Abigail, the wijf of Nabal of Carmele. [verse 6] And Dauid was ful sori; for|sothe [certis I.] al the puple wold stone [haue stoned I.] hym [Dauid I.] , for the soule of ech man was bittir on her sones and douȝtris. Forsothe Dauid was

coumfortid in his Lord God. [verse 7] And he seide to Abiathar, preest [the preest I.] , the sone of Achymelech, Bringe thou [thou the prestis coope or I.] ephoth [ephoth, that is, the cloth of the hiȝest prest K.] to me. And Abiathar brouȝte ephoth [the ephoth S.] to Dauid; [verse 8] and Dauid councelide [councelide with I.] the Lord, and seide, Schal Y pursue [pursue these theues I.] , ether nay [no I.] , `these theues [Om. I.] ? and schal Y take hem? And the Lord seide to hym [Dauid I.] , Pursue thou; for with out doute thou schalt take hem, and thou schalt take awey the [fro hem her I.] prey. [verse 9] Therfor Dauid ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , he and sixe hundrid men that weren with hym, and thei camen `til to [vnto I.] the stronde of Besor; and sotheli [there I.] the wery men [men of the oost of Dauid I.] abididen [abiden CELPU. abiden bihynde I.] . [verse 10] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid pur|suede [pursuede forth I.] , he and foure hundrid men; for twei hundrid abididen [abiden EI.] , that weren weeri, and myȝten not passe the stronde of Besor. [verse 11] And thei founden a man of Egipte in the feeld, and thei brouȝten hym to Dauid; and thei ȝauen `breed to hym [hym bred I.] , that he schulde ete, and `schulde drynke watir [watir to drinke I.] ; [verse 12] but also thei ȝauen to hym a gobet of a [Om. plures.] bundel of drye [dried I.] figis, and twei byndyngis [clustris I.] of dried grapis. And whanne he [the man I.] hadde ete tho, his spirit turnede aȝen [aȝen to him I.] , and he was coumfortid; for he hadde not ete breed, nether hadde [he hadde I.] drunk watir in thre daies and thre nyȝtis. [verse 13] Therfor [Thanne I.] Dauid seide to hym, Whos man art thou, ethir fro whennus and whidur goist thou? And he seide, Y am a child of Egipt, the seruaunt of a man of Amalech; forsothe [but I.] my lord forsook me, for Y bigan to be sijk the thridde dai ago. [verse 14] Sotheli [For I.] we braken out to [at I.] the south coost of Cerethi, and aȝens Juda, and to [at I.] the south of Caleb, and we brenten Sichelech bi [with I.] fier. [verse 15] And Dauid seide to hym, Maist thou lede me to this cumpeny? Which [The which I.] seide, Swere thou to me bi God, that thou schalt not sle me, and schalt [that thou schalt I.] not bitake me in to the hondis of my lord; and Y schal lede thee to this cumpeny. And Dauid swoor to

hym. [verse 16] And whanne the child hadde ledde hym [hym thidere I.] , lo! thei saten at the mete, on [upon I.] the face of al the erthe, etynge and drynkynge, and as halewynge a feeste [feeste day plures.] , for al the prey and spuylis whiche thei hadden take of the lond of Filisteis, and of the lond of Juda. [verse 17] And Dauid smoot hem fro euentid [the euentid I.] `til to [vnto the I.] euentid of the tothir dai, and not ony [ony thing L.] of hem escapide, no [Om. I.] but foure hun|drid ȝonge [of ȝonge I.] men, that stieden on [upon I.] camels, and fledden. [verse 18] Forsothe Dauid delyuerede alle thingis whiche the men of Amalech token, and he delyuerede hise twei wyues; [verse 19] nether ony [ony man I.] of hem failide fro litil [the litil I.] `til to [vnto I.] greet [the greet I.] , as wel of sones as of douȝtris, and of spuylis; and what euer thingis thei hadden rauyschid, Dauid ledde aȝen alle [Om. G.] [verse 20] thingis; and he took alle flockis [the flockis I.] and grete beestis, and droof [droof hem I.] bifor his face. And thei [men I.] seiden, This is the prey of Dauid. [verse 21] For|sothe Dauid cam to twei [his two I.] hundrid men, that weren weeri, and abididen [abidin EP. abididen bihynde I.] , and myȝten not sue Dauid; and he hadde [Om. I.] comaundid hem to sitte in [at I.] the stronde of Besor; whiche [the whiche I.] ȝeden out aȝens Dauid, and the [aȝens the I.] puple that was with hym. For|sothe [Certis I.] Dauid neiȝede to the puple, and grette [he grett I.] it pesibli. [verse 22] And o man, the werste [werste man I.] and vniust [wickid I.] of the men that weren with Dauid, answeride, and seide, For thei camen not with vs, we schulen not ȝyue to hem ony thing of the prey, which [that I.] we rauyschiden [han rauischid I.] , but [but suffice it to eche man I.] his wijf and children [his children I.] `suffice to ech man [Om. I.] ; and whanne thei han take hem, go thei awei. [verse 23] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid seide, My britheren, ȝe schulen not do so [so as ȝe speken I.] of these thingis, whiche the Lord ȝaf [hath ȝouen I.] to vs, and kepte [he hath kept I.] vs, and ȝaf [hath ȝouen I.] the theues, that braken out aȝens vs, in to oure [verse 24] hondis; nether ony man [Om. I.] schal here vs on [stryue on I.] this word. For euene part schal be of him that goith doun to batel, and of hym that dwellith at the fardelis; and in lijk maner

thei schulen departe [departe the preie I.] . [verse 25] And this was maad a constitucioun and doom [a doom I.] fro that dai and afterward [fro that day and aftirward; in Ebreu it is, in that day and fro bifore, that is, fro the tyme of Abraham; but this was ordeyned stide|fastliere bi Dauyth, and a doom of lawe bi the kyngis power, that it schulde be kept aftirward outirly. Lire here. C.] , and as a lawe in Israel til in to this dai. [verse 26] Therfor [Thanne I.] Dauid cam in to Sichelech, and sente [he sente I.] ȝiftis of the prey to the eldere men of Juda, hise neiȝboris, and seide, Take ȝe blessyng of the prey of [verse 27] enemyes of the Lord; to [he sente to I.] hem that weren in Bethel, and that weren in Ramoth, at [verse 28] the south, and that weren in Jether, and that weren in Aroer, and that weren in Sephamoth, and that weren in Escama, [verse 29] and that weren in Rethala, and that weren in the citees of Jeramel, and that weren in [verse 30] the citees of Ceny, and that weren [weren to hem I.] in Arama, and that weren in Lautuasam, and [verse 31] that weren in Athec, and that weren in Ebron, and to othere men, that weren in these places, in whiche Dauid dwellide and hise men.

CAP. XXXI.

[verse 1] Forsothe Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] fouȝten aȝens Israel, and the men of Israel fledden bifor the face of Filisteis, and felden [thei fellen doun I.] slayn in the hil of Gelboe. [verse 2] And Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] hurliden on [feersly into I.] Saul, and on [into I.] hise sones, and smytiden [thei killiden I. smyten EFL. smetin P.] Jonathas, and Amynadab, and Melchisua, sones of Saul. [verse 3] And al the weiȝte [charge I.] of batel [the batel I.] was turned `in to [aȝens I.] Saul; and men archeris pursueden hym [Saul I.] , and he was woundid greetli of the archeris. [verse 4] And Saul seide to his squyer, Drawe out thi swerd, and sle me, lest perauenture these vncircumcidid men come, and sle me, and scorne me. And his squyer nolde [wolde not I.] , for he was aferd bi ful grete drede; therfor Saul took his swerd, and felde theronne [therupon I.] . [verse 5] And whanne his squyer hadde seyn this, `that is [Om. AO pr. m.] , that Saul was deed, also he felde on [upon I.] his swerd and was deed with hym. [verse 6] Therfor [And so I.] Saul was deed, and hise thre sones, and his squyer, and alle his men in that dai to|gidere. [verse 7] Forsothe [And I.] the sones of Israel, that

weren biȝendis [biȝonde I.] the valei, and biȝendis Jordan, sien that the [Om. I.] men of Israel hadden fled, and that Saul was deed, and hise sones, and thei leften her citees and fledden; and Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] camen, and dwelliden there. [verse 8] Forsothe [And I.] in [Om. I.] `the tother dai maad [aftir the I.] , Filisteis camen, that thei schulden [wolden I.] dispuyle the slayn men, and thei founden Saul, and hise thre sones, liggynge in the hil of Gelboe; [verse 9] and thei kittiden awei the heed of Saul, and dispuyliden hym of armeris [his armeris I.] ; and senten [thei senten I.] in to the lond of Filisteis bi cum|pas, that it schulde be teld in the temple [templis C.] of idols, and in the puplis. [verse 10] And thei put|tiden hise armeris in the temple of Asto|roth; sotheli [but I.] thei hangiden his bodi in the wal of Bethsan. [verse 11] And whanne the dwellers of Jabes of [Om. A.] Galaad hadden herd this, what [and what I.] euer thingis [Om. A. thing M.] Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] hadden [verse 12] do to Saul, alle [and alle I.] the strongeste [mooste stronge I.] men ri|siden [risiden up I. risen EP.] , and ȝeden [ȝeden forth I.] in [Om. I.] al that nyȝt, and token [thei token I.] the deed bodi of Saul, and the deed bodies of hise sones fro the wal of Bethsan; and the [Om. K sec. m.] men of Jabes of Galaad camen, and brenten tho deed bodies bi [with I.] fier. [verse 13] And thei token the boonus of hem, and birieden [birieden hem I.] in the wode of Jabes, and fast|iden [thei fastiden I.] bi seuene daies.

Here endith the firste book of Kyngis, and here bigynneth the secounde [Here endith the firste book of Kyngis, and here byginneth the secounde book. DOQUWb. Here endith the firste book, and here bygynneth the secounde book of Kyngis. F. Here endith the firste book of Kyngis, and bigynneth a prolog on the ij. book. G. Heere endith the firste book of Kyngis. I. Here endeth the firste book of Kinges; see now the seconde. K. Here endith the firste book of Kingis, and here bigynneth a prologe on the secounde. M. Heere eendith the firste of Kinges and bigynneth the ij ^e. R. Here eendith the firste book of Kyngis, and bigynneth the secounde book of Kyngis. SXç. No final rubric in ELP.] .